Sarah Meuser

IN THE KITCHEN WITH SARAH MEUSER

Tell us about yourself:

Hi! I’m Sarah Meuser; a recipe developer and award-winning home cook who has competed in several cooking competitions (and won a few) over the past 12 years. I am a mom of two boys: one with several food allergies. I enjoy cooking for the people I love most and creating allergy-friendly recipes for my son, so he never feels like he’s “missing out” on the good stuff.

How did you get involved in cooking?

I worked as a food runner, server, and hostess at several restaurants in high school and college. I would always pay attention to the presentation of the food going out to the tables and was so impressed by the chefs’ creations. I wanted to cook like the restaurant chefs, so I started watching Food Network (a lot), collecting cookbooks to read, and spending my free time in the kitchen testing out my own recipes for family and friends. I was also strongly influenced by my mother, who made all our meals from scratch.

Describe your cooking style:

I focus on flavor, texture and color and build from there. I tend to focus on healthier recipes overall, but I like to create something indulgent every now and then. I may add a little sweet element to complement a savory dish. Texture is so important. There needs to be some crunch, a good chew, and an acid to balance every dish. I’m a big fan of citrus fruits and their versatility. I always add color to my food; typically bright, in-season fresh produce, fresh fruit and fresh herbs. I enjoy revamping beloved, classic dishes with my own unique twists. Since my oldest son has a dairy, egg and peanut allergy, I always keep this in mind when creating recipes because I want him to be able to enjoy all the delicious food.

How did you learn about grass-fed meats?

I first learned about grassfed meats in one of the fine dining restaurants I worked at in college; what grassfed meant and why it was so important to include grassfed meats in our diets.

What is your favorite recipe using grass-fed meat?

A US Wellness Meats Beef Tenderloin 9oz Filet Mignon, grilled to just in between medium-to-medium rare and topped with a salted roasted shallot compound butter.

You’re stranded on a desert island; luckily, you’re stranded with your top 5 ingredients and one must-have kitchen tool:

Fresh garlic, kosher salt, extra virgin olive oil, pasta, an assortment of US Wellness Meats, and a large, deep-sided, high-quality skillet.

Best cooking secret/tip/piece of advice you’ve learned:

Always salt your pasta cooking water. Never use oil in pasta cooking water. Before slicing any citrus fruit for juicing, roll it back-and-forth a few times on the counter before slicing it to get the most juice out of it. Grate citrus zest right before you plan on using it, otherwise it dries out quickly.

What’s your favorite quote/song for culinary inspiration (if any)?

No specific quotes I can think of, but I do need music on when I cook. Some favorites include The Black Keys, Lana Del Rey, Elle King, The Raconteurs and good 80s + early-to-mid 90s music.

Anything else you want to share?

As a mom to a child with several serious food allergies, I’d like to share a few things to raise awareness. Even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food can trigger symptoms such as digestive problems, hives or swollen airways. In some people, a food allergy can cause severe symptoms or even a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. Plain water and hand sanitizer do not remove food allergens from your hands. For example, if you were eating a peanut butter sandwich and used hand sanitizer afterwards, then touched the hand or face, etc., of a peanut-allergic child, that child could have symptoms of an allergic reaction. Proper handwashing with soap and water or commercial hand sanitizing wipes are the only way to effectively remove food allergens. From my experience as a food allergy parent, it is a common misconception that only peanut allergies can be fatal. These are the Top 8 foods that are identified by the FDA as major food allergens: Milk, Eggs, Fish, Crustacean Shellfish, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Wheat and Soybeans. Food allergies are on the rise (between 1997 and 2008, peanut and tree nut allergies appear to have tripled in U.S. children). 33 million Americans have food allergies (that’s 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 13 children). Epinephrine is the only effective treatment for anaphylaxis (this drug should be injected within minutes of the onset of symptoms to prevent a fatal reaction).

Your social media links (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube):

Instagram: Instagram.com/foodallergymoms_andmore
Find all my recipes on www.foodsocial.io as foodallergymoms_andmore
https://foodsocial.io/user/326174/recipes

Enter To Win!

Enter to Win our June 2024 Allergy Friendly Food Contest for a chance to win $170 bundle of delicious & nutritious grass-fed and pastured meats. Contest runs from June 1 – June 12, 2024.