Skip to main content

Posts

Two Takes on Christmas Ham

Last year I tried to get everyone to throw out the all-too-common turkey and go more traditional with a Christmas Goose.  Don’t get me wrong: I LOVE turkey, in every way, shape and form.  My problem with turkey is no one seems to want to cook anything but turkey for every holiday gathering.  Here I go again; this year it is with ham. The tradition of eating ham for Christmas came from a pagan tradition from the pre-Christian Germanic and Norse tradition of killing a boar and serving it to honor Freya or Frigg(Frija), one of the Norse Gods. St. Stephen, whose feast day is December 26th, is often depicted as serving a boar’s head as an offering.  The two were combined and there you have it...a new tradition is born. We’ve all seen the big hams with the criss-cross slices dotted with cloves and draped in pineapple rings and cherries.  Below are two takes on the Baked Ham; let’s hope they will become new “standards” for you, whether it is a holiday or not.   The type of ham refe

Butterscotch Vegan Pudding Recipe

Butterscotch Pudding (Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Vegan) Butterscotch pudding is traditionally prepared with brown sugar, vanilla, milk (or cream), eggs and butter, but this dairy-free (and vegan!) version cuts down on the calories and fat significantly while still keeping a rich texture and butterscotch flavor. This pudding makes a nice and easy weeknight dessert, lunchbox sweet or after school treat.  (For lunchbox desserts, after the pudding has cooled and chilled completely, Portion the pudding into individual sealable  cups for easy, grab and go homemade sweets. For a richer pudding with a nutty flavor, use coconut milk in place of the almond milk in this recipe. 3 tablespoons/45g cornstarch ¾ cups/165g dark brown sugar, packed 1/8 teaspoon/.5ml salt 2 ¼ cups/560ml unsweetened plain almond milk, divided 1 tablespoon/15g vegan soy free margarine, softened 1 teaspoon.5ml vanilla Gather all of your ingredients. (Puddings cook quickly, so it's best to have everything you need

SEPTEMBER 18 Today in Food History

• National Cheeseburger Day   ( 100 Hamburger Variations   --   Hamburger Trivia ) • St. Winnoc, patron of millers. • National Farm Safety & Health Week (Sept 17-23, 2017) [ Nat'l Education Ctr for Agricultural Safety ] • Canada:  National Organic Week  (Sept 16-24, 2017) The largest annual celebration of organic food, farming and products across Canada. • UK:  National Cupcake Week  (Sept 18-24, 2017)   ( Cupcake Trivia   --   Cupcake Recipes ) On this day in: 1709  Samuel Johnson, dictionary author, was born. I have read somewhere that he served his cat fresh shucked oysters. 1838  The Anti-Corn Law League was founded in Great Britain by Richard Cobden. The Corn Laws levied tariffs on imported food, which raised food prices. 1851  The first edition of the  ‘New York Times’  was published ('The New York Daily Times') 1883  Elmer Maytag was born. Founder of the Maytag Co., washing machine manufacturer. One of his descendants was Fred Maytag II, whose Maytag

Benefits of Papaya

If you are so included, enjoy the papaya. In Chinese Medicine the papaya is used medicinally to: 1 - Moisten the lungs and alleviate cough 2 - Tonify the stomach (a great digestive aid) 3 - Treats dysentery, & indigestion 4 - Clears excess mucus 5 - Soothes arthritic pain (anti-inflammatory) 6 - Helps digest protein (due to papain enzyme) strongest in under ripe papaya and its seeds 7 - Anti-tumor (due to content of carpaine) Palm Beach Personal Chef Fort Lauderdale Personal Chef Miami Personal Chef Freelance Chef www.yadachef.com

September 14 is National Cream Filled Donut Day

September 14 is National Cream Filled Donut Day! Whether you enjoy chocolate, vanilla, lemon or ganache filling in your donut, today is the perfect day to enjoy these sweet treats! Donuts came to the United States in the mid-1800s through Dutch settlers that were known for their pastries. The first donut with a hole in the middle is said to be a creation of American Hansen Gregory. Thankfully, someone after Hansen made the brilliant decision to fill that hole with delicious cream filling! These were so well-liked that the Boston Creme Donut, perhaps one of the most popular cream filled donuts, became the official donut of Massachusetts in 2003. Celebrate National Cream Filled Donut Day with a stop at your local bakery for a box of fresh cream filled donuts! Or better yet, make them yourself. punchbowl private chefs and event catering Palm Beach + Boca Raton + Fort Lauderdale + Miami Beach info@yadachef.com | 954-367-YADA (9232) 561-285-7466 www.yadachef.com south florida cate

