Wednesday

{Holiday Recipe} Pritikin Roasted Pumpkin Wedges

As soon as September hits I'm all for anything pumpkin. Not only do I love pumpkin recipes but I also love the colors and smells of various pumpkins. We have our family favorite traditional recipes which we cook every fall. I'm always on the look out for other pumpkin recipes. I'm thrilled to share with you this recipe for Pritikin's Roasted Pumpkin Wedges. These look so easy and are very healthy! Try the holiday recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners.

Pritikin

Enjoy richly roasted but very-low-calorie pumpkin wedges (only about 35 calories per serving) with this recipe, perfect for just about anything, from a mid-day snack to a side dish star for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Ingredients
  • 1 medium-sized pumpkin (about 5 pounds)
  • Generous pinch of cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon apple juice concentrate (Look for 100% apple juice concentrate in the frozen food section of your market.)
Procedure:
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Peel pumpkin the same way you would peel melons like honeydew. Cut off top and bottom so that pumpkin "stands" steady on your surface. To keep pumpkin from moving, a wet towel underneath is helpful. Then, going from top to bottom with a sharp knife, filet the skin off. Next, cut pumpkin into long wedges. Remove pulp and seeds.
  • Season your wedges with cinnamon and apple juice concentrate.
  • On a large nonstick baking sheet, bake for 25 minutes or until browned.
  • Serve hot.


{Holiday Recipe} Pritikin Orange Cranberry Sauce

I use to be one to avoid cranberry sauce until I had my mother in law's orange cranberry sauce. It beats any canned cranberry sauce on the market. I will share her recipe soon but in the mean time you can try this flavorful orange cranberry sauce from Pritikin. One thing that I love about this recipe is that they do not add any salt to the recipe. I cook low sodium at home so this one looks like a keeper. Keep healthy by cooking healthier holiday recipes this Thanksgiving and Christmas.

holiday recipe

Pritikin Orange Cranberry Sauce

With immense flavor and no salt, this sauce is a winner for both palate and blood pressure this holiday season. Serve alongside turkey for a flavorful dish!

Ingredients
  • (2 tablespoons per serving)
  • 1 cup chopped cranberries (fresh or frozen) 
    1 Tablespoon frozen apple juice concentrate
    2 oranges, segmented and chopped
    1 tomato, diced
    ½ teaspoon chopped garlic
    Half of red onion, finely chopped
    Half of jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
    1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill
    1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Procedure          
  • In a small saucepan, cook cranberries and apple juice concentrate on medium heat until the cranberries begin to break down, about 5 minutes.  Let cool.
  • In a large bowl, combine cranberry mixture and all remaining ingredients and mix well, using a spoon.
Let sit for 15 minutes in refrigerator. Serve with turkey or any type of poultry.

Thanks to Guest Chef Anthony and Pritikin for this tasty, healthy holiday recipe!


More Holiday Recipe Ideas



Tuesday

{Holiday Recipe} Roast Turkey Breast with Lemon and Sage Brown Butter

Here is an exciting Holiday recipe for you to try from Aussie guest chef Curtis Stone and The Saturday Evening Post. I don't know about you but I love brown butter and have several recipes which uses this technique. This recipe is perfect for those who do not plan on roasting an entire turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Turkey Recipe


Roast Turkey Breast with Lemon and Sage Brown Butter


(Makes 6 servings)

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cold water
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • Finely grated zest of 3 lemons
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed and peeled, plus 1 head garlic, halved horizontally
  • ¼ cup lightly packed fresh sage leaves
  • ¼ cup lightly packed fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
  • 1 (3 ¼-pound) boneless turkey breast
  • 1 large carrot, cut into 1 ½-inch chunks
  • 2 large celery ribs, cut into 1 ½-inch lengths
  • 1 yellow onion, cut into 8 wedges
  • ½ cup reduced-sodium turkey or chicken broth

Sage Brown Butter Ingredients

  • ½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
  • 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Leek and Herb Stuffing [Click here for recipe.]

