Fig Fennel & Almond by Theo Chocolate

Well, today I found a new friend, the Fig Fennel & Almond bar by Theo. I love to try new Theo Bars because they seem to think up truly new flavor combinations with some amazing results. I can still remember the first time I tried their Bread and Chocolate Bar. I was certainly shocked when I read the ingredients and found "French Bread" and pleasantly surprised at how good two of my favorite foods tasted when blended together.

And this new bar is no exception to my feelings about Theo. 65% cocoa is right where I like to be, and the 100% certified organic, high quality ingredients are unmistakable. I love biting into this bar because it has some serious meat to it, and the slightly tart flavor of the figs is a thrill. The almonds are somewhat of an innocent bystander in all of this, but add a nice third texture to round out this bar.

I wouldn't call it smooth because of this mix of textures, but I would certainly call it powerful, satisfying, and exquisitely sinful. OK, OK...so I like chocolate a lot, but wow, to come up with a new flavor in a super saturated market really impresses me. The Fig Fennel and Almond Bar finishes nicely with a combination of tangy fruit, deep chocolate, and slighty bitter note added by the almonds. And then you get to pick the residual almonds out of your teeth with your tongue, keeping your mind afloat in the afterglow of great chocolate.

Haribo Bananas and Primivera Strawberries

Haribo's Strawberries and Haribo Bananas.  This Gummi Candy is not like anything that we know of made in the US, it is a white chewy sugar foam made to look like a strawberry or bananas rolled in a red strawberry or yellow banana sugar coating. 

Ingredients: sugar, glucose syrup, gelatin, citric acid, aroma, color: chinolin yellow, cochenille red A



Ingredients: sugar, glucose syrup, gelatin, citric acid, aroma, color: chinolin yellow, cochenille red A, allura red AC.

Our 10th Dutch Open House was a huge success!

Here are a few photos and a link to the story in the Kitsap Sun.  As you can see we had oliebollen, yellow rice, chicken in candlenut sauce, pea soup, curried eggs, shrimp chips and cassava chips  and so many others foods.  See you next year 2 sundays before Thanksgiving  1-3PM.

Haribo Sweet Black Licorice Wheels

Haribo sweet black licorice wheels are the old standby in the Licorice Shrine.  I haven't met anyone who likes black licorice that doesn't like this licorice.  It has a strong tast of molassas which complements the flavor of licorice very well and is a sticky chew.  These are very fun to eat becase you can unroll them. Sometimes these are called Jo Jos.




Blackstrap molasses=Molasses is a viscous byproduct of the processing of sugar cane or sugar beets into sugar.

Haribo Piratos Black Salty German Licorice

Marina Market has the German Piratos salty black licorice with 7.99% salmiak.  This German Haribo is slightly larger than the Danish Super Piratos.  They are very plump with a nice sticky soft chew.  Personally I enjoy the smoothness and the chew of this version of the Piratos. 

Haribo Color-rado all sorts gummi mix

A Marina Market favorite, Haribo Color Rado is a great bag of gummi  treats for the whole family.  The mix includes Haribo All Sorts mix, gummi bears and frogs, raspberry gummi, sugar foam backed gummis, and a few candy coated licorice.  Haribo Color-Rado is ranked Nr. 2 in the top 20 most popular Haribo products in Germany

A Marina Market favorite!


Ingredients: glucose syrup, sugar, brown sugar, wheat flour, starch, gelatin, dextrose, lactose, coconut flakes, hardened vegetable fat, licorice (3% depending on the licorice content), non-fat milk powder, citric acid, salt, flavorings, coloring out of fruits and plants, cocoa, white and yellow beeswax, carnauba wax, agar-agar, caramel syrup.

Cougar Gold Cheese update on calories and why Cougar Gold Cheese is in a tin can.

You can buy Cougar Gold White Cheddar in a can here.
WSU has named its unique cheese "Cougar Gold" - Cougar after the university mascot and Gold after Dr. N.S. Golding, who developed the cheese in the 1940s. The U.S. government wanted to pack cheese in metal cans so it could be shipped to troops all over the world and stay fresh.

