Thank you to Carrie for passing these Spice Hints along to me!
If you use lots of spices, your rack is probably full old and new spices and they do get stale. It should be cleaned and cleared out at least once a year. Here’s what to do:
1. Open the jar or can of herbs or spices and take a good sniff. It should smell strong and flavorful. If the color is still OK, bright and not pale, you can keep it.
2. If the aroma is flat or the color is not right, get rid of it. Repurpose to a dried-flower potpourri or a sachet.
3. Proper storage is the key to making spices and herbs last longer—no strong light, heat or moisture. Don’t put them over the stove, in direct sunlight or in a window.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Honey-Ginger Chicken with Lime w/ Scalloped Potatoes and Cut Green Beans
Dinner Tonight: Honey-Ginger Chicken with Lime w/ Scalloped Potatoes and Cut Green Beans (Spoiler Alert) One delicious chicken Thigh recipe!
A little warmer and a bit more humid out today, but not real bad out. Ran a couple of errands for my Mom and then picked up a friend of mine and we went to see an old friend of ours that was in the hospital. He was involved in a bad car crash a couple of days ago, thankfully he's doing a lot better now. For dinner tonight I tried a new recipe from the website of Food and Wine. I prepared Honey-Ginger Chicken with Lime w/ Scalloped Potatoes and Cut Green Beans.
To prepare this dish I'll be using; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1/3 cup minced fresh ginger, 1 jalapeño, finely chopped, 2 teaspoons garam masala, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper, 3 1/2 teaspoons grated lime zest, 1 package of 6 Boneless and skinless Chicken Thighs, 2 teaspoons sugar (Splenda), 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons canola oil, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, and Lime wedges, for serving (optional). *I couldn't find garam masala at the store so I made my own. The garam masala recipe I used contained a lot of the ingredients listed in the original recipe, so some of the ingredients are not listed above. There are different garam masala recipes that I seen but I went with this one that contained ingredients needed for this recipe. Chicken Thighs are quickly becoming my favorite cut of Chicken. I left the original recipe and web link at the bottom of the post.
To prepare it I preheated the oven to 400°. In a bowl, whisk the vinegar, honey, ginger, jalapeño, garam masala, cayenne, salt, and 3 teaspoons of the lime zest. Prick the chicken with a fork, add it to the bowl and toss. In a small bowl, mix the sugar with the remaining lime zest. In a large ovenproof skillet, I melted 2 tablespoons of the butter in the oil over moderately high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning, until golden, 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the lime sugar and roast for 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked. Add the lime juice and the remaining butter to the skillet. Serve the chicken with the pan juices and lime wedges. If you want some incredible tasting Chicken Thighs you have to try this one out! I love using Spices and this one is packed with a varied assortment that all comes together to make one fabulous Chicken Thigh Dish. One of those Keeper Recipes. You have the bite of the Ginger, the heat of a Jalapeno and Cayenne, and then the sweetness of Honey to balance everything out. I could have eaten the entire package of Thighs, but the leftovers will make a fantastic Chicken Slider for lunch tomorrow!
Then for one side dish I prepared a box of Idahoan Scalloped Potato Casserole. I love all the Idahoan Potato Products, all easy to prepare and all delicious! Then I also heated up a can of Del Monte Cut Green Beans. For dessert later some Breyer's Carb Smart Vanilla Bean Ice Cream topped with some fresh sliced Georgia Peaches!
Honey-Ginger Chicken with Lime
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/3 cup minced fresh ginger
1 jalapeño, finely chopped
2 teaspoons garam masala
1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
3 1/2 teaspoons grated lime zest
4 chicken legs, cut into drumsticks and thighs
2 teaspoons sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Lime wedges, for serving
*I couldn't find garam masala at the store so I made my own by adding the following spices:
2 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon black pepper
3 teaspoon ground cumin
3 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions;
Preheat the oven to 400°. In a bowl, whisk the vinegar, honey, ginger, jalapeño, garam masala, coriander, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper and 3 teaspoons of the lime zest. Prick the chicken with a fork, add it to the bowl and toss. In a small bowl, mix the sugar with the remaining lime zest.
In a large ovenproof skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in the oil over moderately high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning, until golden, 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the lime sugar and roast for 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked.
Add the lime juice and the remaining butter to the skillet. Serve the chicken with the pan juices and lime wedges.
