Monday Recipes

It's time to get the week started off just right. To help with that, here are six recipes to start your week off right, including Seven Vegetable Couscous and Braided Lemon Cheesecake Bread. Enjoy!

VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One time, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting better than when I made it.

I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I ended up changing the recipe drastically, changing ingredients and amounts. The funny thing is that, while I use one or two packages of tofu crumbles instead of meat, it tastes enough like meat to fool several non-vegetarians. One person, after eating this, even looked at me aghast, asking, “What are you, some kind of vegetarian?” Never heard from him again.

This can be found in my e-cookbook, Off The Wall Cooking.

Ingredients

Tomato sauce:

2 – 3 onions, chopped

3 – 5 cloves garlic, minced

28 oz. can tomatoes

2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce

2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste

2 T oil

1 T oregano

1 tsp. basil

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. dill

1 tsp. anise

1 or 2 – 10 oz. package tofu crumbles

Directions

Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles & make cheese layer.

Cheese layer:

2 C sour cream

2 C cottage cheese

2 eggs

4 C mozzarella, grated

2 C cheddar cheese, grated

1 C Parmesan cheese

Mix ingredients together in large bowl.

Assemble:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9” X 13” pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.

CURRIED LENTIL, SQUASH AND APPLE STEW

This comes from Tara Parker-Pope, also from The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Tara wrote, “Infused with curry spices and chock-full of wilted spinach, butternut squash and sweet chunks of apple, this unique lentil stew is fragrant and flavorful beyond belief.” Time: 1 hour; makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015382-curried-lentil-squash-and-apple-stew.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, diced

1 carrot, peeled and diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

1 tablespoon curry powder

1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

1/2 cup dried lentils

2 1/2 cups vegetable broth

2 tablespoons tomato paste

3 cups peeled butternut squash (1/2-inch cubes)

1 large unpeeled apple, diced

5 ounces baby spinach

Preparation

In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat, and sauté onion and carrot until almost soft. Add garlic, ginger, curry and salt, and let cook a few more minutes until fragrant.

Stir in lentils, broth and tomato paste. Bring to boil, cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Add squash and apple, cover and simmer for another 25 minutes, or until vegetables and lentils are tender. Remove lid and stir in spinach until wilted. Add salt to taste and serve.

SEVEN VEGETABLE COUSCOUS

This also comes from Tara Parker-Pope, also from The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. For this one, Tara wrote, “Seven-vegetable couscous is a well-known offering at Sephardic Jewish New Year celebrations, but since it's a bountiful, colorful tribute to the harvest, it makes a great meat-free main dish for Thanksgiving as well. Despite the long ingredient list, it's as easy as can be to make.” Time: 1 hour; makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015487-seven-vegetable-couscous.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups couscous, uncooked

1 tablespoon vegan margarine

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 medium onions, chopped

1 cup finely shredded white cabbage

1 medium turnip, peeled and diced

1 medium yellow summer squash, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced

1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced

1 15- to 16-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 1/2 cups diced ripe tomatoes

2 teaspoons grated fresh or jarred ginger, or more, to taste

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

Dried hot red pepper flakes, to taste, optional

Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Garnish

1/2 cup golden raisins (for garnish)

1/3 cup minced fresh parsley (for garnish)

Sliced or slivered toasted almonds (for garnish)

Preparation

Combine the couscous and 3 cups boiling water in a heatproof bowl. Cover and let stand until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork, then stir in the margarine, turmeric and salt. Cover and set aside.

For the vegetable stew, heat the oil in a large saucepan or soup pot. Add the onions and sauté over medium heat until translucent. Stir in cabbage and sauté until both it and the onion are lightly golden.

Add the remaining stew ingredients. Bring to a simmer, then cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes. Add water as needed to produce a moist, but not soupy, consistency. The vegetables should be just tender, but still firm.

To serve, arrange the couscous on the outer edge of a large serving platter and make a well in the center. Pour the vegetable mixture in the center, then sprinkle with the garnishes, topping with sliced or slivered toasted almonds. Let each guest place a mound of couscous on his or her dinner plate and top it with the vegetable mixture.

BRAIDED LEMON CHEESECAKE BREAD

This comes from The Baker Chick (otherwise known as Audra). If you haven't signed up for her e-newsletter, I highly recommend it. This recipe makes 12 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Dough:

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup butter

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 (.25 ounce) package instant yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons)

1/4 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup water

1 egg

Cream Cheese Filling:

10 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup greek yogurt or sour cream

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1/2 cup lemon curd (homemade or store bought – recipe follows)

1 egg for brushing

raw sugar for sprinkling

Instructions

For the dough:

Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in butter; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt; whisk together. Add water, egg and the milk mixture; beat well with an electric mixer. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, using a wooden spoon to stir well after each addition. (dough will be too thick and sticky to use the mixers at this point.)

When the dough has just pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes, or alternately use the dough hook in a stand mixer. When ready, the dough will spring back when lightly pressed.

Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rest on the counter for 10 minutes.

To assemble:

Roll out the dough into a 10" x 15" rectangle, on top of a piece of parchment paper. Lightly press two lines down the dough lengthwise, to divide it into 3 equal sections.

Use a bench scraper or non sharp knife (so you don't cut the parchment,) to cut crosswise strips down the length of the outside sections- making sure you have the same amount of strips on each side.

Spread the cream cheese filling down the center section, and top with the lemon curd.

To form the mock braid, lift the top dough strip and gently bring it across the filling diagonally. Repeat on the other side with the top dough strip, so that the two strips crisscross each other. Continue down the entire braid, alternating strips to form the loaf. (About 2/3 of the way through I switched and started folding the layers down instead of up and it worked well to cover all the filling.)

Transfer to a cookie sheet and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Leave to proof in a warm place for 45 minutes or until puffy. Brush with egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Preheat oven to 350F. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Serve warm, room temperature or cold.

HOMEMADE LEMON CURD (IN A CAN!)

This also comes from The Baker Chick and goes with the Braided Lemon Cheesecake Bread. Makes 8 – 9 4 oz. jars.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup lemon zest (from about 5 lemons)

1 cup bottled lemon juice**

3/4 cup unsalted cold butter, cut into cubes

1/2 teaspoon of salt

7 large egg yolks

4 large whole eggs

Instructions

Prep your supplies:

If you plan to can, get everything prepped ahead of time. You'll need three pots: a smaller one with a bowl fitted on top or a double boiler, a large one that will fit all the jars and lids to sterilize them, and another large one with a strainer or rack inside to process the filled jars at the end. I used a large stock pot that had a steamer insert. You could also use a proper water canner.

Place the jars and lids, and a set of tongs in the designated pot and heat on high. Once the water starts boiling turn off and let them chill in the hot water until you're ready to fill them.

Fill the canning pot with water and clip a candy thermometer on the side. You want this water to be no higher than 180F when it's time to drop the jars into it, so let it heat up. You can always add cold water if needed to drop the temp down.

For the Lemon Curd!

Combine the sugar and lemon zest in a heatproof bowl (that you plan to use in your makeshift double boiler.) Work the zest into the sugar to release all the oils.

Stir in the juice, eggs, yolks and salt.

Place the bowl over the pot of simmering water and stir to combine. After a few minutes, add the butter cubes and stir until melted.

Clip the candy thermometer to the side of the bowl and stir frequently until it reaches 170F. (It will be thick and bubble like lava.)

Remove the bowl from the heat and strain it through a fine mesh sieve. (This removes all the zest and any eggy clumps.)

Use sterilized tongs to remove the jars from the hot water and set them on a clean towel. Dry them quickly and then fill them with lemon curd, leaving 1/2 inch of space at the top of each. Wipe down the rims if needed.

Use the tongs to remove the parts of the lids and dry them. Carefully screw the lids as tight as you can.

If your water is at 180F (a little lower is Ok,) carefully place the jars onto the rack and once boiling, process for 15 minutes. (Make sure all of your jars will fit before you begin. I ended up processing some in the pot I used to sterilize the jars.)

After the 15 minutes is up, remove the jars from the boiling water and place them on the counter or somewhere else safe and leave them be fore 12 hours. You'll hear the lids pop, and after the 12 hours is up you can check the lids to ensure they are on securely by pressing the tops.

Canned curd has a shelf life of 2-3 months if stored in a cool, dry, place. Or use it within a week or two of opening stored in the fridge

ACORN SQUASH WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO POLENTA

This comes from the January 2003 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 28. It begins, “This dish transcends the simplicity of squash and the hominess of coarse-ground cornmeal. The lushness of the flavors soothe and satisfy the palate, creating culinary magic on a brisk winter evening. The whole dish, virtually a meal on its own, can be made in about an hour and is best served hot when the polenta is still steaming, the Parmesan is melting and the colors are vibrant. If you wish to accompany the squash with other courses, consider an appetizer or soup with mild flavors, like a simple vegetable broth filled with lightly cooked greens or rounds of toasted wheat bread spread with a mild hummus dip. To complement the assertive squash flavors, offer sliced fresh fruit.” Serves 4.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/acorn-squash-with-sun-dried-tomato-polenta/.

Ingredients

2 small acorn squash (1 to 1 1/2 lbs. each)

About 2 oz. or 15 sun-dried tomatoes

1/4 cup pine nuts

3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

2 1/2 cups vegetable stock

1/2 heaping tsp. salt

1/2 cup coarse-ground polenta

2 to 3 Tbs. shredded Parmesan cheese

Paprika for garnish

2 Tbs. chopped parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Line sheet pan with parchment paper, and spray liberally with nonstick vegetable oil.

Cut squashes in half crosswise, and scoop out seeds and a little extra flesh. Cook, face down on parchment paper, about 45 minutes, or until sharp knife easily penetrates outside skin and rim of flesh is lightly browned.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, soak tomatoes in very hot water to cover for 15 to 20 minutes. When soft, coarsely chop and set aside. On small sheet pan or in baking dish, toast pine nuts in oven for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.

To make pesto, in food processor, add pine nuts, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and grated Parmesan cheese. Start machine and, as blade is turning, pour olive oil through shoot. Blend into smooth paste. Set aside in small bowl. (Use same bowl, rinsed and dried, used for soaking tomatoes).

Bring stock to a boil in medium to heavy saucepan. Add salt, keeping water boiling at medium-high heat. Add polenta gradually, either slowly from measuring cup or letting a fistful run through nearly closed fingers, constantly stirring with long-handled whisk. When all polenta is added, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook gently. Continue stirring, switching to long-handled wooden spoon. To avoid burning or sticking, use heat-diffusing device. Stir continuously and thoroughly, bringing mixture up from bottom and loosening from sides. (Make sure sides are scooped clean.)

Continue to stir for about 20 minutes, or until polenta is creamy and pulls away from sides of pan. Turn off heat, and stir in sun-dried tomato pesto.

Remove squash from oven. Spoon tomato mixture into squash “bowls.” Top with shredded Parmesan, dust with paprika and garnish with parsley.

Note: For a faster dish, substitute store-bought sun-dried tomato pesto, which won’t be as fresh or as satisfying. However, making your own is easy. You can prepare the whole dish ahead, minus garnishes. Refrigerate, reheat until hot and garnish with shredded cheese, paprika and parsley. If squashes are particularly misshapen, trim ridged edges so they will stand up straight without rolling over.

nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 510; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 31 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 49 g; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Sodium: 850 mg; Fiber: 7 g