It's finally Friday. Here are six vegetarian recipes to help you through the weekend, including Cauliflower Stir-Fry with Toasted Peanuts, Sautéed Broccoli Rabe, and Chickless Pot Pie. Enjoy!
GRILLED VEGETABLE AND BLACK BEAN FAJITAS
This yummy recipe is from The Scrumptious Pumpkin.
Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 12 fajitas, 6 servings (2 fajitas per serving; Difficulty: Easy
To view this online, click here
Ingredients
For the Grilled Vegetable and Black Bean Fajitas:
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 organic zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
16 ounces organic black beans, drained and thoroughly rinsed
1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1-1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
3/4 teaspoons cumin
3/4 teaspoons chili powder
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Fresh Homemade Salsa (recipe below)
1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and sliced
12 organic whole wheat tortillas
Salt
For the Fresh Homemade Salsa:
1 large tomato, diced
1/4 cup green onions (scallions), chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1 lime, freshly squeezed
Salt
Instructions
For the Grilled Vegetable and Black Bean Fajitas:
Prepare the grill for 375 degrees F.
Layer first the onion, then the bell pepper, and finally the zucchini on a grill vegetable basket. Season with salt. Cook for about 8 minutes, or until vegetables are softened. Add the black beans to the basket, season with additional salt, and cook about 2 minutes more, or until beans are heated through.
Meanwhile, as vegetables are cooking, prepare the spice mixture. To a large mixing bowl, add garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cumin, and chili powder. Season with a pinch of salt. Slowly whisk in extra virgin olive oil until well combined.
Immediately after removing the basket from the grill, pour the still-hot vegetables and beans into the mixing bowl. Stir and combine until the seasonings have melted into the vegetables and everything is well coated with oil.
Spoon the vegetable-black bean mixture onto whole wheat tortillas. Top with heaping spoonfuls of Fresh Homemade Salsa (recipe below) and slices of avocado. Roll up tortillas, and serve.
For the Fresh Homemade Salsa:
To a mixing bowl, add the tomato, green onion, garlic, jalapeño, and cilantro. Add the lime juice and season with salt. Stir until all ingredients are well combined.
Storage: refrigerate salsa in a covered, airtight container.
EASY BAKED BEANS
This comes from the October 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Baked beans were meant to be doctored up to suit a cook’s taste, so feel free to make these with more or less sugar, a spicier salsa or mustard, and add-ins such as soy sausage or soy hot dogs.” Serves 8.
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups dried red kidney beans
2 medium onions, thinly sliced (3 cups)
1 8-oz. jar medium salsa
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
3 Tbs. yellow mustard
Directions
Soak beans in 6 cups water overnight. Drain; reserve soaking liquid.
Coat Dutch oven with cooking spray, and heat over low heat. Add onions, cover, and cook 15 minutes, or until browned. Stir in 1 cup soaking liquid. Simmer 5 minutes, scraping up onion bits stuck to pot.
Stir in remaining ingredients and 5 cups water. Cover, and cook 1-1/2 hours. Uncover; simmer 1 hour more, or until sauce has thickened.
nutritional information per serving: Calories: 166; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 0.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Sodium: 566 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
SLOW-COOKER THREE-BEAN CHILI
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "You won't miss the meat in a spicy chili brimming with three kinds of beans."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 10 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Note: The recipe originally calls for “1 large vegetarian vegetable or chicken bouillon cube, crumbled”, but I’ve left out the “or chicken” part.
Ingredients
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15.5 ounces) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15.5 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup dried lentils (8 ounces), sorted and rinsed
1 large vegetarian vegetable or chicken bouillon cube, crumbled
1 envelope (1.25 ounces) chili seasoning mix
3 cups water
1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes and mild green chilies, undrained
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
Instructions
Mix all ingredients except tomatoes and tomato sauce in 3- to 4-quart slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 10 hours.
Stir in tomatoes and tomato sauce. Increase heat setting to high. Cover and cook 5 minutes or until heated through.
CAULIFLOWER STIR-FRY WITH TOASTED PEANUTS
This is from the Food Network, and begins, "This vegan dinner comes together super fast but is also very hearty. Toasting the peanuts in oil not only flavors the oil, it makes the nuts extra toasty and crisp. Broiling the cauliflower before adding to the skillet cooks out some of the water in the vegetable so the stir-fry stays nice and crisp-tender."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/cauliflower-stir-fry-with-toasted-peanuts-3589680.
Ingredients
1 cup jasmine rice
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup salted roasted peanuts
1 cup snow peas (about 4 ounces), trimmed
1 yellow bell pepper, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
3 scallions (white parts sliced, green parts cut into 2-inch pieces)
1/3 cup sweet Thai chili sauce
1-1/2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
Directions
Preheat the broiler. Cook the rice as the label directs. Meanwhile, toss the cauliflower with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper; spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Broil, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, about 10 minutes.
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the peanuts and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Remove to a small bowl with a slotted spoon and season with salt and pepper.
Add the snow peas, bell pepper and ginger to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the scallions (white and green parts) and cauliflower; toss. Add the chili sauce and soy sauce and continue to cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are glazed, about 2 minutes.
Fluff the rice with a fork; top each serving with the stir-fry, toasted peanuts and cilantro.
SAUTEED BROCCOLI RABE
This is from Ali Slagle at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Ali wrote, "Spicy broccoli rabe is often blanched in a big pot of salted water to tame some of its bitter sting, then sautéed with copious olive oil, dried chiles and garlic until silky. But this recipe streamlines and expedites that process: Toss the broccoli rabe in the garlicky oil, add a small quantity of water, cover and steam until fork-tender, then uncover. By the time the liquid has evaporated, the broccoli rabe will be ready. If you find it too bitter, just keep cooking; it will only grow sweeter and softer. Serve this dish any time you’d make a side of broccoli, with meat, fish, beans or other proteins."
Prep Time: 10 minuts; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024922-sauteed-broccoli-rabe. While you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, if you haven't already. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 bunch broccoli rabe (about 1 pound), cut crosswise into thirds
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, plus more to taste
Salt
Preparation
In a large Dutch oven or skillet with a lid, heat the oil and garlic over medium. When the garlic is sizzling and some edges are golden, 2 to 3 minutes, add the broccoli rabe, crushed red pepper and a big pinch of salt. Toss to coat in the oil.
Add 1/4 cup water, cover and cook until the thick stems are tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Uncover and toss until the liquid has evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Taste a piece: If it’s still too bitter for you, continue to cook uncovered over medium, stirring occasionally, until it’s delicious, 5 to 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and crushed red pepper.
CHICKLESS POT PIE
This comes from country star Trisha Yearwood, who also has her own show on The Food Network (called Trisha's Southern Kitchen). The recipe starts off, “Trisha Yearwood's vegetarian take on chicken pot pie is just as decadent without the meat. Although the luscious vegetable filling with peas, carrots and potatoes could be a meal on its own, wrapping it in premade pie dough seals in flavor with a crispy crust.” Total Time: 1 hr 25 min; Prep: 25 min; Inactive: 10 min; Cook: 50 min; Yield: 8 servings; Level: easy
Read more online at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/chickless-pot-pie-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 cup frozen green peas
1 cup small diced potatoes
1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup butter substitute, such as Earth Balance
1/3 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1-3/4 cups vegetable broth
2/3 cup almond milk
Two 9-inch unbaked pie crusts, lard free
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a jelly-roll pan or baking sheet with foil to place the pie on before cooking; it will keep any filling from dripping into the oven and burning.
In a medium saucepan, combine the carrots, peas, potatoes and celery. Cover with water, bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain and set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the onions in the butter substitute until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, celery seed and garlic powder. Cook for 2 minutes to get the flour taste out. Slowly stir in the broth and then add the milk. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until thick, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the drained vegetables.
Roll out one of the unbaked crusts to a 13-inch diameter and place in a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Pour the mixture into the bottom crust. Roll out the second pie crust and place on top. Seal the edges and cut small slits in the top to allow steam to escape. Bake until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is bubbly, 30 to 35 minutes. If the top of the pie becomes too dark, loosely cover with foil and continue cooking. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Friday, January 30, 2026
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Bread
I love homemade bread. If you do, too, today's post is for you. Check out the Magic Caterpillar Peanut Butter Bread, the Browned Butter Jalapeno Cornbread, and the rest of today's recipes. Enjoy!
SCHOOL LUNCHROOM CAFETERIA ROLLS
This recipe was submitted to Allrecipes by MOMMY2THREEANGELS, who wrote, "These rolls are JUST like the ones the cafeteria ladies make in the school lunch rooms! My 8-year-old daughter loves the cafeteria rolls and said my recipe was even better! You can't mess these up! They are super easy and everyone will want the recipe. We eat the leftovers for breakfast or put cheese and turkey in warmed rolls for a quick lunch!"
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 23 minutes; Additional Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 57 minutes; Servings: 22; Yield: 44 rolls
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/71528/school-lunchroom-cafeteria-rolls/.
Ingredients
3 cups warm water
1 tablespoon white sugar
2/3 cup white sugar
3 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tablespoon salt
10 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter, melted
Preparation
In a large bowl, mix together the warm water and 1 tablespoon sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top, and let it stand for about 10 minutes, until the yeast is foamy.
Mix the milk, eggs and salt into the yeast. Measure the flour into a separate bowl, add 2/3 cup sugar, and crumble the shortening into it using your fingers until it is barely noticeable. Gradually stir the flour into the wet ingredients. Mix using a wooden spoon until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and starts to form a ball around the spoon. Cover with a hot wet towel that has been wrung out, and set in a warm place to rise until double in bulk. This should take about 45 minutes.
When the dough has risen, pour the melted butter over it, and knead for about 2 minutes. Let the dough rest for a few minutes, then roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1 inch thick. Use a knife to cut into 2 inch squares. Roll squares into balls, and place into greased round pans, spacing about 1 inch apart. Let rise again until doubled in size. You could also refrigerate the dough, and let it rise overnight for baking the next day.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bake the rolls for about 12 minutes, until golden brown.
ALL-PURPOSE BISCUITS
This is from Sam Sifton at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Sam wrote, "Homemade biscuits are what take us into the kitchen today to cook: fat, flaky mounds of quick bread, golden brown, with a significant crumb. Composed of flour, baking powder, fat and a liquid, then baked in a hot oven, they are an excellent sop for syrup, molasses or honey. They are marvelous layered with country ham or smothered in white sausage gravy, with eggs, with grits. They make a great Thanksgiving side. And if you've never made them before, you'll be delighted to know that biscuits are easy to make. Really. Discover more ideas for the big day in our best Thanksgiving recipes collection."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in "A Quest for New York’s Perfect Biscuit," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013741-all-purpose-biscuits. While you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter. I highly recommend doing so, if you haven't already. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 scant tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, preferably European style
1 cup whole milk
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl. Transfer to a food processor. Cut butter into pats and add to flour, then pulse 5 or 6 times until the mixture resembles rough crumbs. (Alternatively, cut butter into flour in the mixing bowl using a fork or a pastry cutter.) Return dough to bowl, add milk and stir with a fork until it forms a rough ball.
Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and pat it down into a rough rectangle, about an inch thick. Fold it over and gently pat it down again. Repeat two more times. Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.
Gently pat out the dough some more, so that the rectangle is roughly 10 inches by 6 inches. Cut dough into biscuits using a floured biscuit cutter (or even a glass, though its duller edge may result in slightly less tall biscuits). Do not twist cutter when cutting; this crimps the edges of the biscuit and impedes its rise.
Place biscuits on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
BISQUICK DUMPLINGS
This recipe is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "With a fluffy, light texture, dumplings are somewhat like a very moist biscuit. The Bisquick drop dumplings require only 2 ingredients and 5 minutes to mix up. Dropped by spoonfuls onto simmering stew or soup, they expand into their fluffy, cloud-like texture."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups Original Bisquick™ Baking Mix
2/3 cup 2% milk
Chopped fresh parsley, if desired
Instructions
In medium bowl, mix Bisquick and milk just until Bisquick is moistened and a soft dough forms.
Drop dough by large spoonfuls onto boiling stew; reduce heat until liquid maintains a simmer.
Cook uncovered 10 minutes. Cover and cook and additional 10 minutes or until dumplings are no longer doughy in the center.
Spoon stew into serving bowls. Use slotted spoon to carefully place a dumpling on top of each serving. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
EGG CINNAMON BREAD
I've been making this for years – actually, for decades – and almost always gotten rave reviews on this recipe. It got to the point that several people have specifically requested this recipe – and, if I'm visiting, it's pretty much expected that I'll bake up a batch. This recipe makes three loaves.
Ingredients
2 envelopes yeast
1 C warm water
1-2 T honey
1 C milk (Note: 1 cup soy milk can be used in place of the milk)
1/2 C margarine (1 stick)
2 eggs, beaten
6-7 C unbleached white flour
1/4-1/2 C margarine (1 stick)
2-3 C cinnamon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions
Stir honey into warm water. Stir in yeast. Set aside.
Heat milk until warm. Pour into large bowl and add 1/2 C margarine, cut into 4 pieces. Stir, allowing margarine to melt. Cool to room temperature. Stir in salt, yeast mixture and eggs. Add flour, 2 cups at a time until stiff. Place dough on floured towel and knead for 4-5 minutes.
Wash and dry bowl. Oil dough, place in bowl, cover with clean towel and place out of draft in a warm place. Allow to rise for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, until double.
