Fresh, vine-ripened, wholesome goodness of TOMATOES have wonderful health benefits when prepared the right way. They are low in calories, fat-free, and contain as much Vitamin C as a glass of milk. Tomatoes are so versatile they can be used in almost any style of cooking. The same beta-carotene that's found in carrots are also found in tomatoes, which means they are great for your skin. Plus, beta-carotene helps protect you from the sun's harmful UV rays, so, you don't get wrinkles. Tomatoes also provide you with lycopene which helps you build strong bones, bone mass, and this can help prevent osteoporosis. They keep your blood sugar in check and with the lycopene it's a natural cancer fighter.
There are five different types of tomatoes: PEAR, ROMA, GLOBE/BEEFSTEAK, CHERRY, and HEIRLOOM. HEIRLOOM are becoming really popular in restaurants because they have so many different shapes and colors. Their shelf life is the shortest, but their ability to grow in almost any environment and have a resistance to disease and insects,make them perfect for tomato lovers. PEAR tomatoes (which are part of the HEIRLOOM family) gets its name from the shape. They are slightly larger than CHERRY, but have a lower juice content. For this reason, PEAR tomatoes are eaten raw or used as a garnish or in drinks. CHERRY tomatoes are sweeter in flavor and are found in small clusters on the vine. CHERRY tomatoes are a smaller version of GLOBE. GLOBE tomatoes or BEEFSTEAK tomatoes are the best to slice. They are large and round (like a globe) and the can grow to be as large as two pounds. Mild in flavor, GLOBE tomatoes are common in salads, burgers, and other recipes, but can be grown to be yellow or green. ROMA tomatoes or Italian tomatoes are used in just that. Italian recipes. Lots and lots of marinara sauce!! Room temperature tomatoes are best because refrigeration can change the flavor complex. ROMA are great when they have a firm skin, bright red in color without any brown spots and are smooth to the touch.
Finally, when you get ready to prepare your tomato dishes, make sure to wash them and leave as much of the skin on as possible to not lose the vitamin content. Pizzas, sauces, and salads would be nothing without this amazing fruit!! Enjoy them with a little mozzarella or fried and green for a "southern comfort". Savor every and all "TASTY BITES"!!
-Chef Tara L. Browning
P.S.- I've found a link provided below that gives you 24 great southern inspired recipes for your tomato bounty!! ENJOY!! =)
http://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/fresh-tomato-recipes-00400000046595/
Great cuts of prime beef, grilled to perfection, and served with a loaded baked potato.... YES, it's STEAK!!! An amazing steak, whether you enjoy it rare (like me) or well done, requires a lot of love and preparation before you fire up that grill.
A great steak begins with the right marbleization. Marbled steaks means the fat content that is distributed throughout the meat. Yes, the less fat, the leaner the steak, but marbled steaks means more flavor. It makes your grill melt the fat into the actual meat and distribute that throughout the steak which causes it to be a juicy and succulent piece of meat.
There are six different zones to cut from that gives us eight different steaks. T-BONE-Which is a combination of a FILET & a STRIP. PORTERHOUSE- Is a larger version of this. FILET- Which is the leanest cut of tenderloin. STRIP- Which yields medium marblelization, can either be called a New York strip (No Bone) or just Strip (With Bone). RIB- Which is where Prime Rib cuts comes from. Also, the Ribeye comes from this part that has the Ribeye Roast. ROUND- Rump Roast, Eye of Round, and Sirloin Tips can be found here. Also, these cuts have the highest marbleization (or fat content) of all steaks. SIRLOIN- Either the Top Sirloin or the Bottom Sirloin comes from the SIRLOIN. FLANK- Hangar, Skirt, and Flank Steaks are part of this family. The most popular cut from this section is the London Broil. Now also, steaks in this section require the most marinating in order to achieve the tenderness that's desired because of the minimal amount of fat contents within.
You've all been to the grocery stores, butchers or even restaurants and have read the labels with U.S.D.A. Grade SELECT, Grade CHOICE, and Grade PRIME. These grades determine how much marblelization there are in steaks and the quality of beef it is. SELECT- Which is the most common can be found in your local grocers as well as your farmer's markets. Also, it has little or no fat content at all. CHOICE- Can be found in grocery stores as well as some restaurants, a bit on the pricier side, but they have a medium marblelization content and yield a better flavor. PRIME- Which is my all time favorite only produces 2% of the cuts. These steaks are reserved for the BEST of the BEST restaurants, country clubs, etc. Once you've had PRIME, you don't want any other steak in LIFE!!
In conclusion whether you're making a great ribeye or an amazing strip, steaks are so versatile and flavorful in ANY dish!! Grill & chill with all of your wonderful Tasty Bites that you create this Summer!!
Chef Tara L. Browning
P.S.- Listed below is a site I found on how to cook the perfect steak!!! ENJOY!! =)
http://www.heb.com/page/recipes-cooking/cooking-tips/grill-time-temperature-steak
Healthy habits can start at home and will transfer throughout your everyday life that will have amazing affects on your body physically as well as mentally. A few habits that I've incorporated this year to "slowly" transition me into a great healthy lifestyle is by taking a daily walk, drinking more water and cutting back on the fried foods. Even if it's only 15 min. of exercise, that kind of cardio does wonders for your heart, strengthen your lung capacity, tightens those legs, and is heaven to your buttocks!! I've also started to count how many bottles of water I drink. Health officials have always told us to drink about eight bottles a day, but I try to push myself to drink at least ten. (Living in the South can make it so easy to do this because of the extremely humid weather conditions, but consciously I am aware of what I put into my body.) Speaking of "putting something into my body", I limited the amount of fried foods that I have as well. I may have three fried items every other week, this way, I can keep the excessive oils out of my body, off of my face, and NOT clogging my arteries causing me to have an early heart attack. My exercise regime has not vastly improved, but it is a step in the right direction.
Close colleagues and family members have gotten on board with this new lifestyle and have immediately began to feel and see results. By having that support system or that group of girlfriends to help you by pushing you in the right direction rather than giving you that fried chicken can keep you looking towards your goal. You don't have to create a number or say"Hey, I'm going to lose 45 lbs." because if you do this, you'll create unwanted stress, drama, and conflict with yourself. You don't want to "set a number" only because if you do not attain your "goal weight/number" and you don't make it, then, you'll begin to feel a certain way about what you're doing. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED.... GET ENCOURAGE-MENT AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD!!! Also, it's best that when starting a new health regime, do it slowly as to where you don't "shock" your body and it crashes. You won't get any results doing that.
In conclusion, find ways and workout plans that work for YOU. It doesn't have to be a pricey and expensive package that requires you to do all of these elaborate things, you just have to make the first step in towards wanting a better life and doing the necessary things in order for you to achieve your goals. Remember it's your internal that you want well, then, the physical will follow. Most try to do this the opposite way, and they don't know how to handle the "new them". I know that I had to make my mind stronger in order to stop eating the fried foods, so, I won't feel guilty about having what I love SPARINGLY. Walking is easy and everybody has to do it.... I just take little detours here and there, so my body is now used to using those muscles for a longer time than what I originally could before. Creating these new healthy habits has now helped me gain a new perspective on how I live and who I affect with the choices I make. By being myself and customizing a plan that I would actually follow and including some great recipes along with my water intake, I have lowered my cholesterol by 3 points, toned my muscles, and I have clearer healthier looking complexion. So, savour your HEALTHY "Tasty Bites" with a walk to the playground with the kids! (And they'll gain those healthy habits from YOU) =)
-Chef Tara L. Browning
P.S.- Listed below is a link provided to you via our friends Kaiser Permanente.
http://thrive.kaiserpermanente.org/be-inspired?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=101849&WT.seg_1=PF-4-spRBLX3GP-pcrid-15444483538-healthy%20lifestyle-b#thriving-together
Happy Valentine's Day!!!! Love is in the air and so are gifts of chocolate covered strawberries, truffles, breakfast in bed (or dinner) and lots of holiday treats. I enjoy all of the reds and pink decorations, but getting that Valentine from the one that loves you all year long is my favorite! My gift this year will be homemade. Not because we can't afford it, but I love to cook, so, let's utilize it. I'll make an awesome breakfast, but getting the kids involved this year will be a lot easier than what it has been in previous years because the kids can reach the stove and we can make awesome treats!! Children get the chance to share their handmade cards with us, so, I take pride in showing them how to make some tasty treats to share with their friends at school. Valentine's Day doesn't have to be all about roses and heart-shaped balloons in my family we do other things besides the "traditional" celebration.
Getting prepared for the most "coupled-day" of the year can be either stressful or exciting because you don't have a mate or you are trying to do a lot for them. It's all about showing the love and not about what or how many gifts you've received. Those gifts are not the reason to celebrate and I am grateful to have such love in my life for the past 6 yrs. This Valentine's Day my gift to you is the gift of unconditional "friendship-love". I want my friends who share Tasty Bites and those who do not share it to have wonderful love within and surrounding them always. And as always enjoy your love, family, friends, and Valentine's goodies with our friends here at Tasty Bites!!! =)
P.S.- Below is a helpful link to guide you in the right direction for gift buying this Valentine's Day season!!! :)
http://www.gifts.com/valentines-day/nC0?sid=msn:VDAY_great%20valentine%20day%20ideas:P
Out with the old and in with the NEW!!! Happy 2013 everyone and WELCOME BACK to a new beginning here at Tasty Bites!! We'll have a lot of amazing topics, ingredients, to cover, and this year we're adding restaurants and bistro reviews to our repertoire. Starting this new year is a bit different. We are NOT making "resolutions" to do different things, instead, we've made decisions to be a "BETTER ME".
