What’s new in Cooking Connection Kitchens?  Here’s the scoop:

We rolled out 6 new products in our H-E-B stores last week and customers have been buying them as fast as we can re-stock our shelves!  Of course, these are all exclusive to us.

• Zuppa di Nonna (Spicy Vegetable Soup with Italian Sausage), from Canyon Foods, is a classic family recipe straight from Italy!  (Nonna means “grandmother” in Italian.)  This hearty, robust soup is made with a colorful blend of vegetables, sautéed and then simmered slowly with Italian spices and tomatoes.  We add premium-quality Italian Sausage to finish off this easy one-dish meal in a jar.  It’s perfect for family dinners or entertaining special guests. 
• Sweet Chili Lime Sauce, from Canyon Foods, is extremely versatile and can be used to create a multitude of festive meals for all occasions.  A brightly-flavored blend of red chiles, limejuice and spices, you’ll find it makes a sweet and spicy addition to enhance any dish from appetizers to desserts, from a dipping sauce or stir-fry to a basting or grilling sauce.  Try it in guacamole salad! 

There are 2 new product lines, made exclusively for the Cooking Connections.  Chef Dean Fearing, who spent 20 plus years at Dallas’ famous The Mansion at Turtle Creek, has long been known as the “Father of Southwestern Cuisine”.  Chef Fearing recently left The Mansion and opened his own destination restaurant, Fearing’s, in August of 2007, at the new Ritz-Carlton Hotel Dallas.  Fearing’s has already won a major award in the November 2007 issue of Esquire Magazine as America’s “Restaurant of the Year”!

• Dean Fearing Silky Orange Blossom Sauce, produced by Canyon Foods, is a triple dose of tropical sunshine in a jar, bursting with orange goodness and flavored with a touch of honey and ginger.  Brush over baked fish or chicken, use as a ham or pork glaze or marinade, create your own salad dressing or eat it right from the jar!
•  Dean Fearing Sun-Kissed Apricot Sauce, produced by Canyon Foods, is a tangy mélange of citrus juices with an infusion of dried apricots and spices and sweetened with honey.  Whisk with oil and vinegar to create a tangy citrus dressing for coleslaw or broccoli-bacon salad.  Also tastes great over baked salmon.  For an elegant sauce, sauté chicken or pork; add apricot sauce and a touch of chicken broth, simmer slowly until thickened slightly and serve over rice. 

Our other new product line is labeled “Star Chefs” and allows you to create your own unique restaurant experience at home, time after time.  It’s easy; our new Star Chefs products are like having your own chef-in-a-jar!  These products are developed for Texans by Texas chefs using top quality ingredients.  Each of these celebrities is a “STAR” in their own restaurant kitchen! 

• Truly Authentic Caesar Dressing, from “Star Chef” Jim Severson, produced by Canyon Foods, was crowned champion at the annual Caesar Salad competition.  Amazingly rich in texture and flavor, the ingredients include a traditional blend of premium olive oil, garlic and aged Parmesan cheese; it’s the perfect choice for a crisp romaine salad.  Add grilled shrimp or chicken strips for a main-course salad.  Chef Jim Severson, who created this winning dressing, is owner and chef of Sevy’s Grill in Dallas.
• Dried Cherry Steak Sauce from “Star Chef” David McMillan, produced by Canyon Foods, is a rich, succulent blend of dried cherries, veal stock, red wine and a balsamic vinegar reduction.  Savory and full bodied, use this unique sauce straight from the jar as a flavorful topping for beef pork, venison or lamb.  For a richer presentation, heat sauce with a touch of heavy cream and Dijon mustard.  Don’t forget to add your pan drippings and you won’t be disappointed!  Chef McMillan is Chef-Owner of 62 Main Restaurant in Colleyville, Texas, just north of Dallas.