PASTA WITH KALE PESTO AND ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Here is a one-pot meal designed explicitly for the hungriness of a long-distance runner, with garlicky kale pesto and sweet roasted butternut squash. Making the pesto with kale instead of basil gives it a structure the basil-rich original lacks, and it interacts beautifully with the crisp-and-soft smoothness of the roasted squash. A terrific dish.” Time: 45 minutes; makes 2 to 3 servings.
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Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds butternut squash
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, more for drizzling
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more for squash
Freshly ground black pepper
1 small bunch (about 1/2 pound) lacinato kale, center ribs removed
8 ounces pasta (penne rigate works well)
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
2 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
Freshly squeezed lemon juice, to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Use a vegetable peeler to peel squash, then halve it lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Dice squash flesh into 1-inch pieces, place on a baking sheet, and toss with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Spread pieces into an even layer, making sure there is space between them. Roast, stirring squash pieces once or twice, until golden brown and tender, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; have ready a bowl of ice water. Drop kale into boiling water and cook for 45 seconds. Use tongs or slotted spoon to transfer kale to ice water. Bring water in pot back to a boil, adding more if necessary so there is enough to cook pasta.
Drain kale well, then wrap tightly in a dry kitchen towel and squeeze thoroughly to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop leaves. When water in pot comes back to a boil, cook pasta according to package directions.
In a food processor, pulse together kale, nuts, garlic, salt and lemon zest until mixture is smooth and salt has dissolved. With motor running, slowly drizzle in the oil until fully incorporated. Taste and add more salt dissolved in a little lemon juice, if necessary.
Drain pasta, reserving a little cooking water. Toss pasta with kale pesto and some pasta cooking water if necessary to help it coat pasta. Add cheese, lemon juice and salt to taste. Serve topped with squash and more cheese.
CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times' cooking newsletter. Nigella writes, “For me, a chocolate cake is the basic unit of celebration. The chocolate Guinness cake here is simple but deeply pleasurable, and has earned its place as a stand-alone treat.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; one 9-inch cake or 12 servings
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Ingredients
For the Cake:
Butter for pan
1 cup Guinness stout
10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups superfine sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
For the Topping:
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream
Preparation:
For the cake: heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.
In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to one hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.
For the topping: Using a food processor or by hand, mix confectioners' sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.
Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
VEGAN VANILLA PUDDING WITH CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY TOPPING
This recipe comes from the November 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 57. It begins, “When she’s not working in the beauty and fashion industry, Brianna Egglestone is making videos for her YouTube channel, Love Raw Vegan. “I’ve been vegan for three years and love experimenting in the kitchen,” she says. “I prefer to use minimal ingredients and create dishes that can be made in 15 minutes or less. I always loved vanilla pudding as a child, and adding in the raspberry swirl with chocolate bits turns a fun dish into something elegant that is always a hit at parties.” This recipe was awarded "Best Dessert" in VT's 2014 Reader Recipe Contest.” Serves 4.
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Pudding
3 Tbs. Bob’s Red Mill Cornstarch
1 1/2 cups Silk Vanilla Coconut Milk or Soymilk
1/4 cup Florida Crystals Organic Cane Sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
Topping
2–8 Tbs. Florida Crystals Organic Cane Sugar
1 Tbs. Bob’s Red Mill Cornstarch
2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
1/3 cup Chatfield’s Semisweet or Double-Dark Semisweet Chocolate Chips
To make Pudding: Stir together cornstarch and 2 Tbs. water in small bowl. Transfer to medium saucepan, and whisk in coconut milk, then sugar and vanilla.
Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Cook 2 minutes, or until mixture has thickened. Remove from heat, and cool 10 minutes. Spoon 1/2 cup Pudding into four glass cups. Cool, and then chill in refrigerator.
To make Topping: Combine sugar and cornstarch in medium saucepan. Whisk in 1/3 cup water. Add raspberries, and bring to a boil. Simmer 1 minute, or until mixture thickens. Cool, and then chill.
Spoon 1/4 cup Topping over each Pudding. Sprinkle each serving with chocolate chips.
nutritional information Per Pudding: Calories: 318; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 56 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 18 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 39 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
ORZO-STUFFED EGGPLANT
This comes from Diabetes Self Management. Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cooking Time: 50 minutes; Serves 4, Serving Size: 2 halves.
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Ingredients
4 small eggplants (approximately 7 ounces each)
Nonstick cooking spray
1 cup orzo pastina, uncooked
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups canned tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt and pepper, to taste
8 ounces part-skim mozzarella, diced
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F. Wash and pat dry the eggplants, cut off their stems, and cut them in half vertically. Place them with the cut side down on a baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove eggplants from the pan, cool under running water, and pat dry. Using a spoon, carve out and chop the pulp, leaving just a thin shell (about 1/4 inch). Place pulp in a bowl and set aside.
Cook the orzo according to package instructions, but keep it slightly undercooked (1–2 minutes less than directed). While the orzo is cooking, heat the olive oil in a medium-size frying pan over moderate heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add the chopped eggplant pulp and sauté for 4–5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the tomatoes, dried herbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
When the orzo is ready, drain and add to the eggplant mixture. Toss in both cheeses and mix well.
Divide eggplant–cheese mixture into 8 equal portions and fill the eggplant shells. Spray the top of each with cooking spray. Place stuffed eggplant halves on baking pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.
CHIPOTLE ASPARAGUS QUESADILLAS
This comes from the April/May 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 34. It begins, “Canned chipotles in adobo sauce lend mellow, smoky heat to quesadillas. Leftover chipotles (there are usually four or five in a can) can be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen for future use.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
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Quesadillas
1 lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, sliced (1 cup)
1 medium onion, sliced (1 cup)
1 1/2 tsp. olive oil or vegetable oil
1 tsp. dried oregano
4 8-inch sprouted-grain tortillas
Chipotle Spread
3 Tbs. vegan mayonnaise
2 tsp. minced, drained chipotles in adobo sauce
1 Tbs. lime or lemon juice
Preheat oven to 425°F.
To make Quesadillas: Toss together asparagus, bell pepper, onion, oil, and oregano in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread on large baking sheet, and roast 10 to 12 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, stirring once or twice.
Meanwhile, to make Chipotle Spread: blend all ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth.
Spread 1 1/2 tsp. Chipotle Spread on one side of each tortilla, spreading all the way out to edges. Top with 2/3 cup filling on one half of each tortilla, then fold over tortillas, pressing edges together to enclose filling and form half-moons.
Coat large skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium heat. Cook each quesadilla in skillet 2 to 3 minutes, turning once.
nutritional information Per Quesadilla: Calories: 273; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 32 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 235 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan
