Beer 101

Most of us love a good beer, don’t we?  But how many of us casual beer drinkers know the proper way to taste and savor it?  Sure, wine tasting is immensely popular for some, but some of us beer drinkers know a thing or two about the fine art of tasting.  For those that would like to know more, here’s a shortened “how-to” guide..

1. Look
   Raise the beer in front of you.  Describe its true color, its head and its consistency.
2. Agitate
   Swirl your beer gently in the glass.  This will pull out aromas.
3. Smell
   90-95% of what you experience is through your sense of smell.  Breath through your nose with two quick sniffs, then with your mouth open, then through your mouth only.  Enjoy its bouquet.
4. Taste
   Sip the beer but don’t swallowit immediately.  Allow it to wander and explore your entire palate.  Try to detect any sweetness, salty flavors, acids and general bitterness.  As a beer warms, its true flavors will pull through, become more pronounced.

For more detailed information about how to properly “taste” a beer, check out the BeerAdvocate website.  And when you’re ready to put your new skills into pracice, you can always take a tour of the Boulevard Brewing Co. in downtown Kansas City (2501 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64108), not too far from Hampton Woods.  They’re the largest specialty brewer in the midwest and they have a free 45 minute tour of their plant that includes a sampling session at the end of it.  You may even already be familiar with their offereings.  Besides some terrific seasonal offerings, their selections include Bully! Porter, Lunar Ale and Dry Stout.

The award for best burger in the Kansas City metro area goes to…

Who’s got the best burger in the Kansas City metro area?  According to the Food Network’s new 50 States, 50 Burgers report, it’s one of either two spots.  See, what they attempted to report on was the one “must taste” burger in each state.  But with Kansas City’s unique geographic location right on the border of Missouri and Kansas, they actually have two burgers in the area that are listed.  So, Hampton Woods, I’ve decided to put on us the unenvious task of deciding which is the greater of the two.  The contenders are…

blanc burgers + bottles

419 Westport Rd., Kansas City

“Inside Out Burger”

The burger equivalent of the tunnel-of-fudge cake: a rich patty—with tenderloin, rib eye and New York strip—stuffed with blue cheese that oozes out when you bite in. The chef at this modern joint serves the thick patty with bacon and an onion ring on a soft onion-brioche bun.

Winstead’s

10 locations across Kansas & Missouri

“Steakburger”

Conventional wisdom says that one should never crush a burger with a spatula, but that technique is exactly what has drawn crowds to this small Midwestern chain for nearly 70 years. Razor-thin patties made from ground steak are seared on a flattop grill until the edges are crisp.

Well, what do you think?  If you haven’t had the fortune of tasting both of these delicous sounding sandwiches, then which one do you think sounds the tastiest?  As for me, I love a classic burger like Winstead’s…but the burger at blanc’s looks REAALLLY good.  I think I’m going to have to go with them.

Poll: When I get hungry, I want…

So many sandwiches, so little time!  We all have our favorites.  Mine is half-turkey, half-pastrami with lettuce and provolone.  What about you?  If you had two pick between two of the most common sandwich types, Hampton Woods, which would you pick?  Take our sandwhich survey (in the column to the right).

Are you ready for some BBQ?

I looove BBQ! Chances are that you do to.  So I’m wagering that you’re probably already planning to hit up the Great American Barbecue Festival this weekend at Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone in Bonner Springs. Competitions on Saturday will include the Open, where contestants will cook meats ranging from beef to pork butt, side dish, dessert and a rib eating competition. The festival also includes food vendors, free samples, a carnival for youths and cooking demonstrations. The people’s choice sampling tent will also be open. Saturday’s festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is $10.

Honey Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Did you know that the Chocolate Chip was invented at the Toll House Inn in Massachusettes around 1937?  Neither did I until Google told me.  I was looking for a good excuse to post a chocolate chip cookie recipe and this was as good as any that I could come up with…not that any excuse is needed to post a chocolate chip cookie recipe.  The cookie is reason enough itself.  Enjoy!

Honey Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup honey
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup light or reduced calorie margarine
• 4 egg whites
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup oats (quick cooking)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream honey, applesauce and margarine in large mixing bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Beat in the egg whites, individually, then add vanilla extract. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and mix well. Add the dry ingredients to honey mixture and mix thoroughly. Stir in chocolate chips and the nuts. Heap teaspoonfuls of the dough mixture onto lightly greased or oiled cookie sheets. Place cookie sheet on top or middle rack in oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Let cookies stand for 1 minute and then remove and place on wire racks to cool completely.

In-Season Produce: Asian Roll Lettuce Wraps

We now know that buying in-season fruits and vegetables, particularly produce that has been grown locally, is better for our environment (and probably our taste buds and bodies too).  But it also provides an exciting opportunity to try new foods and to experiment with seasonal recipes!

Check out this recipe for Asian Roll Lettuce Wraps.  If you make it, shoot a picture of your finished dish and upload it to the Hampton Woods Facebook page.  Anyone interested in having a community cooking contest?

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
• 1 cup brown rice
• 1 cup water
• 16 large lettuce leaves
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 cup green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup sliced red bell pepper
• 1 cup sliced radishes
• 1/3 cup light soy sauce
• 1/3 cup water
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
• 1 teaspoon sugar

In-Season Produce: Markets near Hampton Woods

Do you shop for your fresh food and produce locally? If not, you may want to give it some serious consideration. Although today’s global market allows us to buy foods grown almost anywhere in the world at any given time, this option is not the most sustainable.

