Garlic Confit from the Gjelina Cookbook

If you saw my last Friday Favorites post, you’re probably not surprised I am posting something from the Gjelina cookbook. I expressed my love for the book a few weeks ago and have delved into it headfirst.  ALthough I have only made a few recipes, I have dogearred practically the whole book. One of the ingredients that infiltrates many recipes is “garlic confit,” slow cooked, soft-as-butter, garlic that infuses a sweet and subtle garlic flavor to anything and everything. This recipe is one of several confits in the book, located in a section labeled “Condiments and Pickles” and which happens to be my favorite section in the book.  In this section, the Gjelina chef offers up recipes such as mint-pomegranate pesto, horseradish gremolata, parsley salsa verde, and this lovely garlic confit that I am sharing with you today.  These staples are then used throughout the rest of the book as pizza sauces, toppings for fish, salad dressings, etc. I love these types of condiments which are so versatile and can jazz up any number of basic recipes.

This garlic confit is made by taking whole cloves of peeled garlic, placing them in a baking dish with olive oil, bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Aside from peeling 8 heads of garlic (so worth it!), this is super simple and pretty much hands off.  Once the garlic and herbs have been roasted in the oil for an hour, you can transfer this mixture to a glass jar and store in the fridge for a couple of months. Genius. I added the garlic confit to grilled broccolini and to rice.  The garlic-infused oil I used on crostini, to saute vegetables, drizzled on tomatoes for slow roasting, on roasted fish and other items. I have provided the recipe for you below, but if this intrigues you, believe me when I say there is a lot more where that came from. You can get the full Gjelina cookbook on Amazon!  Recipe for garlic confit is below!

 

Store-Bought Almond Milk: New Barn and Malk

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if there were any good, clean, commercially prepared almond milks on the market…. you get the idea. The truth is, I don’t buy almond because I don’t mind making it from scratch and I have never found one without additives or at least one sketchy ingredient.  Plus, I personally think the taste of homemade almond milk is so much better than store bought. I have 2 recipes on my site for homemade almond milk, and I have been using this method a couple of times a week for years.

But, I know there are a lot of people that just can’t deal with making it from scratch and I totally get that. Fortunately, there are finally some cleaner, tastier options for store-bought almond milk. Two brands have hit the scene lately — New Barn and Malk. Both companies use organic ingredients without any additives and the milk is actually really delicious and comparable to homemade. New Barn is more widely available at the moment and they just starting carrying it at my local Whole Foods.  Check out the rating from EWG.  Malk is only available right now in the south- Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, so if you are near there you are in luck!  They will hopefully be expanding soon as the demand for their product is increasing! You can check out their store locations, learn about their ingredients, and see what flavors are offered on their websites: New Barn and Malk.

Tyler Florence Salad Board

For the last couple of years, I have been presenting most of my salads on platters rather than bowls.  Most salads are already beautiful, but can be made even more aesthetically pleasing when presented in different ways.  I think salads often look more visually appealing laid out in one layer rather than a heap of everything piled on top of each other where you can’t see all the components.  Plus, have you noticed that salads tossed in a bowl result in the heavier ingredients getting lost on the bottom?

My method for assembling a salad is tossing my greens with dressing, then transferring that to a beautiful platter, and then I add the remaining veggies, nuts, cheese, etc., and drizzle with more dressing. Tyler Florence must be on my same wavelength because he recently released a “Salad Board” through Williams Sonoma, which is a beautiful walnut wooden board that is a cutting board on one side, and when you flip is over it is a very shallow board with narrow sides that is perfect for salad presentation. So gorgeous and I cannot wait to use it.  It is available only through Williams Sonoma in 3 different styles.  I bought the oval, but they are all very chic.  I have included a few salads from my blog that I think would be great served on this board!

Spring Salad with Oranges, Avocado and Radishes

Deconstructed Guacamole Salad

Arugula Salad with Nectarines, Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella

Arugula and Farro Salad with Peaches

Beauty Counter Protect All Over Sunscreen

I have been following Beauty Counter from its inception.  This LA-based company is 100% committed to using completely safe and all natural ingredients in their beauty care products. They carry everything from makeup to shampoo to baby care to this sunscreen that I am highlighting today. All of their products rank on the EWG Skin Deep site as a 1, which is the best score that can be given for the safest, cleanest products.I am very, very particular about what products I use on my body, especially my face and I am a sunscreen connoisseur, i.e. I use it A LOT.

This sunscreen is super lightweight and the formula they use doesn’t cause any white streaking. It also contains green tea and blood orange extracts that help fight free radicals, which not only offer protection from the sun but antioxidants as well to fight any damage being done at the same time. It also smells very nice and light.  But most importantly, the active ingredient in this sunscreen is non-nano zinc oxide, which is a much safer alternative to other blockers such as oxybenzone that other companies are using. This sunscreen is available online through the Beauty Counter website.

It’s All Easy Cookbook by Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow has really outdone herself with her third cookbook, “It’s All Easy.” This book is a compilation of recipes that are designed to be made as weekday meals for the “super-busy” home cook, as Paltrow coins it on the book’s cover. The book is drop-dead gorgeous; every last page from the food styling to the ingredient shots to all of the lovely photos of Gwyneth and her two kids. I could just get lost in the book for hours looking at the photos alone and coveting both her insane sweater collection as well as all her amazing tableware pieces.. However, beyond the beautiful aesthetic this is a really great, thoughtful compilation of recipes that are accessible to most people. There aren’t too many obscure ingredients or fancy tools that are used (except for maybe a Vitamix or a spiralizer, which I actually don’t think most people have.)  And I think the recipes look easy and family-friendly.

So far I have tried my hand at the turkey meatloaf, the coconut almond overnight oats and the chocolate cinnamon overnight oats, all of which have turned out delicious. I don’t love the organization of the book with sections such as “Summer Nights” and “Cozy Evenings.”  Personally I prefer to search for recipes by category, eg soups, salads, desserts.   But that’s my only criticism.  All recipes are pretty clean and use very little dairy, gluten or sugar.  It is co-written by Thea Baumann who is the food editor for GOOP and cooks privately for Gwyneth and her family.  “It’s All Easy” is available on Amazon where you can look inside the book to check it out and at most local bookstores!

 

 

 

Hey y’all!  I’m Dallas this weekend, teaching a class in my friend Lisa’s kitchen today and then hanging out with the SMU DG’s and their moms.  Good times all around!  I just love Dallas.  It’s such a fun city and everyone is so friendly.  I would think I was in LA if it weren’t for everyone calling me “ma’am” every 5 minutes.  “Let me get the door for you, ma’am.”  “Would you like still or sparkling water, ma’am?”  The fact that I am old enough to be ma’am-ed is slightly depressing, but good manners get me every time.

Ok, want to know what I’m loving right now??  Here you go:

Sticky Be Socks

I have the sweetest gal in on of my LA cooking groups named Nancy and I had no idea she started a company called Sticky Be Socks.  I just always chat with her after class about food and nutrition, completely oblivious to the fact that she was an entrepreneur and boss lady!  Nancy knows that one of the few forms of exercise that I do enjoy is barre, which is a class based on ballerina moves designed to gain strength, and tone those hard-to-target muscles in your core, arms, and legs, which I lovingly refer to as the “lady areas.”  I really need to go waaaaay more than I do, but whatever.  At the studio I go to, FitOn in Manhattan Beach, you are required to wear “sticky socks” so you don’t slip when you are doing the exercises.

 

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If you’re spring breaking right now, lucky you!  Hope you’re having fun.  I am home this week with Mr. Picky who is back in school, while hubs and my daughter are visiting colleges.  Exciting stuff!

For this edition of Five Friday Favorites, I wanted to highlight some great things I have been using in my classes (and at home) the last month or so.  Love it all!

 

Sriracha

You are probably familiar with the usual hot sauces that you can find on the tables of restaurants and diners- Tabasco, Cholula, Tapatio and the like.  But there is also one not so common hot sauce that is usually only offered in Asian or specialty restaurants- Sriracha!  Sriracha hot sauce is a chili sauce that is full of flavor and heat.  Sriracha’s taste comes from five main ingredients: ground up red chile peppers, vinegar, garlic, salt, and sugar.   I personally love the tanginess!  It is a little milder than tabasco sauce.  I used it in my classes in January in the Asian turkey meatballs (that I recently posted) to give them a little kick, plus we made a Sriracha aioli as a sauce to go with the meatballs (which we then put into lettuce leaves and served with slaw – like an amazing Asian taco!)   I used the leftover Sriracha aioli (which is just Sriracha mixed with Vegenaise and a pinch of salt) from my classes each week and was putting it on everything from veggie burgers to eggs to quinoa.

I love complex flavor that this sauce has and I think it is a really fun addition to things like veggies, grain bowls or sauces. There are 2 different brands that I tested out over the month- Thai Kitchen, which has a great flavor, no scary ingredients and comes in a glass bottle– but, alas it is not organic.  There is an organic sriracha on the market, made by Organicville, which is completely clean, but it comes in a plastic bottle (and I like the flavor of Thai Kitchen better.)  I won’t buy the most popular sriracha, Huy Fong, because it is full of preservatives.  Sorry!  Thai Kitchen is available at Whole Foods in the Asian food aisle and it’s available online through Vitacost.  Organicville is available on Thrive Market and locally at Grow in my neighborhood.  Here are some recipes around the web that use the yummy sauce!!

I love this round-up at Bon Appetit Magazine for 25 new ways to use sriracha — so many great ideas!

Sriracha Roasted Brussels Sprouts from Sprouted Kitchen

Sriracha Popcorn from Bake Your Day

Sriracha Buttered Shrimp from Bon Apetit

 

Plantain Chips

Making the transition from processed foods to eating clean usually means giving up  salty, crunchy snacks like chips and crackers.  Chips, for example, are heavily processed, often fried in pro-inflammatory oils and loaded with preservatives, chemicals and salt.  Now tortilla chips and guacamole is one of my favorite snacks, so I am not saying I never indulge.  But what about people who are following a grain-free diet?  And is there even a “higher quality chip?” Luckily, a lot of companies are getting the memo that even when we do want to splurge a bit, we still want to be able to avoid inflammatory oils and additives.

There are several options on the market now for snack foods that aren’t quite as offensive, but I have especially been loving plantain chips lately– which are just whole plantains, sliced and baked (usually) with some oil and sea salt.  Plantains are related to bananas. They are a starchy, low in sugar variety that are eaten cooked, not raw.  I was originally introduced to them my my Puerto Rican mother-in-law who fries very ripe plantains and serves them alongside rice and beans.  I first saw plantain chips at Trader Joe’s.  They were roasted with sunflower oil and sea salt.  While sunflower oil is not my fave, curiosity got the best of me and I decided to give these a try.  They were absolutely delicious and my family went nuts for them.  I was then determined to find a better source that used a higher quality oil, and low and behold Thrive Market carries a brand called Inka Chips that are made with palm oil, which is a high quality saturated veg oil.  The only drawback here is that Inka Chips are not organic.  They do have another brand that is organic, Platayuc, these are also made with sunflower oil so I choose to stick with the Inka chips.  Plus, Inka Chips are much thicker than the organic ones and do not break as easily.

I used these plantain chips all of March as part of a Cuban-themed menu in my cooking classes.  The chips were crumbled and topped a grilled pineapple, avocado and red onion salad! I’ll post that recipe soon.  Everyone went nuts for this salad and the plantain chips really added something special.  Aside from the salad, I have been using these in place of tortilla chips to dip in guacamole or hummus.  Plus, these are paleo-friendly which is great for those of you following that diet but missing out on snacking!

Indoor Cast Iron Grill Pan

I am spoiled with the weather here in Southern California, and there aren’t too many days out of the year where it is not practical to use an outdoor grill.  However, I know that my readers hail from all over and there are many of you that are stuck without a grill for months on end because of harsh weather.  Indoor grill pans are the perfect alternative to be able to grill year round.  As I mentioned above, I taught a grilled pineapple salad in my cooking classes last month and I was always excited when the host’s kitchen included a grill pan.  We were only grilling a couple slabs of pineapple so we could really make quick work of doing it a couple of minutes on the stovetop, rather than have to preheat the entire grill just to grill something small for a minute or two.  And I’m sure many of you run into the same issue when cooking for 1 or 2, or even if you want to make a quick chicken breast, grill some shrimp, or even grill some veggies for a quick lunch.  Heating up the grill takes time and can waste gas/propane.

Cast iron is the way to go for an indoor grill pan, and Staub makes a great one that comes in both a square with a single handle or round with a double handle.  The cast iron is perfect for indoor grilling as it doesn’t have any of the scary chemicals that come with a nonstick pan, it distributes heat evenly and the surface gives you perfect browning.  All of Staub’s cast iron pans are preseasoned and finished to be rust and crack resistance and do not require any further seasoning.  Plus, they are easy to clean, just don’t allow them to air dry which can make them rust.  Wash with warm water and towel dry or put back on the stove to dry over medium heat.

Both styles of pan are available at kitchen stores such as Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table, and I have also provided Amazon links for you: 10″ square, 12″ square, and 12″ round (this one comes with a lid for steaming, but is also available without, just not for a good price on Amazon).  You may want to shop around a bit because price can vary by color!

 

Launch Lunchbox from PlanetBox

 

It was quite a happy day for my son when he found out he was getting upgraded to the “larger portions” “Launch” lunchbox from PlanetBox.  This model is 30% larger than the Rover model, which has several small compartments that always lent a hand to fun and creative lunches.  However, he’s 12 now and eating larger portions.  In the picture above, which was his lunch from the other day, you can see I was able to fit 3 pretty big empanadas, which would not have fit in theRover model.  There is a small tin for his dipping sauce which is super convenient and then 2 other medium sized compartments which hold a substantial amount of fruit, veggies or whole grains.  I also love that it comes with a glass container that will fit inside the large compartment, in case I am giving him something that is extra saucy or leaky.  I have always loved the carry bag which has two outside pockets which I use for tucking in snacks for recess (easy access.)

