Back in the Dark Ages (the 1950s), meat and potatoes were the order of the day; if one didn't eat meat for dinner, it was considered sacrilege. Red meat was king in many households, though chicken, fish, and pork were acceptable variations on a theme.
Of course, there were exceptions and rules to the beef/chicken/fish/pork/etc. rules: If one was a practicing Catholic (or had grown up as one), it was fish on Fridays; if you'd invited the neighbors for dinner and you knew they were Jewish, pork was definitely not what you were fixing that evening; if someone mentioned that he or she simply wanted a salad, chances were that a smaller number on the scale weighed heavily on someone's mind.
But a meatless meal? As in vegetarian?!? You might as well suggest that someone thought that he or she was a three-headed martian, dropped into Roswell with the thought of bringing back every third person back to Mars. What were you, nuts?
(If you've read about my lasagna experience with a certain ex-coworker, you may be aware that there are still people who feel that way. Not to worry, it's entirely possible to adhere to a vegetarian diet and be perfectly healthy; in fact, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, "It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes." (http://www.eatright.org/about/content.aspx?id=8357)
Great, you're thinking, I came here to see what's cooking, and she gives me the food lecture? Okay, lecture's over. Here are today's six recipes to help you through the day, including Angel Hair Pasta and B-B-Q Gluten. Enjoy!
Note: Most of these recipes can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking. I'm planning to update this e-cookbook in the near future.
SPAGHETTI SAUCE
28 oz. can tomatoes (note)
2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 6 oz. cans tomato paste
3 onions, chopped
3 to 5 cloves garlic, crushed
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1/4 - 1/2 lb. grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
2 T honey
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add tomatoes, sauce & pasted. Stir. Add everything ex-cept cheese & stir. Simmer 1 hour. Add cheese & stir until cheese is melted. Serve over hot spaghetti. Better the next day—if any is left!
NOTE: I usually use crushed tomatoes. If you’d rather use fresh tomatoes, 6-8 large ones may be used (diced, of course) in place of the canned tomatoes, & add an extra can of tomato sauce.
Note:If you want to make it vegan, leave the honey out and use grated vegan cheese.
ANGEL HAIR PASTA
I had something similar to this at a local Italian restaurant several times, and decided to try making it. A hint for making this: wait until all the veggies have been cut up, then start the water boiling for the angel hair pasta. The veggies should be cooked for 2-4 minutes, and the pasta cooked for 2 minutes before the pasta is drained and then allowed to finish cooking for another 2 minutes with the veggies. Timing is important—unless you like disgustingly soggy pasta.
1/2 C water
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2green pepper, diced
1 T oregano
1 lb. angel hair pasta
Cut up veggies while heating the pasta water. DO NOT PUT PASTA INTO WATER UNTIL THE VEGGIES BEGIN COOKING. (There. I said it.) In veggie pot, heat 1/2 C water & balsamic vinegar until it begins to bubble; add onion, garlic, pepper & oregano and stir once or twice. NOW ADD PASTA TO POT OF BOILING PASTA WATER. (Boy, what a bossy broad.) Simmer veggies on low-medium heat for 2-4 minutes, covered. Cook pasta for only 2 minutes, then drain in colander. As soon as pasta is drained, remove cover from veggies, dump pasta into veggie pot, and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring several times. Remove from heat. DIG IN!!! (Now, isn’t that good?)
BAKED NOODLES AND CHEESE
No idea where this came from.
8 oz. noodles, cooked
2 1/2 C grated cheese
2 eggs
1 C milk
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 T butter
Layer noodles & 2 C cheese alternately in a 2-quart casserole. Beat eggs, milk, salt & pepper together & pour over noodles & cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese over it & dot with butter. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes until set.
Note:Not sure how to make it vegan; you can use vegan margarine and cheese, but the eggs...eh.
GRANDMA'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
My grandmother was a character; I could write a book about her. This is her version of the ultimate comfort food. She told me she made this for my dad and my uncle when they were kids. Very simple, but very good.
1 lb. elbow macaroni
1-2 jars of Cheese Whiz
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Heat Cheese Whiz, either in microwave or boiling water. (Remove lids from jars first.) Drain macaroni, dump into a large bowl, add heated Cheese Whiz, stir, and PIG OUT!!!
JASON'S B-B-Q GLUTEN
This is from my oldest son. Rather than reword any of this, the recipe is included exactly as he wrote it out for me. (This stuff is definitely good.)
Ingredients:
5 lb. whole wheat flour
2 onions
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 bottles of B-B-Q sauce
1 stick butter
2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons paprika
Huge ass bowl
Take whole wheat flour, empty into Big Bowl. Add enough water to knead into dough ball. Knead really well. I repeat, knead really well. For at least 10 minutes. Fill huge ass bowl with water, put dough ball under water for 2 hours. Pour off water and drowned roaches. Knead doughball under cold running water for 10 minutes or more. Water should be clear. You are washing out the starch and bran. You know it’s ready when stringy and it sticks together and is bouncy. Melt 1 stick butter and fry 2 chopped onions until clear. Dump onto Gluten. Add salt, paprika, and peanut butter. Mix with hands completely. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cooking pan with non-stick spray. Pinch off pieces bigger than a golf ball. Take piece and fold it and twist it and lay it down in pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip over and bake for 10 more. Pour B-B-Q sauce and bake 10 more minutes, then flip and pour more B-B-Q sauce and bake 10 more minutes. It’s done—enjoy.
(Xtra note—be careful when you first mix wheat and water. Don’t add too much water. Make a hard dough ball. It might take 20 minutes to knead it.)
SALTED MAPLE CHESS PIE
This also comes from The Baker Chick.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Single layer Pie Crust*
4 eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter, cooled
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Flakey sea salt (Like Maldon)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425F.
In a large bowl beat the eggs until fluffy and blended. Add in the cream, vanilla, maple syrup and brown sugar, mixing on medium high until smooth. Add butter, cornmeal and vinegar and mix everything until smooth and free of any clumps or streaks.
Roll your pie crust into a 11 inch circle and drape onto your pie plate.crimp or flute the edges with a fork or your fingers. Pour the filling into the pie shell. Bake at 425F for 15 minutes and then reduce the heat to 325F and bake for 40 minutes until the edges are set but the middle is still wobbly. Sprinkle generously with flaky sea salt.
Allow to cool completely before serving, or chill and serve cold. Serve plain or with lightly sweetened whipped cream.
Notes
*If you'd like to add the braided crust like I did, I recommend making 1 1/2 times the regular pie crust recipe. Having a little extra allows you to try a few times and use your favorite braid on the crust. To attach it, brush the edge of your crust with egg wash and then gently press it on. Then brush the whole this with the egg wash and chill for 20 minutes before baking.
**If you like a crisper crust on the bottom, I recommend par baking the crust before adding the filling. Fill with parchment and beans or pie weights and then bake for 10 minutes. Remove the parchment and then add your filling.
