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


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TIP OF THE DAY: How To Roast Chiles

August 18, 2011 at 8:00 am · Filed under Recipes, Tip Of The Day, Vegetables-Salads-Herbs

Whether bell peppers or hot chiles, roasted fresh peppers are delicious and easy to make at home under the broiler or atop the grill.

First the chiles are charred, then sweated to loosen the skin.

If you’re roasting hot chiles, you’ll need protective latex gloves—the skin-tight ones that doctors wear. This prevents the capsaicin—the chemical compound that gives chiles their heat—from touching your hands. After you begin to handle the chiles, don’t touch your eyes or mouth or you’ll feel the burn.

Part I: Char The Chiles

  • Wash the chiles and pat them dry.
  • Make a lengthwise slit in each chile and remove the seeds and ribs with a spoon (we use an espresso spoon). Leave the stems on.
  • To roast chiles on the grill: Place the chiles directly on the grill over high heat. When one side is blistered and blackened, flip the chiles. Char the other side, then remove.
  • To roast chiles in the oven broiler: Turn the broiler to high and place the chiles on a baking sheet, five inches from the broiler element. Once the skin chars, flip the chiles.
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    Photo of roasted peppers by Mad Circles| IST.
     
    Part II: Remove The Skins

  • Place hot roasted chiles in a plastic or paper bag to sweat for 15 minutes. If you don’t have a bag, cover them with a damp kitchen towel. The steaming helps to loosen the skins.
  • With the gloves still on, slip the skins off the chiles.

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    How To Serve Roasted Chiles

  • Drizzle olive oil and serve with salt and pepper.
  • Serve as a side with grilled meat, poultry and burgers.
  • Add to a grilled vegetable plate.
  • Stuff with cheese for chiles rellenos.
  • Add to tamales, enchiladas and other Mexican dishes.
  • Add to cornbread.
  • Make a “roasted” salsa.

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    See the different types of chiles in our Chile Glossary.

      

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    RECIPE: Cottage Cheese Pancakes

    August 18, 2011 at 7:28 am · Filed under Breakfast & Brunch, Cheese-Yogurt-Dairy, Recipes


    Cottage cheese makes pancakes soufflé-like (photo © Friendship Dairies).    		   Whether or not you’re a cottage cheese lover, give these cottage cheese pancakes a chance. They’re a favorite brunch food at THE NIBBLE.

    It may seem counter-intuitive, but when cottage cheese is used in pancake batter, it lends a soufflé-like fluffiness that is truly special (so does ricotta). And you can sneak in the calcium-rich cottage cheese with no one the wiser.

    We enjoy cottage cheese pancakes for both breakfast and lunch. We’ll look for any excuse to make a batch.

    If you don’t like cooking from scratch, you can buy Heidi’s Cottage Cheese Pancake Mix, one of our favorites from a whopping 99 whole grain and multigrain mixes sampled (read the full article).

    Friendship is largely an East Coast brand. If it isn’t sold near you, substitute your favorite cottage cheese.

     

    COTTAGE CHEESE PANCAKES RECIPE

    Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup Friendship 1% Lowfat Cottage Cheese
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Optional: Add chocolate chips or your favorite fruit, diced

    • If you’re watching your diet, use egg whites, nonfat cottage cheese and sugar substitute.

    Preparation

    1. COMBINE all ingredients in blender on low speed until blended.

    2. MIX in optional fruit or chocolate.

    3. LIGHTLY COAT hot griddle with cooking oil.

    4. POUR the batter to desired size. Cook until golden; flip once. The pancakes take a bit longer to cook than conventional recipes because of the added heft of the cottage cheese.

    5. SERVE immediately with syrup, jam, sour cream or crème fraîche. (Actually, we like them just as they are—no condiments necessary!)
     
     
    TYPES OF COTTAGE CHEESE

    Friendship makes nine different varieties of cottage cheese—something for everyone. If you don’t like one variety, try another:

  • 4% California Style Cottage Cheese
  • 2% Lowfat Pot Style Cottage Cheese
  • 2% Lowfat Digestive Health Cottage Cheese
  • 1% Lowfat Cottage Cheese
  • 1% Lowfat Cottage Cheese With Pineapple
  • 1% Whipped Lowfat Cottage Cheese
  • 1% Lowfat No Salt Added Cottage Cheese
  • 0% Nonfat Cottage Cheese
  • 0% Nonfat Cottage Cheese With Pineapple

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    Find more delicious cottage cheese recipes at FriendshipDairies.com.

    You can also download a coupon to use on any Friendship product.

      

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    PRODUCT: Dancing Deer Whole Grain Cookies & Brownies

    August 17, 2011 at 7:57 am · Filed under Cookies-Cake-Pastry

    Here’s the best excuse for eating cookies and brownies: They’re 100% whole grain.

    With their Whole Grain Collection, Dancing Deer is the first national brand to offer a line of 100% whole grain (and all-natural) baked treats.

    The options include three cookies and three bars: Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cranberry Orange Cookies, Totally Nuts Cookies, Chocolate Chunk Brownies, Fruit + Nut Squares and Peanut Butter and Jelly Squares.

    You can’t taste the difference: Whole grain flour actually adds richness and flavor.

    Look for Dancing Deer in fine food stores nationwide, or online at DancingDeer.com.

    If you want to bake your own, Kodiak Cakes has delicious, whole grain chocolate chip cookie and brownie mixes.

    		  

    An excuse to eat brownies: whole grains!
    Photo courtesy Dancing Deer.
     

    Check out the history of brownies.

    The different types of brownies?
    Our favorite brownie reviews and recipes.

      

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