I have talked about PlanetBox many times before in posts and in my classes.  They are a bit more pricey than your average nylon lunch box but believe me when I say you will use this daily and have it for years.  You really do get your money’s worth.  And as I have mentioned they do have a few different models with different compartment sizes so you can get what is best for your child.  I think the Rover is great for younger kids and toddlers whereas the Launch is perfect for my son and his middle-school aged friends.  All models are available on the PlanetBox website!

 

Chives

Don’t turn that dial just yet– I know that chives are not the most exciting food on the planet, but I really think this oniony herb has so much potential for adding some easy punch to your spring dishes!  Contrary to popular belief, chives are not just the tops of scallions/green onions, but are their own species that grow like grass and are an herb rather than a form of onion.  Yet they do have an onion-y flavor with a subtle hint of garlic that is delicious.  I love chopping up a whole bunch to use in salads or using them on anything from eggs, to crostinis, baked potatoes, avocado toast and grilled fish.  They have a nice delicate flavor and are so pretty when chopped up- they aren’t chunky and bulky like onions but still give that great flavor.  Plus, they can really spruce up a dish with their bright vibrant color.  I have used chives in several ways on my site, including in this spring salad, this vinaigrette for roasted cabbage wedges, in this sauce for grilled artichokes, as a garnish for these mushroom toasts, and in this homemade ranch dressing!  And they are not just for looks, either!  Being that they are that vibrant green color means that they are also great for you- chives provide Vitamin A, fiber and plenty of antioxidants to boot!  Here are some chive recipes that I thought looked delicious!

Lemon and Chive Bruschetta from Love and Lemons

Green Goddess Hummus from Cookie and Kate

Fennel, Radish and Chive Salad from Giada De Laurentis

Fingerling Potato Salad with Chive Mayo from Saveur

 

 

 

Yippee, it’s Friday!  I will do everyone a favor by keeping this blogpost free from election chatter.  Am I the only one that thinks the current presidential race is feels like an episode of “Survivor?”  I’m so over it and it’s only February.  Food and food stuff is so much more happy and fun, don’t you think?

I just finished a great menu in my classes this month and I am looking forward to teaching a Cuban-Inspired menu in March.  Yum!  Here’s what we’ve been talking about in class and on social media this week:

Anchor Hocking Large Glass Storage Jars

If any of you read last week’s Friday Favorites,  you saw that I featured the glass jars that I use in my pantry for small items like dried fruits, nuts and seeds. The response was great and I know a lot of you were excited to get your pantry’s organized, which then led a few people to ask me how I store my flours and sugars.  Good question!  So this week I decided to feature these Anchor Hocking larger glass storage jars that I bought at Target.

I use the 1.5 gallon size for white flour (fits a 5 pound bag perfectly) and the 64 oz for sugars.  Storing your sugars and flours in these jars ensures that they will stay fresh and is really convenient if you bake a lot and don’t want to deal with the whole rubber band around the bag situation.  Am I the only one that inevitably gets flour or sugar everywhere whenever I unroll the bag??  Like I mentioned last week, I don’t store anything in plastic (which leaches), always glass.  What I also love about these jars is the wide mouth so you can dip a measuring cup in there or a large scooper.

And if you already have a storage method for your sugars and flours, these really are versatile and you could use them for cookies, granola, pasta, beans, etc.  I think they look nice enough to sit out on the countertop as well.  As I mentioned above these are available in Target stores and on their website!

Since this question just came up, I store whole grain flours in the refrigerator since they can go rancid if left at room temp for too long.  These glass jars house my white flour, coconut sugar, granulated sugar and brown sugar in the pantry.

Drop Bottle

My older daughter sent me a Drop Bottle recently and I was instantly smitten with this gorgeous bottle!  I was telling her recently that I need to be more conscientious about drinking water.  I always feel better when I am well hydrated, but sometimes I just forget to consume enough water.  This bottle will definitely help!

Besides being very chic and sleek looking, what I love is the interior infuser so you can insert fruit, vegetables and/or herbs to infuse flavor into your water.  There’s a mesh insert at the top, so that when you drink, only water comes out.  No cucumbers are smacking you in the lips.

