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Thanksgiving

Sidesgiving Bracket Challenge

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and what would the holiday season be without family traditions? From Green Bean Casserole to Old Fashioned Skillet Corn Bread, everyone has a favorite Thanksgiving side. That got us wondering: is there one Thanksgiving side everyone loves more than the others?

To find out, we turned to you to share your can-did opinions on the best side. Family classics faced off in our official Sidesgiving bracket. The rivalry heated up faster than a deep-fried turkey, and you used your votes to decide which dish won the coveted title by voting in our Sidesgiving Bracket challenge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

It was a tough choice, but stuffing gobble, gobble, gobbled up the competition and was ultimately crowned the winner! Bring the Sidesgiving champion to your table with this delicious Bacon Corn Sourdough Stuffing from Nutmeg Nanny.

Libby's Sidesgiving Champion

Libby’s® Helps Consumers Give Thanks with Sixth Annual “Cansgiving” Sweepstakes

Fruits and vegetables brand awards winning families with prizes to maximize their Thanksgiving feasts and provides donations to Meals on Wheels America  

 

Marion, N.Y. (November 1, 2018) – For the sixth consecutive year, Libby’s® Fruits & Vegetables is launching its annual “Cansgiving” sweepstakes encouraging fans to submit photos illustrating what they are most thankful for this holiday season. Whether customers are thankful for time spent with friends and family, long-standing holiday traditions or making new memories, the iconic fruits and vegetables company invites all fans to share their images of what inspires their gratitude this Thanksgiving season.

Fans can enter the Cansgiving sweepstakes by submitting their photo depicting what they are most thankful on www.GetBacktoTheTable.com/Cansgiving, or by sharing their picture on the Libby’s Facebook page or their personal Twitter pages using the hashtags #Cansgiving and #sweepstakes. Libby’s will award ten participants, chosen at random, with a $500 gift card for use toward their family’s holiday feast, plus an assortment of Libby’s fruits and vegetable products to help them prepare for the meal. The sweepstakes opens at noon EST on Nov. 1, 2018, and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 16, 2018. Official rules are available at www.GetBacktoTheTable.com/Cansgiving.

In honor of the season that’s all about giving back, Libby’s is proud to support Meals on Wheels America, a national organization dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. The organization will receive a monetary donation of $5,000, $500 made in the name of each winner of the Cansgiving sweepstakes, as well as Libby’s fruits and vegetable products, to help advance their mission of supporting homebound seniors this Thanksgiving holiday.

“Some of life’s most special moments take place during the holidays and around the dinner table,” said Bruce Wolcott, Vice President of Marketing for Seneca Foods. “Our annual sweepstakes gives us the opportunity to help Libby’s customers create a memorable Thanksgiving with family and friends. We are also grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward by matching each Cansgiving sweepstakes prize with a donation to Meals on Wheels America to help support the incredible work they are doing to ensure that America’s homebound seniors receive the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks they need.”

For more Thanksgiving inspiration, fans can tune into a Facebook Live session with Haylie Duff on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. EST. Duff will discuss her holiday traditions and what she’s thankful for this year. She’ll also share one of her favorite Thanksgiving side dishes. During the Facebook Live session, Duff and Libby’s will also select two participants to be awarded with Thanksgiving-themed cooking prizes. Consumers may follow along by viewing Duff’s Real Girl’s Kitchen Facebook page.

All season long, Libby’s will be sharing Thanksgiving-themed recipes and entertaining tips on its website (www.getbacktothetable.com) and its social media platforms. Additional seasonal recipes – from crowd-pleasing appetizers to comforting side dishes to festive desserts can be found in Libby’s Digital Recipe Box.

