It's almost Halloween. It doesn't seem possible that we're only a week-and-a-half away from November. Where did the year go?
If there's one thing we all need to do as time flies by, it's to take time to eat. And here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Creamy Baked Custard with Maple Syrup and Cream of Broccoli Soup. Enjoy!
PUMPKIN PATCH BROWNIES
This is from Lauren Miyashiro on Delish. The recipe begins, “The sweetest pumpkin patch you ever did see.”
Total Time: 1 hour; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 8 - 10.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 box brownie mix, plus required ingredients
1 c. white chocolate chips
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
green food coloring
1 can chocolate frosting
1 c. crushed oreos
Pumpkin candies
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° and line a 9-x-13” pan with parchment paper then grease with cooking spray. Prepare brownie batter according to package instructions. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until a toothpick has moist crumbs, 28 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely.
In a small bowl, combine white chocolate chips, vegetable oil and green food coloring. Microwave in 30-second intervals until melted. Stir until smooth then transfer to a small ziplock bag and cut the tip of one corner to pipe.
Spread chocolate frosting over the brownies, then sprinkle with crushed Oreos. Using the green chocolate, pipe vines over the surface of the brownies, then scatter pumpkin candies on top of the brownies.
Slice into squares and serve.
CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUP
This is from Kraft, and begins, “Follow this Cream of Broccoli Soup Recipe — you won't be disappointed! This velvety soup with chopped broccoli and creamy cheeses is a real crowd favorite!”
Prep Time: 30min.; Total Time: 30min.; Servings: 5 servings, about 1 cup each.
Ingredients
1/4 cup chopped onions
1 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1 Tbsp. flour
2 cups milk
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cubed
1/2 lb. (8 oz.) VELVEETA®, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped broccoli, cooked, drained
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. pepper
Directions
Cook and stir onions in butter in medium saucepan on medium-high heat 3 to 5 min. or until onions are crisp-tender. Whisk in flour until blended.
Stir in milk; cook on medium heat 2 min., stirring occasionally. Add cream cheese; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until melted.
Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Cook 5 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
CREAMY BAKED CUSTARD WITH MAPLE SYRUP
This is from Diabetes Self-Management and can be found online at https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/recipes/desserts-sweets/creamy-baked-custard-with-maple-syrup/
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups fat-free half-and-half
1/2 cup cholesterol-free egg substitute
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
Dash ground nutmeg
3 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly spray 6 custard cups or ramekins with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine half-and-half, egg substitute, sugar, vanilla, and nutmeg in large bowl. Pour into prepared custard cups.
Pour boiling water into 13×9-inch baking dish. Place custard cups in dish. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes. (Centers will not be completely set.) Remove cups from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.
Drizzle with maple syrup before serving.
Yield: 6 servings. Serving size: 6 ounces
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 131 calories, Carbohydrates: 23 g, Protein: 5 g, Fat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 17 mg, Sodium: 139 mg, Fiber: 0 g
Exchanges per serving: 1 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Meat.
LOW-FAT VEGAN EGGPLANT LASAGNA
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian food expert. She writes, "A wonderful vegetarian lasagna recipe full of healthy spinach and eggplant. This vegetarian and vegan lasagna recipe uses no cheese, making it both vegan and dairy-free, as well as much lower in fat than a traditional lasagna." Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium eggplant, diced
2 10 ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, defrosted
1 64 ounce jar pre-made tomato sauce
1 pound lasagna noodles
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Sautee the garlic for two minutes, then add the eggplant and stir. Cover the frying pan and cook until the eggplant is just tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Cover the bottom of a 9x12 inch baking pan with 2 cups of the tomato sauce, then cover the tomato sauce with 4 or 5 uncooked noodles. Cover this with a thin layer of sauce, then add the cooked eggplant and another thin layer of sauce. Add another layer of noodles followed by a thing layer of sauce, then the spinach and another thin layer of sauce. Add the remaining noodles and sauce.
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45-50 minutes. Noodles are cooked when they can be pierced with a fork.
Makes six servings of eggplant and spinach lasagna. Reprinted with permission from The Compassionate Cook Cookbook.
Nutritional information, per serving: Calories: 347, Calories from Fat: 41; % Daily Value: Total Fat: 4.6g, 7%, Total Carbohydrates: 65.8g, 22%, Dietary Fiber: 9.2g, 37%, Protein: 16.3g, Vitamin A 199%, Vitamin C 83%, Calcium 14%, Iron 32%
HOME/MADE MUSHROOM LASAGNA
This comes from Sam Sifton at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Monica Byrne, with her partner, Leisah Swenson, runs a tiny restaurant in Red Hook, Brooklyn, called Home/Made. A plurality of words that appear on the Home/Made menu: ‘cheese,’ ‘smoked,’ ‘bacon,’ ‘caramelized.’ Three of those four appear in Byrne’s lasagna, leaving out only bacon, which would be a fine addition. She layers smoked mozzarella over a painting of rich, garlicky béchamel and sheets of pasta, then radicchio roasted into sweetness and tossed in sauce. Sautéed mushrooms add heft and loamy funkiness, and a mixture of Fontina and Gruyère add zing.”
Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 2 hours
This was featured in “Gooey Wild-Mushroom Lasagna” and can be viewed onlinehere.
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil or herb oil
6 large shallots, peeled and minced
1 1/2 pounds mushrooms, wild or best available oyster, shiitake, cremini, trimmed and sliced
1 cup dry white wine
1 softball-size head of radicchio, halved, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices
Kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, or herb oil
3 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced
4 tablespoons flour, ideally instant or all-purpose
3 cups whole milk
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated
1 cup Fontina cheese, grated
2 tablespoons best-quality truffle oil (optional)
2 9-ounce boxes of no-boil lasagna sheets
1 baseball-size ball of smoked mozzarella, sliced
1 cup fresh Parmesan, grated
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add 1/4 cup of the olive oil or herb oil. When it begins to shimmer, add half of the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent. Add mushrooms and toss to coat, then cook until they begin to color but are still plump, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Add white wine to deglaze pan and allow to cook down into a syrup, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Put the mushrooms into a large bowl and reserve.
Meanwhile, in another bowl, toss the radicchio with 1/4 cup olive oil or herb oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread the strips out onto a baking pan and place in the oven until the strips are lightly browned around the edges, approximately 15 minutes. Combine with mushrooms and reserve.
Make the béchamel. Place a saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter. When it foams, add the rest of the shallots and cook until they begin to turn translucent. Add the garlic and stir to combine, then cook until the garlic has started to soften. Sprinkle flour over the top and stir to combine, then cook gently until the mixture has turned light brown and gives off a nutty scent, approximately 10 minutes. Add milk to the mixture, whisking all the while, until the sauce is thick and creamy. Add the nutmeg and 1/4 cup of grated Gruyère and 1/4 cup of grated Fontina, then stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Reserve a cup of béchamel. Pour the rest over the mixture of mushrooms and radicchio, and stir to combine. Add truffle oil, if using.
Assemble lasagna. Spread plain béchamel across the bottom of a 9- by-13-inch baking pan. Place a layer of lasagna sheets across the sauce, being careful not to overlap. Spread a generous layer of mushroom mixture on top of the pasta, and follow with some grated Fontina and Gruyère. Put another layer of pasta above the cheese, and top with smoked mozzarella. Repeat until the pasta is gone and the pan is full. Top with remaining cheeses and a generous amount of grated Parmesan. Cover with a buttered sheet of aluminum foil and place in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove foil and cook until top is golden and bubbling.
GLAZED CARROTS WITH ORANGE AND GINGER
This comes from Mark Bittman at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “When carrots are cooked, it’s often a sad affair. They are boiled to death and presented almost as an apology. Yet when they’re treated with the respect they deserve, even ordinary supermarket carrots can be among the most reliable and enjoyable of vegetables, especially from fall through spring. This braise-and-glaze technique can be varied at will and can also be used with other roots, like beets, turnips and radishes. Once you have the hang of the technique, changing the flavorings is a snap. Try substituting a mixture of half balsamic vinegar, half water or soy sauce similarly diluted for the orange juice, adding a few cloves of peeled garlic with the carrots. Or add a half cup or so of chopped onions, shallots, scallions or leeks, or of chopped pitted dates or raisins, dried currants or even dried tomatoes.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “Versatile Carrots, Repectfully Braised” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 pound carrots, trimmed and peeled if necessary, cut into 1/4-inch coins or sticks
2 tablespoons butter or extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced or grated peeled fresh ginger
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Chopped fresh parsley, dill, mint, basil or chervil leaves for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Combine all ingredients except lemon juice and garnish in a saucepan no more than 6 inches across. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring to coat, then adjust heat so mixture simmers. Cover.
Cook, more or less undisturbed, until carrots are tender and liquid is almost gone, 10 to 20 minutes. Uncover and boil off remaining liquid, then add lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot or within an hour or two, garnished with herbs, if you like.
Vegetarian Recipes, along with occasional photos, tips (becoming a vegetarian, degrees of vegetarianism, products, being a vegetarian in a houseful of carnivores) and helpful hints. Not sure about becoming a vegetarian? Try a Meatless Monday (or any other day of the week). Helpful hints and recipes for good eating, any time.
Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Pumpkins
There are so many things to love about autumn - cooler weather, all the upcoming holidays, the food...
Pumpkin is one of those wonderful fall foods. True, you can find canned pumpkin pretty much year-round, so there's no reason why you can't fix pumpkin pie or any other wonderful recipe that uses pumpkin almost any time.
Pumpkins

But there's also something to be said about fresh pumpkins. Fresh is almost always wonderful, even if a little more work-intensive.
I could go on (and on) about pumpkins, but I'll simply say that here are today's six pumpkin recipes, including Ginger Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta. Enjoy!
PUMPKIN PUDDING
This comes from the January 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “The holidays are fading fast, but that doesnt mean that the seasons favoritespumpkins and cranberrieshave to go with them. This easy-to-assemble pudding is just as good warm or chilled.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/pumpkin-pudding/.
2 cups vanilla soymilk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup instant tapioca pearls
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, or to taste
Pinch of salt
1 15-oz. can pumpkin purée
2 cups mixed dried fruits, including cranberries, raisins and apples
1 cup toasted pecan halves, as garnish, optional
Put 1 1/2 cups soymilk and vanilla extract into saucepan, and stir in tapioca pearls. Stir remaining 1/2 cup soymilk with cornstarch, and, when well mixed, stir cornstarch mixture into tapioca mixture. Let sit 5 minutes.
Heat soymilk mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until pudding begins to thicken, about 7 minutes. Whisk in sugar and salt, stirring to remove any lumps.
Stir in pumpkin purée and dried fruit. Continue cooking and stirring 2 minutes more. Remove from heat, and spoon into heatproof serving bowl. Serve warm, or refrigerate.
To serve, garnish with toasted pecans, if using.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 290; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 67 g; Sodium: 150 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 41 g; Vegan
GINGER PUMPKIN PIE
Kathy Kingsley is About.com's American Food expert. She writes, “Flavored with fresh ginger and honey, this pumpkin pie is sure to become one of your go-to holiday recipes.” Prep Time: 35 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 85 minutes; Yield: Serves 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Pastry
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
3 tablespoons ice water
Pumpkin Filling
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 16-ounce can solid-pack pumpkin
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
1/4 teaspoon salt
Honey Whipped Cream
3/4 cup heavy or whipping cream, chilled
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Make the pastry dough: Combine the flour, sugar, vegetable shortening, and butter in a food processor and pulse on/off until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. With the motor running, add the ice water through the feed tube, and process just until the dough leaves the sides of the bowl and forms a ball.
Press the dough into a ball, then flatten it into a disc, about 1-inch thick.
On a lightly floured surface using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out into a 12-inch circle. Line a 9-inch pie pan with the dough. Turn the edges under, and crimp or flute the crust. Set the pie shell on a rimmed baking sheet.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until blended. Brush about teaspoon of the egg around the edge of the crust.
