From the category archives:

Food Reviews

Giada de Laurentiis Products from Target: Must Haves!

by Joi on August 16, 2010

Giada de Laurentiis 3.5-oz. Sicilian Sea Salt with Fresh Lemon

Okay. I normally don’t make broad, sweeping statements (unless it plays something like, “Drink coffee, it makes you sexier,” which doesn’t really count because that’s been proven). However, the time has come to make a doozie: If you ever see a cookbook, food item, kitchen gadget, pot, pan, dish, coffee mug, spoon, small appliance, large appliance, apron, salt shaker, or bulldog puppy (???) with the name Giada de Laurentiis on it, buy it and prepare to be amazed. The woman does not attach her name or beautiful face to anything less than a 10 on a scale of 1-10.

Apparently it’s against her code.

Good code.

The Giada de Laurentiis 3.5-oz. Sicilian Sea Salt with Fresh Lemon, pictured at the top of the post?  Ridiculously excellent.  Like all of Giada’s food products, you get so much more than you pay for or even hope for.

Product Description:
An incredibly tasty Sicilian Sea Salt with Fresh Lemon Zest. The hand-harvested, all-natural sea salt with lemon zest comes from a combination of the pure Sicilian sea water and the freshest lemons grown under the Sicilian sun. Giada’s Sicilian sea salt presents a delicate and intense aroma, with distinct hints of sweet, fresh lemons. Its fresh and delicate taste is characterized by intense notes of lemon, making this gourmet product a perfect ingredient to be coupled with light dishes, ideal for cooked or raw fish and shellfish, poultry, vegetables and desserts. Academia Barilla and Giada De Laurentiis present a piece of Italy to Italian food lovers and food connoisseurs, to taste, enjoy and share. Together, Academia Barilla and Giada De Laurentiis have launched the much anticipated range of high quality, authentic Italian gourmet products.

I regularly buy Giada’s pasta, sauces, and other food products at my local Target…. a store I have nothing but love for. Her spaghetti sauces are amazing – my favorite one is a creamy pasta sauce that boggles the brain.

A recent gift from my husband (for a birthday I acknowledged but didn’t count) is the gorgeous ceramic lasagna pan pictured above. Naturally, like a kid with a toy, I had to use it right away. I normally would have whipped up my favorite vegetarian lasagna but we’d recently had spaghetti — I’m nothing if not anal — so I made a cheesy potato au gratin. Outstanding. The pan refused to allow the potatoes or the cheese to stick, which made serving, eating, and cleaning joyful, delicious, and simple.

It’s such a gorgeous ceramic pan I kind of hated to use it. You really have to see it to appreciate it. It’s worth a special trip to Target to see Giada’s collection of pans, gadgets, and more. She even has a line of sexy aprons as well as her own coffee.

Somebody tell me why I haven’t tried that yet.

By the way, when you click through to the ceramic lasagna pan, if you scroll down you’ll see what appears to be a great recipe for Baked Gnocchi, calling for spinach, nutmeg, gnocchi, chicken broth, heavy cream… is your mouth watering yet?

Another gift the wonderful husband bought me was the Giada De Laurentiis for Target 12″ Stainless Steel Nonstick Sauté Pan (Click through this link for details as well as a recipe for Orzo with Sausage, Peppers and Tomatoes!). This gorgeous pan was initiated into the family with salmon patties and is currently simmering a little pasta sauce for my oldest daughter’s lunch.

It’s quite possibly the best pan I’ve ever owned.

Features:
Pan-Pot Material: Stainless Steel
Handle Material: Stainless Steel
Features: Riveted Handle
Care and Cleaning: Hand-wash Only

Click through any of the links (except for the Giada de Laurentiis 3.5-oz. Sicilian Sea Salt with Fresh Lemon – it has a mind of its own) to browse Target’s outstanding line of Giada de Laurentiis products.

Hardee’s Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders Review

by Joi on July 8, 2010

I’d seen the commercials for Hardee’s Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders quite a few times.  The commercials I saw aired during my beloved St. Louis Cardinal’s games each night.  They always looked so ridiculously amazing, I was tempted (each time) to run to my nearest Hardee’s in my pajamas.

Willpower always won out because my Betsey Johnson polka dotted PJs aren’t meant for everyone’s eyes.  Besides, I couldn’t very well leave my Cardinals now could I?  The bullpen would implode (no comment).

Yesterday, my daughter Stephany and I ran by Hardee’s and grabbed a couple of boxes to take for a test drive.  We got the Honey Mustard and Creamy Buffalo dipping sauces but they also offer Buttermilk Ranch.  I loved the Creamy Buffalo dipping sauce.  I didn’t try the Honey Mustard because, in my book, anything remotely related to mustard only belongs on fried bologna sandwiches and hot dogs.  When it ventures outside of that little culinary box, I get nervous.

But enough about the sauces because, frankly, they aren’t even needed.  Hardee’s Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders are exceptional – even better than I thought they’d be.  They’re also reasonably priced – for the quality, I’d expect them to cost a lot more.

The only problem is now I have a dilemma – I normally get the Mushroom Swiss burger at Hardee’s.  Now I’m torn!

I only wish Hardee’s would bring back the Texas Toothpicks they had for a limited time.  I ordered (and ate) the heck out of those things.  Seriously, they were one of the best sides any fast food restaurant has ever offered.

Be sure to swing by Hardee’s the next time you’re hungry and try out the hand-breaded chicken tenders.  I give them 2 thumbs up and only wish I had more thumbs.

Organic ProBugs from Lifeway Foods: Your Kids Will Love These

by Joi on June 10, 2010

Absolutely delicious. That’s what came to mind when I tasted Lifeway Organic’s ProBugs Organic Whole Milk Kefir – Strawbanana Split.

When I was first contacted, I thought, “ProBugs…Kefir?… Sounds like a laboratory experiment…” – but I agreed to test a few because of something I’ve learned over the years: If someone is willing to send you a product and encourages you to let your readers know what you think (good, bad, or indifferent), they have a great deal of confidence and pride in their stuff…. and for good reason.

Never fails.

My youngest daughter, Stephany, and I were anxious to test them as soon as they came in the mail. I made sure to save one for my oldest daughter, Emily – she with the probiotic yogurt obsession.

All three of us were completely blown away by how delicious these drinks are. They come in very, very colorful kid-friendly disposable containers. They’re the perfect size for little hands and feature no-spill spouts for little mouths. I guarantee your kids will love these – and so will you! They remind me of a strawberry shake or a fruity smoothie.

Kids will drink every drop and never realize how healthy each one is for them.

The organic ProBugs line from Lifeway Foods is the perfect chance to turn your children (of all ages!) onto healthy foods. Too many unhealthy foods are available for them – we’ve got to “right” the ship and start providing our kids with healthier alternatives.

Please visit Lifeway.net for great information, healthful facts, and even a little fun for the kids.

Ocean Spray Juices That Give You Both Fruit and Veggies? Pour it On!

by Joi on May 4, 2010

For Self Help Daily, Out of Bounds, and Get Cooking, I do A LOT of research about healthy living, healthy eating, disease prevention, and nutrition. I’m amazed – again and again and again – at the number of times I read the words EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.  Whether an individual wants to prevent cancer, lose weight, look and feel their best, age well, improve their heart’s health,  improve their memory… or a countless other positive pursuit… the experts, without fail, point to the importance of a healthy diet – one in which many fruits and vegetables are consumed regularly.

It’s pretty easy for those of us who love fruits and vegetables.  We delight in our fruit and vegetables at supper and try to squeeze them into lunch and breakfast as often as possible.  Trouble is, it’s  not always as easy to do as it is to say. And if we think we have our hands full, just think how tough it is for those people who aren’t that crazy about fruit or vegetables – or those who, like a few members of my family, just want the same vegetables and fruits over and over again?!

Ocean Spray has served up a couple of delicious solutions.  I was fortunate enough to receive a few of their new outstanding juices.  I’ve tried the 100% Juice Fruit & Veggie Cranberry Strawberry Banana Flavored Blend of 8 Juices and the 100% Juice Fruit & Veggie Tropical Citrus flavored blend of 7 juices.

About the Ocean Spray Juices

When you think of Ocean Spray, you probably think of Cranberry Juice.  With the hilarious commercials (I love those guys!) and the popularity of the Cranberry juice, itself, their brand identity is as strong as any.  However, what a lot of people don’t realize is that Ocean Spray is cock of the walk when it comes to other juices and products as well.  You can taste the quality and the goodness in each drink.  If you’re like most of us, you’re looking for healthier drinks for your family to enjoy and would love to steer them away from soft drinks as much as possible.

