cooking light

healthy living

7 Sides Your Paleo Guests Won't Approve Of: Swaps They Will

Rest assured your turkey can be served as is, but the rest of the traditional Thanksgiving menu is not Paleo-diet friendly.

Rest assured your turkey can be served as is, but the rest of the traditional Thanksgiving menu is not Paleo-diet friendly. If one or more of your guests live by these caveman rules of eating, a typical Thanksgiving table can seem like a danger zone. Learn which traditional dishes are hands-off for the Paleo set, and how you can make them enjoyable to every seat in the house.

Turkey

  1. Mashed Potatoes: Although some potatoes are Paleo friendly, it's the rest of the ingredients that raise red flags. Try this lower-carb version of mashed potatoes with a few swaps: use cauliflower florets (about 16 ounces) and cut out the potatoes completely; instead of the butter, use an equal amount of coconut oil, and coconut milk can also be subbed in for the Greek yogurt. Just mix and you're cooking like a caveman!
  2. Gravy: Turning gravy Paleo is easy, just sub out the milk and flour. Milk can easily be substituted with egg yoke and flour with Arrowroot, a gluten-free thickening agent.
  3. Green Bean Casserole: Use Paleo guests as an excuse to mix up the traditional green bean casserole. This coconut almond version uses, you guessed it — coconut oil and coconut milk. Not a huge coconut fan? No worries. The shavings are almond, and neither the coconut oil or milk exude an island flavor.
  4. Cranberry Sauce: For an easy swap, boil your cranberries in freshly squeezed orange juice instead of sugar water. For each pound of raw cranberries you cook use one cup of juice. The sauce will be so sweet your guests won't notice a difference.
  5. Stuffing: This Thanksgiving favorite doesn't always need bread. Try this stuffing recipe made with lean ground beef to taste more like the real thing. It's loaded with heart healthy antioxidants like apples and walnuts to counter balance all of those yummy starches.
  6. Candied Sweet Potatoes: This recipe can stay relatively true to its original, as long as you swap out the sugar for pure maple syrup. Your non-paleo guests are sure to support that. Try this Maple Roasted Recipe as is. Since some Paleo eaters are iffy on the yams, you can cook the entire dish with sweet potatoes instead.
  7. Pumpkin Pie: One of the most difficult dishes to transform is Pumpkin Pie. Crust, cream, and fillers are all obstacles that can be near impossible of a Paleo posse to dodge. This Vegan Pumpkin dessert is served as a custard and considered almost as cute as it is tasty. Your guests will love the elegant nature to end the meal on a light note. It may even take a place in your recipe book.
Back to School

Dinnertime Crunch: Amanda Haas and Cooking Light's Fast and Family-Friendly Weeknight Dinners

Our tasty and easy Dinnertime Crunch series continues with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs sharing their favorite 30-minute weeknight dinners that help Mom and Dad spend more time with the kids each night.

Our tasty and easy Dinnertime Crunch series continues with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs sharing their favorite 30-minute weeknight dinners that help Mom and Dad spend more time with the kids each night. Today's recipes come from Amanda Haas, founder of One Family One Meal and the author of the new Cooking Light Real Family Food: Simple & Easy Recipes Your Whole Family Will Love.

It's hard not to love Amanda Haas's philosophy on family cooking. As the founder of One Family One Meal, Amanda believes there's no reason parents need to spend their evenings making separate dinners for the adults and kids in their lives. With proper meal planning, completed grocery lists, and a game plan in place, Mom and Dad can make one meal for the entire family — and eat it together. She's put her dinner philosophy to work in Cooking Light Real Family Food: Simple & Easy Recipes Your Whole Family Will Love ($13). The cookbook, which hits stores next week, offers up 150 kid- and grown-up-friendly recipes that can not only be made on busy weeknights, but that the kids can help create too! Here are three that fit our under-30-minute weeknight requirements.

Breakfast

Brain-Boosting Breakfast: Healthy School-Morning Recipes From Cooking Light

Our mouthwatering Brain-Boosting Breakfast series continues with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs creating healthy, brain-boosting breakfast ideas to help keep kids going throughout the day.

Our mouthwatering Brain-Boosting Breakfast series continues with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs creating healthy, brain-boosting breakfast ideas to help keep kids going throughout the day. Today's recipes come from Cooking Light's new Cooking Light: The Ultimate Kid-Approved Cookbook.
It's easy to lay on the sugar and fat in the morning. A quick trip to the grocery store turns up muffins, frozen pancakes, and waffles that are laden in unhealthy ingredients that not only pack on the pounds, but fail to help kids boost their brain power throughout their morning classes.

For years, Cooking Light has educated home cooks on the best way to make healthy meals, and now they've turned their attention to kids. In their new Cooking Light: The Ultimate Kid-Approved Cookbook ($19.95), the chefs offer up more than 100 recipes that moms and tots can cook together, including several breakfast options that help fill lil tummies and stimulate the brain. They're sharing oatmeal, egg, and smoothie recipes that tots will love eating before heading off to school.

Keep reading for Cooking Light's brain-boosting breakfast recipes for school mornings!

recipes

Fast & Easy Dinner: Turkey Scaloppine With Sage Sauce

If you're hungry for turkey, but don't want to wait till Thanksgiving to make the mouthwatering meat, serve up this simple turkey scaloppine recipe.

If you're hungry for turkey, but don't want to wait till Thanksgiving to make the mouthwatering meat, serve up this simple turkey scaloppine recipe. It comes together quickly, meaning you can enjoy it as an elegant and flavorful main any time of the week. When using thinly pounded slices of boneless turkey breasts, pay attention to the heat, as you don't want to overcook the poultry. The fast pan sauce is a mixture of white wine, chicken broth, fresh sage, and chopped pancetta. A couple pats of butter add a glossy sheen to the sauce. For a complete pre-Thanksgiving meal, serve with stuffing muffins and a glass of Beaujolais. Want the recipe? Check it out after the break.

Holiday

Healthy Holiday Recipe: Onion Bread Pudding

The other day I had a baguette that was past its prime, and my first thought was "I'll make bread pudding."

The other day I had a baguette that was past its prime, and my first thought was "I'll make bread pudding." But with all the holiday sweets around, I didn't want to add to the temptation with another dessert. So I dug up this recipe for a savory Onion Bread Pudding instead.

The recipe comes from Cooking Light, and despite the fact that the main ingredients are bread and cheese, this holiday side dish is comparatively low cal and low fat. For nutritional details and step-by-step photos, read more

fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Baked Pasta With Sausage, Tomatoes, and Cheese

When it comes to baked pastas, most people think of lasagna or macaroni and cheese.

When it comes to baked pastas, most people think of lasagna or macaroni and cheese. However, ziti, a thick, tubular pasta, is ideal for baking, especially when coated with a dense, rich sauce.

This comforting version is made with turkey sausage and canned tomatoes. It's a no-fuss, simple dish that's sure to win over even the most finicky eaters. To make this for your family tonight, get the delicious MyRecipes.com recipe and read more

recipes

Make Use of Your Summer Vegetables with a Skillet Stir-Fry

At the farmers market this week, there was so much gorgeous Summer produce — okra, fresh corn, English peas, tomatoes, zucchini — that I bought it all.

At the farmers market this week, there was so much gorgeous Summer produce — okra, fresh corn, English peas, tomatoes, zucchini — that I bought it all. Then I got home and wondered: What should I do with this Summer bounty?

My question got answered as soon as I came across this dish while browsing The Kitchen Sink. I was drawn to the vibrant colors, the seasonality of the vegetables, and the effortlessness of throwing them all together in one skillet. The original recipe didn't include peas, and called for more okra, but I modified it to my own personal tastes, as can you. To get my version of this scrumptious skillet, read more

recipes

Quick Pickling: Spicy Pickled Vegetables

I am a diehard pickle fanatic, but I realize the same doesn't apply for everyone.

I am a diehard pickle fanatic, but I realize the same doesn't apply for everyone. This easy pickling recipe for spicy vegetables, however, could convert even the biggest pickle skeptic. The medley of crisp haricots verts and pearl onions goes well in conjunction with meaty carrots and a subtle jalapeño bite.
These veggies are the perfect accessory for a Bloody Mary or lunchtime sandwich. Although this recipe makes a large amount of pickles, my supply is dwindling fast! To stock up on your own, read more

recipes

Come Party With Me: Summer Solstice — Dessert

After serving the Italian style meal at your summer solstice dinner, wait at least a half an hour before offering guests dessert.

After serving the Italian style meal at your summer solstice dinner, wait at least a half an hour before offering guests dessert. Set up a decadent dessert buffet with fresh berries and store bought sorbet. Supplement the menu with one show stopping, homemade dessert. A cold, creamy chocolate silk pie is rich and delicious. The pie has to be made in advance making it an ideal finish to a party. To check out the recipe, which I found on MyRecipes.comread more

recipes

A Delicious Dessert Without All the Fat

Rarely do I find a recipe whose ingredient list calls for reduced- or nonfat milk.

Rarely do I find a recipe whose ingredient list calls for reduced- or nonfat milk. I've always thought for the best results — especially when it comes to desserts — whole-fat milk should be used. However, when I saw this recipe for a rich, creamy, decadent crème brulee — that's made with 2 percent milk, I knew I had to give it a try. The process is simple, but takes some time because the vanilla bean steeps in the milk. To look at the recipe, a great one from MyRecipes.comread more