Sardines Procida Recipe

Sardines are named after Sardinia, the Italian island where large schools of these fish were once found. While sardines are delightful enjoyed fresh, they are most commonly found canned, since they are so perishable. With growing concern over the health of the seas, people are turning to sardines since they are at the bottom of the aquatic food chain, feeding solely on plankton, and therefore do not concentrate heavy metals, such as mercury, and contaminants as do some other fish. While there are six different types of species of sardines belong to the Clupeidaefamily, more than 20 varieties of fish are sold as sardines throughout the world. What these fish share in common is that they are small, saltwater, oily-rich, silvery fish that are soft-boned. In the United States, sardines actually refers to a small herring, and adult sardines are known as pilchards, a name that is commonly used in other parts of the world. Sardines are abundant in the seas of the Atlantic, Pacific and

Let's Get Cooking (cooking therapy)

A new branch of  YaDa Chef . We are working with a national company providing services for broken families, and will expand further to help those with PTSD, and other trauma  and or physical and mental challenges. Using cooking and baking as therapy tools. Sharing the cooking and eating process with others can be extra helpful. Having an excuse to be in the kitchen or around a table with others can boost social skills and confidence. Many cooks know what a sanctuary the kitchen can be so YaDa Chef has created courses partly aimed at teaching healthy cooking and eating skills for those living tough, chaotic lives. Classes also soothe stress, build self-esteem and curb negative thinking by focusing the mind on following a recipe. Psychologists say cooking and baking are pursuits that fit a type of therapy known as behavioral activation. The goal is to alleviate depression by boosting positive activity, increasing goal-oriented behavior and curbing procrastination and passivity

National Milk Shake Day Recipe

Today is national chocolate milkshake day.  Why not add some spirits! Bourbon, chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream?  Don’t mind if we do. 2 ounces/60ml bourbon 2 ounces/60ml chocolate syrup 1/2 cup/125ml whole fat milk 1 cup/138g vanilla ice cream Tools: blender Glass: milkshake or 16 oz. pint Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. If too thick add more milk Palm Beach Personal Chef Fort Lauderdale Personal Chef Miami Personal Chef Freelance Chef www.yadachef.com

National Hot Dog Day - September 10

The  National Hot Dog and Sausage Council  has designated July as Hot Dog Month and for 2017 Wednesday, July 19 as National Hot Dog Day .  Over 25 million hot dogs are sold at baseball stadiums each year. Whether they are grilled, boiled, broiled, pan-fried, rotisserie cooked, cooked on a stick over a campfire or any other way, hot dogs are a favorite summertime staple.  They are loved by children and adults alike plain or garnished with one or a combination of mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish, cheese, bacon, chili, or sauerkraut. On May 31, 2012,   a world record was set for the most expensive hot dog. The “California Capitol City Dawg” sold for $145.49 at Capitol Dawg in Sacramento, California.  The “California Capitol City Dawg” features: A grilled 18″ all-beef, in natural casing frank from Chicago served on a fresh-baked herb and oil focaccia roll spread with white truffle butter, then grilled topped with whole grain mustard from France, garlic and herb

Fresh Herbs and Tomato Crostini Recipe

1/4 cup/60ml olive oil 2 garlic cloves, pressed 1  French bread baguette, cut into 1/4 inch/6.35mm thick slices 3 tablespoons/45ml fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons/30ml olive oil 1/4 teaspoon/1ml salt 1/8 teaspoon/.5ml pepper 1 large tomato, finely chopped 3/4 cup/37g finely chopped green onions Large handful chopped fresh parsley 15 chopped fresh mint leaves 1/3 cup/60g crumbled feta cheese Preparation Preheat oven to 350F/176C/Gas 4 Stir together olive oil and garlic; brush on 1 side of each bread slice. Place bread slices, garlic sides up, on a baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly toasted. Whisk together lemon juice and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Add tomato, onion, parsley and mint; gently toss to coat. Top each bread slice with tomato mixture (about 2 rounded teaspoonfuls/30ml each). Sprinkle with cheese. ** Alternate Recipe ** Green Tomato-Fresh Herb Crostini: Substitute 1 finely chopped large green tomato for red tomato. Proceed with recipe as dire