Tag Archives: recipes

15 easy (and healthy) recipes for cold weather

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Food, Health, How-To's, Senior Living,
Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living


By Vista Springs Assisted Living


As the weather starts to cool down, it’s time to start looking for ways to keep warm. While cozy blankets and cranking up the heat can help, so will having hot food. At the same time, it’s important to keep your health in mind and remember that as you age it’s not as easy as it once was to whip up complicated meals. 


Having recipes in hand that are hot, healthy, and easy to prepare can make a big difference when it comes to planning out your meals and shopping trips. Take a look at these fifteen different dishes from Good Housekeeping and Delish that meet all these criteria—and taste amazing as well! 

Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

Satisfying chicken dishes

1. Light Chicken Parmesan⼁Cook Time: 25 minutes

This light take on a classic Italian dish can be prepared in under a half hour and will meet your cravings without packing on calories the same way a heavier, traditional Chicken Parmesan would.

Get the recipe here.

2. Lemon Pepper Baked Chicken⼁Cook Time: 30 minutes

Both flavorful and healthy, this baked chicken can be paired with some roasted fall vegetables for a full meal that chases the cold away!

Get the recipe here.

3. Healthy Chicken Casserole⼁Cook Time: 1 hour

Casseroles are a great way to make a delicious meal without having to spend a long time in front of the stove—just combine the ingredients and bake! This dish features healthy grains like wild rice and great vegetables like brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. 

Get the recipe here.

4. Apple Cider Glazed Chicken⼁Cook Time: 35 minutes

What better way to celebrate fall than with a recipe featuring everyone’s favorite autumn drink, apple cider! This sweeter take on chicken will help you get into the fall spirit while ensuring you keep eating healthy at the same time. 

Get the recipe here.

Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

Soups, stews, & chilis

5. Savory Pumpkin & Sage Soup⼁Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Nothing else can warm you up and satisfy your taste buds the way good soup will! This pumpkin soup is simple, but the sage and mushroom garnish will make you feel like a professional chef.

Get the recipe here.

6. Easy Black Bean Soup⼁Cook Time: 35 minutes

This flavorful soup combines black beans, red onion, and jalapeño to make a deliciously spicy dish that will make you forget about the chilly weather, all while taking only a half hour to make. 

Get the recipe here.

7. Cauliflower Soup⼁Cook Time: 30 minutes

Cauliflower is a great versatile food that can hold a lot of flavor. This simple soup only uses a few ingredients, but the outcome is so hearty and healthy that you wouldn’t believe it was so easy to put together. 

Get the recipe here.

8. Roasted Butternut Squash Soup⼁Cook Time: 40 minutes

When it comes to fall food, butternut squash soup is a classic. This soup doesn’t take long to make, but it will impress anyone you share it with.

Get the recipe here.

9. Butternut Squash & White Bean Soup⼁Cook Time: 45 minutes

If you love butternut squash soup but want to add a little more, then try this variation. With white beans and chickpeas, this take on the original adds some extra heartiness and flavor. 

Get the recipe here. 

10. Chicken Pumpkin Stew⼁Cook Time: 40 minutes

This healthy stew uses plenty of fresh vegetables like pumpkin, red pepper, and green beans to satisfy both you health needs and your taste buds.

Get the recipe here. 

11. Turkey Slow Cooker Chili⼁Cook Time: 4 hours 20 minutes

Don’t let the long cook time scare you away! This meal only requires about 20 minutes of prep, and the rest takes care of itself in a slow-cooker. Start it in the morning and have a delicious meal ready for dinner!

Get the recipe here. 

Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

Recipes featuring fall veggies

12. Spaghetti Squash Alfredo⼁Cook Time: 35 minutes

Cut back on carbs normally found in pasta with this spaghetti squash substitution. Spaghetti squash is easy to prepare and can help you get your favorite flavors in a healthier way.

Get the recipe here.

13. Spaghetti Squash Pizza Boats⼁Cook Time: 55 minutes

Another recipe featuring spaghetti squash, this cheesy dish has all the makings of a great pizza without the empty calories. Warm and tasty, this meal will fill you up in the same amount of time it would take to get delivery.

Get the recipe here. 

14. Cauliflower & Broccoli Carbonara⼁Cook Time: 20 minutes

This cauliflower and broccoli dish is a great way to get the recommended helping of vegetables while making a recipe for the cold weather in only 20 minutes.  

Get the recipe here. 

15. Cheesy Bacon Butternut Squash⼁Cook Time: 45 minutes

Cheese, bacon, and butternut squash? Whether you use this as a side dish for a family meal or make it by itself, this recipe has it all! 


Get the recipe here. 


Being able to make simple, healthy meals that taste great is a useful skill, especially as you continue to age. Cooking shouldn’t be an all-day task, and it’s important to find foods that aren’t just delicious, but provide additional benefits for you and your health as well. Try these dishes out and stay warm and healthy all year long!


Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.



Tips on how to store, cook & prepare sweet potatoes

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Food, Holidays, Local Food, , ,

Just in the nick of time for the holidays

sweet-potatoes-mThe sweet potato — a perennial holiday meal favorite — is one of only a few cultivated vegetable crops with origins in the Americas. Traced back to 8000 B.C. Peru, it’s neither a potato nor a yam but a rooted tuber and member of the morning glory family.

Prep
To prepare sweet potatoes, simply scrub the skin clean using a vegetable brush and running water to remove any dirt and grime. Then cut away any damaged areas.

Store
Store sweet potatoes in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place for up to several weeks. Do not store in plastic or refrigerate. Temperatures below 50 degrees will cause off-flavors, and excess moisture will encourage sweet potatoes to rot or sprout prematurely. Resist the urge: Do not scrub clean or wash until just before preparation.

Cook
Sweet potatoes taste great baked, boiled, steamed, grilled or mashed.

Interested in trying new sweet potato recipes?
Highlighted this week: roasted pumpkin and sweet potato pilau, crispy sweet potato wedges, curried sweet potato apple soup and honey-roasted sweet potatoes with honey-cinnamon dip. Below is the recipe for Extra-crispy Sweet Potato Wedges. Get the other recipes.

Extra Crispy Sweet Potato Wedges

Ingredients

  • 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled (or unpeeled, if you like skin) and cut into wedges
  • 2-½ tablespoons olive oil
  • 1-½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with tinfoil (shiny side up); place baking rack onto prepared baking sheet; set aside. Peel the sweet potatoes (if preferred) and cut off the pointy ends. Slice the sweet potatoes in half (lengthwise), then cut each piece into wedges. Place the sweet potato wedges in a large bowl, then add in the olive oil, salt, sugar, seasoning, and black pepper.

Mix well, making sure each wedge is coated with oil and spices. Arrange the sweet potato wedges in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, then turn on the broiler and bake for another 3-5 minutes, or until they’re well browned and crispy. Keep an eye here – it’s easy to burn when the broiler is on! Cool wedges on pan for 5 minutes, then serve at once.

cropped-wmggadm_logorgb1Recipe courtesy of Baker by Nature

SCA: Gear up for the holidays with time-saving recipes, Nov. 9

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Food, Upcoming Events, , ,

wine-tasting-scaJoin Mike Gustaitis of Wine Sellars of Saugatuck and Chef Doug Rempel as they help you gear up for the holidays with delicious time-saving recipes and the perfect wine pairings. This event happens at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts (SCA) (400 Culver Street) on Nov. 9 from 7-8:30 pm.

 

Tickets are $35 and space is limited. For more information please visit sc4a.org or call 269.857.2399.

 

Those attending this event will have the opportunity to sample four holiday-inspired small plates that can be prepared in advance for a dinner party so you can spend time with your guests, not in the kitchen.

 

Mike Gustaitis is an accomplished Advanced Sommelier with extensive knowledge of wine from various wine-producing regions including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and the USA.

 

Doug Rempel has been cooking for more than 30 years, entertaining clients, family and friends with his unique recipes and inspired flavors.

 

Mike and Doug will work together to pair each small plate with the perfect red or white wine for a combination that will have your taste buds smiling.