Tag Archives: peppers

Farro Salad

Five “Farr-Out” Reasons to Love Farro + Two Great Recipes to Try!

Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives, Castelvetrano Olives, Roasted Bell Peppers & Caramelized Onions, Soups & Salads, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Spring Farro and Castelvetrano Salad full size

As you plan your next meal, why not try cooking with farro, the ancient grain with tremendous health benefits?

Farro is a whole grain wheat, larger than barley grain and possessing a similar taste. It’s very simple to cook on a stovetop, also great when prepared in a rice maker or a pressure cooker. It’s often used as an alternative to rice or pasta for all the nutritious qualities it contains.

Interested yet? Check out our top five reasons to love farro:

#1 Great Way to Up Your Vitamin B3 & Magnesium Intake
Farro is an excellent source of Vitamin B3, instrumental in improving your body’s metabolism. It’s also a great choice for your daily dose of Magnesium, which strengthens your blood pressure, bone strength, and overall cardiac health.

#2- This Supergrain is Rich in Anti-Oxidants
The anti-oxidants present in farro help prevent degenerative diseases and general cardiovascular problems.

#3 Great Source of Protein
Yes, it’s true! Farro contains about 15% protein, with 7 grams of protein found in a single serving!

#4 Cholesterol-Free
Not only is farro cholesterol-free, a full bowl has 8 grams of cholesterol-lowering fiber in it! An excellent choice for anyone watching their weight.

#5 Contains Complex Carbohydrates
The complex carbohydrates present in farro extend its digestion time, thus leaving you with more energy throughout the day.

So now you know why you should be cooking with farro but you may be wondering how to cook with it?

Consider these easy-to-make recipes below using Jeff’s Garden line of certified non-GMO olives & peppers as an entry point into the delicious world of farro.

 

Farr-Out Recipe #1: Castelvetrano Spring Farro Salad

Recipe: Castelvetrano Spring Farro Salad
Prep Time: 10 min   Total Time: 25 min   Serves: 4-6

Chefs Note:  Feel free to play with this recipe and use any vegetable or herb in season.  Asparagus, green beans, thyme or basil would all be wonderful. It will taste the best when the produce is the freshest!

Farr-Out Recipe #2: Farro Salad with Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives

Farro Salad with Blue Cheese-Stuffed Olives, Apples and Roasted Garlic
Prep Time: 5 min | Total Time: 20 min | Serves: 4-6

 

For more delicious and healthy recipes head on over to our Recipes page.

Five Must-Have Easter Brunch Recipes

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Don’t know about you, but we’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like a good brunch. No matter the occasion, a well-planned brunch is always a special affair, and Easter Sunday Brunch is certainly no exception! In fact, it’s one of our favorite springtime traditions.

A good Easter Sunday Brunch does not have to be complicated. Here are some recipes from the Jeff’s Garden collection that are simple and easy to prepare. Many of these can be prepped in advance so you can relax with a mimosa and enjoy the company of friends and family.

Roasted Red Bell Pepper & Artichoke Quiche

A light and delicious “almost” homemade quiche (ready-made pie crusts are perfectly fine to use!) with Jeff’s Garden Marinated Artichoke Hearts and Jeff’s Garden Roasted Bell Pepper Strips with spinach and a delicious variety of cheeses. Click on the image to get the recipe.

Roasted Red Bell Pepper & Artichoke Quiche

Smoked Salmon and Roasted Red Bell Pepper Bruschetta

This easy bruschetta puts an elegant twist on a classic Italian appetizer and features a variety of savory flavors of roasted bell peppers, smoked salmon, chives and capers. Prep the ingredients in advance so you can quickly assemble the morning of your brunch. Click on the image to get the recipe.

Smoked Salmon and Roasted Red Bell Pepper Bruschetta
Smoked Salmon and Roasted Red Bell Pepper Bruschetta

Broccoli & Cauliflower Salad with Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes

This delightful salad can be prepped in advance and will add a wonderful pop of color and flavor to the brunch table! Broccoli and Jeff’s Garden Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes add a sweet and savory flavor. Click on the image to get the recipe.
Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad with Sundried Tomatoes-013HR

Baja Fruit Salad

Every good brunch menu needs fruit to compliment the main dishes! This light fruit salad with pineapple, mandarin oranges, jicama, shredded coconuts takes us on a tropical vacation. Jeff’s Garden Roasted Bell Pepper Strips and fresh cilantro add a unique flavor to balance the sweetness of the fruit. Click on the image to get the recipe.

Baja Fruit Salad
Baja Fruit Salad

Jeff’s Garden Bloody Mary

There’s nothing like a properly garnished Bloody Mary to enjoy on a Sunday morning brunch. The secret to our Bloody Mary recipe is assorted Jeff’s Garden Peppers and Olives for garnish and a splash of brine from the jar! Some of our favorite Bloody Mary garnishes include olives stuffed with Blue Cheese, Feta Cheese, Garlic or Jalapeños. Whole Golden Greek Peperoncini is another delicious garnish. Click on the image to get the recipe.

Jeff’s Garden Bloody Mary
Jeff’s Garden Bloody Mary

Need More Easter Sunday Brunch Ideas & Inspiration?

Here are some helpful tips and serving ideas for easy Easter Sunday celebrations.

