Holiday Meal Makeovers

Can you believe there is a recipes using butterscotch that is healthier so you enjoy some without feeling a heavy sugar guilt trip?  Apple Butternut Squares was shared by Liz Weiss, one of the Meal Makeover Moms. That's not all.  From garlic shrimp to meatloaf to veggie lasagna, both Liz and Kathy Siegel (Nutritiion Babes) made over lots of recipes you will want to serve your family and friends while entertaining, or just dining at home!  LISTEN  for more!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

P.S. In case you missed it, here's the recipe link for Apple Butternut Squares: http://mealmakeovermoms.com/recipes/snacks-smoothies/apple-butterscotch-cake 

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Met Chef Paul Prudhomme!!!

Our kitchen cupboard always has some seasonings from Chef Paul Prudhomme in it… easy way to spruce of a meal.  Thus I see his cheerful face on his jars weekly.  Imagine how delighted I was to see Chef Paul last week at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo.  Truth is, I was sad to see his him sitting in an electric wheel chair – hard work and being an excellent chef has caught up with him.  However, his warm smile shown through as he stirred the creation made for us to taste.  The good news is that he and his tall lovely wife have come out with a new line of low sodium seasonings.  Look for them in the stores.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

 

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Fresh Apples. There’s a bazillion ways to eat them.

   

Fresh Apples are everywhere!  Organic ones are easy to find.  You may be in the enviable position of having an apple orchard near you so you can take you family to pick your own.  Or, at least go to local market. While in season, stock up.  My two young apple trees were not very productive this year.  I'll have to give them an organic fertilizer boost to improve their harvest next year. 

I love apples.  Every afternoon I bite into a crisp apple to satisfy my desire for sweet and give myself an energy upper. And, its natural fluoride helps keep my teeth clean and healthy!

Apples are delicious!  Serve them raw for mouth watering fresh bites, dehydrate or freeze them with a little lemon juice for winter use, make applesauce, pies, tarts and crisps, use them as toppings on pancakes or waffles, put chunks or shavings into salads, fill or coat acorn or other squashes with an apple mix, and cook them with meats.  Healthier Recipe Mom, Shonda, created this Apple & Veggie Stix Stuffed Chicken scrumptious meal. The Kid Kritics were amazing that their chicken was so moist and had a touch of sweet. They loved, loved, loved it!  Your family will too. Try it!

… for the health of families,
ellen

 

 

 

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Where have I been?

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Traveling to celebrate our 25th anniversary! Yes, I have been traveling a lot mostly for pleasure though when I am around food, I am always working… and I was around lots of great food. While touring Israel, I was surrounded by fields and valleys filled with banana, date, olive, pomegranate, peach, nectarine, plum, nut, and citrus trees. Rows of lettuces, herbs, corn, beets, beans, garlic… you name it, were abundant. Grain fields had just been harvested. This country knows how to make every inch of the earth and every drop or water count to produce food!

Consequently we ate fruit and vegetables for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner! Tons of mouth-watering alkaline food. Hummus was a daily side at dinner. Cheese and meat were also fresh and delicious but less was served so less we ate. Fresh fish was more often offered as a main entree so we enjoyed some. As a result, we never felt or slept better! In Spain, we continued to enjoy fresh produce with each meal. The portions were small and yet we felt full thanks to their fiber based delicious dishes, especially tapas!

By the time we arrived back in the states, we were hooked on the benefits of eating more alkaline and less acid-based foods. We no longer have meat everyday. More beans please! We crave lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Now we go to the market more frequently to buy what we don't have growing in our little garden and pots. Our food bill is lower and as is our weight. We actually lost pounds on our trips and are determined to keep them off. We invite you to do the same. We invite you to fill you meals with colorful fruits and vegetables. Kids living around the Mediterranean eat these foods; serve them to yours!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

P.S. I asked if Israel has an overweight or obesity problem with children.  The answer was,  "No."  What I witnessed confirms this. 

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4th of July Hot Dog Bun Sub Recipe

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If you are not a hot dog fan but love the buns, make this recipe!  "Amazing… Best in the whole entire universe…I taste a bunch of flavors floating in my mouth… Thought it was a delicious masterpiece… Crunchy bacon with soft bread – it was a great combination… I just loved it!"  The plus of a hot dog bun is its size… not too big, not too small – just right for kids.  You may want to warm it on a grill for a few minutes… take a look CLICK HERE

                              KidKriticEatingHotDogBunSub  KidKriticEatingHotDogBunSub,Boy

… for the health of your family,
ellen

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Recipe. Egg Salad Kids Love!

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Trick to making egg salad… chop everything finely, especially the hard boiled eggs. Make it a bit mushy.  We spread it between two rice crackers.  The kids couldn't get enough!  "More,  seconds, PLEASEEEEEE…. I like it a lot… Yes, I loved it – it is a crunchy delight… It was Egg-squisite!"  The added taste touch of Parmesan cheese steps this up to the rank of a favorite food.  What a great way to get you kids to eat eggs, the perfect brain food!  CLICK HERE for RECIPE

        KidKriticsCooking,EggSalad   KidKriticsEggSaladKidsLove

Invite your kids to help you make it.  Bet half  is gone before you serve it.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

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Recipe. Veggie Stix Salmon Cakes – out of this world!

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How clever of this Healthier Recipe Mom, Shonda – she used the new Veggie Stix with their retained nutrients from seven vegetables (broccoli, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, beets, potatoes, shitake mushrooms) to create this kid friendly nutrient power- packed recipe.  CLICK HERE.  If you question whether kids will like them… here's your answer (photos below)!

KidKriticEatingSalmonVeggieCakes KidKriticEatingSalmonVeggieCakes,boy

Yes, they ate the broccoli, tomatoes and carrots, too! Their mom put each cake into a roll for eye and texture appeal.  It worked!  Try it and let us know if your kids loved these salmon cakes as much as these kids did.

… for the health of families,
ellen

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Recipe. No Fry Chicken Nuggets

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These No Fry Chicken Nuggets are better than the best! So easy.  Key: buy taste chicken breasts from naturally raised chickens.  Cut them into nuggets sizes, sprinkle both sides with paprika, dip them in egg and then into a bag of  a crumbled crackers (used Annie’s Buttery Rich) mix with a little olive oil. Bake and Voila! Make a lot because you kids will be popping and chewing as many as they can. Recipe

Recipe creator, Healthier Recipe Mom, Shonda, said, “The chicken came out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The subtle buttery taste of the crackers added a nice flavor. My daughter LOVED them! We will definitely make these again!”

… for the health of your family,
ellen

New Sweepstakes Prize: win a Case of Sugar Free Coconut Cookies by Joseph’s Lite Cookies.  If you are going to eat sugar-free cookies, we recommend Joseph’s as he uses a proprietary sweetener formula.  www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes.  Enter more than once to up the odds!

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Recipe. Gluten Free Trail Mix

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Yummy trail mix you can personalize to your own family's preferences … plus it is gluten free! Try it!  RECIPE

Thank you Rebecca (Healthier Recipe Mom of two) for creating this crunchy breakfast, lunch and snack filler solution.

… for the health of your family,
ellen

New Prize!  This week win a case of Gluten Free Mini Pretzels by Snyder's of Hanover. www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes

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Recipe. Mac & Cheese Muffins

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Mac & Cheese Muffins – what a great idea! "It was a fun way to eat Mac and Cheese. We had it for lunch but you can take it on the go for a picnic or as a snack!"(Fernanda, mother of 2)  This Healthier Recipe Mom was creative.  I've made them.  Super easy.  Kid Kritics comments: "Too good to be true. Gooder than real mac and cheese. Extraordinary. Supreme adventure!"  For recipe, CLICK HERE. Ask your kids to make them!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

NEW PRIZE!  Win a case of Organic Bunny Classics Buttery Rich Crackers by Annie's Homegrown. www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes

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