A new Caribbean restaurant recently opened here in Owensboro. It’s the first one of its kind in the area, so everyone’s pretty excited about it. Some people aren’t entirely sure what Caribbean food is, but they’ll sure know it when they taste it!
Caribbean food is simply steak, chicken, fish, and other foods that we enjoy on a daily basis – but with a glorious Caribbean accent. That is, seasoned with the flavors and colors of the islands. Fortunately you don’t have to live near the Caribbean Islands or even a Caribbean restaurant to enjoy Caribbean food. You can actually create the deliciousness in the comfort and convenience of your own kitchen when you buy Caribbean food products at Trinjamdist.com.
Trin-Jam should be the first place you look for Jamaican & Caribbean food products. Personally, I have my eye on Benjamin’s Barbecue Jerk Sauce. I have grilling plans and he’s invited. Spicy Jamaican Barbecue Jerk Sauce. Hot & Spicy sauce best for chicken, fish, pork and hamburgers. He isn’t just invited, he’ll be the guest of honor!
When you plan your Caribbean nights, be sure to buy tropical candles for the evening and decorate the table accordingly. Go all out and have fun with it. Put on Caribbean music, dress in bright colors and live out loud! Click through the link above to see the many other ways you can bring the Islands into your kitchen.
DuPont and Teflon have a new Flip It Pan that I recently had the privilege of taking for a test drive. I’m afraid I don’t have any pictures scanned in to post yet, but I’ll try to get right on it. I’m just too eager to get this posted to wait (I’ll tell you why in a minute.).
This little pan has an inner plate that’s printed with the US flag – so, one side of whatever you cook gets the flag imprinted on it. Awesomeness! I’m as patriotic as anyone, so this is right up my alley. Personally, I think everyone should feel great pride in their country – if they don’t… well, call U-Haul!
The first thing I tried with my beloved new toy was a grilled cheese sandwich. I didn’t flip the pan soon enough, so one side was too done. Operator error, to be sure. Not to be foiled, I tried again a little later. Success! The grilled cheese sandwich was delicious and the little flag was a sweet touch.
I also tried it out the next morning with my favorite buttermilk pancakes recipe and was totally impressed again. Once I caught on to the timing of the flip, it was smooth sailing.
Here’s the reason I’m so anxious to get this posted before I actually have pictures to post along with it: DuPont has agreed to give one of you your very own Flip It Pan – totally free. I’d love for you to get your hands on it as soon as possible, so I’m going to hook one of you up with this great little pan.
To win, simply be the first person to e-mail me (joi sigers @ aim.com)! If you’re the first one, I’ll shoot an e-mail back to you telling you that you’ve won and asking you for your address (so DuPont can mail you your Flip It Pan). If you aren’t the first one, I’ll e-mail you back anyway! I’ll send you my favorite Buttermilk Pancake recipe. I think someone has already won the pan – if they’ll e-mail me back their address, that is. If not, the runner up will get a new flip it pan. Either way, the pan’s now officially spoken for!
Have a fun and fabulous week!
Red-Skin Potato Salad with Honey Dill Dressing
1 1/2 pounds small red new potatoes
4 strips bacon
1 medium onion, diced
6 tablespoons honey
6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon water
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped or 1 tablespoon dried dill
1 bunch watercress, washed and chopped
Directions:
In large pot, boil whole potatoes in salted water until; tender but firm. Drain and cool. While potatoes are cooling, sauté bacon until crisp in large frying pan. Remove bacon and set aside. Add onion to bacon drippings; cooking until soft, about 3 minutes. Add honey and vinegar to pan; stir to combine and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch with water, stir into honey mixture. Cook until mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Crumble bacon; stir bacon and dill into dressing. Cut cooled potatoes in half, leaving skins on. In large bowl, combine potatoes and watercress. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently. Serve immediately.
This recipe and the beautiful picture are courtesy of the National Honey Board
Grilled Corn with Spiced Honey Butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon chili powder
8 ears fresh corn
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
8 lime wedges
Directions:
In a small bowl stir together the butter, honey and chili powder; set aside. Fold back husks and remove silk from corn; pull husks back up over corn. Place corn in a large bowl of ice water and soak for 15 minutes. Remove and shake off excess water. Place on grill over medium hot coals and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, turning frequently. Remove husks and spread each ear with seasoned butter. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.
Makes 8 Servings
I’m standing at the back door with this recipe in hand, waiting for some of our greatest unsung heroes (farmers) to harvest that delicious corn I wait for every year. I know, I know I have quite a wait – but I don’t mind.
I can’t wait to try this spiced honey rub on other vegetables as well.
This wonderful recipe and the beautiful picture are courtesy of the National Honey Board.
Camembert Grape Salad with Honey Vinaigrette – A Honey of a Recipe
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
3/4 pound seedless grapes
3/4 pound fresh figs, apricots, plums or nectarines, sliced
4 ounces camembert or brie cheese, cut into narrow wedges
1/2 cup pecan halves, toasted
2 quarts salad greens
Directions:
Combine honey, vinegar, oil, orange juice and poppy seeds in a jar. Shake well. Arrange clusters of grapes, fruit, cheese wedges and pecans on salad greens. Shake dressing and drizzle over salads. Refrigerate any remaining dressing.
Makes 4 Servings
Honey is one of the ingredients I never allow myself to run out of. Not only is it delicious in many recipes, I love it on bagels (it hooks up with cream cheese the way peanut butter hooks up with jelly), I love it in hot tea, and it’s invaluable during cold and hayfever seasons. When used liberally in hot tea, with lemon, it soothes a sore throat, quiets an annoying cough, and makes a mouth that’s been itching and sneezing feel sooooo much better.
This wonderful recipe and the beautiful picture are courtesy of the National Honey Board.
I’m not even going to lie, when it comes to kitchen appliances and gadgets, I’m like a kid in a roomful of toys or a teenage girl in a roomful of mirrors. G- to the i- to the -ddy. Giddy!
One of my favorite toys is my Cuisinart Panini and Sandwich Press
. I absolutely delight in finding new combinations that work. I love to bring home bags of bread, vegetables, cheeses, and meats from the grocery store and set to work finding the best combinations. Avocado, pesto, and stone ground mustard are also items that can kick a sandwich to new heights. Not only is it incredible, creative fun, it’s also a healthy way to eat.
Since I use a lot of wheat bread, olive oil, vegetables, cheese, turkey, and chicken – my paninis turn out to be as healthy as they are delicious.
Yesterday, I broke out some of my favorite staples: Sara Lee Whole Grain White Bread, Sara Lee Cracked Pepper 
Turkey Breast, slices of Mozzarella cheese, Classico Traditional Basil Pesto, Olive Oil, my pepper mill, coarse-ground mustard, and Miracle Whip. (Note: This isn’t at all an advertisement for any of these companies or brands – they’re simply brands I use and use and use and use…. In fact, I’m naming my next pet Sara Lee.)
Classico Traditional Basil Pesto is something that you should keep on hand. I love the stuff to distraction. It’s heavenly on garlic toast and, obviously, paninis. But one of my favorite things to use it on is Boca Burgers and other protein patties. Boca Burger has a few new varieties that are just perfect with pesto.
I heated my Panini Press. I poured a little olive oil into a small plastic tray and ground black pepper on top. I used my beloved silicone brush to slap some of the pepper-y olive oil onto the press. Check your grocery aisles for flavored olive oils – I use them frequently as well.
Then I layered each sandwich like this:
First slice of Bread
Thin layer of Miracle Whip
Slice of Mozzarella cheese
A generous layer of Basil Pesto
Slices of the cracked pepper turkey
A thin layer of coarse-ground mustard (I use the Wal-Mart brand, I like its attitude)
Another slice of Mozzarella
Another thin layer of Miracle Whip
The second slice of bread
After I cooked the little beauties on the Panini Press, I finished each one with a layer of sliced tomato. The basil pesto, cracked pepper turkey, Mozarella, and tomato combination made me glad to be alive.
Something I saw recently that I’m DYING to take for a Panini test drive is Creole Mustard. The mind boggles at the possibilities.
If you don’t have a panini press yet, I strongly urge you to pick one out. The one I link to below is the one I swear by. Get jazzy with it – try out different cheeses (You’ll never go wrong with Provolone, Swiss, or Mozzarella ), meats, vegetables (tomatoes, onions, avocados, thinly sliced cucumbers, thinly sliced red peppers, etc), and spreads. Come up with combinations that put smiles on the faces you love.
