One of my last jobs involved answering phones. While there were times when we were slammed, with calls coming in rapid succession, other days were quite a bit slower, giving those of us in the phone room time to either read, write, or chat with our co-wokers.
One of the big topics among my co-workers was what was for dinner.
"What are you fixing tonight? Oooh, what time should I be there?"
"You think that sounds good? Wait'll you hear what I made last night!"
One of my co-workers loved stuffed peppers. It seemed that she'd fix it at least once a week, each time slightly different from the previous stuffed peppers.
In honor of my co-worker, here are six vegetarian stuffed pepper recipes, including two recipes for Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers and Samosa Stuffed Peppers. Enjoy!
VEGETARIAN STUFFED PEPPERS
This comes from Ready Set Eat, and begins, “A heart healthy recipe for stuffed peppers filled with brown rice, vegetables and cheese for a Mexican flavor influence.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 4; Number of ingredients: 8.
To view this online (and to check out more recipes), go to https://www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Vegetarian-Stuffed-Peppers-7419.
Ingredients
PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
2 large green or red bell peppers
1/2 cup instant brown rice, uncooked
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1 can (10 oz each) Ro*Tel® Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies-No Salt Added, drained
1-1/2 cups frozen Southwest mixed vegetables (corn, black beans, red peppers)
1 can (8 oz each) Hunt's® Tomato Sauce, divided
1/3 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray 8x8-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cut bell peppers lengthwise through stem into halves. Remove and discard seeds and membranes. Place peppers, cut-side down, in dish. Bake 15 minutes or until tender.
Meanwhile, prepare rice according to package directions, adding cumin and garlic salt. Add drained tomatoes, mixed vegetables and half of tomato sauce to cooked rice; stir to combine. Divide rice mixture and place inside peppers. Top with remaining tomato sauce; sprinkle with cheese.
Cover dish with aluminum foil. Bake 20 minutes or until peppers are hot and cheese melts.
CHEESE AND RICE STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings
Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes
Book Title: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/cheese-and-rice-stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 medium green bell peppers
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Slice off the tops of the peppers. Wash the peppers and remove the cores and seeds. Stand the pepper cups upright in a saucepan containing 1/2 cup boiling water. Cover tightly and allow steam 5 minutes. Remove and drain.
In a large bowl, mix together the rice, cheese parsley, salt, and ground pepper. Divide the mixture and stuff each pepper.
Stand the peppers in a loaf pan or cupcake tins. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the filling is hot and the cheese melts.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 455 mg; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Protein: 12 g; Carbohydrates: 31 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 2 Vegetable, 1 Lean Meat
VEGETARIAN MEXICAN INSPIRED STUFFED PEPPERS
This yumminess comes from Donnam at allrecipes. She wrote, "I created this so it's not too spicy, but is packed with flavor. My kids loved it! For variety, add corn or other vegetables or switch to other chopped tomato varieties (chiles, jalapenos, etc.). Follow the boiling method prior to baking if you don't want a crispy bell pepper. If you have small peppers, use more of them for this recipe. They taste great with a dollop of sour cream on top."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/231514/vegetarian-mexican-inspired-stuffed-peppers/.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon salt
4 large green bell peppers - tops, seeds, and membranes removed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups cooked rice
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5 ounce) can chili-style diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Mexican cheese blend (such as Sargento® Authentic Mexican)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bring a large pot of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil; cook green bell peppers in the boiling water until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion in the hot oil until softened and transparent, 5 to 10 minutes.
Mix rice, black beans, tomatoes, and cooked onion in a large bowl. Add chili powder, garlic salt, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt; stir until evenly mixed. Fold 1 1/2 cups Mexican cheese blend into rice mixture. Spoon rice mixture into each bell pepper; arrange peppers in 9x9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle peppers with remaining Mexican cheese blend.
Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 30 minutes.
Cook's Note:
I like to use Sargento(R) Authentic Mexican shredded cheese, which takes it over the top!
VEGETARIAN STUFFED PEPPERS
This recipe was posted by DWYATT on AllRecipes, and begins, "This was the first vegetarian recipe I ever made--green peppers stuffed with a mixture of brown rice, nuts, dried cranberries, tofu and cheese. Substitute soy cheese for the Parmesan to create a vegan delight."
Prep: 10 minutes; Cook: 1 hour 10 minutes; Ready In: 1 hour 20 minutes
View this online here.
Note: If you're like me and don't have cooking sherry around, feel free to replace it with with alcohol-free cooking sherry (if there is such a thing) or 3 tablespoons of water. Personally, it's been decades since I've had cooking wine/sherry/etc in my house, as well as non-cooking (drinking) alcohol. When I want to celebrate, say at New Year's, etc., I've found that there are plenty of non-alcoholic sparkling juices on the market.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups brown rice
6 large green bell peppers
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons cooking sherry
1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups extra firm tofu
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups tomato sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a saucepan bring 3 cups water to a boil. Stir in rice. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, core and seed green peppers, leaving bottoms intact. Place peppers in a microwavable dish with about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom. Microwave on high for 6 minutes.
In a small frying pan bring soy sauce, wine and Worcestershire sauce to a simmer. Add tofu and simmer until the liquid is absorbed. Combine rice (after it has cooled), tofu, cranberries, nuts, cheese, salt and pepper; mix and pack firmly into peppers. Return peppers to the dish you first microwaved them in, and bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly browned on top.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, combine tomato sauce and brown sugar; heat until hot throughout. Spoon sauce over each serving.
BLACK BEAN, CORN AND QUINOA STUFFED PEPPERS
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “Easy to make stuffed peppers, packed with protein-rich quinoa and plenty of Mexican flavors.”
To view this online, click here.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 sweet potato, cut into small cubes
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/2 red onion, diced
1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 packet (8 oz) Old El Paso™ Black Beans, drained
1 package (12 oz) frozen corn
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
4 red bell peppers, sliced lengthwise and seeds removed
2 cups shredded cheddar
1 scallion, finely diced (for garnish)
2 pinches coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange the diced potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with cumin, chili powder and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Toss and roast for 20 minutes. Once roasted, lower the heat to 375°F.
Cook the quinoa in boiling water until they pop into little spirals, about 15 minutes. Drain.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add the onions and sauté until they start to soften, about 4 minutes. Add the jalapeno and garlic; sauté another minute, until fragrant.
Add the black beans and frozen corn; cook for 5 minutes, until warmed. Add the roasted sweet potatoes, cooked quinoa, lime juice, cilantro leaves, and a good pinch of salt and pepper.
Stuff the mixture into each pepper half, and sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the peppers have softened, and the cheese is melted and starting to bubble.
Garnish with scallions and serve immediately.
SAMOSA STUFFED PEPPERS
This comes from the March 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 71. It starts off, “The filling for these stuffed peppers tastes a lot like samosas, small Indian turnovers. STORE/SERVE: If making ahead, skip final baking step. Cool stuffed peppers, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate up to three days or freeze up to three months. Thaw, if necessary, then cover with foil, and finish baking as in step 3.” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
4 large red bell peppers, halved
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped (2 cups)
4 tsp. curry powder
1 Tbs. garam masala
2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
1 cup basmati rice
1/4 cup red lentils, rinsed and drained
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas or 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 large carrots, finely diced (1 cup)
1 cup green beans, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup raisins or dried currants, optional
1/2 cup unsalted peanuts or cashews, coarsely chopped
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place halved bell peppers cut side down in two large baking dishes. Cover with foil, and bake 25 minutes, or until peppers begin to soften.
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes. Add curry powder, garam masala, and ginger, and cook 1 minute. Stir in rice, lentils, salt, and 4 cups water. Add chickpeas, carrots, green beans, and raisins (if using). Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes, or until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring once or twice. Remove rice mixture from heat, stir in peanuts, and season with salt, if desired.
Flip bell pepper halves. Fill each with 3/4 cup rice mixture. Re-cover baking dishes, and bake 15 minutes. Uncover, and bake 5 to 10 minutes more.
nutritional information Per Stuffed pepper: Calories: 288; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 42 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 241 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 8 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's offerings include Veggie-Loaded Pasta and Fantastic Fruit Salad. Enjoy!
KEY LIME CREAM PIE
This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!
“Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8
Special equipment: Electric mixer
View this here.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 large egg yolks
One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 lime (optional, for garnish)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.
Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.
Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.
COWBOY COOKIES
This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 1/3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
Layer the ingredients in 1 quart jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding the next one. Include a card with the following instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
In medium bowl, cream together 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir in entire contents of jar. You may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in preheated oven. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
CARROT TART WITH RICOTTA AND FETA
This comes from Sue Li on The New York Times cooking email. Sue wrote, “Carrots work beautifully in this simple tart, but onions, parsnips, beets, zucchini or pumpkin work just as well. The key is to cook the vegetables before putting them on the tart, since the moisture released by baking raw vegetables would make the puff pastry soggy and prevent it from rising. Once you remove the tart from the oven, let it cool for 10 minutes before cutting to allow the cheese to firm up slightly. The tart can be served warm, or cooled to room temperature, and would make a great addition to a picnic.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour.
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020174-carrot-tart-with-ricotta-and-feta.
Ingredients
Flour, for rolling out dough
1 (14-ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 pound multicolored carrots, scrubbed and sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
Kosher salt and black pepper
8 ounces ricotta
4 ounces feta, crumbled
1 garlic clove, grated
Chopped fresh parsley, chervil or chives, for garnish
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry into a 10-by-14-inch rectangle. Using a paring knife, lightly score a border around the perimeter of the puff pastry about a 1/4-inch away from the edges. Place puff pastry on a parchment-lined baking sheet and prick the pastry inside the border using a fork to prevent puffing in the center. Bake on top rack until puff pastry is lightly golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with 1 tablespoon oil, season generously with salt and pepper and spread into a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast carrots on the bottom rack (underneath the puff pastry) until the edges are golden brown and carrots are still crisp-tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
While puff pastry and carrots are in the oven, blend ricotta, feta and garlic in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Spread the cheese mixture onto the puff pastry up to the border and arrange the carrots in a single layer on top. Bake until the carrots are tender and the edges of the cheese mixture are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with herbs before serving.
CREAMY CHEESY MACARONI
This yummy recipe comes from The Mayo Clinic Diet. If you haven’t check out the site, you should. (That, as well as the main site, https://www.mayoclinic.org, have a lot of good stuff to check out.)
Serves 10; Serving size: 1 cup
To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/food-fitness/recipe-for-creamy-cheesy-macaroni-/17551.
Ingredients
1 package pasta, whole-wheat, elbow macaroni (14.5 ounces)
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese, nonfat
2 tablespoons oil, canola
1/2 cup flour, all-purpose
1/2 teaspoon pepper, black ground
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups milk, fat-free
2 cups cheese, cheddar, sharp, reduced-fat, shredded
2 cups tomatoes, cherry, cut in half
Instructions
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, blend cottage cheese in a food processor until smooth. Set aside.
In a large saucepan over a medium heat, combine oil, flour, pepper and garlic powder; stir until mixed. Gradually stir in the milk and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes or until thickened and smooth. Add the blended cottage cheese and cheddar cheese, stirring until melted.
Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. After the macaroni has been cooked and drained, place it in the prepared casserole dish. Pour the cheese mixture over the macaroni and mix until blended. Bake at 350 F for about 30 minutes or until heated through. Top with tomatoes just before serving.
VEGGIE-LOADED PASTA
This is from The Mayo Clinic Diet. Serving size: 1 1/2 cups. Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 cup onions, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
12 ounces soy crumbles, ground
2 cans tomatoes, diced, no salt added (14.5 ounces each)
2 cups small zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground
6 ounces whole wheat bow-tie pasta
3 tablespoon basil, fresh (or 3 teaspoons dried basil)
Instructions
Place a large saucepan over medium to high heat.
Add the oil, onion, mushrooms and garlic. Cook until the onion is tender.
Add soy crumbles, tomatoes, zucchini, Italian seasoning and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
While the mixture is simmering, cook the pasta according to the package directions.
