Beat the Heat with a nice cold, refreshing and healthy smoothie with Bishop's Own Blueberries! Easy to make and even easier to enjoy. Just follow this simple recipe:
2 bananas, peeled, frozen and cut into chunks 1 cup frozen blueberries 1 cup orange juice 1 Tbs. honey
Blend fruit and orange juice together in blender until "smooth." Add Honey, lightly blend again, pour and enjoy!
Want to try something a little different for the KIDS... Add some Vanilla Yogurt, pour smoothie mixture into Popsicle molds or an ice cube tray, stick Popsicle sticks into the middle of each cube and place in freezer. Take out a couple hours later and the kids will have a tasty treat that is cool and healthy.
Now that we are coming to the end of January, we wonder how many of you made a resolution to Eat better, Lose Weight, become more organized, and/or try not to be "wasteful?" All of these are very popular New Year's resolutions, and we believe that they are all good ones too. But, we all know that it is a little easier to accomplish a resolution or any goal for that matter, when you have a little help. So... we want to help you... CLEAN and REORGANIZE your fridge!
Here are 10 steps that we think you should know and follow to make the most of the food that you buy at the store, so you don't end up wasting so much food, so that you are making the most of it, and actually using the food that you buy as opposed to it mysteriously finding it's way to the dark abyss in the back of the refrigerator.
We hope this helps and would love to hear back from you if you have any great suggestions that you might want to share with us!
Happy Organizing!
1. Don’t believe everything you read. Refrigerator door compartments are too warm to store dairy items. Even though refrigerator commercials often tout their large door compartments as a great place to store milk, it tastes better when it’s cold, so use the door compartments for less perishable items such as condiments.
2. Customize your refrigerator to your lifestyle. Whether you eat most of your meals in a restaurant, or you’re the next Julia Child, you should figure out how you will use your refrigerator to complement you and your family. If it’s only used to keep leftovers cold, then don’t stock up on lots of perishables you won’t use.
3. Plan your meals for the week. Put together a master list of meals with ingredients to make food shopping and rotation in the refrigerator easier. You will save money by using up ingredients that you already have on hand and you will save time trying to figure out what to cook when you are hungry! Check out our handy shopping checklist for some great nutritious items that should find their way into your cart.
4. Clean it up. Purge shelves, drawers and doors each week, throwing away anything past its expiration date. Can’t remember the last time you opened that jar of salsa? When in doubt, throw it out (or recycle!). Then wipe down all surfaces with hot soapy water.
5. Keep it in the zone. Keep like items together where you can see them, such as kids’ snacks, breakfast items, and lunch fixings. Yogurt containers won’t get lost if they are clustered together in a small plastic tub. Taller items should be kept towards the back of each group of items so that you can see them behind the smaller ones in front.
6. Store it right. Store food in airtight containers. Reusable, plastic bins are perfect for the job. Purchase about 10 or 12 clear plastic high quality bins of the same brand. They are easier to stack; and see-through containers mean you won’t be guessing what’s inside. Toss out or recycle all those oddball take-out containers.
7. Prepare food for easy accessibility
When coming home from the store, wash, cut and store produce for immediate and easy use.This not only helps you to use things sooner rather than later, it is a great time saver.This also makes it easier to pack lunches for work and school too, if things are already prepared to grab and go (it saves you money by not buying lunch on a daily basis too).
8. Know your food. Label all containers with a date. Keep a marker or grease pen near the refrigerator for a quick label. This helps to rotate the older foods to the front so they can be eaten first.
9. Keep it cold. The back and bottom of your refrigerator are the coldest areas, so keep perishables and hardy vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower, there. Crisper drawers have higher humidity to keep vegetables such as celery and peppers crisp.
10. Leave it out. Some things keep better outside the refrigerator, such as potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and apples. And over-stuffing your refrigerator just makes it work harder and costs more in electricity. So don’t over-stuff yours with items that don’t need to be there.
