- Author: Emily Harris
Winter brings holidays filled with family and a new year filled with possibilities, but what we often forget is that winter can also bring colds and an overall feeling of being under the weather. Take control of your winter wellness this year by making sure you eat nutrient-dense and hearty meals. Check out the warm recipes below to keep yourself well this winter:
White Turkey Chili
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, onion, and garlic. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is starting to soften, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add bulgur, oregano, cumin, coriander, white pepper and salt and cook, stirring until aromatic, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Stir in white beans and chiles, then pour in broth; bring to boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer, partially cover the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is reduced and thickened and the bulgur is tender, about 50 minutes.
Image and Recipe Source: http://www.whatscooking.fns.usda.gov/recipes/myplate-cnpp/white-turkey-chili
Chinese Winter
Melon Chicken Soup
Ingredients:
1 large winter melon seeded and chopped
2 cups Chicken broth
4 dried black mushrooms rehydrated
2 teaspoons grated ginger root
1- 1/2 cups cooked chicken shredded
1 cup asparagus tips
Salt to taste
Directions:
1. Place melon in pot of boiling water; simmer 20-30 minutes until tender. Drain.
2. Add remaining ingredients; simmer additional 5 minutes.
Image and Recipe Source: http://eatfresh.org/recipe/main-dish-side-dish-soups/chinese-winter-melon-chicken-soup#.WE8qZfkrJPY
Pumpkin Oatmeal
Ingredients: 
1 cup rolled oats
1-1/2 cups water
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup raisins
1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons honey, maple syrup, or other sweetener optional
Directions:
1. Heat water over medium heat in a skillet until bubbles form. This takes about 3-5 minutes.
2. Stir in oats. Cover and lower heat to low.
3. Cook oats until thick, about 5 minutes. Lift lid and stir every minute or two.
4. Stir in milk and other ingredients.
5. Cook for 1-2 more minutes.
Image and Recipe Source: http://eatfresh.org/recipe/snacks-breakfast-desserts/pumpkin-oatmeal#.WE8qR_krJPY
Meatball
Soup
Ingredients:
6 cups water
1/3 cup brown rice
3 low-sodium beef or chicken flavored bouillon cubes or 1 tablespoon low-sodium bouillon powder
4 sprigs fresh oregano finely chopped (or 1 Tablespoon dried oregano)
8 ounces lean ground beef, turkey, or chicken
1 tomato finely chopped
1/2 onion peeled and finely chopped
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups fresh vegetables (carrots, celery, broccoli)
Directions:
1. In a large pot, combine water, rice, bouillon cubes, and oregano. Bring to a boil over high heat. Stir to dissolve bouillon. Reduce heat to low and simmer.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix ground meat, tomato, onion, egg, and salt. Form into 12 large meatballs.
3. Add meatball to broth mixture and simmer 30 minutes.
4. Add vegetables. Cook 10-15 minutes or until meatballs are cooked and rice and vegetables are tender. Serve hot.
Image and Recipe Source: http://eatfresh.org/recipe/soups/meatball-soup#.WE8p1_krJPY
- Author: Elizabeth Lopez
- Editor: Emily Harris
Pumpkin season is here!
Besides making a great addition to our fall décor, pumpkins make the perfect ingredient for fall recipes. Pumpkins are a good source of vitamin C and an excellent source of vitamin A. The recipes below offer a great way to bring our favorite fall ingredient to the table. Enjoy!
Source: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/pumpkin
Pumpkin Pancakes
Image Source: http://cookdiary.net/pumpkin-pancakes/
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
6 teaspoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup pumpkin (canned)
1 3/4 cups milk, low-fat
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Directions:
- Combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- In a medium bowl, combine egg, canned pumpkin, milk and vegetable oil, mixing well.
- Add wet ingredients to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Batter may be lumpy. (For thinner batter, add more milk).
- Lightly coat a griddle or skillet with cooking spray and heat on medium.
- Using a ¼ cup measure, pour batter into hot griddle. Cook until bubbles begin to burst, then flip pancakes and cook until golden brown, 1 ½ to 2 ½ minutes. Repeat with remaining batter. Makes about 1 dozen 3 ½ inch pancakes.
