Awesome Green Beans

My wife said that I must make these green beans again, and soon. She proclaimed them as ‘awesome’, and I definitely agree. This is not a complicated recipe, but it gives green beans fantastic flavor. They need help, let’s face it. No one has ever sat down with a bucket of cooked beans with nothing else on them and said “dang, these are awesome!”. Sit down with a bucket of these beans you will say “dang, these are awesome!”. You won’t want to make beans any other way again.

Awesome Green Beans

No Boring Beans Here!

Do not skimp on the chicken broth. I (almost) always use my homemade broth, but you can use a good quality store-bought broth or stock instead. For something totally different, substitute smoked turkey broth.

You could use a fresh red bell pepper instead. I like using roasted peppers because the roasting adds a nice different flavor to the beans.

I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make these beans and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!

Also try my copycat of the great green beans from Outback Steakhouse.

Awesome Green Beans
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5 from 1 vote

Awesome Green Beans

My wife said that I must make these green beans again, and soon. She proclaimed them as ‘awesome’, and I definitely agree.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword green beans
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 63kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat.
  • Add the garlic and onions and cook for one minute.
  • Add the green beans and cook until bright green, about 1 minute.
  • Add the remaining ingredients and stir.
  • Reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover but leave the cover slightly ajar and simmer until most of the liquid evaporates and the beans are crisp-tender, 20-30 minutes. Add more broth if needed.
  • Check the seasoning and serve.

Notes

You can omit the red peppers if they’re not your thing.

Nutrition

Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 471mg | Potassium: 383mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 888IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Walking BBQ

There are a few food shows on TV that I cannot miss. Even though it’s not a cooking show, I just love Carnival Eats. The host, Noah Cappe, is quite funny and entertaining. I think he may have the perfect job. Travelling around and enjoying the crazy foods at fairs and carnivals sounds great to me. Like this Walking BBQ. This is a take on the classic Walking Tacos, which are bags of Fritos topped with taco meat. Walking BBQ consists of Fritos topped with… yep… you guessed it… BBQ.

Walking BBQ

Load ‘Em Up

There aren’t any laws for what you can and cannot put in your Walking BBQ. I kept mine traditional, with just some leftover smoked pulled pork, homemade BBQ sauce, canned baked beans, and homemade slaw. It’s fun to eat and tasty at the same time. Win!

If I’m reaching for a bottled BBQ sauce, I often go for Sweet Baby Ray’s.

Also try my fantastic chili-in-a-bag!

Walking BBQ
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5 from 1 vote

Walking BBQ

This is a take on the classic Walking Tacos, which are bags of Fritos topped with taco meat. Walking BBQ consists of Fritos topped with… yep… you guessed it… BBQ.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 435kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Open the bags.
  • Spoon in the pork, sauce, beans and slaw.
  • Grab a fork and walk around enjoying your grub!

Notes

I like to turn the Fritos bag on it’s side and cut off the top side. It gives you more of an opening to get to the deliciousness inside.

Nutrition

Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 1722mg | Potassium: 503mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 284IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Parmesan Broccoli Potatoes

My wife proclaimed that the broccoli in these Parmesan broccoli potatoes was the best she’s ever had. I guess I could’ve left out the potatoes but they were my favorite! It’s a win-win dish for us! I made them on the grill, cooking them over indirect heat, but you can cook them in the oven just as easily. They really are fantastic!

Parmesan Broccoli Potatoes

Done To Perfection

After about 10 minutes I checked on the Parmesan broccoli potatoes and gave them a little stir. If they’re looking a little dry don’t be afraid to add a bit (1/4 cup at most!) of water and stir. Depending on how big your potatoes and broccoli florets are you might need a bit longer than the 15 minute cooking time. You want them to be tender but not falling apart. I like to use a skewer to poke them. If the skewer goes into the potato without much resistance, they’re done and ready to serve!

Although you can make these potatoes in the oven, you can also make them on a grill. I recommend that you use a grill basket if you do. I makes cooking easier and you don’t have to worry about anything falling through the grates. And cleanup is easier too!

Also try my grill-roasted herb potatoes.

Parmesan Broccoli Potatoes
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3 from 2 votes

Parmesan Broccoli Potatoes

My wife proclaimed that the broccoli in these Parmesan broccoli potatoes was the best she’s ever had. I guess I could’ve left out the potatoes but they were my favorite! 
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword broccoli, Parmesan, potatoes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 124kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • If cooking in the oven, preheat to 400 F. If cooking on a grill fire up your grill for indirect cooking.
  • Place potatoes in a large bowl.
  • Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt and pepper.
  • Drizzle with oil and toss gently to coat.
  • Fold in the broccoli.
  • Transfer to a baking dish (oven) or disposable aluminum pan (grill). Add the water and cover with foil.
  • Bake or grill about 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
  • Serve topped with Parmesan and garnished with parsley.

Notes

Use a toothpick to test the potatoes for doneness.

Nutrition

Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 172mg | Potassium: 700mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 771IU | Vitamin C: 117mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Dried Cilantro on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro

Making jerky with my Nesco Snackmaster Pro is something I really enjoy. But the other reason I bought a dehydrator is to dry fresh herbs from my garden. Fresh herbs don’t last long, so I dry as many as I can and keep them in air-right containers in the pantry like this dried cilantro on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro.

Dried Cilantro on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro

Great In Recipes

Easy as anything to dry, dried cilantro crumbles up and stores easily for use in the winter. It’s not a substitute for fresh cilantro in recipes like salsa, but it’s great for flavoring stews and soups.

Removing The Stems

I did not remove the cilantro from the stems until after I dried it. It’s a lot easier to remove the leaves once they are dried. I then lightly crumbled them just a bit and put them in containers for use later.

I like to load up my dehydrator. To do that I picked up a handful of extra trays. They really add a whole lot more drying space! Since I have to rotate my trays, I write a number on each one on a piece of blue painter’s tape so I can keep track of them.

I love drying fresh herbs with my Nesco Snackmaster Pro, such as basil. I also freeze them for later use.

Dried Cilantro on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro
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5 from 1 vote

Dried Cilantro on the Nesco Snackmaster Pro

Easy as anything to dry, dried cilantro crumbles up and stores easily for use in the winter. It’s great for flavoring stews and soups.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword dehydrator, herbs, nesco snackmaster pro
Cook Time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours
Servings 2 cups
Calories 104kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds fresh cilantro rinsed, patted dry. Do not remove leaves from stems.

Instructions

  • Place cilantro onto the dehydrator trays.
  • Set the dehydrator to 95 F and let dry for 12-24 hours or until the leaves are dry and crispy, rotating the trays every 2 hours.
  • Let cilantro cool slightly then remove leaves from stems and crumble (by hand) into a resealable air-tight container.

Notes

You’ll definitely want some extra trays for your dehydrator so you can make plenty of dried cilantro.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 2363mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 30608IU | Vitamin C: 122mg | Calcium: 304mg | Iron: 8mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Tangy Bean Salad

One thing is guaranteed. Put a bean salad in front of me, and it’s going to disappear. For me, it doesn’t get any better or easier. The perfect contrast in textures and flavors. A little sweet. A little tang. There are hundreds of variations on bean salad, and I am pretty sure I’ve made and enjoyed them all. This tangy bean salad is no exception. Made in no time, but better after it gets happy in the fridge for a few hours first.

Tangy Bean Salad

Open To Changes

Like with any good ole bean salad you can change this tangy bean salad up to suit your tastes. I think a few slices or fresh jalapeno are great if you like a little kick. Roasted red bell pepper instead of green bell pepper is also a nice change. You can get roasted peppers in a jar usually by the pickles in the grocery store. They’re nicely sweet and really tasty.

Also try my mom’s world-famous bean salad.

Tangy Bean Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Tangy Bean Salad

There are hundreds of variations on bean salad, and I am pretty sure I’ve made and enjoyed them all. This tangy bean salad is no exception. Made in no time, but better after it gets happy in the fridge for a few hours first.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword bean salad
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 281kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, and oil.
  • Add the onion and bell pepper and mix.
  • Add beans to the bowl and toss to coat.
  • Season with salt and pepper, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Notes

Stir before using.

Nutrition

Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 492mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 434IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Maple Bacon Carrots on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.

Perhaps ‘carrot candy’ would be a better name for these maple bacon carrots, done up right using the Char-Broil Big Easy. Who knew that carrots could be so addictingly good? Slightly sweet, slightly smoky with a little crispy bacon, these maple bacon carrots on the Char-Broil Big Easy disappeared in no time. Fortunately you can fit up to two bunk bed baskets into a Big Easy so you can actually make a pretty good sized batch at once. You’ll want to make as many as you can.

Maple Bacon Carrots on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Get The Best Results

I used baby carrots, but you can also use full-sized carrots. Try to pick ones that are all roughly the same size or your cook times will vary. That’s why I went with the baby version. They’re all roughly the same size so they all got done at the same time.

For a little kick, sprinkle the carrots with a little bit of cayenne pepper or chipotle pepper powder just before serving.