Everyone has their way of celebrating spring holiday traditions such as Easter and Passover, but when it comes to holiday gatherings, we can all agree that delicious food is a must. We hope the Jeff’s Garden line of premium olives, peppers, artichoke hearts, capers, and sun-ripened tomatoes will help simplify and elevate your springtime holiday entertaining!

 

Jeff’s Garden Products Can Now Be Purchased at LuckyVitamin.com

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Lucky Vitamin

Everybody likes convenience, but when it comes to wellness and meal planning, we believe that convenience is essential. It’s one of the reasons Jeff’s Garden products can be purchased with a click of a button from some of the natural food industry’s top online retailers!

Most recently Lucky Vitamin, a family owned wholesome food and wellness site,  added products from the Jeff’s Garden all-natural line of olives, peppers, artichoke hearts, capers, and sun-dried tomatoes.

Founded in 2005, the family-owned business has a unique story on how it became an industry-leading global e-commerce destination for health and wellness, natural and organic products, vitamins, nutritional supplements, sports and fitness nutrition, food, beauty, skincare, pet and natural home.

Striving to bring good health to the masses, its mission is to be the inspirational and supportive source for products and knowledge dedicated to helping everyone on their journey towards happy wellness.  Jeff’s Garden products are a natural fit for the company since our products are have met the standards for a number of certifications including certified non-GMO, certified gluten-free and certified vegan (*excluding our cheese stuffed olives) and contain no preservatives, additives, sulfites, artificial colors or flavors.

Here’s a tip: Lucky Vitamin offers 15% off your first order to new customers and FREE SHIPPING on all orders Over $49. Visit our brand page and stock up on your favorites today!

Grilled_Hot_Dogs_Double_Pepper_Slaw

All American Grilled Hot Dogs with Pepper Slaw

Fourth of July, Recipes, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

The weather is warm and “cook-out season” is here! We’re ready to fire up the grill and celebrate Independence Day with family, friends, and food. Want to know our secret ingredient for a great gathering? Delicious hot dogs with this crowd-pleasing pepper slaw!

This zesty slaw features not just one, but TWO delicious flavors of from our vibrant selection of mild and spicy peppers. No matter what’s on your cookout menu this 4th of July, Jeff’s Naturals will make it shine.

This simple slaw can be served with hot dogs, burgers, in tacos or as a stand-alone side dish. For more inspiration, go to our recipe page to find more ways Jeff’s Naturals will make your summer barbecue even better! Grilled Hot Dogs with Double Pepper Slaw

 

Prep Time: 6 mins.
Total Time: 15 mins.
Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS
¼ medium head of cabbage, shredded; about 2 cups
¼ cup small diced red onion
1 cup Jeff’s Naturals Sliced Tamed™ Jalapeños, drained
1 cup Jeff’s Naturals Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini, drained
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
6 hotdogs
6 hot dog buns
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Optional toppings: mustard and ketchup

PREPARATION
Heat grill over high heat until very hot.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients; season hot dogs with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.

Grill hot dogs for about 5 minutes or until nicely blistered and charred. Place grilled hot dogs in bun, add about 1⁄2 cup of pepper slaw to each dog and any other condiments of your choice.

Favorite Serving Ideas Submitted By Our Followers

Recipes, Roasted Bell Peppers, , , , , , , , ,

Our Best Serving Suggestions Submitted By YOU!

We think that some of the most creative serving ideas using our peppers and olives come directly from our fans. We love to see what you’re cooking up in your kitchen. Here’s a round up of some of our favorite Jeff’s Naturals serving ideas we found recently on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. We can’t wait to see more!  Be sure to use the hashtag #jeffsnaturals to share your culinary creations.

"One of my favorite salads mixed greens + grape tomatoes + avocado + @manitobaharvesthemp hearts + great northern beans + purple onion + @followyourheartcheddar cheese + Lisanatti mozzarella cheese + @jeffsnaturals kalamata olives + homemade pesto dressing (link in bio) mixed w/ dijon mustard and olive oil (salt and pepper optional). Enjoy!" - Shared by Instagram user @thenecessentials
Courtesy of Instagram user @thenecessentials

“One of my favorite salads mixed greens + grape tomatoes + avocado + @manitobaharvesthemp hearts + great northern beans + purple onion + @followyourheartcheddar cheese + Lisanatti mozzarella cheese + @jeffsnaturals kalamata olives + homemade pesto dressing (link in bio) mixed w/ dijon mustard and olive oil (salt and pepper optional). Enjoy!” – Shared by Instagram user @thenecessentials

 

We think this delicious looking plate of finger food is a fabulous way to enjoy our Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini. Combine this with cheese, crackers, olives and salami with a refreshing beverage, and you have a winner!  Submitted by Instagram user jmazur007
Courtesy of Instagram user @jmazur007

We think this delicious looking plate of finger food is a fabulous way to enjoy our Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini. Combine this with cheese, crackers, olives and salami with a refreshing beverage, and you have a winner!  Submitted by Instagram user jmazur007.

 

"This is the fantastic Greek Salad I made with  Peperoncini, Kalamata Olives and Roasted Bell Pepper Strips. I used your recipe (for Greek Salad), but used a beefsteak tomato, and added avocado. Thanks, Jeff's Naturals!" - Submitted by John B. via Facebook 
Courtesy of John B. via Facebook

“This is the fantastic Greek Salad I made with  Peperoncini, Kalamata Olives and Roasted Bell Pepper Strips. I used your recipe (for Greek Salad), but used a beefsteak tomato, and added avocado. Thanks, Jeff’s Naturals!” – Submitted by John B. via Facebook

 

This Jeff's Naturals fan added our Non-Pareil Capers and Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini to her potato salad for a knock out side dish! For the recipe, visit Peperoncini Potato Salad on our site. Shared by Kathleen C. on Facebook. 
Courtesy of Kathleen C. via Facebook.

This Jeff’s Naturals fan added our Non-Pareil Capers and Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini to her potato salad for a knock out side dish! For the recipe, visit Peperoncini Potato Salad on our site. Shared by Kathleen C. on Facebook. 

 

Delicious Instagram Posts We Had to Share

NEW! One of my favorite soups got an update! This Sun Dried Tomato and White Bean Soup is feeling fresh and new, now that it’s also got nutrition information, updated notes, and a recipe video! . Tuck into a bowl of this cozy soup. One reader said recently “I made this last night and it was delicious!! I could eat this at every meal…” and I totally agree. I even eat leftovers for breakfast. It’s that good. . Recipe linked in my profile!) #onelovelyrecipe . https://www.onelovelylife.com/sun-dried-tomato-white-bean-soup/ . . . . #glutenfree #dairyfree #vegan #vegetarian #pacificfoods #earthboundfarm #jeffsnaturals #sprouts #edenorganic #muirglen #thefeedfeed #thefeedfeedvegan #plantbased #sundriedtomatoes #soup #soupson #beansoup #tomatosoup #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #buzzfeedfood @pacificfoods @earthboundfarm @muirglen @thefeedfeed @thefeedfeed.glutenfree @thefeedfeed.vegan @canyonglutenfree @jeffsnaturals @sprouts @edenfoods

A post shared by EMILY DIXON 🌵One Lovely Life (@onelovelylife1) on

Sensational Salads to Celebrate National Salad Month!

Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives, Castelvetrano Olives, Feta Cheese Stuffed Olives, Garlic Stuffed Olives, Health, Jalapeño Stuffed Olives, Jeff’s Naturals Imported Non-Pareil Capers, Organic Kalamata Olives, Peperoncini, Roasted Bell Peppers, Salads, Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes, Sunshine Mix Mild Banana Pepper Rings, , , , , , , ,

Did you know that May is National Salad Month? You do now! We’re celebrating by sharing secrets to creating fabulous and refreshing salads using unique ingredients. Here are some tasty tips to punch it up and wake up your palette with these sensational salads. Be inspired and be healthy!

Start with Leafy Greens to build your base.

Fig Salad with Blue Cheese Olives
Look for dark leafy greens packed with important nutrients like folic acid – think baby spinach, kale, arugula or a spring mix that includes a variety of dark greens.

Pile on colorful fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs!

Citrus and Olive Salad
As a general rule of thumb, the more seasonal and local your vegetables are, the better (think Farmers Markets). This is the perfect time to indulge in a multitude of fresh seasonal fruits, veggies, and herbs.

Add Protein

Salad Nicoise

Adding protein to your salad like grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, water-packed chunk light tuna, wild-caught salmon, lean steak or turkey breast can make your salad more satisfying. If you wish to skip the animal protein, cubed tofu, tempeh, chickpeas, beans or other legumes are great alternatives.

Don’t overdo it with the “extras”

Castelvetrano salad
Toppings like chopped nuts, seeds, shredded cheese, croutons, dried cranberries or raisins and salad dressings are fantastic on salads but have the potential to pack in too much fat and calories if you aren’t careful. For less fat and more flavor in your meals, think about adding something zesty and flavorful to your salad like Sliced Peperoncini or Jalapeño Stuffed Olives.

Here are some more salad tips to inspire you:

  • Toss Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes with chilled cooked pasta, sliced Kalamata Olives and Marinated Artichoke Hearts for a colorful and delicious pasta salad.
  • Toss pitted Castelvetrano Olives with mixed baby greens, orange sections, shaved fennel and a light lemon vinaigrette for a beautiful and refreshing salad.
  • Toss Marinated Artichoke Hearts with salad greens, sliced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette.
  • For a tangy vegetarian version of a classic Caesar salad, use Capers in place of the traditional anchovies.
  • Toss Spicy Italian Olive Antipasto, along with its marinade, with romaine lettuce and tomato wedges. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and top with crumbled feta cheese for a super quick and delicious salad.
  • Toss pitted Kalamata Olives with feta cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, olive oil and red wine vinegar for a refreshing Greek salad.
  • Add diced Jalapeño Stuffed Olives to a Southwestern black bean salad.
  • Toss Sliced Peperoncini into a mixed green salad for an extra punch of flavor.
  • Add Sliced Hot Cherry Peppers to salads for a boost of color and flavor.
  • Arrange Roasted Bell Pepper Strips on a serving plate along with sliced fresh mozzarella and julienned fresh basil. Drizzle with olive oil and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Sprouts Cooking Club

Jeff’s Naturals is Proud to Support Sprouts Cooking Club for Youth!

