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"A passion for cooking is what I have...Sharing that passion is what I love to do." -Sarah Vasques, The Home Chef

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Y2: Did You Know…….

Published by: Sarah

  • Apr
  • 15

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… Dried tart cherries contain 19 times more vitamin A than blueberries or strawberries?

… Sipping coconut water direct from the bottle when exercising  is the fastest way to boost your electrolytes?

… Quinoa is considered the “hottie” of super foods because it’s packed with protein, fiber & manganese?

… Sunflower seeds are packed with vitamin E?

… A 2 oz. serving of canned Albacore tuna has 140% of the AHA’s recommended daily value of omega-3 fatty acids?

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W2: Did You Know…….

Published by: Sarah

  • Apr
  • 1
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… Dried tart cherries are full of flavonoids, which can help to reduce muscle pain?

… The term “all day” in restaurant kitchens means all together?

… German Chocolate Cake was named after Sam German?

… Collard greens have three times the amount of  calcium & twice the amount of fiber than kale?

… Half an ounce daily of apple cider vinegar can help reduce weight & triglycerides?

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B2: Did You Know…….

Published by: Sarah

  • Apr
  • 15

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What the Top 10 Genetically Modified Foods Are??

… Corn & Papaya.

… Soy & Dairy products.

… Potatoes & Peas.

… Tomatoes & Rice.

… Cottonseed & Rapseed (Canola).

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A2: Did You Know…….

Published by: Sarah

  • Apr
  • 1

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… Hot chocolate can help to boost your memory?

… Spraying white vinegar on carpeting in a doorway will keep your cat from entering that room?

… Children are 73% more likely to eat an apple if it’s sliced?

… Eating peanuts (or any form of it such as peanut butter) for breakfast helps control blood sugar for the entire day?

… You can reduce the risk of lung cancer by 44% just by eating raw garlic twice a week?

 

 

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D1: Did you Know…….

Published by: Sarah

  • Apr
  • 15

… The difference between yogurt & cheese is yogurt has whey? Cheese doesn’t.

… Doritos are made with both Romano & Cheddar cheeses?

… In the 16th century, “chops” meant lips or mouth?

… Chocolate chip cookies were invented by mistake?

… Yogurt may be the oldest processed milk product, predating cheese

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Chicken with Mushrooms

Published by: Sarah

  • Apr
  • 11
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 pound farfalle pasta
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large or 2 small shallots, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • One 12-ounce bunch Swiss chard, center stems removed and leaves chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup mascarpone cheese, at room temperature (8 ounces)
  • 2 store-bought rotisserie chicken breasts, diced into 1/2-inch pieces to yield 2 cups of meat
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    Boil the broth and mushrooms over medium-high heat in a small saucepan.
    Turn off the heat and allow the mushrooms to soften in the liquid, about 20 minutes.
    Remove the mushrooms and coarsely chop.
    Reserve the liquid.
    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
    Cook the pasta until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes.
    Drain and reserve about 1 cup pasta water.
    Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick saute pan.
    Add the shallots mushrooms, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
    Cook until the shallots are soft, about 3 minutes.
    Add the chard in batches and cook until wilted, about 7 minutes.
    Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
    Remove the pan from the heat and add the mascarpone cheese.
    Stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
    Add the mushroom mixture, chicken and the reserved mushroom-cooking liquid to the pasta.
    Add reserved pasta water if necessary.
    Toss until all the ingredients are coated and serve.

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    C1: Did You Know…….

    Published by: Sarah

    • Apr
    • 1

    … Yogurt is as important to Balkans just as Rice is to Asians?

    … When exposed to bright light, milk loses 80% of its riboflavin?

    … All babies produce lactase (the enzyme needed to digest milk products); but when solid food is introduced 100% of Asians stop producing it?

    … Doritos means “little cuts of gold?”

    … To bust someones chops means to harass them?

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    CC: Did You Know…….

    Published by: Sarah

    • Apr
    • 30

    … The Farm Rich Manufacturing Plant makes enough mozzarella sticks in 1 year to circle the Earth?

    … Ice cream was served in Windsor Castle as early as 1667?

    … “Bagna Cauda” (pronounced bon-yuh cow-duh) is Italian for “Hot Bath” of garlic, anchovy & oil?

    … Saltimbocca means “to jump in the mouth?”

    … In 1982, the worlds largest ice cream sundae was made requiring 15,000 lbs. of ice crea, 120 lbs. of chocolate syrup & 50 lbs. of whipped cream?

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    Perfect Ribeye Roast Beef

    Published by: Sarah

    • Apr
    • 18

    Recently my local Market Basket store had a massive sale to commemorate the opening of other new stores. Among several other items, bone-in Rib eye steaks & roasts were on sale @ $4.99 a lb. Needless to say I stocked up. I made this roast beef & it came out a perfect medium rare. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did !!

    Begin 1 day ahead.

    5 cloves Garlic
    3 sprigs Fresh Rosemary
    7 sprigs Fresh Thyme, divided
    1/2 c. Olive Oil
    1 T Worcestershire
    Salt & Pepper to taste
    One 4# bone-in Rib Eye Roast
    3 Sweet Onions, peeled & quartered
    5 Carrots, rough cut
    3 fresh Bay Leaves
    1 c. Red Wine
    1 (15 oz.) can Beef Stock

    In a mini food processor, zap the garlic, rosemary, 3 sprigs thyme, oil, Worcestershire, salt & pepper.
    Place the roast on plastic wrap & slather the garlic mixture all over the meat.
    Wrap tightly in the plastic wrap & refrigerate over night.
    Remove the roast from the refrigerator 45 minutes before cooking.
    Preheat oven to 425°.
    Line the bottom of a roasting pan with heavy foil.
    Make a bed with the onion & carrots.
    Place the remaining thyme sprigs & bay leaf on the veggies.
    Remove the plastic wrap from the meat & place on the veggie bed.
    Pour the liquids around the meat.
    Bake 20 minutes.
    Reduce the heat to 375°.
    Bake 1 hour & 20 minutes.
    Remove from the oven, place on a carving board & tent with foil.
    Let rest 20 minutes before carving. 
    Make a sauce by reducing the pan juices.
    You may thicken the sauce with a cornstarch “slurry” & finish with 2 T butter for smoothness.

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    BB: Did You Know…….

    Published by: Sarah

    • Apr
    • 15

    … “Sofrito” means flavorings in Italian? Carrot & onion.

    … “Mira Poi” means flavorings in French? Carrot, celery & onion.

    … “Bouquet Garni” is a bundle of flavorings (French)? Uusually thyme, parsley & rosemary tied together.

    … “Trinity” means flavortings in American (Louisianna/Creole)? Green bell pepper, carrot & onion.

    … ARE WE SEEING A PATTERN HERE?

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