I made these little plateful of deliciousness for Easter and they were a hit.  I had wanted something lighter as we had plenty of heavy deserts.  The link below will take you to the strawberry cheesecake bites.  


I did learn a couple of things I wanted to share.  First, I used low sugar Strawberry Jam and it tasted great!  Second, I did this in a hurry so had to put it in the microwave to soften and then whipped them together.  It really needed time to set back up in the fridge but alas I didn't have that time so mine were not as pretty.  Finally, I did not cut mine in half either.  I simply cored them and then filled them with the filling and stood them up on the plate.  I made almost two containers of strawberries and only had a couple of them left at the end of the day.  

I would conclude that they were a hit and a fantastic lighter alternative to an actual cheesecake :).  

​strawberry-cheesecake-strawberry-bites.html

Great Value, other pie and tart shells recalled for tainted flour BY NEWS DESK | APRIL 27, 2017Another food recall in Canada is underway in the midst of an E. coli outbreak as several brands of pie and tart shells made with flour linked to 28 illnesses are being pulled from retailers across the country.
Harlan Bakeries of Edmonton and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are warning consumers to check their homes for the recalled products, according to the recall notice posted on the CFIA’s website. Products included in the Harlan Bakeries recall include Great Value and other brands listed here:
Brand NameCommon NameSizeCode(s) on ProductUPCno nameDeep Dish Pie Shells380 gBest before dates:
2017 NO 24
2017 DE 010 60383 05599 8
no nameSweetened Tart shells570 gBest before dates:
2017 DE 01
2017 DE 080 60383 10429 0
no nameTart Shells570 gBest before dates:
2017 NO 28
2017 NO 29
2017 DE 05
2017 DE 19
2017 DE 200 60383 68840 0
Great ValueDeep Dish Pie Shells380 gBest before dates:
2017 NO 24
2017 DE 016 28915 08589 1
Great ValueTart Shells228 gBest before date:
2017 DE 216 28915 08590 7
Great ValueTart Shells570 gBest before dates:
2017 NO 29
2017 NO 30
2017 DE 066 28915 08591 4
Apple Valley2″ Sweet Tart Shells640 gBest before date:
2017NO246 87415 17100 8
Apple Valley3″ Tart Shells570 gBest before dates:
2017 NO 30
2017 DE 096 87415 17103 9
Western Family12 Tart Shells228 gBest before date:
2017 DE 070 62639 30952 7

“Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased,” according to the recall. “It is not safe to taste or eat raw dough or batter regardless of the type of flour used, as raw flour can be contaminated with harmful bacteria such as E. coli O121. Food contaminated with E. coli O121 may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.”
Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the pathogen so the proper diagnostic tests can be performed.
Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, mild to severe abdominal cramps and watery to bloody diarrhea. In severe cases of illness, some people may have seizures or strokes, need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis or live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die, according to the recall notice.
“This recall was triggered by findings by the CFIA during its investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak,” the recall notice states. “There have been reported illnesses associated with flour; however, at this time, there have been no confirmed illnesses associated with the products identified in this Food Recall Warning.”
The Public Health Agency of Canada has confirmed 27 cases of E. coli O121 infections across five Canadian provinces since November 2016 that have been linked to flour produced by Ardent Mills Canada. A 28th victim was a visitor to the country.
Seven of the outbreak victims were hospitalized, but are recovering. No deaths have been reported in relation to the outbreak.
The previous recalls of the implicated flour and products made with it are:

• 2017-04-16 – Various brands of flour and flour products recalled due to E. coli O121
• 2017-04-12 – Various brands of flour and flour products recalled due to E. coli O121
• 2017-04-04 – Robin Hood brand All Purpose Flour, Original recalled due to E. coli O121
• 2017-03-28 – Robin Hood brand All Purpose Flour, Original recalled due to E. coli O121

Summer is upon us and the big ole gas (propane) grill is just too much for the two of us.  The kids are all grown and out of the house so do we really need that monster any longer?  So, I decided to look around for a smaller grill - now to decide what kind I really wanted.  

For the past I do not know how many years I have cooked on a gas grill and believe I have really good flavor with it as well.  However my husband says he really loves the flavor that  Charcoal grills impart.  So, charcoal grill it was.  Therefore, with it being just the two of us - I did not really want something that took a lot of briquettes as feel that is kind of a waste too.  Hence, I let my fingers do the walking on the internet and came up with this little gem.  It is a ceramic table top grill & it is just perfect. I put a handful of coals in each side and cooked 4 steaks on it to perfection.  The grill has two openings on the side that can be opened & closed to control the air flow.  It does come with the grate on top but not a cover.  I found the smaller cookie sheet I have fits perfectly.   I will also tell you that cookie sheet gets very very hot so use something to protect your hand (see my last picture of essential tools I used for grilling out).  The mitt  is by Wolf Gang Puck and I can use it to handle the meat too but I just used my grilling fork for turning / picking up the meat. On the plus side, I just used the baking sheet to take my meat back into the house when it was done.  

And always - be sure to check your meat temperature with a meat thermometer before removing them from the grill.  Remember Salmonella illness peaks in the summer time so take care not to give yourself or family members food borne illness!  AskKaren is the USDA/FSIS website with tips for keeping your food safe (see link below).  

https://askkaren.gov/

​Now all that is left is to grill & chill (maybe with a mean Margarita :)).  

​ENJOY!

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Please review this recall if you have Jalapeño Lays potato chips!

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm554447.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

I know people think - how come we can't get rid of the recalls for Salmonella.  Well, first Salmonella is ubiquitious in the environment.  Meaning it is in the ground, in water, etc. so it is a tough one to get rid of.  Not that we can't keep working towards irradiating this bug but it will take time!

​

ConAgra issues a nation wide recall for their frozen meals with brownie that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2017/pha-042017

While Salmonella illness from Poultry has went down the numbers for Salmonella illnesses with other vehicles is still high.  This is a tough one to irradicate but hopefully one day we can get there.  

In Association with Lakeside Foods, Inc., ALDI Voluntarily Recalls Season’s Choice Frozen Sweet Peas

Here are the states that these peas were distributed to:  

• Florida
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• Ohio
• West Virginia

For more information on this recall you can go to www.fda.gov.  

Please check your freezers against the list on the website if you buy frozen peas from Aldi's.

Here is a move that I think is very positive by USDA/FSIS to expand their hours making them more available.  At a time, when we are still seeing recalls pretty much every day,, there still has to be some accountability by the public as they prepare their foods as well.  Meaning they need to know not to cut up fresh vegetables on a cutting board they use to cut up meat, etc.  How to properly thaw their meats and so many more food safety guidelines!  

I know the Jr. high school here at least includes it in their science curriculum now but how many schools really do this?  As both parents tend to work and there are more and more single parent homes the children are left to pick up a lot of the chores which includes cooking.  Therefore, we need to be teaching this at a younger age.  

But, in lieu of teaching them in school - making the information available to consumers and their families so they can learn it at home is a great value!  

Consumers can contact the Meat and Poultry Hotline to speak to a live food expert at 1-888-674-6854, or visit Ask Karen to chat or email (in English or Spanish), Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time/7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific Time.

Football season is upon us and time to get out some of those old favorites but with a new twist.  I do love me some Pinterest for new ideas on some old favorites.  My old favorite usually just dumping in a bottle of barbecue sauce and the Lil smokies but found this twist on Pinterest which turned out great!  My husband even commented that he really liked them without me having to ask for his opinion.  So, I am guessing this recipe is a keeper in our household!  It also utilizes one of my all time favorite tools in the kitchen which is - you guessed it!  The Crock Pot!!!  Which means less prep time in the kitchen for me and more football watching with my family!  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did. 

http://www.foodiecrush.com/slow-cooker-little-smokies/

I have seen it all now I think (but probably actually not).  It amazes me that our government has to take the time to write out personal safety tips for operating a microwave.  But then again, in this age, when a person can sue over a hot cup of coffee that they ordered then the manufacturers are probably grateful that FDA put out these instructions as well.  So, below is a link on how to safely operate your microwave and what "Not" to do.  I did read through the instructions and did find them interesting.  So, if you are a parent, sending your teenager off to college and you are getting them a microwave then I would probably include these instructions for them as well.   Or, if you have a teenager at home who is using the microwave then you very well might want to review these safety tips with them.  Yes, even as they roll their eyes at you and sigh because they know it all, if it means one less accident and no major burns THAT IS A WIN!   

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048953.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Wow - I have spent this week at training and seminars / conferences put on by International Association of Food Protection and it has been amazing.  This afternoon, my last seminar was on Food Safety Culture led by Frank Yiannas the VP of Food Safety for Wal-Mart along with two other speakers.  They presented such great material on how our typical training is not working and food safety cultural change that is working in a company from New Zealand. If training was working we would not be having this conversation.  I also believe as a Society and as a country we do not put forth food safety culture as a priority either.  Are we ahead of a lot of other countries yes but in some aspects we are behind as well.  Other countries have already incorporated food safety culture in their food code.  Other countries have developed tools and determining how to incorporate with their government enforcement agencies.  So, my message is that we cannot just set back and say we are good and put it all on the back of the manufacturers. They do have their fair share in creating a food safety culture within their organization but we as people need to create a food safety culture within our country as well.   There are even websites to help us such as http://www.fightbac.org/ or USDA/FSIS - Ask Karen that offer a ton of information.   When was the last time that we volunteered to talk to FHA group in high school, participate in September Food Safety Month in some fashion?  I know for me it has been a while so while I preach Food Safety Culture to my employer I also have to look at myself in that mirror and say; "What have I done to promote Food Safety Culture lately"?