Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Monday, March 25, 2019

Monday Recipes

Nothing like yummy vegetarian food to get the week started off just right. Today's offerings include Taco Chili and Herbed Carrot Soup. Enjoy!

VEGETABLE FAJITAS

This is from the Vegetarian Times website (posted May 10, 2017), and begins, “Colorful, sizzling vegetables, a sprinkling of vegan cheese, and you've got yourself the perfect summer meal.”

Makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 recipe Mojo Chili Marinade, click here for recipe (recipe also follows)

3 medium bell peppers (one red, yellow and green), quartered

1 large red onion, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

4 portobello mushroom caps

4 to 6 8-inch flour tortillas

Directions

Prepare marinade in large shallow glass bowl. Add vegetables, turning to coat. Let marinate for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Preheat gas grill to medium-high or prepare a hot charcoal fire. Set fine-meshed grill rack on top to heat.

Lightly oil grill topper. Grill vegetables in batches until nicely browned and tender, turning often, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer vegetables to shallow bowl when done. When all vegetables are grilled, cut into thin strips.

Place each tortilla on grill until warm or hot according to package directions. Transfer tortillas to serving plates. Spoon about 1 cup of vegetables onto tortillas. Top each serving with shredded vegan cheese, salsa and cilantro; roll up.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 250; Carbohydrate Content: 40 g; Fat Content: 7 g; Fiber Content: 4 g; Protein Content: 7 g; Saturated Fat Content: 2 g; Sodium Content: 270 mg

MOJO CHILI MARINADE

This is from the Vegetarian Times website (June 2, 2002). Makes 1 serving.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tsp. grated orange peel

1/2 cup orange juice

1 Tbs. fresh lime juice

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 Tbs. chili powder

1 Tbs. minced garlic

2 Tbs. minced onion

Directions

In food processor or blender, combine all ingredients, and process until smooth and well blended.

Pour marinade into large bowl. Add vegetables or other foods to be marinated, turning to coat.

If preparing ahead, store in airtight container in refrigerator up to three days. Stir well before using.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 45; Carbohydrate Content: 2 g; Fat Content: 4 g; Sodium Content: 40 mg

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.

SUGAR COOKIES

This absolutely yummy treat comes from Grace Parisi on the Today show’s website. It begins, “It's cookie swap season — but unlike gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies are perfect all year round, so bookmark this recipe for your next baby shower, Halloween, Valentine's day, or — my favorite — July 9, which is National Sugar Cookie Day!

“Cookies, rolled and cut into holiday shapes then festively decorated, are essential around the holidays. And these cookies in particular are fantastically delicious and easy to bake. Plus, decorating them is a snap and the whole family can involved.

“Simply choose from three simple decorations to make them your own, brush with an egg wash and sprinkle with sugar before baking, glaze with white icing (use a squeeze bottle for easy handling) or glaze with a mix of white and colored icings.

Make-ahead tip: These cookies can be stored between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container for up to one week.”

Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened (8 ounces)

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs, separated

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling

2 teaspoons lemon juice

3 cups confectioners' sugar

Sanding sugar, sprinkles, nonpareils for decorating

Preparation

Make the dough.

In a standing electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter with the sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg yolks, vanilla and salt and beat until combined. Add the flour and beat on low speed until moistened. Divide the dough into 3 discs, wrap them each in plastic and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.

Roll out and stamp the dough.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line 3 baking sheets with parchment. Working with one disc of dough at a time, on a floured surface, roll the dough 1/4-inch thick. Stamp out as many cookies as possible.

Time to bake!

Transfer the cookies to a baking sheet, and spread them out about 1-inch apart. Gather the scraps and re-roll to make more cookies. Bake the cookies in the center of the oven until lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Let them cool slightly, then transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough, re-rolling the scraps.

Make the glaze.

In a bowl, whisk the egg whites until frothy. Add the lemon juice and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread the white glaze over the cookies, covering them completely and let them dry.

Let's decorate!

Transfer the remaining glaze to a piping bag or a squeeze bottle with a tiny tip and pipe designs all over the cookies. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired. Let the cookies dry completely, then transfer them to platters to serve.

How to make alternative decorations:

1. Lightly brush the unbaked cookies with a mixture of 2 egg yolks combined with 2 tablespoons of water. Let the egg wash dry slightly, then sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake the cookies as directed above.

2. Divide the glaze into bowls and add food coloring to each. Glaze the cookies with one solid color then pipe dots or lines onto the wet glaze. Let the cookies dry completely before serving.

VELVEETA ULTIMATE MACARONI & CHEESE

This comes from Kraft Recipes, and begins, “Cheesy and easy, this homemade stove top macaroni and cheese is a big hit with kids.”

Total Time: 20 Minutes;Prep Time: 5 Minutes; Cook Time: 15 Minutes; Makes 4 servings

View this online here.

Ingredients

2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked

3/4 lb. (12 oz.) VELVEETA®, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1/3 cup milk

1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions

Cook macaroni in large saucepan as directed on package; drain well. Return to pan.

Stir in remaining ingredients; cook on low heat until VELVEETA is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently.

TACO CHILI

This was posted on the Vegetarian Times website on January 6, 2001. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

2 cups soy crumbles

1/2 cup canned soybeans

15-oz. can corn, drained

2 (28-oz.) cans diced tomatoes

30-oz. can chili beans

1 medium onion, diced

1 medium green bell pepper, diced

2 pkgs. taco seasoning

1 1/2 tsp. chili powder

Preparation

In large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 to 45 minutes.

Serve with low-fat shredded cheese and tortilla chips.