Page 8 - Van Wig & Associates Newsletter, Lakewood Edge ~ October 2019 Issue

entertaining and food

LIFESTYLE

eeding your family
wholesome meals that
Feveryone enjoys can
feel like a challenge, especially
on busy days. With different
food preferences and limited
time to cook, it’s easy to fall
into meal ruts where you eat
the same thing over and over
again.
It’s time to add a little
color and creativity to
dinners with meals that
come with maximum taste
and nutrition achieved with
minimum effort. Here are
five ideas to inspire healthy
dishes the whole family will
love, with extra nutrients
you can feel good about:
DIVIDE YOUR PLATE
Let your plate be your
guide in showing one of
the easiest ways to make
sure your family is getting
enough good-for-you foods.
In general, divide your
plate into quarters. Half of
the plate should be filled
with vegetables like a salad QUICK TIPS
or a combo of fruit and
broccoli in one quarter and ON ADDING EASY, ENJOYABLE AND HEALTHY
vegetables, such as steamed
sliced peaches in another.
On the other side, a quarter ELEMENTS TO YOUR FAMILY’S MEALS
would be for whole grains
including whole wheat toast include all of the ingredients extra nutrient boost without and kale tossed with Asian Try using frozen fruit as an
or brown rice. The final for a gourmet salad. All you sacrificing taste, puree some Avocado dressing and topped affordable simple base for any
quarter would be for lean have to do is toss and serve. steamed cauliflower and add with honey roasted sesame smoothie. You can also add in
protein, such as chicken to mashed potatoes to make chips, crunchy wonton vegetables like chopped frozen
breast, eggs or beans. HEALTHY HIDDEN them extra delicious and strips, and sweet dried corn. spinach for a vitamin boost
EXTRAS wholesome. You can also pair it with a you won’t even taste among
UTILIZE SLAW KITS It can be an endless battle turkey burger or an avocado all the fruit. Mix with ice and
Packed with fresh produce, to get kids (and adults!) to eat CREATIVE TWISTS crab salad and you have a milk or juice and blend until
slaw salads are a wonderful more vegetables. Try being Sometimes you have to restaurant-quality meal. smooth.
addition to any meal that creative when it comes to shake things up to keep meals
adds a satisfying crunch. including vegetables into interesting, but it doesn’t SMOOTHIES With these five tips and
However, most people don’t family favorites. For example, require trying out complex Want to give your family tricks, you’ll change your
have the time or the know- add a subtle sweet touch to new recipes. Roll the new healthy fruits and vegetables mealtime mindset and be
how to make restaurant- your mac and cheese with Fresh Express Asian Avocado while they feel like they’re able to shake up your family’s
quality slaw. Fresh Express a bit of pureed pumpkin or Premium Slaw Salad Kit into getting a treat? Whip up menu with healthful fare to
makes dinner a culinary supercharge spaghetti sauce a wrap for a great lunchtime smoothies as an easy breakfast please palates of all ages. n
adventure. Their new, chef- by adding finely chopped meal. It comes with a blend of or a nourishing drink that
inspired Premium Salad Kits sweet bell peppers. For an Napa, red and green cabbage works with virtually any meal. ©2019 Brandpoint.

GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES
WITH OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES

DIRECTIONS THE OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES

Preheat the oven to 300 F (150 C). Line a small
THE SANDWICH baking sheet or baking pan with parchment paper.
Prepare the oven-dried tomatoes ahead of time. To peel the tomatoes, bring a small saucepan of
Alternatively, place the pieces of sun-dried tomato water to a boil. Meanwhile, on a counter nearby, place
on a double thickness of paper towels to drain. a mixing bowl filled with ice cubes and water. With a
Preheat a skillet large enough to hold the two small, sharp knife, cut out the tomatoes’ cores and, on
full sandwiches over medium heat. You can also the opposite, flower end of each, score a shallow X.
make one sandwich at a time if your skillet is With a wire skimmer or slotted spoon, lower the
smaller. Meanwhile, generously spread one side of tomatoes into the boiling water. As soon as their
each of 2 bread slices with a quarter of the butter. skins begin to wrinkle, 5 to 15 seconds, use the
Place those slices buttered side down in the skillet. skimmer or spoon to lift them out and transfer them
Place a slice of the cheddar on top of each bread immediately to the ice water to cool.
INGREDIENTS slice in the pan; arrange 4 oven-dried tomato or As soon as the tomatoes are cool enough to

FOR THE SANDWICH: drained sun-dried tomato pieces evenly on top; handle, peel off and discard their skins, starting at
and place the provolone over the tomatoes. Place the X and, if necessary, using the knife to help. Cut
• Oven-dried tomatoes • 2 slices white cheddar cheese,
(recipe attached) each about 3/4 ounce another slice of bread on top of the cheese, and each tomato into 4 equal wedges through the stem
spread the tops with the remaining butter. and flower ends. With your finger or a small spoon,
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, • 2 slices provolone cheese, Cook the sandwiches until their undersides are scoop out the seeds from each quarter, leaving just a
at room temperature each about 3/4 ounce deep golden brown, about 3 minutes, pressing petal-shaped piece of tomato flesh.
down on them lightly but firmly with the underside Place the tomato pieces side by side on the lined
• 4 slices good-quality egg bread
such as brioche or challah, or white of a metal spatula halfway through that time to baking sheet. Sprinkle evenly with the sugar, salt
sandwich bread compact and seal each sandwich. Use the spatula and pepper. Drizzle evenly with olive oil. Place the
to turn them over, press down gently again with garlic cloves and thyme sprigs among the tomatoes.
FOR THE OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES: the spatula, and cook until their other sides are Bake the tomatoes until they begin to shrivel and
• 2 good-quality medium-sized ripe • Pinch freshly ground white pepper nicely browned and the cheese has melted, about darken in color, about 45 minutes. Remove the pan
tomatoes 3 minutes longer. from the oven, and set aside. When cool, cover and
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon sugar With the spatula, transfer the sandwiches to store in the refrigerator and use within one day. n
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut each
• Generous pinch kosher salt sandwich diagonally in half and transfer to serving
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme © 2019 Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc.
plates. Serve immediately. Serves 2. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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