Substituting Ingredients - A Book Review

I was asked to review Substituting Ingredients by Becky Sue Epstein, was eager to do so as I know that I sometimes find myself scrambling on the Internet to find substitutes and waste time trying to find a good site for the information. Now, I have a companion in the kitchen.

In her Introduction, Ms. Epstein reminds us of the all too common scenarios:
Rushing to make a quick and last minute meal (most nights right?) to find you are missing a key ingredients or when you find a great sounding recipe but know you cannot get all of the ingredients. Well, here is a book to help you out!

Chapters Include:
Substituting Ingredients A to Z:
1. The best feature of this section is that it is not simply a list of substitutions but also gives you other information such as, when you substitute chervil for anise, you need to use twice the amount.
2. Equivalents are sprinkled throughout this section contain great bits of knowledge such as, 1 pint berries = approx. 2 cups or 1 slice = ¼ to 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs
3. Recipes are provided for Cajun Seasoning, Chili Powder and more.

Herbs and Spices at a Glance: This section is a concise section of only herbs and spices and is a quick six page reference but I am not sure why that is done as all of the herbs and species were listed in the large A to Z section.

Measurement Equivalents:
1. This section includes commonly used equivalents in cooking and baking including dry and wet measurement (¾ cups equals 12 tablespoons), metric and temperature equivalents.
2. Baking Pan Sizes can be extremely useful when you do not have the exact shapes or sizes that a recipe calls. Ms. Epstein does issue the reminder to adjust baking times when switching pan sizes.

Too Much, Too Little, Too Late: Remedies for Common Kitchen Disasters: This section includes cleaver tricks to help rescue you from ‘disasters’ when most of us would just toss the items. For the most part, they are quite useful but a few are a bit silly. Did you know that if you add to much alcohol to a punch or drink, you can float cucumber slices in it to absorb the taste? I guess that means, you will still get dizzy quickly but not know it is coming.

Household Formulas: This is a great resource as it can help you avoid nasty chemicals cleaners and save you money by using items you probably have at home.
1. Many of the formulas use vinegar, Borax, baking soda. I know all of these are readily available but have not tried any of the formulas yet. However, I do use an at home formula to clean windows that uses vinegar at it is amazing.

2. It did stop me in my tracks when I found a formula to clean black lacquer cleanser. Does anyone still have that furniture? If so, take it to the dump immediately and go shopping. Another outdated items was the Deodorant of rubbing baking soda under your armpits. If that does work, we all need to stop buying the conventional deodorants. Have any of you tried it? Does it work?

In summary, I love the concept of this book as it remind people to have fun in the kitchen and to use what you have and not panic. Also, when you substitute an ingredient, you often end up with new recipes and new flavor profiles

I think this book would be an excellent resource to have in your kitchen at home and would be a great (and affordable) gift.

Jamie Oliver & Disney Family Revolution Giveaway

Back in March and April , the show 'Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution' took the country by storm and I was thrilled to see the reaction. Whether you liked and agreed with everything he had to say, it was an eye-opener (and hopefully game changer) for Americans and food.

Luckily, Disney Family.com has recognized the importance of eating and living healthy, and wanted to provide tips and advice on slashing sugar, cooking light, healthy recipes and more. That’s why they partnered with Jamie Oliver on brand new site content focused on living better and living well. The site features recipes and tips from Jamie that address how families can rediscover ways to cook simple, delicious and affordable meals. In addition, if you missed any of the episodes of Food Revolution, you can watch them on the site.


This gift pack is provided by Disney Family.com

To celebrate the partnership, I am giving away a gift pack that includes Jamie Oliver’s book 'Jamie’s Food Revolution', Family.com branded over mitts and apron, a cutting board and bowl set. I am looking forward to another household having Jamie's book and hopefully incorporating some of the ideas and recipes into their family meal time.

To enter:
Please leave a comment on this post telling me 'how you encourage your family to make healthy decisions when it comes to food, or let me know a recent, positive lifestyle change you’ve made'.

For 5 bonus entries each (only valid after answering question above):
*‘Like' the Savor the Thyme Facebook Fan Page and leave me comment on the fan page AND on this post telling me you 'liked' the fan page.

*Subscribe to my Newsletter via Facebook and leave a comment that you subscribed.

