Friday Recipes

It's Friday, time to get ready for the weekend. Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend and beyond, including Layers of Love Chocolate Brownies (great for movie-watching, or anytime, for that matter!) and Cauliflower Cornbread Muffins. Enjoy!

FRESH VEGETABLE PITA PIZZA

This recipe is from Family Time, and begins, “Your kids will love this pizza-- and it's a good way for them to get their veggies.”

Serves: 4; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 lb. fresh tomatoes

4 (7-inch) pita breads

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasonings, divided

2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

1 medium (2 cups) zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced

1/2 large (1 cup) green bell pepper, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced

1/4 cup thinly sliced sweet red or white onion

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Core and slice the tomatoes and then cut each slice in half into half moons. Arrange the pitas on 2 baking sheets and brush each one with oil. Divide the tomato slices among the pitas and then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and half the Italian seasonings. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the tomatoes are heated and the pitas begin to crisp. Sprinkle the pizzas with half of the mozzarella cheese. Top with zucchini, green pepper, and onion. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Italian seasoning. Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and vegetables are crisp-tender. Serve with crushed red pepper flakes and additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

SUMMER PANZANELLA

This comes from Rian Handler on Delish. The recipe begins, “Panzan-HELL-YEA!”

Yields: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 large baguettes, cut into 1-inch cubes

1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil, divided

3 tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 tsp. honey

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 large, seedless cucumber, roughly chopped

2 pt. cherry tomatoes (preferably multi-colored), halved

1 red onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 bunch basil, torn

Directions

Pre-heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss bread with 1/4 cup olive oil. Add bread to skillet and toast until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.

Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and honey. Season with salt and pepper.

To large bowl, add crispy bread, cucumber, tomatoes, onion and garlic. Toss with dressing until evenly coated and season with more salt and pepper.

Garnish with basil and serve.

CAULIFLOWER CORNBREAD MUFFINS

This recipe, from the Food Network Kitchen, begins, “Whipped egg whites make this gluten-free cornbread rise just like the real deal, and the consistency is right on, thanks to cauliflower rice. We spiced it up further with Cheddar and jalapenos.”

Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Active Time: 40 minutes; Yiel: 12 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray, for the muffin tin

4 cups riced cauliflower (about 1 pound)

1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

6 large eggs, yolks and whites separated

1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (about 3 1/2 ounces)

2 jalapenos, 1 finely diced and 1 thinly sliced

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.

Place the cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave until warm and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze tightly to release as much moisture as possible.

Wipe the bowl clean and add back the cauliflower. Add the cornmeal, butter, sugar, baking powder, egg yolks, 1 cup of the Cheddar, the diced jalapeno, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir until well combined.

Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold half of the whites into the cauliflower mixture until combined. Repeat with the remaining egg whites.

Pour a scant 1/2 cup batter into each muffin cup and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar. Place a few jalapeno slices on top of the batter in each cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean and the tops are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Serve at room temperature.

LAYERS OF LOVE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Love will follow you after you try this recipe....At least chocolate-lovers will follow you!”

Serves: 16 brownies; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes

View this online here.

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Baking Cocoa

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut in pieces

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3 large eggs, divided

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup pecans, chopped

3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Premier White Morsels

1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping

3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 8-inch-square baking pan.

Combine cocoa, flour and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Reserve 3/4 cup batter. Spread remaining batter into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle pecans and white morsels over batter. Drizzle caramel topping over top. Beat remaining egg and reserved batter in same large bowl until light in color. Stir in semi-sweet morsels. Spread evenly over caramel topping.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares.

LEMON MERINGUE TART

This is from Kim Severson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “The celebrated pastry chef Dolester Miles learned to bake in a small town called Bessemer, outside Birmingham, Ala. She took the tastes of Southern desserts passed down from her mother and her aunt, and elevated them with fine-dining technique she has picked up in her more than 30 years at the Birmingham restaurants Highlands Bar & Grill, Chez Fonfon and Bottega Café. This lemon meringue tart, reminiscent of a Southern icebox cake but with a French feel, is a perfect example. She stirs in white chocolate to give the curd a luscious mouth feel, and finishes it with a drift of soft Swiss meringue toasted with a blowtorch. A few seconds under the broiler will work, too. She cautions cooks never to take their eyes off the tart during that final step. ‘It’ll get away from you fast,’ she said.”

Yield: 10 to 12 servings; Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling and freezing.

This was featured in “An Alabama Chef and Her Beloved Desserts Hit the Big Time”, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

For the Tart:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cubed

2 egg yolks

For the Filling and Meringue:

4 large eggs

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

Zest from 2 lemons

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into large pieces

4 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped

Preparation

In the bowl of a food processor, place flour, confectioners’ sugar and salt, and quickly pulse to combine. Add butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs, then add egg yolks and pulse until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch, then transfer it into a 9 1/2-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan, then trim it by rolling your rolling pin over the top of the tart pan edge. Pierce crust all over with a fork and freeze for 30 minutes. Remove from freezer, place tart pan on a baking sheet, and bake for about 20 minutes until golden. Remove tart from baking sheet and let pan cool slightly on a rack.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Separate the eggs, saving 3 of the whites to use in the meringue. In a small saucepan, stir together 1/2 cup/101 grams sugar, the lemon zest and juice and the egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until quite warm. Stir in butter and continue to cook, whisking to prevent burning, for about 7 to 10 minutes or until the mixture becomes thick. Remove from heat and stir in the white chocolate until it melts into the mixture.

Pour lemon mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl and use a spatula to press until just the solids remain. Discard the solids. Spoon mixture into the prepared tart shell and chill for 4 hours.

Make the meringue: Set up a double boiler and bring the water in the bottom pan to a boil over medium-high heat. Combine the 3 egg whites with 3/4 cup/151 grams sugar in the top of the double boiler and whisk constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is hot.

Pour the meringue mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip at medium-high speed for about 2 minutes then increase speed to high and whip for about 4 to 6 minutes more or until the mixture is stiff. Spoon meringue over tart and spread with an offset spatula.

Using a kitchen torch, brown the meringue lightly, holding the torch about 2 inches away from the tart. Alternatively, place tart under a preheated broiler with the oven rack placed 8 inches from the heat source. Broil 30 to 45 seconds, watching carefully so the meringue turns golden brown and does not burn. Remove tart ring and serve immediately.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH HOME FRIES

This comes from page 26 of the October 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Eggs with a medley of quick-cooked squash and cherry peppers create a colorful breakfast or brunch. For speedy peeling and cubing, use the “neck” portion of a large butternut squash so you can cut the peel straight down off the sides.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

1 1/2 Tbs. olive oil

4 cups peeled, cubed butternut squash (1/2-inch cubes)

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

5 large red cherry peppers, seeded and chopped (1 cup)

3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)

4 green onions, chopped (1/2 cup)

4 large eggs

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add squash and onion; toss to blend. Cover, and cook 5 minutes, or until squash begins to brown. Stir, cover, and cook 5 to 6 minutes more, or until squash is tender and onions start to caramelize.

Add peppers and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Season generously with salt and pepper,if desired. Mix in green onions; cook 1 minute more. Divide among four plates or shallow bowls.

Return skillet to medium-high heat; coat with cooking spray. Drop in eggs. Cover, and cook 2 minutes, or until whites are firm but yolks are still soft. Top home fries with eggs.

nutritional information Per Per serving : 1 cup squash and 1 egg: Calories: 211; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Cholesterol: 186 mg; Sodium: 84 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 7 g; Gluten-Free