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Beyond Trendy
By Eva Dunn
Bringing you tastes beyond trendy food concepts, a Taste with punch, with flavor, and excitement--new healthy ways to eat, and great combinations of food.
Back to basics for many, moderation, and eating healthy. We got a great start, but this year the focus will be on delicious tasting food that will invigorate and heal. Foods we knew about, attributes we weren't so aware of. Chili peppers spice up our food, taking taste levels up several notches in Thai and Mexican cooking, but did you know they are loaded with high levels of capsaicinoids which offer anti-inflammatory (helps arthritics), cancer-fighting, heart-healthy benefits? Plus, they are loaded with vitamin C!
Sweet potatoes, whether cut baked chips, baked, pureed or roasted are flavorful favorites with antioxidants which may help slow the aging process and also fight cancer. Serve these often!
Walnuts are a good source of omega-3 acids if you don't like fish. Studies show that walnuts can help reduce cholesterol levels, too. Tasty toasted and sprinkled over salads, eaten out of hand, or baked into breads and muffins.
Dark chocolate is one of the good things for us that delight us! It can help lower high blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease by its antioxidants and it makes you happy while eating it, another important benefit.
Raspberries also are rich in antioxidants, high in fiber and taste wonderful, especially with chocolate! Frozen raspberries are available year round.
Pomegranate is so trendy now because it's rich in powerful antioxidants, brimming with vitamins A, C, E and Iron! The juice is readily available and also comes blended with juices of other fruits, or as a tea.
Cinnamon is a delightful spice but did you know it can help lower glucose and cholesterol levels in diabetics? One great reason to use it a lot. Just 1/2 tsp. a day will do it.
Coffee has health benefits too, rich in antioxidants but also studies suggest it may help asthma, stop headaches, and reduce the risk of certain cancers, diabetes, and even Parkinson's disease.
It is not hard to eat healthy, to incorporate many of these foods in your meal plans. Fresh foods naturally seasoned are tasty, and will help you live longer in a pain-free, disease-free body. What's not to like? Make it a priority to eat well in 2009! Read Raley's Something Extra, full of great tips! Back to Top
No-Guilt eating has never tasted so good! America is attempting to right so many wrongs and get back to basics, with healthy eating, exercise and portion control. Here are a few trendy and tasty alter-natives. Kellogg's All-Bran (Brown sugar cinnamon bar). These tasty bars are high in fiber which keeps you feeling full longer. Dole carries single serving Fruit Salad. The chunky bits of different fruit are rich in vitamin C and of course, are fat free, and only 80 calories. Mott's fruit blends are unsweetened and they count towards your daily fruit and veggie servings. Annie's real Cheddar Bunnies baked snack crackers are made from natural ingredients and taste good.
Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop Mini bags are only 100 calories for when you want good crunch to snack on. V8 is a filling, tasty drink and is a vegetable serving with only 50 calories. Jell-O chocolate pudding only has 90 calories, and is surprisingly good. Campbell's Soup At Hand Chicken with mini noodles is a nice blend of protein, and carbs in a tasty broth. It has only 70 calories per can.
If you want to make your own healthy snack, just mix 1 cup dry roasted almonds, 1 cup dried hulled sunflower seeds, and 1 cup raisins. Portion into 1/4 cup servings in small, zippered plastic bags, single servings. Only 140 good tasting calories.
Potatoes are always tasty and when baked are healthy for you. Slice them into wedges, don't peel. Mix 2 tbls oil, 1tbls Parmesan cheese, 2 tsp season salt, 1/2 tsp chili powder, 1/8 tsp pepper, and 1/4 tsp rosemary. Mix well to coat all potatoes; place on a foil-lined baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake in a 450 degree oven til soft when pierced, about 35 to 45 minutes.
A delicious snack is Wasabi almonds, a jolt to your tongue but so fun to eat. Try Bittersweet Herb Farm Sauces on grilled meats, poultry or seafood, or dip vegetables into it. The Wasabi Ginger sounds so good, have to try that one.
Bolthouse Farms carries Yogurt Dressing which is richly delicious for spreading, dipping. Firenza corn bread and Triple Chocolate Brownie mixes are oven-ready in five minutes; nice for these cool, autumn evenings. Have you tried the Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino ice cream bars yet? 98% fat free, just waiting for you to taste them! Back to Top
The driving force behind the trendiest foods is flavor--in heirloom vegetables, meats, poultry and a world of products entering the culinary arena through ethnic cuisines. Flavor as in the rich goodness of pomegranate, pine nuts and molasses relish with braised bacon bits sauced over a char-grilled pork chop. Oh yeah!
Use young pea tendrils of the snow pea (a taste like spinach and peas) in stir fries and soups. Find them at Asian markets and the bountiful, summer farmer's markets. Try a cilantro pesto for a fresh burst of flavor; add chives, mint and 1 tablespoon seeded Jalapeno chili, 1 garlic clove and 2-3 tablespoons fresh, lime juice. Pulse together quickly; drizzle over baby golden and ruby red, roasted beet chunks, or sauced over grilled vegetables. Set in the middle of a fresh bed of assorted baby lettuces like red oak leaf and butter lettuce. yum.
Have you tasted Burrata cheese, the most creamy Mozzarella you will ever taste? You can find it at cheese shops and Italian markets. Slice it wafer thin, pair with thin fennel slices, plus celery tops; drizzle with EVOO and lemon juice for a simple pleasure. Are you cooking Asian and have no water chestnuts? Use a large melon baller to cut out spheres of Jicama, then slice them into rounds. Same crispy, delightful taste.
