Seasoned

VOLUME 13

Welcome to the latest issue of our Seasoned newsletter!

Welcome to the monthly Seasoned Newsletter. This time, it’s all about snacks. If you’re like me, your desire to snack gets more intense as the weather gets colder. But even if you’re not, healthy snacks are always a good thing. Sometimes, they can even be all you want for a meal, which is just dandy.

So here are easy recipes for snacks from light (Cauliflower Popcorn and a killer Feta and Red Pepper Dip) to more substantial (Quesadilla and four uses for nut butters). Plus there’s a trick for peeling lots of garlic, a balance exercise, and a teaser for your brain.

Let’s get started!

Easiest Quesadilla

Easiest Quesadilla

Quesadillas are one of the easiest and most delicious snacks around. They also make an excellent light lunch or dinner, particularly if you add one of the many options listed below.

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Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Ingredients

2 (10-inch) whole-grain tortillas
1/2 cup shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican-blend cheese, divided
2 tsp olive or vegetable oil, divided
Salsa, hot sauce, and/or plain yogurt, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Put one tortilla on a large plate and sprinkle half of the shredded cheese over half of it, leaving about a ¼-inch border. Fold the tortilla over to make a half-moon shape.
Put a large skillet on the stove, turn the heat to medium, and add 1 teaspoon of the oil.
When the oil is hot, put the filled tortilla in the skillet and cook until the bottom is lightly browned and the cheese is gooey, about 2 minutes. Using a heatproof spatula or tongs, turn the quesadilla over and cook for another 2 minutes. Transfer the cooked quesadilla to a plate.
Repeat with the remaining tortilla, cheese, and oil. Cut the quesadillas into quarters, if you like, and serve with your choice of dipping sauce.

Notes

Or You Could

Add any or all of these (¼ cup total) to each tortilla when you
add the cheese:

Canned or cooked black beans
Corn kernels
Diced tomatoes or bell peppers
Sliced or shredded cooked chicken
Chopped or sliced cooked zucchini, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, or potatoes
Baby spinach or kale

A Kitchen Trick, a Brain Teaser, an Exercise

Mini Lunges

1. Stand with feet shoulder width apart

2. Holding onto a stable surface, step forward and allow your front knee to bend. Be sure that you don’t lunge too deep.
If pain occurs, take smaller steps.

3. Return to start position, then repeat with opposite leg.

4. Do 10 lunges per leg, twice daily.

Who Were Those Masked Men?

A man left home running. He ran a ways and then turned left, ran the same distance and turned left again, ran the same distance and turned left again. But when he got home, there were two masked men. Who were they?

Answer: The umpire and the catcher.

Peeling Lots of Garlic

Separate the head of garlic into individual cloves, then put them into a lidded glass jar and put on the lid. (You can also use a small mixing bowl covered with a plate or cutting board.) Shake vigorously, stopping occasionally to look at the cloves—when you see that they have separated from their skins, you’re done.

Cauliflower Popcorn