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
Showing posts with label Meyer Lemon Tart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meyer Lemon Tart. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Just Desserts
Have you ever heard someone say, "I want something snacky!"? Heck, maybe you've even said it - or, at least, thought it. I know I've thought (and said) it a few times over the years.
Well, here are six dessert recipes for those times you want something snacky, including Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes and a Meyer Lemon Tart. Enjoy!
RED VELVET MINI CUPCAKES
This comes from The Food Network and begins, “Oil takes the place of butter in these cupcakes, making them lower in fat, but also making the crumb moist. Also, all of the flour is whole wheat! The frosting is simply sweetened reduced-fat cream cheese, but it's plenty tasty.”
Total: 1 hr; Active: 20 min; Yield: 48 mini cupcakes (2 cupcakes per serving); Level: Easy
To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/red-velvet-mini-cupcakes-recipe.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup lowfat (1-percent) buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
Nonstick cooking spray, for coating ice cream scoop
8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 48 mini muffin cups (2 large tins or 4 small) with paper liners.
Whisk together the flour, cocoa and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl. Beat together the oil and granulated sugar on medium-high speed with a hand mixer in a large bowl until well combined. Add the egg and beat until well blended. Beat in the food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla.
On low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour, beating well after each addition. Whisk together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl, and then beat into the batter until fully incorporated.
Using a small ice cream scoop sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, evenly divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack.
Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Sift the confectioners' sugar over the mixture and beat until smooth. Beat in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Spread or pipe the frosting over the cooled cupcakes.
CHOCOLATE FILLED CAKE ROLL
Servings: 12 one-inch slices
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/23.shtml.
Ingredients
Cake:
5 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
3 packets of Sweet'n Low
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
Filling:
2 cups skim milk
1 package sugar-free chocolate instant pudding mix
Topping:
2 teaspoons sugar-free cocoa mix
Directions
Preheat oven to 400F.
Grease and line the bottom of a 10x15" jelly roll pan with waxed paper.
Beat eggs in a large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy.
Sprinkle sugar, Sweet'n Low and vanilla over eggs; continue beating for 2 minutes.
Sift flour, cornstarch, and baking powder together.
Sprinkle half the mixture over batter; fold in with spatula.
Repeat with remaining flour mixture.
Spread batter evenly in pan.
Bake on center rack in oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until cake is golden and springs back when lightly touched.
Arrange a towel on work surface and cover with wax or parchment paper.
Loosen edges of cake; unmold on paper.
Roll cake jelly roll style, using towel as a guide.
Leave cake rolled until it cools into jelly roll shape.
To make filling, blend milk with pudding mix according to package directions. Refrigerate pudding until it thickens.
Unroll cake, spread evenly with pudding, and reroll.
Lightly sprinkle sugar-free cocoa over the top to decorate.
Cut into 1" slices and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 122; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 197 mg; Cholesterol: 92 mg; Carbohydrates: 21 g; Exchanges: 1 Fruit; 1/2 Skim Milk; 1/2 Fat; 1 Starch
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.
OATMEAL COOKIES
This is from Vegetarian Times and begins, “Straightforward and tasty, these oatmeal cookies hit the sweet spot.” Makes 24 cookies.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup pastry flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 stick (1/2 cup) margarine, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs or equivalent Egg Replacer
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbs. cold water
3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease one or more baking sheets.
In medium bowl, mix both flours, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and ginger. Set aside.
In large bowl with an electric mixer, beat margarine and granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs or Egg Replacer, vanilla and water until blended. Add dry ingredients and beat just until blended. Stir in oats and raisins.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet(s), spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store cookies in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 77; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Sodium: 65 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: g
CREAMY RICE PUDDING
Maybe ten years ago, this recipe was in several issues of Vegetarian Times in ads for Mahatma Rice. I'd lost track of the recipe, which I'd made several times for a certain someone who loved homemade rice pudding. I had to admit, it was definitely worth the time it took to fix it.
1 1/2 quarts 2% milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Mahatma rice (see note)
1/2 cup raisins
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Note: The recipe called for Mahatma, Water Maid, Carolina, or River rice.
Combine milk, sugar and rice in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to simmer and cook uncovered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. (The milk should just barely simmer, with bubble breaking only at the outside edge of the surface. After an hour, the rice should be soft.)
Add raisins, increase heat to medium heat, and cook, stirring frequently, until rice has absorbed most of the rest of the milkl, but not all, and the pudding is creamy (about 30 minutes longer).
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. When cool, pudding will thicken, but will still be very creamy. Serve warm or well chilled. Serves 8.
ROSEMARY, OLIVE OIL AND ORANGE CAKE
This comes from Yotam Ottolenghi in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Yotam wrote, “This is a very light cake, similar to a lemon drizzle but with a ton more flavor. The rosemary and orange add delicious floral notes. A fluted Bundt pan looks especially nice. Prepare the crystallized rosemary sprigs at least 6 to 8 hours (or the day before) before serving the cake, which will keep in a sealed container at room temperature for up to three days.”
Yield: 10 servings.
This was featured in “The Bright Magic of Citrus in the Baking Pan” and can be viewed online at here.
Ingredients
For the Crystallized Rosemary:
10 small rosemary sprigs, no more than 1 inch each in size (see note)
1 egg white, lightly whisked
2 teaspoons granulated or superfine sugar (caster sugar)
For the Cake:
About 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, for greasing the pan
2 cups all-purpose flour (plain flour), more to flour the pan
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon superfine sugar (caster sugar)
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (from about 1 1/2 oranges)
1 1/2 tablespoons packed finely chopped rosemary leaves
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Orange Icing:
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
2 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 3/4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar, or 1 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar
Preparation
At least 6 hours before you plan to ice the cake, prepare the crystallized rosemary: Brush rosemary on all sides with a little of the egg white and then dip it in the sugar, so the needles are lightly coated on all sides. Set aside on a wire rack to dry. Repeat with remaining rosemary.
Make the cake: Heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Generously grease a 9-inch/23-centimeter Bundt pan with half the butter and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Butter again, generously, and then flour it, tapping away the excess.
Put olive oil, superfine sugar, orange zest and chopped rosemary leaves in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on medium speed until combined, then add eggs, one at a time. Whisk for another minute, until thick, then add sour cream and mix until combined on low speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the whisk.
Sift flour, baking powder and salt together into a small bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the olive oil mixture and mix until combined. Increase speed to high and whisk for 1 minute.
Scrape batter into the Bundt pan and smooth the top with a small spatula. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cake is cooked and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. (You may want to trim the cake at this stage, if it rises unevenly, to allow it to sit flat on the plate.)
Prepare the icing: In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, lemon juice and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. When the cake has cooled, drizzle icing on top, allowing it to drip down the sides of the cake, then top with the crystallized rosemary and serve.
Well, here are six dessert recipes for those times you want something snacky, including Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes and a Meyer Lemon Tart. Enjoy!
RED VELVET MINI CUPCAKES
This comes from The Food Network and begins, “Oil takes the place of butter in these cupcakes, making them lower in fat, but also making the crumb moist. Also, all of the flour is whole wheat! The frosting is simply sweetened reduced-fat cream cheese, but it's plenty tasty.”
Total: 1 hr; Active: 20 min; Yield: 48 mini cupcakes (2 cupcakes per serving); Level: Easy
To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/red-velvet-mini-cupcakes-recipe.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup lowfat (1-percent) buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
Nonstick cooking spray, for coating ice cream scoop
8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 48 mini muffin cups (2 large tins or 4 small) with paper liners.
Whisk together the flour, cocoa and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl. Beat together the oil and granulated sugar on medium-high speed with a hand mixer in a large bowl until well combined. Add the egg and beat until well blended. Beat in the food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla.
On low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour, beating well after each addition. Whisk together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl, and then beat into the batter until fully incorporated.
Using a small ice cream scoop sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, evenly divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack.
Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Sift the confectioners' sugar over the mixture and beat until smooth. Beat in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Spread or pipe the frosting over the cooled cupcakes.
CHOCOLATE FILLED CAKE ROLL
Servings: 12 one-inch slices
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/23.shtml.
Ingredients
Cake:
5 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
3 packets of Sweet'n Low
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
Filling:
2 cups skim milk
1 package sugar-free chocolate instant pudding mix
Topping:
2 teaspoons sugar-free cocoa mix
Directions
Preheat oven to 400F.
Grease and line the bottom of a 10x15" jelly roll pan with waxed paper.
Beat eggs in a large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy.
Sprinkle sugar, Sweet'n Low and vanilla over eggs; continue beating for 2 minutes.
Sift flour, cornstarch, and baking powder together.
Sprinkle half the mixture over batter; fold in with spatula.
Repeat with remaining flour mixture.
Spread batter evenly in pan.
Bake on center rack in oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until cake is golden and springs back when lightly touched.
Arrange a towel on work surface and cover with wax or parchment paper.
Loosen edges of cake; unmold on paper.
Roll cake jelly roll style, using towel as a guide.
Leave cake rolled until it cools into jelly roll shape.
To make filling, blend milk with pudding mix according to package directions. Refrigerate pudding until it thickens.
Unroll cake, spread evenly with pudding, and reroll.
Lightly sprinkle sugar-free cocoa over the top to decorate.
Cut into 1" slices and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 122; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 197 mg; Cholesterol: 92 mg; Carbohydrates: 21 g; Exchanges: 1 Fruit; 1/2 Skim Milk; 1/2 Fat; 1 Starch
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.
OATMEAL COOKIES
This is from Vegetarian Times and begins, “Straightforward and tasty, these oatmeal cookies hit the sweet spot.” Makes 24 cookies.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup pastry flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 stick (1/2 cup) margarine, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs or equivalent Egg Replacer
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbs. cold water
3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease one or more baking sheets.
In medium bowl, mix both flours, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and ginger. Set aside.
In large bowl with an electric mixer, beat margarine and granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs or Egg Replacer, vanilla and water until blended. Add dry ingredients and beat just until blended. Stir in oats and raisins.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet(s), spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store cookies in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 77; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Sodium: 65 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: g
CREAMY RICE PUDDING
Maybe ten years ago, this recipe was in several issues of Vegetarian Times in ads for Mahatma Rice. I'd lost track of the recipe, which I'd made several times for a certain someone who loved homemade rice pudding. I had to admit, it was definitely worth the time it took to fix it.
1 1/2 quarts 2% milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Mahatma rice (see note)
1/2 cup raisins
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Note: The recipe called for Mahatma, Water Maid, Carolina, or River rice.
Combine milk, sugar and rice in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to simmer and cook uncovered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. (The milk should just barely simmer, with bubble breaking only at the outside edge of the surface. After an hour, the rice should be soft.)
Add raisins, increase heat to medium heat, and cook, stirring frequently, until rice has absorbed most of the rest of the milkl, but not all, and the pudding is creamy (about 30 minutes longer).
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. When cool, pudding will thicken, but will still be very creamy. Serve warm or well chilled. Serves 8.
ROSEMARY, OLIVE OIL AND ORANGE CAKE
This comes from Yotam Ottolenghi in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Yotam wrote, “This is a very light cake, similar to a lemon drizzle but with a ton more flavor. The rosemary and orange add delicious floral notes. A fluted Bundt pan looks especially nice. Prepare the crystallized rosemary sprigs at least 6 to 8 hours (or the day before) before serving the cake, which will keep in a sealed container at room temperature for up to three days.”
Yield: 10 servings.
This was featured in “The Bright Magic of Citrus in the Baking Pan” and can be viewed online at here.
Ingredients
For the Crystallized Rosemary:
10 small rosemary sprigs, no more than 1 inch each in size (see note)
1 egg white, lightly whisked
2 teaspoons granulated or superfine sugar (caster sugar)
For the Cake:
About 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, for greasing the pan
2 cups all-purpose flour (plain flour), more to flour the pan
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon superfine sugar (caster sugar)
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (from about 1 1/2 oranges)
1 1/2 tablespoons packed finely chopped rosemary leaves
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Orange Icing:
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
2 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 3/4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar, or 1 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar
Preparation
At least 6 hours before you plan to ice the cake, prepare the crystallized rosemary: Brush rosemary on all sides with a little of the egg white and then dip it in the sugar, so the needles are lightly coated on all sides. Set aside on a wire rack to dry. Repeat with remaining rosemary.
Make the cake: Heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Generously grease a 9-inch/23-centimeter Bundt pan with half the butter and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Butter again, generously, and then flour it, tapping away the excess.
Put olive oil, superfine sugar, orange zest and chopped rosemary leaves in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on medium speed until combined, then add eggs, one at a time. Whisk for another minute, until thick, then add sour cream and mix until combined on low speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the whisk.
Sift flour, baking powder and salt together into a small bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the olive oil mixture and mix until combined. Increase speed to high and whisk for 1 minute.
Scrape batter into the Bundt pan and smooth the top with a small spatula. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cake is cooked and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. (You may want to trim the cake at this stage, if it rises unevenly, to allow it to sit flat on the plate.)
Prepare the icing: In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, lemon juice and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. When the cake has cooled, drizzle icing on top, allowing it to drip down the sides of the cake, then top with the crystallized rosemary and serve.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Thursday Recipes
Here are today's six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Baked Hawaii and Pineapple Fried Rice. Enjoy!
SAVORY BREAKFAST SANDWICHES
This recipe, as well as the next one (Tofu Scramble) comes from Compassion Over Killing, and can be found in the breakfast section of their Easy Vegan Recipes.
You can request (or download) Compassion Over Killing's free Easy Vegan Recipes booklet here.
Makes 4 sandwiches
Ingredients
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons Bragg Liquid Aminos or soy sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, divided
1 14-ounce package firm tofu, drained and cut crosswise into 8 slices
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
Vegan butter, such as Earth Balance (optional)
4 English muffins, toasted
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
In a shallow baking dish, mix together the vinegar, Bragg Liquid Aminos or soy sauce, olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon of the black pepper with a whisk. Place tofu slices in a single layer in the dish, then turn over to coat on all sides. Allow tofu to marinate for 20 minutes, turning slices occasionally.
Place baking dish in oven for 20 minutes. Flip tofu slices over and continue to bake for an additional 10-20 minutes until crispy and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
Meanwhile, spray a large skillet with oil or cooking spray. Sauté onion and garlic over medium-high heat until onion begins to soften. Add mushrooms and continue cooking until they begin to brown. Add tomato, spinach, thyme, salt, and remaining black pepper. Cook and stir until spinach is wilted and any liquid has evaporated, turning heat to medium low if the vegetables are browning too quickly. Adjust seasoning.
To assemble sandwiches, spread vegan butter on English muffins, if using. Then add 2 tablespoons of the cooked vegetables to the bottom half of each muffin. Top with 2 slices of tofu and evenly distribute the remaining vegetables on top of the tofu slices on all 4 sandwiches. Cover with the other muffin halves and press down to help keep vegetables from spilling out.
TOFU SCRAMBLE
Serves 2-3
Ingredients
1 14-ounce package extra firm tofu, drained
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or vegan butter (try Earth Balance)
1/2 pound white button mushrooms, sliced
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 packed cup fresh spinach
2 green onions, diced
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric (for color)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Heat the oil or butter in a medium-sized frying pan over medium-high heat. Crumble the tofu into the pan and sauté, stirring occasionally for 8-10 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients. Lightly toss in the pan until well-cooked, about 5 more minutes.
Adjust spices to taste and serve hot.
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.
PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “The Hawaiian answer to the stir-fry, this dish is exotic, colorful, and bursting with flavor. To fill out the dish with more veggies, add 1/2 cup thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms along with the onions and garlic, and 1/2 cup peas just after the carrots.” Serves 6.
This can be viewed at http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/pineapple-fried-rice.
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
1 cup long-grain brown rice
1 1/4 cups diced fresh pineapple, divided
1 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 Tbs. toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
6 cloves garlic, minced (2 Tbs.)
1 small carrot, finely diced (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
5 green onions, thinly sliced (1/3 cup)
Instructions:
Bring 2 cups broth and rice to a boil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 40 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
Blend 1/2 cup pineapple, remaining 1/4 cup broth, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes in blender until smooth. Set aside.
Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add carrot and bell pepper, and sauté 3 minutes more. Add remaining 3/4 cup diced pineapple, and cook 3 minutes. Add cooked rice to skillet, and cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add blended pineapple mixture, and cook 3 minutes more, or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in green onions; season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 198; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 34 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 156 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 6 g
THAI VEGETABLE STIR-FRY
This is from the February 2001 issue of Vegetables Times. It begins, “Serve with quick-cooking brown rice and toss a salad of curly endive, seedless orange chunks and slivered red onion. For dessert, a bowl of grapes would go well.” Makes 4 servings in 30 minutes or less.
3 medium cloves garlic, peeled
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/2 tsp. grated lime peel
14-oz. can lite coconut milk
1 lb. mixed vegetables (about 4 cups): fresh mushrooms, quartered; sliced asparagus; sliced bell peppers; water chestnuts, halved
1 small bok choy, stems sliced and leaves left whole
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
10 fresh basil leaves, slivered
In food processor or blender, combine garlic, jalapenos and lemon and lime peel; process to a paste.
Heat large skillet or wok over high heat; add coconut milk and paste mixture and stir well. Simmer 1 minute.
Add all vegetables and season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, soy sauce, lime juice and basil. Simmer 5 minutes. Serve hot.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 163; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 359 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Vegan
BAKED HAWAII
This comes from the February 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “With a blending of coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts, this pie takes its cues from the tropics. Be sure to squeeze out any excess juice from the pineapple shreds, or it may dilute the filling. A quick freezing of the filling mix firms it up fast.” Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
1 pkg. instant coconut-flavored pudding mix
1 3/4 cups nonfat milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 prepared crumb pie shell
1 3/4 cups canned shredded pineapple
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup crushed macadamia nuts as garnish
1/4 cup shredded coconut as garnish
2 Tbs. diced crystallized ginger, or more as desired, for garnish
Preheat oven to 450F.
Mix instant pudding with milk and vanilla extract, and pour into prepared pie shell. Put in freezer immediately.
Drain pineapple, and reserve juice for another use. Squeeze excess juice from shreds, and put shreds in baking dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar, and bake for 15 minutes, or until sugar bubbles. Remove from oven.
Take firmed pudding mixture from freezer, spoon pineapple mixture over top and garnish with macadamia nuts, coconut shreds and crystallized ginger.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 310; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Sodium: 450 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 35 g
SAVORY BREAKFAST SANDWICHES
This recipe, as well as the next one (Tofu Scramble) comes from Compassion Over Killing, and can be found in the breakfast section of their Easy Vegan Recipes.
You can request (or download) Compassion Over Killing's free Easy Vegan Recipes booklet here.
Makes 4 sandwiches
Ingredients
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons Bragg Liquid Aminos or soy sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, divided
1 14-ounce package firm tofu, drained and cut crosswise into 8 slices
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
Vegan butter, such as Earth Balance (optional)
4 English muffins, toasted
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
In a shallow baking dish, mix together the vinegar, Bragg Liquid Aminos or soy sauce, olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon of the black pepper with a whisk. Place tofu slices in a single layer in the dish, then turn over to coat on all sides. Allow tofu to marinate for 20 minutes, turning slices occasionally.
Place baking dish in oven for 20 minutes. Flip tofu slices over and continue to bake for an additional 10-20 minutes until crispy and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
Meanwhile, spray a large skillet with oil or cooking spray. Sauté onion and garlic over medium-high heat until onion begins to soften. Add mushrooms and continue cooking until they begin to brown. Add tomato, spinach, thyme, salt, and remaining black pepper. Cook and stir until spinach is wilted and any liquid has evaporated, turning heat to medium low if the vegetables are browning too quickly. Adjust seasoning.
To assemble sandwiches, spread vegan butter on English muffins, if using. Then add 2 tablespoons of the cooked vegetables to the bottom half of each muffin. Top with 2 slices of tofu and evenly distribute the remaining vegetables on top of the tofu slices on all 4 sandwiches. Cover with the other muffin halves and press down to help keep vegetables from spilling out.
TOFU SCRAMBLE
Serves 2-3
Ingredients
1 14-ounce package extra firm tofu, drained
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or vegan butter (try Earth Balance)
1/2 pound white button mushrooms, sliced
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 packed cup fresh spinach
2 green onions, diced
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric (for color)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Heat the oil or butter in a medium-sized frying pan over medium-high heat. Crumble the tofu into the pan and sauté, stirring occasionally for 8-10 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients. Lightly toss in the pan until well-cooked, about 5 more minutes.
Adjust spices to taste and serve hot.
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.
PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “The Hawaiian answer to the stir-fry, this dish is exotic, colorful, and bursting with flavor. To fill out the dish with more veggies, add 1/2 cup thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms along with the onions and garlic, and 1/2 cup peas just after the carrots.” Serves 6.
This can be viewed at http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/pineapple-fried-rice.
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
1 cup long-grain brown rice
1 1/4 cups diced fresh pineapple, divided
1 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 Tbs. toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
6 cloves garlic, minced (2 Tbs.)
1 small carrot, finely diced (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
5 green onions, thinly sliced (1/3 cup)
Instructions:
Bring 2 cups broth and rice to a boil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 40 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
Blend 1/2 cup pineapple, remaining 1/4 cup broth, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes in blender until smooth. Set aside.
Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add carrot and bell pepper, and sauté 3 minutes more. Add remaining 3/4 cup diced pineapple, and cook 3 minutes. Add cooked rice to skillet, and cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add blended pineapple mixture, and cook 3 minutes more, or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in green onions; season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 198; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 34 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 156 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 6 g
THAI VEGETABLE STIR-FRY
This is from the February 2001 issue of Vegetables Times. It begins, “Serve with quick-cooking brown rice and toss a salad of curly endive, seedless orange chunks and slivered red onion. For dessert, a bowl of grapes would go well.” Makes 4 servings in 30 minutes or less.
3 medium cloves garlic, peeled
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/2 tsp. grated lime peel
14-oz. can lite coconut milk
1 lb. mixed vegetables (about 4 cups): fresh mushrooms, quartered; sliced asparagus; sliced bell peppers; water chestnuts, halved
1 small bok choy, stems sliced and leaves left whole
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
10 fresh basil leaves, slivered
In food processor or blender, combine garlic, jalapenos and lemon and lime peel; process to a paste.
Heat large skillet or wok over high heat; add coconut milk and paste mixture and stir well. Simmer 1 minute.
Add all vegetables and season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, soy sauce, lime juice and basil. Simmer 5 minutes. Serve hot.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 163; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 359 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Vegan
BAKED HAWAII
This comes from the February 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “With a blending of coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts, this pie takes its cues from the tropics. Be sure to squeeze out any excess juice from the pineapple shreds, or it may dilute the filling. A quick freezing of the filling mix firms it up fast.” Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
1 pkg. instant coconut-flavored pudding mix
1 3/4 cups nonfat milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 prepared crumb pie shell
1 3/4 cups canned shredded pineapple
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup crushed macadamia nuts as garnish
1/4 cup shredded coconut as garnish
2 Tbs. diced crystallized ginger, or more as desired, for garnish
Preheat oven to 450F.
Mix instant pudding with milk and vanilla extract, and pour into prepared pie shell. Put in freezer immediately.
Drain pineapple, and reserve juice for another use. Squeeze excess juice from shreds, and put shreds in baking dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar, and bake for 15 minutes, or until sugar bubbles. Remove from oven.
Take firmed pudding mixture from freezer, spoon pineapple mixture over top and garnish with macadamia nuts, coconut shreds and crystallized ginger.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 310; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Sodium: 450 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 35 g
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