It is the most delightful time of the year! Winter has returned, and with it come holidays from all around the world. We reconnect with our loved ones and with ourselves during the holiday season by adhering to traditional meals that connect us to our ancestors.
While these dinners have remained consistent throughout the years, the ingredients and cooking techniques have evolved.
One constant in many traditional holiday meals is the length of time required to prepare them. Typically, you’ll be serving not only immediate family but also extended family, including grandparents and siblings. Spending time with family and friends feels more valuable than ever, so finding methods to streamline the cooking process without sacrificing quality is critical.
Here’s how, with a little help from the frozen food aisle, you can save some time cooking some traditional winter and holiday dishes.
Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Frozen Food
Since its debut in the 1950s, frozen food has earned a terrible reputation, mostly owing to production techniques that prioritize profit above quality. Nowadays, however, as a result of the FDA and public pressure, frozen food producers have been forced to up their game and begin producing higher-quality food, with items such as non-GMO foods becoming more prevalent.
While perusing the frozen food section for ingredients to incorporate into your cooking, we recommend the following:
- Plant-based protein is more than a trend; goods containing plant-based protein are more nutrient-rich and contain fewer empty fillers.
- Despite being a good source of plant-based protein, most soy products are created using unsustainable processes and are generally not ecologically friendly.
- While this may be relevant only to celiacs and those with gluten intolerance, there are plenty of frozen foods that are gluten-free.
- Soy-free – despite being an excellent source of plant-based protein, the majority of soy products are produced using unsustainable practices and are frequently not environmentally friendly.
- Non-GMO foods – while GMOs and genetically modified foods are frequently deemed safe by the FDA, there are concerns about their safety.
- Vegan meals with a high protein content – often accomplished via the use of plant-based protein; ensure that if you want to become vegan, you consume enough vegan foods with a high protein content to compensate for the loss of animal protein.
Potato-based Dishes
There is one category of root vegetable-based meals that will almost certainly appear on practically every table this holiday season. Potatoes play a significant role in American cuisine; whether they are chips, hash browns, roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, or potato salad, Americans like them all. Although one disadvantage of potato recipes is that they are often uninteresting, how can we spice them up?
I just discovered Dr. Prager’s in the frozen food section and was pleasantly delighted to see that they not only meet all of the above criteria but are also upfront about the ingredients used in their products. I’ve included them in my ideas below, but comparable goods may be replaced when required.
2.0 Mashed Potatoes
I like experimenting with new ingredients in my mashed potatoes, and my family is OK with accompanying me. My mother used to add a few crispy hash browns to her mashed potatoes for texture.
I’ve discovered that Dr. Praeger’s Hash Browns are ideal for this. Simply eliminate a few potatoes and replace them with crunchy Southwest Hash Browns or Sweet Potato Hash Browns to add sweetness to the meal.
2.0 Roasted Potatoes
Roast potatoes and roast vegetables, in general, are always a treat in busy households due to their ease of preparation. Although one thing I’ve always found lacking in my roast potatoes is the crunch.
That is where Dr. Praeger’s Littles come in handy, and they are even available in fun shapes that children will adore. Offer a handful of Spinach Littles to your next roast potatoes to add some delicious depth and much-needed crunch.
Salad de Pommes 2.0
Finally, a potato dish that is a year-round favorite, potato salads are another dish that benefits from a bit of crunch. To achieve the perfect crunch, I experimented with a variety of ingredients, including croutons and celery, but it was Dr. Praeger’s that did the trick.
By popping some Dr. Praeger’s Puffs in the oven while the potatoes are boiling, they should be cooled and ready to go in the salad at the perfect time. The Kale Puffs impart a savory flavor, while the Carrot Puffs impart a sweet note, but for those who believe that a little potato is never enough, the Four Potato Puffs take it to the next level.
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