Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Thursday, March 25, 2021

Thursday Recipes

It's the end of March, and the first few days of spring. It won't be long before it'll be time to hit the beaches (if that's your thing). Of course, here in Florida, the beaches are always available, but that's another story.

In the meantime, we still need to eat. To that end, here are six yummy meatless recipes to help you through the day, including White Bean Hummus Wraps with Avocado and Bell Pepper, Falafel Burgers with Tahini-Dill Sauce, and Best Pecan Pie. Enjoy!

EASY YOGURT

This is from Priya Krisna and Ritu Krishna (and adapted by Priya Krisna) in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Priya wrote, "In many South Asian households, making yogurt is standard practice. The writer Priya Krishna’s father has been making yogurt at the family’s home in Dallas for as long as she can remember, using a yogurt culture he has kept going for more than 25 years. No store-bought yogurt has ever held a candle to the homemade version, which is thick and pleasantly tangy. You can really taste the milk. (Organic milk will often yield a creamier result.) You may have been told that you need special machines and containers to make yogurt, but this recipe, which appears in her 2019 cookbook “Indian-ish,” is quite simple: All that’s required is a heavy-bottomed pot and an oven. You can use one batch of yogurt as the culture for the next, and watch your yogurt evolve over time."

Yield: 1 quart; Time: 45 minutes, plus setting and chilling

This was featured in "For South Asian Cooks, Yogurt Starter Is an Heirloom," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019966-easy-yogurt.

Note: The article that this yogurt recipe is from makes for some interesting reading. I suggest taking the time to read it. (I plan to reread it periodically; thanks for some wonderful writing, and an easy - and yummy - recipe, Priga!)

Ingredients

4 cups whole milk, preferably organic

1/4 cup full-fat yogurt with live active cultures (check the ingredient list)

Preparation

Evenly coat the bottom of a medium Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot with a thin, 1/4-inch-thick layer of water. (This will prevent the milk from sticking to the bottom of the pot.) Set the pot over high heat. Add the milk and heat until it just comes to a boil, watching closely: As soon as you start to see bubbles forming, take the pot off the heat. Let the milk cool until it reaches 130 degrees, 30 to 35 minutes. If you don’t have a thermometer, the milk should be warm enough that you can comfortably stick your (clean!) finger in it — it should feel hot, but not so hot as to scald your finger (think of a Jacuzzi).

While the milk is cooling, smear the bottom of a 1-quart lidded glass, plastic or stainless steel container with 1 teaspoon of the yogurt. (A dab in the center is fine; you needn’t spread the yogurt evenly to coat the bottom.)

When the milk has cooled to the proper temperature, add the remaining yogurt to the milk and whisk until the yogurt has completely dissolved into the milk, about 3 minutes. Pour the mixture into the prepared container and loosely set the lid on top, leaving a little room for air to get out.

Place the container inside an unheated oven. Shut the oven, turn the oven light on and let sit for 2 hours (see Note). Check the yogurt: When it is done, it will be set (not liquid) but still jiggle like Jell-O. If it’s not yet set, leave it in the oven for 1 hour more. Depending on the temperature and humidity outside, the setting process can take up to 5 1/2 hours, so don’t fret if the yogurt isn’t done the first time you check.

When the yogurt is done, top it with the lid to seal, and transfer the yogurt to the refrigerator to chill and fully set overnight before using. The yogurt will keep, covered, for 4 to 6 weeks. (It’ll start to get pretty sour after 2 weeks, which, depending on your tastes, could be a good or bad thing. You can also freeze a few tablespoons to start a later batch.)

Tip

Depending on the temperature outside, you may want to vary the conditions a bit. In the winter, you may need to leave the oven light on the entire time it takes for the yogurt to set, as directed above; in the warmer months, you may need to shut the light off about an hour after placing the yogurt in the oven.

WHITE BEAN HUMMUS WRAPS WITH AVOCADO AND BELL PEPPER

This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “The silkiness of the white beans combined with the rich avocado and crunchy cucumbers and bell peppers make this Simple Cooking with Heart vegetarian recipe a winner of a lunch or dinner.”

Makes 4 servings; serving size: 1 wrap

To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/white-bean-hummus-wraps-with-avocado-and-bell-pepper.

Ingredients

For the white bean hummus:

15.5 oz. canned, no-salt-added, or, low-sodium white beans (like cannellini) (drained, rinsed)

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

3 Tbsp. water

1/4 tsp. ground, sweet paprika

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

For the wraps:

1 medium tomato (thinly sliced)

1 medium cucumber (thinly sliced)

1 bell pepper (seeded, thinly sliced)

1 avocado (peeled, pit removed, sliced)

4 handfuls lettuce

4 (10-inch) whole-grain, low-fat wraps

Ingredients

For the white bean hummus:

Drain and rinse the beans; add into the bowl of a food processor, along with remaining ingredients.

Puree until the mixture is smooth, about 1 minute.

For the wraps:

Chop all the vegetables: slice the tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, and avocado.

Spread about 1/3 cup white bean hummus over each wrap, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Divide vegetables onto each wrap, placing over the hummus-not all the vegetables will be used.

Fold each side of the wrap up and then roll. Cut in half, if desired. Serve wraps with any extra vegetables and dip that is leftover.

Cooking Tip: Any type of beans can be magically turned into hummus. Just follow the instructions above using whatever bean you want – chickpeas, black bean, kidney beans, etc. Layer onto a wrap like in this recipe or use as a dip with veggies.

Keep it Healthy: When choosing lettuce, remember than the darker the color of the greens, the more nutrients and vitamins packed into it. For example, Romaine lettuce is more nutritious than iceberg lettuce.

Tip: Serving size 1 wrap

Tip: Transporting this for a work lunch? Place the wrap in foil for each transporting and make sure to drizzle a little lemon juice over the avocado slices to prevent browning.

ULTIMATE VEGAN CHILI

This is from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "This chili is made with a base of seitan and mushrooms for a rich, thick dish that is, for lack of a better word, meaty!

"In lieu of chili beans such as Bush’s Best Chili Beans, you can substitute or 1 can each black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans, partially drained. If you like your chili three-alarm hot, add an extra chipotle chile or two."

Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/ultimate-vegan-chili-recipe/.

Ingredients

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 large onion, chopped (2 cups)

3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)

1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, drained and minced

8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped (1 1/2 cups)

2 8-oz. pkgs. seitan, chopped (3 cups)

3 Tbs. tomato paste

2 tsp. smoked paprika

2 tsp. dried oregano

1 1/2 tsp. chili powder

3/4 tsp. celery salt

3 15-oz. cans chili beans, partially drained

1 cup chopped carrots (2 to 3 large carrots)

2 Tbs. low-sodium tamari or soy sauce

1 Tbs. vegan Worcestershire sauce

Preparation

Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 7 to 10 minutes, or until beginning to brown, stirring often. Add garlic and chipotle chile, and sauté 1 minute more. Stir in mushrooms; cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Add seitan, tomato paste, paprika, oregano, chili powder, celery salt, and 1 cup water; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add beans, carrots, tamari, and Worcestershire sauce. Cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 1 hour, or until carrots are tender.

Enjoy!

FALAFEL BURGERS WITH TAHINI-DILL SAUCE

This recipe is from Vegetarian Times, and can be found at https://www.vegetariantimes.com/vegan-vegetarian-recipes/entrees/5-healthy-plant-based-burger-recipes/.

This begins, “Middle Eastern cuisine is having a moment, and these burgers make a great alternative to greasy fried falafel. The tahini-dill sauce adds a savory flavor layer and is so versatile you can make extra to use on steamed veggies, sandwiches or grilled chicken. Trade the buns for pita for a more traditional feel.”

Hands-On Time: 25 Minutes; Cook Time: 6 Minutes; Makes: 4 Servings

Ingredients

Burgers

1/3 cup shelled pistachios

1 cup flat-leaf parsley

2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1/3 cup chickpea flour

1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes

1/2 cup red onions, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

juice of 1/2 lemon

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

4 whole-grain hamburger buns, toasted

4 thick slices tomato

4 lettuce leaves

Tahini-Dill Sauce

1/3 cup tahini

3 tbsp chopped dill

2 tsp lemon zest

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp salt

3 tbsp warm water

Directions

Add pistachios and parsley to a food processor container and chop into small pieces. Add chickpeas, chickpea flour, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, salt and pepper and blend until slightly chunky. Form into 4 patties and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Heat grill to medium and grease grates. Cook burgers 3 minutes per side, or until a golden crust has formed. Whisk together tahini, dill, lemon zest, garlic, paprika and salt. Stir in warm water, adding more, if needed. Serve burgers topped with tomatoes, lettuce and tahini-dill sauce.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): calories 482, fat 20 g, carbs 62 g, fiber 14 g, sugar 5 g, protein 20 g, sodium 846 mg

Nutrition boost: Chickpeas are a great source of folate, which helps keep blood pressure in check, according to a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

BEST PECAN PIE

My step-dad loved pecan pies, so I'm sure he would've loved this one. It's from Linda Larsen, a contributor at The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "This recipe makes a perfect pecan pie. By that, we mean a balanced sweet flavor, lots of toasted pecans, and the pie slices beautifully into wedges, looking just like pictures of pecan pie in a cookbook. Using a 9-inch pie shell, prepare to bake the crust and construct the sweet and delicious filling that makes these pies so popular and well loved. The method to make the pecan pie filling for this recipe is a bit unusual and offbeat, but it's not difficult to make.

"Pecan pies are traditionally enjoyed on the holidays or why not whip one up for a special occasion. Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an irresistible dessert."

Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 55 minutes; Total Time: 80 minutes; Servings: 6 to 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/best-pecan-pie-483200.

Ingredients

1 (9-inch) pie shell

1/3 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar (packed)

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 eggs

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups pecans (coarsely chopped)

Garnish: 1 cup large pecan halves

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place the unbaked pie crust in the freezer until ready to bake. Then line pie crust with aluminum foil and pie weights or dried beans. Bake pie shell until set, about 5 to 6 minutes.

Remove the foil and weights and bake 2 to 3 minutes longer until crust is just beginning to brown on the edges.

As soon as the pie shell comes out of the oven, decrease the oven temperature to 300 F.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat; mix in sugars and salt with a wire whisk until combined. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in corn syrup and vanilla.

Place the saucepan over very low heat. Cook and stir constantly with a wire whisk until the mixture is very warm and thickened, about 6 to 7 minutes. You have to stir constantly with a whisk so the mixture cooks evenly and the eggs don't scramble on the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat and strain into a large bowl using a medium-mesh strainer. (This is important to remove any cooked egg.) Then, stir in the chopped pecans.

Pour the hot pecan mixture into the hot pie crust. Place large pecan halves on top of the filling in a decorative pattern.

Bake the pie until the center feels set but soft when touched with your finger, and moves slightly when the pie is gently jiggled, about 40 to 55 minutes. You may need to cover the edges of the crust with foil to prevent over-browning or cover the top of the pie with foil so it doesn't get too brown.

Transfer pie to a wire rack and let cool completely for at least 5 hours. It's best eaten within 12 to 14 hours.

SLOPPY JOES

This comes from the Healing Heart Foundation, found online at http://heart.kumu.org/. They have good information and some great recipes. This one starts out, “You'd never know it's meatless.”

1 large onion, chopped

1 to 2 C celery, chopped

1 tsp balsamic vinegar (other vinegar can be used)

1 green bell pepper, chopped

3 cloves garlic, crushed
(or 2 tsp dried minced garlic or garlic powder)

1 T chili powder (will not make it too hot)

2 T cumin

2-1/2 C tomato sauce (or a 6 oz can tomato paste + 1 C tomato juice + 1 C water)

1 T prepared yellow mustard

1 T ground dry mustard

1 T brown sugar

1 tsp black strap molasses

1 1/2 cups dry TVP granules

1 1/2 C boiling water

optional spicy version: 1 to 3 tsp hot sauce or roasted chilies

Saute onion and celery in balsamic vinegar and a little water on medium heat. Add more water if needed. Add garlic, peppers and spices and saute for a few more minutes. Add everything else and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve over whole wheat buns, rice or pasta.

Adding a can of chili beans makes a very filling dish, changing it slightly to Sloppy Josés.

6 servings, each: Calories 152, Fat 1.85 g. (10% cff), Carbohydrate 19.86 g., Protein 17.44 g

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Oh, You Smoothie

While there are many drink recipes to make, smoothies are probably one of my favorites. They're usually cold, taste great, and have all sorts of nutrients in them, depending on which fruits, juices, and yogurts (sometimes) you use.

True, there are plenty of bottled smoothies and probably as many pre-packaged smoothie bases you can use, but you'd pretty much have to read the nutritian lables to see what is added to these. They might have extra vitamins, etc. added, but do they also have sugars and other things in them that you don't want?

Meanwhile, if you grab your blender and whip up a batch of smoothies, you'll find that it might be cheaper in the long run, as well as without all the added stuff in them. Check out the Strawberry-Raspberry Smoothie, Purple Haze Smoothie, and all the rest of today's smoothie recipes. Enjoy!

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.

Ingredients

1 C orange juice

1/2 C yogurt

4-6 frozen strawberries

1 T wheat germ

1/2 C frozen cranberries

Directions

Blend juice and berries. Add yogurt and wheat germ and blend about 15 seconds more.

PURPLE HAZE SMOOTHIE

Variation on a theme. You can make smoothies out of almost any fruit and/or juice (or milk). Experiment; use any juice to your liking: apple, cranberry, orange (my favorite), whatever, then add whatever fruits you have around. If none of the fruits are conducive to freezing (berries work best), add a few ice cubes, or better still, frozen juice cubes.

This one is similar to the above smoothie. The blueberries give it a pleasant taste and a beautiful color.

Ingredients

1-1 1/2 orange juice (see note)

1/2 C frozen blueberries

4 frozen strawberries (optional)

1/2 C yogurt

1/2 C frozen cranberries

1 T wheat germ

Directions

Blend orange juice and berries. Add yogurt and wheat germ, blend for 5-15 more seconds.

NOTE: If adding strawberries, add the extra 1/2 C orange juice. Or use 1 C juice and 1/2 C soymilk.

BANANA-BERRY SMOOTHIE

This comes from MyRecipes, and begins, "Frozen mixed berries and dry milk help keep cost and preparation to a minimum for this anytime smoothie. Blend with banana, yogurt, sugar, and orange juice for a citrus accent. Substitute other frozen fruits, like peaches, for fun variety."

Yield: 3 servings; serving size: 1 cup

You can view this online at https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/banana-berry-smoothie-0.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups calcium-fortified orange juice

1 1/4 cups frozen mixed berries (such as Cascadian Farm Harvest Berries)

1 cup sliced ripe banana

1/2 cup vanilla fat-free yogurt

1/3 cup nonfat dry milk

1 tablespoon sugar

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.

Chef's Notes

Sip this power breakfast which boasts more than 300 milligrams of calcium while getting ready for work or on your way there. A scoop of powdered milk boosts the calcium contributed by the yogurt and the calcium-fortified orange juice. Additional nutritional benefits come from potassium-rich banana and antioxidant-rich berries. Frozen berries ensure a thick, creamy consistency, but you can also use fresh ones. Other frozen fruits, such as peaches or mangoes, work well, too.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 204 calories; calories from fat 3%; fat 0.6g; saturated fat 0.2g; mono fat 0.1g; poly fat 0.2g; protein 6.6g; carbohydrates 45.6g; fiber 3.3g; cholesterol 2mg; iron 0.6mg; sodium 71mg; calcium 327mg.

CHERRY SMOOTHIE

This comes from Yishane Lee in the July 2012 issue of Runner’s World, page 48. I couldn’t find a link for it…

Ingredients

1 cup pitted cherries

3/4 cup plain yogurt

2 tablespoons honey

3/4 cup ice

Preparation

Place ingredients in blender and blend. Yum!

STRAWBERRY-RASPBERRY SMOOTHIE

This recipe and the next (Strawberry-Banana Smoothies) were found in an article on Prevention, titled “20 Scrumptious Strawberry Recipes.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.

PREP TIME: 5 min

TOTAL TIME: 10 min + freezing time

SERVINGS: 4

Ingredients

1/2 lb strawberries, trimmed and hulled (about 1 3/4 c)

6 oz raspberries (about 1 C)

3/4 C fresh orange juice

1/2 C 2% plain Greek-style yogurt

2 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp hulled hemp seeds

2 Tbsp ground flaxseed

1 tsp freshly grated ginger

Directions

Line small sheet pan with wax paper or parchment. Arrange berries on pan in even layer. Freeze until completely frozen, about 3 hours. Transfer to I blender with remaining ingredients and puree until smooth.

