December 15, 2015 by Debbie Kuehn

The New Year is nearly here and with it the competing desires to celebrate and have fun yet reflect and get serious. This is the time of year we make heartfelt resolutions to help us live better. And then wonder how we’ll keep them.

If you haven’t penned your 2016 New Year’s resolutions yet, here are some ideas that are so simple and full of common sense you won’t have to resolve yourself to do anything at all. It will just happen naturally.

1. Put seafood on the menu at least twice a week. Besides providing protein, Morey’s products contain valuable Omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have shown that adding Omega-3s to your diet may decrease your risk for heart disease, some cancers, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. And don’t forget how easy it is to make a Morey’s meal. Bake it, broil it, grill it or microwave it too. Every package contains the perfect serving size, with delicious marinade sealed in with the fish.
2. Visit somewhere you’ve never been before. More and more people are putting “travel” on their resolution lists but it doesn’t have to be overseas, which can be expensive. Traveling can expose you to new worlds and cultures, but don’t forget there is no place like home, too. Maybe your “trip” is something a little closer, like to a small town in your state that you’ve always wondered about. Or that park you drive by daily on your way to work. Or even that new museum you’ve just never been to. It is possible to find surprises right in your own backyard.
3. Improve your relationships. Another common New Year’s resolution is to “work on my relationship with…” But this can take time and results aren’t guaranteed to occur overnight. Sometimes you don’t even know where to begin. Start by making a list of people you care about. Think about how much value you add to their life, and they to yours. Then let them know how much they mean to you. It seems like a small, simple thing––but it can mean the world to the people you tell and can help strengthen any relationship.
4. Step it up. The magic number for losing weight and preventing diseases is 10,000 steps a day, according to health experts. But if that seems daunting, remember that just adding 2,000 steps a day can make a big difference. Wear a pedometer then take the stairs instead of the elevator, park a block or two farther from work, and walk a few fast laps around the mall. There are also smartphone apps that keep track of your steps but make sure you’re carrying the phone when you’re on the move. Once you’ve hit 2,000, add another 2,000. It adds up fast and it can be fun to find new ways to rack up the steps.
5. Eat less fat. It can be as simple as it sounds. Every week, permanently trade one processed food — cookies, crackers, or potato chips — for an apple, red pepper or other fruit or vegetable. These foods will lower your blood pressure and help you lose weight. They are also antioxidant-rich to help your body battle disease. Better yet, ditch the chips and keep a few packs of Morey’s Imitation Crabmeat/Surimi in the freezer and thaw some out for a fresh instant snack full of protein when a craving arrives. Or throw it in a salad for an extra special––and healthy––lunch.
6. Be kind. Before you get out of bed each morning, spend a few quiet moments thinking of one nice thing you can do for yourself today. Call your best friend––or, better yet, your mom. Run yourself a hot bath and then lounge in it for a half hour. Treat yourself to favorite chocolate bar or cafe latte. If you like to cook, spend some time in the kitchen making yourself a special seafood entrée like Mustard Herb Glazed Salmon with Morey’s scrumptious salmon fillets or Spinach Pot Pie with Morey’s Seasoned Grill Tilapia fillets. But whatever you do, make sure to honor yourself for at least a half hour each day.

Have a great year! Good luck and bon appétit.

December 8, 2015 by Debbie Kuehn
In the tradition of that famous, time-honored song heralding this special time of year, here are 12 great ways to dress up your dinner table and perk up your holiday menu.

Big-Idea No. 1
Transform your home for the holidays with elegant and innovative table décor. Create unique candleholders out of birdseed-filled clay pots or core a few perfectly shaped red and green apples and insert tall pillar candles. Place apples on top of doilies or other décor to catch wax drips.

Big-Idea No. 2
Another great apple idea: place a mound of red and green ones in an antique wooden box or tray––or stack them tall on a platter––for a delightful twist on traditional centerpieces. Or lay two groups of Christmas tree branches end-to-end, tie together with ribbon and nestle small ornaments and votive candles (in glass holders) among branches.

Big-Idea No. 3
When guests arrive, direct them to your beautifully decorated table where you’ll be serving delicious Crab Rangoon Appetizers made with imitation crabmeat, cream cheese and spices fried in tasty won ton skins.

Big-Idea No. 4
A starched white linen tablecloth and crisp white linen napkins pleated and bound with attractive homemade napkin holders make a great base for a dazzling dinner table. For napkin holders, try red and green felt holiday-theme cutouts glued to a felt band or ribbon wrapped around the napkins.

Big-Idea No. 5
Dress up glassware by wrapping small silver or gold wire “bracelets” or charms around the stems or by hanging small bulbs and ribbons from the glass rims. Then write each guest’s name on the ribbon with a gold or silver glitter pen for an instant nameplate.

Big-Idea No. 6
For the main event, try this zesty dish: Broiled Tilapia with Sweet Potato Crust and Vanilla Cream Sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes using 5 to 6-oz. tilapia fillets, the topping is made with sweet potatoes; crust with graham crackers, roasted pecans and butter; and sauce with heavy cream, vanilla, stock and Creole spices! It’s delicious.

Big-Idea No. 7
A tasty alternative entrée is this amazing Spinach Pot Pie made with Morey’s Seasoned Grill Tilapia fillets. Lemon zest, olive oil, garlic, mushrooms and sour cream mixed with fresh baby spinach and placed between two crescent roll sheets will delight your guests, no question.

Big-Idea No. 8
After dinner, you’ll open gifts (or maybe you’ll do it before dinner if you’ve got impatient young ones around, like at my house). Wrap gifts in gorgeous handmade giftwrap made of old sheet music found in a piano bench, wallpaper from grandma’s attic, old magazines or even brown paper bags or postal wrap. Instead of bows, trim with sprays of wired glass beads, tiny ornaments, tassels, medallions or fun napkin rings.

Big-Idea No. 9
Top your exquisitely wrapped gifts with handmade gift cards. Cut interesting images from antique post cards or old magazines and color-copy them onto cream-colored heavy or textured paper for a lovely old-fashioned look. Add a touch of lace or gold netting to complete the look. Spray with a bit of perfume or include a small potpourri sachet.

Big-Idea No. 10
Depending on how hard you all worked opening all those presents, you may need to serve a small snack before your guests leave. Try some easy Smoked Salmon Fajita Roll Ups made with Morey’s Cajun Smoked Salmon, cream cheese, sour cream, fajita seasoning, Mexican cheese, onion and red pepper rolled in flour tortillas!

Big-Idea No. 11
Better yet, tell guests to stay overnight then serve yummy Marinated Salmon and Potato Pancakes in the morning. These scrumptious pancakes take just 20 minutes to prepare using Morey’s Seasoned Grill Salmon along with onions, spices, potatoes and sour cream with chives.

Big-Idea No. 12
Don’t let guests leave empty handed. Give them a homemade food gift (chutney, jellies, jams, preserves) or cooking ingredients (bottle of olive oil or seasoning) in attractive glass jars or bottles with stoppered tops or cover lids with colorful fabric and a bow. Another idea: put cookies, nuts, popcorn or other food into a cute drawstring gift bag (gingham, felt or velvet) and decorate with jute twine, wooden beads and more. Wicker baskets also made great gift boxes.

Remember, from serving tantalizing sweet potato-encrusted tilapia to hand-making napkin holders and name plates, even the smallest touches will leave big impressions on your dinner guests.

Bon appetit and Happy Holidays!

Written by Debbie Kuehn

October is National Seafood Month, which is a great time to remind of the health benefits of eating fish and shellfish.

While most of us eat some seafood, we’re still not eating enough to meet federal dietary guidelines, according to studies conducted by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In fact, about 80 to 90 percent of us don’t meet seafood-eating guidelines.

Both fish and shellfish are nutrient-rich protein foods and eating them has been linked to reduced heart disease risk. Seafood contains healthful natural compounds known as “omega-3 fatty acids.” The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, recommends eating two servings of seafood (8 ounces) weekly to get at least 1,750 milligrams of two omega-3s.

Easy Ways to Eat More Seafood

Here are a few easy ways to eat more seafood, a lot of which can be found right here on Morey’s website along with dozens of tasty recipes and inventive meal ideas.

1. Eat a variety of seafood

Twice a week, make seafood­­ the main protein on your plate. Include some that is higher in omega-3s and lower in mercury, such as salmon, trout, oysters, mackerel, herring, and sardines. Mix it up and keep things interesting by trying a different fish each week.

2. Keep it lean and flavorful

Try grilling, broiling, roasting or baking seafood, which doesn’t add extra fat. Avoid breading or frying, which adds calories and fat. Use spices or herbs, such as dill, chili powder, paprika or cumin. Use lemon or lime juice to add flavor without adding salt.

3. Keep seafood on hand

You are more likely to prepare seafood if you keep it readily available. Remember that most seafood can be cooked from thawed or frozen in 30 minutes or less. It’s easy to prepare seafood right from the freezer in the microwave, on the stovetop, in the oven or on the grill. Keeping seafood frozen also prevents it from spoiling if not used right away.

4. Get creative with seafood

Eating more seafood and getting more creative with it does not have to be expensive or difficult. Just think beyond the fish sticks or fish fillets of yesterday. Try a mouth-watering salmon steak, a shrimp stir-fry, grilled fish tacos or clams with whole-wheat pasta. Add variety by trying herring or lox. Or top a salad with some tasty surimi. For more ideas, there are a lot of great recipes at https://www.aboutseafood.com/recipes.

After nearly 80 years in the business, Morey’s has collected more than just a few great seafood recipes. It has also collected lots of great insight about how to run a business responsibly. Morey’s has a deep commitment to sustainable practices and caring for the environment, which has spanned many generations. You can read more about this commitment here, but don’t forget to enjoy your twice-weekly recommended servings of seafood!

Here’s to happy, healthy eating.