Melt 1/4-1/2 C margarine. Grease 3 loaf pans. Punch dough down, then divide into three sections. Roll out with rolling pin, then brush with melted margarine. Spread cinnamon sugar over melted margarine, then roll all three sections into loaves. Place in pans, place clean towel over pans, and allow to rise again for 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
Remove towel, then place loaf pans into preheated 350 degree F oven. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
BROWNED BUTTER JALAPENO CORNBREAD
This incomes from the Spring/Summer 2019 issue of Renew by UnitedHealthcare, page 26. It begins, "Browned butter adds nutty depth and jalapeno adds a kick to this classic crowd-pleaser, made mildly sweet with honey and moist with yogurt." Makes 9 servings
Ingredients
1/4 cup better
1/3 cup honey
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter foams, then turns to a toasty brown color, about 2 minutes. Remove rom heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the browned butter to a 9X9 inch baking pan, swirling to coat the bottom.
In a medium bowl, combine the remaining butter, honey, egg, yogurt and milk, whisking to combine.
Add the flour, cornmeal, salt and baking powder all at once. Stir together only until combined. Stir in the halapeno. Spread batter in prepared pan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Serve warm.
Nutrition: Calories: 207, Total Fat: 6.6 g; Saturated Fat: 3.8 g; Cholesterol: 36.5 mg; Sodium: 87 mg; Carbs: 33.6 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.5 g; Protein: 4.3 g
MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD
Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the local PBS station. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live. However, you might be able to check out a few episodes by Google-ing his name for the latest places that show him, or on YouTube. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 1 loaf.
Ingredients
1 package Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup milk
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3-1/4 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.
Directions:
Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.
Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.
Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)
About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.
Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.
SCHOOL LUNCHROOM CAFETERIA ROLLS
This recipe was submitted to Allrecipes by MOMMY2THREEANGELS, who wrote, "These rolls are JUST like the ones the cafeteria ladies make in the school lunch rooms! My 8-year-old daughter loves the cafeteria rolls and said my recipe was even better! You can't mess these up! They are super easy and everyone will want the recipe. We eat the leftovers for breakfast or put cheese and turkey in warmed rolls for a quick lunch!"
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 23 minutes; Additional Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 57 minutes; Servings: 22; Yield: 44 rolls
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/71528/school-lunchroom-cafeteria-rolls/.
Ingredients
3 cups warm water
1 tablespoon white sugar
2/3 cup white sugar
3 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tablespoon salt
10 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter, melted
Preparation
In a large bowl, mix together the warm water and 1 tablespoon sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top, and let it stand for about 10 minutes, until the yeast is foamy.
Mix the milk, eggs and salt into the yeast. Measure the flour into a separate bowl, add 2/3 cup sugar, and crumble the shortening into it using your fingers until it is barely noticeable. Gradually stir the flour into the wet ingredients. Mix using a wooden spoon until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and starts to form a ball around the spoon. Cover with a hot wet towel that has been wrung out, and set in a warm place to rise until double in bulk. This should take about 45 minutes.
When the dough has risen, pour the melted butter over it, and knead for about 2 minutes. Let the dough rest for a few minutes, then roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1 inch thick. Use a knife to cut into 2 inch squares. Roll squares into balls, and place into greased round pans, spacing about 1 inch apart. Let rise again until doubled in size. You could also refrigerate the dough, and let it rise overnight for baking the next day.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bake the rolls for about 12 minutes, until golden brown.
ALL-PURPOSE BISCUITS
This is from Sam Sifton at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Sam wrote, "Homemade biscuits are what take us into the kitchen today to cook: fat, flaky mounds of quick bread, golden brown, with a significant crumb. Composed of flour, baking powder, fat and a liquid, then baked in a hot oven, they are an excellent sop for syrup, molasses or honey. They are marvelous layered with country ham or smothered in white sausage gravy, with eggs, with grits. They make a great Thanksgiving side. And if you've never made them before, you'll be delighted to know that biscuits are easy to make. Really. Discover more ideas for the big day in our best Thanksgiving recipes collection."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in "A Quest for New York’s Perfect Biscuit," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013741-all-purpose-biscuits. While you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter. I highly recommend doing so, if you haven't already. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 scant tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, preferably European style
1 cup whole milk
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl. Transfer to a food processor. Cut butter into pats and add to flour, then pulse 5 or 6 times until the mixture resembles rough crumbs. (Alternatively, cut butter into flour in the mixing bowl using a fork or a pastry cutter.) Return dough to bowl, add milk and stir with a fork until it forms a rough ball.
Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and pat it down into a rough rectangle, about an inch thick. Fold it over and gently pat it down again. Repeat two more times. Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.
Gently pat out the dough some more, so that the rectangle is roughly 10 inches by 6 inches. Cut dough into biscuits using a floured biscuit cutter (or even a glass, though its duller edge may result in slightly less tall biscuits). Do not twist cutter when cutting; this crimps the edges of the biscuit and impedes its rise.
Place biscuits on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
BISQUICK DUMPLINGS
This recipe is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "With a fluffy, light texture, dumplings are somewhat like a very moist biscuit. The Bisquick drop dumplings require only 2 ingredients and 5 minutes to mix up. Dropped by spoonfuls onto simmering stew or soup, they expand into their fluffy, cloud-like texture."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups Original Bisquick™ Baking Mix
2/3 cup 2% milk
Chopped fresh parsley, if desired
Instructions
In medium bowl, mix Bisquick and milk just until Bisquick is moistened and a soft dough forms.
Drop dough by large spoonfuls onto boiling stew; reduce heat until liquid maintains a simmer.
Cook uncovered 10 minutes. Cover and cook and additional 10 minutes or until dumplings are no longer doughy in the center.
Spoon stew into serving bowls. Use slotted spoon to carefully place a dumpling on top of each serving. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
EGG CINNAMON BREAD
I've been making this for years – actually, for decades – and almost always gotten rave reviews on this recipe. It got to the point that several people have specifically requested this recipe – and, if I'm visiting, it's pretty much expected that I'll bake up a batch. This recipe makes three loaves.
Ingredients
2 envelopes yeast
1 C warm water
1-2 T honey
1 C milk (Note: 1 cup soy milk can be used in place of the milk)
1/2 C margarine (1 stick)
2 eggs, beaten
6-7 C unbleached white flour
1/4-1/2 C margarine (1 stick)
2-3 C cinnamon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions
Stir honey into warm water. Stir in yeast. Set aside.
Heat milk until warm. Pour into large bowl and add 1/2 C margarine, cut into 4 pieces. Stir, allowing margarine to melt. Cool to room temperature. Stir in salt, yeast mixture and eggs. Add flour, 2 cups at a time until stiff. Place dough on floured towel and knead for 4-5 minutes.
Wash and dry bowl. Oil dough, place in bowl, cover with clean towel and place out of draft in a warm place. Allow to rise for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, until double.
Melt 1/4-1/2 C margarine. Grease 3 loaf pans. Punch dough down, then divide into three sections. Roll out with rolling pin, then brush with melted margarine. Spread cinnamon sugar over melted margarine, then roll all three sections into loaves. Place in pans, place clean towel over pans, and allow to rise again for 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
Remove towel, then place loaf pans into preheated 350 degree F oven. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
BROWNED BUTTER JALAPENO CORNBREAD
This incomes from the Spring/Summer 2019 issue of Renew by UnitedHealthcare, page 26. It begins, "Browned butter adds nutty depth and jalapeno adds a kick to this classic crowd-pleaser, made mildly sweet with honey and moist with yogurt." Makes 9 servings
Ingredients
1/4 cup better
1/3 cup honey
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter foams, then turns to a toasty brown color, about 2 minutes. Remove rom heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the browned butter to a 9X9 inch baking pan, swirling to coat the bottom.
In a medium bowl, combine the remaining butter, honey, egg, yogurt and milk, whisking to combine.
Add the flour, cornmeal, salt and baking powder all at once. Stir together only until combined. Stir in the halapeno. Spread batter in prepared pan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Serve warm.
Nutrition: Calories: 207, Total Fat: 6.6 g; Saturated Fat: 3.8 g; Cholesterol: 36.5 mg; Sodium: 87 mg; Carbs: 33.6 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.5 g; Protein: 4.3 g
MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD
Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the local PBS station. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live. However, you might be able to check out a few episodes by Google-ing his name for the latest places that show him, or on YouTube. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 1 loaf.
Ingredients
1 package Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup milk
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3-1/4 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.
Directions:
Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.
Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.
Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)
About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.
Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's offerings include Mac and Cheese and Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas. Enjoy!
SWEET AND SPICY TOFU WITH SOBA NODDLES
This is from Sarah Copeland at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yummy recipe, Sarah wrote, "If you don’t cook tofu often (or even if you do), this unfussy tofu dish is for you: There’s no flour-dredging or shallow-frying, and no marinating at all. As long as you pat the tofu dry (a bit fussy, but not by much), the vegetable oil’s high smoke point will yield crisp edges, while the sesame oil imparts flavor, putting you well on your way to making tofu taste great. What’s more, a ginger-and-garlic-laced soy sauce coats noodles and tofu alike, giving you chopstick after chopstick of toothsome pleasure. Serve these warm or cold, and be generous with the cool, crispy vegetables on top, especially for summer picnics where you can stretch this to serve 6 or even 8 as a side."
Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019471-sweet-and-spicy-tofu-with-soba-noodles. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1-1/2 (14-ounce) packages firm tofu, drained
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 (8-ounce) package all-buckwheat soba noodles
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
1 small bunch green onions, white and green parts separated, cut into 2-inch matchsticks
1/3 cup soy sauce or tamari
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
Pinch of red-pepper flakes
4 mini or 1 large, thin-skinned cucumber, thinly sliced
4 radishes, thinly sliced
Handful of cilantro leaves, for serving
1 lime, cut in wedges, for serving
Preparation
Drain the tofu in a colander, or dry on paper-towel lined plate while you prep the remaining ingredients, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil for the soba noodles.
Cut tofu into 1-inch cubes. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil. When the oil shimmers, add the tofu in a single layer, in batches if needed and cook until golden on all sides, turning as needed when the tofu releases easily from the pan, about 8 to 10 minutes total. Lift the tofu out of the pan with a spatula and transfer to a new paper-towel-lined plate.
Meanwhile, cook the soba in boiling water for 5 to 8 minutes (or according to package directions), until just al dente, stirring frequently. Drain and rinse in cold water until the noodles no longer feel sticky.
Add garlic, ginger and whites of the onions to the skillet, along with the remaining tablespoon sesame oil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the oil is fragrant, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.
Add cooked and drained soba noodles to the pan, along with soy sauce, sugar, black pepper, red pepper and reserved green onions; toss together until the noodles are coated. Gently toss in the tofu until all the pieces are covered in the sauce.
Remove from the heat, and sprinkle cucumber, radish and cilantro on top. Serve warm or at room temperature, with lime.
MAC AND CHEESE
This recipe is from Ina Garten and was posted on the Food Network. Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
Vegetable oil
1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi
1 quart milk
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12 ounces Gruyere, grated (4 cups)
8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 pound fresh tomatoes (4 small)
1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4-quart) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.
Slice the tomatoes and arrange on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the Food Network kitchen, and begins, "This sweet potato casserole is sprinkled with a nutty crumb topping to create a pleasantly crunchy contrast to the creamy and soft mashed sweet potatoes down below. The filling gets an extra special pumpkin pie(ish) treatment with brown sugar and vanilla for a deep caramel flavor. (In fact, leftovers can be heated up and topped with a scoop of ice cream just like pie.) Want to make ahead for Thanksgiving or another special holiday? Not a problem. The casserole ingredients can be mixed and transferred to a baking dish. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake but leave off the topping. Store it separately at room temperature in an air-right container and sprinkle it on right before baking."
Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/sweet-potato-casserole-3364945.
Ingredients
Filling:
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for buttering the baking dish
3 to 4 large sweet potatoes (about 1-3/4 pounds), peeled and cubed
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large eggs
Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Directions
Special equipment: a 2-quart baking dish
For the sweet potatoes: Add 1-3/4 pounds peeled and cubed sweet potatoes to a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and cool. Mash the sweet potatoes.
For the filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart baking dish.
Whisk together the butter, mashed sweet potatoes, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and eggs in a large bowl. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
For the topping: Combine the flour, brown sugar, butter and salt in a medium bowl until moist and the mixture clumps together. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the top of the sweet potatoes in an even layer. Bake until mostly set in the center and golden on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot.
BLACK BEAN AND CORN QUESADILLAS
This was submitted by EFasse to allrecipes. The recipe begins, "These black bean quesadillas are really cheesy, a little bit spicy, and a little bit sweet. My vegetarian husband goes crazy over them every time! Delicious with salsa and sour cream."
Prep Time: 10 mins; Cook Time: 30 mins; Total Time: 40 mins; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/104850/black-bean-and-corn-quesadillas/.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (10 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1/4 cup salsa
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons butter, or as needed
8 (8 inch) flour tortillas
1-1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in hot oil until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in beans and corn, then add salsa, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes; mix well. Cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Melt about 1-1/2 teaspoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the skillet. Sprinkle with 1/4 of the Monterey Jack cheese, then top with ¼ of the bean mixture. Place another tortilla on top; cook until the bottom is golden, then carefully flip and cook until the other side is golden. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
Cook’s Note
This is a very versatile recipe. Feel free to play around and add chicken or veggies if you desire.
