Tag Archives: Food Delivery Service

What The Government Shutdown Means For Food

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It’s no secret that the government shutdown has shaken things up quite a bit over the last week or more, and many might be surprised to hear that the implications of this shutdown stretch all the way into your kitchen. You guessed it – we’re talking about trouble for the food industry.

A recent Salmonella outbreak in chicken has sickened more than 300 people across at least 18 states and, unfortunately, a “skeletal staff”at the CDC is making it slow and arduous to identify the cause and severity of the outbreak. Without the staff necessary to run appropriate tests, our ability to prepare for and warn consumers about major health threats is reduced drastically.

Imported Seafood

With 45% of the FDA’s workers furloughed, the majority of inspections on imported foods including seafood, produce and packaged foods have been suspended. While the FDA normally inspects only about 1-2% of our country’s current import shipments, which is estimated at 12 million per year, with the government shutdown this goes down to nearly 0% and imports won’t be turned away because they won’t be looked at. If you’re interested in what some of those rejected imports are all about click here to see one described as “FILTHY.”

So what can you do to protect your family from unsafe foods?

One great way to protect yourself is to avoid “The Ten Riskiest Foods” regulated by the FDA which includes favorites like cheese, tomatoes and some seafood items. Roughly 90% of all shrimp consumed in America is imported from other countries, most of which being Southeast Asian countries that rely heavily on antibiotics and have a less than perfect track record with the FDA. Opt for domestic seafood like those delivered by Passanante’s Home Food Services which are wild caught from the Atlantic or Pacific and exclusive to the U.S. or Canada.

At Passanante’s we are more committed than ever to the quality and safety of our foods. If we wouldn’t put it on our own dinner table, we wouldn’t consider delivering it to your door. If you would like to schedule a time to talk with one of our sales reps about our home food delivery service feel free to give us a call at 1-800-772-7786.

Foods Migraine Sufferers Should Avoid

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Migraine Triggers

If you suffer from frequent migraines, the culprit for your discomfort may be chilling in your refrigerator as we speak. There are dozens of causes of migraines and no two headaches are the exact same, although medical research has found that there are a few foods migraine sufferers may try avoiding with hopes of alleviating their symptoms. Check out today’s blog for a few of the top food-related causes for migraine headaches from your friends at Passanante’s Home Food Services. We strive to provide the highest quality foods to our customers and would love the opportunity to plan your next delivery around your personal and health related goals. Give us a call at 1-800-772-7786 to schedule an appointment today.

Tyramine

Foods that contain tyramine, a substance which forms as food ages, are some of the most common causes for migraine headaches. Aged cheeses including bleu cheese, brie, cheddar, feta, gorgonzola, mozzarella, muenster, parmesan, stilton and swiss have high levels of tyramine. In addition to processed cheeses, tyramine is also found in meats that have been aged, cured, canned or processed including hard sausages, canned soups, onions, olives, pickles, raisins, avocados, nuts, and certain beans.

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG is a popular flavor enhancer that has been linked to a variety of health risks including headaches, migraines, muscle spasms, nausea, rashes, anaphylaxis, seizures, depression and even heart irregularities. Commonly found in soup broths, Asian cuisine, packaged sausage like Jimmy Dean maple flavor sausage, Doritos, Cheetos and other cheese flavored chips, certain brands of lunch meats and other processed foods, MSG is worth avoiding.

Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods and drinks that has been linked to migraines. Sold under the brands Equal and NutraSweet, aspartame is a very common additive as it is 200 times sweeter than sugar. Look out for aspartame in diet sodas, yogurt, gum, drink sweeteners, cooking sauces, flavored water, drink powders, cereal and products which advertised being sugar-free.

Recipe: Gourmet Pork Chops

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A friend of ours had the pleasure of enjoying this next recipe while on a small-town vacation in Texas. These “Gourmet Pork Chops” are fancy enough for any dinner party and apparently pretty hard to forget.  We know a lot of effort goes into preparing a gourmet meal at home, which is why we only provide the best hormone-free meats available — nothing can ruin a great recipe faster than a bad cut of meat. All of the pork Passanante’s Home Food Service delivers is locally raised, corn and grain fed, and consistent in color and taste so you can be sure your recipe will turn out just the way it’s meant to!

Pork Chops

What you’ll need for “Gourmet Pork Chops”:

  • 8 – 1/2 inch thick pork cutlets
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup Madeira wine
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 cup onion, chopped
  • 1 cup plum tomatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1 large lime, peeled, seeded, and cut into small cubes
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander or parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

What to do:

  1. Soak the raisins in the Madeira wine for 30 minutes.
  2. In a large non-stick frying pan, heat the vegetable oil.
  3. Remove the fat from the pork cutlets and pound them slightly flat. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper before placing them in a pan over medium heat. When both sides are browned, cook for another 10 minutes. Move to another frying pan and keep warm.
  4. Discard all fat from the first frying pan and add the onion. Stir and brown slightly.
  5. Add tomatoes, lime juice, chicken stock, and lime. With a spatula, scrape and stir to dissolve the solids in the pan.
  6. Add raisins and Madeira, and the lime rind.
  7. Reduce the liquids in the pan to about 1 cup.
  8. Swirl in 1 tablespoon of butter.
  9. Pour the sauce over the cutlets.
  10. Serve very hot, garnished with fresh coriander or parsley.

Love pork chops as much as us? Check out a few more incredibly share-worthy pork chop recipes from our blog!

