Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Friday, October 21, 2022

Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Yay! Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers, Vegan Reuben Burgers, and Veggie Chili Cornbread Casserole. Enjoy!

POTATO CORN CHOWDER

This comes from UnitedHealthcare, and begins, "Serving more than two? Double the recipe for a cold-weather meal."

Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 2

To view this online, go to https://www.medicare.uhc.com/wellness/health/uhcarticle/hwal-potato-corn-chowder.

Note: The recipe originally called for chicken bouilion granules. I changed it for this blog.

Ingredients

1 cup loose-pack frozen whole-kernel corn

1 cup loose-pack frozen diced hash brown potatoes with onion and peppers

3/4 cup water

3/4 teaspoon instant veggie bouillon granules

1 clove garlic, minced

Dash white or black pepper

1 12-ounce can evaporated fat-free milk

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Snipped fresh parsley (optional)

Directions

In a medium saucepan combine corn, hash brown potatoes, water, bouillon granules, garlic and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cook, covered, about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Do not drain.

Gradually stir the milk into the flour; add milk mixture to vegetable mixture. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more.

To serve, ladle the chowder into serving bowls. If desired, sprinkle each serving with parsley. Makes 2 servings.

Serving Size: 2 cups. Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 281 cal., 1 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 438 mg sodium, 55 g carb., 3 g fiber, 25 g sugar, 16 g protein

ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Kraft and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups water, divided

1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked

2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles

1 small zucchini, chopped

1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided

1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded

Directions

Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.

Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.

Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).

VEGAN REUBEN BURGERS

Recently, I was looking through old folders on my computer, seeing what I could delete, what to save, that sort of thing. We all need to do that periodically, right?

I stumbled across one folder that read "recipes from different sources" that had another folder inside called "more recipes from online." (Okay, you with me so far?) One of those recipes was labeled "How to Make Vegan Reuben Burgers (Recipe)" that had been posted in the Broward Palm Beach New Times waaaay back on November 7, 2014. Yikes!

The article (with recipe) was posted by Hannah Sentenac. (Sorry for the delay in posting this, Hannah!) The article starts off, "I was putting ketchup on some breakfast potatoes the other day when I noticed an intriguing recipe staring at me from the back of the Heinz bottle: Reuben Burgers.

"Needless to say, they weren't vegan. Nor were they healthy. Nonetheless, I was inspired to veganize them, and the end result was magically delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I knew I had to share."

And the recipe? Yum

You can view this online at https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/how-to-make-vegan-reuben-burgers-recipe-6905451.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons sauerkraut

2 slices of rye bread (toasted)

2 slices Creamy Original Field Roast Chao Cheese (or dairy-free cheese of choice)

1/3 package Trader Joe's Beefless Ground Beef (or meatless crumbles of choice)

2 TBS Tofutti Sour Cream

2 TBS Heinz ketchup

Instructions:

Heat up the beefless beef in a skillet over medium heat for two or three minutes. Add the Tofutti Sour Cream and the Heinz Ketchup and stir until mixed.

Remove from heat and spoon mixture over pre-toasted slice of rye bread.

Top with Chao cheese and allow to melt (you can also pop it in the microwave for a few seconds -- Chao cheese is super melty). Then, spoon sauerkraut on top.

Top with remaining slice of rye bread. Cut in half. Eat. NOM NOM NOM.

SIMPLE VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA

This comes from Vicki Shanta Retelny, RDN at VeryWellFit. Vicki wrote, “There's nothing like lasagna to soothe a craving for a creamy, dreamy meal. With a foundation of vitamin C-rich tomato sauce, which is loaded with the carotenoid lycopene, this Italian classic takes on a healthy bend with a good dose veggies nestled in its layers.

“Chock full of leafy green spinach, this dish is good for your brain health, as eating a serving of veggies each day has shown to fend off cognitive decline. Spinach is also loaded with iron and calcium for a total body wellness boost.“

Total Time: 65 min; Prep Time: 20 min; Cook Time: 45 min; Servings 9 (1 cup each)

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 package no-boil lasagna noodles

2 28-ounce cans tomato sauce

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon oregano

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated

3 cups raw baby spinach leaves

Preparation

Preheat the oven the 350F.

On the stovetop over medium heat, pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan. Add salt, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a light boil, lower the heat, and simmer for a few minutes. Stir occasionally.

On the bottom of a 9x13 pan put a layer of tomato sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top, covering the bottom of the pan. Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles, top with spinach, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and coat with a small ladle full of sauce. Repeat the layers until you get to the top of the pan. Sprinkle the final layer with mozzarella cheese.

Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown on top.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a 10 minutes before serving.

Ingredient Variations and Substitutions

Make this dish higher in fiber with whole wheat noodles, although they may only be available in the boil variety. Add other vegetables such a sliced carrots, zucchini, or eggplant. For an alternative green, use baby kale or arugula. Spread pesto between the layers or incorporate it into the tomato sauce for a rich, nutty flavor.

If you want to add meat, add cooked, diced chicken breast or ground turkey to the sauce. For a non-dairy twist, use vegan cheese in lieu of ricotta and mozzarella cheese.

Cooking and Serving Tips

To save time use no-boil lasagna noodles—they're quick and easy to assemble. Plus, the part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella reduce the fat but still offer good-quality protein.

This dish can be assembled and placed, uncooked and covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Simply heat and serve the next day. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.

EASY BLACK BEAN CHILI

This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "We love chili for its rib-sticking deliciousness, and this meatless version is no exception. Just because it’s made with beans, and no meat, doesn’t mean it’s not filling. Cumin, chili powder and chiles add heat, while fire-roasted tomatoes, black beans and sweet corn give it extra flavor."

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/easy-black-bean-chili/f273db4a-5710-4ced-b099-205c9f3c1d70.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 fresh jalapeño or serrano chiles, seeded, finely chopped

2 cans (15 oz each) Progresso™ black beans, drained, rinsed

2 cans (14.5 oz each) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted or plain diced tomatoes, undrained

1 1/2 cups water

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon coarse (kosher or sea) salt

1 cup Cascadian Farm® frozen organic sweet corn

Sour cream or plain yogurt, if desired

Shredded Cheddar cheese, if desired

Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired

Directions

In 4-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic and chiles; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender.

Stir in black beans, tomatoes, water, chili powder, cumin and salt. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in corn. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes longer.

Top each serving with remaining ingredients.

Expert Tips

You can vary the heat level of this chili by decreasing or increasing the amount of chiles that you use.

Serve this veggie chili with warm cornbread or corn tortillas.

VEGGIE CHILI CORNBREAD CASSEROLE

This comes from Taylerand20 at Allrecipes. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Additional Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Servings: 10

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/270846/veggie-chili-cornbread-casserole/.

Ingredients

Chili:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 large carrot, peeled and chopped

1 large red bell pepper, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

salt to taste

ground black pepper to taste

1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup frozen corn

2 cups vegetable broth

1 tablespoon lime juice

Cornbread:

1 1/2 cups milk

1 large egg

1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 small jalapeno pepper, chopped

Garnish:

1 jalapeno pepper, sliced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add onion, carrot, and bell pepper. Mix to combine and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Add diced tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and corn to the Dutch oven and stir to combine. Pour in broth and lime juice; stir to combine. Increase heat to high and bring chili to a boil, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Whisk milk and egg together in a large bowl until well combined.

Combine cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl. Add milk mixture and whisk until smooth. Add melted butter and stir to combine. Add jalapeno and stir to incorporate into the cornbread batter.

