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In Food News

Secrets to keeping your Fruits and Veggies fresh longer

April 13, 2018 In Food News 3 Mins Read

(Sag Harbor, NY) Secrets to keeping your fruits and Veggies fresh longer: Greetings Hamptons Mouthpiece Readers...Lets talk Food….Average American family waste $1000-$2000 worth of food every year and mostly produce. It makes me so sad because there are so many starving people right here in this country. Here are some tips on how can you save yourself some money. The 2 biggest enemies in the refrigerator are moisture and air. The temperature in your refrigerator should be 40 degrees and your freezer should be 0 degrees and, if they’re not able to get to or maintain those temperatures, you might need to call an appliance repair san francisco company, or someone more local to you, in to fix the problem.

Have you ever bought fresh fruit and vegetables and they go bad on you before you have an opportunity to use them? Makes you crazy right? I recently watched a Rachael Ray show and she shared some tips to help us keep our produce longer and save money…

Label and list things in your freezer
Store liquids in freezer bags and lay flat…label & date
Keep freezer well stocked…an empty freezer works too hard when it is not as cold as it should be…keep it crowded
Keep fruits in one side of the refrigerator and vegetables on another side…all fruits and veggies should be refrigerated
Treat your fresh herbs like flowers…put them in water..even your asparagus
When you bring your lettuce or greens home…wash them and air dry them, then bag them, include a paper towel and refrigerate. If you are like me, and after grocery shopping the last thing on your mind is to wash your greens. Put them in the refrigerator in the bag you brought them home in, then wash before you are ready to eat.

Tip: Lettuce is the #1 cause of food born illness…make sure you wash them twice….

Fruits….if you have one bad berry in the container, remove it immediately because one bad berry can spoil the entire bunch. Take them out of the container you brought them home in. Put the berries in a bowl, lightly wrap, allowing for a bit of air and refrigerate. Don’t wash until you are ready to eat. Berries are perishable and you don’t want them to be wet.
Tip: To prevent guacamole and avocado from turning brown spray with vegetable spray and cover…

Foods that do not go in the refrigerator

tomatoes
onions…keep them in a basket with plenty of air (make sure you keep them separate from your potatoes)
Bananas (tip….bananas are great frozen to add to smoothies)
avocado’s (tip: you can put avocado in the refrigerator to prolong the ripeness)
Potatoes and Yams (store in a dark cool place)

Tip…if you want to speed up the avocado that is not ripe…put it in a brown paper bag…and if you really want to speed up the process add a banana to the bag…bananas give off a gas called Ethylene. . Ethylene is A colorless flammable gas, C2H4, derived from natural gas and petroleum and used as a source of many organic compounds, in welding and cutting metals, to coloring citrus fruits and as an anesthetic. Bananas really should be stored in a basket by themselves.

Secrets to keeping your Fruits and Veggies fresh longer will save you money during the year. Please share any secrets you may have.

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In Hamptons Happenings

Stony Hill Stables Foundation Annual Benefit

April 11, 2018 In Hamptons Happenings 4 Mins Read

Hamptons Happenings: Stony Hill Stables Foundation Annual Benefit

Scholarships to be Awarded at the Stony Hill Stables Foundation Annual Benefit
Saturday, June 30, 2018, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Special Dressage Exhibition & Pony Drill Team Performance

Stony Hill Stables, owned and operated by the Hotchkiss family for more than five decades, will host the annual Stony Hill Stables Foundation Benefit on Saturday, June 30, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on the pastoral grounds of Stony Hill Stables, located in Amagansett on Town Lane. The Stony Hill Stables Foundation, a not-for-profit organization created to promote equine sports through riding education and competitive opportunities for children and young adults in the East End community, continues to be the only stable in Long Island to offer this unique scholarship program.

Attendees enjoy the Pony Drill Team performance at the Stony Hill Stables Foundation Benefit

Now in its seventh year, the scholarship program is on sound footing and has given local riders a path to their equestrian dreams. With a grass-roots approach, the scholarship program has opened its barn doors to local kids. Scholarships are customized to suit each recipient, and each recipient participates in creating his or her own program, based on the budget of their scholarship, and their individual goals and interests.

Event Chairwoman, Bailey Thompson, who currently trains with Stony Hill Stables owner and USDF Gold Medalist, Wick Hotchkiss, has been involved with the foundation since its inception. “For the past six years I have had the privilege to serve on the Benefit Committee where I have witnessed the amazing mission of the foundation come to fruition. I am honored to be named the 2018 event Chair. This foundation is very special to me because I understand how significant these scholarships are and the great opportunities they provide to the recipients,” said Ms. Thompson.

