Here are today's six vegetarian recipes to help you through the day, including Coconut Layer Cake and Mesa Grill's Southwestern Potato Salad. Enjoy!
EASY VEGAN PEANUT COOKIES
Who doesn't love homemade cookies, hot from the oven? This yummy recipe comes from Being Vegan, and begins, “So you eat a plant-based, vegan, healthy diet and you just need to have a cookie! Commercial baking can be a real let down for vegans, so why not just break out the mixing spoon and make your own homemade vegan peanut butter cookies! This recipe is super easy and super tasty!”
This can be viewed online here.
Get your ingredients together:
3/4 cup natural peanut butter (smooth)
1/4 cup margarine, soft
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup smooth or crunchy peanut butter
1/3 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon applesauce
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup quick oats
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
Bake your cookies!
Preheat the oven to 350.
In one bowl cream the peanut butter, margarine, sugar, applesauce, vanilla, and lemon juice together and mix until light and smooth.
In a separate bowl combine the cornstarch, flour, oats, baking powder, and salt together.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, adding the almond milk a little at a time until you have a nice soft dough.
Drop 3″ balls of dough on the cookie sheet and press with a fork.
Bake 8-10 minutes, until cookies are firm but not brown.
Remove your cookies from the baking sheet and cool on a cooling rack. Enjoy with a big tall glass of cold almond milk!
MESA GRILLL’S SOUTHWESTERN POTATO SALAD
This is from Bobby Flay of The Food Network’s Throwdown with Bobby Flay. Total Time: 35 min; Prep: 20 min; Cook: 15 min; Yield: 8 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/mesa-grills-southwestern-potato-salad-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups prepared mayonnaise
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons chipotle pepper puree
1 large ripe tomato, seeded and diced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
3 scallions, chopped, white and green parts
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
16 new potatoes, about 3 to 4 pounds, cooked, drained and sliced 1/2-inch thick
Directions
Combine all the ingredients, except the potatoes, in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Place warm potatoes in a large bowl and pour the mixture over potatoes and mix well. Season again with salt and pepper, to taste.
COCONUT LAYER CAKE
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This impressive and wonderfully moist layer cake is less sweet than the usual coconut affair, thanks to a tangy cream cheese frosting on top and dose of orange juice in the batter. This is a great dessert to make in advance. You can bake the cake layers up to 3 days ahead and store them, well-wrapped in plastic, in the refrigerator. The frosted cake will keep for 2 days in the fridge as well, either under a cake dome or overturned bowl, or loosely tented with foil. Just make sure to bring the cake to room temperature before serving.” Yield: 8 to 12 servings; Time: 2 hours, plus cooling.
This was featured in “A Sugar Rush, Not Crush”, and can be viewed online here.
Also, to find more layer cakes, click here. Also, check out Melissa’s guide, “How to Frost a Cake”.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pans
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs, separated, plus 3 whites
1 1/2 cups cream of coconut
1 1/4 cups unsweetened coconut milk
2 tablespoons coconut or dark rum
7 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
For the Frosting:
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 cups cream cheese, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
7 1/4 cups/2 pounds confectioners’ sugar
2 3/4 cups unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut, toasted
Preparation
Make the Cake:
Grease 3 8-inch cake pans and dust with flour. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Whisk together flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl and reserve. Place butter and sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment and beat until fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add 3 egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl with spatula. Lower speed and gradually add flour mixture. Batter will be thick and pasty.
Whisk together cream of coconut, coconut milk, rum and orange juice. Alternately add shredded coconut and the orange juice mixture to the batter.
In the clean bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip 6 egg whites until soft peaks form. Gently fold into batter.
Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes. Cool in pans on wire rack. Unmold cakes once cool.
Make the Frosting:
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and cream cheese. Add vanilla extract. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, scraping down sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Mix until combined and fluffy.
Spread 1/4-inch-thick layer of frosting on top of the first layer of cake. Sprinkle with toasted coconut. Place next cake layer on top and repeat with frosting and coconut. Repeat with the third layer, spreading frosting on top and around sides of cake. Hold cake steadily in one hand and use other hand to pat remaining coconut onto edges of cake.
PAELLA PRIMAVERA
This comes from page 40 of the March 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Who needs a paella pan? A large skillet stands in for the wide, shallow two-handled cookware in this quick veggie-laden version of the classic Spanish rice dish. Just like its pasta namesake, Paella Primavera lends itself to endless variation. You can substitute zucchini for broccoli in the summer; in the fall, replace half the broccoli with cubed butternut squash.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
2 1/2 tsp. olive oil
1 red bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
6 green onions, thinly sliced (1 cup)
3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
1 tsp. crumbled saffron threads
1 cup short-grain white rice, such as Valencia
3 cups broccoli florets
1 cup fresh or frozen baby peas
1 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
12 pitted green olives, halved
12 pitted black olives, halved, optional
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper and green onions; cook 5 minutes. Stir in broth, garlic, and saffron; bring to a boil. Sprinkle rice over ingredients, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, 10 minutes.
Sprinkle broccoli, peas, tomatoes, and olives over rice. Cover, and cook paella 8 minutes, or until rice is tender. Remove from heat, and let rest, covered, 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
To serve, spoon paella into 6 bowls, and garnish each with lemon wedges and parsley.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 211; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 40 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 170 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 5 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
LATE SUMMER MINESTRONE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND FRESH CORN
This comes from page 61 of the September 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Bright, beautiful, and bursting with veggies, this colorful minestrone is a great way to stretch the harvest.” Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 cup sliced leeks
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 tsp. salt, optional
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)
1 Tbs. chopped fresh sage, or 2 tsp. dried sage
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 bay leaf
2 large tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped (1 cup)
2 cups cubed peeled butternut squash (3/4- to 1-inch cubes)
2 cups green beans or flat beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 15-oz. can or 1 1/2 cups cooked white beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
2–3 Tbs. chopped fresh mint, plus more for garnish, optional
Heat oil in 5-qt. Dutch oven or other large soup pot over medium heat. Add leeks, celery, bell pepper, and salt, if using. Cover, and cook 6 to 8 minutes, or until veggies are softened, stirring occasionally. Uncover, and continue cooking 5 to 6 minutes more, or until celery is somewhat shrunken and leeks are browned.
Add garlic, sage, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf. Stir 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add tomatoes and 8 cups water, and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes. Add squash, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Add green beans, white beans, and corn; simmer 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Just before serving, stir in vinegar and mint.
nutritional information Per 2-cup serving: Calories: 185; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 130 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 7 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
STRAWBERRY-PEACH COOLER
Yield: 2 servings
Serving size: 1 cup
Source: The Diabetes Snack, Munch, Nibble, Nosh Book
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/737.shtml
Ingredients
1 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen strawberries
2/3 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen peaches
3/4 cup orange juice
Directions
In a 2-cup measure or similar microwave-safe bowl, combine the strawberries and peaches.
Cover with wax paper, and microwave on high power 45 seconds to 1 minute to thaw the fruit slightly. The fruit should be icy but not hard.
Working with a small knife in the measuring cup, cut each peach slice in half.
Transfer the peaches and strawberries to a blender container.
Add the orange juice. Blend on low power to combine. Then increase power to high and continue to blend until the peaches are completely pureed, at least 1-1/2 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 2 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 23 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Exchanges: 2 Fruit
Monday, September 18, 2017
Friday, September 15, 2017
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Yay! And if you live in Florida, like I do, and you've had to deal with Hurricane Irma, it's a major yay. It's time to catch our collective breath and relax just a little.
Here are six yummy recipes to get you through a hopefully relaxing weekend, including Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and Healthy Tomato Basil Soup. Enjoy!
STRAWBERRY RHUBARB CRISP
This is from The Food Network’s Ina Garten. I don’t know if you’ve ever watched her show, but I love it! Granted, as a vegetarian, I know I won’t try everything she makes, but I still love watching her show.
Total Time: 1 hr 25 minutes; Active: 25 minutes; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/strawberry-rhubarb-crisp-recipe-1973658.
Ingredients
4 cups fresh rhubarb, 1-inch diced (4 to 5 stalks)
4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved, if large
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup quick-cooking (not instant) oatmeal, such as McCann's
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the fruit, toss the rhubarb, strawberries, 3/4 cup of the granulated sugar and the orange zest together in a large bowl. In a measuring cup, dissolve the cornstarch in the orange juice and then mix it into the fruit. Pour the mixture into an 8-by-11-inch baking dish and place it on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
For the topping, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, salt and oatmeal. With the mixer on low speed, add the butter and mix until the dry ingredients are moist and the mixture is in crumbles. Sprinkle the topping over the fruit, covering it completely, and bake for 1 hour, until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown. Serve warm with ice cream.
BLUEBERRY SAUCE
This recipe and the next one (Ginger-Blueberry Parfait) are from an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.
This sauce would go well over ice cream. Yum!
SERVINGS: 4 – 6
1 pt fresh blueberries (2 C)
1/4 C + 1 Tbsp confectioners' sugar
1/4 C water
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter
Put blueberries, sugar, water, and cinnamon in medium saucepan.
Cover and cook over medium heat until blueberries have broken down a bit and mixture becomes soupy, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and swirl in butter. Serve warm or at room temperature over waffles, pancakes, ice cream, or pound cake.
NUTRITION (per serving) 140 cal, 1 g pro, 22 g carb, 2 g fiber, 6 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 50 mg sodium
GINGER-BLUEBERRY PARFAIT
SERVINGS: 4
1 C blueberries
1 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
4 Tbsp maple syrup, divided
1 Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
1 C part-skim ricotta cheese
4 sprigs fresh mint
Combine the blueberries, ginger, and 1 Tbsp of the maple syrup in a small bowl until well mixed. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the avocado, ricotta, and the remaining 3 Tbsp maple syrup. Puree the mixture.
Layer the blueberry mixture with the ricotta mixture alternately in 4 parfait glasses or dessert dishes, ending with the berries. Garnish with the mint sprigs.
NUTRITION (per serving) 217 cal, 8 g pro, 25 g carb, 10 g fat, 4 g sat fat,3 g fiber, 83 mg sodium
STUFFED PEPPERS WITH TOMATO SAUCE
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Simple and festive, these peppers will be welcome at any time of year.”
Makes 8 servings, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 large red, green or yellow bell peppers
3 Tbs. olive oil
4 soy "sausage" links, cut into chunks
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup minced parsley
2 14.5-oz. cans chopped tomatoes
1 tsp. dried thyme
3 cups cooked rice
1 cup plus 8 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese
8 sprigs fresh thyme for garnish, optional
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350F.
Slice bell peppers in half lengthwise. Remove core and seeds, rinse and pat dry. Set aside.
Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Sauté “sausage” for 2 minutes. Add onion, celery, garlic and parsley, and cook about 10 minutes more. Stir in 1/2 cup tomatoes, thyme and cayenne.
Put rice in bowl, and stir in vegetable mixture. Let stand 15 minutes so the rice absorbs any liquid from vegetables. Stir in cheese. Divide rice mixture among pepper halves, mounding mixture into cavities. Pour remaining tomato mixture into small baking dish. Nestle stuffed peppers on top of tomatoes. Cover dish with lid or aluminum foil.
Bake 1 hour. Uncover peppers, and sprinkle each pepper with 1 Tbs. Parmesan cheese. Cook, uncovered, 10 minutes. Serve with sauce from baking dish, and garnish, if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 270; Carbohydrate Content: 31 g; Cholesterol Content: 15 mg; Fat Content: 11 g; Fiber Content: 5 g; Protein Content: 14 g; Saturated Fat Content: 3 g; Sodium Content: 470 mg; Sugar Content: 4 g
HEALTHY TOMATO BASIL SOUP
This is from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD who, besides running Lively Table, writes for Very Well.
For this recipe, Kaleigh wrote, “Most canned soups—even the reduced-sodium versions—are very high in sodium. Making your own is a great solution. Homemade soup is a great way to use up fresh vegetables and add a serving of blood pressure friendly foods to your meal.
