Every holiday table needs Side Dishes to round out the meal. To that end, here are six sides to go with an meal, including Sweet Potato Casserole and No-Cream Creamed Corn. Enjoy!
ROASTED CARROTS AND PARSNIPS
This was in the November/December 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 50. It begins, "Whole sage leaves and thyme sprigs are tossed with carrots and parsnips to add aromatic flavor as they roast." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/roasted-carrots-and-parsnips/.
Ingredients
3-4 carrots, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices (2-1/2 cups)
3-4 parsnips, peeled and cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices (2-1/2 cups)
1-1/2 Tbs. olive oil
8 fresh sage leaves
6 thyme sprigs
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss together all ingredients in large baking dish, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Roast 15 minutes, then shake dish to loosen vegetables. Roast 15 minutes more, then shake again, and roast 10 minutes more, or until tender.
PAPRIKA CAULIFLOWER PITA POCKETS
This is from the September 2007 (?) issue of Vegetarian Times (page 76), and begins, "Cauliflower, like paprika, is frequently undervalued in home kitchens. What better way to highlight them both than with this simple dish. Try topping with fresh tomatoes, chopped black olives, and some low-fat Parmesan cheese." Makes 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/paprika-cauliflower-pita-pockets/.
Ingredients
1 head cauliflower (2 lb.), cut into bite-size florets
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. sweet Hungarian paprika
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
1 small red onion, diced (1 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
2 Tbs. lemon juice
4 pita bread rounds, halved and warmed
Preparation
Steam cauliflower 7 to 9 minutes, or until tender.
Heat oil, paprika, pepper, and salt in nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, 2 minutes, or until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add onion and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes more. Stir in broth and cauliflower, and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice. Serve with pita halves.
KIWI AND ORANGE COMPOTE WITH ALMONDS
This is from the May 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 42). It is in an article titled Calci-yum!, and begins, "This is a very simple dessert: nothing more than fresh kiwi, oranges and a spiced syrup, but it tastes heavenly. " Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/kiwi-and-orange-compote-with-almonds/.
Ingredients
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 whole cardamom pods, crushed
2 whole allspice
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 large oranges, peeled and white pith removed, cut crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices
4 kiwis, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices
2 Tbs. sliced almonds, toasted
Preparation
Combine 3/4 cup water, sugar, cardamom, allspice and cinnamon in saucepan. Stir over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and cook until liquid is syrupy and slightly reduced, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.
Put orange and kiwi slices in shallow bowl. Pour hot syrup over fruit. Let cool to room temperature, cover and chill at least 1 hour, up to 4 hours. Sprinkle with almonds, and serve.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
4 medium Sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 lb)
1/4 cup Packed brown sugar
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Can (8 oz) crushed pineapple
1 tablespoon Packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon Water
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup Chopped pecans
Directions
Wash sweet potatoes. Prick each 2 or 3 times with fork to allow steam to escape. Arrange in oven at least 1 inch apart. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until fork-tender, 8 to 10 mins. Cover & let stand 5 minutes.
Peel and slice potatoes. Place in 2-quart casserole. Add 1/4 cup butter and the salt. Mash until no lumps remain. Mix in pineapple. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 minutes. Stir and set aside.
Place 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, the water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until butter is melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after half the time. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Top sweet potato mixture with marshmallows. Microwave at HIGH (100 % until the marshmallows are melted and potatoes are heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.
CHRISTMAS BLOSSOMS
Years ago, Fr. Dominic Garramone (AKA the Bread Monk had a show on PBS. I'm sure I'm not the only person who got hooked on his show. Unfortunately, it went off the air years ago. But his cook books are still in circulation, and you can always go to his website (above).
This was one of the recipes on his show.
Makes 18 rolls
Ingredients
Dough
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 envelope FLEISCHMANN’S RapidRise Yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup very warm milk (120 to 130 degrees)
1 large egg
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
Powdered sugar
Pecan Filling
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg white
Directions
In large bowl, combine 1/2 cup flour, sugar, undissolved yeast and salt. Gradually add milk to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add egg and 1/2 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, divide butter into 2 (1/2 cup) portions. Place each portion between 2 sheets of waxed paper. With rolling pin, flatten each to 12 x 8-inch rectangle. Refrigerate.
Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to 12 x 8-inch rectangle. Place one portion of butter at the center. Fold first third of dough over butter. Place other portion of butter on top; fold last third of dough over butter. Place in a plastic bag; refrigerate 30 minutes. Repeat rolling, folding and refrigerating processes twice.
Roll dough on lightly floured surface to 18 x 9-inch rectangle. Cut into 18 (3 x 3-inch) squares. Spoon out 2 teaspoons of Pecan Filling over center of each square. Place each square in lightly greased 2-1/2-inch muffin cups. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until done. Let cool 10 minutes in pans. Remove from cups; cool on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Pecan Filling: In medium bowl, combine brown sugar, pecans, vanilla extract, and egg white. Stir to blend well.
NO-CREAM CREAMED CORN
This is from the July/August 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, "Cream-style or creamed corn doesn’t usually contain dairy, even in canned versions. Instead, the milky juice from fresh kernels is scraped from the cobs to thicken into a creamy sauce. This version enhances the “creamed” cooking process by using puréed corn as a base." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/no-cream-creamed-corn/.
Ingredients
8 cups fresh (from 8 large ears) or frozen, thawed corn kernels, divided
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 medium leeks, white parts thinly sliced (2 cups)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup fresh dill fronds, chopped
Preparation
Purée 3 cups corn kernels with 2 cups water until smooth. Strain mixture through sieve. Discard solids.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat, add leeks and salt, and sauté 1 minute. Add remaining 5 cups corn, and sauté 2 minutes more.
Add corn purée to corn-leek mixture, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 15 minutes, stirring often. Mixture should be thick and creamy. Remove from heat, and stir in dill. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Holiday Sides
We're half-way through the week. Since we still need a few more Holiday Recipes, here are six yummy holiday recipes that can also help you through the day, including Winter Squash Pot Pie with Swiss Chard and Chickpeas and Caramelized Shallot Gravy. Enjoy!
ULTIMATE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
This comes from Vegetarian Times (November 2013, page 53), and begins, "The Native American “three sisters”—corn, beans, and squash—come together in these individual holiday entrées stuffed with corn pudding and black beans." Makes 8 servings. Great for holiday meals
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/ultimate-stuffed-acorn-squash/.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.), divided
4 acorn squash, halved and seeded
1/2 tsp. ancho chile powder, plus more for sprinkling squash
1/2 tsp. ground coriander, plus more for sprinkling squash
3 cups fresh or frozen organic corn kernels, divided
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper, optional
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 large eggs
4 Tbs. melted butter or olive oil
3 oz. soft goat cheese or low-fat cream cheese (1/3 cup)
3 oz. grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese (3/4 cup), plus more for sprinkling tops, optional
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 large poblano chile or 1 small red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
8 green onions, white and green parts thinly sliced (1 cup), plus more for sprinkling tops
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine oil and 2 tsp. minced garlic in small bowl. Brush squash halves with garlic oil, and sprinkle lightly with ancho chile powder and coriander. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and place on large baking sheet.
Pulse 2 cups corn kernels in food processor until finely chopped and milky. Set aside.
Whisk 1/2 tsp. each coriander and ancho chile powder into cornmeal, along with sugar, baking soda, salt, and cayenne (if using) in medium bowl. Set aside.
Whisk together buttermilk and eggs in separate bowl. Whisk in butter, then puréed corn, remaining 1 cup corn kernels, goat cheese, Cheddar, and remaining 2 tsp. garlic. Fold in cornmeal mixture with spatula, then fold in black beans, poblano chile, and green onions.
Divide filling among squash halves. Sprinkle each squash with extra Cheddar (if using).
Bake squash halves 30 to 45 minutes, or until squash are tender and filling is set. Sprinkle with green onions. Squash can be prepared 24 hours ahead, then reheated 20 minutes at 325°F.
RICH VEGETABLE BROTH
This comes from Vegetarian Times (November 2013, page 49), and begins, "A flavorful broth is the foundation for delicious gravy. Browning only the onions adds enough color and “caramel” richness to support, but not overwhelm, other ingredients. The finished broth is left unsalted, which ensures that the gravy can be reduced as needed without becoming too salty. Make the broth days ahead and chill, or weeks ahead and freeze." Web site says makes 4 servings; magazine said makes 4 cups.
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/rich-vegetable-broth/.
Note: A good article for making vegetarian gravy (with tips and more gravy recipes) can be found at "How to Make Foolproof Vegetarian Gravy", on the Vegetarian Times web site. (Now, if only they'd bring back the magazine, in all its glory.)
Ingredients
2 Tbs. safflower oil
2 medium onions, peeled, halved, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 pinch salt
4 canned Italian-style tomatoes packed in juice, excess liquids shaken off
3 large shallots (8 oz.), peeled and quartered lengthwise
3 celery stalks (no leaves), sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide strips (2 cups)
2 1-inch pieces dried porcini mushrooms
1/2 cup diced carrot
4 whole allspice berries, coarsely crushed
1 1/2 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbs. chopped fresh Italian parsley
Preparation
Heat oil in 5-qt. pot or saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and salt. Sauté 18 minutes, or until onions are deep golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Add 2 qt. cold water, tomatoes, shallots, celery, dried porcini, carrot, allspice, thyme, and pepper. Increase heat, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 1 hour. Add parsley, and cook 5 minutes more.
Strain broth into large measuring cup. Press on solids in strainer to yield 4 cups broth. Or return broth to same pot, and cook until reduced to 4 cups. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover. Keep refrigerated or freeze.
CARAMELIZED SHALLOT GRAVY
This comes from Vegetarian Times (November 2013, page 50), and begins, "The sweet, subtle flavor of shallots makes them great for flavoring sauces and gravies." Makes 2 cups
View this online at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/caramelized-shallot-gravy/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 lb. large shallots, peeled and cut into 1/8- to 1/4-inch-thick rounds (4 cups)
1 small Turkish bay leaf
1 pinch salt
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
2 cups Rich Vegetable Broth or low-sodium vegetable broth
1/2 cup extra-dry French or Italian vermouth
1 tsp. dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. white wine vinegar
Preparation
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add shallots, bay leaf, and salt. Sauté 20 minutes, or until shallots are deep brown, stirring often.
Mix in thyme; stir 30 seconds. Mix in flour. Stir 2 minutes, or until flour is completely absorbed and beginning to color. Add Rich Vegetable Broth and vermouth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir in brown sugar and mustard. Simmer 5 minutes, or until gravy is thickened enough to coat spoon, stirring often. Mix in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
WINTER SQUASH POT PIE WITH SWISS CHARD AND CHICKPEAS
This comes from Vegetarian Times (November 2013, page 55), and begins, "The edible skin of delicata or red kuri squash adds color and texture to this rustic pot pie." Makes 12 servings
View this online at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/winter-squash-pot-pie-with-swiss-chard-and-chickpeas/.
Ingredients
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (1 qt.)
1 delicata or 1/2 red kuri squash, unpeeled, seeded, quartered, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick crescents (2 cups)
1 lb. Yukon gold or fingerling potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 12-oz. bunch red Swiss chard, stems sliced, leaves coarsely chopped, divided
1 Tbs. fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen organic corn kernels
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup olive oil
2 large onions, quartered and thinly sliced (4 cups)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)
1 cup plain almond milk, rice milk, or soymilk
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (1/2 17.3-oz. pkg.), such as Pepperidge Farms, thawed
Preparation
Bring broth, 3 cups water, squash, potatoes, Swiss chard stems, thyme, and salt to a boil in stockpot. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook 5 minutes. Add Swiss chard leaves and corn, and cook 3 minutes more. Drain vegetables, and reserve broth. Measure broth, and add enough water to make 6 cups liquid. Transfer vegetables to large bowl, and stir in chickpeas.
