Bringing in the New Year always seems to need something to munch on, like dips and chips. At Harvest Home, our New Year’s resolution is to cut our calories and eat more vegetables.  Eating delicious is still our primary goal.  For the New Year’s celebration, here are some different dips you can enjoy without overly salty, fatty chips.

Skip some chips:

• Raw veggies like carrots, celery, cucumbers, cauliflower and even broccoli are great with dips.  Lower in calories with no salt, and they give you essential vitamins and minerals and a great new taste.

• Small bits of pita bread or lettuce leaves easily scoop up dips.  

• Make your own veggie “chips” for munching: Use Kale, Brussel Sprouts, broccoli, carrots, or sweet potatoes.

Making Veggie chips to munch on or dip:

• Preheat the oven to about 400 degrees.

• Cut sweet potatoes or carrots into matchstick size sticks; kale in 1-inch strips; quarter Brussel Sprouts.

• Spread veggies on a cookie sheet in a single layer. Keep different veggies separate.

• Sprinkle lightly with olive oil to keep from sticking. Too much oil makes them soggy and not crispy.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once.

• Check tenderness with a fork. Remove and let cool.

Note: For additional taste, add other seasonings and cook for another minute.

Surprising Dips: Salsa, guacamole, or hummus, delights almost everyone. Have you tried, Muhammara, a Middle Eastern dip with peppers and walnuts or Black Bean dips that you can make in different ways? Simple to make, loaded with taste and nutrition. See Recipes and Tips below.

For the New Year, discover that eating a bit healthier, just means trying new tastes! 

Start the New Year by making something NEW, something delicious, something that’s good for you and most of all something you’ll enjoy.  

We Wish You a Happy and Healthy New Year

From All of Us At Harvest Home

RECIPES: Dips that add FLAVOR to your veggies

Muhammara: Dip or sandwich spread

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (12-ounce) jar roasted red bell peppers (7 ounces of peppers), drained well

• ¾ cup walnut halves

• ½ cup fresh whole wheat breadcrumbs

• 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses, homemade or store-bought (or 1 ½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar + 1 teaspoon honey)

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

• ½ teaspoon ground cumin

• ½ teaspoon paprika

TO MAKE:

• Put all the ingredients into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade.

• Pulse until nicely blended, but not completely pureed, stop to scrape down the sides as needed.

Easy Black Bean Dips: More protein and less fat. Much like fiber, protein helps you stay full and prevents overeating.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 can black beans

• ½ cup salsa

• 2 Tablespoons lime juice

• 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

• ¼ teaspoon cumin

TO MAKE: Mix ingredients together

Spice up the Black bean dip:

• Add chopped tomatoes, red onion and a dash of vinegar or anything else you want

• Top with shredded cotija cheese or Mexican cheese

TIPS: Adding More Fruits and Veggies

Tasty snacks

Fast Fruit Snacks Treats:

• Apple slices dusted with cinnamon and sugar

• Banana lightly dipped in cocoa powder

• Pear slices with a dash of ginger and sugar

Raw veggie snacks:

• Carrot sticks with yogurt and dill dips

• Cauliflower with hummus

• Broccoli stems with salsa

• Celery with peanut butter      

Avocado with a twist: In case you want a change from guacamole.

Mix the following:

• 1 avocado

• 2 Tablespoons of mayo

• 2 Tablespoons of Greek yogurt

• 1 ½ teaspoons of lemon juice

• 2 teaspoons of mixed herbs like dill, onion and marjoram

Be creative with the herbs.  Add anything you want.

Fan of Spicy food:  Add 1 Tablespoon of Sriracha to 1 cup of Greek yogurt and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder. Taste and adjust.

Eat what you love:

• Avocadoes: Dense with nutrition contain 20 vitamins and minerals.  Creamy, smooth, slightly nutty taste is liked by  babies as much as adults.

• Oranges: Sweet, juicy, low in calories, high in vitamin C to fight off colds. Just perfect.