Category Archives: Healthful Eating

March 13, 2016 · 6:03 pm

Tossed and Well Dressed

As warm weather returns, so do the salads. A delicious salad topped with protein (boiled egg, grilled chicken meat, cheese) makes a filling meal that doesn’t heat up the kitchen. But salads are time consuming to make. Here are my shortcuts for hasty tasty salads.

  1. Chop, wash, and spin a big bowl of your greens. I usually buy Romaine because it keeps longer than other varieties of lettuce, but buy what you like.
  2. Make carrot ribbons from 2 carrots using a spiral vegetable slicer or a peeler. Toss with the greens.
  3. Chop 3 ribs of celery and mix with the lettuce and carrot ribbons. Seal and refrigerate.
  4. Boil 5-6 eggs, peel, and refrigerate.
  5. Cook 2-3 chicken breasts (I use the pressure cooker, but use whatever method works for you), chop, and store in a sealed container. Refrigerate. Or keep deli meats handy in the refrigerator.Your choice.
  6. Make a cruet of your favorite homemade dressing. I prefer a simple vinaigrette, but even mixing up a Good Seasons mix is better than buying a bottled brand because you choose your ingredients. Refrigerate.
  7. Grate a wedge of your favorite hard cheese (I like Parmesan) and store in the fridge.Already shredded cheese is fine, but freshly grated has better flavor.
  8. Wash several tomatoes and store in a basket in a cool, dry place in your kitchen. Do not refrigerate unless tomatoes get too ripe.
  9. Congratulations! You now have the makings of at least 5 chef salads you can pull together within minutes.

 

This is my salad, but you may use any variety of ingredients in yours. The secret to hasty tasty salad meals is advance preparation. Assembling the prepped ingredients into a tasty salad takes mere minutes. Enjoy!100_1354

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February 27, 2016 · 7:14 am

Maple Steel-cut Oats – Pressure Cooker Oatmeal

I never tried steel-cut oats because, frankly, they’re too much work. Or so I thought. But today I found a pressure cooker method that is three minutes under pressure and about a total of ten minutes cooking time (including the “sitting” time while pressure releases). It takes two cups of water, a steaming basket, and a bowl. No messy cleanup! Thanks to Hip Pressure Cooking for letting me share her post. (And that’s a great blog to follow!)

steel_cut_oatsh-630x393

 

According to Prevention Magazine, steel-cut oats have a slightly lower glycemic index and fewer calories than rolled oats…

Source: Maple Steel-cut Oats – Pressure Cooker Oatmeal

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February 3, 2016 · 1:41 pm

Stop the Rumors!

Legendary Cookies

 

Long before the Internet or social media, an urban legend circulated about a woman charged $250 when she asked Neiman Marcus Cafe for its cookie recipe. Her revenge was to circulate the recipe worldwide. Neiman Marcus is innocent of gouging anyone for a recipe and now prints it online for all to enjoy, but this urban legend persists. You’ll find it in Facebook posts and emails. In fact, I saw it again today on Facebook. 
Stop the rumors! Share this post with your friends.

The cookie recipe is a good one, although I reserve baking these cookies for the holidays. Too rich with calories for me! The first time I baked these, I took them to a covered dish Christmas party at our church. They disappeared quickly, and I had numerous requests for my secret recipe.

Here it is typed from my tattered Xerox copy I got in my Atlanta office in 1991. A tin of these cookies makes a terrific gift.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups butter 
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla 
  • 4 cups flour
  • 5 cups oatmeal (blended to a fine powder)
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 24 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 8 oz.-Hershey chocolate bar, grated
  • 3 cups chopped pecans (or walnuts)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°.
  2. Cream butter and both sugars.
  3. Add eggs and vanilla.
  4. Mix in flour, blended oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
  5. Fold in chocolate chips, Hershey bar, and nuts. 
  6. Roll into balls (approximately 3/4″ diameter) and arrange two inches apart on a cookie sheet.
  7. Bake for 10 minutes.

Yield: 100+ cookies

 

Note: This recipe is neither hasty nor healthful, but it sure is tasty!

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December 28, 2015 · 8:19 am

Individual Pot Pies

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I look for ways to make my post-holiday dinner life easier, and one of those hasty tasty meals is individual turkey pot pies. These are great make-ahead dishes made easier by using a can of crescent rolls dough. It’s also a great use-up of leftover side dishes. Use whatever vegetables you have. Here is how I made mine:

 

Recipe

Individual Turkey Pot Pies
(makes 4-6, depending on the size of your oven proof dishes. I used Corningware)

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups cubed cooked turkey
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 ribs celery, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 cup beans
  • 1 cup whole kernel corn
  • 1 cup mushrooms
  • 1 cup green beans
  • 1½ cups leftover gravy (or use cream of chicken soup)
  • 1 can refrigerated crescent rolls or similar prepared dough product
  • Nonstick cooking spray

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. In a large skillet, saute the carrots, celery, and onion. Cook for ten minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, prep individual baking dishes with cooking spray, and roll out the crescent roll dough. Cut portions of dough to fit the tops of each dish. (Note: Dough shouldn’t completely cover the dish unless you cut several vent holes)
  4. To the skillet, add garlic and stir. Then stir in the turkey and all other vegetables. Cover and simmer until all vegetables are tender but don’t overcook.
  5. Stir the gravy into the skillet mixture. Add water if mixture is too tight or stiff. Cover and remove skillet from heat.
  6. Spoon pie filling in equal portions into each baking dish. Top with the dough. 
  7. Place all baking dishes on a baking sheet and place on the center rack of the oven. Time for 40 minutes.
  8. Check pot pies. If dough is browned, remove the baking sheet carefully from the oven and allow the pot pies to cool for ten minutes.
  9. Serve on a plate to protect your dining table and to allow guests to add sides such as leftover cranberry sauce or dressing. Enjoy!

 

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