*Tweet the following (you can tweet everyday for 5 pts. each day!) : 'We are celebrating Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution with a giveaway via @savorthethyme http://alturl.com/a3jg ' (Be sure to leave the tweet ID in a comment on this post.)

This contest ends June 4th at midnight EST

EatingWell Wednesday - Basking in Basil

Each year when we starting getting basil (and cilantro but that is another post) we end up with so much that we start wondering what to do with all of it. So, I went on a hunt for some great ideas from Eating Well Magazine in addition to some ideas of my own.

*Pesto - Think outside the box with my Roasted Yellow Tomato Pesto



*PBT (Portobello, Basil & Tomato Sandwich)

*Marinara Sauce and you can freeze them in small and large batches. The handiest tool to use when making an amesome marinara is a hand-held blender. You can then control the texture of the sauce and do not need to transfer to a blender.

*Roasted Corn with Basil-Shallot Vinaigrette

*A Caprese Salad



*Basil-Cinnamon Peaches

Wordless Wednesday - Mechanical Bull Ride

Stonyfield Luncheon at EVOO

Yesterday was the most glorious day: amazing weather, grandma with kids, a luncheon with amazing food bloggers AND the CEO of Stonyfield and then coming home to an amazing family and home. Since I have so much to share with you in regards to the luncheon, I am going to start first with the food at EVOO. Being that the lunch was with Stonyfield, the chef incorporated their yogurt into the dishes.

While chatting and waiting for the actual starter course, we munched on a bread course with a EVOO, balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese (one of my favorite ways to start any meal)

Photo courtesy of HealthyandSane

Starters
Asparagus, Peas, Fiddleheads, Radish and Arugula with Great Hill Blue Cheese, Herbed Yogurt Dressing and Course Crumb Crunch.

OR

New Jersey Asparagus Soup with Parmigiano Reggiano, Red Chili Flakes and EVOO.



I chose the soup and my goodness, it was amazing. They pureed it perfectly as it still had some great texture and small pieces of asparagus. I think they need to add garlic in the description as I am now able to ward off vampires..while smiling ear to ear thanks to this soup.

Mains
Seared Atlantic Golden Tilefish with Organic Potatoes, Fiddleheads, Wild Ramps, Cilantro, Curried Potato Broth and Minted Carrot Salad



OR

Seared Misty Knoll Farms Chicken Breast with Red Fire Farm's Spring Dug Parsnip Manicotti, Shaved Fennel, Orange Segments, Arugula, Parmigiano Reggiano, Garlicky Chicken Jus and Hazelnut Crunch

OR

Chinese Box Full of Crisp Fried Mustard Glazed Tofu, Asparagus, Gingered Vegetable - Cashew Salad and Organic Brown Rice

I chose the tilefish as I have been wanting to it for a long time and it was well worth the wait. I am one who prefers a lighter texture and flavor in my fish and this fits the bill. The fish was cooked perfectly and no single flavor over powered the other. The chef Incorporated the yogurt into the minted carrot salad

Dessert
Stonyfield Organic Yogurt with Balsamic - Basil Glazed Strawberries



All I can say is that I am going to do my best to replicate this dessert. When the chef came out, I asked him about the topping, assuming it was made with the Yogurt. However, I was surprised that it was the tart where he Incorporated the yogurt not the topping. This tart was truly amazing and the perfect consistency.

Chopped Pasta Salad

If you recall, I hosted Rhode Island's Food Blogger Bake Sale back in April at The Pizza Place Restaurant. Not only are the people at the restaurant top notch but their Chopped Pasta Salad is a Legend in these parts.

In fact, the simple addition of Ditalini makes it a salad that my son is crazy about and he does not voluntarily eat mushroom and tomatoes. Now the recipe usually calls for Gorgonzola cheese but I use Feta. Scrumptious!

The photo was shot before I added the turkey bacon.

Organic Romaine Lettuce

Red Onion, sliced thinly

Tomato, chopped

Baby Bella Mushrooms, chopped

Feta, chopped

Chicken, cooked and diced

Bacon, crispy and chopped

Ditalini pasta, cooked

Prepare all ingredients, toss well with balsamic dressing of your choice.