NUTRITION (per serving) 164 cal, 6 g pro, 26 g carb, 5 g fiber, 18 g sugars, 5 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 12 mg sodium

STRAWBERRY-BANANA SMOOTHIES

SERVINGS: 2

Ingredients

1 C strawberries, halved

1 small sliced banana

1 C ice cubes

1/2 C 1% milk

2 tsp agave nectar or honey

Directions

Blend all ingredients together. Pour into 2 chilled glasses and top each with a strawberry.

NUTRITION (per serving) 124 cal, 3 g pro, 27 g carb, 3 g fiber, 1.5 g fat, 0.5 g sat fat, 33 mg sodium

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Double-Post Tuesday

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday (because not everyone loves tacos). Today's post includes Vegan Mushroom and Leek Rolls and White Bean Hummus Wraps with Avocado and Bell Pepper. Enjoy!

CHEESY WHITE BEAN-TOMATO BAKE

This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, "For those of you who love lasagna's edges, where sticky tomato meets crisp cheese, this whole dish is for you — even the middle. A tube of tomato paste here mimics the deep flavors of sun-dried tomato. Frying a few generous squeezes caramelizes the tomato's sugars and saturates the olive oil, making a mixture that's ready to glom onto anything you stir through it. Here, it’s white beans, though you could add in kale, noodles, even roasted vegetables. Then, all that’s left to do is dot it with cheese and bake until it’s as molten or singed as you like. Serve with bread and a bitter-green salad."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: 15 minutes

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019681-cheesy-white-bean-tomato-bake.

Ingredients

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 fat garlic cloves, thinly sliced

3 tablespoons tomato paste

2 (15-ounce) cans white beans (such as cannellini or Great Northern) or chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup boiling water

Kosher salt and black pepper

1/3 pound mozzarella, coarsely grated (about 1 1/3 cups)

Preparation

Heat the oven to 475 degrees. In a 10-inch ovenproof skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Fry the garlic until it's lightly golden, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste (be careful of splattering) and fry for 30 seconds, reducing the heat as needed to prevent the garlic from burning.

Add the beans, water and generous pinches of salt and pepper and stir to combine. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top, then bake until the cheese has melted and browned in spots, 5 to 10 minutes. If the top is not as toasted as you’d like, run the skillet under the broiler for a minute or 2. Serve at once.

VEGAN MUSHROOM AND LEEK ROLLS

This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, "Classic sausage rolls are filled with a meat-based sausage mixture, but this hearty vegan version substitutes mushrooms, fennel and plenty of leeks, along with almond butter for creaminess and farro for a delightfully chewy texture. These are best served warm from the oven, or reheated if they cool down. Ketchup is a traditional sausage roll accompaniment, but these are so flavorful on their own they don't need it."

Time: 1 1/2 hours; Yield: 4 rolls

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021541-vegan-mushroom-and-leek-rolls.

Ingredients

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed

1/4 cup farro

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon cider vinegar or white wine vinegar

1 1/4 pounds mixed mushrooms, diced (about 8 cups)

2 large leeks, white and light green parts, cut lengthwise and sliced into 1/4-inch half-moons (about 2 cups)

1 cup diced fennel

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced

1 teaspoon tomato paste

Pinch of red-pepper flakes (optional)

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1/2 cup creamy almond butter

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, cilantro or dill

1 (13- to 17-ounce) package frozen vegan puff pastry, thawed but still cold

Preparation

Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil, then add farro. Cook until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain well and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and the vinegar while still warm, tossing to combine. Let the farro cool.

Heat oven to 375 degrees and line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

While the farro cooks, prepare the filling: In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over high heat. Add mushrooms and cook until just tender and golden brown, stirring infrequently so the mushrooms have a chance to sear, 8 to 12 minutes. Lower heat to medium and add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, leeks and fennel. Cook until leeks and fennel soften, 8 to 12 minutes. Add thyme, garlic, tomato paste, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pinch of red-pepper flakes, if using, and cook for another minute or until fragrant.

Add soy sauce to deglaze pan, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom. Transfer mushroom mixture to large mixing bowl and set aside to cool.

Add cooled farro, almond butter and herbs to mushrooms, and mix well.

Place the puff pastry dough between two sheets of parchment paper, and roll to about 1/8-inch thick. Cut pastry into 4 equal rectangles. In the center of each pastry, dollop a quarter of the mushroom mixture, forming it into a long “sausage” running lengthwise on the pastry strip.

Lightly brush one long edge of the pastry with water (to help seal the dough). Starting with the unbrushed sides of the pastry, firmly fold the pastry over the filling to make long rolls, pinching dough to seal. Place on prepared baking sheet, seam-sides down.

Bake until the pastry is golden brown, about 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm.

CHEESE AND RICE STUFFED PEPPERS

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Book Title: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/cheese-and-rice-stuffed-peppers.

Ingredients

4 medium green bell peppers

2 cups cooked rice

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

Slice off the tops of the peppers. Wash the peppers and remove the cores and seeds. Stand the pepper cups upright in a saucepan containing 1/2 cup boiling water. Cover tightly and allow steam 5 minutes. Remove and drain.

In a large bowl, mix together the rice, cheese parsley, salt, and ground pepper. Divide the mixture and stuff each pepper.

Stand the peppers in a loaf pan or cupcake tins. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the filling is hot and the cheese melts.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 455 mg; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Protein: 12 g; Carbohydrates: 31 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 2 Vegetable, 1 Lean Meat

MAC AND CHEESE MUFFINS

This comes from Joy Bauer at TODAY. She wrote, "This lightened-up mac and cheese utilizes nutrient-rich legume pasta (made from chickpeas, lentils or black beans) because it contains about double the protein and triple the fiber compared to most standard noodles. I kick things up a few notches by baking it in a muffin tin to create portion-sized delights that are crunchy on the outside and ooey-gooey cheesy on the inside."

This can be viewed online at https://www.today.com/recipes/mac-cheese-muffins-recipe-t155178.

Ingredients

One 14-ounce box elbow macaroni pasta (either chickpea, lentil, bean or whole-grain pasta)

2 1/4 cups low-fat milk

1 teaspoon reduced-sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1 bay leaf

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or coarse sea salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 to 5 drops hot sauce

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

10 to 12 ounces (or 2 1/2 to 3 cups) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Cook the macaroni according to package directions for al dente pasta. Drain, rinse, and set aside.

While the macaroni is cooking, prepare the cheese sauce: In a large saucepan, combine 2 cups of the milk with the soy sauce, onion powder, nutmeg, dry mustard, paprika, bay leaf, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Place the mixture over medium heat, and cook until it comes to a gentle simmer.

In a small bowl or cup, mix the cornstarch with the remaining 1/4 cup milk. Add the cornstarch mixture to the saucepan and stir to combine. Return the sauce to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thick.

Remove the saucepan from the heat, discard the bay leaf and add the shredded cheese. Stir until the cheese is completely melted and no lumps remain. Add the butter to the cheese sauce and stir until it is completely melted and combined. Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked macaroni and stir until everything is coated.

Liberally mist 1-2 standard muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray. Split the macaroni mixture among 20 muffin tins (about 1/4 cup mac and cheese in each). Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the tops and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes or until the tops are slightly browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes so the muffins have a chance to firm up before serving. After muffins have slightly cooled, carefully remove by loosening up the sides and enjoy.

WHITE BEAN HUMMUS WRAPS WITH AVOCADO AND BELL PEPPER

This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “The silkiness of the white beans combined with the rich avocado and crunchy cucumbers and bell peppers make this Simple Cooking with Heart vegetarian recipe a winner of a lunch or dinner.”

Makes 4 servings; serving size: 1 wrap

To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/white-bean-hummus-wraps-with-avocado-and-bell-pepper.

