Jersey Eating

New Jersey is known for it's diners and dives. Yet it is also known for its'  fresh produce and artesanal foods. If you don't know where to get all of Jersey's best, then check out the April issue of New Jersey Monthly (on line too) It gives a comprehensive guide to where to go and what to buy and eat.

New Jersey Monthly, as with other state centered magazines, always dedicate tow issue to local produce along with a state wide guide to every county's best restaurants. The Garden State was just that and in some areas still is. NJM has one article on where to find the best farms and markets. One mentioned is Dearborn Farms,an all inclusive stand on Route 35 in Holmdel. This is one of my all time favorites places to buy fresh fruits and vegetables along with fresh made breads and cake. Another market mentioned is the famed Delicious Orchards which is one of the state's oldest. This is a great place to visit, especially after a day at the beach. It has acres of orchards along with the original store in which to find everything from fresh picked fruit to home made cold and hot cider.(along with cider doughnuts too!)

The magazine gives a special nod as well to some of the artesanal food businesses. One is the Cherry Grove Farm and Creamery. It's rare that the state is associated with a creamery. Usually other states like New York and Wisconsin are known for their rich dairy farms and products. This one, located in Lawrenceville, relies on its' cows to give the main ingredient for hand wrought cheeses.freshly laid eggs can be bought in Beach Plum Farm in West Cape May, another artesanal industry, along with fresh cherry  tomatoes and greens.Want bigger eggs?NJM features the state's only ostrich farm, located in the western NJ towns of Lafayette and Hardyston. Todd Applebaum,originally a Northern NJan owns and operates and provides both the meat and live birds to restaurants and zoos

If you're a Garden Stater or just visiting ,pick up the April issue of New Jersey monthly. Discover the treats the state has to give.It's not just diners , full of mammoth entrees but gourmet and organic dining. It's fresh food raised right.

A Healthy, Tasty Easter

Tomorrow is Easter and for all my readers have a good and healthy one. Indulge a little in chocolates (it wouldn;t be the same without them). Don't go too wild on the Peeps or anything too marshmallow-y. Ditto with the jelly beans which are pure refined sugar.

Revel in the greens of the season. This is the start of the asparagus one and every Easter dinner should have a dish of either roasted or baked stalks. They are tasty and a great addition to any table. The same can be said for fennel. Make a tasty and cool fennel salad with a simple lime and olive oil dressing for a fresh Spring flavor. Go easy on the ham and baked beans, They're loaded with salt and also nibble at the cakes and cookies sparingly. Finish with an iced herbal tea to refresh yourself and kick back  to enjoy the pretty clothes and colors.

Have a good Easter and a healthy one too. Eat wisely . Don't gobble up all the sweets. Go for the veggies instead and enjoy and observe the day..

Good Friday And Fasts

today is Good Friday. Most Christians around the world have already observed the day. What you can do is try fasting or light eating along with donating to your local or church pantry. Even skipping a small meal can help the body, purifying it. if you do feel hungry then broth and crackers can alleviate the pangs.Most religions do have a fasting period. it's not only a sign of respect, it 's also helps the body detoxify. however you observe this Good Friday, keep in mind those who do not have. donate whatever food you have to your local food pantry.

Spicing Up Kid Favorites

Little ones are either the best or the worst food critics. They know exactly what they like and make no bones about it. Unfortunately with their ideas comes a refusal to try new or improved dishes.This limits their palates and their diet.However all it takes is some craftiness and creativity to make them change their minds.

Melissa Clark realized this with her four year old daughter. She explores her kid's diet and passion for only white foods in her New York Times Dining column A Good Appetite. Dahlia loves baked mac as any kid does along with chicken pot pie. Her mother, being more adventurous decides to spice these up. It is hard though because kids,even teen agers, have a set idea of what they want to eat. There are no variations. They like it because it is comfort food.Anything else would be blasphemy.

How does Ms. Clark change it up. With the baked mac and cheese, cheddar is replaced with creamy marscapone and the slightly sharp and biting mix of Parmesan and Reggiano cheese. For silkiness, she adds some Brie too and nutmeg for a different  flavor. Her daughter likes this, thankfully  as she does her mother's twist on chicken pot pie. This is slightly adult with the addition of white wine along with garlic, celery root and leeks. This recipe is a great one for introducing new veggies to kids. She also has another kid classic rice pudding, this made with golden raisins  and cardamon for zest.

It's tough to change anyone's tastes, especially a kid's. Yet that little tongue can be persuaded into trying new flavors by subtly changing the recipe.It may be sneaky but it's a great way of getting even the most sutbborneest and youngest food critic to eat and accept.

Tasty Easter Breads

with Easter comes an array of traditional and delicious foods. One of the oldest and and flavorful is the egg bread. This is either a braid or circle studded with brightly colored Easter eggs. usually it's the centerpiece for many a holiday table. the bread was the subject of an article by Dave Tanis in today's New York Times Dining section.The City Kitchen columnist creates the most traditional bread possible.He adds the Old World blend of currents and raisins along with dried cranberries,and almonds.for added aroma he throws in caraway and anise seeds.As for the eggs, he recommends putting them in after the dough's second rising.Braiding is pretty easy but if you're making a few, then sticks to loaves and circles. Easter bread can be a L natural too.To start with you can dye the eggs in beet juice, onion skin and turmeric for a more natural color.Instead of white flour try whole wheat flour instead. You could also vary the recipe too with honey instead of refined white sugar.Sub in more nuts in place of the raisins and currents too.There are also recipes for dairy free holiday breads too.Cinnamon is also used for flavoring instead of the dried fruit. Easter is a tome of sweet treats and old traditions.Bake a bread studded with colored eggs to celebrate this.Whether decadent or healthy it is a true holiday gift.

A Better Ham

Ham is a holiday must have, especially for Easter. It's always the highlight of the meal, with its' tender pink flesh and crispy outer skin. Yet it can be dangerous to those with health problems or for those on a diet. There are ways to create a better, ham without sacrificing the rich flavor.


Surprisingly the meat is considered healthy on its' own.It's considered a lean meat with only 190 calories a slice along with being almost fat Free.. Yet what you put on a whole ham can dramatically make it not only taste good but also turn it into a health hazard.Most cooks glaze it with a variety of sweet toppings from ginger ale to brown sugar. Let's face it ,it does add a nice contrast to the meat's inherent saltiness. Instead try glazing it with whiskey or brandy. Ninety per cent of the alcohol burns off, leaving a smoky interesting flavor. Either that or cut down on the fruit juice , honey or brown sugar.

Another way to make your Easter ham better for you is cutting down on the salt.Don't soak it with high sodium chicken broth.Presoak in water instead to leech out the excess salt. Also dont' serve it with Worcestershire salt.Think a light mayonnaise or even a low calorie mustard on the side. Serving a smaller ham where everyone receives smaller portions is another way of making a meal more nutrition friendly. That way everyone can concentrate on the yummy spring vegetables like asparagus and greens.

A holiday ham doesn;t have to be unhealthy. It can be a nutritous part of your Easter dinner along with still being the jewel of the table.It willbe not only good for you but still the alluring centerpiece everyone looks forward to eating.

Healthy Easter Fun

With Easter comes the usual treats, most often Peeps and chocolate eggs along with jelly beans. These are fun and colorful however they're full of refined sugar not to mention empty calories. They're only filling the plastic eggs not your little ones' tummies. What to do ,Make your Easter egg hunt healthy.

Instead of filling the eggs with candy, think fruit or even veggies. If there's no allergy problem then, think about putting in berries such as strawberries and blueberries. Blackberries can be fun too as long as their not too sour. You may want to try raspberries instead Grapes are another fun fruit to tuck into the plastic eggs. You can add one kind or two for variety. There's enough sweetness to satisfy those little sweet tooths but enough goodness to satisfy mom and dad.

Veggies are another fun item to add to eggs.Make sure, like the ,fruit, that they're organic. Try baby carrots (perfect for all those faux bunnies out there) along with broccoli and cauliflower florets. Pepper strips may dry out so try cherry or grape tomatoes instead.  Dried peas or even salty edameme can also be used for some exotic and exciting tastes.If you cna fit them, add two sorts  of veggies for fun

Make your Easter egg hunt healthy this year by subbing in fresh fruit and veggies instead of candy. The hunters will definitely benefit from this burst of natural goodness. There won't be that hyper activity and all around, everyone, including the folks will feel better.