Pork Chop Casserole
OMGoodness Honey Tabasco Pork Chops & Creamy Butter Beans
Grilled Pork Chops with Apple Compote

Happy Eating!

Back 2 School Brilliance

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As summer comes to a close and you prepare to send the little ones back to school, you might start thinking about ways you can help ensure their lunches are nutritious, portion controlled and enjoyable. It’s no secret that many cafeteria lunches are questionable in nutritious value, packed full of preservatives and usually lacking in variety. Passanante’s Home Food Service knows our customers take pride in the food they provide to their families – so why should that all stop come September?

We’ve pulled together an assortment of back to school lunch ideas to help you continue to provide the same quality of food to your children year round. These lunch box heroes are simple, easy and can be customized for your child’s taste and preferences in a snap.

Lunch Box Recipes

Lunch Kebabs

Most of us have had the “Lunchable” debate with our kids… you know the one. Your child wants to eat Lunchables everyday at school but you know the nutritional value of the meal and the quality of the meat is questionable. We all know the reason our kids want Lunchables isn’t because they’re just so delicious, it’s because they’re fun to eat. Lunch kebabs are even cooler and give your kids a chance to play with their food while giving you peace of mind about what they’re eating. Try out a couple of the combinations or make up your own… we promise your child will love them!

  • Canteloupe + Ham + Green Grapes + Mozzarella Balls
  • Salami + Italian Bread Cubes + Grape Tomatoes + Fresh Basil + Mozzarella Balls
  • Turkey + Apple Cubes + Celery Slices + Swiss Cheese
  • Bacon + Lettuce + Italian Bread Cubes + Tomatoes
  • Turkey + Colby Jack + Bell Pepper

Sog-Free Sammys

There’s nothing worse than packing a sandwich in your child’s lunch box only to see it come back with them in the afternoon. What a waste! But if the sandwich you packed is soggy can you really blame them? A trick of the trade is to always place a barrier between the condiments and the bread. (Example: Bread, cheese, condiment, meat, lettuce, bread) Try it out and hopefully you wont get any more sammy surprises after school.

Pin Wheel Sandwiches

Another great option if the standard sandwich is getting boring is pin wheel sandwiches. Just substitute the bread with your favorite wrap, roll meats, cheeses and veggies up like an enchilada and slice into poppable pin wheels. Your favorite variety of peanut butter sandwiches also works great in a pin wheel whether its paired with jelly, honey, banana or green apple — they’re all delicious.

Quiche

Quiches are a great lunch box option if you’re looking to mix it up. Use this opportunity to sneak in spinach, zucchini, onion, asparagus and any of the other veggies you struggle to convince you child to eat at dinner. When paired with egg, ham, turkey, bacon, sausage, or potato these veggie villains will slide right in undetected.

Homemade Parfait

Tasty and filling, parfaits are an excellent lunch box addition. Layer greek vanilla yogurt and cubes of your child’s favorite fruit into a small resealable round tupperware or jar. Pack granola and nuts in a separate baggy to keep crunchy and relax knowing their dessert is good and good for them.

Pasta Salad

An easy lunch box side option, pasta salad is a great substitute for greasy potato chips. Add chopped carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, olives, feta and Italian dressing for an irresistible lunch time favorite.

Alphabet Cookies

For elementary students, alphabet cookies are a really cool way to treat your kids to a tasty dessert and a fun message from mom. Use small cookie cutters and your favorite cookie recipe to send words of encouragement to your little ones — challenge them to figure out the message! Example: Smile, Love, Smart, Silly, Crazy, Giggle, Laugh, Dance, Kisses

Have some awesome lunch box ideas of your own? Please share them with us and your fellow Passanante’s customers on our Facebook page!!

Recipe: King Ranch Beef Casserole

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King Ranch Casserole

This simple recipe for King Ranch Beef Casserole is really comfort food at it’s finest. If you’re feeling adventurous grab some pickled jalapeños and sprinkle them over the top of the finished product or mix in a tablespoon of diced jalapeños for an extra kick. Also, if beef isn’t your preference feel free to substitute with shredded chicken breast.

As always, we hope you’ll trust Passanante’s Home Food Service to deliver organic produce and tasty hormone-free meats right to your door. Since 1916 we’ve been dedicated to delivering the best ingredients around so the recipes you prepare for your family truly shine.

Yield: 5-6 servings            Prep Time: 20 minutes            Cook Time: 40 minutes

Everything you’ll need:

2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup bell pepper, diced
Dash of salt
1 10 3/4 oz. can cream of mushroom
1 10 3/4 oz. can cream of chicken
1 10 oz. can mild rotel tomatoes, drained
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
10 corn tortillas

How to prepare King Ranch Beef Casserole : 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the beef and onions.
  3. When meat has almost cooked all the way add the bell pepper and sprinkle with a dash of salt.
  4. When the meat is brown and thoroughly cooked drain the grease from the pan.
  5. Heat a medium size sauce pan over low/medium heat.
  6. Add the cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, rotel tomatoes, garlic powder and chili powder. Stir and cook until the mixture is warm and then turn off the heat.
  7. Tear each tortilla into pieces and dip each piece into the sauce mixture. These pieces do not have to be totally saturated in the mixture or you might use it all up and won’t have enough for the dish
  8. Place the tortillas in a large casserole dish and top with half of the meat mixture and half of the sauce.
  9. Sprinkle 2 cups of the cheese over the sauce and repeat the layers finishing with the rest of the cheese.
  10. Cook for 40 minutes & enjoy!