Ingredients

For the white bean hummus:

15.5 oz. canned, no-salt-added, or, low-sodium white beans (like cannellini) (drained, rinsed)

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

3 Tbsp. water

1/4 tsp. ground, sweet paprika

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

For the wraps:

1 medium tomato (thinly sliced)

1 medium cucumber (thinly sliced)

1 bell pepper (seeded, thinly sliced)

1 avocado (peeled, pit removed, sliced)

4 handfuls lettuce

4 (10-inch) whole-grain, low-fat wraps

Ingredients

For the white bean hummus:

Drain and rinse the beans; add into the bowl of a food processor, along with remaining ingredients.

Puree until the mixture is smooth, about 1 minute.

For the wraps:

Chop all the vegetables: slice the tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, and avocado.

Spread about 1/3 cup white bean hummus over each wrap, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Divide vegetables onto each wrap, placing over the hummus-not all the vegetables will be used.

Fold each side of the wrap up and then roll. Cut in half, if desired. Serve wraps with any extra vegetables and dip that is leftover.

Cooking Tip: Any type of beans can be magically turned into hummus. Just follow the instructions above using whatever bean you want – chickpeas, black bean, kidney beans, etc. Layer onto a wrap like in this recipe or use as a dip with veggies.

Keep it Healthy: When choosing lettuce, remember than the darker the color of the greens, the more nutrients and vitamins packed into it. For example, Romaine lettuce is more nutritious than iceberg lettuce.

Tip: Serving size 1 wrap

Tip: Transporting this for a work lunch? Place the wrap in foil for each transporting and make sure to drizzle a little lemon juice over the avocado slices to prevent browning.

VEGAN LENTIL CHILI

This comes from Emily Weinberger at the Food Network. The recipe begins, "This vegan chili is every bit as comforting as the meat-filled counterpart, thanks to hearty lentils, beans and vegetables."

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy

This can be viewed online at https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/vegan-lentil-chili-9483281.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal, light- and dark-green parts separated

1 red bell pepper (about 6 ounces), diced

1 orange bell pepper (about 6 ounces), diced

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup tomato paste

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon ancho chile powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Two 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes with their juices

1 cup dried red lentils

Two 14.5-ounce cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed

2 cups frozen diced butternut squash (from a 10-ounce bag)

1 tablespoon agave syrup or maple syrup

Assorted garnishes such as thinly sliced radish and jalapeno, cubed avocado and pepitas, for serving

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-bottom pot over medium-high heat. Add the light-green scallion parts, both bell peppers, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the tomato paste, garlic, ancho chile powder, cumin and cinnamon and cook, stirring, until the tomato paste darkens in color and the garlic is softened, about 1 minute.

Add the tomatoes and their juices, lentils, 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper to the pot and stir to combine. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the temperature and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils have softened, 12 to 15 minutes. Fold in the kidney beans, butternut squash and agave syrup and cook, stirring once or twice, until the squash is heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.

Serve the chili in bowls and garnish with the radish, jalapeno, avocado, pepitas and dark-green scallion parts as desired.

Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's yumminess includes Spicy Grilled Tempeh Tacos with Frijoles Molidos and Homemade Sour Cream (the name of this is almost a mouthful itself!) and Mocha Dessert Tacos. (Yes, you read right!) Enjoy!

MOCHA DESSERT TACOS

I found this, along with five other taco recipes, on the Runner’s World website (posted on June 26, 2018), though it’s originally from the Prevention test kitchen.

This recipe begins, “These blueberry-pancake taco shells are made from whole wheat flour for extra heart-healthy magnesium (a mineral the typical American diet falls short on).”

Serves: 6; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Times: 25 minutes

This can be found at https://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-weight-loss/a21946015/healthy-taco-recipes/. They were originally from: Prevention US.

Ingredients

4 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped

1 tsp instant espresso powder or coffee granules

2 medium bananas

3 large eggs

1 c blueberries

1/2 c whole wheat flour

2 tsp whole milk

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp kosher salt

2 tsp canola oil

2 c berries (such as blueberries and raspberries)

Directions

Microwave chocolate in 15-second bursts in microwave-safe bowl, stirring intermittently, until melted. Stir in espresso powder until smooth.

Puree bananas, eggs, blueberries, flour, milk, baking powder, and salt in blender until smooth.

Heat 1 tsp oil in large nonstick skillet over medium. Dollop 1/4 cup batter into skillet (spread slightly) and cook until top is set, 2 to 3 minutes; flip and cook until golden on bottom, 2 minutes more. Repeat with remaining batter, adding remaining oil as needed.

Fold each pancake and fill with berries. Drizzle with chocolate-coffee sauce.

Per serving: 260 calories, 7 g protein, 36 g carb, 7 g fiber, 18 g sugars (9 g added sugars), 11 g fat, 4.5 g sat fat, 94 mg cholesterol, 163 mg sodium

SPICY GRILLED TEMPEH TACOS WITH FRIJOLES MOLIDOS AND HOMEMADE SOUR CREAM [VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE]

This recipe comes from OneGreenPlanet, and is Dairy Free; Gluten-free; Vegan; Wheat Free.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

For the Tempeh and Tacos:

Tempeh, as needed

Spicy bean paste, as needed

Tortillas (gluten-free if necessary)

Pico de gallo

Guacamole

For the Frijoles:

6 cloves roasted garlic

4-5 cups cooked red beans

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons cumin

Juice of 2 limes

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon cayenne or chipotle

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

For the Sour Cream

1 cup raw, pre-soaked cashews

1 cup rejuvelac (see notes)

1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Preparation

Brush the tempeh with the bean paste and then grill.

Lightly grill tortillas for about 30 seconds/side.

To make the sour cream, put all ingredients in a high-speed blender and run until very smooth. Then set out in a covered glass container to culture for at least 24 hours. Taste for sourness. Colder climates will require more time. 24 hours at 85°F is about perfect. Refrigerate until thickened.

To make the beans, roast your garlic or pan fry them whole in a skillet until brown. Then cook the beans a minute or two longer than normal, drain, but reserve your bean juice.

Mash the garlic cloves with a fork, then add the beans and spices over low heat. Allow them to simmer for a couple minutes while you go to work with a potato masher. Add the lime juice, olive oil, and bean juice to keep the mixture soft and workable.

Assemble tacos and add pico de gallo and guacamole.

Notes:

Rejuvelac is a fermented liquid you can buy online or make at home.

AIR FRYER LOADED TACO FRIES

This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "While this recipe for air fryer taco fries was initially inspired by Taco Bell’s™ Nacho Fries, we got a little carried away and ended up creating something even better! Sure, these taco fries are healthier for you than the original recipe thanks to the air fryer, but they are also packed with Mexican spices and piled high with loads of delicious and savory nacho toppings. Top it all with our genius hack for amazingly simple spiced sour cream - don’t worry it’s delicious but not complicated, just add Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning to sour cream and pour it on everything. These air fryer taco fries are instant crowd-favorites, so be prepared to make this recipe a second time soon!"

Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/air-fryer-loaded-taco-fries.

Ingredients

1/3 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix (from 1-oz package)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix (from 1-oz package)

16 oz (4 cups) frozen French-fried potatoes (from 32-oz bag)

1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese (4 oz)

1/2 medium avocado, pitted, peeled and diced (1/2 cup)

1/4 cup diced tomato

2 tablespoons sliced green onions (2 green onions)

2 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Preparation

In small bowl, mix Seasoned Sour Cream ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

In large bowl, mix oil and 1 tablespoon taco seasoning mix. Add frozen potatoes; toss to coat. Pour mixture into air fryer basket. Set to 400°F; cook 22 to 26 minutes or until crispy, shaking basket every 5 minutes.

Transfer to microwavable serving plate. Top with cheese. Microwave uncovered on High 30 to 90 seconds or until cheese melts. Top with avocado, tomato, green onions and cilantro. Serve with seasoned sour cream.

Nutrition: 1 Serving Calories 220 (Calories from Fat 130); Total Fat 14g (Saturated Fat 5g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 20mg; Sodium 170mg; Total Carbohydrate 17g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 1g); Protein 5g

% Daily Value: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 6%; Calcium 10%; Iron 2%

Exchanges: 1/2 Starch, 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 1/2 High-Fat Meat, 2 Fat

CARROT-AND-BLACK BEAN CRISPY TACOS

This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Dig into vegetarian tacos with tons of fresh flavor.” Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 small onion, chopped

1 poblano pepper, diced

1 tsp. chili powder

1 (15.5-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 lb. medium carrots, cut into 3" to 4" sticks

1 tsp. ground cumin

8 whole-grain taco shells, warmed

Sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped fresh cilantro and radishes, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4to 6 minutes. Add chili powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add black beans and 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash beans with the back of the spoon until thick. Stir in lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, toss carrots with cumin and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.

Divide beans and carrots between taco shells. Top with avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, and radishes. Serve with lime wedges alongside.

PER SERVING: protein: 8 g; fat: 17 g; carbohydrate: 42 g; fiber: 10 g; sodium: 261 mg; cholesterol: 0 mg; calories: 334.

TASTY BLACK BEANS AND CORN TACOS

This also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Filled with beans and vegetables, these healthful tacos will be a kid's favorite." Makes 12 tacos.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

Black Beans and Corn Filling

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

1 medium-sized zucchini, diced

1 cup frozen corn kernels

1/2 cup mild enchilada sauce

Tortillas

12 6- to 8-inch corn or flour tortillas

Toppings, Optional

Note: No toppings were listed, but I would suggest shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and/or sour cream. A diced avocado would be nice, too. Or if there's something else that you love to top your tacos with, go for it! Just one thing: Enjoy!

Instructions:

To make Black Beans and Corn Filling: Put all ingredients into a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low. Cover, and cook for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until heated through.

To prepare Tortillas: Preheat a cast-iron skillet or griddle on stove over medium-high heat. Lay tortillas in single layer on skillet or griddle for about 10 seconds. Turn and warm other side. Remove from heat, and wrap in a napkin or dishcloth until ready to assemble tacos.

To assemble, set a tortilla on a plate, and spoon on some filling. Top as desired, roll up and eat.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 100; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Saturated Fat: g; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Cholesterol: mg; Sodium: 170 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 1 g

SNAPPY TACOS

This is another good taco recipe from Vegetarian Times. This one begins, "Just two of these tacos provide nearly all the soy protein of the daily FDA recommendation of 25 grams." Yield: Serves 4.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

4 tsp. vegetable oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

12-oz. pkg. soy crumbles, plain or taco-flavored

1/4 cup dark beer (see Note

1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. dried oregano

2 large jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped

1/2 cup salsa, drained

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

8 taco shells

Garnishes: See my note under Toppings for the Tasty Black Beans & Corn Tacos, above.

Note: If you - like me - don't have dark beer (or any beer, for that matter), I suggest simply increasing the low-sodium vegetable broth to 3/4 cup

Instructions:

In large nonstick skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium-high heat. Add 1⁄4 cup onion and 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic and cook, stirring often, until onion is softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat and mix in soy crumbles, beer and broth. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid has almost evaporated, about 8 minutes. Transfer mixture to plate and set aside. Wipe out skillet.

Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in skillet over medium-low heat. Add remaining onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until onion is softened, about 4 minutes. Add chili powder, oregano and jalapeños, stirring until mixture is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add reserved crumbles, salsa and cilantro and stir well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes.

Spoon 1⁄4 cup filling into each taco shell. Top with some or all garnishes and serve hot.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 302; Protein: 22 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 28 g; Cholesterol: mg; Sodium: 633 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: g

Monday, March 22, 2021

Monday Recipes

It's Monday, time to get the work week started. Today's offerings include Three Sisters Soup and Vegan Sloppy Joes. Enjoy!

MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE WITH FETTUCCINE

This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "A lighter take on the classic Italian sauce, this vegetarian bolognese is packed with mushrooms and vegetables in a rich tomato base. Served with fettuccine, you’ll have a hearty dinner for just 300 calories."

Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 8

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup diced onions

1/2 cup diced carrot

1/4 cup finely chopped celery

4 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 packages (8 oz each) baby bella mushrooms, coarsely chopped

2 packages (8 oz each) white button mushrooms, coarsely chopped

1 can (28 oz) Muir Glen™ organic crushed tomatoes with basil, undrained

1 can (15 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce

1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon soy sauce

12 oz uncooked fettuccine (from 16-oz box)

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired

1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves, if desired

Directions

In 5-quart Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook onions, carrots, celery, garlic and salt in oil 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Remove vegetable mixture from Dutch oven to small bowl.

In same Dutch oven, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; cook 14 to 19 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender and liquid has evaporated.

Stir in vegetable mixture, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, thyme, oregano and red pepper flakes; heat to simmering; reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking uncovered 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce is starting to thicken. Remove from heat; stir in soy sauce.

Meanwhile, cook fettuccine as directed on package; drain. Serve fettuccine with sauce. Garnish with shredded Parmesan cheese and basil.

Expert Tips

Prefer a creamier sauce? If desired, stir in 1/3 cup half-and-half or heavy whipping cream after removing sauce from heat.

Cooked fettuccine may be stirred into the bolognese or topped with sauce, based on your preference.

THREE SISTERS SOUP

This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Simple Cooking with Heart brings you this interesting vegetable and bean soup called Three Sisters Soup.

“This is actually a Native American recipe and the three 'sisters' refer to corn, beans and squash!”

Makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/three-sisters-soup

Ingredients

6 cups fat-free, low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock

16 oz. canned, low-sodium yellow corn or hominy, drained, rinsed

16 oz. canned, low-sodium kidney beans (drained, rinsed)

1 small onion (chopped)

1 rib celery (chopped)

15 oz. canned, cooked pumpkin (Tip: Be careful, don’t get pumpkin pie filling!)

5 fresh sage leaves

OR

1/2 tsp. dried sage

1/2 tsp. curry powder

Directions

Bring chicken stock to a slow boil.

Add corn/hominy, beans, onion and celery.Boil for 10 minutes.

Add sage leaves, curry and pumpkin and simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.

STUFFED SHELLS

This is from Ali Slagle at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, "Of all the baked pasta dishes, stuffed shells are beloved for good reason: The fluffy ricotta filling, punchy tomato sauce, melted cheese and oversize noodles creates the ultimate comfort food, and the make-ahead aspect is equally compelling. The tomato sauce can be made and refrigerated five days ahead, or you can save time by swapping in three cups of your favorite store-bought marinara sauce. The shells can be assembled a few hours ahead, then baked from the refrigerator an hour before it’s time to eat. While some versions add frozen spinach, herbs or lemon, you really don’t need anything beyond the basics; this classic version is pure comfort."

Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: About 2 hours

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020833-stuffed-shells.

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

Kosher salt

4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1 (28-ounce) can tomato purée

For the Filling and Assembly:

Kosher salt and black pepper

1 pound fresh ricotta (about 2 cups)

10 ounces fresh mozzarella, grated (about 2 1/2 cups)

5 1/2 ounces Parmesan, finely grated (about 2 cups)

2 egg yolks

1 garlic clove

12 ounces jumbo shells

Preparation

Make the sauce: In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat the olive oil over medium. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until the paste turns one shade darker, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato purée, season with salt, then bring to a simmer. Cover halfway to reduce splattering, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly, 20 to 30 minutes.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Make the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta with 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 1 cup Parmesan and the egg yolks. Grate the garlic directly into the bowl, then season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir to combine, then set aside.

Add the shells to the boiling water and cook until just shy of al dente. (You’ll want to cook the shells about 2 minutes less than the minimum time listed on the package, as the shells will continue to cook in the oven in Step 5.) Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool. Count out 24 shells. (You will have cooked off more shells than will fit in the dish; that’s insurance in case any rip. Reserve extras for another use.)

Stir the pasta water into the sauce, then add half the sauce to a 3-quart/9-by-13-inch baking dish and spread it in an even layer. Spoon about 2 tablespoons filling into each of the 24 shells, lining up the stuffed shells in the dish as you go. Spoon the remaining sauce over the shells, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1 cup Parmesan.

Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. (If you’d like to brown the cheese, you can broil for a few minutes.) Let sit 5 minutes, then serve.

VEGAN SLOPPY JOES

This comes from Minimalist Baker, and begins, "You may think of Sloppy Joes as an American classic (and that may be true), but the origin story isn’t crystal clear! One theory is that the dish was created in the 1930s by a Sioux City, Iowa chef named Joe.

"But another popular story is that it may have actually originated in Havana, Cuba. It’s thought that a bar owner named José García created it as a handheld modification of a Cuban dish called ropa vieja. The concept may have then been introduced by Ernest Hemmingway to a bar in Florida."We’re not sure who deserves the credit for Sloppy Joes, but we do know we love them! The following is our plant-based take on the concept."

Another note is, "Hearty, flavorful Vegan Sloppy Joes made with fresh, simple ingredients, naturally sweetened, and they require just 30 minutes! Savory, smoky, perfectly sweet — a delicious plant-based meal!"

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-sloppy-joes/. (And while you're there, sign up for emails from the Minimalist Baker; you won't regret it!)

Ingredients

Lentils

2 cups water (I used half water, half vegetable broth)

1 cup green or red lentils, well rinsed (red lentils for quicker/more tender result or green lentils for more bite/texture)

Sloppy Joes

2 Tbsp olive or grape seed oil

1/2 medium white or yellow onion, minced (plus more for serving)

2 cloves garlic, minced (2 cloves yield ~1 Tbsp)

1/2 medium red or green bell pepper, diced

Sea salt and black pepper (to taste)

1 15-ounce can tomato sauce*

1-2 Tbsp coconut sugar (plus more to taste)

1-2 Tbsp vegan-friendly Worcestershire sauce* (like this brand // ensure gluten-free for GF eaters)

1-2 tsp chili powder (plus more to taste)

1 tsp ground cumin (plus more to taste)

1 pinch smoked or regular paprika (optional)

FOR SERVING optional

Gluten-free or whole-wheat hamburger buns*

Directions

If using green lentils: To a small saucepan, add liquid (I used 1 cup water, 1 cup vegetable broth for added flavor // amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and rinsed green lentils and heat over medium-high heat. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook covered for about 18-22 minutes, or until tender. The water should have a constant simmer (not boil). Drain off any excess liquid and set aside.

If using red lentils: To a small saucepan, add liquid (water and/or vegetable broth) and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add rinsed red lentils and bring back to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 7-10 minutes, or until just tender. You want them to be cooked through but not mushy. Drain well and set aside.

In the meantime, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add oil, onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Season with a pinch each salt and pepper and stir to combine.

Sautè for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the peppers and onions are tender and slightly browned.

Next add tomato sauce, coconut sugar, vegan worcestershire sauce, chili powder, cumin, and paprika (optional). Stir to combine.

Once the lentils are cooked, add them to the skillet as well, and stir to combine.

Continue cooking the mixture over medium-low heat until completely warmed through and thick, stirring occasionally – about 5-10 minutes.

Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more chili powder and/or cumin for smokiness, salt for saltiness, coconut sugar for sweetness, or worcestershire for depth of flavor.

Serve the mixture on toasted buns with sliced onion. Best when fresh, though leftover sloppy joe mixture will keep in the refrigerator up to 4-5 days, or in the freezer for 1 month. Reheat in the microwave, or on the stovetop, adding water or vegetable broth if the mixture has dried out.

Notes

*The tomato sauce I use is from Trader Joe’s and is essentially tomato puree seasoned with sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, and herbs.

*If you can’t locate vegan Worcestershire sauce at the store, try this recipe from Forks Over Knives.

*My go-to whole-wheat vegan hamburger buns are from Trader Joe’s. The best gluten-free vegan hamburger buns I’ve tried are from the brand Happy Camper (which I found at a grocery store in Portland, OR). However, if you do/can eat eggs, I think Udi’s Gluten Free Hamburger Buns are a great option.

*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without a bun.

Nutrition (1 of 4 servings): Serving: 1 serving Calories: 298; Carbohydrates: 44.6 g; Protein: 14.4 g; Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 1.1 g; Trans Fat: 0 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 614 mg; Fiber: 17.1 g; Sugar: 13.5

GUACAMOLE WITH QUESO FRESCO

This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Try this delicious twist on guacamole with queso fresco cheese."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Makes 10 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/guacamole-with-queso-fresco.

Ingredients

5 Avocados from Mexico™, pitted and peeled

3 tablespoons lime juice

1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco cheese (2 oz)

1/2 teaspoon salt

Chopped fresh red onion, if desired

Tortilla chips, if desired

Preparation

In medium bowl, mix all ingredients except onion and chips, mashing avocados. Sprinkle with onion.

Serve with chips.

Expert Tips

If you want to make a smaller batch, use the entire can of chiles, but use about half the amount of each remaining ingredient.

VEGAN REUBEN BURGERS

Recently, I was looking through old folders on my computer, seeing what I could delete, what to save, that sort of thing. We all need to do that periodically, right?

I stumbled across one folder that read "recipes from different sources" that had another folder inside called "more recipes from online." (Okay, you with me so far?) One of those recipes was labeled "How to Make Vegan Reuben Burgers (Recipe)" that had been posted in the Broward Palm Beach New Times waaaay back on November 7, 2014. Yikes!

The article (with recipe) was posted by Hannah Sentenac. (Sorry for the delay in posting this, Hannah!) The article starts off, "I was putting ketchup on some breakfast potatoes the other day when I noticed an intriguing recipe staring at me from the back of the Heinz bottle: Reuben Burgers.

"Needless to say, they weren't vegan. Nor were they healthy. Nonetheless, I was inspired to veganize them, and the end result was magically delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I knew I had to share."

And the recipe? Yum

You can view this online at https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/how-to-make-vegan-reuben-burgers-recipe-6905451.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons sauerkraut

2 slices of rye bread (toasted)

2 slices Creamy Original Field Roast Chao Cheese (or dairy-free cheese of choice)

1/3 package Trader Joe's Beefless Ground Beef (or meatless crumbles of choice)

2 TBS Tofutti Sour Cream

2 TBS Heinz ketchup

Instructions:

Heat up the beefless beef in a skillet over medium heat for two or three minutes. Add the Tofutti Sour Cream and the Heinz Ketchup and stir until mixed.

Remove from heat and spoon mixture over pre-toasted slice of rye bread.

Top with Chao cheese and allow to melt (you can also pop it in the microwave for a few seconds -- Chao cheese is super melty). Then, spoon sauerkraut on top.

Top with remaining slice of rye bread. Cut in half. Eat. NOM NOM NOM.

Friday, March 19, 2021

Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Homemade Grilled Veggie Burger and Salted Caramel Brownies. Enjoy!

ALAMO MUFFINS

Starting off today with a yummy recipe from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. This was posted with the note, "A nice change from tacos or tortillas to accompany Mexican meals. Makes 1-1/2 dozen."

Apparently, the poster was named Carolyn, who added, "*Carolyn's Note: I would just use a can of chopped green chilies, drained, if fresh ones are not convenient."

Yield: 18 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1 tbs sugar

1 tbs baking powder(double-acting)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup shortening

2 eggs; slightly beaten

1 cup yogurt; plain

1 can cream-style corn; (8-3/4 ounce)

1/4 cup green chili peppers,* seeded and minced (see note above)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450F. Mix together the cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Using pastry blender, cut in the shortening until the consistency is grainy. Beat the eggs into the yogurt, then add to the cornmeal mixture. Add the cream-style corn and chili peppers, mixing just until moistened.

Divide the batter evenly among 18 greased or paper-lined muffin cups. Bake until lightly browned, about 12 to 15 minutes.

SWEET POTATO NACHOS

This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Who won’t want to try orange nachos? The seasoned sweet potatoes with the mellow cheese create a wonderful combination for a snack or healthier game-day appetizer!”

Makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/sweet-potato-nachos

Ingredients

3 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds), makes about 6 cups of rounds

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 1/2 tsp. paprika

1/3 cup black beans (drained, rinsed)

1/3 cup reduced-fat, shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup chopped tomato (1 plum tomato)

OR

1/3 cup no-salt-added, canned, diced tomatoes (drained, rinsed)

1/3 cup chopped avocado

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cover the baking pans with foil and coat with nonstick cooking spray.

Peel and slice the sweet potatoes thinly (about quarter-inch rounds). In a bowl, toss the rounds with olive oil, chili powder, garlic powder and paprika. Spread evenly on prepared pan (might need two pans). Bake for 10 minutes and use a spatula to flip the sweet potato rounds. Bake for another 5-10 minutes or until crisp.

Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle beans and cheese over the sweet potatoes. Return to oven until cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with tomato and avocado. Serve.

Tip: For easy clean-up, line your baking pan with foil before spraying with nonstick cooking spray, allowing you to toss the foil after use.

