Top 10 Winter Recipes

There are certain meals that just scream winter food: chili, chicken soup, beef stew, etc. But why not try something new to help warm you up? Here are ten exciting winter recipes that will add some variety to your meals in the winter months, as well as spice up some old favorites! For the recipes, check out this link.

• Mexican Pizza- A great twist on traditional pizza recipes, the most outstanding ingredient here is the refried beans. Making the crust ahead of time helps cut down on prep time, so keep that in mind when planning this one.
• Corned Beef and Cabbage Tarts- Serving this with a soup and salad makes for a great dish; however, this one might be hard to push on the kids.
• Chocolate Oatmeal Cake- You certainly don’t have to worry about kids not loving this one. This is a twist on the traditional recipe, most notably for the addition of a chocolate and oatmeal topping.
• Crockpot Beef Stroganoff- This is a great weekday recipe. Just get the ingredients together, throw them in the crock-pot before work, and you’ll have a filling meal ready to be served by the time you get home!
• Crockpot Orange Curried Chicken- Another great crock-pot recipe that you can prepare ahead of time. Mixing in some brown rice adds fiber to a meal bursting with flavor.
• Indulgent Macaroni and Cheese- This five-cheese favorite is sure to be a favorite for the whole family. It’s also a great dish to reheat, so don’t be afraid to double the recipe.
• Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings- Rich with flavor, this dish is already a winter favorite in many homes.
• Swiss Eggs- Swiss eggs are a great “holdover” snack for kids, and are extremely easy to make. Although the recipe yields eight eggs, you might want to try doubling this one, as they are sure to go fast.
• Herbed Oatmeal Bread- This easy-to-make bread can be served with soup or chili, and is a great leftover for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Monte Cristo Sandwiches- This is another classic winter favorite. This recipe also offers a slight variation and adds a crushed rice cereal coating. For a healthier Monte Cristo, try cooking it in a George Foreman grill!

Whole Wheat Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce

Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup non-fat milk
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Strawberry sauce, recipe follows
Confectioners’ sugar, optional

Directions
Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Preheat a large nonstick griddle or skillet over a medium-low flame.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour through salt). In another medium bowl, beat together the eggs, buttermilk, non-fat milk, honey and vanilla.

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing only enough to combine them. The batter will be somewhat lumpy.

Use a 1/3 cup measuring cup to ladle the batter onto the griddle or skillet. Flip the pancake when the top is bubbling and it is golden brown on the bottom. Then cook until the other side is golden brown. Hold on an oven proof plate in the oven until the entire batch is ready. When all the pancakes are ready, cut them into heart shapes with a heart shaped cookie cutter. Ladle about 1/3 cup of the strawberry sauce onto each plate, place pancakes on top and sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar, if using.

Strawberry sauce:
16 ounces strawberries, fresh or frozen (unsweetened, thawed)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Puree strawberries to a chunky puree. Heat them in a small saucepan over a low flame, until they are just warm. Stir in lemon juice and maple syrup.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size about 1/3 cup)

Indoor Winter Workouts

A common winter temptation is to take time off from exercising to enjoy the comforts of a warm home and relaxation. However, contrary to what many choose to believe, the winter months provide a great opportunity to work even harder to achieve your fitness goals. Although outdoor exercising isn’t always ideal (or the safest decision) during the winter, there are plenty of alternatives to outdoor workouts that are just as effective. Exercising in the winter also requires you to work harder in keeping up your body heat, which in turn leads to more calories burned. Break free from winter lethargy by trying these demanding, yet rewarding, indoor winter workouts.

1. Walking indoors. This very simple alternative to an outdoor walk that can be done anywhere you’d like, while still allowing you to set goals and work hard to achieve them.
2. Climb stairs. This can be done in an office building or at home. Even if you don’t have time to do this as a separate exercise, take the stairs instead of using an elevator for a short workout.
3. Spend time on the treadmill. Home exercise equipment doesn’t always have to be expensive, and spending time on the treadmill or other machines provides you with a challenging workout in the safety of your home (Note: it is best to use exercise equipment in a cooler room, so as not to overheat your body.)
4. Yoga. Yoga is a great physical and mental workout, and almost always performed indoors. Try yoga at home, or attend free classes at a community fitness center.
5. Swimming. Indoor pools provide a great workout environment, and like yoga, sessions are often free (although some gyms might charge a small fee, depending on your location). If swimming doesn’t interest you, try water aerobics as an alternative!
6. Participate in household activities. Simple tasks, like sweeping the floor or decorating your home, provide a way to stay active within your home while doing something productive.
7. Pilates. Like yoga, Pilates is a positive energy-booster and the perfect way to stay active in the winter. Although you can do Pilates at home, taking classes might be your best bet.