The problem was that most juices just don’t motivate kids (or anyone for that matter) to put down the Coke and pick up the juice.  Ocean Spray is exactly what parents need – delicious motivation!  Their juices are also available in “On the Go” sizes that are perfect for grabbing on the way out the door whether you’re going for a walk, to the beach,  to the park, to a ballgame or just to sit in the front yard and watch the commotion around your bird feeder.

I’ve noticed something with my family – if I have juice in individual serving containers, they’re a lot more apt to grab them instead of something else.  Same holds true with water.  Most young people just don’t want to slow down long enough to get a glass, fill it with ice, get the container, and pour the juice in the glass.  After all… Heaven forbid… they’d then have to clean up after themselves.

Horrors!

From Ocean Spray.com:

When most people think of Ocean Spray, they think that we’re the Cranberry Juice folks. And if you’re reading this, then it’s likely you’re already a fan. The question is, which juice is your favorite? Check out all our varieties of cranberry juice, grapefruit juice and our juice blends.

My new favorites are the Fruit and Vegetable blends.  I think it’s partly because of all the research I do about nutrition and healthy living.  I KNOW the importance of getting more fruits and vegetables in every possible way.  Now, having said that, if these juices weren’t exceptional, I probably wouldn’t bother!  Fortunately, they are outstandingly delicious and I’d just as soon grab one of them for lunch or breakfast (or for a walk) as anything else.

To know that I’m drinking something that’s so good for me while serving up my taste buds a little party makes it all the better.

The next time you’re at the store, you’ll definitely want to try these juices for yourself.  They’ll flat blow you away.

For more information, recipes, and a super cool website experience, visit Ocean Spray’s website.

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter – No, Really – And an Orange Pound Cake Recipe

by Joi on May 1, 2010

One of the biggest perks of publishing a food blog is the opportunity and privilege to try new products or take a new look at old products.  I was recently contacted by the very friendly people with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.  They wanted to send me information and a coupon to try their I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spread.  My first thought was, “Do these people (friendly as they are) realize who they’ve just contacted?  I’m the self-appointed butter queen!”  Seriously, it doesn’t take too long to realize my stand on butter – how many of the recipes on Get Cooking beseech you not to use anything but butter.  I’m pretty sure I’ve even threatened (a time or two to hunt you down and swat your hand) if you used a substitution.

Geez, in fact, in a recent e-mail I told someone that one of the cornerstones of my cooking (in addition to a great set of knives, buttermilk, olive oil, real peppercorns….) was butter.

Then I had to go and try I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.  Honesty?  I expected to laugh in the face of the bright, enthusiastic yellow tub.  Heck, even it’s friendly.

I whipped out my spreader and put some on a fresh biscuit.  I thought, No way… this can’t be!  So I tried again.  My cat and I exchanged looks as I headed to the refrigerator to take out a stick of the real thing (always on hand, you know).  I put some of it on a piece of biscuit and the taste was just like the one I’d just tried.  Twice.

I called in my youngest daughter (the Princess of Butter).  She flipped for it and said she had a new favorite “butter.”

We’ve since used it on garlic bread, pancakes, oatmeal, pasta, potatoes, and steamed vegetables.  Not once have we wished for real butter because not once did we remember that we weren’t eating real butter.

So.  If they taste the same, why should you be tempted to try I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter instead of butter?  Glad you asked.  Here’s one simple fact:  Soft spreads contain 70 percent less saturated fats than butter and no cholesterol.  For more interesting facts and nutritional information, please visit The Big Fat Truth!

Orange Pound Cake Recipe

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt
1 Tbsp. orange juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. grated orange peel
3/4 cup I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® soft spread
3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour 8-1/2 x 4-1/2-inch loaf pan; set aside.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; set aside. Combine yogurt, orange juice and vanilla in small bowl; set aside. Combine sugar with orange peel in large bowl.

Beat I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® soft spread into sugar and orange peel mixture with electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately beat in flour mixture and yogurt mixture on low speed just until blended. Spoon batter into prepared pan.

Bake 55 minutes or until lightly browned and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.

Frost, if desired (you’ll most definitely want to do this), with Orange Glaze (See Below).
Orange Glaze: Combine 1 cup confectioners’ sugar with 1 Tbsp. orange juice. Add more orange juice if needed

Find lots of outstanding recipes using I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter on their website.  I’ll add a few more of my favorites to the site over the next few days.  Don’t forget to visit The Big Fat Truth and grab a tub or two or twenty of  I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter the next time you’re in the store.

This from the queen of butter.