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/honey-ginger-chicken-with-lime
A little warmer and a bit more humid out today, but not real bad out. Ran a couple of errands for my Mom and then picked up a friend of mine and we went to see an old friend of ours that was in the hospital. He was involved in a bad car crash a couple of days ago, thankfully he's doing a lot better now. For dinner tonight I tried a new recipe from the website of Food and Wine. I prepared Honey-Ginger Chicken with Lime w/ Scalloped Potatoes and Cut Green Beans.
To prepare this dish I'll be using; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1/3 cup minced fresh ginger, 1 jalapeño, finely chopped, 2 teaspoons garam masala, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper, 3 1/2 teaspoons grated lime zest, 1 package of 6 Boneless and skinless Chicken Thighs, 2 teaspoons sugar (Splenda), 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons canola oil, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, and Lime wedges, for serving (optional). *I couldn't find garam masala at the store so I made my own. The garam masala recipe I used contained a lot of the ingredients listed in the original recipe, so some of the ingredients are not listed above. There are different garam masala recipes that I seen but I went with this one that contained ingredients needed for this recipe. Chicken Thighs are quickly becoming my favorite cut of Chicken. I left the original recipe and web link at the bottom of the post.
To prepare it I preheated the oven to 400°. In a bowl, whisk the vinegar, honey, ginger, jalapeño, garam masala, cayenne, salt, and 3 teaspoons of the lime zest. Prick the chicken with a fork, add it to the bowl and toss. In a small bowl, mix the sugar with the remaining lime zest. In a large ovenproof skillet, I melted 2 tablespoons of the butter in the oil over moderately high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning, until golden, 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the lime sugar and roast for 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked. Add the lime juice and the remaining butter to the skillet. Serve the chicken with the pan juices and lime wedges. If you want some incredible tasting Chicken Thighs you have to try this one out! I love using Spices and this one is packed with a varied assortment that all comes together to make one fabulous Chicken Thigh Dish. One of those Keeper Recipes. You have the bite of the Ginger, the heat of a Jalapeno and Cayenne, and then the sweetness of Honey to balance everything out. I could have eaten the entire package of Thighs, but the leftovers will make a fantastic Chicken Slider for lunch tomorrow!
Then for one side dish I prepared a box of Idahoan Scalloped Potato Casserole. I love all the Idahoan Potato Products, all easy to prepare and all delicious! Then I also heated up a can of Del Monte Cut Green Beans. For dessert later some Breyer's Carb Smart Vanilla Bean Ice Cream topped with some fresh sliced Georgia Peaches!
Honey-Ginger Chicken with Lime
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/3 cup minced fresh ginger
1 jalapeño, finely chopped
2 teaspoons garam masala
1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
3 1/2 teaspoons grated lime zest
4 chicken legs, cut into drumsticks and thighs
2 teaspoons sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Lime wedges, for serving
*I couldn't find garam masala at the store so I made my own by adding the following spices:
2 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon black pepper
3 teaspoon ground cumin
3 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions;
Preheat the oven to 400°. In a bowl, whisk the vinegar, honey, ginger, jalapeño, garam masala, coriander, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper and 3 teaspoons of the lime zest. Prick the chicken with a fork, add it to the bowl and toss. In a small bowl, mix the sugar with the remaining lime zest.
In a large ovenproof skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in the oil over moderately high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning, until golden, 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the lime sugar and roast for 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked.
Add the lime juice and the remaining butter to the skillet. Serve the chicken with the pan juices and lime wedges.
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/honey-ginger-chicken-with-lime
22 Foods to Avoid with Diabetes
Some great tips and ideas from the Diabetic Living On Line website on the 22 Foods to Avoid with Diabetes. The link to the entire article is at the bottom of the post. http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/
22 Foods to Avoid with Diabetes
These top food offenders contain high amounts of fat, sodium, carbs, and calories that may increase your risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, uncontrolled blood sugar, and weight gain. The good news is you can indulge in your favorite foods and still eat healthfully with our satisfying and delicious alternatives.
Think Twice Before Eating These Foods
At Diabetic Living, we believe that eating with diabetes doesn't have to mean deprivation, starvation, or bland and boring foods. However, some foods really are best left on the table or in the store. Everyone -- with diabetes or without -- would be wise to avoid or limit the foods on this list because they are high in saturated fat, sodium, calories, or carbs, or might contain trans fats. High amounts of sodium and saturated fat can lead to heart disease, while excess sugars, high carb counts, and added calories can cause unwanted weight gain and blood sugar spikes.
