What's a Serving?

We're often asked so what do you consider "a serving"?

Well, for dairy products - it's generally 1 cup and for vegetables a serving is usually 1/2 cup raw or cooked vegetables. Fruit is also about 1/2 cup or 3/4 cup for fruit juice.

Meat servings are considered to be 3 oz of cooked meat. Beans is 3/4 cup while grains are 1 slice of bread, 1/2 cup pasta or 1 cup dry cereal.

Generally we tend to consume bigger portions than one serving. However, if you're trying to eat a healthier diet, consider first and foremost - watching those portion sizes!

What size egg?

Eggs should be bought and measured by weight but tradition is against this sensible approach. Unless otherwise states in your recipe, we assume that you use a 2-ounce egg. These are known as "large". However, eggs of any size may be used for preparations such as fried, boiled, poached - when the size of the egg has no effect on the overall recipe. The typical serving size per person is 1 to 2 eggs.

Speaking of eggs, our Salmon Asparagus Tart (on the menu this month) is a real treat for either brunch, lunch or dinner. It has it's share of eggs, but a lot of other tasty ingredients as well, that you're sure to find delightful!

Bittersweet vs. Semisweet Chocolate

As for ingredients that are similar, we find that both are made of at least 35 percent chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, sugar, vanilla and lecithin.

Bittersweet bars usually have a deeper chocolate flavor than those labeled "semisweet," and they are apt to be less sweet, however the amount of sugar they contain is not regulated. These chocolates may be interchanged in most recipes, but their differences can affect the flavor, texture and appearance of the finished product. Bittersweet is good for icings, sauces, fillings and candy dipping because of its sheen when it is tempered and melted.

Enjoy your chocolate this valentines ... oh and don't forget about our Chocolate Decadence muffins! They're "to die for"!

Sweet Potatoes in the Microwave

Want to enjoy some sweet potatoes with your dinner but pressed for time? Just pierce as many as 4 whole medium-sized potatoes in several places each. Place on a paper towel on the turntable of your microwave in a spoke pattern. Cook on high until tender: 5 - 9 minutes for 2 potatoes / 10 to 13 minutes for 4 potatoes, turning them over and rearranging after 5 minutes. Cover with a towel and allow to stand for 5 minutes after cooking.

And if you like sweet potatoes, you'll love our Sweet Potato Pecan Bake. Even though it isn't a dish you'll microwave, you'll still love this great tasting side dish!

In Honor of the Year of the Tiger

Chinese New Year begins on February 14th, 2010 and this is the year of the Tiger. In honor of the event, perhaps you'll choose to make a dish using a mixture of spices that is popular in Chinese cuisine. One common recipe for the mixture, Chinese Five-spice, includes equal amounts of the following ingredients ground into a powder: broken or crushed cinnamon sticks, Star anise, fennel seeds, Szechuan pepper-corns and whole cloves. The formula is based on the Chinese philosophy of balancing the yin and yang in food. It is used in most recipes for Cantonese roasted duck, as well as beef stew. It is also used as a marinade for Vietnamese broiled chicken. Be sure to store the spice in an airtight container.

Choosing the correct size pan

If you do not have a pan that corresponds to the size and shape that is called for in a recipe, find a pan with a similar surface or square-inch area and substitute a pan of that approximate size.
Should a square or rectangle pan be too large, you can reduce the size of it with a divider made of aluminum foil. The batter holds the divider in place on one side. Add dried beans or rice to the other side to support the foil from the opposite direction.

This month our to-go freezer is filled with some great chocolate desserts to share with the one you care about! After all, who can resist a good chocolate cake or muffin?

About Aromatic Rice

Basmati is a long-grain white or brown rice with alluring aroma and flavor. Basmati gives Indian pilafs their distinctive texture and aroma.

Jasmine, another long-grain white rice, is dense when cooked, almost like medium-grain rice. It has a subtle perfumed aroma. Domestically grown jasmine rice need not be rinsed however imported rice should be.

Several American hybrid aromatic rices have become more widely available, including Texmati, a white or brown basmati grown in Texas, Wehani, a long-grain brown rice from California and Louisiana Pecan, a white rice named for its nutlike aroma.

We offer several Smart Sides as rice dishes including Whole Grain Spanish Rice, Un-fried Rice and Lemon Asparagus Rice. Be sure to order these along with selections from this month's new menu of entrees.