Happy Monday to you!  For all the Canadian folks…. a special Happy Victoria day to you!  What a weekend!  The weather is above average to say the least ( in the mid 20′s or higher) which is so nice to see.  The action packed weekend contained a huge grocery shopping spree in preparation for a big Sunday feast, BBQ clean up for 3 hours on Saturday, Zest and Mrs. Zesty driving a dirt bike, a Sunday family gathering at our house and last but not least a special Kashi delivery on Friday!

So as you know by now, I am a big fan of Kashi products.  Whether it is the crackers or bars I rave about, I am sure you have read it before.  The kind folks at Kashi contacted me last week and asked if I wanted to try some new samples and of course my response was a toned down version of “Hell Yes”.  With that said, I waited patiently and told the whole fam that we were getting a fun parcel.

Here are a few of the shots I took when the parcel arrived on the scene.

I am so excited to try some of the new products because here on Prince Edward Island – I cannot find some of these flavors at the grocery stores.  A few of my pre taste favorites have to include:

1. Chocolate Pretzel
2. Peanut Peanut Butter
3. Blackberry Graham
4. Both Cereals and Crackers!

Have you ever tried any of these flavors?  What is your favorite Kashi bar?

Just because I cannot wait any longer I have to go through and talk to you about the menu from yesterday’s feast.  I will feature some of the recipes I created throughout the coming weeks.

Zesty’s Sunday Dinner Menu

• Sweet Thai Chili Oven Roasted and BBQ Chicken Wings
• Spinach salad with raisins, almonds and berries
• Coconut Crusted Salmon
• Pineapple and Mango Salsa
• Oven Roasted Turkey Breast w/ Apples
• Fresh blueberry sauce for the turkey
• Oven roasted smashed potatoes.
• Fresh Cous Cous salad
• Steamed corn with cracked black pepper and butter
• Sweet Potato Fries with spicy dip
• Homemade chocolate chunk cookie ice cream sandwiches

I am off to shingle a roof for my aunt.  Wish me luck as I am not super handy both with a hammer nor on a ladder.  But I heard rumblings there will be homemade biscuits at break so that pretty much sealed the deal.  Have a super great Monday

Take care

zesty

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Happy Wednesday! Today I wanted to take a minute of your time and share with you what I consider a “COOL” product. Maybe you have seen this in stores before but for me I totally stumbled upon this by accident. I was rushing through the grocery store a couple of weeks back looking for the traditional chocolate topping and I ended up buying the wrong product as I would soon find out.

For a quick dessert I was on the hunt for some chocolate sauce to go with some fruit and pastry when I ended up coming home with the magic shell.  And of course I didn’t read the instructions – I just plopped it in the fridge until I was ready and then quickly gave it a squirt.  All of a sudden I was like ” What the heck” – It is all runny and doesn’t look right.  With that said, I had to read the instructions.

Instructions
Please shake well for 20 seconds and squirt all over your dish.  Then place your dish in the freezer for 30 seconds.  End result:  The chocolate firms up and becomes like a shell.  Very cool!

The Magic Shell in Action

So my Dad is a huge ice cream fan and an even bigger fan of homemade banana splits.  With that said he asked me to whip him up a banana split and test out the Magic Shell.  Below are the results and the consensus is… The chocolate is great!

Have yourself a great day and remember have fun with what you do. Sit back and relax - try not to be in panic mode!

Take care

zesty

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Happy Thursday to you!!  Well I am on the road today to the Nova Scotia passport office.  We need to get the kids passports as we are planning a road trip to Boston in the middle of August.  Boston you say? Yes Boston!  I am attending the Healthy Living Summit on August 15th.  I am very excited and looking forward to presenting at the conference.

On to the topic of the day… blueberries.  I was driving home from the office today and I decided to stop by the super market and pick up a few things.  As soon as I walked in the door I saw a big blueberry stand.  I was thrilled and picked up a couple of boxes.  One for the drive home, and one for later.

Did you realize that BLUEBERRIES are amazing for you?