Need a quick and easy dinner during the week amid your busy schedules? Cook some small pasta like shells or orecchiette; drain and toss with fresh, mixed greens and olive oil. Crumble goat cheese, feta or cubed Jack cheese over it. Toss, season well. Tasty & fast. Breakfast can be quick as well with scrambled eggs: sauté thin strips of ham and minced onion in a little butter; add asparagus tips or spinach, stir, stir, mix and add a knob of butter. When it is all sizzling, add your beaten eggs. Season well, and stir with a wooden spoon gently, pulling the eggs on top of each other from the pan sides til set. Gently cooked scrambled eggs with tons of goodness! Serve with sautéed herbed, wedges of tomatoes.
Cooking is so much fun, so healthy for you and a great way to use the summer harvest. Get your kids involved in the kitchen! You can indeed prepare amazing meals in thirty minutes or less. Make it your own, make it Beyond Trendy. Back to Top
Summer is here, so what better time to load up on delicious, healthful fresh fruits and vegetables? This season, try eating more colors -- fruits and vegetables get their colors from various phytochemicals, which provide different vitamins and other remarkable health benefits. Eating vegetables does not have to be boring by any means! Besides luscious, grilled corn on the cob, try taking the kernels and making a corn pudding, a great match for sage rubbed pork tenderloin. This custardy pudding is creamy and savory with Monterey Jack cheese through-out. What's not to love?
Grilled shrimp paired with bacon-cheese polenta we know is a divine combination, but serve it with sautéed halved tomatoes bursting with flavor and barely wilted green onions swirled in garlic and a bit of butter, and result is decadent. Crave something more substantial? Check out Raley's Something Extra this month. It features a recipe for Tex Mex Rice & Beans, a savory mixture of Mexican rice, boneless chicken chunks, black beans, salsa, green chili's, and delicious pepper Jack Cheese all over it. Stop panting and go pick up the recipe! Your family will love it.
Learn to combine foods your family loves with a surprise element that is healthy and tasty. Get out of your salad rut. Sweet and salty has always been a dynamic combination; include it in your salads with blood oranges (sweet), roasted walnuts (salty), avocado chunks, and red onions (marinate in chipotle dressing first). Refreshing!
Kids love ravioli's, dad loves chicken? Combine roast chicken pieces with cooked ravioli's in a baking dish, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake in a 350degree oven for about 30 minutes, or til all is bubbly and hot. It creates a mouth-watering dish, a family favorite of ours. Serve with a green salad, and you have a great meal. Tasty and so easy! Hey, popsicles for adults! In flavors like palapa azul, mango, non-dairy natural flavors-cucumber-Chile, grapefruit; 9 flavors total. Intense, Mexican style frozen treats at www.palapaazul.com. Get some at Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op, 1900 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento. Refreshing!
Try This! Pair smoked salmon with papaya slices; ricotta-studded baby beets, season and roast til tender; arrange large, sautéed shrimp with 6 cloves garlic, stir in 3/4 cup black olives, 3/4 cup chopped tomatoes, and 1/2 cup feta cheese/sprinkle w/oregano; serve over grilled asparagus, top w/chopped basil. Delightful!
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Summertime and the living is easy! Ice cold drinks are so refreshing on hot days and now you can select some that will actually slim you in the process. Try Gus dry cranberry lime soda. Mmm, sounds good! Only 95 calories. If you must have your Starbucks, get the Tazo green shaken iced tea for 80 calories; iced lattes are nice, but be prepared for the 240 calories they add. Indulge in a mojito at 174 calories for those hot summer nights out on the town. Then of course, there is delicious home-made lemonade, just like mom used to make! At this point, make peace with the sugar calories and enjoy the memory!
For refreshing, morning fare, visit 'Beyond Juice' on Vista Del Lago in Valley Springs. Order any combination you want of orange, apple, cucumber, spinach, parsley, carrot, beet or celery--fresh tastes and healthy. They offer Smoothies with mangos, banana, blackberries, peach, green apple, and more. Try the Colombian Connection made with coffee, banana, yogurt and latte. Wow!
My co-workers and I are more conscious of eating well, and healthy. We search out 100-calorie snacks, Skinny Cow Skinny Dippers, and even create new dishes like chicken rolled in crushed, savory lime-flavored brown rice chips and baked. The lime-flavored chips are delicious and Nancy told us it was a hit with her husband too. She has tried a baked salmon recipe with sun dried tomatoes and found it so delicious. Healthy eating can be fun when you get creative with great, fresh local foods.
Keep it simple, keep it tasty, keep it healthy! There are so many great tasting foods to try, combinations to delight, textures to mix and mingle, flavors to excite! Try just one new food this month; it may become a favorite. Today two of us tried the new Bento salad box from Bel Air. Grilled shrimp, spinach salad, lots of flavor. We gave it 4 thumbs up! Back to Top
Healthy foods are finding their way to other areas besides our tummies, like our faces, lips, and eyes. BeFine food skin care has increased in popularity primarily because it is healthy skin food, enhancing, healing, and hydrating. Side effects? Calmness, balance, and increased beauty. Try Lady Be Savours, "delicate everyday skin-soother filled with healing brown sugar, hydrating sweet almond oil, and constantly calming oat extract, balancing your skin's moisture naturally." Allergen free fragrance, paraben free, vegetarian protein, safe and effective, no animal testing. For the entire array of delicious products, visit www.befine.com.
The weather is almost hot now, and a delicious, delicate drink over ice is just the ticket. Try Inko's White Tea Honeydew with only 7 grams of carbs and sugars is refreshing in any season. Fructose crystals and honeydew extract make for a delightfully light taste.
Working out hard to fit into that bikini? Cottage Cheese has more than 3x the protein of milk (28 grams vs 8 grams per cup). Great for effective workouts. Remember if you eat a lot of protein (more than 100 grams per day), then drink a lot of water, 2 glasses after workouts besides the usual 8 per day. Water comes in all kinds of flavors now with added vitamins and antioxidants.
