Yogurt is one of my definite go-to, easy snacks. It’s healthy; individually packaged; and come in a wide variety of flavors! From Boston Cream Pie to Passion Fruit, to Orange Creamsicle to Boysenberry.
And these days, people just can get enough of Greek Yogurt! It’s creamy and smooth and the low-fat varieties taste so luscious!
Greek yogurt is packed with muscle-building and appetite suppressing proteins, and fat-free versions are low in calories and sugar, making this treat a total win-win in my books. For added flavor, top it with freshly chopped fruits, crunchy granola, a drizzle of honey, or… shaved dark chocolate! The options are endless!
This dairy darling has many d’lish applications. I love mixing it into mashed potatoes or adding a dollop on top of my morning oatmeal drizzled with maple syrup. For healthy app, dip rice crackers or baked chips into plain Greek yogurt topped with salsa and a sprinkling of chopped cilantro – delicioso!
Greek yogurt is the perfect addition to any morning routine. It’s great when blended into my Fiber Packed Breakfast Smoothie! Blended with a whole-peeled orange, a spoonful of local honey, ice and a few flax seeds–you’ll have the energy you need to start your day right.
Yogurt has definitely lost its “plain vanilla” reputation and I’m glad! –Kathy
Fiber Packed Breakfast Smoothie
The great thing about smoothies are that you can customize to your personal taste. Add a tablespoon of protein powder, or toss in some fresh or frozen berries.
Using a whole orange adds not only great taste, but extra fiber too. And if you want to jack up the fiber even more add a few torn leaves of fresh kale.
And if you really love smoothies- be sure to get yourself a fantastic blender. I love my Vitamix it makes smoothies in a flash!
Makes 2 servings
1 large orange
1 ripe banana, cut in chunks
1/2 cup low-fat or fat-free yogurt
1 – 2 Tbsp local honey, agave nectar (or sub a packet of no-cal sweetener)
1/2 – 1 teaspoon flax seed (the more seeds – the more “texture”)
1 cup ice
Cut the peel off the oranges, trim away any white pith, cut the fruit into chunks, removing any seeds.
Place the orange, banana, yogurt, honey, flax seeds and ice in a blender cup and blend on high speed until smooth. Divide between two glasses and serve immediately .
Speed Rack comes to Seattle! So mark your calendars for Sunday, February 10th from 3:00pm – 7:00pm at Century Ballroom and make sure to buy your tickets soon!
Founded by Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix, this national cocktail competition/fundraiser features top regional female bartenders in a head-to-head round robin style timed and judged challenge. Winner of the upcoming Seattle event will then get the opportunity to compete in the finals and where the winner will be crowned Miss Speed Rack USA! All the proceeds raised will go to breast cancer research, prevention and education.
I’m looking forward to judging the Seattle event and seeing all our top Washington shakers shine! Make sure to buy your tickets in advanced and visit www.speed-rack.com for more info.
“Get Crackin’” has become a familiar tagline in TV commercials for the wonderful pistachio – but this little nut is more than just a pop culture phenomenon. Listed as a super food, nuts, and pistachios in particular, have a wide range of health benefits to top off their delicious flavor. From heart-healthy fats to high protein content, pistachios are the perfect snack or as a lovely accent to many d’lish dishes!
Sprinkle pistachios over Greek yogurt with dried cherries for a nutritious treat. Mix them in with dark chocolate, mini pretzels and dried cranberries for an indulgent trail mix. Or use them to finish off my Roasted Beets with Orange Honey Vinaigrette and Pistachios for tasty texture.
One of my favorite recipes featuring pistachios is my Warm Orange & Pistachio Bittersweet Chocolate Cake. Baked right in little mason jars and topped with a pouf of orange cream, these mini cakes are so cute and perfect for weekend entertaining!
So get crackin’ on some new ways to enjoy this healthful and flavorful nut! -Kathy
Roasted Beets with Orange Honey Vinaigrette and Pistachios
You can prepare this recipe part way in advance: After roasting beets, cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, drain beets again if necessary, and proceed with the recipe, sauteing beets in the syrupy vinaigrette until heated through.
Makes about 6 servings
6 large beets (about 3 pounds)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons orange juice concentrate, undiluted
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup shelled pistachios, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Peel beets and cut into 1-inch chunks. Toss beets with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and place in a 9- x 13-inch baking pan, then cover pan with foil. Roast beets in preheated oven about 40 minutes, then remove foil and continue roasting about 15 – 20 minutes more until beets are tender. Remove beets from oven and drain off any excess liquid.
Meanwhile, in a saute pan, whisk together remaining olive oil, OJ concentrate, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper, and place over medium-high heat. Cook for about 1 1/2 minutes, or until syrupy. Add beets and saute to coat evenly.
Sprinkle nuts on top to garnish. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Cakes
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small chunks
10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) butter
5 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon fine fresh orange zest
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate
2 tablespoons Cointreau or Grand Mariner liqueur
1/2 cup shelled pistachios, lightly toasted and coarsely chopped
Orange Cream
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate
Garnish: fine fresh orange zest
To make the cake batter: In a double boiler or medium bowl set over a pan of simmering water, combine the chocolate and butter. Heat over medium heat, stirring often, until the butter and chocolate are just barely melted. Remove from the heat and stir until completely melted.
In another bowl, beat together the eggs, sugar, vanilla, zest, flour, orange juice concentrate and liqueur. Stir in the melted chocolate mixture and the pistachios. Refrigerate batter for 2 hours or up to overnight.
To bake the cakes: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Stir the batter to distribute the nuts. Divide the batter evenly, scooping 1/2 cup batter into each of 6 half-pint, wide-mouth canning jars (or you can substitute glass custard cups). Place the jars on a baking sheet and bake for about 22 to 28 minutes, or until the cakes are set but the centers are still very, very soft. (See chef’s note.) Let cool for 3 to 4 minutes and serve warm.
To make the orange cream: While the cakes are cooking, whisk the cream and powdered sugar together in a medium bowl until lightly peaking. Add the sour cream and orange juice concentrate. Whisk in until nicely peaking.
Top each cake with a dollop of cream and sprinkle with orange zest.
Chef’s note: Ovens differ, so bake the cakes for about 22 minutes for very soft center or 24 to 28 minutes for somewhat firmer centers. When removed from the oven, the centers of the cakes should still be gooey. If using cold batter from the refrigerator the cakes will take longer to cook.
I love classic buttered and salted popcorn. It’s the perfect snack to munch on at the movies, during family game night, or as a healthy alternative to chips. And if those little 100-calorie microwave bags leave you craving something a bit more gourmet, try my ideas on how to spice up your snacking!
-Brown some butter before drizzling it on top, and then toss with cinnamon sugar to satisfy that sweet tooth craving – yum!
-If savory is more your style, add a dash of fresh chopped herbs in with some olive oil.
-How about spicing it up with a zesty hit of lime zest, cilantro and Tabasco?
-For the taste adventurer, try this: shake on some curry powder or furikake seasoning to add a truly unique and inspired flavor. Wow!
I’m always a fan of kicking classics up a notch and I love to grate sharp cheddar over my popcorn – but why not take it up a level by grating Manchego cheese over it and then seasoning it with sea salt and Spanish smoked paprika or experiment with different flavored seasonings like bacon salt. Just remember to be conservative with liquids like hot sauce when seasoning… no one is a fan of mushy popcorn.
So however you like it, pop up some tasty fun on National Popcorn Day! -Kathy
Please join Seattle’s restaurant community to show support for Chef Matt Farrer with Breaking Bread, a benefit dinner at Canlis Restaurant on Sunday, January 27 at 6:00pm.
Matt Farrer, a much-loved figure in the Seattle restaurant scene and chef at Restaurant Zoe, is facing a difficult battle with cancer. Farrer is revered by many not only for his cooking skill but also for his infectious enthusiasm and positive energy. Many of Farrer’s friends, present and former colleagues, chefs, and restaurant owners – including Brian and Mark Canlis and Scott Staples – have joined forces to hold this benefit dinner and after-party to help raise funds for his medical care.
“Breaking Bread” will feature a special five-course tasting menu prepared by Seattle chefs that Farrer has worked with in the past, including: Jason Franey of Canlis Restaurant; James Sherrill of Restaurant Zoe; Jason Wilson of Crush; Bill Morris of the Rainier Club, and Blaine Wetzel of Willows Inn. The all-inclusive dinner also includes a wine flight designed by Canlis sommeliers Nelson Daquip and Phillip Dunn.
In addition to the dinner, there will be a public after-party at 1927 Events from 9pm-2am, with a $20 entrance donation.
Dinner R.S.V.P’s can be made by calling (206) 298-9550.
Come celebrate the life and culinary mind of Angelo Pellegrini with these specialty dinners at Café Lago! Beginning January 21st, Chef David Crutcher will set a menu the third Monday of each month with their Pellegrini Society Dinners – inspired by seasonal ingredients and local wine.
The late Pellegrini had immeasurable influence on local chefs and food producers alike after moving from Tuscany, Italy to McCleary, Washington. He lived and preached about the good life and encouraged everyone to slow down while enjoying the abundance around us. Did you know that is recipe for pesto, printed in the Sunset Magazine in 1946, is best known as the first recorded pesto recipe in America? Wow!
So make sure to buy your tickets in advanced for these d’lish dinners—cheers!
Maple Syrup! Doesn’t the mere mention of it just conjure up warm food memories? Griddled tall stacks of pancakes drizzled with sweet syrup. Hot, crispy strips of maple-cured bacon… Yum!
But it’s not just for breakfast foods! Maple’s unique flavor is great in all kinds of recipes and different grades of syrup are preferred for different uses. Dark to medium amber grades are perfect for use in cooking and baking; their stronger flavor holds up great. Light and “Fancy” grades are best used where the syrup’s subtle flavor can be appreciated, such as drizzled over yogurt.
The Different Maple Syrup Grades
(Photo courtesy of TheNibble.com)
On the savory side of things, maple syrup is perfect in a marinade for pork; added to a pot of baked beans; or even in a dressing, such as in my recipe for Maple Vinaigrette. It is great tossed with your favorite greens, fresh sliced pears and toasted pecans. It works wonderfully on chicken breasts, too!
For those with a sweet tooth, try my Maple Panna Cotta—a no-bake custard-style dessert! It is simple to make and truly is delectable; and pretty with a pouf of whipped cream and garnished with a maple sugar candy leaf!
So make a resolution to branch out and try this sweet syrup “in” instead of “on” something different this year! -Kathy
Maple Vinaigrette
Makes about 1 cup
6 tablespoons real maple syrup, preferably grade B
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon finely minced shallots
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch of cayenne pepper
In a medium bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, vinegar, mustard and shallots. Combine the two oils and then, while whisking continuously, drizzle the oil into the syrup mixture. The dressing should be well mixed and emulsified. Whisk in the seasonings.
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Rewhisk before using.
Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®
Maple Panna Cotta
Makes 6 servings
2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin (this will be less than 1 envelope)
2 tablespoons warm water
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup mascarpone
1 cup real maple syrup, preferably grade B
For garnishing: lightly sweetened whipped cream and maple sugar candy leaves if desired
To make the panna cotta, sprinkle the gelatin over the water in a large heatproof bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Whisk in the cream, mascarpone, and maple syrup and set the bowl over a pan of simmering water. Whisk the mixture until smooth and warmed.
Divide the mixture evenly among 6 martini glasses. Cover each one with plastic wrap. Be sure that the wrap does not touch the tops of the panna cotta. Refrigerate overnight, or for a minimum of 12 hours, before serving.
Top with a tiny pouf of whipped cream and a maple candy if desired.
This year has flown by so quickly! It’s been a whirlwind of a year with lots of d’lish experiences, client trips and new friends. I’m looking forward to the New Year and know it’s going to be great! In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of what I’ve been up to since my last Newsletter.
Tasty Travels – I LOVE the Philippines!
Maraming salamat po, Philippines! (A very formal way of saying “thank you” in Tagalog)
I recently got back from opening the new Fairmont and Raffles hotels in Makati, Philippines with my Liquid Kitchen associate Dänny Ronen. What a great trip! Lots and lots of hard work but it all pays off to see these amazing hotels open with such a bang. I can’t even describe how amazing the crew was from the fabulous management team to the enthusiastic bar staff.
We trained over 35 people and did the menus for 7 different venues, created d’lish drinks such as the Panutsa Old Fashioned, made with housemade syrup that we crafted from local sugar—dark, rich and formed into coconut halves. Another great favorite was the Pineda Mojito, inspired from Journey’s Arnel Pineda and made with local mandarin, Thai basil, fresh mint and rum. The bars all opened with a bang and were really busy. The Pacquiao Punch is of course very popular, honoring the famous Filipino boxer and using the delicious local Don Papa Makati Rum then topped off at the table with a grating of locally-grown cinnamon sticks. They are HUGE!
The Pineda Mojito and the Pacquiao Punch… I told you the cinnamon sticks were huge!
A quick photo during my meeting with the amazing Food & Beverage team:
Anna Derygo & Joern Schwaiger of Fairmont Makati – Raffles!
The Fresh Bar Display at the Fairmont Lounge
The lemongrass was pretty big and very flavorful;
big enough for Dänny to hide and peek through!
Our eager students at the Raffles Long Bar
Between developing all the beverage menus and setting up the bars for both hotels, we tried to squeeze in some fun… from $8 massages (Yes! Spa junkies take note … and they were open till 4 AM!!) to the most amazing shopping ever at the big market, to attending Savoroso Inc.’s (local Monin Importers) family party—we had a blast! The Filipino people are so hospitable and love to party as well as make new friends!