How to choose a good Blueberry

Blueberries are literally bursting with nutrients and flavor, yet very low in calories.  Choose blueberries that are firm and have a lively color. Shake the container, noticing whether the berries have the tendency to move freely; if they do not, this may indicate that they are soft and damaged or moldy. Avoid berries that appear dull in color or are soft and watery in texture. When purchasing frozen berries, shake the bag gently to ensure that the berries move freely and are not clumped together, which may suggest that they have been thawed and refrozen.

Blueberry Tips

Fresh berries are very fragile and should be washed briefly and carefully and then patted dry if they are not organic. Wash berries just prior to use to avoid prematurely removing the protective bloom that resides on the skin’s surface.  When using frozen berries in recipes that do not require cooking, thaw well and drain prior to using. For cooked recipes, use frozen berries since this will ensure maximum flavor.  Extend the cooking time a few minutes to accommodate for the frozen berries.

A few quick serving ideas

Add frozen blueberries to your breakfast shake. Fresh or dried blueberries add a colorful punch to cold breakfast cereals. For a deliciously elegant dessert, layer yogurt and blueberries in wine glasses then top with granola.

Try some blueberry toast , a  simple berry smoothie or a savory dish with blueberries and chicken.

So there you have it!  Zesty does blueberries.  I hope you have a great day and I will see you on Friday for the week’s end.

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty

Happy Thursday!  Would you like to attend a Healthy Living Blogger Conference?  Well if you do, I’ve got the spot for you.  Get ready to meet the bloggers in Boston August 14-15 for a fun-filled weekend of good eats, inspiring talks, a Blogger Kick-Off Cocktail Party, and of course, goodie bags of swag!

Join Jenna, Kath, Tina, Meghann, Heather and Caitlin (and more!) for the Healthy Living Summit at The Radisson Hotel in Downtown Boston.

The weekend will begin with an Official Blogger Kick-Off Cocktail Party on Friday evening August 14. Details TBA!

Saturday’s conference will be held at the Radisson with a Stonyfield Yogurt and Mix My Granola breakfast bar. The day will include seminars, talks, demonstrations and Q&As. Lunch will be provided. We will conclude with a juicy afternoon snack!

Sponsors

Sponsors for the event include Stonyfield Farm and Zestycook.com ( Yes me!! ) as well as foodbuzz and other product sponsors you can see over at the sponsors page.

Site Design

In addition to the sponsorship, I designed and implemented the summit website as a “donation” to the summit committee.  If you are interested in getting some blog work done, contact me and we’ll get the ball rolling.

Registration

Registration for the event takes place tonight at 8:00PM EST so be sure to go over and secure your ticket.

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Do you like Rhubarb?  Ever try Rhubarb?  I myself, love rhubarb.  Whether it is just cooked on the stove, gently sugared, chilled and served on fresh biscuits or in a pie/dessert – I cannot get enough.

I thought that this was a fun topic to share with you as I know a lot of people tend not to eat this delicious food.  So I gathered some information both from my head, from family and internet sources to share with you today.

Background

Even though rhubarb is considered a vegetable, it is most often treated as a fruit.  Rhubarb provides a good source of vitamin C, fiber, and calcium. It is usually eaten cooked, and just like fresh cranberries, rhubarb is almost unbearably tart on its own.  It  needs the added sweetness of sugar, honey, or fruit juice to balance out the acidity. Since rhubarb is primarily used for pie, it is also referred to by it’s nickname the “pie plant”.

Benefits

1. Can lower cholesterol – With its sweet taste, rhubarb surely is easy to get down. Along with the bonus of tasting good, rhubarb lowers cholesterol. Because of the vitamins and nutrients, this helps reduce the risk of harmful diseases. Rhubarb is a sure thing to take if you are suffering from high cholesterol.
2. Rhubarb stimulates the metabolic rate – This makes it a great for people who want to loose unwanted pounds. The dietary properties are promoted with the usage of fiber and potassium. With the potassium it is said to speed up your metabolism to help you lose weight.
3. Low in carbohydrates – Everyone is trying to find the latest health benefit for fruits and vegetables. The best health benefit of rhubarb is that it is low in carbohydrates. When you have something that is low in carbohydrates, you can still feel ok when you over consume on occasion.

