Who doesn't love occasional baked goods? Here are six recipes that you won't have to run to the bakery for, including Cranberry Pumpkin Bread and Stuffed Piñata Cake. Enjoy!
LEMON-ALMOND BUTTER CAKE
This was in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “This buttery almond cake with lemon curd baked inside is like the ultimate citrus tart, without the heartbreak of pie crust. It's fancy enough to be served as a dinner party dessert, yet substantial enough to be served with Sunday brunch. (Bonus: you'll have several tablespoons of lemon curd left over. It's delicious on toast or pancakes.)”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 hours 30 minutes, plus cooling time.
This was featured in “Not The Usual Chef On The Shelf” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Curd:
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
4 extra-large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
For the Cake:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 cup plus 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup ground toasted almonds
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
About 1/2 cup heavy cream for garnish
1 tablespoon almond liqueur (optional)
Preparation
For the curd, combine zest, juice, sugar and eggs in a heatproof bowl, and beat well. Add butter, and place over a saucepan full of simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until mixture thickens into curd, about 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl, and press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming.
Refrigerate until cool, at least 1 1/2 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with 1 tablespoon butter, and dust with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess.
With an electric mixer, cream the remaining butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt, and stir in. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until they start to foam. Do not overbeat or the cake will be tough. Add eggs and ground almonds to batter, and mix well.
Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Drop 8 individual tablespoons lemon curd around perimeter of batter, leaving a 1-inch border, and taking care to space drops evenly. Drop 3 to 4 tablespoons curd into center of batter. Refrigerate remaining curd for another use. Sprinkle cake with toasted almonds and 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, depending on taste.
Bake until cake is toasty brown on top and a toothpick inserted into cake (not curd) comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool on rack 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan, and cool completely.
Whip cream with almond liqueur. Present cake at table, and offer whipped cream on the side.
CRANBERRY PUMPKIN BREAD
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 2 loaves, 16 servings each.
Ingredients
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
dash salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup egg substitute or egg whites
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 can pumpkin
1/3 cup applesauce applesauce
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 tablespoons chopped nuts, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two loaf pans with vegetable spray.
Mix flour, brown sugar and spices in large bowl. In another, mix together all but nuts until well blended. Stir into flour mixture until moistened. Pour into pans and sprinkle with nuts, if desired.
Bake 55-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, then remove from pan.
CAULIFLOWER CORNBREAD MUFFINS
This recipe, from the Food Network Kitchen, begins, “Whipped egg whites make this gluten-free cornbread rise just like the real deal, and the consistency is right on, thanks to cauliflower rice. We spiced it up further with Cheddar and jalapenos.”
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Active Time: 40 minutes; Yiel: 12 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray, for the muffin tin
4 cups riced cauliflower (about 1 pound)
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
6 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 jalapenos, 1 finely diced and 1 thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Place the cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave until warm and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze tightly to release as much moisture as possible.
Wipe the bowl clean and add back the cauliflower. Add the cornmeal, butter, sugar, baking powder, egg yolks, 1 cup of the Cheddar, the diced jalapeno, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir until well combined.
Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold half of the whites into the cauliflower mixture until combined. Repeat with the remaining egg whites.
Pour a scant 1/2 cup batter into each muffin cup and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar. Place a few jalapeno slices on top of the batter in each cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean and the tops are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Serve at room temperature.
PEACH PIE
This comes from my e-cookbook, Off The Wall Cooking, available from Amazon.com.
4 C peaches, cut up
dash salt
1 – 1 1/4 C sugar
2 T butter
3 T unbleached flour
1 unbaked pie shell & lattice top
Arrange peaches in unbaked pie shell. Mix sugar, flour & salt. Sprinkle over peaches. Dot with butter. Cover with lattice top. Bake at 425 degrees for 30-40 minutes.
STUFFED PINATA CAKE
This is from The Food Network, and begins, “Your guests will certainly be delighted by the sight of this bright cake. But make sure they don't put their cameras away too soon: once you cut into it, a candy surprise comes spilling out!”
Total: 3 hours 15 minutes; Active: 1 hour 5 minutes; Yield: 8 to 10; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/stuffed-pinata-cake.
Ingredients
Frosting:
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Pinch fine salt
6 large egg whites
4 sticks (1 pound) unsalted butter, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks, at room temperature
5 cups sweetened shredded coconut
Filling and Decoration:
Blue, orange, yellow, purple and pink food coloring
2 cups of your favorite small and soft candies (none in wrappers), such as gummies or candy-covered chocolates
Cake:
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pans
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
DirectionsFor the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans with butter and line the bottom of each with parchment.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the milk, vanilla, eggs and egg yolk together in another medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium high until light and fluffy. Add about a third of the flour mixture and beat on medium low until incorporated. Now add a third of the egg-milk mixture and continue to beat on medium low until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Repeat with the remaining flour and egg-milk mixtures, finishing with the flour.
Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake until the cake bounces back when pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely in the cake pans on a rack.
For the frosting: Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan that can hold a heatproof stand mixer's bowl above the water.
Add the sugar, lemon juice, salt and egg whites to the mixer bowl and whisk together by hand. Set the bowl above the boiling water and whisk until the mixture is warm to the touch and the sugar completely dissolves. Transfer to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat at medium-high speed until cool and the whites hold stiff peaks, 10 to 15 minutes.
Toss in a couple of chunks of butter at a time, making sure the pieces are incorporated before adding more. After all the butter is added, continue beating on medium-high speed. The mixture will deflate and appear curdled. Continue beating until the frosting comes back together to a smooth and spreadable consistency. (If the frosting is very soft or begins to break, refrigerate until set but still spreadable, then beat until light before using.)
For the filling and decoration: Dye the coconut: Have ready 5 resealable plastic bags or plastic containers. Put 1 1/2 cups of the coconut in one container with 6 to 8 drops of blue food coloring. Put 1 cup of coconut in the second container with 5 to 6 drops of orange food coloring, 1 cup of coconut in the third with 5 to 6 drops yellow food coloring and 1 cup of coconut in the fourth with 6 to 8 drops purple food coloring. Put the remaining 1/2 cup coconut in the fifth container with 4 to 5 drops pink food coloring. Seal each container and shake vigorously until the coconut is evenly dyed. Add more food coloring 1 drop at a time as needed to get bright, vibrant colors.
Assemble the cake: Cut a 4-inch circle out of the center of each cake (reserve the small cut-out cake rounds). Put one of the cake rings on a cake stand or serving platter and frost with about 1 cup of frosting. Put the other cake ring on top and push down slightly. Fill the hole with candy. Cut one of the reserved cake rounds in half horizontally to make 2 thinner rounds. Use one to fill the hole on top of the cake. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.
Cut a strip of parchment about 30 inches long and 3 inches wide. Wrap this parchment around the cake like a collar, leaving 1 inch of frosting exposed around the bottom perimeter of the cake. Pack some of the blue coconut onto the exposed frosting to make your first strip of color. Lift the collar up another 1 inch and do the same with the orange coconut. Remove the collar and fill the remaining inch of frosting with the yellow coconut. For the top, make 1-inch-wide rings, starting on the outside and working your way in, with the purple, pink, blue and orange coconut until the top is completely covered. Let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour before serving.
KATHARINE HEPBURN'S BROWNIES
This came in a recent 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.
Showing posts with label Cauliflower Cornbread Muffins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cauliflower Cornbread Muffins. Show all posts
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Thursday Recipes
Here are today's six recipes to help you through the day, including Summer Minestrone with Fresh Basil and Corny Green Enchiladas. Enjoy!
LEMON-ALMOND BUTTER CAKE
This was in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “This buttery almond cake with lemon curd baked inside is like the ultimate citrus tart, without the heartbreak of pie crust. It's fancy enough to be served as a dinner party dessert, yet substantial enough to be served with Sunday brunch. (Bonus: you'll have several tablespoons of lemon curd left over. It's delicious on toast or pancakes.)”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 hours 30 minutes, plus cooling time.
This was featured in “Not The Usual Chef On The Shelf” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Curd:
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
4 extra-large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
For the Cake:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 cup plus 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup ground toasted almonds
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
About 1/2 cup heavy cream for garnish
1 tablespoon almond liqueur (optional)
Preparation
For the curd, combine zest, juice, sugar and eggs in a heatproof bowl, and beat well. Add butter, and place over a saucepan full of simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until mixture thickens into curd, about 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl, and press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming.
Refrigerate until cool, at least 1 1/2 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with 1 tablespoon butter, and dust with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess.
With an electric mixer, cream the remaining butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt, and stir in. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until they start to foam. Do not overbeat or the cake will be tough. Add eggs and ground almonds to batter, and mix well.
Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Drop 8 individual tablespoons lemon curd around perimeter of batter, leaving a 1-inch border, and taking care to space drops evenly. Drop 3 to 4 tablespoons curd into center of batter. Refrigerate remaining curd for another use. Sprinkle cake with toasted almonds and 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, depending on taste.
Bake until cake is toasty brown on top and a toothpick inserted into cake (not curd) comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool on rack 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan, and cool completely.
Whip cream with almond liqueur. Present cake at table, and offer whipped cream on the side.
CAULIFLOWER CORNBREAD MUFFINS
This recipe, from the Food Network Kitchen, begins, “Whipped egg whites make this gluten-free cornbread rise just like the real deal, and the consistency is right on, thanks to cauliflower rice. We spiced it up further with Cheddar and jalapenos.”
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Active Time: 40 minutes; Yiel: 12 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray, for the muffin tin
4 cups riced cauliflower (about 1 pound)
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
6 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 jalapenos, 1 finely diced and 1 thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Place the cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave until warm and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze tightly to release as much moisture as possible.
Wipe the bowl clean and add back the cauliflower. Add the cornmeal, butter, sugar, baking powder, egg yolks, 1 cup of the Cheddar, the diced jalapeno, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir until well combined.
Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold half of the whites into the cauliflower mixture until combined. Repeat with the remaining egg whites.
Pour a scant 1/2 cup batter into each muffin cup and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar. Place a few jalapeno slices on top of the batter in each cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean and the tops are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Serve at room temperature.
CORNY GREEN ENCHILADAS
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Serves: 4; Preparation time: 25-30 minutes
Ingredients (use vegan versions):
12 corn tortillas
1 can of fiesta corn (drained)
1 can of black beans (drained)
1 can of green enchilada sauce
2 cups of vegan cheese
2 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
Directions:
This is a layered casserole. You can vary the layers to your liking.
Mix the spices with your enchilada sauce and stir until well incorporated. Taste the enchilada sauce to see if it needs salt. Normally the canned sauce is seasoned very well.
Using a casserole dish, layer the ingredients, starting with 1/4 of sauce on the bottom. Layer sauce, tortillas (torn or whole), corn, beans and vegan cheese. Continue layering and end with a layer of tortillas and then sauce.
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of vegan cheese over the top and cover loosely with aluminum foil.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until it starts to bubble. Remove the foil the last 5-10 minutes to let the vegan cheese brown.
Serve with a salad, salsa and smoothie! Good eats!
ONE-INGREDIENT BANANA ICE CREAM
This comes from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “This outrageously easy ‘ice cream’ is just the sort of dessert to please everyone at the table – the vegans, the lactose-intolerant, the paleo enthusiasts, the picky children. Just toss four frozen bananas into a blender and give it a good whirl. If you like soft-serve consistency, eat it right away (and adding a few tablespoons of milk to the blender wouldn't hurt, but it's not necessary). For more traditional scoops, freeze it in an airtight container, and dole out as you would the Ben & Jerry's. Consider adding a spoonful of peanut butter, Nutella or honey; a handful of chocolate chips or almonds; or a 1/2 teaspoon of powdered ginger, cardamom or cinnamon.”
Yield: Four servings; Time: 6 hours 10 minutes.
This was featured in “Food; Uncle Food” and can be viewed online here.
Check out Melissa Clark’s guide, “How to Make Ice Cream”. Very informative, very yummy…After looking through this, I wanted to spend the next weekend making batch after batch of ice cream.
Ingredients
4 ripe bananas
Preparation
Peel the bananas, cut them in 2- to 3-inch chunks and place them in a freezer bag in the freezer for at least 6 hours. Remove and blend in a blender until smooth. Serve immediately, or freeze in an airtight container for at least 2 hours. Scoop and serve.
SUMMER MINESTRONE WITH FRESH BASIL
This comes from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “You can finish this hearty summer soup with slivered fresh basil, or with pistou, the Provençal version of pesto (it’s pesto without the pine nuts). A Parmesan rind, simmered in the soup and then removed, adds great depth of flavor without adding fat. On a hot summer day in Italy the soup might be served at room temperature, or just barely warm.”
Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
This was featured in “Summer Minestrone with Fresh Basil” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Soup
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
Salt
4 large garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 pound tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped, or 1 (14-ounce) can chopped tomatoes, with liquid
1 medium turnip, peeled and diced
3/4 pound zucchini, diced
A bouquet garni consisting of 1 Parmesan rind, 1 bay leaf, 3 sprigs parsley and 3 sprigs thyme, tied together with kitchen string or tied into a piece of cheesecloth
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini or borlotti beans, drained and rinsed
6 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths
1/2 cup soup pasta, such as elbow macaroni, or broken spaghetti, or 3/4 cup penne
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup slivered fresh basil leaves, or 1/2 cup pistou (see recipe; you'll need to subscribe to The New York Times cooking e-newsletter to get this)
Freshly grated Parmesan for garnish
Preparation
Heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven and add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes, and add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Continue to cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 more minutes. Add the garlic, stir together for about a minute, and stir in the tomatoes. Cook, stirring, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Stir in 2 quarts water, the turnip, zucchini, and the bouquet garni, and bring to a simmer. Add 2 teaspoons salt, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 45 minutes. Stir in the canned beans. Taste and adjust salt. Remove the bouquet garni.
While the soup is simmering, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the green beans. Boil 5 minutes, until just tender but still bright green. Transfer to a bowl of ice water, allow to cool, and drain. Retain the cooking water in case you want to thin out the soup later.
Add the pasta to the soup and simmer another 10 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked al dente. Stir the cooked green beans into the soup. Grind in some pepper and taste and adjust seasonings. It should be savory and rich-tasting.
Stir in the basil or pistou, or place a spoonful of pistou in each bowl and stir in. Serve in wide soup bowls, with a sprinkling of Parmesan over the top.
CORN SALAD
This simple (and simply yummy) recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. Lena wrote, “The quintessential summer salad.”
Yields: 4 – 6 servings; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes.
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
4 c. fresh or frozen corn, defrosted
1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 c. crumbled feta
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
1/4 c. basil, thinly sliced
3 tbsp. olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
LEMON-ALMOND BUTTER CAKE
This was in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “This buttery almond cake with lemon curd baked inside is like the ultimate citrus tart, without the heartbreak of pie crust. It's fancy enough to be served as a dinner party dessert, yet substantial enough to be served with Sunday brunch. (Bonus: you'll have several tablespoons of lemon curd left over. It's delicious on toast or pancakes.)”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 hours 30 minutes, plus cooling time.
This was featured in “Not The Usual Chef On The Shelf” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Curd:
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
4 extra-large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
For the Cake:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 cup plus 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup ground toasted almonds
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
About 1/2 cup heavy cream for garnish
1 tablespoon almond liqueur (optional)
Preparation
For the curd, combine zest, juice, sugar and eggs in a heatproof bowl, and beat well. Add butter, and place over a saucepan full of simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until mixture thickens into curd, about 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl, and press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming.
Refrigerate until cool, at least 1 1/2 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with 1 tablespoon butter, and dust with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess.
With an electric mixer, cream the remaining butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt, and stir in. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until they start to foam. Do not overbeat or the cake will be tough. Add eggs and ground almonds to batter, and mix well.
Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Drop 8 individual tablespoons lemon curd around perimeter of batter, leaving a 1-inch border, and taking care to space drops evenly. Drop 3 to 4 tablespoons curd into center of batter. Refrigerate remaining curd for another use. Sprinkle cake with toasted almonds and 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, depending on taste.
Bake until cake is toasty brown on top and a toothpick inserted into cake (not curd) comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool on rack 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan, and cool completely.
Whip cream with almond liqueur. Present cake at table, and offer whipped cream on the side.
CAULIFLOWER CORNBREAD MUFFINS
This recipe, from the Food Network Kitchen, begins, “Whipped egg whites make this gluten-free cornbread rise just like the real deal, and the consistency is right on, thanks to cauliflower rice. We spiced it up further with Cheddar and jalapenos.”
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Active Time: 40 minutes; Yiel: 12 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray, for the muffin tin
4 cups riced cauliflower (about 1 pound)
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
6 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 jalapenos, 1 finely diced and 1 thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Place the cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave until warm and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze tightly to release as much moisture as possible.
Wipe the bowl clean and add back the cauliflower. Add the cornmeal, butter, sugar, baking powder, egg yolks, 1 cup of the Cheddar, the diced jalapeno, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir until well combined.
Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold half of the whites into the cauliflower mixture until combined. Repeat with the remaining egg whites.
Pour a scant 1/2 cup batter into each muffin cup and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar. Place a few jalapeno slices on top of the batter in each cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean and the tops are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Serve at room temperature.
CORNY GREEN ENCHILADAS
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Serves: 4; Preparation time: 25-30 minutes
Ingredients (use vegan versions):
12 corn tortillas
1 can of fiesta corn (drained)
1 can of black beans (drained)
1 can of green enchilada sauce
2 cups of vegan cheese
2 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
Directions:
This is a layered casserole. You can vary the layers to your liking.
Mix the spices with your enchilada sauce and stir until well incorporated. Taste the enchilada sauce to see if it needs salt. Normally the canned sauce is seasoned very well.
Using a casserole dish, layer the ingredients, starting with 1/4 of sauce on the bottom. Layer sauce, tortillas (torn or whole), corn, beans and vegan cheese. Continue layering and end with a layer of tortillas and then sauce.
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of vegan cheese over the top and cover loosely with aluminum foil.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until it starts to bubble. Remove the foil the last 5-10 minutes to let the vegan cheese brown.
Serve with a salad, salsa and smoothie! Good eats!
ONE-INGREDIENT BANANA ICE CREAM
This comes from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “This outrageously easy ‘ice cream’ is just the sort of dessert to please everyone at the table – the vegans, the lactose-intolerant, the paleo enthusiasts, the picky children. Just toss four frozen bananas into a blender and give it a good whirl. If you like soft-serve consistency, eat it right away (and adding a few tablespoons of milk to the blender wouldn't hurt, but it's not necessary). For more traditional scoops, freeze it in an airtight container, and dole out as you would the Ben & Jerry's. Consider adding a spoonful of peanut butter, Nutella or honey; a handful of chocolate chips or almonds; or a 1/2 teaspoon of powdered ginger, cardamom or cinnamon.”
Yield: Four servings; Time: 6 hours 10 minutes.
This was featured in “Food; Uncle Food” and can be viewed online here.
Check out Melissa Clark’s guide, “How to Make Ice Cream”. Very informative, very yummy…After looking through this, I wanted to spend the next weekend making batch after batch of ice cream.
Ingredients
4 ripe bananas
Preparation
Peel the bananas, cut them in 2- to 3-inch chunks and place them in a freezer bag in the freezer for at least 6 hours. Remove and blend in a blender until smooth. Serve immediately, or freeze in an airtight container for at least 2 hours. Scoop and serve.
SUMMER MINESTRONE WITH FRESH BASIL
This comes from Martha Rose Shulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “You can finish this hearty summer soup with slivered fresh basil, or with pistou, the Provençal version of pesto (it’s pesto without the pine nuts). A Parmesan rind, simmered in the soup and then removed, adds great depth of flavor without adding fat. On a hot summer day in Italy the soup might be served at room temperature, or just barely warm.”
Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
This was featured in “Summer Minestrone with Fresh Basil” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Soup
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
Salt
4 large garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 pound tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped, or 1 (14-ounce) can chopped tomatoes, with liquid
1 medium turnip, peeled and diced
3/4 pound zucchini, diced
A bouquet garni consisting of 1 Parmesan rind, 1 bay leaf, 3 sprigs parsley and 3 sprigs thyme, tied together with kitchen string or tied into a piece of cheesecloth
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini or borlotti beans, drained and rinsed
6 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths
1/2 cup soup pasta, such as elbow macaroni, or broken spaghetti, or 3/4 cup penne
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup slivered fresh basil leaves, or 1/2 cup pistou (see recipe; you'll need to subscribe to The New York Times cooking e-newsletter to get this)
Freshly grated Parmesan for garnish
Preparation
Heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven and add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes, and add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Continue to cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 more minutes. Add the garlic, stir together for about a minute, and stir in the tomatoes. Cook, stirring, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant, about 10 minutes. Stir in 2 quarts water, the turnip, zucchini, and the bouquet garni, and bring to a simmer. Add 2 teaspoons salt, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 45 minutes. Stir in the canned beans. Taste and adjust salt. Remove the bouquet garni.
While the soup is simmering, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the green beans. Boil 5 minutes, until just tender but still bright green. Transfer to a bowl of ice water, allow to cool, and drain. Retain the cooking water in case you want to thin out the soup later.
Add the pasta to the soup and simmer another 10 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked al dente. Stir the cooked green beans into the soup. Grind in some pepper and taste and adjust seasonings. It should be savory and rich-tasting.
Stir in the basil or pistou, or place a spoonful of pistou in each bowl and stir in. Serve in wide soup bowls, with a sprinkling of Parmesan over the top.
CORN SALAD
This simple (and simply yummy) recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. Lena wrote, “The quintessential summer salad.”
Yields: 4 – 6 servings; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes.
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
4 c. fresh or frozen corn, defrosted
1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 c. crumbled feta
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
1/4 c. basil, thinly sliced
3 tbsp. olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Friday, July 20, 2018
Friday Recipes
It's Friday, time to get ready for the weekend. Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend and beyond, including Layers of Love Chocolate Brownies (great for movie-watching, or anytime, for that matter!) and Cauliflower Cornbread Muffins. Enjoy!
FRESH VEGETABLE PITA PIZZA
This recipe is from Family Time, and begins, “Your kids will love this pizza-- and it's a good way for them to get their veggies.”
Serves: 4; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb. fresh tomatoes
4 (7-inch) pita breads
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasonings, divided
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1 medium (2 cups) zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/2 large (1 cup) green bell pepper, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/4 cup thinly sliced sweet red or white onion
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Core and slice the tomatoes and then cut each slice in half into half moons. Arrange the pitas on 2 baking sheets and brush each one with oil. Divide the tomato slices among the pitas and then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and half the Italian seasonings. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the tomatoes are heated and the pitas begin to crisp. Sprinkle the pizzas with half of the mozzarella cheese. Top with zucchini, green pepper, and onion. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Italian seasoning. Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and vegetables are crisp-tender. Serve with crushed red pepper flakes and additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
SUMMER PANZANELLA
This comes from Rian Handler on Delish. The recipe begins, “Panzan-HELL-YEA!”
Yields: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 large baguettes, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. honey
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large, seedless cucumber, roughly chopped
2 pt. cherry tomatoes (preferably multi-colored), halved
1 red onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bunch basil, torn
Directions
Pre-heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss bread with 1/4 cup olive oil. Add bread to skillet and toast until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.
Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and honey. Season with salt and pepper.
To large bowl, add crispy bread, cucumber, tomatoes, onion and garlic. Toss with dressing until evenly coated and season with more salt and pepper.
Garnish with basil and serve.
CAULIFLOWER CORNBREAD MUFFINS
This recipe, from the Food Network Kitchen, begins, “Whipped egg whites make this gluten-free cornbread rise just like the real deal, and the consistency is right on, thanks to cauliflower rice. We spiced it up further with Cheddar and jalapenos.”
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Active Time: 40 minutes; Yiel: 12 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray, for the muffin tin
4 cups riced cauliflower (about 1 pound)
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
6 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 jalapenos, 1 finely diced and 1 thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Place the cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave until warm and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze tightly to release as much moisture as possible.
Wipe the bowl clean and add back the cauliflower. Add the cornmeal, butter, sugar, baking powder, egg yolks, 1 cup of the Cheddar, the diced jalapeno, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir until well combined.
Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold half of the whites into the cauliflower mixture until combined. Repeat with the remaining egg whites.
Pour a scant 1/2 cup batter into each muffin cup and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar. Place a few jalapeno slices on top of the batter in each cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean and the tops are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Serve at room temperature.
LAYERS OF LOVE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Love will follow you after you try this recipe....At least chocolate-lovers will follow you!”
Serves: 16 brownies; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes
View this online here.
Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Baking Cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut in pieces
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 large eggs, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Premier White Morsels
1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 8-inch-square baking pan.
Combine cocoa, flour and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Reserve 3/4 cup batter. Spread remaining batter into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle pecans and white morsels over batter. Drizzle caramel topping over top. Beat remaining egg and reserved batter in same large bowl until light in color. Stir in semi-sweet morsels. Spread evenly over caramel topping.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares.
