Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Showing posts with label Fettuccine W/Asparagus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fettuccine W/Asparagus. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Pasta Party

It's time for another pasta party. Today's offerings include Spaghetti with Tomatoes, Basil, Olives, and Fresh Mozzarella and Baked Pumpkin Pasta. Enjoy!

FETTUCCINE WITH ASPARAGUS

This comes from Pierre Franey in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Pierre wrote, “Finding a 30-minute dish that's elegant enough for a dinner party is no simple task, but this warm-weather pasta is one to fit the bill. It is gleefully easy to put together. Just toss slices of blanched asparagus with a tangle of cooked fettuccine slicked with butter. Shower with grated Parmesan and serve.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 25 minutes.

Not sure how to cook asparagus? Read ”How to Cook Asparagus”, David Tanis’s guide to cooking this wonderful vegetable. (David Tanis writes The New York Times’s City Kitchen column. Many of his recipes are posted in the Times’s cooking e-newsletter.)

To view Pierre Franey’s Fettuccine with Asparagus recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

6 fresh asparagus spears, about 1/2 pound

10 ounces fresh fettuccine or 3/4 pound dried fettuccine

2 tablespoons butter

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil or parsley

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste

Preparation

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.

Cut off tough ends of asparagus spears. Cut each on the bias into 1-inch lengths. There should be about 1 1/2 cups. Rinse well and drain.

Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook about 2 minutes. Remove asparagus with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Drop the fettuccine into salted boiling water. Let cook to desired degree of doneness (cooking time will range from about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes for fresh pasta to 9 minutes or more for dried). Reserve 2 tablespoons cooking water. Drain the pasta.

Heat the butter in the pot in which the pasta was cooked. Add the asparagus pieces and the fettuccine. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons of cooking water and basil. Toss to blend. Serve hot with Parmesan cheese on the side.

SPAGHETTI WITH TOMATOES, BASIL, OLIVES AND FRESH MOZZARELLA

This is from Familytime, and begins, “Since the tomatoes here are not cooked, you’ll really notice their flavor.”

Serves: 4; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 13 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 pounds vine ripened tomatoes, (about 6), chopped

3/4 pound salted mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4-inch cubes, at room temperature

1 1/4 cups chopped, fresh basil

1/2 cup halved and pitted black olives

4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 pound spaghetti

1/2 cup olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

Directions

In a large glass or stainless-steel bowl, combine the chopped tomatoes with the mozzarella, basil, olives, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the spaghetti until just done, about 12 minutes. Drain, add to the tomato mixture, and toss.

Heat the oil in a small frying pan over moderately low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Pour the oil over the pasta and toss again.

Variations: Add some drained capers, chopped red onion or grated Parmesan to the pasta.

WHOLE WHEAT PENNE PASTA WITH SUMMER VEGETABLES

This is from Diabetes Self-Management, and can be viewed online here.

Yield: 4 servings. Serving size: 1 3/4 cups.

Ingredients

6 ounces uncooked whole wheat penne pasta (about 2 cups)

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 cups chopped fresh broccoli

1 medium zucchini, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)

1/2 medium yellow bell pepper, chopped (about 3/4 cup)

8 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

3 ounces (about 1 cup) mushrooms, sliced

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

3/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting any salt or fat. Drain and keep warm.

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, broccoli, zucchini and bell pepper. Cook and stir about 2 minutes or until vegetables just begin to soften.

Add tomatoes, mushrooms, and oregano; mix well. Reduce heat to medium and cook and stir about 8 minutes or until vegetables are tender and tomatoes release their juices.

Mix vegetables with pasta. Toss in feta cheese.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 264 calories, Carbohydrates: 41 g, Protein: 15 g, Fat: 7 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 8 mg, Sodium: 374 mg, Fiber: 7 g

Exchanges per serving: 2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat, 2 Vegetable, 1 Meat.

PASTA WITH MARINATED TOMATOES AND SUMMER HERBS

This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “The easiest summer dinner known to man, pasta con salsa crudo, is a one-bowl, infinitely variable riot of seasonal flavors. It can be made with fancy Italian tuna and local heirloom tomatoes for foodies, or with supermarket mozzarella and tomatoes for children, or with excellent olives and extra pine nuts for vegetarians. It puts you in the kitchen for about a half-hour at the tail end of lunchtime. After that, all there is to do is cook the pasta, and serve with or without crusty bread, boiled corn, sliced tomatoes, or a nice, simple green salad.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 30 minutes.

