DDC_Let's Eat!_091424 by Shaw Media

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Cooking, Drinking&Dining

Essentials for the ultimate tailgate

(Metro) - For many sports fans, the kickoff to football season means the time to tailgate has returned as well. Tailgating evolved from informal fan gatherings by the tailgate of a supply wagon preceding the earliest college football games. Today, it involves setting up temporary camp in the parking lot of everything from neighborhood schools to city stadiums before a big game.

According to a study by Quicken Loans Racing and Beckon Media, 80 percent of Americans tailgate annually. Among those, 61 percent tailgate five or more times per season. Various stadiums have noteworthy tailgating traditions, but just about any locale can be a great place for fans to gather before seeing their favorite team play in person. Here’s some of what is needed to pregame with style.

• Vehicle: Naturally a vehicle is one of the essentials of tailgating. Using a vehicle with a hatch or liftgate can make it easier to set up a

tailgate in the parking lot that fans can gather around. An SUV, van or pickup truck also may have more room to store gear.

• Grill: The Quicken Loans survey found that 93 percent of tailgaters prepare their food at the stadium or venue and 78 percent use a grill to cook. On-site grilling requires a portable grill. Look for grills that are marketed for campers and tailgaters, such as the Weber Q1000.

• Coolers: Tailgaters will need access to cold beverages (or warm on chilly days), and coolers keep everything contained in one place. It’s best to determine if stadiums allow coolers, grills and other tailgating gear prior to bringing anything. It’s important to follow the rules when tailgating.

• Tables and chairs: Camp chairs to sit in and tables to set food on can keep tailgates orderly and comfortable.

• Tech items: Some tailgaters want to get into the sporting mood by watching other

games on televisions or mobile devices that can stream content. Others may like listening to music or podcasts while they wait for the game to start. Speakers, tablets, mobile phones, small TVs, and even old fashioned AM/ FM radios can be brought along to improve the tailgating experience.

• Blankets: Football weather can vary depending on the month and where the game is played. Tailgaters should check the forecast and pack clothing and other items accordingly. Everything from sweatshirts to blankets to ponchos might be needed if it’s chilly and wet. A hat and sunglasses can protect against glare shining off of the parking lot asphalt.

Tailgating is all about having fun. Fans should be ready to cheer on the team and mingle with like-minded devotees when setting up a tailgate.

Treat fellow football fans to slow-cooked ribs and homemade sauce

(Metro) - Football and food go are a perfect and popular pairing. Though fans may not need to eat while watching their favorite team play, adding food to the football festivities certainly makes fall weekends more enjoyable.

Certain foods have become Saturday and Sunday afternoon staples once football season kicks off. Few fans will turn down a plate of wings or

Baby Back Ribs

Serves 4

4 2- to 21⁄2-lb. racks baby back ribs

3 tablespoons kosher salt

3 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper

2⁄3 cup Kansas City-style Barbecue Sauce (see below)

1. Trim any hanging fat off the ribs. Season with the salt and pepper on both sides. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.

2. Prepare the grill for smoking at 225 F to 275 F.

3. Place the ribs meat-side up on the grate over the drip pan. Close the lid. If desired, wrap the ribs in aluminum foil after 1 hour 30 minutes or once the bark (crust) is reddish brown.

4. Turn over the ribs, close the lid, and continue cooking for 1 hour 30 minutes more, or until the ribs pull apart with a gentle tug.

5. Remove the foil (if using), baste the ribs with the sauce, close the lid, and cook meat-side up for 10 more minutes or until the sauce is set. Serve immediately.

Cooking tip: The back of pork ribs is covered with a membrane that some pitmasters say prevents the meat from absorbing the smoke, but this is a myth. Many don’t bother removing it, and leaving it on helps keep the ribs from falling apart when you move them.

walk away from a tray of nachos during football season. But fans hosting game watch parties at home can go beyond the norm and offer additional fare that’s sure to please a crowd. For instance, the following recipe for “Baby Back Ribs” with homemade “Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce” from Will Budiaman’s “The Essential Kamado Grill Cookbook” (Rockridge Press) will make sure fans go home with full bellies this football season.

Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce

Makes about 11⁄2 cups

1 cup ketchup

1⁄2 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons unsulfured blackstrap molasses

6 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

2 tablespoons canola oil

6 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons sweet paprika

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup, vinegar Worcestershire sauce, molasses and sugar until smooth.

2. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat.

3. Add the garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds or until golden.

4. Add the salt, paprika, cinnamon, and cayenne. Cook for 10 seconds or until fragrant.

5. Stir in the ketchup mixture. Bring to a simmer and let simmer for about 1 minute or until the flavors meld.

6. Let cool and refrigerate overnight before using to let the flavors develop.

Cooking tip: When making barbecue sauce, it’s not necessary to boil the ingredients, only simmer them. Simmering them allows the flavors to meld; boiling them causes the ingredients to separate.