The Biggest Loser Finale & Twitter Party

I am sure that everyone in America knows that we have a major obesity epidemic that has even reached young children (I an sure that processed food is a part of it!). Many Americans are also big fans of the show Biggest Loser. Well, The Biggest Loser has teamed up with Subway for a special challenge they have going on that will come to fruition during the finale Tuesday, May 25th from 8-10pm EST.

During the finale Shay Sorrells (@ShayBL on Twitter) will be weighing in. Do you remember Shay from Season 8? Shay was the biggest girl to ever enter the Biggest Loser campus and last season she shed 172 lbs. She didn’t win, but she inspired America and had a great deal more to lose, so Subway gave her a special challenge. For every pound she loses in between last season finale and this Tuesday night, Subway will match it with $1,000. So if she loses 100 lbs. she will take home $100,000. How much do you think she can lose?



Myself (@savorthethyme), along with others in the health/fitness niche will be panelists (@bookieboo is hosting) of a Twitter party during the Season finale. Be to join us for a lively chat and some fantastic giveaways, including an interview with Shay & Jared and Subway gift cards.

Come visit the invitation post and RSVP and hope to see you there! #GOSHAY

Can you say 'Kumato' & A Caprese Salad

Have you heard of Kumato? I am honestly not sure if you pronounce it KumAto or Kumato but I can tell you they are fabulous. If you love tomatoes, imagine a brownish variation that is a bit sweeter (meaning more fructose).

When I first saw them, I thought 'Great, another genetically modified food' so before I bought them, I went to the website and it appears they were reading my mind: "Are Kumato® tomatoes genetically modified products? Not at all! Kumato® is the outstanding result of tireless efforts to apply traditional plant breeding techniques and natural cultivation methods." So, it appears they have been created with genetics involved but not in a lab.

What are your thoughts on the Kumato?



Kumato Caprese Salad
1 Kumato, sliced
A few slices of Low fat Mozzarella Cheese
Fresh Basil leaves
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar or Syrup

Prepare the kumato, mozzarella and basil. Layer them and then drizzle with evoo and balsamic vinegar/syrup.

Wordless Wednesday - Nesting and Stacking Blocks

EatingWell Wednesday - Spring Chicken & Barley Soup

Do you often find yourself with some leftover chicken and with one of the following scenarios:
1. Not enough for everyone?
2. You do not want the chicken as is?

Well, here is a great way to use up that leftover chicken (or non-leftover) called Spring Chicken & Barley Soup from EatingWell magazine. I honestly think the best thing about this recipe is the garnishes. The orange and basil make this soup stand out. I strongly recommend you add a good amount of it to the entire pot at the end. Feel free to put some fresh when you serve it.

Mushroom & Basil Crostini with Garlic & Cheese Spread

*I have a gorgeous photo to share but blogger keeps flipping is on its side! Dimensions exactly same as other photos * suggestions?

Last week I was planning to make a lovely crostini for our monthly Moms Night Out however, company came by and I did not get to the store to buy the bread. Therefore, I picked up the bread yesterday and made these amazingly tasty crostini for the family.

Knowing that my son, sometimes enjoys mushrooms (mushroom soup), I knew he may end up grimacing but I was wiling to risk it. These are super easy to make as you can saute the mushrooms while the bread is in the oven.

Thymely Tip: Remember, that simply because someone/kids do not enjoy a food in one form, does not mean they would not enjoy the flavor profile in another (raw versus sauteed)

Mushroom & Basil Crostini with Garlic & Cheese Spread
makes two dozen

2 Ciabatta Olive Oil Bread Stix (found at stop & shop)
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
8 0z fresh mushrooms of your choice (I used baby portobello), finely chopped
1 tub of light garlic and herbs spreadable cheese
Fresh Basil leaves, chopped

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Slice the bread into 1/2 inch pieces. Because they were already made with olive oil, salt and pepper, I was able to skip this step.

Toast the bread for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and saute for about 6 minutes, stirring often.

Remove the bread from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Spread a 1/2 teaspoon of cheese spread onto the bread, a dollop of mushrooms and top with some basil.

We found that we did not need to use any seasoning as the cheese spread is salty enough.

A Year to Savor the Thyme #18 - My First Grocery Haul

Creamy Greek Yogurt Dip

Most of us love dips right? Whether it is for Vegetables or a Protein, we Americans love dips and kids are no exception. My son loves dipping his carrots in hummus but I thought I would see if I could persuade him to try something else. I knew I had a little Greek yogurt left and from there I experimented. This would also be yummy with sour cream.

Feel free to experiment with different herbs and citrus juices to find your favorite combo. What are some of your favorite foods to dip?

Ingredients:
1/3 cup plain low fat Greek yogurt
1/2 small clove of Garlic, minced
1/3 scallion, minced
A few leaves of Cilantro, minced
Ground Pepper

Directions:
Mix all ingredients and enjoy.

EatingWell Wednesday - Sugar Snap Pea and Shrimp Curry

I love when you have a dish that is so wonderful that you can mix it with Brown Rice and get away with it. That is the case with EatingWell's Sugar Snap Pea and Shrimp Curry recipe.



The only changes I made were:
1. I used plain curry and then added some Hot Madras Curry Powder onto my husband's serving.

2. Used less than 1/4 cup lemon juice

3. I also tossed some chopped parsley on when I served it.

Can you tell my son (who swears he does not like shrimp) liked it?
Photo left: Just put some in his mouth
Photo right: This was his reaction when I wanted to have my bowl back.

A Year to Savor the Thyme - Tip # 17 Lemon Zest

Making use of an entire lemon. This is a great way to add flavor to butters, marinades, dressings and to any side dish. In addition, I love to place some lemon peel onto a freshly glazed bundt cake or as a garnish to any plate.

What do you use citrus peel or zest on/for?

Family, Friends & The Hand Drying Song

So many children, so many reasons to use the Kleenex Hand Towels. Here is an example of a video you can submit for 25 bonus entries for the $50 Gift Card Giveaway:

The 2010 Dirty Dozen List - Which Organic Foods to purchase

The Dirty Dozen for 2010 has been released and varies from last year's. In fact, Celery is now on the top of the list so I am happy I have buying this one as an organic for a while.

First up, a reminder of what the dirty dozen is all about: These are foods that are recommended to buy organic because even after washing, the pesticides remain. You may wish to either memorize or print list and take it with you to the store so that you are sure to spend a bit extra on these foods and spend less on the foods not on this list.


Photo courtesy of MeetaK

1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Bell peppers
8. Spinach
9. Kale
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes

Remember, the most affordable option is to grow your own fruits and vegetables. There is also the added benefit of knowing exactly what is put onto your foods. Also, to find out why these items are on the list, refer to this article by Yahoo Green.

Wordless Wednesday - Making Sandwiches with Melissa & Doug

Okay, a few words. We bought this two years ago and still play with it. The kids learn about food, being creative and love watching us 'eat' the sandwiches. That is why I am proud to carry it in my OpenSky Shop.

Cold Cereals that The Kids Love

Many of us know that preparing a home cooked breakfast each morning does not always happen so we need some quality cold cereal's to count on. Now, many of you know that I am a big label reader so I have a few criteria for cereals: I look for acceptable sugar levels, the quality of ingredients and whether there are vitamins and minerals provided. Although many cold cereals are not the best nutrition you can choose for a breakfast, the cereals below are some of our favorites that I am not ashamed to serve.

Kashi: You can not go wrong with any of Kashi cereals really but these are the kids absolute favorites: Mighty Bites & Honey Sunshine.

Mighty Bites: My children call it the 'little people' cereal. They are quite affordable and I find them at Shaw's or Trader Joe's. These little guys are mighty indeed as they are packed with tons of vitamins & minerals!



Honey Sunshine: These are referred to as 'little pillows' in our house and I must admit, they are my little snack when no one is looking and I am craving some crunch and sweetness.



Cascadian Farms: The newest in their line of Organic cereals is Fruit O's. They state that their foods are 'grown without synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers or genetically engineered ingredients'. And no artificial flavors or preservatives. The O's contain 25% DV of Iron, Niacin, Vit. B6 and Folic Acid. The other vitamins & mineral levels are also impressive.



Mom's Best Naturals: Now, I was actually planning on writing these folks to see if I could get some samples when they wrote me asking if they could send some to me. In fact, they sent me two full boxes. I had been interested in trying them as they promised no artificial 'junk' and had a great price point. So, why do I like these? They are made with whole grain wheat and rice, no artificial ingredients, no added hydrogenated oils and no high fructose corn syrup. They taste great and I found them at a generous 'family size' box at Walmart for a great price. I do not have anything negative to say about the two options I tried so these are staying on our list of cold cereals that I will buy. I am planning on trying their oatmeals next.

