Kitting Out YOur College Kitchen

 It's that time of year when the kids nmove into their dorms. Some have kitchens which is a blessing. yet many of these are bare minimum.It's time to remedy that and give the cooking area a n A plus upgrade.

A lot of parents and school officials feel that students could cause a disaster if there'sa kitchen in their dorms area. Yet it would come in handy as well as teach responsibility.Some schools such as Harvard have a communal kitchen area equipped with the most basic. There are stoves, ovens and fridges but that's about it.Manhattan based New York University,, or NYU actually have apartments with full kitchen, complete with the basics and cabinets for storing pots, pans and utensils. Some just allow a microwave and a mini fridge which are enough to make simple recipes and heat up frozen foods and leftovers. A good idea is that have half the  roommates buy one appliance like the microwave and the other half buy the mini fridge. What is the best microwave for college dorms? Try Hamilton Beach  which is also the best budget wise.it's 1.1 cubic feet capacity. It can defrost which is great for those frozen lasagna from mom along with having the usual buttons for popcorn, pizza and frozen veggies.panasonic and Whirlpool also offer good and budget friendly microwaves. 

To match this is the dorm mini fridge. Which ones are the best? A mid size ones that perfect for chilling water as well as keeping yogurt and other dairy products chilled. It should be about three cubic feet. some have extra space for a freezer to store ice cube trays and small ice cream containers.Black and Decker has a good model that also has room for liter bottles and a door that can go from right to left handed and vice versa. Frigidaire is another good model and it comes with a small freezer section for frozen food and frozen treats. If your student wants crisper , hot food without all the calories then buy an air fryer. These are perfect for heating up steaks ,nuggets and all sorts of veggies. it'll give the meals a more home cooked taste too. The Ninja AF101 Air fryer is a good choice.It not only air fries but also roasts, dehydrates and reheats. The control panel is a snap to use  and the basket slides out for easy cleanup. Cosori has a sleek air fryer that would work well with any dorm.It can fry evenly and cleans up like a dream. What else is needed?easy to wash melanine plates that are sturdy and easy to wash and dry. They're also easy to store. Knives and forks can be had anywhere. Check Dollar Tree or Dollar General for very cheap sets. 

It's time to move into the dorms. Outfit them with good appliances that will make eating easy. It'll make for good eating which will lead for good studying

Celebrating The Harvest with Chakalaka

 By now everyone is tired of every tomato , pepper and squash dish under the sun. everyone has had their fill of ratatouille, gazpacho and stuffed squash boats. Yet there is another dish - different and exciting to try that involves all this mid summer veggies.

Regular contributor and chef Yewande Komolafe wrote about this dish in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section.It is a South African dish whose recipe varies from family to family. The basic recipe has to include the four elements, salt, fat ,acid heat.It is a perfect dish for the busy home chef.In its' simplest form it;'s a condiment or relish. Spoonfuls of it are placed beside meats or fish . Elaborate versions can be served with a whole egg on it.even steamed fish ,heavily laden with herbs can also top it. rice or pap, a South African porridge made with maize. It came about by migration and adaptation with versions incorporating Chiles from other parts of the continent along with masala spices from Southeast Asia and baked beans from Europe.Laborers from nearby Mozambique, Botswana,Lesotho and Eswatini (Swaziland) who worked in the mines wanted a hearty dish that would keep well over long periods and distances. were most likely responsible for it's introduction.

What's in chakalaka? According to Ms. Komolafe canned veggies and beans work well too so it can be made in the cooler months too.Use canned kidney and pinto beans,. chickpeas or black eye peas for the protein. Tender tomatoes can be replaced with fresh from the garden squash or eggplant. Starchier veggies like carrots can be replaced with cabbage or winter squash. A spoonful of tomato paste will keep the acidity. Ms Komolafe gives two recipes, one for the actual dish and one with bratwurst and caramelized onions.It's basically a stew that starts with cooking an onion in vegetable oil for three to four minutes. spices such as garam masala, garlic ginger and chiles. One teaspoon salt and half a teaspoon of pepper are added and then the tomatoes bell peppers and  the juice of one lime. Carrots are added and everything is stirred  simmered until the liquid is thickened. Add the beans if wanted, Take off the stove and then cool Chakalaka can be refrigerated for up to ten days or frozen up to three months. However it can be served hot with polenta or rice  as a healthy dinner.

Chakalaka is the perfect dish for those garden veggies. Make it as a main meal or as a side. Its a different spin on those summer harvest recipes.

Making MAHA Foods Great Again

 The MAHA - Make America Healthy Again has taken a strong hold amongst America's home chefs and moms.It's also taken a firm grasp on America's products as well. Companies from little start ups to giants like Starbucks are all aboard to try to give consumers the most natural products. Can this work? Time and consumption will tell.

Regular contributor Kim Severson explored this in today's New York Times Wednesday Food section. Thanks to RFK Jr , most food is now under the microscope as far as ingredients. Everything is suspect ,from Froot Loops to energy drinks to name a few. COmpanies know this or have known this and are amending their formulas. Pepesico is putting probiotics into Pepsi (!!) along with a small amount of cane sugar. Coke is clanging it's classic recipes once again and replacing hi fructorse corn syrup with cane sugar which it hasn't;t done in over forty years.(Adding these ingredients may improve the taste of both sodas). PepsiCo is also the parent company of Lay's and Tostitioss. Their chips will be free of artificial coloring and dyes as well although the company already has a form of this out there called Simply.These are all's natural juices and lemonades which taste like - well - homemade. Starbucks is also jumping on board with its CEO Brian Niccol meeting with Mr. Kennedy about getting rid of artificial colors and sweetness in Starbucks goods and drinks.

 Big box stores.too are embracing this novel trend.  Last year Walmart introduced a line of premium healthier items such as plant based macaroni and cheese along with snacks under the Better Good lines.Lisa Curtis who created a line of moringa - a kind of miracle plant - based  drinks has found a home in the store.. MAson Shaw who oversees what the store stocks noticed that moringa powder, found in the Walmart baking aisles was doing well. He also watched Dr, Casey Means on Tucker' Carlson's show talking about  the MAHA movement and was struck by inspiration. He called Ms. Curtis and told her that the food as medicine idea was taking off. with her help Walmart created a "Better For YOu Super food section next to the flour and sugar in 1,000 stores.It showcases such healthy foods like chia seeds, lion's mane mushrooms and Ms. Curtis Kuli KUli line. Steak n Shake, a once failing chain remade it's French fries with tallow fat instead of hydrogenated fat. It got RFK Jr's"s endorsement which brought in curious and health conscious  diners.

Diets will be changing under the Maha movement. will it help? It's too early to say but hopefully yes.

The Silky Sicilian Eggplant.

 eggplant isn't just eggplant .There are so many different kinds. Yes, there's the American, long a deep grape purple and earthy but there;'s also the Italian, Chinese and Japanese. Then there's the Sicilian. a smaller round version of the Italian, it's has a sweeter flavor  and silkier texture that you can use in all eggplant recipes.

I just discovered this thanks to my local farmer's market. It is the same as the American and Italian versions a, deep grape -y purple. 

It's in the back there , the same size as a beefsteak tomato. As you can probably guess all of these are going into one of my favorite summer dishes - stove top ratatouille. This is just cutting allthese veggies up and sauteing them in a mix fo olive oil and I Can'r Believe I'ts Not Butter. (I use generous amounts of this to really give the ratatouille a silky texture).

All the vegetables cooked up nicely and the Sicilian eggplant got tender very fast. It;'s has a sweeter taste than the American and Italian kinds. It's also has a very smooth texture that cooks up well.

This was a very good ratatouille and I think the eggplant added to it. I plan on making air fried eggplant slices with it for a tasty and fun dinner one night this week.

Get your hands on Sicilian eggplant and discover the delicious dishes you can make with it. It;s a lovely alternative to the other types . Try it for a different spin on classic recipes.

Pecan Rice A Fun Side

 Add any kind of nut to a side and it amps up the whole meal. This is true with pecan rice. It';s a tasty mix of this earthy nut and any kind of rice. Serve with with any main meal

I received he recipes in my email and it stood out. what a great side., especially to the portabello mushrooms I had as a main course tonight. It's just toasting a bag of pecans ( I bought the bag at Lidl which has an excellent of nuts for cooking and baking)

 

It';s a low roast at 300 degrees Farenheit for five minutes.I lightly salted them to bring out more of their flavor. It was then tossing them in with a mix of LIdl's garden vegetable  with pepper and plain short grain rice packs

I gave the mix a littlemore zing and moisture with the addition of Lidl's garlic powder and their olive oil.

Use the garlic powder sparingly and only use about a tablespoon or two of olive oil.

After stirring and four minutes in the microwave the dish was ready.

This was very tasty and I know i'll make it again. There are other recipes that have the rice cooked with sauteed onions and then the pecans This is something I may try in the fall with  plant based chicken. I like the idea of adding the pecans to write for a tasty side

Pecans and rice are a wonderful way to amp upa meal. Try it with any main course for a delicious meal.It adds   flavor and crunch.,

My Sister's Deli A Woodland Park Gem

 woodland Park is a beautiful suburb of Paterson ,New Jersey.it has a woodsy , almost upstate new Yoro Vibe thanks to it being located onGareett Mountain.  The area is loaded with all sorts of great eateries 

ONe of these is My Sister's Deli owned by Dorotea and Maria. This is more of a quick place to have a good  hot or cold lunch.You CNA sit and enjoy a sandwich or a hot meal with the kids. Granted the menu shortens on the weekend and you can;t get their tasty soups but the sandwiches make up for it

There are so many choices to choose from along with having customized sandwiches - which I ordered. It's big on paninis and sandwiches filled with fresh mozzarella ,tomatoes and cold cuts. You can get hot or cold of the first and they would feed two people. My sister's Deli also has a wide range of breakfast sandwiches featuring pork roll and cheese along with a wide array of omelets.

I ordered a custom sandwich of grilled chicken and tomato on a Kaiser roll. The chicken was so juicy that it deliciously soaked through the roll, amping up the flavor. The chicken was cut into bits which gave each piece a grilled crispiness. It was perfection. I could have ordered fries or onion rings with it but the sandwich itself was more than enough.I definitely will come back for a second time and many to try their chicken nuggets along with bringing home one of their many flavors of homemade muffins.

My Sister's deli is a great place to get any kind of sandwich  or meal hot ro cold. Head to the beautiful Garrett Mountain to eat here. It's worth the trip.

My Sister's Deli is located at 150 Rifle Camp Road, woodland Park ,NJ. You can reach it either by taking Route 80 west to Rifl e Camp Road or Route 46 West via Rifle Camp Road.

Are You School Ready?

 Even though it;s the steamy days of August it's time to look ahead a few weeks to the new school year? Are you ready for those pre made lunches and dinners on the run? If not , you should be.It'll be chaos in the kitchen if there;s no plan.

Starting any school year can be nerve wracking. It's not just school starting but also soccer season along with continued music and art lessons from the summer. That means quick dinners that are easy to heat up. Should you start making them now? No but you can make up some componies now. Thsi si a great time to use those tomato harvests to make sauces, both for pasta and pizza. Yes you can make a pizza sauce with fresh tomatoes. They're usually Roma tomatoes cooked with olive garlic sauce, sugar , garlic powder and white vinegar. An easy Friday dinner is spaghetti and meatballs or homemade pizzas with a toppings bar. Those tomatoes can also be turned into a delicious homemade salsa using two kinds of tomatoes, namely ROma and any other kind. Fresh onions and jalapenos are also added. Imagine this one fun weeknight supper of brick layer  nachos full of ground beef and bacon along with cheese. You could also freeze zucchini slices or zucchini noodles  - zoodles for dinner later on.This is also true for eggplant slices .Make sure that the zucchini is cooked first and cooled before putting into into the fridge.

What about those older kids heading off to college. Most freshman don;t have kitchens in their dorms so you can get them a microwave. Some schools have what's called a microFridge unit - a small area that contains a fridge, microwave and sometimes a freezer, This does allow students to create nutritious vitamin packed lunches and dinners. Before they head off to college , go food shopping with them. Show them how to create good dinners using healthy and inexpensive veggies and meats. show them how to test for ripeness and what meat cuts offer the best values for the dollar. If the kids are college seniors them they'll probably living in their first off campus apartment. Make sure they have the right gadgets and tools. They should have a good immersion blender for creating soups and sauces. A crockpot is  a must because they can make stews and chilis in the ,morning and have a hot meal when they come home for dinner. Sheet  pans are also ah must have because they can make an easy dinner with all the trimmings just on one pan. These als double as cookie trays if they want to bake.

This is the time to start planning. Make some sauces now. Test your college senior's knowledge on cooking. it'll make for an easy transition into the  new.schhol season