5 Star Foodie Culinary Adventures

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Product Review: Happy Chef Uniforms

Happy Chef Uniforms is a a New Jersey based company specializing in chef coats, pants, hats, and accessories like kitchen knives. This company has over 75 years of experience of providing high quality items for absolute best prices. In their catalog, they have a terrific selection for Women's Chef Coats, and I was fortunate to receive one of these chef's coats and a matching headwrap for review.

Both the chef's coat and the headwrap are very comfortable to wear, seem very durable, and I'm looking forward to wearing this uniform in my kitchen.

Please check out the Happy Chef Uniforms online catalog! Happy Chef Uniforms has a special offer for 5 Star Foodie Culinary Adventures blog readers - a $5 off coupon!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Product Review: Tropicana® Trop50® Juices

Recently I received a coupon to try a sample of a Trop50® line of Tropicana juices, healthy and nutritious juices with 50% less sugar and calories, and no artificial sweeteners.

At 50 calories per eight-ounce glass, Trop50 not only tastes great, but helps you feel good. Each 8-ounce glass of Trop50 squeezes in a full day’s supply of vitamin C and is also a good source of antioxidant vitamin E. Trop50 is available in Orange (No Pulp, Some Pulp and Calcium + Vitamin D), Farmstand Apple, Pomegranate Blueberry, Pineapple Mango, Lemonade and Raspberry Lemonade.

I chose to sample the pomegranate blueberry juice, which was just excellent.

In addition to drinking the juice by itself, there are some fun recipes you can try (recipes courtesy of Tropicana).

TROPICAL CHILLER
1/2 cup Trop50 Pineapple Mango
1/2 cup iced green tea

Mix Trop50 and green tea. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh pineapple (optional). Makes 1 cup (8 ounces). To make green tea, pour 1/2 cup (4 ounces) almost boiling water over 1 tea bag and steep for 4 minutes. 1.5 ounces of rum optional.

VERY BERRY COSMO
1/2 cup Trop50 Pomegranate Blueberry
1/4 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
2 Tablespoons Naked Juice 100% coconut water

Blend Trop50 with strawberries about 10 seconds until smooth. Pour in martini glass and stir in coconut water. Garnish with fresh strawberries (optional). Makes 3/4 cup (6 ounces). 1.5 ounces of vodka optional.

APPLE SNAP-TINI
3/4 cup Trop50 Farmstand Apple
1/4 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Blend ingredients about 10 seconds until frothy. Serve in martini glass with twist of lemon. Makes 3/4 cup (6 ounces). 1.5 ounces of vodka or gin optional.

To turn these mocktails into cocktails, just add 1.5 ounces of the recommended liquor. Adding alcohol to these recipes adds approximately 97 calories to each drink.

If you'd like to get a coupon for $1 off Trop 50 for yourself and 50¢ off coupons for up to 50 of your friends, go to Trop50 Facebook Page, and share a secret motivation behind your New Year's Resolution. Bonus: Whether you submit a resolution or not, you can also enter a sweepstakes to win a $1000 gift card.

Friday, January 27, 2012

5 Star Makeover Roundup: Meatballs

This month our challenge was to transform a classic comfort dish, Meatballs, into a 5 star gourmet dish. I was so impressed with the variety and the uniqueness of the creations in our group. Thank you all for your hard work and creativity! Please, enjoy looking through all the meatballs and don't forget to click on the title link to check out the recipes and more details of all the dishes.

5-Spice Duck Meatballs with Scallion Bacon Pancakes and Hoisin Mayo