Category: Well Stocked Pantry

Why Cherries Make Great Pie

Post author By Guest Post
Post date March 17, 2017

By Lei Shishak

There are lots of great pies out there but in my opinion, cherry pie tops the list. It’s a pie that looks great, tastes great, is easy to make and is fairly foolproof.

Cherry season is distinct. The season begins in May and lasts thru August with the majority of cherries being harvested in the Pacific Northwest. Every time April rolls around, the anticipation of the start of cherry season begins to build. By the time May arrives, I’m about to bust! This is the number one reason why cherries make great pie: their season is fleeting. Cherries are here for only a mere four months and then poof, they’re gone.

Reason number two? There are many types of cherry varietals to choose from. You can play around with them and figure out which ones you like best. Cherries can be siphoned into two general categories: sweet and tart. Both are fine to bake with, but many particular Bakers prefer using tart as they can manipulate the sweetness to the liking. Tart cherries can be found at specialty farmer’s markets and are bright red, small and sphere-shaped. Sweet cherries, on the other hand, are much more prevalent and can be found at grocery stores. They can be eaten as is and are heart-shaped. Popular varieties are Bing, Rainer, and Lambert. Choose cherries that are plump, firm and are bruise-free.

Reason number three? Aside from the pitting step, cherries are easy to bake with. Cherry pie is a great pie for first-time pie bakers. Cherries are hard to over- or under-cook, maintaining their integrity well even after baking under high heat. We’ve all had apple pie with undercooked apples, and strawberry pie with mushy berries – such a disappointment! Even if the cherries are cooked prior to baking (as in my recipe for Windswept Cherry Pie), they maintain their texture and shape well.

Reason number four? Cherries pair well with other great flavors that can make your cherry pie unique. I love pairing cherry with almond. Other great pairings include chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, pistachios and sage. By the way, cherries are nutritious, too. They are loaded with phytonutrients and antioxidants.

To celebrate Pie-Palooza, I’m sharing my recipe for Windswept Cherry Pie. It’s from my first cookbook Beach House Baking. The reprint is coming out next month and includes 10 additional new recipes. You can order it on Amazon here. And while you’re on Amazon, check out my latest cookbook Farm to Table Desserts here.

Happy Baking!

About the Author

Lei Shishak is an established pastry chef who trained at the CIA in New York and worked at restaurants in Sun Valley and Los Angeles. She is the author of three notable cookbooks: Beach House Baking, Beach House Brunch, and the forthcoming Farm to Table Desserts. Her formative years were spent working as Michael Mina’s pastry chef at the Stonehill Tavern at the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point, California. She has been featured in People, Riviera Magazine, Sunset Magazine, Coast, the Los Angeles Daily News, Fine Living, and many more media outlets. She resides in Dana Point, California.

Create Your Own Unique Pie!

Does pie making daunt you? Are you wary of deviating from any pie-recipe you find, for fear that you’ll ruin the flavor of the resulting pie?

It doesn’t have to be that way!

Pie-Palooza 2017 is brought to you by Your Perfect Pie, a cookbook that breaks down pies into easily made component parts so you can unleash your pie-making creativity. Available on Amazon in both print and Kindle formats. Grab your copy today and start creating your perfect pie!

Miss previous posts? Find links to them here.

Tags cherries, cherry pie, Lei Shishak, Pie-Palooza 2017

Healthy Living Well Stocked Pantry

The Health Benefits of Green Tea

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date June 12, 2016

Teas have several health benefits. | Public Domain Image

Have you noticed that drinking green tea is becoming more and more popular? Many health sites are promoting the benefits of drinking more tea and less coffee. This drink is a pretty wonderful: It tastes great, there are lots of varieties available and many cultures have been drinking tea for centuries. Just look at how much of it people in countries such as China, Japan, India and Europe drink. This trend is now spilling over into North America.

Green tea has been around for a very long time and is one of the best teas that you can drink for your health. It is known for helping your body eliminate free radicals. It is great for weight loss and contains anti-aging properties.

Most of the health benefits of green tea come from EGCG, Epigallocatechin Gallate, which is a very powerful and natural antioxidant. As you may know antioxidants work to remove all kinds of harmful radicals from your body — those which can damage your cells, cause cancer and reduce your lifespan. Free radicals are also connected to the aging process which is why it can be slowed down by drinking green tea. Another benefit of EGCG is that it helps to speed up your metabolism so that it is easier for you to lose weight. Plus drinking lots of this type of tea just makes you feel better overall.

Green tea is good for weight loss and anti-aging. | Public Domain Image

Green tea does contain caffeine, but not as much as coffee does. It also contains an important amino acid L-theanine, which is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. This is important as L-theanine helps to increase activities in your brain which can help to reduce anxiety. So drinking more green tea when you are feeling stressed out is a good thing.

All tea comes from the same plants — green, black and Oolong. The difference between black and green tea is the process that it goes through. Green tea does not go through a fermentation process — this process removes the EGCG — which is why it retains its health benefits.

Green tea can also help you fight tooth decay, fight off all kinds of bacteria and infections. Studies have shown that green tea is great at repairing your immune system and helps with preventing heart disease and other illnesses. It can be helpful at reducing your chances of developing breast and/or prostate cancer. The studies that were conducted looked at Japanese people who drank at least 5 cups of green tea per day.

Tea plays a major role in many cultures around the world. | Public Domain Image

Drinking black tea has its benefits, too, including helping you to reduce bad cholesterol and healing blood cells. Plus it helps to keep your heart healthy. The major difference between green and black tea is the amount of antioxidants it contains. Green tea is highest on the list, with black and Oolong teas coming in next.

If you don’t like the taste of green tea you may want to try a variety that includes some mint in it. Always look for teas that are natural and contain no hidden chemicals. It really is worth your while, and your health, to drink several cups of green tea each day. Try switching it out for your morning coffee. You may not miss it as much as you think and you might realize that you just want something warm to drink each morning.

Remember that the health benefits of tea are numerous and it is definitely something that you should be including in your diet regularly.

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Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

This Healthy Eating Worksheet will walk you through the process of creating a healthy eating plan. All you need to do is print it out, set aside some time to complete it, and then fill it out. Then you can create your plan, knowing that you have addressed potential obstacles and came up with some creative ways to handle them.

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Tags black tea, green tea

Healthy Living Well Stocked Pantry

Another Reason To Eat Baked Purple Potatoes

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date May 11, 2016

Reduced from a photograph taken 28th January 2004 by Stephen Lea and released under the GFDL by the photographer.

Researchers have discovered a new reason to add purple potatoes to you diet. According to food scientists Jairam K.P. Vanamala and colleagues at Penn State and the University of Colorado, purple potatoes contain compounds that may help kill colon cancer stem cells and limit the spread of the cancer.

Reduced from a photograph taken 28th January 2004 by Stephen Lea and released under the GFDL by the photographer.

Why is killing cancer stem cells important? “You might want to compare cancer stem cells to roots of weeds,” says Vanamala. “You may cut the weed, but as long as the roots are still there, the weeds will keep growing back and, likewise, if the cancer stem cells are still present, the cancer can still grow and spread.”

Vanamala and his fellow researchers found that an extract from baked purple potato suppressed colon cancer stem cells in a lab dish. They tested the compound on mice with colon cancer and found the same results.

According to their results, they estimate that an effective portion size for a human to achieve these results would be equivalent to eating one large purple potato a day. Of course, this has not been tested on people and there is no guarantee that it will work in humans the way it works in mice. However, given the already good reasons to add this root vegetable to your diet, this just gives you a another one to add to the list.

Could eating purple potatoes prevent colon cancer from developing in the first place? We may never know.

More on purple potatoes:

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Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

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Tags cancer, purple potato

Special Occasions Well Stocked Pantry

Food You Need To Have A Great Summer BBQ!

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date May 3, 2016

Image Credit

As the days get longer, many a mind is dreaming of that quintessential American activity: The Summer BBQ.

Image Credit

The summer months are ideal for making use of your back yard. The weather is warm and the sun is out till late. It’s an excellent time to get your BBQ out and get it lit … and cookin’. Why not organize a BBQ for your family and friends? It can be a great event that will end up lasting till the early hours.

First, you need to arrange seating outside for everyone. Then you can sort out games and music so that everybody has a good time. You will then need to buy food and drinks for your guests. Here are some food items that you need to get to have a fantastic BBQ.

Salad Fixings

If you want to have a great summer BBQ, you need to prepare salad that you can have with the meat you cook on the grill. It’s a great accompaniment to meat, and it’s also healthy. As well as a traditional salad, which you can make with lettuce, tomatoes and onions, you could also go for pasta or potato salad. These are all top choices for a BBQ, and you will notice that they will go down quickly. If you choose to make these two, keep them in the fridge till you are ready to serve the meat. You can buy them ready made, so you don’t have to go to the extra effort of making your own. Check out these salad recipes for some unique ideas.

Summer Salad Recipes

Summer BBQ Seafood

A lot of people cook meat on their summer BBQ, as is traditional here in the States. But they forget to try and cook fish on the grill, too. Salmon is a delicious choice to try on the BBQ, and you could even serve it as chunks in the salad. Prawns are also a top choice for BBQ as they grill nicely. It’s best to BBQ King Prawns as they are big enough to cook properly, and they taste great. Serve them with sweet chili sauce for extra flavor (if you’re lucky, you can find some at your local 99¢ Only store!). Crab is also a good choice that people don’t realize tastes good on the BBQ. You can try some on the grill by ordering it off websites such as http://www.citarella.com/shop/crab. It’s also quicker than cooking meat on the BBQ.

And, of course, if you’ve got a fisherperson in your home … fresh fish grilled in your backyard beats anything you can buy in a store or online.

Kebabs

Another top choice that is perfect for parties is the kebab, or skewered food. They cook so well on the BBQ, and you can do a few at once. Decide if you want to make your own or buy them ready made. When making your own, you should decide which meat you want to use first, and then you can cut these into chunks. Most people then add peppers and onions to the kebab as they complement the meat. As it says here, you could even add fruit such as pineapple, peach and mango to make them even more exotic. Don’t forget to marinate the kebab before adding it to the BBQ.

Image Source

Sausages

A traditional choice, sausages make a summer BBQ complete as they are so tasty when barbecued. To make it more interesting, why not choose different types of sausages to cook on the grill? There are a variety available, including ones which have apple or even tomato inside. Remember to check if any vegetarians are coming to your BBQ — you may want to buy some veggie sausages for them. Just make sure to cook them first, so they haven’t touched any meat. A lot of people pre-cook sausages before putting them on the BBQ, so they don’t poison their guests.

Burgers

If you are looking for another food item which will be amazing on the BBQ, you should consider cooking some burgers. They are so tasty after being barbecued, and you can get so many different types. Why not choose to cook some turkey and pork burgers, as well as the traditional beef burgers? You should also get some cheese which people can add to the burger. Burgers are another thing you should cook in your kitchen first before putting on the BBQ. Just don’t pre-cook them for too long otherwise, they will become rock solid once cooked on the BBQ.

Bread Rolls

Bread Rolls are an essential if you want to have a great BBQ with friends and family. It’s a great accompaniment when eating meat and fish. You can also use the bread rolls with the sausages and the burgers. To spice things up, why not get different bread rolls which are topped with cheese or tomato. It gives more people a choice, as well as making the food taste even more delicious. I’m also partial to Hawaiian sweet rolls.

Sweet corn

You might be surprised to know that healthy sweet corn is delicious on the BBQ. It is quick to do; just make sure you keep turning it over so that it all gets barbecued. You can then serve it for people to have alongside their meat. It’s great also to provide some butter so that it isn’t too dry.

