Green Pea Soup

BRRRR! It's getting cold out there! What better way to warm up than a warm, healthy soup.

This green pea soup is a great fall meal that sneaks in yummy greens that are always in season at ILIOS foods!

Ingredients:

1 tsp ILIOS olive oil

1 large onion, diced

2 1/2 cups ILIOS vegetable or chicken broth

3/4 tsp dried tarragon

1/2 tsp salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/3 bag ILIOS frozen peas

4 tsp plain yogurt, optional

Recipe:

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over med-low heat. Add the chopped onion, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, tarragon, salt and a freshly ground black pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Add the peas and cook for another 10 minutes.

2. In a blender, puree the soup in 2 batches until very smooth. Return the soup to the pot and bring to a simmer to heat up. Serve in bowls. Stir the yogurt so that it is smooth and top each serving with a swirl of yogurt.

Halal vs. Kosher

We are fortunate to live in a country that embraces so many different cultures and traditions. ILIOS foods is a brand that shares in this patriotic love for discovering the world through other people's eyes (and tastebuds!) which is why we thought it would be interesting to discover the key distinctions between Halal and Kosher foods.

Traditional Halal and Kosher Foods

In a country known for embracing all different types of cultures and religions, Canadians regularly come across Halal and Kosher foods. We see the Halal and Kosher seals of approval at the grocery store (especially on meat) all the time. But what makes a certain food Halal vs. Kosher and what are the main differences?

We like to consider food as one of life’s simple pleasures; but in some cases, food is not so simple and can be political, spiritual and religious. Many people of the Jewish religion adhere to strict Kosher guidelines where it concerns their food and many Muslims of the Arabic world eat only Halal foods. Kosher, in Hebrew, means fit or proper and Halal refers to food that is permissible.

Here are some facts about both Halal and Kosher foods and the differences between each one:

1. Both Halal and Kosher laws call for quick slaughtering techniques that cause the animal in question the least amount of pain possible.

2. Halal law requires praying to Allah before or while each animal is slaughtered, but Kosher does not require prayer before each slaughter.

3. A shochet, or specially trained rabbi, must slaughter the animal, while any adult Muslim, Christian, or Jew can slaughter the animal in Halal law.

4. Residual blood in meat is fine in Halal rules, but Kosher rules call for rapid, complete draining of the blood at the time of slaughter.

5. Halal rules allow for eating the whole animal, but kosher law prohibits eating the hind quarters.

6. Kosher law prohibits eating shellfish, land animals with scales, and any mammal that does not chew its cud and and does not have split hooves. Halal is not as restrictive.

7. Both Kosher and Halal rules prohibit eating pork and birds of prey.

8. Kosher law prohibits mixing dairy and meat (including during the prep and cooking process which means different utensils, dishes, etc… must be used). Halal does not.

9. Any Kosher dairy products must come from a Kosher animal and must follow the Kosher guideline of not mixing any meat product or bi-product with a milk product (ex. many cheeses are made with rennet which is an animal bi-product)

10. Halal-certified foods exclusively involve foods that require the slaughter of an animal and not animal bi-products such as milk, cheese and eggs. Some cheese is not considered Halal if it contains animal-derived rennet.

11. In Kosher laws, foods that are neither meat nor dairy are called pareve. (eggs, fish, fruit, vegetables, grain, etc…) Pareve foods would not be considered kosher if they were processed on any equipment that came in contact with non-kosher meat or dairy.

12. Pareve foods must be checked for small bugs or larvae which are not kosher and, in the case of eggs, must also be checked for blood spots to remain Kosher-certified.

13. Halal rules prohibit wine, beer, liquor and drugs whereas wine is acceptable in Kosher laws.

Now that you know the key differences between Halal and Kosher foods you are better equipped to help accommodate the dietary needs of people in your lives who are choosing to follow the guidelines put in place by their chosen religions and cultures.

Bon appétit!

(bil-hanā' wa ash-shifā') بالهناء والشفاء / بالهنا والشفا

(be'te-avon) בתיאבון

Vegetarian Chili

Football season is upon us and for any of us who is a fan or who has a NFL fan in their lives, this means Sunday afternoons watching the games with a bunch of buddies yelling at the TV. You're going to need some quick and easy recipes to feed the hoards of football fans crashing on your couch this season and this chili dish is the perfect solution.

ILIOS Vegetarian Chili

Ingredients:

2 tbsp of ILIOS vegetable oil

1 large onion (diced)

4 cloves of garlic (minced)

1-3 tbsp of chili powder

2 tbsp cumin

1 tsp oregano

1/4-2 tsp of chili flakes

2 ILIOS piquillo peppers (diced)

2 medium carrots (diced)

3 celery stalks (diced)

2 cans of ILIOS diced tomatoes

2 jars of ILIOS legumes (chick peas, white kidney beans or cranberry beans)

2 cups of ILIOS frozen corn

Salt (to taste)

Recipe:

1. Heat oil in a large pot (medium-high heat). Add onion and sauté for about 3 mins. Add garlic and cook for another minute. Then add spices and mix everything together.

2. Add peppers, carrots and celery and cook for about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and their juices and bring to a simmer. Once the chili begins to simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low.

3. Add the beans (rinsed and drained) and corn to the pot and cook on a low simmer (lid off) for about 20-30 minutes.

4. Serve with sour cream, cheddar cheese, nacho chips, cilantro, avocado or eat as-is. Delicious!