Hostess With The Mostest

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At Passanante’s Home Food Service we love a good party, and we’ve been to quite a few awesome tasting parties where our customers invite friends over to enjoy some of our delicious selections. One thing we’ve learned over the years while co-hosting these backyard bashes is how important it is to pick “Mobile-Friendly Foods” for your guests.

At parties where a sit down meal is not on the agenda, make sure the menu you select is party friendly! When the food table is the focus of your party, your guests are less likely to socialize with each other, and some of your guests may not get their fill of the finger foods. Skip the veggie trays, chips and dips, and anything that your guests would have to linger around to enjoy.

Get creative and think of ways to make your favorite foods mobile — and don’t skimp on the portions. If your party food layout is designed so guests go from station to station to pick up single serving courses you will keep the momentum moving and give your guests the opportunity to enjoy good company AND good foods.

A couple great ideas for mobile-friendly appetizers include anything on a skewer, veggie cups with dressing or dip in the bottom for easy enjoyment, and even single serving salads in cute party bowls (disposable is great).

veggie cups, skewered snacks and salads

The last thing any good host wants is for their guests to have to swing by a drive-through after the party because they’re still hungry. Keep the food coming with juicy agostino beef sliders, mashed potato martini’s with all the fixins, and a thick chocolate shake served in a glass rimmed with chocolate and sprinkles!

mashed potato martinis, beef sliders, and chocolate shake

We’d love to hear your party tips and see pictures of your favorite mobile foods! Pop on to our Facebook wall and share your stories with other Passanante’s customers and check out their tricks as well!

Happy Eating!

Recipe: Chilled Cucumber Soup

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There’s nothing better than a nice cold side item to help take the heat out of a long summer day.  This incredibly simple recipe for Chilled Cucumber Soup is light, cool, and satisfying; a perfect side item or light lunch option.

Have a favorite type of food — Thai, Indian, Mexican? At Passanante’s Home Food Service we are always looking for great additions to your recipe repertoire and would love to know what kinds of recipes you are interested in. Leave us a line in the comments section below or write on our Facebook wall to tell us what you want to see.

Ingredients:

  • 1 large cucumber peeled and coarsely chopped (set aside 1/4 cup for use as garnish)
  • 1 large onion peeled and chopped
  • 3 cups milk
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream or low fat sour cream

How to make Chilled Cucumber Soup:

Place all but 1/4 cup of the cucumber in a large saucepan with chopped onion, milk, stock, salt and pepper.

Simmer slowly for 30 minutes uncovered.

Set mixture aside to cool slightly.

Transfer to a blender and puree (you may need to split in two batches.)

Melt butter in a clean pan. Add flour and whisk for 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove pan from heat and add pureed mixture slowly while whisking.

Return pan to medium heat and stir 5 or 6 minutes. Stir in mint.

Pour into soup tureen, cover with clear plastic film to prevent skin from forming and chill for 3 hours.

Sprinkle remaining cucumber with a pinch of salt and refrigerate.

Just before serving, whip the cream into the soup, garnish with the refrigerated cucumber and serve.

Looking for other light recipes?

Italian Summer Salad

Ensalada Caprice

Zesty Romaine Crunch Salad

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Eggs

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We’ve all heard that eggs are the “perfect protein,” but the benefits of eggs go far beyond your body! At Passanante’s Home Food Service we’re always looking for cool tips and tricks to make life interesting. We’ve pulled together 5 things we doubt you knew about eggs — because who doesn’t love eggs?!

Awesome Eggs

1. Double Delicious — Have you ever cracked an egg and to your surprise (and thrill) out came two yolks, or “twins” as I called them as a kid? Eggs with two yolks are typically either produced by older hens with extra large eggs, or by young hens whose egg production is still not regular.  These double-yolked eggs are pretty rare, and frankly awesome, but on the flip side, every once in a while a hen will lay an egg with no yolk at all!

“How do you want your eggs?”
“Uhmm sunless?” -said no one, ever.

2. Long Lasting — There are few things worse than food poisoning so it’s no surprise that most people pay close attention to the “Best by” dates; but with eggs you can relax a little. Did you know eggs are okay to eat up to 3 months after they’re laid?  The “Sell By” date is typically 30 days after the egg is laid. The “Best By” date is 3-5 weeks after the “Sell By” date. Since eggs have a 3 month window where they’re safe to eat, this means you have approximately 3-5 weeks after the “Best By” date to safely consume the eggs.  Good to know!

3. Good For Fido’s Toothy Grin — Egg shells are a fabulous source of calcium and can be used to strengthen your dog’s teeth and bones! Next time you make scrambled eggs for the family keep the shells and allow them to dry in the oven on 250 degrees for about 30 minutes. Toss the dried shells in a baggy and crush them into a fine powder with a rolling pin. Come doggy dinner time, mix the egg shell powder in with the dog food and give your pup an awesome boost!

4. Super Cheap Skin Care — Have trouble spots on your skin? Here’s an easy and CHEAP home remedy. Put an egg shell in a cup of apple cider vinegar and allow it to soak for a couple of days. Dab the mixture on blemishes, irritations, or itchy skin to relieve discomfort and reduce redness.