Bailey Thompson and Wick Hotchkiss perform a colorful Pas de Deux at the SHS Foundation Benefit

Stony Hill Stables prides itself with offering a safe, educational, and positive environment for equestrians of all ages to learn and grow. “I have been lucky to ride at Stony Hill since I began my riding career at the age of seven. I, along with many others, have learned so many tangible and intangible life lessons and skills that go beyond the stables; an experience that not many people may get in their lifetime,” said event Chair Thompson, “I am extremely proud to be part of a program that provides local children the opportunity to reap the benefits of our wonderful sport. I couldn’t be more honored to further this hallmark tradition”.

The Pony Drill Team gives a demonstration at the 2014 Stony Hills Stables Benefit Cocktail Party on the grounds of the stables on Saturday, June 21st, 2014

This year’s annual family-friendly event promises to be full of surprises. Scholarship students as well as Grand Prix riders will take to the ring. Bailey Thompson and USDF Gold Medalist Wick Hotchkiss with perform Dressage, the Stony Hill Stable’s Pony Drill Team will delight attendees with a specially choreographed performance, and there will even be an exhilarating Jumping Exhibition!

Hotchkiss and Thompson Dressage Demonstration at the Stony Hill Stables Foundation Benefit

Scholarship applications for the 2018 season are currently being accepted. Five to seven scholarships will be awarded annually. Local residents of Montauk, Amagansett, East Hampton, Sag Harbor and Southampton are encouraged to apply. Scholarship applications are available on-line at https://www.stonyhillstables.com/foundation.

Deadline for submitting applications is June 22, 2018. Scholarship winners will be announced on June 30 at the Stony Hill Stables Foundation Benefit!

Tickets for the Stony Hill Stables Foundation Benefit are priced at $125 for a single ticket, $200 for a couple. Children under 12 are free! Tickets can be purchased in advance on-line. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate the night of the event. Contributions are gratefully welcome: Stony Hill Stables Foundation, P.O. Box 283, Amagansett, NY 11930 or https://www.stonyhillstables.com . For more information about Stony Hill Stables and the Stony Hill Stables Foundation, please visit the website or call: 631.267.3203.

The Stony Hill Stables Foundation is a not-for-profit program established to offer scholarship equestrian training for local residents. The goal is to promote equine sports, riding education, and good sportsmanship providing local children and young adults a healthy, enhancing life experience. Stony Hill Stables Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) program providing a unique atmosphere for children and young adults to become skilled in equine sports, build friendships and connect to the East End Community. For information on the Stony Hill Stables Foundation contact us at 631-267-3203 or info@stonyhillstables.com

content provided by Lynn Stefanelli, photo credit: Stony Hill Stables Foundation

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In Food News

Hamptons Wellness:The Benefits of Eating Ginger

April 5, 2018 In Food News 3 Mins Read

Hamptons Wellness: The Benefits of Ginger: Ginger is widely used throughout the world for treating loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting after surgery, nausea resulting from cancer treatment, flatulence,stomach upset, colic, morning sickness and motion sickness.

Some people find ginger helps them with the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, cough, menstrual cramps, arthritis and muscle pain.

In some parts of the world, ginger juice is applied to the skin to treat burns

GINGER: Nausea, upset stomach…When I was pregnant with both of my daughters I have really bad morning sickness and I was nauseous all the time, literally until they were born. This is why they are 6 1/2 years apart and why I only have 2.

Some say drink Ginerale & Saltine Crackers but the sugar from the gingerale made me feel sicker…Ginger Tea is the Best..Treat yourself to a cup of piping hot ginger tea, a healthy drink that’s great for digestion. Why go out and buy old tea bags when you can easily make your own homemade ginger tea at home using fresh ginger? Here’s how to make the tastiest ginger tea you’ve ever had!

Home-made Ginger Tea

Recipe Type: Tea

Cuisine: Liquid

Author: Vanessa Leggard

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 20 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Home-made ginger Tea…piping hot ginger tea, a healthy drink that’s great for digestion

Ingredients

4-6 thin slices raw ginger
1 1/2 – 2 cups water
juice from 1/2 lime, or to taste
1-2 tbsp honey or agave nectar, or to taste

Instructions

Peel the ginger and slice thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea.
Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger.
Remove from heat and add lime juice and honey (or agave nectar) to taste.

9 Terrific Benefits of Ginger

Eat fresh ginger just before lunch to stoke a dull appetite and fire up the digestive juices.
Ginger improves the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body.
Ginger clears the ‘microcirculatory channels’ of the body, including the pesky sinuses that tend to flare up from time to time.
Feeling airsick or nauseous? Chew on ginger, preferably tossed in a little honey.
Ginger helps reduce flatulence!
Ginger helps with Tummy moaning and groaning under cramps?
Ginger, with its anti-inflammatory properties-can bring relief. Float some ginger essential oil into your bath to help aching muscles and joints. You can combine it with CBD soap from websites like https://missionfarmscbd.com/cbd-soap/ to help with the inflammatory pain.
Chewing ginger post-operation can help overcome nausea.
Stir up some ginger tea to get rid of throat and nose congestion. And when there’s a nip in the air, the warming benefits of this tasty tea are even greater

Hamptons Wellness: The Benefits of Ginger:

In Eats

How about making your own General Tso’s Chicken

April 2, 2018 In Eats 3 Mins Read

Real Talk, Real Food

Homemade General Tso’s Chicken (The Takeout Breakup)

Real talk: I love a good Chinese food night. The cartons, the rice, the feeling that dinner magically appeared without effort. But somewhere along the way, General Tso’s Chicken became less legend and more letdown. Too sweet. Too greasy. Too… predictable.