Tip: A well-stocked spice cabinet is an easy way to add flavor without added sodium – however, be sure to look for spices and seasoning mixes without added salt.

ZUCCHINI LASAGNA

This was in an email from Optum, and begins, "Lasagna is often a go-to recipe for family dinners. It's easy and delicious, but can be unhealthy. Why not try this healthier twist on the standard recipe? It's sure to be a hit."

To view this online, go to https://www.optumcare.com/resources/health-wellness-resources/library/zucchini-lasagna.html.

Ingredients

1/2 pound cooked lasagna noodles, cooked in unsalted water

3/4 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated

1 1/2 cups cottage cheese, fat-free*

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

1 1/2 cups raw zucchini, sliced

2 1/2 cups low-sodium tomato sauce

2 TSP basil, dried

2 TSP oregano, dried

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1/8 TSP black pepper

*To reduce sodium, use low-sodium cottage cheese. New sodium content for each serving is 165 mg.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9-by-13 inch baking dish with vegetable oil spray.

In a small bowl, combine 1/8 cup mozzarella and 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese with all the cottage cheese. Mix well and set aside.

Combine tomato sauce with all remaining ingredients, except zucchini. Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Add a layer of cooked noodles. Spread half of the cottage cheese mixture on top. Add a layer of zucchini.

Repeat layering until you’ve used all ingredients. Top with a layer of sauce and remaining cheese mixture. Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes. Cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Cut into six portions.

WHITE BEAN HUMMUS WRAPS WITH AVOCADO AND BELL PEPPER

This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “The silkiness of the white beans combined with the rich avocado and crunchy cucumbers and bell peppers make this Simple Cooking with Heart vegetarian recipe a winner of a lunch or dinner.”

Makes 4 servings; serving size: 1 wrap

To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/white-bean-hummus-wraps-with-avocado-and-bell-pepper.

Ingredients

For the white bean hummus:

15.5 oz. canned, no-salt-added, or, low-sodium white beans (like cannellini) (drained, rinsed)

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

3 Tbsp. water

1/4 tsp. ground, sweet paprika

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

For the wraps:

1 medium tomato (thinly sliced)

1 medium cucumber (thinly sliced)

1 bell pepper (seeded, thinly sliced)

1 avocado (peeled, pit removed, sliced)

4 handfuls lettuce

4 (10-inch) whole-grain, low-fat wraps

Ingredients

For the white bean hummus:

Drain and rinse the beans; add into the bowl of a food processor, along with remaining ingredients.

Puree until the mixture is smooth, about 1 minute.

For the wraps:

Chop all the vegetables: slice the tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, and avocado.

Spread about 1/3 cup white bean hummus over each wrap, leaving about a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Divide vegetables onto each wrap, placing over the hummus-not all the vegetables will be used.

Fold each side of the wrap up and then roll. Cut in half, if desired. Serve wraps with any extra vegetables and dip that is leftover.

Cooking Tip: Any type of beans can be magically turned into hummus. Just follow the instructions above using whatever bean you want – chickpeas, black bean, kidney beans, etc. Layer onto a wrap like in this recipe or use as a dip with veggies.

Keep it Healthy: When choosing lettuce, remember than the darker the color of the greens, the more nutrients and vitamins packed into it. For example, Romaine lettuce is more nutritious than iceberg lettuce.

Tip: Serving size 1 wrap

Tip: Transporting this for a work lunch? Place the wrap in foil for each transporting and make sure to drizzle a little lemon juice over the avocado slices to prevent browning.

HOMEMADE GRILLED VEGGIE BURGER

This comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Making a grilled veggie burger from scratch used to produce a crumbly mess. But thanks to the smart use of chickpeas and other healthy binders like mushrooms and black beans, these veggie burgers bring a whole new level of delicious awesomeness."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Makes 3 - 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/homemade-grilled-veggie-burger-recipe/.

Ingredients

8-oz pack baby bella mushrooms, sliced

1 1/2 red onion, sliced

1/2 bell pepper, sliced

5 cloves garlic

Olive oil (for coating veggies and basting burgers)

1 cup chickpeas

1 1/2 cups black beans

2 eggs

2 Tbsp soy sauce

2 Tbsp sriracha

2 Tbsp BBQ sauce

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp cornstarch, mixed with 2 tsp water

1/3 cup parmesan cheese

1 cup breadcrumbs

1/4 cup almond flour (more may be needed for consistency)

Burgers

Burger buns

Cheddar cheese Lettuce Tomatoes Mustard Mayo Pickles

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Mustard

Mayo

Pickles

Special Equipment

Food Processor

Preparation

Preheat your grill to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Before you make the patties, you must first dehydrate excess moisture from the veggies so the burgers will keep their shape.

Place mushrooms, red onion, bell pepper, and garlic cloves in a grill basket. Coat with some olive oil, season to taste with salt and pepper, and mix well. Set aside.

Punch a couple of small holes in the bottom of a foil pan, then fill it with your chickpeas and black beans. The holes will allow excess water to drain from the veggies while roasting. Set aside.

Before placing veggies on the grill, toss some hickory wood chips on the coals.

Place the grill basket and foil pan on the grill, and roast them with the lid closed for about 30 minutes. Stir them about halfway through the cook.

Once roasted, remove veggies from the grill and allow them to cool. You can extinguish the grill if you’re roasting the vegetables well ahead of time, or you can let it cruise while you prepare your patties if you’re doing this recipe in one go.

Once cooled, pour the veggies from the grill basket into a food processor. Add eggs, soy sauce, sriracha, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, and the mixture of cornstarch and water, then blend until fairly smooth.

Add chickpeas, black beans, parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs to the food processor. Lightly pulse a few times in the food processor — you want the beans in your burger mix to maintain some varying texture, so don’t fully purée as in the above step.

Pour burger mix into a bowl, gradually incorporating a little bit of almond flour at a time. Aim for a consistency that’s thick enough to form a patty that’ll hold its shape.

Once your mixture can be easily formed into burgers, sprinkle a light layer of flour onto a dish. Create 3–4 patties and place them on the floured dish to prevent sticking.

Brush olive oil on top of the patties. This will be the side that hits the grill first. The olive oil will help the patties receive some color and easily release from the grates.

Place patties in the fridge, uncovered, for at least 10 minutes before grilling. This will help them keep their form when they hit the grill.

Preheat your grill to 350 degrees, adding more charcoal if necessary.

Brush the grill grates with olive oil just before placing your patties on the grill.

Grill the veggie burgers for about 6–8 minutes a side, until crisp and golden brown on each side. Keep the grill lid down during the cook, lifting it only to baste the top side of your burgers with olive oil before flipping them. OPTIONAL: After flipping, baste the top of the burgers with a bit of melted butter.

Melt slices of cheese over the patties before removing them from the grill. Adding cheese during the final minute of the cook should get the job done.

Plate and serve the burgers with your toppings of choice, and enjoy!

SALTED CARAMEL BROWNIES

This comes from Seattle's (Washington) Macrina Bakery's monthly email. It I ever have the chance to take a road trip around the U.S., this is one place I plan to visit.

This recipe begins, "With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, we thought it was an excellent time to send out the recipe for this decadent treat. For chocolate lovers, there’s not much better than the densely-textured, fudgy taste of a brownie. These brownies marry sweet, salty and bitter better than nearly any dessert we’ve tried. Bitter ground coffee finds balance in the caramel, as does the semisweet chocolate in the sea salt. The caramel cream cheese may have you wondering just how many brownies are too many. The caramel sauce is simple to make, but Fran's Caramel Sauce is an excellent substitution if you're in a rush."

Makes nine 3 X 3-inch brownies

Ingredients

Brownies

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)

4 oz unsweetened chocolate

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp ground coffee

1/2 tsp kosher salt

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

4 eggs

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

4 oz semisweet chocolate chips

Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 cup caramel sauce, room temperature

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tsp coarsely ground Himalayan or Hawaiian pink sea salt

Brownies

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Line the base of a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment. Brush the pan sides with canola oil and lightly dust with flour, so the brownies release easily.

Place a stainless steel bowl over a medium saucepan filled with 2 inches of boiling water to create a double boiler. Add the butter and unsweetened chocolate to the bowl. Melt until combined and remove from the heat. Add the sugars, coffee, salt and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.

Add the eggs one at a time, whisking until each is fully incorporated before adding another. Using a spatula, fold in the flour and semisweet chocolate chips until just combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. A toothpick should come out dry when the brownies are set.

Let cool for 30 minutes. Remove from pan.

Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the cream cheese. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Add the caramel sauce, brown sugar and vanilla. Cream until smooth and without any lumps.

Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled brownies and sprinkle with pink sea salt. Cut into 9 pieces. Enjoy!

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Thursday Recipes

It's almost the end of the week; one more day, and we'll hit the weekend. To get us through the day, today's recipes include African-Style Sweet Potato Stew, Vegetarian Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup), and Ginger Tea. Enjoy!

EASY RASPBERRY BROWNIES

This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Based on a fudgy brownie mix, these quick-to-fix brownies combine the best of sweet flavors and chewy textures. Mmm!”

Ingredients

1 package (1 pound 3.8 ounces) Betty Crocker® fudge brownie mix

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup raspberry preserves

1 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

Directions

Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom only of rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Stir brownie mix, water, oil and eggs in medium bowl until well blended. Spread in pan.

Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out clean or almost clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack, about 1 hour.

Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and preserves in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread over brownies. Refrigerate 15 minutes.

Place chocolate and butter in small microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on Medium (50%) about 1 minute or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Drizzle over brownies. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until chocolate is firm. For 18 brownies, cut 6 rows by 3 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

GINGER TEA

This comes from Vegetarian Times (posted on MAY 9, 2017), and begins, “Ginger is Mother Nature’s protective cloak, shielding us from sickness on winter days. This tea is very spicy—if it tastes too strong, dilute it with more hot water and honey. Traditional advice is not to drink more than 2 cups of ginger tea a day unless you are using it as a treatment for a bad chest cold.”

2 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

12 thin slices fresh ginger, pounded with mortar or rolling pin

1 Tbs. honey

Preparation

Put ginger and 3 cups water in small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 to 25 minutes.

Strain out ginger slices and discard or reserve for another use. Stir in honey, and serve hot. Tea can be reheated, if necessary.

NO-BOIL STUFFED SHELLS

This comes from the Food Network, and begins, “No more wrangling slippery shells. This recipe lets you skip the step of boiling your pasta before stuffing it with cheese. Just fill the shells straight out of the box (it's much easier!) and let the sauce turn them plump and tender in the oven.”

Level: Easy; Total: 1 hr 30 min; Active: 20 min; Yield: 8 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 large egg

1 pound ricotta

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

One 8-ounce bag part-skim shredded mozzarella (about 2 cups)

3 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

One 24-ounce jar marinara sauce

One 12-ounce box jumbo pasta shells

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine the garlic, egg, ricotta, Parmesan, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Fold to combine. Transfer the mixture to a resealable plastic bag and snip a 1/4-inch hole in the corner.

Spread 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Pipe the ricotta mixture into the shells and arrange them opening-side up in the baking dish. Cover with the remaining sauce and 1 1/2 cups water.

Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove the foil, top with the remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella and bake until almost all the liquid has evaporated and the cheese is browned, about 10 minutes more. Let cool 10 minutes. Top with the remaining parsley before serving.

DOUBLE APPLE PIE

This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “This recipe is a keeper. Gently spiced with cinnamon, tinged with brown sugar and loaded with apple butter, it’s as deeply flavored as an apple pie can be, all covered with a buttery wide-lattice top crust. Although it’s at its most ethereal when baked on the same day you serve it, it’s still wonderful made a day ahead. (Don't let making your own pie crust intimidate you: our pie guide has everything you need to know.)”

Yield: 8 servings; Time: 2 1/2 hours, plus at least 3 1/2 hours' chilling and cooling.

This was featured in The United States Of Thanksgiving and can viewed online here.

Ingredients

For the Crust

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2 1/2 sticks/20 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cubed

4 tablespoons vodka (optional)

1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

For the Filling

3 pounds apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced crosswise (1/8-inch)

1/2 cup granulated sugar, more as needed

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Pinch ground cloves

1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons apple butter

Heavy cream or milk, as needed

Whipped cream, sour cream or crème fraîche, for serving

Preparation

Make the crust: In a food processor, pulse together flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add butter and pulse until mixture forms 3/4-inch pieces. Mix vodka with 4 tablespoons ice water (or use 1/2 cup ice water). Add half the ice water mixture to dough, pulse a few times, then continue adding liquid a tablespoon at a time until dough just comes together (you might not use all the liquid). Dough should be moist, but not wet, and hold together when pinched. If there are visible pieces of butter in the dough, all the better.

On a lightly floured surface, gather dough into a ball. Remove a third of the dough and form into a disk. Form remaining dough into a disk. Cover both tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 5 days.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out larger disk to a 12-inch circle. Transfer dough to a 9-inch pie plate. Fold over any excess dough, then crimp edges. Prick crust all over with a fork, then chill crust for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

While dough chills, heat oven to 400 degrees. Line chilled crust with foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes; remove foil and weights and bake until pale golden, 5 minutes more. Cool on rack until needed. (You can bake the crust up to 24 hours in advance.)

Toss apples with sugars, tapioca, spices, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the lemon juice. Fold in apple butter. Transfer apples to crust and press gently to make sure fruit is tightly packed.

Roll out remaining dough disk to a 10-inch round. Use a knife to cut strips 1 3/4 inches wide. Arrange strips over the filling in a lattice pattern. Brush top of crust with heavy cream or milk. Sprinkle with granulated sugar.

Place pie on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil. Bake 15 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking until crust is golden brown and juices are bubbling thickly, about 1 hour 15 minutes more. Let pie cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before cutting. Serve with whipped cream, sour cream or crème fraîche.

VEGETARIAN PHO (VIETNAMESE NOODLE SOUP)

This is from the Vegetarian Times website (May 10, 2017), and begins, “The national soup of Vietnam is a bowl of rice noodles, fresh herbs, and bean sprouts swimming in a fragrant broth.”

Makes 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Broth

6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

3 large shallots, sliced (1 cup)

1/2 cup dried shiitake mushrooms

10 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

3 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce

12 1/4-inch-thick coins fresh ginger

1 Tbs. brown sugar

1 Tbs. rice wine vinegar

1 tsp. ground black pepper

2 cinnamon sticks

2 star anise

5-6 fresh basil stems, leaves reserved for soup

5-6 cilantro stems, leaves reserved for soup

Pho

1 8-oz. pkg. rice noodles

1 8-oz. pkg. Asian-flavor baked tofu, thinly sliced

2 cups soybean sprouts

2 cups watercress

4 green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 cup fresh basil leaves

1 lime, cut into wedges

Directions

To make Broth: Place all ingredients in large pot with 8 cups water. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, 1 hour. Strain broth, and return to pot. Discard solids.

To make Pho: Cook rice noodles according to package directions. Drain, and rinse under cold water. Divide among 6 large soup bowls. Ladle Broth over noodles, and top with tofu, sprouts, watercress, and green onions. Serve cilantro, basil, and lime wedges on the side to be stirred into soup.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 290; Carbohydrate Content: 42 g; Fat Content: 5.5 g; Fiber Content: 3 g; Protein Content: 16 g; Saturated Fat Content: 1 g; Sodium Content: 578 mg; Sugar Content: 5 g

AFRICAN-STYLE SWEET POTATO AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH STEW

This recipe comes from Publix.

Servings: 8; Total Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes; Active Time: 10 minutes

To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

2 medium sweet potatoes

1 can chickpeas (garbanzos), (15–16 oz), drained

1 (14.5-oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained

1 (10-oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained

8 oz prediced bell pepper mix (1 1/2 cups)

1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning

1 teaspoon chunky garlic paste

2 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or stock)

1 package fresh (or frozen) prediced butternut squash (15–16 oz)

3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Directions

Peel sweet potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Drain chickpeas. Place in slow cooker: sweet potatoes, chickpeas, tomatoes, bell peppers, seasoning, garlic paste, and broth; cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2–3 hours (or LOW for 4–6 hours) or until potatoes are tender.

Stir in squash during last 30 minutes of cook time. Chop cilantro and peanuts.

Remove 1 cup of liquid from stew and whisk with peanut butter until blended. Stir peanut butter mixture into stew. Serve topped with cilantro and peanuts.