Toasted Cinnamon Squares


Oat and Honey Blend

Kleenex Hand Towels, The Hand Drying Song & a $50 Gift Card

Contest is closed

Recently we celebrated my daughter’s 6th birthday with a party at our house and naturally it was a rainy day. That meant that there were 12 children and all of the parents in our house so this was the perfect opportunity to use a box of Kleenex Hand Towels.

What are Kleenex Hand Towels? They are a fresh clean towel that pop-ups from a nicely designed box that you display in your bathroom or even on the kitchen counter top. What I appreciate is that the sheets are free of inks, dyes and fragrances. When I was young, my mom always put out a nice pile of napkins on the bathroom sink when guests were coming. These napkins always had some nice little colorful design on them but these are a better option. They are also sturdy so I have taught my children that after washing, they can wipe the sink as there always seems to be water on the edges or on the counter.

Normally, we have a hand towel hung in the bathroom and with four of us in the house, it usually lasts a two days or so before I switch it out. If I really think about it, most kids (never mind the adults) do not even bother washing the recommended length of time with soap so we really are sharing germs aren’t we? Yuck! And that is why I am Kleenex Song Ambassador as part of a campaign with The Motherhood and Kleenex. While researching about hand towel useage, I was startled by the CDC facts about hand cleaning, drying and germs.



*Did you know that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends drying Hands with a single-use towel to help prevent the spread of germs? That’s right, they state that drying of hands with a reusable cloth towels is not recommended and should be avoided.

*The CDC also wants us to know that despite our perception, hand drying is just as important as proper hand washing and that even if a hand towel is not visibly dirty it doesn't mean that it is in fact clean. There are even more hand drying facts here.

Not only were these perfect during the birthday party but I think they are perfect when we have guests over, we have an open house or when there are sick people in the house!

Oh, I bet you are dying to know about the Hand Drying Song mentioned in the post title right? Oh, I just love it and so do the kids (trust me, I will post a video and show you)! Kleenex wants you to enjoy this song as part of teaching your children proper hygiene (washing and drying) and have it be fun. Take a listen and sing along:

My hands are gonna be clean

When I wash and I dry with mommy and sing

This song that's exactly two clean hands long

Warm water and soap and bubbles that shine

A Kleenex Hand Towel that's mine all mine

And a song that's exactly two clean hands long

No yucky old towel's gonna ruin my day

I dry my hands the Kleenex towel way

So if you're a fan of clean hands too

Roll up your sleeves and I'll sing with you.

To encourage even more excitement for the Kleenex Hand Towels and the Hand-Drying Song, we are having a contest for a $50 ServiceMaster Gift Card (good for use at Merry Maids. Trugreen and more).

TO ENTER (Please be sure that I have some way of emailing you!): US residents only
*Leave a comment telling me what else you do at home to help prevent the spread of germs.*

Additional Entries: Choose one or all
For 25 bonus entries:
*Make a video of your family either singing the song while washing your hands or listening to the song while you wash your hands. The video needs to be posted on one of the following: The Motherhood Hand Drying Circle OR SavortheThyme YouTube Channel and I need a comment with a link to the video on this post.

For 10 bonus entries each:
*Join The Motherhood's Hand Drying Song Circle and leave a comment on this post AND The Motherhood Circle.

*Post photo/s of your family using the towels on The Motherhood Hand Drying Circle containing a link to this contest/post AND leave a comment here letting me know you posted the photos.

For 5 bonus entries each:
*‘Like' the Savor the Thyme Facebook Fan Page and leave me comment on the fan page AND on this post.

*Subscribe to my Newsletter via Facebook and leave a comment that you subscribed.

*Tweet the following (once everyday for 5 pt each day!) : 'We are singing the Kleenex Hand Drying Song & Entered to win a $50 Gift Card via @savorthethyme http://bit.ly/dazvLf #KleenexSong' then leave the tweet ID in a comment on this post.

This contest ends May 15th

**Disclosure: This is a compensated promotion with TheMotherhood.com and Kleenex**