108: Health-ify the Holidays with Mona Dolgov

On this week’s show, back by popular demand, is my guest from Show 88, Mona Dolgov. You’ll be inspired for the upcoming holidays with great ideas from Mona. Join us to learn more!

Mona Dolgov is a nutritionist, cookbook author, and publisher with a lifelong passion for creating kitchen comfort and simple, healthy habits through her delicious recipes. Her new cookbook, Satisfy, is about to hit bookstores and your favorite online retailers, including Amazon, and she’s here today to help us “health-ify” the holidays. We have a lot in store for you! You’ll learn how to health-ify gravy, sweet potato casserole, appetizers, and a peanut butter sauce to die for. You’ll definitely want to try her ideas for this Thanksgiving. We also have desserts: mini-cheesecakes and personal pumpkin pies. You’ll learn how to make the best brussels sprouts ever in the air fryer.

 

Show Highlights:

 

• Updates in Mona’s world: her new cookbook is out November 9, cooking classes are ongoing, and she’s working on a new cookbook for next summer; Mona loves her city apartment life in the Boston seaport area
• Mona’s philosophy to health-ify the holidays by lightening up dishes
• Mona’s Butternut Squash Soup, made with roasted butternut squash and sauteed apples and onions; the mixture is blended with broth and spices that can be customized with different flavor profiles
• How Mona and LIz will team up for cooking classes on Nov. 16th and 18th on appetizers and side dishes
• Their favorite appetizers include Liz’s Roasted Carrot Hummus, Mona’s Peanut Sauce (made with peanut butter, coconut aminos, sesame oil, ginger, rice vinegar, and honey), Asparagus Wrapped in Turkey Bacon, and Cauliflower Wings
• How Mona’s Peanut Sauce with fresh veggies leaves everyone wanting more
• Liz’s funny story about “double-dipping”
• Mona’s chapter in the cookbook called “Snack-ertaining,” which features her Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
• How the air fryer has become Mona’s best friend and a favorite time-saving tool for veggies and protein
• Check out the Phillips Premium XXL Airfryer giveaway in our Resources section, and use the 20% discount code “Mona20” to order yours!
• Liz’s favorite side dishes: Sweet Potato Casserole with orange juice, zest, cinnamon, and ginger; Brussels Sprout Gratin
• Why Mona makes a “Mona Salad” for many gatherings; it’s made with leafy dark greens, roasted squash and zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate arils; her dressing is olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, maple syrup, canned pumpkin, and her spice blend of oregano, basil, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper
• How Mona uses the air fryer for the best brussels sprouts ever: after cutting them in half, she sprays them with olive oil and sprinkles with salt and pepper; after 12 minutes, she adds minced garlic and cooks for three more minutes; she adds apples, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and a balsamic glaze at the end
• Why the key to lighter desserts is to make them in bite-sizes
• Mona’s crustless mini-cheesecakes: they are made with orange zest, sugar, and reduced-fat cream cheese and drizzled with melted dark chocolate and topped with an orange section
• Mona’s upside-down individual pumpkin pies: they are made with pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and a pinch of salt; after being baked in ramekins, she tops them with a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds, pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon
• Final words from Mona: “Don’t stress about the holidays. Have fun. Be mindful. Focus on the traditions and bring your family in to help.”

 

Resources:

 

Sign up for our Health-ify the Holidays virtual cook-along. We'll be making appetizers on November 16th at 6 pm ET and sensational side dishes on November 18th at 6 pm ET. The cost for both classes is