We even had enough time for a quick stop at the mall for an old fashioned shave and haircut for Dänny while I was off to cruise around and check out the local sips and nibbles. My fave was Happy Lemon—a little drink
kiosk that is found in most of the local malls. They had the weirdest things on
the menu, so of course I had to order the strangest thing I saw…
…Green Tea topped with “Cheese” and Rock Salt and then sprinkled with Matcha powder!
It was really good – I swear!!
Then it was back to work. During my stay, I met some great chefs like the BBQ Chef at the Fairmont. Check out his amazing pre- and post- work:
The BBQ Chef (before and after): a master at suckling pig and crispy duck!
We did squeeze in some visits to local bars too! Here are our new local friends Tina and Brady with us at the Ice Bar. Yes, we had a couple of shots while wearing our parkas in the ice room.
Me, Tina, Brady and Dänny doing ice shots in our fur coats… while it was 85 degrees outside… (with 100% humidity) so, the chill felt great!
The Savoroso team were amazing hosts on our days off; Mel & Sheila Macatulad and their daughter Danica made us feel like family. They invited us over to a family party (which they have every Sunday) and family members all made traditional Filipino foods from a ceviche-like dish made with white fish and coconut milk to lots of pork dishes, and one of my favorites: local ferns lightly sautéed with shrimp! Oh and did I mention the fresh guyabano juice? Yum! They made us feel right at home.
Local ferns with shrimp and fresh squeezed guyabano juice!
Dinner with the Macatulad family and Anna from the Fairmont!
Then it was back to the US…
…to a bit more travel then to finish out the holidays back at home. Stay tuned for my next newsletter all about my delicious holiday trip to Portland!
During the holiday season and in the spirit of giving, my team and I love to give back to the community when we can. During my far-off travels, my team helped shake up a signature Liquid Kitchen cocktail for the annual Silver Bells Luncheon in November! Proceeds from this event went to help the Providence Senior and Community Services, supporting those in need through healthcare, housing and hospice. It was a fun event, which included a hip fashion show and great prizes!
If you are a cocktail enthusiast then make sure you try my winter-themed cocktails using PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur! The Blinker #3 is a rift on the Golden Era drink: rye whisky, fresh grapefruit juice and traditionally made with grenadine (originally made from pomegranate juice), but I made it with PAMA, a sophisticated full-flavored liqueur. Or how about a Sparkling PAMA’Rita, with a splash of bubbly—it’s a great cocktail for all kinds of celebrations.
My Sparkling PAMA’Rita!
Tasty Reads
Need some extra help with winter entertaining for 2013? Check out my drink recipes in the Kroger Family of Stores’ My Magazine Extras! It’s free to download and works great on most tablet devices (iPad, Android, Kindle Fire). It’s full of easy entertaining ideas, homemade gift tips and of course lots of cocktail recipes. You can also view the online version here.
Here’s a sneak peak of my Manhattan
with Spiced & Spiked Cherries cocktail on the Kroger app!
D’Lish Deviled Eggs – My New Cookbook will be on Shelves Soon!
I’m so excited about my new cookbook D’Lish Deviled Eggs due out in February 2013. This is my 10th cookbook, and it’s all about the time-honored classic appetizer and my d’lish takes on it. I have wanted to write this book for years and am thrilled to finally put my love of deviled eggs into print. Pre-orders can now be made on Amazon. With over 50 recipes, there is sure to be a favorite for everyone in this book!
Top Chef: Seattle!
This season’s episodes of Bravo’s Top Chef are well underway! We were lucky enough to have the Top Chef production team meet with us and scout my Food Studios… but alas their cast and crew are a lot bigger than my space could fit! So we were thrilled when the show producers invited John and I to be guests of the Canlis episode, where John had a fun cameo appearance! For the show premier episode at the EMP, my crew and I had a blast seeing the chef contestants earn their spots to Seattle and it’s been exciting over the weeks to watch farmer friends to chefs show up in the different episodes. I can’t wait to see who the winner will be!
Erwin, John, me, and Jess at the Top Chef: Seattle season premier event!
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If you love eating and drinking as well as fun dining hot spots and all things D’Lish, be sure to join me at Dishing with Kathy Casey on KOMO News Radio then check my companion blog with all the corresponding recipes and tips.
And if you live in or plan on visiting the Pacific Northwest, make sure to check out Sip Northwest Magazine (available at my Dish D’Lish airport locations).
I hope you enjoyed my quick recap of the last few months. Here’s wishing you all a wonderful new year filled with joy and delicious adventures! –Kathy
