Saturday, November 24, 2012

National Sardines Day

Happy National Sardines Day, all you Sardine eaters!
So what will you do today to celebrate National Sardines Day? Will you eat your favorite tin, or venture into unknown territories with a new tin? Perhaps sit around drinking a cold one while playing spoons and drumming on empty tins. 




Unfortunately, I have to work on National sardines Day, 16-hour shifts at the hospital this weekend. So to celebrate, today I made several dishes. My first was Sardines on toast, with a special sauce.














 Then for breakfast, was Sardines, on a bed of rice topped off with an egg. 

                                               And then for the road was Sardines in a blanket.


All were interesting and yet very different. The brand I celebrated with today was "Adriatic Sun." To finish off National Sardines Day, I will eat a plain tin with crackers tonight.

 I'm still a believer that sardines are best just straight from the tin. So whatever you do today, I hope it's a good tin you have decided to pop!









Thursday, November 15, 2012

COLOSO- 88


COLOSO: IN VEGETABLE OIL



APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Per serving. Two to the tin.
Calories- 130
Fat Calories- 80
Total Fat- 7,5g
Sat Fat- 1,6g
Cholesterol- 30mg
Sodium- 300mg
Protein- 12g


PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Vegetable Oil, Salt


PRICE:


OVERALL:
It's the Charles Atlas Sardines! That's what I thought of when I first saw the cover art. The box carries a unique expiration date. "Best Before the end of 2012" Interesting. A very strong oil aroma upon opening. Three plump scaled attractive fish to the tin. A very meaty fish, scales are not noticeable, not a spiny fish, fish possess a good texture. A clean tasting fish, no strong taste or after taste, oil taste is present; but not off-putting. A bitter taste is present, but only from the innards. I would probably eat again. 3 1/2 Sardines.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

FANTIS- 87

FANTIS: IN OIL


APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Per serving. Two to the tin.
Calories- 130
Fat Calories- 80
Total Fat- 8g
Sat Fat- 2g
Cholesterol- 20mg
Sodium- 250mg
Protein- 11g

PRODUCT OF: 
Spain

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Soya Oil, Salt

PRICE:
1.99

OVERALL:
A delightful aroma upon opening. Three plump scaled fish to the tin. Scales are slightly noticeable  A very meaty fish does not hold its shape while removing from tin. Fish has a plain watery aftertaste. Not a spiny fish. I may eat again. 2 1/2 Sardines.








FANTIS: IN OIL SPICED


APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Per serving. Two to the tin.
Calories- 130
Fat Calories- 80
Total Fat- 8g
Sat Fat- 2g
Cholesterol- 20mg
Sodium- 250mg
Protein- 11g


PRODUCT OF: 
Spain

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Soya Oil, Pepper, Spices, Salt

PRICE:
1.99

OVERALL:

A very attractive amber hue to the tin. A mild sweet aroma when opened. Four plump scaled fish to the tin, with one chili at the bottom of the tin. A sweet flavor hits you on the first bite, almost a clove flavor, only not as deep as cloves, followed by a slight creeping heat to finish the bite. (nice heat) a very meaty fish scales, not noticeable fish holds its shape very well when removing from tin. I would eat again. 4 sardines

                      




FANTIS: IN TOMATO SAUCE


APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Per serving. Two to the tin.
Calories- 100
Fat Calories- 60
Total Fat- 7g
Sat Fat- 1,5g
Cholesterol- 20mg
Sodium- 250mg
Protein- 9g

PRODUCT OF: 
Spain

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Soya Oil, Salt

PRICE:
1.99

OVERALL:
Four plump scaled sardines to the tin, a watery, bland taste hits on the first bite. A very meaty fish, not a stand-out tin of fish, not spiny, nor do they have a fishy taste or after taste. Finishing off the tin with soda crackers made it easier to eat. I may eat again. 1 1/2 sardines.


