WIC Kitchen: Sundaes and salsa brighten up Christmas dinner
Dec. 13, 2023
By Mary Wade Burnside and Sarah Moore
What’s better than figgy pudding around this time of year?
A Roasted Fig Sundae!
For those who might not have experienced the traditional Christmas dessert, figgy pudding is more like cake.
But Roasted Fig Sundaes are exactly what has been promised: Ice cream covered in a gooey and sweet syrup and, of course, figs, featuring flavors that will complement your holiday meal and send lovely, spicy scents throughout your home.
Figs are a tasty and healthy snack on their own. They are part of the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet and they deliver decent doses of magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron.
Roasted Fig Sundaes can be a fun holiday party activity or a dessert that does not require a lot of prep time.
Then, with treats covered, if you’re looking for something a bit new, merry and bright when it comes to hors d'oeuvres, consider Cranberry Salsa.
Replacing tomatoes with cranberries in a salsa recipe provides a deeper shade of red as well as all the benefits of cranberries, which are well-known for their ability to help prevent UTIs. They also aid in protecting gut health, immunity and skin and joint health.
Cranberry Salsa is both sweet and spicy, adding a fun flavor profile to the party.
Whether you choose savory or sweet, or both, these dishes are sure to bring some festive flair to the holidays!
Roasted Fig Sundaes
Ingredients:
• 16 halved fresh figs* (often available at Sam’s)
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice*
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon chopped butter
• vanilla ice cream
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Toss 16 halved fresh figs, ½ cup chopped pecans, ¼ cup sugar and 1 tbsp. each honey, lemon juice and water in a shallow baking dish.
3. Layer with 1 tbsp. chopped butter.
4. Roast until juicy, about 20 minutes.
5. Spoon juice over the figs, then continue roasting until syrupy, about 10 more minutes.
6. Serve over vanilla ice cream.
7. Enjoy!
Cranberry Salsa
Ingredients:
• 12 ounces fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained *
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 poblano peppers, seeds removed, chopped *
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup sliced green onions *
• 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice*
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice*
Instructions:
1. Add cranberries to your food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Do not puree if you want to have small pieces of cranberry.
2. Place the chopped cranberries in a bowl and add the sugar, stirring to combine.
3. Add jalapenos, cilantro, green onions, orange juice and lime juice. Stir to combine.
4. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors combine.
5. Serve with tortilla chips
6. Enjoy!
Items marked with an asterisk* are available through Monongalia County Health Department WIC. Please call 304-598-5181 or check out monchd.org/departments-programs/wic for more information.