LEMON MERINGUE TART
This is from Kim Severson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “The celebrated pastry chef Dolester Miles learned to bake in a small town called Bessemer, outside Birmingham, Ala. She took the tastes of Southern desserts passed down from her mother and her aunt, and elevated them with fine-dining technique she has picked up in her more than 30 years at the Birmingham restaurants Highlands Bar & Grill, Chez Fonfon and Bottega Café. This lemon meringue tart, reminiscent of a Southern icebox cake but with a French feel, is a perfect example. She stirs in white chocolate to give the curd a luscious mouth feel, and finishes it with a drift of soft Swiss meringue toasted with a blowtorch. A few seconds under the broiler will work, too. She cautions cooks never to take their eyes off the tart during that final step. ‘It’ll get away from you fast,’ she said.”
Yield: 10 to 12 servings; Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling and freezing.
This was featured in “An Alabama Chef and Her Beloved Desserts Hit the Big Time”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Tart:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cubed
2 egg yolks
For the Filling and Meringue:
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
Zest from 2 lemons
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into large pieces
4 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
Preparation
In the bowl of a food processor, place flour, confectioners’ sugar and salt, and quickly pulse to combine. Add butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs, then add egg yolks and pulse until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour.
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch, then transfer it into a 9 1/2-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan, then trim it by rolling your rolling pin over the top of the tart pan edge. Pierce crust all over with a fork and freeze for 30 minutes. Remove from freezer, place tart pan on a baking sheet, and bake for about 20 minutes until golden. Remove tart from baking sheet and let pan cool slightly on a rack.
Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Separate the eggs, saving 3 of the whites to use in the meringue. In a small saucepan, stir together 1/2 cup/101 grams sugar, the lemon zest and juice and the egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until quite warm. Stir in butter and continue to cook, whisking to prevent burning, for about 7 to 10 minutes or until the mixture becomes thick. Remove from heat and stir in the white chocolate until it melts into the mixture.
Pour lemon mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl and use a spatula to press until just the solids remain. Discard the solids. Spoon mixture into the prepared tart shell and chill for 4 hours.
Make the meringue: Set up a double boiler and bring the water in the bottom pan to a boil over medium-high heat. Combine the 3 egg whites with 3/4 cup/151 grams sugar in the top of the double boiler and whisk constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is hot.
Pour the meringue mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip at medium-high speed for about 2 minutes then increase speed to high and whip for about 4 to 6 minutes more or until the mixture is stiff. Spoon meringue over tart and spread with an offset spatula.
Using a kitchen torch, brown the meringue lightly, holding the torch about 2 inches away from the tart. Alternatively, place tart under a preheated broiler with the oven rack placed 8 inches from the heat source. Broil 30 to 45 seconds, watching carefully so the meringue turns golden brown and does not burn. Remove tart ring and serve immediately.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH HOME FRIES
This comes from page 26 of the October 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Eggs with a medley of quick-cooked squash and cherry peppers create a colorful breakfast or brunch. For speedy peeling and cubing, use the “neck” portion of a large butternut squash so you can cut the peel straight down off the sides.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 1/2 Tbs. olive oil
4 cups peeled, cubed butternut squash (1/2-inch cubes)
1 medium onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
5 large red cherry peppers, seeded and chopped (1 cup)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
4 green onions, chopped (1/2 cup)
4 large eggs
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add squash and onion; toss to blend. Cover, and cook 5 minutes, or until squash begins to brown. Stir, cover, and cook 5 to 6 minutes more, or until squash is tender and onions start to caramelize.
Add peppers and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Season generously with salt and pepper,if desired. Mix in green onions; cook 1 minute more. Divide among four plates or shallow bowls.
Return skillet to medium-high heat; coat with cooking spray. Drop in eggs. Cover, and cook 2 minutes, or until whites are firm but yolks are still soft. Top home fries with eggs.
nutritional information Per Per serving : 1 cup squash and 1 egg: Calories: 211; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Cholesterol: 186 mg; Sodium: 84 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 7 g; Gluten-Free
FRESH VEGETABLE PITA PIZZA
This recipe is from Family Time, and begins, “Your kids will love this pizza-- and it's a good way for them to get their veggies.”
Serves: 4; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb. fresh tomatoes
4 (7-inch) pita breads
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasonings, divided
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1 medium (2 cups) zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/2 large (1 cup) green bell pepper, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/4 cup thinly sliced sweet red or white onion
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Core and slice the tomatoes and then cut each slice in half into half moons. Arrange the pitas on 2 baking sheets and brush each one with oil. Divide the tomato slices among the pitas and then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and half the Italian seasonings. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the tomatoes are heated and the pitas begin to crisp. Sprinkle the pizzas with half of the mozzarella cheese. Top with zucchini, green pepper, and onion. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Italian seasoning. Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and vegetables are crisp-tender. Serve with crushed red pepper flakes and additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
SUMMER PANZANELLA
This comes from Rian Handler on Delish. The recipe begins, “Panzan-HELL-YEA!”
Yields: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 large baguettes, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. honey
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large, seedless cucumber, roughly chopped
2 pt. cherry tomatoes (preferably multi-colored), halved
1 red onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bunch basil, torn
Directions
Pre-heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss bread with 1/4 cup olive oil. Add bread to skillet and toast until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.
Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and honey. Season with salt and pepper.
To large bowl, add crispy bread, cucumber, tomatoes, onion and garlic. Toss with dressing until evenly coated and season with more salt and pepper.
Garnish with basil and serve.
CAULIFLOWER CORNBREAD MUFFINS
This recipe, from the Food Network Kitchen, begins, “Whipped egg whites make this gluten-free cornbread rise just like the real deal, and the consistency is right on, thanks to cauliflower rice. We spiced it up further with Cheddar and jalapenos.”
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Active Time: 40 minutes; Yiel: 12 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray, for the muffin tin
4 cups riced cauliflower (about 1 pound)
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
6 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 jalapenos, 1 finely diced and 1 thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Place the cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave until warm and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze tightly to release as much moisture as possible.
Wipe the bowl clean and add back the cauliflower. Add the cornmeal, butter, sugar, baking powder, egg yolks, 1 cup of the Cheddar, the diced jalapeno, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir until well combined.
Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold half of the whites into the cauliflower mixture until combined. Repeat with the remaining egg whites.
Pour a scant 1/2 cup batter into each muffin cup and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar. Place a few jalapeno slices on top of the batter in each cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean and the tops are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Serve at room temperature.
LAYERS OF LOVE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Love will follow you after you try this recipe....At least chocolate-lovers will follow you!”
Serves: 16 brownies; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes
View this online here.
Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Baking Cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut in pieces
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 large eggs, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Premier White Morsels
1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 8-inch-square baking pan.
Combine cocoa, flour and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Reserve 3/4 cup batter. Spread remaining batter into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle pecans and white morsels over batter. Drizzle caramel topping over top. Beat remaining egg and reserved batter in same large bowl until light in color. Stir in semi-sweet morsels. Spread evenly over caramel topping.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares.
LEMON MERINGUE TART
This is from Kim Severson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “The celebrated pastry chef Dolester Miles learned to bake in a small town called Bessemer, outside Birmingham, Ala. She took the tastes of Southern desserts passed down from her mother and her aunt, and elevated them with fine-dining technique she has picked up in her more than 30 years at the Birmingham restaurants Highlands Bar & Grill, Chez Fonfon and Bottega Café. This lemon meringue tart, reminiscent of a Southern icebox cake but with a French feel, is a perfect example. She stirs in white chocolate to give the curd a luscious mouth feel, and finishes it with a drift of soft Swiss meringue toasted with a blowtorch. A few seconds under the broiler will work, too. She cautions cooks never to take their eyes off the tart during that final step. ‘It’ll get away from you fast,’ she said.”
Yield: 10 to 12 servings; Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling and freezing.
This was featured in “An Alabama Chef and Her Beloved Desserts Hit the Big Time”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Tart:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cubed
2 egg yolks
For the Filling and Meringue:
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
Zest from 2 lemons
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into large pieces
4 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
Preparation
In the bowl of a food processor, place flour, confectioners’ sugar and salt, and quickly pulse to combine. Add butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs, then add egg yolks and pulse until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour.
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch, then transfer it into a 9 1/2-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan, then trim it by rolling your rolling pin over the top of the tart pan edge. Pierce crust all over with a fork and freeze for 30 minutes. Remove from freezer, place tart pan on a baking sheet, and bake for about 20 minutes until golden. Remove tart from baking sheet and let pan cool slightly on a rack.
Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Separate the eggs, saving 3 of the whites to use in the meringue. In a small saucepan, stir together 1/2 cup/101 grams sugar, the lemon zest and juice and the egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until quite warm. Stir in butter and continue to cook, whisking to prevent burning, for about 7 to 10 minutes or until the mixture becomes thick. Remove from heat and stir in the white chocolate until it melts into the mixture.
Pour lemon mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl and use a spatula to press until just the solids remain. Discard the solids. Spoon mixture into the prepared tart shell and chill for 4 hours.
Make the meringue: Set up a double boiler and bring the water in the bottom pan to a boil over medium-high heat. Combine the 3 egg whites with 3/4 cup/151 grams sugar in the top of the double boiler and whisk constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is hot.
Pour the meringue mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip at medium-high speed for about 2 minutes then increase speed to high and whip for about 4 to 6 minutes more or until the mixture is stiff. Spoon meringue over tart and spread with an offset spatula.
Using a kitchen torch, brown the meringue lightly, holding the torch about 2 inches away from the tart. Alternatively, place tart under a preheated broiler with the oven rack placed 8 inches from the heat source. Broil 30 to 45 seconds, watching carefully so the meringue turns golden brown and does not burn. Remove tart ring and serve immediately.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH HOME FRIES
This comes from page 26 of the October 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Eggs with a medley of quick-cooked squash and cherry peppers create a colorful breakfast or brunch. For speedy peeling and cubing, use the “neck” portion of a large butternut squash so you can cut the peel straight down off the sides.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 1/2 Tbs. olive oil
4 cups peeled, cubed butternut squash (1/2-inch cubes)
1 medium onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
5 large red cherry peppers, seeded and chopped (1 cup)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
4 green onions, chopped (1/2 cup)
4 large eggs
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add squash and onion; toss to blend. Cover, and cook 5 minutes, or until squash begins to brown. Stir, cover, and cook 5 to 6 minutes more, or until squash is tender and onions start to caramelize.
Add peppers and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Season generously with salt and pepper,if desired. Mix in green onions; cook 1 minute more. Divide among four plates or shallow bowls.
Return skillet to medium-high heat; coat with cooking spray. Drop in eggs. Cover, and cook 2 minutes, or until whites are firm but yolks are still soft. Top home fries with eggs.
nutritional information Per Per serving : 1 cup squash and 1 egg: Calories: 211; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Cholesterol: 186 mg; Sodium: 84 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 7 g; Gluten-Free
Monday, July 9, 2018
Monday Recipes
It's Monday, time to get the week started off right. True, there were posts over the weekend (to give you ideas for the 4th of July, which falls on Wednesday), but this is usually when I start off posting for the week.
So, without any more chit-chat, here are today's six recipes, including Corn Salad, a Lemon Meringue Tart and vegan Slow-Cooker Sloppy Joes. Enjoy!
VEGAN CHILI
This yummy recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. The recipe begins with the words, “Hearty and healthy.” Works for me!
Yields: 6; Prep Times: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 bell peppers, diced
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (12-oz) bottle Mexican beer such as Modelo
1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28-oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2 c. vegetable broth
For Topping
1 avocado, sliced
Lime wedges
thinly sliced scallions
Directions
In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add peppers, onions and celery and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
Add beer and cook until it has reduced by half, about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sweet potato, black and pinto beans, tomatoes and vegetable broth. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced and sweet potatoes are cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
Serve with the toppings of your choice.
CHOCOLATE-HONEY BROWNIE BARS
This is from Kraft Recipes, and begins, “These brownies not only have honey in the batter, but are also drizzled with a luscious chocolate-honey topping for an extra-special touch.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 24 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
2 pkg. (4 oz. each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. honey, divided
2 eggs
1 cup flour
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; spray with cooking spray. Microwave butter and 6 oz. chocolate in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Add sugar and 1/2 cup honey; mix well. Blend in eggs. Add flour; stir until blended. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely.
Microwave remaining chocolate and honey in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Drizzle over brownie.
Refrigerate 5 min. or until chocolate is firm. Use foil handles to remove brownie from pan before cutting into bars.
CORN SALAD
This simple (and simply yummy) recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. Lena wrote, “The quintessential summer salad.”
Yields: 4 – 6 servings; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes.
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
4 c. fresh or frozen corn, defrosted
1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 c. crumbled feta
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
1/4 c. basil, thinly sliced
3 tbsp. olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
CAULIFLOWER CORNBREAD MUFFINS
This recipe, from the Food Network Kitchen, begins, “Whipped egg whites make this gluten-free cornbread rise just like the real deal, and the consistency is right on, thanks to cauliflower rice. We spiced it up further with Cheddar and jalapenos.”
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Active Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 12 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray, for the muffin tin
4 cups riced cauliflower (about 1 pound)
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
6 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 jalapenos, 1 finely diced and 1 thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Place the cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave until warm and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze tightly to release as much moisture as possible.
Wipe the bowl clean and add back the cauliflower. Add the cornmeal, butter, sugar, baking powder, egg yolks, 1 cup of the Cheddar, the diced jalapeno, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir until well combined.
Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold half of the whites into the cauliflower mixture until combined. Repeat with the remaining egg whites.
Pour a scant 1/2 cup batter into each muffin cup and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar. Place a few jalapeno slices on top of the batter in each cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean and the tops are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Serve at room temperature.
LEMON MERINGUE TART
This is from Kim Severson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “The celebrated pastry chef Dolester Miles learned to bake in a small town called Bessemer, outside Birmingham, Ala. She took the tastes of Southern desserts passed down from her mother and her aunt, and elevated them with fine-dining technique she has picked up in her more than 30 years at the Birmingham restaurants Highlands Bar & Grill, Chez Fonfon and Bottega Café. This lemon meringue tart, reminiscent of a Southern icebox cake but with a French feel, is a perfect example. She stirs in white chocolate to give the curd a luscious mouth feel, and finishes it with a drift of soft Swiss meringue toasted with a blowtorch. A few seconds under the broiler will work, too. She cautions cooks never to take their eyes off the tart during that final step. ‘It’ll get away from you fast,’ she said.”
Yield: 10 to 12 servings; Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling and freezing.
This was featured in “An Alabama Chef and Her Beloved Desserts Hit the Big Time”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Tart:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cubed
2 egg yolks
For the Filling and Meringue:4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
Zest from 2 lemons
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into large pieces
4 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
Preparation
In the bowl of a food processor, place flour, confectioners’ sugar and salt, and quickly pulse to combine. Add butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs, then add egg yolks and pulse until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour.
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch, then transfer it into a 9 1/2-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan, then trim it by rolling your rolling pin over the top of the tart pan edge. Pierce crust all over with a fork and freeze for 30 minutes. Remove from freezer, place tart pan on a baking sheet, and bake for about 20 minutes until golden. Remove tart from baking sheet and let pan cool slightly on a rack.
Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Separate the eggs, saving 3 of the whites to use in the meringue. In a small saucepan, stir together 1/2 cup/101 grams sugar, the lemon zest and juice and the egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until quite warm. Stir in butter and continue to cook, whisking to prevent burning, for about 7 to 10 minutes or until the mixture becomes thick. Remove from heat and stir in the white chocolate until it melts into the mixture.
Pour lemon mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl and use a spatula to press until just the solids remain. Discard the solids. Spoon mixture into the prepared tart shell and chill for 4 hours.
Make the meringue: Set up a double boiler and bring the water in the bottom pan to a boil over medium-high heat. Combine the 3 egg whites with 3/4 cup/151 grams sugar in the top of the double boiler and whisk constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is hot.
Pour the meringue mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip at medium-high speed for about 2 minutes then increase speed to high and whip for about 4 to 6 minutes more or until the mixture is stiff. Spoon meringue over tart and spread with an offset spatula.
Using a kitchen torch, brown the meringue lightly, holding the torch about 2 inches away from the tart. Alternatively, place tart under a preheated broiler with the oven rack placed 8 inches from the heat source. Broil 30 to 45 seconds, watching carefully so the meringue turns golden brown and does not burn. Remove tart ring and serve immediately.
SLOW-COOKER SLOPPY JOES [VEGAN]
This recipe comes from OneGreenPlanet, and is Dairy Free and Vegan. Serves 7 – 8; Cook Time: 6 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups textured vegetable protein
3 cups water
5 garlic cloves
1 cup Medjool dates, soaked and pitted
6 ounce can tomato paste
1 tomato, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 medium white onion, diced
1 tablespoon black strap molasses
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons mustard
3 tablespoons hot sauce
Preparation
Add water, dates, garlic cloves, tomato, and tomato paste to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth. Next, add remaining ingredients to the blender except the textured vegetable protein and stir, or blend on low until fully incorporated.
Turn a crock pot on high. Add textured vegetable protein, blender mixture, and diced onion. Stir until protein is thoroughly coated with the blender sauce and onion. Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
So, without any more chit-chat, here are today's six recipes, including Corn Salad, a Lemon Meringue Tart and vegan Slow-Cooker Sloppy Joes. Enjoy!
VEGAN CHILI
This yummy recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. The recipe begins with the words, “Hearty and healthy.” Works for me!
Yields: 6; Prep Times: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 bell peppers, diced
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (12-oz) bottle Mexican beer such as Modelo
1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28-oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2 c. vegetable broth
For Topping
1 avocado, sliced
Lime wedges
thinly sliced scallions
Directions
In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add peppers, onions and celery and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
Add beer and cook until it has reduced by half, about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sweet potato, black and pinto beans, tomatoes and vegetable broth. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced and sweet potatoes are cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
Serve with the toppings of your choice.
CHOCOLATE-HONEY BROWNIE BARS
This is from Kraft Recipes, and begins, “These brownies not only have honey in the batter, but are also drizzled with a luscious chocolate-honey topping for an extra-special touch.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 24 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
2 pkg. (4 oz. each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. honey, divided
2 eggs
1 cup flour
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; spray with cooking spray. Microwave butter and 6 oz. chocolate in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Add sugar and 1/2 cup honey; mix well. Blend in eggs. Add flour; stir until blended. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely.
Microwave remaining chocolate and honey in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Drizzle over brownie.
Refrigerate 5 min. or until chocolate is firm. Use foil handles to remove brownie from pan before cutting into bars.
CORN SALAD
This simple (and simply yummy) recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. Lena wrote, “The quintessential summer salad.”
Yields: 4 – 6 servings; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes.
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
4 c. fresh or frozen corn, defrosted
1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 c. crumbled feta
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
1/4 c. basil, thinly sliced
3 tbsp. olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
CAULIFLOWER CORNBREAD MUFFINS
This recipe, from the Food Network Kitchen, begins, “Whipped egg whites make this gluten-free cornbread rise just like the real deal, and the consistency is right on, thanks to cauliflower rice. We spiced it up further with Cheddar and jalapenos.”
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Active Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 12 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray, for the muffin tin
4 cups riced cauliflower (about 1 pound)
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
6 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 jalapenos, 1 finely diced and 1 thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Place the cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave until warm and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze tightly to release as much moisture as possible.
Wipe the bowl clean and add back the cauliflower. Add the cornmeal, butter, sugar, baking powder, egg yolks, 1 cup of the Cheddar, the diced jalapeno, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir until well combined.
Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold half of the whites into the cauliflower mixture until combined. Repeat with the remaining egg whites.
Pour a scant 1/2 cup batter into each muffin cup and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar. Place a few jalapeno slices on top of the batter in each cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean and the tops are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Serve at room temperature.
LEMON MERINGUE TART
This is from Kim Severson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “The celebrated pastry chef Dolester Miles learned to bake in a small town called Bessemer, outside Birmingham, Ala. She took the tastes of Southern desserts passed down from her mother and her aunt, and elevated them with fine-dining technique she has picked up in her more than 30 years at the Birmingham restaurants Highlands Bar & Grill, Chez Fonfon and Bottega Café. This lemon meringue tart, reminiscent of a Southern icebox cake but with a French feel, is a perfect example. She stirs in white chocolate to give the curd a luscious mouth feel, and finishes it with a drift of soft Swiss meringue toasted with a blowtorch. A few seconds under the broiler will work, too. She cautions cooks never to take their eyes off the tart during that final step. ‘It’ll get away from you fast,’ she said.”
Yield: 10 to 12 servings; Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling and freezing.
This was featured in “An Alabama Chef and Her Beloved Desserts Hit the Big Time”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Tart:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cubed
2 egg yolks
For the Filling and Meringue:4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
Zest from 2 lemons
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into large pieces
4 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
Preparation
In the bowl of a food processor, place flour, confectioners’ sugar and salt, and quickly pulse to combine. Add butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs, then add egg yolks and pulse until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour.
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch, then transfer it into a 9 1/2-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan, then trim it by rolling your rolling pin over the top of the tart pan edge. Pierce crust all over with a fork and freeze for 30 minutes. Remove from freezer, place tart pan on a baking sheet, and bake for about 20 minutes until golden. Remove tart from baking sheet and let pan cool slightly on a rack.
Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Separate the eggs, saving 3 of the whites to use in the meringue. In a small saucepan, stir together 1/2 cup/101 grams sugar, the lemon zest and juice and the egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until quite warm. Stir in butter and continue to cook, whisking to prevent burning, for about 7 to 10 minutes or until the mixture becomes thick. Remove from heat and stir in the white chocolate until it melts into the mixture.
Pour lemon mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl and use a spatula to press until just the solids remain. Discard the solids. Spoon mixture into the prepared tart shell and chill for 4 hours.
Make the meringue: Set up a double boiler and bring the water in the bottom pan to a boil over medium-high heat. Combine the 3 egg whites with 3/4 cup/151 grams sugar in the top of the double boiler and whisk constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is hot.
Pour the meringue mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip at medium-high speed for about 2 minutes then increase speed to high and whip for about 4 to 6 minutes more or until the mixture is stiff. Spoon meringue over tart and spread with an offset spatula.
Using a kitchen torch, brown the meringue lightly, holding the torch about 2 inches away from the tart. Alternatively, place tart under a preheated broiler with the oven rack placed 8 inches from the heat source. Broil 30 to 45 seconds, watching carefully so the meringue turns golden brown and does not burn. Remove tart ring and serve immediately.
SLOW-COOKER SLOPPY JOES [VEGAN]
This recipe comes from OneGreenPlanet, and is Dairy Free and Vegan. Serves 7 – 8; Cook Time: 6 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups textured vegetable protein
3 cups water
5 garlic cloves
1 cup Medjool dates, soaked and pitted
6 ounce can tomato paste
1 tomato, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 medium white onion, diced
1 tablespoon black strap molasses
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons mustard
3 tablespoons hot sauce
Preparation
Add water, dates, garlic cloves, tomato, and tomato paste to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth. Next, add remaining ingredients to the blender except the textured vegetable protein and stir, or blend on low until fully incorporated.
Turn a crock pot on high. Add textured vegetable protein, blender mixture, and diced onion. Stir until protein is thoroughly coated with the blender sauce and onion. Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's six yummy recipes (all of which would make a great addition to tomorrow's 4th of July celebration) include Vegan Lentil Burgers and Homemade Ginger Tea. Enjoy!
LEMON-ALMOND BUTTER CAKE
This was in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “This buttery almond cake with lemon curd baked inside is like the ultimate citrus tart, without the heartbreak of pie crust. It's fancy enough to be served as a dinner party dessert, yet substantial enough to be served with Sunday brunch. (Bonus: you'll have several tablespoons of lemon curd left over. It's delicious on toast or pancakes.)”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 hours 30 minutes, plus cooling time.
This was featured in “Not The Usual Chef On The Shelf” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Curd:
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
4 extra-large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
For the Cake:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 cup plus 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup ground toasted almonds
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
About 1/2 cup heavy cream for garnish
1 tablespoon almond liqueur (optional)
Preparation
For the curd, combine zest, juice, sugar and eggs in a heatproof bowl, and beat well. Add butter, and place over a saucepan full of simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until mixture thickens into curd, about 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl, and press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming.
Refrigerate until cool, at least 1 1/2 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with 1 tablespoon butter, and dust with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess.
With an electric mixer, cream the remaining butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt, and stir in. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until they start to foam. Do not overbeat or the cake will be tough. Add eggs and ground almonds to batter, and mix well.
Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Drop 8 individual tablespoons lemon curd around perimeter of batter, leaving a 1-inch border, and taking care to space drops evenly. Drop 3 to 4 tablespoons curd into center of batter. Refrigerate remaining curd for another use. Sprinkle cake with toasted almonds and 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, depending on taste.
Bake until cake is toasty brown on top and a toothpick inserted into cake (not curd) comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool on rack 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan, and cool completely.
Whip cream with almond liqueur. Present cake at table, and offer whipped cream on the side.
CORN SALAD
This simple (and simply yummy) recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. Lena wrote, “The quintessential summer salad.”
Yields: 4 – 6 servings; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes.
