Monday, January 21, 2019

Resolution Food--January 3, 2019

We kicked off the new year with healthy eating at Recipe Club this month! January's theme was Resolution Food, focusing on healthy eating.

Mary B. whipped up some healthier mashed potatoes using a mix of potatoes and cauliflower! 

Rose Mary and Fred brought "BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado" and the dressing was a lightened up a bit.

Rose Mary and Fred also brought "Raw 'Twix' Bars." Made with all natural ingredients, these twix bars have a special ingredient that packs a kick, mesquite powder.

Karen made "Superfood Breakfast Bites." Made with dates, nuts, seeds, goji berries, this is a no-bake superfood powerhouse!

Anna made a "Winter Pasta Salad." This healthy dish is full of veggies and pasta, as well as a light and refreshing dressing.

Sue S. brought "Spinach Balls." These bite-size balls are perfect healthy appetizers served with hummus or marinara sauce!

I made "Sweet Potato Muffins." These muffins are perfect for the morning! They are made with sweet potatoes, the sweetener is maple syrup, and the flour is whole wheat.

Margene made "Mandarin Pasta Spinach Salad with Teriyaki Dressing." She loves this easy, healthy pasta salad so much, this is the second time she made it for Recipe Club!

Marie baked "Cranberry Nut Bread." This healthy quick-bread uses only 2 tablespoons of shortening and has tons of healthy cranberries!

Pat D. brought delicious turkey roll-ups! Using tortillas, turkey, lettuce, and Swiss cheese, this is a perfect snack or healthy lunch option!

Pat R. cooked "Marinated Turkey Breast."She marinated it and used the slow cooker to cook it.

Sue R. made "Winter Fruit Salad." This salad used fruits commonly available in winter and has a light and refreshing dressing made with lime juice and maple syrup.

Mary A. made a "Fresh Spinach Layer Salad." She made the dressing lighter by using light sour cream and light miracle whip.

Trudy L. made "One-Pot Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes." She used whole wheat noodles and this is an easy recipe because it is made in just one pot!

Roger brought a healthy salad, full of spring mix, veggies, and a homemade dressing!

There were many great recipes shared and more to try next time! Getting hungry? Join us February 7 at 6:30pm at Franklin Public Library. The theme is Comfort Food--Warm up this winter season with hearty and delicious comfort food!


All you have to do to join is cook a dish from the monthly theme, and bring the dish and the recipe to the meeting! It's as easy as pie! See you soon!

Friday, January 18, 2019

BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado

The "BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado" recipe by Heidi can be found at FoodieCrush.
With the salad, Rose Mary used the "Homemade Ranch Dressing" recipe by Heidi at FoodieCrush, too.

Submitted by Rose Mary Walecki


Heidi. "BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado." FoodieCrush, https://www.foodiecrush.com/blt-pasta-salad-avocado/. Accessed 18 January 2019.

Heidi. "Homemade Ranch Dressing." FoodieCrush, https://www.foodiecrush.com/homemade-ranch-dressing-recipe/. Accessed 18 January 2019.

Raw 'Twix' Bars

The "Raw 'Twix' Bars" recipe by Kate Bradley can be found at Kenko Kitchen.

Submitted by Rose Mary Walecki


Bradley, Kate. "Raw 'Twix' Bars." Kenko Kitchen, http://kenkokitchen.com/blog/2018/4/1/twix-bars. Accessed 18 January 2019.

Winter Pasta Salad

The "Winter Pasta Salad" recipe can be found in Simply Healthful Pasta Salads by Andrea Chesman.

Submitted by Anna Restivo

Chesman, Andrea. “Winter Pasta Salad.” Simply Healthful Pasta Salads. Shelburne, VT.: Chapters Publishing, LTD., 1993. 45. Print.

Winter Fruit Salad

The "Winter Fruit Salad" recipe by Julia can be found at Julia's Album.

Submitted by Sue Richichi


Julia. "Winter Fruit Salad." Julia's Album, https://juliasalbum.com/winter-fruit-salad-with-maple-lime-dressing. Accessed 18 January 2019.

Marinated Turkey Breast

The "Marinated Turkey Breast" recipe by Danielle can be found at Allrecipes.

Submitted by Pat Reilly


Danielle. "Marinated Turkey Breast." Allrecipes, https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/31813/marinated-turkey-breast/. Accessed 18 January 2019.

Cranberry Nut Bread

The "Cranberry Nut Bread" recipe can be found at Ocean Spray.

Submitted by Marie Weber


"Cranberry Nut Bread." Ocean Spray, https://www.oceanspray.com/en/Recipes/By-Course/Breads-and-Muffins/Classic-Cranberry-Nut-Bread. Accessed 18 January 2019.

Friday, January 11, 2019

Sweet Potato Muffins

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 3 cups sweet potato puree
  • 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 325°F and line two 12 cup muffin pans with paper liners and lightly spray with non-stick baking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, cardamom, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In another large bowl, beat the maple syrup, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, and sweet potato puree. Stir in the dry ingredients until combined. Pour mixture evenly between the two pans.
  4. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Serves: 24

Spinach Balls

The "Spinach Balls" recipe by Carine can be found at Sweet as Honey.

Submitted by Susan Stoecker


Carine. "Spinach Balls." Sweet as Honey, https://www.sweetashoney.co/spinach-balls/. Accessed 11 January 2019.

Super Food Breakfast Bites

The "Super Food Breakfast Bites" recipe can be found in The How Not to Die Cookbook by Michael Greger.

