Half the fun of cooking, I have found, is coming up with my own recipes. It’s great to use a cookbook or get a great idea from a friend, but just going through your pantry and finding interesting things to try on chicken or fish can be a lot of fun.
For example, the other day I was trying to decide what to put on the chicken. I hadn’t planned what I was going to do – just took the chicken out to defrost. Now it was getting late and I was out of ideas. So, I went through the pantry and found a bottle of Paradise Pineapple Salsa from Goldwater’s Foods of America (OU parve). Goldwater’s recommendation for use includes marinating chicken or fish, or even adding it to cottage cheese. I poured the whole bottle over the chicken, added a drop of water to the pan and put it in to bake. It was delicious – a nice combination of pineapple and spices – not sweet or too hot. We also tried some of their other salsa flavors including Mohave Mango, Papago Peach and Ruby
Raspberry – all of which make great additions to a well-stocked pantry.
Goldwater’s, for those of you who follow American politics, was founded by the daughters of
former Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater and is now run by his granddaughter Carolyn. The products can be found in some supermarket chains or on the web at www.goldwaters.net
Are you a fish eater? In my house Shabbos and Yom Tovim are not complete without salmon. So we are always looking for new ways to prepare it. A couple of weeks ago I wanted to make salmon teriyaki, but I was out of teriyaki. So, I checked the pantry to see what I could use instead. I found a jar of Roasted Peanut Dipping Sauce from Wild Thymes (KSA
parve). I added a little bit of mayo to the sauce and poured it on the fish. They loved it – the combination of roasted peanut, sesame, shallots, coconut and more are just incredible with the salmon – try it once and you’ll be asked to make it every week. Wild Thymes has an incredible line of specialty products. We tried their flavored mustards – our favorite – the Dill Horseradish. Among the marinades the Chili Ginger Honey is a great choice for red meat – but watch put for the chili kick. We also enjoyed the fruit spreads and the chutneys. All their products are 100% natural, low in calories and free of cholesterol and gluten – most are now certified kosher. For information on where to buy visit them on the web at www.wildthymes.com.
How about a side dish to go with the fish or chicken? Rice is a great selection and there are so
many different varieties to choose from – each with a different flavor and taste. One variety you will always find in my pantry is Riceselect Royal Blend (RiceTec, Inc Star-K parve). This combination of aromatic red, Texmati white, brown and wild rice is an amazing blend of textures colors and flavors. The slightly nutty taste makes a great accompaniment to fish and chicken. They have an incredible line of other rice as well – sushi, jasmati, and even risotto. They are available in consumer friendly plastic jars so you don’t have to fuss with bags or boxes. Their full line can be found in your local supermarket or on the web at www.riceselect.com
How about something sparkling to drink? Nothing alcoholic – you want the kids to be able to
enjoy it as well. How about a glass of sparkling lemonade? Or even sparkling French lemonade? Both are a part of an incredible line of drinks produced by Village Imports (Star-K parve). Available also in pink lemonade and orangeade, they come in delightful glass bottles. The taste is nice and crisp – not too tart or sweet. They are best served chilled but are delicious even at room temperatures. The lemonade can be used for cocktails or on its own with a wedge of lemon or a cherry. Look for the in your local supermarket or on the web at www.villageimports.com
To finish off, how about a great tasting yet totally healthy desert? A few weeks ago we made a
great dessert using products from Morinaga Nutritional Foods (KSA parve), a tofu company.
Using packages of Silken Tofu and their Mori-Nu Mates, we made a delicious chocolate pudding that everyone enjoyed. We served it to seven little kids and each one came back for seconds. It was smooth and creamy with a nice chocolate flavor – and best of all you could not tell it was soy and parve. The Mates are available in lemon and vanilla as well, each with their own special recipe ideas on the back of the package. The full line of tofus and mates can be found in your local supermarket, health food store or on the web at www.morinu.com
Have a wonderful chag.
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