Directions

  1. To brine turkey: In large bowl, combine water, sugar, salt, peppercorns, lemon zest, lemon juice, and crushed garlic cloves. Using side of heavy knife, lightly crush sage, thyme, and rosemary on cutting board, then stir them into brine. Submerge turkey breast, meaty side down, in brine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, and up to 8 hours.
  2. Meawhile, make sage brown butter: In medium skillet, stir 6 tablespoons of butter over medium heat for about 4 minutes, or until it melts and turns nutty brown. Add sage, shallots, and garlic and stir for about 1 minute, or until shallots soften. Pour butter into medium bowl and let cool. Add remaining 10 tablespoons butter to brown butter and blend well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  3. To roast turkey: Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove turkey from brine; discard brine. Rinse turkey under cold running water. Pat it dry with paper towels. Place turkey on cutting board. Using your fingers, carefully make pocket between skin and breast meat. Spread about ⅓ cup of butter under skin to cover breast meat completely, then rub ⅓ cup of remaining butter all over outside of turkey breast. Tie breast crosswise in a couple of places with kitchen twine to help it hold its shape.
  4. Spread carrots, celery, onions, and garlic halves on large, rimmed sheet. Set turkey breast on top and roast for about 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of turkey reads 155°F. Transfer turkey and vegetables to platter and let rest for 10 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, pour any pan juices into small saucepan. Let stand for 3 minutes, then spoon off fat that has risen to surface of juices. Set baking sheet over medium heat, then pour in broth and bring to simmer, scraping up browned bits in pan with wooden spoon. Add to skimmed juices in saucepan. Bring to simmer and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to sauceboat.
  6. In small saucepan, melt remaining sage brown butter over medium-low heat; transfer to bowl. Using large sharp knife, cut turkey crosswise into slices. Return turkey to platter and serve with stuffing, melted sage brown butter, and pan juices.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving

Calories: 688
Total fat: 34 g
Saturated fat: 20 g
Carbohydrate: 43 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 56 g
Sodium: 472 mg
This recipe and photo was reprinted with permission by The Saturday Evening Post.

More Holiday Recipe Ideas








{Holiday Recipe} Thanksgiving Turkey Gravy

It is extremely rare for me to make gravy. If I do make it then it will be at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Most of the time my mother in law makes it but sometimes I have to jump in and do it. I'm loving this Pritikin Thanksgiving Gravy because it is low sodium and uses vegetable stock. Do you have a favorite holiday recipe gravy recipe? Feel free to share it below.



Pritikin Thanksgiving Gravy

Ingredients

  • Drippings/vegetables from the turkey roasting pan
    1 pint vegetable stock (low-sodium)
    1 Tablespoon fresh chopped thyme leaves
    3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    2 Tablespoons tomato paste
    2 Tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons cold water

Directions

In a small saucepan on medium heat on the stove, reduce all ingredients, except cornstarch mixture, by about half (about 20 minutes). 

Thicken with cornstarch mixture.  Strain and serve. 




{Holiday Recipe} Roasted Pork Loin with Rosemary Salt, Shallots, Potatoes, Carrots, and Parsnips

One of my favorite cuts of meat is a pork loin roast. For those who do not like turkey, pork is a perfect holiday recipe choice. Believe it or not there are people who do not like turkey. This recipe is a guest chef recipe by Aussie Chef Curtis Stone. The combination of pork and rosemary makes this one tasty dish. Give it a try!
holiday recipes

Roasted Pork Loin with Rosemary Salt, Shallots, Potatoes, Carrots, and Parsnips

(Makes 6 servings)
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
  • 1 pound shallots, cut in half
  • 3 carrots, cut crosswise on the diagonal into 2-inch pieces
  • 3 parsnips (the same size as the carrots), peeled and cut diagonally into 2-inch pieces
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (hot or sweet)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
  • One 2 ½-pound boneless pork loin roast, preferably with top layer of fat still intact
  • ⅔ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
  2. Put potatoes, shallots, carrots, parsnips, and garlic in large heavy roasting pan, sprinkle with smoked paprika, and toss with 3 tablespoons of olive oil to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Spread vegetables evenly over bottom of pan. Place 2 rosemary sprigs on top.
  3. Finely chop enough of remaining 2 rosemary sprigs to equal 2 teaspoons. In small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon salt and chopped rosemary. Rub mixture together with your fingertips for about 1 minute, or until fragrant.
  4. Using sharp knife, score fat that covers top of pork by cutting shallow slashes (about ¼ inch deep) at 1-inch intervals, cutting into fat but not flesh. Rub pork all over with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Rub rosemary salt all over pork, working it into score marks, if desired, tie pork crosswise with kitchen twine in three or four places to help maintain its shape while roasting.
  5. Place pork fat side up on top of bed of vegetables. Roast for about 40 minutes, or until pork is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into center reads 125°F. Transfer pork to serving platter. Tent with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing (pork will continue to cook as it rests).
  6. Meanwhile, stir vegetables in pan and continue roasting them for about 10 minutes, or until tender and golden brown. Transfer vegetables to the platter with pork.
  7. Add broth to hot roasting pan and bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring with wooden spoon to scrape up browned bits in bottom of pan. Season with salt and pepper. Pour pan juices into sauceboat.
  8. Untie pork if necessary. Slice pork and serve it with roasted vegetables and pan juices.

Recipe and photo reprinted with permission by The Saturday Evening Post


More Holiday Recipe Ideas




Monday

The Holiday Rush is On! Discount Christmas Cards #TopoftheMantel #Sponsored #MC

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Cardstore. I received complimentary cards and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Yes the holiday rush is on. No one wants to rush the holiday season but there are only so many days to get everything done from now until the New Year. My to do list is filled with cleaning, baking, shopping, ordering cards and more. How about you and your holiday to do list? What is on it and do you have a plan of attack? 
discount christmas cards

I do make a schedule to keep track of all of our holiday parties and activities every year. I also use this schedule to post deadlines for when I need to get things done. This year our Christmas Open House is December 22nd. I usually have it the week after Thanksgiving. It is later this year which will give me more time to get ready or more time to procrastinate. 

My schedule includes baking treats, making gifts, ordering Christmas cards and online holiday shopping. I love ordering Christmas supplies, gifts and holiday cards online. We live in a small town so I do as much as I can online. This saves me a lot of time and alleviates a lot of extra stress.

This year I have ordered my Christmas cards online from Cardstore. They had everything I needed for my holiday cards including personalized photo cards. Cardstore will also print, stamp and send the cards for me. This saved me a lot of time and they will mail the cards when I need them to go out. I have no excuses in having late cards this year.

Do you send out holiday cards? Do you buy and mail? Order online and have them mail out? If you want to wipe this off of your holiday list I totally suggest you go online at the Cardstore and get it done! Their site is super user friendly and they had every variety possible. Here is one of the cards that I ordered this year. 
discount christmas cards

The wooden border is not part of my holiday card. I chose this one because I could get 12 photos showing a variety of pictures from this past year. Our family and friends love getting our photo cards every year. They love seeing how much my girls have changed. 

Jump to it TODAY! I have a discount code for you that ends 11/26. If I get an updated deal I will post it here as well. Just go to the Cardstore and enjoy a 30% discount on your holiday cards. 

Check out my 30 Days of Christmas Goodies to help you with your baking needs, too!



Enter to win 6 Month Diaper and Wipe Delivery Package #BabyShowersByMail

Baby time! I do not normally post baby stuff so hopefully this is a fun and unexpected bundle of joy for some of you. Are looking for that perfect gift for an upcoming baby shower or even maybe a grand holiday gift for the new family addition? We have the ideal solution - diaper and wipe delivery from BabyShowersByMail. Sounds like fun, right??? My baby kitty wants you to win! Read more and enter below.
BabyShowersByMail

BabyShowersByMail is the home of the "Year Supply of Diapers". You had find a selection of the best baby gifts hand picked by the experts at BabyShowersByMail including Diaper and Wipe delivery which can be purchased in packages of 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and even an entire 12 month year.

