Food Company Newsletters

Today, many brand name food companies offer electronic newsletters that you can sign up for on their websites. These are delivered to your email inbox on a periodic basis. Most are monthly or quarterly. I receive several myself and have found that sometimes it pays to belong to their newsletter mailing list because you find out about special offers and promotions that aren't offered otherwise.

One of the newsletters that I receive is sweetalk, the newsletter from the folks who make Imperial Sugar and Dixie Crystals products. Last month they said that they had found an old box of recipe brochures while rearranging their offices. They offered one of the booklets to the first 400 who emailed.

Lucky me, I was one of the 400. I recently received a copy of Texas Recipes from Texas Places - Volume III (1980, 32 pp) in my real mailbox out on the curb. Thanks Angela!

So go look at your favorite brand name websites and see if they have a newsletter you can sign up for. A handy index of the food company website addresses can be found here.

Martini Anyone?

I went on my twice weekly trip to the liquor store today where I scored a couple of new recipe-related things.

A bit of background: Nobody imbibes in our household, so the only reason we go to the liquor store is to get ice. We need ice because we do drink a ton of iced tea. We need ice because we don't have an icemaker AND because I can't stand the ice trays that Wal-Mart and other places sell these days.

The ice trays I see available don't stack properly without having to alternate the ends. Plus and Minus. Failure to implement Plus and Minus correctly results in the trays just sinking down inside one another, displacing the water to places where you don't want it. A total pain--ice trays used to stack without anybody having to think about or pay attention to this Plus and Minus business. I am not programmed to think about it. So I was continually spashing water all over the freezer and having to clean it up then refill the trays AGAIN. It's just easier to go around the corner to Reba's.

More background: Our ancient GE Refrigerator runs like the Energizer Bunny (except for the icemaker). We haven't replaced it yet because I'm afraid to. I'm afraid to because the other, new, GE appliances have already broken--said appliances would include the gas range (a ruined Christmas), the Spacemaker Microwave (it does work as a nightlight) and the dishwasher (which leaks on the fairly-new floor). So until I can get these brand trust issues sorted out, we contend with the old Energizer Bunny, the ice situation and the other (evidently made-to-be-disposable) appliances.

Today: I went inside instead of driving through so that I could see if there were any new recipe pamphlets on the counter. Even though I never buy liquor, they don't seem to mind that I always take the recipes.

I got a cheerful, tropical-looking foldout, Malibu Rum Recipes (2006) with directions for Kamikazes, Margaritas and Martinis made with Mango (I'll pass), Passion Fruit (pass again), Coconut and Pineapple-flavored rums. The clerk rather quickly said "You want recipes?" and tried to hand me what looked like a small disc. I didn't want a disc because I want my recipes on paper, not plastic, but she persisted and so I brought it on home. The manager winked and said "don't look at the pictures."

The outside label looks rather plain, so I thought perhaps it was something they had put together themselves for their customers (and what kind of pictures? I wondered--is he talking about what I think he's talking about?).

Turns out it was a nice little 3-inch CD, Mix it Up! 8,406 Martini Recipes (Version 6) from Van Gogh Vodka. The CD contains a database with over 8,400 Martini recipes. You can run it directly from the CD or install the program on your hard drive. If you choose to install, you have the capability to save new recipes, compile selected recipes or print one or all of them out on paper. It has a nice bar type menu, tells you how to make a martini and gives Vodka Ratings.

Pretty nifty little deal, even if it isn't on paper. (I am fond of databases.)

Oh yeah....there weren't any pictures.

Ron Paul Family Cookbooks

Food companies aren't the only ones who know that promotional cookbooks are successful advertising tools. Even politicians have been known to jump on the bandwagon and use them to promote their product. In this case, the product is Ron Paul.

Shown to the right is the cover of The Ron Paul Family and Friends Cookbook (2000, 16 pp.). This cookbook is the third in a series of five that have been published by the Committee to Re-elect Ron Paul.

In the front of the booklet the Texas Republican's wife, Carol Paul, states that this booklet was published in time to be handed out during their pre-election door-to-door walks through the then 22 counties that made up Congressional District #14.

This is a simple recipe booklet with a stiff paper cover which includes recipes contributed by friends, family and constituents. It's illustrated with small color photos of the Paul children and grandchildren. It contains a variety of recipes, about 59 in all.

Other cookbooks in the Ron Paul Family Cookbook series are:

• The Ron Paul Family Cookbook
• The Ron Paul Family Holiday Cookbook - 1999
• The Ron Paul Family and Friends Cookbook - 2000
• The Ron Paul Family Spring Cookbook - 2002
• The Ron Paul Celebration Cookbook

You can also find a weekly recipe on his Congressional Campaign website.

Pre-Peeled Plantains--What Next?

I started writing this blog with the intention of writing only about the old recipe books. However, the daily additions to my collection with newer booklets and pamphlets continues to grow at an alarming pace. I write about them sometimes because some of you out there might be interested in these current booklets. After all, the old ones were current at one time, were they not?

