Whenever it's cold or rainy (or cold and rainy), homemade soup just seems to hit the spot. Here are six soup recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!
CURRIED CAULIFLOWER SOUP
This comes from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-mail. Martha wrote, “It will take you only about 10 minutes to prep the ingredients for this comforting soup. Curry flavors and cauliflower always make a good match.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 45 minutes.
This was featured in “Vegetable Soups, Smooth and Hearty” and can be viewed online here.
Note: This recipe originally called for water, vegetable stock or chicken stock. I've omitted the chicken stock.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons cumin seeds, ground
2 pounds cauliflower (1 medium head), roughly chopped
1 russet potato, peeled and diced, or 1/2 cup rice
2 quarts water or vegetable stock
Salt to taste
Freshly ground pepper
Chopped cilantro for garnish
Preparation
Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, curry powder and ground cumin and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add the cauliflower, potato or rice, water or stock, and salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
Using an immersion blender, purée the soup (or you can use a regular blender, working in batches and placing a kitchen towel over the top to avoid splashing) until it is very smooth. Return to the pot, heat through, add freshly ground pepper and adjust salt. Serve, garnishing each bowl with chopped cilantro.
Tip
Advance preparation: You can make this a day ahead, but you may have to thin it out with a little water or stock when you reheat.
CURRIED CAULIFLOWER SOUP
This recipe is from the January 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “This soup's secret ingredient—an apple—lends a touch of tangy sweetness that complements the curry’s spice. Letting the soup cool 20 minutes before blending helps deepen the flavors.” Serves 6.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/curried-cauliflower-soup/.
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped (1 cup)
1 Tbs. curry powder
1 clove garlic, sliced (1 tsp.)
1 large head cauliflower, chopped into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 tsp. honey or agave nectar
1 tsp. rice wine vinegar
Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until soft and golden. Stir in apple, curry powder, and garlic, and cook 2 minutes more, or until curry powder turns deep yellow.Add cauliflower and vegetable broth, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes. Cool 20 minutes, then blend in food processor or blender until smooth. Stir in honey and vinegar, and season with salt, if desired.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 104; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 304 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 8 g; Gluten-Free
CREAM OF TURNIP SOUP
This also comes from the January 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “This comforting soup is so subtly flavored that even turnip-haters like it. Baby turnips have a milder taste, but the recipe works just as well with regular turnips. Thinly sliced celery leaves mimic lovage, an herb often used in France to season turnip dishes.” Serves 6.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/cream-of-turnip-soup/.
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 lb. fresh baby turnips, peeled and diced
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup soy creamer, optional
1/4 cup celery leaves, sliced into fine strips
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add turnips and onion, and cook 15 minutes, or until vegetables are translucent, stirring occasionally. Add bay leaves and 3 cups water, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover, and cook 25 to 30 minutes, or until turnips are very tender.
Remove from heat, and remove bay leaves. Add soy creamer, if using. Use blender or food processor to purée ingredients until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and stir in celery leaves just before serving.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 79; Protein: 1 g; Total Fat: 4.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 216 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 5 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
FIVE BEAN SOUP
This is from Eden Foods. Serves 10. Prep Time 10 minutes. Cook Time 40 minutes.
2 Tbs Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, diced
1/4 C celery, diced
1/2 C carrots, diced
3 Tbs barley, rinsed
3 C water
1 can Eden Organic Pinto Beans
1 can Eden Organic Black Beans
1 can Eden Organic Kidney Beans
1 can Eden Organic Navy Beans
1 can Eden Organic Garbanzo Beams
1 C sweet corn, fresh or frozen
1 can Eden Organic Diced Tomatoes with Roasted Onion
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 tsp crushed bay leaf
1 tsp Eden Sea Salt – French Celtic
Heat oil in soup pot, sauté garlic & onion until onion is translucent. Add water, celery, carrot & barley, beans, corn, tomatoes & herbs. Add salt, cover & simmer 30 minutes. Serve.
BUTTERNUT SOUP
This recipe comes from Diabetic Connect. It originally calls for 2 vegetable or chicken stock cubes, but I've cut out the chicken stock cubes, so that it's only using the vegetable stock cubes. You could also use vegetable broth in place of the water and cut out the vegetable cubes altogether. Makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 butternut squash diced
1 sweet potato diced
1 onion finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
cinnamon to taste
1 teaspoon nutmeg
salt to taste
3 tablespoons plain low fat yogurt
2 vegetable cubes (see note above)
Directions
In a large pot, add the olive oil and onion, stir until soft.
Then add the butternut and sweet potato and cover with boiled water half an inch over.
Add the stock cubes, nutmeg and salt.
Cook until veggies are soft.
Turn down heat, stick blend until smooth, and add yogurt and cinnamon… yummy!
CUBAN BLACK BEAN AND POTATO SOUP
This is from page 52 of the March 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “The distinctive flavor of this soup comes from a sofrito, a puréed mix of onions, garlic, and bell peppers.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 medium onion, diced (1 1/2 cups)
1 small red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
1 small green bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
6 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
6 cups cooked black beans, divided
3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced (2 1/2 cups)
2 Tbs. white wine vinegar
1 Tbs. ground cumin
1 Tbs. fresh oregano leaves
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. salt
Diced red onion and green bell pepper for garnish
Sauté onion, bell peppers, and garlic in saucepan with a little water or vegetable broth over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes, or until vegetables soften. Transfer to blender, and purée until smooth. Add 3 cups beans and 6 to 7 cups water; purée until mixture is consistency of thick soup.
Return mixture to saucepan, and add remaining beans, potatoes, vinegar, cumin, oregano, bay leaf, and salt. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, 20 minutes, or until potatoes are soft. Remove bay leaf. Garnish each serving with diced red onion and green bell pepper.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 321; Protein: 18 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 62 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 610 mg; Fiber: 18 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Wednesday Recipes
Here are today's six recipes - including Magic Caterpillar Peanut Butter Bread and Roasted Vegetables - to help you through the day. Enjoy!
ACORN SQUASH WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO POLENTA
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “This dish transcends the simplicity of squash and the hominess of coarse-ground cornmeal. The lushness of the flavors soothe and satisfy the palate, creating culinary magic on a brisk winter evening. The whole dish, virtually a meal on its own, can be made in about an hour and is best served hot—when the polenta is still steaming, the Parmesan is melting and the colors are vibrant. If you wish to accompany the squash with other courses, consider an appetizer or soup with mild flavors, like a simple vegetable broth filled with lightly cooked greens or rounds of toasted wheat bread spread with a mild hummus dip. To complement the assertive squash flavors, offer sliced fresh fruit.” Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 small acorn squash (1 to 1 1/2 lbs. each)
About 2 oz. or 15 sun-dried tomatoes
1/4 cup pine nuts
3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
1/2 heaping tsp. salt
1/2 cup coarse-ground polenta
2 to 3 Tbs. shredded Parmesan
2 Tbs. chopped parsley
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Line sheet pan with parchment paper, and spray liberally with nonstick vegetable oil.
Cut squashes in half crosswise, and scoop out seeds and a little extra flesh. Cook, face down on parchment paper, about 45 minutes, or until sharp knife easily penetrates outside skin and rim of flesh is lightly browned.
Meanwhile, in small bowl, soak tomatoes in very hot water to cover for 15 to 20 minutes. When soft, coarsely chop and set aside. On small sheet pan or in baking dish, toast pine nuts in oven for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
To make pesto, in food processor, add pine nuts, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and grated Parmesan cheese. Start machine and, as blade is turning, pour olive oil through shoot. Blend into smooth paste. Set aside in small bowl. (Use same bowl, rinsed and dried, used for soaking tomatoes).
Bring stock to a boil in medium to heavy saucepan. Add salt, keeping water boiling at medium-high heat. Add polenta gradually, either slowly from measuring cup or letting a fistful run through nearly closed fingers, constantly stirring with long-handled whisk. When all polenta is added, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook gently. Continue stirring, switching to long-handled wooden spoon. To avoid burning or sticking, use heat-diffusing device. Stir continuously and thoroughly, bringing mixture up from bottom and loosening from sides. (Make sure sides are scooped clean.)
Continue to stir for about 20 minutes, or until polenta is creamy and pulls away from sides of pan. Turn off heat, and stir in sun-dried tomato pesto.
Remove squash from oven. Spoon tomato mixture into squash “bowls.” Top with shredded Parmesan, dust with paprika and garnish with parsley.
Note: For a faster dish, substitute store-bought sun-dried tomato pesto, which won’t be as fresh or as satisfying. However, making your own is easy. You can prepare the whole dish ahead, minus garnishes. Refrigerate, reheat until hot and garnish with shredded cheese, paprika and parsley. If squashes are particularly misshapen, trim ridged edges so they will stand up straight without rolling over.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 510; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 31 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 49 g; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Sodium: 850 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: g
SPINACH AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO PIE
This also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Similar to spanakopita, this pie gets its creamy texture from tofu, not cheese and eggs. Be sure to use a sharp knife to cut the pie so that the crisp, delicate phyllo crust doesn’t crumble and lose its shape.” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
15 marinated sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped, oil from jar reserved
1 large onion, chopped (2 cups)
1 lb. extra-firm tofu, drained
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
15 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 9-inch round cake pan or springform pan with cooking spray.
Heat 1 Tbs. reserved sun-dried-tomato oil in large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 15 to 20 minutes, or until browned.
Meanwhile, place tofu, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes in large bowl. Rub together with hands until no large lumps of tofu remain. Stir tofu mixture into onion mixture, and cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, if desired, and cool.
Place 1 sheet phyllo on work surface, and dab and brush with reserved sun-dried tomato oil. Top with second sheet phyllo. Repeat with 4 more phyllo sheets, brushing top of stack with oil as well. Line prepared cake pan with phyllo stack, letting edges drape over.
Make second phyllo stack using reserved oil and 5 more phyllo sheets. Set in prepared cake pan perpendicular to first stack so pan is completely lined with phyllo crust.
Fill crust with spinach filling, pressing down. Fold excess phyllo edges over center.
Make third phyllo stack using 5 phyllo sheets and reserved sun-dried-tomato oil. Place over spinach filling, tucking in edges to seal pie.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Cool 10 minutes, then unmold pie, and slice into wedges.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 230; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 217 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 2 g
MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD
Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live. However, you might be able to check out a few episodes by Google-ing his name for the latest places that show him, or on YouTube. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 1 loaf.
Ingredients:
1 package Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup milk
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.
Directions:
Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.
Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.
Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)
About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.
Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.
ZUCCHINI-CORN SAUTE
This yummy recipe comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “This four-vegetable medley makes a colorful addition to just about any meal.” Serves: 4; Prep Time: 10 minutes; CookTime: 8 minutes
To view this online, go to http://www.familytime.com/Recipe/ShowRecipe.aspx?RecipeId=14454.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cups (about 3 medium) zucchini, sliced
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
1 1/2 cups loose-pack frozen whole-kernel corn
1 cup (about 1 medium) tomato, chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Directions
Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini, onion, and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in corn, tomato, and thyme; cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper.
ROASTED VEGETABLES
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Melissa writes, “The key to roasting all kinds of vegetables is to know the right temperature for cooking them. Dense, low-moisture vegetables (like the roots and squashes in this recipe) need lower heat and more time in the oven than vegetables with more moisture, like eggplant or zucchini. Then simply toss your vegetables with oil and season with salt and pepper before roasting. Top your roasted vegetable with a couple of fried eggs or a dollop of yogurt, or both, and you have a meal.” Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour; makes 4 to 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 to 3 pounds root or dense vegetable, peeled if you like and cut into 1-inch chunks or wedges (carrots, beets, potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, radishes, rutabaga, winter squashes)
Oil (olive, coconut or grapeseed)
Salt and pepper
Fried eggs and/or plain yogurt
Fresh herbs, torn or chopped
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Toss vegetables with oil, salt, and pepper. Roast, stirring at least once or twice during roasting for even cooking and browning.
Serve with fried eggs and/or yogurt, ground black pepper and plenty of torn herbs on top.
Tips
You can use 2 pounds high-moisture vegetables instead (eggplant, peppers, zucchini, fennel, onions, brussels sprouts). Slice them and cut into chunks or wedges. Roast at 450 degrees until golden brown all over, 10 to 40 minutes depending on variety and the size of the pieces.
Or use 1 to 2 pounds hardy green vegetables (broccoli rabe, snow peas, green beans, kale, collard greens, chard) or cherry tomatoes, trimmed. Roast at 450 degrees for 7 to 15 minutes.
