Tasteful Living

Pantone has revealed its Color of the Year 2012, vivacious Tangerine Tango

Pantone LLC, Carlstadt, New Jersey (an X-Rite company), has designated Tangerine Tango the 2012 color of the year. It is a spirited reddish orange that provides the spark we need to recharge and move forward in 2012. While Honeysuckle, the 2011 color of the year, encouraged us to face everyday troubles with energy and vigor, Tangerine Tango (Pantone 17-1463), as the color of the year for 2012, is a vivacious, enticing hue. Tangerine Tango marries the verve and adrenalin rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.” Pantone LLC, Carlstadt, New Jersey (an X-Rite company), is the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries.

Over the past several years, orange has grown in popularity and acceptance among designers and consumers alike. A provocative attention-getter, Tangerine Tango is especially appealing in men’s and women’s fashion as is being shown in this year’s New York Spring Fashion Week. Fashion designers featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2012, include Tommy Hilfiger, Nanette Lepore, Cynthia Steffe by Shaun Kearney, Elie Tahari and Adrienne Vittadini, who are incorporating this attractive orange into their spring collections. A fun, lively take on a traditional autumnal hue, Tangerine Tango will surely carry through to fall fashion as well.

In interior design, Tangerine Tango brings energy to interior spaces with patterned home accessories. Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue add spice to any room. Or for an accent color, you can incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances and personal electronics as an unexpected pop of color. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Tangerine Tango for a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen, entryway or hallway.

Tangerine Tango products are also available from Chronicle Books (publisher of “Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color” and creator of Pantone paperback journals), MyColor inspired by Pantone (a spirited new collection of grab-and-go paints) and PANTONE PAINTS (Pantone’s line of superior-quality, eco-friendly paint.
PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango can also be cross-referenced to all other.

If you are wondering how Pantone comes up with the color of the year, the company says the color selection is a very thoughtful process. To arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.

For more than a decade, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. For more information about Tangerine Tango or how to dress up your home this season with color, visit Pantone’s very informative website here.

For the latest interior design news, visit Shore Region Interior Design Examiner.  Interested in the latest food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit me at Shore Region Food and Drink Examiner and Shore Region Restaurant Examiner.

Tempting foods for seductive Valentine's Day gifts

If staying cozy at home is your passion, Sickles Market, Little Silver, has created some sumptuous Valentine gifts guaranteed to spark a fire in your love’s heart. And, there is nothing like a little heat to make the heart grow fonder. The Spice up Valentine’s Day gift is a gourmet collection from around the world that includes: Chocolate and Cinnamon, Chocolate Chili Biscuits, Pepper Honey and Midnight Spaghetti ($50). For a soothing and sensuous dessert, try the Everything Chocolate Valentine box with Chocolate Truffle Hot Chocolate, Belgian Chocolate Fondue and a Red Dark Chocolate bar ($25). Or maybe a beautiful, fragrant bouquet of red roses will be the perfect present. Order online at shop.sicklesmarket.com or call 732-741-9563. Sickles Market is at 1 Harrison Avenue, Little Silver.

Does you honey have a sweet tooth or a yearning for cupcakes and cookies? At Sugarush you can create you own special Valentine’s cupcake at the Cupcake Bar or maybe create a bouquet of sugary cake pops covered in mini hearts. The options to personalize your Valentine are endless. Sugarush is at 37 East Front Street, Red Bank, 732-414-9044.

Traditionally, chocolates are a “given” on Valentine’s Day. Nothing says “Happy Valentine’s Day” better than a heart-shaped box filled with delicious home made and hand-crafted chocolates. The Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe is showcasing a beautiful assortment of handmade chocolates, chocolate-covered pretzels and oreos, and truffles.
Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe is located at 17 White Street, Red Bank. Call 732-219-0822 or order online at redbankchocolateshoppe.

If sweet chocolate is not your pleasure, give your sweetheart a trio of Dark Chocolate, Champagne and Strawberry Balsamic Vinegars from Carter & Cavero Old World Olive Oil Company. These savory vinegars are perfect to drizzle over lush strawberries for a tasty dessert.The vinegars are on sale through Valentine’s Day - $10.95 for a 200 ml bottle and $18.95 for a 500 ml bottle. Carter & Cavero has stores in Long Branch, Red Bank, Princeton and Summit, New Jersey or you can order online.

