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Fresh, healthy family meals

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Recipes to help boost iron levels, aid plasma donation recovery

(Family Features) Chef Nate Appleman knows how important it is to serve healthy meals to your family – ones they actually want to eat. Before having his first child, he transformed his eating and exercise habits and lost 85 pounds to get on a healthier path.

Now, he’s cooking meals for his family, including 14-year-old Oliver who was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease as a toddler – an inflammation of the blood vessels that can cause damage to coronary arteries – as a healthy lifestyle is important to help manage the disease. Since Oliver’s diagnosis, Appleman made it his personal mission to create awareness of Kawasaki Disease and for the critical need for plasma donations that many people with the disease rely on for treatment, which is why he partnered with Abbott to bring attention to the need for plasma donations.

Plasma is a powerful part of your blood that supports essential bodily functions. It’s a lifeline for thousands of people who are immune-compromised and live with a variety of chronic and complex diseases. In fact, more than 125,000 Americans rely on medication made from plasma every day, according to the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA).

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a serious shortage of plasma donors – average donations per center in the United States were down approximately 11% during the first few months of 2021 compared to the previous year, further deepening the nearly 20% decline in donations in 2020 compared to 2019, according to the PPTA.

Donating plasma is a safe and relatively easy process. Since plasma is replaced in the body within about 24 hours, it can be donated up to twice per week. With a donation that typically takes between 1-3 hours, you can make a lasting impact by providing lifesaving medicine for patients like Oliver.

It’s a good idea to fuel up with iron-rich foods before and after donating, so Appleman created these fresh, nutritious recipes he loves to serve his family: Marinated Skirt Steak, Lemon Chicken with Roasted Red Onions and Potatoes, and Cheesy Frittata with Veggies.

Learn where you can donate at bethe1donor.abbott.

Marinated Skirt Steak

Recipe courtesy of chef Nate Appleman on behalf of Abbott

Vinaigrette:

  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1/4 cup fish sauce
  • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons raw sugar
  • 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 lime, juice only
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 small Thai bird chile or serrano chile, chopped
  • 1/4 head finely shaved green cabbage
  • 1/4 head finely shaved purple cabbage
  • 2 carrots, thinly julienned

Skirt steak:

  • 1 1/2 pounds trimmed skirt steak
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons sriracha
  • salt, to taste
  • 3 cups cooked brown rice
  • 1/2 cup crushed peanuts
  • 1 lime, quartered, for garnish
  1. To make vinaigrette: In large bowl, mix oil, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar, water, sugar, cilantro, lime juice, garlic and chile. Toss cabbage and carrots in vinaigrette; refrigerate until ready to serve.
  2. To make skirt steak: Marinate steak in coconut milk, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, sriracha and salt, to taste, at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours.
  3. Heat grill to high.
  4. Grill 3-4 minutes each side until medium rare.
  5. Let rest 3 minutes.
  6. Thinly slice steaks against grain and serve with vinaigrette, rice and crushed peanuts; garnish with lime wedges.

Lemon Chicken with Roasted Red Onions and Potatoes

Recipe courtesy of chef Nate Appleman on behalf of Abbott

Lemon chicken:

  • 1 whole chicken, cut into eight pieces
  • 1 ounce minced garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel seed
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

Potatoes:

  • 2 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes
  • salted water
  • oil

Cauliflower:

  • 1 head cauliflower
  • salted water
  • ice
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon tamari or soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Roasted onions:

  • 1 red onion
  • salt
  • oil

For serving:

  • 3 ounces pitted Castelvetrano or green olives, cut into quarters
  • 5 ounces wild arugula
  • 1 lemon, quartered
  1. To make lemon chicken: Marinate chicken in mixture of minced garlic, granulated garlic, paprika, smoked paprika, fennel pollen, dried oregano, coriander and salt; let sit overnight.
  2. To make potatoes: Boil potatoes in heavily salted water until tender. Cool, peel and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks. Toss with oil to coat; reserve.
  3. To make cauliflower: Cut cauliflower into florets and blanch in salted water 1 minute; shock in ice bath. Remove from ice and dry. Toss with mayonnaise, tamari and parsley; reserve.
  4. To make roasted onions: Preheat oven to 450 F. Peel onion and slice into 1-inch rings. Toss with salt and oil; roast until slightly caramelized with texture. Chill and reserve.
  5. Preheat oven to 450 F.
  6. Bake chicken on sheet pan approximately 15 minutes. Add potatoes and cauliflower. Bake approximately 15 minutes then switch oven to broil approximately 10 minutes.
  7. Squeeze lemon over reserved onion.
  8. When chicken is crispy and reaches internal temperature of 165 F, remove from oven and add onions and olives. Plate chicken, potatoes, onions, olives and cauliflower on top of arugula and garnish with lemon.

