Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 07:03 AM
Welcome to Trade-Up Tuesday! Tuesdays are the most popular day on my blog, because at the end of this post, there is always a giveaway! Today, I’m thinking about the word Alternative. You know, Alternative Fuel, Alternative Music, Alternative Spring Break.
I got the idea for today’s giveaway this past weekend, during my sister’s baby shower. Yes, our baby sister is having a baby!
During the shower, we were talking about how to eat more nutritiously (of course!) – and my sister, Pilates Julie, was all excited about an Alternative she had planned.
She was having friends over for dinner. “Usually, I make risotto. But I was thinking about pearled barley as an alternative. How would that score on the NuVal scale?” she asked.
“Very high,” I told her. “I will check it out for you.” I don’t bring my laptop to baby showers, so once at home, I did check it out. Sure enough, pearled barley scores a 91. The risotto only scores a 48.
I checked back in with Pilates Julie to see how her dinner with friends went. Did her friends mind that she was serving them this nutritious pearled barley instead of the usual risotto? “Oh!” she exclaimed. “It was wonderful! I served the pearled barley as the main course. I added shrimp for protein. Everyone actually preferred it over the risotto. It was so creamy – no butter or cheese needed. We accompanied it with a crisp green salad. The perfect meal.”
What a great Alternative! I thought of some other alternatives to add to this giveaway.
My friend Heather, an amazing cook, only uses Dreamfield’s pasta now. I know many people who are hesitant to trade on up to whole wheat pastas – and I get that. The texture is almost always different. However, if you haven’t tried Dreamfield’s, you absolutely must. It scores an 87 on the NuVal scale. And it is so creamy. Try it as an alternative to regular pasta (most score about a 57). Your guests or your family will never know the difference.
Brown rice (NuVal score of 82) is an aquired taste for most people – especially children! However, did you know that parboiled rice (which looks and tastes almost like white rice) also scores an 82 on the NuVal scale. It’s a great Alternative to white rice (which scores a 57). Parboiled rice is what my kids eat. They have no idea they are being so healthy.
In my daily life as a mom, sister, daughter, neighbor, citizen, shopper, businessperson, I listen to a lot of different conversations. And right now, the buzz that I hear is “I’d like to lose a few pounds” or ”I’d like to fit into those jeans again” or ”I’d like to eat more nutritiously.” But the only way to do that is to change something that you are doing. Insanity is defined as as repeating the same behavior and expecting a different result. So, these are just three small ideas of alternative foods – or at NuVal, what we call Trade-Ups.
Today’s Giveaway
One lucky reader will win the Alternative Giveaway. All you need to do is leave a comment below telling me one of the following:
- An alternative (or Trade-Up) you’ve made
- About a time when you did something different and it helped you achieve a goal
- Whether you are most likely to like Alternative Music, drive a car that takes Alternative Fuel, or go on an Alternative Spring Break
I’ll choose one winner at random at 8 am Eastern on Wednesday January 11th. Good luck everybody!
BREAKING NEWS
NuVal is in today’s USA Today! You can read the article here!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Trade-Up Tuesday
Tags: Bob's Red Mill, Dreamfield's, parboiled rice, pearl barley
Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 07:24 AM
It’s Pumpkin Week here at A Better Bag of Groceries! Pumpkin gets an incredible NuVal score of 94 and it certainly is the season, so today I have another fantastic recipe that I just made this week in my own kitchen.
The winds of change are blowing for my family this autumn. Not only did we move just three short weeks ago, but back in September, I switched from working part-time for NuVal to working full-time again. It’s been about four years since I’ve been a full-time working mom, so it’s been a bit of an adjustment for me and my family these past few weeks.
There are some secrets to being a successful Full-Time Working Mom. (Since I’ve done a few different working arrangements since becoming a mother, I can tell you that these secrets work very well for moms who work part-time, moms who do not work outside the home and for women who do not have children too!)
Melissa’s Seven Secrets to Being a Successful Full-Time Working Mom*
*The asterisk means that this applies to the other working and family arrangements mentioned above.
- Plan as Much As You Can
- Try Not to Freak Out When Things Don’t Go as Planned
- Get Really Organized
- Find Solutions for Things that Make you Disorganized
- Get Really Good Help
- Outsource Stuff You Just Can’t Do (You Do Make Money, After All)
- Get a Slow-Cooker or Crock-Pot and Learn How to Use It
Those first 6 items are definitely a blog post for another day. But today’s blogpost is about how I am trying to find new ways to use my crock-pot. Because these days, we find ourselves coming in the door after 6 pm – four people with backpacks, lunchboxes and work bags to empty and put away. The stove is cold. Dinner is not even started. There is so much to do – homework, lunches to make for the next day – how to get it all done? So this weekend, when I was Menu Planning (See Melissa’s Secret to Success #1), I unearthed my ancient slow-cooker cookbook.
The Low Carb claims are a pretty good indication that this cookbook is dated! The copyright is 2003.
I love the part where they say, “these slow cooker recipes will save the day.” So true!
So, I flipped through and of course, it being Pumpkin Week and all, this recipe caught my eye.
This looked easy and the cooking time looked just right. One thing to check for when using a slow cooker is to match your recipe with the number of hours you will be away from home. For example, if you will be out of the house for 10 hours, don’t choose a recipe that requires only 7 hours of cooking time. Or you will be eating mush.
Beef and Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes (the NuVal score for Beef Stew meat ranges from 24 to 34 depending on whether it’s chuck, shank or tips)
1 10 ounce package frozen whole kernel corn (NuVal score of 91 for Bird’s Eye frozen corn)
1 1/2 cups 1/2 inch pieces peeled and seeded pumpkin or butternut squash (NuVal score of 94 for Pumpkin, 100 for Butternut Squash)
1 1/2 cups water
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce (I used The Chateau Marinara Sauce by Pastene, NuVal score of 66)
3/4 cup chopped onion (NuVal score of 93)
1/2 cup chopped green sweet pepper (NuVal score of 94)
1 clove garlic, minced (NuVal score of 91)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 ounces dried whole wheat macaroni or other small pasta (I used Dreamfield’s Rotini, NuVal score of 87)
1/4 cup snipped fresh parsley (NuVal score of 99)
Oops, I forgot to use the parsley. And I bought it for the recipe when I went grocery shopping! Oh, well (See, Melissa’s Secret to Success #2 – Do Not Freak Out When Things Do Not Go As Planned). No big deal, right?
Directions
- In a 3 1/2 – to 5-quart slow cooker combine meat, corn, pumpkin, water, tomato sauce, onion, sweet pepper, garlic, salt, black pepper, and nutmeg.
(Note: I actually browned the meat with the garlic and onions first. I like to brown things! Then I put everything in my slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 10 to 12 hours or on high-heat setting for 5-6 hours.
- Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Stir pasta into the soup. Ladle soup into bowls;
sprinkle each serving with parsley.
Well, the claim on the back of the cookbook was true. This recipe did save the day! It took me just a little time the night before to assemble the ingredients into the crock pot (probably longer than necessary because of my Browning Habit). Then, in the morning, I just placed the crock pot on the burner, set it on low, and went to work. When we all walked in after 6 pm, the aroma of beef, pumpkin and tomatoes was wafting through the house. So delicious! The best thing about this recipe? The kids loved it. They gobbled it up and asked for seconds.
Question of the Day
What is your Secret to Success?
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Dinner Recipes, Dreamfield's, Pumpkin
Tags: Dinner Recipes, Dreamfield's, Pumpkin, Slow Cooker
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 07:14 AM
One of my favorite summer time recipes is Pasta Fra Diavolo: sea scallops, litleneck clams, and shrimp all simmering in a spicy tomato sauce and served over pasta. I often make this dish when my husband’s family visits from out-of-town because it is a great way to offer up the best of New England’s seafood in an easy one-dish meal. In my town, we are fortunate to have a wonderful fish market that supplies many restaurants. So I head there to buy my ingredients before I begin to cook.
