Summer Cocktails

Summer Cocktails

Most imbibers leave the mixing to the bartenders and mixologists, and with good reason.

We city-dwellers are spoiled by having some the most creative minds in the world masterminding cocktail recipes at the city’s finest establishments.

That doesn’t mean cocktail enthusiasts can’t take a few tips from the pros and create surprisingly dashing and delicious drinks at home! (More…)

Maggie Moon, MS, RD

Maggie Moon, MS, RD

With Memorial Day Weekend around the corner — and with it, the unofficial start of summer — now’s the time to really step up your slim-down-for-summer efforts!

While the following advice is not as sexy as what you might find in {insert latest fad diet here}, the simple truth is this: in order to lose weight, you have to burn more calories than you take in.

To maximize the health benefits so that you take care of your body’s nutrient needs and feel great while losing weight, those calories-in should be as nutrient-rich as possible. (More…)

05/19/2011 by in Eat Right Here - Comments are closed
Seared Tuna and Couscous Salad

Seared Tuna and Couscous Salad

No longer a FreshDirect Newbie, our blogger Erica continues sharing her FreshDirect food adventures as “The Cautious Cook.”

***

Now that I’ve gotten used to using FreshDirect, I’ve decided it’s time to try to conquer some of my biggest cooking fears. First up: fish.

I’ve been around fish my entire life. I grew up in a Brooklyn neighborhood called Sheepshead Bay where boats dock day and night. I remember that my dad went out on the bay and on Long Island Sound nearly every weekend, and I have hazy memories of my shoes squishing against the wet floors of our local fish store, Jordan’s.

But aside from an occasional tuna salad sandwich, I never ate any of it! (More…)

05/17/2011 by in The Cautious Cook - Comments are closed
Modern Farms Mushrooms

Modern Farms Mushrooms

Mushrooms are one of those vegetables that are always available, but you rarely get to see them growing. It’s not like you’re ever going to pass by rolling mushroom fields or ranches on your way to the Catskills.

I recently had the opportunity to see for myself where the magic happens. Alongside our Produce team, I visited two of the biggest mushroom farms in the Tri-State area: Phillips Mushroom Farms and Modern Farms Mushrooms.

I left with a head full of fun facts, a bag full of delicious mushroom treats and a real understanding of how mushrooms go from the earth to my kitchen.
(More…)

05/16/2011 by in Behind the Scenes - Comments are closed
Wild Ramps

Wild Ramps

I’ve never met a vegetable I didn’t like, and that was true even before I was more or less professionally bound to say such things by virtue of being a card-carrying Commission on Dietetics registered dietitian (RD).

And it’s an exciting time to love veggies, because the spring season’s bounty is here. Delicate, first of the season, limited-availability vegetables have finally arrived, just as my palate is ready to come out of hibernation, too.

While there are a number of exciting spring vegetables to explore, three of my favorites that have me daydreaming about getting into the kitchen are wild fiddlehead ferns, baby purple artichokes and wild ramps. (More…)

Terrance Brennan Fettuccini w/ Shrimp, Tomato Confit & Creamy Pesto

Terrance Brennan Fettuccini w/ Shrimp

Back when I was a picky eater, I spent a lot of time feeling guilty about not eating enough vegetables.

I knew they were good for me, and I even knew I’d feel better when I ate them, but I just couldn’t do much more than eat a salad once or twice a week.

Now that I’ve welcomed the wonders of vegetables into my life (Brussels sprouts! Cucumbers!), my guilt has shifted.

Now it’s not bringing my lunch to work that makes me feel a tiny bit like a failure. (More…)

Nha Trang, Australis Aquaculture HQ in Vietnam

Nha Trang, Australis Aquaculture HQ in Vietnam

As part of the new FreshDirect Sustainable Seafood Ratings Program, Jeff Ludwin, our seafood category manager and buyer, was tasked with finding delicious new sustainable fish as alternatives to some less ocean-friendly items, such as farmed salmon.

Follow along on Jeff’s tour of Australis Aquaculture in Vietnam — one of our “best practice” vendors who demonstrate eco-friendly fish farming and produce fresh, delicious and sustainable barramundi fillets. (More…)

Cocktails for the Kentucky Derby!

Cocktails for the Kentucky Derby!

Derby Day is a time for big bets, bigger hats and tasty cocktails. Fashion is high and the expectation of a derby-themed cocktail is higher.

Here is a duo that should cover your bases for a party scenario that often encompasses an array of taste preferences.

First, we tip our hat to a perennial all-star: The Mint Julep is the quintessence of Derby Day imbibing with a permanent place in America’s liquid history. (More…)

Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid by Oldways Preservation Trust

Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid by Oldways Preservation Trust

Celebrate Mother’s Day (and National Mediterranean Diet Month) with delicious meals made with love, that love mom back!

Do it because more women need to take care of their heart health. In fact, more women than men have died of heart disease each year since 1984, and it’s still the number one cause of death among both men and women in the U.S. and around the globe.

Great news: It’s largely preventable. A heart-healthy diet is a good place to start. (More…)

Cinco de Mayo Cocktails

Cinco de Mayo Cocktails

With Cinco de Mayo fast approaching, let’s take a look at two fun and tasty cocktails for the adventurous palate!

Before we get rolling, I will make quick mention of a product that has taken the country by storm.

If you are strapped for time or cash (or both!) click on Skinnygirl Margarita and “forgeddaboutit!” Bethanny Frankel‘s open-and-serve margarita is a quick option for the calorie-counter seeking a festive sip. Simply pour over ice or blend.

Those looking for a heightened marriage of tastes can experiment with equally festive — yet more elaborate — cocktails. (More…)