Black Friday and #OptOutside Preparation Guide

The holiday season is finally here despite the difficult time during a global pandemic. Although you may find it hard to contain your excitement, it is important to be aware of the health status in your area and take precautions to celebrate safely!  Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, is always the […]

Prepared carrot cake bites on a cookie sheet

Carrot Cake Bites

Recipe from NC EFNEP Ingredients Directions Nutrition Information per Serving 110 Calories, Total Fat 4.5g, Saturated Fat 3g, Protein 1g, Total Carbohydrate 15g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Sodium 55mg. Excellent source of vitamin A. You may also enjoy: A Healthy Holiday Classic – Sweet Potato Casserole Pumpkin Mousse Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes Don’t miss another great blog: Subscribe Now

Prepared pumpkin soup

Thai Pumpkin Soup

This is a simple and delicious soup that uses canned pumpkin. It has a nice amount of heat and interesting flavor thanks to the lime juice topping and the Thai red curry paste. I prefer to blend the soup so you don’t have whole pieces of onion but that is optional. I also prefer to […]

Prepared serving of mousse in a dish

Pumpkin Mousse

This is a quick, easy, healthy, and delicious pumpkin dessert that can be eaten as a snack or dessert around the holidays or really anytime you are craving the flavor of pumpkin.  If you need the crunch of the crust, feel free to layer the bottom of your bowl or sprinkle the top with graham […]

Sweet Potato and Banana Casserole

This year I decided to experiment with a healthy remix to a holiday classic. I landed on two takes of Sweet Potato Casserole – one that is velvety in texture and reminds me most of the traditional version and the one below that has more of a firm texture with a yummy banana flavor.  If […]

Prepared sweet potato casserole in a ceramic dish

A Healthy Holiday Classic – Sweet Potato Casserole

With the holidays just around the corner, many of us are dusting off recipes that we use only a few times a year. If your family is like mine, Sweet Potato Casserole is always on the menu at the holidays. Sweet potatoes are full of vitamins, minerals, and a great source of fiber, but with […]

Baking Food Safety

Our colleagues at the NC Safe Plates team have prepared a Baking Food Safety Fact Sheet with tips to bake safely this holiday season! Baked goods should be prepared, baked and stored properly to prevent foodborne illness. Avoid eating foods containing raw flour or eggs, including pre-packaged items. Keeping Clean Decorating Storing Baked Goods Raw […]

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Recipe from NC EFNEP Ingredients 1 Cup Skim or 1% Milk (Plus 1 Tablespoon) 4 Teaspoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder 1 Teaspoon Honey 1 Peppermint Tea Bag Directions  Heat one cup of milk in a microwave-safe container for about one minute Add 1 tablespoon of milk and the cocoa powder to a mug  Mix with a fork […]

Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes

Recipe from NC EFNEP Ingredients Recipe makes 1 dozen 3 1/2-inch pancakes 2 cups flour (use 1/2 whole-wheat) 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1/2 cup canned pumpkin 1 3/4 cup skim milk 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Vegetable cooking spray Directions Wash […]

Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Recipe from NC EFNEP Ingredients 12 jumbo pasta shells (1/2 of 12-ounce package) 1 1⁄4 cups fat-free ricotta cheese 3⁄4 cup pumpkin puree 1⁄2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 cloves garlic 2 tablespoons dried basil 1⁄4 teaspoon ground sage 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper 1 cup pasta sauce Directions Cook pasta shells according to package directions. […]