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Spinach Pesto

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Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
  • ¼ cup nuts or sunflower seeds
  • ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup packed basil leaves
  • 2 cups packed spinach leaves
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ cup olive oil

Directions

  1. Put all ingredients into a food processor or blender and pulse until combined. Scrape down the sides of the blender once or twice to ensure everything is combined.
  2. If the pesto is too dry, add a little water or a olive oil and blend until combined. 

 

Makes 1½ – 2 cups

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

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Ingredients

  • 16 ounces dry macaroni, shells, or other small pasta
  • 2 Tablespoons margarine, butter, or oil
  • 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup pureed butternut squash (10 ounces frozen butternut squash heated and pureed)
  • 1 cup low-sodium broth
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic (1 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup low-fat milk
  • 1½ cups low-fat shredded cheese

Directions

  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  2. If butternut squash is not cooked and pureed, cook it until tender, then puree in a blender or mash with a fork until smooth.  
  3. In a large skillet, electric skillet, or saucepan, melt margarine or butter, or add oil on medium high heat. 
  4. Once heated, add flour. Stir until combined and flour begins to brown, about 2 minutes. 
  5. Add butternut squash, broth, garlic, and black pepper. Stir until combined and heated through. 
  6. Lower heat to medium. Add milk. Heat, whisking constantly, until combined and warm. 
  7. Add cheese and stir until cheese is melted. 
  8. Add cooked pasta to the sauce and stir until pasta is completely coated and heated through. 

Makes 9 1-cup servings

Pesto Pizza

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Ingredients

  • ½ loaf Italian or French bread (split lengthwise)
  • ½ cup pesto
  • ¼ mozzarella cheese (low fat, shredded)
  • ¼ cheddar cheese (low fat, shredded)
  • ¼ parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 3 Tablespoons green pepper (chopped)
  • 3 Tablespoons mushrooms (fresh or canned, sliced)
  • ¼ cup spinach leaves
  • Vegetable toppings (other, as desired, optional)

Directions

  1. Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  3. Toast the bread until slightly brown, about 5 minutes.
  4. Remove from oven, top bread with pesto, vegetables and cheeses.
  5. Return bread to oven and heat until cheese melts, about 7-9 minutes.

Makes 2 servings

Note: This recipe can also be made in a toaster oven.

Crockpot Bean Soup

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked beans of your choice*
  • 6 cups low-sodium broth
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic, chopped
  • ½ large onion, minced
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped
  • ½ pound cooked ham, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

  1. Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds.
  2. Add all ingredients to the crockpot.
  3. Cover with lid and cook on high for 2-4 hours. Serve warm.

Makes 6 servings

*Our recipe video uses 2 cups navy beans and 2 cups chickpeas.
Note: If using dried beans, please use one of the cooking methods below.

Cooking Dried Beans

  1. Wash hands in warm soapy water.
  2. Rinse beans in cool water, then follow one of the methods below.

Quick Cook Method

  1. Put the beans in a large pot and add 12 cups of water.
  2. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat. Cover pot and let sit for 1 hour.
  3. Discard soaking water and add fresh water to cover the beans. Return to heat and simmer for 1-3 hours, adding water if needed.

Overnight Method

  1. Put the beans in a large pot and add 6 cups of water.
  2. Let soak for 6 or more hours in the refrigerator.
  3. Discard soaking water and add fresh water to cover the bean. Bring to a boil then simmer for 1-3 hours, adding water if needed.

Crockpot Method

  1. Put the beans in a crockpot and add 6 cups of water.
  2. Cook on high 5-8 hours or until beans are tender.
  3. Discard soaking water.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Method

  1. Soak beans overnight or for several hours in the fridge.
  2. Rinse and discard cracked or split beans and pour into Instant Pot.
  3. Add water (about twice as much water as beans, at least 1-2 c. in a pressure cooker).
  4. Close and seal pressure cooker.
  5. Cook on manual pressure for 25-30 minutes.
  6. Release pressure when finished cooking. Be careful as hot steam escapes.
  7. Drain beans in a colander.

Anytime Pizza

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Ingredients

  • ½ loaf Italian or French bread (split lengthwise)
  • ½ cup pizza sauce
  • ½ cup mozzarella or cheddar cheese (low fat, shredded)
  • 3 Tablespoons green pepper (chopped)
  • 3 Tablespoons mushrooms (fresh or canned, sliced)
  • ¼ cup spinach leaves
  • Vegetable toppings (other, as desired, optional)
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, or more to taste

Directions

  1. Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  3. Toast the bread until slightly brown, about 5 minutes.
  4. Remove from oven, top bread with pizza sauce, vegetables and low-fat cheese.
  5. Return pizza to oven and heat until cheese melts, about 7-9 minutes.

Makes 2 servings

Note: This recipe can also be made in a toaster oven.

Nut-Crusted Pork Chops

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Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, pork tenderloin chops (or 4 ½-inch slices of pork loin)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1½ cups finely chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios, etc.)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Directions

  1. Wash hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds.
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Set aside.
  3. Whisk eggs in shallow dish
  4. Mix almonds, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a separate dish
  5. Pound pork out until it is about 1/4-inch thick
  6. Take one slice of pork and dip both sides into egg mixture, and then dip in the almond mixture. Dip pork back into egg mixture, followed by almond mixture.
  7. Repeat until each pork chop is completely coated.
  8. Place pork onto baking sheet.
  9. Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 145° F.

Makes 4 servings

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