Preserving Berries - Freezing Berries

Ft Lauderdale Personal Chef Event Catering

Freezing is the easiest way to preserve all types of fresh berries. But it's no fun to go into the freezer to get a few berries for your pancakes only to find that you've got a huge clump of way more than you need. Here's how to freeze fresh berries so that they remain loose and you can take out just as many as you need:

1. Spread the berries in a single layer on a baking sheet or plate.
2. Freeze, uncovered.
3. Transfer to freezer bags or containers

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Pitted vs Unpitted Olives — Which Are Better?

Q. Are there any differences in flavor or texture among pitted and unpitted brine-cured olives? A. To evaluate any differences between pitted and unpitted olives, we gathered both green and black brine-cured olives from deli sections at supermarkets, as well as olives packed in plastic and glass containers. After tasting many samples, it became clear that the pitted olives suffered on two counts: they tasted saltier and their flesh was mushier. They also lacked the complex, fruity flavors of the unpitted kind. Here's why: Before being packed for sale, fresh-picked olives are soaked in brine for periods of up to a year to remove bitterness and develop flavor. Once pitted, the olives are returned to the brine for packing, which can penetrate the inside of the olive and turn it mushy and pasty, as well as increase the absorption of salt. That saltier taste can mask subtler flavors. If you have the time, it makes sense to buy unpitted olives and pit them yourself...

Pastes that put the Pizzaz in your Plate

It is grilling season again. One of the biggest problems is over-cooked under seasoned meat, fish and vegetables. That and everything soaked in ooyie gooyie red stuff be it “BBQ” sauce or ketchup. We find that quick pastes or “wet rubs” both flavour and help your foods brown nicely. So whether your in the mood for a something with a bit of fruit, Indian, Moroccan, Asian inspired and more we've found some quick and easy recipes to help you YaDa Too! Floribbean Pineapple white fish, chicken, and pork 1 tablespoon/15ml coconut oil 4 teaspoons/20ml cumin 1/2 cup/125ml pineapple juice concentrate (sub grated, drained fresh or canned pineapple) Apple Curry sword fish, tuna, chicken, pork, lamb 1 tablespoon/15ml canola oil 1 tablespoons/30ml curry paste (you can used 2 times the powder if you do not have the paste) 1/2 cup apple juice concentrate Jerk Style fish, chicken, pork, lamb, mutton, beef 1 tablespoon...

Chinese Chicken Teriyaki & Bok Choy Egg Rolls

T he original recipe came from Nakano. We have changed it up a bit to accommodate our clients tastes. Makes 18 egg rolls Serving Size: 2 egg rolls ⅓ cup/79ml soy sauce ¼ cup/60ml Seasoned Rice Vinegar 1 teaspoon roasted sesame oil 2 tablespoon honey 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, finely minced 3 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 pound/450g of chicken breast, small diced 1 tablespoon canola oil ½ cup celery/115g, sliced thin 1 ½ cups/150g Napa cabbage, thinly sliced ¼ cup/12.5g carrots, thinly sliced 2 scallions, sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt and pepper 18 egg roll wrappers 1 cup/250ml canola oil, to sauté Combine soy sauce, Seasoned Rice Vinegar, sesame oil, honey, garlic, ginger and cornstarch. Heat oil in pan and cook chicken, then add teriyaki sauce and cook until thickened, approximately 3 minutes. Set aside. Wipe pan clean and add oil, celery, Napa cabbage, carrots, scallions, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook until all water is...

Cauliflower Soup Recipe

Need a little something different and elegant - a little rustic? This soup is the answer. It is thickened with potatoes, not flour, and is hearty enough to serve as a luncheon main course or starter for your next dinner party. Why? The milky, sweet, nutty flavor of cauliflower is a nice change from stronger-flavored vegetables. Even though it lacks chlorophyll, cauliflower has plenty of other nutrients including vitamin C (91.5% of the DV), folate and dietary fiber. Cauliflower is even a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Look for tightly packed heads with no brown spots Ingredients: 1 large head white cauliflower with leaves 2 medium potatoes (about one pound/450g) 1 handful dandelion leaves (or fresh celery leaves) 1 small onion, chopped 2 cups/500mls vegetable stock (water or chicken stock is fine) 1 tablespoon/30ml Italian seasoning 2 cups/500mls cauliflower water salt and white pepper, to taste (black pepper is fine) 1/2 cup125ml...

Gluten Free Minorcan Clam Chowder Recipe

This Floridian favorite — allegedly introduced by the Spanish who came over from the island of Minorca — is tomato-based and usuall y the hottest of all chowders. It contains several types of peppers, including habanero and, critically, datil chiles (hard to find anywhere except St. Augustine Florida). The Spanish were the first well-documented Europeans to settle the North American shores, there is no reason not to think that this was the first European clam chowder in the Americas. 1/8 pound/57g salt pork or smoked bacon chopped fine 2 large onions chopped 1 bell pepper chopped 2 cups/480g fresh clams, chopped fine, juice reserved 1-2 datil peppers, minced 3 cups/540g canned plum tomatoes drained, seeded, and chopped 1/2 cup/125ml tomato puree 1/2 tablespoon thyme, crumbled 1/2 tablespoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1-2 bay leaves crushed 2- 8 ounce bottles clam juice 3 cups/710ml fish stock 2 cups/306g new potatoes, diced Saute pork in ...

Caramel Custard Recipe

Caramel custard, or crème caramel, is a caramel-coated baked egg custard. It takes a little bit of practice to perfect, but the result is a creamy, flavorful dessert that’s well worth the dress rehearsals. Ingredients 1/2 cup/96g sugar 3 large eggs, slightly beaten 1/3 cup/69g sugar 1 teaspoon/5ml vanilla 1/8 teaspoon/.5ml salt 2 1/2 cups/625ml very warm milk Ground nutmeg Directions 1. Heat oven to 350F/176C/Gas 4 2. Heat 1/2 cup sugar in heavy 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted and golden brown. Divide sugar syrup among six 6-ounce custard cups; tilt cups to coat bottoms. Allow syrup to harden in cups about 10 minutes. 3. Mix eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, the vanilla and salt in medium bowl. Gradually stir in milk. Pour over syrup in cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg. 4. Place cups in rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches, on oven rack. Pour very hot water into pan to within 1/2 inch of tops of cups. 5. Bake about 45 minutes or until kn...

Quinoa Salad Recipe - Gluten Free

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) has been grown for thousands of years in the Andes mountains in South America. It is often thought of as a grain, but it is actually the seed of a leafy green plant called Chenopodium (also known as goosefoot), which is related to Swiss chard and spinach. The first time I encountered quinoa I was living with my cousin in Manhattan on the lower east side. She was not the most handy person in the kitchen. When I walked in she yelled from her bedroom that the air-popper may be broken as she tried to “pop” the little seeds like you would pop corn and they got sucked into the air vents . Serves 4 2 ½ cups/625ml water or vegetable broth 2 cups/450ml quinoa 2 cups/450ml broccoli ¼ cup/59ml red bell pepper ¼ cup/59ml yellow bell pepper ¼ cup/60ml canola oil 2 tablespoons/30ml fresh lime juice ½ teaspoon/2ml salt ¼ teaspoon/1ml black pepper Bring water or broth to a boil (if using water add salt). Add quino...

Here's What That Drawer Underneath Your Oven Is Actually For

If you're like us, you probably use that big drawer underneath your stove to hoard cookie sheets, muffin tins, and bulky skillets. But regardless of what you put in it, we bet you aren't using that space for its intended purpose: a warming drawer. Yep, that's right. It sounds crazy that appliance manufacturers expect us to let such a large potential storage space sit empty, but on some oven models, it's designed to be a spot to keep your food warm. If you're skeptical, just dig up your oven's owner's manual. You may find a description like this: "The warming drawer is designed to keep hot foods at serving temperature. Always start with hot food. Cold or room-temperature foods cannot be heated, warmed, or cooked in the warming drawer." This news may or may not come as a surprise to you, but if you think you'd miss the extra storage space, we have a solution. Continue storing your extra pots and pans in the drawer—and then just empt...

Healthy (and Organic) Snack Ideas For Kids

It is tough to find good snacks for kids in this day and age of highly processed, fast foods. Here are some healthy ideas for snacks...all organic of course. These ideas are great for adults too! Need a little extra boost at the office between meetings and meals? Here are a few solutions. Apple Slices and Peanut Butter (try adding a bit of organic maple syrup to the peanut butter and microwaving for an extra special treat) Fruit Slices and Soy Cream Cheese (a tub of vegan soy cream cheese (at room temperature) with 1/4 cup undiluted apple juice or orange juice concentrate and a dash of cinnamon. Stir vigorously until smooth. Serve with apple and pear slices, strawberries, and banana chunks for dipping. Whole Wheat Zucchini Muffins Tortilla Chips sprinkled with Cheese (or cheese alternative) Fruit Skewers (simply cut any fresh fruit in season into bite-sized chunks and alternate on wooden or bamboo skewers with grapes) Dried fruits (s...

Lettuce Pesto Recipe

Recently we found ourselves with a glut of field greens. Lovely, green and deep purple, and eggplant with no one to eat them. We believe in using and eating food, not throwing it away. So what could be done to preserve the goodness at hand? Soup came to mind, but you can eat only so much soup and it has a tendency to get “grainy” when frozen. Juicing was another option, but our illustrious leader (Chef Ya) decided to go a different route. The sauce pesto originated in the northern region of Italy, Liguria, Genoa. According to Wikipedia The name is the contracted past participle of the Genoese word pestâ (Italian: pestare), which means to pound, to crush, in reference to the original method of preparation, with marble mortar and wooden pestle . The ingredients in a traditionally made pesto are ground with a circular motion of the pestle in the mortar. This same Latin root through Old French also gave rise to the English word ...

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