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Photo Source: www.sproutscookingclub.org

We believe everyone deserves to eat wholesome foods with real ingredients, no matter who you are and where you came from. When we learned about an organization that invites children from all backgrounds an opportunity to learn how to cook sustainable, healthy meals for themselves and their families, we knew we had to be a part of it.

Sprouts Cooking Club was launched in 2006 in an effort to teach children from all socio-economic levels the importance of wholesome eating. The program provides subsidized cooking classes and camp that pairs children with established chefs in their restaurants where they learn how to cook with real and nutritious ingredients they may not have known otherwise.

The organization also hosts a Chef-in-Training Program for at-risk young adults who need a chance to turn their lives around by learning new skills.

Jeff’s Naturals helped to sponsor the program back in 2016 and we’re happy to help out once again by donating Roasted Bell Pepper Strips, Imported Non-Pareil Capers our new Sunshine Mix Mild Banana Pepper Rings from our all-natural line. It’s our sincere pleasure to provide these kids access to ingredients that are certified non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and contain no preservatives, additives, sulfites, artificial colors or flavors.

To learn more about this program or see how you can help, please visit www.sproutscookingclub.org.

Build-Your-Own Grilled Pizza is Perfect for Fall Entertaining

Pizzas, Recipes, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

Summer may be over, but that in no way means that it’s time to store the grill away for the season! In fact the crisper, cooler air make fall the perfect time for outdoor entertaining. Whether you’re looking for a delicious weeknight dinner or fun way to feed a house full of guests, a “Build-Your-Own” Grilled Pizza night is always a hit.

Homemade grilled pizza is less expensive and more flavorful than take-out and a fun way to get creative with friends and family. We always have a blast at our “Grilled Pizza Parties” in the Jeff’s Naturals kitchen.

So forget delivery. In less time, you can grill up even better pizza! Here’s how.

Step 1- Prep the Pizza Crust
There are plenty of resources to help you make your own pizza dough or you can pick up some pre-made pizza dough at your local supermarket in the bakery, dairy or in the frozen foods section. You can also check with your local pizzeria to see if they sell homemade pizza dough, just make sure you get enough to feed everyone! Roll out your dough into personal sized pizzas and grill on each side for 1.5 minutes.

Step 2- Provide a Variety of Sauces
For the pizza purists, make sure you offer plenty of traditional tomato based pizza sauce (homemade or store-bought). For variety, we recommend offering some fun alternatives like pesto (jarred or homemade), garlic/herb infused oils, ricotta cheese, salsa, wing sauce, BBQ sauce, or tapenade. The sky’s the limit so get creative!

Step 3- Add Pizza Toppings & Grill!
Family & friends will have fun building their own pizzas with a well rounded variety of toppings. Here are some suggestions on how to turn a plain pizza into a gourmet experience:

Plenty of cheese please! Honestly, it’s just not pizza without the cheese! Set out a variety of cheeses to choose from like mozzarella (shredded or fresh), shredded cheddar, sliced provolone,  grated Parmesan, Romano, crumbed feta, blue cheese, goat cheese, vegan cheese…you get the idea.

Pass the protein! You can’t go wrong with choices like grilled chicken or tofu, pepperoni and diced gourmet sausage.

Add a healthy variety of veggies. Veggies like sliced onions, peppers, olives, julienned basil and other herbs are delicious additions to round out the flavor of your grilled pizza. Our line of olives & peppers offer plenty of fun pizza toppings. Here are a few that will rock your socks:
✓ Roasted Bell Pepper Strips
✓ Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini
✓ Diced Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes
✓ Sliced Tamed™ Jalapeños
✓ Diced Garlic Stuffed Olives
✓ Finely chopped Jalapeño Stuffed Olives
✓ Organic Sliced Greek Kalamata Olives
✓ Diced Marinated Artichoke Hearts
✓ Imported Non-Pareil Capers

Once toppings are added, place your pizza back on the grill for a few moments to heat up the toppings and melt the cheese. Enjoy!

Here are some fun & delicious examples of homemade grilled pizza made right in the Jeff’s Naturals kitchen!

Grilled pizza topped with Sliced Tamed™ Jalapeños, Roasted Bell Pepper Strips and mozzarella cheese.
Grilled pizza topped with Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini, light cheese and thinly sliced red onions.
Grilled pizza topped with Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini, pepperoni, light cheese and thinly sliced red onions.

 

Grilled pizza topped with sliced cherry tomatoes, Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini and Diced Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes.
Grilled pizza topped with sliced cherry tomatoes, Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini and Diced Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes.
Jeff's Naturals Peperoncini

Don’t toss that jar! Here’s eleven ways to enjoy Jeff’s Naturals olive & pepper brine

Recipes, Tips, , , , , , ,

Image by Instagram user alidelegge

Ever find yourself in this situation? You’ve just polished off another delicious jar of your favorite Jeff’s Naturals olives or peppers and you’re about to empty the remaining olive brine into the sink before tossing the glass jar into your recycling bin.

But wait! You can still add another dimension of Mediterranean flavor to your favorite recipes using the delicious brines and oils left over in our jars!  Here are some of our favorite ideas to make the most of Jeff’s Naturals products — even after you’ve finished off the good stuff!

This Jeff's Naturals fan added our Non-Pareil Capers and Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini to her potato salad for a knock out side dish! For the recipe, visit Peperoncini Potato Salad on our site. Shared by Kathleen C. on Facebook. 
Shared by Kathleen C. on Facebook.

#1 Dirty up your martini with the olive juice from jars of our Castelvetrano Olives, Garlic Stuffed Olives, Jalapeño Stuffed Olives.

#2 Drizzle oil from a jar of Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes onto a side salad then salt & pepper to taste.

#3 Use the herbed oil from our Spicy Italian Olive Antipasto or Marinated Artichoke Hearts as a zesty marinade for meat.

#4 Add a splash of brine from a jar of Sliced Tamed™ Jalapeños to your margarita on the rocks. You can also rim your margarita glass with Jeff’s Naturals Tamed Jalapeño Peppers brine and salt. YUM!

#5 Make a delicious salad dressing on the fly by whisking the marinade from a jar of Organic Sliced Greek Kalamata Olive or Spicy Italian Olive Antipasto with extra virgin olive oil. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

#6 Give potato and pasta salads a zingy upgrade with a splash of Greek Peperoncini brine.

#7 Cook up flavorful couscous using the leftover oil from Marinated Artichoke Hearts.

#8 Add a punch of flavor to your Bloody Mary with a splash of Greek Peperoncini brine.

#9 Spice up burrito bowls by cooking rice with Sliced Tamed™ Jalapeño brine.

#10 Add the juice from a jar of Sliced Hot Cherry Peppers to sauces, soups or stews for an extra punch of heat and flavor.

#11 Pour an entire jar of Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncini, brine and all, over a pork roast and braise for several hours until the meat is tender. Shred the meat and use as a scrumptious taco filling.

Is your jar half empty — or half full? Next time you find yourself with an almost empty jar of your favorite Jeff’s Naturals product, don’t forget to reserve the oils and brines to marinate, sauté, drizzle and dip! Got an idea? Share it on Twitter @JeffsNaturals or on our Facebook page.

Jeff's Naturals
Image by Instagram user @thenecessentials

A Delicious Quiche for Mother’s Day Brunch

Brunch, Recipes, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

Want to really “WOW” Mom on Mother’s Day this year? You can never go wrong with breakfast in bed or a delightful brunch!

The chefs have been hard at work in the Jeff’s Naturals test kitchen creating new ways to enjoy our delicious all-natural line of olives, peppers, artichoke hearts, capers and sun-dried tomatoes.

Here’s a delicious quiche you can make this Mother’s Day with our Roasted Bell Pepper Strips and our new Marinated Artichoke Hearts! As an added bonus, Mom will love the fact this quiche is made with our certified non-GMO ingredients with no preservatives, additives, sulfites, artificial colors or flavors. Just pure & delicious food for the woman who deserves it the most!

Serve this with a tasty fruit salad and a flavorful Bloody Mary for a knock-out Mother’s Day Brunch she’ll appreciate for years to come.

Roasted Red Bell Pepper & Artichoke Quiche

Roasted Red Bell Pepper & Artichoke Quiche

Prep Time: 30 min.
Total Time: 1 hr. 40 min.
Serves: 6-8

2 ready-made pie crusts
1/2 jar Jeff’s Naturals Marinated Artichoke Hearts
1/2 jar Jeff’s Naturals Roasted Bell Pepper Strips
8 large eggs
1 shallot, grated
2 Tbsp. crushed garlic
1/2 c. whole milk
1/2 c. Mascarpone cheese, softened (here’s a quick recipe to substitute if you can’t find it in your store)
1 c. Fontina cheese, grated
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 c. Mozzarella cheese, grated

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake pie crusts for 12 minutes.

Chop artichoke hearts and brown lightly in a pan on medium heat for 5-7 minutes. Set aside to cool. Cut roasted red bell peppers into ¼ inch by 1 inch long slices. Set aside.

Whisk eggs in a large bowl. Add shallot, garlic, milk, Mascarpone, Fontina, salt and pepper. Add spinach and artichokes. Mix well.

Pour mixture carefully into pie pans. Sprinkle red peppers into mixture, then top with Mozzarella cheese.

Bake for 55 minutes. Center will seem slightly underdone, but will continue cooking as it cools. Cool quiche for 20 minutes before serving.

Time Saving Tip: Make the evening before and warm it up the next morning for a delicious and lovely Mother’s Day surprise! When you are ready to re-heat the quiche, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Place the quiche in the oven for about 15 -20 minutes or until the center is warmed through.

Antipasto Skewers with Jeff's Naturals Marinated Artichoke Hearts

Fresh from Jeff’s Kitchen: Easy Antipasto Skewers

Appetizers, , , , , , , , ,

When we unveiled our new additions to our all-natural line of Mediterranean olives, peppers, capers and sun-dried tomatoes at Natrual Products Expo West last month, we were thrilled to hear a wide range of praise from members of the natural foods community from all over the world!  They couldn’t get enough of our new Sunshine Mix Mild Banana Pepper Rings, Pitted Castelvetrano Olives and Marinated Artichoke Hearts.

The bold Mediterranean flavor of these artichokes have inspired our chefs at to create new dishes and serving ideas to help you eat and live better! Hand picked and marinated with a perfectly seasoned family recipe, these Artichoke Hearts do not disappoint.

