Mission Foods Brings Fresh, Family Meal Solutions to the Table

New partnership with nationally renowned nutritionist, Elizabeth Somer, illustrates versatility and value of tortillas

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Mar 22, 2010, 12:55 ET

IRVING, Texas, March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Foods®, one of the nation's largest tortilla manufacturers, has partnered with nationally recognized nutritionist, Elizabeth Somer, to create healthy and affordable meal solutions. Now more than ever, families are seeking versatile ingredients like tortillas that they can easily integrate into a delicious, satisfying meal and also address various mealtime challenges without compromising taste or quality. Tortillas, which are America's second most popular bread type according to the Tortilla Industry Association, provide value to consumers because of their adaptability for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

To meet the growing demand of consumers who are cooking more at home to save money, Elizabeth Somer, a frequent contributor to numerous national television shows including The Today Show, The View and CNN, developed healthy recipes for Mission that provide value and versatility. Somer is well-versed in the most current diet and nutrition research and often packages simple recipe ideas with her nutritional expertise into easy-to-read books, magazine articles, and seminars. Her latest book, "Eat Your Way to Happiness," includes realistic tips and tricks as well as suggestions on foods everyone should have on hand to build meals, including a product from Mission's "good-for-you" line. The alliance offers Mission a unique opportunity to enhance the brand, while encouraging new and inventive uses for its extensive line of tortillas.

Somer has developed nutritious, value-focused recipes that feed a family of five for $10 or less using tortillas. These recipes dispel the notion that healthy food is not affordable and reinforce that simple ingredients like vegetables can really pack a punch when coupled with a versatile ingredient like a Mission tortilla. She also created back-to-school recipes to address the fact that packing a lunch at home is less expensive and healthier than the options available in most school cafeterias.

"Making the right food choices can be a challenge to families. I joined forces with Mission Foods to show people that great-tasting food at affordable prices is within reach," said Somer. "Mission tortillas are a great choice for consumers searching for accessible and versatile options that fit the family budget while keeping wholesome ingredients in mind."

In addition to recipe development, Somer will share tips and tricks to make well-balanced meals with Mission tortillas on the Mission website, www.missionmenus.com. The user-friendly content addresses the increasing demand from moms who want a go-to source that will enhance mealtime for the whole family.

South of the Border Frittata
Serving Size: 5

Ingredients:
8 large eggs	3 Mission small flour tortillas, chopped into 1-inch squares
1/3 cup low fat milk	1 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
2 teaspoons olive oil	1/2 cup green or red pepper, diced
5 brown-and-serve, low-fat fully cooked sausage links (50% less fat), diced	1/2 cup Mission salsa (hot, medium or mild)
2 cups (1 medium potato) peeled and diced	1 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
1 cup (1 medium sweet onion) diced

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, chopped tortilla squares and chipotle pepper. Let stand for 10-15 minutes.
3. Heat the oil in a 12-inch heavy, oven-safe non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add the diced sausage, potatoes, onions and peppers. Saute mixture until tender, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place sauted ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
4. Spray skillet pan with vegetable cooking spray (to prevent eggs from sticking to sides and bottom of pan). Pour the egg mixture into the skillet; stir to cover the potatoes, vegetables and sausage. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the frittata is set (the eggs should be just firm and starting to puff up), 10-15 minutes. Remove skillet from oven, spread salsa evenly on top, and then sprinkle with cheese. Preheat broiler, return frittata to the top rack, about 6 inches from the heat, and cook until cheese is melted, about 1 minute.
5. Allow frittata to sit for about 3-5 minutes to firm up. Run a spatula along sides and bottom to loosen. Slide to a cutting board or large flat plate. Cut into 8 wedges, sprinkle with sliced green onions. Serve warm or at room temperature.

"We're excited to work with Elizabeth Somer because she shares the same vision that Mission Foods is committed to providing to its consumers — giving families simple, yet healthy, well-balanced meal solutions," said Alberto Gonzalez, Vice President of Marketing for Mission Foods. "Somer brings fresh ideas to the table, and consumers can appreciate her expertise and authenticity."

For more information on Mission Foods and its extensive line of products, log onto www.missionmenus.com.

About Mission Foods

Mission Foods, headquartered in Irving (Dallas area), Texas and Gruma S.A.B. de C.V., a Mexican corporation, was founded in 1949, and is one of the largest tortilla manufacturers in the United States. Gruma S.A.B. de C.V. is the parent company of Mission Foods (Gruma Corporation) and is a leading Mexican producer of corn masa flour and tortilla products. It has operations in Mexico, the United States, Central and South America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.missionmenus.com.

About Elizabeth Somer

Elizabeth Somer, M.A., is a registered dietitian who has carved a unique professional niche as one of the few, if not only, dietitians who is well-versed in nutrition research. For 25 years, she has kept abreast of the current research, packaging that information into easy-to-read books, magazine articles, lectures, continuing education seminars, and practical news for the media.

SOURCE Mission Foods