Convenience And Great Taste
Among the many pieces of advice given to me when I first got married came from a wise family acquaintance. He said, “Always keep the phone number of your local take-out on speed dial.”
Whether you work out of the home or not, there are many times when we find ourselves running late and looking for something quick and easy to prepare for our families or ourselves. And if we are health conscious we also want it to be nutritious. The following are some products we have come across in recent weeks that are a great addition to any well-stocked refrigerator and freezer.
Woodstock Organics (Kof-K, parve) recently added two new soups to an already terrific line of frozen meals. Santa Fe Black Bean Soup and Be My Baby Chili are both 100% vegetarian, made with organic beans and spices and taste great. For supper one night, we had the black bean soup over brown rice and even my pickiest eater enjoyed it. Perfect for a cold winter night when you need something quick ? just throw the pouch in boiling water and a few minutes later you have a hot nutritious soup. Look for their full line of organic soups and stews in your local heath food store and supermarket.
Tuachi (Renaissance Foods, OK, parve and dairy) is a line of frozen bourekas and quiches that I found about three months ago. I brought home the cigars and kibbe on a lark, figuring we would give it a try, and now it's something my kids ask for on a regular basis. A couple of weeks ago Nurit Kredlik came by our office with a huge selection of choices for us to try. The biggest hits were the pizza poppers and the potato bourekas. From the mushroom kibbe to the cheese cigars there wasn't a single product that didn't taste great. Coming soon is a whole new line of meat products that will be available for both retail and food service. These great items can be found in your local kosher grocery or supermarket.
Lo-Carb Rollz (O'So Lo Foods, OU, parve) are perfect for diabetics, those following low carb diets or anyone who wants a great tasting roll. At home we tried the pumpernickel, lightly toasted with an egg white omelet ? it was a nice filling breakfast without the weigh-me-down feeling you can get after eating a bagel or bialy. They are made without flour so they are mezonos, and come in three flavors ? the pumpernickel I mentioned, original and sourdough. They also produce low carb muffins in a variety of flavors. They have always been found in health food stores, but I recently saw them in Kosher Discount in Flatbush, so look for them in your local grocery as well.
Magic Seasonings (Chef Paul Prudhomme's, Star-K, parve) are not easy to prepare meals however, they will make any meal you prepare easy to eat. I have used the Fajita Magic on everthing from fish to chicken (I even add some to cholent) to rave reviews. The combination of herbs and spices is so well blended the taste of the southwest is overwhelming. They also have Barbeque Magic, which is great for grilling, and a salt-free seasoning that is a must for those of you watching your sodium intake. Like everything else we have mentioned, they can be found in your local grocery or supermarket.
