I just posted highlights of my radio interview on 3-29-12

I was recently interviewed by Janet Newcomb on her Palm Springs radio show...here's a link to my youtube page where it posted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdlkveGZXew&feature=youtu.be

Upcoming Latin Jazz SerindpiTEA fundraiser

Here is only one of our great raffle prizes!

Big Game Watchers "Watch Out"

Big Game Watchers and gamer's who enjoy drinking Mountain Dew, energy drinks including citrus Gatorade, and snack on flavored corn chips such as Doritos or Cheese Flavored Nachos, should think about changing their snack choice, or prepare their own.

Many of these products contain Tartrazine, also known as FD&C Yellow Dye #5, a coal tar derivitive,that is known to be the most allergic and intolerant of all azo dyes, particularly among asthmatics and those with aspirin intolerance (go figure). Intolerance can be even in small doses and can affect you as long as 72 hours after ingestion. Serious side effects can be anxiety, migraines, blurred vision, itching, general weakness, purple skin patches, sleep disturbance.

Aside from the fact that many of these corn based snacks are made with GMO corn, why run the risk of ingesting Yellow Dye #5, if you don't have to. There is a simple way to make your own chips that not only taste better but are pure in ingredients and flavor.

Recipe for Healthy Nachos:

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F:

Spray or brush corn tortillas (preferably organic) with warm oil such as grapeseed oil or other "high smoke" oil, which you have flavored by steeping with minced shallot, garlic, and herb or flavored salt of choice (I love BaconSalt) , and strained before brushing.

Cut tortillas in wedges. Bake for 5 minutes, then turn over and bake 5 more minutes until crisp.

Immediately upon removal from the oven, and top with grated cheddar cheese of your choice.

You will love the flavor and your body will appreciate it.

Asian Pine Nuts

Have you noticed any change on the palate after eating pesto made with Asian pine nuts? Evidently ,there is a condition or after effect called Pine Nut Mouth, that can produce a bitter metallic like taste at the back of the mouth that can last up to weeks. Drinking or eating will not clear the taste .

It is a mild form of food poisoning that is linked to the white pine nut which is not digestible and triggers the release of cholecystokinin, which causes the release of enzymes of bile from the pancreas, adding to the off taste. Personally, in addition to apples,I have decided to avoid using pine nuts from China,Korea,Vietnam and Russia.

I recently researched and decided to buy pine nuts from a domestic source. You pay a hefty price but it's worth it. A Good way to offset the cost of domestic pine nuts is to blend them with other nuts to make pesto or use in baked goods . Walnuts, and Brazil nuts are a good substitute.

Urban Survival Kitchen Project

Urban Survival Kitchen

“The Home Chef’s Training Course
for Putting Healthy Tasty Food on Our Table
During Difficult Economic Times”


Mission Statement:

Our goal is to teach teens and their parents how to navigate through the urban food landscape, as they learn to shop for and prepare inexpensive, clean, and nutrient-dense meals for themselves and their families.

Our middle-class is quickly disappearing and joining the ranks of the “working poor.” Food insecurity is on the rise. Our public schools are failing at providing a substantial meal at lunch. Some schools run out of food before every child is fed.

In a recent survey that I conducted at the Boys & Girls Club of Venice, I discovered that 70% were going without breakfast; 75% relied upon school lunch as their main meal of the day (which more often than not meant pizza or a bean & cheese burrito); 30 percent were going to bed hungry; and 50 % worried about the health of their parents and siblings.

Parents are overworked and stressed out. They don’t have the time, energy or resources to put healthy balanced meals on the table. Many of these families are eating fast food for dinner.

Health is the most important element of survival. If we want our children to thrive (not merely survive), we must develop new strategies for preparing our food.

Since the cost of animal protein foods is beyond reach for many of us, an emphasis will be placed on how to prepare affordable protein-rich meals.

Among the topics to be explored:

• How to bake protein rich breads using alternative grains.

• How to prepare protein rich pasta from scratch.

• Low energy cooking; how to keep your gas and electric costs down, conserve personal energy, and still prepare delicious meals, using such methods as crock pot and stir-fry.

• How to avoid hidden refine sugars and flour, reducing the risk for such health problems as obesity and Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.

• A virtual shopping trip for healthy ingredients.

• How to increase your Omega-3 consumption with plant-based foods that are inexpensive and easy to prepare.

• How to make your own snack bars, rich in nutrients and tasty!

• How to prepare low sugar desserts, guaranteed to please.

I believe that this course will provide a sense of empowerment for our students. I can envision the students becoming inspired to bring home their new-found knowledge, becoming the health-oriented chef in the family. There are many subtle benefits beyond just the healthy aspect of the food itself. This will help to boost self-esteem, relieve parents of some of the pressure associated creating healthy meals, and prepare the students for a lifetime of healthy dining. Furthermore, this will help to address the obesity epidemic that we are seeing, particularly in our food-insecure communities.

Please visit this link to view photos of projects already in progress:

http://junepagan.com/UrbanSurvivalKitchen.aspx

Gluten Free Taco Bell Tacos

One might think that a Crispy Corn Taco is wheat free but check the ingredients ,before eating, you may be very surprised. If an ingredient is listed as soybean, does this mean that soy sauce is used in the recipe? Soy Sauce contains wheat whereas Tamari Sauce does not. Even if the tacos are made with 100% Corn, are they fried in the same oil that is used for wheat based tortillas?

I have a client that loves Taco Bell Beef Tacos. I decided to make the taco seasoning that tastes like Taco Bells, leaving out the wheat. I serve them on a certified gluten free crispy corn taco. Here is the recipe:

Taco Bell Style Taco Seasoning:

Yield: Enough seasoning for two batches (1 pound Ground Beef, or Turkey, each)

2 ½ Tbsp.Cornstarch
2 Tbsp.Dried Onion Flakes
2 Tbsp. Beef Bouillon Cubes, crushed
2 tsp.Garlic Salt
2 tsp.Cumin
2 tsp.Paprika
2 tsp.Chili Powder
1 tsp.Onion Powder
½ tsp.Cayenne
½ tsp Granulated Sugar

To prepare:
1.Brown 1 lb. Beef or Turkey, in pan. Drain off fat, if using beef.
2.Add HALF of Seasoning Mix and ¾ Cup Water.
3.Bring to a boil, lower flame and simmer for approximately 7 minutes
4.Assemble Tacos and top with shredded lettuce, cheese, and tomato salsa,avocado…..

Now, if you are opposed to animal protein and would like to make the same Taco Bell style Tacos, you would opt for this even healthier version of the same recipe:

Yield: Seasoning for 1 pound of meat alternative

Recipe for Healthy Kids Contest

Last month I joined “Chefs Move to Schools” and teamed up with the Boys & Girls Club of Venice, California – and Venice High School. I did this with the goal of entering the Recipe for Healthy Kids Contest. These images are of the tasting events that we did at the Boys & Girls Club of Venice, California. In addition to developing recipes for the contest, I am also assisting the Boys and Girls Club in developing a healthy menu of snacks for their upcoming “Beat Café,” which will serve as an alternative to unhealthy fast-food choices. The menu will consist of high-protein foods – foods that contain nutritional elements that promote not only good body health, but also good brain health. Stay tuned for further news of this exciting and inspirational adventure!

(By the way, you can click each image to get a close-up and a readable view of the recipe!)