“Tomatoes are naturally high in the antioxidant lycopene, which is a carotenoid that could help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. Using fresh summer tomatoes and basil makes this healthy tomato basil soup extra flavorful without the use of salt. Roasted red peppers add a nice subtle sweetness, and milk a little dose of protein. Add a pinch of freshly cracked black pepper and serve with a fresh green salad for a light and healthy lunch.”
To view this online, click here.
Total Time: 45 min; Prep: 5 min, Cook: 40 min; Yield 4, 1.5 cup servings (82 cals)
Ingredients
6 large tomatoes
1 large red bell pepper
4 cloves garlic
3/4 cup skim milk (or milk of choice)
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
Preparation
Heat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Cut bell pepper in half and remove seeds and stem.
Place tomatoes, red pepper, and garlic on the baking sheet and roast 10 minutes.
Remove garlic and flip pepper and tomatoes. Return to oven for another 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and let vegetables cool. Peel skins from pepper and tomatoes.
Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Heat soup to desired temperature in a saucepan over low heat.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Use 1/2 tablespoon dried basil in place of fresh basil if you you don’t have fresh.
Cooking and Serving Tips
Serve with a salad or half a sandwich for a balanced lunch. Reheat leftovers on the stove over low heat. You can also enjoy it cold as a refreshing meal.
ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Kraft, and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cups water, divided
1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked
2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided
1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded
Directions
Heat grill to medium-high heat.
Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.
Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).
Here are six yummy recipes to get you through a hopefully relaxing weekend, including Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and Healthy Tomato Basil Soup. Enjoy!
STRAWBERRY RHUBARB CRISP
This is from The Food Network’s Ina Garten. I don’t know if you’ve ever watched her show, but I love it! Granted, as a vegetarian, I know I won’t try everything she makes, but I still love watching her show.
Total Time: 1 hr 25 minutes; Active: 25 minutes; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/strawberry-rhubarb-crisp-recipe-1973658.
Ingredients
4 cups fresh rhubarb, 1-inch diced (4 to 5 stalks)
4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved, if large
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup quick-cooking (not instant) oatmeal, such as McCann's
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the fruit, toss the rhubarb, strawberries, 3/4 cup of the granulated sugar and the orange zest together in a large bowl. In a measuring cup, dissolve the cornstarch in the orange juice and then mix it into the fruit. Pour the mixture into an 8-by-11-inch baking dish and place it on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
For the topping, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, salt and oatmeal. With the mixer on low speed, add the butter and mix until the dry ingredients are moist and the mixture is in crumbles. Sprinkle the topping over the fruit, covering it completely, and bake for 1 hour, until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown. Serve warm with ice cream.
BLUEBERRY SAUCE
This recipe and the next one (Ginger-Blueberry Parfait) are from an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.
This sauce would go well over ice cream. Yum!
SERVINGS: 4 – 6
1 pt fresh blueberries (2 C)
1/4 C + 1 Tbsp confectioners' sugar
1/4 C water
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter
Put blueberries, sugar, water, and cinnamon in medium saucepan.
Cover and cook over medium heat until blueberries have broken down a bit and mixture becomes soupy, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and swirl in butter. Serve warm or at room temperature over waffles, pancakes, ice cream, or pound cake.
NUTRITION (per serving) 140 cal, 1 g pro, 22 g carb, 2 g fiber, 6 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 50 mg sodium
GINGER-BLUEBERRY PARFAIT
SERVINGS: 4
1 C blueberries
1 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
4 Tbsp maple syrup, divided
1 Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
1 C part-skim ricotta cheese
4 sprigs fresh mint
Combine the blueberries, ginger, and 1 Tbsp of the maple syrup in a small bowl until well mixed. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the avocado, ricotta, and the remaining 3 Tbsp maple syrup. Puree the mixture.
Layer the blueberry mixture with the ricotta mixture alternately in 4 parfait glasses or dessert dishes, ending with the berries. Garnish with the mint sprigs.
NUTRITION (per serving) 217 cal, 8 g pro, 25 g carb, 10 g fat, 4 g sat fat,3 g fiber, 83 mg sodium
STUFFED PEPPERS WITH TOMATO SAUCE
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Simple and festive, these peppers will be welcome at any time of year.”
Makes 8 servings, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 large red, green or yellow bell peppers
3 Tbs. olive oil
4 soy "sausage" links, cut into chunks
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup minced parsley
2 14.5-oz. cans chopped tomatoes
1 tsp. dried thyme
3 cups cooked rice
1 cup plus 8 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese
8 sprigs fresh thyme for garnish, optional
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350F.
Slice bell peppers in half lengthwise. Remove core and seeds, rinse and pat dry. Set aside.
Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Sauté “sausage” for 2 minutes. Add onion, celery, garlic and parsley, and cook about 10 minutes more. Stir in 1/2 cup tomatoes, thyme and cayenne.
Put rice in bowl, and stir in vegetable mixture. Let stand 15 minutes so the rice absorbs any liquid from vegetables. Stir in cheese. Divide rice mixture among pepper halves, mounding mixture into cavities. Pour remaining tomato mixture into small baking dish. Nestle stuffed peppers on top of tomatoes. Cover dish with lid or aluminum foil.
Bake 1 hour. Uncover peppers, and sprinkle each pepper with 1 Tbs. Parmesan cheese. Cook, uncovered, 10 minutes. Serve with sauce from baking dish, and garnish, if desired.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 270; Carbohydrate Content: 31 g; Cholesterol Content: 15 mg; Fat Content: 11 g; Fiber Content: 5 g; Protein Content: 14 g; Saturated Fat Content: 3 g; Sodium Content: 470 mg; Sugar Content: 4 g
HEALTHY TOMATO BASIL SOUP
This is from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD who, besides running Lively Table, writes for Very Well.
For this recipe, Kaleigh wrote, “Most canned soups—even the reduced-sodium versions—are very high in sodium. Making your own is a great solution. Homemade soup is a great way to use up fresh vegetables and add a serving of blood pressure friendly foods to your meal.
“Tomatoes are naturally high in the antioxidant lycopene, which is a carotenoid that could help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. Using fresh summer tomatoes and basil makes this healthy tomato basil soup extra flavorful without the use of salt. Roasted red peppers add a nice subtle sweetness, and milk a little dose of protein. Add a pinch of freshly cracked black pepper and serve with a fresh green salad for a light and healthy lunch.”
To view this online, click here.
Total Time: 45 min; Prep: 5 min, Cook: 40 min; Yield 4, 1.5 cup servings (82 cals)
Ingredients
6 large tomatoes
1 large red bell pepper
4 cloves garlic
3/4 cup skim milk (or milk of choice)
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
Preparation
Heat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
Cut bell pepper in half and remove seeds and stem.
Place tomatoes, red pepper, and garlic on the baking sheet and roast 10 minutes.
Remove garlic and flip pepper and tomatoes. Return to oven for another 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and let vegetables cool. Peel skins from pepper and tomatoes.
Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Heat soup to desired temperature in a saucepan over low heat.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Use 1/2 tablespoon dried basil in place of fresh basil if you you don’t have fresh.
Cooking and Serving Tips
Serve with a salad or half a sandwich for a balanced lunch. Reheat leftovers on the stove over low heat. You can also enjoy it cold as a refreshing meal.
ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Kraft, and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cups water, divided
1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked
2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided
1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded
Directions
Heat grill to medium-high heat.
Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.
Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Thursday Recipes
It's Thursday, almost the end of the work week. Here are today's six vegetarian recipes to help you through the day, including Simple Veggie Skewers and Ultimate Veggie Burgers. Enjoy!
CURRIED POTATOES
Also from the June 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 80. The recipe starts off, “Serve this dish on its own or with steamed rice.”
To view this online, click here.
1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil
2 medium onions, diced (3 cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
4 large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks
3 carrots, peeled & cut into 2-inch pieces (1 cup)
3 Tbs. Madras curry powder
1 15-oz. can black beans
3 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
2 jalapeno chiles, seeded & finely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions & garlic & cook 5 – 7 minutes, or until onions are soft & translucent. Stir in potatoes, carrots & curry powder & cook 4 minutes.
Add beans & their liquid, tomatoes, broth, jalapeno chiles, vinegar & 1 cup water; season with salt & pepper. Cover & simmer 45 minutes or until potatoes are flaky & carrots are cooked through, stirring occasionally.
Per serving: 282 cal; 9 g protein; 4 g total fat (0.5 g sat. fat); 55 g carb; 0 mg cholesterol; 499 mg sodium; 10 g fiber; 9 g sugars; vegan
THE ULTIMATE VEGGIE BURGER
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “You make a veggie burger because you want the hamburger experience without the meat. This one delivers. It’s got a firm, beefy texture that takes on the char and smoke of the grill, but is adaptable enough to cook inside on your stove. The enemy of a veggie burger is mushiness, which stems from a high moisture content. To combat that, the very watery ingredients – mushrooms, tofu, beans and beets – are roasted to both dehydrate them somewhat and intensify their flavors. Yes, the ingredient list here is long; you need a diverse lot to make a good veggie burger. And each one adds something in terms of flavor and/or texture. Garnish this any way you like, and don’t forget to toast the buns.” Yield: 6 burger.
This was featured in “The Ultimate Veggie Burger”, and can be found online here.
Also, there are two guides that went with this recipe that you might want to check out. The first is “How to Cook Beans”, and the second is “How to Grill”. Enjoy!
Ingredients
4 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained
Olive oil
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more as needed
Black pepper, as needed
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 medium beet, peeled and coarsely grated (3/4 cup)
3/4 cup tamari almonds or cashews
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
2 ounces Cotija cheese or queso blanco, crumbled or grated (about 1/2 cup)
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 scallions, sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon dulce pimentón or sweet smoked paprika
4 ounces tempeh, crumbled
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Slice tofu into 1/4-inch-thick slabs and pat dry with paper towel. Arrange tofu on one half of a rimmed baking sheet; brush both sides with oil. Spread mushrooms on the other half of the baking sheet; toss with 2 tablespoons oil and salt and pepper.
On a second rimmed baking sheet, toss beans and grated beet with 1 tablespoon oil and salt and pepper, then spread the mixture into one layer.
Transfer both baking sheets to the oven. Roast bean-beet mixture, tossing occasionally, until beans begin to split and beets are tender and golden, about 15 minutes. Roast mushrooms and tofu until golden and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 25 minutes. Let everything cool.
Place nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add cooled bean-beet mixture, mushrooms, tofu, panko, cheese, eggs, mayonnaise, scallion, garlic, pimentón and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Pulse until ingredients are just combined. Pulse in tempeh and rice but do not overprocess. You want small chunks, not a smooth mixture. Scrape mixture into a bowl and chill at least 2 hours or up to 5 days (you can also freeze the burger mix).
When you are ready to make the burgers, divide mixture into 6 equal portions and form each portion into a patty about 1 inch thick. Return to the fridge until just before grilling. They grill better when they start out cold.
Heat the grill. Cook the burgers over a low fire until they are charred on both sides and firm when you press on them, 4 to 6 minutes per side. If they start to burn before they firm up, move them to the sides of the grill to finish cooking over indirect heat. Alternatively, you can cook these on a grill pan or in a skillet over low heat.
EAST COAST GRILL’S CORNBREAD
This comes from Sam Sifton, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This corn bread, adapted from the one developed by Chris Schlesinger and served at his East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass., is lofty and sweet, crusty and cakelike, moist and ethereal. As Sam Sifton said in the 2012 article that accompanied the recipe, it is ‘the corn bread to become a child’s favorite, to become the only corn bread that matters. All else is not corn bread.’” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “The Corn Bread Matters Most”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
ITALIAN SPINACH PIE
Makes: 8 servings
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/626.shtml
Source: Kraft
Ingredients
1 container (16 oz.) Breakstone's or Knudsen 2% Milkfat Low Fat Cottage Cheese
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1 cup Kraft Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 jar (7 oz.) roasted red peppers, well drained, chopped
1/3 cup Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
Options: Substitute 1/2 cup chopped red bell peppers for the roasted peppers.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Mix all ingredients until well blended.
Pour into greased 9-inch pie plate.
Bake 40 min. or until center is set.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 150; Protein: 15 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 450 mg; Cholesterol: 125 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable + 2 Lean Meat
LIGHT AND FAST RASPBERRY FOOL
This was in the September 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, ""This year, we're starting to make our own raspberry ice cream at Dirt Candy and will use Cascadian Farm Frozen Organic Red Raspberries," says Amanda Cohen of Dirt Candy restaurant in New York. "They're never bland—they have a pure raspberry flavor that rivals fresh berries. In fact, they're so sweet, they need little or no added sugar, even if you eat them plain." Try them in this dessert, and everyone will think you used fresh." Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 10-oz. bag Cascadian Farm Frozen Organic Red Raspberries
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups plain Greek-style nonfat yogurt
3 Tbs. honey
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 Tbs. grated orange zest
2 Tbs. sliced almonds
Bring raspberries and sugar to a boil in saucepan. Simmer 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl, and chill 10 minutes.
Whisk together yogurt, honey, almond extract, and zest in bowl. Fold 1 1/2 cups berry sauce into yogurt mixture, creating a marbled effect. Divide among bowls; garnish with almonds and leftover sauce.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 207; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 40 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 43 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 33 g; Gluten-Free
SIMPLE VEGGIE SKEWERS
Yield: 12 appetizers
Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/60.shtml
Print: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/779.shtml
Ingredients
1 medium-small zucchini squash
12 cubes (3/4-inches each) reduced-fat white cheddar, provolone, or Swiss cheese (about 3 ounces)
12 small whole fresh mushrooms
12 pitted jumbo black olives
12 cherry or grape tomatoes
12 wooden skewers (6-inches each)
1/2 cup light ranch salad dressing (optional)
Directions
Trim the ends off the zucchini, quarter it lengthwise, and cut into 3/4-inch pieces.
Thread 1 of the zucchini pieces, 1 cube of cheese, 1 mushroom, 1 olive, 1 tomato, and another zucchini piece onto each skewer.
Serve immediately (accompanied by the dressing if desired) or cover and chill for several hours before serving.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 58; Protein: 5 g; Sodium: 138 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Fat: 2.8 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 2 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Vegetable, 1/2 Medium-Fat Meat
CURRIED POTATOES
Also from the June 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 80. The recipe starts off, “Serve this dish on its own or with steamed rice.”
To view this online, click here.
1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil
2 medium onions, diced (3 cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
4 large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks
3 carrots, peeled & cut into 2-inch pieces (1 cup)
3 Tbs. Madras curry powder
1 15-oz. can black beans
3 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
2 jalapeno chiles, seeded & finely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions & garlic & cook 5 – 7 minutes, or until onions are soft & translucent. Stir in potatoes, carrots & curry powder & cook 4 minutes.
Add beans & their liquid, tomatoes, broth, jalapeno chiles, vinegar & 1 cup water; season with salt & pepper. Cover & simmer 45 minutes or until potatoes are flaky & carrots are cooked through, stirring occasionally.
Per serving: 282 cal; 9 g protein; 4 g total fat (0.5 g sat. fat); 55 g carb; 0 mg cholesterol; 499 mg sodium; 10 g fiber; 9 g sugars; vegan
THE ULTIMATE VEGGIE BURGER
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “You make a veggie burger because you want the hamburger experience without the meat. This one delivers. It’s got a firm, beefy texture that takes on the char and smoke of the grill, but is adaptable enough to cook inside on your stove. The enemy of a veggie burger is mushiness, which stems from a high moisture content. To combat that, the very watery ingredients – mushrooms, tofu, beans and beets – are roasted to both dehydrate them somewhat and intensify their flavors. Yes, the ingredient list here is long; you need a diverse lot to make a good veggie burger. And each one adds something in terms of flavor and/or texture. Garnish this any way you like, and don’t forget to toast the buns.” Yield: 6 burger.
This was featured in “The Ultimate Veggie Burger”, and can be found online here.
Also, there are two guides that went with this recipe that you might want to check out. The first is “How to Cook Beans”, and the second is “How to Grill”. Enjoy!
Ingredients
4 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained
Olive oil
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more as needed
Black pepper, as needed
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 medium beet, peeled and coarsely grated (3/4 cup)
3/4 cup tamari almonds or cashews
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
2 ounces Cotija cheese or queso blanco, crumbled or grated (about 1/2 cup)
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 scallions, sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon dulce pimentón or sweet smoked paprika
4 ounces tempeh, crumbled
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Slice tofu into 1/4-inch-thick slabs and pat dry with paper towel. Arrange tofu on one half of a rimmed baking sheet; brush both sides with oil. Spread mushrooms on the other half of the baking sheet; toss with 2 tablespoons oil and salt and pepper.
On a second rimmed baking sheet, toss beans and grated beet with 1 tablespoon oil and salt and pepper, then spread the mixture into one layer.
Transfer both baking sheets to the oven. Roast bean-beet mixture, tossing occasionally, until beans begin to split and beets are tender and golden, about 15 minutes. Roast mushrooms and tofu until golden and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 25 minutes. Let everything cool.
Place nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add cooled bean-beet mixture, mushrooms, tofu, panko, cheese, eggs, mayonnaise, scallion, garlic, pimentón and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Pulse until ingredients are just combined. Pulse in tempeh and rice but do not overprocess. You want small chunks, not a smooth mixture. Scrape mixture into a bowl and chill at least 2 hours or up to 5 days (you can also freeze the burger mix).
When you are ready to make the burgers, divide mixture into 6 equal portions and form each portion into a patty about 1 inch thick. Return to the fridge until just before grilling. They grill better when they start out cold.
Heat the grill. Cook the burgers over a low fire until they are charred on both sides and firm when you press on them, 4 to 6 minutes per side. If they start to burn before they firm up, move them to the sides of the grill to finish cooking over indirect heat. Alternatively, you can cook these on a grill pan or in a skillet over low heat.
EAST COAST GRILL’S CORNBREAD
This comes from Sam Sifton, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This corn bread, adapted from the one developed by Chris Schlesinger and served at his East Coast Grill in Cambridge, Mass., is lofty and sweet, crusty and cakelike, moist and ethereal. As Sam Sifton said in the 2012 article that accompanied the recipe, it is ‘the corn bread to become a child’s favorite, to become the only corn bread that matters. All else is not corn bread.’” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “The Corn Bread Matters Most”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.
ITALIAN SPINACH PIE
Makes: 8 servings
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/626.shtml
Source: Kraft
Ingredients
1 container (16 oz.) Breakstone's or Knudsen 2% Milkfat Low Fat Cottage Cheese
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1 cup Kraft Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 jar (7 oz.) roasted red peppers, well drained, chopped
1/3 cup Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
Options: Substitute 1/2 cup chopped red bell peppers for the roasted peppers.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Mix all ingredients until well blended.
Pour into greased 9-inch pie plate.
Bake 40 min. or until center is set.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 150; Protein: 15 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 450 mg; Cholesterol: 125 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable + 2 Lean Meat
LIGHT AND FAST RASPBERRY FOOL
This was in the September 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, ""This year, we're starting to make our own raspberry ice cream at Dirt Candy and will use Cascadian Farm Frozen Organic Red Raspberries," says Amanda Cohen of Dirt Candy restaurant in New York. "They're never bland—they have a pure raspberry flavor that rivals fresh berries. In fact, they're so sweet, they need little or no added sugar, even if you eat them plain." Try them in this dessert, and everyone will think you used fresh." Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 10-oz. bag Cascadian Farm Frozen Organic Red Raspberries
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups plain Greek-style nonfat yogurt
3 Tbs. honey
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 Tbs. grated orange zest
2 Tbs. sliced almonds
Bring raspberries and sugar to a boil in saucepan. Simmer 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl, and chill 10 minutes.
Whisk together yogurt, honey, almond extract, and zest in bowl. Fold 1 1/2 cups berry sauce into yogurt mixture, creating a marbled effect. Divide among bowls; garnish with almonds and leftover sauce.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 207; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 40 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 43 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 33 g; Gluten-Free
SIMPLE VEGGIE SKEWERS
Yield: 12 appetizers
Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/60.shtml
Print: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/779.shtml
Ingredients
1 medium-small zucchini squash
12 cubes (3/4-inches each) reduced-fat white cheddar, provolone, or Swiss cheese (about 3 ounces)
12 small whole fresh mushrooms
12 pitted jumbo black olives
12 cherry or grape tomatoes
12 wooden skewers (6-inches each)
1/2 cup light ranch salad dressing (optional)
Directions
Trim the ends off the zucchini, quarter it lengthwise, and cut into 3/4-inch pieces.
Thread 1 of the zucchini pieces, 1 cube of cheese, 1 mushroom, 1 olive, 1 tomato, and another zucchini piece onto each skewer.
Serve immediately (accompanied by the dressing if desired) or cover and chill for several hours before serving.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 58; Protein: 5 g; Sodium: 138 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Fat: 2.8 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 2 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Vegetable, 1/2 Medium-Fat Meat
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Wednesday Recipes
We're half-way through the work week. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Mediterranean Quinoa Stuffed Peppers and Vegetarian Dumplings. Enjoy!
SOY GOOD SMOOTHIE
This recipe, as well as the next one (Mango Madness), is from “20 Super Healthy Smoothie Recipes” on the Runner’s World website. Both are originally from The Editors of Prevention.
This one begins, “Skipping breakfast can leave you starving mid-morning—and reaching for the junk food temptations. Instead, sip this on-the-go soy smoothie.”
Servings: 1
1 cup calcium-fortified vanilla soy milk
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup corn flakes cereal
1 frozen banana, sliced
Combine the milk, blueberries, cereal, and banana in a blender for 20 seconds. Scrape down the sides and blend for an additional 15 seconds.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 350; Protein: 9 g; Carbs: 74 g; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 44 g; Total fat: 3.5 g; Saturated fat: 0.1 g; Sodium: 192 mg
MANGO MADNESS
This recipe begins, “Take advantage of a ripe mango’s disease-fighting ability with this delicious smoothie recipe.”
Servings: 2
1 can (8 oz) juice-packed pineapple chunks
1 cup fat-free frozen vanilla yogurt
1 large ripe mango, peeled and chopped
1 ripe banana, sliced
Crushed or cracked ice
Combine the pineapple (with juice), frozen yogurt, mango, and banana. Blend until smooth.
With the blender running, gradually drop in enough ice to bring the level up to 4 cups. Blend until the ice is pureéd.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 251; Protein: 6.5 g; Carbs: 60 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 50 g; Total fat: 0.5 g; Saturated fat: 0.2 g; Sodium: 68 mg
VEGETARIAN DUMPLINGS
While this comes from Alton Brown of The Food Network’s Good Eats, I originally saw it in the food section of Tampa Bay Times. Janet K. Keeler wrote for the Times for years, handling food and travel, and is a visiting assistant professor (as well as coordinator of the Food Writing and Photography Graduate Certificate) in the Journalism Department at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. She’s also the author of Cookielicious: 150 Fabulous Recipes to Bake & Share (One Tank Trips).
Total Time: 1 hr 2 minutes; Active Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 35 to 40 dumplings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/vegetarian-steamed-dumplings-recipe-1942919.
To view Janet’s article with this and several other dumpling recipes, click here.
1/2 pound firm tofu
1/2 cup coarsely grated carrots
1/2 cup shredded Napa cabbage
2 tablespoons finely chopped red pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped scallions
2 teaspoons finely minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Bowl of water, plus additional water for steamer
35 to 40 small dumpling wrappers
Nonstick vegetable spray, for the steamer
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
Cut the tofu in half horizontally and lay between layers of paper towels. Place on a plate, top with another plate, and place a weight on top (a 14-ounce can of vegetables works well). Let stand 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, cut the tofu into ¼-inch cubes and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the carrots, cabbage, red pepper, scallions, ginger, cilantro, soy sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, egg, salt, and pepper. Lightly stir to combine.
To form the dumplings, remove 1 wrapper from the package, covering the others with a damp cloth. Brush the edges of the wrapper lightly with water. Place 1/2 rounded teaspoon of the tofu mixture in the center of the wrapper. Shape as desired. Set on a sheet pan and cover with a damp cloth. Repeat procedure until all of the filling is gone.
Using a steaming apparatus of your choice, bring 1/4 to 1/2-inch of water to a simmer over medium heat. Spray the steamer's surface lightly with the non-stick vegetable spray to prevent sticking. Place as many dumplings as will fit into a steamer, without touching each other. Cover and steam for 10 to 12 minutes over medium heat. Remove the dumplings from the steamer to a heatproof platter and place in oven to keep warm. Repeat until all dumplings are cooked.
Makes at least 35 dumplings.
MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RN, LD on VeryWell.com. Kaleigh wrote, "When your blood pressure is high, it’s important to include plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and fiber in your diet. Stuffed bell peppers incorporate all of these into one convenient meal. This Mediterranean version includes whole grain quinoa, chickpeas, and plenty of vegetables, which all provide filling fiber. The bright red peppers and tomatoes also provide vitamins A and C and the antioxidant lycopene for a nutritious punch.
"Stuffed peppers are easy to prepare and hold up well in the refrigerator for lunches during the week. You can customize what you add to them. Switch up the grains with brown rice or farro if you have it, or add different beans and vegetables that need to be used up. You can also add cooked chicken or steak if you want to add a little more protein if you plan to eat the peppers by themselves."
Total Time: 35 min; Prep 10 min, Cook 25 min; Yield 2 peppers (346 calories)
To view this online, click here. To check out Kaleigh's website, go to Lively Table.
Ingredients
2 large red bell peppers
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup low sodium cooked chickpeas
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 tablespoons pine nuts
2 tablespoons sliced black olives
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Chopped parsley, for serving (optional)
PreparationHeat oven to 350F.
Cut bell peppers vertically down the center in half and remove stems and seeds. Place peppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
In a mixing bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Scoop mixture into pepper halves.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until peppers are soft but still hold their shape. Remove from oven and sprinkle with parsley before serving (optional).
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
You may use cooked brown rice or other grain, such as farro, in place of the quinoa.
Include any vegetables that you have in your refrigerator that need to be used.
Cooking and Serving Tips
Serve these stuffed peppers hot as a vegetarian dinner or cold as lunch.
Serve one pepper half as a side dish with grilled chicken or fish for a higher protein meal.
PENNE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PESTO
This is from the January 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Cubed butternut squash is a recent addition to most frozen food sections—and a welcome one since it eliminates all the peeling, scraping and slicing that go with fresh squash. (Fresh butternut squash will also work, though.)” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1/4 cup prepared pesto, divided
1 cup chopped frozen onions
1 1/4 lb. frozen diced butternut squash, about 4 cups
2/3 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
3/4 lb. whole-wheat penne
Heat 1 Tbs. pesto in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 6 minutes, or until softened. Stir in squash and broth. Cover, and cook over medium low 10 minutes, or until squash is tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, and divide among 4 bowls. Swirl remaining 1 Tbs. pesto into sauce, and season with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over pasta, and use remaining pesto to garnish each serving.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 489; Protein: 16 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 87 g; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Sodium: 332 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 7 g
CRUSTLESS SOUTHWESTERN MINI-QUICHES
This also comes from the January 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Frozen hash browns act as a crust for these spicy entrées that can also be made in individual pie dishes for a more quiche-like appearance. Serve with prepared salsa and slices of avocado.” Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
6 large eggs
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
1/2 medium red bell pepper, diced (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels, thawed if frozen
2 green onions (white and green parts), thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)
2 Tbs. chopped cilantro
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup low-fat milk
2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, drained, rinsed and minced, 2 tsp. sauce reserved
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat 6 6-oz. ramekins with cooking spray, and place on baking sheet. Whisk together 1 egg and 1/4 tsp. salt in medium bowl. Stir in shredded hash brown potatoes. Divide potato mixture evenly among prepared ramekins, pressing down to form crust. Bake 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Sprinkle each ramekin with bell pepper, corn, green onions and cilantro. Top with cheese.
Whisk together remaining eggs, milk, 3/4 tsp. salt, chiles and adobo sauce in medium bowl. Pour mixture over vegetables in ramekins. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 156; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Cholesterol: 223 mg; Sodium: 602 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 2 g
SOY GOOD SMOOTHIE
This recipe, as well as the next one (Mango Madness), is from “20 Super Healthy Smoothie Recipes” on the Runner’s World website. Both are originally from The Editors of Prevention.
This one begins, “Skipping breakfast can leave you starving mid-morning—and reaching for the junk food temptations. Instead, sip this on-the-go soy smoothie.”
Servings: 1
1 cup calcium-fortified vanilla soy milk
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup corn flakes cereal
1 frozen banana, sliced
Combine the milk, blueberries, cereal, and banana in a blender for 20 seconds. Scrape down the sides and blend for an additional 15 seconds.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 350; Protein: 9 g; Carbs: 74 g; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 44 g; Total fat: 3.5 g; Saturated fat: 0.1 g; Sodium: 192 mg
MANGO MADNESS
This recipe begins, “Take advantage of a ripe mango’s disease-fighting ability with this delicious smoothie recipe.”
Servings: 2
1 can (8 oz) juice-packed pineapple chunks
1 cup fat-free frozen vanilla yogurt
1 large ripe mango, peeled and chopped
1 ripe banana, sliced
Crushed or cracked ice
Combine the pineapple (with juice), frozen yogurt, mango, and banana. Blend until smooth.
With the blender running, gradually drop in enough ice to bring the level up to 4 cups. Blend until the ice is pureéd.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 251; Protein: 6.5 g; Carbs: 60 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 50 g; Total fat: 0.5 g; Saturated fat: 0.2 g; Sodium: 68 mg
VEGETARIAN DUMPLINGS
While this comes from Alton Brown of The Food Network’s Good Eats, I originally saw it in the food section of Tampa Bay Times. Janet K. Keeler wrote for the Times for years, handling food and travel, and is a visiting assistant professor (as well as coordinator of the Food Writing and Photography Graduate Certificate) in the Journalism Department at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. She’s also the author of Cookielicious: 150 Fabulous Recipes to Bake & Share (One Tank Trips).
Total Time: 1 hr 2 minutes; Active Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 35 to 40 dumplings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/vegetarian-steamed-dumplings-recipe-1942919.
To view Janet’s article with this and several other dumpling recipes, click here.
1/2 pound firm tofu
1/2 cup coarsely grated carrots
1/2 cup shredded Napa cabbage
2 tablespoons finely chopped red pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped scallions
2 teaspoons finely minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Bowl of water, plus additional water for steamer
35 to 40 small dumpling wrappers
Nonstick vegetable spray, for the steamer
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
Cut the tofu in half horizontally and lay between layers of paper towels. Place on a plate, top with another plate, and place a weight on top (a 14-ounce can of vegetables works well). Let stand 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, cut the tofu into ¼-inch cubes and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the carrots, cabbage, red pepper, scallions, ginger, cilantro, soy sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, egg, salt, and pepper. Lightly stir to combine.
To form the dumplings, remove 1 wrapper from the package, covering the others with a damp cloth. Brush the edges of the wrapper lightly with water. Place 1/2 rounded teaspoon of the tofu mixture in the center of the wrapper. Shape as desired. Set on a sheet pan and cover with a damp cloth. Repeat procedure until all of the filling is gone.
Using a steaming apparatus of your choice, bring 1/4 to 1/2-inch of water to a simmer over medium heat. Spray the steamer's surface lightly with the non-stick vegetable spray to prevent sticking. Place as many dumplings as will fit into a steamer, without touching each other. Cover and steam for 10 to 12 minutes over medium heat. Remove the dumplings from the steamer to a heatproof platter and place in oven to keep warm. Repeat until all dumplings are cooked.
Makes at least 35 dumplings.
MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RN, LD on VeryWell.com. Kaleigh wrote, "When your blood pressure is high, it’s important to include plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and fiber in your diet. Stuffed bell peppers incorporate all of these into one convenient meal. This Mediterranean version includes whole grain quinoa, chickpeas, and plenty of vegetables, which all provide filling fiber. The bright red peppers and tomatoes also provide vitamins A and C and the antioxidant lycopene for a nutritious punch.
"Stuffed peppers are easy to prepare and hold up well in the refrigerator for lunches during the week. You can customize what you add to them. Switch up the grains with brown rice or farro if you have it, or add different beans and vegetables that need to be used up. You can also add cooked chicken or steak if you want to add a little more protein if you plan to eat the peppers by themselves."
Total Time: 35 min; Prep 10 min, Cook 25 min; Yield 2 peppers (346 calories)
To view this online, click here. To check out Kaleigh's website, go to Lively Table.
Ingredients
2 large red bell peppers
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup low sodium cooked chickpeas
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 tablespoons pine nuts
2 tablespoons sliced black olives
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Chopped parsley, for serving (optional)
PreparationHeat oven to 350F.
Cut bell peppers vertically down the center in half and remove stems and seeds. Place peppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
In a mixing bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Scoop mixture into pepper halves.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until peppers are soft but still hold their shape. Remove from oven and sprinkle with parsley before serving (optional).
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
You may use cooked brown rice or other grain, such as farro, in place of the quinoa.
Include any vegetables that you have in your refrigerator that need to be used.
Cooking and Serving Tips
Serve these stuffed peppers hot as a vegetarian dinner or cold as lunch.
Serve one pepper half as a side dish with grilled chicken or fish for a higher protein meal.
PENNE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PESTO
This is from the January 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Cubed butternut squash is a recent addition to most frozen food sections—and a welcome one since it eliminates all the peeling, scraping and slicing that go with fresh squash. (Fresh butternut squash will also work, though.)” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1/4 cup prepared pesto, divided
1 cup chopped frozen onions
1 1/4 lb. frozen diced butternut squash, about 4 cups
2/3 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
3/4 lb. whole-wheat penne
Heat 1 Tbs. pesto in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 6 minutes, or until softened. Stir in squash and broth. Cover, and cook over medium low 10 minutes, or until squash is tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, and divide among 4 bowls. Swirl remaining 1 Tbs. pesto into sauce, and season with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over pasta, and use remaining pesto to garnish each serving.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 489; Protein: 16 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 87 g; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Sodium: 332 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 7 g
CRUSTLESS SOUTHWESTERN MINI-QUICHES
This also comes from the January 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Frozen hash browns act as a crust for these spicy entrées that can also be made in individual pie dishes for a more quiche-like appearance. Serve with prepared salsa and slices of avocado.” Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
6 large eggs
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
1/2 medium red bell pepper, diced (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels, thawed if frozen
2 green onions (white and green parts), thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)
2 Tbs. chopped cilantro
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup low-fat milk
2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, drained, rinsed and minced, 2 tsp. sauce reserved
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat 6 6-oz. ramekins with cooking spray, and place on baking sheet. Whisk together 1 egg and 1/4 tsp. salt in medium bowl. Stir in shredded hash brown potatoes. Divide potato mixture evenly among prepared ramekins, pressing down to form crust. Bake 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Sprinkle each ramekin with bell pepper, corn, green onions and cilantro. Top with cheese.
Whisk together remaining eggs, milk, 3/4 tsp. salt, chiles and adobo sauce in medium bowl. Pour mixture over vegetables in ramekins. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 156; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Cholesterol: 223 mg; Sodium: 602 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 2 g
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Black Bean Vegan Enchiladas and Ambrosia Cake.Enjoy!
BE DAZZLED CRANBERRY PUNCH
This is from Ocean Spray. Prep Time: 5 minutes plus freezing; Yield: Makes about 14 6-ounce servings
To view this yumminess, click here.
Ingredients
1 64-ounce bottle Ocean Spray® Cranberry Juice Cocktail
24 ounces club soda
8 ounces orange juice
Ice ring, garnish
Orange slices, garnish
Directions
Combine all ingredients, except garnishes, in a large punch bowl. Gently stir ingredients. Add ice ring and orange slices just before serving.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock. I omitted the chicken stock option, for obvious reasons.
