Spades!

So how was your weekend? I hope you did something fun and relaxing for the holiday...I had a great weekend, great food, great company and great fun! We learned how to play Spades this weekend! What a game, I feel like I've been living in a closet! Do you know how to play Spades? Great, great, great fun...I can't wait to do it again! And yesterday I taught a really good friend of mine how to cook clams. She doesn't really cook well yet because she doesn't know how...but we're working on it! I also found out she is an avid Sopranos fan who doesn't have HBO! I can't have any friend of mine, for that matter, out in the cold...so I'm going to start inviting her over to watch with us on Sunday nights or as we call it in my house, Italian night!

Exhausted!

I'm so tired! I think I'm actually going to be in bed and ASLEEP before midnight tonight...I know, I know, take out a full page ad in the newspaper! This only happens but once a century! ha! I've been writing recipes all day long and I'm just tired. But hopefully this will all pay off and sooner rather than later you will get to enjoy my collection of delicious and unique recipes. I think I will be trying them out this weekend on my victims...I mean, friends and family! Are you ready for the holiday weekend? Do you have something special planned? I'll let you know how it goes.

Alive

Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
~Howard Thurman~

Foodie Language

macerate \MAS-uh-rayt\ verb

:to soak a food (usually fruit) in a liquid in order to infuse it with the liquid's flavor. Usually brandy, rum or a liqueur is used as the macerating liquid. See also marinate.

Example sentence:
Before plating my famous Banana Split Cheesecake, I macerate the berries in brandy and sugar for a few minutes.

Ask The Chef - Spirulina

And before you ask "what is spirulina?" I thought I would beat you to the punch and answer your questions...because I know when my mom reads this she's gonna ask!


"Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae found in most lakes and ponds. It has been consumed for thousands of years by Mexican (Aztecs, Mayans), African, and Asian peoples. Spirulina is considered a complete protein because well over half of it consists of amino acids -- the building blocks of protein. It is also a rich source of other nutrients including B complex vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, carotenoids, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, selenium, and gamma linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid). In fact, at least one laboratory study has demonstrated that the iron level in spirulina is equivalent to that contained in beef. Because of its apparent ability to stimulate the immune system, spirulina may have antiviral and anticancer effects. Test tube and animal studies suggest that spirulina may also help protect against harmful allergic reactions. More research is needed to fully understand how spirulina truly benefits people."
~UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER~

Recipe For You - Foodie Smoothie!

Do you ever wonder what to do with fruit that's about to go bad? Maybe your eyes were bigger than your stomach and you bought too much at the market. Well don't worry, I've got a favorite and healthy solution to your problems. I've been making these smoothies for years and quite frankly it sometimes saves me from having to throw away ripe fruit that's about to go over the edge. The good news is you can modify this basic recipe to fit your tastes and needs.

~The Foodie's Smoothie~

1 6-8 oz. carton of mixed berry or strawberry yogurt
1/2 c Blackberry juice
1 handful (approx. 6 strawberries stems removed)
1/2 banana or 1 small banana
1 TBSP Spirulina vanilla flavored protein powder (optional)
Ice Cubes (optional)

Take all your ingredients and put them into a blender. Break the banana up into 3 or 4 smaller sized pieces and blend! That's it! Super easy, super yummy! I don't like ice in mine, but I do sometimes put protein powder in it. This is great in the morning for a quick breakfast on the go or it also makes a great snack in the afternoon.

Looking for some other variations? I'll post another recipe later in the week. In the meantime, enjoy!

Exellence

The noblest search is the search for excellence.

~Lyndon B. Johnson~

Did You Know?

Are you aware of the power of potassium? Potassium plays a role in fluid regulation, muscle contraction, and mineral balance, but is best-known for blood pressure regulation. According to the FDA "diets containing foods that are good sources of potassium and low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke." While potassium is easy to come by in foods, do you know which are potassium-rich foods? Here's a peek at some good sources of potassium that you might find at your next trip to the farmer's market:

• Asparagus
• Artichokes
• Avocado
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Cod
• Halibut
• Kale
• Mushrooms
• Okra
• Spinach
• Turnip greens
• Tomatoes
• Bananas (You won't find these at the market, but they are a classic source!)
• Cantaloupe
• Dried apricots
• Grapefruit
• Kiwifruit
• Oranges
• Strawberries
• Sweet potatoes

Ask The Chef

Q. What is white tea? Cris, R.

A. White teas are harvested and picked before the buds have opened fully and still have a fine white hair on them, hence the name. And just like green tea, white tea undergoes very little processing and no fermentation. Sometimes the buds are even shielded from sunlight to prevent the formation of chlorophyll. It contains the least amount of caffeine than the other teas and some studies show that it also has more active cancer fighting antioxidants than green tea. Because it is scarcer than the other traditional teas, this tea can be quite a bit more expensive. To enjoy white tea it is best steeped in water that is just below boiling point.

Did You Know?

Did you know that when it comes to onions that the more bitter, strong and pungent ones tend to have more cancer fighting compounds that the milder, sweeter onions? A Cornell researcher declared that out of all the onion varieties tested, the shallot had the most potential to do good things for your body. The off-the-charts phenolic content is what gave this bulb the winning edge. The onions that tested best for antioxidant power are:

*Shallots

*Western Yellow

*New York Bold

*Northern Red

Honestly, you'll do well by adding any onion to your salads, sandwiches, and overall diet -- they're not only cancer-fighters as I said before, but also artery protectors.

Disco Fever

Isn't this the coolest thing ever?? Check out this show coming in June to the Greek Theatre, Disco Fever...And if you go, you might even catch me in disco fever!

Foodie Language

sumptuous \SUMP-shuh-wus\ adjective
: extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent

Example sentence:
Our food and menus are sumptuous, delicious, and competitively priced!

Expiration Dates

As far as frozen dinners, vegetables, anything prepackaged goes, there should be an expiration date on either end of the bag close to where it's sealed. Even prepackaged meats, fish, etc. have an expiration date on the package. If you can’t seem to find a date then I would say no more than six months depending on the product. Now if you are buying fresh and then freezing, the shelf life is different. For best results it really is better to vacuum pack your foods – it could extend the shelf life as much as two years for some of your meats (especially if you like to buy in bulk). For a general list of food product shelf life click here and as you navigate your way on the page, at the bottom are hyperlinks to tables of refrigeration and frozen food storage timelines...I hope this information helps!

Work Ethics

Any day above ground is a work day!

~Gene Simmons~

Good News!

Gretchen, the manager of the Saturday Pasadena Farmer's Market, ok'd us to be at the market every Saturday through June! Hooray! July and August are iffy because the market is going to be temporarily moving to another location while the current parking lot is being repaved...this is great and an exciting step in a new direction!...So now there's no excuse for you not to visit!

Time Flies!

Happy May everyone! Time really flies when you're having fun...ha! Did I blink and miss spring break? Wasn't Valentine's just yesterday?? I hope everyone is trekking along just fine and that your day is going well. I'm really looking forward to this month and all the wonderful things it's going to bring...have a great month!