STRAWBERRY COBBLER
This is from the May/June 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 30. It begins, “Serve this delicately sweet dessert warm or at room temperature, or cover, and refrigerate up to two days.” Serves 6.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/strawberry-cobbler/
6 cups fresh strawberries, halved
3/4 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. flour, divided
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
3 1/2 Tbs. nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat 11- x 7-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Toss together strawberries, 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. sugar, 2 Tbs. flour, and lemon juice in bowl. Transfer to prepared baking dish.
Whisk together remaining 1/2 cup flour, remaining 2 Tbs. sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in separate bowl. Add shortening, and mix well with fork until mixture is crumbly. Stir in 1/2 cup water. Spread over strawberry mixture. Bake 20 to 30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 275; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 48 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 86 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 33 g; Vegan
ACORN SQUASH WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO POLENTA
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “This dish transcends the simplicity of squash and the hominess of coarse-ground cornmeal. The lushness of the flavors soothe and satisfy the palate, creating culinary magic on a brisk winter evening. The whole dish, virtually a meal on its own, can be made in about an hour and is best served hot—when the polenta is still steaming, the Parmesan is melting and the colors are vibrant. If you wish to accompany the squash with other courses, consider an appetizer or soup with mild flavors, like a simple vegetable broth filled with lightly cooked greens or rounds of toasted wheat bread spread with a mild hummus dip. To complement the assertive squash flavors, offer sliced fresh fruit.” Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 small acorn squash (1 to 1 1/2 lbs. each)
About 2 oz. or 15 sun-dried tomatoes
1/4 cup pine nuts
3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
1/2 heaping tsp. salt
1/2 cup coarse-ground polenta
2 to 3 Tbs. shredded Parmesan
2 Tbs. chopped parsley
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Line sheet pan with parchment paper, and spray liberally with nonstick vegetable oil.
Cut squashes in half crosswise, and scoop out seeds and a little extra flesh. Cook, face down on parchment paper, about 45 minutes, or until sharp knife easily penetrates outside skin and rim of flesh is lightly browned.
Meanwhile, in small bowl, soak tomatoes in very hot water to cover for 15 to 20 minutes. When soft, coarsely chop and set aside. On small sheet pan or in baking dish, toast pine nuts in oven for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
To make pesto, in food processor, add pine nuts, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and grated Parmesan cheese. Start machine and, as blade is turning, pour olive oil through shoot. Blend into smooth paste. Set aside in small bowl. (Use same bowl, rinsed and dried, used for soaking tomatoes).
Bring stock to a boil in medium to heavy saucepan. Add salt, keeping water boiling at medium-high heat. Add polenta gradually, either slowly from measuring cup or letting a fistful run through nearly closed fingers, constantly stirring with long-handled whisk. When all polenta is added, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook gently. Continue stirring, switching to long-handled wooden spoon. To avoid burning or sticking, use heat-diffusing device. Stir continuously and thoroughly, bringing mixture up from bottom and loosening from sides. (Make sure sides are scooped clean.)
Continue to stir for about 20 minutes, or until polenta is creamy and pulls away from sides of pan. Turn off heat, and stir in sun-dried tomato pesto.
Remove squash from oven. Spoon tomato mixture into squash “bowls.” Top with shredded Parmesan, dust with paprika and garnish with parsley.
Note: For a faster dish, substitute store-bought sun-dried tomato pesto, which won’t be as fresh or as satisfying. However, making your own is easy. You can prepare the whole dish ahead, minus garnishes. Refrigerate, reheat until hot and garnish with shredded cheese, paprika and parsley. If squashes are particularly misshapen, trim ridged edges so they will stand up straight without rolling over.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 510; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 31 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 49 g; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Sodium: 850 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: g
SPINACH AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO PIE
This also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Similar to spanakopita, this pie gets its creamy texture from tofu, not cheese and eggs. Be sure to use a sharp knife to cut the pie so that the crisp, delicate phyllo crust doesn’t crumble and lose its shape.” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
15 marinated sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped, oil from jar reserved
1 large onion, chopped (2 cups)
1 lb. extra-firm tofu, drained
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
15 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 9-inch round cake pan or springform pan with cooking spray.
Heat 1 Tbs. reserved sun-dried-tomato oil in large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 15 to 20 minutes, or until browned.
Meanwhile, place tofu, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes in large bowl. Rub together with hands until no large lumps of tofu remain. Stir tofu mixture into onion mixture, and cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, if desired, and cool.
Place 1 sheet phyllo on work surface, and dab and brush with reserved sun-dried tomato oil. Top with second sheet phyllo. Repeat with 4 more phyllo sheets, brushing top of stack with oil as well. Line prepared cake pan with phyllo stack, letting edges drape over.
Make second phyllo stack using reserved oil and 5 more phyllo sheets. Set in prepared cake pan perpendicular to first stack so pan is completely lined with phyllo crust.
Fill crust with spinach filling, pressing down. Fold excess phyllo edges over center.
Make third phyllo stack using 5 phyllo sheets and reserved sun-dried-tomato oil. Place over spinach filling, tucking in edges to seal pie.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Cool 10 minutes, then unmold pie, and slice into wedges.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 230; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 217 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 2 g
MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD
Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live. However, you might be able to check out a few episodes by Google-ing his name for the latest places that show him, or on YouTube. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 1 loaf.
Ingredients:
1 package Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup milk
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.
Directions:
Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.
Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.
Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)
About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.
Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.
ZUCCHINI-CORN SAUTE
This yummy recipe comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “This four-vegetable medley makes a colorful addition to just about any meal.” Serves: 4; Prep Time: 10 minutes; CookTime: 8 minutes
To view this online, go to http://www.familytime.com/Recipe/ShowRecipe.aspx?RecipeId=14454.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cups (about 3 medium) zucchini, sliced
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
1 1/2 cups loose-pack frozen whole-kernel corn
1 cup (about 1 medium) tomato, chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Directions
Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini, onion, and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in corn, tomato, and thyme; cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper.
ROASTED VEGETABLES
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Melissa writes, “The key to roasting all kinds of vegetables is to know the right temperature for cooking them. Dense, low-moisture vegetables (like the roots and squashes in this recipe) need lower heat and more time in the oven than vegetables with more moisture, like eggplant or zucchini. Then simply toss your vegetables with oil and season with salt and pepper before roasting. Top your roasted vegetable with a couple of fried eggs or a dollop of yogurt, or both, and you have a meal.” Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour; makes 4 to 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 to 3 pounds root or dense vegetable, peeled if you like and cut into 1-inch chunks or wedges (carrots, beets, potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, radishes, rutabaga, winter squashes)
Oil (olive, coconut or grapeseed)
Salt and pepper
Fried eggs and/or plain yogurt
Fresh herbs, torn or chopped
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Toss vegetables with oil, salt, and pepper. Roast, stirring at least once or twice during roasting for even cooking and browning.
Serve with fried eggs and/or yogurt, ground black pepper and plenty of torn herbs on top.
Tips
You can use 2 pounds high-moisture vegetables instead (eggplant, peppers, zucchini, fennel, onions, brussels sprouts). Slice them and cut into chunks or wedges. Roast at 450 degrees until golden brown all over, 10 to 40 minutes depending on variety and the size of the pieces.
Or use 1 to 2 pounds hardy green vegetables (broccoli rabe, snow peas, green beans, kale, collard greens, chard) or cherry tomatoes, trimmed. Roast at 450 degrees for 7 to 15 minutes.
STRAWBERRY COBBLER
This is from the May/June 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 30. It begins, “Serve this delicately sweet dessert warm or at room temperature, or cover, and refrigerate up to two days.” Serves 6.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/strawberry-cobbler/
6 cups fresh strawberries, halved
3/4 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. flour, divided
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
3 1/2 Tbs. nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat 11- x 7-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Toss together strawberries, 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. sugar, 2 Tbs. flour, and lemon juice in bowl. Transfer to prepared baking dish.
Whisk together remaining 1/2 cup flour, remaining 2 Tbs. sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in separate bowl. Add shortening, and mix well with fork until mixture is crumbly. Stir in 1/2 cup water. Spread over strawberry mixture. Bake 20 to 30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 275; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 48 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 86 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 33 g; Vegan
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Taco Tuesday
Yay! It's Taco Tuesday! Here are six vegetarian taco recipes to help you through today. Enjoy!
SOFT TACOS WITH SCRAMBLED TOFU AND TOMATOES
This comes from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Soft tofu makes a wonderful stand-in for scrambled eggs. Serve these savory tacos for a great Mexican and vegan breakfast.” Yield: Serves four; Time: 25 minutes.
This was featured in “Tofu: Not Just for Health Nuts Anymore” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 14-ounce can tomatoes, drained
2 large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 serrano or jalapeño chile, seeded if desired and chopped (more if you like things really hot)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 small or 1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
Salt to taste
1 12-ounce box medium or firm silken tofu, drained
Soy sauce to taste
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
8 corn tortillas
Salsa
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, garlic and chile in a blender, and blend until smooth.
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high, and add the cumin. Stir together, and when the pan is quite hot, pour in the blended tomato mixture. It should sizzle. Cook, stirring, about five minutes, until the sauce is thick, dark and fragrant, and your spoon leaves a canal when you run it down the center of the pan. Add salt to taste.
Add the tofu to the pan, and mash it into the sauce using the back of your spoon. Add the soy sauce, and continue to cook for another five minutes, stirring and mashing the tofu. Stir in the cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Heat the tortillas and place two on each plate. Top with the tofu mixture and serve, passing salsa on the side.
Tip
Advance preparation: Unlike scrambled eggs, scrambled tofu keeps well for a couple of days. You can reheat it — I even like to eat this dish cold for a quick lunch.
SOFT TACOS WITH MUSHROOMS AND CABBAGE
This is also from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Two nutrient-dense vegetables combine forces in this delicious filling. Mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamins and many minerals, particularly selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and manganese – and they contain a powerful antioxidant called L-ergothioneine. They're used medicinally throughout Asia for their immunity-boosting properties. They also contain more protein than most other vegetables, and their meaty texture makes them a perfect choice for vegetarians. Cabbage possesses phytochemicals like sulforaphane, which protects the body against cancer-causing free radicals, and indoles, which help metabolize estrogens. It’s also an excellent source of vitamins K and C, and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, folate, manganese and omega-3 fatty acids.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Tacos for the Holidays” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 pound mushrooms, cut in thick slices
1 bunch scallions, white and light green parts, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 small head cabbage
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 to 1/2 cup Chipotle Ranchera Salsa
8 corn tortillas
Queso fresco to taste
Preparation
Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the mushrooms and sear, stirring often or tossing in the pan, until they are lightly colored and beginning to sweat, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the scallions and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, until tender. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute.
Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper and stir in the cabbage. Cook, stirring often, until the cabbage is tender, about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir in the cilantro and .25 to .5 cup of the salsa (to taste).
Heat the tortillas. Top with the mushroom/cabbage mixture, sprinkle with cheese if desired, and serve.
Tip
Advance preparation: The mushroom filling will keep for about 3 days in the refrigerator.
SEITAN TACOS
This is from FoodFanatic, and begins, “Seitan tacos made with citrus and herb are a fantastic vegetarian idea. These tacos are a fantastic addition to Taco Week!” Makes 4 servings; Serving Size: 2 tacos; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
8 ounces seitan strips, 1 package
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapeños, deseeded and minced
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons sour cream
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 large tomato, diced
2 cups baby spinach, chopped
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
8 flour tortillas, corn tortillas, or corn taco shells
Directions
Drain the seitan strips and toss them with the garlic, jalapenos, cumin, chili powder, and onions in a small bowl. Set aside.
Combine the orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, parsley, cilantro and honey in a blender and mix until combined. Whisk in the sour cream. Set aside.
In a medium skillet, heat the canola oil over medium heat. Add the seitan mixture and cook until the seitan has browned and the onions are soft.
Assemble the tacos with the seitan mixture, tomatoes, spinach and cheese.
Spoon the citrus dressing over the tacos. Alternatively, because it is very liquid, you can also coat the cooked seitan mixture with the desired amount of dressing before taco assembly.
Notes
I used a thyme flavored honey which added to the herby flavor of the dressing.
Make sure the jalapeno is actually spicy. This dish is better with a little kick!
CAULIFLOWER AND RED ONION TACOS
This also comes from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Vegetables bathed in vinegar are typical condiments in Mexico, but you can bring them to the center of the plate as a filling for a taco. If you want spice, add the chipotle, or garnish with some salsa. If salt is an issue, use ranchero rather than cotija cheese.” Yield: 6 servings; Time: About 45 minutes.
