During the holiday season, cooking can become overwhelming and so we decided to share with you some recipes for casseroles which will feed you and your family for one meal and, if you're cooking for two, you'll have leftovers for another day. We all know that cutting and precooking are the time consuming parts of these recipes, but they can be put together earlier in the day and then cooked at the last minute. So in between planning your Christmas meal and holiday entertaining, here are some recipes that will bring comfort to the table.
The first is a fantastic way of preparing fish. Use any thick fillet or, if you like, a whole cleaned and dressed fish. We have tried it with halibut, salmon, and sea bass fillets as well. The wonderful thing about this recipe is that it tastes great the next day cold or at room temperature. Add a bit more allspice if you like that spice, but we suggest you start small and work up slowly. The only thing you need with this casserole is a light dessert. With all of the holiday treats out there, fresh pineapple or a baked apple or pear would be wonderful.
(for the recipes, click on the individual recipe above)
Our next casserole is also a winner the next day for a healthy lunch. We have used Italian vegetables here, but you can try others if you like. Fennel, asparagus, peas, celery, etc. would work. Dice all of the vegetables into uniform sizes, about 3/4 inch pieces. When you are trying to serve a low calorie meal, team this up with broiled fish or chicken.
(for the recipes, click on the individual recipe above)
Our next two casseroles come from our newest book for Simon & Schuster, which is The Joslin Diabetes Healthy Carbohydrate Cookbook. Many of you wonder about the recipes in a book that eschews protein, but we hope after trying these two recipes you, like the two of us, will dine happily on meatless meals.
Baking Moussaka fills the house with the aromas of the Mediterranean. This recipe calls for brown rice, but feel free to substitute any fragrant rice such as Basmati. Once you try this meal, we know it will become a regular at your home as it is at ours. Serve this with a Greek salad sprinkled with feta cheese.
(for the recipes, click on the individual recipe above)
For the last homey casserole, you can use jumbo pasta shells or manicotti tubes. The pasta is filled with a savory stuffing with just the right balance of herbs and cheese, then smothered in a rich vegetable sauce. A big tossed salad with fat-free Italian dressing would nicely round out the meal.
(for the recipes, click on the individual recipe above)
FTG and BSP
