Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tuesday Recipes

Enjoy!

VEGETABLE SHEPHERD'S PIE

This came from the Food Network's Magazine several years ago.

Prep Time: 25 min; Cook Time: 41 min; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients

6 medium Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced

Kosher salt

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 large onion, diced

3 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks

2 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch chunks

1 bunch baby turnips, halved or quartered if large

6 cloves garlic, minced

Freshly ground pepper

1/2 bunch fresh parsley, leaves chopped (stems reserved)

1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

3/4 cup chopped veggie burgers or vegetarian protein crumbles

2/3 cup milk or half-and-half

Grated parmesan cheese, for sprinkling (optional)

Directions

Preheat the broiler. Cover the potatoes with water in a pot; season with salt, cover and boil until the potatoes are fork-tender, 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a stovetop casserole dish or shallow enamel pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, turnips and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables brown, 8 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups cooking liquid from the potatoes to the casserole dish. Lower the heat and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Tie the parsley stems with twine and add to the casserole. Cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 8 minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons butter and the chopped veggie burgers and warm through, 5 minutes. Remove the parsley stems and stir in the chopped parsley. Keep warm.

Drain the potatoes and mash with the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and the milk; season with salt and pepper and spoon over the casserole. Sprinkle with parmesan, if desired. Broil until golden brown, 5 minutes.

Per serving: Calories 558; Fat 24 g (Saturated 11 g); Cholesterol 42 mg; Sodium 656 mg; Carbohydrate 68 g; Fiber 9 g; Protein 17 g

FRENCH LENTIL SOUP WITH ROASTED TOMATOES & PEPPERS

This comes from Seattle's Macrina Bakery. The recipe starts off, “This soup is a perfect comfort food on a drizzly Seattle day. We like to serve it in our cozy café with a few slices of crostini topped with goat cheese and a drizzle of good olive oil. It is pictured here with our Rustic Potato Roll. French green lentils are usually available in specialty shops and some supermarkets. If you can’t find French green lentils at your favorite market, you can substitute regular lentils.” Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:

4 Roma tomatoes

3/4 cup olive oil

Kosher Salt

Freshly Ground Pepper

10 garlic cloves

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 red bell peppers, diced

1 celery rib, diced

1-1/2 Tbsp ground cumin

1-1/2 Tbsp ground coriander seeds

1-1/2 cups French green lentils*

8 to 10 cups vegetable stock

1 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley, chopped

1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped

*Available in specialty shops and some supermarkets.

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Wash and core the tomatoes, then cut them into 12 pieces each. Combine chopped tomatoes and 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a bowl and toss together. Pour tomatoes onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Season with salt and pepper and roast on center rack of oven for about 15 minutes. Set aside.

Place 7 of the garlic cloves and another 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook until cloves are tender, approximately 15 minutes. Swirl the pan occasionally to keep the cloves from sticking to the pan. Transfer cooked garlic cloves to a small bowl and mash into a paste. Set aside.

Pour the remaining 1/4 cup of the olive oil into a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot. Add diced onion, red bell peppers and celery. Cover pot and cook for 15 minutes over medium-low heat to sweat the vegetables, stirring occasionally. The onions will become translucent. Finely dice the 3 remaining garlic cloves and add to the soup pot along with the cumin and coriander. Continue cooking over medium-low heat for 1 minute or until garlic smells sweet but is not brown.

Add roasted tomatoes, mashed garlic, lentils and 8 cups of the vegetable stock. Bring to a simmer. Cook soup for 45 to 50 minutes or until lentils are tender, adding more stock if needed. If foam gathers on the surface of the soup, remove it with a spoon. Before serving, add parsley and thyme and season to taste with salt and pepper.

RAINBOW SLAW

From the July 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times. Serves 8. The recipe starts out, “Salting the cabbage before making the salad draws out excess moisture, so your slaw won't be watery.”

To view this online, click here.

1/2 small head green cabbage (about 1 1/4 lb.)

1/2 small head red cabbage (about 1 1/4 lb.)

1 large carrot, peeled

1 Tbs. kosher or coarse salt

2 Tbs. mustard seeds

1 Tbs. vegetable oil

1/4 tsp. chili flakes

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips (about 1 1/2 cups)

1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips (about 1 1/2 cups)

Slice cabbage into thin strips. Grate carrot on largest holes of box grater.

Combine cabbage, carrot and salt in large colander set over bowl. Refrigerate 1 1/2 hours. Rinse off salt under cold water. Pat dry.

Put mustard seeds, oil and chili flakes in small skillet; cover and cook over medium-high heat 1 minute, or until seeds start to pop, shaking constantly. Remove from heat and continue shaking pan until popping subsides. Cool in bowl. Whisk in vinegar, sugar and mustard. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Combine cabbage, carrot and bell peppers in large bowl. Add dressing, and toss to coat. Adjust seasonings. Serve immediately, or store up to 1 day in refrigerator.

nutritional information Per serving: Calories: 111; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Sodium: 148 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 13 g; Vegan

BROCCOLI CHOWDER

From Diabetic Gourmet. Yield: 6 servings, 1 cup each

Source: "The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook"

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 large onion, chopped (1-1/2 cups)

1 large carrot, diced (1/2 cup)

2 stalks celery, diced (1/2 cup)

1 large potato, peeled and diced (1-1/2 cups)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3-1/2 cups vegetable broth (two 14-ounce cans)

8 ounces broccoli crowns, cut into 1-inch pieces, stems and florets separated (3 cups)

1 cup grated reduced-fat Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions

Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until the onion and celery soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Add potato and garlic; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, dry mustard and cayenne; cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add broth and broccoli stems; bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in florets; simmer, covered, until the broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes more.

Transfer 2 cups of the chowder to a bowl and mash; return to the pan. Stir in Cheddar and sour cream; cook over medium heat, stirring, until the cheese is melted and the chowder is heated through. Season with salt.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup each): Calories: 180, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 15 mg, Carbohydrate: 23 g, Protein: 6 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sodium: 354 mg Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1 High-Fat Meat

BLUEBERRY PIE

This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Perfection is a fool’s mission when it comes to blueberry pie. Sometimes the filling is a little runny. Other times, slightly thick, depending on the blueberries themselves. But this recipe helps even the odds, with the use of arrowroot starch in place of the more typical flour or cornstarch, and an awesome pre-thickening technique picked up from the pastry chef Kierin Baldwin. You could use a different pie crust, but I like the all-butter version below, at least with a pre-baked bottom and an artfully cut top that allows steam to escape.” Yield: Serves 8; Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.

This was featured in “The Perfect Imperfections of Blueberry Pie” and can also be viewed online here. Not sure how to make a pie crust? Check out “How to Make a Pie Crust” by Melissa Clark.

