It's time for Taco Tuesday. Today's offerings include Avocado Cream Tacos and Vegetarian Tofu Tacos. Enjoy!
SPICY QUINOA TACOS
This is from Vegetarian Times. It begins, "Katelyn Drake, a lifelong vegetarian based in Oklahoma City, Okla., makes these quick, filling tacos for both dinner parties and weeknight dinners at home. She suggests adjusting the spices as you go: “Don’t be afraid to add a fresh jalapeño if you want more heat!” Serve with avocado slices, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime."
Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/spicy-quinoa-tacos/.
Ingredients
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
1 rib celery, diced (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
1 Tbs. ground cumin
1 Tbs. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 15-oz. can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 medium carrots, diced (1 cup)
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
12 6-inch corn tortillas
Preparation
Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and cook 5 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne, and sauté 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes with liquid. Cook 2 minutes, then stir in quinoa, carrots, and broth. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 to 25 minutes, or until quinoa is tender and liquid is absorbed. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Mix in black beans and corn. Serve in tortillas.
GRILLED PORTOBELLOW TACOS WITH SALSA VERDE
This is from Vegetarian Times. The description states, "Juicy, earthy portobello mushrooms make these tacos a mouthwatering treat." The recipe then begins, "Don’t worry if the mushroom caps seem slightly undercooked when you pull them from the grill; leave them out on a plate, and they will continue to cook (this is called carryover cooking)."
Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/grilled-portobello-tacos-with-salsa-verde-recipe/.
Ingredients
Marinade
1/3 cup canola oil
3 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. black pepper
Tacos
6 large portobello mushroom caps
6 6-inch soft corn tortillas
2 avocados, sliced
2 cups chopped tomatoes
3 cups shredded cabbage
Salsa verde
4 tomatillos, chopped (or 1 cup canned)
1 large green bell pepper or poblano chile, roughly chopped
1 large bunch fresh cilantro, leaves only
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic
3 tsp. organic sugar or agave nectar
1 1/4 tsp. canola oil
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
Preparation
Preheat grill or grill pan to high heat. To make Marinade: combine all ingredients in small bowl.
To make Tacos:
Brush mushroom caps with marinade. Grill mushrooms 3 to 5 minutes per side. Cool until easy to handle, then slice into strips.
To make Salsa Verde:
Purée all ingredients in food processor 1 minute, or until smooth. Pour salsa over mushroom strips, and let stand 5 to 10 minutes.
Lightly warm tortillas 15 seconds per side in skillet or on griddle. Fill tortillas with sliced mushrooms, avocado slices, tomatoes, and cabbage. Top each taco with sour cream, if using.
VEGETARIAN TOFU TACOS
This comes from Laurel Randolph in the Spruce Eats. For this recipe, Laurel wrote, "Tofu is an extremely versatile ingredient and a great way to cut a little meat out of your diet. If you haven't been won over to the soy side yet, these tacos could be the dish that sways you. Firm tofu is broken up and cooked with fragrant spices, and ends up mimicking ground beef and scrambled eggs at the same time. Melty cheese, crunchy slaw, and tangy salsa verde lend the tacos texture and bright flavors. If you're vegan, simply leave out the cheese or swap it for a vegan alternative.
"If you're eating these tacos for brunch, serve with breakfast potatoes and fresh fruit. If you're eating them for dinner, serve with guacamole or bean dip and chips. They're also delicious as hard-shelled tacos if you like your tacos extra crunchy."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 4 to 6; Yield: 8 to 10 tacos
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/tofu-tacos-4142107.
Ingredients
14 ounces tofu, firm, drained and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cups coleslaw mix
3 scallions, spring onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon cilantro, packed, fresh, chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil
1 small onion, diced
1 small bell pepper, diced
1 small jalapeño, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika, smoked
10 small corn tortillas, or 8 medium tortillas, corn or flour
1 cup cheese, Monterey, shredded
1/2 cup salsa verde
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Place tofu in a single layer on a double layer of paper towels and top with another double layer of paper towels. Place a heavy pan on top to press moisture out of the tofu. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the slaw. Combine the cabbage slaw mix, spring onion, cilantro, and lime juice. Season with salt and toss well.
Add canola or grapeseed oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat. Once hot, add onion and bell pepper and sauté for 3 minutes. Add jalapeño and garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
Add tomato paste, cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until fragrant and evenly distributed.
Add tofu a handful at a time, squeezing and breaking up the tofu with your hands as you add it to the pan. Stir well and season with salt and pepper.
Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often, and seasoning as needed. If the mixture becomes too dry, add a tablespoon of water. You want the mixture to resemble a chunky ground beef taco mix in wetness and texture. Remove from the heat.
Warm the tortillas in the oven (covered on low heat) or in a skillet in batches. Add a sprinkle of cheese followed by the tofu mixture, salsa verde, and slaw. Serve immediately.
HOMEMADE TORTILLAS
This, as well as the next two recipes (Cocoa Black Bean Avocado Cream Tacos and Banana Chocolate Tacos), are from the May 2016 issue of Runner’s World, and can be found here. This one begins, “Corn tortillas are rich in flavonoids, which help protect against certain cancers.”
Ingredients
2 cups masa harina (corn flour)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups warm tap water
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine masa and salt. Slowly pour the water into the dry ingredients and mix until the dough is just moistened and forms small clumps. Add more water, if needed by the tablespoon, but don’t let dough become too moist. It should feel like play-dough.
Divide dough into 12 golf-ball size balls. Cover with a damp paper towel. Cut a quart-size ziptop plastic bag up both side seams. Place one ball of dough between the plastic sheets and press down firmly with a medium pot or a tortilla press to form a 4 -5” circle about 1/8” thick.
Heat a heavy skillet or griddle over medium and lightly brush with some oil. Cook the tortilla for 1 minute, or until darkened in some spots and the dough looks dry. Flip and cook for 30 seconds more. Transfer to a clean kitchen towel and fold over to keep warm. Repeat with remaining tortillas, brushing the skillet with more oil as needed.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving: 69; Protein: 2 g; Carbs: 15 g; Fiber: 1 g; Total fat: 1 g; Saturated fat: 0 g; Sodium: 99 mg
COCOA BLACK BEAN AVOCADO CREAM TACOS
This one begins, “Cocoa adds richness to this hunger smashing fiber-rich bean filling. As a giant cousin of the banana, plantain contains twice as much vitamin C to keep your blood pressure from boiling over. The creamy avocado sauce adds a dose of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.”
Ingredients
2 tsp. canola or grapeseed oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 plum (Roma) tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 ripe plantain, lots of black spots on skin, peeled and diced
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 1 large lime)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 avocado
8 small corn tortillas
1 jarred roasted red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
Instructions
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, plantain, black beans, cocoa powder, chili powder, cumin, 1/4 cup water, and 1/2 tsp. salt and pepper; cook 3 minutes more. Stir in cilantro and 2 Tbsp. lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
Blend together sour cream, avocado, remaining 2 Tbsp. lime juice and a pinch of salt until smooth.
Top tortillas with beans, red pepper, avocado cream and pumpkin seeds. Serves 4.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving: 408; Protein: 11 g; Carbs: 59 g; Fiber: 12 g; Sugar: 12 g; Total fat: 16 g; Saturated fat: 5 g; Sodium: 320 mg
BANANA CHOCOLATE TACOS
Chocolate? Bananas? On tacos? Sure, why not? This one is from the May 2016 issue of Runner’s World, and begins, “This taco is a smart dessert choice as research shows dark chocolate can improve brain functioning. Each bite also has the carbs needed to restock your muscles after a spirited run. Plus, ricotta is rich in whey protein to make it easier to build stronger muscles.”
This can be found here.
Ingredients
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
2 Tbsp. almond butter
1 Tbsp. maple syrup
1–2 tsp. orange zest
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 oz. chopped dark chocolate
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
4 small bananas, sliced into 1/2" pieces
4 small (6") whole-wheat tortillas, heated according to package
1/4 cup unsweetened toasted coconut flakes
Instructions
Stir together ricotta, almond butter, syrup, orange zest and vanilla.
Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high in 20-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until chocolate is melted. Stir in cinnamon.
Spread ricotta mixture on tortillas and top with banana. Drizzle chocolate sauce over top and sprinkle on coconut flakes. Serves 4.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving: 439; Protein: 14 g; Carbs: 54 g; Fiber: 13 g; Total fat: 20 g; Saturated fat: 9.5 g; Sodium: 342 mg.
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Monday, May 30, 2022
Memorial Day - Burgers and Fries
Okay, folks, I'm back. Did you miss my posts? I hope so. I had a couple of issues going on, but should be good to go now.
It's Memorial Day here in the U.S., a three-day weekend to celebrate those who've served in the Armed Services. If you – or anyone in your family – is/was in the Armed Services – Thank You!
This also seems to be the unofficial start of summer. And what food screams summer more than burgers and fries. I've got six yummy recipes to start off your Memorial Day celebration, including Black Bean Veggie Burgers and Baked Sweet Potato Fries from the TODAY Show's Al Roker. Enjoy!
BLACK BEAN AND SWEET POTATO BURGERS WITH GARLICKY CHIPOTLE MAYO
One of my favorite places to shop (if not my absolute favorite store) is Rollin’ Oats in St. Petersburg, Florida. (They do have another store in Tampa, but since I live near St. Pete, that’s the one I go to.) Great store, friendly (and knowledgeable) employees…dang, now I’ve got to make another run there!
Anyway, the store has a rack with free magazines, including Better Nutrition. This recipe is from the July, 2015 issue of Better Nutrition and begins, “These protein-rich burgers definitely have a ‘wow’ factor thanks to the hearty bean-sweet potato-and-quinoa base.” Makes 6 burgers.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained well
1 medium baked or roasted sweet potato, peeled and mashed
1/2 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice
1/4 cup ground flax
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Olive oil
1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. chipotle powder
1 large garlic clove, pressed in a garlic press or very finely minced
Burger buns, avocado slices, and arugula, optional
Directions
Preheat grill to medium. Combine beans, sweet potato, quinoa, flax, onion, cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Mash beans with a potato masher into an even consistency. Let stand 5 minutes.