Our newest recipe, Antipasto Skewers, are an elegant yet easy appetizer to make ahead for any party or get together. You can make the antipasto skewers ahead of time and drizzle with balsamic and olive oil just before serving. Get creative and add any of your favorite Jeff’s Naturals pitted or stuffed olives (like Feta or Garlic) and Whole Golden Greek Peperoncini.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4 (2 skewers per person)

INGREDIENTS
1 jar (6.5 oz) Jeff’s Naturals Marinated Artichoke Hearts, drained
½ (12 oz.) container of marinated mozzarella balls
¼ c. Jeff’s Naturals Organic Pitted Whole Greek Kalamata Olives
1 pt. grape or cherry tomatoes
4 oz. sliced salami
6 fresh basil leaves, large leaves can be torn in half
Balsamic glaze (store-bought in vinegar isle) and extra virgin olive oil to garnish
Skewers or long tooth picks

PREPARATION
In any order, skewer a variety of the ingredients onto each skewer. Drizzle the finished skewers with balsamic glaze and olive oil and serve.

Ghostly Pizza Jeff's Naturals

Jeepers Capers! Is that a Ghost on My Pizza?

Halloween Fun, , , , , , , , ,

Yes, it’s that time of the year again! Time for some Halloween Fun! Halloween now-a-days is so much more than costumes and candy. Families everywhere are taking Halloween decorating to new heights around the house and in the kitchen. A simple search on sites like Pinterest will yield hundreds of clever Halloween themed dishes adults and kids can enjoy that range from adorable just to plain disturbing!

Here are a few fun ideas you can put into use with our Capers, Peppers, Olives and Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes. Enjoy!

ghostly-pizza

Ghostly Pizza

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS
1 store-bought, prepared pizza crust
1 jar store-bought pizza sauce
5 slices mozzarella cheese
10 Jeff’s Naturals Non-Pareil Capers

PREPARATION
Preheat oven per pizza crust instructions.
Spread an even layer of pizza sauce on top of the pizza crust. Next, using Halloween-shaped cookie cutters, cut out ghost cheese shapes from the mozzarella. Place cheese on top of the pizza sauce. Adorn the ghosts with capers for eyes. Bake until hot and bubbly and serve.

More Fun Ideas

Spider Bagel Pizza Bites 
These kid-friendly bites add a little extra fun to your next Halloween party. Click here for recipe and instructions.

spider-pizza-bites
Photo Courtesy of www.allyou.com

Bacon, Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Goat Cheese Skull Shaped Pizza
Great way to transform a plain pizza into special Halloween treat the whole family will enjoy in no time. Click here to view the post for full recipe.

halloween-skull-shaped-pizza-halloween-edible-crafts-halloween-party-food-halloween-appetizer-halloween-dinner
Photo courtesy of www.hungryhappenings.com

Sundried Tomato Spider Web Pesto Dip ‘
This dip isn’t just fun, it is absolutely delicious! We think our Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes would work perfectly in this dish! Click here to get the recipe!

sundried-tomato-spider-web-pesto-dip
Photo courtesy of www.rotisseriechickenqueen.com

Roasted Pumpkin Soup With Red Peppers and Caramelized Onions
We saw this recipe for this savory autumn soup and immediately thought this would be a wonderful way to enjoy our Roasted Bell Peppers & Caramelized Onions. As an added bonus, it would help save some preparation time so you can spend more time “Trick or Treating”. Click here for the full recipe.

roasted-pumpkin-soup-with-red-peppers-and-caramelized-onions-13-wm-eng
Photo courtesy of www.thethingswellmake.com

The Jeff’s Naturals Guide to Perfect Picnics

Recipes, Tips, , , ,

There is nothing like sharing a picnic with loved ones on a beautiful summer day, especially for those of us lucky enough to live in Napa Valley California! Even you if you don’t live in California’s blissful wine country, a perfect picnic can take place any time, anywhere if you follow these simple tips:

1. Keep it light and simple. Think finger foods that are tasty and easy to transport.

2. It’s always better to prepare just a few things and do them well.

3. Don’t pack anything sweet and sticky. Avoid food items such as ice cream, puddings, fruity drinks, etc unless you want to attract insects.

4. Pack everything in lightweight, resealable containers.

5. Keep everything cold. Use ice packs, or fill a couple of resealable bags with ice cubes. One of our favorite tips is to freeze small bottles of water and juice ahead of time so they will keep food cool and you can enjoy a cold drink when you reach your picnic spot!

6. Avoid foods that can spoil in warm sun. Anything with mayonnaise based dressings, eggs and dairy (though certain cheeses will work well) can spoil easily. Recipes like the ones below would be easier to keep at a safe temperature picnic:

Peperoncini Potato Salad
Baja Fruit Salad
New! Mexican Marinated Salad
Mediterranean Salad
Black Bean & Roasted Red Pepper Salsa
Cheese Stuffed Fried Green Olives
Spinach and Feta Olive Turnovers
Pasta Nicoise

7. Don’t forget any essentials! Follow this checklist to make sure you’ve got everything you need for your outing.

☐ Casual and easy food and snacks: Sandwiches, Crudités, Chips, Fruit Salad, Cheese, Smoked Meat, Crackers, light side dishes and salads

☐ Plenty of drinks: Water Bottles, Juice Boxes, Wine or Beer (if allowed)

☐ Napkins

☐ Inexpensive cups and plates from your favorite discount store

☐ Utensils

☐ Resealable/Ziploc bags filled with ice cubes

☐ Place mats or table cover

☐ Blanket large enough to accommodate your food and company

☐ Towels to clean up spills or messes (Cloth or Paper)

☐ Trash Bag(s)

☐ Cutting Board

☐ Serrated Knife (wrap the blade in a kitchen towel)

☐ Condiments: Packets of ketchup or mustard or mini jars

☐ Salt and pepper

☐ Plenty of water (again)

☐ Tongs and/or serving spoons

☐ Corkscrew or bottle opener

☐ Moist towelettes

☐ Sunscreen

☐ Bug Spray

Toss in some jars of Jeff’s Naturals products to add a little gourmet flair to your outing!

Jeff's Naturals PicNic
Photo Credit: Bethany Ugarte
Jeff's Naturals Salad Recipes

Five New Savory Salad Ideas from Jeff’s Naturals

Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives, Health, Non-GMO, Organic Kalamata Olives, Products, Recipes, Roasted Bell Peppers, Salads, Soups & Salads, , , , , , , , , ,

Break out the dressings because May is National Salad Month! Celebrate the greener side of life by eating a plate of delicious healthy vegetables, spiced up with Jeff’s Natural’s range of healthy, non-GMO products!

If you’re in need of a little salad inspiration, you should check out our new recipes below! With so much variety, we’re pretty sure you’ll be asking yourself “what hamburger?”

New! Fig Salad with Bleu Cheese Olives

FigSaladWithBleuCheeseOlives

Prep Time: 10 min – Total Time: 13 min – Serves: 2

Ingredients

  • 4 cups mixed salad greens
  • 4-6 fresh figs cut in half or in quarters
  • 1/3 cup Jeff’s Naturals Blue Cheese Olives, sliced
  • 2 ounces prosciutto, torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/3 cup candied nuts or chopped hazelnuts

Dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, gently toss salad ingredients together.  Drizzle salad dressing over the top until lightly coated and toss to gently.  Serve immediately.

New! Kale & Citrus Salad

KaleAndCitrusSalad

Prep Time: 15 min – Total Time: 18 min – Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch kale, destemmed and thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
  • 1 ½ cups seasonal citrus segments, we used pink grapefruit, naval orange, and satsumas (reserve any citrus juice from slicing into segments)
  • 5 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced on mandoline slicer
  • ¼ red onion, thinly sliced on mandoline slicer
  • ½ cup Jeff’s Naturals Castelvetrano Olives, pitted and quartered

Dressing:

  • 1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1/3 cup reserved citrus juices
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Apple cider vinegar or champagne vinegar to taste, if needed

Directions

In a large salad bowl, combine all salad ingredients and set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, citrus juice and Dijon.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  If needed, add a few splashes of vinegar for a little more acid.

Drizzle enough dressing over the salad and to lightly coat and toss.

Serve immediately.

New! Marinated Mexican Salad

MarinatedMexicanSalad

Prep Time: 5 min – Total Time: 1 hr. 5 min (including marination time) – Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

Directions

Stir together the first eight ingredients in a large bowl.

Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Remove chilled salad and top with lime juice, and salt and pepper.

Garnish with avocado.

New! Grilled Fennel, Orange & Kalamata Salad

Prep Time: 10 min – Total Time: 20 min – Serves: 2

GrilledFennelAndOrangeSalad

Ingredients

Dressing:

  • 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat grill to high heat.

Drizzle sliced fennel with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and grill on each side until nice grill marks have developed, about 5 minutes each side.

Prepare the oranges by cutting the segments out in between the membranes. To the orange juice, add the segments, kalamata olives, and parsley. Add the grilled fennel and toss.

In a small bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients together and pour over fennel salad. To serve, garnish with parmesan shavings.

New! Cherry Balsamic Dressing

CherryBalsamicDressing

Prep Time: 10 min – Total Time: 10 min – Serves: 4

Ingredients

Directions

Finely mince the Hot Cherry Peppers

In a bowl combine all of the above ingredients and whisk until well incorporated.

 

Mother's Day Brunch Recipes

Tips and Recipes to Surprise Mom this Mother’s Day

Peperoncini, Recipes, Roasted Bell Peppers, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mothering is a full-time job, there’s no question about it. They help you grow, they educate you, and they love you unconditionally without asking for anything in return. Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show them just how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate everything they’ve done.

If you ask us, there’s no show of love quite as thoughtful as a delicious home-cooked meal. So sit back, have a read, and plan that Mother’s Day brunch that will leave them smiling from cheek to cheek.

Brunch Tips!

  1. Set up everything the night before – You don’t want to be in a mad rush to do this the following morning, trust us!
  2. Plan your menu – Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your meal. That said, if you’re reading this post you’re already ahead of the game!
  3. If you can cook it ahead of time, do it! – If you have anything on your menu that can be prepared ahead of time, do so. This can be bloody mary mixes, mimosas, sausages, and so forth.
  4. Offer a mix of sweet and savory – That’s the magic of brunch, after all! A nice balanced meal will leave everybody satisfied.
  5. You can’t go wrong with fresh breads and/or scones – I mean… what’s brunch without delicious breads?

