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July 27, 2017    You can have your cake and eat it too. Or hot wings. You can have those and eat them too… dipped in ranch… with a cocktail – totally guilt free and cheaper than happy hour at your local bar! I’ve got a great Cauliflower Buffalo Wings recipe paired perfectly with Cashew Ranch Dip and a Honey Coconut Mojito Mocktail to wash it all down. All of these can be made 100% vegan and gluten free. You know, if you’re in to that sort of thing. Cauliflower Buffalo Wings   Ingredients 1 head Cauliflower 1 cup Flour (use Rice Flour for gluten-free) 1 T. minced Garlic 1 tsp. Cumin 1 tsp. Paprika 1/2 cup Milk (use Almond Milk for vegan) 1/2 cup Water Hot Sauce – your favorite brand will do! Salt & Pepper to taste Instructions Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Wash and cut Cauliflower florets into bit sized pieces. Mix Flour, Garlic, Cumin, Paprika, Milk, Water, Salt and Pepper in a small bowl until the batter is moderately thick. Evenly coat Cauliflower florets with batter and space them out on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, flip cauliflower over, bake for another 15 minutes until all sides are nice and crispy. Evenly coat florets with your favorite Hot Sauce and serve!  You probably have most of these ingredients sitting at home anyway, and you can get a head of cauliflower much cheaper than a pound of chicken. If you don’t have Cumin or Paprika, don’t worry about it, just make sure they’re all coated with your favorite hot sauce. Now let’s make the dip! Cashew Ranch Dip   Ingredients 1 cup Raw Cashews 1 T. minced Garlic 1/4 cup finely chopped Green Onions 1/4 cup Water Juice from 1 Lemon Salt & Pepper to taste Instructions Soak cashews in a bowl of water for at least 15 minutes, drain and add to food processor. Add remaining ingredients to food processor and blend. Add additional water if needed for dip consistency. 3.4.3177 You can find Raw Cashews in the Bulk Foods area at your local Coborn’s, they are a little softer and easier to blend, and you can get just the amount you need. Now to wash it all down. Honey Coconut Mojito Mocktail   Ingredients 1 Cup fresh Mint leaves 2 Cups Coconut Water 1/2 Cup Honey Juice of 2 Limes 6 Cups Sparkling Water Ice Instructions Muddle Lime Juice and Mint until it is aromatic. Add Coconut water and stir in Honey. Add Sparkling water and give a final stir making sure everything is mixed well before topping pitcher off with ice.  3.4.3177 You can have this drink all summer long if you grow your own mint! It is really easy to grow and very forgiving, my mint plant has died twice now, but still manages to spring back to life when I remember to water it. These recipes are a great way to spend a nice summer day at home with friends and family, enjoy! Brandon Coborn’s Inc. Web Designer [...] Read more...
June 1, 2017Simple Summer Hacks Once the summer heat hits, priorities shift to finding resourceful ways to stay cool, hydrated and away from invasive insects. To enjoy your favorite summer activities, follow these simple and frugal hacks that will ensure a breezy, bearable and hassle-free summer. Soothing the Burn Sometimes wearing sunscreen, sun hats or sunglasses aren’t enough to avoid getting burnt by powerful UV rays. If you find yourself with a nasty sunburn, alleviate it with homemade aloe vera ice cubes. Fill an ice cube tray with 3/4 aloe vera juice and freeze for an hour or overnight. Rub ice cubes on or near your burn to soothe and cool the skin. Store remaining cubes in a freezer bag for later use. Say Goodbye to Bug Bites! When pests appear, many of us turn to store-bought sprays and repellants to keep the bugs away, but these often contain toxic chemicals that can have harmful effects on the body and the environment. Avoid bug bites and dangerous chemicals by creating an all-natural insect repellent. Fill a 10-ounce spray bottle with equal amounts of water and witch hazel. Add 15 drops of an essential oil such as peppermint, citronella, lavender or tea tree. Spray this treatment on the body as well as the surrounding environment. If you have an itchy or irritated bug bite, treat it with homemade itch cream. Melt 3 tablespoons coconut oil and 2 tablespoons beeswax in a saucepan, mix slightly, then add 10 drops each of lavender and peppermint essential oils. Let cool and apply directly to bitten area. Six-Pack Solution Upcycle your leftover six-pack carton into a handy storage holder. Place utensils, napkins, ketchup, mustard and other picnic necessities in your creative caddy and jazz it up by resurfacing with fun decorative paper. Creative Condiment Containers Bringing full bottles of condiments outside can be a pain, and letting them sit in the heat for too long can cause them to spoil. Save time, dishes and space by serving condiments in a muffin tin. Pour different sauces into individual muffin compartments and set a serving spoon in each vessel. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil between uses. Bug-Free Beverages Keep bugs and other unwanted extras out of your summer refreshments by topping your glasses with an upside down cupcake liner. Poke a hole in the bottom of the liner, wrap it around the top of your glass and enjoy your drink through a straw. Foil cupcake liners may shape to your cup better and have a more secure hold than paper liners. Be cautious when using these covers for kid drinks, as these liners don’t substitute as lids. Dual-Purpose Water Bottle Ice Packs Instead of adding extra components to your already-packed cooler, freeze a few water bottles ahead of time and use them as ice packs to keep your food cold. When the water melts, you’ll have an ice-cold beverage to enjoy. Seat Belt Spray To avoid painful burns and blisters from scorching summer seat belts, keep a spray bottle filled with water in your car and spray the hot plastic strap and metal buckles. The heat may warm the water in the spray bottle, but evaporation will quickly cool the seat belt, allowing you to fasten comfortably. [...] Read more...
May 11, 2017Mix up the perfect brunch cocktail with this Grand Mimosa! It’s great for so many occasions from bridal showers to Mother’s Day! You can always stray from the traditional by trying out these Blue Moon Beermosas, or this Tequila Sunrise Mimosa too! They’re all great options to enjoy for special occasions or while having a lovely brunch. We also have tons of great recipes to help you plan the perfect brunch! Like this Pepper & Egg Brunch Bake, or even these Easy Cinnamon Roll Waffles. They both taste amazing and everyone will love them! Shop from the comfort of your home! You can shop online at any of our proud family of stores for these recipe ingredients as well as the rest of your grocery list! We offer curbside pick up at all locations and delivery in select locations as well. Don’t forget to connect your MORE Rewards account when you shop online for extra savings, digital coupons, and many other rewards too! Shop Ingredients Coborn’s Cash Wise MarketPlace Foods [...] Read more...
March 22, 2017Happy Spring! As a Mom of two toddlers I have definitely found my favorite brands that are must-haves for every grocery trip. Toddlers (at least mine) tend to be creatures of habit so I am always trying to find a balance between getting foods that I know that they will eat and introducing healthy ingredients and new flavors. March, spring, and basketball bracket season seem like a great time to talk about my TOP FIVE FAVORITE BRANDS FOR KIDS. Full Circle Ahh, where to begin with Full Circle? This brand is in our pantry, it’s in our refrigerator and it’s in our freezer. We eat a lot, a whole lot, of eggs and they are always Full Circle. Eggs are a great way to get protein and essential nutrients to your toddler. Our youngest likes them scrambled with cheese. Our oldest prefers his in omelet form with ketchup (yep, ketchup). Eggs are also a great vehicle for leftover ingredients which helps us stretch our grocery budget. We make a lot of scrambles, omelets and fried rice. Another way to stretch the budget is by using frozen veggies and we use the Full Circle frozen vegetables on a weekly basis. Our oldest will only eat the green beans so I love that Full Circle offers a bag that is green beans only! Some of our other favorite Full Circle pantry staples are Graham Crackers, pasta noodles, and canned beans and tomatoes (did you know that Full Circle recently introduced a non-intent BPA lined can?). Chobani Yogurt, yogurt, yogurt. In our house, yogurt can be breakfast, a compliment to a meal, an ingredient in a baking recipe, or even a dessert! I love the Chobani’s Simply 100 yogurt cups. I don’t have to worry about artificial sweeteners or artificial growth hormones, they’re loaded with probiotics, protein and calcium, and they taste like a treat. It’s definitely not my “cleanest” food item but it’s still a favorite!! Here’s how we eat our Chobani: With granola for a crunchy breakfast Plain with lunch or dinner (the boys’ favorite flavors are Vanilla & Strawberry Banana) With dark chocolate chips for dessert! Organic Valley Moo! Making sure toddlers get enough protein and Vitamin D can sometimes be a struggle so I rely on really high quality dairy products from Organic Valley to help me with that. The boys use the Whole Milk in their cereal, eat the String Cheese for snacks (or meals), and we use the shredded cheese for things like quesadillas (I like to add black beans), grilled cheese sandwiches, scrambled eggs and pasta. The boys love Organic Valley’s Grated Parmesan Cheese – they call it Cheese Sprinkles…. Whatever works! Applegate Neither of my boys love eating meat (they might get that from their mom…) but Applegate makes a couple of products that they both really enjoy and this mom loves that they are nitrate and antibiotic free! Their favorite is the frozen breakfast sausage. It is a weekend staple at our house for breakfast but I also like to add the more savory varieties to pasta during the week. I just cook up the links in a skillet, add them to a marinara sauce (usually jarred if I am running short on time) and then add them to pasta. Dad likes their bacon for a Sunday morning treat and I love to use their pepperoni for Friday night pizza nights (hint: the pieces are extra-large so I use small cookie cutters to make pepperoni shapes!) Annie’s If we ever produce a girl (unlikely), we may just name her Annie in honor of a brand that truly goes everywhere with us. From Cocoa Bunnies cereal (fairly moderate in sugar for a chocolate cereal), to Mac & Cheese (definitely the bunny shapes for the kids, shells for mom & dad), to Bunny Crackers in every flavor and even Fruit Snacks when mom & dad need a quiet moment in the car…. Annie’s is a brand that we use almost every single day. As a mom of toddler boys I have tried hard to find “good” treat alternatives. Avoiding treats altogether is no fun for anyone so I rely on a brand like Annie’s to give me treats I can feel comfortable with – no artificial colors, slightly less sugar and more natural ingredients. Plus, who doesn’t love having their toddler ask for seconds of their Mac & Cheese? Did you know there’s 10 grams of protein in a serving of Mac & Cheese?   Christie Senior Manager Legal and Real Estate Click here for more blogs by Christie Save [...] Read more...
February 9, 2017Can you believe Valentine’s Day is next week? If you ask me… beer is the perfect gift for this holiday! I have a lot of people ask me for suggestions of what brands of particular beers to buy at Coborn’s Liquor. And if you are buying for a gift you may not know what brand the gift-receiver loves but you may know what type they enjoy. So I have come up with a list of popular beer types and my suggestions for brands and flavors you should try. Pale Ale If your Valentine enjoys a Pale Ale, you should pick up Sierra Nevada’s new Sidecar Orange Pale Ale. It’s a Pale Ale with a twist. This hoppy Pale Ale is brewed with Cascade, Equinox and Mandarina hops with a hint of orange peel that adds a zesty pop of bright orange flavor. Amber Ale If your honey likes an Amber Ale, you should treat them to Odell’s 90 Schilling. A medium bodied amber ale with a distinct copper color and a deeply pleasant aroma. Fruit Ale If your sweet likes a sweet Fruit Ale, I would suggest picking up Funkwerks Raspberry Provincial. This delightfully tart fruit beer is refreshing, with a citrus raspberry aroma which transitions to a subtlety sweet and tart finish. IPA If your babe loves and IPA, pick them up a Lift Bridge Hop Dish IPA. An aggressively hopped IPA with aromas of citrus, fruit & pine with subtle malt sweetness and notes of caramel. Stout If you have a Stout lover, grab some Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro and top with a bow. Dark and delicious, this great milk stout will change your perception about what a stout can be. The aroma is of brown sugar and vanilla cream, with hints of roasted coffee. Roasty, mocha flavors rise up, with slight hop and roast bitterness in the finish. Seltzer Water If your love enjoys a seltzer water, get a hold of some White Claw Black Cherry Hard Seltzer. White Claw Hard Seltzer brings the simplicity that is seltzer water, along with a spike of alcohol and a hint of natural fruit flavor, to create a refreshing low calorie seltzer drink with no artificial ingredients and is Gluten Free.   There you go! Some great suggestions to satisfy your other-half this Valentine’s Day! The best part, all you have to do is stick a bow on it and you’re done! What a nice gift to come home to after a long Tuesday at work. Have a great Valentine’s Day! Wade Coborn’s, Inc. Beer Category Manager [...] Read more...
October 13, 2016Bring on the comfort food! I love cooking, and I love beer – so naturally, I love cooking with beer. One of my favorite recipes featuring beer, and the easiest, is chili. Pair that with beer brats, onions and cheese all spread out on a fresh pretzel bun from Coborn’s Bakery and you’ve got yourself a perfect fall meal. Lets break it down into 2 different recipes, first up is the chili:   Beer Chili   Ingredients 1 Lb. Ground Pork 1 Lb. Ground Beef 1 Can/Bottle Beer – Your Choice 6 Oz. Can Tomato Paste 2 Packets Food Club Chili Seasoning Instructions In a large stock pot, brown pork and beef. Add beer, tomato paste and chili seasoning. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to simmer.   3.4.3177     Next, the brats:   Beer Brats   Ingredients Coborn’s Signature Smokehouse Brats (Comes in a pack of 6) 1 Onion – sliced 2 Cans/Bottles Beer – Your Choice Instructions Poke holes in brat casing with a fork. Simmer brats in beer until just about boiling. Remove brats – reserve about 1/4 cup beer in the pan. Sautée onions in remaining beer until translucent. Add brats back in to pan cooking until done.   3.4.3177 Now don’t forget the cheese! All you have to do is warm up a can of cheddar cheese soup. Once that’s done, just pile everything over a fresh pretzel bun and enjoy a relaxing night in. I’m more of a darker beer kind of guy, so I went with Summit’s EPA, but you can swap that out for whatever your beer of choice may be. A good rule of thumb when cooking with beer or wine, is if you wouldn’t drink it – don’t cook with it! I love the earthy taste this beer adds to this recipe, and you can’t go wrong with pretzels & cheese! Nom Nom! Brandon Coborn’s Inc. Web Designer [...] Read more...
September 22, 2016Fall is just around the corner, so when the weather gets colder meals get cozier! One of my favorite cozy night-in soups is my own take on Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana! Loaded with garlic and potatoes, you can’t go wrong with this delicious recipe.   Olive Garden Copycat Zuppa Toscana   Ingredients Olive Oil 1 Onion, chopped 4-6 Cloves Garlic, minced 1 Lb. Italian Sausage 32 Oz. Chicken Broth 4-6 Red Potatoes, sliced 1/2 Pint Whipping Cream 2-3 Leaves Kale, chopped Instructions Caramelize onions with olive oil in a large stock pot Stir in garlic Add sausage and cook until brown Add chicken stock and potatoes Cover, bring to a boil Stir in cream Stir in kale Salt & pepper to taste   3.4.3177 You can also mold the recipe to your dietary needs. Can’t have dairy? Leave out the cream and replace it with unsweetened almond milk. Can’t have pork? Just replace the pork with Italian style turkey. Vegetarian/Vegan? Replace the chicken stock with vegetable stock and leave out the sausage, just be sure to add some crushed pepper flakes to give it a little kick 😉 The nice thing about making this soup yourself is you can control the ingredients, and tailor it to your tastes. This quick and easy recipe is an amazing starter to a perfect night IN! Nom Nom! Brandon Coborn’s Inc. Web Designer [...] Read more...