The bunk bed basket lets you double the amount of cooking space you have on your Big Easy. And it’s easy to take in and out of the cooker too!

It’s always a good idea to keep a few spare grease trays on hand for your Char-Broil Big Easy.

Love your Big Easy as much I love mine? Check out my Big Easy Add-Ons page and my free Big Easy eCookbook!

Maple Bacon Carrots on the Char-Broil Big Easy
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5 from 1 vote

Maple Bacon Carrots on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Perhaps ‘carrot candy’ would be a better name for these maple bacon carrots, done up right using the Char-Broil Big Easy. Who knew that carrots could be so addictingly good?
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword Big Easy, carrots, Char-Broil, sweet
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 920kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 1 pound carrots baby carrots or equally-sized big carrots, peeled and cut down to fit into a Big Easy
  • 8 slices bacon cut into thirds for baby carrots, use full-sized pieces if using large carrots
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • Maple syrup

Instructions

  • Fire up your Big Easy.
  • Wrap carrots in bacon and sprinkle with pepper.
  • Transfer carrots to the Big Easy basket, bacon seam side down.
  • Place into the Big Easy and cook until the bacon starts to brown and shrink and the larger of the carrots is slightly tender, 25-30 minutes. I lifted the basket out and poked them with a long bamboo skewer.
  • Brush the carrots with maple syrup. I use a long brush for this. Just lift the basket up, holding it with one hand, and brush with the other.
  • Return to the cooker and cook another 3 minutes.
  • Remove the basket from the Big Easy and remove the carrots to a platter to cool a bit.
  • The bacon will crisp while they cool.

Notes

Use a bunk bed basket or two to be able to cook more carrots at once.

Nutrition

Calories: 920kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 71g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 1478mg | Potassium: 1800mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 75842IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 158mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Honky Tonk Sweet and Spicy Salad Dressing

Sweet and spicy is right. I’m not sure about the Honky Tonk part but wow, what a great dressing! It has a nice vinegar hit. This Honky Tonk sweet and spicy salad dressing has a nice little ‘kick’ to it, thanks to the addition of Sriracha sauce. And my favorite, celery seed. I absolutely love celery seed in everything from a salad dressing to a seasoning rub to coleslaw. If you’re looking for a break from your tired old salad dressing, this is it.

Honky Tony Sweet and Spicy Salad Dressing

Better With Time

This Honky Tonk sweet and spicy salad dressing gets even better as it sits. But I have to say, it didn’t sit long around our house. I really like it a lot. It’s different in a very, very good way. I like to make a double batch and keep it in salad dressing serving bottles in the fridge. I’m kind of a dressing-aholic so it’s best that I have extra on hand at all times.

Check out my new site, Dress My Salad, for more great salad dressing ideas!

This dressing comes out nice and smooth. There’s nothing ‘lumpy’ in it. But, I let it process a bit extra because I wanted it doubly creamy smooth. It was worth the extra few seconds.

Also try my spicy creamy coconut salad dressing and my Catalina salad dressing.

Honky Tony Sweet and Spicy Salad Dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Honky Tonk Sweet and Spicy Salad Dressing

Sweet and spicy is right. I’m not sure about the Honky Tonk part but wow, what a great salad dressing!
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword homemade salad dressing, spicy, sweet
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 203kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a blender and process until smooth.

Notes

Stir well before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3232mg | Potassium: 123mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 244IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Dill Ranch Salad Dressing

My wife and I recently spent a few days at the Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa. We had such a wonderful time there. One of the biggest highlights was the buffet. Normally when you think buffet you think low quality food, mostly pre-made. Oh that’s definitely not the case at the DreamMore. Everything was made from scratch and everything was out-of-this-world delicious.

One of the things I loved the most, interestingly enough, was the house-made dill Ranch salad dressing. It was delicious. I could’ve just drank it out of the bottle. I knew instantly that I had to make some when I got home. Now, this version is mighty good, too, but I’m pretty sure that the DreamMore version used fresh herbs (they had a nice herb garden right outside of the restaurant). Even still, this is delicious and a perfect alternative to ‘normal’ Ranch.

Dill Ranch Salad Dressing

The Resting Time Is Not Optional

Do not be tempted to rush the 1 hour rest time that this dill Ranch salad dressing needs. Those dry herbs need time to make the dressing happy. I really love dill so I added a bit more than the recipe calls for.

Check out my new site, Dress My Salad, for more great salad dressing ideas!

Oh and it wasn’t just the dinner buffet that was amazing at the DreamMore! The breakfast buffet was something to behold, including homemade donuts!

Also try my herby Ranch dressing.

Dill Ranch Salad Dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Dill Ranch Salad Dressing

Do not be tempted to rush the one hour rest time that this dill Ranch salad dressing needs. Those dry herbs need time to make the dressing happy. 
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword dill, homemade salad dressing, Ranch
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 1 cup
Calories 846kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together all ingredients.
  • Add more milk (a little at a time) if you want the dressing to be thinner. Don’t go crazy with it, though.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using.

Notes

Stir again before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 846kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 88g | Saturated Fat: 33g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 551mg | Potassium: 433mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1581IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 306mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Quick Fix BBQ Ranch Dressing

A lot of restaurant signature sauces start with simple, off-the-shelf ingredients. A restaurant near us starts with BBQ sauce and Ranch, just like with this quick fix BBQ Ranch dressing, and then adds a few other ingredients (such as crumbled cooked bacon) to make it different for different dishes, such as for dipping onion rings or chicken wings. They also use it as a spicy version of their house Ranch salad dressing for well, you guessed it, salads.

Quick Fix BBQ Ranch Dressing

Great For Fries, Burgers And Wings Too!

This quick fix BBQ Ranch dressing isn’t just for salads, though. That’s for sure. I squirted it on a big plate of French fries. Then I dipped grilled chicken wings in it. I slathered it on hot-off-the-grill hamburgers. Heck, it’s great on wraps too!

Just make sure you start with good, quality BBQ sauce and Ranch dressing. And don’t hesitate to use a spicy BBQ sauce, or one with a bit of smoky flavor to it.

This dressing will last a while in the fridge, if there happens to be any leftover. Just make sure to give it a good shake or stir before serving.

Check out my new site, Dress My Salad, for more great salad dressing ideas!

Also try my dill Ranch dressing. Oh, and this dressing is fantastic on my Santa Fe chicken salad.

Quick Fix Bloody Mary Potato Chips
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5 from 1 vote

Easy BBQ Ranch Dressing

A lot of restaurant signature sauces start with simple, off-the-shelf ingredients. A restaurant near us starts with BBQ sauce and Ranch, just like with this quick fix BBQ Ranch dressing, and then adds a few other ingredients.
Course Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword BBQ, Ranch, salad dressing
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 cups
Calories 827kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together the two ingredients.
  • Add any embellishments and stir to combine.

Notes

Stir before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 827kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 63g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 2781mg | Potassium: 406mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 50g | Vitamin A: 366IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Jalapeno Popper Grilled Corn Salad

Corn is in season and that’s a happy time for me. And as much as I love grilled corn-on-the-cob, corn in salads is tied for my favorite way to get some good fresh corn into my belly. Like this jalapeno popper grilled corn salad. Creamy dressing. Crunchy bacon. Deliciously sweet corn. And a little heat. This is the perfect side dish for a grill-out or picnic. Make extra because everyone is going to want seconds. Even grandma. Well, if she likes a little spiciness that is. Now that I think about it, you might want to warn her first that this salad does contain jalapenos.

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Corn Salad

Fresh Is Best

I prefer to use fresh corn when I make jalapeno popper grilled corn salad. We’re getting our corn from the southern US now, but soon they’ll be harvesting corn here in Indiana. Almost time for my yearly ritual of putting up corn for the winter. I race on down to our local farmer’s market, Binford Farmer’s Market, and load up on corn as soon as it’s available. And I do mean load up. My favorite? My Dad’s Sweet Corn from Tipton, Indiana. Hand-picked and incredibly sweet, they always have great corn.

Also try my chili cheese Frito salad.

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Corn Salad
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4 from 1 vote

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Corn Salad

And as much as I love grilled corn-on-the-cob, corn in salads is tied for my favorite way to get some good fresh corn into my belly. Like this jalapeno popper grilled corn salad.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword corn, salad
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 8 cups
Calories 439kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 ears fresh corn husks NOT removed
  • Olive oil
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 jalapenos stems and seeds removed, minced
  • 1 cup bacon cooked, chopped
  • 2 ounces cream cheese softened
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup extra sharp cheddar cheese finely shredded

Instructions

  • Fire up your grill for medium heat grilling.
  • Peel back the husks from the corn but do not remove them. Remove all silks.
  • Lightly brush the corn with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  • Pull the husks back around the corn and tightly wrap in foil.
  • Place on the grill and cook 20 minutes, rotating often.
  • Open the foil and continue cooking until the corn is tender.
  • Remove the corn from the grill and let cool until you can cut the kernels from the ears.
  • Combine the corn with all remaining ingredients.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes

Stir before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 285mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 488IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.