About Libby’s® Fruits & Vegetables

Libby’s®, the nation’s second largest brand of canned vegetables, has been a staple on American dinner tables since the 1880s. With 117 product varieties, Libby’s offers among the industry’s most complete lines of canned fruit and vegetables, including Libby’s® Naturals, which contain no added sugar or salt. Since 1983, Libby’s® Fruits & Vegetables have been produced and distributed by Marion, N.Y. based Seneca Foods Corporation, an independent, publicly traded, fully integrated food processing company. For more information on Libby’s® and Seneca Foods visit www.senecafoods.com. For information on Libby’s mission, visit www.getbacktothetable.com, like Libby’s on Facebook, or follow @LibbysTable on Twitter or Pinterest.

About Meals on Wheels America

Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

 

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Gobble Up: Last Minute Dishes for the Big Day

Ready or not – Thanksgiving is here! You’ve been preparing for the holidays and getting everything in line, but sometimes things can slip through the cracks and you’re all of a sudden in a time crunch. Here at Libby’s®, we know the importance of getting back to the table and enjoying Thanksgiving dinner together. To help put your mind at ease, we have a few last minute dishes that will keep the whole family happy and full – and they won’t even realize these were last minute!

Stir Up Some Greens

Southern Style Green Beans

Green beans are a classic tradition to the Thanksgiving meal alongside the main course. Try these simple Southern Styled Green Beans made with Libby’s® Cut Green Beans. Simply add onion, potatoes, pancetta, and spices for an easy and tasty side dish. 

Sweeten Your Day

Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

Brown sugar is a staple ingredient for several holiday dishes – so it’s a must that you have one at the table this Thanksgiving. If you’re in a rush, try this Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots recipe made with Libby’s® Sliced Carrots and just four other ingredients. This delicious recipe only takes five minutes and is easily a crowd favorite.    

Bring Something New to the Table

Easy Pickled Beets

While having the traditional meal is yummy for everyone, why not bring something new to the family gathering? A simple side dish or snack while watching football on the couch are these Easy Pickled Beets, perfect for pairing with a cheese plate and crackers.

Don’t Forget Dietary Restrictions

Vegan Creamed Corn

You may have some family members with dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan. Bring this easy-to-make Vegan Creamed Corn made with Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn and vegan ingredients. They will appreciate you remembering their special dietary needs! 

Donatella Arpaia Talks Turkey, Family Traditions and Fuss-Free Entertaining

A Q&A Discussion with the Iron Chef America Judge, NYC Restaurateur and Mother 

Can you share a few Thanksgiving traditions that are unique and special to your family?

Thanksgiving is a time for families to gather and traditions—new and old—to be formed. In my family, we always had a tradition where each of us would tell everyone what we are thankful for.  Two years ago, my son, still a toddler, insisted that he should select who gives thanks, so we made him the “conductor” of giving thanks! He alone selects the order of who gives thanks and often provides commentary if he isn’t satisfied with the answer.

I also make the dreaded “kids table” the coolest place to be with arts and craft projects and little presents.  Every year, I provide kids with the task of making place cards for the table. Last year, the place cards were leaves and this year, they will be pinecones!

Let’s talk Thanksgiving prep. How far in advance do you begin planning the menu? What do you do the week before—and also the day before—to ensure the actual holiday is as seamless and stress-free as possible?

Can’t stress this enough – you must plan ahead otherwise you will not enjoy the holiday! Two to three days before, I get all shopping done. As a rule, I try to get all sides, stuffing and gravy done one to two days before. On the day of, I focus on turkey and desserts! For my veggie sides, I measure and organize all ingredients and then label them and put them in fridge. That means that on the morning of Thanksgiving, I am just assembling my veggies with the help of Libby’s canned vegetables. It’s so easy! One of my favorite quick—and delicious—dishes that you can make the morning of are these Sautéed Peas with Honey and Feta!

Sauteed Peas with Honey and Feta

Hosting the Thanksgiving meal doesn’t mean that all the work should fall on you. Many hands make light work, especially many little hands. 🙂 Any tips for getting kids involved in the cooking?

It’s a shame that in rush of trying to get everything done, we miss golden opportunities of making memories with our little ones.  Like most moms, I try to get my son to eat his veggies, I found that when I make him part of the process, he is proud and wants to eat them. I love this easy festive carrot recipe for Southern Candied Carrots with Gingersnap Crunch. I take a large zip lock bag along with a rolling pin and make him crush the gingersnap cookies instead of using the food processor. I then have him sprinkle the crumbs on top! He loves this activity and proudly tells everyone that he made the dish!

Southern Candied Carrots with Gingersnap Crunch

Another great project is to provide small individual cakes.  Provide each child with his or her own mini cups of frosting and decorations! Don’t micromanage or look for perfection – just set them up with their own work station and provide paper “chef” hats. They’ll feel important and proud of their individual creations.

What is your favorite classic Thanksgiving dish and why?

My stuffing! It’s made with Arborio rice, sausage and mushrooms – it brings me back to my childhood. Every year, I say I will do it differently, but I always crave the original that my mom made for me growing up.

Here at Libby’s, we’re all about honoring traditions and savoring those classic dishes, but also love learning new ways to make our meals even more wholesome. What tips do you have to make the big feast a bit healthier?

I think the sides are just as important as and sometimes even more exciting than the main event. Thanksgiving is a time of variety and abundance. The easiest way to make it healthier is to eat your veggies!  Libby’s makes it easy to prepare a wide variety of sides and do it in a fun and tasty way that isn’t boring! Case in point: my recipe for Brown Butter Green Beans with Garlic Almond Bread Crumbs.

 

Brown Butter Green Beans with Garlic Almond Bread Crumbs

 

Final—and most important—question: what are you especially grateful for this Thanksgiving season?

This past year, there were plenty of health scares within the family, especially with my parents. I am so grateful that we weathered the storm together as a family.  I am grateful that my siblings and I were able to be there for our parents as our parents have always been there for us.

Libby's® Thanks Fans with Fourth Annual "Cansgiving" Sweepstakes

Iconic fruits and vegetables company to award prizes to fund Thanksgiving feasts for consumers and charity partners  

Marion, N.Y. (November 1, 2016) – Libby’s®, the nation’s second largest brand of canned vegetables, launched today its fourth annual “Cansgiving” sweepstakes, which encourages fans to submit photos illustrating what they are thankful for this holiday season. Whether it is favorite family traditions, secret recipes or quality time spent with loved ones, the iconic fruit and vegetable company invites all to share the images that inspire their gratitude this holiday. All month long, Libby’s will also share Thanksgiving-themed recipes and tips for entertaining on its website (www.getbacktothetable.com) and social media platforms.

Fans can enter the Cansgiving sweepstakes via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram by posting a photo of what they are most thankful for, and including the hashtags #Cansgiving and #contest. Libby’s will award ten participants, chosen at random, with an electronic gift card of $350 and an assortment of Libby’s fruit and vegetable products to help each family’s Thanksgiving feast. Then, in the spirit of paying it forward, each winner will be able select one of three charities who will receive a matching monetary and product donation made on behalf of Libby’s, for a total of $3,500 in donations. The three charities include:

            –   Meals on Wheels America, the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based senior nutrition programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity.

            –    City Harvest pioneered food rescue in 1982 and, this year, will collect 55 million pounds of excess food to help feed the nearly 1.4 million New Yorkers struggling to put meals on their tables. Through relationships with farms, grocers, restaurants, and manufacturers, City Harvest collects nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and delivers it free of charge to 500 soup kitchens, food pantries and other community food programs across the five boroughs.  In addition to helping meet the immediate need for food, City Harvest developed long-term Healthy Neighborhoods programs which partner with low-income communities to increase access to fresh produce and help residents shop for and cook nutritious, budget-conscious meals.

            –    Children’s Hunger Alliance, founded in 1970 in Columbus, is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in Ohio. The organization’s mission is to ensure children without access receive healthy food, nutrition education and physical activity. In 2015 the organization worked with partners including childcare providers and afterschool programs to help provide more than 5.2 million nutrition meals and snacks to hungry children throughout Ohio’s 88 counties. 

The sweepstakes opens at noon EST on Nov. 1, 2016, and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov.15, 2016. Official rules are available at http://www.getbacktothetable.com/cansgiving.

“Holidays are when some of life’s most cherished moments are made with family and friends,” said Bruce Wolcott, Vice President of Marketing for Seneca Foods. “We are thankful for our Libby’s family of customers, who bring us to their kitchens and dinner tables, and we hope our annual sweepstakes enhances memorable Thanksgiving experiences with loved ones. We are also grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward by matching each prize with a donation to organizations that are doing incredible work to help fight hunger in America.”

In conjunction with the sweepstakes, Libby’s will host a Cansgiving Twitter party to celebrate family, food and giving thanks at 12 p.m. EST on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. Iron Chef Judge Donatella Arpaia and Amy Lupold-Bair of popular blog Resourceful Mommy will host the party and award four randomly selected participants with Thanksgiving-themed cooking prizes. Twitter users can follow along using the hashtag, #Cansgiving.

For more Thanksgiving inspiration, consumers can search for seasonal recipes – from crowd-pleasing appetizers to comforting side dishes to festive desserts – in Libby’s Digital Recipe Box.

About Libby’s® Fruits & Vegetables

Libby’s®, the nation’s second largest brand of canned vegetables, has been a staple on American dinner tables since the 1880s. With 117 product varieties, Libby’s offers among the industry’s most complete lines of canned fruit and vegetables, including Libby’s® Naturals, which contain no added sugar or salt. Since 1983, Libby’s® Fruits & Vegetables have been produced and distributed by Marion, N.Y. based Seneca Foods Corporation, an independent, publicly traded, fully integrated food processing company. For more information on Libby’s® and Seneca Foods visit www.senecafoods.com. For information on Libby’s mission, visit www.getbacktothetable.com, like Libby’s on Facebook, or follow @LibbysTable on Twitter or Pinterest.

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Healthy Thanksgiving Hacks

By Kristin Kessler, Registered Dietitian

The holiday season is upon us, which means it’s time for fun, family, and food indulgence. Traditional Thanksgiving comfort foods like mashed potatoes and pie may be great for sentimental effect, but they aren’t great for the waistline. Try these healthy hacks to lighten up Turkey Day while still ensuring a happy, memorable meal for all.

 

Lighten Up Favorites

Thanksgiving comes just once a year, so this is not the time to forgo your favorite casserole or dessert! Instead, make just a few recipe modifications to cut down on the calories, fat, and/or sugar and create a “healthified” version. Swap butter with yogurt or cottage cheese, refined grains with whole grains (think: white rice versus brown rice or white bread versus whole wheat bread), and bake those previously fried recipes. Experiment with this Green Bean & Wild Rice Casserole, featuring Libby’s® French Style Green Beans. Cream of celery soup stands in for traditional cheese and butter, keeping the dish light, yet flavorful.

BYOHD (Bring Your Own Healthy Dish)

 

Curb overindulgence at Thanksgiving potlucks by contributing your finest go-to veggie or fruit-filled dish. That way, you know there will be at least one guilt-free option to lean on. This Carrot and Beet Salad (made with Libby’s® Sliced Carrots and Sliced Beets) makes a colorful, nutrient-rich addition alongside your favorite indulgences.

Make Like A Turkey and Trot

 

Let this Thanksgiving be about more than just food! Start the day with a brisk walk around the block to get your blood flowing and appetite revved. Then, remain mobile throughout the feast by pausing for mini stretch breaks in between courses. After you’ve filled up on food, ditch the usual turkey-induced nap and instead rally the group for a friendly game of flag football (once you’ve fully digested, of course.) 🙂