Create a Family-Friendly Grazing Board
(Family Features) A beautifully designed charcuterie board may feel more like a grown-up treat, but with the right ingredients, delicious grazing boards can provide fun and nutrition for the whole family.
No matter what you call it, charcuterie boards, grazing boards and snack platters are all basically the same thing. The boards make a trendy addition to an entertaining menu, but a platter or kid-friendly board can be equally pleasing.
What you serve on a grazing board is entirely up to you. Most include a selection of meats and cheeses, and many incorporate nuts, crackers, dips and jams. Some also incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables. Creating your own board means there really are no rules; you can add just about anything you want.
To build a successful board, keep these tips in mind:
Choose ingredients and elements that don’t require temperature control. The idea of a grazing board is that it sits out for a while. Avoid anything that needs refrigeration, heat or will lose its shape or flavor if it rests for an extended amount of time.
Select a surface large enough to hold a variety of food. It can be a simple cutting board or a cute platter. There’s no specific size requirement but err on the side of bigger; spacing out your goodies can be more attractive and less messy.
Use high-quality ingredients to ensure every bite is delicious and nutritious. While shopping, remember to look for the Produce for Kids and Healthy Family Project logos next to favorite items in the produce department, as adding these flavorful fruits and veggies to your cart can help make a difference in your community.
Build your board around a theme to add an extra element of fun. Use mini cookie cutters to make fun, kid-friendly shapes out of cheese and meats. Be mindful of colors; a rainbow platter is vibrant and appealing, and colorful fruits and veggies offer a strong mix of nutrients.
Remember it doesn’t have to be elaborate. Classic favorites are all you need. Even kid favorites like sections of mandarin oranges, carrot sticks and chocolate chips are fair game for a family-friendly board.
Find more ideas for creating family-friendly treats at healthyfamilyproject.com.
Taco Tuesday Board
Recipe courtesy of Healthy Family Project’s “Come Graze With Us” e-cookbook
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Queso
- Hard and soft taco shells
- Ground turkey, seasoned and browned
- Lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded cheese
- Chopped onions
- Chopped peppers
- Sour cream
- Cilantro
- Lime wedges
- On grazing board or platter, arrange guacamole, salsa, queso, taco shells, ground turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, onions, peppers, sour cream, cilantro and lime wedges.
Weekend Breakfast Grazing Board
Recipe courtesy of Healthy Family Project’s “Come Graze With Us” e-cookbook
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Cooked sausage links
- Mini frozen waffles, toasted
- Mini frozen pancakes, toasted
- Mini muffins
- Yogurt
- Fresh fruit
- Syrup
- Jelly
- On grazing board or platter, arrange eggs, sausage links, toasted waffles, toasted pancakes, muffins, yogurt, fruit, syrup and jelly.
Source: Healthy Family Project
Meal-Prep Tips for a Manageable Back-to-School Menu
(Family Features) The hustle and bustle of back-to-school season can cause chaos in households. Class time, field trips and homework typically rule each day, which can make sitting down for a meal seem like a far-off dream. One easy way to save time is simplifying family recipes and prioritizing meal-planning.
Consider these meal-planning tips from the experts at Healthy Family Project, whose partners are donating $16,000 to the Foundation for Fresh Produce to support children’s accessibility to fresh fruits and vegetables.
Choose the meals you plan to make for the week. Cut down on prep time by planning dishes with overlapping ingredients then write out a grocery list to keep from overbuying. Recipes like this Southwest Quiche Muffins Bento Box that include a brief list of widely used ingredients can help you avoid buying items you may only use once.
Stock the kitchen with ingredients your family often uses. Ensure you have the spices, seasonings, condiments, sauces and canned foods to prepare favorite meals at a moment’s notice.
Save time by washing and prepping produce once each week. For example, if you’re using sweet peppers in these Mini Sweet Pepper Sheet Pan Nachos and again in another meal that week, prep all at once so they’re ready when it’s time to cook – just be sure to store in an airtight container.
Serve quick snacks that won’t spoil dinner. Kids often need a little fuel for homework, but complicated snacks can cut into already busy schedules. Keep ingredients on hand for simple options like trail mix, fruit parfaits and meat and cheese wraps.
Use kitchen tools that speed up the process. Pressure cookers and air fryers can help you put nutritious meals on the table faster while slow cookers let you prep in the morning and come home to a hot, delicious dinner.
Visit HealthyFamilyProject.com to find more back-to-school recipes.
Mini Sweet Pepper Sheet Pan Nachos
Recipe courtesy of Healthy Family Project
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
- 8 ounces Pero Family Farms Mini Sweet Peppers, cut into chip shapes
- 7 ounces tortilla chips
- 1/2 cup sweet or red onion, diced.
- 1/2 cup canned or fresh corn
- 1/2 cup queso fresco cheese
- 1/4 cup black olives
- 1/4 cup jalapeno peppers, fresh sliced
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, for garnish
- 1 lime, cut into thin wedges, for garnish
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Place peppers and tortilla chips on sheet pan. Layer onion, corn, cheese, black olives and jalapeno peppers. Bake 3-5 minutes.
- Garnish with cilantro and lime wedges.
Southwest Quiche Muffins Bento Box
Recipe courtesy of Healthy Family Project
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 12
- 8 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- nonstick cooking spray
- 3/4 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup chopped Nature Fresh Farms Tomz tomatoes
- 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 small RealSweet sweet onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup granola
- 1/2 Zespri SunGold kiwi, chopped
- 1 Bee Sweet Citrus mandarin, peeled and segmented
- Preheat oven to 325 F.
- In large bowl, whisk eggs and milk.
- Coat 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray or use silicone muffin liners. Evenly divide beans, tomatoes, cheese and onion among cups. Pour eggs over top.
- Bake 20-25 minutes, or until eggs are set and lightly browned.
- Remove from oven and cool in pan 2-3 minutes. Use knife to loosen edges and remove.
- In cup or bowl, mix yogurt, granola and kiwi.
- Assemble bento box with two quiche muffins, kiwi parfait and mandarin slices.
Source: Healthy Family Project
Family Foods with a Weight Loss Focus
(Family Features) Losing weight and focusing on a healthful diet may lead you back to the same tried-and-true tricks, however, conventional wisdom doesn’t always pay dividends. Some eating plans may offer up new twists to help you and your family eat meals you enjoy without forgoing your health goals.
For example, “Always Eat After 7 PM,” written by Joel Marion, CISSN, NSCA-CPT, five-time best-selling e-book author and co-founder of the e-commerce supplement company BioTrust Nutrition, debunks popular diet myths and offers an easy-to-follow diet that accelerates fat-burning and allows you to indulge in your most intense cravings by eating the majority of your calories at night. The outlined plan features a 14-day “acceleration phase” designed for rapid results, a “main phase” when you’ll learn which fat-burning foods to eat to achieve your weight loss goals and a “lifestyle phase” to keep the weight off for good.
Conventional wisdom dictates that it’s best to avoid carbs, eat an early dinner and never eat immediately before bed. However, Marion debunks the myths underlying traditional dieting with a simple, highly effective weight loss program allowing readers to enjoy social dinners without restriction, satisfy nighttime hunger with fat-burning sweet and salty pre-bedtime snacks and indulge cravings with strategically timed cheat meals.
With straightforward food lists, easy-to-follow meal plans and recipes for each phase, this can be a simpler, more enjoyable way to lose weight without feeling restricted. Taken directly from the book, these recipes for Pot Roast Tacos with Chimichurri, Cheesy Ground Beef Skillet and Chili Loaded Baked Potato can help you take part in the program while enjoying time with loved ones at the family table.
Learn more about the diet and book at joelmarion.com.
Pot Roast Tacos with Chimichurri
Recipe courtesy of “Always Eat After 7 PM”
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8
Chimichurri:
- 1 1/2 cups fresh Italian parsley
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons green onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Tacos:
- 3 cups chuck roast, slow cooked and chopped
- 8 yellow corn tortillas (6 inches)
- 1 ripe avocado, pitted and sliced
- 4 radishes, sliced
- 1/4 cup queso fresco, crumbled
- To make chimichurri: In food processor, combine parsley, cilantro, onion and garlic until chopped. Add olive oil, lemon juice, water, salt and red pepper; process until fully combined.
- To assemble tacos: In medium skillet over medium-high heat, cook chopped chuck roast 5 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in 1/2 cup chimichurri. In grill pan, char tortillas then fill evenly with meat, avocado, radishes and queso fresco. Serve with remaining chimichurri.
Nutritional information per serving: 410 calories; 24 g fat; 12 g carbohydrates; 366 mg sodium; 2 g fiber; 41 g protein; 1 g sugar.
Chili Loaded Baked Potato
Recipe courtesy of “Always Eat After 7 PM”
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Servings: 6
- 6 sweet potatoes (8 ounces each)
- nonstick cooking spray
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds ground chuck
- 2 yellow onions, diced
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 can (15 ounces) butter beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 Anaheim chile, minced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup red onion, minced
- Heat oven to 400° F. Line baking sheet or pan with parchment paper. Rinse and scrub sweet potatoes; pat dry with paper towel and pierce several times with fork or knife. Place in prepared pan. Lightly spray sweet potatoes with nonstick cooking spray and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bake 45 minutes- 1 hour until tender when poked.
- In pot, heat olive oil. Saute chuck until fully cooked. Drain fat and return to pot; add onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika and cayenne pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and saute until onions are soft, about 10 minutes, stirring often.
- Add broth, crushed tomatoes and vinegar to pot. Increase heat to high and bring to boil. Reduce to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes. Add butter beans, cilantro and chile; cook 5 minutes. Season with sea salt.
- Split potatoes lengthwise; fluff flesh with fork. Top evenly with chili, yogurt, cilantro leaves and red onion.
Nutritional information per serving: 573 calories; 10 g fat; 58 g carbohydrates; 588 mg sodium; 11 g fiber; 25 g protein; 12 g sugar.
Cheesy Ground Beef Skillet
Recipe courtesy of “Always Eat After 7 PM”
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 38 minutes
Servings: 6
- 1 3/4 cups water
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup white rice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound extra-lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
- In saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Add salt and rice; stir once then cover pot and reduce to low heat 18 minutes.
- In large skillet, heat olive oil. Stir in ground beef. Cook and stir until beef is crumbly and no longer pink. Drain and discard excess grease. Mix in onion and garlic; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add bell pepper, oregano, basil, red pepper, sea salt and black pepper; cook and stir until bell pepper is tender, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in cooked rice, tomato sauce and kidney beans. Reduce heat and cover until vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes. Remove pan from heat, sprinkle cheese over top and garnish with parsley.
Nutritional information per serving: 399 calories: 14 g fat; 36 g carbohydrates; 816 mg sodium; 4 g fiber; 30 g protein; 3 g sugar.
Source: Promote A Book
Wake Up Dinner
(Family Features) Who says waking up your taste buds only happens in the morning? The novelty of breakfast for dinner can be a lively change for the whole family. And when you give them the added kick of picante sauce, you can create hearty family meals with variety.
Cooking with Pace Picante sauce adds texture and zest to a surprising number of traditionally "breakfast-y" foods. These tips and recipes will add ease, taste and fun to the table in a fast and budget-friendly way.
Breakfast for Dinner Tips
Simple Supper Solution: Spoon scrambled eggs or egg whites onto a warmed whole wheat flour tortilla. Add cooked, crumbled bacon or diced turkey sausage, cheese and picante sauce. Fold the tortilla around the filling and you've got a fast and hearty dinner.
Hard-boiled Eggs Made Easy: To hard-cook eggs, place eggs in a saucepan (do not crowd) and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Drain, cover with cold water and let stand 5 minutes before peeling. This causes the egg to shrink away from the shell, making peeling a snap.
Morning Fun at Dinnertime: Invite the family to dress for dinner - in PJs, of course. Add fruit as a garnish to different foods. Use strawberries and bananas to make a friendly face next to crêpes. Cookie cutters aren't just for cookies - use them to cut an omelet or breakfast pizza into hearts, stars and other fun shapes.
Wake up to these and other recipes at pacefoods.com.
Ham Spinach Fiesta Crêpes
Makes: 8 servings (2 crêpes each)
Prep: 10 minutes
Chill: 30 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
- 1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs
- 1 package (15 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
- 1 jar (16 ounces) Pace salsa con queso
- 8 slices (1 ounce each) smoked fully-cooked ham
- 1 cup Pace Picante sauce
- 4 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese (about 1 cup)
- Place milk, flour and eggs into a blender. Cover and blend until mixture is smooth. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Stir spinach and salsa con queso in a medium bowl.
- Pour about 3 tablespoons of batter into a hot, greased nonstick skillet or crêpe pan, swirling skillet to spread batter over bottom of skillet. Cook for 1 minute or until crêpe is golden on both sides. Remove crêpe from skillet. Repeat, making 16 crêpes in all and stacking cooked crêpes.
- Place 1/2 slice ham onto each crêpe. Top each with 3 tablespoons of spinach mixture. Roll up crêpes around filling. Place filled crêpes seam-side down into 2 (2-quart) shallow microwave-safe baking dishes. Top with picante sauce and cheese.
- Microwave, one dish at a time, on high for 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Tip: Chill time is important for this recipe, because it allows bubbles in batter to subside, which makes crêpes less likely to tear during cooking.
Tomato-Feta Frittata
Makes: 6 servings (1 wedge each)
Prep: 20 minutes
Bake: 40 minutes
- 7 eggs
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup cooked regular long-grain white rice
- 3 ounces crumbled feta cheese (about 3/4 cup)
- 2 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 cup Pace Picante sauce
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
- 3 Italian plum tomatoes, sliced
- Heat oven to 400°F. Heat greased, oven-safe 10-inch skillet in oven for 5 minutes.
- Beat eggs and water in large bowl with a fork or whisk. Stir in rice, feta cheese, Cheddar cheese, picante sauce, cilantro and oregano. Pour egg mixture into skillet. Arrange tomato slices on egg mixture.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until eggs are set. Cut frittata into 6 wedges.
Tip: You can use any type of cooked rice for this recipe. It's a great way to use up leftover rice from your take-out Chinese dinner.
Breakfast Pizza
Makes: 6 servings (1 slice each)
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Bake: 5 minutes
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped Canadian bacon
- 1 (12-inch) prepared pizza crust
- 8 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3/4 cup Pace Picante sauce
- 2 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- Heat oven to 400°F.
- Heat butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onion, pepper and bacon, and cook until vegetables are tender.
- Place pizza crust onto a pizza pan or baking sheet. Place in oven to warm.
- Stir eggs and black pepper into skillet. Cook and stir until eggs are set. Spoon egg mixture onto pizza crust. Top with picante sauce. Sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with cilantro. Cut pizza into 6 slices.
Fiesta Breakfast Casserole
Makes: 6 servings (about 1 1/2 cups each)
Prep: 15 minutes
Chill: 2 hours
Bake: 45 minutes
- 1/2 pound bulk pork sausage
- 12 slices Pepperidge Farm White Sandwich Bread, cut into cubes
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup Pace Picante sauce
- 4 eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
- Cook sausage in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until well browned, stirring often to separate meat. Pour off fat.
- Spoon sausage into 2-quart shallow baking dish. Top with bread cubes and cheese. Beat picante sauce, eggs and milk in medium bowl with fork or whisk. Pour picante sauce mixture over bread mixture. Stir and press bread mixture into picante sauce mixture to coat. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
- Heat oven to 350°F. Uncover baking dish.
- Bake 45 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Tip: Prepare dish the night before and pop into oven in the morning. It's great when you have overnight guests. Add a simple side of sliced melon and breakfast is ready!
Source: Pace Foods
Go Big for the Big Game
(Family Features) When your friends and family gather around the big screen for the big game, only BIG FLAVOR will do! Earn MVP status with quick and easy Johnsonville recipes featuring sausages that are big on flavor when served by themselves, or when they're included in these traditional sports-fan favorites.
Visit www.johnsonville.com for great recipes to flavor up any get-together.
Touchdown Italian Sausage Chili
12 servings
Prep: 35 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
- 1 package (19.76 ounces) Johnsonville Italian Sausage Links
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 3 celery ribs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 large sweet red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) Italian recipe stewed tomatoes
- 1 can (16 ounces) dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 ounces) butter beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- 3/4 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup cream sherry (optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking cocoa
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon pepper
- Grill Italian sausage according to package directions; cut into half moon slices and set aside. In soup kettle, sauté onion, celery, sweet pepper and garlic in oil until tender. Add sausage and remaining ingredients; bring to boil.
- Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until flavors are blended.
Serving Suggestions: Sprinkle chili with grated Asiago, Romano or Parmesan cheese.
PigTails & Fries
6 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 to 25 minutes
- 1 package (13.5 to 16 ounces) Johnsonville smoked sausage (Polish, New Orleans, Smoked Turkey, BOLD Beef Hot Links or Beef Franks)
- 1 package (28 ounces) frozen curly french fries
- Oil for deep-fat frying
- Cut sausage links in half lengthwise. Cut each half into three long strips.
- TO FRY: In deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°F. Fry french fries in batches for 3 to 6 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Place sausage strips in single layer in fryer basket. Fry for about 1 minute or until they curl. Drain on paper towels. Serve with fries.
- TO BAKE: Spread fries in single layer on baking sheet. Bake at 450°F for 17 to 20 minutes, turning once. At the same time, arrange sausage strips in single layer on separate baking sheet. Bake at 450°F for 12 to 14 minutes or until they curl. Serve with fries.
Reuben Brat Hoagie
6 servings
Prep: 20 minutes
Grill/Bake: 35 minutes
- 1 package (19.76 ounces) Johnsonville Original Bratwurst
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1/3 cup Thousand Island salad dressing
- 1/3 cup coarse ground mustard
- 1 loaf (1 pound) French bread
- 12 slices Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
- 1 can (14 ounces) sauerkraut, drained
- Grill brats according to directions. When cool, cut into 1/4-inch bias slices. In skillet, sauté onion in butter until tender; set aside. In small bowl, combine salad dressing and mustard. Slice French bread lengthwise and transfer to baking sheet. Spread salad dressing mixture on inside of bread. Layer bottom of bread with six slices of cheese, brats, onions, sauerkraut and remaining cheese.
- Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut hoagie and serve hot.
Serving Suggestions: To grill hoagie, assemble sandwich on a large sheet of heavy-duty foil. Wrap in foil. Grill, covered, over medium-low heat for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Spicy Sausage Queso
24 servings
Prep: 25 minutes
- 1 package (16 ounces) Johnsonville All Natural Ground Italian Sausage
- 2 pounds Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 jar (16 ounces) chunky salsa
- 1 tablespoon fennel seed, crushed
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon anise seed, crushed
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
- Garlic toast
- In skillet, cook and crumble sausage until no longer pink; drain. Place cheese in large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 6 minutes or until melted, stirring every 2 minutes. Stir in salsa, seasonings and sausage. Microwave 2 minutes longer or until heated through. Serve with garlic toast.
Serving Suggestions: Add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper for a spicier dish. Serve garlic toast with diced tomatoes and chopped black olives. To serve in a bread bowl, cut off the top of a round loaf of bread; carefully hollow out bottom, leaving a 1-inch shell. Cube removed bread. Spoon cheese dip into bread shell. Serve with bread cubes.
Source: Johnsonville
A Winning Spread for the Big Game
(Family Features) Big-game watch parties call for big-game snacks, but that doesn’t have to mean complicated recipes or hours spent in the kitchen. Small bites and hearty dips made with real ingredients can be easy to prepare, and make an impressive spread that guests can enjoy from opening kickoff to the final whistle.
To avoid the classic snacking fumble of having your guests’ chips crumbling in your dips, choose an option like Garden of Eatin’ Blue Tortilla Chips, the mother of all chips, made with organic whole blue corn kernels that are stone ground to perfection for thick, tasty and hearty chips that stand up to any dip.
To prepare for fellow viewers with other lifestyle or dietary needs, plan to offer snacks and dips that satisfy even the most finicky of fans. Prepare a double serving of guacamole and split it in two. Keep one as-is for an easy and healthy vegan option, and make BLT Guacamole with the rest.
Serve with Garden of Eatin’ Grain Free Cassava Chips, which are made with organic cassava, sunflower and chia seeds. Crafted to perfection, these gluten-free, grain-free, vegan, paleo-approved chips provide a tasty touchdown for the whole team.
If you’re looking to bring the heat with bold taste and just enough spice in each bite, go for a warm option like Tex-Mex Enchilada Queso. To save time, you can assemble it a few hours before kickoff or even a day ahead of the game then bake just prior to guests arriving. An easy way to make this recipe stretch is to make a portion without meat so you have a vegetarian option as well.
Find more recipes to bring victory to your game-day spread at gardenofeatin.com.
BLT Guacamole
Recipe courtesy of Gaby Dalkin of What’s Gaby Cooking
- 3 strips bacon
- 3 avocados, seeds removed
- 2 baby romaine lettuce leaves, halved and shredded
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
- kosher salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- Garden of Eatin’ Grain-Free Cassava Chips
- Cook bacon according to package instructions. Drain on paper towel and break into small pieces.
- In medium bowl, roughly mash avocado. Add lettuce, onion, tomato and bacon. Stir lime juice, lemon juice, cilantro and chives into avocado. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve with tortilla chips.
Tex-Mex Enchilada Queso
Recipe courtesy of Gaby Dalkin of What’s Gaby Cooking
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon ground chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 can (10 ounces) green enchilada sauce
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes in green chilies, drained
- 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
- 1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken
- chopped fresh cilantro
- chopped green onions
- Garden of Eatin’ Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, for serving
- Heat oven to 400° F.
- Lightly coat deep, 9-inch skillet with cooking spray.
- In large bowl, using hand mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese, sour cream, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and salt until smooth and well combined. Reduce speed to low then beat in enchilada sauce until incorporated. Stir in beans, tomatoes, corn, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and shredded chicken.
- Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Top with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake 25-30 minutes until dip is hot and cheese is bubbly. Sprinkle with cilantro and green onions.
- Serve warm with tortilla chips.
Source: Garden of Eatin’
Add a Tex-Mex Favorite to Your Menu
(Family Features) A tortilla plus a tasty filling makes a household favorite – a taco. This simple, casual, versatile, fun food knows no boundaries. Tacos can be right for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even snacks and dessert, depending on the filling.
For tacos with a unique, delicious twist on tradition, try these Chicken Soft Tacos with Pickled Beet Salsa that are ready in 30 minutes. The antioxidant-rich Aunt Nellie’s Pickled Beets lend color, as well as a refreshing sweet-tangy flavor that’s complementary to the lime juice, cilantro and red onion in the salsa. This sassy salsa is a perfect partner for rotisserie, roasted or grilled chicken, arugula and a dollop of jalapeno mustard-sour cream sauce nestled inside a soft flour tortilla.
For your taco fiesta, just set out the tortillas, salsa and other toppings and let everyone help themselves to a fun and delicious dinner.
For other versatile recipes, visit AuntNellies.com.
Chicken Soft Tacos with Pickled Beet Salsa
Prep time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Salsa:
- 1 jar (16 ounces) Aunt Nellie’s Baby Whole Pickled Beets
- 2 tablespoons chopped red onion
- 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Tacos:
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon jalapeno mustard
- 4 soft flour tortillas (6-inch diameter)
- 2 cups fresh arugula
- 2 cups chopped cooked rotisserie chicken (hot or cold)
- 1/4 cup crumbled queso fresco
- To make salsa: drain beets and chop. In medium bowl, combine beets, onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper.
- To make tacos: In small bowl, stir together sour cream and mustard; set aside.
- On one half of each tortilla, place equal amounts of salsa, arugula, chicken and cheese. Top with dollops of mustard-sour cream. Fold over.
Substitution: Sliced pickled beets or three single-serve cups of Aunt Nellie’s Diced Pickled Beets may be substituted for baby whole pickled beets.
Nutritional information per serving: 380 calories; 20 g protein; 28 g carbohydrates; 20 g total fat; 650 mg sodium; 80 mg cholesterol; 1 g dietary fiber; 2 mg iron; 0.15 mg thiamin;
460 IU vitamin A; 4 mg vitamin C.
Source: Aunt Nellie's