These days I have been busy putting together  recipes for the Feast Your Eyes campaign of  the American Academy of Ophthalmologists and Eye Care America as I am serving as a media spokesperson for this event.

The recipes have to be ‘yummy’ but they also have to contain ingredients that are healthy for your eyes.  Since it’s getting to be that time of year when Holiday Parties are on everyone’s mind, I decided to put together healthy appetizers.

This first healthy appetizer makes agreat dip (and donlt tell nayone but it is contains many ingredients that are healthy for your eyes):

Crema Di Carote (Carrot Cream Appetizer)

*2 lbs of carrots

*2 cups of vegetable broth or boullion

*pinch of nutmeg

*pinch of hot pepper

*4 tblsps of grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

*1/3 cup of pitted black olives

*8 slices of crusty Italian bread

*1 tblsps of extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil

*1 tblsps of unsalted butter

*pinch of salt and pepper to taste

Wash, peel and cut carrots into large pieces. Bring broth to a boil. Place in carrots and cook for 20 minutes. When finished, pour liquid and carrots into a bowl and mash carrots with fork and mix with liquid.

In a sauté pan, place in oil, warm on low heat for 30 seconds. Place in mashed carrots, add in butter and grated cheese. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, pepper, nutmeg. Cook for 2 minutes and mixing continuously with wooden spoon so mixture does not stick.

Remove from heat. Divide cream onto 4 small appetizer dishes. Garnish with black olives on side of dish. Serve with 2 slices of crusty Italian bread on each plate.
For more great recipes get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati at http://www.marialiberati.com

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene

Maria

copyright, 2008, Maria Liberati

October is here and Halloween is lurking around the corner and so are the pumpkins.  I am working on a healthy eating campaign for the American Academy of Ophthalmologists and their upcoming cookbook. The campaign is called Feast Your Eyes. It is based  on the research that has shown that along with regular exams, eating certain foods can help to delay or control the onset of macular degeneration.   I needed a Halloween recipe for adults, one that is healthy, and can be eaten by adults, so here is my  first Halloween recipe. This is great as an appetizer or light lunch or dinner served with a slice of Prosciutto Ham  and Pecorino cheese or both. These are delicious but also healthy to eat and not your typical sugary fare.

Halloween Pumpkin Muffins

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 packet dry yeast

½ tsp crushed, hot, red pepper

pinch of salt

pinch of sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup low fat or skim milk

2 tbsp of carrot juice

4 ounces of mashed pumpkin

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In mixing bowl place egg ,milk, carrot juice, crushed red pepper, mix with electric mixer. In separate bowl place flour ,sugar,salt and stir together. Add in, a little at a time to egg mixture. When well blended, add in pumpkin. Grease a muffin pan with butter or place in paper muffin cups instead. Add in muffin mixture, filling each muffin cup halfway. Cook for 20-25 minutes or till firm. When finished remove from oven, leave till warm in muffin cups. Serve warm with a slice of Prosciutto and a slice of Pecorino cheese.

“Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene”

Maria

For more great recipes get your copy  of the best selling book  The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com and don’t forget you can follow me throughout my food filled day at http://twitter.com/marialiberati