Tuesday Recipes

Now that we've survived another Halloween, the holiday season is starting up in earnest. Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!

ROASTED VEGETABLES WITH POLENTA AND BABY GREENS

This comes from Publix's Greenwise Magazine. It seems that Greenwise Magazine is no longer being published – at least it looks that way – but Publix still carries their Greenwise products. This cam from the March 2006 issue of the magazine. And Publix, if you're listening, please bring back the magazine!

6 C cut-up vegetables, such as asparagus, red or green pepper wedges, zucchini slices, quartered mushrooms. and/or red onion slices

1/4 C organic olive oil

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 clove garlic, minced

1 Tbs organic olive oil

1/4 – 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

2 C milk

2 C water

1 C cornmeal

1/2 C finely shredded Parmesan cheese

1 Tbs snipped fresh basil

1/2 tsp kosher salt

Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Organic baby greens

In shallow roasting pan, combine veggies, 1/4 C olive oil & 1/4 tsp kosher salt; toss to coat veggies. Roast, uncovered, in 350 degree oven about 30 minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring once.

Meanwhile, in large saucepan, cook garlic in 1 Tbs olive oil over medium heat. Stir in crushed red pepper. Stir in milk & 1 C water. Bring just to boiling. In small bowl, stir together cornmeal with remaining 1 C water. Slowly add cornmeal mixture to hot milk mixture, stirring constantly. Return to boiling. Reduce heat to low. Cook, uncovered for 5 – 10 minutes more or until mixture is very thick, stirring frequently. Stir in 1/2 C Parmesan cheese, basil, & 1/2 tsp salt.

To serve, spoon polenta mixture onto individual plates or into shallow bowls. Place roasted veggies on top of polenta. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese & crown with greens. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition per serving: 272 cal; 16 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 11mg cholesterol, 404 mg sodium, 26 g carbo., 4 g fiber, 9 g protein.

PASTA WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE AND RICOTTA

This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “This wonderful pasta is made with nothing more than fresh tomato sauce and good ricotta, plus a little pecorino. It’s most delicious if you keep the pasta quite al dente; use just enough sauce, no more; give it a good pinch of crushed red pepper; and season it with enough salt of course. For the best results, use good quality imported noodles made from hard Durum wheat.” Time: 30 minutes; makes 4 to 6 servings.

This, along with the Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce, was featured in “The Time Is Right to Make Tomato Sauce”, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 pound dried pasta, such as farfalle or penne

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons butter, softened

Crushed red pepper (optional)

2 1/2 cups Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce, warm (see recipe, which follows)

6 ounces ultra-fresh ricotta, at room temperature

Grated pecorino

Basil leaves, for garnish

Preparation

Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted water, making sure to keep it quite al dente.

Put butter in a wide deep skillet over medium heat. Add drained pasta to the pan and season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper, if using.

Add tomato sauce gradually and stir to coat pasta, using only enough sauce for a light coating (you may not need the entire 2 1/2 cups).

Transfer pasta to a warm serving bowl and dot top with spoonfuls of ricotta. Sprinkle lightly with pecorino and garnish with a few torn basil leaves.

QUICK FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

This also comes from David Tanis in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “In August and September, when tomatoes are at their ripest, make a batch of fresh tomato sauce. At the market, look for the cracked, slightly bruised tomatoes sold at a discount. The flesh of the tomato should be dense, sweet and blood red. This makes a very fresh- and bright-tasting sauce in a manageable small batch. Take advantage of good tasty tomatoes and fill a few zip-top bags for the freezer.” Time: 30 minutes; makes about 2 1/ 2 cups.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

5 pounds tomatoes

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 garlic clove, halved

1 basil sprig

1 bay leaf

Preparation

Cut tomatoes in half horizontally. Squeeze out the seeds and discard, if you wish. Press the cut side of tomato against the large holes of a box grater and grate tomato flesh into a bowl. Discard skins. You should have about 4 cups.

Put tomato pulp in a low wide saucepan over high heat. Add salt, olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, basil and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a brisk simmer.

Reduce the sauce by almost half, stirring occasionally, to produce about 2 1/2 cups medium-thick sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt. It will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator or may be frozen.

PUMPKIN CORN MUFFINS

This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “I sweetened these muffins with brown sugar, but if you'd like a less sweet muffin to go with chili or beans, feel free to cut back on the sugar.

“These muffins are moist and delicious. Try them with Simple Maple Butter (recipe follows) or a cream cheese spread.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 18 minutes; Total Time: 28 minutes.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 cup cornmeal

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed

1 large egg

3/4 cup milk

1 cup canned or fresh pumpkin puree

2 tablespoons melted butter

Preparation

Heat oven to 375°. Grease and flour 12 muffin cups.

Combine cornmeal, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.

In another bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, egg, milk, pumpkin, and butter. Combine the two mixtures and stir until blended. Fill muffin cups about 3/4 full.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes.

SIMPLE MAPLE BUTTER

This also comes from Diana Rattray, who wrote, “Make this easy maple butter to use on muffins, quick bread, pancakes, or waffles. You can easily cut the recipe in half, or freeze some for another day.” Prep Time: 6 minutes; Total Time: 6 minutes; Yield: Makes about 3/4 Cup.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup maple syrup, the darkest grade available

Preparation

Combine the butter and maple syrup in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well blended and fluffy.

If desired roll into a tube shape in a piece of parchment paper and chill.

Serve it soft or chilled with pancakes, hot biscuits, waffles.

Makes 3/4 cup.

CURRIED PUMPKIN AND PEAS

This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Flavor tender pumpkin and tomatoes with a touch of curry powder in this tempting dish.” Total Time: 45 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 6.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tbsp. unsalted butter

1 medium onion

1 garlic clove

2 1/2 tsp. curry powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. Freshly ground pepper

2 lb. pumpkin

2 medium red potatoes

1 1/2 c. low-sodium chicken broth

3/4 c. golden raisins

3/4 c. frozen baby peas

fresh cilantro

Directions

Heat butter in a large pan over medium-high heat, add onion, and cook until golden-brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Stir in curry powder, salt, and pepper. Add pumpkin and potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour in broth and raisins, cover, and reduce heat to medium. After 15 minutes, add peas. Replace cover and continue to cook until pumpkin and potatoes are tender, 5 to 10 minutes more. Garnish with cilantro.