CONTENTS

ASTA RECIPES

CRUSTY CHICKEN BITES

STRAUBERRY, RASPBERRY SMOOTHIE

VEGETABLE FRIED RICE

LIGHTSIDE

FIESTA BURGERS

VEGAN MIXED BERRY MUFFINS

FOOD INFORMATION

FOOD THERMOMETERS

CHINA WARNING

E-COLI OUTBREAK IN ONTARION

CRIME WEBSITE

BEVERAGES, BAR MIXES

   PASTA RECIPE

4 cups (1 L) cherry tomatoes, halved 

12 cloves garlic, halved 

1/4 cup (50 ML) extra-virgin olive oil 

1 tsp (5 ML) dried basil 

1/2 tsp (2 ML) salt 

1/4 tsp (1 ML) each hot pepper flakes and pepper 

1 lb (500 g) bucatini 

1/4 cup (50 ML) chopped fresh parsley 

1/2 cup (125 ML) shaved Parmesan cheese

In 13- x 9-inch (3.5 L) metal cake pan, toss together tomatoes, garlic, oil, basil, salt, hot pepper flakes and pepper; roast in 400°F (200°C) oven until tomatoes are shrivelled and garlic is tender, about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until tender but firm, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and return to pot. Add tomato mixture and parsley, tossing to coat. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan.

CITRUSY CHICKEN BITES

1 tsp (5 ML) grated lime rind 

2 tbsp (25 ML) grated orange rind 

1 tbsp (15 ML) orange juice 

2 tsp (10 ML) packed brown sugar 

1 tsp (5 ML) each paprika and chilli powder 

Pinch salt 

1 lb (500 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts

In bowl, whisk together lime rind and juice, orange rind and juice, sugar, paprika, chilli powder and salt.

Cut chicken into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes; add to bowl and toss to coat. Place on foil-lined baking sheet. Broil for about 5 minutes or until no longer pink inside.

Preparation time: 30-35 minutes, cooking time 5 minutes

STRAUBERRY, RASPBERRY, SMOOTHIE

1 cup (250 ML) raspberries 

1/2 cup (125 ML) cranberries 

1/2 cup (125 ML) strawberries 

1 cup (250 ML) orange juice 

1 cup (250 ML) yogurt 

1 tsp (5 ML) honey 

ice cubes

Wash the fruit. Place all the ingredients in a blender. Mix well for a runny puree. Serve chilled in a tall glass.

SQUASH APPLE CASSEROLE

This dish is high in vitamin A, a good source of vitamin C, cholesterol free, and almost sodium-free.

2 1/2 cups fresh winter squash, cut into 1/2 inch slices

1 1/2 cups cooking apples, pared and cut into 1/2 inch slices

2 tea spoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

Alternate layers of squash and apples in an 8"x 8" pan, ending with apples on top layer. Sprinkle spices over top layer. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake in 350 degree F oven for approximately 45-60 minutes until squash is tender. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes to remove any excess liquid that might have accumulated. Cool slightly before serving.

Serves 4.

Vegetable Fried Rice

1/2 cup celery, sliced

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup peas

1/4 cup carrots, chopped

1/4 cup corn, broccoli, peppers or mushrooms, chopped (optional)

2 cups boiled rice

1 tablespoon Worcestershire or soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, or 1 clove fresh garlic, minced

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Dash of pepper

Heat oil. Add celery, onion, and garlic. Stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add peas and carrots, and any optional ingredients. Stir-fry again, turning pieces all the time until they are tender, about 4 minutes. Add rice, Worcestershire or soy sauce and pepper. Stir-fry about 2 minutes.

LIGHTSIDE

Can you rearrange ELECTION RESULTS?

I get lies, lets recount.

My wife got a bill from the computer service man the other day.

She asked the service man to let her know what the problem was so she could let her husband know.  He replied “An ID ten T error”. So I wouldn’t forget I wrote it down. ID10T.

Fiesta Burgers

1 ½ pounds ground beef

¼ cup onion, chopped

2 tablespoons red bell pepper, finely chopped

3 tablespoons salsa

2 teaspoons prepared Dijon-style mustard

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

4 sesame seed hamburger buns

leaf lettuce and sliced tomatoes

Preparation Directions

Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before handling the meat.

In a bowl, mix ground beef with onion, red pepper, picante sauce or salsa, mustard, horseradish (if desired), salt and pepper.

Form into four burgers, about ¾ inch thick.

Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds after handling the meat.

Using utensils, place burgers on grill that has reached medium-high heat.

Check each burger with a food thermometer after approximately 10-15 minutes. Turn burgers as needed. A hamburger is done when it reaches 160 °F.

Clean the thermometer between uses with hot, soapy water.

Place burgers on buns and top with condiments and garnishes of choice.

After checking the final temperature, remember to clean the food thermometer with hot, soapy water.

SERVES 4

VEGAN MIXED BERRY MUFFINS

Flour, white, 1.75 cup

Raw sugar, 4 tsp

Baking Powder, 2 tsp

So Good ‘Trim’ Soymilk, 1.25 cup

Egg Replacer, 1 serving

Applesauce, unsweetened, 25 grams

Strawberries, frozen, unsweetened, 0.125 cup,

Blueberries, frozen (unsweetened), 0.125 cup,

Blackberries, frozen (unsweetened), 0.125 cup,

Raspberries, 0.125 cup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with non-fat cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients.

In a smaller bowl- combine applesauce and soymilk.

Chop the frozen berries into a manageable size.  Add wet ingredients to the dry, and stir to combine, adding berries as you mix. Using a 1/4 cup measure, scoop into prepared muffin tin (they should be about 2/3 full), bake for 20-25 minutes (when a toothpick inserted comes out clean). Cool in tin for 5 minutes, then turn out to cooling rack.

serve warm.

Number of Servings: 12

FOOD INFORMATION

Many people assume that if a hamburger is brown in the middle, it is done. However, looking at the color and texture of food is not enough—you have to use a food thermometer to be sure! According to USDA research, 1 out of every 4 hamburgers turns brown before it reaches a safe internal temperature. The only safe way to know if meat, poultry, and egg dishes are "done" is to use a food thermometer. When a hamburger is cooked to 160 °F, it is both safe and delicious!

MADE, PRODUCED IN CHINA GET WARNING

Public confidence in the Made in China label has been rocked in recent years by a series of product safety scandals.

Most recently, tainted milk claimed the lives of four children in China and sickened tens of thousands, and triggered import bans of Chinese-made dairy products across the globe.

The United Nations released a report Wednesday urging China to set up a single regulatory agency to monitor the safety of food products from the farm to the table.

The report says China’s oversight of food products is split between numerous agencies and their tasks complicated by numerous laws and regulations.  

WHO food Safety Chief Jorgen Schlundt says the cumbersome system resulted in a slow response when the tainted milk scandal emerged in September.

Chinese milk producers added the industrial chemical melamine in their products to make them appear richer in protein. Melamine can cause kidney stones, and even life-threatening kidney failure in some cases.

On October 20, 2008, Confirmed cases of E.coli were linked to a Harvey’s Restaurant in North Bay Ontario. 

More confirmed cases rose to 35-health officials claim. Health officials also said they know of a total of confirmed case of E coli 0157:H7 in the outbreak, involving eight health units in Ontario.

The out break was likely caused by human error rather then undercooked hamburger meat, a professor of food sciences, University of Manitoba, who has worked for Agriculture Canada.

NEW WEBSITE FIGHTING CRIME

The B.C. Crime Prevention Association has just launch a new website. Originally set up to support law enforcement, now available to everyone.

 Information on cyber bulling, resource guides, blogs,     printed materials including copyright law, staking, fraud awareness, I.D.theft, senior safety, and crime-proofing property.  Check out:  www.bccpa.org/library

RESPONSIBLE DRINKING

If you have teenagers, or in fact any adult, impress on them the risks of driving while intoxicated. Statistics demonstrate drunk drivers cause many fatal road accidents.

It should be known that like any other drug, addiction is a potential hazard.  Excess of alcohol will affect organs such as the brain, heart, and liver.

BEVERAGES, BAR MIXES

EGGNOG

4 eggs, 4 cups milk, 4 tablespoons lemon juice ½ cup cream. 

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup sugar.

Beat eggs until thick and lemon colour

Add sugar, nutmeg, and lemon juice

Add ice-cold milk and cream

Beat with rotary beater until frothy

Makes: 6 large glasses.

GRAPE JUICE

10 pounds grapes

2 cups water

3 pounds sugar

Add sugar and stir until dissolved.

Bring juice to boiling point

Pour in bottles and seal

Makes: 4 quarts of juice.

BAR MIXES

Monte Carlo

1 jigger rye

½ jigger Benedictine

2 dashes bitters

Shake with cracked ice and strain.

Rum and Coca-Cola

1 ½ jiggers Puerto Rican White Label Rum

Juice of one small lime

Cola drink

In tall glass, 3 ice cubes and fill with cola. Stir.