Monthly Archives: December 2014

5 Reasons to Follow a Mediterranean Diet in 2015

Mediterranian Diet

Is eating healthier part of your plan for the New Year? Why not consider following a Mediterranean diet? Combined with physical activity, the Mediterranean diet could improve not only your health, but your overall quality of life!

A traditional Mediterranean diet consists of large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish, whole grains, legumes, olive oil, and less red meat and dairy. Replace processed foods and refined sugars and flour with natural ingredients, and your body and taste buds will thank you.  Click here to see some of our wholesome Mediterranean recipes.

Here are 5 more reasons to consider switching!

1. More and more studies are linking the Mediterranean diet with disease prevention.
Numerous studies have linked the Mediterranean diet to reduced heart disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and other conditions. Refined breads, processed foods, and red meat are discouraged in a Mediterranean diet, and it encourages drinking red wine instead of hard liquor, which have all been linked to heart disease and stroke prevention.

2. It’s Budget Friendly.
Not only is this way of eating good for your health, it’s good for your wallet too! If you stick with meals that emphasize vegetables, whole grains and legumes, you may discover that the Mediterranean diet to be less expensive than serving dishes with larger portions of meat, cheese, and processed foods.

3. It’s not just what you eat, HOW you eat your meals could make you healthier and reduce stress.
Though food choices play a large factor, you might enjoy adjusting your habits to reflect the Mediterranean lifestyle. Rather than rushing through your meals or eating in front of a television (or even worse, a car!); sit down for a relaxed, leisurely meal with others. It could be as important for your health as what’s on your plate.

4. Fewer cravings = weight loss.
A Mediterranean diet is rich in fiber, which makes you feel fuller longer by slowing down digestion. A fiber rich diet has also been shown to prevent huge swings in blood sugar, which can curb your appetite and reduce cravings for sweets and other processed foods.

5. It could help you age gracefully.
The nutrients and high levels of antioxidants associated with a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of developing muscle weakness and other signs of frailty. Researchers speculate that the Mediterranean diet may improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels and overall blood vessel health. When there is a reduction in developing heart disease or cancer, as in the case when you follow a Mediterranean diet, there is a 20% reduced risk of death at any age.

bell-pepper-harvest

Mediterranean products that have been enjoyed for generations are now available in an all-natural line. We, at Jeff’s Naturals,  are passionate about healthy eating and are pleased to offer a line of Mediterranean products that are free of preservatives, stablilizers, artificial colors, flavors and sulfites.  Click here to learn more about our 100% natural line of olives, peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, capers and more!

Article Sources:
www.hsph.harvard.edu
www.helpguide.org/life

photo credit: flippinyank via photopin cc

Five Savory Holiday Cocktail Recipes

Fabulous Jeff’s Naturals Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy for the Holidays!

Cheese Stuffed Olives Martini

The holidays are a time for festivity, fun, and yes, libations!  We’re not saying everyone should consume adult beverages this holiday season, but if you do, drink responsibly and use only the best olives and garnishes.  These simple cocktail recipes and tips will go a long way to make your spirits bright. Playing bartender has never been easier!

Tips for Tasty Cocktails-

  • Always save your olive juice to “dirty” your Bloody Mary or cocktail.

Savory Martini

Peperontini

Recipes for Tasty Holiday Cocktails-

1. Spice-it-up Jalapeño Martini

3 oz. vodka
2 oz. Juice from jar of Jeff’s Naturals Sliced Tamed Jalapeños
Splash of dry vermouth
2-3 Jalapeño Stuffed Olives for garnish

Prep:
Pour liquor and jalapeño juice into a martini shaker with ice. Shake at least 30 seconds and pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with Jalapeño Stuffed Olives and enjoy!

2. All Natural Castelvetrano ‘tini

2 oz. dry gin or vodka
1 oz. dry vermouth
Ice
Jeff’s Naturals Castelvetrano Olives

Prep:
Place a cocktail glass in the freezer to chill. Combine the gin or vodka and vermouth in a shaker, fill halfway with ice, and stir or shake vigorously until well chilled, about 20 seconds. Strain into the chilled glass and garnish with castelvetrano olives

3. Jeff’s Savory Martini

3 sprigs rosemary (one inch in length)
3 Tbl. vermouth (or use juice of any Jeff’s Naturals Castelvetrano or Garlic Stuffed Olives)
5 oz. vodka or gin
Jeff’s Naturals Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives (for garnish)

Prep
Chill martini glasses in freezer for 15 minutes. Add one rosemary sprig to cocktail shaker and muddle to release oils. Add ice to shaker. Pour in vermouth and vodka or gin. Shake vigorously. Remove reserved rosemary leaves from the base of each sprig and thread with an olive or two. Remove glasses from freezer. Pour martini into glasses through a fine strainer, (this will insure no rosemary bits end up in the cocktail). Garnish with rosemary sprig and olives.

4. The Greek Peperontini

3 oz. gin (or vodka)
2 oz. Jeff’s Naturals Golden Greek Peperoncini brine
Splash of dry vermouth
Whole Golden Greek Peperoncini for garnish

Prep:
Pour liquor and peperoncini brine into a martini shaker with ice. Shake at least 30 seconds and pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a peperoncini or two and enjoy!

5.Jeff’s Naturals Bloody Mary

4 oz. Bloody Mary mix
1-½ oz. Vodka
Splash of your favorite hot sauce
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
Splash of brine from Jeff’s Naturals Olives or Peppers
Ice for serving
Assorted Jeff’s Naturals Peppers and Olives for garnish
1 celery stalk

Prep:
Stir Bloody Mary mix and Vodka together. Add a dash of hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and a splash of Jeff’s Naturals Olive or Pepper brine. Pour over ice in a highball glass. Garnish with your favorite Jeff’s Naturals Peppers and Olives. Finish with a stalk of celery.

Rules for T-Shirt Tuesday

Official Rules for Jeff’s Naturals T-Shirt Tuesday Promotion

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING A PRIZE. ODDS OF WINNING WILL DEPEND ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTRIES RECEIVED. VOID IN PUERTO-RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. BY ENTERING THE PROMOTION, YOU, (“PARTICIPANT”) AGREE TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES, WHICH FORM A CONTRACT. WITHOUT LIMITATION, THIS CONTRACT INCLUDES INDEMNITY OBLIGATIONS ON THE PART OF PARTICIPANT AND A LIMITATION OF PARTICIPANT’S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.

1. ELIGIBILITY: Jeff’s Naturals T-Shirt Tuesday (the “Promotion”) is open only to legal adult residents of the 50 United States and D.C., who are at least the legal age of majority in the state in which they reside (19 in NE and AL, 21 in MS and 18 in all other states) as of the date of entry. Employees of Jeff’s Naturals (hereinafter “Sponsor/Administrator”) and its parent and affiliate companies, as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such household are not eligible. Participation constitutes Participant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsor’s/Administrator’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Promotion. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. 2.

PROMOTION PERIOD: The Promotion begins on or about 12:00 PM PDT October 30, 2015 and ends at 11:59 PM PDT on January 30, 2015 (“Promotional Period”). Administrator’s computer is the official time-keeping device for the Sweepstakes.

3. HOW TO ENTER:.
VIA NEWSLETTER:
Sign up for the Jeff’s Naturals Newsletter by visiting http://bit.ly/1USQbmm.
Instructions on how to enter will be included in each monthly Newsletter.

VIA FACEBOOK:
If you are not already a member of Facebook, you can create an account at www.facebook.com; creating an account is free. Once you have a Facebook account, go to facebook.com/JeffsNaturals

There will be one (1) entry per household, per address. Multiple Participants are not permitted to share the same Facebook profile. Any attempt by any Participant to obtain more than the stated number of orders by using multiple/different profiles, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods will void that Participant’s entry and that Participant may be disqualified. Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification. In the event of a dispute as to any registration, the authorized account holder of the Facebook profile used to register will be deemed to be the Participant. The authorized account holder is the natural person assigned an email address connected with the Facebook profile by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. Each potential recipient may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder.

4. PRIZE DETAILS: Prizes will vary week to week and will include a Jeff’s Naturals T-Shirt, coupons and other prizes as they are available. Estimated value of each prize is less than $499. Prizes are not exchangeable or transferable; no prize substitutions or alternatives allowed except as provided herein. Sponsor may substitute a prize of equal or greater value if advertised prize becomes unavailable. All prizes will be awarded provided a sufficient number of qualified entries are received. Limit of one (1) Jeff’s Naturals prize may be won per person, per e-mail address or household address per calendar year. Return of any prize or prize notification as undeliverable will result in forfeiture of prize and selection of an alternate winner. Failure to comply with any requirement of the Contest rules may result in forfeiture of prize and selection of an alternate winner. Potential winners will be randomly selected via automated or mechanical process. Prizes are non-transferable and no substitution will be made except as provided herein at the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize for one of equal or greater value if the designated prize should become unavailable for any reason. Winner will be notified within 15 days of the drawing via U.S. mail or email at the email address provided at the time of entry by Participant. Potential winners will be required to provide sufficient information to establish eligibility in the Promotion and may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility and a liability release. If Administrator is unable to contact potential winner within a reasonable time period, prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable or potential winner is not in compliance with these Official Rules, any potential prize will be forfeited. Potential winners must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by randomly drawing an alternate potential winner from among all remaining eligible entries. Prizes will be fulfilled approximately 3 to 6 weeks after the conclusion of the Promotion and verification of a potential winner’s eligibility.

5. FACEBOOK DISCLAIMER: This Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. By participating, you hereby release Facebook from any claim, allegation, loss or liability of any kind. All entry information will be held and used in accordance with the Official Rules and the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy.

6. RELEASE: By entering the Giveaway, Participant does hereby release, indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor, Administrator, Facebook and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies, and prize suppliers, and each of their respective parent companies and each such company’s officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in the Giveaway or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. Entry into this Giveaway and acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Sponsor to use a winner’s first name and first initial of last name and state of residence, for advertising/trade and all other purposes, in any and all media, and all media now or hereafter known worldwide, including the Internet and social networking sites, without further compensation, notification or permission, unless prohibited by law.

7. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Participants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Sweepstakes; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Sweepstakes or the processing of orders; (5) late, lost, undeliverable, damaged or stolen mail; or (6) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Participant’s participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded.

8. PUBLICITY: Except where prohibited, participation in the Promotion constitutes Participant’s consent to Sponsor and its subsidiaries, affiliates and agents’ use of Participant’s name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions and/or hometown and state for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration.

9. GENERAL CONDITIONS: Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Sweepstakes, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond its reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Sweepstakes, as determined by Administrator in its sole discretion. Sponsor, in conjunction with Administrator, reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used to construe the terms of this Agreement.

10. DISPUTES: Except where prohibited, Participant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively in the Superior Court of California; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Sweepstakes, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will Participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and Participant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the Participant and Sponsor or Administrator in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether the State of California or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California. Further, any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Sweepstakes, or any prize awarded, will be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action.

11. WINNERS’ LIST: To receive a list of winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Jeff’s Naturals Sweepstakes American Canyon, CA 94503

12. OFFICIAL RULES: To receive a copy of the Official Rules, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Jeff’s Naturals Sweepstakes American Canyon, CA 94503

13. SPONSOR/ADMINISTRATOR: Jeff’s Naturals 105 Mezzetta Court American Canyon, CA 94503 Telephone: (707) 266-7444 Email: consumerinfo@jeffsnaturals.com

14. NOT AFFILIATES: Any names or marks of third party products used in association with this Sweepstakes are the property of their respective owner. Third party trademark owners do not endorse, sponsor and are not otherwise affiliated with this Sweepstakes.

Holiday Entertaining Made Simple with Jeff’s Naturals Organic Sun Ripened Tomatoes

Make Your Holiday Appetizers Meals Even Better with our ideas!
Make your holiday appetizers & meals even better with our ideas!

It may be winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the sweet flavor of a sun drenched California ripe tomato! How is this possible? Jeff’s Naturals Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes!

Our organic tomatoes are locally grown and dried whole under the California sun, then diced and packed with fresh herbs and olive oil. Their soft velvety texture and deep rich flavor makes them ideal for holiday appetizers, side dishes, salads, sandwiches, pizza and pasta and more!

Got a full house for the holidays? Keep them happy with these tasty serving ideas:

JN_Sun_Ripened_Mozarella_Garlic_Bread

JN_sundried_tomato_crescent_rolls

Make Yummy Breakfast or Holiday Brunch

Make Amazing Appetizers

Make Fabulous Main Dishes for Hungry House Guests

photo credit: CieraHolzenthal via photopin cc