Monday Recipes

Here it is, Monday again. Hope your weekend was good. (Is it just me, or do weekends go too quickly?!)

Here are today's six yummy recipes to help you get your week started, including Meatless Meatballs in Marinara Sauce, Stuffed Peppers, and Pumpkin Flan with Maple Caramel. (Doesn't that sound absolutely yummy?!) Enjoy!

CINNAMON BAKED DOUGHNUTS

This is from Ina Garten of the Food Network show, Barefoot Contessa.

Level: Easy; Total: 35 min; Active: 15 min; Yield: 12 doughnuts

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Baking spray with flour, such as Baker's Joy

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten

1 1/4 cups whole milk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the topping:

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 doughnut pans well.

Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined.

Spoon the batter into the baking pans, filling each one a little more than three-quarters full. Bake for 17 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then tap the doughnuts out onto a sheet pan.

For the topping, melt the 8 tablespoons of butter in an 8-inch saute pan. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Dip each doughnut first in the butter and then in the cinnamon sugar, either on one side or both sides.

PUMPKIN FLAN WITH MAPLE CARAMEL

This yumminess comes from The Barefoot Contessa (otherwise known as Ina Garten). Serves 8 - 10; level: beginner

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

for the caramel:

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup pure Grade A maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel

for the pumpkin flan:

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk

1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pie filling)

1/2 cup (4 ounces) Italian mascarpone

4 extra-large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon pure maple extract, such as Boyajian

2 teaspoons grated orange zest (2 oranges)

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

For the caramel, combine the sugar, maple syrup, and 1/3 cup water in a small, deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil, swirling the pan (don’t stir!) to dissolve the sugar. Cook at a low boil without stirring for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mixture turns a golden brown and registers 230 degrees on a candy thermometer. Watch it carefully so it doesn’t burn! Off the heat, swirl in the fleur de sel, and immediately pour into an 8 × 2-inch round cake pan (not a springform!). Set aside to cool for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, canned pumpkin, and mascarpone in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium-low speed until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, vanilla, maple extract, orange zest, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gently pour the pumpkin mixture into the pan with the caramel so they don’t combine.

Place the pan in a roasting pan large enough to hold the cake pan flat and fill the roasting pan with enough of the hottest tap water to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake in the center of the oven for 70 to 75 minutes, until the custard is just set. It will be firm but still jiggle slightly in the middle; a knife inserted into the center of the flan will come out clean. Remove the flan from the water bath, place on a cooling rack, and cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Don’t tilt the pan or the caramel will run out!

Run a small knife around the edge of the flan. Turn a flat serving plate with a slight lip over the cake pan and flip them, turning the flan out onto the plate. The caramel should run out over the flan. Cut into wedges and serve with the caramel spooned over each slice.

AFRICAN-STYLE SWEET POTATO AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH STEW

This recipe comes from Publix.

Servings: 8; Total Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes; Active Time: 10 minutes

To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

2 medium sweet potatoes

1 can chickpeas (garbanzos), (15–16 oz), drained

1 (14.5-oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained

1 (10-oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained

8 oz prediced bell pepper mix (1 1/2 cups)

1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning

1 teaspoon chunky garlic paste

2 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or stock)

1 package fresh (or frozen) prediced butternut squash (15–16 oz)

3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Directions

Peel sweet potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Drain chickpeas. Place in slow cooker: sweet potatoes, chickpeas, tomatoes, bell peppers, seasoning, garlic paste, and broth; cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2–3 hours (or LOW for 4–6 hours) or until potatoes are tender.

Stir in squash during last 30 minutes of cook time. Chop cilantro and peanuts.

Remove 1 cup of liquid from stew and whisk with peanut butter until blended. Stir peanut butter mixture into stew. Serve topped with cilantro and peanuts.

MEATLESS MEATBALLS IN MARINARA SAUCE

This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “These ‘meatballs’ use plant-based ground meat, and a combination of onions, garlic and tamari give them a satisfying chew and robust flavor. Because there’s no egg for binding, these are slightly more delicate than other meatballs, so use a light touch when shaping them, and make sure the mixture is very cold. Serve them on their own, covered in marinara sauce, or stuff them into hero rolls for sandwiches. They are also excellent over spaghetti.”

Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling

This was featured in “The Meat-Lover’s Guide to Eating Less Meat”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020740-meatless-meatballs-in-marinara-sauce.

Ingredients

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

1/4 cup minced onion

1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves and tender stems

3 garlic cloves, grated or minced

1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Pinch of red-pepper flakes (optional)

1 1/2 pounds plant-based vegan ground beef (such as Beyond Meat)

Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

3 cups marinara sauce, homemade or store-bought

Parmesan (optional, or use vegetarian Parmesan if you prefer), for garnish

Preparation

In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, onion, parsley, garlic, tamari, salt, pepper, oregano and red-pepper flakes, if using, and mix well. Add plant-based beef, and blend with your hands until well mixed. Cover mixture and chill for at least an hour or up to 24 hours. (It’s easiest to form the meatballs when the mixture is very cold.)

Heat the broiler. Form 28 meatballs, each about 1 1/4 inches in diameter. Transfer meatballs to one or two rimmed baking sheets, and drizzle with olive oil.

Broil meatballs until golden and firm, 7 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat marinara sauce in a pot. Serve meatballs with sauce on top, showered with cheese if you like and drizzled with a little more olive oil.

INDIAN BUTTER CHICKPEAS

This also comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “A vegetarian riff on Indian butter chicken, this fragrant stew is spiced with cinnamon, garam masala and fresh ginger, and is rich and creamy from the coconut milk. You could add cubed tofu here for a soft textural contrast, or cubed seitan for a chewy one. Or serve it as it is, over rice to catch every last drop of the glorious sauce. You won’t want to leave any behind.”

Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This was featured in “The Meat-Lover’s Guide to Eating Less Meat”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020739-indian-butter-chickpeas.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 large onion, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste

4 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons sweet paprika

2 teaspoons garam masala

1 small cinnamon stick

1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled plum tomatoes

1 (15-ounce) can coconut milk

2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained

Ground cayenne (optional)

Cooked white rice, for serving

1/2 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, for serving

Preparation

Melt butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook until golden and browned around the edges, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. (Don’t be tempted to turn the heat up to medium-high; keeping the heat on medium ensures even browning without burning the butter.)

Stir in garlic and ginger, and cook another 1 minute. Stir in cumin, paprika, garam masala and cinnamon stick, and cook another 30 seconds.

Add tomatoes with their juices. Using a large spoon or flat spatula, break up and smash the tomatoes in the pot (or you can use a pair of kitchen shears to cut the tomatoes while they are still in the can). Stir in coconut milk and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, and continue to cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, and continuing to mash up the tomatoes if necessary to help them break down.

Stir in chickpeas and a pinch of cayenne if you like. Bring the pot back up to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 10 minutes. Taste and add more salt if necessary.

Serve spooned over white rice, and topped with cilantro.

STUFFED PEPPERS

Recipe Yield: Servings: 8

Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook

Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.

Ingredients

4 large bell peppers, any color or combination

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)

1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)

1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)

1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)

2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic

2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)

1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)

1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)

1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.

In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable