The lovely people at Frieda’s Gourmet Foods dropped me an email a few weeks ago, asking if I’d like to try a new product for National Garlic Day (which was April 15th).  I said sure, and voila –… Read the rest of this post

The lovely people at Frieda’s Gourmet Foods dropped me an email a few weeks ago, asking if I’d like to try a new product for National Garlic Day (which was April 15th).  I said sure, and voila – four tubs of their Garlic Delight show up on my doorstep.

They’re quite simple  – the Original flavor just has garlic, oil, lemon juice, and salt, whipped up to a light and creamy texture.  Taken as a straight taste, it was almost TOO garlicky for me, but the flavored ones (a Chipotle, Sun Dried Tomato, and Green Olive)  are more interesting and tasty.  My favorite was the Sun Dried Tomato – I could see dishing it up with some sliced veggies or spread on a sandwich.

Or used in a saute, as I did here!  A few dollops, a quick cook, and I was done.  A nice weeknight dinner – and a shortcut I can see myself taking in the future.

Sauteed Garlicky Shrimp and Collard Greens
Serves one person

prep: 5 minutes total: 15 minutes

4-5 large collard green leaves
6 shrimp, peeled and deveined (I just used frozen cooked shrimp, defrosted)
heaping tablespoon Frieda’s Garlic Delights, Sun Dried Tomato Flavor*
vegetable oil

1.  Wash and dry the greens. Cut each leaf in half, then slice into 1-inch strips. Prep the shrimp.

2. Toss the shrimp with some of the garlic spread.  Heat a thin coat of vegetable oil in a saute pan.  Cook the shrimp until just pink and set aside.

3. Put the collard greens in the still-hot pan.  Add a few tablespoons of water and cover for 3-4 minutes to let steam.  Remove the cover, put in the rest of the Garlic Delights to taste, and cook until tender, another 4-5 minutes.

Serve with brown rice.

* The product makes this dish a lot easier.  But if none is available where you are, my guess is that you could substitute mixing a few cloves of garlic with a softened sun dried tomato and a little olive oil and salt in a food processor.

There is nearly nothing redeeming about these.  They’re not good for you. They’re not natural, or gourmet, or “foodie”. They’re not creative, or innovative, or new.

But man, oh man, are they delicious.

There are some days that just… Read the rest of this post

There is nearly nothing redeeming about these.  They’re not good for you. They’re not natural, or gourmet, or “foodie”. They’re not creative, or innovative, or new.

But man, oh man, are they delicious.

There are some days that just cry out for comfort food, no matter what the cost. And these little pre-packaged crecent rolls, filled with tuna fish and sharp cheddar, fill that need for me.

I stopped my calorie counting for an evening, and just sat back and enjoyed.

Crescent Tuna Melts

1 can white albacore tuna
mayonnaise to taste
1 tube crecent rolls
sharp cheddar cheese

1. Preheat the oven according to package directions on the rolls. Mix the tuna with the mayo to taste.

2. Unroll the rolls. On the long end of each, drop a heaping tablespoon of tuna and stick of cheddar. Roll the roll around the filling and set on a baking sheet.  Repeat for the rest.

3. Bake until golden brown. Enjoy!