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Here are links to some of my favorite products and their associated websites...
MoJo Roast is a provider of personal coffee roasting services. They roast only the finest Arabica coffee beans for themselves and their customers. They offer Organics, Cup of Excellence, Fair Trade, and Estate coffees. MoJo Roast is a socially responsible purveyor. By purchasing these coffees, MoJo Roast helps many people in many areas of the world. They also offer natural water processed and Swiss Water processed decafs. I have found all of their coffees to be of the highest quality. I had an enlightening conversation with Jo Khalifa, the owner of MoJo Roast. She explained to me that all of her coffees are not only 100% Arabica - they are Specialty Grade coffees, comprising 5% of the world's coffee. Since coffee is a perishable food item, she roasts all of her coffee to order. In this way, the consumer experiences the best cup possible. She has discovered some truly unique coffees. For example, she has a Gayo Mountain Sumatran coffee that is shade grown, bird friendly, and organic. She is the first (and thus far the only) coffee company certified organic in and by the State of North Dakota. Most of her organic coffees are Fair Trade, Bird Friendly, Shade Grown, abd Rain Forest Alliance certified. She even has a Kosher coffee that is certified organic. In addition to her commitment to high quality, Jo Khalifa has a strong commitment to social responsibility. Through the sales of these coffees she provides financial support to domestic abuse centers in Mexico, Peru, and the county in which she lives. She also donates to Cancer Foundations that have evolved around her coffee.
MoJo Roast recently did coffee pairing for a domestic abuse fundraiser in New Jersey. She provided a blend that she created to go with decadent desserts. Jo explained to me that there are various acids in coffee that react differently to each of our palates, negatively and possitively. If for example, your palate leans toward full body and you drink an acidic coffee it will be very harsh and bitey. And, if your palate leans toward acidic coffee and you drink a full bodied coffee - you may think a Chia pet is growing on your tongue; it really coats your mouth in a negative way. Jo muses, "Once you find your personal coffee, you will drink a little bit of heaven every day." We also discussed methods of brewing. Jo explained to me that the most effective means of brewing a flavorful cup of coffee is the "French Press" method. In addition to producing the most flavorful cup, this method is also the most cost-effective, and with the price of premium coffee always on the rise, this is an important consideration. Here is one of the dessert recipes I've developed using MoJo's excellent roasted beans: MoJo Flourless Chocolate Cake/ Wheat Free This has to be the easiest recipe in my repertoire 16 Ounces Quality Dark Chocolate 1 Cup White Sugar ½ Cup Light Brown Sugar ¾ Cup HOT Coffee (I use MoJo Roasters “Viking Thunder”) ½ Pound or 2 Sticks Unsalted Butter 2 Tbsp Cocoa 8 Large Eggs, Room Temperature 1 Tbsp Quality Vanilla Extract 1. Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees 2. Butter and lightly flour 10” Springform or approximately 12 muffin tins 3. Break up chocolate and place in a food processor 4. Place both sugars into processor 5. Start to pulse. Add HOT coffee. Continue to pulse 6. Add the remaining ingredients,butter,cocoa,eggs and vanilla extract 7. Blend until smooth 8. Pour into pan or muffin tins 9. Bake until puffed, 45 minutes for a 10” Springform or approximately 30 minutes for individuals 10. Remove from oven and serve warm or chill and garnish with whipped cream Contact; sales@mojoroast.com for the best tasting custom roasted coffees. You will not be disappointed. Contact : www.patriciarain,com to connect to the Vanilla Queen site for a history of the vanilla bean and fair trade practices. Enjoy! 
Here are three more of my favorites, made with the excellent coffees from MoJo Roast... 
Visit MoJo Roast on the web, at: www.mojoroast.com
Drinking Coffee May Lower Ovarian Cancer Risk
This just in – Washington Post, January 22, 2008: Drinking three or more cups of coffee a day may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by over 20 percent.
I’ll drink to that! A study was recently conducted by physicians at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health. The study findings suggest that this benefit may be related to the caffeine in coffee. Senior Author Shelly Tworoger, Assistant Professor of Medicine, reports that she and her colleagues found that caffeine consumption may actually lower estrogen levels in post menopausal women. The findings also suggest that this benefit is more pronounced for postmenopausal women who have never used oral contraceptives or postmenopausal hormones. The study found that decaffeinated coffee does not offer the same benefit. The study also found that there is no connection between alcohol consumption and ovarian cancer. Of all the cancers of the female reproductive system, ovarian cancer has the highest mortality. To make matters worse, it is a silent disease - women often have mild or no symptoms until the disease has progressed. The study findings are published in the March 1, 2007 issue of the journal, “Cancer.”
Harrisons & Crosfield provide a wide range of premium quality tea products. I have used their tea for formal tea service, with excellent results. Harrisons & Crosfield teas are crafted in England to traditional British Tea Industry standards. Their Master British Tea buyers have more than 30 years' experience in buying and blending teas. Their Organic teas are certified in England by Organic Farmers & Growers, and certified again in the U.S. by PCO. They use only the highest quality natural flavorings I recently did a formal tea service, using the excellent Scottish Breakfast tea from Harrisons & Crosfield. It went perfectly with my Oatmeal Praline Biscotti... 
In addition to being excellent served on their own, these specialty teas make for excellent pairing with Italian anise cookies...
I have also found several of the Harrisons and Crosfield teas to be an excellent complement to specialty cocktails. Here's an example.... 
Or...how 'bout a marTEAni? 
In addition to being a purveyor of superb tea, Harrison and Crosfield are also very community-minded. They recently donated a very generous shipment of tea to Palms Middle School in Los Angeles. One hundred percent proceeds will go directly to the school. I enjoyed sharing their tea with parents and teachers... 
www.harrisonsandcrosfield.com
Empire Winery and Distillery In addition to producing wine and spirits of the highest quality, Empire also prides itself on using the purest unadulterated ingredients that are available. You can taste the difference - and, I've discovered that these libations work well in the kitchen. Here are a few of the dishes I've developed using these delectable elixers... And here's a great cocktail! Visit Empire Winery and Distillery's website:
 Grapeseed Oil is a fabulous byproduct of winemaking. It even sounds a lot better than rapeseed oil, otherwise known as Canola Oil. Why did I make the switch to grapeseed oil? For my family’s health. Salute Santé Grapeseed oil works well in low-fat cooking. I get the results of deep-frying with a minimal amount of oil. It has a high “smoke point” at 485º F., which makes for a much healthier frying process. Its natural clean taste provides the perfect artist’s pallet, as it has a neutral flavor that allows the flavor components of the each food to fully express themselves. Like flaxseed oil, Salute Santé grapeseed oil is high (76%) in Omega-6, the essential fatty acid (EFA) known as linoleic acid. This EFA must come from food sources, as our bodies do not produce it. The Omega-6 in Salute Santé grapeseed oil helps your body burn fat and increases your energy level. Also, recent research suggests that linoleic acid may support neurological health and improved brain function. After experiencing the flavor and health benefits of Salute Santé grapeseed oil, I’ll never go back to Canola oil again. Although Salute Santé grapeseed oil is not cheap, it is worth every penny, considering its healthful qualities and its remarkable versatility in the kitchen.
Salute Santé also works quite well with desserts! For example, made these Lebanese fritters with Salute Santé 
Check out the website, which is: www.grapeseedoil.com
CurrantC Black Currant Juice The Super Fruit with the Lighter Carbon Footprint 
Why are black currants considered a super fruit?
Because of the anthocyanins which are prevalent in currants and yield twice the amount of antioxidant power of vitamin C. Furthermore, black currants are excellent sources of ellagic acid and pectin. Both of these substances have promising anti-carcinogenic properties.
Why do black currants have a lighter carbon footprint?
In the late 1800s, New York was the nation’s top black currant producer. Greg Quinn and his team could envision bushes repopulating tens of thousands of acres or more just in this state alone. Greg saw this as the first crop to come along in over a half century that could provide New York farmers with a viable alternative to many of the crops, which are now unprofitable. Crop failures and losses have not only led to the closing and selling off of hundreds of small farms in New York each year, but also the permanent loss of open spaces as these prime, open lands are snapped up by developers. Working with leading experts in the field, Quinn decided to bring back the U.S. black currant industry by first getting the ban lifted in New York State, giving hope to a struggling New York farming industry with the first potentially-viable crop to come along in more than a half century. Greg Quinn has developed a sustainable industry that is earth-friendly. Given the above, it makes more sense to support a green-friendly “super fruit” that is grown here in the United States, than to deplete the rainforests of other countries.
