Replacing White Rice With Quinoa February 16 2016

Getting sick of white rice? Although it’s a staple in lots of different dishes from around the world, you can replace it with a variety of other grains that are more beneficial to your health. Take quinoa for example, it’s higher in B-vitamins and is a rich source of protein and fiber and with all that said, it still tastes great!

The next time recipe calls for white rice, either as a side or main dish, try replacing it with quinoa. Here are a few examples:

Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad: the possibilities are endless when it comes to Tex-Mex and quinoa’s versatility makes it the perfect substitute for white rice. Mix a cup of it with diced tomatoes, green chile peppers, garbanzo beans and chopped avocados and eat it in a bowl or wrapped in a flour tortilla.

Lemon Butter Quinoa: this recipe is extremely simple and goes well with just about any chicken or fish. Melt butter in a saucepan, add quinoa, vegetable broth, chopped garlic, and lemon and then season with La Flor’s Parsley Flakes.

Teriyaki Salmon Over Quinoa: feeling fishy? Try marinating your salmon in a thick teriyaki glaze and baking in the oven until it flakes apart with a fork. Then serve it over a bed of quinoa for a delectable meal you and your friends will love.

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your healthy meals into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy, America!

Winter Foods To Warm You Up February 02 2016

What’s better than coming inside to a warm bowl of soup after spending hours out in the cold? Not much if you ask us. Although we’ve seen drastic swings in temperatures so far this winter, we know the cold weather will rear its head once again. But don’t worry, these winter recipes will help warm up your bones and your appetite this season:

Lots of people - especially those who work full-time - find themselves ripping through the cabinets to put together some sort of meal during the week. Or they simply order out. Weeknight dinners don’t have to be so stressful, or so expensive, if you just plan ahead. And most of these recipes can be prepared in an hour or less so that “I don’t have enough time to cook a meal” excuse won’t work here.

1. Butternut Squash Soup: Sit down a bowl of piping hot creamy butternut squash soup. If this doesn’t warm you up, we don’t know what will. Recipe Here: http://bit.ly/1PSxNYF
   La Flor products needed: La Flor Cayenne Pepper, La Flor Black Pepper
2. Spaghetti With Turkey Chili: Combine two winter staples, spaghetti and chili, and you have yourself a meal you won’t want to stop eating. Pile your plate high and top it off with sour cream and hot sauce to give your taste buds a kick. Recipe Here: http://bit.ly/1PSxZY1
   La Flor products needed: La Flor  Sea Salt, La Flor Don Diego Special Habanero Blend
3. Four Cheese Pasta With Ham and Peas: Creamy pasta. Ham. Cheese. What more do you need? Recipe Here: http://bit.ly/1nAoLTE
   La Flor products needed: La Flor Sea Salt, La Flor Black Pepper
4. Chicken Cordon Bleu: This quick and easy recipe takes the stress and time out of the traditional meal, yet it still tastes amazing! Recipe Here: http://bit.ly/1P3wumj
   La Flor products needed: La Flor Sea Salt, La Flor Black Pepper, La Flor Parsley Flakes

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your cold winter day into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy, America!

#FoodieFriday - Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Parmesan Meatballs January 29 2016

Having people over this weekend and don’t know what to make for them? Enjoy your night together with this Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Parmesan Meatballs as the perfect side dish to any meal.

Ingredients: adapted from Life in the Lofthouse

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon La Flor parsley
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 teaspoons La Flor garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon La Flor black pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese cut into ½ inch cubes
• 1 jar marinara sauce (24 ounces)

Directions:

1. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with nonstick spray and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients except chicken, mozzarella cheese, and marinara sauce. Note, only use 1/4 cup breadcrumbs during this step and save the remainder for step 6.
3. Gentle combine the ground chicken and mixture with your hands. Form 12 meatballs by rolling about 2 tablespoons of chicken mixture in your hands, shaping into a ball.
4. Press one cube of mozzarella cheese into the center of the meatball and press mixture around to hide the cheese.
5. Repeat with remaining chicken mixture and mozzarella.
6. Pour remaining breadcrumbs onto a large plate and roll each meatball into the crumbs. Then place each meatball into the muffin tin.
7. Bake meatballs for 20-25 minutes or until fully cooked.
8. Heat the marinara sauce and serve immediately once meatballs are ready.

These tasty bites do well frozen for up to 2 months and can be reheated in the oven or in a crock pot.

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy America!

#WellnessWednesday - Which Spices are Good for Your Health? October 28 2015

Spices and herbs have been used for thousands of years to add flavor and aromas to food as well as for medicinal purposes. See below to learn what your pantry staples can do for improving your overall health:

1. Sage - The chilly weather is on its way which means the coughing season will tag along with it. Sipping on tea paired with some sage has been recommended to help soothe sore throats and upset stomachs. In other studies, the enzymes found in sage have been linked to improved brain functionality, memory, and moods.
2. Rosemary - Similar to sage, rosemary has also been linked to improved memory and alertness. When cooking with rosemary, most people will use it to season their meats before cooking. Studies have shown that meats that have been seasoned with rosemary extracts will produce less heterocyclic amines - a cancer causing compound produced when meats are grilled, broiled, and fried.
3. Turmeric - Turmeric is another spice that can help soothe a cold and breathing issues. It’s anti-inflammatory effects are what make turmeric so popular. Pain from injuries and arthritis can be relieved by ingesting turmeric because of the compound curcumin. Curcumin has been studied more in recent years because of its connection with slowing down the growth of tumor and cancer cells.
4. Parsley - The most used garnish in the kitchen has made the list, and for good reasons. Not only does parsley make a dish complete with its signature look, but it has been linked to slow down the growth of breast cancer cells. Apigenin is a compound found in parsley that helps raise your tolerance against developing tumors. Garnishing your meals used to be for show, but now they’re for health!

While spices haven’t been proven to be a miracle cure for serious diseases, they have been known to help relieve certain pains or symptoms. Start spicing up your diet and reap the benefits the above herbs and spices have to offer.

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy America!

How to Replace Fresh Herbs with Dried Herbs August 31 2015

Many times recipes call for a fresh helping of herbs, but what happens when you don’t have them? Can you use dried? Often times, yes! However, since dried herbs are generally more potent and concentrated than fresh herbs, it’s important you know how to do this successfully.

Keep the below tips in mind:

• Account for the change in strength: Many cooks recommend using one-third to half the amount of dried herb to fresh herb. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, you only need 1 teaspoon of dried (since 3 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon).
• Use dried when they are most effective: Dried herbs infuse the dish during cooking, especially while simmering or sautéing. This way they have sufficient opportunity to release their flavors and rehydrate.
• Know when NOT to substitute: Sometimes, recipes state ‘do not substitute with dried herbs,’ and as such - you should follow it. It’s more than likely that the chef has experienced a completely different dish when dried herbs were used, a dish that wasn’t very palate friendly.

When using dried herbs, be sure to keep the use by date in mind. These herbs can easily spoil a dish rather than enhance it if their flavors have deteriorated. When taste is everying, it’s critical to “ACT” now to ensure your spice rack is up to date. Turn your meal into a FRESH and extraordinary culinary delight with La Flor Spices!