If you prefer to stay at home on Valentine’s Day, Delicious Orchards has the perfect solution. Order a Valentine’s Breakfast in Bed. Wake up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee or tea along with traditional Buckwheat Pancakes and pure Vermont Maple Syrup. Finish the meal with Delicious Orchards’ own Swiss Butter Cookies topped with milk chocolate and sprinkles, $37.99. To order, call 732-462-1989 or visit deliciousorchardsonline.com. Delicious Orchards is on Route 34 South, Colts Neck.

For the latest food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit me at Shore Region Restaurant Examiner and Shore Region Food Examiner.

 

Exclusiv Vodka contest kicks off Super Bowl party plans for Giants’ fans

Super Bowl Sunday is rapidly approaching and Giants’ fans are planning festive parties for giant gatherings to snack and cheer their team on to a big win. And, having a little libation during the game always takes the edge off the intensity of competition.

In celebrating this momentous event, Exclusiv Vodka is holding The Big Game Cocktail Contest in search of the most fun and festive football-inspired cocktail. Contestants (who must be 21 or over) are asked to create a cocktail using their wildest imagination – perhaps a blue Giant-tini cocktail or Giants blue Jello Shots. Here are a few recipe ideas to stir up from the National Cocktails Examiner.

The winner of the contest will receive a prize package featuring Exclusiv Vodka's Rosé Moscato wine, every flavor of vodka - raspberry, orange and the original - and hip fleece jackets! The winner can use the prize package’s contents for his/her Super Bowl party.

Participants can enter by clicking "like" on Exclusiv Vodka's Facebook page and then post their recipe (with or without photo) on the page, along with a comment about Exclusiv Vodka's taste and/or comparison to other vodkas. The deadline for entering is February 7, 2012.  Contestants must be 21 or over and must develop a cocktail using Exclusiv Vodka that celebrates their favorite football team – the Giants, of course.  The most creative and fun cocktail will be chosen the next day and the winner will be contacted through Facebook about receiving the prize pack featuring every flavor of Exclusiv Vodka's vodka, Exclusiv Vodka's Rosé Moscato wine, and the fleece jackets. All of the contest entrants must have a valid address in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, or South Carolina.

This month, The Beverage Tasting Institute rated Exclusiv Vodka from Moldova “excellent” awarding the distinct Vodka a 91-point rating in the International Review of Spirits on Tastings.com, the website of The Beverage Tasting Institute. 

For information about where to purchase Exclusiv Vodka in your area, jump here.

For the latest food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit me at Shore Region Restaurant Examiner and Shore Region Food Examiner.

 

Betty Crocker Creates Celebration Cake for America's “Golden Girl,” Betty White’s 90th Birthday

Two legendary American icons are celebrating their 90^th birthdays this year – first lady of food, Betty Crocker, and first lady of theatrical stardom, Betty White. In a tribute to Betty White’s 90^th birthday, Betty Crocker has created a show-stopping birthday cake, a vibrant Triple Chocolate Celebration Cake inspired by the legendary star, which will be presented to White at a special program aired on NBC-TV, Monday, January 16 at 8 p.m. ET. Betty Crocker will also provide each celebrity guest of the NBC special with one of several hundred individual cakes that replicate the look of the Celebration Cake’s top tier.

According to Kristen Olson, food editor with Betty Crocker, Betty White is one of the most popular actresses of our time, and Betty Crocker is honored to create this one-of-a-kind birthday cake for her. It is Betty Crocker’s gift to Betty White in celebration of her ninety amazing years and reflects her personality and the many things America love about her.

The three-tiered Triple Chocolate Celebration Cake, flown by private plane from Betty Crocker’s Minneapolis home to Los Angeles for Betty White’s birthday, is a decadent chocolate cake layered with sumptuous chocolate mousse and rich chocolate ganache. Marrying classic and modern elements, the red, orange and magenta cake is decorated with dozens of fondant roses, shimmery edible pearls and golden candles – and hidden among the roses – a small replica of Betty’s beloved dog Pontiac.

The original first lady of food, Betty Crocker has kept up with the times and continues to serve as a resource for the modern cook. Betty Crocker is celebrating 90 successful years of bringing together family and friends by releasing a brand new edition of the Betty Crocker Cookbook, “Big Red.” With more than 65 million copies sold since its first edition was published in 1950, the new version allows readers for the first time ever to have exclusive access to an online cookbook destination (bettycrocker.com/BCcookbook).