This was also featured in “Tacos for the Holidays” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 large or 2 small or medium cauliflowers, broken into florets (about 6 cups)
1 red onion, cut in half lengthwise, then sliced crosswise across the grain
1 to 2 garlic cloves (to taste), minced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup white wine vinegar or Champagne vinegar (to taste)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 or 2 chipotle chilies in adobo or pickled jalapeños, drained and thinly sliced (optional)
12 corn tortillas
1 romaine heart, cut crosswise in thin strips (chiffonade)
3 ounces cotija or ranchero cheese
Preparation
Step 1
Place the cauliflower and onion in a steaming basket over 1 inch of boiling water. Cover and steam 1 minute. Lift the lid for 15 seconds, then cover again and steam for 5 to 8 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender. Refresh with cold water and drain on paper towels.
In a large bowl, mix together the garlic, cilantro, capers, vinegar and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cauliflower and onion and toss together. Marinate, stirring from time to time, for 30 minutes if possible before serving. For an added kick, stir in the chili or chilies. Transfer the mixture to a skillet and heat through over medium heat.
Warm the tortillas. Top with the marinated vegetables and a handful of romaine, sprinkle on the cheese and serve.
Tip
Advance preparation: You can make the cauliflower and onion mixture up to a day ahead, but omit the cilantro until shortly before serving so that its color doesn't fade. The filling keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
CRUNCHY BLACK BEAN TACOS
This comes from The Kitchn’s e-newsletter. If you haven’t signed up for The Kitchn’s e-newsletter yet, I highly recommend that, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy.
This recipe serves 3 to 4, or makes 8 tacos; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes and can be found online by clicking here.
2 cups cooked black beans
1/2 cup minced red onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
Pinch of salt
4 to 6 ounces (1 heaping cup) grated Pepper Jack cheese
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
8 corn tortillas
Toppings
Avocado
Hot sauce
Salsa
Sour cream
In a medium bowl, add beans along with red onion, cilantro, cumin, and paprika. Add a pinch of salt and lightly mash all the ingredients together. Grate the cheese and have it ready as well.
In a large, nonstick or cast-iron skillet, add the 2 tablespoons oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add one corn tortilla at a time and let each get hot in the oil for a few seconds. Then add about 1/4 cup of the bean filling to one half of the tortilla. Top with a sprinkle of grated cheese. Try not to overfill the tacos, or you might have issues flipping them without losing filling.
Using a spatula, carefully fold the other half of the tortilla over to form a shell. Press down lightly on the tortilla so it holds its shape. If some cheese spills out, don’t worry — it will get crispy and delicious.
As the first taco cooks, move it to the side and begin a second one. Depending on the size of your pan, you can cook two or three tacos at once. A griddle will hold even more.
Cook each taco until they are nicely browned and crispy, about 3 minutes per side. When flipping the taco to cook on the other side, use a spatula and flip the taco toward the fold so the filling doesn’t fall out. If your pan is very dry between batches, add another drizzle of oil.
Place the cooked tacos in a warm oven while you finish the rest. If the tacos are very greasy, blot them with a paper towel before moving them to the oven.
Serve tacos with toppings like hot sauce, salsa, avocados, and sour cream.
Recipe Notes:
Corn tortillas are resilient to heat. Don’t worry about burning them; they are very sturdy. Just be sure to cook tortillas on each side long enough to get them really crispy.
AMERICAN BBQ TACOS
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “For authentic Southern flavor, top these tacos with prepared coleslaw instead of shredded lettuce.” Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
BBQ Sauce
1 1/2 Tbs. ketchup
1 Tbs. vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. honey
1/8 tsp. hot sauce, or more to taste
Tacos
1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 cup soy crumbles, such as Lightlife Gimme Lean
4 6-inch corn or flour tortillas, warmed
2 Tbs. chopped red onion
1/3 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup shredded Romaine lettuce
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbs. pickle relish, optional
Instructions:
To make BBQ Sauce: Combine all ingredients in bowl.
To make Tacos: Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, and carrots, and cook 3 minutes, or until vegetables are softened, stirring halfway through. Add soy crumbles and 2 Tbs. BBQ Sauce. Cook 8 minutes, or until soy crumbles are browned.
Fill tortillas with soy crumble mixture. Top with red onion, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and relish, if desired. Serve with BBQ Sauce.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 178; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Sodium: 409 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 4 g
SOFT TACOS WITH SCRAMBLED TOFU AND TOMATOES
This comes from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Soft tofu makes a wonderful stand-in for scrambled eggs. Serve these savory tacos for a great Mexican and vegan breakfast.” Yield: Serves four; Time: 25 minutes.
This was featured in “Tofu: Not Just for Health Nuts Anymore” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 14-ounce can tomatoes, drained
2 large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 serrano or jalapeño chile, seeded if desired and chopped (more if you like things really hot)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 small or 1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
Salt to taste
1 12-ounce box medium or firm silken tofu, drained
Soy sauce to taste
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
8 corn tortillas
Salsa
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, garlic and chile in a blender, and blend until smooth.
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high, and add the cumin. Stir together, and when the pan is quite hot, pour in the blended tomato mixture. It should sizzle. Cook, stirring, about five minutes, until the sauce is thick, dark and fragrant, and your spoon leaves a canal when you run it down the center of the pan. Add salt to taste.
Add the tofu to the pan, and mash it into the sauce using the back of your spoon. Add the soy sauce, and continue to cook for another five minutes, stirring and mashing the tofu. Stir in the cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Heat the tortillas and place two on each plate. Top with the tofu mixture and serve, passing salsa on the side.
Tip
Advance preparation: Unlike scrambled eggs, scrambled tofu keeps well for a couple of days. You can reheat it — I even like to eat this dish cold for a quick lunch.
SOFT TACOS WITH MUSHROOMS AND CABBAGE
This is also from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Two nutrient-dense vegetables combine forces in this delicious filling. Mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamins and many minerals, particularly selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, and manganese – and they contain a powerful antioxidant called L-ergothioneine. They're used medicinally throughout Asia for their immunity-boosting properties. They also contain more protein than most other vegetables, and their meaty texture makes them a perfect choice for vegetarians. Cabbage possesses phytochemicals like sulforaphane, which protects the body against cancer-causing free radicals, and indoles, which help metabolize estrogens. It’s also an excellent source of vitamins K and C, and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, folate, manganese and omega-3 fatty acids.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Tacos for the Holidays” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 pound mushrooms, cut in thick slices
1 bunch scallions, white and light green parts, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 small head cabbage
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 to 1/2 cup Chipotle Ranchera Salsa
8 corn tortillas
Queso fresco to taste
Preparation
Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the mushrooms and sear, stirring often or tossing in the pan, until they are lightly colored and beginning to sweat, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the scallions and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, until tender. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute.
Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper and stir in the cabbage. Cook, stirring often, until the cabbage is tender, about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir in the cilantro and .25 to .5 cup of the salsa (to taste).
Heat the tortillas. Top with the mushroom/cabbage mixture, sprinkle with cheese if desired, and serve.
Tip
Advance preparation: The mushroom filling will keep for about 3 days in the refrigerator.
SEITAN TACOS
This is from FoodFanatic, and begins, “Seitan tacos made with citrus and herb are a fantastic vegetarian idea. These tacos are a fantastic addition to Taco Week!” Makes 4 servings; Serving Size: 2 tacos; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
8 ounces seitan strips, 1 package
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapeños, deseeded and minced
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons sour cream
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 large tomato, diced
2 cups baby spinach, chopped
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
8 flour tortillas, corn tortillas, or corn taco shells
Directions
Drain the seitan strips and toss them with the garlic, jalapenos, cumin, chili powder, and onions in a small bowl. Set aside.
Combine the orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, parsley, cilantro and honey in a blender and mix until combined. Whisk in the sour cream. Set aside.
In a medium skillet, heat the canola oil over medium heat. Add the seitan mixture and cook until the seitan has browned and the onions are soft.
Assemble the tacos with the seitan mixture, tomatoes, spinach and cheese.
Spoon the citrus dressing over the tacos. Alternatively, because it is very liquid, you can also coat the cooked seitan mixture with the desired amount of dressing before taco assembly.
Notes
I used a thyme flavored honey which added to the herby flavor of the dressing.
Make sure the jalapeno is actually spicy. This dish is better with a little kick!
CAULIFLOWER AND RED ONION TACOS
This also comes from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Vegetables bathed in vinegar are typical condiments in Mexico, but you can bring them to the center of the plate as a filling for a taco. If you want spice, add the chipotle, or garnish with some salsa. If salt is an issue, use ranchero rather than cotija cheese.” Yield: 6 servings; Time: About 45 minutes.
This was also featured in “Tacos for the Holidays” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 large or 2 small or medium cauliflowers, broken into florets (about 6 cups)
1 red onion, cut in half lengthwise, then sliced crosswise across the grain
1 to 2 garlic cloves (to taste), minced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup white wine vinegar or Champagne vinegar (to taste)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 or 2 chipotle chilies in adobo or pickled jalapeños, drained and thinly sliced (optional)
12 corn tortillas
1 romaine heart, cut crosswise in thin strips (chiffonade)
3 ounces cotija or ranchero cheese
Preparation
Step 1
Place the cauliflower and onion in a steaming basket over 1 inch of boiling water. Cover and steam 1 minute. Lift the lid for 15 seconds, then cover again and steam for 5 to 8 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender. Refresh with cold water and drain on paper towels.
In a large bowl, mix together the garlic, cilantro, capers, vinegar and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cauliflower and onion and toss together. Marinate, stirring from time to time, for 30 minutes if possible before serving. For an added kick, stir in the chili or chilies. Transfer the mixture to a skillet and heat through over medium heat.
Warm the tortillas. Top with the marinated vegetables and a handful of romaine, sprinkle on the cheese and serve.
Tip
Advance preparation: You can make the cauliflower and onion mixture up to a day ahead, but omit the cilantro until shortly before serving so that its color doesn't fade. The filling keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
CRUNCHY BLACK BEAN TACOS
This comes from The Kitchn’s e-newsletter. If you haven’t signed up for The Kitchn’s e-newsletter yet, I highly recommend that, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy.
This recipe serves 3 to 4, or makes 8 tacos; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes and can be found online by clicking here.
2 cups cooked black beans
1/2 cup minced red onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
Pinch of salt
4 to 6 ounces (1 heaping cup) grated Pepper Jack cheese
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
8 corn tortillas
Toppings
Avocado
Hot sauce
Salsa
Sour cream
In a medium bowl, add beans along with red onion, cilantro, cumin, and paprika. Add a pinch of salt and lightly mash all the ingredients together. Grate the cheese and have it ready as well.
In a large, nonstick or cast-iron skillet, add the 2 tablespoons oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add one corn tortilla at a time and let each get hot in the oil for a few seconds. Then add about 1/4 cup of the bean filling to one half of the tortilla. Top with a sprinkle of grated cheese. Try not to overfill the tacos, or you might have issues flipping them without losing filling.
Using a spatula, carefully fold the other half of the tortilla over to form a shell. Press down lightly on the tortilla so it holds its shape. If some cheese spills out, don’t worry — it will get crispy and delicious.
As the first taco cooks, move it to the side and begin a second one. Depending on the size of your pan, you can cook two or three tacos at once. A griddle will hold even more.
Cook each taco until they are nicely browned and crispy, about 3 minutes per side. When flipping the taco to cook on the other side, use a spatula and flip the taco toward the fold so the filling doesn’t fall out. If your pan is very dry between batches, add another drizzle of oil.
Place the cooked tacos in a warm oven while you finish the rest. If the tacos are very greasy, blot them with a paper towel before moving them to the oven.
Serve tacos with toppings like hot sauce, salsa, avocados, and sour cream.
Recipe Notes:
Corn tortillas are resilient to heat. Don’t worry about burning them; they are very sturdy. Just be sure to cook tortillas on each side long enough to get them really crispy.
AMERICAN BBQ TACOS
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “For authentic Southern flavor, top these tacos with prepared coleslaw instead of shredded lettuce.” Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
BBQ Sauce
1 1/2 Tbs. ketchup
1 Tbs. vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. honey
1/8 tsp. hot sauce, or more to taste
Tacos
1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 cup soy crumbles, such as Lightlife Gimme Lean
4 6-inch corn or flour tortillas, warmed
2 Tbs. chopped red onion
1/3 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup shredded Romaine lettuce
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbs. pickle relish, optional
Instructions:
To make BBQ Sauce: Combine all ingredients in bowl.
To make Tacos: Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, and carrots, and cook 3 minutes, or until vegetables are softened, stirring halfway through. Add soy crumbles and 2 Tbs. BBQ Sauce. Cook 8 minutes, or until soy crumbles are browned.
Fill tortillas with soy crumble mixture. Top with red onion, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and relish, if desired. Serve with BBQ Sauce.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 178; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Sodium: 409 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 4 g
Monday, January 9, 2017
Monday Recipes
Today's offerings include a little of this and that...Creamy Macaroni & Cheese, a couple of pumpkin recipes...And while many of us think of pumpkin as fall food, it's one of those foods that I could eat at any time - sort-of like chocolate or pasta.