If you see some of your favorite foods on this list, don't despair: We've picked healthier options for you to choose from that taste great. So you can have your fries and eat them, too -- provided they're baked rather than deep-fat fried.
Nachos
You walk into a restaurant and you're feeling starved. A quick scan of the menu and there they are: nachos, one of your favorites. You order them as an appetizer and also order a meal. Unfortunately, most restaurant nacho orders equate to and often exceed an entire meal's worth of calories, carbs, and fat. For example, a regular order of Chili's Classic Nachos has 830 calories, 59 grams of fat, and 39 grams of carb.
Top your nachos with heart-healthy avocados!
Chili's Classic Nachos (regular order)*
830 calories
59 g total fat
31 g saturated fat
1,630 mg sodium
39 g carbohydrate
N/A cholesterol
Taco Bell Nachos Supreme*
430 calories
23 g total fat
4.5 g saturated fat
690 mg sodium
44 g carbohydrate
30 mg cholesterol
You don't need to give up nachos to eat healthfully. Make a few changes to the basic recipe, such as using reduced-fat cheeses and baked tortilla chips like we do in our Loaded Nachos recipe. Finally, make the nachos your meal, not your appetizer....
Coffee Drinks
A simple cup of joe with a little milk or even half-and-half can be a low-calorie beverage perfect for a person with diabetes. But many coffee-shop drinks rival decadent desserts for their high calorie, carb, and fat contents. For example, a 16-ounce Starbuck's White Chocolate Mocha (with whipped cream and 2 percent milk) comes in at 470 calories and 63 grams of carb. Similarly, a medium Dunkaccino contains 350 calories, while the large size has almost 500 calories.
Or, choose tea instead!
Starbuck's White Chocolate Mocha (with whipped cream) *
470 calories
18 g total fat
12 g saturated fat
0 mg sodium
63 g carbohydrate
50 mg cholesterol
Dunkaccino (medium)*
350 calories
16 g total fat
13 g saturated fat
320 mg sodium
51 g carbohydrate
10 mg cholesterol
There are equally satisfying (and cheaper!) beverage alternatives that will help you keep your healthy eating plan on track. Try one of these:.....
* Click the link below for the full article.
http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/food-to-eat/nutrition/22-foods-to-avoid-diabetes?page=1&sssdmh=dm17.749351&esrc=nwdlo072214%22,%22ce%22:true,%22vp%22:{%22ii%22:false,%22w%22:1237,%22h%22:694},%22sc%22:{%22w%22:1280,%22h%22:1024,%22d%22:1}}
22 Foods to Avoid with Diabetes
These top food offenders contain high amounts of fat, sodium, carbs, and calories that may increase your risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, uncontrolled blood sugar, and weight gain. The good news is you can indulge in your favorite foods and still eat healthfully with our satisfying and delicious alternatives.
Think Twice Before Eating These Foods
At Diabetic Living, we believe that eating with diabetes doesn't have to mean deprivation, starvation, or bland and boring foods. However, some foods really are best left on the table or in the store. Everyone -- with diabetes or without -- would be wise to avoid or limit the foods on this list because they are high in saturated fat, sodium, calories, or carbs, or might contain trans fats. High amounts of sodium and saturated fat can lead to heart disease, while excess sugars, high carb counts, and added calories can cause unwanted weight gain and blood sugar spikes.
If you see some of your favorite foods on this list, don't despair: We've picked healthier options for you to choose from that taste great. So you can have your fries and eat them, too -- provided they're baked rather than deep-fat fried.
Nachos
You walk into a restaurant and you're feeling starved. A quick scan of the menu and there they are: nachos, one of your favorites. You order them as an appetizer and also order a meal. Unfortunately, most restaurant nacho orders equate to and often exceed an entire meal's worth of calories, carbs, and fat. For example, a regular order of Chili's Classic Nachos has 830 calories, 59 grams of fat, and 39 grams of carb.
Top your nachos with heart-healthy avocados!
Chili's Classic Nachos (regular order)*
830 calories
59 g total fat
31 g saturated fat
1,630 mg sodium
39 g carbohydrate
N/A cholesterol
Taco Bell Nachos Supreme*
430 calories
23 g total fat
4.5 g saturated fat
690 mg sodium
44 g carbohydrate
30 mg cholesterol
You don't need to give up nachos to eat healthfully. Make a few changes to the basic recipe, such as using reduced-fat cheeses and baked tortilla chips like we do in our Loaded Nachos recipe. Finally, make the nachos your meal, not your appetizer....
Coffee Drinks
A simple cup of joe with a little milk or even half-and-half can be a low-calorie beverage perfect for a person with diabetes. But many coffee-shop drinks rival decadent desserts for their high calorie, carb, and fat contents. For example, a 16-ounce Starbuck's White Chocolate Mocha (with whipped cream and 2 percent milk) comes in at 470 calories and 63 grams of carb. Similarly, a medium Dunkaccino contains 350 calories, while the large size has almost 500 calories.
Or, choose tea instead!
Starbuck's White Chocolate Mocha (with whipped cream) *
470 calories
18 g total fat
12 g saturated fat
0 mg sodium
63 g carbohydrate
50 mg cholesterol
Dunkaccino (medium)*
350 calories
16 g total fat
13 g saturated fat
320 mg sodium
51 g carbohydrate
10 mg cholesterol
There are equally satisfying (and cheaper!) beverage alternatives that will help you keep your healthy eating plan on track. Try one of these:.....
* Click the link below for the full article.
http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/food-to-eat/nutrition/22-foods-to-avoid-diabetes?page=1&sssdmh=dm17.749351&esrc=nwdlo072214%22,%22ce%22:true,%22vp%22:{%22ii%22:false,%22w%22:1237,%22h%22:694},%22sc%22:{%22w%22:1280,%22h%22:1024,%22d%22:1}}
Kitchen Hint of the Day!
To reuse cooking oil without tasting whatever was cooked in the oil previously, cook a 1/4″ piece of ginger in the oil. It will remove any remaining flavors and odors.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Pulled Buffalo Chuck Roast Sandwich w/ Baked Fries
Dinner Tonight: Pulled Buffalo Chuck Roast Sandwich w/ Baked Fries
Had a bowl of Cheerios for Breakfast this morning. That's the first bowl of Cereal I've had in forever, I can't even remember the last time starting the day with one! Had to have my Hoveround worked on today, just general maintenance; tires and batteries and such. Then ventured to Kroger, which is a real adventure anymore due to their remodeling. I really don't consider it remolding when all they're doing is moving items over an aisle or two and making a mess out of it. But as one Kroger employee told me, when they do stuff like this it's job security. As soon as they see that things are more confusing than before they'll move everything back, job security. Anyway for dinner tonight I prepared a Pulled Buffalo Chuck Roast Sandwich w/ Baked Fries.
As usual when using Buffalo I'm using Wild Idea Buffalo. I used the Wild Idea Buffalo Pulled Buffalo Chuck Roast. This is so tender and incredibly flavorful. It comes already cooked and seasoned. It's seasoned with, Organic Apple Cider, Organic Lime Juice, Onion Powder, Cumin, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Chili Powder, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Oregano, Cayenne Pepper. And that's why it's so flavorful! Delicious Buffalo Meat that you just heat and serve. I served it on a Healthy Life Whole Grain Hamburger Bun and topped it with just a bit JB's Fat Boy Chipotle BBQ Sauce. What a sandwich! For a side I baked some Ore Ida Simply Cracked Black Pepper and Sea Salt Country Style Fries, served these with a side of Hunt’s Ketchup for dipping. For dessert later a Healthy Choice Dark Fudge Swirl Frozen Greek Yogurt.
Wild idea Buffalo - 1 lb. Pulled Buffalo Chuck Roast
Our pulled Buffalo Chuck Roast is rubbed with our own blend of Mexican seasonings and then slowly braised to fall apart tender. We’ve done the work for you, so all you need to do is heat and eat! Use in all of your favorite Mexican dishes, like tacos, enchiladas and quesadillas. Or add your favorite barbecue sauce for great tasting B.B.Q. sandwiches!
1 lb. package.
Ingredients: Buffalo, Organic Apple Cider, Organic Lime Juice, Onion Powder, Cumin, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Chili Powder, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Oregano, Cayenne Pepper
http://buy.wildideabuffalo.com/collections/a-la-carte/products/pulled-buffalo-chuck-roast
Had a bowl of Cheerios for Breakfast this morning. That's the first bowl of Cereal I've had in forever, I can't even remember the last time starting the day with one! Had to have my Hoveround worked on today, just general maintenance; tires and batteries and such. Then ventured to Kroger, which is a real adventure anymore due to their remodeling. I really don't consider it remolding when all they're doing is moving items over an aisle or two and making a mess out of it. But as one Kroger employee told me, when they do stuff like this it's job security. As soon as they see that things are more confusing than before they'll move everything back, job security. Anyway for dinner tonight I prepared a Pulled Buffalo Chuck Roast Sandwich w/ Baked Fries.
