Take a Bite Out of Food Waste

The noon and home delivered meals served to seniors by the HRDC (human resources development commission) and the agency on aging are planned according to nutrition standards for older adults. To assist with hydration, meals are served with both a milk and a juice. Seniors drink milk with the meal and some take the juice home. One often ends up with a stockpile of juices. Here's some ideas for using those juices in recipes served at home. 

V8 Chili 

This recipe is high in fiber and full of vitamins and minerals.

(4 cups)

3-6 ounce cans low sodium V8
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 mini sweet peppers, diced
1 small onion, diced
2 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoon coriander
1 1/2 cup black beans, cooked and drained (1/2 cup dry)
1 1/2 cup corn

Saute peppers and onions in olive oil for a few minutes. Add juice, cumin and coriander.  Bring to a simmer.  Add beans and corn and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Grape Juice Chicken

The baked product makes a flavorful broth good mixed with brown rice, quinoa or other grain berry. Extra chicken can be frozen and easily heated for a later meal.

(8 Servings)

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 cloves garlic
1 1/2 tablespoon oregano
3 bay leaves
1/4 cup parsley
1/4 cup brown sugar
1-6 ounce can grape juice
2 # chicken tenders

Place olive oil in a 9 X 13 inch pan, then add vinegar, spices, sugar and juice.
Place chicken tenders in juice. Turn to coat. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes, turning midway.

Mulled Apples

Simmer apple halves or pieces in apple juice flavored with spices and enjoy the fruit and juice with a meal or snack. The cooking juices are also good mixed with yogurt, or served over ice cream.

(Serves 6)

16 ounce apple juice
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 cinnamon stick
Dash ground cloves
2 Star Anise pods
2 wide strips orange peel
1 nutmeg bean
Combine in a pot;  bring to a simmer.

4 apples
Peel and half.  Scoop out the cores.  Poach the apples in the cider mixture until tender, turning midway, about 30 minutes. 

Fruit Smoothie 

Mix equal parts of yogurt, milk and fruit in juice for a snack, dessert or with a whole grain muffin at breakfast.

(Serves 2)

1 cup yogurt
1 cup milk
1 cup cut up fruit
1 6 ounce can pineapple juice

Place all ingredients in a blender. Process until mixture is smooth.

Orange Juice Chocolate Cake 

This cake with glaze uses 5 of the 1/2 cup orange juices. It's made with 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 the sugar in the original recipe.

2 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon of 100% cacao unsweetened cocoa (not the Dutch processed kind)
Mix the softened butter and cocoa to make a thick paste. Grease and flour the inside of the pan with this paste, using a brush.

1/2 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
Combine flours, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cocoa. Stir in orange zest.

2 cups orange juice

3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix the orange juice, mayonnaise, vinegar and vanilla. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry and mix only until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake at 350F. until pick inserted into the center of the cake comes out cleaned.  Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool. 

Glaze
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoon cocoa
2 tablespoon orange juice
Sift together sugar and cocoa.  Whisk in the orange juice.  Drizzle glaze over cake.

Based on a recipe by Trisha Yearwood.