Hi everyone!
This blog post was going to be all about how I went to the 2015 Fancy Food Show at the Javitz Center in Manhattan with my friend Julie, how I met Bon Jovi’s brother and father who now sells pasta sauce, how I met Mary of Mary’s Gone Gluten Free Crackers (it felt like I was meeting Madonna!) and how I ate more cheese, dips, chocolates and Sriracha products than I knew what to do with but I need to first tell you about my journey there and back on the #66 Bus from my town of Montclair, NJ to Manhattan.
Today was the Gay Pride Parade in NYC, but today’s parade was surely different from those of years past. Gay marriage is now legal all over the U.S. and watching the gay and straight teens, alone and in groups with their friends going and coming home from the parade, dressed in rainbow colors and carrying their flags was almost too much for me to bear on that bus. I was verklempt.
A young teen girl was alone, wearing a baseball cap that said “Lesbian” and a rainbow scarf around her arm. One young man sat by himself holding a rainbow flag the whole way home and all I could think about was how far we have come. When I was growing up in NY, that kid surely would have gotten his ass kicked walking through Times Square to get to that bus. Now he could feel proud and supported.
There was another woman on the bus, however, holding a flag that said “Keep our LGBT Youth Safe” which reminded me that as far as we have come, we still have a long way to go. I remember that not all areas are as progressive as my town and that there is still more work to do. Let’s make it happen!
As for the new trends this year at the Fancy Food Show:
GLUTEN FREE Products!!!! Crackers, cookies, breads, etc.
Sriracha is KING! Chips, powders for Popcorn, ketchups, yum!!!
Coconut EVERYTHING! Ice cream, waters, oils, butters, you name it.
Hemp is all over!
I did meet Bon Jovi’s brother and Dad, we talked about their arrabiata sauce and I relentlessly and shamelessly talked about how I want his son to be a part of Parents Who Rock’s 10 year anniversary event at the Montclair Museum. I’m sure he hates me and won’t give Jon my card. I was too pushy.
Anyhoo, below is a recipe I have been meaning to share with you and one that I will be eating tomorrow when I start my detox after today’s insane food fest. Enjoy!
1 1/2 lbs lima beans, frozen and then boiled for 5 minutes, drained and cooled
3/4 cup avocado oil (or other neutral oil like canola)
1 1/2 tbsp date syrup (or honey)
1 tsp kosher salt (more to taste)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (more to taste)
Steps:
Puree in a food processor until very smooth.