That said, here are today's six recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!
PUMPKIN CINNAMON ROLLS WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING
This is from Diana Rattray, Southern Food expert for About.com. Diana wrote, “These pumpkin cinnamon rolls are rich and delicious, and can be prepared in advance and frozen until you need them. That can be a big convenience for a holiday or special occasion.
“The pumpkin dough is perfectly spiced and lightly sweetened while the buttery brown sugar filling gives them classic cinnamon roll flavor and texture. The cream cheese icing is the perfect finishing touch. And the bright color and flavor of the pumpkin make them the perfect holiday breakfast or snack.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 24 minutes; Rising Time: 105 minutes; Total Time: 154 minutes; Yield: Makes About 1 Dozen
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/3 cup milk, lukewarm, about 90° F
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom or nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 11 1/2 ounces
Filling
5 tablespoons butter, softened, salted or unsalted
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Icing/Glaze
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons softened butter
2 to 5 tablespoons milk or light cream, or enough for desired consistency for drizzling or spreading
Preparation
In a mixing bowl, bread machine, or bowl of electric stand mixer, combine the milk and 3 tablespoons of melted butter. Add the pumpkin, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, the cardamom or nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Add the egg, the flour, and the yeast. With the dough hook or by hand, mix to form a dough, or set the bread machine on the dough cycle. Knead for 6 to 8 minutes.
Butter a large bowl.
Put the dough in the bowl, turning to grease all sides.
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about an hour, or until doubled in volume.
On a floured board, roll the dough out into a rectangle about 10 inches x 15 to 16 inches.
Spread 5 tablespoons of softened butter over the dough to within about 1/4 inch of one of the long edges (so it will seal when you roll it).
Combine the 1/2 cup of brown sugar with the 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Blend thoroughly. Spread the mixture over the butter layer. Dab a water-moistened finger along the bare long edge. Roll up tightly from the other long edge and seal, pinching the seam lightly.
Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and put in the freezer for about 30 minutes to firm the roll for cutting.
Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Heat the oven to 375° F.
Cut the roll into 1- to 1 1/2-inch slices. Arrange in the prepared baking pan. At this point, you can cover with plastic wrap and let them rest for 30 minutes, or cover tightly and freeze for up to 1 month.
If starting with frozen rolls, take them out of the freezer about 1 hour before baking.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until browned and puffy.
Remove and let them cool slightly while you prepare the icing.
Combine the softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons of softened butter, and a tablespoon of milk. Beat with an electric mixer, adding more milk or cream until the icing is a good consistency for spreading or drizzling. If the rolls are still quite warm, it will thin and run down the sides as you spread. If not that warm, you might want to drizzle.
Makes about 12 to 15 pumpkin cinnamon rolls.
PUMPKIN DUMP CAKE
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
1 (29 oz.) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. white sugar
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. cloves
1 pkg. yellow or spice cake mix
1/2 C. chopped pecans
1/2 C. melted butter or margarine
Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9x13 pan. In bowl, mix everything except last 3 ingredients. Pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over top of pumpkin, then sprinkle pecans over mix. Drizzle butter over the nut/mix. Bake 50-60 minutes, the edges will be light brown. Good warm or cold with Cool Whip or whipped cream.
ROASTED POTATOES, CARROTS, PARSNIPS AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS
This comes from Giada De Laurentiis of The Food Network's Everyday Italian. Total Time: 1 hr; Prep: 20 min; Cook: 40 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/roasted-potatoes-carrots-parsnips-and-brussels-sprouts-recipe2.html?oc=linkback
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium carrots (about 3/4 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick circles
1 1/2 cups Brussels sprouts (about 1/2 pound), halved
4 cups red bliss potatoes (about 1 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick slices
3 medium parsnips (about 1 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick slices
1 cup sweet potatoes (about 1 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick slices
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Grease 11 by 17-inch baking sheet pan with extra-virgin olive oil. Place vegetables in baking sheet & add dried herbs, salt & pepper. Toss well, evenly coating all the vegetables with the seasonings & oil. Add more oil if the vegetables seem dry.
Spread vegetables evenly on large baking sheet. Place on middle rack in oven & bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Here is Julia Moskin's fantasy of what this dish should be: nothing more than tender elbows of pasta suspended in pure molten cheddar, with a chewy, golden-brown crust of cheese on top.” Time: 1 hour 40 minutes; makes 6 to 8 servings.
To view this oneline, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup cottage cheese (not lowfat)
2 cups milk (not skim)
1 teaspoon dry mustard
Pinch cayenne
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 pound elbow pasta, uncooked
Preparation
Heat oven to 375 degrees and position an oven rack in upper third of oven. Use 1 tablespoon butter to butter a 9-inch round or square baking pan.
In a blender, purée cottage cheese, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg and salt and pepper together. Reserve 1/4 cup grated cheese for topping. In a large bowl, combine remaining grated cheese, milk mixture and uncooked pasta. Pour into prepared pan, cover tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes.
Uncover pan, stir gently, sprinkle with reserved cheese and dot with remaining tablespoon butter. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes more, until browned. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND RED ONIONS
This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Here is an easy, healthy addition to a Thanksgiving feast or weekday dinner from Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi, which was included in a Julia Moskin video feature in 2013. Chop up a few red onions and a butternut squash, roast them in high heat, and drizzle them with tahini sauce, herbs and pistachios. That’s it. (Keep an eye on the onions, though. They may cook faster than the squash.)” Time: 1 hour; Makes 10 to 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
About 1/2 cup olive oil, plus extra for pans
4 large red onions
Coarse salt and black pepper
4 pounds butternut squash cut into 1/2-inch wedges, peeled or unpeeled
1/3 cup pine nuts or shelled green pistachio nuts (optional)
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley, mint, cilantro or a combination, for garnish
For Tahini Sauce (Optional):
1/4 cup tahini paste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 small clove garlic, crushed
Preparation
Heat oven to 475 degrees. Lightly coat two large baking sheets with olive oil.
Peel onions, leaving root ends intact. Cut each onion in half from stem to root. Cut each half into 4 wedges, leaving the root intact so that each wedge holds together. Spread on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with oil.
Put the squash in a large mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and about 1/4 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat. Spread on a baking sheet, peel side down (if intact).
Place both pans in oven and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, until the vegetables have taken on some color and are cooked through. Keep an eye on the onions, as they may cook faster than the squash and need to be removed earlier.
If using nuts, pour 1 tablespoon oil into a small frying pan and place over medium-low heat. Add nuts and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often, until the nuts are golden brown and smell toasty. Immediately remove from the heat and dump onto a cutting board to stop the cooking. If using pistachios, chop coarsely when cool enough to handle.
To make tahini sauce, place tahini in a bowl. Add lemon juice, 1/4 cup water, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Whisk until sauce is the consistency of honey, adding more water or a tablespoon of olive oil if necessary.
When the vegetables are cooked, set aside until ready to serve. (The vegetables should be served the same day they are made. They can be served at warm room temperature, or reheated just before serving.)
To serve, combine vegetables on a large serving platter. If using tahini sauce, drizzle on top. Sprinkle herbs and, if using, nuts on top and serve.
CREAM CHEESE COOKIES
This recipe, from The Food Network, begins, “A triple dose of cream cheese (mixed into the batter, in chunks in the dough and as a glaze on top) makes these pillowy cookies extra tangy. Freezing the cream cheese before stirring it into the dough makes it easier to cut into clean pieces and keeps the chunks from disintegrating when shaping the dough into balls.” Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Prep: 40 min; Inactive: 1 hr. 30 min; Cook: 1 hr 15 min; Yield: 3 dozen cookies; Level: Easy.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cream-cheese-cookies.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
2 3/4 sticks (1 cup plus 6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, 6 ounces at room temperature, 2 ounces frozen
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 large egg yolk
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring (see Cook's Note)
2 tablespoons whole milk, plus more if needed
Very finely grated lime zest or finely minced cranberries, for garnish, optional
Directions
Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Combine the butter, vanilla, 4 ounces of the room-temperature cream cheese and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups of the sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and beat until smooth, then add the flour and beat on low until the dough just comes together. Remove the frozen cream cheese from the freezer and chop into 1/4-inch cubes. Add the cubes to the dough, quickly stirring with a rubber spatula to evenly incorporate them into the dough. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoons, scoop 12 portions of dough, roll into balls and transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Lightly flour the bottom of a 1/2-cup measuring cup and use it to flatten each cookie into a disk about 1/2 inch thick, re-flouring the cup after each cookie.
Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies look set but are still pale and barely brown on the bottom, 20 to 24 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining 2 ounces room-temperature cream cheese, 2 cups sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture forms a thick paste. Add the milk and stir slowly until a thick glaze forms.
When the cookies are cool, dip the entire surface of the top of each cookie in the glaze and lift up, letting the excess glaze drip off, then flip the cookie right-side up and onto the cooling rack. If the glaze is too thick, add another teaspoon of milk to loosen it. If using the cranberries or lime zest, sprinkle on top of the cookies while the glaze is still wet. Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 10 minutes. Store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Special equipment: a 1-ounce ice cream scoop, optional
Cook's Note: When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
That said, here are today's six recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!
PUMPKIN CINNAMON ROLLS WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING
This is from Diana Rattray, Southern Food expert for About.com. Diana wrote, “These pumpkin cinnamon rolls are rich and delicious, and can be prepared in advance and frozen until you need them. That can be a big convenience for a holiday or special occasion.
“The pumpkin dough is perfectly spiced and lightly sweetened while the buttery brown sugar filling gives them classic cinnamon roll flavor and texture. The cream cheese icing is the perfect finishing touch. And the bright color and flavor of the pumpkin make them the perfect holiday breakfast or snack.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 24 minutes; Rising Time: 105 minutes; Total Time: 154 minutes; Yield: Makes About 1 Dozen
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/3 cup milk, lukewarm, about 90° F
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom or nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 11 1/2 ounces
Filling
5 tablespoons butter, softened, salted or unsalted
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Icing/Glaze
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons softened butter
2 to 5 tablespoons milk or light cream, or enough for desired consistency for drizzling or spreading
Preparation
In a mixing bowl, bread machine, or bowl of electric stand mixer, combine the milk and 3 tablespoons of melted butter. Add the pumpkin, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, the cardamom or nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Add the egg, the flour, and the yeast. With the dough hook or by hand, mix to form a dough, or set the bread machine on the dough cycle. Knead for 6 to 8 minutes.
Butter a large bowl.
Put the dough in the bowl, turning to grease all sides.
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about an hour, or until doubled in volume.
On a floured board, roll the dough out into a rectangle about 10 inches x 15 to 16 inches.
Spread 5 tablespoons of softened butter over the dough to within about 1/4 inch of one of the long edges (so it will seal when you roll it).
Combine the 1/2 cup of brown sugar with the 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Blend thoroughly. Spread the mixture over the butter layer. Dab a water-moistened finger along the bare long edge. Roll up tightly from the other long edge and seal, pinching the seam lightly.
Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and put in the freezer for about 30 minutes to firm the roll for cutting.
Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Heat the oven to 375° F.
Cut the roll into 1- to 1 1/2-inch slices. Arrange in the prepared baking pan. At this point, you can cover with plastic wrap and let them rest for 30 minutes, or cover tightly and freeze for up to 1 month.
If starting with frozen rolls, take them out of the freezer about 1 hour before baking.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until browned and puffy.
Remove and let them cool slightly while you prepare the icing.
Combine the softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons of softened butter, and a tablespoon of milk. Beat with an electric mixer, adding more milk or cream until the icing is a good consistency for spreading or drizzling. If the rolls are still quite warm, it will thin and run down the sides as you spread. If not that warm, you might want to drizzle.
Makes about 12 to 15 pumpkin cinnamon rolls.
PUMPKIN DUMP CAKE
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
1 (29 oz.) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. white sugar
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. cloves
1 pkg. yellow or spice cake mix
1/2 C. chopped pecans
1/2 C. melted butter or margarine
Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9x13 pan. In bowl, mix everything except last 3 ingredients. Pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over top of pumpkin, then sprinkle pecans over mix. Drizzle butter over the nut/mix. Bake 50-60 minutes, the edges will be light brown. Good warm or cold with Cool Whip or whipped cream.
ROASTED POTATOES, CARROTS, PARSNIPS AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS
This comes from Giada De Laurentiis of The Food Network's Everyday Italian. Total Time: 1 hr; Prep: 20 min; Cook: 40 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/roasted-potatoes-carrots-parsnips-and-brussels-sprouts-recipe2.html?oc=linkback
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium carrots (about 3/4 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick circles
1 1/2 cups Brussels sprouts (about 1/2 pound), halved
4 cups red bliss potatoes (about 1 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick slices
3 medium parsnips (about 1 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick slices
1 cup sweet potatoes (about 1 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch thick slices
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Grease 11 by 17-inch baking sheet pan with extra-virgin olive oil. Place vegetables in baking sheet & add dried herbs, salt & pepper. Toss well, evenly coating all the vegetables with the seasonings & oil. Add more oil if the vegetables seem dry.
Spread vegetables evenly on large baking sheet. Place on middle rack in oven & bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Here is Julia Moskin's fantasy of what this dish should be: nothing more than tender elbows of pasta suspended in pure molten cheddar, with a chewy, golden-brown crust of cheese on top.” Time: 1 hour 40 minutes; makes 6 to 8 servings.
To view this oneline, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup cottage cheese (not lowfat)
2 cups milk (not skim)
1 teaspoon dry mustard
Pinch cayenne
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 pound elbow pasta, uncooked
Preparation
Heat oven to 375 degrees and position an oven rack in upper third of oven. Use 1 tablespoon butter to butter a 9-inch round or square baking pan.
In a blender, purée cottage cheese, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg and salt and pepper together. Reserve 1/4 cup grated cheese for topping. In a large bowl, combine remaining grated cheese, milk mixture and uncooked pasta. Pour into prepared pan, cover tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes.
Uncover pan, stir gently, sprinkle with reserved cheese and dot with remaining tablespoon butter. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes more, until browned. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND RED ONIONS
This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Here is an easy, healthy addition to a Thanksgiving feast or weekday dinner from Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi, which was included in a Julia Moskin video feature in 2013. Chop up a few red onions and a butternut squash, roast them in high heat, and drizzle them with tahini sauce, herbs and pistachios. That’s it. (Keep an eye on the onions, though. They may cook faster than the squash.)” Time: 1 hour; Makes 10 to 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
About 1/2 cup olive oil, plus extra for pans
4 large red onions
Coarse salt and black pepper
4 pounds butternut squash cut into 1/2-inch wedges, peeled or unpeeled
1/3 cup pine nuts or shelled green pistachio nuts (optional)
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley, mint, cilantro or a combination, for garnish
For Tahini Sauce (Optional):
1/4 cup tahini paste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 small clove garlic, crushed
Preparation
Heat oven to 475 degrees. Lightly coat two large baking sheets with olive oil.
Peel onions, leaving root ends intact. Cut each onion in half from stem to root. Cut each half into 4 wedges, leaving the root intact so that each wedge holds together. Spread on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with oil.
Put the squash in a large mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and about 1/4 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat. Spread on a baking sheet, peel side down (if intact).
Place both pans in oven and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, until the vegetables have taken on some color and are cooked through. Keep an eye on the onions, as they may cook faster than the squash and need to be removed earlier.
If using nuts, pour 1 tablespoon oil into a small frying pan and place over medium-low heat. Add nuts and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often, until the nuts are golden brown and smell toasty. Immediately remove from the heat and dump onto a cutting board to stop the cooking. If using pistachios, chop coarsely when cool enough to handle.
To make tahini sauce, place tahini in a bowl. Add lemon juice, 1/4 cup water, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Whisk until sauce is the consistency of honey, adding more water or a tablespoon of olive oil if necessary.
When the vegetables are cooked, set aside until ready to serve. (The vegetables should be served the same day they are made. They can be served at warm room temperature, or reheated just before serving.)
To serve, combine vegetables on a large serving platter. If using tahini sauce, drizzle on top. Sprinkle herbs and, if using, nuts on top and serve.
CREAM CHEESE COOKIES
This recipe, from The Food Network, begins, “A triple dose of cream cheese (mixed into the batter, in chunks in the dough and as a glaze on top) makes these pillowy cookies extra tangy. Freezing the cream cheese before stirring it into the dough makes it easier to cut into clean pieces and keeps the chunks from disintegrating when shaping the dough into balls.” Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Prep: 40 min; Inactive: 1 hr. 30 min; Cook: 1 hr 15 min; Yield: 3 dozen cookies; Level: Easy.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cream-cheese-cookies.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
2 3/4 sticks (1 cup plus 6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, 6 ounces at room temperature, 2 ounces frozen
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 large egg yolk
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring (see Cook's Note)
2 tablespoons whole milk, plus more if needed
Very finely grated lime zest or finely minced cranberries, for garnish, optional
Directions
Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Combine the butter, vanilla, 4 ounces of the room-temperature cream cheese and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups of the sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and beat until smooth, then add the flour and beat on low until the dough just comes together. Remove the frozen cream cheese from the freezer and chop into 1/4-inch cubes. Add the cubes to the dough, quickly stirring with a rubber spatula to evenly incorporate them into the dough. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoons, scoop 12 portions of dough, roll into balls and transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Lightly flour the bottom of a 1/2-cup measuring cup and use it to flatten each cookie into a disk about 1/2 inch thick, re-flouring the cup after each cookie.
Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies look set but are still pale and barely brown on the bottom, 20 to 24 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining 2 ounces room-temperature cream cheese, 2 cups sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture forms a thick paste. Add the milk and stir slowly until a thick glaze forms.
When the cookies are cool, dip the entire surface of the top of each cookie in the glaze and lift up, letting the excess glaze drip off, then flip the cookie right-side up and onto the cooling rack. If the glaze is too thick, add another teaspoon of milk to loosen it. If using the cranberries or lime zest, sprinkle on top of the cookies while the glaze is still wet. Allow the glaze to set before serving, at least 10 minutes. Store the cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Special equipment: a 1-ounce ice cream scoop, optional
Cook's Note: When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off the excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
Friday, January 6, 2017
Friday Recipes
Finally, it's Friday. The first full week of the new year is just about over.
Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend. Enjoy!
VEGETARIAN CHILI WITH WINTER VEGETABLES
This comes from Martha Rose Shulman, also from The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “I have made several versions of vegetarian chili; in some the beans take center stage, others are just as focused on vegetables. This thick, satisfying chili is equally focused on both. I particularly like the way the sweet flavor and comforting, creamy texture of the winter squash plays against the spicy flavors in the chili.” Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Serves 6 to 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 recipe simmered pintos (follows)
2 tablespoons grapeseed, sunflower or canola oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 large or 2 medium carrots, cut in small dice
1 red pepper, diced (optional)
2 large garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons mild ground chili (or use hot, or use more)
1 tablespoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
1 28-ounce can chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican oregano
2 tablespoons tomato paste dissolved in 1 cup water
2 cups diced winter squash (about 3/4 pound)
Salt to taste
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Grated cheddar or Monterey Jack, or crumbled queso fresco for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Heat the beans on top of the stove in a large soup pot or Dutch oven.
Heat the oil over medium heat in a heavy nonstick skillet and add the onion, carrot and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender and beginning to color, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, stir together until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute, and add the ground chili and cumin. Cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture begins to stick to the pan. Add the tomatoes and oregano, and salt to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and the mixture is beginning to stick to the pan, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste dissolved in water and bring back to a simmer. Season with salt to taste and simmer, stirring often, for 10 minutes, until the mixture is thick and fragrant.
Stir the tomato mixture into the beans. Add the winter squash and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring often, for 30 to 45 minutes. It is important to stir often so that the chili doesn’t settle and stick to the bottom of the pot. It should be thick; if you desire you can thin out with water. Taste and adjust salt.
Shortly before serving stir in the cilantro and simmer for 5 minutes. Spoon into bowls. If you wish, top with grated cheddar, Monterey jack, or crumbled queso fresco.
Tip: Advance preparation: The simmered beans can be made 3 or 4 days ahead and the chili will keep for 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator. You will probably want to thin it out with water is it will continue to thicken. It freezes well.
A BIG POT OF SIMMERED PINTOS
This also comes from Martha Rose Shulman of The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. For this one, Martha wrote, “This pot of beans was Step 1 for the other Recipes for Health...If I know that I’m going to use these beans for a Mexican dinner I season them with cilantro and, if I can find it, epazote. If I want Italian or Provençal flavors I make a bouquet garni with bay leaf, thyme, parsley, maybe sage, and most definitely a Parmesan rind. This week, since I am using my beans as a starting off point for other dishes, I season them only with onion, garlic, bay leaf and salt. The dishes that will follow throughout the week will introduce more flavors.” Serves 6.
To view this online, go to http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016030-a-big-pot-of-simmered-pintos.
Ingredients
1 pound (about 2 1/4 cups) pinto beans, washed and picked over for stones, soaked for at least 4 hours or overnight in 2 quarts water
1 medium onion, cut in half
2 to 4 large garlic cloves (to taste), minced
1 bay leaf
Salt to taste (I think beans need a lot, at least 1 teaspoon per quart of water used)
Preparation
Place beans and soaking water in a large, heavy pot. Add halved onion and bring to a gentle boil. Skim off any foam that rises, then add garlic and bay leaf, reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
Add salt and continue to simmer another 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until beans are quite soft and broth is thick and fragrant. Taste and adjust salt. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove and discard onion and bay leaf. For the best flavor refrigerate overnight.
Tip: Advance preparation: The cooked beans will keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and freeze well.
IRISH SPICE BREAD
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
1 1/4 c Flour
2 ts Baking powder
1/2 ts Baking soda
1 ts Mixed spice *
1/2 ts Ginger, ground
4 oz Sugar, brown, light
2 oz Citron, candied; chopped
6 oz Raisins, plain or golden
4 oz Butter
6 oz light corn syrup karo
1 large Egg; beaten
4 tb Milk
* Equal parts of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.
Sift the flour with the soda and baking powder, and the mixed spice and ginger: then add the brown sugar, chopped peel and raisins: mix. Make a well in the center. Melt the butter with the syrup over low heat, then pour into the well in the mixture. Add the beaten egg and milk and mix very well. Pour into a greased 2-lb loaf pan and bake in a preheated oven at 325 F for 40-50 minutes, or until it tests done.
This bread will keep moist for several days, and actually improves somewhat during this period.
FROZEN LEMONADE PIE
This comes from Pat and Gina Neely from The Food Network's Down Home with the Neelys. Total Time: 8 hr 18 min; Prep: 10 min; Inactive: 8 hr; Cook: 8 min; Yield: 8 servings
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/frozen-lemonade-pie-recipe.html?oc=linkback
For the Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling:
2 cups heavy cream
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk, chilled
1 6-ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate (do not thaw)
For the Topping:
1 cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter. Press firmly on the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 7 minutes; cool completely.
Make the filling: In a cold medium bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. In another bowl, stir together the condensed milk and frozen lemonade. Gently fold the lemonade mixture into the whipped cream. Pour the filling into the crust; freeze overnight.
About an hour before you serve the pie, make the topping: Toss the berries in a medium bowl with the sugar and lemon juice. Set aside until ready to serve.
Let the pie come to room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting. Top each slice with berries.
ALASKAN TOMATO SOUP
This comes from the January 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Alaska resident Angela Wilde uses cooking and eating to get out of the house, despite the winter elements. Since fresh tomatoes are not in season in January, Wilde created this delicious soup using canned ones.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
2 Tbs. olive oil
1/2 medium red onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)
6 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 Tbs.)
1 14-oz. can diced tomatoes with sweet onion
1 14-oz. can plain tomato sauce
4 oz. silken tofu, mashed (about 2/3 cup)
1 low-sodium vegetable bouillon cube
1/2 cup couscous
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 Tbs. chopped oregano
2 Tbs. chopped basil
Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent.
Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, tofu, bouillon cube and 3 cups water. Bring to a simmer, and add couscous, parsley, oregano and basil. Cook 5 minutes, or until couscous is tender. Season with salt and pepper, and serve hot.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 162; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Sodium: 678 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 7 g; Vegan
MAYAN SPICED CHOCOLATE PUDDING
This is from the April 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “We've provided instructions for having this pudding ready to eat in 30 minutes, but you could also just chill with plastic wrap pressed onto the surface.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 13.5-oz. can light coconut milk, divided
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. chili powder, plus more for garnish
1/8 tsp. salt
1 3-oz. bar vegan dark chocolate, chopped
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Whisk together 1/4 cup coconut milk and cornstarch in small bowl. Set aside.
Combine remaining coconut milk, sugar, cinnamon, chili powder, and salt in saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk 1/4 cup hot mixture into cornstarch mixture to form slurry.
Whisk slurry into hot mixture, and cook 3 minutes, or until thickened, whisking constantly. Remove from heat, and whisk in chocolate and vanilla.