Tasty new snack! Diamond Foods has Cocoa Roast Almonds, roasted and lightly dusted with sweetened, dark cocoa. The hint of almond and chocolate makes for a great snack. Fairly low in calories at 150 per 1/4 cup serving.
You've heard of Probiotics, but did you know they are found in more than just yogurt? Try miso soup, kefir, and Kim chi which help preventing and easing a range of digestive ailments besides boosting your immune system. Who knew bacteria could be this beneficial? Probiotics literally means For Life! Back to Top
Spring has finally arrived, and even though coldness and rain threatens to creep through the countryside, we know it to be futile; spring is here promising warmer days. Farmers Markets with their delicious organic fruits and vegetables will once again soon provide a summer bounty. I for one can hardly wait! Time for healthy choices kissed by the sun; delicious offerings from local farmers whose passion for natural foods benefit you. Toss chunks of fresh mangos or pineapple with pomegranate seeds, so bright and lovely served in champagne glasses; serve pineapple juice and sparkling water over ice with whole raspberries; marinate salmon in pineapple juice and grated ginger before grilling. Sounds fantastic, looks great, and tastes so good. Delight the eye, tickle the palate!
Serve salmon burgers in-stead of hamburgers, accompany with cubes of cooked winter squash with toasted walnuts, dash of cinnamon, drizzle with honey. Be creative, choose to serve your family healthful and tasty foods--ones that will ward off illness and disease. It is possible to reshape and redefine our bodies, to give them the building blocks to better health and long life. Don't we want that for our loved ones? Don't we want that for ourselves?
Break the routine of bringing foods laden with saturated fats, heavy doses of salt, and diabetic-inducing amounts of sugar to the dinner table. These foods cause inflammation in the body, so start with just one food change to begin the journey to pain-free joints, increased vitality & a healthy body. Remember there are consequences for every choice you make and your body will suffer those consequences. A fountain of youth exists; it is found in the pure, natural goodness of foods that have not seen a factory or a processing plant. Foods ripe with live energy and nutrients your body needs. Energy and nutrients that can change your body dramatically. Nutrients that can actually reverse many illnesses.
Attune Wellness Bars If you have digestive problems, as almost everyone knows today, a daily dose of healthy probiotic cultures can be the answer. Probiotics originally meant ingesting a large concentration of active cultures in yogurt or other dairy products. Attune wellness bars offer a tasty non-dairy alternative: chocolate and granola bars that, unlike dairy, require no refrigeration and are great for the lactose intolerant. As few as 80 calories, in a chocolate bar! The line is all natural, with vegan- and gluten-free choices.
Probiotics are live micro-organisms—beneficial bacteria—that have been proven to provide health benefits beyond what basic nutrition provides. Probiotic is Latin for "good for life." Attune probiotic bars are packed with five times the amount of beneficial probiotic bacteria (a.k.a. active cultures) found in yogurt. The bars are gluten-free and, except for the Blueberry Vanilla, are vegan. Regulating your digestive system has never been such a treat. Special live bacteria yogurts also provide Probiotics for a delicious morning or mid-day treat providing energy and good health to make a difference. Back to Top
Spring signals lighter fare, unhindered simplicity, a freshness not only in your meals but in your meal presentations. Pour yourself a glass of Acai Sour Cherry juice over crushed or cubed ice. It is sure to be a refreshing high spot in your day.
Try chutney to glaze those Sunday chicken kabobs or fill savory filo shells with cubes of cooked beef for those picnics by the lake--perhaps an early spring picnic? Oh, yeah.
Icy, sunset colored virgin Mojitos are great for the designated drivers, or for those who enjoy wonderful drinks without alcohol. Take 4oz soda water, 6 mint leaves, 4 rasp-berries, 1/2 lime, 2 tsp sugar. Muddle the mint and berries; strain into a tall, frosty glass over ice, garnish with mint. Oh My! What a delightful drink.
Stop in at the mall for a huge apple dipped in chocolate! Have them slice it for you so you can easily share it. An indulgence to be sure. A real treat in any season!
Introduce your family to Polenta, savory, delicious topped with chicken and tomatoes, or meatballs, or as polenta purists love it, unadorned. Bring 3 cups of chicken stock to a boil, stir in 2/3 cups quick cooking polenta. Cook, stir over low heat 7 minutes; stir in 3/4 cup Italian cheese crumbles, cook til melted. Spoon into 4 to 6 mounds on individual plates. Top each mound with a fried egg and 2 tbls classic, tomato Bruschetta sauce. Divine!
So you are eating healthy, eating well; have you over-looked one of the most versatile best tasting fish in the world? Fried, grilled, baked, blackened, broiled or sautéed, Catfish is low in calories. Compared to chicken breast at 170 calories, Beef Sirloin at 215, Pork Loin at 240, Catfish is only 145 calories per 3.5 oz serving. Sweet as sole, firm as cod, versatile as Salmon and rich in nutrients.
Celebrate spring with this unusual gift: EGGLING Crack and Grow! The precious, little Eggling looks and feels like an extra large egg, but crack its top and...ready for sowing! Ex-tremely popular in Japan, where it originated, the Eggling is made of white porous ceramic (2.125" height x 1.875" diameter). Cultivation is easy - all the plants grow for up to five months in the Eggling's fortified peat mixture, after which the Eggling can be planted directly in soil. Find it online at www.store.sprouthome.com/egglingbasil.html
As I said before, I cannot believe how good Bolthouse Farms’ Perfectly Protein Vanilla Chai Tea with Soy Protein is. The tea’s texture is smooth and velvety, with a rich flavor that had just the right amount of spice. Bolthouse Farms has other delicious flavors, too.