CREAMY TOMATO SPAGHETTI WITH PRESERVED LEMON
This is from Nargisse Benkabbou in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yummines, Nargisse wrote, "Something magical happens when preserved lemon and tomato are cooked together. In this quick and simple pasta, fragrant lemon permeates the tomato paste, creating a beautifully aromatic (and pantry-friendly) sauce with the addition of heavy cream. Spaghetti is tossed with the sauce, which ends up subtly sweet and yet bright and tangy — a comforting weeknight twist on the always beloved tomato pasta."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026820-creamy-tomato-spaghetti-with-preserved-lemon. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
Fine sea salt and black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced or crushed in a garlic press
5 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 preserved lemon, seeded and minced (about 2 tablespoons), plus more to taste
2 teaspoons honey, plus more to taste
1 cup heavy cream
1 pound spaghetti (or other long pasta)
Finely grated Parmesan (optional), for garnish
Preparation
Place a large pot of water over high heat, add 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pan or pot over medium-low. Add the onion, garlic, tomato paste, 1 tablespoon of the minced preserved lemon, the honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant and the onion starts to soften, about 5 minutes.
Mix in the cream, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with more preserved lemon, honey and salt as necessary. Bring to a gentle simmer, then turn off the heat and cover with a lid to keep the sauce warm.
Cook the spaghetti in the boiling water until almost al dente according to the package instructions, 6 to 7 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain pasta.
Over medium-low heat, add the spaghetti to the sauce along with 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water, and toss to coat. Continue to toss until the spaghetti is al dente, adding more cooking water as needed to achieve a glossy sauce that clings to the pasta, 3 to 4 minutes.
Serve warm, topped with Parmesan if desired.
SWEET AND SPICY TOFU WITH SOBA NODDLES
This is from Sarah Copeland at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yummy recipe, Sarah wrote, "If you don’t cook tofu often (or even if you do), this unfussy tofu dish is for you: There’s no flour-dredging or shallow-frying, and no marinating at all. As long as you pat the tofu dry (a bit fussy, but not by much), the vegetable oil’s high smoke point will yield crisp edges, while the sesame oil imparts flavor, putting you well on your way to making tofu taste great. What’s more, a ginger-and-garlic-laced soy sauce coats noodles and tofu alike, giving you chopstick after chopstick of toothsome pleasure. Serve these warm or cold, and be generous with the cool, crispy vegetables on top, especially for summer picnics where you can stretch this to serve 6 or even 8 as a side."
Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019471-sweet-and-spicy-tofu-with-soba-noodles. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1-1/2 (14-ounce) packages firm tofu, drained
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 (8-ounce) package all-buckwheat soba noodles
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
1 small bunch green onions, white and green parts separated, cut into 2-inch matchsticks
1/3 cup soy sauce or tamari
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
Pinch of red-pepper flakes
4 mini or 1 large, thin-skinned cucumber, thinly sliced
4 radishes, thinly sliced
Handful of cilantro leaves, for serving
1 lime, cut in wedges, for serving
Preparation
Drain the tofu in a colander, or dry on paper-towel lined plate while you prep the remaining ingredients, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil for the soba noodles.
Cut tofu into 1-inch cubes. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil. When the oil shimmers, add the tofu in a single layer, in batches if needed and cook until golden on all sides, turning as needed when the tofu releases easily from the pan, about 8 to 10 minutes total. Lift the tofu out of the pan with a spatula and transfer to a new paper-towel-lined plate.
Meanwhile, cook the soba in boiling water for 5 to 8 minutes (or according to package directions), until just al dente, stirring frequently. Drain and rinse in cold water until the noodles no longer feel sticky.
Add garlic, ginger and whites of the onions to the skillet, along with the remaining tablespoon sesame oil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the oil is fragrant, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.
Add cooked and drained soba noodles to the pan, along with soy sauce, sugar, black pepper, red pepper and reserved green onions; toss together until the noodles are coated. Gently toss in the tofu until all the pieces are covered in the sauce.
Remove from the heat, and sprinkle cucumber, radish and cilantro on top. Serve warm or at room temperature, with lime.
MAC AND CHEESE
This recipe is from Ina Garten and was posted on the Food Network. Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
Vegetable oil
1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi
1 quart milk
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12 ounces Gruyere, grated (4 cups)
8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 pound fresh tomatoes (4 small)
1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4-quart) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.
Slice the tomatoes and arrange on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the Food Network kitchen, and begins, "This sweet potato casserole is sprinkled with a nutty crumb topping to create a pleasantly crunchy contrast to the creamy and soft mashed sweet potatoes down below. The filling gets an extra special pumpkin pie(ish) treatment with brown sugar and vanilla for a deep caramel flavor. (In fact, leftovers can be heated up and topped with a scoop of ice cream just like pie.) Want to make ahead for Thanksgiving or another special holiday? Not a problem. The casserole ingredients can be mixed and transferred to a baking dish. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake but leave off the topping. Store it separately at room temperature in an air-right container and sprinkle it on right before baking."
Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/sweet-potato-casserole-3364945.
Ingredients
Filling:
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for buttering the baking dish
3 to 4 large sweet potatoes (about 1-3/4 pounds), peeled and cubed
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large eggs
Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Directions
Special equipment: a 2-quart baking dish
For the sweet potatoes: Add 1-3/4 pounds peeled and cubed sweet potatoes to a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and cool. Mash the sweet potatoes.
For the filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart baking dish.
Whisk together the butter, mashed sweet potatoes, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and eggs in a large bowl. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
For the topping: Combine the flour, brown sugar, butter and salt in a medium bowl until moist and the mixture clumps together. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the top of the sweet potatoes in an even layer. Bake until mostly set in the center and golden on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot.
BLACK BEAN AND CORN QUESADILLAS
This was submitted by EFasse to allrecipes. The recipe begins, "These black bean quesadillas are really cheesy, a little bit spicy, and a little bit sweet. My vegetarian husband goes crazy over them every time! Delicious with salsa and sour cream."
Prep Time: 10 mins; Cook Time: 30 mins; Total Time: 40 mins; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/104850/black-bean-and-corn-quesadillas/.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (10 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1/4 cup salsa
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons butter, or as needed
8 (8 inch) flour tortillas
1-1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in hot oil until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in beans and corn, then add salsa, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes; mix well. Cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Melt about 1-1/2 teaspoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the skillet. Sprinkle with 1/4 of the Monterey Jack cheese, then top with ¼ of the bean mixture. Place another tortilla on top; cook until the bottom is golden, then carefully flip and cook until the other side is golden. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
Cook’s Note
This is a very versatile recipe. Feel free to play around and add chicken or veggies if you desire.
CREAMY TOMATO SPAGHETTI WITH PRESERVED LEMON
This is from Nargisse Benkabbou in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yummines, Nargisse wrote, "Something magical happens when preserved lemon and tomato are cooked together. In this quick and simple pasta, fragrant lemon permeates the tomato paste, creating a beautifully aromatic (and pantry-friendly) sauce with the addition of heavy cream. Spaghetti is tossed with the sauce, which ends up subtly sweet and yet bright and tangy — a comforting weeknight twist on the always beloved tomato pasta."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026820-creamy-tomato-spaghetti-with-preserved-lemon. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
Fine sea salt and black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced or crushed in a garlic press
5 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 preserved lemon, seeded and minced (about 2 tablespoons), plus more to taste
2 teaspoons honey, plus more to taste
1 cup heavy cream
1 pound spaghetti (or other long pasta)
Finely grated Parmesan (optional), for garnish
Preparation
Place a large pot of water over high heat, add 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pan or pot over medium-low. Add the onion, garlic, tomato paste, 1 tablespoon of the minced preserved lemon, the honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant and the onion starts to soften, about 5 minutes.
Mix in the cream, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with more preserved lemon, honey and salt as necessary. Bring to a gentle simmer, then turn off the heat and cover with a lid to keep the sauce warm.
Cook the spaghetti in the boiling water until almost al dente according to the package instructions, 6 to 7 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain pasta.
Over medium-low heat, add the spaghetti to the sauce along with 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water, and toss to coat. Continue to toss until the spaghetti is al dente, adding more cooking water as needed to achieve a glossy sauce that clings to the pasta, 3 to 4 minutes.
Serve warm, topped with Parmesan if desired.
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's vegetarian offerings include Mexicali Rose Taco Salad and Soft Black Bean Tacos With Salsa and Cabbage. Enjoy!
BLACK BEAN AND POBLANO TACOS
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “There are many kinds of tacos, some piled high and overstuffed and some more minimal, meant to be more a snack than a meal. These little tacos are in the second category, similar to what you might find in a Mexican market for a quick bite. Savory black beans and roasted poblano chiles make a satisfying vegetarian version. Fresh soft corn tortillas, hot off the griddle, are essential.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings.
This was featured in “The Unstuffy Taco” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 pound black beans, rinsed and soaked 4 to 6 hours, or overnight if possible
1 small onion, halved
1 bay leaf
1 large sprig epazote (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
4 poblano chiles
Soft corn tortillas
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella or Oaxacan-style string cheese, shredded
1/2 pound queso fresco, available in Latino groceries
8 ounces crème fraîche or Mexican crema
Preparation
Drain beans, put in medium pot, add water to cover and bring to a boil over hight heat. Add onion, bay leaf, epazote and salt and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 1 hour, longer if necessary, adding water occasionally if liquid falls below surface of beans. When beans are tender, taste and adjust salt. Keep beans warm in their broth.
Meanwhile, roast poblano chiles over a charcoal grill, under the broiler or directly on a gas stovetop burners until skins are completely blackened and blistered. Set chiles aside to cool, then split lengthwise. Scrape away skins and seeds with a paring knife. Cut cleaned chiles into 1/2-inch ribbons, transfer to small bowl and season lightly with salt.
To serve, warm the tortillas on a hot griddle or cast iron pan over a burner. Put 2 warm tortillas side by side on a small plate. With a slotted spoon, place 2 tablespoons beans on each tortilla. Top with a few shreds of mozzarella and 2 or 3 strips of poblano. Crumble a little queso fresco and drizzle about 1 teaspoon crème fraîche on each taco.
SOFT BLACK BEAN TACOS WITH SALSA AND CABBAGE
This comes from Martha Rose Shulman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Canned black beans and lots of cabbage combine in a quick, utterly satisfying one-dish taco dinner. They can be served open-faced or folded over.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: about 20 minutes.
This was featured in “Quick One-Dish Meals, Some Cooking Required” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola or grape seed oil
1 teaspoon medium-hot chili powder (more to taste)
1 teaspoon ground lightly toasted cumin seeds (more to taste)
2 cans black beans, with liquid
Salt to taste
8 corn tortillas
1 cup fresh or bottled salsa
3 ounces either queso fresco, feta, or sharp cheddar, grated or crumbled
2 cups shredded cabbage
Preparation
Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the chili powder and ground cumin. Allow the spices to sizzle for about half a minute, until very fragrant, and stir in the black beans and 1/2 cup water. Cook, stirring and mashing the beans with the back of your spoon, for 5 to 10 minutes, until thick and fragrant. Be careful that you don’t let the beans dry out too much. If they do, add a little more water. Remove from the heat.
Heat the tortillas, two or three at a time, in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, or in a microwave. Top with the black beans, salsa, cheese and cabbage. Fold the filled tortillas over if desired and serve. Alternatively, one at a time, place a tortilla on a plate, top with the beans and cheese and heat through for 30 seconds to a minute in a microwave. Then top with salsa and a generous handful of cabbage, and serve.
Tip
Make fresh salsa with 2 or 3 chopped roma tomatoes, 1 or 2 jalapeños or serrano chiles, a little chopped onion or shallot if desired, salt, a squeeze of lime juice, and chopped fresh cilantro.
MUSHROOM TACOS
This is from Runner's World and can be viewed online here. Recipe feeds 2-3 runners; Time needed: 30-45 minutes
What you’ll need:
Pound of scrubbed assorted mushrooms (creminis and portabellos work well)
1 yellow onion
2 cloves garlic
6 small corn tortillas
1 orange
1 lime
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons dark chili powder
1 teaspoon oregano
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste
Cilantro
How to make it:
Dice up one onion, setting aside three tablespoons for onion topping. Cut mushrooms into large chunks.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high-heat. Add onions and mushrooms and sauté for about 10 minutes until onions are tender and mushrooms begin to brown.
Mince garlic. Juice orange and lime. Reserve two wedges of lime.
Add garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder to onions and mushroom.
Saute for 30 seconds until garlic is aromatic, then add orange and lime juice, along with about a teaspoon of salt.
Cook for two to three minutes until the juice reduces.
Heat tortillas individually in a dry pan on the stove or all together wrapped in a towel in the microwave.
Spoon mushroom mix into tortillas and garnish with reserved raw onion and chopped cilantro. Enjoy!
MEXICAN ROSE TACO SALAD
This is from Vegetarian Times and begins, "Pick up the festive flavors of Mexico in this robust main-course salad. This would also make a beckoning brunch main dish. In either case, offer a basket of hot corn or flour tortillas as wrappers. To underscore the taco flavor, garnish this salad with whole or crushed taco chips, if desired." Yield: 4 to 6 servings.
This can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 head red leaf lettuce, rinsed
15-oz. can black or navy beans, drained and rinsed
15 1/4-oz. can corn, drained
6-oz. can pitted black olives, drained
1 bunch scallions, cut into 1-inch lengths
2 medium-sized tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 ripe avocado, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup loosely packed fresh coriander leaves
1 to 2 jalapeno chiles, thinly sliced, for garnish
Dressing
1/2 cup olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 tsp. chili powder, or to taste
3 Tbs. taco sauce
1 Tbs. granulated sugar, or to taste
Instructions:
Dry lettuce leaves, trim off tough ends and line salad bowl with leaves.
Combine beans, corn kernels, olives, scallions and tomatoes in a mixing bowl and toss to combine. Add avocado and coriander leaves and stir in gently.