Ingredients

For the Crust:

2 1/ 2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/4 cups unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes

8-10 tablespoons or 120 to 150 grams of ice water

1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon of water

For the Filling:

8 cups blueberries, picked over and washed

1/2 cup raw sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2-3 tablespoons arrowroot flour or cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation

To make the crust, combine the flour and salt in a large bowl or food processor. Add the butter, and either use your fingers to rub the fat into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse meal or pulse the processor a few times to achieve a similar result. Gradually and lightly mix in ice water, a few tablespoons at a time, until the dough just comes together.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and gather into a ball. Divide the ball into two equal portions, and flatten each into a disc with the heel of your hand. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.

Prebake the pie shell. Heat oven to 375. Roll out one of the discs of dough on a lightly floured surface, and fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Trim the dough so that there is a slight overhang at the top of the pie plate, then place the shell in the freezer for 20 minutes or so to chill. Remove the pie shell from the freezer, cover the dough with parchment paper and fill the shell with pie weights or dried beans. Place the shell into the oven, and bake until the bottom has just started to brown, approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Take the pie shell out of the oven, remove the parchment and pie weights and allow to cool.

Make the filling.Separate 1 cup of the blueberries, and combine them in the bowl of a food processor or blender with the sugar, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the arrowroot flour or cornstarch and the salt, then pulse to purée. Put the blueberry mixture into a small pot set over medium-high heat, and cook, whisking constantly, until the liquid has just thickened, approximately 1 minute. Pour the thickened mixture over the remaining blueberries, and stir to combine.

Bake the pie. Heat oven to 400. Mound the filling high in the center of the cooled pie shell, and apply the egg wash to the top edge of the cooked bottom crust. Roll out the second disc of dough, and place it over the top, gently crimping it onto the egg-washed edge of the bottom crust. Place the pie into the freezer to set, approximately 20 minutes, then cut vents into the top with a sharp knife, place the pie on a baking sheet and set it into the oven to bake for approximately 30 minutes. Then turn the pie, reduce heat to 350 and bake until the pie is golden and the filling has begun to bubble up through the vents, another 25 to 45 minutes. Allow pie to cool to room temperature before you cut into it.

BLACKBERRY ICE CREAM

This comes from the One Green Planet emailing list. They have quite a few really good vegetarian recipes. Give it a try!

This recipe starts off, “I served my ice cream as a soft serve, but I also froze it in an airtight container and it turned to the same consistency as the ice cream you knew/know and love/d as a non-vegan. I won't lie; this ice cream is not as creamy as the dairy kind, or the soya or nut-based ice cream you can buy from health food stores, but the banana makes this more than just a sorbet. Not to mention, it cuts the calories by half. At least. So enjoy your 'ice cream' guiltlessly! You have my permission.”

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 cups frozen blackberries

2 frozen bananas, in chuncks

a few splashes of almond milk

Preparation

In a blender or food processor, blend the frozen fruit with a little bit of almond milk, adding the milk little by littled. Don't add too much or you'll just end up with a frozen smoothie, you want to add just a few splashes when necessary. Depending on the speed of your blender or food processors, this will take about five minutes. You may need to stir the ice cream mixture with a spoon between pulsing to make sure everything gets blended (unless you want chunks).

Serve immediately as soft serve, or place in a container in the freezer for at least one hour before scooping it out.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Monday Recipes

Enjoy!

CRUNCHY BERRY ALMOND CRUMBLE

This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “The paradox of a fruit crisp is that it's usually not crisp, nor is a fruit crumble necessarily crumbly. Here, however, the crumbs are as crisp as cookies, offering a textural contrast to the puddinglike berries. This delicious treat is at once crispy, crumbly and profoundly fruity.” Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

This was featured in “A GOOD APPETITE; A Crisp, Made Truly Crisp” and can also be found online here.

Ingredients

For the Filling:

8 cups mixed berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries (halved or quartered) and blackberries

2 to 4 tablespoons granulated sugar, depending upon sweetness of berries

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca (optional)

For the Crumble Topping:

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup sliced almonds, finely chopped

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/3 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon allspice

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup/8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)

Vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)

Preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees. To prepare filling, toss berries with sugar, lemon zest and tapioca (if using). Set aside.

To make topping, in a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, almonds, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and salt. Stir in butter. Coarse crumbs will form.

Pour filling into a 2-quart gratin dish or 10-inch round cake pan (do not grease first). Using your fingers, form topping mixture into 3/4-inch to 1-inch crumbs and spread over cake.

Bake until filling bubbles and topping is light golden, about 55 minutes. Let cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature with ice cream if you like. Crisp can be made up to 8 hours ahead and kept at room temperature, or warmed up briefly in a 350 degree oven.

BASIC CORN CHOWDER

This is from Mark Bittman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “This is chowder at its simplest: corn, onion, potatoes and milk, with a couple of chopped tomatoes and a handful of parsley to add flavor and color. Starting with bacon and finishing with cream makes a richer version of the dish. But you could easily expand its borders by adding curry powder and ginger, sour cream and cilantro. Or when the potato is replaced by rice and the cream with coconut milk, Southeast Asian seasonings can be added to make a chowder that has little in common with the original, save for its intense corn flavor.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.

This was featured in “THE MINIMALIST; Don't Toss Out the Cobs” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

4 to 6 ears of corn

1 tablespoon butter or neutral oil, like canola or grapeseed

1 medium onion, chopped

2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tomatoes, cored, seeded and chopped (optional)

1 cup whole or low-fat milk

1/2 cup chopped parsley (optional)

Preparation

Shuck corn, and use a paring knife to strip kernels into a bowl. Put cobs in a pot with 4 cups water; bring to a boil, cover and simmer while you continue.

Put butter or oil in a saucepan, and turn heat to medium-high. When butter melts or oil is hot, add onion and potatoes, along with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion softens, about 5 minutes; add tomatoes and cook, stirring, for another minute or two.

After corncobs have cooked at least 10 minutes, strain liquid into onion-potato mixture; bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer. When potatoes are tender, add corn kernels and milk, and heat through. Taste, and adjust seasonings. Garnish with the parsley, and serve.

Tip

Curried corn chowder: In Step 2, use oil, and add 1 tablespoon each curry powder and peeled and minced ginger to the onions. In Step 3, use sour cream in place of milk; garnish with cilantro in place of parsley.

ICED MOCHA SHERBET

Yield: 4 servings

Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/24.shtml

View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/576.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups evaporated non-fat milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons carob powder

1 tablespoon crystalline fructose

2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate

1 tablespoon instant coffee granules

1 tablespoon part-skim ricotta cheese

Directions

Mix all ingredients together in blender and turn into metal trays.

