My three kids love this recipe for Mini Calzones, which I created for CanolaInfo’s “Home is Where the Heart is” Recipe Collection in honor of World Heart Day. They are so simple to prepare and tasty, your kids won’t even know just how heart-healthy they are.
Like other busy moms, keeping my family healthy is on the top of my list. For me, it’s about making small changes, like using canola oil in a dish as opposed to butter or other oils. I’ve always used canola oil in my kitchen, but have learned so much more during this campaign. Here is some of my favorite info:
1. Everybody needs a little fat in their diet. Fat is a part of every cell in the body. It’s a valuable source of energy, and it aids in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. It also slows digestion so that you feel full longer.
2. Not all fats are created equally. Unsaturated fats are healthy and saturated and trans fats are unhealthy. The type of fat consumed is as important as the amount.
3. Canola oil is one of the healthiest oils in the world. It has the least saturated fat of any cooking oil (half that of olive oil) and is free of trans fat and cholesterol. Canola oil also has the most omega-3 fat of any cooking oil and is a good source of vitamin E.
4. Canola oil can help protect the heart for just pennies a day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a qualified health claim for canola oil on its potential to reduce the risk of heart disease when used in place of saturated fat. About 1.5 tablespoons of canola oil a day is enough to help keep the cardiologist away.
5. Canola oil is extremely versatile. Its light and neutral flavor make it ideal for almost any culinary application. In addition, the smoke point is extremely high at 468 F, making it ideal for sautéing or frying.
Also, if you haven’t already, check out the new interactive cooking game at Facebook.com/CanolaInfo, which features my recipe collection! You become the chef and try to beat the clock!
Since we are headed into Labor Day weekend and the start of college football season, I thought I would share one of my all time top requested recipes. College football here in Alabama is huge. As you may know, Auburn also won the National Championship last year. Alabama people are passionate about football, whether it’s Alabama, Auburn, or UAB, so parties, tailgating and food are super important. This recipe for Grilled Blue Corn Nachos is always a hit with friends during football season. I like to make these on the grill for that extra hint of grilled flavor. Feel free to bake them in the oven, and they still taste great!
Now that Thanksgiving is over, I thought you might want to get back to some lighter weeknight fare. This meatloaf is amazing, and only 142 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving. I developed it for Laura’s Lean Beef Company, and it’s a hit. If you don’t like meatloaf, but you like feta cheese, Greek seasonings and herbs, you will love this dish. This recipe makes two meat loaves, so you can freeze one or give one to a friend. I gave my extra to my friend tennis friend, Heidi. She told me that she didn’t really like beef in recipes. When she tried it, she said that I changed her entire mind-set. When you make this recipe, you will see what I mean.