Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Bringing new traditions to family dinner

Vegetables can bring flavor and more to dinner and beyond

Easter is a time of traditions. Most visible are the store shelves stocked with jelly beans, chocolates, stuffed bunnies and Easter baskets.

But beyond the candy and the colored Easter eggs lies one of the most important traditions of all the holiday meal with all of the trimmings. As ham, turkey, potatoes and more cover the table, family and friends gather to share stories, memories and the meal.

This year, as you join with family and friends, consider incorporating a few new traditions into your holiday meal with some help from vegetables, courtesy of the farmers at Birds Eye.

It's true that veggies are a staple at the Easter meal, but the challenge is how to spice them up for the occasion and afterwards. Here are a few suggestions that are guaranteed to bring flavor, color and taste to the table and beyond.

· Get green. Nutritional research suggests the more green vegetables you eat, the healthier you will be. So why not try Birds Eye's Cut Green Beans or Chopped Broccoli as the perfect side dish to your Easter meal?

· Get creative. To get your family eating more vegetables, consider a nontraditional approach. Ditch the dinner rolls in favor of a delicious broccoli cheddar cheese bread or broccoli and cheddar muffins.

· Liven up leftovers. Make a brand new meal by blending leftovers such as green beans and ham together to create a tasty casserole, a post-holiday tradition in its own right.

Even after the holiday ends, frozen vegetables are always good to have on hand. They're convenient, fresh tasting and, contrary to popular belief, contain just as many nutrients as produce at your local grocery store.

According to the farmers at Birds Eye, using a flash-freezing technique locks in flavor, texture and nutrients, and helps to ensure a long shelf life. This process also guarantees the fresh quality of vegetables without artificial preservatives.

In fact, it is recommended that you eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day to maintain a healthy lifestyle. To help increase your vegetable consumption, consider the following dishes to complement your holiday meal or to create tasty leftovers.

Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Bread

1 1/2 pound loaf

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: To be determined by bread machine cycle

1/2 to 3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 box (10 oz.) Birds Eye Chopped Broccoli, thawed

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

3 cups bread flour

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

· Place all ingredients in bread machine pan in order listed.

· Use regular or medium cycle.

· When cycle has completed, remove bread from pan and cool before slicing.

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