Thanks to everyone who participated in the January Blog Hop: Favorite Winter Soup Recipes. We loved all the recipes and appreciate everyone voting to help us pick our winner. We had some fabulous submissions, from vegetable soup to hearty chili and a whole lot more. Every month we are so excited to see what you have been cooking up.

For more hearty winter soups, be sure to check out all of the healthy soup recipes over at FaveDiets.com!

(Editor’s Note: Next month’s blog hop will be held over on the RecipeLion blog, so be sure to check in over there in February for all the details)

Now, the winner of the Quaker prize package is…

The BEST Vegetable Soup. . . . NO LIE! from My Kitchen Adventures!

Just contact us with your name and address, be sure to add FaveDiets Blog Hop Winner – MK in your details. Congrats!

If you are a blogger who would like to participate in future blog hops and would love a monthly email reminder, just send your information through our Contact Us page and you won’t miss a single hop!

Editor’s Note: This hop ends tnight, so hurry up and enter and vote before it’s too late!

Welcome to our latest FaveDiets Blog Hop, and as always welcome back to all those that participated in last month’s! Be sure to visit last month’s hop which featured your Favorite Holiday Recipes. If you have a great recipe we would love to share it in this month’s blog hop!

We are so excited about this month’s blog hop theme, which is…

Favorite Winter Soup Recipes!

This month we’d love to hear what your favorite soup recipe is. January is officially National Soup Month, and we want to see what you have been making to prep on commemoration of this month. Whether it’s a hearty lentil soup, comforting beef stew, spicy chili or anything else, share here your soup recipes!

How It Works

1. Write a blog post on your own blog showcasing any Favorite Winter Soup Recipes or link to one that is already posted on your blog. You can talk about the cooking process, write up a tutorial, or merely show off the finished product, it’s up to you!
2. Add your link to this post by clicking on “Click Here to Enter” at the bottom of the screen and following the instructions. Make sure you link to your specific blog post, not your homepage, and give it a caption.
3. Remember to copy the FaveDiets Blog Hop button below and paste it into your blog post, linked to this FaveDiets Blog Hop post, so that everyone who reads your blog can see that you’ve been featured on FaveDiets!
4. One link per person please, due to our Giveaway feature, which is explained below.

GIVEAWAY!

Yet again we have a special treat for all our Blog Hop participants. We are opening the hop up to voting!

Every blogger is allowed one link to their favorite winter soup recipe and readers of the blog can now play along by voting for their favorite one. So be sure to tell your friends, family, followers, and fans to vote for you. Voting and submissions end January 19th at midnight CST.

The recipe with the most votes will win a Quaker prize package!

The Quaker prize package includes the following:

• Two containers of Quaker Stila oat clusters bits (flavors are green apple and strawberry)
• Two boxes of Quaker Chewy Yogurt bars, blueberry and strawberry flavors

Please be sure to cast your vote and help us pick a winner!

**Don’t have a recipe for this Blog Hop but want to be notified via email about future events? Sign up for our blogger list and we will let you know when the next Blog Hop is up so you can join the fun!

*Note: Only folks in the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win this prize.

Editor’s Note: To see the most popular FaveDiets recipes from the past year, be sure to check out our recipe collection of 10 of the Best Healthy Easy Recipes of 2011.

By Brandi Koskie for DietsInReview.com

It’s the end of 2011 and you’ve seen lists for everything from the best-dressed celebrities to the best iPhone apps for the year. At DietsInReview, we let our readers do the list building, whether it be our most popular diets of the year or our best recipes of the year.

Our readers love a new recipe that inspires them as much as it makes them feel comfortable while they’re trying to make healthy choices.  This list of the 10 most popular recipes viewed by our readers this year is a shining example of that.  Trying new approaches to create classic favorites was a popular practice. Likewise, cooking like the rich and famous right at home, or at least from their cookbooks, was a big draw. The Biggest Losers continued to inspire with recipes from the show and from individual contestants making appearances on the list.

Whether you’re foodie who likes trying new things, or someone who goes out of their way to find healthy recipes, this list is sure to inspire you to try something new in 2012.