As usual when using Buffalo I'm using Wild Idea Buffalo. I used the Wild Idea Buffalo Pulled Buffalo Chuck Roast. This is so tender and incredibly flavorful. It comes already cooked and seasoned. It's seasoned with, Organic Apple Cider, Organic Lime Juice, Onion Powder, Cumin, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Chili Powder, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Oregano, Cayenne Pepper. And that's why it's so flavorful! Delicious Buffalo Meat that you just heat and serve. I served it on a Healthy Life Whole Grain Hamburger Bun and topped it with just a bit JB's Fat Boy Chipotle BBQ Sauce. What a sandwich! For a side I baked some Ore Ida Simply Cracked Black Pepper and Sea Salt Country Style Fries, served these with a side of Hunt’s Ketchup for dipping. For dessert later a Healthy Choice Dark Fudge Swirl Frozen Greek Yogurt.
Wild idea Buffalo - 1 lb. Pulled Buffalo Chuck Roast
Our pulled Buffalo Chuck Roast is rubbed with our own blend of Mexican seasonings and then slowly braised to fall apart tender. We’ve done the work for you, so all you need to do is heat and eat! Use in all of your favorite Mexican dishes, like tacos, enchiladas and quesadillas. Or add your favorite barbecue sauce for great tasting B.B.Q. sandwiches!
1 lb. package.
Ingredients: Buffalo, Organic Apple Cider, Organic Lime Juice, Onion Powder, Cumin, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Chili Powder, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Oregano, Cayenne Pepper
http://buy.wildideabuffalo.com/collections/a-la-carte/products/pulled-buffalo-chuck-roast
Jennie - O Turkey Recipe of the Week - Volcano Turkey Burger
A Volcano Turkey Burger, it's this week's Jennie - O Turkey Recipe of the Week. It uses JENNIE-O® Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast (my personal favorite). Only 260 calories and 4g of fat. I've left the link to the recipe and the Jennie O Turkey website. Check it out! https://www.jennieo.com/
Volcano Turkey Burger
Ingredients
1 (20-ounce) package JENNIE-O® Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast
shredded iceberg lettuce
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
¼ cup shredded low-fat Cheddar cheese
5 small whole-wheat buns
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F. Grease baking sheet.
Divide turkey into 5 portions. Shape each portion into a cone shape so it looks like a volcano with center somewhat hollowed. Place formed burgers on baking sheet. Bake 40 minutes or until internal temperature of 165°F. as measured by a meat thermometer.
Top bottom bun with lettuce to simulate grass and add burger. Pour ketchup into the hollowed out portion of burger and along the side to make it look like lava coming out. Sprinkle tops of each volcano with cheese.
Nutritional Information
Calories 260 Fat 4g
Protein 33g Cholesterol 60mg
Carbohydrates 25g Sodium 600mg
Fiber 2g Saturated Fat 1g
Sugars 8g
https://www.jennieo.com/recipes/449-Volcano-Turkey-Burger
Volcano Turkey Burger
Ingredients
1 (20-ounce) package JENNIE-O® Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast
shredded iceberg lettuce
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
¼ cup shredded low-fat Cheddar cheese
5 small whole-wheat buns
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F. Grease baking sheet.
Divide turkey into 5 portions. Shape each portion into a cone shape so it looks like a volcano with center somewhat hollowed. Place formed burgers on baking sheet. Bake 40 minutes or until internal temperature of 165°F. as measured by a meat thermometer.
Top bottom bun with lettuce to simulate grass and add burger. Pour ketchup into the hollowed out portion of burger and along the side to make it look like lava coming out. Sprinkle tops of each volcano with cheese.
Nutritional Information
Calories 260 Fat 4g
Protein 33g Cholesterol 60mg
Carbohydrates 25g Sodium 600mg
Fiber 2g Saturated Fat 1g
Sugars 8g
https://www.jennieo.com/recipes/449-Volcano-Turkey-Burger
Kitchen Hint of the Day!
Chicken hint, thank you to Dorthy G. for passing this one along!
When purchasing a whole chicken look for skin that is cream-to-yellow in color never gray or discolored. Store it in its original wrap no more than two days in the coolest part of your refrigerator.
When purchasing a whole chicken look for skin that is cream-to-yellow in color never gray or discolored. Store it in its original wrap no more than two days in the coolest part of your refrigerator.
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