From the Editor

Happy New Year! We are so excited to welcome in a new year, full of potential and possibilities. A huge thank you to all of our friends and customers who helped make 2009 a successful year for Simple Gourmet. We are now ready to take 2010 by storm!

We have many new things in store, including our Everyday Basics Cooking Series, a Healthy Start Cooking Series and more exciting Guest Chefs. We also plan to launch a new Weeknight Dinner Delivery Program incorporating foods from CSA boxes -- details coming next month! This is going to be a very fun year for Kids in the Simple Gourmet Kitchen, with more After-School Cooking Series and Kids Camp. We are also very excited to offer new venues and menus for our Corporate Team Building Activities.

We hope you’ll join us for more fantastic food in 2010!
 

There are some foods we know are very seasonal and some we can easily get year round. Oranges probably fall on the list of everyday items for most of us. But right now it's actually citrus season and this means all oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes are at their best. If you've never had a Texas Ruby Grapefruit in January, you are in for a treat!

Hands down, our favorite citrus of the moment is Cara Cara Oranges. Also known as Ruby Navels, these beauties have the color of a ruby grapefruit, but the sweetness of a navel orange. We particularly love how firm and juicy they are. Here's some tips on making the most of the citrus season -

Combine segments of Cara Caras with shaved fennel and spinach. Toss with lemon juice, olive oil and a pinch of salt for a simple salad.

Make a citrus-only fruit salad with segments of grapefruit, satsumas and Cara Caras. Toss with some fresh mint and a squeeze of agave syrup.

Sautee shrimp in some butter and shallots. Once cooked, remove from the pan and add segments of Cara Cara or Ruby Grapefruits. Toss gently, until just warmed and serve over the shrimp.

For tips on how to cut and segment citrus, check out our Life-Changing Cooking Tip video on this topic.
 

We are welcoming in 2010 with the launch of our new Healthy Start Cooking Class Series. These classes aren’t about diets or fads. Instead, we’ll look at what food we should be eating and how to incorporate them into tasty, simple dishes.

Our first topic is Reducing White Foods. We all hear a lot about how white foods are bad for us, but do you know what they are and why? White foods are simple carbohydrates and are often refined. These foods don't keep us full and don’t offer a lot of nutritional benefits. They are essentially “empty” calories. Here are some simple swaps you can make to reduce the white foods you eat and increase the whole foods that are packed with nutrients and vitamins.

Use sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes.

Use whole wheat flour instead of AP flour whenever possible. Try Whole Wheat Pastry Flour for a lighter, just-like-white-flour texture.

Avoid varieties of white rice (basmati, long grain, arborrio, sushi rice). Instead use farro, quinoa, whole wheat couscous, bulghur and wild rice.

Avoid corn syrup and white sugar whenever possible. Artificial sweeteners can also cause health detriments. Instead, use agave, maple syrup, molasses, brown rice syrup, honey or even natural cane sugar (unrefined).

Join us for our Healthy Start Cooking Series to learn some fantastic recipes.

 

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January Classes

Mediterranean One-Pot Meals - Sooth your soul with these simmering one-pot meals and learn to make the most out of a few ingredients. Our Quick Pasta Fagoili and Fennel-Tomato-Bread Soup will soon be family favorites.

Healthy Start Series: Reducing White Foods - The first in our series, we will look at what "white foods" are, why they are bad for us and how to avoid them while making delicious meals.

Fridays with Friends: Sushi & Kirin Beer - Bring a date or just a friend for a night of cooking and eating! We'll roll sushi and wash it all down with Kirin Beer.

Click here to see all of our upcoming classes.

February Classes

Fast & Fab with Le Creuset - Join us for a menu of easy, soul-satisfying foods that use this fantastic cookware. Everyone leaves with a special gift from Le Creuset!

Healthy Start Series: Balanced Meals - Learn to create meals that balance carbs, proteins and fats -- and deliver tons of flavor!

Knife Skills - This is a class everyone should take at least once. Learn to use your most important kitchen tool.

Tapas & Mojitos for Valentine's Day - Bring your sweetie for an evening of Global Tapas and mix up three different mojitos.

Everyday Basics Cooking Series - Starting the New Year with a commitment to cook more? Join us for this series of three classes covering basic cooking techniques that will make your life in the kitchen easier and your food more delicious. In Everyday Sauces you'll learn the foundation to modern sauces that are easy to make a change with the seasons. Our Meat & Seafood class is a primer on how to perfectly cook each kind of protein. In the Vegetables, Grains & Legumes class you will learn how to elevate these simple sides to center stage.

Take one class for $60, or all three for $150. Sign up for the whole series and receive a $30 refund.

Click here to see all of our upcoming classes.

New Venue for Simple Gourmet Parties!!

New for 2010: Surfas in Culver City is now on our list of locations for Team Buildling Events and Private Cooking Parties!! This culinary super-store has long been among our favorite places to shop. Now, we will have access to their kitchen to hold our events. Best of all, each participant receives a discount for the store! Check out our website for more information on our Private Parties and Team Buidling Events.