Rockin’ Recipes: Tuna Potato Salad

With summer in full swing, many of you may be hosting barbecues, picnics, and parties.  This week, Chef Scott Leibfried shows us a twist on a traditional favorite…Tuna Potato Salad.  This dish is a good source of Omega3′s and Protein, and low in calories and fat.  I really like that spices, herbs, mustard and vinegar take the place of mayonnaise.

INGREDIENTS:
1 can (5oz) Bumble Bee Prime Fillet Solid White Albacore in Water, drained and chunked
1 medium red potato, cooked and sliced
1 medium white or red potato, cooked and sliced
5 tablespoons white balsamic vinaigrette or your favorite dressing
3 teaspoons country Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
¼ medium red onion, thinly sliced
salt and pepper , to taste
4 large iceberg lettuce leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

DIRECTIONS:
Boil sliced potatoes until cooked tender.  In a large bowl, combine two (2) tablespoons of the balsamic vinaigrette with mustard, dill, red onion, salt and pepper.  Add sliced potatoes and toss until completely coated.  Place lettuce on plate and pour vinaigrette to coat, add the potato salad and top with albacore tuna.  Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over to finish tuna potato salad and top with fresh chopped basil.

For more tuna-inspired recipes, just visit Bumble Bee Foods.

{Photo Credit: Bumble Bee Foods}

No compensation was received for this post.  As a member of the Bee Squad, I receive product samples and information.  The company is also sponsoring my trip to BlogHer 2010.

Summer Barbeques With Fresh & Easy

Over the weekend, our June gloom lifted a bit and I was reminded that summer really is in full swing.  One of the things I enjoy about summer is getting together with friends.  My husband and I are foodies, so our get togethers usually include a diverse array of eats and treats.

One of my favorite markets offers a variety of affordable, tasty foods to spice up summer picnics, barbecues, and gatherings.  To celebrate summer, Fresh & Easy has teamed up with award-winning grilling expert Neil Strawder (a.k.a. Bigmista) to barbeque for visitors to the store throughout the summer.  He will serve some of Fresh & Easy’s barbecue favorites and share his secrets to grilling.  Here is the list of participating locations:

10930 Rosecrans Ave

Norwalk, CA  90650

Time:  5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

2121 W. Main St. Suite 300

Alhambra, CA  91801

Time:  4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

19350 – A W. Nordhoff St.

Northridge, CA  91324

Time:  4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

*The first 100 people will receive a reusable bag.

Not only are their foods affordable, they’re free from artificial flavors, colors, trans fats, and mostly free from high fructose corn syrup.  Most of their condiments are under $3.00 (where can you get Organic Ketchup for $1.79?).  Their breads are one of my favorites because they are baked daily by Il Fornaio.  The store also offers a variety of whole grain breads if you’re looking to eliminate white flour.

Fresh & Easy’s desserts are always really yummy.  If you’re looking for something a bit on they healthier side, try their Soft Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies with Walnuts.  And if you’re looking for a great-tasting, affordable wine, check out The Vine Yard Pinot Gris ($6.99).  You can pair it with chicken, fish, and salad dishes and although it’s not sweet per se, it’s a blend of pear, honeydew melon, and citrus flavors which gives it a bit of a “fruity” flavor.

Here is a great recipe for a brine and a savory rub to help you get your grill on (courtesy of Fresh & Easy and Bigmista):

Brine:

1/2 cup salt

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 T. allspice

2 T. garlic powder

1/2 gallon water

Put all ingredients in a large plastic bag or a 16-quart pot and soak chicken for up to 4 hours in the refrigerator. Discard the brine and rinse the chicken.  Pat dry with paper towels and rub with a flavorful marinade.

Savory Rub

4 parts kosher salt

4 parts garlic powder

2 parts black pepper

1 part cayenne

Can be used with any type of meat.

No compensation was received for this post.  Product samples were provided to facilitate this review.

Gourmet Recipes With Ingredients That Might Surprise You

Last month, I had the privilege of attending a media event hosted by Gerber.  I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the brand and meet with one of their nutrition experts.  My daughter has been eating solids for about a month now and just loves to eat.  And just like her brother, she prefers fruits over veggies.  Fortunately, Gerber offers a wide variety of Organic purees for her developmental stage.

At the event, Gerber served up a variety of light bites, utilizing their products.  I never would have guessed the recipes featured Gerber baby food because the foods were yummy!  Here are a few Gerber-inspired recipes that would make great appetizers for summer parties and picnics:

Veggie Harvest Hummus

Makes: 3 cups

Ingredients:

2 cans (15 ounces or 4 cups) garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

One 2-pack of Gerber SmartNourish 2nd Foods Organic Famer’s Market Blend With Mixed Grains

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Fresh chopped parsley (garnish)

Directions: Place garbanzo beans, baby food, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and red pepper into blender or food processor and blend for 1 minute until smooth.  For greater texture, reduce blending time by half.

Garnish with parsley.

Serve with raw vegetables, pita triangles and crackers.

“Just Peachy” Ice Cream

Makes:  8 1/2 cup servings

Ingredients:

Four 2 packs of Gerber NatureSelect 2nd Foods Peaches

1/2 cup heavy Whipping Cream

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:  Combine cream, sugar, and two containers of peaches in a small sauce pan.  Heat on low until sugar just dissolves (do not boil).  Chill.  Add remainder of peaches to cream mixture.  Pour into ice cream machine.  Freeze until creamy.  Transfer to a plastic container and freeze until hard.

Squash & Carrot Bisque

Makes: 10 4 ounce portions

Ingredients:

3-4 TBSP olive oil

1 medium size finely chopped onion

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp. red cayenne pepper

1/8 tsp. ginger

1 tsp. Knorr chicken powder seasoning

1 tsp. salt

10 tsp. sour cream (if desired for garnish)

Three 2 packs of Gerber NatureSelect 2nd Foods Squash

One 2 pack of Gerber NatureSelect 2nd Foods Carrots

Real Parmesan cheese shredded to sprinkle on top

Directions:  Heat olive oil over medium heat and saute onion. Turn down to low heat and add the purees.  Mix.  At this point, it is suggested to use a whisk as a blending tool.  Add the spices and salt. Whisk well.  Turn to medium heat and continue mixing.  Take the pot with sauce off the heat.  Add one TBSP of sour cream and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.

Tropical Medley Fruit Dip

Makes:  2 cups

Ingredients:

1 8 ounce pkg. Neufchatel cheese, softened

One 2 pack of Gerber NatureSelect 2nd Foods Banana Orange Medley

1 TBSP honey

1 tsp. grated orange peel

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:  Place cream cheese, baby food, honey, orange peel, and vanilla in medium bowl.  Beat for 1 minute or until smooth.  Serve with fresh fruit slices at room temperature.

In other news, Gerber is currently conducting a Photo Search.  Gerber Generation judges are looking for photos of children from birth to preschool that demonstrate expression, charm, and uniqueness.  The child who’s photo best meets the above criteria will receive the grand prize of a $25,000 scholarship and have an opportunity to star in a Gerber advertisement.

To enter, simply visit Gerber and upload a picture of your child under the appropriate Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Milestone Symbol.  Approximately one month after submission and approval, parents can ask friends, family members etc. to vote for their child’s picture in the Gerber Generation gallery.  There will also be opportunities to win monthly prizes including a Flip Slide HD video camera and a featured spot on the Gerber site.  Parents can enter a different photo each month through November 30, 2010.  Voting is open until December 31, 2010 and the grand prize winner will be announced around January 10, 2011.

No compensation was received for this post.

Chef Scott’s Summer Recipes

In the coming weeks, I have at least 3 parties to plan..and I am aiming to do some of the food preparation myself.  Since our summers are extremely warm, I try to serve “cold” foods when entertaining. I like to transform ordinary salads into meals. And that’s just what Chef Scott Leibfried does with his two tuna-themed recipes:  Salmon and Cucumber Salad and Italian Tuna Salad.

Bumble Bee currently has six tuna-themed recipes by Chef Scott Leibfried and they’re still adding to the collection.

No compensation was received for this post.  As a member of the Bee Squad, I receive product samples and information.  The company is also sponsoring my trip to BlogHer 2010.

Food Network’s Spice & Easy

Many nights, after the kiddos are asleep, my husband and I will spend some time catching up on the shows we’ve recorded over the week.  My husband, in particular, is a huge Food Network fan, Tivo ing everything from Iron Chef to Good Eats.

Food Network recently debuted their new series, Spice & Easy, which is hosted by Denver-based spice shop owner Janet Johnston.  Janet and her husband Mike own four Colorado locations of Savory Spice Shop in Denver, Littleton, Boulder, and Lowry Town Center.  The shop is home to more than 140 seasonings (original recipes hand-blended on-site), spices, extracts, and sauces.

Janet brings her culinary experience, passion, and knowledge of spices to the Food Network in Spice & Easy.  I know for a fact that I under utilize spices.  Spices can transform a traditional recipe to create unique flavors, and make a great substitute for salt and fats.  If you’re intimidated by spices (like me), this is definitely the show for you.  Janet takes classic recipes and demonstrates how easy it is to reinvent them simply by creatively using spices.  Here are the episodes set to air in the coming weeks:

Premiering Saturday, May 22^nd at 9:30am ET/PT

“Spice Gurus”

Janet has a menu spiced to perfection with dishes inspired by her employees, the “Spice Gurus.” She starts with Mile High Smokey Mac n’ Cheese made with sweet paprika, hickory smoked salt, and marjoram. Then, a sweet Maple Garam Masala Glazed Ham with an orange juice-based glaze. And, the Sweet Potato Bisque with a kick of cayenne and allspice served with Sage & Savory Croutons proves to be a crowd favorite. For dessert, it’s all about the homemade Chocolate Mulled Wine Sauce to serve over indulgent Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

Premiering Saturday, May 29^th at 9:30am ET/PT

“BBQ Challenge”

Janet rewards Savory Spice Shop’s BBQ Challenge winner with a meal she’ll never forget. First up are finger-licking good Ribs with Peanut Barbeque Sauce made with Chinese five spice and creamy peanut butter. Next, Janet prepares marinated Chile Glazed Shrimp with Pineapple Ginger Salsa topped with sesame seeds and tasty Celery Root Slaw with wasabi and honey. For dessert, her Grilled Spiced Sugar Bananas with Spiced Nuts include Saigon cinnamon and allspice.

I had an opportunity to ask Janet a few questions about using spices.  Here is a recap of my interview with her:

Caryn:   I’ve never used spices before.  I typically just use salt and pepper.  How do I go about incorporating more spices into my dishes?

Janet: Begin with a particular spice profile you know you like, for example, cinnamon. Experiment with all different types of cinnamon and use it in different ways. Make it savory one meal, then make it sweet the next. You could also begin looking into the type of cooking you like. If you love Italian, start researching the spices around that type of food (i.e. oregano).  Don’t be afraid to try something new.

Caryn: Do you have ideas for getting children accustomed to spices? I tend to make the same boring dishes for my kids.

Janet: I don’t have children, but I have friends with kids. Kids amaze me because they know about foods (i.e. sushi) and flavors that I didn’t know about until I was in my 20s. Children’s palates are more diverse than when I was a child.

Many parents hide things in foods, but I don’t think it’s necessary.  Educate and introduce children to spices by starting with things that are mellow.  For example, add maple sugar and a touch of black pepper to a yellow curry and put it on pork chops.  You can use sweet to get children interested in other types of spices.

Here is a little intro to the Food Network’s new show, Spice & Easy:

Want more info about spices?  Check out the Food Network’s 20 Questions for Janet piece on their site.

No compensation was received for this post.  I had an opportunity to interview Janet Johnston with several bloggers and journalists in the industry via phone.

Cooking Made Easy With Recipe Inspirations *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Annette D. Congrats!

I just looove to cook (can you sense the sarcastic undertone?).  And because many nights of the week, my husband does not get home in time to cook dinner, I’m forced to tackle this feat.  I’ve had numerous kitchen disasters (Vanilla Soymilk Alfredo anyone?) so I stick to basic dishes like pasta with ground turkey breast, chicken with vegetables, and fish with rice.  Boring right?  But those dishes are practically impossible to mess up.

Enter Recipe Inspirations, a collection of top recipes from McCormick which include a recipe card and six pre-measured spices/herbs to achieve the perfect flavored dish.  Before I actually tried the product I was excited.  I was on a conference call discussing spices recently, and confirmed what I had suspected…I don’t use nearly the amount or variety of spices available.  Spices can add flavor to dishes and help cut back on the amount of salt and fats (i.e. butter) used.  Recipe Inspirations puts a unique twist on traditional recipes and can help break the lull of eating the same thing over and over again.

There are many instances where I have and will pay for convenience.  Cooking is right up there at the top of the list.  To have a recipe and the correct type and amount of spices on one card is brilliant.  At present, McCormick offers six varieties of Recipe Inspirations.  All of them call for fresh, wholesome ingredients like meat and vegetables.  Prep time averages to be around 15 minutes with cook time under 30 minutes.  So in less than an hour, you’ll have a meal you may not have served before.

Light Summer Snacks Featuring Melba Toast

Have you ever had an opportunity to try Melba Toast?  I know it’s hard to believe, but up until a week or so ago, I had never tried this crunchy little snack (and they’ve been around for 80 years!).  They’re great for snacking but I actually like the idea of using them as substitutes for higher calorie breads in recipes.  They’re available in eight flavors, four of which contain whole grains.  Here is a tuna recipe I found on their site that was actually really good (it’s dairy and egg free so my son is able to eat this):

Tuna Classic

Serves 4

4 – 3oz packets of White Albacore Tuna, fully cooked
2 Squirts Lemon Juice
1 1/2 Tablespoon finely diced Bermuda Onion (Red Onion)
1-2 stalks celery, finely diced (optional)
1/2 Tablespoon Garlic powder
2 medium dill pickles, chopped

Combine the above ingredients and spoon onto Melba Rye Toasts
Garnish with celery leaves

For extra flare, add your favorite hot pepper sauce or a pinch of turmeric powder

You can also snack on Melba Toast with hummus or make mini bruschetta with them by adding tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and basil (season with salt and pepper if you’d like).  The most interesting recipe I saw included dipping them in chocolate!  Be sure to check out their site for more summer-inspired recipes.

Now through June 30, 2010, you can enter their “Dance Your Way to Hollywood” contest.  One winner and a guest will receive an all-expense paid trip to California which includes private lessons at 3rd Street Dance Studio and tickets to watch the television show taping (four-day, three night trip which includes air and hotel).  To enter, just visit Toast for Everyday Health.

“I wrote  this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Old London Melba Toast and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Cooking With Chef Scott

Do you ever look at a recipe in a cookbook and think to yourself…how would I ever go about recreating that?  I know I do…but I’m not the savviest when it comes to anything culinary.  Bumble Bee Foods recently launched a series of webisodes featuring Chef Scott Leibfried.  He has an impressive bio, including being featured on Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares.  Chef Scott has partnered with Bumble Bee Foods to offer a series of webisodes to demonstrate gourmet recipes using Bumble Bee products.  Now you can watch as Chef Scott demos these recipes step by step.  Here are the first two:

Tuna Roll

Thai Chili Lettuce Cups

No compensation was received for this post.  As a member of the Bee Squad, I receive product samples and information.  The company is also sponsoring my trip to BlogHer 2010.

Celebrate Summertime With S’mores *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Shawna O. Congrats!

From the looks of it, you’d probably never guess that I really enjoy camping! I remember camping in a tent at Lake Perris and waking up to being stuck in the sand while camping at Pismo Beach.  And then there was the food…Rice-A-Roni (is it still around?), Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (crazy!), barbeque chicken…and S’mores!

Hershey’s (yum!) has teamed up with Rascal Flatts (one of my favorite groups in the country music genre) to celebrate a summertime favorite…S’mores!  They recently released a free exclusive downloadable song entitled Your Day to Get Away, available at PureSmores.com.  The song, which is lively and upbeat, was written and produced for Hershey’s to celebrate S’mores.  If you’re one of the first 350,000 fans to visit the website, you can download this Rascal Flatts’ exclusive song (you’ll need to enter the UPC code from a Hershey’s Milk or Special Dark 6-pack).

So how do you make your very own S’mores?
S’mores
Ingredients:

2 HONEY MAID graham crackers
1 (1.55 oz.) HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bar (1.55 oz.)
2 large JET-PUFFED marshmallows
(amount dependent on cooking method)

Directions:

Over a Camp Fire
1. Roast one large JET-PUFFED Marshmallows slowly over a fire.
2. Place 1/2 of a HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bar on the HONEY MAID Honey Graham and then put the roasted marshmallow in the middle. Top with the other graham half.

In a Microwave Oven
1. On a small saucer, place 1/2 of a HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bar on top of one-half of a HONEY MAID Honey Graham. Add one large JET-PUFFED Marshmallow.
2. Cook in your microwave on medium for about 10-15 seconds or until marshmallows puff and grow.
3. An adult should remove the plate from the microwave, top with the other graham half and gently press down on the gooey marshmallow. Let cool a bit before eating.

In a Toaster Oven
1. Cook the layered HONEY MAID Honey Graham, 1/2 of a HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bar and one large JET-PUFFED Marshmallow on the toaster oven tray at 350 degrees until the marshmallow begins to brown.
2. Remove and top with the other graham half. Six S’mores fit most trays.

On The Grill
1. Preheat grill to medium-hot.
2. Build S’more by placing 1/2 of a HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bar and 1 large JET-PUFFED Marshmallow between two HONEY MAID Graham Cracker Squares.
3. Lightly wrap S’more in aluminum foil, then place on grill.
4. Grill 4 to 5 minutes or until marshmallow is melted.

True confession:  I make mine in the microwave because it’s quick,  and easy without any mess!

For more recipes or to view behind-the-scene footage from the new Hershey’s brand S’mores commercial starring Rascal Flatts, just visit their website.

Win It! One of you will win a S’mores package which will include Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, Graham Crackers, Marshmallows, Rascal Flatts’ newest CD Unstoppable and a S’mores skewer set. Simply visit the site. Then come back and leave me a comment with something you liked or learned on the site.  Comments will close on May 16th 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn. Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

I did not receive compensation for this post.  Product samples were provided for review and giveaway, courtesy of Hershey’s.

Bumble Bee Foods Teams Up With Chef Scott!

I’ve been keeping a little secret.  I’m going to BlogHer in New York City!  Ok…that’s not the secret.  The big secret that I have been waiting until just the right moment to tell you about is that I’m going to BlogHer as a member of the Bee Squad!  I have really enjoyed working with the Bee Squad over the past several months and am honored to be attending with the other members/bloggers.

Bargain Shopper Lady

Linda Sellers

MommyMandy

Nicole’s Nickels

Table For Five

The Thrifty Mommy

Not only are we going to represent the company, we’re going to be involved with a very special event taking place on the Thursday evening before BlogHer.  Stay tuned for all of the juicy deets!

In other “buzz” (hehe), Bumble Bee just announced a new partnership with Chef Scott Leibfried to create exclusive Bumble Bee recipes.  They’ve already finished filming 10 webisodes in which Chef Scott demos these recipes to give you tasty meal options using Bumble Bee products.  Here is a sneak peek at what’s to come:

Be sure to keep an eye out on their website for the release of the first webisode.  I’m excited to challenge myself a bit with Chef Scott’s new recipes.

I did not receive compensation for this post.  As a member of the Bee Squad, I receive product samples and information.  The company is sponsoring my trip to BlogHer ’10.

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