Starting the New Year With…
Steamed Blackeyed Peas
These small, beige-colored peas are commonly referred to as “cowpeas.” They get their name because of the black spot on each pea, which looks like an eye. They were believed to have originated in North Africa where they were a staple food for Greeks and Romans. Many years later, they appeared in the “New World,” possibly brought in by Spanish explorers. Blackeyed peas earned a reputation for good luck when eaten during the New Year celebration. They are very popular in the Southern US, but more so during this time.
Most blackeyed peas are packaged dry, but Melissa’s Steamed Blackeyed Peas are steamed and vacuum-sealed in a ready-to-use package. They make great dips and are delicious in casseroles. Blackeyed peas are very low in fat and are an excellent source of folic acid.
Mini Cucumbers
These small cucumbers are just a mini version of a larger cucumber. The best part of it is their edible, thinner skin, making them perfect for salads and veggie plates. They are low-calorie and perfect for holiday gatherings!
Steamed Baby Potatoes
Melissa’s steamed line of products are perfect for the busy home chef. Convenient and a huge time saver, these baby white potatoes are ready-to-eat out of the package… perfect for quick and easy potato salad. Or heat them up for the perfect side dish--use them as an ingredient in place of your usual potatoes when you need to save time instead of starting from scratch. They are delicious and nutritious with no added preservatives. Try our new Parisienne Potatoes for a delicious treat, too!
Potatoes are about 20 calories an ounce and are a good source of Vitamin C and potassium. Potatoes contain no fat, sodium, or cholesterol, making them a good choice when eating healthier.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts look and taste like mini cabbages. They have a nutty flavor and are delicious roasted or sautéed. They are low calorie and are high in fiber and Vitamin C.
Brussels Sprouts are the perfect side dish for any meal. They are easy to prepare and work well in casseroles or even salads.
Peeled and Steamed Butternut Squash
Our latest and greatest steamed item is our Peeled and Steamed Butternut Squash. Not only does it taste fresh and amazing, but it is a huge timesaver in the kitchen! Heat and serve as a side dish sprinkled with a little brown sugar, or use in casseroles or soup. Full flavor without the long prep.
Butternut squash is low calorie and an excellent source of potassium. It also has no cholesterol, very little natural sodium, and trace amounts of fat. It is an excellent choice when you are looking for a satisfying and delicious side dish.
Organic Baby Yams
Organic Baby Yams are smaller yams about ¾”-1” in diameter. There are several varieties: Jewel, Garnet, and Japanese. They are packed full of Vitamin A and have almost zero fat. Baby yams have an interior flesh ranging from white to deep orange depending on the variety. Each variety is delicious and creamy and can be prepared like a large yam with a shorter cooking time. Try using these instead of potatoes for a mash or sautéed side dish. Baby yams are generally available until April.
Chinese Long Beans
Chinese Long Beans are green beans that are in the same family as the black-eyed pea. They are known to grow several feet in length and are usually found twisted like a rope in the produce department. Oftentimes, they are cut into shorter pieces for convenience. Chinese Long Beans are generally cut into 4-6 inch pieces and sautéed for stir-frys or side dishes. The whole bean is eaten.
These unique and tasty beans are not as crispy as a regular green bean but add plenty of flavor. They are low-fat and contain small amounts of protein and vitamin A. They are available year-round.
Fingerling Potatoes
Russian Banana Fingerlings, named for their development in the Baltic States, look like a banana in shape. These yellow skinned potatoes are unique fingerlings. They have a firmer texture and are an excellent base in potato salad. Russian Bananas are one of the most popular of the fingerlings. Ruby Crescent Fingerling potatoes are long and slender with rose-pink skin and sweet yellow flesh. These potatoes are very interesting in the way they occasionally grow branched off one another. They are the best roasting potato and are also delicious boiled for potato salad or baked and topped with sour cream. French Fingerlings are medium size tubers with satin smooth reddish orange skin.
These potatoes are rumored to have been smuggled into America from Europe long ago in a horse’s feed bag. A welcome addition today, these potatoes are delicious boiled for potato salad or baked and topped with sour cream. Fingerling potatoes make a great side dish for any meal. They are low calorie and filling, making them great for those watching their food intake.
Dutch Yellow® Potatoes
Grown year-round in nutrient-rich volcanic soils where the days are warm and the nights are cool, Melissa’s Baby Dutch Yellow® Potatoes are produced under ideal conditions to create an irresistibly creamy potato. Our Dutch Yellow® has a distinct, yellow flesh with a subtle flavor and a creamy texture. These are one of the best-tasting potatoes on the market today. They are naturally sweet and taste like they are already buttered! Dutch Yellow® Potatoes are an excellent source of fiber and potassium, and they’re low in calories. They are great when baked, roasted, mashed, or sautéed. They are also delicious in potato salad, too.
Check out our DYPs™ cookbook, too!
Streamed Baby Red Beets
Melissa’s Baby Red Beets are ready-to-use without the trouble of trimming, peeling, and steaming. We have taken all the mess out and left only the good stuff in! These delicious baby red beets taste so fresh because of our innovative packaging to keep the freshness in and the bitterness out. No one will ever know these beets came out of a package! These tasty beets come from France; a country well known for beets. We don’t add any additives or preservatives--they are all natural to keep that great-tasting flavor until the very end!
Baby Red Beets should be kept in the refrigerator and used once opened. Beets are very nutritious, a great source of fiber, have no cholesterol, and are low calorie. They will add color and flavor to your main dish, salad, or side dish.
Pearl Onions
Pearl Onions are members of the lily family. They are thought to have originated in Southern Europe. Pearl Onions are available in three colors: white, red, and gold. They are available year-round and Melissa’s offers them packaged several ways. Pearl onions are a mild onion about 1-inch in diameter. They have a papery skin and look like a miniature regular onion. Pearl Onions are very popular around the holidays. They are generally used in vegetable sautés, casseroles, or creamed in a side dish. Pearl onions are great on skewers or in sauces, too.
To peel pearl onions, blanch them in boiling water and then plunge them into cold water. Cut off the root end and squeeze the onion out of the skin. It is very simple and easy for such a delicious treat. Pearls should be stored in a cool dry place, just as you would a large onion. They are very low calorie, and very low sodium with some iron and Vitamin C.
Fresh Ginger Root
Ginger has been a popular root for thousands of years. Its origin is unknown, but it is believed to have come from Southeast Asia. Ginger was considered a food preservative before there was refrigeration. It has also been used for many medicinal purposes. Ginger is irregularly shaped with knobby “fingers.” The pieces are often referred to as hands. It is available all year around, making it an essential ingredient in many cuisines.
Ginger is best when used immediately, but can be frozen in pieces and used as needed. It can also be refrigerated for a week or two but may tend to dry out this way. Ginger is generally peeled before using. It can be grated, chopped, minced, or sliced for recipes. Ginger will add a delicious, spicy flavor to any recipe. Ginger is great in tea, stir-fries, desserts, and baked goods.
These small, beige-colored peas are commonly referred to as “cowpeas.” They get their name because of the black spot on each pea, which looks like an eye. They were believed to have originated in North Africa where they were a staple food for Greeks and Romans. Many years later, they appeared in the “New World,” possibly brought in by Spanish explorers. Blackeyed peas earned a reputation for good luck when eaten during the New Year celebration. They are very popular in the Southern US, but more so during this time.
Most blackeyed peas are packaged dry, but Melissa’s Steamed Blackeyed Peas are steamed and vacuum-sealed in a ready-to-use package. They make great dips and are delicious in casseroles. Blackeyed peas are very low in fat and are an excellent source of folic acid.
Mini Cucumbers
These small cucumbers are just a mini version of a larger cucumber. The best part of it is their edible, thinner skin, making them perfect for salads and veggie plates. They are low-calorie and perfect for holiday gatherings!
Steamed Baby Potatoes
Melissa’s steamed line of products are perfect for the busy home chef. Convenient and a huge time saver, these baby white potatoes are ready-to-eat out of the package… perfect for quick and easy potato salad. Or heat them up for the perfect side dish--use them as an ingredient in place of your usual potatoes when you need to save time instead of starting from scratch. They are delicious and nutritious with no added preservatives. Try our new Parisienne Potatoes for a delicious treat, too!
Potatoes are about 20 calories an ounce and are a good source of Vitamin C and potassium. Potatoes contain no fat, sodium, or cholesterol, making them a good choice when eating healthier.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts look and taste like mini cabbages. They have a nutty flavor and are delicious roasted or sautéed. They are low calorie and are high in fiber and Vitamin C.
Brussels Sprouts are the perfect side dish for any meal. They are easy to prepare and work well in casseroles or even salads.
Peeled and Steamed Butternut Squash
Our latest and greatest steamed item is our Peeled and Steamed Butternut Squash. Not only does it taste fresh and amazing, but it is a huge timesaver in the kitchen! Heat and serve as a side dish sprinkled with a little brown sugar, or use in casseroles or soup. Full flavor without the long prep.
Butternut squash is low calorie and an excellent source of potassium. It also has no cholesterol, very little natural sodium, and trace amounts of fat. It is an excellent choice when you are looking for a satisfying and delicious side dish.
Organic Baby Yams
Organic Baby Yams are smaller yams about ¾”-1” in diameter. There are several varieties: Jewel, Garnet, and Japanese. They are packed full of Vitamin A and have almost zero fat. Baby yams have an interior flesh ranging from white to deep orange depending on the variety. Each variety is delicious and creamy and can be prepared like a large yam with a shorter cooking time. Try using these instead of potatoes for a mash or sautéed side dish. Baby yams are generally available until April.
Chinese Long Beans
Chinese Long Beans are green beans that are in the same family as the black-eyed pea. They are known to grow several feet in length and are usually found twisted like a rope in the produce department. Oftentimes, they are cut into shorter pieces for convenience. Chinese Long Beans are generally cut into 4-6 inch pieces and sautéed for stir-frys or side dishes. The whole bean is eaten.
These unique and tasty beans are not as crispy as a regular green bean but add plenty of flavor. They are low-fat and contain small amounts of protein and vitamin A. They are available year-round.
Fingerling Potatoes
Russian Banana Fingerlings, named for their development in the Baltic States, look like a banana in shape. These yellow skinned potatoes are unique fingerlings. They have a firmer texture and are an excellent base in potato salad. Russian Bananas are one of the most popular of the fingerlings. Ruby Crescent Fingerling potatoes are long and slender with rose-pink skin and sweet yellow flesh. These potatoes are very interesting in the way they occasionally grow branched off one another. They are the best roasting potato and are also delicious boiled for potato salad or baked and topped with sour cream. French Fingerlings are medium size tubers with satin smooth reddish orange skin.
These potatoes are rumored to have been smuggled into America from Europe long ago in a horse’s feed bag. A welcome addition today, these potatoes are delicious boiled for potato salad or baked and topped with sour cream. Fingerling potatoes make a great side dish for any meal. They are low calorie and filling, making them great for those watching their food intake.
Dutch Yellow® Potatoes
Grown year-round in nutrient-rich volcanic soils where the days are warm and the nights are cool, Melissa’s Baby Dutch Yellow® Potatoes are produced under ideal conditions to create an irresistibly creamy potato. Our Dutch Yellow® has a distinct, yellow flesh with a subtle flavor and a creamy texture. These are one of the best-tasting potatoes on the market today. They are naturally sweet and taste like they are already buttered! Dutch Yellow® Potatoes are an excellent source of fiber and potassium, and they’re low in calories. They are great when baked, roasted, mashed, or sautéed. They are also delicious in potato salad, too.
Check out our DYPs™ cookbook, too!
Streamed Baby Red Beets
Melissa’s Baby Red Beets are ready-to-use without the trouble of trimming, peeling, and steaming. We have taken all the mess out and left only the good stuff in! These delicious baby red beets taste so fresh because of our innovative packaging to keep the freshness in and the bitterness out. No one will ever know these beets came out of a package! These tasty beets come from France; a country well known for beets. We don’t add any additives or preservatives--they are all natural to keep that great-tasting flavor until the very end!
Baby Red Beets should be kept in the refrigerator and used once opened. Beets are very nutritious, a great source of fiber, have no cholesterol, and are low calorie. They will add color and flavor to your main dish, salad, or side dish.
Pearl Onions
Pearl Onions are members of the lily family. They are thought to have originated in Southern Europe. Pearl Onions are available in three colors: white, red, and gold. They are available year-round and Melissa’s offers them packaged several ways. Pearl onions are a mild onion about 1-inch in diameter. They have a papery skin and look like a miniature regular onion. Pearl Onions are very popular around the holidays. They are generally used in vegetable sautés, casseroles, or creamed in a side dish. Pearl onions are great on skewers or in sauces, too.
To peel pearl onions, blanch them in boiling water and then plunge them into cold water. Cut off the root end and squeeze the onion out of the skin. It is very simple and easy for such a delicious treat. Pearls should be stored in a cool dry place, just as you would a large onion. They are very low calorie, and very low sodium with some iron and Vitamin C.
Fresh Ginger Root
Ginger has been a popular root for thousands of years. Its origin is unknown, but it is believed to have come from Southeast Asia. Ginger was considered a food preservative before there was refrigeration. It has also been used for many medicinal purposes. Ginger is irregularly shaped with knobby “fingers.” The pieces are often referred to as hands. It is available all year around, making it an essential ingredient in many cuisines.
Ginger is best when used immediately, but can be frozen in pieces and used as needed. It can also be refrigerated for a week or two but may tend to dry out this way. Ginger is generally peeled before using. It can be grated, chopped, minced, or sliced for recipes. Ginger will add a delicious, spicy flavor to any recipe. Ginger is great in tea, stir-fries, desserts, and baked goods.
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