When you make a meal like this, it is tempting to make it just for the grown-ups in the family and to make something a little more plain for the kids. But that would be making two dinners. And I really try to avoid making two dinners. This is not a restaurant, I tell my kids. I have to admit that until now, I did not serve my kids Pasta Fra Diavolo for fear of shellfish allergies. Most pediatricians advise parents to wait until children are over three to introduce shellfish. I take the uber-conservative route when it comes to potential allergies, so I waited until my kids were 5 and 7 to feed them clams!
While I could go to the trouble of making the sauce for this dish from scratch, I opt for the easy route during the beautiful summer weather in order to spend more time outside playing and less time in the kitchen cooking. All you need is an onion, a jar of Fra Diavolo sauce, some seafood, and some pasta.
Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped (NuVal score: 93)
2 lbs. littleneck clams (NuVal score: 82)
1/2 lb chopped clams (NuVal score: 82)
1/2 lb sea scallops (NuVal score: 51)
1/2 lb shrimp (NuVal score: 75)
1 jar Fra Diavolo sauce (NuVal scores vary – see below)
1 lb pasta, cooked (I used Dreamfields Linguine with a NuVal score of 87)
Directions:
Oh, it’s soooooo easy. In a non-stick skillet, heat the onion.
That, by the way, is my Circulon pan. I think it is like over 14 years old and it still looks brand new. Love it!
While you heat the onion until it is almost translucent, have your helper (your husband or child), scrub the littlenecks to remove any sand.
Add scallops and chopped clams to the pan:
When the scallops become opaque, add Fra Diavlo sauce, shrimp and littleneck clams:
Cover, and simmer until the clams open – about 8 – 10 minutes.
Toss with hot cooked pasta in a big, beautiful bowl. Serve with a crisp green salad.
The NuVal scores for Fra Diavolo sauce really vary. Here’s the highest I could find, the lowest, and one that was in the middle:
- Rao’s Homemade All Natural Arrabbiata Fra Diavolo Hot Sauce: 65
- Sclafani Medium Fra Diavolo Sauce: 38
- Newman’s Own Fra Diavolo Sauce Hot and Spicy: 23
So, how did the kids react? Overall, they were pretty adventurous eaters. Out of the different kinds of shellfish, they liked the scallops the best and the clams the least (a little too chewy for their little teeth). Surprisingly, they did not complain about the spicy sauce. They loved the fact that they had real live clam shells on their plates.
The best part about this meal? Leftovers!! We reheated and got a whole second dinner out of it. You gotta love just microwaving plates on a hot summer night.
The worst part about this meal? Forgetting to take the kitchen trash out that night. Pee-you!!!
CSN Stores Giveway:
Congratulations to Commenter #30, Angela! Please email me at abetterbagofgroceries@gmail.com to collect your $40 gift card. Thanks to all who commented and tweeted!
Become a NuVal Fan on Facebook:
Here’s the address: http://www.facebook.com/NuVal
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Dinner Recipes
Tags: Dreamfield's, Pasta Fra Diavolo, Seafood
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 07:01 AM
Welcome to Trade Up Tuesday! Every Tuesday I blog about a trade up I’ve made and I give away some of my favorite products to one lucky Commenter. Today, in the spirit of easy summer cooking, I’m giving away the fixings for an easy pasta dinner.
Pasta and pasta sauce are definitely two categories that I’ve made Trade Ups in. Before I learned about NuVal, I was most likely to buy whatever pasta was on sale. I now know that the scores for most of those plain pastas hover around a 61. That’s not a bad score, but once I started working for NuVal, I learned that there are several pastas with much, much better scores. Like these three:
Barilla Plus Thin Spaghetti: 91
Dreamfields Linguini: 87
Hodgson Mill Spaghetti: 91
After trying them out, I was amazed that I did not have to give up taste for better nutrition. My kids love them too, so I feel great on those nights when all we have time for is boiling up a quick pot of spaghetti.
Likewise, before I started working for NuVal, my Go To sauce was Classico. While there are some varieties of Classico that have fantastic scores, the highest scoring selections (like Spicy Red Pepper, Score: 68) are a little too spicy for my kids’ taste. And the Classico brand that my kids do like (Tomato & Basil), only scores a 43. My Go To Sauce these days is Pastene The Chateau Marinara Sauce with a NuVal score of 66. Everyone in the family loves it, so it’s worth the $4.99 price tag at our local Stop & Shop.
Today’s GiveAway
One lucky commenter will win The Chateau pasta sauce and the 3 boxes of pasta that you see in the picture above. Just leave a comment below answering the following question:
What food or product are you willing to pay more for because it has better nutrition?
I will choose one winner at random at 7 am EDT on Wednesday. Good Luck!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Barilla Plus, Dreamfield's, Trade-Up Tuesday
Tags: Barilla Plus, Dreamfield's, Pasta, sauce
Friday, May 7, 2010 at 06:50 AM
Today is a day to celebrate. Not only is it Mother’s Day Weekend, but the day that I’ve been dreading waiting for is finally here: it’s my 40th birthday! I had been thinking about how to commemorate this day on my blog for a while, when it finally occurred to me. On my birthday (which happens to fall oh-so-close to Mother’s Day) I would introduce you all to the woman who so bravely brought me into this world 40 years ago today: My Mom!
Mom and Me
My mom is a Rock Star! She is a wonderful mother, grandmother, wife, daughter and friend to many. She works as a nurse to developmentally disabled people and formerly worked as a hospice nurse. She is always helping others (including me!) and so today, she wrote a recipe for all of you A Better Bag of Groceries fans!
Chicken and Pasta with Greens and Beans by Melissa’s Mom, Barbara
Mom in Her Kitchen
Ingredients:
1/2 lb chicken tenders (NuVal score: 35)
1 medium onion, chopped (NuVal score: 93)
garlic (NuVal score: 91)
4 cups coarsely chopped broccoli rabe (NuVal score: 100)
1 1/2 cups drained cannellini beans (drained and rinsed) (NuVal score of 58for Progresso – among the highest for cannellini beans)
1 small can chick peas (drained and rinsed) (Mom’s brand of Hanover gets a 72; Goya Chick Peas get an 88)
2 cups nonfat/low sodium vegetable broth (not yet scored)
1 tomato, seeded and diced (NuVal score: 96)
6 ounces uncooked pasta, cooked al dente (Mom used Dreamfields which gets a NuVal score of 87)
- Lightly spray a large nonstick saucepan with cooking spray. Brown chicken tenders, then remove to a separate dish. Add onion into saucepan and saute until soft, add garlic, stir until garlic is softened (about 5 minutes).
- Add broccoli rabe; cook 2-3 minutes. Add diced tomato and beans. Stir until softened. Add broth; bring to a low boil. Reduce heat, simmer about 5 minutes. Add cooked chicken and pasta. Cook on low until flavors blend.
Let stand several minutes before serving.
This recipe serves two, with leftovers. It can be adjusted for larger crowds.
Yum, that looks delicious!
My mom created this recipe especially for my Dad, who was diagnosed with Diabetes last year. (Like I said, she is always doing nice things for people!) Mom says that whenever my Dad eats chick peas, his glucose level is better the following morning. Chick peas are an amazing little legume!!
I am off to celebrate my big day. I hope you all have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: chick peas, Dinner Recipes, Dreamfield's
Tags: chick peas, Chicken, Dreamfield's, My Mom