Lean Cuisine From Freezer to Fabulous

by Joi on March 24, 2010

Our home is filled with people coming and going all hours of the day and night. I keep a lot of homemade meals on hand and available for all of my beloved mobile munchers, but I also keep plenty of Lean Cuisine Meals in the freezer.  Their fast, delicious, healthy, and even my oldest daughter can fix them (This is the same girl who once put the cardboard in the oven along with a frozen pizza – fortunately I’ve always raised my girls to stay nearby whatever it is they’re cooking , so she caught the early smoke signals.  Bless her.)

I was recently sent three new Lean Cuisine meals to try:

  • Roasted Honey Chicken
  • Apple Cranberry Chicken
  • Thai-Style Noodles with Chicken

Delicious, delicious, and OMG delicious.  Each meal was filled with flavor – more flavor than you’d every expect or hope for.  The seasonings in each were mind-blowingly delicious.  My favorite may be the Thai-Style Noodles with Chicken, but I’m completely wild about each one.  I plan to never allow my freezer to be without at least 6 of these meals at any given time.

The Thai-Style Noodles with Chicken

  • This Lean Cuisine meal is only 310 calories
  • Includes 5g Fiber, 20 percent of your daily value
  • The Thai-seasonings will rock your world
  • Includes bright veggies and roasted white meat chicken in a creamy chili peanut sauce
  • The Green beans and carrots are crisp and amazing

Roasted Honey Chicken

  • This Lean Cuisine meal is only 280 calories!
  • Includes 5g of fiber, 20 percent of your daily value
  • Roasted white meat chicken, snap peas, yellow beans, and whole wheat pilaf happily linger in a rich, sweet honey sauce.
  • Wonderful, wonderful flavor

Apple Cranberry Chicken

  • Completely and unexpectedly delicious
  • This Lean Cuisine meal has only 300 calories
  • There are 6g of fiber, 24 percent of your daily value
  • Inspired by health spa cuisine
  • Features sweet cranberries, french cut green beans, white meat chicken, and whole wheat pilaf
  • The sauce is a flavorful apple reduction sauce that I could drink a gallon of on any given day!

Each of these meals is extraordinary and make healthy, fast, and delicious lunches.  You just have to try each one!

Best Ever Butter Cookies Using the Best Ever Butter

by Joi on March 22, 2010

There are several brands that I either won’t deviate from or seldom branch out away from:

Land O Lakes Butter is something you’ll find at all times in my refrigerator.  Whether it’s toast, eggs, pancakes, garlic bread, sourdough bread, corn on the cob, oatmeal – or a billion and one other foods – Land O Lakes makes great food taste even better.  If you’ve ever been victimized by bad-tasting butter or margarine, you’ll understand my obsession with Land O Lakes.  I once, long ago, had a killer batch of garlic mashed potatoes ruined by nasty margarine.

I vowed that my kitchen efforts would never be undermined again.  That’s when I first tried Land O Lakes and I’ve never ventured away.  I love the spreadable butters with canola oil and am thrilled to say that even the Light Butter with Canola Oil is outstanding.

The following recipe uses Land O Lakes butter which is precisely why it is as advertised:  The best Butter Cookie recipe ever.

The Best Ever Butter Cookies Recipe

Cookie Ingredients:
1 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 Egg
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon vanilla
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Frosting Ingredients:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
Food color, if desired

Combine 1 cup butter, sugar and egg in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add orange juice and vanilla; mix well. Reduce speed to low; add flour and baking powder. Beat until well mixed.

Divide dough into thirds. Wrap each in plastic food wrap; flatten slightly. Refrigerate until firm (2 to 3 hours).

Heat oven to 400°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface, one-third at a time (keeping remaining dough refrigerated), to 1/8- to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with 3-inch cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets; sprinkle with decorator sugar. Bake for 6 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Combine powdered sugar, 1/3 cup butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla in small bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often and gradually adding enough milk for desired spreading consistency. Tint with food color, if desired. Frost and decorate cooled cookies as desired.

Recipe Tip:
If you use a 4 to 5-inch cookie cutter, recipe will yield approximately 2 dozen cookies.

Visit Land O Lakes Website for more Buttery Delicious Recipes!

Here’s to Your Health:
“With LAND O LAKES® Spreadable Butter with Canola Oil, consumers don’t have a long, complex ingredient list to decipher,” says Peggy Ellingson, Vice President of Marketing. “Where many spreads have as many as 17 ingredients, our delicious spreadable butter with canola oil has only three,” she adds.