Friday, November 2, 2012

Tin or Treat

Halloween has come and gone.  Another year of pint-size witches, goblins, and ghouls running around, seeking candy.  Now, it's more like princesses, superheroes, and cartoon characters.  What has happened to Halloween costumes?  It seems like nobody can make their own costumes anymore.  Everything is store-bought.
It's been many years since I ran around trick or treating--more than I care to think about.  My siblings, cousins, and I would ride in the back of a truck, going house to house.  We would jump out, get our candy, and run back to jump back in the truck to head to our next stop.  The houses where they gave out the good or lots of candy were naturally always our favorites.  But they don't stand out in my memory anymore; the houses that gave out the weird items do stand out.  A few of my memories from childhood trick or treating is of the people who passed out toothbrushes; an old man with snuff running down the corners of his mouth who would pass out chocolate-covered cream drops from his personal bag with snuff stained hands; the white-haired old woman who would give out candied apples, but she made you walk through her house to her kitchen to receive one; the talking pumpkin house; the lady who would give us "you're going to Hell" tracts with our candy (at least I'll have a Snickers bar in Hell), as well as many other fond or not so fond memories.
So, I began to think that starting this year, I would give out healthy snacks at Halloween--and not fruit!


 This year I gave out sardines.  Yes, a healthy assortment of all kinds of sardines, placed in treat bags.
 The kids' faces would light up when they got the treat bags, thinking the weight was all candy.  I'm sure the house that gave sardines will be remembered.  I look forward to seeing if I get any repeat kids next year.










  I'm sure the family cat had a good Halloween, if nothing else!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

DELAMARIS- 86

DELAMARIS: IN SOYBEAN OIL



APPEARANCE:


NUTRITION:
Calories: 330
Fat Calories: 270
Total Fat: 30g
Cholesterol: 85mg
Sodium: 490mg
Protein: 16g

PRODUCT OF: 
Slovenia

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Soybean Oil, Salt


PRICE:
2.49

OVERALL:
A very faint oil aroma upon opening. Five patchy scaled fish to the tin. A very soft textured fish that falls to pieces while removed from tin. A slight aftertaste, not a fishy one, more of a cooler one: like an apple that's been in a cooler too long., not a spiny fish: scales not noticeable, Not sure if I would eat again. 2 Sardines.







DELAMARIS: IN OLIVE OIL

APPEARANCE:


NUTRITION:

Calories: 310
Fat Calories: 270
Total Fat: 34g
Cholesterol: 70mg
Sodium: 460mg
Protein: 14g


PRODUCT OF: 
Slovenia

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, OLIVE Oil, Salt


PRICE:
2.89

OVERALL:
Six patchy scaled fish to the tin. A slightly soft textured fish, no fishy taste or after taste at all. A clean-tasting fish, scales are not noticeable: not a spiny tin. I would eat again. 3 1/2 Sardines



Wednesday, October 24, 2012

RAMIREZ- 85

RAMIREZ: SPICED IN VEGETABLE OIL




APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 247,8
Protein- 21,9g

PRODUCT OF: 
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Vegetable Oil, Chili Pepper, Salt

PRICE:

OVERALL:

Three plump scaled fish to the tin, a faint oil aroma upon opening. Wild fish is printed on the back of the tin. Scales are not too noticeable. A little heat is detectable to the fish. A meaty tin of fish. No after taste, only a slight heat is left behind. A very faint off-taste is present; the taste was not present when finished off with crackers. An oil taste, perhaps. One significant chili pod is in the bottom of the tin. I may eat again. 3 1/2 sardines









RAMIREZ: SPICED IN TOMATO SAUCE



APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 159,8
Protein- 16,1g

PRODUCT OF: 
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Tomato, Vegetable Oil, Chili Pepper, Salt

PRICE:

OVERALL:
No aroma upon opening, three plump scaled fish to the tin. A very watery tomato sauce, almost a stew-type flavor, heat is not detected, one long pepper to the tin. A fishy taste hits you, then disperses as quickly as it hits. Salt is prominent in this tin. A slightl sour taste is present. Probably would not eat again. 1/2 sardine.





RAMIREZ: IN OLIVE OIL


APPEARANCE:





NUTRITION:
Calories- 227,5 kcal/948ks
Protein- 22,7gg


PRODUCT OF: 
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive, Salt

PRICE:

OVERALL:
Oil, fish aroma upon opening. Two large, scaled fish to the tin. A very meaty fish scales not noticeable, no fishy taste; not spiny; salt is noticeable. A clean-tasting fish. I would eat again. 5 sardines.






RAMIREZ:





APPEARANCE:




NUTRITION:
Calories- 80
Protein- 8g
Fat Calories- 48
Total Fat- 6g
Cholesterol- 27mg
Sodium- 110mg



PRODUCT OF: 
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Tomato Sauce,  Olive Oil, Salt

PRICE:
1.69

OVERALL:
A very faint tomato aroma upon opening. Three, scaled fish to the tin. A roe-filled fish. A watery tasting sauce; the fish is a bland tasting fish, almost watery tasting. A soft textured fish. Fish does not hold their shape well. Not spiny, no strong taste or after taste. Just blandness. (it needs help) Would not again, alone. 1 1/2 sardines.






SULTAN -84

SULTAN: SKINLESS &BONELESS IN OLIVE OIL





APPEARANCE:


NUTRITION:
serv size 1/2 can
Calories- 200
Total Fat-16g
Sat. Fat- 4.5g
Cholesterol- 40mg
Sodium- 1000mg
Protein- 12g

PRODUCT OF: 
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive Oil, Salt

PRICE:


OVERALL:
No aroma upon opening. Four fish to the tin. A soft textured fish, a very succulent fish, not a dry fish, for being skinless boneless... No strong taste or after. Reminds me of a good tuna cut, then a tin of sardines. If you or someone you know are still on the fence about sardines, try or suggest these. (not a traditional tin, but you gotta start somewhere), I would eat again 5 Sardines. (The sodium content is outrageous for this tin)






SULTAN: IN OLIVE OIL WITH CHILI PEPPERS




APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 220
Calorie from fat- 170
Total Fat-19g
Sat. Fat- 19g
Cholesterol- 25mg
Sodium- 260mg
Protein- 10g

PRODUCT OF: 
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive Oil, Chillies

PRICE:
1.49

OVERALL:
A very unique aroma upon opening, almost a burnt rubber aroma. Three plump, scaled fish to the tin. Heat is detectable in this tin. A roe-filled fish, Roe is a very dry, gritty texture. Chilli pods are large in this tin; one pod is almost the length of the sardines. Scales are very noticeable in this tin. The fish possess an almost sweet after the tone to them. A bitter taste hits you while eating.
Further, inspection shows these fish were not purged well. Contents remain inside., giving it a sour taste. A nice heat. I probably would not eat again. 1 Sardine.










SULTAN: WITH TOMATO SAUCE AND HOT PEPPERS

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Calories- 110
Calorie from fat- 60
Total Fat-7g
Sat. Fat- 3.5g
Cholesterol- 35mg
Sodium- 280mg
Protein- 11g


PRODUCT OF: 
Morocco

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Tomato Sauce, Hot Peppers

PRICE:
1.69

OVERALL:
A deep tomato aroma when opened. Three plump, scaled fish to the tin. The first bite was a Roe-filled fish that was grainy, innards full of green goodness  Scales are not too noticeable other than visual. No heat is detected, chili pod is present. A really bland tin of fish does not hold up on flavor by itself. Not a tin to eat alone, on toast or a dish perhaps. I may would eat again. 1 1/2 Sardine

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

ADRIATIC SEA- 83

ADRIATIC SEA: IN OIL WITH LEMON


APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 322
Total Fat- 29g
Sat. Fat- 5,0 g
Cholesterol- 85 mg

PRODUCT OF: 
Croatia

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines (Sardina Pilchardus) Oil, Salt, lemon

PRICE:
1.99

OVERALL:
Strong oil, lemon flavor aroma is very prominent when tin was opened  Five fish to the tin, all posses their scales. Scales are not noticeable to a roe-filled fish. The lemon flavor is very evident; a slice from the side of lemon with peel and another slice for good measure. The lemon adds a good balance doesn't overpower the fish. Not spiny, no fishy taste or after taste. I would eat again. 4 Sardines.