Healthy Holidays Test Kitchen

I have been researching making my favorite holiday dishes lighter & healthier, but wanted to try the recipes before the holidays arrive to make sure they are delish. Yesterday evening was my test kitchen, and after posting the pic above I received a few recipe requests. The baked turkey breast is just that, 2 turkey breasts seasoned & baked.

My fav & a few of the kiddos was the dressing & next would be the sweet potato casserole. Below I will list recipes, try them for yourself. Many were vegan, but I made a few adjustments that made them not so vegan.

Dressing:

Ingredients: 6 cups Cubed bread (slightly stale), 1/2 chopped apple, 1/2 box of raisins   2 T onion, &  celery, 1 cup vegetable broth, teaspoon of moved over butter.

Melt butter, add onion and celery, apple & raisins to soften & plump. Add to chopped bread crumbs & stir in vegetable broth. Add extra if it seems dry. Press mixture into casserole dish. Bake covered about 30-40 minutes, finish uncovered to crisp top.

Sweet Potato Casserole:

Ingredients: 4-5 Sweet potatoes cubed, 1/4 c pecans, 2-3 T brown sugar, 3 T maple syrup

Boil potatoes till soft, drain and mash. Mix in sugar, syrup, & half of pecans. I used electric mixer and a lil bit of veggie broth to make smooth. Spread in casserole dish, top with pecans & bake about 30 minutes.

Mashed potatoes:

Ingredients: 3LBS red potatoes, mostly peeled and cut into 4s. Veggie broth, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.

Boil and mash soft potatoes. Mix with electric mixed with veggies broth, salt, pepper, and garlic till smooth. Butter is so not needed.

Lower fat mac n cheese:

Ingedients: 12 ozs elbow noodles, shredded block of 2% cheddar cheese, 1/2 c fat free evaporated milk, 1/4 c low-fat sour cream, 1 egg beaten, salt & pepper to taste, sprinkle parm on top 

Boil noodles & drain. Mix all ingredients but parm. Place in baking dish, top with parm. Bake about 20-30 minutes.

The beautiful pumpkin pie

Ingredients:
Crust: 1/2 c walnuts, 1/4 c pecans, 1/4 c brown sugar, packet of milled flax seed

Blend in food processor, press in pie pan.

Filling: 1 small can pumpkin puree, 1/2 c brown sugar, 2t vanilla extract, 2t cinnamon, 1/2 t ginger, 1/2 t nutmeg, dash of cloves. 3 eggs, 1 c lowfat greek yogurt. i package neufchatel cheese.

Blend filling ingredients together, pour into crust, & bake about an hour or till firm.

Oven stayed on 350 for everything.

I will be making a version of green bean casserole soon & will post. Hope you try & enjoy, all were great! Yummies