Category Archives: Recipes

Recipe: Swiss Chicken Tetrazzini

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Happy National Chicken Month!

The first of four new recipes in September to celebrate National Chicken Month, is Swiss Chicken Tetrazzini made with irresistible Passanante’s poultry. If you aren’t already a Passanante’s Home Food Service customer you may not have had an opportunity to taste our high-quality, locally raised, antibiotic AND hormone free poultry products — and if you haven’t tasted them there’s no way for you to know what you’re missing out on!At Passanante’s we are serious about delivering delicious foods to our customers, and the taste and quality of our meats are top priority. We don’t believe in grocery store lines, foods of unknown origin, or foods packed with bad-for-your-family chemicals – which is why we would LOVE to treat you to a free gourmet food sample.

Curious to know what people are saying about us? Head on over to our Facebook page and find out why so many families across Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina trust us with their food delivery needs!

Swiss Chicken Tetrazzini

Photo Courtesy: TexasWellSeasoned.com

Ingredients:

  • 1 (7-ounce) package spaghetti
  • 5 Tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1/2 Cup flour
  • 4 Teaspoons instant chicken bouillon
  • 4 Cups milk
  • 1/4 Teaspoon pepper
  • 1 Cup shredded Swiss cheese
  • 2 Tablespoon dry sherry
  • 3/4 Pound (2 1/1 cups) chicken breast, cooked and cut into cubes
  • 1 (4-ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
  • 1 2/3 cups soft bread crumbs
  • 2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 Teaspoon parsley flakes

Prepping and Cooking Instructions:

  1. Cook and drain spaghetti and set aside.
  2. In a saucepan melt 3 tablespoons butter and stir in flour and chicken bouillon. Gradually add milk.
  3. Cook and stir until the bouillon dissolves and the mixture thickens slightly to coat a spoon.
  4. Remove from heat and add pepper, Swiss cheese, and dry sherry. Stir until the cheese melts
  5. In a large bowl combine sauce, cooked spaghetti, chicken, and mushrooms. Mix well.
  6. Place mixture in a 9×13 baking dish.
  7. For the topping combine soft bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, Parmesan cheese and parsley flakes. Mix well.
  8. Top the casserole and bake at 325* until hot, roughly 25 minutes.

 

 

 

 

Food Allergies and Diet Trends Explained

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Remember the days when everyone ate everything? It seems that everyone has specific diet needs these days, and frankly, entertaining guests has never been so complex! Spurred on by healthier eating trends, increased awareness of food allergies, and a stark increases in diagnoses of these food allergies, there’s a gluten-free, vegan, and lactose-free version of just about everything out there. But what does all of this mean for your next dinner party, your child’s next sleep over, or your next neighborhood potluck? Keep reading to learn about three of the increasingly common diets you may run into and how to accommodate them.

What Does It Mean To Be Gluten-Free?

What it means: Gluten is a protein found in grains including wheat, barley and rye. A gluten-free diet is used to treat celiac disease and helps prevent the symptoms of celiac disease including inflammation in the small intestines.

Foods to avoid: Gluten is commonly found in these products and many more: Beer, bread, cakes, pies, salad dressing, pasta, rice, processed luncheon meats, soups, and oats as they commonly intermingle with wheat during the growing process.

What Is A Vegan?

What it means: A lifestyle in which one avoids the use or consumption of all animal products. Unlike vegetarians, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs, and leather, wool, fur, down, and products that have been tested on animals.

Foods to avoid: When entertaining a vegan, it’s best to avoid all animal products and confirm any store bought foods are certified vegan.

What Is A Pescetarian?

What it means: Another offshoot of vegetarianism, pescetarianism is a diet that includes fish and other seafood, but not the flesh of other animals including beef, pork, poultry and game.

Foods to avoid: All meat products other than fish and seafood. A pescatarian diet typically includes veggies, fruits, nuts, grains, beans, eggs, dairy, pasta etc.

While it may be a bit overwhelming to learn about and accommodate a wide variety of diets, it’s important to respect each others specific needs. Everyone has a right to decide what they put in their body, which is why many depend on Passanante’s Home Food Service to provide high-quality and safe foods for their family.  If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that there are plenty of delicious foods available for every diet — you might just have to look a little harder!

Recipe: Mexican Lasagna

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This next recipe is a spicy twist on a family favorite that everyone is sure to enjoy. Many recipes for Mexican Lasagna call for some additional ingredients including black olives, corn, refried beans and green chilies so feel free to experiment with some of your favorite flavors and customize this recipe for you and your family. Like any lasagna, this is a pretty filling meal so in most cases there isn’t any need for additional side items, although chips and guacamole is a great addition as an appetizer.

