BLT

• I regret to report that one of our favorite foodie websites, Tastespotting, has shut down. — Tastespotting
• Watch this insane video of a man smashing 40 watermelons with his head! — Serious Eats
• Learn how to reduce balsamic vinegar. — Cookthink
• Do you know any kids who would eat scorpions for breakfast and snails for dinner? — The New York Times
• To die for: BLT sandwich with basil aioli on grilled flatbread. — Family Style Food
• Speaking of bacon, has anyone tried bacon salt? — Blogged Arteries
• What to do with those pesky, empty pizza boxes. — CasaSugar
• Ilan Hall on Los Angeles and the season finale of Top Chef. — NY Daily News
• Tim Zagat talks about his experience as a judge on Top Chef. — Zagat

Source

I love making a classic sandwich — in this case, the BLT — more exciting. I almost always add avocado to my BLTs and I jazz up the mayonnaise with herbs or spices. For this kicked up BLT, the mayo is mixed with garlic, fresh lime juice, and chili powder. The recipe has you cook the bacon on the stove, but for a mess-free variation, bake it in the oven on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper for 15 minutes at 375°F. To make this filling and comforting sandwich tonight, get the recipe, read more

Ever wonder if the children of famous chefs eat better than yours (or you for that matter)? This past weekend Parade magazine ran an article where five well-known chefs discuss what they put in their children's lunches.

Surprisingly, while wonderfully delicious and healthy, their tips are actually effortless and easy to recreate in your own kitchen. Wolfgang Puck opts for cold pre-pressed paninis, while Emeril Lagasse — whose children seemed the most adventurous — suggests shrimp spring rolls with fresh veggies.

However my favorite quote comes from Tyler Florence who sends his son Miles to school with wraps filled with grilled veggies and goat cheese.

"If he happens to trade what I made for him when he gets to school, it’s a great way to break the ice with the girls."

How adorable is that?!

To eat like Tyler and his son do, check out the recipe for Tyler's BLT with a Twist, read more

I was super excited when the movie Spanglish came out a few years ago. After all, it features two of my great loves: food and Spanish! It was actually a disappointment to me - Tea Leoni's character ruined the entire movie for me - but the scene where Adam Sandler's character makes himself a delicious looking sandwich and pairs it with a cold glass of beer has stood out in my mind. At the time, I remember thinking, man that looks good. Little did I know that it was what the director, James L. Brooks, was going for! In his stage directions, he stated that the main character would make a snack viewers will remember and copy. In order to do so, he turned to America's most famed culinary mind, Thomas Keller, and asked him to create a sandwich that would entice the audience. Keller, who helped Sandler prepare for the movie, came up with what may be the most simple, best tasting sandwich ever: a jazzed up version of a BLT. To watch the trailer (it includes the sandwich part!) and see the recipe, read more