Turkey and Fresh Holiday Ideas

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Easy Solutions: Meal Planning, Grocery Shopping, Simple Home Cooking

Seasoning your Thanksgiving turkey is easy and luscious with herbs and spices. One option is to sprinkle the turkey lightly with canola or olive oil and then shake on dry poultry seasoning. Another option is to make a mixture of fresh chopped Rosemary, basil, garlic and cracked black pepper in about 1/4 cup olive oil and rub it all over the turkey. Your kitchen will smell really good as your bird roasts. Now, here’s a few more tidbits about using herbs and spices in your healthy kitchen.

Need a Simple Flavor Boost? Try Dried Spices & Herbs!

Easy Additions

Let’s face – bland food is not very exciting for anyone. The good news is that a simple sprinkle can make things better. In fact, dried spices and herbs can add fabulous flavor and great nutrition to your favorite dishes.

Flavors to Try

Being adventurous with food is a great approach for everyone. Here are a few shake-on options to sample:

1. Ground cinnamon goes deliciously with hot or cold cereal or a baked sweet potato. Sprinkle it on.

2. Ground cumin jazzes up a breakfast egg and cheese burrito or a lightly buttered ear of corn-on-the-cob. Sprinkle and enjoy.

3. Basil and/or oregano boosts flavors of pita bread pizza or mixed bean salad or soup. Sprinkle away.

Nutritional Benefits

While boosting flavors of your favorite foods, dried spices and herbs have a hidden nutritional surprise – antioxidants for good health! This is a powerful reason to stock your spice/herb cabinet and make them a part of every day.

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Seasonal Choice

Eat Seasonally: Turkey!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and, for many of us, turkey is the feature of the feast! Roasting a whole turkey is easy to do if you have a large roasting pan, some favorite rub spices and/or herbs and a meat thermometer to test for doneness.

Check out these step-by-step instructions for roasting a whole turkey and, remember, eating a moderate portion of turkey without skin is a nutritious start to any meal or holiday feast. Then, decorate your meal table with light side dishes that are flavorful, colorful and full of good nutrition.

Using Up Leftover Turkey

If you planned ahead for turkey leftovers, then you have a delicious week to enjoy after Thanksgiving. Try one of these:

Crispy Turkey Tostadas
Turkey-Broccoli Bake
Roast Turkey Panini

 

Easy Recipe: Meal Sides for Holiday Success!

Roasted Rainbow Vegetables

This recipe offers sweet flavors of healthy veggies!

Makes 6 servings

2 mediumSweet potatoes, washed, skin left on
1 mediumOnion, any kind
2 mediumYellow squash or zucchini squash, or one of each
2 tablespoonsOlive oil
PinchSalt
Pinch Pepper

1. Wash all vegetables. Peel off outer skin of onion.
2. Preheat conventional oven to 425 degrees.
3. With a cutting board and knife, cut up vegetables into bite-size chunks. The onion may be cut in half and then sliced.
4. Place cut vegetables into a large bowl, add oil, salt and pepper. Stir so that everything becomes coated.
5. Scatter vegetables in a large baking pan or cookie sheet with sides, about 17 x 11 inches. Spread out in one layer.
6. Cook for 15 minutes. Using a spatula, turn over vegetables.
7. Cook another 10-15 minutes, until tender when poked with a fork. Do not overcook or veggies may become mushy.

Nutrition per serving: 90 calories; 4.5 gm fat; 0.5 gm saturated fat; 0 trans fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 40 mg sodium; 12 gm carbohydrates; 2 gm fiber; 2 gm protein

Raw Carrots with Salsa

This recipe makes a crunchy & light holiday appetizer for all ages!

Makes 6 servings

3 long, 8-10 inchesCarrots

1 cupSalsa, homemade or from a jar

1. Wash and peel carrots.
2. With a cutting board and knife, cut carrots into sticks – about 3 inches long.
3. Spoon salsa into a small serving bowl.

Note: This recipe is a great opportunity to teach kids to use a vegetable peeler!

Nutrition per serving: 25 calories; 0 gm fat; 0 gm saturated fat; 0 trans fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 250 mg sodium; 6 gm carbohydrates; 2 gm fiber; <1 gm protein

 

Need More Easy & Nutritious Sides? Take a look at what Market Basket Nutrition has to offer. There are e-books currently available: Tasty Menus; Tasty Recipes: Tasty Sides. One or more of these handy and affordable kitchen resources may become your “go-to” solution(s).

 

Handy Online Resource

Butterball.com is an amazing resource for planning, purchasing, thawing, cooking and using up your holiday turkey. A smart planner begins preparations at least 2 weeks before Thanksgiving – really. Check out this planning helper for a more calm and organized feast at your home. Also, don’t miss the how-to videos and ways to get kids involved in the holiday fun.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Reply to Cindy@MarketBasketNutrition.com

 

Market Basket Nutrition, 1834 Wake Forest Road, Box 28214, Winston Salem, NC 27109