Man Made DIY

I don't know what it is. Perhaps it's the obvious contrast between a childhood favorite meal and a very adult beverage, or just the pure curiousity of seeing whether a cocktail can not only taste like a savory food, but a complete meal, but I'm gonna do everything I can to make a grilled cheese and tomato soup martini.   … read more

As a child, my favorite kid-friendly food was grilled cheese and tomato soup. It was one of the few days I bought lunch at school, and it always hit the spot after a snowball fight, or when at home on a sick day. It was even the first meal I learned to cook, around age nine.

As an adult? My favorite kid-friendly food is grilled cheese and tomato soup. Kids today can keep their chicken fingers and mac and cheese triangles, I'll stick with this combo of classic flavors.… read more

My buddy Adam works at an awesome farm, and through all his deliveries and CSAs and interactions, he comes across all kinds of local goodies. So, sometimes he'll show up at my door with a box of veggies, some artisinal foodstuffs, or the best - a gallon of fresh, non-homogenized milk. It's usually stored in some random container, not the packaged stuff the dairy sells in the store, and though I have no idea if it's raw or not, since it's illegal in many places, including where I live, it doesn't taste like it taste when I buy the same product at the market. So, let's just assume it's as minimally processed as possible, which is fine by me. It tastes amazing - it's sorta grassy, but creamy, and basically...tastes like milk should taste.

So, this isn't the kind of thing you wanna just pour on your cereal, or dunk your cookies. It deserves something special.

Like homemade queso fresco, the ultimate expression of fresh farmer's cheese. If you don't have access to special milk, don't worry; it's still delicious to make at home, and way less expensive that buying it in the store. Here's how:   … read more

Most of us wouldn't admit it freely, but American cheese is awesome. No, it's not the ultimate expression of what milk and time can do, but you can't deny it's uniqueness and nostalgia. It's likely the first cheese that many of us in the U.S. ever tasted, and you can't deny it's meltability on a burger or grilled cheese.

But, it's not quite cheese...that is, innoculated and pressed milk. "Instead, it’s either a blend of cheese and additives, or it’s a highly processed mixture of ingredients such as water, milk, milkfat, milk protein, whey, food coloring, flavorings, and emulsifiers." … read more

I wish I hated Velveeta. I really do. I mean...I don't eat it, ever, but I have lots of really good memories from childhood. Growing up, we didn't consume it often, so when we did: guaranteed special occasion. I'm not a total health nut, but I do my best to stick to, you know, actual food. So, no Velveeta for me. I guess it sorta sits in the same category as McDonald's for me: I do choose to avoid it...but it's a really, really hard choice.

Here's the other thing: I really like nachos. I love Latin flavors in general, but I particularly have a problem with nachos. Probably for the same reason as above, but for me, there's no better comfort food than the crunchy-then-saturated topping-covered corn chips. And sure, you can shred your own cheese and melt it atop, but dude, that's not anywhere near the same, now is it?  … read more