During the holiday season, routines sometimes fall by the wayside and it can be difficult for adults and children to get the sleep, exercise, and nutrition they need. Focusing on these essentials can make the difference in a pleasant atmosphere.
With an abundance of empty calories around, the following cookie recipe offers more nutrients than some of the sweeter recipes. On first bite, these cookies taste like any other chocolate chip cookie, but they pack more nutrients.
Breakfast bean cookies
2 cups oats 500 mL
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1 cup flour 250 mL
1 teaspoon baking powder 5 mL
1 teaspoon baking soda 5 mL
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1 mL
1/4 teaspoon salt 1 mL
1 can (14 oz.) white, kidney, navy
or cannellini beans (rinsed and
drained) 298 mL
1/4 cup butter or margarine,
softened 60 mL
1 cup packed brown sugar 250 mL
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla 5 mL
1/2 cup chocolate chips 125 mL
1/2 cup raisins and/or dried
cranberries 125 mL
1/4-1/2 cup chopped walnuts or
pecans 60-125 mL
2 teaspoons ground flaxseed 10 mL
Preheat oven to 325 F (163 C).
Process oats in the blender or food processor until they resemble coarse flour. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Mix until combined and transfer to a large bowl.
Put beans in blender or food processor and pulse until smooth. Add butter and process until well blended. Add sugar, egg and vanilla, and pulse until smooth.
Pour bean mix into oat mix and stir by hand until almost combined. Add remaining ingredients and stir just until blended.
Drop by large spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 13 to 16 minutes until golden around edges but soft in the middle. Cool on wire rack.
Yield: two dozen.
Christmas turkey leftovers
Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating recommends selecting leaner meats, poultry, fish and seafood.
Turkey is an excellent source of protein, niacin and phosphorus. The following recipe calls for ground turkey, but has been adapted to use minced leftover cooked turkey. It can be prepared earlier in the day leaving you free to have fun with your family during the day.
Best ever turkey chili
3 tablespoons olive oil 45 mL
1 large onion, diced
6 stalks of celery, diced
1 tablespoon garlic, minced 15 mL
6 tablespoons chili powder 89 mL
2 teaspoons ground cumin 10 mL
2 teaspoons dried oregano 10 mL
2 teaspoons dried basil 10 mL
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 mL
1 bay leaf
1 jalapeno pepper, diced (optional)
11/2 pounds ground turkey
(or finely chopped) 680 g
2 cups roasted red peppers,
chopped 500 mL
2 cups black beans, drained
and rinsed 500 mL
2 cups red kidney beans, drained
and rinsed 500 mL
4 cups diced tomatoes with juice 1 L
1/2 cup tomato paste 125 mL
2 cups frozen corn 500 mL
salt and pepper to taste
In a large pot on medium, heat oil and then saute onion and celery until softened. Add spices and saute for five more minutes. Add ground turkey and heat until meat is cooked and slightly browned.
Coat the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray and mix turkey, onions and celery with the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine. Cover and cook eight hours on low or four hours on high. Serve with pita chips and a dollop of sour cream or a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese. This recipe makes approximately 12 servings. The recipe can be doubled or tripled.
For more information, visit Manitoba Turkey Producers at www.turkey.mb.ca or www.turkeyfordinner.ca.
Recycling wrapping paper
Many people have already devised ways of wrapping Christmas gifts in an environmentally friendly way. However, many of us still have at least one garbage bag full of Christmas wrap at the end of the gift opening.
Here are some ways to recycle wrapping paper.
- Stuff the crumpled up wrapping paper in hats, purses or boots to keep the form.
- Help your child make a book cover for his/her favourite books.
- Use a piece of wrapping paper to cover a board, and hang it on the wall. Now you have a festive board to leave messages and your to-do lists.
- Turn the paper over for children to draw or paint pictures.
- Cut the paper into six inch (15 cm) squares. Go on-line and follow directions to learn how to make origami shapes and animals.
- Use the paper around the base of flowers, or as a cover, that you are taking to someone special.
- Cut the paper into small pieces and leave them by the phone. Use the white side of the paper to write down messages.
- Measure your dresser drawers and line with beautiful wrapping paper.
- If the paper isn’t torn or too wrinkled, you can always rewrap a present. If there is a little wrinkle to the paper, iron the paper on the wrong side on low heat.
- Give your kids the job of cleaning up the paper and tell them to have a paper snowball fight.
Source: www.socyberty.com/Holidays.
Most of all, relax, have fun, and enjoy the special people in your life at Christmas and all year long.
Merry Christmas from each of us at TEAM Resources.
Barbara Sanderson is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and one of four columnists comprising Team Resources. Send correspondence in care of this newspaper, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4 or contact them at team@producer.com.