What are some of the benefits of black currant juice?
Because it is a nectar, a little CurrantC black currant juice goes a long way, both in terms of flavor and health benefit. It is a highly versatile juice, offering a unique fruit flavor.
What can one make with black currant juice?
• Add it to a vinegar-based salad dressing, giving a nice twist and color to balsamic vinegar.
• Hot black currant juice is known as a traditional cold remedy, and is thought to have decongestant properties.
• Women of a certain age can add it to their raspberry leaf tea tonic, to enhance the flavor while enjoying the benefits of its hormonal regulating qualities.
Grafton Village Four-Star Cheddar Cheese – A Postcard from Vermont 
Grafton Village Four-Star Cheddar Cheese (www.graftonvillagecheese.com) is mature sharp cheddar, ivory in color. It has excellent body, crumbly but smooth. Sealed in black wax, this cheese captures the flavor of Jersey cow’s milk. Jersey cows are a pure breed with good genes. Cheese from Jersey cows has its earliest documented beginning in Normandy, France, in the year 1771 (Normandy butter, anyone?). Jersey milk has to be the richest milk with the highest percentage of butter fat and protein. At 110 calories per one-ounce serving, Grafton Village Four-Star Cheddar delivers more calcium and protein, compared with cheese that is made from other cows. Due to the “in your face” rich and clean flavor of this cheese, a little goes a long way, in cooking the low-fat way. It takes four years for the Four-Star Cheddar to mature. The earthy flavor is reminiscent of Vermont’s slow, close-to-the-earth lifestyle. Visit Vermont without leaving your dining room, and support our domestic farm families and creamery workers, who are maintaining a vital tradition.
Graber Olive House 
Replace your daily bread with Graber Olives
When you are choosing healthy, local, sustainable and fair food – look no further than Graber Olives for your dinner table.
Besides olive oil, olives are a direct source of monounsaturated fat. In our quest to lower animal fat intake, we are replacing butter with olive oil. Why not eat the entire olive? Graber olives have a satisfying (actually addicting) meaty texture. Unlike beef, they are easy to digest - an important factor for a healthier diet. Their anti-inflammatory nutrients can not only assist in boosting your health, they may also reduce the severity of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Consuming olives regularly may help reduce the frequency or intensity of hot flashes in menopausal women and improve skin quality.
Make a difference to your health and the health of Mother Earth - eat less meat and more olives.
I have found Graber Olives at Gelsons Market in Century City. You can always order them online at www.graberolives.com
Serving Suggestions:
• Add to a Crudité tray; they will disappear quickly. Be sure to have enough.
• Chop into dice; mix with favorite mild soft cheese (such as goat cheese); and roll up in sliced Nova Scotia Salmon.
• Serve on a bed of mixed green salad with roasted red peppers and crumbled feta cheese.
• Use as a palate cleanser at your next wine tasting.
• Serve as a side to a tomato-based soup.
• Serve in a bowl for your next martini party.
Or – do as I do, transfer the olives from the can to a glass jar. Refrigerate and administer once per day or as-needed. As I see it – An Olive a Day Keeps the Doctor Away.
I use Graber olives in this tasty starter: 
Visit Graber Olives at www.graberolives.com
At Sweetfields we don't just stop and 'smell the flowers'....we eat them too! Sweetfields is a family owned and operated business located in Southern California. They grow flowers with organic principles and transform them into edible works of art. Sweetfields offers violas, pansies, snap dragons, mini-roses, and rose petals. These flowers are amazingly realistic in appearance - and that's because they are REAL flowers - EDIBLE flowers! Light, delicate, and flavorful, they are an exquisite way to enhance any food presentation. I recently had the opportunity to add them to one of my cakes... Visit Sweetfields on the web, at
While perusing the stalls at a local farmers' market here in Los Angeles, I discovered a remarkable purveyor of cheese - Réné Klaassen, who owns and operates Gourmet on Wheels. If you happen to be in Los Angeles, check out his website and find him at the farmer's market location that is convenient for you. He has some truly remarkable delicacies.
Bluebird Grain Farms These specialized grains help me to create desserts that not only taste great - but are also beneficial to one's health. You can visit them on the Web at:
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