Another favorite around our house is Chicken Bacon Ranch paninis. with slices of grilled chicken breast, Swiss Cheese, bacon, tomatoes, and Ranch Dressing. Mmmmm.
Cuisinart GR 2 Griddler Express Panini and Sandwich Press
I gotta tell you, I’m completely nuts over seafood. When it comes to most meats, I could probably adopt a vegetarian diet – I’m just not overly, overly committed to them. But fish? Shrimp? Forget about it!
Seafood is healthy, delicious, and improves your posture. Okay, maybe it doesn’t improve your posture – but the rest is dead on.
The only problem is, sometimes seafood isn’t healthy, and sometimes our choices and practices are bad for the ocean. I love the ocean more than I love a seafood meal – so I want to do the right thing. Fortunately, the NRDC has put together an awesome resource that gives us everything we need to know. I just read their Sustainable Seafood Guide – How to Choose Delicious Seafood That’s Healthy For You and the Environment – and I kept going, “Oh, I didn’t know that,” “Oh really?,” and “Ooooh.” Give it a look, unless you’re the one that wrote the article, you’re sure to learn a few things as well.
Also, their seafood expert has a blog with even more information: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/lpagano/new_guide_eat_healthy_sustaina.html
Have a great Monday. I’ve got my coffee and chocolate to the left and my cat Alexa to the right. I’m off to a great start!
The June “Food Issue” of Men’s Health magazine features “The 125 Best Foods for Men.” The magazine’s editors created the list which includes ten picks from each section of your grocery store: Breads & Grains, Dairy & Deli, Frozen Foods, Packaged Foods & Snacks, Drinks, Condiments, Spreads, and Cooking Extras.
What a cool approach!
They compiled this year’s list by first comparing the nutrition labels of competing brands in each of the categories. 
Bonus points were given to those products with more protein and fiber, and less added sugar and sodium. They also took calories per serving into consideration, but didn’t penalize for fat—since it adds flavor, helps keep hunger at bay, and is part of a healthy diet if it doesn’t lead to excessive calorie intake. Once the editors pared their choices down, they matched them in a head-to-head taste test to determine the victor. As for draws, the nod went to the product with the fewest ingredients.
Grab an issue for each special man in your life and throw it into his Father’s Day gift bag or stick it into his gift box. What a perfect way to say, “I love you and want you to be around for years and years and years….” To that end, why not give each guy a subscription too?! Cool beans.
Below are a few resources you’ll want to take a look at:
125 Healthiest Supermarket Foods in America
The Truth About Diet Soda
Men’s Health – Eat This, Not That Newsletter
High Protein Fruit and Yogurt Shake
I just checked out the 125 Healthiest Foods – yes indeed-y, all of them – and I was thrilled to see that I’m already buying a majority of the healthiest. Yay, me and my shopping skills!
The ones that I’ve been missing the mark on, I’m going to try out this week.
I figure if they’re healthy for men, they’re healthy for the rest of us, right? Test yourself and see which foods you’re already buying and which ones you need to take for a test drive asap.
Yum. Make that YUM! Click the link below and let Curtis Stone introduce you to something I’m certain you’ve never created outside before. This would be so Heavenly with a bowl of tomato soup. Man, that sounds so unbelievably good right about now. Curtis Stone Recipe for Outdoor Grilled Cheese Sandwich
So, friends, does $10,000 sound like something you could put to use?
Personally, my mind has spent the past 10 minutes thinking of all the glorious, amazing, deliciously beautiful things I could do with that much money. Could Starbucks even begin to keep pace?
Read on to see how you could conceivably get your hands on the cash:
Mixing Bowl is an online community for cooks of any level with an emphasis on user-generated content. The site invites everyday chefs, like me and you, to come together and exchange recipes, plan gatherings or celebrations, share photos, participate in contests and post messages. If you have a Facebook account, you can even use your account to log into Mixing Bowl.
Here’s where it gets extra special! To welcome the chefs/foodies into the kitchen Mixing Bowl has launched a $10,000 challenge!
Whoever starts the most active new group on Mixing Bowl between May 8 and June 30, 2009 will win the online $10,000 challenge. There are a number of criteria for the groups, such as the number of Mixing Bowl members in the group, the number of recipes uploaded, the number of photos uploaded, and number of discussion posts. You can find full details at $10,000 Mixing Bowl Challenge official contest rules.
To thank you fo
.png)
