It’s bring-a-dish season!
Picnics, parties, potlucks all call for great food and drink! Aunt Nellie’s and READ have some delicious solutions for your next bring-a-dish occasion. Check out the e-newsletter for some of our ideas.
What is your go-to when you’re asked to bring a dish?
The first three responses will receive a $25 gift card and coupons for free Aunt Nellie’s and READ Salads products.
Does panic set in when you’re getting ready to cook and you realize you don’t have an ingredient or the correct sized pan? Often there are solutions right in your kitchen!
The internet has many excellent substitution lists, as do cookbooks. Always turn to a reliable source. And, always keep in mind what kind of recipe you’re making. For example, if you need a substitute for white wine, either chicken or vegetable broth would work just fine in a savory dish like a casserole or sauce. But not in a dessert. Think about white grape juice or apple juice to replace the wine in this case.
In a recipe calling for diced or chopped Aunt Nellie’s Pickled Beets, you have many choices for substitutions. Chopped or diced pickled beets can be made from whole or sliced pickled beets or baby whole pickled beets. Or try individual serving-size cups of diced pickled beets…they make a quick and easy substitution, plus they’re great for making a recipe for one or two instead of opening a jar of beets.
Have you ever thought about using drained Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage in place of sauerkraut in a Reuben sandwich, for example, or in a dish such as choucroute garni? It’s a great substitute…it’s just a bit milder flavor than sauerkraut. Try it as a pasta sauce ingredient in place of the usual tomatoes. Once you get started, you’ll think of lots of ways to use it…as an addition to vegetable-based soup or as the base for bacon jam, for example.
Pantry staples READ Bean Salads can come to the rescue is so many ways. Straight from the can, they are a ready-to eat accompaniment when you’ve forgotten to plan ahead, so always keep them on-hand in the pantry. Or with a few additions, they can become a main dish in minutes.
Southwestern Bean Salad can substitute for kidney, pinto or other beans in chili or soup. For the quickest bean soup ever, coarsely mash about half the can or bean salad, add to sauce pan with remaining salad. Add on-hand vegetables like diced onion, celery, carrots, tomatoes, garlic. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the veggies are cooked. Add water or broth if needed for the consistency you like. Seasonings such as chili powder, cumin, black pepper, oregano can also be added. Stir in chopped spinach or kale at the end of cooking for another nutrition boost.
Wondering about 3 and 4 Bean Salads and how they can become mealtime solutions? Check these out:
Pizza (Southwestern Bean Mexican Pizza), Sandwiches (Mediterranean Bean & Pita-wiches), Salads (Steak & German Potato Salad/Quick Italian Bean Salad/Antipasto Bean Salad)
Having a well-stocked pantry (and that’s including the refrigerator and freezer) makes it easy to prepare a meal, snack or even an impromptu cocktail party entirely with what’s on hand.
Rule #1 is to stock up on foods that you and your family enjoy, in addition to the basics. That means stocking the pantry, refrigerator and freezer.
Rule #2 is to learn to be flexible and creative. Just because you don’t have an exact ingredient on hand does not mean that the recipe can’t be prepared. If a recipe calls for a red onion and the only one you have on hand is a yellow onion, try it; it will work just fine. No chicken broth? Try vegetable broth, or white wine, depending on the recipe.
Aunt Nellie’s vegetables and READ Salads are pantry basics that can pair up with numerous other ingredients to create dishes that don’t require a trip to the supermarket before you can prepare them.
OK let’s see what we can create. How about an appetizer…Baby Beets & Olives? Grab a jar of Aunt Nellie’s Baby Whole Pickled Beets and drain them. Then select some olives from the pantry or refrigerator. They can be assorted as the recipe calls for, or if you only have one kind on hand, use those. Add some orange zest…no oranges? Try lemon or another citrus zest. No citrus on hand? Get creative; toss in some fresh herbs or herb paste, or perhaps a no-salt seasoning blend. Add coarsely ground black pepper, and salt if needed. Pull out some nuts, cheese and crackers and a bottle of wine and you’ve got an impromptu cocktail party ready to go.
Need a quick dinner? Make Aunt Nellie’s Whole Onion and Fresh Tomato Sauce and toss it with spaghetti or angel hair pasta for a really quick and delicious meal. Drain a jar of Holland-Style Onions. Sauté some garlic and simmer with the onions and wine or broth. Add tomatoes and roasted bell peppers. No fresh tomatoes on hand? Then drain canned tomatoes and substitute them for the fresh. Pair with the pasta and dinner is served.
Need a salad‒no problem. Always keep a few cans of READ Salads in the fridge. Then, when you need a salad in a hurry, just open the can and serve chilled or room temperature is fine, too. They taste like homemade, so no embellishing needed. But…the experienced impromptu cook knows that these salads are also the springboard to a variety of other delicious dishes such as Bean & Vegetable Salad. Open a can of 3 or 4 Bean Salad and drain. Use 2 tablespoons of the drained liquid along with vinegar, olive oil and garlic to make a dressing. No olive oil? Use canola. No apple cider or wine vinegar? Use rice vinegar or balsamic for a change of pace. Slice up some on-hand vegetables and red onion (use green or yellow onions if red isn’t available in your pantry). Toss with the bean salad and homemade dressing. Or, skip making the dressing and use your favorite from the fridge!
Stock the pantry and find other great recipes at READSalads.com.
Yes, healthy eating should be a year-round commitment, but often the goal to eat healthier and get into shape really kicks in when spring arrives. And yet the concept of healthy eating still eludes us. We think the food will be boring, not very tasty, not many choices, etc.
If you think a plain salad is the highway to healthy eating, READ Salads wants to change that view by taking one recipe that’s good for you (a bean salad), and showing how it can be changed up with other healthy ingredients to make delicious variations. So here goes!
Bean & Vegetable Salad is made with READ 3 or 4 Bean Salad, fresh veggies and a cider vinegar dressing. Easy and delicious. Makes a great side dish, or enjoy a larger portion as a main dish. Don’t stop there. Consider these other ideas:
As spring begins many of us like to add exciting new main dish salads to our repertoire.
Southwestern Bean & Quinoa Salad with Cilantro-Lime Dressing is a keeper. The bean salad is so delicious on its own, so it makes everything it’s paired with extra tasty. Its just-right spiciness totally transforms cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, bell pepper and quinoa into a super salad. Try it; we think you’ll like it!
Happy Spring! Check out more great recipes at READsalads.com.
Are you enjoying a holiday today? Need a quick, warming idea for dinner tonight? READ has got you covered with a chili that’s desitined to become a favorite today or any day.
Southwestern Bean Chili is a warming choice for dinner on a chilly night. Instead of ground beef or poultry, this 30-minute chili uses quick-cooking lean pork tenderloin or chicken breast, paired with a can of the spiced-just-right bean salad, and a few other ingredients like beer or broth, chopped tomato and bell pepper. Lots of other delicious ways to use this versatile bean salad can be found at READsalads.com.
Send us your favorite way to enjoy a can of READ Southwestern Bean Salad! The first 5 responses will receive a can of bean salad!
Cans in the kitchen are the cook’s friend. Of course everyone knows you can open a can and serve up a quick vegetable, or soup, but not many of us think beyond that. It’s time to think “outside” the can.
READ salads are delicious sides just as they are from the can–that’s a fact. But it’s also a fact that they can be the jumpstart to all kinds of main dishes and accompaniments. Here’s how.
It’s still soup season for many of us. Usually we think of soup as: (1) from a can (2) frozen (3) homemade, requiring long simmering, which means planning ahead. But, there’s another tasty option. READ German Potato Salad makes a great soup. It’s a hearty and very tasty combo of the potato, broth and a few other ingredients, topped with crumbled bacon and/or rye croutons. Soup’s on in 30 minutes!
Or maybe a casserole is more to your liking. Potato, Turkey & Veggie Casserole has it all… ground turkey, potatoes and veggies baked in a sour cream sauce topped with crispy buttered bread crumbs. This meal is ready to eat in less than an hour. Who knew potato salad could become a fam fave casserole?
Don’t stop yet. Consider a can of READ 3 or 4 Bean Salad and how it can become potluck perfect Antipasto Bean Salad, while a can of Southwestern Bean Salad makes some of the tastiest enchiladas ever!
Stock the pantry, and check out the other great ideas at www.READsalads.com.
Don’t forget Valentine’s Day tomorrow… Aunt Nellie’s Beet Martinis and Beet & Blue Cheese Spread are perfect pre-dinner sips and nibbles.
So celebrate the day and enjoy a slice (or two)!! If you like to make pizza at home, try this Tex-Mex spin on the pie. The folks at READ Salads have come up with an easy recipe that’s ready in about 25 minutes, Southwestern Bean Mexican Pizza. Just six ingredients–a pre-baked crust, READ Southwestern Bean Salad, bacon, bell pepper, cheese and cilantro–make this pizza a winner.
Tasty Tip:
With a can of READ Southwestern Bean Salad on hand, you can assemble a pizza on the spur of the moment with on-hand ingredients. Here’s one of our favorites. Make individual pizzas with large (7 to 8-inch diameter) flour or multigrain tortillas, or whole wheat pitas. Arrange the tortillas or pitas on baking sheets. Drain the bean salad well. Puree half of the can. Spread the puree over the tortillas or pitas. Top with remaining bean salad and other toppers: sliced green onion, chopped bell peppers, tomatoes, shredded spinach, sliced olives–whatever you have in the fridge! Sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake 10 to 15 minutes at 350°F or until toppings are heated and cheese melts.
Quick and tasty family suppers during the busy work week are definitely doable when you take a look at all the ways READ Salads can become a mealtime magic ingredient.
A warming bowl of homemade Southwestern Bean & Pasta Soup served with crusty bread or whole gain crackers and a salad or fruit make a great weeknight dinner. Start with two cans of the Southwestern Bean Salad for the base of this soup. You only need to add a few other ingredients to the flavorful beans, corn and hominy salad combo, then simmer just 20 minutes to let the flavors blend. That gives you plenty of time to prepare the accompaniments.
This versatile soup starts out vegetarian but it’s also delicious when lean ground beef or turkey is added.
Tasty Tip: This soup would be great to share with hungry Super Bowl watchers. Double the recipe if you’re hosting a crowd. It can be made the day before, then reheated at serving time.
The holidays are a time for family, friends, good cheer and great food. It can also be a time of stress, but READ is here to help with easy recipes using our product line-up that are simple to make but make a statement.
Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving or another holiday meal or bringing a dish to share at a friend or family member’s home, these ideas are sure to satisfy.
Tossed Bean Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Southwestern Bean and Quinoa Salad with Cilantro-Lime Dressing
For more delicious ideas from READ and our friends at Aunt Nellie’s, check out our Thanksgiving Pinterest board:
