Wednesday, 27 June 2012

Say Bye To Trans-Fat With Frozen Foods

When it comes to fat, trans-fat is considered to be the worst of all types. Tans-fat, also known as unsaturated fat or fatty acids is responsible for raising the so-called ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) and lowering the ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) in your body. A high amount of LDL and low HDL cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease in both men and women. Despite its harmful effects, trans-fats are still used by various food manufacturing companies, particularly, of fried foods, such as doughnuts and French fries. The main reason behind this is that trans-fats keep the food items fresh for a longer time and gives it a longer shelf life. Besides, fried food, commercial baked food such as cookies, cakes, pastries and crackers may also contain a heavy amount of trans-fat. 

However, if you want to stay away from trans-fat, opting for frozen food items is a great alternative. As the micro-organisms do not grow below -9.5°C, there is no requirement to add any kind of preservatives or fatty acids in the food item. The freezing itself is sufficient in preventing food decay. For long term preservation, a tasteless and odorless stabilizer named Carboxymethyl cellulose is added to the frozen food, which neither has any effect on the quality or taste of the food. It also doesn’t adulterate it.

Another option is to shift on to kettle cooked food items. Unlike the deep frying method, the kettle cooking adopts the method of slow cooking at a low temperature. The food items that require frying such as chips, tacos and tortillas are first fried at low temperature and later cooled down. This is basically done to break down the starch content. Then the extra oil is removed from them prior to the second frying at higher temperature.

Classic Foods is one of the famous producers of kettle chips and food products in the state. They use a range of steam jacketed and injected kettle cookers to make a number of kettle cooked food products. The kettles include vertical, steam jacketed kettles, MTC steam injected kettle and horizontal, steam jacketed kettles.

To name a few, kettle cooked food items offered by them are chili, Soups, Sauces, Queso, Gravies, Taco Fillings, Beans, Fajitas, Jalapenos, Hot dogs, Chips, Barbecue products are cooked.  For more information about the products and services offered by Classic Foods, feel free to visit them at 629 Mony, Ft. Worth, Texas 76102. You can also call them at 817.332.1071.

Tuesday, 19 June 2012

Buffalo Chicken Nachos

Quick and easy to make, buffalo chicken nachos makes for a tasty snack to enjoy with family and friends. When it comes to preparing a good plate of nachos, the trick lies in using quality ingredients in the right proportions. The best thing about these nachos is that you can modify them to suit your taste and liking. Some even consider them to be a full-fledged meal. The amount of filling in the nachos is what decides whether they can be had as a meal or a snack.

The basic ingredients for the snack are butter, hot sauce, cooked chicken (preferably diced), tortilla chips and shredded cheese. Some even include cloves of garlic, tomatoes, celery stalk, chopped cilantro etc. The basic concept is mixing butter, sauce and chicken and layering it with chips and cheese. This is then followed with baking it for some time. Some give a lot of importance to the topping after the nachos are baked. Usually cheese crumbs, green onions or chopped celery are sprinkled on top.  Blue cheese sauce is a common topping used.

For the health conscious, a few variations can be made to the dish to suit your calorie intake. Buffalo chicken nachos is one of the favorites of kids. They are highly fulfilling and kids love them for their awesome flavor. Those who don’t want to use chicken can opt for roasted chickpeas instead.  You can also experiment with the toppings and sometimes have it sans the topping for an original version.

Those interested in the nutritional information of this snack would be glad to know that it’s a perfect blend of all the nutrients required by the body. There’s almost every vitamin, enough fiber, a decent amount of fat, lots of protein and enough carbohydrates to keep you going for a substantial period of time. This is turn will be beneficial in keeping you from munching something every few minutes. So the next time you have guests over or your children are hungry like crazy, you know what to prepare in the shortest time possible and that too without compromising on the nutritional value. Being a pro at making such a quick snack will save you and your family from the wrath of junk food and what’s more, you get to enjoy a mouth watering dish within the comfort of your home!

Contact Classic Foods at 629 Mony, Ft. Worth, Texas 76102 (Phone No: 817.332.1071) to get best  frozen diced chicken with a tangy buffalo sauce.  

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Chili Con Carne: The Official Dish Of State Of Texas

Famously known as Chili, Chili Con Carne is a spicy and tasty stew like dish that comprises ingredients like beef, garlic, onions, cumin, chili peppers and other mature meat.  It’s immensely popular in Texas and a favorite of many during cold weather. Chilies in Texas are usually beef-based and lots of dried red chili peppers are used to create the amazing red color and the spicy taste. The main ingredient in the Texas chilies is beef and chili peppers. Beans are virtually not included and veggies are kept to a minimum.

The chilies used in Chili Con Carne are boiled, peeled, and finely chopped. As far as the rest of the ingredients are concerned, there are plenty of variations to choose from. Some recipes use very tough meat. Others use chicken breast meat and northern beans. There are variations made with bell-peppers too. Vegetarian chilies comprise kidney beans, red and green bell-peppers, and chili powder. The following are some common variations of the dish:-
  • Vegetarian chili – it refers to chili without any meat.
  • Chili Verde – this is a stew that’s made from chunks of pork.
  • White chili – it’s made using white beans and turkey meat.
  • Brick chili – it’s a compressed form of chili produced by pressing out all the moisture
Beans are a good substitute for those who want to do away with beef in the chili as it’s a highly debatable ingredient and many do not consider it as part of the stew. It’s a personal choice though. Fresh chunks of mushroom can be used to substitute beans for the calorie conscious people. Tomatoes are another controversial ingredient on which opinions differ. Those who add them in the stew do so for their distinct flavor.

This dish is usually accompanied with chilled beverages to nullify the spicy effect. Ice-cold beer or cold milk is great to sip on while feasting on the dish. Scattering saltine crackers on top of the dish also works well for soothing the throat. One can even add commercial corn chips as a topping for an interesting effect. Other variations include pouring a small portion of pickle juice into the bowl of chili or dipping coleslaw in the same before eating it.

There are a couple of other dishes that can be made with chili and are as delicious as this famous stew. Examples are:-
  • Chili burger
  • Chili cheese fries
  • Chili dog
  • Chili mac
  • Chili stuffed baked potato etc.
Classic Foods is a food brand that is quite renowned among the residents of Texas as well as other American states. If offers all kinds of ready-to-cook as well as ready-to-eat food items.  One of their best selling items includes Sheriff Blaylock’s Beef Chili.  The kind of chili that you are able to obtain at Classic Foods cannot be replicated by any other brand because of the secret, well-guarded recipe that has been in use for generations by this company for this product.

For more information about the chili products offered by Classic Foods, visit them at 629 Mony, Ft. Worth, Texas 76102. You can also call them at 817.332.1071. 

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Make Smart Food Choices With Convenience Foods

In today’s grab-and-go world, convenience foods are one of the most practical and healthy food options available. The deal is to make a smart choice when picking the food item of your choice. To follow a healthy lifestyle while on the move, it’s imperative to buy quality, healthy and convenient foods. Convenience foods refer to those foods that are not only healthy, but the benefits of which extend beyond their mere nutritional value. They are very easy to use and form a part of many recipes. Convenience foods are usually prepared food stuffs that are sold as hot, ready-to-eat dishes or as refrigerated or frozen products that require minimal preparation. Choosing healthy convenience foods are great for preventing heart diseases and maintaining good health.

Making a smart choice of convenience foods involves a few wise steps. The most important step is to look at the food labels. Those trying to control their blood pressure should opt for stuff that’s low in sodium. Many food manufacturers these days are very careful about keeping the sodium levels low.  If you are watching over your cholesterol levels, then choose foods that have signs like low fat, low saturated fat, low cholesterol, lean, extra lean, etc. Keep your intake of fried foods minimum as they are high in trans-fats. Limit your intake of foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Choose foods that are high in dietary fiber.  These include brown rice, wheat pasta, crackers, cereals, dried beans, nuts, etc. Choose foods that contain soy protein to keep your cholesterol in check. Go for veggie burgers, soy crumbles, tofu, miso, etc. You may also opt for kettle cooked food items.

If convenience foods are eaten in moderation and reasonable portion sizes, they can be a part of an overall healthy diet. Watch your total caloric intake while feasting on convenience foods. A little care in choosing healthy convenience foods will go a long way in keeping you healthy. Take some time out of your busy schedule to educate yourself on healthy convenience food options. Steer clear of ingredients that can take a toll on your general well-being. As their name suggests, convenience foods are just meant for convenience and not as a habitual part of our daily lives. They are great for days on which you are rushed and need a quick fix. The trick is in choosing something that’s inexpensive and nutritious. That’s what a smart food choice is all about.

Classic Foods is highly renowned to offer high quality frozen cooked food items and convenience food products at really affordable prices. For further details about the food products and services, you can contact them at 629 Mony, Ft. Worth, Texas 76102 or call at 817.332.1071.