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Healthy, Flavorful, Nutrient Dense Recipes with Carol Bell, RD

Carol Bell, Registered Dietician featured on 9&10 News

Carol Bell, Registered Dietitian Shares Recipes on 9&10 News

Watch Making Parsnip Soup with Carol Bell, RD on Channel 9 and 10  The Four with Eric Brazeal
This recipe is adapted from the Avant Garde Vegan website.

Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil
2 pounds of parsnips, peeled, ½ inch dice (about 4 cups)
1 medium onion
2 cloves of garlic
2 cups of vegetable broth
1 sprig of fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
2 cups non-dairy milk, unsweetened vanilla
3 Tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
Chopped toasted hazelnuts or slivered almonds
Dried Cranberries
Chopped fresh thyme, parsley, or rosemary leaves

Directions
Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion is translucent. Add in the parsnips, lower the heat, cover, and sweat the vegetables until the parsnips are slightly tender about 10 minutes. Add in the broth and thyme and simmer until the parsnips are very soft about 25 minutes. Remove the sprig of thyme. Puree the soup with the vanilla milk and lemon juice adding salt and pepper to taste.

Garnish with a pinch of toasted nuts, a few cranberries, and a pinch of fresh herbs

Watch Carol Bell, Registered Dietician, make this Chocolate Carrot Pudding (Yes. you read that correctly!) on The Four in the Heritage Kitchen at 9&10 News

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients
1 cup shredded carrots
1/3 cup chopped dates
3/4 cup water
6 oz organic silken tofu* (3/4 cup mashed)
1 tsp vanilla
3.5 oz bar of dark chocolate
Fresh fruit for topping (sliced banana, mango or fresh berries)

Directions
In a medium pot, combine the carrots, dates, and water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 35- 40 minutes until the carrots are very soft. Add the tofu and vanilla to the pot to allow the tofu to warm up. Uncover and allow the mixture to cool slightly and add this to a blender or food processor. Process until smooth. In a small glass bowl, melt the chocolate in the microwave for about 90 seconds, pausing to stir every 30 seconds. Add the chocolate to the blender mixture and puree until silky smooth.

Portion the pudding into cups or small glasses. If you want the mixture to be firmer, refrigerate for 1 or more hours. Top with fresh fruit before serving. Will keep it for 4 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

*For a smooth and creamy texture, make sure to buy silken tofu and not firm or extra firm tofu.

Servings may vary, but plan on about 1 citrus fruit per 2 people as a condiment, and 2 citrus fruits per person as a salad.

Ingredients
1-2 ruby red grapefruits
2-3 blood oranges
2-3 navel oranges
3-4 tangerines
1/3 cup pomegranate arils (about half of a fresh pomegranate) **
1-2 kiwi fruit
Optional:  green mint leaves, parsley leaves, or sage leaves

Directions
To cut the citrus and kiwifruit, slice off the top and bottom and then set the fruit on a cut end. Cut off strips of the skin from top to bottom. Alternatively, you can also peel the fruit by hand, but the finished look may be a little less pretty. Slice each citrus fruit crosswise with a very sharp knife into “wheels.” Arrange the slices of citrus and kiwi in an alternating pattern on a decorative plate or platter. Sprinkle
with pomegranate seeds.

**Cutting a pomegranate: First make sure you are wearing a dark colored shirt or an apron. Red juice tends to splatter and stain fabric. To get the pomegranate arils out intact, first slice the whole fruit in half. Hold the half over a large bowl and begin to break off small sections of the pomegranate. Gently pull the seeds away from the yellow pith drop them into the bowl and discard the pith. Try not to squeeze the seeds to retain their plump juiciness.

This can be a salad, a side dish, or used as a condiment instead of a sugar-laden
cranberry sauce. If you want to find ways to trim the calories and boost the antioxidant value of your holiday meals, this recipe is perfect! Serve this with roasted meats or on top of a leafy green salad.

Watch What to do with that leftover produce? Pickle it! with Carol Bell, RD on Channel 9 and 10  The Four with Eric Brazeal

Ingredients
4 cups water
1 ½ tbsp sea salt (not iodized salt)
Sliced raw vegetables to fill a 1-quart jar – see below

You will need a one-quart wide-mouth mason jar and a smaller jar. The small jar should be able to fit
snugly in the mouth of the quart jar to weigh down the vegetables during fermentation. This
keeps the vegetables submerged under the brine.

Scrub both of these jars with hot soapy water, rinse
well and let air dry.

Directions
In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the salt and dissolve. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Place the vegetables into the clean, dry quart glass jar. Pack them down well and fill it about ¾ full.

Place a cabbage leaf or a few grape leaves on top to hold the vegetables down. Pour the cooled saltwater liquid over the vegetables to the top of the jar.

Fill the small jar with a little water (for heaviness) and cap it tight. Then put the small jar inside the first jar to keep the vegetables submerged in the liquid. Let it stand on the counter to ferment, for about 3- 5 days. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap if desired. If the room temperature is consistently over 75 degrees it will ferment quickly or it may taste less appealing than if the room is in the 65-70 degree range. This is why it is best to ferment during cool fall weather.

