Food waste is the #1 item thrown away in the United States! A family of four, on average, spends $1,800 each year on food that is thrown away, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Fruits and vegetables are the TOP TWO items thrown away. I could go on and on with statistics, but I would rather focus on Barilla’s efforts to reduce food waste and support sustainability. Barilla’s Center for Food and Nutrition Established in 1877, Barilla is an Italian food company distributing pasta, sauces and other products to over 100 countries world wide. Exemplifying diversity in food production, Barilla offers pasta for different type of dietary needs. High…
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5 Essential Cooking Skills Taught in Culinary School
Most home cooks wish we could afford culinary school. Not necessarily to get into the restaurant industry, but to “sharpen” our kitchen skills. Recently attending a cooking school function, I learned exactly what the syllabus of a culinary school includes. Here are 5 basic cooking skill elements taught in culinary school. I. Knife Skills for Cooking Knives are the most important tool in your kitchen. Using them properly and having proper technique will provide less risk of injury, faster prep times and better results in your cooking. When using a knife, watch the non-knife hand, keeping the food steady. The knife tip never leaves the cutting board surface. Use the…
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Worldly Spices and Flavors
As home cooks and gardeners, we know plant growth and agriculture directly relate to geography and climatic conditions. For this reason, herbs and spices directly influence a region’s culinary fare. When creating delicious dishes at home, it is important home chefs familiarize themselves with the different herbs and spices. Through experimentation and practice, you will find yourself developing a feel for seasonings that will enable you to produce more consistently good flavor in your meals. Basic Principals for Herbs and Spices There are some basic guidelines in using spices and culinary flavors. The most important principal is herbs and spices should enhance the natural flavor of food, rather than dominate…
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Crushing My Craving For Pasta
Foodies, I am still battling my love for PASTA. Despite my recent doctor’s advice, see my post http://joannsfoodbites.com/ways-to-lower-bad-cholesterol-triglycerides/ I am still cooking it at least once a week (okay, it was twice last week). Believe me, the Lightlife plant-based, soy product was great, but I can’t travel 30 miles to the nearest store for it, on a regular basis. Imagine my jubilation, when I saw an advertisement for a new Dr. Oz show titled… END THE WAR ON PASTA! Food journalist, Mark Schatzker, who wrote, The Dorito Effect: The Surprising New Truth About Food and Flavor was the guest, who explained a new research study released in the Nature’s Nutrition and…
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Lightlife’s Savory Plant-Based Food Innovations
As I mentioned at the beginning of the year, one of the biggest food trends for 2018 will be the expansion of plant-based food innovations, such as plant protein sources and Lightlife is one of the pioneers. Read my Food Trends for 2018 article here Plant-based diets are dominating the food world. Several manufactures are diving head first into using science to manipulate plant-based ingredients resulting as innovative products. Lightlife uses plant proteins, such as soy and beans to create delicious, healthy food choices for those wanting to steer away from meat based protein sources. What is Lightlife? In 1979, Lightlife was created to provide protein alternatives to vegetarians. However,…
