Double-Post Thursday

Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Today's offerings include Flank Steak Fajita Burritos and Watermelon Sorbet. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE SNACKING CAKE WITH TANGERINE GLAZE

This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This moist, darkly bittersweet snacking cake is easily mixed with a whisk. Using a neutral oil rather than butter allows the chocolate flavor to shine, and gives the crumb an especially velvety texture under a sweet-tart glaze. You can use any kind of orange for the topping. Tangerines and mandarins (including clementines) are bright and spicy, but regular navel or juice oranges work just as well. Or if you can find blood oranges, the glaze will take on a pinkish hue and a sweeter, richer flavor.”

Yield: 12 servings; Time: 1 hour, plus cooling.

This was featured in “Three Snacking Cakes to Change Your Afternoons”, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

1/3 cup neutral oil, such as grapeseed or canola, plus more for pan

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

2 ounces chopped dark chocolate (about 1/3 cup)

1/2 cup hot coffee

3/4 cup/155 grams light brown sugar

1/3 cup/80 milliliters sour cream

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Glaze:

1/2 tablespoon finely grated tangerine zest

1 tablespoon tangerine juice

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 cup/115 grams confectioners’ sugar

Preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-9-inch pan and line with parchment paper, letting the two long edges hang over the sides by at least 2 inches.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

In a heatproof bowl, melt chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between. Or you can melt the chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water on the stove, stirring well. Whisk in hot coffee.

Whisk together flour mixture, coffee-chocolate mixture, brown sugar, sour cream, oil, eggs and vanilla. Scrape into baking pan and smooth the top. Bake until the top is springy and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool completely before glazing.

When cake is cool, make the glaze: Whisk together tangerine zest, tangerine juice and lemon juice, then whisk in confectioners’ sugar. Taste, and if it’s too sweet, add another drop or two of lemon juice. Pour glaze onto cooled cake, and spread to the edges. Let glaze set for at least 30 minutes before serving.

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

This came from a Weight Watchers email list maybe a decade or more ago. The points value is from then.

Serves: 8; 5 points

Ingredients

12 oz uncooked macaroni, elbow-type

1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

12 oz fat-free evaporated milk

8 oz low-fat cheddar or Colby cheese, shredded

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1/4 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

2 Tbsp dried bread crumbs

2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Cook pasta according to package directions without added fat or salt; drain & transfer to a large bowl. While pasta is still hot, stir in sour cream; set aside.

Heat milk in small saucepan over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear just around the edges. Reduce heat to low, add cheese & simmer until cheese melts, stirring constantly with wire whisk, about 2 minutes; remove from heat & stir in mustard, salt, pepper & nutmeg.

Add cheese mixture to pasta; mix well. Transfer to a 4-quart casserole dish. Combine bread crumbs & Parmesan cheese; sprinkle over pasta. Bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

WATERMELON SORBET

This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 8 servings.

The recipe began, “This fresh sorbet is the perfect dessert for a tropical meal.”

Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 4 cups seeded and pureed watermelon

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 teaspoon lime zest

Directions

In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup watermelon puree and sugar to simmer and remove it from heat. Add lime juice and zest and allow mixture to cool for 20 minutes. Add the 4 cups fresh watermelon puree to melon-lime mixture, then freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.

FLANK STEAK FAJITA BURRITOS

This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “These delicious steak burritos get a zesty marinade of lime, orange juice, and chipotle peppers. Full of fresh peppers and zucchini, this burrito recipe will quickly become a family favorite.”

Prep: 20 mins; Marinate: 1 hr to 12 hrs; Cook: 25 mins; Servings: 6; Yield: 6 burritos

View this online here.

Ingredients

1 orange

1 lime

1/4 cup plus 1 tsp. vegetable oil

2 – 3 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (seeded if desired), finely chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 2 pound beef flank steak, halved crosswise

1 large sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced

2 medium green, red, and/or yellow sweet peppers, cut into thin strips

1/2 medium zucchini, halved and sliced

6 10 inch flour tortillas, warmed

3/4 cup guacamole

1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro

1 cup purchased salsa verde

Directions

Zest the lime and juice both the orange and lime. In a large resealable plastic bag combine 1/4 cup orange juice, 1 teaspoon lime zest, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1/4 cup oil, chipotle peppers, 1 teaspoon of the cumin, and the salt. Add steak. Seal bag; turn to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator 1 to 12 hours.

