Try as we might, healthy eating is not always our priority as we live in hibernation mode during winter. With exams, papers, and projects, our situation is only augmented by a lack of time and a lack of means to acquire the healthiest and most filling food. ‘Tis NOT the season to eat . However, by changing our eating habits slightly, we can not only eat better, but also feel better. Here are two suggestions:
New England Crescent Classic
This is my spin on the Boston College classic sandwich.
Ingredients:
- 1 can (8 oz.) refrigerated crescent rolls
- 8 slices of turkey
- 4 slices of cheddar cheese, each cut into 4 strips
- 1 apple, cut into 8 pieces
- Cranberry sauce
Procedure:
- Heat oven to 350˚F.
- Lightly grease a cookie sheet or lay down parchment paper on the sheet.
- Separate the rolls into the 8 triangles.
- Place 1 slice of turkey, 1 slice of apple, and 2 strips of cheese in the center.
- Make sure that all of the insides fit inside each of the crescent roll.
- Roll each crescent beginning at the flat side and ending at the tip.
- Repeat steps 4 to 6 for the rest of the crescent rools.
- Bake 15 to 19 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from cookie sheet.
- Serve with cranberry sauce as a dip.
Makes 8 crescent sandwiches.
For those who do not have an oven, you can create a similar sandwich.
Ingredients:
- 1 Crescent roll
- 2 slices of turkey
- 1 slice of cheddar cheese
- 1/2 apple, cut into 4 slices
- Cranberry sauce
Procedure:
- Cut crescent roll in half.
- Place the turkey, the apple slices, and the cheddar slice (in that order) onto the bottom half of the sandwich.
- Spread cranberry sauce onto the top half of the sandwich.
- Place the top half in microwave for 10 or 15 seconds.
- When done, put the top half onto the bottom half.
- Serve.
Makes 1 sandwich. (This sandwich can also be made without a microwave or oven. It just will not be warm or melted.)
Chicken Salad with Blue Cheese and Grapes
This is based upon the deliciousness of a sandwich at Clayton’s Cafe in Yarmouth, Maine.
Ingredients:
- 2 chopped chicken breast
- 1/3 cup of toasted walnuts (chopped or whole)
- 2/3 cup of blue cheese crumbles
- 1/2 granny smith apple (diced)
- 1/2 cup of grapes (cut in half)
- 1/4 tsp. of salt
- 1/4 tsp. of pepper
- 1 cup of light mayonnaise
Procedure:
- Mix all of the ingredients together.
- Serve either on greens for a salad or on bread for a sandwich.
Makes 2 sandwiches.
However, after the stress and work that we endure, we deserve something sweet to make our day a little better. Her are two desert recipes that will make your day more merry and bright:
The Dip of Angels
It’s almost too heavenly to eat!
Ingredients:
- 4 oz of cream cheese
- 4 oz of frozen whip topping (defrosted)
- 1 ½ tsp of sugar
- Fruit (ex. strawberries, grapes, bananas, pears, pineapple)
Procedure:
- Whip or beat the cream cheese until it is smooth. (A mixer is easier to use, but this can also be done by hand. Bonus workout!)
- Add in the whipped topping and sugar.
- Mix until blended.
- Serve with fruit.
Makes approximately 9 oz. of dip.
Holiday Deluxe Pretzels
This desert is wonderful because you can give them as gifts or eat them yourself!
Ingredients:
- 24 Pretzels (Pretzel rods are preferred, but really any kind of pretzels can be used)
- 12 oz of milk or dark chocolate chips
- ½ cup of white chocolate
- Toppings (ex. red and green sprinkles, crushed candy canes, Holiday edition M&Ms, chopped peanuts, coconut, mini marshmallows)
Procedure:
1. Combine whichever toppings that you want to have together.
- Place each combination or singular topping that you want onto a separate plate. (ex. sprinkles go on one and chopped nuts and mini M&Ms on another)
- Lay out wax paper onto baking sheets or a flat surface.
- Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir. The chocolate chips should be completely melted.
- Dip each pretzel rod either 1/2 or 2/3 of the way into the chocolate.
- After you dip each rod, place it on the wax paper to dry. Make sure there is space between each rod.
- In between dipping the pretzels into the chocolate, put the white chocolate into the micowave for 1 minute. Stir when it comes out.
- After you have finished with the pretzels and the chocolate, take a fork, dip it into the white chocolate, and drizzle the white chocolate over the first pretzel. It should be semi-covered.
- Roll the pretzels into the toppings.
- Place it back onto the wax paper to dry.
- Repeat 8 through 10 until all 24 pretzels are covered.
- When they are dry, they are ready to given as gifts, served at a Christmas party, or eaten straight away.
Makes 24 pretzels.
Photo Sources:
http://dlishfood.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/side-ne.jpg
http://karmaperdiem.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/dsc_0006.jpg
http://www.fromaway.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/chicken-salad.jpg