I will definitely be ordering a bunch of these to give as gifts since I don’t know anyone who has one and they fit in perfectly with a healthy lifestyle.  The two downsides that I will mention are the price, which is $40 (expensive) and does not include shipping, which is also expensive; and the fact that this glass with no silicone or rubber sleeve like most glass bottles have.  So you have to be careful with it.  I am planning on using my Drop Bottle at home or in my car only.  My daughter bought me the bottle with the rose gold top, which is I think is the prettiest.  But there are a few other options for tops.

Mini Glass Measuring Cups

I have the good fortune of teaching in beautiful and well-stocked home kitchens on a regular basis.  One of the benefits is being exposed to and being able to use cool products and gadgets that I don’t have in my own kitchen.  So fun, right?  One of my students has a bunch of these mini measuring cups and I absolutely love them!

Sometimes a smaller amount of liquid is called for in a recipe, such as 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 1/2 tablespoons tamari, etc.  These mini measuring cups make measuring small amounts of liquid so much easier than using measuring spoons.  Not only do they prevent dripping, but they allow you to pre-measure liquids when you are prepping ingredients for a recipe and to leave them in the cup, as opposed to pouring into another bowl. I also appreciate that they are inexpensive and don’t take up a lot of space.  Win win!  I bought this 5 ounce measuring cup on Amazon and it has teaspoon, tablespoon, ounce and millimeter markings so you will definitely be covered. I have also seen these available at cooking stores like Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table and Bed Bath and Beyond!

 

Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking

My friend Alex told me about this wonderful new cookbook, called Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking by Chef Michael Solomonov. Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine is my hands-down favorite.  I love the herbs, spices, and emphasis on vegetables and legumes.  This book contains beautiful Middle Eastern recipes that are fresh, vibrant and unique. Think tons of tahini, garlic, chickpeas, pomegranates, eggplant, herbs, lemon, and all in really unique, but simple combinations.  I just made one of the chicken kebabs for dinner last night (see it on Instagram here) and everyone loved it.

The author, Michael Solomonov, was actually put on the map because of his outstanding hummus, which is included in the book.  It is really interesting to have him walk you through that recipe, which is both easy and delicious.  Solomonov has an entire section in his book dedicated to “meze” which translates to small-plates, or tapas.  These recipes are so fun and delicious-looking and can be adapted to serve as hors d’oeuvres for your next dinner party or as a weeknight entree for your family.  The book is available on Amazon with free prime shipping!

 

Seasonal Spotlight: Radishes

With spring right around the corner, I thought I would highlight one of my favorite, underappreciated veggies, radishes!  Although you will most likely see radishes at your market year round, they are at their peak in the spring and that is when you will most often find more interesting varieties like watermelon radishes, Easter radishes, white radishes and even black radishes.  I’m so intrigued by certain radishes which look plain and drab on the outside, like a watermelon radish, but are absolutely stunning on the inside when cut into.  On the other hand, you can get a bunch of beautifully colored pink and purple radishes, and the insides are plain white with no designs.

Regardless of how they look, I love using radishes in everything from spring salads to grain bowls or cut into matchsticks for veggie wraps or sandwiches.  You can even prepare them roasted or pickled.  They are perfect for topping a crostini, and you will really wow people if you can get your hands on some watermelon radishes!  They are crisp and juicy with a bitter bite and I enjoy them best when they are sliced very thin.  This is done easily using a food processor with a slicing disc or mandoline, but if you don’t have either of those then just get out your sharpest knife.  If I am slicing these by hand I sometimes find it easier to halve them through the root in first before thinly slicing so that they lie flat on the cutting board.

When buying radishes you want them to be firm with vibrant green tops.  Store them in your crisper and these little veggies are pretty hardy– I have had them last a couple of weeks, even after being washed!  They actually are members of the brassica family, so are related to cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts and the like, meaning these are packed with nutrition.  Radishes are also known for being detoxifying to the body so we should all get our hands on these as we are resetting for the spring.  I have included a couple of recipes below of mine in which I love to use radishes, as well as a couple around the web!

The Perfect Spring Salad 

Wheat Berry Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing

Radish Crostini with Herb Butter from Tiny Urban Kitchen

Double Nutty Farro with Radishes from Food and Wine

Herby Salad with Radishes and Ricotta from Bon Appetit

Friday Favorites are back!  Sorry that I’ve been busy with recipes and the new dinner planner, but I’ve gotten the message that you want more favorites.  And I’ve got some good ones!

 

Icy Cools Reusable Ice Cubes

My friend Nancy gave me these reusable ice cubes recently and I love them!  When packing stuff to go in a cooler or lunch box, which I often do, it can be difficult to get an ice pack to fit in just how you need.  Plus, it tends to only cool the top or the bottom layers.  These reusable ice cubes can go in and around all of the nooks and crannies, keeping everything cool.  Plus, they last 50% longer than regular ice cubes which is great and you won’t have the mess that comes once the cubes melt!  You can also use these in your drink glass to avoid watering your drink down (white wine, anyone?)  These are available at The Container Store and Amazon.

