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Celebrate Healthy Holidays With Michigan Apples

During COVID-19 restrictions, the holiday season celebrations looked a little different. Instead of crowded seasonal events, most of us stayed close to home and enjoyed smaller get-togethers with close friends and family. But having a healthy holiday is something we can strive for every holiday season.

Healthy Holiday Tips

Location and Outdoor Activities

Indoor gatherings generally pose more risk than outdoor gatherings. Think about holding some celebrations and activities outdoors if possible. Aside from better air quality, it also encourages activity and healthy body movement.

• Bundle up around a bonfire
• Have a snowman-building contest
• Take a winter hike or host a sledding party
• Keep indoor gatherings shorter in duration and if it’s not too cold, open a window or two for some ventilation
• Warm everyone up with some hot Mulled Michigan Apple Cider and Maple Glazed Apple Cookies (recipes below)

 

Keep Things Sanitary

In addition to keeping all food safe by following the core four practices from the Partnership for Food Safety Education- clean, separate, cook, and chill– be diligent about cleaning hands and surfaces, and be watchful about cross-contamination. Cook foods to appropriate temperatures, and refrigerate them promptly.

In addition to these standard practices, consider the following to keep loved ones safe during flu, cold, and COVID season.

• Rather than serving buffet-style, consider having one person dish out the meal for everyone and keep food covered between serving each dish to help prevent the spread of germs.
• Keep hand sanitizer out on the table or where you are serving food.
• In the restroom place disposable towels along with lots of soap and hand sanitizer
• Place some touchless garbage cans in the kitchen.

 

Provide Healthy Holiday Food Options

Help guests stay well by choosing a healthy menu. Typically, the turkey, ham, or roast is the star of the holiday table, but delicious side dishes enhance and complete the meal while adding seasonal flavors. Try a mix of some traditional favorites along with some new options that incorporate nutritious ingredients such as whole grains, and fruits and veggies like Michigan Apples.

Michigan Apple recipes below combine nutrient-rich apples in fun and flavorful ways, adding diversity and health to your menu. Some seasonal recipes to try include Apple Cranberry Wild Rice Stuffing or Apple and Butternut Squash Salad (recipes below).

Try these Healthy Recipes

Hot Mulled Michigan Apple Cider

When the temperatures get cold, you’ll love celebrating the season with a mug of this delicious cider.

Makes 16 (1 cup) servings

Nutrition information per serving: 125 calories, 0 g fat, 30 g carbohydrate, 0 g protein, 1 g fiber, 5 mg sodium

INGREDIENTS:

• • 1-gallon fresh Michigan Apple Cider
  • 2/3 cup fresh orange juice
  • 6 cinnamon sticks
  • 12 whole cloves
  • 12 whole allspice
  • 1 sliced Michigan Honeycrisp Apple, for garnish
  • Add dark rum if desired

DIRECTIONS:

1. 1. Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat.
   2. Let cook for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour into mugs and serve.

 

Maple-Glazed Apple Cookies

Bake up a double batch of these delicious Maple Glazed Michigan Apple Cookies and pack them in decorative tins or boxes – a perfect idea for when you want to give a special gift of appreciation this season.

Makes approx. 2 dozen cookies

Nutrition information per cookie: 134 calories, 22 g carbohydrate, 4.5 g fat, 2 g protein, 1.5 g fiber, 236 mg sodium

INGREDIENTS:

• • 1 stick butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups white whole-wheat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 small Michigan Apples, chopped (Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala)

GLAZE:

• • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. 1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
   2. Cream butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl.
   3. Add egg and milk; stir to combine.
   4. Stir in flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and baking soda.
   5. Gently fold in the apples.
   6. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto a baking sheet that has been coated with cooking spray.
   7. Bake for approx. 10-12 minutes or until the tops of cookies are dry.
   8. To make the glaze, bring the maple syrup, butter, and milk to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
   9. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla.
   10. Gradually whisk in the powdered sugar until smooth; whisk gently for 3-5 minutes or until the mixture thickens and cools slightly.
   11. Drizzle each cookie with glaze.

 

Apple-Cranberry Wild Rice Stuffing

This holiday stuffing recipe is filled with fiber-rich Michigan Apples and nutty brown rice, along with naturally sweet cranberries and fresh apple cider. The perfect complement to your holiday meal!

Makes 8 servings

Nutrition information per serving: 178 calories, 6 g fat, 28 g carbohydrate, 5 g protein, 4 g fiber, 92 mg sodium

INGREDIENTS:

• • 2-1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 2/3 cup raw wild rice
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 medium Michigan Apples, cored and diced
  • 2 cups cubed whole-grain bread
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons dried sage, crumbled
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram, crumbled
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup Michigan Apple cider

DIRECTIONS:

1. 1. Bring the broth to a boil in a small saucepan.
   2. Stir in the wild rice, then cover and simmer gently until the liquid is absorbed, about 35-45 minutes.
   3. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
   4. Heat the oil in a medium-sized skillet.
   5. Add the onion, and sauté until soft.
   6. Add the celery, and sauté over medium heat until both are golden.
   7. Combine the onion-celery mixture with the cooked wild rice and all the remaining ingredients except the apple cider in a mixing bowl.
   8. Stir well to combine. Drizzle the apple cider in slowly, stirring all the while, until the mixture is evenly moistened.
   9. Transfer the mixture to a large shallow baking dish that has been coated with cooking spray.
   10. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top begins to get slightly crusty.

 

Apple and Butternut Squash Salad

Crisp Michigan Apples, roasted butternut squash, fresh greens, and crumbly goat cheese make this a perfect salad for fall and winter meals.

Makes 4 servings or can make into smaller salads

Nutrition information per serving (based on 4 servings):  324 calories, 16 g fat, 35 g carbohydrate, 10 g protein, 6 g fiber, 438 mg sodium

Recipe & photo adapted from Kroger.com

INGREDIENTS:

• • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cups butternut squash cubes (look for peeled, precut squash in the produce dept.)
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/4 cup red onion, sliced thin
  • 6 cups prepared salad green mix with spinach
  • 2 Michigan Apples, sliced (Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Empire)
  • 1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries, if desired
    • Light balsamic vinaigrette dressing

DIRECTIONS:

1. 1. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil; add butternut squash and cook covered, stirring occasionally until butternut is slightly golden and tender, about 8 minutes.
   2. Add garlic and red onion; cook uncovered for 2-3 minutes.
   3. Place 1-1/2 cups salad greens on 4 plates, top with divided squash mixture, apple slices, goat cheese, walnuts, and cranberries. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette.

 

Caramel Apple Pie Bites

These little bite-sized servings are perfect for a fall or holiday celebration.

Makes 24 bites

Nutrition information per bite: 145 calories, 9 g fat, 14 g carbohydrate, 2 g protein, .6 g fiber, 70 mg sodium

Recipe adapted from Magnolia Journal

INGREDIENTS:

• • 1/2 of a 17.3-ounce pkg. frozen puff pastry sheets
  • (1 sheet), thawed
  • 1-1/2 cups finely chopped Michigan Apples
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 10 caramels, unwrapped
  • 3 tablespoons half-and-half
  • 3 tablespoons chopped pecans
  • Sea salt flakes

DIRECTIONS:

1. 1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
   2. On a lightly floured surface, unfold the puff pastry sheet.
   3. Roll pastry into a 15×10-inch rectangle; cut into twenty-four 2-1/2-inch squares.
   4. Using a mini muffin cup pan, fit each square into each cup.
   5. Stir together apples, sugar, and cinnamon.
   6. Spoon the mixture evenly into the puff pastry-lined cups.
   7. Bake for about 15 minutes or until pastry is golden.
   8. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan. Carefully remove bites from the pan.
   9. While the bites cook, heat and stir caramels and cream over very low heat until melted and smooth.
   10. Drizzle bites with caramel sauce and sprinkle with pecans.
   11. Add a bit of sea salt and serve immediately.

Find more tasty holiday side dishes from Michigan Apple to complete your healthy holiday!