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Food and Beverage

Grilling Beef-Alternative Burgers: Safety Tips

Grill beef-alternative burgers safely by following cooking temperature guidelines and avoiding cross-contamination.

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Memorial Day weekend is a time for grilling, and many Americans opt for beef alternative burgers. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the same cooking requirements for beef burgers won’t necessarily apply to black bean or other plant-based burgers.

Melissa Wright, director of the Food Producer Technical Assistance Program at Virginia Tech, recommends cooking beef burgers to an internal temperature of 160°F, while alternative burgers have different cooking temperatures.

Credit: Virginia Tech
Melissa Wright, director of the Food Producer Technical Assistance Program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Food Science and Technology at Virginia Tech
« Expert offers safety tips for grilling beef-alternative burgers on Memorial Day

“There are many alternative burger options, and knowing the correct internal temperature for each type is the best way to make sure your long weekend isn’t ruined by foodborne illness,” Wright said.

Wright’s recommended appropriate cooking temperatures for popular burger options include:

●      Ground chicken or turkey – 165°F (74°C)

●      ImpossibleTM burgers (soy protein) – 160°F (71°C), according to product packaging

●      Beyond® burgers (pea protein) – 165°F (74°C), according to product packaging

●      Morningstar Farms® burgers (chickpea protein) – 165°F (74°C), according to product packaging

●      Black bean burgers – 165°F (74°C)

●      Ground salmon – 145°F (63°C)

●      Ground bison – 160°F (71°C)

●      Ground elk – 145°F (63°C)

“Food continues to cook after being removed from the heat source, so it’s alright to remove your burger from the grill and check its internal temperature after a couple of minutes to avoid overcooking,” said Wright.

Adobe Stock.

It’s important to avoid cross-contamination between raw proteins and ready-to-eat foods, and uncooked plant-based burgers should be included in this category when prepping to grill.

Additionally, beef-alternative meats are much leaner than beef, making it easy to overcook them if you’re used to grilling beef. Checking the internal temperature after removing the burger from the grill for a couple of minutes can help avoid overcooking.

Further reading:

https://www.newswise.com/articles/expert-offers-safety-tips-for-grilling-beef-alternative-burgers-on-memorial-day

More recipes: https://q5i.09c.myftpupload.com/category/food-and-beverage/recipes/

Rod: A creative force, blending words, images, and flavors. Blogger, writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Cooking enthusiast with a sci-fi vision. Passionate about his upcoming series and dedicated to TNC Network. Partnered with Rebecca Washington for a shared journey of love and art.

Food and Beverage

Coffee Mate and Dr Pepper Join Forces to Spark a Fizzy Sensation: The Rise of Dirty Soda

“Experience the fusion of flavors with Coffee mate Dirty Soda Coconut Lime Creamer and Dr Pepper—creating a crisp, creamy treat like no other!”

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In the ever-evolving landscape of culinary experimentation, some combinations defy convention and spark a sensation. Enter the latest viral trend: Dirty Soda. Originating from the depths of internet creativity, this fizzy concoction has soda enthusiasts across the nation reaching for unexpected ingredients to jazz up their favorite carbonated beverages.

Southern Living recently shared an intriguing story that caught the attention of many—a collaboration between Coffee mate and Texas’ beloved soft drink, Dr Pepper, to create an unconventional yet tantalizing sipper: Coffee mate Dirty Soda Coconut Lime Flavored Creamer.


The Dirty Soda trend, known for its fusion of carbonated soda with a splash of creamer, flavored syrups, and occasionally fruity additions, has gained momentum, captivating soda drinkers with its unique blend of flavors. Even iconic establishments like SONIC have embraced the trend, offering customers the chance to elevate their favorite beverages with a coconut-lime-cream combination.

Now, with Coffee mate and Dr Pepper joining forces, enthusiasts can replicate this inventive concoction in the comfort of their homes. The Coffee mate Dirty Soda Coconut Lime Flavored Creamer infuses the refreshing notes of coconut and zesty lime, ready to be poured over a glass of Dr Pepper on ice—truly a marriage of unexpected flavors.

At first glance, the idea of combining coffee creamer with soda might seem unconventional. However, the growing popularity of the Dirty Soda trend speaks volumes about its appeal. With hundreds of millions of fans worldwide, this crisp and creamy treat has captured the hearts and taste buds of adventurous beverage enthusiasts.

Leonardo Aizpuru, Nestlé Vice President of Brand Marketing for the Beverage Division and Business Unit, encapsulated the spirit of this collaboration by stating, “Coffee mate is embracing exploration for any time of day. We are excited to collaborate with Dr Pepper, merging the worlds of coffee creamer and soda, making it easy to create the viral Dirty Soda trend that’s taken the world by storm.”

In essence, the Coffee mate and Dr Pepper partnership symbolizes the spirit of culinary innovation and experimentation. As enthusiasts continue to push the boundaries of flavor combinations, one thing is certain: the Dirty Soda trend is here to stay, captivating taste buds and sparking creativity one fizzy sip at a time.

Source: Southern Living

https://www.southernliving.com/dr-pepper-coffee-mate-dirty-soda-8603967

Follow the link for more Food and Beverage News: https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage/

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Food and Beverage

Indulge Taste Buds with Better-for-You Snacks

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(Family Features) The foundation of healthy eating may include nutritious breakfasts, lunches and dinners, but just as important are the snacks in-between meals. Regardless of when or where you snack, encourage better-for-you eating habits with nutritious nibbles to power through your day.

According to an online survey conducted among 1,000 Americans ages 18 and older across the U.S. by Wakefield Research on behalf of the American Pecan Promotion Board, Americans love snacks, and reach for them an average of three times a day.

However, where and when those snacks are eaten can vary from on the move to on the couch, from sunrise to after bedtime. Nearly a third (30%) of respondents are munching on snacks while in bed, calling it their favorite snacking spot. However, only 35% of their snack choices are considered healthy.

Fueling busy days can be easy with an option like pecans. According to the survey, 66% of snackers enjoy pecans on their own with 58% eating them as part of a trail mix. If you’re among the 50% who reach for a snack in the late afternoon, you can turn to nutritious, satisfying solutions to indulge afternoon cravings without the guilt. With pleasing crunch, comforting creaminess and a satisfying chew, pecans are the “no sacrifice” nut that can punch up your routine with both delicious taste and plant-based nutrition.

Just a handful of pecans – about 19 halves – provides a good source of fiber, thiamin and zinc and an excellent source of copper and manganese, a mineral that’s essential for metabolism and bone health. They also provide a mix of protein and good fats – 18 grams of unsaturated fat, including oleic acid, and only 2 grams of unsaturated fat – to help keep you full and energized throughout the day.

As an added bonus, their versatility and easy-to-pair profile makes them a perfect ingredient in recipes you can prepare in a cinch. For bite-sized treats that are packed with flavor and perfect for snack time, these Pecan Chickpea Cookie Dough Bites swap out flour and sugar in favor of blended pecans, chickpeas, vanilla extract, cinnamon and sea salt with dark chocolate chips folded in for a sweet finishing touch.

Or you can simply toss warm pecans with olive oil and sea salt in this Roasted Pecans recipe for a grab-and-go snack that can be prepared in advance without worrying about spoiling. Another benefit of pecans: They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 9 months or frozen up to 2 years, giving them a longer shelf life than many pantry favorites. Plus, they can be thawed and refrozen without losing flavor or texture.

To find more surprisingly delicious nutritional facts or recipe inspiration, visit EatPecans.com.

Pecan Chickpea Cookie Dough Bites

Recipe courtesy of Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, on behalf of the American Pecan Promotion Board
Prep time: 10 minutes
Servings: 24

  • 1 cup raw pecan pieces
  • 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  1. In blender or food processor, blend pecan pieces, chickpeas, vanilla extract, cinnamon and sea salt 3-5 minutes, scraping down sides occasionally, until smooth and creamy.
  2. Fold in dark chocolate chips.
  3. Form into 24 cookie dough balls. Eat as-is; no baking required.

Note: Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator 5 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Roasted Pecans

Recipe courtesy of the American Pecan Promotion Board
Prep time: 40 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8

  • 2 1/4 cups raw pecan halves
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil or pecan oil
  • 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
  1. Preheat oven to 300 F.
  2. Place pecans on baking sheet and bake 15 minutes.
  3. In heat-proof bowl, toss warm pecans with olive oil and sea salt, crushing larger salt grains with fingers while sprinkling.
  4. Return pecans to baking sheet in single layer and bake 20 minutes, or until slightly browned and dry. Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet.

Note: Store pecans in airtight container in refrigerator up to 9 months or freeze up to 2 years. Pecans can be thawed and frozen repeatedly without loss of flavor or texture.


SOURCE:
American Pecan Promotion Board

https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage/

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Lifestyle

Empower Yourself with Nutrition Know-How

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leading by example and modeling healthy eating habits to help improve overall nutrition

(Family Features) Eating a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and proteins is a crucial first step toward a healthy life.

Even with hectic schedules and convenience foods readily available, it’s important to incorporate habits like regular family meals and meal planning so you have a variety of better-for-you snacks and recipes on hand. Also important is leading by example and modeling healthy eating habits to help improve overall nutrition for you and your family members, especially children.

If you are looking for ways to make nutrition fun, the experts at Healthy Family Project, along with its fruit and vegetable partners, are offering an online nutrition resource center as part of Mission for Nutrition 2024.

Geared toward dietitians, nutrition professionals and anyone involved in nutrition education, the resource center is a one-stop shop to make nutrition education fun and inspiring, featuring more than 600 dietitian-approved recipes; tips to pick, prepare and store more than 50 fruits and vegetables during every season; a podcast, e-cookbook and monthly newsletter; and free downloadables, infographics, activities for kids and more.

Dietitians and nutrition professionals can sign up to receive this year’s Mission for Nutrition kit, which is full of resources to use in classrooms, in-store with customers or wherever they’re supporting nutrition education. Available by request only, the kit includes a roll of “I’m a Healthy Eater” stickers, seasonal counter cards, mini magazines, demo ideas, a Healthy Family Project spatula and additional resources and information from produce partners.

As part of the mission, the partner brands are making a donation to improve access to fresh produce in schools through the Foundation for Fresh Produce.

To find more resources, tips and recipes to encourage proper nutrition, visit HealthyFamilyProject.com.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock


SOURCE:
Healthy Family Project

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