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Spice it up with @TheChiliLab
One of the many perks of living in New York City are the incredible food options. The Mexicue food truck has been making rounds in the city for quite a while now, serving up a delicious fusion of Mexican and barbecue. The folks at Mexicue have recently expanded their footprint by opening a brick and mortar store in Manhattan, and now co-founder Thomas Kelly has created a brand new spice line of pepper-infused essential salts and oils called The Chili Lab.
“Where would we be without salt?” –James Beard I’ve been dabbling with the Pequin Chili Salt, adding it to many dishes from scrambled eggs to salads to cast iron grilled steaks. The flavors brought out from Pequin are a light smoke and citrus. It’s very unique to get such rich flavors from one spice, but The Chili Lab delivers. For fans of heat and flavor, such as myself, I’ll be continuing to experiment with these salts.
Other salts include Piri Piri (herb and citrus from Africa), Chipotle (red berry smoke), Cascabel (seasonal pumpkin and nut), Aji Amarillo (Seasonal light berry fruit), Dandicut (Citrus and fruit), Habanero (Seasonal floral and fruit), Pasilla (Raisin and wood), Guajillo (Smoke and tomato from Mexico). That’s a total of nine flavors to help bring new flavors out of your favorite dishes.
The Chili Lab salts are available online and at select gourmet grocers in Brooklyn and Manhattan. http://thechililab.com/
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Pecans……Just Not Another Nut!
Ways to Incorporate Pecans into a Healthy Lifestyle
Pecans are easy to add to your eating plan; simply grab a handful! Pecans are healthy and delicious, and just a one-ounce serving (15- 20 pecan halves) packs more than 19 vitamins and minerals, fiber and protein to keep you going. They’re a perfect snack for both children and adults. Often associated with indulgences and occasional treats, pecans can also be eaten in healthier forms and cooked or baked in a wide variety of foods to add flavor and nutrition. Delicious recipes can be found or created using pecans for breakfast, salads, entrees and side dishes.
Warm Pasta Salad with Pecans and Spinach
Check out these recipes at http://ilovepecans.org/
Romain, Pecan and Pear Salad
Heart-Healthy Pecans
Nearly 60 percent of the fats in pecans are monounsaturated and another 30 percent are polyunsaturated, leaving very little saturated fat in pecans. The unsaturated fat in pecans is heart-healthy fat meeting the new Dietary Guidelines that recommend Americans keep intake between 20 and 35 percent of calories, with most fats coming from heart-healthy sources like fish, nuts and vegetable oils. In addition, pecans contain no trans fat.
Nutrient-Dense Pecans
Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals – including vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, several B vitamins and zinc. One ounce of pecans provides 10 percent of the recommended Daily Value for fiber. Pecans are also a natural, high-quality source of protein that contain very few carbohydrates and no cholesterol. Pecans are also naturally sodium-free, making them an excellent choice for those on a salt- or sodium-restricted diet.
For much more information on Pecans go to http://ilovepecans.org/