“Consumers are looking for purity and simplicity. That’s precisely what they get with LAND O LAKES® Spreadable Butter with Canola Oil,” says Ellingson. “When a consumer picks up our product and reads the ingredient list – which more and more consumers are doing today — it’s immediately apparent that they’re purchasing a product that’s natural, wholesome and free of any artificial additives or preservatives,” she adds.

Made with LAND O LAKES® Butter, canola oil, salt, LAND O LAKES® Spreadable Butter with Canola Oil addresses the number one consumer need in the butter category: the taste and wholesome, simple goodness of real butter with the convenience of a spread.

LAND O LAKES® Spreadable Butter with Canola Oil spreads beautifully over hot toast, freshly-baked blueberry muffins, fluffy pancakes, delicious waffles and flaky croissants. It’s ideal for topping a piping hot baked potato or your favorite vegetable. Consumers can enjoy how soft and easy it is to spread whether they try the 8-ounce tub or the convenient 15-ounce tub.

Original Super Bowl Recipes Courtesy of the Amazing Avocado!

by Joi on January 31, 2010

I can’t even tell you how much I love avocados.  I’ve tried before and felt that I came up short, so I figure why even try?  Suffice to say, I could eat two every single day for the rest of my life and want more.  I use them in guacamole (of course), on paninis, in tossed salads, in pasta salads, on pizza, in tacos, in fajitas, and I’ve even put them into scrambled eggs before.

I also love to slice them, remove the pit, and sprinkle a little fresh lemon juice inside.  Then I toss a little finely chopped tomato with a little olive oil and salt and glob the tomato mixture onto the avocado.  If I have fresh cilantro on hand, I sprinkle some on top.  Then I have a party in my mouth.  Naturally, I also simply slice them and eat them quite often as well.

A year or so ago, while reading a favorite cookbook, Nigella Express, I came across this quote from the beautiful author:  “I eat an enormous amount of avocados…. (I remember reading) when I was really quite young, just in my teens, that the dogs that lived in avocado orchards always had shiny, glossy coats because of all the windfall fruit they snaffled up daily.  That image has stuck with me, and it is such an appealing one.  I always have it in mind as I prepare myself an avocado, which is often.”

Ever since reading that quote, I picture Nigella’s gorgeous hair when I cut open an avocado!

Below you’ll find a wealth of Avocado information – how to pick an avocado, how to cut an avocado, how to prepare an avocado, the nutritional values of avocados, a guacamole recipe, and a Chicken and Avocado Pizza recipe.  Have mercy!   The avocado recipes below (as well as the ones linked to at the end of this Mega Avocado Post) can give you the power to have the best Superbowl Snacks on the block when the Colts and the Saints fight it out for the big one.  This has nothing to do with avocados or even cooking, but for the first time EVER, I honestly don’t care which team wins this year – I like them about the same.  Peyton Manning is a class act and the Colts are a classy organization -what’s not to like about them?  At the same time, the Saints are a lot of fun to watch and they’ve really built their program up to a position of dominance.  It’d be great to see them rewarded for all their hard work.

I guess I’ll just sit back and enjoy the game, almost as much as the snacks!

Guacamole Monster Dip Recipe

1 fully ripened Avocado from Mexico – halved, pitted and diced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon wasabi
1 cup plain thick Greek-style yogurt
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon finely minced ginger
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

  1. In bowl, combine avocado, yogurt, ginger, salt, wasabi, garlic, and lime juice; stir until well mixed.
  2. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
  3. Garnish with chopped chives, if desired.
  4. Serve as a dip with chips or vegetables or topping for iceberg lettuce wedges or romaine hearts.

Preparation time is about 5 minutes. Yields about 1-1/2 cups.

Chicken and Avocado Pizza Recipe

California-style pizza, ready to enjoy in less than 15 minutes | Serves 2-4

1 12-inch Boboli ready-made pizza crust
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1/4 teaspoon chipotle Tabasco
1 cup cooked shredded chicken
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 fully ripened Avocado from Mexico, halved pitted, peeled and sliced

-Heat oven to 425°F. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet; bake crust 7 minutes.
-In small bowl, combine pizza sauce and Tabasco.
-Spread pizza with sauce; top with chicken, Avocado and cheese.
-Bake until crust is crisp on the bottom, 4 to 6 minutes longer. Yields 8 slices.

