Sunday, September 5, 2010

WELCOME STREET FOODS BACK INTO YOUR KITCHEN!

There are some simple recipes that have a major impact when creating a variety of meals in your kitchen and they come from the streets of your neighborhood. Simple foods has always been accessible and it's reflected in the cooking traditions passed down from our ancestors. There are many ways to prepare our food and so whether it is curing, grilling baking or even cooking over an open fire, these methods have been used for centuries and they are the core for some of our basic ethnic dishes. I have found through my own personal experience with Street Foods, that for the most part, preparation is a key essential element. So get into the habit of marinating and seasoning your food items ahead of time. Also, always keep basic ingredients in your kitchen such as; sea salt, pepper and essential heart healthy cooking fats like olive oil. Furthermore, try to have fresh herbs available and accessible like basil and oregano. Or if you are able, create your own "herbal garden" and in the process you can contribute to the "green movement" by recycling and reducing your "carbon footprint". So start by cutting in half a couple of milk containers or use plastic soda bottles or you can even use decorative tin cans or crates. Then punch a few holes in the bottom of your containers and use old dishes, saucers, or even tin pie plates, as catch basins, for the excess drainage. Remember it's best to use a rich dark potting soil and also, keep an empty container  lined with a plastic bag,  preferably near your sink. Then when needed, instead of disposing coffee grinds or egg shells, you can occasionally, add them to your soil to provide additional nutrients for your plants. Keep in mind, your kitchen garden acts like a tiny greenhouse as it removes carbon monoxide and provides cleaner air to your living space. Also, certain herbs produce some phenomenal natural scents like basil or mint and others are visually appealing such as; certain wild thyme's or borage blossoms. And as long as you water your plants and that includes the occasional steam from boiling water, along with a good dose of light, either natural or fluorescent, you can create a wonderful "miniature" garden year round!
Also, staying true to a more "organic" approach to food, try to purchase seasonal fruits and vegetables from your local markets or grocery stores. For example, in the Northeast our fall harvest season has arrived and so locally grown native corn, tomatoes, acorn squash and fruits can now be purchased at a fraction of the cost from their imported counterparts! Furthermore if at all possible, buy your meats, poultry and fish at your local market too, there is nothing more appealing to the senses than fresh food! Finally when cooking remember this, quick preparations like pan frying or grilling will enhance the flavors and awaken the senses.
So start by preparing a personal shopping list, first either grow or purchase fresh products, next get into the habit of seasoning and marinating your items ahead of time. Finally change your mind set when it come to preparing a meal, it does not always need to be approached as such a daunting task simply, alter your cooking methods to cut down on preparation time.

In closing try to eliminate from your diet any unhealthy foods and artificial additives, as you make room to...

Welcome Street Foods back into your Kitchen!

Also, please check out this link on "colorful herbs", http://www.frenchgardening.com/aupotager.html?pid=3172454393177293.

It's time to unveil my cookie line, Rasaepenos and Blubanerios!


Signing off for now,


Chef Sam BFD

PS: I have been very busy with the start of the new school year at Northeastern University, creating recipes and entering menus into a new site for the surrounding college campuses in my district, as Chartwells' new Regional Operations Manager.  Furthermore, on a more personal note, I have been working diligently on the development of my cookie line. I apologize, to my readers, that in the past month or so, I have been slacking when it comes to writing a weekly article. I had promised in an earlier blog that I would provide a weekly post, but I plan to have some very exciting new entries coming soon, so stay tuned !

Now I missed Saint Anthony's  Feast this year, but I located this video on You Tube and I really believe it captures the essence of the articles I write regarding Street Food. The music maybe outdated for some of you, but it has a collection of great old footage that covers the span of the feasts' inception. Finally, I hope all of you had a wonderful summer and as we see say in Italian "con affetto, i migliori auguri a tutti", which means "love and best wishes to all !

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