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Healthy Ways to Deal With Thanksgiving Leftovers

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:00:37 -0800

Thanksgiving never seems to be a one-day affair, at least not the food part. Properly stored, leftovers can last up to four days, beckoning you to eat more, more, and then some! This Thanksgiving, resist the urge to overindulge by finding healthier alternatives for your T-day leftovers. Here are a few of our ideas - share your own in the comments section below.

Get rid of them. Buy some inexpensive containers before your meal to pack up leftovers for guests and send friends and family home with the most decadent dishes.
Make a healthy salad. Turkey is packed full of protein and tastes great on a salad. Use leftover cranberry sauce to make a healthy dressing - mix a dab with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Make a turkey curry. Turkey is great in a curry because it easily soaks up the flavors of a sauce. Try using turkey instead of the tofu in our Indian-Spiced Chard recipe.

For more healthy leftover ideas, read more.

Make turkey stock. I always like to have broth or stock on hand because it adds a ton of flavor to my cooking and can be the base of a variety of dishes. Storebought broth usually has a ton of added salt, so I think it's best to make your own. Save the carcass of the bird and break it up into a large stock pot, then add mirepoix, garlic, and savory herbs. Cover the entire mixture by at least two inches of water and let simmer for five hours. If the water level falls below the ingredients, add more liquid to the mix. Cool quickly, store in the refrigerator, or freeze.
Use turkey stock to make a delicious soup. Cut up any extra veggies you have leftover from your T-day meal or ingredients, add some barley or brown rice, throw it in your stock, and you've got a simple, tasty soup.
Puree leftover vegetables. Healthy vegetable side dishes are great to have after Thanksgiving, but give them new life and puree them. A veggie puree can be the base of a soup or pasta sauce. Veggie purees can also add moisture to baked goods.
Make an open-faced sandwich. Everybody loves the day after Thanksgiving sandwich. Make your sandwich healthier by only using one slice of bread.

Healthy Carrot Soufflé

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:50:12 -0800

When my sister moved to Georgia a few years ago, I had the chance to spend Thanksgiving with her. Amongst all the dishes on the table was a Southern staple that I thought about for months after coming home - brown sugar and maple glazed carrots. I wanted to make this dish at my own Thanksgiving dinner this year, but was shocked to find out how much sugar and butter the recipe calls for. I decided to try and make my own healthy alternative to the dish and I think you'll be happy with the results.

There's barely any butter in my version and the dish has much, much less sugar. I also decided to make it into a souffle (I'm using the term loosely here!) to cut back on oil and give it a creamier taste and texture. This would be a great side dish for your Thanksgiving meal and it's an awesome replacement for a candied yam dish - carrots have fewer calories than yams and are exploding with vitamin A. Chances are your guests won't even know the difference!

Check out the recipe when you read more.

Healthy Carrot Soufflé
original recipe

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds of peeled, cut carrots
1/3 cup of plain lowfat yogurt
2 eggs and 1 egg white, beaten
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
Pinch of salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Steam carrots until tender, about 20 - 25 minutes.
Place carrots in a food processor or blender and mix until smooth.
Combine yogurt, eggs, butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract into the carrots.
Pulse in flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt to the mixture.
Transfer mixture to a 2-quart baking dish that has been lightly coated with cooking spray or butter.
Bake in oven for 45 minutes or until set and firm.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

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What Are Your Thanksgiving Plans?

SavvySugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:30:26 -0800

You may be worried about your stuffing and pumpkin pie recipes or finding a festive Thanksgiving outfit, but airlines, airports and transportation services are gearing up for one of the busiest weeks of the year.

In fact, according to the US Department of Transportation, the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods are officially the busiest long-distance travel periods of the year. During the six day Thanksgiving travel period, the number of long-distance trips (to and from a destination 50 miles or more away) increases by 54 percent compared to the average number the rest of the year.

Will you be staying put, leaving on a jet plane or driving to your Thanksgiving destination?

