Food Hypnosis

I'd like to think that I am adventurous and experimental.  I'm not afraid to try anything atleast once.  (ok... well maybe not "anything"!)  I don't think I could ever muster up enough courage to eat even a fraction of what Andrew Zimmerman tries on his tv show - Bizarre Foods.  -Yeah, I'll pass on the temporarily paralyzed live scorpions in a tangy soup broth,  or the fried pellet feces of some rare rodent!  Some extreme foodies may not be afraid to go there .... but this southern chica will admit defeat when my dish to taste contains potential DEATH in its ingredients!
However .... I'll still try more new things than the average person.  Which is why I thought it would be adventurous to step out of my box of failed attempts to try and lose weight.  Back in spring, I tried to lose 30lbs in 3 months.  I hired a personal trainer and everything.  -- Yeah.  That didn't work.
And along with a million other ideas  (yes, a million)  I never have been able to kick my bad habit of running to sweets-n-grease for comfort food and snacking.   It's my vice.  - Then I met Sean Wheeler of Pure Hypnosis.  He is an esteemed hypnotist who helps people overcome their addictions through hypno-therapy.  Which includes food addictions and over eating problems.
I have never been a believer of such practices .... so I thought I would bring him onto my radio show and learn more about his successful profession -- for my own selfish curiosity.  :-)

Sean offered to treat me to a hypnosis session, in order to help my subconscience NOT crave the fattening yumminess that I always run to.   I was game.  Bring it on.
But when I got there... my sense of adventure turned into an unexpected fear.  Shoot, I've never been hypnotized!  What if my brain gets STUCK like that????  And I cluck like a chicken for the rest of my life!  - I suddenly found myself nervous and not wanting to give up control of my mind.  In case you've never met me,  I happen to be rather a control freak.  So to "let go" into a mental state of subconscious suggestion .... my brain chose to be stubborn!  What can I say .... it's got a mind of it's on!
  (hahaha,  pun intended!)
To make a long story short,  I was there for over 2 hours, and I think I disappointed Sean when he realized I never 'went under', after all his hard work.  He said I wasn't 'open to the process'.  So technically, it didn't work. 
HOWEVER ... luckily, Sean records your sessions.  Now --- I can lay in the comfort of my own room at home, put the CD in, and let myself truly go and experience this surprisingly realistic and interesting exercise for myself.  The more you listen to the CD and practice these 'suggestions' ... the stronger it will effect your brain, and thus .... creating a new and improved mental YOU!  For whatever your addictions may be.

So.  As you are my witness ... starting tomorrow ... I am going to hypnotize myself  (-- that sounds funny)  every single day for one week.  -- Look at the date of this blog.   In one week from now .... you will have another Blog to read about it,  detailing the changes I've noticed and it's success for my life.  I have seen it work in other people and have heard amazing stories about this kind of therapy!!   I'm actually really excited.

I hate the gym.  So why not try hypnosis!   --- Hmmmm,  let's see .... drive to gym and be bored and miserable on some torture nazi machine ..... or lay in my bed and dream it to reality!!
Gee.  There's a hard decision.

 ----  Now where did I put my piece of pizza . . . . . . .



www.dishingwithdonnashow.com

My "Big Night Out"

On Friday, October 1st ... I have been invited to be the "celebrity-guest" for the Atlanta Braves "Big Night Out"!  This is an icredible VIP evening which you can actually go and purchase tickets for yourself!  -- Right now.  :-)    Here's what I am so excited about .... the "Big Night Out" includes:

1.  Luxury Suite game Tickets

2.  Free Parking

3.  A private cooking demonstration by the Atlanta Braves Senior Executive Chef, Orazio LaManna  (and Me!)

4.  Gourmet Dinner

5.  Open Bar all night

6.  Lots of fun goodies!!

This is a special one night a month event that Chef LaManna created and October is the last one to be held for this entire year.  I am honored to be the "FINALE" guest for 2010.  This is going to be so much fun!! 

Our theme is "Sexy Southern Cuisine"  and I get to create lobster macaroni and cheese ... but here's the twist .... we're killing the lobsters right there in front of you, and thus using the freshest meat you can find.  It is going to be beyond delicious,  and I'm salivating just thinking about it already!  (not so excited about killing the lobsters in front of an audience)

Also,  Chef informed me we will be 'playing' with liquid nitrogen!  Even more fun!!!  It is a growing popular technique for cooking dessert foods especially like ice cream - milkshakes - popcorn balls - etc....  But it's dangerous!  - It's not like every morning you wake up and think to yourself, "Hmmmm,  I think I'm in the mood for some liquid nitrogen today".  I've seen it on TV -- shows like Top Chef and even Next Food Network Star ... and I know Richard Blais here in Atlanta serves liquid nitrogen milkshakes from his restaurant in Midtown called FLIP ..... but I've still never seen it done in person before.  Much less get to play in it all by myself!

As I write this blog,  there are only 10 tickets left to sell.  After that,  the private cooking suite is over capacity and tickets will no longer be available.    It's $125.00 per person and just click on the link below to order.

Buen Provecho and can't wait to see you lucky 10 on October 1st!!

Fireworks Extravaganze to follow!!!   Finally!!

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/atl/ticketing/big_night_out.jsp

(pictures will definitely be coming)

(Definitely!)

www.dishingwithdonnashow.com

Sweet Potato Salad - Restaurant Style!

If memory serves me correctly, this may just be the very first recipe to ever hit this DwD Blog.  I couldn't resist it ... after last weekend's Recipe Showdown, my stomach hasn't stopped craving this delicious and most popular side dish from one of Historic Roswell's hot spots - INDIGO.   Chef Todd Hogan proudly created this dish and if you love some great southern flair .... then try this winner next time you are looking to impress even your own taste buds!

SWEET POTATO SALAD

3 large Sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
3/4 cup Red onion, diced
2/3 cup Celery, diced
1 tbsp Ginger root, peeled and grated
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 tbsp Parsley
1/2 cup raisins
2 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp pepper

* Cook potatoes in salted water until tender.  Cool on sheet tray
* While potatoes cool, place all other ingredients in mixing bowl and mix together
* Fold in cooked potatoes and allow to sit for at least 4 hours before serving.
(optional:  you can serve this warmed as well .... Mmmmm!)


Not only does this dish capture the sassiness of the south,  but it will have your kitchen smelling like a southern dream.  Happy Cooking and let me know how it turns out for ya.

Thank you Chef Todd Hogan (and Owner) of Indigo Restaurant.
Buen Provecho!!




www.dishingwithdonnashow.com

Recipe Showcase

I know, I know.  I was bad last week and didn't update the blog.  I will be honest and say that I have had a rough past 2 weeks.  Forgive me for the delay ... I was in a car accident which totalled my car 2 weeks ago and then had to go off to South Carolina to be the "Hope Speaker" at a women's motivational conference this past week.  (a blog about that is coming!!)  When I think all along,  I was the one who needed the motivation.  - God and his timing.  Doesn't he just have such the sense of humor!

I barely made it to my radio show this past Saturday.  I came flying in from South Carolina, straight to the studios, and running down the hallway, exploding into the Live studio like a tornado -- threw on my headphones, and in one nano second .... had just enough time to take one breath before immediatly saying  "Hello and Welcome to the Dishing With Donna Show".   And this is no exaggeration!!  I have witnesses.  It turned out to be quite hysterical!  - Gotta love Live radio.
My show for the day was RECIPE SHOWDOWN, with noted chefs and restauranteurs around Atlanta coming in and sharing the actual recipe of one of their most popular menu dishes.   It was delicious!  I had the pleasure of having Gus Tselios, owner of Marietta Fish Market/Marietta Diner/Cherokee Cattle Co./Pasta Bella  (whew!) give us the recipe to his famous all-seafood hearty stew in a tomato base.  I had Todd Rushing, a long time friend of the show, from Concentrics Restaurants  (One Midtown Kitchen, Two Urban Licks, Parish, Tap, Stats, Room, Lobby, etc.....)  break down the techniques of braising vs. brining - with so many ideas and tips for each.  Then I was also excited to finally have Chef Todd Hogan, owner of Indigo in the quaint and gorgeous Historic Roswell, come and offer his prized recipe for Sweet Potato Salad from his restaurant.  - I think the entire studio was salivating by the end of the hour!   Great show.

Hard to believe I just flew in at 90mph (literally) and made it in my seat with less than a millisecond to air.  Thank you to my guests who were all equally fabulous and made me very hungry.  Thank you for the recipes,  WHICH, ... should be uploaded to the DwD Website on my Recipes page within 24 hours from now.   So make sure you go up and click on my tab to the website and go try these amazing recipes for yourself!  Straight from the menu of their restaurants to the table in your own kitchen.

 . . . . I don't know about you,  but that Sweet Potato Salad is calling my name . . . . . and its quick and easy to whip up!  And ofcourse,  what kind of host would I be if I didn't tell you to GO TO THESE RESTAURANTS.  Support our local culinary visionaries.  Your taste buds depend on it.

- Mine do! 

Ho hum,  what a hard job .... but somebody's got to do it!!

www.dishingwithdonnashow.com