So no matter what you choose, you can find and send the perfect baby shower gift at BabyShowersByMail. The ordering process is simple and ships quickly. BabyShowersByMail offers products babies need and parents appreciate. When it comes to their diaper delivery service, they provide great service to their mom's by delivering the brands and sizes they need directly to their door.
Who do you know that could benefit from Diaper and Wipe delivery?

One lucky reader will receive a 6 Month Diaper and Wipe Delivery Package from BabyShowersByMail!

Ends December 23rd at 11:59pm, open to US, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure:SusieQTpies Cafe is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!



Pineapple Sweet Potato Casserole Thanksgiving Menu Plan Monday

Thanksgiving week is finally here! Two out of three girls are out of school for the entire week. The youngest will be done on Tuesday. I love the little breaks because we get to see the girls around the house, a tad bit more. How about your kids? Here is a yummy traditional pineapple sweet potato recipe and Thanksgiving Menu plan ideas. Have a great week with your family and friends.
sweet potato casserole
This is a sweet and savory recipe from my side of the family. I do not make it very often but it goes great with turkey or chicken. This is great for Thanksgiving because of the turkey. This is also perfect to make the day after any holiday meal if you have leftover sweet potatoes.

Pineapple Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients

1 pre-boiled or pre-baked large sweet potato, mashed
2 cans chunky pineapple, drained
6 Tablespoons flour
1 cup sugar
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Directions

1-Drain pineapple (save the juice) and add to a bowl with the sweet potato. Mix together.
2-In another bowl combine flour, sugar and stir in 2 tablespoons of the reserved pineapple juice - drink the rest!
3-Add the flour mixture to the pineapple mixture.
4-Stir in the cheese.
5-Add all to a buttered casserole dish.
6-Make topping below and then bake.

Topping

Ingredients

3 cups crushed cracker
1 stick melted, butter

Directions

1-Add crushed crackers on top of casserole. 
2-Melt butter and pour on top of crackers.
3-Bake 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until top is golden brown.

thanksgiving menu plan

Thanksgiving Week Menu Plan

Tuesday-Leftover soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
Wednesday-Fiesta Burgers and a salad
Thursday-

Our current Thanksgiving meal traditions include:

*Grandma B's Punch, stuffing which is called Potato Dressing, and White Turkey cut-out cookies 

*My traditional New Orleans Fried Turkey (there are a lot of recipes for this but all are basically the same), Mirliton Crawfish Casserole and Sweet Potato Praline Casserole, Pineapple Sweet Potato Casserole

*Chocolate Chip Pie (Kentucky Derby Pie), Brownie Pecan PiePumpkin Cheesecake,Lemon pie with or without meringue and Rhubarb pie 

*Mashed potatoescrockpot sweet potatoes, homemade orange cranberry sauce, almond green beans, turkey shaped veggie tray, rolls and butter shaped as a turkey. (the poor turkey butter gets decapitated)

Friday - Leftovers
Saturday-Turkey French Onion Soup (recipe and tasty photos coming this week)
Sunday-Leftovers

I hope you enjoy my Menu Planning Monday ideas. Feel free to go through the recipe box for other options. I don't know about you but I do find Dinner time menu planning easier in the fall because you can use your crockpot more!  I've linked up at OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday but not hosting my weekly link party until after the Holidays!  






Vote for the Maytag Dependable Leader Award #mc

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Maytag. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Time for the Maytag Dependable Leader Award five finalist and voting. Maytag needs your help to vote for the best candidate for the 2013 Maytag Dependable Leader Award. This award is set to recognize someone who has committed their time to making a difference in the lives of youth. Now through November 29th America can vote for one of the finalist. All five show exemplary work in their communities helping youth.

Here are the finalist:

Albert Hernandez – Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena
Ethan Harris – Boys & Girls Club of Bryant
Nate Ford – Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco
Ricky Gallon – Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay
Steve Hixson – Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland

You can vote once a day through November 29th, here. The winner will receive $20,000 financial grant to help his local Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Please vote! 



Sunday

Flu Season Is Here! 8 Handy Prevention Tips! #mc

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for MedImmune Specialty Care. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Yes flu season is here! Are you and your family ready? How do you keep your family healthy this time of the year? At least three out of five of my household gets the flu shot every year. These are the three who seem to be around kids and people the most. Besides the flu shot there are plenty of things we do and you can do with your family to stay on the healthy side this season. 
flu shots

Here are some of our favorite tips and tricks to help prevent the spread of colds and the flu.

#1 Tissues- Everyone needs their own box at home and in their backpack or purse. Include a baggie with the to-go box so that they can toss in the yucky kleenex and dispose of quickly if no trash can is available.

#2 Rest- Take time to rest. This is a busy season and everyone is always going. Make time to rest.

#3 Cough & Sneeze - Teach the family to use a tissue to cough or sneeze into. If it isn't possible then use your sleeve. Hands touch everything so keep them away from your face.

#4 Wash those hands - Keep the hands clean and wash after you cough or sneeze on them. Avoid hands of those around you especially if they are sick.

#5 Get a flu shot - If you aren't sure you need one or why you should get one, ask your doctor.

#6 Keep things OUT OF YOUR MOUTH - Teach the kids to not put toys, pencils, fingers, etc in their mouth. This is an uphill battle but so important to do. This goes for adults, too! How many times a day do you put a pen cap by your mouth?

#7 Have a fever? STAY HOME! - This should be common sense but it is NOT! If you have a fever you can spread what you have to others! If you are running a fever you are more likely to pick up something else, too. Stay home and rest.

#8 Educate yourself- Check out Elizabeth Pantley's free ebooklet, "A Parent's Guide to Flu Season." and get even more useful tips this season. I was shocked to learn how long germs last on surfaces and how long you can infect a person once you are sick. The ebooklet is full of valuable information.



Prevention is the key to spreading around colds and flu. Several in my family have already had fall colds. Colds are going to happen but we can all teach and do things to help prevent getting infected. The flu shot is one of those prevention steps we can all do. Check out that ebooklet above because Elizabeth explains more about the shot and why we need it.

Do you have any flu and cold prevention tips? Please share them below! Stay healthy!



12 Sweet Potato Recipes for your Holiday Meals

Thanksgiving dinner wouldn't be dinner without sweet potatoes. Before I started cooking Thanksgiving dinner I wasn't a huge fan of sweet potatoes for holiday meals. I never liked the marshmallows on top or mixed with weird ingredients. My first Thanksgiving dinner that I cooked in New Orleans I made Praline Sweet Potato Casserole. That dish is now a family tradition and gets made every single Thanksgiving. Here is that recipe and 10 other sweet potato recipes worth checking out. If you need more sweets to go with your holiday meals then check out my 30 Days of Christmas Goodies.
sweet potato recipe
For being my signature Thanksgiving dish I could not find one single picture worth reposting on my blog. That is crazy! I will make sure that I take many this year so that I can share it with you. The sweet potatoes are in the top left of this photo. They are the bomb!
sweet potatoe recipes

Praline Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients

Casserole

5 medium sweet potatoes, boiled or cooked in oven
1 stick of butter
2 eggs
1 large can PET milk
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Casserole Topping

1/2 stick butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup crushed corn flakes
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1-Cook potatoes until for tender. Peel off skin and mash with butter.
2-In a small bowl, beat eggs then add sugar and vanilla.
3-Add to potato mixture and fold together with milk.
4-Pour into a large buttered baking dish.
5-Bake in a 375 degree preheated oven for 20 minutes.
6-While baking, make topping. Cream butter and sugar. Then mix in rest of the ingredients.
7-After 20 minutes, pull out casserole and add topping.
8-Bake for 20 more minutes at a reduced oven of 350 degrees.

sweet potato recipe

More Holiday Meals Recipes and Ideas



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