Nutritional Information for Avocados:

  • One-fifth of a medium avocado (3 slices), or about one ounce, has only 50 calories.
  • Avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, including 4% of the recommended Daily Value (DV) for vitamin E, 4% vitamin C, 8% folate, 4% fiber, 2% iron, 4% potassium, with 81 micrograms of lutein and 19 micrograms of beta-carotene.
  • Avocados contribute good fats to one’s diet, providing 3 grams monounsaturated fat and 0.5 polyunsaturated grams fat per 1 oz. serving.
  • Avocados have a favorable unsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio of 3.5 grams to 0.5 grams, making them a great substitute for foods rich in saturated fats.
  • Avocados can help consumers meet the dietary guidelines of the American Heart Association (AHA), which are to eat a diet that is low to moderate in fat. According to the AHA, mono and polyunsaturated fats, when consumed in moderation and eaten in place of saturated or trans fats, can help reduce blood cholesterol levels and decrease risk for heart disease.
  • Avocados are cholesterol- and sodium-free, and more than 50 percent of the fruit’s fat content comes from monounsaturated fats. The avocado is virtually the only fruit that has monounsaturated fat.
  • Avocados act as a “nutrient booster” by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha- and beta-carotene as well as lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit.
  • Avocados contain 76 milligrams beta-sitosterol in a 3-oz serving of avocado. Beta-sitosterol is a natural plant sterol which may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
  • Avocados contain 81 micrograms of the carotenoid lutein in a 1 oz. serving, which some studies suggest may help maintain healthy eyes.

How to Choose the Perfect Avocado from Mexico

(Or, How to recognize your Hass!)

  • Avocados from Mexico are available year round. You can spot a ripe Hass Avocado from Mexico by its green-black pebbly textured skin.
  • Look for the “Avocados from Mexico” sticker
  • It appears on only the finest Avocados imported from Mexico.
  • Hass has heft
  • When you hold the Avocado, it should feel heavy for its size and have no mushy spots.

Get it ripe
Avocados mature on the tree, but they soften and develop their fullest flavor after picking. You can count on a firm green Avocado to ripen within three to four days. If the skin is a mottled color – green with black patches – it will be ready for use in a shorter time, two to three days.

Need your Avocado now?
If you need Avocados to use right away, look for fruit whose skin has turned dark green or black. The Avocado should yield to gentle pressure from a thumb.

Avocado Ripening and Storage Information

How to tell if your Avocado is ripe
To determine if your Avocado from Mexico is ripe, gently press on the bottom with your finger; ripe Avocados will feel slightly soft. And when shopping for and storing Avocados, use this guide:

Storing ripe Avocados
Avocados at stages 2 – 4 can be stored at room temperature in an area with good circulation to continue their ripening. For speedier ripening, keep Avocados in a closed paper bag. To slow down ripening, refrigerate them until a few days before use.
Avocados at stages 4 – 5 can be stored in your refrigerator (36º to 40º F) for up to one week. When saving part of an Avocado for later use, cover the exposed flesh with plastic wrap to slow oxidation.

How to Cut and Prepare an Avocado

Cut
Using a sharp knife, cut into the Avocado straight down, longitudinally (from top to bottom) until you hit the pit.
Twist
Take the Avocado and twist it until it separates into two halves, one of which will contain the pit.
Hit
Carefully strike the pit with your knife. Using a twisting motion, use the knife’s leverage to loosen and dislodge the pit.
Spoon
With a spoon, gently scoop away the Avocado’s flesh from the outer skin.
Enjoy
Your Avocado is now ready to make your appetizer or entrée a work of culinary art.

Ways to Serve Avocados

Avocados are most commonly used to make guacamole, but they are so versatile and can be incorporated into many other dishes like main entrees,, salads, dips, desserts, and sandwiches.

Avocados substituted as a spread in place of many other popular foods may help reduce dietary intake of calories, fat, saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol.

Images, recipes, and information are courtesy of  www.theamazingavocado.com.  Visit their site  for hundreds of recipes.  I just found one for Fish Tacos that I’ll be trying this week (I’d make it tonight  if I didn’t already have a huge pot of Great Northern beans, potatoes, and ham cooking!).   Another favorite is the Portabella Burgers with Avocado Spread.  I’ve linked you to the page containing these recipes – be sure to browse around for more.  That’s where I’m headed!