Potato Chips

While people are waiting for the summer BBQ food to be cooked, it’s an excellent idea to put out some potato (and other) chips to keep pangs of hunger at bay. Choose a few different types so that there is a choice for everyone. Fill the bowl to the brim and then once it’s gone, you can refill to keep your guests satisfied. Put it outside on the table and keep it covered till your guests arrive.

Bananas

Another exciting — and unusual — food item you might try at your summer BBQ is the banana. This fruit is amazing once cooked and can be a great dessert option for everyone. As discussed here, all you have to do is chop off the ends of the banana and then place it on the grill to cook for at least 10-15 minutes with its skin still on. Once it’s cooked, you can carefully open the skin and eat the hot banana. It’s even more delicious if served with ice cream or, my favorite, whipped cream. Sprinkle some cinnamon on top, and you’ve got a world-class BBQ’d dessert!

Want an extra-special grilled banana dessert?
Add some chocolate to melt in while grilling!
Image from Pixabay

Don’t forget to start up the BBQ awhile before people start arriving, for it does take a bit of time to get it going and be hot enough to cook on. And for safety reasons, don’t leave it unattended just in case a child wanders over there!

Tags barbecue, bbq, summer

Well Stocked Pantry

Cooking Bison: How To Make Awesome Food

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date April 13, 2016

Picture credit

Not long ago, cooking bison (often called buffalo in America — but a very different critter) was something reserved for fancy or exotic restaurants. These days, however, it is making more of a mark in the average household, as more people start to use it as an alternative to beef. There are lots of nutritional reasons for eating bison: It’s full of protein, zinc, iron and Vitamin B12, for example. But, it’s also tasty…If you use it in the right way. Let’s take a closer look at bison and how to cook it in the best possible way.

Picture credit

The Basics of Cooking Bison

Bison has a similar flavor to beef, but it has far less fat. There are several things you need to consider when cooking bison, which I’ll go into in a moment. But, the most important factor is how the bison is farmed. According to specialists like Northfork Bison Ranch, it’s always best to go for organic meat, and bison is no exception. They need to graze for their food on ranches or farms, and many environmentalists prefer this type of meat production. So, not only will you be eating a tasty dish, but you will also be supporting a more sustainable food industry.

The Cuts

Bison cuts are just like those you can expect with beef, but there are far fewer fats and more nutrients in them. It’s also worth pointing out that many bison cuts are recommended by the American Heart Association, which is a big deal for red meat. So, when you buy bison, it’s easy to use it as a replacement for all your favorite beef cuts, including ribs, sirloin, and brisket.

Timing

Bison meat is a lot less fatty than beef, so it needs less cooking time. On average, each cut needs a third less time to cook, which means it can be easy to overcook. It is essential to keep an eye on the time when cooking bison for the first time, or you will find it gets tough and loses a lot of moisture.

Picture credit: flic.kr/p/agMHde

Resting

Whenever you are cooking bison, it’s important to let it rest afterward. Because there is a little fat, it needs the natural juices to stick around to give it moisture. It adds to the flavor, too … so wait a little while before cutting into your steaks.

Temperature

Again, there are fine lines to consider when cooking bison. Overheat it and your meal will lose its delicious flavor; under heat it, and it can be too rare to enjoy for most palates. By the time your bison has finished cooking, it should have an internal temperature of between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cooking Ideas

Just as you can with beef, you can use bison in an enormous variety of ways. Steaks are delicious, of course, but you can also grind up some bison to create burgers and sausages. And, of course, there is nothing finer for barbecue season than a rack of buffalo ribs. Try out some recipes — and let me know how you get on!

Tags bison, buffalo, cooking with bison

Healthy Living Well Stocked Pantry

Why Coconut Oil Is So Popular

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 29, 2016

Coconut oil is a plant-based saturated fat that is very healthy for you inside and out. It promotes clear, wrinkle-free skin and protects against sunburn and skin cancer. Originally lumped together with animal-based saturated fats and avoided, it actually has none of their bad properties. Instead, it is gaining in reputation and popularity extremely fast.

A functional food, coconut is rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. The coconut palm tree is referred to as the “tree of life” because, besides its food value, so many things are made from it and it can be used on the human body with many benefits. Coconut oil is squeezed from the “meat” of the coconut and the best type is organic cold pressed extra virgin.

Coconut Oil Is Easily Digested

Coconut oil is an easily digested fat. It is composed of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which go straight to the liver and are turned into energy. This is great news for people who have had their gallbladder removed, since it is needed to digest long chain fatty acids found in animal fats but not the MCFAs in coconut oil.

Benefits of Lauric Acid

Coconut oil contains high amounts of lauric acid, which is used in the treatment of viral infections such as the flu, the cold and even cold sores.

Coconut oil is actually 50% lauric acid. Lauric acid is transformed by the body into monolaurin. That, along with the capric and caprylic acids also in coconut oil, has antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-protozoal properties. It is a highly effective treatment for candida albicans (a yeast infection) and targets bacterial infections and many other diseases. Researchers are eyeing it for treatment in HIV/Aids.

Incorporating Coconut Oil Into Your Diet

You can get a small amount of lauric acid from dried coconut meat and coconut milk, but the oil contains almost four times that amount. You can take about 3 tablespoons of coconut oil daily. You can just eat it off a spoon, use it when frying your meals, or put it in smoothies. I like it on toast, instead of butter. That amount will protect you from viruses and bacteria as well as help your skin from the inside. It will also boost your metabolism and help you burn body fat.

Side Effects

If you have been on a low-fat diet, and you start incorporating this oil into your diet, you may experience diarrhea. This should go away once you become used to taking it. To reduce this side effect, take smaller doses spread out over the course of the day.

Previous Articles in the Healthy Fats Series

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Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

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Tags coconut oil

Healthy Living Well Stocked Pantry

High Fat Foods That Are Actually Good for You

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date February 25, 2016

After all this talk about healthy fats, you may wonder, “what are some actual whole foods that contain healthy fats already in them.” It is unlikely that you’ll a healthy fat by itself, and I’m sure you would like to be able to grab a healthy high fat food that will contain your hunger and be quick and easy to eat.

Eggs are a great, quick food to eat. While some may be thinking about a raw egg in a smoothie, you may want to rethink that unless they are organic eggs from your own chicken coop. And we’re not talking about egg whites here, either. They are rather tasteless and you are missing the yolk that has nutrients you need. What is meant is that whole eggs can be cooked quickly and make a great meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They contain choline, a B vitamin that helps regulate the nervous system, the brain, and the cardiovascular system. Eating eggs occasionally will help improve your heart.

I like to keep hard-boiled eggs handy in the frig. One can make a tasty, quick snack that gives you the protein and fats you need to make it to your next meal. I also love tossing them into a salad. Yum!

An egg sandwich is a quick meal, cooking 2 fried eggs (in one of the healthy fats) takes less than 5 minutes, put it on a sandwich with some organic ketchup or salsa and you are good to go. On the other hand, what about an avocado spread on two slices of bread with slices of turkey for a fast sandwich and healthier than using mayonnaise.

Nut butter on a sandwich with sliced banana or strawberries is not only healthy but a comfort food many remember. Whether you use the familiar peanut butter or the more exotic almond or cashew butter, you’ll be eating a protein- and fiber-packed meal. Just be sure to pick all natural nut butter with as few ingredients on the label as possible to avoid added sugar or saturated oils. Speaking of nuts, you can also eat some almonds for vitamin E, some walnuts for Omega 3 fatty acids, or pistachios for lutien that are good for your eyes.

And, lastly, oily fish is another whole food full of Omega 3 fatty acids. Tuna salad anyone? Or a sardine sandwich, or how about salmon salad for lunch? When you want a healthy meal, and one that will see you through until dinner, think healthy high fat foods.

If you are trying to lose weight adding healthy fats to your diet is one way to get your body to start dropping those pounds. Try adding 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to each meal and see what happens!

Previous Articles in the Healthy Fats Series

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Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

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Tags eggs, high fat foods, nut butters