There was a time when salads were little more than lettuce-tomatoes-onions-and-dressing (unless it was potato, egg or macaroni salad).
But salads can be so much more, as these six salads show. Check out the Hawaiian Macaroni Salad, the Sweet and Spicy Fruit Salad, or any of the others. Enjoy!
EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD
This is from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. For this recipe, she wrote, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”
Jolinda had originally posted this on about.com. Since then, about.com has become DotDash, and its various channels. While many of the recipes came over, this one didn't. Once I find a current link for it, I'll post it.
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked couscous
6 green onions, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp salt
dash pepper to taste
Preparation:
Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.
CONFETTI BEAN SALAD
Servings: 6
Source: The Diabetic Newsletter
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/43.shtml
Ingredients
16 ounces can mixed cut green & wax beans
1/4 cup onion, chopped
2 tablespoons pimiento, chopped
1/2 cup cider vinegar
Sugar substitute equivalent to 5 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon mixed pickling spices
1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
Crisp lettuce leaves
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
Directions
Drain beans, saving liquid.
Combine this liquid with vinegar in a saucepan.
Add mixed pickling spice, either loose or in a small cheesecloth bag.
Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix all the vegetables in a bowl.
Remove liquid from heat; add sweetener and stir until dissolved.
Pour over vegetables and remove spice bag or loose spices.
Chill several hours, stirring occasionally.
Drain before serving on crisp lettuce.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 28; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable
WINTER FRUIT SALAD
This is from OnTrackDiabetes, a site with some good information for diabetics and their families.
You can view this at https://www.ontrackdiabetes.com/recipes/salads/winter-fruit-salad.
Ingredients
8 red apples, such as Jonathan or Gala, cored and diced
8 green Bartlett or Anjou pears, cored and diced
4 cups fresh strawberries, stems removed, sliced
2 cups fresh orange juice
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur (optional)
sugar substitute, to taste (optional)
4 bananas, sliced
Directions
Place all of the fruit (except bananas), juices and liqueur (if using) in a large attractive bowl. Add sugar substitute, if using. Gently mix.
Cover bowl and refrigerate 4 to 8 hours, but no longer.
Just before serving, stir in banana slices.
Nutritional Information Per serving: 131 calories (5% calories from fat), 1 g protein, 1 g total fat (0.1 g saturated fat), 33 g carbohydrates, 5 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 1 mg sodium
Diabetic exchanges: 2 carbohydrate (fruit)
HAWAIIAN MACARONI SALAD
This yummy macaroni salad is from Christin Mahrlig on her very cool site, Spicy Southern Kitchen. If you’ve never heard of her site (or you have, but never checked it out), I suggest you check it out ASAP. Go ahead, I’ll wait…(Tap, tap, tap…).
Anyway, the recipe begins, “Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is so fabulously creamy and simple. This mayonnaise-based pasta salad makes a wonderful side for summer bbqs and picnics.”
Prep Time: 10 mins; Cook Time: 10 mins; Total Time: 20 mins; Servings: 10
To view this online, go to https://spicysouthernkitchen.com/hawaiian-macaroni-salad/.
Ingredients
16 ounces elbow pasta
1/4 cup grated onion
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 cups mayonnaise
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon sugar
2 shredded carrots
salt and pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoons kosher salt. Cook pasta according to package directions.
Place onion in a large bowl. When pasta is done, drain it well and add it to the bowl. Add garlic powder and apple cider vinegar and stir. Let sit 10 minutes.
In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, milk, and sugar.
Set aside about 1/2 a cup and add the rest to the macaroni along with carrots. Stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Cover and refrigerate both the bowl of macaroni salad and the reserved 1/2 a cup of mayonnaise mixture. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Stir in the reserved mayonnaise mixture just before serving.
Recipe Notes
Be sure not to overcook your pasta or it will have a mushy texture.
If you to dress it up some, add diced ham or chopped pineapple.
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
SWEET AND SPICY FRUIT SALAD
This recipe comes from Melissa Clark, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Most fruit salads consist of little more than diced fruit mixed in a bowl. They are simple and satisfying, but not necessarily special. This one is a more sophisticated take. It calls for a star anise- and chile-infused simple syrup, which adds sweetness and musky, spicy complexity. In addition to fruit, herbs – tarragon and basil – are tossed in for freshness. You can use whatever fruit you like as long as it is sweet and ripe. Eat the salad as it is, or top it with either mascarpone for a mellow, creamy note, or crumbled ricotta salata for something savory and bracing. Feel free to play around with other toppings as well. In the mellow category are fresh ricotta, crème fraîche, sour cream or ice cream. For something on the salty side, try shaved Parmesan, crumbled feta or goat cheese.” Yield: 2 to 12 servings; Time: 25 minutes.
This was featured in “A Fruit Salad Both Sweet and Spicy” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 serrano chile, halved
1 whole dried star anise
7 to 8 cups mixed cut fruit, like kiwi, peaches, plums, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, mango, pineapple, oranges, grapefruit, pears or bananas
2 teaspoons chopped tarragon
2 teaspoons chopped basil
Flaky sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Mascarpone or crumbled ricotta salata, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Place sugar, 3/4 cup water, chile and star anise in a small pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture is as thick as maple syrup and spicy tasting. Strain syrup. (Syrup can be made up to 1 week in advance; store in the refrigerator.)
Toss fruit with half of the sugar syrup, the tarragon and the basil. Add more syrup to taste, depending on how sweet and spicy you want the salad. Season very lightly with salt and pepper. If desired, add dollops of mascarpone or crumbled ricotta salata on top.
Vegetarian Recipes, along with occasional photos, tips (becoming a vegetarian, degrees of vegetarianism, products, being a vegetarian in a houseful of carnivores) and helpful hints. Not sure about becoming a vegetarian? Try a Meatless Monday (or any other day of the week). Helpful hints and recipes for good eating, any time.
Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring
Showing posts with label Ambrosia Salad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ambrosia Salad. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Salads
For years, salads were thought of as nothing more than lettuce, tomatoes, maybe a cut up onion, and dressing.
And while that is perfectly fine, that's far from the only way to enjoy a salad, as the following recipes show. Check out the Creamy Coleslaw or Bell Pepper Salad, and go from there. Enjoy!
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
CORN SALAD
This simple (and simply yummy) recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. Lena wrote, “The quintessential summer salad.”
Yields: 4 – 6 servings; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes.
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
4 c. fresh or frozen corn, defrosted
1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 c. crumbled feta
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
1/4 c. basil, thinly sliced
3 tbsp. olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
CREAMY COLESLAW
This is from a Weight Watcher's emailing list from y-e-a-r-s ago. The recipe began, “Richly-flavored sesame oil and piquant cilantro add a distinctly Asian flavor to America's favorite side dish — lightened up.”
At the time it was posted, it had a points value of 1.
Servings: 4 (about 1 cup per serving); Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 0 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
3/4 pound packaged coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots)
1 medium red onion(s), thinly sliced
1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1 tsp dark sesame oil
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
2 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss until thoroughly combined. Cover with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.
INA GARTEN'S MAPLE-ROASTED CARROT SALAD
Recipe from ‘Cooking for Jeffrey,’ by Ina Garten
To view this online, click here.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes
Ingredients
2 pounds carrots, preferably with leafy tops
Good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup pure Grade A maple syrup
2/3 cup dried cranberries
2/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (2 oranges)
3 tablespoons sherry wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, grated on a Microplane
6 ounces baby arugula
6 ounces goat cheese, such as Montrachet, medium-diced
2/3 cup roasted, salted Marcona almonds
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Trim and scrub the carrots. If the carrots are more than 1 inch in diameter, cut them in half lengthwise. Cut the carrots in large diagonal slices 1 inch wide × 2 inches long (they will shrink when they roast) and place in a medium bowl with ¼ cup of olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Toss well and transfer to two sheet pans. (If you use just one, they’ll steam instead of roasting.) Roast for 20 minutes, tossing once, until the carrots are tender. Transfer all the carrots to one of the sheet pans, add the maple syrup, toss, and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until the edges are caramelized. Watch them carefully! Toss with a metal spatula and set aside for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the cranberries and orange juice in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer, then set aside for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Place the arugula in a large bowl and add the carrots, cranberries (with their liquid), goat cheese, almonds, and the vinaigrette. Toss with large spoons, sprinkle with salt, and serve at room temperature.
SWEET AND SPICY FRUIT SALAD
This recipe comes from Melissa Clark, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Most fruit salads consist of little more than diced fruit mixed in a bowl. They are simple and satisfying, but not necessarily special. This one is a more sophisticated take. It calls for a star anise- and chile-infused simple syrup, which adds sweetness and musky, spicy complexity. In addition to fruit, herbs – tarragon and basil – are tossed in for freshness. You can use whatever fruit you like as long as it is sweet and ripe. Eat the salad as it is, or top it with either mascarpone for a mellow, creamy note, or crumbled ricotta salata for something savory and bracing. Feel free to play around with other toppings as well. In the mellow category are fresh ricotta, crème fraîche, sour cream or ice cream. For something on the salty side, try shaved Parmesan, crumbled feta or goat cheese.” Yield: 2 to 12 servings; Time: 25 minutes.
This was featured in “A Fruit Salad Both Sweet and Spicy” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 serrano chile, halved
1 whole dried star anise
7 to 8 cups mixed cut fruit, like kiwi, peaches, plums, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, mango, pineapple, oranges, grapefruit, pears or bananas
2 teaspoons chopped tarragon
2 teaspoons chopped basil
Flaky sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Mascarpone or crumbled ricotta salata, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Place sugar, 3/4 cup water, chile and star anise in a small pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture is as thick as maple syrup and spicy tasting. Strain syrup. (Syrup can be made up to 1 week in advance; store in the refrigerator.)
Toss fruit with half of the sugar syrup, the tarragon and the basil. Add more syrup to taste, depending on how sweet and spicy you want the salad. Season very lightly with salt and pepper. If desired, add dollops of mascarpone or crumbled ricotta salata on top.
BELL PEPPER SALAD
Servings: 4
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/40.shtml
Source: The Diabetic Newsletter
Ingredients
1 medium-sized red bell pepper
1/2 cup creamy garlic dressing
1 medium-sized green bell pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 medium-sized yellow bell pepper
2 teaspoons capers, rinsed and drained
Directions
Preheat broiler.
Place bell peppers under broiler and lightly charred, turning to grill all sides.
Remove from broiler to a paper bag. Close bag and set aside.
When peppers cool, peel, core, seed and cut into strips.
Arrange peppers on a platter, alternating colors so that they form a petal, and spoon dressing over them.
Sprinkle with black pepper.
Garnish with capers and serve warm or chilled.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 30; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 67 mg; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: Sodium: 67 mg
And while that is perfectly fine, that's far from the only way to enjoy a salad, as the following recipes show. Check out the Creamy Coleslaw or Bell Pepper Salad, and go from there. Enjoy!
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
CORN SALAD
This simple (and simply yummy) recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. Lena wrote, “The quintessential summer salad.”
Yields: 4 – 6 servings; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes.
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
4 c. fresh or frozen corn, defrosted
1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 c. crumbled feta
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
1/4 c. basil, thinly sliced
3 tbsp. olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
CREAMY COLESLAW
This is from a Weight Watcher's emailing list from y-e-a-r-s ago. The recipe began, “Richly-flavored sesame oil and piquant cilantro add a distinctly Asian flavor to America's favorite side dish — lightened up.”
At the time it was posted, it had a points value of 1.
Servings: 4 (about 1 cup per serving); Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 0 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
3/4 pound packaged coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots)
1 medium red onion(s), thinly sliced
1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1 tsp dark sesame oil
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
2 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss until thoroughly combined. Cover with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.
INA GARTEN'S MAPLE-ROASTED CARROT SALAD
Recipe from ‘Cooking for Jeffrey,’ by Ina Garten
To view this online, click here.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes
Ingredients
2 pounds carrots, preferably with leafy tops
Good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup pure Grade A maple syrup
2/3 cup dried cranberries
2/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (2 oranges)
3 tablespoons sherry wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, grated on a Microplane
6 ounces baby arugula
6 ounces goat cheese, such as Montrachet, medium-diced
2/3 cup roasted, salted Marcona almonds
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Trim and scrub the carrots. If the carrots are more than 1 inch in diameter, cut them in half lengthwise. Cut the carrots in large diagonal slices 1 inch wide × 2 inches long (they will shrink when they roast) and place in a medium bowl with ¼ cup of olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Toss well and transfer to two sheet pans. (If you use just one, they’ll steam instead of roasting.) Roast for 20 minutes, tossing once, until the carrots are tender. Transfer all the carrots to one of the sheet pans, add the maple syrup, toss, and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until the edges are caramelized. Watch them carefully! Toss with a metal spatula and set aside for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the cranberries and orange juice in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer, then set aside for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Place the arugula in a large bowl and add the carrots, cranberries (with their liquid), goat cheese, almonds, and the vinaigrette. Toss with large spoons, sprinkle with salt, and serve at room temperature.
SWEET AND SPICY FRUIT SALAD
This recipe comes from Melissa Clark, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Most fruit salads consist of little more than diced fruit mixed in a bowl. They are simple and satisfying, but not necessarily special. This one is a more sophisticated take. It calls for a star anise- and chile-infused simple syrup, which adds sweetness and musky, spicy complexity. In addition to fruit, herbs – tarragon and basil – are tossed in for freshness. You can use whatever fruit you like as long as it is sweet and ripe. Eat the salad as it is, or top it with either mascarpone for a mellow, creamy note, or crumbled ricotta salata for something savory and bracing. Feel free to play around with other toppings as well. In the mellow category are fresh ricotta, crème fraîche, sour cream or ice cream. For something on the salty side, try shaved Parmesan, crumbled feta or goat cheese.” Yield: 2 to 12 servings; Time: 25 minutes.
This was featured in “A Fruit Salad Both Sweet and Spicy” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 serrano chile, halved
1 whole dried star anise
7 to 8 cups mixed cut fruit, like kiwi, peaches, plums, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, mango, pineapple, oranges, grapefruit, pears or bananas
2 teaspoons chopped tarragon
2 teaspoons chopped basil
Flaky sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Mascarpone or crumbled ricotta salata, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Place sugar, 3/4 cup water, chile and star anise in a small pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture is as thick as maple syrup and spicy tasting. Strain syrup. (Syrup can be made up to 1 week in advance; store in the refrigerator.)
Toss fruit with half of the sugar syrup, the tarragon and the basil. Add more syrup to taste, depending on how sweet and spicy you want the salad. Season very lightly with salt and pepper. If desired, add dollops of mascarpone or crumbled ricotta salata on top.
BELL PEPPER SALAD
Servings: 4
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/40.shtml
Source: The Diabetic Newsletter
Ingredients
1 medium-sized red bell pepper
1/2 cup creamy garlic dressing
1 medium-sized green bell pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 medium-sized yellow bell pepper
2 teaspoons capers, rinsed and drained
Directions
Preheat broiler.
Place bell peppers under broiler and lightly charred, turning to grill all sides.
Remove from broiler to a paper bag. Close bag and set aside.
When peppers cool, peel, core, seed and cut into strips.
Arrange peppers on a platter, alternating colors so that they form a petal, and spoon dressing over them.
Sprinkle with black pepper.
Garnish with capers and serve warm or chilled.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 30; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 67 mg; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: Sodium: 67 mg
Monday, January 21, 2019
Monday Recipes
It's the beginning of the work week, a time when we could use a little inspiration, food-wise. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Vegan Chili and Chocolate Mousse. Enjoy!
COCONUT RICE
This is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Coconut milk lends rice both fat and sweetness, making it a richer, more mellow side than plain rice. To make it, simply replace half of the cooking water with coconut milk. It becomes a meal if you serve it with a fried egg, finely sliced pickled chiles with a little of their pickling liquid and some crushed peanuts. And if you wanted to turn it into dessert, serving it with ripe fruit like cut mango on top, you could stick to the recipe below, but bump the sugar up to 2 tablespoons.”
Yield: 3 to 4 servings; Time: 35 minutes
To view this recipe online, click here.
LEARN: How to Make Rice
Ingredients
1 cup long-grain white rice, such as jasmine
3/4 cup coconut milk
1 scant tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
3/4 cup water
Preparation
Rinse the rice a few times, until the water that drains away runs almost completely clear.
Put in a medium, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat with coconut milk, water, sugar and salt. When the liquid comes up to a boil, give it a good stir, scraping the bottom of the pot. Cover the pot and turn the heat down to low.
Cook for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the rice rest for 10 minutes. Mix gently with a flexible rubber spatula. Taste, season with salt and serve.
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

I saw something similar to this a few years back and tweaked it a little. For anyone who is sure that he or she won't like tofu, this may be the game-changer.

Ingredients
1 10-12 ounce tub of silken tofu
12 ounce bag of chocolate chips
2 - 3 tablespoons milk (you can use soy milk, if you prefer)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Directions
Melt chocolate chips along with the milk over low to medium heat, stirring constantly.
Place silken tofu, melted chocolate chips, vanilla, and syrup into blender. Blend on a medium setting, pulsing if needed to combine.
Pour into 4 bowls or small cups, and let cool for 10 minutes or so.
Dig in! Yum!
VEGAN CHILI
This yummy recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. The recipe begins with the words, “Hearty and healthy.” Works for me!
Yields: 6; Prep Times: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 bell peppers, diced
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (12-oz) bottle Mexican beer such as Modelo
1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28-oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2 c. vegetable broth
For Topping
1 avocado, sliced
Lime wedges
thinly sliced scallions
Directions
In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add peppers, onions and celery and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
Add beer and cook until it has reduced by half, about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sweet potato, black and pinto beans, tomatoes and vegetable broth. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced and sweet potatoes are cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
Serve with the toppings of your choice.
EAST COAST GRILL’S CORNBREAD
This comes from Sam Sifton, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This corn bread, adapted from the one developed by Chris Schlesinger and served at his East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass., is lofty and sweet, crusty and cakelike, moist and ethereal. As Sam Sifton said in the 2012 article that accompanied the recipe, it is ‘the corn bread to become a child’s favorite, to become the only corn bread that matters. All else is not corn bread.’” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “The Corn Bread Matters Most”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
CANDIED GINGER PUMPKIN PIE
This was posted on the Vegetarian Times site on November 4, 2007, and begins, “The secret ingredient in this lightly spiced pie is sweetened condensed milk, which gives the filling a silky-smooth texture.”
Makes 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 15-oz. can unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 14-oz. can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
4 large eggs
1 9-inch graham cracker piecrust
1/4 cup chopped candied ginger
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together pumpkin purée and sweetened condensed milk in large bowl. Whisk in eggs and pinch of salt. Pour filling into graham cracker crust and bake 30 minutes.
Sprinkle chopped ginger on top and bake 25 to 30 minutes more, or until knife inserted in side of filling (not center), comes out clean. Cool, and refrigerate 3 hours, or overnight.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 266; Carbohydrate Content: 47 g; Fat Content: 5 g; Fiber Content: 2 g; Protein Content: 8 g; Saturated Fat Content: 2 g; Sodium Content: 141 mg; Sugar Content: 37 g
COCONUT RICE
This is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Coconut milk lends rice both fat and sweetness, making it a richer, more mellow side than plain rice. To make it, simply replace half of the cooking water with coconut milk. It becomes a meal if you serve it with a fried egg, finely sliced pickled chiles with a little of their pickling liquid and some crushed peanuts. And if you wanted to turn it into dessert, serving it with ripe fruit like cut mango on top, you could stick to the recipe below, but bump the sugar up to 2 tablespoons.”
Yield: 3 to 4 servings; Time: 35 minutes
To view this recipe online, click here.
LEARN: How to Make Rice
Ingredients
1 cup long-grain white rice, such as jasmine
3/4 cup coconut milk
1 scant tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
3/4 cup water
Preparation
Rinse the rice a few times, until the water that drains away runs almost completely clear.
Put in a medium, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat with coconut milk, water, sugar and salt. When the liquid comes up to a boil, give it a good stir, scraping the bottom of the pot. Cover the pot and turn the heat down to low.
Cook for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the rice rest for 10 minutes. Mix gently with a flexible rubber spatula. Taste, season with salt and serve.
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

I saw something similar to this a few years back and tweaked it a little. For anyone who is sure that he or she won't like tofu, this may be the game-changer.

Ingredients
1 10-12 ounce tub of silken tofu
12 ounce bag of chocolate chips
2 - 3 tablespoons milk (you can use soy milk, if you prefer)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Directions
Melt chocolate chips along with the milk over low to medium heat, stirring constantly.
Place silken tofu, melted chocolate chips, vanilla, and syrup into blender. Blend on a medium setting, pulsing if needed to combine.
Pour into 4 bowls or small cups, and let cool for 10 minutes or so.
Dig in! Yum!
VEGAN CHILI
This yummy recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. The recipe begins with the words, “Hearty and healthy.” Works for me!
Yields: 6; Prep Times: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 bell peppers, diced
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (12-oz) bottle Mexican beer such as Modelo
1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28-oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2 c. vegetable broth
For Topping
1 avocado, sliced
Lime wedges
thinly sliced scallions
Directions
In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add peppers, onions and celery and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
Add beer and cook until it has reduced by half, about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sweet potato, black and pinto beans, tomatoes and vegetable broth. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced and sweet potatoes are cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
Serve with the toppings of your choice.
EAST COAST GRILL’S CORNBREAD
This comes from Sam Sifton, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This corn bread, adapted from the one developed by Chris Schlesinger and served at his East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass., is lofty and sweet, crusty and cakelike, moist and ethereal. As Sam Sifton said in the 2012 article that accompanied the recipe, it is ‘the corn bread to become a child’s favorite, to become the only corn bread that matters. All else is not corn bread.’” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “The Corn Bread Matters Most”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
CANDIED GINGER PUMPKIN PIE
This was posted on the Vegetarian Times site on November 4, 2007, and begins, “The secret ingredient in this lightly spiced pie is sweetened condensed milk, which gives the filling a silky-smooth texture.”
Makes 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 15-oz. can unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 14-oz. can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
4 large eggs
1 9-inch graham cracker piecrust
1/4 cup chopped candied ginger
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together pumpkin purée and sweetened condensed milk in large bowl. Whisk in eggs and pinch of salt. Pour filling into graham cracker crust and bake 30 minutes.
Sprinkle chopped ginger on top and bake 25 to 30 minutes more, or until knife inserted in side of filling (not center), comes out clean. Cool, and refrigerate 3 hours, or overnight.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 266; Carbohydrate Content: 47 g; Fat Content: 5 g; Fiber Content: 2 g; Protein Content: 8 g; Saturated Fat Content: 2 g; Sodium Content: 141 mg; Sugar Content: 37 g
Friday, August 10, 2018
Friday Recipes
Are you ready for the weekend? I know I am. Here are six recipes sure to help you through the weekend, including Thai Stir-Fried Vegetables with Garlic Ginger and Lime and Ultra-Easy Pot Pie. Enjoy!
CRANBERRY PUMPKIN BREAD
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 2 loaves, 16 servings each.
Ingredients
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
dash salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup egg substitute or egg whites
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 can pumpkin
1/3 cup applesauce applesauce
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 tablespoons chopped nuts, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two loaf pans with vegetable spray.
Mix flour, brown sugar and spices in large bowl. In another, mix together all but nuts until well blended. Stir into flour mixture until moistened. Pour into pans and sprinkle with nuts, if desired.
Bake 55-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, then remove from pan.
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
LAYERS OF LOVE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Love will follow you after you try this recipe....At least chocolate-lovers will follow you!”
Serves: 16 brownies; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes
View this online here.
Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Baking Cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut in pieces
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 large eggs, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Premier White Morsels
1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 8-inch-square baking pan.
Combine cocoa, flour and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Reserve 3/4 cup batter. Spread remaining batter into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle pecans and white morsels over batter. Drizzle caramel topping over top. Beat remaining egg and reserved batter in same large bowl until light in color. Stir in semi-sweet morsels. Spread evenly over caramel topping.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares.
THAI STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES WITH GARLIC, GINGER, AND LIME
This is from Darlene Schmidt on The Spruce Eats. Darlene wrote, “Making a 'simple stir-fry' isn't always all that simple if you can't get the stir-fry sauce to taste just right. But with this no-fail recipe for Thai stir-fried vegetables, the technique is a shoe-in mostly because the sauce is made up before beginning to fry the vegetables, allowing you to adjust the flavors to your liking. This can be made vegetarian/vegan by substituting soy sauce for the fish sauce.