Add the pumpkin, milk, honey, sugar, ginger, pumpkin pie spice and salt to the eggs, and mix until well blended. Pour the filling into the pie crust.
Bake the pie for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the filling is set. If the edges become too dark during baking, carefully cover them with foil strips (see Recipe Notes). Set the pie on a wire rack to cool. If not serving right away, cover and chill.
When ready to serve, make the honey whipped cream. Put the cream into a medium bowl. Add the honey and vanilla and beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form when the beaters are lifted. Serve the pie topped with the whipped cream.
Recipe Notes
• To make a foil collar to prevent edges of pie from browning too much, fold a 12-inch-long piece of foil into a strip with 3-inch-high sides. Stand the strip on the oven rack around the pie dish. Secure the overhang with a paper clip. The collar doesn't have to touch or cover the crust to protect it.
It's the Great Pumpkin! - Pumpkins in front of Earth Fare in Seminole, Florida.

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES
This comes from AccentHealth. The website has health info, including healthy recipes. Check it out!
Makes 4 to 5 Servings
To view this online, click http://www.accenthealth.com/Viewers/Programming/Recipes/Pumpkin-Pancakes
Credits: Recipe Created by Liz Weiss, MS, RD, co-author, No Whine with Dinner: 150 Healthy, Kid-Tested Recipes from The Meal Makeover Moms
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed or wheat germ
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, beaten
1 1/3 cups 1% low-fat milk
1/2 cup canned 100% pure pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, flaxseed, sugar, chocolate chips, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, pumpkin, and vanilla until well blended. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Lightly oil or coat a large nonstick skillet or griddle with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Pour the batter onto the hot skillet using a 1/4-cup measuring cup, forming 4-inch pancakes.
Cook until bubbles begin to appear on the surface of the pancakes and the bottoms turn golden, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until the other sides are golden, an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat with the remaining cooking spray and batter.
Nutrition: 280 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated, 0.7g omega-3), 330mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, 11g protein, 80% vitamin A, 25% calcium, 15% iron
ROASTED PUMPKIN AND LEEK SOUP
This comes from Jen Hoy, About.com’s Whole Foods Cooking expert. Jen wrote, “This roasted pumpkin and leek soup brings the quintessential flavors of fall to the table. It's an easy recipe and can be made with Cinderella pumpkin (pictured), the small, richly flavored sugar pumpkin, or from Hokkaido squash, Red Kuri, Kabocha, or any other deep orange, dense squash. Orange squash and pumpkin are marvelously rich in nutrients, especially beta-carotene, and very nourishing to the spleen and stomach. Roasting the vegetables creates a rich and more complex flavor, and actually makes for an easy soup: all you do is add water to the roasted veggies. You can add a dab of Romesco Sauce when serving to give a bit of extra richness to the soup, but we like it as is!” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 70 minutes; Yield: Serves 4 - 6.
The recipe originally called for 6 cups water, vegetable broth, or chicken broth. For this blog, I'm leaving out the “or chicken broth.”
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds pumpkin or deep orange squash, peeled and cut into 1” chunks* (See note below)
1 large onion, cut into 1” chunks
2 carrots, scrubbed and chopped
2 leeks, washed well and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 cups water or Vegetable Broth
1 branch of fresh thyme
2 teaspoons ground cumin, curry or other spice as desired
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit.
*Note: If you don’t want to peel the squash ahead of time, cut it into larger (3-inch or so) pieces and remove the skin before adding it to the soup pot. Unlike raw, cooked squash is very easy to peel.
Toss the vegetables with the olive oil in a roasting pan and spread them out corner to corner. Roast the vegetables in the middle of the oven for 35 minutes, or until they are beginning to soften and take a bit of golden color.
Remove the tray from the oven. (If you need to peel the squash, let the vegetables sit until the pumpkin is cool enough to handle).
Place the veggies in a soup pot with water or broth to cover and add the thyme and desired spices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the vegetables are very soft. Puree the soup with an immersion or standard blender, season to taste and serve.
PUMPKIN ALREDO PASTA
This is from Delish, and begins, “This gourd-eous pasta is irresistibly creamy.” Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
kosher salt
1 lb. pasta
extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. sage leaves
Flaky sea salt
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 15-oz. can pumpkin purée
1/4 c. dry white wine
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into slices and chilled
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan
1 c. sour cream
Directions
Bring an 8-quart stock pot of water to a boil and generously season with salt. Cook pasta according to al dente package directions.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium-high heat add 4 to 5 tablespoon olive oil; when oil is hot but not smoking add dry sage leaves and fry 4 to 5 seconds until crispy. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle with sea salt; set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat sauté onions and garlic, about 1 minute. Add pumpkin and white wine and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in cheese and butter until melted and creamy. Stir in sour cream and pasta until well coated.
Garnish with fried sage leaves and serve.
VEGAN PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE BROWNIES
This is from Alissa Saenz at Connoisseurus Veg, and starts off, “Fudgy chocolate chip-studded vegan brownies are topped with a layer of luscious cashew cheesecake to make this decadent and totally vegan fall dessert.”
Servings: 16; Calories 254 kcal; Author Alissa Saenz
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Brownie Layer
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup organic granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
For the Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer
1 cup raw cashews, soaked in water 4-8 hours and drained
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons powdered ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350° and lightly oil a 9 x 9 inch baking pan.
To make the brownie layer, stir the coconut oil, pumpkin puree, vanilla and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir just until fully blended. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Spread the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan and bake just until set in the center, 18-20 minutes.
While the brownie layer bakes, place all ingredients for the cheesecake layer except for the chocolate chips into the bowl of a food processor fitted with an S-blade. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Remove the blade or transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the chocolate chips.
When the brownie layer is set, remove the pan from the oven and spread the cheesecake mixture over top. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the cheesecake layer is set, 22-24 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool completely. Cut into 16 squares and serve.
Pumpkin is one of those wonderful fall foods. True, you can find canned pumpkin pretty much year-round, so there's no reason why you can't fix pumpkin pie or any other wonderful recipe that uses pumpkin almost any time.
Pumpkins

But there's also something to be said about fresh pumpkins. Fresh is almost always wonderful, even if a little more work-intensive.
I could go on (and on) about pumpkins, but I'll simply say that here are today's six pumpkin recipes, including Ginger Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta. Enjoy!
PUMPKIN PUDDING
This comes from the January 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “The holidays are fading fast, but that doesnt mean that the seasons favoritespumpkins and cranberrieshave to go with them. This easy-to-assemble pudding is just as good warm or chilled.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/pumpkin-pudding/.
2 cups vanilla soymilk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup instant tapioca pearls
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, or to taste
Pinch of salt
1 15-oz. can pumpkin purée
2 cups mixed dried fruits, including cranberries, raisins and apples
1 cup toasted pecan halves, as garnish, optional
Put 1 1/2 cups soymilk and vanilla extract into saucepan, and stir in tapioca pearls. Stir remaining 1/2 cup soymilk with cornstarch, and, when well mixed, stir cornstarch mixture into tapioca mixture. Let sit 5 minutes.
Heat soymilk mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until pudding begins to thicken, about 7 minutes. Whisk in sugar and salt, stirring to remove any lumps.
Stir in pumpkin purée and dried fruit. Continue cooking and stirring 2 minutes more. Remove from heat, and spoon into heatproof serving bowl. Serve warm, or refrigerate.
To serve, garnish with toasted pecans, if using.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 290; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 67 g; Sodium: 150 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 41 g; Vegan
GINGER PUMPKIN PIE
Kathy Kingsley is About.com's American Food expert. She writes, “Flavored with fresh ginger and honey, this pumpkin pie is sure to become one of your go-to holiday recipes.” Prep Time: 35 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 85 minutes; Yield: Serves 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Pastry
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
3 tablespoons ice water
Pumpkin Filling
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 16-ounce can solid-pack pumpkin
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
1/4 teaspoon salt
Honey Whipped Cream
3/4 cup heavy or whipping cream, chilled
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Make the pastry dough: Combine the flour, sugar, vegetable shortening, and butter in a food processor and pulse on/off until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. With the motor running, add the ice water through the feed tube, and process just until the dough leaves the sides of the bowl and forms a ball.
Press the dough into a ball, then flatten it into a disc, about 1-inch thick.
On a lightly floured surface using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out into a 12-inch circle. Line a 9-inch pie pan with the dough. Turn the edges under, and crimp or flute the crust. Set the pie shell on a rimmed baking sheet.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until blended. Brush about teaspoon of the egg around the edge of the crust.
Add the pumpkin, milk, honey, sugar, ginger, pumpkin pie spice and salt to the eggs, and mix until well blended. Pour the filling into the pie crust.
Bake the pie for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the filling is set. If the edges become too dark during baking, carefully cover them with foil strips (see Recipe Notes). Set the pie on a wire rack to cool. If not serving right away, cover and chill.
When ready to serve, make the honey whipped cream. Put the cream into a medium bowl. Add the honey and vanilla and beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form when the beaters are lifted. Serve the pie topped with the whipped cream.
Recipe Notes
• To make a foil collar to prevent edges of pie from browning too much, fold a 12-inch-long piece of foil into a strip with 3-inch-high sides. Stand the strip on the oven rack around the pie dish. Secure the overhang with a paper clip. The collar doesn't have to touch or cover the crust to protect it.
It's the Great Pumpkin! - Pumpkins in front of Earth Fare in Seminole, Florida.

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES
This comes from AccentHealth. The website has health info, including healthy recipes. Check it out!
Makes 4 to 5 Servings
To view this online, click http://www.accenthealth.com/Viewers/Programming/Recipes/Pumpkin-Pancakes
Credits: Recipe Created by Liz Weiss, MS, RD, co-author, No Whine with Dinner: 150 Healthy, Kid-Tested Recipes from The Meal Makeover Moms
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed or wheat germ
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, beaten
1 1/3 cups 1% low-fat milk
1/2 cup canned 100% pure pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, flaxseed, sugar, chocolate chips, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, pumpkin, and vanilla until well blended. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Lightly oil or coat a large nonstick skillet or griddle with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Pour the batter onto the hot skillet using a 1/4-cup measuring cup, forming 4-inch pancakes.
Cook until bubbles begin to appear on the surface of the pancakes and the bottoms turn golden, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until the other sides are golden, an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat with the remaining cooking spray and batter.
Nutrition: 280 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated, 0.7g omega-3), 330mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, 11g protein, 80% vitamin A, 25% calcium, 15% iron
ROASTED PUMPKIN AND LEEK SOUP
This comes from Jen Hoy, About.com’s Whole Foods Cooking expert. Jen wrote, “This roasted pumpkin and leek soup brings the quintessential flavors of fall to the table. It's an easy recipe and can be made with Cinderella pumpkin (pictured), the small, richly flavored sugar pumpkin, or from Hokkaido squash, Red Kuri, Kabocha, or any other deep orange, dense squash. Orange squash and pumpkin are marvelously rich in nutrients, especially beta-carotene, and very nourishing to the spleen and stomach. Roasting the vegetables creates a rich and more complex flavor, and actually makes for an easy soup: all you do is add water to the roasted veggies. You can add a dab of Romesco Sauce when serving to give a bit of extra richness to the soup, but we like it as is!” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 70 minutes; Yield: Serves 4 - 6.
The recipe originally called for 6 cups water, vegetable broth, or chicken broth. For this blog, I'm leaving out the “or chicken broth.”
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds pumpkin or deep orange squash, peeled and cut into 1” chunks* (See note below)
1 large onion, cut into 1” chunks
2 carrots, scrubbed and chopped
2 leeks, washed well and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 cups water or Vegetable Broth
1 branch of fresh thyme
2 teaspoons ground cumin, curry or other spice as desired
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit.
*Note: If you don’t want to peel the squash ahead of time, cut it into larger (3-inch or so) pieces and remove the skin before adding it to the soup pot. Unlike raw, cooked squash is very easy to peel.
Toss the vegetables with the olive oil in a roasting pan and spread them out corner to corner. Roast the vegetables in the middle of the oven for 35 minutes, or until they are beginning to soften and take a bit of golden color.
Remove the tray from the oven. (If you need to peel the squash, let the vegetables sit until the pumpkin is cool enough to handle).
Place the veggies in a soup pot with water or broth to cover and add the thyme and desired spices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the vegetables are very soft. Puree the soup with an immersion or standard blender, season to taste and serve.
PUMPKIN ALREDO PASTA
This is from Delish, and begins, “This gourd-eous pasta is irresistibly creamy.” Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
kosher salt
1 lb. pasta
extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c. sage leaves
Flaky sea salt
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 15-oz. can pumpkin purée
1/4 c. dry white wine
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into slices and chilled
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan
1 c. sour cream
Directions
Bring an 8-quart stock pot of water to a boil and generously season with salt. Cook pasta according to al dente package directions.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium-high heat add 4 to 5 tablespoon olive oil; when oil is hot but not smoking add dry sage leaves and fry 4 to 5 seconds until crispy. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle with sea salt; set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat sauté onions and garlic, about 1 minute. Add pumpkin and white wine and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in cheese and butter until melted and creamy. Stir in sour cream and pasta until well coated.
Garnish with fried sage leaves and serve.
VEGAN PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE BROWNIES
This is from Alissa Saenz at Connoisseurus Veg, and starts off, “Fudgy chocolate chip-studded vegan brownies are topped with a layer of luscious cashew cheesecake to make this decadent and totally vegan fall dessert.”
Servings: 16; Calories 254 kcal; Author Alissa Saenz
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Brownie Layer
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup organic granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
For the Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer
1 cup raw cashews, soaked in water 4-8 hours and drained
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons powdered ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350° and lightly oil a 9 x 9 inch baking pan.
To make the brownie layer, stir the coconut oil, pumpkin puree, vanilla and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir just until fully blended. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Spread the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan and bake just until set in the center, 18-20 minutes.
While the brownie layer bakes, place all ingredients for the cheesecake layer except for the chocolate chips into the bowl of a food processor fitted with an S-blade. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Remove the blade or transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the chocolate chips.
When the brownie layer is set, remove the pan from the oven and spread the cheesecake mixture over top. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the cheesecake layer is set, 22-24 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool completely. Cut into 16 squares and serve.
Friday, October 19, 2018
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday, time to get ready for the weekend. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Cheese-Stuffed Shells in Marinara Sauce and Tie-Dye Cheesecake. Enjoy!
FRENCH LENTIL SOUP WITH ROASTED TOMATOES & PEPPERS
This comes from Seattle's Macrina Bakery. The recipe starts off, “This soup is a perfect comfort food on a drizzly Seattle day. We like to serve it in our cozy café with a few slices of crostini topped with goat cheese and a drizzle of good olive oil. It is pictured here with our Rustic Potato Roll. French green lentils are usually available in specialty shops and some supermarkets. If you can’t find French green lentils at your favorite market, you can substitute regular lentils.” Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients:
4 Roma tomatoes
3/4 cup olive oil
Kosher Salt
Freshly Ground Pepper
10 garlic cloves
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 red bell peppers, diced
1 celery rib, diced
1-1/2 Tbsp ground cumin
1-1/2 Tbsp ground coriander seeds
1-1/2 cups French green lentils*
8 to 10 cups vegetable stock
1 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley, chopped
1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
*Available in specialty shops and some supermarkets.
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Wash and core the tomatoes, then cut them into 12 pieces each. Combine chopped tomatoes and 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a bowl and toss together. Pour tomatoes onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Season with salt and pepper and roast on center rack of oven for about 15 minutes. Set aside.
Place 7 of the garlic cloves and another 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook until cloves are tender, approximately 15 minutes. Swirl the pan occasionally to keep the cloves from sticking to the pan. Transfer cooked garlic cloves to a small bowl and mash into a paste. Set aside.
Pour the remaining 1/4 cup of the olive oil into a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot. Add diced onion, red bell peppers and celery. Cover pot and cook for 15 minutes over medium-low heat to sweat the vegetables, stirring occasionally. The onions will become translucent. Finely dice the 3 remaining garlic cloves and add to the soup pot along with the cumin and coriander. Continue cooking over medium-low heat for 1 minute or until garlic smells sweet but is not brown.
Add roasted tomatoes, mashed garlic, lentils and 8 cups of the vegetable stock. Bring to a simmer. Cook soup for 45 to 50 minutes or until lentils are tender, adding more stock if needed. If foam gathers on the surface of the soup, remove it with a spoon. Before serving, add parsley and thyme and season to taste with salt and pepper.
TIE-DYE CHEESECAKE
This is from The Food Network, and begins, “This outrageous psychedelic cheesecake is an ode to all the tie-dye of the 1960s. Making the vibrant swirls is much easier to do than it looks; all you need is a wooden skewer – groovy!” Total: 10 hr 45 min; Active: 35 min; Yield: 12 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 18 whole crackers)
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Three 11.5-ounce containers whipped cream cheese
1 1/4 cups sugar
One 16-ounce container sour cream, at room temperature
1 cup heavy cream
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Neon blue, pink and purple food coloring
Yellow food coloring
Whipped cream, for serving
Directions
Special equipment: a 10-inch springform pan and a wooden skewer
Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
For the crust: Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar and salt and press into bottom of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool completely. Wrap up the bottom and sides of pan with a large piece of foil and put in a large roasting pan.
For the filling: Beat the cream cheese and sugar, in a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the sour cream and mix until just combined. Add the heavy cream and mix until just combined. Mix in the eggs, by hand, 1 at time. Then mix in the vanilla, lemon juice, by hand as well, until just combined. (Overmixing can turn your cheesecake into a souffle.)
Using a ladle, divide the cheesecake batter into 4 separate bowls. Dye each a separate color; blue, pink, purple and yellow. Add enough food coloring so that the colors are very vibrant and intense.
Use an ice cream scoop or large spoon to drop spoonfuls of the batter onto the crust, alternating the colors, until all the batter has been scooped. Use a wooden skewer and drag it through the colors to marble them for tie-dye effect, making sure the skewer reaches down to the bottom of the pan. Transfer the pan to the roasting pan. Add enough hot water to come about halfway up the side of the springform pan.
Bake until the outside of the cake is set and the center is still slightly loose, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in the oven for another hour. Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
Unmold the cheesecake and transfer to a serving plate or cake stand. Serve slices with a dollop of whipped cream.
MEXICAN QUICHE
This yummy quiche is from FamilyTime, and begins, “This Mexican Quiche takes all the best ingredients of a rich and creamy quiche and adds the essential elements of Mexican cooking: drop in Mexican cheese, diced green chiles and salsa prima.”
Serves: 8; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes
View this online at http://www.familytime.com/recipe/showrecipe.aspx?recipeid=13319
Ingredients
1 (9-in.) unbaked frozen deep-dish pie shell, (4-cup volume)
1 cup 4 cheese Mexican blend
1 large green or red bell pepper, chopped
1 can (4-oz.) ORTEGA® Diced Green Chiles
2 large green onions, sliced
4 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup ORTEGA® Salsa Prima Homestyle Mild
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® Carnation ® Evaporated Milk
Garnish suggestions: ORTEGA® Salsa Prima-Homestyle Mild, sour cream, sliced green onions, diced tomatoes
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Sprinkle cheese, bell pepper, chiles and green onions onto bottom of pie shell. Combine eggs, salsa and evaporated milk in small bowl until blended. Pour into pie shell.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes. Garnish as desired.
Notes: For a lower calorie version, substitute shredded light cheese and NESTLE® CARNATION® Evaporated Fat Free Milk.
LEMON-GLAZED BABY CARROTS
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings
Source: America's Everyday Diabetes Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/lemon-glazed-baby-carrots
Ingredients
1 pound peeled baby carrots
1/4 cup vegetable stock
1 tablespoons margarine or butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley or chives
Directions
In a medium saucepan, cook carrots in boiling salted water for 5 to 7 minutes (start timing when water returns to a boil) or until just tender-crisp; drain and return to saucepan.
Add stock, butter, brown sugar, lemon juice and rind, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or until liquid has evaporated and carrots are nicely glazed.
Sprinkle with parsley or chives and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 91; Fat: 3 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 251 mg; Cholesterol: 8 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetables, 1/2 Fat
CHEESE-STUFFED SHELLS IN MARINARA SAUCE
This recipe is from FamilyTime, and begins, “A traditional Italian-style favorite is made easier for you! Combine Buitoni Marinara Sauce with stuffed shells, add a tossed salad and warm bread and sit down to a satisfying meal!”
Serves: 6; Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
12 dried jumbo whole-wheat or regular pasta shells, prepared according to package directions
1 cup (4 ounces)shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup fat free or reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 container (15 oz.) BUITONI® refrigerated Marinara Sauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
Combine 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg and pepper in a medium bowl. Stuff each shell evenly with cheese mixture; place in ungreased 12 x 71/2-inch (2-quart rectangular) baking dish. Pour sauce over shells.
Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
For Freeze Ahead:
Prepare as above; do not bake. Do not top with remaining mozarella cheese. Cover; freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
BEST MAC AND CHEESE
This comes from MyDailyMoment, and begins, “Put this lower fat version of a kiddie classic on the menu, and the dinner table. Fair warning, it might be a quiet dinner once the kids get a bite of this cheesy favorite.”
For 6 people; Ready in 20 min.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon(s) butter
2 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup(s) skim milk
1 1/2 cup(s) (6 oz) reduced fat, shredded sharp cheddar
3 tablespoon(s) grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon(s) low sodium Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon(s) dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon(s) pepper
1/8 teaspoon(s) hot sauce
4 cup(s) cooked elbow macaroni
Directions
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add flour. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add cheeses and next 4 ingredients, stirring until cheeses melt. Combine cheese sauce and macaroni in a bowl; stir well. Serve immediately.
FRENCH LENTIL SOUP WITH ROASTED TOMATOES & PEPPERS
This comes from Seattle's Macrina Bakery. The recipe starts off, “This soup is a perfect comfort food on a drizzly Seattle day. We like to serve it in our cozy café with a few slices of crostini topped with goat cheese and a drizzle of good olive oil. It is pictured here with our Rustic Potato Roll. French green lentils are usually available in specialty shops and some supermarkets. If you can’t find French green lentils at your favorite market, you can substitute regular lentils.” Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients:
4 Roma tomatoes
3/4 cup olive oil
Kosher Salt
Freshly Ground Pepper
10 garlic cloves
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 red bell peppers, diced
1 celery rib, diced
1-1/2 Tbsp ground cumin
1-1/2 Tbsp ground coriander seeds
1-1/2 cups French green lentils*
8 to 10 cups vegetable stock
1 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley, chopped
1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
*Available in specialty shops and some supermarkets.
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Wash and core the tomatoes, then cut them into 12 pieces each. Combine chopped tomatoes and 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a bowl and toss together. Pour tomatoes onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Season with salt and pepper and roast on center rack of oven for about 15 minutes. Set aside.
Place 7 of the garlic cloves and another 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook until cloves are tender, approximately 15 minutes. Swirl the pan occasionally to keep the cloves from sticking to the pan. Transfer cooked garlic cloves to a small bowl and mash into a paste. Set aside.
Pour the remaining 1/4 cup of the olive oil into a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot. Add diced onion, red bell peppers and celery. Cover pot and cook for 15 minutes over medium-low heat to sweat the vegetables, stirring occasionally. The onions will become translucent. Finely dice the 3 remaining garlic cloves and add to the soup pot along with the cumin and coriander. Continue cooking over medium-low heat for 1 minute or until garlic smells sweet but is not brown.
