Hold the cholesterol - Take lite approach to Passover

[Guest guest]

Hold the cholesterol -- Take lite approach to Passover specialties

by JANET SILVER GHENT

" Passover Lite Kosher Cookbook " by Gail Ashkanazi-Hankin (184 pages,

Pelican Publishing,

Bulletin Staff

 

http://www.jewishsf.com/bk960329/etalite.htm

 

[if you like this, then come on over to SoFlaVegans

SoFlaVegans/

for literally hundreds more Pesach recipes and articles - happening

right now!]

 

While Passover begins with a systematic spring cleaning, it ends with

a need to clean out the system. Moses and the Jews who left Egypt

never could have envisioned that their desert wanderings would

culminate in an eight-day Festival of Cholesterol.

 

But the passage from slavery to freedom needn't be paved with fat.

Gail Ashkanazi-Hankin takes another path in " Passover Lite Kosher

Cookbook. " Many of the dishes rely on the array of fresh produce

available in the spring, and there are no nine-egg sponge cakes or

four-egg kugels to sabotage the bathing-suit season.

 

Laying low on fat -- and calories -- the author uses egg whites and

cooking spray in traditional kugels, desserts and matzah balls. For

those who are not fond of that approach and prefer recipes that are

naturally low in fat, Ashkanazi-Hankin also borrows from the

Mediterranean fare favored by Sephardim, replete with tomatoes,

artichokes, peppers and fresh herbs. Each is followed with a

nutritional analysis, including calorie and fat counts.

 

In addition to traditional Pesach fare, Ashkanazi-Hankin creates a

vegetarian seder menu, as well as a number of dishes that contain

neither meat, dairy products nor eggs -- meeting the challenge of

what to serve the family vegan at the seder.

 

Try the Asparagus-Artichoke Salad or Jerusalem Platter. Follow with

Tomato Salsa Soup. For the main dish, there's Eggplant Sauce Over

Spaghetti Squash. Then end with Instant Raspberry Sorbet.

 

Of course, not everybody wants to eschew all animal products -- and

the Chicken in Orange Sauce and the savory Chicken with Olives are

certainly tempting. In addition, there is a wide assortment of

recipes from appetizers to desserts.

 

In the interests of health as well as spirituality, instead of

creating unconvincing substitutes for the dishes enjoyed the rest of

the year, why not use Passover as a time to eat more consciously?

Ashkanazi-Hankin offers a number of suggestions:

 

*Take advantage of colors and textures to enhance the appeal of your

meals.

*Use naturally wholesome foods, including fresh herbs.

*Avoid most processed Passover convenience foods, which often contain

saturated fats.

*Use kosher-for-Passover cooking spray, or make your own, pouring

monounsaturated or polyunsaturated oil into a spray bottle.

" This book is really just a lesson in reforming your Passover cooking

habits, steaming vegetables, and reducing the amount of oil and egg

yolks in favorite recipes, " Ashkanazi-Hankin writes. " This can be

your blueprint for a new tradition, for a truly healthy and happy

Passover. "

 

 

ASPARAGUS-ARTICHOKE SALAD

Serves 4

1/2 lb. asparagus, tough ends snapped off, steamed until tender

1/2 lb. baby fresh artichokes, trimmed and steamed until tender

1/2 red bell pepper and 1/2 orange or yellow bell pepper, thinly

sliced

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 tsp. oil

2 Tbs. minced fresh dill, or to taste

1/8 tsp. black pepper, or to taste

4 cups mixed salad greens

 

Immerse steamed asparagus and artichokes in a bowl of ice-cold water

to stop cooking process. Slice asparagus stalks into 2-inch pieces,

and artichokes into halves. In a bowl, combine asparagus, artichokes

and bell peppers.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine lemon juice, oil, dill and

black pepper. Toss with vegetable mixture. Chill. Serve over bed of

salad greens on each individual salad plate.

 

 

EGGPLANT SAUCE OVER SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Serves 4

1 large spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise

1 medium onion, chopped

1/3 cup low-calorie Passover Italian salad dressing or dry red wine

1 large eggplant, peeled and cubed

1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1 or 2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp. each, basil and oregano

1/8 tsp. black pepper

4 cups canned low-sodium tomatoes, chopped and undrained

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup dry red wine

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place squash cut side down in a baking

dish. Bake 1 hour until tender.

While it's cooking, sauté onion in Italian dressing in a nonstick

skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes. Add all except

last 3 ingredients, and sauté for 15 minutes or until eggplant and

mushrooms are soft. (A small amount of water may be added to prevent

sticking.)

Stir in tomatoes, water and wine. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover

and simmer for 20 minutes.

To serve, remove seeds from squash and use a fork to pull out squash

strands and scoop onto a serving platter or individual plates. Spoon

sauce on top.

 

 

INSTANT RASPBERRY SORBET

Serves 3-4

2 cups frozen raspberries

1/2 cup apple juice concentrate

 

Place raspberries in blender at high speed. Add apple juice

concentrate. Serve immediately or store in freezer several hours

before serving. If sorbet is frozen solid, let it sit out for a while

or soften it for a few seconds in the microwave. Then process again

before serving.

 

 

Fidyl

Live Simply So That

Others May Simply Live

Yoga-With-Nancy-SoFla/

SignSoFla/

SoFlaVegans/

SoFlaSchools/

[Guest guest]

Lovely recipes as always, Fidyl ;=) Have you tried these?? I'm going to

try them soon. Wellllll, as soon as I get my kitchen together. Right now

I'm still without fridge and stove, which means creative shopping *lol*

 

And thanks for the invitation to Vegetarian Slimming members to join

your group too. It provides a splendid service with not only recipes but

all the information on ecology, animal rights, etc etc.

 

Best,

 

Pat ;=)

--

pensden

townhounds/

vegetarianslimming/

HOMEPAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/

----------

* " There are too many idiots in this world. And having said it, I have

the burden of proving it. " (Franz Fanon)

* " Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man

will not himself find peace. " (Albert Schweitzer)

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, whenever I cook, no one eats it.

Even my Mom suggests eating out when she finds out I've prepared a

meal. <sigh>

Anyhoo, I cook for myself and love it!

 

But, I do know others who have tried some of these and many other

recipes I have posted, and they not only can't believe how easy it is

to prepare, but how wonderful and different they taste.

 

Of course, you get a few stinkers, but all-in-all, it's an experience-

broadener for tastes and routines.

 

Much luck with your kitchen.

 

This coming week - get ready for Easter recipes!

 

Namaste

 

Fidyl

Live Simply So That

Others May Simply Live

Yoga-With-Nancy-SoFla/

SignSoFla/

SoFlaVegans/

SoFlaSchools/

 

= = = = = = =

 

, Sant & Brown

<santbrown@l...> wrote:

> Lovely recipes as always, Fidyl ;=) Have you tried these?? I'm

going to

> try them soon. Wellllll, as soon as I get my kitchen together.

Right now

> I'm still without fridge and stove, which means creative shopping

*lol*

>

> And thanks for the invitation to Vegetarian Slimming members to join

> your group too. It provides a splendid service with not only

recipes but

> all the information on ecology, animal rights, etc etc.

>

> Best,

>

> Pat ;=)

> --

> pensden@a...

> townhounds/

> vegetarianslimming/

> HOMEPAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/

> ----------

> * " There are too many idiots in this world. And having said it, I

have

> the burden of proving it. " (Franz Fanon)

> * " Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things,

man

> will not himself find peace. " (Albert Schweitzer)

[Guest guest]

*lol* Can't believe you're that kinda cook, Fidyl ;=) Maybe you just

like different things from other people - I know I do. Okay, the

recommendation of others is good enough for me - I can't wait to try the

recipes (as soon as I have a kitchen).

 

dLooking forward to the Easter recipes! ;=)

 

This email addy disappearing tomorrow - should be hooked up later this

week though. Take care of yourself/selves until I reappear ;=)

 

Best,

Pat

--

pensden

townhounds/

vegetarianslimming/

HOMEPAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/

----------

* " There are too many idiots in this world. And having said it, I have

the burden of proving it. " (Franz Fanon)

* " Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man

will not himself find peace. " (Albert Schweitzer)