Archive for the ‘Add Flavour’ Category
Infuse it! Oil, Vinegar & Herbs
August 01 2013
Do you have a surplus of fresh herbs growing in your garden? One great way to use these herbs is to make flavored vinegar and oil. It’s incredibly simple.
To make flavored vinegar, start with good quality vinegar such as white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Next, add some washed and dried herbs such as rosemary, tarragon or a combination of herbs such as rosemary, parsley, thyme and sage. How much should you put in? Well that depends on the size of your container. You want enough herbs to impart flavor but not too much that it overpowers the vinegar. Start with a small amount of herbs and then taste the vinegar after a couple of weeks to see if it needs more herbs. Continue reading
Oh My! Fast, Fresh & Easy Homemade Salad Dressings
June 17 2013
Spring is a wonderful time for salad greens, sprouts and other tender leaves that can be mixed together to make beautiful, healthy salads. Fresh tender baby spinach with arugula, baby kale and bok choy leaves are just awesome. Adding more salads to your weekly meal plan is a good way to lose weight as long as you avoid high fat dressings.
Each of the following recipes makes about ½ a cup of dressing. All three can be made in less than 10 minutes and will last in the refrigerator for weeks.
Here are a few of our favourites:
Raspberry Vinaigrette
A wonderful dressing for baby arugula, mixed greens or a spinach and apple salad.
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons raspberry vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 shallot, chopped
1 teaspoon honey
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper, freshly ground
Place everything in a food processor or blender and puree.
Get the Most from Fresh Garden Goodness
April 03 2013
It’s Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, Fall in the Southern Hemisphere
These next few months are an exciting time worldwide. The northern hemisphere is sorting and planting seeds, while the southern hemisphere kicks harvest into gear.
Planning to Eat: For those of us who enjoy gardening, it’s a wonderful cost saving activity, not to mention an inexpensive stress reliever. Planning your indoor or outdoor garden can be a fun, family activity that teaches young children the important connection between health, the environment and food.
Fall in Love with Better Food: Harvest time is a fun time to experiment with new ingredients and try new dishes. There may be certain ingredients that you’re not fond of, so give MealEasy a try. MealEasy offers a quick and easy feature to select foods to avoid so you never have to see a recipe with ingredients you don’t like. Your taste buds will thank you!
Plant a lifetime of good food
Not sure what to plant? Make it a family project and have fun together! Take a trip to the library and select books on gardening for your climate. It’s never too early to plan a garden – no matter what season it is where you live.
Fresh Picks: Choosing what to grow depends on how much space and light you have for the plants. Always consider which plants you will use for cooking and eating. Most people enjoy adding fresh herbs to salads and soups, and the small amount of space that’s needed for herbs pots, means anyone can grow and enjoy fresh herbs.
Start an indoor herb garden and use them to add flavor to dishes rather than using dried herbs. All you need is a pot, soil, sunlight and water. Instant flavor!
Try it, You might Like it! MealEasy provides recipes that are Chef-designed and family tested. We never promote or profile recipes that we would not prepare and enjoy with our own families. Adding a hint of “fresh” is a great way to try new foods and include healthy eating in your day.