YaDa Chef Private and Personal Chefs

My favorite thing about fall in Vermont is rambling through a nearby orchard, picking crisp, juicy apples and crunching into one, fresh off the tree. Yet apples are so commonplace that they’re almost overlooked—pushed aside by flashier superfruits, such as pomegranates and goji berries. But as a registered dietitian, I know that apples have surprising nutritional benefits that justify the “apple a day” adage.  1. Benefit: Nutrition, straight up Packing in quite a bit of soluble fiber (4 grams per medium apple) for a modest amount of calories (95) makes apples a filling, sweet snack. Plus, a medium apple counts as 1 cup of fruit, so after eating one you’re well on your way to meeting your daily fruit quota (around 2 cups for adults on a 2,000-calorie diet). They also are a good source of immune-boosting vitamin C (providing 14% of the Daily Value). 2. Weight Loss Apples satisfy hunger for few calories so it’s not surprising that they can be part of a healthy diet that pro

Hiring a personal chef will not only reinvent your dinners, but also change how you think about food. Cooking can be a complicated, lengthy practice, which is why many people turn to a quick sandwich or can of tomato soup for dinner. Put aside that sandwich and soup and hire a personal chef. 1. A Chef Know What Foods To Purchase  How many times have you taken a trip to the grocery store and wastefully spent money? You purchase something you think you'll eat, but it just sits in your pantry until the expiration date passes by. A personal chef will prevent this from happening. He or she will know exactly what to buy and how much of it is needed to cook a meal. 2. Convenience Place yourself into this situation: you've been at work since 9 a.m. and the minute hand just struck 5 p.m. You rush home to pick your daughter up from school so you can drop her off at her softball game. By the time the game ends, it's already 7 p.m. You have no time to cook dinner, so

It takes a little work and planning to be successful eating gluten-free. It's one of the most buzzed-about diets today—but how do you get started eating a gluten-free diet? While less than one percent of Americans have celiac disease and follow a gluten-free diet as a medical necessity, more of us are ditching the bread for other reasons. One in five Americans say they try to eat gluten-free foods, while one in six avoid gluten altogether, according to a 2015 Gallup poll. There are lots of rumors swirling around the gluten-free diet. "Some people believe it's a healthier way to live or an opportunity for weight loss, however there's no research to confirm that removing gluten from your diet leads to either of those things," says Rachel Begun, M.S., R.D.N., culinary nutritionist and gluten-free diet expert. In fact, eating too many gluten-free packaged foods can cause weight gain, but more on that in a minute. Maybe eliminating gluten-containing foods ju

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Amish friendship bread, as well as an interchangeable starter referred to as Herman (the name varies), became a popular exchange among friends who shared the starter as well as recipes. Herman Starter Preparation time: 10 minutes Standing time: 5 days Yield: 4 cups 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup warm water 2 packages (2 1/4 teaspoons each) active dry yeast 2 cups each: milk, flour 1. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the warm water. Sprinkle yeast over mixture; set aside until doubled in volume, about 10 minutes. 2. Combine milk, flour, remaining sugar and yeast mixture in a plastic or glass container. (Do not use metal.) Stir with a wooden spoon; cover loosely. Set aside at room temperature, at least 8 hours. 3. Stir mixture once a day for three days. On the fourth day, measure out 1 cup of Herman for baking; measure 1 additional cup to give to a friend as a gift. To replenish starter: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk and 1

A question often asked by our cooking class students is: “Which knife is the best”.  Our answer is “No one knife is the “best” one for everyone”. The reason is the knife has to feel comfortable in your hand. Go to a specialty cooking store and ask to hold the chef’s knives.   The one that feels best in your friend’s hand may not feel the most comfortable in yours. The reason is hand size, strength and dexterity. The most important thing is the knife must be well balanced and have some weight to it. The knife is supposed to do the work, not you. When it comes to ceramic vs. stainless steel that can be tough. I don’t think I have ever seen a ceramic knife in a professional kitchen, but that does not take away the positive attributes about ceramic knives. Ceramic knives are very sharp. Ceramic knives are produced from very hard ceramic, known as zirconium dioxide. This material is very hard that’s why they stay sharp for longer and don’t require frequent sharpening. The

  The grapefruit is a large orange-like fruit that belongs to the citrus family. It is a somewhat “new” addition to the family, deriving from a natural cross-breeding between orange and pomelo, thus its size. The diameter of a grapefruit, depending on its variety, can range between four and six inches. Its albedo (the white matter under the skin) is about a quarter to half an inch thick. The fruit’s skin looks like that of an orange, but its flesh comes in white, pink or red. It is called a grapefruit simply because it grows in clusters, like grapes. The taste of a grapefruit can be bitter and sour but it has so many health benefits. NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF GRAPEFRUIT Grapefruit doesn’t only contain vitamin C which is commonly known to be protective against cold or flu. It is not just one nutrient that helps prevent a certain disease, but rather the combination of several nutrients in it that does the trick. This is the kind of nutritional power that we can find only in the

Wasabi has anti-inflam matory properties for joints and muscles. Wasabi also helps to defend against bacterial infections in the body and mouth.  Fresh tuna is a rich source of lean protein, omega-3 fatty acids and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. A diet with a high intake of these nutrients can benefit your health by enhancing the function of your organs and by possibly lowering your risk of chronic medical conditions. Note: read ingredients on the peas. Many of these fiery snacks are made with wheat flour rather than corn starch. serves 4 4 fresh tuna fillets (sushi grade) 2 teaspoons/10ml sesame oil 1/8 teaspoon/.5ml ground clove 1/8 teaspoon/.5ml allspice 5 ounces/145g wasabi peas ¼ cup/60ml coconut aminos 1 teaspoon/5ml minced ginger ¼ teaspoon/2ml oyster sauce 3 drops fish sauce Place wasabi peas in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Pour peas on a platter. Brush tuna with 1 teaspoon/5ml sesame oil. Sprinkle tuna with cloves and allspice rubbing to sp