Call Munich to mind with your own Oktoberfest bash

(Metro) - Various regions around the world are known for certain celebrations that attract crowds from near and far. New Orleans’ French Quarter lights up in honor of Mardi Gras; the Carnival of Venice is an historic festival full of masked balls that takes place around this Italian city of canals; people dodge bulls in the streets of Pamplona, Spain during San Fermín; and for those who live for beer and dancing, there’s no better place to be than Munich for Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest is an annual festival held over a two-week period. Despite what its name implies, the festival doesn’t take place primarily in the month of October. Rather, Oktoberfest ends on the first Sunday in October. Oktoberfest commemorates the celebration of the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Modern celebrations feature beer and German food and attempt to reproduce a Bavarian sense of cordiality, according to Britannica.

While the largest Oktoberfest festival occurs in Germany, a number of communities across the globe with large German populations hold their own Oktoberfests modeled on the original.

And anyone can host their own Bavarian bash at home with some planning and key items.

• Beer: Beer is the glue that holds the celebration together. Only beer from six main breweries in Munich are allowed to be served during the traditional Oktoberfest. Each brewery produces a special festbier exclusively for the celebration. For an authentic experience, serve beer from one of these breweries, which include Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten.

• German food: German sausages and traditional German pretzels should be on the menu for Oktoberfest parties. Find out if you can order sausages from a German meat market in your area. Additional foods to offer include potato pancakes and cheese boards. Don’t forget the apple strudel for dessert.

• Red, black and yellow, or blue and white: Decorate the space in red, black and yellow, which are the colors of the German flag. You also can go with blue and white, which are the colors inspired by the Bavarian flag.

• Traditional attire: For gents, traditional lederhosen, which are leather short or knee-

length breeches, can be worn for the celebration. Women will want to don a real dirndl dress that features a blouse under a cinched bodice and an A-line aproned skirt.

• Long tables: Don’t overlook the communal spirit of the celebration, which means people sitting at long, large tables. Rent or invest in wooden tables that can seat the crowds.

• Tents: Set up tents to replicate the Oktoberfest beer tents in Munich. Add subtle streamers and flags as well as some string lights or lanterns for when the party continues into the evening.

• Festive music: Select a mix of oom-pahpah, polka and classic military marches. Or choose from German pop hits, if desired. Of course, the party is yours, and as long as the music is upbeat, guests are sure to have a good time.

• Designated drivers: Since Oktoberfest is such a beer-heavy celebration, designated drivers and ride share services should be set up in advance to ensure all participants can arrive home safely after tapping their steins and yelling “Prost!”

(Metro) - The nation celebrates National Pizza Month each October. There are plenty of reasons to love pizza, and during this special month pizza lovers can dig into new ways to get their fill of this famous comfort food. Check out these facts that are bound to get you even more fired up about pizza, courtesy of Papa Woody’s Pizza, DeNiro’s Pizza, Big Mario’s New York Style Pizza, and DidYouKnow.com.

• More than 10 percent of food service sales in the United States involve pizza. Plenty of people are ordering pizza to their homes or dining at restaurants that serve this beloved dish.

• Pepperoni is the most popular pizza topping (if you’re not counting cheese).

• Pizza consumption tends to be highest

Hot facts about pizza

during sporting events. Pizza retailers sell millions of pizzas during the Super Bowl every year, for example.

• When pizza originated in Naples, Italy, it was intended to be an option for low-income families, as it was a cheap meal to make at home.

• Researchers at The Artificial Language Laboratory used a computer to order a pizza in 1974 to test the computer’s speaking ability. The order was a pepperoni, mushroom, ham, and sausage pizza from local pizzeria Mr. Mike’s.

• Around 80 percent of Italian cheese production in the United States revolves around making mozzarella to accommodate the pizza industry.

• Americans love their pizza. Of the more

than five billion pizzas sold worldwide each year, approximately 60 percent of them are sold in the U.S.

• The outer edge of the pizza is known as the “cornicione.” Despite the interesting name, chances are someone in your household leaves that crusty goodness behind on the plate after enjoying a slice or two.

• When American World War II soldiers returned home after eating pizza in Italy, they brought their love for this food with them and helped bring pizza to the masses.

• Each year, the International Pizza Expo takes place so that those in the pizza industry can mingle and share information about this delicious food.

8 healthy snack ideas kids will love

(Metro) - Parents know that growing children need a lot of food. According to pediatric dietitian Hanna Leikin, MS, RD, CSP, LD, kids need a higher calorie demand per body weight compared to adults to support bone development, muscle growth and other bodily functions. Perhaps that’s why it seems like a stocked refrigerator or pantry can become barren in just a few days when kids are in the house.

Children are frequently looking for snacks between meals, which means that parents need to have a variety of snack foods at the ready for their youngsters. But it can be a struggle to find healthy snacks children will eat. With that in mind, parents can consider these eight healthy alternatives to less nutritional fare like chips or sugary treats.

1. Fruit on a stick: It seems any food enjoyed on a stick is fun to eat. This is certainly an item for older kids, as parents won’t want to worry about younger children getting injured with the pointy wooden skewers. Simply slide a variety of chopped or sliced fruit onto the skewers and make a healthy, colorful snack. For an added bonus, include a small cup of low-fat vanilla yogurt for a fruit dip.

2. Baby carrots and hummus: Who can

resist baby carrots? After all, they seem tailor-made for kids’ small fingers. Pair with a homemade or store-bought hummus, which is full of protein and fiber. You can even find dessert hummus, which may prove particularly appealing to children’s palates.

3. Crackers and cheese: Choose wholegrain crackers and a low-fat cheese. This provides the crunch of chips without the fat and calories. In addition, cheese adds protein and the benefits of calcium and other nutrients found in dairy.

4. Nut butters and pretzels: Kids need unsaturated fats to spur brain growth and overall development. Nuts and nut butters offer these good fats. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says peanut butter can be given to kids as young as four months old, and that early exposure may prevent peanut allergies. Additional nut butters include almond and cashew. Let kids dip pretzels into the nut butter for a filling snack.

5. Overnight oats creations: Let kids take part in building jars or containers of overnight oats with their favorite ingredients. When old fashioned rolled oats are mixed with low-fat milk (or dairy alternatives), raisins, granola,

fresh fruit, chia seeds, and even low-fat yogurt and left to sit overnight, the result is a spoonable treat that’s ideal for meals and snacks. Plus the fiber in oatmeal will help keep children feeling fuller longer.

6. Frozen smoothie bowl: This is a great alternative to ice cream. Simply blend your child’s favorite frozen fruits (and toss in a few veggies) with low-fat Greek yogurt. Serve in a bowl with toppings like granola, finely chopped nuts or coconut flakes.

7. Energy balls or bars: Mix dates, nuts, seeds, and rolled oats and press into bar shapes or roll into bite-sized balls when kids need a sweet and energizing snack.

8. Turkey and cheese roll-ups: Ensure that kids are getting enough protein by offering a lean protein source like sliced turkey. Roll up a slice of turkey or sliced chicken breast around a cheese stick for a portable and fun snack.

Healthy snacks for children are easier to dream up than one may think. It can take children several times of seeing a new food on his or her plate before being inclined to try it, so parents should stay the course with healthy snacks even if kids are initially reluctant to try them.

A guide to cooking with kids

(Metro) - Children may start their culinary careers crafting mud pies in their backyards, but that creativity and imagination soon may translate into foods they can actually eat. Many kids love cooking because it can be fun and messy, which are two qualities that children find hard to resist.

Parents can foster their children’s love of cooking and help them along the way with these tips.

• Be patient. Going into the cooking experience knowing there will be a mess, typically when young children are involved, can help you prepare. Toddlers have not yet mastered manual dexterity, so they’re bound to spill and drop. Put a plastic tablecloth under the work area and on the floor to help catch what falls. Also, cooking with youngsters likely will take more time than it normally would, so set aside extra preparation and cooking time.

• Teach kids good hygiene. Hygiene is important and can prevent foodborne illnesses. Make sure everyone involved in cooking, including children, washes his or her hands before cooking begins and continues to do so after handling foods, particularly raw meat and poultry. Hair should be tied back, and separate prep surfaces should be designated for produce and meats.

• Assign age-appropriate tasks. Consider age and maturity levels when assigning tasks in the kitchen. Even children as young as 3-years-old can chop food if they are provided a serrated butter knife with a rounded point and soft vegetables or fruits. This helps teach knife skills that kids can develop more thoroughly in the future. Children can mix and add ingredients as well. As kids get older, parents can decide the right time to let them use the stove.

• Experiment with dough. Kids can have a blast with dough, particularly rolling out pie crusts and pasta. They also can make dumplings and then fill them with vegetables. Many cookware retailers sell small rolling pins that are easy for kids to handle.

• Practice measuring together. Let children read the recipes and be in charge of portioning out ingredients. This reinforces classroom lessons about temperature, ratios and fractions.

• Move on to more sophisticated tasks. Around age eight or nine, children can take on jobs like opening cans, scooping batter, pounding poultry, proofing yeast, skewering kabobs, and slicing bread, according to cooking educator Julie Negrin. Negrin notes that children between the ages of 10 and 12 can start working independently in the kitchen so long as an adult is in the home. Ultimately, children can cook without close supervision.

Children also can be involved in cooking by helping to draft shopping lists and taking trips to the supermarket. This shows kids the complete process of gathering ingredients for meals, what they cost and how they are made before foods make it to the dinner table.

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