A brunch would be nothing without food, so  feast your eyes on these recipes guaranteed to really impress mom!

Baked Eggs with Olives

Prep Time: 5 min | Total Time: 11 min | Serves: 2

BakedEggswithOlives

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • ¼ cup Jeff’s Garden Whole Castelvetrano Olives, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme leaves
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for drizzling
  • Serve with a crusty baguette

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Crack 2 eggs into 2 individual-sized baking dishes. Season with salt and pepper.  Drizzle a tablespoon of heavy cream into each dish, and distribute the olives and herbs into each dish. Bake about 6 minutes, until the whites are set and yolks are very loose. Once removed from the oven, the eggs will continue to cook for a few minutes.

Drizzle eggs with olive oil and serve hot with warm crusty bread for dipping.

Ultimate Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary Party

 

Prep Time: 5 min  |  Total Time: 5 min  | Serves: 1

Delicious paired with any of these recipes along with Smoked Salmon with Dilled Crème Fraiche on Bagels, Frittata with Roasted Red Peppers and Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Ricotta Cheese & Meyer Lemon Blintzes, etc.

Ingredients

Directions:

Stir together Bloody Mary mix and vodka. Add a few dashes of hot sauce, squeeze of lemon, and a splash of Jeff’s Naturals Olive or Pepper brine.

Pour over ice in a highball glass.

Garnish with your favorite Bloody Mary ingredients including Jeff’s Naturals Olives and Peppers.  Finish with a dash of pepper and enjoy!

 

Baja Fruit Salad

Baja Fruit Salad

Prep Time:  10min | Total Time: 45min | Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

  • 2 cans (20 oz.) juiced packed pineapple chunks, drained
  • 1 can (15 oz.) mandarin oranges, drained
  • 1/2 c. Jeff’s Garden Roasted Bell Pepper Strips, chopped
  • 1/2 c. jicama, chopped
  • 1 tsp. brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. fresh lime juice
  • 1 tsp. chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 Tbsp. shredded coconuts

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except coconut in a large bowl and toss well to mix. Top with coconut just before serving. Makes about 4 servings.

Breakfast Panini

Breakfast_Panini_WB

Prep Time: 5 min | Total Time: 10 min | Serves: 2

Ingredients

Directions

Preheat panini press.

If adding pancetta to your sandwich, place pancetta slices in panini press and cook about 3 minutes or until crispy. Remove from press and set aside.

To assemble the paninis, add a tablespoon of pesto on the top inside slice of each sandwich. Add the eggs to the bottom slice of bread. Top the egg with arugula, pancetta, and a layer of roasted red pepper. Top the sandwich with the pesto bread slice and place into the panini press for about 5 minutes or until slightly crispy and golden.

Vegetarian Recipes

Two Vegetarian Recipes You Will Actually Want to Make

Jeff’s Naturals Imported Non-Pareil Capers, Main Dishes, Organic Kalamata Olives, Roasted Bell Peppers, Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes, , , , , , , , , ,

Summer is coming and that means our selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables are even better! We all know there is overwhelming evidence that people who follow a diet high in fruits and vegetables tend to enjoy benefits such as lower blood pressure, lower risk of death, lower chance of life threatening disease (i.e. cancer, heart disease, diabetes), and a much lower risk of obesity.

The more simple and delicious meat-free recipes you can learn the better off your diet will be in the long run.

Here are two recipes that you will actually enjoy vegging out on:

Zucchini Ribbons with Kalamata Olives & Sundried Tomatoes

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INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup fresh ricotta
1 fresh lemon, zested and juiced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced on mandolin
2 shallots, thinly sliced on mandolin
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper chili flake
5 medium zucchini, thinly sliced on mandolin
½ cup julienned Jeff’s Naturals Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes, drained with some oil reserved.
½ cup Jeff’s Naturals Organic Pitted Whole Greek Kalamata Olives, drained and rough chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper

PREPARATION
In a small mixing bowl, combine the ricotta with the lemon juice and zest and set aside.

In a large skillet on medium high heat, add the olive oil and heat until hot. Add the garlic, shallots and chili flake and cook 5-7 minutes or until onions and garlic are softened.

Add the zucchini, season with salt and pepper, and toss frequently for about 5 minutes until zucchini is tender. Turn heat off and add the ricotta, sundried tomatoes and kalamata olives. Toss to mix.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a little sundried tomato oil drizzled over the top.

Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini, Capers & Peppers

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1 large cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets
3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons Jeff’s Naturals Imported Non-Pareil Capers, drained
½ cup diced Jeff’s Naturals Roasted Bell Pepper Strips, drained
Tahini sauce
½ cup tahini
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
½ cup water
PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 500ºF

Toss cauliflower with olive oil. Season with S & P, toss again. Roast at 500ºF for about 15 minutes or until slightly charred and tender. Check the cauliflower frequently and stir on the sheet tray to get even roasting.

Remove cauliflower from oven, and place in a mixing bowl. Toss with capers, red peppers and add enough tahini sauce to thoroughly coat the cauliflower. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Great served hot or room temperature.