August 18, 2016I love garlic, and want to put it on everything. All my dreams came true when I discovered the magical world of aioli. If you were curious, aioli is basically just a fancy way of saying mayonnaise — generally they are egg based. If you’re opposed to the thought of consuming raw eggs, have I got a recipe for you! Egg-Free Garlic Aioli   Egg-Free Garlic Aioli   Ingredients 4-5 Cloves Garlic 1 tsp. Salt (more to taste) Pinch Cayenne Pepper 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1/2 Cup Aquafaba 1/4 Lemon – Juiced Instructions Crush garlic, salt, and cayenne pepper to a paste. Slowly whisk in oil, lemon juice, and aquafaba. Whisk until desired consistency.   3.4.3177 This recipe uses aquafaba to try to thicken the aioli, along with creating an emulsion with the garlic/salt paste, oil & lemon juice. Aquafaba is just the water leftover from a can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans). It basically acts like egg whites, so it can be used as a replacement for them in vegan dishes. All of this I learned recently — credit whe re it’s due, I got the idea of using aquafaba from one of my very best friends. Thanks Whitney! 😀 Garlic aioli is great basically on everything — don’t feel constricted to sweet potato fries and asparagus! It’s also great in sandwiches as a spread, or anything you want to make taste like garlic. It’s delicious, easy to make, and inexpensive. Also you can blend it with the chickpeas you drained to make a delicious garlic hummus! Nom Nom! Brandon Coborn’s Inc. Web Designer     [...] Read more...
June 26, 2016A warm ooey gooey marshmallow squished between graham crackers and accompanied by Hershey’s milk chocolate is one of the staples of summer. But would you believe it if we told you that America’s favorite campfire dessert can taste even better? The traditional graham cracker and milk chocolate combination is an absolute hit, but we have tons of other sandwich stacker ideas for you to try! Simply pick some of the tasty flavors from our idea lists and experiment with your favorites. Cracker Ideas: Try these cracker and cookie combinations out around your next bonfire!  Cinnamon Graham Crackers Vanilla Wafers Fudge Stries Oreo Cookies Rice Krispie Treats Chocolate Ideas: I love the traditional S’more with Hersey’s, but who knew it was possible for them to taste even better! Kit Kats Rollos Peppermint Patties Butterscotch Chips Reese’s Heresey’s Cookies and Cream Nutella Spread Snickers Minis Milkyway Candies Fruit Options: Fruit lovers will applaud at these naturally sweet fruit combinations. Raspberries Bananas Blueberries Strawberries Mixed Berries Extra Fun Ideas: Already added the basics? Don’t forget the extras! After sampling tons of combinations these extras are a great addition to a S’mores sandwich! Caramel Sauce Shredded Coconut Chocolate Covered Pretzels Peanut Butter Jelly/Jam (The last two are for the real PB&J lovers out there!) What were our favorite combinations? We loved the Nutella with Peanut Butter and the Raspberry with Hershey’s Cookies and Cream that was pictured above. Send us your favorite S’mores creations and enjoy summer evenings with your loved ones around the campfire! [...] Read more...
June 23, 2016It’s summertime! Which means a time for potlucks, picnics, and really just about any type of gathering that you are expected to bring a dish of your own to share. There sets in the panic — the share. What if they’re all vegan? You don’t want to bring a turducken to the box social! I’ve got the perfect Gluten-Free AND Vegan dish guaranteed to be a huge hit at your next mutual gathering of food consumption with like-minded individuals. Gobi Manchurian is an Indian/Chinese dish made with fried cauliflower that is relatively popular in India. Fun Fact: Gobi actually means cauliflower in Hindi — Now you know 😀 I’ve made this dish plenty of times, and I like to play with the recipe whenever I do… I once burned habanero peppers at a friends home making this, even the smoke was spicy! — I learned to always add the hot peppers to the pan AFTER the onions have cooked. So this recipe is a culmination of learned mistakes and my own taste preferences:   Gluten Free Vegan Gobi Manchurian   Cuisine: Indian/Chinese Author: Brandon Ingredients 1 Cup Rice Flour 1 Tbsp. Curry Powder 1 Cup Water 1 Cauliflower head chopped 1 Onion chopped 2 Jalapeños chopped 2 Tbsp. Garlic minced 1 Tbsp. Ginger minced ½ Cup Ketchup ½ Cup Coconut Aminos Corn Oil Salt & Pepper to taste Instructions In a large mixing bowl – combine flour, curry powder, salt & pepper, 1 Tbsp. garlic, ½ Tbsp. ginger. Stir in water until you get a batter-like consistency (you may need more than a cup of water) evenly coat cauliflower florets with batter Fry coated cauliflower in corn oil until golden brown and set aside on a plate layered with paper towels to dry. In a large skillet – Sauté onion in 2 Tbsp corn oil until translucent Stir in jalapeños Stir in 1 Tbsp. garlic and ½ Tbsp. ginger Add ketchup and coconut aminos Bring sauce to a boil, stirring occasionally to reduce Let simmer until it reaches desired consistency Remove from heat and stir in fried cauliflower Enjoy!   3.4.3177 Frying the cauliflower after it’s been dipped in the batter gives it almost the same consistency as fried chicken — even your carnivorous friends will enjoy it. I guarantee you, this dish does NOT need meat. To keep it gluten-free, I used rice flour, if gluten isn’t an issue any flour you have in your pantry will do. The sauce (or gravy) is traditionally made with soy sauce and tomato sauce. I like to use coconut aminos (to keep it free of gluten) and ketchup — because you probably have it in your fridge somewhere 😉 I like to keep it relatively spicy and serve it on a bed of white rice. If you’re not worried about gluten, I would serve it with naan bread. If you don’t want it too spicy, just mince a green pepper instead of two jalapenos, and use less ginger, garlic, and curry powder. If you want more heat, I’d use habanero peppers (or any of your favorite hot peppers) and don’t wash the seeds off. This is definitely one of my all time favorite dishes, and is much less expensive than ordering take out or hitting up the local Indian restaurant. Not only is it great for potlucks, but you can still feel cultured with this home cooked meal and have the perfect night IN! Nom Nom! Brandon Coborn’s Inc. Web Designer [...] Read more...
January 8, 2016Pasta Pairings Which pasta for which recipe? Pasta comes in so many shapes – the number of possible pairings can almost seem endless. While there’s no “one right way,” here are some smart and savory suggestions for pairing pasta: long, thin pasta – spaghetti, angel hair, capellini, vermicelli Round strands coil sumptuously with smooth sauces – especially tomato with herbs that cling to the strands as it’s twirled around a fork. Elegant thin varieties complement brothy soups while thicker lengths partner well with heavier sauces. long, flat pasta – linguine, fettuccine Ribbon-like strands – from wide to narrow – were the first pasta shapes created since they were easily cut by hand from flat sheets of pasta dough. This shape is very versatile and is suitable for a wide range of sauces from seafood, such as clam sauce, to hearty meat sauces like Bolognese and carbonara, as well as creamy sauces like Alfredo. spiral or twist pasta – rotini, fusilli, cavatappi Perfect for both simple and more refined sauces, these shapes are frequently used in pasta salads with oil-based dressing or pesto. Their crevices are ideal for collecting vegetables, herbs and spices. fancy-shaped pasta – shells, farfalle (bowtie), campanelle These open-fringed, elegant varieties are ideal for serving with dairy-based sauces like béchamel, chunky meat ragus or even tomato-cream sauces like vodka sauce. hollow-center pasta – elbows, penne, rigatoni, mostaccioli These thicker-shaped pastas pair well with full-flavored sauces. Served hot, their contours are made to hold hearty meat sauces and sauces with chunky ingredients like peas or capers. Ridges, known as rigate, and angular-cut ends offer intriguing texture when served cold in pasta salads. miniature pasta – orzo, stelline, alphabets, acini di pepe Delicate, compact shapes just right for scooping onto a spoon. These tiniest of shapes are used in soups and broth dishes. stuffed pasta – manicotti, jumbo shells Filled with cheese, spinach, vegetables or meat, large hollow pasta shapes partner well with tomato or cream sauce in baked casseroles. [...] Read more...
September 10, 2015Lightened Up Holiday Sides To make your holiday meals healthier, try these tips to cut calories and fat in your favorite side dishes. Bread & Rolls Bread and rolls offer some of the easiest opportunities to lighten up your meal. Swap high-calorie white flour for wheat to create healthier homemade bread. Use egg substitute in place of whole eggs in rolls, and you’ll cut about 60 calories and 5 grams of fat per egg. Replace oil with nonfat yogurt or applesauce to keep your baked goods moist while dramatically reducing their fat content. Try using zero-calorie sugar substitutes instead of granulated white sugar to eliminate empty calories. Candied Yams/Sweet Potatoes Try adding only half as much butter to candied yams or sweet potatoes as the recipe calls for. Skip the marshmallows and use fruit juice or chunks of real fruit for added sweetness. Reduce or eliminate honey and syrup in favor of low-calorie spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Vegetables Rather than covering them with butter, use herbs and spices to season vegetables, or roast a selection of your favorite vegetables in olive oil. You can also add fruit to complement the vegetables’ natural flavor without adding fat. Try carrots and dried cranberries or squash and sliced apples for a unique and delicious combination. Green Bean Casserole To lighten the traditional green bean casserole, bake chopped onions to create your own low-fat, crispy topping and use 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup instead. Stuffing Replace a portion of the bread in your favorite stuffing recipe with chopped onions or vegetables. You’ll cut empty calories while adding fiber and nutrients. Use whole wheat or low-calorie bread or replace the bread altogether with rice. Mashed Potatoes To cut fat without sacrificing flavor, try switching from whole milk to skim, or use equal amounts of each. Consider using fat-free sour cream or plain yogurt in place of butter to create a creamy texture and add flavor. Swap butter and salt for fresh garlic or Parmesan cheese to create a unique taste with a fraction of the calories. To really lighten up your holiday mashed potatoes, switch your plain white potatoes for a healthier alternative. Try mashed sweet potatoes, or a combination of mashed cauliflower, parsnips, celery root and/or rutabaga for a similar taste and texture, with fewer calories and higher levels of nutrients. Pumpkin Pie Although the traditional recipes call for sweetened condensed milk or cream, you can cut back on fat by using creamy lite coconut milk instead. Cranberry Sauce Avoid the high fructose corn syrup and make cranberry sauce from scratch. Cut back on the sugar even more by using fruits like apples in its place. [...] Read more...
May 28, 2015A Healthier Tailgate Many of us have worked all year long to meet our healthy New Year’s resolutions. Don’t let tailgates and parties get in the way of your goals. Whether you’re hosting a tailgate, packing a cooler or just having a few friends over to watch the game, try these healthy tips to tackle game-day overindulgences. Plan ahead! Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your food! This leads to impulse choices that may not be the healthiest. Plan a balanced menu that includes all the food groups. You don’t want to get stuck with just burgers on the grill, buns and chips – and if you’re lucky, maybe a pickle and onions! Pace your meals. Don’t skip breakfast and dinner to allow for one big game-time meal. This can lead to overeating and is also not beneficial for our blood sugars, energy level or satiety. Start your day off with a healthy breakfast and allow snacks to keep you going and to fight off hunger – which is typically when we find our hand in the chip bag! Stay hydrated. Tailgates can include a wide variety of adult beverages and soda. Bring water, coconut water or infused water with you, especially early in the season when it’s hot! This keeps you hydrated and less tempted to indulge in caloric beverages. These empty calories can add up quick! Also drink alcohol in moderation – that is 2 drinks/day for men and 1 drink/day for women. Put a healthy twist on traditional favorites. You don’t have to give up all of your game-day favorites. Just aim for one healthy substitution. Maybe it’s making salsa instead of nacho cheese for your tortilla chips. Or put turkey burgers and veggies on the grill instead of only brats and hot dogs. You will leave feeling like a winner no matter how your team did! Stay active! Tailgating doesn’t have to always be about the food, it’s also about enjoying the company you are with. Start your own game of tag football, play corn hole, throw a Frisbee™, play with the little ones or simply go for a walk. This keeps you moving and is a great way to burn some extra calories! [...] Read more...
December 29, 2014Kitchen and Pantry Makeover If you are struggling with your New Year’s resolution, or just wanting to kick-start your healthy eating plan, you might want to begin with a kitchen makeover! Think about how you feel when you get a new haircut, spring-clean your house, or clean out your closet to make room for a shopping spree! It feels so refreshing, energizing and motivating. You want to think of your eating habits as needing the same attention and upkeep. Here are four tips to help you clean out the junk! 1. Out with the old, in with the new >If you have not used it in one year, get rid of it (this same rule applies for the clothes in your closet, and for the same reason)! This extra clutter can add to your stress level, which is not beneficial for overall health. Get rid of it to make room for new, adventuresome foods! > General rule of thumb: If you can’t remember the last time you used it or if it has more than five ingredients (AKA processed food), pitch it or donate it if not expired! 2. Spice up the spice cabinet! > This is one drawer that always seems to be overflowing and cluttered with things you don’t ever use. It’s time to clear it out and spice it up! > In general, if it’s past the expiration date, it’s time to go. If there is not an expiration date, use the appearance, smell and taste method. If the herb or spice has lost its vibrant color, you can’t smell the intense aroma and it does not have much flavor… it’s time to go! > Some seasoning blends have additives such as artificial coloring, preservatives, binders, MSG or artificial flavorings or artificial sweeteners added. We want to get rid of these and restock with all natural and whole ingredient herb and spice blends. > Try some new spices you may not normally use such as: turmeric, ground coriander, cumin and curry powder. 3. Change up condiments > Terrified of the inside door of your refrigerator? Then it’s really time to clear it out! Sort through all the condiments, salad dressings, sauces and marinades and if you don’t use it or it’s expired, pitch it! > Check the ingredients. These items are notorious for having added sugars, oils, preservatives and artificial ingredients that we don’t want. Make sure that what you keep has all-natural ingredients. > Restock with healthier items such as apple cider vinegar, gourmet mustards, balsamic vinegars, sesame and walnut oils, all-natural vinaigrettes, pesto, tahini, olive tapenade, kimchi, sriracha, soy sauce and tamari. 4. Create a healthy “snack drawer” > This is for the times when you have a sweet tooth, want a quick snack or just have a craving. > Keep it stocked with things like dried fruits, dark chocolate, Lärabars, Pure Bars, Go Raw Cookies, pistachios, dry roasted edamame and air-popped popcorn. Put things in there you love to eat, but do so in moderation. Also create this same space in your refrigerator. Keep fresh foods such as yogurt, washed fruits and vegetables, hard-boiled eggs and cheeses ready to grab in a pinch! A fruit bowl near the door or on the counter is helpful as well! Happy kitchen cleaning! [...] Read more...
December 29, 2014Healthy Breakfast Ideas > Spread whole grain toast or waffles with soynut butter or non-fat honey-flavored yogurt and top with banana slices or dried fruit. > Stir fresh fruit and granola or shredded wheat cereal into non-fat lemon or vanilla yogurt. > Try Maple-Glazed Oranges and Grapefruits: Heat 1/4 cup apple juice, 2 tablespoons maple syrup and 2 tablespoons water over medium heat until reduced by half. Drizzle over sliced oranges and grapefruits, and sprinkle with chopped fresh mint. > Make a smoothie with non-fat yogurt, soy milk, fresh fruit, honey or agave nectar, soynut or almond butter and a scoop of protein powder. > Stir agave nectar, molasses, dried fruit, toasted walnuts or pecans and/or cinnamon into your oatmeal. > Top half of a multigrain bagel or English muffin with low-fat ricotta cheese and a slice of tomato, sprinkle with pepper and broil until lightly browned. > Make a breakfast burrito by filling a whole wheat tortilla with egg whites or egg substitute scrambled with green onions, shredded reduced fat cheese, salsa and non-fat plain yogurt. > Stir chopped bananas, honey and cinnamon into low-fat cottage cheese. > Make a breakfast trail mix with cereals such as Shredded Wheat®, Post® Grape-Nuts or Chex®; dried fruit such as apples, apricots, banana chips, cherries, cranberries and/or raisins; and toasted almonds, pecans and/or walnuts. > Make a healthy breakfast roll-up: Spread a whole wheat tortilla with light cream cheese spread and top with sliced hard-boiled eggs, diced tomatoes and sliced avocado. [...] Read more...