Dad's Got a Bun in the Oven, too

CABOT, Vt., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- As any dad-to-be quickly learns, pregnancy can be a stressful time for more than just the mom-to-be. Sure, the nursery has been painted and the crib is assembled, but did dad give any thought to the menu while mom is preoccupied with a more important matter? Thankfully, there's no reason for fathers to fret, because Cabot Creamery, the New England farm family-owned dairy cooperative best known as "Makers of the World's Best Cheddar," is ready with a few tips, tricks and recipes to get dad acquainted with the kitchen.

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"Lucky for me, I have a bit of an advantage over most expectant dads; I do this for a living," says Certified Executive Chef and Director of Career Services for the New England Culinary Institute, (NECI) Mark Molinaro.  "However, my wife Christina and I are expecting our first child this October, so this is a new experience for both of us.  And I want to do my best to make sure it is a pleasant one.

"One of the most important things I think a new dad can do to not become overwhelmed in an unfamiliar kitchen is to adopt the concept of mise en place," Mark says.  "This is a term chefs use to describe the prepping and arranging of ingredients and cooking equipment so that when it comes time to make the meal, everything is ready to go.  This way, you can prepare breakfast, lunch or dinner in a relaxed environment, lessening the pressure that comes with adding another 'to-do' to your already packed schedule.

"What's more, having your ingredients pre-chopped, cubed, shredded, sliced, diced, julienned or minced will allow you more flexibility in the kitchen," continues Mark.  "And any ingredients that aren't used in tonight's dinner can easily become tomorrow's lunch.

"A final piece of advice to keep culinary-induced stress at a minimum is to stick with simple, creative recipes, like salads.  Cabot's Sweet Potato, Pineapple and Cheddar Salad features a complex flavor palate with sweetly tart pineapples, soft and caramelized roasted sweet potatoes and sharp, creamy Cabot cheddar - delicious, healthy and simple.  Then, using our second principle, save those extra potatoes, onions and Cabot cheddar to wow your wife with a second meal, like a variation of Cabot's Quick & Healthy Potato Casserole, substituting those leftover sweet potatoes for the Yukon gold potatoes that the recipe initially calls for.  This recipe is so easy that it can be made in the microwave.  Or, for a quick and healthy breakfast or afternoon snack, whip up a Superhero Apple-Cranberry Smoothie, loaded with protein and calcium, two nutrients especially important to mom."

For more delicious and easy-to-make recipes for moms-to-be, like our Cabot's Sweet Potato, Pineapple and Cheddar Salad, Cabot's Quick & Healthy Potato Casserole or Superhero Apple-Cranberry Smoothie, visit http://www.cabotcheese.coop/recipes.

Sweet Potato, Pineapple and Cabot Cheddar Salad

Makes 6 servings

6 small red or yellow onions

2 medium sweet potatoes (12 ounces)

4-6 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

2 teaspoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)

12 cups mixed greens (16 ounces)

Nonfat raspberry salad dressing

1 cup cubed fresh pineapple

6 ounces cooked chicken breast, sliced

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

8 ounces Cabot 50% Reduced Fat Cheddar (about 2 cups)

Fresh mint leaves for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Peel onions, then cut lengthwise into 4 to 6 sections, leaving root intact. Cut sweet potatoes into 1- by 3-inch fingers.

3. Spread onions, potatoes and garlic out on baking sheet with sides; drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with red pepper, tossing to combine. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and roast for 30 minutes, or until tender.

4. Uncover and continue roasting until vegetables are well caramelized on outside, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes longer.

5. Toss greens with dressing to taste. Divide among 6 plates and top with roasted vegetables, pineapple and chicken. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Grate cheddar into ribbons on top of each salad and garnish with mint.

Nutrition Analysis

Calories 283, Total Fat 11g, Saturated Fat 5g, Sodium 287mg, Carbohydrates 28g, Dietary Fiber 5g, Protein 20g, Calcium 330mg

Cabot Quick & Healthy Potato Casserole

Makes approximately 6 servings

1 1/4 lbs Potatoes, very thinly sliced

1 cup quartered and thinly sliced onion

4 ounces Cabot 50% Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar, grated (about 1 cup)

1/2 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning

1/2 cup stock or reduced-sodium broth

1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1. Spray an 8-inch microwave-safe baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Place 1/3 of potatoes and 1/2 of onions on the bottom of the dish and sprinkle with 1/3 cheese and 1/2 herbs. Repeat layers, then top with the last 1/3 of potatoes, layering potatoes so that there is a solid layer of potatoes with no gaps; sprinkle with remaining cheese.

3. Stir together stock, Dijon and garlic salt and pour over the potatoes.

4. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 20 minutes.

5. Use oven mitts to remove dish from microwave; carefully remove cover from dish due to steam build-up and serve.

Nutrition Analysis

Calories 133, Total Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 2g, Sodium 270mg, Carbohydrates 20g, Dietary Fiber 2.5g, Protein 8g, Calcium 152mg

Cabot Superhero Apple-Cranberry Smoothie

Makes 1 serving

1/2 cup Cabot 2% Vanilla Bean Greek Style Yogurt

1/2 large sweet apple, such as Jonagold or Golden Delicious, peeled and diced (about 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries

2 tablespoons low fat (1%) milk

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

4 small ice cubes

1. Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend for about one full minute until cranberries and ice are well pureed.

Nutrition Analysis

Calories 278, Total Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 1.5g, Sodium 48mg, Carbohydrates 57g, Dietary Fiber 3.5g, Protein 10g, Calcium 213mg

ABOUT CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE

Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, and we make a full line of cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and butter. Best known as makers of "The World's Best Cheddar," Cabot is owned by 1200 dairy farm families located throughout New England and upstate New York. For additional information on Cabot Creamery, visit http://www.cabotcheese.coop

SOURCE Cabot Creamery Cooperative

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