Wednesday Recipes

Here are your six recipes to get you through the day. Enjoy!

CHICKPEA SOUP

This recipe is from the January 2001 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “This soup is a centerpiece unto itself or it can be an elegant starter for a more elaborate meal. Meal Plan: Serve with mesclun salad and your favorite dressing. Accompany it with a crusty baguette or flatbread.” Serves 6.

To view this online, click here.

1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, diced (1 cup)

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 (15-oz.) cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 bay leaf

1/2 cup roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Moroccan Spice Oil (optional; recipe follows)

In medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until onion has softened and begins to brown, about 10 minutes.

Add chickpeas, bay leaf, parsley and 4 cups water. Stir well, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, partially cover and simmer, about 15 minutes. Stir in salt.

Remove bay leaf and, working in batches, puree soup in food processor or blender until very creamy. (Do not fill blender more than halfway; hold down blender lid with towel.) Return soup to pot and add lemon juice.

Ladle soup into bowls and drizzle 1/2 teaspoon of Moroccan Spice Oil onto each serving if desired. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 160; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 31 g; Sodium: 896 mg; Fiber: 5 g

MOROCCAN SPICE OIL

This also comes from the January 2001 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 26, and begins, “Just a drizzle of this spicy oil added to beans, grains or vegetables will turn them into exciting fare.” Ready in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

2 tsp. whole cumin seeds

2 tsp. whole coriander seeds

1 tsp. whole fennel seeds

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

In heavy, dry skillet over medium-high heat, toast cumin, coriander and fennel seeds until fragrant, about 3 minutes. (Be careful not to burn spices.) Immediately transfer seeds to spice grinder (an inexpensive coffee grinder will do) or mortar and pestle and grind with cinnamon, ginger and red pepper flakes.

Return spices to skillet. Add oil and heat just until oil is warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes. Strain oil through a fine-meshed strainer lined with cheesecloth and store in tightly closed jar.

nutritional information Per serving: Calories: 0; Protein: 0 g; Total Fat: 0 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 0 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 0 mg; Fiber: 0 g; Vegan

THAI VEGETABLE STIR-FRY

This comes from from the February 2001 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “MEAL PLAN: Serve with quick-cooking brown rice and toss a salad of curly endive, seedless orange chunks and slivered red onion. For dessert, a bowl of grapes would go well.” Makes 4 servings in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

3 medium cloves garlic, peeled

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped

1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel

1/2 tsp. grated lime peel

14-oz. can lite coconut milk

1 lb. mixed vegetables (about 4 cups): fresh mushrooms, quartered; sliced asparagus; sliced bell peppers; water chestnuts, halved

1 small bok choy, stems sliced and leaves left whole

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 Tbs. soy sauce

1 Tbs. fresh lime juice

10 fresh basil leaves, slivered

In food processor or blender, combine garlic, jalapenos and lemon and lime peel; process to a paste.

Heat large skillet or wok over high heat; add coconut milk and paste mixture and stir well. Simmer 1 minute.

Add all vegetables and season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, soy sauce, lime juice and basil. Simmer 5 minutes. Serve hot.

nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 163; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 359 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Vegan

LEMONY ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Yield: 4 servings

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/32.shtml

Source: The Other Diabetes: Living and Eating Well with Type 2 Diabetes

Note: Roasted asparagus spears don't look as pretty as steamed, but the flavor is worth it.

Ingredients

1 lemon

1 pound fresh asparagus, wood stems removed

2 teaspoons olive oil

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Wash and dry the outside of the lemon. Make 2 teaspoons of lemon zest by grating the yellow outside peel with the fine side of a cheese grater. Wrap the lemon in plastic wrap and refrigerate for another use.

Toss the asparagus spears in a shallow dish with the lemon zest and olive oil.

Spread the asparagus in a heavy baking sheet; roast for 15 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, stir the asparagus to ensure even roasting. The asparagus are done when they are browned and slightly shriveled.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 50, Protein: 3 g, Fat: 3 g, Carbohydrate: 5 g, Sodium: 5 mg, Potassium: 353 mg, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat

WARM SPICED PEAR CRISP WITH ICE CREAM

This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. She writes, “This spectacular pear crisp is an excellent way to use ripe fresh pears. Pears are usually quite firm when they arrive in the markets, so plan to buy them a few days before your baking day. See the tips, below, for ripening fresh pears.

”Serve this dessert warm with a scoop of vanilla or butter pecan ice cream, or drizzle with a bit of light or heavy cream. If you crave a little more texture, sprinkle the crumble topping with chopped pecans or walnuts.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 servings

To view this online, go to http://southernfood.about.com/od/pears/r/Pear-Crisp.htm

Ingredients

6 large ripe pears*

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed, divided

1 cup all-purpose flour, divided

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup quick-cooking oats

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

6 tablespoons (3 ounces) butter, melted

ice cream or heavy whipping cream, for garnish

Preparation

Generously butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Heat the oven to 350° F.

Peel the pears; cut out stems and scoop out seeds and fibers. Slice them thinly and put in a bowl with the lemon juice. Toss to coat with the lemon juice. The lemon juice will keep them from turning brown.

Add 3/4 cup of the brown sugar to the pears, along with 1/4 cup of flour, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix well and transfer to the prepared baking pan.

In a medium bowl, combine the oats, the remaining 3/4 cup flour, the remaining 3/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and the melted butter. Mix with a fork until the crumbs are blended.

Sprinkle the oat crumb topping evenly over the pear mixture.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the topping is browned and pears are tender.

Serve the crisp warm with a generous scoop of vanilla or butter-pecan ice cream or a drizzling of heavy or light cream.

*The best pears for baking are the Bosc (golden brown, long neck) and Anjou (oval, greenish yellow skin). They're both firm and hold their shape well in pies and baked desserts.

Ripening Pears: Plan to buy pears several days before you plan to eat them or bake with them. Pears are picked before they've ripened, so they will likely be firm when you buy them. The best way to ripen pears is to keep them at room temperature. You'll find the stem end is slightly soft when they are ripe. Once they are ripe, refrigerate them and eat or use them in recipes within 3 to 5 days.

ACADIA'S TOFU STIR FRY

This came from the Food.com e-newsletter, and was sent into by AcadiaTwo. She writes, “I actually had never tried cooking tofu before, so I decided to marinate it first before cooking. It was a quick tasty meal the next night after work. Serve with rice, noodles or plain. Enjoy.” Don't let the prep time scare you off; it's the marinating time. Prep Time: 12 hours; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Servings: 4

To view this online, go to http://www.food.com/recipe/acadias-tofu-stir-fry-365295.

Ingredients

1 1⁄2 cups teriyaki sauce (sweet)

8 ounces tofu (firm, drained)

4 garlic cloves (minced)

1 tablespoon peanut oil

8 ounces frozen stir fry vegetables

Directions

Slice the tofu up into 1/4" thick slices and then cut them again into 1"x2" pieces.

Mix teriyaki & garlic together. (Reserve and refrigerate 1/2 cup teriyaki and 1 minced garlic clove in separate container).

Marinate them in teriyaki and garlic for 12-hours in the refrigerator.

In wok on medium heat add peanut oil.

Cook up the the tofu for about 2-3 minutes, flip and cook them for another 2-3 minutes.

Remove tofu and set aside.

Add vegetables to wok and stir fry until tender about 3 minutes.

Add Tofu and (reserved marinade) back to the wok, cook for 2 minutes more, stir throughly coating everything.

Enjoy.