Archive for the ‘Food Ideas’ Category
Need a break from cooking? Let your kids make dinner tonight! Slurpable, tangy noodles are a great way to introduce kids to Thai food (and an easy dish a teen can make for the whole family). Find rice stick noodles in the Asian section of your supermarket.
Makes 4 servings
By Heather Trim
Photos by Janet Bailey
Food Styling by Marilyn Dunphy
Prop Styling by Emily Vezér
My son is a big boy now. Did I tell you that we walk down the street together now? I’m still disappointed that the crowds don’t part in waves of applause. First walking, then an umbrella stroller (okay, we’ve only rolled in it twice: who can stand the heartbreak of forward-facing out?) and now cereal.
We’re getting ready for our transition to toddler room, and that means breakfast will no longer be held for his arrival. I want something so that he can fit in with his peers, a snack that won’t ferment in my purse and one that I can finally fill his Snack-Trap-y thing with. Since he exhibits no cereal preference, we try a new one every few weeks. (At least until I can distract him from the toddler-height merchandised box with the bright, smiley koala).
Everything from Barbara’s Bakery has been a winner, including the Cheerios alternative superstar, Organic Breakfast Oh’s (low-sodium whole grains, lightly sweetened with fruit juice). But, frankly they’re too small for my slow fingers to snatch up before they become a fine, stamped-upon dust. Enter Nature’s Path Organic Kamut Puffs. These babies are delicious: a tiny bit naturally sweet and nutty, no added ingredients, crunchy and a fun oversize grain.
What’s Kamut? It’s related to durum wheat, so it still contains gluten, but is much less refined and with more protein. It includes the bran, germ and endosperm of the entire grain, preserving vitamins, minerals, fibre and photochemicals. And it’s missing all of the usual cereal junk: sodium, sugar, over 50 calories, etc.
Definitely not nutritious enough as a meal substitute, but perfect as a not-too-filling tide-over until I can feed him something proper. Maybe.
The bad news: there’s no koala on the front, so this may be a time-sensitive, limited appeal sort of cereal. But it does only cost $2.69 at my grocery. And it’s from a Canadian mom-and-pop brand. Brilliant!
—Melissa, CF’s lifestyle editor
PS: There’s a great round-up with nutritional analysis of organic kids cereals in our next issue. And if you have any tips for toddlers who won’t drink milk, please let me know!
Photo by Carlo Mendoza
There are 150 grades of stainless steel, but your container, cup or plate should be made from one of these (check the label):
304
The most commonly used food-grade stainless steel; it is used in food, dairy, brewing, hospital and sanitation applications.
316
The second most commonly used food grade, it has the same uses as above, but has better corrosion resistance because it includes more nickel than 304.
430
Products made from this food grade generally have less nickel content and a lower resistance to corrosion and temperature. It’s best to dry these containers right after washing.
You may also notice that products will say 18/8, 18/10, 18/0 beside the grade. The first number is the percentage of chromium that is contained in the stainless steel. The second number is the amount of nickel. The higher the numbers, the more rust resistant the product will be. Nickel is safe in small quantities but can provoke a reaction in people with an allergy to it. The average adult consumes between 150 to 250 micrograms of nickel per day. Small doses of chromium, like iron, are good for your health, but can be harmful in higher amounts—50 to 200 micrograms per day is considered safe. One meal prepared with stainless steel equipment (such as stainless steel pots and pans) gives you about 45 micrograms of chromium, according to Health Canada.
Is more food heading for the garbage than your family’s tummies? Check out these easy ways to cut down on food waste.
Photo courtesy of Flickr via Compfight.com
Leave plates half-empty
Or use smaller plates. Have diners ask for seconds rather than leave waste on their plates from a too-generous first serving.
Swap fresh for frozen
Tired of throwing out yellowed broccoli and desiccated ginger? Frozen vegetables and herb cubes not only cut spoilage, they slash your food-prep time. They’re also a great way to eat local year round: freeze local berries in-season, and then enjoy them in baked goods or yogurt all winter long.
Donate bumper crops of produce
Grow your own? Cities like Vancouver, Toronto and Hamilton, Ont., have fruit-tree harvesting projects where homeowners can arrange to have a volunteer pick their fruit tree for them. The homeowner gets a share, the volunteer gets a share and so does a local food bank.
Repurpose
Beauty hounds can blend, mash or purée overripe bananas, peaches, avocado or other
fruit into homemade skin or hair treatments.
Buy direct from Farmers
Hit your local farmer’s market for what you need, now. (Picking up just a day or two’s worth of groceries usually results in less waste than buying for a theoretical week.) Or support CSAs, which operate on the principle of partnership between farmers and consumers. You subscribe to “shares” of the year’s harvest from a local (usually organic) farm or multi-farm cooperative, and in return receive a weekly shipment of produce. Payment is up-front each season, which helps farmers avoid pricey bank loans for seed money. Because produce is minimally packaged and delivered in a reusable tub, packaging waste is greatly reduced. “Share” sizes are geared to family size, minimizing food waste. Google “CSA farms” and your city for ones in your area.
