Marisol Minich, Author at Fresh City Kitchen

Often Overlooked & Under Utilized, Soup Season Is Here. At Home & In-Office

February 28, 2025 in Uncategorized /by Marisol Minich

It’s about that time when we’re all getting a little tired of the Boston winter. Sure, the snow is beautiful, but it’s always sludge on the side of the road a few hours after it falls. Tea and hot cocoa are nice, but you can only have so many mini marshmallows before you start missing margaritas and lemonade. The novelty of winter has officially worn off, and Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of 6 more weeks of winter was not well received. In light of the winter weariness hitting a little harder this week over at Fresh City Kitchen, we wanted to offer up the best solution we have for chilly weather: a warm bowl of soup (or at least our favorite recipe for one).

We know that sometimes soups get a reputation for being plain, but we vehemently disagree, and we’re here to set the record straight. We’ll open your eyes to a whole new world, a whole new fantastic point of view (any Disney fans out there?). Whether it’s bisque, black bean, curry, chili, chowder, egg drop, miso, minestrone, or FCK’s famous lasagna soup, we’re sure that there’s a recipe out there that will rock your world and keep you toasty right down to your New Englander L.L. Bean boots.

And don’t worry if you’re still not convinced, we aren’t done yet. First of all, soups are generally easy and quick to prepare. There might be some chopping, sauteing, or prep at the outset, but for the most part, a good soup is set it and forget it. Especially if you have a crock pot or a slow cooker, which are essential kitchen tools in the wintaahh! It’s easy to prep your recipe and head out for whatever errands, work, or kid transporting you have on the agenda for the day.

Soups are also pretty versatile. If you’re missing the corn for your chowder or the carrots for your chicken noodle soup, it’s not going to make or break the recipe. There’s no need to schlep through the snow (or the slush) to grab the one ingredient your partner forgot to get you at the store. We also love that soup can also be a hearty option for our friends with some common dietary restrictions (FCK’s deliciously spiced vegan and gluten-free Lentil Chickpea Stew fits the bill!). Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian soups are all easily done and make for a delicious, filling meal. When planning catering for your Boston office don’t forget to ask about seasonal soups this time of year. We’re serving up New England clam chowder, Fresh City chicken noodle, roasty tomato soup, and a variety of hearty chilis to offices catering lunch across Boston this winter!

Soups are also easily frozen, meaning you can make a big batch on the weekend so you’ll have one ready for whenever you need.

FCK's Soup Storage Hacks

★ Store With Ziplocs ★

If you’re short on freezer space, leave a pot to cool on your stove for a few hours, then grab a buddy to help you pour it (Carefully! And potentially over your sink to prevent spills) into a Ziploc bag. The flat shape is much easier to fit into a tight space than a big Tupperware.

★ Dining for One ★

If you’re only cooking for yourself, freeze your dinner in individual microwaveable containers. This way, you can defrost a little bit at a time.

★ Kick it Old School ★

Bring soup to work in a thermos. For only $15 you can grab a big dose of grade school nostalgia from your favorite retailer. It will keep your food warm all day, and it’ll last years!!

So if you’re still not convinced after all of that, we wanted to share a closely guarded FCK family recipe that was one of my favorite meals growing up.

Aunt Jill's White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

3 Chicken breasts
2 Cans white beans (drained and rinsed)
1 Can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
32 oz chicken broth
1 Jar of your favorite salsa
2 Tbsp cumin
2 Cloves garlic (minced)
Optional: White onions
Optional: Hot chiles

Veggies:

Zucchini
Seasonal squash
Bell peppers

Toppings:

Avocado
Grated cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Cilantro
Scallions
Fritos (yup, Fritos!)

Instructions:

Put chicken broth, garlic, and cumin into a pot or slow cooker. Simmer the chicken until tender, then pull it out and shred it. This can be done eaily by mixing it with a paddle in a stand mixer, or simply by pulling it apart with a fork in each hand. Add the rest of the ingredients into the put and simmer until tender. Put the chicken back in, and you’re all done!