Submitted by Karen Kunzler

Greger, Michael. “Super Food Breakfast Bites.” The How Not to Die Cookbook. New York: Flatiron Books, 2017. 15. Print.

Fresh Spinach Layer Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. fresh spinach
  • 1 medium red onion
  • 4 hard-boiled eggs
  • 1 cup Miracle Whip
  • 1 cup sour half and half
  • 1/4 lb. grated Swiss cheese
  • 1/2 lb. bacon, fried crisp
Directions:
  1. Wash spinach; remove stems, drain well and tear into pieces. Layer spinach in a 9 x 13-inch dish. 
  2. Slice onion in thin circles and on top of spinach. 
  3. Slice hard-boiled eggs and layer them over onion. 
  4. Blend Miracle Whip and sour half and half; spread over all. 
  5. Sprinkle grated cheese and crumbled bacon on top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate over night.
Submitted by Mary Arndt

One-Pot Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes

The "One-Pot Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes" recipe by Ann Taylor Pittman can be found at CookingLight.

Submitted by Trudy LaFond


Pittman, Ann Taylor. "One-Pot Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes." Wholesomelicious, https://www.cookinglight.com/recipes/one-pot-pasta-spinach-tomatoes. Accessed 11 January 2019.

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Holiday Party--December 6, 2018

Recipe Club celebrated with a Holiday Party theme for December's meeting! Everyone brought their favorite holiday food to share with others.

Jan made "Cranberry Salsa," which she snacks on over the holiday season. You can eat it as a salsa or serve it over cream cheese, which cuts the tartness of the cranberries.

Trudy C. made a "Shrimp Dip." She makes it every Christmas and it's very fast to whip up!

Pat R. made "Saltine Toffee Cookies," a delicious Christmas treat to share with others!

Margaret made "Butterscotch Haystacks," a very easy treat to make and kids love them!

Roger made "Microwave Peanut Brittle," a safer and easier way to make peanut brittle!


Josh made "Applesauce." This is made for all his holiday gatherings, and he just learned how to make it from his mother-in-law!

Sue R. made "Eggnog Ice Cream" served with a molasses cookie. It's a sweet and creamy treat with holiday flair!

Mary B. made "Easy Cool Whip Dessert." This is a quick dessert to make with layers of Cool Whip and cookies!

Rose Mary and Fred made a "Party Shrimp Dip," a popular dip during the holiday season.

Sue S. baked a "Romantic Torte," a recipe her mother made for every Christmas Eve! And Bill S. made "Shrimp Dip." (Not pictured.) Shrimp Dip is a pretty popular dip to bring during the holidays!

Anna made "Antipasto Kabobs," which were full of Italian flavor! She makes them every Christmas Eve!

Margene made "Caramels," which she makes every year. They are time consuming but worth it!

Margene also made some "Oreo Christmas Coal!" It's an easy treat to make that kids love!

Marie made a refreshing "Cranberry Apple Salad." Full of fresh holiday fruit, it is a sweet and tart salad for the holidays!

Pat D. made "Ibby's Metaphysical English Toffee." It's a perfect treat for the holidays full of caramel, chocolate, and pecans!

Trudy L. made "Festive Pork." It's a perfect holiday main dish that incorporates oranges and cranberries!

Mary A. brought "Creme de Menthe Cake." It's an easy poke cake that uses a box mix, some Creme de Menthe, and chocolate syrup!

There were many great recipes shared and more to try next time! Getting hungry? Join us January 3 at 6:30pm at Franklin Public Library. The theme is Resolution Food--Jump start the new year with healthy eating!

All you have to do to join is cook a dish from the monthly theme, and bring the dish and the recipe to the meeting! It's as easy as pie! See you soon!







Shrimp Dip

Ingredients:

  • 2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 can cream of shrimp soup (Campbell's)
  • Onion salt, to taste
  • Garlic powder, to taste
  • 2 cans shrimp, drained and rinsed
Directions:
  1. Beat cream cheese and soup until creamy. This with a little milk if it is too thick. Mix all remaining ingredients and serve with chips or crackers.
Submitted by Bill Stoecker

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Eggnog Ice Cream

The "Eggnog Ice Cream" recipe can be found in Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Dessert Book by Ben Cohen.

Submitted by Sue Richichi

Cohen, Ben. “Eggnog Ice Cream.” Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Dessert Book. New York, N.Y.: Workman Pub. Co., 1987. Print.

Creme de Menthe Cake

Ingredients:

  • White cake mix
  • 1/2 cup Creme de Menthe, divided
  • Chocolate syrup
  • 8 oz. Cool Whip
Directions:
  1. Prepare cake mix according to directions EXCEPT substitute 1/4 cup Creme de Menthe for water. Bake.
  2. When cool, poke holes and wfill with chocolate syrup and remaining Creme de Menthe to taste. 
  3. Frost cake with Cool Whip.
Submitted by Mary Arndt

Microwave Peanut Brittle

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup corn syrup
  • 1 cup peanuts (raw Spanish peanuts)
  • 1 tbsp. butter or margarine
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
Directions:
  1. Caution! Mixture will be extremely hot once microwaved!
  2. Combine sugar and corn syrup in a microwavable bowl, preferably glass. Microwave for 3 minutes. 
  3. Add peanuts and stir. Microwave for another 3 minutes. 
  4. Add butter and vanilla, stir, and microwave for 1-1/2 minutes. 
  5. Add baking soda, stir quickly, and pour out onto a well-buttered pan or silicone baking mat.
  6. Let cool. Break into serving size chunks.
Submitted by Roger Torgerson