Remove Dutch oven from the stove. Pour batter over the chili in the Dutch oven. Use a spatula to cover chili completely and smooth the top.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cornbread comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

Garnish cornbread casserole with sliced jalapeno and cilantro.

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Bread and Rolls

There's just something wonderful about homemade bread: The way it makes the house or apartment smell, the way it tastes, the general yumminess of it.

To that end, here are six yummy homemade Bread and Rolls to try, including Egg Cinnamon Bread, Texas Moppin' Rolls (which go great with spaghetti, chili, or for ham and cheese sandwiches - or just eating hot from the oven), and Magic Caterpillar Peanut Butter Bread. (No caterpillars were hurt during the making of that last bread.) Enjoy!

IRISH WHEATEN BREAD

Years ago, when my better half and I first got cable, I was channel-surfing, something most of us have done occasionally. I ran across a baking show on PBS called Breaking Bread with Fr. Dominic, featuring Fr. Dominic Garramone. I fell in love with the show, and watched it almost every time it was on. (Unfortunately, it only ran from 1999 to 2001.)

Anywho, this recipe was featured on his show; you might even find it in one of his many cookbooks (and yes, I’m planning to pick up a copy of at least one or two of said cookbooks).

Makes 1 loaf.

Ingredients

2 to 2-1/2 cups whole wheat flour, divided

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 envelope FLEISCHMANN’S RapidRise Yeast

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup water

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

Directions

In a large bowl, combine 1 cup whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, salt and baking soda. Heat buttermilk, water and butter until very warm (120 to 130 degrees); mixture will curdle. Gradually add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in enough remaining whole wheat flour to make a stiff dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover; let rest 10 minutes.

Form into 5-inch smooth ball. Place in greased 9-inch round pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

With sharp knife, make an “X” (1 / 2-inch deep) on top of dough. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; cool on wire rack.

EGG CINNAMON BREAD



I've been making this for years – actually, for decades – and almost always gotten rave reviews on this recipe. It got to the point that several people have specifically requested this recipe – and, if I'm visiting, it's pretty much expected that I'll bake up a batch. This recipe makes three loaves.





Ingredients

2 envelopes yeast

1 C warm water

1-2 T honey

1 C milk (Note: 1 cup soy milk can be used in place of the milk)

1/2 C margarine (1 stick)

2 eggs, beaten

6-7 C unbleached white flour

1/4-1/2 C margarine (1 stick)

2-3 C cinnamon sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

Stir honey into warm water. Stir in yeast. Set aside.

Heat milk until warm. Pour into large bowl and add 1/2 C margarine, cut into 4 pieces. Stir, allowing margarine to melt. Cool to room temperature. Stir in salt, yeast mixture and eggs. Add flour, 2 cups at a time until stiff. Place dough on floured towel and knead for 4-5 minutes.

Wash and dry bowl. Oil dough, place in bowl, cover with clean towel and place out of draft in a warm place. Allow to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until double.

Melt 1/4-1/2 C margarine. Grease 3 loaf pans. Punch dough down, then divide into three sections. Roll out with rolling pin, then brush with melted margarine. Spread cinnamon sugar over melted margarine, then roll all three sections into loaves. Place in pans, place clean towel over pans, and allow to rise again for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Remove towel, then place loaf pans into preheated 350 degree F oven. Bake for 40-45 minutes.

BAKING POWDER BISCUITS

This is from the July/August 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 45. It begins, "If you want to make your own baking powder, the formula is very simple: Combine 1/4 cup cream of tartar with 2 tablespoons baking soda, and sift the two together three times. Store the powder in a tightly sealed container away from sunlight. When cutting out biscuits, don’t twist cutter; cut straight through dough to work surface. This recipe makes 8 biscuits."

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/baking-powder-biscuits/.

Ingredients

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 Tbs. baking powder, preferably homemade (see above)

1 tsp. salt

4 Tbs. cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

3/4 cup heavy cream

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.

Put flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl, and whisk to mix. Using fingers or 2 forks, quickly work butter into flour until it is the texture of oatmeal with some larger lumps remaining. Make a well in center of flour, and pour in cream. Stir just until blended.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead briefly but strongly, for 6 or 7 strokes. Roll out dough to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Using a floured fork, prick surface of dough all over at 1-inch intervals, taking care that fork goes through dough.

Using a 3-inch biscuit cutter, stamp out dough. Place biscuits close together on baking sheet.

Bake in center of oven for 8 to 12 minutes, or until biscuits are crusty and are a rich golden brown. Remove from oven, and serve.

MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD

Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on PBS. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live. However, you might be able to check out a few episodes by Google-ing his name for the latest places that show him, or on YouTube. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 1 loaf.



Ingredients:

1 package Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1 cup milk

3/4 cup chunky peanut butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.

Directions:

Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.

Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.

Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.

Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)

About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.

Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.

TEXAS MOPPIN' ROLLS

Yield: 12 rolls.

I frequently make these (from Breaking Bread with Father Dominic) to go with chili or homemade spaghetti. Definitely yummy!



Ingredients

2 packages Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast

1 teaspoon honey

2 cups lukewarm water

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper

1/2 cup minced onion

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

6 1/2 to 7 cups all-purpose flour, divided

Directions:

Combine yeast, honey and warm water in large bowl; stir until completely dissolved. Add salt, hot red pepper flakes, onion, Monterey Jack cheese and Cheddar cheese; stir until thoroughly mixed. Add 6 cups of the flour, 2 cups at a time, mixing after each addition until the flour is completely incorporated.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead 6 to 8 minutes, adding enough of remaining flour to form a fairly stiff dough. Rinse and dry the bowl, then oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a clean, dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place about 1 hour, or until doubled.

Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a fat oval. Place rolls in a lightly greased 13x9x2-inch baking pan (three rolls across, four down). Let rise about 20 minutes, or until nearly doubled.

While rolls are rising, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place on middle rack of oven and bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until top crust is browned. Remove rolls from pan and let cool on racks.

Note: "With so many different palates to please, our abbey cooks are usually pretty cautious about spicy seasonings. As a result, sometimes monastery food is a bit bland, so I like to create breads with strong flavors. Every time I serve these rolls, one of the brothers is sure to comment on how he expected "just another roll" and got a mouthful of pepper-and-cheese-bread-with-an-attitude. These rolls are actually pretty mild compared to a lot of Tex-Mex food, so feel free to increase the amount of crushed red pepper.

"I used ordinary dried crushed red pepper (hot red pepper flakes) for this recipe, but if you keep fresh jalapenos or other hot peppers in the fridge, by all means use them. Three 3-inch jalapenos, minced fine, provide moderate heat. You can experiment with other peppers as well." (All notes after the recipes are Father Dominic's notes.)

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.

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Mushrooms

While my mom wasn't a vegetarian, I'd like to think she'd like the six recipes in today's post. Why? Because she loved mushrooms, the big ingredient in each of these recipes. She'd probably want to start with the Vegetarian Mushroom Wellington (or ask me to make it for her), then try the Chili-Lime Mushroom Tacos (she discovered tacos when we first moved to Florida, and was hooked). But whichever recipe she tried, in whichever order, I'm sure she'd love these. Enjoy!

MUSHROOM POTPIE

This is from Alexa Weibel on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Alexa wrote, “Dried porcini mushrooms and caramelized fresh mushrooms give this dish plenty of deep, earthy flavor. Sweet parsnips, garlicky kale, carrots and potatoes round out the mushroom filling, but if those don’t suit you, the filling is fully flexible. Substitute butternut squash, celery root or just about any root vegetable for the carrots, parsnips and potatoes. The entire dish cooks in a large ovenproof skillet, but you could also transfer the filling to buttered ramekins for individual pies, or divide the mixture between two 8-inch pie dishes for two separate pies. Rich and creamy, it feeds a crowd, and can easily be prepared in advance: Refrigerate the cooked filling overnight, then warm it on the stovetop, assemble and bake. The results justify the effort.”

Yield: 6 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours.

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020731-mushroom-potpie.

Ingredients

1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms (1/2 ounce)

4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed

1/2 pound fresh oyster mushrooms, torn into separate pieces (or shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and halved)

Kosher salt and black pepper

1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, stemmed and quartered (or cut into sixths if large)

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 large yellow onion, finely chopped

1/4 pound lacinato kale, stemmed, leaves thinly sliced crosswise

4 garlic cloves, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary

1/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1 1/2 cups vegetable stock

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 cup diced peeled carrots (from 2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces)

1 cup diced peeled parsnips (from 2 medium parsnips, cut into 1/2-inch pieces)

1 cup diced red potatoes (from 2 small potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces)

1 (14- to 16-ounce) package puff pastry, thawed

1 large egg

Note: This recipe originally called for 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock. Since this is a vegetarian blog, I've limited this to vegetable stock.

Preparation

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Bring 2 cups of water to boil in a small pot. Place the porcini mushrooms in a medium bowl and pour the boiling water on top; set aside to soak and soften.

Meanwhile, in a large (12-inch) ovenproof skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Working in two batches so the mushrooms brown evenly, add half the oyster mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook, undisturbed, until browned underneath, about 3 minutes. Stir the mushrooms, then continue to cook until browned all over, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Repeat with 2 tablespoons oil and the remaining oyster mushrooms; transfer them to the medium bowl. Add another 2 tablespoons oil, then add the cremini mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and tender, 6 to 8 minutes, lowering the heat as needed to avoid burning. Transfer to the bowl.

Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter to the skillet. Once the butter is melted, add the onion and cook until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the kale, garlic, thyme and rosemary, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons oil if the pan seems dry. Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring, until flour is dispersed and lightly toasted, 2 minutes.

Stirring constantly, gradually add the stock, cream and 3/4 cup of the liquid from the soaking porcini mushrooms. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in the carrots, parsnips, potatoes, and the sautéed mushrooms and any accumulated juices. Strain the soaked porcini mushrooms, discarding any remaining liquid, then roughly chop the mushrooms and stir them into the filling. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (If making ahead, the filling can be refrigerated a day in advance; just warm it up slightly before assembling and baking.)

On a lightly dusted work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the puff pastry into a roughly 14-inch circle. Transfer to the top of the skillet, allowing slight overhang, folding under and pinching any overhang just below the rim of the skillet. In a small bowl, whisk the egg with 1 teaspoon water. Lightly brush the egg wash over the top of the puff pastry, then cut 5 (2-inch) slits into the puff pastry, starting near the center and radiating outward, like the rays of the sun, or create a stripe or crisscross pattern in the puff pastry by gently scoring it with a paring knife without fully cutting through. Crimp the edges using the tines of a fork, if desired.

Set the skillet on top of an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet and transfer to the middle rack of the oven. Bake until the puff pastry is puffed and golden, about 30 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

VEGETARIAN MUSHROOM WELLINGTON

This comes from Alexa Weibel at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Alexa wrote, “Classic beef Wellington is a technical feat in which a tenderloin is topped with foie gras or mushroom duxelles, then wrapped in puff pastry and baked. This vegetarian version is less exacting yet just as impressive. Seared portobello mushrooms are layered with apple cider-caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms, which are seasoned with soy sauce for flavor and bolstered with walnuts for texture. The rich mushroom filling is vegan, and the entire dish can easily be made vegan, too. Swap in vegan puff pastry, a butter substitute in the port reduction and caramelized onions, and an egg substitute for brushing the puff pastry. If you want to prepare ahead, sauté the mushrooms and onions in advance and refrigerate them, then assemble the dish the day you plan to bake and serve it. Prepare the port reduction as the Wellington bakes, or skip it entirely and serve with cranberry sauce for a touch of tangy sweetness.”

Time: 3 hours; Yield: 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020596-vegetarian-mushroom-wellington.

Ingredients

For the Mushroom Filling:

4 large portobello mushrooms, each about 3 inches wide (8 to 10 ounces total)

1/2 cup plus 5 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt and black pepper

2 pounds mixed mushrooms, such as shiitake, oyster and cremini

4 shallots, finely chopped (about 1 packed cup)

6 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary

1/3 cup port, or 1 to 2 tablespoons good-quality aged balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

1 cup finely chopped toasted walnuts (about 4 ounces)

Ice, for cooling

For the Onions:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 medium yellow onions (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into 1/4-inch rounds

3/4 teaspoon light or dark brown sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup apple cider or apple juice

1 tablespoon good-quality aged balsamic vinegar (optional)

For Assembling:

All-purpose flour, for dusting

1 (14-ounce) package puff pastry

1 large egg, beaten

For the Port Reductions (Optional):

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large shallot, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns

1 1/2 cups good-quality port

1 1/2 cups vegetable stock

3 fresh thyme sprigs

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Kosher salt and black pepper

Preparation

Wipe the portobello mushrooms clean using barely moistened paper towels. Remove the stems, then slice off the excess mushroom rim that curls over the gills. (You are making sure the stem side has a flat surface so it will sear properly.) Reserve the stems and scraps for use in Step 2. Brush the portobello mushroom caps on both sides with 3 tablespoons olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large (12-inch) nonstick skillet over medium-high and cook the mushrooms, gill-side down, until caramelized, 4 to 5 minutes, then flip and cook until softened, about 4 more minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, gill-side down, to cool.

Prepare the mushroom filling: Separate and reserve any mushroom stems. Roughly chop about two-thirds of the mixed mushrooms, then working in batches, transfer the roughly chopped mushrooms to a food processor and pulse until chopped into small pieces. (They should range from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch in size.) Transfer the chopped mushrooms to a large bowl. By hand, finely chop the remaining mixed mushrooms and stems and the reserved portobello mushroom stems and trimmings into 1/4-inch pieces; add them to the large bowl. (Chopping most of the mixed mushrooms in the food processor will save you some time, but you’ll want to chop some by hand for texture.)

Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl. (You’ll use this to quickly cool the cooked mushrooms in Step 4. If preparing in advance, you can simply let the mixture cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.) Wipe out the skillet. Working in two batches, warm 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat. Add about half the mushrooms, shallots, garlic and rosemary, and season lightly with salt and generously with pepper. (You’ll add soy sauce later, so avoid overseasoning at this stage.) Cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and repeat with the remaining 1/4 cup oil and the remaining mushrooms, shallots, garlic and rosemary.

Once the second batch of chopped mushrooms is cooked and caramelized, return the first batch to the skillet. Add the port, soy sauce and thyme leaves and cook over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until the liquid evaporates, 3 to 5 minutes. (If using balsamic vinegar instead of port, reduce the cook time to 1 to 2 minutes.) Transfer the mushroom mixture back to the medium bowl and stir in the walnuts. Set the bowl over the prepared ice bath to cool, stirring occasionally, at least 20 minutes.

Prepare the cider-caramelized onions: Wipe out the skillet, then melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions, sprinkle with the sugar, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the cider and cook, stirring every few minutes, until the liquid evaporates and the onions are caramelized, about 15 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, if using, then transfer to a bowl to cool.