5. Friend to your Ferns — Many people crush up egg shells and use them as an inexpensive and calcium-rich fertilizer in their gardens, but the shells aren’t the only good-for-plants benefit that comes with an egg. Next time you hard-boil a couple of eggs don’t pour out the water! Use the calcium rich hard-boiled egg water to water your plants — especially if you’re watering solanaceous plants including tomatoes and peppers.

Want a FREE gourmet food sample? Click here and we’ll show you what we’re all about!

Recipe: Authentic Italian Marinara Sauce (Bonus: Ensalada Caprice)

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At Passanante’s Home Food Service we’re always looking for fabulous recipes to share with our customers. This week’s recipe comes to you fresh all the way from Italy!
While celebrating 30 years of marriage at a beautiful villa in Italy, our close family friends were treated to the incredible authentic home-cookings of the villa’s chef, Andreanna. One of the recipes our friends haven’t stopped raving about is the “Authentic Italian Marinara Sauce.” This is recipe is fabulous over pasta, spaghetti squash, as a dip for fried or baked mozzarella — anytime you need “red sauce” we encourage you to try this out!
Have a friend in mind that might like to try our home food delivery service? Check out our custom Facebook app to submit a request for a FREE food sample!
Marinara Sauce Recipe
What you need to prepare “Authentic Italian Marinara Sauce”:
  • 1/2  cup Olive Oil
  • 6 cloves of garlic, peeled and pressed in garlic press
  • 1 lg. (28 oz) can “Cento” brand Crushed Tomatoes (found in Italian section of the grocery)
  • 1 lg. (28 oz) can “Cento” Marzano Style whole tomatoes, remove center pulp by pinching where stem connected and gently pulling out, then gently shred tomato into pieces and drop into sauce. Toss center stringy pulp out; add remaining liquid from can to sauce.
  • 1  14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained well
  • 4 Knorr’s Chicken Bouillon cubes
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Lots of fresh Basil (maybe 20-25 good sized leaves, cut up with scissors into about 1/2″ pieces)*
* Pre-cut and packaged basil lasts way longer than basil still on the root. Snip the already cut end and place in a short glass; cover with a large Ziploc bag and seal to edges of glass.  Leave on counter top, and it will last almost two weeks — refrigeration usually turns the leaves black.
This recipe is so easy; once you make it you will always make it:
  1. Gently heat olive oil
  2. Add garlic, stir til garlic appears softened
  3. Add crushed tomatoes, about 1/4 cup water, basil and chicken bouillon.
  4. Give one good stir; cover and continue to simmer 20 minutes.
Serve “Authentic Italian Marinara Sauce” over fresh pasta (or spaghetti squash) with tomato/mozzarella/basil salad (Ensalada Caprice) and garlic bread if you like.
Ensalada Caprice
  • Slice organic sweet cherry tomatoes in half
  • Add some fresh basil, and count to three while pouring olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the top.
  • Put the about the same amount of cubed buffalo mozzarella as cherry tomatoes on top, cover and chill till ready to serve.
  • Only toss lightly just before serving (the mozzarella will turn brown from the balsamic if you toss earlier)
Don’t forget to pair this meal with a great red wine!  A good chianti doesn’t have to be expensive and always tasty with Italian food.
Happy Eating!

Benefits of Colorful Eating

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Colorful Eating

There’s no question that eating fruits and vegetables is good for your health, but did you know that the colors of the foods you eat can tell you a lot about their benefits? Eating right isn’t always easy, especially since we live in a time where eating quick means fast, cheap, and typically fried, monochromatic meals. Eating the recommended amount of fruits and veggies can be a real challenge, especially when you consider, for example, that the recommended amount of red and orange foods each week is 5.5 cups, and for dark green foods it’s 1.5 cups.

It’s important to make an effort to add some color to your diet, and a great way to do just that is to give Passanante’s Home Food Service an opportunity to impress you and your family with our delicious assortment of organic produce. A food delivery service like Passanante’s takes the inconvenience out of the process by stocking your home with a huge variety of colorful foods that you can feel good about preparing for your family.

Check out the explanations below to learn more about what foods you should be eating, and what foods can help you accomplish your health and nutrition goals.

Red – Red foods are heart healthy and improve joint strength. Additionally, most red foods contain lycopene, which may help protect against prostate and breast cancers.

Orange – Orange foods are rich in vitamins A and C which help keep your eyes, bones and immune system healthy. These foods are usually packed with antioxidants to help clean up our systems and reduce free radicals.

Yellow – Yellow vegetables improve skin, support our digestive system, and even help to prevent vision degeneration… a triple threat!

Green – Green foods including broccoli and kale help the body to produce more enzymes to clear toxins from the body. In addition to their potential to prevent cancer, green foods increase our immune system, and strengthen the entire body.

Blue/Purple/Dark Red – Blue, purple and dark red foods are wonderful for the heart and help to ensure the optimal functionality of the brain. These foods have been shown to improve memory and prevent some cancers.

Passanante’s would love to help you and your family maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you’re interested in a free food sample to see what we’re all about click here and we’ll send you a full-sized sample of all-natural meats and organic veggies!