Add roasted tomatoes, mashed garlic, lentils and 8 cups of the vegetable stock. Bring to a simmer. Cook soup for 45 to 50 minutes or until lentils are tender, adding more stock if needed. If foam gathers on the surface of the soup, remove it with a spoon. Before serving, add parsley and thyme and season to taste with salt and pepper.
TIE-DYE CHEESECAKE
This is from The Food Network, and begins, “This outrageous psychedelic cheesecake is an ode to all the tie-dye of the 1960s. Making the vibrant swirls is much easier to do than it looks; all you need is a wooden skewer – groovy!” Total: 10 hr 45 min; Active: 35 min; Yield: 12 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 18 whole crackers)
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Three 11.5-ounce containers whipped cream cheese
1 1/4 cups sugar
One 16-ounce container sour cream, at room temperature
1 cup heavy cream
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Neon blue, pink and purple food coloring
Yellow food coloring
Whipped cream, for serving
Directions
Special equipment: a 10-inch springform pan and a wooden skewer
Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
For the crust: Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar and salt and press into bottom of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool completely. Wrap up the bottom and sides of pan with a large piece of foil and put in a large roasting pan.
For the filling: Beat the cream cheese and sugar, in a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the sour cream and mix until just combined. Add the heavy cream and mix until just combined. Mix in the eggs, by hand, 1 at time. Then mix in the vanilla, lemon juice, by hand as well, until just combined. (Overmixing can turn your cheesecake into a souffle.)
Using a ladle, divide the cheesecake batter into 4 separate bowls. Dye each a separate color; blue, pink, purple and yellow. Add enough food coloring so that the colors are very vibrant and intense.
Use an ice cream scoop or large spoon to drop spoonfuls of the batter onto the crust, alternating the colors, until all the batter has been scooped. Use a wooden skewer and drag it through the colors to marble them for tie-dye effect, making sure the skewer reaches down to the bottom of the pan. Transfer the pan to the roasting pan. Add enough hot water to come about halfway up the side of the springform pan.
Bake until the outside of the cake is set and the center is still slightly loose, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in the oven for another hour. Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
Unmold the cheesecake and transfer to a serving plate or cake stand. Serve slices with a dollop of whipped cream.
MEXICAN QUICHE
This yummy quiche is from FamilyTime, and begins, “This Mexican Quiche takes all the best ingredients of a rich and creamy quiche and adds the essential elements of Mexican cooking: drop in Mexican cheese, diced green chiles and salsa prima.”
Serves: 8; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes
View this online at http://www.familytime.com/recipe/showrecipe.aspx?recipeid=13319
Ingredients
1 (9-in.) unbaked frozen deep-dish pie shell, (4-cup volume)
1 cup 4 cheese Mexican blend
1 large green or red bell pepper, chopped
1 can (4-oz.) ORTEGA® Diced Green Chiles
2 large green onions, sliced
4 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup ORTEGA® Salsa Prima Homestyle Mild
3/4 cup NESTLÉ ® Carnation ® Evaporated Milk
Garnish suggestions: ORTEGA® Salsa Prima-Homestyle Mild, sour cream, sliced green onions, diced tomatoes
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Sprinkle cheese, bell pepper, chiles and green onions onto bottom of pie shell. Combine eggs, salsa and evaporated milk in small bowl until blended. Pour into pie shell.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes. Garnish as desired.
Notes: For a lower calorie version, substitute shredded light cheese and NESTLE® CARNATION® Evaporated Fat Free Milk.
LEMON-GLAZED BABY CARROTS
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings
Source: America's Everyday Diabetes Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/lemon-glazed-baby-carrots
Ingredients
1 pound peeled baby carrots
1/4 cup vegetable stock
1 tablespoons margarine or butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley or chives
Directions
In a medium saucepan, cook carrots in boiling salted water for 5 to 7 minutes (start timing when water returns to a boil) or until just tender-crisp; drain and return to saucepan.
Add stock, butter, brown sugar, lemon juice and rind, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or until liquid has evaporated and carrots are nicely glazed.
Sprinkle with parsley or chives and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 91; Fat: 3 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 251 mg; Cholesterol: 8 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetables, 1/2 Fat
CHEESE-STUFFED SHELLS IN MARINARA SAUCE
This recipe is from FamilyTime, and begins, “A traditional Italian-style favorite is made easier for you! Combine Buitoni Marinara Sauce with stuffed shells, add a tossed salad and warm bread and sit down to a satisfying meal!”
Serves: 6; Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
12 dried jumbo whole-wheat or regular pasta shells, prepared according to package directions
1 cup (4 ounces)shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup fat free or reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 container (15 oz.) BUITONI® refrigerated Marinara Sauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
Combine 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg and pepper in a medium bowl. Stuff each shell evenly with cheese mixture; place in ungreased 12 x 71/2-inch (2-quart rectangular) baking dish. Pour sauce over shells.
Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
For Freeze Ahead:
Prepare as above; do not bake. Do not top with remaining mozarella cheese. Cover; freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
BEST MAC AND CHEESE
This comes from MyDailyMoment, and begins, “Put this lower fat version of a kiddie classic on the menu, and the dinner table. Fair warning, it might be a quiet dinner once the kids get a bite of this cheesy favorite.”
For 6 people; Ready in 20 min.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon(s) butter
2 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup(s) skim milk
1 1/2 cup(s) (6 oz) reduced fat, shredded sharp cheddar
3 tablespoon(s) grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon(s) low sodium Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon(s) dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon(s) pepper
1/8 teaspoon(s) hot sauce
4 cup(s) cooked elbow macaroni
Directions
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add flour. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add cheeses and next 4 ingredients, stirring until cheeses melt. Combine cheese sauce and macaroni in a bowl; stir well. Serve immediately.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Thursday Recipes
“I'm a Jewish girl who was raised in a vegetarian family. My dream is to open a restaurant called 'Soy Vey.'” - Margo Black
Found in Women's Lip: Outrageous, Irreverent and Just Plain Hilarious Quotes, edited by Roz Warren, page 42.
One of my blogs is a Quote of the Day blog. While looking for quotes for it, I stumbled across this, and figured it was perfect for a vegetarian blog. I'll probably post a couple other quotes here in the future
In the meantime, today's yummy offerings include Chunky Pizza Soup and Frozen Strawberry Layer Cake. Enjoy!
KATHARINE HEPBURN'S BROWNIES
This came in a recent New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. It begins, “Much like its author, this recipe is a no-fuss classic. It calls for just 1/4 cup of flour, which yields an incredibly rich and gooey brownie, and it's super easy to make. So easy, in fact, that baking a batch of these might just become part of your weekend routine.” Time: about 45 minutes; makes 12 brownies
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 cup chopped or broken-up walnuts or pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of salt
Preparation
Heat oven to 325 degrees.
Melt butter in saucepan with cocoa and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a large bowl. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour, nuts and salt. Add to the cocoa-butter mixture. Stir until just combined.
Pour into a greased 8 x 8-inch-square pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Do not overbake; the brownies should be gooey. Let cool, then cut into bars.
CHUNKY PIZZA SOUP
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 tb Oil, vegetable
1 Onion, chopped small
1/2 c Mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c Green peppers, slivered
1 c Tomatoes, undrained
1 c vegetable broth
1 c vegetarian Pepperoni, thin sliced
1/2 tsp Basil, dried
1 c Cheese, mozzarella shredded
Directions
Preheat oven broiler. Heat oil over medium heat, stirfry onion, mushroom and green pepper till soft, not browned. Add tomatoes, broth, vegetarian pepperoni and basil, cook till heated through. Ladle soup into ovenproof bowls and sprinkle with cheese. Broil till cheese melts and is bubbly.
VEGETABALE SPAGHETTI
This comes from Makinze Gore at Delish. It begins, “Vegetable spaghetti is the perfect way to use up leftover veggies. Use whatever you have on hand, don't feel married to these specific ones. They are just a good starting point.”
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb. spaghetti
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 zucchini, sliced
1 carrot, chopped
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Sliced basil, for garnish
Freshly grated Parmesan, for garnish
Directions
In a large pot of boiling water, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water then drain spaghetti.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil then add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add zucchini, carrot, and red onion and cook until soft, 7 minutes. Stir in tomato paste then add diced tomatoes and season with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, simmer 10 minutes.
Add spaghetti to skillet and 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water and toss to combine. Add more pasta water as necessary to bring sauce together.
Garnish with basil and Parmesan to serve.
LEMON BROCCOLI PASTA
This is from Diabetes Self Management.
To view this online, click here.
Yield: 6 servings. Serving size: 1 cup.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons sliced green onions
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups fresh or frozen broccoli florets
3 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta
1/3 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons grated reduced-fat Parmesan cheese
Directions
Spray large saucepan with nonstick cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Add green onions and garlic; cook and stir 3 minutes or until green onions are tender.
Stir broth, lemon peel, and pepper into saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in broccoli and pasta; return to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, 6 to 7 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat. Stir in yogurt until well blended. Let stand 5 minutes. Top with cheese before serving. Garnish as desired.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 120 calories, Carbohydrates: 20 g, Protein: 6 g, Fat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 125 mg, Fiber: 2 g
Exchanges per serving: 1 Bread/Starch, 1 Vegetable.
FROZEN STRAWBERRY LAYER CAKE
This came from an old Weight Watchers' emailing list. The recipe began, “A store-bought angel food cake, some store-bought frozen yogurt and a homemade strawberry sauce - all together, it adds up to a fabulous summer dessert, ready for your next barbecue.”
The POINTS® Value when it was posted was: 3; Servings: 12; Prep Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 20 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
1 1/2 pound strawberries, hulled and sliced (about 6 cups)
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp table salt
12 oz store bought angel food cake, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 cup fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt
Directions
To make strawberry sauce, combine strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and salt in a saucepan, stirring over medium heat until the sugar melts and the liquid comes to a simmer. Simmer 15 minutes. Use the back of a wooden spoon to mash about half the berries against the side of the pan. Cool to room temperature and use immediately or refrigerate, covered, up to 2 days.
Spoon the frozen yogurt into a large bowl and mash it with the back of a wooden spoon until soft and spreadable.
Line the bottom of a 9-inch round springform pan with one third of the cake slices, cutting any slices to fit the shape of the pan. Top with half the frozen yogurt, spreading it to the sides. Spread 2/3 cup strawberry sauce over the frozen yogurt, then top with half the remaining cake slices, again cutting any to fit. Spread the remainder of the frozen yogurt over the cake, top with 2/3 cup strawberry sauce, and finally seal the top with the remaining cake slices. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze at least 6 hours or up to 3 days. Let the cake stand at room temperature 10 minutes before unmolding. Slice into 12 pieces and serve.
SWANSON® RISOTTO
This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, but apparently whoever sent it to the list got it from Campbell's Kitchen, as it begins, “Try this easy, delicious recipe from Campbell's Kitchen,” and attributes it to Swanson's Simply Delicious Cookbook.
Note: The recipe originally called for chicken broth, but I've changed it to use vegetable broth.
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cooking Time: 30 minutes; Serves: 6
Ingredients
1 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice OR Arborio Rice
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups Swanson® Vegetable Broth
Generous dash pepper
1 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Cook rice and garlic in nonstick saucepan 2 min. or until rice is browned, stirring.
Add 1/2 cup broth and cook until broth is absorbed, stirring. Add remaining broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until all the broth is absorbed and rice is done and creamy, about 25 min.
Add pepper and cheese.
Found in Women's Lip: Outrageous, Irreverent and Just Plain Hilarious Quotes, edited by Roz Warren, page 42.
One of my blogs is a Quote of the Day blog. While looking for quotes for it, I stumbled across this, and figured it was perfect for a vegetarian blog. I'll probably post a couple other quotes here in the future
In the meantime, today's yummy offerings include Chunky Pizza Soup and Frozen Strawberry Layer Cake. Enjoy!
KATHARINE HEPBURN'S BROWNIES
This came in a recent New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. It begins, “Much like its author, this recipe is a no-fuss classic. It calls for just 1/4 cup of flour, which yields an incredibly rich and gooey brownie, and it's super easy to make. So easy, in fact, that baking a batch of these might just become part of your weekend routine.” Time: about 45 minutes; makes 12 brownies
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 cup chopped or broken-up walnuts or pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of salt
Preparation
Heat oven to 325 degrees.
Melt butter in saucepan with cocoa and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a large bowl. Whisk in eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine sugar, flour, nuts and salt. Add to the cocoa-butter mixture. Stir until just combined.
Pour into a greased 8 x 8-inch-square pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Do not overbake; the brownies should be gooey. Let cool, then cut into bars.
CHUNKY PIZZA SOUP
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 tb Oil, vegetable
1 Onion, chopped small
1/2 c Mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c Green peppers, slivered
1 c Tomatoes, undrained
1 c vegetable broth
1 c vegetarian Pepperoni, thin sliced
1/2 tsp Basil, dried
1 c Cheese, mozzarella shredded
Directions
Preheat oven broiler. Heat oil over medium heat, stirfry onion, mushroom and green pepper till soft, not browned. Add tomatoes, broth, vegetarian pepperoni and basil, cook till heated through. Ladle soup into ovenproof bowls and sprinkle with cheese. Broil till cheese melts and is bubbly.
VEGETABALE SPAGHETTI
This comes from Makinze Gore at Delish. It begins, “Vegetable spaghetti is the perfect way to use up leftover veggies. Use whatever you have on hand, don't feel married to these specific ones. They are just a good starting point.”
Yields: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb. spaghetti
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 zucchini, sliced
1 carrot, chopped
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Sliced basil, for garnish
Freshly grated Parmesan, for garnish
Directions
In a large pot of boiling water, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water then drain spaghetti.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil then add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add zucchini, carrot, and red onion and cook until soft, 7 minutes. Stir in tomato paste then add diced tomatoes and season with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, simmer 10 minutes.
Add spaghetti to skillet and 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water and toss to combine. Add more pasta water as necessary to bring sauce together.
Garnish with basil and Parmesan to serve.
LEMON BROCCOLI PASTA
This is from Diabetes Self Management.
To view this online, click here.
Yield: 6 servings. Serving size: 1 cup.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons sliced green onions
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups fresh or frozen broccoli florets
3 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta
1/3 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons grated reduced-fat Parmesan cheese
Directions
Spray large saucepan with nonstick cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Add green onions and garlic; cook and stir 3 minutes or until green onions are tender.
Stir broth, lemon peel, and pepper into saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in broccoli and pasta; return to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, 6 to 7 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat. Stir in yogurt until well blended. Let stand 5 minutes. Top with cheese before serving. Garnish as desired.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 120 calories, Carbohydrates: 20 g, Protein: 6 g, Fat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 125 mg, Fiber: 2 g
Exchanges per serving: 1 Bread/Starch, 1 Vegetable.
FROZEN STRAWBERRY LAYER CAKE
This came from an old Weight Watchers' emailing list. The recipe began, “A store-bought angel food cake, some store-bought frozen yogurt and a homemade strawberry sauce - all together, it adds up to a fabulous summer dessert, ready for your next barbecue.”
The POINTS® Value when it was posted was: 3; Servings: 12; Prep Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 20 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
1 1/2 pound strawberries, hulled and sliced (about 6 cups)
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp table salt
12 oz store bought angel food cake, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 cup fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt
Directions
To make strawberry sauce, combine strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and salt in a saucepan, stirring over medium heat until the sugar melts and the liquid comes to a simmer. Simmer 15 minutes. Use the back of a wooden spoon to mash about half the berries against the side of the pan. Cool to room temperature and use immediately or refrigerate, covered, up to 2 days.
Spoon the frozen yogurt into a large bowl and mash it with the back of a wooden spoon until soft and spreadable.
Line the bottom of a 9-inch round springform pan with one third of the cake slices, cutting any slices to fit the shape of the pan. Top with half the frozen yogurt, spreading it to the sides. Spread 2/3 cup strawberry sauce over the frozen yogurt, then top with half the remaining cake slices, again cutting any to fit. Spread the remainder of the frozen yogurt over the cake, top with 2/3 cup strawberry sauce, and finally seal the top with the remaining cake slices. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze at least 6 hours or up to 3 days. Let the cake stand at room temperature 10 minutes before unmolding. Slice into 12 pieces and serve.
SWANSON® RISOTTO
This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, but apparently whoever sent it to the list got it from Campbell's Kitchen, as it begins, “Try this easy, delicious recipe from Campbell's Kitchen,” and attributes it to Swanson's Simply Delicious Cookbook.
Note: The recipe originally called for chicken broth, but I've changed it to use vegetable broth.
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cooking Time: 30 minutes; Serves: 6
Ingredients
1 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice OR Arborio Rice
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups Swanson® Vegetable Broth
Generous dash pepper
1 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Cook rice and garlic in nonstick saucepan 2 min. or until rice is browned, stirring.
Add 1/2 cup broth and cook until broth is absorbed, stirring. Add remaining broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until all the broth is absorbed and rice is done and creamy, about 25 min.
Add pepper and cheese.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Wednesday Recipes
It's already half-way through the week...where does the time go? Here are six recipes to help you through the day (and the rest of the week), including Scotto Cheese Lasagna and Easy Raspberry Brownies. Enjoy!
CHUNKY PIZZA SOUP
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 tb Oil, vegetable
1 Onion, chopped small
1/2 c Mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c Green peppers, slivered
1 c Tomatoes, undrained
1 c vegetable broth
1 c vegetarian Pepperoni, thin sliced
1/2 ts Basil, dried
1 c Cheese, mozzarella shredded
Directions
Preheat oven broiler. Heat oil over medium heat, stirfry onion, mushroom and green pepper till soft, not browned. Add tomatoes, broth, vegetarian pepperoni and basil, cook till heated through. Ladle soup into ovenproof bowls and sprinkle with cheese. Broil till cheese melts and is bubbly.
EASY RASPBERRY BROWNIES
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Based on a fudgy brownie mix, these quick-to-fix brownies combine the best of sweet flavors and chewy textures. Mmm!”
Ingredients
1 package (1 pound 3.8 ounces) Betty Crocker® fudge brownie mix
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup raspberry preserves
1 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
Directions
Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom only of rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Stir brownie mix, water, oil and eggs in medium bowl until well blended. Spread in pan.
Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out clean or almost clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack, about 1 hour.
Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and preserves in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread over brownies. Refrigerate 15 minutes.
Place chocolate and butter in small microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on Medium (50%) about 1 minute or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Drizzle over brownies. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until chocolate is firm. For 18 brownies, cut 6 rows by 3 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.
WHOLE WHEAT PENNE PASTA WITH SUMMER VEGETABLES
This is from Diabetes Self-Management, and can be viewed online here.
Yield: 4 servings. Serving size: 1 3/4 cups.
Ingredients
6 ounces uncooked whole wheat penne pasta (about 2 cups)
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh broccoli
1 medium zucchini, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
1/2 medium yellow bell pepper, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
8 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
3 ounces (about 1 cup) mushrooms, sliced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting any salt or fat. Drain and keep warm.
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, broccoli, zucchini and bell pepper. Cook and stir about 2 minutes or until vegetables just begin to soften.
Add tomatoes, mushrooms, and oregano; mix well. Reduce heat to medium and cook and stir about 8 minutes or until vegetables are tender and tomatoes release their juices.
Mix vegetables with pasta. Toss in feta cheese.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 264 calories, Carbohydrates: 41 g, Protein: 15 g, Fat: 7 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 8 mg, Sodium: 374 mg, Fiber: 7 g
Exchanges per serving: 2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat, 2 Vegetable, 1 Meat.
SCOTTO CHEESE LASAGNA
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “This delectable lasagna makes great use of convenience products so that you've can put the dish together in just 15 minutes! While it bakes you can throw together a salad, and you've got a fabulous dinner for very little work.”
Serves: 8 servings (about 1 1/2 cups each); Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 70 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 container (32 ounces) ricotta cheese
2 eggs, beaten
Prego® Tomato Basil & Garlic Italian Sauce or 5 cups Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce
12 lasagna noodle, cooked and drained
1 1/2 pounds mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
2 cups grated parmesan cheese
1 package (10 ounces) Pepperidge Farm® Mozzarella and Garlic Loaf
Directions
Heat the oven to 350°F. Stir the ricotta and the eggs in a medium bowl.
Spread 1 cup sauce on the bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish. Layer with 3 lasagna noodles, 1 1/3 cups ricotta mixture, 1/4 of the mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan and 1 1/2 cups sauce. Repeat to make 2 more layers. Top with the remaining noodles, sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Cover the baking dish.
Bake at 350°F. for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes or until the lasagna is hot and bubbling and the cheese is melted. Remove the lasagna from the oven. Let the lasagna stand for 1 hour.
Increase the oven temperature to 400°F. for the bread. Bake the bread according to the package directions.
Cut the bread into 2-inch diagonal slices. Serve the bread with the lasagna.
QUESADILLAS
Recipe Yield: Yield: 8 servings (2 wedges)
Source: Forbidden Foods Diabetic Cooking
Book Title: Forbidden Foods Diabetic Cooking
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/quesadillas
Ingredients
1 cup shredded Mexican Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or brick cheese
1 green onion, minced
1-3 tablespoons canned chopped green chilies (to taste)
4 8-inch flour tortillas
Chunky salsa, for topping or dip
Directions
In a medium bowl, toss together the cheese, green onion, and chilies; set aside.
Spray a medium skillet with nonstick cooking spray and place over medium heat.
When hot, add 1 tortilla and sprinkle it with one-fourth of the cheese mixture.
When the cheese begins to melt, about 1 minute, fold the tortilla in half.
Continue cooking until lightly browned and crisp on both sides, about 1 minute.
Transfer to a cutting board.
Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
Cut into 4 wedges with a knife or pizza cutter and serve immediately with the salsa.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 134; Fat: 6 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 211 mg; Cholesterol: 12 mg; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Sugars: 1 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Fat
BLUEBERRY SQUARES
This came from an old Weight Watchers' emailing list. It began, “These tasty two-ingredient squares whip up in minutes. They make a fabulous last-minute Valentine's Day treat.”
POINTS® Value: 2; Servings: 24; Preparation Time: 5 min; Cooking Time: 30 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
1 package angel food cake mix, about 14 1/2 oz
22 oz light fruit pie filling, blueberry
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Combine cake mix with blueberry filling (do not add any other ingredients). Pour batter into an ungreased 9- X 13-inch baking dish; bake for 30 minutes. Cool and cut into 24 pieces.
CHUNKY PIZZA SOUP
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 tb Oil, vegetable
1 Onion, chopped small
1/2 c Mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c Green peppers, slivered
1 c Tomatoes, undrained
1 c vegetable broth
1 c vegetarian Pepperoni, thin sliced
1/2 ts Basil, dried
1 c Cheese, mozzarella shredded
Directions
Preheat oven broiler. Heat oil over medium heat, stirfry onion, mushroom and green pepper till soft, not browned. Add tomatoes, broth, vegetarian pepperoni and basil, cook till heated through. Ladle soup into ovenproof bowls and sprinkle with cheese. Broil till cheese melts and is bubbly.
EASY RASPBERRY BROWNIES
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Based on a fudgy brownie mix, these quick-to-fix brownies combine the best of sweet flavors and chewy textures. Mmm!”
Ingredients
1 package (1 pound 3.8 ounces) Betty Crocker® fudge brownie mix
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup raspberry preserves
1 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
Directions
Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom only of rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Stir brownie mix, water, oil and eggs in medium bowl until well blended. Spread in pan.
Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out clean or almost clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack, about 1 hour.
Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and preserves in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread over brownies. Refrigerate 15 minutes.
Place chocolate and butter in small microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on Medium (50%) about 1 minute or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Drizzle over brownies. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until chocolate is firm. For 18 brownies, cut 6 rows by 3 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.
WHOLE WHEAT PENNE PASTA WITH SUMMER VEGETABLES
This is from Diabetes Self-Management, and can be viewed online here.
Yield: 4 servings. Serving size: 1 3/4 cups.
Ingredients
6 ounces uncooked whole wheat penne pasta (about 2 cups)
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh broccoli
1 medium zucchini, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
1/2 medium yellow bell pepper, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
8 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
3 ounces (about 1 cup) mushrooms, sliced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting any salt or fat. Drain and keep warm.
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, broccoli, zucchini and bell pepper. Cook and stir about 2 minutes or until vegetables just begin to soften.
Add tomatoes, mushrooms, and oregano; mix well. Reduce heat to medium and cook and stir about 8 minutes or until vegetables are tender and tomatoes release their juices.
Mix vegetables with pasta. Toss in feta cheese.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 264 calories, Carbohydrates: 41 g, Protein: 15 g, Fat: 7 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 8 mg, Sodium: 374 mg, Fiber: 7 g
Exchanges per serving: 2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat, 2 Vegetable, 1 Meat.
SCOTTO CHEESE LASAGNA
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “This delectable lasagna makes great use of convenience products so that you've can put the dish together in just 15 minutes! While it bakes you can throw together a salad, and you've got a fabulous dinner for very little work.”
Serves: 8 servings (about 1 1/2 cups each); Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 70 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 container (32 ounces) ricotta cheese
2 eggs, beaten
Prego® Tomato Basil & Garlic Italian Sauce or 5 cups Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce
12 lasagna noodle, cooked and drained
1 1/2 pounds mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
2 cups grated parmesan cheese
1 package (10 ounces) Pepperidge Farm® Mozzarella and Garlic Loaf
Directions
Heat the oven to 350°F. Stir the ricotta and the eggs in a medium bowl.
Spread 1 cup sauce on the bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish. Layer with 3 lasagna noodles, 1 1/3 cups ricotta mixture, 1/4 of the mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan and 1 1/2 cups sauce. Repeat to make 2 more layers. Top with the remaining noodles, sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Cover the baking dish.
Bake at 350°F. for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes or until the lasagna is hot and bubbling and the cheese is melted. Remove the lasagna from the oven. Let the lasagna stand for 1 hour.
Increase the oven temperature to 400°F. for the bread. Bake the bread according to the package directions.
Cut the bread into 2-inch diagonal slices. Serve the bread with the lasagna.
QUESADILLAS
Recipe Yield: Yield: 8 servings (2 wedges)
Source: Forbidden Foods Diabetic Cooking
Book Title: Forbidden Foods Diabetic Cooking
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/quesadillas
Ingredients
1 cup shredded Mexican Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or brick cheese
1 green onion, minced
1-3 tablespoons canned chopped green chilies (to taste)
4 8-inch flour tortillas
Chunky salsa, for topping or dip
Directions
In a medium bowl, toss together the cheese, green onion, and chilies; set aside.
Spray a medium skillet with nonstick cooking spray and place over medium heat.
When hot, add 1 tortilla and sprinkle it with one-fourth of the cheese mixture.
When the cheese begins to melt, about 1 minute, fold the tortilla in half.
Continue cooking until lightly browned and crisp on both sides, about 1 minute.
Transfer to a cutting board.
Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
Cut into 4 wedges with a knife or pizza cutter and serve immediately with the salsa.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 134; Fat: 6 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 211 mg; Cholesterol: 12 mg; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Sugars: 1 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Fat
BLUEBERRY SQUARES
This came from an old Weight Watchers' emailing list. It began, “These tasty two-ingredient squares whip up in minutes. They make a fabulous last-minute Valentine's Day treat.”
POINTS® Value: 2; Servings: 24; Preparation Time: 5 min; Cooking Time: 30 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
1 package angel food cake mix, about 14 1/2 oz
22 oz light fruit pie filling, blueberry
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Combine cake mix with blueberry filling (do not add any other ingredients). Pour batter into an ungreased 9- X 13-inch baking dish; bake for 30 minutes. Cool and cut into 24 pieces.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's Double-Post Tuesday, half-way through October. Is that really possible? My calendar says it is, but it doesn't seem like it should be this late in the year.
No matter. Here are today's six vegetarian recipes to help you through the day, including Chocolate-Crusted Pumpkin Pie and Baked Pumpkin Pasta. Enjoy!
SPINACH-ARTICHOKE DEEP-DISH PIZZA
This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Bake homemade pizza in a cast-iron skillet for irresistibly crispy crust.” Total Time: 40 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 (5-oz.) container baby spinach, coarsely chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 c. ricotta
1 1/2 oz. Parmesan, grated (about 1/3 c.)
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. crush red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 tbsp. cornmeal
1 lb. store-bought pizza dough, at room temperature
6 oz. Fontina cheese, grated (about 1 1/2 c.)
1 (14-oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
Fresh basil leaves, torn, for serving
Directions
Heat oven to 450 degrees F with the rack in the lowest position. Heat oil in a 10" skillet over medium heat. Add spinach and garlic and cook until wilted and liquid has evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes; transfer to a plate. Cool skillet slightly and wipe clean.
Stir together ricotta, Parmesan, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Season with salt and black pepper. Sprinkle skillet with cornmeal. Stretch dough into a 12" round. Carefully press dough into the bottom and up the sides of the skillet.
Top dough with ricotta mixture, spinach, Fontina, and artichokes. Bake until the crust is golden brown, 20 to 24 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes.
Serve sprinkled with basil and cut into wedges.
PER SERVING: protein: 32 g; fat: 32 g; carbohydrate: 67 g; fiber: 5 g; sodium: 1,186 mg; cholesterol: 74 mg; calories: 676.
CHOCOLATE-CRUSTED PUMPKIN PIE
This comes from the October 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 71. It starts off, "Tweak the holiday pie tradition with a chocolate crust and pumpkin filling that's thickened with cornstarch, not eggs." Makes 1 9-inch pie (serves 8)
This recipe can be viewed online here.
Crust
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 stick Earth Balance margarine, cubed
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
Filling
1 1/2 cups Oven-Roasted Pumpkin Purée or 1 15-oz. can puréed pumpkin
1 cup almond milk
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
6 Tbs. Earth Balance margarine, melted
To make Crust: Pulse flour, cocoa, and confectioners’ sugar in food processor until combined. Add margarine, and process until mixture resembles sand. With processor running, add vanilla and 3 to 4 Tbs. cold water, and process until smooth dough forms. Chill 2 hours.
Roll out dough to 11-inch circle on floured work surface. Press into 9-inch pie pan. Chill 30 minutes.
To make Filling: Drain pumpkin in mesh strainer over bowl 30 minutes.
Combine almond milk and lemon juice in bowl. Whisk together brown sugar, cornstarch, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves in bowl. Whisk in almond milk mixture, then pumpkin and margarine.
Preheat oven to 400˚F. Place Crust on baking sheet, top with parchment paper, and fill with dried beans to weigh down. Reduce oven heat to 350˚F, and bake Crust 10 minutes. Remove parchment and beans, and bake 5 minutes.
Pour Filling into Crust, and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until Filling is bubbling in center. Cool completely before serving.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 377; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 20 g; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 47 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 361 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 24 g; Vegan
BAKED RISOTTO WITH WINTER SQUASH
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “This is not a classic stirred risotto, in which broth is added little by little, requiring the cook to stir and stir. Instead, the rice is tossed with squash and cheese then baked under a layer of bread crumbs until fragrant and browned on top. Welcome as a hearty meatless main course, it may also be served alongside a roasted chicken. Use any kind of hard winter squash, such as butternut, kabocha or Hubbard.” Time: 1 hour; Makes 6 to 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 pound winter squash
1 pound Carnaroli or Arborio rice
4 tablespoons butter, plus 2 tablespoons for greasing dish
1 medium onion, diced, about 1 cup
1 medium leek, white and tender green part, diced, about 1 cup
Pinch of saffron (optional)
Salt and pepper
3 cups squash broth (see note) or chicken broth, hot
8 ounces Gruyère or Fontina, grated, about 2 loosely packed cups
1 cup fresh ricotta
4 ounces Parmesan, grated, about 3/4 cup
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 cup coarse dry bread crumbs
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
Preparation
Peel squash and cut into very thin slices, 1/16-inch thick. Then cut slices into flat 2-inch squares. (Reserve the scraps, including peels, to make squash stock if desired.)
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rice and let simmer for 8 minutes so it is parcooked, with the grains still hard in the center. Drain rice in a colander, rinse with cold water, then spread on a baking sheet to cool. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
In a Dutch oven, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add leek and saffron, if using, and stir to coat. When leek is softened but still green, after 2 minutes, add squash, stir to coat and turn off heat. Season well with salt and pepper.
Add parcooked rice, hot broth, Gruyère, ricotta, Parmesan and lemon zest, mixing gently with a wooden spoon. Pour rice mixture into a buttered 3-quart baking dish.
Sprinkle top with bread crumbs, pressing down to smooth surface. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Tent with foil if necessary. Garnish with parsley just before serving.
CRANBERRY-NUT RUGALACH
Not sure if someone sent this to me on an emailing list, or if I simply sent it to myself so I wouldn't lose the recipe. Either way, it's originally from Weight Watchers. The points value is from 2007.
POINTS® Value: 2
Servings: 16
Preparation Time: 12 min; Cooking Time: 15 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
The recipe begins, “There's just one word for these flaky, traditional Jewish cookies filled with cranberries and nuts: Delicious! Try them for the Jewish New Year.”
Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
1/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped (coat knife with cooking spray before chopping to prevent sticking)
1/4 cup walnut halves, finely chopped
1 Tbsp sugar, granulated
8 oz Pillsbury Reduced-Fat Crescent(s), or similar product
1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp powdered sugar
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly coat a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
To make filling, combine cranberries, walnuts and granulated sugar in a small bowl; set aside.
Roll out crescent rolls on a lightly floured surface (use 1 tablespoon flour) to an 11-inch square. Separate along perforations into 8 triangles. Cut each in half lengthwise, making 16 long triangles. Spoon a generous teaspoon of filling onto each triangle, leaving bare pastry at top and bottom of triangle. Roll each triangle from wide end to narrow tip.
Spread out rolled wedges on prepared cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit 5 minutes. Move rugalach close together so they are just touching each other. Place powdered sugar in a sieve and dust over rugalach. Yields 1 cookie per serving. (Note: These cookies taste best served warm. Reheat for 5 minutes in a preheated 325°F oven. Do not microwave – it will toughen the dough.)
CORNBREAD AND PINTO BEAN SHEPHERD'S PIE
This comes from the January/February 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 30. It starts off, “Serve this dish with taco toppings (such as salsa, chile and bell peppers, radishes, and shredded lettuce) that can be sprinkled over each serving.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
2 14.5-oz. cans pinto beans, drained, 1 1/2 cups bean liquid reserved
3 Tbs. tomato paste
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 large red onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice (2 1/2 cups), divided
2 1/2 Tbs. chili powder
3 medium plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped (1 1/2 cups), divided
6 Tbs. whole-grain cornbread and muffin mix, such as Arrowhead Mills
1 1/3 cups plain nonfat Greek yogurt, divided
1 large egg
1 1/2 Tbs. sugar
Place oven rack in top position, and preheat oven to 425°F. Coat 9-inch pie dish with cooking spray. Whisk reserved bean liquid with tomato paste in bowl.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 cups onion. Cover, and cook 4 minutes, or until onion begins to soften, stirring occasionally. Add chili powder, and stir 10 seconds to coat onions. Stir in tomato paste mixture, 1 cup tomatoes, and then beans. Bring to simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered, 6 minutes, or until flavors blend and chili liquids thicken. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Meanwhile, combine cornbread mix, 1/3 cup yogurt, egg, sugar, and 1 Tbs. water in medium bowl.
Spread chili beans in prepared pie dish. Pour cornbread batter over beans, spreading with back of spoon. Bake 10 minutes, or until cornbread is set and golden.