• Rocco’s Brownies
• Jillian Michaels’ Cranberry Diet Drink
• Barack Obama’s Chili
• Tara’s Turkey Mini Meatloaf
• Healthy Tuna Salad
• Eva Longoria’s Tortilla Soup
• Chicken Cacciatore
• Apple Crumble
• Jillian’s Reuben
• Ada Wong’s 7-Layer Dip

Christmas is such a wonderful holiday, from opening up presents in the morning to the big Christmas dinner at night.

However, if you hosted Christmas this year, then you may be currently looking at a mountain of leftovers right now. Sure, you can just eat your Christmas leftovers as is for every day until New Year’s day. However, that would get awfully boring. Instead, re-purpose all those leftovers and make some Christmas leftovers recipes that please the palate.

Our Top 10 Christmas Leftovers Ideas:

Leftover Turkey Recipes: The big roast bird remains a popular choice for Christmas dinner. After all, nothing wows a holiday dinner table quite like a beautifully roasted bird. Turkeys though can yield an awful lot of meat, usually too much for everyone to consume in one meal. Turkey sandwiches are the staple leftover turkey recipes, but why not mix things up a bit this year? For variety, here are five of our our best Christmas leftovers recipes for turkey:

1. Creamy Turkey Soup
2. Tetrazzini with Leftover Turkey 
3. Monte Cristo Baked Sandwich
4. Southwest Turkey and Cheese Omelet
5. Baked Turkey Biscuit

Leftover Ham Recipes: Ham, to me, has always been the quintessential Christmas dinner option. I will always envision the perfect Christmas supper table with a big ham in the middle. Just like with turkey though, you may end up with more ham than you bargained for in your fridge after Christmas. Here are five great leftover ham recipes to help you use up all of your Christmas ham:

1. Ham and Shrimp Fried Rice
2. Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole
3. Ham and Cheese Stromboli
4. Easy Breakfast Frittata
5. Ham and Egg Breakfast Muffin

Your turn: How do you deal with Christmas leftovers?

The holiday season might be one for tidings of good cheer, but it can also mean parties, gatherings and rich meals laden in calories, fat and carbohydrates. Regardless of which seasonal holiday you observe, all of the festive food available can make it challenging to stick to your healthy eating routine.

Some reports suggest that Americans put on half of our annual weight gain between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Whether you like to indulge in Christmas cookies, Hanukkah gelt or decadent desserts in honor of Kwanzaa, indulge in lighter versions of your favorite holiday meals, snacks and treats to keep from piling on the pounds.

Christmas:

Menu 1

Breakfast:  Spinach, Feta and Roasted Red Pepper Fritatta, Apple Sausage Patties, Fresh Fruit

Lunch: Curried Chicken & Grape Salad over Greens

Dinner: Apricot Citrus Stuffed Ham, Vegetable Based Stuffing, Homemade Green Bean Casserole

Snacks: Cheese Ball, Cranberry Multi-Grain Bread, Holiday Orange Almonds, Nog Shake

Menu 2

Breakfast: Cinnamon Sticky Buns, Fresh Fruit

Lunch: Garden Tuna Pita, Baby Carrots

Dinner: Rib Roast of Beef, Healthier Creamed Spinach

Snacks: Almost Traditional Fruit Cake, Ginger Nut Pear Scones, Cranberry Mimosas

Hanukkah

Menu 1
Breakfast: No-Fry Donuts, Banana Flax Smoothie

Lunch: Golden Split Pea Soup, slice of whole-grain baguette or Italian bread

Dinner: Pot Roast, Honey Glazed Carrots, Cheese Blintzes

Snacks: Winter Granola with ½ cup low-fat Greek yogurt, Hot Chocolate

Menu 2:

Breakfast: “Lox of Muscle” Crisps, Crustless Quiche

Lunch: Quinoa and Turkey Lettuce Wraps, Fresh Fruit

Dinner: Lemon Roasted Chicken, Perfect Potato Pancakes, Low-Sugar Cranberry Applesauce, Apple Carrot Salad

Snacks: Apple Raisin Rice Pudding, Ginger Cookies

Kwanzaa

Menu 1

Breakfast: Tasty Almond Strata

Lunch: Toasted Quinoa, Chicken, Corn and Avocado Salad

Dinner: Grilled Moroccan Pork Tenderloin, Pumpkin Polenta, Pepper Steamed Kale

Snacks: Golden Raisin Rice Pudding, Carrot Hummus with Pita Chips, Corn Muffin

Menu 2

Breakfast: Breakfast Sticky Buns

Lunch: Black Bean & Sweet Potato Burger, Kale Chips

Dinner: Moroccan Chicken, Roasted Root Vegetable Salad, Couscous with Chickpeas Dried Fruit & Cilantro

Snacks: Banana Muffins, Greek Yogurt with Honey Roasted Figs

Editor’s Note: This blog hop ends today, so be sure to enter and vote before it’s too late!

Welcome to our latest FaveDiets Blog Hop, and as always welcome back to all those that participated in last month’s! Be sure to visit last month’s hop which featured your Favorite Vegetable Recipes. If you have a great recipe we would love to share it in this month’s blog hop!

We are so excited about this month’s blog hop theme, Favorite Holiday Recipes

This month we’d love to hear what your favorite holiday recipe is. December is the month of the year for holidays, and we want to see what you have been making to prep for all of this month’s wonderful events. Whether it’s Christmas cookies, New Year’s cocktails, Hanukkah latkes or anything else, share here your holiday recipes!

How It Works

1. Write a blog post on your own blog showcasing any Favorite Holiday Recipes or link to one that is already posted on your blog. You can talk about the cooking process, write up a tutorial, or merely show off the finished product, it’s up to you!
2. Add your link to this post by clicking on “Click Here to Enter” at the bottom of the screen and following the instructions. Make sure you link to your specific blog post, not your homepage, and give it a caption.
3. Remember to copy the FaveDiets Blog Hop button below and paste it into your blog post, linked to this FaveDiets Blog Hop post, so that everyone who reads your blog can see that you’ve been featured on FaveDiets!
4. One link per person please, due to our new Giveaway feature, which is explained below.

GIVEAWAY!
Yet again we have a special treat for all our Blog Hop participants. We are opening the hop up to voting!

Every blogger is allowed one link to their favorite holiday recipe and readers of the blog can now play along by voting for their favorite one. So be sure to tell your friends, family, followers, and fans to vote for you. Voting and submissions end December 16th at midnight CST.

The recipe with the most votes will win a Wilton Pre-Baked Gingerbread Tree Kit!

Please be sure to cast your vote and help us pick a winner!

**Don’t have a recipe for this Blog Hop but want to be notified via email about future events? Sign up for our blogger list and we will let you know when the next Blog Hop is up so you can join the fun!

*Note: Only folks in the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win this prize.

This guest recipe comes to us from health web writer Becky Mackay.

Scotch broth has been one of my favourite recipes for years. It tastes of evenings in front of a warm open fire, while a cold winter gale blows outside. My own personal experience of course, but you can’t deny the homely taste of Scotch broth warms you from your fingers to your toes. Scotch broth also contains enough vegetables to make your fingers, toes, belly, heart and entire body feel very happy and is one of the healthiest comfort foods around.

Here is my recipe for delicious Scotch broth along with the health benefits of its yummy ingredients.

You will need:

75g of pearl barley-Barley is full of fibre, which is great for healthy digestion and is also known to lower cholesterol, due to its high beta glucan levels.

75g of fresh or split peas-Green peas are full of nutrients and are rich in iron and vitamin C, which boost your immune system. Perfect for the winter months when colds are rife.

1 swede-Swedes are the king of good health, containing C,E, K and B vitamins, as well as Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Excellent health this winter-covered!

3 carrots-Another super vegetable, carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, vitamin C and antioxidants, bringing a wealth of health to your dinner table. Carrots are known to improve cardiovascular health and reduce the rates of colon cancer.

1 small cabbage (if you like your broth extra thick)- Are linked to cancer prevention and are rich in antioxidants and are anti-flammatory.

2 sticks of celery- Celery is full of vitamin C and fibre and is also a great source of folic acid, vitamin B6 and B1 and also calcium, which makes celery one of the best vegetables to eat to halt the damaging affects of tooth decay and gum disease.

2.5 litres of water

A touch of salt and pepper 

1kg of mutton, lamb or chicken (if you are going for the non vegetarian option).

Lets get cooking!

1. Soak the barley and split peas (preferably overnight, but a few hours before should do).
2. Chop up your veg (as chunky or as fine as you like, depending on your preferences).
3. A touch of cooking oil to the pan and throw in your chopped onion. After softening the onion add the water and the meat (or just the water if you are a vegetarian).
4. After about half an hour of boiling add your peas and barley and leave to simmer for another 30 minutes.
5. After this add the rest of your vegetables.
6. If you are having meat and have used the bone, now is the time to remove it and then place the meat back in the pot.
7. Dish it up and enjoy!

