Christine Palumbo

Speaker | Writer | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

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November 1, 2021

Baking Ingredients: How Fresh Are Yours for the Holiday Season?

One of my favorite pies at this time of year is apple pie. But not just ANY apple pie, it needs to be homemade apple pie. There’s no comparison between the taste and texture of a pie made from fresh, crisp apples and a pie found in most bakeries and supermarkets.

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

Disappointment

A few years ago, I made a special trip to a bakery with a stellar reputation for pies. I was hosting the Thanksgiving feast and wanted only the best apple pie for my guests. Can you imagine my disappointment when we sliced into the pie and I discovered it was made from canned apple pie filling? In addition to having a mushy texture, the apples were overly sweet and dark in color from the canning process.

Since then, when it’s my turn to bring a dessert to a fall or winter event, I prefer to make my own pie. Yes, it’s a pain when it’s time to peel and slice all those apples, but it’s worth it.

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Sift Through Your Baking Ingredients

If you’re like me, you’re not much of a year-round baker but only pull out your baking ingredients at this time of year. Flour, baking powder, baking sodIf you’re like me, you’re not much of a year-round baker but only pull out your baking ingredients at this time of year. Flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and more tend to hide in the dark recesses of the pantry if not used on a… Click To Tweeta, spices and more tend to hide in the dark recesses of the pantry if not used on a regular basis. But did you know that, like most other foods and ingredients, these have “best by” dates and that yours might be past their prime?

Consider taking a bit of time to review your baking ingredients. Do you know how old each of them is?

Going forward, consider writing the date on the package with a Sharpie whenever you open a new baking ingredient. This helps to keep track of how long it’s been open.

But how long do food items last? A helpful resource is the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, Cornell University and the Food Industry Association online FoodKeeper which provides guidelines on food freshness and quality.

Here are their recommendations for the maximum amount of time to keep those common baking ingredients once they’ve been opened:

Baking power: Six months

Baking soda: Six months

White flour: Six to eight months in the pantry; One year in the refrigerator

Sugar (white granulated, confectioners, brown): Two years

Solid shortening: 12 months

My spice drawer

And what about herbs and spices?

Spices can lose their potency. The guidelines found on the McCormick website suggest the following:

Ground spices: Two to four years

Whole spices: Three to four years

Ground and whole leafy herbs: One to three years

Frozen herbs: One to two months, although they often last longer.

I often freeze herbs from my garden. After washing and drying them, I place in a freezer bag or airtight container. This allows me to savor my garden year round. The herbs I froze this year include parsley, sage, basil, oregano and thyme.

Nuts:

  • Package use-by date if in the pantry from the date of purchase. 1 – 2 weeks if pantry stored after opening. 4 weeks if refrigerated after opening.
  • If you have walnuts or pecans from last Christmas, do not use as they are likely rancid.

So what are YOU going to bake this holiday season? And will the ingredients be top quality which translates to exquisite baked goods?

A pie I made. Nowhere near pretty but it was scrumptious.

As for myself, I’ll likely bake my usual rotating three varieties of cookies, a few apples pies and a few pans of apple crisp. And I’ll use fresh and dried herbs and spices in my turkey stuffing, butternut squash soup, turkey wild rice soup and other recipes that are simply wonderful this season!

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Welcome to my blog!


Christine M. Palumbo, MBA, RDN, FAND


You’ll find anything from seasonal nutrition advice to healthy eating for families to my take on the latest nutrition “buzz.” Feel free to comment or ask questions and I’ll do my best to respond. Please share this site with your friends and colleagues.

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Christine Palumbo Nutrition
3 months ago

Christine Palumbo Nutrition

Does the Longevity Diet actually allow you to live longer? How does one follow it? Are there other possible health benefits to eating the Longevity Diet, such as a healthier heart, reduced cancer risk, less diabetes or even weight loss? Who should NOT follow it? Read this piece in which I am quoted.

… See MoreSee Less

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What Is the Longevity Diet?

www.everydayhealth.com

The longevity diet calls for eating mostly plants in a 12-hour window, then doing a fast-like diet 2 to 3 times total per year. Find out how this plan, created by Dr. Victor Longo, works in this guide…

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© 2023 · Christine M. Palumbo, MBA, RDN, FAND | Naperville, Ill. | Disclosure

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Speaking Client List

Over 400 presentations, including several keynotes (partial list):

Corporate:

  • AAR Corporation
  • Abrasive Technologies
  • Ace Hardware Corporate Headquarters
  • Acres Enterprises
  • Advanced Urology Associates
  • Ambrosi Corp.
  • American Association of Endodontists
  • American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
  • American Board of Pediatric Dentists
  • American Hotel Register
  • American Service Insurance
  • Arlington Automotive Services
  • Aquion
  • Associated Agencies
  • Associated Integrated Supply Chain Solutions
  • Baker Tilly Virchow Krause
  • Barilla USA
  • Benet Academy
  • Berry Health Benefits Symposium
  • Blue Plate Catering
  • BP/ Amoco
  • Canopy Realtors
  • Carol Stream Fire Department
  • CBS Radio’s Spring into Shape Expo
  • Chapman and Cutler LLP
  • Chicago Dental Society
  • Chicago Dental Society-West Suburban Region
  • Chicago Heart Association
  • Club of Indian Women
  • Countryside Associates
  • Crown Media/Hallmark Channel
  • Discover Card Services
  • Dominick’s Finer Foods
  • DuPage County Police Chiefs’ Secretaries Association
  • Entertainment Cruises
  • EPKO
  • Family Festival of Surprises
  • Farm Foundation
  • Farmers Insurance Exchanges
  • Feeding America
  • Food Executive Women
  • Fox River Foods
  • Freedman Andelmo Lindberg
  • Girl Scouts of Fox Valley Council
  • Harbortown
  • Healthy Living Summit
  • Heartland Spa
  • Home Run Inn Pizza Corporate Headquarters
  • Horizon Publishing
  • HSBC Finance Corporation
  • Illinois Alliance for the Aging
  • Illinois Probation and Court Services Association
  • Ingredion
  • International Truck and Engine Corp.
  • INX International Ink
  • JPMC
  • Kellogg’s Marketing and Innovations Group
  • Lanco International
  • Land of Lincoln Soybean Association
  • Lawson Products
  • Lucent Technologies
  • Meeker-Magner Company
  • Mobil Oil
  • Moneris Solutions
  • Museum of Science & Industry
  • MultiPlan, Inc.
  • Naperville School District #203
  • Naperville Women’s Forum
  • National Association of REALTORS
  • National Lead Information Center
  • Navistar
  • NBC5 Health & Fitness Expo
  • NB Coatings
  • Near North Health Service Corporation
  • Nestle
  • Network Services Inc.
  • Norkol Converting
  • Northern Illinois University Graduate Colloquium
  • Northwestern University
  • Odontographic Society of Chicago
  • OptumHealth Care Solutions
  • OSG Tap & Die
  • Palos Community Hospital 30th Anniversary Keynote
  • Pangere Corporation
  • Parksite Inc.
  • Pekin Insurance
  • Perkins + Will
  • Radiological Society of North America
  • Rail Europe
  • Realtick
  • River Glen Church
  • Rippinger Financial Group
  • Rush-Copley Medical Center
  • Saint Catherine University Alumnae Association
  • School District U-46
  • SEKO
  • Sidley Brown Austin & Wood Law
  • Sigma Foods
  • Smithfield Foods
  • Southlake Auto Mall
  • Spartan Stores
  • Sunset Foods
  • Sysco/Continental-Keil Food Show
  • Taste of Colorado
  • TD Bank
  • The Nova Network
  • The Wooden Door Spa
  • Tishman Speyer
  • True Value Company
  • Ukrops Pharmacy Managers
  • Unilever Food Solutions
  • United Healthcare
  • USDA – FSIS
  • Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network
  • U.S. Bank
  • U.S. Soy Symposium
  • Vitas Healthcare Corporation
  • WellCare
  • West Suburban Dental Hygienists Society
  • Wheaton College
  • YMCA of the USA
  • Zurich North America

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its affiliates:

  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Arkansas Dietetic Association
  • Dietitians in Business and Communications
  • California Dietetic Association
  • Central Illinois Dietetic Association
  • Dietitians of West Michigan
  • Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Hines VA Dietetic Internship
  • Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Indiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Ingalls Hospital Dietetic Internship
  • Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • New Mexico Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • New York Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • North Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Oklahoma Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • South Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Tennessee Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • West Suburban Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Corporate Consulting List

  • A Fresh Look
  • AHA Marketing
  • Bimbo Bakeries USA
  • California Raisin Marketing Board
  • California Walnut Commission
  • Cargill
  • Cyberdiet.com
  • Dairy Management Inc.
  • Eastside Cafe Pizza Manufacturers
  • Edelman
  • Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association
  • Food Marketing Support Services
  • Fox Metro Water Reclamation District
  • Fran’s Healthy Helpings
  • Golin Harris
  • Integer Group
  • Jokari Healthy Steps
  • Market Day
  • Marina Maher Communications
  • McDonald’s
  • Mongolian Barbecue Restaurant
  • Naperville YMCA
  • National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
  • National Cheese Institute
  • Northwestern Hospital
  • Old London Melba Toast
  • Popchips
  • Popcorn Institute
  • Publicis Dialogue
  • Quaker Oats Health Institute Speakers Network
  • Red Robin Restaurants
  • Sara Lee
  • Smithfield Foods, Inc.
  • Smuckers
  • Suntory Water Group/Hinckley Springs
  • SuperTarget
  • Tishman-Speyer
  • United Healthcare
  • United States Potato Board
  • Vegetarian Times magazine
  • Weber Shandwick
  • Weight Watchers
  • Welch’s

Spokesperson Client List

  • American Egg Board
  • American Plastics Council (Food Safety)
  • Bimbo Bakeries (Arnold/Oroweat/Brownberry)
  • Boca Foods
  • California Raisin Marketing Board
  • Campbell’s Select Harvest Soups
  • Dean Foods
  • Dominick’s (Safeway)
  • Driscoll’s
  • Florida Department of Citrus
  • Giovanni Rana
  • Kellogg’s
  • Kraft Cheese
  • Lifeway Foods
  • Louis Rich Fat Free Turkey
  • McCain Foods
  • Mead Johnson
  • Michigan Cherries
  • Milk Processor Education Program
  • National Turkey Federation
  • Nature Well natural beef
  • Popchips
  • Quaker Oats
  • Sargento Foods
  • SuperTarget
  • United States Soybean Board
  • Welch’s
  • Wrigley Healthcare
  • ZESPRI Kiwifruit
Speaking

Cutting-edge nutrition that’s easy to understand

Topics for Groups

•  Making Positive Changes That Stick: Five Steps to Moving Out of That Cycle You’re Stuck In
• Supermarket Smarts: Avoid Food Marketers’ Tricks and Traps
• Anti-Stress Eating
• Cut the Fad Out of Diets: Select the Best Plan for You
• Defensive Dining: How to Eat Out & Keep Your Waistline
• Foods You Think Are Healthy….That Really Aren’t
• Forever Young: What You Can (& Can’t) Do To Slow the Aging Process
• How to Energize Your Life
• Is Your Job Making You Fat/Diet Wreckers in Your Desk
• Meal Solutions for Busy People
• Power Foods for Heart Health
• The Healthy Refrigerator: Stock Yours to Guarantee Nutritious Eating
• Top Five Nutrition Myths for Kids
• Top Ten Nutrition Strategies for Better Health

Specifically for Health Professionals
• Becoming an Expert Communicator: Making Communications Concise, Clear and Compelling
• Image 2020: What You Need for Professional Success
• Making Connections: Relationship Building for Career Success
• Engaging Readers: Nutrition Writing that Shines
• Keeping Current: Make Today’s Nutrition and Food Trends Work for You
• If the Media Calls: Are You Ready?

Corporate Consuling
Christine consults with public relations firms, food companies, restaurants, and not-for-profits.

She is available for:
• Developing nutrition education materials
• Spokesperson
• Exhibiting at professional meetings
• Writing/Marketing/PR
• Partnering with you on special projects
• Ideation sessions

Past clients
Over 500 presentations including Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and many of its affiliates, AAR Corporation,  Ace Hardware Corporate Headquarters, American Association of Endodontists, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, American Board of Pediatric Dentists, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, Barilla USA, Berry Health Benefits Symposium, BP/ Amoco, Chicago Dental Society, Crown Media/Hallmark Channel, Discover Card Services, Entertainment Cruises, Feeding America, International Truck and Engine Corp., Kellogg’s Marketing and Innovations Group, Lucent Technologies, Mobil Oil, National Association of REALTORS, Navistar, Radiological Society of North America, Unilever Food Solutions, United Healthcare, U.S. Bank, Women’s Athletic Club of Chicago, YMCA of the USA, Zurich North America.
Full list available upon request.

Nutrient Analysis
Analyze recipes for nutrient values:
• Accurate
• Quick turnaround

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