Sysco Food Fair in LA County

If you have never been to the Sysco Food fair, here are many pictures to wet your appetite or get your creative juices flowing!

What is Sysco? Here's an extract from Wikipedia"

"SYSCO Corporation is the largest foodservice distributor in North America. It distributes frozen foods, various canned and "dry" foods, "fresh" meats, imported "specialties", and fresh produce. The company also supplies various non-food items, including disposable napkins, plates, and cups; tableware, cookware, restaurant and kitchen equipment, and cleaning supplies.
SYSCO, an acronym for Systems and Services Company, services over 400,000 customers, which include restaurants, hospitals and nursing homes, schools and colleges, summer "camps", hotels and motels, and industrial caterers, as well as regional and national chain restaurants."

Loma Linda University Medical Center orders almost all it's produce and products through Sysco. Hence, this was an important fair that all the managers from the Foodservice Department had to attend!

Pictures of beautifully carved blocks of ice; various fruits & vegetables!

Lemons in glass stand acts as a nice base for the flowers

Various equiptments, cookware, elegant plateware, classy setups were seen...

A wide variety of fresh vegetables... and fish

Ideas on how serving tables can be set up...

Different types of drinks...

Tamarind flavor was great!

Crushed candy to decorate the rims of glasses...

Seriously, I was stuffed-up. I left with an empty stomach, anticipated to eat everything...but...I couldn't! Only managed to taste-test essential items that could be possibly brought over to BMC!

Gyoza, dim sum, wontons...

Kabobs to be used for a tropical theme event I'm planning next month.

Japanese/Korean/Asian food...

The Mexican Corner...


Chocolate/cheese fondue fountain!

Bamboo rice? Aren't the bean/rice displays pretty?

I love this layered look! It's a huge bread layered with various types of vegetables!

A huge array of salad dressings:

Healthier snacks that can be brought in for Adolescent/Child group:

Granola Parafit that I'm thinking of adding to the menu:

Breads are always a staple. I might use the par-baked pizza crust for our pizza-days instead of the current frozen ready-made pizzas.

All things fried~sweet potato, apple pie balls, etc...

A few ice cream booths...

Excellent assortment of gourmet cheeses!

Delicious crepes and kabobs

Right now, feast your eyes on pictures of rich, beautiful and gorgeous desserts! (For my own notation, I have sepearted them into catergories according to various vendors carrying the items so that I can order them for fancy events).

You might be thinking, "Is that what a Manager-operations dietitan does? Going to Food fairs to sample food and look at pretty things?" No...it's a small part of the job although it's one of the highlights of being one. :) I get a preview of the latest and coolest innovation that is out there in the food industry and decide if it should be brought to the facility. It's amazing to see what is out there!

Many pre-made items help tremendously when it comes to mass cooking. I love baking and cooking but home- made items do not play in the commercial food industry where numbers and timing are of essence.

Well, I hope you enjoyed these pictures of my day at Sysco today! Take care and God bless! :)

Heart-Healthy Brownies

It was a beautiful day today- the weather and everything. Loma Linda Chinese Church had their annual health fair that was held in conjunciton with the 25th Silver anniversary celebration!

Eric and I did scripture reading :
Psalm 84:10-12
"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."

Some of the highlights... String Ensemble conducted by Jeff Hwang

25th anniversary Choir

Our "Did You Know?" health booths!!


We gave out samples of Heart-Healthy Brownies

Ingredients:
6T cocoa powder, unsweetened
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup spelnda
.5t vanilla extract
1/4t salt
1/2 cup all purpose wheat flour, self raising
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup water
3T water
2T flax seed meal
6 T water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325F In a small bowl, mix flaxseed meal with the water ( 6TBsp). Set aside Dump all other ingredients into the mixing bowl then add flaxseed/water mixture. Stir all ingredients together until well blended. Pour batter into a greased 8 x 8 pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
kilocalories: 236.5 kcal protein: 4.4 g Fat: 16g cholesterol: 0 saturated fat: 3g Sodium: 176mg vitamin A: 17.6 RE citamin C: 1.2 mg Iron 1.9 mg Dietary fiber: 3.3 g

Know the sugar content in food or drinks? You'll be surprised at the amount of sugar you're consuming in your regular food items!

Hidden sodium found in common foods!