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Place a large piece of parchment paper on your work surface and lightly dust it with flour. Unfold your thawed puff pastry and set it on the parchment. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the pastry out into a 13-by-16-inch rectangle. Transfer the parchment paper and puff pastry to a large sheet pan. Rotate the sheet pan, if needed, so that one of the 16-inch sides is closest to you. Arrange half the cooked mushroom mixture in a strip in the center of the puff pastry (it should be about 4-by-10 inches), leaving a 1 1/2-inch border at the ends. Arrange the caramelized onions in a single, 3-inch-wide strip on top of the mushroom mixture, leaving about 1/2 inch of the mushrooms exposed on both sides. Lay the portobello mushrooms on top of the onions in a single line, stem-side down. (If the portobellos are too large to all fit in a row, square off edges so the cut sides lay snugly without overlapping.) Spoon the remaining mushroom mixture on top of the filling, covering the portobello mushrooms, then gently pack the mushroom mixture to form an even layer on top. (You can shape this the same way you might shape a freeform meatloaf.)

To assemble, lift one side of the puff pastry over the mushroom filling to almost completely cover it. Brush the surface of the puff pastry covering the mushrooms with the beaten egg. Lift the remaining puff pastry flap over the egg-washed puff pastry, gently stretching it if need be to create a second layer of puff pastry on top, then gently press the top layer of pastry onto the lower layer using your fingertips to seal. Brush the insides of the short ends of the puff pastry and press to seal. Trim any parchment paper that extends beyond the sheet pan.

Brush the exposed puff pastry on top with the remaining beaten egg. Decorate the top of the puff pastry as you like: Create a cross-hatch pattern by gently slicing through only the top layer of puff pastry in parallel lines, then cutting parallel lines in another direction. (Apply very little pressure, as you only want to cut through the top layer of puff pastry, not the second layer.) You can also slice small decorative vents in the puff pastry (be sure to slice all the way through both layers of puff pastry), or top with additional strips or shapes made from egg-washed puff pastry.

Transfer to the middle rack in the oven and bake until puff pastry is deep golden and flaky, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool slightly on the baking sheet, about 10 minutes.

While the Wellington bakes, prepare the optional port reduction: In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium. Add the shallot, garlic and peppercorns, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the port, stock and thyme, and cook over medium-high until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 25 to 30 minutes. Strain the sauce, discarding the solids. (You should have about 1/2 cup sauce.) Cover and set aside until ready to serve. When ready to serve, warm the sauce over medium. Once warmed, whisk in the butter, season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

To serve the mushroom Wellington, cut it crosswise into 8 even slabs. (Each slab will include a pretty cross-section showcasing the halved portobello mushroom in the center; this is considered the presentation side.) Serve each piece presentation-side up. Pass with port reduction for drizzling on top.

VEGETARIAN MUSHROOM SHAWARMA PITAS

This comes from Alexa Weibel at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Alexa wrote, “Dusted with smoky spices like cumin, coriander and paprika, these thick-cut roasted portobello mushrooms are inspired by shawarma, Middle Eastern spiced lamb — and they taste surprisingly meaty. The flavors are bold, but the prep is simple: While the mushrooms and onions roast, make an easy turmeric and Greek yogurt sauce, and toss sliced red cabbage with salt. Pile everything into a pita with a flurry of cilantro and mint to freshen things up (parsley or salad greens would also do the job in a pinch). While these hearty pitas are best enjoyed with a knife and fork as open-faced sandwiches, they can also be folded into half-moon parcels and eaten out of hand.”

Yield: 4 servings; Time: 25 minutes.

To view this online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020291-vegetarian-mushroom-shawarma-pitas.

Ingredients

3/4 pound portobello mushroom caps, sliced 1/2-inch thick

1 medium red onion, halved and cut into 1/3-inch wedges

3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon ground cumin

3/4 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon ground sweet or smoked paprika (optional)

Kosher salt and black pepper

4 pitas

2 packed cups very thinly sliced red cabbage (about 6 ounces)

3/4 cup low-fat or whole-milk Greek yogurt

3/4 teaspoon ground turmeric

Cilantro or mint, for serving

Preparation

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. On a large rimmed sheet pan, drizzle the mushrooms and red onion with 3 tablespoons oil. Sprinkle with cumin, coriander, paprika (if using), 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat. Arrange in an even layer and roast until tender and browned, about 20 minutes. Add the pitas directly to the oven rack to warm during the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Meanwhile, toss cabbage with remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a medium bowl; toss to coat. Season generously with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, stir together yogurt and turmeric; season with salt and pepper.

To serve, slather yogurt over warm pitas. Top with cabbage, mushroom mixture and herbs, and serve immediately.

ROASTED VEGGIE BUDDHA BOWL

This is from the Food Network, and begins, "Healthy vegetables and spiced chickpeas get roasted on the same baking sheet, making dinner a breeze to put together and clean up. Quinoa and avocado round out this nutritional meal."

Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 2 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/roasted-veggie-buddha-bowl-5293785.

Ingredients

One 14-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

3/4 teaspoon spicy curry powder

4 teaspoons olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 small red onion (about 4 ounces), cut into 1-inch pieces

1 small sweet potato (about 7 ounces), peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

4 ounces medium cremini mushrooms, halved

1/3 cup fat-free Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon tahini

1 lemon

1 cup cooked quinoa

1/2 avocado, thinly sliced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Toss the chickpeas with the curry powder, 1 teaspoon of the oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl. Place on one side of a baking sheet. Arrange the onions next to the chickpeas, then the sweet potatoes and lastly the mushrooms. Toss the onions, sweet potatoes and mushrooms with the remaining 3 teaspoons oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of black pepper. Bake until the chickpeas are a bit crunchy and the sweet potatoes are softened and starting to turn brown in a few spots, 25 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk the yogurt, tahini and juice of half the lemon in a small bowl. Slice the remaining lemon into wedges.

Divide the quinoa between two bowls. Arrange half the vegetables and avocado slices on top of the quinoa, leaving a space for the yogurt in the middle. Dollop the yogurt in the empty space and serve with the lemon wedges.

CHILI-LIME MUSHROOM TACOS

Okay, this is something that I've posted on several Taco Tuesdays, but since mushrooms are a big part of this recipe, I'm also posting it here.

This comes from Taste of Home, and begins with this note from Greg Fontenot (The Woodlands, Texas), "I used to make this dish with beef, but substituting with portobella mushrooms turned it into my family's vegetarian favorite. It's quick, nutritious, low fat and tasty."

Prep/Total Time: 25 minutes; Makes: 4 servings

View this online at https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/chili-lime-mushroom-tacos/.

Ingredients

4 large portobello mushrooms (about 3/4 pound)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium sweet red pepper, cut into strips

1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon grated lime zest

2 tablespoons lime juice

8 corn tortillas (6 inches), warmed

1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

Directions

Remove stems from mushrooms; if desired, remove gills using a spoon. Cut mushrooms into 1/2-in. slices.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute mushrooms, red pepper and onion until mushrooms are tender, 5-7 minutes. Stir in garlic, seasonings, lime zest and juice; cook and stir 1 minute. Serve in tortillas; top with cheese.

Health Tip: Making these tacos with lean ground beef adds almost 4 grams of saturated fat per serving. That’s a good reason for a meatless taco Tuesday!

MUSHROOM, CORN AND POBLANO SOFT TACOS WITH AVOCADO CREAM

I originally found this at Oh My Veggies. The site has a mess of taco recipes from different places, which can be found here.

