Happy Earth month! This month, we are going to be highlighting sustainable eating tips and food items to help improve your carbon footprint and lessen your impact on the planet. While there are many ways you can practice sustainable living, a lot of it starts with what you put on your fork. You can do this by adding more canned tomatoes into your diet, as these are a more sustainable option than fresh. Also, when shopping, choose MADE IN THE USA, to decrease your global footprint, and to get the sustainable quality you can count on.
So, if you’re looking for some ways to spice it up in the kitchen and cook more eco-friendly meals, be sure to follow along on social media for lots of culinary inspiration!
If you’re craving pasta, then go ahead and whip up this delicious recipe for Nona’s Beef Ragu! This entire meal can be made in a slow cooker, which makes it perfect for any night of the week. Plus, it’s kid-friendly, which makes dinner time even easier!
Vintage BBC Footage of the Spaghetti Harvest
Originally aired on the BBC in 1957 this fascinating look behind where our spaghetti comes from shocked millions of viewers at the time of it’s release. For some reason, it always feels fitting to reflect on this time of year.
PROCESSED TOMATOES, A SUSTAINABLE CHOICE, by Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN
Every time you open a can or jar of tomatoes, you release the essence of that warm, summer day in which those perfectly ripe tomatoes were harvested. These tomatoes are picked at their top flavor and nutrition peak on the field before they are quickly whisked away to the processing plant to be canned, sealing in all of that good flavor and nutrition within just a few hours of harvest.
Beyond good taste and nutrition, you also make a more sustainable choice by choosing those preserved tomatoes. Why is it a more sustainable choice than fresh? The fresh tomato crop is typically picked about two weeks before maturity to withstand transportation, during which it requires more energy to refrigerate and transport. In addition, many fresh tomatoes are grown in Mexico, requiring longer transportation distances, or in heated, energy-intensive greenhouses before reaching your supermarket shelf.
This classic Italian dish will leave your kitchen smelling amazing and your belly satisfied. One Pan Chicken Cacciatore is easy to make and will please the entire family, but one of the best parts about this recipe is how simple it is to assemble. Everything goes in one pan which means fewer dishes for you and more time to spend with family!
This all in one meal is loaded with important nutrients thanks to the canned tomates, as they contain vitamins A and C as well as fiber and lycopene. Vitamin A supports eye health and is important for white blood cell production; vtamin C is helps control infections and boosts immunity; and fiber has been shown to reduce the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. While all of these are important, canned tomatoes get their superpowers from lycopene, which is an antioxidant with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. The lycopene content found in canned tomatoes allows this ingredient to be one of the most useful, healthy additions to just about any meal. Since canned tomatoes have even MORE nutritional value than fresh tomatoes, they provide a powerful impact on human health.
So, if you are looking for an easy weeknight dinner, this One Pan Chicken Cacciatore is definitely one to put on your regular rotation! Simple to make, easy clean up, and flavorful, it checks all of the boxes of a favorite recipe.
One Pan Chicken Cacciatore
This classic Italian dish will leave your kitchen smelling amazing and your belly satisfied. One Pan Chicken Cacciatore is easy to make and will please the entire family, but one of the best parts about this recipe is how simple it is to assemble. Everything goes in one pan which means fewer dishes for you and more time to spend with family!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Ingredients
6 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
salt and pepper, to taste
1-2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 small onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
8 oz. white mushrooms, sliced
1 red bell pepper, diced
⅓ cup chicken broth
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes with basil
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried thyme
⅓ cup pitted kalamata olives
chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
Heat a cast iron pan over medium high heat and add in the olive oil.
Increase the heat to medium and add in the chicken thighs. Fry until the outside of the chicken is cooked. Add the chicken to the pan, skin side down, and sear until golden brown. Flip the chicken over and sear on the other side. Remove the chicken from the pan.
Lower the heat to medium then add in the onion. Saute until translucent then add in the garlic. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the bell pepper, carrots, and mushrooms to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
Nestle the chicken into the pan then add in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and chicken broth. Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and thyme. Mix until the ingredients are well combined.
Allow the sauce to start bubbling and cook uncovered for 5 minutes. Transfer to the oven and bake for 45 minutes, until the sauce has reduced and the chicken is tender.
Stir in the olives and garnish with parsley. Enjoy!
For other dinner dishes, check out some of our favorites:
This Spotlight On documentary for PBS explores the truth about canned and jarred tomatoes. Interviews include chefs, a registered dietitian, and a fourth-generation tomato grower. Often people think that fresh is always best, but the truth is that the increased health benefits of tomato products and the harvest/canning process that captures them within hours, in season at their flavor and nutrition peak all lead to them being the best choice for the majority of the year. That’s how we can enjoy the flavor of summer all year long
If you’re craving pasta, then go ahead and whip up this delicious recipe for Nona’s Beef Ragu! This entire meal can be made in a slow cooker, which makes it perfect for any night of the week. Plus, it’s kid-friendly, which makes dinner time even easier.
