THE NIBBLE BLOG: Products, Recipes & Trends In Specialty Foods


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TIP OF THE DAY: Use An Avocado As A Bowl


Turn an avocado into a bowl for eggs. Photo courtesy Avocados From Mexico.

  We love using avocados as an “edible bowl,” stuffed with salads (bean, chicken, citrus, corn, egg, rice, seafood, tuna), chili, as a shrimp cocktail bowl and as a salsa holder with a side of tortilla chips.

But we hadn’t considered eggs until we received this avocado poached egg from Avocados From Mexico. It pairs an egg and a heart-healthy avocado with a smoky tomato sauce called Diablo Sauce. Make it as a delicious and fun dish for Easter breakfast.

The recipe was developed by Chef Ina Pinkney of Ina’s Restaurant in Chicago. It yields two portions.

AVOCADO POACHED EGGS WITH DIABLO SAUCE

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 1 can (15-ounces) fire roasted crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika, plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 large avocado
  • 2 medium eggs, room temperature
  •  

    Preparation

    1. Prepare Diablo Sauce at least 20 minutes before starting eggs. In a large skillet, heat oil until hot. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant. Stir in tomatoes, paprika, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer 20 minutes, stirring frequently. When sauce is almost finished, place a steamer basket over one inch of water; bring water to a simmer.

    2. Meanwhile, cut avocado in half and remove seed. Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each avocado half to create a flat surface. Carefully scoop out about half of the avocado flesh without breaking through the flesh at the base; reserve for garnish, toast spread or later use. Season with salt.

    3. Into each avocado half, crack one egg; season with salt. Place avocado halves in steaming basket; cover until eggs are poached, about 5 to 7 minutes.

    4. Transfer each avocado half to a serving plate. Sprinkle with paprika and serve with Diablo Sauce.

    Find more egg recipes in our Egg Section.

    Find more avocado recipes at AvocadosFromMexico.com.

      

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    TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Kurobuta Ham, The Best Ham

    Kurobuta ham has been called the world’s best ham. It‘s also known as the Kobe beef of ham, because of the fine intramuscular marbling that makes the meat melt-in-your-mouth tender.

    While Kurobuta (koo-row-BOO-tuh) ham isn’t quite as pricey as Kobe beef, it is a special-occasion luxury.

    Snake River Farms, a Kurobuta producer, has created a more affordable “Mini Karver,” a three-pound ham that serves four as a main course or more as an appetizer ($40.00).

    Try one this Easter, or any time you hunger for great ham. It’s also the best Easter gift, with all due respect to chocolate bunnies and buttercream eggs.

    Read the full review.

  • Cuts and types of ham.
  • The history of ham.
  • Ham and ham glaze recipes.
  • Ham trivia quiz #1.
  • Ham trivia quiz #2.
  •  
    Three pounds of ham perfection. Photo courtesy Snake River Farms.
     
      

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    Tofu Chocolate Mousse Recipe For National Chocolate Mousse Day


    [1] A chocolate mousse alternative that can be vegan (photos #1 amd #3 © House Foods).

    A dish of Chocolate mousse garnished with blackberries
    [2] Garnish the mousse with fresh berries, such as blackberries (above) or raspberries (photo © American Heritage Chocolate).

    Cubes of House Foods Silken Tofu on a plate
    [3] House Foods Soft Tofu (photo © Calorie Friend).

    A package of House Foods organic soft tofu
    [4] A package of organic Soft Tofu.

      Allergic to eggs? Lactose intolerant? Vegan? Cholesterol-averse?

    You can still celebrate National Chocolate Mousse Day, April 3rd, by substituting soft tofu.

    While traditional mousse recipes use heavy cream and eggs (high in calories and cholesterol), House Foods America provides a healthier and vegan-optional alternative for you to celebrate National Chocolate Mousse Day.

    House Food’s Soft (Silken) Tofu is a flavorless ingredient that can transform itself into any flavor or texture (find more recipes on the company’s website).

    The House Foods line is certified kosher by OU.

    The recipe below delivers a smooth texture that, when blended with semi-sweet chocolate, milk or coconut milk, vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom, creates a luscious dessert that tastes just as indulgent as the traditional version.
     
     
    > The history of chocolate mousse.

    > Julia Child’s classic chocolate mousse recipe.

    > More delicious tofu recipes.

    > The history of tofu.
     
     
    RECIPE: TOFU CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
     
    This recipe serves 4-6, and takes only 15 minutes to prepare.

    Ingredients

  • 1 package (14 ounces) soft tofu
  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup of milk (can substitute coconut milk)
  • 1/2 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  •  
     
    Preparation

    1. Open the tofu package and strain out the water. Remove tofu and blend in blender until smooth.

    2. With the stove on low or simmer, melt the chocolate chips and milk in a pot, stirring until smooth. Add the tofu mixture and stir until it is blended evenly with the chocolate.

    3. Stir in the vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom. Quickly remove from the heat, cool in a large bowl or in individual serving dishes, and set in fridge until the mixture becomes mousse-thick.
     
     
    Variations

    You can add your own personal twist to this recipe:

  • Top the pudding with toasted slivered almonds or other nuts, coconut shavings, or cocoa powder.
  • Or, try these 12 mousse garnishes.
  • For a spicy Mexican chocolate mousse, replace the 1 teaspoon of ground cardamom with 1/2 teaspoon of chile powder.
  • Add a half teaspoon of agave nectar for an even sweeter pudding.
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    CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

     

      

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    PRODUCT: Gluten-Free Pizza From Bold Organics & Mozzarelli’s

    With the increased consumer interest in gluten-free products, we find ourselves tasting more of them. Our rule of thumb with any special-diet product is: It’s got to be so good that anyone would enjoy it, and not notice that it’s meant for people on a restricted diet.

    Last week our Top Pick was My Dad’s gluten-free cookies. Now we have two new items to add to our gluten-free roster: delicious pizzas.

    Frozen Gluten-Free Pizzas From Bold Organics

    The Bold Organics pizza line is not just gluten-free: It’s milk-free (no lactose, casein or whey), egg-free, peanut- and treenut-free.

    It not only tastes like conventional pizza; it’s better than many of the other frozen choices in the supermarket, even the ones made with traditional wheat and dairy.

     
    All of the flavor, none of the gluten (or other
    allergens). Photo courtesy Bold Organics.
     
    These are individual pies, approximately eight inches in diameter. The number of servings is listed as two—for two five-year-olds, perhaps, but you’ll know that when you see the size of the box. Just count on one pizza per adult.

  • The crust has a nice texture, only slightly softer than the crispy thin-crust style we’re used to in New York City. If you like it extra crispy (we do), you’ll want to cook it a bit longer than instructed.
  • The cheese, largely made of soy, is also impressive. It tastes like authentic cheese and has a nice melty, stretchy texture, like regular pizza cheese.
  • In addition to good basics of crust and cheese, obvious care is taken with all the other ingredients. The sauce, made with organic tomatoes, spices and herbs, is flavorful and has just a touch of heat. Organic vegetables and nitrite/nitrate-free meats are used on the topped varieties.
  •  
    These tasty pizzas are available in four different flavors:

  • Vegan Cheese (plain—we like to buy this one and add our own toppings)
  • Veggie Lovers (onions, red peppers, shiitake mushrooms)
  • Meat Lovers (uncured pepperoni and sausage)
  • Deluxe (all the meat and vegetables above)
  •  
    Bold Organics pizzas retail from $6.99 to $10.29. They’re being rolled out at retail locations around the country this month, with representation in Whole Foods and increased presence overall expected later this year. See the company website to view a store locator.

    The line is certified by Organic Certifiers, the Non GMO Project and the Celiac Sprue Association.

     


    Put your favorite toppings on a great
    gluten-free crust. Photo courtesy
    KingArthurFlour.com.
     

    Fresh Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts

    If you want the crust only, we highly recommend the ones made by Mozzarelli’s. These are the same folks who make My Dad’s gluten-free cookies.

    Mozzarelli’s is a gourmet pizza emporium in New York City. Conventional and gluten-free pizzas are available. We’ve been there and really enjoyed it.

    The crust is made from rice flour, corn starch, potato starch, potato flour and tapioca flour. Unlike Bold Organics, it does contain nonfat dry milk and eggs, so it’s not a vegan product.

    It is, however, delicious. Each crust comes in a disposable/recyclable pan.

     
    The company also sells Better Crumbs, gluten-free bread crumbs.
     
    Pizza Party Idea

    Ask each guest to bring a different topping to share. Then set up a pizza-making table and let guests create their own combinations before you pop the pizzas into the oven.

      

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    RECIPE: Beer Battered Grilled Cheese & Bacon Sandwich

    Betty Crocker Kitchen has announced the winner in its second annual Betty Bracket. This showdown of 16 sweet and savory beer party food recipes competed to be served at the College Football Playoff National Championships.

    America has spoken: Beer Battered Grilled Cheese Sandwich was the winner. You can enjoy it during the national championship game, tomorrow.

    This recipe makes two sandwiches. The beer of choice is pale ale, but you can substitute what you have on hand.
     
     
    BEER BATTERED GRILLED CHEESE & BACON SANDWICH RECIPE

    Ingredients

  • 6 slices hickory-smoked bacon
  • 4 slices rustic white bread
  • 2 slices provolone cheese (3/4 oz each)
  • 2 slices Cheddar cheese (3/4 oz each)
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cup pale ale
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  •  
    Preparation

    1. COOK bacon in a 12-inch nonstick skillet until crisp; drain on paper towel.

    2. PLACE 1 slice provolone cheese, 3 slices bacon and 1 slice Cheddar cheese atop each of two of the bread slices. Top with remaining bread slices.

    3. HEAT griddle or skillet over medium-high heat, or to 375°F.

    4. BEAT egg, beer, flour and chile powder in a shallow bowl with fork, until smooth. Dip each sandwich into the batter, giving it a few seconds on each side to absorb the batter. Drain excess batter back into bowl.

    5. MELT butter on hot griddle. Place sandwiches on griddle. Cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Serve immediately.

     
    [1] True comfort food (photo © Betty Crocker).

    Amber Ale
    [2] Cook with some pale ale, and have the rest with your sandwich (photo © Ambrose Beer & Lobster | Facebook).

     

      

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