katie chin

Ummm! Garcia de La Cruz – Spain’s Best Virgin Olive Oil and Food Company”

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) Smita Vasant defines savoring the taste of the wonderful dishes celebrating all the wonderful things about Garcia de la Cruz virgin olive oil, not only recognized as Spain’s best olive oil but Spain’s best food company. And well it should. It enhances while they are being prepared and it the best finishing oil.

Smita understands why we have praised García de la Cruz to the skies. The historic company, run by women for generations, offers , a range of organic extra virgin olive oils from the wonderful everyday practically priced oil to down to exquisite finishing and flavor-infused oils. They enhance every recipe, such as Chef Katie Chin’s hearty Spanish meat balls described below.

Smita Vasant of Saffron Spot and Kitchen Queens at the 150th birthday party of Garcia de la Cruz Olive Oil

The taste of García de la Cruz is delicate, refined and hearty. The health benefits add a whole layer of benefits to support the choice.

Olive oil could help prevent cardiovascular disease and assists in the regulation of cholesterol levels due to its high monounsaturated fat content. It has been shown to reduce LDL (“bad”cholesterol) levels. Here’s why:


• Extra Virgin Olive Oil contains vitamin D, which protect bones by stimulating absorption of calcium, helping to regulate the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Vitamin A in olive oil could contribute to the maintenance of soft and bony tissue.
• Olive Oil has antioxidant properties thanks to its contribution of vitamin E and polyphenols.
• EVOO is one of nature’s best beauty secrets due to its anti-aging properties that protect and soothe the skin.

Tapas from Spain at the Garcia de la Cruz Olive Oil 150th Birthday Party!

Our was the favorite Dry Cured Iberico de Bellota Chorizo made from 100% pure ibérico pork. It is unabashedly described as “delicious fat meat” on the box. Grass and acorn fed “de bellota”, the cured Iberico is free range, hormone & antibiotic free, 100% natural (no GMOs).

The sumptuous free range pork product arrives from Spain and USDA approved. it is artisanal and traceable from farm to table. It is made with the best quality salt, Spanish paprika and other spices.  

It is also available on Amazon.

A favorite Dry Cured Iberico de Bellota Chorizo made from 100% pure ibérico pork is a gift celebrating the 150th anniversary of Garcia de la Cruz olive oil.

Chef Katie Chin’s Spanish meatballs were inspired by a tapas food stall that impressed her while visiting Spain with family.  Spanish touches include Chorizo in the meatballs, smoked paprika infused sauce and organic plus extra virgin olive oil from García de la Cruz in both the meatballs and the sauce. 

Chef Katie Chin’s genuinely Spanish meatballs recipe made with Garcia de la Cruz olive oil are on p. 71 of her Global Family Cookbook
Spanish Meatballs celebrating “A Taste of Spain,” in KATIE CHIN’S GLOBAL FAMILY COOKBOOK

Celebrate by entering the contest for a remarkable array of gifts:

The Garcia de la Cruz competition!

Please find more details at:. //shop.garciadelacruzoliveoil.com/.

How Katie Chin’s Global Family Cookbook is a “Must-Have”

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) Katie’s book filled me with menu ideas from the minute I first looked through it at the suggestion of our friend @Tableconversation. Markers of recipes to cook soon filled own copy.

And I loved her book launch party demo. How can you resist a sophisticated lady who turned aside from the crowd while trying to tear off the paper guard from a seasoning bottle top, while she called out, “I don’t want you to see me opening this with my teeth but I always do.” So do we!

Markers quickly filled the pages my copy of Katie Chin’s “Must-have” Global Family Cookbook

“Must-have” Global Family Cookbook’s compilation of clearly written, ingeniously updated, enticing ethnic recipes plus one of the most comprehensive, compact sections on global pantry items; international noodle, chile and pepper varieties; cooking techniques and tools – are all thoughtfully photographed, making it a go-to reference book for all time.

Katie learned to cook alongside her mother and it’s an experience she now loves to share with her daughter. In a throw away line, she mentioned that her mom catered David Burkus’ bar mitzvah (Neil Patrik Harris partner). “But that’s another story,” she laughed. And we intend to hear it.

Katie Chin showing a recipe from her “Must-have” Global Family Cookbook

We already made two recipes that we loved: The Grilled Corn and the Grilled Shrimp with Tequila and Lime. We loved them, so did guests, and we would make them again anytime. Thanks go out to the inspiration prep and products for renewed favorite: corn on the cob.

Grilled Corn with Mexican Pesto on p. 207 features the flavors associated with the culture: lime, tequila and spices. We added the “shucked” version made for Katie’s daughter Becca, who wears braces on her teeth, as a choice for our guests.

Mexican flavors in Katie Chin’s Corn on the Cob from her GLOBAL FAMILY COOKBOOK
Our version of Corn on the Cob from Katie Chin’s GLOBAL FAMILY COOKBOOK
Katie’s version and our’s of Corn on the Cob her GLOBAL FAMILY COOKBOOK

Gelson’s Market came through with the one adamant corn 🌽 grilling tip of starting with quality, fresh corn (plus cilantro for the pesto). So juicy, flavorful you can almost eat it raw!

Fresh, quality corn that is vital to good eating, is so fresh at Gelson’s you can almost eat it raw.

We substituted Melissas’s Ground Green Hatch Chile for chili powder in the recipe to add just the perfect heat enhancing the cotija and pesto.

Hatch seasonings can be substituted for peppers in recipes for “heat” not jabs of spiky pepper

Thanks to @tableconversation and writer Mona Day who got me back to eating fresh corn – decades after I adored picking it to eat on my uncle’s gentleman farm near Ann Arbor. Thanks to CleverOne (TM) Board for our 2-year old mainstay, pliable NFlex “wood” backdrop and to Pots & Co for the little tub that originally held a decadent dessert. You can find links to those stories on: //localfoodeater.com/pots-cos-perfect-lava-cake-in-a-ceramic-pot/ and //localfoodeater.com/the-cleverone-board-for-a-smart-original-gift/

The irrepressible Katie Chin at her charity book launch party

We already Gelson’s Market fresh cilantro, minced garlic, plus a stash of 16-20 shrimp for the Grilled Tequila Lime Shrimp.

Grilled Tequila Lime Shrimp from Katie Chin’s Global Family Cookbook
Our Grilled Tequila Lime Shrimp from Katie Chin’s Global Family Cookbook
Our Grilled Tequila Lime Shrimp at bottom from Katie Chin’s Global Family Cookbook

We toasted Katie for this special “spirited” dish. We toasted the Jalisco Mexico highlands-based tequila line named in honor of fearless Adelita, who led the female fighters in the Mexican Revolution.

La Adelita named after an iconic woman who led fighters in the Mexican Revolution

Pad Thai (serving 4) is an example of the global holiday recipes developed for a home kitchen. It is perfect to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Katie gives the tip of substituting brown sugar and lime juice to mimic the classicTraditional Pad Thai recipe ingredient of tamarind concentrate to mimic its sweet tart signature taste. 

Pad Thai from Katie Chin’s “Must-have” Global Family Cookbook

Even Katie Chin’s Global Family Cookbook Launch Party was filled with the international, community spirit of the book with a food demo, cocktail party and activities for the fund raiser. Katie Chin is just one of those capable, food-passionate people who draws the best around her.  and, yes, you can see from the photos that she is as effervescent as in her TV cooking demonstrations, and as humble. Even meeting her for the first time amidst scores of guests she greeted me personally with a fellow writer’s affection and respect.  Wow.

At the Global Family Cookbook party. LocalFoodEater friend Cathy Arkle at bottom left

You can find Faye Levy’s Hanukah  recipe in Global Family Cookbook.  Here she is pictured with photographer-husband, Yakir, and podcast host, Linda Grasso.

Book contributors Faye and Yakir Levy, Linda Grasso of “Must-have” Global Family Cookbook

Katie Chin co-hosted the national PBS cooking series Double Happiness, has been a guest judge on Food Network’s Iron Chef America and appeared as a contestant on Cutthroat Kitchen and Beat Bobby Flay. Recently, Katie and her kids teamed up for the online series CoopedUp Cooking with Katie— meant to inspire people stuck at home during COVID-19 to get creative in the kitchen. She is the author of Everyday Thai Cooking and Katie Chin’s Everyday Chinese Cookbook and the Culinary Ambassador for The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Find her @chefkatiechin
 

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