Quick n’ Eazy Dinner Ideas to Help Alleviate Stress

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Quick n’ Eazy Dinner Ideas to Help Alleviate Stress

Seafood Labels

When I read this in a Better Homes and Garden magazine, I was really surprised.? I’ve always assumed that organic was just that.? I never stopped to think that if it’s wild-caught, there is no way it can be organic.? That can only happen if it’s farm raised.? Duh!? The wild-caught took me a bit by surprise too.? I usually believe whatever I read on the labels.? I do know that my doctor told me years ago to never buy Fish Oil unless it said caught in “deep, cold water.”? Otherwise it just might be farm raised and not worth the money I spend.? I think I’ll start looking for Fish Oils made in Alaska.? As for the Dayboat term, that’s a new one for me. Organic:? Not backed by the USDA for use on seafood.? With other products, “organic” partly means the animal was raised on organic feed

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Seafood Labels

Herb and Spice Tips

The information below is provided by McCormick. ? Oregano – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants ad 3 cups of spinach – Sprinkle 1/4 tsp. onto grilled cheese. Garlic Powder – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants as 1/3 cup zucchini – Stir 3/4 tsp. into 4 cups mashed potatoes. Black Pepper – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants as 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes – sprinkle 1/4 tsp. onto scrambled eggs. Cinnamon – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants as 1/4 cup blueberries – sprinkle 1/4 tsp. over anything from hot cocoa to oatmeal and fruit salad. Ginger – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants as 1 cup cucumbers – sprinkle onto carrots, acorn or butternut squash and sweet potatoes. Cayenne Pepper – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants as 1/4 cup honeydew melon – sprinkle 1/4 tsp. into hummus. Thyme – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants as 1 med. carrot – sprinikle on steamed or sauteed asparagus along with a twist of fresh ground black pepper. Rosemary – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants as 1/2 cup watermelon – sprinkle the tops of your favorite ready-to-bake rolls with olive oil, rosemary and sea salt before baking. Turmeric – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants as 1 cup broccoli – Sprinkle onto steamed rice. Chili Powder – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants as 1/2 cup cantaloupe – stir 2 Tbsp. chili powder, 1 tsp. ground cumin, 2 cans diced tomatoes and 1 can kidney beans into 1 lb. cooked ground beef for quick chili. Cloves – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants as 1/2 cup sweet cherries – perk up applesauce by stiring 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp. ground cloves into 2 cups applesauce. Cumin – 1/2 tsp. has as many antioxidants as 1/2 cup pineapple – sprinkle into soups, such as lentil, black bean and butternut squash.

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Herb and Spice Tips

Tidbits – I didn’t know that!

Peanut oil is used forcooking in submarines because it doesn’t smoke unless it’s heated above 450°F

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Tidbits – I didn’t know that!

It’s All in the Pan

Question -What is the difference between ‘Pan-frying’

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It’s All in the Pan

How to Tell if an Egg is Fresh

Its really easy to tell the freshness of an egg.? Gently place your egg in a bowl of cold water.? If the egg is fresh, it will drop to the bottom of the bowl and lie on its side.? If it’s somewhat fresh, it will stand on it’s end and bob about in the water.? If the egg is old, it will float and you may need to discard it.

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How to Tell if an Egg is Fresh

Freezing Vegetables

A friend sent this to me and since its that time of the year when veggies are coming in I decided to share. Freezing our bountiful harvest is an easy way of preserving our produce, but the foods will not keep as long. In freezing the organisms that cause spoilage become inactive. However, they don’t die. The bacteria can’t grow as long as the produce remains frozen, but once it is thawed, they will begin growing once again. You should be aware of some changes in your vegetables before you start freezing. Foods may become mushy when thawed because ice crystals cause damage in the cells of the foods. If you keep foods frozen for too long or if they are frozen in improper containers, it will cause freezer burn. This will cause the color and taste of the foods to be changed for the worse. Such food is still safe to eat in this condition, but it is not be as appealing. Freezing is a simple process, and not much equipment is required to get started – just your household freezer and containers. The easiest containers are common freezer bags found in your local supermarket. You can also freeze in your canning jars, plastic containers (such as butter or cottage containers), aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and freezer paper. You will need to allow for the food to expand as it freezes, so be sure to leave plenty of space for this process. Not leaving this room for expansion will cause your containers to leak in your freezer and make an icy mess to clean up later. Freezing Veggies Freezing Vegetables is much like freezing fruits, only you won’t be adding sugar. Instead you will be blanching them (heating in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes and then immediately cooling in cold water) before packing into containers and freezing. Blanching kills the enzymes that age vegetables. Blanched foods will taste fresher when taken from the freezer. Submerging in cold water stops the cooking process. You will need to leave a headspace on some of your vegetables. Some vegetables darken after they are cut, and to prevent this darkening you will need to use an anti-darkening agent. A natural anti-darkening solution that can be used is a teaspoon of lemon juice to a quart of water. Soaking your veggies for five to ten minutes prior to placing them in the containers for freezing will prevent this. You can also use commercial anti-…

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Freezing Vegetables

New Oatmeal Flavors

I love flavored coffee but don’t like to make it in my regular coffee pot.? It seemed to carry some of it’s flavor over into my next pot of regular coffee.? I don’t use the flavored creamers because I don’t drink my coffee with sugar and they all seem to be sweetened with either sugar or a substitute.? So, for Christmas I became the proud owner of a Krueg single cup coffee maker.? Now I treat myself to a couple cups of flavored coffee every day.? I also love oatmeal and eat it daily but don’t have time to cook my favorite the “Old Fashion” kind so I depend on the instant that can be made in the microwave.? As with my coffee, I love the flavored oatmeal but they too have a good bit of sugar or sugar substitute.? Today I made a wonderful discovery!? I

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New Oatmeal Flavors

Homemade Egg Substitute

6 egg whites 1/4 cup instant nonfat dry milk powder 2 tsp. water 2 tsp. oil 1/4 tsp. ground turmeric Combine all ingredients in an electric blender and process for 30 seconds. Chill. 1/4 cup equals 1 egg. This works but I still want those yolks in mine.

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Homemade Egg Substitute

Passion Fruit

Passion fruit is an egg-shaped tropical fruit that is also called a purple granadilla, the passion fruit has a brittle, wrinkled purple-brown rind enclosing flesh-covered seeds, something like a pomegranate (granadilla means “little pomegranate” in Spanish). The seeds are edible so you can eat the orange pulp straight from the shell. Passion fruit is more commonly sieved and its highly aromatic pulp and juice are used as a flavoring for beverages and sauces. The pulp has an intense aromatic flavor, while the texture is jelly-like and watery. The flavor is likened to guava. Passion fruit is a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as potassium and iron. One passion fruit has only 16 calories. When eaten with the seeds, a serving is an excellent source of fiber. Passion Fruit is generally eaten fresh but may be cooked for use in sauces and fillings. Begin by cutting the fruit in half and scooping out the fleshy pulp with a spoon. Spoon the pulp over ice cream or other soft fruits. The pulp makes a delicious jam or jelly and the seeds add a unique crunchy texture. To remove seeds: Strain in a non-aluminum sieve, or use cheesecloth, squeezing to extract the juice. Top chicken, fish, or pork with a spoonful of passion fruit for a change. ? Add passion fruit to mixed green salads or fruit salads for a new taste. ? Spoon this fruit over low-fat yogurt to make a colorful treat.

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Passion Fruit

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