FOOD FINDS ~ PART THREE

My quest for finding new food items to taste test continues.   This time around, I’m focusing on food finds that are healthy and tasty.

~ My Taste Experiences ~

Activz Organic Whole Food Powders ~ Many fruit and vegetable powders can’t boast of being both organic and whole food powders.  Activz Organic Whole Food Powders offers a pure product that is concentrated and authentic tasting.  I received a variety of single-serving samples, which limited testing of same flavors in different created-use recipes, and was able to get a limited sense of the flavor profile.  The whole-food organic powders received included strawberry, raspberry, mixed berry (strawberry, blueberry and raspberry), blueberry-acai, beet, sweet potato, pumpkin, and spinach; several of their other flavors, including their new flavors of Mango and Kale, weren’t included in the sample pack.  I was also sent their recipe book, “The Simple Scoop”, which includes over 150 illustrated recipes on how to make nutritious preparations like appetizers, entrees, beverages, baby food, and desserts; there’s even a section on taking a “challenge” by introducing various recipes over several days that will drive home the message that eating healthier doesn’t have to taste bad.  Activz is a leader in providing safe, pure, and nutritional organic whole-food powders and supplements, and offers an array of products that include not only their delicious and authentic tasting whole-food fruit and vegetable powders, but they also offer protein powder, green and grass powders, coconut powder, and nutritional supplements.  My Takes:  Overall, I enjoyed combing different flavors to improve the flavor profiles of my Greek yogurt (any of the fruit powders), soups and pasta sauce (any of the veggie powders), and fruit breads (a combination of fruit and veggie powders.  For more information, visit https://activz.com

G.H. Cretors Natural and Organic Popcorn ~ I enjoy snacking, but I try to limit it to those snack foods that are a bit healthier than say pizza or fried chicken, such as G.H. Cretors.  Hands-down, the taste like you just popped the kernels yourself and healthy; they make their popcorn varieties without any GMO based ingredients; they also use healthier organic oils of extra virgin olive oil and sunflower oil.  Their varieties are addictive and it takes discipline to know when to stop chomping.  I had the pleasure of tasting several of their incredibly delicious varieties that included Chicago Mix (caramel corn and cheddar cheese corn mix), Just the Cheese Corn, Just the Caramel Corn, Organic Simply Salted, and Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  While I loved each one, my favorites were their new Organic varieties, and especially the Extra Virgin Olive Oil variety.   My Takes:  All of their varieties are low in calories, fat, and sodium. And make for a healthy snack or flavor add.  The two new Organic and also the Cheese  varieties go great as a topper in creamed soups, especially tomato; or, try adding the crushed Caramel to plain yogurt; if you’re doing a party, add roasted peanuts, dried cranberries, and flaked coconut to the Chicago Mix for a flavorful party treat.  For more information, visit http://www.ghcretors.com

(image of manuka flower and bee; www.mgomanuka.com)

Manuka Organic New Zealand Honey ~ When I first tasted Manuka Honey, I couldn’t believe how phenomenal it tasted.  Over the years, I’ve gotten accustomed to the taste of other honey products, and they all pale in comparison.  The taste profile of Manuka Honey is pure, intense, and calming, leaving no harsh after taste or sweetness to the palate.  You can actually taste the base flower where the nectar came from; Manuka Honey is produced by bees that collected nectar from the Manuka Bush or Tea Tree (also known as Leptospermum Scoparium), indigenous only to New Zealand. 

There are several varieties of Manuka Honey, based on the naturally occurring MGO, Methyglyoxal, which is related to the inherent anti-bacterial properties.  Most honeys only contain this in trace amounts, such as 1 and 10/mg/kg.  Manuka Honey, however, has concentrated amounts ranging from 100 and 1,000 mg/kg.  I taste tested the MGO 100 level, and learned that the higher the MGO level, the greater the anti-bacterial fighting properties in fighting against invasive microorganisms, viruses and bacteria, so making it a part of my daily food intake, gave me health benefits that tasted delicious.  My Takes:  Adding it to my hot tea, or Greek yogurt, in my hot cereal, or on my toast, especially when added to peanut buttered toast where the heat of the toast somewhat liquefied the honey, intensified the flavor profile.  It’s also great as a dipping “sauce” for sliced fresh fruit.  Manuka Honey is used for a variety of internal and external health-based conditions, which are listed on the website; however, my product review was strictly based on tasting of the product and using it in basic food preparations.  For more information on this nutritional whole food, including delicious recipes, visit http://www.manukahoney.com

~ Bites ~

Sepia Restaurant (Chicago) ~ I recently attended a media dinner at this outstanding restaurant, where highly acclaimed culinary lead Iron Chef Andrew Zimmerman, is also a finalist for the 2015 James Beard Award “Best Chef Great Lakes”.  Chef Zimmerman artfully creates dishes that tweak the palette with elevated taste profiles that rely on simple ingredients; beautifully plated, culinary art at its best.  On our menu was a starter salad of arugula, roasted pine nuts, pickled lemon zest, and shards of Grana Padano dressed with a tangy vinaigrette; the entrée was a choice of perfectly pan seared salmon resting on a bed of wild rice, roasted root vegetable medley with a red wine reduction; or, ale braised short ribs resting on a bed of red cabbage and spaetzle, dressed with mustard crème fraîche; for dessert, there was a an apple cake topped with a delightful airy green apple mousse served on caramel and toasted ginger nibs; the cake was topped with cinnamon apple dice and a micro thin cut of candied apple.  I went with the delicious salmon for my entrée, and paired it with a 2013 Fuso 21 le Salse, Verdicchio di Matelica (Marche, Italy); this was a full-bodied white that wasn’t too dry, had a hint of sweetness, and a beautiful shimmering gold color.  Very impressive private dining experience...atmosphere, staff, and superb tastes and libations.

~ In Closing ~

Food is necessary to maintain health, but making sure to have as healthy and as balanced as possible a diet is key to maintaining that level of health; while other factors are important and contribute to one’s health, the types of food consumed are also a major factor of consideration. 

  

That’s it for this edition.  Until the next one, remember to always celebrate yourself and your culinary curiosity.  Happy cooking…happy eating!

By Terry Herman

TERRY HERMAN continues perfecting her passion for food and wine.  She has been covering culinary related for many years as it relates to wellness and a healthy lifestyle.  Her popular blog, Terry's Spa, Beauty and Wellness Go-To has featured formidable reviews of cookbooks, restaurants, wine and food, food prep and tools, chef interviews, and coverage of prestigious events such as the International Home+Housewares Show, the National Restaurant Show and the Sweets and Snacks Expo.  She has been published since the mid-1990s in both consumer and trade publications, and is regarded as an expert in spa, beauty, wellness, travel and lifestyle, and is frequently interviewed by publications for her expert content.  She has also presented at major industry conferences, and has served with distinction on numerous governing and advisory boards.  She has a background in strategic and qualitative management, consulting, and motivational speaking.  Her social media outreach includes Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  Don’t forget to “Like” her Facebook Page, “Terry’s Second Helpings”.  For additional information, email her at terry.herman@gmail.com.

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(Introductory photo from www.greatlakesbaymag.com; all other photo credits as represented by the specific brand.)