By: Shallin Squire
Our magazine staff has talked for years about including more recipes in the Healthy Edge, but we always run into the challenge of defining the word "healthy." We have always acknowledged that--depending on dozens of factors, such as age, diseases, beliefs, availability of ingredients, and personal preferences-- a "healthy" recipe for one might be on another's "do not touch" list. Furthermore, as we searched for so-called healthy recipes online, we discovered that the definition is even broader than we previously thought!
We didn't want to give up, though, so we decided to take advantage of our own differing opinions and preferences and, as a staff, share with you some of our tried-and-truly-tasty recipes. Whether we've modified them to suit our needs or kept them exactly the way they've been passed down for generations, these are our favorite healthy recipes.
"Favorite" recipes are easily defined. These are the dishes we take the time, effort, and expense to prepare and haul to the in-laws' every other year because dinner wouldn't be the same without them! These are the dishes we prepare with careful attention and sprinkle with love.
We wish our readers happy, healthy, memorable, and delicious holidays, from our families to yours.
Grandma Bonnie's Holiday Salad
Submitted by Shallin Squire
1 head lettuce OR 6 cups pre-shredded lettuce
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 package frozen petite peas
1 bunch green onions, finely chopped
½ pound turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 cups Miracle Whip Light
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (use reduced-fat if you'd like)
If needed, chop lettuce into bite-size pieces. Layer ingredients in order given. "Frost" with Miracle Whip Light. Cover with grated cheese. Cover salad and refrigerate overnight.
My friend Becky brought me her family's version of this salad after I had my third baby. Not only was I thrilled to realize I didn't have to wait until Thanksgiving to eat it, but it was completely different from, yet equally delicious to, my long-time favorite of my grandmother's! For Becky's version, add a dozen boiled eggs, chopped, and use Swiss cheese and Best Foods Light Mayonnaise in place of cheddar and Miracle Whip. Better yet, make it both ways (thereby avoiding the salad dressing vs. mayo argument!) and let your guests decide which they prefer.
Part Wheat Bread
Submitted by Shallin Squire
I have learned that some health gurus of our time condemn wheat in any form, but I still believe whole wheat is good for our bodies, and I don't know that I could avoid it entirely even if I thought it was bad for my body. For me, the holidays wouldn't be the same without homemade bread in some form, and this recipe—made with honey instead of sugar—melts in your mouth like candy. I got this recipe from my cousin, Sherry Hunting, who lives in Vernal.
1 cup hot water
1 Tbsp. rapid-rise yeast
1/3 cup oil (whichever you consider healthiest; I use coconut oil)
1/3 cup honey
½ Tbsp. salt
1 ½ cups whole wheat flour OR 1 cup whole wheat, ground
1 ½ cups white flour
Mix water and yeast in a large bowl and let sit for 5-10 minutes, or until bubbly. Add remaining ingredients and knead until springy and smooth. Form into loaf and place in pan. Let rise until double in size. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes. This recipe also works great in a bread machine. Follow the manufacturer's directions to know in what order to put ingredients into the pan, and use the whole-wheat, 1.5-pound-loaf setting.
EASY Protein Noodle Lasagna
Submitted by Angela Hanberg
1 pound Italian sausage
¾ pound grass fed ground beef
1/2 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jar no sugar added marinara sauce
16 oz. ricotta cheese
1 egg
½ tsp Celtic sea salt
¾ lb mozzarella cheese, sliced
¾ Cup Parmesan cheese
Thinly sliced nitrate free deli Chicken Breast
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in marinara sauce.
In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, and 1/2 tsp salt. To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange chicken breast slices over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Steak or Chicken Pizziaola
Submitted by M Michelle Spencer
100g steak (or chicken)
tomato (diced)
2-3 cloves minced garlic
1 t oregano
1 t basil
1/4 t chili powder
black pepper
Preheat oven to 350.
Place 1/2 of the diced tomato in casserole dish. Add meat on top of tomato and top with minced garlic. In small bowl, toss the rest of tomato with the oregano, basil, chili powder, and black pepper. Place on top of steak. Cover tightly with aluminum foil or with lid.
Bake 45-60 mins.
TIP: If using chicken, sear each side for a minute or two in a frying pan with a dash of salt/pepper (until just browned). Then follow with same steps as above.
I personally enjoy using the herb and garlic version of Mrs. Dash's seasoning. I can also enlarge this to easily feed my entire family seeing as it has a bit of an Italian flavor to it. I like to serve it with the yummy flatbread crackers that Nabisco makes because the left over tomato can be scooped up and eaten like bruschetta.
For additional healthy holiday dinner ideas, visit some of the websites we use to collect recipes. You will find useful information and recipes that emphasize a variety of health needs and preferences, from low sodium to low sugar to vegan and more!
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/RecipeIndex
OR check out
http://mariahealth.blogspot.com
Most of all, we here at The Edge just want you to realize that there are many ways to be healthy and that it is up to you to figure out what works best for your family and your personal needs. We hope you have an amazing holiday and hope you look forward to making small changes in your life that will lead to a healthier lifestyle.
No comments:
Post a Comment