Category Archives: Health/Nutrition

Quac ‘N Cheese with Tillamook Maker’s Reserve Aged White Cheddar

Posted on by 6 comments
Move over mac and cheese; make way for "Quac 'N Cheese.''
Move over mac and cheese; make way for “Quac ‘N Cheese.”

Picture a tantalizingly golden crusted, ooey-gooey mac and cheese.

Now, swap out that elbow pasta for rainbow quinoa instead.

Stay with me, stay with me.

Right about now, you’re thinking what an awful idea that is. Why in the world would you switch the classic tried-and-true pasta for something so healthful, and which frankly, always looks to me like a wool sweater that’s been put through a meat grinder?

Because my friends, it’s actually really, really good. And with the amount of cheese that goes into this dish, believe you me, it’s as far from health food as it gets. So there.

Tillamook's just-released Maker's Reserve Sharp Cheddar in 2015, 2016, and 2017 vintages.
Tillamook’s just-released Maker’s Reserve Sharp Cheddar in 2015, 2016, and 2017 vintages.

“Quac ‘N Cheese” is worth your while. If made with Tillamook Maker’s Reserve White Cheddar, it’s guaranteed to boast an impeccable cheesiness, too. I had a chance to try samples of the reserve cheeses, which are now available in stores, and are worth seeking out.

Read more

Seemore Sausages Boast A Little Something Something Extra

Posted on by Leave a comment
Seemore's La Dolce Beet-A and Broccoli Melt sausages.
Seemore’s La Dolce Beet-A and Broccoli Melt sausages.

Cara Nicoletti of Massachusetts is a fourth-generation butcher — who wants people to eat less meat.

Yes, you read that right.

For healthful and sustainability reasons, she hit on the idea to make sausages from certified humanely raised chicken and pork, that slyly and effectively includes vegetables.

In short, vegetable-forward yet meat-based Seemore sausages.

Read more

Vegan Parmesan — Yes, It’s A Thing

Posted on by One comment
A blend of nutritional yeast, seeds and nuts, Parma! is a vegan alternative to Parmesan cheese.
A blend of nutritional yeast, seeds and nuts, Parma! is a vegan alternative to Parmesan cheese.

I’m not vegan or even vegetarian, but I admit that I’ve been curious about nutritional yeast after coming across it in recipes or even sprinkled over salads at Manresa Bread in Campbell.

And yes, most often, it’s used as a vegan substitute for Parmesan because it has a similar umami depth as aged cheese.

When I received samples recently of Parma! vegan Parmesan, I was game to try them first on — what else — popcorn, of course.

Read more

Get Snacking With Mighty Lil’ Lentils

Posted on by Leave a comment
Teeny crisp, fried lentils aim to be the next snack sensation.
Teeny crisp, fried lentils aim to be the next snack sensation.

They have the hard crackling crunch of miniature corn nuts. And a great roasty, toasty, nutty, and earthy taste.

Mighty Lil’ Lentils is a new plant-based snack made from lentils that are crisped up in safflower or sunflower oil, then salted and dusted with other flavorings.

It’s the newest product from Seapoint Farms, the California company that’s the largest importer and manufacturer in the United States of edamame.

The company is now turning its attention to lentils, the tiny legumes that are a good source of protein and fiber.

Read more

Oakland’s Renewal Mill Takes Reuse To Another Level

Posted on by Leave a comment
Renewal Mill's brownie mix does both a body and a planet good.
Renewal Mill’s brownie mix does both a body and a planet good.

See those deep dark, fudgy brownies above that are just calling your name?

Not only are they gluten-free and vegan, but they have a couple of very unexpected and intriguing ingredients in them:

Namely, spent vanilla beans leftover from making vanilla extract, and spent non-GMO, organic okara, the byproduct of soymilk production from premier tofu-maker Hodo Foods of Oakland, no less.

Renewal Mill, based in Oakland and helmed by an all-woman team, is on the noble mission to take food waste from large food manufacturers and convert it into new, delicious, and nutritious uses. Recently, I had a chance to try samples of a few of its products.

Read more
« Older Entries Recent Entries »