Transfer to metal bowl, and set in larger bowl filled with ice and water. Whisk occasionally to cool. Serve sprinkled with pinch of chili powder.
nutritional information Per 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 285; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 18 g; Saturated Fat: 11 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 95 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 16 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend. Enjoy!
VEGETARIAN CHILI WITH WINTER VEGETABLES
This comes from Martha Rose Shulman, also from The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “I have made several versions of vegetarian chili; in some the beans take center stage, others are just as focused on vegetables. This thick, satisfying chili is equally focused on both. I particularly like the way the sweet flavor and comforting, creamy texture of the winter squash plays against the spicy flavors in the chili.” Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Serves 6 to 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 recipe simmered pintos (follows)
2 tablespoons grapeseed, sunflower or canola oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 large or 2 medium carrots, cut in small dice
1 red pepper, diced (optional)
2 large garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons mild ground chili (or use hot, or use more)
1 tablespoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
1 28-ounce can chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican oregano
2 tablespoons tomato paste dissolved in 1 cup water
2 cups diced winter squash (about 3/4 pound)
Salt to taste
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Grated cheddar or Monterey Jack, or crumbled queso fresco for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Heat the beans on top of the stove in a large soup pot or Dutch oven.
Heat the oil over medium heat in a heavy nonstick skillet and add the onion, carrot and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender and beginning to color, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, stir together until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute, and add the ground chili and cumin. Cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture begins to stick to the pan. Add the tomatoes and oregano, and salt to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and the mixture is beginning to stick to the pan, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste dissolved in water and bring back to a simmer. Season with salt to taste and simmer, stirring often, for 10 minutes, until the mixture is thick and fragrant.
Stir the tomato mixture into the beans. Add the winter squash and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring often, for 30 to 45 minutes. It is important to stir often so that the chili doesn’t settle and stick to the bottom of the pot. It should be thick; if you desire you can thin out with water. Taste and adjust salt.
Shortly before serving stir in the cilantro and simmer for 5 minutes. Spoon into bowls. If you wish, top with grated cheddar, Monterey jack, or crumbled queso fresco.
Tip: Advance preparation: The simmered beans can be made 3 or 4 days ahead and the chili will keep for 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator. You will probably want to thin it out with water is it will continue to thicken. It freezes well.
A BIG POT OF SIMMERED PINTOS
This also comes from Martha Rose Shulman of The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. For this one, Martha wrote, “This pot of beans was Step 1 for the other Recipes for Health...If I know that I’m going to use these beans for a Mexican dinner I season them with cilantro and, if I can find it, epazote. If I want Italian or Provençal flavors I make a bouquet garni with bay leaf, thyme, parsley, maybe sage, and most definitely a Parmesan rind. This week, since I am using my beans as a starting off point for other dishes, I season them only with onion, garlic, bay leaf and salt. The dishes that will follow throughout the week will introduce more flavors.” Serves 6.
To view this online, go to http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016030-a-big-pot-of-simmered-pintos.
Ingredients
1 pound (about 2 1/4 cups) pinto beans, washed and picked over for stones, soaked for at least 4 hours or overnight in 2 quarts water
1 medium onion, cut in half
2 to 4 large garlic cloves (to taste), minced
1 bay leaf
Salt to taste (I think beans need a lot, at least 1 teaspoon per quart of water used)
Preparation
Place beans and soaking water in a large, heavy pot. Add halved onion and bring to a gentle boil. Skim off any foam that rises, then add garlic and bay leaf, reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
Add salt and continue to simmer another 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until beans are quite soft and broth is thick and fragrant. Taste and adjust salt. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove and discard onion and bay leaf. For the best flavor refrigerate overnight.
Tip: Advance preparation: The cooked beans will keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and freeze well.
IRISH SPICE BREAD
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
1 1/4 c Flour
2 ts Baking powder
1/2 ts Baking soda
1 ts Mixed spice *
1/2 ts Ginger, ground
4 oz Sugar, brown, light
2 oz Citron, candied; chopped
6 oz Raisins, plain or golden
4 oz Butter
6 oz light corn syrup karo
1 large Egg; beaten
4 tb Milk
* Equal parts of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.
Sift the flour with the soda and baking powder, and the mixed spice and ginger: then add the brown sugar, chopped peel and raisins: mix. Make a well in the center. Melt the butter with the syrup over low heat, then pour into the well in the mixture. Add the beaten egg and milk and mix very well. Pour into a greased 2-lb loaf pan and bake in a preheated oven at 325 F for 40-50 minutes, or until it tests done.
This bread will keep moist for several days, and actually improves somewhat during this period.
FROZEN LEMONADE PIE
This comes from Pat and Gina Neely from The Food Network's Down Home with the Neelys. Total Time: 8 hr 18 min; Prep: 10 min; Inactive: 8 hr; Cook: 8 min; Yield: 8 servings
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/frozen-lemonade-pie-recipe.html?oc=linkback
For the Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling:
2 cups heavy cream
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk, chilled
1 6-ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate (do not thaw)
For the Topping:
1 cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Make the crust: In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter. Press firmly on the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 7 minutes; cool completely.
Make the filling: In a cold medium bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. In another bowl, stir together the condensed milk and frozen lemonade. Gently fold the lemonade mixture into the whipped cream. Pour the filling into the crust; freeze overnight.
About an hour before you serve the pie, make the topping: Toss the berries in a medium bowl with the sugar and lemon juice. Set aside until ready to serve.
Let the pie come to room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting. Top each slice with berries.
ALASKAN TOMATO SOUP
This comes from the January 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Alaska resident Angela Wilde uses cooking and eating to get out of the house, despite the winter elements. Since fresh tomatoes are not in season in January, Wilde created this delicious soup using canned ones.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
2 Tbs. olive oil
1/2 medium red onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)
6 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 Tbs.)
1 14-oz. can diced tomatoes with sweet onion
1 14-oz. can plain tomato sauce
4 oz. silken tofu, mashed (about 2/3 cup)
1 low-sodium vegetable bouillon cube
1/2 cup couscous
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 Tbs. chopped oregano
2 Tbs. chopped basil
Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent.
Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, tofu, bouillon cube and 3 cups water. Bring to a simmer, and add couscous, parsley, oregano and basil. Cook 5 minutes, or until couscous is tender. Season with salt and pepper, and serve hot.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 162; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Sodium: 678 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 7 g; Vegan
MAYAN SPICED CHOCOLATE PUDDING
This is from the April 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “We've provided instructions for having this pudding ready to eat in 30 minutes, but you could also just chill with plastic wrap pressed onto the surface.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 13.5-oz. can light coconut milk, divided
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. chili powder, plus more for garnish
1/8 tsp. salt
1 3-oz. bar vegan dark chocolate, chopped
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Whisk together 1/4 cup coconut milk and cornstarch in small bowl. Set aside.
Combine remaining coconut milk, sugar, cinnamon, chili powder, and salt in saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk 1/4 cup hot mixture into cornstarch mixture to form slurry.
Whisk slurry into hot mixture, and cook 3 minutes, or until thickened, whisking constantly. Remove from heat, and whisk in chocolate and vanilla.
Transfer to metal bowl, and set in larger bowl filled with ice and water. Whisk occasionally to cool. Serve sprinkled with pinch of chili powder.
nutritional information Per 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 285; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 18 g; Saturated Fat: 11 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 95 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 16 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Thursday Recipes
Here are today's six recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!
KEY LIME PIE
This recipe, also from the February 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 52, begins, “The secret to this pie is cream of coconut, most commonly used by bartenders to make piña coladas. Don't confuse it with coconut milk, which is unsweetened and thinner. Chill well before serving.” Serves 10.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/key-lime-pie-2/.
Crust
1 1/2 cups crushed vegan graham crackers, plus more for garnish
1/4 cup nonhydrogenated vegan margarine, melted
1/4 cup agave nectar
Filling
1 cup cream of coconut, such as Coco Lopez
1 cup raw, unsalted cashews
7 oz. extra-firm tofu (half pkg.), drained
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbs. agave nectar
2 tsp. grated lime zest
Lime slices, for garnish
To make Crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Stir together crushed graham crackers, margarine, and agave nectar in bowl. Press mixture into bottom and sides of 9-inch pie dish using fingers or bottom of drinking glass. Place Crust in freezer while oven preheats.
Bake Crust 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden. Cool.
To make Filling:
Place cream of coconut, cashews, tofu, lime juice, cornstarch, agave nectar, and lime zest in blender or food processor; blend until very smooth (press mixture through strainer if blender cannot completely blend cashews).
Transfer Filling to saucepan, and heat over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, or until Filling thickens, stirring constantly.
Spread Filling in Crust. Chill at least 4 hours before serving. Serve garnished with lime slices and crushed graham crackers.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 364; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 49 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 138 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 35 g; Vegan
POTATO CAVATELLI
This comes from Kim Severson in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Kim wrote, “These are an easy, homey version of handmade pasta that freeze well. They are sturdier and more toothsome than gnocchi but have more character than dried cavatelli. It takes a little practice to get the flip of the indentation just right, but once you get the feel for it you can turn out enough for dinner quickly. They hold up well under a heavy tomato ragù, but also take well to a simple sauce of butter, a little pasta water and Parmesan or pecorino. This recipe is easy to double, too, which leaves plenty to freeze for another night. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet dusted in flour, then store in a zippered plastic bag.” Time: 45 minutes; makes 6 servings as a first course, 4 as a main course.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 large russet potatoes
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup neutral oil, like canola
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 eggs
3 cups flour/450 grams, plus more for rolling
Preparation
Boil potatoes unpeeled and send through a ricer to make 2 cups. Alternately, peel and boil, then mash. Mix in butter and milk. Let cool.
In a sturdy bowl, using a stand mixer with a dough hook, or a wooden spoon or your hands, mix potatoes, oil, salt and eggs until smooth. Work in 2 cups flour, gradually adding more until dough is stiff and not sticky. (The amount of flour needed can vary greatly.)
Pinch off a ball of dough, roll into a rope about an inch in diameter and cut into 3/4-inch dumplings. On a floured surface, press your thumb against the cut side of each dumpling and press down and away, so the dough flattens and flips up over your thumb. The result should look like a miniature hot dog bun.
In boiling salted water, cook cavatelli, stirring once or twice as soon as you put them in, for about 5 minutes or until they rise to the top. Alternately, put them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then store in the freezer in a plastic bag. Dumplings will take about 10 to 12 minutes to cook. Top with tomato sauce, pesto or butter and Parmesan.
EGG CINNAMON BREAD
I've been making this for years – actually, for decades – and almost always gotten rave reviews on this recipe. It got to the point that several people have specifically requested this recipe – and, if I'm visiting, it's pretty much expected that I'll bake up a batch. This recipe makes three loaves.
2 envelopes yeast
1 C warm water
1-2 T honey
1 C milk (Note: 1 cup soy milk can be used in place of the milk)
1/2 C margarine (1 stick)
2 eggs, beaten
6-7 C unbleached white flour
1/4-1/2 C margarine (1 stick)
2-3 C cinnamon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Stir honey into warm water. Stir in yeast. Set aside.
Heat milk until warm. Pour into large bowl and add 1/2 C margarine, cut into 4 pieces. Stir, allowing margarine to melt. Cool to room temperature. Stir in salt, yeast mixture and eggs. Add flour, 2 cups at a time until stiff. Place dough on floured towel and knead for 4-5 minutes.
Wash and dry bowl. Oil dough, place in bowl, cover with clean towel and place out of draft in a warm place. Allow to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until double.
Melt 1/4-1/2 C margarine. Grease 3 loaf pans. Punch dough down, then divide into three sections. Roll out with rolling pin, then brush with melted margarine. Spread cinnamon sugar over melted margarine, then roll all three sections into loaves. Place in pans, place clean towel over pans, and allow to rise again for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Remove towel, then place loaf pans into preheated 350 degree F oven. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One year, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting so much better better than when I made it.
I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I changed the recipe drastically, getting rid of some ingredients (most notably meat), adding others (tofu crumbles), and changing amounts where I felt the changes were needed.
True story: Years ago, a coworker thought I was wonderful, while I found him nice but definitely not my type. While we both had pleasant enough conversations over coffee, it was not something I wanted to pursue.
One afternoon, a group of us were talking about food; he mentioned he absolutely loved lasagna. I made a mental note of that, thinking, Next time I'm planning that, I'm soooo not telling him.
A few weeks later, I decided to take a rare day off and started making a huge pan of - you guessed it - vegetarian lasagna. Just before I put it in the oven, the phone rang; it was you-know-who, telling me he missed running into me at work.
About this time, my youngest came into the kitchen and said (loud enough for my coworker to hear), "So you're getting ready to put the lasagna into the oven, right?" The guy immediately stated that he was on his way over.
