Category Archives: Holidays

Why Alternative Protein Like Cricket Flours May Work for You

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What do you do when you can’t eat 90% of the foods you used to enjoy? You start from scratch and that’s not such a bad thing. Charles B. Wilson – Founder & CEO of CricketFlours.com Many of us have shared that same feeling when we look around the kitchen and think, “There is nothing to eat in here!” However, in reality there many delicious recipes that could be made with ingredients at hand but sometimes we lack the inspiration or motivation. However, a little while ago I found myself along that same line of thinking but there was actually nothing that I could eat – literally nothing. I confess, I have a vested interest in this topic, as I’m the founder of Cricket Flours. But let me tell you a little about my experience and why it led me Continue reading →

Pear, Buckwheat, and Gouda Scones with Fig Jam

Hilary By on

Do you have company coming for Easter brunch? Alongside the ham and asparagus, serve these delightfully unique savory scones. Honey-sweet pears, nutty buckwheat, and tangy Gouda cheese are a match made in heaven. Offer the scones with a side of fig jam and watch how quickly they disappear. Pear, Buckwheat, and Gouda Scones with Fig Jam Ingredients: 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour ¾ cup buckwheat flour ¼ cup sugar ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into small cubes 6 ounces firm, aged gouda cheese, grated 2 ripe USA Pears, such as Red Anjou or Bosc, small dice ¾ cup buttermilk (plus 2 tablespoons more if necessary) Fig jam, for serving Directions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a food processor, combine the flours, sugar, nutmeg, baking powder, Continue reading →

Snack Right to Stay Healthy Through the Holidays

Willow Jarosh MS, RD & Stephanie Clarke MS, RD By on

Office candy dishes, gifts of baked goods, parties, dinners, and extra-packed to-do lists all shuffle in with the holiday season. And increased stress levels can also follow suit. While we can’t do your holiday shopping for you, we can offer up a helpful tool for keeping your energy level stable, your mood happier, and your weight steadier during the holiday season… snacks. But not just any old snacks will do, follow these four tips to ensure your snacks are energy-boosting powerhouses. Use the Rule of 2: The combination of protein, high fiber/less processed carbohydrates, and fat is one that keeps blood sugar and energy levels stable for hours. At mealtime, make sure you have this triple threat (+ veggies!) on your plate. At snack time, aim for at least 2 of the 3…what we call the “rule of 2.” Examples: Continue reading →

Make Time for You

Amy Kweller MS, RD By on

I have an influx of stressed calls and emails this time of year, mostly from clients and students trying to manage health and holiday stress at the same time. I know how frustrating this time of year is, I struggle with the same problem! Don’t fret, there are simple solutions to help you have a healthy holiday season. First, make a schedule and stick to it. I’ve said it before and I will continue to say it, if you schedule time for exercise, food preparation, and sleep and you follow the schedule, you’re better equipped to take care of yourself and manage stress. Second, eat before events and move away from the treat table! At my friends’ parties, we always stand around the food, chatting and snacking. This is such a hard habit to break, but if you eat ahead Continue reading →

Three Cheers for the Concorde

Brittany By on

The National Pear Month fun continues with the crisp Concorde pear. Vanilla-sweet and elegant, this green-skinned blend of the Comice and Conference varieties miiight be a favorite variety of many USA Pears employees…if we played favorites. The Concorde pear’s firm texture makes it a great fit for baked goods, desserts, and roasting, but it’s also delicious eaten fresh or in salads, like this Autumn Concorde Pear Salad with celery root and fennel. Whirl a Concorde pear into a green smoothie for natural sweetness and smooth texture. Sweet Concorde pears make a perfect partner for tangy goat cheese and savory herbs in this Pear and Thyme Crisp. However you decide to enjoy your Concorde pears, make sure to check the neck for ripeness. If your pear gives to gentle pressure near the stem end, it’s ripe and sweet. Check in with our Continue reading →