Cheesy Frittata with Veggies

Recipe courtesy of chef Nate Appleman on behalf of Abbott

Roasted Garlic:

  • 2 heads garlic
  • olive oil
  • salt

Frittata:

  • oil
  • 2 medium leeks, sliced
  • 8 ounces blanched, chopped broccoli
  • salt, to taste
  • 9 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 ounces grated Parmigiano Reggiano
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  1. To make roasted garlic: Preheat oven to 400 F.
  2. Slice 1/4 inch off entire heads of garlic and place cut sides down in 1-liter casserole dish. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt; cover with lid.
  3. Bake 35-45 minutes until heads of garlic are soft and light brown. Let cool then use back of knife to squeeze garlic from pods.
  4. To make frittata: Lower oven to 375 F.
  5. In saute pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook leeks until soft; add broccoli then season with salt, to taste, and remove from heat.
  6. In mixing bowl, mix roasted garlic, sauteed leeks and broccoli, eggs, parsley, Parmigiano Reggiano and cream; place in 9-inch pie dish and bake approximately 20 minutes until top of frittata is brown. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before cutting and serving.


SOURCE:
Abbott

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EDIBLES

Shake up family meals with a versatile superfood

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(Family Features) It’s easy to fall into a dinnertime rut, cooking the same meals with the same ingredients time and again. When your family is in search of a delicious way to shake things up in the kitchen, consider new ways to cook favorite dishes without completely rethinking the menu.

Replacing tired ingredients is an easy solution when classic recipes become bland and boring, which is a perfect reason to try cooking with 4th & Heart Ghee. As a 1:1 substitute for butter or oil, its spreadable texture makes it easy to use in baked goods, grilled dishes and beyond.

This superfood can do all the things butter can do – like make toast taste awesome and trick your kids into eating broccoli – but with additional benefits. For example, it maintains its molecular integrity at high temperatures, can be digested by lactose intolerant people, supports weight loss, improves digestion and reduces inflammation.

Consider these benefits of choosing 4th & Heart Ghee instead of butter:

  • Grass-fed and pasture-raised: It’s packed with naturally occurring fatty acids and CLA, which can improve gut health and biochemistry.
  • Spreadable and shelf-stable: Ghee is shelf-stable for up to 12 months and is best kept in the pantry. This means you never have to scramble to bring butter to room temperature quickly when baking or risk mangling your toast with cold butter.
  • High smoke point: When oil smokes, it becomes a trans fatty acid. With a smoke point of 485 F, ghee lets you cook away without worrying about high temperatures.
  • Natural source of butyric acid: Butyric acid naturally occurs in your gut and in ghee, helping your body absorb nutrients from the foods you eat.
  • Buttery taste: Ghee made in the traditional style provides a delicious, light and buttery taste, perfect for this Sweet Potato Bowl with Cilantro, Turmeric Ghee and Lime. It’s ideal for a light lunch or dinner as it’s bursting with vibrant flavors and wholesome ingredients.

To find more benefits of cooking with ghee, along with recipe inspiration, visit fourthandheart.com.

Sweet Potato Bowl with Cilantro, Turmeric Ghee and Lime

  • 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 2 tablespoons 4th & Heart Turmeric Ghee, divided
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, plus additional for garnish, divided
  • 1 lime, juice only
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional)
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
  2. In large bowl, toss cubed sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon turmeric ghee, cumin powder and smoked paprika; add salt and pepper, to taste. Spread sweet potatoes evenly on baking sheet and roast 25-30 minutes, or until tender and slightly crispy on edges, turning halfway through.
  3. Cook quinoa according to package instructions. Once cooked, fluff with fork and set aside.
  4. In medium bowl, mix cooked quinoa with black beans, red onion and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro.
  5. Drizzle half the lime juice over quinoa mixture and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
  6. In large serving bowl, top quinoa mixture with roasted sweet potatoes. Drizzle remaining turmeric ghee over bowl. Squeeze remaining lime juice over top. Garnish with additional chopped cilantro and crumbled feta or goat cheese, if desired.


SOURCE:
4th & Heart Ghee

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Enjoy a fruit-infused Fourth of July

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(Family Features) As patriotic parties roll on throughout the day and fireworks light up the night, Fourth of July fun calls for favorite snacks that complement the excitement. Whether you’re a pyro or prefer to leave the fiery entertainment to the experts, one thing you can take charge of is the dessert table.

Summer is a perfect time to make fruit the star of the show, and Fourth of July is no exception. These special occasions can be uplifted with the aroma and flavor of Envy Apples, a leading apple variety that offers an invitation to guests to savor memorable moments together.

Their versatility makes them ideal for sweet treats like these Apple and Berry Cream Cheese Tarts for a patriotic touch with red, white and blue pops of color. These tasty bites are shareable, handheld and festive, making them a savvy solution that keeps entertaining simple.

Just combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk, pipe onto baked tart shells and top with raspberries, blueberries and star-shaped apple cutouts. Better yet, you can even swap out raspberries for preferred red fruits like strawberries or cherries, if desired.

If all the planning and entertaining leaves you short on time, turn to these Patriotic Apple “Donuts” that swap out traditional dough for thick, round apple slices topped with cream cheese and sprinkles. With just a few ingredients, you can slice the apples then let little ones in on the fun by spreading the cream cheese and decorating with sprinkles.

The craveable texture and crunch of Envy Apples provides balanced sweetness for these favorite desserts and beyond, giving guests the ultimate apple experience for all your Fourth of July festivities. They’re an appealing backdrop for pops of red and white in patriotic recipes as their flesh remains whiter longer, even after cutting or slicing, so they look fresh and delicious throughout the holiday.

To find more Fourth of July salads, main courses, sides and desserts, visit EnvyApple.com.

Apple and Berry Cream Cheese Tarts

  • 1 cup diced raspberries
  • 4 tablespoons sugar, divided
  • 1 cup halved blueberries
  • 1 package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 12 frozen mini tart shells, approximately 2 inches in diameter
  • 3 Envy Apples, cut into 12 large slices (around cores)
  1. In bowl, stir raspberries and 2 tablespoons sugar. In separate bowl, stir blueberries and remaining sugar. Let sit 30-60 minutes.
  2. Beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Spoon into piping bag and cut off small part of tip.
  3. Bake tart shells according to package directions. Once baked and cooled, fill halfway with cream cheese mixture.
  4. Using small star cookie cutter, cut shapes from apple slices.
  5. Top half of each tart with spoonful of raspberries and other half with blueberries. Top each with apple star and repeat with remaining ingredients.

Patriotic Apple “Donuts”

Servings: 6

  • 2 Envy Apples
  • 2/3 cup whipped cream cheese
  • 6-10 tablespoons red, white and blue sprinkles
  1. Cut apples horizontally to create thick, round slices. Use round cookie cutter to remove apple cores.
  2. Spread cream cheese on “donuts.” Top with sprinkles.


SOURCE:
Envy Apple

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Fuel family fun with this easy recipe

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(Family Features) Between work, after-school activities and homework, planning memorable family time is nearly impossible. Changing that mindset can start by making mealtime simpler with recipes that serve up big smiles for the whole family and fuel fun, even on weeknights.

As a quick and easy mealtime solution that gives families time back to make lasting memories, Mrs. T’s Pierogies are pasta pockets filled with the stuff you love like creamy mashed potatoes, cheesy goodness and other big, bold flavors.

You can find a little inspiration in recipes like these Pierogy Burrito Bowls, loaded with pierogies, cherry tomatoes, corn, sliced avocado and homemade avocado mayo crema for a simple meal everyone in the family can enjoy.

No matter how parents switch up their weeknight routines, like a trip to the park or an at-home movie night, pierogies make weeknight recipes like this one possible because they’re simple and easy to prepare, leaving more time for parents to do the stuff they love with the ones they love.

Find more recipes fit for family fun by visiting MrsTsPierogies.com.

Pierogy Burrito Bowls

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Burrito Bowls:

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1 bag (2 pounds) Mrs. T’s 4 Cheese Medley Pierogies
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen corn, lightly roasted
  • 1 ripe avocado, pitted and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup pickled red onions
  • 3/4 cup Cotija cheese
  • fresh chopped cilantro, for garnish

Avocado Mayo Crema:

  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1 ripe avocado, pitted and roughly chopped
  • 1/2 lime, juice only
  1. To make burrito bowls: In medium skillet over medium heat, add avocado oil. Saute pierogies in batches, approximately 8 minutes on both sides, until golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Divide pierogies, cherry tomatoes, corn, avocado, pickled red onions and Cotija cheese evenly among serving bowls. Garnish with cilantro.
  3. To make avocado mayo crema: In food processor, process mayo, avocado and lime juice until smooth.
  4. Drizzle avocado mayo crema over bowls, as desired.


SOURCE:
Mrs. T’s Pierogies

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