Archive for Healthy Holiday Treats

Preserve-Glazed Ham

October 23, 2009 No comments

What You Need:

 

5 to 7 lb. bone in ham

1 (6 oz) can pineapple juice

1 (10 oz) jar pineapple preserves

 

How to Make It:

 

Set the oven temperature to 325 degrees and allow the oven to heat up.

Score the surface of the ham by making criss cross cuts about 1/2 in deep into the outside of the ham.

Place a baking rack in a shallow baking pan and place the ham on the rack.

Pour the pineapple juice over the ham being sure to completely cover the top and sides of the ham.

Cover the ham tightly with aluminum foil and place in the oven for 1 1/2 hours.

Uncover the ham and brush the pineapple preserves all over the outside of the ham.

Return to the oven, uncovered, and continue baking 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in the ham reaches 140 degrees.

Remove from the oven and place on a serving platter. 

Allow the ham to rest 30 minutes before carving.

 

Serving Size:  12

 

Instead of using sticky gooey glazes try this with the preserves.  Any type will work including apricot or orange marmalade.  Just be sure to use the same type of juice as the preserves. 

Healthy Holiday Treats, Recipes

Pleasing Pecan Pumpkin Pie

October 17, 2009 No comments

What You Need:

 

3/4 C brown sugar, packed and divided

1/3 C pecan, chopped fine

2 T butter, melted

1 (9 in) unbaked pie shell

3 eggs

1 C canned pumpkin

1 t rum extract

3/4 t cinnamon

1/2 t salt

1/4 t ginger

1 1/2 C heavy whipping cream

 

How to Make It:

 

Combine 1/4 C of the brown sugar with the pecans in a medium size mixing bowl.

Add the butter and mix until completely combined.

Press the mixture into the bottom of the unbaked pie crust.

Break the eggs into a large mixing bowl.

Stir in the pumpkin, extract, cinnamon, salt and ginger.

Add the remaining brown sugar and stir until completely combined and smooth.

Use a rubber spatula to fold in the whipping cream.

Pour the pumpkin mixture into the prepared pie crust.

Set the oven to 400 degrees and allow the oven to heat up.

When the oven is ready bake the pie for 10 minutes.

Reduce the heat and continue baking 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center of the pie comes out clean.

Cool the pie on a wire rack before cutting.

Garnish with extra pecans and whipped topping.

 

Serving Size:  8

 

Without the pumpkin pie autumn and especially Halloween or Thanksgiving dinner just would be the same. 

 

This is a new twist on an old favorite.  Remember to refrigerate any leftovers, if you’re lucky enough to have any, that is.

Healthy Holiday Treats, Pumpkin Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

Christmas Dinner Leftovers Part 1

December 25, 2008 No comments

One of the best parts of Christmas dinner is the leftovers. The food always seen to taste better the second or third time you eat it. Here are uses and guidelines for handling Christmas dinner leftovers.

 

1.      Clean out the refrigerator prior to dinner. You’ll need room for those platters and bowls of leftovers. Anything that can be removed should be removed to make room for the remnants of the Christmas dinner.  

 

2.      Buy plastic storage bags and containers. Storing food in the original pot or dish is not a good idea. For one, it takes up extra space. Secondly, it leaves too much dead space for liquid to collect. Food keeps better and longer in containers where the leftovers are packed tightly.

 

3.      Never pack up warm foods. Wait until the meats and side dishes are completely cool before placing them containers to go in the refrigerator. This is another reason why it is better to serve food in bowls on the Christmas dinner table or have everyone heat their own plates at dinner time.

 

Healthy Holiday Treats

Healthy Christmas Dinner Suggestions Part 2

December 24, 2008 No comments

When making gravy for the turkey, begin with a can or jar of fat free turkey gravy. Add the turkey drippings from the baking pan to the fat free gravy. Season the food to taste. For thicker gravy, add some chicken broth and a few instant potato flakes to the drippings before adding it to the fat free gravy.

 

Mashed potatoes are a favorite Christmas dinner side dish to complement turkey and gravy. When making the potatoes, substitute half of the potatoes with cauliflower. Mash both together well.

 

Serve a soup and salad before putting the main courses on the table. A low fat vegetable soup like tomato and a simple green salad fills part of the stomach and everyone will eat less later on. Make available an assortment of low fat salad dressings for the salad.

 

Even the Christmas dinner turkey can slim down. Instead of preparing an entire twenty pound turkey, opt for a turkey breast instead. To maintain tenderness and moistness, marinade the thawed turkey breast before cooking. Remove any skin before serving.

 

One place we often fill up on empty calories is beverages. Instead of soda, serve punch sweetened with sugar substitute like Splenda®. Ice tea can also be sweetened with sugar substitute and lemons. Flavored waters are another option.

 

Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be fattening to be delicious. With a few healthy tweaks, many won’t notice the difference. This year, expand your repertoire of healthy Christmas dinner choices instead of expanding the waistline.

General, Healthy Holiday Treats

Healthy Christmas Dinner Suggestions Part 1

December 23, 2008 No comments

The hardest time to stick to a diet is around the holidays. Everyone wants to sample the desserts and filling foods on the dinner table. This Christmas, choose healthier menu items for your Christmas dinner.

 

It is not uncommon for people to gain a few pound during Christmas. After a week of eating every scrumptious thing in sight, it’s a wonder anyone can move. This Christmas, you can help yourself and your family by slimming down traditional recipes.

 

Adapting Christmas recipes to healthier versions doesn’t mean that they have to taste bland. On the contrary, these dinner recipes can be full of flavor. It is fat we are trying to avoid.

 

Simple changes are the easiest and best to make. Some simple substitutions involve the most fattening ingredients. For example, use liquid oil and applesauce in place of liquid oil alone. Use margarine in place of butter and sugar substitutes instead of pure sugar.  Many recipes have suggestions for healthy substitutions.

 

We eat too much and our portion sizes are out of control. Making simple substitutions lowers the fat content of our Christmas dinner dishes even if we eat a bit too much. For home made recipes, substitutions will go on feel and experience.

Healthy Holiday Treats

Christmas Fruit Medley

December 13, 2008 No comments

What You Need:

 

1 (20 oz.) can pineapple chunks, reserve juice

1/3 C sugar

1 T cornstarch

1 T lemon juice

1/8 t salt

2 eggs

1 ripe banana, sliced

1 C seedless green grapes, halved

1 (11 oz) can mandarin oranges, drained

1 (10 oz.) jar red maraschino cherries, drained

1 C miniature marshmallows

 

How to Make It:

 

Place the reserved pineapple juice into a small saucepan.

Whisk in the sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and salt until smooth.

Place the pan over medium heat and bring to a steady boil.

Stirring continuously, cook the mixture 3 minutes or until the sugar has completely dissolved.

Remove the pan from the heat.

Place the eggs in a separate bowl and beat slightly with a fork.

Pour 2 T of the hot dressing mixture and stir quickly to combine.

Pour the egg mixture into the remaining dressing mixture.

Place the pan back on the stove over low heat and bring to a gentle boil.

Stirring continuously cook the mixture for 2 minutes.

Remove from the heat, pour into a bowl and allow the dressing to cool to room temperature.

In a salad bowl fold together the pineapple chunks, bananas, grapes, oranges, cherries and marshmallows. 

Drizzle the cooled dressing into the fruit and toss to combine.

 

Serving Size:  8

 

This refreshing fruit medley is easy to make and a hit at many Christmas dinners.  Serve it over torn lettuce and sprinkle a few chopped pecans over the top for an added treat.

Healthy Holiday Treats, Recipes

Thanksgiving Oyster Bake

November 25, 2008 No comments

A great seasonal recipe! Happy Holidays, everyone!

What You Need:

1 C saltine crackers, crushed
1 pt. fresh oyster, reserve liquid
1/4 C scallions, diced
1/4 C fresh parsley, chopped
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
8 tbsp. (1 stick) butter
1 C light cream
1/2 C milk
1 dash Tabasco sauce
1/2 tsp. paprika

How to Make It:

Set the oven temperature to 400 degrees and allow the oven to preheat.
Generously spray a shallow casserole dish with a non stick cooking spray.
Layer the bottom of the casserole with 1/3 of the crushed crackers.
Layer half of the oysters over the top of the crackers.
Layer half the scallions over the oysters.
Whisk the parsley, lemon juice, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce together.
Pour half of the lemon juice mixture over the top of the casserole.
Dot the top of the casserole with half of the butter.
Mix the cream and milk together and pour half of that over the casserole.
Repeat the layers topping the casserole with the last 1/3of the cracker crumbs.
Add the dash of Tabasco sauce before topping with the cracker crumbs.
Sprinkle the paprika over the top of the cracker crumbs.
Bake 30 minutes or until the casserole is set and jiggles when shaken.

6 Servings

This is always a hit on Thanksgiving.  It makes a great substitute for that always welcomed oyster dressing.

Healthy Holiday Treats
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