Befriend the Forelle

Brittany By on

Next up in the National Pear Month lineup: the fun, freckled Forelle! Forelle means “trout” in German, and you can see where this variety gets its name—it’s easily spotted by its spots! Smaller than the average pear, the Forelle has a crisp texture and a slightly tangy flavor. The Forelle shines in a classic salad, like this Pear and Watercress Salad with Goat Cheese, Gouda, and Walnuts. Looking for something more upscale? Put pears on your holiday menu along with some seasonal seafood, like this King Crab with Pear Tabbouleh Salad. Polish it all off with these adorable little bundled Forelle Pears Baked in Pastry. They’re like mini pies, but with twice the filling. If you need ripe Forelle pears for your recipes or a quick snack, just check the neck. If your pear gives to gentle pressure near the neck, it’s Continue reading →

Celebrating the Sweet Seckel

Brittany By on

Break out the party poppers! National Pear Month is here, and we’re celebrating during December by introducing you to all ten varieties of Northwest-grown pears. Did you know our favorite fruit comes in a bite-sized variety? Meet the Seckel: crisp, sweet, and petite. Olive green with a maroon blush, the Seckel is ideal pickled, as a picture-perfect garnish for holiday entrees, or eaten fresh out of hand! Sized for small hands, it’s a popular lunchbox pick. Adorn your holiday ham with roasted Seckel pears…or get exotic with this Spiced Squab Breast with Seckels. Make a peck of pickled pears, wrap a ribbon around the jar, and put it under the tree. Voila! This simple gift from your kitchen will have everyone asking for more. Everyone’s going with the grain (salad) this year. You can sweeten your table with this Pear, Roasted Continue reading →

Behold the Red Bartlett

Brittany By on

December is National Pear Month, and we’re celebrating all ten varieties of USA Pears during these first ten days, along with our friends at Love and Olive Oil, One Sweet Appetite, and The Little Epicurean. Today, we’re all about the Red Bartlett, a lesser-known sister of the quintessential pear variety, the Bartlett. We love the soft, juicy, and sweet Red Bartlett pear for its bright pop of color and its mellow flavor in recipes. The Red Bartlett can be identified by its soft red skin, classic pear shape, and vertical stripes of color. Red Bartlett pears shine atop savory entrees, like these Grilled Pizzettas with Pears, Shaved Ham, and Fresh Basil. Raise a glass to the peak of pear season with Red Bartlett pears in this festive White Sangria with Cranberry Syrup. File this one away for warmer days: a pitch-perfect Continue reading →

The Perfect Poach

Amy Kweller MS, RD By on

December is National Pear Month and the holiday season… This is the perfect recipe for poaching pears! So, how do you poach the perfect pear? Easy, it’s science! Osmosis is the movement of water across a membrane, or in this case, the pear’s cell wall. Poaching uses a minimal amount of water to simmer at a low temperature to optimize texture and flavor: The fruit will soften due to an increase in movement of the poaching liquid into the flesh of the fruit; thus, the flavor of the poaching liquid is infused into the fruit! Ideally, the poaching fluid is about 2 parts liquid (water, wine, acid) to 1 part sugar/spices. Poaching creates a tender mouthfeel by breaking down the plant cell wall and allowing the poaching liquid to enter and leave its essence. Yum! To poach the perfect pear: Continue reading →

Happy New Year!

Amy Kweller MS, RD By on

After the fireworks and dancing of New Year’s Eve, what do we have on January 1? A resolution that most of us fail to achieve. According to the Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45% of Americans make resolutions, but only 8% are successful in achieving their goals. Not surprisingly, in an adult nation that is 69.2% overweight or obese, weight loss is the most common resolution. Although statistics suggest the likelihood of accomplishing a resolution is slim, if you want to achieve your goal, start small, be realistic, and be specific. People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to meet their goals! Start by writing a plan week by week or month by month. For instance, instead of planning to exercise 5 times per week, plan for 3 times per week. Making realistic goals keeps us from feeling Continue reading →