Click here to learn more about the weekly food challenge and how you can play along. But, basically, you just make something during the challenge week with the weekly challenge food item and add your link to this post (leave a comment with your URL and I'll add it). See, simple!
This Week's Challenge Item (3/1 - 3/7) - Sardines:
This week's challenge ingredient scares me the most from the original article that kicked off this challenge, "The 11 Best Foods You Aren't Eating". I'm not sure I've ever knowingly consumed sardines. I'm actually afraid to eat this ingredient, so it will be interesting to see if how I'm able to work it into any meals. I remember that growing up, my dad almost always had a can of sardines in the house. My sister and I would always turn up our noses when he'd eat them. He probably snuck them into our food and we didn't even know it! lol. Guess I'd better call him for some tips on how to eat them.
According to Parker-Pope, from her article "The 11 Best Foods You Aren't Eating", "Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins. How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread."
According to Jonny Bowden in The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, Sardines offer a high serving of omega-3 fats and calcium. According to Bowden, "They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, and manganese, not to mention a full compliment of B vitamins." Bowden explained that he and fellow nutrionist friend Oz Garcia ate cans (1 can each) of sardines when they were in a pinch for food on a road trip because they were so tasty and full of nutrition. I have to admit, the thought of opening up a can or sardines and eating the fish as is makes my skin crawl. However, I really shouldn't pre-judge these poor little fish considering I don't even know what they taste like! Not sure I'll be eating them straight from the can, but I hope to eat them at least once this week.
Recipe Ideas:
- You don't have to cook the sardines! Just eat them and post about it on your blog
- I had a hard time finding recipes so here is a link that has a bunch listed (click)
- Sardine and Bread Crumb Pasta with Puttanesca Salad - Rachael Ray
- Spaghetti with Sardine-Fennel Sauce and Spinach Salad - Rachael Ray
- RR apparently also used to eat sardine sandwiches (interesting?)
- I swore RR used to use sardines in her recipes all the time a couple years ago, but only found 1 recipe on foodnetwork.com and 1 other on her web site. Oh well!
- Anyone else have any sardine ideas?
How to Play:
Everyone is welcome to play, and this week, since the challenge ingredient is, in my opinion, the most challenging one, I have an extra-special prize!
- Cook/prepare something during the challenge week (3/1-3/7) with sardines
- Do a blog post about what you made
- Add the Challenge banner (the muffin photo - available here - click) to your blog post, optional
- Leave me a comment on this post to let me know you did your post so I can add you link to the list
Happy cooking!
Prize:
I will randomly select 1 winner from the group that participates. Players will be assigned #'s based on the order I received your entry and a random # will be generated online. The winner will receive a Green, fabric, grocery bag that I will personally make for you, like the one I made for myself this past weekend!
Winner will have their choice of fabrics from the following:
Options A - red polka dot with red lining
Option B - green floral fabric with yellow gingham lining
Option C - Pink/Orange/Yellow/Purple Floral with light pink lining
I'm not making these bags to sell...just for the winner. If you'd like to purchase a fabric grocery tote, check out Homemaking Dreams' (creator of the tutorial I used) Etsy shop (click) where there are some available for purchase.
The Players:
TBD - Leave me a comment with a link to your sardine-post and I'll add your link here. Please make your entry during the challenge week and submit your comment to this post by the end of the challenge week.
I hope someone is brave enough to give this challenge a go. Anyone? :)
Special thanks to everyone who played last week! :)
Happy cooking!
Hmm... I'm debating breaking being vegan for a day to make something with sardines. I haven't had a sardine in... I don't know... maybe 15 years?? I'm pretty sure I was younger than 10. The good thing is that fish don't bug my stomach :D I'm kind of an accidental vegan because apparently I'm allergic to dairy and I'm already vegetarian... and still trying to be macrobiotic. Or maybe I'll just make something with sardines for Bobby - he'll go for anything.
Posted by: Maggie | March 03, 2009 at 01:38 AM
Man, I was hoping you'd give away one of those great bags! But, Sardines?!? I don't think I can do it. Does it count if I make something for my hubby? He loves those suckers ;)
Posted by: Andrea | March 03, 2009 at 08:59 AM
I don't like sardines in the can, however, I really like fresh sardines grilled on a BBQ grill with sea salt and toasted Portguese rolls. For some reason, these are less fishy than the canned ones although I hear the canned ones have a lot of calcium. I think you'd like the grilled version too. The only drawback is spitting out the bones. LOL
Posted by: Marie | March 03, 2009 at 09:23 AM
Loooove sardines!! Just mash 'em before you can tell that they're fish!
Posted by: Kath | March 03, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Well first of all..."You don't have to cook the sardines! Just eat them and post about it on your blog" Is that really an option??? I think I want to say "Ewww."
You're a brave, brave woman. Good for you for being so adventurous. I think there are some good recipes (somewhere?) for salad dressings that use sardines.
Posted by: Thimbleanna | March 03, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Darn! I would have LOVED to win a handmade Diana shopping bag!!! But sardines... I just dont know... ekkkk
Posted by: Jen | March 03, 2009 at 03:19 PM
oooh I love sardines. To me they are comfort food. Mash them up put on a slice of toast, stick the toast back under the grill (broiler) and toast until warmed through and slightly brown, just delicious! Will check whether I have any in the cupboard, otherwise I'll need to go shopping.
Posted by: Janice | March 03, 2009 at 04:39 PM
OMG I have the absolute perfect sardine dish! When does the contest end? I think I have a can of sardines in the pantry that's like two years old but hey, can food last a long time right?? My mom used to make this dish and we eat it with rice and stir fry cabbage ... YUMMERS!
PS: I swear the food you had on your indian buffet looks EXACTLY like the indian buffet that I frequent!
Posted by: Chii-Wey | March 05, 2009 at 10:05 AM
I made my sardine challenge today - you can see it on my blog at janicepattie.blogspot.com.
If you want some fab Indian recipes have a look here http://www.bbc.co.uk/indianfoodmadeeasy/
Posted by: Janice | March 07, 2009 at 02:45 PM
OK I'm a day late but better late than never right??? :)
http://www.xanga.com/chiister/695045575/sardines-challenge/
Posted by: Chii-Wey | March 08, 2009 at 01:41 PM
Hi people great article, I really enjoy reading about it.very fun and creative
To me they are comfort food. Mash them up put on a slice of toast, stick the toast back under the grill (broiler) and toast until warmed through and slightly brown, just delicious! Will check whether I have any in the cupboard, otherwise I'll need to go shopping.
thanks for sharing
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He probably snuck them into our food and we didn't even know it! lol.
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