Rae Udy

RECIPES: Vegetarian Sloppy Joes, Potato Nachos, Cherry Good Cobbler, Hot Spiced Tea

By Rae Udy

Prime time TV has returned for the fall season and eating in front of the screen is the best part of the yearly ritual. You can still eat a quick and healthy meal while enjoying your favorite sit-com or movie premiere.
Vegetarian Sloppy Joes is a delicious recipe from the Rice Council you can sink your teeth in while watching your favorite drama. This recipe is a sneaky way to include nutritious rice and beans in your family’s diet. One serving provides 13 grams of protein and just six grams of fat.
The Idaho Potato Commission has a unique recipe for Potato Nachos containing only two grams of fat and 121 calories. Fresh potatoes are cooked in the microwave with fiery hot sauce and nacho toppings for a different and delicious television treat.
I am always looking for a easy to make, low-fat dessert recipe and this one is sure to be a favorite. Cherry Good Cobbler recipe comes from the Cherry Marketing Institute and contains only one gram of fat and 175 calories per serving.
Serve the cobbler warm with Hot Spiced Tea for the last scene of the movie you have been waiting for. Containing one gram of fat and 88 calories this recipe from the National Honey Board puts a great finishing touch on a healthy night in front of the tube.

Is our show on yet? – Aidan, 7 and Trenton, 4.
VEGETARIAN SLOPPY JOES
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, seeded and chopped
3 cups cooked brown rice
1 sixteen-ounce cans Mexican style pinto beans
¾ (three-quarters) cup hickory smoke barbecue sauce
4 whole grain burger buns
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and green pepper and cook two or three minutes. Add rice, beans and barbecue sauce. Simmer ten minutes or until thick and heated through. Serve on buns. Yields four servings.

POTATO NACHOS
1 large Idaho Potato, unpeeled and thinly sliced
¼ (one-quarter) teaspoon salt
¼ (one-quarter) cup taco sauce or salsa
2 Tablespoons canned chopped green chilies, drained
2 Tablespoons chopped green onions
¼ (one-quarter) cup 40 % less-fat shredded Cheddar cheese
Arrange potato slices in a microwave-safe pie plate. Sprinkle slices with salt and brush with half of the taco sauce. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave at High setting for four to five minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Brush potato slices with remaining taco sauce. Sprinkle with green chilies, green onions and cheese. Microwave at High for 30 seconds to one minute or until cheese melts. Yields two servings.

CHERRY GOOD COBBLER
2 twenty-one ounce cans cherry filling and topping
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ (one-half) cup orange juice
TOPPING
1 Tablespoon slivered almonds, coarsely chopped
1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
½ (one-half) teaspoon ground cinnamon
Combine cherry filling and almond extract in and ungreased eight by eight inch baking pan. Combine flour, sugar and baking powder in a medium mixing bowl. Mix well. Add orange juice and stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Drop batter by tablespoons over cherry filling. For the topping: Combine almonds, sugar, orange peel and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix well. Sprinkle on top of cobbler. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until filling is bubbly and dumplings are brown. Yields twelve servings.

HOT SPICED TEA
4 cups freshly brewed tea
¼ (one-quarter) cup honey
4 cinnamon sticks and 4 whole cloves
4 lemon slices
Combine tea, honey, cinnamon sticks and cloves in a large saucepan. Simmer five minutes. Serve hot with garnish of lemon slices. Yields four cups.

I like watching the Dallas Cowboys play – Evan, three months old
www.usarice.com/domestic/recipes
www.famouspotatoes.org
www.cherrymkt.org/index.html
www.honey.com