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Titan Julienne Peeler

I am all about any kind of kitchen gadget that is going to cut down on prep time in the kitchen or make your life easier. I am always telling my students to utilize the blades on their food processors, showing them more than one way to use a vegetable peeler, multiple uses for a microplane, etc.  One tool I have been using a lot lately is my julienne peeler.  A julienne peeler works basically the same way as a regular vegetable peeler except instead of peeling one thick ribbon off of the vegetable, it juliennes it, which means to cut it into several small ribbons or strips. This is really useful for all you zoodle lovers out there as it can be used on zucchini or sweet potatoes to make noodles, and carrots into perfect strands for salads.   I have had a smaller simple julienne peeler for years but recently my mother-in-law got me this one by Titan and I have been loving it. It is bigger which means it juliennes more per swipe and it is very sharp which allows it to glide easily along without having to use too much force.  I received my peeler as a gift but it looks like they have it available on Amazon sold as a set with another standard peeler for a good price!

 

Grocery Checklist

You want to know what is no fun? Getting into the kitchen to make dinner and pulling out the ingredients you need for a particular recipe only to realize that you are out of something. The worst, I tell you! Sure you can adapt or use a substiution or check to see if you can borrow from a neighbor, but that’s a little bit of a pain.  I learned years ago to create a system in my kitchen to ensure that that doesn’t happen to me as seldom as possible.  Whenever I run out of a certain product, I write it down and use that list to go off of the next time I go to the store. The kids do the same thing too, since it is front and center on my fridge. I then take that list and go through my meal plan for the week and complete my grocery list.

I have been using this grocery checklist pad from Target for years and I couldn’t live without it.  What is so great about using a pad like this rather than just a plain piece of paper is that everything is organized by category and therefore area of the grocery store, which makes my shopping trips way more efficient.  And I am pretty sure there isn’t anyone here that has ever said “I wish I could spend more time in the grocery store!”  I have been hearing from a lot of you that you are following the weekly meal plan, so I think this is perfect to help you get organized and have a starting point for your grocery-list making!  I have been getting the OrganizHer checklist at Target for years but could not find it on Amazon.  You can buy it directly from Mead here if you can’t find it from Target.  For those of you Amazon-only shoppers, this one is also great and will work just as well!

 

 

Vital farms eggs

I am kind of amazed these days at how many options there are when it comes to buying a dozen eggs.  It is definitely not what is used to be- now there are dozens of choices: organic, cage-free, free-range, omega-3, pasture-raised, etc. It can be overwhelming and hard to to figure out what you are getting for your money.  I have tried many different types of eggs over the years, including ones from my local farmer’s markets, and no one has impressed me quite like eggs from Vital Farms. Vital Farms eggs are “pasture-raised” meaning that the chickens are free to roam pastures and have almost 100 times more space to do so than caged hens. Cage-free and free-range hens have slightly more room than caged do, but not by much. (Check out this interesting graph here). So why does it really matter? Pasture-raised hens provide top quality eggs in terms of nutrition and flavor. The yokes are a bright, deep yellow and they are rich in flavor and loaded with nutrients. In terms of nutrition, pasture-raised eggs contain 1/3 less cholesterol and ¼ less saturated fat. And since they are roaming a green pasture and feeding off of grass, they have more Vitamin A, Omega-3’s, Beta Carotene, and even some naturally occurring Vitamin D, since the hens are free to roam out in the sunlight!  Now that we all have settled down about eggs and their cholesterol content, I feel like we should all be consuming eggs regularly in our diet.  They are a wonderful source of high-quality, inexpensive protein and are perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Vital Farms sells their eggs under several different names depending on which farm the eggs come from.  The ones I get at my local Whole Foods are the standard Pasture-Raised Organic Vital Farms Eggs, but you can read about the different types of eggs they sell here, and check out where to get them locally to you here!  I will warn you though these are going to cost you more than you conventional dozen (I pay around $7.99 for a dozen), but when you really compare the two I think it is worth it!  And if you want to be more economical, save these eggs for when you are making something that is mostly egg- frittatas, scramble, omlettes, etc., and get another more economically priced carton for using in baking where you only need 1 or 2 and you aren’t necessarily going to be getting nutritional value from 1/16th of an egg!