So there you have my take on Rhubarb.  If you have not yet tried it – you should.  I think you will love it.  If you have any Rhubarb questions by all means let me know and I will try to answer them.  I have grown up with Rhubarb and always look forward to it each year.

Have a great Wednesday and I will talk to you tomorrow.

Take care

zesty

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Lately I have been craving candy like no other.  We were at a wedding last weekend and one of the party favors was an all you can eat “Candy Bar”.  It was a great idea, as there was a lot of selection and nice little take out boxes to take your goodies.  It was definitely the highlight of the night.

When it comes to candy, we always seem to have a few Swedish berries on hand as we are addicted to them.  My favorite candy would have to be “black babies”.  I tend not to eat them very often but when I get the craving… oh boy look out.

In addition to the traditional sugar candies I do love a hint of chocolate every now and again.  I do not drink any coffee, tea or pop/soda, so I look for a shot of chocolate every now and again as a treat.

So with that being said,

I want to know your “FAVORITE CANDY”.

Tell me in the comments because I am sure there are tonnes of candy I have not even heard of.  I look forward to hearing everyone’s response.

Have a great Friday and I will see you all on Monday.

Take care

zesty

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It is Thursday already which means I now really have 2 days to cram in 6 days worth of work.  Oh dear – this is not going to be pretty.   I have been asked a few times whether it be family and friends or even readers about what to look for when buying fresh meat.  Because I watch a lot of the food network and read a fair amount of reading material on food  – I think I can answer these questions.

For all my vegetarian readers… sorry!  I just want to take a few minutes of your time and hopefully shed some light on this topic.  Whether it be for grilling, roasting, poaching, frying or braising these tips are very important.

Are you purchasing the freshest meat and/or meat products from your local grocer? You certainly may think so, however, this may not be the case. There are some questionable practices meat department personnel may apply that you are unaware of. Meat and meat products are expensive and perishable. A no sale for the butcher becomes an unwelcome loss.  As a consumer, there are certain measures you can undertake to assure yourself a fresher, higher quality product.

1. Choose Wisely

• When a meat item is on sale, take advantage of the cost. This is perhaps the best time to buy a fresh product. The demand will be greater; hence, there is less likelihood of it sitting on the shelf too long. If the package isn’t labeled “Choice”, the cut is most certainly “Select”. This type of meat is lower in quality and taste. Always find out which kind of meat is used before you make your selection. “Select” meats are good candidates for sale items: cheaper for the butcher to purchase, with a higher mark-up price. The consumer pays less and the grocer makes a higher profit. However, the quality is undeniably compromised. Your taste buds will be the final test!

2. Color Can Help

• When choosing fresh meat, color is always a good indicator. Beef will have a bright red color, pork will look pinkish and the skin on poultry should be white or pale yellow. Marbling gives the meat flavor, so look for thin white streaks for a juicier and more tender cut of beef.

3. Go Lean

• A lot of supermarkets offer boneless, skinless chicken breasts and thighs, which are extra lean and full of flavor. The majority of pork cuts are lean, and most retailers offer fresh  extra-lean ground beef that’s produced on a daily basis.  More and more shoppers are opting for pork tenderloin, which is a better-for-you alternative protein that is low
  in fat and a source of iron and vitamin B12.

4. Do the Smell Test

• Another quality identification is smell.  The product should have a normal smell.   This will be different for each of the species (i.e. beef, pork, chicken), but should vary only slightly within the specie.  Any rancid or strange smelling meat should be avoided.

So that are my four tips I use when buying meat.  I hope the next time you are shopping for your family you keep these in mind if you didn’t already know.  It is not rocket science but if you are not used to buying meat on a regular basis, the choices can be over whelming.

Site Update

I finally added a place where you can visually see to buy yourself some new zesty gear.  I encourage everyone to head over there and purchase something as all the profits are going directly to the food bank.  A great cause!

Around the Blogsphere

Angela at Ohsheglows is having a great giveaway forAlign Digestive Care Probiotic Supplement contest.  She is giving away two 30-day boxes.  So if you have not entered please head over here now and do so.

I am heading off to do some more packing yet again so I hope you have a great Thursday and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Take care

zesty

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Happy Thursday!  The time is here.  The zesty clothing line is ready to go for the world to “buy“.  Now this is my first real stab at selling anything online so please bear with me.  Let me know if there are any issues or if you have suggestions for other clothing items.   I am always open to new ideas.  Here are a few samples that are available in the store.

I went ahead and did a combination of green and red lettering on the shirts, added both men and women white shirts, as well as a simple black t-shirt for both genders.  I also added female tank tops to the mix in addition to a couple of different apron colors.

Why “Buy”?

1. Profits from the clothing sales will go directly to the food bank.
2. It is a great cause and I think the clothing looks pretty cool.
3. If you buy an article of clothing and send me your picture with you wearing it – I will publish it on zesty in a special section on the blog.  My goal is to get as many pictures as possible and support this great cause.  With that being said – I will also use your picture to link to your blog so everyone can find you.

Giveaway

I have been dying to have another giveaway and I thought this would be a great opportunity to do so.  With that being said, here is what is up for grabs.

2 Get Zesty T shirts

2 Get Zesty Aprons

So all in total there will be 4 winners with this contest. Here are the rules and regulations.

How To Enter:

• New and existing email subscribers will automatically get an entry on draw date. Note that only verified subscribers count. (+1 entry)
• Leave a comment about what you think of this idea. (+1 entry)
• Earn an extra chance to win by linking back to this post on your own blog (if you have one). (+1 entry) (please email me if you link back)

The Rules:

• Please only 1 comment entry / person (please enter a valid email address). Your email will be kept private and never given/sold to third parties.
• The winners will receive either a shirt or an apron.  I will do draws with the first two winners winning t shirts and the last two winning aprons.

So let me know what you think about this adventure in the comments below! A random generator will be used to pick the winner. Contest will end at 5pm EST April 19, 2009.

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty

Ok, this may come off as a ranting zesty but I have had it up to here (I am actually pointing to my neck) with the cost of groceries these days.  Now I cannot speak for people in both the US and countries abroad but here in Canada I find that the prices have gone through the roof.  I feel like no matter what I do – our grocery bill keeps rising to a point at which I think it may be cheaper to eat out everyday….. grrrr

How this post came to fruition is that I was out getting groceries last night and I had a list of about 15 items which isn’t too bad.  Pretty much all of the food was regular everyday stuff.  So I am browsing around, having a good time – bumping into some people I know and chatting it up all the while picking out the items in need.

So I have everything in my cart and all is well.  When I get to the cashier, I haul my handy dandy recycle bags out and hand them to her.  I only had two bags but I knew that would be plenty for the few groceries I had.

So we are progressing through the cash and I am looking at the monitor watching the total go up … and up.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am not as cheap as a clay pipe or anything but for me this whole ” jack food prices up” is really getting to me.  Continuing on, we are just about to wrap things up, final items being scanned, I look up and literally I feel like something is out of whack.

$147 for two bags of groceries!!!  After I swallowed and regained my composure, I grabbed my debit card and proceeded through.  As I was walking to the car  I told myself, “Zesty you need to post about this and see if other people in the world are feeling the same as you”.

[poll id="2"]

Do you notice your grocery bills are considerably higher than a year ago?  Do you shop around for better deals?  Do you tend to stick to the outside aisles at the grocery stores?  These are all things I normally try to do but I am at a loss.  I was shocked that 2 bags of groceries would cost $147.00.

I know this post was a little out of character for me but I felt that it’s an important topic.  I look forward to hearing your response to the survey.