Place in freezer and stir with fork from time to time to break up ice crystals.

When ready to serve, process again so the sherbet is soft.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 121; Protein: 8g; Sodium: 117mg; Cholesterol: 5mg; Fat: 0.5g; Carbohydrates: 22g

CHIPOTLE ASPARAGUS QUESADILLAS

This comes from the April/May 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 34. It begins, “Canned chipotles in adobo sauce lend mellow, smoky heat to quesadillas. Leftover chipotles (there are usually four or five in a can) can be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen for future use.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

Quesadillas

1 lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (2 cups)

1 red bell pepper, sliced (1 cup)

1 medium onion, sliced (1 cup)

1 1/2 tsp. olive oil or vegetable oil

1 tsp. dried oregano

4 8-inch sprouted-grain tortillas

Chipotle Spread

3 Tbs. vegan mayonnaise

2 tsp. minced, drained chipotles in adobo sauce

1 Tbs. lime or lemon juice

Preheat oven to 425°F.

To make Quesadillas: Toss together asparagus, bell pepper, onion, oil, and oregano in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread on large baking sheet, and roast 10 to 12 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, stirring once or twice.

Meanwhile, to make Chipotle Spread: blend all ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth.

Spread 1 1/2 tsp. Chipotle Spread on one side of each tortilla, spreading all the way out to edges. Top with 2/3 cup filling on one half of each tortilla, then fold over tortillas, pressing edges together to enclose filling and form half-moons.

Coat large skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium heat. Cook each quesadilla in skillet 2 to 3 minutes, turning once.

nutritional information Per Quesadilla: Calories: 273; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 32 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 235 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan

PUTTANESCA SAUCE WITH FRIED CAPERS OVER LINGUINE

This comes from the June 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 27, and begins, “This versatile sauce also works great spread on crostini, spooned over soft polenta, or served with poached eggs.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

1 Tbs. olive oil

2 Tbs. capers, drained and patted dry with paper towels

1 red onion, chopped (1 cup)

3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 lb. cherry tomatoes, halved (3 1/2 cups)

1 cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced, divided

1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, coarsely chopped

12 oz. linguine

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add capers, and fry 1 to 2 minutes, or until many capers have split. Remove capers with slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels. Add onion to skillet, and cook 3 to 5 minutes, then stir in garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook 1 minute more. Stir in tomatoes, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until tomatoes begin to break down. Stir in 1/2 cup basil and olives, and remove pan from heat.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water. Add drained pasta to skillet, and toss to combine with sauce, adding some pasta water if mixture seems too thick. Serve garnished with remaining 1/2 cup basil and capers.

nutritional information Per 1 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 395; Protein: 14 g; Total Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 74 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 254 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 8 g; Vegan

HONEY PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

This comes from Anita Schecter, About.com’s Middle Eastern Food expert. Anita wrote, “As much as I love all desserts, nothing quite makes me swoon as much as the combination of sweet and salty. It's why chocolate covered salty pretzels and I are old friends and caramel sauce only interests me if it's got a good hit of sea salt. Candied or chocolate covered nuts are good but way more awesome if the nuts are salted.

“And so, as fond as I am of pistachios, pistachio ice cream and, basically all things pistachio, store bought pistachio ice cream is usually too sweet and one note for me. I'm missing the balance of the salt.

“Fortunately, I can easily remedy this situation by making my own and by using roasted and salted pistachios. You can make this with sugar only and omit the honey, if you like, but honey vanilla is another favorite flavor of mine so I decided to combine the two.

“When it comes to homemade ice cream, you can use a cooked custard base, which contains eggs. Or you can go for a straight dairy only option which doesn't require cooking. Because I wanted little bits and pieces of pistachios in my finished ice cream, I went with a no-cook method. If I wanted to strain them out, I would have cooked them with the base mix.

“I should also note that the color of pistachios, while definitely green, is nowhere near the deep green shade you find in store bought pistachio or even mint ice cream. You can certainly add some green food color to your ice cream if you really want that bright green shade. But I prefer to keep it all natural so my ice cream is still mostly beige but with green flecks from the bits of pistachios.

“This recipe is easy and simple and results in the perfect hit of sweet, salty and creamy. A perfect treat for a hot summer day. Enjoy!”

Prep Time: 12 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Freeze: 240 minutes; Total Time: 292 minutes; Yield: 8 (1/2 Cup) Servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 Cup whole milk

2 Cups heavy cream

1/2 Cup honey

1/4 Cup sugar

1 Tablespoon vanilla (vanilla paste is best, if you have it)

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1 Cup shelled roasted and salted pistachios

Preparation

In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, honey, sugar, vanilla and salt. Add the pistachios to a food processor and pulse a few times until the nuts are very broken down but not powder or paste. Add to the bowl.

Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions for use. Churn for 40 minutes and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.

Friday, July 15, 2016

Friday Recipes

Finally, Friday. Here are six vegetarian recipes to help you through the weekend. Enjoy!

EGG WITH GRITS AND MUSHROOMS

This recipe and the next two are from the May 2016 issue of Runner’s World. The recipes begin, “If eggs aren’t a staple in your diet, they should be. One of the purest forms of protein, they contain brain-benefiting choline and muscle-repairing leucine. Each of these quick-and-easy snacks offers more than eight grams of protein, more than eight grams of carbohydrates, and about 200 calories, to help you recover after a run. And while you may have been cautious about eggs due to their high cholesterol content (200 mg), recent U.S. dietary guidelines lifted the 300 mg daily limit, citing research that has shown dietary cholesterol doesn’t increase the risk of heart disease. “Most people can safely have one egg a day,” says Tara Collingwood, R.D.N., C.S.S.D, official nutritionist for runDisney. And be sure to eat the whole package: The yolk carries much of the egg’s protein, all of its fat-soluble vitamins, and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin—important for keeping your vision healthy so you can clearly see that finish line.”

All three can be found by clicking here.

This recipe begins, “Stay perky. Shiitake mushrooms are a good source of B vitamins, which help create energy from carbs.”

Ingredients

1/4 cup instant grits

1/4 tsp. minced garlic

3 sliced medium shiitake mushroom caps

1/4 cup low sodium vegetable broth

1 large egg

Salt

Pepper

Instructions

Combine 1/4 cup instant grits in a bowl with 1/4 tsp. minced garlic. Microwave with water, according to package directions. Saute 3 sliced medium shiitake mushroom caps in pan with 1/4 cup low-sodium vegetable broth over medium-high heat until most liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.

Fry 1 large egg sunny-side up over low to medium heat in a small nonstick pan with spray oil. Combine grits with mushrooms and egg. Season with black pepper and salt.