When the pasta is finished cooking, drain well and gently mix into the vegetable sauce. Garnish with basil.
Nutritional Information: Amount per serving: Calories: 260; Total fat: 6 g; Saturated fat: 1 g; Sodium: 300 mg; Total carbohydrate: 33 g; Dietary fiber: 8 g; Protein: 17 g
FANTASTIC FRUIT SALAD
This comes from MyDailyMoment, and begins, “This refreshing fruit salad is delicious to the core, and if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, this will surely do the trick! No matter how you slice it, you're sure to be satisfied with healthy treat.”
Makes 4 servings.
View this online at https://www.mydailymoment.com/recipes/fantastic_fruit_salad.php.
Ingredients
1 red apple, cored and chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped
1 nectarine, pitted and sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/2 cup(s) dried cranberries
1/2 cup(s) chopped walnuts
1 (8 oz.) container, nonfat lemon yogurt
Directions
In a large bowl, combine red apple, Granny Smith apple, nectarine, celery, dried cranberries, and walnuts. Mix in yogurt. Chill until ready to serve.
KEY LIME CREAM PIE
This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!
“Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8
Special equipment: Electric mixer
View this here.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 large egg yolks
One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 lime (optional, for garnish)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.
Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.
Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.
COWBOY COOKIES
This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 1/3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
Layer the ingredients in 1 quart jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding the next one. Include a card with the following instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
In medium bowl, cream together 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir in entire contents of jar. You may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in preheated oven. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
CARROT TART WITH RICOTTA AND FETA
This comes from Sue Li on The New York Times cooking email. Sue wrote, “Carrots work beautifully in this simple tart, but onions, parsnips, beets, zucchini or pumpkin work just as well. The key is to cook the vegetables before putting them on the tart, since the moisture released by baking raw vegetables would make the puff pastry soggy and prevent it from rising. Once you remove the tart from the oven, let it cool for 10 minutes before cutting to allow the cheese to firm up slightly. The tart can be served warm, or cooled to room temperature, and would make a great addition to a picnic.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour.
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020174-carrot-tart-with-ricotta-and-feta.
Ingredients
Flour, for rolling out dough
1 (14-ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 pound multicolored carrots, scrubbed and sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
Kosher salt and black pepper
8 ounces ricotta
4 ounces feta, crumbled
1 garlic clove, grated
Chopped fresh parsley, chervil or chives, for garnish
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry into a 10-by-14-inch rectangle. Using a paring knife, lightly score a border around the perimeter of the puff pastry about a 1/4-inch away from the edges. Place puff pastry on a parchment-lined baking sheet and prick the pastry inside the border using a fork to prevent puffing in the center. Bake on top rack until puff pastry is lightly golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with 1 tablespoon oil, season generously with salt and pepper and spread into a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast carrots on the bottom rack (underneath the puff pastry) until the edges are golden brown and carrots are still crisp-tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
While puff pastry and carrots are in the oven, blend ricotta, feta and garlic in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Spread the cheese mixture onto the puff pastry up to the border and arrange the carrots in a single layer on top. Bake until the carrots are tender and the edges of the cheese mixture are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with herbs before serving.
CREAMY CHEESY MACARONI
This yummy recipe comes from The Mayo Clinic Diet. If you haven’t check out the site, you should. (That, as well as the main site, https://www.mayoclinic.org, have a lot of good stuff to check out.)
Serves 10; Serving size: 1 cup
To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/food-fitness/recipe-for-creamy-cheesy-macaroni-/17551.
Ingredients
1 package pasta, whole-wheat, elbow macaroni (14.5 ounces)
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese, nonfat
2 tablespoons oil, canola
1/2 cup flour, all-purpose
1/2 teaspoon pepper, black ground
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups milk, fat-free
2 cups cheese, cheddar, sharp, reduced-fat, shredded
2 cups tomatoes, cherry, cut in half
Instructions
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, blend cottage cheese in a food processor until smooth. Set aside.
In a large saucepan over a medium heat, combine oil, flour, pepper and garlic powder; stir until mixed. Gradually stir in the milk and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes or until thickened and smooth. Add the blended cottage cheese and cheddar cheese, stirring until melted.
Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. After the macaroni has been cooked and drained, place it in the prepared casserole dish. Pour the cheese mixture over the macaroni and mix until blended. Bake at 350 F for about 30 minutes or until heated through. Top with tomatoes just before serving.
VEGGIE-LOADED PASTA
This is from The Mayo Clinic Diet. Serving size: 1 1/2 cups. Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 cup onions, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
12 ounces soy crumbles, ground
2 cans tomatoes, diced, no salt added (14.5 ounces each)
2 cups small zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground
6 ounces whole wheat bow-tie pasta
3 tablespoon basil, fresh (or 3 teaspoons dried basil)
Instructions
Place a large saucepan over medium to high heat.
Add the oil, onion, mushrooms and garlic. Cook until the onion is tender.
Add soy crumbles, tomatoes, zucchini, Italian seasoning and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
While the mixture is simmering, cook the pasta according to the package directions.
When the pasta is finished cooking, drain well and gently mix into the vegetable sauce. Garnish with basil.
Nutritional Information: Amount per serving: Calories: 260; Total fat: 6 g; Saturated fat: 1 g; Sodium: 300 mg; Total carbohydrate: 33 g; Dietary fiber: 8 g; Protein: 17 g
FANTASTIC FRUIT SALAD
This comes from MyDailyMoment, and begins, “This refreshing fruit salad is delicious to the core, and if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, this will surely do the trick! No matter how you slice it, you're sure to be satisfied with healthy treat.”
Makes 4 servings.
View this online at https://www.mydailymoment.com/recipes/fantastic_fruit_salad.php.
Ingredients
1 red apple, cored and chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped
1 nectarine, pitted and sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/2 cup(s) dried cranberries
1/2 cup(s) chopped walnuts
1 (8 oz.) container, nonfat lemon yogurt
Directions
In a large bowl, combine red apple, Granny Smith apple, nectarine, celery, dried cranberries, and walnuts. Mix in yogurt. Chill until ready to serve.
Taco Tuesday
Who doesn't love tacos? Sure, there are those boxed taco kits that includes everything except the meatless crumbles (or meat, if you do occasionally eat meat) and toppings. And really, there's nothing wrong with the boxed kits, especially when you want dinner in a hurry with a minimum amount of effort.
But there are so many great vegetarian taco recipes out there that, with a little more effort (but just a little more), you can have a good meal to Taco Tuesday. Here are six vegetarian taco recipes to get you started, including Tasty Black Beans & Corn Tacos, Potato Tacos, and Banana Chocolate Tacos. (Yes, you read that right!) Enjoy!
CARROT-AND-BLACK BEAN CRISPY TACOS
This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Dig into vegetarian tacos with tons of fresh flavor.” Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 (15.5-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lb. medium carrots, cut into 3" to 4" sticks
1 tsp. ground cumin
8 whole-grain taco shells, warmed
Sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped fresh cilantro and radishes, for serving
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4to 6 minutes. Add chili powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add black beans and 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash beans with the back of the spoon until thick. Stir in lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with cumin and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
Divide beans and carrots between taco shells. Top with avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, and radishes. Serve with lime wedges alongside.
PER SERVING: protein: 8 g; fat: 17 g; carbohydrate: 42 g; fiber: 10 g; sodium: 261 mg; cholesterol: 0 mg; calories: 334.
TASTY BLACK BEANS AND CORN TACOS
This also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Filled with beans and vegetables, these healthful tacos will be a kid's favorite." Makes 12 tacos.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
Black Beans and Corn Filling
1 15-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium-sized zucchini, diced
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup mild enchilada sauce
Tortillas
12 6- to 8-inch corn or flour tortillas
Toppings, Optional
Note: No toppings were listed, but I would suggest shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and/or sour cream. A diced avocado would be nice, too. Or if there's something else that you love to top your tacos with, go for it! Just one thing: Enjoy!
Instructions:
To make Black Beans and Corn Filling: Put all ingredients into a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low. Cover, and cook for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until heated through.
To prepare Tortillas: Preheat a cast-iron skillet or griddle on stove over medium-high heat. Lay tortillas in single layer on skillet or griddle for about 10 seconds. Turn and warm other side. Remove from heat, and wrap in a napkin or dishcloth until ready to assemble tacos.
To assemble, set a tortilla on a plate, and spoon on some filling. Top as desired, roll up and eat.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 100; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: g; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Cholesterol: mg; Sodium: 170 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 1 g
SNAPPY TACOS
This is another good taco recipe from Vegetarian Times. This one begins, "Just two of these tacos provide nearly all the soy protein of the daily FDA recommendation of 25 grams." Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
4 tsp. vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
12-oz. pkg. soy crumbles, plain or taco-flavored
1/4 cup dark beer (see Note
1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 large jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 cup salsa, drained
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
8 taco shells
Garnishes: See my note under Toppings for the Tasty Black Beans & Corn Tacos, above.
Note: If you - like me - don't have dark beer (or any beer, for that matter), I suggest simply increasing the low-sodium vegetable broth to 3/4 cup
Instructions:
In large nonstick skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium-high heat. Add 1⁄4 cup onion and 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic and cook, stirring often, until onion is softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat and mix in soy crumbles, beer and broth. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid has almost evaporated, about 8 minutes. Transfer mixture to plate and set aside. Wipe out skillet.
Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in skillet over medium-low heat. Add remaining onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until onion is softened, about 4 minutes. Add chili powder, oregano and jalapeños, stirring until mixture is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add reserved crumbles, salsa and cilantro and stir well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes.
Spoon 1⁄4 cup filling into each taco shell. Top with some or all garnishes and serve hot.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 302; Protein: 22 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 28 g; Cholesterol: mg; Sodium: 633 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: g
POTATO TACOS
Potato Tacos? Sure, why not? This also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "These tasty tacos are spicy! Feel free to reduce the amount of chipotle if you prefer milder flavor." Serves 2.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 small red bell pepper, diced
1 small clove garlic, minced
1/2 canned chipotle chili in adobo sauce
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 medium potato, baked and diced
1 to 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro
2 whole wheat tortillas, warmed
Instructions:
In large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook, stirring often, until almost tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add chipotle, cumin and oregano and stir 30 seconds. Add potato, toss well to coat and heat through. Stir in lemon juice and cilantro and remove from heat. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Divide potato mixture among tortillas and serve hot, garnished with condiments as desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 226; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 181 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 0 g
TACOS WITH ROASTED POTATOES, SQUASH AND PEPPERS (RAJAS)
This comes from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, "You can turn the heat up or down on this taco, depending on your taste for spiciness. Season the potatoes, onions and squash before roasting. A comforting filling that you can heat up or tone down, depending on your taste for spicy. If you like heat, use a preponderance of poblanos and Anaheims for your peppers; if not, use more bell peppers. I season the potatoes, onions and squash with cumin and chili powder before I roast them, and serve the tacos with a cooked salsa ranchera." Yield: Serves 4; Time: 40 minutes.
This was featured in "Vegetarian Taco Night" and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 pound potatoes, such as Yukon golds, cut into 1-inch chunks
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound summer squash, preferably a dense squash like Ronde de Nice, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 medium red onion, cut in half lengthwise and sliced in half-moons
1 pound mixed sweet and hot peppers (such as a mix of poblanos and bell peppers), roasted, peeled, seeded and cut in thin 2-inch strips
8 warm corn tortillas
1 recipe salsa ranchera (without chipotles)
3 ounces goat cheese (about 3/4 cup crumbled)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Place potatoes on one baking sheet and toss with salt to taste, 3/4 teaspoon each of the ground cumin and chili powder, and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Spread in an even layer.
Place squash and onion slices on other parchment-covered baking sheet and toss with the remaining olive oil, salt to taste, cumin and chili powder.
Depending on the size of your oven, roast vegetables together or separately on the middle rack. Roast potatoes for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes, or until lightly browned and tender all the way through. Remove from oven and transfer to a large bowl. Roast squash and onions for about 15 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes, until tender and lightly colored. Remove from oven and add to bowl with potatoes. Add pepper strips (rajas) and toss together. Season to taste with salt, and add more chili powder if desired. Keep warm.
Spoon filling onto warm tortillas and add a generous spoonful of salsa. Top with goat cheese and serve.
BANANA CHOCOLATE TACOS
Chocolate? Bananas? On tacos? Sure, why not? This one is from the May 2016 issue of Runner’s World, and begins, “This taco is a smart dessert choice as research shows dark chocolate can improve brain functioning. Each bite also has the carbs needed to restock your muscles after a spirited run. Plus, ricotta is rich in whey protein to make it easier to build stronger muscles.”
This can be found here.
Ingredients
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
2 Tbsp. almond butter
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
1–2 tsp. orange zest
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 oz. chopped dark chocolate
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
4 small bananas, sliced into 1/2" pieces
4 small (6") whole-wheat tortillas, heated according to package
1/4 cup unsweetened toasted coconut flakes
Instructions
Stir together ricotta, almond butter, syrup, orange zest and vanilla.
Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high in 20-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until chocolate is melted. Stir in cinnamon.
Spread ricotta mixture on tortillas and top with banana. Drizzle chocolate sauce over top and sprinkle on coconut flakes. Serves 4.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving: 439; Protein: 14 g; Carbs: 54 g; Fiber: 13 g; Total fat: 20 g; Saturated fat: 9.5 g; Sodium: 342 mg.
But there are so many great vegetarian taco recipes out there that, with a little more effort (but just a little more), you can have a good meal to Taco Tuesday. Here are six vegetarian taco recipes to get you started, including Tasty Black Beans & Corn Tacos, Potato Tacos, and Banana Chocolate Tacos. (Yes, you read that right!) Enjoy!
CARROT-AND-BLACK BEAN CRISPY TACOS
This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Dig into vegetarian tacos with tons of fresh flavor.” Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 (15.5-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lb. medium carrots, cut into 3" to 4" sticks
1 tsp. ground cumin
8 whole-grain taco shells, warmed
Sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped fresh cilantro and radishes, for serving
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4to 6 minutes. Add chili powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add black beans and 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash beans with the back of the spoon until thick. Stir in lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with cumin and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
Divide beans and carrots between taco shells. Top with avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, and radishes. Serve with lime wedges alongside.
PER SERVING: protein: 8 g; fat: 17 g; carbohydrate: 42 g; fiber: 10 g; sodium: 261 mg; cholesterol: 0 mg; calories: 334.
TASTY BLACK BEANS AND CORN TACOS
This also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Filled with beans and vegetables, these healthful tacos will be a kid's favorite." Makes 12 tacos.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
Black Beans and Corn Filling
1 15-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium-sized zucchini, diced
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup mild enchilada sauce
Tortillas
12 6- to 8-inch corn or flour tortillas
Toppings, Optional
Note: No toppings were listed, but I would suggest shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and/or sour cream. A diced avocado would be nice, too. Or if there's something else that you love to top your tacos with, go for it! Just one thing: Enjoy!
Instructions:
To make Black Beans and Corn Filling: Put all ingredients into a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low. Cover, and cook for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until heated through.
To prepare Tortillas: Preheat a cast-iron skillet or griddle on stove over medium-high heat. Lay tortillas in single layer on skillet or griddle for about 10 seconds. Turn and warm other side. Remove from heat, and wrap in a napkin or dishcloth until ready to assemble tacos.
To assemble, set a tortilla on a plate, and spoon on some filling. Top as desired, roll up and eat.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 100; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: g; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Cholesterol: mg; Sodium: 170 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 1 g
SNAPPY TACOS
This is another good taco recipe from Vegetarian Times. This one begins, "Just two of these tacos provide nearly all the soy protein of the daily FDA recommendation of 25 grams." Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
4 tsp. vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
12-oz. pkg. soy crumbles, plain or taco-flavored
1/4 cup dark beer (see Note
1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 large jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 cup salsa, drained
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
8 taco shells
Garnishes: See my note under Toppings for the Tasty Black Beans & Corn Tacos, above.
Note: If you - like me - don't have dark beer (or any beer, for that matter), I suggest simply increasing the low-sodium vegetable broth to 3/4 cup
Instructions:
In large nonstick skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium-high heat. Add 1⁄4 cup onion and 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic and cook, stirring often, until onion is softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat and mix in soy crumbles, beer and broth. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid has almost evaporated, about 8 minutes. Transfer mixture to plate and set aside. Wipe out skillet.
Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in skillet over medium-low heat. Add remaining onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until onion is softened, about 4 minutes. Add chili powder, oregano and jalapeños, stirring until mixture is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add reserved crumbles, salsa and cilantro and stir well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes.
Spoon 1⁄4 cup filling into each taco shell. Top with some or all garnishes and serve hot.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 302; Protein: 22 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 28 g; Cholesterol: mg; Sodium: 633 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: g
POTATO TACOS
Potato Tacos? Sure, why not? This also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "These tasty tacos are spicy! Feel free to reduce the amount of chipotle if you prefer milder flavor." Serves 2.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 small red bell pepper, diced
1 small clove garlic, minced
1/2 canned chipotle chili in adobo sauce
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 medium potato, baked and diced
1 to 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro
2 whole wheat tortillas, warmed
Instructions:
In large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook, stirring often, until almost tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add chipotle, cumin and oregano and stir 30 seconds. Add potato, toss well to coat and heat through. Stir in lemon juice and cilantro and remove from heat. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Divide potato mixture among tortillas and serve hot, garnished with condiments as desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 226; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 181 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 0 g
TACOS WITH ROASTED POTATOES, SQUASH AND PEPPERS (RAJAS)
This comes from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, "You can turn the heat up or down on this taco, depending on your taste for spiciness. Season the potatoes, onions and squash before roasting. A comforting filling that you can heat up or tone down, depending on your taste for spicy. If you like heat, use a preponderance of poblanos and Anaheims for your peppers; if not, use more bell peppers. I season the potatoes, onions and squash with cumin and chili powder before I roast them, and serve the tacos with a cooked salsa ranchera." Yield: Serves 4; Time: 40 minutes.
This was featured in "Vegetarian Taco Night" and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 pound potatoes, such as Yukon golds, cut into 1-inch chunks
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound summer squash, preferably a dense squash like Ronde de Nice, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 medium red onion, cut in half lengthwise and sliced in half-moons
1 pound mixed sweet and hot peppers (such as a mix of poblanos and bell peppers), roasted, peeled, seeded and cut in thin 2-inch strips
8 warm corn tortillas
1 recipe salsa ranchera (without chipotles)
3 ounces goat cheese (about 3/4 cup crumbled)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Place potatoes on one baking sheet and toss with salt to taste, 3/4 teaspoon each of the ground cumin and chili powder, and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Spread in an even layer.
Place squash and onion slices on other parchment-covered baking sheet and toss with the remaining olive oil, salt to taste, cumin and chili powder.
Depending on the size of your oven, roast vegetables together or separately on the middle rack. Roast potatoes for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes, or until lightly browned and tender all the way through. Remove from oven and transfer to a large bowl. Roast squash and onions for about 15 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes, until tender and lightly colored. Remove from oven and add to bowl with potatoes. Add pepper strips (rajas) and toss together. Season to taste with salt, and add more chili powder if desired. Keep warm.
Spoon filling onto warm tortillas and add a generous spoonful of salsa. Top with goat cheese and serve.
BANANA CHOCOLATE TACOS
Chocolate? Bananas? On tacos? Sure, why not? This one is from the May 2016 issue of Runner’s World, and begins, “This taco is a smart dessert choice as research shows dark chocolate can improve brain functioning. Each bite also has the carbs needed to restock your muscles after a spirited run. Plus, ricotta is rich in whey protein to make it easier to build stronger muscles.”
This can be found here.
Ingredients
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
2 Tbsp. almond butter
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
1–2 tsp. orange zest
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 oz. chopped dark chocolate
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
4 small bananas, sliced into 1/2" pieces
4 small (6") whole-wheat tortillas, heated according to package
1/4 cup unsweetened toasted coconut flakes
Instructions
Stir together ricotta, almond butter, syrup, orange zest and vanilla.
Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high in 20-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until chocolate is melted. Stir in cinnamon.
Spread ricotta mixture on tortillas and top with banana. Drizzle chocolate sauce over top and sprinkle on coconut flakes. Serves 4.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving: 439; Protein: 14 g; Carbs: 54 g; Fiber: 13 g; Total fat: 20 g; Saturated fat: 9.5 g; Sodium: 342 mg.
Monday, June 14, 2021
Monday Recipes
Hope your weekend was good. Mine was okay, if too short. Of course, there's always next weekend.
Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to get your week started, including Spicy Pumpkin Burritos and Chipotle-Bean Burgers with Cilantro Sauce. Enjoy!
SLOW-COOKER SLOPPY JOES [VEGAN]
This recipe comes from OneGreenPlanet, and is Dairy Free and Vegan. Serves 7 – 8; Cook Time: 6 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups textured vegetable protein
3 cups water
5 garlic cloves
1 cup Medjool dates, soaked and pitted
6 ounce can tomato paste
1 tomato, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 medium white onion, diced
1 tablespoon black strap molasses
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons mustard
3 tablespoons hot sauce
Preparation
Add water, dates, garlic cloves, tomato, and tomato paste to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth. Next, add remaining ingredients to the blender except the textured vegetable protein and stir, or blend on low until fully incorporated.
Turn a crock pot on high. Add textured vegetable protein, blender mixture, and diced onion. Stir until protein is thoroughly coated with the blender sauce and onion. Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
SPICY PUMPKIN BURRITOS
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Try this hearty vegetarian burrito using seasonal Fall vegetables.”
Servings: 8; Serving Size: 1 burrito
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/spicy-pumpkin-burritos
Ingredients
1 tsp. olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
1/2 cup frozen whole kernel corn
15.5 oz. canned, no-salt-added black beans (drained, rinsed)
15 oz. canned solid-pack pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 cup cooked brown rice, cooked without salt and margarine
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chile powder (made with ancho chiles preferred)
1/2 tsp. dried oregano (crumbled)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 8-inch low-fat whole-grain tortillas, lowest sodium available
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup shredded lettuce, such as romaine, or spinach
1/2 cup chopped tomato
Directions
In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the corn for 4 to 5 minutes, or until slightly browned, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beans, pumpkin, rice, water, cumin, chili powder, oregano, and cayenne. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until heated through.
Warm the tortillas using the package directions.
Spoon the filling down the center of each tortilla. Sprinkle the green onions over the filling. For each burrito, fold two sides of the tortilla toward the center. Starting from the unfolded side closest to you, roll the burrito toward the remaining unfolded side to enclose the filling. Transfer with the seam side down to plates. Top with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the lettuce and tomato.
SOUTHERN MACARONI AND CHEESE
This comes from Kiera Wright-Ruiz in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Kiera wrote, "There is macaroni and cheese, and then there is special occasion macaroni and cheese like this one. Unlike most recipes, which start with a roux, this one begins with a milk-and-egg base, which gives the dish an incredibly rich, silky taste. It’s adapted from Millie Peartree, the owner of Millie Peartree Fish Fry & Soul Food restaurant in the Bronx, who has been making this dish since she was a little girl. The recipe was passed down in her family for generations, but because of the generous amount of cheese used, the dish was only made for events like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Extra-sharp Cheddar adds tartness and a layer of Colby Jack creates a gooey, molten center. If you can’t find a Colby Jack blend, shredded mozzarella or a Mexican-style blend will work in its place."
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time 45 minutes, plus cooling
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020515-southern-macaroni-and-cheese.
Ingredients
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
2 cups whole milk
2 large eggs
4 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar (about 16 ounces)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
2 cups shredded Colby Jack (about 8 ounces)
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package directions until a little under al dente, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk milk and eggs. Add cooked macaroni, 2 cups extra-sharp Cheddar, melted butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and stir until well combined.
Add half the macaroni mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish in an even layer. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups Colby Jack evenly on top. Spread the remaining macaroni mixture on top in an even layer. Cover with aluminum foil, transfer to the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven. Carefully remove and discard the aluminum foil. Top the macaroni mixture with the remaining 2 cups Cheddar and 1/2 cup Colby Jack. Broil on top rack until cheese is browned in spots, 3 to 5 minutes. (The broiled cheese can go from golden to burnt fairly quickly, so keep a close eye on it.)
Remove from oven and let cool until the macaroni and cheese is fully set, 10 to 15 minutes. (The mixture may first appear jiggly, but it will firm up as it cools.) Serve warm.
CHIPOTLE-BEAN BURGERS WITH CILANTRO SAUCE
This comes from Vegetarian Times (July/August 2005 issue, page 58), and begins, "Serve these burgers tucked into whole wheat tortillas or pita pockets and slathered with Cilantro Sauce. Canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce are readily available in gourmet and ethnic markets and some supermarkets; any remaining chiles will keep in the refrigerator for months. Use them whenever you want to add a hot, smoky flavor to a dip or dish." Serves 6
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/chipotle-bean-burgers-with-cilantro-sauce/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onions
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, minced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 15-oz. can pinto, kidney or anasazi beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 1/2 cups cooked beans
3/4 cup breadcrumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat 1 Tbs. olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onions and salt, and cook, stirring often, 7 to 10 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic, chipotle chile, cumin and oregano; cook, stirring often, 1 minute. Add a third of beans and 1/3 cup water (or bean cooking liquid), and, using potato masher or fork, mash beans. When liquid is absorbed, add another third of beans and 1/3 cup liquid, and mash until mixture is chunky. Stir in last third of beans, and mash lightly. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is very thick and mostly dry.
Transfer beans to mixing bowl to cool, about 15 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. Taste, and add more salt if needed. Spread remaining breadcrumbs on plate. Using spoon, drop bean mixture by one-sixths into breadcrumbs. Sprinkle tops with breadcrumbs, and form into 6 patties of equal size. Place patties on clean plate. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or until firm.
To cook on a grill: Prepare charcoal fire or gas grill for medium heat. Spray grill rack with cooking spray. Place patties on grill, and cook until golden brown and heated through, about 3 minutes per side. To cook in a skillet: Heat remaining 1 Tbs. oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add patties, and cook until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Serve topped with Cilantro Sauce.
Cilantro Sauce
Ingredients
1 thick slice sourdough or Italian-style white bread, preferably stale
1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 medium-sized green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 scallions (white and pale green parts), thinly sliced
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1 small jalapeño chile, stemmed and seeded
1 cup cilantro leaves
3/4 tsp. salt
Preparation
Put bread in small bowl, cover with water and let soak 5 minutes. Remove bread, squeeze out excess water, and set aside.
Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper, and cook, stirring often, 7 minutes, or until softened. Add scallions; cook, stirring often, 1 minute.
Put mixture into blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup water, lime juice, jalapeño, cilantro, soaked bread and salt. Purée until smooth.
DILLED POTATO FRITTATA
This is from the September 2007 (?) issue of Vegetarian Times (page 78), and begins, "Dill weed has a sourness that pairs well with potatoes. If you want to make the recipe with dried rosemary instead of dill, reduce the amount to 1 tablespoon and skip the yogurt sauce in step 5." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/dilled-potato-frittata/.
Ingredients
1 lb. russet potatoes, sliced
3 Tbs. cider vinegar
3 Tbs. olive oil, divided
2 Tbs. dried dill weed, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.), divided
1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
1 small onion, finely diced (1 cup)
1 small tomato, diced (3/4 cup)
2 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup plain fat-free yogurt
2 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese, optional
Preparation
Soak potatoes in cold water 10 minutes to remove excess starch. Drain and pat dry. Whisk together vinegar, 2 Tbs. olive oil, 1 Tbs. dill, 3 tsp. garlic, mustard, pepper, and salt in large bowl.
Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling water 5 minutes, or until tender. Drain, and toss with dill mixture.
Preheat oven to broil. Heat remaining oil in ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion and tomato 5 minutes, or until soft. Transfer to bowl and fold in eggs.
Spread potato mixture in same skillet, and reduce heat to medium. Cover, and cook 6 minutes, or until crust begins to form on underside. Pour egg mixture over potatoes. Cook 4 minutes, or until eggs are set.
Combine yogurt, remaining dill, and garlic in bowl. Top frittata with cheese, if desired, and place under broiler 2 minutes. Slice into wedges, and serve with yogurt mixture.
DELAWARE CREAM CHEESE-PINEAPPLE PIE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1/3 c Sugar
1 tb Cornstarch
8 oz Crushed pineapple w juice
8 oz Cream cheese; softened
1/2 c Sugar
1 t Salt
2 Eggs
1/2 c Milk
1/2 t Vanilla
1 9" unbaked pie shell
1/4 c Pecans; chopped
Directions
Combine sugar, cornstarch and pineapple plus juice in a small saucepan. Cook over med. heat, stirring constantly until mixture is thin and clear. Cool; set aside.
Blend cream cheese, sugar and salt in a mixer bowl. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Blend in milk and vanilla. (If mixture looks slightly curdled, don't worry--it bakes out.)
Spread cooled pineapple layer over bottom of pie shell. Pour cream cheese mixture over pineapple; sprinkle with pecans.
Bake at 400 degrees for 50 minutes. Cool.
Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to get your week started, including Spicy Pumpkin Burritos and Chipotle-Bean Burgers with Cilantro Sauce. Enjoy!
SLOW-COOKER SLOPPY JOES [VEGAN]
This recipe comes from OneGreenPlanet, and is Dairy Free and Vegan. Serves 7 – 8; Cook Time: 6 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups textured vegetable protein
3 cups water
5 garlic cloves
1 cup Medjool dates, soaked and pitted
6 ounce can tomato paste
1 tomato, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 medium white onion, diced
1 tablespoon black strap molasses
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons mustard
3 tablespoons hot sauce
Preparation
Add water, dates, garlic cloves, tomato, and tomato paste to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth. Next, add remaining ingredients to the blender except the textured vegetable protein and stir, or blend on low until fully incorporated.
Turn a crock pot on high. Add textured vegetable protein, blender mixture, and diced onion. Stir until protein is thoroughly coated with the blender sauce and onion. Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
SPICY PUMPKIN BURRITOS
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Try this hearty vegetarian burrito using seasonal Fall vegetables.”
Servings: 8; Serving Size: 1 burrito
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/spicy-pumpkin-burritos
Ingredients
1 tsp. olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
1/2 cup frozen whole kernel corn
15.5 oz. canned, no-salt-added black beans (drained, rinsed)
15 oz. canned solid-pack pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 cup cooked brown rice, cooked without salt and margarine
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chile powder (made with ancho chiles preferred)
1/2 tsp. dried oregano (crumbled)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 8-inch low-fat whole-grain tortillas, lowest sodium available
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup shredded lettuce, such as romaine, or spinach
1/2 cup chopped tomato
Directions
In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the corn for 4 to 5 minutes, or until slightly browned, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beans, pumpkin, rice, water, cumin, chili powder, oregano, and cayenne. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until heated through.
Warm the tortillas using the package directions.
Spoon the filling down the center of each tortilla. Sprinkle the green onions over the filling. For each burrito, fold two sides of the tortilla toward the center. Starting from the unfolded side closest to you, roll the burrito toward the remaining unfolded side to enclose the filling. Transfer with the seam side down to plates. Top with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the lettuce and tomato.
SOUTHERN MACARONI AND CHEESE
This comes from Kiera Wright-Ruiz in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Kiera wrote, "There is macaroni and cheese, and then there is special occasion macaroni and cheese like this one. Unlike most recipes, which start with a roux, this one begins with a milk-and-egg base, which gives the dish an incredibly rich, silky taste. It’s adapted from Millie Peartree, the owner of Millie Peartree Fish Fry & Soul Food restaurant in the Bronx, who has been making this dish since she was a little girl. The recipe was passed down in her family for generations, but because of the generous amount of cheese used, the dish was only made for events like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Extra-sharp Cheddar adds tartness and a layer of Colby Jack creates a gooey, molten center. If you can’t find a Colby Jack blend, shredded mozzarella or a Mexican-style blend will work in its place."
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time 45 minutes, plus cooling
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020515-southern-macaroni-and-cheese.
Ingredients
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
2 cups whole milk
2 large eggs
4 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar (about 16 ounces)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
2 cups shredded Colby Jack (about 8 ounces)
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package directions until a little under al dente, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk milk and eggs. Add cooked macaroni, 2 cups extra-sharp Cheddar, melted butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and stir until well combined.
Add half the macaroni mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish in an even layer. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups Colby Jack evenly on top. Spread the remaining macaroni mixture on top in an even layer. Cover with aluminum foil, transfer to the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven. Carefully remove and discard the aluminum foil. Top the macaroni mixture with the remaining 2 cups Cheddar and 1/2 cup Colby Jack. Broil on top rack until cheese is browned in spots, 3 to 5 minutes. (The broiled cheese can go from golden to burnt fairly quickly, so keep a close eye on it.)
Remove from oven and let cool until the macaroni and cheese is fully set, 10 to 15 minutes. (The mixture may first appear jiggly, but it will firm up as it cools.) Serve warm.
CHIPOTLE-BEAN BURGERS WITH CILANTRO SAUCE
This comes from Vegetarian Times (July/August 2005 issue, page 58), and begins, "Serve these burgers tucked into whole wheat tortillas or pita pockets and slathered with Cilantro Sauce. Canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce are readily available in gourmet and ethnic markets and some supermarkets; any remaining chiles will keep in the refrigerator for months. Use them whenever you want to add a hot, smoky flavor to a dip or dish." Serves 6
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/chipotle-bean-burgers-with-cilantro-sauce/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onions
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, minced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 15-oz. can pinto, kidney or anasazi beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 1/2 cups cooked beans
3/4 cup breadcrumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat 1 Tbs. olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onions and salt, and cook, stirring often, 7 to 10 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic, chipotle chile, cumin and oregano; cook, stirring often, 1 minute. Add a third of beans and 1/3 cup water (or bean cooking liquid), and, using potato masher or fork, mash beans. When liquid is absorbed, add another third of beans and 1/3 cup liquid, and mash until mixture is chunky. Stir in last third of beans, and mash lightly. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is very thick and mostly dry.
Transfer beans to mixing bowl to cool, about 15 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. Taste, and add more salt if needed. Spread remaining breadcrumbs on plate. Using spoon, drop bean mixture by one-sixths into breadcrumbs. Sprinkle tops with breadcrumbs, and form into 6 patties of equal size. Place patties on clean plate. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or until firm.
To cook on a grill: Prepare charcoal fire or gas grill for medium heat. Spray grill rack with cooking spray. Place patties on grill, and cook until golden brown and heated through, about 3 minutes per side. To cook in a skillet: Heat remaining 1 Tbs. oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add patties, and cook until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Serve topped with Cilantro Sauce.
Cilantro Sauce
Ingredients
1 thick slice sourdough or Italian-style white bread, preferably stale
1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 medium-sized green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 scallions (white and pale green parts), thinly sliced
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1 small jalapeño chile, stemmed and seeded
1 cup cilantro leaves
3/4 tsp. salt
Preparation
Put bread in small bowl, cover with water and let soak 5 minutes. Remove bread, squeeze out excess water, and set aside.
Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper, and cook, stirring often, 7 minutes, or until softened. Add scallions; cook, stirring often, 1 minute.
Put mixture into blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup water, lime juice, jalapeño, cilantro, soaked bread and salt. Purée until smooth.
DILLED POTATO FRITTATA
This is from the September 2007 (?) issue of Vegetarian Times (page 78), and begins, "Dill weed has a sourness that pairs well with potatoes. If you want to make the recipe with dried rosemary instead of dill, reduce the amount to 1 tablespoon and skip the yogurt sauce in step 5." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/dilled-potato-frittata/.
