I am excited to be the spokesperson  for the Shurfine/Shurfresh brand in the Associated Food Stores.  I have tested recipes using their products with wonderful results.  I felt this was a great partnership for me as I can guide people to buy afforadable groceries and shop local!  Affordability continues to be a buzz word these days, and if I can help everyone cook healthier and more affordable with local shopping–why not!  Look for my weekly featured recipes in the Associated Food Stores ads and I will also feature each weekly recipe on my blog.  So, everyone start cooking and start shopping local!

Shop local! With Holly and Shurfine/Shurfresh!!!

When I am developing diabetic recipes, I would say my greatest challenge isn’t about fat or carbs, but sodium.  When people have health issues and need to have a lower sodium diet, they are surprised when I steer them to my diabetic cookbook.  In all my cookbooks, I include sodium in the nutritional information, however, not all the recipes fit into the Americans Diabetes Association guidelines.  There are some astonishing facts I have found.  Most people think the majority of salt comes from the salt added to food when cooking and eating.  But, 80 to 90% of American daily sodium intake actually comes from restaurant meals or processed foods.  With that in mind, there are ways to control your salt intake easier than you think by preparing home-cooked meals! 

I always enjoy serving an entree salad, and my Taco Rice Salad is light enough for the ladies and hearty enought to please the men.  Best of all, even the kids love this recipe.  This satisfying taco salad is from my  Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic Cooking cookbook.  It is a toss together last minute recipe

Check out my recipe for Taco Rice Salad

Sodium solution-diabetic friendly recipes-Taco Rice Salad

Last year was the first “Head To Toe” Event and wow, was it a success!!!  Once again, I am delighted and honored to serve as the Honorary Chairman for this fun day!!  If you missed it last year, this is a special day to spend with your friend, mother or anyone.  I am especially excited as my mother will be in town from Ft. Worth so she will be my special guest.  I will be giving a seminar with Matt Saurage of Community Coffee at 9:00am, “Stay “Hot” in the Kitchen with Community Coffee” and then the lunch menu will be from my cookbook, Too Hot in the Kitchen.  The luncheon will be the Kiwi and Mixed Green Salad topped with Grilled Chicken and Spiced Walnuts and for dessert, everyone’s favorite, cheesecake, with Lemon Cheesecake Squares.  You can pick up a jar of lemon curd in the grocery so this really is an easy recipe.  I like to serve with fresh berries.

Head To Toe Event in Baton Rouge

Glazed Ham with Pecan Crust

Looking for the perfect menu to entertain guests this Easter? Holiday meals are known for their classic dishes and these have a delicious twist!  Just wait until you taste this classic Glazed Ham with Pecan Crust – you don’t have to make an extra trip to the ham store. And of course with my sweet tooth I have to include a dessert!  The Tropical Yam Trifle is an incredible finish to your meal and includes the fabulous Louisiana yams.

Glazed Ham with Pecan Crust from Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC Home Entertaining the Easy Way

No need to buy a honey baked ham at the store with this stunning ham with incredible taste, yet, so simply prepared.

Makes 20 – 25 (5-ounce) servings

1 10-pound fully cooked bone in ham

2 cups apple cider

1 cup light brown sugar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.  Insert meat thermometer into center of ham without touching bone.  Place ham in baking dish, pour cider over.
2. Roast in oven, basting with cider every 30 minutes for total cooking time of 12 – 15 minutes per pound or until thermometer registers 140°F.
3. Meanwhile, in bowl, combine brown sugar, mustard and pecans.  Remove ham from oven last 40 minutes, firmly pat sugar pecan mixture all over ham.  Return to oven, continue roasting until crust is brown and ham is done.
4. Slice and serve with sauce.  Some of topping falls into sauce making it the perfect accompaniment to ham.

Nutritional information per serving:

Calories 306, Protein (g) 35, Carbohydrate (g) 12, Fat (g) 13, Calories from fat (%) 38, Saturated Fat (g) 3, Dietary Fiber (g) 1, Cholesterol (mg) 75, Sodium (mg) 1824, Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1 other carbohydrate

Terrific Tip:  Garnish ham with crab apples or pomegranates while in season.

Planning your Easter Meal – Glazed Ham with Pecan Crust

One of my favorite stops is always 9News at 4 in Denver.  Salmon is quick cooking and a go to recipe for me.  Everyone raves about this easy gourmet-on-the go recipe for Salmon Marsala.  I keep a bottle of Holland House Marsala cooking wine in my pantry for a pantry-friendly wine–and I LOVE the flavor of Marsala.  And, remember, salmon is packed with heart healthy omega fatty acids…give the recipe a try!

Salmon Marsala

I go to the YMCA for my exercise classes but best of all, I make new friends that becomes a cult of its own!  I have decided I am not an “optional” kind of person, and the only way I exercise is with classes.  So, you will know, no aerobic classes–these are body conditionning, pilates or stretching type classes–after all I really don’t like to sweat.  We come to exercise not dressed and without make-up but recently I was at one of our Mardi Gras Balls and my teacher and a friend were there–hey we do know how to clean up!

My friends at the YMCA

Click here to view the embedded video.

Holly appears on Fox & Friends with her new trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic cookbook where she partnered with the ADA.  “There is no magical diabetes Diabetes diet-it is just the healhiest way to eat!”  Close your eyes and pretend the word, “diabetic” is not on the cover and you will enjoy these easy recipes from pot roast to Southwestern lasagna.

Holly’s Diabetic Cookbook on Fox & Friends with Easy Diabetic Recipes

Shrimp Cheese Grits Casserole

This post was from awhile ago…but making for Christmas gang also!  I am exhausted! I had 30 wonderful kids with me all weekend as we all went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  My daughter, Haley, invited 30 of her friends from Wash U in St. Louis to come experience Mardi Gras for the first time.  Many had never even been to the South so of course I had to have lots of food!! We had 5 king cakes and I cooked our classic Louisiana dishes that feed a crowd. I made Shrimp and Cheese Grits from Freezer Friendly Meals, ahead of time and froze so I didn’t have to spend hours in the kitchen when everyone got there.  I also had to make our favorite appetizers kids love to dig into – Hamburger Dip and Super Salsa…both with only a few ingredients and so easy. Of course they were gobbled up! It was a whirl-wind weekend full of fun but good to be back in my routine too!

Shrimp and Cheese Grits for a House Full

Remember, cooking is creative so have fun this holiday season.  Here’s my Holiday Cooking Rules for a “No Stress Holiday Meal”  You can check out my website for holiday menus and recipes.  Recipe is:  Holiday Bars

Rule #1   If you don’t have an ingredient, leave it out-don’t run back to the grocery–no one will know that your cornbread dressing was supposed to have mushrooms, or a cake needed nuts.  I always say if a chocolate soufflé falls, serve it as chocolate pudding with a smile.

Rule #2  Select recipes that don’t only cook in the oven…remember you will have a busy oven so select stove top recipes.

Rule #3   Plan your menu with time saving make ahead recipes to freeze. 

 Rule #4   Prepare what you are comfortable with and pick up or let people bring the rest…you don’t have to prepare every dish to have a memorable meal. 

a)      Order a cooked turkey and garnish with fresh parsley and crab apples to give it a personal touch. 

b)      If you don’t like to make desserts, order festive holiday cookies or pies from your  favorite bakery.

 Rule #5   Ambience: Create an easy centerpiece by filling a glass bowl with pomegranates or seasonal items—no need for expensive flowers.

 Rule #6  Use holiday themed paper goods or plastic plates to serve dessert-easy clean up.

 Rule#7:  Cook trim&TERRIFIC

Last minute fun holiday gift-get a copy of my new fun whimsical cookbook–includes Effortless Entertaining, Foods To Improve…. and the popular Diva Dermatology Chapter

Christmas Recipes with No Kitchen Stress

Fun and informative, Too Hot makes another list and on one of my favorite blogs  Recipegirl blog has great information, with recipes, tips and good scoop.  I am flattered to be included.  Too Hot is a little different than my other books.  There are recipes on my website.

Too Hot Makes Favorite 2010 Cookbooks on Recipegirl.com List