DIY: Healthy Beef Jerky

Ingredients

3 pounds beef sirloin
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 large cloves garlic, minced
Wooden toothpicks

Directions

1. Pop the sirloin in the freezer for about 30 - 45 minutes; this will make slicing it easier. Whisk together the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, maple syrup, black pepper and garlic and set aside.
2. Remove the brisket from the freezer. Slicing with the grain, slice the beef into strips as thin as possible (1/8-1/4 inch slices). Place all the beef slices in a ziploc bag and pour the marinade over. Seal the bag and squish and move the strips around to evenly coat the beef. Place the beef in the fridge and marinate for 24 hours.
3. Take both of your oven racks out of the oven. Set one rack aside and place the other over your kitchen sink. Line the bottom of the oven with foil (to catch drips) and preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
4. Drain the marinade from the bag. Take a beef strip and stick a wooden toothpick through it near the top (typically 1/4 inch from the top). The toothpick is used to suspend the beef strip as it hangs from the wires of the oven rack. Place the beef strip between two wires of the oven rack so the beef strip is suspended and hanging into the sink. Repeat with remaining strips. The beef strips can be hung close to one another, but should not touch one another. The entire batch should fill a standard oven rack.
5. Open the oven door and carefully slide your filled rack onto the top rung of the oven. Close the door and let the beef cook for 3 hours. At this point, begin checking/tasting the beef to see if it is to your liking. This will depend upon how thin your slices are and how chewy vs. dry you prefer your jerky. It could take anywhere from 3 - 4 hours.
6. Remove the jerky from the oven and store in the fridge or a cool area for easy snacking!

Of course, you can play around with this recipe and try different flavors and seasonings!

Source: adapted from eatingrules.com and bonappetit.com

Meatless Monday: Deep Dish Polenta Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for the pan
• 1 cup polenta (not instant)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan (1 ounce)
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1/2 head radicchio, shredded
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 4 ounces mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Directions

1.Heat oven to 425° F. Oil a 9-inch springform pan or pie plate; set aside.

2.In a medium saucepan, bring 2¼ cups water to a boil.

3.Whisking constantly, slowly add the polenta. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring, until the polenta starts to pull away from the side of the pan, 4 to 5 minutes. 

4.Stir in the Parmesan, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Using a spoon, spread the polenta over the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pan. 

5.In a bowl, combine the radicchio, tomatoes, and mozzarella, the remaining tablespoon of oil, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. 

6.Spoon the mixture over the polenta and bake until the polenta is crisp around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes.

Source: realsimple.com

Support Local. We Do: Sadie's Caribbean Fish Cakes

Sadie's was founded in 1999 in Charlotte, NC by Leslie Suber. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Leslie worked as a real estate paralegal in New York for 14 years. Leslie moved to Charlotte in 2007 and was, unfortunately, laid off 6 months later. So, she decided to try making a living off of something that she was good at and that she enjoyed doing. And that something was cooking! Leslie is of Caribbean heritage and grew up eating the foods of that region and so decided that the first product that her company would put out would be Caribbean Fish Cakes, and they are delicious! You can find Leslie sampling them out at almost all of Healthy Home Market's large events! Up next for the Sadie's brand is a rum punch mix, yum! And if you're wondering, Sadie is Leslie's mother. Are you ready to try these scrumptious fish cakes? Then stop by Healthy Home Market and grab some out of the freezer section! They're extremely versatile. If you like what you taste (which you will), Leslie caters! Her company, Sadie's Daughter Catering, specializes in Caribbean, Asian and Southern foods, buffet style! Check out this video to learn more about Leslie and her products!

The Benefits of Reusable Bottles

According to Treehugger.com, 17 million barrels of oil are dedicated to producing single-use water bottles, most of which end up in landfills. By simply buying and using a reusable water bottle, you can save tons of money, help to reduce the impact on our environment and cut down on the amount of BPA that your body is exposed to. If you're concerned about using tap water, which you probably should be, we have both Reverse Osmosis and Alkaline water filling stations at our stores, as well as, water filters that can be hooked up to your home sink. We also carry an awesome selection of reusable bottles, both stainless steel and BPA-free plastic in many shapes, colors and designs! Consider sending your kids to school with them everyday and keeping one with you at all times at work, in the car, etc. Here are just a few of the benefits of using reusable bottles:

 Save money! By not buying single-use water bottles you could           potentially save hundreds of dollars each year.

 Stay hydrated. It’s hot out and it’s important to keep yourself           hydrated to prevent fatigue, dehydration, and heat stress.

 Drink more! By always having water with you, you can drink             water more often. Staying well hydrated can help detoxify the           body, increase energy,  and help promote mental well-being. 

 Easy to clean. A rinse every night and quick wash once a week or     so is all most people will need to perform.

 Save the planet. Reduce the amount of waste that ends up in             landfills and in the ocean.

 Better for your health and the health of your family by using a         BPA-free, lead-free reusable bottle

 Good looking! Durable, stylish, and can help you decrease your         carbon footprint

Sizzlin' Summer Seafood Recipes

We post a lot of Meatless Monday blogs here, but we also recognize that many of our customers enjoy meat! For those customers, we offer the following delicious seafood recipes! These are great for gatherings or a nice, easy night on the patio. They all feature fresh summer fruit, veggies and/or herbs! Enjoy!

Halibut with Ginger and Scallions
Chili-Crusted Scallops with Cucumber Salad
Shrimp and Orzo with Cherry Tomatoes
Southwestern Salmon Cobb Salad
Lemon Fish with Puree of Sweet Peas
Low Country Shrimp Pilaf
Grilled Tuna with Basil Pesto
Scallop Mango Ceviche
Grilled Calamari and Arugula Salad
Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms

Meatless Monday: Collard Greens with Pinto Beans

Ingredients

1 medium-sized onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1-1/2 lbs collard greens
3 TBS + 1/2 cup vegetable broth
15 oz can of diced tomatoes, drained
2 cups pinto beans or 1 15 oz can pinto beans, drained
2 TBS lemon juice
1 TBS olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Chop onion and garlic and let sit for 5-10 minutes to bring out their hidden health benefits.
2. Remove stems from colllard greens, rinse and chop the greens. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
3. Heat 3 TBS vegetable broth in large sauté pan. When the broth begins to steam, add onions, and Healthy Sauté for 3 minutes.
4. Add garlic and continue to sauté for another minute.
5. Add 1/2 cup vegetable broth, tomatoes, and pinto beans to the onions and garlic mixture and bring to a boil.
6. Add collard greens and simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Remove from heat and stir in olive oil and lemon juice. Serve hot.

Source: whfoods.org