Good News About Chocolate
The good news about chocolate comes just in time for Valentine's Day! How sweet is that? Yet, many of us still have to watch those calories because we have resolved to become healthier and slimmer this year, once and for all--no messing around this time. So here are some fortuitous tips:
Hershey's Sticks- 60 cals each. Fairly small and not strictly health food, but better than a 220-calorie Hershey bar. Cocoavia bars- a stick of solid chocolate for 100 cals. The crispy, chocolate-dreanched snack bars are 80 cals. Healthy Choice Fudge Bars- rich, creamy chocolate ice cream (Pretty big, and only 80 cals). Jell-o, sugar-free pudding cups- the mint chocolate ones are fab, but (while not strictly chocolate), the dulce de leche ones ROCK. 60 cals!!
Caramel Nut Brownie Luna Bars- 180 cals, but loaded w/ protein, fiber, and so many vitamins you may toss your multi. Gooey caramel, crunchy soy crisps and a coating of real chocolate make these a fave. Also, the Nutz Over Chocolate Luna bar combines chocolate and peanut butter in ways that are unworthy of adjectives. Individually wrapped Hershey's pure dark chocolate with dried blueberries and almonds or the plain, pure dark chocolate...55 cal for one! not bad for such a tasty treat. Luna bars have 9-11 grams of sugar. Try half of one. They are large and 1/2 is just 85-90 cal and approx.5g sugar. Chocolate pecan pie (yes, that's one of the flavors!)
Protein Wafer Bars. They come in three chocolate flavors: peanut butter, mint, and chocolate-chocolate, are 180 calories (2-90 calories sticks in each package), 2 grams of carbs, and only 2 grams of sugar each. No trans fat! They are made by ISS Research and can be tricky to find in stores. Order online through one of the health food stores.
Dove sugar-free chocolate squares are good and only 35 calories each. www.Vitalicious.com sells vita-Top muffins that are chocolate w/chocolate chips and delicious. These are full of vitamins and stuffed full of fiber and protein. By far, my favorite is the chocolate banana, how good is that! Frozen delights right in your freezer. Enjoy these treats sparingly, not daily; adhere to a balanced intake of food groups. But when you do have dessert, try these chocolates! Back to Top
Soup has always been an at-home comfort food. Now soup is emerging as a popular choice in restaurants too; a choice Mexican and Southwestern-style eateries can capitalize on by offering the kind of ethnic soups and stews that have always been key in Mexican cuisine. The demand for both traditional and more trendy soups is on the rise; one interpretation is a chicken stock-based soup flavored with chiltepín, salsa fresca, onion, garlic, bay leaf, oregano and peppercorns, then garnished with tortilla strips, avocado, lime and grated Monterey Jack cheese.
Other versions might include crema, beans, tomatoes, epazote, or bits of chicken, Sopa de Guias, a green, brothy soup made with the leaves and stems of the zucchini, cubed zucchini and zucchini blossoms, and the herbs chepil and piojito. Chepil is a tiny, pungent herb that's not as strong as epazote, and piojito is a tiny green herb described as "kind of minty."
Ernesto's Mexican Food in Sacramento, has an entire section on its menu devoted to soups. He also offers Albondigas, an authentic Mexican meatball soup made with fresh onions, cilantro and traditional spices in a rice broth.
Albondigas Soup - Makes 8 servings
2 lbs. ground beef
2 eggs
1 lg. yellow onion, diced
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 cloves garlic, diced
1-1/2 c. uncooked rice
1-1/2 t. salt, or to taste
1 t. pepper, or to taste
1/2 t. cumin
10-14 c. water
The Albondigas: Mix ground beef, a half bunch of cilantro, 1/2 c. uncooked rice, 2 eggs, half of the salt, pepper, cumin and 1 clove garlic (or to taste). Divide mixture into 1-ounce balls (large walnut size), rolling them between the palms of your hands until firm and round. Place Albondigas on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
The broth: Using canola oil in a large pan, combine onions, half bunch of cilantro, tomatoes, and 1 cup of uncooked rice and sauté for about 5-10 minutes. At this point, add water and the rest of the salt, pepper, cumin and garlic. Bring water to a boil, and add Albondigas one by one. Let simmer for about 30 minutes or until the meatballs float in the broth. Recipes courtesy of Ernesto's Mexican Food, Sacramento, Calif. Back to Top
Chicken Picatta has long been one of my all-time favorite Italian dishes. Classically, this dish is made with very thin slices of veal, but because of its price and rarity, chicken is a great second choice. Picatta is actually the Italian word for "veal escalope", or a thin slice of veal. The key to this dish is to make sure that the chicken or veal, if you choose to use it, is pounded flat. The end result should be no thicker than ¼ inch. This will help the meat cook quickly and evenly. The second most important key to this dish is letting the liquid reduce sufficiently. If there is too much liquid in the pan when you start adding the butter cubes, you will have a runny sauce. Here is my version of this Italian Classic.
Chicken Picatta, Serves 4
4 Chicken Breasts, pounded flat
1 ½ sticks of butter, cut into 10 pieces
2 Shallots, minced
¾ cup White Wine
¼ cup Lemon juice
3 Tbs. Capers, chopped
1 tsp. Each salt and black pepper
¼ cup Parsley
1 ½ cups rice, cooked per package instructions
2 Tbs. Parsley, chopped
2 Tbs. Oregano, chopped
Heat 2 pieces of the butter over medium-high heat in large sauté pan. Add chicken, 2 at a time and sauté on both sides till golden brown. Remove chicken from pan and set aside. Add shallots and capers to pan with one more piece of butter. Sauté for about a minute, then add wine and lemon juice. Let liquid reduce until almost gone, then turn down heat to low. Add 2 pieces of butter to pan and whisk until all butter has melted. Repeat these steps until all the butter has been used. Season with salt and pepper. Add parsley at the end.
Chef James, Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys Back to Top
Winter squash may be the trendiest food of the fall season. Butternut squash, that beige-skinned, narrow cylinder with a bulbous end, is turning up on menus at home and in restaurants. Other varieties of hard-skinned squashes that are rich in vitamin A and have good amounts of vitamin C also are delicious for fall menus.
Split the squash in half, remove the seeds and roast it flesh side down at 325 to 350 degrees for 1 to 1-1/2 hours until it is soft. Then scoop it out. Prepare the mirepoix by sweating it while the squash is roasting. The mirepoix is onion, celery, carrot, parsnip and garlic, which has been chopped. Then add the soft squash and just enough chicken stock to cover; cook it 45 minutes. Then puree it in a blender and hit it with a little cream, thyme, cayenne and nutmeg. Delicious!
Another trendy recipe but I remember this from grandma's kitchen are golden circles of acorn squash, which are broiled with a mixture of apple juice concentrate and real maple syrup. Acorn squash is cut into half-inch rings, placed on a baking tray lined with olive oil-coated foil and roasted for 10 to 15 minutes at 375 degrees until the squash is fork-tender. The scent as it roasts is incredible. Then mix 3 tablespoons of defrosted apple juice concentrate with 1 tablespoon maple syrup and brush it across the surface of the squash rings. The tray of squash rings is placed in the broiler for a minute or two. Serve as a side to vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees. Wow!
Here is a great soup recipe using squash and cauliflower:
WINTER SQUASH GRATIN, Recipe from the American Institute for Cancer Research.
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound winter squash (butternut or acorn)
1 pound cauliflower, cut in florets
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups warm low-fat milk
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground pepper
DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Cut squash into quarters, scoop out seeds, and wrap each piece tightly in foil. Bake until tender, about 40 minutes. Let it cool before cutting off rind, and chopping squash into small cubes. Meanwhile, steam cauliflower until just cooked.
In medium saucepan, melt butter. When it starts to sizzle, stir in flour and cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until mixture is bubbling and golden. Stir in milk. Turn up heat to medium and keep whisking until mixture is smooth and thick, about 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Whisk in half of cheese and all of the nutmeg, salt and pepper. Place cubed squash and cauliflower in an 8-inch square baking pan, and pour sauce on top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for 15 minutes. This makes 6 hearty servings.
Prefer salads? Try this: Take wonderful, caramelized fennel and arugula tossed with roasted red grapes and nubbins of Parmigiano Reggiano. The salty cheese, sweet fruit and assertive greens are a masterfully combined meld of flavors and textures. Nice! Take common ingredients, mix them with uncommonly for delish! Baby spinach salad with an avalanche of thinly sliced radishes, caramelized scallops, lemon juice and pistachios. Now there's a festive salad! Want a different dessert? Take the usual warm rice pudding, but perfume it with saffron and crown with dried apricots and blond raisins. Or dress warm, moist orange pound cake with slices of blood oranges and a scoop of toasted anise ice cream for a taste delight. Happy Holidays! Back to Top
Beyond Trendy column was created originally to bring you new and trendy food concepts. A taste of the new, exciting, cutting edge food offerings that put common, routine meals on a back burner while you sample new, innovative taste treats. A Taste Beyond Trendy, healthy ways to eat, with great combinations of food.
Most of the foods being offered in grocery stores were 'beyond' Trendy, meaning they were new, healthy and trendy ways to eat while titillating your tired, disconnected taste buds. Now some updates from www.thenibble.com.
If you’re just learning about the Brazilian açai berry and Peruvian peri-peri sauce, how do you feel about boursin-stuffed kangaroo nachos with roasted avocado corn salad and huckleberry habañero demi-glace? What sound like cutting-edge dishes are finding their way onto menus at mainstream restaurants from coast to coast. Could these become a redefinition of comfort food—a combination of retro, artisan, global flavors and other markers? The trends is not just at white table cloth and ethnic restaurants but at chain restaurants and on retail shelves.
Products such as Fran’s Chocolates’ chocolate-covered caramels topped with Welsh smoked sea salt and Kettle Brand’s roasted red pepper with goat cheese potato chips have been successful in the market for two years. And, the once exotic and rare Portobello mushroom is now available as a Portobello mushroom burger at Carl's Jr. fast food restaurants. Combining comfort and familiarity, restaurants are also offering gourmet Fluffernutter sandwiches, crab-stuffed tater tots and truffled macaroni and cheese. We’re waiting for Taco Bell to offer the kangaroo nachos.
And what has happened to water!? Designer waters from glaciers, melted icebergs and ancient, restored European sources will compete with waters enriched with extra molecules of oxygen and herbal essences. Drilling and development of new artesian water sources in remote regions are here, such as the Canadian Arctic, Japan, New Zealand and the Pacific islands, which offer a crisper and cleaner taste due to underlying volcanic rock formation which filters the water. Metromint is water from the Northern Rockies, infused with the finest peppermint from Oregon and Washington to create what the producers call "a natural, stress-relieving, breath-freshening thirst quencher." The original Peppermint flavor is more assertive; the Spearmint flavor will appeal to those who want a lighter touch of mint. Citrus siblings are Orangemint and Lemonmint. All are calorie-free and delightful. Even the slim, cylindrical bottle is refreshing.
Starbucks/Pepsi is preparing to roll out a hot coffee vending machine which will dispense 9-ounce steel cans of hot Starbucks. The labels are insulated and the cans are recyclable. Givaudan Flavours, a world leader in the flavors and fragrances industry, predicts guava and miso as the major new directions for 2007. On the horizon are açai berry, Amazonian herbs, blue ginger/galangal, mangosteen, pink peppercorn, rhubarb, rooibos/red tea and smoked paprika. Re-energize with Sencha Shot. Those who want to start the New Year by drinking more tea can get an extra boost from Sencha Shot, an all-natural punch of green tea energy that, the company claims, fights winter doldrums and excess weight in addition to cancerous cells and cavities, among other ailments. It's an advanced, deep-brewing method, combining only purified water, delicisou green tea and Vitamin C. Each can has 152 mg of the cancer-fighting catechin, EGCG. The naturally-occurring amino acid theanine allows for the slow release of the caffeine and produces a calming effect rather than jittery energy. Calorie free and unsweetened! Drink it cold. Back to Top
The seasons have changed, and the weather is cooler; soothe your soul with comfort foods. Potatoes, Mac n' cheese, stews, casseroles, roasts. Comfort foods, equivalent to a HUG! Polenta has always been a satisfying food that accentuates the flavors of meat, fish or vegetables it accompanies. Try the amazing giant shrimp with polenta at Bellotti's which features five-star dishes, trust me! One bite and it is "oh, my!"
One of my favorite fall meals is a Polenta Ragout with wine, lots of mushrooms and tomatoes layered over parmesan polenta. Oh, my gosh, simply divine and so easy to prepare. It is a fragrant, delicious dish you will prepare often. This is a great recipe (Gourmet 1993), easy to prepare and bakes unwatched in the oven. Great for every day or for special dinners. The alcohol of the wine evaporates, leaving the delicious flavor of the wine. You will need:
1 large onion, chopped fine
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp dried rosemary, crumbled
3 tbls olive oil
1 pound of white mushrooms, sliced thin
1/2 pound of shiitake mushrooms (optional), discard stems and quarter
1 tbls tomato paste
1 cup dry red wine
1 tbls cornstarch
1 1/3 cups vegetable broth
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
6 cups water
1 tbls olive oil
2 cups yellow cornmeal
2 tbls butter, cut into pieces
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
1/4 pound mozzarella, diced fine
This recipe is in three parts: First, make the mushroom ragout: in a large deep skillet cook the onion, the garlic, and the rosemary in the oil over medium heat, stirring, until the onion is softened, add the mushrooms and salt to taste, and cook, stirring, for about ten minutes. The liquid the mush-rooms give off should be evaporated. Stir in the tomato paste and the wine and boil the mushroom mixture until most of the liquid is evaporated.
In a small bowl, stir the cornstarch into the broth, add the mixture and the Worcestershire sauce to the mushroom mixture, bring to a boil, stirring. Simmer the ragout for 2 minutes and season with salt and pepper. Now make the polenta: In a large, heavy saucepan bring the water with the oil to a boil and add 1 cup of the cornmeal, a bit at a time, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low, add the remaining 1 cup cornmeal in a slow stream, stirring constantly, and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter, 2/3 cup of the Parmesan, the parsley, salt and pepper to taste.
Spread one third of the polenta evenly in a buttered 13x9 inch baking dish and chill the polenta sheet for 20 minutes. This will be used to cut-out stars for the top of the dish. You can skip this step if you want the top fully covered.
Spread half of the remaining polenta in a buttered 3-quart shallow baking dish, top it with half the mushroom ragout, and top the ragout with the mozzarella. Spread the remaining polenta quickly over the mozzarella and top it with the remaining ragout. For the stars: invert the polenta sheet onto a work surface and cut out as many stars as possible. Arrange them decoratively on the ragout and sprinkle them with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan (or spread the polenta on top evenly, sprinkle with cheese). At this point, the dish may be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
Cook in a 400-degree oven, in the upper third of the oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the polenta is golden. Serve with a green salad and crusty, hot bread. This is an incredible dish! Just a hint of the deep wine flavor in a great sauce, and the herbed polenta is wonderful. I urge you to try it soon as we settle into winter. Then share the recipe!
Try Jack's Urban Eats, Mimi's, or Cheesecake Factory in Sacramento for delicious comfort foods. Locally, try Thomi's Eatery or Bellotti's in Sutter Creek, Theresa's in Jackson, Buscaglia's in Jackson, Taste in Plymouth or Mel & Faye's in Jackson for splendid comfort food with a hug! Just to name a few! Back to Top
Eating Bright, Each of the following five color groups is associated with one or more phytonutrients. The foods that appear in bold are leading sources. Red-Some red foods get their tint from lycopene, which may reduce the risk of lung, stomach, and prostate cancers. Sources: pink guavas, red grapefruits, red papayas, tomatoes, watermelons.
Yellow/Orange-These hues tend to signal the presence of beta-carotene, which may help prevent heart disease as well as lung and colon cancers. Sources: apricots, cantaloupes, carrots, mangoes, papayas, peaches, persimmons, winter squashes and sweet potatoes.
Green-Vegetables and fruits in this color, particularly the dark ones, often contain several phytonutrients, including lutein (which protects the eyes) and beta-carotene. Sources: bok Choy, broccoli, collard greens, cucumbers, kale, kiwis, peas, romaine lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, zucchini.
Blue/Purple-Foods in these shades are rich in anthocyanins, phytonutrients that have anti-aging and anticancer effects and help to promote circulatory function. Sources: blackberries, black currants, blueberries, plums, red cabbage, red onions.
White-Pale members of the allium family contain allicin, which boosts the immune system, and some are also a source of quercetin, a natural anti-inflammatory agent. Sources: garlic, leeks, onions, shallots. Back to Top
With Labor Day behind us, and students back in school, we are suddenly in Autumn with its cooler weather and shorter days. We anticipate delicious comfort foods, a new fall wardrobe, and cozy nights in front of the fireplace. The easy summer grilling of backyard dinners will soon be a thing of the past (although I love grilling in the winter!). But oh, the baking, soups and stews to come! With cooler evenings, we can forge ahead with body-warming fare like chickpea soup infused with rosemary, or smoked trout paired with roasted beets, or a side of Brussels sprouts swirled in a hot pan of sweet butter, with a drizzle of honey and caramelized nuts. Intrigued yet? Pair broiled slices of tender London Broil with shallots, hot chilies, lime juice and place on peppery watercress salad. Serve creamy, golden polenta spiked with chili powder.
Jazz up your meals by mixing sweet with sour, jazzy with classical, and don't forget textures and color on your plate. Gorgeous golden, spiced pumpkin chunks, toasted pine nuts and Pecorino cheese tossed over Arugula make a great autumn salad with pizzazz. Try a salad of golden grapefruit pieces, tiny, cooked shrimp with spinach, spritzed with a lemon vinaigrette. Or try grapefruit or oranges with raspberries (frozen), drizzled with lime juice mixed with a little honey. Avocado is still plentiful, dice it and mix with oranges, pineapple, lime juice, cilantro and serve over grilled fish or chicken as you say goodbye to summer.
Our seasonal color palette even changes, from blue, green, and white to gold, burgundy, and shades of russet and orange. Our world is preparing for winter. It is an exciting time. There is so much produce to check out for fall and winter cooking; try something different, be innovative. Here's to Autumn! Back to Top
I am always looking for sugar-free or low sugar in products for those like me who must reduce their sugar intake. I discovered that Pillsbury now offers reduced sugar versions of its cake mixes and frostings. Both have 50% less sugar, sweetened with Splenda. Two mixes are now offered, yellow and chocolate; frostings: vanilla and chocolate fudge. A very good start, with more to come I am sure. I also discovered these small, round caramel hard candies--smooth and nice to loll around in your mouth when driving and you have no water. Sugar-free too.
Skinny Cow products use Splenda and taste oh, so good! Try their round shaped, yummy ice cream sandwiches; vanilla swirled between two chocolate wafers. The vanilla and caramel ice cream cones are also divine. Simply Fruit jam has less sugar and tastes just as good. Learn to eat less sugar; it triggers fatigue, increases joint pain, depression and weight gain. Try natural sugar you find such as in fruits, buy at your local Farmer's Markets! Now that is smart eating. Yum! Back to Top
Is your skin hungry? Feed it with food ingredients that clean, tone, moisturize and treat skin naturally. Prepared from ingredients sourced from plants and minerals, Be Fine products offer skin what the body innately knows--you are what you eat. In fact, Be Fine's food-rich elements (including rice and wheat proteins, fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, and spices) are so easily digested by cells, they're actually edible - but only taste appetizing to your skin. It's a menu your face will relish.
How about Lip Serum with Chamomile & Beets, it delivers an ultra sheer tint while plumping and tightening skin around the lips; Lip Exfoliator with oat protein, sesame oil, & pineapple enzymes exfoliate to reveal fresh, new skin for soft, baby lips; Eye Brightening Treatment with Avocado Oil alleviates dark circles and illuminates the skin; Firming Toner refreshes, closes pores, softens skin; Neck Cream firms and lifts.
Products are Allergen Free, Fragrance, and Paraben Free, and contain Vegetarian Proteins. Twelve wonderful products, proven safe and effective for all skin types. Moisturizers, toners, cleansers and special skin treatments. See more products: www.befinefoodskincare.com. Online shopping available. Back to Top
SUMMER! and the living is easy...shopping becomes easier too as you select fresh produce, light dinner fare, more fruits and drinks, healthier alternatives for your new lifestyle. Trader Joe's has these amazing Five Seed Almond Bars. Flax, poppy, sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds are combined with almonds, oats, honey, cinnamon and cloves to create a yummy snack. Each serving boasts 53 mg of DHA and EPA Omega 3 fatty acids, good for your heart, eyes and mind. Pick some up for the family and you; they are delicious.
I have loved using Buffalo Mozzarella, the tiny ones, for delicious salads, and antipasto trays; they melt wonderfully on pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, or atop grilled steak, Tuscan style. Talk about grilling! Marinated in herbs and spices, prepare a boneless tri-tip grilled to perfection. This alone says Summer! Grill chicken, then chop or cut into strips; keep in the fridge to dress salads, make delicious stir fry or add to tacos. How easy is that? Microwave or quickly sauté, perhaps with grilled onions or mushrooms and slivers of red bell peppers for a quick fajitas meal. Ahh, fragrant delights!
A quick snack I had forgotten about, Smucker's Uncrustables; PB&J sealed inside soft bread, no crust, comes frozen, thaws quickly. Plus they are vegan! Portable, delicious! So fun to eat...at picnics, the beach, in the car, school lunches, even break snacks for mom. Not too often though, they have high fructose corn syrup. Comes in Grape, Strawberry, and Apricot. Sometimes a mom needs a little convenience!
Tai food is delicious and easy to make, has a refreshing take on salads and ice tea. Check out the recipes on this page. Summer meals deserve to be no-fuss and healthy; being fun is a bonus. Love pizza, hate the fat and red sauce? Try it with grilled chicken, a nice garlic cream sauce, artichoke hearts, and mushrooms with white cheese. Easier on the tummy, and healthier for you. The taste is so good! Make your own combinations with the things you love. Bon Appetit!
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Thai foods and beverages lend themselves to California's hot summers and abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. Here are two Thai recipes that have easily-found ingredients and will lend a Thai taste to your meal.
Cucumber Salad (Yaam Taeng Kwa)
2 cups cucumbers, peeled and sliced
1 red onion, thinly sliced
2 hot red chilies, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons white sugar
3 tablespoons rice vinegar (without sugar in it.)
