May is National BBQ Month!!!!

Key points for successful grilling!

Summer is just around the corner and it's time to dust off that barbeque!

Here are some tips for successful grilling-

 

 

 

The Four Keys to Successful Barbecuing

• Good preparation of the equipment and appropriate utensils
• Good marinades/seasoning - Scott's Food Products!!!!!.
• Good cooking - not burned or undercooked.
• Good accompaniments - salads, dressings, sauces, veggies.

 

 

Recommendations and Warnings

• Open the barbecue lid before starting the gas to avoid gas build-up 
• Never use the barbecue inside or in a confined space without adequate ventilation.
• Always keep water on hand in case of fire.
• Propane tanks must always be kept upright even when stored.
• When storing the barbecue at the end of the season, leave the propane tank outdoors because of the risk of explosion.
• Never start a charcoal barbecue with fuel or paraffin.

Basic Preparation Techniques

• Clean the barbecue grill after each use with a metallic brush to remove any food that may have stuck during cooking. Cleaning avoids the risk of contamination.
• Keep the meat in the refrigerator until time to cook it.
• Preheat grills for about ten minutes and oil them lightly to avoid food sticking to them.
• Place the grill as far as possible from the heat source to avoid flaming. Before cooking the food on a charcoal barbecue, wait until the briquettes are white hot.
• Degrease your meats and drain well to avoid splattering.

 

Eat yourself skinny!

Eat yourself skinny may sound like a contradiction, but, it's true!!!

Your BASAL METABOLIC RATE is the key to weight loss. The higher your metabolic rate the faster, and more efficiently your body utilizes the food you put into it.

Now, you cannot expect to lose weight by eating fast food all day long, but if you eat healthily and have 6 small meals spaced out during the day, this will go along way to speeding up your metabolism and making your digestive system more efficient. Stick to high protein, high fiber and low fat foods, snack on nuts, fruits (almonds, carrots, raisins etc)

To help increase your metabolic rate further include regular exercise. You don't have to go out and run a marathon everyday!!!! a brisk 30 min walk is sufficient to increase your heart rate and help boost metabolism. Walk to the store and carry home those shopping bags. Use the stairs at work. Small changes added into your daily routine all add up to making a BIG change to your metabolic rate and ultimately your health and weight.

You are what you eat!

 What you eat today can affect how you feel, and how you may feel years from now.
Some foods help the body’s natural disease-fighting abilities, other foods can make you lethargic and impair your digestive system.

Vitamin A helps maintain healthy teeth, bones, soft tissues, and skin. It can help prevent infections and will help keep nails and hair looking their best!
Foods that are particularly high in vitamin A include: sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, kale, and collard greens, cantaloupe, apricots,winter squash. Some spices are also high in this nutrient, including paprika, red pepper, cayenne, and chili powder.

Vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid (B9) all assist nerve function, the synthesis of DNA, and the making of red blood cells. They also help to prevent anemia.
Foods particularly high in vitamins B6 and B12 include meat, poultry, and fish, seafood, including mussels and oysters, eggs,milk.
Foods particularly high in folic acid include leafy green vegetables,poultry and certain fruit juices, including orange and grapefruit.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a powerful antioxidant that protects the health of cells and improves iron absorption. It’s also important in promoting healthy teeth and gums, healing wounds, and helping the body resist infection.
Foods particularly high in vitamin C include papaya, citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, dark leafy greens like kale, mustard greens, and chard.

Vitamin D is a unique vitamin because it can also be created by the body from sunlight. It’s critical for bone health, immune system health, and calcium absorption. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), this vitamin is also associated with a possible decreased risk of colorectal cancer. .
Foods particularly high in vitamin D include some seafood such as salmon, herring, catfish, oysters, trout, milk, eggs, shiitake mushrooms.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from damage, helps the body use vitamin K, and repairs muscle cells.
Foods particularly high in vitamin E include sunflower seeds and almonds, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens, bell peppers, asparagus

Vitamin K is critical for the clotting of blood. 
Foods particularly high in vitamin K include kale, spinach, collard greens, Swiss chard, turnip greens, mustard greens, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, parsley, romaine lettuce, broccoli

Eating a healthy diet with all the nutrients your body requires can be a struggle.
Most nutrients are available in vegetables, leafy greens, fruits, nuts, and seafood. If you incorporate a variety of these options into your diet on a daily basis, you’re likely to get all of the nutrients you need for optimum health and wellness.

Blackened Shrimp over Angel Hair Pasta

2 Garlic Cloves, puréed

1 ½ tablespoon Strictly Pepper

½ teaspoon Thyme

1 tablespoon Oregano

2 tablespoons Butter

¾ pound Mushrooms, cleaned and cut in 3

2 Green Onions, chopped

1 ½ pounds Fresh Shrimp, shelled and deveined

1/3 cup Shrimp Stock (see below)

2 tablespoons Beuree Manié (see below)

Santa Maria

 Shrimp Stock

 

2 cups Water

Shrimp Shells 

·         Pour water into saucepan.  Add shells from shrimp and season with Santa Maria Seasoning.  Boil 15 minutes.  Strain liquid.

Beuree Manié

5 tablespoons Butter (softened)

2 tablespoons

·         Blend butter with flour to make Beuree Manié and set aside.

 

·         Grind Garlic, Thyme and Oregano together in mortar.

·         Heat Butter in pan over medium heat.  Add spice mixture, Strictly Pepper and cook 1 minute.

·         Add Mushrooms and Green Onions.  Season with Santa Maria Seasoning, stir and cook 4 minutes.

·         Add Shrimp and cook 3 minutes.  Stir once during cooking.  Remove Shrimp from pan and set aside.

·         Increase heat to high and pour in Shrimp Stock.  Bring to boil and cook 2 minutes.  Whisk in Beuree Manié.

·         Return Shrimp to pan and cook 1 minute over low heat.  Serve over Angel Hair Pasta.

 

 

 

Spring cleaning!!!!!

Spring is here! Time to clean out every room, closet, cabinet and the refridgerator! Who knows what is lurking behind that deceptively white/pure door?! Maybe an old jar of mayo, a half jar of olives, a hard chunk of cheese?

While there are some things that have to be tossed! (they can be downright dangerous) there are many things that can be used up in tasty dinners by adding one of your favorite Scott's seasoning!.

Frittata
Whip up some eggs, toss in cheese, deli meats and veggies and season. Cook in a skillet or bake. Makes a great light dinner served with a salad.

Pasta
Not a lot can go wrong with a pasta dish. Almost anything can be tossed with your cooked pasta and sauce to create a satisfying dinner.

Stir-Fry
Same goes for stir-fry. Almost any veggies and meats can be stir fried together with seasoning and served with rice to create another delicious dinner alternative

Salad
Chop up those left over meats, grate the cheese, chop up veggies and toss everything together with chopped lettuce leaves. Add your favorite dressing and 'Voila' - a fabulous salad!

Soup
Veggies are best to make soup, but you can also add rotisserie chicken and other chopped meats to make a hearty soup.

Have fun using up those leftovers seasoned with Scott's seasonings and marinades. Your refridgerator will love you for it!

PS - don't forget to wipe down your refridgerator surfaces with baking soda in water. This will clean the surfaces and get rid of any unwanted odors!

Strictly Pepper Seasoning - for a bit of 'ZAP' in your food!

 

 

 

Strictly Pepper Shrimp over Angel Hair Pasta

2 Garlic Cloves, puréed

1/2 teaspoon Strictly Pepper (adjust to taste)

½ teaspoon Thyme                                                                                                  

1 teaspoon fresh Oregano

2 tablespoons Butter

¾ pound Mushrooms, cleaned and cut in 3                                                             

2 Green Onions, chopped

1 ½ pounds Fresh Shrimp, shelled and deveined

1/3 cup Shrimp Stock (see below)

2 tablespoons Beuree Manié (see below)

Santa Maria 

Shrimp Stock

 

2 cups Water

Shrimp Shells 

·         Pour water into saucepan.  Add shells from shrimp and season with Santa Maria Seasoning.  Boil 15 minutes.  Strain liquid.

Beuree Manié

5 tablespoons Butter (softened)

2 tablespoons flour

·         Blend butter with flour to make Beuree Manié and set aside.

·         Grind Garlic, Thyme and Oregano together in mortar.

·         Heat Butter in pan over medium heat.  Add spice mixture, Strictly Pepper and cook 1 minute.

·         Add Mushrooms and Green Onions.  Season with Santa Maria Seasoning, stir and cook 4 minutes.

·         Add Shrimp and cook 3 minutes.  Stir once during cooking.  Remove Shrimp from pan and set aside.

·         Increase heat to high and pour in Shrimp Stock.  Bring to boil and cook 2 minutes.  Whisk in Beuree Manié.

·         Return Shrimp to pan and cook 1 minute over low heat.  Serve over Angel Hair Pasta.