Showing posts with label herbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label herbs. Show all posts

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Olive Oil Infusion Danger

Ok, back in September I posted a recipe for flavored Olive Oil.

Click HERE to see it

I was contacted and notified that the infusion is safe for a little while, but putting fresh sprig of the herbs "for looks" is actually a bad thing to do.
Flavored oils can add excitement to salads, marinades and sauces but infused oils have the potential to support the growth of Clostridium (C.) botulinum. Although the oil by itself does not pose a risk for botulism, the trendy addition of vegetables, herbs and fruits to oils, to make an oil infusion, can make this product potentially unsafe.
Are people aware of the slight, but deadly risk presented when these oil infusions are not prepared properly? Consumers need to understand the potentially life-threatening hazard of oil infusions. Oil infusion recipes can still be tasty and safe as long as the following precautions are clearly stated and adhered to:
  • Wash all soil-contaminated produce before adding it to an oil infusion,
  • Add an acidifying agent such as lemon juice or vinegar to the recipe at the rate of one tablespoon per cup of oil,
  • Keep oil infusions refrigerated in order to retard the growth of any microbes,
  • Discard infusions after one week, or sooner if apparent cloudiness, gas bubbles, or foul odor develop and,
  • When in doubt, throw it out.
So there it is folks. I've already tossed mine out, so please do to if you've had it for a while! 

This was important for me to share, so please take the precautions!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY



I'm very proud of my garden....its the only thing I could squeeze in the small about of yard that military housing gives us =) and I made the markers out of old paint stick stirrer thingys [yes, that is a technical word]

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Blog hops I'm participating in... 
5 Minutes for Mom 
Marnis Organized Mess 
Susie QT Pies-Scraps of Life 




Thursday, March 17, 2011

HERB GARDEN

Know what its time for? HERBS! I love this time of year! Of course, there is still time for another freeze, so make sure you have a spot inside to move the herbs at night or on cold days.


What you need...

Herb seeds
Little baggies (ziplocs work great too)
Planting soil (make sure its free of chemicals)
Water sprinkles
String
Clothes pins



In each bag, place a little soil, then a few seeds, sprinkle a little water and zip them close. Hang a line, and overlap the baggies a little and secure them with a clothes pin.

I usually tie the string loosely so I won't wrestle with knots when I need to move them inside.

The clothes pins are fun to decorate or use as labels!

This is simple, fun and the kids love to help!

You'll start to see them sprouting, and when they are big enough, and the freeze isn't a threat anymore, move them to bigger pots and planters! Use the clothes pins (if you labeled them) and clip them on the side of the pots so you know whats growing. And don't throw away the bags--you can use them again.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

RACK OF PORK STUFFED WITH APPLES AND HERBS

This is a little time-consuming dish. So beware! However, its defiantly worth it. Delicious! This recipe would be great for when company is coming over.

RACK OF PORK STUFFED WITH APPLES AND HERBS



If you can't find a bone-in pork loin, just use a regular loin. (take about 15 min off cooking time)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

STUFFING:
In skillet, heat over med-low heat
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 small apples, peeled and diced very small
1 celery stick, chopped finely 
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
dash freshly ground pepper
Saute for 6 minutes, until vegtables and apple are soft. Then add
1 clove garlic, minced
cook for 1 minute and remove from heat. Add
1 cup fresh bread crumbs (or panko)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 tablespoon fresh sage
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
zest of half a lemon
Transfer to bowl and let cool completely.

[I would add about 1/2 cup cranberries to really top off the stuffing!]

While stuffing is cooling, butterfly the pork loin.
Cut four 12-16 inch lengths of twine and set aside.
Lay out pork loin, fast side down, with bones facing to the right. Insert the blade of a very sharp knife along the rib bones and slice down.


DO NOT SLICE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
Open the meat up a bit and take you knife and continue to slice through the mean, opening it up as it goes.



Season with salt and pepper and lay the stuffing right on top. Roll the pork loin back up and tie between each rib bone with a piece of twine and secure the roast. Trim the loose ends of twine.


Season the outside of the pork loin with salt and pepper.

HERB RUB:
Mix together
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 tablespoon chopped sage
1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
zest of half a lemon
1 garlic clove, minced or grated

Rub herb mixture all over the pork loin.

Line a baking pan with foil and place grate on top. Place pork roast on the grate and bake for 20 minutes, uncovered.


BASTING LIQUID:
In a small saucepan, over low heat, mix
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup apple cider
1/2 cup white wine
1 tablespoon olive oil

Baste the pork loin with 1/3 of liquid and loosely cover with foil and lower oven temp to 350. Continue to cook for about 1 and 1/2 hours, basting with the liquid twice more.

[I would cook for an extra 30 minutes or more, it was "done" but still pretty pink by the bone. A little more time would be good]

Remove from oven and transfer to cutting board. Let rest for 10 minutes, covered. Cut twine. Slice between rib bones and serve. Enjoy!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...