Using your hands, form mixture into 6 burgers; generously brush both sides of burgers with olive oil and arrange on grill basket. Grill 8–10 minutes on each side.
While burgers are cooking, combine mayonnaise, chipotle, and garlic in small bowl. Mix well. To serve, spread chipotle mayonnaise on both sides of burger buns. Arrange avocado slices and arugula on bottom halves, if using. Top with burgers and top halves of buns, and serve immediately.
per serving (without buns): 180 cal; 8g pro; 7g total fat (1g sat fat); 23g carb; 0mg chol; 400mg sod; 7g fiber; 2g sugars
THE ULTIMATE VEGGIE BURGER
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “You make a veggie burger because you want the hamburger experience without the meat. This one delivers. It’s got a firm, beefy texture that takes on the char and smoke of the grill, but is adaptable enough to cook inside on your stove. The enemy of a veggie burger is mushiness, which stems from a high moisture content. To combat that, the very watery ingredients – mushrooms, tofu, beans and beets – are roasted to both dehydrate them somewhat and intensify their flavors. Yes, the ingredient list here is long; you need a diverse lot to make a good veggie burger. And each one adds something in terms of flavor and/or texture. Garnish this any way you like, and don’t forget to toast the buns.” Yield: 6 burger.
This was featured in “The Ultimate Veggie Burger”, and can be found online here.
Also, there are two guides that went with this recipe that you might want to check out. The first is “How to Cook Beans”, and the second is “How to Grill”. Enjoy!
Ingredients
4 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained
Olive oil
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more as needed
Black pepper, as needed
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 medium beet, peeled and coarsely grated (3/4 cup)
3/4 cup tamari almonds or cashews
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
2 ounces Cotija cheese or queso blanco, crumbled or grated (about 1/2 cup)
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 scallions, sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon dulce pimentón or sweet smoked paprika
4 ounces tempeh, crumbled
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Slice tofu into 1/4-inch-thick slabs and pat dry with paper towel. Arrange tofu on one half of a rimmed baking sheet; brush both sides with oil. Spread mushrooms on the other half of the baking sheet; toss with 2 tablespoons oil and salt and pepper.
On a second rimmed baking sheet, toss beans and grated beet with 1 tablespoon oil and salt and pepper, then spread the mixture into one layer.
Transfer both baking sheets to the oven. Roast bean-beet mixture, tossing occasionally, until beans begin to split and beets are tender and golden, about 15 minutes. Roast mushrooms and tofu until golden and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 25 minutes. Let everything cool.
Place nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add cooled bean-beet mixture, mushrooms, tofu, panko, cheese, eggs, mayonnaise, scallion, garlic, pimentón and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Pulse until ingredients are just combined. Pulse in tempeh and rice but do not overprocess. You want small chunks, not a smooth mixture. Scrape mixture into a bowl and chill at least 2 hours or up to 5 days (you can also freeze the burger mix).
When you are ready to make the burgers, divide mixture into 6 equal portions and form each portion into a patty about 1 inch thick. Return to the fridge until just before grilling. They grill better when they start out cold.
Heat the grill. Cook the burgers over a low fire until they are charred on both sides and firm when you press on them, 4 to 6 minutes per side. If they start to burn before they firm up, move them to the sides of the grill to finish cooking over indirect heat. Alternatively, you can cook these on a grill pan or in a skillet over low heat.
BLACK BEAN-QUINOA BURGERS
This comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Here's a delicious veggie burger you can whip up from scratch. Any steak seasoning (which is just a combination of herbs and spices) will work to give the patties a rich, hearty flavor. Stash a few in the freezer for busy weeknight meals. For super-easy cookouts, bake the patties ahead, then reheat them on the grill. Serve with your favorite burger fixings.” Makes 8 patties.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup quinoa
1 small onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
6 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 tsp. dried steak seasoning
8 whole-grain hamburger buns
Instructions
Stir together quinoa and 1 1/2 cups water in small saucepan, and season with salt, if desired. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. (You should have 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa.)
Meanwhile, place onion and sun-dried tomatoes in medium nonstick skillet, and cook over medium heat. (The oil left on the tomatoes should be enough to sauté the onion.) Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until onion has softened. Stir in 3/4 cup black beans, garlic, steak seasoning, and 1 1/2 cups water. Simmer 9 to 11 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated.
Transfer bean-onion mixture to food processor, add 3/4 cup cooked quinoa, and process until smooth. Transfer to bowl, and stir in remaining 3/4 cup quinoa and remaining 3/4 cup black beans. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and cool.
Preheat oven to 350°F, and generously coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Shape bean mixture into 8 patties (1/2 cup each), and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, or until patties are crisp on top. Flip patties with spatula, and bake 10 minutes more, or until both sides are crisp and brown. Serve on buns.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 215; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 40 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 438 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 5 g; Yield: Serves 8
MEDITERRANEAN VEGGIE BURGERS
This comes from the July/August 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 62, and begins, “Eureka! We’ve found the secret “glue” that holds homemade veggie burgers together on an outdoor grill: purée the ingredients with overcooked pasta. A couple of other tips for success: be sure to pat the beans dry before you add them to the patty mixture, and use a stainless steel grill topper for a more stable grilling surface. Serve these mouthwatering miracles with your favorite burger buns and toppings.” Makes 6 burgers.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 oz. rigatoni
1/2 cup red quinoa
7 oz. low-sodium vegetable broth
1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
3/4 cup chopped onion
9 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups cooked white beans, or 1 15-oz. can white beans, rinsed, drained, and thoroughly patted dry
1/2 cup steamed broccoli
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. finely shredded green cabbage
3 Tbs. finely chopped red bell pepper
2 Tbs. Tomato Sauce (recipe follows)
6 kalamata olives, sliced
2 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped
2 Tbs. canola oil for oiling patties and grill topper
Directions
Cook rigatoni in large pot of boiling salted water 19 minutes, or until very soft. Drain, measure out 1 1/2 cups very tightly packed rigatoni, and set aside.
Bring quinoa and broth to a boil in saucepan. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 13 minutes, or until slightly undercooked; some of the white germ will have opened, but much of the quinoa will still have a slight bite. Drain, and set aside.
Heat oil in small saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and cook 1 minute. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Set aside.
Process rigatoni and white beans in food processor 1 minute, or until smooth and paste-like (it’s OK if there are a few small bits of pasta still intact). Transfer mixture to large bowl. Stir in 3/4 cup quinoa, broccoli, cabbage, bell pepper, tomato sauce, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and onion-garlic mixture. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Mash to combine. Form 6 1/2-cup-sized patties. Brush tops of each patty with canola oil.
Heat grill to high heat. Brush grill topper with canola oil. Place each patty oiled-side down on grill topper. Set grill topper on grill, close grill cover, and cook 6 to 7 minutes. Brush each patty again with oil, and carefully flip. Close grill, and grill 3 to 4 minutes more.
nutritional information Per Burger: Calories: 276; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 41 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 257 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan
AL’S VEGGIE BURGER
This is from TODAY’s Al Roker. The recipe begins, “TODAY's Al Roker may make a mean patty melt, BBQ brisket and rack of ribs, but he's also makes a great veggie burger. A mixture of black beans and mushrooms forms the base of his hearty and filling patties that are topped with a creamy and spicy Sriracha mayo. Serve the burgers with Al's Baked Sweet Potato Fries and you've got fast, easy and delicious meatless dinner for four.” Servings: 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 cup white onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans black beans, drained
10 medium button mushrooms, stems removed
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 egg
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1/4 cup Sriracha
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 whole wheat buns
6 leaves Bibb lettuce
1 tomato, sliced
1 avocado, sliced
Preparation
In a large non-stick skillet, add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and sauté the garlic and onion until cooked. Set aside.
In a food processor, add 1 can of the drained black beans and the mushrooms. Pulse five to six times. The mixture should be slightly chunky.
In a large bowl, combine the bean and mushroom mixture, cooked onions and garlic, second can of drained black beans, cumin, salt and pepper, egg, brown rice and whole wheat bread crumbs. Mix together until combined and then form into 4 burger patties.
Preheat the oven to 350°.
In a non-stick skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the patties and brown them on both sides. Place the burgers in the oven and cook until the center is cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes.
In a small bowl, add the Sriracha and mayonnaise. Stir to combine.
To build each burger, smear the Sriracha mayo on the bottom buns, then add the burger, lettuce, tomato, avocado and top bun.
Serve with Al's Baked Sweet Potato Fries and extra Sriracha mayo on the side.
BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES
Of course, Al Roker’s Baked Sweet Potato Fries have to follow his veggie burger recipe, right? This recipe begins, “The finishing touch to Al Roker's no-brainer sweet potato fries is a delicious spice mixture of cinnamon and cayenne pepper. You can also skip the spices and simply toss the sweet potato batons with olive oil, salt and pepper.” Cook Time: 18 minutes; Prep Time: 2 minutes; Servings: 4 - 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, washed well
2 tablespoons cooking oil suitable for high heat, like safflower oil
2 teaspoons salt
2-3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon (or to taste) ground cayenne
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400F, convection setting. Line a large sheet pan with foil and lightly grease. Cut unpeeled potatoes lengthwise into 1/4" thick square rods, or 'fries.' Place in a large bowl and toss with oil and salt. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and cayenne. Add the mixture to the fries and toss well to coat evenly.
Place in oven and bake about 18 minutes until cooked through and lightly browned. Serve warm.
