#FoodieFriday: Tilapia Oreganata February 19 2016

Guess what day it is! It’s Friday and that means it’s time for another fresh fish recipe! Today, we’re talking Tilapia Oreganata because who doesn’t love a meal topped with breadcrumbs and garlic?

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. fresh Tilapia filets
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 whole lemon
• 1 tbsp. La Flor Oregano
• 1 tbsp. La Flor Basil
• 2 tbsp. Italian breadcrumbs
• La Flor Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Preparation:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
2. Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil.
3. In a bowl, combine garlic, oregano, basil, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper.
4. Rub each filet with breadcrumb mixture and drizzle fresh lemon juice on top.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until fish flakes apart with a fork.

Spice Up Your Weekday Lunch January 12 2016

Turkey sandwich - bland. PB&J - boring. Hot pocket - need we say more? For those of us battling with the daily 9 - 5, crafting a culinary masterpiece for lunch sounds like a terrible joke. But believe it or not, there are a bunch of ways you can take that boring brown bag and fill it with something you’ll actually look forward to after those morning meetings.

1. Chicken & Avocado Sandwich: take your boring turkey on white bread and kiss it goodbye. Substitute sliced turkey with cooked chicken breast, cut up a quarter of an avocado and a few slices of tomato and you’ve got yourself a simple, yet delicious sandwich. Add a pinch salt and a dash of pepper for some extra flavor and you can even take it to the next level by creating an herb mayo dipping sauce with our basil leaves.
2. Buffalo Chicken Salad: prefer a lighter lunch option? Put your own spin on a buffalo chicken salad by seasoning the chicken with our chili powder and cayenne pepper. Chop up some lettuce, add a few diced tomatoes and pack your favorite blue cheese dressing on the side.
3. Homemade Burrito Bowl: why order out when you’ve already got your own burrito bowl? This simple recipe calls for your favorite choice of rice, diced chicken or chop meat seasoned with some adobo picante, sour cream and shredded cheese. Load up a container with all of the above and you’ll surely make your coworkers jealous.

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

Cooking with Basil October 29 2015

One of the most widely used culinary herbs, basil truly runs the gamut in the kitchen. Not only the ultimate complement to tomatoes, basil also pairs well with onions and garlic and is commonly used in pestos, sauce, and savory desserts.

Here are some easy ways you can incorporate basil into your weekly menu:

Pesto - Go the traditional route, pair basil with garlic to whip up a delicious pesto sauce:

Infused Oil - Add some flavor to your favorite olive oil!

Basil Oil 

Seafood Dishes - For a match made in seafood heaven, add basil to your next shrimp or fish dish:

Desserts - Basil and fruits go hand in hand, trust us!

While the above recipes call for fresh basil, should you need to substitute for the dried herb remember that one tablespoon of fresh chopped basil is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of dried.

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!

5 Miracle Spices with Huge Health Benefits August 06 2015

Spices not only are key in transforming a bland meal into a flavorful dish - but many are known to pack in some unexpected health perks as well. From protection against some of the deadliest chronic conditions to simply helping to relieve stress - see below for five miracle spices with huge health benefits:

Turmeric - A distant relative of ginger, turmeric is a staple ingredient in Indian cuisine. Curcumin, a substance found in turmeric, may help reduce inflammation and ease symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Sprinkle turmeric on your egg salad, add some to chicken or seafood casseroles, or try it in a traditional curry dish.

Thyme - Popular in stews, soups, and sauces - people use thyme to treat bronchitis, whooping cough, arthritis, high blood pressure, as well as various types of cancer. The essential oil of thyme contains thymol - a naturally occurring compound that can destroy harmful organisms such as MRSA infections as studies have shown.

Ginger - Aside from helping to settle an upset stomach, this spice can also lessen muscle soreness. Gingerol, a chemical in ginger, is thought to reduce inflammation and block nerve pathways that process pain. Try using ginger in a stir fry, add some to your meat, or grate some fresh ginger over veggies or noodles.

Basil - With strong antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties, basil can help with cardiovascular health. The essential oils in basil have been shown to lower blood glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels. It also contains phytochemicals which studies suggest may lower cortisol - a hormone secreted when tense. Next time you’re feeling frazzled, add this herb to your tea.
 
Cinnamon - Known to bring out and warm up the flavors in the foods it’s paired with, cinnamon also works to keep your arteries healthy, manage blood sugar levels, and lower cholesterol. Studies have shown that eating half a teaspoon of cinnamon daily defuses risk factors for diabetes and heart disease within 6 weeks! Sprinkle some in your coffee, oatmeal, or peanut butter!

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!