While this entire recipe tastes delicious, the star ingredient is a jar of crushed tomatoes. Not only is this a quintessential ingredient for ragu, but it is also incredibly nutritious. Cooked tomato products (found in canned tomato products like pasta sauce) contain an ingredient called lycopene. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that has been proven to protect the body against many chronic diseases and even reduce the risk of stroke. Similar to most nutrients, it’s more natural to obtain lycopene from foods rather than supplements. In order to achieve maximum health benefits associated with lycopene, it is recommended to consume tomato products with a heart healthy fat, such as olive oil or avocado. That’s why we recommend enjoying lycopene and its health benefits through delicious foods such as this recipe for Nona’s Beef Ragu
You can feel good about serving this delectable meal to your family, and they will delight in the complex flavors. To make this meal extra special, serve with a simple side salad dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Whether you’re enjoying this beef ragu for a Sunday family dinner or a simple weeknight meal for one, you’ll be satisfied.
Check out this video to learn how this recipe is made. So, what are you waiting for? Enjoy some canned tomato products today!
Nona’s Beef Ragu
If you’re craving pasta, then go ahead and whip up this delicious recipe for Nona's Beef Ragu! This entire meal can be made in a slow cooker, which makes it perfect for any night of the week. Plus, it’s kid-friendly, which makes dinner time even easier.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours10 minutes
Ingredients
1 Tbsp. olive oil
4 lbs. beef brisket, cut into 4 evenly sized pieces
1 onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 (14 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes
½ cup red wine
½ cup beef broth
4 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 beef bouillon cube
1 tsp. basil
1 tap. oregano
salt and pepper, to taste
1 ½ tsp. granulated sugar
2 bay leaves
2 tsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. water
Spaghetti, for serving
Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions
Season brisket with salt and pepper. Heat one tablespoon of the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the beef into the pan and sear it on both sides until brown and crispy. Remove the beef from the pan and transfer it into a crock pot.
Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil into the pan along with the onion and garlic. Sauté until the onion turns translucent then add the mixture into the crock pot. Mix until combined. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours until the beef easily falls apart when pulled with two forks.
Whisk the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl until well combined. Pour the mixture into the crock pot. Cover and cook on high for an additional 30 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
Serve over spaghetti and garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
For other delicious pasta recipes, check out some of our favorites:
Get ready to celebrate a world of flavors! We are celebrating National Nutrition Month all month long, and this year’s theme is all about how you can appreciate flavors from cultures around the world. This is a tasty way to nourish ourselves and appreciate our diversity, as we are all unique with different bodies, goals, backgrounds and tastes! So, get ready to see how canned and jarred tomatoes can help you uncover a world of flavor with some of our best recipes inspired by global cuisine. #PutTheLoveIn ❤️
You’re going to love this restaurant-caliber Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup that features delicious international flavors! A favorite all year long, with so many variations you can really make it your own!
Looking for a tasty appetizer that will please a crowd? Check out this Chicken Parmesan Dip! This dip combines ingredients like ricotta cheese, basil, and fire-roasted tomatoes and will hit the spot when you are craving hearty comfort food.
Have you have ever tried Indian Cuisine? It is some of the most flavorful and delicious food ever! Although the large number of spices used in Indian food can seem overwhelming, it’s easier than ever to create restaurant-worthy food from the comfort of your own kitchen. This Chicken Tikka Masala is a great option for those who want an international-inspired meal that doesn’t take forever to get on the table.
Registered Dietitians love using canned and jarred tomatoes as they provide a plethora of antioxidants (such as lycopene) that play an integral role in the reduction of certain types of diseases and cancers. In fact, numerous studies have linked lycopene consumption with prostate cancer protection. While lycopene is present in other fruits such as watermelon and pink grapefruit, tomatoes (which are the second most consumed vegetable second to potatoes in the U.S.), account for more than 85% of the lycopene in the American diet. Interestingly, cooked tomato products may hold particular significance, as the lycopene from cooked and processed tomatoes is more bioavailable than that of fresh tomatoes. Heating or processing breaks down the tomato cell-matrix and promotes isomerization of lycopene from all-trans isomers to the more bioavailable form of cis-isomers. Research shows that single daily servings of processed tomato products produce significant increases of lycopene concentrations in blood and buccal mucosal cells in healthy adults.
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