About the Author:

Becky is an online writer, with a keen interest in health and lifestyle. For more top tips on heart health, beauty tips, gum disease and weight loss surgery, visit her twitter page @FreshHealth11

By Maris Callahan for DietsInReview.com

The South Beach Diet was created by cardiologist Arthur Agatston and dietitian Marie Almon Arthur as an alternative to once-popular low-fat diets. It’s based on the glycemic index, which is a way of measuring how quickly certain foods raise blood sugar levels. On the South Beach Diet, you will consume foods that are low on the glycemic index and avoid foods that are higher in processed carbohydrates.

Like the notable Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet is considered a low-carb diet and comprised of three phases. “Phase 1″ lasts for the first two weeks of the diet and requires dieters to eliminate all sugar, processed carbohydrates, fruits, and some high-starch vegetables. Its purpose is to eliminate the hunger cycle and help jump start weight loss. “Phase 2”reintroduces most fruits and vegetables and limited portions of whole grains. This is the phase that dieters will follow for the majority of the diet. Once you have reached your goal weight, you enter “Phase 3,” which is known as the maintenance phase and lasts for life.

On the South Beach Diet, you will eat a lot of vegetables, healthy fats and lean protein such as chicken, fish and legumes. Once you hit Phase 3, dieters can resume normal eating but are expected to follow the basic principles of the diet to maintain lifetime weight loss.

The following menu is for Phase One of the South Beach Diet to help kick your weight loss plan into gear.

Monday:

Breakfast – Asparagus and Cheese Strata

Lunch – Low-Carb Waldorf Chicken Salad over a bed of lettuce with tomato slices.

Dinner – Greek Swordfish, Braised Collard Greens with Red Wine, Popcorn Roasted Cauliflower

Snacks – Soy Steamer, 1-cup sugar snap peas, ¼ cup mixed nuts

Tuesday:

Breakfast – Puffy Omelet with Cheese Sauce, two slices turkey bacon

Lunch – Cobb Salad

Dinner – 4 ounces grilled sirloin, BBQ Vegetable Pockets, Better than Mashed Potatoes

Snacks – 6 ounces low-fat Greek yogurt, celery with 2 tablespoons peanut butter

Wednesday:

Breakfast – Southwest Quiche

Lunch – Black and Bleu Salad

Dinner – Seared scallops, Asian Broccoli Salad, Asian Cole Slaw

Snacks – Celery with 2 Tablespoons Ranch dip, ¼ cup mixed nuts, Peanut Butter Mousse

Thursday:

Breakfast – Egg White Veggie Omelet

Lunch – Barbecued Chicken Salad

Dinner – Turkey Burger, Dijon Mustard Green Beans, Hearts of Romaine with Raspberry Dressing

Snacks – Low-fat string cheese, 1 small tomato with flavored salt, sliced bell peppers with ¼ cup guacamole.

Friday:

Breakfast – Southwest Quiche

Lunch – Baby Spinach and Orange Salad topped with grilled chicken

Dinner – Spinach with Chicken and Apricots, Roasted Green Beans with Mushrooms, Parmesan and Balsamic from Kalyn’s Kitchen.

Snacks – Celery sticks with 2 tablespoons peanut butter, chicken crackers with 1-ounce low-fat cheese, strawberry smoothie

Saturday:

Breakfast – Mexican Baked Eggs from Kalyn’s Kitchen

Lunch – Low Carb Clam Chowder, Broccoli Walnut Salad

Dinner – Easy Salmon Salad, 1 cup White Bean Veggie Soup

Snacks – Celery with ¼ cup Tuscan Bean Dip, Italian Cream Soda

Sunday:

Breakfast – Breakfast Casserole with Mushrooms, Bell Peppers and Feta from Kalyn’s Kitchen

Lunch – Asian Chicken Vegetable Salad

Dinner – White Bean Chicken Chili, Aromatic Roasted Vegetables

Snacks – Low Carb Blondies, Sliced Bell Peppers with Blue Cheese Dip

Almost any kind of meat can be cooked in the oven and be just as delicious as it is if you grill it or fry it. Ribs are no different. Cooking ribs in an oven aids in retaining the moisture of the meat. It is also much easier then grilling, as it’s more convenient and a lot less time-consuming. Whether you’re yearning for spare ribs, rib tips, or baby back ribs, here is a guide that will assist you in preparing delicious oven baked ribs.

Preparing the Meat
After purchasing an adequate amount of meat, be sure to prep it several hours ahead of your cooking time or even the night before. Most ribs have a tough membrane on the outside called the fell; ensure that you remove this in order to make your ribs much more tender. Season your meat thoroughly, using your favorite herbs and spices as a dry rub. Most people use a basic mixture of garlic, salt, pepper and sometimes brown sugar. You may add thyme, rosemary, paprika or any other spice that you find flavorful. You may also choose to marinate your meat instead of using a dry rub. Marinating ribs adds moisture to them. You may create your own marinade or use one of the commercially-prepared marinades. Refrigerate your ribs until you are ready to cook them.

Baking your ribs
Remove your meat from the refrigerator and place it in a baking dish. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Pour about a quarter of an inch of water into the dish; this will aid in keeping the meat moist while it cooks. You may also prepare your own braising liquid, using your choice of ingredients. Most people use wine or beer along with other seasonings such as onions or garlic.
Cover the pan with aluminum foil, ensuring that the foil is not pressing into the meat. Place the meat in the oven and bake for approximately two hours. Check the meat for tenderness after the first hour. Adjust your temperature to 350 degrees F, remove the foil and replace baking pan for another hour; cook until the meat is as tender as you like. You may brush with barbeque sauce and return it to the oven for another fifteen minutes if you so desire. You are now ready to serve your family and friends your oven-baked ribs; they’ll swear you spent all day standing over the grill.

Authors Bio:
Learn how to cook ribs from guest contributor Christa Blair who writes for EasyCookingGuide.Com

For the November version of This Month’s Healthy Bite, I asked, “What are your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes?” We got some absolutely fantastic answers, from sweet potatoes and stuffing to Brussels sprouts and a whole lot more. Check them all out:

From Jessica, Dishin’ About Nutrition:

I love this question! I love making my green bean casserole that is surprisingly healthy! I love telling friends and family that it may taste cheesy but there is no cheese in it! This recipe is vegan and gluten-free friendly!

From Gina, Skinnytaste:

I brought my Lightened Up Spinach Gratin to Thanksgiving last year and it was a huge hit!

From Jennifer, Kirbie’s Cravings:

My favorite Thanksgiving side are these pumpkin spice bread rolls.

From Jennifer, Domestic Divas:

Raisin Walnut Spiced Rice (in place of traditional stuffing)

From Jackie, Jackie’s Kitchen:

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be complicated.  My favorite side dishes are fairly consistent with the traditional holiday fare, but they are easy and foolproof to prepare!

Mashed sweet potatoes

1. Prep.

-3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (~1/2″-1″ cubes–the smaller the cubes, the faster they will cook)

2. Place the sweet potatoes in a medium sauce pot with:

-4 Tbsps butter
-2 Tbsps or so of coconut milk (or heavy cream or other non-dairy substitute)
-1/2 tsp cinnamon
-2 Tbsps organic sugar
-heavy pinch of Kosher salt

3. Cook the potatoes over low heat, covered, until they are soft and tender, stirring occasionally.  Mash with a potato masher (or use a mixer or food processor) and serve immediately. (**or, if desired, transfer the mashed potatoes to a baking dish and top with mini-marshmallows and bake in a high heat oven briefly until the marshmallows are golden brown).
___________________________________________________________

Garlicky greens

1. Prep.

-4 cloves garlic, minced
-1 bunch kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, spinach, or any other green you desire rinsed well, leaves stripped from the stems, stems sliced (if using chard) and leaves sliced into ribbons

2. Cook.  Heat some olive oil in a saute pan and add the garlic, several hefty pinches of crushed red pepper flakes, and a sprinkling of Kosher salt.  Saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Add the chard stems (if using) and saute briefly until they begin to soften.  Add the leaves in batches and allow it to wilt slightly.  Once all has been added, toss gently and allow to wilt, sprinkling with a few more pinches of Kosher salt and several cracks of black pepper. If desired, add a splash of balsamic, apple cider vinegar, or seasoned rice vinegar for some brightness.

3. Just prior to serving, drizzle on a bit of high-quality extra-virgin olive oil.
__________________________________________________________

Gingered fresh cranberry-pear sauce

1. In a medium sauce pot combine:

-3/4 cup water
-1 12 oz bag fresh cranberries, rinsed
-1/3 cup organic sugar
-1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
-1 3″ cinnamon stick

2. Bring the mixture to a boil.  Once the cranberries begin to pop, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook.  When the cranberries have nearly all popped, add 3 pears, cubed.  (**I didn’t peel them) and cook briefly.

3. Remove from heat and stir in about 1 Tbsp lemon juice and approximately 2 Tbsps brown sugar.  Taste and adjust flavors as necessary, remove the cinnamon stick, and chill until ready to serve. 

Happy Thanksgiving!  Jackie @ Jackie’s kitchen (http://visualcookbook.blogspot.com/)

From Eric, Eric Dishes:

I love creamed spinach! It’s a comfort food that typically needs attention and a slew of ingredients. I have whittled it down to a few ingredients that make it healthier and faster! The Holidays are about spending time at the dinner table with family and friends and I’m here to help you buy just a few more minutes! Check out my post for my Cream(ed) (Cheese) Spinach!

From Katie, Cookies and Crafts:

I love anything with butternut squash, cranberries, sage, green beans, and TURKEY!! That’s pretty much anything, I guess.

My ideal Thanksgiving sides would be: roasted Brussels sprouts and butternut squash and steamed green beans, with a dollop of homemade ginger-cranberry relish/sauce for dipping.

From Katie, Chocolate-Covered Katie:

This is definitely my favorite Thanksgiving side dish (although I usually eat it as a main dish. It’s called “Bread-Free Vegan Stuffing.”

From Lisa, Lisa’s Kitchen:

As a vegetarian, I would suggest this Indian Chickpea and Pumpkin Soup.

Chickpeas add depth and protein to this colourful and delicious autumn pumpkin soup, enhanced with a zesty Indian seed and spice tempering that will warm and delight your guests.

From Sylvie, Gourmande in the Kitchen:

I actually just posted one of my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes this week, roasted cauliflower with olives and herbs. It’s a little unexpected but goes great with traditional Thanksgiving fare. For a lighter side I would say my carrot and watercress salad with orange blossom water dressing.

From Lindsay, The Lean Green Bean:

I love Thanksgiving! We have so many family recipes that we make every single year. We ALWAYS make Grandmas’s jello, Mimi’s cornbread and my mom’s cranberry sauce. On Black Friday, my grandma always made turkey dumpling soup with the leftover turkey Now that I’m grown and married, I’m so thankful I learned all of these recipes growing up so that I can make them myself even though I don’t get to see my family every Thanksgiving.

From Kalyn, Kalyn’s Kitchen:

Here are a few of my favorites:

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pecans

Green Apple, Celery, and Walnut Salad with Lemon-Mustard Vinaigrette

Thanksgiving Spinach Salad with Dried Cranberries, Almonds, and Goat Cheese

Trina’s Low-Sugar Fresh Cranberry Salsa with Cilantro, Lime, and Jalapeno

From Shelley, Living It Up On a Ground Beef Budget:

This is the side dish I have been responsible at each and every holiday dinner. Everyone loves it, including me!

Broccoli Casserole:

• 1 pound of fresh or frozen broccoli florets~slightly cooked
• 1 egg well beaten
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• handful of colby/monterey jack cheese cubes (my secret ingredient)
• salt and pepper
• More shredded cheese if desired
• 1 sleeve of crushed crackers, such as Ritz Brand
• 1 stick of melted butter

Mix first 6 ingredients in a mixing bowl with a spoon add salt and pepper. Pour into greased casserole dish. Cover with more shredded cheddar cheese if desired. Top with crushed crackers, over the crackers pour over the melted butter covering as much of the crackers as possible. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Thanks to everyone for all the fun responses!

Answer the next This Month’s Healthy Bite question: What are your favorite Christmas cookie recipes? Email us your answer or just simply comment on this blog post, and we’ll publish your answers and link to your blog at the end of the month. Got some blogger friends who would like us to link to them too? Ask them to answer This Month’s Healthy Bite too!