Tex Gourmet

Gourmet Recipes & Gifts

Healthy Meal Recipes

Healthy eating starts with a plan. It's easy to say that you want to eat more local, seasonal foods and cut out the processed, refined sugar, starch, and fat, but without healthy meal plans to keep you on track, time and circumstances will quickly conspire to have you right back at that fast food drive-thru, picking up last-minute food for the family.

So, what should you do? The secret to eating right is to have your recipes lined up for the week, scheduled in such a way that you don't need to babysit a 5lb roast on your family's busiest night, and have all the ingredients that you need on hand, where you can find them. Time is an issue for almost everyone these days, but that shouldn't be an excuse for resorting to highly processed "convenience foods". Not only are there thousands of healthy recipes that can be thrown together in 20 minutes or less; you can also plan ahead to make large portions of slow-cooking foods like soups, stews, and large meat cuts on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, then freeze individual portions for easy meals on busier days.

The ritual of cooking on a weekend afternoon is a great way to spend family time, getting kids (and spouse!) more involved in the food they eat. Kids learn to make dietary choices by watching their parents, and the only way to instill good eating habits that will last a lifetime is to model them at home. Involve kids in choosing the weekly menu... offer them several healthy choices and let them choose what they want, and on which days. Let them watch and help with preparing the shopping list, and assist with age-appropriate cooking activities on "cooking day". It's amazing how many eighteen-year-olds leave the house for college or work, knowing only how to zap a frozen dinner in the microwave. It's a parent's job to teach children the skills they will need when they grow up, and what skill is more basic than the ability to feed themselves?

In addition to strengthening the bonds of family, healthy meal plans can strengthen the bonds in a community. If you've never visited your local farmers' market, you'll be amazed at the difference between the frenzy of hunch-shouldered supermarket shoppers maneuvering their battered carts through the crowded grocery store aisles, and the bustle of people talking and laughing as they move from stall to stall at the open air market, chatting with the farmers over tables of fresh, sustainably raised, local meat and produce. It's night and day.

So, give it a try. Sit down, write out a week's worth of recipe plans, write down all the ingredients you will need, and set aside a few hours one day to roast a chicken or make a huge pot of stew and a loaf of homemade bread. See how good it feels to toss out all the shrink-wrapped trash that you know you and your kids shouldn't be eating, and replace it with fresh, locally-grown food that makes your mouth water as it simmers on the stove on a cold winter afternoon. By changing your diet, you can change how you look, how you feel, and even your children's future. Why wait?

Rachel Steffan is a foodie with an interest in increasing people's awareness of local food, sustainable agriculture, and healthy eating.

Healthy Meal Plans

SIMPLE AND ENTICING RECIPES - COOK BOOK

$19.95

CuisinartWebstore SIMPLE AND ENTICING RECIPES - COOK BOOK

2-lb Convection Bread Maker

$129

CuisinartWebstore 2-lb Convection Bread Maker Healthy Options: Low Carb and Gluten-Free preset menu options and recipes. A Cuisinart exclusive! Artisan Dough: Special menu option takes basic dough through several long, slow cool rises for chewier textures and rustic crusts. Perfect Timing: Audible tone indicates time to add fruit, nuts and other “mix-ins.” Second tone offers option of removing paddle before baking, or removing unbaked dough to shape by hand. And More: 15-minute Pause, Bake-Only option, 12-Hour-Delay Start; 680 watts

Belgian Waffle Iron - 4 Slice

$69.95

CuisinartWebstore Belgian Waffle Iron - 4 Slice Six-setting browning control for light to dark golden waffles Audible tone signals when it’s time to fill the waffle iron and time to remove baked waffles Locking latch keeps unit closed while baking and for storing Nonstick baking plates clean up easily; Instruction book with waffle recipes

Automatic Frozen Yogurt/Ice Cream/Sorbet Maker-Wht

$49.95

CuisinartWebstore Automatic Frozen Yogurt/Ice Cream/Sorbet Maker-Wht Makes up to 1-1/2 quarts ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, or frozen drinks A breeze to use--no salt or ice needed Chocolate chips, chopped fruit, nuts, and other ingredients added Recipe booklet included; cord storage Ice Cream Maker, Heavy Duty Motor Makes Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream, Sherbet, Sorbet, & Frozen Drinks In 20 To 30 Minutes, Double Insulated Freezer Bowl Holds Up To 1-1/2 QT Of Frozen Dessert, Large Ingredient Spout For Adding Ingredients, Easy Lock Transparent Lid, Recipes Includes, 3 Year Limited Warranty.

Quick Prep® Hand Blender - White

$29.95

CuisinartWebstore Quick Prep® Hand Blender - White Weight: 4-lbs. Volts/Watts: 120 volts / 135 watts With its specially-shaped, lightweight handle that fits perfectly in your hand, this small appliance from Cuisinart is a delight to use! Featuring low and high speeds, it delivers exceptionally well as it blends tropical drinks, whips potatoes, purees sauces and mixes dressings. Features an all-purpose blade and a powerful, high-efficiency motor. Comes with a durable, two-cup container for mixing and measuring and an instructional booklet with over a dozen recipes.

Original Food Processor - Brushed Stainless

$149

CuisinartWebstore Original Food Processor - Brushed Stainless The work bowl is heat-resistant, cold-resistant and shatterproof. Features regular and extra-large feed tubes, stainless steel medium (4 mm) slicing disc and shredding disc Chopping and dough blades Easy to clean, with dishwasher-safe parts. A staple of many professional kitchens, Cuisinart's 7-cup food processor gets an updated look in brushed stainless. It slices whole fruits and vegetables, kneads bread dough and minces garlic with amazing ease. The work bowl is heat-resistant, cold-resistant and shatterproof. Features regular and extra-large feed tubes, stainless steel medium (4 mm) slicing disc and shredding disc. Also includes chopping and dough blades and comes with a spatula. Exclusive how-to book offers tips, techniques and recipes. Easy to clean, with dishwasher-safe parts.

2Qt. Cook & Pour Saucepan w/Cover

$39.99

CuisinartWebstore 2Qt. Cook & Pour Saucepan w/Cover Hard anodized construction heats quickly and spreads heat evenly. Eliminates hot spots. Quantanium® nonstick cooking surface is reinforced with titanium for lasting food release, healthy cooking and easy cleanup. Metal utensil safe. Great for classic cooking techniques like slow simmers, rolling boils and reduction of liquids. Also ideal for low temperature cooking of butter or cream-based sauces and custards. Break-resistant glass cover allows you to monitor food while it is cooking without losing heat or food flavors. Tightfitting cover seals in moisture and nutrients for healthier, more flavorful results, every time you cook. Limited lifetime warranty Uniquely designed to drain liquids easily and neatly, the pour saucepan is a welcome addition to any modern kitchen. Two different sized straining holes, pour spout and tapered rim make pouring and draining drip-free and simple! The saucepan is a kitchen essential. It performs all day long, cooking oatmeal in the morning, warming up leftovers for lunch and simmering pasta sauce for supper. Hard Anodized Exterior. Unsurpassed Heat Distribution. Hard anodized construction heats quickly and spreads heat evenly. Eliminates hot spots. Quantanium® Non-Stick for Professional Results. Quantanium® nonstick cooking surface is reinforced with titanium for lasting food release, healthy cooking and easy cleanup. Metal utensil safe. Great for classic cooking techniques like slow simmers, rolling boils and reduction of liquids. Also ideal for low temperature cooking of butter or cream-based sauces and custards. Cool Grip™ Handle. Solid stainless steel riveted handle stays cool on the stovetop. Drip-Free Pouring--Tapered rim and pour spout. Tempered Glass Cover. Break-resistant glass cover allows you to monitor food while it is cooking without losing heat or food flavors. Tightfitting cover seals in moisture and nutrients for healthier, more flavorful results, every time you cook. Constructed to Last. Limited lifetime warranty.

Chef's Classic Hard Anodized 3Qt Cook & Pour Pan

$49.95

CuisinartWebstore Chef's Classic Hard Anodized 3Qt Cook & Pour Pan Hard anodized construction heats quickly and spreads heat evenly. Eliminates hot spots. Quantanium® nonstick cooking surface is reinforced with titanium for lasting food release, healthy cooking and easy cleanup. Metal utensil safe. Great for classic cooking techniques like slow simmers, rolling boils and reduction of liquids. Also ideal for low temperature cooking of butter or cream-based sauces and custards. Break-resistant glass cover allows you to monitor food while it is cooking without losing heat or food flavors. Tightfitting cover seals in moisture and nutrients for healthier, more flavorful results, every time you cook. Limited lifetime warranty Uniquely designed to drain liquids easily and neatly, the pour saucepan is a welcome addition to any modern kitchen. Two different sized straining holes, pour spout and tapered rim make pouring and draining drip-free and simple! The saucepan is a kitchen essential. It performs all day long, cooking oatmeal in the morning, warming up leftovers for lunch and simmering pasta sauce for supper. Hard Anodized Exterior. Unsurpassed Heat Distribution. Hard anodized construction heats quickly and spreads heat evenly. Eliminates hot spots. Quantanium® Non-Stick for Professional Results. Quantanium® nonstick cooking surface is reinforced with titanium for lasting food release, healthy cooking and easy cleanup. Metal utensil safe. Great for classic cooking techniques like slow simmers, rolling boils and reduction of liquids. Also ideal for low temperature cooking of butter or cream-based sauces and custards. Cool Grip™ Handle. Solid stainless steel riveted handle stays cool on the stovetop. Drip-Free Pouring--Tapered rim and pour spout. Tempered Glass Cover. Break-resistant glass cover allows you to monitor food while it is cooking without losing heat or food flavors. Tightfitting cover seals in moisture and nutrients for healthier, more flavorful results, every time you cook. Constructed to Last. Limited lifetime warranty.

Advantage Non-Stick 10 Piece Set - Black

$99.95

CuisinartWebstore Advantage Non-Stick 10 Piece Set - Black 1.0 Qt. Saucepan with Cover 2.5 Qt. Saucepan with Cover 3 Qt. Sauté Pan with Cover 6 Qt. Stockpot with Cover Prepare virtually anything with the Cuisinart® Advantage Non-Stick 10- or 15-piece Cookware collection. An elegant metallic exterior that complements any kitchen décor lets cooks simmer, sauté, fry, boil and braise in style. The pure aluminum core provides quick and even heat while the premium nonstick surface provides lasting food release and easy cleanup. Fantastic results with dishwasher safe convenience. Best Heat Conductor: Aluminum heats quickly and cooks at an even temperature, eliminating hot spots. Resilience™ Non-Stick Interior: Cuisinart exclusive nonstick ﬁnish provides lasting food release, healthy cooking, and easy cleaning. Cuisinart Easy Grip™ Silicone Handles: Handles are designed to provide a secure and comfortable grip. Riveted stick handles stay cool on the stovetop. Easy Cleanup: Cookware is dishwasher safe for convenient cleaning. Tempered Glass Covers:Glass covers allow you to view results while cooking. Tight ﬁtting lids seal in ﬂavors and nutrients. Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Advantage Non-Stick 10 Piece Set - Red

$99.95

CuisinartWebstore Advantage Non-Stick 10 Piece Set - Red 1.0 Qt. Saucepan with Cover 2.5 Qt. Saucepan with Cover 3 Qt. Sauté Pan with Cover 6 Qt. Stockpot with Cover Prepare virtually anything with the Cuisinart® Advantage Non-Stick 10- or 15-piece Cookware collection. An elegant metallic exterior that complements any kitchen décor lets cooks simmer, sauté, fry, boil and braise in style. The pure aluminum core provides quick and even heat while the premium nonstick surface provides lasting food release and easy cleanup. Fantastic results with dishwasher safe convenience. Best Heat Conductor: Aluminum heats quickly and cooks at an even temperature, eliminating hot spots. Resilience™ Non-Stick Interior: Cuisinart exclusive nonstick ﬁnish provides lasting food release, healthy cooking, and easy cleaning. Cuisinart Easy Grip™ Silicone Handles: Handles are designed to provide a secure and comfortable grip. Riveted stick handles stay cool on the stovetop. Easy Cleanup: Cookware is dishwasher safe for convenient cleaning. Tempered Glass Covers:Glass covers allow you to view results while cooking. Tight ﬁtting lids seal in ﬂavors and nutrients. Limited Lifetime Warranty.

	Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Venison Meal & Rice Recipe Sale Price: $31.49
	15 lbs. Specially formulated without beef, poultry or dairy products for dietary sensitive dogs. Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Venison Meal & Rice RecipeMaintenance Venison Meal and Rice is an excellent daily diet for all dogs...

	Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Venison Meal & Rice Recipe Sale Price: $47.69
	35 lbs. Specially formulated without beef, poultry or dairy products for dietary sensitive dogs. Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Venison Meal & Rice RecipeMaintenance Venison Meal and Rice is an excellent daily diet for all dogs...

	Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Venison Meal and Rice Recipe Canine Formula Sale Price: $63.49 Average Rating:
	Healthy Skin Venison Meal & Rice Recipe is designed to help avoid common pet food ingredients that may cause food intolerances such as beef, corn, wheat, pork, soy or dairy products. It is lactose-free and contains no color additives or artificial preservatives...

	Food Network Celebrates!: Healthy Cooking (3 DVD Set) Sale Price: $14.40
	Food Network Celebrates!: Healthy Cooking brings together three of your Food Network favorites in a collection all about healthy cooking. Featuring nutritious menus and delicious recipes, this three disc set provides you with great meal ideas and fantastic, healthy dishes you can make at home...

	Giada At Home: Season One (3 DVD Set) Sale Price: $28.49
	On Giada at Home, Giada De Laurentiis shares her love for entertaining California-style. Be Giada's guest as she puts together unique meals for gatherings with friends and family. Whether it's a festive bash or an intimate meal, in her own kitchen or at the beach, it's a day of memorable food and fun with Giada at Home...