Fast & Easy Dinner: Penne With Mushrooms

partysugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:50:30 -0800

Although some people may think all pasta dishes are loaded with carbs and cheese, this recipe proves them wrong. It's chock full of mushrooms and kale, and combines whole wheat pasta with a rich sauce made from hazelnuts. Most grocery stores carry whole wheat pasta these days; you can find it in the regular pasta aisle. There's no meat, but the mushrooms and nutty gravy give this dish a complex heartiness. To check out this vegetarian-friendly, cheese-free pasta recipe, read more.

Penne With Mushrooms
From Everyday With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

Salt
1 pound whole wheat penne pasta
A handful dried porcini mushrooms
2 cups vegetable or mushroom broth
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 portobello mushroom caps, halved and thinly sliced
2 shallots, thinly sliced lengthwise
3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 bunch kale, stemmed and chopped
Freshly ground pepper
¼ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup chopped peeled hazelnuts
2 to 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves finely chopped
2 tablespoons flour

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain.
While the pasta is working, in a small saucepan, soften the dried mushrooms in the broth over low heat.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil, over medium heat. Add the portobellos, shallots and garlic and cook until tender, 6 minutes. Add the kale, cover the skillet and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and the nutmeg and toss.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the porcinis to a cutting board and chop, then add to the kale mixture.
Pour the porcini broth into a bowl or cup, discarding any grit at the bottom of the pan; set aside.
Wipe out the pan, add the butter and melt over medium heat. Add the hazelnuts and rosemary and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle the flour on top and cook for 1 minute, then whisk in the reserved porcini broth and cook until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes.
Toss the pasta with the kale mixture and gravy; season with salt and pepper.

Serves 4.

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Happy Hour: Cran-Limoncello

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:49 -0800

Every few months, I host a book club in my home, and find it a lovely occasion to try out a new cocktail. This time around, I couldn't wait to incorporate ingredients that evoke the holidays, like cranberries and the zesty Italian after-dinner favorite, limoncello.

This three-ingredient sipper couldn't be easier to pull together; it simply calls for seltzer, limoncello, and cranberry juice - no shaker required. Yet the payoff is in spades: "What went into this? Can I have the recipe?" friends asked me throughout the night. I assured them that even the most bar-challenged could make this drink. For a pretty garnish that's a hint of what's to come, toss in a few fresh cranberries, too. Keep reading for the recipe.

6 Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

partysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:50:37 -0800

Planning a Thanksgiving dinner can be a daunting task. To make it more manageable, start thinking about the meal now and take things one-step at a time. First, select a menu. Chances are you're still seeking recipe inspiration. Thus, I've created six fabulous menus for you to browse. From a meat-less vegetarian feast to an easy dinner that's perfect for beginners, here you'll find something for everyone.

View Slideshow ›

Thanksgiving Side Dish: Apple Squash

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:47:08 -0800

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because I love all the warm, savory dishes. This one has been in my family for years and it's sweet, creamy, and has a crunchy topping that reminds me of homemade mac and cheese. It's easy to prepare ahead of time, and is a great alternative to mashed potatoes or stuffing.

To see the recipe and find out how many calories are in one serving read more.

Recipe for Apple Squash
a family recipe

Ingredients

Bottom layer:
4 Cortland apples, peeled and sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons Smart Balance margarine

Middle layer:
8 cups butternut squash (about two whole), peeled, de-seeded, and diced
2 tablespoons Smart Balance margarine
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Top layer:
2 cups fruit juice sweetened corn flakes, crushed
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Smart Balance margarine, melted

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350° F.
Heat two tablespoons of Smart Balance in a skillet and add the sliced apples. Cover and simmer for five minutes. Spread in bottom of a casserole dish.
Boil the butternut squash for 15 minutes.
Mash the squash with two tablespoons Smart Balance, two teaspoons brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Spread it on top of the apples.
Mix the two tablespoons of melted Smart Balance with the crushed corn flakes, two teaspoons brown sugar, and chopped pecans. Sprinkle on top of the squash.
Bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy.

Makes 10 servings.

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Here's the nutritional info for this Thanksgiving apple squash.

Serving Size	1/10 of the dish
Calories	159.6
Total Fat	5.9 g
Saturated Fat	.6 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	182.1 mg
Carbs	28.2 g
Fiber	3.9 g
Sugars	10.7 g
Protein	2.2 g

If you have a healthy recipe to share, please post it in the Healthy Recipe community group.