Remove meat from marinade. Reserve 2 tablespoons marinade; discard any remaining marinade. Pat meat dry with paper towels. In a large grill pan, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Add steak to pan. Cook for 14 to 18 minutes or until steak reaches desired doneness, turning once halfway through cooking. If needed cook in batches. (Or, for a gas or charcoal grill, grill the steak on the greased rack of a covered grill over medium heat for 17 to 21 minutes or until steak reaches desired doneness.) Transfer meat to a cutting board. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Cut steak across grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices.

Meanwhile, heat the same grill pan* over medium-high heat. Add the onions to the drippings in the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Stir in the sweet peppers and zucchini. Cook 1 minute more. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons marinade and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Cook and stir 2 minutes more.

Lay tortillas on a flat work surface. Arrange meat along the bottom one-third of the tortillas. Top with cooked vegetables, guacamole, and cilantro. Fold bottoms of tortillas over filling. Fold in sides. Roll up tortillas tightly. Cut burritos in half. Serve with salsa verde.

Tips

If using a gas or charcoal grill, use a large skillet to cook the vegetables. Use 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in place of the drippings.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 620 calories, (8 g saturated fat, 6 g polyunsaturated fat, 6 g monounsaturated fat), 101 mg cholesterol, 1007 mg sodium, 48 g carbohydrates, 7 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 41 g protein.

CAJUN POT PIE

This is from the Campbell's Kitchen e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “All the flavors of Cajun-inspired jambalaya can be found in this hearty, kickin' pot pie. Turkey, andouille sausage, green peppers, onions and tomatoes are simmered with turkey gravy and Cajun seasoning and spooned into a baking dish, topped with puff pastry and baked until perfectly golden. This is one pot pie that is loaded with flavor everyone will enjoy!” Serves: 6; servings: about 1 cup each; Thaw: 40 minutes; Prep: 15 minutes; Cook: 5 minutes; Bake: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

To view this recipe online, go to http://www.campbellskitchen.com/recipes/cajun-pot-pie-61937.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, diced (about 1 cup)

1 small potato, peeled and diced (about 1/2 cup)

1 large green pepper, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)

2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning

1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained

1 carton (18.3 ounces) Swanson® Turkey Gravy

3 cups cubed cooked turkey or chicken

6 ounces (1/2 of a 12-ounce package) smoked andouille sausage, diced (about 1 cup)

1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed

Directions

Heat the oven to 400°F.

Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, potato, pepper and Cajun seasoning and cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender-crisp, stirring occasionally. Stir in the tomatoes, gravy, turkey and sausage.

Spoon the turkey mixture into an 8x8x2-inch baking dish. Unfold the pastry sheet and place it over the turkey mixture. Cut several slits in the top of the pastry.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.

POTATO AND ONION SOUP

This is from Roadfood.com. The send out emails periodically which are almost always interesting. This recipe, from Harry Caray's, starts off, “Cooking potatoes in beef stock gives the starchy vegetable a savor that all carnivores will appreciate. A sprinkle of Parmesan on each serving adds just the right zip.”

Preparation Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes Servings: 6

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 cups peeled and sliced Spanish onions

3-1/2 cups homemade beef stock or equivalent amount of canned, low salt beef broth

3 cups peeled and cubed potatoes

Salt and pepper to taste

3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Melt the butter in a large sauté pan and add the olive oil.

Add the onions and sauté until they become clear and turn a light brown. Set aside.

In a large stock pot, bring the beef stock to a boil. Reduce the heat and add the diced potatoes. Simmer over medium heat until the potatoes are soft.

Add the onions to the stock pot and simmer for an additional 15 minutes.

Salt and pepper the soup to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese on top and serve.