Critic's Cupboard: Smartfood Popcorn Clusters
You hear a lot of talk these days about “smart foods” or “superfoods.”
Foods such as broccoli, salmon, black beans, oatmeal and tomatoes. These are among the list of high-powered foods, so deemed because of their health-enhancing, disease-fighting micronutrients.
But what if you took a superpower food like say, walnuts, and covered them in caramel and chocolate? Or salmon, and smothered it in a butter-rich cream sauce? Or a sweet potato, and heaped it with brown sugar and marshmallows? Totally defeats the purpose.
That’s about what the Smartfood popcorn folks did with their product. Popcorn is great for you, until you cover it in sugar.
-- Jennifer Mastroianni, Canton Repository
Easy recipe: Potato, Pepper and Onion Bake
Ingredients:
1 pound potatoes (3 medium)
1 1/2 pounds bell peppers (3 to 4 medium, any color)
1 large sweet onion
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Black pepper to taste
Directions:
Cut cleaned potatoes into 1-inch slices or chunks. (Peel thick-skinned potatoes). Cut peppers into 1 1/2 to 2 inch pieces. Peel onion and cut into chunks.
Place potatoes, peppers and onions in shallow, ovenproof dish. Pour oil over vegetables and lightly toss to coat with oil. Sprinkle with pepper.
Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 4.
-- Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Tip of the Week: Pick a juicy lemon or lime
Grocery shoppers spend a lot of time checking freshness. But when it comes to buying lemons and limes, they all look the same.
The trick is to buy the largest you can find. These invariably are the sweetest. Thin skin indicates more juice than thick-skinned ones.
Microwave on high for 30 seconds and let stand for a minute before squeezing. This helps release the juice. Rolling them on the counter also helps.
-- Canton Repository
Did You Know?
A Canadian study found the "Eco-Atkins" diet -- a vegetarian version of the Atkins diet -- may better help people lose weight and lower levels of bad cholesterol. -- Archives of Internal Medicine
Food Quiz
Founded in 1964 by Forrest and Leroy Raffel of Ohio, which restaurant was based on the idea that fast food didn't necessarily mean hamburgers?
A. Arby's
B. Long John Silver's
C. KFC
D. Quizno's
(www.funtrivia.com)
Answer is at bottom of column
Wise to the Word: Achiote seed
Deep in the heart of Mexican cookery resides the achiote (ah-chee-OH-tay) seed, a musky flavoring with a hint of smoke. Unlike many seasonings, this one is apparent right off. It turns food a russet red.
