Casbah Falafel Mix

I was shopping at Carr's / Safeway the other day. I happened to look at the bottom shelf in the rice aisle and noticed all these interesting brands I'd never heard of before [including the previously mentioned Lunbgerg risotto]. I decided to buy a box of Casbah Falafel Mix on the spot.My roommates were to be my guineas pigs that night *waves to the guys*.

The instructions called for mixing in 1 cup of water and forming patties. An initial taste of the batter made me realize it was too grainy tasting to please my meat and potato loving men. I added whole milk ricotta, Gorgonzola cream sauce, black beans, chunky salsa, and fresh chopped garlic, onions and tomatoes to the batter. I used olive oil instead of vegetable oil for frying.

I should add that one of my roommates is a mischievous Bulgarian. I had turned my back on the pan for one second. The next thing I knew he was at the stove with a bottle in hand [ "Bwa ha ha, this needs pehhhhhhper ! Lots of hot spicy red pehhhhhhhper ! *Count Von Count laugh* That's how we like it in Bulgaria !"] The red pepper flakes were the perfect addition to the falafel. The only thing missing was some cucumber yogurt sauce. I wish I had thought to make a batch of it.

Overall, the falafel was a big hit at my apartment. I definitely plan to buy Casbah Falafel Mix again.

**I know at least one of you must be singing "Rock the Casbah !" after reading this post.

Lundberg Risotto: Butternut Squash

Lundberg's risotto mix is outstanding! It is slightly creamy, with a tantalizing, mouth pleasing butternut squash ambiance. The package is small, but makes a lot more risotto than expected. I suggest serving it with spicy jerky chicken, red grapes and a good bottle of wine. The flavors play off each other magnificently. Two thumbs up for Lunberg!

Sangria Senorial [non-alcoholic Sangria]

This drink caught my eye at the [pitifully small, 2 shelf] Mexican aisle at Carr's / Safeway. Can you tell I miss Miami ? Anyway, I gave in on my last shopping trip and bought a bottle. Big disclaimer: I have never tried real Sangria before. But I will say that the non-alcoholic version is very light on the tongue. Trying to capture and identify the taste is a fruitless effort.

Wolfgang Puck's Pizza

The grocery store I currently shop at is not where one would expect to find gourmet products. So I was surprised to come across Wolfgang Puck's All Natural Four Cheese, Tomato and Pesto Pizza. The four cheeses are mozzarella, fontina, parmesan and goat cheese. Huge props for that combination and the soft, thick crust. It cooked rather quickly, too.

However, the tomatoes were soggy. This pizza would have been perfect if it had been topped with the sweet, succulent tomatoes Amy's Organic uses. Also, the pie is rather small at 12.25 ounces. One of my roommates and I polished it off very quickly [Yes, I had three slices. Shush.].

Seven dollars for one tiny pizza is rather extravagant. I could have bought a bigger, albeit less tasty, one from Pizza Hut or Red Barron. It is unfortunate,but this yummy masterpiece is probably a one time buy for me. It seems impractical to purchase something so small and expensive unless you are eating alone or have a small appetite.

Inlet View Espresso, Anchorage, Alaska

Inlet View Espresso
Ship Creek Center
333 W. 4th Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska
907-277-7332

The sandwiches at this cafe are not impressive. Don't get me wrong, the sandwiches were not poorly made or anything of that nature. It's just not worth $5 for one made from Kraft slices, some ham and the cheap brand of bread most of us buy at Carr's.

The selection of smoothies and desserts, however, is quite extensive and seems promising.