It's Memorial Day here in the U.S., a three-day weekend to celebrate those who've served in the Armed Services. If you – or anyone in your family – is/was in the Armed Services – Thank You!
This also seems to be the unofficial start of summer. And what food screams summer more than burgers and fries. I've got six yummy recipes to start off your Memorial Day celebration, including Black Bean Veggie Burgers and Baked Sweet Potato Fries from the TODAY Show's Al Roker. Enjoy!
BLACK BEAN AND SWEET POTATO BURGERS WITH GARLICKY CHIPOTLE MAYO
One of my favorite places to shop (if not my absolute favorite store) is Rollin’ Oats in St. Petersburg, Florida. (They do have another store in Tampa, but since I live near St. Pete, that’s the one I go to.) Great store, friendly (and knowledgeable) employees…dang, now I’ve got to make another run there!
Anyway, the store has a rack with free magazines, including Better Nutrition. This recipe is from the July, 2015 issue of Better Nutrition and begins, “These protein-rich burgers definitely have a ‘wow’ factor thanks to the hearty bean-sweet potato-and-quinoa base.” Makes 6 burgers.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained well
1 medium baked or roasted sweet potato, peeled and mashed
1/2 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice
1/4 cup ground flax
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Olive oil
1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. chipotle powder
1 large garlic clove, pressed in a garlic press or very finely minced
Burger buns, avocado slices, and arugula, optional
Directions
Preheat grill to medium. Combine beans, sweet potato, quinoa, flax, onion, cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Mash beans with a potato masher into an even consistency. Let stand 5 minutes.
Using your hands, form mixture into 6 burgers; generously brush both sides of burgers with olive oil and arrange on grill basket. Grill 8–10 minutes on each side.
While burgers are cooking, combine mayonnaise, chipotle, and garlic in small bowl. Mix well. To serve, spread chipotle mayonnaise on both sides of burger buns. Arrange avocado slices and arugula on bottom halves, if using. Top with burgers and top halves of buns, and serve immediately.
per serving (without buns): 180 cal; 8g pro; 7g total fat (1g sat fat); 23g carb; 0mg chol; 400mg sod; 7g fiber; 2g sugars
THE ULTIMATE VEGGIE BURGER
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “You make a veggie burger because you want the hamburger experience without the meat. This one delivers. It’s got a firm, beefy texture that takes on the char and smoke of the grill, but is adaptable enough to cook inside on your stove. The enemy of a veggie burger is mushiness, which stems from a high moisture content. To combat that, the very watery ingredients – mushrooms, tofu, beans and beets – are roasted to both dehydrate them somewhat and intensify their flavors. Yes, the ingredient list here is long; you need a diverse lot to make a good veggie burger. And each one adds something in terms of flavor and/or texture. Garnish this any way you like, and don’t forget to toast the buns.” Yield: 6 burger.
This was featured in “The Ultimate Veggie Burger”, and can be found online here.
Also, there are two guides that went with this recipe that you might want to check out. The first is “How to Cook Beans”, and the second is “How to Grill”. Enjoy!
Ingredients
4 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained
Olive oil
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more as needed
Black pepper, as needed
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 medium beet, peeled and coarsely grated (3/4 cup)
3/4 cup tamari almonds or cashews
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
2 ounces Cotija cheese or queso blanco, crumbled or grated (about 1/2 cup)
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 scallions, sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon dulce pimentón or sweet smoked paprika
4 ounces tempeh, crumbled
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Slice tofu into 1/4-inch-thick slabs and pat dry with paper towel. Arrange tofu on one half of a rimmed baking sheet; brush both sides with oil. Spread mushrooms on the other half of the baking sheet; toss with 2 tablespoons oil and salt and pepper.
On a second rimmed baking sheet, toss beans and grated beet with 1 tablespoon oil and salt and pepper, then spread the mixture into one layer.
Transfer both baking sheets to the oven. Roast bean-beet mixture, tossing occasionally, until beans begin to split and beets are tender and golden, about 15 minutes. Roast mushrooms and tofu until golden and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 25 minutes. Let everything cool.
Place nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add cooled bean-beet mixture, mushrooms, tofu, panko, cheese, eggs, mayonnaise, scallion, garlic, pimentón and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Pulse until ingredients are just combined. Pulse in tempeh and rice but do not overprocess. You want small chunks, not a smooth mixture. Scrape mixture into a bowl and chill at least 2 hours or up to 5 days (you can also freeze the burger mix).
When you are ready to make the burgers, divide mixture into 6 equal portions and form each portion into a patty about 1 inch thick. Return to the fridge until just before grilling. They grill better when they start out cold.
Heat the grill. Cook the burgers over a low fire until they are charred on both sides and firm when you press on them, 4 to 6 minutes per side. If they start to burn before they firm up, move them to the sides of the grill to finish cooking over indirect heat. Alternatively, you can cook these on a grill pan or in a skillet over low heat.
BLACK BEAN-QUINOA BURGERS
This comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Here's a delicious veggie burger you can whip up from scratch. Any steak seasoning (which is just a combination of herbs and spices) will work to give the patties a rich, hearty flavor. Stash a few in the freezer for busy weeknight meals. For super-easy cookouts, bake the patties ahead, then reheat them on the grill. Serve with your favorite burger fixings.” Makes 8 patties.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup quinoa
1 small onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
6 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 tsp. dried steak seasoning
8 whole-grain hamburger buns
Instructions
Stir together quinoa and 1 1/2 cups water in small saucepan, and season with salt, if desired. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. (You should have 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa.)
Meanwhile, place onion and sun-dried tomatoes in medium nonstick skillet, and cook over medium heat. (The oil left on the tomatoes should be enough to sauté the onion.) Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until onion has softened. Stir in 3/4 cup black beans, garlic, steak seasoning, and 1 1/2 cups water. Simmer 9 to 11 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated.
Transfer bean-onion mixture to food processor, add 3/4 cup cooked quinoa, and process until smooth. Transfer to bowl, and stir in remaining 3/4 cup quinoa and remaining 3/4 cup black beans. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and cool.
Preheat oven to 350°F, and generously coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Shape bean mixture into 8 patties (1/2 cup each), and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, or until patties are crisp on top. Flip patties with spatula, and bake 10 minutes more, or until both sides are crisp and brown. Serve on buns.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 215; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 40 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 438 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 5 g; Yield: Serves 8
MEDITERRANEAN VEGGIE BURGERS
This comes from the July/August 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 62, and begins, “Eureka! We’ve found the secret “glue” that holds homemade veggie burgers together on an outdoor grill: purée the ingredients with overcooked pasta. A couple of other tips for success: be sure to pat the beans dry before you add them to the patty mixture, and use a stainless steel grill topper for a more stable grilling surface. Serve these mouthwatering miracles with your favorite burger buns and toppings.” Makes 6 burgers.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 oz. rigatoni
1/2 cup red quinoa
7 oz. low-sodium vegetable broth
1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
3/4 cup chopped onion
9 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups cooked white beans, or 1 15-oz. can white beans, rinsed, drained, and thoroughly patted dry
1/2 cup steamed broccoli
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. finely shredded green cabbage
3 Tbs. finely chopped red bell pepper
2 Tbs. Tomato Sauce (recipe follows)
6 kalamata olives, sliced
2 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped
2 Tbs. canola oil for oiling patties and grill topper
Directions
Cook rigatoni in large pot of boiling salted water 19 minutes, or until very soft. Drain, measure out 1 1/2 cups very tightly packed rigatoni, and set aside.
Bring quinoa and broth to a boil in saucepan. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 13 minutes, or until slightly undercooked; some of the white germ will have opened, but much of the quinoa will still have a slight bite. Drain, and set aside.
Heat oil in small saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and cook 1 minute. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Set aside.
Process rigatoni and white beans in food processor 1 minute, or until smooth and paste-like (it’s OK if there are a few small bits of pasta still intact). Transfer mixture to large bowl. Stir in 3/4 cup quinoa, broccoli, cabbage, bell pepper, tomato sauce, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and onion-garlic mixture. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Mash to combine. Form 6 1/2-cup-sized patties. Brush tops of each patty with canola oil.
Heat grill to high heat. Brush grill topper with canola oil. Place each patty oiled-side down on grill topper. Set grill topper on grill, close grill cover, and cook 6 to 7 minutes. Brush each patty again with oil, and carefully flip. Close grill, and grill 3 to 4 minutes more.
nutritional information Per Burger: Calories: 276; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 41 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 257 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan
AL’S VEGGIE BURGER
This is from TODAY’s Al Roker. The recipe begins, “TODAY's Al Roker may make a mean patty melt, BBQ brisket and rack of ribs, but he's also makes a great veggie burger. A mixture of black beans and mushrooms forms the base of his hearty and filling patties that are topped with a creamy and spicy Sriracha mayo. Serve the burgers with Al's Baked Sweet Potato Fries and you've got fast, easy and delicious meatless dinner for four.” Servings: 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 cup white onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans black beans, drained
10 medium button mushrooms, stems removed
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 egg
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1/4 cup Sriracha
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 whole wheat buns
6 leaves Bibb lettuce
1 tomato, sliced
1 avocado, sliced
Preparation
In a large non-stick skillet, add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and sauté the garlic and onion until cooked. Set aside.
In a food processor, add 1 can of the drained black beans and the mushrooms. Pulse five to six times. The mixture should be slightly chunky.
In a large bowl, combine the bean and mushroom mixture, cooked onions and garlic, second can of drained black beans, cumin, salt and pepper, egg, brown rice and whole wheat bread crumbs. Mix together until combined and then form into 4 burger patties.
Preheat the oven to 350°.
In a non-stick skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the patties and brown them on both sides. Place the burgers in the oven and cook until the center is cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes.
In a small bowl, add the Sriracha and mayonnaise. Stir to combine.
To build each burger, smear the Sriracha mayo on the bottom buns, then add the burger, lettuce, tomato, avocado and top bun.
Serve with Al's Baked Sweet Potato Fries and extra Sriracha mayo on the side.
BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES
Of course, Al Roker’s Baked Sweet Potato Fries have to follow his veggie burger recipe, right? This recipe begins, “The finishing touch to Al Roker's no-brainer sweet potato fries is a delicious spice mixture of cinnamon and cayenne pepper. You can also skip the spices and simply toss the sweet potato batons with olive oil, salt and pepper.” Cook Time: 18 minutes; Prep Time: 2 minutes; Servings: 4 - 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, washed well
2 tablespoons cooking oil suitable for high heat, like safflower oil
2 teaspoons salt
2-3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon (or to taste) ground cayenne
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400F, convection setting. Line a large sheet pan with foil and lightly grease. Cut unpeeled potatoes lengthwise into 1/4" thick square rods, or 'fries.' Place in a large bowl and toss with oil and salt. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and cayenne. Add the mixture to the fries and toss well to coat evenly.
Place in oven and bake about 18 minutes until cooked through and lightly browned. Serve warm.
Monday, May 16, 2022
Monday, May 9, 2022
Friday, May 6, 2022
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Qatayef Asafiri (Stuffed Semolina Pancakes) and Spinach Salad with Roasted Beets and Dried Fruit. Enjoy!
WINTER VEGETABLE MEDLEY WITH PAELLA-STYLE ORZO
This was in the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 30). It begins, "Good-quality saffron is the key to this dish. Shop at a reliable source such as a gourmet store or online spice purveyor, and choose brands that indicate where the saffron was harvested." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/winter-vegetable-medley-with-paella-style-orzo/.
Ingredients
2 3/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. saffron threads
1 14.5-oz. can fire-roasted whole tomatoes, drained, liquid reserved, and tomatoes halved
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 16 pieces
1 cup orzo pasta
1/4 cup frozen peas
2 cups large cauliflower florets
8 green onions, each cut into thirds
1 cup large broccoli florets
Preparation
Bring broth to a simmer in saucepan. Stir in garlic, Italian seasoning, saffron, and tomato liquid. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and keep hot.
Coat large skillet or 8-qt. Dutch oven with cooking spray, add oil, and heat over high heat. Add tomatoes, sear 2 to 3 minutes, or until browned and dry, and transfer to plate. Add bell pepper, sear 2 to 3 minutes, and transfer to same plate.
Sprinkle orzo into skillet, and stir 30 seconds. Stir in broth and peas, and reduce heat to medium. Arrange cauliflower florets on top of orzo in pot. Arrange green onions, tomatoes, and bell pepper pieces around cauliflower; cover, and simmer without stirring, 11 minutes. Scatter broccoli over vegetables, remove pot from heat, and let stand, covered, 10 minutes, or until orzo has absorbed all liquid and broccoli is crisp-tender.
SPINACH SALAD WITH ROASTED BEETS AND DRIED FRUIT
This was in the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 38). It begins, "This celebratory salad is packed with complementary sweet, sour, earthy, and savory flavors. For color, choose a mixture of beets, such as golden and Chioggia (candy cane), in addition to the usual red." Makes 8 servings. Great for holiday meal
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/spinach-salad-with-roasted-beets-and-dried-fruit/.
Ingredients
1 lb. beets, scrubbed and trimmed
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup dried goji berries
1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbs. olive oil
10 oz. baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup dried cranberries (apple-juice sweetened)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F. Wrap beets individually in foil, and place on baking sheet. Roast 1 hour, or until tender. Cool.
Meanwhile, pour orange juice over goji berries in small bowl. Soak goji berries 1 hour, or until plump and softened.
When beets are cool enough to handle, rub off skins using paper towel, then cut beets into thin slices.
Strain goji berries into small, clean bowl, and reserve juice. Whisk together 2 Tbs. reserved juice with mustard, vinegar, and oil in separate bowl.
Toss spinach with dressing in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Sprinkle with goji berries, beets, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds.
SUGAR SNAP PEAS AND CARROTS
Recipe Yield: Makes 4 servings.
Source: AICR
Recipe and image appear courtesy of American Institute for Cancer Research
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/sugar-snap-peas-and-carrots.
Ingredients
1 tsp. canola oil
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. grated or minced ginger
8 oz. sugar snap peas
3 baby carrots, cut lengthwise in 8 strips
3 Tbsp. chicken or vegetable broth, or water
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 large basil leaves, cut crosswise in thin strips
Directions
Heat oil in a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Saute garlic and ginger until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add peas and carrots to the pan, stirring to coat them with oil. Add broth or water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until peas are tender-crisp, about 4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in basil and serve.
Notes: Additional Info: 2 g. dietary fiber
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 47; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 109 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Vegetable
MATTAR PANEER
This is from Zainab Shah in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Zainab wrote, "Traditionally, roasted and crushed cashews are puréed with cooked onions and tomatoes to make the base for this comforting vegetarian dish. This version skips the hassle of puréeing and instead uses a hefty amount of cashew butter for the same nutty flavor and creamy texture. Red chile powder, ginger and garlic provide the perfect backbone for the sauce. Substitute tofu for paneer if you like; the mildness of either lends itself well to this unexpectedly luxurious dish that is so much more than the sum of its parts."
Yield: 2 to 4 servings; Time: 25 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023017-mattar-paneer.
Ingredients
1/4 cup ghee or neutral oil
1/2 pound paneer or extra firm tofu cut into 1-inch cubes and patted very dry
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ginger paste or freshly grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon garlic paste or freshly grated garlic
3/4 teaspoon kashmiri or other red chile powder
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
3 medium plum tomatoes, finely chopped
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons cashew butter
8 ounces frozen (no need to thaw) or fresh green peas (about 1-3/4 cups)
3 tablespoons heavy cream or cashew cream (optional)
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
Rice or roti, for serving
Preparation
Heat ghee in a large frying pan or medium wok on high for 30 seconds, or until it is melted. Lower heat to medium and lightly fry paneer or tofu cubes, turning frequently, until they are golden on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside on a plate lined with a paper towel.
In the same frying pan or wok add onion, ginger and garlic, and cook on medium, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes or until onions are translucent.
Add chile powder, cumin seeds and turmeric, and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in tomatoes and salt. Add 3/4 cup water. Simmer on medium until the mixture thickens slightly, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Lower the heat to medium-low, and stir in cashew butter. Add peas and paneer. Stir to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes or until it reaches your desired thickness. Top with heavy cream in a swirl, if you like. Sprinkle with garam masala. Serve with rice or roti.
QATAYEF ASAFIRI (STUFFED SEMOLINA PANCAKES)
This is from Reem Kassis in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Reem wrote, "Qatayef are synonymous with Ramadan. It is during this month that bakeries start making the pastry for these stuffed pancakes, and the lines spill into the street as people wait their turn to buy them. Golden underneath and speckled with bubbles on top, qatayef are cooked only on one side. They can be large or small. The large ones are normally stuffed with nuts or cheese and folded over, then fried or baked, and drenched in sugar syrup. The small ones, called qatayef asafiri (or little bird qatayef), are stuffed with a creamy filling, only half closed, then dipped in pistachio and drizzled with thick, faintly floral sugar syrup. The batter is very simple; the key is to make sure it is the right consistency, like that of heavy cream."
Yield: About 30 pieces; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in "The Dessert That Tastes Best One Month Out of Every Year", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023041-qatayef-asafiri-stuffed-semolina-pancakes.
Ingredients
For the Syrup:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon orange blossom water or rose water, or a combination
For the Batter:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup fine semolina flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon instant or quick-rise yeast
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground mahlab (optional, see Tip)
1/4 teaspoon orange blossom water or rose water (optional)
For the Filling:
1 cup/8 ounces mascarpone
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon orange blossom water or rose water, or a combination
1/4 cup/about 1 ounce finely ground unroasted, unsalted pistachios, preferably Turkish, for finishing
Preparation
Prepare the syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, lemon juice and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool completely, then stir in 1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water and 1/2 teaspoon rose water.
Make the batter: Add 1-1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons water to a blender or food processor. Add all the batter ingredients and process until smooth. The batter should be quite loose, similar to heavy cream in consistency. Set aside to rest for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Place the mascarpone, heavy cream, confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water and 1/2 teaspoon rose water in a small bowl. Use a handheld electric mixer to whip into stiff peaks. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Cook the qatayef: Place a medium nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat until hot. Mix the batter to ensure it is smooth, then pour separate 1-tablespoon portions of batter into the pan, fitting about 4 circles. Cook qatayef until the entire surface is covered in small bubbles and the center loses its sheen, about 30 to 45 seconds. (You might be able to cook off more at a time once you’ve determined the right temperature and consistency of the batter.) If the bubbles are large and sparse, then your batter is too thick; stir 1 tablespoon of water into the batter to thin. Qatayef cook only on one side; the base should be uniformly golden and the top covered in small bubbles. If the disks brown too quickly — or unevenly — underneath before the batter loses its sheen on top, lower the heat slightly.
Transfer each cooked qatayef to a large tray lined with a dish towel and cover with another dish towel while you cook the remaining batter.
Fill the qatayef: Fold each into a half-moon, bubble side on the inside, and pinch to seal the edges together halfway. Using a teaspoon or a piping bag, fill the opening with the cream, then dip the exposed cream filling into the ground pistachios.
Arrange the filled qatayef on a serving platter. These can be covered in plastic wrap and refrigerated for several hours until ready to serve. To serve, drizzle the cooled syrup over the qatayef and offer guests more syrup to add to their individual plates, if they choose.
Tip
Mahlab, the kernel found inside the pit of a cherry, adds a floral and nutty aroma to sweets and gives Arabic cheese its distinct flavor. It is available whole or ground from Middle Eastern grocery stores, but goes rancid quickly, so buy it whole and grind it as needed, storing the rest in the freezer until needed.
SPANAKOPITA
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, "A traditional Greek entrée, spanakopita is a delicious, savory pie filled with spinach and onions mixed with feta cheese and eggs. The filling is enveloped between layers of light, flaky phyllo dough." Makes 4 servings; serving size: 1 1/2 cups
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/spanakopita
Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon canola or corn oil and 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons canola or corn oil, divided use
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 medium garlic clove (minced)
OR
1/2 teaspoon bottled, minced garlic
1/2 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
1/4 cup crumbled, fat-free feta
2 tablespoons fresh dillweed
OR
1 teaspoon dillweed
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
5 9 x 14-inch sheets frozen phyllo, thawed in refrigerator
2 pounds fresh baby spinach
OR
3 10-ounce packages frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray an 8- or 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the onion for 3 minutes, or until almost soft, stirring frequently. Cook the garlic for 1 minute. Reduce the heat to low. Cook half the spinach for 1 minute, tossing with tongs. Cook the remaining spinach until all the spinach is wilted, tossing constantly. Remove from the heat. Drain well in a colander, using the back of a fork to press out any excess liquid.
In a medium bowl, stir together the ricotta, eggs, feta, dillweed, and pepper. Stir in the spinach until well combined. Transfer the spinach mixture to the baking dish.
Place the 5 sheets of phyllo dough on a cutting board. Working quickly, use a sharp knife to cut the sheets in half. Keep the unused phyllo covered with a damp cloth or damp paper towels to prevent drying. Place 1 sheet over the spinach mixture. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush with 1 teaspoon oil. Layer with a second sheet. Brush with 1 teaspoon oil. Repeat with the remaining sheets and oil.
Bake for 30 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 375˚F. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the top is golden and crisp. Serve warm.
Cooking Tip: For quicker assembly, cook the spinach a day ahead. Refrigerate it, covered, until you need it.
WINTER VEGETABLE MEDLEY WITH PAELLA-STYLE ORZO
This was in the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 30). It begins, "Good-quality saffron is the key to this dish. Shop at a reliable source such as a gourmet store or online spice purveyor, and choose brands that indicate where the saffron was harvested." Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/winter-vegetable-medley-with-paella-style-orzo/.
Ingredients
2 3/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. saffron threads
1 14.5-oz. can fire-roasted whole tomatoes, drained, liquid reserved, and tomatoes halved
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 16 pieces
1 cup orzo pasta
1/4 cup frozen peas
2 cups large cauliflower florets
8 green onions, each cut into thirds
1 cup large broccoli florets
Preparation
Bring broth to a simmer in saucepan. Stir in garlic, Italian seasoning, saffron, and tomato liquid. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and keep hot.
Coat large skillet or 8-qt. Dutch oven with cooking spray, add oil, and heat over high heat. Add tomatoes, sear 2 to 3 minutes, or until browned and dry, and transfer to plate. Add bell pepper, sear 2 to 3 minutes, and transfer to same plate.
Sprinkle orzo into skillet, and stir 30 seconds. Stir in broth and peas, and reduce heat to medium. Arrange cauliflower florets on top of orzo in pot. Arrange green onions, tomatoes, and bell pepper pieces around cauliflower; cover, and simmer without stirring, 11 minutes. Scatter broccoli over vegetables, remove pot from heat, and let stand, covered, 10 minutes, or until orzo has absorbed all liquid and broccoli is crisp-tender.
SPINACH SALAD WITH ROASTED BEETS AND DRIED FRUIT
This was in the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times (page 38). It begins, "This celebratory salad is packed with complementary sweet, sour, earthy, and savory flavors. For color, choose a mixture of beets, such as golden and Chioggia (candy cane), in addition to the usual red." Makes 8 servings. Great for holiday meal
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/spinach-salad-with-roasted-beets-and-dried-fruit/.
Ingredients
1 lb. beets, scrubbed and trimmed
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup dried goji berries
1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbs. olive oil
10 oz. baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup dried cranberries (apple-juice sweetened)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F. Wrap beets individually in foil, and place on baking sheet. Roast 1 hour, or until tender. Cool.
Meanwhile, pour orange juice over goji berries in small bowl. Soak goji berries 1 hour, or until plump and softened.
When beets are cool enough to handle, rub off skins using paper towel, then cut beets into thin slices.
Strain goji berries into small, clean bowl, and reserve juice. Whisk together 2 Tbs. reserved juice with mustard, vinegar, and oil in separate bowl.
Toss spinach with dressing in large bowl, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Sprinkle with goji berries, beets, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds.
SUGAR SNAP PEAS AND CARROTS
Recipe Yield: Makes 4 servings.
Source: AICR
Recipe and image appear courtesy of American Institute for Cancer Research
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/sugar-snap-peas-and-carrots.
Ingredients
1 tsp. canola oil
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. grated or minced ginger
8 oz. sugar snap peas
3 baby carrots, cut lengthwise in 8 strips
3 Tbsp. chicken or vegetable broth, or water
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 large basil leaves, cut crosswise in thin strips
Directions
Heat oil in a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Saute garlic and ginger until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add peas and carrots to the pan, stirring to coat them with oil. Add broth or water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until peas are tender-crisp, about 4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in basil and serve.
Notes: Additional Info: 2 g. dietary fiber
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 47; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 109 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Vegetable
MATTAR PANEER
This is from Zainab Shah in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Zainab wrote, "Traditionally, roasted and crushed cashews are puréed with cooked onions and tomatoes to make the base for this comforting vegetarian dish. This version skips the hassle of puréeing and instead uses a hefty amount of cashew butter for the same nutty flavor and creamy texture. Red chile powder, ginger and garlic provide the perfect backbone for the sauce. Substitute tofu for paneer if you like; the mildness of either lends itself well to this unexpectedly luxurious dish that is so much more than the sum of its parts."
Yield: 2 to 4 servings; Time: 25 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023017-mattar-paneer.
Ingredients
1/4 cup ghee or neutral oil
1/2 pound paneer or extra firm tofu cut into 1-inch cubes and patted very dry
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ginger paste or freshly grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon garlic paste or freshly grated garlic
3/4 teaspoon kashmiri or other red chile powder
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
3 medium plum tomatoes, finely chopped
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons cashew butter
8 ounces frozen (no need to thaw) or fresh green peas (about 1-3/4 cups)
3 tablespoons heavy cream or cashew cream (optional)
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
Rice or roti, for serving
Preparation
Heat ghee in a large frying pan or medium wok on high for 30 seconds, or until it is melted. Lower heat to medium and lightly fry paneer or tofu cubes, turning frequently, until they are golden on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside on a plate lined with a paper towel.
In the same frying pan or wok add onion, ginger and garlic, and cook on medium, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes or until onions are translucent.
Add chile powder, cumin seeds and turmeric, and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in tomatoes and salt. Add 3/4 cup water. Simmer on medium until the mixture thickens slightly, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Lower the heat to medium-low, and stir in cashew butter. Add peas and paneer. Stir to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes or until it reaches your desired thickness. Top with heavy cream in a swirl, if you like. Sprinkle with garam masala. Serve with rice or roti.
QATAYEF ASAFIRI (STUFFED SEMOLINA PANCAKES)
This is from Reem Kassis in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Reem wrote, "Qatayef are synonymous with Ramadan. It is during this month that bakeries start making the pastry for these stuffed pancakes, and the lines spill into the street as people wait their turn to buy them. Golden underneath and speckled with bubbles on top, qatayef are cooked only on one side. They can be large or small. The large ones are normally stuffed with nuts or cheese and folded over, then fried or baked, and drenched in sugar syrup. The small ones, called qatayef asafiri (or little bird qatayef), are stuffed with a creamy filling, only half closed, then dipped in pistachio and drizzled with thick, faintly floral sugar syrup. The batter is very simple; the key is to make sure it is the right consistency, like that of heavy cream."
Yield: About 30 pieces; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in "The Dessert That Tastes Best One Month Out of Every Year", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023041-qatayef-asafiri-stuffed-semolina-pancakes.
Ingredients
For the Syrup:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon orange blossom water or rose water, or a combination
For the Batter:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup fine semolina flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon instant or quick-rise yeast
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground mahlab (optional, see Tip)
1/4 teaspoon orange blossom water or rose water (optional)
For the Filling:
1 cup/8 ounces mascarpone
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon orange blossom water or rose water, or a combination
1/4 cup/about 1 ounce finely ground unroasted, unsalted pistachios, preferably Turkish, for finishing
Preparation
Prepare the syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, lemon juice and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool completely, then stir in 1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water and 1/2 teaspoon rose water.
Make the batter: Add 1-1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons water to a blender or food processor. Add all the batter ingredients and process until smooth. The batter should be quite loose, similar to heavy cream in consistency. Set aside to rest for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Place the mascarpone, heavy cream, confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water and 1/2 teaspoon rose water in a small bowl. Use a handheld electric mixer to whip into stiff peaks. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Cook the qatayef: Place a medium nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat until hot. Mix the batter to ensure it is smooth, then pour separate 1-tablespoon portions of batter into the pan, fitting about 4 circles. Cook qatayef until the entire surface is covered in small bubbles and the center loses its sheen, about 30 to 45 seconds. (You might be able to cook off more at a time once you’ve determined the right temperature and consistency of the batter.) If the bubbles are large and sparse, then your batter is too thick; stir 1 tablespoon of water into the batter to thin. Qatayef cook only on one side; the base should be uniformly golden and the top covered in small bubbles. If the disks brown too quickly — or unevenly — underneath before the batter loses its sheen on top, lower the heat slightly.
Transfer each cooked qatayef to a large tray lined with a dish towel and cover with another dish towel while you cook the remaining batter.
