Today's blog is a little late; I try getting them out in the morning, but then stuff happens. No matter; it's here now. Enjoy!
LEMON LOVE BUNS
This is from Brett Moore, About.com's Gourmet Food expert. He writes, “This is a great yeast bun with an unexpected jolt of lemony citrus flavor. Buttery, flaky, with a sugary crust topping these are great for any special occasion. Serve with high quality jam. Raspberry and blueberry go particularly well with these pastries.” Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: Makes 16 buns
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Dough
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup butter
1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk (reserve white for topping)
1/4 teaspoon lemon oil or 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia (or the zest of 1 lemon)
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons instant yeast
Topping
1 egg white mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water
1/3 cup coarse white sparkling sugar or Swedish pearl sugar
Preparation
Combine all of the dough ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir to form a cohesive dough.
Knead the dough, by hand, mixer, or bread machine, for 5 to 8 minutes, until it's smooth, soft and supple; avoid adding too much flour, as this will make the buns tough and dry. If you're using a stand mixer, knead for 2 minutes with the flat beater, then switch to the dough hook and knead for an additional 5 minutes.
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and allow the dough to rise for about 1 1/2 hours, or until it's puffy, though it probably won't have doubled in bulk.
Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled work surface, and divide it into 16 pieces (about 1 1/2 ounces each).
To make round buns, simply round the pieces into balls. To make hearts or knots, roll pieces into logs and tie into desired shape.
For soft-sided round buns, place them in a lightly greased 9" x 13" pan. For knots or hearts, space the shaped buns on two lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheets.
Cover the buns, and allow them to rise for about 1 1/2 hours, or until they're nice and puffy; when you press a finger gently into a bun, the resulting indentation shouldn't spring back.
While the buns are rising, combine the egg white and water, and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Brush the risen buns with the egg white mixture, and sprinkle with coarse or pearl sugar.
Bake the buns for 20 minutes, or until they're a light golden brown. Remove the buns from the oven, and transfer them to a rack to cool. Serve warm, or store in an airtight container (a plastic bag is fine) until ready to serve.
CARDAMOM VANILLA SABLES
This is from Rebecca Franklin, About.com's French Food expert, who writes, "This is the basic, classic version of the sables cookie recipe. It can be varied in so many ways, from adding a flavored cream filling to spicing the batter. Make your own signature sable recipe or enjoy it the traditional way - as comforting vanilla sables." She adds, "This vanilla sales recipe makes 2 to 3 dozen cookies." Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
10 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Egg wash:
1 egg white
2 teaspoons water
Preparation
In a medium bowl mix the flour and baking powder and set aside. In large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix in the dry ingredients until a smooth dough forms.
Form the dough into a disk shape or 2-inch diameter log. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare the egg wash by beating together the egg white and 2 teaspoons of water.
Roll out the disk of dough to 1/4-inch thickness, and cut out the sables using a 2-inch fluted cookie cutter. If using a log of cookie dough, slice it crosswise into 1/4-inch thick coins. Brush the sables with the egg wash, and bake on a parchment lined baking sheet for 15 minutes, or until they are lightly browned around the edges. Cool the sables for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
CREAMY IRISH POTATO SOUP
This recipe comes from Campbell's Kitchen; to view this recipe online, click here. The recipe starts off, "This rich and creamy potato soup is subtly flavored with celery and green onions. It's the kind of soup you'll want to savor slowly...even though it's ready in just 35 minutes."
Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 25 minutes; Serves: 5 servings (1 1/4 cups each)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
4 medium green onion, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 stalk celery, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 3/4 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth, (Regular, Natural Goodness® or Certified Organic)
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 medium potato, sliced 1/4-inch thick (about 3 cups)
1 1/2 cups milk
Directions
Heat the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and cook until they're tender.
Stir the broth, black pepper and potatoes in the saucepan and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Place half of the broth mixture and half of the milk in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth. Repeat with the remaining broth mixture and remaining milk. Return to the saucepan and heat through.
BEST MAC AND CHEESE
From My Daily Moment. Makes 6 servings; ready in 20 minutes
Ingredients
1 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups skim milk
1 1/2 cup (6 oz.) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
3 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. low-sodium Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. hot sauce
4 cups hot cooked medium elbow macaroni
Directions
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add flour. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add cheeses and next 4 ingredients, stirring until cheeses melt. Combine cheese sauce and macaroni in a bowl; stir well. Serve immediately.
BENECOL MACARONI AND CHEESE
For several years, there was a magazine dedicated to walking, titled Walking Magazine.It had many good articles, tips and recipes for those of us who feel a little more comfortable race-walking, rather than running. Unfortunately, the magazine folded several years ago. This recipe was in it during its final year. Serves 4.
1/2 lb. small shell style macaroni
4 Tbs. Benecol
3 Tbs. all purpose flour
3 Tbs. finely chopped onion
1 1/2 C 2% milk, warmed
few drops Tabasco Sauce
1-pint nonfat cottage (or ricotta) cheese
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C flavored bread crumbs
1 Tbs. olive oil
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9-by-9 inch pan liberally with nonstick cooking spray. Cook shells according to package directions, strain, and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
To prepare sauce, melt Benecol in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Quickly whisk in flour, add onions, and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour milk into flour mixture, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Add Tabasco Sauce and cook an additional minute. Whisk in cheese and salt, and blend in shells; transfer mixture to prepared pan.
In small bowl, mix oil and bread crumbs together; spoon over top of macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes.
Per Serving: 510 calories; 27.2% calories from fat; 3G saturated fat; 65G carbohydrates; 12MG cholesterol; 612MG sodium; 2G fiber
MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD
Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 1 loaf.
Ingredients:
1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup milk
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.
Directions:
Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.
Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.
Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)
About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.
Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.
FARMERS' MARKET POT PIE
This comes from About.com's American Food guide, Kathy Kingsley. She writes, “This recipe is easily adaptable as it can be prepared with almost any fresh vegetables of your liking. So look to see what's in season and available at your local farmer's market or farmstand. The biscuit crust makes a wonderful flaky pot pie topping. This recipe can also be made into individual pot pies, in which case reduce the baking time to 15 to 18 minutes.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: Serves 6. The recipe can be viewed online here.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, whole or low-fat
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Biscuit Topping
1 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry four
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons honey
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, broccoli, bell pepper and green beans, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
In glass measuring cup, combine the milk and the broth. Slowly add to vegetable mixture while whisking constantly. The sauce will start to thicken. Add the parsley, tamari, thyme, and sage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole, and set aside ( use individual 8 to 10-ounce ramekins or small baking dishes).
Make the topping: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and honey. Add to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork to form a stiff dough. Add more buttermilk if the dough is too dry. Knead the dough lightly in the bowl for 3 to 5 minutes, until it is no longer sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a shape to cover the casserole dish.
Lay biscuit topping lightly over the filling. Do not seal the edges. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve hot.