This was featured in “The House, the Food and Issues in Between” and can also be viewed online here.

Ingredients

About 1 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes, halved or quartered if small, diced if large

Salt

2 cans olive oil-packed tuna or 1 pound mozzarella cheese, diced (optional)

2/3 cup pitted oil-cured black olives, halved, or 1/2 cup pitted green olives, chopped, or 3 tablespoons capers (optional)

2/3 cup chopped fresh herbs (basil, parsley, mint, chives, cilantro, scallion tops, or a combination), more for garnish

Freshly grated zest of 1 lemon (optional)

About 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper

2 pounds short pasta, like fusilli, farfalle or penne

Hot red pepper flakes (optional)

1/2 cup toasted pine nuts (optional)

Preparation

Up to 4 hours before serving, put tomatoes in a large bowl and sprinkle all over with salt. Set aside for 30 minutes, then drain off liquid.

Add tuna and its oil, olives or capers, if using. Add herbs and zest. Add olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and stir gently, flaking tuna into pieces. Cover and set aside at least 1 hour or up to 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Cook pasta in plenty of boiling salted water. Drain very well. Combine tomatoes and pasta well, then taste and add more oil, salt and pepper to taste. Add red pepper flakes if desired. Sprinkle with pine nuts, if using, and chopped herbs. Serve immediately.

GEMELLI WITH BLISTERED CHERRY TOMATOES, CHICKPEAS, AND SMOKED PAPRIKA

This recipe comes from the September 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 28, and begins, “For an extra kick of flavor, sprinkle this spicy-smoky dish with quartered Kalamata olives.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

2 Tbs. olive oil

16 oz. cherry, tear drop, or grape tomatoes (about 3 cups)

1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)

1/2tsp. smoked paprika

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

2 Tbs. chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 Tbs. chopped fresh marjoram

1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

8 oz. gemelli

1 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese, optional

Heat 1 Tbs. oil in large non-stick skillet over high heat. Add tomatoes, and cook 10 minutes, or until tomatoes blister in spots, stirring occasionally. Stir in remaining 1 Tbs. oil, garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Fold in parsley and marjoram, then chickpeas. Remove from heat.

Meanwhile, cook gemelli in large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup cooking liquid.

Add gemelli to tomato-chickpea mixture in skillet, and toss to coat. Mix in enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and serve sprinkled with feta (if using).

nutritional information Per Per 1 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 393; Protein: 13 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 64 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 248 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 8 g

BAKED PUMPKIN PASTA

This recipe is from Fiona Haynes, About.com's Low Fat Cooking expert. Fiona wrote, "Break out of the mac and cheese mold with this delicious baked pumpkin pasta dish. Perfect for fall, this pumpkin pasta makes a great weeknight meal on cold evenings.” She also adds, “If you make this with fat-free ricotta, you'll save a further 3 grams of fat and 2 grams of saturated fat, but you'll gain another 110mg of sodium.” Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Serves 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

12 ounces uncooked penne pasta

2 tsp olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise, then sliced

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried sage

1 15 ounce can pure pumpkin

1 cup part skim ricotta cheese

1/2 cup water reserved from pasta pot

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to directions on package, less 2 minutes, and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water when done.

Meanwhile heat oil in large skillet. Sauté onions and garlic for 5-6 minutes, until softened. Stir in zucchini and herbs, and sauté for 3-4 minutes.

Stir in canned pumpkin and ricotta cheese.

Empty drained pasta plus 1/2 cup of reserved cooking water into skillet and mix well.

Spoon pasta into a 11 x 7 baking dish. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Bake for 10-15 minutes.

Per Serving: Calories 349, Calories from Fat 71, Total Fat 7.7g (sat 3.4g), Cholesterol 18mg, Sodium 168mg, Carbohydrate 54.4g, Fiber 5.2g, Protein 15.9g

Friday, May 25, 2018

Friday Recipes

Finally, Friday, the end of the work week. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Fettuccine with Asparagus and Flourless Black Bean Brownies. (Have I got your attention now?) Enjoy!

CREAMY WEEKNIGHT MACARONI AND CHEESE

This comes from Alison Roman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Alison wrote, “Just as quick as the boxed variety, this creamy macaroni and cheese skirts the traditional butter and flour roux with assistance from cream cheese. While the cream cheese adds an important lusciousness, it doesn’t do the macaroni and cheese any favors when it comes to its flavor, so it’s important to use the sharpest, tangiest Cheddar you can get your hands on. For perfectly coated noodles, make sure to cook the pasta in the sauce for a minute or two.”

