RSS Feed

Archive: May, 2009

0

White Barbecue Sauce ? Gourmet Bbq Sauce At It’s Best

Barbecuing is not what it used to be. When growing up the only time that my family would start up the grill or smoker was in the summer and on the weekends. Today, people barbecue every night and all year round. Barbecue sauces have come along way since then as well. There used to be only a couple of choices at your local market. But now with the invention of “super” markets the amount barbecue sauces you can buy locally has grown significantly. For those gourmet barbecue sauces the web is probably the only place you will find these unique sauces. If you don’t live in the Alabama area the only place you will find traditional White BBQ Sauce like Big Bob Gibson’s is on the web or of course you can try to make it yourself.

In Alabama Barbecue traditional Sauce uses Mayonnaise as its base rather than tomato sauce, vinegar, or any of the other more typical barbecue sauce bases. It is clearly a region favorite. Bob Gibson of Decatur, Alabama is credited with the invention the white sauce back in 1925. Friends and family were first treated to this secret-recipe sauce on chicken and pork at weekend barbecues where boards were nailed to trees for tables. Today, this famous mayonnaise-based condiment is traditionally employed to baste chicken, seafood and pork.

White BBQ Sauce is as synonymous with the state with Alabama as the legendary “BAMA” football program. White BBQ Sauce’s intriguing flavor complements salads and is a superb baste for chicken, pork and turkey. You can also use White Sauce as an ingredient to add an extra kick to your favorite slaw or potato salad. However, because the racks of your local grocer are dominated by many incarnations of tomato-based sauces and white bbq sauce is such a regional anomaly, most people outside Alabama have not tested this concoction of flavor.

Like many barbecue sauces you want to apply this only at the very end of your grilling or smoking. It will breakdown and separate if it is heated too long. Use this sauce on chicken and turkey. It is also good on pork. Alabama White Barbecue Sauce has a tangy flavor that is a great addition to grilled foods.

White BBQ Sauce makes a unique experience. Use this recipe when grilling chicken; brush lightly over the chicken during the last few minutes of grilling. This sauce is also great for dipping; keep some sauce aside for passing at the table.

White BBQ Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:
1 quart mayonnaise
3/4 quart apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/4 tablespoon cayenne pepper
Prepared horseradish
Lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a very large blender or food processor. Blend for 1 minute, or until thoroughly mixed and sauce is smooth. Pour sauce into a large container or bowl.

categories Barbecue

0

Red And Luscious Cherries Make Tempting Desserts. Easy-to-prepare Cherry Spumoni can be a hit at parties, reunions and backyard barbecues.

It’s a great time to enjoy one of America’s favorite fruits. Whether on their own, baked in a pie, mixed in yogurt parfaits or made into ice cream, cherries are popular with people young and old.

Tart cherries, the kind most famous in pies, are seldom sold fresh because they are highly perishable.

However, canned, frozen and dried tart cherries are available all year long at supermarkets and specialty food stores. Here are some quick and delicious ways to enjoy tart cherries:

• For an energy-packed treat on summer outings, combine dried tart cherries, chopped dates, semisweet chocolate chips and honey-roasted peanuts.

• Quench your summer thirst by combining 100 percent tart cherry juice, red grapefruit juice and lemon-lime carbonated beverage. Serve over ice.

• Add color and flavor to summer fruit salads with canned or frozen tart cherries. Peaches, kiwi fruit, watermelon, cantaloupe and cherries are a great combination. Lemonade concentrate makes a good dressing for this salad.

This easy frozen treat is sure to be a hit with family or friends.

Cherry Spumoni

2 cups heavy cream

2/3 cup (7 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling

1/2 cup slivered almonds, chopped

1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Combine heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla in a large bowl; mix well. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Remove from refrigerator and beat with electric mixer or wire whisk just until soft peaks form; do not overbeat. Fold in cherry pie filling, almonds and chocolate chips. Spoon into an 8 x 8 x 2-inch pan. Cover and freeze 4 hours, or until firm. Scoop into serving dishes. Makes about 1 quart.

categories Barbecue

0

Discover A Cool Way To Eat Healthy

It’s hot. You’re at the pool. You crave something light and refreshing but don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. Why not mix things up with frozen fruit?

There’s no better time than summer to find a cool way to eat healthy. Ideal for smoothies, salsas or everyday snacking, frozen fruit has the added benefit of being just as nutritious as fresh fruit. It’s a terrific way to enhance your summer menu, with 100 percent natural frozen fruit.

“The beauty of frozen fruit is that it has nutrition benefits equal to fresh fruit plus the added value of being easy to use. You only prepare what’s needed and store the rest,” said Wild Blueberry Association nutrition expert Susan Davis, MS, RD.

According to Davis, the Food and Drug Administration considers frozen fruits nutritionally comparable to fresh, allowing frozen produce to be labeled as healthy.

Easy to prepare and serve, frozen fruit is washed and ready to eat. The picking, cleaning, dicing and chopping have already been done. Eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank either. Ounce for ounce, frozen fruit offers tremendous value compared to fresh.

Try this delicious, colorful Mango Salsa for a savory-sweet twist on summer grilling:

Mango Salsa

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Chill Time: 30 minutes

Makes 23/4 cups

2 cups Dole® Fresh Frozen Mango Chunks, partially thawed

1/2 cup finely chopped Dole Red Bell Pepper

1/4 cup finely chopped Dole Green Bell Pepper

1 tablespoon chopped Dole Green Onion

2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

2 teaspoons chopped jalapeño chiles

1 teaspoon grated lime peel

Combine mango chunks, bell peppers, onion, cilantro, chiles and lime peel in small bowl. Serve salsa at room temperature or slightly chilled. Serve over grilled chicken breasts or fish fillets. This delicious and colorful mango salsa can also be served as a dip with tortilla chips, spooned over quesadillas or tacos.

Nutrition Information Per Serving: 31 calories; 0g fat (0g sat.); 0mg cholesterol; 2mg sodium; 8g carbohydrate (1g dietary fiber, 7g sugars); 0g protein; 13% Vit A; 56% Vit C; 1% calcium; 1% iron; 3% potassium; 2% folate.

Refreshing Summer Treats

Hold on the ice and enjoy the juicy, sweet, refreshing fruits of summer!

Tropical Breeze: Get out the blender and combine low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt, Dole Fresh Frozen Tropical Gold™ Pineapple and Dole 100% fruit juice. Pour into a dessert dish for a pineapple soft serve.

Fruity Finale: Add Dole Fresh Frozen Fruit as a topping for frozen yogurt, sherbet or light ice cream.

categories Healthy Recipes

0

Fast And Healthy Family Favorites

Fast food can be healthy food if you know where to look. And the easiest place to find healthy fast food is in your kitchen.

The new “Pillsbury GOOD FOR YOU!” cookbook can help families with the daily challenge of making fast, healthy and flavorful dinners despite today’s busy schedules. The book features 170 healthy, delicious recipes that contain less fat, sugar and salt than regular recipes. All can be prepared in 35 minutes or less, with more than half of the recipes taking 20 minutes or less. Here’s a tasty “Super Express” sample:

Spicy Chinese Chicken Tacos

Start to Finish: 20 Minutes

1 box (4.6 oz) taco shells (12 shells)

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (3/4 lb), cut into thin, bite-size strips

1 teaspoon grated gingerroot

1 small clove garlic, minced

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon honey

1 large green onion, sliced

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

11/2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce

1. If desired, heat taco shells as directed on box.

2. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, gingerroot and garlic; cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until lightly browned.

3. Stir in soy sauce, honey, onion and pepper flakes to coat. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in center.

4. To serve, place scant 1/4 cup chicken mixture in each taco shell. Top each with lettuce. Serve immediately.

6 servings (2 tacos each)

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 180, Calories from Fat: 60% DV, Total Fat 7g, Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 1.5g, Cholesterol 35mg, Sodium 260mg, Total Carbohydrate 18g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 4g, Protein 14g, Vitamin A 4%, Vitamin C 0%, Calcium 4%, Iron 6%, Exchanges: 1 Starch, 11/2 Very Lean Meat, 1 Fat; Carbohydrate Choices: 1

Besides delicious recipes, the cookbook also contains quick tips for better nutrition, on-the-go dinner ideas, easy-to-assemble fruit desserts and a pantry makeover. Look for it wherever books are sold.

categories Healthy Recipes