You don’t have to become a couch potato just because winter provides you with the opportunity. Challenge yourself by trying any of the above workouts, fight off the winter lethargy, and feel better about yourself physically and mentally! For more information about indoor winter workouts, click here.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients
12 oz uncooked macaroni, elbow-type
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
12 oz fat-free evaporated milk
8 oz low-fat cheddar or Colby cheese, shredded
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
2 Tbsp dried bread crumbs
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Cook pasta according to package directions without added fat or salt; drain and transfer to a large bowl. While pasta is still hot, stir in sour cream; set aside.
Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear just around the edges (known as scalding). Reduce heat to low, add cheese and simmer until cheese melts, stirring constantly with a wire whisk, about 2 minutes; remove from heat and stir in mustard, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
Add cheese mixture to pasta; mix well. Transfer to a 3-quart casserole dish.
Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese; sprinkle over pasta.
Bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

Power Lunch Workout

Not everyone has time to get to the gym after work, and most of the time trying to fit in a workout, shower and lunch during your lunch break just isn’t doable. However, this doesn’t make working out impossible! Power lunch workouts allow you to get in both a balanced and challenging exercise session without feeling slighted at the gym. The key to maximizing lunch break workouts is intensity, but that doesn’t mean a strictly-cardio workout; in fact, the best way to take advantage of your time constraints is to mix cardio with strength-training, even if it’s just a small amount of both. Allow yourself the time you need to workout while still actually having a lunch break, even if that means a 15-30 minute workout; even a brisk walk during lunch is a great way to stay in shape. If you can afford more time, try these tips.

•Instead of an easy 45-minute cardio workout, aim for a shorter, more intense cardio session (about 65-75% of your maximum heart rate). Add in some quick sprints, allow yourself a cool-down period, and then do another short burst. Eventually, you’ll be able to maintain a quicker pace, which will shed some time off of an otherwise-lengthy workout.

•When strength training, 20 minutes probably won’t be enough to get all of the major muscle groups, so divide targeted areas up between alternating days (for example, try the chest, back, and neck groups one day, arms and legs the next, etc.)

•If you can’t do both cardio and strength training in one day’s session, alternate sessions between different days. Even if you can’t do everything on one day, you’ll still get a balanced weekly-workout.

Tuscan Pumpkin-White Bean Soup

Ingredients
1 sprays olive oil cooking spray, or enough to coat pot
1 medium onion(s), coarsely chopped
15 oz canned pumpkin
3 1/2 cup fat-free chicken broth
15 1/2 oz canned white beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 tsp ground oregano
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
6 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
Coat a large soup pot with cooking spray and set over medium-low heat. Add onion, cover and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes.

Stir in pumpkin, broth, beans and oregano; simmer 8 minutes.

In a blender, process soup in batches until smooth. (Note: Make sure not to overfill blender in order to avoid splattering.) Return soup to pot and reheat; season with salt and pepper.

To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top each with 1 tablespoon of grated cheese. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

Packing the Perfect School Lunch

When we send our kids to school for the day, we expect that they will be in the best of hands, receiving the best education, and given the opportunity to excel in the best of learning conditions; there’s not too much parents can do but trust the professionals in charge of our children’s education once they are in school for the day. However, the same cannot be said when it comes to lunchtime. While schools will often claim that the lunches they provide for its students are nutritious and well-rounded, there is really no way to guarantee that our kids are receiving the healthy lunches they need to grow fit and strong, both physically and mentally. The solution is simple: pack their lunch at home! Not only will you be able to ensure a well-balanced meal; you’ll also be able to pack a lunch they actually like, making lunchtime both a healthier and more enjoyable experience.

