Jeanne David, Founder and Head of Product Development of Outer Aisle Gourmet, shares company updates, recipes, and product reviews

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Cauliflower Soup - OAG Style

My sister shared with me a cauliflower soup recipe which I made a batch of yesterday and loved it! The soup has a warming hearty but smooth texture.  Its great to have as a side dish, or as a meal by its self. The addition of diced chilies provide for a spicy flavorful zest.  Thank you so much Sis for sharing your delicious soup recipe, and letting me share it with others!

The recipe of the week is... Cauliflower Soup - OAG Style

Ingredients:
2 bags Outer Aisle Gourmet cauliflower rice (4 cups)
2 Tbsp. olive oil (or coconut oil)
1 onion - chopped
3 cloves garlic – minced
1 red or yellow bell pepper – chopped
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies (14.5 oz or use 1 cup fresh diced tomatoes)
1 carton of chicken stock (32 oz.)

Cooking instructions:
Saute chopped onion, garlic and bell pepper in olive oil for 3-4 minutes.
Add cauliflower rice and sauté all together for another 3-5 minutes.
Add diced tomatoes and chicken stock and let simmer for 10 minutes.
Pour the mixture into a blender or food processor to puree for smooth texture.
Top with avocado slices, green onions or sour cream.
Total prep/cook time: 20-30 minutes

Bon Appetit!

On a far more important note, I wanted to thank everyone that helped raise funds for World Vision. With your help, Outer Aisle Gourmet was able to donate $500 to this worthy cause. 

Friday, February 21, 2014

Couscous - OAG

The recipe of the week is.... Couscous - OAG

Ingredients:
2 bags of OAG veggie-rice
5 ounces raw cashew nuts
3 ounces sultanas (gold raisins)
5 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons minced parsley
1/2 teaspoon za’atar
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 teaspoon finely shredded lemon zest
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:
1. Place the sultanas in a bowl and pour warm water over them. Leave the sultanas for about 15 minutes, until plump. Drain and discard the water.
2. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium low, add the cashew nuts and toast them for about 8 minutes, until lightly golden and gently charred.
3. Stir frequently to make sure that cashew nuts do not burn. Let the cashew nuts cool. Cut the half of the cashew nuts into smaller pieces (or simply crush them with your hands).
4. In a large sauté pan, heat three tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the OAG veggie rice to the pan and cook for about 7 minutes, stirring frequently.
5. Remove the couscous from the heat and let it cool.
6. Add the sultanas, cashew nuts, za’atar, cumin, parsley, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Leave the couscous for about 15 minutes for the flavors to combine.
Serve at room temperature.
Serves 4-6

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

OAG for Clean Water in Africa

Outer Aisle Gourmet will be giving back, by donating all proceeds from next week's sales to help provide clean water to people in Africa! Every cent from the proceeds of next week's production will go to help Team World Vision.  World Vision is a nonprofit organization that works with children, families, and communities worldwide to help them gain access to some of life’s most essential resources.

This cause is dear to my heart, and I am hopeful that OAG can help bring people in Africa the clean water that they desperately need. It takes just $50.00 to provide clean water for one person.

I will be doing my personal part to help bring clean water to kids in Congo by running with Team World Vision on Sunday March 9th in the LA Marathon. I am working to reach my fundraising goal of $4,000. If you are not able to purchase OAG products next week, but would like to be apart of my team, you can make an online donation to http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/TeamWorldVision?px=1408685&pg=personal&fr_id=2430. By helping me reach my goal, you will receive a tax-deductible donation to World Vision. Together we can help change lives!
Team World Vision

If you would like to purchase any of our products next week to help provide clean water to people in Africa, please email me at  jeanne@outeraislegourmet.com

Thank you for your caring support!




Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Sicilia Pizza - OAG Style

It's been a very busy start to 2014! With our retail packaging almost complete and getting ready to move into a bigger kitchen, we are confident OAG will be available in stores in the next few months. If you haven't already joined our mailing list, please visit http://outeraislegourmet.com/where-to-buy to receive OAG product updates.

This week I would like to share a product testimonial from someone that has achieved weight loss results by substituting OAG products for their traditional counterparts.

