Hello busy readers! In this issue:

• Visit us in Pasadena!

• Sheet pan magic

• Make it easy with our sheet pan cheat sheet

• Did you know... ?

• Keep it simple

Before we get into the good stuff…

Are you in Southern California? Join us Thursday, April 10^th , at the Golden Future Senior Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center. Come by our booth to chat with the team!

Your 30-minute shortcut to a delicious meal

Get ready to transform dinnertime into an effortless culinary treat. Sheet pan cooking is an inspired way to turn fresh ingredients into a nourishing, soul-warming meal in as little as 30 minutes—with minimal cleanup and maximum flavor. 

Give it a try. Once the tantalizing aromas fill your kitchen and a brag-worthy meal emerges from the oven, you'll be a convert.

Every sheet pan has room for creativity

Once you’re comfortable with the basics of sheet pan cooking, there’s little need for a recipe. Just pick your protein, add some veggies and spice, a drizzle of oil, and voila! A beautifully roasted dinner is on the table. And it’s healthy, too.

Take a moment to search “sheet pan meals” online. You’ll find ideas for breakfast, appetizers, company-worthy dinners, and desserts beyond brownies, from simple combinations to complex. 

The basics

• Cut ingredients into similar sizes for even roasting.

• Lightly coat ingredients with oil; too much produces greasy, soggy results.

• To ensure ingredients roast, don't overcrowd the pan or it will produce poor results.

• Put proteins and dense vegetables in the oven first, then add faster-cooking produce during cooking (see chart below for approximate cooking times).

• Finish with fresh herbs, spices, a squeeze of citrus, a sauce, or a drizzle of good olive oil (plain or seasoned).

The method

The beauty of this cooking method is the freedom it gives you to change or combine ingredients. Try this basic formula:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°.

Step 2: For an 18”x13” pan, prepare the roasting base. Adjust for pan size and amount of ingredients. The base should lightly coat what goes in the pan; add more if necessary:

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

• 1 teaspoon seasoning or to taste (see below)

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, or try other fats, e.g., coconut or avocado oil, bacon grease, etc.

• Combine the base with the ingredients for the sheet pan before placing them on the sheet pan. NOTE: Mix the faster-cooking ingredients separately. 

Step 3: Mix and match your ingredients.

Protein: Feel free to use one or a combination of proteins. The sky’s the limit! Shrimp with andouille sausage, anyone? (That reminds us of our trip to New Orleans)

Veggies: There are no strict rules here—add as much variety and color as you want. But don’t overcrowd the pan! Also, remember veggies shrink when cooked at high heat, so don't be shy about adding extra. 

Herbs: Sturdier fresh and dried herbs stand up well to high temperatures and can go directly on the sheet pan:

• Bay leaves

• Herbs de Provence

• Marjoram

• Oregano

• Rosemary

• Sage

• Tarragon

• Thyme (all varieties)

Whole spices, like chile flakes, cinnamon sticks, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and fennel seeds, are also good to toss into the pan.

Ground spices and spice blends can be used in the oil base, marinades, pastes, and rubs. For a real flavor booster, look for companies that specialize in spice blends that bring out the best of your ingredients. A favorite is La Boite Spice, which offers unique blends created by celebrity chefs.

The Sheet Pan Cheat Sheet

We love this technique so much that we made a cheat sheet for reference. Keep this handy or print it out and it will make your next party planning or night in a breeze.

Click here or the image below to download a full sized PDF.

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Does this topic terrify or relax you?

For today’s fun fact we’re thinking about people’s varied reactions to cooking.

For many (we hope you included), cooking is a relaxing and fulfilling activity. In fact, research shows that cooking relieves stress, provides an outlet for emotional release, and inspires creativity.

But not everyone is so lucky! Some people experience mageirocophobia (yes, that’s a real word), or a fear of cooking. We’d hate to have that condition, but hopefully a 30-minute sheet pan recipe helps!

Who are you inviting over to share your sheet pan meal?