Healthy Recipes to Try This Fall
As the weather gets colder, it’s natural to want to indulge in warm comfort food. But you want to make sure you’re eating healthy and nutritious food, even as the holidays roll around. If you’re looking for new meal options that are healthy and will curb your comfort food craving, head to your kitchen to test out a sweet potato and black bean chili, creamy chicken and mushroom pasta, or pumpkin oatmeal muffins.
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili
Nothing beats a warm chili on a fall day. For this chili, start by heating one tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot. Next, peel and dice one large sweet potato and one large onion. Add the sweet potato and the onion to the pot with the olive oil and add four minced garlic cloves. Let the ingredients simmer for about 1 minute, or until onions are tender and you can smell the garlic roasting. Pour in 2 ½ cups of water and bring to a simmer. Then, cover the pot and cook the sweet potatoes for about 12minutes or until they’re tender.
Once the sweet potatoes are cooked, add in two 15oz cans of rinsed black beans, a 14oz can of diced tomatoes, and four teaspoons of lime juice. Bring the heat up to high and often stir until the chili begins to simmer. Let the pot simmer for about 5 minutes, and then it’s ready to enjoy.
Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta
If you’re craving pasta, try this one-pot chicken and mushroom pasta special. Start by seasoning four chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Next, heat two teaspoons of olive oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs in the pan until they’re golden brown and fully cooked. Dice 1 yellow onion, and mince four cloves of garlic and add that to the pan. You’ll want to cook the onion until it’s translucent, occasionally stirring, so the onions don’t burn. Next, pour in 1/3 cup of sodium-free chicken broth. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes, then reduce the heat.
After the chicken has simmered in the broth for 5 minutes, add 8 ounces of sliced mushroom to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, add 1 quart of chicken broth, 12 ounces of evaporated milk, 1/3 cup of plain almond or soy milk, and bring to a gentle simmer. Add 10 ounces of uncooked pasta and cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is cooked. Remove from heat and let the pot six for about 5 minutes for the sauce to thicken. Top the pasta off with fresh parsley and dig in!
Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins
If you’re craving something sweet, try these tasty pumpkin oatmeal muffins. Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup of unseasoned pumpkin puree, 1 ½ cups of oat milk, 3 ½ cups of uncooked old fashioned rolled oats, ½ cup of brown sugar, one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, one teaspoon of baking powder, 1 ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, and two eggs. Once everything is fully incorporated, pour the mixture into a muffin pan. Fill each muffin cup a little more than half, but not to the top since the muffins will rise as they bake. Bake the muffins for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove them from the oven, let them cool and enjoy them with a warm cup of coffee or cider.
How Visiting Angels Can Help
If you want to be more adventurous in the kitchen but need help grocery shopping, using appliances and utensils, or cooking, the team at Visiting Angels Barrington can help. Our compassionate caregivers can also help with light housekeeping, medication reminders, personal grooming, mobility, transportation, and more. Our Barrington office serves Barrington, Algonquin, Palatine, Lake Zurich Crystal Lake, McHenry, Woodstock, Cary, and the surrounding communities. If you’d like to learn more about our services, you can complete this online form or call 224.512.4180.