 

 

 

Aplat Canvas Totes

My husband really outdid himself on this one, let me tell you.  He recently came home with a set of these canvas tote bags for me and I have been going nuts over them ever since.  I think they are so darling and clever and you know I love anything that is reusable and sustainable.  Aplat is a company based out of San Francisco and created this line as an ode to French culture, to friendship, socializing and sharing.  You will see that reflected as their totes are designed for carrying wine, bread, flowers and platters- all things that you partake in while socializing with your friends.  I especially love the “A Plat” line that is so convenient for carrying items such as a casserole, cake or pie to someones house, which can always be a bit awkward to maneuver.  The wine tote and the baguette tote are prefect for a beach day with friends or an evening picnic in the park, and who wouldn’t love to receive a bouquet of flowers in one of these lovely totes?  They are also very chic and stylish and come in neutral colors such as canvas and denim.  They are available on the Aplat website with free shipping.  I only wish I had discovered these before the holidays since they would have made the perfect gift!

 

 

 

Seasonal Produce:  Grapefruit

Citrus season is in full swing and while oranges and clementines get all the love, I wanted to shed a little light on one of my favorite citrus, grapefruit.  Grapefruits come in a many varieties, from pink to ruby to white.  The color or description of the grapefruit actually refers to the color of the flesh, not the color of the outer skin that you see at the market.  Grapefruits have a very unique flavor- they are slightly tangy and tart with an underlying sweetness that I find to be very unique and not overwhelming.  This fruit is not only great for weight loss since it is loaded with water and fiber, but it is also packed with nutrients such as Vitamin C, lycopene (which fights free radicals and may lower the risk of certain cancers,) and contains the flavenoid hesperidin which helps regulate cholesterol levels, among other benefits.

The funny thing to me about grapefruit is that I can have grapefruit sitting on the counter for weeks and no one in my family touches it.  I segment it and put it in a container in the fridge, and it is gone in a flash.  Many people think that peeling a grapefruit is too time-consuming or tedious, but I actually think that segmenting a grapefruit is one of the easiest citrus to segment due to its large size.  Check out my post for how to segment citrus if you are not sure what I am talking about.  Once you have mastered this skill and see how easy it is I guarantee you will be more likely to buy grapefruit regularly.  I recently posted a  Fennel, Citrus and Avocado salad where grapefruit would work beautifully and is actually how I taught it when we made it in my classes last month.  Check out a few other recipes from around the web using grapefruit!

Grapefruit Chermoula from Bon Apetit 

Grapefruit Salad with Candied Ginger from Food and Wine 

Grapefruit, Feta and Mint Salad from Food52

Pink Grapefruit, Cucumber and Rose Skin Quencher from Kale and Caramel

Grapefruit with Pistachios from Martha Stewart

Happy holidays, friends!  I thought I would squeeze in another Friday Favorites before Christmas.  I heard this weekend is the busiest shopping time of the year.  For me, it’s one of the busiest baking times of the year!  I have already made 4 batches of granola for all the teachers and sent those off yesterday and today.  I always get a great response afterwards, usually something along the lines of, “it’s so nice to receive something healthy for the holidays.”  I swear!

There were a few things I thought you might like to know about sooner rather than later.  And here they are:

Tarriss Luggage Scale

Traveling can be so stressful, especially during the holidays.  I for one am always worrying about the weight of my bag when I am traveling around Christmastime since I tend to overstuff.   Have you ever experienced putting your bag on the airport scale and hear those words, “this is over the weight limit”?  Ugh, the worst.  Do you fork over the $50 or start reshuffling shoes and jeans into lighter bags?

I thought that this luggage scale, made by a company called Tarriss, is a great last minute gift for anyone in your life that does a lot of traveling!  I just bought this for us and my dad, who is a big traveler.  This will put anyone’s mind at ease before you get to the airport and it is really lightweight and easy to use. It has a strap that you hook onto the top handle of your bag, and then just lift up and weigh. Pretty simple and this is totally affordable too at around $17 with free prime shipping on Amazon!

 

If You Care Disposable Paper Loaf Pans and Pie Plates

I think there is no better gift than something that is homemade. People really do appreciate the effort of something that is made by you, and I think edible gifts such as homemade cookies, quick breads, granola and biscotti are perfect holiday gifts. On my holiday gift guide a couple of weeks back I wrote about gifting a quickbread in a nice loaf pan, but if you needed a less expensive gift or just wanted to give the bread, I think these disposable paper loaf pans and cake pans from If You Care are absolutely perfect!

These are so much more attractive than your typical disposable aluminum pans and are made from completely chemical free paper that won’t leach anything into your food like aluminum does!  These are available for a great price on Thrive Market, but you can find them on Amazon (loaf pan and pie plate) as well with prime shipping! Check out some of my recipes below for ideas of what to make for these!