Once a day, tap the jar on the counter gently to tap out the air bubbles. Make sure there is enough brine in the jar and that the small jar is holding the vegetables down under the brine completely.

After 3 days, taste the pickles. If they are sour enough for your taste, refrigerate them. Otherwise, let it stand on the counter another day or two or more.

Serve 2 or 3 pickles with lunch and dinner.

Pickles will keep refrigerated for about 1-2 months when stored in their brine.

A few suggestions for vegetable combinations you could use:
• 3 cups of carrots, small cauliflower florets and sliced onions

• 3 cups of chunks of small pickling cucumbers (ends trimmed off), 2 cloves of garlic cut in half, 3
sprigs of dill, 2 or 3 grape leaves (grape leaves make the cucumbers more crispy)

• 1 large turnip sliced thin, 1 small beet sliced thin

• 3 cups of sliced carrots, 3 sprigs of dill

• Large handful of tender green beans ends trimmed, 2 tsp peppercorns

Watch Make room in your cellar with this delicious Roasted Vegetable recipe with Carol Bell, RD on Channel 9 and 10 The Four with Eric Brazeal

3-4 servings
Ingredients:

Veggies:
2 medium green zucchinis, cut into ½ inch-half rounds
2 medium yellow summer squash, cut into ½ inch-half rounds
1 large onion, 1-inch pieces
1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes or 4-5 quartered Roma tomatoes

Sauce:
2/3 cup diced tomatoes
4-inch piece of English cucumber, diced
2 Tbsp sesame tahini
Juice of ½ lemon
1 clove of garlic (optional)
Water to thin (about 2/3 cup)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper. Cut the zucchini and squash lengthwise first and then into ½ inch chunks. Spread the zucchini, onion pieces, and tomatoes on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast them in a 425-degree oven for about 10 minutes or until desired tenderness.

In a blender, combine the diced tomatoes, cucumber, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and about half of the
water. Puree until smooth adding in additional water to thin to desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste.

For a complete plant-based meal:
Add in 1 can of chickpeas (rinsed and drained) and toss with the cooked vegetables. Serve with pita bread or cooked quinoa.

For a complete omnivore meal:
Serve with cooked chicken or fish.

Watch Celebrate summer with healthy and nutrient-dense popsicles! with Carol Bell, RD on Channel 9 and 10 The Four with Eric Brazeal

Berry Basil Popsicles
Yield: 6 popsicles

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, strawberries or blackberries (or a mixture)
  • ¼ cup chopped basil leaves
  • 3 Tbsp honey, agave or maple syrup

Directions:
Puree the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds and add a popsicle stick or handle. Freeze for 6+ hours until frozen solid. Remove from the mold by running the mold under hot running water to loosen the popsicle.

Tropical Popsicles
Yield: 6 popsicles

Ingredients:

  • 1 very ripe mango
    ½ banana
  • 1 cup pineapple cubes
  • ½ cup canned coconut milk

To cut a mango: Scrub the mango under running water. Then stand it up on a cutting board on its narrow end.

Slice along the side just off center to avoid the large, flat pit. Slice off both sides and then around the pit. Slice each half into strips. Run the knife under each strip to separate the fruit from the skin.

To cut a whole pineapple: Scrub the pineapple well under running water and pat it dry. Cut off the top
and bottom of the pineapple and set it upright on the flat edge. Starting at the top, cut off the skin in strips all around the sides of the pineapple pushing the knife downward toward the cutting board.
Remove all the skin and “eyes”.

Slice the pineapple from the top down through the middle and then from the top down into quarters. Slice off the core from top to bottom. Lay the pineapple strip on its
side and slice into long strips and then into small chunks.

Directions:
Add all the ingredients to the blender and puree well until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds and add a popsicle stick or handle. Freeze for 6+ hours until frozen solid. Remove from the mold by running the mold under hot running water to loosen the popsicle.

Watch Fresh and Delicious Potato Salad with Carol Bell, RD on Channel 9 & 10 The Four with Eric Brazeal

Yield: 4 servings
Time to make: About 40 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 3 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp grated lemon rind2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 scallions, minced fine (or 2 cloves minced garlic)
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 1 pound of redskin or Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 ½ cups fresh green beans, 1-inch pieces
  • ¼ cup chopped olives
  • 1/3 cup fresh dill, chopped finely

In a large bowl, combine the lemon juice and rind, olive oil, minced scallions, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper. Whisk well and set aside.

Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil place the potatoes in the boiling water and cover and cook until
just tender. Rinse with cold water to halt the cooking. Place the potatoes in the large bowl with the dressing. Steam the green beans in a steamer until tender. Rinse with cold water, drain, and add to the
potatoes. Add in the dressing, olives, and fresh herbs and combine gently. Season with additional salt or pepper as desired. Serve slightly warm or chill in the refrigerator for an hour or more for the best flavor.

Keeps for 4 days in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator.

Serving Suggestions:
For a complete omnivore meal, serve the salad on a bed of spring mix or spinach and add a cooked protein like baked chicken or fish.

