Celery with Apricot Blue Cheese Spread - Produce for Better Health ...

Celery with Apricot Blue Cheese Spread
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Crunchy sweet celery is a versatile snack food, just right for this flavorful spread. Filled with dried
fruit and nuts, this enticing and quick low-fat spread can be made ahead or on the spot.
Ingredients
2 tbsp crumbled blue cheese
3 tbsp fat-free cream cheese
½ cup fat-free yogurt, plain
4 dried apricots
4 dried figs or dates
¼ cup pecans
8 stalks celery
Food processor method
Place all ingredients in food
processor. Pulse just until fruit
and nuts are chopped. Refrigerate
spread until ready for use. Slice
celery stalks into 3-4 inch sticks.
Fill celery pieces with spread.
Serves 4. Makes about 1½ cups of
spread.
Alternate method without
food processor
Chop dried fruit and pecans. With
a fork or hand mixer, mix blue
cheese, cream cheese, and yogurt
until smooth. Stir in chopped dried
fruit and pecans. Refrigerate spread
until ready for use. Slice celery
stalks into 3-4 inch sticks. Fill
celery pieces with spread. Serves 4.

Tips on how to select, store, and serve celery
Choose straight, rigid celery stalks
with fresh leaves. Avoid pithy,
woody, or limp stalks.
Refrigerate in a plastic bag for a
week or more.
Add chopped celery stalks and celery
leaves to your soups, stews, and
casseroles for extra nutrition, flavor,
and crunch.
For an easy side dish, braise celery
in vegetable stock, and season with
your favorite herbs or a little bit of
salt and pepper.
Add diced celery to your favorite
tuna, chicken, egg, or vegetable
salad recipe for extra texture.
Healthy Resources
Recipe cost
www.FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatters.org
www.dudafresh.com
www.FoodChamps.org
www.ChooseMyPlate.gov
USDA does not support any products, services, or organizations.
©2011 Produce for Better Health Foundation
Cut-up celery as a flavorful addition
to healthy stir-fry dishes.
For a crunchy, “breadless” sandwich,
spoon hummus into celery sticks.
For more great-tasting recipes
featuring celery, visit
www.dudafresh.com.
$4.20 for four, $1.05 per serving.
*Retail prices, Boulder, Colorado, July 2011.
MyPlate Core Messages
Foods to Increase
· Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
· Make at least half your grains whole grains.
· Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
Balancing Calories
· Enjoy your food, but eat less.
· Avoid oversized portions.
Recipe Nutrition
Information per Serving
Calories 140
Total Fat 6g
Saturated Fat 1.5g
% of Calories from Fat 39%
% Calories from Sat Fat 10%
Protein 6g
Carbohydrates 16g
Cholesterol 5mg
Dietary Fiber 3g
Sodium 220mg
A good source of protein, fiber, vitamin A,
calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.
MyPlate Food Group Amounts
Fruits ¼ cup
Vegetables 1 cup
Grains 0
Protein ½ oz
Dairy ¼ cup
Foods to Reduce
· Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen
meals – and choose the foods with lower numbers.
· Drink water instead of sugary drinks.