CSA Delivered!

Don't have a CSA near you or just don't want to commit to weekly pick-ups?

No worries, for as little as $32 a week, FruitGuys.com will deliver a case filled with seasonal, organic fruits and veggies to your door step!  You choose the size, variety and delivery schedule.

Another super, easy way to support small farmers, even if they're not in your backyard.

Healthy Eating!
The Hoff

Event: Author Michael Pollen Comes to Cleveland!

Author of such books as: "Food Rules, An Eater's Manual," "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food," Michael Pollen is coming to Cleveland!

"Pollen writes about the places where nature and culture intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens, and in the built environment."

When: October 24, 2011
Where: Playhouse Square Ohio Theatre: 1501 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200 Cleveland, OH 44115

Time: 7:30pm
Cost: $30 per person

More info and purchase tickets

Ground Beef Recall Tied to Ohio E. Coli Outbreak

Re-post courtesy of: Food Safety News

Ground Beef Recall Tied to Ohio E. Coli Outbreak
BY MARY ROTHSCHILD | SEP 28, 2011

An undisclosed number of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Ohio has prompted Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. to recall of 131,300 pounds of ground beef, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced just before 10 p.m. PDT Tuesday.

In a news release, FSIS said it became aware of the problem Monday when it was notified by the Ohio Department of Health of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Butler County with onset dates from Sept. 8 through Sept. 11. The number of illnesses wasn't given.

On Tuesday, results of tests on ground beef collected from "the patients' home" on Sept. 19 were returned and were positive for the pathogen, the FSIS said.

The agency and Tyson said they are concerned that consumers may freeze the ground beef from the suspect lots before use, and that some of the ground beef may be in consumers' freezers. "FSIS strongly encourages consumers to check their freezers and immediately discard any product subject to this recall," the statement advised.

The ground beef being recalled is:

• 5-pound chubs (cylinders of ground beef) of Kroger-brand "GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN - 27% FAT," packed in 40-pound cases containing eight chubs. Cases bear an identifying product code of "D-0211 QW." These products were produced on Aug. 23, 2011 and were shipped to distribution centers in Indiana and Tennessee for retail sale.
• 3-pound chubs of Butcher's Brand "GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN - 27% FAT," packed in 36-pound cases each containing 12 chubs. Cases bear an identifying product code of "D-0211 LWIF." These products were produced on Aug. 23, 2011 and were shipped to distribution centers in North Carolina and South Carolina for retail sale.
• 3-pound chubs of a generic label "GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN - 27% FAT," packed in 36-pound cases each containing 12 chubs. Cases bear an identifying product code of "D-0211 LWI." These products were produced on Aug. 23, 2011 and were shipped to distribution centers in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin for retail sale.

The products subject to recall have a "BEST BEFORE OR FREEZE BY" date of "SEP 12 2011" and the establishment number "245D" ink jetted along the package seam. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS' website.

FSIS said it is continuing to work with Ohio public health officials on the investigation.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall should contact the company at 1-866-328-3156.

Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160° F, as measured by a tip-sensitive food thermometer.

Re-post courtesy of: Food Safety News

You are dehydrated.

Well, maybe not everyone, but the vast majority of you are.  I know this because all I drink every day is water and I "attempt" to get the recommended 64 ounces of water a day and it wasn't until recently that I actually kept track through a typical day and I was lucky if I consumed half of that.

Here's the problem with this:

The body, on a typical day losses 10 cups of water through urine, sweat and breathing.  If you are very active or the weather is scorching, you will lose even more water throughout the day (aim for an additional 20 ounces of water on those days).

Just by eating, you will regain 2 cups of water from food.  This leaves another 8 cups to make up for and this is why the daily recommendation is to drink 64 ounces or 8 cups of water every day.

Lets put this into perspective:

Photo Courtesy: How Stuff Works

"Up to 60% of the human body is water, the brain is composed of 70% water, and the lungs are nearly 90% water. Lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water by weight, as is the brain; body fat contains 10% water and bone has 22% water." Source: USGS, "The Water in You"

I don't know about you, but I don't feel like short changing any of those areas and we don't get to decide where the water goes.

So how do you ensure you replenish?

Dedicate a water pitcher to your daily intake (don't share) - either one that can hold 64 ounces of water or half that and refill (anything beyond two refills and you are likely to lose count) and use it to fill a water bottle that you carry with you.  I like to use re-purposed Snapple bottles (I prefer glass over plastic) which are 16 ounces each - once I have had four of those I know that I have hit my quota for the day and anything beyond that is a bonus.

Bottoms Up!
The Hoff

Pumpkin Time!!!

Pumpkin rocks and I'm not just talking pumpkin pie!

The easiest and cheapest way to get your hands on pumpkin is with Libby's canned 100% Pure Pumpkin.  It's already cooked, contains no salt, no sugar, no flavorings or preservatives, just plain pumpkin, people!  Keep in mind that you want the 15oz. can of Pure Pumpkin, not the larger can of Pumpkin Pie Mix.

Why eat pumpkin?

For one, it's delicious - why would you ask such a question?  Ok, ok, here's more reasons: it's high in fiber, full of nutrients: potassium, calcium, Vitamin A, C and E, beta-carotene and anti-oxidants, among other things.  Pumpkin has no fat, no cholesterol and is very low in sodium and sugar.  It's also low in calories (you darn, calorie counters!) - 1/2 cup is only 40 calories.  Oh yeah, it's a Fall staple!

What to do with pumpkin?

• Straight up side dish spiked with nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar
• Add to chili for fiber boost
• Replacement for oil and eggs in cake mixes
• Mix with winter squash
• Enhance thickness, texture and fiber of sauces
• Add 1/2 cup to your morning oatmeal - yum!
• Hoff's Pumpkin Pudding
• Pumpkin Pancakes!
• Not enough for ya?  Check out Libby's Recipes for more ideas!

The Great Mystery...

I don't fully understand what's going on, but I can only get my hands on the plain canned pumpkin starting in the fall and throughout the holidays. After that, the shelves are barren - only the canned pumpkin pie mix remains.

A few years ago, the pumpkin harvests were hit hard by bad weather and that was the reason for the MIA pumpkin, but one would think the industry would have bounced back by now.

The point is, stock up!  Buy in bulk to get you through the year until next fall.

Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

The Hoff

New Website Alert: PBS Food

PBS has devoted a new website to all things food, PBS Food!

"PBS Food will unite cooking shows, blogs and recipes from PBS and local stations across the country. From Julia Child to Jose Andres to local restaurant reviews, this site will celebrate the iconic chefs and culinary treats you love from PBS."

Check out the sneak preview now - full site to launch soon!

Don't forget to subscribe for the weekly newsletter.

Dig In!The Hoff

The Healthy Hoff Gets a New Home!

The Healthy Hoff has moved!

Well not really, but I do have a new address!

www.healthyhoff.com

You can still find The Hoff at my blogger address: www.thehealthyhoff.blogspot.com/

If you've bookmarked the old address, you may be asked if you want to redirect, no worries - just think of it as mail forwarding like the post office does.

Prost!
The Hoff