The January Dilemma Fresh Frozen Or Canned

 Trying to eat healthy in January can be a hard deal. It;s not that we're surrounded by cakes and chips.It's that fresh fruit and veggies are slim picking this time of year. Yes you ca pick up eveyrhing but are they tasty enough? Would a canned or frozen version be better?

This is the problem for all home chefs in colder climes this time of year. Most produce are well past their harvest in the northern part of the US and Canada. Most of the veggies that were in full bloom during the summer are coming in from Mexico and Central America now. Tomatoes are one of these and though they're native to that area, the winter versions are not as red or as delicious as the ones coming from local area farms. It's tough to make a good salad with ones that are watery and bland tasting. You could buy sundried  tomatoes for a different taste but these can be too much after a while. That burst tomato sauce that usually tastes heavenly with the fresh grape variety but has a lesser flavor when the imported ones are used. The best bet is using canned like Muir Glen for any kind of sauce. As for broccoli it's growing in abundance in north central Florida. Luckily it's a veggie that's OK frozen. The frozen version is actually better for broccoli salads . Steaming it helps to improve the flavor . This also works for string beans too. Skip the canned versions and go straight for the frozen green beans.

Fruit is a bit harder.It's hard to find really good fruit now. There are apples which are coming in from Washington State right now. They're still harvested in the fall but put into a controlled setting to prevent rotting. That's why we still have such a variety to choose from. Grapes still are being harvested in southern California along with Mexico. The good thing about grapes is that they become raisins. If you're not happy with what your grocery has , then get a cannister of raisins. They're also rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals plus they're high in iron.  Citrus has always been the "go to winter fruit". Definitely have more of them in your life.They're also good freshly juiced which you can use for a delicious , fresh drink or perfect in both savory and sweet dishes. The same goes for tangerines as well. Have plenty of these around too. What about those fany little bowls of strawberries and melons  that are seen gracing grocery shelves. Both are probably coming from Mexico and they 're OK if you want a low calorie snack. You could buy frozen strawberries but these are actually better in smoothies and desserts. As for the melon look to winter melons like casaba for a fresher bite.

A New Year's resolution is to eat healthy. It hard to do when it's January. yet you can find your helping of fruit and veggies for better eating.

The Flavor Of Naples

One of the best comfort foods to have is any dish from Naples. The recipes are redolent with rich spices and freshly picked and made ingredients. It is worth revisiting the cuisine and the solace it brings.

Every Neopolitan family has a recipe for tomato sauce. They may all seem the same yet each family recipes varies sometimes slightly - sometimes a lot.One favorite recipe involves the inclusion of pork in the "meat" sauce.Usually called Bolognese by fancier restaurants many Southerners  just call their meat and it can have anything from sausage to ground chuck. Some add pork, usually lean ground into it too for more flavor. It give the flavor a sweeter, richer taste. You can also add pancetta or as it's occasionally  called Italian bacon. It's actually pork belly that's been cured  like bacon then cold smoked, or partially cooked. It melts into the sauce and gives it a richer flavor. Of course, the most important part are the tomatoes themselves. Many use fresh when they're in season, but most home chefs usually go for San Marzano ones. What is the best one here in the States? Surprisingly a panel of New York Times Food and the online zine Wire Cutter picked Target's Market Pantry sauce as the best. You can also try Muir Glen along with Stop & Shop Nature's Promise Organic Sauce and tomato paste.

Neopolitan kids go wild for mozzarella in carrozza. These are a kind of grilled cheese- croque Monsieur sandwich that's filled with gooey, melted cheese. It starts with white bread and mozzarella.  You can cut off the crusts if you like. The sandwich is then cut in half and dipped into a bath of beaten egg and a sliced garlic clove. The next step is dredging the triangles into breadcrumbs and frying in a quarter of an inch olive oil. Fry until the crusts or ends are brown and the cheese is oozing out. You can use the homemade sauce for dipping for a kind of pizza taste. To vary it , slather a layer of pesto on the mozzarella or add a slice of prosciutto or a couple of anchovies. Anchovies also figure in a savory zeppoli. (Some Neopolitan home chefs also put a bit of prune with this for a sweet -savory flavor). Zeppoli are usually a sweet treat , dusted with powdered sugar after being deep fried. However they can also be savory , with a simple dough of flour, water and yeast. The dough is proofed for two hours then rolled into balls. An anchovy filet is placed in the center and then the balls are fried in six cups of oil. Serve the golden puffs with hot homemade sauce.

There is nothing like Neopolitan comfort food. It is soothing and savory, perfect for these times. Create their best recipes for a delicious lunch,dinner or even snack.

Per Rose Russo Garguilo. Mille grazie per avermi insegnato alcune delle migliori ricette.