SWEET BERRY OMELET

This recipe begins, “Protect your ticker. Berries, high in antioxidants, are good for your heart. Research found that women who ate 1 1/2-plus cups of berries weekly had a lower risk of heart attack.” That alone is a great reason to fix this!

Ingredients

1 large egg

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

3/4 cup blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries

1 1/2 Tbsp. part-skim ricotta

1 Tbsp. chopped pecans

Cinnamon

Instructions

Mix 1 large egg with 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract in small bowl. Cook omelet over medium heat in a nonstick pan with spray oil. Pan-fry 3/4 cup blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries over medium-high heat, in another pan coated with spray oil, until fruit begins to cook. Top omelet with 1 1/2 Tbsp. part-skim ricotta, 1 Tbsp. chopped pecans, and fruit. Dust with cinnamon.

HUMMUS DEVILED EGG

This recipe begins, “Cure the cold. Lemons are an excellent source of immunity-boosting vitamin C.”

Ingredients

1 large egg

1 tsp. store-bought hummus

1 tsp. lemon juice

1/8 tsp. lemon zest

Chopped parsley

Pepper

6 whole-grain crackers

Instructions

Slice 1 large shelled and hard-boiled egg lengthwise, and remove yolk. Place yolk in a bowl with 1 tsp. store-bought hummus and 1 tsp. lemon juice. Mash with a fork, mixing in 1/8 tsp. lemon zest. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and black pepper to taste. Serve with six whole-grain crackers.

J’s B-B-Q GLUTEN

This is from my oldest son. For the most part, the recipe is included exactly as he wrote it out for me, though I have changed a word or two. (This stuff is definitely good.)

Ingredients:

5 lb. whole wheat flour

2 onions

1/2 C creamy peanut butter

2 bottles of B-B-Q sauce

1 stick butter

2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons paprika

Huge bowl

Take whole wheat flour, empty into Big Bowl. Add enough water to knead into dough ball. Knead really well. I repeat, knead really well. For at least 10 minutes.

Fill huge bowl with water, put dough ball under water for 2 hours. Pour off water. Knead doughball under cold running water for 10 minutes or more. Water should be clear. You are washing out the starch and bran. You know it’s ready when stringy and it sticks together and is bouncy.

Melt 1 stick butter and fry 2 chopped onions until clear. Dump onto Gluten. Add salt, paprika, and peanut butter. Mix with hands completely.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cooking pan with non-stick spray. Pinch off pieces bigger than a golf ball. Take piece and fold it and twist it and lay it down in pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip over and bake for 10 more. Pour B-B-Q sauce and bake 10 more minutes, then flip and pour more B-B-Q sauce and bake 10 more minutes. It’s done—enjoy.

(Xtra note—be careful when you first mix wheat and water. Don’t add too much water. Make a hard dough ball. It might take 20 minutes to knead it.)

PENNE WITH DARK LEAFY PESTO AND ROASTED SQUASH

This comes from the June 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 55, and begins, “Penne is a good pasta choice with pesto because the sauce gets into the grooves on the medium-size tubes.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

3 yellow squash, quartered and sliced 1/2-inch-thick

3 zucchini, quartered and sliced 1/2-inch thick

1 Tbs. olive oil

6 oz. penne or other medium-size pasta (1 1/2 cups)

1/4 cup Dark Leafy Pesto (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss yellow squash and zucchini with oil, and spread on one or two large baking sheets. Roast 20 to 25 minutes, or until vegetables are browned, tossing once or twice.

Meanwhile, cook penne according to package directions. Drain, and reserve 1/4 cup cooking water.

Toss penne with pesto and reserved pasta cooking water. Divide among bowls, and top with squash.

nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 222; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 28 g; Cholesterol: less than 1 mg; Sodium: 25 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 6 g

DARK LEAFY PESTO

This is also from the June 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 55, and begins, “Made with blanched greens, this pesto gets a hint of Southern flavor from pecans and fresh sage. You could even spice it up with a dash of hot sauce.” Makes 1 cup in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

8 oz. collard, kale, or mustard greens, tough stems trimmed

1/4 cup pecans

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast

3 cloves garlic, peeled

1/4 cup sage leaves

2/3 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp. salt, optional

1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Blanch collard greens in large pot of boiling salted water 3 minutes. Refresh under cold water. Drain, pat dry, and tear into pieces.

Pulse pecans, Parmesan, and garlic in food processor until finely chopped. Add collard and sage leaves, and pulse until greens are finely chopped. With motor running, add oil in steady stream, and process until smooth. Season with salt (if using) and pepper.

nutritional information Per 1-tbs. Serving: Calories: 100; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: less than 1 g; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Sodium: 21 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: less than 1 g; Gluten-Free

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Thursday Recipes

Here are today's six vegetarian recipes. Enjoy!

THE ULTIMATE VEGGIE BURGER

This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “You make a veggie burger because you want the hamburger experience without the meat. This one delivers. It’s got a firm, beefy texture that takes on the char and smoke of the grill, but is adaptable enough to cook inside on your stove. The enemy of a veggie burger is mushiness, which stems from a high moisture content. To combat that, the very watery ingredients – mushrooms, tofu, beans and beets – are roasted to both dehydrate them somewhat and intensify their flavors. Yes, the ingredient list here is long; you need a diverse lot to make a good veggie burger. And each one adds something in terms of flavor and/or texture. Garnish this any way you like, and don’t forget to toast the buns.” Yield: 6 burger.

This was featured in “The Ultimate Veggie Burger”, and can be found online here.

Also, there are two guides that went with this recipe that you might want to check out. The first is “How to Cook Beans”, and the second is “How to Grill”. Enjoy!

Ingredients

4 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained

Olive oil

1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more as needed

Black pepper, as needed

1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained

1 medium beet, peeled and coarsely grated (3/4 cup)

3/4 cup tamari almonds or cashews

1/3 cup panko bread crumbs

2 ounces Cotija cheese or queso blanco, crumbled or grated (about 1/2 cup)

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 scallions, sliced

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

3/4 teaspoon dulce pimentón or sweet smoked paprika

4 ounces tempeh, crumbled

1/2 cup cooked brown rice

Preparation

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Slice tofu into 1/4-inch-thick slabs and pat dry with paper towel. Arrange tofu on one half of a rimmed baking sheet; brush both sides with oil. Spread mushrooms on the other half of the baking sheet; toss with 2 tablespoons oil and salt and pepper.

On a second rimmed baking sheet, toss beans and grated beet with 1 tablespoon oil and salt and pepper, then spread the mixture into one layer.

Transfer both baking sheets to the oven. Roast bean-beet mixture, tossing occasionally, until beans begin to split and beets are tender and golden, about 15 minutes. Roast mushrooms and tofu until golden and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 25 minutes. Let everything cool.