Desperate Housewives Rundown, "Careful the Things You Say"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:30:07 -0800

It's another typical week on Wisteria Lane in the latest episode of Desperate Housewives. It's not the most scandalous episode thus far, but there are still plenty of lies, secrets, betrayals -and it all ends up with Susan behind bars.

To discuss what else went down with the ladies, just read more.

Susan: After Angie's warning, Susan is now dedicated to making sure Katherine is investigated for Julie's attack. Unfortunately the cops seem less interested with Susan than with their sandwiches and pickles, but a female officer named Debbie offers to take the case. Of course, nothing is ever that simple with Susan, and it turns out that she made Denise's life hell back in high school by giving her the nickname of "Moose." Naturally, Moose still wants revenge and she gets it - by throwing Susan behind bars for shooting Katherine.

Lynette: Lynette's pregnancy is put on the back burner this week, and instead she finds herself deeper in the midst of Julie and Nick's drama. She tries to tell Nick to back of Susan's daughter, but when Nick threatens Lynette, she decides it's time to go to the police - against Julie's will. I was glad that she didn't let Nick scare her into silence with Tom, but I still think Susan won't be pleased when she discovers that Lynette has kept another secret from her.

Gaby: Gaby's life as a tutor quickly comes to an end. When Juanita refuses to learn from her mom, their new housekeeper Ivana steps in to help. Gaby is thrilled with her new life that doesn't involve teaching or scrubbing floors, though it's pretty amazing when Gaby has to do a few chores to get Ivana out of a bind. In the end she explains to Carlos that tutoring is ruining her relationship with Juanita, and Carlos lets her off the hook. Meanwhile, where are Celia and Ana? Suddenly behaving like perfect little angels?

Bree: Bree is put into an awkward situation when a dinner date with the Bolens turns out to be an audition for Angie to take Katherine's spot with Bree's catering company. Clearly put off with Angie's demeanor, Bree blows her off - until a client comes in wanting some old-fashioned Italian food. Bree tries to manipulate Angie into giving up the recipes, but Angie finds Bree out. The ladies learn they have more in common than they thought, and Bree agrees to give Angie a job. I'm enjoying this new partnership, especially since Bree is so uncomfortable around Angie. Meanwhile, Orson continues to try to unravel Bree's lie about the brooch, but doesn't make much progress.

Angie: I have to say that I kinda fell in love with Angie this week. Though she's clearly the hardass of Wisteria Lane, she seems genuinely sweet trying to impress Bree with her cooking skills and offering Lynette a glass of wine. She even takes Nick back after admitting that she knew about his affair with Julie all along - though not without a swift punch in the face first. She may have a checkered past, but Angie seems to be able to take care of herself just fine.

Did you like this week's episode? Are you starting to root for Angie or do you still think she can't be trusted?

Must Read: Pestos, Tapenades, & Spreads

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:48 -0800

Much like PartySugar, I'll be paying special attention to the oft-neglected starters when I host this year's Thanksgiving meal. I've not yet determined what they'll be: should I serve soup? Dip in a bread bowl? So I am excited for a new book, Pestos, Tapenades, & Spreads ($17) by Stacey Printz, which offers up an array of spreads to serve when entertaining on the run. Were its offerings worthy of being on the Thanksgiving table? Find out when you read more.

Introducing the PopSugar Network's 2009 Holiday Gift Guides, Recipes, Planning Help, and More!

PopSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:15:00 -0800

Holiday season is officially here and we're getting in the spirit bringing you everything you need - from gift guides galore to recipes, survival tips to budget advice - we've got it all! This year we're blowing it out bigger than ever from now until New Year's. To check out all of our holiday coverage at any time, check it out here and if you're just looking for just our gift guides, find them here! Our coverage has kicked off already so check out a taste of the gift guides and planning help now!

Download Our Thanksgiving Planner!	Buzz Has Gifts For Dear Old Dad	10 Great Gifts For Mom on Any Budget
Gifts For the Fly Fisherman	A Holiday Gift List For Mommy	Etsy Finds For Dad
5 Thoughtful Finds For the Baking Enthusiast	Fab: Mama, Pops, Nana, Dada	Geek's Gift Guide For Dad