To make dressing, combine ingredients in bowl and beat together to combine. Toss salad ingredients with dressing.
To serve, scoop bean mixture into the salad bowl. Garnish with sliced jalapeños.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 470; Protein: 20 g; Total Fat: 30 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 46 g; Cholesterol: mg; Sodium: 280 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: g
SOFT BEAN TACOS
This also comes from Vegetarian Times. Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
1/4 cup water
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (optional)
16-oz. can spicy fat-free refried beans
1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, reduced-fat if desired, or soy cheese
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap tortillas in aluminum foil and warm in oven.
In large saucepan, combine water and bell pepper. Cover and cook over medium heat, 2 minutes. Add corn, green onions, jalapeño pepper and refried beans. Stir gently until mixture is heated through, about 5 minutes.
Remove tortillas from oven. Spread some of the filling on one half of each tortilla, then sprinkle with a small amount of cheese. Fold over and arrange on individual plates. Top with salsa and yogurt if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 260; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 17 mg; Sodium: 455 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: g; Yield: 4 to 6 Servings
SPICY MOROCCAN CHICKPEA TACOS
This one, also from Vegetarian Times, begins, "For a switch from corn or flour tortillas, try these tacos wrapped in small, warmed whole pita rounds." Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (1 cup)
1 6-oz. pkg. chicken-style vegetarian strips, such as Lightlife Smart Strips
1 tsp. fennel seeds
1/2 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed, drained, and lightly mashed with fork
2 small carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch rounds (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 Tbs. harissa
1/3 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
Instructions:
Heat olive oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook 3 minutes, or until softened. Add chicken-style strips and fennel seeds, and cook 2 minutes. Stir in chickpeas, carrots, raisins, harissa, and 1/3 cup water. Cook 1 minute, or until sauce thickens slightly but carrots remain crisp. Stir in tomatoes, and immediately remove from heat. Fill tortillas with chickpea mixture, and serve warm.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 269; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 37 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 388 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 10 g
CRUNCHY BLACK BEAN TACOS
This comes from The Kitchn’s e-newsletter. If you haven’t signed up for The Kitchn’s e-newsletter yet, I highly recommend that, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy.
This recipe serves 3 to 4, or makes 8 tacos; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes and can be found online by clicking here.
Ingredients
2 cups cooked black beans
1/2 cup minced red onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
Pinch of salt
4 to 6 ounces (1 heaping cup) grated Pepper Jack cheese
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
8 corn tortillas
Toppings
Avocado
Hot sauce
Salsa
Sour cream
Directions
In a medium bowl, add beans along with red onion, cilantro, cumin, and paprika. Add a pinch of salt and lightly mash all the ingredients together. Grate the cheese and have it ready as well.
In a large, nonstick or cast-iron skillet, add the 2 tablespoons oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add one corn tortilla at a time and let each get hot in the oil for a few seconds. Then add about 1/4 cup of the bean filling to one half of the tortilla. Top with a sprinkle of grated cheese. Try not to overfill the tacos, or you might have issues flipping them without losing filling.
Using a spatula, carefully fold the other half of the tortilla over to form a shell. Press down lightly on the tortilla so it holds its shape. If some cheese spills out, don’t worry — it will get crispy and delicious.
As the first taco cooks, move it to the side and begin a second one. Depending on the size of your pan, you can cook two or three tacos at once. A griddle will hold even more.
Cook each taco until they are nicely browned and crispy, about 3 minutes per side. When flipping the taco to cook on the other side, use a spatula and flip the taco toward the fold so the filling doesn’t fall out. If your pan is very dry between batches, add another drizzle of oil.
Place the cooked tacos in a warm oven while you finish the rest. If the tacos are very greasy, blot them with a paper towel before moving them to the oven.
Serve tacos with toppings like hot sauce, salsa, avocados, and sour cream.
Recipe Notes:
Corn tortillas are resilient to heat. Don’t worry about burning them; they are very sturdy. Just be sure to cook tortillas on each side long enough to get them really crispy.
BLACK BEAN AND POBLANO TACOS
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “There are many kinds of tacos, some piled high and overstuffed and some more minimal, meant to be more a snack than a meal. These little tacos are in the second category, similar to what you might find in a Mexican market for a quick bite. Savory black beans and roasted poblano chiles make a satisfying vegetarian version. Fresh soft corn tortillas, hot off the griddle, are essential.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings.
This was featured in “The Unstuffy Taco” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 pound black beans, rinsed and soaked 4 to 6 hours, or overnight if possible
1 small onion, halved
1 bay leaf
1 large sprig epazote (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
4 poblano chiles
Soft corn tortillas
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella or Oaxacan-style string cheese, shredded
1/2 pound queso fresco, available in Latino groceries
8 ounces crème fraîche or Mexican crema
Preparation
Drain beans, put in medium pot, add water to cover and bring to a boil over hight heat. Add onion, bay leaf, epazote and salt and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 1 hour, longer if necessary, adding water occasionally if liquid falls below surface of beans. When beans are tender, taste and adjust salt. Keep beans warm in their broth.
Meanwhile, roast poblano chiles over a charcoal grill, under the broiler or directly on a gas stovetop burners until skins are completely blackened and blistered. Set chiles aside to cool, then split lengthwise. Scrape away skins and seeds with a paring knife. Cut cleaned chiles into 1/2-inch ribbons, transfer to small bowl and season lightly with salt.
To serve, warm the tortillas on a hot griddle or cast iron pan over a burner. Put 2 warm tortillas side by side on a small plate. With a slotted spoon, place 2 tablespoons beans on each tortilla. Top with a few shreds of mozzarella and 2 or 3 strips of poblano. Crumble a little queso fresco and drizzle about 1 teaspoon crème fraîche on each taco.
SOFT BLACK BEAN TACOS WITH SALSA AND CABBAGE
This comes from Martha Rose Shulman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Canned black beans and lots of cabbage combine in a quick, utterly satisfying one-dish taco dinner. They can be served open-faced or folded over.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: about 20 minutes.
This was featured in “Quick One-Dish Meals, Some Cooking Required” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola or grape seed oil
1 teaspoon medium-hot chili powder (more to taste)
1 teaspoon ground lightly toasted cumin seeds (more to taste)
2 cans black beans, with liquid
Salt to taste
8 corn tortillas
1 cup fresh or bottled salsa
3 ounces either queso fresco, feta, or sharp cheddar, grated or crumbled
2 cups shredded cabbage
Preparation
Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the chili powder and ground cumin. Allow the spices to sizzle for about half a minute, until very fragrant, and stir in the black beans and 1/2 cup water. Cook, stirring and mashing the beans with the back of your spoon, for 5 to 10 minutes, until thick and fragrant. Be careful that you don’t let the beans dry out too much. If they do, add a little more water. Remove from the heat.
Heat the tortillas, two or three at a time, in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, or in a microwave. Top with the black beans, salsa, cheese and cabbage. Fold the filled tortillas over if desired and serve. Alternatively, one at a time, place a tortilla on a plate, top with the beans and cheese and heat through for 30 seconds to a minute in a microwave. Then top with salsa and a generous handful of cabbage, and serve.
Tip
Make fresh salsa with 2 or 3 chopped roma tomatoes, 1 or 2 jalapeños or serrano chiles, a little chopped onion or shallot if desired, salt, a squeeze of lime juice, and chopped fresh cilantro.
MUSHROOM TACOS
This is from Runner's World and can be viewed online here. Recipe feeds 2-3 runners; Time needed: 30-45 minutes
What you’ll need:
Pound of scrubbed assorted mushrooms (creminis and portabellos work well)
1 yellow onion
2 cloves garlic
6 small corn tortillas
1 orange
1 lime
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons dark chili powder
1 teaspoon oregano
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste
Cilantro
How to make it:
Dice up one onion, setting aside three tablespoons for onion topping. Cut mushrooms into large chunks.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high-heat. Add onions and mushrooms and sauté for about 10 minutes until onions are tender and mushrooms begin to brown.
Mince garlic. Juice orange and lime. Reserve two wedges of lime.
Add garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder to onions and mushroom.
Saute for 30 seconds until garlic is aromatic, then add orange and lime juice, along with about a teaspoon of salt.
Cook for two to three minutes until the juice reduces.
Heat tortillas individually in a dry pan on the stove or all together wrapped in a towel in the microwave.
Spoon mushroom mix into tortillas and garnish with reserved raw onion and chopped cilantro. Enjoy!
MEXICAN ROSE TACO SALAD
This is from Vegetarian Times and begins, "Pick up the festive flavors of Mexico in this robust main-course salad. This would also make a beckoning brunch main dish. In either case, offer a basket of hot corn or flour tortillas as wrappers. To underscore the taco flavor, garnish this salad with whole or crushed taco chips, if desired." Yield: 4 to 6 servings.
This can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 head red leaf lettuce, rinsed
15-oz. can black or navy beans, drained and rinsed
15 1/4-oz. can corn, drained
6-oz. can pitted black olives, drained
1 bunch scallions, cut into 1-inch lengths
2 medium-sized tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 ripe avocado, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup loosely packed fresh coriander leaves
1 to 2 jalapeno chiles, thinly sliced, for garnish
Dressing
1/2 cup olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 tsp. chili powder, or to taste
3 Tbs. taco sauce
1 Tbs. granulated sugar, or to taste
Instructions:
Dry lettuce leaves, trim off tough ends and line salad bowl with leaves.
Combine beans, corn kernels, olives, scallions and tomatoes in a mixing bowl and toss to combine. Add avocado and coriander leaves and stir in gently.
To make dressing, combine ingredients in bowl and beat together to combine. Toss salad ingredients with dressing.
To serve, scoop bean mixture into the salad bowl. Garnish with sliced jalapeños.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 470; Protein: 20 g; Total Fat: 30 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 46 g; Cholesterol: mg; Sodium: 280 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: g
SOFT BEAN TACOS
This also comes from Vegetarian Times. Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
1/4 cup water
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (optional)
16-oz. can spicy fat-free refried beans
1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, reduced-fat if desired, or soy cheese
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap tortillas in aluminum foil and warm in oven.
In large saucepan, combine water and bell pepper. Cover and cook over medium heat, 2 minutes. Add corn, green onions, jalapeño pepper and refried beans. Stir gently until mixture is heated through, about 5 minutes.
Remove tortillas from oven. Spread some of the filling on one half of each tortilla, then sprinkle with a small amount of cheese. Fold over and arrange on individual plates. Top with salsa and yogurt if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 260; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 17 mg; Sodium: 455 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: g; Yield: 4 to 6 Servings
SPICY MOROCCAN CHICKPEA TACOS
This one, also from Vegetarian Times, begins, "For a switch from corn or flour tortillas, try these tacos wrapped in small, warmed whole pita rounds." Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (1 cup)
1 6-oz. pkg. chicken-style vegetarian strips, such as Lightlife Smart Strips
1 tsp. fennel seeds
1/2 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed, drained, and lightly mashed with fork
2 small carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch rounds (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 Tbs. harissa
1/3 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
Instructions:
Heat olive oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook 3 minutes, or until softened. Add chicken-style strips and fennel seeds, and cook 2 minutes. Stir in chickpeas, carrots, raisins, harissa, and 1/3 cup water. Cook 1 minute, or until sauce thickens slightly but carrots remain crisp. Stir in tomatoes, and immediately remove from heat. Fill tortillas with chickpea mixture, and serve warm.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 269; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 37 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 388 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 10 g
CRUNCHY BLACK BEAN TACOS
This comes from The Kitchn’s e-newsletter. If you haven’t signed up for The Kitchn’s e-newsletter yet, I highly recommend that, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy.
This recipe serves 3 to 4, or makes 8 tacos; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes and can be found online by clicking here.
Ingredients
2 cups cooked black beans
1/2 cup minced red onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
Pinch of salt
4 to 6 ounces (1 heaping cup) grated Pepper Jack cheese
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
8 corn tortillas
Toppings
Avocado
Hot sauce
Salsa
Sour cream
Directions
In a medium bowl, add beans along with red onion, cilantro, cumin, and paprika. Add a pinch of salt and lightly mash all the ingredients together. Grate the cheese and have it ready as well.
In a large, nonstick or cast-iron skillet, add the 2 tablespoons oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add one corn tortilla at a time and let each get hot in the oil for a few seconds. Then add about 1/4 cup of the bean filling to one half of the tortilla. Top with a sprinkle of grated cheese. Try not to overfill the tacos, or you might have issues flipping them without losing filling.
Using a spatula, carefully fold the other half of the tortilla over to form a shell. Press down lightly on the tortilla so it holds its shape. If some cheese spills out, don’t worry — it will get crispy and delicious.
As the first taco cooks, move it to the side and begin a second one. Depending on the size of your pan, you can cook two or three tacos at once. A griddle will hold even more.
Cook each taco until they are nicely browned and crispy, about 3 minutes per side. When flipping the taco to cook on the other side, use a spatula and flip the taco toward the fold so the filling doesn’t fall out. If your pan is very dry between batches, add another drizzle of oil.
Place the cooked tacos in a warm oven while you finish the rest. If the tacos are very greasy, blot them with a paper towel before moving them to the oven.
Serve tacos with toppings like hot sauce, salsa, avocados, and sour cream.
Recipe Notes:
Corn tortillas are resilient to heat. Don’t worry about burning them; they are very sturdy. Just be sure to cook tortillas on each side long enough to get them really crispy.
Monday, January 26, 2026
Mexican Food
If you love Mexican Food, today's post is sure to please. Check out the Enchilada ‘Lasagna’, the Vegetarian Enchiladas, and the rest of today's yumminess. Enjoy!
BLACK BEAN AND CORN QUESADILLAS
This was submitted by EFasse to allrecipes. The recipe begins, "These black bean quesadillas are really cheesy, a little bit spicy, and a little bit sweet. My vegetarian husband goes crazy over them every time! Delicious with salsa and sour cream."
Prep Time: 10 mins; Cook Time: 30 mins; Total Time: 40 mins; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/104850/black-bean-and-corn-quesadillas/.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (10 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1/4 cup salsa
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons butter, or as needed
8 (8 inch) flour tortillas
1-1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in hot oil until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in beans and corn, then add salsa, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes; mix well. Cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Melt about 1-1/2 teaspoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the skillet. Sprinkle with 1/4 of the Monterey Jack cheese, then top with ¼ of the bean mixture. Place another tortilla on top; cook until the bottom is golden, then carefully flip and cook until the other side is golden. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
Cook’s Note
This is a very versatile recipe. Feel free to play around and add chicken or veggies if you desire.
CRISPY POTATO QUESADILLAS
This is from Kristina Felix in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kristina wrote, "Despite what many people think, quesadillas don’t always have cheese. In Mexico City, you can order a “quesadilla sin queso” with a variety of fillings, highlighting the regional debate around what constitutes a true quesadilla. This version embraces both worlds: It contains cheese, but it’s melted into a hearty potato and pea filling that makes these quesadillas more satisfying as a complete meal. The quick slaw on top, inspired by curtido (a vinegary cabbage salad popular throughout Central America), balances the richness of the quesadillas and provides a nice spicy crunch. If you have any slaw left over, it keeps for up to four days in the refrigerator and is versatile enough to serve with plain rice or grilled meat or fish throughout the week."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026918-crispy-potato-quesadillas. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 pound potatoes, unpeeled but scrubbed clean
1 cup peas, frozen or fresh (6 ounces)
2 cups shredded semi-soft cheese, such as Monterey Jack or Cheddar
1-1/2 tablespoons avocado or vegetable oil
8 (7- to 8-inch) flour tortillas
1/4 medium green cabbage, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
2 carrots, grated
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño or serrano, diced (seeded for less spice, if desired)
1 lime, juiced
3 tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar
1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
Sour cream or Mexican crema, optional, for serving
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Fill a medium pot with water; add 2 tablespoons salt and set it to boil on high. Cut potatoes into 1-inch chunks and place them in the pot as you go. Once the water is boiling, lower the heat slightly to maintain a rolling boil and cook potatoes for 5 to 7 minutes, until easily pierced with a fork. Add the peas and cook for 3 minutes more. Drain the vegetables, return them to the pot, add the cheese and mash until fully combined. Add more salt to your taste.
Add the oil to a baking sheet and spread it around evenly using one side of a flour tortilla, then repeat with another until you have 4 tortillas lightly oiled on one side, evenly arranged on the baking sheet (it’s okay if they overlap a bit.)
Divide the mash among the tortillas. Top each with a second tortilla and press down until the filling almost spills out. Flip the quesadillas so the other side gets oiled.
Bake for 8 minutes, flip the quesadillas over, and bake for another 8 minutes until browned and crispy. They may puff up, which is great.
Meanwhile make the topping. Combine the cabbage, carrots, red onion, jalapeño, lime juice, vinegar, sugar and 1-1/2 teaspoons salt. Toss the slaw with your hands and taste to adjust for vinegar, salt or sugar until the slaw is to your liking.
To serve, quarter the quesadillas with a sharp knife and top with slaw and a dollop of sour cream, if using.
BLACK BEAN AND SALSA SOUP
This is from allrecipes, and was submitted by someone named Maryanne. Maryanne wrote, "This soup is one of those last minute things I tossed together one night. It's very simple and it takes about 5 minutes to put together."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 4; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14132/black-bean-and-salsa-soup/.
Ingredients
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1-1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
Directions
In an electric food processor or blender, combine beans, broth, salsa, and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth.
Heat the bean mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until thoroughly heated.
Ladle soup into 4 individual bowls, and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of the sour cream and 1/2 tablespoon green onion.
VEGETARIAN MEXICAN INSPIRED STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Allrecipes. It begins, "This vegetarian stuffed peppers recipe is not too spicy, but it is packed with flavor. My kids loved it! For variety, add corn or other vegetables, or switch to other canned tomato varieties. Follow the boiling method prior to baking if you don't want a crispy bell pepper. If you have small peppers, use more of them for this recipe. They taste great with a dollop of sour cream on top."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total tTime: 55 minutes; Yield: 4 stuffed peppers
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/231514/vegetarian-mexican-inspired-stuffed-peppers/.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon salt
4 large green bell peppers - tops, seeds, and membranes removed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups cooked rice
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5 ounce) can chili-style diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Mexican cheese blend (such as Sargento® Authentic Mexican)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bring a large pot of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil. Add green bell peppers and cook until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes; drain and arrange cut-side up in a 9x9-inch baking dish.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until softened, 5 to 10 minutes.
Transfer cooked onion into a large bowl; add rice, black beans, and tomatoes. Stir in chili powder, garlic salt, cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon salt until well combined. Fold in 1 1/2 cups Mexican cheese blend. Spoon rice mixture evenly into bell peppers; sprinkle with remaining Mexican cheese blend.
Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 30 minutes.
VEGETARIAN ENCHILADAS
This comes from the Food Network. The recipe begins, "These easy-to-make enchiladas are filled with beans, spinach and cheese for a plant-forward take on a Mexican classic. Serve them with rice on the side."
Active Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes; Yield: 6 servings (2 enchiladas each), Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/vegetarian-enchiladas-3364279.
Ingredients
Sauce:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Large pinch cayenne pepper
One 15-ounce can tomato puree
Kosher salt
Filling and Topping:
One 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
One 15-ounce can pinto beans, strained and rinsed
4 ounces shredded Cheddar (about 1-1/2 cups)
4 ounces shredded pepper Jack cheese (about 1-1/2 cups)
1/2 cup sour cream
3 scallions, sliced
Kosher salt
Twelve 6-inch corn or flour tortillas
Juice of 1/2 a lime
Special equipment: a 9-by-13-inch baking dish
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the sauce: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, chile powder, cumin and cayenne, and continue to cook, stirring, until the spices are toasted, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups water, the tomato puree and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and bring to a simmer. Continue cooking until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly (it should be looser and thinner than marinara sauce), 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
For the filling: Squeeze all the excess moisture out of the spinach. Put it into a large bowl with the pinto beans, and squeeze with your hands to combine and smash up the beans a little. Add half of both the Cheddar and the pepper Jack, half of both the sour cream and the scallions and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and stir to combine.
Spread about 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lay the tortillas out on a work surface, and spread 1 side of each with about 1 teaspoon of tomato sauce. Put about 1/4 cup of the filling across the middle of each tortilla. Roll each up, then shingle them in 2 even rows in the baking dish. Pour the remaining sauce over the top of the rolled tortillas, and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses. Cover the baking dish loosely with foil, and bake until the cheeses are melted and the filling is hot, about 30 minutes. Uncover, and continue baking to heat completely through, about 10 minutes more.
For the topping: Whisk together the remaining sour cream, the lime juice and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Drizzle the mixture over the baked enchiladas, and sprinkle with the remaining scallions.
ENCHILADA 'LASAGNA'
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Do you like enchiladas? Do you like lasagna? We’re going to assume you’re not a monster and thus said yes to both. Ergo, you will probably like this fun casserole that takes some inspiration from both. Tortillas are used instead of pasta, but you still get the gorgeous striations of cheese, tomato, and carb. Want to make this enchilada dish plant-based? Swap in your favorite vegan egg and shredded mozzarella, and whip up a batch of tofu ricotta for the filling."
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes; Servings 8
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/enchilada-lasagna-combines-two-family-favorites-in-one/.
Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 zucchini, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 pinches ground black pepper, divided
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 24-oz jar unsalted pureed strained tomatoes (aka passata)
3/4 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
4 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp chile powder
1 tsp chipotle chile powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
15-oz tub whole-milk ricotta cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
15 6-inch corn tortillas, divided
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend or mozzarella cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. In a large skillet on medium, heat 2 tbsp oil. Add onion, zucchini, bell pepper and pinch black pepper and cook, stirring often, until vegetables are tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
Meanwhile, prepare sauce: In a small saucepan on medium-low, heat remaining 2 tbsp oil. Add garlic and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add strained tomatoes, broth, cumin, chile powder, chipotle chile powder, salt and remaining pinch black pepper. Bring to a simmer: cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside.
In a bowl, stir together ricotta and egg. Into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish, pour 1/2 cup sauce. Arrange 5 tortillas in a single layer over top of sauce, overlapping slightly to fit. Dollop half of the ricotta mixture over top, spreading gently.
Spoon half of the vegetable mixture evenly over ricotta and spread 3/4 cup sauce over top. Arrange 5 tortillas in a single layer over top, overlapping slightly. Repeat layers with remaining ricotta mixture and vegetable mixture, then 3/4 cup sauce over top.
Arrange remaining 5 tortillas in a single layer over top, overlapping slightly. Spread remaining sauce over top. Sprinkle with cheese blend. Bake until bubble and cheese is melted, 25 to 30 minutes.
BLACK BEAN AND CORN QUESADILLAS
This was submitted by EFasse to allrecipes. The recipe begins, "These black bean quesadillas are really cheesy, a little bit spicy, and a little bit sweet. My vegetarian husband goes crazy over them every time! Delicious with salsa and sour cream."
Prep Time: 10 mins; Cook Time: 30 mins; Total Time: 40 mins; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/104850/black-bean-and-corn-quesadillas/.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (10 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1/4 cup salsa
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons butter, or as needed
8 (8 inch) flour tortillas
1-1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in hot oil until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in beans and corn, then add salsa, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes; mix well. Cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Melt about 1-1/2 teaspoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the skillet. Sprinkle with 1/4 of the Monterey Jack cheese, then top with ¼ of the bean mixture. Place another tortilla on top; cook until the bottom is golden, then carefully flip and cook until the other side is golden. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
Cook’s Note
This is a very versatile recipe. Feel free to play around and add chicken or veggies if you desire.
CRISPY POTATO QUESADILLAS
This is from Kristina Felix in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kristina wrote, "Despite what many people think, quesadillas don’t always have cheese. In Mexico City, you can order a “quesadilla sin queso” with a variety of fillings, highlighting the regional debate around what constitutes a true quesadilla. This version embraces both worlds: It contains cheese, but it’s melted into a hearty potato and pea filling that makes these quesadillas more satisfying as a complete meal. The quick slaw on top, inspired by curtido (a vinegary cabbage salad popular throughout Central America), balances the richness of the quesadillas and provides a nice spicy crunch. If you have any slaw left over, it keeps for up to four days in the refrigerator and is versatile enough to serve with plain rice or grilled meat or fish throughout the week."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026918-crispy-potato-quesadillas. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 pound potatoes, unpeeled but scrubbed clean
1 cup peas, frozen or fresh (6 ounces)
2 cups shredded semi-soft cheese, such as Monterey Jack or Cheddar
1-1/2 tablespoons avocado or vegetable oil
8 (7- to 8-inch) flour tortillas
1/4 medium green cabbage, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
2 carrots, grated
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño or serrano, diced (seeded for less spice, if desired)
1 lime, juiced
3 tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar
1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
Sour cream or Mexican crema, optional, for serving
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Fill a medium pot with water; add 2 tablespoons salt and set it to boil on high. Cut potatoes into 1-inch chunks and place them in the pot as you go. Once the water is boiling, lower the heat slightly to maintain a rolling boil and cook potatoes for 5 to 7 minutes, until easily pierced with a fork. Add the peas and cook for 3 minutes more. Drain the vegetables, return them to the pot, add the cheese and mash until fully combined. Add more salt to your taste.
Add the oil to a baking sheet and spread it around evenly using one side of a flour tortilla, then repeat with another until you have 4 tortillas lightly oiled on one side, evenly arranged on the baking sheet (it’s okay if they overlap a bit.)
Divide the mash among the tortillas. Top each with a second tortilla and press down until the filling almost spills out. Flip the quesadillas so the other side gets oiled.
Bake for 8 minutes, flip the quesadillas over, and bake for another 8 minutes until browned and crispy. They may puff up, which is great.
Meanwhile make the topping. Combine the cabbage, carrots, red onion, jalapeño, lime juice, vinegar, sugar and 1-1/2 teaspoons salt. Toss the slaw with your hands and taste to adjust for vinegar, salt or sugar until the slaw is to your liking.
To serve, quarter the quesadillas with a sharp knife and top with slaw and a dollop of sour cream, if using.
BLACK BEAN AND SALSA SOUP
This is from allrecipes, and was submitted by someone named Maryanne. Maryanne wrote, "This soup is one of those last minute things I tossed together one night. It's very simple and it takes about 5 minutes to put together."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 4; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14132/black-bean-and-salsa-soup/.
Ingredients
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1-1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
Directions
In an electric food processor or blender, combine beans, broth, salsa, and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth.
Heat the bean mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until thoroughly heated.
Ladle soup into 4 individual bowls, and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of the sour cream and 1/2 tablespoon green onion.