“This is quite a 'saucy' stir-fry that is never dry and is terrific served over rice or noodles. Feel free to experiment with your own choice of vegetables, using whatever is fresh and available where you live.
“Great as a side dish, you can turn it into a main course by adding tofu, wheat gluten, cashews, cooked shrimp or slices of chicken as a protein source.
“Best of all it takes about 20 minutes from start to finish—perfect for gathering the family around the table for a weeknight meal. Things will go even faster if much of the slicing, dicing, and chopping is done the night before.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup shallots (finely chopped, or purple onion)
5 to 6 cloves garlic (minced or finely chopped)
1 to 2 pieces galangal (thumb-size OR ginger, sliced into thin matchstick pieces)
1/2 to 1 small fresh red chili (sliced OR 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes)
1 medium-size carrot (sliced)
5 to 6 shiitake mushrooms (sliced or left in halves or quarters)
Optional: 1 small head cauliflower (cut into florets)
1 small head broccoli (cut into florets)
1 red bell pepper (sliced into strips)
2 to 3 cups baby bok choy (or other Chinese cabbage, leaves left whole if not too large, otherwise cut in half or thirds)
1 handful fresh Thai basil (chopped)
For the Stir-Fry Sauce
2/3 cup coconut milk
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/3 to 1/2 teaspoons dried crushed chili flakes
2 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
Directions
Make the Stir-Fry Sauce
In a large cup or small bowl, combine coconut milk, soy sauce, lime juice, chili flakes, and brown sugar, stirring well to dissolve the sugar. Taste-test, keeping in mind that the first taste should be spicy-salty, followed by sweetness and the rich taste of the coconut milk.
Adjust these flavors to suit your taste, adding more lime juice if too sweet or salty (note that it will be less salty when combined with the vegetables).
Stir-Fry the Dish
Warm a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil and swirl around, then add the shallots, garlic, galangal, and chili. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes, then add the carrot, mushrooms, optional cauliflower, and 1/4 of the stir-fry sauce. Continue stir-frying 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the broccoli and red pepper plus enough stir-fry sauce to gently simmer vegetables (about 2 minutes). This is meant to be a "saucy" stir-fry that is never dry so the sauce can flavor the rice or noodles it is served with.
Finally, add the bok choy or Chinese cabbage. Add more of the stir-fry sauce as needed, almost enough to just cover vegetables in sauce. Simmer until bok choy or cabbage is cooked but still bright green with some crispness (2 to 3 minutes more).
Remove from heat and taste-test. If not salty enough, add a little more soy sauce. If too salty or sweet, add a squeeze of lime juice. Add more sugar or chili if desired.
Top with fresh basil and serve over Thai jasmine rice or Thai coconut rice.
Note: Any leftover stir-fry sauce can be stored for 1 week in a covered container in your refrigerator for future stir-fries.
Main Course Variation
Use this sauce to make a main course dish by adding tofu/cashews.
ROASTED TOMATO AND CORN RISOTTO WITH ARUGULA BASIL PESTO
This comes from Heather Christo on The Today Show’s recipes site. The recipe begins, “Risotto is one of the most versatile recipes out there; you can add virtually any ingredients you like—from beets or red wine and bacon to zucchini or butternut squash—and create a beautiful, tasty, seasonal dish. Since this version omits the Parmesan cheese and butter typically added to risottos, it is a lighter dish, and the flavors of whatever ingredients you add really get a chance to shine. If you stir diligently, the final result will still be quite creamy. This pesto sauce features blanched garlic, arugula, and basil, which mellows the garlic flavor and gives the sauce a bright green color that doesn't turn brown like most other pestos.” Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 6 - 8.
Note: The recipe originally calls for chicken stock or vegetable stock; for this blog, I've kept it at only vegetable stock.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Roasted Vegetables
1⁄4 cup raw corn kernels
2 cups cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
Arugula Basil Pesto
3 cloves garlic
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
4 cups packed arugula leaves
1⁄4 cup olive oil
1⁄4 cup rice vinegar
Kosher salt
Risotto
6 cups vegetable stock
1⁄4 cup olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely diced
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
1 cup raw corn kernels
Kosher salt
2 cups fresh arugula
1 avocado, peeled and diced
1 teaspoon olive oil
Kosher salt
Small fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
To prepare the roasted vegetables: Preheat the oven to 450º F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the corn kernels and the cherry tomatoes on the baking sheet and drizzle the oil over the top.
To make the arugula basil pesto: Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice and water. Add the garlic cloves to the boiling water. After 20 seconds, add the basil and arugula and blanch for 8 to 10 seconds. Scoop out the basil, arugula, and garlic with a large strainer and immediately plunge into the ice water.
Wring the herbs of the extra water and put them in a blender with the blanched garlic, olive oil, and vinegar. Puree on high until smooth and then season with salt. Set aside.
To make the risotto: In a medium pot, heat the vegetable stock over medium-low heat.
In a large heavy pan or pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes, until soft.
Add the rice and cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes until the rice is translucent except for a white center.
Start adding the hot vegetable stock 1 cup at a time while continuously stirring with a wooden spoon. As the stock is absorbed, add another cup. Continue until all the stock has been incorporated and the rice is cooked to al dente. This should take about 20 minutes. In the final minute, add the corn.
Remove from the heat and stir in the basil arugula pesto. Season with salt.
Seven minutes before the risotto is to be finished, put the tomatoes and corn in the oven and roast for 7 minutes, until sizzling and golden. The tomatoes will burst.
In a small bowl, gently toss the arugula and avocado with the olive oil and a little salt.
Spoon the risotto into bowls and top with some of the salad and roasted cherry tomatoes. Garnish with the roasted corn and some small fresh basil leaves, if desired.
Enjoy!
ULTRA-EASY POT PIE
This comes from page 43 of the March 2016 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “You can have all of the ingredients on hand for this pot pie and whip it up any time you need a hot, satisfying meal.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
2 Tbs. cornstarch
1 1/3 cups prepared vegan creamy potato-leek soup
1/2 tsp. dried crushed rosemary
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
2 10-oz. pkg. frozen mixed vegetables, thawed and drained
1 sheet vegan puff pastry, from 17.3-oz pkg., thawed
Position oven racks in middle and bottom positions, and preheat oven to 450˚F.
Whisk 2 Tbs. cold water into cornstarch in medium saucepan. Whisk in soup, rosemary, and cumin, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium, and simmer 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, stir in vegetables, then spread mixture in 9-inch deep-dish pie pan.
Unfold puff pastry, and place over vegetable mixture; allow pastry to drape over pie pan. Trim pastry edges with scissors or sharp knife so that it fits tightly in pan. Prick pastry all over with fork or knife. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until puff pastry is puffed and golden.
nutritional information Per Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 373; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 42 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 607 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan
CRANBERRY PUMPKIN BREAD
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 2 loaves, 16 servings each.
Ingredients
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
dash salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup egg substitute or egg whites
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 can pumpkin
1/3 cup applesauce applesauce
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 tablespoons chopped nuts, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two loaf pans with vegetable spray.
Mix flour, brown sugar and spices in large bowl. In another, mix together all but nuts until well blended. Stir into flour mixture until moistened. Pour into pans and sprinkle with nuts, if desired.
Bake 55-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, then remove from pan.
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
LAYERS OF LOVE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Love will follow you after you try this recipe....At least chocolate-lovers will follow you!”
Serves: 16 brownies; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes
View this online here.
Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Baking Cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut in pieces
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 large eggs, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Premier White Morsels
1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 8-inch-square baking pan.
Combine cocoa, flour and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Reserve 3/4 cup batter. Spread remaining batter into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle pecans and white morsels over batter. Drizzle caramel topping over top. Beat remaining egg and reserved batter in same large bowl until light in color. Stir in semi-sweet morsels. Spread evenly over caramel topping.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares.
THAI STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES WITH GARLIC, GINGER, AND LIME
This is from Darlene Schmidt on The Spruce Eats. Darlene wrote, “Making a 'simple stir-fry' isn't always all that simple if you can't get the stir-fry sauce to taste just right. But with this no-fail recipe for Thai stir-fried vegetables, the technique is a shoe-in mostly because the sauce is made up before beginning to fry the vegetables, allowing you to adjust the flavors to your liking. This can be made vegetarian/vegan by substituting soy sauce for the fish sauce.