Today's entry is another one about a current pamphlet and where I found it.

At one of the H-E-B grocery stores in the suburbs where I shop they have plenty of in-store demonstrations, particularly on the weekends. A couple of weeks ago I went in for a few minutes to look around while my companions were in the Verizon store. I find browsing the aisles of the supermarket infinitely more interesting than looking at displays of cell phones (for the fifth time this month).

On this particular morning a young Latina girl was frying plantains and handing out samples in the Produce Department. I was offered a crispy, steaming hot slice of fried plantain with a choice of either a dab of Guacamole or Pico de Gallo on top. While I was contemplating the taste, she, of course, was showing me the product that was being demonstrated.

The product was ready-to-eat La Plantación Peeled Plantains from Falcon-Foods.

I occasionally eat plantains at a Cuban restaurant I like, but don't generally cook them at home. Mostly because nobody else cares for them. So I really don't know all the nuances of buying and preparing plaintains.

These were peeled, each of the three in the package individually vacuum packed. According to the website, they are of the Dominico Harton variety.

Since I can't imagine being so pressed for time that I can't afford to lose any by taking a few seconds to peel a banana, the attraction of these over fresh ones must be the shelf life, although the packaging does promote them as being Time Savers. They are stored in the refrigerator and will stay fresh for 30 days. The expiration dates on these packages were about three weeks out.

The sample was quite tasty.

Since I don't cook plantains and still had no intention of starting any time soon, I might have simply thanked the girl and walked away.

But.... I noticed that inside the package she showed me was a small recipe pamphlet. That changed things entirely. I took the package offered and went off to pay for it. Who knows when I might ever see that pamphlet again, if ever, if I didn't get it then.

La Plantación Peeled Plantains Recipe Ideas (not dated, 6 pp.) turned out to be a small tri-fold pamphlet printed on some type of laminated glossy paper (that would keep it unharmed even under refrigerated conditions). It contains four recipes plus the contact information for the company.

Each of the four recipes has a small color photo of the completed dish. The recipes are:

• Mofongo
• Cream of Plantain Soup
• Mexican Toston
• Green Fried Plantain

On the rear page of the pamphlet, the company invites you to send in your own recipes.

I did fix some fried plantains, though not using any of the recipes in this package insert. I used a recipe from my current issue of Comida y Familia that had a sweet dipping sauce that wanted to try.

The sauce was good and the fried plantains tasted good as well. I couldn't really tell any difference from the taste of the fresh plantains that I've had in restaurants.

Since I like to cook appetizers and serve them as snacks this product might work out well for me in the future. I can prepare fried plantains as a snack for myself while I'm serving Nachos or something for somebody else. The shelf life would allow me to easily hold them in the refrigerator until the need for them came up. I'll try some of the recipes in the pamphlet later on down the road.

In this case, the enclosure of the recipe pamphlet inside the product packaging paid off for the food manufacturer. It induced this consumer to try a product that she normally wouldn't have. Which also provided a little word-of-mouth advertising by way of this blog entry.

I'd be interested in hearing opinions on this product from some of those who cook with plantains on a more regular basis than I do.

New Boar's Head Booklet

I 'm not too excited about the selection of food stores in the small town I live in. Among a myriad of other issues, I just noticed yesterday that one of the places has been selling us bags of ice marked as 10 lbs. that actually only weigh 5 lbs. The bags kept getting lighter and lighter until I finally weighed one. When confronted about it, the owner of the store didn't seem concerned that I might feel a bit cheated, only somewhat irritated that I called her on it.

The new Wal-Mart SuperCenter coming to town is a good thing. I'm sure they, at least, have consistency, quality control and standards to adhere to

Fortunately, I'm not adverse to driving into the city (suburbs, actually) to do my grocery shopping.

One store has already moved and revamped in anticiaption of the coming competition. This resulted in the introduction of the Boar's Head brands into their store. Yesterday while I was in there picking up a basic necessity, I noticed that Boar's Head has a new recipe book out called Now You're Cooking (2006, 52 pages). You can almost always find the Boar's Head cookbooks displayed near the deli case.

There have been several Boar's Head recipe books published in the past but this new one is almost 20 pages longer than the others and has a bright, white cover. For some reason, I like the recipes in this edition better than in those of the past. Perhaps because there are more of them.

The booklet contains recipes for Appetizers, Salads, Main Courses, Sandwiches, Sides and Fun Foods. There are a few color photos of the prepared dishes, though since I'm such a visual person, I wish there were more. However, the booklet is certainly enough to whet the appetite even without a lot of pictures.

Besides the meat and cheese products a few of the recipes also call for other Boar's Head brand items: Jalapeno Pepper Sauce, Pub Style Horseradish Sauce, Delicatessen Style Mustard, Sweet and Mild Gourmet Barbecue Sauce, Sweet Vidalia Onions in Sauce and Kosher Dill Pickles.

Their entire line of meat and cheese products has expanded in the last few years and this recipe book reflects the changes with the tasty varieties of deli meat and cheeses used in the recipes.

There are 56 recipes in all. The nutritional information isn't given for the recipes, but Boar's Head does have another booklet that contains nothing but the nutrional information about their products. You can ususally find that at the deli counter too.

Some of the recipes I plan to try right away are:

• Salami Coronet (an appetizer)
• Horseradish Ham Spread Tropicale (an appetizer)
• Spicy Potato Skins (an appetizer)
• Queso Blanco Marinated in Fresh Herbs (another appetizer)
• Mimosa Salad with Spicy Orange Honey Mustard Dressing (salad)
• Pineapple Rice Salad with Ham (salad)
• Chicken Avocado Salad (salad)
• Gorgonzola Dressing (salad dressing)
• Ham and Mushroom Broth (main dish)
• Pesto Parmesan Ham Breakfast Wrap (main dish)
• Aroastica Penne (main dish)
• Cheesy Meatloaf (main dish)
• Rancher Beef Pita (sandwich)
• The Mediterranean (sandwich)
• Aroastica Chicken Wrap (sandwich)
• Not Your Daddy's BLT (sandwich)
• Hot & Sweet Sausage Sandwich (sandwich)
• Butterkase Mashed Potatoes (side)

None of these recipes call for particularly unusual ingredients, but many of them simply aren't found around this town. Although I can probably find a can of Mandarin oranges, portobello mushrooms or mixed field greens might be a stretch.

Looks like a trip into the city for me. Also, please pardon my small rant about the local grocery stores--sometimes I just get frustrated about the situation. I definitely take my groceries seriously.

Free Recipes Magazine

If you're reading this blog I would assume that you're interested in brand name recipes and promotional recipe books.

One of the nicest sources of recipes that fit into this category is available FREE and it's delivered right to your mailbox.

I am referring to Kraft Food & Family Magazine. You can go online to subscribe. (Look for the link that says sign up.) It'll only take a minute and you'll be glad you did when you see how nice it is. Each issue has recipes with great directions and beautiful color photos. I think you'll find that it's as good as some of those $5 magazines on the newsstand.

If you speak Spanish there is also a Spanish language version, Comida y Familia. You'll find many of the same recipes but in addition, there are others more oriented to the Latino culture. If you're learning to speak Spanish it's a great tool. We actually subscribe to both and get a lot out of each of the issues. You can go to Comida Kraft to subscribe.

Go ahead, it's easy, it's FREE and I think you'll be glad you did.

Rachael Ray Cookbook Offer

Just before I tossed the empty Nabisco Premium Saltine Cracker box into the trash, I happened to notice a Rachael Ray cookbook offer on the back.

The offer is for a copy of Express Lane Meals: What to Keep on Hand, What to Buy Fresh for the Easiest-Ever 30-Minute Meals by Rachael Ray for only $4.99 plus six Cookbook Points. That amount includes shipping and handling. Specially marked boxes of Nabisco Crackers have the Cookbook Points on them (my 1-lb package was worth 1 point).

Although the offer on the box doesn't require an order form, you can download one at NabiscoWorld. The offer expires March 31, 2007.

Although this isn't really an advertising cookbook, I feel like it fits in with the other promotional cookbooks because Rachael Ray is pretty much a brand name now with her line of cookware, knives and kitchen tools and gadgets.

If you're a fan, you can check out all of Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Cookbooks and other kitchen items.

Last Minute Gifts

It's getting down to the wire and time is running out. If you're in need of any last minute Christmas gifts and your holiday gift recipient is fond of cooking then I have two gift suggestions that you can get right now without even leaving leaving the chair you're sitting in this very minute.

These are great gifts for anyone--a spouse, son or daughter (young college students or newlyweds), aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters; a neighbor, or a friend or acquaintance whom you wish to remember. They make great stocking stuffers too! These gifts also ensure that your recipient will think of you several times during the upcoming year!

A subscription to Pillsbury Classic Cookbooks or the Betty Crocker Recipe Magazine is an inexpensive, useful gift and may just be something that your recipient wouldn't think of doing for themselves!

Pillsbury Classic Cookbooks have been published since the 1970s and have quite a faithful following judging by the amount of requests I get for both old and new out-of-print issues. They are handy, compact and will fit neatly into a space in the kitchen or a desk, making them an easy reference for recipes, recipe ideas and shopping lists.

The Betty Crocker Recipe Magazines have been around quite awhile too and are about the same compact size as the Pillsbury issues, illustrated with the same type of great color photographs of the completed dishes.

Both of these magazines use their respective brand name products in the recipes. Sometimes the issues will contain only recipes that focus on one particular product; at other times there are a mixture of recipes that revolve around a certain theme. Most are also filled with tips and suggestions to make cooking a meal or a snack even easier.

Yes, they're available at supermarket check-out stands, but many people won't indulge for themselves, or are erratic in their purchases, making it easy to miss an issue.

You can use your computer to print out a gift card showing the magazine subscription has been made in the recipients name and enclose it in a Christmas card or, if you want to have something to wrap up, you can easily find the latest issues of these publications at the supermarket, the drugstore or the Wal-Mart.