From Garnish with Lemon. View this online at http://www.garnishwithlemon.com/mushroom-corn-and-poblano-soft-tacos-with-avocado-cream/ Yields 5.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 (8-ounce) package mushrooms, sliced

1 cup chopped onion

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 large poblano pepper, seeded and chopped (about 1/2 cup)

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen corn

1 (14.5-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup salsa

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided

1 teaspoon hot sauce (or more, depending on your preference)

Kosher salt

10 taco-sized corn or flour tortillas

1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced

1/2 cup sour cream

Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions:

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan. Stir in onions, oregano, garlic, chili powder, cumin and poblano pepper and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add corn and beans to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat and stir in salsa, 1 tablespoon lime juice and hot sauce. Season to taste with salt.

Place avocado, sour cream and remaining lime juice in a blender and blend until smooth. If avocado cream is too thick, add additional lime juice to reach desired consistency. Season to taste with salt.

Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spoon mushroom mixture into tortillas, garnish with avocado cream and chopped cilantro. Serve.

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Double-Post Tuesday

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. (But you knew that, right?) Today's offerings include Engine 2 Diet Vegetarian Lasagna and Chocolate Guinness Cake. Enjoy!

MIXED ROASTED MUSHROOMS OVER CREAMY BUTTERNUT PUREE

This comes from the March 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 44. It begins, “Roasted mushrooms and butternut squash need little seasoning to be absolutely delicious. To keep the garlic from burning, be sure it’s in the bottom of the butternut squash cavities.” Serves 4.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Butternut Purée

1 small butternut squash, halved and seeded

1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. olive oil, divided

2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

Roasted Mushrooms

2 1/4 cups shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced 1/2-inch thick

2 cups halved cremini mushrooms

2 cups king trumpet mushrooms, sliced 1/2-inch thick lengthwise

2 cups oyster mushrooms, torn into same-size pieces

3 Tbs. olive oil

2 tsp. chopped fresh sage

Directions

To make Butternut Purée:Preheat oven to 450°F. Place squash halves on baking sheet cut side up. Brush with 1 tsp. oil, and place 1 tsp. minced garlic in cavity of each half. Roast 25 to 30 minutes, or until squash is soft when pressed.

Scoop squash out of skin into bowl, and mash with fork. Mash in remaining 1 Tbs. oil and nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Keep warm.

To make Roasted Mushrooms: Position one oven rack in top one-third of oven; position second rack in bottom third of oven. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray.

Place shiitake and cremini mushrooms on one baking sheet; place trumpet and oyster mushrooms on second baking sheet. Drizzle each baking sheet with 1 1/2 Tbs. oil, and toss to coat mushrooms.

Roast mushrooms 15 minutes. Sprinkle each batch of mushrooms with 1 tsp. sage, and switch baking sheets from top to bottom. Continue roasting 5 minutes more, then remove baking sheet with shiitake and cremini mushrooms from oven. Roast trumpet and oyster mushrooms 5 minutes more.

To serve: divide Butternut Purée among four serving plates, and top with Roasted Mushrooms.

nutritional information Per Serving (1/2 cup puree and 1/2 cup mushrooms): Calories: 210; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 16 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 22 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

nutritional information Per 3/4-cup serving: Calories: 174; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 62 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 17 g; Gluten-Free

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.

ROOT VEGETABLE MEDLEY WITH BRUSSELS SPROUTS

This also comes from the March 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46, and begins, “Hearty vegetables are roasted, and then coated in a sweet and spicy glaze.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 small or 1 large parsnip, cut into 1-inch pieces (12 oz.)

3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces (8 oz.)

3 tsp. olive oil

1 1/2 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved (8 oz.)

2 Tbs. honey

1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F, and position oven rack in center. Coat two large baking sheets with cooking spray.

Toss parsnips and carrots with 2 tsp. oil, and arrange on one prepared baking sheet. Toss Brussels sprouts with remaining 1 tsp. oil, and arrange on second baking sheet. Roast 10 to 12 minutes, stirring vegetables once or twice, then remove Brussels sprouts from oven. Roast parsnips and carrots 8 to 10 minutes more.

Meanwhile, whisk together honey, vinegar, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using) in small bowl.

Transfer roasted vegetables to serving dish, toss with honey mixture, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

nutritional information Per 3/4-cup serving: Calories: 174; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 62 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 17 g; Gluten-Free

STIR-FRIED SPICY ASPARAGUS

This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “Holding out for regional produce may seem absurdly romantic, or a little stubborn, but there’s no denying the thrill when, after months of apples, potatoes and sturdy greens, suddenly asparagus appears in full force at the market. Finally, spring has arrived.” Time: About 15 minutes; makes 4 to 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds pencil-thin asparagus (or substitute small or medium asparagus, split lengthwise)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Salt and pepper

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon grated ginger

1 serrano or other fresh hot chile, finely chopped

A large handful of basil, mint and cilantro leaves

Preparation

Snap off and discard the tough bottoms of each asparagus spear. Cut the asparagus into 2-inch lengths.

In a wok or cast-iron skillet, heat the oil until nearly smoking. Add the asparagus, season generously with salt and pepper and stir well, making sure the asparagus is coated and glistening with oil. Continue to stir-fry over high heat for about 1 minute, until the asparagus looks bright green and barely cooked. Add the garlic, ginger and chile and stir-fry for 30 seconds more.

Transfer to a serving platter and scatter leaves on top. Serve immediately.

ENGINE 2 DIET VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

This was on a long-forgotten email list. But it comes originally from a cookbook titled The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter's 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds. Personally, I'm considering picking up a copy for myself. Check it out!

Ingredients:

1 onion, chopped

1 small head of garlic, all cloves chopped or pressed

8 ounces mushrooms, sliced

1 head broccoli, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

2 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped

1 can corn, rinsed and drained

1 package Silken Lite tofu

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon rosemary

2 jars pasta sauce

2 boxes whole grain lasagna noodles

16 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained

2 sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed

6 roma tomatoes, sliced thin

1 cup raw cashews, ground

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Sauté the onion and garlic on high heat for 3 minutes in a wok or nonstick pan. Add the mushrooms and cook until the onions are limp and the mushrooms give up their liquid. Remove them to a large bowl with a slotted spoon. Reserve the mushroom liquid in the pan. Sauté the broccoli and carrots for 5 minutes and add to the mushroom bowl. Sauté the peppers and corn until just beginning to soften. Add them to the vegetable bowl.

Drain the silken tofu by wrapping in paper towels. Break it up directly in the towel and mix into the vegetable bowl. Add spices to the vegetable bowl and combine.

To Assemble:

Cover the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch casserole with a layer of sauce. Add a layer of noodles. Cover the noodles with sauce. This way the noodles cook in the oven, saving time and energy. Spread the vegetable mixture over the sauced noodles. Cover with a layer of noodles and another dressing of sauce. Add the spinach to the second layer of sauced noodles. Cover the spinach with the mashed sweet potatoes. Add another layer of sauce, the final layer of noodles, and a last topping of sauce. Cover the lasagna with thinly sliced roma tomatoes.

Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle with the cashews, and return to the oven for 15 minutes. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 10 - 12 servings of sweet potato lasagna.

CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE

This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times' cooking newsletter. Nigella writes, “For me, a chocolate cake is the basic unit of celebration. The chocolate Guinness cake here is simple but deeply pleasurable, and has earned its place as a stand-alone treat.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; one 9-inch cake or 12 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

Butter for pan

1 cup Guinness stout

10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 cups superfine sugar

3/4 cup sour cream

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

For the Topping:

1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature

1/2 cup heavy cream

Preparation:

For the cake: heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.

