Friday, April 9, 2010 at 08:13 AM
Hooray for Friday! TGIF always calls for a fun blogpost so I thought I would bring you Two of My Favorite Things. Today’s topic – kitchen things!
I ♥ aprons! Isn’t this one just awesome?
It’s by Jessie Steele and I bought it at Just A Little Something Boutique in Foxboro, MA. My friend, PJ, owns Just A Little Something and he is fabulous! He’s the kind of guy you can call when you’re having a clothing crisis and he will come to the rescue. He makes buying jeans fun and easy. I never knew that was possible.
So, back to my apron thing. I wear aprons all the time. The reason? I like my clothes and cooking is messy. So, at least once a day (usually for dinner prep), I always tie on an apron. In the end, I get to keep my clothes longer and we spend a lot less money on Spray & Wash. Someday, I would like to own an apron that says A Better Bag of Groceries!
I had never heard of Jessie Steele aprons until I found this one at Just A Little Something. Their aprons are “retro-chic vintage-inspired hostess aprons, kitchen aprons & cooking aprons for the contemporary woman.” My pink and black apron is from their Hostess Apron Line and it’s perfect to wear while entertaining. So, if you are an apron kind of girl (or boy), check them out!
And now for Thing #2: Measuring Cups!
I have so many measuring cups, but one of my new favorites is this one by OXO.
I received this as a gift from Dream Dinners, the meal preparation site that I visit once a month to keep my sanity in check. You might remember my post on Dream Dinners. Basically, I go there and prepare about 8 or 9 meals every month to keep in the freezer for extra-busy nights. I ♥ Dream Dinners! And it was there that I started using these OXO measuring cups. Here’s what’s so cool about it:
You can measure from up above! No need to crouch down and get at eye-level when measuring liquids. They even have a Mini Angled Measuring Cup for measuring Tablespoons. I don’t own one of the small ones, but I hope to someday! Hopefully, my dear husband reads today’s post for some ideas for my upcoming birthday and/or Mother’s Day!
Question of the Day
What are two of your favorite Kitchen Things?
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Two Favorite Things
Tags: aprons, Jessie Steele, measuring cups, OXO
Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 07:17 AM
So, here we are having record warm temperatures in Boston this week and I decide to blog about a baked pasta casserole! Counter-intuitive, I know. I should be here telling you about the best-scoring recipes for the grill. But, let’s face it. Spring weeknight dinners are all about speed and while the idea of having a little soiree with your grill, cold beverage in hand is a pleasant thought, it’s probably not happenin’ ’til the weekend.
Yes, Spring is about the busiest season of all. Especially if you have a child who is in Little League. Luckily for me, my kids are not, but I do have some Mommy friends who are out at the fields at least three nights a week. With sunset not until well after 7 pm, it sure puts a dent in your schedule. And it is on those crazy-busy nights that Moms have no choice but to (cue evil-sounding music here) resort to the McDonald’s or Wendy’s drive-through. I admit, I’ve been there myself. Sometime between swimming lessons, sports class and Cub Scouts. I (unfortunately) have McDonald’s Kidzbop CDs to prove it.
So, this Spring, I challenge Moms to make some healthy, high-yield recipes on the not-so-busy nights and use their microwaves to reheat leftovers when the going gets tough.
This Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage is one of my favorite Weight Watchers recipes. My kids love it, we usually get two dinners plus lunch leftovers out of it, and it has some great ingredients with high NuVal scores.
3/4 lb mild turkey sausage, casings removed (NuVal score of 20 for Shady Brook Farms 65% less fat sweet Italian turkey sausage)
1 medium onion, chopped (NuVal score: 93)
1 medium red pepper, cored, seeded and chopped (NuVal score: 96)
One 28-oz can diced tomatoes (*see my note below on diced tomatoes)
One 10-oz package frozen peas, thawed (NuVal score: 96)
2 Tbsp tomato paste (NuVal score of 75for Cento tomato paste)
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
12 oz dried whole wheat ziti, cooked according to the package’s instructions and drained (*see my note on Ziti below)
6 oz mozzarella cheese, grated (NuVal score of 21 for Price Chopper’s Part-Skim Low Moisture mozzarella)
On the Diced Tomatoes:
Boy, do the NuVal scores vary when it comes to canned tomatoes. It’s all about the additives. One of the best brands you can choose when your recipe calls for diced tomatoes is Del Monte Diced Tomatoes with No Salt Added.
They score a 77 on the NuVal scale. Compare that to Del Monte’s Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic and Oregano which only score a 28. That’s what I mean about those additives.
On the Ziti:
This recipe does call for Ziti and I do like the smooth texture of that particular pasta cut for this recipe. But I also like to buy a very high-scoring pasta and for some reason, the whole wheat and multi-grain pastas do not seem to come in the form of Ziti. The best-scoring Ziti I could find in my supermarket scored only a 61. So, I opted for Barilla Plus Multigrain Penne which gets a Rock Star score of 91. To measure 12 ounces, I used my ancient Weight Watchers scale.
- Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Crumble the sausage meat into a large saucepan and brown over medium heat, stirring often, about 4 minutes.
- Drain off any fat, then add the onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the tomatoes, peas, tomato paste, oregano, basil, thyme, fennel seeds, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook uncovered 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Stir in the pasta and half the grated cheese. (I usually do this part in an extra-large metal mixing bowl to keep things from getting too messy). Spread evenly into a 9 X 13 inch baking pan. Top evenly with the remaining cheese.
- Bake until the cheese has melted and the casserole is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before serving. Serves 8.
The photo came out a little blurry, I know, but you get the picture. 
Serve this right out of your casserole dish and then (once it has cooled), store the casserole in the refrigerator for Leftover/Microwave nights. You can zap a plate faster than you can get through the long line at the Drive Through.
As for warm pasta meals, they will still fit the bill here in New England. The forecast for the rest of the week looks much chillier. I hope my Little League Mom friends remember to wear their Long Johns. Those benches get cold!
Enjoy!
Question of the Day
What is your favorite reheated dinner?
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Dinner Recipes, Pasta
Tags: Baked Ziti, Pasta
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 10:05 AM
Oh, how I love popcorn! My kids do too. How happy am I that we are beyond the stage of “popcorn is a choking hazard.” It is true that parents of children age 4 and below need to be wary of popcorn (and other foods, such as whole grapes, hot dogs, peanut butter, and baby carrots) since it can cause choking in pre-schoolers and toddlers. We used to break up popcorn into tiny pieces (a very tedious task) so that our kids could eat it when they were that young. But now, our kids are on the cusp of five and seven and they love their popcorn and they chew it well!
I get a lot of questions about the NuVal scores for popcorn. It is a pretty simple category. Think of it this way: If you are buying popcorn kernels in a jar, they score very well. Orville Redencacher’s Original scores a 91.
If you are buying microwave popcorn, they score much, much lower (scores range from 1 – 28). It’s all about the additives!
This Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop Kettle Korn scores a 12.
This Pop Secret Butter 94% Fat Free scores a 24.
Some of the highest scoring microwave popcorns include:
- Act II 94% Fat Free Butter Flavor scores a 28
- Newman’s Own 94% Fat Free Butter scores a 28
- Jolly Time Healthy Pop scores a 27
I am not a fan of microwave popcorn. Bleeechh!! It’s way too salty and fake-buttery tasting for me. We never have it in the house. We make popcorn the old fashioned way – with a pan and a very small amount of canola oil and salt. The only downside to this strategy is that when babysitters come to our house and the kids ask for popcorn, they don’t know what to do. They grew up in the Microwave Popcorn Generation.
I, however, grew up before microwave popcorn became All The Rage. First, we had our 1970s popper. And it looked exactly like this!
Thanks to the PR Mama for this digital image that brings back such memories! This popper used hot oil to pop the corn. And it got very hot! In fact, I think this popper is so memorable to me because my sister, while eagerly awaiting the corn to finish popping, pressed her nose against the plastic lid and burned it! That is a story my own kids have heard many times as they try to peer though the oven door!
As we moved into the 80s, we graduated to a hot air popper that had a little metal dish on top so that you could melt your butter from the heat of the popper while the popcorn popped. While hot air popping is undoubtedly the healthiest way to pop the corn since nothing is added, I find it kind of chewy.
Fast forward to now and you find me making popcorn the old-fashioned way.
First, I get out a large pot fitted with a cover, place it on the burner, and turn the heat to medium-high to high. Every stove is different so you have to experiment with your settings to figure out which works best for you. Next, I place 1 to 2 Tablespoons of canola oil (NuVal score of 24) in the bottom of the pan. I also add a dash of salt. Once the oil is heated (but not smoking), I add my test kernels, place the lid on and wait for them to pop.
Once these kernels pop, you are good to go. I add about 1/2 cup of kernels. Honestly, I never measure. I just pour. Again, place the lid on top, and wait for the pops. If you can manage to keep your lid slightly ajar, try to do so in order to let the steam escape. The popcorn will be drier and crisper, and less chewy. Shake the pan rigorously over the burner so that the popcorn on the bottom does not pop. Once the popping slows to several seconds between pops, remove the lid completely and pour the popcorn into a large bowl.
Next, I add about two Tablespoons of melted butter and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt and I mix it well in this big bowl. Finally, I divide it into smaller bowls (again, to avoid the inevitable arguments that will erupt between my two children). These territorial fights can also break out between my husband and me if we share a bowl while enjoying the latest Netflix arrival (these days, Weeds and Madmen). The Individual Bowl Method also helps in the effort to keep germs in check.
So, there you have it – my tried and true method for popcorn bliss. Now get yourself a great DVD and try it tonight!
Yesterday’s Winner
Congratulations to Commenter #19, Don! You’ve won the Central Market Classics and Lindt Chocolate GiveAway! Send me an email at abetterbagofgroceries@gmail.com and tell me your mailing address. Thanks to everyone who entered I loved all the dinner ideas!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Popcorn
Tags: Popcorn
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 06:48 AM
Hello Bloggies! It’s Trade-Up Tuesday a very popular day here on A Better Bag of Groceries where I blog about a Trade-Up I’ve made since learning about NuVal and I give away free stuff to one lucky reader.
Today’s GiveAway was inspired by my recent trip to Price Chopper. Whenever I have the opportunity to visit one of the retailers who has NuVal scores on shelf (Price Chopper, Hy-Vee, Meijer, United Texas and Kroger of Lexington, KY), I always take some time to roam the aisles and look for interesting products that have high NuVal scores. I always find something new and this most recent trip was no exception.
The Lucky Winner who wins this GiveAway will have all the makings of a lovely dinner, from appetizer to dessert.
First, the Lucky Winner will begin with tasty bruschetta.
Just spoon this Central Market Classics (that’s Price Chopper’s specialty store brand) Bruschetta on to some crusty bread and you are in business. Note that high score of 52!
Next, Lucky Winner will enjoy a delicious main course of chicken simmered in Central Market Classics Green Olive Tapenade (NuVal score of 57) and served over Central Market Classics Whole Wheat Spaghetti (NuVal score of 89).
This recipe idea comes from Price Chopper’s own Bill Drake, Merchandising Program Specialist. Thanks, Bill!
I suggest a nice, crisp green salad to round out your main meal.
In keeping with the spicy nature of this meal, Lucky Winner will finish out the evening with Lindt’s Chili Dark Chocolate which gets a NuVal score of 14. I recommend pairing it with some sliced fresh fruit to balance out your taste buds.
So, there you have it! While Lucky Winner will have to supply the crusty bread, chicken, salad greens and fresh fruit (those items would not travel through the US Mail so well), he or she will enjoy a delicious and high-scoring meal.
How to Enter:
Leave a comment telling me your favorite three-course meal (appetizer, main course, and dessert). Leave a 2nd comment with a surprising or interesting NuVal score (you can find some on this blog, on Trading Up Downtown, or on the NuVal site) and you will be entered twice! The Lucky Winner will be drawn at random at 10 am EDT Wednesday. Good Luck!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Price Chopper, Trade-Up Tuesday
Tags: bruschetta, Price Chopper, Spaghetti, tapenade
Monday, April 5, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Welcome to Cart Confessions, a frequent feature here on A Better Bag of Grocerieswhere I ‘fess up and tell you about something that landed in my shopping cart that I am not so proud of. Today, it’s Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Colors.
How did these purple, pink and green fishies end up in my cart? Take a guess! Yup, you got it right. My husband did the grocery shopping! That is typically my job, but things have been a little chaotic these past few weeks on the homefront. And so it happened that I needed some time to catch up on NuVal work and he took the kids grocery shopping. And he does a wonderful job. Truly. I mean he has even bought stuff for blog giveaways. He has literally been in aisles calling me from his cell as we review UPC codes over the phone. So I will forgive him for this one slip-up. I mean, really, he just gave in to the kid-pressure. Look how happy my daughter is about her colorful fish!
I do buy Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, but I typically buy the Whole Grain variety which score a 28 on the NuVal scale. That is a great score when you consider that the median score (half score above, half score below) for crackers is a 14. I don’t usually buy Goldfish Colors because they used to score an 18. Did you notice that I said “used to score.” Past tense. They now score a 24. Pepperidge Farm recently changed the recipe. I checked in with Rachel Rodek, MS, RD, LDN, CSSD and Manager of Nutrition Communications at NuVal. She said that the reason the score has improved from an 18 to a 24 is that the new recipe has more healthy unsaturated fats than the previous recipe.
That is one of the coolest things about NuVal. We keep up with manufacturer reformulations. They happen all the time and we keep track of it. So, if the cereal company adds fiber and takes out some sugar, we rescore the product. And consumers (well, at least those consumers who are lucky enough to have NuVal in their local grocery stores) have the most-up-to-date data at their fingertips.
Back to the Goldfish. The kids devoured the bag of Colors and reveled in the fact that they got Daddy to buy something that Mommy usually says “no” to. Now, we are back to Whole Grain Goldfish. And hopefully, I am back to being Queen of the Grocery Shopping in our household.
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Cart Confessions
Tags: Goldfish, Pepperidge Farms Goldfish