In celebrating White's 90th birthday, the NBC 90-minute special will honor one of the world's most beloved entertainers. The star-studded event will be taped live at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Some of Hollywood's biggest stars, including many of White's co-stars, will be on hand to deliver their birthday wishes. The evening will include special musical performances, surprise appearances and comedy, featuring the irreverent tone, spirit and energy that are the hallmark of White's six-decade career in show business.

Enjoy this article? For more food news, recipes and an inside look at great restaurants and events, please visit me at Shore Region Restaurant Examiner and Shore Region Food Examiner

 

 

 

Tasteful last minute gifts for the holidays and the hostess

With Christmas and Hanukkah only a week away, last minute shoppers may result to panic as to what to give that special person. One of the most loved and appreciated gifts any friend or family member is happy to receive if the gift of specialty or gourmet foods that one would normally not indulge in. Here are a few suggestions from some very special gourmet shops and artisans on the Jersey Shore. And, if you hurry, many of these items can be ordered online in time for your holiday celebration.

At Sickles Market, Little Silver, there is a wealth of gourmet and goodie food products from which to select. The award-winning Bequet Gourmet Caramels, hand-crafted by a master caramel chef are guaranteed to please everyone’s sweet tooth. Flavors include CelticSea Salt Vanilla Butter Caramel, classic Vanilla Butter Caramel and Salt-Dark Chocolate Butter Caramel - all natural with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Bequet Caramels are $8.99 and available online at shop.sicklesmarket.com.

For cheese lovers, there is Sickles' Cheese of the Month Club, described as "a party in a box." Each month gourmet cheese experts pair three complementary cheeses or charcuterie, accompaniments like jams, honey, and nuts, product descriptions, tasting notes, and suggestions for enjoying them. Available in 3, 6, and 12-month subscriptions, prices start at $125.00 for 3 Months and can be ordered online at shopsicklesmarket.com

Are you preparing to throw a party? Try Sickles Spicy Hot Cocktail Collection. Warm up with friends or make your party hot, hot, hotter than ever with Sickles' Hot Cocktails Gift Set. This essential collection spices up your favorite libations with Mazi Piri Piri authentic Portuguese-style hot sauce, McClure's Bloody Mary Mix, Sable & Rosenfeld Tipsy Cocktail Stirrers, and includes spicy snacks like MV's Best Jalapeno Peanuts and McClure's Spicy Spears Pickles. Some like it hot; this gift is for them. $55.00 (Also available online).

Celebrate Jersey Pride with a Jersey Gift Basket. It’s made to eat local or remind someone of home with a collection of gourmet goodies from the Garden State. These gourmet gift sets and baskets celebrate classics like Jersey Tomatoes and Jersey Diners, as well as introducing new favorites like Mazi Piri Piri authentic Portuguese style hot sauce, made in Asbury Park, and Jersey Girl chocolates as sweet and fabulous as a Jersey Girl, herself. $45.00, $100, or $200. All gift items areavailable online at shop.sicklesmarket.com. Sickles Market, 1 Harrison Avenue, Little Silver, 732.741,9563.

At Carter & Cavero Old World Oil Company (stores are in Summit, Princeton, Long Branch and Red Bank), gifts will transport you to the Mediterranean with exotic flavors of Spain in the specially created olive oils and vinegars, hand-crafted dinner ware in olive oil wood, terra cotta cookware and hand-painted pottery by Spanish artist, Tito. For the gourmet-loving family, there is the Holiday Gift Basket that includes Spanish Hojiblanca Extra-Virgin Olive Oil and Basil Olive Oil, Traditional and Fig Italian Balsamic Vinegars, a tin bread dipping spices, a package of Sugar "Crack" Almonds from Puglia, Italy, a box of Picos de Aceite (traditional Spanish tapas crackers), sun dried tomato spread, jars of hummus, Spanish green olive tapenade and Spanish black olive tapenade and a four-inch cazuela (traditional terra cotta dipping dish from Spain), $99.95.

For the gourmand who loves exotic seasonings, the Truffle Lover’s Basket is the ideal gift. The basket includes Truffle Egg Pasta, Carter & Cavero Truffle Salt and a bottle of Carter & Cavero Truffle Olive Oil, $55.95. And for the perfectionist hostess, the Hostess Gift Basket is sure to please her. To tingle her tastebuds, the basket includes a specially selected pair of olive oil and Italian balsamic vinegar, which can inspire her creativity for making marinades and vinaigrettes and comes in a small cazuela, the traditional terra cotta dipping dish from Spain. Order online at Carter & Cavero Old World Olive Oil Company, or call 877.281.4713.

For chocoholics, the Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe has holiday gift ideas in every chocolate flavors from chocolate covered pretzels to crispy chocolate covered bacon. The Holiday Mini Gift Tower is a tower of elegant, beribboned boxes holding a treasure trove of treats: a special one pound Holiday assortment of “Homemade Chocolate Goodness” in milk and dark chocolates, one pound Holiday pretzel assortment and a 1/2 pound Holiday non-pareils, $57.95. The Holiday Gift Basket will please any age with its two pound assortment of chocolates - Peppermint Bark, Holiday Non-Pareils, Mini White Street Pretzels and Sea Salt Caramels cover in rich Dark Chocolate, $49.95. And for the perfect after-dinner mint, treat your guests to Peppermint Bark a blend of dark chocolate, white chocolate and crisp bites of minty candy canes, $13.95. No time to shop, order online at redbankchocolateshoppe.com. Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe, 17 White Street, Red Bank, 732.219.0822.

Not everyone’s sweet tooth craves candy or chocolate. Sugarush, Red Bank, let’s you create your own gift idea from freshly baked cookies to custom cakes and customizable cupcakes to cake pops, sodas – and candy. Sugarush truly is a sweet experience where the customer becomes the creator whose imagination can run wild in making a confectionary fantasy come to life. Specials on Holiday Cake Pop-ups start on Wednesday, December 21 at Sugarush shop only, $2.50 to $5. And, the Cupcakes Cash is terrific for teachers, your favorite salon stylist or personal trainer. Sugarush, 37 East Front Street, Red Bank, 732.414.9044.

Now is the time to finally finish your holiday gift shopping without the stress and hassle of fighting madness at the malls while supporting your small local businesses at the same time.

For the latest food and restaurant news and seasonal recipes, visit me at Shore Region Food Examiner and Shore Region Restaurant Examiner.

Thanksgiving leftovers delicious in one dish

Do you still have lots of Thanksgiving leftovers crowding your refrigerator? If the answer is yes and you hate to waste what's left and throw out the rest, here's is a terrific recipe for using up all that remains in a one pot casserole that is totally delicious.

Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole Supreme

1. Butter or oil a large casserole dish. Layer in the stuffing. Put diced turkey meat on top of stuffing and cover with gravy. Place cranberry relish on top of gravy and smooth over (Optional). Top with mashed sweet potatoes smoothed to the edges. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika and dot with butter or extra virgin olive oil.

2. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until casserole becomes bubbly. Serve immediately.

Even this casserole is great for more leftovers and gone is Thanksgiving dinner for another year.

*Note: With the bones, skin and meat scraps, make a delicious turkey soup to which you can add egg noodles for a hearty Turkey Noodle Soup.

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Win a Freixenet gift package starting on Black Friday

On Black Friday, November 25, the Black Bottle Bubby from Freixenet is commencing a Freixenet Friday contest. Winning contestants will receive a beautiful gift package from Freixenet. There will be three lucky winners over a three-week period.

The Freixenet Friday gift package includes six elegant Freixenet fluted glasses as well as The Freixenet Social Survival Guide, a pocket reference guide for social situations.  This savvy little red book is filled with common sense advice including: Ten Commandments the perfect guest or host should live by; the sophisticate’s guide to tipping; ordering wine with confidence; quick fix-its on the fly - stains, fallen hems and broken heels, and from work to play - 18 hours of style for those working from “nine to wine.”

For contest rules and an opportunity to enter, visit me at Shore Region Food Examiner on Black Friday, November 25 for Freixenet Friday. The contest will run for the next three weeks with one winner being selected each week to win the Freixenet gift package.

 Enjoy this article?  For e-mail alerts with food news, recipes and an inside look at great restaurants and events and please visit me at Shore Region Restaurant Examiner and Shore Region Food Examiner.

 

 

 

Pecan pie is the perfect complement to pumpkin pie on the Thanksgiving table

There’s no question that pie is a staple in American homes during the holidays.  Pie has that inevitable quality to bring together a family after a hard-earned holiday meal to enjoy some good old family tradition. An intimate family conversation that brings all family members closer every holiday is the cornerstone for every bite of pie.

The whole story, according to Wholly Wholesome, is few Americans realize the history that goes into the pies they enjoy today. Originally called a “coffin” (meaning “basket” or “box”), the pie was the beginning of every holiday meal. For hundreds of years, tracing back to our great ancestors, every meal was baked into a crusty shell and served warm with meat filling the interior. Then, pies were considered a necessity.  Today, however, pies are considered a culinary delight. Our beloved pie is so special that it is now saved for family gatherings and a sweet treat after meals.

“Pies have been a central part of our family celebrations for generations,” explains Doon Wintz, President of Wholly Wholesome.  “My sister, Bonnie, and I have a friendly competition at holiday meals.  She makes her famous pecan pies and I make pumpkin or ice cream pies.  It’s a real treat to pass along our family’s tradition through wholesome, natural and organic baked-goods. We understand the importance of family and how food brings them together in a really special way.”

Pies have a serendipitous appeal for every taste bud, from apple and pumpkin pies to blueberry and cherry and serendipitous tastes call for serendipitous recipes, including the one here for Bonnie’s Pecan Pie. Everyone can enjoy this Wholly Wholesome recipe this holiday season, including special dieters.

Aunt Bonnie’s Pecan Pie

Ingredients:

• ½ cup sugar
• 1 cup Corn Syrup
• 4 Tablespoons Butter
• 3 eggs (beaten lightly)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 Nine Inch Wholly Wholesome Pie Shell (White, Whole Wheat or Spelt)
• 2 Cups broken pecans (broken into small pieces)
• 60 Whole Pecan halves (for top of pie)

Directions: 

1.      Combine sugar and syrup in a fry pan over a medium heat for 5 minutes
2.      Melt Butter into mixture
3.      Set aside to cool (if you’re in a rush, put the pan on a bed of ice in the sink)
4.      Preheat oven to 400 deg F.
5.      Once cooled, add eggs, salt and vanilla
6.      Fill pie shell w/broken pecans
7.      Pour Syrup mixture over pecans until it’s just below the rim
8.      Arrange Pecan Halves on top starting with the largest pecans around the outside in a circle and using progressively smaller pecan halves as you circles move towards the center.  Be sure to save some nice small ones for the center.
9.      Place on a piece of foil on top of a cookie sheet and place in the oven
10.  Reduce oven to 350 deg F. and bake for 50 minutes or until pecans are nicely toasted, but not burnt.

The company's passion to create a natural baked goods product line that could deliver great tasting treats for ingredient-conscious consumers led to the savory pies, cookies, cakes, rolls, breads and pie crusts that Wholly Wholesome offers today, including organic, vegan and kosher. Evaporated cane sugar (ECS), also known as evaporated cane juice, is an important ingredient in Wholly Wholesome products as it leaves no carbon footprint. It is often listed as Organic Cane Sugar on the ingredients panel. In Wholly Wholesome mission statement, in referencing Our Planet, it says that the company follows “a path towards a sustainable future with a clear focus on the environment, social equity and economic growth.”

Enjoy this article? For more food news, recipes and an inside look at great restaurants and events, please visit me at Shore Region Restaurant Examiner and Shore Region Food Examiner

 

 

 

Classic Thanksgiving dinner will cost more in 2011

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the retail cost of menu items for a classic Thanksgiving dinner including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the basic trimmings increased about 13 percent this year,

AFBF’s 26th annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.20, a $5.73 price increase from last year’s average of $43.47.

The AFBF survey shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10. There is also plenty for leftovers.

The big ticket item – a 16-pound turkey – came in at $21.57 this year. That was roughly $1.35 per pound, an increase of about 25 cents per pound, or a total of $3.91 per whole turkey, compared to 2010.  The whole bird was the biggest contributor to the final total, showing the largest price increase compared to last year.

“Turkey prices are higher this year primarily due to strong consumer demand both here in the U.S. and globally,” said John Anderson, an AFBF senior economist.

In addition, “the era of grocers holding the line on retail food cost increases is basically over,” Anderson explained. “Retailers are being more aggressive about passing on higher costs for shipping, processing and storing food to consumers, although turkeys may still be featured in special sales and promotions close to Thanksgiving.

When the AFBF survey was first conducted in 1986, the cost of Thanksgiving dinner averaged $28.74. While Farm Bureau does not make any scientific claims about the data, it is an informal gauge of price trends around the nation. A total of 141 volunteer shoppers from 35 states participated in this year’s survey. The AFBF survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.

“Although we’ll pay a bit more this year, on a per-person basis, our traditional Thanksgiving feast remains a better value than most fast-food value meals, plus it’s a wholesome, home-cooked meal,” Anderson said.

A gallon of whole milk increased in price by 42 cents per gallon, to $3.66. Other items that showed a price increase from last year were: a 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix, $3.03, up 41 cents; two nine-inch pie shells, $2.52, up 6 cents; a ½ pint of whipping cream, $1.96, up 26 cents; one pound of green peas, $1.68, up 24 cents; a 14-ounce package of cubed bread stuffing, $2.88, up 24 cents; a dozen brown-n-serve rolls, $2.30, up 18 cents; three pounds of sweet potatoes, $3.26, up 7 cents; and fresh cranberries, $2.48, up 7 cents.

A one-pound relish tray of carrots and celery declined by a penny to 76 cents, while a combined group of miscellaneous items, including coffee and ingredients necessary to prepare the meal (onions, eggs, sugar, flour, evaporated milk and butter) decreased in price, to $3.10.

Anderson noted that despite retail price increases during the last year or so, American consumers have enjoyed relatively stable food costs over the years, particularly when adjusted for inflation.

The 13 percent increase in the national average cost reported this year by Farm Bureau for a classic Thanksgiving dinner is somewhat higher but still tracks closely with the organization’s 2011 quarterly market basket food surveys and the federal government’s Consumer Price Index for food.

AFBF volunteer shoppers were asked to look for the best possible prices, without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals, such as spending $50 and receiving a free turkey. Shoppers with an eye for bargains in all areas of the country should be able to purchase individual menu items at prices comparable to the AFBF survey averages. Another option for busy families without a lot of time to cook is ready-to-eat Thanksgiving meals for up to 10 people, with all the trimmings, which are available at many supermarkets and take-out restaurants for around $50 to $75.

Enjoy this article? For up-to-date food news, recipes and an inside look at great restaurants and events and please visit me at Shore Region Restaurant Examiner and Shore Region Food Examiner.

 

 

Save your pumpkins seeds for nutritious & delicious little treats

Clinging to the pumpkin's flesh are hidden little treasures ~ pepitas, commonly known as pumpkin seeds. These seeds have a chewy texture and a subtly sweet, nutty flavor.  When roasted, they are a delicious, nutritious treat. Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of phosphorous, magnesium and manganese, as well as zinc, iron and copper.  They are also a good source of protein and vitamin K.

Historically, pumpkins and their seeds were a celebrated food of the Native American Indians who treasured them both for their dietary and medicinal properties.  They also are a special hallmark of traditional Mexican cuisine.   

Preparing pumpkin seeds for roasting is quite easy.  Remove them from the pumpkin's cavity; then remove any excess pulp with a paper towel.  Spread out on paper towels and let them dry out thoroughly.

Place them in a single layer on a lightly oiled cookie sheet and roast at 200 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.  For added flavor, you can lightly salt them or season them with a favorite blend of herbs and salts. You can store roasted seeds in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two months.

For a sweet snack, try this easy recipe:

Put one tablespoon each of vegetable oil and brownulated sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat.

Heat and stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar turns a light golden brown color stirring constantly to avoid burning.

Pour the caramelized sugar mixture over the roasted pumpkin seeds, and stir to coat.

Toss seeds in cinnamon to coat

Quick serving tips for using roasted pumpkin seeds: 
Add to salads or sautéed vegetables
Add chopped pumpkin seeds to your favorite hot or cold cereal or granola mix.
Grind pumpkin seeds with fresh garlic, parsley and cilantro. Mix with olive oil and lemon juice for a tangy salad dressing.
Treat your family to a hearty fall harvest breakfast with pumpkin pancakes topped with cinnamon-coated pumpkin seeds.

If you haven’t carved out those plump pumpkins as part of your front entrance Halloween display, think twice before throwing out the pumpkin seeds.  It is a splendid treat to salvage these savory little seeds and a healthy bonus to your dietary needs.

For food news, recipes and an inside look at great restaurants and events please visit me at Shore Region Food Examiner and Shore Region Restaurant Examiner.