March 19, National Poultry Day Cooking, Safety and Nutrition

Poultry is an excellent source of protein and lowers in fats than red meat (especially if you remove the skin). There are about 3,200,000 poultry recipes on the Internet.

Calorie Facts about Poultry

Poultry 101 USDA Guidance on Cooking Poultry

Safety is important when handling poultry and meats. The USDA requires that safe handling instructions be posted on all packages of raw and not fully cooked meat and poultry.

For additional information on Poultry visit the USDA


Chicken Kebabs with Oranges and Peppers Slices

Makes 6 main course serving
Ingredients
1/4 cup plain Greek-style whole-milk yogurt
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 Orange sections
1/2 Green Peppers, sliced

Directions
1. Whisk together yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and turmeric in a large bowl.
2. Add chicken, orange sections and pepper slices - stirring to coat.
3. Marinate, covered and chilled, at least 8 hours.
4. If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. When charcoal turns grayish white and you can hold your hand 5 inches above grill rack for 3 to 4 seconds, grill is ready (medium-hot). If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then reduce heat to medium-high.
5. While grill heats, drain chicken, orange sections and pepper slices and discard the marinade.
6. Thread chicken pieces, orange sections, and pepper slices onto skewers.
7. Lightly oil hot grill rack, then grill kebabs, covered only if using a gas grill, turning occasionally, until chicken is just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes.
Note. If you aren't able to grill outdoors, kebabs can be cooked in batches in a lightly oiled large (2-burner) ridged grill pan over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes. 

Nutrition Information

Nutritional Analysis Services
Ensure accurate and cost-effective nutritional analysis and food nutrition facts labels for your recipes and menus utilizing an extensive research database. A great service for the Media, Cookbook Publishers, Writers, Chefs, Recipe Websites and Blogs. Your readers will enjoy and benefit from the Nutrition information. For more information, visit Dietitians-Online Nutritional Analysis Services contact: Sandra Frank, Ed.D, RDN, LN, FAND recipenews@gmail.com 954-294-6300

Tortellini, Chicken, and Arugula Salad

 This comes together in a cinch thanks to the use of a few quality items, such as hearty cheese tortellini and shredded rotisserie chicken. Prepare the dressing and pasta ahead of time to make the final assembly even faster. Who knew making dinner on busy weekday nights could be so easy?

Ingredients:
1 (9-oz.) package refrigerated cheese tortellini (such as Buitoni), cooked according to package directions
8 ounces skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast, shredded (about 2 cups)
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 cups baby arugula
1/3 cup thinly sliced shallot
3/4 ounce Parmesan cheese, shaved (about 1/4 cup)

Instructions:

1. Place tortellini and chicken in a large bowl.
2. Combine garlic and salt on a cutting board. Mash with the side of a knife to form a paste. Place in a small bowl. Add oil, rind, juice, sugar, and pepper; stir with a whisk.
3. Add 2 tablespoons dressing to tortellini and chicken; toss to coat. Gently fold in arugula, shallot, and remaining dressing. Sprinkle with shaved Parmesan cheese.

Our Mango Harvest: Mango Chicken Pasta Salad

The Mango Chicken Pasta Salad is easy to prepare and perfect for a hot summer day. Make sure you refrigerate before serving.

Ingredients.
1/2 cup pasta, cooked
1/2 cup mango, diced
3 oz chicken, diced
1/4 cup tomato, diced
2 Tbsp onions, diced
2 Tbsp fat-free vinaigrette
1 cup mixed greens

Directions.
1. Plate the greens on the bottom of the plate.
2. Mix all ingredients together (except the greens).
2. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition Information.

Farmer Consumer Awareness Day

Welcome to Farmer Consumer Awareness Days!  Quincy's Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day (FCAD) started in 1981 when Dennis Higashiyama was listening to the radio. He heard a story on the Paul Harvey show that illustrated how farmers and consumers had drifted apart - leaving many people with little or no understanding about how food actually arrives on their grocery store shelves.

Farmer Consumer Awareness Day is an opportunity for farmers to show off the fruits of their labor and demonstrate the tools and techniques they use in their work. For the consumer, it's a great way to learn about where your groceries come from and to talk to the people who grow them for a living. 

Resources
Best Local Farm Tour in Every State @tasteofhome