October 15th is National Greasy Foods Day, pointing a finger at fried foods. We have a great potato stacks recipe below (photo #1), but first: Why are some fried foods so greasy? Because they’re cooked in an excessive amount of oil, and not drained well. HOW TO CUT THE GREASE IN FRIED FOODS […]
[1] General Tso’s chicken, the most popular Chinese food (photo © Spicy Southern Kitchen). [2] Tamales are ground meat, poultry, or vegetables stuffed into masa (corn dough) and steamed in a corn husk (photo © Mackenzie Ltd). [3] Chicken pad Thai, garnished with cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice (photo © Good Eggs). […]
[1] Chile peppers contain capsaicin, a chemical compound that burns (photo of jalapeño chiles © Good Eggs). [2] In peppercorns, the heat chemical is piperine (photo iStock Photo). [3] Yellow mustard seeds. When mustard seeds are crushed, the heat is released (photo © Hillshire Farm | Facebook). 18 Ways To Spice It Up > The […]
[1] A book for anyone who wants to paint food (photos #1, #3, #4 © Rocky Nook). [2] Create lovely watercolors of your favorite foods (photo Pinterest). Here’s an interesting gift for a food lover who’s artistic, or who wants to try being so. Watercolor Snacks: Inspiring Lessons for Sketching and Painting Your Favorite […]
[1] Hatch chiles have a short growing season: just August and September (all photos except #2 © Melissa’s Produce). [2] Dried hatch chiles (photo © Otis Acres Micro Farm. [3] Once dried, you can enjoy Hatch chiles year-round. This Hatch-At-Home box from Melissa’s has everything from seasonings and salsa to polenta and popcorn. [4] For […]
Mid-Day Squares are functional chocolate bars, part of a growing movement towards functional foods. Functional foods and beverages are everyday foods enhanced (fortified) with supplemental nutrition. The goal is to provide a health benefit beyond normal satiation and nutrition. Here’s more about functional foods. The Mid-Day Squares line was conceived by Lezlie Karls, a chocolate […]
[1] The champion: Cucumbers are 97% water, the most of any food (photo © Sun Basket). [2] It’s easy to carry celery sticks—95% water—to munch on for added hydration (photo © Good Eggs). [3] Tomatoes are 95% water. These are home-grown tomatoes: Have soil, will plant (photo © Bonnie Plants)! [4] Watermelon is 91% water. […]
[1] Mac and cheese with a touch of pumpkin (photos #1 and #2 courtesy Libby’s). [2] How about a pumpkin peanut butter sandwich? [3] Another delicious comfort food: pumpkin mashed potatoes. Here’s the recipe from Taste of Home. You can also make a pumpkin and cauliflower mash. [4] Be sure to use pumpkin purée, not […]
When chefs create a recipe, they include elements of salt, acid, fat and heat (and sometimes, a pinch of sweetness). It’s all about flavor: Salt enhances flavor; acid balances flavor; fat delivers flavor and mouthfeel; and heat (pepper, chiles, etc.) is a counterpoint. But what about texture? Good recipes take time to add texture as […]
[1] Bouillabaisse, a fish soup or stew from Marseille (photo courtesy Mackenzie Ltd). [2] Escargots, a delicacy of snails in garlic and parsley butter (photo courtesy Williams Sonoma). [3] Tarte tatin (photo courtesy Taste.com.au). [4] Ratatouille with a fried egg (photo courtesy Elegant Affairs Caterers). July 14th is Bastille Day, the national day of […]