Dinner Tonight

Dinner Tonight

Healthy Cooking for a Healthy Texas

How to Freeze Eggs for Later Use

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Freezing is a great way to preserve excess eggs and reduce the amount of food we waste. Here is a safe, quality tested way to do it from the National Center for Home Food Preservation:
Preparation – Select fresh eggs and break each separately into a clean saucer. Examine each for freshness and remove any pieces of shell before mixing with other eggs.
WHOLE EGGS — Thoroughly mix yolks and whites. Do not whip in air. To prevent graininess of the yolks, add 1-½ tablespoons sugar, 1-½ tablespoons corn syrup OR ½ teaspoon salt per cup whole eggs, depending on intended use. Strain through a sieve or colander to improve uniformity. Package, allowing ½-inch headspace. Seal and freeze.

 

Another method of freezing a whole-egg mixture is to use ice trays. Measure 3 tablespoons of egg mixture into each compartment of an ice tray. Freeze until solid. Remove frozen cubes, and package in moisture-vapor resistant containers. Seal and freeze. Three tablespoons of the egg mixture (one cube) equal one whole egg.
EGG YOLKS — Separate eggs. Stir yolks gently. To prevent graininess, add 1-½ tablespoons sugar, 1-½ tablespoons corn syrup OR ½ teaspoon salt per cup of egg yolks, depending on intended use. Strain through a sieve. Package, allowing ½-inch headspace. Seal and freeze. One tablespoon of the yolk mixture equals one egg yolk.
EGG WHITES — Gently mix whites; do not whip. Strain through a sieve. No sugar or salt is needed. Package, leaving ½-inch headspace. Seal and freeze. Two tablespoons of the egg-white mixture equal one egg white.
No matter which method of freezing you use, be sure to date the container with the date you made them.

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What Is Gluten-Free

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Pick any aisle in your local grocery store and you will see many packages with “gluten-free” labels. Or maybe you have a friend who requires to eat “gluten-free” foods. Gluten-free foods and products are made available for specific individuals who require foods without gluten.

 

What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and their various forms such as triticale. It gives structure to baked goods and can be used for a thickening agent or flavor enhancer.

Who should avoid eating gluten?
Most people do not have a problem with gluten. However for some people, eating foods with gluten can make eating foods a little less pleasant. People who have been diagnosed with celiac disease, a gluten sensitivity, or in some cases people who have severe wheat allergies should choose foods labeled “gluten-free”. A 100% gluten-free diet is the only treatment for celiac disease today.

What is Celiac?
Celiac disease is a condition in which gluten damages the lining in the small intestine and keeps certain foods from being used for food. The disease is diagnosed by a medical professional using a blood test and intestinal biopsy.

Gluten-Free Foods
What types of foods should a person who cannot eat gluten choose? The following foods are considered gluten-free:

  • All plain meat, poultry, fish, and eggs (does not include breading or gravies)
  • Milk, butter, margarine, cheese, and plain yogurt
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Legumes and nuts
  • Corn and rice
  • Gluten-free oats (oats not processed or in contact with gluten containing foods), hominy, and buckwheat
  • Oats are naturally gluten-free. However, they can be contaminated with gluten if they are processed and distributed with other grains that contain gluten. Always check the ingredients label for information on whether or not a food contains gluten.

Gluten Free Foods and Health
Many people believe not eating foods with gluten is a more healthy option. The fact is many foods which are gluten-free are not enriched with essential vitamins and minerals as other gluten containing foods. Following a healthy eating pattern which includes reducing foods high in saturated, trans fat, sodium, and added sugar is the best option for a healthier you!

Bottom line, people with Celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and those with severe wheat allergies should not eat foods made with gluten. If you think you might have one of these conditions, speak with your doctor before removing foods containing gluten.

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Download this graphic as a picture or as a PDF!

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How to Pick Fresh Fish

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There are so many choices when it comes to selecting fish at the grocery store or fish market.   Choosing fish seem like a daunting task; however, you can be sure to take home a fresh fish with these simple checks:

  1. Flesh: The flesh of the fish should be firm, not soft. It should spring back when pressed gently.
  2. Smell: Fresh fish should not smell like a rotten or strong fishy odor. It should smell fresh without any harsh odor.
  3. Color: Fresh fish like finfish should be white. If you are purchasing a fish that might have a different flesh color be sure to choose fish whose flesh is bright and characteristic of the fish species.  Fish with gills should have bright red or pink gills.
  4. Skin: Fish with skin on should be shiny and the scales should be tight and not falling off.
  5. Appearance: Eyes should be bright, clear, and protruding. Fish with cloudy, pink, or sunken eyes are not fresh and should not be purchased.

Always remember to ask your local fish market or grocery store, when they are delivered fresh fish and how long the fish has been in the cooler.   Be sure to use fresh fish within two days of purchase.  If you do not plan on cooking with fish within two days freeze the fish for later use.

Learn more about How-to-select-fresh-catfish with these easy steps.

Join Chelsey as she makes a case for fish as a smart protein choice and how to make it an easy choice for dinner with tips on purchasing fish to make food dollars stretch.

If you want more tips on how to incorporate seafood into your dinners, check out our tips! 

If you are unsure about cooking seafood, check out our safety tips here. 

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Tips & Tricks: How to Make Lemon Zest

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How often have you made a recipe that called for lemon zest? Did the recipe have a little too much tang? Well in today’s tips and tricks, we show you how to zest lemons the right way.
Lemon zest is a great way to add a burst of lemon flavor to many of our favorite recipes. Here are a few tips to getting a great zest from a lemon!

First, wash lemons under cool running water and scrub the surface with a soft bristle vegetable brush.
Then using a rasp, grate just the skin of the lemon. Don’t over zest your lemons! The white pith of the lemon will result in your zest being bitter or too tangy!
If you plan on using the whole lemon in a recipe, always grate your lemon before you cut the lemon.
Zesting lemons is a good way to use most of your lemon in a recipe!

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