AMBROSIA CAKE
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “If you love the combination of oranges, coconut and marshmallows found in a traditional ambrosia — the salad or dessert that often also contains pineapple, bananas, cherries and some kind of creamy dressing such as whipped cream or sour cream — you’ll adore this cake. The coconut is baked into the cake layers and used as a sweet, shaggy garnish, while the oranges (in this case, diminutive, seedless clementines) are juiced into curd and sliced fresh for the filling. Then, as a final, fluffy touch, a homemade marshmallow frosting tops it off. It may be a lot of work, but it’s an impressive result. And you can make the curd and cake a few days ahead. Just be sure to make the frosting and assemble everything within 8 hours of serving. Otherwise the fruit starts to break down and the icing may crystallize.”
Yield: 12 servings; Time: 3 hours
This was originally featured in “An Ambrosial Cake, and That’s Just the Filling” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 tablespoon coconut rum or dark rum (or use 1 teaspoon coconut extract)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil, melted and cooled (or use more butter)
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature, whites and yolks separated
1 1/4 teaspoons finely grated clementine zest (from about 2 clementines)
For the Filling:
1/3 cup fresh clementine juice (from about 4 clementines), plus 2 1/2 teaspoons finely grated clementine zest
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
4 large eggs
4 large egg yolks (reserve whites for frosting)
7 tablespoons sugar
Pinch kosher salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), cubed
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Frosting:
4 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch kosher salt
For Decorating and Assembling:
8 to 10 seedless clementines
1 1/2 to 3 cups shredded sweetened or unsweetened coconut, to taste
Strawberries, sliced (optional)
Preparation
Bake the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the middle. Butter two 9-inch cake pans and line with parchment paper on the bottom.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, coconut milk, rum and vanilla.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter, coconut oil and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time, then beat in zest. Beat in half the flour mixture, followed by half the milk mixture. Repeat, beating just until combined and scraping down bowl as necessary.
In a separate bowl, use an electric beater to whisk egg whites just until stiff peaks form. Fold into cake batter.
Divide batter between pans. Bake until lightly golden and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes, then unmold cakes and cool completely on rack. (Cakes can be made up to 2 days ahead; once cool, wrap in plastic and refrigerate.)
Meanwhile, make the filling: Bring clementine juice and lemon juice to a boil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, yolks, sugar and salt. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot juice into eggs, then return mixture to saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in butter and vanilla. Push through a strainer set over a medium bowl, and stir in clementine zest. Cover with plastic wrap directly on surface of curd and refrigerate until cold. (Curd can be made up to 5 days ahead.) Or to speed up cooling, set bowl of curd in a larger bowl filled with ice water and stir curd until very cold, 7 to 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
Prepare clementines for decorating the cake: Cut the top and bottom off a clementine and set it cut-side down on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut away peel and pith, following the curve of the fruit from top to bottom. Working over a bowl to catch the juices, carefully cut out each segment from the membrane; it should fall into the bowl as you cut. Lay segments out on paper towels to dry slightly while you cut remaining fruit.
Use a large knife to trim tops of cakes to level them, and cut both cakes in half horizontally to make layers.
Place a cake layer on a serving dish and spread a third of the curd over it, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Layer a third of the clementine segments on top of curd, spacing them evenly so cake will be balanced. Top with another layer, spread another third of curd over it, and layer with 1/2 cup shredded coconut. Top with cake layer, repeat curd and clementines, saving some clementines for top of cake. Place the remaining cake layer on top, and chill while making frosting.
Make the frosting: Bring a medium pot with 1 inch of water to boil. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and salt. Set bowl over simmering water and whisk constantly until eggs reach 160 degrees, or the sugar has melted. Remove from heat, and beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
Immediately spread frosting on cake and press coconut shreds into tops and sides. Top with clementine wedges and strawberries if using; serve within an hour or two. (Or, keep refrigerated for up to 8 hours and wait until just before serving to top with fresh fruit.)
TWICE BAKED POTATOES
This is from The Food Network and can be viewed online at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/twice-baked-potatoes-recipe-1942581.
Total Time: 1 hr 35 minutes; Active Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
Ingredients
4 large russet potatoes, each about 3/4 pound each, scrubbed and dried
2 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup sour cream
1 scallion, finely chopped
Freshly grated nutmeg, optional
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place the potatoes directly on the rack in the center of the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Pierce each potato in a couple spots with a fork and continue to bake until tender, about 30 minutes more. Remove potatoes from the oven, and turn the heat down to 375 degrees F.
Hold the potato with an oven-mit or towel, trim off the top of the potatoes to make a canoe-like shape. Reserve the tops. Carefully scoop out most of the potato into a bowl. Take care to leave enough potato in the skin so the shells stay together. Mash the potato lightly with fork along with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the butter and sour cream. Stir in the scallion, nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Season the skins with salt and pepper. Refill the shells with the potato mixture mounding it slightly. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the potato filling. Brush the reserved top with the remaining butter and season with salt and pepper.
Set the potatoes and lids on a baking sheet, and bake until heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
STONE FRUIT POUCHES
This is from Alton Brown on The Cooking Channel.
Total Timei: 25 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups crushed gingersnaps
4 apricots, pit removed and cut into eighths
4 plums, pit removed and cut into fourths
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar
Pinch salt
4 teaspoons lime zest
2 limes, juiced
4 teaspoons brandy
Directions
Heat coals of grill or fire pit. Cut 8 (18 by 18-inch) squares of aluminum foil. Lay down double thickness of foil and divide gingersnaps evenly among the 4 squares. Divide fruit evenly and place on top of gingersnaps. Dot with butter. In small bowl mix sugar, salt, and lime zest. Sprinkle sugar mixture evenly over fruit, drizzle with juice and brandy and seal packets. Once coals are ash covered, lay packets over them and cover with lid of grill. If cooking in a fire pit carefully try to partially bury packets in hot coals. Cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and open carefully, as steam inside packet is very hot. Serve on plates as is or spoon into shallow bowls and top with creme fraiche or ice cream.
BLACK BEAN VEGAN ENCHILADAS
This is from Joyce Gan, who describes herself as “the recipe developer, blog post writer, and food photographer behind LightOrangeBean.com. I am also a wife, mom of a 4-year-old, and resident of Michigan, USA.” She started Light Orange Bean in September 2014.
Prep time: 35 mins; Cook time: 25 mins; Total time: 1 hour; Serves: 4-6 servings
You can view this recipe on Light Orange Bean by going to http://lightorangebean.com/black-bean-vegan-enchiladas/.
Tools: 10”saute pan and spatula, strainer, knife and cutting board, potato masher, medium sized mixing bowl, 9”×13” baking dish, pastry brush, aluminum foil.
Ingredients
1 tbs canola oil
1 medium size yellow onion (finely chopped, approximately 8 oz)
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbs chili powder
2 tsp cumin powder
2 cups cooked black beans
1 tsp salt
2 cups tomato puree or 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce + 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup + 1 tbs chopped fresh cilantro
1 medium size jalapenos (seeded, finely chopped, approximately 1 oz)
8 oz vegan cheese (Mexican style GoVeggie preferred)
12-14 (5.5-inch) corn tortillas (gluten-free if desired)
Instructions
Heat oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic to cook until soft and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin powder, and salt. Cook another 2 minutes. Add the beans and tomato puree and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low. Mash the beans with a potato masher and simmer 5 minutes.
Remove the bean mixture from the heat and strain, reserving the sauce. Transfer the strained bean mixture to a medium bowl and mix together with 1/2 cup cilantro, jalapenos, and 4 oz of cheese.
Preheat oven to 350 °F.
Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Microwave 5 tortillas at a time or follow the package instructions to soften. Scoop about 1/4 cup bean mixture into each tortilla and roll it up tightly. Place the filled and rolled tortillas in the baking dish seam-side down. Finish all tortillas.
Dip the pastry brush in the sauce and brush the ends of each tortilla. Pour the remaining sauce evenly over the enchiladas.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the enchiladas, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, bake for additional 2-3 minutes until the cheese is slightly brown.
Garnish with the remaining cilantro before serving.
Notes
1. If there is any remaining bean mixture, it can be used as a filling in tortilla shells without any further cooking. Add lettuce if desired.
2. Due to different recipes of making tomato puree, the liquid content may vary. Gradually add excess water when making the bean mixture if necessary.
BE DAZZLED CRANBERRY PUNCH
This is from Ocean Spray. Prep Time: 5 minutes plus freezing; Yield: Makes about 14 6-ounce servings
To view this yumminess, click here.
Ingredients
1 64-ounce bottle Ocean Spray® Cranberry Juice Cocktail
24 ounces club soda
8 ounces orange juice
Ice ring, garnish
Orange slices, garnish
Directions
Combine all ingredients, except garnishes, in a large punch bowl. Gently stir ingredients. Add ice ring and orange slices just before serving.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock. I omitted the chicken stock option, for obvious reasons.
AMBROSIA CAKE
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “If you love the combination of oranges, coconut and marshmallows found in a traditional ambrosia — the salad or dessert that often also contains pineapple, bananas, cherries and some kind of creamy dressing such as whipped cream or sour cream — you’ll adore this cake. The coconut is baked into the cake layers and used as a sweet, shaggy garnish, while the oranges (in this case, diminutive, seedless clementines) are juiced into curd and sliced fresh for the filling. Then, as a final, fluffy touch, a homemade marshmallow frosting tops it off. It may be a lot of work, but it’s an impressive result. And you can make the curd and cake a few days ahead. Just be sure to make the frosting and assemble everything within 8 hours of serving. Otherwise the fruit starts to break down and the icing may crystallize.”
Yield: 12 servings; Time: 3 hours
This was originally featured in “An Ambrosial Cake, and That’s Just the Filling” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 tablespoon coconut rum or dark rum (or use 1 teaspoon coconut extract)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil, melted and cooled (or use more butter)
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature, whites and yolks separated
1 1/4 teaspoons finely grated clementine zest (from about 2 clementines)
For the Filling:
1/3 cup fresh clementine juice (from about 4 clementines), plus 2 1/2 teaspoons finely grated clementine zest
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
4 large eggs
4 large egg yolks (reserve whites for frosting)
7 tablespoons sugar
Pinch kosher salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), cubed
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Frosting:
4 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch kosher salt
For Decorating and Assembling:
8 to 10 seedless clementines
1 1/2 to 3 cups shredded sweetened or unsweetened coconut, to taste
Strawberries, sliced (optional)
Preparation
Bake the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the middle. Butter two 9-inch cake pans and line with parchment paper on the bottom.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, coconut milk, rum and vanilla.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter, coconut oil and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time, then beat in zest. Beat in half the flour mixture, followed by half the milk mixture. Repeat, beating just until combined and scraping down bowl as necessary.
In a separate bowl, use an electric beater to whisk egg whites just until stiff peaks form. Fold into cake batter.
Divide batter between pans. Bake until lightly golden and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes, then unmold cakes and cool completely on rack. (Cakes can be made up to 2 days ahead; once cool, wrap in plastic and refrigerate.)
Meanwhile, make the filling: Bring clementine juice and lemon juice to a boil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, yolks, sugar and salt. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot juice into eggs, then return mixture to saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in butter and vanilla. Push through a strainer set over a medium bowl, and stir in clementine zest. Cover with plastic wrap directly on surface of curd and refrigerate until cold. (Curd can be made up to 5 days ahead.) Or to speed up cooling, set bowl of curd in a larger bowl filled with ice water and stir curd until very cold, 7 to 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
Prepare clementines for decorating the cake: Cut the top and bottom off a clementine and set it cut-side down on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut away peel and pith, following the curve of the fruit from top to bottom. Working over a bowl to catch the juices, carefully cut out each segment from the membrane; it should fall into the bowl as you cut. Lay segments out on paper towels to dry slightly while you cut remaining fruit.
Use a large knife to trim tops of cakes to level them, and cut both cakes in half horizontally to make layers.
Place a cake layer on a serving dish and spread a third of the curd over it, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Layer a third of the clementine segments on top of curd, spacing them evenly so cake will be balanced. Top with another layer, spread another third of curd over it, and layer with 1/2 cup shredded coconut. Top with cake layer, repeat curd and clementines, saving some clementines for top of cake. Place the remaining cake layer on top, and chill while making frosting.
Make the frosting: Bring a medium pot with 1 inch of water to boil. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and salt. Set bowl over simmering water and whisk constantly until eggs reach 160 degrees, or the sugar has melted. Remove from heat, and beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
Immediately spread frosting on cake and press coconut shreds into tops and sides. Top with clementine wedges and strawberries if using; serve within an hour or two. (Or, keep refrigerated for up to 8 hours and wait until just before serving to top with fresh fruit.)
TWICE BAKED POTATOES
This is from The Food Network and can be viewed online at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/twice-baked-potatoes-recipe-1942581.
Total Time: 1 hr 35 minutes; Active Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
Ingredients
4 large russet potatoes, each about 3/4 pound each, scrubbed and dried
2 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup sour cream
1 scallion, finely chopped
Freshly grated nutmeg, optional
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place the potatoes directly on the rack in the center of the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Pierce each potato in a couple spots with a fork and continue to bake until tender, about 30 minutes more. Remove potatoes from the oven, and turn the heat down to 375 degrees F.
Hold the potato with an oven-mit or towel, trim off the top of the potatoes to make a canoe-like shape. Reserve the tops. Carefully scoop out most of the potato into a bowl. Take care to leave enough potato in the skin so the shells stay together. Mash the potato lightly with fork along with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the butter and sour cream. Stir in the scallion, nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Season the skins with salt and pepper. Refill the shells with the potato mixture mounding it slightly. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the potato filling. Brush the reserved top with the remaining butter and season with salt and pepper.
Set the potatoes and lids on a baking sheet, and bake until heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
STONE FRUIT POUCHES
This is from Alton Brown on The Cooking Channel.
Total Timei: 25 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups crushed gingersnaps
4 apricots, pit removed and cut into eighths
4 plums, pit removed and cut into fourths
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar
Pinch salt
4 teaspoons lime zest
2 limes, juiced
4 teaspoons brandy
Directions
Heat coals of grill or fire pit. Cut 8 (18 by 18-inch) squares of aluminum foil. Lay down double thickness of foil and divide gingersnaps evenly among the 4 squares. Divide fruit evenly and place on top of gingersnaps. Dot with butter. In small bowl mix sugar, salt, and lime zest. Sprinkle sugar mixture evenly over fruit, drizzle with juice and brandy and seal packets. Once coals are ash covered, lay packets over them and cover with lid of grill. If cooking in a fire pit carefully try to partially bury packets in hot coals. Cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and open carefully, as steam inside packet is very hot. Serve on plates as is or spoon into shallow bowls and top with creme fraiche or ice cream.
BLACK BEAN VEGAN ENCHILADAS
This is from Joyce Gan, who describes herself as “the recipe developer, blog post writer, and food photographer behind LightOrangeBean.com. I am also a wife, mom of a 4-year-old, and resident of Michigan, USA.” She started Light Orange Bean in September 2014.
Prep time: 35 mins; Cook time: 25 mins; Total time: 1 hour; Serves: 4-6 servings
You can view this recipe on Light Orange Bean by going to http://lightorangebean.com/black-bean-vegan-enchiladas/.
Tools: 10”saute pan and spatula, strainer, knife and cutting board, potato masher, medium sized mixing bowl, 9”×13” baking dish, pastry brush, aluminum foil.
Ingredients
1 tbs canola oil
1 medium size yellow onion (finely chopped, approximately 8 oz)
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbs chili powder
2 tsp cumin powder
2 cups cooked black beans
1 tsp salt
2 cups tomato puree or 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce + 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup + 1 tbs chopped fresh cilantro
1 medium size jalapenos (seeded, finely chopped, approximately 1 oz)
8 oz vegan cheese (Mexican style GoVeggie preferred)
12-14 (5.5-inch) corn tortillas (gluten-free if desired)
Instructions
Heat oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic to cook until soft and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin powder, and salt. Cook another 2 minutes. Add the beans and tomato puree and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low. Mash the beans with a potato masher and simmer 5 minutes.
Remove the bean mixture from the heat and strain, reserving the sauce. Transfer the strained bean mixture to a medium bowl and mix together with 1/2 cup cilantro, jalapenos, and 4 oz of cheese.
Preheat oven to 350 °F.
Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Microwave 5 tortillas at a time or follow the package instructions to soften. Scoop about 1/4 cup bean mixture into each tortilla and roll it up tightly. Place the filled and rolled tortillas in the baking dish seam-side down. Finish all tortillas.
Dip the pastry brush in the sauce and brush the ends of each tortilla. Pour the remaining sauce evenly over the enchiladas.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the enchiladas, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, bake for additional 2-3 minutes until the cheese is slightly brown.
Garnish with the remaining cilantro before serving.
Notes
1. If there is any remaining bean mixture, it can be used as a filling in tortilla shells without any further cooking. Add lettuce if desired.
2. Due to different recipes of making tomato puree, the liquid content may vary. Gradually add excess water when making the bean mixture if necessary.
Taco Tuesday!
Before I start today's post, I just want to say something to my friends, family, and everyone here in Florida: I hope you made it through Hurricane Irma okay. We were without power in my neighborhood for maybe 14-ish hours, had a bunch of tree limbs down, a few fences blown over, but other than that, nothing much. Hope you, too, were so lucky. We survived!
And now, on to today's post.
It's another Taco Tuesday. Here are six vegetarian taco recipes to help you through the day, including Spicy Thai Tacos and Zucchini & Crimini Tacos. Enjoy!
SPICY MOROCCAN CHICKPEA TACOS
This one, also from Vegetarian Times, begins, "For a switch from corn or flour tortillas, try these tacos wrapped in small, warmed whole pita rounds." Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (1 cup)
1 6-oz. pkg. chicken-style vegetarian strips, such as Lightlife Smart Strips
1 tsp. fennel seeds
1/2 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed, drained, and lightly mashed with fork
2 small carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch rounds (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 Tbs. harissa
1/3 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
Instructions:
Heat olive oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook 3 minutes, or until softened. Add chicken-style strips and fennel seeds, and cook 2 minutes. Stir in chickpeas, carrots, raisins, harissa, and 1/3 cup water. Cook 1 minute, or until sauce thickens slightly but carrots remain crisp. Stir in tomatoes, and immediately remove from heat. Fill tortillas with chickpea mixture, and serve warm.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 269; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 37 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 388 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 10 g
SPICY THAI TACOS
I originally found this at Oh My Veggies. The site has a mess of taco recipes from different places, which can be found http://ohmyveggies.com/vegetarian-taco-recipes/>here.
This from Spabettie and can be viewed online at https://www.spabettie.com/2012/09/18/spicy-thai-tacos-taco-tuesday/. This recipe is dairy and gluten free, and vegan.
Ingredients
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon sriracha
1 tablespoon sesame oil
juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon tamari
1 clove garlic, minced fine
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 block extra firm tofu, cut into strips
fresh corn, cut from cob
broccoli slaw
corn tortillas
Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, sriracha, sesame oil, lime juice, tamari, garlic, and chili powder. Arrange tofu strips on (prepared – silpat, parchment or spray) baking sheet, brush with marinade to coat completely (you will have extra marinade for sauce). Bake at 325 for 25 minutes – can also be grilled on an outdoor grill.
Serve in corn tortillas with fresh corn and broccoli slaw as garnish, drizzled with remaining marinade.
CRISPY THAI ROASTED CAULIFLOWER TACOS [VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE]
This comes from One Green Planet, and starts off, “These cauliflower tacos are an explosion of flavors and textures that will leave you wanting more. The crispy Thai cauliflower is mellowed by a tasty slaw and the whole taco is tied together with a delightful avocado-lime sauce. These tacos are sure to be crowd pleasers.”
This recipe is: Dairy-Free and Vegan; Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos:
1 tablespoon red curry paste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lime juice
4 cups cauliflower florets
2 teaspoon Thai seasoning (see below)
4 small, gluten-free tortillas
For the Slaw:
3 cups purple cabbage, shredded
1 carrot, shredded
3 tablespoon cilantro, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon flaked toasted coconut
2 teaspoon each extra virgin olive oil and lime juice
1 teaspoon agave
1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced
For the Avocado Lime Drizzle:
1 avocado, pitted
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup water
2 limes, peeled (flesh only – take the skin and white bits off with a knife)
For the Thai Seasoning:
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried lemon zest
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon ground coriander
A few pinches of dried chili flakes
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a bowl, whisk together the curry paste, olive oil, and lime juice to make a thinner paste.
Toss the cauliflower in the mixture and stir it to coat.
In a small jar, combine all spices for the Thai seasoning and shake them together to blend.
Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of the Thai seasoning over the cauliflower and stir it to coat.
Line a baking sheet with foil and scatter the cauliflower florets in a single layer.
Roast them for 15-20 minutes or until they are crispy.
Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for the cabbage slaw in a large bowl.
Stir the olive oil, lime juice, and agave together. Then, pour it over the slaw and stir everything in.
In a blender, puree all ingredients for the avocado drizzle. Transfer it to a bottle with a squeeze top, or a sealed jar as you’ll have extra to store in the fridge.
When the cauliflower is ready, remove it from the oven.
Divide the cabbage slaw between 3-4 tortillas, then evenly distribute the roasted cauliflower. Drizzle the tacos with avocado sauce and garnish with additional cilantro and toasted coconut if desired.
CHIPOTLE QUINOA SWEET POTATO TACOS WITH ROASTED CRANBERRY POMEGRANATE SALSA
I recently discovered Tieghan Gerard’s website, Half Baked Harvest. Some very yummy-looking recipes, including this one.
Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 a small sweet onion
1 clove garlic minced or grated
1 large sweet potato chopped (peel if desired)
salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa (I used red quinoa)
1 leaves can diced tomatoes (Optional; I normally these out, but sometimes add them)
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 canned chipotle chilies minced
1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo from the chipotle chili can
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne or to your taste
1 cup cooked black beans if using canned drain and rinse them
1 lime juiced
1 small bunch cilantro
6-8 four tortillas corn tortillas (warmed) or hard shell tacos (personally my family prefers hards shell, but all of them are good!), warmed
1 avocado sliced or diced, for topping
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese for topping
cotija cheese crumbled, for topping
Roasted Cranberry Pomegranate Salsa
12 ounces fresh cranberries
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 canned chipotle chili chopped
1 lime zested + juiced
1 clove garlic minced or grated
1 jalapeno chopped and seed removed if desired
the arils from 1 pomegranate (learn how to deseed a pomegranate here)
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make the salsa: Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Place the cranberries, brown sugar, chipotle chili, lime zest + juice, garlic, jalapeño and a pinch of salt and pepper. Use your hands to toss everything together until the cranberries are evenly coated. Place in the oven and roast until the cranberries burst and release their juices, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and and let cool 10 minutes. Then add the pomegranate arils and toss well. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if desired. Set aside and keep at room temperature.
While the cranberries are roasting start the tacos. Heat the olive oil over a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the onions and sweet potatoes and toss to coat. Cover the skillet and let cook until the sweet potatoes are fork tender, but not mushy, stirring once or twice for about 15 minutes. Once the sweet potatoes are fork tender, add the garlic and saute 30 seconds. Then crank up the heat to medium-high (adding more oil if needed) and add the quinoa. Let the quinoa get crispy and cook for about 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup water, tomatoes (if using), the chili powder, chipotle chilies, adobo sauce, smoked paprika, cumin, brown sugar and cayenne, stir to thoroughly combine and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the water has completely evaporated. Remove from the heat and stir in the black beans, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and the lime juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
To assemble the tacos place some of the quinoa in a tortilla or shell. Top with shredded cheddar cheese, avocado, a large dollop the the roasted cranberry salsa, crumbled catija cheese and fresh chopped cilantro. Take in their beauty and then EAT!
ZUCCHINI AND CRIMINI TACOS
I originally found this at Oh My Veggies. The site has a mess of taco recipes from different places, which can be found http://ohmyveggies.com/vegetarian-taco-recipes/>here.
From A Spicy Perspective at http://www.aspicyperspective.com/taco-recipe/. YIELD: 8-10 tacos; PREP TIME: 20 minutes; COOK TIME: 15 minutes
Ingredients
1 large onion, peeled, quartered and sliced thin
1 1/2 lbs. crimini mushrooms, sliced thin
2 zucchini, sliced thin
2 summer squash sliced thin
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tb. butter
1 Tb. cuban seasoning (McCormick makes a good one)
2 tsp. cumin
1/4 chipotle chili powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups crumbled California panela cheese (or queso fresco)
1 package corn tortillas
Directions:
Chop the veggies and leave in separate piles. Mix the salt and spices in a small bowl and sprinkle evenly over all the veggies.
Place 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet and heat to hight heat. Once the butter is melted, add the onions and garlic. Saute' for 1-2 minutes until just barely soft. Remove from the skillet and add 2 tablespoons of butter. Once the butter is melted, add the mushrooms and saute' and stir until brown and cooked through, about 5-8 minutes. Remove and add the last tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Add the zucchini and summer squash to the skillet. Saute' and stir for 2-3 minutes until golden, but just barley cooked through and still firm.
To serve, place a tortilla on a plate (you can double them up for extra stability) and load it with veggies. Top each taco with a generous sprinkling of crumbled panela cheese. Serve warm.
CHICKPEA TACOS
This comes from the March 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 36. It begins, “Turns out, tacos don’t have to be hot to be delicious. The chickpea-avocado mash used as a filling here is prepared and served at room temperature. (It makes a great sandwich spread as well.) Because the fat content of taco shells can vary, look for brands that contain approximately 6 grams or fewer per shell.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
4 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
8 corn taco shells
2 cups baby salad greens
1 cup prepared salsa (medium or hot)
1/2 cup nondairy sour cream
Place avocado in small bowl, and mash with fork. Stir in chickpeas, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic; season with salt and pepper.
Set taco shells in napkin-lined basket. Place salad greens, salsa, and sour cream in separate bowls, and set out alongside chickpea-avocado mash.
To serve, let each person build their own taco by filling each shell with 1/4 cup chickpea-avocado mash, some greens, salsa, and sour cream.
nutritional information Per Serving (2 tacos): Calories: 402; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 19 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 800 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
And now, on to today's post.
It's another Taco Tuesday. Here are six vegetarian taco recipes to help you through the day, including Spicy Thai Tacos and Zucchini & Crimini Tacos. Enjoy!
SPICY MOROCCAN CHICKPEA TACOS
This one, also from Vegetarian Times, begins, "For a switch from corn or flour tortillas, try these tacos wrapped in small, warmed whole pita rounds." Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (1 cup)
1 6-oz. pkg. chicken-style vegetarian strips, such as Lightlife Smart Strips
1 tsp. fennel seeds
1/2 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed, drained, and lightly mashed with fork
2 small carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch rounds (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 Tbs. harissa
1/3 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
Instructions:
Heat olive oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook 3 minutes, or until softened. Add chicken-style strips and fennel seeds, and cook 2 minutes. Stir in chickpeas, carrots, raisins, harissa, and 1/3 cup water. Cook 1 minute, or until sauce thickens slightly but carrots remain crisp. Stir in tomatoes, and immediately remove from heat. Fill tortillas with chickpea mixture, and serve warm.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 269; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 37 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 388 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 10 g
SPICY THAI TACOS
I originally found this at Oh My Veggies. The site has a mess of taco recipes from different places, which can be found http://ohmyveggies.com/vegetarian-taco-recipes/>here.
This from Spabettie and can be viewed online at https://www.spabettie.com/2012/09/18/spicy-thai-tacos-taco-tuesday/. This recipe is dairy and gluten free, and vegan.
Ingredients
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon sriracha
1 tablespoon sesame oil
juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon tamari
1 clove garlic, minced fine
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 block extra firm tofu, cut into strips
fresh corn, cut from cob
broccoli slaw
corn tortillas
Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, sriracha, sesame oil, lime juice, tamari, garlic, and chili powder. Arrange tofu strips on (prepared – silpat, parchment or spray) baking sheet, brush with marinade to coat completely (you will have extra marinade for sauce). Bake at 325 for 25 minutes – can also be grilled on an outdoor grill.
Serve in corn tortillas with fresh corn and broccoli slaw as garnish, drizzled with remaining marinade.
CRISPY THAI ROASTED CAULIFLOWER TACOS [VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE]
This comes from One Green Planet, and starts off, “These cauliflower tacos are an explosion of flavors and textures that will leave you wanting more. The crispy Thai cauliflower is mellowed by a tasty slaw and the whole taco is tied together with a delightful avocado-lime sauce. These tacos are sure to be crowd pleasers.”
This recipe is: Dairy-Free and Vegan; Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos:
1 tablespoon red curry paste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lime juice
4 cups cauliflower florets
2 teaspoon Thai seasoning (see below)
4 small, gluten-free tortillas
For the Slaw:
3 cups purple cabbage, shredded
1 carrot, shredded
3 tablespoon cilantro, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon flaked toasted coconut
2 teaspoon each extra virgin olive oil and lime juice
1 teaspoon agave
1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced
For the Avocado Lime Drizzle:
1 avocado, pitted
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup water
2 limes, peeled (flesh only – take the skin and white bits off with a knife)
For the Thai Seasoning:
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried lemon zest
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon ground coriander
A few pinches of dried chili flakes
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a bowl, whisk together the curry paste, olive oil, and lime juice to make a thinner paste.
Toss the cauliflower in the mixture and stir it to coat.
In a small jar, combine all spices for the Thai seasoning and shake them together to blend.
Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of the Thai seasoning over the cauliflower and stir it to coat.
Line a baking sheet with foil and scatter the cauliflower florets in a single layer.
Roast them for 15-20 minutes or until they are crispy.
Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for the cabbage slaw in a large bowl.
Stir the olive oil, lime juice, and agave together. Then, pour it over the slaw and stir everything in.
In a blender, puree all ingredients for the avocado drizzle. Transfer it to a bottle with a squeeze top, or a sealed jar as you’ll have extra to store in the fridge.
When the cauliflower is ready, remove it from the oven.
Divide the cabbage slaw between 3-4 tortillas, then evenly distribute the roasted cauliflower. Drizzle the tacos with avocado sauce and garnish with additional cilantro and toasted coconut if desired.
CHIPOTLE QUINOA SWEET POTATO TACOS WITH ROASTED CRANBERRY POMEGRANATE SALSA
I recently discovered Tieghan Gerard’s website, Half Baked Harvest. Some very yummy-looking recipes, including this one.
Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 a small sweet onion
1 clove garlic minced or grated
1 large sweet potato chopped (peel if desired)
salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa (I used red quinoa)
1 leaves can diced tomatoes (Optional; I normally these out, but sometimes add them)
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 canned chipotle chilies minced
1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo from the chipotle chili can
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne or to your taste
1 cup cooked black beans if using canned drain and rinse them
1 lime juiced
1 small bunch cilantro
6-8 four tortillas corn tortillas (warmed) or hard shell tacos (personally my family prefers hards shell, but all of them are good!), warmed
1 avocado sliced or diced, for topping
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese for topping
cotija cheese crumbled, for topping
Roasted Cranberry Pomegranate Salsa
12 ounces fresh cranberries
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 canned chipotle chili chopped
1 lime zested + juiced
1 clove garlic minced or grated
1 jalapeno chopped and seed removed if desired
the arils from 1 pomegranate (learn how to deseed a pomegranate here)
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make the salsa: Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Place the cranberries, brown sugar, chipotle chili, lime zest + juice, garlic, jalapeño and a pinch of salt and pepper. Use your hands to toss everything together until the cranberries are evenly coated. Place in the oven and roast until the cranberries burst and release their juices, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and and let cool 10 minutes. Then add the pomegranate arils and toss well. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if desired. Set aside and keep at room temperature.
While the cranberries are roasting start the tacos. Heat the olive oil over a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the onions and sweet potatoes and toss to coat. Cover the skillet and let cook until the sweet potatoes are fork tender, but not mushy, stirring once or twice for about 15 minutes. Once the sweet potatoes are fork tender, add the garlic and saute 30 seconds. Then crank up the heat to medium-high (adding more oil if needed) and add the quinoa. Let the quinoa get crispy and cook for about 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup water, tomatoes (if using), the chili powder, chipotle chilies, adobo sauce, smoked paprika, cumin, brown sugar and cayenne, stir to thoroughly combine and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the water has completely evaporated. Remove from the heat and stir in the black beans, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and the lime juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
To assemble the tacos place some of the quinoa in a tortilla or shell. Top with shredded cheddar cheese, avocado, a large dollop the the roasted cranberry salsa, crumbled catija cheese and fresh chopped cilantro. Take in their beauty and then EAT!
ZUCCHINI AND CRIMINI TACOS
I originally found this at Oh My Veggies. The site has a mess of taco recipes from different places, which can be found http://ohmyveggies.com/vegetarian-taco-recipes/>here.
From A Spicy Perspective at http://www.aspicyperspective.com/taco-recipe/. YIELD: 8-10 tacos; PREP TIME: 20 minutes; COOK TIME: 15 minutes
Ingredients
1 large onion, peeled, quartered and sliced thin
1 1/2 lbs. crimini mushrooms, sliced thin
2 zucchini, sliced thin
2 summer squash sliced thin
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tb. butter
1 Tb. cuban seasoning (McCormick makes a good one)
2 tsp. cumin
1/4 chipotle chili powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups crumbled California panela cheese (or queso fresco)
1 package corn tortillas
Directions:
Chop the veggies and leave in separate piles. Mix the salt and spices in a small bowl and sprinkle evenly over all the veggies.
Place 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet and heat to hight heat. Once the butter is melted, add the onions and garlic. Saute' for 1-2 minutes until just barely soft. Remove from the skillet and add 2 tablespoons of butter. Once the butter is melted, add the mushrooms and saute' and stir until brown and cooked through, about 5-8 minutes. Remove and add the last tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Add the zucchini and summer squash to the skillet. Saute' and stir for 2-3 minutes until golden, but just barley cooked through and still firm.
To serve, place a tortilla on a plate (you can double them up for extra stability) and load it with veggies. Top each taco with a generous sprinkling of crumbled panela cheese. Serve warm.
CHICKPEA TACOS
This comes from the March 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 36. It begins, “Turns out, tacos don’t have to be hot to be delicious. The chickpea-avocado mash used as a filling here is prepared and served at room temperature. (It makes a great sandwich spread as well.) Because the fat content of taco shells can vary, look for brands that contain approximately 6 grams or fewer per shell.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
4 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
8 corn taco shells
2 cups baby salad greens
1 cup prepared salsa (medium or hot)
1/2 cup nondairy sour cream
Place avocado in small bowl, and mash with fork. Stir in chickpeas, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic; season with salt and pepper.
Set taco shells in napkin-lined basket. Place salad greens, salsa, and sour cream in separate bowls, and set out alongside chickpea-avocado mash.
To serve, let each person build their own taco by filling each shell with 1/4 cup chickpea-avocado mash, some greens, salsa, and sour cream.
nutritional information Per Serving (2 tacos): Calories: 402; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 19 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 800 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
Monday, September 11, 2017
Monday Recipes
It's Monday, the beginning of the work and school week. Here are six yummy recipes to help you start your week off, including Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and Irish Honey Oat Quick Bread. Enjoy!
ROASTED AUTUMN VEGETABLE SOUP
This recipe is from an old Weight Watchers email, and begins, "This warm, comforting soup will stick to your ribs on cold days. Roasting the vegetables helps bring out their natural sweetness."
Points: 2 Servings: 8
Note: This recipe originally called for chicken broth, but I've substituted vegetable broth for that – for obvious reasons.
1 large onion(s), cut into large chunks
4 large carrot(s), peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
6 medium parsnip(s), peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
4 cup winter squash, such as butternut, peeled and cubed
2 sprays cooking spray
3 cup fat-free vegetable broth
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Preheat oven to 400ºF. In large roasting pan combine onion, carrots, parsnips and squash; coat with cooking spray. Roast for 15 minutes. Place vegetables in large pot. Add broth & milk; season to taste. Cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes to allow flavors to combine. Transfer mixture to blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender in pot, & blend until smooth. (Puree soup in batches if necessary to prevent hot liquid from splattering. Or allow soup to cool before pureeing.) Yields about 1-1/2 cups per serving.
You can add more water or broth to the pureed soup to achieve desired thickness.
SPICED CARROT SOUP
Another recipe from an old Weight Watchers email, this one begins, "Who says home cooking takes hours? We used canned carrots in this curry & chili powder-seasoned soup to save on both preparation & cooking times."
Points: 2 Servings: 4
2 tsp canola oil
1/4 cup shallot(s), or red onion, chopped
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/8 tsp chili powder, chipotle-variety
29 oz canned carrots, sliced (undrained)
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tsp fresh lemon juice, divided
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Heat oil in medium saucepan; add shallot, curry powder & chili powder. Cook over medium heat until shallot is tender, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Add carrots, including can liquid, to saucepan.
Pour buttermilk into saucepan; swirl milk in pan to ‘pick up’ any remaining spices. Add salt, pepper & 1 teaspoon of lemon juice; puree in saucepan using an immersion blender. (Or puree in batches in a blender, careful not to splatter hot liquid). Taste soup & add remaining teaspoon of lemon juice, if desired.
Divide soup among 4 bowls & garnish with sour cream. Yields about 1 cup of soup & 1 tablespoon of sour cream per serving.
We used canned carrots because they cut cooking time considerably (you may use fresh carrots though, if you prefer). If you prefer a tangy-tasting soup, swap 1/2 cup of buttermilk for 1/2 cup of plain fat-free yogurt (may affect POINTS values).
For a festive look, spoon sour cream in the center of each serving. Using a toothpick, draw out "spokes" of sour cream from the center to create a starburst design.
IRISH HONEY OAT QUICK BREAD
I'm not sure exactly where this recipe came from. Probably from the infamous long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
2 tablespoons plus 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats or quick-cooking (not instant) oats, divided
1 1/3 cups whole-wheat flour or white whole-wheat flour (see Tip)
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 8-ounce container (scant 1 cup) nonfat or low-fat plain yogurt
1 large egg
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup clover honey or other mild honey
3/4 cup nonfat or low-fat milk
Position rack in middle of oven; preheat to 375°F. Generously coat 9-by-5-inch (or similar size) loaf pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon oats in the pan. Tip pan back & forth to coat sides & bottom with oats; set aside another 1 tablespoon oats for garnishing the loaf.
Thoroughly stir together whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt in a large bowl. Using a fork, beat together the remaining 1 cup oats, yogurt, egg, oil & honey in medium bowl until well blended. Stir in milk. Gently stir the yogurt mixture into the flour mixture just until thoroughly incorporated but not over-mixed (excess mixing can cause toughening). Immediately scrape batter into the pan, spreading evenly to the edges. Sprinkle the reserved 1 tablespoon oats over top.
Bake loaf until well browned on top & a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. (It's normal for the top to crack.) Let stand in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a table knife around & under the loaf to loosen it & turn it out onto the rack. Let cool until barely warm, about 45 minutes.
Makes 12 slices; 4 points
Nutrition Information: Per slice: 192 calories; 6 g fat (0 g sat, 3 g mono); 18 mg cholesterol; 31 g carbohydrate; 6 g protein; 2 g fiber; 395 mg sodium; 64 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Iron (15% daily value).
2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat
TIP: White whole-wheat flour, made from a special variety of white wheat, is light in color and flavor but has the same nutritional properties as regular whole-wheat flour. Two companies that distribute the flour nationally are King Arthur Flour and Bob's Red Mill.
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Store cooled bread, tightly wrapped, for up to 1 day at room temperature. If desired, warm (wrapped in foil) at 375°F before serving.
This bread has a pleasant flavor and divinely moist, tender crumb. It goes well with almost any soup or chowder. Plus, the recipe requires minimal mixing and cleanup, calls for ingredients usually stocked in the pantry, and is tasty yet healthful.
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
12 oz uncooked macaroni, elbow-type
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
12 oz fat-free evaporated milk
8 oz low-fat cheddar or Colby cheese, shredded
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
2 Tbsp dried bread crumbs
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Cook pasta according to package directions without added fat or salt; drain & transfer to a large bowl. While pasta is still hot, stir in sour cream; set aside.
Heat milk in small saucepan over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear just around the edges. Reduce heat to low, add cheese & simmer until cheese melts, stirring constantly with wire whisk, about 2 minutes; remove from heat & stir in mustard, salt, pepper & nutmeg.
Add cheese mixture to pasta; mix well. Transfer to a 4-quart casserole dish. Combine bread crumbs & Parmesan cheese; sprinkle over pasta. Bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes. Yields about 1 cup per serving.
Serves: 8; 5 Points
HOMEMADE ROCKY ROAD ICE CREAM
This comes from the almost-infamous long-since-forgotten-email-list. While I don’t remember who sent this to the list, but whoever sent it in wrote, “I love this ice cream, very creamy and I'd say it tastes better than store bought. Hope you like it as much as we do!!” Time: 45 min; 5 min prep; serves 10 - 12
2 cups 2% low-fat milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows (or if you REALLY like them you can use half a bag like I do!)
2/3 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Mix all ingredients together in cylinder of ice cream maker; freeze according to manufacturers directions.
Allow to set in freezer for 2-4 hours.
ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Kraft, and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cups water, divided
1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked
2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided
1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded
Directions
Heat grill to medium-high heat.
Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.
Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).
ROASTED AUTUMN VEGETABLE SOUP
This recipe is from an old Weight Watchers email, and begins, "This warm, comforting soup will stick to your ribs on cold days. Roasting the vegetables helps bring out their natural sweetness."
Points: 2 Servings: 8
Note: This recipe originally called for chicken broth, but I've substituted vegetable broth for that – for obvious reasons.
1 large onion(s), cut into large chunks
4 large carrot(s), peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
6 medium parsnip(s), peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
4 cup winter squash, such as butternut, peeled and cubed
2 sprays cooking spray
3 cup fat-free vegetable broth
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Preheat oven to 400ºF. In large roasting pan combine onion, carrots, parsnips and squash; coat with cooking spray. Roast for 15 minutes. Place vegetables in large pot. Add broth & milk; season to taste. Cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes to allow flavors to combine. Transfer mixture to blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender in pot, & blend until smooth. (Puree soup in batches if necessary to prevent hot liquid from splattering. Or allow soup to cool before pureeing.) Yields about 1-1/2 cups per serving.
You can add more water or broth to the pureed soup to achieve desired thickness.
SPICED CARROT SOUP
Another recipe from an old Weight Watchers email, this one begins, "Who says home cooking takes hours? We used canned carrots in this curry & chili powder-seasoned soup to save on both preparation & cooking times."
Points: 2 Servings: 4
2 tsp canola oil
1/4 cup shallot(s), or red onion, chopped
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/8 tsp chili powder, chipotle-variety
29 oz canned carrots, sliced (undrained)
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tsp fresh lemon juice, divided
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Heat oil in medium saucepan; add shallot, curry powder & chili powder. Cook over medium heat until shallot is tender, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Add carrots, including can liquid, to saucepan.
Pour buttermilk into saucepan; swirl milk in pan to ‘pick up’ any remaining spices. Add salt, pepper & 1 teaspoon of lemon juice; puree in saucepan using an immersion blender. (Or puree in batches in a blender, careful not to splatter hot liquid). Taste soup & add remaining teaspoon of lemon juice, if desired.
Divide soup among 4 bowls & garnish with sour cream. Yields about 1 cup of soup & 1 tablespoon of sour cream per serving.
We used canned carrots because they cut cooking time considerably (you may use fresh carrots though, if you prefer). If you prefer a tangy-tasting soup, swap 1/2 cup of buttermilk for 1/2 cup of plain fat-free yogurt (may affect POINTS values).
For a festive look, spoon sour cream in the center of each serving. Using a toothpick, draw out "spokes" of sour cream from the center to create a starburst design.
IRISH HONEY OAT QUICK BREAD
I'm not sure exactly where this recipe came from. Probably from the infamous long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
2 tablespoons plus 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats or quick-cooking (not instant) oats, divided
1 1/3 cups whole-wheat flour or white whole-wheat flour (see Tip)
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 8-ounce container (scant 1 cup) nonfat or low-fat plain yogurt
1 large egg
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup clover honey or other mild honey
3/4 cup nonfat or low-fat milk
Position rack in middle of oven; preheat to 375°F. Generously coat 9-by-5-inch (or similar size) loaf pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon oats in the pan. Tip pan back & forth to coat sides & bottom with oats; set aside another 1 tablespoon oats for garnishing the loaf.
Thoroughly stir together whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt in a large bowl. Using a fork, beat together the remaining 1 cup oats, yogurt, egg, oil & honey in medium bowl until well blended. Stir in milk. Gently stir the yogurt mixture into the flour mixture just until thoroughly incorporated but not over-mixed (excess mixing can cause toughening). Immediately scrape batter into the pan, spreading evenly to the edges. Sprinkle the reserved 1 tablespoon oats over top.
Bake loaf until well browned on top & a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. (It's normal for the top to crack.) Let stand in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a table knife around & under the loaf to loosen it & turn it out onto the rack. Let cool until barely warm, about 45 minutes.
Makes 12 slices; 4 points
Nutrition Information: Per slice: 192 calories; 6 g fat (0 g sat, 3 g mono); 18 mg cholesterol; 31 g carbohydrate; 6 g protein; 2 g fiber; 395 mg sodium; 64 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Iron (15% daily value).
2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat
TIP: White whole-wheat flour, made from a special variety of white wheat, is light in color and flavor but has the same nutritional properties as regular whole-wheat flour. Two companies that distribute the flour nationally are King Arthur Flour and Bob's Red Mill.
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Store cooled bread, tightly wrapped, for up to 1 day at room temperature. If desired, warm (wrapped in foil) at 375°F before serving.
This bread has a pleasant flavor and divinely moist, tender crumb. It goes well with almost any soup or chowder. Plus, the recipe requires minimal mixing and cleanup, calls for ingredients usually stocked in the pantry, and is tasty yet healthful.
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
12 oz uncooked macaroni, elbow-type
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
12 oz fat-free evaporated milk
8 oz low-fat cheddar or Colby cheese, shredded
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
2 Tbsp dried bread crumbs
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Cook pasta according to package directions without added fat or salt; drain & transfer to a large bowl. While pasta is still hot, stir in sour cream; set aside.
Heat milk in small saucepan over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear just around the edges. Reduce heat to low, add cheese & simmer until cheese melts, stirring constantly with wire whisk, about 2 minutes; remove from heat & stir in mustard, salt, pepper & nutmeg.
Add cheese mixture to pasta; mix well. Transfer to a 4-quart casserole dish. Combine bread crumbs & Parmesan cheese; sprinkle over pasta. Bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes. Yields about 1 cup per serving.
Serves: 8; 5 Points
HOMEMADE ROCKY ROAD ICE CREAM
This comes from the almost-infamous long-since-forgotten-email-list. While I don’t remember who sent this to the list, but whoever sent it in wrote, “I love this ice cream, very creamy and I'd say it tastes better than store bought. Hope you like it as much as we do!!” Time: 45 min; 5 min prep; serves 10 - 12
2 cups 2% low-fat milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows (or if you REALLY like them you can use half a bag like I do!)
2/3 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Mix all ingredients together in cylinder of ice cream maker; freeze according to manufacturers directions.
Allow to set in freezer for 2-4 hours.
ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS
This is from Kraft, and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cups water, divided
1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked
2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided
1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded
Directions
Heat grill to medium-high heat.
Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.
Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).
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