Fill the qatayef: Fold each into a half-moon, bubble side on the inside, and pinch to seal the edges together halfway. Using a teaspoon or a piping bag, fill the opening with the cream, then dip the exposed cream filling into the ground pistachios.
Arrange the filled qatayef on a serving platter. These can be covered in plastic wrap and refrigerated for several hours until ready to serve. To serve, drizzle the cooled syrup over the qatayef and offer guests more syrup to add to their individual plates, if they choose.
Tip
Mahlab, the kernel found inside the pit of a cherry, adds a floral and nutty aroma to sweets and gives Arabic cheese its distinct flavor. It is available whole or ground from Middle Eastern grocery stores, but goes rancid quickly, so buy it whole and grind it as needed, storing the rest in the freezer until needed.
SPANAKOPITA
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, "A traditional Greek entrée, spanakopita is a delicious, savory pie filled with spinach and onions mixed with feta cheese and eggs. The filling is enveloped between layers of light, flaky phyllo dough." Makes 4 servings; serving size: 1 1/2 cups
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/spanakopita
Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon canola or corn oil and 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons canola or corn oil, divided use
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 medium garlic clove (minced)
OR
1/2 teaspoon bottled, minced garlic
1/2 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
1/4 cup crumbled, fat-free feta
2 tablespoons fresh dillweed
OR
1 teaspoon dillweed
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
5 9 x 14-inch sheets frozen phyllo, thawed in refrigerator
2 pounds fresh baby spinach
OR
3 10-ounce packages frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray an 8- or 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the onion for 3 minutes, or until almost soft, stirring frequently. Cook the garlic for 1 minute. Reduce the heat to low. Cook half the spinach for 1 minute, tossing with tongs. Cook the remaining spinach until all the spinach is wilted, tossing constantly. Remove from the heat. Drain well in a colander, using the back of a fork to press out any excess liquid.
In a medium bowl, stir together the ricotta, eggs, feta, dillweed, and pepper. Stir in the spinach until well combined. Transfer the spinach mixture to the baking dish.
Place the 5 sheets of phyllo dough on a cutting board. Working quickly, use a sharp knife to cut the sheets in half. Keep the unused phyllo covered with a damp cloth or damp paper towels to prevent drying. Place 1 sheet over the spinach mixture. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush with 1 teaspoon oil. Layer with a second sheet. Brush with 1 teaspoon oil. Repeat with the remaining sheets and oil.
Bake for 30 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 375˚F. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the top is golden and crisp. Serve warm.
Cooking Tip: For quicker assembly, cook the spinach a day ahead. Refrigerate it, covered, until you need it.
Thursday, May 5, 2022
Sloppy Joes
Looking for something to make the whole family happy that's a little fancier than burgers, but not extremely work-intensive? Sloppy Joes fit the bill. They're yummy, fun, a pleasant change from burgers, but not too fancy.
Check out today's six yummy sloppy joes, including Spicy Sloppy Joes and Mouthwatering Vegan Sloppy Joes. Enjoy!
TURKEY VEGGIE SLOPPY JOES
I know, I know: This is a vegetarian blog, and this one is titled Turkey Veggie Sloppy Joes. But hold onto your heart. It’s from The Mayo Clinic, and it does give you the option (a big one) to use soy-based crumbles, rather than “1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat.” I’ve opted to leave the turkey meat off here (you can breathe a sigh of relief now). But I did want to forewarn you about this. Of course, if you want to view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/recipe/turkey-veggie-sloppy-joes.
Serves 10; Serving size: 1 sandwich
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat (or 12 ounces soy-based crumbles)
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 cups zucchini, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can low-sodium tomato paste (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon mild chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
5 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 10 whole-wheat hamburger buns
Directions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground turkey until browned, about 7 minutes. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add carrot and green pepper and sauté 2 minutes. Add zucchini and garlic and sauté 2 minutes more.
Add tomato paste and water, stirring until the paste has dissolved. Add chili powder, paprika, oregano and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.
Preheat broiler. Divide cheese among the bottom halves of the hamburger buns. Transfer both halves of the buns to the broiler, open-faced, and toast until the cheese has melted and the buns are toasted.
Remove buns from the broiler and fill each sandwich with the meat-vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.
MEATLESS TEX-MEX SLOPPY JOES
This recipe, from Old El Paso, begins, Meatless Mondays just got a new star recipe. Impossible™ Burger is made from plants and makes this vegetarian sloppy joe recipe a delicious new addition to your meatless repertoire. These Meatless Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes use Old El Paso™ Mild Taco Sauce and Old El Paso™ Original Taco Seasoning Mix. Meatless sloppy joes are as fast and easy as the original, taking just 20 minutes from start to finish."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/meatless-tex-mex-sloppy-joes.
Ingredients
1 package (12 oz) Impossible™ Burger
2/3 cup water
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ Original Taco Seasoning Mix
1/2 cup Old El Paso™ Mild Taco Sauce (from 9-oz bottle)
4 burger buns, toasted
1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Mexican Style 4 Cheese Blend (from 8-oz package)
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
1 medium avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
Preparation
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook Impossible™ Burger over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until crumbles are browned and cooked through.
Stir water, taco seasoning mix and taco sauce into Impossible™ Burger mixture; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened.
Place about 1/2 cup mixture over bottom of each bun; top with cheese, lettuce, avocado and tomatoes, then top of bun.
Expert Tips
Cooking Vegetarian? Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.
Old El Paso™ Mild Taco Sauce plays the role that tomato sauce would play in a traditional sloppy joe recipe, with the added benefit of loads of taco flavor for these vegetarian sloppy joes.
We call for Old El Paso™ Mild Taco Sauce in this recipe, but if you’d prefer a bit more heat in your meatless sloppy joes, feel free to substitute Old El Paso™ Medium Taco Sauce.
Buying a whole head of lettuce and slicing it thinly yourself, as opposed to buying it preshredded in a bag, will help to guarantee a fresh, extra-crisp topping for your sloppy joes.
MOUTHWATERING VEGAN SLOPPY JOES
This comes from PETA, and is adapted from Mouth Watering Vegan. Makes 2-4 servings.
To view this online, go to https://www.peta.org/recipes/mouthwatering-vegan-sloppy-joes/.
Ingredients
Olive oil, for frying
4 scallions (spring onions), chopped into 1/4-inch slices
2 baby chiles, finely chopped
16-oz. vegan beef crumbles or 1 cup cooked lentils
2 tsp. tomato paste
1 onion, very finely chopped
2 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce
1 Tbsp. mustard
1/4 tsp. chili powder
Salt, to taste
2 tsp. dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp. ketchup
1 cup finely chopped fresh or canned tomatoes
2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
Instructions
Heat the olive oil over medium heat and fry half the scallions until slightly browned, then add the chiles and continue to fry for 2 minutes.
Add the vegan beef crumbles and fry until browned.
Add the tomato paste, onion, sweet chili sauce, mustard, chili powder, salt, dark brown sugar, ketchup, tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, and the remaining scallions and simmer for 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat and serve on a toasted bun (use vegan buttery spread on the bun, if desired). Enjoy!
SLOW-COOKER SLOPPY JOES [VEGAN]
This recipe comes from OneGreenPlanet, and is Dairy Free and Vegan. Serves 7 – 8; Cook Time: 6 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups textured vegetable protein
3 cups water
5 garlic cloves
1 cup Medjool dates, soaked and pitted
6 ounce can tomato paste
1 tomato, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 medium white onion, diced
1 tablespoon black strap molasses
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons mustard
3 tablespoons hot sauce
Preparation
Add water, dates, garlic cloves, tomato, and tomato paste to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth. Next, add remaining ingredients to the blender except the textured vegetable protein and stir, or blend on low until fully incorporated.
Turn a crock pot on high. Add textured vegetable protein, blender mixture, and diced onion. Stir until protein is thoroughly coated with the blender sauce and onion. Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
SPICY SLOPPY JOES
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Ale adds a subtle richness to this updated version of the classic chili hash. Mound the Sloppy Joe filling on soft sandwich rolls (try our Wheat Beer and Potato Rolls) and top with sliced avocados and shredded lettuce. This recipe easily doubles for a party." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/spicy-sloppy-joes/.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. canola oil
4 large cloves garlic, minced
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 lb. soy crumbles
3 Tbs. chili powder
1 to 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
1 1/4 cups pale ale or brown ale, room temperature
3/4 cup low-sodium bottled chili sauce
2 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
1 cup finely chopped green onions
Preparation
Warm oil in large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and green pepper, and sauté, stirring frequently, 5 minutes.
Stir in soy crumbles and chili powder. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, until fragrant.
Add jalapeños, ale, chili sauce, and soy sauce; mix well. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring often, about 15 minutes, until thickened.
Mix in green onions; season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
LENTIL CHICKPEA SLOPPY JOES
This is from Eden Foods, and is very yummy. Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup shallots, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup red bell peppers, diced
14 ounces Eden Crushed Tomatoes
3 Tbsp organic tomato paste
1 Tbsp organic maple syrup
2 tsp Eden Red Wine Vinegar
1 1/2 tsp Eden Shoyu Soy Sauce, or Tamari
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp Eden Brown Mustard
1 tsp Eden Ground Chili Powder
1/4 tsp Eden Ground Cumin
1/4 tsp Eden Sea Salt
1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper
15 ounces Eden Lentils w/Onion & Bay Leaf
15 ounces Eden Garbanzo Beans, rinsed and drained
6 whole wheat buns
Directions
Heat oil in large skillet and sauté shallots and garlic 2 to 3 minutes. Add peppers and sauté another 2 minutes. Add all ingredients except the lentils, garbanzo beans and buns. Mix thoroughly. Simmer 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add lentils and garbanzos to sauce. Mix and cook another 10 minutes. Spoon mix onto the buns, serve, and enjoy.
