Things I Am Loving This Week (& BTW This is Post #400!)

I just noticed that today marks my 400th post! I am amazed that it came so fast and that I have had that much to say. ;-) I am still having fun and I am enjoying all that I have learned and everyone I have gotten to know through doing this. Mahalo (thank you) to all of you who read my blog and take the time to leave such positive comments--it really means a lot to me. 

Of course there is still no shortage of the (mostly) food related "Things I Am Loving This Week."

For example I am so loving mangoes right now. Actually I love mangoes any old time but at the height of mango season they are just so perfectly firm, sweet and good. Local mangoes abound at the farmer's markets, the stores and even my CSA box (that big gorgeous beauty in the back was in my box last week). 

My favorite way to eat them is right over the sink with the juices running everywhere but I also love them in smoothies, drinks, last weeks crab parfait, and with some homemade vanilla ice cream. Mango ice cream and sorbet are good, but for me cut up juicy mangoes with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream (or vanilla frozen yogurt if I am being healthy), on top is that perfect creamy combination. Yum!

OK, it is hard to really "love" Food Inc. which pushes any action and horror movies aside as the scariest, most disturbing movie of the year, but it is so well done and it is a movie everyone should see. Food Inc. is an exposé on the food industry that looks at how large corporations run our food system, putting profit ahead of our health and safety with no policing from the very agencies set up to do so, the FDA and USDA. If you are at all into healthy eating, sustainability, organics, etc, it won't be completely new information for you, but it is presented in such a clear and very chilling way that you'll still walk away feeling shell-shocked. It is directed and produced by Robert Kenner and co-produced by Eric Schlosser, (Fast Food Nation), and it features my hero Michael Pollan among others. The ultimate message of the film is that we as consumers need to be aware of what is really going on in the food industry and do our part by "voting with our dollars" to make a change. No message is more important right now!

I do recommend you eat a healthy, local, preferably vegetarian meal before you go see it--you ain't gonna be hungry afterward! I was lucky enough to see it with my foodie friend and fellow food blogger Michelle at The Accidental Scientist and we ate a very pure, healthy meal at a macrobiotic community dinner before the film. The meal featured local style food (tofu poke, seitan musubi, potato/mac salad and haupia for dessert), made vegan and was delicious and the perfect thing to eat before the movie. (I was so caught up in catching up with Michelle, I forgot to take pictures but trust me it was amazing food!) Anyway go see this movie if you can or at least rent it when it comes out--it will make you think. 

Finally, I really love Ina Garten's Panzanella Salad. We made it last year for Barefoot Bloggers, (you can see that post with the recipe here), and I have made it a few times since then, including Saturday for a wonderful Italian-themed dinner party I went to. Nothing is more perfect for using the bounty of the season (like local tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, red onion and basil), than this hearty and delicious salad. 

My only "issue"? I have to make extra croutons because I have a tendency to eat all the bread chunks as they are toasting in the olive oil. It is quick and easy, tastes so good and is always a hit with anyone who tries it. The perfect "go-to" recipe for late summer. 

That's what I am loving this week! How about you?

BTW--You have until 6:00 PM (HST) today, Tuesday, August 25th to enter my giveaway for a copy of the newly published "The Frugal Foodie Cookbook". I'll be doing the random drawing and announcing the winner tomorrow. You can read my review of the book and get the details on how to enter here. 

Have a wonderful rest of your week!