Buying in-season fruits and vegetables that are locally grown helps to eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods across the country – and in some cases – the world. Not only does your food dollar go directly to the farmers, but you’re able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, better tasting, unprocessed produce. According to the National Resources Defense Council, in-season foods for the state of Missouri (and surrouning areas) include:

Lettuce Radishes Apples* (Colorado) Asparagus (Missouri) Beets (Oklahoma) Brussels Sprouts (Oklahoma) Green Peas (Missouri) Greens (Oklahoma) Onions (Oklahoma)

Peas (Oklahoma) Pinto Beans (Colorado) Popcorn (Colorado) Potatoes (Colorado) Scallions (Missouri) Spinach (Missouri) Swiss Chard (Oklahoma) Turnips (Oklahoma)

Here is a short list of markets that sell fresh locally grown foods near the Hampton Woods area. If you can suggest any other markets, leave a comment and let the community know!

Markets near Hampton Woods

Going Green: Invigorate your hair

Check out this easy Do it Yourself recipe courtesy of The Daily Green…

Revitalizing Avocado Hair Treatment

• 1 medium avocado — peeled and stoned
• 2 tablespoons honey

Mash together the ingredients in a small bowl.  Massage into hair.  Leave for 20-30 minutes.  Wash hair as usual.  Makes 1 application.

Fogelman Management Group is focused on spreading the word about Going Green, a term that signifies the social movement towards environmental conservation, protection and improvement. It’s all about making simple lifestyle choices that will lessen our negative impact on the Earth. Making and using home products with organic materials is just one way to we can make a difference.

Stay tuned to the Hampton Woods blog throughout the month of April for more tips on how you can play your part.

FREE ICE CREAM TODAY!!!

If you’re on a diet, please forgive me, but the information I’m about to give you may throw you off course.  I just found out that Ben & Jerry’s (yeah, the good stuff) is giving out FREE ice cream cones today between noon and 8pm.

“Our co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield first scooped up free ice cream all day back in 1979 as a way to thank the community for supporting them in their first year.  Now it’s an annual tradition at many of our scoop shops around the world.  It’s your chance to try any of our flavors for free!”

According to the Ben & Jerry’s website, the free ice cream promotion aims to give back to the community by raising donations for the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society.

It looks like the closest Ben & Jerry’s shop is at Deer Creek Marketplace in Overland Park (6984 W. 135th Street).  Enjoy!

Asbury Villas, Culvers, Three Women and an Oven and some Snowboarding!

After working late, I went directly to my Mom’s house.  She lives in an awesome, maintenance-provided, custom home which sort of serves as a retirement community but really, seems more like a neighborhood with a pool and coffee for you in the morning.  It’s lovely and gives Mom a chance to meet her neighbors.  (Sort of like Hampton Woods but for buyers) For someone that is recently widowed after 46 years of marriage, the idea that she has met friends to go see Avatar with is fantastic.  If you want more information, visit them at www.asburyvillas.net.

Anyway, her home is so cozy.  I walked in and sat on the couch, opening my laptop to work a bit longer and Mom took off to Culvers to get us dinner.  I’m not huge on fast food, but the Culvers fish sandwich is decent enough and their custard concretes (think oreo cheesecake) are pretty amazing. 

Visiting Mom…I feel like I am sucked right back in time and I’m 10 years old again.  Mom comes in with my fish sandwich, plates it up with a side of ketchup and a cherry coke and sets me in front of the television.  How great is that?  My husband takes great care of me…but I certainly plate up my own frozen meal from the freezer.  After our Culvers, my brother and his son came to visit and we watched snowboarding and curling.  I know I am different than most, but I wish the Olympics were on year-round.  Go Team USA!  It was amazing watching Shawn White win the Gold and Lindsey Vonn embrace her husband for 30 seconds after her Gold Medal win. 

During the afternoon, my mom had purchased a small Pink Champagne cake from 3 Women and an Oven which is a boutique bakery just off 151st and Metcalf in Overland Park.  www.3womendesserts.com.  Let me just say it is one of my favorite bakeries in the state.  And as you may be able to tell from our posts, I know bakeries!  They serve baby cakes (small cupcakes), cookies, pastries, cheesecakes, bars, etc…And they are rich and delectable.  The pink champagne cake…granules of sugar get stuck to your lips…it’s fabulous.  And they are beautiful.  Swirls of chocolate and heart-shaped cakes and sparkling frosting.  For your next  baby shower, wedding shower or birthday party…or even because you deserve it…drop by Three Women and an Oven.  Delectable and each bite is so much fun.  (The atmosphere is small, pink, eclectic and lovely…)

Life doesn’t get much better than Fried Fish Sandwiches with Pink Champagne Cake with your Mom and brother while the Olympics are on.  Gotta love living life!

Tonight we will be having dinner at the house and I can’t wait to watch the Men’s figure skating showdown. 

Any thoughts on where we should visit next?  Let me know if there is anywhere that you feel would be great for a resident event!  We’ll check it out!  Shawnee and KC has so much to offer!

-Hampton Woods

Next Page »