BBQ Chicken Pizza:
1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into small pieces
1 Homemade Gourmet® Season 'n' Steam BBQ Chicken Sandwich Mix
½ cup ketchup
½ cup water
2 prebaked pizza crusts
2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided
Toppings of Your Choice:
Cubed Pineapple
Shredded lettuce
Diced tomato
Diced onion
Sliced jalapenos
1. Place meat in steamer bag, close and place in microwave. Cook on high for 4 minutes. Using an oven mitt, carefully remove bag from microwave, open and stir meat. Reseal bag and return to microwave. Cook on high an additional 4 minutes. Once again, using an oven mitt, remove bag from microwave. Drain liquid off meat (drain liquid off meat by tilting the bag to one side to allow the liquid to pour out using the vent holes on the side of the bag or by slightly opening one end of the zipper seal).
2. While meat cooks, prepare the sauce by combining the mix, ketchup and water in a small bowl; stir well. Spread 3 tablespoons of sauce on each pizza crust. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese evenly over each crust.
3. Pour remaining sauce into drained steamer bag and stir until all meat is coated. Reseal and place back in microwave. Cook on high for 2 minutes. Stir one last time and spoon equal portions onto pizza crusts.
4. Place pizzas in oven preheated to 350 degrees or on a preheated grill on medium heat. Cook until cheese is completely melted and crust reaches desired crispiness, about 15 minutes. Add your choice of toppings. Slice and serve warm.
Serves 8 (2 slices).
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Understanding 'Use By' Dates
Understanding ‘use by’ dates and using them to your advantage
Let’s provide a few definitions first:
Homemade Gourmet uses a “best if used by” date (or use by date): Homemade Gourmet stamps all mixes with a “Best if used by [date]” and a lot code under the label. The lot code provides the information needed to determine the exact manufacture date. This is the date by which the user -- either you or your customer -- should aim to use the product; it is not an expiration date. "Best if used by" dates are the food manufacturer’s estimate of the date after which a product is no longer at its peak flavor and quality. Manufacturers voluntarily place this date on the packaging as a general guide. Most foods are OK to consume after the use-by date but may be lacking in flavor or freshness.
Other terminology used in the industry, but not by Homemade Gourmet:
Sell by date: This date is for vendors (typically grocers) — not consumers. Homemade Gourmet does not use “sell by” dates, but for your reference the “sell-by” date on groceries is meant to notify your grocer to pull the product off the shelf. While consumers shouldn't purchase foods beyond their sell-by dates, foods past their sell-by dates are not necessarily spoiled. If the product has remained unopened and there aren't any signs of spoilage, it may still be OK to eat.
Expiration date: Just as the word indicates, this is the date on which a food is expected to spoil. Expiration dates are typically used on fresh foods (not dry mixes like Homemade Gourmet seasonings), but they are not required by federal law. You should not consume or taste foods past this date.
Let’s provide a few definitions first:
Homemade Gourmet uses a “best if used by” date (or use by date): Homemade Gourmet stamps all mixes with a “Best if used by [date]” and a lot code under the label. The lot code provides the information needed to determine the exact manufacture date. This is the date by which the user -- either you or your customer -- should aim to use the product; it is not an expiration date. "Best if used by" dates are the food manufacturer’s estimate of the date after which a product is no longer at its peak flavor and quality. Manufacturers voluntarily place this date on the packaging as a general guide. Most foods are OK to consume after the use-by date but may be lacking in flavor or freshness.
Other terminology used in the industry, but not by Homemade Gourmet:
Sell by date: This date is for vendors (typically grocers) — not consumers. Homemade Gourmet does not use “sell by” dates, but for your reference the “sell-by” date on groceries is meant to notify your grocer to pull the product off the shelf. While consumers shouldn't purchase foods beyond their sell-by dates, foods past their sell-by dates are not necessarily spoiled. If the product has remained unopened and there aren't any signs of spoilage, it may still be OK to eat.
Expiration date: Just as the word indicates, this is the date on which a food is expected to spoil. Expiration dates are typically used on fresh foods (not dry mixes like Homemade Gourmet seasonings), but they are not required by federal law. You should not consume or taste foods past this date.
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