Mexican Lasagna Recipe

  • 4 Boneless skinless chicken breast halves
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 Teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 Teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) Can diced tomatoes with garlic, drained
  • 1 (8 ounce) Can tomato sauce
  • 1 Teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • 1 Cup part-skim ricotta cheese
  • 1 (4 ounce) Cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided
  • 12 Corn tortillas
  • 1 Cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  • Sliced pickled jalapeños (optional)
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  2. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch pieces
  3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat
  4. Add chicken, chili powder and cumin
  5. Cook 4 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally
  6. Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and hot pepper sauce; bring to a boil
  7. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes
  8. Combine ricotta cheese, chiles and 2 tablespoons cilantro in a small bowl and mix until well blended
  9. Spoon half of the chicken mixture into a 12 x 8-inch baking dish
  10. Layer 6 tortillas, ricotta cheese mixture, and remaining 6 tortillas, remaining chicken mixture, Cheddar cheese, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of cilantro
  11. Scatter a handful of sliced jalapeños over the top and bake for 25 minutes or until heated through.

Want to spread the word about Passanante’s Home Food Service? Contact us today and ask about hosting a tasting party. We look forward to partnering with our customers at tasting parties and preparing a variety of delicious foods for 20 or more guests at no cost to you! Call 800-772-7786 extension 208 or click here to email Steve Fahey for more info!

How to Pair Wine with Food

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Selecting the right wine for a meal can be a pretty difficult task. Often times a great glass of wine can be ruined or made spicy when sipped next to the a meal with competing flavors. This quick guide for how to pair wine with food is a good resource to checkout before your next dinner party so you can be sure to use the right vino while cooking, and serve the best option to your guests.

If you already have a favorite wine in mind but aren’t sure what to serve it with, browse our blog to find dozens of simple recipes for any occasion. Sort our posts by category to help narrow your search, and if you still don’t find what you’re looking for shoot us a message on Facebook and we’ll help you find the perfect meal!

Pairing wine and food

Sparkling

A crisp glass of Champagne, Prosecco or Sparking Wine is the perfect compliment for mild fish, starches, vegetables (not roasted), as well as soft and hard cheeses. Many associate a glass of Champagne with dessert, and while theres not a bad time for a glass of bubbly, sparking wines reach their fullest potential when paired with something salty.

Sweet White

Some of the sweeter wine selections including Riesling and Moscato are a nice compliment to soft and hard cheeses or cured meats which is why sweet wines are often served with appetizers like charcuterie and cheese plates. Sweet white wines are also excellent with spicy foods.

Dry White

White Table Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio pair well with any vegetable regardless of it’s preparation, starches and mild fish. Dry white wine is typically good for cooking as well since you want a wine with very little sugar, you might try cooking with dry white wine when preparing lighter foods like chicken, veal, pork and seafood.

Rich White

Chardonnay and other rich white wines are a good choice with seafood since they go nicely with everything from flakey tilapia to shellfish. In addition to fish you wont be disappointed when you pair a rich white wine with soft cheese, starches, white meat, or any creamy dish.

Light Red

Lighter red wines like Pinor Noir are a really nice choice when indulging in crab, lobster or any other savory seafood. These wines also taste great with cured meat, white meat, starches or roasted veggies – especially mushroom driven dishes.

Medium Red

Red Table Wine, Zinfandels and Merlots are great with heavier and full-flavored foods including cured meat, red meat, white meat, starches, hard cheese and roasted vegetables. Opt for a medium red with almost any roasted food and you won’t be disappointed.

Bold Red

Generally speaking, Cabernet Savignon and Malbec are the best choices for rich, hearty meals like a big steak dinner with loaded mashed potatoes. You can count on a bold red wine to taste great with any red meat, starches, and hard cheeses.

 

Since 1916 Passanante’s Home Food Service has been delivering restaurant quality foods to families across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. If you’re curious to know if our food delivery service is right for you, click here to request a free food sample or call us at 1-800-772-7786 to schedule a consultation!

Recipe: Veal Piccata

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We’re excited to debut the first veal recipe on OrganicMeatsandVeggies.com! Passanante’s Home Food Service is best known for the convenience of our home food delivery service, which brings delicious, high-quality foods right to your door so you can easily prepare healthy meals at home. While day to day meal ingredients are our bread and butter, we also offer spectacular specialty foods including a wide assortment of seafood, hearty bison, and of course – delicate veal.

This recipe for Veal Piccata makes for a beautiful presentation, perfect for a special occasion meal enjoyed in the comfort of your own home!

Veal Piccata Recipe

Photo Courtesy: thejoysoflifeingrid.blogspot.com

Ingredients:

  • 2 Pieces scallopini of Veal
  • 1/4 cup dry vermouth
  • 2 Tablespoons corn oil margarine
  • 2 Tablespoons of flour
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 Clove of garlic
  • 1/2 Lemon sliced
  • Capers

10 Steps to Delicious Veal Piccata:

  1. Pound veal with mallet
  2. Dredge lightly in flour, shaking off excess
  3. In skillet, melt tablespoon of corn oil margarine
  4. Crush garlic clove and place in skillet until golden grown
  5. Discard clove
  6. Please veal in skillet and cook quickly, until brown (about 1-2 minutes per side)
  7. Remove from heat and place on serving dish
  8. Add remaining margarine, vermouth and lemon juice
  9. Simmer 3 minutes scraping bottom of pan to loosen drippings
  10. Pour sauce over veal, garnish with lemon slices and capers & ENJOY!