That evening, the guy ate two helpings of the stuff. (He was a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy; a meal without meat, to him, was nothing short of sacrilege!) The next morning, when I ran into him, he enthused, "That was the best lasagna ever! How much meat did you use?" I told him none. He continued, "Okay, no red meat. Ground turkey?"
I told him it was tofu crumbles.
"What's that?" he asked. When I told him, he looked at me aghast, and asked, "What are you, some kind of vegetarian?" He immediately decided I was not the right person for him. Go figure...
Note: This can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
Tomato sauce:
2-3 onions, chopped
3-5 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can tomatoes
2-8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2-6 oz. cans tomato paste
2 T olive oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
1 or 2-10 oz. package tofu crumbles
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles & make cheese layer.
Cheese layer:
2 C sour cream
2 C cottage cheese
2 eggs
4 C mozzarella, grated
2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 C Parmesan cheese
Mix ingredients together in large bowl.
Assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9" X 13" pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.
APPLE RUTABAGA SOUP
This came from Brett Moore, About.com’s Gourmet Food expert. He wrote, “Here's a beautiful comfort soup from Chef Patrick O'Connell (The Inn at Little Washington). Delicious and complex flavors with a velvety texture. Perfect for those cold winter days.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Note: This recipe originally called for "1 quart good chicken stock". I changed it to vegetable stock. I'm also wondering about the heavy cream and butter; those could be exchanged for good vegetarian/vegan equivalents, especially if you're a vegan - something I'm striving to become.
Ingredients:
1 stick (1/4 pound) butter
1 cup onion, roughly chopped
1 cup Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped
1 cup rutabaga, peeled and roughly chopped
1 cup butternut squash, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped
1 cup carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
1 cup sweet potato, peeled and roughly chopped
1 quart good vegetable stock
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup maple syrup
Salt and cayenne pepper to taste
Preparation:
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the onion, apple, rutabaga, squash, carrots and sweet potato and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until all of the vegetables are cooked through and tender.
Puree the vegetables in a blender or food processor. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into the same pot you used to cook the vegetables. Add the cream, maple syrup, salt and cayenne pepper.
Return the pot to the stove, bring the soup to a simmer, and serve.
ALL-IN-ONE CHOCOLATE CAKE
This comes from Nigella Lawson, from The New York Times' cooking newsletter. If you haven't signed up for their newsletter, I highly recommend it. Nigella writes, “This is the perfect chocolate cake: beautiful, melting, intense but not heavy. The batter comes together quickly in a food processor, and the cake bakes at 350 degrees for a while, giving the baker time to assemble the frosting, which is given a luscious sheen by a bit of corn syrup. Use the best chocolate you can find for the frosting, and gild it however you like: with a few flowers, some birthday candles or nothing at all.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; 10 to 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
Butter for greasing baking pans
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup best-quality cocoa powder
6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup sour cream, at room temperature
For the Frosting:
6 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolate, broken into small pieces
3 ounces (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
Preparation
For cake: heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter sides of two 8-inch cake pans, and line bottoms with parchment paper. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a knife blade, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, butter, eggs, vanilla and sour cream. Process to make a smooth, thick batter.
Using a rubber spatula, divide batter between pans, and smooth tops. Bake until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes; do not overbake. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes before removing from cake pans.
For frosting: Combine chocolate and butter in a large heat-proof bowl, and heat until melted in a microwave oven or over a pan of simmering water. Remove from heat, and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Stir in corn syrup, sour cream, and vanilla. Whisk in confectioners' sugar until very smooth. Frosting should be thick and spreadable. If necessary, add a teaspoon or two of boiling water to thin it, or additional sifted confectioners' sugar to thicken.
Cut four strips of waxed or parchment paper, and place them side by side on a cake plate, covering the surface. Place one cake layer domed-side down on plate.
Spoon about a third of the frosting onto center of cake, and use a knife or a spatula to spread it evenly. Place the other cake on top, domed side up. Spoon another third of frosting on top of cake, spreading to make swirls or a smooth finish. Spread sides of cake with remaining frosting, and allow to sit for a few minutes until set. Carefully remove paper strips. Place cake under glass or in an airtight container, and set aside in a cool place until serving.
KEY LIME PIE
This recipe, also from the February 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 52, begins, “The secret to this pie is cream of coconut, most commonly used by bartenders to make piña coladas. Don't confuse it with coconut milk, which is unsweetened and thinner. Chill well before serving.” Serves 10.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/key-lime-pie-2/.
Crust
1 1/2 cups crushed vegan graham crackers, plus more for garnish
1/4 cup nonhydrogenated vegan margarine, melted
1/4 cup agave nectar
Filling
1 cup cream of coconut, such as Coco Lopez
1 cup raw, unsalted cashews
7 oz. extra-firm tofu (half pkg.), drained
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbs. agave nectar
2 tsp. grated lime zest
Lime slices, for garnish
To make Crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Stir together crushed graham crackers, margarine, and agave nectar in bowl. Press mixture into bottom and sides of 9-inch pie dish using fingers or bottom of drinking glass. Place Crust in freezer while oven preheats.
Bake Crust 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden. Cool.
To make Filling:
Place cream of coconut, cashews, tofu, lime juice, cornstarch, agave nectar, and lime zest in blender or food processor; blend until very smooth (press mixture through strainer if blender cannot completely blend cashews).
Transfer Filling to saucepan, and heat over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, or until Filling thickens, stirring constantly.
Spread Filling in Crust. Chill at least 4 hours before serving. Serve garnished with lime slices and crushed graham crackers.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 364; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 49 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 138 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 35 g; Vegan
POTATO CAVATELLI
This comes from Kim Severson in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Kim wrote, “These are an easy, homey version of handmade pasta that freeze well. They are sturdier and more toothsome than gnocchi but have more character than dried cavatelli. It takes a little practice to get the flip of the indentation just right, but once you get the feel for it you can turn out enough for dinner quickly. They hold up well under a heavy tomato ragù, but also take well to a simple sauce of butter, a little pasta water and Parmesan or pecorino. This recipe is easy to double, too, which leaves plenty to freeze for another night. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet dusted in flour, then store in a zippered plastic bag.” Time: 45 minutes; makes 6 servings as a first course, 4 as a main course.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 large russet potatoes
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup neutral oil, like canola
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 eggs
3 cups flour/450 grams, plus more for rolling
Preparation
Boil potatoes unpeeled and send through a ricer to make 2 cups. Alternately, peel and boil, then mash. Mix in butter and milk. Let cool.
In a sturdy bowl, using a stand mixer with a dough hook, or a wooden spoon or your hands, mix potatoes, oil, salt and eggs until smooth. Work in 2 cups flour, gradually adding more until dough is stiff and not sticky. (The amount of flour needed can vary greatly.)
Pinch off a ball of dough, roll into a rope about an inch in diameter and cut into 3/4-inch dumplings. On a floured surface, press your thumb against the cut side of each dumpling and press down and away, so the dough flattens and flips up over your thumb. The result should look like a miniature hot dog bun.
In boiling salted water, cook cavatelli, stirring once or twice as soon as you put them in, for about 5 minutes or until they rise to the top. Alternately, put them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then store in the freezer in a plastic bag. Dumplings will take about 10 to 12 minutes to cook. Top with tomato sauce, pesto or butter and Parmesan.
EGG CINNAMON BREAD
I've been making this for years – actually, for decades – and almost always gotten rave reviews on this recipe. It got to the point that several people have specifically requested this recipe – and, if I'm visiting, it's pretty much expected that I'll bake up a batch. This recipe makes three loaves.
2 envelopes yeast
1 C warm water
1-2 T honey
1 C milk (Note: 1 cup soy milk can be used in place of the milk)
1/2 C margarine (1 stick)
2 eggs, beaten
6-7 C unbleached white flour
1/4-1/2 C margarine (1 stick)
2-3 C cinnamon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Stir honey into warm water. Stir in yeast. Set aside.
Heat milk until warm. Pour into large bowl and add 1/2 C margarine, cut into 4 pieces. Stir, allowing margarine to melt. Cool to room temperature. Stir in salt, yeast mixture and eggs. Add flour, 2 cups at a time until stiff. Place dough on floured towel and knead for 4-5 minutes.
Wash and dry bowl. Oil dough, place in bowl, cover with clean towel and place out of draft in a warm place. Allow to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until double.
Melt 1/4-1/2 C margarine. Grease 3 loaf pans. Punch dough down, then divide into three sections. Roll out with rolling pin, then brush with melted margarine. Spread cinnamon sugar over melted margarine, then roll all three sections into loaves. Place in pans, place clean towel over pans, and allow to rise again for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Remove towel, then place loaf pans into preheated 350 degree F oven. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One year, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting so much better better than when I made it.
I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I changed the recipe drastically, getting rid of some ingredients (most notably meat), adding others (tofu crumbles), and changing amounts where I felt the changes were needed.
True story: Years ago, a coworker thought I was wonderful, while I found him nice but definitely not my type. While we both had pleasant enough conversations over coffee, it was not something I wanted to pursue.
One afternoon, a group of us were talking about food; he mentioned he absolutely loved lasagna. I made a mental note of that, thinking, Next time I'm planning that, I'm soooo not telling him.
A few weeks later, I decided to take a rare day off and started making a huge pan of - you guessed it - vegetarian lasagna. Just before I put it in the oven, the phone rang; it was you-know-who, telling me he missed running into me at work.
About this time, my youngest came into the kitchen and said (loud enough for my coworker to hear), "So you're getting ready to put the lasagna into the oven, right?" The guy immediately stated that he was on his way over.
That evening, the guy ate two helpings of the stuff. (He was a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy; a meal without meat, to him, was nothing short of sacrilege!) The next morning, when I ran into him, he enthused, "That was the best lasagna ever! How much meat did you use?" I told him none. He continued, "Okay, no red meat. Ground turkey?"
I told him it was tofu crumbles.
"What's that?" he asked. When I told him, he looked at me aghast, and asked, "What are you, some kind of vegetarian?" He immediately decided I was not the right person for him. Go figure...
Note: This can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
Tomato sauce:
2-3 onions, chopped
3-5 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can tomatoes
2-8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2-6 oz. cans tomato paste
2 T olive oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
1 or 2-10 oz. package tofu crumbles
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles & make cheese layer.
Cheese layer:
2 C sour cream
2 C cottage cheese
2 eggs
4 C mozzarella, grated
2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 C Parmesan cheese
Mix ingredients together in large bowl.
Assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9" X 13" pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.
APPLE RUTABAGA SOUP
This came from Brett Moore, About.com’s Gourmet Food expert. He wrote, “Here's a beautiful comfort soup from Chef Patrick O'Connell (The Inn at Little Washington). Delicious and complex flavors with a velvety texture. Perfect for those cold winter days.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Note: This recipe originally called for "1 quart good chicken stock". I changed it to vegetable stock. I'm also wondering about the heavy cream and butter; those could be exchanged for good vegetarian/vegan equivalents, especially if you're a vegan - something I'm striving to become.
Ingredients:
1 stick (1/4 pound) butter
1 cup onion, roughly chopped
1 cup Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped
1 cup rutabaga, peeled and roughly chopped
1 cup butternut squash, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped
1 cup carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
1 cup sweet potato, peeled and roughly chopped
1 quart good vegetable stock
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup maple syrup
Salt and cayenne pepper to taste
Preparation:
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the onion, apple, rutabaga, squash, carrots and sweet potato and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until all of the vegetables are cooked through and tender.
Puree the vegetables in a blender or food processor. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into the same pot you used to cook the vegetables. Add the cream, maple syrup, salt and cayenne pepper.
Return the pot to the stove, bring the soup to a simmer, and serve.
ALL-IN-ONE CHOCOLATE CAKE
This comes from Nigella Lawson, from The New York Times' cooking newsletter. If you haven't signed up for their newsletter, I highly recommend it. Nigella writes, “This is the perfect chocolate cake: beautiful, melting, intense but not heavy. The batter comes together quickly in a food processor, and the cake bakes at 350 degrees for a while, giving the baker time to assemble the frosting, which is given a luscious sheen by a bit of corn syrup. Use the best chocolate you can find for the frosting, and gild it however you like: with a few flowers, some birthday candles or nothing at all.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; 10 to 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
Butter for greasing baking pans
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup best-quality cocoa powder
6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup sour cream, at room temperature
For the Frosting:
6 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolate, broken into small pieces
3 ounces (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
Preparation
For cake: heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter sides of two 8-inch cake pans, and line bottoms with parchment paper. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a knife blade, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, butter, eggs, vanilla and sour cream. Process to make a smooth, thick batter.
