topic Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021 in AARP Rewards Connect

AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

AARPTeri — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 14:08:02 GMT

Hello and welcome to the AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021. To enter, reply to this post with a recipe that gives a healthy twist to the Thanksgiving dinner! Share your favorite dishes served at Thanksgiving including how to make it a little healthier. Our contest will be open for participation on Monday, November 15, 2021 through Sunday, November 28, 2021.

Sharing your recipe enters you in for a chance to win one of five $50 gift cards along with 50 AARP Rewards Points just for posting! A panel of judges appointed by AARP will select the top recipes.

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

JH26257 — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 16:50:58 GMT

ROASTED CORN & EDAMAME (soy bean) SIDE DISH

Replace a traditional high calorie, high fat creamed corn or green bean salad with this beautiful brightly colored, healthy and flavorful side dish!! All of the flavors of fall and Thanksgiving with roasted corn, edamame, cranberries and sun dried tomatoes. Delicious served hot or cold and can be made with drained canned corn or frozen. Corn does not have to be roasted and you can substitute fresh tomatoes for sun dried.

Makes 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

3 cups frozen corn

3 cups frozen edamame beans (out of shell)

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil (plus 2 teaspoons for roasting the corn kernels)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon white rice vinegar (can substitute any white vinegar)

2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning

1 teaspoon Onion Salt

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon Paprika

finely ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Step 1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Step 2 Place the corn kernals in a bowl and toss with 2 tsp olive oil. Spread them out on a baking sheet and roast in the over for 25 minutes, or until they are lightly browned, turning them once at the halfway point.

Step 3 While the corn is roasting prepare the liquid mixture by wisking together in a small bowl the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, and all the seasonings. Stir until well blended and set aside.

Step 4 Cook the endamame beans in a large pot of boiling water for 3-5 minutes, until soft and tender and then set aside until the corn is done. When the corn is out of the oven, thoroughly drain the beans and stir in the cranberries, sun dried tomatoes, and corn and then toss with the liquid mixture.

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

lp6859 — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 00:41:01 GMT

Green Bean Casserole...

Such easy, delicious swaps for everybody's favorite Thanksgiving side!

Old recipe:

4 c. green beans
1/2 cups milk SWAP: 3/4 c. plain, fat-free yogurt
1 tsp soy sauce
1 can cream of mushroom soup SWAP: 1 can fat-free cream of mushroom soup
1 1/3 french fried onion rings SWAP: Cut in half

Heat the oven to 350°F. Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, beans and 1/3 cup onions in a 1 1/2-quart casserole. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

Bake for 25 minutes or until hot. Stir the bean mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining onions.

Bake for another 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.

Note* If you are watching salt, simply eliminate the soy sauce amd use salt-free or low-sodium soup. You'll never miss a thing!

Linda Packer

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

RogerandCyndy — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 01:37:45 GMT

Candied Yams (or sweet potatoes)
Ingredients:
3 - 4 yams (about 5"- 6" long x 3" wide), Peeled and chopped into chunks.
1 stick of butter
½ cup brown sugar
12 oz bag of Cranberries (rinsed, sorted and coarsely chopped)
1 bag Mini Marshmallows
1 cup Walnuts, chopped (optional)

In lightly salted water, boil yams until tender and drain.
Mash yams with ½ stick of butter
Add brown sugar and cranberries and mix well
Add chopped walnuts, if desired
Transfer to a buttered 9 x 9 inch baking dish and smooth out
Dot with bits of the remaining butter
Evenly cover the top with the mini marshmallows

Bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes or until the marshmallows are browned.
Enjoy!

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

want2dance — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 04:35:18 GMT

Replace high sugar ingredients with low or sugar free versions.

Cranberry Salad

2 boxes of cranberry or raspberry sugarfree jello

1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce, well drained

1 can of juice only crushed pineapple, well drained

1 C chopped pecans

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

2Papa — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 06:44:02 GMT

Leave the bacon out of the stuffing!

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

ELew0011 — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 09:50:57 GMT

Side dish: Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:

6 slices center-cut bacon, chopped

1/2 cup sliced shallot

1 1/2 lb. Brussels sprouts trimmed and halved

6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

3/4 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

How to make this recipe:

Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon, and saute for 5 minutes or until bacon begins to brown. Remove pan from heat. Remove the bacon from pan with slotted spoon, reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings in pan and discard remaining dripping.

Return pan to medium-high heat, and stir in bacon, shallot, and Brussels sprouts; saute 4 minutes. Add garlic, and saute for 4 minutes or until garlic begins to brown, stirring frequently. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes or until the broth mostly evaporates and the sprouts are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in salt and pepper.

