Lemon Bars

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

Filling

2 large eggs

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

Additional confectioners’ sugar

Lemon bars are always a delightful crowd favorite. Like most lemon recipes they are tangy and delicious with a chewy brownie-like consistency. Begin by combining ingredients to make the crust in a 8-inch baking pan. Then prepare the filling, and pour over the crust, baking for at least 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack, dust with confectioners’ sugar, cut into bars, and enjoy!

Lemon Drop Cookies

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tablespoon half-and-half cream

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup finely crushed lemon drops

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Take a light fluffy cookie, add a little bit of lemon, and you’ve got a refreshing, sugary treat. After combining all of the ingredients, and creaming them together, create balls with the dough. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned and cool on a wire racks.

Lemonade Icebox Pie Recipe

3/4 cup thawed lemonade concentrate

1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Yellow food coloring, optional

1 graham cracker crust (9 inches)

Enjoy a piece of creamy and smooth lemon pie. This pie’s lemon flavor is bold, and sure to become a new springtime favorite dessert. In a large bowl combine all ingredients until smooth, folding in the whipped topping if you desire. Pour over crust, cover, and refrigerate until set.

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Appetizer: Mini Cheeseball Bites

For a classic appetizer that makes munching-while-mingling simple, consider these crowd-pleasing cheeseball bites. They’re like the standard cheese ball party fare, but instead of an awkward large lump that everyone shares, these offer individual portions that guests can eat in one bite.

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup white cheddar

3/4 cup dried fruit

1 1/2 cup mixed nuts, finely chopped

1 1/2 cup bacon crumbles

Medium-sized pretzel sticks

1 – 1 1/2 tablespoons italian seasoning

Beat together cream cheese, cheddar, fruit, and herbs until smooth. Form into balls and place on baking sheet to chill for at least 2 hours. Roll each ball into bacon, nuts, or both. Use the pretzel for a holding stick and enjoy!

The Main Course: Korean Meatballs
Spice up your holiday party with some spicy Korean-style Gochujang meatballs. These tasty treats are rolled into perfect bite-size balls so you’re able to pop them in your mouth with ease.

FOR THE MEATBALLS:

 

3 green onions, very thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

2 tablespoons canola oil, for pan-frying

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients except oil. Be careful not to overmix! Form into small meatballs and then brown them in batches in the oil in a large skillet. Transfer browned meatballs onto a baking pan and bake for 10 minutes.

In a small saucepan, combine all the glaze ingredients and then simmer for 5 minutes over medium, until mixture thickens. Before serving, brush meatballs with glaze and sprinkle with garnish. Spear with mini forks for portability.

Dessert: Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
No party is complete without a scrumptious dessert. These strawberry cheesecake bites are a unique spin on chocolate-dipped fruit and cheesecake. They only have a few steps and can be made the night before your event.

8 ounces cream cheese

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

12 large fresh strawberries, hulled

2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs

2 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon canola oil

Beat together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Spoon mixture into a piping bag and fill hollowed strawberries with about 1 tablespoon. Dip exposed filling into the graham cracker crumbs. Melt the chocolate and oil in a bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until warm and smooth. Dip the unfilled ends of the strawberries into melted chocolate and chill on a baking sheet until set.

Your friends at Neighbors Emergency Center hope you have a safe and happy holiday season. Remember, we are open 24/7 year-round, even on holidays, so if you have an emergency, come see us. Check our Facebook page for the latest information. With our 24 hour emergency rooms throughout the Houston metro area, we can treat you quickly and effectively so you can get back to doing what you love.

The average happy meal has 420 to 520 calories and has 360 to 540 mg of sodium. These nutritional values vary depending on the fast food restaurant. The key to crafting your own healthier happy meal is to avoid frying these foods and be aware of the portions that you are serving.

Combine in equal portions nuts, whole wheat bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and a hint of salt. Take the chicken breast and dip them into the mixture, making sure they are fully coated. Place your chicken breast on a greased baking sheet and cook for 40 minutes, making sure to flip the chicken pieces midway through.

Season your potatoes lightly with salt and pepper and bake at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes, or until nice and crispy.

Serve your delicious homemade nuggets and fries with a serving of fruit or vegetables to round out your child’s meal. Neighbors Emergency Center supports your start to a healthier life style. With a 24 Hour Emergency Room in Houston, we can treat you quickly and effectively s you can get back to doing what you love.

Eating at home allows us to cater meals to meet our exact needs. If we’re watching fat, we can use substitutions. If we’re avoiding something such as gluten or dairy, we can choose something else in its place. Preparing our meals at home makes us more informed food consumers, enabling our children to develop a lifelong healthy relationship with food.

Rules can include more specific things, such as tasting everything served and eating at least one vegetable. Add flexibility to the rules by allowing kids to choose their own vegetables. Giving them some autonomy helps them become an active participant in the process.

Start at the grocery store. Take the kids shopping with you, educate them about fruits and vegetables, and let them help you choose. It’s amazing how much more kids are willing to try when you allow them up-front access to foods.

Finally, establishing a rule in which everyone sits together at the table not only promotes healthy eating habits, but also strengthens family bonds.

Jonathon Sawyer’s Noodle Kids takes kids and parents on a tour around the world with 50 different pasta dishes they can cook together. He claims that having a healthy family isn’t about trickery; rather, it’s about honesty and connecting kids with the experience of the food.

Food Network offers a special recipe series called Cooking With Kids, the goal of which is to get families together in the kitchen and share healthy meal ideas. Check out some of their fantastic recipes.

What are some of your favorite meals to share with your family?

Your health is important to us. If you have an emergency, please visit the Neighbors 24-hour emergency room in Houston and surrounding cities. Find us online at nec24.com.

Boredom can set in as we get into a routine of cooking the same things all the time. Does the thought of eating another piece of limp broccoli make you shudder? Don’t worry! We have solutions that will get you excited about making vegetables a regular part of your diet

How Many Veggies a Day?

When it comes to vegetables, the evidence is clear: more is better. The CDC reports that most everyone needs to eat more fruits and vegetables. The amount will depend on things like your age, gender, and level of physical activity. Check out this chart to help you figure out exactly how much you should be getting.

Surprising Benefits

Experts recommend seven servings or more per day. We’re all pretty familiar with the well-known benefits, which include things like lowering risk of cancer, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, and dementia. However, there are some lesser-known surprising–and more immediate–benefits that come along with a vegetable-rich diet. Some of these effects include improvement in skin appearance, less bloating, and an improved ability to tolerate stress. In fact, though most people turn to things like chocolate and carbs when they’re stressed, vegetables are nature’s comfort food, providing you with nutrients that replenish you and make you feel better.

Packing It All In

Eating seven servings of veggies a day may seem like a lot, but there are ways you can make it easier. One great way to do this is to plan meals in which vegetables replace some less healthier options like carbs.

At Neighbors Emergency Centers, we are proud to offer  top-quality, 24/7 emergency care in our 24 hour emergency room in Houston and in cities throughout Texas. Find your nearest Neighbors at nec24.com.

Jalapeno Lime Skillet Shrimp

Jalapenos are high in capsaicin, but if you’re not a fan of spicy food, they are fairly mild so it’s a good place to start. Just make sure to remove the seeds because the seeds are the spiciest part of the chile. This recipe for Jalapeno Lime Skillet Shrimp is healthy and delicious

The sweetness from the corn and red bell peppers will help balance the spice, and the buttery finish from the dough makes this a well-rounded, healthy meal.

Beef Satay Skewers with Habanero Peanut Sauce

Habanero peppers are definitely more spicy, but in moderation, they bring a nice flavor and heat to any dish. This Beef Satay is perfect to try something a little spicier. Feel free to adjust the amount to your own taste, though. The flavors from the garlic, ginger, curry, and peanut sauce will also pack a big punch.

If you are looking for a new way to boost your metabolism, try eating more chile peppers by adding them to your favorite dishes. Losing weight has never been so delicious!

Remember that Neighbors Emergency Centers are here for you to treat any emergency you may have. We are open 24/7/365, and we have short wait times to get you back to doing what you love most. Find your nearest Neighbors at nec24.com.

Making the dish a little spicy gives it great flavor and makes it so you don’t miss all the unhealthy ingredients. Get the recipe here.

Some of these might be your favorites when you order take out from your local cantina, but these chicken enchiladas that you can make at home will make you change your mind.  Use cooked, shredded, skinless chicken breasts and whole wheat tortillas to instantly lower the calorie count and up the health quotient. By using lots of herbs and spices like chipotle chili powder, cumin, and cilantro, these enchiladas are packed with flavor. You can even top them off with some low fat shredded cheese!

Chick peas are a great source of protein and fiber, and coconut milk is a good dairy free alternative if you are lactose intolerant. Vegetables like sweet potato, cauliflower, and tomatoes make this dish highly nutritional, and the curry, garam masala, and ginger make it aromatic and flavorful.

The next time you want to pick up that take out menu, put it down and get in your kitchen! These dishes are easy to make, will save you money and calories, and above all, they are delicious.

Remember that Neighbors Emergency Centers are here for you to treat any emergency you may have. We are open 24/7/365, and we have short wait times to get you back to doing what you love most. Find your nearest Neighbors at nec24.com.