Bulgogi

A dear friend of mine introduced me to Bulgogi when I was in college and this recipe has become a quick favorite among friends and family. This recipe was a family tradition for her family in Washington state and the only time they would prepare Bulgogi is when all of her family was able to come together. She became homesick while in college and asked me to make the dish for her one day. After preparing this dish once I instantly loved how easy it was to make such a tasty and nutritious meal.

Bulgogi is a Korean style barbecue that is very nutritious with only 89 calories and 7 grams of fat per serving. With the holidays coming up this would be a great dish to make if you have guest to entertain. This recipe will allow you to serve a warm and delicious meal without taking you away from your friends and family for an extended amount of time. This Bulgogi dish will keep your guest healthy, happy and entertained by such a unique dish.

This dish would also be a great way to introduce children, friends and family to new cultures and their customs. With Bulgogi being a Korean dish you could serve the Bulgogi with a bowl of whole grain rice and chop sticks to add spice to your family dinner one night. America is such a blessed place to grow up and raise a family because we have the opportunity to be introduced so many different cuisines and cultures without ever leaving the country. All of the ingredients can be found at your local grocery store for a reasonable price and do not require you to travel to special market stores.

I hope this dish warms your heart and stomach as much as it has warmed mine. Bulgogi has become a special dish for me to make for my friends and family and I hope this dish will become special for you as well.

Spicy Fish Tacos

I must admit when I tell people about my Spicy Fish Taco recipe I have seen some facial expressions that give me the impression that it does not sound appealing in any form or fashion. But when I serve this dish to them their expressions immediately change and I begin to hear remarks such as, “Oh my, this is absolutely delicious! I cannot believe it! What is the recipe?” Ha!

So if you eat fish all of the time I feel you will be pleased, and if you do not normally include fish in your diet after trying this recipe you may change your opinion altogether. This is not only a simple recipe, but it is quick and easy too. And people will rave about the taste and appearance! The best part is it is not expensive to prepare and can serve a lot of people so if you’re on a budget, it is a great choice.

According to the Mayo Clinic, fish is usually low in calories, saturated fat and cholesterol, and is a great source of protein and numerous vitamins. Fish is also high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Just remember to practice good food safety, such as:

•When selecting fish or seafood products remember to purchase from a reputable source, if you buy something from a street vendor it may not have been kept at a safe temperature or proper food handling practices used and could cause food borne illness. Be very particular where you purchase seafood.

•When buying packaged seafood products check the packaging for any tears or rips to ensure you do not end up with bacteria transfer with other grocery items.

•Check expiration dates on the packaging labels.

•Don’t purchase any fish products that look or smell strange.

•Make sure when grocery shopping you place the refrigerated items in the cart at the end of your shopping trip and always keep meats away from produce and other items.

•If you are traveling for more than 1 hour following grocery shopping think about utilizing a cooler to keep them at the right temperature.

I hope you try this recipe I know you will be pleased and if you absolutely do not like fish you can use chicken as a substitute and it will still be delicious!

I would like to give special thanks to Danielle Hammond, RD. Extension Assistant, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Amanda Scott, RD, LD, MS. Program Specialist with Expanded Nutrition with the Nutrition and Food Science Department with Texas AgriLife Extension Service for their time, support and input to make this project successful.

Take care my friends,
Cassandra