Meanwhile, finely chop remaining 1/2 cup onion. Place in small bowl; mix in remaining 1/2 cup tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Divide shepherd’s pie among shallow bowls. Serve with tomato salsa and remaining 1 cup yogurt.
BAKED PUMPKIN PASTA
This recipe is from Fiona Haynes, About.com's Low Fat Cooking expert. Fiona wrote, "Break out of the mac and cheese mold with this delicious baked pumpkin pasta dish. Perfect for fall, this pumpkin pasta makes a great weeknight meal on cold evenings.” She also adds, “If you make this with fat-free ricotta, you'll save a further 3 grams of fat and 2 grams of saturated fat, but you'll gain another 110mg of sodium.” Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Serves 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
12 ounces uncooked penne pasta
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise, then sliced
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried sage
1 15 ounce can pure pumpkin
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup water reserved from pasta pot
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to directions on package, less 2 minutes, and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water when done.
Meanwhile heat oil in large skillet. Sauté onions and garlic for 5-6 minutes, until softened. Stir in zucchini and herbs, and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
Stir in canned pumpkin and ricotta cheese.
Empty drained pasta plus 1/2 cup of reserved cooking water into skillet and mix well.
Spoon pasta into a 11 x 7 baking dish. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Bake for 10-15 minutes.
Per Serving: Calories 349, Calories from Fat 71, Total Fat 7.7g (sat 3.4g), Cholesterol 18mg, Sodium 168mg, Carbohydrate 54.4g, Fiber 5.2g, Protein 15.9g
No matter. Here are today's six vegetarian recipes to help you through the day, including Chocolate-Crusted Pumpkin Pie and Baked Pumpkin Pasta. Enjoy!
SPINACH-ARTICHOKE DEEP-DISH PIZZA
This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Bake homemade pizza in a cast-iron skillet for irresistibly crispy crust.” Total Time: 40 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 (5-oz.) container baby spinach, coarsely chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 c. ricotta
1 1/2 oz. Parmesan, grated (about 1/3 c.)
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. crush red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 tbsp. cornmeal
1 lb. store-bought pizza dough, at room temperature
6 oz. Fontina cheese, grated (about 1 1/2 c.)
1 (14-oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
Fresh basil leaves, torn, for serving
Directions
Heat oven to 450 degrees F with the rack in the lowest position. Heat oil in a 10" skillet over medium heat. Add spinach and garlic and cook until wilted and liquid has evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes; transfer to a plate. Cool skillet slightly and wipe clean.
Stir together ricotta, Parmesan, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Season with salt and black pepper. Sprinkle skillet with cornmeal. Stretch dough into a 12" round. Carefully press dough into the bottom and up the sides of the skillet.
Top dough with ricotta mixture, spinach, Fontina, and artichokes. Bake until the crust is golden brown, 20 to 24 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes.
Serve sprinkled with basil and cut into wedges.
PER SERVING: protein: 32 g; fat: 32 g; carbohydrate: 67 g; fiber: 5 g; sodium: 1,186 mg; cholesterol: 74 mg; calories: 676.
CHOCOLATE-CRUSTED PUMPKIN PIE
This comes from the October 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 71. It starts off, "Tweak the holiday pie tradition with a chocolate crust and pumpkin filling that's thickened with cornstarch, not eggs." Makes 1 9-inch pie (serves 8)
This recipe can be viewed online here.
Crust
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 stick Earth Balance margarine, cubed
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
Filling
1 1/2 cups Oven-Roasted Pumpkin Purée or 1 15-oz. can puréed pumpkin
1 cup almond milk
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
6 Tbs. Earth Balance margarine, melted
To make Crust: Pulse flour, cocoa, and confectioners’ sugar in food processor until combined. Add margarine, and process until mixture resembles sand. With processor running, add vanilla and 3 to 4 Tbs. cold water, and process until smooth dough forms. Chill 2 hours.
Roll out dough to 11-inch circle on floured work surface. Press into 9-inch pie pan. Chill 30 minutes.
To make Filling: Drain pumpkin in mesh strainer over bowl 30 minutes.
Combine almond milk and lemon juice in bowl. Whisk together brown sugar, cornstarch, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves in bowl. Whisk in almond milk mixture, then pumpkin and margarine.
Preheat oven to 400˚F. Place Crust on baking sheet, top with parchment paper, and fill with dried beans to weigh down. Reduce oven heat to 350˚F, and bake Crust 10 minutes. Remove parchment and beans, and bake 5 minutes.
Pour Filling into Crust, and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until Filling is bubbling in center. Cool completely before serving.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 377; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 20 g; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 47 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 361 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 24 g; Vegan
BAKED RISOTTO WITH WINTER SQUASH
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “This is not a classic stirred risotto, in which broth is added little by little, requiring the cook to stir and stir. Instead, the rice is tossed with squash and cheese then baked under a layer of bread crumbs until fragrant and browned on top. Welcome as a hearty meatless main course, it may also be served alongside a roasted chicken. Use any kind of hard winter squash, such as butternut, kabocha or Hubbard.” Time: 1 hour; Makes 6 to 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 pound winter squash
1 pound Carnaroli or Arborio rice
4 tablespoons butter, plus 2 tablespoons for greasing dish
1 medium onion, diced, about 1 cup
1 medium leek, white and tender green part, diced, about 1 cup
Pinch of saffron (optional)
Salt and pepper
3 cups squash broth (see note) or chicken broth, hot
8 ounces Gruyère or Fontina, grated, about 2 loosely packed cups
1 cup fresh ricotta
4 ounces Parmesan, grated, about 3/4 cup
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 cup coarse dry bread crumbs
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
Preparation
Peel squash and cut into very thin slices, 1/16-inch thick. Then cut slices into flat 2-inch squares. (Reserve the scraps, including peels, to make squash stock if desired.)
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rice and let simmer for 8 minutes so it is parcooked, with the grains still hard in the center. Drain rice in a colander, rinse with cold water, then spread on a baking sheet to cool. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
In a Dutch oven, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add leek and saffron, if using, and stir to coat. When leek is softened but still green, after 2 minutes, add squash, stir to coat and turn off heat. Season well with salt and pepper.
Add parcooked rice, hot broth, Gruyère, ricotta, Parmesan and lemon zest, mixing gently with a wooden spoon. Pour rice mixture into a buttered 3-quart baking dish.
Sprinkle top with bread crumbs, pressing down to smooth surface. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Tent with foil if necessary. Garnish with parsley just before serving.
CRANBERRY-NUT RUGALACH
Not sure if someone sent this to me on an emailing list, or if I simply sent it to myself so I wouldn't lose the recipe. Either way, it's originally from Weight Watchers. The points value is from 2007.
POINTS® Value: 2
Servings: 16
Preparation Time: 12 min; Cooking Time: 15 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
The recipe begins, “There's just one word for these flaky, traditional Jewish cookies filled with cranberries and nuts: Delicious! Try them for the Jewish New Year.”
Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
1/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped (coat knife with cooking spray before chopping to prevent sticking)
1/4 cup walnut halves, finely chopped
1 Tbsp sugar, granulated
8 oz Pillsbury Reduced-Fat Crescent(s), or similar product
1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp powdered sugar
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly coat a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
To make filling, combine cranberries, walnuts and granulated sugar in a small bowl; set aside.
Roll out crescent rolls on a lightly floured surface (use 1 tablespoon flour) to an 11-inch square. Separate along perforations into 8 triangles. Cut each in half lengthwise, making 16 long triangles. Spoon a generous teaspoon of filling onto each triangle, leaving bare pastry at top and bottom of triangle. Roll each triangle from wide end to narrow tip.
Spread out rolled wedges on prepared cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit 5 minutes. Move rugalach close together so they are just touching each other. Place powdered sugar in a sieve and dust over rugalach. Yields 1 cookie per serving. (Note: These cookies taste best served warm. Reheat for 5 minutes in a preheated 325°F oven. Do not microwave – it will toughen the dough.)
CORNBREAD AND PINTO BEAN SHEPHERD'S PIE
This comes from the January/February 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 30. It starts off, “Serve this dish with taco toppings (such as salsa, chile and bell peppers, radishes, and shredded lettuce) that can be sprinkled over each serving.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
2 14.5-oz. cans pinto beans, drained, 1 1/2 cups bean liquid reserved
3 Tbs. tomato paste
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 large red onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice (2 1/2 cups), divided
2 1/2 Tbs. chili powder
3 medium plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped (1 1/2 cups), divided
6 Tbs. whole-grain cornbread and muffin mix, such as Arrowhead Mills
1 1/3 cups plain nonfat Greek yogurt, divided
1 large egg
1 1/2 Tbs. sugar
Place oven rack in top position, and preheat oven to 425°F. Coat 9-inch pie dish with cooking spray. Whisk reserved bean liquid with tomato paste in bowl.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 cups onion. Cover, and cook 4 minutes, or until onion begins to soften, stirring occasionally. Add chili powder, and stir 10 seconds to coat onions. Stir in tomato paste mixture, 1 cup tomatoes, and then beans. Bring to simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered, 6 minutes, or until flavors blend and chili liquids thicken. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Meanwhile, combine cornbread mix, 1/3 cup yogurt, egg, sugar, and 1 Tbs. water in medium bowl.
Spread chili beans in prepared pie dish. Pour cornbread batter over beans, spreading with back of spoon. Bake 10 minutes, or until cornbread is set and golden.
Meanwhile, finely chop remaining 1/2 cup onion. Place in small bowl; mix in remaining 1/2 cup tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Divide shepherd’s pie among shallow bowls. Serve with tomato salsa and remaining 1 cup yogurt.
BAKED PUMPKIN PASTA
This recipe is from Fiona Haynes, About.com's Low Fat Cooking expert. Fiona wrote, "Break out of the mac and cheese mold with this delicious baked pumpkin pasta dish. Perfect for fall, this pumpkin pasta makes a great weeknight meal on cold evenings.” She also adds, “If you make this with fat-free ricotta, you'll save a further 3 grams of fat and 2 grams of saturated fat, but you'll gain another 110mg of sodium.” Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Serves 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
12 ounces uncooked penne pasta
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise, then sliced
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried sage
1 15 ounce can pure pumpkin
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup water reserved from pasta pot
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to directions on package, less 2 minutes, and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water when done.
Meanwhile heat oil in large skillet. Sauté onions and garlic for 5-6 minutes, until softened. Stir in zucchini and herbs, and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
Stir in canned pumpkin and ricotta cheese.
Empty drained pasta plus 1/2 cup of reserved cooking water into skillet and mix well.
Spoon pasta into a 11 x 7 baking dish. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Bake for 10-15 minutes.
Per Serving: Calories 349, Calories from Fat 71, Total Fat 7.7g (sat 3.4g), Cholesterol 18mg, Sodium 168mg, Carbohydrate 54.4g, Fiber 5.2g, Protein 15.9g
Taco Tuesday
It's Tuesday - time for another round of Taco Tuesday recipes.
I seldom (if ever) had tacos when I was growing up. (OMG! Really? Yup.) It wasn't until we moved to Florida when I was 17 that Mom decided to try fixing tacos for dinner. At that time, it involved hard taco shells (as opposed to the soft ones), warmed up, then brought to the table where my brother, sister, and I would fill them with whatever we felt like adding to them. This was, of course, as long as what we wanted involved ground beef, tomatoes, lettuce, and/or shredded cheese.
Years later, I would watch as someone I knew filled taco shells with peanut butter and mustard (yes, together!), along with anything else that hit his fancy at the moment.
Well, tacos have evolved into a lot more than the hamburger/tomatoes/lettuce/cheese concoction (though this is perfectly fine - just make sure I've got tofu crumbles in place of the hamburger), and a lot more appealing than the peanut-butter-and-mustard tacos of that certain someone. Peanut butter? Okay, maybe. Mustard? Fine. Together? Hmmm...not so much.
Here are today's six taco recipes to help you through the day, and only one of them involves peanut butter. (Hint: It involves the Spicy Thai Tacos.) There's also Veggie Tacos and Taco Zucchini Lasagna, to name a few. Enjoy!
PORTOBELLO BULGOGI KOREAN TACOS
This is from Rachael Hartley in her blog Avocado A Day Nutrition. (Nice blog, Rachael! I just signed up for it!) Rachael wrote, "Beef bulgogi Korean tacos are one of my favorites. Try this vegan twist using meaty portobello mushrooms, which soak up all the delicious marinade." Serves 6.
You can view this yummy recipe online here.
Ingredients
Mushrooms:
6 medium-large portobello mushroom caps, cleaned and sliced 1/2 inch thick
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup mirin (see note, below)
2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
3 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons raw sugar or coconut sugar
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon gochugaru (see second note)
Slaw:
1 bag of shredded cabbage
1 large carrot, shredded on the large grates of a cheese grater
2 scallions, thinly sliced
8 corn tortillas
First Note: Mirin is a Japanese cooking wine and is made from rice. It's supposed to be sweeter than sake. Since I don't keep alcohol around, I use water in place of miring.
Second note: Gochugaru is Korean chile flakes. If you can get it locally, and plan to use it in several dishes, great. Since I probably wouldn't use it elsewhere - unless I fell madly in love with it - I might consider something a little cheaper and more generic.
Instructions
Two to four hours before cooking, whisk together all the marinade ingredients for the mushrooms. Add portobellos and toss to combine. Refrigerate and marinade 2-4 hours.
When ready to cook, heat the grill to medium-high. Place the mushrooms evenly on the grill or toss into a grill pan if you have one. Reserve the marinade. Cook about 10 minutes total, flipping halfway.
While the mushrooms cook, pour the reserved marinade into a small pot. Set to medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Boil about 10 minutes total until reduced to a thick syrup. Set aside.
Warm the tortillas. Spoon slaw on the bottom of each tortillas. Top with mushrooms and reserved sauce.
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 here.
This is from Spabettie and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon sriacha
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.
VEGGIE TACOS
This is from Taste of Home, and begins, “These vegetarian tacos are stuffed with a blend of sauteed cabbage, peppers and black beans so filling, you won't miss the meat. Top with avocado, cheese or a dollop of sour cream.”
Featured In: 39 Quick Vegetarian Meals for Winter Weeknights
Makes: 4 servings; Total Time: 30 minutes.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 cups shredded cabbage
1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
1 medium onion, halved and sliced
2 teaspoons sugar
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup salsa
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
8 taco shells, warmed
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and sliced
Direcions
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute cabbage, pepper and onion until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar.
Stir in beans, salsa, chilies, garlic, chili powder and cumin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until flavors are blended, about 5 minutes.
Serve in taco shells. Top with cheese and avocado.
AVOCADO TACOS
This comes from Jeff Gordinier in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Most top chefs will tell you the same thing: When they finally escape from the elaborate labors they oversee in the kitchen, they crave late-night street food that’s poetically simple and satisfying: hot dogs, fried rice, a bowl of noodles. For Enrique Olvera, the chef at Cosme in New York and Pujol in Mexico City, that hand-to-mouth haiku can be found in avocado tacos, which he scarfs down around the clock. They serve as both ‘a comfort,’ he said, and ‘a cultural expression.’ In its most basic form, an avocado taco is like a two-bite couplet in praise of Mexican ingredients: a chewy corn tortilla enclosing creamy slices of the-butter-that-grows-on-trees. Spare additions elevate that avocado: a pinch of salt, a spray of lime juice, a sprinkle of chopped onions and cilantro. But the chef takes elevation one step further with a salsa made of pasilla chiles and tomatillos.”
Yield: 12 tacos; Time: 45 minutes.
This recipe was featured in “Scouting the Scene” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 pasilla chiles
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
2 garlic cloves
10 tomatillos, boiled in salted water for 15 minutes or until soft
3 avocados, sliced thin
12 corn tortillas
3/4 cup white onion, finely diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Preparation
Make the salsa: Snap the stems off the chiles and remove the seeds. Using tongs, carefully hold the chiles over a medium flame to char on all sides. Transfer chiles to a food processor, add the salt and process into a powder. Add the garlic and tomatillos and purée until smooth. (This makes 1 pint salsa, more than needed; refrigerate the rest in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.)
To serve, place 3 or 4 slices of avocado on each tortilla and top with salsa, onion and cilantro.
MUSHROOM TACOS
This is from Runner's World and can be viewed online here. Recipe feeds 2-3 runners; Time needed: 30-45 minutes
What you’ll need:
Pound of scrubbed assorted mushrooms (creminis and portabellos work well)
1 yellow onion
2 cloves garlic
6 small corn tortillas
1 orange
1 lime
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons dark chili powder
1 teaspoon oregano
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste
Cilantro
How to make it:
Dice up one onion, setting aside three tablespoons for onion topping. Cut mushrooms into large chunks.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high-heat. Add onions and mushrooms and sauté for about 10 minutes until onions are tender and mushrooms begin to brown.
Mince garlic. Juice orange and lime. Reserve two wedges of lime.
Add garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder to onions and mushroom.
Saute for 30 seconds until garlic is aromatic, then add orange and lime juice, along with about a teaspoon of salt.
Cook for two to three minutes until the juice reduces.
Heat tortillas individually in a dry pan on the stove or all together wrapped in a towel in the microwave.
Spoon mushroom mix into tortillas and garnish with reserved raw onion and chopped cilantro. Enjoy!
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
I seldom (if ever) had tacos when I was growing up. (OMG! Really? Yup.) It wasn't until we moved to Florida when I was 17 that Mom decided to try fixing tacos for dinner. At that time, it involved hard taco shells (as opposed to the soft ones), warmed up, then brought to the table where my brother, sister, and I would fill them with whatever we felt like adding to them. This was, of course, as long as what we wanted involved ground beef, tomatoes, lettuce, and/or shredded cheese.
Years later, I would watch as someone I knew filled taco shells with peanut butter and mustard (yes, together!), along with anything else that hit his fancy at the moment.
Well, tacos have evolved into a lot more than the hamburger/tomatoes/lettuce/cheese concoction (though this is perfectly fine - just make sure I've got tofu crumbles in place of the hamburger), and a lot more appealing than the peanut-butter-and-mustard tacos of that certain someone. Peanut butter? Okay, maybe. Mustard? Fine. Together? Hmmm...not so much.
Here are today's six taco recipes to help you through the day, and only one of them involves peanut butter. (Hint: It involves the Spicy Thai Tacos.) There's also Veggie Tacos and Taco Zucchini Lasagna, to name a few. Enjoy!
PORTOBELLO BULGOGI KOREAN TACOS
This is from Rachael Hartley in her blog Avocado A Day Nutrition. (Nice blog, Rachael! I just signed up for it!) Rachael wrote, "Beef bulgogi Korean tacos are one of my favorites. Try this vegan twist using meaty portobello mushrooms, which soak up all the delicious marinade." Serves 6.
You can view this yummy recipe online here.
Ingredients
Mushrooms:
6 medium-large portobello mushroom caps, cleaned and sliced 1/2 inch thick
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup mirin (see note, below)
2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
3 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons raw sugar or coconut sugar
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon gochugaru (see second note)
Slaw:
1 bag of shredded cabbage
1 large carrot, shredded on the large grates of a cheese grater
2 scallions, thinly sliced
8 corn tortillas
First Note: Mirin is a Japanese cooking wine and is made from rice. It's supposed to be sweeter than sake. Since I don't keep alcohol around, I use water in place of miring.
Second note: Gochugaru is Korean chile flakes. If you can get it locally, and plan to use it in several dishes, great. Since I probably wouldn't use it elsewhere - unless I fell madly in love with it - I might consider something a little cheaper and more generic.
Instructions
Two to four hours before cooking, whisk together all the marinade ingredients for the mushrooms. Add portobellos and toss to combine. Refrigerate and marinade 2-4 hours.
When ready to cook, heat the grill to medium-high. Place the mushrooms evenly on the grill or toss into a grill pan if you have one. Reserve the marinade. Cook about 10 minutes total, flipping halfway.
While the mushrooms cook, pour the reserved marinade into a small pot. Set to medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Boil about 10 minutes total until reduced to a thick syrup. Set aside.
Warm the tortillas. Spoon slaw on the bottom of each tortillas. Top with mushrooms and reserved sauce.
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 here.
This is from Spabettie and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon sriacha
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.
VEGGIE TACOS
This is from Taste of Home, and begins, “These vegetarian tacos are stuffed with a blend of sauteed cabbage, peppers and black beans so filling, you won't miss the meat. Top with avocado, cheese or a dollop of sour cream.”
Featured In: 39 Quick Vegetarian Meals for Winter Weeknights
Makes: 4 servings; Total Time: 30 minutes.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 cups shredded cabbage
1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
1 medium onion, halved and sliced
2 teaspoons sugar
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup salsa
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
8 taco shells, warmed
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and sliced
Direcions
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute cabbage, pepper and onion until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar.
Stir in beans, salsa, chilies, garlic, chili powder and cumin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until flavors are blended, about 5 minutes.
Serve in taco shells. Top with cheese and avocado.
AVOCADO TACOS
This comes from Jeff Gordinier in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Most top chefs will tell you the same thing: When they finally escape from the elaborate labors they oversee in the kitchen, they crave late-night street food that’s poetically simple and satisfying: hot dogs, fried rice, a bowl of noodles. For Enrique Olvera, the chef at Cosme in New York and Pujol in Mexico City, that hand-to-mouth haiku can be found in avocado tacos, which he scarfs down around the clock. They serve as both ‘a comfort,’ he said, and ‘a cultural expression.’ In its most basic form, an avocado taco is like a two-bite couplet in praise of Mexican ingredients: a chewy corn tortilla enclosing creamy slices of the-butter-that-grows-on-trees. Spare additions elevate that avocado: a pinch of salt, a spray of lime juice, a sprinkle of chopped onions and cilantro. But the chef takes elevation one step further with a salsa made of pasilla chiles and tomatillos.”
Yield: 12 tacos; Time: 45 minutes.
This recipe was featured in “Scouting the Scene” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 pasilla chiles
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
2 garlic cloves
10 tomatillos, boiled in salted water for 15 minutes or until soft
3 avocados, sliced thin
12 corn tortillas
3/4 cup white onion, finely diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Preparation
Make the salsa: Snap the stems off the chiles and remove the seeds. Using tongs, carefully hold the chiles over a medium flame to char on all sides. Transfer chiles to a food processor, add the salt and process into a powder. Add the garlic and tomatillos and purée until smooth. (This makes 1 pint salsa, more than needed; refrigerate the rest in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.)
To serve, place 3 or 4 slices of avocado on each tortilla and top with salsa, onion and cilantro.
MUSHROOM TACOS
This is from Runner's World and can be viewed online here. Recipe feeds 2-3 runners; Time needed: 30-45 minutes
What you’ll need:
Pound of scrubbed assorted mushrooms (creminis and portabellos work well)
1 yellow onion
2 cloves garlic
6 small corn tortillas
1 orange
1 lime
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons dark chili powder
1 teaspoon oregano
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste
Cilantro
How to make it:
Dice up one onion, setting aside three tablespoons for onion topping. Cut mushrooms into large chunks.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high-heat. Add onions and mushrooms and sauté for about 10 minutes until onions are tender and mushrooms begin to brown.
Mince garlic. Juice orange and lime. Reserve two wedges of lime.
Add garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder to onions and mushroom.
Saute for 30 seconds until garlic is aromatic, then add orange and lime juice, along with about a teaspoon of salt.
Cook for two to three minutes until the juice reduces.
Heat tortillas individually in a dry pan on the stove or all together wrapped in a towel in the microwave.
Spoon mushroom mix into tortillas and garnish with reserved raw onion and chopped cilantro. Enjoy!
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
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