Traveling to Tune Town

     I'm once again planning another culinary road trip, this time headed to do some intensive research on the iconic foods of Nashville.  Stay tuned (no pun intended) for my report when I return!

The Royal Herb

     Basil was known as the royal herb by the Greeks.  A member of the mint family, the fragrant herb's flavor is described as a cross between licorice and cloves.  The most common type of this herb is sweet basil and is the most popular and widely grown in the United States.  It's used in many Mediterranean dishes.

     Another different type of basil is the Thai or Asian variety.  It has small, pointed, purple tinted green leaves and has a more pungent, licorice-like taste.  It is used extensively in Southeast Asian cooking.

     To compare each try growing both in your herb garden this season.  Then experiment with them in the cuisine of both cultures!

'Tis the Season

     It's time to pull the cover off the grill and fire it up for some wonderful meals.  Now that the temperature is once again comfortable for cooking outside we can begin to plan meals that tempt the taste buds like nothing prepared on the kitchen stove can do.

     In the most recent issue of Cuisine at home Greg Vose from Truckee, CA wrote in to ask "What's the difference between grilling and barbecuing?"  Here is the reply:

     "While the terms are often used interchangeably, there's actually quite a difference between these two cooking terms, especially to barbecue purists.  In a nutshell, the difference comes down to temperature and time.

     "Grilling involves cooking, usually small cuts of meat, such as steaks and pieces of chicken, directly over high heat for a short period of time.  It's a perfect cooking method for fish or vegetables, more tender cuts of meat, with little connective tissue, and when you want a quick sear.

     "Barbecuing, on the other hand, is all about low and slow.  It typically involves using bigger cuts of meat, like slabs of ribs or whole chickens, and slow roasting them over low or indirect heat for an extended period of time, often hours, sometimes with added smoke or a mopped-on sauce.  Barbecuing is also often used for tough cuts and large roasts (like beef brisket or pork shoulder) that require longer heat exposure to break down the tough connective tissue to make the meat tender."

Now you know.

For Your Pet

  I read with interest and a fair amount of incredulity a recent article in the Food News section of the May issue of Food Network Magazine.  It was titled Pet Project and said that a company is now manufacturing condiments for pets.

     Already on the market are items that include dog-friendly Muttstard, Petchup, Mutt-n-aise and Bark B-Q and soon to hit the shelves are condiments for cats as well.  Meownaise, Catchup and Meowstard like the other sauces, are full of vitamins that pet diets sometimes lack.  If you wish to perk up your pet's diet you can purchase a 12 ounce bottle of any of the above for $6 at Amazon.com.

A Healthy Alternative

     Ever get that irresistible craving for french fries?  That happens to me on a daily basis.  But the carb load is formidable, making the McDonald's "all you can eat" offer for fries a dangerous proposition.


     So I was encouraged to find a healthy alternative.  Recently I came across a recipe for asparagus fries at a website named Damn Delicious.  Here it is:

ASPARAGUS FRIES

Ingredients

1 pound asparagus, trimmed

1/2 cup flour

2 eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Dredge the asparagus in the flour, then dip each spear in the beaten egg.  Coat in the mixture of breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt & pepper and transfer to a wire rack set on a baking sheet.

Bake until golden brown, 7-13 minutes.

Serve immediately.

Home Opener

     

     One sure sign of Spring is the start of a new season of professional baseball.  I was present at the Phillies Home Opener at Citizens Bank Park down at the sports complex in South Philadelphia.  It was a very festive occasion highlighted by a block party next to the stadium complete with a ferris wheel, a band on stage and lots of freebies.

     Hatfield Quality Meats is a proud supplier of all the hot dogs served in the ballpark and was in attendance at the pre-game activities.  Handing out free samples in front of their van was 4th generation family member Steve "Rabbit" Clemens who greeted me warmly.  We have known each other for longer than his 37 years with the company.

     HQM has always been a class act, a supportive force in the community and I was impressed with their promotional van.  I also enjoyed their sense of humor with the lettering on the door of their vehicle:

     Too bad the Phillies lost.

Last Call

     The health benefits of asparagus go beyond providing vitamins and nutrients.  A recent study found that consuming it may help alleviate hangovers.  Researchers think that this could be due to certain amino acids and minerals in asparagus that protect liver cells from toxins.

     So if you're going to imbibe in excess tonight make sure that you include some asparagus in your diet.  It's good steamed, boiled, or fresh!