In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to one hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.

For the topping: Using a food processor or by hand, mix confectioners' sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.

Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness.

Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Yay!

For anyone wondering if you can really have tacos without meat, today's six vegetarian taco recipes should show how wonderful and easy meatless tacos can be. (Hint: I post vegetarian taco recipes every Tuesday on this blog, so you'll have lots to choose from.) Check out the Delicious Vegan Battered ‘Fish’ Tacos, the Jackfruit Vegan Tacos, and the rest of today's tacos. Enjoy!

SALSA ROJA BLACK BEAN TACOS

This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Salsa roja is a cooked salsa made with skillet- or grill-blackened onions, tomatoes, and garlic. Serve in warmed corn tortillas." Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/salsa-roja-black-bean-tacos/.

Ingredients

1 large onion, quartered, divided

2 round or plum tomatoes

2 cloves garlic, peeled

1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, plus 1/2 tsp. adobo sauce

1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

Directions

Cut one-quarter of onion into 3 or 4 chunks. Chop remaining three-quarters of onion, and set aside.

Place medium skillet over medium-high heat. Char onion chunks, tomatoes, and garlic cloves in dry skillet 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove onion and garlic to plate while tomatoes continue 
to blacken. Break up tomatoes with wooden spoon or spatula; return onion and garlic to skillet. Add chipotle chile, adobo sauce, and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes. Transfer to blender, and blend until smooth.

Wipe out skillet, and coat with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Add chopped onion, cover, and cook 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add beans and salsa roja, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until thickened.

AVOCADO TACOS

This recipe is from Enrique Olvera and adapted by Jeff Gordinier on The New York Times cooking site. Jeff wrote, "Most top chefs will tell you the same thing: When they finally escape from the elaborate labors they oversee in the kitchen, they crave late-night street food that’s poetically simple and satisfying: hot dogs, fried rice, a bowl of noodles. For Enrique Olvera, the chef at Cosme in New York and Pujol in Mexico City, that hand-to-mouth haiku can be found in avocado tacos, which he scarfs down around the clock. They serve as both “a comfort,” he said, and “a cultural expression.” In its most basic form, an avocado taco is like a two-bite couplet in praise of Mexican ingredients: a chewy corn tortilla enclosing creamy slices of the-butter-that-grows-on-trees. Spare additions elevate that avocado: a pinch of salt, a spray of lime juice, a sprinkle of chopped onions and cilantro. But the chef takes elevation one step further with a salsa made of pasilla chiles and tomatillos."

Yield: 12 tacos; Time: 45 minutes

This was featured in "Scouting the Scene", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016784-avocado-tacos.

Note: The article ("Scouting the Scene") is well worth the read; check it out!

Ingredients

4 pasilla chiles

1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt

2 garlic cloves

10 tomatillos, boiled in salted water for 15 minutes or until soft

3 avocados, sliced thin

12 corn tortillas

3/4 cup white onion, finely diced

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Preparation

Make the salsa: Snap the stems off the chiles and remove the seeds. Using tongs, carefully hold the chiles over a medium flame to char on all sides. Transfer chiles to a food processor, add the salt and process into a powder. Add the garlic and tomatillos and purée until smooth. (This makes 1 pint salsa, more than needed; refrigerate the rest in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.)

To serve, place 3 or 4 slices of avocado on each tortilla and top with salsa, onion and cilantro.

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.

DELICIOUS VEGAN BATTERED 'FISH' TACOS

This comes from PETA. Makes 6 tacos.

To view this online, go to https://www.peta.org/recipes/fish-tacos/.

Ingredients

1 pkg. Gardein fishless filets

1 tsp. oil or lime juice

6 medium-sized corn tortillas

1/2 cup guacamole or 1 avocado, sliced

Diced onion (optional)

Chopped cilantro (optional)

Jalapeño slices (optional)

Lime juice (optional)

Instructions

Cook the fishless filets according to package directions.

Warm the oil in a pan over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the pan and cook, turning once, until softened.

Remove from the pan and spread with 1 tablespoonful of the guacamole.

Cut the cooked fishless filets into strips and place 3 strips on the tortilla. If desired, top with diced onion, chopped cilantro, and jalapeño slices and drizzle with lime juice.

Repeat with the remaining tortillas.

Serve with salsa, vegan sour cream, or vegan tartar sauce.

VEGETARIAN BUFFALO CHICKPEA QUESADILLAS

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Enjoy this vegetarian take on fan-favorite, Buffalo chicken wings! This chickpea quesadilla recipe layers chickpeas, hot sauce, cheese, green onions and tomatoes into a folded tortilla to create Vegetarian Buffalo Chickpea Quesadillas. Don't forget to serve with Old El Paso™ Zesty Ranch Sauce on the side!"

Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/vegetarian-buffalo-chickpeas-quesadillas.

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter

1 cup chopped onions

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 can (15 to 15.5 oz) chickpeas, drained, rinsed

1/4 cup original cayenne pepper sauce

4 Old El Paso™ Flour Tortillas For Burritos (8 inch)

1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Mexican Style 4 Cheese Blend (from 8-oz package)

1/2 cup chopped green onions (8 medium)

1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1/2 cup Old El Paso™ Zesty Ranch Sauce (from 9-oz bottle)

Preparation

In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Stir in onions and garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften. Add chickpeas; continue to cook 4 to 6 minutes or until vegetables and chickpeas begin to brown. Remove from heat. Add hot sauce; roughly mash chickpeas with fork, leaving some whole.

On half of each tortilla, layer about 1/4 cup of the chickpea mixture, 1/4 cup cheese, 2 tablespoons green onions and 2 tablespoons tomatoes. Fold tortillas in half. Brush top of each quesadilla with about 1/4 teaspoon of the oil.

Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place 2 quesadillas in skillet, oil side down; brush top side with about 1/4 teaspoon of the oil. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully turn quesadillas; cook 1 to 2 minutes longer or until golden brown. Repeat with remaining quesadillas.

Cut each quesadilla in half; serve with zesty ranch sauce on the side.

Expert Tips

Cooking Vegetarian? Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.

Dial up the heat by adding sliced jalapeños to the chickpea quesadilla filling, along with the green onions and tomatoes.

This Buffalo chickpea quesadilla is hearty enough to serve on its own, but for a bit of added crunch, try serving with a side of tortilla chips.

This recipe uses Frank's™ RedHot™ original sauce, but you're welcome to use another variety of hot sauce.

Exchanges: 1/2 Starch, 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 1/2 Vegetable, 1/2 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 High-Fat Meat, 3 1/2 Fat

Carbohydrate Choices: 2

JACKFRUIT VEGAN TACOS

This is from Cassidy Carolino at AllRecipes. She wrote, "Jackfruit is a great vegan alternative to shredded chicken to use in tacos. These jackfruit tacos are delicious and vegan! Choose your favorite taco toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, cilantro, avocado, vegan cheese, and vegan sour cream."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 3 minutes; Total Time: 13 minutes; Servings: 4

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/258806/jackfruit-vegan-tacos/.

Ingredients

2 (20 ounce) cans jackfruit in brine - drained, rinsed, and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 tablespoon water, or more as needed

2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix, or to taste

4 taco shells

1/2 cup salsa, or to taste

Directions

Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add jackfruit; cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon water and taco seasoning; stir until well combined, about 1 minute. Add additional water 1 tablespoon at a time as needed.

Place a small amount of jackfruit in each taco shell; add 2 tablespoons salsa.

Monday, October 17, 2022

Monday Recipes

It's Monday, time to get the week off to a good start. Today's yummy vegetarian recipes include Jambalaya with Sausage (with vegetarian sausage, of course) and Panda Express Chow Mein Copycat. Enjoy!

CALLALOO

This is from page 81 of the June 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, "Callaloo refers to amaranth, a leafy vegetable cooked the same way greens are cooked in the southern United States. For a similar taste and texture, we made the dish using a half-and-half mix of collard greens and spinach." Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/callaloo-with-hot-pepper-vinegar/.

Ingredients

Callaloo

3 Tbs. canola oil

1 large onion, cut into thin slices (2 cups)

1 lb. collard greens, chopped

1 lb. spinach, stems trimmed

5 cloves garlic, minced (1 1/2 Tbs.)

Hot pepper vinegar

1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper

1/2 cup finely diced yellow bell pepper

1/2 to 1 Scotch bonnet chile, minced

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/2 tsp. sugar

Preparation

To make Callaloo: Heat oil in stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until beginning to brown.

Add collard greens, spinach, and garlic; cover, and increase heat to medium-high. Cook 7 to 10 minutes, stirring often with tongs, or until greens wilt. Add 2 cups water, and season with salt and pepper. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 45 minutes, or until greens are tender. Season with salt and pepper.

To make Hot Pepper Vinegar: Combine bell peppers and Scotch bonnet chile in 2-cup glass measuring cup. Stir together vinegar, sugar, and 1/2 cup water in small saucepan. Bring vinegar mixture to a boil, then pour over peppers. Cool.

To serve: top each serving of Callaloo with Hot Pepper Vinegar.

BROCCOLI AND CHEESE CRUSTLESS QUICHE

This is from the May 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 42). It is in an article titled Calci-yum!, and begins, "Enjoy this no-crust savory custard pie with a salad for lunch or dinner. For a variation, substitute 5 cups spinach for the broccoli. Serve with warm whole-grain bread."

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/broccoli-and-cheese-crustless-quiche/. Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

2 tsp. olive oil

1/2 cup thinly sliced onion

1 clove garlic, minced

5 cups broccoli florets

1 1/4 cups 1% milk

1 cup shredded reduced-fat Swiss cheese

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

4 large egg whites, lightly beaten

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 Tbs. grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray.

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook, stirring often, 1 1/2 minutes. Add broccoli, and cook, stirring often, 1 minute. Spread mixture in pie pan.

Combine milk, cheese, mustard, egg whites, eggs, salt, pepper and nutmeg in large bowl. Pour over broccoli mixture; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake 40 minutes, or until top is golden and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

PANDA EXPRESS CHOW MEIN COPYCAT

This comes from Chungah Rhee, on her wonderful site, Damn Delicious. If you haven't check out her site, you really should! I love checking it out on a regular basis (read: several times a week).

Anyway, this recipe begins, "I love recreating take-out recipes at home. You know exactly what’s going into your dish, and the homemade version is ALWAYS better without a doubt. And this Panda Express copycat is no exception. Best of all, you can make this in less than 20 minutes! How easy is that?

"I kid you not. This is one of the easiest recipes I have ever made. It requires such few ingredients and this recipe is practically foolproof. And there really is no comparison to Panda Express because it’s just that much better. We didn’t even have a main dish to pair this with but we still devoured this on its own like there was no tomorrow!"

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://damndelicious.net/2014/07/02/panda-express-chow-mein-copycat/.

Ingredients

1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed

2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

2 (5.6-ounce) packages refrigerated Yaki-Soba, seasoning sauce packets discarded*

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, diced

3 stalks celery, sliced diagonally

2 cups shredded cabbage

Directions

In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, ginger and white pepper; set aside.

In a large pot of boiling water, add Yaki-Soba until loosened, about 1-2 minutes; drain well.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and celery, and cook, stirring often, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in cabbage until heated through, about 1 minute.

Stir in Yaki-Soba and soy sauce mixture until well combined, about 2 minutes.

Serve immediately.

Notes:

*Yaki-Soba is ramen-style noodles and can be found in the refrigerated aisle of your local grocery store.

CHILI SIN (WITHOUT) CARNE

This is from the October 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 61. It begins, "Don’t be put off by the long list of ingredients—this hearty chili can be made in under an hour. Serve with grated cheese, sliced green onions, and hot sauce, if desired." Under an hour is always good, as far as I'm concerned. Makes 10 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/chili-sin-without-carne/.

Ingredients

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 medium onion, diced (1 1/2 cups)

2 carrots, diced (1 cup)

1 small bell pepper, diced (1 cup)

4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)

1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes with juice

1 15.5-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 15.5-oz. can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 12-oz. pkg. veggie crumbles

2 Tbs. chili powder

1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. ground cumin

1 Tbs. light brown sugar

2 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 10-oz. pkg. frozen corn

Preparation

Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 2 minutes. Add carrots and bell pepper, and cook 2 minutes more. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute, or until fragrant. Stir in 2 cups water and all remaining ingredients except corn, and season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Fold in corn and 1/2 cup water, and simmer 10 minutes more.

SPRING TWISTS

Years ago, when my better half and I first got cable, I was channel-surfing, something most of us have done occasionally. I ran across a baking show on PBS called Breaking Bread with Fr. Dominic, featuring Fr. Dominic Garramone. I fell in love with the show, and watched it almost every time it was on. (Unfortunately, it only ran from 1999 to 2001.)

Anywho, this recipe was featured on his show; you might even find it in one of his many cookbooks (and yes, I’m planning to pick up a copy of at least one or two of said cookbooks).

Makes 48 twists

Ingredients

Dough

3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1 envelope FLEISCHMANN’S RapidRise Yeast

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup water

1 (8-ounce) container sour cream

1 cup butter or margarine

2 eggs, large

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

Vanilla Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

3 to 4 tablespoons milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup finely chopped almonds

Directions

In a large bowl, combine 1 1/4 cups flour, undissolved yeast, and salt. Heat water, sour cream, and butter until very warm (120 to 130 degrees). Gradually add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add eggs, vanilla and 1/2 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in remaining flour to make a stiff batter. Cover tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate 2 to 24 hours.

Divide dough in half, returning half to refrigerator. Roll remaining dough to 12 x 8-inch rectangle; sprinkle with 3 tablespoons sugar. Fold ends of dough over center (like folding a letter). Repeat rolling, sprinkling with sugar, and folding procedure twice more. Roll dough to 12 x 6-inch rectangle. Cut into 24 strips, 6 inches long and 1 / 2-inch wide. Twist each strip 3 to 4 times; place on greased baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough and sugar.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 17 minutes or until done. Remove from sheets; cool on wire racks. Drizzle with Vanilla Glaze; sprinkle with chopped almonds.

Vanilla Glaze: In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth.

JAMBALAYA WITH SAUSAGE

This yummy vegan recipe is from One Green Planet. If you've never checked the site out, please do!

Anyway, the recipe begins, "This Vegan Jambalaya is a meatless twist to a Cajun favorite! The spicy flavors meld together with rice and beans for a great one-pot meal. Beans, rice, and vegan sausage take center stage in this hearty vegan jambalaya. Traditional Cajun comfort food can dish out as much or as little heat as you’d like. For an added kick, use vegan Cajun sausage and even fire-roasted tomatoes."