Ingredients
1 lb. russet potatoes, sliced
3 Tbs. cider vinegar
3 Tbs. olive oil, divided
2 Tbs. dried dill weed, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.), divided
1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
1 small onion, finely diced (1 cup)
1 small tomato, diced (3/4 cup)
2 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup plain fat-free yogurt
2 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese, optional
Preparation
Soak potatoes in cold water 10 minutes to remove excess starch. Drain and pat dry. Whisk together vinegar, 2 Tbs. olive oil, 1 Tbs. dill, 3 tsp. garlic, mustard, pepper, and salt in large bowl.
Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling water 5 minutes, or until tender. Drain, and toss with dill mixture.
Preheat oven to broil. Heat remaining oil in ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion and tomato 5 minutes, or until soft. Transfer to bowl and fold in eggs.
Spread potato mixture in same skillet, and reduce heat to medium. Cover, and cook 6 minutes, or until crust begins to form on underside. Pour egg mixture over potatoes. Cook 4 minutes, or until eggs are set.
Combine yogurt, remaining dill, and garlic in bowl. Top frittata with cheese, if desired, and place under broiler 2 minutes. Slice into wedges, and serve with yogurt mixture.
DELAWARE CREAM CHEESE-PINEAPPLE PIE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1/3 c Sugar
1 tb Cornstarch
8 oz Crushed pineapple w juice
8 oz Cream cheese; softened
1/2 c Sugar
1 t Salt
2 Eggs
1/2 c Milk
1/2 t Vanilla
1 9" unbaked pie shell
1/4 c Pecans; chopped
Directions
Combine sugar, cornstarch and pineapple plus juice in a small saucepan. Cook over med. heat, stirring constantly until mixture is thin and clear. Cool; set aside.
Blend cream cheese, sugar and salt in a mixer bowl. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Blend in milk and vanilla. (If mixture looks slightly curdled, don't worry--it bakes out.)
Spread cooled pineapple layer over bottom of pie shell. Pour cream cheese mixture over pineapple; sprinkle with pecans.
Bake at 400 degrees for 50 minutes. Cool.
Friday, June 11, 2021
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. (Yay!) Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend, including Baked Tofu With Peanut Sauce and Coconut-Lime Rice and Black Bean Chili. Enjoy!
CHRISTINA TOSI'S CROCKPOT CAKE
This comes from Same Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, "Christina Tosi, the pastry chef and an owner of Momofuku Milk Bar, sits near the beating heart of David Chang’s eclectic and innovative Momofuku restaurant empire. Off the clock, though, her cooking runs to inspired simplicity, as in this simple, tangy, slightly-caramelized at the edges slow-cooker cake, a version of which appears in her cookbook from Clarkson Potter, “Milk Bar Life.” Slow-cooker recipes invariably tell you to make something at night and enjoy them in the morning, or to make them in the morning and eat them after work. That only works if you don’t sleep much, or have a part-time job. This is a recipe for a weekend afternoon, or for cooking from the moment you get home until the very near end of a dinner party. It is a four-to-six hour affair."
Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: About 5 hours
This was featured in "The Slow Cooker, Redeemed", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017227-christina-tosis-crockpot-cake.
Ingredients
1/2 pound unsalted butter (2 sticks), at room temperature
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup neutral oil, like canola or grapeseed
1 1/2cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Preparation
Put all but 1 tablespoon of the butter and the sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer and cream with the paddle attachment at medium-high speed, until the mixture is smooth and pale, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in the eggs and vanilla, then continue to mix for another 3 minutes, until fluffy. Add the buttermilk and oil and mix briefly to combine.
Set the mixer to a very low speed and add the cake flour, baking powder and salt, mixing for a minute or so and scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice, until the batter has just come together, with no lumps.
Use the remaining tablespoon of butter to grease the interior of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, then pour the batter into the pot. Cover and cook on low for somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 to 6 hours, until the cake has set and is cooked through at the center. To serve, run a knife around the edge of the slow cooker to loosen the cake and then carefully invert onto a platter, or simply spoon the cake out of the slow cooker.
LENTILS CACCIATORE
This comes from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, "Chicken cacciatore is an Italian hunter’s stew that’s made by braising chicken with tomato, aromatics and vegetables, like red peppers, onions, carrots, rosemary, olives and so on. This braise’s cozy, deep flavors are equally tasty with red lentils in place of the poultry. In less than half an hour, red lentils break down to create a creamy, rich vegetarian stew. Carrots and red peppers make it a hearty meal, but you could also eat it over pasta, polenta or farro. If serving with pasta, thin the cacciatore with a little pasta water before tossing with the noodles."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020976-lentils-cacciatore.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, stems and seeds removed, thinly sliced lengthwise
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/4 cup capers, drained
3 tablespoons tomato paste
5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 cup red wine or stock (or 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or sherry vinegar)
1 (14-ounce) can crushed or diced tomatoes
3/4 cup red lentils (see Tip)
Preparation
In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the carrots and bell pepper, season with salt and pepper, and cook until just softened, 3 minutes.
Add the capers, tomato paste, garlic and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato paste begins to stick to the bottom of the pot, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the wine, season with salt and pepper, and cook until nearly all the liquid has evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, red lentils and 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, partly cover, then reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils start to break down and lose their shape, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir vigorously from time to time to scrape any stuck lentils from the bottom of the pot. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Tip
You could also use canned white beans, or dried brown lentils, which won’t break down as much as red lentils.
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
BLACK BEAN CHILI
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "You can have this chili on the table in no time at all since you probably already have the ingredients in your pantry. We like ours made with black beans, but you can also use red kidney or pinto beans, or mix two kinds of beans together. For a change of pace, serve the chili over quinoa instead of rice." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/black-bean-chili/.
Ingredients
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbs. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
14-oz. can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
3/4 cup water
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Two 16-oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained
Preparation
In large nonstick pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, jalapeño and garlic and cook, stirring often, until vegetables begin to soften, 5 minutes. Add spices, tomatoes, beans and water, and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in corn and cook 1 minute. Stir in cilantro and serve.
HOMEMADE GRILLED VEGGIE BURGER
This comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Making a grilled veggie burger from scratch used to produce a crumbly mess. But thanks to the smart use of chickpeas and other healthy binders like mushrooms and black beans, these veggie burgers bring a whole new level of delicious awesomeness."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Makes 3 - 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/homemade-grilled-veggie-burger-recipe/.
Ingredients
8-oz pack baby bella mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 red onion, sliced
1/2 bell pepper, sliced
5 cloves garlic
Olive oil (for coating veggies and basting burgers)
1 cup chickpeas
1 1/2 cups black beans
2 eggs
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp sriracha
2 Tbsp BBQ sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp cornstarch, mixed with 2 tsp water
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup almond flour (more may be needed for consistency)
Burgers
Burger buns
Cheddar cheese Lettuce Tomatoes Mustard Mayo Pickles
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Mustard
Mayo
Pickles
Special Equipment
Food Processor
Preparation
Preheat your grill to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Before you make the patties, you must first dehydrate excess moisture from the veggies so the burgers will keep their shape.
Place mushrooms, red onion, bell pepper, and garlic cloves in a grill basket. Coat with some olive oil, season to taste with salt and pepper, and mix well. Set aside.
Punch a couple of small holes in the bottom of a foil pan, then fill it with your chickpeas and black beans. The holes will allow excess water to drain from the veggies while roasting. Set aside.
Before placing veggies on the grill, toss some hickory wood chips on the coals.
Place the grill basket and foil pan on the grill, and roast them with the lid closed for about 30 minutes. Stir them about halfway through the cook.
Once roasted, remove veggies from the grill and allow them to cool. You can extinguish the grill if you’re roasting the vegetables well ahead of time, or you can let it cruise while you prepare your patties if you’re doing this recipe in one go.
Once cooled, pour the veggies from the grill basket into a food processor. Add eggs, soy sauce, sriracha, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, and the mixture of cornstarch and water, then blend until fairly smooth.
Add chickpeas, black beans, parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs to the food processor. Lightly pulse a few times in the food processor — you want the beans in your burger mix to maintain some varying texture, so don’t fully purée as in the above step.
Pour burger mix into a bowl, gradually incorporating a little bit of almond flour at a time. Aim for a consistency that’s thick enough to form a patty that’ll hold its shape.
Once your mixture can be easily formed into burgers, sprinkle a light layer of flour onto a dish. Create 3–4 patties and place them on the floured dish to prevent sticking.
Brush olive oil on top of the patties. This will be the side that hits the grill first. The olive oil will help the patties receive some color and easily release from the grates.
Place patties in the fridge, uncovered, for at least 10 minutes before grilling. This will help them keep their form when they hit the grill.
Preheat your grill to 350 degrees, adding more charcoal if necessary.
Brush the grill grates with olive oil just before placing your patties on the grill.
Grill the veggie burgers for about 6–8 minutes a side, until crisp and golden brown on each side. Keep the grill lid down during the cook, lifting it only to baste the top side of your burgers with olive oil before flipping them. OPTIONAL: After flipping, baste the top of the burgers with a bit of melted butter.
Melt slices of cheese over the patties before removing them from the grill. Adding cheese during the final minute of the cook should get the job done.
Plate and serve the burgers with your toppings of choice, and enjoy!
BAKED TOFU WITH PEANUT SAUCE AND COCONUT-LIME RICE
This is from Yewande Komolafe at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Yewande wrote, "A spicy, fragrant peanut sauce reminiscent of the groundnut stews that are popular across West Africa anchors this recipe. Any protein would be lucky to be doused and marinated in it, but tofu soaks up the peanut sauce’s flavors and chars up nicely upon roasting. The tofu’s neutral flavor allows the other flavors in the dish to break through. Red miso and fish sauce provide umami, honey lends a subtle sweetness and the lime zest in the coconut rice brightens it all. Finished with pickled peppers and fresh sliced scallions, this dish comes together to make an exciting but quick weeknight dinner."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 25 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020530-baked-tofu-with-peanut-sauce-and-coconut-lime-rice.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil, plus more for brushing the pan and drizzling
2/3 cup lime juice (from about 5 limes), and zest of 1 lime
Kosher salt
8 baby bell peppers or 1 medium bell pepper (any color will do), stemmed and thinly sliced lengthwise
Black pepper
1 cup long-grain rice like jasmine or basmati
1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
1 cup smooth, natural peanut butter
1 tablespoon red miso
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 tablespoon fish sauce (optional)
2 teaspoons chopped habanero pepper, stem and seeds removed, or 1 tablespoon sambal
2 tablespoons buckwheat honey or molasses
2 (14-ounce) package extra-firm tofu, drained and sliced crosswise, 1/4-inch thick
3 cups peppery greens, like arugula, mizuna or baby mustard greens
2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
Preparation
Heat the oven to 450 degrees and lightly brush a large rimmed sheet pan with oil.
In a small bowl, stir 4 tablespoons lime juice with 1/2 teaspoon salt until salt dissolves. Add the sliced peppers, a few cracks of black pepper and set aside.
In a small pot, combine the rice with 1 cup water and the coconut milk. Season with salt and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over medium-low until the rice is just tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, until ready to serve.
In a medium bowl, whisk 4 tablespoons lime juice with the peanut butter, miso, ginger, fish sauce (if using), habanero, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon honey and 3/4 cup water. Stir until smooth and season to taste with salt.
Arrange the tofu pieces in a single layer on the oiled baking sheet and season with salt. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the peanut sauce over each, covering the top and allowing the sauce to run down and coat the sides. Drizzle the tops with some oil, and roast until glaze is set, deep brown and caramelized along the edges, 18 to 20 minutes. Add the remaining lime juice and 1 tablespoon honey to the leftover peanut sauce in the bowl to make the dressing; set aside.
Divide the greens among bowls. Add the lime zest and half the sliced scallions to the rice, then fluff with a fork. Top the greens with the rice, then the tofu. Spoon the peanut dressing over everything, and garnish with the drained pickled peppers and remaining sliced scallions.
Tip
Peanut sauce can be made 2 to 3 days in advance and stored refrigerated until ready to use.
