1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick me up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemicals will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life’s everyday problems…

Our NJ catering company has tons of food tips and tricks. For more information on our catering services, including corporate catering and social events, contact us by clicking here or call 732-775-3663.

 

A lot of folks boil their ribs before grilling them and slathering on the sauce. The concept comes from Eastern Europe where Poles and Czechs prepare ribs by simmering them in water with cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and caraway seed, making a very nice pork stew.

Water is a solvent. It pulls much of the flavor out of the meat, and it can make the meat mushy. When you boil meat and bones, you make a rich flavorful soup. All that color in the pot is flavor that you can never get back into the meat. Boil them too much and water can even dry them out by causing the proteins to contract and squeeze the moisture out of the muscle fibers.

People talk wistfully about meat that falls off the bone, but if it does, it has probably been boiled and denuded of its best flavors. Usually all that remains is the unctuous barbecue sauce. That’s what they’re really lovin’. That’s why McRibs are so popular. They’re just ground pork swimming in sweetened ketchup. Classic Southern ribs have the same mouthfeel and bite as a tender juicy steak and most important, they taste like pork, not just sauce. They tug off the bone rather than fall off the bone.

If you are really really in a hurry, you are better off steaming or microwaving them and then finishing them on the grill or under the broiler.

Just don’t boil ‘em!

courtesy amazingribs.com

Looking for BBQ catering in NJ? Give Foodini’s a call! Take a look at our delicious BBQ menu, contact us by clicking here or simply give us a call at 732-775-3663. We can provide amazing barbecue food for your next social or corporate event.

What you see is NOT what you get on Reality T.V. I’m specifically referring to my experience on Food Network’s ‘CHOPPED’. I’ve had to bite my tongue for 8 months since the taping due to contracts and confidentiality, but now I am going to tell you the full story of what happened behind the scenes of ‘CHOPPED’ “Ready, Set, Escargot”

I was actually undecided whether or not I was going to blog about the situation that occurred on the set of CHOPPED during my shoot in June 2011. I don’t want to come off as a sore loser or belly-acher, and I certainly don’t want to discount the performance of the other contestants, but this story MUST be told. If not only to “explain myself”, but also to enlighten other applicants and upcoming contestants that you are only somewhat in control of the outcome using the talent that you have. I believe on my episode, the outcome of round one was not only made by the 3 judges, but also by the producers of Notional- in order to cover their asses from a possible law suit.

Ten minutes into the 20 minute first round, one of the camera men bumped into contestant #2- Missy’s table knocking her bowl of spinach salad to the floor. When she returned from the pantry to find the mess she was rightfully distraught. I don’t remember if she continued working or if she left the set (I was busy blanching, mixing. sautéing, frying and reducing- with my head down), but she was in tears and probably lost some time not knowing what to do. She wasn’t there when I picked my head up, I know that. When you see her on the countdown, that’s edited in.

David, Frank and I were moved back to the sequester room, where the chefs do their waiting, and were met with a much happier Missy who was apparently informed of the next step before we were. The producers came in shortly after Missy and informed us of what happened stating that this is something that has never happened during the filming of chopped. They actually gave us the options of a re-do or to allow Missy to go back out to the set and finish her dish by herself. Frank and I looked at each other and Frank said, “I don’t feel it’s right that I have to let her go back and finish her plating at her leisure with nobody else out there” The producers said, “That’s why we are here- to let you know you have the option to redo the whole first round”. David agreed quietly to allow Missy to go out for her final 5 minutes. Frank was adamant at first but finally agreed. I had no problem with it because I was confident that my fritter, garnish or no garnish, would beat out a salad. And since there were two contestants that pretty much did the same salad, I felt safe.

David, Frank and I had to make a decision whether or not to let missy go back out to the kitchen and actually have an extra 5 minutes to finish what she needed to do or use round one as a practice round and start over- Guess what 3 guys are kicking themselves about that decision?

Well, the decision was made and we let her go, but as soon as she went out it crossed my mind that the producers could have a law suit against them if they cut Missy in round one. Due to the interruption of her flow and original creative concept. This thought led to another thought- David made a salad VERY close in concept to Missy’s. So if they had to hold off chopping her, he’d be safe in round one too or it wouldn’t make sense. That leaves only me and my delicious, but ungarnished fritter & Frank and his Polenta (which looked fabulous- not sure how anyone can cook cornmeal through in 15 minutes- but it did LOOK nice).

 So now, as I stand in front of the judges I’m feeling like this went from being a 25% chance to a 50% chance and why the hell didn’t I use round one as a practice round. Whoever gets that opportunity? Stupid me! Will they actually chop me?

I mean they really didn’t have many negative comments when they were judging me. And you only see a few seconds of what they actually say on TV. Zak Pelaccio was lovin my spicy escargot bacon fritter. Marc Murphy was worried it wouldn’t be cooked through, but it was- not an easy task to make that mix, which included external cooked items like sautéed onions, red Jalepenos and crispy bacon, BEFORE it even went for a swim in the hot oil. Aaron appreciated my reinforcing the red Jalepenos with some additional spice from dried Ancho and cayenne pepper. The negative comments about the two contestant’s salads were more apparent, that’s for sure. None of that mattered when Ted Allen revealed my fritter and chopped me..

  Yes this may just be a theory of mine that the judges were steered in the direction of eliminating me first, but I strongly believe it to be true.

We all sometimes watch chopped and wonder what the judges are thinking when they Chop the wrong person. I think my experience shows one possible reason. Other reasons could be that they need to do what’s best for ratings etc… but that’s another story. It’s possible, also, that they make honest mistakes, but I don’t believe that’s what happened in this episode. I believe the main deciding factor was for the producers to cover their asses and to avoid conflict. I could go on and on about how I think I was more creative and what I did was more difficult to execute; building a fryer and actually making hot food with a savory sauce verses a couple of salads, but I am not writing this to bash the other contestants food.

  I really truly feel that I was a scapegoat in this situation. I was upset for many months after the shoot and felt as if I deserved redemption. They don’t give second chances for first round losers on CHOPPED-(but that would make for a unique episode). I don’t think I’d even want to go back on- I’m sure after this blog gets out that’ll kill any chances I had anyway!

Maybe if some people chime in with their thoughts on the show before knowing about the situation and what their thoughts on the show after hearing what happened maybe that will wake them up a bit.

My friends and family had very similar comments about the show:

“What happened? The judges had little negative comments about your fritter. Why were you Chopped first?”

  “I know you didn’t garnish the plate with dressed frissee, but you actually cooked something and made a sauce to go along with it. That takes a lot more skill than to toss snails in calvados, make a crouton and put some greens on the plate”

” What’s worse, not having time to dress the frisee or putting non-acidulated shaved apples on the plate?”

  “I thought this was a cooking competition, what’s up with all the first round salads? Seems like a cop out to me.”

  The producers can manipulate whatever works best to their advantage. In this case I was in the way of the cleaver. Keep this in mind if you are applying to be a contestant on this show (or I guess any “reality show”).

I don’t think getting cut first hurt my reputation or my business (my ego a little, yes).  Foodini’s Catering will continue to grow and John Deatcher will continue to be WINNING in his own way. Charlie Sheen and I both…

Click below to watch the full episode

http://badmoonowl.com/2012/04/10/ted-allens-chopped-ready-set-escargot-recap-4-10-12/

John Deatcher  4/20/12

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods — merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift iving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is! It’s time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

-Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. 
How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

-Gym membership?
It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

-Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed?
Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

-Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen?