Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's offerings include Vegetable Shepherd's Pie and Orange Ricotta Bars. Enjoy!
KATHARINE HEPBURN'S BROWNIES
This was in New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. It begins, “Much like its author, this recipe is a no-fuss classic. It calls for just 1/4 cup of flour, which yields an incredibly rich and gooey brownie, and it's super easy to make. So easy, in fact, that baking a batch of these might just become part of your weekend routine.” Time: about 45 minutes; makes 12 brownies
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 cup chopped or broken-up walnuts or pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of salt
Preparation
Heat oven to 325 degrees.
Melt butter in saucepan with cocoa and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a large bowl. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour, nuts and salt. Add to the cocoa-butter mixture. Stir until just combined.
Pour into a greased 8 x 8-inch-square pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Do not overbake; the brownies should be gooey. Let cool, then cut into bars.
NO CHURN ICE CREAM
This comes from GE Appliances’ email list. It begins, “No one will believe that this ultra-creamy ice cream is so easy to make. No fancy ice cream machine required.”
12 servings (6 cups total)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch fine sea salt
2 cups heavy cream, chilled
Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and salt until thoroughly combined; set aside.
In a large metal bowl, whip the cream with a hand mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Fold about 1 cup of the whipped cream into the condensed milk mixture with a rubber spatula until combined, then fold the lightened mixture into the whipped cream until well blended.
Pour into a chilled 9-by-5-by-3-inch metal loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until solid and scoopable, about 3-4 hours.
Chef’s Notes:
For best results, chill both the metal bowl and loaf pan before starting this recipe.
Try adding in additional ingredients after the ice cream has set for a few hours. Crushed up chocolate sandwich cookies, toasted nuts or chopped up candy bars are all great additions. Stir them in and place the ice cream back in the freezer until firm.
VEGETABLE SHEPHERD'S PIE
This came from the Food Network's Magazine several years ago.
Prep Time: 25 min; Cook Time: 41 min; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
6 medium Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, diced
3 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 bunch baby turnips, halved or quartered if large
6 cloves garlic, minced
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 bunch fresh parsley, leaves chopped (stems reserved)
1-1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup chopped veggie burgers or vegetarian protein crumbles
2/3 cup milk or half-and-half
Grated parmesan cheese, for sprinkling (optional)
Directions
Preheat the broiler. Cover the potatoes with water in a pot; season with salt, cover and boil until the potatoes are fork-tender, 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a stovetop casserole dish or shallow enamel pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, turnips and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables brown, 8 minutes. Add 1-1/2 cups cooking liquid from the potatoes to the casserole dish. Lower the heat and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Tie the parsley stems with twine and add to the casserole. Cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 8 minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons butter and the chopped veggie burgers and warm through, 5 minutes. Remove the parsley stems and stir in the chopped parsley. Keep warm.
Drain the potatoes and mash with the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and the milk; season with salt and pepper and spoon over the casserole. Sprinkle with parmesan, if desired. Broil until golden brown, 5 minutes.
Per serving: Calories 558; Fat 24 g (Saturated 11 g); Cholesterol 42 mg; Sodium 656 mg; Carbohydrate 68 g; Fiber 9 g; Protein 17 g
EASY WHOLE WHEAT VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Easy whole wheat vegetarian lasagna with spinach baked in the oven with three kinds of cheeses. What's not to love? This is the perfect classic spinach lasagna recipe for the whole family!
“Make your vegetarian lasagna just a bit healthier by using this recipe, which calls for whole wheat lasagna noodles and spinach. Even though it uses whole wheat noodles, this Italian spinach lasagna is incredibly rich and creamy as it uses plenty of mozzarella, Parmesan, and low-fat cottage cheese. Of course, you don't have to use whole wheat lasagna noodles if you prefer the regular kind.
“This spinach lasagna recipe is courtesy of the Wheat Foods Council.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 90 minutes; Yield: 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 8-ounce package whole wheat lasagne noodles, cooked slightly (al dente)
1 9-ounce package frozen raw spinach (well thawed and drained)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 eggs
3 cups low-fat cottage cheese
3 cups pre-made or store-bought pasta sauce
3 cups grated low-moisture part skim mozzarella cheese
Directions
Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees F.
In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs then add the cottage cheese and Parmesan cheese. Spray a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or a homemade olive oil spray.
Put one layer of the slightly cooked lasagna noodles flat across the bottom of the baking dish. Add about half of the spinach, pressing down lightly and evenly over the noodles. Top with another layer of lasagna noodles. Top this layer of noodles with the cottage cheese mixture then add the remaining spinach. Then add the last of the lasagna noodles laid evenly on top of spinach.
Once you've layered everything, spread the pasta sauce evenly over the top and sprinkle the whole thing with mozzarella cheese. Press down lightly.
Cover baking dish with foil, using foil sprayed with cooking spray and keeping foil off the center of the lasagna. Secure sides tightly over baking dish.
Bake about 1 hour 15 minutes in oven. To lightly brown the top, remove foil for a few minutes at the end of baking time.
Allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving): 282 Calories; 12g Fat; 23g Carbs; 19g Protein
JALAPENO BROCCOLI
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 to 5 servings
Source: America's Everyday Diabetes Cookbook
Book Title: America's Everyday Diabetes Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/jalapeno-broccoli
Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt, optional
1 head broccoli, trimmed and separated into spears
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
2 fresh jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced (with or without seeds, depending on desired hotness)
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
Few sprigs fresh coriander or parsley, chopped
Directions
Bring a pot of water to the boil and add optional salt. Add the broccoli spears and boil over high heat for 3 to 5 minutes (depending on desired tenderness).
Drain and transfer broccoli to bowl of ice cold water for 30 seconds. Drain and lay out the cooked spears decoratively on a presentation plate. Drizzle evenly with balsamic vinegar.
In a small frying pan, heat olive oil over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add sliced jalapeno peppers (with seeds, if using) and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
Take peppers with all the oil from the pan, and distribute evenly over the broccoli. Garnish with pine nuts and herbs.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 142; Fat: 9 g; Fiber: 6 g; Sodium: 206 mg; Protein: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1/2 Lean Meat, 1-1/2 Fat
ORANGE RICOTTA BARS
This is from Michelle Stark, food editor for the Tampa Bay Times. She also has her own site, Stark From Scratch.
Makes about 12 bars.
To view this online, click here.
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 ounces ricotta cheese
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Zest from 1 orange (save a pinch for the glaze)
Juice from half of that orange
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
For the glaze:
2 tablespoons milk
Pinch of orange zest
1 cup confectioners' sugar, more if needed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Fresh mint, for garnish
Orange slices, for garnish
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a square baking pan (I used a 9- by 9-inch pan) with cooking spray.
Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl; should take between 20 and 30 seconds. Add to a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, orange zest and juice, and mix. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, and whisk until the batter is smooth.
Add in the flour, baking powder and salt, and gently mix until everything is incorporated. Pour batter into the pan and bake for 40 minutes. You can start checking after 30-35 minutes, but mine took the full 40. The bars will be slightly brown around the edges, but don't let them get too brown. Make sure a toothpick or knife inserted into the center of the bars comes out clean.
Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, gently run a knife or spatula around the edge of the pan to loosen bars, then flip pan over carefully so the bars wiggle out. Let bars cool on a baking rack for another 15 to 30 minutes, or until cool to the touch.
Meanwhile, make the glaze: Mix all glaze ingredients in a small bowl, whisking to thoroughly combine. If very thin, add more confectioners' sugar. You want it somewhat runny; it won't be thick like frosting.
When the bars are cool, cut into 10 to 12 squares. Gently spread about 1 tablespoon of glaze on each square (it will be drippy; that's okay). Top each one with a fresh mint sprig and orange slice. Serve immediately, or refrigerate but let come to room temperature before serving.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's vegetarian offerings include Tacos With Spicy Tofu Tomatoes and Chard, Chipotle Quinoa Sweet Potato Tacos with Roasted Cranberry Pomegranate Salsa, and Chickpea Tacos. Enjoy!
JAMAICAN CURRIED TEMPEH TACOS
This comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “The yellow curry filling, mustard greens, and red pepper strips lend these spicy tacos the colors of the tropics.” Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
1 Tbs. peanut oil
1 small sweet onion, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla, diced (1 cup)
1 8-oz. pkg. tempeh, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
2 Tbs. chopped cilantro
2-1/2 tsp. curry powder
1-1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
1 Tbs. lime juice
1 tsp. grated lime zest
4 6-inch corn or flour tortillas, warmed
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup curly mustard greens, finely chopped
2 Tbs. chopped peanuts, optional
Instructions:
Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until onion is softened. Stir in tempeh, pineapple juice, cilantro, curry powder, and ginger. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook 5 minutes, or until pineapple juice evaporates and tempeh starts to brown, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, stir in lime juice and zest, and season with salt and pepper.
Fill tortillas with tempeh mixture. Add red bell pepper and mustard greens. Top with peanuts, if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 220; Protein: 14 g; Total Fat: 7.5 g; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 313 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 6 g
CHIPOTLE QUINOA SWEET POTATO TACOS WITH ROASTED CRANBERRY POMEGRANATE SALSA
I recently discovered Tieghan Gerard’s website, Half Baked Harvest. Some very yummy-looking recipes, including this one.
Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 a small sweet onion
1 clove garlic minced or grated
1 large sweet potato chopped (peel if desired)
salt and pepper
1-1/2 cups cooked quinoa (I used red quinoa)
1 leaves can diced tomatoes (Optional; I normally these out, but sometimes add them)
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 canned chipotle chilies minced
1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo from the chipotle chili can
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne or to your taste
1 cup cooked black beans if using canned drain and rinse them
1 lime juiced
1 small bunch cilantro
6-8 four tortillas corn tortillas (warmed) or hard shell tacos (personally my family prefers hards shell, but all of them are good!), warmed
1 avocado sliced or diced, for topping
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese for topping
cotija cheese crumbled, for topping
Roasted Cranberry Pomegranate Salsa
12 ounces fresh cranberries
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 canned chipotle chili chopped
1 lime zested + juiced
1 clove garlic minced or grated
1 jalapeno chopped and seed removed if desired
the arils from 1 pomegranate (learn how to deseed a pomegranate here)
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make the salsa: Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Place the cranberries, brown sugar, chipotle chili, lime zest + juice, garlic, jalapeño and a pinch of salt and pepper. Use your hands to toss everything together until the cranberries are evenly coated. Place in the oven and roast until the cranberries burst and release their juices, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and and let cool 10 minutes. Then add the pomegranate arils and toss well. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if desired. Set aside and keep at room temperature.
While the cranberries are roasting start the tacos. Heat the olive oil over a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the onions and sweet potatoes and toss to coat. Cover the skillet and let cook until the sweet potatoes are fork tender, but not mushy, stirring once or twice for about 15 minutes. Once the sweet potatoes are fork tender, add the garlic and saute 30 seconds. Then crank up the heat to medium-high (adding more oil if needed) and add the quinoa. Let the quinoa get crispy and cook for about 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup water, tomatoes (if using), the chili powder, chipotle chilies, adobo sauce, smoked paprika, cumin, brown sugar and cayenne, stir to thoroughly combine and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the water has completely evaporated. Remove from the heat and stir in the black beans, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and the lime juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
CARROT-AND-BLACK BEAN CRISPY TACOS
This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Dig into vegetarian tacos with tons of fresh flavor.” Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 (15.5-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lb. medium carrots, cut into 3" to 4" sticks
1 tsp. ground cumin
8 whole-grain taco shells, warmed
Sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped fresh cilantro and radishes, for serving
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4to 6 minutes. Add chili powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add black beans and 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash beans with the back of the spoon until thick. Stir in lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with cumin and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
Divide beans and carrots between taco shells. Top with avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, and radishes. Serve with lime wedges alongside.
PER SERVING: protein: 8 g; fat: 17 g; carbohydrate: 42 g; fiber: 10 g; sodium: 261 mg; cholesterol: 0 mg; calories: 334.
CHICKPEA TACOS
This is from the March 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 36. It starts off, “Turns out, tacos don’t have to be hot to be delicious. The chickpea-avocado mash used as a filling here is prepared and served at room temperature. (It makes a great sandwich spread as well.) Because the fat content of taco shells can vary, look for brands that contain approximately 6 grams or fewer per shell.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
4 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
8 corn taco shells
2 cups baby salad greens
1 cup prepared salsa (medium or hot)
1/2 cup nondairy sour cream
Place avocado in small bowl, and mash with fork. Stir in chickpeas, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic; season with salt and pepper.
Set taco shells in napkin-lined basket. Place salad greens, salsa, and sour cream in separate bowls, and set out alongside chickpea-avocado mash.
To serve, let each person build their own taco by filling each shell with 1/4 cup chickpea-avocado mash, some greens, salsa, and sour cream.
nutritional information Per Serving (2 tacos): Calories: 402; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 19 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 800 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
CHARD AND SWEET CORN TACOS
This is from Martha Rose Schulman, in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “These sweet and spicy tacos can be filled with chard of any color, or other greens like beet greens or amaranth. I used Swiss chard for these tacos, but other greens like beet greens or amaranth will work. I don’t recommend strong-tasting cruciferous greens like kale, though. You can use green chard, red chard or rainbow, and do include the stalks if they’re nice and wide. Don’t skimp on the garlic. As for the salsa, you can choose between fresh or cooked tomato salsa, or use a salsa verde made with tomatillos. They all work well. A quarter cup of filling is plenty for each taco.”
Yield: 8 tacos, serving 4; Time: 15 to 20 minutes.
This was featured in “Vegetarian Taco Night” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 generous bunch Swiss chard (about 3/4 pound)
Salt to taste
1 medium white, red or yellow onion, sliced
3 large garlic cloves, minced
Kernels from 2 ears sweet corn
Freshly ground pepper
8 warm corn tortillas
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta (but not too salty a feta)
Salsa of your choice
Preparation
Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem chard and wash leaves in 2 rinses of water. Rinse stalks and dice them if they are wide and not stringy.
When water in pot comes to a boil, salt generously and add chard leaves. Blanch for a minute, then transfer to a bowl of cold water and drain. Take chard up by the handful and squeeze out excess water, then cut into 1/2-inch wide strips. Set aside.
Heat oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring often, until onions are tender and beginning to color, about 8 minutes, and add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, diced chard stalks and corn kernels. Continue to cook, stirring often, until corn is just tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in chard and cook, stirring, for another minute or two, until ingredients are combined nicely and chard is tender but still bright. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
Heat tortillas. Top with vegetables, a sprinkling of cheese and a spoonful of salsa.
Tip
Advance preparation: The filling will keep for a day in the refrigerator. Reheat gently in a skillet.
TACOS WITH SPICY TOFU, TOMATOES AND CHARD
This is from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “In these tacos, tofu stands in for meat in a vegan picadillo, cooked in a modified salsa ranchera. I’ve never been one for meat “substitutes,” and I normally don’t advocate using tofu in anything other than Asian dishes. But I find this pretty irresistible, a sort of vegan picadillo. You can make it spicier by adding more chiles, milder by using less. The tofu is cooked in a modified salsa ranchera; being tofu, it absorbs the sweet and spicy flavors of the tomatoes and chiles. I used firm tofu and mashed it with the back of my spoon. Silken tofu is also a good choice, though then you will have something more akin to Mexican scrambled eggs.”
Yield: 8 tacos, 4 servings; Time: About 45 minutes
This was featured in “Vegetarian Taco Night” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 pound tomatoes
1/2 pound Swiss chard, stemmed, leaves washed in 2 changes of water
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1 small or 1/2 medium red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
1 to 2 serrano or jalapeño chiles (to taste), seeded if desired and minced
1 14-ounce box firm tofu, drained and cut into medium-size cubes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (more to taste)
8 warm corn tortillas
Salsa fresca (optional)
Preparation
Preheat broiler with rack set about 4 inches from the heat. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Place tomatoes on foil and broil for 6 minutes, until blackened in spots or all over. Using tongs, flip over and broil for another 4 to 6 minutes. The tomatoes should be charred and cooked through. Remove from oven and tip, with juices, into a bowl. Allow to cool until you can handle them, then core and discard skins. Purée, along with juices in the bowl, in a blender or a food processor.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem and wash the chard. When water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and chard. Blanch for 1 minute and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Drain and take up chard by the handful to squeeze out excess water. Cut in 1/4-inch wide strips and set aside.
Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender and beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, cumin and chili powder and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add puréed tomatoes, which should sizzle as soon as they hit the pan. Cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and leaves a canal when you run your spoon down the middle, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
Add minced chiles and tofu, and mash tofu into the tomatoes using the back of your spoon. Add Swiss chard and salt to taste, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring and mashing tofu. Stir in cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Heat tortillas and top with tofu mix. Serve with salsa on the side if desired.
Tip
Advance preparation: The cooked tofu keeps well for a couple of days.
JAMAICAN CURRIED TEMPEH TACOS
This comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “The yellow curry filling, mustard greens, and red pepper strips lend these spicy tacos the colors of the tropics.” Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
1 Tbs. peanut oil
1 small sweet onion, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla, diced (1 cup)
1 8-oz. pkg. tempeh, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
2 Tbs. chopped cilantro
2-1/2 tsp. curry powder
1-1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
1 Tbs. lime juice
1 tsp. grated lime zest
4 6-inch corn or flour tortillas, warmed
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup curly mustard greens, finely chopped
2 Tbs. chopped peanuts, optional
Instructions:
Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until onion is softened. Stir in tempeh, pineapple juice, cilantro, curry powder, and ginger. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook 5 minutes, or until pineapple juice evaporates and tempeh starts to brown, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, stir in lime juice and zest, and season with salt and pepper.
Fill tortillas with tempeh mixture. Add red bell pepper and mustard greens. Top with peanuts, if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 220; Protein: 14 g; Total Fat: 7.5 g; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 313 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 6 g
CHIPOTLE QUINOA SWEET POTATO TACOS WITH ROASTED CRANBERRY POMEGRANATE SALSA
I recently discovered Tieghan Gerard’s website, Half Baked Harvest. Some very yummy-looking recipes, including this one.
Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 a small sweet onion
1 clove garlic minced or grated
1 large sweet potato chopped (peel if desired)
salt and pepper
1-1/2 cups cooked quinoa (I used red quinoa)
1 leaves can diced tomatoes (Optional; I normally these out, but sometimes add them)
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 canned chipotle chilies minced
1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo from the chipotle chili can
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne or to your taste
1 cup cooked black beans if using canned drain and rinse them
1 lime juiced
1 small bunch cilantro
6-8 four tortillas corn tortillas (warmed) or hard shell tacos (personally my family prefers hards shell, but all of them are good!), warmed
1 avocado sliced or diced, for topping
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese for topping
cotija cheese crumbled, for topping
Roasted Cranberry Pomegranate Salsa
12 ounces fresh cranberries
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 canned chipotle chili chopped
1 lime zested + juiced
1 clove garlic minced or grated
1 jalapeno chopped and seed removed if desired
the arils from 1 pomegranate (learn how to deseed a pomegranate here)
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make the salsa: Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Place the cranberries, brown sugar, chipotle chili, lime zest + juice, garlic, jalapeño and a pinch of salt and pepper. Use your hands to toss everything together until the cranberries are evenly coated. Place in the oven and roast until the cranberries burst and release their juices, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and and let cool 10 minutes. Then add the pomegranate arils and toss well. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if desired. Set aside and keep at room temperature.
While the cranberries are roasting start the tacos. Heat the olive oil over a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the onions and sweet potatoes and toss to coat. Cover the skillet and let cook until the sweet potatoes are fork tender, but not mushy, stirring once or twice for about 15 minutes. Once the sweet potatoes are fork tender, add the garlic and saute 30 seconds. Then crank up the heat to medium-high (adding more oil if needed) and add the quinoa. Let the quinoa get crispy and cook for about 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup water, tomatoes (if using), the chili powder, chipotle chilies, adobo sauce, smoked paprika, cumin, brown sugar and cayenne, stir to thoroughly combine and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the water has completely evaporated. Remove from the heat and stir in the black beans, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and the lime juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
CARROT-AND-BLACK BEAN CRISPY TACOS
This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Dig into vegetarian tacos with tons of fresh flavor.” Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 (15.5-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lb. medium carrots, cut into 3" to 4" sticks
1 tsp. ground cumin
8 whole-grain taco shells, warmed
Sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped fresh cilantro and radishes, for serving
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4to 6 minutes. Add chili powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add black beans and 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash beans with the back of the spoon until thick. Stir in lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with cumin and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
Divide beans and carrots between taco shells. Top with avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, and radishes. Serve with lime wedges alongside.
PER SERVING: protein: 8 g; fat: 17 g; carbohydrate: 42 g; fiber: 10 g; sodium: 261 mg; cholesterol: 0 mg; calories: 334.
CHICKPEA TACOS
This is from the March 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 36. It starts off, “Turns out, tacos don’t have to be hot to be delicious. The chickpea-avocado mash used as a filling here is prepared and served at room temperature. (It makes a great sandwich spread as well.) Because the fat content of taco shells can vary, look for brands that contain approximately 6 grams or fewer per shell.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
4 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
8 corn taco shells
2 cups baby salad greens
1 cup prepared salsa (medium or hot)
1/2 cup nondairy sour cream
Place avocado in small bowl, and mash with fork. Stir in chickpeas, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic; season with salt and pepper.
Set taco shells in napkin-lined basket. Place salad greens, salsa, and sour cream in separate bowls, and set out alongside chickpea-avocado mash.
To serve, let each person build their own taco by filling each shell with 1/4 cup chickpea-avocado mash, some greens, salsa, and sour cream.
nutritional information Per Serving (2 tacos): Calories: 402; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 19 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 800 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
CHARD AND SWEET CORN TACOS
This is from Martha Rose Schulman, in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “These sweet and spicy tacos can be filled with chard of any color, or other greens like beet greens or amaranth. I used Swiss chard for these tacos, but other greens like beet greens or amaranth will work. I don’t recommend strong-tasting cruciferous greens like kale, though. You can use green chard, red chard or rainbow, and do include the stalks if they’re nice and wide. Don’t skimp on the garlic. As for the salsa, you can choose between fresh or cooked tomato salsa, or use a salsa verde made with tomatillos. They all work well. A quarter cup of filling is plenty for each taco.”
Yield: 8 tacos, serving 4; Time: 15 to 20 minutes.
This was featured in “Vegetarian Taco Night” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 generous bunch Swiss chard (about 3/4 pound)
Salt to taste
1 medium white, red or yellow onion, sliced
3 large garlic cloves, minced
Kernels from 2 ears sweet corn
Freshly ground pepper
8 warm corn tortillas
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta (but not too salty a feta)
Salsa of your choice
Preparation
Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem chard and wash leaves in 2 rinses of water. Rinse stalks and dice them if they are wide and not stringy.
When water in pot comes to a boil, salt generously and add chard leaves. Blanch for a minute, then transfer to a bowl of cold water and drain. Take chard up by the handful and squeeze out excess water, then cut into 1/2-inch wide strips. Set aside.
Heat oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring often, until onions are tender and beginning to color, about 8 minutes, and add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, diced chard stalks and corn kernels. Continue to cook, stirring often, until corn is just tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in chard and cook, stirring, for another minute or two, until ingredients are combined nicely and chard is tender but still bright. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
Heat tortillas. Top with vegetables, a sprinkling of cheese and a spoonful of salsa.
Tip
Advance preparation: The filling will keep for a day in the refrigerator. Reheat gently in a skillet.
TACOS WITH SPICY TOFU, TOMATOES AND CHARD
This is from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “In these tacos, tofu stands in for meat in a vegan picadillo, cooked in a modified salsa ranchera. I’ve never been one for meat “substitutes,” and I normally don’t advocate using tofu in anything other than Asian dishes. But I find this pretty irresistible, a sort of vegan picadillo. You can make it spicier by adding more chiles, milder by using less. The tofu is cooked in a modified salsa ranchera; being tofu, it absorbs the sweet and spicy flavors of the tomatoes and chiles. I used firm tofu and mashed it with the back of my spoon. Silken tofu is also a good choice, though then you will have something more akin to Mexican scrambled eggs.”
Yield: 8 tacos, 4 servings; Time: About 45 minutes
This was featured in “Vegetarian Taco Night” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 pound tomatoes
1/2 pound Swiss chard, stemmed, leaves washed in 2 changes of water
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1 small or 1/2 medium red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
1 to 2 serrano or jalapeño chiles (to taste), seeded if desired and minced
1 14-ounce box firm tofu, drained and cut into medium-size cubes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (more to taste)
8 warm corn tortillas
Salsa fresca (optional)
Preparation
Preheat broiler with rack set about 4 inches from the heat. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Place tomatoes on foil and broil for 6 minutes, until blackened in spots or all over. Using tongs, flip over and broil for another 4 to 6 minutes. The tomatoes should be charred and cooked through. Remove from oven and tip, with juices, into a bowl. Allow to cool until you can handle them, then core and discard skins. Purée, along with juices in the bowl, in a blender or a food processor.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem and wash the chard. When water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and chard. Blanch for 1 minute and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Drain and take up chard by the handful to squeeze out excess water. Cut in 1/4-inch wide strips and set aside.
Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender and beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, cumin and chili powder and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add puréed tomatoes, which should sizzle as soon as they hit the pan. Cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and leaves a canal when you run your spoon down the middle, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
Add minced chiles and tofu, and mash tofu into the tomatoes using the back of your spoon. Add Swiss chard and salt to taste, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring and mashing tofu. Stir in cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Heat tortillas and top with tofu mix. Serve with salsa on the side if desired.
Tip
Advance preparation: The cooked tofu keeps well for a couple of days.
Monday, July 20, 2026
Monday Recipes
It's Monday, time to get the week started. Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to help with that, including Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers and Vegan Reuben Burgers. Enjoy!
SUCCOTASH
This is from Farideh Sadeghin in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Farideh wrote, "Typically a combination of corn, lima beans and other vegetables, succotash was first introduced to colonial immigrants in the 17th century by Native Americans. The name succotash is derived from the Narragansett word “msickquatash,” which refers to corn (and a variety of other ingredients) cooked together in a pot. Using frozen corn and lima beans that have been defrosted make this recipe incredibly simple and evergreen, but opt for fresh versions when in season. Cook the vegetables in stages, starting with the longer-cooking ones, then toss in a tablespoon of butter when they’re all cooked for a layer of silkiness. To keep the tomatoes crisp, remove the pan from the heat before adding them, but if you want them a bit softer, toss the tomatoes in with the corn and lima beans. This dish easily adapts to preference and availability."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025438-succotash. While you're at it, please consider signing up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium Vidalia onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and finely chopped
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound frozen corn kernels, defrosted, or 6 ears corn, husked, kernels removed
1 pound frozen lima beans, defrosted
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 tablespoon roughly chopped parsley
Salt and pepper
Preparation
Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter with the oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add the onion and cook until soft, stirring occasionally, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the bell pepper and cook until soft, about 3 minutes, then stir in the garlic powder, paprika and minced garlic. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Stir in the corn and lima beans. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they’re heated through, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining butter and stir until melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the tomatoes and parsley. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
CHIPOTLE ASPARAGUS QUESADILLAS
This comes from the April/May 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 34. It begins, “Canned chipotles in adobo sauce lend mellow, smoky heat to quesadillas. Leftover chipotles (there are usually four or five in a can) can be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen for future use.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Quesadillas
1 lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, sliced (1 cup)
1 medium onion, sliced (1 cup)
1-1/2 tsp. olive oil or vegetable oil
1 tsp. dried oregano
4 8-inch sprouted-grain tortillas
Chipotle Spread
3 Tbs. vegan mayonnaise
2 tsp. minced, drained chipotles in adobo sauce
1 Tbs. lime or lemon juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
To make Quesadillas: Toss together asparagus, bell pepper, onion, oil, and oregano in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread on large baking sheet, and roast 10 to 12 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, stirring once or twice.
Meanwhile, to make Chipotle Spread: blend all ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth.
Spread 1-1/2 tsp. Chipotle Spread on one side of each tortilla, spreading all the way out to edges. Top with 2/3 cup filling on one half of each tortilla, then fold over tortillas, pressing edges together to enclose filling and form half-moons.
Coat large skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium heat. Cook each quesadilla in skillet 2 to 3 minutes, turning once.
nutritional information Per Quesadilla: Calories: 273; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 32 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 235 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan
LOUISIANA GREENS AND "SAUSAGE"
This is from the June 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 33. It begins, "A spicy dish with great flavor and texture, this greens mixture contains a delicious potlikker, which is the vitamin- and mineral-rich broth that comes from cooking down the greens." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/louisiana-greens-and-sausage/.
Ingredients
2 tsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium-sized onion, coarsely chopped
1 14-oz. bulk-style soy "sausage"
16 oz. mixed greens, such as mustard, collard, turnip and spinach
2 1/2 Tbs. red wine vinegar
1/3 cup white wine or vegetable stock
2 cups vegetarian "chicken" stock, boiling
3/4 cup tomato sauce
1/2 Tbs. dried thyme
Preparation
Heat oil and crushed pepper over medium-high heat in a very large saucepan or stockpot for 1 minute. Add garlic and onions. Cook for 2 minutes, and add soy “sausage,” stirring and breaking apart with a large spoon. Cook mixture for 7 minutes, stirring frequently until browned. Add greens, reduce heat to medium-low and cook mixture, covered, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until greens cook down. Add vinegar, wine, stock and tomato sauce. Reduce heat to low.
Cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Add thyme, and cook 5 minutes longer, or until greens are tender, stirring occasionally.
VEGAN REUBEN BURGERS
Recently, I was looking through old folders on my computer, seeing what I could delete, what to save, that sort of thing. We all need to do that periodically, right?
I stumbled across one folder that read "recipes from different sources" that had another folder inside called "more recipes from online." (Okay, you with me so far?) One of those recipes was labeled "How to Make Vegan Reuben Burgers (Recipe)" that had been posted in the Broward Palm Beach New Times waaaay back on November 7, 2014. Yikes!
The article (with recipe) was posted by Hannah Sentenac. (Sorry for the delay in posting this, Hannah!) The article starts off, "I was putting ketchup on some breakfast potatoes the other day when I noticed an intriguing recipe staring at me from the back of the Heinz bottle: Reuben Burgers.
"Needless to say, they weren't vegan. Nor were they healthy. Nonetheless, I was inspired to veganize them, and the end result was magically delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I knew I had to share."
And the recipe? Yum
You can view this online at https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/how-to-make-vegan-reuben-burgers-recipe-6905451.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sauerkraut
2 slices of rye bread (toasted)
2 slices Creamy Original Field Roast Chao Cheese (or dairy-free cheese of choice)
1/3 package Trader Joe's Beefless Ground Beef (or meatless crumbles of choice)
2 TBS Tofutti Sour Cream
2 TBS Heinz ketchup
Instructions:
Heat up the beefless beef in a skillet over medium heat for two or three minutes. Add the Tofutti Sour Cream and the Heinz Ketchup and stir until mixed.
Remove from heat and spoon mixture over pre-toasted slice of rye bread.
Top with Chao cheese and allow to melt (you can also pop it in the microwave for a few seconds -- Chao cheese is super melty). Then, spoon sauerkraut on top.
Top with remaining slice of rye bread. Cut in half. Eat. NOM NOM NOM.
LENTIL LOAF WITH SMOKED PAPRIKA GLAZE [Vegan, Gluten-Free]
This is from Lee Khatchadourian-Reese on One Green Planet. Lee wrote, "Flavorful, tender, and moist without being sticky, this vegan lentil meatloaf is super tasty. The smoked paprika glaze adds a really nice touch. This might be your favorite vegan meatloaf yet. It's mostly made of lentils, oats, potatoes, celery, and tomato sauce. All you have to do is combine the ingredients and bake it in the oven––so easy! This vegan lentil meatloaf is great to serve at family dinner with a side of veggies and potatoes! Or meal prep it for your week!"
To view this online, go to https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/lentil-meat-loaf-with-smoked-paprika-glaze/. Serves 5-6.
Ingredients
For the Loaf:
2 cups cooked lentils
1 cup shredded potato (about 1 medium potato)
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 small finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup gluten-free quick oats
1/2 cup parsley
1 cup tomato sauce
1 tablespoon flax meal
2 tablespoons warm water
1 tablespoon thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon rosemary, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Glaze:
2 tablespoons ketchup
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix the flax meal in the warm water and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat and add the onion and celery. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until starting to get very soft. Add the garlic and cook a minute or two longer. Remove from the heat.
In a large bowl, combine all of the loaf ingredients including the flax meal and water mixture into a large bowl. Re-season with salt and pepper and stir until well mixed.
Turn the meatloaf mixture into a lightly greased loaf pan.
In a small bowl mix the ketchup with the smoked paprika and brush the top of the loaf.
Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes.
Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes to cool before removing from the pan.
VEGETARIAN STUFFED PEPPERS
This recipe was posted by DWYATT on AllRecipes, and begins, "This was the first vegetarian recipe I ever made--green peppers stuffed with a mixture of brown rice, nuts, dried cranberries, tofu and cheese. Substitute soy cheese for the Parmesan to create a vegan delight."
Prep: 10 minutes; Cook: 1 hour 10 minutes; Ready In: 1 hour 20 minutes
View this online here.
Note: If you're like me and don't have cooking sherry around, feel free to replace it with with alcohol-free cooking sherry (if there is such a thing) or 3 tablespoons of water. Personally, it's been decades since I've had cooking wine/sherry/etc in my house, as well as non-cooking (drinking) alcohol. When I want to celebrate, say at New Year's, etc., I've found that there are plenty of non-alcoholic sparkling juices on the market.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups brown rice
6 large green bell peppers
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons cooking sherry
1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups extra firm tofu
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups tomato sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a saucepan bring 3 cups water to a boil. Stir in rice. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, core and seed green peppers, leaving bottoms intact. Place peppers in a microwavable dish with about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom. Microwave on high for 6 minutes.
In a small frying pan bring soy sauce, wine and Worcestershire sauce to a simmer. Add tofu and simmer until the liquid is absorbed. Combine rice (after it has cooled), tofu, cranberries, nuts, cheese, salt and pepper; mix and pack firmly into peppers. Return peppers to the dish you first microwaved them in, and bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly browned on top.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, combine tomato sauce and brown sugar; heat until hot throughout. Spoon sauce over each serving.
SUCCOTASH
This is from Farideh Sadeghin in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Farideh wrote, "Typically a combination of corn, lima beans and other vegetables, succotash was first introduced to colonial immigrants in the 17th century by Native Americans. The name succotash is derived from the Narragansett word “msickquatash,” which refers to corn (and a variety of other ingredients) cooked together in a pot. Using frozen corn and lima beans that have been defrosted make this recipe incredibly simple and evergreen, but opt for fresh versions when in season. Cook the vegetables in stages, starting with the longer-cooking ones, then toss in a tablespoon of butter when they’re all cooked for a layer of silkiness. To keep the tomatoes crisp, remove the pan from the heat before adding them, but if you want them a bit softer, toss the tomatoes in with the corn and lima beans. This dish easily adapts to preference and availability."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025438-succotash. While you're at it, please consider signing up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium Vidalia onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and finely chopped
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound frozen corn kernels, defrosted, or 6 ears corn, husked, kernels removed
1 pound frozen lima beans, defrosted
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 tablespoon roughly chopped parsley
Salt and pepper
Preparation
Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter with the oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add the onion and cook until soft, stirring occasionally, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the bell pepper and cook until soft, about 3 minutes, then stir in the garlic powder, paprika and minced garlic. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Stir in the corn and lima beans. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they’re heated through, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining butter and stir until melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the tomatoes and parsley. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
CHIPOTLE ASPARAGUS QUESADILLAS
This comes from the April/May 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 34. It begins, “Canned chipotles in adobo sauce lend mellow, smoky heat to quesadillas. Leftover chipotles (there are usually four or five in a can) can be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen for future use.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Quesadillas
1 lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, sliced (1 cup)
1 medium onion, sliced (1 cup)
1-1/2 tsp. olive oil or vegetable oil
1 tsp. dried oregano
4 8-inch sprouted-grain tortillas
Chipotle Spread
3 Tbs. vegan mayonnaise
2 tsp. minced, drained chipotles in adobo sauce
1 Tbs. lime or lemon juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
To make Quesadillas: Toss together asparagus, bell pepper, onion, oil, and oregano in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread on large baking sheet, and roast 10 to 12 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, stirring once or twice.
Meanwhile, to make Chipotle Spread: blend all ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth.
Spread 1-1/2 tsp. Chipotle Spread on one side of each tortilla, spreading all the way out to edges. Top with 2/3 cup filling on one half of each tortilla, then fold over tortillas, pressing edges together to enclose filling and form half-moons.
Coat large skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium heat. Cook each quesadilla in skillet 2 to 3 minutes, turning once.
nutritional information Per Quesadilla: Calories: 273; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 32 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 235 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan
LOUISIANA GREENS AND "SAUSAGE"
This is from the June 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 33. It begins, "A spicy dish with great flavor and texture, this greens mixture contains a delicious potlikker, which is the vitamin- and mineral-rich broth that comes from cooking down the greens." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/louisiana-greens-and-sausage/.
Ingredients
2 tsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium-sized onion, coarsely chopped
1 14-oz. bulk-style soy "sausage"
16 oz. mixed greens, such as mustard, collard, turnip and spinach
2 1/2 Tbs. red wine vinegar
1/3 cup white wine or vegetable stock
2 cups vegetarian "chicken" stock, boiling
3/4 cup tomato sauce
1/2 Tbs. dried thyme
Preparation
Heat oil and crushed pepper over medium-high heat in a very large saucepan or stockpot for 1 minute. Add garlic and onions. Cook for 2 minutes, and add soy “sausage,” stirring and breaking apart with a large spoon. Cook mixture for 7 minutes, stirring frequently until browned. Add greens, reduce heat to medium-low and cook mixture, covered, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until greens cook down. Add vinegar, wine, stock and tomato sauce. Reduce heat to low.
Cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Add thyme, and cook 5 minutes longer, or until greens are tender, stirring occasionally.
VEGAN REUBEN BURGERS
Recently, I was looking through old folders on my computer, seeing what I could delete, what to save, that sort of thing. We all need to do that periodically, right?
I stumbled across one folder that read "recipes from different sources" that had another folder inside called "more recipes from online." (Okay, you with me so far?) One of those recipes was labeled "How to Make Vegan Reuben Burgers (Recipe)" that had been posted in the Broward Palm Beach New Times waaaay back on November 7, 2014. Yikes!
The article (with recipe) was posted by Hannah Sentenac. (Sorry for the delay in posting this, Hannah!) The article starts off, "I was putting ketchup on some breakfast potatoes the other day when I noticed an intriguing recipe staring at me from the back of the Heinz bottle: Reuben Burgers.
"Needless to say, they weren't vegan. Nor were they healthy. Nonetheless, I was inspired to veganize them, and the end result was magically delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I knew I had to share."
And the recipe? Yum
You can view this online at https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/how-to-make-vegan-reuben-burgers-recipe-6905451.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sauerkraut
2 slices of rye bread (toasted)
2 slices Creamy Original Field Roast Chao Cheese (or dairy-free cheese of choice)
1/3 package Trader Joe's Beefless Ground Beef (or meatless crumbles of choice)
2 TBS Tofutti Sour Cream
2 TBS Heinz ketchup
Instructions:
Heat up the beefless beef in a skillet over medium heat for two or three minutes. Add the Tofutti Sour Cream and the Heinz Ketchup and stir until mixed.
Remove from heat and spoon mixture over pre-toasted slice of rye bread.