"I started using Outer Aisle Gourmet  cauliflower rice, zucchini pasta, bread and pizza crust instead of conventional rice, pasta, bread, and pizza crust. I made the substitutions several times a week, but not for every meal. I also tried to make an effort to eat healthy meals, even when not using Outer Aisle. So, over a period of three weeks I lost about 5 lbs., which may not sound like much, but I have been unable to lose any weight in the last 10 years.  This has been a real breakthrough for me. I still indulge and eat things I shouldn't, I still do not exercise like I should.  But, I found in making the decision to eat something that's good for your body, like Outer Aisle Gourmet, I have started to make better choices more often like choosing to take the stairs and forgo dessert. This has been a good step for me in the right direction. I'm  grateful to Jeanne David for making it so easy for me to make quick easy low carb meals in minutes. Truly Grateful."
- Margaret L.

Margaret, thank you so much for sharing your story. Congratulations on your weight loss! I am so happy to hear OAG products have contributed to your choices to live a healthier lifestyle.


The recipe of the week is..... Sicilia Pizza - OAG Style 

Ingredients:
1 Outer Aisle pizza crust
2 Tbsp. pizza sauce
½  cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 link spicy Italian chicken sausage
2 Tbsp. thinly sliced red onion
3 fresh basil leaves sliced





Directions:
Preheat oven to 400
Cut sausage into pieces and sauté over medium heat along with red onion strips until browned.
Spread pizza sauce over pizza crust.  Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over sauce.  Top with chicken and red onion mixture and then garnish with fresh basil strips.  Bake for 5-8 minutes until cheese is melted.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Zucchini Fritters - OAG STYLE

This week I would like to share a product testimonial from a mom who is a big fan of OAG!

"I love healthy foods that taste good and make life easy! Outer Aisle’s products are the answer for me! The veggie pasta and rice cook up in minutes. I use them exactly as I would the grain choices and my family and I feel great afterwards. No bloating or sluggishness that comes from eating heavy pasta and rice. The veggie bread and pizza crust are also delicious and make eating sandwiches and pizza guilt free. And since I’m an outer aisle shopper, I love the name!"
Brenda F., Mom - Santa Paula, CA

Thank you so much Brenda! It's great to hear that customers like you are substituting grain products with ours and finding their OAG dishes just as satisfying and delicious without the loaded carbs!

The recipe of the week is.... Zucchini Fritters - OAG Style

Ingredients:
OAG veggie pasta - 1/2 bag
2 eggs
1/4 red onion
2 tbsp. of grated carrot

Directions:
Beat eggs and add remaining ingredients, season for taste. Heat a small non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Spoon 2 x 2 tbsp. of mixture into the pan, leaving room for spreading. Cook for 2 minutes each side.

Healthy and delish!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute - OAG Cooking Demo


Last week I was given the opportunity to share an OAG cooking demo with the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute! Sansum Diabetes Research Institute provides educational classes on diabetes self management in a community setting.  One of the components of the program is teaching and promoting healthy cooking!

I would like to share a product testimonial from the Director of Diabetes Education & Outreach from the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute:

“Outer Aisle Gourmet’s products offer a fresh, new way of enjoying long-time favorite foods that have been eliminated from diabetes-friendly eating plans. In today’s cooking demo, participants couldn’t believe that they were enjoying fried rice, pizza and pasta, completely guilt and worry-free. They left feeling satisfied, excited, and like a whole new culinary-world is available to them.”
- Jenifer Gaffaney Swartzentruber, MS, RD, CDE

Jenifer, thank you so much for the opportunity to share our new product line with your group. I had so much fun!  This kind of customer (the one that has health issues that require a change in eating habits) is the person that really drives me to get our product line to market.

Below is the Stir-Fry Recipe that I shared with the group:

Ingredients:
2 packs OAG cauliflower rice
½ cup diced carrots
½ cup green peas
1 egg
1 TBSP coconut oil
1 TBSP coconut aminos or Bragg’s aminos (or  soy sauce)

Directions:
Put the peas and carrots in a small sauce pan with 1 cup of water and cook for about 2 minutes.  Heat the coconut oil in a large sauce pan.  Pour 2 packs of cauliflower rice (4 cups) into coconut oil and sauté for 2 minutes.  Make a hole in the center of the cauliflower rice and break the egg in it and stir until done.  Incorporate the egg in with the cauliflower rice and then add the peas and carrots.  Sauté the whole mixture for 2 minutes until done.  Add the coconut aminos, stir and serve hot.  Serves 4.