As conventional Cheddar cheese ages, it produces carbon dioxide that causes cans to swell. Golding discovered that adding a certain lactobacillus culture to the milk minimized C[O.sub.2] generation, and Cougar Gold was born.
"Even though we make Cougar Gold by the traditional Cheddaring process and everyone calls it Cheddar, it's not a true Cheddar cheese," says Creamery Mgr. Marc Bates. "It doesn't meet the standard of identity for Cheddar because of the addition of the lactobacillus culture." This is why Cougar Gold Cheese tastes more like a gouda as I mentioned in the previous post.

Nutrition Facts
Wsu Creamery - Cougar Gold Cheese
Servings: of 1 oz. (30 grams) 1 container (30 oz. (30 grams) ea.)
Calories 114
Sodium 176 mg
Total Fat 9 g
Potassium 0 mg
Saturated 6 g
Total Carbs 0 g
Polyunsaturated 0 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Monounsaturated 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Trans 0 g
Protein 7 g
Cholesterol 30 mg


Vitamin A 10 %
Calcium 23 %
Vitamin C 0 %
Iron 0 %
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Wow thanks My Little Space!!

Look What Kristy gave all her friends!  Her blog My little Space is one of my very favorites.   She is very talented and pretty dang cool!  I urge  you to check it out and I will predict that she will be in the running for a Food Buzz Blog award next year!

Asian Home Gourmet Spice Mixes and Popular Indian Food Dishes

Today I am going to highlight  Indian Herbs & Spices.  Many of these spices are in the Asian Home Gourmet spices pastes the Marina Market staff favorite. They are easy to use and are all natural with no additives.  As I have said before I do not limit myself to the recipe on the back of the package, I use the paste as a spice blend added to my normal seasonal cooking.

Cardamon / Elaichi
Cardamom is commonly referred to as the ‘Queen of Spices’. It is a very versatile spice with many uses in Indian cuisine and is also believed to aid digestion and act as a breath freshener.

Black Onion Seed –Kalonji / Nigella Sativa
Kalonji is the dried, seed-like fruit of a small herb. It is usually dry roasted or fried to develop the flavour. The seeds are used in bread doughs, such as naan and kulchas and are also used in salads and pickles.

Chillies / Mirch
Immature chillies are green - when they ripen they become yellow, orange, red, brown or purple. Chillies range in heat from mild to very hot. The heat from chillies comes from capsaicin in their seeds, fleshy parts and skin.

Cinnamon / Dalchini
Cinnamon is the bark of the cassia tree. It is used to flavour rice, curries and desserts. It is either sold as sticks or as a ground powder, which is an integral part of the standard blend of Garam Masala.

Clove / Laung / Lavang
Cloves are the unopened red flower buds of the clove tree and can be used whole or ground. Cloves have an extremely strong, pungent and aromatic flavour with warm notes of pepper and camphor.

Coriander Leaves, Cilantro / Hara Dhania
Coriander is one of the most commonly used herbs in India. The flavour of coriander leaves has both lemon and ginger notes.

Coriander Seed / Dhanina
Coriander seeds are greenish-grey in colour. Roasted coriander powder is an indispensable item in the Indian spice box.

Cumin / Jeera
The flavour of cumin seeds is rich, slightly bitter, earthy and warm. Cumin powder is also an important ingredient of Garam Masala and Panchphoran.

Curry Leaves / Kadi Patta
Curry leaves come from a small, deciduous tree that grows wild in the Himalayan foothills. Fresh curry leaves give off an intensely aromatic, spicy aroma with a citrus note.

Popular Indian Dishes

Vindaloo
Tomato, Chilli  Cumin (Hot)
A Vindaloo is traditionally one of the hottest dishes on an Indian restaurant menu. This popular Goan dish was introduced by the Portuguese, ‘Vinha dalhos’ which literally means ‘with vinegar and garlic’ are the key ingredients forthis dish’s marinade.

Madras
Tomato  Coriander (Hot)
Madras is a region in southern India which is famous for its hot & spicy food.This dish has strong cumin and fenugreek notes.

Tikka Masala
Coriander  Lemon (Medium)
Chicken Tikka Masala is a dish that was created in the UK -consisting of blending ‘Tikka’, the marinated chicken pieces which were traditionally cooked in the tandoor oven, in a ‘masala’ which means a mixture of garlic and spices.

Balti
Cumin Chilli (Medium)
Balti is a distinctive blend of tomatoes, onion, cumin and chilli. Balti’s literal translation means ‘bucket’ - the container which was traditionally used for serving food at Southern Indian wedding banquets.

Jalfrezi
Sweet Peppers Coconut (Mild)
Originating from Kashmir, Jalfrezi is the delicious sauce that blends together tomatoes, spices, coconut and red peppers - it is the peppers that bring the sweetness to this dish. The word ‘Jalfrezi’ means stir-fried dishes.

Korma
Coconut  Almond (Mild)
With North Indian origins, Korma is a classic creamy Indian dish which was traditionally served in Royal Moghul households. The word ‘Korma’ literally means to braise.

Butter Chicken
Tomato, Garlic, Ginger  Tamarind (Mild)
A rich, creamy tomato sauce, incorporating butter as its name suggests, with a distinctive chargrilled flavour - replicating the taste of the Tandoor oven used in North Indian cooking.

Tandoori
Tamarind & Ginger (Mild)
Tandoori is the generic name for any marinated ingredients cooked in the Tandoor oven. Ingredients marinated in Tandoori paste have a vivid pinky/red colour.

Haribo Chamallow recipe =cooking with Candy can be bad in a bad way!

I believe I found the WORST recipe ever!
Sweet and Sour Chicken with Marshmallow au gratin

Ingredients for 4 persons

4 Chicken fillets/butter
Herbs for chicken/bay leaves
Salt and pepper/ 2 bowls of sweet and sour sauce (800 calories)
1 bag of Haribo Chamallow marshmallows

Preparation:
Cut the chicken fillets into dices and fry them in a wok with the butter and herbs.  When the chicken dices are well done add the sweet and sour sauce.  Season to taste with bay leaves, salt and pepper.  Pour the mixture in an oven proof bowl and cover with chopped Haribo Chamallows.  Grill under broiler until Chamallows are slightly caramelized on top.  Serve with rice or chips.

Original Chamallow recipes at Haribo.de

POgOS freeze dried 100% Pure Mouse. updated

Direct from Minnesota.  And as we all know anything from Minnesota is Norwegian so logic tells us we have Norwegian Mouse treats for cats.  Meow, our 3 cats love them!  They sit and purr, make eye contact and lick their lips for them!  Three bites and it's gone!  Our price is $7.99 for a 21g bag.

Nutrients, taste and enzymes are kept intact rather than killed off by heat.   This results in treats that burst with flavor and are easy to digest.

Meat loving pets crave the natural pure meats and seafoods. No preservatives are used or needed to keep them fresh.

All may be reconstituted by adding water to moisten and serve.  Pieces can be easily broken for tiny pets and to satisfy finicky cats.

The Treats are not greasy or messy (low in fat, high in protein).  Freeze-Dried Treats are absolutely the closest to a raw diet - without the hassle.

Freeze-drying removes about 75% of the weight of meats and seafoods, so there is the same nutrition as in an 84 gram "wet" amount. FREEZE DRIED treats should be kept from humidity to stay fresh.

There are about 40 POgOS Mouse Half Rounds per bag.   POgOS mice are farm raised and fed rations entirely free of growth hormones and chemical additives. They are humanely euthanized by freezing then ground whole and freeze-dried into POgOS half-rounds.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein ........ (min) 65%
Crude Fat .............. (min) 20%
Fiber ...................... (max) .3%
Moisture ................ (max) .6%
How to feed: Can be fed dry straight from the bag or wet (add water, let sit 10 minutes before serving). Pieces can easily be broken for smaller pets or those finicky about bite size. Since there is no added salt or sugar, pets addicted to spices may have to get used to just pure meat. Let them smell and taste the POgOS. One bite and they'll want more. POgOS are intended to be used as treats, not as a sole diet. Please monitor when giving to pets to avoid overconsumption or choking which could result from over eager gulping. Thank you.  Description provided by the manufacturer or retailer

Get WSU Cougar Gold Cheese at the Marina Market in Poulsbo for all APPLE CUP Parties in 2009

Buy Cougar Gold Cheese in a can to celebrate Apple Cup at Marina Market.
For years I have been asked to carry Cougar Gold Cheese from old Wazoo, otherwise know as Washington State University. So finally here it is the famous white cheddar cheese in a can from the equally famous WSU Creamery.

I have to agree that Cougar Gold cheese is really good. This batch of Cougar Gold Cheese (made by Andrew) has already been aged for 2 years. Flavor crystals have already begun to form in the cheese, much like they do in extra aged Goudas. Cougar Gold is a flakier cheese that the firm Goudas that I am familiar with. This white Cheddar crumbles more in the style of a Stilton. Although the Cougar Gold it crumbles it seems to be a bit firmer than a feta as well, although when we crumbled it to make a divine cheese sauce it came off in an irregular chunk much like a large feta cheese would do.

The flavor of this cheese is as good as the cheese heads have been telling me, so I am very glad to have listened to them!

. 








The Apple Cup is the annual college football rivalry game between the two largest universities in the U.S. state of Washington; the University of Washington (UW) Huskies and the Washington State University (WSU) Cougars. It is traditionally the final game of the regular season and takes place on the Saturday preceding Thanksgiving at Husky Stadium in Seattle during odd years, and WSU's Martin Stadium in Pullman during even years.

How many Chocolate Licorice do we have at Marina Market?

They all looks so pretty!  There are 5 kinds here but I don't have the raspberry chocolate bar up here.  I keep thinking that I am forgetting one...  I am very tired after the Open House today!  We once again had a really good time- and it was the company that was there!  Thank You for being there everyone!

10th Annual Dutch Open House Sunday Nov. 15 at Marina Market in Poulsbo

I'm busy cooking for all the hungry Hollanders who will be celebrating at the Marina Market.  Chocolate letters will be picked up and friends will be seen and made.  This is my favorite day of the year... it's my party!

I will update with photos soon!

Check out the new Katjes Licorice oracle

Katjes Licorice Oracle

Awesome selection of Katjes Licorice is at the Marina Market

And there is even MORE yummy black sweet and salty licorice here!

How do I use Nutella? Nutella Brownies lip smacking good!

You can buy the Dutch Nutella, "Nusco" at Marina Market.

Buy Nutella Here

On Saturday, August 8, 2009 A site I enjoy going to posted about Nutella Brownies -I had to share it-thanks Miranda!

Hungry Housewives Famous Nutella Brownies You can find the original recipe here

NUTELLA BROWNIES

1 cp. unsalted butter

2 cps. sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

4 eggs

1 cp. flour

3/4 cp. cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking powder

dash of salt

1/2 cp. Nutella

1/2 cp. Smooth Peanut Butter

1. Melt the butter.

Add the sugar and mix.

Add the vanilla and one egg at a time.

2. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a different bowl.

3. Slowly add to the wet mixture and combine.

Do not over mix.

Add the Nutella and Peanut butter.

Once again, do not over mix.

4. Add to a 9x13 greased pan and cook on 350 for about 50 minutes.

They are done when a tooth pick is inserted into the brownies and comes out clean.

Tine's golden Ridder Ost, is it the best Norwegian cheese? Nokkelost?

You can buy Tine Ridder Ost from Norway at the Marina Market.

When I was invited to the Poulsbo Daughters of Norway meeting to give a cheese class. The following cheeses were sampled:

Cheese from Norway

Tine Ridder Ost Tangy and lingering.

You can buy Tine Nokkelost from Norway at the Marina Market. The story of Nokkelost and Leiden cheese from Holland.

You can buy Snofrisk spreadable goat cream cheese from Norway at the Marina Market. Very versitale, it's good on crackers, lefse or in spaghetti sauce.

Cheese from Holland

Beemster 1st milk spring cheese Very good cheese from happy cows.

You can buy Leiden or Leyden Cumin Clove cheese from Holland at the Marina Market. This is our families favorite cheese.

You can buy Frisian Clove Cheese from Holland at the Marina Market. Also called nail kaas because whole cloves look like nails.

Buy Beemster Gouda with Fine Herbs (Stinging Nettles) at the Marina Market. Finally a taste of Nettle! This is really good and no risk of being stung!

Buy Beemster Gouda with whole Mustard Seeds from Holland at the Marina Market. Crunchy whole mustard seeds.

You can buy Aged Gouda with Cumin Seeds (Cumin Ost) at the Marina Market. Cumin and cheese.

Aged Gouda Gold Label More than one cheese book claim this to be a world class cheese.

Parrano (Dutch version of Reggino Parmasano) Has the saly flavor crystals like Parm does.

You can buy Raw Milk Farmers Cheese (Boren Kaas) at the Marina Market.

Cheese from Denmark

Esrom 45% fat Stinky Cheese The Esrom was in perfect stinky form. Very Pungent, a rosy glow and soft.

Ridder Ost was my Mothers favorite cheese. Today in honor of her memory I will tell you what Tine (Tina) the manufacturer has to say about this tangy wonderful cheese.

Ridder Ost is a one hundred per cent Norwegian
invention, although it is related to French
cheeses like Saint Paulin and Port Salut.
The cheese was launched in 1969 under
the name Ridder, which is the Norwegian
word for "Knight", e.g. something
exclusive. The rind is edible and the taste is
distinctive and can be relatively sharp.
U s a g e
Ridder is a typical dessert-type cheese served
with crackers, summer fruits and berries; it is
very suitable for cheese platters. It can be
used as an appetizer, as a cooking ingredient
or sliced in sandwiches.
It should be cut in relatively thick slices.
the makers of Jarlsberg

http://www.tine.no/

Recipe

Ridder Ost Raclette
Tasty, tasty, tasty.

Use Ridder cheese to give raclette the sharp taste.
4 portions
Ingredients
800 g Ridder

8 boiled potatoes

500 g bacon or smoked ham

Trimmings:
Broccoli

Peppers

Cherry tomatoes

Mushrooms

You can buy Kuhne German or Dutch Pickled gherkins at the Marina Market.

You can buy Kuhne German or Dutch Silver onions at the Marina Market.

And of course good crusty, chewy, Bread.

Cut the cheese into slices. Cook the potatoes and vegetables; place them on the raclette iron to keep warm. Let the guests help themselves to the cheese in the raclette pans, as well as the potatoes and vegetables, pickled gherkins, silver onions and ham at the table.

Toro Mexican Tomato soup mix

I have always wondered why the Norwegian packaged soups by TORO taste so different than American made soups. Well I finally found out! I was looking at and translating from the Toro product information (not that easy, but not that hard either).

They sun dry the vegetables that they use in the dried soups! That was a V-8 head slapping revelation. Of course- that would obviously make the flavors intensify much more that freeze drying them. It also explains why the vegetables rehydrate and look like real sliced vegetables again!
You can buy Toro Mixes from Norway and other Norwegian products at the Marina Market.

A new supply to Toro Products and Norwegian Christmas items will be in stock the week of November 15th.

The Marina Market also carries a variety of Maggi, German and Canadian Knorr soup mixes.

National Candy Days- mark your calandars and spread the Love!

January
3rd – National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day
8th – National English Toffee Day
26th – National Peanut Brittle Day

February
15th – National Gum Drop Day
19th – National Chocolate Mint Day

March
3rd week – American Chocolate Week
19th – National Chocolate Caramel Day
24th – National Chocolate-Covered Raisin Day

April
12th – National Licorice Day
21st – National Chocolate-Covered Cashews Day
22nd – National Jelly Bean Day

May
12th – National Nutty Fudge Day
15th – National Chocolate Chip Day
23rd – National Taffy Day

June
National Candy Month
16th – Fudge Day

July
7th – National Chocolate Day
15th – Gummi Worm Day
20th – National Lollipop Day
28th – National Milk Chocolate Day

August
4th – National Chocolate Chip Day
10th – S’mores Day
30th – National Toasted Marshmallow Day

September
13th – International Chocolate Day
22nd – National White Chocolate Day

October
National Caramel Month
28th – National Chocolate Day
30th – National Candy Corn Day
31st – National Caramel Apple Day

November
7th – National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

December
7th – National Cotton Candy Day
16th – National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day
26th – National Candy Cane Day
28th – National Chocolate Day
29th – National Chocolate Day

How Are Special Observance Days Determined?
In the United States, the President has the authority to declare a commemorative event or day by proclamation. This is very rarely done; less than 150 are granted in an average year.
Until January 1995, Congress had been active in seeing that special observances were commemorated. Members of the Senate and House could introduce legislation for a special observance to commemorate people, events and other activities they thought worthy of national recognition. Because these bills took up a disproportionate amount of time on the part of senators and representatives and their staffs, when Congress met in January 1995 to review and reform its rules and procedures, it was decided to discontinue this process. However, the Senate still does issue commemorative resolutions which do not have the force of law.
Some state legislatures and governors still proclaim special days, as do mayors of cities.
How do organizations promote awareness about an event or concern that they feel deserves recognition by the public, like the special candy celebration days listed on NCA's web site? Usually a company or individual connected to the candy type contacts a major calendar of events publisher - like Chase's Calendar of Events. The day is often chosen for a significant reason. For example, the day before Halloween is Candy Corn Day.

Marina Market carries Sweet and Salty real Black Licorice drop Lakrid, salmaik lakritz, salmiakki liquorice, from Holland, Germany, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, England, Australia, Indonesia, Italy, Canada, Ireland and the United States.

New shipment of Nidar candy is now in stock!

Laban is ‘Sweet for the playful’. Laban (Jelly men) provides scope for creativity and playfulness, which is reinforced not least by the advertisements. Laban is also a good example of how a traditional brand can grow and renew itself. After the introduction of Laban Seigdamer (Jelly ladies) in 2002, Laban obtained an even stronger position in the Norwegian market. In 2007, Laban Sure Skrikerunger (Sour Jelly Crybabies) complemented the Laban family, and reinforced the brand name further. Sadly they didn't send me the sour ones... yet!   200g Freia bars and Marzipan Pigs will be in stock the week of November 15th.

You can buy Nidar candy from Norway and other Norwegian candy at the Marina Market.

Marina Market also has a large selection of Haribo and Katjes Gummi candies.

Haribo Baren Pranken or Bear Paws, Sweet Black Licorice.

Haribo Baren Pranken.  These cute little bear paws are so soft they melt like butter in your mouth and they ever so slighty salty .  I suggest this black licorice as a sample if people want to try a salty licorice.  If they love or hate it I then have the keystone of flavors they like so I can guide them through the Licorice Shrine. You can buy Haribo Baren Pranken Paws at the Marina Market.

Marina Market also has a large selection of Haribo and Katjes Gummi candies.

Haribo Sali Kritz black salty licorice

This is a really fun addition for the licorice bowl.  Inside is a 'meaty' strong fairly salty black licorice that holds it's own against the intensely fruity candy shell.  They are about an inch or so in length and are about a half inch thick.  When they are fresh it is very easy to break through the shell and chew merrily away.  If you like a tougher chew open them a few days before you want to eat them.  Yeah I know, like they will last that long!  You can buy Sali Kritz at the Marina Market.

Marina Market also has a large selection of Haribo and Katjes Gummi candies.