Tuesday Recipes

Six yummy recipes to fix. Enjoy!

PUMPKIN RISOTTO

This comes from Danette St. Onge, About.com's Italian Food expert. She writes, "A warm and comforting dish for fall or winter, this pumpkin risotto, a classic from Northern Italy, is easy to make and would make a great side dish for Thanksgiving dinner. Pureeing half of the pumpkin gives the risotto a lovely orange color and makes it so that the pumpkin flavor is distributed evenly through the dish, rather than just in the spoonfuls with pumpkin chunks. You can use any other winter squash in place of pumpkin, for example, acorn squash or butternut squash. This dish can easily be made vegetarian by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, or heartier by topping the finished dish with crisp-fried pancetta or bacon, or fresh sage leaves fried in butter until crisp." Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1 pound pumpkin (or other winter squash), cut into small chunks

4 small shallots, finely minced

2 cups Arborio or Carnaroli rice

1 cup dry white wine

6 cups of hot chicken or vegetable broth

1/2 cup freshly grated or shaved Parmigiano Reggiano

Other optional toppings for serving:

finely chopped parsley

fried and crumbled pancetta or bacon

sage leaves fried in butter till crisp

chopped fresh rosemary

Preparation

In a large saucepan, heat the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter over low heat, then add the garlic and pumpkin. Cook for abut 20 minutes, stirring often, until the pumpkin softens and starts to break down. Remove from heat and separate into two halves -- puree one half in a food processor. Set aside.

In another large saucepan, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the remaining butter over low heat. Add the shallots and cook until soft and transparent, about 8 minutes.

Add the rice and stir well with a wooden spoon to coat the rice evenly with the oil and butter. Add the white wine and continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the rice has absorbed the wine.

Add 3 cups of the broth and continue cooking and stirring until the liquid has been absorbed. Then add 1 more cup of broth and cook, stirring, until absorbed. Repeat until all 6 cups of broth have been used and the rice is al dente (tender but still chewy).

Stir in the pumpkin puree and chunks, lowering the heat to very low. Add the Parmigiano and remaining butter and stir until both are melted and the mixture is creamy.

Serve immediately in shallow bowls, with additional grated Parmigiano, if desired.

SOUTHWEST SALSA RICE BITES

This comes from FamilyTime, courtesy Rice to the Rescue! Recipe Contest "Best Whole Grain Brown Rice" Winner-Janet Gilbert. It starts off, "These little appetizers are perfect for your next party, or make them for a casual weekend gathering. Either way, amazing!" Makes 48 rice bites; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 to 20 minutes

To view this online, go to http://www.familytime.com/recipe/showrecipe.aspx?recipeid=67946.

Ingredients

3 cups cooked brown rice, cooled

1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

4 large eggs

One 16-ounce jar medium or hot, thick, chunky salsa

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3/4 cup crushed corn or tortilla chips

Additional salsa and sour cream for garnish (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Mix together the rice and cheese in a large bowl and set aside.

In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until well blended. Stir in the salsa, sour cream, salt and pepper. Add the salsa mixture to the rice and cheese and mix well.

Spray miniature muffin pans with flavorless vegetable cooking spray. Spoon approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons of the rice mixture into each cup, filling to just below the rim. Sprinkle the crushed chips over the mixture and press lightly with the back of a spoon to adhere. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Serve warm with additional salsa and sour cream, if desired.

Per Serving: 287 calories; 14 g fat; 784 mg sodium; 31 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 10 g protein

ROASTED CONFETTI CORN

This is from the September 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 47. It starts off, “When cooked in a dry skillet, fresh corn kernels take on a rich brown color and roasted flavor. The peppers or chiles you choose will determine how spicy your corn turns out—that heat will become more pronounced when the recipe is frozen, so you may want to dial back the piquancy accordingly.” Makes 4 cups in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

4 cups fresh corn kernels

2 cups chopped onions

2 cups chopped red or green bell peppers or poblano, hatch, or other sweet to mildly hot chiles

4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

Heat large non-stick skillet over high heat. Add corn, and cook 4 minutes, or until dark brown in places and corn begins to “pop,” stirring often. Stir in onions and peppers, and cook 4 minutes more, or until onions and peppers are softened. Stir in garlic, cumin, and 1 cup water, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until all liquid has evaporated, and corn begins to brown again. Remove from heat, and cool.

nutritional information Per Per 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 91; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 14 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 7 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

CHOCOLATE-ORANGE MAPLE SNAPS

This comes from the March 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 71. It starts off, “These snaps are great on their own, or as wafers for sandwich cookies. Maple syrup lends flavor and moisture, which lets you cut down on oil in the dough.” Makes 40 cookies in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

3/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup canola oil

1 Tbs. cornstarch dissolved in 1 Tbs. water

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 Tbs. grated orange zest

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

3 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat three baking sheets with cooking spray.

Whisk together maple syrup, oil, cornstarch mixture, vanilla, and orange zest in large bowl.

Sift together flours, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk dry ingredients into wet ingredients until smooth.

Measure out cookie dough in 1-tsp. scoops, and arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until cookies are firm on top and edges have darkened.

nutritional informationPer Cookie: Calories: 42; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 30 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan

CHOCOLATE-CRUSTED PUMPKIN PIE

This comes from the October 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 71. It starts off, "Tweak the holiday pie tradition with a chocolate crust and pumpkin filling that's thickened with cornstarch, not eggs." Makes 1 9-inch pie (serves 8)

This recipe can be viewed online here.

Crust

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 stick Earth Balance margarine, cubed

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Filling

1 1/2 cups Oven-Roasted Pumpkin Purée or 1 15-oz. can puréed pumpkin

1 cup almond milk

2 Tbs. lemon juice

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

6 Tbs. Earth Balance margarine, melted

To make Crust: Pulse flour, cocoa, and confectioners’ sugar in food processor until combined. Add margarine, and process until mixture resembles sand. With processor running, add vanilla and 3 to 4 Tbs. cold water, and process until smooth dough forms. Chill 2 hours.

Roll out dough to 11-inch circle on floured work surface. Press into 9-inch pie pan. Chill 30 minutes.

To make Filling: Drain pumpkin in mesh strainer over bowl 30 minutes.

Combine almond milk and lemon juice in bowl. Whisk together brown sugar, cornstarch, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves in bowl. Whisk in almond milk mixture, then pumpkin and margarine.

Preheat oven to 400˚F. Place Crust on baking sheet, top with parchment paper, and fill with dried beans to weigh down. Reduce oven heat to 350˚F, and bake Crust 10 minutes. Remove parchment and beans, and bake 5 minutes.

Pour Filling into Crust, and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until Filling is bubbling in center. Cool completely before serving.

nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 377; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 20 g; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 47 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 361 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 24 g; Vegan

VEGETABLE SHEPHERD'S PIE

This came from the Food Network's Magazine several years ago.

Prep Time: 25 min; Cook Time: 41 min; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients

6 medium Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced

Kosher salt

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 large onion, diced

3 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks

2 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch chunks

1 bunch baby turnips, halved or quartered if large

6 cloves garlic, minced

Freshly ground pepper

1/2 bunch fresh parsley, leaves chopped (stems reserved)

1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

3/4 cup chopped veggie burgers or vegetarian protein crumbles

2/3 cup milk or half-and-half

Grated parmesan cheese, for sprinkling (optional)

Directions

Preheat the broiler. Cover the potatoes with water in a pot; season with salt, cover and boil until the potatoes are fork-tender, 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a stovetop casserole dish or shallow enamel pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, turnips and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables brown, 8 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups cooking liquid from the potatoes to the casserole dish. Lower the heat and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Tie the parsley stems with twine and add to the casserole. Cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 8 minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons butter and the chopped veggie burgers and warm through, 5 minutes. Remove the parsley stems and stir in the chopped parsley. Keep warm.

Drain the potatoes and mash with the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and the milk; season with salt and pepper and spoon over the casserole. Sprinkle with parmesan, if desired. Broil until golden brown, 5 minutes.

Per serving: Calories 558; Fat 24 g (Saturated 11 g); Cholesterol 42 mg; Sodium 656 mg; Carbohydrate 68 g; Fiber 9 g; Protein 17 g