The holiday season is officially here! I share some festive, recipes and meal ideas for your healthier holiday gatherings on CBS KLAS-TV Las Vegas NOW!
Pair protein with produce for your holiday apps
Pairing protein with produce is the perfect snacking starter to a holiday meal that won’t ruin your appetite and tastes even better than it looks. Get creative with different fresh produce options like grapes, figs and apple slices. Next add protein – I’m adding pecans, crunchy chickpeas & three types of Wisconsin Cheeses. Wisconsin is The State of Cheese; they win more awards for their cheese than anywhere else in the world. Cheese is an excellent source of calcium important for bone health. You can find perfect cheese pairings and recipe inspiration at WisconsinCheese.com.
Serve up your veggies
Next, every holiday menu needs veggie dishes. Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, and acorn squash are all in season and great for roasting. In season produce typically tastes the best, is most nutritious and affordable. I am tossing with the Veri Brand Cooking Oil which is a professional-grade cooking oil with a high smoke point specially designed for high-heat cooking. It has 10 grams of omega-9 fatty acids per serving*, and is Non-GMO certified. You can find it exclusively at VeriCookingOil.com. It also has a neutral flavor profile so it allows the flavors your veggies and seasonings to shine through.
Serve up festive sides
Next I have a festive side or meal to enjoy with your Thanksgiving leftovers. This is a fall wild rice dish made with dried cranberries, pecans, in-season veggies, turkey and the Lundberg Family Farms Organic Wild Blend Rice that mixes the rich and full-bodied savory flavors of black, brown, red and wild rice. This rice blend is a classic for holiday dishes, both beautiful and versatile adding a gourmet look. Simply toss together with your rice with cranberries, pecans, green beans and turkey.
Serve single-serve customizable desserts with benefits
Finally I have a better-for-dessert that’s customizable and single serve. These are 6-ingredient quark crisps in blueberry, strawberry and apple topped with Wunder Creamery Quark. This European-style cultured dairy stale has a non-tart flavor with buttery notes, a thick creamy texture and is high in protein, calcium and probiotics which are beneficial bacteria that support digestion and immune health. It’s made with grass-fed whole milk from family farms and has no artificial ingredients. To make, simply add your fruit of choice to a pre-greased oven-safe skillet and bake for 10 minutes at 350 F. In a large mixing bowl, mix together ¼ cup of blanched almond flour, 1 tsp of cinnamon,1 tbsp of maple syrup and 1 tbsp of oil. Crumble on top of your fruit and bake for another 10 minutes then top with Wunder Creamery quark.
