Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Showing posts with label Au Gratin Potatoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Au Gratin Potatoes. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Wednesday Recipes

It's Wednesday (otherwise known as hump day), half-way through the work week. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Pasta Primavera and Jason's Home Fries. Enjoy!

OATMEAL COOKIES

This is from Vegetarian Times and begins, “Straightforward and tasty, these oatmeal cookies hit the sweet spot.” Makes 24 cookies.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup pastry flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1 stick (1/2 cup) margarine, softened

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 large eggs or equivalent Egg Replacer

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 Tbs. cold water

3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup raisins

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease one or more baking sheets.

In medium bowl, mix both flours, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and ginger. Set aside.

In large bowl with an electric mixer, beat margarine and granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs or Egg Replacer, vanilla and water until blended. Add dry ingredients and beat just until blended. Stir in oats and raisins.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet(s), spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store cookies in an airtight container up to 5 days.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 77; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Sodium: 65 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: g

SMOTHERED CHEESE GRITS AND STEAMED GREENS

This is from the January/February 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46. It starts off, “A bowl of grits and a mess of greens might not sound like dinner party fare, but served on a platter and smothered with caramelized onions, this tasty combination looks downright fancy.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.

To view online, click here.

Ingredients

3 Tbs. olive oil, divided

2 large sweet onions, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla, halved and thinly sliced

3/4 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned white hominy grits (not instant)

1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels

1/4 cup low-fat milk

1 lb. curly kale, tough stems removed, torn into bite-size pieces (14 cups)

1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar

2 oz. (1/2 cup) grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, plus more for sprinkling, optional Toasted sesame seeds, optional

Directions

Heat 2 Tbs. oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, cover, and cook 20 to 25 minutes, or until onions are softened and caramelized, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and keep warm.

Meanwhile, cook grits according to package directions. Stir in corn and milk, and return to a simmer, stirring constantly to incorporate milk. Keep warm.

Steam kale in basket steamer 4 to 5 minutes, or until wilted but still bright green and crisp-tender. Transfer to bowl, and stir in vinegar and remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

To serve: Stir cheese into grits, and transfer to serving platter. Top with kale, then onions. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and grated cheese (if using).

nutritional information Per Serving (3/4 cup grits, 3/4 cup kale, and 1/2 cup onions): Calories: 210; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g; Cholesterol: 8 mg; Sodium: 84 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 7 g; Gluten-Free

SCOTTISH SCONES

Servings: 16

Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/156.shtml

Ingredients

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

4 tbsp whipped butter

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup golden raisins

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Add the butter and mix it into the flour with your fingers. Add buttermilk and knead into a soft dough. Knead in the raisins.

On a floured board, roll out the dough until 1/2" thick.

Cut dough into 16 rounds. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden in color.

Serve warm or let cool and store in an airtight container.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 97; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 115 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Carbohydrates: 16 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread

AU GRATIN POTATOES

This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”

The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.

Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients

1 sprays cooking spray

1 Tbsp butter

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cup fat-free skim milk

2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced

1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.

Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

JASON'S HOME FRIES

This is one of my oldest son's inventions. He fixed this on one of his many trips back home; it didn't take long to become a favorite.

This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

Note: I'll be pulling Off the Wall Cooking from Amazon within the next two weeks. It's due to a major update - added recipes, photos, and more - then off to a hard-copy publisher. If you'd like the current one for your e-reader, now's the time.

Ingredients

3 – 4 potatoes, scrubbed, not peeled

1 pepper (red, green or yellow), diced

1 onion, chopped

3 – 4 T butter or oil (or both)

1 clove garlic, minced (opt.)

Directions

Cut potatoes across (not length-wise). Heat oil or butter. Add potatoes, onions, pepper and garlic. Cover, cook over medium heat, turning occasionally with a spatula, until brown and crusty.

PASTA PRIMAVERA

This comes from Publix. Makes 4 servings.

This recipe originally called for 1 cup chicken or veggie broth. Obviously, I've deleted the chicken broth and am keeping it as only veggie broth.

Ingredients

12 ounces of dried linguine, ziti, or penne pasta

2 Tbl olive oil

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 green onions, sliced

2 medium carrots, sliced

1 medium red sweet pepper, sliced

1 medium yellow sweet pepper, sliced

1 small zucchini, chopped

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 C chicken or veggie broth

1 C snipped fresh basil

1/4 C finely shredded Parmesan cheese

2 Tbls pine nuts, toasted

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return pasta to saucepan; cover & keep warm.

Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat olive oil. Add garlic & onions; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in carrots & sweet peppers. Cook & stir for 3 minutes. Add zucchini, salt, & pepper. Stir in chicken or veggie broth. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 1 minute or until vegetables are just tender.

Stir vegetable mixture & basil into pasta & toss. Transfer to serving dish. Sprinkle with cheese & pine nuts. Makes 4 servings.

Per serving: Calories: 443; fat: 20 g (9 g sat. fat); chol: 38 mg; sodium: 328 mg; carbs: 51 g; fiber: 6 g; protein: 14 g.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Double-Post Tuesday

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to help you through the day, including Rhubarb-Strawberry Refrigerator Cake and Black Bean Veggie Burgers. Enjoy!

RED VELVET MINI CUPCAKES

This comes from The Food Network and begins, “Oil takes the place of butter in these cupcakes, making them lower in fat, but also making the crumb moist. Also, all of the flour is whole wheat! The frosting is simply sweetened reduced-fat cream cheese, but it's plenty tasty.”

Total: 1 hr; Active: 20 min; Yield: 48 mini cupcakes (2 cupcakes per serving); Level: Easy

To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/red-velvet-mini-cupcakes-recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

3/4 cup canola oil

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 tablespoon red food coloring

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup lowfat (1-percent) buttermilk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

Nonstick cooking spray, for coating ice cream scoop

8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 48 mini muffin cups (2 large tins or 4 small) with paper liners.

Whisk together the flour, cocoa and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl. Beat together the oil and granulated sugar on medium-high speed with a hand mixer in a large bowl until well combined. Add the egg and beat until well blended. Beat in the food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla.

On low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour, beating well after each addition. Whisk together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl, and then beat into the batter until fully incorporated.

Using a small ice cream scoop sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, evenly divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Sift the confectioners' sugar over the mixture and beat until smooth. Beat in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Spread or pipe the frosting over the cooled cupcakes.

BLACK BEAN VEGGIE BURGERS

This recipe begins, “Hearty, tasty and inexpensive, these black bean burgers taste great grilled or baked in the oven.”

From Diabetic Connect

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/4711-black-bean-veggie-burgers

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces

1/2 onion, cut into wedges

3 cloves garlic, peeled

1 egg

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Directions

If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and lightly oil a baking sheet.

In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.

In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Then stir into mashed beans.

In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.

Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.

If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 4; Calories: 198; Total Fat: 3 g; Cholesterol: 53 mg; Sodium: 607 mg; Total Carbohydrate: 33.1 g; Dietary Fiber: 9.8 g; Protein: 11.2g

RHUBARB-STRAWBERRY REFRIGERATOR CAKE

My family spent several years in northeast Connecticut. When I was 15, my parents bought a new house in South Woodstock (we'd lived in Thompson).

One of the new house's charms was a good-sized garden; a large patch of rhubarb threatened to overrun the entire garden. While Dad claimed most of the garden (as “John’s Pea Patch”), Mom decided that the rhubarb was hers. This is one of the many rhubarb desserts we had that year.

This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

6 C rhubarb, cut in 1/2” pieces

1 tsp. vanilla

3 dozen lady fingers, split

1/2 C sugar

whole fresh strawberries

2 pks. (3 oz. each) strawberry gelatin

2 C heavy cream, whipped

Combine rhubarb, sugar and 1 C water in saucepan. Bring to boil. Boil 6 – 8 minutes until soft. Drain 1 C syrup and save. Put rhubarb and remaining syrup in blender. Make pulp (3 1/2 C). Bring pulp to boil. Pour over gelatin and stir until dissolved. Chill until slightly thickened but not firm. Fold in whipped cream. Add vanilla. Line 9” springform pan (3” deep) with ladyfingers. Alternate layers of rhubarb mix and ladyfingers, ending with rhubarb. Chill overnight, or until firm. Top with glaze and strawberries.

Glaze: Mix reserve syrup and 1/4 C sugar. Bring to boil & stir in 1 1/2 T cornstarch. Blend with small amount of water. Boil and cook, stirring until thickened and clean. Add a few drops of red food coloring. Cool.

AU GRATIN POTATOES

This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”

The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.

Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients

1 sprays cooking spray

1 Tbsp butter

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cup fat-free skim milk

2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced

1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.

Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

SPINACH SALAD

It's amazing the number of recipes one can come up with over the years. I'd bought a bag of fresh spinach one summer, figuring I'd cook it that evening. Plans changed, and the next day, I decided to make a salad. The lettuce in the refrigerator was looking a little wilted, so I decided to make this.

This recipe, as well as the recipe for Rhubarb-Strawberry Refrigerater Cake (above), can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

1 lb. fresh spinach

1/2 C oil

1/2 onion, diced

1/4 C vinegar

2 boiled eggs, diced

2 T water

1/8 tsp. pepper

Wash spinach; tear leaves. Add onion and eggs. Mix oil, vinegar, water and pepper, and add to salad just before serving.

HOT AND SOUR SOUP

This comes from Publix Supermarket's Aprons. Makes 6 servings.

1/4 cup green onions (2 – 3 onions)

1 (28-ounce) can chop suey vegetables (drained)

4 1/4 cups water

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1/2 cup hoisin sauce

1 tablespoon miso paste

1/2 cup shredded carrots

2 teaspoons chili bean sauce

1 tablespoon vegetable base

1/4 cup Oriental salad dressing

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Wash onions and remove any wilted portions. Chop enough green onions into 1/4-inch pieces to measure 1/4 cup, including up to half of green tops. Discard tops or reserve for another use. Set aside.

Open can of vegetables and drain liquid by squeezing lid against vegetables. Set aside.

Place in large saucepan: 4 cups water, onions, vegetables, mushrooms, hoisin sauce, miso paste, carrots, bean sauce, vegetable base and salad dressing. Bring to boil on medium-high heat. Place 1/4 cup water and cornstarch in 2-cup measuring cup. Stir together until creamy. When boiling, stir in cornstarch mixture. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Serve.

Calories 332 kcal; Fat 11 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Carbohydrate 45 g; Fiber 6 g; Protein 14 g; Sodium 1954 mg

Daily Values: Vitamin A 39%; Vitamin C 15%; Calcium 10%; Iron 16%

Friday, June 2, 2017

Friday Recipes

It's Friday, time to get ready for the weekend. Here are six recipes to help you through, including Chocolate Truffles and One-Pot Mac ’N’ Cheese. Enjoy!

BLACK BEAN VEGGIE BURGERS

This recipe begins, “Hearty, tasty and inexpensive, these black bean burgers taste great grilled or baked in the oven.”

From Diabetic Connect

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/4711-black-bean-veggie-burgers

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces

1/2 onion, cut into wedges

3 cloves garlic, peeled

1 egg

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Directions

If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and lightly oil a baking sheet.

In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.

In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Then stir into mashed beans.

In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.

Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.

If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 4; Calories: 198; Total Fat: 3 g; Cholesterol: 53 mg; Sodium: 607 mg; Total Carbohydrate: 33.1 g; Dietary Fiber: 9.8 g; Protein: 11.2g

SWEET POTATO SOUFFLE

This is my mom’s recipe. Mom used to make this for holiday meals or if she was fixing ham for Sunday dinner. There was seldom any leftover soufflé.

Not to worry: since this is a vegetarian blog, I'm not going to suddenly post meat here. I'm just sharing a memory for decades past. Feel free to fix it whenever you want something a little festive.

This recipe, as well as the one for Chocolate Truffles, can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

4 – 5 sweet potatoes

1 egg

1 small can pineapple

1 C nuts

2 T orange juice concentrate

1/2 tsp. salt

Cinnamon

dash pepper

1/2 C brown sugar

9 large marshmallows

Peel & dice sweet potatoes, place in pan of water, and cook until tender. Mash & add other ingredients except marshmallows. Put in square pan, cut in 9 squares & place 1 marshmallow in each square. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

AU GRATIN POTATOES

This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”

The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.

Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients

1 sprays cooking spray

1 Tbsp butter

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cup fat-free skim milk

2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced

1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.

Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

I got this from my oldest son and daughter-in-law for Christmas, 2002. They are so good…These, the buck-eyes, and a pot of coffee…Heaven…

This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

8 oz. fine semi-sweet chocolate, broken into small pieces

1 C heavy cream

cocoa powder for dusting (see note)

Put the cream & chocolate into a pan & heat on low until the chocolate has melted. Stir the mixture until smooth & glossy, then pour into a bowl & chill in the fridge for several hours or overnight. Take spoonfuls of the mixture and, wearing gloves, roll between your hands into a ball. Place each truffle into a tray of SIFTED cocoa powder and shake around until well coated.

NOTE: Mary adds: “I’ll warn you, this process is very messy but WELL worth it. Also, some chopped pecans to roll them around in was really good. I’m sure you can think of all sorts of cool variations; I bet some grated orange peel or ginger would be good, too…” Also, “for the cayenne ones, I used a mixture of cocoa, cinnamon and cayenne.”

Very yummy, very addicting.

GOURMET GREEN BEANS

This is from Publix Supermarket's April 2006 issue of Aprons

2 (12-ounce) bags fresh snipped green beans (snapped, if desired)

1 (8-ounce) package sliced baby portabella mushrooms

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons garlic butter

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Place beans, mushrooms, and water in microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on HIGH 12–14 minutes, stirring once, until crisp tender.

Preheat large sauté pan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Place butter in sauté pan and swirl to coat. Add sesame seeds and heat 1–2 minutes, stirring often, until lightly browned.

Drain beans and mushrooms and add to sauté pan. Sprinkle with seasoned salt. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until desired tenderness. Serve.

CALORIES (per 1/8 recipe) 70kcal; FAT 4g; CHOL 5mg; SODIUM 220mg; CARB 8g; FIBER 3g; PROTEIN 2g; VIT A 15%; VIT C 25%; CALC 4%; IRON 6%

ONE-POT MAC ’N’ CHEESE

This is from The Food Network, and begins, “This one-pot wonder has humble beginnings: just milk and macaroni. As the pasta cooks, the starch released helps thicken the milk to make the perfect base for a sauce. The cheeses and seasonings are stirred in at the very end, and everything comes together magically.”

Total: 20 min; Active: 10 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/one-pot-mac-n-cheese.

Ingredients

4 cups whole milk

3/4 pound elbow macaroni (about 3 cups)

8 ounces mild Cheddar, shredded (about 3 cups)

3 ounces part-skim mozzarella, shredded (about 1 cup)

2 ounces cream cheese, cut into small pieces

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Large pinch cayenne pepper

Large pinch freshly grated nutmeg

Kosher salt

Directions

Put the milk and macaroni in a medium saucepan. Bring the milk to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to keep the macaroni from clumping, then cook, stirring frequently, until the macaroni is tender and the milk has thickened to the consistency of heavy cream, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the Cheddar, mozzarella, cream cheese, butter, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and stir until smooth, thick and creamy. Serve hot. (The dish will thicken as it cools; thin it out with a little hot water if desired.)

Cook's Note

Be sure to buy blocks of cheese and shred it yourself. The pre-shredded cheese that comes in bags is often tossed with starchy cellulose, which can give this mac 'n' cheese a clumpy texture.

Friday, May 12, 2017

Friday Recipes

It's Friday! Here's to weekends...And here are six recipes to help you through the weekend, including Tex-Mex Rice and Bean Casserole and Peach and Raspberry Crumble. Enjoy!

THE CAKE

This recipe was given to my mom by a friend, who worked as a lawyer for years. She was married to an Episcopal priest; both were involved in the civil rights movement.

This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

1 package (18 oz.) yellow cake mix

1 egg, unbeaten

3/4 C oil

1 package (small) vanilla pudding

3/4 C sherry

Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Put ingredients in bowl. Beat for 5 minutes. Pour into greased tube cake pan or mold. Bake for 45 minutes.

PASTA PRIMAVERA

This comes from Publix. Makes 4 servings.

This recipe originally called for 1 cup chicken or veggie broth. Obviously, I've deleted the chicken broth and am keeping it as only veggie broth.

12 ounces of dried linguine, ziti, or penne pasta

2 Tbl olive oil

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 green onions, sliced

2 medium carrots, sliced

1 medium red sweet pepper, sliced

1 medium yellow sweet pepper, sliced

1 small zucchini, chopped

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 C chicken or veggie broth

1 C snipped fresh basil

1/4 C finely shredded Parmesan cheese

2 Tbls pine nuts, toasted

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return pasta to saucepan; cover & keep warm.

Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat olive oil. Add garlic & onions; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in carrots & sweet peppers. Cook & stir for 3 minutes. Add zucchini, salt, & pepper. Stir in chicken or veggie broth. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 1 minute or until vegetables are just tender.

Stir vegetable mixture & basil into pasta & toss. Transfer to serving dish. Sprinkle with cheese & pine nuts. Makes 4 servings.

Per serving: Calories: 443; fat: 20 g (9 g sat. fat); chol: 38 mg; sodium: 328 mg; carbs: 51 g; fiber: 6 g; protein: 14 g.

PEACH AND RASPBERRY CRUMBLE

This is from Diabetes Self-Management

Yield: 6 servings.

Prep time: 15 minutes. Baking time: 30-35 minutes.

Butter-flavor cooking spray

1 can (15 oz) sliced peaches in juice, drained

1 package (12 oz) unsweetened frozen raspberries, thawed

1 C quick-cooking oats, uncooked

2 Tbs brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 Tbs reduced-calorie stick margarine, melted

2 Tbs honey

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 8”X8” baking pan with cooking spray. Arrange peach slices evenly in bottom of the pan. Sprinkle raspberries evenly over peaches. Set aside. In bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon and mix with fork, breaking up brown sugar clumps. Add margarine & honey; stir to combine. Sprinkle topping over fruit. Bake uncovered for 30 – 35 minutes, or until fruit is bubbly. Portion into 6 equal servings. Serve alone or over low-fat, no-sugar-added vanilla ice cream.

Per serving: Calories: 185; Carbs: 33g; Fat: 4 g (sat. fat: 1 g); Sodium: 70 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 fat

TUSCAN-STYLE QUINOA

This is from the November 2005 issue of Runner’s World.

1 1/2 C quinoa

3 C water

2 Tbls olive oil

3 coves garlic, minced

1/2 medium red onion, chopped

6 C shredded Swiss chard

1 large tomato, diced

1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes

Salt and pepper

1/3 C Parmesan cheese

Place one tablespoon of the olive oil in saucepan, heat to medium-high, pour in quinoa to toast for four minutes. Cover with water, turn down to simmer, cook for 15 minutes until tender. Heat nonstick skillet with remaining olive oil & sauté garlic & onion until golden, about 5 minutes. Add chard & sauté until wilted. Add tomato & heat through. Fold in cooked quinoa, season with salt, pepper, & chili flakes to taste, & top with Parmesan cheese. Let stand 3-5 minutes to blend flavors.

AU GRATIN POTATOES

This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”

The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.

Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients

1 sprays cooking spray

1 Tbsp butter

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cup fat-free skim milk

2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced

1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.

Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

TEX-MEX RICE AND BEAN CASSEROLE

This is from Weight Watchers. Total Time: 55 minutes; Prep: 15 minutes; Cook: 40 minutes; Serves: 6; Difficulty: Easy; Points: 5

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 spray cooking spray

1 cup canned yellow corn, drained, or frozen, thawed corn kernels

1 Tbsp canned green chili peppers, chopped, mild or hot

15 oz canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup long grain cooked brown rice, fresh or day old

7/8 cup Weight Watchers Reduced fat Mexican blend shredded cheese

3/4 cup fat free sour cream

1/4 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp table salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

2 Tbsp uncooked scallion(s), chopped (dark green part only)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a 2-quart glass baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine corn, chilies, beans, rice, 3/4 cup of cheese, sour cream, chili powder, salt and pepper; stir in scallions.

Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons of cheese. Return to oven and bake until cheese melts and casserole is slightly bubbly, about 10 minutes more. Let stand for 5 minutes to firm up before slicing into 6 pieces. Yields 1 piece per serving.

Notes

Change the beans or cheese to your liking: white or black beans, reduced-fat cheddar or Monterey Jack cheeses all work well.If you want to brown the cheese more, place the dish (make sure it's broiler safe) under the broiler for a minute or two.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Thursday Recipes

I realize I've posted later in the day than usual for the past couple of weeks. Sorry about that! I should be back to my earlier schedule next week.

In the meantime, here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to help you through the day, including Rhubarb-Strawberry Refrigerator Cake and Black Bean Veggie Burgers. Enjoy!

RED VELVET MINI CUPCAKES

This comes from The Food Network and begins, “Oil takes the place of butter in these cupcakes, making them lower in fat, but also making the crumb moist. Also, all of the flour is whole wheat! The frosting is simply sweetened reduced-fat cream cheese, but it's plenty tasty.”

Total: 1 hr; Active: 20 min; Yield: 48 mini cupcakes (2 cupcakes per serving); Level: Easy

To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/red-velvet-mini-cupcakes-recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

3/4 cup canola oil

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 tablespoon red food coloring

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup lowfat (1-percent) buttermilk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

Nonstick cooking spray, for coating ice cream scoop

8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 48 mini muffin cups (2 large tins or 4 small) with paper liners.

Whisk together the flour, cocoa and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl. Beat together the oil and granulated sugar on medium-high speed with a hand mixer in a large bowl until well combined. Add the egg and beat until well blended. Beat in the food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla.

On low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour, beating well after each addition. Whisk together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl, and then beat into the batter until fully incorporated.

Using a small ice cream scoop sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, evenly divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Sift the confectioners' sugar over the mixture and beat until smooth. Beat in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Spread or pipe the frosting over the cooled cupcakes.

BLACK BEAN VEGGIE BURGERS

This recipe begins, “Hearty, tasty and inexpensive, these black bean burgers taste great grilled or baked in the oven.”

From Diabetic Connect

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/4711-black-bean-veggie-burgers

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces

1/2 onion, cut into wedges

3 cloves garlic, peeled

1 egg

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Directions

If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and lightly oil a baking sheet.

In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.

In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Then stir into mashed beans.

In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.

Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.

If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 4; Calories: 198; Total Fat: 3 g; Cholesterol: 53 mg; Sodium: 607 mg; Total Carbohydrate: 33.1 g; Dietary Fiber: 9.8 g; Protein: 11.2g

RHUBARB-STRAWBERRY REFRIGERATOR CAKE

My family spent several years in northeast Connecticut. When I was 15, my parents bought a new house in South Woodstock (we'd lived in Thompson).

One of the new house's charms was a good-sized garden; a large patch of rhubarb threatened to overrun the entire garden. While Dad claimed most of the garden (as “John’s Pea Patch”), Mom decided that the rhubarb was hers. This is one of the many rhubarb desserts we had that year.

This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

6 C rhubarb, cut in 1/2” pieces

1 tsp. vanilla

3 dozen lady fingers, split

1/2 C sugar

whole fresh strawberries

2 pks. (3 oz. each) strawberry gelatin

2 C heavy cream, whipped

Combine rhubarb, sugar and 1 C water in saucepan. Bring to boil. Boil 6 – 8 minutes until soft. Drain 1 C syrup and save. Put rhubarb and remaining syrup in blender. Make pulp (3 1/2 C). Bring pulp to boil. Pour over gelatin and stir until dissolved. Chill until slightly thickened but not firm. Fold in whipped cream. Add vanilla. Line 9” springform pan (3” deep) with ladyfingers. Alternate layers of rhubarb mix and ladyfingers, ending with rhubarb. Chill overnight, or until firm. Top with glaze and strawberries.

Glaze: Mix reserve syrup and 1/4 C sugar. Bring to boil & stir in 1 1/2 T cornstarch. Blend with small amount of water. Boil and cook, stirring until thickened and clean. Add a few drops of red food coloring. Cool.

AU GRATIN POTATOES

This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”

The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.

Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients

1 sprays cooking spray

1 Tbsp butter

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cup fat-free skim milk

2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced

1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.

Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

SPINACH SALAD

It's amazing the number of recipes one can come up with over the years. I'd bought a bag of fresh spinach one summer, figuring I'd cook it that evening. Plans changed, and the next day, I decided to make a salad. The lettuce in the refrigerator was looking a little wilted, so I decided to make this.

This recipe, as well as the recipe for Rhubarb-Strawberry Refrigerater Cake (above), can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

1 lb. fresh spinach

1/2 C oil

1/2 onion, diced

1/4 C vinegar

2 boiled eggs, diced

2 T water

1/8 tsp. pepper

Wash spinach; tear leaves. Add onion and eggs. Mix oil, vinegar, water and pepper, and add to salad just before serving.

HOT AND SOUR SOUP

This comes from Publix Supermarket's Aprons. Makes 6 servings.

1/4 cup green onions (2 – 3 onions)

1 (28-ounce) can chop suey vegetables (drained)

4 1/4 cups water

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1/2 cup hoisin sauce

1 tablespoon miso paste

1/2 cup shredded carrots

2 teaspoons chili bean sauce

1 tablespoon vegetable base

1/4 cup Oriental salad dressing

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Wash onions and remove any wilted portions. Chop enough green onions into 1/4-inch pieces to measure 1/4 cup, including up to half of green tops. Discard tops or reserve for another use. Set aside.

Open can of vegetables and drain liquid by squeezing lid against vegetables. Set aside.

Place in large saucepan: 4 cups water, onions, vegetables, mushrooms, hoisin sauce, miso paste, carrots, bean sauce, vegetable base and salad dressing. Bring to boil on medium-high heat. Place 1/4 cup water and cornstarch in 2-cup measuring cup. Stir together until creamy. When boiling, stir in cornstarch mixture. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Serve.

Calories 332 kcal; Fat 11 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Carbohydrate 45 g; Fiber 6 g; Protein 14 g; Sodium 1954 mg

Daily Values: Vitamin A 39%; Vitamin C 15%; Calcium 10%; Iron 16%

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Wednesday Recipes

Wednesday – half-way through the work week. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Pasta Primavera and Jason's Home Fries Enjoy!

OATMEAL COOKIES

This is from Vegetarian Times and begins, “Straightforward and tasty, these oatmeal cookies hit the sweet spot.” Makes 24 cookies.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pastry flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1 stick (1/2 cup) margarine, softened

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 large eggs or equivalent Egg Replacer

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 Tbs. cold water

3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup raisins

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease one or more baking sheets.

In medium bowl, mix both flours, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and ginger. Set aside.

In large bowl with an electric mixer, beat margarine and granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs or Egg Replacer, vanilla and water until blended. Add dry ingredients and beat just until blended. Stir in oats and raisins.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet(s), spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store cookies in an airtight container up to 5 days.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 77; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Sodium: 65 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: g

SMOTHERED CHEESE GRITS AND STEAMED GREENS

This is from the January/February 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 46. It starts off, “A bowl of grits and a mess of greens might not sound like dinner party fare, but served on a platter and smothered with caramelized onions, this tasty combination looks downright fancy.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.

To view online, click here.

3 Tbs. olive oil, divided

2 large sweet onions, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla, halved and thinly sliced

3/4 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned white hominy grits (not instant)

1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels

1/4 cup low-fat milk

1 lb. curly kale, tough stems removed, torn into bite-size pieces (14 cups)

1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar

2 oz. (1/2 cup) grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, plus more for sprinkling, optional Toasted sesame seeds, optional

Heat 2 Tbs. oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, cover, and cook 20 to 25 minutes, or until onions are softened and caramelized, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and keep warm.

Meanwhile, cook grits according to package directions. Stir in corn and milk, and return to a simmer, stirring constantly to incorporate milk. Keep warm.

Steam kale in basket steamer 4 to 5 minutes, or until wilted but still bright green and crisp-tender. Transfer to bowl, and stir in vinegar and remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

To serve: Stir cheese into grits, and transfer to serving platter. Top with kale, then onions. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and grated cheese (if using).

nutritional information Per Serving (3/4 cup grits, 3/4 cup kale, and 1/2 cup onions): Calories: 210; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g; Cholesterol: 8 mg; Sodium: 84 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 7 g; Gluten-Free

SCOTTISH SCONES

Servings: 16

Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/156.shtml

Ingredients

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

4 tbsp whipped butter

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup golden raisins
Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Add the butter and mix it into the flour with your fingers. Add buttermilk and knead into a soft dough. Knead in the raisins.

On a floured board, roll out the dough until 1/2" thick.

Cut dough into 16 rounds. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden in color.

Serve warm or let cool and store in an airtight container.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 97; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 115 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Carbohydrates: 16 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread

AU GRATIN POTATOES

This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”

The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.

Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients

1 sprays cooking spray

1 Tbsp butter

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cup fat-free skim milk

2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced

1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.

Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

JASON'S HOME FRIES

This is one of my oldest son's inventions. He fixed this on one of his many trips back home; it didn't take long to become a favorite.

This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

3 – 4 potatoes, scrubbed, not peeled

1 pepper (red, green or yellow), diced

1 onion, chopped

3 – 4 T butter or oil (or both)

1 clove garlic, minced (opt.)

Cut potatoes across (not length-wise). Heat oil or butter. Add potatoes, onions, pepper and garlic. Cover, cook over medium heat, turning occasionally with a spatula, until brown and crusty.

PASTA PRIMAVERA

This comes from Publix. Makes 4 servings.

This recipe originally called for 1 cup chicken or veggie broth. Obviously, I've deleted the chicken broth and am keeping it as only veggie broth.

12 ounces of dried linguine, ziti, or penne pasta

2 Tbl olive oil

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 green onions, sliced

2 medium carrots, sliced

1 medium red sweet pepper, sliced

1 medium yellow sweet pepper, sliced

1 small zucchini, chopped

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 C chicken or veggie broth

1 C snipped fresh basil

1/4 C finely shredded Parmesan cheese

2 Tbls pine nuts, toasted

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return pasta to saucepan; cover & keep warm.

Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat olive oil. Add garlic & onions; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in carrots & sweet peppers. Cook & stir for 3 minutes. Add zucchini, salt, & pepper. Stir in chicken or veggie broth. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 1 minute or until vegetables are just tender.

Stir vegetable mixture & basil into pasta & toss. Transfer to serving dish. Sprinkle with cheese & pine nuts. Makes 4 servings.

Per serving: Calories: 443; fat: 20 g (9 g sat. fat); chol: 38 mg; sodium: 328 mg; carbs: 51 g; fiber: 6 g; protein: 14 g.

Friday, April 14, 2017

Side Dishes

With Easter this weekend, we all have our favorite main holiday dish, whether we're vegetarian or not.

But wait! What about side dishes! You know, those extras that just round out the meal.

Here are six sides that'll round out your meal very nicely, including the tasty (and easy) Gourmet Green Beans and Curried Potatoes. Enjoy!

Note: Check out last Friday's post for several more recipes to try for your sides. I highly recommend my mom's Sweet Potato Soufflé. Very yummy!

CURRIED LENTILS WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

This is from the October 2007 issue of Runner’s World.

1 C dry lentils

1 small butternut squash

1 Tbls olive oil

1 Tbls curry powder

1 tsp grated gingerroot

1 tsp chili powder

Salt & pepper to taste

1/4 C shredded coconut (optional)

Spray 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Pour lentils into deep pot and cover with cold water. Bring water to boil, reduce heat, and add raw chunks of the squash (leave skin on to add nutrients and texture to dish). Simmer until squash is soft (about 1 hour). Remove pot from heat, drain, and set aside. With tongs, pull out chunks of squash and mash roughly, skins and all, with a fork, ricer, or potato masher.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In large bowl, mix drained cooked lentils and mashed squash with olive oil and all the spices (including salt and pepper). Spoon mixture into baking dish. At this point, you can cover the dish and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. When you’re ready, bake until piping hot, about 20 minutes if you’re putting it into the oven right after mixing, or 25-30 minutes if it’s been refrigerated. Serve warm garnished with shredded coconut if you like and with a serving of wild greens, such as blanched chard. Serves two as a hearty main dish or four as a side dish.

Calories: 530; Protein: 32 g; carbs: 94 g; Fat: 8 g.

GOURMET GREEN BEANS

This is from Publix Supermarket's April 2006 issue of Aprons

2 (12-ounce) bags fresh snipped green beans (snapped, if desired)

1 (8-ounce) package sliced baby portabella mushrooms

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons garlic butter

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Place beans, mushrooms, and water in microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on HIGH 12–14 minutes, stirring once, until crisp tender.

Preheat large sauté pan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Place butter in sauté pan and swirl to coat. Add sesame seeds and heat 1–2 minutes, stirring often, until lightly browned.

Drain beans and mushrooms and add to sauté pan. Sprinkle with seasoned salt. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until desired tenderness. Serve.

CALORIES (per 1/8 recipe) 70kcal; FAT 4g; CHOL 5mg; SODIUM 220mg; CARB 8g; FIBER 3g; PROTEIN 2g; VIT A 15%; VIT C 25%; CALC 4%; IRON 6%

AU GRATIN POTATOES

This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”

The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.

Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients

1 sprays cooking spray

1 Tbsp butter

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cup fat-free skim milk

2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced

1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.

Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

TUSCAN-STYLE QUINOA

This is from the November 2005 issue of Runner’s World.

1 1/2 C quinoa

3 C water

2 Tbls olive oil

3 coves garlic, minced

1/2 medium red onion, chopped

6 C shredded Swiss chard

1 large tomato, diced

1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes

Salt and pepper

1/3 C Parmesan cheese

Place one tablespoon of the olive oil in saucepan, heat to medium-high, pour in quinoa to toast for four minutes. Cover with water, turn down to simmer, cook for 15 minutes until tender. Heat nonstick skillet with remaining olive oil & sauté garlic & onion until golden, about 5 minutes. Add chard & sauté until wilted. Add tomato & heat through. Fold in cooked quinoa, season with salt, pepper, & chili flakes to taste, & top with Parmesan cheese. Let stand 3-5 minutes to blend flavors.

APPLE WALNUT CROSTADA

This came courtesy of U.S. Apple Association (www.usapple.org) via the October 2005 issue of Publix Supermarket's GreenWise magazine.

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Bake Time: 45 – 50 minutes; Serves: 8

Cooking spray

6 – 7 baking apples, peeled, cored, & sliced

1/2 C brown sugar

1/3 C chopped walnuts

1/4 C all-purpose flour

Dash of vanilla extract

1 refrigerated ready-made pie crust

2 Tbs butter, cut into pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray & set aside. Place apples, sugar, walnuts, flour, & vanilla extract in large mixing bowl & toss well. Transfer pie crust to baking sheet. Spoon apple mixture into center of pie crust & fold up sides of pastry to capture apples & juices. Dot with butter. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Per serving: 207 Calories; 2 g Protein, 27 g Carbo., 2 g fiber, 11 g total fat (3 g sat, 4 g mono, 4 g poly), 110 mg Sodium, Vitamin B1 (thiamin), E

CURRIED POTOATOES

This is from the June 2008 Vegetarian Times, page 80. The recipe begins, “Serve this dish on its own or with steamed rice.”

1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil

2 medium onions, diced (3 cups)

3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)

4 large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks

3 carrots, peeled & cut into 2-inch pieces (1 cup)

3 Tbs. Madras curry powder

1 15-oz. can black beans

3 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)

1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

2 jalapeno chiles, seeded and finely chopped (1/4 cup)

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic & cook 5 – 7 minutes, or until onions are soft and translucent. Stir in potatoes, carrots and curry powder and cook 4 minutes.

Add beans and their liquid, tomatoes, broth, jalapeno chiles, vinegar an 1 cup water; season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 45 minutes or until potatoes are flaky amd carrots are cooked through, stirring occasionally.

Per serving: 282 cal; 9 g protein; 4 g total fat (0.5 g sat. fat); 55 g carb; 0 mg cholesterol; 499 mg sodium; 10 g fiber; 9 g sugars; vegan