“This is quite a 'saucy' stir-fry that is never dry and is terrific served over rice or noodles. Feel free to experiment with your own choice of vegetables, using whatever is fresh and available where you live.
“Great as a side dish, you can turn it into a main course by adding tofu, wheat gluten, cashews, cooked shrimp or slices of chicken as a protein source.
“Best of all it takes about 20 minutes from start to finish—perfect for gathering the family around the table for a weeknight meal. Things will go even faster if much of the slicing, dicing, and chopping is done the night before.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup shallots (finely chopped, or purple onion)
5 to 6 cloves garlic (minced or finely chopped)
1 to 2 pieces galangal (thumb-size OR ginger, sliced into thin matchstick pieces)
1/2 to 1 small fresh red chili (sliced OR 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes)
1 medium-size carrot (sliced)
5 to 6 shiitake mushrooms (sliced or left in halves or quarters)
Optional: 1 small head cauliflower (cut into florets)
1 small head broccoli (cut into florets)
1 red bell pepper (sliced into strips)
2 to 3 cups baby bok choy (or other Chinese cabbage, leaves left whole if not too large, otherwise cut in half or thirds)
1 handful fresh Thai basil (chopped)
For the Stir-Fry Sauce
2/3 cup coconut milk
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/3 to 1/2 teaspoons dried crushed chili flakes
2 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
Directions
Make the Stir-Fry Sauce
In a large cup or small bowl, combine coconut milk, soy sauce, lime juice, chili flakes, and brown sugar, stirring well to dissolve the sugar. Taste-test, keeping in mind that the first taste should be spicy-salty, followed by sweetness and the rich taste of the coconut milk.
Adjust these flavors to suit your taste, adding more lime juice if too sweet or salty (note that it will be less salty when combined with the vegetables).
Stir-Fry the Dish
Warm a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil and swirl around, then add the shallots, garlic, galangal, and chili. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes, then add the carrot, mushrooms, optional cauliflower, and 1/4 of the stir-fry sauce. Continue stir-frying 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the broccoli and red pepper plus enough stir-fry sauce to gently simmer vegetables (about 2 minutes). This is meant to be a "saucy" stir-fry that is never dry so the sauce can flavor the rice or noodles it is served with.
Finally, add the bok choy or Chinese cabbage. Add more of the stir-fry sauce as needed, almost enough to just cover vegetables in sauce. Simmer until bok choy or cabbage is cooked but still bright green with some crispness (2 to 3 minutes more).
Remove from heat and taste-test. If not salty enough, add a little more soy sauce. If too salty or sweet, add a squeeze of lime juice. Add more sugar or chili if desired.
Top with fresh basil and serve over Thai jasmine rice or Thai coconut rice.
Note: Any leftover stir-fry sauce can be stored for 1 week in a covered container in your refrigerator for future stir-fries.
Main Course Variation
Use this sauce to make a main course dish by adding tofu/cashews.
ROASTED TOMATO AND CORN RISOTTO WITH ARUGULA BASIL PESTO
This comes from Heather Christo on The Today Show’s recipes site. The recipe begins, “Risotto is one of the most versatile recipes out there; you can add virtually any ingredients you like—from beets or red wine and bacon to zucchini or butternut squash—and create a beautiful, tasty, seasonal dish. Since this version omits the Parmesan cheese and butter typically added to risottos, it is a lighter dish, and the flavors of whatever ingredients you add really get a chance to shine. If you stir diligently, the final result will still be quite creamy. This pesto sauce features blanched garlic, arugula, and basil, which mellows the garlic flavor and gives the sauce a bright green color that doesn't turn brown like most other pestos.” Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 6 - 8.
Note: The recipe originally calls for chicken stock or vegetable stock; for this blog, I've kept it at only vegetable stock.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Roasted Vegetables
1⁄4 cup raw corn kernels
2 cups cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
Arugula Basil Pesto
3 cloves garlic
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
4 cups packed arugula leaves
1⁄4 cup olive oil
1⁄4 cup rice vinegar
Kosher salt
Risotto
6 cups vegetable stock
1⁄4 cup olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely diced
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
1 cup raw corn kernels
Kosher salt
2 cups fresh arugula
1 avocado, peeled and diced
1 teaspoon olive oil
Kosher salt
Small fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
To prepare the roasted vegetables: Preheat the oven to 450º F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the corn kernels and the cherry tomatoes on the baking sheet and drizzle the oil over the top.
To make the arugula basil pesto: Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice and water. Add the garlic cloves to the boiling water. After 20 seconds, add the basil and arugula and blanch for 8 to 10 seconds. Scoop out the basil, arugula, and garlic with a large strainer and immediately plunge into the ice water.
Wring the herbs of the extra water and put them in a blender with the blanched garlic, olive oil, and vinegar. Puree on high until smooth and then season with salt. Set aside.
To make the risotto: In a medium pot, heat the vegetable stock over medium-low heat.
In a large heavy pan or pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes, until soft.
Add the rice and cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes until the rice is translucent except for a white center.
Start adding the hot vegetable stock 1 cup at a time while continuously stirring with a wooden spoon. As the stock is absorbed, add another cup. Continue until all the stock has been incorporated and the rice is cooked to al dente. This should take about 20 minutes. In the final minute, add the corn.
Remove from the heat and stir in the basil arugula pesto. Season with salt.
Seven minutes before the risotto is to be finished, put the tomatoes and corn in the oven and roast for 7 minutes, until sizzling and golden. The tomatoes will burst.
In a small bowl, gently toss the arugula and avocado with the olive oil and a little salt.
Spoon the risotto into bowls and top with some of the salad and roasted cherry tomatoes. Garnish with the roasted corn and some small fresh basil leaves, if desired.
Enjoy!
ULTRA-EASY POT PIE
This comes from page 43 of the March 2016 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “You can have all of the ingredients on hand for this pot pie and whip it up any time you need a hot, satisfying meal.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
2 Tbs. cornstarch
1 1/3 cups prepared vegan creamy potato-leek soup
1/2 tsp. dried crushed rosemary
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
2 10-oz. pkg. frozen mixed vegetables, thawed and drained
1 sheet vegan puff pastry, from 17.3-oz pkg., thawed
Position oven racks in middle and bottom positions, and preheat oven to 450˚F.
Whisk 2 Tbs. cold water into cornstarch in medium saucepan. Whisk in soup, rosemary, and cumin, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium, and simmer 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, stir in vegetables, then spread mixture in 9-inch deep-dish pie pan.
Unfold puff pastry, and place over vegetable mixture; allow pastry to drape over pie pan. Trim pastry edges with scissors or sharp knife so that it fits tightly in pan. Prick pastry all over with fork or knife. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until puff pastry is puffed and golden.
nutritional information Per Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 373; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 42 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 607 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan
Monday, July 23, 2018
Monday Recipes
We've survived another weekend (a good thing!). But if you're like me, you probably didn't accomplish everything you intended to get done.
Did I get that one right? If the answer is yes, I thought so. But if you accomplished everything you planned, please give me a clue how you did it! Unless, of course, your plans were simply to veg out all weekend!
No matter, there's always next weekend!
In the meantime, here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Lasagna Roll-Ups and a Vegetable Frittata. Enjoy!
GRASSHOPPER BROWNIES
This is from Yossy Arefi in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Yossy wrote, “The classic grasshopper cocktail is made from equal parts crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and heavy cream. Its mint-chocolatey flavors translate perfectly to all sorts of desserts. These decadent layered bars start with a super fudgy brownie base, which is covered with crème de menthe infused buttercream, and a shell of rich chocolate ganache tops it all off. You could certainly substitute a bit more peppermint extract (about 2 teaspoons) and skip the alcohol in the crème de menthe if you’d like to keep these more family friendly. Peppermint extract varies quite a bit in intensity by brand, which is why a range is given, so taste as you go.”
Yield: One 8-by-8-inch pan, 16 servings; Time: About 1 hour plus chilling
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Brownie:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 large eggs
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup all purpose flour
For the Crème De Menthe Buttercream:
1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
2 tablespoons cream cheese, at room temperature
2 tablespoons crème de menthe
1/2 to 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Pinch kosher salt
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
For the Ganache:
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Pinch kosher salt
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees and line the bottom and sides of an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Make the brownies: In a heat-safe bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt the 8 ounces/227 grams bittersweet chocolate and 1/2 cup/113 grams butter, stirring occasionally until smooth.
In a separate large bowl, whisk the eggs and brown sugar together, until the mixture lightens a bit in color and texture, about 1 minute. Whisk in the cocoa powder, vanilla extract and salt, followed by the chocolate and butter mixture. Fold in the flour until just combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the brownies are set and a toothpick inserted into the center has a few moist crumbs, 20 to 25 minutes. Set the pan on a rack to cool completely.
Make the buttercream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the crème de menthe, 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract, and a pinch of salt and mix until smooth. Lower the mixer speed and slowly add the confectioners’ sugar. Increase the speed and beat until smooth. Taste and add more peppermint extract if desired.
Spread the buttercream over the cooled brownies, then refrigerate the brownies until the buttercream is cold and firm, about 30 minutes.
Make the ganache: Combine all of the ingredients for the ganache in a heat-safe bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Warm the mixture, stirring occasionally until it is melted and smooth. Pour the chocolate over the cooled buttercream and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Chill until the topping is set, about 30 minutes. Store the brownies in the refrigerator. For the cleanest slices make sure to remove the brownies from the pan and wipe off your knife in between cuts.
CRANBERRY PUMPKIN BREAD
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 2 loaves, 16 servings each.
Ingredients
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
dash salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup egg substitute or egg whites
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 can pumpkin
1/3 cup applesauce applesauce
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 tablespoons chopped nuts, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two loaf pans with vegetable spray.
Mix flour, brown sugar and spices in large bowl. In another, mix together all but nuts until well blended. Stir into flour mixture until moistened. Pour into pans and sprinkle with nuts, if desired.
Bake 55-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, then remove from pan.
VEGETABLE FRITTATA
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
Mixture of green peppers, red peppers, yellow peppers, onion, mushrooms, broccoli, squash (about 2-3 cups total)
Olive oil
5-6 eggs
Milk
About 1/2 cup grated cheese (Cheddar, Swiss or Parmesan)
Salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste
Parsley sprigs for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Gently saute the vegetables in a 9- or 10-inch oven-proof skillet in the olive oil until just soft.
Mix eggs with a little milk, then pour over and around the vegetables. Sprinkle cheese over the top.
Cook over medium heat enough to set the eggs, then place in the oven to finish the cooking. Bake until the top of the frittata is no longer runny. Garnish and serve.
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
LASAGNA ROLL-UPS
This recipe, from FamilyTime, begins, “These tender lasagna rolls are filled with a ricotta-mushroom-pesto mixture, and baked in a special sauce made by combining Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce and Pace® Picante Sauce.”
Serves: 4 servings (2 roll-ups each); Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 can (about 4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1/2 cup refrigerated pesto sauce
8 lasagna noodle, cooked and drained
2 cups Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce or Tomato, Basil & Garlic Italian Sauce
3/4 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (about 1 cup)
Directions
Stir the ricotta, mushrooms and pesto in a medium bowl. Top each noodle with 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture. Spread to the edges. Roll up like a jelly roll. Place the rolls seam-side down in a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Stir the Italian sauce and picante sauce in a small bowl and pour the mixture over the roll-ups.
Bake at 400°F. for 30 minutes or until they're hot and bubbling. Top with the mozzarella cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes.
STRAWBERRY SORBET
This comes from Amanda Hesser in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “This mouthwatering summer sorbet is an adaptation of one served at the River Café in London. Yes, it calls for an entire lemon (rind and all), but trust us: the sweet of the strawberries and sugar, the tart and bitter of the lemon – it all works together beautifully.”
Yield: Makes 1 1/2 quarters; Time: 10 minutes.
This was featured in “The Arsenal” and can be viewed online here.
By the way, I highly recommend The Times’ Melissa Clark’s “How to Make Ice Cream”. I dare you to check it out and not want to immediately start making ice cream!
Ingredients
1 whole lemon, seeded and roughly chopped
2 cups sugar
2 pounds strawberries, hulled
Juice of 1 to 2 lemons
Preparation
Place the chopped lemon and sugar in a food processor, and pulse until combined. Transfer to a bowl.
Purée the strawberries in a food processor, and add to the lemon mixture, along with the juice of 1 lemon. Taste and add more juice as desired. The lemon flavor should be intense but should not overpower the strawberries. Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine and churn until frozen.
Did I get that one right? If the answer is yes, I thought so. But if you accomplished everything you planned, please give me a clue how you did it! Unless, of course, your plans were simply to veg out all weekend!
No matter, there's always next weekend!
In the meantime, here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Lasagna Roll-Ups and a Vegetable Frittata. Enjoy!
GRASSHOPPER BROWNIES
This is from Yossy Arefi in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Yossy wrote, “The classic grasshopper cocktail is made from equal parts crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and heavy cream. Its mint-chocolatey flavors translate perfectly to all sorts of desserts. These decadent layered bars start with a super fudgy brownie base, which is covered with crème de menthe infused buttercream, and a shell of rich chocolate ganache tops it all off. You could certainly substitute a bit more peppermint extract (about 2 teaspoons) and skip the alcohol in the crème de menthe if you’d like to keep these more family friendly. Peppermint extract varies quite a bit in intensity by brand, which is why a range is given, so taste as you go.”
Yield: One 8-by-8-inch pan, 16 servings; Time: About 1 hour plus chilling
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Brownie:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 large eggs
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup all purpose flour
For the Crème De Menthe Buttercream:
1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
2 tablespoons cream cheese, at room temperature
2 tablespoons crème de menthe
1/2 to 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Pinch kosher salt
2 cups confectioner’s sugar
For the Ganache:
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Pinch kosher salt
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees and line the bottom and sides of an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Make the brownies: In a heat-safe bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt the 8 ounces/227 grams bittersweet chocolate and 1/2 cup/113 grams butter, stirring occasionally until smooth.
In a separate large bowl, whisk the eggs and brown sugar together, until the mixture lightens a bit in color and texture, about 1 minute. Whisk in the cocoa powder, vanilla extract and salt, followed by the chocolate and butter mixture. Fold in the flour until just combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the brownies are set and a toothpick inserted into the center has a few moist crumbs, 20 to 25 minutes. Set the pan on a rack to cool completely.
Make the buttercream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the crème de menthe, 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract, and a pinch of salt and mix until smooth. Lower the mixer speed and slowly add the confectioners’ sugar. Increase the speed and beat until smooth. Taste and add more peppermint extract if desired.
Spread the buttercream over the cooled brownies, then refrigerate the brownies until the buttercream is cold and firm, about 30 minutes.
Make the ganache: Combine all of the ingredients for the ganache in a heat-safe bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Warm the mixture, stirring occasionally until it is melted and smooth. Pour the chocolate over the cooled buttercream and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Chill until the topping is set, about 30 minutes. Store the brownies in the refrigerator. For the cleanest slices make sure to remove the brownies from the pan and wipe off your knife in between cuts.
CRANBERRY PUMPKIN BREAD
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 2 loaves, 16 servings each.
Ingredients
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
dash salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup egg substitute or egg whites
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 can pumpkin
1/3 cup applesauce applesauce
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 tablespoons chopped nuts, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two loaf pans with vegetable spray.
Mix flour, brown sugar and spices in large bowl. In another, mix together all but nuts until well blended. Stir into flour mixture until moistened. Pour into pans and sprinkle with nuts, if desired.
Bake 55-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, then remove from pan.
VEGETABLE FRITTATA
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
Mixture of green peppers, red peppers, yellow peppers, onion, mushrooms, broccoli, squash (about 2-3 cups total)
Olive oil
5-6 eggs
Milk
About 1/2 cup grated cheese (Cheddar, Swiss or Parmesan)
Salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste
Parsley sprigs for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Gently saute the vegetables in a 9- or 10-inch oven-proof skillet in the olive oil until just soft.
Mix eggs with a little milk, then pour over and around the vegetables. Sprinkle cheese over the top.
Cook over medium heat enough to set the eggs, then place in the oven to finish the cooking. Bake until the top of the frittata is no longer runny. Garnish and serve.
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
LASAGNA ROLL-UPS
This recipe, from FamilyTime, begins, “These tender lasagna rolls are filled with a ricotta-mushroom-pesto mixture, and baked in a special sauce made by combining Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce and Pace® Picante Sauce.”
Serves: 4 servings (2 roll-ups each); Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 can (about 4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1/2 cup refrigerated pesto sauce
8 lasagna noodle, cooked and drained
2 cups Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce or Tomato, Basil & Garlic Italian Sauce
3/4 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (about 1 cup)
Directions
Stir the ricotta, mushrooms and pesto in a medium bowl. Top each noodle with 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture. Spread to the edges. Roll up like a jelly roll. Place the rolls seam-side down in a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Stir the Italian sauce and picante sauce in a small bowl and pour the mixture over the roll-ups.
Bake at 400°F. for 30 minutes or until they're hot and bubbling. Top with the mozzarella cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes.
STRAWBERRY SORBET
This comes from Amanda Hesser in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “This mouthwatering summer sorbet is an adaptation of one served at the River Café in London. Yes, it calls for an entire lemon (rind and all), but trust us: the sweet of the strawberries and sugar, the tart and bitter of the lemon – it all works together beautifully.”
Yield: Makes 1 1/2 quarters; Time: 10 minutes.
This was featured in “The Arsenal” and can be viewed online here.
By the way, I highly recommend The Times’ Melissa Clark’s “How to Make Ice Cream”. I dare you to check it out and not want to immediately start making ice cream!
Ingredients
1 whole lemon, seeded and roughly chopped
2 cups sugar
2 pounds strawberries, hulled
Juice of 1 to 2 lemons
Preparation
Place the chopped lemon and sugar in a food processor, and pulse until combined. Transfer to a bowl.
Purée the strawberries in a food processor, and add to the lemon mixture, along with the juice of 1 lemon. Taste and add more juice as desired. The lemon flavor should be intense but should not overpower the strawberries. Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine and churn until frozen.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Wednesday Recipes
Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Vegan Chili and Chocolate Mousse. Enjoy!
COCONUT RICE
This is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Coconut milk lends rice both fat and sweetness, making it a richer, more mellow side than plain rice. To make it, simply replace half of the cooking water with coconut milk. It becomes a meal if you serve it with a fried egg, finely sliced pickled chiles with a little of their pickling liquid and some crushed peanuts. And if you wanted to turn it into dessert, serving it with ripe fruit like cut mango on top, you could stick to the recipe below, but bump the sugar up to 2 tablespoons.”
Yield: 3 to 4 servings; Time: 35 minutes
To view this recipe online, click here.
LEARN: How to Make Rice
Ingredients
1 cup long-grain white rice, such as jasmine
3/4 cup coconut milk
1 scant tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
3/4 cup water
Preparation
Rinse the rice a few times, until the water that drains away runs almost completely clear.
Put in a medium, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat with coconut milk, water, sugar and salt. When the liquid comes up to a boil, give it a good stir, scraping the bottom of the pot. Cover the pot and turn the heat down to low.
Cook for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the rice rest for 10 minutes. Mix gently with a flexible rubber spatula. Taste, season with salt and serve.
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

I saw something similar to this a few years back and tweaked it a little. For anyone who is sure that he or she won't like tofu, this may be the game-changer.

Ingredients
1 10-12 ounce tub of silken tofu
12 ounce bag of chocolate chips
2 - 3 tablespoons milk (you can use soy milk, if you prefer)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Directions
Melt chocolate chips along with the milk over low to medium heat, stirring constantly.
Place silken tofu, melted chocolate chips, vanilla, and syrup into blender. Blend on a medium setting, pulsing if needed to combine.
Pour into 4 bowls or small cups, and let cool for 10 minutes or so.
Dig in! Yum!
VEGAN CHILI
This yummy recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. The recipe begins with the words, “Hearty and healthy.” Works for me!
Yields: 6; Prep Times: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 bell peppers, diced
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (12-oz) bottle Mexican beer such as Modelo
1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28-oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2 c. vegetable broth
For Topping
1 avocado, sliced
Lime wedges
thinly sliced scallions
Directions
In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add peppers, onions and celery and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
Add beer and cook until it has reduced by half, about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sweet potato, black and pinto beans, tomatoes and vegetable broth. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced and sweet potatoes are cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
Serve with the toppings of your choice.
EAST COAST GRILL’S CORNBREAD
This comes from Sam Sifton, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This corn bread, adapted from the one developed by Chris Schlesinger and served at his East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass., is lofty and sweet, crusty and cakelike, moist and ethereal. As Sam Sifton said in the 2012 article that accompanied the recipe, it is ‘the corn bread to become a child’s favorite, to become the only corn bread that matters. All else is not corn bread.’” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “The Corn Bread Matters Most”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
CANDIED GINGER PUMPKIN PIE
This was posted on the Vegetarian Times site on November 4, 2007, and begins, “The secret ingredient in this lightly spiced pie is sweetened condensed milk, which gives the filling a silky-smooth texture.”
Makes 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 15-oz. can unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 14-oz. can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
4 large eggs
1 9-inch graham cracker piecrust
1/4 cup chopped candied ginger
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together pumpkin purée and sweetened condensed milk in large bowl. Whisk in eggs and pinch of salt. Pour filling into graham cracker crust and bake 30 minutes.
Sprinkle chopped ginger on top and bake 25 to 30 minutes more, or until knife inserted in side of filling (not center), comes out clean. Cool, and refrigerate 3 hours, or overnight.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 266; Carbohydrate Content: 47 g; Fat Content: 5 g; Fiber Content: 2 g; Protein Content: 8 g; Saturated Fat Content: 2 g; Sodium Content: 141 mg; Sugar Content: 37 g
COCONUT RICE
This is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Coconut milk lends rice both fat and sweetness, making it a richer, more mellow side than plain rice. To make it, simply replace half of the cooking water with coconut milk. It becomes a meal if you serve it with a fried egg, finely sliced pickled chiles with a little of their pickling liquid and some crushed peanuts. And if you wanted to turn it into dessert, serving it with ripe fruit like cut mango on top, you could stick to the recipe below, but bump the sugar up to 2 tablespoons.”
Yield: 3 to 4 servings; Time: 35 minutes
To view this recipe online, click here.
LEARN: How to Make Rice
Ingredients
1 cup long-grain white rice, such as jasmine
3/4 cup coconut milk
1 scant tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
3/4 cup water
Preparation
Rinse the rice a few times, until the water that drains away runs almost completely clear.
Put in a medium, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat with coconut milk, water, sugar and salt. When the liquid comes up to a boil, give it a good stir, scraping the bottom of the pot. Cover the pot and turn the heat down to low.
Cook for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the rice rest for 10 minutes. Mix gently with a flexible rubber spatula. Taste, season with salt and serve.
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

I saw something similar to this a few years back and tweaked it a little. For anyone who is sure that he or she won't like tofu, this may be the game-changer.

Ingredients
1 10-12 ounce tub of silken tofu
12 ounce bag of chocolate chips
2 - 3 tablespoons milk (you can use soy milk, if you prefer)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Directions
Melt chocolate chips along with the milk over low to medium heat, stirring constantly.
Place silken tofu, melted chocolate chips, vanilla, and syrup into blender. Blend on a medium setting, pulsing if needed to combine.
Pour into 4 bowls or small cups, and let cool for 10 minutes or so.
Dig in! Yum!
VEGAN CHILI
This yummy recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. The recipe begins with the words, “Hearty and healthy.” Works for me!
Yields: 6; Prep Times: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 bell peppers, diced
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (12-oz) bottle Mexican beer such as Modelo
1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28-oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2 c. vegetable broth
For Topping
1 avocado, sliced
Lime wedges
thinly sliced scallions
Directions
In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add peppers, onions and celery and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
Add beer and cook until it has reduced by half, about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sweet potato, black and pinto beans, tomatoes and vegetable broth. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced and sweet potatoes are cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
Serve with the toppings of your choice.
EAST COAST GRILL’S CORNBREAD
This comes from Sam Sifton, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This corn bread, adapted from the one developed by Chris Schlesinger and served at his East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass., is lofty and sweet, crusty and cakelike, moist and ethereal. As Sam Sifton said in the 2012 article that accompanied the recipe, it is ‘the corn bread to become a child’s favorite, to become the only corn bread that matters. All else is not corn bread.’” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “The Corn Bread Matters Most”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
CANDIED GINGER PUMPKIN PIE
This was posted on the Vegetarian Times site on November 4, 2007, and begins, “The secret ingredient in this lightly spiced pie is sweetened condensed milk, which gives the filling a silky-smooth texture.”
Makes 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 15-oz. can unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 14-oz. can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
4 large eggs
1 9-inch graham cracker piecrust
1/4 cup chopped candied ginger
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together pumpkin purée and sweetened condensed milk in large bowl. Whisk in eggs and pinch of salt. Pour filling into graham cracker crust and bake 30 minutes.
Sprinkle chopped ginger on top and bake 25 to 30 minutes more, or until knife inserted in side of filling (not center), comes out clean. Cool, and refrigerate 3 hours, or overnight.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 266; Carbohydrate Content: 47 g; Fat Content: 5 g; Fiber Content: 2 g; Protein Content: 8 g; Saturated Fat Content: 2 g; Sodium Content: 141 mg; Sugar Content: 37 g
Monday, June 4, 2018
Monday Recipes
I hope your weekend was good. If it was like mine, you probably didn't get around to doing everything you planned to do. And if you did accomplish everything you wanted to do, a definite Congratulations are in order!
Either way, here are six recipes to get your week started off right, including Lemon Bars and Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese. Enjoy!
CHOCOLATE-HONEY BROWNIE BARS
This is from Kraft Recipes, and begins, “These brownies not only have honey in the batter, but are also drizzled with a luscious chocolate-honey topping for an extra-special touch.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 24 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
2 pkg. (4 oz. each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. honey, divided
2 eggs
1 cup flour
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; spray with cooking spray. Microwave butter and 6 oz. chocolate in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Add sugar and 1/2 cup honey; mix well. Blend in eggs. Add flour; stir until blended. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely.
Microwave remaining chocolate and honey in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Drizzle over brownie.
Refrigerate 5 min. or until chocolate is firm. Use foil handles to remove brownie from pan before cutting into bars.
CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This comes from Alison Roman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Alison wrote, “Think Stouffer's without the freezer. While it can be enjoyed straight from the pot, this macaroni and cheese has a slightly looser sauce than the stovetop variety to allow for thickening in the oven. Bread crumbs, while optional, make it truly spectacular.”
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: about 1 hour
To view this online at the Times’ website, click here.
Ingredients
For the Macaroni and Cheese:
1 pound elbows, shells, cavatappi, farfalle, fusilli or other short, tube-shaped pasta
Kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
1 clove garlic, finely grated
1 teaspoon smoked or hot paprika
Freshly ground pepper
12 ounces sharp or white Cheddar cheese, grated
12 ounces fontina or Gruyère, grated
For the Topping (Optional):
1 cup coarse bread crumbs or panko
4 tablespoons melted butter or olive oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Preparation
Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it’s barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It’s going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 2-quart baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
VEGETABLE FRITTATA
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
Mixture of green peppers, red peppers, yellow peppers, onion, mushrooms, broccoli, squash (about 2-3 cups total)
Olive oil
5-6 eggs
Milk
About 1/2 cup grated cheese (Cheddar, Swiss or Parmesan)
Salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste
Parsley sprigs for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Gently saute the vegetables in a 9- or 10-inch oven-proof skillet in the olive oil until just soft.
Mix eggs with a little milk, then pour over and around the vegetables. Sprinkle cheese over the top.
Cook over medium heat enough to set the eggs, then place in the oven to finish the cooking. Bake until the top of the frittata is no longer runny. Garnish and serve.
SPAGHETTI WITH TOMATOES, BASIL, OLIVES AND FRESH MOZZARELLA
This is from Familytime, and begins, “Since the tomatoes here are not cooked, you’ll really notice their flavor.”
Serves: 4; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 13 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds vine ripened tomatoes, (about 6), chopped
3/4 pound salted mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4-inch cubes, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups chopped, fresh basil
1/2 cup halved and pitted black olives
4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 pound spaghetti
1/2 cup olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
Directions
In a large glass or stainless-steel bowl, combine the chopped tomatoes with the mozzarella, basil, olives, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the spaghetti until just done, about 12 minutes. Drain, add to the tomato mixture, and toss.
Heat the oil in a small frying pan over moderately low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Pour the oil over the pasta and toss again.
Variations: Add some drained capers, chopped red onion or grated Parmesan to the pasta.
LEMON BARS
This yummy recipe comes from Ina Garten, star of The Food Network show, Barefoot Contessa.
Total: 1 hr 35 min; Prep: 10 min; Inactive: 30 min; Cook: 55 min; Yield: 20 squares or 40 triangles; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the crust:
1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
For the filling:
6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup flour
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Directions
Watch how to make this recipe.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.
Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.
For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature.
Cut into triangles and dust with confectioners' sugar.
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
Either way, here are six recipes to get your week started off right, including Lemon Bars and Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese. Enjoy!
CHOCOLATE-HONEY BROWNIE BARS
This is from Kraft Recipes, and begins, “These brownies not only have honey in the batter, but are also drizzled with a luscious chocolate-honey topping for an extra-special touch.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 24 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
2 pkg. (4 oz. each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. honey, divided
2 eggs
1 cup flour
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; spray with cooking spray. Microwave butter and 6 oz. chocolate in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Add sugar and 1/2 cup honey; mix well. Blend in eggs. Add flour; stir until blended. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely.
Microwave remaining chocolate and honey in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Drizzle over brownie.
Refrigerate 5 min. or until chocolate is firm. Use foil handles to remove brownie from pan before cutting into bars.
CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This comes from Alison Roman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Alison wrote, “Think Stouffer's without the freezer. While it can be enjoyed straight from the pot, this macaroni and cheese has a slightly looser sauce than the stovetop variety to allow for thickening in the oven. Bread crumbs, while optional, make it truly spectacular.”
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: about 1 hour
To view this online at the Times’ website, click here.
Ingredients
For the Macaroni and Cheese:
1 pound elbows, shells, cavatappi, farfalle, fusilli or other short, tube-shaped pasta
Kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
1 clove garlic, finely grated
1 teaspoon smoked or hot paprika
Freshly ground pepper
12 ounces sharp or white Cheddar cheese, grated
12 ounces fontina or Gruyère, grated
For the Topping (Optional):
1 cup coarse bread crumbs or panko
4 tablespoons melted butter or olive oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Preparation
Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it’s barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It’s going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 2-quart baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
VEGETABLE FRITTATA
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
Mixture of green peppers, red peppers, yellow peppers, onion, mushrooms, broccoli, squash (about 2-3 cups total)
Olive oil
5-6 eggs
Milk
About 1/2 cup grated cheese (Cheddar, Swiss or Parmesan)
Salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste
Parsley sprigs for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Gently saute the vegetables in a 9- or 10-inch oven-proof skillet in the olive oil until just soft.
Mix eggs with a little milk, then pour over and around the vegetables. Sprinkle cheese over the top.
Cook over medium heat enough to set the eggs, then place in the oven to finish the cooking. Bake until the top of the frittata is no longer runny. Garnish and serve.
SPAGHETTI WITH TOMATOES, BASIL, OLIVES AND FRESH MOZZARELLA
This is from Familytime, and begins, “Since the tomatoes here are not cooked, you’ll really notice their flavor.”
Serves: 4; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 13 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds vine ripened tomatoes, (about 6), chopped
3/4 pound salted mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4-inch cubes, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups chopped, fresh basil
1/2 cup halved and pitted black olives
4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 pound spaghetti
1/2 cup olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
Directions
In a large glass or stainless-steel bowl, combine the chopped tomatoes with the mozzarella, basil, olives, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the spaghetti until just done, about 12 minutes. Drain, add to the tomato mixture, and toss.
Heat the oil in a small frying pan over moderately low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Pour the oil over the pasta and toss again.
Variations: Add some drained capers, chopped red onion or grated Parmesan to the pasta.
LEMON BARS
This yummy recipe comes from Ina Garten, star of The Food Network show, Barefoot Contessa.
Total: 1 hr 35 min; Prep: 10 min; Inactive: 30 min; Cook: 55 min; Yield: 20 squares or 40 triangles; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the crust:
1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
For the filling:
6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup flour
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Directions
Watch how to make this recipe.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.
Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.
For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature.
Cut into triangles and dust with confectioners' sugar.
AMBROSIA SALAD
This comes from Delish, and begins, “There's a reason it's a classic.”
To view this online, click here.
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Directions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
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