Sugar can be sneaky!

Have you noticed as the time goes on-
our food becomes more and more unhealthy?

There are so many additives and sugars and preservatives
in food these days that it's really, really not healthy!

Today, I wanted to just talk about sugar.
You should ALWAYS read the labels.
If sugar isn't listed in the ingredients section
but listed in grams... often it can be natural sugar.

BUT! There are sneaky words for "added sugars"
BE on the look out for these words below.
These are ADDED sugars.

Agave
Barley malt
Beet sugar
Black strap molasses
Brown rice syrup
Brown sugar
Cane juice
Cane  sugar
Caramel
Carob sugar
Coconut sugar
Coconut palm
Confectioner's sugar
Corn sweetener
Corn syrup
Demerara sugar
Diatase
Date sugar
Dextrin
Dextrose
Diastatic malt
Evaporated cane juice
Fructose
Fruit sugar
Galactose
Glucomalt
Glucose
Grape juice concentrate
Grape juice
Honey
Invert sugar
Lactose
Maltodextrin
Maltose
Maple syrup
Palm sugar
Raw sugar
Rice syrup
Refiner's syrup
Saccharose
Sorghum syrup
HSucrose
Treacle
Turbinado sugar
Xylose



Stay naturally sweet,  Let's Cultivate Food

How to tell if your eggs are still good.

Do you know how to test the approximate age of an egg? 
When is it time to throw your eggs out?

All you need is a glass cup and cold water. 
Gently drop the egg into the water and if the egg:

~ sinks to the bottom and decides to stay there, 
    it is about 3-6 days old (good) 
~ if it sinks,  but floats at an angle, it's more than a week old  (ok)
~ your egg sinks, but then stands on end, it's about 2 weeks old (still ok)
~ if it floats, it's too old and should be discarded (not good)

 

Couples Cooking Classes in Philadelphia

Couples Cooking Classes are popular throughout
the Greater Philadelphia area.

We have couples cooking classes for birthdays, anniversaries,
Valentine's and any occasion for that matter.
Some couples just want to learn a few tips and tricks
on the weekend with no occasion except how
to learn how to cook the dishes they frequently
order from a restaurant.

  

Zestfully,  Let's Cultivate Food

Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Have you ever heard about----girl math?
When you go shopping and something is on sale or if you return
something-- that extra money you save or have received
from your return is free money?  In the same mentality-
if something is mini you can eat more of them and it's.... ok?

Alright,  come to think of it... the "because it's mini- you can eat more"
is probably not just a girl thing.  It's a people who love food thing!

Whichever type of math it is or isn't...
it's super easy to create mini cinnamon rolls.

Take some dough (store bought Pillsbury works well)
especially to save time.
Roll it out into a rectangle as best you can.
Sprinkle some brown sugar and cinnamon and then roll again.
Cut them into 1/2 inch pieces almost as if you are cutting sushi rolls.
Lay them into your mini muffin/cupcake tins that you have
sprayed or paper toweled oil into to prevent from sticking
and making it easier to pop them out when done.

You will bake them on 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes.
(just until they are golden brown) and that is all!

Zestfully,  Let's Cultivate Food

Game Night!

Who doesn't love game night!?!

Ok, some people may not like playing games but part of me
also thinks that they just haven't had games introduced
to them in a fun way. I know this sounds kind of funny
but I've encountered many people who say they don't like
playing games but after playing them  for someone's
birthday or during camping or any ole occasion...
they just can't get enough!

I enjoy doing many things in themes.
Creating and following themes for me  keeps things
organized and definitely more fun!  It keeps it fun
for the guests/participants but it also keeps things
organized when shopping for the items as well!

The catered lunches I create are all in themes along with
the classroom class menus are always in theme
more often than not of an ethnic place.

When you're having game night...  there should always
be food involved.  Yes, I said  "should always have food involved"  :)

You can take it a step further and create your snack foods into
the games you might be playing.

Below are just a few examples.

Settlers of Catan... notice the the shape of the little food trays but also

the food itself represents the boards of the game... 

red salami for the brick board, the  pretzels and broccoli for the forest, 

the crackers for wheat etc...

You can also bake sugar cookies in the shape of dominoes...

Ever play checkers or chess with cheese balls and crackers?

Or... if you just don't have the time or energy to fully go all out-

you can simply lay some cheese and crackers out.

But, maybe lay your cheese out like the game Jenga.

Whatever you do... have fun with it!  Sometimes creating fun snacks

can be just as fun or even more than the game itself. Sometimes.

Zestfully,  Let's Cultivate Food

A Special Offer

RECEIVE $10.00 off
when you provide me  
your email address...






You will receive $10.00 off your
In-Home Cooking Class
along with a fun, informative
monthly newsletter with updates
you can savor & infuse!


email me with the subject line as:   $10 off

email:  letscultivate@gmail.com

Kale pesto pasta

Pesto is super easy to make AND is super delicious!

I was asked to cater a company function a few days ago and
decided to have one of the trays of food to be a pasta salad.

Pasta salad sometimes can be boring or the same old thing.
A very easy way to change it up a little bit is to make the
sauce  a pesto sauce.   It's not only is is visually pretty
but it's also healthy and yummy!

I took a small pot and filled half of the pot with water and while 

the water was heating up- I took the Kale- rinsed it and gave a 

rough chop so that the pieces of Kale were not so massive.  

Kale is really hearty and tough so I recommend taking 

the stems out.  Once the water comes to a boil- turn the stove off 

and add your Kale.  Place a lid on the pot so that all the heat 

stays in and it allows the Kale stay in the hot water.  

In the meantime you also want to boil the noodles or pasta of 

your choice (I used campanelle)  and saute the veggies of 

your choice in a little bit of olive oil, garlic 

(freshly minced or garlic powder is good) 

Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to your liking.  

To make the Kale pesto- strain the water and add your Kale 

to a food processor or  blender if you don't have a food processor.  

Add 2 TBSP of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of garlic and or 

any other herb/seasonings.

Add the pesto to the hot, already cooked pasta and stir in together.

Once the pesto is mixed well to the pasta- you can add your 

sauteed veggies and stir those all together as well.

This can be served as a hot pasta or a chilled pasta salad.

Zestfully,  Let's Cultivate Food