Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Wednesday Recipes

Enjoy!

CURRIED CARROT SOUP WITH ROASTED PISTACHIOS

From the October 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 30. The recipe starts off, “Vadouvan spice, a French-style curry blend, lends a subtle heat to this soup.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 20-oz. pkg. grated carrots (8 cups)

2 large leeks, light green and white parts thinly sliced (2 cups)

1/4 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. vadouvan spice or curry powder

1/4 cup roasted shelled pistachios, chopped

Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add carrots, leeks, and baking soda. Cover, and cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until vegetables are tender and browned in spots. Stir in vadouvan spice, and cook 30 seconds. Add 4 cups water, and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat, purée with immersion blender, and season with salt, if desired. Serve sprinkled with pistachios.

nutritional information Per 1 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 189; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 225 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 9 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE

From the Food Network Kitchen. The recipe starts off, “Savor the warm spices of this seasonal coffee shop favorite in your very own kitchen (any time of year) and save a few bucks! A little pumpkin puree added to the warm milk gives the latte extra body.” Total Time: 10 min; Prep: 5 min; Cook: 5 min; Yield: 1 drink; Level: Easy

Can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons pure pumpkin puree

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, plus more for sprinkling

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup hot espresso or strong brewed coffee

Sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Directions

Combine the milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla in a medium microwave safe bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and vent with a small hole. Microwave until the milk is hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk vigorously until the milk mixture is foamy, about 30 seconds.

Pour the espresso or coffee into a large mug and add the foamed milk. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

CHACHOUKA CHOW CHOW

(SPICY, HEARTY NORTH AFRICAN TOMATO AND PEPPER STEW)

This comes from One Green Planet. (Note: They have a cool e-newsletter; I recommend it, if you're not already on their emailing list.) The recipe starts out, “The Chachouka Chow Chow drew my attention, not least because I couldn't figure out how to spell it (but the name sure is funny). Warming spices, tender, juicy peppers, the colours of Africa on your plate. Your house will smell of cumin for hours after you've had the last bite of your chachouka.” The recipe, which is dairy free and vegan, serves 3, while the cooking time is 30 minutes.

To view this online, click here.

Note: In the ingredients list, the email list lists “2 medium sized tomatoes (NOT beef).” I'm not sure if the writer meant “not beefsteak tomatoes,” use tomatoes rather than beef, or what, exactly. I'm going to fathom a guess and figure maybe not beefsteak tomatoes, but I could be wrong. I'm also not sure about “tinned tomatoes;” I'm guessing canned tomatoes. Just figure on using maybe 3 or 4 14 ounce cans of tomatoes.

Ingredients

2 tbsp coconut oil

1/2onion, minced

1 green chili, deseeded and finely sliced

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 clove of garlic, finely minced

2 medium sized tomatoes (NOT beef – see note, above)

7 – 8.75 ounces tempeh, sliced into strips

3 large peppers, deseeded and sliced into strips

49 ounces can tinned tomatoes (see note, above)

1 tsp tumeric

1/2tsp cayenne (or paprika) powder

1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

1 small loaf bread, possibly peach and raisin

Preparation

Heat the coconut oil in a large, deep pan. Fry cumin seeds for a minute before adding the onion, garlic and chilli. Fry for about five minutes, until the onion is translucent, before adding the peppers, tomatoes and the rest of the spices.

Let it all bubble for about 20 minutes on low to medium heat.

Serve with a few slices of crusty, rustic bread.

Notes: If you don't like tempeh, you could try replacing it with fried tofu. If you want to make the dish even more wholesome, red kidney beans would be lovely, too, as they go so well with tomatoes and spices.

VEGAN BLACK BEAN BURGERS

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide. She wrote, “I love this recipe for black bean patties because its easy to make as well as tasty, two of my favorite qualities in a recipe! They aren't quite firm enough to toss on the backyard grill, but are good for an everyday meal. This veggie burger recipe is both vegetarian and vegan.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes

This can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1/2 onion, diced

1 can black beans, well drained

1/2 cup flour

2 slices bread, crumbled

1 tsp garlic powder1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp seasoned salt

salt and pepper to taste

oil for frying

Preparation

Sautee the onions till soft, about 3-5 minutes.

In a large bowl, mash the beans until almost smooth. Add sauteed onions and the rest of the ingredients, except the oil, adding the flour a few tablespoons at a time to combine well. Mixture will be thick.

Form bean mixture into patties, approximately 1/2 inch thick and fry patties in a small amount of oil until slightly firm. Make veggie burgers and enjoy!

Nutrition Information: Servings: 6; 
Calories per serving: 294; Calories from Fat: 11; Total Fat: 1.2g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 25mg; Total Carbohydrates: 55.3g; Dietary Fiber: 11.3g, 45% RDA; Protein: 16.8g; Vitamin A 0%, Vitamin C 1%, Calcium 10%, Iron 23%, based on a 2000 calorie diet

BLACKBERRY NECTARINE CRISP

This recipe comes from Matt Lee and Ted Lee in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. It begins, “This recipe came to The Times in 2003 from Rebecca Charles of Pearl Oyster Bar, an outpost for Maine coastal cooking on Cornelia Street in Greenwich Village. It is easy to whip up on a summer day when company is coming and there’s lots to get done. ‘Use the blackberries more as an accent,’ she said at the time. 'The berries'll bleed out all this fabulous inky color.’” Yield: 6 servings; Time: 1 hour.

This was featured in “The Chef; A Crisp As Easy As Pie. No, Easier.” To view it online, click here.

Ingredients

For the Topping

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

For the Filling

4 cups nectarines, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch slices (about 3-4 large nectarines)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 heaping cup whole blackberries (about 6 ounces)

Vanilla ice cream for serving

Preparation

Place a 2-quart baking dish or six 8-ounce ramekins on a baking sheet to catch any drips. Position rack in center of oven and heat to 375 degrees. In a food processor, pulse flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt once or twice to mix. Cut butter into small chunks, add to flour mixture and pulse a few more times, until mixture just comes together into small crumbly clumps. Reserve.

In a large bowl, combine nectarines, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla. Pour nectarines into baking dish or ramekins, scatter blackberries on top and sprinkle with the topping. Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden, 45-60 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

SWEET AND SPICY FRUIT SALAD

This recipe comes from Melissa Clark, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Most fruit salads consist of little more than diced fruit mixed in a bowl. They are simple and satisfying, but not necessarily special. This one is a more sophisticated take. It calls for a star anise- and chile-infused simple syrup, which adds sweetness and musky, spicy complexity. In addition to fruit, herbs – tarragon and basil – are tossed in for freshness. You can use whatever fruit you like as long as it is sweet and ripe. Eat the salad as it is, or top it with either mascarpone for a mellow, creamy note, or crumbled ricotta salata for something savory and bracing. Feel free to play around with other toppings as well. In the mellow category are fresh ricotta, crème fraîche, sour cream or ice cream. For something on the salty side, try shaved Parmesan, crumbled feta or goat cheese.” Yield: 2 to 12 servings; Time: 25 minutes.

This was featured in “A Fruit Salad Both Sweet and Spicy” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 serrano chile, halved

1 whole dried star anise

7 to 8 cups mixed cut fruit, like kiwi, peaches, plums, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, mango, pineapple, oranges, grapefruit, pears or bananas

2 teaspoons chopped tarragon

2 teaspoons chopped basil

Flaky sea salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

Mascarpone or crumbled ricotta salata, for garnish (optional)

Preparation

Place sugar, 3/4 cup water, chile and star anise in a small pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture is as thick as maple syrup and spicy tasting. Strain syrup. (Syrup can be made up to 1 week in advance; store in the refrigerator.)

Toss fruit with half of the sugar syrup, the tarragon and the basil. Add more syrup to taste, depending on how sweet and spicy you want the salad. Season very lightly with salt and pepper. If desired, add dollops of mascarpone or crumbled ricotta salata on top.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Tuesday Recipes

Ever have one of those days when you're running late from the time you get up? That's been my day today - which is why I'm posting this so late. At least it's here, with six yummy vegetarian recipes to try. Enjoy!

SORREL DRINK

From the June 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 78. The recipe reads, “Red hibiscus flowers are a common ingredient in ruby-hued herbal tea bags, such as Celestial Seasonings' Red Zinger.”

To view this online, click here.

Sorrel Drink:

3 C dried sorrel or red hibiscus flowers, or 5 Red Zinger tea bags

1 4-inch cinnamon stick

10 whole cloves

1/4 tsp. crushed allspice

2 3-inch pieces peeled fresh ginger

Simple Syrup:

1 C sugar

1 C water

To make Sorrel Drink: Bring all ingredients & 4 cups water to a boil in saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low & simmer 10 minutes. Cool, strain & chill.

To make Simple Syrup: Bring sugar & water to a boil in small saucepan. Stir to dissolve sugar & simmer 1 minute. Cool.

Pour Sorrel Drink over ice. Serve with pitcher of Simple Syrup for guess to sweeten drinks to taste.

Per 1-cup serving: 33 cal; 0 g protein; 0 g total fat (0 g sat. fat); 8 g crab; 0 mg chol; 0 mg sod; 0 g fiber; 8 g sugars; vegan

CURRIED POTATOES

Also from the June 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 80. The recipe starts off, “Serve this dish on its own or with steamed rice.”

To view this online, click here.

1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil

2 medium onions, diced (3 cups)

3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)

4 large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks

3 carrots, peeled & cut into 2-inch pieces (1 cup)

3 Tbs. Madras curry powder

1 15-oz. can black beans

3 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)

1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

2 jalapeno chiles, seeded & finely chopped (1/4 cup)

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions & garlic & cook 5 – 7 minutes, or until onions are soft & translucent. Stir in potatoes, carrots & curry powder & cook 4 minutes.

Add beans & their liquid, tomatoes, broth, jalapeno chiles, vinegar & 1 cup water; season with salt & pepper. Cover & simmer 45 minutes or until potatoes are flaky & carrots are cooked through, stirring occasionally.

Per serving: 282 cal; 9 g protein; 4 g total fat (0.5 g sat. fat); 55 g carb; 0 mg cholesterol; 499 mg sodium; 10 g fiber; 9 g sugars; vegan

BUTTERNUT SQUASH PIZZA

This comes from page 66 of the September 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times. The recipe starts off, “Yoga teacher and food blogger (theyogickitchen.blogspot.com) Candice Garrett came up with this recipe thanks to an abundance of butternut squash. “My family and I tried them in a host of recipes; the all-around favorite turned out to be pizza,” Garrett reports. “It seemed an unusual pairing and we were all delighted with the result.” She serves the pizza as an appetizer for company or as a main dish for family dinners.” Serves 6.

To view this recipe online, click here.

1 small butternut squash, peeled, halved, and sliced 1/8-inch thick

1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced (1 1/2 cups)

2 Tbs. Eden Selected Spanish extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh rosemary

1 16-oz. pkg. refrigerated pizza dough

1/2 cup fresh spinach leaves

1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Toss together squash, onion, oil, and rosemary in bowl. Spread in large baking dish, and roast 30 minutes, or until tender.

Increase oven temperature to 450°F. Divide pizza dough into 2 pieces, and shape each piece into 8-inch round. Place dough rounds on baking sheet, and top with squash mixture. Bake 13 to 17 minutes, or until crust is crisp. Drizzle pizzas with oil, scatter 1/4 cup spinach over each, and garnish each with 2 Tbs. shaved Parmesan.

nutritional information Per 1/3 pizza (2 slices): Calories: 295; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 47 g; Cholesterol: 2 mg; Sodium: 448 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 5 g

CHICKPEA SUCCOTASH WITH LEMONGRASS

This recipes comes from the January 1970 issue of Vegetarian Times and starts off, “Lemongrass brings out the flavors of tomatoes and herbs in a lightly cooked stew. Serve over whole grains.” It serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view online, click here.

2 stalks fresh lemongrass

1 large tomato (1 lb.)

2 tsp. olive oil

1 medium yellow squash, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (1 cup)

1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger

1 small clove garlic, minced (1/2 tsp.)

3/4 cup cooked chickpeas

1/2 cup fresh corn kernels

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or cilantro

Trim and discard tough base and skinny top leaves of lemongrass stalks, then peel away tough outer layers. Crush inner white stems with mallet or rolling pin, then finely chop. (You should have 1 Tbs.) Transfer to small bowl, and cover with 1/4 cup boiling water. Set aside.

Halve tomato through middle, and scoop seeds into strainer set over bowl. Press juice from seeds, then discard seeds. Set juice aside, and dice tomato flesh. (You should have 2 cups.)

Heat oil in large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add squash, ginger, and garlic, and sauté 3 minutes without browning. Stir in chickpeas, corn, diced tomato, lemongrass with liquid, and tomato juice, and season with salt and pepper (if desired). Cover, increase heat to medium, and simmer 5 minutes, or until tomatoes just begin to soften. Stir in basil.

nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 108; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 83 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 5 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

BLACKBERRY CRISP WITH MAPLE-PECAN TOPPING

This recipe is from page 60 of the September 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times. It starts off, “Tangy blackberries have a great affinity for pecans and maple, but you could certainly make this crisp with blueberries or a combination of berries. Leftovers are delicious for breakfast!” Serves 8.

This recipe can be viewed online here.

5 Tbs. maple syrup, divided

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

6 cups fresh blackberries (1 3/4 lb.)

3 Tbs. sugar

16 Tbs. all-purpose flour, divided

1/4 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. salt, divided

2/3 cup rolled oats

2/3 cup chopped toasted pecans

1/3 cup brown sugar

3 Tbs. canola oil

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat deep baking dish with cooking spray.

Whisk together 2 Tbs. maple syrup and vinegar in bowl. Place blackberries in large bowl, and drizzle maple mixture over them. Add sugar, 3 Tbs. flour, and 1/8 tsp. salt to berries; toss to combine. Transfer to prepared baking dish.

Combine remaining 13 Tbs. flour, oats, pecans, brown sugar, and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt in separate bowl. Drizzle oil and remaining 3 Tbs. maple syrup over dry ingredients. Use fingers to combine thoroughly until small clumps form. Arrange topping clumps over berries.

Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until topping is lightly browned and berry juices are bubbling just around edges of crisp.

nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 319; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 12 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 50 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 115 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 27 g; Vegan

ZUCCHINI AND CARROTS WITH FRESH HERBS

Yield: 6 servings

Serving size: 3/4 cup

View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/768.shtml

Source: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Terrific Diabetic Meals

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/76.shtml

Ingredients

2 medium carrots, sliced

4 medium zucchinis, cut into julienne strips

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon chopped fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Place a steamer basket in 1/2 inch of water in a saucepan (water should not touch the bottom of the basket). Place carrots in the basket. Cover tightly and heat to boiling.

Reduce heat and steam carrots 5 minutes. Add zucchini and steam 4 to 6 minutes or until carrots and zucchini are crisp-tender.

Melt butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Stir in carrots, zucchini, thyme, dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Cook uncovered, stirring gently for 2 to 3 minutes, or until hot.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 55; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 61 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1.5 g; Carbohydrates: 4 g; Glycemic Index: 22, Glycemic Load: 1; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable

Monday, July 25, 2016

Monday Recipes

Here are today's six vegetarian recipes to start off your week. Enjoy!

MEATLESS-BALL SUBS

1 package Meatless Balls (see note)

1 26 oz. Jar spaghetti sauce

4 hoagie rolls

cheese slices

Place spaghetti sauce and meatless balls into a good-sized saucepan. Stir, and cook over medium-low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.





Open hoagie rolls, add cheese, cover with meatless balls and sauce.



Makes 4 meatless ball subs.

Note: I use Veggie Patch Meatless Meatballs, though really, you can use any brand you like. I had used another brand for a number of years, but unfortunately, I can no longer find that particular brand anywhere now. Whatever brand you buy is fine, as well as the jarred spaghetti sauce.

SPAGHETTI SAUCE

This recipe, as well as the Vegetarian Lasagna, Angel Hair Pasta, and J's B-B-Q Gluten, are all from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

28 oz. can tomatoes (note)

2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce

2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste

3 onions, chopped

3 – 5 cloves garlic, crushed

2 T oil

1 T oregano

1 tsp. basil

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. dill

1 tsp. anise

2 T honey

1 T vinegar

1 T soy sauce

1/4 – 1/2 lb. grated cheese

Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add tomatoes, sauce & pasted. Stir. Add everything except cheese & stir. Simmer 1 hour. Add cheese & stir until cheese is melted. Serve over hot spaghetti. Better the next day—if any is left!

Note: I usually use crushed tomatoes. If you’d rather use fresh tomatoes, 6-8 large ones may be used (diced, of course) in place of the canned tomatoes, & add an extra can of tomato sauce.

VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One time, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting better than when I made it.

I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I ended up changing the recipe drastically, changing ingredients and amounts. The funny thing is that, while I use one or two packages of tofu crumbles instead of meat, it tastes enough like meat to fool several non-vegetarians. One person, after eating this, even looked at me aghast, asking, “What are you, some kind of vegetarian?” Never heard from him again.

Tomato sauce:

2 – 3 onions, chopped

3 – 5 cloves garlic, minced

28 oz. can tomatoes

2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce

2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste

2 T oil

1 T oregano

1 tsp. basil

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. dill

1 tsp. anise

1 or 2 – 10 oz. package tofu crumbles

Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles & make cheese layer.

Cheese layer:

2 C sour cream

2 C cottage cheese

2 eggs

4 C mozzarella, grated

2 C cheddar cheese, grated

1 C Parmesan cheese

Mix ingredients together in large bowl.

Assemble:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9” X 13” pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.

ANGEL HAIR PASTA

I had something similar to this at a restaurant several times, and decided to try making it. A hint for making this: wait until all the veggies have been cut up, then start the water boiling for the angel hair pasta. The veggies should be cooked for 2-4 minutes, and the pasta cooked for 2 minutes before the pasta is drained and then allowed to finish cooking for another 2 minutes with the veggies. Timing is important—unless you like disgustingly soggy pasta.

1/4 C water

3 medium to large tomatoes

2 T balsamic vinegar

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 red pepper, diced

1/2 green pepper, diced

1 T oregano

1 lb. angel hair pasta

Cut up veggies while heating the pasta water. DO NOT PUT PASTA INTO WATER UNTIL THE VEGGIES BEGIN COOKING. (There. I said it.)

In veggie pot, heat 1/4 C water & balsamic vinegar until it begins to bubble; add onion, garlic, pepper & oregano and stir once or twice. NOW ADD PASTA TO POT OF BOILING PASTA WATER. (Boy, what a bossy broad.)

Simmer veggies on low-medium heat for 2-4 minutes, covered. Cook pasta for only 2 minutes, then drain in colander. As soon as pasta is drained, remove cover from veggies, dump pasta into veggie pot, and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring several times. Remove from heat. DIG IN!!! (Now, isn’t that good?)

SHOOFLY PIE

This comes from Sara Bonisteel in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sara wrote, “Shoofly pie is often thought of as the cake baked in a pie shell, or so wrote Jean Hewitt, The New York Times food writer who offered this recipe in the paper in 1965. This pie was served at a Pennsylvania Dutch luncheon hosted by the International Cuisine Group of the College Woman’s Club of Westfield, N.J., in the spring of that year. One of the organizers dug up the recipe from her mother’s ‘Housekeeper’s Scrap Book, 1896.’ There were four versions of the pie in the book; this was the one marked: ‘We like this one better.’” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 45 minutes.

To view this online, click here. Also, check out the Times tutorial “How to Make A Pie Crust”.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 pound (1 stick) cold unsalted butter

3/4 cup molasses

3/4 cup boiling water

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 single crust pie pastry (see recipe, which follows), rolled flat and placed in a 9-inch pie plate

Preparation

Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Make the crumb topping: Mix flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together in a bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter until the consistency resembles cornmeal.

Combine molasses, water and baking soda and pour into pastry shell. Spoon the crumb mixture evenly over the top. Bake 15 minutes, lower the heat to 350 degrees and bake 20 minutes longer, or until set and firm.

PIE PASTRY

This is from Craig Claiborne and Piere Franey in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Yield: Pastry for an 8- to 10-inch pie.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour

8 tablespoons cold butter cut into half-inch cubes

1 tablespoon sugar

2 to 3 tablespoons ice water

Preparation

Put the flour, butter and sugar into the container of a food processor. Start blending.

Gradually add enough water so that the dough can be gathered into a fairly cohesive ball.

If a food processor is not used, place the flour and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the butter and cut it in with two knives or a pastry blender until the mixture looks like coarse cornmeal. Add the water, stirring quickly with a fork.

Gather the dough into a ball and flatten it into a round disk one-inch thick. Wrap the dough in wax paper and chill for an hour or less.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Friday Recipes

Enjoy!

NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE

I'm not sure what emailing list this is from...possibly one of the About.com's blogs. The recipe starts off, “Here is a recipe for New York-Style Cheesecake, which has a sour cream topping.” Prep Time: 35 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour, 05 minutes

Ingredients:

9 whole graham crackers, about 1-1/2 cups crumbs

1-1/4 cups sugar, divided

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 pounds (4 - 8 ounce packages) cream cheese, softened

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla, divided

16 ounces sour cream, divided

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325 F. In food processor, process graham crackers and 2 tablespoons sugar. While processing, drizzle in butter. Press mixture into 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar. Add eggs one-at-a-time. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 cup sour cream. Combine until well-blended. Pour over crust. Bake for 45 minutes. While baking, stir together remaining sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Remove cheesecake from oven and carefully spread sour cream mixture on top. Bake for additional 10 minutes. Remove from oven and take a knife around the edges. Cool completely before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator.

SWEET POTATO MASALA AND EGG MILE-HIGHS

From the September 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 68. The recipe serves 4 in 30 minutes or less, and starts out, “'My older daughter loves to grate things, so we decided to make potato pancakes for brunch,' explains Josie A.G. Shapiro. 'We only had sweet potatoes in the house, so I thought spicing them up with an impromptu masala accent might be fun—I’m always trying to sneak new flavors to my children. The eggs were for more protein and the arugula for beauty and bite.' Serve the stacks individually, or arrange them on a large platter, family-style.”

To view this online, click here.

1 sweet potato, peeled and shredded

5 large eggs, divided

1/4 tsp. Eden Organic Ground Coriander, divided

1/4 tsp. Eden Organic Cumin Powder, divided

5 Tbs. vegetable oil, divided

1 cup Eden Organic Crushed Tomatoes with Roasted Onion & Garlic

2 Tbs. lime juice

1 cup arugula

Combine sweet potato, 1 egg, 1/8 tsp. coriander, and 1/8 tsp. cumin in bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Heat 3 Tbs. oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Scoop 1/3 cup sweet potato mixture into pan for each of 4 pancakes. Flatten gently with spatula; cook 5 minutes per side. Set aside; keep warm.

Wipe out pan, and add 1 Tbs. oil and remaining 1/8 tsp. coriander and 1/8 tsp. cumin. Stir 10 seconds over medium-high heat, add crushed tomatoes, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 5 minutes. Transfer to small bowl, and stir in lime juice.

Wipe out pan, add remaining 1 Tbs. oil, and fry remaining 4 eggs sunny side up or over easy. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

To serve: place 1 sweet potato pancake on each of 4 plates, top with 1 egg, 1/4 cup sauce, and 1/4 cup arugula.

nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 297; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 24 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Cholesterol: 233 mg; Sodium: 111 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 5 g; Gluten-Free

HERBED CARROT SOUP



From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett



2 pounds of carrots, chopped

1 large onion, diced

6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking

2 cloves garlic, crushed

4 Tbs of butter

6 C of vegetable stock

Freshly grated mace or nutmeg

Salt & pepper to taste

Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.

Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.

TIRAMISU CAKE

This comes from About.com's Gourmet Food guide, Brett Moore. He writes, “Tiramisu is a delicious Italian cake dessert that people love to order at restaurants and are always impressed when you bring it out at a dinner party. Although thought of as a 'fancy' dessert, making it actually quite simple and there's very little cooking at all. The traditional recipe consists of just a few ingredients: lady fingers, sugar, mascarpone, coffee and cocoa powder. I've added cream to lighten the mascarpone and amaretto liqueur here but that is optional. Store-bought Lady Fingers are perfectly acceptable to use but you can make your own if you desire. You can also substitute the the Lady Fingers with a sweet yeast bread such as a Panettone.”

To view this online, click here. Prep Time: 240 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 255 minutes; Yield: Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

6 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese

1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

3 to 4 dozen Italian Lady fingers (store bought or homemade)

1 cup cold espresso

1/2 cup amaretto or coffee liqueur (optional)

1 Tbsp cocoa for dusting

Preparation

Combine egg yolks and sugar in a heat-proof bowl over a pan with 2 inches of water or in the top of a double boiler. Bring water to a boil then reduce heat to low, and cook for about 10 minutes, whisking constantly until thick and pale yellow. Remove pan from the heat and whip the mixture for another 3 or 4 minutes to help cool it down.

Beat the mascarpone into the whipped yolks until combined. In another bowl, whip the cream to stiff peaks. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture and set aside.

Mix the cold espresso with the liqueur. Dip the lady fingers quickly into the mixture just long enough to get them wet. Place a single layer of lady fingers in the bottom of a 9- x 13-inch baking dish (you can also use a large springform pan or large trifle bowl.

Spread half the mascarpone cream filling in an even layer over the lady fingers. Add another layer of lady fingers and top with the remainder of mascarpone cream.

Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Just before serving, dust with the cocoa powder.

THANKSGIVING POT PIE

I know, I know...You're probably thinking, “Thanksgiving Pot Pie? It's months from Thanksgiving.” That's okay, this recipe from the November 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times works well at any time. The recipe, which serves 8, begins, “Working toward her master's in social work, Adrianne Dickson, who won first place in VT's 2009 Reader Recipe Contest for this recipe, still finds time to read cookbooks for fun. 'I first developed this recipe while living in Montana after my boyfriend told me he loved pot pie,' she explains. 'I started making the crust in a bag when we were working as raft guides and didn't have any place to roll out a crust.'”

To view this online, click here.

Filling

2 medium potatoes, diced (2 cups)

2 large carrots, sliced (1 cup)

3 Tbs. olive oil, divided

1 16-oz. pkg. firm tofu, drained and cut into cubes

1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. San-J Tamari Soy Sauce, divided

1/2 tsp. granulated garlic, divided

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, divided

2 cups sliced button mushrooms

1 large onion, diced (2 cups)

1 cup chopped broccoli florets

2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

1/2 cup plain soymilk

3 Tbs. red wine

1 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme

1 Tbs. chopped fresh sage

1 tsp. hoisin sauce

1/2 tsp. vegan Worcestershire sauce

Crust

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening

1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary

1 tsp. chopped fresh sage

To make Filling:

Cook potatoes and carrots in large pot of boiling salted water 10 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.

Heat 1 Tbs. oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu, and cook 5 minutes, or until tofu begins to brown. Stir in 2 Tbs. tamari, 1/4 tsp. granulated garlic, and 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper, and cook until all liquid has evaporated.

Heat 1 Tbs. oil in skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add mushrooms, and cook 2 minutes. Add onion, broccoli, and garlic, and sauté 6 to 7 minutes, or until onions begin to soften.

Push veggies to side of Dutch oven. Add remaining 1 Tbs. oil to bottom of pot. Stir flour into oil with fork to make roux; stir until smooth. Stir roux into vegetables.

Stir broth into vegetables. Once gravy is smooth, add tofu, potatoes, carrots, soymilk, remaining 1/4 cup tamari, and wine. Stir gently, then add thyme, sage, hoisin sauce, Worcestershire sauce, remaining 1/4 tsp. granulated garlic, and remaining 1/8 tsp. cayenne. Remove from heat, and set aside, or transfer vegetables to large casserole dish.

To make Crust:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix together flour, salt, and shortening with fork or pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Stir in up to 4 Tbs. cold water, if necessary, for dough to stick together. Gently knead rosemary and sage into dough, and shape dough into ball. Place dough ball in plastic bag, and push out from center of ball to shape dough to size of Dutch oven or casserole dish. Remove dough from bag, and lay over vegetable filling in Dutch oven or casserole dish. Poke holes in dough to allow steam to escape. Bake 45 minutes, or until Crust is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 394; Protein: 12 g; Total Fat: 22 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Cholesterol: less than 1 mg; Sodium: 978 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 5 g; Vegan

PUMPKIN MUFFINS

This comes from G.E. Appliances. Yields 12 muffins.

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 egg, beaten

3/4 cup canned pumpkin

1/4 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Grease or spray a standard sized muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Cream butter and sugars with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in egg. Add pumpkin and nuts.

Mix dry ingredients together well and add to pumpkin mixture in thirds, alternating with milk. Blend just enough to mix ingredients.

Spoon into prepared muffin pan and bake for 20 minutes.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Thursday Recipes

Here are today's six vegetarian recipes, including Super Moist Vegan Carrot Cake. Enjoy!

LOW-FAT GRANOLA

From the May 1998 issue of Vegetarian Times. This vegan recipe makes 6 cups. It starts out, “There are no hard-and-fast rules for mixing ingredients, except for the fact that it’s better to add dried fruits after the granola is baked so they don’t turn to rocks.”

To view this online, click here.

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups dried fruit, such as raisins, chopped apricots, or dried cranberries

1/2 cup honey, golden syrup or maple syrup

Vegetable oil cooking spray

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup unsweetened wheat or corn flakes

1/2 cup toasted wheat germ

1/4 cup chopped almonds

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup thawed apple juice concentrate

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray and set aside.

Place oats in a colander and sprinkle with enough cold water to dampen them. Transfer to medium mixing bowl. Add cereal flakes, wheat germ, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

In small bowl, combine juice, honey and vanilla. Pour over oat mixture and stir until evenly coated.

Spread granola mixture in prepared pans. Bake until golden brown, about 30 to 35 minutes, turning every 10 minutes so that it browns evenly. Stir in fruit and bake 5 minutes more. Let cool and store in airtight container until ready to use.

nutritional information Per 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 225; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: g; Carbohydrates: 46 g; Cholesterol: mg; Sodium: 124 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Vegan

SUPER MOIST VEGAN CARROT CAKE

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian guide. She writes, “With several five-star reviews, you can rest assured that this homemade vegan carrot cake is absolutely foolproof. The recipe is simple and easy to follow. And, since it's egg-free and dairy-free, it's also low in fat and cholesterol-free. Frost this homemade vegan carrot cake with a vegan cream cheese frosting. You might also want to try this recipe for an orange flavored vegan cream cheese frosting.” (Both of these follow the cake recipe.) Jolinda adds, “If this vegan carrot cake doesn't sound like the recipe you're looking for, try checking out my dozens of other vegan cake recipes.”

View this online here. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 55 minute; Yield: 1 9-inch square cake

Ingredients

1/4 cup cinnamon applesauce

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup vegan margarine, softened

1 tsp salt1 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup sugar

1 1/4 cups flour

1/4 cup soy milk

1 cup grated carrots

1 cup walnuts, chopped

Preparation

Pre-heat oven to 325. Grease and flour a 9-inch square baking pan.

Combine applesauce, vanilla, vegan margarine, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, sugar, flour and soy milk until well mixed. Add carrots and walnuts.

Spread batter evenly in baking pan. Bake for 45 minutes.

Allow to cool. Frost with a vegan cream cheese frosting. You might also want to try this recipe for an orange flavored vegan cream cheese frosting.

VEGAN CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Also from Jolinda Hacket, who writes, “Vegan cream cheese frosting, using non-dairy cream cheese and vegan margarine. This is the perfect vegan cream cheese frosting for topping off a vegan carrot cake, a vegan pumpkin cake, or even a pineapple cake. One tester called this vegan frosting "fluffy and delectably smooth". And indeed it is.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 container Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese

1/2 cup soy margarine

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp lemon juice

Preparation

Combine the cream cheese and margarine. Slowly add the powdered sugar, then vanilla and lemon juice. Beat until soft and fluffy and well combined.

ORANGE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING WITH VEGAN CREAM CHESSE

Finally, this frosting, again from Jolinda Hacket. Can this lady come up with good-tasting recipes? I think so! She writes, “An orange cream cheese frosting recipe adds the perfect touch to a light lemon or vanilla cake. This vegan frosting recipe uses vegan cream cheese and fresh orange juice and zest.”

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup vegan margarine, softened

1 8 ounce container vegan cream cheese

1 tsp vanilla

juice and zest from one orange

4 cups powdered sugar

dash orange food coloring (optional)

Preparation

Mix together vegan margarine and cream cheese. Add vanilla, orange juice and orange zest and stir to combine.

Add powdered sugar until desired consistency is obtained and add a dash of food coloring, if desired.

RIGATONI WITH BRAISED VEGETABLES

This vegan recipe is from page 60 of the October 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times. It starts off, “Start heating the pasta water when you add the tomatoes to this stew, and the rigatoni noodles will be perfectly al dente just when the vegetables are ready to serve.” Serves 6.

To view this online, click here.

2 Tbs. olive oil

3 medium-sized yellow squash, halved and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 lb.)

1/2 lb. green beans, trimmed and halved (about 2 cups)

2 medium-sized bell peppers (1 red, 1 yellow), cored, seeded and cut into 1-inch dice

1 large onion, sliced (about 1 ½ cups)

1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes

3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 Tbs.)

2 Tbs. capers

1 15-oz. can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

8 oz. whole wheat rigatoni pasta

1/2 cup torn fresh basil

Heat oil in skillet over high heat. Add squash, green beans, bell peppers and onion. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are brown.

Stir in tomatoes, garlic and capers. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook 15 minutes.

Stir in beans and salt to taste. Cover, and simmer 10 minutes over medium-low heat.

Cook rigatoni according to package directions. Drain, and reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid.

Stir pasta and basil into sauce. Thin sauce with a little pasta water if necessary. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.

Per serving: 443 cal; 15 g protein; 9 g total fat (1 g sat. fat); 80 g carb; 0 mg chol; 969 mg sodium; 15 g fiber; 4 g sugars

ANISE-ALMOND BISCOTTI

Also from page 61 of the October 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times. It starts off, “Ground almonds, often sold as almond flour, give these twice-baked cookies a light, crumbly crunch. If you grind your own almonds with a mini-chopper, the flavor will be more intense.” This vegan recipe makes about 32 cookies.

To view this online, click here.

1 Tbs. whole anise seeds

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup almond flour or 1 cup whole almonds, ground to a powder

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1 Tbs. vanilla extract

1 Tbs. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup sesame seeds

Toast anise seeds in skillet over medium heat 3 minutes, or until fragrant. Transfer to coffee grinder or mini-blender, and crush to powder.

Combine pastry flour with almond flour or ground almonds in bowl. Whisk together oil, syrup, vanilla and salt in separated bowl. Stir oil mixture into flour mixture. Cover, and let rest 20 minutes.

Preheat over to 350 degrees F. Spread sesame seeds on work surface. Shape dough into 2 8-inch logs, packing dough tightly together so it doesn’t crumble. Roll logs in sesame seeds, and place on foil-lined baking sheet. Bake 45 minutes, or until browned and firm. Set baking sheet on wire rack, and cool 5 minutes.

Cut each log into 1/3-inch-thick diagonal slices with serrated knife. Place flat side down on foil-lined baking sheets. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks. Store up to 2 weeks in airtight container.

Per cookie: 110 cal; 2 g protein; 7 g total fat (1 g sat. fat); 10 g carb; 0 mg chol; 37 mg sodium; 2 g fiber; 4 g sugars

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Wednesday Recipes

Enjoy!

VEGETARIAN CHILI

This is from Runner's World. Apparently, it was in the December 1999 issue and repeated after someone mentioned it in a letter in the February 2000 issue. I'm always amazed at the great food coming out of there!

1 onion, chopped

1 sweet green pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon soybean or olive oil

1 16-ounce package extra-firm tofu, drained and crumbled

1 or 2 19-once cans of beans (kidney, pinto, or white)

1 28-ounce can stewed tomatoes

3 medium carrots, sliced

2 Tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon hot sauce

Salt & Pepper to taste

Sauté the onion, pepper & garlic in oil over medium heat. Add the tofu and sauté until crisp & lightly browned (about 10 minutes). Add the beans, stewed tomatoes, carrots, chili powder, cumin, hot sauce, & salt & pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer for 50-60 minutes. Serves 4.

From Runner’s World, December, 1999/letters Feb. 2000

REWORKED VEGETARIAN CHILI

I've fixed this recipe probably several hundred times, easily. I started off with the above Runner's World recipe; it slowly morphed into this recipe.

Note: I have a habit of buying anywhere from 16 to 20 (or more) peppers of varying colors at the same time, then chopping them all up, putting them into several containers, and freezing them. When I put them into the containers, they're not separated by color, but, rather, dumped in together. This way, I end up with containers with red, green, yellow and orange bell peppers all thrown in together. Then, whenever I need cut up peppers, I end up with a colorful bunch of peppers in whatever I'm putting them in. If you prefer, you can buy one or two peppers as needed (like for this recipe) and cut it up at that time. You can use whichever color bell pepper you want; if I'm out of frozen peppers, and am planning to buy only one or two for this recipe, I usually go with the green peppers, since they're usually the cheapest.

Also, with the onions, I usually try to have both yellow and red onions on hand; when I do, I use one of each in this recipe. Finally, for the cans of beans, I lean toward one can of black beans and one can of either Navy or Great Northern beans, both of which are white. Between the multi-colored peppers, two different kinds of onions, and different colored beans, it makes for a more colorful chili. But if you only have two cans of white, red or black beans, that's fine, too.

2 T olive oil

2 onions, chopped

4-6 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 peppers, chopped

16-ounce package extra-firm tofu, drained and crumbled

2 19-once cans of beans, drained

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

3 medium carrots, sliced

2 Tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

Salt & Pepper to taste

Note: For cutting up onions, check here.

Sauté the onion, peppers & garlic in oil over medium heat.

Add tofu and sauté until crisp & lightly browned. While this is cooking, peel and cut the carrots. Add the beans, crushed tomatoes, carrots, chili powder, cumin, & salt & pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer for 50-60 minutes. Serve over noodles. Serves 4.

YUM!

APRICOT-PISTACHIO BISCOTTI

This comes from the December 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 57. It starts off, “Corn and millet flours add crunch and sweetness to these treats. Biscotti can be stored for up to two months layered in wax paper in an airtight container.” Makes 5 dozen biscotti.

1 cup blanched whole pistachios

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

1/4 cup millet flour

1/4 cup corn flour or masa harina

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 Tbs. baking powder

1/2tsp. salt

8 dried apricots, finely chopped (1/2 cup)

3 large eggs

4 Tbs. vegetable oil

1/2 tsp. almond extract

Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast pistachios on ungreased baking sheet 
4 to 6 minutes, or until pale brown and fragrant. Cool, and finely chop. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.

Stir together flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Stir in pistachios and apricots.

Whisk together eggs, oil, and almond extract in small bowl until smooth. Stir just enough of liquid into flour mixture until dry, shaggy dough forms. Reserve remaining liquid.

Divide dough in 2 pieces. Wet hands with water to prevent sticking, and roll each piece of dough into 12-inch log, flattening tops of logs so they’re each about 1 1/2 inches high. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper, and place logs at least 5 inches apart on sheet. Brush tops with remaining liquid mixture.

Bake logs 25 to 30 minutes, or until edges are browned and firm, and centers have puffed and developed a skin, but are still slightly soft. Cool 30 minutes, then slice crosswise on the bias into 1/2-inch-wide slices using serrated knife.

Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Return sliced biscotti to baking sheet, bottom-side down and spaced at least 1/4 inch apart, and bake 20 to 30 minutes more, or until golden, crisp, and dry.

nutritional information Per Biscotti: Calories: 61; Protein: 1 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Cholesterol: 9 mg; Sodium: 52 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 5 g

TABIL-SPICED POTATO-AND-EGG CIGARS

From the July 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 44. It starts out, “Savory pastries made with rolled and foled brek pastry leaves, or warka, are common starters in North Africa. Here, easy-to-find phyyllo sheets replace the specialty brek leaves and encase a savory potato-and-egg filling.” Makes 14 cigars

1 large Yukon gold potato (3/4 lb.), peeled and sliced

1 Tbs. olive oil

1/2 large onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

1 Tbs. tabil spice blend, or 2 Tbs. ground coriander

1 tsp. granulated garlic

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped

2 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese

7 frozen phyllo sheets, thawed

3 Tbs. melted butter

Place potato slices in medium pot, and cover with water. Bring to a simmer over high heat, reduce heat to medium, and cook 12 to 15 minutes, or until tender. Drain. Transfer to large bowl, and coarsely mash with fork.

Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat, and cook onion 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in tabil, and cook 1 minute more. Stir onion mixture, parsley, and beaten egg into potato mixture. Fold in hard-boiled eggs and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Place 1 sheet phyllo with long side facing you. Brush with butter, and fold in half like a book. Cut crosswise to make 2 stacked rectangles. Spoon 2 Tbs. potato mixture on center right edge of one rectangle, fold in top and bottom edges, and roll up like an egg roll. Place seam-side down on prepared baking sheet, and repeat with remaining phyllo and filling. Brush rolls with remaining butter, and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until browned and crisp. Serve hot.

nutritional information Per Cigar: Calories: 101; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Cholesterol: 47 mg; Sodium: 95 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: less than 1 g

PINEAPPLE LIME SORBET

To view this online, click here. Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups pineapple puree

2 teaspoons grated lime or lemon zest

3/4 cup freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice

1/4 cup water

Thin slices lime or lemon

Directions

In a bowl, stir together pineapple puree, lime zest and juice, water and, if desired, sugar. In an ice cream maker, freeze according to manufacturer's directions. Divide among 4 individual dessert dishes.

Serve garnished with thin slices of lime.

Nutritional Information Per Serving : Calories: 38; Protein: 1 g; Sodium: 1 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 2/3 Fruit

ROASTED CONFETTI CORN

This comes from the September 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 47. It begins, “When cooked in a dry skillet, fresh corn kernels take on a rich brown color and roasted flavor. The peppers or chiles you choose will determine how spicy your corn turns out—that heat will become more pronounced when the recipe is frozen, so you may want to dial back the piquancy accordingly.” Makes 4 cups in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

4 cups fresh corn kernels

2 cups chopped onions

2 cups chopped red or green bell peppers or poblano, hatch, or other sweet to mildly hot chiles

4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

Heat large non-stick skillet over high heat. Add corn, and cook 4 minutes, or until dark brown in places and corn begins to “pop,” stirring often. Stir in onions and peppers, and cook 4 minutes more, or until onions and peppers are softened. Stir in garlic, cumin, and 1 cup water, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until all liquid has evaporated, and corn begins to brown again. Remove from heat, and cool.

nutritional information Per Per 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 91; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 14 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 7 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tuesday Recipes

Enjoy!

VEGETABLE SHEPHERD'S PIE

This came from the Food Network's Magazine several years ago.

Prep Time: 25 min; Cook Time: 41 min; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients

6 medium Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced

Kosher salt

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 large onion, diced

3 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks

2 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch chunks

1 bunch baby turnips, halved or quartered if large

6 cloves garlic, minced

Freshly ground pepper

1/2 bunch fresh parsley, leaves chopped (stems reserved)

1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

3/4 cup chopped veggie burgers or vegetarian protein crumbles

2/3 cup milk or half-and-half

Grated parmesan cheese, for sprinkling (optional)

Directions

Preheat the broiler. Cover the potatoes with water in a pot; season with salt, cover and boil until the potatoes are fork-tender, 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a stovetop casserole dish or shallow enamel pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, turnips and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables brown, 8 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups cooking liquid from the potatoes to the casserole dish. Lower the heat and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Tie the parsley stems with twine and add to the casserole. Cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 8 minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons butter and the chopped veggie burgers and warm through, 5 minutes. Remove the parsley stems and stir in the chopped parsley. Keep warm.

Drain the potatoes and mash with the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and the milk; season with salt and pepper and spoon over the casserole. Sprinkle with parmesan, if desired. Broil until golden brown, 5 minutes.

Per serving: Calories 558; Fat 24 g (Saturated 11 g); Cholesterol 42 mg; Sodium 656 mg; Carbohydrate 68 g; Fiber 9 g; Protein 17 g

FRENCH LENTIL SOUP WITH ROASTED TOMATOES & PEPPERS

This comes from Seattle's Macrina Bakery. The recipe starts off, “This soup is a perfect comfort food on a drizzly Seattle day. We like to serve it in our cozy café with a few slices of crostini topped with goat cheese and a drizzle of good olive oil. It is pictured here with our Rustic Potato Roll. French green lentils are usually available in specialty shops and some supermarkets. If you can’t find French green lentils at your favorite market, you can substitute regular lentils.” Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:

4 Roma tomatoes

3/4 cup olive oil

Kosher Salt

Freshly Ground Pepper

10 garlic cloves

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 red bell peppers, diced

1 celery rib, diced

1-1/2 Tbsp ground cumin

1-1/2 Tbsp ground coriander seeds

1-1/2 cups French green lentils*

8 to 10 cups vegetable stock

1 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley, chopped

1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped

*Available in specialty shops and some supermarkets.

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Wash and core the tomatoes, then cut them into 12 pieces each. Combine chopped tomatoes and 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a bowl and toss together. Pour tomatoes onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Season with salt and pepper and roast on center rack of oven for about 15 minutes. Set aside.

Place 7 of the garlic cloves and another 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook until cloves are tender, approximately 15 minutes. Swirl the pan occasionally to keep the cloves from sticking to the pan. Transfer cooked garlic cloves to a small bowl and mash into a paste. Set aside.

Pour the remaining 1/4 cup of the olive oil into a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot. Add diced onion, red bell peppers and celery. Cover pot and cook for 15 minutes over medium-low heat to sweat the vegetables, stirring occasionally. The onions will become translucent. Finely dice the 3 remaining garlic cloves and add to the soup pot along with the cumin and coriander. Continue cooking over medium-low heat for 1 minute or until garlic smells sweet but is not brown.

Add roasted tomatoes, mashed garlic, lentils and 8 cups of the vegetable stock. Bring to a simmer. Cook soup for 45 to 50 minutes or until lentils are tender, adding more stock if needed. If foam gathers on the surface of the soup, remove it with a spoon. Before serving, add parsley and thyme and season to taste with salt and pepper.

RAINBOW SLAW

From the July 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times. Serves 8. The recipe starts out, “Salting the cabbage before making the salad draws out excess moisture, so your slaw won't be watery.”

To view this online, click here.

1/2 small head green cabbage (about 1 1/4 lb.)

1/2 small head red cabbage (about 1 1/4 lb.)

1 large carrot, peeled

1 Tbs. kosher or coarse salt

2 Tbs. mustard seeds

1 Tbs. vegetable oil

1/4 tsp. chili flakes

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips (about 1 1/2 cups)

1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips (about 1 1/2 cups)

Slice cabbage into thin strips. Grate carrot on largest holes of box grater.

Combine cabbage, carrot and salt in large colander set over bowl. Refrigerate 1 1/2 hours. Rinse off salt under cold water. Pat dry.

Put mustard seeds, oil and chili flakes in small skillet; cover and cook over medium-high heat 1 minute, or until seeds start to pop, shaking constantly. Remove from heat and continue shaking pan until popping subsides. Cool in bowl. Whisk in vinegar, sugar and mustard. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Combine cabbage, carrot and bell peppers in large bowl. Add dressing, and toss to coat. Adjust seasonings. Serve immediately, or store up to 1 day in refrigerator.

nutritional information Per serving: Calories: 111; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Sodium: 148 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 13 g; Vegan

BROCCOLI CHOWDER

From Diabetic Gourmet. Yield: 6 servings, 1 cup each

Source: "The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook"

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 large onion, chopped (1-1/2 cups)

1 large carrot, diced (1/2 cup)

2 stalks celery, diced (1/2 cup)

1 large potato, peeled and diced (1-1/2 cups)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3-1/2 cups vegetable broth (two 14-ounce cans)

8 ounces broccoli crowns, cut into 1-inch pieces, stems and florets separated (3 cups)

1 cup grated reduced-fat Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions

Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until the onion and celery soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Add potato and garlic; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, dry mustard and cayenne; cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add broth and broccoli stems; bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in florets; simmer, covered, until the broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes more.

Transfer 2 cups of the chowder to a bowl and mash; return to the pan. Stir in Cheddar and sour cream; cook over medium heat, stirring, until the cheese is melted and the chowder is heated through. Season with salt.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup each): Calories: 180, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 15 mg, Carbohydrate: 23 g, Protein: 6 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sodium: 354 mg Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1 High-Fat Meat

BLUEBERRY PIE

This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Perfection is a fool’s mission when it comes to blueberry pie. Sometimes the filling is a little runny. Other times, slightly thick, depending on the blueberries themselves. But this recipe helps even the odds, with the use of arrowroot starch in place of the more typical flour or cornstarch, and an awesome pre-thickening technique picked up from the pastry chef Kierin Baldwin. You could use a different pie crust, but I like the all-butter version below, at least with a pre-baked bottom and an artfully cut top that allows steam to escape.” Yield: Serves 8; Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.

This was featured in “The Perfect Imperfections of Blueberry Pie” and can also be viewed online here. Not sure how to make a pie crust? Check out “How to Make a Pie Crust” by Melissa Clark.

Ingredients

For the Crust:

2 1/ 2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/4 cups unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes

8-10 tablespoons or 120 to 150 grams of ice water

1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon of water

For the Filling:

8 cups blueberries, picked over and washed

1/2 cup raw sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2-3 tablespoons arrowroot flour or cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation

To make the crust, combine the flour and salt in a large bowl or food processor. Add the butter, and either use your fingers to rub the fat into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse meal or pulse the processor a few times to achieve a similar result. Gradually and lightly mix in ice water, a few tablespoons at a time, until the dough just comes together.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and gather into a ball. Divide the ball into two equal portions, and flatten each into a disc with the heel of your hand. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.

Prebake the pie shell. Heat oven to 375. Roll out one of the discs of dough on a lightly floured surface, and fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Trim the dough so that there is a slight overhang at the top of the pie plate, then place the shell in the freezer for 20 minutes or so to chill. Remove the pie shell from the freezer, cover the dough with parchment paper and fill the shell with pie weights or dried beans. Place the shell into the oven, and bake until the bottom has just started to brown, approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Take the pie shell out of the oven, remove the parchment and pie weights and allow to cool.

Make the filling.Separate 1 cup of the blueberries, and combine them in the bowl of a food processor or blender with the sugar, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the arrowroot flour or cornstarch and the salt, then pulse to purée. Put the blueberry mixture into a small pot set over medium-high heat, and cook, whisking constantly, until the liquid has just thickened, approximately 1 minute. Pour the thickened mixture over the remaining blueberries, and stir to combine.

Bake the pie. Heat oven to 400. Mound the filling high in the center of the cooled pie shell, and apply the egg wash to the top edge of the cooked bottom crust. Roll out the second disc of dough, and place it over the top, gently crimping it onto the egg-washed edge of the bottom crust. Place the pie into the freezer to set, approximately 20 minutes, then cut vents into the top with a sharp knife, place the pie on a baking sheet and set it into the oven to bake for approximately 30 minutes. Then turn the pie, reduce heat to 350 and bake until the pie is golden and the filling has begun to bubble up through the vents, another 25 to 45 minutes. Allow pie to cool to room temperature before you cut into it.

BLACKBERRY ICE CREAM

This comes from the One Green Planet emailing list. They have quite a few really good vegetarian recipes. Give it a try!

This recipe starts off, “I served my ice cream as a soft serve, but I also froze it in an airtight container and it turned to the same consistency as the ice cream you knew/know and love/d as a non-vegan. I won't lie; this ice cream is not as creamy as the dairy kind, or the soya or nut-based ice cream you can buy from health food stores, but the banana makes this more than just a sorbet. Not to mention, it cuts the calories by half. At least. So enjoy your 'ice cream' guiltlessly! You have my permission.”

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 cups frozen blackberries

2 frozen bananas, in chuncks

a few splashes of almond milk

Preparation

In a blender or food processor, blend the frozen fruit with a little bit of almond milk, adding the milk little by littled. Don't add too much or you'll just end up with a frozen smoothie, you want to add just a few splashes when necessary. Depending on the speed of your blender or food processors, this will take about five minutes. You may need to stir the ice cream mixture with a spoon between pulsing to make sure everything gets blended (unless you want chunks).

Serve immediately as soft serve, or place in a container in the freezer for at least one hour before scooping it out.