8 Okra Recipes you must try!

 8 Okra Recipes you must try!

As a child of southern raised parents Okra was a regular menu item in the summer. We had Okra either fried with cornmeal, stewed by itself or with tomatoes over rice and sometimes raw cut up over a salad. The seasoned crunchy fried okra was my favorite. As years have pass I’ve discovered that cooking okra has limitless possibilities like marinated, tempura , roasted,grilled and more.

Okra origins are from Africa and are in the same plant family as hibiscus and cotton. These plants loved warm temperatures and are usually available in the south fresh year-round and all over the US from May to October. Okra can also be found frozen sliced, whole and breaded. I’ve food dehydrated Okra which makes a great snack substitute for potato chips.

 Fried Pecan Okra

Okra & Corn Maque Choux

Okra Rellenos 

 

  Pickled Okra

Marinated Okra (not Pictured)

 

Tempura Okra

Peppery Grilled Okra with Lemon-Basil Dipping Sauce

Roasted Okra

Okra is

• Very low in calories, provides just 30 cal per 100 g and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol; but is a rich source of dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins; recommended in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programs.
• The rich fiber and mucilaginous content in Okra pods helps smooth peristalsis of digested food particles and relieve constipation condition.
• The pods contain healthy amounts of vitamin A, and flavonoid anti-oxidants such as beta carotenes, xanthin and lutein. It is one of the green vegetable with highest levels of these anti-oxidants. These compounds are known to have antioxidant properties and are essential for vision. Vitamin A is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin.
• Fresh pods are good source of folates; provide about 22% of RDA per 100 g. The pods are also an excellent source of anti-oxidant vitamin, vitamin-C; provides about 36% of daily recommended levels. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps body develop immunity against infectious agents, reduce episodes of cold and cough and protects body from harmful free radicals.
• These veggies are rich in B-complex group of vitamins like niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin and pantothenic acid. The pods also contain good amounts of vitamin K.  Vitamin K is a co-factor for blood clotting enzymes and is required for strengthening of bones. The pods are also good source of many important minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese and magnesium.

When buying fresh okra, look for young pods free of bruises, tender but not soft, and no more than 4 inches long. The best way to store Okra in the refrigerator is in a paper bag or wrapped in a paper towel in a perforated plastic bag for 2 to 3 days, or it may be frozen for up to 12 months after blanching whole for 2 minutes.

RESOURCES
http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/okra.html
www.about.com

Top 10 Ways Not to Burn Thanksgiving Dinner

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking fire incidents spike during Thanksgiving and Christmas time. But it's not just fires. Trips and falls, along with cuts and burns incidents are also high many of which occur while people are preparing their meals.

Thanksgiving can be a whirlwind of cooking and entertaining guests.  To make sure no one gets hurt, Fire administration officials recommend:

·         Stand by your pan, when cooking. Never leave food, grease or oils cooking on the stovetop unattended. Pay attention!

·         When simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while it’s cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

·         Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking, because loose fitting clothing can easily catch on fire.

·         Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, towels, and other things that can catch fire, away from your stovetop.

·         Plug microwave ovens and other cooking appliances directly into an outlet, not an extension cord.

·         Keep children three feet away from the stove.

·         Test fire alarms before a gathering to make sure they are working.

What to do if you have a fire

• If it’s a small grease fire and you have an oven mitt and lid nearby, smother the flames in the pan by sliding the lid over it. Turn off the burner, and don’t move the pan. Leave the lid on the pan until it has cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn the heat off and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you or your clothes.
• For a microwave oven fire, turn it off immediately, keep the door closed and unplug the appliance if you can reach it safely. Keep the door closed until the fire is out.
• If your clothing catches fire, Stop, Drop and Roll to put out the flames.
• When in doubt, get out, is what the U.S. Fire Administration advises for any fire in the kitchen. If you leave, close the door behind you and call 911. If you decide to stay and fight the fire, make sure others are already out and you have a clear exit path.

One of the larger contributors to Thanksgiving fires in recent years is the increasing popularity of deep-frying turkeys, which uses grease that can become flammable. If you're planning to deep-fry your holiday bird, watch this video to see a first-hand demonstration of what can happen if you don't follow all instructions

Safety around turkey fryers

Before you use a turkey fryer, make sure to read instructions. Many accidents involving turkey fryers are from first-time users.

• Make sure to use a turkey fryer outside and at a safe distance from buildings or any other combustible material. Also, don’t use a turkey fryer in a garage or on a wooden deck. Be sure it is on a flat surface.
• Don’t leave the fryer unattended. Most units don’t have thermostat controls, so if you don’t watch it the oil could continue to heat until it catches on fire.
• To keep oil from spilling over, which can cause fires if the oil hits the burner, never overfill the fryer. Be sure the turkey or Chicken is completely thawed and be cautious of marinades. Water can cause the oil to spill over.
• Never use water to put out a grease fire. Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby.

·          Keep children or pets away from the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use.

If a fire starts and has been extinguished, call 9-1-1 anyway and have firefighters make sure it is out.

During this Thanksgiving weekend we wish you a safe and joyous holiday!

Count Down to Thanksgiving!

The festive part of the year is approaching us quickly. Have you begun planning your holiday menu yet? Now is a great time to start if you have not thought about your holiday meal. Nor is it too early to plan other upcoming  holidays like Chanukah , Christmas or Kwanza meals.

First on the agenda should be the menu. If the meal is a collaborative effort of family and friends,then deciding who will be preparing what from appetizers to desserts should be made very soon. Also do not forget to delegate who will be bringing the beverages.

In planning the menu please remember to keep those with special diets such as food allergies, diabetics, and vegan/ vegetarians in mind. Finding out any special dietary requirements in advance gives you the opportunity to plan and prepare dishes that everyone could enjoy at the dinner table.  The people with the special diet would be appreciative of the advance consideration and feel included in the festive dining experience.

Fall is a good time to try something new.

The fruits and vegetables that are in season now are:

Apples, artichokes, avocado, beets, bok choy, broccoli,

brussels sprouts, cabbage

carrots, cranberries, celeriac, chard, chestnuts, Greens, cranberries, daikon, fennel, guava, kiwi

kumquat, lemons, oranges, pears, persimmons, pomegranate, potatoes, quince

rutabaga,  turnips and variety of fall and winter squash

Many of these fresh fruits and vegetables are grown locally. We will be featuring recipes for side dishes in upcoming posts.

With higher food prices and slim budgets in mind take advantage of the Supermarkets: Free turkey, Ham or Lasagna giveaways! When a certain dollar amount has been spent with in the free turkey campaign time frame, a turkey, ham or lasagna is earned. Some stores offer different products so check the weekly circulars for the giveaway campaign that suits your needs. If you shop at different stores you may be eligible to win a free item from each store patronized. Most stores only allow the customer to earn one item within the time period regardless of the amount spent over the set goal.

During this time of year “good” coupons are more bountiful. I state “good” because these are more likely for items you may actually want to purchase and the value of the coupon does not require you to purchase more than one item to reap the benefit.

If holiday meal planning and cooking is overwhelming for you, consider using a Personal Chef for your meal preparations. Meal Makers, Inc. is available to help you by preparing your holiday meals or working with you to prepare your meal.  Contact us for more information mealmakersinc@gmail.com