Month: April 2015

Keeping in Touch Over Long Distances

Mailing gifts to long-distance friends and relatives is a great way to let them know you are thinking of them. Unfortunately, with the rising cost of postage, packing a bunch of stuff into a box and mailing it at the Post Office can be time 

Is Margarita Carrillo Arronte the Julia Child of Mexican Food?

A new cookbook from cook and author Margarita Carrillo Arronte is making big waves. Mexico:The Cookbook, as Voguereports, is set to transform American misconceptions about Mexican cuisine in the same way Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking did for French cuisine when it was published in 1961. 

5 Delicious, Diet-Friendly Uses for Roasted Garlic Salsa

Fresh salsa

Of all the different types of salsa available, roasted garlic salsa is a perennial favorite.

What’s the difference between garlic and roasted garlic? The latter has a subtler, sweeter flavor than raw garlic, making it a worthy addition to all kinds of recipes. The best thing about it is how easy it is to make, too; essentially, all you have to do is wrap up a head of garlic with some olive oil and pop it in the oven for a while, then squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins. Then you’ll have plenty for a batch of homemade roasted garlic salsa. And if even that seems like too much work, you can always pick up a jar at your local grocery store — salsa nutritional facts are pretty encouraging, with even store-bought versions of cooked or fresh salsas coming in somewhere around 20 measly calories per serving.

But how can you use that yummy salsa, besides scooping it up with crunchy fried tortilla chips? Here are five delicious and diet-friendly ideas:

  1. In Chicken, Tuna or Potato Salad

    In any type of “salad” that involves mixing something with mayonnaise, salsa can be used both as a way to add flavor and cut down on calories. Instead of making your next chicken, tuna or potato salad with mayonnaise, try it with half sour cream and half roasted garlic salsa.

  2. On White and Light Fish Filets

    Summer is the perfect time of year for filets of white or light fish like cod and haddock, but these types of fish are sometimes a little lacking in flavor. Try topping them with a creamy salsa with an intense garlic flavor for both some much-needed moisture and a little pizazz.

  3. In Garlic Salsa Compound Butter

    If you like to top off your grilled or pan-fried meats with a pat of butter, then a salsa compound butter will add all the flavor you need. Just combine salsa and softened butter, roll into a log (look up a video on how to use a combination of wax paper and plastic wrap to minimize the mess), and store in the freezer. You can carve off thin slices whenever you need a little extra spice without going overboard.

  4. On an Easy Raw Vegetable Pizza

    Greasy delivery pizza isn’t very appetizing when the weather’s hot — and it’s not going to get you ready for swimsuit season, either. Instead, try a raw version on a pre-baked whole-wheat pizza crust, switching out tomato sauce for salsa and fatty toppings like pepperoni for crunchy summer vegetables.

  5. In a Lean Turkey Meatloaf

    Turkey is a leaner alternative to pork or beef for meatloaf and meatballs, but it can get a little dry and tasteless. Combat that by mixing a relatively spicy garlic salsa into your meat before baking; it’ll add just enough of a kick without being overwhelming.

What is salsa — particularly roasted garlic salsa — great with? Share your ideas in the comments.

Three Cool Things You Didn’t Know About Hummus Nutritional Content

You may have looked at the title for this article and wondered, “What is hummus?” While most people are familiar with this type of food, others may have yet to experience the many hummus nutritional benefits that the dish can offer. Hummus is made from 

Top Three Trendy Wedding Venues for 2015

When it comes to planning a wedding, the second most important choice you’re going to have to make (after finding the perfect dress, of course) is the venue. Most couples carve out a pretty big chunk of their budgets for it and play a huge 

What You Should Expect from Good Sushi Restaurants

Seafood restaurant

In the United States, there are an estimated 3,846 sushi bars and restaurants — and there’s a good chance you have at least one or two of them near you! Sushi comes from Japan, but many Southeast Asian countries also have similar dishes. This type of cuisine is known the world over for its fresh ingredients, usually but not always includes seafood.

Finding good sushi restaurants is another matter entirely, as there are several factors that go into determining the quality of the food. Thankfully, there are ways that you can find out which establishments are the best sushi restaurants in your area. Here are three features of good sushi restaurants that you should keep an eye out for:

    1. Authentic Cuisine: First, what is sushi? Sushi actually doesn’t refer to fish or other ingredients — it’s the vinegar rice that gets used in the sushi rolls. Today there are all sorts of ingredients that can go into sushi — from different types of seafood to vegetables and tofu only. However, there are a few consistencies among sushi restaurants. For one, sushi wrappings can be very different. In the U.S., nori (or seaweed) is a popular wrap, but soy paper, cucumber, and egg can also be used. Additionally, many dishes come with wasabi, which is a type of spicy horseradish paste. Authentic wasabi will come from the root of the wasabia japonica plant and will usually be a lot fresher than the stuff you find in condiment packets.

    2. Experienced Chefs: It’s not easy to make sushi, and when you go to any of the fine sushi restaurants near you, you’ll notice that it takes some time for the dish to be prepared. However, the chefs that work in sushi restaurants know what they’re doing. A typical sushi chef has served as an apprentice before being in charge of a kitchen, and this type of training can last between five and 10 years. That’s in addition to the time spent as a head chef.

    3. Great Service: Whether you’re sushi bar includes live entertainment or simply an attentive waitstaff, good sushi restaurants will be worth the price for the food. Some sushi restaurants will have you pay by the dish; others may offer specials for group dining or all you can eat. Ultimately, you are the judge of which restaurants near you offer the best sushi and service.

Have more questions about finding great local sushi restaurants? Leave a comment below.