Wipe out stockpot, add oil, and heat over medium-high heat. Add onions, and sauté 7 to 10 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Sprinkle with flour and garlic, and cook 1 minute. Add reserved 6 cups broth liquid, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until sauce thickens, stirring constantly. Stir in almond milk. Stir sauce into vegetable mixture, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cool. (If making ahead, transfer filling to bowl, cover, and refrigerate up to 2 days.)
To assemble pot pie: Preheat oven to 375°F. Pour filling into deep 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
Gently roll out puff pastry sheet to size of baking dish on lightly floured work surface. Transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and chill 30 minutes.
Place chilled puff pastry sheet over filling on top of baking dish, and press around edges to seal. Use tip of sharp paring knife to score 4 rows of diagonal incisions into puff pastry (without cutting completely through), alternating directions with each row.
Bake 30 minutes, or until top crust is golden brown. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
CHESTNUT-AND-APPLE STUFFING
This was in the November/December 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 86. It begins, "You can assemble the ingredients for this holiday stuffing up to two days ahead to save time (and stress!) on the big day. Look for peeled and roasted chestnuts in glass jars and foil packets." Makes 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/chestnut-and-apple-stuffing/.
Ingredients
10 slices whole-wheat bread, cubed
10 slices hearty white bread, cubed
1 14-oz. tube soy "sausage" crumbled
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 large white onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
5 ribs celery, sliced (1 1/2 cups)
4 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
2 tart apples, peeled and diced
1 cup peeled and ready-to-eat roasted chestnuts, halved
1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
1 1/2 cups no-chicken broth
Preparation
Preheat oven to 325°F. Spread bread cubes in roasting pan, and bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until toasted.
Coat nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add soy sausage, and cook 5 minutes, or until browned. Toss sausage with bread cubes in bowl.
Heat oil in same skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 7 minutes more. Stir in apples, chestnuts, and sage. Cover, and cook 5 minutes, or until apples are crisp-tender. Add to bread mixture. Stuffing can be prepared up to this point, sealed in a food storage bag, and refrigerated up to 2 days.
Increase oven heat to 350°F. Coat 13- x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Toss stuffing mixture with broth, and season with salt and pepper. Spoon into prepared baking dish. Cover with foil, and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes more, or until top is browned and crisp.
FROM SCRATCH PUMPKIN PIE
This is from Nancy Fuller on the Food Network.
Active Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 3 hours 35 minutes (includes chilling and cooling times); Yield: 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nancy-fuller/from-scratch-pumpkin-pie-2251073.
Ingredients
Pumpkin:
1 medium sugar pumpkin (about 3 pounds)
Canola oil, for oiling pumpkin
Easy Pie Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup (11 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Filling:
One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3 large eggs
Directions
For the pumpkin: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Remove the stem from the pumpkin and scrape out the insides, discarding the seeds. Cut the pumpkin in half and lay the pieces cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Rub canola oil all over the skin and bake until fork-tender, about 1 hour. Let cool.
For the easy pie crust: While the pumpkin is cooking, make the crust. In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add in the butter and work into the dough with a fork until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in just enough cold water (4 to 5 tablespoons) with a fork just until the flour is moistened. Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a ball and flatten slightly. Wrap one ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for another use.
Roll out the remaining dough ball on a lightly floured surface to a 12-inch round. Transfer to a 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Fold the overhangs under and crimp decoratively. Pierce the dough all over with a fork. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Line the crust with foil, fill with dried beans or pie weights and bake until the sides are set, about 12 minutes. Remove the foil and beans. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
For the filling: Scoop out the pulp from the roasted pumpkin and puree in a food processor until smooth (you should have about 4 cups). Add the condensed milk, cream, cornstarch, molasses, canola oil, cinnamon, ginger, salt and eggs and combine thoroughly.
Pour the filling into the crust and bake until the filling is set in the center, about 1 hour. Transfer the pie to a rack and cool for 30 minutes. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
ULTIMATE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
This comes from Vegetarian Times (November 2013, page 53), and begins, "The Native American “three sisters”—corn, beans, and squash—come together in these individual holiday entrées stuffed with corn pudding and black beans." Makes 8 servings. Great for holiday meals
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/ultimate-stuffed-acorn-squash/.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.), divided
4 acorn squash, halved and seeded
1/2 tsp. ancho chile powder, plus more for sprinkling squash
1/2 tsp. ground coriander, plus more for sprinkling squash
3 cups fresh or frozen organic corn kernels, divided
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper, optional
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 large eggs
4 Tbs. melted butter or olive oil
3 oz. soft goat cheese or low-fat cream cheese (1/3 cup)
3 oz. grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese (3/4 cup), plus more for sprinkling tops, optional
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 large poblano chile or 1 small red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
8 green onions, white and green parts thinly sliced (1 cup), plus more for sprinkling tops
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine oil and 2 tsp. minced garlic in small bowl. Brush squash halves with garlic oil, and sprinkle lightly with ancho chile powder and coriander. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and place on large baking sheet.
Pulse 2 cups corn kernels in food processor until finely chopped and milky. Set aside.
Whisk 1/2 tsp. each coriander and ancho chile powder into cornmeal, along with sugar, baking soda, salt, and cayenne (if using) in medium bowl. Set aside.
Whisk together buttermilk and eggs in separate bowl. Whisk in butter, then puréed corn, remaining 1 cup corn kernels, goat cheese, Cheddar, and remaining 2 tsp. garlic. Fold in cornmeal mixture with spatula, then fold in black beans, poblano chile, and green onions.
Divide filling among squash halves. Sprinkle each squash with extra Cheddar (if using).
Bake squash halves 30 to 45 minutes, or until squash are tender and filling is set. Sprinkle with green onions. Squash can be prepared 24 hours ahead, then reheated 20 minutes at 325°F.
RICH VEGETABLE BROTH
This comes from Vegetarian Times (November 2013, page 49), and begins, "A flavorful broth is the foundation for delicious gravy. Browning only the onions adds enough color and “caramel” richness to support, but not overwhelm, other ingredients. The finished broth is left unsalted, which ensures that the gravy can be reduced as needed without becoming too salty. Make the broth days ahead and chill, or weeks ahead and freeze." Web site says makes 4 servings; magazine said makes 4 cups.
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/rich-vegetable-broth/.
Note: A good article for making vegetarian gravy (with tips and more gravy recipes) can be found at "How to Make Foolproof Vegetarian Gravy", on the Vegetarian Times web site. (Now, if only they'd bring back the magazine, in all its glory.)
Ingredients
2 Tbs. safflower oil
2 medium onions, peeled, halved, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 pinch salt
4 canned Italian-style tomatoes packed in juice, excess liquids shaken off
3 large shallots (8 oz.), peeled and quartered lengthwise
3 celery stalks (no leaves), sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide strips (2 cups)
2 1-inch pieces dried porcini mushrooms
1/2 cup diced carrot
4 whole allspice berries, coarsely crushed
1 1/2 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbs. chopped fresh Italian parsley
Preparation
Heat oil in 5-qt. pot or saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and salt. Sauté 18 minutes, or until onions are deep golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Add 2 qt. cold water, tomatoes, shallots, celery, dried porcini, carrot, allspice, thyme, and pepper. Increase heat, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 1 hour. Add parsley, and cook 5 minutes more.
Strain broth into large measuring cup. Press on solids in strainer to yield 4 cups broth. Or return broth to same pot, and cook until reduced to 4 cups. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover. Keep refrigerated or freeze.
CARAMELIZED SHALLOT GRAVY
This comes from Vegetarian Times (November 2013, page 50), and begins, "The sweet, subtle flavor of shallots makes them great for flavoring sauces and gravies." Makes 2 cups
View this online at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/caramelized-shallot-gravy/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 lb. large shallots, peeled and cut into 1/8- to 1/4-inch-thick rounds (4 cups)
1 small Turkish bay leaf
1 pinch salt
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
2 cups Rich Vegetable Broth or low-sodium vegetable broth
1/2 cup extra-dry French or Italian vermouth
1 tsp. dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. white wine vinegar
Preparation
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add shallots, bay leaf, and salt. Sauté 20 minutes, or until shallots are deep brown, stirring often.
Mix in thyme; stir 30 seconds. Mix in flour. Stir 2 minutes, or until flour is completely absorbed and beginning to color. Add Rich Vegetable Broth and vermouth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir in brown sugar and mustard. Simmer 5 minutes, or until gravy is thickened enough to coat spoon, stirring often. Mix in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
WINTER SQUASH POT PIE WITH SWISS CHARD AND CHICKPEAS
This comes from Vegetarian Times (November 2013, page 55), and begins, "The edible skin of delicata or red kuri squash adds color and texture to this rustic pot pie." Makes 12 servings
View this online at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/winter-squash-pot-pie-with-swiss-chard-and-chickpeas/.
Ingredients
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (1 qt.)
1 delicata or 1/2 red kuri squash, unpeeled, seeded, quartered, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick crescents (2 cups)
1 lb. Yukon gold or fingerling potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 12-oz. bunch red Swiss chard, stems sliced, leaves coarsely chopped, divided
1 Tbs. fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen organic corn kernels
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup olive oil
2 large onions, quartered and thinly sliced (4 cups)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)
1 cup plain almond milk, rice milk, or soymilk
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (1/2 17.3-oz. pkg.), such as Pepperidge Farms, thawed
Preparation
Bring broth, 3 cups water, squash, potatoes, Swiss chard stems, thyme, and salt to a boil in stockpot. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook 5 minutes. Add Swiss chard leaves and corn, and cook 3 minutes more. Drain vegetables, and reserve broth. Measure broth, and add enough water to make 6 cups liquid. Transfer vegetables to large bowl, and stir in chickpeas.
Wipe out stockpot, add oil, and heat over medium-high heat. Add onions, and sauté 7 to 10 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Sprinkle with flour and garlic, and cook 1 minute. Add reserved 6 cups broth liquid, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until sauce thickens, stirring constantly. Stir in almond milk. Stir sauce into vegetable mixture, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cool. (If making ahead, transfer filling to bowl, cover, and refrigerate up to 2 days.)
To assemble pot pie: Preheat oven to 375°F. Pour filling into deep 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
Gently roll out puff pastry sheet to size of baking dish on lightly floured work surface. Transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and chill 30 minutes.
Place chilled puff pastry sheet over filling on top of baking dish, and press around edges to seal. Use tip of sharp paring knife to score 4 rows of diagonal incisions into puff pastry (without cutting completely through), alternating directions with each row.
Bake 30 minutes, or until top crust is golden brown. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
CHESTNUT-AND-APPLE STUFFING
This was in the November/December 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 86. It begins, "You can assemble the ingredients for this holiday stuffing up to two days ahead to save time (and stress!) on the big day. Look for peeled and roasted chestnuts in glass jars and foil packets." Makes 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/chestnut-and-apple-stuffing/.
Ingredients
10 slices whole-wheat bread, cubed
10 slices hearty white bread, cubed
1 14-oz. tube soy "sausage" crumbled
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 large white onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
5 ribs celery, sliced (1 1/2 cups)
4 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
2 tart apples, peeled and diced
1 cup peeled and ready-to-eat roasted chestnuts, halved
1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
1 1/2 cups no-chicken broth
Preparation
Preheat oven to 325°F. Spread bread cubes in roasting pan, and bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until toasted.