• When choosing the lunch’s main item, make sure you pick something high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep your kid energized and focused throughout the afternoon; foods high in refined carbs are quick-burning, and will leave your child tired and restless. Try a lean-mean-and-Swiss sandwich packed with produce on whole wheat bread, PB&J with pure-fruit jelly, a thermos of hot soup, or grilled chicken breast, with condiments used sparingly.
• Because so few kids get the daily recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, make sure to include a few of those as a side. Baby carrots, celery sticks, apple slices with peanut butter, homemade fruit salad, and grapes are all great sides that kids can agree on. A nut-and-raisin mix, small bag of baked chips, and Triscuits also work, but the big thing is to make sure your child gets enough nutrients to last them through the day.
• Drink selection is one of the most overlooked parts of a packed lunch. So many soft-drinks are loaded with the sugars and syrups that lead to obesity and other weight-related conditions, so make sure your child is has a zero-or-low-cal drink, preferably high in nutritional value. Water, unsweetened (or lightly sweetened) teas, low-fat milk, and 100% fruit drinks are all great alternatives to sodas and other sugar-filled beverages that leave kids filling sluggish and inattentive.

               

For more selections from the popular Eat This, Not That series, click here.

Praline-Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
15 oz canned pumpkin
12 oz fat-free evaporated milk
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute
1/2 cup sugar
4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
18 1/4 oz unprepared white cake mix
1/2 cup pecan halves, chopped
1/4 cup reduced-calorie margarine, melted

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat bottom and sides of a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

Stir pumpkin, milk, egg substitute, sugar and pumpkin pie spice together in a medium bowl until smooth; pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture and gently press it into pumpkin mixture to moisten. Sprinkle cake with pecans and then drizzle margarine evenly over top.

Bake, uncovered, until knife inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes. Cool completely before slicing into 16 pieces.

The Ultimate Brainpower Workout

The correlation between mental and physical health is often underestimated and overlooked. When we’re looking to boost our brain power, we rarely consider the impact that physical activity could make. Certain exercises send a larger supply of oxygen-rich blood is sent to the brain, increasing memory, attention-span, and problem-solving capabilities. MSNBC Health has provided a seven-day workout plan for those looking to stay both physically and mentally sharp; for those who already workout regularly, try tweaking your routine a bit to reap the ultimate benefits.

Day 1: Take a nature walk. Specialists from the University of Michigan discovered that both attention and memory improved nearly 20% when people switched from urban to more rural, scenic walks. Nature walks with fewer distractions, like cars, billboards, and loud noises (which include iPods) provide better results, and can have a calming effect.

Day 2: Try tai chi. It’s no secret that tai chi improves balance, but recent studies have shown that doing tai chi also improves your sense of touch, which fades rapidly after 40. Tai chi is a very controlled practice, and may take some time to get used to, but the benefits are definitely worth it.

Day 3: Add speed to your workout. Adding two three-minute sprints into your daily workout is a great cardio workout, which not only helps your heart, but also increases blood flow to the hippocampus; this means increased memory and verbal learning skills, which many people often fail to sharpen as they get older.

Day 4: Challenge your balance. Certain exercises (like day two’s tai chi!) can help with both muscle and brain growth. Those who lift weights in addition to performing balance-enhancing exercises (found here) have improved not only their appearance, but their decision-making skills as well.

Day 5: Toss a ball while walking. Simple multi-tasking is a great way to stay sharp, and what better time than when you’re exercising? Bouncing or tossing a ball while you walk is an easy way to improve your coordination and attention while still getting a great workout.

Day 6: Repeat day 3, with a friend. Keeping a large social network is a great way to stay in touch, maintain positive, healthy relationships, and prevent memory loss. Aside from that, encouraging others to exercise with you is a great way to keep from slacking off and skipping a routine.

Day 7: Repeat day 4, with your eyes closed. Challenging your brain by taking away visual cues helps enact parts of your brain that are normally at rest. Forcing your brain to adapt to problems without the use of visual clues helps improve your brain’s ability to successfully overcome new challenges. It may be tricky at first, but the long-term effects are worth it!

Open-Faced Turkey Reuben

Ingredients

2 slices light rye bread

3/4 oz. light Swiss-style cheese (such as Jarlsberg Light or Alpine Lace)

2 oz. deli-sliced turkey breast

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1/4 cup packaged sauerkraut, squeezed of excess moisture

Nonstick cooking spray

 

Instructions

Place bread slices on work surface; spread 1/2 tablespoon mustard on each slice.

On one slice, place cheese, turkey and sauerkraut. Top with second slice of bread, mustard side down. Press gently but firmly to adhere and close.

Spray a large skillet with nonstick spray; set over medium heat. Add sandwich and press down on it lightly while it cooks (you can even rest a flat pot lid or a heat-safe plate on top of the sandwich). Cook, turning once, until toasted and cheese has melted, about 6 minutes.

Serving size: 1 sandwich