Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
CHICOPEE In the summer months, it is all too easy to just fire up the grill, throw on some hamburgers and hot dogs and eat a quick dinner without any real nutritional value. Cookbook author Ellie Deaner aims to fix that. On July 25, Deaner visited the Chicopee Public Library, demonstrating how to prepare delicious and nutritious meals for the harried homemaker. "I want to show people how to make quick and easy meals from scratch," Deaner said, "and I want them to be healthy, too." A cooking teacher for 30 years, Deaner favors making hors d'oeuvres and desserts but enjoys teaching others how to prepare full, healthy meals by themselves. The recipes covered that evening covered a variety of tastes, but were simple enough for even a novice chef. Deaner's chicken saute with lemon and soy sauce kept the flavor high but the cholesterol low by using egg whites instead of the whole egg, low sodium soy sauce and the juice of a freshly-squeezed lemon. Other items on her menu that night: a microwaved salmon teriyaki, black bean and corn salad, blueberry sauce made in the microwave and the melon vice versa serving balled cantaloupe inside a honeydew melon, and vice versa. Deaner said that that dish works well as an appetizer or as a dessert. Hector Martinez, 13, of Chicopee, was in the library's computer lab before deciding to come to the cooking demonstration. His favorite dish was the salmon. "I've never had fish before," Martinez said, "but this is definitely something I'd want to try again." Springfield resident Carol Plasse came looking for new recipes. "I wanted to learn new things and it's great that so many of these recipes cook fast," she said. "With these, I won't be slaving in the kitchen after work." Plasse added that her favorite dishes that evening were the black bean and corn salad and the chicken. "People's lives are very hectic these days," Deaner stated. "My recipes ask that you prepare as much as you can ahead of time. It makes it that much easier when it comes time for supper." This was Deaner's second visit to the Chicopee Library while teaching others how to prepare "Healthy Summer Suppers." Her first visit came as a result of the library gaining funds from the Equal Access Grant. "We've been adding different health-oriented programming to the library," said reference desk worker Anne Gancarz. "The Chicopee Library was one of 13 area libraries to earn an Equal Access Grant and we've been utilizing ours to focus on programming about health and senior citizens." Gancarz estimated that about 35 people attended Deaner's class last year. In addition to private cooking lessons, Deaner is also available for team building corporate events. "People can work in the same office sometimes never really get to know each other," she said. "By cooking together, you can find out some surprising things about your coworkers." She added, "Everyone likes food. It's a common bond." Deaner posts a weekly recipe on her Web site, www.elliedeaner.com. She's also the author of two cookbooks, "From Ellie's Kitchen to Yours" and "So Easy, So Delicious." Some cooking tips: Don't buy fish if it has an odor, that means it is old. Try Panko bread crumbs for your recipes. From Japan, the bread crumbs are tasty, light and crispy just make sure they don't contain palm kernel oil, which raises fat content. To see if cooking oil is hot enough, place the handle of a wooden spoon in it. If it sizzles, that means it's hot. The optimum shelf life for spices is six months. If you're allergic to soy sauce, you may want to try Worcestershire sauce as a substitute. Don't want to cut your chicken to bits to see if it's done? Use a thermometer. Chicken should be heated to 160 Fahrenheit. | ||||||