Breakfast Pumpkin
Cookies
Image source: https://www.foodhero.org/recipes/breakfast-pumpkin-cookies
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups pumpkin (pureed, cooked)
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts (chopped)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Mix pumpkin, brown sugar, eggs, and oil thoroughly.
- Blend dry ingredients and add the pumpkin mixture.
- Add raisins and nuts.
- Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheet.
- Bake 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
- Author: Emily Harris
As classroom celebrations and after school snacks call for Halloween-themed treats, we may resolve to have our kids eat healthier after the holidays are over. Why not start now and celebrate Halloween with a healthy twist? Below are some snack ideas to bring Halloween to town without all of the extra sugar:
Let us know about your Healthy Halloween in the comment section below!
- Author: Emily Harris
September brings both National Food Safety Education Month and the end of summer. As we wrap up this great time of year, let's take a look at ways to keep our food safe and avoid food waste as we enjoy the last of our BBQ's, swim parties and warm-weather adventures.
1. When serving food at a buffet, keep hot food hot with chafing dishes, slow cookers, and warming trays. Keep cold food cold by nesting dishes in bowls of ice or use small serving trays and replace them often.
Once we've finished preparing our food, it's easy to set it out for our families and friends to dig in without thinking about it staying fresh. Make sure your hot foods stay hot and your cold foods stay cold when you serve.
2. Always refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours (1 hour when the temperature is above 90 °F).
Make sure to put all of your perishable foods in shallow dishes and place them in an ice chest or refrigerator within the recommended time frames above.
3. Use most cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
Add leftovers to your weekly menu as soon as possible so you don't waste food or eat food when it is no longer safe. For more information about leftovers, click here.
Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
Have leftover chicken? Use it up with the recipe below:
Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli
and Rice Bake
Image Source: tastykitchen.com
Ingredients
5 cups water
2 1/2 cups rice
1/4 cup onion (chopped)
1 garlic clove (chopped)
1 cup milk (skim)
1 can cream of mushroom soup (10.75 ounces, condensed, 98% fat-free)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup cheddar cheese, low-fat (grated)
2 cups chicken (shredded, cooked)
2 cups broccoli (pieces)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350° F. In large saucepan bring water to
boil. Add rice, onion, and garlic. Cook for about 20 minutes
or until rice is soft.
2. While rice is cooking combine milk, soup, salt, and pepper, mix well. When rice is done combine with milk mixture, chicken and broccoli, mix well.
3. Grease 9 x 13 pan and pour mixture into pan. Bake in the preheated
oven for 18 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake for another 6 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.
Recipe Source: What's Cooking? USDA Mixing Bowl
- Author: Araceli Delgadillo
- Editor: Emily Harris
Pizza is a favorite dish for many people. Pizza can be rather unhealthy between the dough, sauces and certain toppings. This recipe offers a quick and easy way to put a healthier spin on this classic dish by using items that you might already have in your pantry.
Tortilla Pizza
Image Source: California Department of Public Health
Ingredients:
12 corn tortillas, small (or flour tortillas)
Vegetable oil (or margarine)
1 can of refried beans (16 ounces)
¼ cup onion (chopped)
2 ounces fresh or canned green chili peppers (diced)
3 tablespoons red taco sauce
3 cups of vegetables, such as broccoli, mushrooms, spinach, and red bell pepper (chopped)
½ cup cheese, shredded part-skim mozzarella
½ cup cilantro (chopped, fresh, optional)
Directions:
1. Brush one side of two tortillas with water. Press the wet sides of the tortillas together to form a thick crust for the pizza.
2. Brush the outside of the tortillas with a small amount of oil or margarine. Evenly brown both sides in a heated frying pan. Repeat with the rest of the tortillas. Set aside.
3. Heat refried beans, onion, and half of the chili peppers together in a medium saucepan, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
4. Spread about 1/3 cup of the bean mixture on each tortilla pizza. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of taco sauce, then top with 1/2 cup of the chopped vegetables, 1 teaspoon chili peppers, and 1 tablespoon cheese for each pizza.
5. Return to frying pan and heat until cheese melts. Top with cilantro, if desired. Serve immediately.
Source: California Department of Health Services, Healthy Latino Recipes Made with Love
California Latino 5-A-Day Campaign via
