We are packing our bags and headed to Anaheim CA for Natural Products Expo West March 7-9, 2014! The event is the world’s largest tradeshow for the natural products industry and will bring together 60,000+ members of the natural products community inside the Anaheim Convention Center!
This year, we are taking things up a notch and will be joining Lakewood Juice to host a yummy Bloody Mary Bar on Saturday, March 8th from noon to 2PM at Booth #2997 in Hall C !
Our executive chef, Natalie, will also be serving a delightful appetizer made with our BRAND NEW Diced Tamed Jalapeno Peppers (you’ll be among the first to try them)! So, if you are planning on attending this exciting convention, be sure to stop by Booth #2997 in Hall C to say hello.
If you can’t make it this year, don’t worry. We have provided our secret recipe (not a secret anymore!) for a “dern good Bloody Mary” so you can taste for yourself!! Enjoy!
It’s not always easy to come up with a dinner plan that accommodates a group of family or friends, especially if some of them have certain food allergies and/or restrictions. This why a “Make Your Own Pizza” party is an ideal solution! You can accommodate a large group or a small gathering. Got a food allergy? No problem. Your guest can choose what to put on their pizza. Lactose intolerant? Leave off the cheese and load up on the other goodies! Wheat intolerance? There are numerous gluten free pizza dough options out there! Your guests can customize their pizza any way they choose.
Not only are homemade pizzas delicious, making pizza allows your guests to get creative and is great conversation starter! In this post, we will guide you step by step on how to create a fun and delicious no-fuss dinner that will fit every just about any budget and taste.
Step 1: Start with pre-made dough. If you do not have time to make your own dough (and many of us don’t) purchase some pre-made dough. Contact your local pizza parlor and ask if you can purchase pre-made dough (tell them the number of guests you are hosting so they can estimate how much). If this is not an option, many grocery stores will carry pre-made dough. Figure this out in advance so you are not scrambling the day of your party.
Step Two: Prep your dough in advance of your party.
Follow these dough tips from slice.seriouseats.com(visit this page for more great pizza tips!)
Make more than you need: Have at least 1 1/2 times the number of dough balls or shells as you have expected guests. Everybody loves leftovers, and you’re inevitably going to have a botched pie or two that will need to be reworked.
Make your dough at least a day in advance. Dough that’s had a three to five day rest in the refrigerator will be tastier and easier to work with than freshly made dough. It also makes set up for you planning simple.
Cold dough is impossible to work with. Pull your dough out, portion it into individual size balls, then let them sit on a lightly floured cutting board covered with plastic wrap and a towel for at least a couple hours before your guests arrive so it’ll be in prime condition to stretch.
Step Three: Offer a simple tomato pizza sauce
Start with a basic homemade pizza sauce. If you are feeling adventurous, add in a couple of fun alternative sauces like BBQ Pizza Sauce, Bechamel(white sauce) or Pesto.
Step Four: Set out a variety of toppings for your guests to choose from.
Prep these in advance. Start with the basics (cheese, pepperoni) and kick things up with some unexpected ingredients (see below). Let your imagination go wild!
Step Five: Let your guests assemble their pizzas.
Depending on the number of guests you have, you can stagger the number of people assembling the pizzas to accommodate your space and your oven.
Bake 2-3 pizzas at a time for 10-12 minutes at 425 degrees. Enjoy and Repeat as necessary!
Super Bowl Sunday is a great excuse to gather friends and enjoy some great food! Here are some recipes for crowd pleasing snacks and easy bites for your big bash using Jeff’s Naturals non-GMO products:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spoon sour cream onto a large, shallow dish, spreading evenly. Top with black beans, Hot Cherry Peppers and Jalapeños.
Place chips around edge of plate, lodging them firmly into the dip. Sprinkle entire plate with queso fresco and cheddar. Heat in the oven for five minutes, or until cheese has melted.
Sprinkle tomatoes, avocado and scallions on top of beans. Top with a dollop of sour cream to garnish. Serve with remaining tortilla chips.
1 cup mozzarella, shredded
½ cup parmesan, shredded
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 jars marinated artichoke hearts, drained and rough chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ tablespoon Jeff’s Naturals Tamed Diced Jalapeño Peppers
¼ cup Jeff’s Naturals Roasted Bell Pepper Strips, drained and diced
Salt and Pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400º F. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients.
Place into an 8×8 baking dish and bake for about 15 minutes or until bubbly around the edges. Serve hot with pita chips or bread cubes.
No Super Bowl party would be complete without classic chips & dip! Set out this Jalapeño Guacamole made with our famous Tamed Sliced Jalapeño Pepperswith your favorite tortilla chips and watch it disappear!
1 1/2 lbs. firm, ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and diced
1/3 c.Jeff’s Naturals Tamed Sliced Jalapeño Peppers, chopped roughly
1 Tbsp. of salsa
4 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
¼ tsp. cumin, ground
¼ tsp. crushed garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Add more salsa to suit spiciness level. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with tortilla chips.
1 c. sliced onion
1 jar of Jeff’s Naturals Roasted Bell Pepper Strips, drained
3 minced Garlic
5 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
2 tsp. fresh basil, julienned
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1 loaf (1 pound) French bread
1 c. (4 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
In a skillet, sauté onion, Roasted Bell Pepper Strips, garlic and olive oil. Add basil and garlic salt set aside. Cut bread into 1-in. slices and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Broil each side for 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush remaining oil on one side of bread. Top with pepper mixture and cheese. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and your toasty appetizer is ready!
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prep a muffin tin by lightly oiling the inside of every other cup. Divide pizza dough into 6 pieces. Lightly dust kitchen counter with flour and roll out each piece of dough to about 6 inch rounds. Line every other muffin cup with the dough and press into the molds around the sides and bottom.
Drizzle olive oil to coat a sauté pan on medium high heat. When hot, onion, mushrooms, and garlic; sauté about 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Drain vegetables of any excess liquid.
To prevent mini deep dish pizzas from being soggy on the bottom, first sprinkle mozzarella cheese, then add Roasted Bell Pepper Strips, Kalamata Olives and sautéed vegetables. Next, spoon some pizza sauce inside the cup and top with a few more pieces or shredded mozzarella, if you choose.
Use a pastry brush and lightly oil the edges of the pizza crust. Place into the oven and cook about 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Remove from cups when cool enough to handle.