1/2 cup warm water
On a serving platter with sides, arrange cucumber, red onion, and chilies in layers. In a bowl, mix the sugar, vinegar, and water and stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over cucumbers, cover and chill in refrigerator until ready to serve. Serves 2.
Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen)
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 can of evaporated milk
1/4 cup of Thai tea leaves (red or black)
4 cups water
crushed ice
Combine the sweetened condensed milk and the evaporated milk. Set aside. In a 6-inch strainer, place a coffee filter and add tea leaves into the filter. Put strainer with filter and tea leaves in a two-quart pan. Bring the water to a boil in a different pan, then pour it onto the tea leaves. Stir thoroughly and let steep in the pan for two or three minutes.
Remove strainer and discard the tea leaves. Allow tea to cool to lukewarm. Pour tea into tall glasses filled with crushed ice. Add about 1 inch of milk mixture and stir. Serves 4 refreshing drinks. Back to Top
Summertime! The season for quick, easy and delicious foods and usually healthier simply because there is an abundance of fresh produce, and grilling is the preferred cooking method. For an easy BBQ side, slice up new potatoes and add a dash of light olive oil, mix in feta cheese and rosemary, and cook on the grill in a foil pouch for a no-mess taste treat.
Pump it up a few notches with fresh, flavorful salsa on your burger, and a slice of pepper jack cheese for a Mexican twist. Or try a slice of horse radish Jack Cheese, marvelous taste. Finish with cut fruit -- such as apples, pears and peaches -- lightly brushed with olive oil, a sprinkle of cinnamon, skewered and grilled for three minutes til toasty.
Cooks love beautiful ingredients; wedges of cheese served with toasted, salty nuts and richly flavored dried-fruit compote, framed by brilliant summer flowers makes an inviting and simply delicious array. Include delicious local wines. Set out beautiful glasses.
Red grapefruit and oranges lend a citrusy and colorful snap to jumbo shrimp in a tangy summer salad, a perfect lunchtime entree that offers an extra nutrient boost. Drizzle with a light dressing of choice. Olive oil on Bruschetta helps you absorb the lycopene in delicious, gently sautéed basil and garlic tomatoes piled on top. Another feast for the eyes and tongue: try this drizzle for fruit and cheese:
Balsamic cranberry drizzle
Combine 3 cups cranberry juice, and 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar. Bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer uncovered 45 min. mixture is reduced to 1 1/3 cups. In a bowl, toss 1/2 cup cranberries and 2 tablespoon sugar, add to juice mixture. Simmer 5 min until cranberries begin to pop; remove from heat. Cool, pour into jar; refrigerate til cool. Drizzle over camembert or cut slices of fruits. Amazing!
Lay out your grilled chicken on a bed of spinach , add chunks of tangy, salty feta cheese, sweet dried cranberries, chopped cashews and a light balsamic vinaigrette, maybe even raspberry flavored...what a refreshing summer salad. Try a wheat pilaf with pine nuts, peas, topped with a slice of broiled yogurt-marinated chicken breast. Or combine sweet corn off the cob with toasted hazelnuts and caramelized onions. Create your own taste treats using fresh produce and spices. Experiment!
Can't wait til dinner; looking for healthy snacks? Try Roasted Garlic and Black Pepper Pretzels, satisfying and flavorful. Pick up some Revival Baked Pasta Soy Chips in fun flavors like Jalapeno and Cheddar Cha Cha or Salsa Sass. Order these wonderful chips online at: www.revivalsoy.com.
Want something interesting and tasty to accompany your grilled foods? Bring Curried Chicken salad to the table. Combine 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped, with 1/2 cup seedless red grapes, 1/2 cup diced apple, 2 tbs diced pineapple, and 1 tbs dried currants. Combine 3 tbls low-fat mayo with 1 tsp of honey, 1/2 tsp curry powder, 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1/8 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper. Pour over chicken mixture, toss gently. Sprinkle with 1 tbls toasted, sliced almonds. Serves 2.Back to Top
Spring is here! Appetites hunger for simpler, tasty, less heavy fares than in winter. Food preparation is an art; we eat with our eyes first--picture this: Melon topped with lemon yogurt, sprinkled with grated lemon. Refreshingly simple, healthy, light and easy.
Many of us are trimming down now in anticipation of summer; monitoring portion control is one way; using smaller plates helps. Pay attention to calories--dried plums have 408 calories, fresh plums have 76 calories. Dried banana chips have added fats. A 1-cup portion is a tennis ball shape; a 1/4 cup portion is a golf ball shape. Another tip: order your To Go box when your meal arrives, pack it away except for your portion. Reduces the chances of mindless eating more than you should while talking with your meal partner.
Try these for reduced calorie, taste-good treats: Sweet freedom waffle cones with reduced calories. Peeps now has a sugar-free version sweetened with Splenda; tasty but it lacks the grainy, sugary coating. That cuts 12 calories off your Peeps per peep. Check out www.marshmallowpeeps.com, the Just Born web site, for recipes and Easter ideas. Another nice idea is Annie's Totally Natural Sour Cream & Onion bunnies baked snack crackers found at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op; they contain no trans fats or artificial flavors.
Now here is a summer tip: Tapas, those tasty morsels of cheeses, meats, and canapes...the ultimate 'combo' plate, may be the ticket to portion control. The flavors ar e varied, the differences refreshing and exciting, all are small morsels and wonderful. Dim Sum follows the same principles and you have your choice of several, small tasty morsels but with Asian flavors.
Try either of these 'small bites'; Tapas are usually after lunch, before dinner fare, Dim Sum is morning or brunch fare. You will enjoy and savor the different, delicious creations.
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