Place nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add cooled bean-beet mixture, mushrooms, tofu, panko, cheese, eggs, mayonnaise, scallion, garlic, pimentón and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Pulse until ingredients are just combined. Pulse in tempeh and rice but do not overprocess. You want small chunks, not a smooth mixture. Scrape mixture into a bowl and chill at least 2 hours or up to 5 days (you can also freeze the burger mix).

When you are ready to make the burgers, divide mixture into 6 equal portions and form each portion into a patty about 1 inch thick. Return to the fridge until just before grilling. They grill better when they start out cold.

Heat the grill. Cook the burgers over a low fire until they are charred on both sides and firm when you press on them, 4 to 6 minutes per side. If they start to burn before they firm up, move them to the sides of the grill to finish cooking over indirect heat. Alternatively, you can cook these on a grill pan or in a skillet over low heat.

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.

GREEN TEA RICE PUDDING

This recipe and the next two (Earl Grey Latte and Coffee Oatmeal Bites) are from the June 2016 issue of Runner’s World. The recipes begin, “The caffeine in coffee, tea, and even chocolate can do more than energize your day—it can boost your workout by reducing perceived exertion. So it’s good news that the newly released 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans give the go-ahead for most adults to consume 400 milligrams caffeine daily, or the amount in three to five cups of coffee.

“It’s also good news that Runner’s World now has its own coffee for sale. Check out the medium-roast Runner’s World Blend or the light-roast Runner’s World Marathon Blend.”

Both of these recipes can be found here.

This recipe begins, “The EGCG flavonoid in green tea may help improve your memory.”

Ingredients

1/2 cup light coconut milk

1/2 cup cooked brown rice

1 1/2 tsp. honey

Salt

1 green tea bag

1/4 cup diced mango

Instructions

Heat 1/2 cup canned light coconut milk with 1/2 cup cooked brown rice, 1 1/2 tsp. honey, and a pinch of salt. Steep 1 green tea bag in simmered liquid 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and squeeze tea bag, and stir in 1/4 cup diced mango. Eat warm, or cover and refrigerate until cold.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 242; Protein: 3 g; Carbs: 44 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 17 g; Total fat: 7 g; Saturated fat: 5 g; Sodium: 185 mg

EARL GREY LATTE

This begins, “Black tea, such as Earl Grey, can fight cavities by strengthening tooth enamel.”

Ingredients

1 cup 2% milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 black tea bag

1 peach

Instructions

Heat 1 cup 2% milk with 1 tsp. vanilla extract. Pour into mug and steep with 1 tea bag for 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with 1 peach. Makes 1 serving.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 194; Protein: 9 g; Carbs: 27 g;Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 24 g; Total fat: 5 g; Saturated fat: 3 g; Sodium: 116 mg

COFFEE OATMEAL BITES

This recipe begins, “Oatmeal is packed with soluble fiber, which has been shown to reduce blood pressure.”

Ingredients

2 large eggs

1 1/4 cups 2% milk

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 Tbsp. honey

3 cups quick-cooking oats

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 Tbsp. instant coffee

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Salt

2/3 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

Mix 2 large eggs with 1 1/4 cups 2% milk, 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, 2 tsp. vanilla extract, and 3 Tbsp. honey in a bowl. Stir in 3 cups quick-cooking oats, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 1/2 Tbsp. instant coffee, 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Combine with 2/3 cup dried cranberries and 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Pour into greased muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes 12 servings.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 187; Protein: 5 g; Carbs: 29 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Total fat: 6 g; Saturated fat: 1 g; Sodium: 142 mg

LATE SUMMER MINESTRONE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND FRESH CORN

This comes from the September 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 61. It starts off, “Bright, beautiful, and bursting with veggies, this colorful minestrone is a great way to stretch the harvest.” Serves 6.

To view this online, click here.

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 cup sliced leeks

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped red bell pepper

1 tsp. salt, optional

4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)

1 Tbs. chopped fresh sage, or 2 tsp. dried sage

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

1 bay leaf

2 large tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped (1 cup)

2 cups cubed peeled butternut squash (3/4- to 1-inch cubes)

2 cups green beans or flat beans, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 15-oz. can or 1 1/2 cups cooked white beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels

1/2 tsp. balsamic vinegar

2–3 Tbs. chopped fresh mint, plus more for garnish, optional

Heat oil in 5-qt. Dutch oven or other large soup pot over medium heat. Add leeks, celery, bell pepper, and salt, if using. Cover, and cook 6 to 8 minutes, or until veggies are softened, stirring occasionally. Uncover, and continue cooking 5 to 6 minutes more, or until celery is somewhat shrunken and leeks are browned.

Add garlic, sage, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf. Stir 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add tomatoes and 8 cups water, and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes. Add squash, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Add green beans, white beans, and corn; simmer 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Just before serving, stir in vinegar and mint.

nutritional information Per 2-cup serving: Calories: 185; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 130 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 7 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Wednesday Recipes

Enjoy!

MANGO LIME SORBET

This comes from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “This sorbet is tangy and not very sweet. I added only enough sugar and corn syrup to allow the mixture to freeze properly without developing ice crystals.” Yield: 1 quart, serving 5 to 6.

This was featured in “Mango Ice Means Summer Is Now”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar

4 cups diced mango (3 to 4 large mangos)

2/3 cup fresh lime juice (about 6 limes)

2 tablespoons corn syrup

Preparation

Combine 1/2 cup water and sugar in a small saucepan and stir. Bring to a simmer and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat.

Combine all ingredients in a blender and purée until completely smooth. Transfer to a bowl or container and chill overnight in refrigerator.

(Chill a 1-quart container in the freezer while you spin the sorbet.) Remove bowl from refrigerator and blend the mango purée again for 1 to 2 minutes in a blender or with an immersion blender. Add to ice cream maker and spin for about 25 minutes. Transfer to chilled container and freeze for 2 hours or longer to pack.

Once frozen solid, allow to soften in refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.

ALMOND CAKE

This is from Mark Bittman and Sam Sifton, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “This moist and fragrant cake from Molly Wizenberg, the author of the popular food blog Orangette, calls for a whole orange and lemon, almonds and olive oil. It does require a little effort and the use of some equipment – a food processor and a mixer – but the ingredient list is short, and once you've boiled and puréed the citrus and ground the almonds, the whole thing comes together in a snap. It's excellent on its own, but we also like it with poached pears or grilled figs.” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 hours 15 minutes.

This was featured in “Feast in a Day”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

1 small to medium orange

1 lemon

6 ounces raw almonds

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

4 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup olive oil

Confectioners’ sugar

Preparation

Place the orange and the lemon in a saucepan, and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain and cool.