Showing posts with label Farmer's Market Pot Pie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Farmer's Market Pot Pie. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Wednesday Recipes
Wednesday – half-way to the weekend. Here are a few recipes to help your middle-of-the-week slump. Enjoy!
FARMER'S MARKET POT PIE
This comes from Kathy Kingsley, About.com's American Food expert. She writes, “This recipe is easily adaptable as it can be prepared with almost any fresh vegetables of your liking. So look to see what's in season and available at your local farmer's market or farmstand. The biscuit crust makes a wonderful flaky pot pie topping. This recipe can also be made into individual pot pies, in which case reduce the baking time to 15 to 18 minutes.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: Serves 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, whole or low-fat
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Biscuit Topping
1 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry four
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons honey
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, broccoli, bell pepper and green beans, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
In glass measuring cup, combine the milk and the broth. Slowly add to vegetable mixture while whisking constantly. The sauce will start to thicken. Add the parsley, tamari, thyme, and sage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole, and set aside ( use individual 8 to 10-ounce ramekins or small baking dishes).
Make the topping: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and honey. Add to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork to form a stiff dough. Add more buttermilk if the dough is too dry. Knead the dough lightly in the bowl for 3 to 5 minutes, until it is no longer sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a shape to cover the casserole dish.
Lay biscuit topping lightly over the filling. Do not seal the edges. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve hot.
FLAVORFUL CRANBERRY APPLE COFFEE CAKE
This yummy recipe comes from Carroll Pellegrinelli, About.com's Desserts/Baking expert. She writes, "You know how you want a treat, but you don't want one that is too sweet? This coffee cake isn't overly sweet and is the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of coffee or tea." Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 90 minutes; Yield: 16 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 sweet-tart apples like gala, honey crisp, etc. peeled, cored, and chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
Zest and juice of 1 large orange or of two tangerines
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 pound (1/2 cup) butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 teaspoon orange extract
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Lightly grease 8 - or 9-inch square pan. Combine the cranberries, apples, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Pour into the prepared baking pan.
Beat eggs until foamy. While beaters are running, add sugar, butter, orange extract and yogurt. Beat just until combined. Slowly add the flour and salt until combined.
Pour the batter over the fruit. Spread over fruit layer, if necessary. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a tooth-pick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. The fruit should be bubbling around the edges. Best served warm with whipped cream and a nice cup of coffee or hot tea.
CINNAMON INFUSED CHICKPEA AND LENTIL SOUP
This comes from Brett Moore, About.com's Gourmet Food expert. He writes, "This simple vegetarian soup smells as beautiful as it tastes. Lentils, chickpeas, and tomatoes are combined with lots of heady spices and fresh herbs for a soup that is hearty, healthy, and deep in flavor." Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: Serves 4 to 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 onions sliced
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch saffron threads
2 cans small diced tomatoes
2 tsp sugar
3/4 cup brown or green lentils rinsed
7 cups of vegetable stock (or water)
2 cans of chickpeas, rinsed
small bunch cilantro chopped
small bunch parsley chopped
salt and black pepper, to taste
Preparation
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and stir until translucent and soft (about 7 to 8 minutes).
Add the spices, tomatoes, sugar and stock to the pot, bring to boil then simmer for about 25 minutes until lentils are tender.
Stir in chickpeas, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Stir in herbs and season to taste. Serve hot with bread.
MOCK TUNA-PASTA MELT
An easy casserole favorite from Healing Heart Foundation.
8-oz. package baked marinated tofu (any flavor), finely diced
2 large stalks celery, finely diced
2 medium scallions, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 C fat-free mayonnaise
1/4 C ketchup
1 T sweet pickle relish (sour pickle relish may be used if preferred)
1 t Dijon mustard
3 oz non-fat soy cheddar cheese, grated or finely diced
10 oz. whole wheat pasta elbows (or any small fancy pasta)
Bring a large pot of water to a boil then add pasta. Boil until almost tender, but not soft (about ¾ of regular cooking time). Rinse with cool running water to stop cooking, drain. Transfer to an oven-proof casserole or baking dish. Gently mix together all other ingredients except cheese, addding in the cooked pasta and sprinkle soy cheese on top. Oven bake for 25 minutes at 350 F. or microwave just long enough for the cheese to melt.
6 servings, each 184 calories: 6% from fat (1.4 g), 78% from carbohydrates (41.5 g), 16% from protein (8.8 g). Sodium 208 mg, Fiber 7.1 g.
Healing Heart Hint
Baked tofu is available in most health food stores. You can bake regular low-fat tofu after marinading (soy sauce, bbq sauce, etc) overnight in a moderate oven for 25 to 50 minutes, or until it starts to become firm.
If baked tofu isn't desired or available, rehydrated TVP flakes or dried bean curd will work as an excellent 'tuna' substitute
For a 'gourmet' touch, bake as above for 20 minutes, then place in hollowed-out tomatoes and bake 5 minutes more before serving.
BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH SPINACH AND HERBS
This recipe and the next are from Veg Kitchen. This recipe starts off, "Here’s an easy and unusual recipe that highlights fresh spinach. If you use baby spinach, you can skip stemming, making the recipe even quicker than it already is. This Persian recipe is a Sabzi—referring to a recipe using greens and herbs, ingredients so typical to this cuisine. Serve with a fresh flatbread and a salad of chickpeas and tomatoes," according to the recipe. Serves: 6
To view this online, click here.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup chopped leek (white part only), well rinsed
Two 16-ounce cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
2 large or 3 medium tomatoes, diced
Juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon, to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 to 12 ounces fresh spinach, stemmed and well rinsed (or baby spinach, well rinsed)
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, or more, to taste
4 scallions, sliced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Hot cooked rice or other grain, optional
Heat the oil in an extra-large skillet or a steep-sided stir-fry pan. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until translucent.
Add the leek and sauté another 5 minutes or so, until both it and the onion are golden.
Stir in the black-eyed peas, tomatoes, lemon juice, and spices. Cook until everything is hot and the tomatoes have softened, about 5 minutes.
Add half of the spinach, cover and cook until wilted down, then add the rest. Once it’s all wilted down, stir it in along with the parsley, and scallion. Cook for just a minute or two longer, just until then season with salt and pepper.
Serve at once over hot cooked rice or other grain, if desired.
SIMPLE QUINOA, BROCCOLI, AND CHEESE CASSEROLE
"This easy casserole offers maximum nourishment. Serve with microwaved or baked sweet potatoes (start the sweet potatoes in the oven about 45 minutes before starting to bake the casserole) and a salad of dark greens and ripe tomatoes," according to the website's description. My description? "Yum!" Serves: 6
To view this online, click here.
1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed in a fine sieve
1 vegetable bouillon cube
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
2 large broccoli crowns, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/3 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes or sliced black olives
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups grated vegan cheddar cheese
Preheat the oven to 400º F.
Bring 3 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Stir in the quinoa and bouillon cube, cover, and simmer gently until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and sauté until golden. Add the broccoli and enough water to keep the skillet moist. Cover and steam until the broccoli is tender-crisp, about 5 to 7 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa with the broccoli mixture, dried tomatoes or olives, and half of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper and stir well.
Transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled, shallow two-quart casserole. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining cheese. Bake until the top is golden and crisp, about 20 to 25 minutes. Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes, and serve.
FARMER'S MARKET POT PIE
This comes from Kathy Kingsley, About.com's American Food expert. She writes, “This recipe is easily adaptable as it can be prepared with almost any fresh vegetables of your liking. So look to see what's in season and available at your local farmer's market or farmstand. The biscuit crust makes a wonderful flaky pot pie topping. This recipe can also be made into individual pot pies, in which case reduce the baking time to 15 to 18 minutes.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: Serves 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, whole or low-fat
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Biscuit Topping
1 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry four
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons honey
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, broccoli, bell pepper and green beans, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
In glass measuring cup, combine the milk and the broth. Slowly add to vegetable mixture while whisking constantly. The sauce will start to thicken. Add the parsley, tamari, thyme, and sage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole, and set aside ( use individual 8 to 10-ounce ramekins or small baking dishes).
Make the topping: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and honey. Add to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork to form a stiff dough. Add more buttermilk if the dough is too dry. Knead the dough lightly in the bowl for 3 to 5 minutes, until it is no longer sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a shape to cover the casserole dish.
Lay biscuit topping lightly over the filling. Do not seal the edges. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve hot.
FLAVORFUL CRANBERRY APPLE COFFEE CAKE
This yummy recipe comes from Carroll Pellegrinelli, About.com's Desserts/Baking expert. She writes, "You know how you want a treat, but you don't want one that is too sweet? This coffee cake isn't overly sweet and is the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of coffee or tea." Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 90 minutes; Yield: 16 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 sweet-tart apples like gala, honey crisp, etc. peeled, cored, and chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
Zest and juice of 1 large orange or of two tangerines
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 pound (1/2 cup) butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 teaspoon orange extract
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Lightly grease 8 - or 9-inch square pan. Combine the cranberries, apples, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Pour into the prepared baking pan.
Beat eggs until foamy. While beaters are running, add sugar, butter, orange extract and yogurt. Beat just until combined. Slowly add the flour and salt until combined.
Pour the batter over the fruit. Spread over fruit layer, if necessary. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a tooth-pick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. The fruit should be bubbling around the edges. Best served warm with whipped cream and a nice cup of coffee or hot tea.
CINNAMON INFUSED CHICKPEA AND LENTIL SOUP
This comes from Brett Moore, About.com's Gourmet Food expert. He writes, "This simple vegetarian soup smells as beautiful as it tastes. Lentils, chickpeas, and tomatoes are combined with lots of heady spices and fresh herbs for a soup that is hearty, healthy, and deep in flavor." Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: Serves 4 to 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 onions sliced
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch saffron threads
2 cans small diced tomatoes
2 tsp sugar
3/4 cup brown or green lentils rinsed
7 cups of vegetable stock (or water)
2 cans of chickpeas, rinsed
small bunch cilantro chopped
small bunch parsley chopped
salt and black pepper, to taste
Preparation
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and stir until translucent and soft (about 7 to 8 minutes).
Add the spices, tomatoes, sugar and stock to the pot, bring to boil then simmer for about 25 minutes until lentils are tender.
Stir in chickpeas, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Stir in herbs and season to taste. Serve hot with bread.
MOCK TUNA-PASTA MELT
An easy casserole favorite from Healing Heart Foundation.
8-oz. package baked marinated tofu (any flavor), finely diced
2 large stalks celery, finely diced
2 medium scallions, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 C fat-free mayonnaise
1/4 C ketchup
1 T sweet pickle relish (sour pickle relish may be used if preferred)
1 t Dijon mustard
3 oz non-fat soy cheddar cheese, grated or finely diced
10 oz. whole wheat pasta elbows (or any small fancy pasta)
Bring a large pot of water to a boil then add pasta. Boil until almost tender, but not soft (about ¾ of regular cooking time). Rinse with cool running water to stop cooking, drain. Transfer to an oven-proof casserole or baking dish. Gently mix together all other ingredients except cheese, addding in the cooked pasta and sprinkle soy cheese on top. Oven bake for 25 minutes at 350 F. or microwave just long enough for the cheese to melt.
6 servings, each 184 calories: 6% from fat (1.4 g), 78% from carbohydrates (41.5 g), 16% from protein (8.8 g). Sodium 208 mg, Fiber 7.1 g.
Healing Heart Hint
Baked tofu is available in most health food stores. You can bake regular low-fat tofu after marinading (soy sauce, bbq sauce, etc) overnight in a moderate oven for 25 to 50 minutes, or until it starts to become firm.
If baked tofu isn't desired or available, rehydrated TVP flakes or dried bean curd will work as an excellent 'tuna' substitute
For a 'gourmet' touch, bake as above for 20 minutes, then place in hollowed-out tomatoes and bake 5 minutes more before serving.
BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH SPINACH AND HERBS
This recipe and the next are from Veg Kitchen. This recipe starts off, "Here’s an easy and unusual recipe that highlights fresh spinach. If you use baby spinach, you can skip stemming, making the recipe even quicker than it already is. This Persian recipe is a Sabzi—referring to a recipe using greens and herbs, ingredients so typical to this cuisine. Serve with a fresh flatbread and a salad of chickpeas and tomatoes," according to the recipe. Serves: 6
To view this online, click here.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup chopped leek (white part only), well rinsed
Two 16-ounce cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
2 large or 3 medium tomatoes, diced
Juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon, to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 to 12 ounces fresh spinach, stemmed and well rinsed (or baby spinach, well rinsed)
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, or more, to taste
4 scallions, sliced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Hot cooked rice or other grain, optional
Heat the oil in an extra-large skillet or a steep-sided stir-fry pan. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until translucent.
Add the leek and sauté another 5 minutes or so, until both it and the onion are golden.
Stir in the black-eyed peas, tomatoes, lemon juice, and spices. Cook until everything is hot and the tomatoes have softened, about 5 minutes.
Add half of the spinach, cover and cook until wilted down, then add the rest. Once it’s all wilted down, stir it in along with the parsley, and scallion. Cook for just a minute or two longer, just until then season with salt and pepper.
Serve at once over hot cooked rice or other grain, if desired.
SIMPLE QUINOA, BROCCOLI, AND CHEESE CASSEROLE
"This easy casserole offers maximum nourishment. Serve with microwaved or baked sweet potatoes (start the sweet potatoes in the oven about 45 minutes before starting to bake the casserole) and a salad of dark greens and ripe tomatoes," according to the website's description. My description? "Yum!" Serves: 6
To view this online, click here.
1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed in a fine sieve
1 vegetable bouillon cube
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
2 large broccoli crowns, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/3 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes or sliced black olives
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups grated vegan cheddar cheese
Preheat the oven to 400º F.
Bring 3 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Stir in the quinoa and bouillon cube, cover, and simmer gently until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and sauté until golden. Add the broccoli and enough water to keep the skillet moist. Cover and steam until the broccoli is tender-crisp, about 5 to 7 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa with the broccoli mixture, dried tomatoes or olives, and half of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper and stir well.
Transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled, shallow two-quart casserole. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining cheese. Bake until the top is golden and crisp, about 20 to 25 minutes. Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes, and serve.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Fall Friday Food
Friday never seems to get here fast enough, as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way. Of course, by Sunday evening, it suddenly hits me that the weekend has flown by without my having done much of what I'd planned to do. (Let me guess: you're nodding your head, thinking, “Me, too!”) But no matter: it's Friday now. Here's some good food to try over the weekend. Enjoy!
NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE
This yummy recipe comes from Carroll Pellegrinelli, About.com's Desserts and Baking guide. She writes, “Here is a recipe for New York - Style Cheesecake, which has a sour cream topping.”
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Cook Time: 65 minutes; Total Time: 100 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
9 whole graham crackers, about 1-1/2 cups crumbs
1-1/4 cups sugar, divided
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 pounds (4 - 8 ounce packages) cream cheese, softened
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla, divided
16 ounces sour cream, divided
Preparation
Preheat oven to 325 F.
In food processor, process graham crackers and 2 tablespoons sugar. While processing, drizzle in butter. Press mixture into 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
Beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar. Add eggs one-at-a-time. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 cup sour cream. Combine until well-blended. Pour over crust. Bake for 45 minutes. While baking, stir together remaining sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Remove cheesecake from oven and carefully spread sour cream mixture on top. Bake for additional 10 minutes. Remove from oven and take a knife around the edges. Cool completely before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator.
ZUCCHINI-ONION FRITTATA
You can view this online at http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/772.shtml. Serves 4.
Ingredients
2 cups fat-free egg substitute
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 medium zucchini squashes, thinly sliced
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and Parmesan cheese and set aside.
Coat the bottom and sides of a large, nonstick, oven-proof skillet with cooking spray and add the olive oil. Add the zucchini, onions, garlic, salt, and pepper and saute over medium-high heat for several minutes, until tender. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the skillet.
Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables. Cook without stirring for 3 minutes, until the bottom of the frittata is just set.
Place the frittata in the oven and bake uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes or until the eggs are set but not dry. Loosen the edges of the frittata and invert it onto a plate. Cut the frittata into 4 wedges and serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 139; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 5.4 g; Sodium: 514 mg; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Saturated Fat: 1.7 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.4 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Exchanges: 2 Very Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fat
BAKED ZITI
This was originally posted on April 2, 2010. Great for a yummy, easy meal.
What to fix when you've just gotten home from work and you want something good, hot and with a minimum amount of effort? Baked Ziti fits the bill on all three counts. And if you're like me, chances are you have all the makings in your cupboard and fridge.
Here's what it takes:
16 ounce box of ziti
26 ounce jar of spaghetti sauce
1 jar-full of water
2 C shredded cheese
Okay, I can hear you asking, "What brand of spaghetti sauce? What type of sauce? And the cheese...Cheddar? Mozzarella? Can it be the stuff already shredded and in a bag or does it have to be a block of cheese that I grate and measure?" Here's the good part: Use what you have.
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Take a 9 X 13 inch baking pan. Dump the dried ziti into the pan. (No, no, do NOT cook the ziti first. Dump the ziti uncooked straight from the box.) Pour the spaghetti sauce into the pan and add one jar-full of water into the pan. Stir to mix. Add most of the shredded cheese, reserving 1/4-1/2 cup of cheese. Stir to mix. Bake in pre-heated oven for 35 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake for another 5 minutes for a total time of 40 minutes.
Serve with a salad and possibly garlic bread.
See? Simple, hot, good and with at minimum amount of energy. What could be better for an after-work dinner?
FARMERS' MARKET POT PIE
This comes from About.com's American Food guide, Kathy Kingsley. She writes, “This recipe is easily adaptable as it can be prepared with almost any fresh vegetables of your liking. So look to see what's in season and available at your local farmer's market or farmstand. The biscuit crust makes a wonderful flaky pot pie topping. This recipe can also be made into individual pot pies, in which case reduce the baking time to 15 to 18 minutes.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: Serves 6. The recipe can be viewed online here.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, whole or low-fat
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Biscuit Topping
1 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry four
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons honey
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, broccoli, bell pepper and green beans, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
In glass measuring cup, combine the milk and the broth. Slowly add to vegetable mixture while whisking constantly. The sauce will start to thicken. Add the parsley, tamari, thyme, and sage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole, and set aside ( use individual 8 to 10-ounce ramekins or small baking dishes).
Make the topping: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and honey. Add to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork to form a stiff dough. Add more buttermilk if the dough is too dry. Knead the dough lightly in the bowl for 3 to 5 minutes, until it is no longer sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a shape to cover the casserole dish.
Lay biscuit topping lightly over the filling. Do not seal the edges. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve hot.
CREAMY IRISH POTATO SOUP
This recipe comes from Campbell's Kitchen; to view this recipe online, click here. The recipe starts off, "This rich and creamy potato soup is subtly flavored with celery and green onions. It's the kind of soup you'll want to savor slowly...even though it's ready in just 35 minutes."
Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 25 minutes; Serves: 5 servings (1 1/4 cups each)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
4 medium green onion, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 stalk celery, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 3/4 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth, (Regular, Natural Goodness® or Certified Organic)
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 medium potato, sliced 1/4-inch thick (about 3 cups)
1 1/2 cups milk
Directions
Heat the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and cook until they're tender.
Stir the broth, black pepper and potatoes in the saucepan and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Place half of the broth mixture and half of the milk in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth. Repeat with the remaining broth mixture and remaining milk. Return to the saucepan and heat through.
APPLE-CRANBERRY CRISP
I'm not sure where I originally found this; probably on an old emailing list.
2 pounds Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
3/4 cup cranberries
1/4 cup white sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup quick-cooking oats
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.) Butter an 8 inch square baking dish.
In a large bowl, mix together apples, cranberries, white sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Place evenly into baking dish.
In the same bowl, combine oats, flour and brown sugar. With a fork, mix in butter until crumbly. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle over apples.
Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until topping is golden brown, and apples are tender.
NEW YORK-STYLE CHEESECAKE
This yummy recipe comes from Carroll Pellegrinelli, About.com's Desserts and Baking guide. She writes, “Here is a recipe for New York - Style Cheesecake, which has a sour cream topping.”
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Cook Time: 65 minutes; Total Time: 100 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
9 whole graham crackers, about 1-1/2 cups crumbs
1-1/4 cups sugar, divided
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 pounds (4 - 8 ounce packages) cream cheese, softened
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla, divided
16 ounces sour cream, divided
Preparation
Preheat oven to 325 F.
In food processor, process graham crackers and 2 tablespoons sugar. While processing, drizzle in butter. Press mixture into 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
Beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar. Add eggs one-at-a-time. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 cup sour cream. Combine until well-blended. Pour over crust. Bake for 45 minutes. While baking, stir together remaining sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Remove cheesecake from oven and carefully spread sour cream mixture on top. Bake for additional 10 minutes. Remove from oven and take a knife around the edges. Cool completely before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator.
ZUCCHINI-ONION FRITTATA
You can view this online at http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/772.shtml. Serves 4.
Ingredients
2 cups fat-free egg substitute
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 medium zucchini squashes, thinly sliced
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and Parmesan cheese and set aside.
Coat the bottom and sides of a large, nonstick, oven-proof skillet with cooking spray and add the olive oil. Add the zucchini, onions, garlic, salt, and pepper and saute over medium-high heat for several minutes, until tender. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the skillet.
Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables. Cook without stirring for 3 minutes, until the bottom of the frittata is just set.
Place the frittata in the oven and bake uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes or until the eggs are set but not dry. Loosen the edges of the frittata and invert it onto a plate. Cut the frittata into 4 wedges and serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 139; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 5.4 g; Sodium: 514 mg; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Saturated Fat: 1.7 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.4 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Exchanges: 2 Very Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fat
BAKED ZITI
This was originally posted on April 2, 2010. Great for a yummy, easy meal.
What to fix when you've just gotten home from work and you want something good, hot and with a minimum amount of effort? Baked Ziti fits the bill on all three counts. And if you're like me, chances are you have all the makings in your cupboard and fridge.
Here's what it takes:
16 ounce box of ziti
26 ounce jar of spaghetti sauce
1 jar-full of water
2 C shredded cheese
Okay, I can hear you asking, "What brand of spaghetti sauce? What type of sauce? And the cheese...Cheddar? Mozzarella? Can it be the stuff already shredded and in a bag or does it have to be a block of cheese that I grate and measure?" Here's the good part: Use what you have.
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Take a 9 X 13 inch baking pan. Dump the dried ziti into the pan. (No, no, do NOT cook the ziti first. Dump the ziti uncooked straight from the box.) Pour the spaghetti sauce into the pan and add one jar-full of water into the pan. Stir to mix. Add most of the shredded cheese, reserving 1/4-1/2 cup of cheese. Stir to mix. Bake in pre-heated oven for 35 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake for another 5 minutes for a total time of 40 minutes.
Serve with a salad and possibly garlic bread.
See? Simple, hot, good and with at minimum amount of energy. What could be better for an after-work dinner?
FARMERS' MARKET POT PIE
This comes from About.com's American Food guide, Kathy Kingsley. She writes, “This recipe is easily adaptable as it can be prepared with almost any fresh vegetables of your liking. So look to see what's in season and available at your local farmer's market or farmstand. The biscuit crust makes a wonderful flaky pot pie topping. This recipe can also be made into individual pot pies, in which case reduce the baking time to 15 to 18 minutes.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: Serves 6. The recipe can be viewed online here.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, whole or low-fat
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Biscuit Topping
1 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry four
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons honey
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, broccoli, bell pepper and green beans, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
In glass measuring cup, combine the milk and the broth. Slowly add to vegetable mixture while whisking constantly. The sauce will start to thicken. Add the parsley, tamari, thyme, and sage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole, and set aside ( use individual 8 to 10-ounce ramekins or small baking dishes).
Make the topping: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and honey. Add to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork to form a stiff dough. Add more buttermilk if the dough is too dry. Knead the dough lightly in the bowl for 3 to 5 minutes, until it is no longer sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a shape to cover the casserole dish.
Lay biscuit topping lightly over the filling. Do not seal the edges. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve hot.
CREAMY IRISH POTATO SOUP
This recipe comes from Campbell's Kitchen; to view this recipe online, click here. The recipe starts off, "This rich and creamy potato soup is subtly flavored with celery and green onions. It's the kind of soup you'll want to savor slowly...even though it's ready in just 35 minutes."
Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 25 minutes; Serves: 5 servings (1 1/4 cups each)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
4 medium green onion, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 stalk celery, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 3/4 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth, (Regular, Natural Goodness® or Certified Organic)
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 medium potato, sliced 1/4-inch thick (about 3 cups)
1 1/2 cups milk
Directions
Heat the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and cook until they're tender.
Stir the broth, black pepper and potatoes in the saucepan and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Place half of the broth mixture and half of the milk in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth. Repeat with the remaining broth mixture and remaining milk. Return to the saucepan and heat through.
APPLE-CRANBERRY CRISP
I'm not sure where I originally found this; probably on an old emailing list.
2 pounds Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
3/4 cup cranberries
1/4 cup white sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup quick-cooking oats
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.) Butter an 8 inch square baking dish.
In a large bowl, mix together apples, cranberries, white sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Place evenly into baking dish.
In the same bowl, combine oats, flour and brown sugar. With a fork, mix in butter until crumbly. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle over apples.
Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until topping is golden brown, and apples are tender.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Weekend Meals - Almost the End of Summer
It's Friday, which means weekend meals again. Enjoy!
FARMERS' MARKET POT PIE
This comes from About.com's American Food guide, Kathy Kingsley. She writes, “This recipe is easily adaptable as it can be prepared with almost any fresh vegetables of your liking. So look to see what's in season and available at your local farmer's market or farmstand. The biscuit crust makes a wonderful flaky pot pie topping. This recipe can also be made into individual pot pies, in which case reduce the baking time to 15 to 18 minutes.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: Serves 6. The recipe can be viewed online here.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, whole or low-fat
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Biscuit Topping
1 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry four
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons honey
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, broccoli, bell pepper and green beans, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
In glass measuring cup, combine the milk and the broth. Slowly add to vegetable mixture while whisking constantly. The sauce will start to thicken. Add the parsley, tamari, thyme, and sage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole, and set aside ( use individual 8 to 10-ounce ramekins or small baking dishes).
Make the topping: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and honey. Add to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork to form a stiff dough. Add more buttermilk if the dough is too dry. Knead the dough lightly in the bowl for 3 to 5 minutes, until it is no longer sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a shape to cover the casserole dish.
Lay biscuit topping lightly over the filling. Do not seal the edges. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve hot.
MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD
Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 1 loaf.
Ingredients:
1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup milk
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.
Directions:
Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.
Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.
Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)
About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.
Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.
EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked couscous
6 green onions, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp salt
dash pepper to taste
Preparation:
Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.
FRENCH ONION SOUP
My dad used to make French Onion Soup after church on Sundays, so I associate this with the weekend. This version of the recipe comes from About.com's American Food email. It starts off, “French onion soup is one of America's most popular 'restaurant soups,' but with this easy recipe you can make it at home anytime you want. This French onion soup recipe is topped with the traditional Gruyere cheese, but any melting cheese will work.” It makes 8 portions.
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Ingredients:
4 large yellow onions, cut in large dice
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 tbsp sherry vinegar
1/4 cup dry sherry wine
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1/2 tsp salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
3 cups high-quality beef broth
3 cups high-quality chicken broth
1 cup water
For the topping:
toasted French bread
8 oz shredded Gruyere cheese, or other Swiss cheese
Preparation:
In a large soup pot, melt the butter over med-low heat. Add the onions and salt; slowly cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden-brown - about 30 minutes.
Add the vinegar and sherry; cook for 5 minutes, and then add the remaining ingredients. Simmer on low for one hour. Taste and adjust seasoning. Ladle into heatproof bowls, or crocks, and top with a piece of toasted bread (cut to fit top of bowl).
Cover with the cheese, and place under a preheated broiler until the cheese melts and begins to brown. Serve hot.
CREAMY IRISH POTATO SOUP
This recipe comes from Campbell's Kitchen; to view this recipe online, click here. The recipe starts off, "This rich and creamy potato soup is subtly flavored with celery and green onions. It's the kind of soup you'll want to savor slowly...even though it's ready in just 35 minutes."
Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 25 minutes; Serves: 5 servings (1 1/4 cups each)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
4 medium green onion, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 stalk celery, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 3/4 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth, (Regular, Natural Goodness® or Certified Organic)
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 medium potato, sliced 1/4-inch thick (about 3 cups)
1 1/2 cups milk
Directions
Heat the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and cook until they're tender.
Stir the broth, black pepper and potatoes in the saucepan and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Place half of the broth mixture and half of the milk in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth. Repeat with the remaining broth mixture and remaining milk. Return to the saucepan and heat through.
BEST MAC AND CHEESE
From My Daily Moment. Makes 6 servings; ready in 20 minutes
Ingredients
1 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups skim milk
1 1/2 cup (6 oz.) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
3 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. low-sodium Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. hot sauce
4 cups hot cooked medium elbow macaroni
Directions
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add flour. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add cheeses and next 4 ingredients, stirring until cheeses melt. Combine cheese sauce and macaroni in a bowl; stir well. Serve immediately.
FARMERS' MARKET POT PIE
This comes from About.com's American Food guide, Kathy Kingsley. She writes, “This recipe is easily adaptable as it can be prepared with almost any fresh vegetables of your liking. So look to see what's in season and available at your local farmer's market or farmstand. The biscuit crust makes a wonderful flaky pot pie topping. This recipe can also be made into individual pot pies, in which case reduce the baking time to 15 to 18 minutes.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: Serves 6. The recipe can be viewed online here.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, whole or low-fat
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Biscuit Topping
1 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry four
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons honey
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, broccoli, bell pepper and green beans, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
In glass measuring cup, combine the milk and the broth. Slowly add to vegetable mixture while whisking constantly. The sauce will start to thicken. Add the parsley, tamari, thyme, and sage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole, and set aside ( use individual 8 to 10-ounce ramekins or small baking dishes).
Make the topping: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and honey. Add to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork to form a stiff dough. Add more buttermilk if the dough is too dry. Knead the dough lightly in the bowl for 3 to 5 minutes, until it is no longer sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a shape to cover the casserole dish.
Lay biscuit topping lightly over the filling. Do not seal the edges. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve hot.
MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD
Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 1 loaf.
Ingredients:
1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup milk
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.
Directions:
Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.
Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.
Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)
About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.
Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.
EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked couscous
6 green onions, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp salt
dash pepper to taste
Preparation:
Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.
FRENCH ONION SOUP
My dad used to make French Onion Soup after church on Sundays, so I associate this with the weekend. This version of the recipe comes from About.com's American Food email. It starts off, “French onion soup is one of America's most popular 'restaurant soups,' but with this easy recipe you can make it at home anytime you want. This French onion soup recipe is topped with the traditional Gruyere cheese, but any melting cheese will work.” It makes 8 portions.
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Ingredients:
4 large yellow onions, cut in large dice
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 tbsp sherry vinegar
1/4 cup dry sherry wine
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1/2 tsp salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
3 cups high-quality beef broth
3 cups high-quality chicken broth
1 cup water
For the topping:
toasted French bread
8 oz shredded Gruyere cheese, or other Swiss cheese
Preparation:
In a large soup pot, melt the butter over med-low heat. Add the onions and salt; slowly cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden-brown - about 30 minutes.
Add the vinegar and sherry; cook for 5 minutes, and then add the remaining ingredients. Simmer on low for one hour. Taste and adjust seasoning. Ladle into heatproof bowls, or crocks, and top with a piece of toasted bread (cut to fit top of bowl).
Cover with the cheese, and place under a preheated broiler until the cheese melts and begins to brown. Serve hot.
CREAMY IRISH POTATO SOUP
This recipe comes from Campbell's Kitchen; to view this recipe online, click here. The recipe starts off, "This rich and creamy potato soup is subtly flavored with celery and green onions. It's the kind of soup you'll want to savor slowly...even though it's ready in just 35 minutes."
Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 25 minutes; Serves: 5 servings (1 1/4 cups each)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
4 medium green onion, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 stalk celery, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 3/4 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth, (Regular, Natural Goodness® or Certified Organic)
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 medium potato, sliced 1/4-inch thick (about 3 cups)
1 1/2 cups milk
Directions
Heat the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and cook until they're tender.
Stir the broth, black pepper and potatoes in the saucepan and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Place half of the broth mixture and half of the milk in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth. Repeat with the remaining broth mixture and remaining milk. Return to the saucepan and heat through.
BEST MAC AND CHEESE
From My Daily Moment. Makes 6 servings; ready in 20 minutes
Ingredients
1 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups skim milk
1 1/2 cup (6 oz.) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
3 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. low-sodium Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. hot sauce
4 cups hot cooked medium elbow macaroni
Directions
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add flour. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add cheeses and next 4 ingredients, stirring until cheeses melt. Combine cheese sauce and macaroni in a bowl; stir well. Serve immediately.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Yummy Weekend Meals
Ahhh...Friday and the weekend. Here are some yummy recipes to try this weekend. Enjoy!
BEST-OF-THE-WEST BEAN SALAD
This comes from FamilyTime.com's email list. The recipe starts off, “This scrumptious bean salad combines kidney beans, pinto beans, sliced red onion and diced green pepper dressed with a flavorful combination of Pace® Picante Sauce, cilantro, oil and vinegar.” Prep. time: 10 minutes; Serves: 8 servings (1/2 cup each); Source: Campbell's Recipes
Ingredients
3/4 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large green pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
1 medium red onion, very thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 can (about 15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (about 15 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
Directions
Stir the picante sauce, cilantro, vinegar, oil, pepper, onion, kidney beans and pinto beans in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours, stirring occasionally during chilling time. Garnish with additional cilantro.
Nutritional Values per Serving using Pace Picante Sauce: Calories 155, Total Fat 2g, Saturated Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 160mg, Total Carbohydrate 26g, Dietary Fiber 8g, Protein 8g, Vitamin A 4%DV, Vitamin C 16%DV, Calcium 4%DV, Iron 11%DV
SPINACH SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE, WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE & WHOLE GRAIN CROUTONS
This also comes from FamilyTime.com. It starts off, “Color, crunch and drama are served up in this fresh spinach salad with blue cheese, bacon, a warm vinaigrette and seasoned croutons. Perfect for parties, this salad serves 12.” Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 25; Serves: 12 servings (about 2 cups each); Source: Campbell's Recipes
Ingredients
12 slices bacon
2 shallot, finely chopped
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups Pepperidge Farm® Whole Grain Seasoned Croutons
3 packages (6 ounces each) fresh baby spinach, leaves (about 18 cups)
1 small red onion, thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)
2 cups crumbled blue cheese, (about 8 ounces)
Directions
Cook the bacon in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat until it's crisp. Remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. Coarsley chop the bacon. Stir the shallots into the pan drippings and cook over medium heat until they're tender. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the vinegar, oil and black pepper with a fork or whisk. Add the croutons and bacon and toss to coat. Place the spinach, red onion and the cheese in a large bowl. Add the crouton mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
SWEET CORN PUDDING
This yummy recipe comes from the Food Network's Patrick and Gina Neely's show, Down Home with the Neelys. Total Time: 55 min; Prep: 20 min; Cook: 35 min; Yield: 3 to 5 servings; Level: Easy To view the recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
6 ears sweet corn
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 eggs, beaten
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease casserole dish.
Shuck the corn and cut all kernels off with a knife into a bowl, making sure to keep all of the runoff juice from the corn. Reserve.
Mix together the milk, heavy cream, cheese, cayenne pepper and eggs. Add in the reserved corn, cheese, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Pour mixture over reserved corn.
Pour into casserole dish and bake for 35 minutes or until set.
FARMERS' MARKET POT PIE
This comes from About.com's American Food guide, Kathy Kingsley. She writes, “This recipe is easily adaptable as it can be prepared with almost any fresh vegetables of your liking. So look to see what's in season and available at your local farmer's market or farmstand. The biscuit crust makes a wonderful flaky pot pie topping. This recipe can also be made into individual pot pies, in which case reduce the baking time to 15 to 18 minutes.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: Serves 6. The recipe can be viewed online here.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, whole or low-fat
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Biscuit Topping
1 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry four
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons honey
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, broccoli, bell pepper and green beans, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
In glass measuring cup, combine the milk and the broth. Slowly add to vegetable mixture while whisking constantly. The sauce will start to thicken. Add the parsley, tamari, thyme, and sage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole, and set aside ( use individual 8 to 10-ounce ramekins or small baking dishes).
Make the topping: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and honey. Add to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork to form a stiff dough. Add more buttermilk if the dough is too dry. Knead the dough lightly in the bowl for 3 to 5 minutes, until it is no longer sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a shape to cover the casserole dish.
Lay biscuit topping lightly over the filling. Do not seal the edges. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve hot.
VEGAN PUMPKIN GRATIN
Ashley Adams is the Dairy Free Cooking guide for About.com. She writes, “Perfect for the autumn months when pumpkin is in season, this veganized pumpkin gratin is a healthier, yet delicious, take on the fall-time classic. (And if you happen to crave pumpkin during the rest of the year, you can just use canned pumpkin instead of fresh!) If you've never prepared your own homemade pumpkin puree before, read the Cook's Note at the bottom of the recipe to learn how! As always, feel free to add more tasty things to your gratin; pecans, pine nuts, coconut, dried cranberries, dried figs, and fresh apple pieces are all welcome additions to this dish.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4
Ingredients:
For the bread crumb topping:
3 slices white dairy-free bread (French bread, sourdough, or another white sandwich bread will do)
1/4 cup shredded dairy-free cheese, such as Daiya
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. freshly ground pepper
For the Filling:
3 cups pumpkin puree (from either steamed or canned pumpkin)
1/4 cup dairy-free sour cream, such as Tofutti
2 T. white granulated sugar
1 t. salt
1/2 t. sage
1/2 t. marjoram
1/2 cup finely chopped scallions (also known as green onions)
2 medium Bosc pears, cored and chopped
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 T. softened dairy-free soy margarine, cut into small pieces
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 450 F. Lightly grease a 1-quart gratin dish or casserole dish. Set aside.
Make the topping. In a food processor, process the bread crumbs, dairy-free cheese, salt and pepper, pulsing until the mixture resembles large crumbs. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Make the filling. Combine the pumpkin puree, dairy-free sour cream, sugar, salt, sage, and marjoram in a food processor, pulsing until well combined. Using a spoon, fold in the chopped scallions and pears. Transfer the pumpkin filling to the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle evenly with the bread crumb topping, then dot with the dairy-free soy margarine. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crumb topping is golden brown. Serve hot.
Cook's Notes:
For this recipe, I vastly prefer using Daiya Mozza Shreds over other varieties, but use whatever dairy-free cheese you're comfortable with.
For gratins and other pumpkin casseroles, making your own puree from fresh pumpkin is always better than using canned. (Again, canned will work, so if you don't have fresh pumpkins available or the time to make your own puree, it is fine to use the canned.
To prepare steamed pumpkin (for the pumpkin puree): Peel, seed, and cut a small to medium-sized pumpkin into 2-inch pieces. Place in a steamer basket set over a saucepan with 1-2 inches of boiling water. Cover and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Puree the pumpkin and use in your pumpkin gratin or other pumpkin recipes!
PUMPKIN SOUP
From another forgotten emailing list. Whoever sent it wrote, “For a dramatic presentation, serve this warm, creamy soup inside a scooped-out pumpkin. It's just as delicious ladled out of a pot.” Prep Time 10 minutes; Cooking Time 20 minutes; Serves 6
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons chopped onion
2 tablespoons flour
6 cups chicken broth
one 15-ounce can unsweetened pumpkin puree
one 8-ounce jar applesauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup heavy cream
freshly ground pepper, to taste
croutons, optional
Directions
Heat the butter in a large saucepan and saute the onions over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir until mixed. Add the chicken broth and pumpkin and stir until smooth.
Add the remaining ingredients except the cream, pepper, and croutons. Stir well, cover and simmer gently for about 20 minutes until hot and the flavors have blended.
Stir in the cream and heat until hot. Garnish with freshly ground pepper and serve immediately with crisp croutons, if desired.
BEST-OF-THE-WEST BEAN SALAD
This comes from FamilyTime.com's email list. The recipe starts off, “This scrumptious bean salad combines kidney beans, pinto beans, sliced red onion and diced green pepper dressed with a flavorful combination of Pace® Picante Sauce, cilantro, oil and vinegar.” Prep. time: 10 minutes; Serves: 8 servings (1/2 cup each); Source: Campbell's Recipes
Ingredients
3/4 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large green pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
1 medium red onion, very thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 can (about 15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (about 15 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
Directions
Stir the picante sauce, cilantro, vinegar, oil, pepper, onion, kidney beans and pinto beans in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours, stirring occasionally during chilling time. Garnish with additional cilantro.
Nutritional Values per Serving using Pace Picante Sauce: Calories 155, Total Fat 2g, Saturated Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 160mg, Total Carbohydrate 26g, Dietary Fiber 8g, Protein 8g, Vitamin A 4%DV, Vitamin C 16%DV, Calcium 4%DV, Iron 11%DV
SPINACH SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE, WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE & WHOLE GRAIN CROUTONS
This also comes from FamilyTime.com. It starts off, “Color, crunch and drama are served up in this fresh spinach salad with blue cheese, bacon, a warm vinaigrette and seasoned croutons. Perfect for parties, this salad serves 12.” Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 25; Serves: 12 servings (about 2 cups each); Source: Campbell's Recipes
Ingredients
12 slices bacon
2 shallot, finely chopped
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups Pepperidge Farm® Whole Grain Seasoned Croutons
3 packages (6 ounces each) fresh baby spinach, leaves (about 18 cups)
1 small red onion, thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)
2 cups crumbled blue cheese, (about 8 ounces)
Directions
Cook the bacon in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat until it's crisp. Remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. Coarsley chop the bacon. Stir the shallots into the pan drippings and cook over medium heat until they're tender. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the vinegar, oil and black pepper with a fork or whisk. Add the croutons and bacon and toss to coat. Place the spinach, red onion and the cheese in a large bowl. Add the crouton mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
SWEET CORN PUDDING
This yummy recipe comes from the Food Network's Patrick and Gina Neely's show, Down Home with the Neelys. Total Time: 55 min; Prep: 20 min; Cook: 35 min; Yield: 3 to 5 servings; Level: Easy To view the recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
6 ears sweet corn
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 eggs, beaten
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease casserole dish.
Shuck the corn and cut all kernels off with a knife into a bowl, making sure to keep all of the runoff juice from the corn. Reserve.
Mix together the milk, heavy cream, cheese, cayenne pepper and eggs. Add in the reserved corn, cheese, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Pour mixture over reserved corn.
Pour into casserole dish and bake for 35 minutes or until set.
FARMERS' MARKET POT PIE
This comes from About.com's American Food guide, Kathy Kingsley. She writes, “This recipe is easily adaptable as it can be prepared with almost any fresh vegetables of your liking. So look to see what's in season and available at your local farmer's market or farmstand. The biscuit crust makes a wonderful flaky pot pie topping. This recipe can also be made into individual pot pies, in which case reduce the baking time to 15 to 18 minutes.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: Serves 6. The recipe can be viewed online here.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk, whole or low-fat
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Biscuit Topping
1 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry four
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons honey
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, broccoli, bell pepper and green beans, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
In glass measuring cup, combine the milk and the broth. Slowly add to vegetable mixture while whisking constantly. The sauce will start to thicken. Add the parsley, tamari, thyme, and sage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole, and set aside ( use individual 8 to 10-ounce ramekins or small baking dishes).
Make the topping: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and honey. Add to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork to form a stiff dough. Add more buttermilk if the dough is too dry. Knead the dough lightly in the bowl for 3 to 5 minutes, until it is no longer sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a shape to cover the casserole dish.
Lay biscuit topping lightly over the filling. Do not seal the edges. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve hot.
VEGAN PUMPKIN GRATIN
Ashley Adams is the Dairy Free Cooking guide for About.com. She writes, “Perfect for the autumn months when pumpkin is in season, this veganized pumpkin gratin is a healthier, yet delicious, take on the fall-time classic. (And if you happen to crave pumpkin during the rest of the year, you can just use canned pumpkin instead of fresh!) If you've never prepared your own homemade pumpkin puree before, read the Cook's Note at the bottom of the recipe to learn how! As always, feel free to add more tasty things to your gratin; pecans, pine nuts, coconut, dried cranberries, dried figs, and fresh apple pieces are all welcome additions to this dish.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4
Ingredients:
For the bread crumb topping:
3 slices white dairy-free bread (French bread, sourdough, or another white sandwich bread will do)
1/4 cup shredded dairy-free cheese, such as Daiya
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. freshly ground pepper
For the Filling:
3 cups pumpkin puree (from either steamed or canned pumpkin)
1/4 cup dairy-free sour cream, such as Tofutti
2 T. white granulated sugar
1 t. salt
1/2 t. sage
1/2 t. marjoram
1/2 cup finely chopped scallions (also known as green onions)
2 medium Bosc pears, cored and chopped
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 T. softened dairy-free soy margarine, cut into small pieces
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 450 F. Lightly grease a 1-quart gratin dish or casserole dish. Set aside.
Make the topping. In a food processor, process the bread crumbs, dairy-free cheese, salt and pepper, pulsing until the mixture resembles large crumbs. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Make the filling. Combine the pumpkin puree, dairy-free sour cream, sugar, salt, sage, and marjoram in a food processor, pulsing until well combined. Using a spoon, fold in the chopped scallions and pears. Transfer the pumpkin filling to the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle evenly with the bread crumb topping, then dot with the dairy-free soy margarine. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crumb topping is golden brown. Serve hot.
Cook's Notes:
For this recipe, I vastly prefer using Daiya Mozza Shreds over other varieties, but use whatever dairy-free cheese you're comfortable with.
For gratins and other pumpkin casseroles, making your own puree from fresh pumpkin is always better than using canned. (Again, canned will work, so if you don't have fresh pumpkins available or the time to make your own puree, it is fine to use the canned.
To prepare steamed pumpkin (for the pumpkin puree): Peel, seed, and cut a small to medium-sized pumpkin into 2-inch pieces. Place in a steamer basket set over a saucepan with 1-2 inches of boiling water. Cover and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Puree the pumpkin and use in your pumpkin gratin or other pumpkin recipes!
PUMPKIN SOUP
From another forgotten emailing list. Whoever sent it wrote, “For a dramatic presentation, serve this warm, creamy soup inside a scooped-out pumpkin. It's just as delicious ladled out of a pot.” Prep Time 10 minutes; Cooking Time 20 minutes; Serves 6
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons chopped onion
2 tablespoons flour
6 cups chicken broth
one 15-ounce can unsweetened pumpkin puree
one 8-ounce jar applesauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup heavy cream
freshly ground pepper, to taste
croutons, optional
Directions
Heat the butter in a large saucepan and saute the onions over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir until mixed. Add the chicken broth and pumpkin and stir until smooth.
Add the remaining ingredients except the cream, pepper, and croutons. Stir well, cover and simmer gently for about 20 minutes until hot and the flavors have blended.
Stir in the cream and heat until hot. Garnish with freshly ground pepper and serve immediately with crisp croutons, if desired.
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