Looking for ideas for Halloween Dinner? Try making dinner as fun as Halloween!
Rosemary Vegetable Skewers
Looking for a quick side dish for your family meal? These Rosemary Vegetable Skewers cook in about 10 minutes under the broiler, so you can have kabobs even when the weather isn’t perfect for grilling! This recipe also packs a sodium-free flavor punch by using rosemary and lemon juice as the heart-healthy seasoning.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes rinsed
- 1 squash rinsed and sliced into ¼ - ½ inch rounds
- 1 zucchini rinsed and sliced into ¼ - ½ inch rounds
- 1 orange bell pepper rinsed and sliced into ¾ inch squares
- 4-ounce mushrooms rinsed and wiped clean
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lemon lemon juice and zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
Servings: people
Units:
Instructions
- Soak wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes.
- Combine olive oil, lemon zest and juice, and rosemary. Set aside.
- Heat oven broiler to high.
- Remove wooden skewers from water and begin to alternate threading tomatoes, squash, zucchini, bell pepper, and mushroom.
- Place vegetable skewers on rimmed baking sheet and brush with lemon-herb oil.
- Place under broiler 5 minutes. Remove and carefully flip skewers (they will be hot). Place back in oven and broil another 5-7 minutes. NOTE: Carefully watch vegetables under broiler to avoid burning.
Recipe Notes
Avoid Cross Contamination
Avoid cross contaminating raw meat with other produce or food items when preparing vegetables and meats for dinner. Cross contamination occurs when the raw meat or juices from it touch other food or items that food may touch, including cutting boards, counters, hands, and utensils.
HOW IT HAPPENS:
Cross contamination occurs when the raw meat or juices from it touch other food or items that food may touch, including cutting boards, counters, hands, and utensils.
CLEAN OFTEN:
- Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops.
- Clean kitchen tools and area after they have held/touched raw meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs.
- Wash fruits and vegetables (fresh produce) before use; however, do not wash meat, poultry, or eggs.
SEPARATE TO AVOID CROSS CONTAMINATION:
- Use separate cutting boards and plates for produce (fruits & veggies), meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs.
- Use separate plates and utensils for cooked and raw foods.
COOK TO THE RIGHT TEMP:
- Use a food thermometer to be sure your food is safe and is cooked well.
- When mixing vegetables with pre-cooked meat, make sure to increase the internal cooking temperature of vegetables to the internal cooing temperature the meat needs to be cooked.
- Otherwise, bacteria from the juices will not cook off the vegetables and could leave you battling food borne illness.
CHILL FOOD PROPERLY:
- Refrigerator temperature should be set to 40°F or below.
- Freezer temperature should be set to 0°F or below.
- Refrigerate perishable foods within 2 hours.
- The safest way to thaw or marinate meat, poultry, and seafood is in the refrigerator. Never thaw or marinate foods on the counter.
CUTTING BOARD TIP:
Consider using differing colored cutting boards to keep your fresh produce from touching your raw meats.
Get a downloadable pdf of the version above here – _Avoid Cross Contamination Handout
Be food safe and learn more at https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/basics/separate/index.html
Kabob Skewers: Not Just for Dinner
Most people think of kabob skewers for shish kabobs full of meat and vegetables for the dinnertime grill, but those bamboo, wooden, or metal skewers can make any mealtime fun!
Here are a few fun ideas for using skewers at breakfast, lunch, snack, and dessert:
- Start the day with a kabob – Make breakfast fun by stacking waffles and strawberries onto the skewer.
- Sandwich on a stick – Alternate pieces of whole grain bread with low-fat cheese chunks and pieces of deli sliced turkey breast for a lunchbox change-up.
- Make a healthy desert – Thread washed fruit (sliced if needed) onto a skewer for a healthy dessert (or even a simple snack stack).
Get older children involved by letting them thread different food onto the skewers. Keep in mind that the ends are sharp, so use caution, always observe kids in the kitchen, and use soft foods.
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
This slow cooker recipe is teen approved, easy and delicious. This recipe also includes pork, which has B vitamins, zinc, iron, and protein.