For the Cake/Pie Plates (any recipe works here that goes into an 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking dish):

Cinnamon Apple Cake

Whole Grain Olive Oil and Rosemary Cake

Coconut Coffee Cake with Chocolate Chunks

For the Loaf Pans (any standard 12-cup muffin recipe will work in a loaf pan):

Whole Grain Banana Bread 

Zucchini Blueberry Bread 

Pumpkin Bread (put in loaf pan and increase baking time to 1 hour)

 

 

 

Cuyana Products

I mentioned a company called Cuyana in my holiday gift guide a couple of weeks back, but I wanted to highlight them again because I’ve received a few inquiries about my favorite products.  I have made many purchases for holiday gifts this year- and been thrilled with every one!

Cuyana offers very chic, elegant, yet simple products.  All of their merchandise is such a high quality, and all at completely accessible prices. The company’s motto is “fewer, better” and I try and live by that when it comes to my closet and items that I purchase. Cuyana also gives back to those less fortunate, and will send you a reusable bag and pre-paid return label with every purchase. You can fill the bag with a couple of items from your closet that you no longer wear, and they will donate those items to women in need. Plus, for every donation you will receive a $10 credit towards your next purchase. I think that is very generous and admirable, and I love companies that push the boundaries and set the standards for others. Check out all of their amazing products on their website.  This season I ordered scarves, totes, key chains and cashmere sweaters and I thought everything was perfect.

Artificial Food Coloring-Free Sprinkles

We are all well aware by now about the danger of artificial food dyes and while the FDA may be dragging their feet on this one, I am not.  Studies show that artificial food colorings can be detrimental to brain health as well as carcinogenic and I am going to avoid them at all costs.

There have been many products to hit the market that use all-natural, vegetable-derived dyes, which I think is a better option.  But for the most part I prefer to make real food instead of buying packaged food that needs some kind of coloring or dye to look appealing.  However, when it comes to certain foods, like sprinkles, there aren’t many ways around using them, except completely avoiding them all together.  And while this is clearly a blog that promotes all-natural, healthy eating, I do think there is a time and a place for “fun” foods, and I am glad to know there are artificial coloring-free sprinkles for those special occasions!

Now keep in mind that these sprinkles are in not a “health food” or that I think you should be giving these to your kids everyday.  They are still made of refined sugars, oils, and even maltodextrin (eek!)- which are not on my list of top-notch ingredients, but again there is a time and a place, people!  India Tree is a company who’s products are available on Amazon and they use vegetable dyes in their products.  They have a large assortment of sprinkles in all different forms.  Another good option I found is by Let’s Do..Organic! and they have little confetti balls that are fun for decorating as well.  These are available on Amazon as well, but only as a pack of 12.  But I have also seen this brand at my local Whole Foods.

Rough Linen Half Aprons

I am always confused why tv chefs don’t wear aprons.  Can someone explain this to me?  I cannot cook without them!  My apron collection is ever growing and I am never disappointed to add to my stash. Jenni Kayne told me about this company called Rough Linen and I fell in love with their linen half-aprons.   Not only are they soft and luxurious but breathable, durable and totally practical as well. I love the way they look and feel and the natural colors are chic and versatile.  They are reasonably priced at $50 and I think that it is always nice to have a half-apron on hand when you don’t want to wear a full one but still need a little bit of coverage.  These have 2 large pockets in the front with a small pencil holder in the center- how perfect for cooks like me who are constantly writing down notes in the kitchen!  I think these aprons would make a great gift for the holidays for anyone who enjoys cooking, but I will just warn you they are a very small company and don’t have amazon-type shipping so they might not make it in time for CHristmas.  They are available on the Rough Linen website, where you could call them and ask what they’re turnaround time is.

Lastly, ✨GIVEAWAY✨ ‘Tis the season of giving and I have a good one for you! I’m sure you know how crazy I am about Elemental Superfood Bars and Crumbles. They are gluten-free, raw, dairy-free and loaded with Omega-3’s. Elemental bars have always been a favorite to-go snack and now their crumbles are on all my smoothie bowls. For a chance to WIN 4 BAGS OF CRUMBLE (one of each delicious flavor including dark chocolate + peanut butter, mulberry, cacao + spirulina, cranberry, almond + lucuma, and currant, cacao + hemp seed):  GO TO MY INSTAGRAM AND 
•like the photo I posted yesterday + follow me @pamelasalzman + @elementalsuperfood
•tag one friend in the comments Or tag multiple friends in different comments for multiple chances to win
•I will pick a winner at random Friday 12/18 at 5:00 pm PST (open to US only) 
You can also order product from the Elemental Superfood website and use promo code PS20 for 20% off Crumbles until December 31st.