To view this online, go to https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/jambalaya-with-sausage-vegan/.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 tablespoon vegan butter

1 14 oz package vegan sausage, sliced

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

3 celery stalks, chopped

6 garlic cloves, minced

2-3 tablespoons cajun seasoning, divided

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 14 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 14oz can black or red beans

2 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice

3 cups vegetable broth

fresh chopped parsley and green onion for topping

Preparation

In a large pan, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat over medium-high. Add the sliced vegan sausages and 1 tablespoon of the cajun seasoning and sauté until browned. Transfer to a clean plate and set aside.

In the same pan, add the tablespoon of vegan butter and let it melt. Then add in the veggie mix. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add in 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper. Stir and cook for 1 more minute.

Next, add the crushed tomatoes, beans, Worcestershire sauce, rice, and veggie broth to the pan. Stir well, bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer (covered) and cook for 25-30 minutes, until the rice is cooked. Stir frequently to make sure the rice doesn’t burn and stick to the bottom of the pot. Add vegetable broth as needed if the mixture starts to dry out.

Add the cooked vegan sausage back into the pan and mix. Remove from heat.

Top with chopped parsley and green onions, and enjoy!

Thursday, October 13, 2022

It's the Great Pumpkin!

It's October, well into autumn, as well as a month that ends with Halloween. What better food is there for this time of year than pumpkins?!

To that end, here are six pumpkin recipes that are sure to please, including Spicy Pumpkin and Collards and a yummy Pumpkin Pie Milkshake. Enjoy!



PUMPKIN PANCAKES WITH HOT CIDER SYRUP

This is from a long-since-forgotten emailing list, though it's apparently a diabetic emailing list that I was on for a while.

Ingredients

2 cups flour

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup canned pumpkin, mashed

4 egg yolks

4 ounces melted butter

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

4 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Directions

In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, coriander, cinnamon and nutmeg.

In a separate bowl, combine milk, pumpkin, egg yolks, butter and vanilla extract. Pour combined liquid ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just blended. Carefully fold in egg whites. Cook pancakes on a light oiled griddle.

Hot Cider Syrup

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups apple cider

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 cup corn syrup

2 ounces butter

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Grated rind from 1 lemon

2 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine apple cider, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon rind. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Add apples. Heat for several minutes more. Serve over pancakes.

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Grain (Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 1 Fruit; 5 1/2 Fat; 4 1/2 Other Carbohydrates

Per serving: 786 Calories (kcal); 29g Total Fat; (32% calories from fat); 11g Protein; 124g Carbohydrate; 212mg Cholesterol; 977mg Sodium



LIBBY'S® PUMPKIN ROLL

This is from Very Best Baking by Nestle, and begins, "Dazzle family and friends with Libby's® Pumpkin Roll; moist and creamy, with a tantalizing aroma and beautiful presentation." My take on this? Yum!

Prep Time: 45 minutes; Cookingi Time: 13 minutes; Skill Level: Intermediate; Makes 14 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/32372/libbys-pumpkin-roll/.

Ingredients

1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin

1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Powdered sugar (optional for decoration)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with 1/4 cup powdered sugar.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.

Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. (If using a dark-colored pan, begin checking for doneness at 11 minutes.) Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.

Beat cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

Cooking Tip:

Be sure to put enough powdered sugar on the towel when rolling up the cake so it will not stick.



SPICY PUMPKIN AND COLLARDS

This is from the Food Network. Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 2 hours; Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy

You can view this online at https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/spicy-pumpkin-and-collards-recipe-2108870.

Ingredients

2 2-to-3-pound sugar pumpkins

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 small onion, diced

1 plum tomato, diced

1 Scotch bonnet chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

1 clove garlic, chopped

4 scallions, chopped

1 pound frozen chopped collard greens, thawed

Kosher salt

1 cup evaporated milk

Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

4 tablespoons breadcrumbs (preferably panko)

1 1/2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Ingredients

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Slice off the top 1 1/2 inches of the pumpkins and discard. Scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, tomato, chile pepper, thyme and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onion is slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the scallions and collard greens, add 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and cook, stirring, until the greens are slightly tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the evaporated milk and nutmeg and bring to a gentle boil. Stir in 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs, the cheddar cheese and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and cook, stirring, until the cheese melts and the mixture thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Put the pumpkins in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and fill evenly with the collard greens mixture.

Toss the remaining 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs with the parmesan. Sprinkle over the filling. Add 1 inch of boiling water to the baking dish. Cover loosely with foil and bake until the pumpkins are tender, about 1 hour, 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until browned and bubbly on top, about 30 more minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then scrape the pumpkin flesh and serve with the collards.



APPLE-PUMPKIN BROWN BETTY

This is from the Food Network. Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy

You can view this online at https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/apple-pumpkin-brown-betty-recipe-2108907.

Ingredients

1 2-to-3-pound sugar pumpkin

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 cup cubed bread (preferably from a baguette)

2 Gala apples, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup golden raisins

1 tablespoon rum (optional)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Kosher salt

Maple syrup, for drizzling

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Slice off and reserve the top 1 1/2 inches of the pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bread and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 4 minutes; transfer to a bowl. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the apples, brown sugar and raisins to the skillet and cook until the apples are crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in the rum, vanilla, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Return the bread to the skillet.

Put the pumpkin in a small baking dish and fill the pumpkin with the apple mixture. Cover with the pumpkin top and add 1 inch of boiling water to the baking dish. Cover loosely with foil and bake until the pumpkin is tender, 2 hours to 2 hours, 30 minutes. Remove the foil and pumpkin top and return the stuffed pumpkin to the oven. Bake until the filling is lightly browned, about 10 more minutes. Transfer to a serving plate and drizzle with maple syrup. To serve, scrape the pumpkin flesh and stir into the apple mixture.



PUMPKIN PIE MILKSHAKE

This recipe is from Sarah Copeland in The New York Times cooking section, and posted in the Times on October 30, 2020. Sarah wrote, "As any true pumpkin lover can attest, there's more than one way to get your pie fix, and I milkshake just might be the most winning substitute: It's creamy and has the same shipped-cream topper. Add the spices you most like in your pie - go heavier on the ginger if that's your thing, or load up on cinnamon - and adjust the sweetness to your crowd's tastes. Even if you don't drink whiskey, there's a time and a place for bourbon, and this is it. Add a spash or two for the adults; they'll thank you."

Note: If you're like me, I don't have whiskey around the house, so I would opt for making this without it - especially since it is optional.

Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 4 milkshakes (about 4 1/2 cups)

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019654-pumpkin-pie-milkshake.

Ingredients

3/4 cup heavy cream (or whipping cream)

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 (28-ounce) container premium vanilla ice cream

1/3 cup milk, plus more as needed

1 cup pumpkin puree

2 teaspoons pure maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

5 large ice cubes (about 1 cup)

2 to 4 tablespoons bourbon (optional)

Caramel sauce, for drizzling (optional)

Preparation

Whip the cream in a medium bown until it just holds soft peaks (whip in a chilled bowl for faster results). Place the whipped cream and four glasses in the refrigerator to chill. Stir together 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon sugar in a small bowl and set aside.

Scoop the ice bream into a blender and pour 1/3 cup milk over the top. Add pumpkin, maple syrup, ginger, remaining 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and ice in a blender and pulse to combine (use a spoon to stir the ingredients between pulses, if needed). Add a few more tablespoons of milk, if desired, depending on how thick you like your milkshakes, and blend until smooth. (It may seem think at first, but once poured, it will melt fairly quickly.) Pulse in the bourbon, if using, and divided among the four chillded glasses.

Spoon the whipped cream over the top and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Drizzle with Caramel sauce, if desired.



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.