Chef Bob

Just because “gourmet” isn’t part of the Super Bowl Sunday menu, it doesn’t mean that you have to stick to squeeze cheese and nachos. I’m not advocating crustless cucumber and watercress sandwiches. As a matter of fact, this is one day that I condone breaking out the deep fat fryer. Instead of buying flavorless frozen jalapeno poppers, try seeding your own jalapenos and stuffing them with Beehive Promontory cheddar and freshly ground peanut butter. Dipping them in egg and corn flour and frying them at 350 degrees for 3 minutes will make you realize what you’ve been missing on your palate — FLAVOR!

I also like to stuff corn tortillas with raw ground turkey, toothpick them shut, and fry them for 4 minutes. Remove the tooth picks, break them open, and fill them generously with Harmons fresh salsa and guacamole. You just may find that you’ll never visit the chihuahua at that taco place again.

To utilize your BBQ grill if the weather permits, buy some of Bob’s Garlic Chicken Brats, a couple of Artisan baguettes, and some bell peppers and onions. Saute the peppers and onions while you’re grilling the brats. Add some hot sauce, lime juice, and fresh herbs to the vegetables and build sandwiches with these great ingredients. Cut the filled baguettes in 2” pieces
and serve them as sliders!

If you would like exact recipes and other game time food ideas, contact me at the cooking school and I will be happy to give you some fresh ideas.

Harmons Cooking School @ Bangerter Crossing
Feb 5, 6:30pm
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Jason, Artisan Baker

Wheat Grain – A seed which can grow into a new wheat plant, and is also the part of the wheat plant which is processed into flour. The wheat kernel is divided into several different parts; bran, germ and endosperm.

Bran – The outer coating or “shell” of the wheat kernel. It is made up of several different layers, the epidermis, hypodermis, crosscells, tube cells, seed coat, nuclear tissue and aleurone cell. Bran is 14% of the kernel.
Germ – Grows into a new plant if sown. The germ lies at one end of the kernel. It is rich in B and E vitamins as well as natural plant fat, which is removed in the milling process because it is liable to become rancid during flour storage. Germ is 2.5% of the kernel.
Endosperm – The main part of the kernel. It’s the part that white flour is milled. It is also rich in energy providing carbohydrates and important protein. Endosperm is 83.5% of the kernel.

I could go on about WHEAT and different kinds of flour, but I think I will save that for another day.

Phil, Pharmacy Manager

Acetaminophen is found in many prescriptions and over the counter medications.  It also can be abbreviated as APAP on many prescription labels.  Pharmacists are always counseling patients to avoid additional acetaminophen products while they are on certain medications because too much acetaminophen can cause liver failure and even death.  This most often happens when patients are taking two medications with acetaminophen or drink alcohol while taking acetaminophen.  Most people don’t know acetaminophen is found in more than just Tylenol products.  It is found in many over the counter cough and cold medications too.  The Food and Drug Administration recently has asked manufactures of prescription pain medications with acetaminophen to limit the amount per tablet of acetaminophen to 325 mg.  This will happen over the next 3 years.  They have also strengthened the warning of severe liver injury by putting a black box warning in the prescription package insert.  Please pay attention to acetaminophen in medications and don’t exceed the recommended dose.  This is also very important for parents giving acetaminophen to their children.

Harmons Cooking School @ Bangerter Crossing
Jan 29, 6:30pm
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Harmons Cooking School @ Bangerter Crossing
Jan 28, 6:30pm
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Derick, Produce Manager

Organically grown refers to the method in which foods are grown.  Organic growers rely on using biological diversity in the fields to minimize conditions in which pests can thrive, and carefully managing their soil to promote fertility.  The use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers is prohibited.  To sell your product as organic, growers must follow uniform standards set by The National Organic Program and be certified by private or state run organizations accredited by the USDA. Currently retailers that sell organic produce are not required to be certified, however our Bangerter Crossing store is a Certified Organic Retailer for produce. We take great care at all our stores to insure that the integrity of our organic produce is not compromised.  Come see and                                   taste the huge selection of quality organic produce at all our locations!

Carrie, Green Team Member

Chances are you or someone in your household received a fun new fancy electronic device as a holiday gift. If your new phone, computer or gaming system replaces an old version, or you have unused electronics sitting around the house, don’t just thorough them in the trash. There are many hard metals and toxins in today’s electronics that can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly. Instead of throwing old gadgets in the garbage, consider ways to reuse, donate or recycle your items. Safely disposing of your old electronics does take effort, but is easier than you may think.

There are many reputable organizations that accept donations of functioning gadgets to be safely refurbished and reused by charities, schools and public agencies. There are a number of cell phone recyclers you can mail your phone to for free or locate a local dropoff, and others who offer buy back programs. For most electronics you can also check with the manufacturer to see if they offer a free take back program. Nearly every local landfill offers free, or low cost, household hazardous waste disposal, which electronics fall under. If you can’t make it to your landfill, keep an eye out for community electronic collection events.

For more information on electronic recycling, check out the following web sites:
Recycling Coalition of Utah – utahrecycles.org/electronicwaste.php
Electronics Takeback Coalition – www.electronicstakeback.com/how-to-recycle-electronics/
Salt Lake County Recycling – www.recycle.slco.org/items/electronEquip.html

Dave, Gluten Free Advisor

It’s a New Year again, which means that it is time for New Year’s resolutions. If you have to eat gluten free you can easily make your resolution to shop smart, and save money regardless of what your diet entails.

Since I have been on the diet, I have found that the hardest thing about shopping for my family is that gluten free products tend to be several times more expensive than their non-gluten free counter parts. There are, however, some ways that you can reduce the sting at the checkout line.

1.   Always plan your menu prior to going to the grocery store. This helps you stay on budget, and keeps you from buying junk, that you may at the time want but not necessarily need.
2.  Do your research. You can often find a national brand product that is gluten free even if it doesn’t state it on the label. Harmons does have several hundred items throughout the store that are tagged gluten free.
3.  Never go to the grocery store hungry. This keeps you from going overboard and buying everything that looks good to you at that moment.
4.  Plan your treats into your shopping list. Let’s be honest, we can all say that we are going to eat healthy all the time, but if you are anything like me then you probably have somewhat of a sweet tooth and are going to buy at least some junk food. I have found the best way to minimize the amount that I buy is to plan ahead so I know exactly what I am going to come home with.

If you need help finding out what national brand products are gluten free you can visit http://www.glutenfreeinfo.com/Diet/S-FoodList.htm

Chef Bob

One of the most common questions asked of me as a chef is, “ What is your favorite food? ” Well, being a chef and having a great passion for many different foods, this is a hard question to answer. I love good  pizza, occasionally. Sushi almost always fits the bill for me. But then again, what about a fat Porterhouse steak cooked to perfection? Does anything beat a refreshing salad heaping with garden fresh organic fruits and vegetables during their peak?

On a consistent basis, I would have to say that my favorite flavor combinations come from the Middle and Far East. CURRY! It doesn’t matter where it’s from. East India, China, Thailand, Afrfica, or even the versions from the Carribean. I love this hot and aromatic combination of herbs and spices. Curry is of course the English word for the dried spice mixture that is used in East Indian cooking and is full of turmeric to make it yellow. Garam Masala is the term that the East Indians use for what the English originally coined from the Tamil word “cury”. You will rarely hear a self respecting member of that country use “that” word.

As a general rule, curry refers to a mixture of spices that can either be dried as from India, or fresh as from Thailand, to flavor stews created from indigenous ingredients. The many different herbs and spices in curries and garam masalas are usually mixed to suit the flavors of the other ingredients being used.

No matter which style of curry you enjoy, enjoy it often. If you have yet to discover the Curries of the World, I encourage you to take the class by that name at the Harmons Bangerter Crossing store. It will be sure to spice up your meals in a way that maybe you haven’t imagined.