VEGETARIAN MEXICAN INSPIRED STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Allrecipes. It begins, "This vegetarian stuffed peppers recipe is not too spicy, but it is packed with flavor. My kids loved it! For variety, add corn or other vegetables, or switch to other canned tomato varieties. Follow the boiling method prior to baking if you don't want a crispy bell pepper. If you have small peppers, use more of them for this recipe. They taste great with a dollop of sour cream on top."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total tTime: 55 minutes; Yield: 4 stuffed peppers
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/231514/vegetarian-mexican-inspired-stuffed-peppers/.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon salt
4 large green bell peppers - tops, seeds, and membranes removed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups cooked rice
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5 ounce) can chili-style diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Mexican cheese blend (such as Sargento® Authentic Mexican)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bring a large pot of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil. Add green bell peppers and cook until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes; drain and arrange cut-side up in a 9x9-inch baking dish.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until softened, 5 to 10 minutes.
Transfer cooked onion into a large bowl; add rice, black beans, and tomatoes. Stir in chili powder, garlic salt, cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon salt until well combined. Fold in 1 1/2 cups Mexican cheese blend. Spoon rice mixture evenly into bell peppers; sprinkle with remaining Mexican cheese blend.
Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 30 minutes.
VEGETARIAN ENCHILADAS
This comes from the Food Network. The recipe begins, "These easy-to-make enchiladas are filled with beans, spinach and cheese for a plant-forward take on a Mexican classic. Serve them with rice on the side."
Active Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes; Yield: 6 servings (2 enchiladas each), Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/vegetarian-enchiladas-3364279.
Ingredients
Sauce:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Large pinch cayenne pepper
One 15-ounce can tomato puree
Kosher salt
Filling and Topping:
One 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
One 15-ounce can pinto beans, strained and rinsed
4 ounces shredded Cheddar (about 1-1/2 cups)
4 ounces shredded pepper Jack cheese (about 1-1/2 cups)
1/2 cup sour cream
3 scallions, sliced
Kosher salt
Twelve 6-inch corn or flour tortillas
Juice of 1/2 a lime
Special equipment: a 9-by-13-inch baking dish
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the sauce: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, chile powder, cumin and cayenne, and continue to cook, stirring, until the spices are toasted, about 1 minute. Add 2 cups water, the tomato puree and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and bring to a simmer. Continue cooking until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly (it should be looser and thinner than marinara sauce), 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
For the filling: Squeeze all the excess moisture out of the spinach. Put it into a large bowl with the pinto beans, and squeeze with your hands to combine and smash up the beans a little. Add half of both the Cheddar and the pepper Jack, half of both the sour cream and the scallions and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and stir to combine.
Spread about 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lay the tortillas out on a work surface, and spread 1 side of each with about 1 teaspoon of tomato sauce. Put about 1/4 cup of the filling across the middle of each tortilla. Roll each up, then shingle them in 2 even rows in the baking dish. Pour the remaining sauce over the top of the rolled tortillas, and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses. Cover the baking dish loosely with foil, and bake until the cheeses are melted and the filling is hot, about 30 minutes. Uncover, and continue baking to heat completely through, about 10 minutes more.
For the topping: Whisk together the remaining sour cream, the lime juice and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Drizzle the mixture over the baked enchiladas, and sprinkle with the remaining scallions.
ENCHILADA 'LASAGNA'
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Do you like enchiladas? Do you like lasagna? We’re going to assume you’re not a monster and thus said yes to both. Ergo, you will probably like this fun casserole that takes some inspiration from both. Tortillas are used instead of pasta, but you still get the gorgeous striations of cheese, tomato, and carb. Want to make this enchilada dish plant-based? Swap in your favorite vegan egg and shredded mozzarella, and whip up a batch of tofu ricotta for the filling."
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes; Servings 8
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/enchilada-lasagna-combines-two-family-favorites-in-one/.
Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 zucchini, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 pinches ground black pepper, divided
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 24-oz jar unsalted pureed strained tomatoes (aka passata)
3/4 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
4 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp chile powder
1 tsp chipotle chile powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
15-oz tub whole-milk ricotta cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
15 6-inch corn tortillas, divided
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend or mozzarella cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. In a large skillet on medium, heat 2 tbsp oil. Add onion, zucchini, bell pepper and pinch black pepper and cook, stirring often, until vegetables are tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
Meanwhile, prepare sauce: In a small saucepan on medium-low, heat remaining 2 tbsp oil. Add garlic and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add strained tomatoes, broth, cumin, chile powder, chipotle chile powder, salt and remaining pinch black pepper. Bring to a simmer: cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside.
In a bowl, stir together ricotta and egg. Into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish, pour 1/2 cup sauce. Arrange 5 tortillas in a single layer over top of sauce, overlapping slightly to fit. Dollop half of the ricotta mixture over top, spreading gently.
Spoon half of the vegetable mixture evenly over ricotta and spread 3/4 cup sauce over top. Arrange 5 tortillas in a single layer over top, overlapping slightly. Repeat layers with remaining ricotta mixture and vegetable mixture, then 3/4 cup sauce over top.
Arrange remaining 5 tortillas in a single layer over top, overlapping slightly. Spread remaining sauce over top. Sprinkle with cheese blend. Bake until bubble and cheese is melted, 25 to 30 minutes.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Breakfast
What's normally the first meal of the day, but can be eaten any time of day? Breakfast!
I realize that many people have definite rules when it comes to food: Breakfast in the morning, pie for dessert after lunch or dinner, as well as other rules.
But really, why not have breakfast at any time? (Why not have pie for breakfast, for that matter. But that's something to think about another time.) Here are six breakfast recipes to get you through the day, including Stand 'N Stuff™ Breakfast Tacos and a Tex-Mex Quinoa Breakfast Bake. Enjoy!
EVERYDAY PANCAKES
This is from Mark Bittman on The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Mark wrote, "The basic pancake is made from a simple batter of eggs, flour, milk and baking powder for leavening. You can use different types of flour if you want to experiment with whole wheat or buckwheat. And you can also add fruit to the mixture. You might also enjoy this video of the recipe, which walks through a few variations. The batter can be made from scratch in about the same time it takes to make toast. The most time-consuming part of making pancakes, of course, is cooking them. But that time is so short you should consider these an everyday convenience food, not a special-occasion feast. Cook this recipe a few times and it may become part of your weekly routine."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings
This was featured in "For the Unitiated, a Pancake Primer," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1893-everyday-pancakes. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar, optional
2 eggs
1-1/2 to 2 cups milk
2 tablespoons melted and cooled butter (optional), plus unmelted butter for cooking, or use neutral oil
Preparation
Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat. In a bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Beat eggs into 1-1/2 cups milk, then stir in 2 tablespoons melted cooled butter, if using it. Gently stir this mixture into dry ingredients, mixing only enough to moisten flour; don't worry about a few lumps. If batter seems thick, add a little more milk.
Place a teaspoon or 2 of butter or oil on griddle or skillet. When butter foam subsides or oil shimmers, ladle batter onto griddle or skillet, making pancakes of any size you like. Adjust heat as necessary; usually, first batch will require higher heat than subsequent batches. Flip pancakes after bubbles rise to surface and bottoms brown, after 2 to 4 minutes.
Cook until second side is lightly browned. Serve, or hold on an ovenproof plate in a 200-degree oven for up to 15 minutes.
MAKE-AHEAD EGG, SPINACH AND FETA WRAPS
This is from Naz Deravian at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Naz wrote, "Packed with protein, enough baby spinach to make Popeye proud, and punchy umami from sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese, these wraps are ideal for make-ahead breakfasts. Feel free to customize by adding herbs like dill, parsley or cilantro, or a small handful of chopped roasted red peppers or pitted olives. The frittata-like egg mixture is baked in the oven in a baking pan and sliced into rectangles to fit easily on lavash wraps or burrito-size flour tortillas. If you don’t want to make wraps, you can simply serve the tender frittata by itself."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time:44 minutes; Yield: 5 wraps
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026810-make-ahead-egg-spinach-and-feta-wraps. Also, if you haven't already subscribed to The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
Cooking spray or neutral oil, as needed
1/4 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, plus 3 tablespoons oil from the jar (see Tip)
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
5 to 6 ounces baby spinach (5 to 6 cups packed)
10 large eggs
1/2 cup/3 ounces crumbled feta
5 lavash wraps (about 10-by-12 inches) or burrito-size flour tortillas, at room temperature (see Tip)
Cream cheese, fresh goat cheese or flavored soft cheese, such as Boursin, optional
Preparation
Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray, making sure to spray the sides well. (Alternately, you can lightly brush with neutral oil.) Line the baking pan with parchment paper with overhang on at least two sides and spray the parchment paper with oil. Heat the oven to 375 degrees with the rack in the center position.
In a large skillet, heat the sun-dried tomato oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with a little salt, add the sundried tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the spinach, in batches if necessary, and cook, stirring frequently, just until wilted. (You don’t want the spinach to release any liquid.) Season with salt and pepper, keeping in mind you will also season the eggs. Remove from the heat.
Add the eggs to a large bowl, season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and beat with a whisk or a fork until combined. Add the spinach mixture to the eggs and mix to combine. (Wipe out the skillet and set aside.) Transfer the egg mixture to the baking pan, spreading it out evenly. Top with the feta cheese and bake until the eggs are fully set and the cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 2 minutes.
Slide the frittata onto the cutting board. Slice the frittata widthwise into 5 equal rectangles (each about 2-1/2 inches wide). Place a lavash wrap on a work surface and spread with cream cheese, if using. Place a slice of frittata on the lavash, leaving a 2-inch border from the bottom. Bring the sides of the lavash in and then fold up the bottom, rolling up the lavash like a flat burrito. Repeat with the remaining lavash and frittata.
Heat the same skillet over medium. Spray each lavash wrap lightly with oil on both sides. Place seam side down on the pan and cook until the lavash is warmed through and slightly golden on each side, 3 to 4 minutes per side. (Take care not to cook too long so the lavash doesn’t get crispy.) Slice in half, on the diagonal if you like, and serve. (To make ahead, wrap the pan-cooked egg wraps in foil and keep in the fridge for 3 days, or the freezer for 3 months. Reheat in the microwave, in a skillet over low heat, or in the oven at 350 degrees.)
Tips
Instead of sun-dried tomato oil, you can substitute olive oil.
Cold lavash is harder to wrap and can tear, so be sure to take the lavash out of the fridge for a few minutes before wrapping.
GOLDEN TOFU SCRAMBLE TACOS
This is from Vegetarian Times. It begins, "This meatless version of traditional tacos packs a generous dose of protein from the nutritional yeast, tofu, and pinto beans, plus iron from the spinach—nutrients often lacking in vegan diets."
Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/golden-tofu-scramble-tacos-recipe/.
Ingredients
1 block firm tofu
1 Tbs. olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/4 tsp. cayenne
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 cup cooked or canned pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
3 cups baby spinach
8 small corn tortillas, warmed
1 avocado, thinly sliced
1 cup salsa of choice
Preparation
Place tofu on paper towel-lined cutting board or other flat surface. Top with more paper towels and another cutting board or flat item. Press down to extract as much water as possible. Using large holes of a box grater or the tines of a fork, grate tofu into bowl.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.
Add shallots and garlic, and cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Stir in red bell pepper, turmeric, coriander, cayenne, salt, and pepper, and heat 1 minute more. Add tofu and nutritional yeast, and cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Add pinto beans and baby spinach, and cook until spinach is slightly wilted and everything is heated through.
Divide tofu mixture among tortillas and top with avocado and salsa.
TEX-MEX QUINOA BREAKFAST BAKE
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Put a superfood spin on weekend brunch! We’ve skipped the bread and replaced it with quinoa for a hearty, filling upgrade to a standard strata. This new take on breakfast bake packs protein and complex carbs to help you power through your day."
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/tex-mex-quinoa-breakfast-bake.
Note: This originally had chicken broth as one of the ingredients. I've changed that to vegetable broth.
Ingredients
2 cups Progresso™ reduced sodium vegetable broth (from 32-oz carton)
1 cup uncooked white quinoa, rinsed, drained
2 tablespoons Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix (from 1-oz package)
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
1 lb bulk chorizo sausage
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup milk
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
8 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup crumbled queso fresco cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Sour cream, as desired
Lime wedges, as desired
Preparation
Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. In 2-quart saucepan, mix broth, quinoa and 1 tablespoon of the taco seasoning mix; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 14 to 16 minutes or until broth is absorbed and quinoa is soft and translucent. Remove from heat; stir in 1 cup of the Mexican cheese blend. Spread evenly in baking dish.
Meanwhile, in 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook sausage, bell pepper and onions 8 to 10 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften and begin to brown and sausage is no longer pink; drain. Return to skillet; stir in milk, green chiles and remaining 1 tablespoon taco seasoning mix. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened. Pour mixture over quinoa mixture in baking dish.
In large bowl, beat eggs with whisk. Stir in remaining 1 cup Mexican cheese blend. Pour evenly over sausage mixture in baking dish.
Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with queso fresco cheese and cilantro. Serve with sour cream and lime wedges.
Expert Tips
Can’t find raw chorizo? Bulk breakfast sausage makes a fine substitute.
Cilantro stems are tender and taste just like the leaves. To save time, chop the tops straight from the bunch of cilantro instead of picking off the leaves first.
RED BERRY BAKED OATS
This is from Weight Watchers, and begins, "These morning treats are completely different from traditional baked oats. Because you blend the batter, the oats end up being ground into a fine “flour,” so the finished dish has the texture of a moist, creamy cake instead of oatmeal—and you still get the whole-grain benefits of oats in every bite. We use a combination of raspberries and strawberries, but you can use all of one or the other if you’d like. These bake in 6-ounce ramekins; if you don’t have those, you can bake in a muffin pan (you’ll probably get 8 or 10) and reduce the cook time to about 15 minutes."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Serves: 6; Difficulty: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/recipe/red-berry-baked-oats/608b0ef40db90e5f982bc6ee.
Ingredients
6 sprays cookin spray
2 cups uncooked old fashioned oats, or quick-cooking oats
2 Tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp table salt
4 medium bananas, ripe
4 large eggs
1 cup strawberries, raw, sliced
1 cup fresh raspberries
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a blender, place oats, syrup, baking powder, vanilla, salt, bananas, and eggs. Blend on high speed until smooth, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Let stand until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
Stir berries into batter (do not blend). Lightly coat 6 (6-oz) ramekins with cooking spray; arrange ramekins on a sheet pan. Divide batter evenly among ramekins. Bake at 350°F until set and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Serve warm.
Serving size: 1 ramekin
STAND 'N STUFF BREAKFAST TACOS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Tacos for breakfast? Absolutely! The Old El Paso® Stand 'n Stuff soft taco shells make the perfect vessel to hold your breakfast favorites."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/stand-n-stuff-breakfast-tacos.
Ingredients
6 eggs
1/4 cup half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons butter
1 can (15 oz) Progresso™ black beans, drained, rinsed
4 medium green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
6 Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Bowls
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
1/3 cup Old El Paso™ Thick 'n Chunky salsa
1 avocado, pitted, peeled and diced
1/3 cup sour cream
Preparation
In large bowl, beat eggs with whisk. Add half-and-half and salt; beat well. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add egg mixture; cook about 7 minutes, scraping cooked eggs up from bottom of skillet occasionally, until mixture is firm but still moist. Gently fold in beans and green onions, stirring to combine.
Heat tortillas as directed on package. Divide egg mixture evenly among tortillas. Top with Toppings. If desired, garnish with dark green tops of green onions.
Expert Tips
Complete this fabulous meal with a delicious fresh fruit salad.
I realize that many people have definite rules when it comes to food: Breakfast in the morning, pie for dessert after lunch or dinner, as well as other rules.
But really, why not have breakfast at any time? (Why not have pie for breakfast, for that matter. But that's something to think about another time.) Here are six breakfast recipes to get you through the day, including Stand 'N Stuff™ Breakfast Tacos and a Tex-Mex Quinoa Breakfast Bake. Enjoy!
EVERYDAY PANCAKES
This is from Mark Bittman on The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Mark wrote, "The basic pancake is made from a simple batter of eggs, flour, milk and baking powder for leavening. You can use different types of flour if you want to experiment with whole wheat or buckwheat. And you can also add fruit to the mixture. You might also enjoy this video of the recipe, which walks through a few variations. The batter can be made from scratch in about the same time it takes to make toast. The most time-consuming part of making pancakes, of course, is cooking them. But that time is so short you should consider these an everyday convenience food, not a special-occasion feast. Cook this recipe a few times and it may become part of your weekly routine."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings
This was featured in "For the Unitiated, a Pancake Primer," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1893-everyday-pancakes. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar, optional
2 eggs
1-1/2 to 2 cups milk
2 tablespoons melted and cooled butter (optional), plus unmelted butter for cooking, or use neutral oil
Preparation
Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat. In a bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Beat eggs into 1-1/2 cups milk, then stir in 2 tablespoons melted cooled butter, if using it. Gently stir this mixture into dry ingredients, mixing only enough to moisten flour; don't worry about a few lumps. If batter seems thick, add a little more milk.
Place a teaspoon or 2 of butter or oil on griddle or skillet. When butter foam subsides or oil shimmers, ladle batter onto griddle or skillet, making pancakes of any size you like. Adjust heat as necessary; usually, first batch will require higher heat than subsequent batches. Flip pancakes after bubbles rise to surface and bottoms brown, after 2 to 4 minutes.
Cook until second side is lightly browned. Serve, or hold on an ovenproof plate in a 200-degree oven for up to 15 minutes.
MAKE-AHEAD EGG, SPINACH AND FETA WRAPS
This is from Naz Deravian at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Naz wrote, "Packed with protein, enough baby spinach to make Popeye proud, and punchy umami from sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese, these wraps are ideal for make-ahead breakfasts. Feel free to customize by adding herbs like dill, parsley or cilantro, or a small handful of chopped roasted red peppers or pitted olives. The frittata-like egg mixture is baked in the oven in a baking pan and sliced into rectangles to fit easily on lavash wraps or burrito-size flour tortillas. If you don’t want to make wraps, you can simply serve the tender frittata by itself."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time:44 minutes; Yield: 5 wraps
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026810-make-ahead-egg-spinach-and-feta-wraps. Also, if you haven't already subscribed to The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
Cooking spray or neutral oil, as needed
1/4 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, plus 3 tablespoons oil from the jar (see Tip)
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
5 to 6 ounces baby spinach (5 to 6 cups packed)
10 large eggs
1/2 cup/3 ounces crumbled feta
5 lavash wraps (about 10-by-12 inches) or burrito-size flour tortillas, at room temperature (see Tip)
Cream cheese, fresh goat cheese or flavored soft cheese, such as Boursin, optional
Preparation
Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray, making sure to spray the sides well. (Alternately, you can lightly brush with neutral oil.) Line the baking pan with parchment paper with overhang on at least two sides and spray the parchment paper with oil. Heat the oven to 375 degrees with the rack in the center position.
In a large skillet, heat the sun-dried tomato oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with a little salt, add the sundried tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the spinach, in batches if necessary, and cook, stirring frequently, just until wilted. (You don’t want the spinach to release any liquid.) Season with salt and pepper, keeping in mind you will also season the eggs. Remove from the heat.
Add the eggs to a large bowl, season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and beat with a whisk or a fork until combined. Add the spinach mixture to the eggs and mix to combine. (Wipe out the skillet and set aside.) Transfer the egg mixture to the baking pan, spreading it out evenly. Top with the feta cheese and bake until the eggs are fully set and the cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 2 minutes.
Slide the frittata onto the cutting board. Slice the frittata widthwise into 5 equal rectangles (each about 2-1/2 inches wide). Place a lavash wrap on a work surface and spread with cream cheese, if using. Place a slice of frittata on the lavash, leaving a 2-inch border from the bottom. Bring the sides of the lavash in and then fold up the bottom, rolling up the lavash like a flat burrito. Repeat with the remaining lavash and frittata.
Heat the same skillet over medium. Spray each lavash wrap lightly with oil on both sides. Place seam side down on the pan and cook until the lavash is warmed through and slightly golden on each side, 3 to 4 minutes per side. (Take care not to cook too long so the lavash doesn’t get crispy.) Slice in half, on the diagonal if you like, and serve. (To make ahead, wrap the pan-cooked egg wraps in foil and keep in the fridge for 3 days, or the freezer for 3 months. Reheat in the microwave, in a skillet over low heat, or in the oven at 350 degrees.)
Tips
Instead of sun-dried tomato oil, you can substitute olive oil.
Cold lavash is harder to wrap and can tear, so be sure to take the lavash out of the fridge for a few minutes before wrapping.
GOLDEN TOFU SCRAMBLE TACOS
This is from Vegetarian Times. It begins, "This meatless version of traditional tacos packs a generous dose of protein from the nutritional yeast, tofu, and pinto beans, plus iron from the spinach—nutrients often lacking in vegan diets."
Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/golden-tofu-scramble-tacos-recipe/.
Ingredients
1 block firm tofu
1 Tbs. olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/4 tsp. cayenne
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 cup cooked or canned pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
3 cups baby spinach
8 small corn tortillas, warmed
1 avocado, thinly sliced
1 cup salsa of choice
Preparation
Place tofu on paper towel-lined cutting board or other flat surface. Top with more paper towels and another cutting board or flat item. Press down to extract as much water as possible. Using large holes of a box grater or the tines of a fork, grate tofu into bowl.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.
Add shallots and garlic, and cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Stir in red bell pepper, turmeric, coriander, cayenne, salt, and pepper, and heat 1 minute more. Add tofu and nutritional yeast, and cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Add pinto beans and baby spinach, and cook until spinach is slightly wilted and everything is heated through.
Divide tofu mixture among tortillas and top with avocado and salsa.
TEX-MEX QUINOA BREAKFAST BAKE
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Put a superfood spin on weekend brunch! We’ve skipped the bread and replaced it with quinoa for a hearty, filling upgrade to a standard strata. This new take on breakfast bake packs protein and complex carbs to help you power through your day."
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/tex-mex-quinoa-breakfast-bake.
Note: This originally had chicken broth as one of the ingredients. I've changed that to vegetable broth.
Ingredients
2 cups Progresso™ reduced sodium vegetable broth (from 32-oz carton)
1 cup uncooked white quinoa, rinsed, drained
2 tablespoons Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix (from 1-oz package)
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
1 lb bulk chorizo sausage
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup milk
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
8 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup crumbled queso fresco cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Sour cream, as desired
Lime wedges, as desired
Preparation
Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. In 2-quart saucepan, mix broth, quinoa and 1 tablespoon of the taco seasoning mix; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 14 to 16 minutes or until broth is absorbed and quinoa is soft and translucent. Remove from heat; stir in 1 cup of the Mexican cheese blend. Spread evenly in baking dish.
Meanwhile, in 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook sausage, bell pepper and onions 8 to 10 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften and begin to brown and sausage is no longer pink; drain. Return to skillet; stir in milk, green chiles and remaining 1 tablespoon taco seasoning mix. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened. Pour mixture over quinoa mixture in baking dish.
In large bowl, beat eggs with whisk. Stir in remaining 1 cup Mexican cheese blend. Pour evenly over sausage mixture in baking dish.
Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with queso fresco cheese and cilantro. Serve with sour cream and lime wedges.
Expert Tips
Can’t find raw chorizo? Bulk breakfast sausage makes a fine substitute.
Cilantro stems are tender and taste just like the leaves. To save time, chop the tops straight from the bunch of cilantro instead of picking off the leaves first.
RED BERRY BAKED OATS
This is from Weight Watchers, and begins, "These morning treats are completely different from traditional baked oats. Because you blend the batter, the oats end up being ground into a fine “flour,” so the finished dish has the texture of a moist, creamy cake instead of oatmeal—and you still get the whole-grain benefits of oats in every bite. We use a combination of raspberries and strawberries, but you can use all of one or the other if you’d like. These bake in 6-ounce ramekins; if you don’t have those, you can bake in a muffin pan (you’ll probably get 8 or 10) and reduce the cook time to about 15 minutes."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Serves: 6; Difficulty: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/recipe/red-berry-baked-oats/608b0ef40db90e5f982bc6ee.
Ingredients
6 sprays cookin spray
2 cups uncooked old fashioned oats, or quick-cooking oats
2 Tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp table salt
4 medium bananas, ripe
4 large eggs
1 cup strawberries, raw, sliced
1 cup fresh raspberries
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a blender, place oats, syrup, baking powder, vanilla, salt, bananas, and eggs. Blend on high speed until smooth, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Let stand until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
Stir berries into batter (do not blend). Lightly coat 6 (6-oz) ramekins with cooking spray; arrange ramekins on a sheet pan. Divide batter evenly among ramekins. Bake at 350°F until set and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Serve warm.
Serving size: 1 ramekin
STAND 'N STUFF BREAKFAST TACOS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Tacos for breakfast? Absolutely! The Old El Paso® Stand 'n Stuff soft taco shells make the perfect vessel to hold your breakfast favorites."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/stand-n-stuff-breakfast-tacos.
Ingredients
6 eggs
1/4 cup half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons butter
1 can (15 oz) Progresso™ black beans, drained, rinsed
4 medium green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
6 Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Bowls
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
1/3 cup Old El Paso™ Thick 'n Chunky salsa
1 avocado, pitted, peeled and diced
1/3 cup sour cream
Preparation
In large bowl, beat eggs with whisk. Add half-and-half and salt; beat well. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add egg mixture; cook about 7 minutes, scraping cooked eggs up from bottom of skillet occasionally, until mixture is firm but still moist. Gently fold in beans and green onions, stirring to combine.
Heat tortillas as directed on package. Divide egg mixture evenly among tortillas. Top with Toppings. If desired, garnish with dark green tops of green onions.
Expert Tips
Complete this fabulous meal with a delicious fresh fruit salad.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Casseroles
For years, if someone mentioned Casseroles, the first thing to come to mind was a way to use up left-overs. While casseroles might be a goodway to do that, they're so much more. They can be a great way to get a bunch of ingredients together in one yummy dish.
A brief anecdote: when my maternal grandparents were newly-weds, my grandfather invided his boss home for dinner. My grandmother had gotten rave reviews about her chicken casserole, to the point that whenever their church or any other group had a potluck dinner, people would request that she bring along her chicken casserole. It needed, among other ingredients, an entire chicken; no left-overs here!
So, for grandpa's boss, it was grandma's chicken casserole. Unfortunately, the boss made the mistake of thinking that the casserole was a left-overs dish, and stated, "If you knew your husband was bringing home the boss, you might have fixed something better than left-overs!"
To say that the comment was not kindly taken was an understatement. Grandma was off and running her mouth, informing him that she'd had to go out and buy a fresh chicken that morning for the casserole. (This was at a time when chicken was expensive enough that it was usually saved for Sunday dinner, or special occasions - like the boss coming for a meal.)
Fortunately, the boss apologized, tasted the casserole, and was impressed.
Grandma and Grandpa
Since this is a vegetarian blog, and since I don't have a copy of Grandma's chicken casserole, that recipe is not here to start off the week. However, check out the Cheesy Potato Casserole, the vegan Chili Cornbread Casserole, and the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!
