Healthy Comfort Food

There’s a distinct chill creeping into our evenings; a sure sign that fall is digging in its heels. Although I’m sad to see summer go, there are some things I am looking forward to. This is a time when we start transitioning from light salads to more decadent comfort foods. It’s a time for hot cocoa in front of a roaring fire; a time when our instincts are telling us to indulge.

But since most of us will spend our winter days in a heated building, we don’t really need extra insulating pounds. So, let’s strike a balance and enjoy some healthy comfort foods that won’t cause us to increase a pant size.

 

Here are some of my favorites:

 

Mashed Cauliflower

Ingredients:

1 medium head cauliflower

1 tbsp. Reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tbsp. Olive oil

Clean and cut cauliflower into small pieces. Boil for seven to eight minutes. Drain well and pat dry.

Use a food processor to puree the hot, dry cauliflower with remaining ingredients.

Courtesy of Food Network, George Stella

 

Veggie Lasagna

Ingredients

4 zucchinis

16 oz. cottage cheese (with the other ingredients, you won’t taste this flavor).

1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 eggs

1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, cleaned and thinly sliced

Sauce:

4 large tomatoes

3 cups of sundried tomatoes

½ cup of white onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves

1 tsp dried basil

¾ tsp. Salt

Add all sauce ingredients into a food processor and blend to your desired consistency. Set aside.

Thinly slice the zucchinis lengthwise with a mandolin or sharp knife.

Combine cottage, mozzarella, ½ of the Parmesan cheese and two eggs together in a large bowl with ¼ cup of sauce.

Moisten the bottom of a lasagna pan with sauce, and then add one layer of zucchini strips. Layer 1/4 of your cheese mixture, and then ¼ of the cremini mushrooms. Moisten with sauce and repeat the layering process to create three more layers. Top with a layer of sauce and the remaining Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until heated through.

Courtesy of Kimberly Snyder.net/blog/2012

2 Comments
  • nanci
    Posted at 19:50h, 31 October Reply

    U talked about the dressing “fake” in the costco mag, but u didnt say what, bsides kale, u put in it. Woukd love complete recipe pls!
    Cauliflower recipe above sounds delish!
    Thx, nanci

    • Deborah Enos
      Posted at 16:02h, 05 November Reply

      Hi Nanci,
      The “fake” for the Caesar salad is use Baby Kale instead of Romaine lettuce. Mix the dressing as directed and pour over the kale.
      Enjoy!
      Deborah

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