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Ladle Up: National Soup Month

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Winter is officially in full swing, and what better way to stay warm this season than by celebrating National Soup Month all January long!

 

 

Whether you’re partial to broth or bisque, we have delicious soup recipes that will serve up comforting goodness all month long. Simply mix in your favorite varieties of Libby’s® Canned Vegetables, with meat or beans (or both!), for an easy-to-make recipe that is full of flavor and nutrition. And, don’t forget a side of golden, crusty bread for dipping!

So, ladle up with your favorite bowl of soup and celebrate National Soup Month with your loved ones.

 

Slow & Delicious

 

Add some flavor to your chilly nights with Southwest Chicken Soup, made with Libby’s® Whole Kernel White Corn, roasted chicken, trio of beans, and a mix of spices. Combine and cook low and slow in a slow cooker until the flavors perfectly blend.

SW Chicken Soup

 

Veggie Chowder

 

This is a bowl of veggies the entire family will love. A delicious mix of creamy coconut milk, vegetable broth, and veggies including Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn, makes this Zucchini Noodle Corn Chowder a seasonal must-have.

Zucchini Noodle Corn Chowder

 

Ladle of Spice

 

Spice up winter with a warm bowl of Spicy Sweet Pea Bisque made with Libby’s® Sweet Peas and chili powder for a kick. Nothing beats the warmth and creamy satisfaction of sweet pea soup on a snowy winter day.

Spicy Sweet Pea Bisque

 

Veg It Out: How to Incorporate More Veggies Into Your Daily Routine

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Halloween has come and gone, and holiday prepping is in full swing. Between all of the leftover candy from trick-or-treating, holiday sweets and comforting meals at family and office parties, you’re likely not keeping your daily veggie intake top of mind.

Now is the time most of us could use a boost when it comes to enjoying more greens, especially with kiddos often being picky eaters. Although eating veggies can be looked at as a chore – there are several tips and recipes that will inspire to get your daily dose. Here are some ideas to spice up those vegs:

Sprinkle Some Sweets

Sauteed Peas with Honey and Feta

We all love caving into our sweet tooth – so why not do so with vegetables? There are several ways you can make your greens less boring and add some sweetness to them. Try taking Libby’s® Sliced Carrots and adding a mixture of cinnamon and brown sugar to them or trying this Sautéed Peas with Honey and Feta recipe.

Sneak Them In

Mixed Veggie & Chicken Quesadilla

A perfect way to incorporate more veggies is to sneak them into your favorite recipes. The kids won’t even notice there are greens in Haylie Duff’s delicious Mixed Veggie & Chicken Quesadilla made with Libby’s® Mixed Vegetables Pouch. You can also take classic recipes, such as creamy mac & cheese, and add your favorite Libby’s® vegetables – this way, you won’t have to sacrifice taste!

Dip Them In

Smoky Carrot Hummus Spread

When a snack attack strikes, veggies aren’t always the first thing we crave, but you’ll be much more tempted to eat them when dip is made to dunk in. Bring your favorite veggies with you to work and pack them in lunchboxes with some Sweet Pea Dip and Smoky Carrot Hummus.

Eating O’ the Greens

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By Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD

 

When March rolls around, I’m thinking GREEN. There’s St. Patrick’s Day, of course, but it’s the first day of spring that has me anticipating green buds on the trees, green grass on the ground and all the green edibles that will be soon popping up.

 

Dark leafy greens and green veggies are nutrient powerhouses that we all should be eating more of. Here are my top 5 favorite ways to get more flavorful greens into your every day diet (beyond the iceberg salad): 

  1. Veggie Roast – Roasting any vegetable brings out a natural sweetness and can make bitter tasting ones taste better. Toss chopped broccoli, Libby’s® Cut Green Beans or Brussels sprouts with olive oil, minced garlic and black pepper. Roast in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring every 5 minutes until vegetables are tender.
     
  2. Dynamite Dips & Spreads – Puree cooked greens with Libby’s® Garbanzo Beans and seasonings in a blender (add a little water if too thick). Or make this Sweet Pea Dip with fresh mint. Serve as a dip with whole grain crackers or use as a sandwich spread.
     
  3. Stellar Soup & Stews – Simmer chopped Swiss chard, broccoli rabe or collards in any soup – from chicken noodle to your favorite chili – to add extra nutrients and flavor. Mix greens into cheese and broccoli soup and puree for extra creaminess without a lot of extra calories. Or try this Spicy Sweet Pea Bisque.
     
  4. Buddha Power Bowls – The latest trend in bowl cuisine features noodles or whole grains paired with eggs, beans or tofu and chopped veggies. Add in chopped, sautéed leafy greens, like kale and spinach or try this Lean Green Warm Barley Salad.
     
  5. Punched Up Pesto – Traditional pesto mixes basil with pine nuts but you can blend almost any green veggie, herb and nut with olive oil and parmesan cheese for delicious results. Swap in arugula with pistachios or mint with almonds for a super quick pasta sauce.

 Here’s wishing you a green filled week!

Facebook Sweepstakes: Building Blocks for Healthy Eating

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With summer just around the corner, Libby’s® Vegetable Cups can help you and your family enjoy healthy foods that taste good and are easy to eat, whether you are eating at the kitchen table or the picnic table. Libby’s® Vegetable Cups not only make a convenient side dish, but also double as a fun, frozen treat! These flavorful veggie combos are frozen right in their individual containers for a nutritious, pre-portioned snack.

Try the recipes below by Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD, LDN for a refreshing and delicious summer treat.

In addition, share your ideas for delicious frozen pop combinations on Facebook for the chance to win a $250 Visa gift card to use toward your own healthy summertime meals. Read the official rules here.

How To Enter:

1. Comment on a Building Blocks Sweepstakes’ Facebook post with your own original fruit & veggie pop flavor combination.

2. Submit a new idea once per day for your chance to win a $250 Visa gift card.

Sweepstakes lasts from 12:00:00 PM ET on Friday, June 6 until 11:59:59 PM ET on Friday, June 20th. 

Sweet Corn Frozen Pops

Makes 6 pops

Ingredients:

  • 4 Libby’s® Whole Kernel Sweet Corn Cups (4 oz. each)
  • 1 cup low-fat milk
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1¼ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Supplies:

  • 6 Popsicle sticks
  • 2 4-oz. paper cups (for extra mixture)

Instructions:

Add corn to a bowl. Do not throw out cups; wash and dry them to use for freezing pops. Mash corn with a potato masher to release liquid.

In a medium pot over medium heat, add corn, milk and sugar. Heat for 5 minutes, mixing a few times, until sugar dissolves and corn softens. Remove from heat and puree in blender. Pour through mesh sieve into a medium bowl. Cool in refrigerator for about 10 minutes.

Whisk yogurt and vanilla extract into cooled corn milk. Pour mixture into four empty Libby’s Cups and the remaining mixture into two 4-oz. paper cups. Position a 3½-inch popsicle stick in the center of each cup and freeze overnight.

Cost Per Serving: $0.87

Total Cost For Recipe: $5.21

Nutrition Facts Per Serving (One Sweet Corn Pop): Calories: 97, Total Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 135mg, Carbohydrates: 16g, Dietary Fiber: 1g, Protein: 6g, Vitamin A 2% DV, Vitamin C 67% DV, Calcium 11% DV, Iron 3% DV

Avocado Sweet Pea Frozen Pops

Makes 8 pops

Ingredients:

  • 4 Libby’s® Sweet Peas Cups (4 oz. each)
  • 2 ripe medium avocados, peeled and pitted
  • 1½ cup low-fat milk
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 large lime)

Supplies:

  • 8 Popsicle sticks
  • 4 4-oz. paper cups (for extra mixture)

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to blender or food processor. Do not throw out cups; wash and dry them to use for freezing pops. Puree until well mixed.

Pour mixture into four empty Libby’s Cups and the remaining mixture into four 4-oz. paper cups. Position a 3½-inch popsicle stick in the center of each cup and freeze overnight.

Cost Per Serving: $0.92

Total Cost For Recipe: $7.34

Nutrition Facts Per Serving (One Avocado Sweet Pea Pop): Calories: 119, Total Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 100mg, Carbohydrates: 15g, Dietary Fiber: 3g, Protein: 3g, Vitamin A 5% DV, Vitamin C 58% DV, Calcium 7% DV, Iron 2% DV