Archive for the ‘Articles’ Category
Round and Round We Go!
January 11 2011
On Tuesday of this week, the entire staff of MealEasy went skating!
Halifax, where we’re based, is hosting the Canada Winter Games. As part of the games, the city has constructed a speed skating oval in the middle of downtown. The oval is open to anyone and everyone regardless of skating ability.
It was fantastic to see so many people out enjoying the crisp winter air and getting an excellent work out in the process. There were people of all ages out there and everyone was wearing a smile. I truly believe that there is more to being healthy than just eating right…exercise must be part of your healthy lifestyle.
Our job here at MealEasy is to get you on the right path when it comes to food but it’s up to you to get out there and be active. I’m not saying you need to be in training to run a marathon but a simple daily exercise regime such as walking to work or taking the stairs instead of the elevator will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Chef Paul: New Fridge
January 10 2011
Our new refrigerator arrived on the weekend!
This makes me very happy. We cooks love new kitchen stuff.
There was nothing really wrong with our old fridge; in fact it’s the kind of fridge most people want. 
Double door, fridge and freezer combo with ice and water dispenser but I disliked it because it lacked space for something that took up so much space. Don’t worry; we’re not throwing it out. We’ve donated it to a local charity.
What I like about the new one is that it’s all fridge! No freezer. We’ve got a chest freezer in the basement so having one upstairs as well, though convenient, was not necessary…at least that’s what I’m saying now…we’ll see in a few weeks if I’m still of the same mind.
The reason we went for the all fridge version is that I like having lots of shelves and not so many drawers and compartments. Because, when we get home from the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market, I like to process all the vegetables, meat and fruit before putting them away. Sure, it takes time to wash the lettuce, clean the fresh berries, portion any meats, etc. but I save so much time during the week when I go to cook stuff.
I like to wash the lettuces and spin them dry and then place them in a re-sealable container with paper towel on top and bottom to absorb any moisture. Then I always label the container with the name and date in order to make sure to use it before using a newer container of lettuce or vegetables or whatever. This way I’m always on top of what’s going on in my fridge, nothing goes bad and nothing is purchased unnecessarily.
Chef Paul: Roast Chicken Sundays
January 07 2011
Sundays around our house are what I call “production days”. What I mean by that is that I go into “production mode” and make a bunch of foods I can use at a later date, be it for lunches or quick suppers. This can be a big batch of spaghetti meat sauce (or Bolognese), more tourtieres (did I mention I love tourtiere?) or a large scale pasta casserole I can portion and freeze for later.
This Sunday was roast chicken dinner. I cooked up a BIG 9lbs bird in hopes of having lots of leftovers…and seeing as how there are only three of us (and one of us is only 2 ½) there will be lots left over. That means sandwiches for lunch, meat already cooked for a quick rice or pasta dinner or even a batch of soup that can go in the freezer.
This way I can stay ahead of the game. I love to cook. It’s what I do… but some nights I can be a little pressed for time, therefore I have a whole bunch of quick and easy meals ready to go.
I know a lot of people, with kids especially; never seem to have to time to make homemade meals, but I really don’t think a trip to the local burger joint is the answer. I’ll gladly spend 30 minutes in the kitchen after a busy work day because I think family meal time is important. It’s our time to all sit together, relax and talk about our day. We’ll often linger for an hour or more at the dinner table talking, playing or enjoying a glass of wine…well not the little one, she prefers beer (I tell her its beer but it’s really apple juice).
So I say, raise a glass to the family meal!
Chef Paul: Tourtiere!
January 06 2011
Once January 1st rolled around, my wife and I got busy making lunch items for our freezer.
Both of us insist on bringing our lunches to work. So on days where I’m not cooking here at MealEasy, I always have a homemade meal. It saves money and I know it’ll be good for me.
My wife made her wonderful lasagna recipe which was passed along to her from her mom and I made a couple of tourtieres…that’s what us frenchies call meat pie. I got my recipe from a friend who had us over to her place for Christmas dinner. She served both tourtiere and roast wild turkey…a turkey that she and her husband not only raised themselves but butchered as well! Talk about farm fresh!!! It was excellent. Us cooks LOVE it when people cook for us.
As for the tourtiere, even though I’ve used my own recipes in the past, I decided to give hers a try because it tasted sooooo good. It called for equal parts ground pork and ground beef both of which I got from our local farmer’s market (grass fed beef and pasture raised pork) as well as an assortment of spices such as allspice, bay leaves, cloves and fresh sage. EXCELLENT. I love tourtiere.
There are probably as many recipes out there for tourtiere as there are cooks but this one was great. I made it before with ground venison which adds a nice gamey flavor or even with ground chicken or turkey…I’ve even made salmon tourtiere. It’s definitely a comfort food favourite around our house; served with creamy mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli… I’m salivating just thinking about it.
If you want this recipe just shoot us an email (talk@mealeasy.com) and I’ll send it off to you.
Chef Paul: I got goosed on New Year’s Eve!
January 04 2011
Or rather, I cooked a goose on New Year’s Eve. My family and I enjoyed a wonderful evening at a friend’s cottage where I was able to prepare a wonderful roast goose. Not your typical cottage fare. Believe it or not, none of us had ever had goose before.
I know.
Here’s a professional chef who’s never had goose. In my defense, goose is not something you cook up very often in restaurant kitchens let alone at home.
I started by brining the goose for 24 hours. I made a bread based prune stuffing because prunes are a traditional accompaniment for goose. Then, I roasted the goose for about 2 ½ hours at 350F until golden. For the “gravy”, a bit of red wine, some homemade chicken stock and homemade cherry jelly reduced and thickened slightly with flour. I served the goose with Brussels sprouts, roasted root vegetables, wild rice and apples.
The result…FANTASTIC!!! I can’t wait to have another occasion to cook goose. The meat was very similar to duck so the trick is to just cook it enough so that it doesn’t dry out. Everyone loved it including my 2 ½ year old daughter…well she liked the wild rice and brussels sprouts anyhow. Maybe I’ll cook my goose for St Valentine’s Day?
Now that the turkey has settled…
December 30 2010
We hope you had a wonderful Festive week! Did the turkey taste good?!
In just over 24 hours we’ll be ringing in a new year, and with that comes a golden opportunity to make a change.
That’s why we’ve created the MealEasy New Year, New You Challenge! We’d love you to be involved and take the first steps towards a healthier, happier and longer life with meal planning.
Details will follow next week. However, why not sign up to our mailing list and get a head start on the challenge?
Just send your name and email address to: talk@mealeasy.com – we’ll do the rest!
The night (or day) before Christmas…!
December 24 2010
Twas the day before Christmas
And all through the house,
The fridge was still whirring, the turkey was out
The family looked over, with Festive delight
Not too long to wait, just one more night
But suddenly it hit them, one thing they had missed
What to serve with it? They need a side dish
With no time to think, ideas all dry
A lone-Christmas turkey, served only with wine
But then they remembered, somewhere they should go
A place of ideas, all easy to follow
They booted up the laptop, and started to say
‘We’ve got MealEasy, so all is okay!’
-o-o-o-o-
Wishing you a happy and healthy Holiday!
From MealEasy
Stuck for gift ideas? There is still time!
December 22 2010
Whilst leaving the MealEasy office last night two of us discussed our plans to go straight to the stores and continue our last minute festive shopping.
However important we feel and know it is, our busy schedules just don’t give us the time we need to shop. Plus, looking at our recent purchases – did we buy things that people actually need?
‘Give the gift of good health’ may be a common phrase, but it certainly holds strong meaning. What better gift can you give a loved one than something that will improve their life?
So, if you’re stuck for a last minute idea please click HERE to find out how you can give a loved one a years meal planning. It’s the ultimate gift! You’ll be giving them more spare time, less stress and a healthier life.
Five days to plan, plan and plan!
December 20 2010
Where does time go? We can’t believe it is just five days until December 25th.
Hopefully you’ve finished your shopping, decorating and that the last few cards are finally in the mail. Of course, the last decision is always what to eat! This is particularly important if hosting family and other guests. Please, don’t think that by playing host you have resigned yourself to the kitchen for the next week – it doesn’t have to be that way.
Even Holiday cooking can be easy and fun, allowing you more time to spend with your loved ones. Planning ahead and cooking to a schedule will not only reduce the stress, but also save you a lot of money (and we could all do with a couple of extra dollars this time of year!).
Hop on over to MealEasy.com and let us plan your Christmas cooking for you – it’s what we do best!
Beat that holiday bulge?
December 08 2010
With the Holiday season on our doorstep there’s plenty to worry about – second-cousins to shop for, holiday meals to plan, and what the scales will show during the inevitable New Year’s ‘weigh in’.
For those attempting to maintain their weights or lose a few pounds, the holidays can be a minefield of high-fat meals and caloric desserts. However, Chef Paul comes to the rescue and shares his top five tips for surviving the season….over to you Paul!:
1. Replace traditional mashed potatoes with mashed sweet potatoes. Chock full of nutrients, sweet potatoes are a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, fibre and complex carbohydrates. I recommend boiling the sweet potatoes until soft and and mashing with cinnamon and a touch of real maple syrup.
2. Rest easy – the turkey is safe to eat! But white meat only, and nix the gravy. Turkey meat has long been a staple of those on a low-fat diet, and it’s easy to see why. A source of Vitamin B6 and folic acid, turkey meat contains only 1 gram of fat per ounce. Baste with a little olive oil and vegetable broth, and use herbs liberally to really enhance the taste.
3. Though picky eaters may scoff at vegetables, there are many ways to make the standard peas n’ corn just as interesting as the next side dish! Roast vegetables in the oven with olive oil, dress up green beans with vinegar and steam asparagus with lemon and sea salt for a tasty treat.
4. Those interested in avoiding excess calories may want to avoid boozy sauces, after-dinner liqueurs and sugary white wines. For anyone wishing to drink during the holidays, I recommend a small glass of heart-healthy red wine, reputed to be a rich source of antioxidants. Moderation is best, maintaining a 5 oz glass is the perfect amount.
5. For many, dessert is the reason for the meal in the first place! My tip for avoiding a sugar crash after a holiday meal is to enjoy a cup of coffee, a piece of dark chocolate and an innovative dessert, such as pears poached in spiced wine, or fresh raspberries with a sprinkling of icing sugar. Indulge a bit, but keep portions small. You’ll thank me later for that advice!
Everyone here at the MealEasy office is already licking their lips, and we hope you’re doing the same too! Contact us with your favorite ‘Season Survival’ tips, and we’ll post the best here: talk@mealeasy.com