Classic Quesadillas Without the Classic Extra Fat and Calories

by Joi on January 27, 2010

On another blog recently, I was pointing out my husband’s outrageous loyalty to favorite brands (NordicTrack among others). I got to thinking about it and I might even be more loyal to certain brands when it comes to cooking and cleaning. You certainly know about my dedication to Sargento Cheeses and Beemer (online) Cheeses. I figure, if something’s outstanding, why wander away from it.

When I’m in the grocery store, in the dairy and cheese aisle, I don’t even bother looking at the other brands of cheese – I just look at the varieties of Sargento. (By the way, I realize this is reading kind of like a commercial, so I’ll just add that I am not being paid in any way to say these words! I just think this brand of cheese is ridiculously good.)

Sargento has been offering delicious, better than average cheese for some time now – but recently they began adding Reduced Fat cheeses to their line-up. I ignored them for a while, pretending like I didn’t see them any more than they saw me. Then I tried them and was blown straight away. If the packages didn’t tell me that they were reduced fat, I swear I’d never know.

I recently bought a few bags of Sargento Reduced Fat 4 Cheese Mexican Cheese (Shredded Reduced Fat Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Queso Quesadilla, & Asadero Cheese). I used one bag with Chicken Tacos and the other with a recipe for Classic Quesadillas that was on the back of the bag. Delicious! The recipe is below and you must, must, must try it.

Classic Quesadillas Recipe with Sargento’s Reduced Fat 4 Cheese Mexican Cheese

2 cups (8 oz.) Sargento® Shredded Reduced Fat 4 Cheese Mexican Cheese, divided
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
2 tsp. chopped bottled jalapeño peppers
4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas
1/2 cup chunky-style salsa
1/4 cup fat-free or light sour cream (optional)

Directions:

  1. Combine 1-1/2 cups cheese, beans, cilantro and jalapeño peppers in a medium bowl; mix well. Spoon onto tortillas; fold each tortilla over.
  2. Coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat until hot. Place 2 quesadillas in skillet. Cook 1 minute or until golden brown on bottom. Turn; sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese. Cover; reduce heat. Cook 2 minutes more or until golden brown and cheese is melted. Cover to keep warm.
  3. Repeat with remaining quesadillas and cheese. Serve with salsa and sour cream, if desired.

I didn’t have any sour cream on hand, although it is wonderful with quesadillas, tacos, burritos, etc.   In addition to the salsa, I served these with one of my favorite things on earth – guacamole.  I almost always have at least 2 avocados rolling around the kitchen.  Actually, make that at least 4 – two on the counter ready to go and a few more on a shelf, softening up.  It’s my avocado system and it’s a delicious one.

So are these quesadillas!

New Wheaties Fuel Cereal For The Win

by Joi on January 16, 2010

Like I’ve said a couple of gazillion trillion times, I am slap addicted to having a bowl of cereal right before bedtime.  Lately, I’ve been using vanilla rice milk or Vanilla Rice Dream in place of regular milk.

While I do buy my favorites again and again, I also like to mix things up by trying different cereals, especially brand new cereals – they really send me around the bend.  While at the store recently, I threw a box into my cart so fast you’d think I was on Supermarket Sweeps.  I was rounding the corner, pretty much minding my own business when I see the amazing Albert Pujols staring at me from a shelf.  I noticed that he had buddies beside him but it wasn’t until Albert was in the cart (safely between 9 Lives Cat Food and a bag of baby spinach) that I bothered to see who his pals were:  Kevin Garnett, Peyton Manning.

I wouldn’t expect Albert to run with anything except a classy crowd.

I am very pleased to announce that Wheaties Fuel is outstanding – absolutely delicious.  The cereal is sweet enough for kids to love, but not too sweet.  It’s very crunchy and crispy, with a wonderful nutty flavor.  It’s the type of cereal that’s so fantastic, you could eat it right out of the box.  Trust me, I have.

Try a box of Wheaties Fuel for yourself this week.  We’re all trying to eat more foods that are good for us and less things that aren’t, and breakfast is an extremely important time to make healthy changes.  Fast food breakfast sandwiches are known to be very unkind to your health and skipping breakfast is almost as bad.  Make sure you and your family start the day off on a healthy (and delicious) foot.  Wheaties Fuel tastes better than a cereal has a right to – and it’s healthy!

What’s more….. Albert Pujols is on the front of the box!  Oh, sure you could buy one of the others.  I mean, Peyton Manning and Kevin Garnett are pretty spectacular… but I’m pretty sure the boxes that feature #5 simply taste better.  So there.

