It's Wednesday (otherwise known as hump day), half-way through the work week. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Pasta Primavera and Jason's Home Fries. Enjoy!
OATMEAL COOKIES
This is from Vegetarian Times and begins, “Straightforward and tasty, these oatmeal cookies hit the sweet spot.” Makes 24 cookies.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup pastry flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 stick (1/2 cup) margarine, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs or equivalent Egg Replacer
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbs. cold water
3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease one or more baking sheets.
In medium bowl, mix both flours, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and ginger. Set aside.
In large bowl with an electric mixer, beat margarine and granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs or Egg Replacer, vanilla and water until blended. Add dry ingredients and beat just until blended. Stir in oats and raisins.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet(s), spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store cookies in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 77; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Sodium: 65 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: g
SMOTHERED CHEESE GRITS AND STEAMED GREENS
This is from the January/February 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46. It starts off, “A bowl of grits and a mess of greens might not sound like dinner party fare, but served on a platter and smothered with caramelized onions, this tasty combination looks downright fancy.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.
To view online, click here.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil, divided
2 large sweet onions, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla, halved and thinly sliced
3/4 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned white hominy grits (not instant)
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/4 cup low-fat milk
1 lb. curly kale, tough stems removed, torn into bite-size pieces (14 cups)
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
2 oz. (1/2 cup) grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, plus more for sprinkling, optional Toasted sesame seeds, optional
Directions
Heat 2 Tbs. oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, cover, and cook 20 to 25 minutes, or until onions are softened and caramelized, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and keep warm.
Meanwhile, cook grits according to package directions. Stir in corn and milk, and return to a simmer, stirring constantly to incorporate milk. Keep warm.
Steam kale in basket steamer 4 to 5 minutes, or until wilted but still bright green and crisp-tender. Transfer to bowl, and stir in vinegar and remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
To serve: Stir cheese into grits, and transfer to serving platter. Top with kale, then onions. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and grated cheese (if using).
nutritional information Per Serving (3/4 cup grits, 3/4 cup kale, and 1/2 cup onions): Calories: 210; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g; Cholesterol: 8 mg; Sodium: 84 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 7 g; Gluten-Free
SCOTTISH SCONES
Servings: 16
Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/156.shtml
Ingredients
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp whipped butter
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup golden raisins
Directions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
Coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Add the butter and mix it into the flour with your fingers. Add buttermilk and knead into a soft dough. Knead in the raisins.
On a floured board, roll out the dough until 1/2" thick.
Cut dough into 16 rounds. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden in color.
Serve warm or let cool and store in an airtight container.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 97; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 115 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Carbohydrates: 16 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread
AU GRATIN POTATOES
This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”
The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.
Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
1 Tbsp butter
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cup fat-free skim milk
2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced
1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.
Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.
Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.
JASON'S HOME FRIES
This is one of my oldest son's inventions. He fixed this on one of his many trips back home; it didn't take long to become a favorite.
This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.
Note: I'll be pulling Off the Wall Cooking from Amazon within the next two weeks. It's due to a major update - added recipes, photos, and more - then off to a hard-copy publisher. If you'd like the current one for your e-reader, now's the time.
Ingredients
3 – 4 potatoes, scrubbed, not peeled
1 pepper (red, green or yellow), diced
1 onion, chopped
3 – 4 T butter or oil (or both)
1 clove garlic, minced (opt.)
Directions
Cut potatoes across (not length-wise). Heat oil or butter. Add potatoes, onions, pepper and garlic. Cover, cook over medium heat, turning occasionally with a spatula, until brown and crusty.
PASTA PRIMAVERA
This comes from Publix. Makes 4 servings.
This recipe originally called for 1 cup chicken or veggie broth. Obviously, I've deleted the chicken broth and am keeping it as only veggie broth.
Ingredients
12 ounces of dried linguine, ziti, or penne pasta
2 Tbl olive oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 green onions, sliced
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 medium red sweet pepper, sliced
1 medium yellow sweet pepper, sliced
1 small zucchini, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 C chicken or veggie broth
1 C snipped fresh basil
1/4 C finely shredded Parmesan cheese
2 Tbls pine nuts, toasted
Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return pasta to saucepan; cover & keep warm.
Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat olive oil. Add garlic & onions; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in carrots & sweet peppers. Cook & stir for 3 minutes. Add zucchini, salt, & pepper. Stir in chicken or veggie broth. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 1 minute or until vegetables are just tender.
Stir vegetable mixture & basil into pasta & toss. Transfer to serving dish. Sprinkle with cheese & pine nuts. Makes 4 servings.
Per serving: Calories: 443; fat: 20 g (9 g sat. fat); chol: 38 mg; sodium: 328 mg; carbs: 51 g; fiber: 6 g; protein: 14 g.
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday (because not everyone loves tacos; shocking, isn't it?). Today's offerings include Crock Pot Broccoli & Rice Casserole and Stuffed Grape Leaves Casserole. Enjoy!
CORN BREAD APPLESAUCE MUFFINS
Yield: 8 servings
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/545.shtml
Ingredients
Vegetable oil spray
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup coarse yellow cornmeal
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup fat-free milk
Egg substitute equivalent to 1 egg or 1 egg
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly spray eight muffin cups with vegetable oil spray.
Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl, stirring well.
Beat remaining ingredients in a small bowl.
Make a well in cornmeal mixture. Pour milk mixture into well, stirring just until moistened. Fill muffin cups two-thirds full with batter.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in center of muffins comes out clean.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 86; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 189 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch
STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES CASSEROLE
This comes from the January/February 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 51. It begins, “If you like stuffed grape leaves, you’ll love this casserole, which has all the flavors of the bite-size appetizers without all the rolling. You don’t have to parboil jarred grape leaves, but a quick dip in boiling water tenderizes them and removes some of their saltiness.” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
30 jarred or fresh grape leaves
2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for brushing top of casserole and casserole dish
1 large onion, finely diced (2 cups)
1 cup brown rice
2 cups low-sodium tomato juice or vegetable juice
1 cup chopped unsalted, hulled pistachios
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 cup chopped fresh mint
1 cup raisins or dried currants
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 lemon, sliced, for garnish
Pomegranate molasses, for drizzling, optional
Directions
Dip grape leaves in large pot of boiling water 2 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 7 to 10 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Add rice and 21/2 cups water, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 30 to 40 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, and stir in tomato juice, pistachios, parsley, mint, raisins, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. (Mixture will be very wet.)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush 2-qt. baking dish with olive oil. Pat grape leaves dry. Line bottom and sides of baking dish with grape leaves, allowing leaves to hang over sides. Spread half of rice mixture over grape leaves. Top rice with more grape leaves, then top with remaining rice mixture. Cover casserole with remaining grape leaves, and seal by folding over grape leaves around edges. Brush top with olive oil. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until grape leaves on top darken and casserole looks firm and dry.
Dip knife in cold water. Cut straight down with tip of knife to make 8 servings, then remove servings with spatula. Garnish with lemon slices, and drizzle with pomegranate molasses (if using).
nutritional information Per 1 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 341; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 48 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 408 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 17 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
CRANBERRY-CHERRY LATTICE PIE
This is from the November/December 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 67. It begins, “Because cranberries are naturally high in pectin, the fruit fiber that sets jams and jellies, there's no need to add a thickener to this filling. If you prefer a sweeter dessert, use refrigerated sugar cookie dough to craft the crust and lattice top.” Serves 8.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/cranberry-cherry-lattice-pie/.
Ingredients
3 cups fresh cranberries, divided
1 1/2 cups sugar, plus extra for sprinkling, divided
1 medium orange, for zest and juice (1 tsp. grated zest; 1/3 cup juice)
1 cup dried sweet cherries
Refrigerated pastry for 2-crust pie (plain or whole wheat), or double recipe Perfect Every Time Piecrust (recipe follows this one)
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheet with foil, and coat 9-inch pie dish with cooking spray.
Place 1 1/2 cups cranberries, 1/2 cup sugar, orange zest, and cherries in food processor, and pulse until berries are coarsely chopped. Transfer to bowl, and stir in remaining 1 1/2 cups cranberries, remaining 1 cup sugar, and orange juice.
Roll 1 piecrust into 10-inch disc. Press into prepared pan. Spoon in cranberry mixture, and brush edges with water.
Roll second piecrust into 10-inch disc. Cut dough into 1-inch-wide strips using knife or fluted pastry wheel. Lay strips in lattice pattern over top of pie, pressing edges to seal. Trim off any excess from strips. Sprinkle lattice with sugar, and bake on prepared baking sheet 55 minutes, or until filling is bubbly and crust is golden. Cool on wire rack.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 356; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 1.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 79 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 155 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 53 g
PERFECT EVERY TIME PIECRUST
This is also from the November/December 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 71. It begins, “For a vegan variation on this crust, omit egg and use 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. Water.” Serves 8 (makes 1 9-inch crust)
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/perfect-every-time-piecrust/.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbs. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, or nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening, cut into small pieces
1 egg yolk, optional
Directions
Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in food processor several times to combine. Add butter, and pulse 5 times, or until mixture resembles coarse sand.
Beat egg yolk and 1/4 cup ice water in bowl with fork. Add liquid to flour mixture in food processor. Pulse until dough just comes together. Transfer to large piece of plastic wrap or wax paper and press into flat disk. Wrap tightly, and chill 1 hour, or overnight. Roll out to desired size on well-floured work surface and bake according to recipe directions.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 382; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 31 g; Saturated Fat: 19.5 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g;Cholesterol: 114 mg; Sodium: 199 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 3 g
HOUSEMAN'S ROASTED-SQUASH SALAD
This comes from Sam Sifton on The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. (Note: If you haven't signed up for their newsletter, I highly recommend it. Seriously.) This recipe begins, “At Houseman, the restaurant Ned Baldwin and Adam Baumgart opened in the Hudson Square neighborhood of Manhattan in 2014, you’ll find this astonishing salad made with red kabocha squash. But the more easily found green kabocha works beautifully in the recipe, as does buttercup squash and sugar pumpkin. For the dressing, some confidence is required. What seems an enormous amount of dried spices — ground fennel, sumac and coriander — is combined with chopped parsley and cilantro. The result looks dry and grainy, as if something is wrong. But olive oil, lime juice and white-wine vinegar (best available, please!) begin to smooth things out, and the cheese, pistachios and vinegar-plumped currants finish the job. The combination makes a fine vegetarian main-course lunch or dinner, particularly paired with braised greens and good bread.” Time: 30 minutes, plus macerating; Makes 4 to 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
5 tablespoons dried currants
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1 kabocha squash, approximately 3 to 4 pounds
Approximately 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon plus 3/4 teaspoon ground fennel seed
1 tablespoon plus 3/4 teaspoon ground sumac
1 tablespoon plus 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 cup chopped parsley, packed
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, packed
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, approximately 3 to 4 limes
1/2 cup pistachios, toasted and chopped
1/2 cup firm feta cheese, diced
Preparation
Put the currants in a small bowl, and pour the white-wine vinegar over them. Allow them to macerate for several hours or overnight, though in a pinch you can allow them to plump up while you prepare the squash. Heat oven to 450.
Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, peel both halves (if you like: the skin of the kabocha squash is edible) and slice the squash into 1/4-inch half moons. Dress the squash lightly with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and season with the salt. Place the squash on a parchment-lined sheet pan, and roast until soft and caramelized, approximately 15 to 20 minutes, turning the pieces once or twice during the process. Remove the squash from the oven, and set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, in a medium-size bowl, combine the fennel seed, sumac and coriander, then add the parsley and cilantro, and stir to combine. Add 1/3 cup olive oil, and stir to combine. You want a wet mixture and may need to add a couple of extra tablespoons of oil to get it.
Drain the currants, reserving the vinegar, and add them to the green sauce. Add the lime juice, pistachios, cheese, 6 tablespoons olive oil and 5 teaspoons vinegar from the pickled currants to the green sauce. Taste, and add more lime juice or vinegar if you like, along with a spray of salt.
Place squash on a warm platter, and spoon the dressing over the top.
CROCK POT BROCCOLI & RICE CASSEROLE
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
Ingredients
1 small onion, diced
1/4 c. butter, melted
2 c. quick cooking rice
2 c. water
1 (10 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 tsp. salt
Pepper to taste
1 (5 oz.) jar sharp cheese spread
2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen chopped broccoli, partially thawed
1/4 lb. Velveeta cheese
Corn flake crumbs, browned in butter (opt.)
Directions
Combine all ingredients except corn flake crumbs in crock pot. Stir thoroughly. Cover. Cook low 7 to 10 hours or high 2 to 3 hours. Just before serving, sprinkle crumbs over top. If crock pot comes out of your crock pot, brown under broiler for extra crispness. I double this in my large crock pot. Great for pot luck.
CORN BREAD APPLESAUCE MUFFINS
Yield: 8 servings
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/545.shtml
Ingredients
Vegetable oil spray
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup coarse yellow cornmeal
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup fat-free milk
Egg substitute equivalent to 1 egg or 1 egg
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly spray eight muffin cups with vegetable oil spray.
Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl, stirring well.
Beat remaining ingredients in a small bowl.
Make a well in cornmeal mixture. Pour milk mixture into well, stirring just until moistened. Fill muffin cups two-thirds full with batter.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in center of muffins comes out clean.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 86; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 189 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch
STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES CASSEROLE
This comes from the January/February 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 51. It begins, “If you like stuffed grape leaves, you’ll love this casserole, which has all the flavors of the bite-size appetizers without all the rolling. You don’t have to parboil jarred grape leaves, but a quick dip in boiling water tenderizes them and removes some of their saltiness.” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
30 jarred or fresh grape leaves
2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for brushing top of casserole and casserole dish
1 large onion, finely diced (2 cups)
1 cup brown rice
2 cups low-sodium tomato juice or vegetable juice
1 cup chopped unsalted, hulled pistachios
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 cup chopped fresh mint
1 cup raisins or dried currants
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 lemon, sliced, for garnish
Pomegranate molasses, for drizzling, optional
Directions
Dip grape leaves in large pot of boiling water 2 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 7 to 10 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Add rice and 21/2 cups water, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 30 to 40 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, and stir in tomato juice, pistachios, parsley, mint, raisins, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. (Mixture will be very wet.)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush 2-qt. baking dish with olive oil. Pat grape leaves dry. Line bottom and sides of baking dish with grape leaves, allowing leaves to hang over sides. Spread half of rice mixture over grape leaves. Top rice with more grape leaves, then top with remaining rice mixture. Cover casserole with remaining grape leaves, and seal by folding over grape leaves around edges. Brush top with olive oil. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until grape leaves on top darken and casserole looks firm and dry.
Dip knife in cold water. Cut straight down with tip of knife to make 8 servings, then remove servings with spatula. Garnish with lemon slices, and drizzle with pomegranate molasses (if using).
nutritional information Per 1 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 341; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 48 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 408 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 17 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
CRANBERRY-CHERRY LATTICE PIE
This is from the November/December 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 67. It begins, “Because cranberries are naturally high in pectin, the fruit fiber that sets jams and jellies, there's no need to add a thickener to this filling. If you prefer a sweeter dessert, use refrigerated sugar cookie dough to craft the crust and lattice top.” Serves 8.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/cranberry-cherry-lattice-pie/.
Ingredients
3 cups fresh cranberries, divided
1 1/2 cups sugar, plus extra for sprinkling, divided
1 medium orange, for zest and juice (1 tsp. grated zest; 1/3 cup juice)
1 cup dried sweet cherries
Refrigerated pastry for 2-crust pie (plain or whole wheat), or double recipe Perfect Every Time Piecrust (recipe follows this one)
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheet with foil, and coat 9-inch pie dish with cooking spray.
Place 1 1/2 cups cranberries, 1/2 cup sugar, orange zest, and cherries in food processor, and pulse until berries are coarsely chopped. Transfer to bowl, and stir in remaining 1 1/2 cups cranberries, remaining 1 cup sugar, and orange juice.
Roll 1 piecrust into 10-inch disc. Press into prepared pan. Spoon in cranberry mixture, and brush edges with water.
Roll second piecrust into 10-inch disc. Cut dough into 1-inch-wide strips using knife or fluted pastry wheel. Lay strips in lattice pattern over top of pie, pressing edges to seal. Trim off any excess from strips. Sprinkle lattice with sugar, and bake on prepared baking sheet 55 minutes, or until filling is bubbly and crust is golden. Cool on wire rack.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 356; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 1.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 79 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 155 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 53 g
PERFECT EVERY TIME PIECRUST
This is also from the November/December 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 71. It begins, “For a vegan variation on this crust, omit egg and use 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. Water.” Serves 8 (makes 1 9-inch crust)
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/perfect-every-time-piecrust/.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbs. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, or nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening, cut into small pieces
1 egg yolk, optional
Directions
Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in food processor several times to combine. Add butter, and pulse 5 times, or until mixture resembles coarse sand.
Beat egg yolk and 1/4 cup ice water in bowl with fork. Add liquid to flour mixture in food processor. Pulse until dough just comes together. Transfer to large piece of plastic wrap or wax paper and press into flat disk. Wrap tightly, and chill 1 hour, or overnight. Roll out to desired size on well-floured work surface and bake according to recipe directions.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 382; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 31 g; Saturated Fat: 19.5 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g;Cholesterol: 114 mg; Sodium: 199 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 3 g
HOUSEMAN'S ROASTED-SQUASH SALAD
This comes from Sam Sifton on The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. (Note: If you haven't signed up for their newsletter, I highly recommend it. Seriously.) This recipe begins, “At Houseman, the restaurant Ned Baldwin and Adam Baumgart opened in the Hudson Square neighborhood of Manhattan in 2014, you’ll find this astonishing salad made with red kabocha squash. But the more easily found green kabocha works beautifully in the recipe, as does buttercup squash and sugar pumpkin. For the dressing, some confidence is required. What seems an enormous amount of dried spices — ground fennel, sumac and coriander — is combined with chopped parsley and cilantro. The result looks dry and grainy, as if something is wrong. But olive oil, lime juice and white-wine vinegar (best available, please!) begin to smooth things out, and the cheese, pistachios and vinegar-plumped currants finish the job. The combination makes a fine vegetarian main-course lunch or dinner, particularly paired with braised greens and good bread.” Time: 30 minutes, plus macerating; Makes 4 to 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
5 tablespoons dried currants
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1 kabocha squash, approximately 3 to 4 pounds
Approximately 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon plus 3/4 teaspoon ground fennel seed
1 tablespoon plus 3/4 teaspoon ground sumac
1 tablespoon plus 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 cup chopped parsley, packed
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, packed
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, approximately 3 to 4 limes
1/2 cup pistachios, toasted and chopped
1/2 cup firm feta cheese, diced
Preparation
Put the currants in a small bowl, and pour the white-wine vinegar over them. Allow them to macerate for several hours or overnight, though in a pinch you can allow them to plump up while you prepare the squash. Heat oven to 450.
Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, peel both halves (if you like: the skin of the kabocha squash is edible) and slice the squash into 1/4-inch half moons. Dress the squash lightly with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and season with the salt. Place the squash on a parchment-lined sheet pan, and roast until soft and caramelized, approximately 15 to 20 minutes, turning the pieces once or twice during the process. Remove the squash from the oven, and set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, in a medium-size bowl, combine the fennel seed, sumac and coriander, then add the parsley and cilantro, and stir to combine. Add 1/3 cup olive oil, and stir to combine. You want a wet mixture and may need to add a couple of extra tablespoons of oil to get it.
Drain the currants, reserving the vinegar, and add them to the green sauce. Add the lime juice, pistachios, cheese, 6 tablespoons olive oil and 5 teaspoons vinegar from the pickled currants to the green sauce. Taste, and add more lime juice or vinegar if you like, along with a spray of salt.
Place squash on a warm platter, and spoon the dressing over the top.
CROCK POT BROCCOLI & RICE CASSEROLE
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
Ingredients
1 small onion, diced
1/4 c. butter, melted
2 c. quick cooking rice
2 c. water
1 (10 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 tsp. salt
Pepper to taste
1 (5 oz.) jar sharp cheese spread
2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen chopped broccoli, partially thawed
1/4 lb. Velveeta cheese
Corn flake crumbs, browned in butter (opt.)
Directions
Combine all ingredients except corn flake crumbs in crock pot. Stir thoroughly. Cover. Cook low 7 to 10 hours or high 2 to 3 hours. Just before serving, sprinkle crumbs over top. If crock pot comes out of your crock pot, brown under broiler for extra crispness. I double this in my large crock pot. Great for pot luck.
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's offerings include Spicy Pumpkin Burritos and Soft Veggie Tacos with Jack Cheese. Enjoy!
GRILLED MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE TACOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "These veggie-loaded taco bowls are packed with creamy hummus and grilled garden bounty, then topped with bright, fresh Mediterranean flavors for a meal that’s perfect for a summertime meatless Monday."
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/grilled-mediterranean-vegetable-tacos.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch horizontal slices
2 medium yellow summer squash, cut into 1/4-inch horizontal slices
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch wide strips
1/4 medium red onion, peeled and cut into 4 wedges
1 container (10 oz) classic chickpea hummus
1 package (8 count) Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Bowls, heated as directed on package
2 cups mixed greens
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup diced fresh tomato
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
Preparation
Heat gas or charcoal grill. In large bowl, mix oil, salt and pepper. Add zucchini, squash, bell pepper and onion; gently turn to coat.
Place vegetables in single layer on grill over medium heat (350°F to 400°F). Cover grill; cook 8 to 12 minutes, working in batches as necessary, turning once, until grill marks appear and vegetables are just crisp-tender. Set aside.
Divide hummus among heated tortilla bowls; top with mixed greens, grilled vegetables and cheese. Top with tomato and basil.
Expert Tips
Cooking Vegetarian?: Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.
Don’t cover grilled vegetables with foil to keep warm. The trapped steam will make them soft and soggy.
If you have fewer than 8 pieces of bell pepper, after grilling, cut them again lengthwise to ensure each bowl has red bell pepper.
Spinach can be substituted for mixed greens in this recipe.
SPICY QUINOA TACOS
This is from Katelyn Drake in the Share Reader Recipe in Vegetarian Times (April/May 2015, page 12). Serves 6.
Ingredients
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
1 rib celery, diced (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp)
1 Tbs. ground cumin
1 Tbs. chili powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 15-oz. can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 medium carrots, diced (1 cup)
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
12 6-inch corn tortillas
Directions
Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and cook 5 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne, and saute 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes with liquid. Cook 2 minutes, then stir in quinoa, carrots, and broth. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 to 25 minutes, or until quinoa is tender and liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Mix in black beans and corn. Serve in tortillas.
SOFT VEGGIE TACOS WITH JACK CHEESE
This is from the November/December 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 41), and begins, "Red chile sauce, a spicy Mexican condiment served on enchiladas, heats up zucchini, yellow squash and cauliflower in this recipe." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/soft-veggie-tacos-with-jack-cheese/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced (1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 4 tsp.)
5 cups cauliflower florets (from 1 large head)
2 medium yellow squash, cut into 1/2-inch rounds (about 9 oz.)
2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch rounds (9 oz.)
2 cups canned medium red chile sauce, such as Las Palmas
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 3 oz.)
12 4-inch corn tortillas or 6 8-inch whole-wheat tortillas, warmed
Preparation
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 4 minutes, or until soft. Stir in garlic. Add cauliflower, yellow squash and zucchini. Sauté 2 minutes. Add chile sauce; bring to a simmer.
Cover, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro, and add cheese. Spoon mixture into warmed tortillas, and serve.
VEGETARIAN BUFFALO CHICKPEA QUESADILLAS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Enjoy this vegetarian take on fan-favorite, Buffalo chicken wings! This chickpea quesadilla recipe layers chickpeas, hot sauce, cheese, green onions and tomatoes into a folded tortilla to create Vegetarian Buffalo Chickpea Quesadillas. Don't forget to serve with Old El Paso™ Zesty Ranch Sauce on the side!"
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/vegetarian-buffalo-chickpeas-quesadillas.
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chopped onions
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 can (15 to 15.5 oz) chickpeas, drained, rinsed
1/4 cup original cayenne pepper sauce
4 Old El Paso™ Flour Tortillas For Burritos (8 inch)
1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Mexican Style 4 Cheese Blend (from 8-oz package)
1/2 cup chopped green onions (8 medium)
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup Old El Paso™ Zesty Ranch Sauce (from 9-oz bottle)
Preparation
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Stir in onions and garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften. Add chickpeas; continue to cook 4 to 6 minutes or until vegetables and chickpeas begin to brown. Remove from heat. Add hot sauce; roughly mash chickpeas with fork, leaving some whole.
On half of each tortilla, layer about 1/4 cup of the chickpea mixture, 1/4 cup cheese, 2 tablespoons green onions and 2 tablespoons tomatoes. Fold tortillas in half. Brush top of each quesadilla with about 1/4 teaspoon of the oil.
Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place 2 quesadillas in skillet, oil side down; brush top side with about 1/4 teaspoon of the oil. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully turn quesadillas; cook 1 to 2 minutes longer or until golden brown. Repeat with remaining quesadillas.
Cut each quesadilla in half; serve with zesty ranch sauce on the side.
Expert Tips
Cooking Vegetarian? Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.
Dial up the heat by adding sliced jalapeños to the chickpea quesadilla filling, along with the green onions and tomatoes.
This Buffalo chickpea quesadilla is hearty enough to serve on its own, but for a bit of added crunch, try serving with a side of tortilla chips.
This recipe uses Frank's™ RedHot™ original sauce, but you're welcome to use another variety of hot sauce.
SPICY PUMPKIN BURRITOS
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Try this hearty vegetarian burrito using seasonal Fall vegetables.”
Servings: 8; Serving Size: 1 burrito
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/spicy-pumpkin-burritos
Ingredients
1 tsp. olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
1/2 cup frozen whole kernel corn
15.5 oz. canned, no-salt-added black beans (drained, rinsed)
15 oz. canned solid-pack pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 cup cooked brown rice, cooked without salt and margarine
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chile powder (made with ancho chiles preferred)
1/2 tsp. dried oregano (crumbled)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 8-inch low-fat whole-grain tortillas, lowest sodium available
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup shredded lettuce, such as romaine, or spinach
1/2 cup chopped tomato
Directions
In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the corn for 4 to 5 minutes, or until slightly browned, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beans, pumpkin, rice, water, cumin, chili powder, oregano, and cayenne. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until heated through.
Warm the tortillas using the package directions.
Spoon the filling down the center of each tortilla. Sprinkle the green onions over the filling. For each burrito, fold two sides of the tortilla toward the center. Starting from the unfolded side closest to you, roll the burrito toward the remaining unfolded side to enclose the filling. Transfer with the seam side down to plates. Top with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the lettuce and tomato.
SPICY QUINOA TACOS
This is from Katelyn Drake in the Share Reader Recipe in Vegetarian Times (April/May 2015, page 12). Serves 6.
Ingredients
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
1 rib celery, diced (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp)
1 Tbs. ground cumin
1 Tbs. chili powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 15-oz. can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 medium carrots, diced (1 cup)
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
12 6-inch corn tortillas
Directions
Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and cook 5 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne, and saute 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes with liquid. Cook 2 minutes, then stir in quinoa, carrots, and broth. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 to 25 minutes, or until quinoa is tender and liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Mix in black beans and corn. Serve in tortillas.
GRILLED MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE TACOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "These veggie-loaded taco bowls are packed with creamy hummus and grilled garden bounty, then topped with bright, fresh Mediterranean flavors for a meal that’s perfect for a summertime meatless Monday."
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/grilled-mediterranean-vegetable-tacos.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch horizontal slices
2 medium yellow summer squash, cut into 1/4-inch horizontal slices
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch wide strips
1/4 medium red onion, peeled and cut into 4 wedges
1 container (10 oz) classic chickpea hummus
1 package (8 count) Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Bowls, heated as directed on package
2 cups mixed greens
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup diced fresh tomato
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
Preparation
Heat gas or charcoal grill. In large bowl, mix oil, salt and pepper. Add zucchini, squash, bell pepper and onion; gently turn to coat.
Place vegetables in single layer on grill over medium heat (350°F to 400°F). Cover grill; cook 8 to 12 minutes, working in batches as necessary, turning once, until grill marks appear and vegetables are just crisp-tender. Set aside.
Divide hummus among heated tortilla bowls; top with mixed greens, grilled vegetables and cheese. Top with tomato and basil.
Expert Tips
Cooking Vegetarian?: Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.
Don’t cover grilled vegetables with foil to keep warm. The trapped steam will make them soft and soggy.
If you have fewer than 8 pieces of bell pepper, after grilling, cut them again lengthwise to ensure each bowl has red bell pepper.
Spinach can be substituted for mixed greens in this recipe.
SPICY QUINOA TACOS
This is from Katelyn Drake in the Share Reader Recipe in Vegetarian Times (April/May 2015, page 12). Serves 6.
Ingredients
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
1 rib celery, diced (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp)
1 Tbs. ground cumin
1 Tbs. chili powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 15-oz. can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 medium carrots, diced (1 cup)
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
12 6-inch corn tortillas
Directions
Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and cook 5 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne, and saute 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes with liquid. Cook 2 minutes, then stir in quinoa, carrots, and broth. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 to 25 minutes, or until quinoa is tender and liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Mix in black beans and corn. Serve in tortillas.
SOFT VEGGIE TACOS WITH JACK CHEESE
This is from the November/December 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 41), and begins, "Red chile sauce, a spicy Mexican condiment served on enchiladas, heats up zucchini, yellow squash and cauliflower in this recipe." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/soft-veggie-tacos-with-jack-cheese/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced (1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 4 tsp.)
5 cups cauliflower florets (from 1 large head)
2 medium yellow squash, cut into 1/2-inch rounds (about 9 oz.)
2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch rounds (9 oz.)
2 cups canned medium red chile sauce, such as Las Palmas
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 3 oz.)
12 4-inch corn tortillas or 6 8-inch whole-wheat tortillas, warmed
Preparation
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 4 minutes, or until soft. Stir in garlic. Add cauliflower, yellow squash and zucchini. Sauté 2 minutes. Add chile sauce; bring to a simmer.
Cover, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro, and add cheese. Spoon mixture into warmed tortillas, and serve.
VEGETARIAN BUFFALO CHICKPEA QUESADILLAS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Enjoy this vegetarian take on fan-favorite, Buffalo chicken wings! This chickpea quesadilla recipe layers chickpeas, hot sauce, cheese, green onions and tomatoes into a folded tortilla to create Vegetarian Buffalo Chickpea Quesadillas. Don't forget to serve with Old El Paso™ Zesty Ranch Sauce on the side!"
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/vegetarian-buffalo-chickpeas-quesadillas.
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chopped onions
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 can (15 to 15.5 oz) chickpeas, drained, rinsed
1/4 cup original cayenne pepper sauce
4 Old El Paso™ Flour Tortillas For Burritos (8 inch)
1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Mexican Style 4 Cheese Blend (from 8-oz package)
1/2 cup chopped green onions (8 medium)
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup Old El Paso™ Zesty Ranch Sauce (from 9-oz bottle)
Preparation
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Stir in onions and garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften. Add chickpeas; continue to cook 4 to 6 minutes or until vegetables and chickpeas begin to brown. Remove from heat. Add hot sauce; roughly mash chickpeas with fork, leaving some whole.
On half of each tortilla, layer about 1/4 cup of the chickpea mixture, 1/4 cup cheese, 2 tablespoons green onions and 2 tablespoons tomatoes. Fold tortillas in half. Brush top of each quesadilla with about 1/4 teaspoon of the oil.
Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place 2 quesadillas in skillet, oil side down; brush top side with about 1/4 teaspoon of the oil. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully turn quesadillas; cook 1 to 2 minutes longer or until golden brown. Repeat with remaining quesadillas.
Cut each quesadilla in half; serve with zesty ranch sauce on the side.
Expert Tips
Cooking Vegetarian? Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.
Dial up the heat by adding sliced jalapeños to the chickpea quesadilla filling, along with the green onions and tomatoes.
This Buffalo chickpea quesadilla is hearty enough to serve on its own, but for a bit of added crunch, try serving with a side of tortilla chips.
This recipe uses Frank's™ RedHot™ original sauce, but you're welcome to use another variety of hot sauce.
SPICY PUMPKIN BURRITOS
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Try this hearty vegetarian burrito using seasonal Fall vegetables.”
Servings: 8; Serving Size: 1 burrito
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/spicy-pumpkin-burritos
Ingredients
1 tsp. olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
1/2 cup frozen whole kernel corn
15.5 oz. canned, no-salt-added black beans (drained, rinsed)
15 oz. canned solid-pack pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 cup cooked brown rice, cooked without salt and margarine
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chile powder (made with ancho chiles preferred)
1/2 tsp. dried oregano (crumbled)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 8-inch low-fat whole-grain tortillas, lowest sodium available
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup shredded lettuce, such as romaine, or spinach
1/2 cup chopped tomato
Directions
In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the corn for 4 to 5 minutes, or until slightly browned, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beans, pumpkin, rice, water, cumin, chili powder, oregano, and cayenne. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until heated through.
Warm the tortillas using the package directions.
Spoon the filling down the center of each tortilla. Sprinkle the green onions over the filling. For each burrito, fold two sides of the tortilla toward the center. Starting from the unfolded side closest to you, roll the burrito toward the remaining unfolded side to enclose the filling. Transfer with the seam side down to plates. Top with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the lettuce and tomato.
SPICY QUINOA TACOS
This is from Katelyn Drake in the Share Reader Recipe in Vegetarian Times (April/May 2015, page 12). Serves 6.
Ingredients
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
1 rib celery, diced (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp)
1 Tbs. ground cumin
1 Tbs. chili powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 15-oz. can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 medium carrots, diced (1 cup)
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
12 6-inch corn tortillas
Directions
Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and cook 5 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne, and saute 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes with liquid. Cook 2 minutes, then stir in quinoa, carrots, and broth. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 to 25 minutes, or until quinoa is tender and liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Mix in black beans and corn. Serve in tortillas.
Monday, June 28, 2021
Pasta
I've loved pasta ever since I can remember. So it shouldn't be surprising that I've managed to find tons of pasta recipes. Today's offerings include Roast Veggie Pasta and Angel Hair Pasta. Enjoy!
PASTA WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE AND RICOTTA
This is from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, "This wonderful pasta is made with nothing more than fresh tomato sauce and good ricotta, plus a little pecorino. It’s most delicious if you keep the pasta quite al dente; use just enough sauce, no more; give it a good pinch of crushed red pepper; and season it with enough salt of course. For the best results, use good quality imported noodles made from hard Durum wheat."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in "The Time Is Right to Make Tomato Sauce", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017651-pasta-with-fresh-tomato-sauce-and-ricotta.
Ingredients
1 pound dried pasta, such as farfalle or penne
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons butter, softened
Crushed red pepper (optional)
2 1/2 cups Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce, warm (see recipe)
6 ounces ultra-fresh ricotta, at room temperature
Grated pecorino
Basil leaves, for garnish
Preparation
Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted water, making sure to keep it quite al dente.
Put butter in a wide deep skillet over medium heat. Add drained pasta to the pan and season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper, if using.
Add tomato sauce gradually and stir to coat pasta, using only enough sauce for a light coating (you may not need the entire 2 1/2 cups).
Transfer pasta to a warm serving bowl and dot top with spoonfuls of ricotta. Sprinkle lightly with pecorino and garnish with a few torn basil leaves.
QUICK FRESH TOMATO SAUCE
This is from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, "In August and September, when tomatoes are at their ripest, make a batch of fresh tomato sauce. At the market, look for the cracked, slightly bruised tomatoes sold at a discount. The flesh of the tomato should be dense, sweet and blood red. This makes a very fresh- and bright-tasting sauce in a manageable small batch. Take advantage of good tasty tomatoes and fill a few zip-top bags for the freezer."
Yield: About 2 1/2 cups; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in "The Time Is Right to Make Tomato Sauce", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017650-quick-fresh-tomato-sauce.
Ingredients
5 pounds tomatoes
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 garlic clove, halved
1 basil sprig
1 bay leaf
Preparation
Cut tomatoes in half horizontally. Squeeze out the seeds and discard, if you wish. Press the cut side of tomato against the large holes of a box grater and grate tomato flesh into a bowl. Discard skins. You should have about 4 cups.
Put tomato pulp in a low wide saucepan over high heat. Add salt, olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, basil and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a brisk simmer.
Reduce the sauce by almost half, stirring occasionally, to produce about 2 1/2 cups medium-thick sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt. It will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator or may be frozen.
SPAGHETTI AGLIO E OLIO
This is from Katherine Gillen, a contributor to PureWow. She wrote, "There are nights when we want to pull out all the stops on a fancy mac and cheese, and there are nights when we’ll do almost anything to not make dinner. Spaghetti aglio e olio is for those nights. Our version of the traditional Neapolitan pasta dish takes just 20 minutes to make (and calls for only five ingredients).
"A few tips come dinnertime: One, you’ll want to use a good quality olive oil, since it’s one of the stars of this recipe. And two, cook the oil-garlic mixture in a large, high-sided skillet (or better yet, a Dutch oven) so you’re free to toss vigorously when you add the noodles. It’ll make achieving a glossy sauce *that much* easier."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.purewow.com/recipes/spaghetti-aglio-e-olio.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
12 ounces long strand pasta (such as spaghetti, bucatini or linguine)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more as needed
Finely grated Parmesan cheese, fresh chopped parsley and flaky salt, to garnish (optional)
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with kosher salt. Cook the pasta until just shy of al dente (about 2 minutes less than the package directions). Use a liquid measuring cup to reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is sizzling and golden, about 3 minutes.
Using tongs, transfer the pasta from the water directly into the olive oil and garlic mixture. Add about 1/2 of the reserved pasta water, and cook, tossing vigorously, until the sauce lightly coats the pasta. (You can add more pasta water as needed.)
Divide the pasta among four bowls, and garnish with more pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, parsley and flaky salt, if using.
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.
Ingredients
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
Directions
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?)
ROAST VEGGIE PASTA
This comes from Bob McDonald at AllRecipes, and begins, "Wonderful rustic Italian style pasta dish! Meal can be dressed up or down with accompaniments to this tasty pasta."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes: Servings: 3
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/45644/roasted-veggie-pasta/.
Ingredients
1/4 pound fresh asparagus
2 red bell pepper, sliced
1/4 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced
10 cloves roasted garlic, chopped
1/2 tomato, quartered
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces dry fettuccini noodles
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons tapenade
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare asparagus by trimming woody base and cutting diagonally into 4 inch pieces.
In a roasting pan, combine asparagus, bell pepper, mushrooms, roasted garlic and tomato. Sprinkle with rosemary and oregano, then drizzle with olive oil. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Toss with Parmesan cheese, tapenade and roasted vegetables.
PASTA WITH SPINACH, CHICKPEAS AND FETA
This is from the May 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 42). It is in an article titled Calci-yum!, and begins, "This quick and easy pasta dish offers a way to add not only calcium to your diet, but also protein and vitamins A and C." Time: 30 minutes or less; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/pasta-with-spinach-chickpeas-and-feta/.
Ingredients
8 oz. uncooked spiral-shaped pasta
4 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach leaves
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 19-oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 cloves garlic, minced
Preparation
Bring large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, or until al dente, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine all other ingredients.
When pasta is done, drain, and transfer to large bowl. Add remaining ingredients, and toss well. Serve right away.
PASTA WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE AND RICOTTA
This is from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, "This wonderful pasta is made with nothing more than fresh tomato sauce and good ricotta, plus a little pecorino. It’s most delicious if you keep the pasta quite al dente; use just enough sauce, no more; give it a good pinch of crushed red pepper; and season it with enough salt of course. For the best results, use good quality imported noodles made from hard Durum wheat."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in "The Time Is Right to Make Tomato Sauce", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017651-pasta-with-fresh-tomato-sauce-and-ricotta.
Ingredients
1 pound dried pasta, such as farfalle or penne
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons butter, softened
Crushed red pepper (optional)
2 1/2 cups Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce, warm (see recipe)
6 ounces ultra-fresh ricotta, at room temperature
Grated pecorino
Basil leaves, for garnish
Preparation
Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted water, making sure to keep it quite al dente.
Put butter in a wide deep skillet over medium heat. Add drained pasta to the pan and season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper, if using.
Add tomato sauce gradually and stir to coat pasta, using only enough sauce for a light coating (you may not need the entire 2 1/2 cups).
Transfer pasta to a warm serving bowl and dot top with spoonfuls of ricotta. Sprinkle lightly with pecorino and garnish with a few torn basil leaves.
QUICK FRESH TOMATO SAUCE
This is from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, "In August and September, when tomatoes are at their ripest, make a batch of fresh tomato sauce. At the market, look for the cracked, slightly bruised tomatoes sold at a discount. The flesh of the tomato should be dense, sweet and blood red. This makes a very fresh- and bright-tasting sauce in a manageable small batch. Take advantage of good tasty tomatoes and fill a few zip-top bags for the freezer."
Yield: About 2 1/2 cups; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in "The Time Is Right to Make Tomato Sauce", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017650-quick-fresh-tomato-sauce.
Ingredients
5 pounds tomatoes
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 garlic clove, halved
1 basil sprig
1 bay leaf
Preparation
Cut tomatoes in half horizontally. Squeeze out the seeds and discard, if you wish. Press the cut side of tomato against the large holes of a box grater and grate tomato flesh into a bowl. Discard skins. You should have about 4 cups.
Put tomato pulp in a low wide saucepan over high heat. Add salt, olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, basil and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a brisk simmer.
Reduce the sauce by almost half, stirring occasionally, to produce about 2 1/2 cups medium-thick sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt. It will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator or may be frozen.
SPAGHETTI AGLIO E OLIO
This is from Katherine Gillen, a contributor to PureWow. She wrote, "There are nights when we want to pull out all the stops on a fancy mac and cheese, and there are nights when we’ll do almost anything to not make dinner. Spaghetti aglio e olio is for those nights. Our version of the traditional Neapolitan pasta dish takes just 20 minutes to make (and calls for only five ingredients).
"A few tips come dinnertime: One, you’ll want to use a good quality olive oil, since it’s one of the stars of this recipe. And two, cook the oil-garlic mixture in a large, high-sided skillet (or better yet, a Dutch oven) so you’re free to toss vigorously when you add the noodles. It’ll make achieving a glossy sauce *that much* easier."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.purewow.com/recipes/spaghetti-aglio-e-olio.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
12 ounces long strand pasta (such as spaghetti, bucatini or linguine)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more as needed
Finely grated Parmesan cheese, fresh chopped parsley and flaky salt, to garnish (optional)
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with kosher salt. Cook the pasta until just shy of al dente (about 2 minutes less than the package directions). Use a liquid measuring cup to reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is sizzling and golden, about 3 minutes.
Using tongs, transfer the pasta from the water directly into the olive oil and garlic mixture. Add about 1/2 of the reserved pasta water, and cook, tossing vigorously, until the sauce lightly coats the pasta. (You can add more pasta water as needed.)
Divide the pasta among four bowls, and garnish with more pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, parsley and flaky salt, if using.
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.
Ingredients
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
Directions
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?)
ROAST VEGGIE PASTA
This comes from Bob McDonald at AllRecipes, and begins, "Wonderful rustic Italian style pasta dish! Meal can be dressed up or down with accompaniments to this tasty pasta."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes: Servings: 3
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/45644/roasted-veggie-pasta/.
Ingredients
1/4 pound fresh asparagus
2 red bell pepper, sliced
1/4 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced
10 cloves roasted garlic, chopped
1/2 tomato, quartered
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces dry fettuccini noodles
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons tapenade
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare asparagus by trimming woody base and cutting diagonally into 4 inch pieces.
In a roasting pan, combine asparagus, bell pepper, mushrooms, roasted garlic and tomato. Sprinkle with rosemary and oregano, then drizzle with olive oil. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Toss with Parmesan cheese, tapenade and roasted vegetables.
PASTA WITH SPINACH, CHICKPEAS AND FETA
This is from the May 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 42). It is in an article titled Calci-yum!, and begins, "This quick and easy pasta dish offers a way to add not only calcium to your diet, but also protein and vitamins A and C." Time: 30 minutes or less; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/pasta-with-spinach-chickpeas-and-feta/.
Ingredients
8 oz. uncooked spiral-shaped pasta
4 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach leaves
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 19-oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 cloves garlic, minced
Preparation
Bring large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, or until al dente, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine all other ingredients.
When pasta is done, drain, and transfer to large bowl. Add remaining ingredients, and toss well. Serve right away.
Friday, June 25, 2021
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday, time to Celebrate the upcoming weekend (with a little help from Kool and the Gang). Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Vegetarian Lasagna and Easy Black Bean Chili. Enjoy!
VEGAN MUSHROOM AND LEEK ROLLS
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, "Classic sausage rolls are filled with a meat-based sausage mixture, but this hearty vegan version substitutes mushrooms, fennel and plenty of leeks, along with almond butter for creaminess and farro for a delightfully chewy texture. These are best served warm from the oven, or reheated if they cool down. Ketchup is a traditional sausage roll accompaniment, but these are so flavorful on their own they don't need it."
Time: 1 1/2 hours; Yield: 4 rolls
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021541-vegan-mushroom-and-leek-rolls.
Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/4 cup farro
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 1/4 pounds mixed mushrooms, diced (about 8 cups)
2 large leeks, white and light green parts, cut lengthwise and sliced into 1/4-inch half-moons (about 2 cups)
1 cup diced fennel
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced
1 teaspoon tomato paste
Pinch of red-pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 cup creamy almond butter
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, cilantro or dill
1 (13- to 17-ounce) package frozen vegan puff pastry, thawed but still cold
Preparation
Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil, then add farro. Cook until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain well and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and the vinegar while still warm, tossing to combine. Let the farro cool.
Heat oven to 375 degrees and line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
While the farro cooks, prepare the filling: In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over high heat. Add mushrooms and cook until just tender and golden brown, stirring infrequently so the mushrooms have a chance to sear, 8 to 12 minutes. Lower heat to medium and add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, leeks and fennel. Cook until leeks and fennel soften, 8 to 12 minutes. Add thyme, garlic, tomato paste, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pinch of red-pepper flakes, if using, and cook for another minute or until fragrant.
Add soy sauce to deglaze pan, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom. Transfer mushroom mixture to large mixing bowl and set aside to cool.
Add cooled farro, almond butter and herbs to mushrooms, and mix well.
Place the puff pastry dough between two sheets of parchment paper, and roll to about 1/8-inch thick. Cut pastry into 4 equal rectangles. In the center of each pastry, dollop a quarter of the mushroom mixture, forming it into a long “sausage” running lengthwise on the pastry strip.
Lightly brush one long edge of the pastry with water (to help seal the dough). Starting with the unbrushed sides of the pastry, firmly fold the pastry over the filling to make long rolls, pinching dough to seal. Place on prepared baking sheet, seam-sides down.
Bake until the pastry is golden brown, about 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm.
MEATLESS-BALL SUBS
Nothing like a quick meal when you're dragged out, short on time, and need food on the table soon. Add a side salad and dessert (both picked up at the store or made earlier in the day), and you're good to go.
Ingredients
2 packages Meatless Balls (see note)
1 26 oz. Jar spaghetti sauce
4 hoagie rolls
cheese slices
Directions
Place spaghetti sauce and meatless balls into a good-sized saucepan. Stir, and cook over medium-low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Open hoagie rolls, add cheese, cover with meatless balls and sauce.
Makes 4 meatless ball subs.
Note: I used Veggie Patch Meatless Meatballs for years, but come no longer find them. I now tend to use Garedin Classic Meatless Meatballs, though really, you can use any brand you like. Whatever brand you buy is fine, as well as the jarred spaghetti sauce.
IMPOSSIBLY EASY FRENCH APPLE PIE
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Create tasty apple pie with a crisp, nutty topping the impossibly easy Bisquick® mix way! There's no crust to roll.”
Ingredients
3 cups sliced peeled all-purpose apples (3 large)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
Streusel (See Below)
Directions
Heat oven to 325ºF. Grease 9-inch pie plate.
Stir together apples, cinnamon and nutmeg; turn into pie plate. Stir remaining ingredients except Streusel until blended. Pour into pie plate. Sprinkle with Streusel.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie.
Streusel
Ingredients
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/4 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine (firm)
Directions
Stir together all ingredients until crumbly.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft):
Heat oven to 375ºF.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Going meatless doesn't mean giving up flavor with this layered lasagna, filled with vegetables and three kinds of cheese."
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 9 hours 25 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/vegetarian-lasagna/591e01c7-8027-4a6b-88c6-974ad3572ede.
Ingredients
2 cups Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce Tomato Basil (from 25.5 oz jar)
1 medium zucchini, shredded (1 cup)
1 (12-oz.) container (1 1/2 cups) low-fat cottage cheese or 1 (15-oz.) container low-fat ricotta cheese
1 (9-oz.) pkg. frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain well
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
8 oven-ready lasagna noodles (each about 7x3 inches)
1 (4-oz.) can mushroom pieces and stems, drained
8 oz. (2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Spray 12x10-inch sheet of foil with nonstick cooking spray. In medium bowl, combine pasta sauce and zucchini; mix well. In another medium bowl, combine cottage cheese, spinach, Parmesan cheese and oregano; mix well.
Spread 1/4 cup sauce mixture in ungreased 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish. Top with 2 lasagna noodles. Spread about 1/2 cup sauce mixture over noodles. Drop 1/2 cup of spinach mixture by small spoonfuls over sauce mixture; spread carefully. Sprinkle with 1/4 of mushrooms and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese.
Repeat layers 3 more times, beginning with noodles. Cover with foil, sprayed side down; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
Heat oven to 400°F. Bake covered for 45 minutes.
Uncover baking dish; bake an additional 10 minutes or until lasagna is bubbly around edges. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips
Look for precooked oven-ready lasagna noodles near the dry pasta in the grocery store or in the frozen pasta section. Trim the precooked lasagna noodles to fit, if necessary.
This recipe may be baked immediately after assembly. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 400°F for 30 minutes. Uncover the dish and continue baking for about 10 minutes, or until it is bubbly around the edges.
ROASTED AUTUMN VEGETABLE SOUP
This comes from an old Weight Watchers emailing list, and begins, “This warm, comforting soup will stick to your ribs on cold fall days. Roasting the vegetables helps bring out their natural sweetness.”
POINTS® Value: 2; Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 25 min; Cooking Time: 30 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Note: This recipe originally called for “3 cups fat-free chicken broth.” But since this is a vegetarian blog, I substituted vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
Ingredients
1 large onion, cut into large chunks
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
6 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
4 cups winter squash, cubed
2 servings cooking spray (5 one-second sprays per serving)
3 cups fat-free vegetable broth
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 400ºF. In a large roasting pan combine onion, carrots, parsnips and squash; coat with cooking spray. Roast for 15 minutes.
Place vegetables in a large pot; add broth and milk. Season to taste. Cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes to allow flavors to combine. Transfer mixture to a blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender in pot, and blend until smooth, about 4 to 5 minutes. (Puree soup in batches to prevent hot liquid from splatterng, if necessary. Or allow soup to cool before pureeing.) Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.
Notes
You can add more water or broth to the pureed soup to achieve desired thickness.
EASY BLACK BEAN CHILI
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "We love chili for its rib-sticking deliciousness, and this meatless version is no exception. Just because it’s made with beans, and no meat, doesn’t mean it’s not filling. Cumin, chili powder and chiles add heat, while fire-roasted tomatoes, black beans and sweet corn give it extra flavor."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/easy-black-bean-chili/f273db4a-5710-4ced-b099-205c9f3c1d70.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 fresh jalapeño or serrano chiles, seeded, finely chopped
2 cans (15 oz each) Progresso™ black beans, drained, rinsed
2 cans (14.5 oz each) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted or plain diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon coarse (kosher or sea) salt
1 cup Cascadian Farm® frozen organic sweet corn
Sour cream or plain yogurt, if desired
Shredded Cheddar cheese, if desired
Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired
Directions
In 4-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic and chiles; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender.
Stir in black beans, tomatoes, water, chili powder, cumin and salt. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in corn. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes longer.
Top each serving with remaining ingredients.
Expert Tips
You can vary the heat level of this chili by decreasing or increasing the amount of chiles that you use.
Serve this veggie chili with warm cornbread or corn tortillas.
VEGAN MUSHROOM AND LEEK ROLLS
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, "Classic sausage rolls are filled with a meat-based sausage mixture, but this hearty vegan version substitutes mushrooms, fennel and plenty of leeks, along with almond butter for creaminess and farro for a delightfully chewy texture. These are best served warm from the oven, or reheated if they cool down. Ketchup is a traditional sausage roll accompaniment, but these are so flavorful on their own they don't need it."
Time: 1 1/2 hours; Yield: 4 rolls
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021541-vegan-mushroom-and-leek-rolls.
Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/4 cup farro
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 1/4 pounds mixed mushrooms, diced (about 8 cups)
2 large leeks, white and light green parts, cut lengthwise and sliced into 1/4-inch half-moons (about 2 cups)
1 cup diced fennel
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced
1 teaspoon tomato paste
Pinch of red-pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 cup creamy almond butter
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, cilantro or dill
1 (13- to 17-ounce) package frozen vegan puff pastry, thawed but still cold
Preparation
Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil, then add farro. Cook until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain well and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and the vinegar while still warm, tossing to combine. Let the farro cool.
Heat oven to 375 degrees and line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
While the farro cooks, prepare the filling: In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over high heat. Add mushrooms and cook until just tender and golden brown, stirring infrequently so the mushrooms have a chance to sear, 8 to 12 minutes. Lower heat to medium and add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, leeks and fennel. Cook until leeks and fennel soften, 8 to 12 minutes. Add thyme, garlic, tomato paste, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pinch of red-pepper flakes, if using, and cook for another minute or until fragrant.
Add soy sauce to deglaze pan, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom. Transfer mushroom mixture to large mixing bowl and set aside to cool.
Add cooled farro, almond butter and herbs to mushrooms, and mix well.
Place the puff pastry dough between two sheets of parchment paper, and roll to about 1/8-inch thick. Cut pastry into 4 equal rectangles. In the center of each pastry, dollop a quarter of the mushroom mixture, forming it into a long “sausage” running lengthwise on the pastry strip.
Lightly brush one long edge of the pastry with water (to help seal the dough). Starting with the unbrushed sides of the pastry, firmly fold the pastry over the filling to make long rolls, pinching dough to seal. Place on prepared baking sheet, seam-sides down.
Bake until the pastry is golden brown, about 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm.
MEATLESS-BALL SUBS
Nothing like a quick meal when you're dragged out, short on time, and need food on the table soon. Add a side salad and dessert (both picked up at the store or made earlier in the day), and you're good to go.
Ingredients
2 packages Meatless Balls (see note)
1 26 oz. Jar spaghetti sauce
4 hoagie rolls
cheese slices
Directions
Place spaghetti sauce and meatless balls into a good-sized saucepan. Stir, and cook over medium-low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Open hoagie rolls, add cheese, cover with meatless balls and sauce.
Makes 4 meatless ball subs.
Note: I used Veggie Patch Meatless Meatballs for years, but come no longer find them. I now tend to use Garedin Classic Meatless Meatballs, though really, you can use any brand you like. Whatever brand you buy is fine, as well as the jarred spaghetti sauce.
IMPOSSIBLY EASY FRENCH APPLE PIE
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Create tasty apple pie with a crisp, nutty topping the impossibly easy Bisquick® mix way! There's no crust to roll.”
Ingredients
3 cups sliced peeled all-purpose apples (3 large)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
Streusel (See Below)
Directions
Heat oven to 325ºF. Grease 9-inch pie plate.
Stir together apples, cinnamon and nutmeg; turn into pie plate. Stir remaining ingredients except Streusel until blended. Pour into pie plate. Sprinkle with Streusel.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie.
Streusel
Ingredients
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/4 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine (firm)
Directions
Stir together all ingredients until crumbly.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft):
Heat oven to 375ºF.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Going meatless doesn't mean giving up flavor with this layered lasagna, filled with vegetables and three kinds of cheese."
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 9 hours 25 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/vegetarian-lasagna/591e01c7-8027-4a6b-88c6-974ad3572ede.
Ingredients
2 cups Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce Tomato Basil (from 25.5 oz jar)
1 medium zucchini, shredded (1 cup)
1 (12-oz.) container (1 1/2 cups) low-fat cottage cheese or 1 (15-oz.) container low-fat ricotta cheese
1 (9-oz.) pkg. frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain well
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
8 oven-ready lasagna noodles (each about 7x3 inches)
1 (4-oz.) can mushroom pieces and stems, drained
8 oz. (2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Spray 12x10-inch sheet of foil with nonstick cooking spray. In medium bowl, combine pasta sauce and zucchini; mix well. In another medium bowl, combine cottage cheese, spinach, Parmesan cheese and oregano; mix well.
Spread 1/4 cup sauce mixture in ungreased 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish. Top with 2 lasagna noodles. Spread about 1/2 cup sauce mixture over noodles. Drop 1/2 cup of spinach mixture by small spoonfuls over sauce mixture; spread carefully. Sprinkle with 1/4 of mushrooms and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese.
Repeat layers 3 more times, beginning with noodles. Cover with foil, sprayed side down; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
Heat oven to 400°F. Bake covered for 45 minutes.
Uncover baking dish; bake an additional 10 minutes or until lasagna is bubbly around edges. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips
Look for precooked oven-ready lasagna noodles near the dry pasta in the grocery store or in the frozen pasta section. Trim the precooked lasagna noodles to fit, if necessary.
This recipe may be baked immediately after assembly. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 400°F for 30 minutes. Uncover the dish and continue baking for about 10 minutes, or until it is bubbly around the edges.
ROASTED AUTUMN VEGETABLE SOUP
This comes from an old Weight Watchers emailing list, and begins, “This warm, comforting soup will stick to your ribs on cold fall days. Roasting the vegetables helps bring out their natural sweetness.”
POINTS® Value: 2; Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 25 min; Cooking Time: 30 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Note: This recipe originally called for “3 cups fat-free chicken broth.” But since this is a vegetarian blog, I substituted vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
Ingredients
1 large onion, cut into large chunks
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
6 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
4 cups winter squash, cubed
2 servings cooking spray (5 one-second sprays per serving)
3 cups fat-free vegetable broth
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 400ºF. In a large roasting pan combine onion, carrots, parsnips and squash; coat with cooking spray. Roast for 15 minutes.
Place vegetables in a large pot; add broth and milk. Season to taste. Cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes to allow flavors to combine. Transfer mixture to a blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender in pot, and blend until smooth, about 4 to 5 minutes. (Puree soup in batches to prevent hot liquid from splatterng, if necessary. Or allow soup to cool before pureeing.) Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.
Notes
You can add more water or broth to the pureed soup to achieve desired thickness.
EASY BLACK BEAN CHILI
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "We love chili for its rib-sticking deliciousness, and this meatless version is no exception. Just because it’s made with beans, and no meat, doesn’t mean it’s not filling. Cumin, chili powder and chiles add heat, while fire-roasted tomatoes, black beans and sweet corn give it extra flavor."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/easy-black-bean-chili/f273db4a-5710-4ced-b099-205c9f3c1d70.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 fresh jalapeño or serrano chiles, seeded, finely chopped
2 cans (15 oz each) Progresso™ black beans, drained, rinsed
2 cans (14.5 oz each) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted or plain diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon coarse (kosher or sea) salt
1 cup Cascadian Farm® frozen organic sweet corn
Sour cream or plain yogurt, if desired
Shredded Cheddar cheese, if desired
Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired
Directions
In 4-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic and chiles; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender.
Stir in black beans, tomatoes, water, chili powder, cumin and salt. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in corn. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes longer.
Top each serving with remaining ingredients.
Expert Tips
You can vary the heat level of this chili by decreasing or increasing the amount of chiles that you use.
Serve this veggie chili with warm cornbread or corn tortillas.
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Thursday Recipes
We're almost to the end of the work week. One more day until the weekend. That's always a good thing, right?
Last night, I got my second use of a new wok that I bought a month ago. I know, I know, only the second use in a month. But I had kept it with my other pots and pans under the counter. The galley kitchen where I live isn't quite right for anyone who loves to cook. Such are too many kitchens in my part of Florida. But that's beside the point. (And that's my semi-rant for the day.) I ended up hanging the wok on a wall near my two smaller sauce pans, frying pans, and more.
But getting back to dinner: my sons wanted wraps (otherwise known as soft taco shells, burrito shells, etc.) with Gardein Chickn Strips (we had the kind without the teriyaki sauce). I cooked the strips up in a pan, then made some stir-fried veggies, using frozen bell pepper strips, broccoi and cauliflower, and pearl onions, cooked up in low sodium soy sauce. I had that in a wrap, along with one or two chickn strips. Very yum! (Word of warning: don't be surprised if I start posting photos of stir-fried meals, along with stuff cooked in my cast-iron skillets.)
Now that I've regaled you on last night's meal, here's today's post with six yummy recipes to try, including Penne with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Vegetable Chili w/Cornbread Biscuits, and Chipotle-Bean Burgers with Cilantro Sauce. Enjoy!
CREAMY VEGAN TOFU NOODLES
This comes from Hetty McKinnon in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Hetty wrote, "There is no need to reserve this recipe exclusively for vegans: This noodle dish will win over any crowd, regardless of dietary dispositions. Here, tofu is blended with garlic, five-spice powder and water for a creamy yet weightless sauce that wraps around each noodle. The same technique can be used to create a lush dairy-free pasta sauce (just add nutritional yeast and fresh herbs) or a ranch-like dip (blitz silken tofu with garlic, onion powder and herbs). For this recipe, be sure to use firm tofu, as it has more body and makes for a heartier sauce. The creamy noodles provide the perfect backdrop for the spicy, punchy black vinegar sauce."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 20 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021508-creamy-vegan-tofu-noodles.
Ingredients
For the Noodles:
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
12 ounces thick Chinese wheat noodles
1 (14-ounce) package firm tofu, broken into pieces
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon five-spice powder
1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus a few sprigs for serving
2 teaspoons sesame oil
Toasted white sesame seeds, for garnish
For the Topping:
2 tablespoons Chinkiang vinegar (black vinegar), or a combination of 4 teaspoons rice wine vinegar plus 2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon chile oil or chile crisp, such as Chiu Chow chile oil
1 scallion, finely chopped
1 (1/2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
Preparation
Prepare the noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook according to package instructions until the noodles are just tender, about 6 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain well again.
As noodles cook, prepare the topping: Add vinegar, soy sauce, chile oil, scallion, ginger and 1 tablespoon water to a small bowl and stir to combine.
Place the tofu, garlic, sugar, five-spice and 3/4 teaspoon salt into a blender or food processor and blend, adding about 6 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is completely smooth and creamy. (You may need up to 12 tablespoons of water, depending on your tofu.)
Place the noodles in a large bowl and pour the tofu sauce on top. Add the cilantro and sesame oil, and toss until coated.
To serve, divide the noodles among bowls. Top with the spicy soy-vinegar sauce, sesame seeds and cilantro sprigs.
WHITE BEAN HUMMUS WRAPS WITH AVOCADO AND BELL PEPPER
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “The silkiness of the white beans combined with the rich avocado and crunchy cucumbers and bell peppers make this Simple Cooking with Heart vegetarian recipe a winner of a lunch or dinner.”
Makes 4 servings; serving size: 1 wrap
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/white-bean-hummus-wraps-with-avocado-and-bell-pepper.
Ingredients
For the white bean hummus:
15.5 oz. canned, no-salt-added, or, low-sodium white beans (like cannellini) (drained, rinsed)
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
3 Tbsp. water
1/4 tsp. ground, sweet paprika
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
For the wraps:
1 medium tomato (thinly sliced)
1 medium cucumber (thinly sliced)
1 bell pepper (seeded, thinly sliced)
1 avocado (peeled, pit removed, sliced)
4 handfuls lettuce
4 (10-inch) whole-grain, low-fat wraps
Ingredients
For the white bean hummus:
Drain and rinse the beans; add into the bowl of a food processor, along with remaining ingredients.
Puree until the mixture is smooth, about 1 minute.
For the wraps:
Chop all the vegetables: slice the tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, and avocado.
Spread about 1/3 cup white bean hummus over each wrap, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Divide vegetables onto each wrap, placing over the hummus-not all the vegetables will be used.
Fold each side of the wrap up and then roll. Cut in half, if desired. Serve wraps with any extra vegetables and dip that is leftover.
Cooking Tip: Any type of beans can be magically turned into hummus. Just follow the instructions above using whatever bean you want – chickpeas, black bean, kidney beans, etc. Layer onto a wrap like in this recipe or use as a dip with veggies.
Keep it Healthy: When choosing lettuce, remember than the darker the color of the greens, the more nutrients and vitamins packed into it. For example, Romaine lettuce is more nutritious than iceberg lettuce.
Tip: Serving size 1 wrap
Tip: Transporting this for a work lunch? Place the wrap in foil for each transporting and make sure to drizzle a little lemon juice over the avocado slices to prevent browning.
ROASTED VEGETABLE CHILI WITH CORNBREAD BISCUITS
This is from the Food Network. Active Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/roasted-vegetable-chili-with-cornbread-biscuits-3812231.
Ingredients
1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
4 scallions, roughly chopped, plus more for topping
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Kosher salt
3/4 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
2/3 cup cold buttermilk
2/3 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 15-ounce can black beans, undrained
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
1 1/4 cups frozen fire-roasted corn, thawed
1 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
Directions
Preheat the broiler. Toss the cauliflower, poblano and scallions with the vegetable oil, chili powder, cumin and 1/2 teaspoon salt on a rimmed baking sheet; spread in a single layer. Broil until the vegetables are browned around the edges, 7 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the biscuits: Whisk the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, brown sugar and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Work the butter into the cornmeal mixture with your fingers until crumbly. Stir in the buttermilk and 1/3 cup cheese with a fork until combined.
Remove the baking sheet from the broiler and preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Add the beans and their liquid, the tomato sauce, corn, vegetable broth and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the roasted vegetables and gently stir. Spoon the biscuit dough on top in 12 mounds, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Sprinkle the biscuits with the remaining 1/3 cup cheese.
Bake until the chili starts bubbling and the biscuits are golden and cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with scallions.
CHIPOTLE-BEAN BURGERS WITH CILANTRO SAUCE
This comes from Vegetarian Times (July/August 2005 issue, page 58), and begins, "Serve these burgers tucked into whole wheat tortillas or pita pockets and slathered with Cilantro Sauce. Canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce are readily available in gourmet and ethnic markets and some supermarkets; any remaining chiles will keep in the refrigerator for months. Use them whenever you want to add a hot, smoky flavor to a dip or dish." Serves 6
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/chipotle-bean-burgers-with-cilantro-sauce/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onions
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, minced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 15-oz. can pinto, kidney or anasazi beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 1/2 cups cooked beans
3/4 cup breadcrumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat 1 Tbs. olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onions and salt, and cook, stirring often, 7 to 10 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic, chipotle chile, cumin and oregano; cook, stirring often, 1 minute. Add a third of beans and 1/3 cup water (or bean cooking liquid), and, using potato masher or fork, mash beans. When liquid is absorbed, add another third of beans and 1/3 cup liquid, and mash until mixture is chunky. Stir in last third of beans, and mash lightly. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is very thick and mostly dry.
Transfer beans to mixing bowl to cool, about 15 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. Taste, and add more salt if needed. Spread remaining breadcrumbs on plate. Using spoon, drop bean mixture by one-sixths into breadcrumbs. Sprinkle tops with breadcrumbs, and form into 6 patties of equal size. Place patties on clean plate. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or until firm.
To cook on a grill: Prepare charcoal fire or gas grill for medium heat. Spray grill rack with cooking spray. Place patties on grill, and cook until golden brown and heated through, about 3 minutes per side. To cook in a skillet: Heat remaining 1 Tbs. oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add patties, and cook until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Serve topped with Cilantro Sauce.
Cilantro Sauce
Ingredients
1 thick slice sourdough or Italian-style white bread, preferably stale
1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 medium-sized green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 scallions (white and pale green parts), thinly sliced
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1 small jalapeño chile, stemmed and seeded
1 cup cilantro leaves
3/4 tsp. salt
Preparation
Put bread in small bowl, cover with water and let soak 5 minutes. Remove bread, squeeze out excess water, and set aside.
Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper, and cook, stirring often, 7 minutes, or until softened. Add scallions; cook, stirring often, 1 minute.
Put mixture into blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup water, lime juice, jalapeño, cilantro, soaked bread and salt. Purée until smooth.
PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND CHERRY TOMATOES (SPRING)
This is from Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network's website, and from Everyday Italian. Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/penne-with-asparagus-and-cherry-tomatoes-spring-recipe-1939598.
Note This recipe originally called for chicken stock. However, since I'm posting this in a vegetarian blog, I've exchanged the chicken stock with vegetable stock.
Ingredients
8 ounces penne pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 pounds thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups (about 9 ounces) cherry tomatoes
1 cup shelled fresh peas
1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable stock
1 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes until slightly soft. Add the cherry tomatoes and peas. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour the chicken stock into the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the tomatoes start to burst and the stock is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
Transfer the asparagus mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 of the Parmesan. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan and chopped basil.
ROOT VEGETABLE CHILI SOUP
This is from the September 2007 (?) issue of Vegetarian Times (page 76), and begins, "Root vegetables like rutabagas and carrots are great for spicy kitchen experiments because they lend subtle sweetness to dishes. Believe it or not, you can use curry powder in place of the chili powder here—the soup will have an Indian flair. Dishes that call for chili and curry powders get better over time, so make this dish a day ahead." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/root-vegetable-chili-soup/.
Ingredients
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed
2 Tbs. canola oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
4 tsp. mild chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 small rutabagas, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1 1/2 lb.)
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1/2 lb.)
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 small russet potato, finely diced (1 cup)
2 Anaheim, banana, or mild peppers, seeded and chopped (3/4 cup)
1 small red bell pepper, chopped (2/3 cup)
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced, optional
1 15-oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Preparation
Heat large pot over medium heat. Add corn, and sauté 2 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Add oil, onion, and garlic, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, or until onion is soft. Stir in chili powder and cumin, and cook 2 minutes, scraping bottom of pan with spatula.
Add rutabagas, carrots, tomatoes, potato, Anaheim pepper, bell pepper, jalapeño, if using, and 3 cups water.
Bring pot to a simmer, and season with salt. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Add beans and cook, uncovered, 45 minutes, or until soup thickens. Serve garnished with green onions or cilantro.
Last night, I got my second use of a new wok that I bought a month ago. I know, I know, only the second use in a month. But I had kept it with my other pots and pans under the counter. The galley kitchen where I live isn't quite right for anyone who loves to cook. Such are too many kitchens in my part of Florida. But that's beside the point. (And that's my semi-rant for the day.) I ended up hanging the wok on a wall near my two smaller sauce pans, frying pans, and more.
But getting back to dinner: my sons wanted wraps (otherwise known as soft taco shells, burrito shells, etc.) with Gardein Chickn Strips (we had the kind without the teriyaki sauce). I cooked the strips up in a pan, then made some stir-fried veggies, using frozen bell pepper strips, broccoi and cauliflower, and pearl onions, cooked up in low sodium soy sauce. I had that in a wrap, along with one or two chickn strips. Very yum! (Word of warning: don't be surprised if I start posting photos of stir-fried meals, along with stuff cooked in my cast-iron skillets.)
Now that I've regaled you on last night's meal, here's today's post with six yummy recipes to try, including Penne with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Vegetable Chili w/Cornbread Biscuits, and Chipotle-Bean Burgers with Cilantro Sauce. Enjoy!
CREAMY VEGAN TOFU NOODLES
This comes from Hetty McKinnon in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Hetty wrote, "There is no need to reserve this recipe exclusively for vegans: This noodle dish will win over any crowd, regardless of dietary dispositions. Here, tofu is blended with garlic, five-spice powder and water for a creamy yet weightless sauce that wraps around each noodle. The same technique can be used to create a lush dairy-free pasta sauce (just add nutritional yeast and fresh herbs) or a ranch-like dip (blitz silken tofu with garlic, onion powder and herbs). For this recipe, be sure to use firm tofu, as it has more body and makes for a heartier sauce. The creamy noodles provide the perfect backdrop for the spicy, punchy black vinegar sauce."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 20 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021508-creamy-vegan-tofu-noodles.
Ingredients
For the Noodles:
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
12 ounces thick Chinese wheat noodles
1 (14-ounce) package firm tofu, broken into pieces
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon five-spice powder
1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus a few sprigs for serving
2 teaspoons sesame oil
Toasted white sesame seeds, for garnish
For the Topping:
2 tablespoons Chinkiang vinegar (black vinegar), or a combination of 4 teaspoons rice wine vinegar plus 2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon chile oil or chile crisp, such as Chiu Chow chile oil
1 scallion, finely chopped
1 (1/2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
Preparation
Prepare the noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook according to package instructions until the noodles are just tender, about 6 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain well again.
As noodles cook, prepare the topping: Add vinegar, soy sauce, chile oil, scallion, ginger and 1 tablespoon water to a small bowl and stir to combine.
Place the tofu, garlic, sugar, five-spice and 3/4 teaspoon salt into a blender or food processor and blend, adding about 6 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is completely smooth and creamy. (You may need up to 12 tablespoons of water, depending on your tofu.)
Place the noodles in a large bowl and pour the tofu sauce on top. Add the cilantro and sesame oil, and toss until coated.
To serve, divide the noodles among bowls. Top with the spicy soy-vinegar sauce, sesame seeds and cilantro sprigs.
WHITE BEAN HUMMUS WRAPS WITH AVOCADO AND BELL PEPPER
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “The silkiness of the white beans combined with the rich avocado and crunchy cucumbers and bell peppers make this Simple Cooking with Heart vegetarian recipe a winner of a lunch or dinner.”
Makes 4 servings; serving size: 1 wrap
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/white-bean-hummus-wraps-with-avocado-and-bell-pepper.
Ingredients
For the white bean hummus:
15.5 oz. canned, no-salt-added, or, low-sodium white beans (like cannellini) (drained, rinsed)
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
3 Tbsp. water
1/4 tsp. ground, sweet paprika
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
For the wraps:
1 medium tomato (thinly sliced)
1 medium cucumber (thinly sliced)
1 bell pepper (seeded, thinly sliced)
1 avocado (peeled, pit removed, sliced)
4 handfuls lettuce
4 (10-inch) whole-grain, low-fat wraps
Ingredients
For the white bean hummus:
Drain and rinse the beans; add into the bowl of a food processor, along with remaining ingredients.
Puree until the mixture is smooth, about 1 minute.
For the wraps:
Chop all the vegetables: slice the tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, and avocado.
Spread about 1/3 cup white bean hummus over each wrap, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Divide vegetables onto each wrap, placing over the hummus-not all the vegetables will be used.
Fold each side of the wrap up and then roll. Cut in half, if desired. Serve wraps with any extra vegetables and dip that is leftover.
Cooking Tip: Any type of beans can be magically turned into hummus. Just follow the instructions above using whatever bean you want – chickpeas, black bean, kidney beans, etc. Layer onto a wrap like in this recipe or use as a dip with veggies.
Keep it Healthy: When choosing lettuce, remember than the darker the color of the greens, the more nutrients and vitamins packed into it. For example, Romaine lettuce is more nutritious than iceberg lettuce.
Tip: Serving size 1 wrap
Tip: Transporting this for a work lunch? Place the wrap in foil for each transporting and make sure to drizzle a little lemon juice over the avocado slices to prevent browning.
ROASTED VEGETABLE CHILI WITH CORNBREAD BISCUITS
This is from the Food Network. Active Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/roasted-vegetable-chili-with-cornbread-biscuits-3812231.
Ingredients
1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
4 scallions, roughly chopped, plus more for topping
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Kosher salt
3/4 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
2/3 cup cold buttermilk
2/3 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 15-ounce can black beans, undrained
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
1 1/4 cups frozen fire-roasted corn, thawed
1 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
Directions
Preheat the broiler. Toss the cauliflower, poblano and scallions with the vegetable oil, chili powder, cumin and 1/2 teaspoon salt on a rimmed baking sheet; spread in a single layer. Broil until the vegetables are browned around the edges, 7 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the biscuits: Whisk the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, brown sugar and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Work the butter into the cornmeal mixture with your fingers until crumbly. Stir in the buttermilk and 1/3 cup cheese with a fork until combined.
Remove the baking sheet from the broiler and preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Add the beans and their liquid, the tomato sauce, corn, vegetable broth and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the roasted vegetables and gently stir. Spoon the biscuit dough on top in 12 mounds, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Sprinkle the biscuits with the remaining 1/3 cup cheese.
Bake until the chili starts bubbling and the biscuits are golden and cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with scallions.
CHIPOTLE-BEAN BURGERS WITH CILANTRO SAUCE
This comes from Vegetarian Times (July/August 2005 issue, page 58), and begins, "Serve these burgers tucked into whole wheat tortillas or pita pockets and slathered with Cilantro Sauce. Canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce are readily available in gourmet and ethnic markets and some supermarkets; any remaining chiles will keep in the refrigerator for months. Use them whenever you want to add a hot, smoky flavor to a dip or dish." Serves 6
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/chipotle-bean-burgers-with-cilantro-sauce/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onions
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, minced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 15-oz. can pinto, kidney or anasazi beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 1/2 cups cooked beans
3/4 cup breadcrumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat 1 Tbs. olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onions and salt, and cook, stirring often, 7 to 10 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic, chipotle chile, cumin and oregano; cook, stirring often, 1 minute. Add a third of beans and 1/3 cup water (or bean cooking liquid), and, using potato masher or fork, mash beans. When liquid is absorbed, add another third of beans and 1/3 cup liquid, and mash until mixture is chunky. Stir in last third of beans, and mash lightly. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is very thick and mostly dry.
Transfer beans to mixing bowl to cool, about 15 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. Taste, and add more salt if needed. Spread remaining breadcrumbs on plate. Using spoon, drop bean mixture by one-sixths into breadcrumbs. Sprinkle tops with breadcrumbs, and form into 6 patties of equal size. Place patties on clean plate. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or until firm.
To cook on a grill: Prepare charcoal fire or gas grill for medium heat. Spray grill rack with cooking spray. Place patties on grill, and cook until golden brown and heated through, about 3 minutes per side. To cook in a skillet: Heat remaining 1 Tbs. oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add patties, and cook until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Serve topped with Cilantro Sauce.
Cilantro Sauce
Ingredients
1 thick slice sourdough or Italian-style white bread, preferably stale
1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 medium-sized green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 scallions (white and pale green parts), thinly sliced
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1 small jalapeño chile, stemmed and seeded
1 cup cilantro leaves
3/4 tsp. salt
Preparation
Put bread in small bowl, cover with water and let soak 5 minutes. Remove bread, squeeze out excess water, and set aside.
Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper, and cook, stirring often, 7 minutes, or until softened. Add scallions; cook, stirring often, 1 minute.
Put mixture into blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup water, lime juice, jalapeño, cilantro, soaked bread and salt. Purée until smooth.
PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND CHERRY TOMATOES (SPRING)
This is from Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network's website, and from Everyday Italian. Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/penne-with-asparagus-and-cherry-tomatoes-spring-recipe-1939598.
Note This recipe originally called for chicken stock. However, since I'm posting this in a vegetarian blog, I've exchanged the chicken stock with vegetable stock.
Ingredients
8 ounces penne pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 pounds thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups (about 9 ounces) cherry tomatoes
1 cup shelled fresh peas
1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable stock
1 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the asparagus, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes until slightly soft. Add the cherry tomatoes and peas. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour the chicken stock into the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the tomatoes start to burst and the stock is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
Transfer the asparagus mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 of the Parmesan. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan and chopped basil.
ROOT VEGETABLE CHILI SOUP
This is from the September 2007 (?) issue of Vegetarian Times (page 76), and begins, "Root vegetables like rutabagas and carrots are great for spicy kitchen experiments because they lend subtle sweetness to dishes. Believe it or not, you can use curry powder in place of the chili powder here—the soup will have an Indian flair. Dishes that call for chili and curry powders get better over time, so make this dish a day ahead." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/root-vegetable-chili-soup/.
Ingredients
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed
2 Tbs. canola oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
4 tsp. mild chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 small rutabagas, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1 1/2 lb.)
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (1/2 lb.)
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 small russet potato, finely diced (1 cup)
2 Anaheim, banana, or mild peppers, seeded and chopped (3/4 cup)
1 small red bell pepper, chopped (2/3 cup)
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced, optional
1 15-oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Preparation
Heat large pot over medium heat. Add corn, and sauté 2 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Add oil, onion, and garlic, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, or until onion is soft. Stir in chili powder and cumin, and cook 2 minutes, scraping bottom of pan with spatula.
Add rutabagas, carrots, tomatoes, potato, Anaheim pepper, bell pepper, jalapeño, if using, and 3 cups water.
Bring pot to a simmer, and season with salt. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Add beans and cook, uncovered, 45 minutes, or until soup thickens. Serve garnished with green onions or cilantro.
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Wednesday Recipes
Half-way through the week...Here are six recipes to help you through the rest of the work week, including Spring Pea & Asparagus Pasta Primavera and Cherry Smoothies. Enjoy!
ANYTIME BLACK FORREST BLIZZARD
This was in the September 2012 issue of Runner’s World, page 50. Contributing chef Pam Anderson comes up with quite a few really yummy recipes. This recipe starts off, “Plain Greek yogurt has roughly twice the protein and half the sugar of plan traditional yogurt. Cherries contain antioxidants that help reduce postrun inflammation. ‘To add crunch, stir in Famous Chocolate Wafers,’ says Anderson.”
I doubt that Pam is reading this, but if she is, all I can say is: Keep it up, please!
Ingredients
1 heaping cup frozen, dark sweet cherries
1 frozen banana, cut into chunks
1 C chocolate soymilk
1/4 C Greek yogurt
2 tsp honey or agave syrup
1/4 tsp almond extract
4 Famous Chocolate Wafers, crumbled
Preparation
Place all the ingredients – except the Famous Chocolate Wafers – in a blender; process until creamy smooth. Divide between two glasses. Top each with a portion of crumbled Famous Chocolate Wafers. Serves two.
Calories per serving: 273; Carbs: 54 g; Fiber: 4 g; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 4 g
CHERRY SMOOTHIE
This comes from Yishane Lee in the July 2012 issue of Runner’s World, page 48. I couldn’t find a link for it…
Ingredients
1 cup pitted cherries
3/4 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons honey
3/4 cup ice
Preparation
Place ingredients in blender and blend. Yum!
FENNEL AND TOMATO SOUP
This comes from page 28 of the January/February 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Fennel and tomato pair nicely for an Italian-style tomato soup. Save fennel fronds to use as a garnish.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Note: The recipe originally calls for 2 Tbs. dry vermouth, dry white wine, or water. Since I don’t keep alcohol around the house - except for rubbing alcohol - I left the vermouth and/or white wine out of the recipe and substituted water.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 large fennel bulb, diced (4 cups)
3 vegan Italian sausages, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds (2 cups)
1 tsp. fennel seeds
2 Tbs. water
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
3 Tbs. chopped fresh Italian parsley
Preparation
Heat oil in soup pot over medium heat. Add fennel, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in sausages and fennel seeds, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until fennel seeds are slightly softened and bits of sausage are stuck to bottom of pan. Add vermouth, and cook 5 to 10 seconds to deglaze pan, scraping up any brown bits. Add broth, tomatoes, and parsley; cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
nutritional information Per 1 2/3-cup serving: Calories: 163; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 380 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan
UPDATED POTATO SALAD
This comes from page 61 of the July/August 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Plain yogurt and grainy mustard make a light, tangy sauce for potato salad. Serve slightly warm or chilled.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 lb. fingerling potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup whole-grain mustard
2 tsp. olive oil
1 small red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
3 celery stalks, diced (1 cup)
1/2 small red onion, sliced (1/2 cup)
Preparation
Place potatoes in large saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 5 to 6 minutes, or until potatoes are tender, but not soft.
Meanwhile, whisk together yogurt, mustard, and olive oil in large bowl. Stir in red bell pepper, celery, and onion.
Drain potatoes, rinse under cold water, and drain again. Add potatoes to yogurt mixture, stirring to coat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 134; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Cholesterol: less than 1 mg; Sodium: 182 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 3 g; Gluten-Free
ZUCCHINI PARMESAN
This comes from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “This is a simple layered casserole with three elements: roasted zucchini, a really good homemade tomato sauce and Parmesan. Roasting, rather than frying the zucchini, allows you to cut down on olive oil and time.” Time: About 1 1/ 2 hours; Makes 6 servings.
To view this online, go to http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017523-zucchini-parmesan
Ingredients
For the Tomato Sauce:
2 to 2 1/2 pounds fresh ripe tomatoes
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 to 4 garlic cloves (to taste)
Salt and pepper
1/8 teaspoon sugar
2 sprigs fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
For the Zucchini Parmesan:
2 to 2 1/4 pounds zucchini
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (pepperoncini), to taste
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Preparation
If you have a food mill, quarter tomatoes. If not, peel, seed and chop them. (See step 5.)
To make tomato sauce, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute, and add tomatoes, salt, pepper, sugar and basil sprigs. Increase heat to medium-high. When tomatoes are bubbling briskly, stir and reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, until tomatoes have cooked down and are beginning to stick to pan, 15 to 25 minutes, depending on consistency. Remove basil sprigs; taste and adjust seasoning.
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment. Trim ends off zucchini and cut in half crosswise, then into lengthwise slices, about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick. Season on both sides with salt and pepper and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Arrange zucchini slices on baking sheets in one layer and sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Roast for 12 minutes, until lightly browned and easily pierced with a knife. Remove from oven and reduce heat to 375 degrees.
If using a food mill, put sauce through medium blade. If not, pulse sauce in a food processor fitted with steel blade until just coarsely puréed. Stir in chopped basil.
To assemble the dish, oil a 2-quart gratin with olive oil. Spread 1/4 cup tomato sauce over bottom of dish. Arrange a third of the zucchini in an even layer over tomato sauce. Spoon a third of remaining sauce over zucchini and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan. Repeat with 2 more layers, ending with 1/4 cup Parmesan. Drizzle on remaining tablespoon olive oil. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until bubbling and browned on the top and edges. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
SPRING PEA AND ASPARAGUS PASTA PRIMAVERA
This comes from John Mitzewich, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. John wrote, “‘Primavera’ means spring, and this easy pasta dish features two great spring vegetables - asparagus and peas. You can tweak this recipe by adding almost any vegetables you like.” The recipe originally called for either vegetable or chicken stock; I've kept the chicken stock out of this. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 Servings
Unfortunately, the link I had for this no longer works. But this was so yummy, I wanted to make sure to give credit to John for coming up with this wonderful recipe.
Ingredients
8 oz dry pasta (tagliatelle, fettuccini, or linguini are recommended)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup vegetable stock
1 cup heavy cream
1 bunch asparagus, cut in 2-inch slices
1 cup shelled green peas (may substitute frozen, thawed)
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Preparation
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to directions. While the pasta is cooking prepare the sauce as follows.
In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat, and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute, being very careful not to brown. Add the stock, cream, lemon zest and turn heat up to high. When it begins to boil, add the vegetables and cook until the asparagus is tender-crisp, about 3 minutes.
Turn off heat.Drain the pasta (do not rinse), and add back to the pot. Pour in the sauce and mix to coat the pasta. Add the lemon juice, basil, Parmesan, salt and pepper. Toss again and serve immediately.
ANYTIME BLACK FORREST BLIZZARD
This was in the September 2012 issue of Runner’s World, page 50. Contributing chef Pam Anderson comes up with quite a few really yummy recipes. This recipe starts off, “Plain Greek yogurt has roughly twice the protein and half the sugar of plan traditional yogurt. Cherries contain antioxidants that help reduce postrun inflammation. ‘To add crunch, stir in Famous Chocolate Wafers,’ says Anderson.”
I doubt that Pam is reading this, but if she is, all I can say is: Keep it up, please!
Ingredients
1 heaping cup frozen, dark sweet cherries
1 frozen banana, cut into chunks
1 C chocolate soymilk
1/4 C Greek yogurt
2 tsp honey or agave syrup
1/4 tsp almond extract
4 Famous Chocolate Wafers, crumbled
Preparation
Place all the ingredients – except the Famous Chocolate Wafers – in a blender; process until creamy smooth. Divide between two glasses. Top each with a portion of crumbled Famous Chocolate Wafers. Serves two.
Calories per serving: 273; Carbs: 54 g; Fiber: 4 g; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 4 g
CHERRY SMOOTHIE
This comes from Yishane Lee in the July 2012 issue of Runner’s World, page 48. I couldn’t find a link for it…
Ingredients
1 cup pitted cherries
3/4 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons honey
3/4 cup ice
Preparation
Place ingredients in blender and blend. Yum!
FENNEL AND TOMATO SOUP
This comes from page 28 of the January/February 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Fennel and tomato pair nicely for an Italian-style tomato soup. Save fennel fronds to use as a garnish.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Note: The recipe originally calls for 2 Tbs. dry vermouth, dry white wine, or water. Since I don’t keep alcohol around the house - except for rubbing alcohol - I left the vermouth and/or white wine out of the recipe and substituted water.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 large fennel bulb, diced (4 cups)
3 vegan Italian sausages, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds (2 cups)
1 tsp. fennel seeds
2 Tbs. water
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
3 Tbs. chopped fresh Italian parsley
Preparation
Heat oil in soup pot over medium heat. Add fennel, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in sausages and fennel seeds, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until fennel seeds are slightly softened and bits of sausage are stuck to bottom of pan. Add vermouth, and cook 5 to 10 seconds to deglaze pan, scraping up any brown bits. Add broth, tomatoes, and parsley; cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
nutritional information Per 1 2/3-cup serving: Calories: 163; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 380 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan
UPDATED POTATO SALAD
This comes from page 61 of the July/August 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Plain yogurt and grainy mustard make a light, tangy sauce for potato salad. Serve slightly warm or chilled.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 lb. fingerling potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup whole-grain mustard
2 tsp. olive oil
1 small red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
3 celery stalks, diced (1 cup)
1/2 small red onion, sliced (1/2 cup)
Preparation
Place potatoes in large saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 5 to 6 minutes, or until potatoes are tender, but not soft.
Meanwhile, whisk together yogurt, mustard, and olive oil in large bowl. Stir in red bell pepper, celery, and onion.
Drain potatoes, rinse under cold water, and drain again. Add potatoes to yogurt mixture, stirring to coat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 134; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Cholesterol: less than 1 mg; Sodium: 182 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 3 g; Gluten-Free
ZUCCHINI PARMESAN
This comes from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “This is a simple layered casserole with three elements: roasted zucchini, a really good homemade tomato sauce and Parmesan. Roasting, rather than frying the zucchini, allows you to cut down on olive oil and time.” Time: About 1 1/ 2 hours; Makes 6 servings.
To view this online, go to http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017523-zucchini-parmesan
Ingredients
For the Tomato Sauce:
2 to 2 1/2 pounds fresh ripe tomatoes
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 to 4 garlic cloves (to taste)
Salt and pepper
1/8 teaspoon sugar
2 sprigs fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
For the Zucchini Parmesan:
2 to 2 1/4 pounds zucchini
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (pepperoncini), to taste
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Preparation
If you have a food mill, quarter tomatoes. If not, peel, seed and chop them. (See step 5.)
To make tomato sauce, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute, and add tomatoes, salt, pepper, sugar and basil sprigs. Increase heat to medium-high. When tomatoes are bubbling briskly, stir and reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, until tomatoes have cooked down and are beginning to stick to pan, 15 to 25 minutes, depending on consistency. Remove basil sprigs; taste and adjust seasoning.
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment. Trim ends off zucchini and cut in half crosswise, then into lengthwise slices, about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick. Season on both sides with salt and pepper and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Arrange zucchini slices on baking sheets in one layer and sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Roast for 12 minutes, until lightly browned and easily pierced with a knife. Remove from oven and reduce heat to 375 degrees.
If using a food mill, put sauce through medium blade. If not, pulse sauce in a food processor fitted with steel blade until just coarsely puréed. Stir in chopped basil.
To assemble the dish, oil a 2-quart gratin with olive oil. Spread 1/4 cup tomato sauce over bottom of dish. Arrange a third of the zucchini in an even layer over tomato sauce. Spoon a third of remaining sauce over zucchini and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan. Repeat with 2 more layers, ending with 1/4 cup Parmesan. Drizzle on remaining tablespoon olive oil. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until bubbling and browned on the top and edges. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
SPRING PEA AND ASPARAGUS PASTA PRIMAVERA
This comes from John Mitzewich, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. John wrote, “‘Primavera’ means spring, and this easy pasta dish features two great spring vegetables - asparagus and peas. You can tweak this recipe by adding almost any vegetables you like.” The recipe originally called for either vegetable or chicken stock; I've kept the chicken stock out of this. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 Servings
Unfortunately, the link I had for this no longer works. But this was so yummy, I wanted to make sure to give credit to John for coming up with this wonderful recipe.
Ingredients
8 oz dry pasta (tagliatelle, fettuccini, or linguini are recommended)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup vegetable stock
1 cup heavy cream
1 bunch asparagus, cut in 2-inch slices
1 cup shelled green peas (may substitute frozen, thawed)
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Preparation
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to directions. While the pasta is cooking prepare the sauce as follows.