THREE SISTERS CASSEROLE
This was on the Vegetarian Times web site, and begins, "A Native American expression, 'three sisters' refers to the practice of growing beans, corn, and squash together. This filling casserole can be frozen for an upcoming party or made fresh for dinner. Serve with Pumpkin Seed Pesto." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/three-sisters-casserole/.
Ingredients
Polenta topping
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 Tbs. chili powder
3/4 tsp. salt
Filling
3 Tbs. olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 large red or yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch dice (1 cup)
1 lb. kabocha squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (2 cups)
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes with chiles
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1 15-oz. can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
Preparation
To make Polenta Topping: Whisk together cornmeal, chili powder, salt, and 4-1/2 cups water in double boiler, or in large metal bowl over barely simmering water. Cook 40 minutes, or until polenta is thick and stiff, stirring 3 or 4 times. Remove from heat.
To make Filling: Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat 2 Tbs. oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and cook 7 minutes, or until softened, stirring often. Add bell pepper, and cook 5 minutes more, stirring often.
Stir in squash, tomatoes, garlic, coriander, and cumin. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/2 cup water and salt. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer, partially covered, 10 to 15 minutes, or until squash is tender. Stir in beans and corn, and cook 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
Coat 8- x 11-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 2 cups polenta over bottom of prepared dish. Spoon squash mixture over polenta. Smooth remaining polenta (about 2-1/2 cups) over top.
Score casserole into 6 squares with knife. Brush top with remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Bake 30 minutes, or until heated through and top is lightly browned.
CREAMY CORN CASSEROLE
This was on the Vegetarian Times web site, and begins, "Sandy Finley’s grandmother, who hailed from a Midwest farm, taught her to make this creamy dish. It was a favorite in the early fall, when fresh corn was abundant. Finley recommends pairing the casserole with a spinach salad topped with sweet balsamic vinaigrette." Serves 4
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/creamy-corn-casserole/.
Ingredients
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk or soymilk
2 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
1 Tbs. margarine, melted
1 Tbs. sugar
2 15-oz. cans cream-style corn
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly coat 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray, and set aside.
Beat together eggs and milk; fold in breadcrumbs, margarine and sugar. Fold in corn. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour into prepared baking dish, and bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until firm and set. Serve.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the Food Network kitchen, and begins, "This sweet potato casserole is sprinkled with a nutty crumb topping to create a pleasantly crunchy contrast to the creamy and soft mashed sweet potatoes down below. The filling gets an extra special pumpkin pie(ish) treatment with brown sugar and vanilla for a deep caramel flavor. (In fact, leftovers can be heated up and topped with a scoop of ice cream just like pie.) Want to make ahead for Thanksgiving or another special holiday? Not a problem. The casserole ingredients can be mixed and transferred to a baking dish. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake but leave off the topping. Store it separately at room temperature in an air-right container and sprinkle it on right before baking."
Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/sweet-potato-casserole-3364945.
Ingredients
Filling:
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for buttering the baking dish
3 to 4 large sweet potatoes (about 1-3/4 pounds), peeled and cubed
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large eggs
Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Directions
Special equipment: a 2-quart baking dish
For the sweet potatoes: Add 1-3/4 pounds peeled and cubed sweet potatoes to a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and cool. Mash the sweet potatoes.
For the filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart baking dish.
Whisk together the butter, mashed sweet potatoes, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and eggs in a large bowl. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
For the topping: Combine the flour, brown sugar, butter and salt in a medium bowl until moist and the mixture clumps together. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the top of the sweet potatoes in an even layer. Bake until mostly set in the center and golden on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot.
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
SMOKED TOFU FARFALLE CASSEROLE
This was on the Vegetarian Times web site, and begins, "Here's a new twist on old-fashioned tuna noodle casserole." Serves 6
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/smoked-tofu-farfalle-casserole/.
Ingredients
4 tsp. olive oil
1 small yellow bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1-1/2 cups frozen baby peas
3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 Tbs.)
2-1/2 tsp. minced fresh thyme
8 oz. farfalle pasta (bows)
1-3/4 cups low-fat milk
3 Tbs. all-purpose flour
3 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 3/4 cup)
6 oz. smoked tofu, diced
3 Tbs. Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425F. Heat 1 tsp. oil in 6-qt. Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bell pepper, and cook, stirring often, 3 minutes. Stir in frozen peas, garlic and thyme, and cook, stirring often, 2 minutes more. Transfer to bowl and set aside.
Wipe out Dutch oven; fill with water, and bring to a boil. Add pasta, and cook about 4 minutes, or until just al dente. Drain and transfer to clean bowl. Drizzle with 2 tsp. olive oil, and toss to coat. Return Dutch oven to stove.
Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in Dutch oven over medium heat until almost simmering. Whisk together remaining 1/4 cup milk with flour in small bowl, then whisk into hot milk. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, 2 minutes, or until sauce thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat, and stir in cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add pasta, bell pepper mixture and tofu, and stir to combine.
Mix breadcrumbs with remaining 1 tsp. oil in small bowl; sprinkle over casserole. Bake uncovered, 20 minutes, or until golden. Serve hot.
SAVORY BREAD PUDDING CASSEROLE
This was on the Vegetarian Times web site, and begins, "Before you start assembling this hearty dish, steam the spinach first, using just the water remaining on its leaves after rinsing. The steaming wilts the spinach so that it is easy to work with. You may prefer to layer all the cheese on top instead of interspersing it throughout." Serves 8.
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/savory-bread-pudding-casserole/.
Ingredients
1 Tbs. olive oil
3 large eggs
1-1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. hot sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
4 cups diced stale bread
1 lb. spinach, well rinsed and wilted
1 cup corn kernels, preferably scraped from cob
1 cup chopped scallions
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Preparation
Preheat oven to 325F. Lightly oil bottom and sides of high-sided 9×13 pan or soufflé dish.
Beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add milk, hot sauce and salt, and mix. Depending on size of dish, pour 1/3 to 1/2 of milk mixture into pan, add 1/3 to 1/2 of bread cubes, and push down into milk mixture. Layer in about 1/3 to 1/2 of spinach, then corn, scallions, bell pepper and 1 cup cheese. Repeat layering, reserving 1 cup cheese and some milk mixture. When complete, pour last of milk mixture over top, making sure it soaks all bread.
Bake 1 hour. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese, and return to oven to brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and serve while hot.
A brief anecdote: when my maternal grandparents were newly-weds, my grandfather invided his boss home for dinner. My grandmother had gotten rave reviews about her chicken casserole, to the point that whenever their church or any other group had a potluck dinner, people would request that she bring along her chicken casserole. It needed, among other ingredients, an entire chicken; no left-overs here!
So, for grandpa's boss, it was grandma's chicken casserole. Unfortunately, the boss made the mistake of thinking that the casserole was a left-overs dish, and stated, "If you knew your husband was bringing home the boss, you might have fixed something better than left-overs!"
To say that the comment was not kindly taken was an understatement. Grandma was off and running her mouth, informing him that she'd had to go out and buy a fresh chicken that morning for the casserole. (This was at a time when chicken was expensive enough that it was usually saved for Sunday dinner, or special occasions - like the boss coming for a meal.)
Fortunately, the boss apologized, tasted the casserole, and was impressed.
Grandma and Grandpa
Since this is a vegetarian blog, and since I don't have a copy of Grandma's chicken casserole, that recipe is not here to start off the week. However, check out the Cheesy Potato Casserole, the vegan Chili Cornbread Casserole, and the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!
THREE SISTERS CASSEROLE
This was on the Vegetarian Times web site, and begins, "A Native American expression, 'three sisters' refers to the practice of growing beans, corn, and squash together. This filling casserole can be frozen for an upcoming party or made fresh for dinner. Serve with Pumpkin Seed Pesto." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/three-sisters-casserole/.
Ingredients
Polenta topping
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 Tbs. chili powder
3/4 tsp. salt
Filling
3 Tbs. olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 large red or yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch dice (1 cup)
1 lb. kabocha squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (2 cups)
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes with chiles
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1 15-oz. can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
Preparation
To make Polenta Topping: Whisk together cornmeal, chili powder, salt, and 4-1/2 cups water in double boiler, or in large metal bowl over barely simmering water. Cook 40 minutes, or until polenta is thick and stiff, stirring 3 or 4 times. Remove from heat.
To make Filling: Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat 2 Tbs. oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and cook 7 minutes, or until softened, stirring often. Add bell pepper, and cook 5 minutes more, stirring often.
Stir in squash, tomatoes, garlic, coriander, and cumin. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/2 cup water and salt. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer, partially covered, 10 to 15 minutes, or until squash is tender. Stir in beans and corn, and cook 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
Coat 8- x 11-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 2 cups polenta over bottom of prepared dish. Spoon squash mixture over polenta. Smooth remaining polenta (about 2-1/2 cups) over top.
Score casserole into 6 squares with knife. Brush top with remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Bake 30 minutes, or until heated through and top is lightly browned.
CREAMY CORN CASSEROLE
This was on the Vegetarian Times web site, and begins, "Sandy Finley’s grandmother, who hailed from a Midwest farm, taught her to make this creamy dish. It was a favorite in the early fall, when fresh corn was abundant. Finley recommends pairing the casserole with a spinach salad topped with sweet balsamic vinaigrette." Serves 4
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/creamy-corn-casserole/.
Ingredients
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk or soymilk
2 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
1 Tbs. margarine, melted
1 Tbs. sugar
2 15-oz. cans cream-style corn
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly coat 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray, and set aside.
Beat together eggs and milk; fold in breadcrumbs, margarine and sugar. Fold in corn. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour into prepared baking dish, and bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until firm and set. Serve.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This is from the Food Network kitchen, and begins, "This sweet potato casserole is sprinkled with a nutty crumb topping to create a pleasantly crunchy contrast to the creamy and soft mashed sweet potatoes down below. The filling gets an extra special pumpkin pie(ish) treatment with brown sugar and vanilla for a deep caramel flavor. (In fact, leftovers can be heated up and topped with a scoop of ice cream just like pie.) Want to make ahead for Thanksgiving or another special holiday? Not a problem. The casserole ingredients can be mixed and transferred to a baking dish. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake but leave off the topping. Store it separately at room temperature in an air-right container and sprinkle it on right before baking."
Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/sweet-potato-casserole-3364945.
Ingredients
Filling:
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for buttering the baking dish
3 to 4 large sweet potatoes (about 1-3/4 pounds), peeled and cubed
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large eggs
Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Directions
Special equipment: a 2-quart baking dish
For the sweet potatoes: Add 1-3/4 pounds peeled and cubed sweet potatoes to a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and cool. Mash the sweet potatoes.
For the filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart baking dish.
Whisk together the butter, mashed sweet potatoes, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and eggs in a large bowl. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
For the topping: Combine the flour, brown sugar, butter and salt in a medium bowl until moist and the mixture clumps together. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the top of the sweet potatoes in an even layer. Bake until mostly set in the center and golden on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot.
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
SMOKED TOFU FARFALLE CASSEROLE
This was on the Vegetarian Times web site, and begins, "Here's a new twist on old-fashioned tuna noodle casserole." Serves 6
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/smoked-tofu-farfalle-casserole/.
Ingredients
4 tsp. olive oil
1 small yellow bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1-1/2 cups frozen baby peas
3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 Tbs.)
2-1/2 tsp. minced fresh thyme
8 oz. farfalle pasta (bows)
1-3/4 cups low-fat milk
3 Tbs. all-purpose flour
3 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 3/4 cup)
6 oz. smoked tofu, diced
3 Tbs. Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425F. Heat 1 tsp. oil in 6-qt. Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bell pepper, and cook, stirring often, 3 minutes. Stir in frozen peas, garlic and thyme, and cook, stirring often, 2 minutes more. Transfer to bowl and set aside.
Wipe out Dutch oven; fill with water, and bring to a boil. Add pasta, and cook about 4 minutes, or until just al dente. Drain and transfer to clean bowl. Drizzle with 2 tsp. olive oil, and toss to coat. Return Dutch oven to stove.
Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in Dutch oven over medium heat until almost simmering. Whisk together remaining 1/4 cup milk with flour in small bowl, then whisk into hot milk. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, 2 minutes, or until sauce thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat, and stir in cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add pasta, bell pepper mixture and tofu, and stir to combine.
Mix breadcrumbs with remaining 1 tsp. oil in small bowl; sprinkle over casserole. Bake uncovered, 20 minutes, or until golden. Serve hot.
SAVORY BREAD PUDDING CASSEROLE
This was on the Vegetarian Times web site, and begins, "Before you start assembling this hearty dish, steam the spinach first, using just the water remaining on its leaves after rinsing. The steaming wilts the spinach so that it is easy to work with. You may prefer to layer all the cheese on top instead of interspersing it throughout." Serves 8.
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/savory-bread-pudding-casserole/.
Ingredients
1 Tbs. olive oil
3 large eggs
1-1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. hot sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
4 cups diced stale bread
1 lb. spinach, well rinsed and wilted
1 cup corn kernels, preferably scraped from cob
1 cup chopped scallions
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Preparation
Preheat oven to 325F. Lightly oil bottom and sides of high-sided 9×13 pan or soufflé dish.
Beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add milk, hot sauce and salt, and mix. Depending on size of dish, pour 1/3 to 1/2 of milk mixture into pan, add 1/3 to 1/2 of bread cubes, and push down into milk mixture. Layer in about 1/3 to 1/2 of spinach, then corn, scallions, bell pepper and 1 cup cheese. Repeat layering, reserving 1 cup cheese and some milk mixture. When complete, pour last of milk mixture over top, making sure it soaks all bread.
Bake 1 hour. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese, and return to oven to brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and serve while hot.
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