Creamy Preferred

Truly American or not - I guess it really does not matter, grits are just good.

I enjoy them for breakfast prepared with cheese and a touch of cayenne. But, grits are not just for breakfast. It's aka polenta in my family; enjoyed topped with a Bolognese sauce - just like my grandfather from Marche Italy would have prepared for dinner years ago. 

Parmesan Pan Grits
recipe by George Hirsch | Serves two – four

2 cups cooked grits, follow package directions with 1/2 water, 1/2 milk
2 Tablespoons olive oil
6 cloves caramelized garlic
1/4 cup sweet onion, chopped
1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, shaved
2 teaspoons fresh sage, rubbed
fresh grated nutmeg
fresh grated black pepper
2 Tablespoons grated Parmigiano cheese

Pre heat a non stick sauté pan.

Add olive oil, garlic, and white onion, cook until onion is tender.  Add cooked grits and top with Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings.  Toss or stir grits, add rubbed fresh sage, fresh grated nutmeg, and pepper.  Continue to toss, cook for ten minutes and top with extra Parmigiano cheese.

U-Pick

Sure berries are available year round these days, so you may be thinking what's so special about berries now?  Well, believe it or not, it is prime berry season. For me in the Hamptons I am minutes away from picking up my local favorites, strawberries. I'm looking forward to serving up berry shortcake, cobbler and even simply plain yogurt or cream with local fresh picked berries.

What I like to do when I gather a mixture of wild blueberries or raspberries from my backyard is make a cool refreshing smoothie. It’s quick and good for you (packed with valuable antioxidants) but most importantly, it just tastes great! Go pick this weekend..

Berry Smoothie

recipe by George Hirsch | from George Hirsch Living it UP! cookbook

1 cup strawberries

juice from 1/2 lemon

1 cup frozen low fat yogurt

1/2 cup fat free milk 

Place berries in blender and puree. Add the lemon juice, frozen yogurt and milk. Blend until smooth. 

Optional: blueberies, raspberries, or blackberries

Lyons vs. Barry's

This is one topic in Ireland that is as serious as rugby or politics. I asked just about every person I met in Ireland which brand they preferred better, Lyons or Barry's. Barry's seemed to hold the lead during our filming there. But then upon departure at Irish Customs I was told I was bringing home the wrong brand. They preferred Lyons. I can't be swayed, Barry's fan here.

Barry’s Tea has a long established reputation and heritage as Ireland’s leading tea blenders. Barry's teas are selected from the best tea estates in the world, ensuring that you enjoy the perfect cup every time. The teas are sourced from the Assam Valley of India, Kenya and Rwanda, guaranteeing the distinctive Barry’s taste that the Irish have grown to know and love.

One of Ireland's biggest brands, Lyon's Tea is a completely natural product with no additives. These teas are bagged in pyramid style bags, giving the tea leaves more room to infuse, and delivering you a better cup. An ethically sound brand, Lyon's Tea contains a minimum of 50% Rainforest Alliance Certified™ tea - by 2010, the tea in the Original blend will be fully certified, and by 2012, all Lyon's Teas will be.

Bob's Red Mill

I love a product with a good story. Just 15 minutes from Portland, Oregon you'll find Bob at his big red mill - touting the way of his hand stonemilled products; preserving nutrition through tradition.

Our beautiful stone grinding mills are much like the ones used during early Roman times. And to this day, our quartz millstones remain the best way to produce the finest products available. Unlike high-speed steel rollers, our stone mills ensure the most nutritious parts of the whole grain remain, so we can pack all-natural goodness right into your bag.

 Buckwheat is a delicious alternative to my tradional pancake recipe.

Bob's Buckwheat Pancake and Waffle Mix is full of wholesome goodness and flavor, using organic stone ground whole grain wheat and buckwheat flours, pure raw sugar and non-aluminum leavening, using only organic flour. Just top off the deliciou stack with your favorite maple syrup.