Message from The Moms: Cuisinart 5-QT Casserole Giveaway
In less than 48 hours, we’ll be at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico. During our one-week stay at the spa, we’ll be teaching cooking classes and giving an evening lecture on The Secret to Healthy Meal Makeovers. We promise to post photos and musings to our blog at least once during our stay, so be sure to cruise over to Meal Makeover Moms’ Kitchen while we’re away.
We wanted to get this newsletter out before our departure because we have an exciting giveaway to share with you this month. One lucky fan will win a Cuisinart 5 QT Round Covered Casserole. This enameled cast iron cookware is perfect because January is National Soup Month and the pot/casserole is ideal for making steamy soups (and chili, stews, and a whole lot more)! To enter to win, visit our blog and post a comment about your family’s favorite soup recipe (you can also enter by posting a similar comment on our Facebook Fan Page). To whet your appetite, we posted a brand new recipe of our own for Piping Hot Peanut Butter Soup. We’ve served this soup to our families and to lots of our kids’ friends, and to say it’s a crowd pleaser would be an understatement!
We continue to create new recipes for book #2. So far, over half have been tested by moms and kids, and we’re busy fine-tuning the recipes based on all the helpful comments. If you are interested in testing a recipe, please fill out our Meal Makeover Moms’ Cookbook Survey. If you already have a recipe to test, get cooking, because your feedback is extremely important to us!
It’s time to pack our bags (or in the case of Liz, over pack but end up with nothing to wear) and make meals for our families so they consume a few healthy morsels while we’re away. As always, we look forward to staying in touch via our blog and Facebook Fan Page. Hasta luego everyone.
Makeover Recipe
Very Veggie Chili Makes 6 Servings
(1 generous cup per serving)
This hearty and healthy chili recipe is guaranteed to warm up your family on cold winter days. And if you happen to be hosting a Superbowl party next weekend, it’s guaranteed to get your guests cheering for more.
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
1 large carrot, cut into ¼-inch dice (about 1 cup)
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 to 3 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 15-ounce can black eye peas, drained and rinsed (about 1 ¾ cups)
1 cup all-natural vegetable broth
One 8-ounce package cubed super firm tofu (we like Nasoya), drained
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
One 7-ounce package Veggie Shreds Cheddar Flavor (we like Galaxy)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 7 minutes.
2. Stir in the garlic, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne pepper as desired and cook an additional 2 minutes.
3. Add the crushed tomatoes, beans, broth, tofu, and corn and stir to combine. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the carrots are tender, about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
4. Remove the cover, add 1 cup of the cheese, and stir until the cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve in individual bowls and top with the remaining chees
Nutrition Information per Serving:320 calories, 9g fat (0.5g saturated), 680mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate, 10g fiber, 21g protein, 130% vitamin A, 25% vitamin C, 40% calcium, 30% iron
Welch’s Harvest Grants:
Win a grant to plant a fruit & vegetable garden at your child’s school. Welch’s and Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine have teamed up to help 100 schools get started.
Learn more at
Veggie: Galaxy Nutritional Foods has updated its line of soy-based cheese alternatives. They taste like cheese but they are all cholesterol and saturated-fat free. Veggie comes in slices, shreds, blocks, and grated topping. Check them out at Galaxy Foods
101 Optimal Life Foods:
This new book by dietitian, David Grotto outlines how everyday foods help to remedy health issues – everything from acne to anxiety. The book also includes individualized meal plans and recipes. 101 Optimal Life Foods
Join the conversation on Meal Makeover Moms’ Kitchen as we share healthy recipes and helpful ideas for feeding your family. We welcome comments and questions!
Do your favorite recipes need a healthy makeover? We're here to help. All you have to do is send us an email with the recipe, the number of suggested servings, why you and your family like it, and why you think it needs a makeover. Keep those recipes coming!
This newsletter is published by The Meal Makeover Moms, 40 Glen St., Melrose, MA 02176.