Effects of Fats on cholesterol levels

Effects of Caffeine section

Loma Linda Mayor came to officiate the event.

On Saturday night, it was Steve's surprise birthday...

and I made mini stacked tiered banana cakes coated with chocolate ganache, decorated with yellow and blue candy dots or fondant cut-outs. :)

Tofu Cabbage Rolls

It is one of those days where I want a quick, nutritious and of course delicious meal. This tofu cabbage roll is not only easy to make, nutritious and yummy, it brings back nostalgia feelings of mummy's home cooked meals. :)

There are many ways to cook cabbage. Since it has a beautiful bowl-like shape when carefully peeled, it would make a good 'skin' to wrap tofu. This veggie can be kept for a long time and hence, I had no choice but to cook it today as it's been sitting in the fridge for eons. ;p

Ingredients:
1/2 box of firm tofu (7.5 oz)
4 Chinese dry mushrooms - soaked and minced (reserve water for making gravy)
1/2 carrot, diced
green onions, chopped finely
5 cabbage leaves
1 egg
corn starch mixture
Seasonings for tofu mixture include salt, pepper, mushroom seasoning, onion and garlic powder

Method:Mash tofu. Add minced Chinese dry mushrooms, diced carrots, minced green onions, seasonings and egg. Mix well.
Rinse cabbage, trim the stem and blanch in boiling water for a few seconds until tender. Fill each cabbage leaf with enough filling and roll up. Steam for 10-15 minutes.

For the gravy, boil the mushroom stock. Add seasonings like vegetarian mushroom oyster sauce, Maggi seasoning and pepper. Add cornstarch mixture and allow the heat to thicken the mixture. Pour gravy over rolls and garnish as desired.

the Jacksons!

I met Dr.Thomas and La Verne Jackson about 9 years ago when they came to Singapore to give some health lectures. They were the first people who kindered my passion for health and spirituality. Hence, it was wonderful to get reacquainted and hear their seminars again after so many years. Somehow I just feel that God is calling me towards a higher standard...He is stirring something in my heart.

Many natural remedies were shared and here is one good one...

If you are you CONSTIPATED, drink -- Smooth move:--

1 cup pitted prunes, 2T flax seed (golden and freshly ground), 2-3 cups unsweetened prunes.

Blend the above ingredients together. Take 1 cup everyday.

I love the vegan and tasty recipes that were shared during the cooking session! Some of the demos include: Sunburger, Mac & Cheese and Carob Chewies...

Sunburger:

Ingredients: 6c brown rice (cooked), 3C ground sunflower seeds, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 3T flour, 1 1/2 C secret sauce*, 3T Loma Linda chicken style seasoning, 4T Bragg's

Directions: Mix all ingredients together, form into burgers. Place on baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Spread thin layer of secret sauce on top. Turn oven down to 325 and cook for 15 mins more.

*Secret sauce: 1c cashew (washed), 128 oz can of whole tomato juice, 1/4 c lemon juice, 2 1/4 tsp salt, 1 1/2 T onion powder

~ Blend thoroughly on high for 3-4 minutes, then chill.

Baked MAC and Cheese Casserole

Cook 1 lb of whole wheat, spinach of Jerusalem artichoke macaroni according to instructions. Drain in colander and mix with the following cheese sauce:

Whiz in blender: 1 c cashew, 1 c water, 1/3 c fresh lemon juice, 2T sesame seeds, 4T nutritional yeast, 1T honey, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 c oil, added slowly, 1 tsp onion powder, pinch of garlic powder.

Then add and blend until very smooth 4 oz jar pimentos

If you want the cheesy texture found in real Mac and Cheese, the above "vegan gourmet" brand is a good substitute for the real one. Cut some slices and place it on top of the casserole to give a "stringy" texture.

CAROB CHEWIES~

Carob is a good substitute for chocolate and you can't differentiate between the two in this recipe. *yum*

Ingredients: 2 cup Brazil nuts, chopped or blended finely, 1/2 cup tahini, 1/2 cup honey, 1/3 cup carob powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1T vanilla, few drops peppermint flavor.

Directions: Stir everything together. Roll into balls and place onto cookie sheet. Place in the freezer for about an hour for it to set.

ENJOY~~

BTW, if you want to hear his talks, go to: audioverse.org and click, " Thomas Jackson"