So I started making it myself. And I’m telling you right now, once you do, there’s no going back.

This version is crispy (twice-fried, because details matter), sticky in the best way, and full of flavor without lighting your mouth on fire. I skip peanut oil and dried red chilies and use jalapeños instead. You still get heat, but it’s controlled, balanced, and doesn’t hijack the dish. This is General Tso’s for people who want flavor, not regret.

Perfect with white rice. Even better with steamed broccoli. And yes, it reheats beautifully, which means lunch the next day is handled.

Homemade General Tso’s Chicken

Serves: 6 | Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

For the Chicken

4 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
1 egg
1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into ½-inch cubes
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
Pinch of white pepper
1 cup cornstarch

For the Sauce

2 tbsp vegetable oil
3 tbsp chopped green onions
1 clove garlic, minced
1–2 jalapeños, sliced (your heat, your rules)
1 strip orange zest
½ cup sugar
¼ tsp ground ginger
3 tbsp chicken broth
1 tbsp rice vinegar
¼ cup soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil

To Thicken

2 tsp cornstarch
¼ cup water

How to Make It

Heat vegetable oil to 375°F.
Beat the egg, add chicken, salt, sugar, and white pepper. Toss well.
Coat chicken with cornstarch until fully covered.
Fry in batches for about 3 minutes until lightly golden. Remove and cool.
Fry again (don’t skip this) until deep golden and crispy. Drain.
In a hot wok or skillet, heat 2 tbsp oil. Add green onions, garlic, jalapeños, and orange zest. Stir until fragrant.
Add sugar, ginger, broth, vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Boil for 3 minutes.
Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until glossy and thick.
Toss chicken in sauce, lower heat, and let it soak up the goodness.

Why This Works (Real Talk)

Chicken thighs stay juicy.
Double frying gives restaurant-level crunch.
Jalapeños bring flavor-forward heat, not chaos.
Homemade sauce means no mystery ingredients and no sugar shock.

This is comfort food that still respects you.

In Consumer Information

Home Energy Assistance Program

March 2, 2018 In Consumer Information 3 Mins Read

Home Energy Assistance Program is back for 2017-18
HEAP is a federally funded program that assists low-income New Yorkers with the cost of heating their homes. HEAP also offers an emergency benefit for households in a heat or heat-related energy emergency. Nearly 1.5 Million Households Received Assistance Last Winter
Households that need help paying their heating bills are able to apply for assistance from the Home Energy Assistance Program. Those looking to lower their energy bills (or at least prevent them from rising) may benefit from the regular maintenance of their heaters and furnaces in order to keep them working efficiently and reduce the need for a full replacement – you can find information on such services here. The program provides financial assistance to help low-income and elderly New Yorkers keep their homes warm in the winter months and cool in the summer months, businesses aren’t in need of this Assistance Program due to being able to possibly achieve decreased utility bills thanks to being able to switch to Business Gas packages for example.
“The Home Energy Assistance Program is vital to helping struggling households afford the costs of heating their homes during the cold New York winters,” Governor Cuomo said. “It provides some much-needed relief, especially for low-income working families, as well as senior citizens on a fixed income. I encourage anyone in need of this assistance to apply before the coldest weather sets in.” With this being said, it is not only residents in New York that can find ways to lower their energy bills. It could be as simple as checking out these Pulse Power plans, for example, in the hopes of finding lower energy rates. This could help households save money too!

The Home Energy Assistance Program is funded by the federal government and is overseen by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Eligible households can receive a one-time benefit depending upon income, household size and heating source. For the 2017-18 season, a household of four can earn up to $53,484, or $4,457 a month, and still qualify for assistance.

Regular Benefit
Regular benefit component assists households that pay a high proportion of household income for energy.

Emergency Benefit
The Emergency benefit component assists qualifying low-income New Yorkers who are facing a heat or heat related energy emergency and do not have resources above the established limits. If you have an emergency, contact your local department of social services office.

Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement
The Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit component help eligible low-income homeowners repair or replace primary heating equipment necessary to keep the home’s primary heating source functional. Alternatively, you can use Buric Heating and Air Conditioning for your furnace repair if you are not able to get this primary assistance for your home.

Cooling Assistance
The Cooling Assistance component provides for cooling assistance services to HEAP eligible households that include an individual with a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by heat. Because the amount of funding is very limited, cooling assistance services will be provided on a first come, first served basis.

Income Guidelines
HEAP Gross Monthly Income Guidelines

Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to your local department of social services office or the OTDA Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.