Heat the oven to 325 degrees, and set a rack in the middle position. Bake the almonds 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool completely. When the almonds are cool, pulse them in a food processor until ground.

Set oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 9-inch springform pan.

When the citrus is cool, cut the lemon in half, and discard the pulp and seeds. Cut the orange in half, and discard seeds. Put the fruits in the food processor and process almost to a paste.

In a small bowl, whisk the flour and baking powder. Combine eggs and salt. Beat until foamy. Beat in the sugar. Fold in the flour mixture. Add the citrus, almonds and olive oil, and beat on low speed until incorporated. Pour the batter into the pan, and bake for about 1 hour. Let cool for 10 minutes, unmold and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

POTATO SALAD [VEGAN]

This comes from One Green Planet, and begins, “This creamy dill potato salad is totally vegan, although no one would be able to guess that. The rich, flavorful cashew dressing is perfect with new potatoes, greens, celery, and red onions. Enjoy this easy recipe at your next get-together with friends or family. Don't worry too much about using exact measurements or precise chopping. Just throw all the ingredients together, and taste, and adjust accordingly.” This dairy-free, vegan recipe can be found online by clicking here.

Ingredients

3 lbs small white potatoes

Large pinch of salt

Handful of greens of your choice

1 cup cup cashews

1/4 cup water

Pinch of nutmeg

1/4 cup almond milk

Zest and juice of one lemon

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tablespoons dijon mustard

2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard

1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped

1/2 cup celery, chopped

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon sea salt

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation

Place the potatoes and salt in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes, until potatoes are just tender. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then place them back in the empty pot. Cover with a lid and let the potatoes steam for 15-20 minutes. Throw in the greens of your choice after about ten minutes, and let them wilt.

Meanwhile, combine cashews, nutmeg and water together in a high speed blender or small food processor and process until smooth. Start with a little bit of water and add until you have about a cup of the mixture, slightly thicker than mayo.

In a small bowl, whisk together the cashew mixture, almond milk, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, the two mustards, the dill, the garlic, and the salt and the pepper.

When the potatoes are just cool enough to handle, cut them in quarters and place in a large bowl. Pour enough of the dressing over them just to moisten. Add the celery, and red onion, and greens and toss well. Add more dressing if necessary. Serve cold or at room temperature.

SPAGHETTI WITH CHUNKY TOMATO SAUCE

This is also from the April 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 24, and begins,”Finely chopped mushrooms give this healthful sauce a hearty texture.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

8 oz. (2 cups) sliced white mushrooms

1 medium red bell pepper, cut into chunks

1 large leek, white part cut into chunks

2 Tbs. olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)

2 Tbs. dried oregano

2 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

2 15-oz. cans diced tomatoes

1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 15-oz. can, rinsed and drained)

1/4 cup red wine

8 cups baby spinach leaves

8 oz. spaghetti

Place mushrooms, bell pepper, and leek in bowl of food processor. Pulse until ingredients are coarsely chopped.

Heat oil in large saucepan or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add mushroom mixture and garlic, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until vegetables are softened and most of liquid has evaporated. Stir in oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes, and cook 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, and wine, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Cover, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add spinach, and cook 3 to 5 minutes more, or until spinach has wilted.

Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Serve spaghetti topped with sauce.

nutritional information Per 1 cup sauce and 1/2 cup pasta: Calories: 269; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 46 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 383 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 8 g; Vegan



VEGAN CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

This recipe comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide. She writes, “With just four ingredients plus a little salt and pepper to taste, this is a very simple and basic vegan cream of asparagus soup recipe. Be sure to use a vegan margarine to make sure your asparagus soup is completely vegan and dairy-free.”

To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

1 cup water or vegetable broth

1 bunch fresh asparagus

2 tbsp vegan margarine

2 tbsp flour

1 3/4 cups soy milk

salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Blanch asparagus in water or vegetable broth for just a few minutes until asparagus is tender, but not soft and overcooked. Drain, reserving the cooking liquid, and set aside.

In a large soup pot, melt the margarine over medium-low heat, then add the milk and flour, stirring until a thick roux is formed. Remove from heat.

In a blender or food processor, add the asparagus, soy milk roux, asparagus cooking liquid and asparagus. Pulse a few times, until just blended, or until you have the desired consistency. I like to have a few pieces of whole asparagus in my soup, though you may prefer a smoother asparagus soup.

Return to the stove to reheat your soup, and season generously with salt and pepper.

BISCUITS AND GRAVY

From the April/May 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46. It starts off, “Trust us, no one will miss the flour (or the meat!) in this gluten-free indulgence.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

Biscuits

1 cup white rice flour, plus more for dusting work surface

1/2 cup chickpea flour

1/2 cup potato starch

1 1/2 Tbs. sugar

1 Tbs. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. baking soda

2 oz. (1/2 stick) butter or trans-fat-free margarine, cut into small pieces

3/4 cup fat-free buttermilk

Gravy

1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

2 1/2 tsp. paprika

2 tsp. poultry seasoning

1 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1 pinch cayenne pepper

2 Tbs. vegetable oil

4 Tbs. butter or trans-fat-free margarine

1/4 cup potato starch

1/4 cup chickpea flour

4 cups fat-free milk, warmed

To make Biscuits: Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Whisk together rice flour, chickpea flour, potato starch, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in large bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture with pastry blender or two knives until no large pieces remain. Stir in buttermilk.

Pat dough into flat 1-inch-thick disk on rice flour–dusted work surface. Cut dough into 16 rounds with 2-inch cutter, and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden-brown on top.

To make Gravy: Pulse chickpeas, paprika, poultry seasoning, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne in food processor 8 times, or until crumbly.

Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add chickpea mixture, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, or until fragrant and crisp. Transfer to plate.

Add butter to skillet, and melt over medium heat. Whisk in potato starch and chickpea flour, and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk, and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until sauce is thickened, whisking constantly. Stir in chickpea mixture. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

To serve: Place 2 Biscuits on each plate. Ladle 1/4 cup Gravy over top.

Nutritional information Per Serving (2 biscuits plus 1/4 cup gravy): Calories: 397; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 54 g; Cholesterol: 33 mg; Sodium: 721 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Gluten-Free

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Tuesday Recipes

Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY SORBET

This comes from Amanda Hesser in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Amanda wrote, “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 quarts; Time: 10 minutes.

This was originally featured in “The Arsenal”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.

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.

SOUR CREAM CHEESECAKE WITH VANILLA BEAN

This is also from Amanda Hesser in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “This elegant cheesecake is based on Amanda Hesser's mother's simple recipe. The crust is made of Nabisco chocolate wafers and butter. The bottom layer is a fluffy pool of cream cheese, eggs and sugar. The top is a thin layer of sour cream and sugar. Her recipe called for vanilla extract, but this one uses the seeds of one whole vanilla bean, which has a way of elevating all the other subtle flavors – cinnamon, chocolate and the tang of the sour cream and cream cheese – in a magical way.” Yield: 12 servings; Time: 1 hour 10 minutes.