Yield: 4 servings; Time: 25 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound elbows, shells, cavatappi, farfalle, fusilli or other short, tube-shaped pasta

Kosher salt

2 cups whole milk

8 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1-inch pieces

12 ounces sharp or white Cheddar, grated

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Freshly ground pepper

Preparation

Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water until just barely al dente; drain.

Meanwhile, bring milk up to a simmer in a large pot. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Reduce heat to low, add cream cheese, and whisk until it’s completely blended and no lumps remain. Add Cheddar cheese and butter, whisking until everything is completely melted. Season with salt and a generous amount of pepper.

Add cooked pasta and stir to coat. Continue to cook over medium-low heat until the sauce has thickened and is coating each piece of pasta nicely, 2 to 3 minutes; sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. Season again with more salt and pepper before serving.

FETTUCCINE WITH ASPARAGUS

This comes from Pierre Franey in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Pierre wrote, “Finding a 30-minute dish that's elegant enough for a dinner party is no simple task, but this warm-weather pasta is one to fit the bill. It is gleefully easy to put together. Just toss slices of blanched asparagus with a tangle of cooked fettuccine slicked with butter. Shower with grated Parmesan and serve.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 25 minutes.

Not sure how to cook asparagus? Read ”How to Cook Asparagus”, David Tanis’s guide to cooking this wonderful vegetable. (David Tanis writes The New York Times’s City Kitchen column. Many of his recipes are posted in the Times’s cooking e-newsletter.)

To view Pierre Franey’s Fettuccine with Asparagus recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

6 fresh asparagus spears, about 1/2 pound

10 ounces fresh fettuccine or 3/4 pound dried fettuccine

2 tablespoons butter

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil or parsley

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste

Preparation

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.

Cut off tough ends of asparagus spears. Cut each on the bias into 1-inch lengths. There should be about 1 1/2 cups. Rinse well and drain.

Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook about 2 minutes. Remove asparagus with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Drop the fettuccine into salted boiling water. Let cook to desired degree of doneness (cooking time will range from about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes for fresh pasta to 9 minutes or more for dried). Reserve 2 tablespoons cooking water. Drain the pasta.

Heat the butter in the pot in which the pasta was cooked. Add the asparagus pieces and the fettuccine. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons of cooking water and basil. Toss to blend. Serve hot with Parmesan cheese on the side.

COCONUT RICE

This is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Coconut milk lends rice both fat and sweetness, making it a richer, more mellow side than plain rice. To make it, simply replace half of the cooking water with coconut milk. It becomes a meal if you serve it with a fried egg, finely sliced pickled chiles with a little of their pickling liquid and some crushed peanuts. And if you wanted to turn it into dessert, serving it with ripe fruit like cut mango on top, you could stick to the recipe below, but bump the sugar up to 2 tablespoons.”

Yield: 3 to 4 servings; Time: 35 minutes

To view this recipe online, click here.

LEARN: How to Make Rice

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain white rice, such as jasmine

3/4 cup coconut milk

1 scant tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

3/4 cup water

Preparation

Rinse the rice a few times, until the water that drains away runs almost completely clear.

Put in a medium, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat with coconut milk, water, sugar and salt. When the liquid comes up to a boil, give it a good stir, scraping the bottom of the pot. Cover the pot and turn the heat down to low.

Cook for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the rice rest for 10 minutes. Mix gently with a flexible rubber spatula. Taste, season with salt and serve.

SWEET POTATO & BLACK BEAN ENCHILADAS

This comes from the December 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 59. The recipes starts off, “Right from the start, the originality and flavor profile of this recipe made it a standout for VT taste testers. 'My wife and I eat this dish a lot in the fall and winter months. We make it when we're having guests (vegetarian and not) because we know everyone will enjoy it,' explains James McNulty. 'It can be made the night before and it travels well, so it's great for a potluck or a holiday party.'” Serves 8 (makes 16 enchiladas)

To view this online, click here.

Sauce

1 15-oz. can tomato sauce

1 3/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

1 tsp. ancho chile powder

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. chipotle chile powder

Filling

1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

1 small onion, diced (1 cup)

1 1/2 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (3 cups)

1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained

1 16-oz. jar prepared medium salsa

2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)

1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, drained and minced

1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 12-oz. round queso fresco, divided

Enchiladas

extra virgin olive oil, for brushing baking dish

16 6-inch corn tortillas, warmed

2 limes, cut into wedges

1 avocado, sliced
<br />1/2 cup sour cream, for garnish

Cilantro sprigs, for garnish, optional

To make Sauce:
Bring all ingredients to a simmer in saucepan over medium heat. Whisk to combine, then remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

To make Filling: Heat oil in separate saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, or until soft. Add sweet potatoes, tomatoes, salsa, garlic, chipotle chile, and 1/2 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 30 to 40 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are soft. Mash mixture with potato masher until combined. Add black beans, and cook 5 minutes. Stir in half of queso fresco, and remove from heat.

To assemble Enchiladas: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Brush 13- x 9-inch baking dish with oil. Spread 1/2 cup Sauce in bottom of dish. Fill tortillas with Filling. Roll, and pack close together seam-side down in baking dish. Top with remaining Sauce and queso fresco. Bake 15 minutes.

Adjust oven to broil. Broil Enchiladas 5 minutes, or until cheese is browned and bubbly. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with lime wedges, avocado slices, sour cream, and cilantro sprigs, if using.

nutritional information Per Serving (2 enchiladas): Calories: 435; Protein: 13 g; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 65 g; Cholesterol: 20 mg; Sodium: 963 mg; Fiber: 11 g; Sugar: 11 g; Gluten-Free

FLOURLESS BLACK BEAN BROWNIES

This recipe comes from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD, who, besides running her own site (Lively Table), writes on VeryWellFit.

For this recipe, Kaleigh wrote, “If you have a sweet tooth, you may be used to eating dessert most days. Sometimes fruit or a fruit salad will do for a light dessert. Other days, you just need a brownie.

“Baked goods like brownies are often high in sodium, even though they don’t taste salty. Between leaveners like baking soda and baking powder, salted butter, and added salt, brownies and other baked goods can be sneaky sources of sodium! If you bake your own brownies at home, you can control the amount of sodium-containing ingredients for a better alternative.

“The secret to these flourless brownies is a can of low sodium black beans.Before you write them off, give them a try! Blending up black beans in a high-powered blender or food processor makes them nice and smooth, and when baked into brownies, gives them a nice chewy texture without any flour. They also add in extra fiber, iron, and folate.”

Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 16 (2-inch square each).

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can low sodium black beans, drained and rinsed

2 large eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup chopped dark chocolate, melted and slightly cooled

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks

Preparation

Heat oven to 350F. Line an 8x8" baking dish with parchment or spray with oil.

Blend all ingredients except for unmelted chocolate in a high powered blender until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.

Stir in chocolate and pour into prepared pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

Ingredient Variations and Substitutions

Use all chocolate chips if you don’t have a dark chocolate bar.

Cocoa powder, melted dark chocolate, and chocolate chips gives these brownies lots of rich chocolate flavor with a little boost from coffee granules.

If you don’t have the coffee granules don’t worry—you can leave them out and you’ll still have delicious chocolatey brownies!

Cooking and Serving Tips

Avoid over-cooking—the designated time should be just about enough, but you can check before removing from the oven. Brownies shouldn't be overly dry.

Store leftovers in the refrigerator and heat for 20 to 30 seconds in the microwave before serving.

LEMON SPIKED GARLIC GREENS

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 Servings

Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

Book Title: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/lemon-spiked-garlic-greens.

Ingredients

Garlic-flavored vegetable cooking spray

1/3 cup finely chopped onion

4 cloves garlic, minced

1-1/2 pounds greens, washed, stems removed, coarsely chopped

1/3 cup water

1-2 tablespoons lemon juice

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Spray large saucepan with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Saute onion and garlic until tender, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add greens and water to saucepan; heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until greens are wilted and tender, about 5 to 8 minutes, adding more water if necessary. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Notes:

Kale, collard, turnip, or beet greens are excellent choices for this quick-and-easy healthy vegetable.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 58; Fat: 1.7 g; Sodium: 43 mg; Cholesterol: 53.3 mg; Protein: 5.9 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Thursday Recipes

Enjoy!

YUKON GOLD AND BABY SPINACH MARSALA

This is from the April 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Why Yukon gold potatoes? Because their creamy but firm texture make them a perfect fit for stews, plus the tender skin doesn't need to be peeled. Serve with steamed rice, and a sweet-and-sour chutney, such as Fresh Mango Chutney on vegetariantimes.com.” (Note: The recipe for Fresh Mango Chutney follows.) Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

2 Tbs. canola oil

1 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (4 cups)

1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced (1 1/2 cups)

3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)

2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger

1 jalapeño chile,finely chopped (1 Tbs.)

