Mexicali Grouper plus a nutty giveaway {recipe video}

Last month, I teamed up with Tropical Foods to create videos for four AWESOME recipes, one of which was created by yours truly!  I posted the video for Buffalo Bleu Tailgate Bars last week, and today’s recipe video features Mexicali Grouper.  Take it from the girl who hates fish – this recipe makes for a delicious crusted fish with big bold flavors courtesy of the Mexicali Fire snack mix used coat the fillets.

Mexicali Grouper Recipe PDF

Speaking of BIG FLAVORS, Tropical Foods just rolled out their How Bold Can You Go site, which features all of their boldest nuts and mixes.  Check it out!  And don’t forget, if you see something you like, you can place orders online at The Nut House.

Grouper

Now onto the fun part! Tropical Foods has generously offered to give three lucky readers gift baskets, chock full of the bold nuts and snack mixes used in the recipe videos!  There are several ways to enter–check out the rafflecopter below!  The giveaway ends at midnight on June 15, 2013.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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What’s a whole grain, anyway? {plus a humongous whole grain goodies giveaway}

These days, as gluten intolerances become increasingly common and more folks are pledging the Paleo diet, the healthfulness of whole grains is a debated subject.  I cannot speak for a globe of eaters on this (or any other) issue, but I can share what works best for me.  Over the years, I’ve struggled with blood sugar issues (mostly low sugar crashes) and through trial and error, I’ve determined my body functions at its best when its has several small meals spaced throughout the day, each consisting of protein, fat, and carbohydrates.  It’s no secret I love carbs.  Say it with me: CARBS ARE NOT THE ENEMY!  (In fact, carbs are ENERGY.)  Not all carbohydrates are created equal though, and that’s where whole grains come into play.

 

What’s a whole grain?

WholeGrainKernel_WGC_0In their natural state, grains consist of three parts: endosperm, germ, and bran.  When a grain is processed or refined, it is stripped of its bran and germ, leaving only the endosperm.  This gives the grain a smoother texture and improves shelf life, but leaches nutrients in the process.  Food manufacturers often add fillers (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, iron, etc.) to enhance the nutritional stats of the processed grains.  The resulting “enriched” products are grossly inferior to whole grains.

According to WebMD (and a million other sites and research studies), a diet rich in whole grains has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some forms of cancer PLUS improve bowel health (thank you very much!).

 

Some common types of whole grains:

*starred whole grains are gluten-free

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  • Barley
  • Buckwheat*
  • Corn* (including cornmeal & popcorn)
  • Millet*
  • Oats

 

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  • Quinoa*
  • Rice* (brown, wild)
  • Rye
  • Sorghum*
  • Wheat (includes spelt, farro, bulgur, wheatberries, and more)

 

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What am I eating?! Navigating the nutrition panel

Shopping for whole grains can be really challenging.  It’s great to shop with intention and desire to purchase whole grains, but cryptic nutrition labels can easily confuse a buyer.  The Whole Grains Council chart below is an excellent tool to assist you in finding whole grain products.

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4 delicious egg recipes to make this weekend {recipe}

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The awesome folks at Oxo recently sent me a sweet set of kitchen egg tools.  The trio includes a 3-in-1 egg separator, hand-cranked egg beater, and a flip & fold omelet turner!  Since I make eggs for breakfast  e  v  e r  y     d  a  y ,  I’ve put these tools through the ringer.  Now, I try not to play favorites, but when it comes to these gadgets I’ve got two.  Favorite #1:  the egg separator.  This little guy hooks onto the side of your bowl, which is simultaneously simple and amazing.  Buh-bye hands covered in gross egg whites!  Favorite #2:  the egg beaters!  They’re super handy when making a big frittata or egg casserole, plus with the push of a button your can remove the (dishwasher safe!) beaters.

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I’ve had a set of these Oxo egg beaters since I found them in my Food Blog Forum swag bag last year, so….

I’m giving away one set of Oxo Egg Beaters!  

Check out the rafflecopter at the bottom of the post to enter the giveaway.  And in the mean time, here are four delicious egg recipes to try this weekend!

Crustless Quiche (with Yogurt!)

Crustless Quiche with Yogurt! // FerventFoodie.com

 

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Cooking with Chobani {giveaway}

It’s NEW YEAR’S EVE!  Which means everyone’s focus has shifted from Christmas cookies and eggnog to carrot sticks and excessive exercise.  Well, that’s where our heads will be after one last night of cocktail wieners and glasses of bubbly, that is.

This past month has flown by.  I guess that’s typical for December, isn’t it?  From Thanksgiving to Christmas, it’s all about squeezing in time with friends and family and bouncing from one party to the next.  The end of the year always leaves me with a bit of PHD (post-holiday depression).  You too?

One of my favorite holiday get-togethers this year was a cooking event at the Chobani offices here in Charlotte.  Several local food bloggers and friends joined up for a night of wine, laughs, and yogurt-filled recipes cooked under the supervision of Chobani’s own chef, Tim Reardon.

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If you aren’t familiar with Chobani, stop what you’re doing and head to the grocery store.  Chobani makes some of the best Greek yogurt on the market.  I’m partial to the pomegranate.

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Charlotte Rock & Read 5K {giveaway}

As a kid I LOVED to read.  My ideal Saturday was spent curled up in bed with a good Goosebumps book, followed a couple years later by marathon Fear Street sessions.  Then I went to college, and my love of reading was overshadowed by the ominous presence of textbooks in my life.  I managed to squeeze in the Harry Potter series toward the end of college, just before the CPA exam invaded my life, leaving in its wake an intense repulsion for books.  I guess you could say I broke up with books for a few years.  I didn’t really feel like I was missing out on anything until someone introduced me to the Twilight saga…  and that old love came fluttering back ripping me away from that desolate bookless place.  I never looked back.  Next to work and home, the library is the place I visit most each week.  Memoirs, books on cd, cookbooks, books about chefs, books about learning to cook, books about anything involving food whatsoever—all of them have a daily presence in my life now, and I can’t imagine how I survived without them.

Since moving to Charlotte, my love of the library has exploded.  This could be due to their awesome iPhone app, or that I can walk there on my lunch break, or that when I tweet the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, they tweet back.  (yes!)

Given this obsession, I’m very excited to participate in the 3rd annual Charlotte Rock & Read 5K on Saturday November 3rd.  All proceeds for the race benefit the books and materials budget of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.  Besides the great cause, the Charlotte Rock & Read is an awesome race to run because there will be music at every mile and a festival at the finish line including FOOD and MIMOSAS!

ROCK AND READ

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