(ARA) - ‘Tis the season to be green! Whether it’s an organic Thanksgiving or a festive holiday party, celebrate the season with friends and family by hosting a truly memorable, eco-friendly fete.

Impress guests with thoughtful holiday entertaining that promotes good cheer and good practices. From delicious, healthy holiday dishes and organic spirits, to eco-friendly cookware and natural tabletop accessories, here are a few small steps that can go a long way to ensure festivities with minimal environmental impact and tons of holiday cheer.

Farmer’s Market -- Inside your Pantry!
The winter months can be a difficult time to keep your kitchen fully stocked with fresh, organic produce and ingredients. Keeping delicious, healthy organic packaged products on hand allows for quick and easy holiday dish preparation. It is becoming increasingly easy and cost-effective to keep an organic kitchen all year long with products available right on your grocery store shelves.

Del Monte  Organic, for example, is a complete line of organic canned veggies including Cut Green Beans, Sweet Peas, Baby Leaf Spinach, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, Sliced Carrots, Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce, and Crushed Tomatoes ($.59 to $1.89, available at major grocers nationwide, DelMonte.com). Like fresh counterparts, Del Monte Organic is preservative free.

And, eating organic doesn’t have to mean the holiday meal has to lose its nostalgic appeal. Simply revamp traditional family recipes with organic options. Try substituting Del Monte Organic French Style Green Beans in the traditional green bean casserole, for example.

“Eating organic foods limits you and your family’s exposure to potentially harmful pesticides, and ensures a smaller environmental footprint. Additionally, organic options often have more antioxidants than conventional foods,” says Laura Molseed, registered dietitian for Del Monte Foods.

Good Holiday Spirits
Top off the holiday cheer with organic wines and spirits. Organic wines are increasing in popularity, and crowd-pleasing choices such as Frog’s Leap, Sinskey, Sincerity, and Bonterra Vineyards are fast becoming some of America’s most renowned organic vino brands (available at www.Bonterra.com).  

For a delicious non-alcoholic alternative, serve guests warm apple cider made with fresh, organic apples.

What’s Cooking
While it’s important to cook with organic ingredients and foods, it’s also important to consider meal preparation. GreenPan is the first cookware product to utilize Thermolon non-stick coating which is PTFE/PFOA-free, and will perform at high temperatures without deterioration or releasing fumes or toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Additionally, 50 percent less energy is used in the manufacturing of GreenPan’s coating compared to traditional non-stick cookware and is therefore considered “green” in manufacturing (GreenPan Cookware is exclusively available at HSN, www.HSN.com).

Season’s Greetings
A thoughtful, eco-friendly holiday card serves as the perfect invitation to your gathering. While using recycled paper is a nice sentiment, try using cards or invitations made with paper that will bloom into beautiful flowers to spread an extra dose of holiday cheer. Botanical PaperWorks offers an assortment of elegant holiday cards embedded with wildflower or spruce tree seeds (available at www.botanicalpaperworks.com) that can be planted outdoors or potted.  Guests will surely remember this extra special touch this holiday season.

Natural Beauty
Crisp, tasteful organic cotton table linens can add a subtle touch of natural sophistication. Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Rawganique and VivaTerra both offer beautiful organic tablecloths, napkins and linens (available through www.Rawganique and www.VivaTerra.com).

Fresh, organically grown blooms paired with winter branches and pinecones make for beautiful and natural centerpieces. Consider local flowers found at the farmer’s market or purchase beautiful arrangements online. Organic Bouquet (www.organicbouquet.com) is the leading retailer of organic flowers. It offers floral arrangements sourced from growers that are committed to the highest social and environmental standards. Each bouquet is hand-selected and shipped fresh from the farm.

Mood Lighting
Conserve energy and dim the lights. Use soy candles or lanterns made of sustainable materials to cast a soft glow to warmly welcome guests to celebrate the holiday season with you. Courtesy ARAcontent

Autumn Stuffed Cabbage

Don’t wait until autumn—these braised, stuffed cabbage leaves will add variety to your menu year-round.

Ingredients:
1 head . . . . . . Cabbage
½ pound. . . . . Lean ground beef
½ pound . . . . .Ground turkey
1 small. . . . . . Onion, minced
1 slice  . . . . . .Stale whole wheat bread, crumbled (about 1/3 cup)
¼ cup. . . . . . . Water
1/8 teaspoon . . Freshly ground black pepper
1 16-ounce can . . . Whole tomatoes
1 small  . . . . . . Onion, sliced
1 cup . . . . . . . .Water
1 medium . . . . .Carrot, sliced
1 tablespoon . . . Lemon juice
2 tablespoons . . .Brown Sugar
1 tablespoon . . . Cornstarch

Preparation:
Rinse and core the cabbage. Carefully remove 10 outer leaves and place in a medium saucepan. Cover with boiling water. Simmer 5 minutes.
Remove and drain cooked cabbage leaves on paper toweling.
Shred ½ cup raw cabbage and set aside.
Brown ground beef and turkey and the minced onion in medium skillet. Drain fat.
Place the drained meat mixture, bread crumbs, water, and pepper in medium mixing bowl.
Drain tomatoes, reserving liquid, and add ½ cup tomato juice from can to meat mixture. Mix well; then place ¼ cup filling on each parboiled, drained cabbage leaf. Roll up and secure with toothpick.
Place folded side down in skillet.
Add tomatoes, water, ½ cup shredded cabbage, sliced onion and carrot.
Cover and simmer about 1 hour (or until cabbage is tender), basting occasionally.
Remove cabbage rolls to serving platter, keep warm.
Mix lemon juice, brown sugar, and cornstarch together in small bowl.
Add to vegetables and liquid in skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and clear. Serve over cabbage rolls.
Makes: 5 servings, 2 rolls each

Beef and Bean Chili

Real Southwest cooking need not be too hot to swallow. Try this version for plenty of flavor.

Ingredients:
2 pounds . . . Lean stew beef, cut in 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons . . . . Vegetable oil
2 cups . . . . . . . . . . Water
2 cloves . . . . . . .  Garlic, minced
1 large . . . . . . . .  Onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon . . . . . Flour
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Green pepper, chopped
2 pounds . . . . . . . Fresh tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 teaspoons . . . . . Chili powder
1 tablespoon . . . . Oregano
1 teaspoon . . . . . .Cumin
2 cups . . . . . . . . . Kidney beans, cooked without salt
(If using canned beans, drain and rinse well)

Preparation:
Brown meat in a large skillet with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add water. Simmer covered 1 hour.
Heat remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil in a small skillet. Add garlic and onion and cook over low heat until onion is softened. Add to meat mixture.
Add flour to meat and cook for 2 minutes. Add green pepper, tomatoes, chili powder, oregano, cumin, and cooked beans to meat. Simmer 1- ½ hours. Taste for seasoning.
Makes: 9 Servings

Baked Pork Chops

Spicy and moist—the secret of these chops is in the coating.

Ingredients:
6 lean, ½-inch thick . . Center-cut pork chops
1  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Egg white
1 cup  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Evaporated skim milk
¾ cup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cornflake crumbs
¼ cup . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Fine dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons . . . . . . . .Hot 'n' spicy seasoning
(see below)
½ teaspoon . . . . . . . . . Salt; Nonstick spray coating

Preparation:
Trim all fat from chops
Beat egg white with evaporated milk. Place chops in milk mixture; let stand for 5 minutes, turning chops once.
Meanwhile, mix together cornflake crumbs, bread crumbs, hot 'n' spicy seasoning, and salt.
Remove chops from milk mixture. Coat thoroughly with crumb mixture.
Spray a 13" x 9" baking pan with nonstick spray coating.
Place chops in pan and bake in 375 degree oven for 20 minutes.
Turn chops and bake 15 minutes longer or until no pink remains.
Note: If desired, substitute skinless boneless chicken, turkey parts, or fish for pork chops and bake for 20 minutes.
Makes: 6 servings

Hot 'N' Spicy Seasoning

This’ll spice up your baked pork chops—and other dishes too.

Ingredients:
¼ cup . . . . . . . . . . . . Paprika
1 teaspoon . . . . . . . . Black pepper
2 tablespoons . . . . . . Dried oregano, crushed
½ teaspoon . . . . . Red (cayenne) pepper
2 teaspoons . . . . . . . Chili powder
½ teaspoon . . . . . Dry mustard

Preparation:
Mix together all ingredients. Store in airtight container.
Makes: about 1/3 cup

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Potatoes with a whole new flavoring—a marriage made in heaven.

Ingredients:
1 pound (about 2 large) . . . Potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 cups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Skim milk
2 large. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cloves garlic, chopped
½ teaspoon . . . . . . . . . . . . .White pepper

Preparation:
Cook potatoes, covered, in a small amount of boiling water for 20-25 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat. Drain and recover.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, cook garlic in milk until garlic is soft, about 30 minutes.
Add milk-garlic mixture and white pepper to potatoes. Beat with a electric mixer on low speed or mash with a potato masher until smooth.

Microwave Directions:
Scrub potatoes, pat dry, and prick with a fork. On a plate, cook potatoes, uncovered, on 100% (high) power until tender (about 12 minutes), turning potatoes over once. Let stand 5 minutes. Peel and quarter.
Meanwhile, in a 4-cup glass measuring cup, combine milk and garlic. Cook, uncovered, on 50% (medium) power until garlic is soft (about 4 minutes).
Continue as directed above.
Makes: 4 servings

Green-Bean Sauté

Fresh green beans cooked lightly and tossed with parsley.

Ingredients:
1 pound . . .Fresh green beans, cut in 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon. . . . . .Corn oil
1 large . . . . . . . . . Yellow onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/8 teaspoon. . . . . Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon. . . . . Fresh parsley, minced

Preparation:
Steam or cook green beans in boiling water to cover for 10-12 minutes, or until barely fork tender. Drain well.
Heat oil in large skillet. Sauté onion until golden.
Stir in green beans, and pepper. Heat through.
Toss with parsley before serving.
Makes: 4 servings

Apple Coffee Cake

Chunks of tart apples and heaps of raisins and pecans make this cake sublime.

Ingredients:
5 cups . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Tart apples, finely chopped
1 cup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sugar
1 cup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dark raisins
½ cup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pecans, chopped
¼ cup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corn oil
2 teaspoons. . . . . . . . . .Vanilla
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Egg, beaten
2-1/2 cups . . . . . . . . . . Sifted all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons . . . . . .Baking soda
2 teaspoons . . . . . . . . . Ground cinnamon

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly oil a 13" x 9" x 2" pan.
In large mixing bowl, combine apples with sugar, raisins, and pecans; mix well. Let stand 30 minutes.
Stir in oil, vanilla, and egg.
Sift together flour, soda, and cinnamon; stir into apple mixture about a third at a time, just enough to moisten dry ingredients.
Turn batter into pan. Bake 35-40 minutes. Cool cake slightly before serving.
Makes: 20 servings

These heart healthy recipes are from "Down Home Healthy, Family Recipes of Black American Chefs," developed by the National Cancer Institute, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and Project Lean of the American Dietetic Association. These recipes were developed for the 2 sample weekly menus. Many of them combine larger amounts of less expensive foods with smaller amounts of moderately priced foods. They also show how you can prepare tasty, healthy meals with less fat, sugar, and salt. Serve these recipes along with the other foods listed in each menu. You can also serve them in meals with other foods your family likes. 

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Autumn Stuffed Cabbage

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Green Bean Sauté

Apple Coffee Cake

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