Sunday, November 18, 2007

Boiling Plastic

Question of the Month:
“Is it safe to boil the plastic bags?”…
We occasionally get asked this question, and it’s a prudent one given concerns about all products on grocery shelves nowadays. What we can tell you, is that the plastic bags we use are Government approved and are considered safe for freezing and boiling. When water is boiled, it brings the temperature up to approximately 212F, which is hot to you and I, but not hot enough to break down the plastic. Another way to look at it - are boiled fresh vegetables, potatoes and chicken breast in red pepper sauce better for us then a cheese burger, fries and a large soda?... or pizza and wings? That depends on your belief. I do know that on average, the chicken, potatoes and fresh vegetables will cost you only about 2 bucks more then the latter. (not bad for a Toonie eh). One thing is for sure, if any new information becomes available to about boiling / freezing plastic, I will pass it along.

Keep on Cooking

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Wine & Just Jeff's

Most of you know by now that Just Jeff's food is a tasty and convenient way to enjoy supper, without all the work involved in preparing a well balanced meal.

It got me to thinking about how to make your dinner more complete, by pairing Just Jeff's food with wine. After all, if you've been lucky enough to have an outstanding dinner that is perfectly paired with a nice bottle of wine, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

There are a lot of aspects to consider when deciding what wine to enjoy with your meal, from the wine's acidity, to matching the body, or heft of the wine with what you are eating. The old rules of only red wine with red meat, and white wine with seafood are a thing of the past, as many wines today are incredibly versatile and can be matched with what used to be considered unorthodox pairings. For instance, Creekside's Sauvignon Blanc is superbly matched with the Veal Scallopini Tomato Pesto - the acidity in the wine compliments the acidity in the tomato sauce, and the body of the veal integrates well with the body of the Sauvignon Blanc. Conversely, Jackson Triggs Delaine Vineyard Pinot Noir is nicely matched with the Shrimp and Scallop Fettucini - the Pinot's flavor doesn't overpower the seafood, and the slight sweetness of the blush sauce is a nice contrast to the soft tannins in this particular wine.

The most important aspect in all of this, is to drink and eat what you enjoy, and that you take the time to experiment - after all, it is your palate and your tastes that are paramount. Besides, think of all the investigative work you'll have to do to find what works best for your tastes!

I'd be interested to know if you have enjoyed a particular pairing with Just Jeff's food, or if you would like more suggested matches or any general questions you may have. In the interim, I'm going to do some more investigative wine journalism, and report back in the next couple of weeks. Yeah, I know it'll be tough, but somehow I'll get through it :)

Prost!