Create Restaurant-style Meals at
Home
(ARA) - Brunch is a great way to gather family and
friends for a relaxing weekend meal. And spring
seems to usher in the perfect time to host a brunch:
gentle breezes, sunny mornings, and the time to
gather around the table to share good food and good
conversation. But often, typical fare doesn�t fit
into a healthy lifestyle. Make sure there is a range
of choices on your table -- fresh fruit and juices,
whole grain breads and high quality lean meats.
Include items that bring an extra dose of flavor and
nutrition, like tomatoes.
The humble tomato, long the workhorse of sauces and
soups, has finally come into its own. Emerging
science suggests a link between the consumption of
tomatoes and a decreased risk of cancer, heart
disease and stroke. Tomatoes are a rich source of
lycopene, a beneficial antioxidant found in all
tomatoes, but surprisingly, in higher concentrations
in cooked tomatoes, such as pasta sauces and canned
products. This means it�s even easier to introduce
this garden superstar into your family�s diet. And
now you only need look as far as your pantry for
great garden-fresh taste.
For the healthiest possible option, seek out
organically grown brands, such as Muir Glen
tomatoes, which are certified organic -- and grown
without they use of synthetic pesticides and
fertilizers. Their new canned plum tomatoes allow
cooks to enjoy the benefits of vine-ripened tomatoes
any time of year. Muir Glen tomatoes are the choice
of top chefs who value the premium quality of
tomatoes processed within eight hours of picking.
To fully enjoy the benefits of tomatoes, think
beyond pasta sauce! Adding tomatoes to breakfasts or
snacks is easy and delicious. In fact, some of the
nation�s most famous chefs have created new takes on
old favorites, and made them more healthful by
adding canned tomatoes. Muir Glen�s new recipe
booklet, Discover Your Inner Chef, allows home cooks
to create restaurant-quality recipes by such
culinary masters as Nora Pouillon of Washington,
DC�s Restaurant Nora, Michael Romano of New York�s
Union Square Caf� and John Ash of California�s
Fetzer Vineyards.
For a light meal that�s big on flavor, try this
update on the classic frittata. Perfect for brunch
or a quick supper, its unique combination of
ingredients work together to give your taste buds
and senses a savory treat. Created by Union Square
Caf�s Michael Romano, this dish is sure to please.
Crabmeat Frittata with Herbs (serves 4 to 6)
Ingredients:
10 eggs
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons minced shallots
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/3 cups Muir Glen Organic Plum Tomatoes
1/3 cup thinly sliced basil
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1/2 pound fresh lump or flake crabmeat, picked over
to remove cartilage
Directions:
1. In a bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy and season
with half the salt and pepper.
2. In a nonstick 10-inch skillet, cook the garlic
and shallots in the olive oil for one minute over
moderate heat. Add the tomatoes, basil and thyme.
Raise the heat and continue cooking until most of
the water from the plum tomatoes has evaporated.
3. Stir in the crabmeat and season with the
remaining salt and pepper. Cook for one minute to
heat through.
4. Stir the eggs into the skillet. Over high heat,
continue stirring with a wooden spoon while
simultaneously shaking the pan back and forth over
the flame. The eggs will begin to form small curds.
Continue stirring and shaking until the eggs are set
but still somewhat soft on top.
5. Loosed the frittata from the skillet with a
rubber spatula and slide it onto a large dinner
plate. Cover the frittata with another dinner plate
and invert the plates.
6. Slide the frittata back into the skillet and
continue cooking over high heat to brown the other
side, about two minutes.
7. Carefully transfer the frittata to a large dinner
plate, cut into wedges, and serve hot or at room
temperature.
Courtesy of ARA Content |