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
4 c. fresh or frozen corn, defrosted
1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 c. crumbled feta
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
1/4 c. basil, thinly sliced
3 tbsp. olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
CAULIFLOWER CORNBREAD MUFFINS
This recipe, from the Food Network Kitchen, begins, “Whipped egg whites make this gluten-free cornbread rise just like the real deal, and the consistency is right on, thanks to cauliflower rice. We spiced it up further with Cheddar and jalapenos.”
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Active Time: 40 minutes; Yiel: 12 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray, for the muffin tin
4 cups riced cauliflower (about 1 pound)
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
6 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 jalapenos, 1 finely diced and 1 thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Place the cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave until warm and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze tightly to release as much moisture as possible.
Wipe the bowl clean and add back the cauliflower. Add the cornmeal, butter, sugar, baking powder, egg yolks, 1 cup of the Cheddar, the diced jalapeno, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir until well combined.
Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold half of the whites into the cauliflower mixture until combined. Repeat with the remaining egg whites.
Pour a scant 1/2 cup batter into each muffin cup and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar. Place a few jalapeno slices on top of the batter in each cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean and the tops are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Serve at room temperature.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from the Food Network Kitchen, and begins, “These burgers are packed with flavor, fiber and protein while still being low in fat. We love them grilled, but you can also pan-fry them: Heat 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and fry patties until well browned, about 2 minutes per side. (Remember: The extra oil will alter the calorie and fat totals.)”
Total: 2 hr 10 min; Prep: 20 min; Inactive: 1 hr Cook: 50 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/vegan-lentil-burgers-3362403.
Ingredients
3/4 cup brown lentils, rinsed, strained and picked through
1 3/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon low-sodium vegetable broth or water
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large red onion, half finely chopped and half thinly sliced
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Kosher salt
8 ounces fresh baby spinach
2 large cloves garlic, minced
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and finely chopped
Cooking spray
6 whole-grain vegan hamburger buns
Baby arugula, basil, roasted red bell peppers and spicy mustard, for serving, optional
Directions
Bring the lentils and 1 3/4 cup of the broth to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover and simmer until the lentils are fully softened and the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon broth and mash well with a potato masher. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the spinach, garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper and cumin and stir until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes.
Add the spinach mixture, breadcrumbs, walnuts and 3/4 teaspoon salt to the lentils and mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Preheat the grill to medium-high. Form the mixture into six 4-inch patties and spray with cooking spray on each side. Grill until nice grill marks form, about 3 minutes per side. Place the patties in the buns with the sliced onion and other toppings, as desired, and serve.
THAI STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES WITH GARLIC, GINGER, AND LIME
This is from Darlene Schmidt on The Spruce Eats. Darlene wrote, “Making a 'simple stir-fry' isn't always all that simple if you can't get the stir-fry sauce to taste just right. But with this no-fail recipe for Thai stir-fried vegetables, the technique is a shoe-in mostly because the sauce is made up before beginning to fry the vegetables, allowing you to adjust the flavors to your liking. This can be made vegetarian/vegan by substituting soy sauce for the fish sauce.
“This is quite a 'saucy' stir-fry that is never dry and is terrific served over rice or noodles. Feel free to experiment with your own choice of vegetables, using whatever is fresh and available where you live.
“Great as a side dish, you can turn it into a main course by adding tofu, wheat gluten, cashews, cooked shrimp or slices of chicken as a protein source.
“Best of all it takes about 20 minutes from start to finish—perfect for gathering the family around the table for a weeknight meal. Things will go even faster if much of the slicing, dicing, and chopping is done the night before.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup shallots (finely chopped, or purple onion)
5 to 6 cloves garlic (minced or finely chopped)
1 to 2 pieces galangal (thumb-size OR ginger, sliced into thin matchstick pieces)
1/2 to 1 small fresh red chili (sliced OR 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes)
1 medium-size carrot (sliced)
5 to 6 shiitake mushrooms (sliced or left in halves or quarters)
Optional: 1 small head cauliflower (cut into florets)
1 small head broccoli (cut into florets)
1 red bell pepper (sliced into strips)
2 to 3 cups baby bok choy (or other Chinese cabbage, leaves left whole if not too large, otherwise cut in half or thirds)
1 handful fresh Thai basil (chopped)
For the Stir-Fry Sauce
2/3 cup coconut milk
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/3 to 1/2 teaspoons dried crushed chili flakes
2 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
Directions
Make the Stir-Fry Sauce
In a large cup or small bowl, combine coconut milk, soy sauce, lime juice, chili flakes, and brown sugar, stirring well to dissolve the sugar. Taste-test, keeping in mind that the first taste should be spicy-salty, followed by sweetness and the rich taste of the coconut milk.
Adjust these flavors to suit your taste, adding more lime juice if too sweet or salty (note that it will be less salty when combined with the vegetables).
Stir-Fry the Dish
Warm a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil and swirl around, then add the shallots, garlic, galangal, and chili. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes, then add the carrot, mushrooms, optional cauliflower, and 1/4 of the stir-fry sauce. Continue stir-frying 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the broccoli and red pepper plus enough stir-fry sauce to gently simmer vegetables (about 2 minutes). This is meant to be a "saucy" stir-fry that is never dry so the sauce can flavor the rice or noodles it is served with.
Finally, add the bok choy or Chinese cabbage. Add more of the stir-fry sauce as needed, almost enough to just cover vegetables in sauce. Simmer until bok choy or cabbage is cooked but still bright green with some crispness (2 to 3 minutes more).
Remove from heat and taste-test. If not salty enough, add a little more soy sauce. If too salty or sweet, add a squeeze of lime juice. Add more sugar or chili if desired.
Top with fresh basil and serve over Thai jasmine rice or Thai coconut rice.
Note: Any leftover stir-fry sauce can be stored for 1 week in a covered container in your refrigerator for future stir-fries.
Main Course Variation
Use this sauce to make a main course dish by adding tofu/cashews.
HOMEMADE GINGER TEA
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Wondering how to make a simple and easy homemade ginger tea? Why go out and buy stale old tea bags when you can easily make your own fresh and homemade ginger tea at home using fresh ginger? Treat yourself to a cup of piping hot ginger tea, a healthy drink that's great for digestion.
”Here's how to make the tastiest and most soothing and healing ginger tea you've ever had! There's really no comparison.
“This healing ginger tea recipe actually comes from the raw food and natural health retreat center I used to work at in Thailand, where we served it to our guests bright and early every single morning, seven days a week. The secret to the perfect healing ginger tea? Lots and lots of fresh ginger, simmered for a long time to bring out the flavor, and the lime, which compliments the ginger perfectly, and plenty of natural agave nectar or honey for a refined sugar-free sweetener (or you might prefer it unsweetened, depending on your health goals - It's still delicious, I promise!). Try this simple ginger tea for an immune system boost or for an invigorating way to start the morning.
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 2 servings of ginger tea
To check this out online, click here.
Ingredients
About 2 inches of fresh raw ginger (use more or less, depending on how strong you want it!)
1 1/2 to 2 cups water
1 to 2 tablespoons honey (or agave nectar, to taste)
Optional: 1/2 lime (juiced, or to taste)
Directions
First, prepare the fresh ginger by peeling it and slicing it thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea.
Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger. You really can't over do it, so feel free to add as much ginger and simmer it for as long as you want.
Remove from heat and add lime juice and honey (or agave nectar) to taste.
The secret to making a really flavorful ginger tea is to use plenty of ginger-more than you think you will need-and also to add a bit of lime juice and honey to your ginger tea. You will also probably want to add more honey than you think you will need as well.
Enjoy your hot ginger tea! A homemade ginger tea is excellent in soothing stomach aches and in aiding digestion.
LEMON-ALMOND BUTTER CAKE
This was in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “This buttery almond cake with lemon curd baked inside is like the ultimate citrus tart, without the heartbreak of pie crust. It's fancy enough to be served as a dinner party dessert, yet substantial enough to be served with Sunday brunch. (Bonus: you'll have several tablespoons of lemon curd left over. It's delicious on toast or pancakes.)”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 hours 30 minutes, plus cooling time.
This was featured in “Not The Usual Chef On The Shelf” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Curd:
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
4 extra-large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
For the Cake:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 cup plus 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup ground toasted almonds
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
About 1/2 cup heavy cream for garnish
1 tablespoon almond liqueur (optional)
Preparation
For the curd, combine zest, juice, sugar and eggs in a heatproof bowl, and beat well. Add butter, and place over a saucepan full of simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until mixture thickens into curd, about 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl, and press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming.
Refrigerate until cool, at least 1 1/2 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with 1 tablespoon butter, and dust with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess.