In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat, and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute, being very careful not to brown. Add the stock, cream, lemon zest and turn heat up to high. When it begins to boil, add the vegetables and cook until the asparagus is tender-crisp, about 3 minutes.
Turn off heat.Drain the pasta (do not rinse), and add back to the pot. Pour in the sauce and mix to coat the pasta. Add the lemon juice, basil, Parmesan, salt and pepper. Toss again and serve immediately.
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday (because, believe it or not, not everyone loves tacos!). Today's offerings include Penne with Grilled Okra and Green Beans and Blueberry Lattice Pie. Enjoy!
APPLE SPICE CAKE WITH VANILLA BUTTER SAUCE
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 10 servings.
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon Apple Pie Spice
1 teaspoon Ground Allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
2 apples (Granny Smith or Gala), peeled and chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Vanilla Butter Sauce (recipe follows)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, apple pie spice, allspice and salt in small bowl; set aside.
Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla on low speed just until blended. Gradually beat in flour mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in apples, raisins and walnuts. Spread evenly in greased 9-inch round cake pan.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Invert cake onto serving plate.
Serve warm with Vanilla Butter Sauce.
Vanilla Butter Sauce:
Bring 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter and 1/2 cup heavy cream to boil in 2-quart saucepan on medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons Pure Vanilla Extract. Serve warm. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
Test Kitchen Tip: The cake and sauce can be prepared and refrigerated separately the day before. Warm the cake in the oven and the sauce on top of the stove before serving.
VEGAN FRIED “CHICKEN” WITH SEITAN
This is from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Vegan fried ‘chicken’ made with seitan. This fried seitan "chicken" dish is deep-fried, so it isn't particularly healthy, though it is cholesterol-free and it sure is mighty tasty! Deep fried seitan and a blend of spices create a dish that's really quite similar in appearance and taste to fried chicken. If you like southern fried chicken, try vegan southern fried seitan made with all the same ingredients including a spicy batter and a coat of flour to make it just the perfect amount of crispiness. Make sure you have some ketchup or mustard or something to serve alongside to dip your vegan fried chicken in.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 4 servings.
You can view this online here.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt (or seasoned salt)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
Optional: dash cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups flour
Optional: 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 cup mustard
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 cup water
1 lb. seitan (or another chicken substitute, cut into 1 to 2" square pieces)
Directions
In a medium to large bowl, mix together the salt, onion powder, garlic powder, flour, black pepper, cayenne, and nutritional yeast.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mustard and water. Add 1/3 cup of the flour mixture to the mustard mixture and combine well.
Add baking powder to the flour mixture and combine well.
Coat pieces of seitan or mock chicken with the mustard batter, then coat each piece with the dry flour mixture.
Fry chunks of "chicken" in the oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel, serve with ketchup, ranch dressing, honey mustard, hot sauce or barbecue sauce.
TOFU ALMONDINE
This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Serves: 4; Preparation time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
2 lb. tofu, drained, pressed & cut into cubes
4 tablespoons tamari
1/2 cup tamari
1/2 cup almond butter
2 2/3 cups water or veggie broth
2 2/3 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
1 carrot, diced
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
1 cup broccoli florets
1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place tofu cubes in bowl & coat with 4 tablespoons tamari. Toss to combine & put on sprayed cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
Whisk together almond butter, the rest of the tamari, water/veggie broth & corn starch.
Put tofu, veggies & sauce in 9x13 baking pan. Bake for about 1 hour or until veggies are soft & sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally (about every 15 minutes). Sprinkle with slivered almonds.
EASY VEGAN TEMPEH CHILI
This is from OnTrackDiabetes, a site with some good information for diabetics and their families.
Servings: 6; Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook time: 30 minutes; Total: 40 minutes
You can view this at https://www.ontrackdiabetes.com/recipes/easy-vegan-tempeh-chili.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces tempeh
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 orange bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 15-ounce can of organic pinto beans (undrained)
1 15-ounce can of organic kidney beans (drained)
2 15-ounce cans of fire-roasted diced tomatoes (undrained)
3/4 cup of water
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne (or to taste)
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large (6-quart) saucepan on medium heat.
Remove tempeh from the package and crumble it into saucepan. Brown for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add chopped onion, bell peppers and celery to saucepan. Stir frequently for about 5 minutes.
Add beans (1 drained and 1 undrained), tomatoes, water and remaining seasonings. Stir well to combine.
Simmer on low heat for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until peppers are cooked yet still firm.
Nutrition Information Per Serving: 330 calories (33% calories from fat), 18 g protein, 12 g total fat (2 g saturated fat), 38 g carbohydrates, 12 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 767 mg sodium
BLUEBERRY LATTICE PIE
This is from Molly O’Neill in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Molly wrote, “Here's a showstopper of a summer pie if there ever was one. In this recipe that came to The Times in 1995, a generous pile of blueberries is tossed with sugar, cinnamon and orange zest then baked in a butter-shortening crust until the filling is bubbly and the crust golden brown. Don't be intimidated by the lattice top. Just take your time, and do your best. No matter what it looks like, it'll taste delicious.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
This was featured in “On Blueberry Hill”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9290-blueberry-lattice-pie.
Also, check out “How to Make a Pie Crust,” by Melissa Clark. Very helpful!
Ingredients
The Crust:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut in small pieces
6 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
6 to 8 tablespoons ice water
1 egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon water
The Filling:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
6 cups fresh blueberries, cleaned
Preparation
To make the crust, combine the flour, 2 teaspoons of sugar and salt in a large bowl. Use your fingers to rub in the butter and shortening until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Gradually and lightly mix in just enough ice water so the dough can be gently pressed into a ball. Flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.
To make the filling, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, flour and orange zest. Place the blueberries in a large bowl and toss with the sugar mixture.
Divide the dough in half and roll out 1 piece on a lightly floured surface and fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Place the filling in the dish. Roll out the remaining dough, cut 1/2-inch-wide strips and weave into a lattice top. Seal, trim and crimp the edges. Brush the top pastry with the egg wash and sprinkle it with the remaining sugar.
Bake for 30 minutes. Reduce temperature to 325 and bake until crust is browned and filling is set, about 20 minutes longer. Cool on a rack. Cut into wedges and serve.
PENNE WITH GRILLED OKRA AND GREEN BEANS
This is from the Food Network. Active Time: 25 minutes; Tota Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/penne-with-grilled-okra-and-green-beans-5258431.
Ingredients
8 ounces okra, trimmed and halved lengthwise
8 ounces green beans, trimmed
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
12 ounces penne rigate
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup fresh basil
Directions
Preheat a grill to medium high. Toss the okra and green beans with 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a sheet of foil or a grill basket with the okra cut-side down. Grill the vegetables, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
Transfer to a cutting board. Halve the beans crosswise and halve any large okra pieces lengthwise.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the panko and cook, stirring, until golden, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest; season with salt and pepper.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 3/4 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and return to the pot. Stir in the grilled okra and green beans, parmesan and garlic, stirring in enough of the reserved cooking water to loosen. Stir in the basil. Divide among bowls and top with the panko mixture.
APPLE SPICE CAKE WITH VANILLA BUTTER SAUCE
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 10 servings.
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon Apple Pie Spice
1 teaspoon Ground Allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
2 apples (Granny Smith or Gala), peeled and chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Vanilla Butter Sauce (recipe follows)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, apple pie spice, allspice and salt in small bowl; set aside.
Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla on low speed just until blended. Gradually beat in flour mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in apples, raisins and walnuts. Spread evenly in greased 9-inch round cake pan.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Invert cake onto serving plate.
Serve warm with Vanilla Butter Sauce.
Vanilla Butter Sauce:
Bring 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter and 1/2 cup heavy cream to boil in 2-quart saucepan on medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons Pure Vanilla Extract. Serve warm. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
Test Kitchen Tip: The cake and sauce can be prepared and refrigerated separately the day before. Warm the cake in the oven and the sauce on top of the stove before serving.
VEGAN FRIED “CHICKEN” WITH SEITAN
This is from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Vegan fried ‘chicken’ made with seitan. This fried seitan "chicken" dish is deep-fried, so it isn't particularly healthy, though it is cholesterol-free and it sure is mighty tasty! Deep fried seitan and a blend of spices create a dish that's really quite similar in appearance and taste to fried chicken. If you like southern fried chicken, try vegan southern fried seitan made with all the same ingredients including a spicy batter and a coat of flour to make it just the perfect amount of crispiness. Make sure you have some ketchup or mustard or something to serve alongside to dip your vegan fried chicken in.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 4 servings.
You can view this online here.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt (or seasoned salt)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
Optional: dash cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups flour
Optional: 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 cup mustard
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 cup water
1 lb. seitan (or another chicken substitute, cut into 1 to 2" square pieces)
Directions
In a medium to large bowl, mix together the salt, onion powder, garlic powder, flour, black pepper, cayenne, and nutritional yeast.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mustard and water. Add 1/3 cup of the flour mixture to the mustard mixture and combine well.
Add baking powder to the flour mixture and combine well.
Coat pieces of seitan or mock chicken with the mustard batter, then coat each piece with the dry flour mixture.
Fry chunks of "chicken" in the oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel, serve with ketchup, ranch dressing, honey mustard, hot sauce or barbecue sauce.
TOFU ALMONDINE
This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Serves: 4; Preparation time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
2 lb. tofu, drained, pressed & cut into cubes
4 tablespoons tamari
1/2 cup tamari
1/2 cup almond butter
2 2/3 cups water or veggie broth
2 2/3 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
1 carrot, diced
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
1 cup broccoli florets
1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place tofu cubes in bowl & coat with 4 tablespoons tamari. Toss to combine & put on sprayed cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
Whisk together almond butter, the rest of the tamari, water/veggie broth & corn starch.
Put tofu, veggies & sauce in 9x13 baking pan. Bake for about 1 hour or until veggies are soft & sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally (about every 15 minutes). Sprinkle with slivered almonds.
EASY VEGAN TEMPEH CHILI
This is from OnTrackDiabetes, a site with some good information for diabetics and their families.
Servings: 6; Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook time: 30 minutes; Total: 40 minutes
You can view this at https://www.ontrackdiabetes.com/recipes/easy-vegan-tempeh-chili.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces tempeh
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 orange bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 15-ounce can of organic pinto beans (undrained)
1 15-ounce can of organic kidney beans (drained)
2 15-ounce cans of fire-roasted diced tomatoes (undrained)
3/4 cup of water
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne (or to taste)
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large (6-quart) saucepan on medium heat.
Remove tempeh from the package and crumble it into saucepan. Brown for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add chopped onion, bell peppers and celery to saucepan. Stir frequently for about 5 minutes.
Add beans (1 drained and 1 undrained), tomatoes, water and remaining seasonings. Stir well to combine.
Simmer on low heat for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until peppers are cooked yet still firm.
Nutrition Information Per Serving: 330 calories (33% calories from fat), 18 g protein, 12 g total fat (2 g saturated fat), 38 g carbohydrates, 12 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 767 mg sodium
BLUEBERRY LATTICE PIE
This is from Molly O’Neill in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Molly wrote, “Here's a showstopper of a summer pie if there ever was one. In this recipe that came to The Times in 1995, a generous pile of blueberries is tossed with sugar, cinnamon and orange zest then baked in a butter-shortening crust until the filling is bubbly and the crust golden brown. Don't be intimidated by the lattice top. Just take your time, and do your best. No matter what it looks like, it'll taste delicious.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
This was featured in “On Blueberry Hill”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9290-blueberry-lattice-pie.
Also, check out “How to Make a Pie Crust,” by Melissa Clark. Very helpful!
Ingredients
The Crust:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut in small pieces
6 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
6 to 8 tablespoons ice water
1 egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon water
The Filling:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
6 cups fresh blueberries, cleaned
Preparation
To make the crust, combine the flour, 2 teaspoons of sugar and salt in a large bowl. Use your fingers to rub in the butter and shortening until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Gradually and lightly mix in just enough ice water so the dough can be gently pressed into a ball. Flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.
To make the filling, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, flour and orange zest. Place the blueberries in a large bowl and toss with the sugar mixture.
Divide the dough in half and roll out 1 piece on a lightly floured surface and fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Place the filling in the dish. Roll out the remaining dough, cut 1/2-inch-wide strips and weave into a lattice top. Seal, trim and crimp the edges. Brush the top pastry with the egg wash and sprinkle it with the remaining sugar.
Bake for 30 minutes. Reduce temperature to 325 and bake until crust is browned and filling is set, about 20 minutes longer. Cool on a rack. Cut into wedges and serve.
PENNE WITH GRILLED OKRA AND GREEN BEANS
This is from the Food Network. Active Time: 25 minutes; Tota Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/penne-with-grilled-okra-and-green-beans-5258431.
Ingredients
8 ounces okra, trimmed and halved lengthwise
8 ounces green beans, trimmed
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
12 ounces penne rigate
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup fresh basil
Directions
Preheat a grill to medium high. Toss the okra and green beans with 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a sheet of foil or a grill basket with the okra cut-side down. Grill the vegetables, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
Transfer to a cutting board. Halve the beans crosswise and halve any large okra pieces lengthwise.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the panko and cook, stirring, until golden, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest; season with salt and pepper.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 3/4 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and return to the pot. Stir in the grilled okra and green beans, parmesan and garlic, stirring in enough of the reserved cooking water to loosen. Stir in the basil. Divide among bowls and top with the panko mixture.
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