Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Showing posts with label Maryann’s Fruit Salad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maryann’s Fruit Salad. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Double-Post Tuesday

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Al Roker's Vegetable Lasagna and Vegetarian Red Curry Tofu with Green Peas. Enjoy!

MARYANN'S FRUIT SALAD

I hadn’t seen Maryann for over 18 years when she came for a week’s visit. One night, she fixed this to go with dinner.

This recipe, as well as the next one (Fruit Salad) are from my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

2 apples, peeled & diced

2/3 C raisins

3 oranges, peeled & sectioned

1 C grapes

Mix fruits together & chill. May be drizzled with honey just before serving.

FRUIT SALAD

1 cantaloupe, diced

1/2 C grapes (note)

2 bananas, cut up

1 C sour cream

1 can pineapple chunks

Mix & chill.

NOTE: Red grapes look especially nice in this, though any type can be used.

GOURMET GREEN BEANS

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

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

1 (8-ounce) package sliced baby portabella mushrooms

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons garlic butter

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

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

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

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

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

BLACK BEAN VEGGIE BURGERS

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

From Diabetic Connect

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

Ingredients

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

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

1/2 onion, cut into wedges

3 cloves garlic, peeled

1 egg

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Directions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

VEGETARIAN RED CURRY TOFU WITH GREEN PEAS

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, The Spruce’s vegetarian expert. Jolinda wrote, “This Thai inspired recipe for a basic vegetarian (and vegan!) red curry sauce with vegetables will go best served over steamed white rice, though you could always eat it plain as a curry soup dish. I'm personally not a big fan of green curry, though I suppose you could try a green curry paste instead of red in this recipe, if you'd like. I'd probably omit the fresh cilantro, in that case.

“Though the recipe calls for tofu, carrots, peas and baby corn (my personal favorite!) you can use just about any vegetable you have on hand, and adjust the cooking time accordingly if needed. A note about store-bought red curry pastes: be sure to read the ingredients to make sure it is vegetarian (a few brands will contain some sort of fish). I usually use Thai Kitchen brand red curry paste, which is easy to find, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.

“This Thai red curry recipe is vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.”

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3 tbsp fresh basil, coarsely chopped

1 tbsp vegetarian red curry paste (make sure it's vegetarian)

1 14 ounce can coconut milk

1 carrot, sliced thin

1/2 cup green peas

1/2 cup baby corn, chopped

1 block firm or extra firm tofu, well pressed

2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

1 tsp brown sugar

juice from one lime

Directions

Like most vegan tofu recipes, this one will taste best if you press the tofu first. Not sure how to do that? See this easy step-by-step guide: How to press tofu.

After your tofu is well-pressed, chop it into about 3/4-inch (bite-sized) chunks.

In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the basil, vegetarian red curry paste and coconut over medium high heat, stirring well to mix curry paste.

Add the remaining ingredients, including the sliced carrot, green peas, baby corn and pressed and chopped tofu.

Bring the mixture to a slow simmer.

Cover the pot and allow your curry to cook for about 10-12 minutes, or until the veggies are tender, but not overcooked.

Serve your vegan Thai red curry over rice if desired. Or, pair it with a healthier whole grain, such as quinoa or kaniwa for the extra protein boost.

If you like this red Thai curry, here's more vegetarian curries you might enjoy.

AL ROKER’S VEGETABLE LASAGNA

This is from The Today Show’s Al Roker. The recipe begins, “This vegetarian lasagna, which is bubbling with gooey cheese, is a delicious way to sneak lots of vegetable servings into dinner.”

Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 1 lasagna

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 zucchini, medium dice

1 small yellow squash, medium dice

1 medium yellow onion, medium dice

1 medium red bell pepper, medium dice

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups marinara sauce

3 tablespoons chopped basil

1 pinch red pepper flakes

Lasagna

32 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese

2 eggs

1 pound dry lasagna noodles, cooked according to packaging

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella

Preparation

For the sauce:

Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add zucchini, squash, onion and red peppers. Season with salt and sauté vegetables until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Pour in marinara sauce and chopped basil. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook sauce for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.

For the lasagna:

While sauce is cooking, mix together ricotta cheese and egg until combined. Season with salt and pepper.

In a 9x13-inch baking dish, assemble the lasagna: Spoon vegetable sauce on bottom, cover with noodles in a single layer, spread a layer of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle some Parmesan. Repeat until the lasagna is fully built, finishing by covering the top with the shredded mozzarella.

Cover lasagna with aluminum foil. Bake in a 400°F oven, covered, for 40 minutes, then remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese turns golden brown.

Once cooked, let lasagna sit for 8-10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Saturday Recipes

It's a rare Saturday post. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the rest of the weekend, including Maryann’s Fruit Salad and Vegetarian Red Curry Tofu with Green Peas. Enjoy!

MARYANN'S FRUIT SALAD

I hadn’t seen Maryann for over 18 years when she came for a week’s visit. One night, she fixed this to go with dinner.

This recipe, as well as the next one (Fruit Salad) are from my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

2 apples, peeled & diced

2/3 C raisins

3 oranges, peeled & sectioned

1 C grapes

Mix fruits together & chill. May be drizzled with honey just before serving.

FRUIT SALAD

1 cantaloupe, diced

1/2 C grapes (note)

2 bananas, cut up

1 C sour cream

1 can pineapple chunks

Mix & chill.

NOTE: Red grapes look especially nice in this, though any type can be used.

GOURMET GREEN BEANS

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

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

1 (8-ounce) package sliced baby portabella mushrooms

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons garlic butter

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

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

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

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

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

BLACK BEAN VEGGIE BURGERS

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

From Diabetic Connect

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

Ingredients

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

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

1/2 onion, cut into wedges

3 cloves garlic, peeled

1 egg

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Directions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

VEGETARIAN RED CURRY TOFU WITH GREEN PEAS

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, The Spruce’s vegetarian expert. Jolinda wrote, “This Thai inspired recipe for a basic vegetarian (and vegan!) red curry sauce with vegetables will go best served over steamed white rice, though you could always eat it plain as a curry soup dish. I'm personally not a big fan of green curry, though I suppose you could try a green curry paste instead of red in this recipe, if you'd like. I'd probably omit the fresh cilantro, in that case.

“Though the recipe calls for tofu, carrots, peas and baby corn (my personal favorite!) you can use just about any vegetable you have on hand, and adjust the cooking time accordingly if needed. A note about store-bought red curry pastes: be sure to read the ingredients to make sure it is vegetarian (a few brands will contain some sort of fish). I usually use Thai Kitchen brand red curry paste, which is easy to find, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.

“This Thai red curry recipe is vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.”

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3 tbsp fresh basil, coarsely chopped

1 tbsp vegetarian red curry paste (make sure it's vegetarian)

1 14 ounce can coconut milk

1 carrot, sliced thin

1/2 cup green peas

1/2 cup baby corn, chopped

1 block firm or extra firm tofu, well pressed

2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

1 tsp brown sugar

juice from one lime

Directions

Like most vegan tofu recipes, this one will taste best if you press the tofu first. Not sure how to do that? See this easy step-by-step guide: How to press tofu.

After your tofu is well-pressed, chop it into about 3/4-inch (bite-sized) chunks.

In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the basil, vegetarian red curry paste and coconut over medium high heat, stirring well to mix curry paste.

Add the remaining ingredients, including the sliced carrot, green peas, baby corn and pressed and chopped tofu.

Bring the mixture to a slow simmer.

Cover the pot and allow your curry to cook for about 10-12 minutes, or until the veggies are tender, but not overcooked.

Serve your vegan Thai red curry over rice if desired. Or, pair it with a healthier whole grain, such as quinoa or kaniwa for the extra protein boost.

If you like this red Thai curry, here's more vegetarian curries you might enjoy.

AL ROKER’S VEGETABLE LASAGNA

This is from The Today Show’s Al Roker. The recipe begins, “This vegetarian lasagna, which is bubbling with gooey cheese, is a delicious way to sneak lots of vegetable servings into dinner.”

Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 1 lasagna

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 zucchini, medium dice

1 small yellow squash, medium dice

1 medium yellow onion, medium dice

1 medium red bell pepper, medium dice

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups marinara sauce

3 tablespoons chopped basil

1 pinch red pepper flakes

Lasagna

32 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese

2 eggs

1 pound dry lasagna noodles, cooked according to packaging

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella

Preparation

For the sauce:

Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add zucchini, squash, onion and red peppers. Season with salt and sauté vegetables until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Pour in marinara sauce and chopped basil. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cook sauce for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.

For the lasagna:

While sauce is cooking, mix together ricotta cheese and egg until combined. Season with salt and pepper.

In a 9x13-inch baking dish, assemble the lasagna: Spoon vegetable sauce on bottom, cover with noodles in a single layer, spread a layer of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle some Parmesan. Repeat until the lasagna is fully built, finishing by covering the top with the shredded mozzarella.

Cover lasagna with aluminum foil. Bake in a 400°F oven, covered, for 40 minutes, then remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese turns golden brown.

Once cooked, let lasagna sit for 8-10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Wednesday Recipes

Here are six vegetarian recipes to help you through the day, including Wild Blueberry Cheesecake Smoothie and Roasted-Vegetable Lasagna. Enjoy!

MEYER LEMON TART

This is from Amanda Hesser at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Amanda wrote, “The Meyer lemon has always been something of a California secret, and every year when its brief growing season begins there, eager cooks sigh with relief. The Meyer is not as assertive as the common supermarket varieties, but it offers so much more in nuanced flavor that it is unforgettable. And these days, the Meyer's secret is finally out. A Meyer lemon contains about four times the sugar of a regular lemon, but it can be used almost interchangeably with the traditional varieties, adding a rounder edge to both sweet and savory dishes. And you can use the whole thing – from pulp to peel. This gorgeous tart is the ideal way to showcase its seductive fragrance and flavor. (Regular lemons will work well in this recipe too, but you'll likely want to add a bit more sugar.)”

Yield: One 10-inch tart; Time: 1 hour.

This was featured in “All Perfume, No Pucker” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

For the Crust

8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing pan

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

1/2 tablespoon milk

12 ounces (about 2 1/3 cups) all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Lemon Curd

1 1/4 pound (5 or 6) Meyer lemons

1 cup sugar

5 1/2 ounces (1 stick plus 3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing pan

7 large egg yolks

5 large eggs

1/8 teaspoon salt

Preparation

Make the crust: in the bowl of a mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Add egg yolk and the milk, and beat to combine. In a medium bowl, combine the flour with salt. Slowly add the flour to the butter mixture, stirring until completely blended. Gather dough into two balls. Freeze one for future use, chill the other for at least 1 hour.

Heavily butter a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough into the pan and trim the edges. Prick the bottom with a fork, and place the shell in the freezer for 30 minutes.

While shell is in freezer, prepare lemon curd. Grate zest of lemons. Squeeze lemons to extract 1 cup of juice. In a medium nonreactive saucepan, combine juice and zest. Add remaining sugar, butter and salt. Place over medium heat, stirring once or twice, until sugar is dissolved and the butter is melted.

In bowl of a mixer, combine eggs and egg yolks until blended. Slowly add hot lemon mixture to eggs until blended. Return mixture to saucepan, and place over low heat. Whisk constantly until mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency; do not allow it to boil. Remove from heat, and continue to stir to stop the cooking. Strain lemon curd into a bowl. Adjust sugar to taste; the curd should be tart, but may need additional sugar if the lemons were unripe. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it right against the surface of the curd. Allow to cool.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Remove tart shell from freezer, and bake until lightly golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Spoon lemon curd into tart shell, and smooth the top. Bake until filling has puffed around the edges, about 30 minutes. Cover edges with foil, if necessary, to prevent over-browning. Cool to room temperature before serving.

WILD BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE SMOOTHIE

This is from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD, at VeryWell. Kaleigh wrote, “Smoothies are a great way to pack a lot of nutrition into a single meal, especially if you're on the go. They can also be loaded with sugary syrups and fat if you aren't careful when grabbing a smoothie away from home. For a nutritious smoothie you can feel good about, skip the shop and make this tasty version at home.

“Frozen wild blueberries are extra sweet and pack a lot of flavor and antioxidants into this wild blueberry cheesecake smoothie. They also make this smoothie extra cold and frosty without having to use ice. Research suggests that daily blueberry consumption could lower blood pressure due to the production of nitric oxide.

“The Greek yogurt and avocado duo lends a luxurious creamy texture and also contributes healthy fats, fiber, and plenty of protein to keep you fueled and full. Make this smoothie for a sweet breakfast treat, or split it in half for a healthy snack or dessert.”

Total Time: 5 minutes; Prep: 5 minutes; Cook: 0; Yield: 1 serving.

This can be viewed online here. It can also be found at Kaliegh’s website, Lively Table.

Ingredients

1 cup wild blueberries, frozen

1/2 small avocado

3/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1/2 cup skim milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon honey

1/2 lemon, juiced

Preparation

Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend until smooth. You may need to add more milk to your desired consistency.

Pour into a glass and enjoy.

Ingredient Variations and Substitutions

You can typically find wild blueberries in the freezer section of your grocery store. If you can’t find them, you can substitute regular frozen blueberries, but they will not be as sweet.

This is a great smoothie recipe to disguise veggies, so add a handful of spinach if you want to get a little more vegetable power.

To make this smoothie dairy-free, use dairy-free yogurt, such as Silk, and unsweetened dairy-free milk of your choice.

Cooking and Serving Tips

This recipe makes a meal-sized smoothie. For a post-workout snack or a healthy dessert, divide into two servings.

ROASTED-VEGETABLE LASAGNA

This recipe begins, “Who needs meat? This gourmet veggie lasagna from one of our favorite chefs will be the centerpiece of your dinner table.”

This is from Diabetic Connect.

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/4198-roasted-vegetable-lasagna.

Ingredients

Vegetables:

4 red bell peppers

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

6 yellow squash, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 1/2 pounds)

1 large onion, cut into 16 wedges

4 garlic cloves, minced

Cheese mixture:

2 cups 2% low-fat cottage cheese

1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) grated sharp provolone cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

White sauce:

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking spray

9 cooked lasagna noodles

2 cups spinach leaves, divided

1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Fresh basil sprigs (optional)

Directions

Preheat broiler.

To prepare vegetables, cut bell peppers in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membranes. Place pepper halves, skin sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; flatten with hand. Broil 15 minutes or until blackened. Place in a zip-top plastic bag; seal. Let stand 15 minutes. Peel; set aside.

Preheat oven to 450°.

Combine oil, salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, squash, and onion on a baking sheet; toss well. Bake at 450° for 20 minutes. Remove from oven; combine squash mixture and garlic in a bowl.

Decrease oven temperature to 375°.

To prepare cheese mixture, combine cottage cheese and next 3 ingredients (cottage cheese through oregano) in a bowl.

To prepare white sauce, place flour in a medium saucepan. Gradually add milk; stir with a whisk. Place over medium heat. Cook until thick; stir constantly. Remove from heat; stir in 2 tablespoons chopped basil and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.

Spread 1/4 cup white sauce in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 3 noodles over sauce; top with 1 1/4 cups cheese mixture, 1 cup spinach, 4 bell pepper halves, 2 cups vegetable mixture, and 1/4 cup white sauce. Repeat layers, ending with noodles. Spread remaining white sauce over noodles. Cover and bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake an additional 20 minutes. Garnish with basil sprigs, if desired.

Note: Use a sharp, potent cheese in this dish for the most flavor. Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, or sharp cheddar will all work as well in the filling. Stick to mozzarella for the top, however, as it melts and browns the best. For extra browning, place the lasagna under the broiler for a minute or two at the end of cooking.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 9; Amount per serving Calories: 275; Calories from fat 30%; Fat 9.1 g; Saturated fat: 5.2 g; Monounsaturated fat: 2.6 g; Polyunsaturated fat 0.6 g; Protein: 19.3 g; Carbohydrate: 29.3 g; Fiber: 2.9 g;Cholesterol: 24 mg; Iron: 2.3 mg; Sodium: 564 mg; Calcium: 308 mg

MARYANN'S FRUIT SALAD

I hadn’t seen Maryann for over 18 years when she came for a week’s visit. One night, she fixed this to go with dinner.

This recipe, as well as the next one (Fruit Salad) are from my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.

2 apples, peeled & diced

2/3 C raisins

3 oranges, peeled & sectioned

1 C grapes

Mix fruits together & chill. May be drizzled with honey just before serving.

FRUIT SALAD

1 cantaloupe, diced

1/2 C grapes (note)

2 bananas, cut up

1 C sour cream

1 can pineapple chunks

Mix & chill.

NOTE: Red grapes look especially nice in this, though any type can be used.

SWEET POTATO, CARAMELIZED ONION, AND APPLE CIDER SOUP

This is from Soup for Every Body by Joanna Pruess with Lauren Braun via Publix's December, 2005 GreenWise.

The recipe originally called for 2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock. I simply cut out the chicken stock and left it at 2 cups vegetable stock.

1 1/2 hours prep time (includes baking time); Serves 4-6

1 1/2 lb sweet potatoes (or yams)

2 Tbsp unsalted butter or olive oil

2 large onions, peeled and thinly sliced

2 C fresh apple cider

1 Tbsp unsulphured molasses plus 3 Tbsp water

2 C vegetable stock

salt and white pepper

2 Tbsp finely chopped walnuts, lightly toasted

1 Tbsp finely shredded fresh sage leaves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake sweet potatoes until tender, about 1 hour. Set aside to cool, then peel. While potatoes are baking, heat butter or oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in onions and adjust head to medium. Sauté until golden brown and very tender, about 20-25 minutes, stirring often.

Transfer onions, sweet potatoes, and apple cider to food processor. Puree until smooth.

Return puree to pan and stir in molasses and water. Add stock to the puree and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Ladle soup into heated bowls. Sprinkle a small amount of chopped walnuts and shredded sage leaves in center of each bowl and serve.

Per serving: 326 calories; 4 g protein; 59 g carbohydrates; 7 g fiber; 9 g total fat (4 g sta., 2 g mono, 2 g poly); 346 mg sodium; Vitamin A, B6, Manganese, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), C, E, Pantothenic acid, Copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium