Thursday, February 18, 2010

Southern Peanut Growers Celebrate National Peanut Month with Food Bank Donation and PB&J My Way Recipe Contest

/PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Peanut Month this March, Southern Peanut Growers (SPG) is launching "PB&J My Way," a national recipe contest looking for nutty new takes on the classic PB&J. For every peanut butter sandwich recipe received, SPG will donate a jar of peanut butter to hunger relief organization Feeding America.

No matter how you slice it, the PB&J is a classic. In a recent poll by SheSpeaks.com, nearly 50 percent of respondents said they opt for the traditional PB&J; 10 percent favor peanut butter and honey; 13 percent are with The King (Elvis, of course), making their peanut butter sandwich with bananas; and another 13 percent just reach for the jar, enjoying peanut butter sans the sandwich. The remaining 14 percent of respondents said their favorite peanut butter sandwich combo is unique to them - and those are the recipes "PB&J My Way" is seeking!

Easy to make and eat, a peanut butter sandwich has countless variations. Tell SPG what "PB&J My Way" means to you, and the organization will donate one jar of peanut butter to Feeding America for each recipe submitted, up to 4,000 jars. Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger relief charity, providing assistance through a nationwide network of food banks.

"What better way to celebrate National Peanut Month than to provide a nutritious food to people who need it most," said Leslie Wagner, executive director, Southern Peanut Growers. "Peanut butter is cost-effective and nutritious, not to mention, delicious. With so many variations possible, we can't wait to see all the creative ways that people incorporate peanut butter into their favorite sandwiches."

To enter your favorite peanut butter sandwich recipe, visit www.peanutbutterlovers.com and submit a recipe by March 31, 2010. Recipes can be as simple or as complex as you like - the only criteria is that it must contain peanut butter. A year supply (one case) of peanut butter will be awarded to the 10 participants who enter the most creative and delicious recipes. Top recipes will also be featured on www.peanutbutterlovers.com.

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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Genki Noodles and Sushi's Lunch Menu Satisfies Healthy Appetites and Small Budgets

Offering An Affordable, Fresh and Healthy Lunch Menu Daily

Genki Noodles and Sushi is offering a selection of affordable and filling lunch specials every day between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. for under $10. The special lunch menu is available at both the Buckhead and Prado Shopping Center locations and features Genki’s artfully prepared Asian fusion cuisine in an inviting atmosphere with free WiFi. Genki’s lunch specials are also available for pick up at both locations and can be delivered to Sandy Springs residents.

Lunch specials include a choice of fresh, hand-made sushi rolls or a popular Genki bowl; all items come with tasty miso soup, a choice of a ginger salad or a small seaweed salad and tea or soda.

Option 1: $7.95
Choose one: California Roll or Rock and Roll
Vegetable Tempura Roll
½ Tofu Bowl: Broth, Yaki or Don Style

Option 2: $8.95
Choose one: Yellow Scallion Roll or Bagel Roll
½ Chicken Bowl: Broth, Yaki or Don Style

Option 3: $9.95
Choose one: Spicy Tuna Roll or Drunken Eel Roll
½ Beef Bowl: Broth, Yaki, or Don Style
½ Shrimp Bowl: Broth, Yaki, or Don Style

Established in 1996 by Reid Zeising, Genki in Buckhead has received numerous awards for its food, atmosphere and patio. Located at 3186 Roswell Road in Buckhead and at The Prado: 5590 Roswell Rd, Suite 100 in Sandy Springs, both Genki restaurants are open seven days a week serving both lunch and dinner and offer delivery. Hours of operation are from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information visit www.genkiatl.com or call 404.844.8319 (Buckhead) or 404.843.8319 (Sandy Springs).
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Have a heart and serve quick-to-fix healthy treats

(ARA) - Your loved ones will feel the love this Valentine's Day when you serve up dazzling dishes that delight the taste buds and promote happy, healthy hearts.

Bright, colorful fresh fruits bursting with delicious juicy flavors are sweet treats you can offer your family right now. Thanks to an abundant supply of fresh fruit from Chile, where it's summer, you can enjoy all your favorite fruits all winter long.

Fresh fruits sliced as toppings for a very yummy dessert pizza or fresh blueberries scattered like sparkling jewels in a main course salad turn a meal into a true celebration of the heart.

"In addition to providing a healthy bounty of antioxidants - which are proven to prevent cellular aging and offer protection against memory loss, stroke and several types of cancer - blueberries also lower the risk of heart disease," says Dr. Steven Pratt, a noted nutrition expert and author of the book "SuperFoodsRx."

Numerous studies have shown that the fiber in fruits can lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease and obesity. More recent evidence has found that special nutritional compounds present in fruits provide additional protection from heart disease. Plus, they may also help prevent cancer, Alzheimer's disease and age-related loss of vision.

Ironically, even with all the new scientific evidence available, the vast majority of Americans still haven't been getting enough fruit and vegetables to eat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's probably because in the past there wasn't much variety to choose from during the long winter months. But now with the availability of fresh fruits all year round, it's easier than ever to enrich your family's diet with natural healthfulness found in fruit.

Plus, with fresh ripe fruit at the ready, these dishes go together in a snap. No thawing or cooking needed. Just rinse and slice the tasty fruit, toss in those delectable blueberries and go.

Fresh Fruit Pizza
Serves 4

Ingredients:
2 8- to 9-inch tortillas, preferably whole wheat
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup mascarpone or cream cheese
2 1/2 cups thinly sliced fresh Chilean fruit including nectarines, plums, kiwi and blueberries
1/4 cup apricot jam, melted

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Sprinkle tortillas with sugar and cinnamon; place on baking sheet and bake until crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven; cool. Spread with cheese, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Arrange fruit on the cheese. Brush with jam to create a glossy finish. To serve, use a large knife to cut pizzas into quarters and serve immediately.

Salmon, Fresh Blueberries and Lemon Salad with Chive Vinaigrette
Serves 4

Ingredients:
8 cups salad greens in small pieces
1 pound salmon fillet, poached
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
Lemon zest to garnish
Vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine
Vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon fresh chives

Directions:
Divide salad greens on four salad plates. Divide salmon and arrange on greens. Sprinkle on blueberries. Top with lemon zest. In a jar with a lid, add all the vinaigrette ingredients. Shake well. Serve salads chilled with the dressing alongside.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Tips from a pro: Home baking for professional results

(ARA) - It's pretty easy to fall into a baking rut. There's the classic chocolate chip cookie, or maybe your kids have a home-baked favorite that you've made a thousand times. Once you get a recipe down, it sometimes feels easier to just go with what you know. But many bakers find that getting creative in the kitchen can be rewarding - literally.

Commercial and artisan bakers recently got together to test their mettle in creating deliciously unique recipes that incorporated raisins in new and different ways. They were competing in the America's Best Raisin Bread Contest, put on by the California Raisin Marketing Board. The contest brought in a crowd of distinguished bakers from across the country to create and showcase their prized loaves that included stand-outs such as Cardamom Pecan Raisin Bread, Honey Nut Raisin Bread and California Gold Rush Bread. While these creations were produced by the hands of the pros, they can certainly serve as mouth-watering inspiration for your next baking adventure at home.

The grand prize winner in the artisan category was Larry Lobe of Dawn Food Products in Phoenix. Lobe took top honors for his Sicilian Raisin Bread. His baking advice for everyone, from beginners to advanced home chefs, is to "use the finest ingredients possible." Look for natural, healthy products to incorporate into your creations, from trusted sources - whether it is dried fruit, spices or chocolate, you can find high-quality options at most grocery stores today.

As most kitchen enthusiasts know, the art of baking is not the same as the improvisational nature of cooking. As Lobe notes, it is a science, and he points out that it is essential to follow baking guidelines such as baker's percentages. Even though you need to keep the practical side of baking in mind, Lobe urges home bakers to take some chances. "Always be creative and come up with new and exciting ideas," he says.

Lobe also notes the importance of having a willing taste-test team. This is what he calls his "secret weapon" - something that most moms will easily find right at home. But you can also look to friends and family, too. "My neighbors know I'm a baker and can easily find their way to my house, so I get a lot of constructive criticism around the neighborhood."

There are a few characteristics that Lobe says he shares with other successful bakers. One is persistence - there will always be a less-than-perfect loaf or batch, but it's important to look at it as a lesson for improving the next one. The other is a dedication to looking for quality ingredients. If you start out with strong ingredients, you'll be better equipped to really make a superior product.

Look for high-quality flour and butter, and if you can find them, farm-fresh eggs, and then add to those basics with the best flavor enhancers you can find. Fresh, not stale, spices add dynamic scents and tastes (grind your own if you have the time) and California Raisins pack a sweet punch of flavor and have great nutritional value, too. For great recipe ideas that will be a big hit in your house, go to www.LoveYourRaisins.com.

Try applying Lobe's tried-and-true tips to the tasty, family pleasing recipe below. These unique muffins are easy-to-make and are great for breakfast or any time of day.

Savory Cheddar Muffins
Yield: 12 muffins

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup butter or shortening
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
2/3 cup California Raisins

Directions:
Sift the flour with the baking powder, salt and paprika. Cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in remaining ingredients until just moistened. Spoon into well-greased muffin pans. Bake at 425 degrees F for 25 minutes.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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