Critic’s Cupboard: ChocoVine
Chocolate-flavored red wine? Yep. ChocoVine is a fine French Cabernet combined with rich dark chocolate from Holland. The result is a silky smooth drink, which can be served by itself on the rocks, used as an ingredient in cocktails, or poured into hot beverages.
It looks like a thin version of chocolate milk, and tastes very much like Baileys Irish Creme but not as thick. Don’t expect a distinct wine flavor. In fact, it is barely discernible, except as an aftertaste, and actually tastes more like vodka. Still, this creative fusion of wine and chocolate is a deliciously decadent winter warmer, whether served hot or cold.
-- Jennifer Mastroianni, The Repository
Easy recipe: Turkey meatloaf
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground turkey
½ cup regular dry oats
1 large egg
1 tablespoon dehydrated onion
¼ cup ketchup
Directions:
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Bake in loaf pan at 350 degree Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes, until internal temperature registers 165 degrees. Cut into five slices and serve.
-- National Institutes of Health
Tip of the Week: Watch your sodium intake
New research indicates that reducing your salt intake, even in small amounts, could mean fewer heart attacks, strokes and deaths.
To cut back on sodium, use these tips from the Heart Failure Society of America:
- Lose the salt shaker: Use other seasonings to boost food’s flavor.
- Avoid processed foods: Making meals from scratch can help you control the sodium level in food. Fresh fruits, vegetables and even meat will be flavorful without the addition of salt.
- Check the label: Many processed foods now have low-sodium, sodium-free or unsalted versions; choose these instead.
Did You Know?
Football playoffs offer a boost to chicken wing sales, triggering a 15 to 20 percent rise in prices during January. -- National Chicken Council
Food Quiz
What extra ingredient is added to an omelette to make an “Omelette Argenteuil?”
A. Fish
B. Cheese
C. Asparagus
D. Cream
(www.funtrivia.com)
Answer is at bottom of column
Wise to the Word: Tamis
A tamis is your finest food strainer. It’s made from worsted cloth, and it’s especially adept at clearing the solids from sauces. They do the job well, but they take patience. Wash with hot water under the faucet -- do not use detergent. Tamis is short for tammycloth.
-- The Repository
Number to Know: 283
Calories in one link (85 grams) of cooked bratwurst. – calorielab.com
The Dish On …
“The Cliff House Hotel Cookbook” by Tom Doorley and Martijn Kajuiter
