Cooking with Melissa: Holiday Favorites with A Fun and Healthy Twist – Let’s get in the kitchen and cook something good for our soul and brain health! This two-part series will focus on remembering traditional Thanksgiving favorites and  preparing them with a fun and healthy twist.

Part I: Easy Bake Breakfasts to Delight Your Senses and Warm Your Soul

Part II: Simple and Healthy Appetizers

Part III: Brownie Bites…Casual or Fancy

Part IV: No-Bake Sugar Cookie Bites

Melissa will talk about the health benefits of several of the ingredients in these recipes, how these recipe “makeovers” are still delicious and can keep our holiday traditions. While we cook, we’ll practice mindfulness, heighten our senses and recall past memories. So, grab your measuring spoons and spatulas, and join us for “Cooking with Melissa.”

Part II: Simple and Healthy Appetizers

Ham Rollups

• 1/3 of a pound of low sodium ham from the deli (cut on the thicker side)
• 1 lb of scallion cream cheese

Healthy Spinach Dip

• 2 10 oz packages of frozen spinach
• ½ large onion finely chopped
• 2 large cloves of garlic minced + plus one garlic clove grated
• 1 medium carrot finely grated
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 cups of Greek or regular plain yogurt
• ¼ cup of mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• Ground black pepper to taste

Cooking Tools:

• Butter knife
• Large plate
• Round toothpicks (for the ham rollups)
• Colander
• Skillet
• Knives for cutting
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Large mixing bowl

This event will take place at the AFA Teal Room: www.alzfdn.org/afatealroom.