For a complete vegetarian meal, serve the salad on a bed of spring mix or spinach and top with quartered hard-boiled eggs or cubes of baked tofu.

Watch Carol Bell make this simple, flavorful recipe in the Heritage Kitchen with the team at 9and10 News

4-6 servingsThis roasted asparagus is a delicious accompaniment for any meal or as a pre-dinner snack.

Serving suggestions:
 At breakfast alongside some poached eggs
 On top of a bowl of leafy greens, with cooked quinoa, chickpeas and avocado
 As a side dish for baked fish, chicken, beef or tofu
Gomasio is a crunchy, savory topping that is common in Japanese cooking. It is made from toasted
sesame seeds, salt and may include a bit of nori, a dry seaweed. (Nori is the seaweed wrapper around a
sushi roll or a California roll.)

Ingredients
1 lb asparagus, tough ends trimmed off
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp raw, unhulled sesame seeds
1/8 tsp salt (or less for low sodium diets)
¼ sheet of nori seaweed (optional), snipped into fine shreds with scissors
Olive oil

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper if desired.

To make the gomasio, heat a skillet on medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add the seeds and let them
toast for about 5-7 minutes, shaking the pan every minute or so. They should smell toasty and start to
brown just slightly. Don’t overbrown them or they will taste bitter. When fully toasted they will crush
easily between your thumb and ring finger. Allow to cool. Put the seeds in a blender (or use a mortar
and pestle to crush them) with a few pinches of salt and grind to a powder. If you over-blend it will
become like nut butter, so go gently with the blender. Dump into a container, mix in the nori bits and
store at room temp for 1-2 weeks. Can store it longer (1 month) in the fridge or freezer.

roasted as

Place the asparagus on the baking sheet and drizzle with balsamic vinegar and mix to combine. Roast
the asparagus for 5 minutes for crisp, bright green stalks that are just tender to the bite. Arrange on a
plate or on top of your greens with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle with the gomasio mixture.

Soup’s on! Load up on fiber and antioxidants with this flavorful, nutrient-dense Creamy Cauliflower Soup that’s also dairy free!

Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 small celery root, peeled & chopped into ½ inch cubes (about 2 cups)
  • 1 small head of cauliflower, chopped (4-5 cups)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 quart of broth
  • 1 bay leaf or a few sprigs of rosemary and thyme
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1-2 cups unsweetened plant milk (coconut, soy, or Ripple milk)
  • Pepper
  • Optional garnishes below

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Sautè onion and garlic in olive oil for about 5 minutes until just soft.

Creamy Cauliflower Soup (Dairy-Free)2. Add celery root cubes, cauliflower and broth, bring to a slow boil.

3. Simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes until very soft. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Remove the bay leaf or woody stems of the herbs.

4. Puree in batches in a blender with the plant milk as needed to reach desired consistency.

5. Ladle into bowls and season with pepper and any optional garnishes.

Below are a few ideas for optional toppings and garnishes for soup. Look around your kitchen and see what you have. Using something with a contrasting color or texture is ideal.

  • Toasted sunflower seeds or toasted sliced almonds
  • A few sautéed carrots or slices of roasted sweet potato
  • Fresh chopped herbs like parsley, cilantro, basil, thyme, dill, chives, green onions or sage
  • A few raw celery leaves
  • Sprinkle of paprika or nutmeg

Watch Carol Bell, RD cook this side dish celebrating the bounty of root veggies. Root vegetables are a food of choice for winter months and late spring because they can be stored for many months after harvesting. Many local farms sell their root vegetable crops through March or April so inquire at farms near you.fresh turnips

Yield: 3-4 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • ½ Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 medium carrots, sliced in matchsticks
  • 1 Tbsp water
  • 2 medium turnips, sliced in matchsticks
  • Salt and pepper
  • ½ cup frozen peas (or fresh pea pods, sliced in strips)
  • ½ tsp grated orange peel
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 wedge of fresh orange (1/8 of an orange)

 

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, then add the olive oil and carrots.

Add a tablespoonful of water, cover and cook for 2 or 3 minutes or halfway cooked through. Add in the turnips and sautè until the vegetables are soft. Season with salt and pepper.

Stir in the peas, orange peel, honey and stir until combined. Squeeze the orange juice over the vegetables, mix gently and then serve.

You can catch Carol Bell on 9&10 News for regular features sharing her tips to bring health conscious options to the dinner table while keeping things easy for those that lead active lifestyles.

SCHEDULE A SESSION WITH CAROL BELL, RD

Wellness membership includes nutrition one-on-one with Registered Dietitian
Carol Bell, Registered Dietitian

I apply food strategies and use massage and bodywork techniques to treat the root cause of your health condition. By offering reassurance and guidance to make food and dietary changes I can help you transform your body and mind. Through the integration of massage, trigger point therapy, Craniosacral therapy (CST), visceral manipulation, and visualization, I will support you in reaching optimal health.

Learn more about Carol and schedule a session!

Vince WinklerPrins, MD, FAAFP

Traverse City & Petoskey

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