Family, friends, and loved ones can appreciate those that keep their word on doing better, working out, or deciding to make more positive choices in their lives, but they won't tolerate those that tell repetitive lies about not smoking or drinking alcohol after the new year. Let's just take this year one day at a time. No pressure. Just work towards being a better you everyday and then you'll realize that it's Christmas all over again & all you've been doing all year long is being a sweetheart!! :)
Being a better "ME" this year, I plan on spending more time for loved ones and family, having more family dinners, and making more healthier food choices regarding my snack choices. Notice how I didn't say anything about going to the gym (that I won't visit) or go on a diet (that I won't stick to). K.I.S.S. method this year: Keep It Simple Stupid!! :) This is a new year, let's make it a great year for you and your family!! Let's get started on creating a new you in the new year!!! :)
HAPPY 2013 EVERYONE!!!!! :)
P.S.- Thanks for being there with me for 2012, 2013 will be AMAZING!!!!!
Holiday time is near and we here at "Tasty Bites" would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, a L'Shanah Tovah, and a peaceful Happy Kwanzaa! :) "Holy-days" or holidays are great for gathering the family around the fireplace, in front of the t.v., and bringing the family together at the dinner table for the meal of the year. Not forgetting the reason and the purpose from which your holiday derived from, rejoicing in religious practices keep the family unit stronger, instills a sense of spiritual knowledge in our youth, and a peacefulness within ourselves. This is a wonderful time to appreciate all the good things that we were blessed with this year, take a look back at the year, and remember those that we lost.
Many cultures celebrate this most joyous time of year with lots of food, music, family, and friends that we love, but never leaving out those that are less fortunate and in need. Giving back and giving time to those that are in the hospitals, elderly care centers, and homeless this time of year seem to make us here at Tasty Bites feel full of the Holiday Spirit. Making a neighbor some cookies, remembering the mailman a sweet potato pie, or visiting the nursery with the babies that cannot go home this Christmas can make the holiday season a little sweeter this year.
This year and every year, share your peace, joy, and love with others! Being kind to loved ones, friends, neighbors and strangers during this time of year and all year long continues to create that "Christmas Spirit" within ourselves long after the holiday decorations are put away! Thank you all for our 2012 journey & I pray that 2013 will be an amazing year for Tasty Bites and for you and your family as well!! Spread your love this holiday and from everyone here at Tasty Bites Blog we wish you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a beautiful Happy Kwanzaa!!
Chef Tara L. Browning
P.S.- Are you on the "naughty" or the "nice" list this year?!?!
It's my favorite time of the year... TURKEY TIME!!!!! :) This year, I hope to get out to help volunteer to cook Thanksgiving Dinner for those that are "less fortunate". Family time is always great, but in times like these, I know that giving back will be more rewarding than passing out in front of the television. I've chosen to put the "thanks" and the "giving of thanks" back into my traditional celebration. I even gathered my children and a few of their friends, so, that the younger generation can understand what Thanksgiving really means to those that could be us one day. I enjoy the gifts, the laughter, friends and family that sneak into the kitchen to sneak a sample of my amazing mashed potatoes, but this year, I've decided to make Thanksgiving dinner & pass it out with the little ones in tow. We have all been very fortunate this year and many years in the past, but now it's time to GIVE THANKS for all the many blessings that has been bestowed upon my family and myself. :) I like this part of the year because normally people are in such a rush or get "holiday depression" that they omit themselves from celebration this joyous occasion as well as the other holidays that are steadily approaching. Thanksgiving this year, whether if you chose to volunteer or spend quality time with those you love, will be an experience no one will forget!! :)
-Chef Tara L. Browning
Provided below is a link via our friends over at Food Network to prepare an amazing Thanksgiving Dinner..GOBBLE, GOBBLE!!!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/thanksgiving/package/index.html?affiliate=blocker&omnisource=SEM&c1=Thanksgiving_2012_Computer&c2=Google&c3=Recipes&c4=thanksgiving%20recipes&s_kwcid=TC|17059|thanksgiving%20recipes||S|e|19651555606
