Get the Salt Out (59 page)

371
If serving ham is traditional for holiday meals at your house,
see if you can start a new tradition. Garlic-and rosemary-studded roast leg of lamb or roast turkey breast
rubbed with sage are wonderful holiday entrees that are much lower in salt.
One Salt Shaker.

372
Make homemade gravy
instead of relying on a saltladen mix. Try this basic recipe from
Secrets of Salt-Free Cooking
by Jeanne Jones. If you like, experiment with adding herbs for extra flavor.
One Salt Shaker.

Heat the defatted drippings and stock in a saucepan. Dissolve the arrowroot in the cold water and add to the saucepan. Cook slowly over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens slightly.

While the gravy is cooking, heat the butter in a skillet and add the minced onion. Cook until the onion is tender, then add the sliced mushrooms. Continue cooking until the mushrooms are tender, then add to the gravy. Season to taste with pepper and a little fresh lemon juice, if desired.
Makes 2 to 3 cups.

373
Old-fashioned bread stuffing
is a high source of sodium because there is salt in the bread as well as in the dressing itself. One way to reduce the sodium content of stuffing is to used cooked grains like wheat berries, brown rice, or buck-
wheat groats in place of bread cubes. In the following recipe, oats are used to create a lower-sodium dressing that still tastes very much like traditional bread stuffing.
Two Salt Shakers.

In a medium-size bowl, combine the oats and eggs. Stir together until the oats are coated with egg and set aside to soak for 5 minutes.

In a large skillet, heat the oil, then add the oats. Toast the oats in the oil and stir and toss often until they are golden brown and make clumps, looking almost like ground beef. Add the garlic, onion, celery, and seasonings. Cook slowly until the vegetables begin to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth and simmer until the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. The dressing should remain moist even when the liquid disappears. Add a little more broth or water if needed. Serve hot.
Serves 6.

374
If you make stuffing from a mix
, I recommend that you use either Shelton’s Cornbread Dressing Mix or Shelton’s Whole Wheat Dressing Mix. Although neither one is low in sodium, both are made with sea salt and are much lower in sodium than commercial mixes such as Stove Top. Shelton stuffing mixes also don’t contain the MSG and partially hydrogenated oils found in commercial brands.
Three Salt Shakers.

375
What’s a delicious holiday food you don’t have to feel guilty eating?
Roasted chestnuts, a low-sodium snack that’s so good its mentioned in Christmas carols. To roast chestnuts at home in your oven, follow these instructions from Harriet Roth’s
Deliciously Low. One Salt Shaker.