Six Healthy Recipes To Countdown The Holidays

Author: Chef Florvil King Valdez   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: [SMN] Recipes • Healthier Eating • Holidays   |   Tags: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Its December 18th and you have only 6 more days until the Fat Man comes swooping down and gracing us with his presents and cheer. You’ll have your family over for fun, gifts, drinks and especially yummy, delicious and plentiful holiday dishes. Not only will we be celebrating the Christmas holiday but we’ll also be six more days until the end of the year. Another year over for all those resolutions. And when those expire, then we can start new ones. Instead of keeping to the mantra of “I’ll make up for it for the new year,” why don’t we start now? There’s no better time than today…sooo….Let’s get healthy now!

Even Santa is concerned!

I want you all to enjoy this Christmas celebration with healthier alternatives to those traditional dishes. I know, I’m the holiday grinch when it comes to the food. But hey, someone’s gotta be the grinch in this sea of fat-filled dishes. I know, I know, too harsh but someone’s gotta say it. So, I want to give you my favorite main courses, side dishes, and desserts that will give you that feeling of Christmas without all the bloating and regret.

Day 6 Until Christmas: Holiday Roast

Day 5 Until Christmas: Holiday Stew

Day 4 Until Christmas: Green Vegetable Side Dish

Day 3 Until Christmas: Root Vegetable Side Dish

Day 2 Until Christmas: Dessert

Day 1 Until Christmas (Christmas Eve): Holiday Cocktail

Now, these will be my favorite choices. Along with those suggestions and recipes, I’ll be adding a few links to my secondary choices and honorable mentions. So stay tuned, subscribe, and keep your eyes peeled for these tasty delights!

If you have any requests or suggestions on a holiday recipe or a conversion into a healthier alternative, please feel free to leave a comment or a post!

Or you can email me at Florvilking@servemenow.org!

Happy Holidays!

-Chef Flo

Connecticut In Our Hearts

Author: admin   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: Uncategorized   |   Tags: • • • • •

During this holiday season of gift giving, family fun, food comas, and children’s joy, we’ve been hit with yet another crisis against humanity. The family and friends of those taken away from this world last Friday will forever remember what happened. I would like to send my prayers and thoughts to all of those who have been struck during this tragedy.

As a parent myself, it’s a tough issue to swallow after seeing the images of the 20 children and 7 adults robbed of Christmas cheer this year and every year after. Not only are the loved ones of those taken from us in pain but the rest of this world is aching with them. Not to take away from their time of mourning but to join them with love and compassion. We all want to be angry, we all want to blame someone, we all feel a sense of hate, and we all want to close our eyes and wish it never happened. There are a lot of feelings going through our minds and hearts during this time but we can not forget what is really needed at this time.

If those parents, children, teachers, and loved ones all had another chance to be with one another again, what do you think they would want to do with their second chance? Hate? Get revenge? Be angry? No, they would probably want to LOVE each other just a little more than they did that horrible morning. We can all sit here and think about what we need to do to stop this from ever happening again. That’s perfectly fine but we can’t do it with guilt or blame in our hearts. There has to be a sense of love and appreciation when going forward with all our lives.

Christmas trees line memorial. 20 trees to commemorate children lost.

I turned to my only daughter of 7 years and hugged her, kissed her, laughed with her, played with her, read with her, and lived with her just a little bit more and just a little bit longer. Let’s honor those children and adults that are no longer able to do so by doing what they would probably do if they were given a “second chance.” My heart breaks for those parents, friends, and family members that don’t get one. So let’s take this opportunity to cherish the chances that we have. The chances that everyone else may not have.

I usually talk and post about food and service that is offered out there in this world. Along with all that, I more than likely add my opinions to them as well. If there is anything else that weighs in on my thoughts, it would be that I am a proud father. A proud father that would give anything to always know that she will always be free of harm and will have the opportunity to grow up and experience what life has to offer. Unfortunately, even the tragedies of this life. No matter what, I would love to know she’ll be able to live her life without others trying to obstruct her path.

During this season of giving and time with family, I’d like to ask you to give a little bit more and spend more time together. This incident should be a big wake up call that everyone, even our children, are not guaranteed a tomorrow but only promised a today.

Memorial for Sandy Hook Elementary School victims.

From my daughter and I, we want to extend our deepest condolences and our endless prayers for everyone affected by this massacre. It won’t be easy but keeping our love strong and continuously flowing for each other in this crazy world of ours will help us go on. We won’t forget but we will survive their memories forever! Heroes and angels will forever watch over Sandy Hook Elementary School.

HEARTy Soups And Stews

Author: Chef Florvil King Valdez   |   1 Comment   |   Categories: Healthier Eating • Holidays • Ingredient Review   |   Tags: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Moving to New Jersey from Las Vegas was, in my mind, not going to be such a big transition. I know that weather and overall vibes would definitely change but since I grew up here I didn’t think it would be such a big ordeal. I lived in Vegas since 2006. That’s a whopping seven some-odd years to get accustomed to a certain way of life. Again, I did move to New Jersey in 2009 for at least eight months for work and a life hiatus. (Mind you, I moved back to Vegas because I couldn’t take the weather) Now that I’m rambling on, let me get back to my point. This pre-winter chill is getting me down. Not spiritually or mentally, but physically. I totally fell off my Plantstrong™ diet once I moved out here. The temptations of cuisines and the like that were new and that I haven’t had in a while grew too strong to withstand. I gave in to my stomach and I let my amazing way of life diminish. I was weak!

When the holiday season began, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to jump on right now. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year was coming, I wouldn’t be able to turn away those yummy temptations.

But then, I thought to myself, if I want to get back on it, there’s no time to waste, just do it, JUMP!

The longer I wait the longer the list of excuses I’ll most likely have to continue to stray away. So here I go…I’m JUMPING!

The easiest type of food to make and best tasting are definitely those hearty soups and stews. It takes no time to create these amazing dishes and oh my, does it do a body good. I’m going to be listing a few of my favorite recipes that I’ve came across the past year that I’ve been eating Plantstrong™. With these cold days here  in New Jersey, these dishes make me feel both powered up and toasty on the inside. Definitely cures the common cold! Try one, two, or even all these recipes. Let me know what you think, along with any variations you’ve made to accommodate those foodie taste buds and for the picky children! Enjoy!

Plantstrong™ Recipes:

Engine 2 Mexican-Lime Soup

Variation: I love to add 1 or 2 (depending how much you love legumes) cans of red kidney beans! Makes it a thicker soup plus adds more Vitamin C and Potassium to you meal.

Engine 2 Savory Lentil Soup

Variation: Hot sauce, hot sauce, and more hot sauce! I love  hot sauce, it’s the condiment I have next to water on my dinner table. Add your favorite hot sauce to this dish and it’ll totally make it brighter and more refreshing! Now, just watch out for the sodium content. My favorite is Cholula! Remember the thing with sodium in recipes, think about all components of your meal before adding salt. A lot of condiments and canned products may be packed with sodium. Keep and overall eye on the salt so that it doesn’t overwhelm the dish.

Engine 2 Mushroom Stroganoff

Variation: This is perfect as it is. Thanks, Engine 2 team! For all you gluten-free eaters, just replace the flour and pasta with brown rice flour (add one extra tablespoon) (can be found at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods Market) and Lundberg’s Penne Brown Rice Pasta then you’re all set!

WFM Hearty Greens Soup and Bowtie Pasta and Tomatoes

Variations: First and foremost, to make it Plantstrong™, make sure you eliminate the oil, salt and the cheese. Just cook with a little vegetable broth and you can top it off with some nutritional yeast. If you can’t find escarole or rainbow, green, or red chard, by all means use some kale and spinach (my go-to greens).  This recipe can be a little bland so what I do is just add a teaspoon or two of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos and Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar to make this soup pop with much flavor.

WFM Creamy Curry Cauliflower Soup (My Favorite)

Variations: At the very end, I like to add a bit of cooked red lentils. It makes it a whole other character with that extra addition, trust me! And if you like just just a tad bit, bolder, I like to use a tablespoon and a half of garam masala. It can be found in the spice aisle and Whole Foods Market. This addition makes it your own!

I’M SALIVATING!!

Alright, so there’s the list of amazing soups and stews that will keep you warm through the winter holidays as well as power up your heart, body and soul. This is what I’ll be having this week to come so if you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line. I’m open to comments, questions, and concerns. Leave it here in the comments section or email me at florvilking@servemenow.org!

Thanks and happy healthy eating!

-Chef Flo

 

A Very Vegan Cyber Monday

Author: Chef Florvil King Valdez   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: Healthier Eating • Holidays • Ingredient Review   |   Tags: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

As the rest of the world wakes up, the other half has already started their shopping online on this Cyber Monday 2012. From deals to steals, retailers of all kinds have knocked down their prices for all their online available products from 15-75% off! I’ve seen a few deals that have been going on since Black Friday and found plenty of new “doorbusters” just for today’s shopping frenzy. I’ve already completed my “essential Christmas list,” you know, the godchildren, nieces, and nephews. To me, they’re the most important and the ones that you’ll probably get real slack not giving gifts to. So I made sure I took care of them first. Today will be for me and the specialty gifts!

 

Some may be looking for electronics, some clothing, and most others, toys online. I’m focusing my efforts on the “hard to find” items. Think about it, instead of driving around looking for those specialty gifts (the ones you know you probably won’t find in stores but try anyway and buy yourself something instead) out there in the cold, I just made a fresh cup of coffee, put on my warmest robe, and planted myself in my office in front of the computer to get my hunting on. Even my Pandora app is promoting Cyber Monday deals on its commercials. (No, I won’t get the No Ads App…unless there’s a sale) That’s what makes today the success it is, you don’t have to trudge around in that nasty cold weather with all those unpleasant fellow shoppers. I know some may say that’s what make holiday shopping…fun?!?! I say, “Not my cup of tea!”

Personally, I am on the search for Vegan-friendly products. I woke up this morning and got my daily Vegan Cuts email with all their online deals! LOVE IT! I think I found what I was looking for right away. They had this amazing Vegan Snack Gift Basket with all these different delectable treats to enjoy by yourself or share with your meat-eating friends. Hopefully, they won’t fall in love with them too much! Here’s the Holiday Gift Package that they have on sale for ONLY $39!

Well, plus a $5.95 shipping fee but come on, you didn’t leave your house to purchase this. Fork it over and call it a day.

My favorite item in this package is the Holy Kakow chocolate syrup. I can cook with it along with topping my desserts and making hot chocolate with it. I’m too excited!

So if anyone out there is looking for that one gift for their vegan friend or a fellow foodie, I suggest this amazing syrup. It’s the most versatile vegan syrup I’ve ever found and enjoyed. Made from organic and raw ingredients, this item is dairy, gluten, and soy free along without using refined sugars. If anything the best chocolate syrup for you out there. Trust me, this thing rocks! Once I get mine in, I’ll post some amazing recipes using this syrup along with other ingredients I’ve found on Vegan Cuts and online. Please do the same!

Happy Cyber Monday and Happy Holidays!

 

Black Friday, Cyber Monday…NOW Small Business Saturday

Author: admin   |   0 Comments   |   Categories: General Posts • Holidays   |   Tags: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

As someone working hard to get their own small business off the ground here in New Jersey, I know how good it feels when patrons knock on my door. Along with this year’s holiday sales and doorbusters, Black Friday for retailers and Cyber Monday for online shoppers, small businesses have their own special day for an economic boost. Launched by American Express through their social media outlets in 2011, Small Business Saturday falls directly between the two major money-saving holiday shopping days. Growing the economy starts somewhere and for the most part we do patronize small businesses more often than we think. I’m sure that we know of and support these “mom-and-pops” as well as everyday Americans that own and work for them.

Here are a few Small Business Facts: (as of 2011)

-There are 28 million small businesses in America

-70% of small businesses are operated by one person

-Immigrants make up 12.5% of small business owners nationwide

-Small businesses pay 44% of U.S. payroll

-60%-80% of all new jobs come from small businesses <– My favorite fact!

Check out this amazing article linked above to learn a little more about how much small businesses make up the America we know of today. They also have great resources for small business owners, current and future.

In my opinion, the foodservice industry makes up a good percentage, if not, the majority of the small businesses out there. This summer, I was able to meet a few up-and-coming small businesses in the food service industry at a weekly local food fair in Brooklyn, NY called Smorgasburg. I got to see what they were all about; their passion, their creativity, and more importantly, their delicious, love-filled food. These amazing entrepreneurs originated from immigrants and college drop outs to blue collar workers and “reformed corporate suits.”

They came from all walks of life, all with the hopes to pursue personal goals and achieve childhood dreams…to do what they’re really passionate about.

They are powered by such a simple, innate emotion that are most often, if not, always lost as age climbs and responsibilities pile up.

A few popular SMORGASBURGers and small businesses:

–Alchemy Creamery @thealcreamist …Thee BEST vegan ice cream IN THE WORLD! I said it here, let it be known! Say “Hi!” to Giuseppe for me!

–Anarchy In a Jar …They make my favorite Strawberry Balsamic Jam!

–Asia Dog …Read about them here on their own blog!

–Bombay Sandwich Co. @BombaySandwich …These folks create a vegan, mostly plant-strong (my fav) menu that tantalizes your taste buds!

–Lumpia Shack @LumpiaShack …A group of fellow Filipino-Americans who took a staple from their cuisine and mainstreamed the heck out of them!

–Mrs. Kim’s Kimchi @MrsKimsKimchi …their product is as homemade as it gets!

–Saucy By Nature @saucybynature

–Uttapam & Co. …a true local farmers’ friend!

Please tell them Chef Flo (King) sent you from Serve M.E. Now!

Now if you are like me and most of my friends and family, you probably already support these businesses on a daily basis.

What I’m trying to move on is that we need to spread this “PATRIOTnizing” to our fellow consumers in order to keep these job-making, economy boosting, and local-loving American entrepreneurs afloat.

Just like we read from the Business Insider this is exactly what grows America’s economy. In the wake of our current election centered around “job creation” and “economic slumps,” supporting our neighbors, friends, and families through this season of shopping makes for a true happy holiday. Go online, walk to the corner store, or line up at a local food truck for a bite to eat with your coworkers, today and everyday.  What’s even better is that they may offer some new and exciting product or services that you can’t get at your everyday retailer and/or chain. Let this holiday season be a time of unique and special gift giving to the ones you love. You’ll not only be named the “Gift-Giver of the Year” but I’m sure you’ll make it on the “Best Customer” list as well!

Now go out there and shop local…shop small!

-Chef Flo

 

Here are a few resources for you up-and-coming small businesses out there. I found them extremely informative and appreciatively helpful!

U.S. Small Business Administration

Free Small Business Advice from Score

Goldman Sachs Helps the Small Business