Magic Christmas Recipes

This recipe is a flavorful, tangy addition for Christmas menus, but is also quite good with Mexican and Spanish foods during other times of the year. Serve it with large salads and alongside meats for a different type of flare in your cooking.

The combination of vegetables, spices, and nuts among the ingredients provide a variety of flavors and textures in this dish. In order to extend and transform it into a main dish for lunches, add 1/2 pound of cooked chunked chicken.

Serves 4 - 6

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 cups unseasoned bread croutons
• 2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 small zucchini, finely chopped
• 1 medium red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 3 carrots, finely chopped or shredded
• 6 ribs celery, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon red cayenne pepper, or increase to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried for fresh & chopped basil
• 1 teaspoon ground sage
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• A dash each of onion powder
• A dash of garlic powder
• 3/4 cup chopped almonds
• At least 7 slices of un-toasted whole wheat bread with the crusts removed and the bread cut into bite sized cubes.
• 2 eggs or 1/2 cup liquid egg substitute, well-beaten with a fork.
• 2 cups chicken broth [more if mixutre is too dry] 

 INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In large mixing bowl, combine your bread croutons and the chicken broth. Set aside for 10 minutes so the crouton cubes can soak up the flavors can soften.
• Cut up onions, zucchini, carrots and celery in food processor or by hand. Place in a microwave-safe bowl of a medium size and cover; cook on high for 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix together black pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper, salt, basil, sage, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and finally, the almonds. Add the already microwaved vegetables to the crouton cubes and broth mixture and mix.
• Sprinkle your herb mixture over the top of your dressing.
• Add pieces from the 7 bread slices and then the eggs to the mixture and mix well. Let this stand for 5 minutes to meld flavors and rest and then remix. Add additional bread, if needed, if the mixture is soupy. Mixture will be very moist but it should not be dripping wet.
• Coat a 2-quart ovenproof bowl with vegetable cooking spray and wipe off any excess that begins to run. Then add the dressing.
• Bake in a the preheated 400-degrees F oven for 60 minutes or until nicely browned and set. Makes 6-8 side dish servings or 4-6 full-size for lunches. Serve hot at the table.