4 Holiday Meals Using Fresh Produce

Traditional, holiday meals typically involve meat and carbohydrates. They're almost entirely missing the vegetable-and-fruit additions. It's time to mix up your cooking habits by adding some produce to those meals. Explore these top holiday meals that incorporate vegetables into the delicious ingredients.

Squash, Spinach and Bacon Salad Entree

Butternut squash is easy to find around the holidays. Chop it into small pieces, or use a peeler to create those curlicue shapes. Roast the squash until it has a golden appearance. Toss the squash with some fresh spinach and chopped bacon. You may want to drizzle some balsamic vinegar and oil on this dish, but it might not be necessary. The natural tastes from each food component makes this salad an entree for any holiday table.

Turkey Green Beans 

Saute green beans with some onions until everything is crispy. Pull out that leftover turkey, and add it to the vegetables. This quick-serve meal resembles a stir-fry creation, but it simply takes traditional green beans and modernizes them for future holidays.

Au Gratin Brussels Sprouts and Chicken

Get a nutritional blast from Brussels sprouts by serving them au-gratin style. Mix the vegetables with melted cheese, such as Gruyere or cream cheese, along with spices, heavy cream and bread crumbs. Make it a meal by adding cooked, chicken breast to the mixture. Bake it until everything is melted together with a golden color. No one will miss the steamed, Brussels sprouts at the corner of the table.

Cheesy Squash

Slice several, spaghetti squashes in half. Roast them with some olive oil for almost an hour. While this fresh produce is warming, create a roux with up to four cheeses. Pull the squash from the oven, remove half of the pulp from the boat and add this part to the warming roux. Use the roux and squash mixture to fill the boats. You're left with a cheesy delight that thrills everyone at the table. To complete this meal, add a meat of your choice to the roux. Chicken and turkey are popular choices.

Ask your loved ones if anyone is either vegetarian or vegan. Many of these holiday meals can be altered in order to accommodate a particular diet. Fresh produce is good for any age group, especially when you want to control some of those holiday calories before New Year's Day.

Why Matcha-Coconut Refrigerator Cookies are Going to be Your New Holiday Favorite

Serving up chocolate-chip cookies during the holidays may be a staple, but there are many other concoctions that will please the family. One of the newest trends today is matcha-coconut refrigerator treats. These unique desserts are much different than the standard cookie. You won't notice the differences, however, because the taste sensation will take over the experience. Try a new, holiday favorite with matcha-coconut refrigerator treats. There are more benefits than you realize.

All-Natural Ingredients

Your new, favorite treat is full of natural ingredients. Aside from the everyday components, such as baking soda and powder, discover matcha powder, bee pollen and shredded coconut. Rolled oats and flour make up the bulk of the cookie with butter, eggs and vanilla extract bringing everything together. Go further with your all-natural ingredients by using organic or gluten-free products too. By eliminating fatty or synthetic ingredients, your holiday treats become healthy with hidden vitamins and minerals.

Feel-Good Properties

Matcha tea is a popular drink in Japan. High-quality leaves with bright-green hues offer a relaxed and happy feeling after drinking the brew. Within holiday treats, the matcha is in a powder form. By heating it up and consuming the matcha, you're releasing its feel-good powers. These sensations are due in part to the phytochemicals found in matcha leaves. The original plant photosynthesizes with the sun so that these chemicals naturally arise. 

Hidden Antioxidants

Matcha leaves also have antioxidants that include microbe- and bacteria-fighting organisms. Be aware that the powder version of matcha has some degraded antioxidants, but they're still present for your health benefits. To boost your antioxidant levels, the rolled oats offer their natural benefits. Fighting off oral ailments and everyday germs may be possible as you eat these treats around the holidays. Free radicals within your body can quickly damage tissue without strong antioxidants neutralizing their activity.

Fiber Perks 

The coconut and rolled oats have fiber within their structures. Fiber is a critical substance for healthy digestion. Without soluble fiber, your digestive system slows down and possibly impacts your health. Eat your holiday cookies and still receive a healthy dose of fiber. Don't forget to add in your raw fruits and vegetables to continue with a fiber-based diet. You'll feel better as you indulge in other holiday treats.

Bee Pollen Components

Bee pollen is an unusual ingredient because it's not a regular part of standard cookies. It acts along with the egg to bind the ingredients. Along with its functional aspect, benefit from its healthy components. Fatty acids, enzymes, minerals and vitamins are part of bee pollen because it's a core component of a complex ecosystem. Add it to your treats so that the entire family benefits from the anti-inflammatory properties. Any boost to your immune system during the holidays is a plus.

Recipes Call For Logs

Matcha-coconut refrigerator treats aren't just a pile of ingredients spooned into a cookie shape. Most recipes call for a refrigeration period. During that time, you're asked to roll the mixture into a log shape for easier cookie cutting before the baking. Nothing is more holiday-oriented than the log. The kids will love to see a log in the refrigerator, and they're welcome to help you cut it too.

Don't forget to employ your food processor for the rolled oats. By breaking down the ingredients, they'll adhere better to the bee pollen and various powders. The cookie's texture should be grainy, but with a smooth flow as you chew it. Matcha-coconut refrigerator treats may become a staple around your home for every holiday.