With these tips, your refrigerator not only will look good, but it will make food preparation and storage a snap.
Ah, the holiday season. So warm and welcoming with candle lit dinners, warm cozy fireplace settings, family and friends reuniting and delicious once-a-year foods like egg nog and pumpkin pie. Welcome to the beginning of the Holiday Season. I can taste the turkey already, can't you?
What seems like a wonderfully nostalgic time of year quickly turns into the mayhem of "who's hosting, what are you bringing, what can I bring, so-and-so doesn't eat seafood, what else can you make, my kids are sick (can they still come?) and what time should I be there?" (no, it's not just your family, it's everyone.) It can become a daunting task.
OK, so reality sets in and you realize you now have a lot on your plate. So, stop, take a deep breath and remember what the spirit of Thanksgiving is all about; an American celebration of family, friends and traditions over a wonderful homemade meal. Focus on making memories not over-planning. While the premise of Thanksgiving is vast, the meal should be simple. Simplicity is key.
Bishop's Orchards has been helping families manage their Thanksgiving meal plans for six generations and 2009 will be no different. Below are Bishop's Orchards recommendations for Thanksgiving meal preparation and planning. To simplify your life, please see our meal preparation checklist and order form for delicious Thanksgiving meal dishes. On this form you will find items like Mashed Potatoes, Apple Butternut Soup, Petite Rolls, D'Artagan turkeys and pies that can be delegated to Bishop's Orchards for preparation . . . . there, now you can take a few items off your list and focus on having a memorable time. Won't you look smart!
1.) Keep it simple - keeping your plan simple will allow for you to enjoy yourself throughout the day.
2.) Be inspired by local markets and seasonal vegetables - stop by any of the Top 10 Places to Harvest a Connecticut Grown Thanksgiving to be inspired by fresh produce and meats that will make a fresh, mouthwatering and memorable meal. Bishop's was selected as one of the top 10!
4.) Select your appetizers: start a new tradition; make your 1st course a selection of cheeses from Bishop's cheese counter. Allow your guests to try new flavors that they wouldn't normally select. Come in and ask one of our cheese specialists for recommendations and pairings.
5.) Select your soup: Generally soup is labor intensive however, it is always a nice warm welcome as a second course. Pick up Bishop's Apple Butternut Squash Soup or Pumpkin Bisque for you. (go ahead, take the credit, your guests will think that you've taken cooking classes!)
6.) Select your main course: Whether D'artagan Turkey or Ham, Bishop's will order it for you.
7.) Select your side dishes: Check out Bishop's Orchards Farm Market for the Freshest Produce* (*Shoreline Times Best of 2009 Winner) to use for your side dishes, or let us make them for you.
8.) Select your dessert: Make your Apple or Pumpkin pies with the freshest ingredients from Bishop's Orchards or let Bishop's make the pies for your guests.
9.) Choosing Beverages & Serving Wine - Visit Bishop's Orchards Winery wine bar to learn which Connecticut Wines will go best with the meal that you are preparing. Our staff will be eager to help you with your selection. Ensure you have enough beverages for your guests on hand. Our own fresh Apple Cider is a perfect accompaniment to your holiday meal and Mulled Cider is always a great ending to any meal. Check out our incredibly easy recipe on Bishop's Orchards Farm Market Facebook Page - recipes page.
NOT MAKING THE MEAL? Don't show up empty handed. As you can see, your host/hostess has gone to a lot of trouble to make your Thanksgiving meal memorable. Please don't show up empty handed.
HOSTESS GIFTS: Bishop's Orchards has many host/hostess gifts for you to bring to the Thanksgiving meal. From Gift Basket and Gift Cards to Award Winning Wine to beautiful Autumn Flowers and Bouquets, we can help you put together a gift that your hostess will appreciate and remember for years to come.
Lastly, as a reminder, focus on simplicity and let Bishop's Orchards help you with your meal preparation. Your guests will be so impressed that you have extra time to mingle while making the meal. Won't you look smart!!
