RECIPE: MARVELOUS MEDITERRANEAN FALAFEL SLIDERS

Ingredients

• 1 envelope Manischewitz Falafel Mix from 6.4 oz box
• 2 pounds ground turkey*
• 1 cup mint leaves, chopped (plus more for garnish)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large Bermuda onion, thinly sliced
• 1 can tehina (tahini)
• 12 3-inch soft rolls
• 1 head Bibb lettuce, washed and patted dry
• Pepper
• Water

  *Use regular instead of “light” ground turkey for best results in this recipe.

The 2009 grand prize winner: Falafel
Sliders by Amy Siegel. Photo courtesy
The Manishewitz Company.

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine falafel mix, turkey, mint leaves, black pepper to taste and 3-4 tablespoons cold water, to moisten. Shape mixture into 12 small patties.

2. Heat a grill pan or large skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spray. Grill patties for 3-5 minutes per side, until no longer pink in center.

3. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add olive oil and Bermuda onion. Sauté for 10-12 minutes, until softened and golden.
4. In a small bowl, stir together tehina with ¼ cup water. Add more water to make a thinner sauce, if desired, set aside. Heat rolls in a 250°F oven for 5 minutes, or until warm.

5. To assemble sliders: On a plate, place bottom half of roll, lettuce leaf, cooked patty, onions, 1 tablespoon tehina and top half of roll. Garnish with additional chopped mint leaves. Serve remaining tehina sauce on the side for dipping.

The history of falafel.

Find more of our favorite international recipes.

Mmm—no wonder the Caesar is one of
America’s favorite salads. Photo courtesy
McCormick.com.

It was restaurateur Caesar Cardini, owner of Caesar’s restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico, who created the salad in 1924.

• Read the history of the Caesar Salad.
• See the original Caesar Salad recipe—no creamy dressing, no anchovies.
• Forget the original recipe and make creamy Caesar Salad dressing.
• Combine two favorite American foods and make a Caesar Salad pizza. Since it’s technically a pizza, convince people who don’t like salad to eat it.

Mix condiments with nonfat yogurt to create tasty, low-calorie, creamy dressings, dips and sauces.

While flavored mustards, pestos, salsas and savory chutneys are delicious low-calorie flavor-enhancers by themselves, transforming them into a creamy sauce adds versatility to your dishes.

Using nonfat yogurt for a sauce base adds few calories compared with cream or sour cream. However, yogurt will separate when heated, so if you want a warm sauce, have the yogurt at room temperature and warm it ever-so-slightly.

• Check out more yogurt ideas.

This low-calorie citrus-yogurt dip is a better
choice for crab cakes than a fat-filled, mayo-
based dip. Photo courtesy of Zabars.com.

Zero calories, great chocolate flavor.
Photo by Hannah Kaminsky | THE NIBBLE.

Metromint Peppermint water launched in 2004. People who love a vibrant, minty water are fans. The company then developed additional flavors with less mint intensity to appeal to a broader market, and last year introduced a game-changer: Metromint Chocolate Mint.

Made with cocoa essence and real mint, this is a water any chocolate lover will want by the case. With zero calories, it fills the need for a chocolate treat; once you’ve tasted it, you’re hooked. (In fact, at this moment it’s sold out on the Metromint website due to holiday demand, but you can still order it; more will be in stock soon.)

Chocolatemint is one of a mint water family that includes Cherrymint, Lemonmint, Orangemint, the original Peppermint, and Spearmint. Everyone from mintaholics to those who like just a bit of mint in their water will find flavors to love.

Metromint is great for gift-giving to help a friend or family member start—or stay on—a calorie-controlled diet. You can send a four-pack, a six-pack or, for just $38 and free shipping, a case.

• Read the full Metromint review and definitely buy a bottle to taste.
• You can save 55¢ on Metromint with this coupon.

Coffee may become the next health food craze. Some articles touting the antioxidants in coffee put it up there with green tea, whole grains and cruciferous vegetables. But, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal notes, “While there has been a splash of positive news about coffee lately, there may still be grounds for concern.”

Coffee contains traces of hundreds of substances, including potassium, magnesium and vitamin E, as well as chlorogenic acids that are thought to have antioxidant properties. These may protect against cell damage and inflammation that can be precursors to cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders and cardiovascular disease.

Have another espresso—it may be
good for you. Photo courtesy SXC.

COFFEE IS GOOD FOR YOU

• Osteoporosis: Caffeine lowers bone density, but adding milk can balance out the risk.
• Alzheimer’s: Moderate coffee drinking appears to be protective.
• Cancer: Earlier studies implicating coffee in causing cancer have been disproven; it may instead lower the risk of colon, mouth, throat and other cancers.
• Diabetes: Many studies find that coffee—decaf or regular—lowers the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes; however, caffeine raises blood sugar in people who already have diabetes.
• Heart disease: Long-term coffee drinking does not appear to raise the risk and may provide some protection.
• Mood: Moderate caffeine boosts energy and cuts depression, but excess amounts can cause anxiety. 

  And more good news: Coffee is ubiquitous, affordable, calorie-free and beloved by many. Some 54% of American adults drink coffee regularly—an estimated 400 million cups per day.

  COFFEE IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU

   

   

• Cholesterol: Some coffee—especially decaf—raises LDL, the bad kind of cholesterol.
• Pregnancy: Caffeine intake may increase the risk of miscarriage and low birth-weight babies.
• Sleep: Effects are highly variable, but avoiding coffee after 3PM can avert insomnia.
• Hypertension: Caffeine raises blood pressure, so sufferers should be wary.More bad news: Coffee can aggravate anxiety, irritability, heartburn and sleeplessness; caffeine has also been linked to benign breast lumps and bone loss in elderly women.

  So, coffee may or may not be your personal “health food.” But if you don’t fall into any of the risk groups, enjoy that double espresso.