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

ek5783 — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 11:20:33 GMT

Grandma’s Sausage Stuffing

2 16oz packages of Savory Sage roll sausage

3 - eggs

1 large onion finely chopped

3 large apples pealed and cored and chopped into small pieces

2 bags of Herb seasoned cubed stuffing

2 pounds of thick cut bacon

Thyme

24 oz Chicken broth

1 teaspoon powdered garlic

1 teaspoon Lemon Pepper seasoning

Brown the sausage in a large frying pan and put in large bowl. Sautee the onion until transparent and place in the bowl also. Cut 1 lb of bacon into small pieces and fry so they are crisp, drain and place in the bowl. Add the chopped apples to the same bowl. Add one bag of the cubed stuffing. Add the eggs and about half of the Chicken broth. Add the garlic powder and Lemon Pepper seasoning and begin to mix. The best way to combine all ingredients is with your hands. You can add more broth and cubed stuffing until you reach the desired consistency which should be similar to a meat loaf. Now add the Thyme and mix again. You will have added enough Thyme when after mixed completely you can smell it.

Place in a foil baking pan and add bacon strips to the top. Place foil on top of the pan and bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes. Then broil for about 10 minutes or until bacon strips on top of stuffing are fully cooked.

Submitted by Ed Kiesling edkiesling@gmail.com

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

as94533113 — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 14:40:04 GMT

My mom used to served canned, Jellied Cranberry Sauce which I subsequently hated and would not eat. I now make fresh cranberry relish which my family devours.

1 package of fresh cranberries

1 navel orange cut in eighths

1 apple, cored and cut in eighths

1 pear, cored and cut in eighths

sugar to taste

Whirl all fresh fruits in food processor until desired consistency and add sugar to taste. I usually make this the night before so all flavors can blend better. Enjoy!

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

JamesP152523 — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 15:06:43 GMT

Whip cream only on the pecan pie, no ice cream. 😉

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

GlindaR80744 — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 19:01:03 GMT

I like to serve a relish tray with veggies like broccoli, carrots, celery, olives, sugar peas, boiled eggs and the like to help with the sugar and fat content in other foods. This dish also looks colorful, is easy to make, and is filling.

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

MarilynC866613 — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 03:16:20 GMT

CONGEALED CHERRY SALAD (or dessert)

I've made this recipe every Thanksgiving since the early 1970's. Family and friends love it and don't realize it's a lower calorie, healthier version.

Ingredients:

-1 large (12oz) sugar free pkg cherry or strawberry jello

-1 large (8oz) pkg Neufchatel cheese or low fat cream cheese

-1 can dark sweet cherries (about 15 oz) drained but save juice

-1 small can well-drained crushed pineapple in 100% pineapple juice

-1 small can drained tangerine oranges no sugar added

-3/4 cup chopped pecans

-6oz diet coke

Boil saved cherry juice (about a cup) and 3/4 cup water together in a small saucepan. Pour hot liquid into a 2-quart casserole-type dish and dissolve jello in the liquid. Add 1/2 pkg of cream cheese and use fork to break up and blend small pieces in liquid.

Add and mix in drained pineapple, mandarin oranges, and cherries. Add 1/2 cup pecans and coke. Blend well. Refrigerate until jelled. When ready to serve, spread the other half of cream cheese softened to room temp on top. Sprinkle remaining pecans on top of cream cheese.

Serve and enjoy!

Marilyn Carleton

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

PamelaB359838 — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 03:54:28 GMT

For gluten-free, dairy-free mashed potatoes and gravy, use the potato water from the boiled potatoes. Boil potatoes until soft, drain reserving the potato water. Use potato water instead of milk or butter to moisten the potatoes for mashing. To make gravy, add flour and seasonings to the potato water and blend well. Add the mixture to hot drippings for gravy.

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

Dakotalady401 — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 18:00:24 GMT

We have a small family and it seems like so many holiday recipes make way too much food for our needs. This dessert fits the bill and can simmer away in the crockpot while the cook focuses on the rest of the meal! Eliminating heavy cream and replacing half the sugar with Splenda helps bring down the fat and calorie content.

HEALTH(IER) SLOW COOKER PUMPKIN CREME BRULEE FOR TWO

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 large egg white

1/4 cup lowfat milk + 1/2 cup half and half, mixed together

4 tablespoons pumpkin puree

2 tablespoons Splenda + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, mixed together

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Hot water

In a medium mixing bowl, combine egg white and beaten egg. Whisk well. Slowly pour in milk/half and half mixture, whisking continuously. Stir in pumpkin puree and vanilla, mixing to incorporate. Set aside.

In a small mixing bowl, combine 2 tablespoons sugar/splenda mixture and pumpkin pie spice. Mix well, then stir the dry mixture into the liquid mixture.

Fill two shallow ramekins with mixture, then place on the bottom of the slow cooker. Carefully pour hot water around ramekins to just over halfway to their tops. Cover the pot and cook on low-heat setting for 2-3 hours until Brule is set.

Turn off the cooker and open the lid. Carefully remove ramekins from the pot and transfer to a wire rack. Cool to room temperature and serve.

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

Kruppy — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 19:45:49 GMT

The classic green bean casserole has never been a favorite of mine since I was a child but my family loves it. I made it every Thanksgiving for them but never ate it until I reworked the recipe. Using fresh cremini mushrooms, fresh green beans, nondairy milk, very low sodium vegetable stock and no oil or fat. Here you go!

Healthy and delicious green bean casserole

1C French’s brand fried onions

10 ounces cremini mushrooms cut into 1/4 thick slices

4 cloves of garlic

1/2 tsp dried thyme

3 Tb flour of choice

1 1/4 C very low sodium vegetable broth ( always check, often store brands are lower in sodium and price)

1 C non dairy half and half milk - look for one that is without flavor or added sugars

2 pounds fresh green beans, washed, and cut to 1 inch pieces

whir the fried onions in a food processor until finely ground, mix with the flour and set aside.

heat a large non stick skillet on medium high and add half of the mushrooms, cook on one side until brown, then the other without stirring about 5 minutes total, remove and do the rest of the mushrooms the same way. Add back the first mushrooms, give them all a stir and add the garlic off heat for 30 seconds. Add the fried onion/flour mixture, a pinch each of salt and pepper and cook on medium high until golden, about a minute. Slowly stir in broth, whisking or using a fork to break up any flour clumps, and the non dairy half and half. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until sauce has thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. ( This can be done a day in advance and refrigerated if you like then warmed in the microwave carefully before proceeding)

Place green beans in slow cooker, stir in the sauce until well coated and cook on LOW 5 to 6 hours.

Most green bean casseroles have the fried onion topping and if you like, you can whir the rest of the container of fried onions with a cup of fresh bread crumbs in your food processor then toast in a pan and top after plating.

I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving everyone!

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

tinasinge — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 23:23:36 GMT

Spinach, Apple and Clementine Salad

This is an easy, quick, light and heathly salad that will be sure to please everyone at your holiday feast. It will be a nice, refreshing addition to the heavier dishes served. 6 Servings, Enjoy!

6 cups baby spinach (or baby arugula, red lettuce, butter lettuce or a mixture)

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup toasted, slivered almonds

3 clementines (pieces separated and halved, seeds removed if any)

1 large apple (any kind, seeds removed and thinly sliced and slices halved)

Toss with olive oil dressing below:

Olive Oil Dressing

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard

salt and pepper to taste

Thoroughly wisk together all ingredients and add to the salad. Serve immediatly after adding salad dressing. This salad dressing recipe is enough for a lightly dressed salad. Double the recipe if you prefer a heavier coated salad.

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

itsjustme736 — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 16:43:47 GMT

You need to peel off two oranges, two bananas, one pineapple and two apples in a bowl. Get an instant lemon pudding from the market and prepare it according to the directions given on the back of the box (prefer to use sugar-free pudding) as it will make you desserts even lighter. Mix all the fruits in the dessert. Refrigerate and serve. This will make a quick and easy fruit plate for friends that don't want the cakes and pies after the meal Enjoy!!

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

s578505w — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 16:55:08 GMT

This recipe is taken from the Half Baked Harvest Blog by Tieghan Gerard. It is easy, healthy, absolutely amazing and can largely made ahead of time.

Shredded Brussels Sprout Bacon Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette.

https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/shredded-brussels-sprout-bacon-salad/

Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Casserole (Serves 4-6)

RobinA29708 — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 17:45:42 GMT

Great Healthy Dish

-32oz Frozen Bag Broccoli Cut Flowers thawed

-2 Cups 16oz Sharp thin Shredded Cheddar Cheese

-1 Can Condensed Mushroom Soup

-2 Large Eggs

-1-2 Cups Breadcrumbs

”Other ingredients can be added if you choose such as sliced black olives”

Turn oven to 375 while preparing

Mix Condensed Mushroom soup with shredded cheese and fold in 2 whipped complete eggs in medium to large casserole bowl.

Blend in Broccoli folding mixture until Broccoli is throughly covered.

Take small saucepan and melt enough butter so the 2 cups breadcrumbs are lightly browned.

Spread Breadcrumbs using all lightly over the top of the mixed items.
Put into oven on middle rack and back for 60 minutes.

Wait about 5-7 minutes serve when hot. This is a great dish, easy and quick to prepare. Leftovers as well only need to be heated and Broccoli is a great substitute for Chicken

Enjoy and Thank you!

Re: AARP Rewards Healthy Twist to Turkey Day Dish Contest 2021

jf3019 — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 18:02:11 GMT

Being Italian, there is always a pasta dish in the holiday Turkey-thon. This in my Mom's recipe.

Tina Farina's Linguini with Broccoli

5 TBLs EVOO

3 TBL butter

1-2 TBL minced garlic

2 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)

1 1/2 cups Chicken (or vegetable) broth

1 8oz can Tomato Sauce

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 lb Linguini

oregano, basil, parsley, salt, pepper to taste

-cook Linguini per instructions

-melt butter in EVOO

-add garlic and onion (do not burn garlic)

-add broccoli and seasonings

-cook over medium heat to reduce sauce

-add 4 TBLs pasta water to sauce (to thicken)

-drain Linguini and put into big bowl

-add broccoli sauce and toss

-serve with garlic bread and Parmesan cheese

ENJOY !!!