Now that Halloween is over, we can set our sights for the next holiday, Thanksgiving, and we should be truly grateful for the abundance of fresh produce that is coming to our fresh markets. I have a great many favorite, old family recipes, as I am sure that you have, but recently a little more emphasis on healthy eating has me finding some new favorites by a few savvy substitutions. The flavor is still there, in fact, you will taste more of the healthy ingredients, rather than just the sugar and fat. Using egg whites rather than whole eggs skinnies up a lot of recipes. Substitute apple puree for up to one half of the fat in cake recipes. Use vegetable purees instead of cornstarch to thicken soups.
For a quick, healthy soup, I saute garlic, onions, bell peppers in olive oil, then add cut up Roma tomatoes, fresh chopped zucchini, yellow squash, a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste, or marinara, and whatever leftovers I might have in the frig, simmer about 30 minutes, put in bowl with a little low-fat cheese and some tortillas strips. A nice hot meal for tonight and leftovers for tomorrow. Try roasting a winter squash (butternut, acorn), then adding the flesh to the soup. I also roast eggplant and add to the soup for a more traditional ratatouille. My new favorites in winter squash are green buttercup, delicato, and sweet dumpling.
This is the season for satsumas from South Alabama. These little gems are arriving in fresh markets now. "The kid glove fruit" is an easy to peel, sweet, practically seedless Mandarin orange. The peek time is from late October through December. These are great additions to fruit bowls and make great gift boxes, too. Try making a salad with satsumas, goat cheese, walnuts, butter head lettuce and a blackberry walnut vinaigrette...so delicious and healthy. These satsumas are ripe even though the rinds may still be green. Also, look for Japanese "non astringent" persimmons and pomegranates this season...another reason to be thankful.
Sweet potatoes are another seasonal vegetable that is now at its best. Below is a healthier version of a Thanksgiving staple:
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet Potatoes
3 cups peeled cooked fresh sweet potatoes
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup fat-free egg product
1/4 cup fat-free milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Topping
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon no-trans-fat 68 percent vegetables oil spread, melted
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1. Heat over to 350 degrees F. Spray 1 1/2-quart casserole with cooking spray.
2. In large bowl, mash sweet potatoes. Stir in granulated sugar, salt, egg product, milk
and vanilla; spoon into casserole.
3. In small bowl, mix all topping ingredients except pecans until well blended. Stir in pecans.
Sprinkle over sweet potato mixture.
4. Bake uncovered 35 to 40 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
Fresh apples are coming into our area fresh markets from North Georgia and Alabama. The taste and texture of each variety is so different and so delicious. I have recently enjoyed Arkansas Black, Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, King Lush, Mutsu, Winesap, Rome, Fuji and Gala. I found a recipe that combines the tart fresh cranberry with the sweet fresh apple that makes a good accompaniment to pork or turkey and vanilla ice cream. You can store in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. Or freeze for up to a year.
Cranberry Applesauce
3 to 4 pounds of peeled, cored, roughly chopped apples
1 1/2 cups to 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1. Place all of the ingredients in a large (5-quart) pot. Bring to a boil, lower heat to a simmer
and cover. Cook 20-30 minutes, or until the apples can easily be mashed.
2. Remove from heat. Mash the apples and cranberries with a potato masher to the
consistency you want.
Makes 1 1/2 to 2 quarts.
I hope that you will share your favorite Thanksgiving recipes here and more, I hope that you have a great holiday season. Until the next time,
Thank you,
Ginger