By Yuki Hayashi
Even if you’re not a football fan, there’s something fun about the build-up to the Super Bowl, and the big day is this Sunday! And for some of us, the best thing about Super Bowl is the food. We’ve got some perfect snacks to munch on while you’re watching the Saints battle the Colts (and The Who is playing half time).
You could make a case that chili is the quintessential Super Bowl food: here’s a tasty and quick Tex-Mex version. Or perhaps you’d prefer your chili slathered onto a baked potato?
If you’re a potato fan (who isn’t?), try these delicious potato-skin pizzas. Everyone in the family can dress them as they like. Sweet potatoes stand in for nacho chips in this healthy veggie version of nachos.
And don’t forget something for munching: this salty sweet snack mix will satisfy any football-related craving.
And just to balance things out with a little bit of healthy, wash everything down with this Mango-Banana Smoothie: full of fruit, yogurt and great-for-you flax.
Photo by Carly & Art, via Flickr
Meh. So there will be six more weeks of winter.
We’re going to drown our sorrows in the hot, buttery, spiciness of a deep mug of hot buttered rum. (Don’t worry, the recipe includes kid-friendly variations).
Take THAT warm weather. DON’T come for six more weeks. See if we care.
These yummy cornmeal pancakes topped with salsa, sour cream and cheese are a great choice for lunch, supper or snack time. Stack any leftover pancakes with wax paper between each one, seal in a freezer bag and freeze for up to one month. Reheat straight from the freezer by microwaving on high for 30 seconds per pancake.
By Dana McCauley
Photos by Janet Bailey
Food Styling by Marilyn Dunphy
Prop Styling by Emily Vezér
Soybeans by T.Hagihara.
Looking for some healthy foods to add to your diet? Check out soy!
Did you know that soy is one of the only plant sources of Omega-3 fatty acids and that using soy meat alternatives will reduce your daily calorie intake? Fortified soy milk also contains calcium and vitamins A and D – just like cow’s milk – but comes without the cholesterol and saturated fat.
These were just some of the things we learned when we took part in a teleconference on the facts and science of soy nutrition. One of the guest speakers was Stacey L. Krawczyk, a Registered Dietician with the National Soybean Research Laboratory, who gave these tips on how to add more soy to your families’ diet.
Substitute the meat: try making a pizza with soy pepperoni, sausage crumbles or bacon. Use soy crumble for tacos, burritos or sloppy joes and try out soy pigs in a blanket. Even simply blending soy meat alternatives with regular meat is a healthier option and is a good source of protein, B vitamins and iron.
Substitute the nut: if you have a peanut allergy, try making soy nut butter sandwiches or spreading it on top of celery. It is made from fresh roasted whole soybeans and each serving contains seven grams of soy protein. Soy nut trail mix is also a delicious alternative to the real thing.
Want to give soy a chance? Try these tasty CF recipes:
• Mini Tacos
• Skillet Meatless Shepherds Pie with Crispy Hash Brown Crust
• Cowboy Sloppy Joes
• Honey Spiced Nut Mix
Or try soy-based products in place of meat in these recipes:
• Ground Pork Burritos with Cheddar and Chipotle
• Delicious Egg Pizza with Pepperoni and Cheese
• Quick Tex-Mex Chili
A fruity pizza is a fun way to get some healthy vitamins into your kids. If you serve it for breakfast, they may even get out of bed!
Note: If you have a pizza stone, use it for this recipe.
Makes about 6 servings
Prep & cooking time: 40 minutes
By LeeAnne Wright
Photography by David Bagosy
Food styling by David Grenier
‘Tis the season to be busy, so products that can make our lives just that much easier are certainly appreciated. Here are three that we’ll be making good use of this month.
Metro Dessert Shooters
Don’t let their size fool you—these shooters pack a big taste. Featuring praline and raspberry with white chocolate and cocoa, mascarpone with chocolate cake and Amaretto, mango and papaw with raaspberries and homemade raspberry purée and chocolate and orange with custard cream and dark chocolate mousse, there’s one for every taste at your table. Metro, $14.99 for 8.
M&M Meat Shops Chicken Noodle Soup
What could be better than returning from a cold day building snowmen or on the ice rink to a bowl of yummy soup. What we love most? This tastes like you spent hours making it and it’s topped with Swiss cheese and croutons. And everything tastes better with cheese! M&M Meat Shops Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup, $3.49.
President’s Choice holiday treats
Judging by the speed in which these goodies were consumed by our team, they definitely pass the taste test. Put these out when unexpected company drops by or wrap them up as a quick hostess gift. PC Chocolate Gingerbread Bites, $6, PC Double Chocolate Covered Almonds with Peppermint, $6, PC Truffles Dusted with Cocoa Powder, $5.
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