10 Ingredient Substitutions to Help You Clean Up Your Meals

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Who doesn’t want a smaller waistline? The truth is, eating right can be a challenge, especially if you aren’t willing to sacrifice flavor for something bland and basic.

If you’re anything like the team at Passanante’s Home Food Service, you are passionate about great food. One of the best decisions you can make for yourself is to make the switch to organic fruits and vegetables. Growers use pesticides to protect crops from insects, molds and diseases.  While residues on most products don’t exceed government safety regulations, a growing number of consumers are opting out of chemically treated fruits and vegetables.  Passanante’s encourages you to make a conscious effort to reduce the chemicals in your meals and enjoy a happy, healthier lifestyle with organic produce.

We’ve put together a list of 10 ingredient substitutions to help you eat a little cleaner, because when you eat better you feel better. If you have any other great tips or tricks for reducing calories, fat, or chemicals in your diet we would love to hear them on our Facebook or Twitter!

1. Calls For: Vegetables and fruits

Substitute: Organic vegetables and fruits

2. Calls For: Bacon

Substitute: Canadian bacon, turkey bacon, smoked turkey or lean prosciutto (Italian ham)

3. Calls For: Bread crumbs, dry

Substitute: Rolled oats or crushed bran cereal

4. Calls For: Butter, margarine, shortening or oil in baked goods

Substitute: Applesauce or prune puree for half of the called-for butter, shortening or oil; butter spreads or shortenings specially formulated for baking that don’t have trans fats

5. Calls For: Flour, all-purpose (plain)

Substitute: Whole-wheat flour for half of the called-for all-purpose flour in baked goods

6. Calls For: Oil-based marinades

Substitute: Wine, balsamic vinegar, fruit juice or fat-free broth

7. Calls For: Salad dressing

Substitute: Fat-free or reduced-calorie dressing or flavored vinegars

8. Calls For: Lettuce, iceberg

Substitute: Arugula, chicory, collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach or watercress

9. Calls For: Seasoning salt, such as garlic salt, celery salt or onion salt

Substitute: Herb-only seasonings, such as garlic powder, celery seed or onion flakes, or use finely chopped herbs or garlic, celery or onions

10. Calls For: Table salt

Substitute: Herbs, spices, citrus juices (lemon, lime, orange), rice vinegar, salt-free seasoning mixes or herb blends

CrockPot Baja Pork Tacos

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This crock-pot pork taco recipe courtesy of the fabulous “Pearls, Handcuffs, & Happy Hour” blog has quickly become one of my favorite meals to prepare — it’s simple, easy, and unbelievably delicious so we know your family and friends will love it too! The best part? You can order all of the ingredients including delicious pork tenderloin from your friends at Passanante’s Home Food Service and have them delivered directly to your home!

Photo Courtesy "Pearls, Handcuffs & Happy Hour"


Ingredients:

  • 1 {3lb} Boneless Pork Tenderloin
  • 5 {4oz} Cans Chopped Green Chilies
  • 2 tbsp. Taco Seasoning (Reduced Sodium)
  • 1 tbsp. Ground Cumin
  • Corn Tortillas

Optional Toppings:

  • Lettuce
  • Cheese
  • Pico de Gallo
  • Avocado
  • Jalapenos
  • Your Favorite Hot Sauce (Try The Chipotle Tabasco!)

Photo Courtesy "Pearls, Handcuffs & Happy Hour"

How To:

  1. Cut the tenderloin in half and place in crock pot.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together chilies, taco seasoning, and cumin.
  3. Pour mixture over pork, cover, and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until pork is tender and easily falls apart.
  4. When it’s about ready, shred pork with a couple of forks while it is still cooking
  5. On a corn tortilla added toppings…cheese, avocado, jalapenos and Pico de Gallo
  6. Place a generous heaping of pork down the middle of your corn tortilla

Not a Passanante’s customer? Try a FREE Gourmet Food Sample today!

Try some of our other Pork Recipes….

Grilled Pork Chops with Apple Compote

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If you don’t already receive the Passanante’s Home Food Service email newsletter you’re missing out on our fabulously simple and delicious featured recipes! Make sure you keep up with us on Facebook, Twitter and our newsletter for more great ideas for the kitchen and exclusive product annoucements.

Interested in a FREE Gourmet Food Sample?

Featured Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops with Apple Compote

Grilled Pork Chops with Apple Compote

For Compote:

1 small sweet onion, finely diced
2 small green apples peeled, cored and diced
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp butter
1/4 tsp each of cinnamon and nutmeg
Juice and zest of 1 lemon

1. In small saucepan, mix all ingredients and set over medium heat.
2. Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until apples and onions are softened.
3. Keep warm in a separate dish.

For Chops:

4 Bone-in Pork Loin chops, about 1″ thick
Canola oil
Salt & pepper

1. Preheat grill to medium high
2. Rub each chop with a small amount of oil, then season generously with salt and pepper.
3. Grill chops for 3-4 minutes per side or until a medium degree of doneness (about 145 degrees)
4. Remove from grill and set on plate for 5 minutes to rest.
5. Serve chops with a dollop of apple compote on top and a side of apple.

COMING SOON: FIlet Mignon and Sweet Pepper Skewers

Filet Mignon and Sweet Pepper Skewers

These mouth-watering meat treats feature tender filet mignon threaded onto a bamboo skewer and topped with a gently marinated mushroom cap.
Perfect on the grill!

Memorial Day Menu

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Filet Mignon and Brisket Burgers

The countdown to Memorial Day weekend is on, which means you’ve got to start thinking about what’s on the menu for you and your friends. We suggest Filet Mignon and Brisket Burgers, Smoked Bratwurst, maybe some handmade Italian Sausage, and of course – some delicious side items.

We’ve collected a couple simple recipes for your side dishes that are sure to draw your friends in for seconds and maybe even thirds! Hop onto the Passanante’s Home Food Service Facebook Page and share the recipes your family loves most – we would love to add them to our recipe album!

Homemade Wedge Fries

Home Made Seasoned French Fries:

  • Preheat your oven to 450 degrees
  • Cover a large pan with tin foil. Spray with cooking oil and lightly sprinkle on salt
  • Cut 5 organic potatoes in to wedge or steak fries
  • Let the wedges soak in salted water for 30 minutes to release some of the starch and allow the fries to crisp up in the over.
  • After 30 minutes, dry the potatoes thoroughly. If the potatoes aren’t completely dry, the moisture will make them steam in the oven
  • Lay the fries on the foil and lightly brush the wedges with olive oil
  • Sprinkle on a touch of your favorite seasoning. We recommend a mixed Italian or Cajun/creole seasoning.
  • Pop the homemade fries in the oven for 15-20 minutes for softer fries and 25-30 minutes for crispier fries.

Deviled Eggs

Devilishly Excellent Smoky Deviled Eggs:

  • Hard boil 1 dozen eggs
  • Drain and cool eggs under cold running water or in a bowl of ice water. Peel the eggs.
  • Halve the eggs lengthwise and place the yolks in a food processor.
  • Add ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons of crème fraîche and 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise and process until smooth.
  • Transfer to a bowl. Stir in 3 tablespoons finely chopped cornichons, 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion.
  • Season with salt, ground black pepper and ground white pepper
  • Fill the egg halves with the yolk mixture.
  • Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of Spanish pimentón and serve chilled

Passanante’s Tasting Party In Drexel Hill, PA

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This past Saturday we packed up our grills and headed over to Drexel Hill, PA to cook for two awesome customers, Harry and Tina.

We served up nine tasting courses, each recipe selected because of its taste but, more importantly, its simplicity. These are easy to prepare dishes that our customers can fit into their busy lifestyles. After all, with this type of quality meat and organic vegetable products, you don’t need to be a gourmet chef to prepare an incredible meal!

The crowd was very impressed and I’m sure we made a few new customers!

Check Out The Photo Album Here!

We would love to come to your home and treat you and your friends to some delicious eats too! Give us a call at 1-800-772-7786 to inquire about Passanante’s Home Food Service Tasting Parties or chat us up on our Facebook Page!