CHRISTINA TOSI'S CROCKPOT CAKE
This comes from Same Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, "Christina Tosi, the pastry chef and an owner of Momofuku Milk Bar, sits near the beating heart of David Chang’s eclectic and innovative Momofuku restaurant empire. Off the clock, though, her cooking runs to inspired simplicity, as in this simple, tangy, slightly-caramelized at the edges slow-cooker cake, a version of which appears in her cookbook from Clarkson Potter, “Milk Bar Life.” Slow-cooker recipes invariably tell you to make something at night and enjoy them in the morning, or to make them in the morning and eat them after work. That only works if you don’t sleep much, or have a part-time job. This is a recipe for a weekend afternoon, or for cooking from the moment you get home until the very near end of a dinner party. It is a four-to-six hour affair."
Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: About 5 hours
This was featured in "The Slow Cooker, Redeemed", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017227-christina-tosis-crockpot-cake.
Ingredients
1/2 pound unsalted butter (2 sticks), at room temperature
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup neutral oil, like canola or grapeseed
1 1/2cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Preparation
Put all but 1 tablespoon of the butter and the sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer and cream with the paddle attachment at medium-high speed, until the mixture is smooth and pale, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in the eggs and vanilla, then continue to mix for another 3 minutes, until fluffy. Add the buttermilk and oil and mix briefly to combine.
Set the mixer to a very low speed and add the cake flour, baking powder and salt, mixing for a minute or so and scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice, until the batter has just come together, with no lumps.
Use the remaining tablespoon of butter to grease the interior of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, then pour the batter into the pot. Cover and cook on low for somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 to 6 hours, until the cake has set and is cooked through at the center. To serve, run a knife around the edge of the slow cooker to loosen the cake and then carefully invert onto a platter, or simply spoon the cake out of the slow cooker.
LENTILS CACCIATORE
This comes from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, "Chicken cacciatore is an Italian hunter’s stew that’s made by braising chicken with tomato, aromatics and vegetables, like red peppers, onions, carrots, rosemary, olives and so on. This braise’s cozy, deep flavors are equally tasty with red lentils in place of the poultry. In less than half an hour, red lentils break down to create a creamy, rich vegetarian stew. Carrots and red peppers make it a hearty meal, but you could also eat it over pasta, polenta or farro. If serving with pasta, thin the cacciatore with a little pasta water before tossing with the noodles."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020976-lentils-cacciatore.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, stems and seeds removed, thinly sliced lengthwise
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/4 cup capers, drained
3 tablespoons tomato paste
5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 cup red wine or stock (or 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or sherry vinegar)
1 (14-ounce) can crushed or diced tomatoes
3/4 cup red lentils (see Tip)
Preparation
In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the carrots and bell pepper, season with salt and pepper, and cook until just softened, 3 minutes.
Add the capers, tomato paste, garlic and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato paste begins to stick to the bottom of the pot, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the wine, season with salt and pepper, and cook until nearly all the liquid has evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, red lentils and 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, partly cover, then reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils start to break down and lose their shape, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir vigorously from time to time to scrape any stuck lentils from the bottom of the pot. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Tip
You could also use canned white beans, or dried brown lentils, which won’t break down as much as red lentils.
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
BLACK BEAN CHILI
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "You can have this chili on the table in no time at all since you probably already have the ingredients in your pantry. We like ours made with black beans, but you can also use red kidney or pinto beans, or mix two kinds of beans together. For a change of pace, serve the chili over quinoa instead of rice." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/black-bean-chili/.
Ingredients
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbs. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
14-oz. can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
3/4 cup water
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Two 16-oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained
Preparation
In large nonstick pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, jalapeño and garlic and cook, stirring often, until vegetables begin to soften, 5 minutes. Add spices, tomatoes, beans and water, and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in corn and cook 1 minute. Stir in cilantro and serve.
HOMEMADE GRILLED VEGGIE BURGER
This comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Making a grilled veggie burger from scratch used to produce a crumbly mess. But thanks to the smart use of chickpeas and other healthy binders like mushrooms and black beans, these veggie burgers bring a whole new level of delicious awesomeness."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Makes 3 - 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/homemade-grilled-veggie-burger-recipe/.
Ingredients
8-oz pack baby bella mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 red onion, sliced
1/2 bell pepper, sliced
5 cloves garlic
Olive oil (for coating veggies and basting burgers)
1 cup chickpeas
1 1/2 cups black beans
2 eggs
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp sriracha
2 Tbsp BBQ sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp cornstarch, mixed with 2 tsp water
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup almond flour (more may be needed for consistency)
Burgers
Burger buns
Cheddar cheese Lettuce Tomatoes Mustard Mayo Pickles
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Mustard
Mayo
Pickles
Special Equipment
Food Processor
Preparation
Preheat your grill to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Before you make the patties, you must first dehydrate excess moisture from the veggies so the burgers will keep their shape.
Place mushrooms, red onion, bell pepper, and garlic cloves in a grill basket. Coat with some olive oil, season to taste with salt and pepper, and mix well. Set aside.
Punch a couple of small holes in the bottom of a foil pan, then fill it with your chickpeas and black beans. The holes will allow excess water to drain from the veggies while roasting. Set aside.
Before placing veggies on the grill, toss some hickory wood chips on the coals.
Place the grill basket and foil pan on the grill, and roast them with the lid closed for about 30 minutes. Stir them about halfway through the cook.
Once roasted, remove veggies from the grill and allow them to cool. You can extinguish the grill if you’re roasting the vegetables well ahead of time, or you can let it cruise while you prepare your patties if you’re doing this recipe in one go.
Once cooled, pour the veggies from the grill basket into a food processor. Add eggs, soy sauce, sriracha, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, and the mixture of cornstarch and water, then blend until fairly smooth.
Add chickpeas, black beans, parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs to the food processor. Lightly pulse a few times in the food processor — you want the beans in your burger mix to maintain some varying texture, so don’t fully purée as in the above step.
Pour burger mix into a bowl, gradually incorporating a little bit of almond flour at a time. Aim for a consistency that’s thick enough to form a patty that’ll hold its shape.
Once your mixture can be easily formed into burgers, sprinkle a light layer of flour onto a dish. Create 3–4 patties and place them on the floured dish to prevent sticking.
Brush olive oil on top of the patties. This will be the side that hits the grill first. The olive oil will help the patties receive some color and easily release from the grates.
Place patties in the fridge, uncovered, for at least 10 minutes before grilling. This will help them keep their form when they hit the grill.
Preheat your grill to 350 degrees, adding more charcoal if necessary.
Brush the grill grates with olive oil just before placing your patties on the grill.
Grill the veggie burgers for about 6–8 minutes a side, until crisp and golden brown on each side. Keep the grill lid down during the cook, lifting it only to baste the top side of your burgers with olive oil before flipping them. OPTIONAL: After flipping, baste the top of the burgers with a bit of melted butter.
Melt slices of cheese over the patties before removing them from the grill. Adding cheese during the final minute of the cook should get the job done.
Plate and serve the burgers with your toppings of choice, and enjoy!
BAKED TOFU WITH PEANUT SAUCE AND COCONUT-LIME RICE
This is from Yewande Komolafe at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Yewande wrote, "A spicy, fragrant peanut sauce reminiscent of the groundnut stews that are popular across West Africa anchors this recipe. Any protein would be lucky to be doused and marinated in it, but tofu soaks up the peanut sauce’s flavors and chars up nicely upon roasting. The tofu’s neutral flavor allows the other flavors in the dish to break through. Red miso and fish sauce provide umami, honey lends a subtle sweetness and the lime zest in the coconut rice brightens it all. Finished with pickled peppers and fresh sliced scallions, this dish comes together to make an exciting but quick weeknight dinner."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 25 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020530-baked-tofu-with-peanut-sauce-and-coconut-lime-rice.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil, plus more for brushing the pan and drizzling
2/3 cup lime juice (from about 5 limes), and zest of 1 lime
Kosher salt
8 baby bell peppers or 1 medium bell pepper (any color will do), stemmed and thinly sliced lengthwise
Black pepper
1 cup long-grain rice like jasmine or basmati
1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
1 cup smooth, natural peanut butter
1 tablespoon red miso
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 tablespoon fish sauce (optional)
2 teaspoons chopped habanero pepper, stem and seeds removed, or 1 tablespoon sambal
2 tablespoons buckwheat honey or molasses
2 (14-ounce) package extra-firm tofu, drained and sliced crosswise, 1/4-inch thick
3 cups peppery greens, like arugula, mizuna or baby mustard greens
2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
Preparation
Heat the oven to 450 degrees and lightly brush a large rimmed sheet pan with oil.
In a small bowl, stir 4 tablespoons lime juice with 1/2 teaspoon salt until salt dissolves. Add the sliced peppers, a few cracks of black pepper and set aside.
In a small pot, combine the rice with 1 cup water and the coconut milk. Season with salt and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over medium-low until the rice is just tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, until ready to serve.
In a medium bowl, whisk 4 tablespoons lime juice with the peanut butter, miso, ginger, fish sauce (if using), habanero, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon honey and 3/4 cup water. Stir until smooth and season to taste with salt.
Arrange the tofu pieces in a single layer on the oiled baking sheet and season with salt. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the peanut sauce over each, covering the top and allowing the sauce to run down and coat the sides. Drizzle the tops with some oil, and roast until glaze is set, deep brown and caramelized along the edges, 18 to 20 minutes. Add the remaining lime juice and 1 tablespoon honey to the leftover peanut sauce in the bowl to make the dressing; set aside.
Divide the greens among bowls. Add the lime zest and half the sliced scallions to the rice, then fluff with a fork. Top the greens with the rice, then the tofu. Spoon the peanut dressing over everything, and garnish with the drained pickled peppers and remaining sliced scallions.
Tip
Peanut sauce can be made 2 to 3 days in advance and stored refrigerated until ready to use.
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Soup's On!
Soup is one of those comfort foods that just seems to hit the spot, no matter the weather. Check out the six soup recipes here, including Fennel and Tomato Soup and Vegetarian Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup). Enjoy!
THREE SISTERS SOUP
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Simple Cooking with Heart brings you this interesting vegetable and bean soup called Three Sisters Soup.
“This is actually a Native American recipe and the three 'sisters' refer to corn, beans and squash!”
Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/three-sisters-soup
Ingredients
6 cups fat-free, low-sodium vegetable stock
16 oz. canned, low-sodium yellow corn or hominy, drained, rinsed
16 oz. canned, low-sodium kidney beans (drained, rinsed)
1 small onion (chopped)
1 rib celery (chopped)
15 oz. canned, cooked pumpkin (Tip: Be careful, don’t get pumpkin pie filling!)
5 fresh sage leaves
OR
1/2 tsp. dried sage
1/2 tsp. curry powder
Directions
Bring chicken stock to a slow boil.
Add corn/hominy, beans, onion and celery.Boil for 10 minutes.
Add sage leaves, curry and pumpkin and simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
ROASTED AUTUMN VEGETABLE SOUP
This comes from an old Weight Watchers emailing list, and begins, “This warm, comforting soup will stick to your ribs on cold fall days. Roasting the vegetables helps bring out their natural sweetness.”
POINTS® Value: 2; Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 25 min; Cooking Time: 30 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Note: This recipe originally called for “3 cups fat-free chicken broth.” But since this is a vegetarian blog, I substituted vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
Ingredients
1 large onion, cut into large chunks
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
6 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
4 cups winter squash, cubed
2 servings cooking spray (5 one-second sprays per serving)
3 cups fat-free vegetable broth
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 400ºF. In a large roasting pan combine onion, carrots, parsnips and squash; coat with cooking spray. Roast for 15 minutes.
Place vegetables in a large pot; add broth and milk. Season to taste. Cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes to allow flavors to combine. Transfer mixture to a blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender in pot, and blend until smooth, about 4 to 5 minutes. (Puree soup in batches to prevent hot liquid from splatterng, if necessary. Or allow soup to cool before pureeing.) Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.
Notes
You can add more water or broth to the pureed soup to achieve desired thickness.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
FENNEL AND TOMATO SOUP
This comes from page 28 of the January/February 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Fennel and tomato pair nicely for an Italian-style tomato soup. Save fennel fronds to use as a garnish.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Note: The recipe originally calls for 2 Tbs. dry vermouth, dry white wine, or water. Since I don’t keep alcohol around the house - except for rubbing alcohol - I left the vermouth and/or white wine out of the recipe and substituted water.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 large fennel bulb, diced (4 cups)
3 vegan Italian sausages, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds (2 cups)
1 tsp. fennel seeds
2 Tbs. water
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
3 Tbs. chopped fresh Italian parsley
Preparation
Heat oil in soup pot over medium heat. Add fennel, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in sausages and fennel seeds, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until fennel seeds are slightly softened and bits of sausage are stuck to bottom of pan. Add vermouth, and cook 5 to 10 seconds to deglaze pan, scraping up any brown bits. Add broth, tomatoes, and parsley; cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
nutritional information Per 1 2/3-cup serving: Calories: 163; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 380 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan
PUMPKIN SOUP
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings.
Source: AICR
Recipe and image appear courtesy of American Institute for Cancer Research.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/pumpkin-soup-2.
Ingredients
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
4 cups pumpkin puree (canned or fresh) (butternut squash may be substituted)
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic
1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. light whipping cream (optional)
1 tsp. fresh parsley, chopped
Nutmeg (optional)
Directions
In large pot over medium-high heat add 3 cups broth, pumpkin, onion, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce to low and simmer uncovered, about 30 minutes.
Puree mixture until smooth, in small batches, using blender or food processor. Return to pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for another 30 minutes. Add remaining broth as desired. (Optional, stir in cream.)
Pour into bowls. Garnish with parsley (or sprinkle of nutmeg) and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 71; Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 284 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 16 g
VEGETARIAN PHO (VIETNAMESE NOODLE SOUP)
This is from the Vegetarian Times website (May 10, 2017), and begins, “The national soup of Vietnam is a bowl of rice noodles, fresh herbs, and bean sprouts swimming in a fragrant broth.”
Makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Broth
6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
3 large shallots, sliced (1 cup)
1/2 cup dried shiitake mushrooms
10 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
3 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
12 1/4-inch-thick coins fresh ginger
1 Tbs. brown sugar
1 Tbs. rice wine vinegar
1 tsp. ground black pepper
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
5-6 fresh basil stems, leaves reserved for soup
5-6 cilantro stems, leaves reserved for soup
Pho
1 8-oz. pkg. rice noodles
1 8-oz. pkg. Asian-flavor baked tofu, thinly sliced
2 cups soybean sprouts
2 cups watercress
4 green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 lime, cut into wedges
Directions
To make Broth: Place all ingredients in large pot with 8 cups water. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, 1 hour. Strain broth, and return to pot. Discard solids.
To make Pho: Cook rice noodles according to package directions. Drain, and rinse under cold water. Divide among 6 large soup bowls. Ladle Broth over noodles, and top with tofu, sprouts, watercress, and green onions. Serve cilantro, basil, and lime wedges on the side to be stirred into soup.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 290; Carbohydrate Content: 42 g; Fat Content: 5.5 g; Fiber Content: 3 g; Protein Content: 16 g; Saturated Fat Content: 1 g; Sodium Content: 578 mg; Sugar Content: 5 g
THREE SISTERS SOUP
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Simple Cooking with Heart brings you this interesting vegetable and bean soup called Three Sisters Soup.
“This is actually a Native American recipe and the three 'sisters' refer to corn, beans and squash!”
Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/three-sisters-soup
Ingredients
6 cups fat-free, low-sodium vegetable stock
16 oz. canned, low-sodium yellow corn or hominy, drained, rinsed
16 oz. canned, low-sodium kidney beans (drained, rinsed)
1 small onion (chopped)
1 rib celery (chopped)
15 oz. canned, cooked pumpkin (Tip: Be careful, don’t get pumpkin pie filling!)
5 fresh sage leaves
OR
1/2 tsp. dried sage
1/2 tsp. curry powder
Directions
Bring chicken stock to a slow boil.
Add corn/hominy, beans, onion and celery.Boil for 10 minutes.
Add sage leaves, curry and pumpkin and simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
ROASTED AUTUMN VEGETABLE SOUP
This comes from an old Weight Watchers emailing list, and begins, “This warm, comforting soup will stick to your ribs on cold fall days. Roasting the vegetables helps bring out their natural sweetness.”
POINTS® Value: 2; Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 25 min; Cooking Time: 30 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Note: This recipe originally called for “3 cups fat-free chicken broth.” But since this is a vegetarian blog, I substituted vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
Ingredients
1 large onion, cut into large chunks
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
6 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
4 cups winter squash, cubed
2 servings cooking spray (5 one-second sprays per serving)
3 cups fat-free vegetable broth
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 400ºF. In a large roasting pan combine onion, carrots, parsnips and squash; coat with cooking spray. Roast for 15 minutes.
Place vegetables in a large pot; add broth and milk. Season to taste. Cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes to allow flavors to combine. Transfer mixture to a blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender in pot, and blend until smooth, about 4 to 5 minutes. (Puree soup in batches to prevent hot liquid from splatterng, if necessary. Or allow soup to cool before pureeing.) Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.
Notes
You can add more water or broth to the pureed soup to achieve desired thickness.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
FENNEL AND TOMATO SOUP
This comes from page 28 of the January/February 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Fennel and tomato pair nicely for an Italian-style tomato soup. Save fennel fronds to use as a garnish.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Note: The recipe originally calls for 2 Tbs. dry vermouth, dry white wine, or water. Since I don’t keep alcohol around the house - except for rubbing alcohol - I left the vermouth and/or white wine out of the recipe and substituted water.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 large fennel bulb, diced (4 cups)
3 vegan Italian sausages, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds (2 cups)
1 tsp. fennel seeds
2 Tbs. water
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
3 Tbs. chopped fresh Italian parsley
Preparation
Heat oil in soup pot over medium heat. Add fennel, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in sausages and fennel seeds, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until fennel seeds are slightly softened and bits of sausage are stuck to bottom of pan. Add vermouth, and cook 5 to 10 seconds to deglaze pan, scraping up any brown bits. Add broth, tomatoes, and parsley; cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
nutritional information Per 1 2/3-cup serving: Calories: 163; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 380 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan
PUMPKIN SOUP
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings.
Source: AICR
Recipe and image appear courtesy of American Institute for Cancer Research.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/pumpkin-soup-2.
Ingredients
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
4 cups pumpkin puree (canned or fresh) (butternut squash may be substituted)
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic
1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. light whipping cream (optional)
1 tsp. fresh parsley, chopped
Nutmeg (optional)
Directions
In large pot over medium-high heat add 3 cups broth, pumpkin, onion, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce to low and simmer uncovered, about 30 minutes.
Puree mixture until smooth, in small batches, using blender or food processor. Return to pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for another 30 minutes. Add remaining broth as desired. (Optional, stir in cream.)
Pour into bowls. Garnish with parsley (or sprinkle of nutmeg) and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 71; Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 284 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 16 g
VEGETARIAN PHO (VIETNAMESE NOODLE SOUP)
This is from the Vegetarian Times website (May 10, 2017), and begins, “The national soup of Vietnam is a bowl of rice noodles, fresh herbs, and bean sprouts swimming in a fragrant broth.”
Makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Broth
6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
3 large shallots, sliced (1 cup)
1/2 cup dried shiitake mushrooms
10 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
3 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
12 1/4-inch-thick coins fresh ginger
1 Tbs. brown sugar
1 Tbs. rice wine vinegar
1 tsp. ground black pepper
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
5-6 fresh basil stems, leaves reserved for soup
5-6 cilantro stems, leaves reserved for soup
Pho
1 8-oz. pkg. rice noodles
1 8-oz. pkg. Asian-flavor baked tofu, thinly sliced
2 cups soybean sprouts
2 cups watercress
4 green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 lime, cut into wedges
Directions
To make Broth: Place all ingredients in large pot with 8 cups water. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, 1 hour. Strain broth, and return to pot. Discard solids.
To make Pho: Cook rice noodles according to package directions. Drain, and rinse under cold water. Divide among 6 large soup bowls. Ladle Broth over noodles, and top with tofu, sprouts, watercress, and green onions. Serve cilantro, basil, and lime wedges on the side to be stirred into soup.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 290; Carbohydrate Content: 42 g; Fat Content: 5.5 g; Fiber Content: 3 g; Protein Content: 16 g; Saturated Fat Content: 1 g; Sodium Content: 578 mg; Sugar Content: 5 g
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
Wednesday Recipes
What day is it? It's Hump Day (otherwise known as Wednesday). Here are six yummy offerings to help you through the day, including Spaghetti with Chunky Tomato Sauce and Chocolate-Raspberry Muffins. Enjoy!
MANGO LIME SORBET
This comes from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “This sorbet is tangy and not very sweet. I added only enough sugar and corn syrup to allow the mixture to freeze properly without developing ice crystals.” Yield: 1 quart, serving 5 to 6.
This was featured in “Mango Ice Means Summer Is Now”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
4 cups diced mango (3 to 4 large mangos)
2/3 cup fresh lime juice (about 6 limes)
2 tablespoons corn syrup
Preparation
Combine 1/2 cup water and sugar in a small saucepan and stir. Bring to a simmer and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat.
Combine all ingredients in a blender and purée until completely smooth. Transfer to a bowl or container and chill overnight in refrigerator.
(Chill a 1-quart container in the freezer while you spin the sorbet.) Remove bowl from refrigerator and blend the mango purée again for 1 to 2 minutes in a blender or with an immersion blender. Add to ice cream maker and spin for about 25 minutes. Transfer to chilled container and freeze for 2 hours or longer to pack.
Once frozen solid, allow to soften in refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
ALMOND CAKE
This is from Mark Bittman and Sam Sifton, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “This moist and fragrant cake from Molly Wizenberg, the author of the popular food blog Orangette, calls for a whole orange and lemon, almonds and olive oil. It does require a little effort and the use of some equipment – a food processor and a mixer – but the ingredient list is short, and once you've boiled and puréed the citrus and ground the almonds, the whole thing comes together in a snap. It's excellent on its own, but we also like it with poached pears or grilled figs.” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 hours 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Feast in a Day”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.
Ingredients
1 small to medium orange
1 lemon
6 ounces raw almonds
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup olive oil
Confectioners’ sugar
Preparation
Place the orange and the lemon in a saucepan, and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain and cool.
Heat the oven to 325 degrees, and set a rack in the middle position. Bake the almonds 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool completely. When the almonds are cool, pulse them in a food processor until ground.
Set oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 9-inch springform pan.
When the citrus is cool, cut the lemon in half, and discard the pulp and seeds. Cut the orange in half, and discard seeds. Put the fruits in the food processor and process almost to a paste.
In a small bowl, whisk the flour and baking powder. Combine eggs and salt. Beat until foamy. Beat in the sugar. Fold in the flour mixture. Add the citrus, almonds and olive oil, and beat on low speed until incorporated. Pour the batter into the pan, and bake for about 1 hour. Let cool for 10 minutes, unmold and dust with confectioners’ sugar.
POTATO SALAD [VEGAN]
This comes from One Green Planet, and begins, “This creamy dill potato salad is totally vegan, although no one would be able to guess that. The rich, flavorful cashew dressing is perfect with new potatoes, greens, celery, and red onions. Enjoy this easy recipe at your next get-together with friends or family. Don't worry too much about using exact measurements or precise chopping. Just throw all the ingredients together, and taste, and adjust accordingly.” This dairy-free, vegan recipe can be found online by clicking here.
Ingredients
3 lbs small white potatoes
Large pinch of salt
Handful of greens of your choice
1 cup cup cashews
1/4 cup water
Pinch of nutmeg
1/4 cup almond milk
Zest and juice of one lemon
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
Preparation
Place the potatoes and salt in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes, until potatoes are just tender. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then place them back in the empty pot. Cover with a lid and let the potatoes steam for 15-20 minutes. Throw in the greens of your choice after about ten minutes, and let them wilt.
Meanwhile, combine cashews, nutmeg and water together in a high speed blender or small food processor and process until smooth. Start with a little bit of water and add until you have about a cup of the mixture, slightly thicker than mayo.
In a small bowl, whisk together the cashew mixture, almond milk, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, the two mustards, the dill, the garlic, and the salt and the pepper.
When the potatoes are just cool enough to handle, cut them in quarters and place in a large bowl. Pour enough of the dressing over them just to moisten. Add the celery, and red onion, and greens and toss well. Add more dressing if necessary. Serve cold or at room temperature.
CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY MUFFINS
By now, you may remember me posting about Rollin' Oats. It has two stores in the Tampa Bay (Florida) area, one in Tampa, the other in St. Petersburg. Since I live way closer to St. Pete, I frequently go to that store. It's really one of my favorite places to shop. (Hint: If you live in the area, or are visiting, I highly recommend checking it out.)
Anyway, whenever I'm in Rollin' Oats, I pick up a copy of Taste For Life. This is from the March 2021 issue of Taste For Life (page 12). Prep Time: 35 minutes, plus 30 minutes cool time; Makes 9 muffins
To view this online, go to https://tasteforlife.com/healthy-recipes/desserts/chocolate-raspberry-muffins.
Ingredients
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 large eggs
1/4 cup oil, plus additional for greasing pan
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 9 of the muffin cups in a muffin pan.
In a large bowl, combine coconut flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, honey, and vanilla extract. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients until fully incorporated. Gently fold in raspberries.
Scoop approximately 1/4 cup of batter into each greased muffin cup.
Bake approximately 20 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into center of muffin comes out clean. Cool muffins in pan for 1/2 hour.
SPAGHETTI WITH CHUNKY TOMATO SAUCE
This is also from the April 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 24, and begins,”Finely chopped mushrooms give this healthful sauce a hearty texture.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
8 oz. (2 cups) sliced white mushrooms
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into chunks
1 large leek, white part cut into chunks
2 Tbs. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
2 Tbs. dried oregano
2 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 15-oz. cans diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 15-oz. can, rinsed and drained)
1/4 cup red wine
8 cups baby spinach leaves
8 oz. spaghetti
Place mushrooms, bell pepper, and leek in bowl of food processor. Pulse until ingredients are coarsely chopped.
Heat oil in large saucepan or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add mushroom mixture and garlic, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until vegetables are softened and most of liquid has evaporated. Stir in oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes, and cook 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, and wine, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Cover, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add spinach, and cook 3 to 5 minutes more, or until spinach has wilted.
Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Serve spaghetti topped with sauce.
nutritional information Per 1 cup sauce and 1/2 cup pasta: Calories: 269; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 46 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 383 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 8 g; Vegan
BISCUITS AND GRAVY
From the April/May 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46. It starts off, “Trust us, no one will miss the flour (or the meat!) in this gluten-free indulgence.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Biscuits
1 cup white rice flour, plus more for dusting work surface
1/2 cup chickpea flour
1/2 cup potato starch
1 1/2 Tbs. sugar
1 Tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 oz. (1/2 stick) butter or trans-fat-free margarine, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup fat-free buttermilk
Gravy
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 1/2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
4 Tbs. butter or trans-fat-free margarine
1/4 cup potato starch
1/4 cup chickpea flour
4 cups fat-free milk, warmed
To make Biscuits: Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat large baking sheet with cooking spray.
Whisk together rice flour, chickpea flour, potato starch, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in large bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture with pastry blender or two knives until no large pieces remain. Stir in buttermilk.
Pat dough into flat 1-inch-thick disk on rice flour–dusted work surface. Cut dough into 16 rounds with 2-inch cutter, and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden-brown on top.
To make Gravy: Pulse chickpeas, paprika, poultry seasoning, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne in food processor 8 times, or until crumbly.
Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add chickpea mixture, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, or until fragrant and crisp. Transfer to plate.
Add butter to skillet, and melt over medium heat. Whisk in potato starch and chickpea flour, and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk, and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until sauce is thickened, whisking constantly. Stir in chickpea mixture. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
To serve: Place 2 Biscuits on each plate. Ladle 1/4 cup Gravy over top.
Nutritional information Per Serving (2 biscuits plus 1/4 cup gravy): Calories: 397; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 54 g; Cholesterol: 33 mg; Sodium: 721 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Gluten-Free
MANGO LIME SORBET
This comes from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “This sorbet is tangy and not very sweet. I added only enough sugar and corn syrup to allow the mixture to freeze properly without developing ice crystals.” Yield: 1 quart, serving 5 to 6.
This was featured in “Mango Ice Means Summer Is Now”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
4 cups diced mango (3 to 4 large mangos)
2/3 cup fresh lime juice (about 6 limes)
2 tablespoons corn syrup
Preparation
Combine 1/2 cup water and sugar in a small saucepan and stir. Bring to a simmer and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat.
Combine all ingredients in a blender and purée until completely smooth. Transfer to a bowl or container and chill overnight in refrigerator.
(Chill a 1-quart container in the freezer while you spin the sorbet.) Remove bowl from refrigerator and blend the mango purée again for 1 to 2 minutes in a blender or with an immersion blender. Add to ice cream maker and spin for about 25 minutes. Transfer to chilled container and freeze for 2 hours or longer to pack.
Once frozen solid, allow to soften in refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
ALMOND CAKE
This is from Mark Bittman and Sam Sifton, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “This moist and fragrant cake from Molly Wizenberg, the author of the popular food blog Orangette, calls for a whole orange and lemon, almonds and olive oil. It does require a little effort and the use of some equipment – a food processor and a mixer – but the ingredient list is short, and once you've boiled and puréed the citrus and ground the almonds, the whole thing comes together in a snap. It's excellent on its own, but we also like it with poached pears or grilled figs.” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 hours 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Feast in a Day”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.
Ingredients
1 small to medium orange
1 lemon
6 ounces raw almonds
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup olive oil
Confectioners’ sugar
Preparation
Place the orange and the lemon in a saucepan, and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain and cool.
Heat the oven to 325 degrees, and set a rack in the middle position. Bake the almonds 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool completely. When the almonds are cool, pulse them in a food processor until ground.
Set oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 9-inch springform pan.
When the citrus is cool, cut the lemon in half, and discard the pulp and seeds. Cut the orange in half, and discard seeds. Put the fruits in the food processor and process almost to a paste.
In a small bowl, whisk the flour and baking powder. Combine eggs and salt. Beat until foamy. Beat in the sugar. Fold in the flour mixture. Add the citrus, almonds and olive oil, and beat on low speed until incorporated. Pour the batter into the pan, and bake for about 1 hour. Let cool for 10 minutes, unmold and dust with confectioners’ sugar.
POTATO SALAD [VEGAN]
This comes from One Green Planet, and begins, “This creamy dill potato salad is totally vegan, although no one would be able to guess that. The rich, flavorful cashew dressing is perfect with new potatoes, greens, celery, and red onions. Enjoy this easy recipe at your next get-together with friends or family. Don't worry too much about using exact measurements or precise chopping. Just throw all the ingredients together, and taste, and adjust accordingly.” This dairy-free, vegan recipe can be found online by clicking here.
Ingredients
3 lbs small white potatoes
Large pinch of salt
Handful of greens of your choice
1 cup cup cashews
1/4 cup water
Pinch of nutmeg
1/4 cup almond milk
Zest and juice of one lemon
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
Preparation
Place the potatoes and salt in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes, until potatoes are just tender. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then place them back in the empty pot. Cover with a lid and let the potatoes steam for 15-20 minutes. Throw in the greens of your choice after about ten minutes, and let them wilt.
Meanwhile, combine cashews, nutmeg and water together in a high speed blender or small food processor and process until smooth. Start with a little bit of water and add until you have about a cup of the mixture, slightly thicker than mayo.
In a small bowl, whisk together the cashew mixture, almond milk, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, the two mustards, the dill, the garlic, and the salt and the pepper.
When the potatoes are just cool enough to handle, cut them in quarters and place in a large bowl. Pour enough of the dressing over them just to moisten. Add the celery, and red onion, and greens and toss well. Add more dressing if necessary. Serve cold or at room temperature.
CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY MUFFINS
By now, you may remember me posting about Rollin' Oats. It has two stores in the Tampa Bay (Florida) area, one in Tampa, the other in St. Petersburg. Since I live way closer to St. Pete, I frequently go to that store. It's really one of my favorite places to shop. (Hint: If you live in the area, or are visiting, I highly recommend checking it out.)
Anyway, whenever I'm in Rollin' Oats, I pick up a copy of Taste For Life. This is from the March 2021 issue of Taste For Life (page 12). Prep Time: 35 minutes, plus 30 minutes cool time; Makes 9 muffins
To view this online, go to https://tasteforlife.com/healthy-recipes/desserts/chocolate-raspberry-muffins.
Ingredients
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 large eggs
1/4 cup oil, plus additional for greasing pan
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 9 of the muffin cups in a muffin pan.
In a large bowl, combine coconut flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, honey, and vanilla extract. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients until fully incorporated. Gently fold in raspberries.
Scoop approximately 1/4 cup of batter into each greased muffin cup.
Bake approximately 20 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into center of muffin comes out clean. Cool muffins in pan for 1/2 hour.
SPAGHETTI WITH CHUNKY TOMATO SAUCE
This is also from the April 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 24, and begins,”Finely chopped mushrooms give this healthful sauce a hearty texture.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
8 oz. (2 cups) sliced white mushrooms
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into chunks
1 large leek, white part cut into chunks
2 Tbs. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
2 Tbs. dried oregano
2 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 15-oz. cans diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 15-oz. can, rinsed and drained)
1/4 cup red wine
8 cups baby spinach leaves
8 oz. spaghetti
Place mushrooms, bell pepper, and leek in bowl of food processor. Pulse until ingredients are coarsely chopped.
Heat oil in large saucepan or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add mushroom mixture and garlic, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until vegetables are softened and most of liquid has evaporated. Stir in oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes, and cook 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, and wine, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Cover, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add spinach, and cook 3 to 5 minutes more, or until spinach has wilted.
Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Serve spaghetti topped with sauce.
nutritional information Per 1 cup sauce and 1/2 cup pasta: Calories: 269; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 46 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 383 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 8 g; Vegan
BISCUITS AND GRAVY
From the April/May 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46. It starts off, “Trust us, no one will miss the flour (or the meat!) in this gluten-free indulgence.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Biscuits
1 cup white rice flour, plus more for dusting work surface
1/2 cup chickpea flour
1/2 cup potato starch
1 1/2 Tbs. sugar
1 Tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 oz. (1/2 stick) butter or trans-fat-free margarine, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup fat-free buttermilk
Gravy
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 1/2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
4 Tbs. butter or trans-fat-free margarine
1/4 cup potato starch
1/4 cup chickpea flour
4 cups fat-free milk, warmed
To make Biscuits: Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat large baking sheet with cooking spray.
Whisk together rice flour, chickpea flour, potato starch, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in large bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture with pastry blender or two knives until no large pieces remain. Stir in buttermilk.
Pat dough into flat 1-inch-thick disk on rice flour–dusted work surface. Cut dough into 16 rounds with 2-inch cutter, and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden-brown on top.
To make Gravy: Pulse chickpeas, paprika, poultry seasoning, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne in food processor 8 times, or until crumbly.
Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add chickpea mixture, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, or until fragrant and crisp. Transfer to plate.
Add butter to skillet, and melt over medium heat. Whisk in potato starch and chickpea flour, and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk, and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until sauce is thickened, whisking constantly. Stir in chickpea mixture. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
To serve: Place 2 Biscuits on each plate. Ladle 1/4 cup Gravy over top.
Nutritional information Per Serving (2 biscuits plus 1/4 cup gravy): Calories: 397; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 54 g; Cholesterol: 33 mg; Sodium: 721 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Gluten-Free
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