Gluten-Free Store

While there is plenty of curiosity about going gluten-free, there is just as much misinformation. Wondering if a gluten-free diet is for you? Let’s find out together: Come with me as I take a healthy look at gluten-free eating, including exciting news about our improved Gluten-Free Store! I’ll be your guide, pointing out highlights and pitfalls along the path.

Prepping the Path (a bit of background)

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley and their derivatives. Some people, such as those with celiac disease, have an immune reaction to gluten that damages their small intestine and limits nutrient absorption.  For more gluten-free facts, check out our FAQ section here.

Gluten-free eating has come a long way since 2004, when a National Institutes of Health statement found that celiac disease was considerably under-diagnosed. Though still under-diagnosed, public awareness has never been higher. The good news from the report: effective treatment exists; that is, lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet. Since that time the gluten-free marketplace has exploded, registered dietitians have developed expertise in gluten-free diets, physicians have gotten better at diagnosis, and communities and educational resources have emerged.

Vegetables are naturally gluten-free.

Watch Out! (falling facts zone)

People ask if gluten-free diets are healthier, the silver bullet for weight loss, the secret to glowing skin, or the way to finally achieve world peace. I’m exaggerating, but not much. For people with celiac disease or gluten-sensitivities, the answer is yes, at least on the “healthier” question: eating gluten-free will make you feel better, and is important to minimizing nutrient deficiencies and damage to your digestive system, bone health, and more. For everyone else, the bottom line is that there is nothing inherently better about a gluten-free diet.

It’s important to remember that unnecessarily restricting the diet will limit food choices, making it that much more challenging to eat a healthful, well-balanced diet. Plus, cutting out gluten-containing foods could potentially lead to deficiencies in iron, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine. That’s because fortified wheat-based products are a major source of these nutrients in the American diet.

All that being said, that doesn’t mean a healthy diet has to include gluten either. A healthy diet depends on the food choices one makes. Consider that natural, unprocessed fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish, poultry and meat are all gluten-free. Same goes for a host of unique whole grains such as quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, brown rice, wild rice, popcorn and more. It’s great to see that there are also better-for-you prepared meals and snacks on the market these days.

If going gluten-free means you put down the crackers, cookies, and cakes made with refined flour, and pick up the cauliflower, quinoa, and salmon, then yes, you’ll be eating a healthier diet (and most likely dropping a few pounds, too). By the same logic, a diet full of highly-processed gluten-free foods is just as likely to lead to weight gain and its complications as eating their gluten-containing counterparts. It’s all in the details – not just whether or not there’s gluten in your next bite.

From a medical perspective, only those who have been diagnosed with a gluten-related disorder should go gluten-free. From a lifestyle perspective, if going gluten-free is code for eating less processed foods, then I’m all for it (but you know the caveat – see above).

The Right Way (state-of-the-science recommendations)

The NIH consensus statement recommends six key strategies for managing celiac disease:

• C – Consult with a registered dietitian with expertise in gluten-related disorders
• E – Education about the disease
• L – Lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet
• I – Identification and treatment of nutritional deficiencies
• A – Access to an advocacy group
• C – Continual long-term follow-up

A Helping Hand (our gluten-free store and recipes)

If you are taking gluten out of your diet, we know it’s not always easy, and we’d like to help. That’s why I teamed up with our grocery team to launch a new gluten-free store, just for you. We are launching our new store during National Celiac Disease Awareness Month, and hope you enjoy our expanded selection and improved shopping experience.

We’ve added over 100 new items, for a store that houses over 500 popular items. We’ve improved the shopping experience by sprucing up the visual appeal of the store, and offering new ways to navigate such as “Shop by Meal”. I’ve also gone through all the products and organized my top picks by theme:

1. Kid-Friendly
2. Whole Grains
3. Snacks
4. Pantry Faves
5. Sensible Treats
6. Dairy Alternatives

In the interest of providing the most helpful selection of products for the gluten-free shopper, we took the extra step of filtering out many naturally gluten-free products like bottled water, yogurt, and apples, to name just a few. We feel that including those kinds of items would make browsing through the gluten-free store more cumbersome than it needs to be. (I’d like to put in my vote as an RD for your next stops after the Gluten-Free Store to be Vegetables, Fruits, and Seafood.)

Here’s what you can expect to find in our store. You will find foods that are certified gluten-free. You’ll also find dairy alternatives that are promoted as gluten-free. Even though these foods are just about always gluten-free, we decided to include them because we heard from enough gluten-free shoppers that they are also very interested in dairy alternatives. So if a dairy alternative makes a gluten-free claim, you’ll find it in our Gluten-Free Store. Some examples are Almond milk and Soy milk.

You’ll also see products labeled as gluten-free, whose manufacturer stands by that claim. Sometimes these products may follow good manufacturing practices to prevent cross-contamination, but may not necessarily be certified as gluten-free. These foods don’t get a free pass – they go through a review process. For these products, we are selective. Our evaluation includes ensuring a product is in a relevant category – for example, you won’t find a product like plain bottled water here just because the packaging says it’s gluten-free. But you will find plenty of carb-alternatives in categories that commonly contain gluten such as breads, pastas, and crackers. Still, customers are always encouraged to check the ingredients panel and the physical package before consuming.

We also have many gluten-free recipes in our One-Click Recipes section, where there is enough inspiration for weeks and weeks of meals.

Info Booth (where to learn more)

If you want to learn more about going gluten-free, there are trustworthy resources out there that can help:

• Find a registered dietitian with expertise in gluten intolerance using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Find an RD tool
• American Celiac Disease Alliance
• Celiac Disease Foundation
• National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
• Gluten Intolerance Group of North America
• Celiac Sprue Association USA
• National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
• The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network

For more healthy eating tips, and savings on delicious, healthful foods, check out my Healthy Living for Less page. I’m featuring gluten-free foods from May 15-29! Or go directly to our Gluten-Free Store to check it out now.

Do you or someone you know follow a Gluten-Free diet? What are your favorite GF products or recipes? Let us know on the FreshDirect Facebook page or via Twitter (@FreshDirect).

On May 22nd from 7-8pm EST, join our #FDGlutenFree Twitter Party! Hosted by Amie Valpone (of The Healthy Apple) and myself, we’ll be answering your questions about the Gluten-Free diet. Plus there will be giveaways including $25 e-gift cards from FreshDirect and prize packages from Udi’s, popchips, Amy’s Kitchen, and Enjoy Life! Follow us on Twitter @FreshDirect and make sure to tweet with the hashtag #FDGlutenFree for your chance to win!

Reference

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. NIH Consensus Development Conference on Celiac Disease: Conference Statement. Washington: Government Printing Office, 2004. Last accessed 5/10/12 from http://consensus.nih.gov/2004/2004CeliacDisease118html.htm

Cherry Jussara

Mother’s Day is a time to give back to the ladies in our lives and I think the gift of a finely prepared cocktail is welcome at most homes.

We bookend the occasion with easy-to-make cocktails designed for the aperitif course and dessert course.  The Cherry Jussara welcomes Spring time notions of açai berry, cherry, and citrus for  a lovely start to the afternoon.

A decadent ending to dinner comes in the form of Nonna’s Coffee, a dessert martini of amaro, coffee liqueur, and whole milk.

The Cherry Jussara is a marriage of berry and citrus elements designed by the VeeV Açai Spirit Company.  VeeV Açai Spirit Liqueur is always a great option for low calorie enjoyment while delivering flavor that shines through many cocktails.  Here we combine with the contemporary classic Cherry Heering to create a firm berry base to the recipe.  Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides the essential backbone of acidity necessary for a balanced cocktail.  A dash of Wholesome Sweeteners agave nectar keeps this acidity in check by mellowing the tartness just a bit.  Feel free to substitute simple syrup for agave nectar.  Simply combine two parts sugar to one part boiling water.  Do not stop boiling until sugar is fully dissolved, stirring constantly.  Let cool and bottle.  This will keep in the refrigerator for future cocktail recipes.  Garnish with a fresh mint sprig.  It’s visually appealing and quite refreshing with crudité and salty snacks to start the afternoon.

Cherry Jussara

• 1 ½ oz VeeV Açai Spirit Liqueur
• ¾ oz Cherry Heering Liqueur
• 1 oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Dash of Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Blue Agave Nectar
• Fresh Mint

Combine VeeV, Cherry Heering, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and agave nectar in cocktail shaker.  Fill with ice and shake vigorously.  Serve in rocks glass over ice.  Garnish with sprig of fresh mint.

Nonna’s Coffee could certainly be serves as a “liquid dessert” but it will be delicious alongside anything chocolate, from brownies to cakes.  Averna Amaro lends notes of cocoa, anise, and spice while Coffee Heering kicks in rich espresso and baker’s chocolate flavors.  Combine these with a little dairy, whole milk in this case, and you have a decadent (but not overly sweet) dessert martini!  You already saved calories on the Cherry Jussara so no need to count here!!

Nonna’s Coffee

Nonna’s Coffee

• 1 oz Averna Amaro
• 1 oz Coffee Heering Liqueur
• 2 oz Horizon Organic Whole Milk
• Whole or Ground Grenadian Nutmeg

Start by filling a martini glass with ice and water, placing it to the side for now.  Combine Averna, Coffee Heering, and whole milk in cocktail shaker and fill with ice.  Dump ice water from martini glass and strain shker into your CHILLED vessel.  It’s important to get glass as cold as possible before pouring.  No one wants to have dairy at room temperature!  Once strained, garnish with a pinch of ground Grenadian nutmeg.  Enjoy this Mother’s Day and throughout the year.  Cheers!

How are you celebrating Mom this weekend? Let us know on the FreshDirect Facebook page or via Twitter (@FreshDirect).

How do you and your kids reuse FreshDirect boxes? Take a picture for a chance to win up to $2000 in prizes. For more details, check out our Facebook page here: http://goo.gl/kuyHN

Fruit Bouquet

“Eat your fruits and vegetables.”  Growing up, I think everyone has heard his or her mother utter those words.

So for Mother’s Day, instead of flowers, wouldn’t it be fun to make a fruit or vegetable bouquet for Mom?

So roll up your sleeves, grab Mom’s favorite fruits, and get some helpers to put together these beautiful and delicious bouquets!

Fruit Version

Ingredients

• Cantaloupe
• Honeydew
• Star fruit
• Grapes
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Pineapple

Vegetable Bouquet

Veggie Version

Ingredients

• Spinach (fresh)
• Cucumbers
• Yellow tomatoes
• Red tomatoes
• Celery
• Carrots

Making the bouquets weren’t as easy as I thought they would be. But with these tips, I think it would go much faster. And I think Mom will appreciate the effort. After all, they were made with love.

Edible Bouquet Tips:

1. Work with a friend. Four hands are better than two for this project!
2. If you are using a glass container for the base, use a piece of fruit to mount the display. It keeps with the edible theme and looks cool!  (I used cantaloupe, but any large item will do, grapefruit, melon, etc.)
3. Organize the skewers; then put the fruit on.
4. Cookie cutters are an easy way to shape the melon into fun shapes.
5. Balance color throughout the arrangement.
6. Veggies are easier because they are less juicy.  If working with fruit, make sure to wipe up extra juice so your arrangement doesn’t get sticky.
7. Serve with dip on the side: yogurt or chocolate for fruit, and salad dressing or hummus for veggies.
8. Have fun!

Do you make gifts for Mom? What has been your favorite gift to make (or if you’re a mom, to receive?) Let us know on the FreshDirect Facebook page or via Twitter (@FreshDirect)

Plus, have you entered our FreshDirect Family Fun Photo Contest? Just submit a picture of how you and your family re-purposed our boxes and you could win up to $2000 in prizes from our new Baby Boutique and 1 of 10 $100 FreshDirect gift cards! Click here to get started!

Photo Contest

What do you do with your FreshDirect boxes?

From the photos you’ve tweeted, posted on Facebook, and emailed to us, it’s clear to us that we have the most talented fans around!  (Take a look – We posted many of them on our Pinterest board here.)

So we thought: Our creative fans should be rewarded! And what better way to celebrate the launch of our new Baby Boutique than with a Family Fun Photo Contest?

All you have to do to enter is snap a picture of how you and your kids re-purposed your FreshDirect boxes and fill out the entry form here.

What could you win? Up to $2000 in prizes is up for grabs including ten $100 FreshDirect e-gift cards and products from our new Baby Boutique.

Start your day right to keep yourself energized!

Calling all mothers: Thank you for all that you do! You always have a lot on your plate – after all, you have the toughest job in the world! You’re so busy taking care of everyone else, we want to make sure you take care of yourself too!

Tired of being tired? Ready to reach beyond the coffeepot for some real, life-changing, energy-boosting habits that will keep you going strong for the long run? Spoiler alert: these tips aren’t new, and they aren’t shortcuts, but they do work! As an added bonus, I’ve put together a sample 1-day meal plan for you, too.

Staying energized is as simple as: Eat. Drink. Move. Sleep.

Eat. Do it well, do it often. Eating too little causes fatigue just as much as overeating does, so remember to take care of yourself with healthful snacks and meals throughout the day. Start with a balanced breakfast, and then eat smaller mini-meals and snacks that provide healthy protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats throughout the day.

Balanced mini-meals give the body a continual supply of nourishing, blood-sugar-stabilizing energy. Look for healthy carbs and protein from whole grains, fruit, vegetables, milk, yogurt, fish, beans, hummus, nuts, and seeds. These same foods will amp up your intake of folic acid, iron, and other B-vitamins – all are important to keeping the body energized.

1-day meal plan (~1500 calories)

Drink. Because dehydration is a big energy-zapper. Your best bets will be water, tea, and fruits and vegetables with high water content. A good rule of thumb for identifying produce with high water content is to ask: Is it juicy? Is it crisp? Some examples: cucumbers, bell peppers, grapes, watermelon and jicama. I also love throwing plain coconut water into the mix. Drinking black, green, white or oolong tea is not only hydrating but also helps the body perk up because of its caffeine and L-theanine, an amino acid in tea that’s linked to being more alert and calm.

Move. Oxygen and energy from foods is distributed throughout the body through blood flow. Moving more, even just doing breathing exercises, improves blood blow and nutrient distribution. It’s also a great way to get some relief from another energy-zapper: stress.

Sleep. Getting enough is often easier said than done. But supermoms can’t function on an empty tank, so try to get a good night’s rest to help the body rest, recover, and rejuvenate. For the best rest, it may be helpful to avoid eating at least 3 hours before bedtime. Make the last meal or snack of the day something with healthy carbs like bananas, whole grain bread, and peanut butter.

For more healthy eating tips, and savings on delicious, healthful foods, check out my Healthy Living for Less page.

How do you stay energized throughout the day? Let us know on the FreshDirect Facebook page or via Twitter (@FreshDirect).

Plus, have you entered our FreshDirect Family Fun Photo Contest? Just submit a picture of how you and your family re-purposed our boxes and you could win up to $2000 in prizes from our new Baby Boutique and 1 of 10 $100 FreshDirect gift cards! Click here to get started!

Mini desserts

Good things come in small packages, right?

Recently, our bakery department launched a new mini dessert category, featuring bite-sized versions of some of our favorite sugary treats—brownies, cookies, macaroons, banana bread…

The mini sizes are great in lunch boxes, as an after-school treat, or as a moderate way to have a sweet fix after dinner without going overboard.

They also make party planning easy—get a pack of blondies, some double chocolate chunk cookies and assorted macaroons and make your own little party platter. (We also have our own mini platter coming soon—for the nights when you don’t have time to do it yourself.)

If you’re entertaining kids or a crowd with a sweet tooth, here are 3 fun mini dessert ideas:

1. Create sundaes:

• Layer two mini brownies, a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream, and fresh  blueberries as a topping. (I love mixing chocolate flavors and fresh fruit!)
• Layer two blondies, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and crushed graham cracker or caramel sauce as a topping.
• Over a scoop of ice cream, crumble a mini double chocolate chip cookie and add melted peanut butter.

2. Make mini cookie sandwiches:

• Whip up some fresh whipped cream and sandwich in the middle of two mini chocolate chip cookies.
• The oatmeal cookies would go great with a marshmallow center; or create a makeshift mini whoopie pie by stuffing with cream cheese frosting.

3. Dip into Chocolate Fondue:

• Melt some dark chocolate over the stove, cut your mini banana bread into chunks, and dip in the chocolate for easy fondue.

Get as creative as you’d like! Or just enjoy the big flavors without a lot of fuss—and with a big glass of cold milk.

What would you do with our new mini desserts? Let us know on the FreshDirect Facebook page or via Twitter (@FreshDirect).

Make Chef Tina's Spring Fish Soup at Home

I love to make fish soups and like with most things I cook, I try to let the ingredients dictate what I will be cooking. Recently, our fish department had some gorgeous red snapper so I went for it. I decided to combine my love for spice and Lebanese and Arabic cuisine to make up a fish soup.

Though this cuisine usually uses yogurt, I decide to use crème fraiche since yogurt is tricky and can easily curdle. Crème fraiche provides the tang and acid of the yogurt, with none of the complexity of dealing with the delicate cooking.

The beautiful thing about soup in general is that it is all about love- truly you can judge a good cook by their ability to make a soup (and a salad but that’s a different post!). Take the same care with soup as you would with anything you are cooking (ingredients, seasoning, doneness, viscosity, depth, etc.). Soups are generally NOT a quick thing to cook (be suspicious of soup recipes that equate quick with good), but the payout is generous, and usually worth at least two meals, depending on how many people you are feeding.

This recipe should feed about 6-8.

For the Fish Stock:

• 2 whole red snapper, gills removed
• 1 Quart White Wine
• 4 Quarts Water
• 2 cups small-diced celery
• 2 cups small-diced carrots
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 10 Bay leaves
• 2 T Black Peppercorns
• ½ bunch Thyme

To make the stock:

1. Chop the fish bones in 5” pieces. Heads may remain intact but make sure the gills have been removed. Scrape or cut out any blood and/or tissue from the bones. Thoroughly rinse the fish bones in cold running water until the water is completely clear and there is no trace of blood on the fish bones.
2. Place all of the ingredients into a heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a soft boil, reduce the heat and cook at a simmer for about one hour. Skim the stock frequently to remove any scum.
3. Remove from the heat and strain through a very fine strainer (chinoise). Cool and reserve. Discard all of the bones and mire poix.

Soup Ingredients:

• 2-3 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil, more for serving
• Flesh from two Red Snapper (see above); skin and bones removed; cut into2” cubes and marinated (tossed) in olive oil
• 1 large bulb of fennel, peeled as necessary to remove brown and tough skin, small-diced
• 3 large leeks, dark green removed, small diced and thoroughly soaked and cleaned
• 10 cloves  of garlic, peeled and thin-sliced
• Sea Salt, as needed
• 3 preserved lemons, seeds removed, flesh and skin pulverized
• 1 Thai chili, minced after removing seeds
• 1 T toasted and rough-crushed coriander seeds
• 1 T Lebanese zahtar, more for serving
• Fish stock (see recipe above)
• 8 Fingerling potatoes, peeled and cut into 1” pieces
• 3 small turnips, peeled and cut into ½” wedges
• 1, 15 oz. can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• Black Pepper, fresh from a mill, as needed
• ½ bunch Cilantro with stems, washed and chiffonaded
• Crème fraiche to taste

Sour Dough Boule Croutons:

• I medium boule, crust removed and hand-pulled into about 1” pieces
• Smoked paprika, about ½ tsp.
• Sumac, about 1 tsp.
• Salt, to taste
• Olive Oil, to coat, season and make the spices stick to the bread

Toss everything in a large bowl and toast in a 325* oven until completely crisp. Reserve.

To Cook the Soup:

1. Sweat the fennel, leeks, garlic and salt in the olive oil until very soft. Add the preserved lemon, crushed coriander, zahtar and chopped chili. Sweat for an additional 5 minutes.
2. While the vegetables are cooking, bring the fish stock to a boil in a separate pot. Season the stock with 1 T of sea salt. Add the potatoes and cook until tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve. Do the same with the turnips. Lastly, quickly poach the fish in the same stock until just set and no longer opaque. Remove and reserve.
3. Bring the stock back to the boil and skim any scum from the top. Add the stock to the pot of vegetables. Bring to a simmer, add the chick peas and continue to cook until the vegetables are completely tender. Skim periodically. Add a couple of dollops of crème fraiche to the soup, whisk well and cook briefly to incorporate.
4. Add the potatoes, turnips and poached fish back into the soup. Check the salt and pepper and adjust accordingly.

You may serve the soup immediately or hold it for a day or two. (It’s probably better after the first day anyway!) If you are not serving this right away, make sure you cool it properly before storing.

Add the chopped cilantro at the last minute, only when you are serving the soup, so that it stays vibrant and fresh.

To Serve the Soup:

Put a handful of toasted croutons in each serving bowl. Ladle the desired quantity of soup into each bowl. Drizzle each bowl with your best olive oil and add another sprinkle of zahtar. Serve and enjoy!

If you are feeling extra ambitious- whip up a super garlicky saffron rouille to serve in and on the side of your soup. Make sure you have extra croutons on hand!

What’s your favorite Spring soup? Let us know on the FreshDirect Facebook page or via Twitter (@FreshDirect)

Our Mayan Temple Margarita is perfect for Cinco de Mayo!

Tipplers have their work cut out for them on May 5^th!  Cinco de Mayo AND Derby Day will be celebrated on the same day so what’s an imbiber to do?

Prepare yourself with a cocktail for each!  Following are two cocktails- one a variation on the classic Margarita and one a tip of the cap to Derby Day circa 1940’s- perfect for the occasions at hand.

Our Mayan Temple Margarita is an eclectic mix of fruit and spirit.  Siete Leguas Blanco Tequila is the star here, adding intense tropical tones and hearty spice to the cocktail.

Siete Leguas prides themselves on painstakingly slow, traditional methods in creating their spirit and it shows in the glass.  The Blanco is joined by Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb Liqueur d’Orange, used instead of Triple Sec, along with St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Dolin Dry Vermouth, and fresh lime juice to balance of sweet and savory.  Muddled golden pineapple and mint form the fresh and flavorful fruit base to the cocktail.

Mayan Temple Margarita

• 2 oz Siete Leguas Blanco Tequila
• 1 oz Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb Liqueur d’Orange
• ½ oz St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• ½ oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
• ½ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
• Golden Pineapple (cubed)
• Fresh Mint
• Limes
• David’s Kosher Salt

1. In your mixing glass add 2 cubes of golden pineapple and 6 mint leaves.  Muddle the two until a nice pulp forms and the mint leaves are broken up.

2. Juice your limes ahead of time and leave a segment of unsqueezed lime for later.  Add tequila, liqueurs, vermouth, and lime juice.

3. Fill glass with ice, cover with cocktail shaker, and mix.  Since there is fruit involved, mix longer and more vigorously than usual.

4. Before straining, rim a martini glass with kosher salt by rubbing lime wedge around rim and dipping rim into a small plate of salt.  Now you are ready to strain margarita into martini glass and serve.

The Derby is a classic cocktail with several variations.  This one is from the 1947 edition of Bartender’s Guide by Trader Vic.  The Mint Julep and Old Fashioned almost always get the spotlight so try out this classic concoction as a refreshing alternative to the present day norm.

The Derby is a marriage of bourbon, sweet vermouth, orange curaçao, and fresh lime juice.  We are replacing orange curaçao with Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb Liqueur d’Orange.  It actually adds more dimension to the cocktail!  Jim Beam is the perfect bourbon for this cocktail with earthy tones that keep the expression lean.  While I love Dolin vermouth, I found the Martini & Rossi is a little sweeter  and works better here.  The result is a refreshing, slightly savory cocktail perfect for a hot day at the races.

The Derby

• 1 oz Jim Beam Bourbon
• ½ oz Martini & Rossi Sweet Vermouth
• ½ oz Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb Liqueur d’Orange
• ¾ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
• Fresh Mint

1. Combine bourbon, vermouth, liqueur, and lime juice in cocktail shaker.

2. Fill with ice, shake, and strain into a martini glass.

3. Garnish with a sprig of mint.  Cheers!

Will you be celebrating Cinco de Mayo, the Kentucky Derby, or both? Let us know on the FreshDirect Facebook page or via Twitter (@FreshDirect).

An Orange Garnish will brighten up anyone's day!

Ed. note: Growing up, my grandmother would make weeknight dinner meals so much more fun by making shapes out of vegetables. As a kid, her fried rice seemed so much tastier with carrot flowers.  So when our Marketing team member Anna decided to write this how-to on pretty, edible garnishes, it brought back such fond memories. Enjoy!

Whether throwing a House Party or entertaining guests, take presentation up to the next level with decorative garnishes on each dish.

Below are three garnish ideas that are simple, yet really add a wow factor to the plate.  And they’re all made from food!

Carrot Flowers

1. Carrot flowers. Peel a carrot. Then cut grooves into the side, to form a flower or star shape. Then cut thin slices and decorate the plate. Cut as many as you like.

 



Cucumber Ribbon

2. Cucumber ribbon with tomatoes. Use a peeler to peel a thin layer of the cucumber. Keep the skin on for a beautiful color contrast. For additional contrast, strategically place some colorful tomatoes. I used two colors: red and yellow.

 



Orange Rose

3. Orange peel rose. Peel an orange in a corkscrew fashion, keeping the peel in one piece.  Then coil the peel to form a rose.  Suggestion:  take it up a notch by adding another layer.  For mine, I peeled another orange, keeping it on one piece, but creating flower petals when the peel naturally broke.  Then, I cut out some areas to keep it interesting.

• Tip for entertaining:  put something between the flower petals on the plate, like spring rolls or dumplings

Tell us: How do you dress up your plate? Let us know on the FreshDirect Facebook page or via Twitter (@FreshDirect).

Add Blueberries to Salads: They make everything better!

Whether you’re in your salad days now, or would like to remember what they feel like, eating food that will nourish and delight you is part of feeling your best.

In this post, I hope to inspire you to literally put a few more salad days in your future. And as its Earth Month, it seems appropriate to note that eating more plants is one of the most environmentally-friendly choices you can make at the table.

So there you have it: eating greens is good for eating green and getting lean.

Here are a few of my favorite salads that are simple enough for a weeknight, but interesting enough to keep boredom at bay.

1. Berry Good Brussels Sprouts Salad

Start with raw, shaved Brussels sprouts, generously add handfuls of beautiful blueberries, top with toasted almond slices

Tip: add blueberries. They make everything better.

2. Raw Kale-Citrus Salad

Start with raw kale and chiffonade into thin strips. Peel grapefruit pieces and add fleshy sections to the salad. Add thinly slice red onions. “Cold-cook” your salad by marinating in red wine vinaigrette to desired doneness. Optional: sprinkle with baby pumpkin seeds (pepitas), or add a few thin slices of avocado on top.

Tip: bigger is better when it comes to salads. Fill you plate and your stomach, without all the calories. Note: this does not, sorry to say, apply to the fatty add-ons like creamy dressing, bacon, croutons etc. It does however apply to fruits and vegetables.

3. Nutty Baby Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Start with freshly washed (and dried) baby spinach. Add sliced strawberries and raw pistachios on top. Try a balsamic dressing.

Tip: start all your meals with salads. Or, better yet, make the salad your meal!

4. Kitchen Sink Salad Starts with Romaine

Start with romaine hearts – chop or hand-tear into hearty pieces. Add a bit of everything from the crisper:  carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, apple, onion, bell pepper, broccoli, and beyond!

Tip: add some plant-based protein and fat for a meal-sized salad. Almonds, chickpeas, and tofu are good choices.

5. Fine Fennel Salad

Start with a crisp fennel bulb and hand-shave or use a mandolin or food-processor to get thin slices of fennel. Add cross sections of raw cauliflower. Toss in shelled sugar snap peas (in the pod is OK, too). Mix in a generous helping of chopped fresh parsley. Use your favorite Italian dressing.

Tip: add lean meat or seafood as a seasoning rather than center of plate. On top of salads add bite-size pieces of grilled chicken, fish, lean steak, or even deli turkey.

For more healthy eating tips, and savings on delicious, healthful foods, check out my Healthy Living for Less page.

What are your favorite salad combinations? Let us know on the FreshDirect Facebook page or via Twitter (@FreshDirect)