Take care

zesty

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Happy Wednesday!  No new design yet… what a story that is.  We have run into some trouble moving the plug-ins over to the new theme so it looks like we have to wait a couple of more days until we figure out what is going on.  I am sorry for all the hype and no delivery but it is out of my control.

As for some good news…. yesterday was pretty exciting.  I was contacted by the folks at FoodDoneRight.com. They have been working really hard on an online cooking school  and they are looking to add more value to the customers who join.  With that said, they asked me to do an on air interview and chat a bit on how I got started cooking, some of the challenges I faced, and some tips that helped me realize my recipe independence.  I was very willing to help as I love cooking and love helping other people do the same.  I will be sure to let you know when the interview gets published as well.

On to the food!  I had a lot of people asking about the apple bacon chutney recipe and ” What they would eat with it”.  So last night I put together what I call a “HELLABALOO“.  It is a total mish-mash of ingredients in the fridge such as left over rice, left over apple bacon chutney and some spinach that was close to expiry.  The flavors blended flawlessly and everything turned out great!

Here is a quick snapshot of what I did …

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Apple Bacon Chutney
• 2 Cups Baby Spinach
• 2 Cups cooked Jasmine Rice
• Splash of Lemon Juice
• Parmesan Cheese Shavings

Method

1. Preheat pan to medium high heat.
2. Add Chutney and warm through.
3. Add spinach and lemon juice stirring until spinach begins to wilt.
4. Add rice, stir together until hot.
5. Plate and top with fresh Parmesan cheese
6. ENJOY!

On to some exciting news…. I was asked to be a judge at the Latest Peanut Butter Exhibition.  Here is the low-down on the contest.  It can also be found at PeanutButterboy.com

THE GREAT PEANUT BUTTER EXHIBITION

Congratulations! You are cordially invited to participate in the next Great Peanut Butter Exhibition! In conjunction with Peanut Butter Boy, Fake Food Free, For The Love of Peanut Butter we are proud to bring this roundup/competition right to your doorstep. This time the theme is “Sandwich”, chosen because of my surprise at not receiving one sandwich recipe for the previous “no-bake” peanut butter exhibition. The real prizes here are the wonderful recipes we gather but we also have a prize for the winner!

What classifies a peanut butter sandwich? Traditionally it’s a slab of peanut butter between two slices of bread, but let’s see some creativity here. How about some peanut butter lettuce wraps or Peanut Butter Sushi? Any method of eating peanut butter that is all-inclusive and portable as to make for a nutritious lunch should do. To enter, submit your best peanut butter sandwich recipe below, following the guidelines. The deadline is March 15th @ Noon (PST) which gives you a full 3 weeks to brainstorm, develop and create the ultimate peanut butter sandwich! Stock up on peanut butter and get ready, read on for details.

Judging Criteria:

Peanut Butter Weight, Creativity, Portability and Preparation Time.

Rules:

One entry per person so choose wisely! Pictures are highly recommended but not required. Due to peanut allergies, you may use any nut butter in your recipe since nut butters are easily interchangeable. Also, please link back to this page to indicate that you are entering the recipe into this contest and to spread the word. Feel free to use any of the logos, including the following, to do so:

Blogless? Don’t worry if you don’t have a blog, you can still submit your winning recipe. Fill out the same form but provide the “Recipe” instead of a “Recipe Permalink” and feel free to email a picture to “pbe@peanutbutterboy.com” to go along with the recipe!
Submission:

Click hereto submit your recipe online. Alternatively, email “pbe@peanutbutterboy.com” with “PBE #5? as the subject and the following information:

Name
Email
Recipe Title
Recipe or Recipe Permalink
Prize:

All recipes will be listed but the judges will vote for the Top 3. All 3 winners will receive a winning badge to place on their site but the first place winner will receive the Peanut Butter & Co. Cookbook. Good luck to all!

Wow that was a super long post… sorry to make you read so much.  But if you made it all the way down here, I would like to thank you and also look forward to hearing your comments about just one way to use up that chutney. Have a great Wednesday.

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty