Okay, is it really (really) New Year's Eve? Yup, from the looks of things, it really is. Today's double post deals with New Year's Eve food.
Since today is New Year's Eve, I'm reposting my post from December 31, 2015. If you're partying tonight, stay safe. Here are a few things you might enjoy serving, including Cheese Straws and Slow-Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate. Happy New Year's! Enjoy!
OOEY GOOEY BUTTER CAKE BARS
This comes from Tablespoon's newsletter. Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 50 min; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 box Betty Crocker French Vanilla Cake mix
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted
3 eggs
8 oz cream cheese
1 lb bag (about 3-3/4 cups) powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Line an 8 x 8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
In a bowl, mix together the cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg until a soft dough forms. Press into the bottom of the baking dish.
In a stand mixer, combine together the cream cheese, 2 eggs, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over the cake mix layer.
Bake bars for 45 minutes, or until edges are golden brown,and the center has set to a soft consistency.
Cool COMPLETELY before slicing into bars and serving.
SLOW-COOKER PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE
This comes from The Food Network, and starts off, “Made and served in the same pot, our slow-cooker cocoa is thickened and enriched with dark chocolate. Set up an add-ons bar beside the cooker (mini marshmallows, crushed candies and peppermint schnapps take cocoa to a whole new holiday level), then stick a ladle in the pot and let guests help themselves.” The recipe's last ingredient is peppermint schnapps, which is optional. I don't use it, and, if this is being served to children and/or people who normally don't drink – or if you're not sure – don't use it. I find that it really doesn't need it. Total Time: 2 hr 5 min; Prep: 5 min; Cook: 2 hr; Yield: 14 cups; Level: Easy
To read more, go to: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/slow-cooker-peppermint-hot-chocolate.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
12 cups whole milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon kosher salt
8 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped
24 peppermint candies, crushed (about 1 cup), for serving
3 cups mini marshmallows, for serving
2 cups peppermint schnapps, optional, for serving
Directions
Whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder in a 6-quart slow cooker. Turn the cooker to high, and slowly whisk in the milk to prevent lumps from forming. Add the vanilla and salt, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours. The sugar and cocoa powder should be completely dissolved.
Whisk in the chopped chocolate a little at a time until it is all incorporated. Replace the lid, and cook until thickened, 30 minutes more.
Turn the cooker to warm, and serve with small bowls of the peppermint candies and mini marshmallows and a small pitcher of schnapps, if using. For minty cocoa, let a few teaspoons of the peppermints melt in an 8-ounce cup or add 2 tablespoons of schnapps.
MACARONI AND CHEESE BAKE
This and the Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipes were in an several old emails. I'm not completely sure where they're from, but something tells me they might be from About.com, now .dash.
This first one starts off, “This is a custard-like macaroni and cheese casserole.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; servings: 6
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups Milk
4 tablespoons melted butter, divided
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs
Preparation:
Directions for macaroni and cheese:
Cook macaroni according to package directions in boiling salted water; drain and set aside. Combine milk, 3 tablespoons melted butter, flour, salt, pepper, and eggs in a mixing bowl; whisk until smooth and well-blended. Layer half of cooked macaroni in bottom of a shallow, buttered 2-quart baking dish; sprinkle with 2 cups cheese and top with remaining macaroni. Pour milk and egg mixture over macaroni. Toss breadcrumbs with remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter; sprinkle bread crumbs over the top of macaroni and cheese mixture. Bake macaroni and cheese at 350°, uncovered, for about 45 to 50 minutes; sprinkle with remaining cheese and continue baking for about 5 minutes longer, or until macaroni and cheese is set.
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This one start off, “Macaroni and cheese, made with a homemade white sauce with cheese and butter, along with cooked macaroni and seasonings.” Serves 4 to 6.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheese, divided
salt
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°. Cook macaroni in boiling salted water according to package directions; drain well and set aside. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk and half-and-half. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add paprika, pepper, and 2 cups of the cheese; stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Combine sauce with the macaroni and add salt to taste. Place in a buttered 1 1/2-quart casserole dish. Garnish top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and dot with additional butter. Bake 25 to 30 minutes.
TRIPLE CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI
This is from Sean Paajanen, the former Coffee/Tea expert for About.com (now .dash).
Anyway, Sean wrote, “You can never have too much chocolate. Chocolate chips and cocoa in the biscotti, and a drizzle of semi-sweet on top. If that's not enough, you can also dip these biscotti into your cup of hot cocoa.”
Ingredients:
5 cups flour
1 1/2 cups cocoa powder
2 tbs baking powder
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 tbs vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400F. Cream sugar and butter. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until smooth and add vanilla extract. Sift together the dry ingredients and add to the egg mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Shape the dough into 6 longs loaves and brush with beaten egg yolk. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Cut each loaf into 1 inch slices and place back on baking sheet. Reduce heat to 350F and place slices back into the oven. Bake for another 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and cool. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate, and drizzle over the biscotti.
CHEESE STRAWS
This is from Carroll Pellegrinelli, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "Here is one of my family's favorite homemade snacks. Not only do they make a good afternoon treat, but they're a crowd-pleaser at our parties too. Next time there's a bake sale, I'm making these Cheese Straws." Prep Time: 35 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes
The
Ingredients
1-3/4 cup flour
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (red) pepper, or to taste
1-1/4 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated, room temperature
1/2 cup (1/4 pound) butter, softened
Preparation
In a small bowl, combine flour, salt and other spices with a wire whisk. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, stand mixer is preferred, cream together cheddar cheese and butter. Gradually add flour mixture. Combine completely. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Allow dough to rest for 10 to 15 minutes in refrigerator. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets. Press dough through a cookie press onto prepared baking sheets. Bake cheese straws for 20 to 30 minutes or until crisp and lightly brown.
Store in tightly covered container. These Cheese Straws may be frozen with wax paper between layers.
Friday, December 31, 2021
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Dessert
What's the best part of a meal, that usually comes at the end? Dessert, of course. After a second tough pandemic year in a row, what else but dessert should come at the end of the year?
Today's desserts include Easy Key Lime Pie and Blackout Cake. Enjoy!
NO-BAKE YOGURT AND COOL WHIP PIE
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "If you're looking for an easy no-bake dessert, this Cool Whip pie recipe is the one to try. It will be a welcome treat on a hot summer evening and can be the prettiest dessert at the next cookout; it's also the perfect recipe to get the kids involved as there is no stovetop or oven required. This pie is completely customizable since you can choose the yogurt flavor, matching it to whatever fruit happens to be in season. Consider strawberry or peach slices, cherry halves, mandarin orange segments, or whole blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries. It's also a healthier dessert option so you can enjoy a piece of pie without all of the guilt.
"This recipe comes together quickly, calling for just a container of Cool Whip, flavored yogurt, a ready-made graham cracker crust, and some fresh fruit. Just keep in mind the pie will have to firm up in the freezer for about 2 hours before serving."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Freeze Time: 2 hours; Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/cool-whip-pie-recipe-3376704.
Ingredients
8 ounces whipped topping
18 ounces yogurt, any flavor
1 prepared graham cracker crust
Fresh fruit (e.g., berries, peaches, oranges), for garnish
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
In a mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the Cool Whip and yogurt until smooth.
Pour the yogurt and Cool Whip mixture into the pie crust. Freeze until firm, about 2 hours.
Remove the pie from the freezer approximately 20 minutes before serving.
Slice the fruit if necessary and top the pie with the fruit.
Cover and refrigerate any leftover pie, or freeze for later.
Tips
Cool Whip is sold frozen and will need to be defrosted beforehand. This can be done in the refrigerator, microwave, or in cold water. Thawing in the refrigerator will take some planning as it needs to sit in the fridge for about 5 hours (or overnight). The microwave method is simple, but you will need to pay close attention; remove the lid and microwave on the defrost setting for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until smooth. A third method is to place the tub in a bowl filled with cold water and let it sit for 30 to 40 minutes.
To give the pie a more sophisticated look, arrange the fruit slices on top before you fully freeze the pie. Depending on the weight of the fruit, you might want to freeze the pie for an hour before adding the slices or whole fruit so they don't sink into the yogurt mixture.
What Is Cool Whip Made Of?
Cool Whip is made from water, hydrogenated vegetable oil, corn syrup, skimmed milk, and natural and artificial flavors, as well as other additives. If you'd rather not use this whipped topping, you can substitute with whipped cream.
Recipe Variations
Although a store-bought graham cracker crust is convenient, it is easy to make your own graham cracker crust or a sugar-free graham cracker crust.
Instead of a graham cracker crust, you can use a cookie crust. Vanilla cookies go nicely with a lemon yogurt filling, or a chocolate cookie crust pairs well with coconut flavored yogurt topped with coconut flakes.
This light pie is fairly low in calories for a dessert, but if you'd like to reduce the fat and calories, this recipe can be made with reduced-fat or no-sugar varieties of Cool Whip, yogurt, and graham crackers.
CLASSIC LEMON MERINGUE PIE
This comes from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. She wrote, “Here's a delicious lemon meringue pie, made with fresh lemon juice, eggs, and other ingredients. Use a homemade or purchased pie shell for this pie.”
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/classic-lemon-meringue-pie-3058029.
Ingredients:
1 baked pie pastry, 9-inch
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
dash salt
1-1/2 cups hot water
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter
1 scant teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional
6 tablespoons granulated sugar
Preparation:
In a medium saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, the cornstarch, flour, and salt; whisk to blend well. Gradually stir in hot water. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low; continue cooking, stirring, for 8 minutes. Stir about 1/3 cup of the hot mixture into the slightly beaten egg yolks, then return to hot mixture in saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and cook for 4 minutes longer. Add butter and lemon peel. Slowly stir in 1/3 cup lemon juice. Pour into baked cooled pie shell.
Beat egg whites with 1 teaspoon lemon juice (if used) to soft peaks. Gradually add the 6 tablespoons sugar, beating until stiff peaks are formed and sugar has dissolved. Spread meringue over the hot filling, covering completely. Bake at 350° for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. Cool pie completely before serving.
EASY NO-BAKE PINEAPPLE CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "This easy pineapple cheesecake is prepared in a graham cracker crust in a springform pan. Even the crust is no-bake, which is perfect for hot summer days when you want to avoid the oven.
"The luscious pineapple cheesecake is a mixture of cream cheese, crushed pineapple, and whipped topping, and it is super easy to mix and chill in the graham cracker crust. Take this cheesecake to a cookout or potluck or make it for a weekend dessert. It will be an instant hit!"
Prep Time: 12 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Chill Time: 2 hours; Total Time: 2 hours 12 minutes; Makes 8 servings; Yield: 1 cheese cake
To view this yumminess online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/easy-no-bake-pineapple-cheesecake-3052567.
Ingredients
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, well-drained
16 ounces whipped topping
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
In a medium bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs with the granulated sugar and melted butter.
Reserve 2 tablespoons of the crumbs in a small bowl and set aside. Press the remaining crumbs into the bottom of an 8- to 9-inch springform pan. Put the crust in the refrigerator to chill while you make the filling.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the confectioners' sugar until fluffy.
Add the crushed pineapple and blend well.
Fold the whipped topping into the pineapple mixture.
Spread the filling over the chilled crust and sprinkle with the reserved graham cracker crumbs.
Cover with plastic wrap and chill thoroughly—at least 2 to 3 hours—before serving.
Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Tips
If you prefer a baked graham cracker crust, bake the crust in a preheated 350 F/180 C/Gas 4 oven for about 8 to 10 minutes. Chill before filling.
Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of finely chopped pecans to the graham cracker bottom crust mixture.
Double the crust ingredients for a thicker bottom crust.
Make sure the canned pineapple is well-drained or your filling will be thinner.
You can use fresh pineapple in place of the canned pineapple if you'd like—a 20-ounce can is equal to 10 cored slices.
If the cheesecake is still very soft after being in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours, keep chilling it until set.
EASY KEY LIME PIE
This is from Sarah Epperson on MyRecipes. The recipe begins, "Dessert doesn’t get easier, or more delicious, than a no-bake key lime pie. Requiring just a handful of ingredients, this easy pie is a great recipe for less experienced bakers—especially considering what a crowd-pleaser it is. Perfect for the hot summer months when you’d rather reduce your oven use, the luscious key lime filling sets up to creamy perfection with the help of Cool Whip. Though we provide instructions for a homemade graham cracker crust, you can make this key lime pie recipe all the easier (and skip the oven altogether) by opting for a pre-made, store-bought pie crust instead."
Active Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours; Makes 8 servings; Serving Size: 1 slice
To view this online, go to https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/easy-no-bake-key-lime-pie.
Ingredients
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (4 oz.) salted butter, melted, plus more for greasing dish
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup key lime juice
1 tablespoon lime zest (from 2 limes)
1 (8-oz.) container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), divided
1 lime, thinly sliced
Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a medium bowl to combine. Press crumb mixture firmly into a lightly greased 9-inch pie. Bake in preheated oven until crust is golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes.
Stir together milk, lime juice, and lime zest in a large bowl until fully combined. Fold in 2 cups of the whipped topping. Transfer mixture to cooled pie crust, and chill at least 4 hours or overnight.
Fill a piping bag with remaining 1 cup whipped cream, and pipe a border along edge of pie. Top with lime slices.
BLUEBERRY CORNMEAL SHORTBREAD TART
This is from Alison Roman in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Alison wrote, "Part tart, part crumble, this blueberry shortbread is an excellent way to use up as many blueberries as you can get your hands on. The exposed surface allows the fruit to cook down, thickening and getting jammy with just a little bit of flour to help it along. It’s ideal for baking, slicing and bringing to any and all outdoor gatherings, or serving at home with a ridiculous amount of vanilla ice cream."
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 50 minutes
This was featured in "What to Do With All That Summer Fruit", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020390-blueberry-cornmeal-shortbread-tart.
Ingredients
For the crust and topping:
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter (1-1/2 sticks), melted and cooled slightly
For the filling:
1 pound blueberries
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Small pinch of kosher salt
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Make the crust and topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, confectioners’ sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Add melted butter, then use your hands or a wooden spoon to combine ingredients until no dry spots remain.
Press half of the cornmeal mixture into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom (alternatively, use a 9-inch cake pan or springform pan, lined with parchment), making sure the mixture is evenly pressed on the bottom and about 1/2 inch up the sides. (Using something large and flat, like the bottom of a measuring cup, will be helpful.) Reserve the remaining mixture.
Make the filling: Toss blueberries, brown sugar, vinegar, flour and salt together in a medium bowl. Pour the fruit into the crust.
Crumble the remaining cornmeal mixture over the blueberries, pressing bits of the mixture together into large clumps as you go, as you would with a crisp or coffee-cake topping.
Bake tart until the blueberry filling is bubbly and thickened, and both the crust and top are nicely browned, 40 to 45 minutes.
Let tart cool completely before slicing into triangles and serving. The tart can be baked up to 2 days ahead and stored tightly wrapped at room temperature or refrigerated (especially if your kitchen is hot or humid).
BLACKOUT CAKE
This recipe, on The New York Times cooking site is from Ebinger's, and adapted by The New York Times. It begins, "This absurdly rich chocolate cake came to The Times in a 1991 article by Molly O'Neill about Ebinger’s, the legendary chain of Brooklyn bakeries that closed its doors in 1972 after 74 years in business. Their wildly popular blackout cake, a three layer devil's food cake filled with dark chocolate pudding, slathered with chocolate frosting and covered with chocolate cake crumbs, had a cult-like following in its day. This recipe isn't authentic (the Ebinger family never shared the original recipe with the public), but Ms. O'Neill claims in her book, 'The New York Cookbook: From Pelham Bay to Park Avenue, Firehouses to Four-Star Restaurants,' that this version got the thumbs-up from 'a panel of twelve Ebingerites.' That's enough for us."
Yield: 1 cake; Time: 3 hours plus chilling
This recipe was featured in "The Cake Box From Heaven (Brooklyn, of Course) is Back" and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018772-blackout-cake.
Ingredients
For the cake:
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
1/4 cup boiling water
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup milk
2 cups sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter, slightly softened, plus 2 tablespoons for the cake pans
4 eggs, separated
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour, plus 1 tablespoon for the cake pans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
For the filling:
2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
2 cups boiling water
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon cold water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons butter
For the frosting:
12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup hot water
1 tablespoon corn syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375 degrees.
To make the cake, place the cocoa in a small bowl and whisk in the boiling water to form a paste. Combine the chocolate and milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently as the mixture warms and the chocolate melts, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk a small amount of the heated chocolate milk into the cocoa paste and then whisk the cocoa mixture into the milk mixture. Return to heat, stir for one minute, remove and cool until tepid.
In the bowl of a mixer, cream the sugar and butter together. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time and add the vanilla. Slowly stir in the chocolate mixture.
Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Using a spatula or a wooden spoon, slowly add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture. In another bowl, whip the egg whites to form soft peaks and, using a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter.
Butter and lightly flour two 8-inch round cake pans and divide the batter between the two pans. Bake for 45 minutes and cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Gently remove the cakes from the pans and continue to cool.
While the cake is baking, make the filling. Put the cocoa into a saucepan and pour in the boiling water and place over low heat. Add the sugar and chocolate. Dissolve the cornstarch in the cold water to make a smooth paste. Whisk the cornstarch into the water and chocolate, add the salt and bring it to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for one minute.
Remove the pan from the heat, whisk in the vanilla and the butter, and transfer the mixture to a bowl and refrigerate until cool.
Make the frosting. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate. Remove from heat and whisk in the butter, one tablespoon at a time, returning to heat if necessary to melt the butter.
Whisk in the hot water all at once and stir until smooth. Whisk in the corn syrup and the vanilla. Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes before using.
Assemble the cake. Use a sharp knife to slice each cake into two disks to form four layers. Set one layer aside. Place one layer on a cake round or plate. Generously swath the layer with filling. Add the second layer and repeat. Add the third layer. Quickly apply a layer of frosting to the top and the sides of the cake and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, crumble the remaining cake layer. Apply a second layer of frosting to the cake, press cake crumbs into the top and sides of the cake, and serve within 24 hours. Store in a cool place.
Today's desserts include Easy Key Lime Pie and Blackout Cake. Enjoy!
NO-BAKE YOGURT AND COOL WHIP PIE
This is from Jolinda Hackett on The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "If you're looking for an easy no-bake dessert, this Cool Whip pie recipe is the one to try. It will be a welcome treat on a hot summer evening and can be the prettiest dessert at the next cookout; it's also the perfect recipe to get the kids involved as there is no stovetop or oven required. This pie is completely customizable since you can choose the yogurt flavor, matching it to whatever fruit happens to be in season. Consider strawberry or peach slices, cherry halves, mandarin orange segments, or whole blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries. It's also a healthier dessert option so you can enjoy a piece of pie without all of the guilt.
"This recipe comes together quickly, calling for just a container of Cool Whip, flavored yogurt, a ready-made graham cracker crust, and some fresh fruit. Just keep in mind the pie will have to firm up in the freezer for about 2 hours before serving."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Freeze Time: 2 hours; Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/cool-whip-pie-recipe-3376704.
Ingredients
8 ounces whipped topping
18 ounces yogurt, any flavor
1 prepared graham cracker crust
Fresh fruit (e.g., berries, peaches, oranges), for garnish
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
In a mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the Cool Whip and yogurt until smooth.
Pour the yogurt and Cool Whip mixture into the pie crust. Freeze until firm, about 2 hours.
Remove the pie from the freezer approximately 20 minutes before serving.
Slice the fruit if necessary and top the pie with the fruit.
Cover and refrigerate any leftover pie, or freeze for later.
Tips
Cool Whip is sold frozen and will need to be defrosted beforehand. This can be done in the refrigerator, microwave, or in cold water. Thawing in the refrigerator will take some planning as it needs to sit in the fridge for about 5 hours (or overnight). The microwave method is simple, but you will need to pay close attention; remove the lid and microwave on the defrost setting for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until smooth. A third method is to place the tub in a bowl filled with cold water and let it sit for 30 to 40 minutes.
To give the pie a more sophisticated look, arrange the fruit slices on top before you fully freeze the pie. Depending on the weight of the fruit, you might want to freeze the pie for an hour before adding the slices or whole fruit so they don't sink into the yogurt mixture.
What Is Cool Whip Made Of?
Cool Whip is made from water, hydrogenated vegetable oil, corn syrup, skimmed milk, and natural and artificial flavors, as well as other additives. If you'd rather not use this whipped topping, you can substitute with whipped cream.
Recipe Variations
Although a store-bought graham cracker crust is convenient, it is easy to make your own graham cracker crust or a sugar-free graham cracker crust.
Instead of a graham cracker crust, you can use a cookie crust. Vanilla cookies go nicely with a lemon yogurt filling, or a chocolate cookie crust pairs well with coconut flavored yogurt topped with coconut flakes.
This light pie is fairly low in calories for a dessert, but if you'd like to reduce the fat and calories, this recipe can be made with reduced-fat or no-sugar varieties of Cool Whip, yogurt, and graham crackers.
CLASSIC LEMON MERINGUE PIE
This comes from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. She wrote, “Here's a delicious lemon meringue pie, made with fresh lemon juice, eggs, and other ingredients. Use a homemade or purchased pie shell for this pie.”
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/classic-lemon-meringue-pie-3058029.
Ingredients:
1 baked pie pastry, 9-inch
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
dash salt
1-1/2 cups hot water
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter
1 scant teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional
6 tablespoons granulated sugar
Preparation:
In a medium saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, the cornstarch, flour, and salt; whisk to blend well. Gradually stir in hot water. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low; continue cooking, stirring, for 8 minutes. Stir about 1/3 cup of the hot mixture into the slightly beaten egg yolks, then return to hot mixture in saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and cook for 4 minutes longer. Add butter and lemon peel. Slowly stir in 1/3 cup lemon juice. Pour into baked cooled pie shell.
Beat egg whites with 1 teaspoon lemon juice (if used) to soft peaks. Gradually add the 6 tablespoons sugar, beating until stiff peaks are formed and sugar has dissolved. Spread meringue over the hot filling, covering completely. Bake at 350° for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. Cool pie completely before serving.
EASY NO-BAKE PINEAPPLE CHEESECAKE
This is from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "This easy pineapple cheesecake is prepared in a graham cracker crust in a springform pan. Even the crust is no-bake, which is perfect for hot summer days when you want to avoid the oven.
"The luscious pineapple cheesecake is a mixture of cream cheese, crushed pineapple, and whipped topping, and it is super easy to mix and chill in the graham cracker crust. Take this cheesecake to a cookout or potluck or make it for a weekend dessert. It will be an instant hit!"
Prep Time: 12 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Chill Time: 2 hours; Total Time: 2 hours 12 minutes; Makes 8 servings; Yield: 1 cheese cake
To view this yumminess online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/easy-no-bake-pineapple-cheesecake-3052567.
Ingredients
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, well-drained
16 ounces whipped topping
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
In a medium bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs with the granulated sugar and melted butter.
Reserve 2 tablespoons of the crumbs in a small bowl and set aside. Press the remaining crumbs into the bottom of an 8- to 9-inch springform pan. Put the crust in the refrigerator to chill while you make the filling.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the confectioners' sugar until fluffy.
Add the crushed pineapple and blend well.
Fold the whipped topping into the pineapple mixture.
Spread the filling over the chilled crust and sprinkle with the reserved graham cracker crumbs.
Cover with plastic wrap and chill thoroughly—at least 2 to 3 hours—before serving.
Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Tips
If you prefer a baked graham cracker crust, bake the crust in a preheated 350 F/180 C/Gas 4 oven for about 8 to 10 minutes. Chill before filling.
Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of finely chopped pecans to the graham cracker bottom crust mixture.
Double the crust ingredients for a thicker bottom crust.
Make sure the canned pineapple is well-drained or your filling will be thinner.
You can use fresh pineapple in place of the canned pineapple if you'd like—a 20-ounce can is equal to 10 cored slices.
If the cheesecake is still very soft after being in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours, keep chilling it until set.
EASY KEY LIME PIE
This is from Sarah Epperson on MyRecipes. The recipe begins, "Dessert doesn’t get easier, or more delicious, than a no-bake key lime pie. Requiring just a handful of ingredients, this easy pie is a great recipe for less experienced bakers—especially considering what a crowd-pleaser it is. Perfect for the hot summer months when you’d rather reduce your oven use, the luscious key lime filling sets up to creamy perfection with the help of Cool Whip. Though we provide instructions for a homemade graham cracker crust, you can make this key lime pie recipe all the easier (and skip the oven altogether) by opting for a pre-made, store-bought pie crust instead."
Active Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours; Makes 8 servings; Serving Size: 1 slice
To view this online, go to https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/easy-no-bake-key-lime-pie.
Ingredients
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (4 oz.) salted butter, melted, plus more for greasing dish
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup key lime juice
1 tablespoon lime zest (from 2 limes)
1 (8-oz.) container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), divided
1 lime, thinly sliced
Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a medium bowl to combine. Press crumb mixture firmly into a lightly greased 9-inch pie. Bake in preheated oven until crust is golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes.
Stir together milk, lime juice, and lime zest in a large bowl until fully combined. Fold in 2 cups of the whipped topping. Transfer mixture to cooled pie crust, and chill at least 4 hours or overnight.
Fill a piping bag with remaining 1 cup whipped cream, and pipe a border along edge of pie. Top with lime slices.
BLUEBERRY CORNMEAL SHORTBREAD TART
This is from Alison Roman in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Alison wrote, "Part tart, part crumble, this blueberry shortbread is an excellent way to use up as many blueberries as you can get your hands on. The exposed surface allows the fruit to cook down, thickening and getting jammy with just a little bit of flour to help it along. It’s ideal for baking, slicing and bringing to any and all outdoor gatherings, or serving at home with a ridiculous amount of vanilla ice cream."
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 50 minutes
This was featured in "What to Do With All That Summer Fruit", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020390-blueberry-cornmeal-shortbread-tart.
Ingredients
For the crust and topping:
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter (1-1/2 sticks), melted and cooled slightly
For the filling:
1 pound blueberries
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Small pinch of kosher salt
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Make the crust and topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, confectioners’ sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Add melted butter, then use your hands or a wooden spoon to combine ingredients until no dry spots remain.
Press half of the cornmeal mixture into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom (alternatively, use a 9-inch cake pan or springform pan, lined with parchment), making sure the mixture is evenly pressed on the bottom and about 1/2 inch up the sides. (Using something large and flat, like the bottom of a measuring cup, will be helpful.) Reserve the remaining mixture.
Make the filling: Toss blueberries, brown sugar, vinegar, flour and salt together in a medium bowl. Pour the fruit into the crust.
Crumble the remaining cornmeal mixture over the blueberries, pressing bits of the mixture together into large clumps as you go, as you would with a crisp or coffee-cake topping.
Bake tart until the blueberry filling is bubbly and thickened, and both the crust and top are nicely browned, 40 to 45 minutes.
Let tart cool completely before slicing into triangles and serving. The tart can be baked up to 2 days ahead and stored tightly wrapped at room temperature or refrigerated (especially if your kitchen is hot or humid).
BLACKOUT CAKE
This recipe, on The New York Times cooking site is from Ebinger's, and adapted by The New York Times. It begins, "This absurdly rich chocolate cake came to The Times in a 1991 article by Molly O'Neill about Ebinger’s, the legendary chain of Brooklyn bakeries that closed its doors in 1972 after 74 years in business. Their wildly popular blackout cake, a three layer devil's food cake filled with dark chocolate pudding, slathered with chocolate frosting and covered with chocolate cake crumbs, had a cult-like following in its day. This recipe isn't authentic (the Ebinger family never shared the original recipe with the public), but Ms. O'Neill claims in her book, 'The New York Cookbook: From Pelham Bay to Park Avenue, Firehouses to Four-Star Restaurants,' that this version got the thumbs-up from 'a panel of twelve Ebingerites.' That's enough for us."
Yield: 1 cake; Time: 3 hours plus chilling
This recipe was featured in "The Cake Box From Heaven (Brooklyn, of Course) is Back" and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018772-blackout-cake.
Ingredients
For the cake:
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
1/4 cup boiling water
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup milk
2 cups sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter, slightly softened, plus 2 tablespoons for the cake pans
4 eggs, separated
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour, plus 1 tablespoon for the cake pans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
For the filling:
2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa
2 cups boiling water
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon cold water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons butter
For the frosting:
12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup hot water
1 tablespoon corn syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
Preparation
Heat the oven to 375 degrees.
To make the cake, place the cocoa in a small bowl and whisk in the boiling water to form a paste. Combine the chocolate and milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently as the mixture warms and the chocolate melts, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk a small amount of the heated chocolate milk into the cocoa paste and then whisk the cocoa mixture into the milk mixture. Return to heat, stir for one minute, remove and cool until tepid.
In the bowl of a mixer, cream the sugar and butter together. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time and add the vanilla. Slowly stir in the chocolate mixture.
Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Using a spatula or a wooden spoon, slowly add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture. In another bowl, whip the egg whites to form soft peaks and, using a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter.
Butter and lightly flour two 8-inch round cake pans and divide the batter between the two pans. Bake for 45 minutes and cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Gently remove the cakes from the pans and continue to cool.
While the cake is baking, make the filling. Put the cocoa into a saucepan and pour in the boiling water and place over low heat. Add the sugar and chocolate. Dissolve the cornstarch in the cold water to make a smooth paste. Whisk the cornstarch into the water and chocolate, add the salt and bring it to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for one minute.
Remove the pan from the heat, whisk in the vanilla and the butter, and transfer the mixture to a bowl and refrigerate until cool.
Make the frosting. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate. Remove from heat and whisk in the butter, one tablespoon at a time, returning to heat if necessary to melt the butter.
Whisk in the hot water all at once and stir until smooth. Whisk in the corn syrup and the vanilla. Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes before using.
Assemble the cake. Use a sharp knife to slice each cake into two disks to form four layers. Set one layer aside. Place one layer on a cake round or plate. Generously swath the layer with filling. Add the second layer and repeat. Add the third layer. Quickly apply a layer of frosting to the top and the sides of the cake and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, crumble the remaining cake layer. Apply a second layer of frosting to the cake, press cake crumbs into the top and sides of the cake, and serve within 24 hours. Store in a cool place.
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Chili
When it's chilly out - or outright cold - is there anything better to warm one up that a pot of homemade chili? If you love chili as much as I do, today's post is sure to please. Check out Quick and Easy Chili, the diabetic-friendly Texas Red Chili, or any of the other yummy chili recipes here. Enjoy!
SLOW COOKER SWEET AND SPICY CHILI
This recipe is from Kellie Hemmerly on TODAY’s, and begins, “This Sweet and Spicy Chili is made in the slow cooker for deep, concentrated flavor. The BEST chili recipe around, I use a secret ingredient to create a sweet-tart background to this slightly spicy recipe.”
Kellie’s website, The Suburban Soapbox, looks pretty cool; I recommend checking it out!
Anyway, to view this recipe online, click here.
Servings: 1 cup; Yield: 10-12 servings; Prep Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 4 hr
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef (I used 80-20)
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 large jalapeno peppers, minced (remove the seeds and veins for less heat...leave them for more heat)
1/4 cup chili powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons ground cayenne pepper
2 tablespoon crushed red pepper
6 ounce jar of chopped sweet peppers and juice
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 - 28 ounce can tomato sauce
1 - 28 ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
In a large frying pan, brown the ground beef until no longer pink and transfer to the slow cooker using a slotted spoon. Drain off all but two tablespoons of fat and add the onions to the pan. Cook the onions over med-high heat until they begin to soften. Add the peppers to the onions and sauté until softened. Add the garlic and jalapeno peppers, cooking for one minute longer. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker with the beef.
Add the chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, sweet peppers and juice to the beef mixture and stir to combine. Add the brown sugar, tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes stirring thoroughly to be sure all the ingredients are incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook in the slow cooker on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
Serve with your favorite chili toppings, we love greek yogurt, sour cream, shredded cheddar, green onions, and pickled jalapenos...just to name a few.
TEXAS RED CHILI
Servings: 8
Source: Family Circle's "All-time Favorite Recipes"
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/90.shtml
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 beef brisket (about 2 pounds), cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 cup chopped onion
3 jalapeno chiles, halved, seeded and finely, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 can (13-3/4 ounces) beef broth
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) stewed tomatoes
1 bottle (12 ounces) beer
1 bay leaf
Lime wedges for garnish
Directions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, saute brisket until browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Add onion, jalapenos and garlic to drippings in pot; cook over medium-low heat until onion is very tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in chili powder, cumin, salt, and red pepper; cook 1 minute.
Return meat to pot. Stir in broth, tomatoes, beer and bay leaf. Heat to boiling. Lower heat; simmer with cover slightly ajar until meat is tender, about 1-1/2 hours. For last 20 minutes, uncover to thicken chili.
To serve, ladle chili into bowls. Garnish each bowl with lime wedge.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 334; Protein: 30 g; Fat: 17 g; Sodium: 712 mg; Cholesterol: 84 mg; Carbohydrates: 15 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch; 4 Medium-Fat Meat
TEXAS CHILI
One of my dad’s recipes. Note: Actually, it is the one he said he found in the airline magazine. Whenever Dad fixed this, he’d have to make 2 batches of chili: this for those brave enough to try it, another for everyone else, somewhat cooler.
A funny anecdote: Dad had been involved in Civil Defense when we lived in New York. He had a friend who was also in C.D. who swore that since he'd grown up in New Mexico, he could eat anything spicy hot without it bothering him; in fact, the hotter it was, the better he liked it.
One evening, Larry and his wife came to dinner. Dad had invited them, fixing up a batch of this chili, along with the milder batch. Larry was served the hot stuff. Next time Dad went to a C.D. meeting, he overheard Larry state, "I can eat anything hot - except John S's chili!" Be forewarned!
Ingredients
3 balls ground beef suet
4 slices bacon, cut up
2 lbs. stew beef, cut small
2 lbs. chopped chuck
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Bernudea onions, chopped
1 T paprika
3/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne
6-9 T chili powder
2-4 walnut-size pieces suet
1 can beef broth
1 tsp. oregano
3 cans measured water
3/4 tsp. cumin
6 C tomatoes & juice
1 2/3 T salt
1 1/2 lbs. drained kidney beans
Directions
In heavy pot place 3 balls suet with bacon. Cook out fat. Add & brown beef & chopped chuck. After browning, add garlic. Cook lightly. Add remainder of spices. In another pot, heat 2-4 pieces of suet. Add onions. Cook until almost burned. Add to meat pot. Deglaze pot with meat broth. Add water, tomatoes & juice. Mash tomatoes into chili. Cover & simmer slowly 1 1/2-2 hours. Uncover. Cook down for about 1/2 hour, adding kidney beans. Serves 6-8.
QUICK AND EASY CHILI
I first had this at my former in-laws' house. It is about as quick and simple as you can get. It took me a while to warm up to this chili, after eating Dad's Texas Chili. No matter; my younger two love it, and I've grown to like it.
Note:The beans were pretty much required for this recipe. I usually don't push certain brands, and I suppose that other cans of chili beans could be used. But when I fix their dad's/paternal grandparents' chili, I use the beans listed. I've also added the oil to this, but this was not an original part of the recipe.
Ingredients
2 T olive oil
1 pound ground beef
4 cans Ranch Style beans
1 can tomato soup
Chili powder, to taste
Directions
Brown ground beef in oil. Add beans, soup, and chili powder. Stir, heat, eat.
TEXAS-STYLE CHILI
This is from Juila Moskin in The New York Times cooking email. Julia wrote, “Calling a dish ‘Texas Chili,’ especially if you’re not a native of that state, is clearly asking for trouble. But this recipe, refined over years of potlucks and Super Bowl parties, is too good to keep under wraps. Its depth of flavor, from different chile types, makes this recipe stand out. It also has whole spices, unsweetened chocolate and dark beer that meld seamlessly into a brick-red sauce that naps the succulent meat. The meat can be cut into large chunks, or, more traditionally, thin slices, especially if you are using a tougher cut than chuck. Sirloin also makes good chili. If you have masa harina, the corn flour used to make tortillas, that will make the gravy even thicker, but it is not necessary. Like many vigorously spiced dishes, this one tastes even better a day or two after it is made and will hold its flavor well for at least a week.”
Yield: 12 servings; Time: 2 hours.
This was featured in “Texas Chili Makes a Welcome Guest” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds
4 pounds beef chuck roast or steak
1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus extra as needed
1 large yellow or white onion, chopped, plus extra chopped onion for serving
6 large garlic cloves, minced
4 to 7 large fresh green jalapeños (depending on how much heat you like), stemmed, seeded and chopped
3 tablespoons masa harina or 1 corn tortilla, torn into pieces (optional)
2 tablespoons ground pure chile powder, such as pasilla, Chimayo or ancho
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 (12-ounce) bottle Negra Modelo beer
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, or 3 10-ounce cans Ro-Tel canned tomatoes with green chiles
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
3 whole dried large red chiles, such as New Mexico or guajillo
Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
Fritos or warmed flour tortillas, for serving
Preparation
In a small heavy skillet, toast cumin and coriander seeds until fragrant. In a mortar and pestle, or in a coffee grinder, grind to a powder and set aside.
Meanwhile, roughly cut beef into 2-inch cubes, or slice it against the grain into pieces about 1/4-inch thick by 1 1/2 inches square. Sprinkle with salt.
In a large, heavy pot over high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, brown the meat, turning occasionally until crusty. Adjust heat to prevent scorching. As it is cooked, remove the meat to drain on paper towels. Add more oil as needed for browning, but do not clean out the pot.
To the empty but crusty pot, add onion, garlic, jalapeños, masa harina or tortilla (if using), chile powder, cumin-coriander powder and oregano. Cook, stirring, until onion has softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add meat, beer, tomatoes, chocolate, whole dried chiles and 1 quart water. Bring to a gentle simmer and simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until meat is fork-tender. Remove the dried chiles. Taste and add salt if necessary.
Serve immediately or let cool and refrigerate. The chili tastes best one or two days after it is made.
Reheat over low heat if necessary and serve in bowls, sprinkled with chopped onion and cilantro. Add Fritos for crunch, or dip tortillas into the spicy gravy.
HEARTY TURKEY CHILI
This comes from GE Appliances and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
2-15oz. cans chili-ready beans in chili gravy
1-12oz bottle beer (can use non-alcoholic)
1-14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes (chili ready)
1/2 c. chili sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
Directions
In a large saucepan, brown turkey and onion over medium/high heat until turkey is no longer pink and onions are tender.
Add meat to slow cooker.
Stir in undrained beans, beer, undrained tomatoes, chili sauce, chili powder, Cajun seasoning and garlic salt.
Cook in slow cooker on low for 4 hours.
CHEF'S NOTES:
If you are in a hurry, you can add the ingredients to a Dutch oven, cover and cook on stovetop over medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Flavors will not develop as fully, but dinner is done much quicker!
SLOW COOKER SWEET AND SPICY CHILI
This recipe is from Kellie Hemmerly on TODAY’s, and begins, “This Sweet and Spicy Chili is made in the slow cooker for deep, concentrated flavor. The BEST chili recipe around, I use a secret ingredient to create a sweet-tart background to this slightly spicy recipe.”
Kellie’s website, The Suburban Soapbox, looks pretty cool; I recommend checking it out!
Anyway, to view this recipe online, click here.
Servings: 1 cup; Yield: 10-12 servings; Prep Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 4 hr
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef (I used 80-20)
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 large jalapeno peppers, minced (remove the seeds and veins for less heat...leave them for more heat)
1/4 cup chili powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons ground cayenne pepper
2 tablespoon crushed red pepper
6 ounce jar of chopped sweet peppers and juice
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 - 28 ounce can tomato sauce
1 - 28 ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
In a large frying pan, brown the ground beef until no longer pink and transfer to the slow cooker using a slotted spoon. Drain off all but two tablespoons of fat and add the onions to the pan. Cook the onions over med-high heat until they begin to soften. Add the peppers to the onions and sauté until softened. Add the garlic and jalapeno peppers, cooking for one minute longer. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker with the beef.
Add the chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, sweet peppers and juice to the beef mixture and stir to combine. Add the brown sugar, tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes stirring thoroughly to be sure all the ingredients are incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook in the slow cooker on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
Serve with your favorite chili toppings, we love greek yogurt, sour cream, shredded cheddar, green onions, and pickled jalapenos...just to name a few.
TEXAS RED CHILI
Servings: 8
Source: Family Circle's "All-time Favorite Recipes"
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/90.shtml
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 beef brisket (about 2 pounds), cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 cup chopped onion
3 jalapeno chiles, halved, seeded and finely, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 can (13-3/4 ounces) beef broth
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) stewed tomatoes
1 bottle (12 ounces) beer
1 bay leaf
Lime wedges for garnish
Directions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, saute brisket until browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Add onion, jalapenos and garlic to drippings in pot; cook over medium-low heat until onion is very tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in chili powder, cumin, salt, and red pepper; cook 1 minute.
Return meat to pot. Stir in broth, tomatoes, beer and bay leaf. Heat to boiling. Lower heat; simmer with cover slightly ajar until meat is tender, about 1-1/2 hours. For last 20 minutes, uncover to thicken chili.
To serve, ladle chili into bowls. Garnish each bowl with lime wedge.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 334; Protein: 30 g; Fat: 17 g; Sodium: 712 mg; Cholesterol: 84 mg; Carbohydrates: 15 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch; 4 Medium-Fat Meat
TEXAS CHILI
One of my dad’s recipes. Note: Actually, it is the one he said he found in the airline magazine. Whenever Dad fixed this, he’d have to make 2 batches of chili: this for those brave enough to try it, another for everyone else, somewhat cooler.
A funny anecdote: Dad had been involved in Civil Defense when we lived in New York. He had a friend who was also in C.D. who swore that since he'd grown up in New Mexico, he could eat anything spicy hot without it bothering him; in fact, the hotter it was, the better he liked it.
One evening, Larry and his wife came to dinner. Dad had invited them, fixing up a batch of this chili, along with the milder batch. Larry was served the hot stuff. Next time Dad went to a C.D. meeting, he overheard Larry state, "I can eat anything hot - except John S's chili!" Be forewarned!
Ingredients
3 balls ground beef suet
4 slices bacon, cut up
2 lbs. stew beef, cut small
2 lbs. chopped chuck
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Bernudea onions, chopped
1 T paprika
3/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne
6-9 T chili powder
2-4 walnut-size pieces suet
1 can beef broth
1 tsp. oregano
3 cans measured water
3/4 tsp. cumin
6 C tomatoes & juice
1 2/3 T salt
1 1/2 lbs. drained kidney beans
Directions
In heavy pot place 3 balls suet with bacon. Cook out fat. Add & brown beef & chopped chuck. After browning, add garlic. Cook lightly. Add remainder of spices. In another pot, heat 2-4 pieces of suet. Add onions. Cook until almost burned. Add to meat pot. Deglaze pot with meat broth. Add water, tomatoes & juice. Mash tomatoes into chili. Cover & simmer slowly 1 1/2-2 hours. Uncover. Cook down for about 1/2 hour, adding kidney beans. Serves 6-8.
QUICK AND EASY CHILI
I first had this at my former in-laws' house. It is about as quick and simple as you can get. It took me a while to warm up to this chili, after eating Dad's Texas Chili. No matter; my younger two love it, and I've grown to like it.
Note:The beans were pretty much required for this recipe. I usually don't push certain brands, and I suppose that other cans of chili beans could be used. But when I fix their dad's/paternal grandparents' chili, I use the beans listed. I've also added the oil to this, but this was not an original part of the recipe.
Ingredients
2 T olive oil
1 pound ground beef
4 cans Ranch Style beans
1 can tomato soup
Chili powder, to taste
Directions
Brown ground beef in oil. Add beans, soup, and chili powder. Stir, heat, eat.
TEXAS-STYLE CHILI
This is from Juila Moskin in The New York Times cooking email. Julia wrote, “Calling a dish ‘Texas Chili,’ especially if you’re not a native of that state, is clearly asking for trouble. But this recipe, refined over years of potlucks and Super Bowl parties, is too good to keep under wraps. Its depth of flavor, from different chile types, makes this recipe stand out. It also has whole spices, unsweetened chocolate and dark beer that meld seamlessly into a brick-red sauce that naps the succulent meat. The meat can be cut into large chunks, or, more traditionally, thin slices, especially if you are using a tougher cut than chuck. Sirloin also makes good chili. If you have masa harina, the corn flour used to make tortillas, that will make the gravy even thicker, but it is not necessary. Like many vigorously spiced dishes, this one tastes even better a day or two after it is made and will hold its flavor well for at least a week.”
Yield: 12 servings; Time: 2 hours.
This was featured in “Texas Chili Makes a Welcome Guest” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds
4 pounds beef chuck roast or steak
1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus extra as needed
1 large yellow or white onion, chopped, plus extra chopped onion for serving
6 large garlic cloves, minced
4 to 7 large fresh green jalapeños (depending on how much heat you like), stemmed, seeded and chopped
3 tablespoons masa harina or 1 corn tortilla, torn into pieces (optional)
2 tablespoons ground pure chile powder, such as pasilla, Chimayo or ancho
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 (12-ounce) bottle Negra Modelo beer
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, or 3 10-ounce cans Ro-Tel canned tomatoes with green chiles
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
3 whole dried large red chiles, such as New Mexico or guajillo
Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
Fritos or warmed flour tortillas, for serving
Preparation
In a small heavy skillet, toast cumin and coriander seeds until fragrant. In a mortar and pestle, or in a coffee grinder, grind to a powder and set aside.
Meanwhile, roughly cut beef into 2-inch cubes, or slice it against the grain into pieces about 1/4-inch thick by 1 1/2 inches square. Sprinkle with salt.
In a large, heavy pot over high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, brown the meat, turning occasionally until crusty. Adjust heat to prevent scorching. As it is cooked, remove the meat to drain on paper towels. Add more oil as needed for browning, but do not clean out the pot.
To the empty but crusty pot, add onion, garlic, jalapeños, masa harina or tortilla (if using), chile powder, cumin-coriander powder and oregano. Cook, stirring, until onion has softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add meat, beer, tomatoes, chocolate, whole dried chiles and 1 quart water. Bring to a gentle simmer and simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until meat is fork-tender. Remove the dried chiles. Taste and add salt if necessary.
Serve immediately or let cool and refrigerate. The chili tastes best one or two days after it is made.
Reheat over low heat if necessary and serve in bowls, sprinkled with chopped onion and cilantro. Add Fritos for crunch, or dip tortillas into the spicy gravy.
HEARTY TURKEY CHILI
This comes from GE Appliances and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
2-15oz. cans chili-ready beans in chili gravy
1-12oz bottle beer (can use non-alcoholic)
1-14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes (chili ready)
1/2 c. chili sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
Directions
In a large saucepan, brown turkey and onion over medium/high heat until turkey is no longer pink and onions are tender.
Add meat to slow cooker.
Stir in undrained beans, beer, undrained tomatoes, chili sauce, chili powder, Cajun seasoning and garlic salt.
Cook in slow cooker on low for 4 hours.
CHEF'S NOTES:
If you are in a hurry, you can add the ingredients to a Dutch oven, cover and cook on stovetop over medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Flavors will not develop as fully, but dinner is done much quicker!
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Chicken - Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's double post deals with chicken recipes, including Chicken Pot Pie and Hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Chili. Enjoy!
CHIPOTLE CHICKEN QUESADILLAS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "This Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla recipe serves up some ridiculous flavor for your shredded cooked chicken. Finely chopped chipotle chiles in adobo sauce bring tons of smoky, spicy goodness to this dish. Simmer the chicken and spices, then layer it all into your tortilla with buttery, easy to melt Old El Paso™ Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese. Bring the heat with your choice of salsa to make these quesadillas a new family favorite at the table."
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 3 servings
View this online at https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/chipotle-chicken-quesadillas.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/2 large onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (2 oz)
1 tablespoon finely chopped chipotle chile in adobo sauce (from 7-oz can)
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
6 (8-inch) Old El Paso™ flour tortillas
6 tablespoons Old El Paso™ Salsa
Preparation
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, onion and corn; cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes or until bell pepper and onion is softened. Remove from heat; stir in chicken, cheese, chipotle chile and cilantro.
Brush one side of each tortilla with remaining 2 tablespoons oil. With oiled side down, spread 2 tablespoons salsa onto each of 3 tortillas. Spread about 1 cup of chicken mixture on each tortilla over salsa. Top each with remaining tortillas, oiled side up.
Heat 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook 1 quesadilla at a time 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until tortilla is golden brown and cheese is melted. Cut each quesadilla in half.
Expert Tips
The rotisserie chicken sold at almost any grocery store is perfect for this recipe.
Chipotle chiles are smoked, dried jalapeños. They are often sold canned in a vinegary tomato sauce called “adobo.” They can be quite hot, so feel free to adjust the amount used to suite your taste. The one tablespoon of chiles in this recipe gives a medium-hot result.
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN STROGANOFF
This comes from Judi Ann at Allrecipes. Judi Ann wrote, "Cubed chicken breast cooked in the slow cooker with a simple, creamy sauce mixture. This is so good, and so easy to make on a busy day. Serve over hot cooked rice, if desired."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 5 hours; Total: 5 hours 10 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17227/slow-cooker-chicken-stroganoff/.
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1/8 cup margarine
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
Directions
Put chicken, margarine and dressing mix in slow cooker; mix together and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
Add cream cheese and soup, mix together and cook on high for another 1/2 hour or until heated through and warm.
HEARTY SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CHILI
This is from Diana Rattray, a contributor to The Spruce Eats. She wrote, " This easy slow cooker chicken chili is relatively light and low-calorie compared to the classic beef or pork chili. Boneless chicken breasts and a variety of canned beans make the chili super easy and convenient. If you prefer to cook the chili on the stovetop, see the tips below the recipe.
"Feel free to use boneless chicken thighs in the recipe and use the canned beans you have on hand. We used pinto beans and great northern beans, but kidney beans, navy beans, black beans and cannellini beans are all excellent alternatives."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Makes 8 servings.
To view this yumminess online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/hearty-slow-cooker-chicken-chili-4062489.
Ingredients:
2 pounds boneless chicken breasts (about 4 large chicken breast halves)
1 cup onion (chopped)
1/2 cup green bell pepper (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced; or 1 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder)
1 (15-ounce) can great northern beans (rinsed and drained)
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
1 (14.5-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups corn kernels (frozen, thawed)
1 tablespoon chili powder (heaping)
1 teaspoon cumin (ground)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
1 bay leaf
Garnish: sour cream or shredded cheese
Optional: chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Dice the chicken or cut it into strips. Put the chicken pieces in the slow cooker along with the onion, bell pepper, garlic, drained and rinsed beans, tomatoes and tomato sauce, corn, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and bay leaf. Stir to blend ingredients.
Cover and cook on high for 1 hour, then cook on low for 3 to 4 hours longer, or until the chicken is cooked and tender. Or cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.
Remove the bay leaf.
Spoon the chili into bowls and garnish with sour cream or shredded cheese, along with chopped fresh cilantro, if desired.
Serve with cornbread, crackers, or crusty bread.
Tips
Stovetop: Put ingredients in a large Dutch oven instead of a slow cooker. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 to 2 hours.
For thicker chili, add a few tablespoons of cornmeal about 30 minutes before it's done.
Recipe Variations
Other vegetables that may be added include sliced summer squash or zucchini, shredded or julienne-cut carrots, and sliced celery.
For a little heat, add a few tablespoons of minced jalapeno pepper or serrano. Or add some crushed red pepper flakes.
Use different varieties of canned beans, or use cooked dried beans instead. See crock pot great northern beans.
Use part or all boneless chicken thighs in the recipe. Chicken thighs stay tender and juicy in the slow cooker, so they're especially good in this recipe if you will be cooking it longer than the recommended times.
Try more slow cooker chicken recipes.
CHICKEN POT PIE
This comes from Robbie Rice on the AllRecipes website. Robbie wrote, "A delicious chicken pie made from scratch with carrots, peas and celery."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 8; Yield: 1 9-inch pie
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/26317/chicken-pot-pie-ix/.
Ingredients
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup milk
2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas, and celery. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.
In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.
Place the chicken mixture in bottom pie crust. Pour hot liquid mixture over. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
CHICKEN GREEN CHILE FOOTBALL EMPANADAS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Are you ready for some football empanadas? These chile- and cheese-filled pies are a cinch to make and look great on your gameday appetizer table."
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Makes 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/chicken-green-chile-football-empanadas.
Ingredients
3/4 cup chopped cooked chicken
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (2 oz)
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
2 oz cream cheese (from 8-oz package), softened
4 teaspoons Old El Paso™ chicken taco seasoning mix (from 0.85-oz package)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon water
1 box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
Guacamole, if desired
Salsa, if desired
Preparation
Heat oven to 375°F. Line large rimmed pan with cooking parchment paper. In medium bowl, mix chicken, green onions, cheese, chiles, cream cheese and taco seasoning mix. In small bowl, mix egg and water.
Unroll one of the pie crusts. Using 4 1/2-inch football cookie cutter, cut out 12 footballs from crust, rerolling dough scraps together as necessary. Repeat with second pie crust, to total 24 footballs.
Place about 2 tablespoons filling in center of football; spread slightly to create even layer on dough with 1/4-inch border around all sides. Brush egg wash around outer edge of football, then gently stretch second dough football and place over top; using fork, crimp edges to seal together. Repeat with remaining pieces of dough. Place on pan.
Using paring knife, score laces into top of each empanada.
Brush tops with egg wash. Bake 27 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with guacamole and salsa.
Expert Tips
We used rotisserie chicken for this recipe, but feel free to use leftover chicken breasts or thighs.
Don’t have a football-shaped cutter? Use a pliable 3 1/2-inch round cutter, and bend into the shape of a football.
Exchanges: 1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 1/2 Fat; Carbohydrate Choices: 1
LEMON CHICKEN WITH BROCCOLI AND GINGER
Recipe Yield: Makes 4 servings.
Source: AICR
Recipe and image appear courtesy of American Institute for Cancer Research.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/lemon-chicken-with-broccoli-and-ginger.
Ingredients
1/2 cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground white or black pepper
1 Tbsp. coconut oil, divided
1 lb. skinless and boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 Tbsp. grated or finely chopped ginger, plus 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup sliced leek, white and pale green parts, 2-inch pieces
1/2 cup thinly slice red onion, in crescents
3 cups broccoli florets, cut to bite-size
1/4 cup chopped scallions, green and white parts
Directions
In measuring cup, combine broth, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Heat a wok over high heat. When wok is hot, drizzle half of the oil around sides, then lift and swirl wok to coat it. Add chicken, and stir-fry until no pink color shows, 2 minutes. Scoop out chicken and place on plate.
Drizzle remaining oil into wok and swirl to coat. Add fresh ginger, ground ginger and garlic and stir fry until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add leek and onion and stir fry for 1 minute. Pour in broth mixture, cover wok and cook for 2 minutes until broccoli looks bright green. Return chicken to wok and stir fry until pieces are white in the center, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn contents of wok out onto serving platter. Sprinkle on scallions and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 193; Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 452 mg; Protein: 29 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g
CHIPOTLE CHICKEN QUESADILLAS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "This Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla recipe serves up some ridiculous flavor for your shredded cooked chicken. Finely chopped chipotle chiles in adobo sauce bring tons of smoky, spicy goodness to this dish. Simmer the chicken and spices, then layer it all into your tortilla with buttery, easy to melt Old El Paso™ Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese. Bring the heat with your choice of salsa to make these quesadillas a new family favorite at the table."
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 3 servings
View this online at https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/chipotle-chicken-quesadillas.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/2 large onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (2 oz)
1 tablespoon finely chopped chipotle chile in adobo sauce (from 7-oz can)
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
6 (8-inch) Old El Paso™ flour tortillas
6 tablespoons Old El Paso™ Salsa
Preparation
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, onion and corn; cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes or until bell pepper and onion is softened. Remove from heat; stir in chicken, cheese, chipotle chile and cilantro.
Brush one side of each tortilla with remaining 2 tablespoons oil. With oiled side down, spread 2 tablespoons salsa onto each of 3 tortillas. Spread about 1 cup of chicken mixture on each tortilla over salsa. Top each with remaining tortillas, oiled side up.
Heat 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook 1 quesadilla at a time 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until tortilla is golden brown and cheese is melted. Cut each quesadilla in half.
Expert Tips
The rotisserie chicken sold at almost any grocery store is perfect for this recipe.
Chipotle chiles are smoked, dried jalapeños. They are often sold canned in a vinegary tomato sauce called “adobo.” They can be quite hot, so feel free to adjust the amount used to suite your taste. The one tablespoon of chiles in this recipe gives a medium-hot result.
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN STROGANOFF
This comes from Judi Ann at Allrecipes. Judi Ann wrote, "Cubed chicken breast cooked in the slow cooker with a simple, creamy sauce mixture. This is so good, and so easy to make on a busy day. Serve over hot cooked rice, if desired."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 5 hours; Total: 5 hours 10 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17227/slow-cooker-chicken-stroganoff/.
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1/8 cup margarine
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
Directions
Put chicken, margarine and dressing mix in slow cooker; mix together and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
Add cream cheese and soup, mix together and cook on high for another 1/2 hour or until heated through and warm.
HEARTY SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CHILI
This is from Diana Rattray, a contributor to The Spruce Eats. She wrote, " This easy slow cooker chicken chili is relatively light and low-calorie compared to the classic beef or pork chili. Boneless chicken breasts and a variety of canned beans make the chili super easy and convenient. If you prefer to cook the chili on the stovetop, see the tips below the recipe.
"Feel free to use boneless chicken thighs in the recipe and use the canned beans you have on hand. We used pinto beans and great northern beans, but kidney beans, navy beans, black beans and cannellini beans are all excellent alternatives."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Makes 8 servings.
To view this yumminess online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/hearty-slow-cooker-chicken-chili-4062489.
Ingredients:
2 pounds boneless chicken breasts (about 4 large chicken breast halves)
1 cup onion (chopped)
1/2 cup green bell pepper (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced; or 1 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder)
1 (15-ounce) can great northern beans (rinsed and drained)
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
1 (14.5-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups corn kernels (frozen, thawed)
1 tablespoon chili powder (heaping)
1 teaspoon cumin (ground)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
1 bay leaf
Garnish: sour cream or shredded cheese
Optional: chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Dice the chicken or cut it into strips. Put the chicken pieces in the slow cooker along with the onion, bell pepper, garlic, drained and rinsed beans, tomatoes and tomato sauce, corn, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and bay leaf. Stir to blend ingredients.
Cover and cook on high for 1 hour, then cook on low for 3 to 4 hours longer, or until the chicken is cooked and tender. Or cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.
Remove the bay leaf.
Spoon the chili into bowls and garnish with sour cream or shredded cheese, along with chopped fresh cilantro, if desired.
Serve with cornbread, crackers, or crusty bread.
Tips
Stovetop: Put ingredients in a large Dutch oven instead of a slow cooker. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 to 2 hours.
For thicker chili, add a few tablespoons of cornmeal about 30 minutes before it's done.
Recipe Variations
Other vegetables that may be added include sliced summer squash or zucchini, shredded or julienne-cut carrots, and sliced celery.
For a little heat, add a few tablespoons of minced jalapeno pepper or serrano. Or add some crushed red pepper flakes.
Use different varieties of canned beans, or use cooked dried beans instead. See crock pot great northern beans.
Use part or all boneless chicken thighs in the recipe. Chicken thighs stay tender and juicy in the slow cooker, so they're especially good in this recipe if you will be cooking it longer than the recommended times.
Try more slow cooker chicken recipes.
CHICKEN POT PIE
This comes from Robbie Rice on the AllRecipes website. Robbie wrote, "A delicious chicken pie made from scratch with carrots, peas and celery."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 8; Yield: 1 9-inch pie
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/26317/chicken-pot-pie-ix/.
Ingredients
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup milk
2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas, and celery. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.
In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.
Place the chicken mixture in bottom pie crust. Pour hot liquid mixture over. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
CHICKEN GREEN CHILE FOOTBALL EMPANADAS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Are you ready for some football empanadas? These chile- and cheese-filled pies are a cinch to make and look great on your gameday appetizer table."
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Makes 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/chicken-green-chile-football-empanadas.
Ingredients
3/4 cup chopped cooked chicken
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (2 oz)
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
2 oz cream cheese (from 8-oz package), softened
4 teaspoons Old El Paso™ chicken taco seasoning mix (from 0.85-oz package)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon water
1 box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
Guacamole, if desired
Salsa, if desired
Preparation
Heat oven to 375°F. Line large rimmed pan with cooking parchment paper. In medium bowl, mix chicken, green onions, cheese, chiles, cream cheese and taco seasoning mix. In small bowl, mix egg and water.
Unroll one of the pie crusts. Using 4 1/2-inch football cookie cutter, cut out 12 footballs from crust, rerolling dough scraps together as necessary. Repeat with second pie crust, to total 24 footballs.
Place about 2 tablespoons filling in center of football; spread slightly to create even layer on dough with 1/4-inch border around all sides. Brush egg wash around outer edge of football, then gently stretch second dough football and place over top; using fork, crimp edges to seal together. Repeat with remaining pieces of dough. Place on pan.
Using paring knife, score laces into top of each empanada.
Brush tops with egg wash. Bake 27 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with guacamole and salsa.
Expert Tips
We used rotisserie chicken for this recipe, but feel free to use leftover chicken breasts or thighs.
Don’t have a football-shaped cutter? Use a pliable 3 1/2-inch round cutter, and bend into the shape of a football.
Exchanges: 1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 1/2 Fat; Carbohydrate Choices: 1
LEMON CHICKEN WITH BROCCOLI AND GINGER
Recipe Yield: Makes 4 servings.
Source: AICR
Recipe and image appear courtesy of American Institute for Cancer Research.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/lemon-chicken-with-broccoli-and-ginger.
Ingredients
1/2 cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground white or black pepper
1 Tbsp. coconut oil, divided
1 lb. skinless and boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 Tbsp. grated or finely chopped ginger, plus 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup sliced leek, white and pale green parts, 2-inch pieces
1/2 cup thinly slice red onion, in crescents
3 cups broccoli florets, cut to bite-size
1/4 cup chopped scallions, green and white parts
Directions
In measuring cup, combine broth, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Heat a wok over high heat. When wok is hot, drizzle half of the oil around sides, then lift and swirl wok to coat it. Add chicken, and stir-fry until no pink color shows, 2 minutes. Scoop out chicken and place on plate.
Drizzle remaining oil into wok and swirl to coat. Add fresh ginger, ground ginger and garlic and stir fry until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add leek and onion and stir fry for 1 minute. Pour in broth mixture, cover wok and cook for 2 minutes until broccoli looks bright green. Return chicken to wok and stir fry until pieces are white in the center, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn contents of wok out onto serving platter. Sprinkle on scallions and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 193; Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 452 mg; Protein: 29 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g
Taco Tuesday
Here it is, the last Taco Tuesday of 2021. Today's offerings include Chicken Tacos With Chipotle and Buffalo Turkey Tacos. Enjoy!
TACOS WITH SPICY TOFU, TOMATOES AND CHARD
This is from Martha Rose Shulman on The New York Times cooking site. Martha wrote, "In these tacos, tofu stands in for meat in a vegan picadillo, cooked in a modified salsa ranchera. I’ve never been one for meat “substitutes,” and I normally don’t advocate using tofu in anything other than Asian dishes. But I find this pretty irresistible, a sort of vegan picadillo. You can make it spicier by adding more chiles, milder by using less. The tofu is cooked in a modified salsa ranchera; being tofu, it absorbs the sweet and spicy flavors of the tomatoes and chiles. I used firm tofu and mashed it with the back of my spoon. Silken tofu is also a good choice, though then you will have something more akin to Mexican scrambled eggs."
Yield: 8 tacos, 4 servings; Time: About 45 minutes
This was featured in "Vegetarian Taco Night", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016748-tacos-with-spicy-tofu-tomatoes-and-chard.
Ingredients
1 pound tomatoes
1/2 pound Swiss chard, stemmed, leaves washed in 2 changes of water
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1 small or 1/2 medium red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
1 to 2 serrano or jalapeño chiles (to taste), seeded if desired and minced
1 14-ounce box firm tofu, drained and cut into medium-size cubes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (more to taste)
8 warm corn tortillas
Salsa fresca (optional)
Preparation
Preheat broiler with rack set about 4 inches from the heat. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Place tomatoes on foil and broil for 6 minutes, until blackened in spots or all over. Using tongs, flip over and broil for another 4 to 6 minutes. The tomatoes should be charred and cooked through. Remove from oven and tip, with juices, into a bowl. Allow to cool until you can handle them, then core and discard skins. Purée, along with juices in the bowl, in a blender or a food processor.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem and wash the chard. When water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and chard. Blanch for 1 minute and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Drain and take up chard by the handful to squeeze out excess water. Cut in 1/4-inch wide strips and set aside.
Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender and beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, cumin and chili powder and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add puréed tomatoes, which should sizzle as soon as they hit the pan. Cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and leaves a canal when you run your spoon down the middle, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
Add minced chiles and tofu, and mash tofu into the tomatoes using the back of your spoon. Add Swiss chard and salt to taste, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring and mashing tofu. Stir in cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Heat tortillas and top with tofu mix. Serve with salsa on the side if desired.
Tip
Advance preparation: The cooked tofu keeps well for a couple of days.
TACO LETTUCE WRAPS
This is from Kristina72913 at AllRecipes. Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/274968/taco-lettuce-wraps/.
Ingredients
1 pound ground turkey
1 (16 ounce) package frozen corn
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
romaine leaves, rinsed and dried
Directions
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground turkey in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning. Bring to a simmer and cook until heated through, 10 to 12 minutes.
Lay lettuce leaves on a flat surface and fill with turkey and bean mixture.
BUFFALO TURKEY TACOS
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings
Source: Jennie-O
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/buffalo-turkey-tacos.
Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package JENNIE-O Lean Ground Turkey
1/3 cup hot pepper wing sauce
8 hard corn taco shells, heated as specified on package
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, sliced
1/2 cup blue cheese dressing
Directions
Cook turkey as specified on package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.
Add hot pepper sauce. Stir to combine.
Fill tacos shells with lettuce, turkey mixture, tomatoes and avocado.
Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 220; Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 14 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g; Sugars: 1 g
GRILLED CHICKEN AND VEGGIE FAJITAS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Take Tex-Mex flavor to the grill! Turn off the stove, and fire up the grill for an easy but flavorful grilled fajita recipe using Old El Paso™ Chicken Taco Seasoning Mix. Brush seasoning mixed with vegetable oil onto the chicken and veggies before grilling up, then fill tortillas with grilled chicken, pepper and onions. Grilled Chicken and Veggie Fajitas are made even more perfect topped with your favorite fresh garnishes like avocado, lime wedges and Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde Sauce."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 5 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/grilled-chicken-and-veggie-fajitas.
Ingredients
1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ Chicken Taco Seasoning Mix
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 red or yellow bell peppers, seeded and cut into quarters
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (8 oz each)
1 package (8.2 oz) Old El Paso™ Flour Tortillas For Soft Tacos & Fajitas (6 inch), heated as directed on package
Fresh toppings:
Old El Paso™ Shredded 3 Pepper Cheese Blend, shredded lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, avocado slices, Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde Sauce, lime wedges
Preparation
In small bowl, mix taco seasoning mix and oil.
Brush half of taco seasoning mixture onto vegetables. Brush remaining half of taco seasoning mixture onto both sides of chicken breasts.
Heat gas or charcoal grill. Place vegetables and chicken on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 10 to 14 minutes, turning once, until vegetables are tender and juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F in center). Transfer to cutting board; let stand 5 minutes.
Cut chicken breasts and peppers into thin strips. Cut onion rounds in half crosswise, and separate into strips. Transfer both the chicken and vegetables to a serving platter.
To serve, fill tortillas with warmed chicken, pepper and onion mixture, and your favorite desired fresh toppings.
Expert Tips
If you want a little more heat in your Grilled Chicken and Veggie Fajitas, substitute one of the bell peppers with a large poblano chile.
We liked these grilled chicken fajitas with Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde Sauce as a topping option, but if you prefer, either Old El Paso™ Creamy Queso Sauce or Old El Paso™ Zesty Ranch Sauce would also be delicious.
Guacamole and your favorite fresh salsa would make great additions to your grilled fajita topping “bar.”
If you love grilled chicken fajitas, keep that grill fire lit for this recipe for Grilled Steak Tacos with Corn Salsa. Don't forget to marinate the steak first for tender and juicy bites.
You can still enjoy fajitas even when it's not grilling season. Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Fajitas keep it easy with just 10 minutes of prep time.
Nutrition: 2 Fajitas: Calories 340 (Calories from Fat 120); Total Fat 13g (Saturated Fat 3.5g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 55mg; Sodium 670mg; Total Carbohydrate 32g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 4g); Protein 24g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 30%; Vitamin C 50%; Calcium 6%; Iron 15%
Exchanges: 2 Starch, 1/2 Vegetable, 2 1/2 Very Lean Meat, 2 Fat
Carbohydrate Choice: 2
EASY GROUND BEEF TACOS
This is from WW, and begins, "These quick, kid-friendly tacos are perfect for weeknight family dinners. Change them up by serving them in flour tortillas or tostada shells."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 16 minutes; Total Time: 26 minutes; Serves: 4; Serving Size: 2 tacos; Difficulty: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3⁄4 pound (7% fat or less) uncooked 93% lean ground beef
1 medium uncooked onion, diced
1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 medium cloves Garlic, minced
1 1/2 tspGround cumin
1 1/2 tspGround coriander
3/4 tsp Table salt
14 1/2 oz (1 can) canned diced tomatoes
8 medium Corn tortillas
2 cups lettuce, chopped, lightly packed thinly sliced romaine or iceberg lettuce
2 oz Reduced-fat cheddar cheese
Directions
Set large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add beef and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add onion and jalapeño and cook, stirring often, until vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and coriander and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add tomatoes and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is almost evaporated, 4–5 minutes.
Divide beef mixture evenly among tortillas; top evenly with lettuce, Cheddar, and salsa (if using).
CHICKEN TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE
This is from David Tanis on The New York Times cooking site. David wrote, "For good tacos, you need fresh, hot tortillas and a zesty filling. Canned chipotle chiles will do the trick with their smoky heat; it's an easy way to get flavor fast. Look for small cans with 'chipotle chiles in adobo' on the label. And Mexican groceries generally have better-quality tortillas than the ones you find in supermarkets; it's worth seeking those out and heating them gently over steam, or by toasting them in a dry cast-iron pan. You can also use this recipe with precooked chicken, which makes this already quite simple recipe as easy as falling out of bed."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "Chicken Tacos Let You Think Fast", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017936-chicken-tacos-with-chipotle.
Ingredients
For the tacos:
4 large bone-in chicken thighs, about 1 1/2 pounds
3 scallions, left whole
1 bay leaf
1 thyme branch
3 black peppercorns
1 allspice berry
2 cloves
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 or 3 chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped
3 tablespoons adobo sauce, from the can
1/2 cup broth (use broth from simmered chicken)
8 fresh corn tortillas
For garnish:
1 small white onion, finely chopped, soaked in ice water for 10 minutes and drained
Thinly sliced serrano chile
Thinly sliced radishes
Sliced avocado
Crumbled queso fresco or mild feta cheese
Crème fraîche or Mexican crema
Cilantro sprigs
Dried oregano
Lime wedges
Preparation
Put chicken thighs in a saucepan and cover with 3 cups water. Add scallions, bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, allspice, cloves and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Simmer for 30 minutes, then remove chicken and cool. Shred chicken with your fingers, discarding chicken skin and bone. Strain broth and reserve. You should have about 2 cups shredded chicken.
Put olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced yellow onion, season with salt and cook until softened and a bit browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cumin and cook for 1 minute more. Add chopped chipotle chile and adobo sauce and stir to combine. Add shredded chicken, salt lightly and stir to coat. Add chicken broth and simmer for 2 or 3 minutes, until sauce has thickened somewhat. Keep warm.
Heat the tortillas over steam or by your favorite method, keeping them soft and pliable.
Build the tacos quickly: Put a spoonful of the saucy chicken in the center of each tortilla. Top with a teaspoon of chopped white onion, a few slivers of serrano chile, some radish and avocado slices, a teaspoon of queso fresco and a teaspoon of crème fraîche. Add a few cilantro springs and a small pinch of oregano. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
TACOS WITH SPICY TOFU, TOMATOES AND CHARD
This is from Martha Rose Shulman on The New York Times cooking site. Martha wrote, "In these tacos, tofu stands in for meat in a vegan picadillo, cooked in a modified salsa ranchera. I’ve never been one for meat “substitutes,” and I normally don’t advocate using tofu in anything other than Asian dishes. But I find this pretty irresistible, a sort of vegan picadillo. You can make it spicier by adding more chiles, milder by using less. The tofu is cooked in a modified salsa ranchera; being tofu, it absorbs the sweet and spicy flavors of the tomatoes and chiles. I used firm tofu and mashed it with the back of my spoon. Silken tofu is also a good choice, though then you will have something more akin to Mexican scrambled eggs."
Yield: 8 tacos, 4 servings; Time: About 45 minutes
This was featured in "Vegetarian Taco Night", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016748-tacos-with-spicy-tofu-tomatoes-and-chard.
Ingredients
1 pound tomatoes
1/2 pound Swiss chard, stemmed, leaves washed in 2 changes of water
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1 small or 1/2 medium red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
1 to 2 serrano or jalapeño chiles (to taste), seeded if desired and minced
1 14-ounce box firm tofu, drained and cut into medium-size cubes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (more to taste)
8 warm corn tortillas
Salsa fresca (optional)
Preparation
Preheat broiler with rack set about 4 inches from the heat. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Place tomatoes on foil and broil for 6 minutes, until blackened in spots or all over. Using tongs, flip over and broil for another 4 to 6 minutes. The tomatoes should be charred and cooked through. Remove from oven and tip, with juices, into a bowl. Allow to cool until you can handle them, then core and discard skins. Purée, along with juices in the bowl, in a blender or a food processor.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem and wash the chard. When water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and chard. Blanch for 1 minute and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Drain and take up chard by the handful to squeeze out excess water. Cut in 1/4-inch wide strips and set aside.
Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender and beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, cumin and chili powder and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add puréed tomatoes, which should sizzle as soon as they hit the pan. Cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and leaves a canal when you run your spoon down the middle, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
Add minced chiles and tofu, and mash tofu into the tomatoes using the back of your spoon. Add Swiss chard and salt to taste, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring and mashing tofu. Stir in cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Heat tortillas and top with tofu mix. Serve with salsa on the side if desired.
Tip
Advance preparation: The cooked tofu keeps well for a couple of days.
TACO LETTUCE WRAPS
This is from Kristina72913 at AllRecipes. Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/274968/taco-lettuce-wraps/.
Ingredients
1 pound ground turkey
1 (16 ounce) package frozen corn
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
romaine leaves, rinsed and dried
Directions
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground turkey in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning. Bring to a simmer and cook until heated through, 10 to 12 minutes.
Lay lettuce leaves on a flat surface and fill with turkey and bean mixture.
BUFFALO TURKEY TACOS
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings
Source: Jennie-O
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/buffalo-turkey-tacos.
Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package JENNIE-O Lean Ground Turkey
1/3 cup hot pepper wing sauce
8 hard corn taco shells, heated as specified on package
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, sliced
1/2 cup blue cheese dressing
Directions
Cook turkey as specified on package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.
Add hot pepper sauce. Stir to combine.
Fill tacos shells with lettuce, turkey mixture, tomatoes and avocado.
Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 220; Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 14 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g; Sugars: 1 g
GRILLED CHICKEN AND VEGGIE FAJITAS
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Take Tex-Mex flavor to the grill! Turn off the stove, and fire up the grill for an easy but flavorful grilled fajita recipe using Old El Paso™ Chicken Taco Seasoning Mix. Brush seasoning mixed with vegetable oil onto the chicken and veggies before grilling up, then fill tortillas with grilled chicken, pepper and onions. Grilled Chicken and Veggie Fajitas are made even more perfect topped with your favorite fresh garnishes like avocado, lime wedges and Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde Sauce."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 5 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/grilled-chicken-and-veggie-fajitas.
Ingredients
1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ Chicken Taco Seasoning Mix
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 red or yellow bell peppers, seeded and cut into quarters
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (8 oz each)
1 package (8.2 oz) Old El Paso™ Flour Tortillas For Soft Tacos & Fajitas (6 inch), heated as directed on package
Fresh toppings:
Old El Paso™ Shredded 3 Pepper Cheese Blend, shredded lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, avocado slices, Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde Sauce, lime wedges
Preparation
In small bowl, mix taco seasoning mix and oil.
Brush half of taco seasoning mixture onto vegetables. Brush remaining half of taco seasoning mixture onto both sides of chicken breasts.
Heat gas or charcoal grill. Place vegetables and chicken on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 10 to 14 minutes, turning once, until vegetables are tender and juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F in center). Transfer to cutting board; let stand 5 minutes.
Cut chicken breasts and peppers into thin strips. Cut onion rounds in half crosswise, and separate into strips. Transfer both the chicken and vegetables to a serving platter.
To serve, fill tortillas with warmed chicken, pepper and onion mixture, and your favorite desired fresh toppings.
Expert Tips
If you want a little more heat in your Grilled Chicken and Veggie Fajitas, substitute one of the bell peppers with a large poblano chile.
We liked these grilled chicken fajitas with Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde Sauce as a topping option, but if you prefer, either Old El Paso™ Creamy Queso Sauce or Old El Paso™ Zesty Ranch Sauce would also be delicious.
Guacamole and your favorite fresh salsa would make great additions to your grilled fajita topping “bar.”
If you love grilled chicken fajitas, keep that grill fire lit for this recipe for Grilled Steak Tacos with Corn Salsa. Don't forget to marinate the steak first for tender and juicy bites.
You can still enjoy fajitas even when it's not grilling season. Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Fajitas keep it easy with just 10 minutes of prep time.
Nutrition: 2 Fajitas: Calories 340 (Calories from Fat 120); Total Fat 13g (Saturated Fat 3.5g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 55mg; Sodium 670mg; Total Carbohydrate 32g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 4g); Protein 24g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 30%; Vitamin C 50%; Calcium 6%; Iron 15%
Exchanges: 2 Starch, 1/2 Vegetable, 2 1/2 Very Lean Meat, 2 Fat
Carbohydrate Choice: 2
EASY GROUND BEEF TACOS
This is from WW, and begins, "These quick, kid-friendly tacos are perfect for weeknight family dinners. Change them up by serving them in flour tortillas or tostada shells."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 16 minutes; Total Time: 26 minutes; Serves: 4; Serving Size: 2 tacos; Difficulty: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3⁄4 pound (7% fat or less) uncooked 93% lean ground beef
1 medium uncooked onion, diced
1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 medium cloves Garlic, minced
1 1/2 tspGround cumin
1 1/2 tspGround coriander
3/4 tsp Table salt
14 1/2 oz (1 can) canned diced tomatoes
8 medium Corn tortillas
2 cups lettuce, chopped, lightly packed thinly sliced romaine or iceberg lettuce
2 oz Reduced-fat cheddar cheese
Directions
Set large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add beef and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add onion and jalapeño and cook, stirring often, until vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and coriander and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add tomatoes and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is almost evaporated, 4–5 minutes.
Divide beef mixture evenly among tortillas; top evenly with lettuce, Cheddar, and salsa (if using).
CHICKEN TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE
This is from David Tanis on The New York Times cooking site. David wrote, "For good tacos, you need fresh, hot tortillas and a zesty filling. Canned chipotle chiles will do the trick with their smoky heat; it's an easy way to get flavor fast. Look for small cans with 'chipotle chiles in adobo' on the label. And Mexican groceries generally have better-quality tortillas than the ones you find in supermarkets; it's worth seeking those out and heating them gently over steam, or by toasting them in a dry cast-iron pan. You can also use this recipe with precooked chicken, which makes this already quite simple recipe as easy as falling out of bed."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "Chicken Tacos Let You Think Fast", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017936-chicken-tacos-with-chipotle.
Ingredients
For the tacos:
4 large bone-in chicken thighs, about 1 1/2 pounds
3 scallions, left whole
1 bay leaf
1 thyme branch
3 black peppercorns
1 allspice berry
2 cloves
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 or 3 chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped
3 tablespoons adobo sauce, from the can
1/2 cup broth (use broth from simmered chicken)
8 fresh corn tortillas
For garnish:
1 small white onion, finely chopped, soaked in ice water for 10 minutes and drained
Thinly sliced serrano chile
Thinly sliced radishes
Sliced avocado
Crumbled queso fresco or mild feta cheese
Crème fraîche or Mexican crema
Cilantro sprigs
Dried oregano
Lime wedges
Preparation
Put chicken thighs in a saucepan and cover with 3 cups water. Add scallions, bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, allspice, cloves and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Simmer for 30 minutes, then remove chicken and cool. Shred chicken with your fingers, discarding chicken skin and bone. Strain broth and reserve. You should have about 2 cups shredded chicken.
Put olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced yellow onion, season with salt and cook until softened and a bit browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cumin and cook for 1 minute more. Add chopped chipotle chile and adobo sauce and stir to combine. Add shredded chicken, salt lightly and stir to coat. Add chicken broth and simmer for 2 or 3 minutes, until sauce has thickened somewhat. Keep warm.
Heat the tortillas over steam or by your favorite method, keeping them soft and pliable.
Build the tacos quickly: Put a spoonful of the saucy chicken in the center of each tortilla. Top with a teaspoon of chopped white onion, a few slivers of serrano chile, some radish and avocado slices, a teaspoon of queso fresco and a teaspoon of crème fraîche. Add a few cilantro springs and a small pinch of oregano. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
Monday, December 27, 2021
Lasagna - Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's double post deals with one of my favorite foods, lasagna.
I've almost always loved lasagna...the layers of thick pasta noodles, layers of sauce, veggies...What's not to love?
Today's six lasagna noodles include Supreme Pizza Lasagna and Italian Sausage Lasagna. Do I have your attention yet? Enjoy!
MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY SPINACH LASAGNA
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Whether you have a dinner party on the horizon or just need to plan out a week’s worth of meals, this creamy, veggie-filled lasagna deserves a spot in your freezer. Its flavor is downright impressive, but only you need to know how simple it is to prepare!"
Prep Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/make-ahead-creamy-spinach-lasagna/7beea4bf-5309-4e52-83b3-d204245db470.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
2 cups Progresso™ vegetable broth (from 32-oz carton)
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 packages (8 oz each) sliced mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 bags (5 oz each) baby spinach
1 container (15 oz) whole-milk ricotta cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (12 oz)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (3 oz)
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon pepper
12 oven-ready no-boil lasagna noodles
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F. In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour with whisk; cook and stir 2 minutes. Slowly beat in broth, whipping cream, 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and the nutmeg with whisk. Increase heat to medium-high; heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Remove from heat.
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add mushrooms; cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until browned and any liquid from mushrooms has evaporated. Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually add spinach, stirring constantly, and cook until wilted. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 1/4 cups of the cream sauce. Reserve remaining sauce.
In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, the Parmesan cheese, egg, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and the pepper.
To assemble: Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon 3/4 cup of the sauce into bottom of baking dish. Top with 3 of the lasagna noodles in single layer. Evenly top with 1 cup of the cheese filling and 1 1/3 cups of the spinach mixture. Repeat layers twice, starting with noodles and ending with spinach mixture. For final layer, top with 3 noodles; pour remaining 3/4 cup sauce over top, and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil; bake 20 minutes. Remove foil; bake 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through (165°F in center), bubbly and lightly browned. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
To freeze: Line 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with foil, making sure foil is as smooth as possible, as wrinkled foil may get stuck in sauce during freezing process. Leave enough overhang to be able to lift assembled lasagna out of dish.
Spray foil with cooking spray. Cover and refrigerate sauce and spinach mixture 30 to 40 minutes before making cheese filling and assembling lasagna. Stir 2 1/4 cups cream sauce into spinach mixture. Assemble lasagna in dish as directed; cover tightly with another layer of foil. Freeze unbaked lasagna about 8 hours or until completely frozen. Transfer frozen lasagna to labeled 2-gallon resealable freezer plastic bag. Remove air; seal and freeze up to three months. To bake: Remove foil, and transfer to 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cover and thaw in refrigerator until completely thawed, at least 48 hours. Heat oven to 400°F. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes; remove foil. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through (165°F in center), bubbly and lightly browned. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
Expert Tips
We used white button mushrooms for this recipe, but if you want a stronger mushroom flavor, try cremini mushrooms.
Using oven-ready lasagna noodles saves time and steps in preparing this dish. You can find them with the other dried pastas in the supermarket.
ITALIAN SAUSAGE LASAGNA
This comes from the Betty Crocker e-newsletter. If you're looking for more recipes, it's a good place to start.
This recipe starts off, "No need to buy frozen lasagna when you have this much-loved recipe on hand."
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/italian-sausage-lasagna/.
Ingredients
1 lb bulk Italian pork sausage
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups Muir Glen™ organic diced tomatoes (from 28-oz can), undrained
1 can (15 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce
12 uncooked lasagna noodles (12 oz)
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese or small-curd cottage cheese (2 cups)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In 10-inch skillet, cook sausage, onion and garlic over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain.
Stir in 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the basil, sugar, tomatoes and tomato sauce. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered about 45 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package.
In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and the oregano.
Spread 1 cup of the sauce mixture in ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Top with 4 noodles. Spread 1 cup of the cheese mixture over noodles; spread with 1 cup of the sauce mixture. Sprinkle with 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat with 4 noodles, the remaining cheese mixture, 1 cup of the sauce mixture and 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining noodles and sauce mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
Cover; bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake about 15 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
Expert Tips
Leftover lasagna freezes well. Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap, then wrap again with aluminum foil. You need only unwrap and thoroughly reheat to enjoy an instant lasagna fix!
Put this recipe together lickety-split using 5 cups (40 ounces) of your favorite regular (do not use thick or extra-thick varieties) spaghetti sauce with meat instead of the first eight ingredients.
If your family likes lasagna with a milder flavor, use ground beef instead of the bulk Italian sausage.
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.
LASAGNA
This comes from Regina Schrambling on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, "In 2001, Regina Schrambling went on a week long odyssey in search of the ultimate lasagna recipe. She tested several, and finally found her ideal in a mash-up of recipes from Giuliano Bugialli and Elodia Rigante, both Italian cookbook authors.
"'If there were central casting for casseroles, this one deserved the leading role. But its beauty was more than cheese deep. This was the best lasagna I had ever eaten. The sauce was intensely flavored, the cheeses melted into creaminess as if they were bechamel, the meat was just chunky enough, and the noodles put up no resistance to the fork. Most important, the balance of pasta and sauce was positively Italian. At last I could understand why my neighbor Geoff had told me, as I dragged home more bags in our elevator, that all-day lasagna is the only kind worth making.'"
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 4 hours
This was featured in "The Noodle and I: A Face-Off at the Oven", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9530-lasagna.
Ingredients
For the sauce:
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 medium red onions, finely diced
2 large cloves minced garlic
8 ounces pancetta, diced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups good red wine, preferably Italian
2 28-ounce cans Italian plum tomatoes
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 pound ground sirloin
1/4 cup freshly grated pecorino Romano
2 eggs
10 sprigs fresh parsley, leaves only, washed and dried
2 large whole cloves garlic
1/2 cup flour
1 pound Italian sausage, a mix of hot and sweet
For the lasagna:
1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
2 extra-large eggs
2 cups freshly grated pecorino Romano
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 pound mozzarella, grated
16 sheets fresh lasagna noodles, preferably Antica Pasteria
Preparation
For the sauce, heat 1/2 cup oil in a large heavy Dutch oven or kettle over low heat. Add the onions, minced garlic and pancetta, and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes, until the onions are wilted. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Raise heat slightly, add the wine and cook until it is mostly reduced, about 20 minutes. Crush the tomatoes into the pan, and add their juice. Add the tomato paste and 2 cups lukewarm water. Simmer for 1 hour.
Combine the sirloin, cheese and eggs in a large bowl. Chop the parsley with the whole garlic until fine, then stir into the beef mixture. Season lavishly with salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix until all the ingredients are well blended. Shape into meatballs and set aside.
Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dust the meatballs lightly with flour, shaking off excess, and lay into the hot oil. Brown the meatballs on all sides (do not cook through) and transfer to the sauce.
In a clean skillet, brown the sausages over medium-high heat. Transfer to the sauce. Simmer 1 1/2 hours.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, eggs, pecorino Romano, parsley and all but 1 cup of the mozzarella. Season well with salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
Remove the meatballs and sausage from the sauce, and set aside to cool slightly, then chop coarsely. Spoon a thick layer of sauce into the bottom of a 9-by-12-inch lasagna pan. Cover with a layer of noodles. Spoon more sauce on top, then add a third of the meat and a third of the cheese mixture. Repeat for 2 more layers, using all the meat and cheese. Top with a layer of noodles, and cover with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle reserved mozzarella evenly over the top. Bake 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
SPINACH LASAGNA
This comes from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking newsletter. The recipe begins, "Equal parts indulgent and virtuous, this meatless lasagna from Mark Bittman will please everyone at the table. Serve it with a green salad on a weeknight, or alongside a platter of meatballs for Sunday dinner. And listen: We won't tell anyone if you use no-boil noodles or frozen spinach. It's all good either way."
Yield: 6 servings or more; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "Bringing Back the Sunday Dinner", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9616-spinach-lasagna.
Note: I found the article that this was featured in interesting; it's well worth reading. Then put together the lasagna, and enjoy.
Ingredients
12 to 16 dried or fresh lasagna noodles
3 to 4 cups good tomato sauce
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cups cooked spinach, squeezed dry and chopped (about 1 1/2 pounds fresh)
1 1/2 cups ricotta
1 1/2 cups coarsely grated mozzarella
2 cups grated Parmesan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
If you're using dried pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. If you're using fresh pasta sheets, cut them into long wide noodles approximately 3 inches by 13 inches, or a size that will fit into your lasagna dish. Cook the noodles (6 at a time for dried noodles) until they are tender but still underdone (they will finish cooking as the lasagna bakes); fresh pasta will take only a minute. Drain and then lay the noodles flat on a towel so they won't stick.
Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a rectangular baking dish with the olive oil, add a large dollop of tomato sauce and spread it around. Put a layer of noodles (use four) in the dish, trimming any overhanging edges; top with a layer of tomato sauce, one-third of the spinach, and one-fourth of the ricotta (use your fingers to spread it evenly), the mozzarella and the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
Repeat the layers twice, and top with the remaining noodles, tomato sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan; the top should be covered with cheese; add more ricotta and Parmesan as needed. (The lasagna may be made ahead to this point, wrapped tightly and refrigerated for up to a day or frozen. Bring to room temperature before proceeding.)
Bake until the lasagna is bubbling and the cheese is melted and lightly browned on top, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest a few minutes before serving, or cool completely, cover well, and refrigerate for up to 3 days, or freeze.
SUPREME PIZZA LASAGNA
This is from Ree Drummond of the Food Network's The Pioneer Woman.
Active Time: 55 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes; Yield: 12 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/supreme-pizza-lasagna-2316523.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds Italian sausage
1 pound ground beef
12 ounces sliced pepperoni
1 pound mushrooms, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 green bell peppers, diced
2 red bell peppers, diced
1 large onion, diced
One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes
One 15-ounce can tomato paste
1/4 cup prepared pesto
1/3 cup finely minced fresh parsley
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup sliced black olives
30 ounces whole-milk ricotta
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus extra for sprinkling
8 lasagna noodles, cooked until al dente
24 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into thin slices
Directions
Drizzle the olive oil into a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, ground beef and pepperoni and stir, breaking the meat up as it begins to cook. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until brown, and then remove the meat to a plate.
Add the mushrooms, garlic, bell peppers and onions to the pot and saute until the mushrooms have softened and the others have some color. Add the meat back in along with the tomatoes, tomato paste, pesto, half the parsley, 1 teaspoon of the salt, 1/2 teaspoon of the black pepper and the crushed red pepper flakes. Stir, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Add the black olives and stir.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
To make the cheese mixture: Combine the ricotta and eggs in a large bowl. Add the Parmesan, the rest of the parsley and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir the mixture until totally combined.
To assemble the lasagna: Overlap 4 lasagna noodles in the bottom of a large rectangular baking dish. Spoon half the cheese mixture over the noodles and smooth it out into a flat layer. Lay half of the mozzarella slices on top followed by half of the meat sauce. Repeat these layers once more and top with some extra Parmesan. Bake until heated through and bubbly on the top, 40 to 45 minutes.
Cook’s Note
The lasagna can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge, unbaked. It can also be frozen, unbaked. Just thaw before you're ready to bake it.
I've almost always loved lasagna...the layers of thick pasta noodles, layers of sauce, veggies...What's not to love?
Today's six lasagna noodles include Supreme Pizza Lasagna and Italian Sausage Lasagna. Do I have your attention yet? Enjoy!
MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY SPINACH LASAGNA
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Whether you have a dinner party on the horizon or just need to plan out a week’s worth of meals, this creamy, veggie-filled lasagna deserves a spot in your freezer. Its flavor is downright impressive, but only you need to know how simple it is to prepare!"
Prep Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/make-ahead-creamy-spinach-lasagna/7beea4bf-5309-4e52-83b3-d204245db470.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
2 cups Progresso™ vegetable broth (from 32-oz carton)
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 packages (8 oz each) sliced mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 bags (5 oz each) baby spinach
1 container (15 oz) whole-milk ricotta cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (12 oz)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (3 oz)
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon pepper
12 oven-ready no-boil lasagna noodles
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F. In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour with whisk; cook and stir 2 minutes. Slowly beat in broth, whipping cream, 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and the nutmeg with whisk. Increase heat to medium-high; heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Remove from heat.
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add mushrooms; cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until browned and any liquid from mushrooms has evaporated. Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually add spinach, stirring constantly, and cook until wilted. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 1/4 cups of the cream sauce. Reserve remaining sauce.
In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, the Parmesan cheese, egg, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and the pepper.
To assemble: Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon 3/4 cup of the sauce into bottom of baking dish. Top with 3 of the lasagna noodles in single layer. Evenly top with 1 cup of the cheese filling and 1 1/3 cups of the spinach mixture. Repeat layers twice, starting with noodles and ending with spinach mixture. For final layer, top with 3 noodles; pour remaining 3/4 cup sauce over top, and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil; bake 20 minutes. Remove foil; bake 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through (165°F in center), bubbly and lightly browned. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
To freeze: Line 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with foil, making sure foil is as smooth as possible, as wrinkled foil may get stuck in sauce during freezing process. Leave enough overhang to be able to lift assembled lasagna out of dish.
Spray foil with cooking spray. Cover and refrigerate sauce and spinach mixture 30 to 40 minutes before making cheese filling and assembling lasagna. Stir 2 1/4 cups cream sauce into spinach mixture. Assemble lasagna in dish as directed; cover tightly with another layer of foil. Freeze unbaked lasagna about 8 hours or until completely frozen. Transfer frozen lasagna to labeled 2-gallon resealable freezer plastic bag. Remove air; seal and freeze up to three months. To bake: Remove foil, and transfer to 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cover and thaw in refrigerator until completely thawed, at least 48 hours. Heat oven to 400°F. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes; remove foil. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through (165°F in center), bubbly and lightly browned. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
Expert Tips
We used white button mushrooms for this recipe, but if you want a stronger mushroom flavor, try cremini mushrooms.
Using oven-ready lasagna noodles saves time and steps in preparing this dish. You can find them with the other dried pastas in the supermarket.
ITALIAN SAUSAGE LASAGNA
This comes from the Betty Crocker e-newsletter. If you're looking for more recipes, it's a good place to start.
This recipe starts off, "No need to buy frozen lasagna when you have this much-loved recipe on hand."
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/italian-sausage-lasagna/.
Ingredients
1 lb bulk Italian pork sausage
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups Muir Glen™ organic diced tomatoes (from 28-oz can), undrained
1 can (15 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce
12 uncooked lasagna noodles (12 oz)
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese or small-curd cottage cheese (2 cups)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In 10-inch skillet, cook sausage, onion and garlic over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain.
Stir in 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the basil, sugar, tomatoes and tomato sauce. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered about 45 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package.
In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and the oregano.
Spread 1 cup of the sauce mixture in ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Top with 4 noodles. Spread 1 cup of the cheese mixture over noodles; spread with 1 cup of the sauce mixture. Sprinkle with 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat with 4 noodles, the remaining cheese mixture, 1 cup of the sauce mixture and 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining noodles and sauce mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
Cover; bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake about 15 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
Expert Tips
Leftover lasagna freezes well. Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap, then wrap again with aluminum foil. You need only unwrap and thoroughly reheat to enjoy an instant lasagna fix!
Put this recipe together lickety-split using 5 cups (40 ounces) of your favorite regular (do not use thick or extra-thick varieties) spaghetti sauce with meat instead of the first eight ingredients.
If your family likes lasagna with a milder flavor, use ground beef instead of the bulk Italian sausage.
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.
LASAGNA
This comes from Regina Schrambling on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, "In 2001, Regina Schrambling went on a week long odyssey in search of the ultimate lasagna recipe. She tested several, and finally found her ideal in a mash-up of recipes from Giuliano Bugialli and Elodia Rigante, both Italian cookbook authors.
"'If there were central casting for casseroles, this one deserved the leading role. But its beauty was more than cheese deep. This was the best lasagna I had ever eaten. The sauce was intensely flavored, the cheeses melted into creaminess as if they were bechamel, the meat was just chunky enough, and the noodles put up no resistance to the fork. Most important, the balance of pasta and sauce was positively Italian. At last I could understand why my neighbor Geoff had told me, as I dragged home more bags in our elevator, that all-day lasagna is the only kind worth making.'"
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 4 hours
This was featured in "The Noodle and I: A Face-Off at the Oven", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9530-lasagna.
Ingredients
For the sauce:
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 medium red onions, finely diced
2 large cloves minced garlic
8 ounces pancetta, diced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups good red wine, preferably Italian
2 28-ounce cans Italian plum tomatoes
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 pound ground sirloin
1/4 cup freshly grated pecorino Romano
2 eggs
10 sprigs fresh parsley, leaves only, washed and dried
2 large whole cloves garlic
1/2 cup flour
1 pound Italian sausage, a mix of hot and sweet
For the lasagna:
1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
2 extra-large eggs
2 cups freshly grated pecorino Romano
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 pound mozzarella, grated
16 sheets fresh lasagna noodles, preferably Antica Pasteria
Preparation
For the sauce, heat 1/2 cup oil in a large heavy Dutch oven or kettle over low heat. Add the onions, minced garlic and pancetta, and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes, until the onions are wilted. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Raise heat slightly, add the wine and cook until it is mostly reduced, about 20 minutes. Crush the tomatoes into the pan, and add their juice. Add the tomato paste and 2 cups lukewarm water. Simmer for 1 hour.
Combine the sirloin, cheese and eggs in a large bowl. Chop the parsley with the whole garlic until fine, then stir into the beef mixture. Season lavishly with salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix until all the ingredients are well blended. Shape into meatballs and set aside.
Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dust the meatballs lightly with flour, shaking off excess, and lay into the hot oil. Brown the meatballs on all sides (do not cook through) and transfer to the sauce.
In a clean skillet, brown the sausages over medium-high heat. Transfer to the sauce. Simmer 1 1/2 hours.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, eggs, pecorino Romano, parsley and all but 1 cup of the mozzarella. Season well with salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
Remove the meatballs and sausage from the sauce, and set aside to cool slightly, then chop coarsely. Spoon a thick layer of sauce into the bottom of a 9-by-12-inch lasagna pan. Cover with a layer of noodles. Spoon more sauce on top, then add a third of the meat and a third of the cheese mixture. Repeat for 2 more layers, using all the meat and cheese. Top with a layer of noodles, and cover with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle reserved mozzarella evenly over the top. Bake 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
SPINACH LASAGNA
This comes from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking newsletter. The recipe begins, "Equal parts indulgent and virtuous, this meatless lasagna from Mark Bittman will please everyone at the table. Serve it with a green salad on a weeknight, or alongside a platter of meatballs for Sunday dinner. And listen: We won't tell anyone if you use no-boil noodles or frozen spinach. It's all good either way."
Yield: 6 servings or more; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "Bringing Back the Sunday Dinner", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9616-spinach-lasagna.
Note: I found the article that this was featured in interesting; it's well worth reading. Then put together the lasagna, and enjoy.
Ingredients
12 to 16 dried or fresh lasagna noodles
3 to 4 cups good tomato sauce
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cups cooked spinach, squeezed dry and chopped (about 1 1/2 pounds fresh)
1 1/2 cups ricotta
1 1/2 cups coarsely grated mozzarella
2 cups grated Parmesan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
If you're using dried pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. If you're using fresh pasta sheets, cut them into long wide noodles approximately 3 inches by 13 inches, or a size that will fit into your lasagna dish. Cook the noodles (6 at a time for dried noodles) until they are tender but still underdone (they will finish cooking as the lasagna bakes); fresh pasta will take only a minute. Drain and then lay the noodles flat on a towel so they won't stick.
Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a rectangular baking dish with the olive oil, add a large dollop of tomato sauce and spread it around. Put a layer of noodles (use four) in the dish, trimming any overhanging edges; top with a layer of tomato sauce, one-third of the spinach, and one-fourth of the ricotta (use your fingers to spread it evenly), the mozzarella and the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
Repeat the layers twice, and top with the remaining noodles, tomato sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan; the top should be covered with cheese; add more ricotta and Parmesan as needed. (The lasagna may be made ahead to this point, wrapped tightly and refrigerated for up to a day or frozen. Bring to room temperature before proceeding.)
Bake until the lasagna is bubbling and the cheese is melted and lightly browned on top, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest a few minutes before serving, or cool completely, cover well, and refrigerate for up to 3 days, or freeze.
SUPREME PIZZA LASAGNA
This is from Ree Drummond of the Food Network's The Pioneer Woman.
Active Time: 55 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes; Yield: 12 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/supreme-pizza-lasagna-2316523.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds Italian sausage
1 pound ground beef
12 ounces sliced pepperoni
1 pound mushrooms, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 green bell peppers, diced
2 red bell peppers, diced
1 large onion, diced
One 28-ounce can whole tomatoes
One 15-ounce can tomato paste
1/4 cup prepared pesto
1/3 cup finely minced fresh parsley
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup sliced black olives
30 ounces whole-milk ricotta
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus extra for sprinkling
8 lasagna noodles, cooked until al dente
24 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into thin slices
Directions
Drizzle the olive oil into a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, ground beef and pepperoni and stir, breaking the meat up as it begins to cook. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until brown, and then remove the meat to a plate.
Add the mushrooms, garlic, bell peppers and onions to the pot and saute until the mushrooms have softened and the others have some color. Add the meat back in along with the tomatoes, tomato paste, pesto, half the parsley, 1 teaspoon of the salt, 1/2 teaspoon of the black pepper and the crushed red pepper flakes. Stir, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Add the black olives and stir.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
To make the cheese mixture: Combine the ricotta and eggs in a large bowl. Add the Parmesan, the rest of the parsley and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir the mixture until totally combined.
To assemble the lasagna: Overlap 4 lasagna noodles in the bottom of a large rectangular baking dish. Spoon half the cheese mixture over the noodles and smooth it out into a flat layer. Lay half of the mozzarella slices on top followed by half of the meat sauce. Repeat these layers once more and top with some extra Parmesan. Bake until heated through and bubbly on the top, 40 to 45 minutes.
Cook’s Note
The lasagna can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge, unbaked. It can also be frozen, unbaked. Just thaw before you're ready to bake it.
Meatless Monday
It's time for the last Meatless Monday of the year. Where does the time go?
Today's six recipes to help you include Baked Ziti and Crispy Tofu With Sweet-and-Sour Sauce. Enjoy!
LATE SUMMER SUCCOTASH
This was in the September 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 70. It uses sautéing to cook the veggies. (Read the MasterClass article to learn more about sautéing.)
This recipe begins, "What better way to make the most of end-of-summer produce than with a sunny succotash that can also be served cold as a salad? Feel free to use frozen lima beans—simply substitute a 10-oz. bag of thawed frozen beans, and skip step one. If you can’t find white balsamic vinegar, try white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar."
Makes 6 servings in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/late-summer-succotash/.
Ingredients
2 cups shelled lima beans or 1 10-oz. pkg. frozen baby lima beans, thawed
1 Tbs. butter
1 tsp. olive oil
1 small red onion, diced (1cup)
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
1 cup fresh or frozen corn
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbs. chopped fresh basil
1 Tbs. white balsamic vinegar
Preparation
If using fresh lima beans, bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add beans, and blanch 2 to 3 minutes, or until tender but not soft.
Heat butter and oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until it begins to brown. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute more.
Stir in lima beans, and sauté 5 minutes. Add corn and tomatoes, and sauté 1 minute more, or until heated through, but tomatoes have not released their juices. Remove from heat, and stir in parsley, basil, and vinegar. Serve warm or chilled.
GARDEN PO' BOY
This comes from Vegetarian Times (May 2005 issue, page 84), and begins, "New Orleans folks cut crisp French bread in half, remove some of the soft bread center and fill that hollow with anything good to eat. The easiest way to grill vegetables is with a grill basket. It looks like a square metal bowl with lots of holes in it. This lets you to toss the vegetables freely without having them fall in the fire." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/garden-po-boy/.
Ingredients
18 jumbo asparagus stems or smaller asparagus
4 large carrots, peeled and sliced lengthwise
6 scallions
3 large red onions, sliced 1/4-inch thick
3 red bell peppers, quartered
4 Tbs. olive oil
2 tsp. mashed garlic
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 18-inch French baguettes or 6 submarine rolls
8 oz. Boursin cheese or herbed goat cheese
Preparation
Prepare medium charcoal fire, or preheat gas grill to medium.
Snap off ends of asparagus. Using vegetable basket, grill asparagus on all sides until done. Set aside.
Grill carrot slices and scallions in basket until done. When finished, grill onion slices and bell peppers. All vegetables should be cooked through and lightly charred.
Meanwhile, mix oil, garlic, salt and pepper in bowl. Pour over hot grilled vegetables. Toss gently.
Cut bread in half lengthwise. Tear out about one-third of interior to hollow it slightly. Spread bottom and top with cheese. Divide vegetables evenly on bottom parts of bread, and drizzle with any olive oil marinade left in bowl.
Place tops on loaves, and press lightly. Cut each baguette into 3 equal sections.
CORNBREAD
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Our quick Cornbread recipe is not only made from scratch but is melt-in-your-mouth good. No matter if you're serving it as a side at a barbeque, alongside chili or even as a breakfast option, you can't go wrong with homemade Cornbread. With only four simple steps, our easy Cornbread recipe is one you'll want to make again and again. This is all thanks to the golden brown, crispy edges and incredible flavor. You'll knock our Cornbread recipe out of the park."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
1 cup milk
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups yellow, white or blue cornmeal
1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Heat the oven to 400°F. Spray the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan or 9-inch round cake pan with the cooking spray.
In a 1-quart saucepan, heat the butter over low heat until melted.
In a large bowl, beat the melted butter, milk and egg with a fork or wire whisk until well mixed. Add the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt all at once; stir just until the flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy). Pour batter into the pan; use a rubber spatula to scrape batter from bowl. Spread batter evenly in pan and smooth top of batter.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm.
Expert Tips
Ground cornmeal is available in different grinds, from fairly fine to very coarse. A finer grind is good for baking a cake-like bread, while coarser grinds (like for grits or polenta that are often cooked into a spoonable hot cereal) can offer more texture and bite to our Cornbread recipe. Consider using a mixture of fine and coarse meals for a crumblier, more bread-like product.
Not all cornmeal is yellow; switch things up with a white or New Mexican blue cornmeal in our easy Cornbread recipe.
Mix a spoonful of clover honey or grated orange peel into softened butter to slather on the warm bread.
Bake the batter in a round or square baking pan or try a small cast-iron skillet, muffin tin, or in a heavy corn stick pan. Like for all quick breads, just grease the bottom of the pan or muffin cups so the bread can climb up the sides easily as it rises. For a corn stick pan completely grease the grooves so the sticks slide out without sticking.
BAKED ZITI
This is from Alison Roman in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Alison wrote, "This baked ziti is layered almost like a lasagna to ensure every bite has enough creamy ricotta, stringy mozzarella and tangy tomato sauce. But the key to its success comes from undercooking the pasta during the initial boil so it stays perfectly al dente, even after a trip to the oven. Heavy cream is added to prevent the ricotta from becoming grainy or dry during baking, letting it be its most luscious self. While this baked ziti is meatless (there’s plenty of richness from the cheese — three types, to be exact), you could always incorporate a bit of sausage, ground meat or pancetta, if you like. Simply add 1/2 pound to the onions while sautéeing and proceed with the recipe."
Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018954-baked-ziti.
Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, packed in juice
1 (28-ounce) can tomato purée or sauce
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
16 ounces/1 pound ricotta
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan or Pecorino, plus more for grating on top
1 pound ziti, rigatoni, penne, manicotti or other short, tubelike pasta
1 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Preparation
Make the tomato sauce: Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is totally softened and translucent (without letting it brown), 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring until it has turned a deeper brick-red color, tinting the oil and onions a fiery orange color, about 2 minutes. Crush the whole tomatoes by hand and add them (including the juice) and the tomato purée to the pot, stirring to scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pot. Season with salt and pepper and add red pepper flakes, if using. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato sauce has thickened and flavors have come together, 20 to 30 minutes.
Prepare the filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, heavy cream and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Prepare the pasta: As the sauce cooks, heat oven to 425 degrees, and place a large pot of salted water to boil on the stove.
Cook pasta until it’s nearly al dente. (You want to undercook the pasta slightly, as it will continue to cook in the oven. A good way to do this is cook it 2 minutes less than you normally would if preparing it al dente.) Reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid, drain pasta and rinse with cool water; set aside while the tomato sauce finishes cooking.
Once tomato sauce is done, stir in reserved pasta water.
Place pasta in a large bowl and add 2 cups sauce. Stir to coat pasta evenly encouraging the sauce to go inside each tube.
Spoon a bit of remaining sauce on the bottom of a 3-quart baking dish and top with 1/3 of the pasta. Spoon 1/3 of the remaining sauce on top, dollop with half the ricotta mixture and scatter 1/3 of the mozzarella on top of that. Repeat, beginning with the pasta, one more time. For the final layer, add the last 1/3 of pasta and the last of the sauce. Dot remaining mozzarella on top and shave a bit more Parmesan on top of that. Place baking dish on top of a sheet pan lined with parchment paper to catch any drips. Place in the oven and bake until the edges are golden brown and bubbling and the top has browned nicely, 30 to 40 minutes.
Let cool slightly before eating with a big green leafy salad.
Tip
Baked ziti can be assembled 2 hours before baking. It can be baked 1 day ahead and rewarmed before serving.
CRISPY TOFU WITH SWEET-AND-SOUR SAUCE
This is from Eric Kim in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Eric wrote, "Inspired by McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets dipped in sweet-and-sour sauce — a classic combination that debuted nationwide in 1983 — this tofu appetizer gets its inexorable crunch from potato starch. Pan-fried until shatteringly crisp, pressed tofu, cut into cute little rectangles, eats a lot like Chicken McNuggets and cooks up gorgeously every time. But the true joy of a nugget lies in the dipping, and this recipe stars a totally chill, no-cook sweet-and-sour sauce. Apricot preserves provide fruity sweetness as well as body, and rice vinegar, soy sauce and onion powder add savoriness."
Yield: 4 appetizer servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in "For Those of Us Who Love McDonald’s Sweet-and-Sour Sauce", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022410-crispy-tofu-with-sweet-and-sour-sauce.
Note: The article ("For those of us…") is an interesting read (as are most of the food articles in the Times). But be forewarned: If you start reading the article and have any BTS fans around, they might be snagged in by the references to BTS. And if you've never heard of BTS, here's a link to check out. Also, you can check out the BTS meal referenced in the Times' article.
Ingredients
1 (14-ounce) package firm tofu, drained
3 medium zucchini (about 1 pound)
3 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 cup apricot preserves
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 cup potato starch
Neutral oil, such as vegetable or canola oil, or light olive oil
Preparation
Press the tofu: Wrap the block of tofu in a clean tea towel, and place on a cutting board. Weigh down the tofu with a sheet pan topped with something heavy, such as a large skillet, cans or books, until the tea towel is soaked, about 30 minutes.
While the tofu is pressed, prep the zucchini: Halve the zucchini crosswise, then cut each piece lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick planks. Finally, cut each plank lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick “fries.” Place the zucchini fries in a large colander set over a medium bowl. Add 1 teaspoon salt, and toss until evenly coated. Set aside to drain.
Meanwhile, make the sauce: In a measuring cup, stir together the apricot preserves, rice vinegar, soy sauce, red-pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon onion powder and 2 teaspoons water until smooth. Transfer to a small dish for dipping, and set aside.
Slice the pressed tofu in half horizontally, and cut each of those halves into 8 rectangular pieces, creating 16 nuggets total. Directly on the cutting board, season the tofu with 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, smearing each piece around to catch all the seasonings.
In a large bowl, toss to combine the potato starch and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Place the tofu in the starch, and gently toss with your hands until each piece is evenly coated.
Fry the tofu: Heat a large skillet over medium-high, and add a thin layer of oil, enough to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the tofu in a single layer, and cook, flipping a couple of times, until lightly golden on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer the cooked tofu to a towel-lined plate to drain, and season it with salt to taste.
To serve, transfer the tofu and zucchini to a large platter, and serve alongside the dipping sauce.
BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE
This is from the Food Network. Prep Time: 20 minutes; Inactive: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/blueberry-crumble-recipe-1956497.
Ingredients
Filling:
1 teaspoon unsalted butter, softened
2 pints blueberries, or any other berry
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup apple cider or orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Streusel Topping:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
1/2 cup toasted oats
1/2 cup chopped, toasted almonds
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking dish.
For the filling: In a bowl, add the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, cider, and vanilla, Carefully mix the ingredients together with a spatula, leaving the blueberries whole. Set aside while you assemble the topping.
For the topping: In the bowl of a mixer, add the flour, sugars, and butter. Using the paddle attachment, incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks mealy or crumbly. (This can be done by hand.) Stir in the oats and nuts.
Pour the filling into an 8-inch square baking dish and evenly distribute the topping over the fruit. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling. Cool slightly and serve warm.
Today's six recipes to help you include Baked Ziti and Crispy Tofu With Sweet-and-Sour Sauce. Enjoy!
LATE SUMMER SUCCOTASH
This was in the September 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 70. It uses sautéing to cook the veggies. (Read the MasterClass article to learn more about sautéing.)
This recipe begins, "What better way to make the most of end-of-summer produce than with a sunny succotash that can also be served cold as a salad? Feel free to use frozen lima beans—simply substitute a 10-oz. bag of thawed frozen beans, and skip step one. If you can’t find white balsamic vinegar, try white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar."
Makes 6 servings in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/late-summer-succotash/.
Ingredients
2 cups shelled lima beans or 1 10-oz. pkg. frozen baby lima beans, thawed
1 Tbs. butter
1 tsp. olive oil
1 small red onion, diced (1cup)
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
1 cup fresh or frozen corn
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbs. chopped fresh basil
1 Tbs. white balsamic vinegar
Preparation
If using fresh lima beans, bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add beans, and blanch 2 to 3 minutes, or until tender but not soft.
Heat butter and oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until it begins to brown. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute more.
Stir in lima beans, and sauté 5 minutes. Add corn and tomatoes, and sauté 1 minute more, or until heated through, but tomatoes have not released their juices. Remove from heat, and stir in parsley, basil, and vinegar. Serve warm or chilled.
GARDEN PO' BOY
This comes from Vegetarian Times (May 2005 issue, page 84), and begins, "New Orleans folks cut crisp French bread in half, remove some of the soft bread center and fill that hollow with anything good to eat. The easiest way to grill vegetables is with a grill basket. It looks like a square metal bowl with lots of holes in it. This lets you to toss the vegetables freely without having them fall in the fire." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/garden-po-boy/.
Ingredients
18 jumbo asparagus stems or smaller asparagus
4 large carrots, peeled and sliced lengthwise
6 scallions
3 large red onions, sliced 1/4-inch thick
3 red bell peppers, quartered
4 Tbs. olive oil
2 tsp. mashed garlic
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 18-inch French baguettes or 6 submarine rolls
8 oz. Boursin cheese or herbed goat cheese
Preparation
Prepare medium charcoal fire, or preheat gas grill to medium.
Snap off ends of asparagus. Using vegetable basket, grill asparagus on all sides until done. Set aside.
Grill carrot slices and scallions in basket until done. When finished, grill onion slices and bell peppers. All vegetables should be cooked through and lightly charred.
Meanwhile, mix oil, garlic, salt and pepper in bowl. Pour over hot grilled vegetables. Toss gently.
Cut bread in half lengthwise. Tear out about one-third of interior to hollow it slightly. Spread bottom and top with cheese. Divide vegetables evenly on bottom parts of bread, and drizzle with any olive oil marinade left in bowl.
Place tops on loaves, and press lightly. Cut each baguette into 3 equal sections.
CORNBREAD
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Our quick Cornbread recipe is not only made from scratch but is melt-in-your-mouth good. No matter if you're serving it as a side at a barbeque, alongside chili or even as a breakfast option, you can't go wrong with homemade Cornbread. With only four simple steps, our easy Cornbread recipe is one you'll want to make again and again. This is all thanks to the golden brown, crispy edges and incredible flavor. You'll knock our Cornbread recipe out of the park."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
1 cup milk
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups yellow, white or blue cornmeal
1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Heat the oven to 400°F. Spray the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan or 9-inch round cake pan with the cooking spray.
In a 1-quart saucepan, heat the butter over low heat until melted.
In a large bowl, beat the melted butter, milk and egg with a fork or wire whisk until well mixed. Add the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt all at once; stir just until the flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy). Pour batter into the pan; use a rubber spatula to scrape batter from bowl. Spread batter evenly in pan and smooth top of batter.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm.
Expert Tips
Ground cornmeal is available in different grinds, from fairly fine to very coarse. A finer grind is good for baking a cake-like bread, while coarser grinds (like for grits or polenta that are often cooked into a spoonable hot cereal) can offer more texture and bite to our Cornbread recipe. Consider using a mixture of fine and coarse meals for a crumblier, more bread-like product.
Not all cornmeal is yellow; switch things up with a white or New Mexican blue cornmeal in our easy Cornbread recipe.
Mix a spoonful of clover honey or grated orange peel into softened butter to slather on the warm bread.
Bake the batter in a round or square baking pan or try a small cast-iron skillet, muffin tin, or in a heavy corn stick pan. Like for all quick breads, just grease the bottom of the pan or muffin cups so the bread can climb up the sides easily as it rises. For a corn stick pan completely grease the grooves so the sticks slide out without sticking.
BAKED ZITI
This is from Alison Roman in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Alison wrote, "This baked ziti is layered almost like a lasagna to ensure every bite has enough creamy ricotta, stringy mozzarella and tangy tomato sauce. But the key to its success comes from undercooking the pasta during the initial boil so it stays perfectly al dente, even after a trip to the oven. Heavy cream is added to prevent the ricotta from becoming grainy or dry during baking, letting it be its most luscious self. While this baked ziti is meatless (there’s plenty of richness from the cheese — three types, to be exact), you could always incorporate a bit of sausage, ground meat or pancetta, if you like. Simply add 1/2 pound to the onions while sautéeing and proceed with the recipe."
Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018954-baked-ziti.
Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, packed in juice
1 (28-ounce) can tomato purée or sauce
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
16 ounces/1 pound ricotta
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan or Pecorino, plus more for grating on top
1 pound ziti, rigatoni, penne, manicotti or other short, tubelike pasta
1 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Preparation
Make the tomato sauce: Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is totally softened and translucent (without letting it brown), 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring until it has turned a deeper brick-red color, tinting the oil and onions a fiery orange color, about 2 minutes. Crush the whole tomatoes by hand and add them (including the juice) and the tomato purée to the pot, stirring to scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pot. Season with salt and pepper and add red pepper flakes, if using. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato sauce has thickened and flavors have come together, 20 to 30 minutes.
Prepare the filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, heavy cream and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Prepare the pasta: As the sauce cooks, heat oven to 425 degrees, and place a large pot of salted water to boil on the stove.
Cook pasta until it’s nearly al dente. (You want to undercook the pasta slightly, as it will continue to cook in the oven. A good way to do this is cook it 2 minutes less than you normally would if preparing it al dente.) Reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid, drain pasta and rinse with cool water; set aside while the tomato sauce finishes cooking.
Once tomato sauce is done, stir in reserved pasta water.
Place pasta in a large bowl and add 2 cups sauce. Stir to coat pasta evenly encouraging the sauce to go inside each tube.
Spoon a bit of remaining sauce on the bottom of a 3-quart baking dish and top with 1/3 of the pasta. Spoon 1/3 of the remaining sauce on top, dollop with half the ricotta mixture and scatter 1/3 of the mozzarella on top of that. Repeat, beginning with the pasta, one more time. For the final layer, add the last 1/3 of pasta and the last of the sauce. Dot remaining mozzarella on top and shave a bit more Parmesan on top of that. Place baking dish on top of a sheet pan lined with parchment paper to catch any drips. Place in the oven and bake until the edges are golden brown and bubbling and the top has browned nicely, 30 to 40 minutes.
Let cool slightly before eating with a big green leafy salad.
Tip
Baked ziti can be assembled 2 hours before baking. It can be baked 1 day ahead and rewarmed before serving.
CRISPY TOFU WITH SWEET-AND-SOUR SAUCE
This is from Eric Kim in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Eric wrote, "Inspired by McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets dipped in sweet-and-sour sauce — a classic combination that debuted nationwide in 1983 — this tofu appetizer gets its inexorable crunch from potato starch. Pan-fried until shatteringly crisp, pressed tofu, cut into cute little rectangles, eats a lot like Chicken McNuggets and cooks up gorgeously every time. But the true joy of a nugget lies in the dipping, and this recipe stars a totally chill, no-cook sweet-and-sour sauce. Apricot preserves provide fruity sweetness as well as body, and rice vinegar, soy sauce and onion powder add savoriness."
Yield: 4 appetizer servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in "For Those of Us Who Love McDonald’s Sweet-and-Sour Sauce", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022410-crispy-tofu-with-sweet-and-sour-sauce.
Note: The article ("For those of us…") is an interesting read (as are most of the food articles in the Times). But be forewarned: If you start reading the article and have any BTS fans around, they might be snagged in by the references to BTS. And if you've never heard of BTS, here's a link to check out. Also, you can check out the BTS meal referenced in the Times' article.
Ingredients
1 (14-ounce) package firm tofu, drained
3 medium zucchini (about 1 pound)
3 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 cup apricot preserves
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 cup potato starch
Neutral oil, such as vegetable or canola oil, or light olive oil
Preparation
Press the tofu: Wrap the block of tofu in a clean tea towel, and place on a cutting board. Weigh down the tofu with a sheet pan topped with something heavy, such as a large skillet, cans or books, until the tea towel is soaked, about 30 minutes.
While the tofu is pressed, prep the zucchini: Halve the zucchini crosswise, then cut each piece lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick planks. Finally, cut each plank lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick “fries.” Place the zucchini fries in a large colander set over a medium bowl. Add 1 teaspoon salt, and toss until evenly coated. Set aside to drain.
Meanwhile, make the sauce: In a measuring cup, stir together the apricot preserves, rice vinegar, soy sauce, red-pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon onion powder and 2 teaspoons water until smooth. Transfer to a small dish for dipping, and set aside.
Slice the pressed tofu in half horizontally, and cut each of those halves into 8 rectangular pieces, creating 16 nuggets total. Directly on the cutting board, season the tofu with 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, smearing each piece around to catch all the seasonings.
In a large bowl, toss to combine the potato starch and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Place the tofu in the starch, and gently toss with your hands until each piece is evenly coated.
Fry the tofu: Heat a large skillet over medium-high, and add a thin layer of oil, enough to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the tofu in a single layer, and cook, flipping a couple of times, until lightly golden on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer the cooked tofu to a towel-lined plate to drain, and season it with salt to taste.
To serve, transfer the tofu and zucchini to a large platter, and serve alongside the dipping sauce.
BLUEBERRY CRUMBLE
This is from the Food Network. Prep Time: 20 minutes; Inactive: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/blueberry-crumble-recipe-1956497.
Ingredients
Filling:
1 teaspoon unsalted butter, softened
2 pints blueberries, or any other berry
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup apple cider or orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Streusel Topping:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
1/2 cup toasted oats
1/2 cup chopped, toasted almonds
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking dish.
For the filling: In a bowl, add the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, cider, and vanilla, Carefully mix the ingredients together with a spatula, leaving the blueberries whole. Set aside while you assemble the topping.
For the topping: In the bowl of a mixer, add the flour, sugars, and butter. Using the paddle attachment, incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks mealy or crumbly. (This can be done by hand.) Stir in the oats and nuts.
Pour the filling into an 8-inch square baking dish and evenly distribute the topping over the fruit. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling. Cool slightly and serve warm.
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