This was featured in “An Exotic Import: Hardly Plain Vanilla”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

18 Nabisco chocolate wafers, finely crushed

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 pound cream cheese, room temperature

2 eggs at room temperature, lightly beaten

2/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar

1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise and seeds scraped

1 1/2 cups sour cream

Preparation

In a bowl stir together crushed wafers and cinnamon with a fork. Pour in butter, and stir until mixture is moist. Press mixture into a 9-inch springform pan, forming a crust just over 1 inch high around the sides. You might think you need more wafers, but you don't. Press patiently until a tight, thin layer forms. Chill until needed.

Heat oven to 350 degrees with baking sheet on center rack. In an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until creamy and fluffy. Add eggs, 2/3 cup sugar and seeds from vanilla bean, and beat until very smooth. Scrape bowl with a spatula to break up lumps. Pour into crust, and place on baking sheet. Bake 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, blend sour cream with 3 tablespoons sugar. After 25 minutes, remove cake from oven, and let sit 5 minutes. Increase oven heat to 450 degrees. Gently spoon sour cream mixture on top, and spread evenly. Return cake to oven, and bake 7 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

RASPBERRY-LEMONADE SORBET

From the July/August 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 73. The recipe starts off, “Extra-lemony and not too sweet, this is an easy sorbet to whip up year-round with frozen raspberries. Try the recipe with blueberries, blackberries, or cherries as well.” Makes one quart.

To view this online, click here.

5 cups fresh or frozen raspberries

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup lemon juice

Purée raspberries in blender or food processor until no whole fruit remains. Press purée through fine sieve, and discard seeds. (You should have 2 cups.)

Stir 1/2 cup water into sugar in saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice. Stir sugar mixture into raspberry purée.

Chill mixture in refrigerator until cold, then churn in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions. Transfer to 1-quart container, and freeze.

nutritional information Per 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 141; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: less than 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 1 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 29 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

VEGETARIAN 'BEEF' AND GUINNESS STEW

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian food guide, writes, “Beef and Guinness stew, an Irish pub favorite, gets a vegetarian makeover in this recipe, using seitan instead of beef to absorb all that rich stout flavor. Yum! The flavor of the beer is very strong in this recipe, so I've suggest using half the amount of Guinness and adding an equal amount of vegetable broth if you aren't a Guinness fan.”

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

Approx 14 oz seitan, cut into thin strips

2 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp steak sauce

3 tbsp butter or margarine

1 onion, diced

3 ribs celery, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

2 medium potatoes chopped into 1 inch pieces

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 12 oz bottles Guinness Stout OR 1 bottle plus 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

2 tbsp flour

1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme

1 tsp brown sugar (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Saute seitan in olive oil and soy sauce until slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat, add steak sauce and stir until seitan is lightly coated. Remove from heat and aside. In a large pot, sautee onions, celery, carrots, potatoes and garlic in butter or margarine for 3-5 minutes, or until onions are slightly soft. Reduce heat and slowly add Guinness, gently stirring to combine. Add flour, thyme, sugar, salt and pepper and stir well. Add seitan and allow stew to simmer until Guinness reduces and stew thickens, about 40-50 minutes.

Add more salt and pepper if desired and enjoy!

TRADITIONAL FALAFEL

This comes from the September 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 50. It makes 36 falafel balls. The recipe starts off, “The most time-consuming step in this recipe is soaking the chickpeas for 24 hours. After that, the falafel balls come together quickly and easily. Serve with lettuce, tomatoes, tahini, hot sauce, and a minty yogurt sauce.”

To view this online, click here.

1 cup dried chickpeas, rinsed and sorted

1/2 tsp. plus 1/3 tsp. baking soda, divided

1 small leek, white and light green part cut into 4 or 5 pieces

1 cup fresh parsley leaves

3 cloves garlic, peeled

1 Tbs. lemon juice

1 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

3–4 drops hot sauce, optional

2 cups canola oil

Place chickpeas and 1/2 tsp. baking soda in large bowl, and cover with 3 to 4 cups water. Soak chickpeas 24 hours. Drain.

Place chickpeas, remaining 1/3 tsp. baking soda, leek, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, salt, pepper, and hot sauce (if using) in bowl of food processor. Process 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until chunky paste forms.

Shape 1 Tbs. chickpea mixture into compact ball, pressing out any excess moisture, and place on plate. Repeat with remaining mixture.

Heat oil to 350°F in large skillet over medium heat. Add 12 falafel balls, and cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until browned on bottoms. Roll, and cook 1 to 2 minutes more, or until golden brown all over. Transfer to paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with remaining falafel balls.

nutritional information Per Falafel ball: Calories: 35; Protein: 1 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 4 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 46 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: less than 1 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

CHUNKY VEGETABLE STEW

This comes from the February 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Greens cook down considerably and will reduce at least one-quarter in volume. One pound of raw kale will yield about 2 1/2 cups cooked. A dash of hot pepper sauce adds dimension to this colorful dish.” Serves 8.

To view this online, click here.

1 medium-sized bunch kale

2 tsp. olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium-sized red onion, chopped

1 medium-sized red bell pepper, chopped

3 medium-sized unpeeled russet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 1/2 cups dry vermouth

1 6-oz. pkg. sliced white mushrooms

1 medium-sized head cauliflower, cut into about 2-inch florets

1 14.5-oz. can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes

3 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme

3 Tbs. nutritional yeast

1 1/2 Tbs. cornstarch

2 Tbs. cold water

1 Tbs. tamari soy sauce

1/4 tsp. lemon pepper

Strip kale leaves from stalks, and rinse thoroughly in colander; set aside.

Heat oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven or saucepan for 1 minute over medium-high heat. Add garlic, onions and peppers, sauté for 2 minutes and add potatoes. Cook for 4 minutes, and add vermouth, mushrooms and cauliflower. Cook for 2 minutes, add kale and mix thoroughly. Cook mixture for 5 minutes, and reduce heat to low.

Chop stewed tomatoes coarsely in food processor, and add tomatoes, thyme and yeast to kale mixture. Combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl, and stir in with tamari and lemon pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and serve.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 195; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 32 g; Sodium: 288 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 11 g; Vegan

Monday, July 11, 2016

Monday Recipes

Enjoy!

BLACK BEAN AND EDAMAME SLIDERS

This comes from page 65 of the March 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Here’s the veg answer to Sloppy Joes—edamame lightens up a black bean mixture to keep these sliders from tasting too dense.” Makes 12 sliders in 30 minutes of less.

To view this online, click here.

1 cup frozen shelled edamame

1 clove garlic

1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, drained and minced

1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro

3/4 cup plus 1 Tbs. prepared fat-free barbecue sauce, divided

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. olive oil

12 small whole-wheat dinner rolls, split like buns

4 oz. reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 12 slices

Bring small pot of water to a boil. Add edamame, and cook 10 minutes. Drain.

Process garlic in food processor until minced. Add edamame, black beans, chipotle chile, cilantro, 1 Tbs. barbecue sauce, cumin, and salt. Process until mixture forms coarse paste.

Heat oil in saucepan over medium-low heat. Add edamame mixture, and heat until hot, stirring occasionally.

Spoon 1 Tbs. barbecue sauce onto each bottom bun. Top with bean mixture, cheese, and top buns.

nutritional information Per Slider: Calories: 329; Protein: 16 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 14 mg; Sodium: 815 mg; Fiber: 11 g; Sugar: 12 g

BEST PINEAPPLE ORANGE SORBET

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been on several bulletin boards over the years (mainly feminist bulletin boards), and find others’ nicknames on the boards interesting. This was posted on a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list by hungry kitten and was from mydailymoment.com. Hungrykitten wrote, “I like this recipe because you don't need an ice cream maker. Cooking time is freezing time.” Time: 2 1/4 hours; 15 min prep; serves 10.

To view this online, click here.

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 cups orange juice

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 (20 ounce) can pineapple, crushed

2 teaspoons orange zest, freshly grated

In a medium saucepan, bring water and sugar to a simmer over medium high heat until sugar is dissolved.

In a blender, puree pineapple with its juice until smooth. Transfer to a metal bowl, and stir in lemon juice, orange juice, and orange zest. Freeze until slightly firm, but not frozen and process mixture again in the blender until smooth. Transfer to a freezer container and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.



SPAGHETTI WITH FRESH TOMATO AND BASIL SAUCE

This comes from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “This recipe came to The Times in 2003 from the chef Scott Conant, who was then cooking at his restaurant L'Impero in Manhattan. It is simple, classic Italian fare that makes the most of summer's tomatoes, but you can also make it with hothouse offerings and it will be delicious.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 40 minutes.

This was featured in “Living over the boîte” and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

3 pounds fresh plum tomatoes, blanched, peeled, seeded and quartered

3 ounces olive oil

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1 pinch crushed red-pepper flakes

1 pound dry spaghetti

2 ounces extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

6 leaves fresh basil, shredded

2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Preparation

Blanch the tomatoes and remove the skins. Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Cut the tomatoes crosswise. Set aside in a bowl.

Heat 3 ounces olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until it smokes slightly. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. Since the tomatoes will reduce and the salt will be concentrated, it is better to season initially with a lighter hand.

Chop the tomatoes with a potato masher until they are in fine chunks and all their liquid is released. Be sure they are chopped and crushed fine, for a semichunky sauce. Simmer for 25 minutes over medium heat.

While the sauce simmers, heat the water for the pasta. Cook the spaghetti in salted water about half of the way cooked. Drain, reserving some of the water.

Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Add the pasta to the sauce and cook over medium-high heat until all the liquid is absorbed and the pasta is al dente. If the sauce is over-reduced, use the pasta cooking liquid to adjust it.

At the last moment, remove the pan from the heat; add the extra-virgin olive oil, butter, basil and cheese. Mix thoroughly until the pasta is an orangy color. Taste again and adjust the salt if necessary. Remove to a platter. Serve.

ESPRESSO ALMOND SMOOTHIE

This recipe and the next (Cherry Chocolate Bowl) are from the June 2016 issue of Runner’s World. The recipes begin, “The caffeine in coffee, tea, and even chocolate can do more than energize your day—it can boost your workout by reducing perceived exertion. So it’s good news that the newly released 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans give the go-ahead for most adults to consume 400 milligrams caffeine daily, or the amount in three to five cups of coffee.

“It’s also good news that Runner’s World now has its own coffee for sale. Check out the medium-roast Runner’s World Blend or the light-roast Runner’s World Marathon Blend.”

Both of these recipes can be found here.

This recipe begins, “Almonds, in any form, can help propel your distance workout.”

Ingredients

1 sliced frozen banana

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

2 Tbsp. cooled espresso

1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 Tbsp. almond butter

Instructions

Blend 1 sliced frozen banana with 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk, 2 Tbsp. cooled espresso, 1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1 Tbsp. almond butter. Makes 1 cup.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 228; Protein: 5 g; Carbs: 32 g; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 15 g; Total fat: 11 g; Saturated fat: 1 g; Sodium: 131 mg

CHERRY CHOCOLATE BOWL

This recipe begins, “Vitamin C–rich cherries get their dark red color from disease-fighting antioxidants.”

Ingredients

1/2 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt

1/2 cup defrosted, unsweetened cherries

2 Tbsp. dark chocolate shavings

Honey or maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

Combine 1/2 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup defrosted, unsweetened cherries in a bowl. Top with 2 Tbsp. dark chocolate shavings. Stir in honey or maple syrup, if desired. Makes 1 serving.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 219; Protein: 14 g; Carbs: 25 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 21 g; Total fat: 7 g; Saturated fat: 4.5 g; Sodium: 45 mg

ALMOND CAKE

This is from Mark Bittman and Sam Sifton, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “This moist and fragrant cake from Molly Wizenberg, the author of the popular food blog Orangette, calls for a whole orange and lemon, almonds and olive oil. It does require a little effort and the use of some equipment – a food processor and a mixer – but the ingredient list is short, and once you've boiled and puréed the citrus and ground the almonds, the whole thing comes together in a snap. It's excellent on its own, but we also like it with poached pears or grilled figs.” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 hours 15 minutes.

This was featured in “Feast in a Day”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

1 small to medium orange

1 lemon

6 ounces raw almonds

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

4 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup olive oil

Confectioners’ sugar

Preparation

Place the orange and the lemon in a saucepan, and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain and cool.

Heat the oven to 325 degrees, and set a rack in the middle position. Bake the almonds 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool completely. When the almonds are cool, pulse them in a food processor until ground.

Set oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 9-inch springform pan.

When the citrus is cool, cut the lemon in half, and discard the pulp and seeds. Cut the orange in half, and discard seeds. Put the fruits in the food processor and process almost to a paste.

In a small bowl, whisk the flour and baking powder. Combine eggs and salt. Beat until foamy. Beat in the sugar. Fold in the flour mixture. Add the citrus, almonds and olive oil, and beat on low speed until incorporated. Pour the batter into the pan, and bake for about 1 hour. Let cool for 10 minutes, unmold and dust with confectioners’ sugar.