Check out today's six yummy sloppy joes, including Spicy Sloppy Joes and Mouthwatering Vegan Sloppy Joes. Enjoy!
TURKEY VEGGIE SLOPPY JOES
I know, I know: This is a vegetarian blog, and this one is titled Turkey Veggie Sloppy Joes. But hold onto your heart. It’s from The Mayo Clinic, and it does give you the option (a big one) to use soy-based crumbles, rather than “1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat.” I’ve opted to leave the turkey meat off here (you can breathe a sigh of relief now). But I did want to forewarn you about this. Of course, if you want to view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/recipe/turkey-veggie-sloppy-joes.
Serves 10; Serving size: 1 sandwich
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat (or 12 ounces soy-based crumbles)
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 cups zucchini, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can low-sodium tomato paste (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon mild chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
5 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 10 whole-wheat hamburger buns
Directions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground turkey until browned, about 7 minutes. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add carrot and green pepper and sauté 2 minutes. Add zucchini and garlic and sauté 2 minutes more.
Add tomato paste and water, stirring until the paste has dissolved. Add chili powder, paprika, oregano and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.
Preheat broiler. Divide cheese among the bottom halves of the hamburger buns. Transfer both halves of the buns to the broiler, open-faced, and toast until the cheese has melted and the buns are toasted.
Remove buns from the broiler and fill each sandwich with the meat-vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.
MEATLESS TEX-MEX SLOPPY JOES
This recipe, from Old El Paso, begins, Meatless Mondays just got a new star recipe. Impossible™ Burger is made from plants and makes this vegetarian sloppy joe recipe a delicious new addition to your meatless repertoire. These Meatless Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes use Old El Paso™ Mild Taco Sauce and Old El Paso™ Original Taco Seasoning Mix. Meatless sloppy joes are as fast and easy as the original, taking just 20 minutes from start to finish."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/meatless-tex-mex-sloppy-joes.
Ingredients
1 package (12 oz) Impossible™ Burger
2/3 cup water
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ Original Taco Seasoning Mix
1/2 cup Old El Paso™ Mild Taco Sauce (from 9-oz bottle)
4 burger buns, toasted
1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Mexican Style 4 Cheese Blend (from 8-oz package)
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
1 medium avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
Preparation
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook Impossible™ Burger over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until crumbles are browned and cooked through.
Stir water, taco seasoning mix and taco sauce into Impossible™ Burger mixture; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened.
Place about 1/2 cup mixture over bottom of each bun; top with cheese, lettuce, avocado and tomatoes, then top of bun.
Expert Tips
Cooking Vegetarian? Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.
Old El Paso™ Mild Taco Sauce plays the role that tomato sauce would play in a traditional sloppy joe recipe, with the added benefit of loads of taco flavor for these vegetarian sloppy joes.
We call for Old El Paso™ Mild Taco Sauce in this recipe, but if you’d prefer a bit more heat in your meatless sloppy joes, feel free to substitute Old El Paso™ Medium Taco Sauce.
Buying a whole head of lettuce and slicing it thinly yourself, as opposed to buying it preshredded in a bag, will help to guarantee a fresh, extra-crisp topping for your sloppy joes.
MOUTHWATERING VEGAN SLOPPY JOES
This comes from PETA, and is adapted from Mouth Watering Vegan. Makes 2-4 servings.
To view this online, go to https://www.peta.org/recipes/mouthwatering-vegan-sloppy-joes/.
Ingredients
Olive oil, for frying
4 scallions (spring onions), chopped into 1/4-inch slices
2 baby chiles, finely chopped
16-oz. vegan beef crumbles or 1 cup cooked lentils
2 tsp. tomato paste
1 onion, very finely chopped
2 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce
1 Tbsp. mustard
1/4 tsp. chili powder
Salt, to taste
2 tsp. dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp. ketchup
1 cup finely chopped fresh or canned tomatoes
2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
Instructions
Heat the olive oil over medium heat and fry half the scallions until slightly browned, then add the chiles and continue to fry for 2 minutes.
Add the vegan beef crumbles and fry until browned.
Add the tomato paste, onion, sweet chili sauce, mustard, chili powder, salt, dark brown sugar, ketchup, tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, and the remaining scallions and simmer for 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat and serve on a toasted bun (use vegan buttery spread on the bun, if desired). Enjoy!
SLOW-COOKER SLOPPY JOES [VEGAN]
This recipe comes from OneGreenPlanet, and is Dairy Free and Vegan. Serves 7 – 8; Cook Time: 6 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups textured vegetable protein
3 cups water
5 garlic cloves
1 cup Medjool dates, soaked and pitted
6 ounce can tomato paste
1 tomato, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 medium white onion, diced
1 tablespoon black strap molasses
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons mustard
3 tablespoons hot sauce
Preparation
Add water, dates, garlic cloves, tomato, and tomato paste to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth. Next, add remaining ingredients to the blender except the textured vegetable protein and stir, or blend on low until fully incorporated.
Turn a crock pot on high. Add textured vegetable protein, blender mixture, and diced onion. Stir until protein is thoroughly coated with the blender sauce and onion. Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
SPICY SLOPPY JOES
This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Ale adds a subtle richness to this updated version of the classic chili hash. Mound the Sloppy Joe filling on soft sandwich rolls (try our Wheat Beer and Potato Rolls) and top with sliced avocados and shredded lettuce. This recipe easily doubles for a party." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/spicy-sloppy-joes/.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. canola oil
4 large cloves garlic, minced
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 lb. soy crumbles
3 Tbs. chili powder
1 to 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
1 1/4 cups pale ale or brown ale, room temperature
3/4 cup low-sodium bottled chili sauce
2 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
1 cup finely chopped green onions
Preparation
Warm oil in large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and green pepper, and sauté, stirring frequently, 5 minutes.
Stir in soy crumbles and chili powder. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, until fragrant.
Add jalapeños, ale, chili sauce, and soy sauce; mix well. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring often, about 15 minutes, until thickened.
Mix in green onions; season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
LENTIL CHICKPEA SLOPPY JOES
This is from Eden Foods, and is very yummy. Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup shallots, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup red bell peppers, diced
14 ounces Eden Crushed Tomatoes
3 Tbsp organic tomato paste
1 Tbsp organic maple syrup
2 tsp Eden Red Wine Vinegar
1 1/2 tsp Eden Shoyu Soy Sauce, or Tamari
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp Eden Brown Mustard
1 tsp Eden Ground Chili Powder
1/4 tsp Eden Ground Cumin
1/4 tsp Eden Sea Salt
1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper
15 ounces Eden Lentils w/Onion & Bay Leaf
15 ounces Eden Garbanzo Beans, rinsed and drained
6 whole wheat buns
Directions
Heat oil in large skillet and sauté shallots and garlic 2 to 3 minutes. Add peppers and sauté another 2 minutes. Add all ingredients except the lentils, garbanzo beans and buns. Mix thoroughly. Simmer 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add lentils and garbanzos to sauce. Mix and cook another 10 minutes. Spoon mix onto the buns, serve, and enjoy.
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Drinks
We're always so busy figuring out what to eat, and how to fix that, that we sometimes forget about what to drink. No problem. Here are six yummy drinks that you can fix any time of day, including Cafe de Olla and Lizard Lounge Tea. Enjoy!
COCOA JAVA
This recipe, from My Food and Family, begins, "You'll need just five minutes and three ingredients to make this tasty coffee drink. Share it with your family for a special treat!"
Prep Time/Total Time: 5 minutes
To view this online, go to https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/050780/cocoa-java.
Ingredients
2 env. instant hot cocoa mix
1-1/2 cups hot freshly brewed MAXWELL HOUSE Coffee
1/4 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
Directions
Empty cocoa mix into 2 large mugs or cups.
Add coffee; stir until mix is dissolved.
Top with COOL WHIP.
Kitchen Tips
Tip 1
Substitute
Prepare using MAXWELL HOUSE Italian Espresso Roast Coffee.
Tip 2
Substitute
Prepare using instant reduced-calorie hot cocoa mix, or flavored instant hot cocoa mix.
Tip 3
Special Extra
To serve garnished with shaved chocolate, pull vegetable peeler across surface of 1 oz. BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate to form shavings. Fill mugs with ingredients as directed; top with shaved chocolate.
HUCKLEBERRY ORANGE ICED MILK
This comes from Vegetarian Times (May 2005 issue, page 87), and begins, "Huckleberries are a close relative of blueberries. Wild Maine blueberries are a perfect substitute. Makes 2 quarts ice milk." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/huckleberry-orange-iced-milk/.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups of granulated sugar or rice syrup
1 cup orange juice
2 cups fresh or frozen huckleberries or wild blueberries
3 cups whole milk
Preparation
Heat sugar and orange juice in saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Add lemon and orange zests. Stir until sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and chill mixture.
Combine orange juice mixture, berries and milk, pour into ice cream machine and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions. Or pour mixture into glass baking dish, and freeze. When frozen, scrape into work bowl of processor or blender, and process until smooth. Refreeze. Process again, and freeze until serving time.
HOMEMADE GINGER TEA
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Wondering how to make a simple and easy homemade ginger tea? Why go out and buy stale old tea bags when you can easily make your own fresh and homemade ginger tea at home using fresh ginger? Treat yourself to a cup of piping hot ginger tea, a healthy drink that's great for digestion.
”Here's how to make the tastiest and most soothing and healing ginger tea you've ever had! There's really no comparison.
“This healing ginger tea recipe actually comes from the raw food and natural health retreat center I used to work at in Thailand, where we served it to our guests bright and early every single morning, seven days a week. The secret to the perfect healing ginger tea? Lots and lots of fresh ginger, simmered for a long time to bring out the flavor, and the lime, which compliments the ginger perfectly, and plenty of natural agave nectar or honey for a refined sugar-free sweetener (or you might prefer it unsweetened, depending on your health goals - It's still delicious, I promise!). Try this simple ginger tea for an immune system boost or for an invigorating way to start the morning.
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 2 servings of ginger tea
To check this out online, click here.
Ingredients
About 2 inches of fresh raw ginger (use more or less, depending on how strong you want it!)
1 1/2 to 2 cups water
1 to 2 tablespoons honey (or agave nectar, to taste)
Optional: 1/2 lime (juiced, or to taste)
Directions
First, prepare the fresh ginger by peeling it and slicing it thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea.
Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger. You really can't over do it, so feel free to add as much ginger and simmer it for as long as you want.
Remove from heat and add lime juice and honey (or agave nectar) to taste.
The secret to making a really flavorful ginger tea is to use plenty of ginger-more than you think you will need-and also to add a bit of lime juice and honey to your ginger tea. You will also probably want to add more honey than you think you will need as well.
Enjoy your hot ginger tea! A homemade ginger tea is excellent in soothing stomach aches and in aiding digestion.
EASTERN SUNRISE SMOOTHIE
It seems that bottled smoothies have hit it big in stores over the past few years. And while many of them are, no doubt, good, and even healthy, there's nothing that quite compares with fresh-made smoothies. The only thing holding one back are one's imagination and the fruits available.
The fruits used in in this smoothie are from the eastern U.S.: orange juice and strawberries from Florida, cranberries from Massachusetts. Top that off with a beautiful pink color. It’s a yummy way to start the morning.
This, as well as other yummy recipes, can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
1 C orange juice
1/2 C yogurt
4-6 frozen strawberries
1 T wheat germ
1/2 C frozen cranberries
Blend juice & berries. Add yogurt & wheat germ & blend about 15 seconds more.
CAFE DE OLLA
The recipe for this yummy coffee is from the December 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 47. It starts off, “Literally 'coffee from the pot,' this recipe offers a simple way to make coffee for a crowd, with a spiced twist that no one can resist.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
4 cinnamon sticks
4 star anise
4 allspice berries
4 whole cloves
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar or 4 oz. piloncillo (Mexican raw sugar cones)
2 cups medium grind, dark roast coffee beans
2 cups low-fat milk
1 cup coffee liqueur, such as Kahlúa, optional
Lightly crush cinnamon sticks, star anise, allspice, and cloves with mortar and pestle. Place in resealable plastic bag, and pound with rolling pin. Transfer to large saucepan, and add sugar and 8 cups water. Bring mixture to a boil, and simmer until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add coffee, and let steep 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, warm milk in small saucepan, and whisk until frothy.
Strain coffee through fine sieve or coffee filter into pitcher. Stir in coffee liqueur (if using). Serve with frothed milk.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 80; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: less than 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Cholesterol: 3 mg; Sodium: 35 mg; Fiber: 0 g; Sugar: 16 g; Gluten-Free
LIZARD LOUNGE TEA
My oldest son spent several summers traveling the country, both singly and with friends. Several times, he wound up at the Rainbow Gathering, where he hooked up with a larger group of friends. Most of them had grown up in hot areas of the country, so they nicknamed themselves lizards; their area of the camp site was the lizard lounge. They would cook up their version of iced tea, which they would barter for other commodities. They were frequently asked what their secret ingredient was.
This is a scaled down version. I found that cranberry or cranberry-apple herb tea works very nicely with this, but any herbal tea can be used.
This, as well as other yummy recipes, can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
1/2 gallon apple cider
4 – 5 herbal tea bags
Place cider in a large pan or teakettle and bring to a boil. Place herbal tea bags into a large container and pour the boiled cider over the tea bags. Let steep for 15-30 minutes and cool. Very good.
COCOA JAVA
This recipe, from My Food and Family, begins, "You'll need just five minutes and three ingredients to make this tasty coffee drink. Share it with your family for a special treat!"
Prep Time/Total Time: 5 minutes
To view this online, go to https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/050780/cocoa-java.
Ingredients
2 env. instant hot cocoa mix
1-1/2 cups hot freshly brewed MAXWELL HOUSE Coffee
1/4 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
Directions
Empty cocoa mix into 2 large mugs or cups.
Add coffee; stir until mix is dissolved.
Top with COOL WHIP.
Kitchen Tips
Tip 1
Substitute
Prepare using MAXWELL HOUSE Italian Espresso Roast Coffee.
Tip 2
Substitute
Prepare using instant reduced-calorie hot cocoa mix, or flavored instant hot cocoa mix.
Tip 3
Special Extra
To serve garnished with shaved chocolate, pull vegetable peeler across surface of 1 oz. BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate to form shavings. Fill mugs with ingredients as directed; top with shaved chocolate.
HUCKLEBERRY ORANGE ICED MILK
This comes from Vegetarian Times (May 2005 issue, page 87), and begins, "Huckleberries are a close relative of blueberries. Wild Maine blueberries are a perfect substitute. Makes 2 quarts ice milk." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/huckleberry-orange-iced-milk/.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups of granulated sugar or rice syrup
1 cup orange juice
2 cups fresh or frozen huckleberries or wild blueberries
3 cups whole milk
Preparation
Heat sugar and orange juice in saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Add lemon and orange zests. Stir until sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and chill mixture.
Combine orange juice mixture, berries and milk, pour into ice cream machine and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions. Or pour mixture into glass baking dish, and freeze. When frozen, scrape into work bowl of processor or blender, and process until smooth. Refreeze. Process again, and freeze until serving time.
HOMEMADE GINGER TEA
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Wondering how to make a simple and easy homemade ginger tea? Why go out and buy stale old tea bags when you can easily make your own fresh and homemade ginger tea at home using fresh ginger? Treat yourself to a cup of piping hot ginger tea, a healthy drink that's great for digestion.
”Here's how to make the tastiest and most soothing and healing ginger tea you've ever had! There's really no comparison.
“This healing ginger tea recipe actually comes from the raw food and natural health retreat center I used to work at in Thailand, where we served it to our guests bright and early every single morning, seven days a week. The secret to the perfect healing ginger tea? Lots and lots of fresh ginger, simmered for a long time to bring out the flavor, and the lime, which compliments the ginger perfectly, and plenty of natural agave nectar or honey for a refined sugar-free sweetener (or you might prefer it unsweetened, depending on your health goals - It's still delicious, I promise!). Try this simple ginger tea for an immune system boost or for an invigorating way to start the morning.
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 2 servings of ginger tea
To check this out online, click here.
Ingredients
About 2 inches of fresh raw ginger (use more or less, depending on how strong you want it!)
1 1/2 to 2 cups water
1 to 2 tablespoons honey (or agave nectar, to taste)
Optional: 1/2 lime (juiced, or to taste)
Directions
First, prepare the fresh ginger by peeling it and slicing it thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea.
Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger. You really can't over do it, so feel free to add as much ginger and simmer it for as long as you want.
Remove from heat and add lime juice and honey (or agave nectar) to taste.
The secret to making a really flavorful ginger tea is to use plenty of ginger-more than you think you will need-and also to add a bit of lime juice and honey to your ginger tea. You will also probably want to add more honey than you think you will need as well.
Enjoy your hot ginger tea! A homemade ginger tea is excellent in soothing stomach aches and in aiding digestion.
EASTERN SUNRISE SMOOTHIE
It seems that bottled smoothies have hit it big in stores over the past few years. And while many of them are, no doubt, good, and even healthy, there's nothing that quite compares with fresh-made smoothies. The only thing holding one back are one's imagination and the fruits available.
The fruits used in in this smoothie are from the eastern U.S.: orange juice and strawberries from Florida, cranberries from Massachusetts. Top that off with a beautiful pink color. It’s a yummy way to start the morning.
This, as well as other yummy recipes, can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
1 C orange juice
1/2 C yogurt
4-6 frozen strawberries
1 T wheat germ
1/2 C frozen cranberries
Blend juice & berries. Add yogurt & wheat germ & blend about 15 seconds more.
CAFE DE OLLA
The recipe for this yummy coffee is from the December 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 47. It starts off, “Literally 'coffee from the pot,' this recipe offers a simple way to make coffee for a crowd, with a spiced twist that no one can resist.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
4 cinnamon sticks
4 star anise
4 allspice berries
4 whole cloves
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar or 4 oz. piloncillo (Mexican raw sugar cones)
2 cups medium grind, dark roast coffee beans
2 cups low-fat milk
1 cup coffee liqueur, such as Kahlúa, optional
Lightly crush cinnamon sticks, star anise, allspice, and cloves with mortar and pestle. Place in resealable plastic bag, and pound with rolling pin. Transfer to large saucepan, and add sugar and 8 cups water. Bring mixture to a boil, and simmer until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add coffee, and let steep 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, warm milk in small saucepan, and whisk until frothy.
Strain coffee through fine sieve or coffee filter into pitcher. Stir in coffee liqueur (if using). Serve with frothed milk.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 80; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: less than 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Cholesterol: 3 mg; Sodium: 35 mg; Fiber: 0 g; Sugar: 16 g; Gluten-Free
LIZARD LOUNGE TEA
My oldest son spent several summers traveling the country, both singly and with friends. Several times, he wound up at the Rainbow Gathering, where he hooked up with a larger group of friends. Most of them had grown up in hot areas of the country, so they nicknamed themselves lizards; their area of the camp site was the lizard lounge. They would cook up their version of iced tea, which they would barter for other commodities. They were frequently asked what their secret ingredient was.
This is a scaled down version. I found that cranberry or cranberry-apple herb tea works very nicely with this, but any herbal tea can be used.
This, as well as other yummy recipes, can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
1/2 gallon apple cider
4 – 5 herbal tea bags
Place cider in a large pan or teakettle and bring to a boil. Place herbal tea bags into a large container and pour the boiled cider over the tea bags. Let steep for 15-30 minutes and cool. Very good.
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