Dinner Tonight

Dinner Tonight

Healthy Cooking for a Healthy Texas

Pitting Cherries Trick

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Summer is cherry season!  Would you like to enjoy more cherries for snacks and desserts, but getting the pits out is, well…the pits!  Try using some items in your kitchen to enjoy more cherries!  We used an empty glass bottle with a chopstick! Yep, that’s it!

Here are some delicious cherry recipes!

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Preventing Freezer Burn

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What is Freezer Burn? 

Freezer burn is actually the dehydration of your food product in its freezer packaging. Water molecules migrate from the inside of your food products to the outside, typically where the product is poorly wrapped.  

Can you eat food with freezer burn? 

Food with freezer burn can be consumed however, the texture and taste may have been altered by the freezer burn.  

Can freezer burn make you sick? 

You won’t get sick from the freezer burn. Always make sure to thaw and reheat your foods properly to maintain good food safety. For more information on thawing and reheating, visit our webpage.  

How do I get rid of freezer burn? 

While you can’t get rid of freezer burn, you can prevent it! See our tips below on preventing freezer burn.  

How long does it take for freezer burn? 

How long freezer burn takes to set into your foods depends on two things: 

  • What type of food are you freezing? Check out this Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart from the USDA for specifics.  
  • How well you package your food for the freezer. Keep in mind that not all storage products hold up to freezing well, look for freezer-grade storage products.   

For more tips on freezing foods, freezer management, and packaging recommendations visit our page that will set you up for freezer success!  

How can I prevent freezer burn?  

  • Wrap foods in a heavy freezer-grade paper, plastic wrap, freezer bags, or foil.  
  • Date all freezer packages and use the oldest food first 
  • Move older items towards the front of the freezer so they are used first.  
  • Check that your freezer is maintaining proper temperatures of 0 degrees F. Temperature fluctuations can accelerate freezer burn.  

For more tips on safely storing food in the refrigerator or in the pantry or on countertops, visit our page on safely storing food.  

Looking for recipes that go great in the freezer? Try Chicken and Broccoli Pockets for an easy grab-and-go lunch. Check out our Baked Ziti for a meal to feed the family. Breakfast? We’ve got you covered; Breakfast Power Bowls are made for the freezer. Easiest of all, from freezer to slow cooker, Chicken with Peachy Ginger Sauce.  

Sources: 

Library of Congress. What is Freezer Burn?  

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Storing Berries

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Storing berries can be kind of tricky and costly if not done properly.  In order to get your monies worth with these fragile delicacies, it’s important to use a method that will help to sustain their short life span.  In the case of berries, timing is everything.  These quick and easy tips will help to keep your berries fresher and longer.

Choosing Berries

  • Inspect your berries before you put them in the shopping cart – look for mold, mushy spots, leaky packages, discoloration, or berries that are shriveled – all of these are signs that the berries are old or damaged and you shouldn’t purchase.

Storing Berries

  • Store berries in the refrigerator for longest life and best quality. If your refrigerator has a fruit & vegetable drawer, store them there.

Washing Berries

  • Wash berries only just before using or consuming. Washing berries before storing can add excess moisture and promote mold growth.
  • Using a colander – rinse berries under gentle, cool, running water to remove and dirt or debris.

Freezing Berries

  • In most cases berries can be washed, laid in a single layer to dry on a clean surface.
  • Option 1: lay berries in a single layer on a cookie sheet and set in the freezer. After a couple of hours, remove berries from the freezer and place in a freezer safe container to be placed back in the freezer. This helps prevent clumping.
  • Option 2: place berries in a freezer safe baggie and lay as flat as you can in the freezer to try and prevent clumping.

 

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Healthy Summer Break

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Summer time for families often mean big changes, lots of our regular health habits can get lost in those changes. Here are our favorite tips from the USDA on having a healthy summer break.

  • Move more!! Kids age 6-15 should get 60 minutes of physical activity per day, without activities like recess or physical education kids may need some encouragement
  • Sit less! Limiting TV, computers, tablets, and video games to no more than 1-2 hours per day can go a long way towards encouraging an active lifestyle for your kid
  • Choose water! Sugar sweetened beverages can be detrimental to a kid’s health and during the summer they seem so refreshing! Give thirsty kids a healthier choice by giving them water.
  • Eat smart to play hard! Almost 1/3rd of kid’s daily calories come from snacks, make those snacks healthier by offering fruits and vegetables instead of dessert treats and sugar sweetened beverages.

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