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Produce eNews

As the weather gets colder, and we get closer to Thanksgiving I get two questions: "What is the difference between Yams and Sweet Potatoes?" and "What is a Russet Potato?"

The difference between a Yam and a Sweet Potato all comes down to geography. What part of the world are you from? If you are from the United States then a Yam and a Sweet Potato are basically the same thing. Both describe a Southern Sweet Potato which is technically not a Yam or a Sweet Potato. Any time an American asks for a Yam or Sweet Potato I know what they are asking for, but we are an International Market. That can complicate matters just a little bit. The word Yam comes from the word Name pronounced nyamae. Name refers to certain root vegetables that are very starchy but, they are not directly related to the common Sweet Potato.Many different root vegetables that are considered true Yams are available in our Ethnic Produce area. To complicate matters we have a few different varieties of Sweet Potatoes. The most common is the Jewel Yam.This as well as the Beaurgard are probably what you are looking for to make a Thanksgiving dish.Usually we have Red Garnet Yams (Red Sweet Potatoes) and White Sweet Potatoes available in lesser quantities at this time of the year. We also have Sweet Potatoes available in the Organic section where, oddly enough I sell more of the Red Garnet variety than I sell the Jewel variety. So, if you are looking for Yams, Sweet Potatoes, or even Name you can rest assured that we will have them.

Now Russet Potatoes are another stumper. Every year I see these poor husbands running around with a list from their wives. These poor fellows have a confused look on their faces. They ask, "Do you have any Russet Potatoes?". This Russet Potato confusion is also caused by geography. Many people do not know that a Russet Potato is really an Idaho Potato. Russet is the variety that is commonly, but not exclusively, grown in the state of Idaho. Idaho has done such a good job of marketing these Potatoes that most people don't know that they are actually Russet Potatoes. I generally tell people all Idaho Potatoes are Russet Potatoes, but not all Russet Potatoes come from Idaho. In fact the Russet Potatoes that I sell in the Organic case are actually grown in California.

Hopefully, I have cleared up any confusion that you may have had, or maybe I have confused you even more.

Come see the amazing and unique items here at Jungle Jim's,
Jason L. Rinckel

Seafood eNews

Last Friday, we had our debut on the History Channel. I hope you caught the episode, but if not we'll have it on our website soon and you can view it there.

All of our in house smoked fish is all natural with no preservatives. We use hickory for the smoke and finish at a high temperature so it is fully cooked and ready to eat.

The list of fish we smoke includes bluefish, regular and peppered, cod, eel, haddock, sable, salmon and sturgeon. Some of these are seasonal or by special order. The most popular, salmon, is available year around. The varieties of salmon are:

• Regular hot smoked salmon ("hot" refers to the temperature we smoke at)
• Cajun smoked salmon (a little spicy)
• Peppered smoked salmon
• Smoked salmon with brown sugar and honey (smokey, sweet and delicious)
• Smoked salmon candy
• Salmon jerky, regular and Cajun

Our latest creation is tuna jerky. We use the high sashimi grade tuna, hand slice it very thin, marinade it then pop it in the smoker for 4-5 hours. The response so far is very positive. People who don't like fish have tried it and loved it. We offer 2 varieties, regular tuna jerky and a spicy Cajun tuna jerky. The next time you're in the Jungle stop by the seafood department and sample a piece.

Bakery eNews

Brownie Cookies: Don't the words just make your mouth water? Light, crunchy on the outside and chocolate-y, chewy on the inside. Our Brownie Cookies are a favorite among our customers as we have a hard time keeping up with the demand for them.

Here are a couple tips that not all customers get; just our special enewsletter customers:

• Warm the brownie cookie in your microwave for 10-20 seconds (or warm in an oven for a couple minutes). Just imagine how great this will taste!
• After warming, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle some ganache for a great 'gourmet' dessert.
• Or just enjoy with a cold glass of milk, hot tea or coffee.

Now for the history:
Brownies are really a slice of a type of dense, rich chocolate cake, which is really a cross between a cake and a cookie.

Brownies first appeared in public during the Columbian Exposition, 1893 in Chicago, IL. A chef at the Palmer House Hotel created the confection after Bertha Palmer requested a dessert for ladies attending the fair. She wanted the confection to be smaller than a piece of cake and easy to eat from a boxed lunch. The first brownies included walnuts and an apricot glaze. You can still get brownies made with the original recipe at the hotel!

Natural Foods eNews

Rudi's Gluten-Free Bread
Rudi's is most known for their organic bread "Made with stuff you can pronounce and ingredients you recognize". After many requests, Rudi's accepted the challenge and decided to launch a gluten-free line that was 'as delicious' as their organic bread. So, did they succeed? In my humble opinion - Yes!

I was fortunate enough to receive a generous package from Rudi's filled with six loaves, two loaves of each variety of gluten-free bread Rudi's offers. Currently, Rudi's GF bread comes in Original, Multi grain and Cinnamon Raisin. The bread was delivered still mostly frozen. Fresh out of the package the bread seemed brittle, so I was a bit worried that the product would not hold up to expectations. However, after being lightly toasted, the bread didn't only hold together, but it was also light and fluffy.

Rudi's Original Gluten-Free Bread is very similar to white bread. It is a bit sweet and would make a great choice as sandwich bread for children or adults who prefer their bread on the sweeter side. Rudi's Multi grain Gluten-Free Bread is hardier than the Original. I am a big fan of multi grain breads that are filled with whole grains and seeds. My girlfriend calls it 'tree bark' and the closer to it the better as far as I'm concerned. So for me, this bread was on the mild side. But as far as pre-sliced, store bought gluten-free bread goes, this bread is pretty healthy, very convenient and has a very pleasant taste. Rudi's Cinnamon Raisin Gluten-Free Bread is a nice treat. It is heavy on raisins and only has enough cinnamon to enhance the raisin flavor.

All three flavors have a nice crust that is nicely improved by toasting. And best of all, Rudi's Gluten-Free passes the hardest test to this type of bread. There is no strange aftertaste; just a great bread that happens to be gluten-free!

Found in the Natural Foods Frozen case, you can pick up one or all varieties today!

Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 fatty acids are essential fats required by the body for normal functioning of the brain, regulation of the mood, proper lubrication of the hair and skin, proper control of blood pressure and blood cholesterol and protection against coronary artery disease. They can be found in salmon, tuna, mackerel, flounder, flax seeds, flax seed oil, chlorella and spirulina algae and acai fruit.

Despite being essential to human life, most western diets are grossly deficient in Omega 3 fatty acids. These deficiencies can lead to significant health problems. Ideally, a healthy diet should contain equal amounts of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, what we think of as 'regular' fats. The Food and Drug Administration or FDA recommends a minimum intake of 1.6 grams daily for men and 1.2 grams daily for women.

EPA and DHA, two of the most important Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil, salmon oil and cod liver oil, were awarded 'qualified health status' by the FDA on 9/8/2004. In order to qualify for 'qualified health status' under FDA rules a compound must show compelling evidence demonstrating a clinically significant effect on one or more health indicators. In this case EPA and DHA showed a significantly reduced risk of coronary artery disease.

Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil may also be beneficial in improving arthritis and slowing some effects of aging due to its anti-inflammatory effects. EPA and DHA are the chemical precursors for the anti-inflammatory series of prostaglandins. A healthy intake of Omega 3's can clear up even the worst case of dry skin and give hair a beautiful, natural shine.

Here at Jungle Jim's we have several forms and brands of Omega 3 fatty acids. You can eat fish from our Seafood department, grind up flax seed and enjoy on cereal or salad, or take flax seed oil. One great brand we carry is Barlean's, found here in the Herb 'N Jungle. It tastes like a smoothie and can be taken as is or enjoyed in juice or in a 'smoothie'.

If you have any questions please feel free to email us at contactus@junglejims.com, attn: Natural Foods. If you want an answer to a question or would like to ask about product availability, feel free to call us at (513) 674-6000 ext.6088.

Come see the amazing and unique items here at Jungle Jim's,

Eric M. Bedel
Natural Foods Department Manager