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Sweet Peas

A Happy, Healthy Halloween

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Boo! Here’s a frightening fact: the average American consumes 3.4 pounds of candy over Halloween. Not pieces—pounds! While it’s of course appropriate to celebrate special occasions with a sweet treat (or two), serious sugar binges spell scary health consequences (think: metabolic dysfunction, weight gain and liver damage—eek!). To avoid overconsuming confectionaries, fuel up on nutritious chow before canvasing for candy. Here are three recipes that will transform your Halloween from a dentist’s nightmare to a dietitian’s dream.

Stew On This

Soup is a low-calorie, high-flavor solution to pre-trick-or-treating hunger. This recipe for classic Minestrone Soup features a colorful collection of hearty veggies, including Libby’s® Sliced Carrots, Sweet Peas, Cut Green Beans and Whole Kernel Sweet Corn. Warning: the flavors may give goosebumps…in a good way. 🙂 

Lettuce Get Healthy

This Halloween, don’t forget to dress up…your salad, that is! The three P’s—peas, pistachios and pecorino—add a fresh, savory and non-spooky flavor to this Warm Baby Green Salad.

Beet ‘Em & Eat ‘Em

Swap your bowl of candy corn for a bowl of this Roasted Beet Salsa. The recipe pairs Libby’s® Sliced Beets with an array of spices (i.e. jalapeño peppers, cilantro, lime juice, orange zest and more). Serve it with your favorite crackers and a slab of goat cheese for a frightfully filling appetizer.

 

Unplug, Relax & Unwind: Tips for Mindful Eating

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A wholesome meal enjoyed in the company of loved ones can nourish our soul and sustain our spirits long after we digest the needed nutrients. In today’s fast-paced world, we often think of food as a means to an end: food = calories = energy needed to power through the day. To reconnect with the wholly satiating power of food, we invite you to practice mindful eating. Here are a few tips and recipes that will show you how.

1)     Digital Detox: Designate mealtime a device-free zone. By setting aside your technological distractions, you will focus your attention on the food you are putting in your mouth and fully appreciate the various tastes and textures at play. This Tortilla Chip Macaroni & Bean Soup—fortified with Libby’s® Organic Black Beans, fired up with chili powder and topped with crunchy tortilla chips—is a complex collection of flavors that deserves your undivided devotion.

 

2)     Bite by Bite: Instead of chowing at lightning pace, set down your fork after each bite and completely chew everything before going back for more. This will allow you to truly savor every bite and better recognize when you are full. In the spirit of taking things slow, try out this Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken and Veggies, a tender and melodic medley of bite-size chicken, Libby’s® Sliced Carrots, Sweet Peas and more. 

 

3)     Meaningful Chatter: The best complement to any meal is quality conversation. This means looking your dining mates in the eye, asking thoughtful questions and sharing important moments from your day. Get the conversation going with this El Paso Polenta Pie, a stick-to-your-ribs combo of polenta, Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn, Organic Black Beans and a decadent three-cheese blend.  

 

 

 

Foodie Fixations: Today’s Top Culinary Trends

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One of the most wonderful things about the culinary world (and there are many!) is that it is constantly in flux. New recipes, cooking methods, presentation styles and even ingredients seem to appear every day, keeping our palates forever enticed and entertained. Here are three top foodie movements of the moment. Try them out today before tomorrow’s trends arrive.

 

 1.     Bento-Style Lunches: When it comes to packed lunches, simple brown-bagging no longer makes the cut. Instead, bento lunches—compact, balanced, and visually appealing meals packed in a box—are becoming a staple in school cafeterias. These Pinterest-perfect arrangements encourage well-rounded eating and make mealtime more fun for picky eaters. Libby’s® 4 oz. Vegetable Cups fit particularly well inside these lunchboxes.  

 2.     Plant-Based Proteins: Move aside, meat. Plant-based sources of protein (think: lentils, chickpeas, nuts and other beans) are stealing the mealtime spotlight. Hop on the bandwagon with these Sweet & Smoky Peas, starring Libby’s® Sweet Peas and Libby’s® Organic Garbanzo Beans. This protein-filled combo also packs serious flavor, thanks to cinnamon, sugar and smoked paprika.

 3.     Portable Soups: On-the-go soup offers both health and convenience, two increasingly valued qualities in food. Try out the trend with this Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup with Maple Roasted Garbanzo Beans. It’s a creamy, complex mixture of autumn’s finest flavors, including maple, cinnamon and nutmeg. Prep work is minimal, but the recipe requires about six hours of simmering in the crock pot, so it’s ideal as a weekend project. Once ready, the soup can be stored in the fridge and then transferred to a thermos for easy eating anywhere.

 

Freshened Up Old-Fashioned Eats

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This Sunday is Grandparents Day, a dedicated moment to recognize your most special loved ones. Convey your affection by preparing a home-cooked meal with love. In tribute to grandparents—and in celebration of both the past and the present—we compiled the following timeless recipes made anew with a modern twist.  

 

 

A Cheesy Classic

Nothing incites mouth-watering nostalgia quite like a classic casserole. But we often think of the dish as a dinner-only entrée. This Cheesy Brunch Casserole proves that’s just not so. Made with Libby’s® Mixed Vegetables, lean ham and your favorite French bread, it’s a savory delight, no matter what time you chow it.

Beyond Basic Mac

True, there’s nothing wrong with your standard Mac & Cheese, but have just one taste of this Kicked Up Mac & Cheese and you’ll never look back. Libby’s® Sweet Peas and Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn lend texture and sweetness, panko bread crumbs provide a crunchy topper and diced pimentos tie it all together with a touch of heat.

Cuisine Collision

  

A classic Italian dish lends inspiration from south of the border in this hearty, finger-licking Mexican Lasagna. Tortillas stand in for pasta noodles and Libby’s® Organic Black Beans, chili beans, salsa, olives and hamburger unite for a flavorful filling.  

Perfect the Picnic: Recipes for Al Fresco Feasting

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Is it just us or is summer whizzing by? Before we know it, we’ll be back in back-to-school mode. Until then, soak up the last of these lazy days with the kids. One particularly fun and no-fuss way to do so is with a picnic. The following recipes are quick, healthy and ideal for open-air dining. Plus, they’re all finger-friendly, so you can ditch your cutlery and dig in!

 

Dip Into This

 

Start things off on a healthy high note with this Sweet Pea Dip, a light, creamy and easy peas-y concoction starring Libby’s® Sweet Peas. It’s a dipping delight with pita bread, raw veggies and multi-grain crackers, and you can also spread any leftovers on the next day’s sandwiches (although we’re betting it will be devoured on-site!).

Whimsical Meets Wholesome

Research has shown that giving nutritious food a fun name increases a child’s likelihood of eating it. Test out the theory yourself with these Green Wheels and Ham Sandwiches, made with Libby’s® Cut Green Beans, whole-wheat tortillas, ham and spreadable cheese. They’re tasty, quick to pull together and easily portable—a prime pick for a picnic.

Mini Morsels

 

The only thing better than cake is cake you can eat with your hands. Complete your feast with these gooey, guilt-free Carrot Cake Bites. They’re full of whole wheat flour and Libby’s® Sliced Carrots and low in sugar and fat. Go ahead – have another…it’ll be one less thing to pack up!

Summer Sides That Brighten Up Dinner

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It’s official: summer is in full swing! And while we welcome the warmer weather, steamy temperatures can sometimes wilt your inspiration in the kitchen. Luckily, a superb, summery side dish can salvage any meal. Here are a few tasty and simple-to-prepare recipes that will elevate your dinner from mediocre to mouth-watering. Bonus: all three are prepared sans-oven, so you can stay cool while your taste buds heat up.

 
Better Your BBQ

Summertime is practically synonymous with BBQs and no BBQ is complete without a proper slaw. For a tasty twist on traditional coleslaw, try Summery Slaw, made with Libby’s® French Style Green Beans and Whole Kernel Sweet Corn. Colorful, crunchy and full of flavor, it’s a sunny complement to any meaty main course.

Freshen Up With Veggies

Fluffy couscous and zesty veggies join forces in this Cilantro-Lime Corn Couscous, featuring Libby’s® Sweet Corn, cherry tomatoes and baby spinach. The dish is harmoniously tied together with a light, flavor-packed dressing made with fresh lime and olive oil. Add it to tonight’s spread and freshen up mealtime in no time.

Add Pep with Pepper

Sometimes, all your food needs is a little kick of flavor. Jazz up any entrée with a generous side serving of Lemon Pepper Parmesan Peas. Made with just three ingredients (Libby’s® Sweet Peas, lemon pepper and parmesan), this sweet-yet-spicy combination will put that pep back in your dinnertime step.