Using a rubber spatula, divide batter between pans, and smooth tops. Bake until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes; do not overbake. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes before removing from cake pans.
For frosting: Combine chocolate and butter in a large heat-proof bowl, and heat until melted in a microwave oven or over a pan of simmering water. Remove from heat, and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Stir in corn syrup, sour cream, and vanilla. Whisk in confectioners' sugar until very smooth. Frosting should be thick and spreadable. If necessary, add a teaspoon or two of boiling water to thin it, or additional sifted confectioners' sugar to thicken.
Cut four strips of waxed or parchment paper, and place them side by side on a cake plate, covering the surface. Place one cake layer domed-side down on plate.
Spoon about a third of the frosting onto center of cake, and use a knife or a spatula to spread it evenly. Place the other cake on top, domed side up. Spoon another third of frosting on top of cake, spreading to make swirls or a smooth finish. Spread sides of cake with remaining frosting, and allow to sit for a few minutes until set. Carefully remove paper strips. Place cake under glass or in an airtight container, and set aside in a cool place until serving.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Wednesday Recipes
We're well into our first week of the New Year. Have you made any New Year's resolutions? If you're like me - heck, if you're like many - the list includes exercise of some sort, eating right (which means healthy, but also yummy - who wants boring?!?! Not us!), and getting as healthy as possible.
The only thing I can help you with is the food aspect of it. That said, here are six recipes to get you started. Enjoy!
CREAMY PINEAPPLE ORANGE REFRESHER PUNCH
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
1 - 46 oz. can of pineapple juice
1 1/2 pints vanilla ice cream
1 quart orange sherbet
2 liters ginger ale
In a punch bowl, place the vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet. Slowly add & stir in pineapple juice & then ginger ale.
MEATLESS-BALL SUBS
1 package Meatless Balls (see note)
1 26 oz. Jar spaghetti sauce
4 hoagie rolls
cheese slices
Place spaghetti sauce and meatless balls into a good-sized saucepan. Stir, and cook over medium-low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Open hoagie rolls, add cheese, cover with meatless balls and sauce.
Makes 4 meatless ball subs.
Note: I use Veggie Patch Meatless Meatballs, though really, you can use any brand you like. I had used another brand for a number of years, but unfortunately, I can no longer find that particular brand anywhere now. Whatever brand you buy is fine, as well as the jarred spaghetti sauce.
BAKED APPLE DUMPLINGS
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup shortening
6 small apples
For syrup, mix 1 cup of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and 1 3/4 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butter.
For pastry, mix flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cut in shortening until coarse crumbs form. Add 6 to 8 tablespoons water, a little at a time, mixing until moistened. Form into a ball. Roll into an 18x12 inch rectangle; cut into six 6-inch squares.
Peel and core apples. place one fruit on each pastry square. Combine remaining sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Sprinkle over fruit. Moisten edges of pastry; fold corners to center atop fruit. Pinch to seal. Place in an 11x7x1 1/2 inch baking pan. Pour syrup over. Bake in a 375 degree oven about 45 minutes or till fruit is tender and pastry is brown. Serve with ice cream if desired. Serves six.
QUICK & EASY APPLE CRISP
This was posted by Deb’s Recipes on Food.com. Deb wrote, “A traditional autumn dessert that's delicious served with vanilla ice cream. I've often made this recipe ‘diabetic-friendly’ without sacrificing taste or quality by using Splenda No-Calorie Sweetener. Directions are included.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 - 8 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (such as Granny Smith)
2 - 3 teaspoons lemon juice
1⁄4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1⁄2 cup butter
vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream
Directions
Toss apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon; turn into an 8x8" baking pan that has been lightly coated with no-stick cooking spray; dot with butter.
Cut together flour, brown sugar, and butter until crumbly; sprinkle evenly over apples.
Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes until apples are tender; serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
VARIATION: This recipe can be made diabetic-friendly by substituting Splenda for the granulated sugar and substituting 1/2 cup Splenda for 1/2 cup of the brown sugar - the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar is still used.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
This comes from Florence Fabricant in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Florence wrote, “This simple, creamy (but not cream-laden) butternut squash soup gets greater depth of flavor from sherry that is stirred in with the stock. If you’d rather not use sherry or don’t have it on hand, omit it and use an additional 1/2 cup of stock; your soup will be less complex, but it will still have that rich, sweet squash flavor.” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Adding to the Holiday Menu Without Risks” and can be viewed online here.
Note: The recipe originally called for “1 cup well-flavored chicken or vegetable stock”. I've omitted the chicken stock and left it at vegetable stock.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 1/2 cups peeled butternut squash in 2-inch cubes (about 2 squashes)
4 1/2 cups water
1 cup well-flavored vegetable stock
1/2 cup medium-dry sherry
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation
Heat the oil in a heavy four-quart saucepan. Add the onions, reduce heat to low, and saute slowly until they are tender but not brown. Stir in the garlic.
Add the squash and water, cover and simmer until the squash is tender, about 40 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool for about 15 minutes, then puree in two batches in a food processor. Up to this point the soup can be prepared in advance, even refrigerated or frozen.
Return the puree to the saucepan and add the stock and the sherry. Reheat and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese on each portion.
STIR-FRIED TOFU AND PEPPERS
This is from Martha Rose Shulman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “This attractive stir-fry is inspired by a traditional Chinese dish called rainbow beef. The vegetarian version works well, and it’s also easier to make. If you prefer a very firm tofu, take the extra time to weight it as directed in step 1. I am happy to skip this step and use firm tofu that hasn’t been weighted.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
This was featured in “Late Summer Stir-Fries”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 pound firm tofu
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable, peanut or canola oil
2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut in 1-inch squares
1 green bell pepper, seeded and cut in 1-inch squares
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 large garlic cloves, green shoots removed, minced
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (to taste)
2 scallions, white and green parts, cut on the diagonal into 1-inch lengths
Cooked rice or noodles for serving
Preparation
Optional step for firmer tofu: Blot the tofu dry, wrap in a clean kitchen towel and place a cutting board on top. Let sit for about 15 minutes. Whether weighted or not, slice the tofu about 1/2 inch thick into 1- x 2-inch dominoes.
Mix together 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of the brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of the oil in a medium bowl. Toss with the tofu, and stir to make sure all of the pieces are coated. Let sit for five to 10 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
In a small bowl, stir together the remaining soy sauce and sugar, hoisin sauce and sesame oil. Set aside.
Heat a large nonstick skillet or wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates on contact. Add the oil, turn the heat to medium-high and add the peppers. Stir-fry for a couple of minutes, until the peppers begin to soften, and add the garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for 20 seconds, until the garlic and ginger begin to smell fragrant, and add the tofu, dried red pepper flakes and green onions. Stir-fry two minutes, give the sauce a stir and add to the pan. Cover and cook for three minutes. Remove the lid, stir the ingredients in the pan, and taste and adjust seasonings. Serve with rice or noodles.
Tip
Advance preparation: Everything can be prepped hours ahead. The cooking is last-minute. Martha Rose Shulman can be reached at martha-rose-shulman.com.
The only thing I can help you with is the food aspect of it. That said, here are six recipes to get you started. Enjoy!
CREAMY PINEAPPLE ORANGE REFRESHER PUNCH
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
1 - 46 oz. can of pineapple juice
1 1/2 pints vanilla ice cream
1 quart orange sherbet
2 liters ginger ale
In a punch bowl, place the vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet. Slowly add & stir in pineapple juice & then ginger ale.
MEATLESS-BALL SUBS
1 package Meatless Balls (see note)
1 26 oz. Jar spaghetti sauce
4 hoagie rolls
cheese slices
Place spaghetti sauce and meatless balls into a good-sized saucepan. Stir, and cook over medium-low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Open hoagie rolls, add cheese, cover with meatless balls and sauce.
Makes 4 meatless ball subs.
Note: I use Veggie Patch Meatless Meatballs, though really, you can use any brand you like. I had used another brand for a number of years, but unfortunately, I can no longer find that particular brand anywhere now. Whatever brand you buy is fine, as well as the jarred spaghetti sauce.
BAKED APPLE DUMPLINGS
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup shortening
6 small apples
For syrup, mix 1 cup of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and 1 3/4 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butter.
For pastry, mix flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cut in shortening until coarse crumbs form. Add 6 to 8 tablespoons water, a little at a time, mixing until moistened. Form into a ball. Roll into an 18x12 inch rectangle; cut into six 6-inch squares.
Peel and core apples. place one fruit on each pastry square. Combine remaining sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Sprinkle over fruit. Moisten edges of pastry; fold corners to center atop fruit. Pinch to seal. Place in an 11x7x1 1/2 inch baking pan. Pour syrup over. Bake in a 375 degree oven about 45 minutes or till fruit is tender and pastry is brown. Serve with ice cream if desired. Serves six.
QUICK & EASY APPLE CRISP
This was posted by Deb’s Recipes on Food.com. Deb wrote, “A traditional autumn dessert that's delicious served with vanilla ice cream. I've often made this recipe ‘diabetic-friendly’ without sacrificing taste or quality by using Splenda No-Calorie Sweetener. Directions are included.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 - 8 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (such as Granny Smith)
2 - 3 teaspoons lemon juice
1⁄4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1⁄2 cup butter
vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream
Directions
Toss apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon; turn into an 8x8" baking pan that has been lightly coated with no-stick cooking spray; dot with butter.
Cut together flour, brown sugar, and butter until crumbly; sprinkle evenly over apples.
Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes until apples are tender; serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
VARIATION: This recipe can be made diabetic-friendly by substituting Splenda for the granulated sugar and substituting 1/2 cup Splenda for 1/2 cup of the brown sugar - the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar is still used.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
This comes from Florence Fabricant in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Florence wrote, “This simple, creamy (but not cream-laden) butternut squash soup gets greater depth of flavor from sherry that is stirred in with the stock. If you’d rather not use sherry or don’t have it on hand, omit it and use an additional 1/2 cup of stock; your soup will be less complex, but it will still have that rich, sweet squash flavor.” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Adding to the Holiday Menu Without Risks” and can be viewed online here.
Note: The recipe originally called for “1 cup well-flavored chicken or vegetable stock”. I've omitted the chicken stock and left it at vegetable stock.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 1/2 cups peeled butternut squash in 2-inch cubes (about 2 squashes)
4 1/2 cups water
1 cup well-flavored vegetable stock
1/2 cup medium-dry sherry
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation
Heat the oil in a heavy four-quart saucepan. Add the onions, reduce heat to low, and saute slowly until they are tender but not brown. Stir in the garlic.
Add the squash and water, cover and simmer until the squash is tender, about 40 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool for about 15 minutes, then puree in two batches in a food processor. Up to this point the soup can be prepared in advance, even refrigerated or frozen.
Return the puree to the saucepan and add the stock and the sherry. Reheat and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese on each portion.
STIR-FRIED TOFU AND PEPPERS
This is from Martha Rose Shulman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “This attractive stir-fry is inspired by a traditional Chinese dish called rainbow beef. The vegetarian version works well, and it’s also easier to make. If you prefer a very firm tofu, take the extra time to weight it as directed in step 1. I am happy to skip this step and use firm tofu that hasn’t been weighted.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
This was featured in “Late Summer Stir-Fries”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 pound firm tofu
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable, peanut or canola oil
2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut in 1-inch squares
1 green bell pepper, seeded and cut in 1-inch squares
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 large garlic cloves, green shoots removed, minced
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (to taste)
2 scallions, white and green parts, cut on the diagonal into 1-inch lengths
Cooked rice or noodles for serving
Preparation
Optional step for firmer tofu: Blot the tofu dry, wrap in a clean kitchen towel and place a cutting board on top. Let sit for about 15 minutes. Whether weighted or not, slice the tofu about 1/2 inch thick into 1- x 2-inch dominoes.
Mix together 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of the brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of the oil in a medium bowl. Toss with the tofu, and stir to make sure all of the pieces are coated. Let sit for five to 10 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
In a small bowl, stir together the remaining soy sauce and sugar, hoisin sauce and sesame oil. Set aside.
Heat a large nonstick skillet or wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates on contact. Add the oil, turn the heat to medium-high and add the peppers. Stir-fry for a couple of minutes, until the peppers begin to soften, and add the garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for 20 seconds, until the garlic and ginger begin to smell fragrant, and add the tofu, dried red pepper flakes and green onions. Stir-fry two minutes, give the sauce a stir and add to the pan. Cover and cook for three minutes. Remove the lid, stir the ingredients in the pan, and taste and adjust seasonings. Serve with rice or noodles.
Tip
Advance preparation: Everything can be prepped hours ahead. The cooking is last-minute. Martha Rose Shulman can be reached at martha-rose-shulman.com.
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