Recipes That Cut Corners, Not Taste

(NAPSI)-As families are forced to make cutbacks due to the economy, moms are making their way back into the kitchen in hopes of preparing healthful, budget-friendly meals. The only problem is, recent research shows that many lack the basic kitchen know-how and need help in the kitchen.

The Canned Food Alliance (CFA) recently provided consumers with the Essential Kitchen Toolkit, an easy-to-read guide to planning and preparing healthful meals.

Now, the CFA has partnered with chef and cookbook author Andrew Schloss so families can apply the basics of meal preparation to create easy meals at home with much lower costs.

Called "Kitchen Countdown," this new collection consists of 10 new recipes that all have one thing in common: They each feature 1 pot; 5 ingredients; cost 10 dollars or less; take 15 minutes or less to prepare and have 400 calories or less per serving.

The recipes include dishes such as Chili Stuffed Flank Steak, Smoked Turkey Gazpacho, Salmon Herb Pie, and Corn and Crab Cakes.

By taking advantage of the variety of canned foods available today, which are already cooked and more affordable than their fresh and frozen counterparts, Chef Schloss created nutritious, great-tasting meals for less than $10.

Visit www.mealtime.org to find "Kitchen Countdown" recipes, such as this one.

Smoked Turkey Gazpacho

Courtesy of Mealtime.org

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 0 minutes

Total cost: $8.31

Ingredients:

2 medium cucumbers, peeled and diced, divided

1 quart (32 fl oz) canned low-sodium vegetable juice, divided

8 (1-ounce) unsalted tortilla chips

1 can (14.5 oz) no-salt-added diced tomatoes

8 ounces smoked turkey, cut in small dice

Preparation:

In a blender or food processor, combine one cucumber, half the vegetable juice, the tortilla chips, 8 ice cubes, and puree until completely smooth.

Pour the contents into a serving bowl and add the remaining cucumber and vegetable juice, diced tomatoes and the smoked turkey. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 24 hours before serving.

Serving Suggestions: Garnish with lime wedges, if desired

Servings: 4

Serving size: 2 cups

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Nutritious, Easy And Affordable Meals

(NAPSI)-To help keep rising food prices from taking a bigger bite out of your grocery budget, consider stocking up on inexpensive and nutritious staples. Foods like canned tomatoes, pasta sauces, paste, juice and salsa are not only versatile but offer important nutrients like vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber.

In addition to being a vegetable that even the pickiest of eaters like, tomato products are good partners with other healthy foods because they offer great flavor and texture. Right after being picked from the vine at peak ripeness, the tomatoes are cooked and sealed in containers. This heat processing seals in their full sun-ripened flavor and keeps them safe from salmonella and other food-borne pathogens. Plus the heating process provides an enhanced value of lycopene, an antioxidant that helps fight disease.

For families looking to get the most from their food dollars, the Tomato Products Wellness Council offers some recipes for quick-and-easy family favorites. Each recipe can be prepared in three easy steps and costs less than $1.00 per serving.

Penny-Pinching Gazpacho

(serves 4)

This recipe uses canned diced tomatoes instead of fresh ones, which can cost more. Per serving, this recipe costs only $0.97, is just 132 calories and has more than 100 percent of your daily vitamin C needs.

Ingredients

1 14-oz. can of diced tomatoes

2 cups of tomato juice, low sodium

½ medium cucumber, diced

½ medium green pepper, diced

½ cup medium onion, finely diced

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil Black pepper or hot sauce to taste

3-Step Prep

1. Combine all ingredients; mix thoroughly.

2. Refrigerate; serve cold.

3. If desired, top with croutons.

Cost-Conscious Chili Con Carne

(serves 8)

Using turkey instead of beef gives you a great, meaty taste for less cost. Per serving, this recipe costs only $0.95, is just 308 calories and has 45 percent of your daily dietary fiber needs.

Ingredients

1½ lbs. 93 percent lean ground turkey

1 40½-oz. can of kidney beans (1 large can)

1 18-oz. can of tomato paste

1 chopped onion

2 teaspoons chili powder

¾ cup water

3-Step Prep

1. Brown turkey in pot over medium heat until meat is no longer pink.

2. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.

3. Reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, then serve.

For more information and recipes, visit www.tomatowellness.com.