1 tsp. ground coriander

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. turmeric

1 13.5-oz. can light coconut milk

1 6-oz. bag baby spinach

1 1/2 tsp. Garam Masala (recipe follows)

1 Tbs. lime juice

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Steam potatoes in steamer basket set over simmering water 10 minutes, or until just tender.

Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 8 minutes, or until soft and golden. Add garlic, ginger, and jalapeño, and sauté 1 minute, or until fragrant. Stir in coriander, cumin, and turmeric. Add steamed potatoes, and sauté 1 to 2 minutes, to coat with spices. Add coconut milk and 1/4 cup water, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 5 minutes, or until sauce begins to thicken.

Stir in spinach, garam masala, and 1/4 cup water, and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until spinach is wilted. Stir in lime juice and cilantro.

nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 347; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 16 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 45 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 382 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

GARAM MASALA

This comes from the September 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 70. It begins, “Once you’ve gotten the hang of roasting whole spices, it’s a snap to make your own version of this beloved Indian blend.” Makes 1/4 cup.

To view this online, click here.

1/4 cup whole cumin seeds

1 1/2-inch piece cinnamon stick

2 Tbs. whole coriander seeds

1 Tbs. green cardamom pods

1/2 tsp. black peppercorns

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp. whole cloves

Heat skillet over medium-low heat. Add all ingredients, and cook 12 minutes, or until light brown, shaking pan frequently. Cool.

Crush cardamom pods to release seeds inside. Discard pods, and grind cardamom seeds and cooled, roasted spices to fine powder with mortar and pestle or in spice grinder.

nutritional information Per 1/2 tsp.: Calories: 7; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: less than 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 1 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 2 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: less than 1 g; Vegan

FRESH MANGO CHUTNEY

This is from the May 2001 issue of Vegetarian Times. Makes 2 cups in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

1⁄4 cup raisins or currants

1⁄2 cup pine nuts

1 medium ripe mango

1 medium jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

2 Tbs. chopped cilantro

2 Tbs. chopped fresh mint

1 Tbs. fresh lime juice

1 Tbs. fresh orange juice

1 Tbs. pure maple syrup

1 tsp. minced fresh ginger

1/8 tsp. cayenne

In small bowl, soak raisins or currants in enough warm water to cover, until soft, about 10 minutes. Drain.

In small skillet over medium-high heat, toast pine nuts, shaking pan often until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes.

Peel mango and cut small slice off one end. Place mango, cut side down, on cutting board and work around pit, cutting each side of mango into large slices. Use paring knife to cut flesh away from pit. Roughly chop fruit into small pieces.

In medium bowl, combine mango with pine nuts, remaining ingredients and salt to taste; mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Chutney will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

nutritional information Per 2-tablespoon serving: Calories: 24; Protein: 0 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 5 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 0 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Vegan

FETTUCCINE WITH ASPARAGUS

This comes from Pierre Franey in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Pierre wrote, “Finding a 30-minute dish that's elegant enough for a dinner party is no simple task, but this warm-weather pasta is one to fit the bill. It is gleefully easy to put together. Just toss slices of blanched asparagus with a tangle of cooked fettuccine slicked with butter. Shower with grated Parmesan and serve.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 25 minutes.

Not sure how to cook asparagus? Read ”How to Cook Asparagus”, David Tanis’s guide to cooking this wonderful vegetable. (David Tanis writes The New York Times’s City Kitchen column. Many of his recipes are posted in the Times’s cooking e-newsletter.)

To view Pierre Franey’s Fettuccine with Asparagus recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

6 fresh asparagus spears, about 1/2 pound

10 ounces fresh fettuccine or 3/4 pound dried fettuccine

2 tablespoons butter

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil or parsley

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste

Preparation

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.

Cut off tough ends of asparagus spears. Cut each on the bias into 1-inch lengths. There should be about 1 1/2 cups. Rinse well and drain.

Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook about 2 minutes. Remove asparagus with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Drop the fettuccine into salted boiling water. Let cook to desired degree of doneness (cooking time will range from about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes for fresh pasta to 9 minutes or more for dried). Reserve 2 tablespoons cooking water. Drain the pasta.

Heat the butter in the pot in which the pasta was cooked. Add the asparagus pieces and the fettuccine. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons of cooking water and basil. Toss to blend. Serve hot with Parmesan cheese on the side.

WHOLE GRAIN BLUEBERRY MUFFINS WITH ORANGE STREUSEL

This is from Julia Moskin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “This master recipe for juicy, whole grain berry muffins is both extremely flexible and extremely rewarding. It is sweet but not sugary, packed with whole grains but not dense, and reasonably rich in fiber, protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. The fresh berries and nuts are interchangeable with dried fruit, coconut or sunflower seeds. And the muffins freeze beautifully; they can go from a 300-degree oven to the breakfast table (or the car) in about 20 minutes.” Yield: 18 to 24 muffins; Time: about 2 hours.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

For the Muffins:

2 cups all-purpose flour, more as needed

2/3 cup whole wheat flour or wheat germ, preferably toasted

2/3 cup fine-ground yellow cornmeal

2/3 cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking)

2/3 cup packed light brown sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons nutmeg or allspice (or use additional cinnamon)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 3/4 cups buttermilk, more as needed

1 1/3 cup coconut oil, or neutral oil like safflower or canola

2/3 cup maple syrup

4 eggs

2 cups grated carrots or tart apple

1 1/2 cups blueberries

1 cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans (optional)

For the Streusel (Optional):

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup coconut oil or cold unsalted butter

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tablespoons finely grated orange zest

Preparation

Make the muffins: In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flours, cornmeal, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, mix the wet ingredients: buttermilk, oil, maple syrup and eggs.

Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and gently mix just until blended. Don’t worry about a few lumps or streaks of flour. Stir in the carrots, blueberries and nuts if using. (If you'd like, reserve a handful of blueberries for sprinkling on top of the muffins just before baking.)

Set batter aside at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes to allow flours to absorb the liquid. Check batter after 15 minutes by giving it a light stir. It should be thick, not runny (this will help the muffins rise). Thin with a little more buttermilk or thicken by adding 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Set aside for 5 minutes more, check and adjust texture again, and repeat until batter is thick and fluffy.

Heat oven to 425 degrees and place rack in top third of oven. Butter or spray a muffin tin (regular or jumbo), or line the cups with paper liners. Make sure to also butter or spray the top surface of the tin to help the muffins release.

Make the streusel if using: In a small bowl, mix and pinch all the ingredients together until blended and crumbly. (If using butter, cut into small pieces first.)

Using an ice-cream scoop or small ladle, divide thick batter among muffin cups, filling almost to the top. Mound the batter slightly in the center of each cup; this will help make a domed muffin top. If you reserved blueberries for topping, press them lightly into the muffins. If you are topping with streusel, use your fingers to divide streusel over batter and press lightly onto the surface.

Place muffin tin in oven and reduce heat to 400 degrees. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until a tester inserted into center of muffin comes out moist but clean. Rotate the pan halfway through baking. Cool muffins in pan on rack, then remove from tin.

Repeat with remaining batter. If there is not enough batter remaining to fill all the cups, fill every other cup with batter. Pour water into the empty cups to protect the pan in the oven.

Tip:

To freeze extra muffins, wrap them individually in aluminum foil. Reheat, still wrapped, in a 300-degree oven for about 20 minutes. Or unwrap and reheat in a microwave.

HEAVENLY ICE CREAM CAKE WITH RASPBERRY COULIS

This comes from the January 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Prepared angel food cakes from the supermarket bakery section are good items to have on hand for desserts. Before preparing this elaborate-looking recipe, freeze the cake completely. It slices easily with a serrated knife.” Serves 12.

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1 16-oz. angel food cake, frozen

1 10-oz. jar raspberry preserves

1/4 cup raspberry liqueur or orange juice

2 pints low-fat vanilla ice cream, softened, divided

1 10-oz. pkg. frozen raspberries in syrup, thawed

Cut cake into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cover bottom of 9-inch springform pan with slices, cutting one or two slices as necessary to fill in gaps.

Combine raspberry preserves and liqueur in small saucepan over medium heat, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 5 minutes. Brush half of raspberry mixture over cake in pan. Spread 1 pint ice cream over cake, and smooth top. Arrange more cake slices over ice cream to cover completely. Spread remaining raspberry mixture over cake. Smooth remaining pint of ice cream over cake. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze overnight. (Can be prepared up to 3 days in advance up to this point.)

Purée thawed raspberries and syrup in food processor until smooth. Strain into bowl.

Run knife around sides of springform pan. Release sides from cake. Slice into wedges, and top with raspberry coulis.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 273; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 60 g; Cholesterol: 3 mg; Sodium: 319 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 31 g