From Wheaties:

Just in time to jump start those fitness-related New Year’s resolutions, new Wheaties FUEL™ cereal – created with the help of Peyton Manning, triathlete Hunter Kemper, Kevin Garnett, gold medal-winning decathlete Bryan Clay, Albert Pujols and sports nutritionist Dr. John Ivy – is now available in retail stores across the country.  Wheaties FUEL is a lightly sweetened, crunchy whole wheat flake with crispy rice and a touch of cinnamon and honey and it represents the evolution of the iconic 85-year-old Breakfast of Champions.  Wheaties FUEL is the first-ever cereal designed to help meet the nutritional needs of today’s athletes.  The ready to eat cereal provides long-lasting energy from whole grain to help keep you going and 100% of the Daily Value of five B-vitamins to help the body release energy from food.

Continuing the tradition of honoring champions on the front of the Wheaties box, Wheaties FUEL features individual box covers of Garnett, Manning and Pujols. In addition, all five athletes are pictured on the back of the boxes along with Dr. Ivy. All three 17.1 oz boxes are now available nationwide.

“Developing the new evolution of Wheaties has been more than two years in the making, and we’re excited to finally bring FUEL to retail and into the hands of consumers,” said Dan Stangler, marketing manager for Wheaties.  “Today’s athletes need a finely tuned diet to allow their bodies to be efficient and competitive, and with the help of our team of champion athletes, a world-renowned sports nutritionist and everyday athletes, we’ve created the first-ever cereal designed to help fuel wins.”

“I grew up eating the original Wheaties, and it was an honor to be one of the athletes hand-picked to create an update of the classic cereal,” said football champion and 3-time MVP Peyton Manning.  “I hope Wheaties FUEL inspires the next generation of athletes and competitors.”

“It’s always a tremendous honor to grace the cover of a Wheaties box,” said basketball champion and 12-time all-star Kevin Garnett.  “What makes this really special is that our insight was an integral part in the development process of this cereal from start to finish.”

“Helping to create the new Breakfast of Champions was a great experience,” said first baseman Albert Pujols, an 8-time all-star and 3-time MVP.  “I think we’ve come up with a unique product that will really benefit all types of athletes.  And it tastes great!”

Wheaties FUEL is designed to help fuel athletic performance for active individuals who need a high amount of carbohydrates in their diet to meet their energy needs of activity. Each serving includes 210 calories to kick-start your morning; at least 16 grams whole grain (at least 48 grams recommended daily) for long-lasting energy; 100 percent of the Daily Value of five B-vitamins to help your body release energy from food; 5 grams of fiber to help curb hunger and keep you feeling full; as well as calcium and vitamin D to help promote bone health. Men often do not get the recommended amounts of vitamins A, C and E, and at least 10% of the Daily Value of these three antioxidant vitamins are provided in every serving of Wheaties FUEL*. The sugar level is 14g in order to provide immediate energy to get the day going and replenish the body’s energy stores after an overnight fast.

First announced last July, Wheaties FUEL has previously been available for purchase online only, where collector’s edition boxes of the cinnamon honey crunch-flavored cereal have been sold since last September.  Wheaties FUEL will not replace the original Wheaties.  Together, the two products will make up the evolved and expanded Breakfast of Champions product portfolio.

Clay, Kemper, Garnett, Manning and Pujols were hands-on in the creation of new Wheaties FUEL, and a six-part web series that chronicles the development process is available for viewing at www.wheaties.com.  Both informative and humorous, the series shows the creation from Dr. Ivy’s first meeting with the participating athletes to discussions about what it takes to become a champion.  The webisodes serve as a fun behind-the-scenes guide, culminating with a trip to General Mills in Minneapolis.

Born out of a fortunate mistake in 1924, original Wheaties was created when a health clinician accidentally spilled a wheat bran mixture onto a hot stove.  The result was tasty, crispy wheat flakes that became known as Washburn’s Gold Medal Whole Wheat Flakes.  A year later, the cumbersome name was shortened to Wheaties.  Baseball legend Lou Gehrig was the first athlete featured on a Wheaties Box, when he appeared on the back cover in 1934.  In 1958, American champion pole-vaulter Bob Richards was the first person to appear on the front of the package, jumpstarting the phenomenon of “being on the Wheaties box,” which has since been graced by some of the greatest athletes of all time, including Bruce Jenner, Walter Payton, Mary Lou Retton, and many others.  To view a complete timeline of Wheaties Champions, visit www.wheaties.com.

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