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ST. PATRICK’S DAY RECIPES: Irish Spuds & Green Dip With Green Beer

Green Beer & Fries

Green Food Color
St. Pat’s snack: wedge fries, green dip and a green beer. You can color any light-hued food green. Photos courtesy McCormick.

  For St. Patrick’s Day you’ll be able to buy green-tinted bagels, beer, donuts, and more; but you can also plan to color your own foods.

Chocolate chip cookies? Mashed potatoes? Milk? Oatmeal? Pancakes? With a bottle of green food color you can have a blast/

Here are three recipes from McCormick, maker of that green food color, to add to the collection: Irish Spuds With Green Ranch Dip, Green Beer and Leprechaun Lemonade.

For St. Patrick’s Day fun, color your food green.

Here, roasted potato wedges and crudites are dipped in a green-tinted ranch dressing and served with green beer or “Leprechaun Lemonade.”

 
RECIPE: IRISH SPUDS WITH GREEN RANCH DIP

Prep time is 10 minutes, cook time is 30 minutes.

Ingredients For 6 Servings

  • 2 pounds russet* baking potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon dried parsley or other green herb
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup ranch dressing†
  • 1/4 teaspoon green food color (20 to 25 drops)
  • Crudités: 2-3 varieties of raw vegetables
  •  
    Preparation

    1. PREHEAT the oven to 450°F. Cut the potatoes into 3-1/2-inch wedges and place them in a large bowl. Add the oil and toss to coat well.

    2. MIX the chili powder, optional parsley and salt. Sprinkle over the potatoes and toss to coat evenly. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer in foil-lined 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

    3. BAKE for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender and golden brown. While the potatoes are baking, slice the crudités.

    4. MIX the ranch dressing and food color in medium bowl until well blended. Serve it as a dip with the potato wedges and crudités.
    _______________________________
    *Idaho is a brand name for russet potatoes grown in Idaho.
    †If you want to make your own dressing, here’s a ranch dressing recipe.

     
    RECIPE: GREEN BEER

    Ingredients Per 12-Ounce Beer

  • 1 can (12 ounces) light-colored beer (Pale Ale, Pilsner or other Pale Lager, Wheat Beer)
  • 5 to 6 drops green food color
  •  
    Preparation

    1. PLACE the food color in a glass. Add the beer and stir gently until evenly tinted.

     

    RECIPE: LEPRECHAUN LEMONADE

    Ingredients For 4 Servings

  • 4 cups lemonade‡
  • 1/2 teaspoon raspberry extract
  • 15 drops green food color
  • Ice cubes
  •  
    Preparation

    1. MIX all ingredients in a pitcher. Pour into ice-filled glasses.
     
    Variations

  • For Strawberry Leprechaun Lemonade, use replace the raspberry extract with strawberry extract.
  • For an adult version, stir in 1/2 cup Limoncello or a clear spirit (cachaça, gin, rum, tequila, vodka); or 1/4 cup of each.
  •   Green Lemonade Recipe
    Leprechaun Lemonade can be turned into a cocktail with Limoncello and/or a clear spirit. Photo courtesy McCormick.
     
    __________________________
    ‡Here’s a recipe for homemade lemonade.

      

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    TIP OF THE DAY: Coffee Flavor Wheel

    Coffee Flavor Wheel

    /home/content/p3pnexwpnas01 data02/07/2891007/html/wp content/uploads/Flavor Wheel 2015 SCAA detail 230
    The new Coffee Flavor Wheel offers essential training on how to understand the flavors and aromas of coffee. Photos courtesy SCAA.org.

      One of the ways you get to be expert in a category—beer, chocolate, coffee, olive oil or wine, for example—is to learn to identify the flavor elements.

    We do this with a flavor wheel: a chart that identifies the different flavors and aromas of the particular food. Then, as we taste the food, we learn to identify its specific flavors and aromas by referencing the wheel.

    Take a look at THE NIBBLE’s Chocolate Flavor Chart and Olive Oil Flavor Chart, plus the seminal Wine Flavor Wheel developed at UC Davis, which not only identified all the flavors but grouped them for the first time.

    Twenty-one years ago, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) created the Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel to help professionals identify the sensory attributes of any particular [brewed] coffee bean. It became one of the most valued resources in the industry.

    Earlier this year, the SCAA released an updated version, which is a valuable tool for any coffee lover who wants to better understand it. The Coffee Wheel is instrumental to understanding flavor attributes—what we call flavor notes.

    Using the World Coffee Research Sensory Lexicon as a foundation, dozens of industry professional—sensory experts, research scientists, coffee tasters, buyers and roasters—collaborated for more than three years to update the Lexicon and the Wheel.

    The SCAA notes that this is the largest and most collaborative piece of research on coffee flavor ever completed, and provides a new set of vocabulary for industry professionals.

    “This groundbreaking new tool will shift the way our industry thinks about and utilizes coffee flavor,” said the news release.

    Here are more details about the research and development that went into creating the wheel.

     

    GET YOUR OWN COFFEE WHEEL

    An 18″ x 25″ poster of the wheel is $20 at Store.SCAA.org.

    We have a much more simplistic list of coffee aromas and flavors on TheNibble.com.
     
    MORE ABOUT COFFEE

  • The History Of Coffee
  • How To Make A Good Cup Of Coffee
  • Illustrated Glossary Of Coffee Terms
  • Illustrated Glossary Of Espresso Terms
  •  
    Here’s a truly great product:

  • Coffee OFF Stain Remover
  •   Black Coffee
    Master the chart and you’ll become the coffee version of a wine expert: able to analyze any cup off coffee. Photo courtesy OgawaCoffeeUSA.
     
      

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    RECIPE: Green Candy Apples

    Green Chocolate Apple
    For St. Patrick’s Day, make chocolate-covered apples with green-tinted white chocolate. Photo courtesy Aiya Matcha.
      We received a recipe from Aiya Matcha, for Matcha White Chocolate Candy Apples. The matcha tea powder colors the chocolate green. Voilà: a snack for St. Patrick’s Day.

    We whipped up a batch. Matcha imparts a sophisticated flavor to the chocolate, but not all tasters were fans of green tea. For them, we went to Plan B, using green food color instead of matcha. Depending on how many drops of food color you use, you can get a much deeper green hue.

    Whichever you prefer,
     
    RECIPE: GREEN CHOCOLATE APPLES

    Ingredients For 6 Apples

  • 6 small granny smith apples
  • 6-8 ounces white chocolate chips (we use Guittard)
  • 1 teaspoon matcha tea or green food color
  • Choice of garnishes: chopped nuts, coconut, mini chips, sprinkles, or the St. Patrick’s garnishes below
  • Ice pop sticks or substitute (check out these bright green sticks)
  •  
    St. Patrick’s Day Theme Garnishes

  • Green Sanding Sugar
  • Green Sprinkles
  • Shamrock sprinkles
  • St. Patrick’s Nonpareils
  •  
    Christmas Variations

  • CHRISTMAS APPLES #1: Make half with green apples and green colored chocolate, half with red apples and red-colored chocolate.
  • CHRISTMAS APPLES #2: Add red candy garnishes to the green chocolate in the recipe above.
  •  
    Preparation

    1. REMOVE the stems and wash the apples. Pierce the sticks into the stem end.

    2. PLACE 6-8 ounces (about ½ bag) of white chocolate chips into a microwavable bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, then microwave for 30 more seconds. If the chocolate chips are not yet melted, microwave in 10 second intervals, stirring in-between.

    3. SIFT the matcha over the melted chocolate, or add green food color drop by drop to the desired hue. Stir with a spoon until blended.

    4. DIP and coat the apples with white chocolate mixture (it may be helpful to use a spatula to smooth the chocolate mixture over the apple). Roll or dip the bottom third of the apple in the garnish. Place onto parchment or wax paper to dry.
      

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    TIP OF THE DAY: Gochujang Sauce, The Next Sriracha

    Over the past five years, sriracha, a Thai hot sauce that most of us had never heard of previously, has emerged as the hot sauce of choice. It’s more flavorful than many of the big-brand American hot pepper sauces that had long been the norm.

    But climbing up the ladder is a new (to most Americans) hot sauce alternative: gochujang (go-CHOO-jang), sometimes spelled gochuchang). This Korean fermented hot sauce is a mixture of red chili powder, glutinous rice powder, fermented soybeans, salt, other seasonings like garlic and onion, and a bit of sugar syrup or malt. It is then aged.

    As a result, it is even more complex in flavor than sriracha. Some chefs call it “an umami bomb,” combining spicy, salty, sweet and earthy notes.

    Gochujang is a staple Korean condiment also known in English as Korean hot pepper paste. Sweet heat with the consistency of hoisin sauce, it’s used in a wide range of Korean dishes, from bibimbap to dukbokki (stir-fried rice cakes) to tteokbokki to something more familiar: fried chicken. And of course, it can be used in American recipes instead of barbecue sauce, ketchup, and other condiments.

    Some details:

  • Gochujang is a red-colored paste, made from Korean chili peppers, fermented soybeans, and salt. It is the “lifeblood” of Korean dishes.
  • Some versions are modified, where gochujang paste is mixed with other ingredients to create a smoother consistency and more flavor.
  •  
     
    USING GOCHUJANG

    Gochujang deepens the flavors (and color!) of everything from broth to noodle dishes and vegetables. Incorporate it into a recipe, or serve it as a table condiment so people can add their own.

    A group of 18 recipes from Bon Appetit includes recipes for, among others:

  • Bibimbap
  • Chicken Wings
  • Congee
  • Grilled Sesame Shrimp
  • Hangar Steak
  • Kimchi
  • Pork Ribs and Pork Shoulder
  • Stews, including Sundubu with Clams and Tofu
  • Veggies: Brussels Sprouts and Tofu Stir-Fry, Roasted Winter Squash, Sautéed Cabbage
  •  
    When mixed with Korean red miso (doenjang), it creates ssamjang, a condiment for lettuce wraps (ssam) and raw or blanched vegetables.

    Add some gochujang to mayonnaise as a spread or a dip for crudités or fries. Serve it plain with eggs. Put it on a burger or hot dog. You can blend in fruit for an even more complex sauce.

    Add it to dressings, marinades, and sauces to add some spicy flavor. You can make a Korean-style arrabiata sauce for pasta, or pair it with other noodle dishes and rice.

    Although it contains no tomatoes, some Americans think of gochujang as spicy Korean ketchup.

    What are you waiting for? Add it to your shopping list!
     
     
    BUT WHAT BRAND?

    All commercial gochujang is imported, and some labels are only in Korean.

    “The best gochujang” is a matter of personal taste, like any condiment. You may like more sweetness, or you may like less. If you’re in an Asian market with multiple options, you could ask a clerk to explain the differences.

    However, as with ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, and other condiments, you won’t find a disappointing one.

    That said, look for the Chung Jung One brand, which has a squeeze bottle with an American label (photo #1) as plus packaging in a traditional tub for the Korean market (photo #2).

    If you pursue a close relationship with gochuchang, you may discover different styles, including chalgochujang (sweet rice gochujang) and taeyangcho (sundried, i.e. the paste is actually dried under the sun).

     

    Gochuchang Sauce
    [1] Gochujang sauce is also called paste because of its consistency. If you can’t find it locally, you can buy it online or make your own (photos #1 and #2 © Chung Jung One).


    [2] The same brand in a traditional Korean tub style (photos #1 and #2 courtesy Chung Jung One).

    Gochuchang Sauce
    [3] A bowl of gochujang, served as a condiment (photo © Trifood).

    Korean Fried Chicken
    [4] Spicy fried chicken with gochuchang. Here’s the recipe from SBS.com.au.


    [5] Bibimbap is served sizzling hot. The egg is broken and mixed in with gochujang paste (photo © Barn Joo | NYC).

     

     
     

    CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

     
     
      

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    FOOD “HOLIDAY”: Caffeine Awareness Month

    Coffee Cup & Beans

    Cold Brew
    Top: People with no conflicting conditions can enjoy coffee 4 cups of brewed coffee daily. Want more? Switch to decaf (photo La Panineria). Bottom: Cold brew coffee, growing in popularity, has the most caffeine by a long shot (photo Seaworth Coffee).

     

    March is Caffeine Awareness Month. The National Consumers League (NCL) shared these facts on the world’s most consumed pick-me-up:

  • Caffeine has been consumed by humans for thousands of years. Tea was first consumed in China as early as 3000 B.C.E., and coffee consumption in Ethiopia appears to have commenced in the 9th century C.E.
  • Caffeine is found naturally in more than 60 plants. It is also produced synthetically and added to products including soft drinks and energy drinks. The actual source of caffeine—natural or synthetic—does not matter to performance or health.
  • Six beverages contain natural caffeine. Can you name them? The answers are below.
  • We are a nation of caffeine consumers. Some 85% of Americans drink at least one caffeinated beverage per day.
  • The caffeine intake of American adults ranges from 110 mg/day (for women ages 19-30) up to 260 mg/day (for men ages 51-70). National caffeine intake has remained steady over the past decade. It is much higher in the world’s top caffeine-consuming nations: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
  • Most caffeine intake in the U.S. comes from coffee, tea and soda. Caffeine is sometimes found in surprising places like orange soda, lemonade and enhanced water beverages. Read the labels!
  • Moderate coffee consumption—up to 400 mg/day of caffeine—can be part of a healthy eating pattern, according to the recently released 2015-2020 U.S. Dietary Guidelines. This amount has also been found to be safe by Health Canada and the European Food Safety Authority.
  • Here’s what 400 mg of caffeine comprises:
  • – 16.6 servings of green tea (24 mg caffeine/8 fl. oz.)
    – 11.5 servings of a cola soft drink (average 35 mg caffeine/12 fl. oz.)
    – 8.5 servings of black tea (47 mg caffeine/8 fl. oz.)
    – 5 servings of Red Bull energy drink (80 mg caffeine/8.4 fl. oz.)
    – 4.2 servings of regular brewed coffee (95 mg caffeine/8 fl. oz.)
    – 2.2 servings of coffee house coffee (180 mg caffeine/8 fl. oz.)
    – 2 servings of 5-Hour Energy (200 mg caffeine/2 fl. oz.)
    – 1 serving of 10-Hour Energy shot (422 mg caffeine/2 fl. oz.)

     

  • Amounts of caffeine in cold-brew coffee can be astonishing: as much as 2,160 mg of caffeine in a 32 fl. oz. bottle, or 540mg per eight-ounce cup. It equates to about 23 cups of home brewed coffee, 62 cans of cola or 45 cups of black tea.
  • Scientific consensus is that everyone is different when it comes to the effects of caffeine. Children and teens should generally consume less caffeine due to their lower body weights.
  • Moderate caffeine consumption in healthy adults is not associated with an increased risk of major chronic diseases (e.g., cancer, heart disease) or premature death, according to the Dietary Guidelines.
  • The Dietary Guidelines are silent on most population groups, but advises that pregnant women, those who may become pregnant, and those who are breastfeeding should consult their health care providers for advice concerning caffeine consumption.
  • Dogs, cats, and birds cannot metabolize caffeine, so don’t feed them chocolate or anything else with caffeine.
  •  

    LABELS DON’T TELL ALL

    The FDA currently requires food labels to disclose added caffeine as an ingredient, but the label is not required to provide the amount of added caffeine or to list natural caffeine.

    As a result, very few products voluntarily list the total amount of caffeine they contain; although some companies, like Red Bull and Monster, and some soft drinks, provide this information voluntarily.

    The NCL is an advocate for transparency. To be able to moderate their intake, says the organization, consumers need to know how much caffeine is in the foods and beverages they consume.

    The NCL believes that all products containing caffeine should declare the amount of caffeine per serving-and per container-on the label—and we agree.
     
    And The Answers Are…

      Hot Chocolate With Marshmallows
    Not so innocent: Cacao beans, and the cocoa powder made from them, contains caffeine. Photo courtesy La Panineria.
     
    The six foods/beverages that contain natural caffeine are: cacao/cocoa, coffee, guarana, the kola nut, tea (black, green or white Camellia sinensis but not herbal tea, which has no caffeine) and yerba maté.

      

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