Coat nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add soy sausage, and cook 5 minutes, or until browned. Toss sausage with bread cubes in bowl.
Heat oil in same skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 7 minutes more. Stir in apples, chestnuts, and sage. Cover, and cook 5 minutes, or until apples are crisp-tender. Add to bread mixture. Stuffing can be prepared up to this point, sealed in a food storage bag, and refrigerated up to 2 days.
Increase oven heat to 350°F. Coat 13- x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Toss stuffing mixture with broth, and season with salt and pepper. Spoon into prepared baking dish. Cover with foil, and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes more, or until top is browned and crisp.
FROM SCRATCH PUMPKIN PIE
This is from Nancy Fuller on the Food Network.
Active Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 3 hours 35 minutes (includes chilling and cooling times); Yield: 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nancy-fuller/from-scratch-pumpkin-pie-2251073.
Ingredients
Pumpkin:
1 medium sugar pumpkin (about 3 pounds)
Canola oil, for oiling pumpkin
Easy Pie Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup (11 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Filling:
One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3 large eggs
Directions
For the pumpkin: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Remove the stem from the pumpkin and scrape out the insides, discarding the seeds. Cut the pumpkin in half and lay the pieces cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Rub canola oil all over the skin and bake until fork-tender, about 1 hour. Let cool.
For the easy pie crust: While the pumpkin is cooking, make the crust. In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add in the butter and work into the dough with a fork until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in just enough cold water (4 to 5 tablespoons) with a fork just until the flour is moistened. Divide the dough in half, shape each half into a ball and flatten slightly. Wrap one ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for another use.
Roll out the remaining dough ball on a lightly floured surface to a 12-inch round. Transfer to a 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Fold the overhangs under and crimp decoratively. Pierce the dough all over with a fork. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Line the crust with foil, fill with dried beans or pie weights and bake until the sides are set, about 12 minutes. Remove the foil and beans. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
For the filling: Scoop out the pulp from the roasted pumpkin and puree in a food processor until smooth (you should have about 4 cups). Add the condensed milk, cream, cornstarch, molasses, canola oil, cinnamon, ginger, salt and eggs and combine thoroughly.
Pour the filling into the crust and bake until the filling is set in the center, about 1 hour. Transfer the pie to a rack and cool for 30 minutes. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
More Holiday Sides
Since Christmas is on Monday, here are more holiday sides. Check out the Vegan Quinoa-Cranberry Stuffed Acorn Squash, the Winter Squash Pot Pie with Swiss Chard and Chickpeas, and the rest of today's yumminess. Enjoy!
Note: Taco Tuesday will return next week on December 26.
BAKED ACORN SQUASH WITH POLENTA
This is from Eden Foods, and is a wonderful way to deal with acorn squash.
Serves: 4; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 medium acorn squash, halved, seeds removed
1 Tbsp Eden Safflower Oil, for oiling the squash skin and baking pan
1 Tbsp Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for sautéing vegetables
1/3 cup onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup celery, minced
1 cup Edensoy Unsweetened
2 cups water
1/2 tsp Eden Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Eden Black Pepper
1 cup organic yellow corn grits (polenta), coarsely ground variety
1/4 tsp dried sage, or dried poultry seasoning
1 pinch dried thyme
1 pinch dried rosemary
1/3 cup sunflower seeds, dry pan roasted
2 or 3 drop Eden Tamari or Shoyu Soy Sauce, for season sunflower seeds
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°. Lightly oil the squash skin and the inside and top of the cut acorn squash with safflower oil. Lightly oil a baking pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until tender when poked with a fork or knife.
While squash bakes, make the polenta. Heat up the olive oil in a medium saucepan and sauté the onions and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the celery and sauté 2 minutes. Add the Edensoy, water, sea salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly, and bring to a boil. Reduce the flame to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes or until thick. Remove from the heat.
Rinse the sunflower seeds and dry roast about 7 to 10 minutes over medium heat until slightly brown. Add soy sauce and stir to mix. Remove from heat.
Stir the sage, thyme and rosemary into the polenta. Add extra pepper or sea salt if desired.
Remove the squash from the oven. Fill each squash half with polenta. Sprinkle the sunflower seeds over the polenta. Garnish with parsley. Return to the oven and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes or until the topping begins to brown slightly. Remove and place on a serving platter.
VEGAN QUINOA-CRANBERRY STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
This yummy recipe, from the Food Network, begins, "This stuffed squash isn't trying to trick you into thinking it's stuffed with meat. And it doesn't have tothe quinoa filling is satisfying enough on its own, full of spiced warmth (thanks to the curry powder) and salty sweetness (from the pistachios and cranberries)."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Inactive Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 medium acorn squash (2 to 2 1/4 pounds each)
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup red quinoa, rinsed well
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 cup loosely packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped
1/4 cup roasted, salted and shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped
Directions
Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven; preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut each squash in half lengthwise and scoop out and discard the seeds. Arrange the halves in a large baking dish, flesh-side up.
Whisk together the vinegar, 2 tablespoons of the oil and the maple syrup in a cup. Brush the flesh side of the squash halves with some of the maple mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Put the squash flesh-side down in the baking dish, then brush the skin side with maple mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Roast until the squash is fork-tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Poke the inside of the squash halves with a fork and brush generously with more of the maple mixture.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add the quinoa, curry powder, cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon salt and stir until the spices are toasted, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups water and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat, cover the pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the quinoa is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 20 to 24 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and stir in the cranberries, remaining maple mixture, half of the parsley and half of the pistachios.
Stuff the squash halves with the quinoa and sprinkle with the remaining parsley and pistachios. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Cook’s Note
The squash may be baked and stuffed the day before and refrigerated. To reheat, cover the baking dish loosely with foil and reheat in a 350-degree F oven, checking the squash every 5 minutes until it is hot.
SPINACH SALAD WITH ROASTED BEETS AND DRIED FRUIT
This was in the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 38). It begins, "This celebratory salad is packed with complementary sweet, sour, earthy, and savory flavors. For color, choose a mixture of beets, such as golden and Chioggia (candy cane), in addition to the usual red." Makes 8 servings. Great for holiday meal
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/spinach-salad-with-roasted-beets-and-dried-fruit/.
Ingredients
1 lb. beets, scrubbed and trimmed
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup dried goji berries
1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbs. olive oil
10 oz. baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup dried cranberries (apple-juice sweetened)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F. Wrap beets individually in foil, and place on baking sheet. Roast 1 hour, or until tender. Cool.
Meanwhile, pour orange juice over goji berries in small bowl. Soak goji berries 1 hour, or until plump and softened.
When beets are cool enough to handle, rub off skins using paper towel, then cut beets into thin slices.
Strain goji berries into small, clean bowl, and reserve juice. Whisk together 2 Tbs. reserved juice with mustard, vinegar, and oil in separate bowl.
Toss spinach with dressing in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Sprinkle with goji berries, beets, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds.
GLUTEN-FREE BROCCOLI AND SQUASH MEDLEY
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Serve a sensational side that's super simple! Great for a crowd, it's ready in just 30 minutes."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Makes 14 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
7 cups Frozen Broccoli Cuts
2 cups cubed (1/2 inch) peeled butternut squash (1 1/2 lb)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 teaspoon salt
Directions
Cook broccoli as directed on bag; set aside.
Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, cook squash in orange juice over medium-low heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender but firm.
Stir in butter, broccoli, cranberries, pecans, orange peel and salt; toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Expert Tips
Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is gluten free. Products and ingredient sources can change.
Make it your way! Use your favorite nut and vary the cranberries with raisins, golden raisins or even chopped dried apricots.
WINTER SQUASH POT PIE WITH SWISS CHARD AND CHICKPEAS
This comes from Vegetarian Times (November 2013, page 55), and begins, "The edible skin of delicata or red kuri squash adds color and texture to this rustic pot pie." Makes 12 servings
View this online at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/winter-squash-pot-pie-with-swiss-chard-and-chickpeas/.
Ingredients
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (1 qt.)
1 delicata or 1/2 red kuri squash, unpeeled, seeded, quartered, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick crescents (2 cups)
1 lb. Yukon gold or fingerling potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 12-oz. bunch red Swiss chard, stems sliced, leaves coarsely chopped, divided
1 Tbs. fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen organic corn kernels
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup olive oil
2 large onions, quartered and thinly sliced (4 cups)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)
1 cup plain almond milk, rice milk, or soymilk
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (1/2 17.3-oz. pkg.), such as Pepperidge Farms, thawed
Preparation
Bring broth, 3 cups water, squash, potatoes, Swiss chard stems, thyme, and salt to a boil in stockpot. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook 5 minutes. Add Swiss chard leaves and corn, and cook 3 minutes more. Drain vegetables, and reserve broth. Measure broth, and add enough water to make 6 cups liquid. Transfer vegetables to large bowl, and stir in chickpeas.
Wipe out stockpot, add oil, and heat over medium-high heat. Add onions, and sauté 7 to 10 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Sprinkle with flour and garlic, and cook 1 minute. Add reserved 6 cups broth liquid, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until sauce thickens, stirring constantly. Stir in almond milk. Stir sauce into vegetable mixture, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cool. (If making ahead, transfer filling to bowl, cover, and refrigerate up to 2 days.)
To assemble pot pie: Preheat oven to 375°F. Pour filling into deep 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
Gently roll out puff pastry sheet to size of baking dish on lightly floured work surface. Transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and chill 30 minutes.
Place chilled puff pastry sheet over filling on top of baking dish, and press around edges to seal. Use tip of sharp paring knife to score 4 rows of diagonal incisions into puff pastry (without cutting completely through), alternating directions with each row.
Bake 30 minutes, or until top crust is golden brown. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
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.
Note: Taco Tuesday will return next week on December 26.
BAKED ACORN SQUASH WITH POLENTA
This is from Eden Foods, and is a wonderful way to deal with acorn squash.
Serves: 4; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 medium acorn squash, halved, seeds removed
1 Tbsp Eden Safflower Oil, for oiling the squash skin and baking pan
1 Tbsp Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for sautéing vegetables
1/3 cup onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup celery, minced
1 cup Edensoy Unsweetened
2 cups water
1/2 tsp Eden Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Eden Black Pepper
1 cup organic yellow corn grits (polenta), coarsely ground variety
1/4 tsp dried sage, or dried poultry seasoning
1 pinch dried thyme
1 pinch dried rosemary
1/3 cup sunflower seeds, dry pan roasted
2 or 3 drop Eden Tamari or Shoyu Soy Sauce, for season sunflower seeds
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°. Lightly oil the squash skin and the inside and top of the cut acorn squash with safflower oil. Lightly oil a baking pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until tender when poked with a fork or knife.
While squash bakes, make the polenta. Heat up the olive oil in a medium saucepan and sauté the onions and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the celery and sauté 2 minutes. Add the Edensoy, water, sea salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Whisk in the polenta, stirring constantly, and bring to a boil. Reduce the flame to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes or until thick. Remove from the heat.
Rinse the sunflower seeds and dry roast about 7 to 10 minutes over medium heat until slightly brown. Add soy sauce and stir to mix. Remove from heat.
Stir the sage, thyme and rosemary into the polenta. Add extra pepper or sea salt if desired.
Remove the squash from the oven. Fill each squash half with polenta. Sprinkle the sunflower seeds over the polenta. Garnish with parsley. Return to the oven and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes or until the topping begins to brown slightly. Remove and place on a serving platter.
VEGAN QUINOA-CRANBERRY STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
This yummy recipe, from the Food Network, begins, "This stuffed squash isn't trying to trick you into thinking it's stuffed with meat. And it doesn't have tothe quinoa filling is satisfying enough on its own, full of spiced warmth (thanks to the curry powder) and salty sweetness (from the pistachios and cranberries)."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Inactive Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 medium acorn squash (2 to 2 1/4 pounds each)
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup red quinoa, rinsed well
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 cup loosely packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped
1/4 cup roasted, salted and shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped
Directions
Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven; preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut each squash in half lengthwise and scoop out and discard the seeds. Arrange the halves in a large baking dish, flesh-side up.
Whisk together the vinegar, 2 tablespoons of the oil and the maple syrup in a cup. Brush the flesh side of the squash halves with some of the maple mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Put the squash flesh-side down in the baking dish, then brush the skin side with maple mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Roast until the squash is fork-tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Poke the inside of the squash halves with a fork and brush generously with more of the maple mixture.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add the quinoa, curry powder, cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon salt and stir until the spices are toasted, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups water and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat, cover the pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the quinoa is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 20 to 24 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and stir in the cranberries, remaining maple mixture, half of the parsley and half of the pistachios.
Stuff the squash halves with the quinoa and sprinkle with the remaining parsley and pistachios. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Cook’s Note
The squash may be baked and stuffed the day before and refrigerated. To reheat, cover the baking dish loosely with foil and reheat in a 350-degree F oven, checking the squash every 5 minutes until it is hot.
SPINACH SALAD WITH ROASTED BEETS AND DRIED FRUIT
This was in the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 38). It begins, "This celebratory salad is packed with complementary sweet, sour, earthy, and savory flavors. For color, choose a mixture of beets, such as golden and Chioggia (candy cane), in addition to the usual red." Makes 8 servings. Great for holiday meal
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/spinach-salad-with-roasted-beets-and-dried-fruit/.
Ingredients
1 lb. beets, scrubbed and trimmed
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup dried goji berries
1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbs. olive oil
10 oz. baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup dried cranberries (apple-juice sweetened)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F. Wrap beets individually in foil, and place on baking sheet. Roast 1 hour, or until tender. Cool.
Meanwhile, pour orange juice over goji berries in small bowl. Soak goji berries 1 hour, or until plump and softened.
When beets are cool enough to handle, rub off skins using paper towel, then cut beets into thin slices.
Strain goji berries into small, clean bowl, and reserve juice. Whisk together 2 Tbs. reserved juice with mustard, vinegar, and oil in separate bowl.
Toss spinach with dressing in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Sprinkle with goji berries, beets, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds.
GLUTEN-FREE BROCCOLI AND SQUASH MEDLEY
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Serve a sensational side that's super simple! Great for a crowd, it's ready in just 30 minutes."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Makes 14 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
7 cups Frozen Broccoli Cuts
2 cups cubed (1/2 inch) peeled butternut squash (1 1/2 lb)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 teaspoon salt
Directions
Cook broccoli as directed on bag; set aside.
Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, cook squash in orange juice over medium-low heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender but firm.
Stir in butter, broccoli, cranberries, pecans, orange peel and salt; toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Expert Tips
Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is gluten free. Products and ingredient sources can change.
Make it your way! Use your favorite nut and vary the cranberries with raisins, golden raisins or even chopped dried apricots.
WINTER SQUASH POT PIE WITH SWISS CHARD AND CHICKPEAS
This comes from Vegetarian Times (November 2013, page 55), and begins, "The edible skin of delicata or red kuri squash adds color and texture to this rustic pot pie." Makes 12 servings
View this online at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/winter-squash-pot-pie-with-swiss-chard-and-chickpeas/.
Ingredients
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (1 qt.)
1 delicata or 1/2 red kuri squash, unpeeled, seeded, quartered, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick crescents (2 cups)
1 lb. Yukon gold or fingerling potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 12-oz. bunch red Swiss chard, stems sliced, leaves coarsely chopped, divided
1 Tbs. fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen organic corn kernels
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup olive oil
2 large onions, quartered and thinly sliced (4 cups)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)
1 cup plain almond milk, rice milk, or soymilk
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (1/2 17.3-oz. pkg.), such as Pepperidge Farms, thawed
Preparation
Bring broth, 3 cups water, squash, potatoes, Swiss chard stems, thyme, and salt to a boil in stockpot. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook 5 minutes. Add Swiss chard leaves and corn, and cook 3 minutes more. Drain vegetables, and reserve broth. Measure broth, and add enough water to make 6 cups liquid. Transfer vegetables to large bowl, and stir in chickpeas.
Wipe out stockpot, add oil, and heat over medium-high heat. Add onions, and sauté 7 to 10 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Sprinkle with flour and garlic, and cook 1 minute. Add reserved 6 cups broth liquid, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until sauce thickens, stirring constantly. Stir in almond milk. Stir sauce into vegetable mixture, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cool. (If making ahead, transfer filling to bowl, cover, and refrigerate up to 2 days.)
To assemble pot pie: Preheat oven to 375°F. Pour filling into deep 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
Gently roll out puff pastry sheet to size of baking dish on lightly floured work surface. Transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and chill 30 minutes.
Place chilled puff pastry sheet over filling on top of baking dish, and press around edges to seal. Use tip of sharp paring knife to score 4 rows of diagonal incisions into puff pastry (without cutting completely through), alternating directions with each row.
Bake 30 minutes, or until top crust is golden brown. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
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.
Monday, December 18, 2023
Side Dishes
Since holiday season is in full swing, here are six holiday side dishes to start off the week. Check out the No-Cream Creamed Corn, the Acorn Squash with Curried Apple Compote, and the rest of today's recipes. Enjoy!
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS
This was in the November/December 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 50. It begins, "This simple, rustic dish is a fall favorite at Greens Restaurant in San Francisco. Serve on its own, or toss with Roasted Carrots and Parsnips." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/roasted-brussels-sprouts/.
Ingredients
2 lb. Brussels sprouts, large sprouts halved, small sprouts left whole
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. pure maple syrup
2 Tbs. butter, optional
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss Brussels sprouts with oil in large baking dish or on baking sheet, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Roast 45 minutes, or until tender, loosening sprouts from baking dish or sheet with spatula every 15 minutes, if necessary.
Transfer to serving bowl and toss with maple syrup and butter, if using.
ACORN SQUASH WITH CURRIED APPLE COMPOTE
This was in the October 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 38. It begins, "Apples and curry are a fantastic fall combo—and when you throw in acorn squash you have an easy entrée. Use Gala, Jonagold, Mutsu (also called Crispin), Northern Spy or any apple that’s billed as “good for baking” in this recipe." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/acorn-squash-with-curried-apple-compote/.
Ingredients
2 tsp. unsalted butter
1 medium-size onion, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 Tbs. curry powder
2 medium-size apples, peeled, cored and diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup apple cider
1/3 cup currants or golden raisins
2 medium-size acorn squash, seeded, each sliced into 6 1-inch-thick rings
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350F. Coat 2 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and cook 10 minutes, or until tender, stirring often. Add curry powder, and cook 1 minute. Stir in apples, cider and currants, and cook 6 minutes more, or until liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.
Arrange squash in single layer on prepared baking sheets. Season with salt and pepper. Scoop apple filling into center of rings, mounding slightly. Cover with foil. Bake 40 minutes, or until squash is tender when pierced with skewer. Transfer squash rings to plates using spatula. Serve warm.
NO-CREAM CREAMED CORN
This is from the July/August 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, "Cream-style or creamed corn doesn’t usually contain dairy, even in canned versions. Instead, the milky juice from fresh kernels is scraped from the cobs to thicken into a creamy sauce. This version enhances the “creamed” cooking process by using puréed corn as a base." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/no-cream-creamed-corn/.
Ingredients
8 cups fresh (from 8 large ears) or frozen, thawed corn kernels, divided
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 medium leeks, white parts thinly sliced (2 cups)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup fresh dill fronds, chopped
Preparation
Purée 3 cups corn kernels with 2 cups water until smooth. Strain mixture through sieve. Discard solids.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat, add leeks and salt, and sauté 1 minute. Add remaining 5 cups corn, and sauté 2 minutes more.
Add corn purée to corn-leek mixture, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 15 minutes, stirring often. Mixture should be thick and creamy. Remove from heat, and stir in dill. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
FALL HARVEST COLLARD GREEN ROLLS [VEGAN, GREEN-FREE]
This is from Denisse Salinas at One Green Planet. Denisse wrote, "These fall harvest collard green rolls feature seasonal wild rice pilaf rolled into collard leaves for handheld packages of seasonal goodness! Acorn squash, pecans, dried cranberry, and shredded carrot are stuffed into each collard leaf. Make the cranberry balsamic sauce for dipping/spreading/eating straight out of the jar with a spoon for added fall flavor!
Serves: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/fall-harvest-collard-green-rolls/.
Ingredients
For the Collard Green Rolls:
8 collard green leaves
1 1/2 cups cooked wild rice
1 cup acorn or butternut squash, roasted and diced
1/4 cup dried cranberry
1/4 cup pecans
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded carrot
For the Cranberry-Balsamic Sauce:
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Preparation
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove and discard thick stems from collard greens and place leaves in boiling water. Blanch for about 2 minutes or until just tender. Gently remove leaves from water and drain them in a colander.
In a large bowl, toss together wild rice, acorn squash, dried cranberry, and pecans. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
Lay a collard leaf on a work surface and top with about 2 tablespoons of shredded carrot followed by 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of rice mixture depending on the size of the leaf. Roll up, starting with the large end of the leaf and rolling it over the filling, tucking in the ends, like a burrito. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
To make the cranberry balsamic sauce, combine sugar and orange juice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cranberries and cinnamon and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes until cranberries begin to pop. Remove from heat and let cool (sauce will thicken).
Transfer sauce to a food processor. Add balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt and purée until smooth. Serve with collard rolls.
VEGAN CHILI STUFFED BAKED POTATOES
This is from Hellmann's, and begins, "A classic baked potato dialed way up. This dish is made with creamy Hellmann’s Vegan Mayo, smokey beans and crisp chopped onions."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.hellmanns.com/us/en/recipes/vegan-chili-stuffed-baked-potatoes.html.
Ingredients
4 large Yukon gold potatoes, poked in several places with a knife
5 Tbsp. Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Vegan Dressing and Spread, divided
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 can (15 oz.) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup corn
2 Tbsp. water
1 tsp. chili powder
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
Directions
Heat oven to 425°. Brush potatoes with 2 Tbsp. of the Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Vegan Dressing and Spread and sprinkle with salt. Arrange on rimmed baking sheet and bake 40 minutes or until tender.
Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet and cook onions, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in beans, corn, water and chili powder and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 Tbsp. Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Vegan Dressing and Spread.
Split potatoes and evenly spoon chili mixture over top. Garnish, if desired with chopped cilantro and sliced scallions. Dollop with remaining Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Vegan Dressing and Spread.
SWISS VEGETABLE MEDLEY
This is from Better Homes and Gardens, and begins, "Frozen vegetables make this side dish casserole recipe super simple to assemble. Choose from several combinations of vegetables."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Bake Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Servings: 12
View this online at https://www.bhg.com/recipe/vegetables/swiss-vegetable-medley/.
Ingredients
2 16 ounce package loose-pack frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, thawed
2 10.75 ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cup (8 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese
2/3 cup dairy sour cream
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 2.8 ounce can French-fried onions
Directions
In a large bowl combine the thawed vegetables, soup, half of the Swiss cheese, the sour cream, and pepper. Stir in half of the French-fried onions. Spoon vegetable mixture into a 3-quart rectangular baking dish.
Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and remaining French-fried onions. Bake about 5 minutes more or until heated through. Makes 12 servings.
To Tote:
Cover tightly. Transport in an insulated carrier.
For 6 Servings:
Prepare using the method above, except spoon vegetable mixture into a 2-quart square baking dish.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS
This was in the November/December 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 50. It begins, "This simple, rustic dish is a fall favorite at Greens Restaurant in San Francisco. Serve on its own, or toss with Roasted Carrots and Parsnips." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/roasted-brussels-sprouts/.
Ingredients
2 lb. Brussels sprouts, large sprouts halved, small sprouts left whole
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. pure maple syrup
2 Tbs. butter, optional
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss Brussels sprouts with oil in large baking dish or on baking sheet, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Roast 45 minutes, or until tender, loosening sprouts from baking dish or sheet with spatula every 15 minutes, if necessary.
Transfer to serving bowl and toss with maple syrup and butter, if using.
ACORN SQUASH WITH CURRIED APPLE COMPOTE
This was in the October 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 38. It begins, "Apples and curry are a fantastic fall combo—and when you throw in acorn squash you have an easy entrée. Use Gala, Jonagold, Mutsu (also called Crispin), Northern Spy or any apple that’s billed as “good for baking” in this recipe." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/acorn-squash-with-curried-apple-compote/.
Ingredients
2 tsp. unsalted butter
1 medium-size onion, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 Tbs. curry powder
2 medium-size apples, peeled, cored and diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup apple cider
1/3 cup currants or golden raisins
2 medium-size acorn squash, seeded, each sliced into 6 1-inch-thick rings
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350F. Coat 2 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and cook 10 minutes, or until tender, stirring often. Add curry powder, and cook 1 minute. Stir in apples, cider and currants, and cook 6 minutes more, or until liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.
Arrange squash in single layer on prepared baking sheets. Season with salt and pepper. Scoop apple filling into center of rings, mounding slightly. Cover with foil. Bake 40 minutes, or until squash is tender when pierced with skewer. Transfer squash rings to plates using spatula. Serve warm.
NO-CREAM CREAMED CORN
This is from the July/August 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, "Cream-style or creamed corn doesn’t usually contain dairy, even in canned versions. Instead, the milky juice from fresh kernels is scraped from the cobs to thicken into a creamy sauce. This version enhances the “creamed” cooking process by using puréed corn as a base." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/no-cream-creamed-corn/.
Ingredients
8 cups fresh (from 8 large ears) or frozen, thawed corn kernels, divided
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 medium leeks, white parts thinly sliced (2 cups)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup fresh dill fronds, chopped
Preparation
Purée 3 cups corn kernels with 2 cups water until smooth. Strain mixture through sieve. Discard solids.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat, add leeks and salt, and sauté 1 minute. Add remaining 5 cups corn, and sauté 2 minutes more.
Add corn purée to corn-leek mixture, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 15 minutes, stirring often. Mixture should be thick and creamy. Remove from heat, and stir in dill. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
FALL HARVEST COLLARD GREEN ROLLS [VEGAN, GREEN-FREE]
This is from Denisse Salinas at One Green Planet. Denisse wrote, "These fall harvest collard green rolls feature seasonal wild rice pilaf rolled into collard leaves for handheld packages of seasonal goodness! Acorn squash, pecans, dried cranberry, and shredded carrot are stuffed into each collard leaf. Make the cranberry balsamic sauce for dipping/spreading/eating straight out of the jar with a spoon for added fall flavor!
Serves: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/fall-harvest-collard-green-rolls/.
Ingredients
For the Collard Green Rolls:
8 collard green leaves
1 1/2 cups cooked wild rice
1 cup acorn or butternut squash, roasted and diced
1/4 cup dried cranberry
1/4 cup pecans
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded carrot
For the Cranberry-Balsamic Sauce:
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Preparation
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove and discard thick stems from collard greens and place leaves in boiling water. Blanch for about 2 minutes or until just tender. Gently remove leaves from water and drain them in a colander.
In a large bowl, toss together wild rice, acorn squash, dried cranberry, and pecans. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
Lay a collard leaf on a work surface and top with about 2 tablespoons of shredded carrot followed by 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of rice mixture depending on the size of the leaf. Roll up, starting with the large end of the leaf and rolling it over the filling, tucking in the ends, like a burrito. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
To make the cranberry balsamic sauce, combine sugar and orange juice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cranberries and cinnamon and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes until cranberries begin to pop. Remove from heat and let cool (sauce will thicken).
Transfer sauce to a food processor. Add balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt and purée until smooth. Serve with collard rolls.
VEGAN CHILI STUFFED BAKED POTATOES
This is from Hellmann's, and begins, "A classic baked potato dialed way up. This dish is made with creamy Hellmann’s Vegan Mayo, smokey beans and crisp chopped onions."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.hellmanns.com/us/en/recipes/vegan-chili-stuffed-baked-potatoes.html.
Ingredients
4 large Yukon gold potatoes, poked in several places with a knife
5 Tbsp. Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Vegan Dressing and Spread, divided
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 can (15 oz.) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup corn
2 Tbsp. water
1 tsp. chili powder
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
Directions
Heat oven to 425°. Brush potatoes with 2 Tbsp. of the Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Vegan Dressing and Spread and sprinkle with salt. Arrange on rimmed baking sheet and bake 40 minutes or until tender.
Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet and cook onions, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in beans, corn, water and chili powder and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 Tbsp. Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Vegan Dressing and Spread.
Split potatoes and evenly spoon chili mixture over top. Garnish, if desired with chopped cilantro and sliced scallions. Dollop with remaining Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Vegan Dressing and Spread.
SWISS VEGETABLE MEDLEY
This is from Better Homes and Gardens, and begins, "Frozen vegetables make this side dish casserole recipe super simple to assemble. Choose from several combinations of vegetables."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Bake Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Servings: 12
View this online at https://www.bhg.com/recipe/vegetables/swiss-vegetable-medley/.
Ingredients
2 16 ounce package loose-pack frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, thawed
2 10.75 ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cup (8 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese
2/3 cup dairy sour cream
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 2.8 ounce can French-fried onions
Directions
In a large bowl combine the thawed vegetables, soup, half of the Swiss cheese, the sour cream, and pepper. Stir in half of the French-fried onions. Spoon vegetable mixture into a 3-quart rectangular baking dish.
Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and remaining French-fried onions. Bake about 5 minutes more or until heated through. Makes 12 servings.
To Tote:
Cover tightly. Transport in an insulated carrier.
For 6 Servings:
Prepare using the method above, except spoon vegetable mixture into a 2-quart square baking dish.
Friday, December 15, 2023
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday, half-way through December. Where has the year gone?
Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to help you through the weekend, including vegan Jambalaya with Sausage and Southern Peaches with Pecan Shortbread. Enjoy!
HERBED WINTER VEGETABLE ROAST
This was in the October 2007 issure of Vegetarian Times, page 81. It begins, "Thin-skinned delicata and butternut squash can be roasted without peeling. Serve this satisfying vegetable roast with brown rice, steamed bulgur, or polenta. Sprinkle leftovers with grated cheese, and broil until bubbly for a delicious next-day dinner."
Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/herbed-winter-vegetable-roast/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for greasing pan
1 Tbs. chopped fresh rosemary
1 Tbs. chopped fresh basil
1 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 delicata or 1 large butternut squash, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds (2-1/2 lb.)
1 acorn squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks (1 lb.)
2 medium carrots, cut on the diagonal into 1/2-inch thick slices (1 cup)
2 medium parsnips, cut on the diagonal into 1/2-inch thick slices (1 cup)
1 medium onion, cut into 1-inch-thick wedges
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly oil rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan.
Whisk together oil, rosemary, basil, thyme, and garlic in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add delicata or butternut squash, acorn squash, carrots, parsnips, and onion; toss to coat. Spread in single layer on prepared baking sheet. Roast 45 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, stirring every 15 minutes.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO WITH PESTO
This was in the October 2007 issure of Vegetarian Times, page 82. It begins, "Here’s a convenience food to add to your shopping list: cubed butternut squash, which is now sold fresh or frozen at supermarkets and natural grocers. The precut cubes and prepared pesto make this recipe ideal for busy weeknights or impromptu dinner parties." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/butternut-squash-risotto-with-pesto/.
Ingredients
3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1/4 cup prepared pesto, divided
1 cup chopped fresh or frozen onion
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
3 cups fresh or frozen cubed butternut squash (1 small squash)
Preparation
Bring broth and 2 cups water to a boil in large saucepan; turn off heat.
Heat 1 Tbs. pesto in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 minutes. Stir in rice, followed by 1/2 cup hot broth. When rice has absorbed broth, add another 1/2 cup. Continue adding broth in this manner 5 minutes.
Stir in squash, and season with salt and pepper. Resume adding broth, 1/2 cup at a time until rice has absorbed all liquid. (This should take about 15 minutes.) Remove from heat, and stir in 1 Tbs. pesto. Spoon risotto into 6 bowls and top each with 1 tsp. pesto.
SOUTHERN PEACHES WITH PECAN SHORTBREAD
This is from the July/August 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 48. It begins, "This recipe makes about 18 cookies." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/southern-peaches-with-pecan-shortbread/.
Ingredients
Southern peaches
2 Tbs. granulated sugar, or to taste
1/8 tsp. salt
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Pecan shortbread
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar plus extra for sprinkling
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Soft whipped cream
1 cup heavy cream, chilled
2 Tbs. granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. almond extract
Preparation
To make Southern Peaches: Slice peaches, and put slices into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle slices with sugar, salt and lemon juice. Set aside, covered, at room temperature.
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly butter a large baking sheet, and set aside.
To make Pecan Shortbread: Cream butter, flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl, using an electric beater, until dough is smooth and creamy. Add vanilla, and beat again. Stir in pecans. Pinch off a piece of dough, and roll into a 1-inch ball. Place on cookie sheet, and press flat with tines of a fork. Repeat with remaining dough.
Bake cookies until golden but not brown, for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and, while still warm, sprinkle both sides with sugar. Set aside to cool.
To make Soft Whipped Cream: Put all ingredients into a chilled mixing bowl. Whip just until cream forms soft peaks, taking care not to overwhip. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
To serve, spoon portions of cut-up peaches on individual plates, place 2 cookies next to peaches and top with Soft Whipped Cream, if using.
VEGETARIAN CHICKPEA AND SWEET POTATO STEW
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Whether you’re looking for a vegetarian recipe or just something addictively delicious to make for dinner, this coconut and tomato stew, redolent of ginger, garlic and onions and warm spices and garnished with a shower of herbs and crunchy toasted cashews, will certainly fit the bill."
Prep Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup chopped onions
3 tablespoons finely chopped gingerroot
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained, rinsed
2 cans (14 oz) unsweetened coconut milk (not cream of coconut)
1 can (28 oz) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
1 bag (5 oz) baby spinach
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1/2 cup chopped roasted cashews
2 red Fresno or jalapeño chiles, thinly sliced, if desired
Directions
In 5-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, gingerroot and garlic. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened and beginning to brown. Add coriander, turmeric, salt, cumin, pepper and red pepper. Cook and stir 30 seconds. Add chickpeas; cook and stir 5 to 6 minutes or until chickpeas begin to brown. Add coconut milk, tomatoes and sweet potatoes; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes are tender. Add spinach; stir 1 to 2 minutes or until wilted.
Divide among serving bowls; garnish with mint, cilantro, cashews and chiles.
Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
tip 1
Allowing the chickpeas to brown in the spices infuses them with flavor and helps them begin to break down slightly, which gives nice body to the stew.
tip 2
Make sure the spices in your pantry are no more than one year old. Old spices won’t give you the same amount of flavor as fresh spices will.
Tip 3
Fresno chiles can often be found in the produce section of your grocery store. Look for fresh chiles that resemble red jalapeños.
Tip 4
A generous garnish of fresh herbs and crunchy cashews turns an already delicious stew into a memorable bowl.
Tip 5
Cooking Vegetarian? Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.
WHITE BEAN ENCHILADAS
This comes from MyRecipes (originally from the November 2000 issue of Cooking Light, and begins, "The reader loves experimenting in the kitchen, and is always on the lookout for low-fat ideas. This reader once came across a lasagna recipe that called for white beans instead of cheese; that's what inspired this dish. These enchiladas are really easy to make, and you can put them together up to a day ahead. They reheat well in the microwave, too."
Makes 3 servings (serving size: 2 enchiladas)
To view this online, go to https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/white-bean-enchiladas-0.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons fat-free sour cream
1 (16-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup (2 ounces) preshredded reduced-fat Mexican blend or cheddar cheese, divided
2 tablespoons canned chopped green chiles
1 tablespoon sliced green onions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce (such as Old El Paso), divided
1/4 cup water
6 (6-inch) corn tortillas
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine the sour cream and beans in a food processor; process until almost smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese, chiles, onions, chopped cilantro, and cumin.
Combine 1/3 cup enchilada sauce and 1/4 cup water in a small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Dip one tortilla in the sauce mixture to soften; transfer to a plate. Spread 1/4 cup bean mixture down center of tortilla; roll up. Place roll, seam side down, in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining tortillas and bean mixture. Add remaining sauce to pan; cook 1 minute. Spoon over enchiladas; sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese.
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with minced cilantro, if desired.
JAMBALAYA WITH SAUSAGE [Vegan]
This is from Dominique Ebra on One Green Planet. Dominque wrote, "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!
Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to help you through the weekend, including vegan Jambalaya with Sausage and Southern Peaches with Pecan Shortbread. Enjoy!
HERBED WINTER VEGETABLE ROAST
This was in the October 2007 issure of Vegetarian Times, page 81. It begins, "Thin-skinned delicata and butternut squash can be roasted without peeling. Serve this satisfying vegetable roast with brown rice, steamed bulgur, or polenta. Sprinkle leftovers with grated cheese, and broil until bubbly for a delicious next-day dinner."
Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/herbed-winter-vegetable-roast/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for greasing pan
1 Tbs. chopped fresh rosemary
1 Tbs. chopped fresh basil
1 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 delicata or 1 large butternut squash, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds (2-1/2 lb.)
1 acorn squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks (1 lb.)
2 medium carrots, cut on the diagonal into 1/2-inch thick slices (1 cup)
2 medium parsnips, cut on the diagonal into 1/2-inch thick slices (1 cup)
1 medium onion, cut into 1-inch-thick wedges
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly oil rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan.
Whisk together oil, rosemary, basil, thyme, and garlic in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add delicata or butternut squash, acorn squash, carrots, parsnips, and onion; toss to coat. Spread in single layer on prepared baking sheet. Roast 45 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, stirring every 15 minutes.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO WITH PESTO
This was in the October 2007 issure of Vegetarian Times, page 82. It begins, "Here’s a convenience food to add to your shopping list: cubed butternut squash, which is now sold fresh or frozen at supermarkets and natural grocers. The precut cubes and prepared pesto make this recipe ideal for busy weeknights or impromptu dinner parties." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/butternut-squash-risotto-with-pesto/.
Ingredients
3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1/4 cup prepared pesto, divided
1 cup chopped fresh or frozen onion
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
3 cups fresh or frozen cubed butternut squash (1 small squash)
Preparation
Bring broth and 2 cups water to a boil in large saucepan; turn off heat.
Heat 1 Tbs. pesto in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 minutes. Stir in rice, followed by 1/2 cup hot broth. When rice has absorbed broth, add another 1/2 cup. Continue adding broth in this manner 5 minutes.
Stir in squash, and season with salt and pepper. Resume adding broth, 1/2 cup at a time until rice has absorbed all liquid. (This should take about 15 minutes.) Remove from heat, and stir in 1 Tbs. pesto. Spoon risotto into 6 bowls and top each with 1 tsp. pesto.
SOUTHERN PEACHES WITH PECAN SHORTBREAD
This is from the July/August 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 48. It begins, "This recipe makes about 18 cookies." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/southern-peaches-with-pecan-shortbread/.
Ingredients
Southern peaches
2 Tbs. granulated sugar, or to taste
1/8 tsp. salt
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Pecan shortbread
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar plus extra for sprinkling
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Soft whipped cream
1 cup heavy cream, chilled
2 Tbs. granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. almond extract
Preparation
To make Southern Peaches: Slice peaches, and put slices into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle slices with sugar, salt and lemon juice. Set aside, covered, at room temperature.
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly butter a large baking sheet, and set aside.
To make Pecan Shortbread: Cream butter, flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl, using an electric beater, until dough is smooth and creamy. Add vanilla, and beat again. Stir in pecans. Pinch off a piece of dough, and roll into a 1-inch ball. Place on cookie sheet, and press flat with tines of a fork. Repeat with remaining dough.
Bake cookies until golden but not brown, for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and, while still warm, sprinkle both sides with sugar. Set aside to cool.
To make Soft Whipped Cream: Put all ingredients into a chilled mixing bowl. Whip just until cream forms soft peaks, taking care not to overwhip. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
To serve, spoon portions of cut-up peaches on individual plates, place 2 cookies next to peaches and top with Soft Whipped Cream, if using.
VEGETARIAN CHICKPEA AND SWEET POTATO STEW
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Whether you’re looking for a vegetarian recipe or just something addictively delicious to make for dinner, this coconut and tomato stew, redolent of ginger, garlic and onions and warm spices and garnished with a shower of herbs and crunchy toasted cashews, will certainly fit the bill."
Prep Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup chopped onions
3 tablespoons finely chopped gingerroot
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained, rinsed
2 cans (14 oz) unsweetened coconut milk (not cream of coconut)
1 can (28 oz) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
1 bag (5 oz) baby spinach
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1/2 cup chopped roasted cashews
2 red Fresno or jalapeño chiles, thinly sliced, if desired
Directions
In 5-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, gingerroot and garlic. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened and beginning to brown. Add coriander, turmeric, salt, cumin, pepper and red pepper. Cook and stir 30 seconds. Add chickpeas; cook and stir 5 to 6 minutes or until chickpeas begin to brown. Add coconut milk, tomatoes and sweet potatoes; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes are tender. Add spinach; stir 1 to 2 minutes or until wilted.
Divide among serving bowls; garnish with mint, cilantro, cashews and chiles.
Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
tip 1
Allowing the chickpeas to brown in the spices infuses them with flavor and helps them begin to break down slightly, which gives nice body to the stew.
tip 2
Make sure the spices in your pantry are no more than one year old. Old spices won’t give you the same amount of flavor as fresh spices will.
Tip 3
Fresno chiles can often be found in the produce section of your grocery store. Look for fresh chiles that resemble red jalapeños.
Tip 4
A generous garnish of fresh herbs and crunchy cashews turns an already delicious stew into a memorable bowl.
Tip 5
Cooking Vegetarian? Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.
WHITE BEAN ENCHILADAS
This comes from MyRecipes (originally from the November 2000 issue of Cooking Light, and begins, "The reader loves experimenting in the kitchen, and is always on the lookout for low-fat ideas. This reader once came across a lasagna recipe that called for white beans instead of cheese; that's what inspired this dish. These enchiladas are really easy to make, and you can put them together up to a day ahead. They reheat well in the microwave, too."
Makes 3 servings (serving size: 2 enchiladas)
To view this online, go to https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/white-bean-enchiladas-0.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons fat-free sour cream
1 (16-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup (2 ounces) preshredded reduced-fat Mexican blend or cheddar cheese, divided
2 tablespoons canned chopped green chiles
1 tablespoon sliced green onions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce (such as Old El Paso), divided
1/4 cup water
6 (6-inch) corn tortillas
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine the sour cream and beans in a food processor; process until almost smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese, chiles, onions, chopped cilantro, and cumin.
Combine 1/3 cup enchilada sauce and 1/4 cup water in a small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Dip one tortilla in the sauce mixture to soften; transfer to a plate. Spread 1/4 cup bean mixture down center of tortilla; roll up. Place roll, seam side down, in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining tortillas and bean mixture. Add remaining sauce to pan; cook 1 minute. Spoon over enchiladas; sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese.
Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with minced cilantro, if desired.
JAMBALAYA WITH SAUSAGE [Vegan]
This is from Dominique Ebra on One Green Planet. Dominque wrote, "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, December 14, 2023
Holiday Sides
Today's post deals with Holiday Sides. Check out The Best Pumpkin Bread, a vegan (and gluten-free) Fall Harvest Collard Green Rolls, Vegan Quinoa-Cranberry Stuffed Acorn Squash, and the rest of today's yumminess. (And yes, they can all be enjoyed the rest of the year, too.) Enjoy!
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.
HARVEST VEGETABLE MEDLEY
This was in the November/December 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 84. It begins, "Roasting vegetables with whole garlic cloves makes this main dish extra-flavorful. For a leftover treat, spread veggies on bread, top with cheese, and broil in the oven." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/harvest-vegetable-medley/.
Ingredients
1 lb. small Brussels sprouts, trimmed
1 butternut squash, halved, cut into chunks (1-1/2 lb.)
1 head cauliflower, separated into 2-inch florets (1 lb.)
1 lb. fingerling potatoes, halved
4 medium leeks, white parts only, trimmed and quartered lengthwise
1/2 lb. baby carrots, trimmed
1/2 lb. baby parsnips, peeled and trimmed
24 cloves garlic, peeled and halved (2 heads), plus 3 garlic cloves, minced (1 Tbs.), divided
4 Tbs. olive oil, divided
1 Tbs. chopped fresh sage, plus 24 leaves, divided
1 Tbs. chopped fresh rosemary
2 small red bell peppers, quartered
Preparation
Adjust oven rack to lowest position. Preheat oven to 450°F. Bring saucepan of water to a boil. Add Brussels sprouts and cook 3 minutes, or until bright green. Drain, rinse under cold water, then pat dry.
Toss squash, cauliflower, potatoes, leeks, carrots, parsnips, garlic cloves, 3 Tbs. olive oil, chopped sage, sage leaves, and rosemary in large roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper, and spread into single layer. Roast 25 minutes, tossing vegetables twice. Add bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, minced garlic, and remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Roast 15 minutes more, or until vegetables are browned on edges and tender. Season with salt and pepper, and serve over Chestnut-and-Apple Stuffing.
THE BEST PUMPKIN BREAD
This is from the Food Network, and begins, "This pumpkin bread is perfectly moist, not-too-sweet and couldn't be easier. It's perfect for toasting and slathering with butter or cream cheese, and maybe a drizzle of honey or maple syrup."
Active Time: 1 hour 20 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes; Yield: 2 loaves; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pumpkin-bread-recipe-1957866.
Ingredients
Unsalted butter, for the pans
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the pan (see Cook's Note)
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
One 15-ounce can pure pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons fine salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2/3 cup water
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans.
Whisk together the sugar and oil in a large bowl until well combined. Whisk in the eggs and pumpkin until combined.
Combine the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and cloves in a medium bowl and whisk until well combined. Add half the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and stir to combine. Add half the water and stir to combine. Repeat with the remaining flour and water.