Top with Chao cheese and allow to melt (you can also pop it in the microwave for a few seconds -- Chao cheese is super melty). Then, spoon sauerkraut on top.
Top with remaining slice of rye bread. Cut in half. Eat. NOM NOM NOM.
LENTIL LOAF WITH SMOKED PAPRIKA GLAZE [Vegan, Gluten-Free]
This is from Lee Khatchadourian-Reese on One Green Planet. Lee wrote, "Flavorful, tender, and moist without being sticky, this vegan lentil meatloaf is super tasty. The smoked paprika glaze adds a really nice touch. This might be your favorite vegan meatloaf yet. It's mostly made of lentils, oats, potatoes, celery, and tomato sauce. All you have to do is combine the ingredients and bake it in the oven––so easy! This vegan lentil meatloaf is great to serve at family dinner with a side of veggies and potatoes! Or meal prep it for your week!"
To view this online, go to https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/lentil-meat-loaf-with-smoked-paprika-glaze/. Serves 5-6.
Ingredients
For the Loaf:
2 cups cooked lentils
1 cup shredded potato (about 1 medium potato)
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 small finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup gluten-free quick oats
1/2 cup parsley
1 cup tomato sauce
1 tablespoon flax meal
2 tablespoons warm water
1 tablespoon thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon rosemary, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Glaze:
2 tablespoons ketchup
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix the flax meal in the warm water and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat and add the onion and celery. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until starting to get very soft. Add the garlic and cook a minute or two longer. Remove from the heat.
In a large bowl, combine all of the loaf ingredients including the flax meal and water mixture into a large bowl. Re-season with salt and pepper and stir until well mixed.
Turn the meatloaf mixture into a lightly greased loaf pan.
In a small bowl mix the ketchup with the smoked paprika and brush the top of the loaf.
Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes.
Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes to cool before removing from the pan.
VEGETARIAN STUFFED PEPPERS
This recipe was posted by DWYATT on AllRecipes, and begins, "This was the first vegetarian recipe I ever made--green peppers stuffed with a mixture of brown rice, nuts, dried cranberries, tofu and cheese. Substitute soy cheese for the Parmesan to create a vegan delight."
Prep: 10 minutes; Cook: 1 hour 10 minutes; Ready In: 1 hour 20 minutes
View this online here.
Note: If you're like me and don't have cooking sherry around, feel free to replace it with with alcohol-free cooking sherry (if there is such a thing) or 3 tablespoons of water. Personally, it's been decades since I've had cooking wine/sherry/etc in my house, as well as non-cooking (drinking) alcohol. When I want to celebrate, say at New Year's, etc., I've found that there are plenty of non-alcoholic sparkling juices on the market.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups brown rice
6 large green bell peppers
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons cooking sherry
1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups extra firm tofu
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups tomato sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a saucepan bring 3 cups water to a boil. Stir in rice. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, core and seed green peppers, leaving bottoms intact. Place peppers in a microwavable dish with about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom. Microwave on high for 6 minutes.
In a small frying pan bring soy sauce, wine and Worcestershire sauce to a simmer. Add tofu and simmer until the liquid is absorbed. Combine rice (after it has cooled), tofu, cranberries, nuts, cheese, salt and pepper; mix and pack firmly into peppers. Return peppers to the dish you first microwaved them in, and bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly browned on top.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, combine tomato sauce and brown sugar; heat until hot throughout. Spoon sauce over each serving.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Yay! Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers, Vegan Reuben Burgers, and Veggie Chili Cornbread Casserole. Enjoy!
POTATO CORN CHOWDER
This comes from UnitedHealthcare, and begins, "Serving more than two? Double the recipe for a cold-weather meal."
Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 2
To view this online, go to https://www.medicare.uhc.com/wellness/health/uhcarticle/hwal-potato-corn-chowder.
Note: The recipe originally called for chicken bouilion granules. I changed it for this blog.
Ingredients
1 cup loose-pack frozen whole-kernel corn
1 cup loose-pack frozen diced hash brown potatoes with onion and peppers
3/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon instant veggie bouillon granules
1 clove garlic, minced
Dash white or black pepper
1 12-ounce can evaporated fat-free milk
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Snipped fresh parsley (optional)
Directions
In a medium saucepan combine corn, hash brown potatoes, water, bouillon granules, garlic and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cook, covered, about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Do not drain.
Gradually stir the milk into the flour; add milk mixture to vegetable mixture. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more.
To serve, ladle the chowder into serving bowls. If desired, sprinkle each serving with parsley. Makes 2 servings.
Serving Size: 2 cups. Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 281 cal., 1 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 438 mg sodium, 55 g carb., 3 g fiber, 25 g sugar, 16 g protein
ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS
This comes from Kraft and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cups water, divided
1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked
2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided
1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded
Directions
Heat grill to medium-high heat.
Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.
Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).
VEGAN REUBEN BURGERS
Recently, I was looking through old folders on my computer, seeing what I could delete, what to save, that sort of thing. We all need to do that periodically, right?
I stumbled across one folder that read "recipes from different sources" that had another folder inside called "more recipes from online." (Okay, you with me so far?) One of those recipes was labeled "How to Make Vegan Reuben Burgers (Recipe)" that had been posted in the Broward Palm Beach New Times waaaay back on November 7, 2014. Yikes!
The article (with recipe) was posted by Hannah Sentenac. (Sorry for the delay in posting this, Hannah!) The article starts off, "I was putting ketchup on some breakfast potatoes the other day when I noticed an intriguing recipe staring at me from the back of the Heinz bottle: Reuben Burgers.
"Needless to say, they weren't vegan. Nor were they healthy. Nonetheless, I was inspired to veganize them, and the end result was magically delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I knew I had to share."
And the recipe? Yum
You can view this online at https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/how-to-make-vegan-reuben-burgers-recipe-6905451.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sauerkraut
2 slices of rye bread (toasted)
2 slices Creamy Original Field Roast Chao Cheese (or dairy-free cheese of choice)
1/3 package Trader Joe's Beefless Ground Beef (or meatless crumbles of choice)
2 TBS Tofutti Sour Cream
2 TBS Heinz ketchup
Instructions:
Heat up the beefless beef in a skillet over medium heat for two or three minutes. Add the Tofutti Sour Cream and the Heinz Ketchup and stir until mixed.
Remove from heat and spoon mixture over pre-toasted slice of rye bread.
Top with Chao cheese and allow to melt (you can also pop it in the microwave for a few seconds -- Chao cheese is super melty). Then, spoon sauerkraut on top.
Top with remaining slice of rye bread. Cut in half. Eat. NOM NOM NOM.
SIMPLE VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA
This comes from Vicki Shanta Retelny, RDN at VeryWellFit. Vicki wrote, “There's nothing like lasagna to soothe a craving for a creamy, dreamy meal. With a foundation of vitamin C-rich tomato sauce, which is loaded with the carotenoid lycopene, this Italian classic takes on a healthy bend with a good dose veggies nestled in its layers.
“Chock full of leafy green spinach, this dish is good for your brain health, as eating a serving of veggies each day has shown to fend off cognitive decline. Spinach is also loaded with iron and calcium for a total body wellness boost.“
Total Time: 65 min; Prep Time: 20 min; Cook Time: 45 min; Servings 9 (1 cup each)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 package no-boil lasagna noodles
2 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon oregano
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated
3 cups raw baby spinach leaves
Preparation
Preheat the oven the 350F.
On the stovetop over medium heat, pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan. Add salt, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a light boil, lower the heat, and simmer for a few minutes. Stir occasionally.
On the bottom of a 9x13 pan put a layer of tomato sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top, covering the bottom of the pan. Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles, top with spinach, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and coat with a small ladle full of sauce. Repeat the layers until you get to the top of the pan. Sprinkle the final layer with mozzarella cheese.
Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown on top.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a 10 minutes before serving.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Make this dish higher in fiber with whole wheat noodles, although they may only be available in the boil variety. Add other vegetables such a sliced carrots, zucchini, or eggplant. For an alternative green, use baby kale or arugula. Spread pesto between the layers or incorporate it into the tomato sauce for a rich, nutty flavor.
If you want to add meat, add cooked, diced chicken breast or ground turkey to the sauce. For a non-dairy twist, use vegan cheese in lieu of ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
Cooking and Serving Tips
To save time use no-boil lasagna noodles—they're quick and easy to assemble. Plus, the part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella reduce the fat but still offer good-quality protein.
This dish can be assembled and placed, uncooked and covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Simply heat and serve the next day. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.
EASY BLACK BEAN CHILI
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "We love chili for its rib-sticking deliciousness, and this meatless version is no exception. Just because it’s made with beans, and no meat, doesn’t mean it’s not filling. Cumin, chili powder and chiles add heat, while fire-roasted tomatoes, black beans and sweet corn give it extra flavor."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/easy-black-bean-chili/f273db4a-5710-4ced-b099-205c9f3c1d70.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 fresh jalapeño or serrano chiles, seeded, finely chopped
2 cans (15 oz each) Progresso™ black beans, drained, rinsed
2 cans (14.5 oz each) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted or plain diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon coarse (kosher or sea) salt
1 cup Cascadian Farm® frozen organic sweet corn
Sour cream or plain yogurt, if desired
Shredded Cheddar cheese, if desired
Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired
Directions
In 4-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic and chiles; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender.
Stir in black beans, tomatoes, water, chili powder, cumin and salt. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in corn. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes longer.
Top each serving with remaining ingredients.
Expert Tips
You can vary the heat level of this chili by decreasing or increasing the amount of chiles that you use.
Serve this veggie chili with warm cornbread or corn tortillas.
VEGGIE CHILI CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
This comes from Taylerand20 at Allrecipes. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Additional Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/270846/veggie-chili-cornbread-casserole/.
Ingredients
Chili:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen corn
2 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoon lime juice
Cornbread:
1 1/2 cups milk
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 small jalapeno pepper, chopped
Garnish:
1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add onion, carrot, and bell pepper. Mix to combine and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Add diced tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and corn to the Dutch oven and stir to combine. Pour in broth and lime juice; stir to combine. Increase heat to high and bring chili to a boil, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Whisk milk and egg together in a large bowl until well combined.
Combine cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl. Add milk mixture and whisk until smooth. Add melted butter and stir to combine. Add jalapeno and stir to incorporate into the cornbread batter.
Remove Dutch oven from the stove. Pour batter over the chili in the Dutch oven. Use a spatula to cover chili completely and smooth the top.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cornbread comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Garnish cornbread casserole with sliced jalapeno and cilantro.
POTATO CORN CHOWDER
This comes from UnitedHealthcare, and begins, "Serving more than two? Double the recipe for a cold-weather meal."
Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 2
To view this online, go to https://www.medicare.uhc.com/wellness/health/uhcarticle/hwal-potato-corn-chowder.
Note: The recipe originally called for chicken bouilion granules. I changed it for this blog.
Ingredients
1 cup loose-pack frozen whole-kernel corn
1 cup loose-pack frozen diced hash brown potatoes with onion and peppers
3/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon instant veggie bouillon granules
1 clove garlic, minced
Dash white or black pepper
1 12-ounce can evaporated fat-free milk
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Snipped fresh parsley (optional)
Directions
In a medium saucepan combine corn, hash brown potatoes, water, bouillon granules, garlic and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cook, covered, about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Do not drain.
Gradually stir the milk into the flour; add milk mixture to vegetable mixture. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more.
To serve, ladle the chowder into serving bowls. If desired, sprinkle each serving with parsley. Makes 2 servings.
Serving Size: 2 cups. Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 281 cal., 1 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 438 mg sodium, 55 g carb., 3 g fiber, 25 g sugar, 16 g protein
ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS
This comes from Kraft and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cups water, divided
1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked
2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided
1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded
Directions
Heat grill to medium-high heat.
Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.
Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).
VEGAN REUBEN BURGERS
Recently, I was looking through old folders on my computer, seeing what I could delete, what to save, that sort of thing. We all need to do that periodically, right?
I stumbled across one folder that read "recipes from different sources" that had another folder inside called "more recipes from online." (Okay, you with me so far?) One of those recipes was labeled "How to Make Vegan Reuben Burgers (Recipe)" that had been posted in the Broward Palm Beach New Times waaaay back on November 7, 2014. Yikes!
The article (with recipe) was posted by Hannah Sentenac. (Sorry for the delay in posting this, Hannah!) The article starts off, "I was putting ketchup on some breakfast potatoes the other day when I noticed an intriguing recipe staring at me from the back of the Heinz bottle: Reuben Burgers.
"Needless to say, they weren't vegan. Nor were they healthy. Nonetheless, I was inspired to veganize them, and the end result was magically delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I knew I had to share."
And the recipe? Yum
You can view this online at https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/how-to-make-vegan-reuben-burgers-recipe-6905451.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sauerkraut
2 slices of rye bread (toasted)
2 slices Creamy Original Field Roast Chao Cheese (or dairy-free cheese of choice)
1/3 package Trader Joe's Beefless Ground Beef (or meatless crumbles of choice)
2 TBS Tofutti Sour Cream
2 TBS Heinz ketchup
Instructions:
Heat up the beefless beef in a skillet over medium heat for two or three minutes. Add the Tofutti Sour Cream and the Heinz Ketchup and stir until mixed.
Remove from heat and spoon mixture over pre-toasted slice of rye bread.
Top with Chao cheese and allow to melt (you can also pop it in the microwave for a few seconds -- Chao cheese is super melty). Then, spoon sauerkraut on top.
Top with remaining slice of rye bread. Cut in half. Eat. NOM NOM NOM.
SIMPLE VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA
This comes from Vicki Shanta Retelny, RDN at VeryWellFit. Vicki wrote, “There's nothing like lasagna to soothe a craving for a creamy, dreamy meal. With a foundation of vitamin C-rich tomato sauce, which is loaded with the carotenoid lycopene, this Italian classic takes on a healthy bend with a good dose veggies nestled in its layers.
“Chock full of leafy green spinach, this dish is good for your brain health, as eating a serving of veggies each day has shown to fend off cognitive decline. Spinach is also loaded with iron and calcium for a total body wellness boost.“
Total Time: 65 min; Prep Time: 20 min; Cook Time: 45 min; Servings 9 (1 cup each)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 package no-boil lasagna noodles
2 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon oregano
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated
3 cups raw baby spinach leaves
Preparation
Preheat the oven the 350F.
On the stovetop over medium heat, pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan. Add salt, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a light boil, lower the heat, and simmer for a few minutes. Stir occasionally.
On the bottom of a 9x13 pan put a layer of tomato sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top, covering the bottom of the pan. Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles, top with spinach, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and coat with a small ladle full of sauce. Repeat the layers until you get to the top of the pan. Sprinkle the final layer with mozzarella cheese.
Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown on top.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a 10 minutes before serving.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Make this dish higher in fiber with whole wheat noodles, although they may only be available in the boil variety. Add other vegetables such a sliced carrots, zucchini, or eggplant. For an alternative green, use baby kale or arugula. Spread pesto between the layers or incorporate it into the tomato sauce for a rich, nutty flavor.
If you want to add meat, add cooked, diced chicken breast or ground turkey to the sauce. For a non-dairy twist, use vegan cheese in lieu of ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
Cooking and Serving Tips
To save time use no-boil lasagna noodles—they're quick and easy to assemble. Plus, the part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella reduce the fat but still offer good-quality protein.
This dish can be assembled and placed, uncooked and covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Simply heat and serve the next day. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.
EASY BLACK BEAN CHILI
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "We love chili for its rib-sticking deliciousness, and this meatless version is no exception. Just because it’s made with beans, and no meat, doesn’t mean it’s not filling. Cumin, chili powder and chiles add heat, while fire-roasted tomatoes, black beans and sweet corn give it extra flavor."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/easy-black-bean-chili/f273db4a-5710-4ced-b099-205c9f3c1d70.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 fresh jalapeño or serrano chiles, seeded, finely chopped
2 cans (15 oz each) Progresso™ black beans, drained, rinsed
2 cans (14.5 oz each) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted or plain diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon coarse (kosher or sea) salt
1 cup Cascadian Farm® frozen organic sweet corn
Sour cream or plain yogurt, if desired
Shredded Cheddar cheese, if desired
Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired
Directions
In 4-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic and chiles; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender.
Stir in black beans, tomatoes, water, chili powder, cumin and salt. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in corn. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 5 minutes longer.
Top each serving with remaining ingredients.
Expert Tips
You can vary the heat level of this chili by decreasing or increasing the amount of chiles that you use.
Serve this veggie chili with warm cornbread or corn tortillas.
VEGGIE CHILI CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
This comes from Taylerand20 at Allrecipes. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Additional Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/270846/veggie-chili-cornbread-casserole/.
Ingredients
Chili:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen corn
2 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoon lime juice
Cornbread:
1 1/2 cups milk
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 small jalapeno pepper, chopped
Garnish:
1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add onion, carrot, and bell pepper. Mix to combine and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Add diced tomatoes, black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and corn to the Dutch oven and stir to combine. Pour in broth and lime juice; stir to combine. Increase heat to high and bring chili to a boil, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Whisk milk and egg together in a large bowl until well combined.
Combine cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl. Add milk mixture and whisk until smooth. Add melted butter and stir to combine. Add jalapeno and stir to incorporate into the cornbread batter.
Remove Dutch oven from the stove. Pour batter over the chili in the Dutch oven. Use a spatula to cover chili completely and smooth the top.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cornbread comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Garnish cornbread casserole with sliced jalapeno and cilantro.
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and Cheese sems to be one of those iconic comfort foods that many of us crave froom time to time. To that end, here are six mac and cheese recipes to help you through the day, incluuding my Grandma’s Mac And Cheese and Benecol Macaroni and Cheese. Enjoy!
SUPER DECADENT MAC AND CHEESE
This yumminess is from Kardea Brown on the Food Network.
Active Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 8 to 10 Servings; Level: Easy
To view this yumminess online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/super-decadent-mac-and-cheese-9831363.
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the dish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more if needed
4 ounces cream cheese
One 16-ounce block sharp Cheddar, shredded
1-1/2 cups extra-sharp Cheddar, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with butter.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 7 minutes. Strain in a colander, run cold water over the pasta and set aside.
Using the same pot the macaroni was cooked in, melt the 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, add the flour and whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and then the cream. Bring to a simmer, add the cream cheese and the shredded Cheddar except for 1/2 cup and stir until melted. Stir in the granulated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the macaroni. Season with salt and pepper.
Whisk together the eggs and sour cream in a small bowl and then fold into the macaroni and cheese. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish, fold in the cubed Cheddar and top with the reserved 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar. Bake until the top just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.
HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE
I had been looking for a really simple but good homemade macaroni and cheese recipe, and this fits the bill. My daughter and granddaughter had come over on my granddaughter's birthday; while they were here, my daughter whipped up this recipe. She'd been making it for quite a while. It was a definite hit with everyone in the house.
Ingredients
1 box (16 ounce) cannelloni pasta (see Note)
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Note: Just about any tubular pasta can be used in this recipe, though it seems to work best with something bigger than elbow macaroni. Some of the better substitutes for the cannelloni would be ziti, penne, rigatoni, or elicoidali - though elbow macaroni can be used if that's what's on hand (or your preference).
Directions
Turn oven on to 350 degrees.
Cook pasta according to package directions. If the package gives you a bracket – say, 12 – 14 minutes – lean toward the lower time, since you don't want the pasta to be too mushy. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
In a large pot, melt butter on low heat, then add flour, salt, and pepper. Cook on low heat, stirring continuously, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add milk and cook on medium heat for approximately 5 minutes until mixture thickens, stirring continuously.
Remove from heat and add macaroni, stirring it into mixture. Add the shredded cheese, and stir in completely.
Pour mixture into a 13 X 9 inch pan and bake at 350 for 10 – 15 minutes. Remove carefully, as it will be hot. (You knew that, right?) Dig in.
This makes 4 – 5 servings.
Photo: Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, on the left in the blue dish, and Benecol Macaroni and Cheese, on right, in orange casserole dish (from Avon)
BENECOL MACARONI AND CHEESE
For several years, there was a magazine dedicated to walking, titled Walking Magazine. It had many good articles, tips and recipes for those of us who feel a little more comfortable race-walking than running. Unfortunately, the magazine folded several years ago. This recipe was in it during its final year. Serves 4.
Ingredients
1/2 lb. small shell style macaroni
4 Tbs. Benecol
3 Tbs. all purpose flour
3 Tbs. finely chopped onion
1-1/2 C 2% milk, warmed
few drops Tabasco Sauce
1-pint nonfat cottage (or ricotta) cheese
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C flavored bread crumbs
1 Tbs. olive oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9-by-9 inch pan liberally with nonstick cooking spray. Cook shells according to package directions, strain, and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
To prepare sauce, melt Benecol in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Quickly whisk in flour, add onions, and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour milk into flour mixture, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Add Tabasco Sauce and cook an additional minute. Whisk in cheese and salt, and blend in shells; transfer mixture to prepared pan.
In small bowl, mix oil and bread crumbs together; spoon over top of macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes.
Per Serving: 510 calories; 27.2% calories from fat; 3G saturated fat; 65G carbohydrates; 12MG cholesterol; 612MG sodium; 2G fiber
GRANDMA'S MAC AND CHEESE
This comes from my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking, found on Amazon.com.
Both of my grandmas were characters; I could write a book about either one. This is my dad's mom's version of the ultimate comfort food. She told me she made this for my dad and my uncle when they were kids. Very simple, but very good.
Ingredients
1 lb. elbow macaroni
1 – 2 jars of Cheese Whiz
Directions
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Heat Cheese Whiz, either in microwave or boiling water. (Remove lids from jars first.) Drain macaroni, dump into a large bowl, add heated Cheese Whiz, stir, and PIG OUT!!!
CREAMY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is from Eric Kim in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Eric wrote, "This macaroni and cheese recipe, inspired by Stouffer’s, delivers the best of all worlds: creamy, saucy comfort, with a consistency that’s slightly more set than a stovetop version, thanks to a final bake in the oven. It stays voluptuous and molten as a result of a higher ratio of sauce to noodles, which are cooked completely so they don’t soak up as much liquid. The Velveeta is necessary here, as it has sodium citrate, which prevents the sauce from separating in the oven. Elbow macaroni works fine, but cavatappi is an especially fun shape to eat with its telephone-cord bounciness."
Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in "The Platonic Ideal of Macaroni and Cheese", and can be viewed online at https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/dining/baked-macaroni-cheese-recipe-homemade.html.
Another link to check out is for Alison Roman's guide, "How to Make Mac and Cheese." While you're at it, you might want to sign up Eric Kim in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Great recipes, helpful guides, etc. I highly recommend it.
Ingredients
Salt
1 pound cavatappi or elbow macaroni
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups whole milk
1 pound sharp or extra-sharp yellow Cheddar, coarsely grated (5-1/4 cups)
8 ounces Velveeta, torn into pieces
4 ounces Pecorino Romano, coarsely grated (1 cup)
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Pinch of ground cayenne
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until just past al dente. Drain and set aside.
Return the empty pot to the stove (no need to clean it) and set over medium heat. Melt the butter and simmer, whisking occasionally, until the butter stops spurting and quiets down, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the flour and cook, whisking, until smooth like gravy, about 1 minute.
Step 4
Whisk in the milk. Raise the heat to high and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly, then immediately reduce the heat to low and continue simmering until the sauce lightly coats the back of a spoon, 2 to 5 minutes. At this stage, the sauce should be smooth but relatively loose. Take the pot off the heat.
To the pot, add the Cheddar, Velveeta, Pecorino Romano, mustard powder, onion powder and cayenne, and season generously with salt and black pepper. Whisk until the cheese is melted and smooth like nacho cheese. Add the drained pasta, breaking up any clumps, and stir until evenly coated in the cheese sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking pan or dish and bake until bubbling at the edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
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.
SUPER DECADENT MAC AND CHEESE
This yumminess is from Kardea Brown on the Food Network.
Active Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 8 to 10 Servings; Level: Easy
To view this yumminess online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/super-decadent-mac-and-cheese-9831363.
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the dish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more if needed
4 ounces cream cheese
One 16-ounce block sharp Cheddar, shredded
1-1/2 cups extra-sharp Cheddar, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with butter.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 7 minutes. Strain in a colander, run cold water over the pasta and set aside.
Using the same pot the macaroni was cooked in, melt the 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, add the flour and whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and then the cream. Bring to a simmer, add the cream cheese and the shredded Cheddar except for 1/2 cup and stir until melted. Stir in the granulated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the macaroni. Season with salt and pepper.
Whisk together the eggs and sour cream in a small bowl and then fold into the macaroni and cheese. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish, fold in the cubed Cheddar and top with the reserved 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar. Bake until the top just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.
HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE
I had been looking for a really simple but good homemade macaroni and cheese recipe, and this fits the bill. My daughter and granddaughter had come over on my granddaughter's birthday; while they were here, my daughter whipped up this recipe. She'd been making it for quite a while. It was a definite hit with everyone in the house.
Ingredients
1 box (16 ounce) cannelloni pasta (see Note)
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Note: Just about any tubular pasta can be used in this recipe, though it seems to work best with something bigger than elbow macaroni. Some of the better substitutes for the cannelloni would be ziti, penne, rigatoni, or elicoidali - though elbow macaroni can be used if that's what's on hand (or your preference).
Directions
Turn oven on to 350 degrees.
Cook pasta according to package directions. If the package gives you a bracket – say, 12 – 14 minutes – lean toward the lower time, since you don't want the pasta to be too mushy. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
In a large pot, melt butter on low heat, then add flour, salt, and pepper. Cook on low heat, stirring continuously, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add milk and cook on medium heat for approximately 5 minutes until mixture thickens, stirring continuously.
Remove from heat and add macaroni, stirring it into mixture. Add the shredded cheese, and stir in completely.
Pour mixture into a 13 X 9 inch pan and bake at 350 for 10 – 15 minutes. Remove carefully, as it will be hot. (You knew that, right?) Dig in.
This makes 4 – 5 servings.
Photo: Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, on the left in the blue dish, and Benecol Macaroni and Cheese, on right, in orange casserole dish (from Avon)
BENECOL MACARONI AND CHEESE
For several years, there was a magazine dedicated to walking, titled Walking Magazine. It had many good articles, tips and recipes for those of us who feel a little more comfortable race-walking than running. Unfortunately, the magazine folded several years ago. This recipe was in it during its final year. Serves 4.
Ingredients
1/2 lb. small shell style macaroni
4 Tbs. Benecol
3 Tbs. all purpose flour
3 Tbs. finely chopped onion
1-1/2 C 2% milk, warmed
few drops Tabasco Sauce
1-pint nonfat cottage (or ricotta) cheese
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C flavored bread crumbs
1 Tbs. olive oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9-by-9 inch pan liberally with nonstick cooking spray. Cook shells according to package directions, strain, and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
To prepare sauce, melt Benecol in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Quickly whisk in flour, add onions, and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour milk into flour mixture, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Add Tabasco Sauce and cook an additional minute. Whisk in cheese and salt, and blend in shells; transfer mixture to prepared pan.
In small bowl, mix oil and bread crumbs together; spoon over top of macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes.
Per Serving: 510 calories; 27.2% calories from fat; 3G saturated fat; 65G carbohydrates; 12MG cholesterol; 612MG sodium; 2G fiber
GRANDMA'S MAC AND CHEESE
This comes from my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking, found on Amazon.com.
Both of my grandmas were characters; I could write a book about either one. This is my dad's mom's version of the ultimate comfort food. She told me she made this for my dad and my uncle when they were kids. Very simple, but very good.
Ingredients
1 lb. elbow macaroni
1 – 2 jars of Cheese Whiz
Directions
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Heat Cheese Whiz, either in microwave or boiling water. (Remove lids from jars first.) Drain macaroni, dump into a large bowl, add heated Cheese Whiz, stir, and PIG OUT!!!
CREAMY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is from Eric Kim in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Eric wrote, "This macaroni and cheese recipe, inspired by Stouffer’s, delivers the best of all worlds: creamy, saucy comfort, with a consistency that’s slightly more set than a stovetop version, thanks to a final bake in the oven. It stays voluptuous and molten as a result of a higher ratio of sauce to noodles, which are cooked completely so they don’t soak up as much liquid. The Velveeta is necessary here, as it has sodium citrate, which prevents the sauce from separating in the oven. Elbow macaroni works fine, but cavatappi is an especially fun shape to eat with its telephone-cord bounciness."
Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in "The Platonic Ideal of Macaroni and Cheese", and can be viewed online at https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/dining/baked-macaroni-cheese-recipe-homemade.html.
Another link to check out is for Alison Roman's guide, "How to Make Mac and Cheese." While you're at it, you might want to sign up Eric Kim in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Great recipes, helpful guides, etc. I highly recommend it.
Ingredients
Salt
1 pound cavatappi or elbow macaroni
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups whole milk
1 pound sharp or extra-sharp yellow Cheddar, coarsely grated (5-1/4 cups)
8 ounces Velveeta, torn into pieces
4 ounces Pecorino Romano, coarsely grated (1 cup)
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Pinch of ground cayenne
Freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until just past al dente. Drain and set aside.
Return the empty pot to the stove (no need to clean it) and set over medium heat. Melt the butter and simmer, whisking occasionally, until the butter stops spurting and quiets down, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the flour and cook, whisking, until smooth like gravy, about 1 minute.
Step 4
Whisk in the milk. Raise the heat to high and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly, then immediately reduce the heat to low and continue simmering until the sauce lightly coats the back of a spoon, 2 to 5 minutes. At this stage, the sauce should be smooth but relatively loose. Take the pot off the heat.
To the pot, add the Cheddar, Velveeta, Pecorino Romano, mustard powder, onion powder and cayenne, and season generously with salt and black pepper. Whisk until the cheese is melted and smooth like nacho cheese. Add the drained pasta, breaking up any clumps, and stir until evenly coated in the cheese sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking pan or dish and bake until bubbling at the edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
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.
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Tempeh
For years, I would see Tempeh in the produce section of the grocery store, and think that I really should pick some up and do, well, something with it. The only problem was that I was never quite sure what I could cook tempeh in. Sure, I had tofu pretty much figured out. But tempeh? Not so much.
If you're in that boat, like I was, here are six great recipes to get you started on your tempeh journey. Check out the Spinach Lasagna, the BBQ Tempeh Burgers, and the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!
STICKY, SPICY TEMPEH
This yumminess is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Ali wrote, "Crispy tempeh glazed in a spicy-and-sweet soy sauce can anchor many a dinner, whether served over rice and vegetables, rice noodles, lettuce wraps or soup. Tempeh is a fermented vegan protein with a nutty flavor and firm texture that can stand up to assertive seasonings. That could be the fresh sambal in tempe penyet, a famous street food in Indonesia, where tempeh was first made — or this easily memorizable ratio of two parts soy sauce to one part each rice vinegar, brown sugar and chile sauce. Crumbling the tempeh into small, irregular pieces so that it resembles ground meat creates a variety of textures in each bite. To make it a complete meal, stir in spinach, peas or another quick-cooking vegetable with the sauce — or accompany with crispy raw vegetables like thinly sliced cucumbers or radishes on top of rice."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025365-sticky-spicy-tempeh. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons chile sauce, such as sambal oelek or Sriracha
3 tablespoons neutral oil (such as grapeseed or sunflower), plus more as needed
2 (8-ounce) packages tempeh, crumbled into pieces no larger than 1/2 inch
Salt
Preparation
In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and chile sauce until the sugar dissolves.
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the tempeh, season lightly with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until mostly golden, 7 to 9 minutes. Add more oil as needed if the pan looks dry or the tempeh is burning.
Reduce the heat to low, give the sauce another stir, add the sauce to the skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened and glossing the tempeh, about 1 minute.
EASY VEGAN TEMPEH CHILI
This is from OnTrackDiabetes, a site with some good information for diabetics and their families.
Servings: 6; Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook time: 30 minutes; Total: 40 minutes
You can view this at https://www.ontrackdiabetes.com/recipes/easy-vegan-tempeh-chili.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces tempeh
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 orange bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 15-ounce can of organic pinto beans (undrained)
1 15-ounce can of organic kidney beans (drained)
2 15-ounce cans of fire-roasted diced tomatoes (undrained)
3/4 cup of water
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne (or to taste)
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large (6-quart) saucepan on medium heat.
Remove tempeh from the package and crumble it into saucepan. Brown for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add chopped onion, bell peppers and celery to saucepan. Stir frequently for about 5 minutes.
Add beans (1 drained and 1 undrained), tomatoes, water and remaining seasonings. Stir well to combine.
Simmer on low heat for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until peppers are cooked yet still firm.
Nutrition Information Per Serving: 330 calories (33% calories from fat), 18 g protein, 12 g total fat (2 g saturated fat), 38 g carbohydrates, 12 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 767 mg sodium
GLAZED MAPLE-MUSTARD TEMPEH STRIPS WITH COLLARDS
This one, from the September 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 44, begins, “Sweet and sticky with just a little kick, these sliced tempeh strips are briefly marinated, baked, then re-glazed to trap in maximum flavor and tender texture.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 8-oz. pkg. tempeh, sliced into 1/2-inch strips
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup safflower oil, divided
2 Tbs. ketchup
2 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. sriracha sauce
1 Tbs. low-sodium tamari
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 12-oz. bunches collard greens, stems and ribs removed, leaves thinly sliced
2 cups frozen fire roasted corn, thawed
Directions
Place tempeh strips in medium heat-proof bowl. Set aside.
Whisk together maple syrup, orange juice, 2 Tbs. oil, ketchup, mustard, sriracha, tamari, pepper, and cinnamon in medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Pour hot mixture over tempeh strips, cover, and let marinate 30 minutes, or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with foil, and coat with cooking spray. Arrange marinated tempeh strips on prepared baking sheet; reserve marinade. Cover baking sheet tightly with foil, and bake 15 minutes. Remove foil, and flip tempeh pieces. Bake, uncovered, 5 minutes more, or until tempeh is slightly browned. Remove from oven, and brush tempeh with remaining glaze.
Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 Tbs. oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic, and cook 30 seconds. Add collard greens in two batches, wilting first batch before adding second. Stir in corn, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cook 5 to 7 minutes or until greens are tender, stirring occasionally. Serve topped with tempeh slices.
nutritional information Per Per serving (1 cup greens and 4 slices tempeh): Calories: 370; Protein: 18 g; Total Fat: 19 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 37 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 358 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 17 g; Vegan
SPINACH LASAGNA
This comes from the January 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, "'Many people don't know that the crock inside a slow cooker is ovenproof and you can transfer a dish like lasagna into the oven (up to 400°F) for 10 minutes to brown the top,' says Golino. Just be sure the pot is hot, to avoid drastic temperature changes that can cause it to crack." Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 medium onion, quartered
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 Tbs. dried oregano
2 cloves garlic, peeled, plus 1 clove minced (1 tsp.), divided
1 8-oz. pkg. tempeh, cut into chunks
1 28-oz. can chopped fire-roasted tomatoes
2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for oiling slow cooker
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
2 10-oz. pkgs. frozen spinach, thawed and drained
8 oven-ready lasagna noodles
1 16-oz. jar roasted red peppers, rinsed and drained
1 16-oz. container low-fat ricotta cheese, divided
1 cup grated Swiss cheese, divided
Directions
Place onion, basil, oregano, and 2 whole garlic cloves in food processor; pulse 6 times, or until onion and garlic are chopped. Add tempeh, and pulse until tempeh is ground. Add tomatoes, oil, salt, and pepper; pulse until chunky sauce forms.
Combine spinach and minced garlic in bowl, and season with salt and pepper.
Coat bottom and sides of 4-quart slow cooker with oil. Spread 1 cup tomato sauce over bottom, and cover with layer of lasagna noodles, breaking them in pieces to fit around edges. Spread 3/4 cup spinach mixture over top. Place 1 layer roasted red peppers over spinach, and top with 3/4 cup ricotta. Spread 1 cup tomato sauce over ricotta. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup Swiss cheese. Repeat, layering noodles, spinach, peppers, ricotta, Swiss cheese, and tomato sauce. Top with 1 more layer noodles and remaining spinach, tomato sauce, ricotta, and Swiss cheese.
Cook 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low. Let stand uncovered 10 minutes before serving.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 322; Protein: 22 g; Total Fat: 14 g; Saturated Fat: 5.5 g; Carbohydrates: 32 g; Cholesterol: 31 mg; Sodium: 762 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 8 g
CAROLINA-STYLE BARBECUE SANDWICHES
This is from Vegetarian Times (posted on the website on May 9, 2017), and begins, "A tangy mustard-based sauce distinguishes Carolina-style barbecue from its sweeter Kansas City cousin. This recipe makes 2 cups of sauce, leaving plenty to serve on the side. For crunch in your sandwiches, buy coleslaw at the deli, or make Deep South Slaw."
Makes: 4 servings.
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/carolina-style-barbecue-sandwiches.
Ingredients
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2/3 cup no-salt-added ketchup, such as Heinz
1/4 cup yellow mustard
3 Tbs. dark brown sugar
1 Tbs. molasses
2 tsp. Louisiana-style hot sauce
2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
12 oz. seitan, cut into thin strips
4 hamburger-style buns
12 pickle chips, optional
1 cup prepared coleslaw, optional
Directions
Bring vinegar, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, molasses, hot sauce, black pepper, and salt to a simmer in saucepan over medium heat. Cook 5 minutes. Transfer 1 cup sauce to bowl, and set aside. Add seitan to saucepan, and cook 10 minutes. Divide among buns. Serve with pickle chips, coleslaw, and extra sauce, if using.
BBQ TEMPEH BURGERS
This recipe is from Vegetarian Times, and can be found at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/vegan-vegetarian-recipes/entrees/5-healthy-plant-based-burger-recipes/. It begins, “The nutty flavor and meaty texture of tempeh makes it a natural fit for veggie burgers, and ounce for ounce, it contains twice the protein as tofu. Adding pinto beans means a big magnesium boost, which can help reduce your risk for diseases such as diabetes.”
Hands-On Time: 25 Minutes; Cook Time: 8 Minutes; Makes: 4 Servings
Ingredients
2 tsp oil
1 cup onions, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup cooked or canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup wheat germ
juice of 1/2 lime
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp almond or peanut butter
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp liquid smoke, optional
1 (8 oz) package tempeh, cubed
2 tbsp sesame seeds
4 hamburger buns
1/3 cup low-sugar barbecue sauce
1 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
2 cups cabbage, shredded
Directions
Heat oil in a skillet over medium. Add onions, carrots and salt and cook until onions have softened and darkened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. To a food processor container, add cooked vegetables, pinto beans, wheat germ, lime juice, tomato paste, nut butter, maple syrup, soy sauce, chili powder and liquid smoke (if using). Pulse until beans are roughly mashed but not pureed. Add tempeh and pulse until just incorporated. Form into 4 patties. Spread sesame seeds out on a plate and coat both sides of burgers with seeds. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Heat grill to medium and grease grates. Cook burgers until browned and warmed through, about 4 minutes per side. Serve on buns with equal amounts of barbecue sauce, red peppers and cabbage.
Nutrition Facts (per serving): calories 432, fat 16 g, carbs 56 g, fiber 11 g, sugar 7 g, protein 23 g, sodium 472 mg
Nutrition Boost: The beans and cabbage in this burger provide an insane amount of belly-friendly dietary fiber.
If you're in that boat, like I was, here are six great recipes to get you started on your tempeh journey. Check out the Spinach Lasagna, the BBQ Tempeh Burgers, and the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!
STICKY, SPICY TEMPEH
This yumminess is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Ali wrote, "Crispy tempeh glazed in a spicy-and-sweet soy sauce can anchor many a dinner, whether served over rice and vegetables, rice noodles, lettuce wraps or soup. Tempeh is a fermented vegan protein with a nutty flavor and firm texture that can stand up to assertive seasonings. That could be the fresh sambal in tempe penyet, a famous street food in Indonesia, where tempeh was first made — or this easily memorizable ratio of two parts soy sauce to one part each rice vinegar, brown sugar and chile sauce. Crumbling the tempeh into small, irregular pieces so that it resembles ground meat creates a variety of textures in each bite. To make it a complete meal, stir in spinach, peas or another quick-cooking vegetable with the sauce — or accompany with crispy raw vegetables like thinly sliced cucumbers or radishes on top of rice."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025365-sticky-spicy-tempeh. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons chile sauce, such as sambal oelek or Sriracha
3 tablespoons neutral oil (such as grapeseed or sunflower), plus more as needed
2 (8-ounce) packages tempeh, crumbled into pieces no larger than 1/2 inch
Salt
Preparation
In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and chile sauce until the sugar dissolves.
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the tempeh, season lightly with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until mostly golden, 7 to 9 minutes. Add more oil as needed if the pan looks dry or the tempeh is burning.
Reduce the heat to low, give the sauce another stir, add the sauce to the skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened and glossing the tempeh, about 1 minute.
EASY VEGAN TEMPEH CHILI
This is from OnTrackDiabetes, a site with some good information for diabetics and their families.
Servings: 6; Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook time: 30 minutes; Total: 40 minutes
You can view this at https://www.ontrackdiabetes.com/recipes/easy-vegan-tempeh-chili.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces tempeh
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 orange bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 15-ounce can of organic pinto beans (undrained)
1 15-ounce can of organic kidney beans (drained)
2 15-ounce cans of fire-roasted diced tomatoes (undrained)
3/4 cup of water
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne (or to taste)
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large (6-quart) saucepan on medium heat.
Remove tempeh from the package and crumble it into saucepan. Brown for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add chopped onion, bell peppers and celery to saucepan. Stir frequently for about 5 minutes.
Add beans (1 drained and 1 undrained), tomatoes, water and remaining seasonings. Stir well to combine.
Simmer on low heat for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until peppers are cooked yet still firm.
Nutrition Information Per Serving: 330 calories (33% calories from fat), 18 g protein, 12 g total fat (2 g saturated fat), 38 g carbohydrates, 12 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 767 mg sodium
GLAZED MAPLE-MUSTARD TEMPEH STRIPS WITH COLLARDS
This one, from the September 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 44, begins, “Sweet and sticky with just a little kick, these sliced tempeh strips are briefly marinated, baked, then re-glazed to trap in maximum flavor and tender texture.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 8-oz. pkg. tempeh, sliced into 1/2-inch strips
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup safflower oil, divided
2 Tbs. ketchup
2 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. sriracha sauce
1 Tbs. low-sodium tamari
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 12-oz. bunches collard greens, stems and ribs removed, leaves thinly sliced
2 cups frozen fire roasted corn, thawed
Directions
Place tempeh strips in medium heat-proof bowl. Set aside.
Whisk together maple syrup, orange juice, 2 Tbs. oil, ketchup, mustard, sriracha, tamari, pepper, and cinnamon in medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Pour hot mixture over tempeh strips, cover, and let marinate 30 minutes, or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with foil, and coat with cooking spray. Arrange marinated tempeh strips on prepared baking sheet; reserve marinade. Cover baking sheet tightly with foil, and bake 15 minutes. Remove foil, and flip tempeh pieces. Bake, uncovered, 5 minutes more, or until tempeh is slightly browned. Remove from oven, and brush tempeh with remaining glaze.
Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 Tbs. oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic, and cook 30 seconds. Add collard greens in two batches, wilting first batch before adding second. Stir in corn, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cook 5 to 7 minutes or until greens are tender, stirring occasionally. Serve topped with tempeh slices.
nutritional information Per Per serving (1 cup greens and 4 slices tempeh): Calories: 370; Protein: 18 g; Total Fat: 19 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 37 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 358 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 17 g; Vegan
SPINACH LASAGNA
This comes from the January 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, "'Many people don't know that the crock inside a slow cooker is ovenproof and you can transfer a dish like lasagna into the oven (up to 400°F) for 10 minutes to brown the top,' says Golino. Just be sure the pot is hot, to avoid drastic temperature changes that can cause it to crack." Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 medium onion, quartered
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 Tbs. dried oregano
2 cloves garlic, peeled, plus 1 clove minced (1 tsp.), divided
1 8-oz. pkg. tempeh, cut into chunks
1 28-oz. can chopped fire-roasted tomatoes
2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for oiling slow cooker
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
2 10-oz. pkgs. frozen spinach, thawed and drained
8 oven-ready lasagna noodles
1 16-oz. jar roasted red peppers, rinsed and drained
1 16-oz. container low-fat ricotta cheese, divided
1 cup grated Swiss cheese, divided
Directions
Place onion, basil, oregano, and 2 whole garlic cloves in food processor; pulse 6 times, or until onion and garlic are chopped. Add tempeh, and pulse until tempeh is ground. Add tomatoes, oil, salt, and pepper; pulse until chunky sauce forms.
Combine spinach and minced garlic in bowl, and season with salt and pepper.
Coat bottom and sides of 4-quart slow cooker with oil. Spread 1 cup tomato sauce over bottom, and cover with layer of lasagna noodles, breaking them in pieces to fit around edges. Spread 3/4 cup spinach mixture over top. Place 1 layer roasted red peppers over spinach, and top with 3/4 cup ricotta. Spread 1 cup tomato sauce over ricotta. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup Swiss cheese. Repeat, layering noodles, spinach, peppers, ricotta, Swiss cheese, and tomato sauce. Top with 1 more layer noodles and remaining spinach, tomato sauce, ricotta, and Swiss cheese.
Cook 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low. Let stand uncovered 10 minutes before serving.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 322; Protein: 22 g; Total Fat: 14 g; Saturated Fat: 5.5 g; Carbohydrates: 32 g; Cholesterol: 31 mg; Sodium: 762 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 8 g
CAROLINA-STYLE BARBECUE SANDWICHES
This is from Vegetarian Times (posted on the website on May 9, 2017), and begins, "A tangy mustard-based sauce distinguishes Carolina-style barbecue from its sweeter Kansas City cousin. This recipe makes 2 cups of sauce, leaving plenty to serve on the side. For crunch in your sandwiches, buy coleslaw at the deli, or make Deep South Slaw."
Makes: 4 servings.
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/carolina-style-barbecue-sandwiches.
Ingredients
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2/3 cup no-salt-added ketchup, such as Heinz
1/4 cup yellow mustard
3 Tbs. dark brown sugar
1 Tbs. molasses
2 tsp. Louisiana-style hot sauce
2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
12 oz. seitan, cut into thin strips
4 hamburger-style buns
12 pickle chips, optional
1 cup prepared coleslaw, optional
Directions
Bring vinegar, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, molasses, hot sauce, black pepper, and salt to a simmer in saucepan over medium heat. Cook 5 minutes. Transfer 1 cup sauce to bowl, and set aside. Add seitan to saucepan, and cook 10 minutes. Divide among buns. Serve with pickle chips, coleslaw, and extra sauce, if using.
BBQ TEMPEH BURGERS
This recipe is from Vegetarian Times, and can be found at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/vegan-vegetarian-recipes/entrees/5-healthy-plant-based-burger-recipes/. It begins, “The nutty flavor and meaty texture of tempeh makes it a natural fit for veggie burgers, and ounce for ounce, it contains twice the protein as tofu. Adding pinto beans means a big magnesium boost, which can help reduce your risk for diseases such as diabetes.”
Hands-On Time: 25 Minutes; Cook Time: 8 Minutes; Makes: 4 Servings
Ingredients
2 tsp oil
1 cup onions, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup cooked or canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup wheat germ
juice of 1/2 lime
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp almond or peanut butter
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp liquid smoke, optional
1 (8 oz) package tempeh, cubed
2 tbsp sesame seeds
4 hamburger buns
1/3 cup low-sugar barbecue sauce
1 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
2 cups cabbage, shredded
Directions
Heat oil in a skillet over medium. Add onions, carrots and salt and cook until onions have softened and darkened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. To a food processor container, add cooked vegetables, pinto beans, wheat germ, lime juice, tomato paste, nut butter, maple syrup, soy sauce, chili powder and liquid smoke (if using). Pulse until beans are roughly mashed but not pureed. Add tempeh and pulse until just incorporated. Form into 4 patties. Spread sesame seeds out on a plate and coat both sides of burgers with seeds. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Heat grill to medium and grease grates. Cook burgers until browned and warmed through, about 4 minutes per side. Serve on buns with equal amounts of barbecue sauce, red peppers and cabbage.
Nutrition Facts (per serving): calories 432, fat 16 g, carbs 56 g, fiber 11 g, sugar 7 g, protein 23 g, sodium 472 mg
Nutrition Boost: The beans and cabbage in this burger provide an insane amount of belly-friendly dietary fiber.
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's Double-Post Tuesday. Today's offerings include Fresh Corn and Okra Fritters, Miniature Apple Muffins, and Apricot Semifreddo with Blackberry Sauce. Enjoy!
PAPRIKA CAULIFLOWER PITA POCKETS
This is from the September 2007 (?) issue of Vegetarian Times (page 76), and begins, "Cauliflower, like paprika, is frequently undervalued in home kitchens. What better way to highlight them both than with this simple dish. Try topping with fresh tomatoes, chopped black olives, and some low-fat Parmesan cheese." Makes 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/paprika-cauliflower-pita-pockets/.
Ingredients
1 head cauliflower (2 lb.), cut into bite-size florets
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. sweet Hungarian paprika
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
1 small red onion, diced (1 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
2 Tbs. lemon juice
4 pita bread rounds, halved and warmed
Preparation
Steam cauliflower 7 to 9 minutes, or until tender.
Heat oil, paprika, pepper, and salt in nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, 2 minutes, or until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add onion and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes more. Stir in broth and cauliflower, and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice. Serve with pita halves.
EASY SWEET POTATO ENCHILADAS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Enchilada dinners are a great way to use up fillings and try out new flavors—take our Easy Sweet Potato Enchiladas, for example. Full of roasted sweet potatoes, spinach and chickpeas and spiced with chili powder, these vegetarian enchiladas with sweet potato are a game-changer when you want to introduce a vegetarian dish into your weekday lineup. You'll love that it takes just 30 minutes of prep time to get tasty vegetarian sweet potato enchiladas wrapped up and in the oven. Make them saucy with Old El Paso™ Mild Red Enchilada Sauce, and don't forget the cheese!"
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 5 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/easy-sweet-potato-enchiladas.
Ingredients
1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2-1/2 cups)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
1 teaspoon chili powder
3 cups packed fresh baby spinach leaves
1 can (15.5 oz) chickpeas, drained, rinsed
2 cups Old El Paso™ Shredded Mexican 4 Cheese Blend (8 oz)
1 package (8.2 oz) Old El Paso™ Flour Tortillas for Soft Tacos & Fajitas (6 inch)
2 cans (10 oz each) Old El Paso™ Mild Red Enchilada Sauce
Fresh chopped cilantro and Old El Paso™ Crema Mexicana, if desired
Preparation
Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish or pan with cooking spray.
Place sweet potatoes on rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the oil over potatoes; season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Bake 18 to 23 minutes or until potatoes are tender and lightly browned.
Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 4 to 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; cook 30 to 60 seconds, stirring frequently, until softened. Stir in chili powder and spinach; cook 30 to 60 seconds to wilt.
Remove from heat; pour into medium bowl. Stir in chickpeas and roasted potatoes. Let cool 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese.
Place tortillas on work surface. Spread heaping 1/3 cup vegetable mixture down center of each tortilla. Wrap tortillas around filling; placing seam side down in sprayed baking dish. Top enchiladas with enchilada sauce and remaining cheese.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Top with remaining ingredients.
Expert Tips
Want a little more heat? Try Old El Paso™ Medium Red Enchilada Sauce in your Easy Sweet Potato Enchiladas.
For this Easy Sweet Potato Enchiladas recipe, look for sweet potatoes with red skin and orange flesh.
Cooking vegetarian? Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.
Add a fresh squeeze of lime to your vegetarian sweet potato enchiladas, if desired.
FRESH CORN AND OKRA FRITTERS
This is from the July/August 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46. It begins, "In these fritters, okra shows its Southern heritage when paired with corn and cornmeal. These fritters resemble fried corn pone but with vegetables added. If you want to make your own baking powder, the formula is very simple: Combine 1/4 cup cream of tartar with 2 tablespoons baking soda, and sift the two together three times. Store the powder in a tightly sealed container away from sunlight. Makes about 12 fritters." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/fresh-corn-and-okra-fritters/.
Ingredients
1/2 cup stone-ground white cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder, preferably homemade (see above)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
1 cup fresh corn kernels
1 cup (about 5 oz.) thinly sliced (1/8- to 1/4-inch thick) okra
About 2 cups vegetable oil for frying
Preparation
Put cornmeal, flour, 1 teaspoon salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl, and stir well to blend. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg and water, and stir into dry ingredients, mixing just until well blended.
Sprinkle remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper over scallions, corn and okra, and fold vegetables into batter.
Pour oil into a large skillet, and heat to 340°F. Scoop batter by about 1/4 cupfuls into hot oil. Fry until golden brown on both sides, carefully turning to brown evenly and to cook through, for about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from skillet using a slotted spoon, and drain fritters on layers of paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt, and serve hot or at room temperature.
MINIATURE APPLE MUFFINS
Recipe Yield: Yield: 36 servings
Source: Splenda
Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/miniature-apple-muffins.
Ingredients
3/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons molasses
2 large eggs
1/3 cup apple juice concentrate, thawed
2 teaspoons grated fresh lemon peel
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup peeled, shredded fresh apple
2/3 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup raisins
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray miniature muffin pans with vegetable cooking spray; set aside.
Beat Splenda Granulated Sweetener, butter, and molasses at medium speed of an electric mixer 1 minute or until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition; add apple juice concentrate and lemon peel, beating until blended.
Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda, and salt; add to Splenda Granulated Sweetener mixture, beating on low speed just until blended. Stir in apple, oats, and raisins.
Spoon batter into prepared pans; filling three-fourths full. Bake until edges are lightly browned, 12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Notes:
With the right amount of spice and a sprinkling of raisins, these bite-size muffins have the flavor of an old-fashioned apple cake.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 125 mg; Cholesterol: 25 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Sugars: 4 g
APRICOT SEMIFREDDO WITH BLACKBERRY SAUCE
This comes from Vegetarian Times (July/August 2005 issue, page 62), and begins, "Semifreddo' means partially frozen—and that makes this the perfect treat for a hot-weather day." Serves 12
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/apricot-semifreddo-with-blackberry-sauce-recipe/.
Ingredients
Apricot Semifreddo
2 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups low-fat milk
1/2 cup dried apricots
1 1/2 cups sliced fresh apricots
1/3 cup low-fat sour cream
1/8 tsp. almond extract
1 pint fresh blackberries
Blackberry sauce
1/2 pint fresh blackberries
2 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
Preparation
To make Apricot Semifreddo: Line 4-cup loaf pan with plastic wrap. Whisk egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar in medium bowl until thick and light yellow, about 1 minute. Bring milk to a boil in saucepan. Slowly pour hot milk over egg mixture, whisking constantly. Return to saucepan; cook over medium-low heat (do not boil), stirring often, until custard is thick enough to coat the back of spoon, about 5 minutes. Strain, and cool.
Meanwhile, place dried apricots in heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water, and let stand 15 minutes, or until softened. Drain, and cool. Put in food processor with fresh apricots, and purée until smooth. Transfer to large bowl. Add custard, sour cream and almond extract.
Put egg whites in large bowl; beat until soft peaks form. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar; continue beating until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into apricot mixture. Pour half of mixture into prepared pan. Place 3 rows of blackberries on their sides down the center of loaf pan; top with remaining mixture. Cover; freeze at least 4 hours.
To make Blackberry Sauce: Press blackberries through fine-meshed sieve into bowl. Stir in sugar and lemon juice. Set aside.
Remove Apricot Semifreddo from freezer; let stand 10 minutes. Unmold onto plate, and cut into 10 slices. Drizzle with Blackberry Sauce; serve.
FALL HARVEST COLLARD GREEN ROLLS [VEGAN, GREEN-FREE]
This is from Denisse Salinas at One Green Planet. Denisse wrote, "These fall harvest collard green rolls feature seasonal wild rice pilaf rolled into collard leaves for handheld packages of seasonal goodness! Acorn squash, pecans, dried cranberry, and shredded carrot are stuffed into each collard leaf. Make the cranberry balsamic sauce for dipping/spreading/eating straight out of the jar with a spoon for added fall flavor!
Serves: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/fall-harvest-collard-green-rolls/.
Ingredients
For the Collard Green Rolls:
8 collard green leaves
1 1/2 cups cooked wild rice
1 cup acorn or butternut squash, roasted and diced
1/4 cup dried cranberry
1/4 cup pecans
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded carrot
For the Cranberry-Balsamic Sauce:
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Preparation
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove and discard thick stems from collard greens and place leaves in boiling water. Blanch for about 2 minutes or until just tender. Gently remove leaves from water and drain them in a colander.
In a large bowl, toss together wild rice, acorn squash, dried cranberry, and pecans. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
Lay a collard leaf on a work surface and top with about 2 tablespoons of shredded carrot followed by 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of rice mixture depending on the size of the leaf. Roll up, starting with the large end of the leaf and rolling it over the filling, tucking in the ends, like a burrito. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
To make the cranberry balsamic sauce, combine sugar and orange juice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cranberries and cinnamon and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes until cranberries begin to pop. Remove from heat and let cool (sauce will thicken).
Transfer sauce to a food processor. Add balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt and purée until smooth. Serve with collard rolls.
PAPRIKA CAULIFLOWER PITA POCKETS
This is from the September 2007 (?) issue of Vegetarian Times (page 76), and begins, "Cauliflower, like paprika, is frequently undervalued in home kitchens. What better way to highlight them both than with this simple dish. Try topping with fresh tomatoes, chopped black olives, and some low-fat Parmesan cheese." Makes 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/paprika-cauliflower-pita-pockets/.
Ingredients
1 head cauliflower (2 lb.), cut into bite-size florets
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. sweet Hungarian paprika
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
1 small red onion, diced (1 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
2 Tbs. lemon juice
4 pita bread rounds, halved and warmed
Preparation
Steam cauliflower 7 to 9 minutes, or until tender.
Heat oil, paprika, pepper, and salt in nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, 2 minutes, or until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add onion and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes more. Stir in broth and cauliflower, and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice. Serve with pita halves.
EASY SWEET POTATO ENCHILADAS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Enchilada dinners are a great way to use up fillings and try out new flavors—take our Easy Sweet Potato Enchiladas, for example. Full of roasted sweet potatoes, spinach and chickpeas and spiced with chili powder, these vegetarian enchiladas with sweet potato are a game-changer when you want to introduce a vegetarian dish into your weekday lineup. You'll love that it takes just 30 minutes of prep time to get tasty vegetarian sweet potato enchiladas wrapped up and in the oven. Make them saucy with Old El Paso™ Mild Red Enchilada Sauce, and don't forget the cheese!"
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 5 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/easy-sweet-potato-enchiladas.
Ingredients
1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2-1/2 cups)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
1 teaspoon chili powder
3 cups packed fresh baby spinach leaves
1 can (15.5 oz) chickpeas, drained, rinsed
2 cups Old El Paso™ Shredded Mexican 4 Cheese Blend (8 oz)
1 package (8.2 oz) Old El Paso™ Flour Tortillas for Soft Tacos & Fajitas (6 inch)
2 cans (10 oz each) Old El Paso™ Mild Red Enchilada Sauce
Fresh chopped cilantro and Old El Paso™ Crema Mexicana, if desired
Preparation
Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish or pan with cooking spray.
Place sweet potatoes on rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the oil over potatoes; season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Bake 18 to 23 minutes or until potatoes are tender and lightly browned.
Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 4 to 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; cook 30 to 60 seconds, stirring frequently, until softened. Stir in chili powder and spinach; cook 30 to 60 seconds to wilt.
Remove from heat; pour into medium bowl. Stir in chickpeas and roasted potatoes. Let cool 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese.
Place tortillas on work surface. Spread heaping 1/3 cup vegetable mixture down center of each tortilla. Wrap tortillas around filling; placing seam side down in sprayed baking dish. Top enchiladas with enchilada sauce and remaining cheese.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Top with remaining ingredients.
Expert Tips
Want a little more heat? Try Old El Paso™ Medium Red Enchilada Sauce in your Easy Sweet Potato Enchiladas.
For this Easy Sweet Potato Enchiladas recipe, look for sweet potatoes with red skin and orange flesh.
Cooking vegetarian? Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.
Add a fresh squeeze of lime to your vegetarian sweet potato enchiladas, if desired.
FRESH CORN AND OKRA FRITTERS
This is from the July/August 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46. It begins, "In these fritters, okra shows its Southern heritage when paired with corn and cornmeal. These fritters resemble fried corn pone but with vegetables added. If you want to make your own baking powder, the formula is very simple: Combine 1/4 cup cream of tartar with 2 tablespoons baking soda, and sift the two together three times. Store the powder in a tightly sealed container away from sunlight. Makes about 12 fritters." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/fresh-corn-and-okra-fritters/.
Ingredients
1/2 cup stone-ground white cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder, preferably homemade (see above)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
1 cup fresh corn kernels
1 cup (about 5 oz.) thinly sliced (1/8- to 1/4-inch thick) okra
About 2 cups vegetable oil for frying
Preparation
Put cornmeal, flour, 1 teaspoon salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl, and stir well to blend. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg and water, and stir into dry ingredients, mixing just until well blended.
Sprinkle remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper over scallions, corn and okra, and fold vegetables into batter.
Pour oil into a large skillet, and heat to 340°F. Scoop batter by about 1/4 cupfuls into hot oil. Fry until golden brown on both sides, carefully turning to brown evenly and to cook through, for about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from skillet using a slotted spoon, and drain fritters on layers of paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt, and serve hot or at room temperature.
MINIATURE APPLE MUFFINS
Recipe Yield: Yield: 36 servings
Source: Splenda
Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/miniature-apple-muffins.
Ingredients
3/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons molasses
2 large eggs
1/3 cup apple juice concentrate, thawed
2 teaspoons grated fresh lemon peel
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup peeled, shredded fresh apple
2/3 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup raisins
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray miniature muffin pans with vegetable cooking spray; set aside.
Beat Splenda Granulated Sweetener, butter, and molasses at medium speed of an electric mixer 1 minute or until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition; add apple juice concentrate and lemon peel, beating until blended.
Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda, and salt; add to Splenda Granulated Sweetener mixture, beating on low speed just until blended. Stir in apple, oats, and raisins.
Spoon batter into prepared pans; filling three-fourths full. Bake until edges are lightly browned, 12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Notes:
With the right amount of spice and a sprinkling of raisins, these bite-size muffins have the flavor of an old-fashioned apple cake.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 125 mg; Cholesterol: 25 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Sugars: 4 g
APRICOT SEMIFREDDO WITH BLACKBERRY SAUCE
This comes from Vegetarian Times (July/August 2005 issue, page 62), and begins, "Semifreddo' means partially frozen—and that makes this the perfect treat for a hot-weather day." Serves 12
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/apricot-semifreddo-with-blackberry-sauce-recipe/.
Ingredients
Apricot Semifreddo
2 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups low-fat milk
1/2 cup dried apricots
1 1/2 cups sliced fresh apricots
1/3 cup low-fat sour cream
1/8 tsp. almond extract
1 pint fresh blackberries
Blackberry sauce
1/2 pint fresh blackberries
2 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
Preparation
To make Apricot Semifreddo: Line 4-cup loaf pan with plastic wrap. Whisk egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar in medium bowl until thick and light yellow, about 1 minute. Bring milk to a boil in saucepan. Slowly pour hot milk over egg mixture, whisking constantly. Return to saucepan; cook over medium-low heat (do not boil), stirring often, until custard is thick enough to coat the back of spoon, about 5 minutes. Strain, and cool.
Meanwhile, place dried apricots in heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water, and let stand 15 minutes, or until softened. Drain, and cool. Put in food processor with fresh apricots, and purée until smooth. Transfer to large bowl. Add custard, sour cream and almond extract.
Put egg whites in large bowl; beat until soft peaks form. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar; continue beating until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into apricot mixture. Pour half of mixture into prepared pan. Place 3 rows of blackberries on their sides down the center of loaf pan; top with remaining mixture. Cover; freeze at least 4 hours.
To make Blackberry Sauce: Press blackberries through fine-meshed sieve into bowl. Stir in sugar and lemon juice. Set aside.
Remove Apricot Semifreddo from freezer; let stand 10 minutes. Unmold onto plate, and cut into 10 slices. Drizzle with Blackberry Sauce; serve.
FALL HARVEST COLLARD GREEN ROLLS [VEGAN, GREEN-FREE]
This is from Denisse Salinas at One Green Planet. Denisse wrote, "These fall harvest collard green rolls feature seasonal wild rice pilaf rolled into collard leaves for handheld packages of seasonal goodness! Acorn squash, pecans, dried cranberry, and shredded carrot are stuffed into each collard leaf. Make the cranberry balsamic sauce for dipping/spreading/eating straight out of the jar with a spoon for added fall flavor!
Serves: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/fall-harvest-collard-green-rolls/.
Ingredients
For the Collard Green Rolls:
8 collard green leaves
1 1/2 cups cooked wild rice
1 cup acorn or butternut squash, roasted and diced
1/4 cup dried cranberry
1/4 cup pecans
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded carrot
For the Cranberry-Balsamic Sauce:
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Preparation
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove and discard thick stems from collard greens and place leaves in boiling water. Blanch for about 2 minutes or until just tender. Gently remove leaves from water and drain them in a colander.
In a large bowl, toss together wild rice, acorn squash, dried cranberry, and pecans. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
Lay a collard leaf on a work surface and top with about 2 tablespoons of shredded carrot followed by 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of rice mixture depending on the size of the leaf. Roll up, starting with the large end of the leaf and rolling it over the filling, tucking in the ends, like a burrito. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
To make the cranberry balsamic sauce, combine sugar and orange juice in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cranberries and cinnamon and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes until cranberries begin to pop. Remove from heat and let cool (sauce will thicken).
Transfer sauce to a food processor. Add balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt and purée until smooth. Serve with collard rolls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)