Some people love to cook. Patrick, for instance-with 5 kids, has developed a love of being in the kitchen. Jo-Anna, who spent years eating in the best restaurants for free as a Chef Concierge...not so much.
But, inevitably, if you want to live a healthier-happier life, you'll need to make the kitchen & cooking-your friend! So, we've combined our experiences in the kitchen, to share hacks that have made our kitchen duties, fast, fun & delicious!
From Jo-Anna:
-Don't wash your mushrooms before you sauté them. It ruins their texture & water-logs their flavor. Just pat them to remove the excess dirt, then toss them in oil & spices. You'll taste the delicious difference.
-Want a great sauce Alfredo without a 3-hour stint at the stove? Melt down a package of Boursin spread. Add a bit of wine or lemon juice, & extra spices.Voilà, an Alfredo worthy of your tavolo.
-Don't want to eat nutrition-deficient piecrusts? Try making your quiche or fritatta with a sprinkling of panko crumbs on top.You'll get the crunchy carbo-hit, without the colon-clogging white flour.
-Preferred gadget: Fullstar Vegetable Chopper-Spiralizer-Slicer
From Patrick:
-Oh, the beleagured Brussel sprout. FYI-You can eat them raw-they're great with dip or in a salad. Just use some olive oil on the leaves to tenderize them. My favorite? Cut them in half,toss with olive oil, salt & pepper, then roast on a baking sheet at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.
-Spice it up with a quick Coconut Curry sauce. Aha-the recipe is too long for today's blog, so tun in on Thursday & we'll post the whole thing in our PJ Wellness Show Notes. A hint? Onions,olive oil, garlic, tomato paste, veggie broth & coconut milk are all a part of the hack-delicious & fast!
-Rewash prewashed salad? The debate is ongoing, but stats prove that raw food always presents a minimal risk, & double-washing doesn't guarantee an absence of bacteria. Save time & enjoy your prewashed greens straight from the bag.
-Preferred gadget: OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner
*We're in the process of updating our Shop.
The links for our preferred gadgets will be available shortly.
But, we bet you'll find stuff you like there now anyway!
We'll be exploring much more in our podcast on Thursday', so don't forget to tune in!
We'll also touch base on a few of the Essential Kitchen ideas from our series.
You can access the entire series collection of our blog/podcast combos on our Living Well Community Facebook page.
Best, Patrick & Jo-Anna
PS-If you've found a whole grain or veggie crust that you love-please let us know.
Cauliflower works in a pinch, but we're not sold. We'd love to hear your ideas!
Takeaway Tip: We've just added scads of new recipes to our kitchen.
We've broken them down by food categories for you.
Just click & keep scrolling- Bon Appetit!