84-Lancaster Famtlng, Saturday, April 16, 1994 by Rebecca Escott Penn State Extension Home Economist For Lehigh County When many of us were growing up, there was no “pasta.” Of course we knew about macaroni and cheese and spaghetti and meatballs, but that was the extent of our pasta knowledge. Today there aye about 600 different shapes, with new ones regularly being designed. One of the most popular of modem foods, it can be served in a variety of ways and combinations, such as “veggies” and pasta, meat or poultry with pasta and an all time favorite seafood and pasta. Pasta means “dough.” There are two main types dry or factory made with water and paste, and fresh or homemade with flour and eggs. Some fresh is available in the refrigerated section of your su permarket, but it is considerably more expensive than dry pasta. And occasionally some fresh pasta is frozen. Although most pasta is made with refined durum wheat, some is made with rice, com or soy flour. Others are colored and flavored with spinach, carrot or tomato pur ee. The different flavors and col ors will help you make more inter esting meals. Many types of pasta are inter changeable, but some are more suited to particular sauces than others. For example, delicate noo dles are compatible with light sauces or cream sauces, but spa ghetti is usually enhanced by heavier sauces. Very large pastas, such as manicotti and giant shells are not as good with seafood as smaller shaped pasta varieties. Pasta should be cooked “al dente” not soft, yet tender and firm “to the tooth.” Cooking times vary for different pastas, so al ways follow package directions. In most preparations, coordinate cooking times so that pasta and sauce are done at the same time. Large pastas such as macaroni and spaghetti must be cooked in plenty of boiling water at least a quart for every four ounces of dry pasta. Otherwise they become sticky. Miniature pastas, which do not require as much water, are ex cellent in soups and stews. When pasta is cooked correctly there is no need to add butter or margarine to avoid sticking. One tablespoon of butter or margarine increases the calorie content by nearly 50% from 210 to 310. Contrary to popular belief, pas ta is not fattening. Each five ounce serving of pasta contains about 210 calories and one gram of fat. It is the rich sauces and cheeses we pour over our pasta that make it high in calories and fat. Obviously, a tomato-based sauce is less fattening than a cream or cheese sauce. When cooking sauces, vegeta bles, meats or other foods to com plement your pasta, and it is necessary to use oil, select olive oil, polyunsaturated vegetable oil or soft margarine. These oils are consistent with healthy diet re commendations from nutrition ists. Remember, too, that the amount of an ingredient used is important. One cup of grated parmesan con tains slightly more than 325 calor ies. But if your recipe calls for one-half cup and this serves four or six people, you can still have great flavor without many calor ies. And you can substitute chees es such as mozzarella that have fewer calories. You’ll enjoy your food more if you grate fresh cheeses instead of buying the grated ones. The flavor is fresher and more intense. In ad dition, you will have fewer calor ies and additives as well as less salt, fat and cholesterol. Chicken Corn LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Rich with tender chicken and sweet kernels of com, chicken com soup is a Pennsylvania Dutch classic dial’s prized by many. There are many versions of this hearty dish some with rivels, some without, some with chopped egg, others without. For those who have a special recipe for chicken com soup, the Pennfield Farms Chicken Com Soup Cook-Off will Mindy Rottmund stirs up a batch of chicken corn soup in preparation for the Chicken Corn Soup Cook-Off sponsored by Pennfied Farms. CLOSED SUNDAYS, NEW YEAR, EASTER MONDAY, ASCENSION DAY, WHT MONDAY, OCT. 11, THANKSGIVING, f UIKIf g|{ CHRISTMAS A DECEMBER 26TH. FISHER’S FURNITURE, INC. NEW AND USED FURNITURE USED COAL A WOOD HEATERS COUNTRY FURNITURE A ANTIQUES BUS. HRS: BOX 57 MON.-THURS. 6-5 1129 GEORGETOWN RD. FRI. 8-8, SAT. 8-12 BART, PA 17503 GOOD FOOD OUTLET STORES See Our Original Line Of Golden Barrel Products Plus All Kinds Of Beans, Candies, Dried Fruit, Snack Mixes, Etc. At Reduced Prices * BAKING MOLASSES * MAPLE SYRUP jfcZsSfc * BARBADOS MOLASSES * PANCAKE ft WAFFLE , * BLACKSTRAP SYRUPS MOLASSES * SORGHUM SYRUP «>. A.RRff'ir * CORN SYRUPS * LIQUID ft DRY SUGARS »V oAL/A HIGH FRUCTOSE * PANCAKE ft WAFFLE A SYRUPS SYRUPS y ' #/ * CANOLA OIL v ; s * coconut on. - /) I/, If your local turn ft CORN OH -A-i,. , doe* not have it, A COTTONSEED OIL . _ SEND FOR A OLIVE OH. free * peanut on. BROCHURE A VEGETABLE OIL A SHOO-FLY PIE IVOX Processors Of Syrups, Molasses, Cooking Oils. Funnel Cake Mix. Pancake k Waffle Mix k Shoofly Pie Mix GOOD FOOD OUTLET Located At Good Food, Inc. W Mam St, Box 160, Honey Brook, PA 19344 215-273-3776 1-800-327-4406 Located At L & S Sweeteners 388 E Main St, Leola, PA 17540 717-656-3488 1-800-633-2676 - WE UPS DAILY - Si^S3 Set For offer a special opportunity to show off which recipe is truly best The Pennfield Farms Chicken Com Soup Cook-Off is set for Fri day, June 17, as part of the county wide T 994 Pennsylvania Dutch Food; Festival sponsored by the Pennsylvania Dutch Visitors Bureau. It will be held at the Doneckers Expo Center at the ARTWORKS in Ephrata, where celebrity judges will make thefinal Soup June Cook-Off 17 choice among six finalists. The preliminary judging of recipes will be done by Pennfield Farms and home economist, Min dy Rottmund. The written recipes will be narrowed down to six final ists who will be judged on June 17. Last year, Pennfield Farms spon 7 sored a Chicken Pot Pie Cook-Off! “Chicken is an essential ingre dient in many popular Pennsylva nia Dutch dishes. Having a Chick en Com Soup Cook-Off as part of the county’s celebration of region al food was a natural,” said Tim Horn, marketing director for Pen nfield Farms. Those entering the Pennfield Farms Chicken Con Soup Cook- Off will also have the opportunity to help seriously ill children in the area. For each individual recipe submitted, Pennfield Farms will make a donation to the Make-A- Wish Foundation which goes tow ard fulfilling the wishes of children facing life-threatening illnesses. Entries for the Pennfield Chick en Com Soup Cook-Off must be postmarked and received by May 15. The semi-finalists will be inter viewed by phone May 25 or 26, until they are narrowed down to six finalists by May 31. Those finalists will participate in the cook-off, vying for a total of three prizes. First prize is $3OO, second prize is $l5O and third prize is $75. Awards will be presented at the time of judging. All recipes must be original and not previously published. They should include Pennfield Farms chicken. The final judging will be based on flavor, appearance, tex ture, easy of preparation, and qual ity of ingredients. “Besides the prize money and the benefit to the Make-A-Wish (Turn to Page BS) GOLDEN PRIDE'S FORMULA FOR HEALTH Call Or Write JESSE S. WEAVER 1431 Brunnervllle Rd. Litltz, PA 17543 717-626-5503 SPECIALS FOR APRIL GOOD OLD FASHIONED SHOO-FLT PIE MIX Regularly $1.19 NOW $.99 GOLDEN BARREL PEANUT OIL V 4 Gallon - Regularly $3.40 now $3.09 GOLDEN BARREL TABLE SYRUP 32 Ounce - Regularly $1.69 NOW $1.39 * FUNNEL CAKE MIX * PANCAKE A WAFFLE MIX A ASSORTMENT OF CANDIES A DRIED FRUIT * SNACK MIXES A BEANS A HONEY A PLAfIUT BUTTER A BAUMAN APPLE BUTTERS * KAUFMAN PRESERVES * SPRING GLEN RELISHES