With an electric mixer, cream the remaining butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt, and stir in. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until they start to foam. Do not overbeat or the cake will be tough. Add eggs and ground almonds to batter, and mix well.
Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Drop 8 individual tablespoons lemon curd around perimeter of batter, leaving a 1-inch border, and taking care to space drops evenly. Drop 3 to 4 tablespoons curd into center of batter. Refrigerate remaining curd for another use. Sprinkle cake with toasted almonds and 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, depending on taste.
Bake until cake is toasty brown on top and a toothpick inserted into cake (not curd) comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool on rack 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan, and cool completely.
Whip cream with almond liqueur. Present cake at table, and offer whipped cream on the side.
CORN SALAD
This simple (and simply yummy) recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. Lena wrote, “The quintessential summer salad.”
Yields: 4 – 6 servings; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes.
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
4 c. fresh or frozen corn, defrosted
1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 c. crumbled feta
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
1/4 c. basil, thinly sliced
3 tbsp. olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
CAULIFLOWER CORNBREAD MUFFINS
This recipe, from the Food Network Kitchen, begins, “Whipped egg whites make this gluten-free cornbread rise just like the real deal, and the consistency is right on, thanks to cauliflower rice. We spiced it up further with Cheddar and jalapenos.”
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Active Time: 40 minutes; Yiel: 12 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray, for the muffin tin
4 cups riced cauliflower (about 1 pound)
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
6 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 jalapenos, 1 finely diced and 1 thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Place the cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave until warm and tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze tightly to release as much moisture as possible.
Wipe the bowl clean and add back the cauliflower. Add the cornmeal, butter, sugar, baking powder, egg yolks, 1 cup of the Cheddar, the diced jalapeno, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir until well combined.
Beat the egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold half of the whites into the cauliflower mixture until combined. Repeat with the remaining egg whites.
Pour a scant 1/2 cup batter into each muffin cup and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar. Place a few jalapeno slices on top of the batter in each cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean and the tops are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Serve at room temperature.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from the Food Network Kitchen, and begins, “These burgers are packed with flavor, fiber and protein while still being low in fat. We love them grilled, but you can also pan-fry them: Heat 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and fry patties until well browned, about 2 minutes per side. (Remember: The extra oil will alter the calorie and fat totals.)”
Total: 2 hr 10 min; Prep: 20 min; Inactive: 1 hr Cook: 50 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/vegan-lentil-burgers-3362403.
Ingredients
3/4 cup brown lentils, rinsed, strained and picked through
1 3/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon low-sodium vegetable broth or water
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large red onion, half finely chopped and half thinly sliced
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Kosher salt
8 ounces fresh baby spinach
2 large cloves garlic, minced
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and finely chopped
Cooking spray
6 whole-grain vegan hamburger buns
Baby arugula, basil, roasted red bell peppers and spicy mustard, for serving, optional
Directions
Bring the lentils and 1 3/4 cup of the broth to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover and simmer until the lentils are fully softened and the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon broth and mash well with a potato masher. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the spinach, garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper and cumin and stir until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes.
Add the spinach mixture, breadcrumbs, walnuts and 3/4 teaspoon salt to the lentils and mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Preheat the grill to medium-high. Form the mixture into six 4-inch patties and spray with cooking spray on each side. Grill until nice grill marks form, about 3 minutes per side. Place the patties in the buns with the sliced onion and other toppings, as desired, and serve.
THAI STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES WITH GARLIC, GINGER, AND LIME
This is from Darlene Schmidt on The Spruce Eats. Darlene wrote, “Making a 'simple stir-fry' isn't always all that simple if you can't get the stir-fry sauce to taste just right. But with this no-fail recipe for Thai stir-fried vegetables, the technique is a shoe-in mostly because the sauce is made up before beginning to fry the vegetables, allowing you to adjust the flavors to your liking. This can be made vegetarian/vegan by substituting soy sauce for the fish sauce.
“This is quite a 'saucy' stir-fry that is never dry and is terrific served over rice or noodles. Feel free to experiment with your own choice of vegetables, using whatever is fresh and available where you live.
“Great as a side dish, you can turn it into a main course by adding tofu, wheat gluten, cashews, cooked shrimp or slices of chicken as a protein source.
“Best of all it takes about 20 minutes from start to finish—perfect for gathering the family around the table for a weeknight meal. Things will go even faster if much of the slicing, dicing, and chopping is done the night before.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup shallots (finely chopped, or purple onion)
5 to 6 cloves garlic (minced or finely chopped)
1 to 2 pieces galangal (thumb-size OR ginger, sliced into thin matchstick pieces)
1/2 to 1 small fresh red chili (sliced OR 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes)
1 medium-size carrot (sliced)
5 to 6 shiitake mushrooms (sliced or left in halves or quarters)
Optional: 1 small head cauliflower (cut into florets)
1 small head broccoli (cut into florets)
1 red bell pepper (sliced into strips)
2 to 3 cups baby bok choy (or other Chinese cabbage, leaves left whole if not too large, otherwise cut in half or thirds)
1 handful fresh Thai basil (chopped)
For the Stir-Fry Sauce
2/3 cup coconut milk
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/3 to 1/2 teaspoons dried crushed chili flakes
2 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
Directions
Make the Stir-Fry Sauce
In a large cup or small bowl, combine coconut milk, soy sauce, lime juice, chili flakes, and brown sugar, stirring well to dissolve the sugar. Taste-test, keeping in mind that the first taste should be spicy-salty, followed by sweetness and the rich taste of the coconut milk.
Adjust these flavors to suit your taste, adding more lime juice if too sweet or salty (note that it will be less salty when combined with the vegetables).
Stir-Fry the Dish
Warm a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil and swirl around, then add the shallots, garlic, galangal, and chili. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes, then add the carrot, mushrooms, optional cauliflower, and 1/4 of the stir-fry sauce. Continue stir-frying 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the broccoli and red pepper plus enough stir-fry sauce to gently simmer vegetables (about 2 minutes). This is meant to be a "saucy" stir-fry that is never dry so the sauce can flavor the rice or noodles it is served with.
Finally, add the bok choy or Chinese cabbage. Add more of the stir-fry sauce as needed, almost enough to just cover vegetables in sauce. Simmer until bok choy or cabbage is cooked but still bright green with some crispness (2 to 3 minutes more).
Remove from heat and taste-test. If not salty enough, add a little more soy sauce. If too salty or sweet, add a squeeze of lime juice. Add more sugar or chili if desired.
Top with fresh basil and serve over Thai jasmine rice or Thai coconut rice.
Note: Any leftover stir-fry sauce can be stored for 1 week in a covered container in your refrigerator for future stir-fries.
Main Course Variation
Use this sauce to make a main course dish by adding tofu/cashews.
HOMEMADE GINGER TEA
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Wondering how to make a simple and easy homemade ginger tea? Why go out and buy stale old tea bags when you can easily make your own fresh and homemade ginger tea at home using fresh ginger? Treat yourself to a cup of piping hot ginger tea, a healthy drink that's great for digestion.
”Here's how to make the tastiest and most soothing and healing ginger tea you've ever had! There's really no comparison.
“This healing ginger tea recipe actually comes from the raw food and natural health retreat center I used to work at in Thailand, where we served it to our guests bright and early every single morning, seven days a week. The secret to the perfect healing ginger tea? Lots and lots of fresh ginger, simmered for a long time to bring out the flavor, and the lime, which compliments the ginger perfectly, and plenty of natural agave nectar or honey for a refined sugar-free sweetener (or you might prefer it unsweetened, depending on your health goals - It's still delicious, I promise!). Try this simple ginger tea for an immune system boost or for an invigorating way to start the morning.
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 2 servings of ginger tea
To check this out online, click here.
Ingredients
About 2 inches of fresh raw ginger (use more or less, depending on how strong you want it!)
1 1/2 to 2 cups water
1 to 2 tablespoons honey (or agave nectar, to taste)
Optional: 1/2 lime (juiced, or to taste)
Directions
First, prepare the fresh ginger by peeling it and slicing it thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea.
Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger. You really can't over do it, so feel free to add as much ginger and simmer it for as long as you want.
Remove from heat and add lime juice and honey (or agave nectar) to taste.
The secret to making a really flavorful ginger tea is to use plenty of ginger-more than you think you will need-and also to add a bit of lime juice and honey to your ginger tea. You will also probably want to add more honey than you think you will need as well.
Enjoy your hot ginger tea! A homemade ginger tea is excellent in soothing stomach aches and in aiding digestion.
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