Category: Recipes

Recipes with fruits and vegetables

Balanced Meals with Libby’s® Fruits & Vegetables

by Cara, posted in Recipes

What exactly is a balanced meal? There are so many factors that help define a meal – there are seasonal, cultural and holiday considerations and occasions, time of day differences, dietary preferences, allergy restrictions, and more. Even the size and frequency of your meals is up for personal interpretation.

While what you prefer for breakfast during the work week is going to be different than what you eat at a family holiday party, both are considered meals, and there are ways to create a something nutritious and balanced in both scenarios.

There are two, fairly easy questions you can ask yourself when making a meal:

    What is my source of protein?

    What is my source of carbohydrates?

These two questions will help you balance out your meal to make sure you are getting enough of the right nutrients. The best part? These two questions work for gut-checking what you’re preparing at any time and for any occasion.

Here is why you should focus on your sources of protein and carbohydrates:

Protein is needed for growth, repair, and maintenance.  This includes muscle tissues, bones, nails, hair, skin, blood, and cartilage. Food sources: Meat, fish, seafood, beans, eggs, nuts, soy.

Carbohydrates provide your body with fuel for energy.  The fiber from carbs promotes good digestion, blood sugar decrease, and heart health benefits. Food sources: Potatoes, rice, bread, vegetables, fruits, sugar.

Libby’s® Canned Fruit & Vegetables are a source of carbohydrates that can provide your body some of the nutrients it needs. You can easily open a can of Libby’s® fruits or vegetables, add a protein of your choice, and just like that you have an easy balanced meal covering your nutrition basics.

Below are some recipes showing you how Libby’s® can be incorporated into a balanced meal.

http://www.getbacktothetable.com/index.php/recipes/sweet-and-spicy-grilled-jerk-chicken

http://www.getbacktothetable.com/recipes/easy-vegetable-beef-soup

http://www.getbacktothetable.com/recipes/skillet-chicken-pot-pie-pasta

For more recipe ideas and inspiration, check out Libby’s® Recipe Box and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

Sponsored by Libby’s & Seneca Foods

Pumpkin Spice Baked Oatmeal

Pumpkin Spice Baked Oatmeal

by Cara, posted in Recipes

Choose Pumpkins for Vitamin A, Antioxidants and potassium

Ingredients:

3 cups Old Fashioned Oats

1/3 cup Clearly Brown Sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons Clearly Cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon all spice

1/2 cup Clearly Raisins

3 eggs

1/2 cup pumpkin purée

1/4 cup Clearly Olive Oil

1 1/2 cups Clearly Milk (or almond milk)

1 teaspoon Clearly Vanilla

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8×8 baking dish with Clearly cooking spray then set aside. Add all the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl then gently toss to combine. Add eggs, pumpkin, olive oil, milk and vanilla. Stir to evenly distribute contents. Add oatmeal mixture to the greased baking dish and bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve. This baked oatmeal goes great topped with a little vanilla yogurt.

Healified Mac & Cheese

by Cara, posted in Recipes

1 box Clearly Organic Shells and Cheese

3/4 cup cauliflower rice (finely chopped cauliflower)

2 Tablespoons Clearly Organic Butter

1/4 cup milk

1 cup fresh baby spinach, chopped

3 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

2 Tablespoons tomato chucks for garnish

In a medium size sauce pot bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add pasta shells and cauliflower rice to boiling water. Boil rapidly for 8 minutes. Drain and add two Tablespoons butter, baby spinach, 1/4 cup milk and contents of sauce packet. Stir well and allow spinach to slightly wilt. Portion mac and cheese into serving bowls and top with crumbled bacon and tomato.

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

by Lisa, posted in Recipes
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Choose Strawberries for vitamin C, potassium, folic acid and fiber.

Salad:

  • 1 pound fresh strawberries, sliced
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
  • 2 cups spring mix greens
  • 1/3 cup Clearly Organic Mixed Nuts, chopped

Dressing:

  • 1/3 cup Clearly Organic Olive Oil
  • 2 Tablespoons Clearly Organic Sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons Clearly Organic Sesame Seeds
  • 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 2 Tablespoons onion, chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon Clearly Organic Paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • In a large bowl combine mixed greens, spinach, and berries.

In a jar with a lid add olive oil, sugar, vinegar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, chopped onion, paprika and Worcestershire sauce. Secure lid to the jar and shake dressing until contents are evenly distributed. Just before serving top salad with the desired amount of dressing.

Olive Hummus

Olive Hummus

by Lisa, posted in Recipes
Olive Hummus
  • 1 can Clearly Organic Garbanzo Beans, drained
  • 1/4 cup tahini
  • 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon Clearly Organic Olive Oil
  • 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted
  • 3/4 cup green olives with pimento
  • 1/8 teaspoon Clearly Organic Paprika
  • 1 Tablespoon Clearly Organic Olive Oil

In a food processor or blender add garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and 1 tablespoon Olive Oil. Pulse blend the contents until smooth. Stop to scrape sides as needed. Add kalamata and green olives. Pulse blend again until smooth. Scoop contents into a serving bowl. Top with paprika and olive oil. Add additional sliced olives if desired. The mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week if covered or in an airtight container.

Olive hummus goes great with seasonal sliced vegetables and Clearly Organic corn chips.

Mandarin Orange Rice and Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Mandarin Orange Rice & Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

by Lisa, posted in Recipes
Mandarin Orange Rice and Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Canned fruits can add flavor and nutrition to any meal! Choose can fruits that are packed in 100% juice or water. 

Ingredients:
11oz can Best Choice mandarin oranges, drained, juice reserved
Water (amount according to rice package directions)
1 Tbsp Best Choice vegetable oil, divided
1 tsp Best Choice salt
1 cup Best Choice brown rice
2 Tbsp bottled Thai sweet chili sauce plus additional for topping
1 pound medium Best Choice shrimp, peeled and deveined
12 whole large leaves of bibb or iceberg lettuce
1 cup matchstick cut or shredded carrots

Marinated
¼ cup Best Choice olive oil
¼ cup Thai chili sauce
Juice of ½ lime and some lime zest
Mix all marinate ingredients and shrimp together is a zip lock bag. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preparation
Follow package directions to cook the rice, substituting the reserved mandarin oranges juice for part of the water. Stir mandarin oranges and sweet chili sauce into cooked rice. Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp and sauté just until cooked though, about 4-5 minutes. Arrange lettuce leaves on large platter. Spoon rice mixture into center of each lettuce leaf. Top with carrots and shrimp. Drizzle with additional sauce.Serve with Mango Salsa
1 mango diced
½ lime juice
1 tsp chives
1 Tbls cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Chill and serve.

Homemade Hamburgers

Homemade Hamburgers

by Lisa, posted in Recipes
Homemade Hamburgers
  • 2 pounds of grass-fed ground beef
  • 1 egg, beaten such as a Clearly Cage-Free Egg
  • 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons evaporated milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon Clearly Organic Paprika
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Clearly Organic Ground Pepper
  • 8 bakery fresh hamburger buns

In a large bowl mix ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, onion, evaporated milk, paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix contents with your hands then form hamburger into 8 patties. Preheat and lightly oil grill grates. Grill patties for 5 minutes on each side, or until the meat has reached the desired doneness. Serve on a bakery fresh bun with all your favorite toppings.

Healthy Chicken for Two

Healthy Chicken for Two

by Lisa, posted in Recipes
Healthy Chicken for Two

Ingredients:

  • 6-8 oz. skinless, boneless chicken (white or dark)
  • 2 T Best Choice® extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt-free garlic seasoning
  • ½ tsp Best Choice® cumin
  • ¼ tsp Best Choice® ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp Best Choice® crushed red pepper flakes
  • ¼ cup Best Choice® long-grain brown rice
  • ¼ cup wild rice
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can Best Choice® stewed tomatoes, Mexican
  • ½ can water
  • Garnishes of Choice (Best Choice® cheese, Best Choice® sour cream, cilantro, etc.)

Instructions:

  • Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces.
  • Heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil in a non-reactive skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken.
  • Sprinkle with garlic seasoning, cumin and black pepper and hot pepper flakes, if using.
  • Stir until chicken is browned and remove from heat. (Chill until ready to serve.)
  • To skillet, add remaining oil, brown rice and wild rice.
  • Stir until it begins to brown and starts to smell nutty.
  • Add tomatoes and ½ can water to rinse can.
  • Bring to boil and simmer 40 minutes, or until rice is almost cooked.
  • Return chicken to skillet and cook an additional 5 minutes to finish cooking rice and chicken.
  • Serve with any or all garnishes.

Serves 2. Very easy doubled or tripled.

Greek Omelet with Egg Whites

Greek Omelet with Egg Whites

by Lisa, posted in Recipes
Greek Omelet with Egg Whites

Ingredients:
1/3 cup Best Choice® egg whites
3 – asparagus spears
1 tbsp Best Choice® feta cheese
4 – grape tomatoes, diced
1 tsp green onions, diced
1.2 tsp Best Choice® dill weed
1.2 tsp mint
2 – cucumbers
3 tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp garlic, diced
1 cup Best Choice® plain fat free Greek yogurt
Best Choice® salt & pepper to taste
Best Choice® cooking spray

Directions:

Tzatziki Sauce:

Peel cucumbers and chop into small pieces. Place into a serving bowl. Add dill, mint, lemon, and garlic to cucumbers and stir. Then, add yogurt and sprinkle with salt to taste.

Omelet:

In a medium skillet, sauté asparagus until tender, about 7 minutes. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine egg whites and tablespoon of the tzatziki sauce. Stir to combine. Spray non-stick skillet with cooking spray and bring to medium hear. Pour enough of the egg white-tzatziki mixture to spread evenly over the surface of the skillet. Cook until egg turns white, about 2 minutes. Slide omelet onto a plate and place asparagus, tomatoes, green onions and feta cheese in the middle. Fold the omelet into thirds to cover fillings. Serve hot with additional tzatziki sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Garbanzo Bean Salad

Garbanzo Bean Salad

by Lisa, posted in Recipes

Choose cranberries for Vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants. Eat them as a snack or throw them in a salad like the recipe below!

Ingredients

Dressing:
1/4 cup Olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons agave nectar
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Salad:
Two 15oz cans Best Choice Garbanzo Beans, rinsed and drained
2 Celery stacks diced
1 carrot shredded
1/2 cup Best Choice dried cranberries
1/2 cup Best Choice Pecans finely chopped
1/2 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preparation

  1. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, vinegar, agave, dill and red pepper flakes to make the dressing. Set aside so the flavors come together.
  2. In a large bowl, mix all the salad ingredients together, then mix in the dressing.
  3. Let chill in the refrigerator for one hour before serving. Can be served as is or spooned into lettuce leaves to make wraps.