Glad to be home for the holidays

MANILA, Philippines - Many homes eventually settle for store-bought food or serve the usual dishes, but with some help from Glad, your partner in food protection and kitchen manage-ment, you and your loved ones can actually make this year’s holidays more special. Glad takes the burden of meal planning off harried homemakers so they can focus on other tasks, by offering three quick and easy-to-prepare recipes developed by chef Eugene Raymundo and chef James Antolin. One is a cheese log made with fruits, another is chicken breast fillet cooked the healthy way, and Glad’s own take on a delicate yet festive dessert.

You’ll need only one Glad product: Glad Cook ‘n’ Bake paper. It’s versatile because it can be used when baking, frying, steaming, or boiling. It allows for healthier preparations since its high-quality, special non-stick coating forgoes the need to apply butter and oil when cooking or baking, which also means no messy cleanups. You can even use it for simple baking tasks.   

FRUIT AND NUT CHEESE LOGS

Ingredients:
1 cup cottage cheese, drained
¾ cup cream cheese, softened
¼ cup butter, softened
½ cup grated quick-melt cheese
3 tbsps. Parmesan cheese
3 tbsps. finely chopped dried fruits (raisins, cranberries or apricot)
¼ cup chopped walnuts
2 tbsps. chopped parsley
extra chopped parsley
extra Parmesan cheese

Procedure:
1. Using a mixer, blend all cheeses and butter on low speed until smooth. Fold in chopped fruits, nuts and parsley.
2. Using an eight-inch long sheet of Glad Cook ‘n’ Bake, place approximately 3/4 cup of cheese mixture in the middle of the sheet. Fold the paper and using your palm, lightly press the mixture towards you to form a log. Roll the paper until the desired thickness of the log is achieved. Secure both ends by twisting simultaneously like wrapping a candy. Chill until firm.
3. Unwrap the logs and roll in chopped parsley or Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve with toasted bread or crackers as spread or over a freshly grilled steak, chicken or pork.  Makes three to four logs.
 

LEMON PESTO CHICKEN

Ingredients:
150 gms       fresh basil leaves,             washed
1/3 cup      nuts (pine nuts,                 walnuts or pecans)
3 tbsps.    Parmesan cheese
1 pc.        lemon, juice extracted
1/3 cupextra     virgin olive oil
1 tbsp.    minced garlic
1 tsp.        salt
        pinch pepper
500 gms.    chicken breast fillet

Procedure:
1. Place all ingredients except chicken fillet in a food processor or blender and process until a paste-like mixture is achieved.
2. Place chicken fillet and prepared pesto in a GladFreezer Zipper Bag and lightly toss around to distribute marinade. Chill for at least four hours.
3. Heat a pan and place a sheet of Glad Cook ‘n’ Bake on top of the pan and pan-grill chicken pieces until lightly browned on both sides.     
4. Serve with a wedge of lemon with a simple salad greens or pasta. Serves six