Divide the batter between the prepared loaf pans. Bake until cake tester comes out clean and the loaves are golden brown, about 1 hour. Let the loaves cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pans and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
Cook’s Note
When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
FALL HARVEST COLLARD GREEN ROLLS [VEGAN, GREEN-FREE]
This is from Denisse Salinas at One Green Planet. Denisse wrote, "These fall harvest collard green rolls feature seasonal wild rice pilaf rolled into collard leaves for handheld packages of seasonal goodness! Acorn squash, pecans, dried cranberry, and shredded carrot are stuffed into each collard leaf. Make the cranberry balsamic sauce for dipping/spreading/eating straight out of the jar with a spoon for added fall flavor!
Serves: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/fall-harvest-collard-green-rolls/.
Ingredients
For the Collard Green Rolls:
8 collard green leaves
1 1/2 cups cooked wild rice
1 cup acorn or butternut squash, roasted and diced
1/4 cup dried cranberry
1/4 cup pecans
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded carrot
For the Cranberry-Balsamic Sauce:
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Preparation
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove and discard thick stems from collard greens and place leaves in boiling water. Blanch for about 2 minutes or until just tender. Gently remove leaves from water and drain them in a colander.
In a large bowl, toss together wild rice, acorn squash, dried cranberry, and pecans. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
Lay a collard leaf on a work surface and top with about 2 tablespoons of shredded carrot followed by 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of rice mixture depending on the size of the leaf. Roll up, starting with the large end of the leaf and rolling it over the filling, tucking in the ends, like a burrito. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
To make the cranberry balsamic sauce, combine sugar and orange juice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cranberries and cinnamon and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes until cranberries begin to pop. Remove from heat and let cool (sauce will thicken).
Transfer sauce to a food processor. Add balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt and purée until smooth. Serve with collard rolls.
VEGAN QUINOA-CRANBERRY STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
This yummy recipe, from the Food Network, begins, "This stuffed squash isn't trying to trick you into thinking it's stuffed with meat. And it doesn't have tothe quinoa filling is satisfying enough on its own, full of spiced warmth (thanks to the curry powder) and salty sweetness (from the pistachios and cranberries)."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Inactive Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 medium acorn squash (2 to 2 1/4 pounds each)
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup red quinoa, rinsed well
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 cup loosely packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped
1/4 cup roasted, salted and shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped
Directions
Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven; preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut each squash in half lengthwise and scoop out and discard the seeds. Arrange the halves in a large baking dish, flesh-side up.
Whisk together the vinegar, 2 tablespoons of the oil and the maple syrup in a cup. Brush the flesh side of the squash halves with some of the maple mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Put the squash flesh-side down in the baking dish, then brush the skin side with maple mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Roast until the squash is fork-tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Poke the inside of the squash halves with a fork and brush generously with more of the maple mixture.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add the quinoa, curry powder, cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon salt and stir until the spices are toasted, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups water and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat, cover the pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the quinoa is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 20 to 24 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and stir in the cranberries, remaining maple mixture, half of the parsley and half of the pistachios.
Stuff the squash halves with the quinoa and sprinkle with the remaining parsley and pistachios. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Cook’s Note
The squash may be baked and stuffed the day before and refrigerated. To reheat, cover the baking dish loosely with foil and reheat in a 350-degree F oven, checking the squash every 5 minutes until it is hot.
SPINACH SALAD WITH ROASTED BEETS AND DRIED FRUIT
This was in the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 38). It begins, "This celebratory salad is packed with complementary sweet, sour, earthy, and savory flavors. For color, choose a mixture of beets, such as golden and Chioggia (candy cane), in addition to the usual red." Makes 8 servings. Great for holiday meal
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/spinach-salad-with-roasted-beets-and-dried-fruit/.
Ingredients
1 lb. beets, scrubbed and trimmed
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup dried goji berries
1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbs. olive oil
10 oz. baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup dried cranberries (apple-juice sweetened)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F. Wrap beets individually in foil, and place on baking sheet. Roast 1 hour, or until tender. Cool.
Meanwhile, pour orange juice over goji berries in small bowl. Soak goji berries 1 hour, or until plump and softened.
When beets are cool enough to handle, rub off skins using paper towel, then cut beets into thin slices.
Strain goji berries into small, clean bowl, and reserve juice. Whisk together 2 Tbs. reserved juice with mustard, vinegar, and oil in separate bowl.
Toss spinach with dressing in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Sprinkle with goji berries, beets, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds.
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.
HARVEST VEGETABLE MEDLEY
This was in the November/December 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 84. It begins, "Roasting vegetables with whole garlic cloves makes this main dish extra-flavorful. For a leftover treat, spread veggies on bread, top with cheese, and broil in the oven." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/harvest-vegetable-medley/.
Ingredients
1 lb. small Brussels sprouts, trimmed
1 butternut squash, halved, cut into chunks (1-1/2 lb.)
1 head cauliflower, separated into 2-inch florets (1 lb.)
1 lb. fingerling potatoes, halved
4 medium leeks, white parts only, trimmed and quartered lengthwise
1/2 lb. baby carrots, trimmed
1/2 lb. baby parsnips, peeled and trimmed
24 cloves garlic, peeled and halved (2 heads), plus 3 garlic cloves, minced (1 Tbs.), divided
4 Tbs. olive oil, divided
1 Tbs. chopped fresh sage, plus 24 leaves, divided
1 Tbs. chopped fresh rosemary
2 small red bell peppers, quartered
Preparation
Adjust oven rack to lowest position. Preheat oven to 450°F. Bring saucepan of water to a boil. Add Brussels sprouts and cook 3 minutes, or until bright green. Drain, rinse under cold water, then pat dry.
Toss squash, cauliflower, potatoes, leeks, carrots, parsnips, garlic cloves, 3 Tbs. olive oil, chopped sage, sage leaves, and rosemary in large roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper, and spread into single layer. Roast 25 minutes, tossing vegetables twice. Add bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, minced garlic, and remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Roast 15 minutes more, or until vegetables are browned on edges and tender. Season with salt and pepper, and serve over Chestnut-and-Apple Stuffing.
THE BEST PUMPKIN BREAD
This is from the Food Network, and begins, "This pumpkin bread is perfectly moist, not-too-sweet and couldn't be easier. It's perfect for toasting and slathering with butter or cream cheese, and maybe a drizzle of honey or maple syrup."
Active Time: 1 hour 20 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes; Yield: 2 loaves; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pumpkin-bread-recipe-1957866.
Ingredients
Unsalted butter, for the pans
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the pan (see Cook's Note)
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
One 15-ounce can pure pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons fine salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2/3 cup water
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans.
Whisk together the sugar and oil in a large bowl until well combined. Whisk in the eggs and pumpkin until combined.
Combine the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and cloves in a medium bowl and whisk until well combined. Add half the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and stir to combine. Add half the water and stir to combine. Repeat with the remaining flour and water.
Divide the batter between the prepared loaf pans. Bake until cake tester comes out clean and the loaves are golden brown, about 1 hour. Let the loaves cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pans and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
Cook’s Note
When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)
FALL HARVEST COLLARD GREEN ROLLS [VEGAN, GREEN-FREE]
This is from Denisse Salinas at One Green Planet. Denisse wrote, "These fall harvest collard green rolls feature seasonal wild rice pilaf rolled into collard leaves for handheld packages of seasonal goodness! Acorn squash, pecans, dried cranberry, and shredded carrot are stuffed into each collard leaf. Make the cranberry balsamic sauce for dipping/spreading/eating straight out of the jar with a spoon for added fall flavor!
Serves: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/fall-harvest-collard-green-rolls/.
Ingredients
For the Collard Green Rolls:
8 collard green leaves
1 1/2 cups cooked wild rice
1 cup acorn or butternut squash, roasted and diced
1/4 cup dried cranberry
1/4 cup pecans
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded carrot
For the Cranberry-Balsamic Sauce:
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Preparation
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove and discard thick stems from collard greens and place leaves in boiling water. Blanch for about 2 minutes or until just tender. Gently remove leaves from water and drain them in a colander.
In a large bowl, toss together wild rice, acorn squash, dried cranberry, and pecans. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
Lay a collard leaf on a work surface and top with about 2 tablespoons of shredded carrot followed by 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of rice mixture depending on the size of the leaf. Roll up, starting with the large end of the leaf and rolling it over the filling, tucking in the ends, like a burrito. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
To make the cranberry balsamic sauce, combine sugar and orange juice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cranberries and cinnamon and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes until cranberries begin to pop. Remove from heat and let cool (sauce will thicken).
Transfer sauce to a food processor. Add balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt and purée until smooth. Serve with collard rolls.
VEGAN QUINOA-CRANBERRY STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
This yummy recipe, from the Food Network, begins, "This stuffed squash isn't trying to trick you into thinking it's stuffed with meat. And it doesn't have tothe quinoa filling is satisfying enough on its own, full of spiced warmth (thanks to the curry powder) and salty sweetness (from the pistachios and cranberries)."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Inactive Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 medium acorn squash (2 to 2 1/4 pounds each)
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup red quinoa, rinsed well
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 cup loosely packed fresh parsley leaves, chopped
1/4 cup roasted, salted and shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped
Directions
Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven; preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut each squash in half lengthwise and scoop out and discard the seeds. Arrange the halves in a large baking dish, flesh-side up.
Whisk together the vinegar, 2 tablespoons of the oil and the maple syrup in a cup. Brush the flesh side of the squash halves with some of the maple mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Put the squash flesh-side down in the baking dish, then brush the skin side with maple mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Roast until the squash is fork-tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Poke the inside of the squash halves with a fork and brush generously with more of the maple mixture.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add the quinoa, curry powder, cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon salt and stir until the spices are toasted, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups water and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat, cover the pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the quinoa is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 20 to 24 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and stir in the cranberries, remaining maple mixture, half of the parsley and half of the pistachios.
Stuff the squash halves with the quinoa and sprinkle with the remaining parsley and pistachios. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Cook’s Note
The squash may be baked and stuffed the day before and refrigerated. To reheat, cover the baking dish loosely with foil and reheat in a 350-degree F oven, checking the squash every 5 minutes until it is hot.
SPINACH SALAD WITH ROASTED BEETS AND DRIED FRUIT
This was in the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 38). It begins, "This celebratory salad is packed with complementary sweet, sour, earthy, and savory flavors. For color, choose a mixture of beets, such as golden and Chioggia (candy cane), in addition to the usual red." Makes 8 servings. Great for holiday meal
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/spinach-salad-with-roasted-beets-and-dried-fruit/.
Ingredients
1 lb. beets, scrubbed and trimmed
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup dried goji berries
1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbs. olive oil
10 oz. baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup dried cranberries (apple-juice sweetened)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F. Wrap beets individually in foil, and place on baking sheet. Roast 1 hour, or until tender. Cool.
Meanwhile, pour orange juice over goji berries in small bowl. Soak goji berries 1 hour, or until plump and softened.
When beets are cool enough to handle, rub off skins using paper towel, then cut beets into thin slices.
Strain goji berries into small, clean bowl, and reserve juice. Whisk together 2 Tbs. reserved juice with mustard, vinegar, and oil in separate bowl.
Toss spinach with dressing in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Sprinkle with goji berries, beets, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds.
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Holiday Sides
We're less than two weeks until Christmas, as well as in the middle of the holiday season. Today's post deals with sides to go with your holiday meal, and includes Sweet Potato Casserole and Classic Cranberry Sauce. Enjoy!
SPICY COLESLAW
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This easy, crisp slaw can be made a few hours ahead of time. It goes well with ribs and a cold beer, fried chicken or whatever summer feast sparks your fancy.”
Yield: Serves 6; Time: 10 minutes, plus hours’ refrigeration
This was featured in “Lone Star”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012539-spicy-coleslaw.
Ingredients
1 medium head green cabbage
2 carrots, peeled and grated
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons pickle relish
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 teaspoons pepper sauce, like Frank’s, or to taste
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation:
Cut the cabbage in half and remove the core. Cut each half in half and slice each resulting quarter into thin ribbons. Mix with carrots in a large, nonreactive bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients.
Pour the dressing over the cabbage and toss. Season to taste.
The coleslaw may be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for a few hours. Toss again before serving.
JOLLOF RICE
This is from Yewande Komolafe, also in the The New York Times cooking email. Yewande wrote, “A successful batch of jollof rice requires a few key ingredients (tomatoes, peppers, onions, a few herbs, spices and some stock) and a perfect sauce-to-rice ratio, so the cooked grains remain separate. I have found that the best, no-fuss way to do this is in the oven. Jollof is typically made with long-grain rice, though in Nigeria, parboiled rice is the norm. Most jollof is prepared over an open flame or on a stovetop. Missing from this oven version is the slightly smoky flavor you get from the little bits of rice that have browned on the bottom of your pan, but that’s nothing a pinch of smoked paprika can’t fix. Serve with braised goat or other stewed meats, and a side of fried plantains.”
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours
This was featured in “Yewande Komolafe’s 10 Essential Nigerian Recipes” and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020288-jollof-rice.
Ingredients
For the Obe Ata:
1 (14-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with their juices
1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and roughly chopped
1/2 medium red onion, peeled and roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 red habanero chile, stemmed
2 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil
For the Jollof Rice:
1/2 cup canola or other neutral oil
2 medium red onions, peeled, halved and thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
3 cups parboiled long-grain rice (such as Carolina Gold or Uncle Ben’s Original), basmati or jasmine rice (about 1 1/4 pounds)
5 fresh thyme sprigs
1 fresh bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups beef, chicken or vegetable stock
Preparation
Prepare the obe ata: Working in batches if needed, combine all the obe ata ingredients except the canola oil in a blender and purée on high until smooth. The liquid from the can of tomatoes should suffice, but you can add up to 1/4 cup of water if necessary to get the purée going. (You should have about 3 cups of purée.)
Heat the 2 tablespoons canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high. Add the purée and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer until the sauce is slightly reduced by about a third of its original volume, 18 to 20 minutes. (It should make about 2 cups. Obe ata can be cooled and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, or frozen for up to 1 month.)
Prepare the rice: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Heat the 1/2 cup canola oil in a large Dutch oven over medium until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove half the onions to a plate and set aside. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste, turmeric and smoked paprika, if using, and toast, stirring occasionally, until turmeric is fragrant and tomato paste has deepened to a dark red color, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the obe ata sauce and bring to a simmer over medium heat. The habanero oils love to disperse in the air, so you may want to turn on your stovetop fan or open a window while simmering the obe ata. Stir in the rice, thyme and bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the stock and cover with a lid. Transfer the pot to the oven and cook until rice is just tender, 35 minutes.
Remove the pot from the oven and let sit, covered (no peeking) for 15 minutes. Uncover, fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the reserved sautéed onions. Adjust seasoning, if necessary, and discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Serve warm.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
4 medium Sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 lb)
1/4 cup Packed brown sugar
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Can (8 oz) crushed pineapple
1 tablespoon Packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon Water
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup Chopped pecans
Directions
Wash sweet potatoes. Prick each 2 or 3 times with fork to allow steam to escape. Arrange in oven at least 1 inch apart. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until fork-tender, 8 to 10 mins. Cover & let stand 5 minutes.
Peel and slice potatoes. Place in 2-quart casserole. Add 1/4 cup butter and the salt. Mash until no lumps remain. Mix in pineapple. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 minutes. Stir and set aside.
Place 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, the water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until butter is melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after half the time. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Top sweet potato mixture with marshmallows. Microwave at HIGH (100 % until the marshmallows are melted and potatoes are heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
SOUTHERN MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is 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 growing up in Georgia. 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.”
Time: 35 minutes, plus cooling; Yield: 8 to 10 servings.
You can view this online at 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 20 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.
CLASSIC CRANBERRY SAUCE
This is from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “Nothing beats the puckery-sweet jolt of cranberry sauce. It's a sharp knife that cuts through all the starchy food on the menu. This recipe is for the traditionalists.” (If I might add, “YUM!!!”)
Time: 15 minutes, plus chilling; Yield: 2 cups
This was featured in “Essential Thanksgiving” (which I highly recommend looking at; go ahead, I’ll wait…), and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015427-classic-cranberry-sauce.
Ingredients
4 cups whole cranberries
6 tablespoons sugar
Pinch of salt
2 cups water
1/4 cup orange juice or Grand Marnier (optional)
2/3 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans (optional)
Preparation
In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, 2 cups water, the sugar and salt. Let the sauce boil until it thickens; the water will evaporate and the pectin in the cranberries will be activated as it cooks. Let it boil for at least 10 minutes, and up to 25 minutes. Remove from heat.
Stir in juice or liqueur, if using, then cover sauce well and chill. Sauce can be made up to this point 1 week in advance and kept refrigerated. A few hours before serving, stir in the pecans, if using.
SPICY COLESLAW
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This easy, crisp slaw can be made a few hours ahead of time. It goes well with ribs and a cold beer, fried chicken or whatever summer feast sparks your fancy.”
Yield: Serves 6; Time: 10 minutes, plus hours’ refrigeration
This was featured in “Lone Star”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012539-spicy-coleslaw.
Ingredients
1 medium head green cabbage
2 carrots, peeled and grated
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons pickle relish
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 teaspoons pepper sauce, like Frank’s, or to taste
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation:
Cut the cabbage in half and remove the core. Cut each half in half and slice each resulting quarter into thin ribbons. Mix with carrots in a large, nonreactive bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients.
Pour the dressing over the cabbage and toss. Season to taste.
The coleslaw may be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for a few hours. Toss again before serving.
JOLLOF RICE
This is from Yewande Komolafe, also in the The New York Times cooking email. Yewande wrote, “A successful batch of jollof rice requires a few key ingredients (tomatoes, peppers, onions, a few herbs, spices and some stock) and a perfect sauce-to-rice ratio, so the cooked grains remain separate. I have found that the best, no-fuss way to do this is in the oven. Jollof is typically made with long-grain rice, though in Nigeria, parboiled rice is the norm. Most jollof is prepared over an open flame or on a stovetop. Missing from this oven version is the slightly smoky flavor you get from the little bits of rice that have browned on the bottom of your pan, but that’s nothing a pinch of smoked paprika can’t fix. Serve with braised goat or other stewed meats, and a side of fried plantains.”
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours
This was featured in “Yewande Komolafe’s 10 Essential Nigerian Recipes” and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020288-jollof-rice.
Ingredients
For the Obe Ata:
1 (14-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with their juices
1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and roughly chopped
1/2 medium red onion, peeled and roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 red habanero chile, stemmed
2 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil
For the Jollof Rice:
1/2 cup canola or other neutral oil
2 medium red onions, peeled, halved and thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
3 cups parboiled long-grain rice (such as Carolina Gold or Uncle Ben’s Original), basmati or jasmine rice (about 1 1/4 pounds)
5 fresh thyme sprigs
1 fresh bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups beef, chicken or vegetable stock
Preparation
Prepare the obe ata: Working in batches if needed, combine all the obe ata ingredients except the canola oil in a blender and purée on high until smooth. The liquid from the can of tomatoes should suffice, but you can add up to 1/4 cup of water if necessary to get the purée going. (You should have about 3 cups of purée.)
Heat the 2 tablespoons canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high. Add the purée and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer until the sauce is slightly reduced by about a third of its original volume, 18 to 20 minutes. (It should make about 2 cups. Obe ata can be cooled and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, or frozen for up to 1 month.)
Prepare the rice: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Heat the 1/2 cup canola oil in a large Dutch oven over medium until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove half the onions to a plate and set aside. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste, turmeric and smoked paprika, if using, and toast, stirring occasionally, until turmeric is fragrant and tomato paste has deepened to a dark red color, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the obe ata sauce and bring to a simmer over medium heat. The habanero oils love to disperse in the air, so you may want to turn on your stovetop fan or open a window while simmering the obe ata. Stir in the rice, thyme and bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the stock and cover with a lid. Transfer the pot to the oven and cook until rice is just tender, 35 minutes.
Remove the pot from the oven and let sit, covered (no peeking) for 15 minutes. Uncover, fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the reserved sautéed onions. Adjust seasoning, if necessary, and discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Serve warm.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
4 medium Sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 lb)
1/4 cup Packed brown sugar
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Can (8 oz) crushed pineapple
1 tablespoon Packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon Water
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup Chopped pecans
Directions
Wash sweet potatoes. Prick each 2 or 3 times with fork to allow steam to escape. Arrange in oven at least 1 inch apart. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until fork-tender, 8 to 10 mins. Cover & let stand 5 minutes.
Peel and slice potatoes. Place in 2-quart casserole. Add 1/4 cup butter and the salt. Mash until no lumps remain. Mix in pineapple. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 minutes. Stir and set aside.
Place 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, the water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until butter is melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after half the time. Add marshmallows; toss to coat. Top sweet potato mixture with marshmallows. Microwave at HIGH (100 % until the marshmallows are melted and potatoes are heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.
ROASTED SQUASH AND APPLE CHOWDER WITH COLORFUL POTATOES
This is from the October 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 76. It starts off, “Puréed roasted butternut squash provides the creamy base for a hearty chowder. If making the chowder ahead, prepare the recipe through step 3, then assemble and reheat just before serving.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
2 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (6 cups), divided
3 medium apples, peeled and diced (3 cups), divided
2 large leeks, white parts cut into 1-inch chunks (1 cup), plus 1/2 cup thinly sliced leek greens, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 lb. multicolored potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup apple juice
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
Combine 5 cups butternut squash chunks, 2 cups diced apple, leek whites, oil, and maple syrup in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread squash mixture in single layer on prepared baking sheet, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook potato chunks and remaining 1 cup butternut squash in boiling, salted water 5 to 7 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.
Purée roasted vegetables in blender until smooth. Add purée and apple juice to large soup pot with 4 cups water. Whisk in vinegar, and heat over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Add boiled potatoes and squash, remaining 1 cup diced apple, and leek greens, and simmer 5 minutes, or until hot.
nutritional information Per 1 1/4-cup serving: Calories: 162; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 12 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
SOUTHERN MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is 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 growing up in Georgia. 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.”
Time: 35 minutes, plus cooling; Yield: 8 to 10 servings.
You can view this online at 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 20 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.
CLASSIC CRANBERRY SAUCE
This is from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “Nothing beats the puckery-sweet jolt of cranberry sauce. It's a sharp knife that cuts through all the starchy food on the menu. This recipe is for the traditionalists.” (If I might add, “YUM!!!”)
Time: 15 minutes, plus chilling; Yield: 2 cups
This was featured in “Essential Thanksgiving” (which I highly recommend looking at; go ahead, I’ll wait…), and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015427-classic-cranberry-sauce.
Ingredients
4 cups whole cranberries
6 tablespoons sugar
Pinch of salt
2 cups water
1/4 cup orange juice or Grand Marnier (optional)
2/3 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans (optional)
Preparation
In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, 2 cups water, the sugar and salt. Let the sauce boil until it thickens; the water will evaporate and the pectin in the cranberries will be activated as it cooks. Let it boil for at least 10 minutes, and up to 25 minutes. Remove from heat.
Stir in juice or liqueur, if using, then cover sauce well and chill. Sauce can be made up to this point 1 week in advance and kept refrigerated. A few hours before serving, stir in the pecans, if using.
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