Healthy Picnicking With Mrs. Dash & Country Crock!

Summer is right around the corner and so are the picnics and barbecues! Many Americans, kids and adults alike, are eating too much salt and not getting enough important nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. Mrs. Dash and Country Crock have some ingredients that can help families make healthier meals.

Mrs. Dash offers two new seasonings, Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend and Caribbean Citrus Seasoning Blend. These seasonings are great for adding some UMPH to grilled meats without using salt.

Just two tablespoons of Country Crock Calcium plus Vitamin D provides 20% of the Daily Value for calcium and 40% for vitamin D. Test your knowledge of these nutrients by taking a Calcium Quiz at www.CountryCrock.com and be entered for the chance to win a $25 Visa® gift card and a family vacation for five to Yellowstone National Park. Visit the site daily through June 13, 2009 for recipes and a 55¢ off coupon for Country Crock with Calcium plus Vitamin D.

Enjoy these delicious recipes from Mrs. Dash and Country Crock!

Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Fajitas
Serves 4. 10 minutes to prepare. 10-11 minutes cooking time.
Ingredients:
· 2 Tbsp oil, divided
· 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless beef sirloin, cut into 1/2 inch strips
· 1 medium onion, cut into thin strips
· 1 medium bell pepper (red and/or green), cut into thin strips
· ¼ cup water
· 3 Tbsp. Mrs. Dash® Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend
· 8 flour tortillas (6-inch)
Directions:
1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add meat; cook for 3 minutes until no longer pink. Remove from skillet.
2. In the same skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add onion and bell pepper; cook 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Return meat to skillet. Stir in water and Fiesta Lime Seasoning. Cook for 3 minutes until heated through.
4. Spoon into warm tortillas. Serve with toppings, if desired.

Nutritional Information:
Calories: 230 % of Calories from Fat: 31 % Total Fat: 8 g Saturated Fat: 2 g
Unsaturated Fat: 4 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 25 mg Sodium: 260 mg Modest Sodium Recipe! Potassium: 260 mg Carbohydrates: 20 g Fiber: 2 g Protein: 16 g

Caribbean Pork Kabobs
Serves: 9. Serving Size: 1 kabob (140g). Prep Time: 15 min. Cook Time: 10 min to 15 min low cook time.

Ingredients:
* 1 lb. Pork Tenderloin, cut into small cubes
* 1 sweet onion, cut into cubes
* 1 red bell pepper, cut into cubes
* 1/2 fresh pineapple, peeled, cut into cubes
* 1/2 cup Pineapple juice
* 3 Tbsp Mrs. Dash® Caribbean Citrus Seasoning Blend, divided

Directions:
1. Mix pineapple juice and 2 Tbsp Mrs. Dash® Caribbean Citrus in a small bowl.
2. Pour 3/8 cup (6 Tbsp.) of the pineapple juice mixture over the pork in a separate bowl and the remaining over the vegetables. Stir to coat evenly.
3. Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
4. Thread pork pieces onto 9 skewers, alternating with onion, pepper and pineapple cubes. Sprinkle remaining 1 Tbsp Mrs. Dash® Caribbean Citrus.
5. Grill or broil for 10-15 minutes or until pork is thoroughly cooked.

Nutritional Information:
Calories:140 % of Calories from Fat:26 % Total Fat:4 g Saturated Fat:2 g Unsaturated Fat:2 g Trans Fat:0 g Cholesterol:40 mg Sodium:40 mg Low Sodium Recipe! Potassium:330 mg Carbohydrates:11 g Fiber:1 g Protein:14 g

Blueberry Banana Muffins

Makes: 18 muffins. Preparation Time: 15 Minute(s). Cook Time: 20 Minute(s).

Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 Tbsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
- 3/4 cup Shedd’s Spread Country Crock® Calcium plus Vitamin D or Omega Plus, melted
- 1 large ripe banana, mashed
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°. Grease 18 muffin cups or line with paper cupcake liners; set aside.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda in large bowl; set aside.

Beat eggs, milk, melted Shedd’s Spread Country Crock® Calcium plus Vitamin D, banana and vanilla in medium bowl with wire whisk until smooth. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture with wooden spoon just until blended. Gently fold in blueberries and walnuts. Evenly spoon batter into prepared pans.*

Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. On wire rack, cool 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely.
*For even baking, fill any unused muffin cups halfway with water.

Also terrific with Shedd’s Spread Country Crock Spread.

Nutrition Information per muffin
Calories 230, Calories From Fat 80, Saturated Fat 1.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Total Fat 9g, Cholesterol 25mg, Sodium 190mg, Total Carbohydrates 33g, Sugars 14g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Protein 4g, Vitamin A 8%, Vitamin C 4%, Calcium 15%, Iron 8%

Tagged as: cooking, Food, recipes