Category Archives: Food Products

Reviews and Recommendations

Mar 2 2012
SONY DSC

Forget Organic, Buy Produce from USA

This is my number one issue. Let’s put aside the organic versus conventional debate.  We can discuss that another day. Instead I want to draw your attention to a more important matter – where the food you eat comes from.

If you don’t already do so, start taking a look at the produce you buy in the store. Most items are labeled with the country of origin. The fresh fruits usually have it on their stickers and many times the vegetables in bins will have it noted on the description tag.  Frozen fruits and veggies will have it noted on the back of the package. Also check packaging for juices, canned fruits and vegetables. It’s usually there in small print at the bottom of the label.

If it doesn’t say USA think twice about purchasing it.  Other countries are not subject to the strict oversight of the USDA laws and regulations. Much of our produce is now being imported from China and Mexico. With mounting questions about the quality of food imported from China, I urge you to stop buying it. If we commit to purchasing produce grown in the United States, more of it will become available.

Take a look at this video highlighting the fact that Whole Foods Market, with an image of organic, fresh and locally grown foods has been importing much of its produce from China.

 

 

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Sep 27 2011

Old Breakfast Standards

Yes, I’m talking about good, old-fashioned hot cereal – Oatmeal and Farina (ground wheat).  Since we’ve gone to all-scratch cooking I’ve been looking for something beyond eggs, scones and toast.  Something quick and easy. If you haven’t tried the old hot cereals in a while (or ever) it’s time to give them a chance.

They are very easy to make – just boil the water, add the grains and cook for the prescribed amount of time.  You can jazz them up with additions like brown sugar, maple syrup, dried fruits and nuts. If you don’t want something so sweet just eat them with a little butter stirred in (the way I like it).

Be sure to get the original kind, not the instant.  Old Fashioned oats only take 5 minutes to cook, and the Cream of Wheat only takes 2½ minutes. Really, you have the time.  Serve the hot cereals right away, as they will get sticky and lumpy if allowed to cool completely.

 

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Aug 11 2011
Sandwich Toaster

Better Than Hot Pockets

Sandwich Toaster

We’ve had this funny little sandwich maker for years.  Paul received it as a housewarming gift when he bought he first house, over 10 years ago.  I thought about giving it away to charity several times – it is one of those odd gadget machines that only has one purpose. Kind of like the “quesadilla maker” that was on TV a few years ago. But I reasoned that when we had kids it might be fun for them.

The kids are finally at the age where they will eat sandwiches. Sometimes. Sean likes PB&J and nothing else.  Audrey will not eat peanut butter, but likes ham and cheese. In any event, it’s still fun for Paul and me.  I decided to break out the old sandwich maker today for lunch.

Here's what the inside looks like.

Make sandwiches and butter the outside of the bread, like for a grilled cheese.

The sandwiches are big, so clamping it down is tough, but not impossible.

Finished toasted sandwiches.

Audrey ate hers.  Sean picked his apart to get the ham out.  Oh well, maybe in a few years!  It’s certainly a lot better than Hot Pockets from the freezer.

I did a little searching and found that Magic Chef doesn’t make this appliance anymore, but you can get practically the same thing from Procotor Silex on Amazon.com for $19.00 or for $9.00 used on eBay.  I even found a site with a list of sandwich toaster recipes beyond the basic deli meat and cheese. Someone suggested making turnovers with pie filling. Yum! I may have to try that one.

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Jun 4 2011

My Rant on Expiration Dates

I recently ran out to the store because I didn’t have any ham to add to my split pea soup. I opted for the nearest grocery store, which is also the most crowded and most expensive.  I grabbed a package of diced ham, some fresh bread from the bakery and a few other things.

I had both kids in tow and all checkouts were busy, but we managed to get out of there and back home in time to finish dinner.  As I started to open the package I noticed the expiration date: May 12 2011.  Um, what?  That was over two weeks ago.  GRRRR!  I was so irritated that the one item I went to get was expired on the shelf.

Now, I understand that keeping a large inventory up to date is a lot of work for grocery stores.  And from time to time a few items may not get pulled right away.  But, I have to take exception with items in the meat area.  Meat is extremely perishable and stores are constantly marking down meat that is close to the package expiration date.  If it had only been a day or two expired I probably would have used it.  It was ham after all, fully loaded with nitrates and slow to go bad.  But two weeks?  That’s well beyond the my “gray area” for food expiration, especially for meat.

So what to do now?  Well, I saved that package in the fridge and I have considered taking it back to the store.  That’s really what I should do.  However, that is an extra trip to the store with two little kids.  Is it really worth the hassle?  I’ll have to check the receipt and see what I paid for my package of expired ham.

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Jan 30 2011

Steak Dinner for Two: $7

Yes, that’s right.  I made a nice steak dinner for Paul and I for about $7 total for both of us.  I found a nice package of two steaks at the store for only $4.25.  I cooked them both to save time, but we really only needed one between the two of us.  I did a quick saute of onion, bell pepper and mushrooms as a hot side veggie and added some bagged romaine salad with carrots and dressing.  This was one of the tastiest South Beach -style meals I’ve prepared since starting the diet. It tasted great – I hadn’t had steak in quite a while. 

This was the first time I used my cast-iron grill pan.  It is a double-burner two-sided grill and griddle, so I have used the smooth side for pancakes and quesadillas.  I was a little nervous, but I put a little oil on the grill side fired it up.  It has been too cold lately for barbecuing so it was really a treat.  I look forward to trying it again.  If you don’t have a grill pan, I would recommend you look into getting one.  Mine is a Lodge brand cast-iron and it wasn’t too expensive, around $40.  Here’s the info on the grill:

Lodge LPG13 Logic Pro Grid Griddle – Cast Iron

Lodge LPG13 Logic Pro Grid Griddle - Cast IronOne side of the griddle is flat, ideal for pancakes and eggs, and the other side is ridged, perfect for meats or anything with drippings involved. This sturdy cast iron griddle can perfectly sit atop two stove burners or a campfire, and it is pre-seasoned with a special vegetable oil formula for both convenience and easy clean-up.

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