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Question
Can you cook with Olive Oil?
Answer Yes, of course. But you need to be aware that Olive Oil has a lower smoke point than other oils. Keep the heat lower and you will be fine.
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Greetings!
Family Dinner
We wanted to share a few very interesting findings from a recent study funded by Barilla on the importance of family dinners. This is the first study ever conducted using statistical input from children and parents. All studies in the past only included the parents. The study highlights the emotional, social, and health benefits of family dinners. We found two aspects of the report particularly intriguing: it is not the frequency of the dinners but the qualify of the dinners. We have attempted to highlight the key components and detractors of the "Quality Family Dinner". We hope you find it as interesting as we did.
To get you started try our Bonus Recipe.
Share the Table: Benefits of the Family Dinner for Parents and Children
A White Paper Study
On behalf of "Share the Table" Commissioned by Barilla
Dr. William Doherty, Edited by Laura S. Kirkley
For the complete 33 Page Report see: link to article
Family Connections Matter to Both Parents and Children
Parents may feel that they are the ones who promote spending time with the family, but survey data reveals that family time is a top priority for both parents (88%) and children (79%). Tweens are even more likely than teens to consider time spent connecting with family to be a priority, an important finding to note given the critical emotional and social development years tweens find themselves in. Three quarters (75%) of parents and six out of ten kids (60%) wish they had more time to spend together and connect as a family. Children ranked family dinners more important then vacation by a margin of four to one. And for nearly half (47%), busy schedules are the culprit that makes it harder for them to find that time.
Higher Quality Family Dinner Experiences Have Social and Emotional Benefits for Parents and Kids
What makes the difference between a dinner that just satisfies us physically and one that satisfies us emotionally? Laughter, relaxation, conversation, and all being together eating something everyone likes are some of the top key ingredients to a higher quality family dinner. The importance of having higher quality dinners permeates the research findings-positive emotional and social attributes are more likely to be present in both parents and children who have higher quality family dinners.
Characterists that Contributed to "High Quality" Dinner
- Eat in the same room
- Converse about a non-serious topic
- Eat the same things
- Everyone sits down at the table at the same time and leave the table at the same time
- Everyone in the family is there
- Everyone talks and is part of the conversation
- Eating something everyone likes
- Relaxing
- Slow pace
- Laughing!
Schedules, Technology and Negative Moods/Circumstances Detract from Dinner
Busy schedules threaten to keep us from the dinner table and technology, particularly television, threatens to distract us once we are there. Perhaps more important than these distractions, however, are the barriers that can impede us from having a quality dinner experience. These barriers include being tired, arguing, not liking the meal, being hurried and not everyone being present. Over thirty percent (30%) watch TV while eating dinner, the list of culprits also include: using the computer, text messaging, checking email, and talking on the phone.
Conclusion
Think of the time spent preparing the meal and gathering the family together at the dinner table as an investment in the health (both physical and emotional) of your family. Turn off the TV, the cell phones and the iPods, turn on the answering machine, and enjoy each other.
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New Products
 Sir Francis Bacon
Chocolate-covered, Bacon-flavored Peanut Brittle
Just crazy enough to be delicious!
California Wine Wafers
Vanilla - Lemon: White Wine
Chocolate - Mocha: Red Wine
Raspberry - Almond: Champagne
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 Cooking Classes - All New for 2011
Nothing equals the learning experience of a real cooking class. In class you have the opportunity to use your five senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. You have the opportunity to interact with the instructor and ask questions to help you better understand the concepts and techniques. You learn new dishes, make new friends, and take home new skills and ideas to make cooking at home and entertaining more enjoyable. In addition to all of these practical reasons, the most important reason of all is its fun!
March 17, 2011 The NEW Exchange - Soup There is nothing like a great soup. Now it is the in-thing to have Soup Exchanges, where folks get together and trade soup recipes. Before you get invited to one and have nothing special to bring, come to this class and learn some great ones that would even please the Soup Nazi! - Wild Mushroom Soup with Arugula and Crispy Serrano Ham
- Zuppa di Ceci
- Chili Blanco
- More...
Sorry - Sold Out March 31, 2011 Tribute to Elsie - GermanLaura's grandmother Elsie Diessner was born in Germany and emigrated to the US right before WWII. She was a great lady and a terrific cook of basic German fare. For this class we will pay tribute to her and to German culinary heritage by featuring some classics we have enjoyed and have learned from our German friends and relatives. - Classic Cucumber Salat
- Kronigsberger Klopse
- German Cheese Cake mit Golden Raisins
- More...
Sign up here
April 21, 2011 Technique Class - Spice up your life!Don't be timid, kick up your culinary repertoire a notch or two in flavor. In this class we will share some of our most favorite spicy dishes and discuss techniques for using spices and herbs to bring out flavor, but not flames. - Arroz Con Pollo
- Spicy Moroccan Stew
- Sweet Cream with Sea Salt
- More...
Sign up here Cooking classes are $40.00 per person.
All classes start at 7:00p.m. For classes call (805) 845-3521, visit our store, or sign up on the web. Pre-payment is required to reserve class space. Class spaces are sold on a first come, first serve basis.
We realize that cancellations sometimes occur. If your cancellation is made 48 hours prior to the class, we will happily give you a full refund or apply the fee to another class. Otherwise the payment is nonrefundable.
The menus are subject to change due to availability of ingredients and/or at the chef's discretion.
Note: il Fustino books private evening events. The store provides a beautiful space for an evening get together.
 To reserve or for questions, please call Laura at il Fustino 805.845.3521. |
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Event
 Kings of Pastry - Film
Thursday March 3 7:30PM Campbell Hall - UCSB Sixteen of France's finest artisans compete for the ultimate prize: the prestigious striped collar that denotes Les Meilleurs Ouvriers de France ("Best Craftsman in France").
 Braille Institute Art Exhibit
"The Artful Teapot" Thursday March 10 5:00PM il Fustino Gallery An exhibit of work by blind and vision impaired ceramists and watercolor artists. Art is far more than just the visual-it is a rich and multi-sensory expression. Students from Braille Institute's creative arts program release their inner artist and produce beautiful and inspiring work. Join us for the "Artful Teapot" exhibit opening and see for yourself!  Natural Products Expo West
March 11 - 13 Anaheim Convention Center
 Ruth Reichl "A Spy in the House of Food" UCSB Arts and Lectures Series 3:00PM March 27 Granada Theater Reichl will be giving a talk called A Spy in the House of Food that will not only deal with her days as a restaurant critic for both the New York Times and Los Angeles Times-which often meant she had to dine in outrageous disguises to protect her identity-but what she bills as "great tales of the table that remain untold, examining what food tells us about who we are as a society."
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REGULAR STORE HOURS
Monday - Saturday: 11:00 - 6:00
Sunday: Closed
Warm Regards,
Laura & Jim
il Fustino, oils & vinegars |
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Bonus Recipe in Honor of Family Dinner