A SEAson for change

Anticipating the New Year and many resolutions to change I thought I'd post these ideas....

After all of the "heavy" rich foods of the holidays, why not change it up a bit?!
Here is a way to work some seafood into your family diet. I made the first recipe for a Christmas party potluck and it was very well-liked. The imitation crabmeat is simply white fish like pollock that is flavored and colored and shaped. If you can afford real crab meat, you don't have to be so generous in the portion (1 lb. would do). Use your favorite salad dressing if you don't find the pear-gorgonzola. You can also substitute small shell pasta for the orzo. I served it over a bed of mixed greens for dinner tonight..a sneaky way to get more greens into our diet ;) I made it in the large Tupperware bowl because it makes a lot. But tonight I just used half a recipe.

Seafood Salad by Chris Jackson

1 1/2 cups uncooked orzo pasta, cooked, drained, cooled
2 pounds Imitation crabmeat
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 carrot, peeled and grated
3 stalks celery diced
3 green onions diced
4-6 radishes diced/sliced
1 green pepper diced
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/2-3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup Pear Gorgonsola salad dressing (Litehouse brand)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Prepare orzo according to package directions (boil about 9-10 minutes). Drain and let cool a bit. Break up seafood and combine along with other ingredients in a large bowl.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Serves 15-20

The next recipe is a flavorful beverage you might want to try for New Year's Eve. It's a non-alcoholic drink creation by chef Kathy Casey. The rosemary gives it a savory flavor...change from the usual sparkling cider or fruity punch.

Rosemary Pom Holiday Sparkle
This non-alcoholic sipper mixes fresh rosemary’s herbaliciousness with the zesty flavor of clementine and the sweetness of sparkling cider.
Makes 1 drink

1 sprig fresh rosemary
1/2 of a Cuties Clementine, depending on size
1 1/2 oz pomegranate juice
3 oz sparkling apple cider
Garnish: Fresh rosemary sprig

Bend 1 rosemary sprig and drop into a cocktail shaker. Squeeze and drop the clementine into the shaker. Measure in the pomegranate juice. Fill the shaker with ice. Cap and shake vigorously. Pour into a tall glass. Top with the cider and stir. Garnish with a rosemary sprig. (Or, you can shake the drink in the cocktail shaker, then add the sparkling cider and strain the drink into a tall champagne flute for a more elegant look.)
Recipe © Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen™

To make a larger quantity (since this is for one serving) you could adapt this recipe by taking two Clementines, cut in half and squeezed and/ zested and muddle (mash with back of spoon or muddler to extract flavors)3 springs of rosemary in a bowl. Stir these together with 2-3 cups of ice and then add 2 cups of pomegranate juice. Stir until well-chilled. Pour this mixture through a strainer into a pitcher. Pour 1/4 cup of mix into glass and add sparkling cider or apple cider. Garnish with small sprig of rosemary.
this would serve 4-6.

Good luck with your goals and changes!