This delectable soup walks the line between a classic chili and chicken soup, made with chicken stock instead of tomatoes. We love it for its versatility: it’s a go-to whenever we need to clean out the cabinets. The chicken breasts, broth, cumin, and garlic are a must, but everything else is fairly interchangeable. The beans and veggies can all be swapped with whatever kind you happen to have slowly turning mushy in your fridge drawers or gathering dust at the back of your pantry shelf. Our favorites are usually zucchini and squash, but chopped bell peppers, spinach, kale, carrots, or potatoes would also taste great.

Finally, the make-or-break finish to Aunt Jill’s chicken chili is the toppings. When we have it, we need to leave the pot on the stove to leave room for all the tiny bowls of toppings on the table. We highly recommend chopped avocado, sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, and chopped cilantro, and if you want an extra spicy zing, add pickled jalapenos or this delicious guacamole salsa. Together, they create a nice creamy finish with a zesty bite at the end. The only absolute non-negotiable is a bag full of Fritos. If you grab them, crush them up, and sprinkle them on top of the soup, you get the perfect crunch that makes the meal!

So if you find yourself thinking about the beach, iced coffee, and backyard barbecues, hold off before you start looking for flights to tropical locations. Our remedy is much faster and much cheaper! Try some soup, they’re truly souper!

DIETARY ACCOMODATIONS

WE'RE HERE TO SERVE YOU

Corporate office catering demands a high level of presentation, attention to the smallest details, and accommodation of many diets and allergies in the modern workplace.

If something looks off, the questions come your way. If an allergy is missed, the questions come your way, and if something is missing it’s you that winds up running around to fill that gap. Focusing on the smallest details that might not seem important until they’re overlooked, and that’s why our customers rave about us to their colleagues! We’ve got your back and are here to serve you so that you can focus on what matters most at work.

Kick Off the New Year by Eating Healthier at Work

January 21, 2025 in Uncategorized /by Marisol Minich

As we say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025, many of us are focused on starting the
New Year right. New Year’s resolutions often bring shiny new gym memberships, ambitious diet
plans, and the hope of building healthier habits. Yet, old habits can be tough to shake—especially after a holiday season filled with charcuterie boards and eggnog. Starting off strong can feel challenging when the winter slump sets in, especially considering how busy the New Year can be. We’re no strangers to the chaotic kick-off of a new year packed with meetings, events, and corporate travel that can make maintaining healthy eating habits a challenge. It’s all too easy to slip back into the convenience of microwave meals and fast food. But with a few simple strategies, eating healthier at work can be both manageable and delicious.

Many of us are familiar with the common enemy to healthy eating: hangriness. When the
afternoon hits and I’m fueled purely by the morning’s granola bar and a venti iced coffee, I know
the first thing I reach for is going to be a chocolatey treat.

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE THIS COME 1 PM?

This is the result of low blood sugar, which can make us cranky, irritable, and tired. And while carb and sugar-heavy snacks are certainly a valid option, unfortunately, they won’t get you out of your hangry rut. Carb-heavy foods have been shown to spike blood sugar rather than sustainably elevate it, leading to low blood sugar again about an hour after you snack.

By preparing meals and snacks higher in protein ahead of time, we can
pair the chips, chocolate, or baked goods we crave with options that prolong energy and boost
productivity, like protein shakes, greek yogurt, or peanut butter. Buying specific containers for meal prep can help you pack items ahead of time, and stick to a plan throughout the week.

The most important point is this enables you to have a healthy meal (available) when hunger strikes!

Another strategy is to bulk prep proteins such as grilled chicken, salmon, or steak,
on a Sunday to set yourself up for the week. These versatile proteins can be used throughout the
week in chicken Caesar wraps, hummus and grain bowls, or chicken pesto pasta. You can have the variety you crave but only have to prepare a single type of protein in one large batch.

Chopping up fruits and vegetables at the beginning of the week ensures that you have healthy snacks ready to grab, which are great alternatives to processed food. These can be paired with
high-protein dips like hummus, peanut butter, and Greek yogurt to add both flavor and nutrition.

FCK FAMILY'S FAVORITE MEAL PREP HACKS:

USE SALAD DRESSING AS A MARINADE

Simply put chicken breast in a ziploc bag with some Light Caesar dressing and leave it in the fridge overnight. Grill it up the next day, and you’ll get juicy, flavorful results!

MAKE DINNER AND A HALF

By making a little extra of your family’s favorite dinner, you can take a balanced meal to work without having to plan out another meal. Portion the leftovers into microwavable containers for an easy, ready-to-go lunch the next day.

GET CREATIVE WITH AI

Eating can feel like a drag if you have the same thing every
afternoon. Especially when it comes to salads, adding in foods you wouldn’t often think of can add excitement to the day. Try adding unique toppings like goat cheese, cranberries, strawberries, pepperoncini, or prosciutto (although maybe not all at once).

Believe it or not, using a free AI tool like ChatGPT can help come up with ideas for your weekly variety in under 60 seconds!

LIGHTLY ROASTED APPLES, GOAT CHEESE, TOASTED PECANS ARE EASY, DELICIOUS, AND HEALTHY!

For those lucky enough to work in companies that provide catered meals in the workplace, Fesh City
can help you eat what makes healthier. Simply asking your workplace coordinators is
the place to start. Most companies that have a strong focus on workplace culture will be wide open to ideas and requests from their team members that ultimately keep people healthier, feeling
better, and more productive!

Finding an office catering partner who is willing to help plan menus is step one.
Throughout January and February, we’re partnering with workplaces to provide healthy, protein-rich meals tailored to your team’s needs. We collaborate with you to build weekly menus that emphasize healthy options, eliminating the guesswork for you. We also provide options
for many different allergies, restrictions, or preferences. Our team is dedicated to killer hospitality, ensuring no one is left out of a nutritious, satisfying meal.

If you’re nervous about having teams on site for multiple days but don’t want to bog them down with heavy meals that will signal nap time, just say the words and we’ll create a simple plan based on your
days, headcount, and budget that will keep people fueled and feeling good to get the New Year off to a fast start!

For example, start the day with breakfast favorites like farm-fresh eggs and Greek yogurt parfaits, packed with fresh fruits to provide an energy boost to jumpstart the
morning and enough protein to keep you going.

Healthy afternoon meals and snacks are also crucial for avoiding the post-lunch slump. One of our winter menu favorites is the Asian Salad & Grain Bowl Bar with free-range chicken breast, avocado, chickpeas, and cashews, and a variety of other fun + healthy toppings to get people excited! You can also add char-grilled steak, roasted Atlantic salmon, or grilled chicken to any menu we offer for extra protein.

HEALTHY GRABS THROUGHOUT THE WORK DAY

DO'S

Hard-boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, chia seed pudding (if you haven’t tried Fresh City Kitchen’s, you’re missing out big time!), fresh fruit, nuts, veggies, hummus or peanut butter, cold-pressed juices (with no added sugar), minimally processed shakes like Koia, or Chomps grass-fed beef sticks. Ask us for ideas if you’re planning catering for your next meeting and need some healthy snacks.

DON'TS

Processed, mass-produced snacks like “veggie sticks”, candy, high-sugar protein bars, and all the usual suspects like Cheetos, Fritos, and Doritos. These snacks make you hungrier and contain inflammatory vegetable oils that are found in addictive processed snacks.

AVOID THESE TEMPTATIONS—AS TASTY AS THEY MAY BE, THEY’RE NOT LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR HEALTH!

PRO TIPS

Adding electrolytes to your favorite Stanley or Swell bottle the next time you fill it at the cooler will keep your energy up during the day and heading out for a brisk 10-minute walk after lunch (maybe bring some mittens) will help you digest lunch more effectively and avoid spending the afternoon staring blankly at your keyboard.

Make 2025 a year of healthy habits, not temporary resolutions by starting with what we eat at work, and when we’re busy!

With a little planning and support from your favorite office caterer (hint —> Fresh City Kitchen), sticking to those New Year’s resolutions just got a whole lot easier.

FCK Famous Apple Crisp Recipe

October 18, 2024 in Fun Food, Drinks & Recipes /by Marisol Minich

‘Tis the season. School buses are rolling down the street again, the smell of pumpkin spice is wafting out of just about every coffee shop, and Halloween decorations are sneaking onto the shelves at the local grocery store. As much as we might hesitate to pack the bathing suits away and pull out our sweaters and scarves from wherever they’re hiding, summer has turned to fall whether we want it to or not.

So, to chase the seasonal blues away, Fresh City Kitchen has an excellent suggestion: the perfect fall dessert! Autumn’s confectionary king is a topic of much debate. For some, pumpkin reigns supreme: pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, and even pumpkin cheesecake are delicious without a doubt. But in our opinion, the undisputed flavor of fall in Boston and New England is apple. And when it comes to dessert, specifically apple crisp. (Just because we’re office catering experts doesn’t mean we’re a one-trick pony!)

It’s the best of every world, balancing a crunchy topping with a gooey filling, and the sweetness of apple with the warm flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg. And unlike many other dessert options, apple crisp is a breeze to throw together. Contrary to what the saying “easy as pie” might make you believe, pie crust can be pretty finicky to make. A dash too much flour and it’s crumbling to pieces or one too many tablespoons of butter and it’s mush at the bottom of the pan. Apple crisp is far simpler to make, just cut up the apples and mix up the topping. The hardest part is getting the buttery bits off your fingers!

So when summer vacations come to an end, kids need to be dropped off at school again, and assignments are coming in faster than you can crank them out, do yourself a favor. Skip the apple pie, go for the crisp!

Fresh City Kitchen’s perfect apple crisp recipe has one special detail that makes it stand out: the apple variety. For the best possible crisp, you want half Granny Smith apples and half MacIntosh. While it may seem nit-picky, it’s important. The MacIntosh apples will soften up pretty quickly when they’re cooked. As they bake, they’ll mix in with the sugar and spices, creating a delicious apple, nutmeg, and cinnamony delight that mixes perfectly with a creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream (we highly suggest Brigham’s vanilla bean). The second part of our dynamic apple duo, the Granny Smith, maintains its shape in the heat of the oven. That way once the pan comes out of the oven, instead of just having applesauce—albeit delicious applesauce—with a crumble on top, you will have a mouthwatering crisp that still has a nice bite to it.

If you’re looking for a fun weekend activity to get some leaf peeping in and enjoy the last few rays of sunshine before we creep towards winter, head out to a Boston area farm and pick your own apples! It’s the perfect fall date idea or excursion for the family, and there are plenty of pick-your-own farms within 45 minutes of downtown Boston. In particular, Honey Pot Hill Orchard in Stow, Massachusetts offers beautiful views and bountiful trees only 45 minutes out of the city. With hayrides, farm animals, hedge mazes, and a hard cider tent, Honey Pot Hill provides something for everyone. And if you’re looking for somewhere a little more low-key, CN Smith Farm in East Bridgewater, MA has been a personal favorite of the Fresh City Catering team for a decade! Just 45 minutes south of Boston, it offers a calmer atmosphere, as well as another fall dessert must-have: apple cider donuts. For those of you on the north shore stop by Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury for incredible hard cider and live music, or the family favorite in Danvers, Connor’s Farm which is ripe (get it) with fun family activities during the fall!

TOPPING:

1/2 lb Butter, cubed
1 cup Flour
1/2 cup Old Fashioned Oats
3/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 tbsp Cinnamon

TOPPING DIRECTIONS:

1) Put all dry ingredients in mixer and mix until incorporated.

2) Add cut pieces of butter and mix until it has a mealy texture and all ingredients are mixed well together.

FILLING:

6 lbs Apples (Macintosh/Granny Smith), peeled, cored, sliced
3/4 cup Sugar
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
Pan Spray

Directions

1) Peel, quarter, core and slice the apples into 1/4” thick slices.

2) Toss apples with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

3) Spray 9”x7” lightly with non-stick pan spray

4) Fill pan half way with apple mixture.

5) Sprinkle a layer of the topping. This helps soak up all the goodness when it bakes.

6) Fill the pan with the rest of the apples.

7) Top with remaining topping.

8) Bake at 350°F for 30-45 minutes. The topping should start to caramelize and you should see apple sugar juice bubbling up around the edges.

9) Let cool for as long as you can withstand, then dive-in and top with vanilla ice cream for optimal enjoyment!

Let us know how your apple crisp turns out by sending tagging us with a picture on Instagram @freshcitycatering

If you need help planning the perfect fall catering menu for your next office meeting or event email us for Boston office catering and menu planning!

About Marisol Minich

Entries by Marisol Minich