Happy New Year! Here's to another great year, along with more recipes. Here's today's second post on Donvessions of a Foodie. Enjoy!
VERY BLUEBERRY SUNDAES
Yield: 4 servings
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/793.shtml
Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/60.shtml
Ingredients
Sauce:
1 cup frozen blueberries
3 tablespoons orange juice OR 2 tablespoons orange juice plus 1 tablespoon orange liqueur
Sugar substitute equal to 2 tablespoons sugar
Rest of ingredients:
2 cups low-fat vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans or sliced toasted almonds
Directions
To make the sauce, place the blueberries, orange juice, and sugar substitute in a mini food processor and process until smooth. Set aside for about 15 minutes, until the mixture has thawed. Or transfer to a covered container and chill until ready to use.
To assemble the sundaes, place a 1/2 cup scoop of ice cream in each of 4 dessert dishes. Top the ice cream in each dish with a quarter of the sauce and a sprinkling of the nuts. Serve immediately.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 176; Protein: 3.9 g; Fat: 7.6 g; Sodium: 50 mg; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 2.8 g; Carbohydrates: 25 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Carbohydrate, 1-1/2 Fat
ORANGE AND JICAMA SALAD
Serves 2. To view online, go to http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/9.shtml
Ingredients
Butter lettuce leaves
Salt
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
Freshly ground pepper
1 large orange, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
1 cup Jicama, julienned
1 teaspoon olive oil
Directions
Line plates with lettuce. Top with orange slices. Mound with jicama. Sprinkle with chopped red onion.
Blend juice, vinegar, salt & pepper in small bowl. Whisk in oil in thin stream. Spoon over salads. Garnish with minced cilantro.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 282; Protein: 4.9 g; Sodium: 36 mg; Fat: 2.8 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Exchanges: 1 fruit; 1 vegetable; 1 fat; 1 starch
EGGPLANT POLENTA STACK
Purchase package flavored polenta in the produce section; choose any favorite flavor for this dish.
Yield: 4 servings
View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/846.shtml
Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/22.shtml
Ingredients
8 slices (3/4 inch) eggplant (about 1 pound)
2 egg whites, lightly beaten or 1/4 cup no-cholesterol real egg product
1/2 cup Italian-seasoned dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Olive oil cooking spray
1 package (16 ounces) prepared Italian-herb polenta, cut into 8 slices
Salt and pepper, to taste
2-4 ounces reduced-fat feta, or goat, cheese, crumbled
Directions
Dip eggplant slices in egg whites and coat with combined bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Spray large skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat until hot. Cook eggplant until browned on the bottom, about 10 minutes; spray tops of slices with cooking spray and turn. Cook until eggplant is tender and browned on other side, about 10 minutes longer.
Arrange eggplant in baking pan; top each slice with a slice of polenta and tomato. Sprinkle tomatoes with salt and pepper; sprinkle stack with feta cheese.
Bake at 450 degrees F. until tomatoes are hot and cheese lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Protein: 10.9 g; Fat: 4.5 g; Sodium: 624 mg; Cholesterol: 9 mg; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 2 Bread/Starch, 1 Fat
CREAMY SPINACH DIP
Yield: 16 servings; Serving Size: 2 tablespoons.
View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/842.shtml
Source: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/details/11.shtml
Ingredients
1 (10 oz.) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained very well
1-1/2 cups low-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons minced mint
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup minced water chestnuts
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Prepare the spinach and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream, vinegar, mint, garlic, water chestnuts, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Add the spinach and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 33; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 27 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 3 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate
CRANBERRY APPLE CRISP
Yield: 8 servings
View Online with Photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/876.shtml
Ingredients
Filling:
3 cups peeled, cored, sliced apples
2 cups fresh or frozen thawed cranberries
1 cup Equal Spoonful*
Topping:
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup stick butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup Equal Spoonful**
* Substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
** Substitute 12 packets Equal sweetener
Directions
For Filling, combine apples, cranberries and 1 cup Equal in an ungreased 10-inch pie plate.
For Topping, combine flour, pecans, melted butter and 1/2 cup Equal. Mix until well blended. Sprinkle flour mixture over apples and cranberries in pie plate.
Bake in preheated 350F oven 55 to 60 minutes or until fruit is tender. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 145; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 67 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1-1/2 fat
CRUSTLESS BASQUE QUICHE
With tons of taste but little fat, this light and luscious quiche is the perfect choice for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Serve with fresh fruit salad.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/843.shtml
Source: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/details/12.shtml
Ingredients
3 tablespoons bread crumbs
1 teaspoon canola oil
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
2 medium Roma tomatoes, juiced and chopped (about 3/4 cup)
6 ounces ham, OR Canadian bacon, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
1/2 cup roasted red pepper, chopped, from a jar, patted dry
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 cup nonfat half & half
1 cup egg substitute
1 cup mozzarella cheese, reduced fat, shredded
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 9-inch glass pie pan with non-stick spray. Dust the bottom and sides of the pan with the breadcrumbs and set aside.
Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion; saute 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and saute until beginning to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the ham and bell pepper. Spoon into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Place the cornstarch, salt and cayenne in a medium bowl; slowly whisk in the half and half to blend. Whisk in the egg substitute and pour the mixture into the pan. Top with the mozzarella.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until puffed and set. Let the quiche rest for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top, if desired. Cut in wedges and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 200; Protein: 16 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 480 mg; Cholesterol: 40 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g
Thursday, December 31, 2015
New Year's Eve
It's New Year's Eve. If you're partying tonight, stay safe. Here are a few things you might enjoy serving. Enjoy!
Note: Today, you'll have a double-dose of Confessions of a Foodie: this post, as well as a Diabetic Thursday post. Happy New Year's!
OOEY GOOEY BUTTER CAKE BARS
This comes from Tablespoon's newsletter. Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 50 min; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
1 box Betty Crocker French Vanilla Cake mix
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted
3 eggs
8 oz cream cheese
1 lb bag (about 3-3/4 cups) powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Line an 8 x 8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
In a bowl, mix together the cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg until a soft dough forms. Press into the bottom of the baking dish.
In a stand mixer, combine together the cream cheese, 2 eggs, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over the cake mix layer.
Bake bars for 45 minutes, or until edges are golden brown,and the center has set to a soft consistency.
Cool COMPLETELY before slicing into bars and serving.
SLOW-COOKER PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE
This comes from The Food Network, and starts off, “Made and served in the same pot, our slow-cooker cocoa is thickened and enriched with dark chocolate. Set up an add-ons bar beside the cooker (mini marshmallows, crushed candies and peppermint schnapps take cocoa to a whole new holiday level), then stick a ladle in the pot and let guests help themselves.” The recipe's last ingredient is peppermint schnapps, which is optional. I don't use it, and, if this is being served to children and/or people who normally don't drink – or if you're not sure – don't use it. I find that it really doesn't need it. Total Time: 2 hr 5 min; Prep: 5 min; Cook: 2 hr; Yield: 14 cups; Level: Easy
To read more, go to: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/slow-cooker-peppermint-hot-chocolate.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
12 cups whole milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon kosher salt
8 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped
24 peppermint candies, crushed (about 1 cup), for serving
3 cups mini marshmallows, for serving
2 cups peppermint schnapps, optional, for serving
Directions
Whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder in a 6-quart slow cooker. Turn the cooker to high, and slowly whisk in the milk to prevent lumps from forming. Add the vanilla and salt, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours. The sugar and cocoa powder should be completely dissolved.
Whisk in the chopped chocolate a little at a time until it is all incorporated. Replace the lid, and cook until thickened, 30 minutes more.
Turn the cooker to warm, and serve with small bowls of the peppermint candies and mini marshmallows and a small pitcher of schnapps, if using. For minty cocoa, let a few teaspoons of the peppermints melt in an 8-ounce cup or add 2 tablespoons of schnapps.
MACARONI AND CHEESE BAKE
This and the Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipes were in an several old emails. I'm not completely sure where they're from, but something tells me they might be from About.com.
This first one starts off, “This is a custard-like macaroni and cheese casserole.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; servings: 6
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups Milk
4 tablespoons melted butter, divided
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs
Preparation:
Directions for macaroni and cheese:
Cook macaroni according to package directions in boiling salted water; drain and set aside. Combine milk, 3 tablespoons melted butter, flour, salt, pepper, and eggs in a mixing bowl; whisk until smooth and well-blended. Layer half of cooked macaroni in bottom of a shallow, buttered 2-quart baking dish; sprinkle with 2 cups cheese and top with remaining macaroni. Pour milk and egg mixture over macaroni. Toss breadcrumbs with remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter; sprinkle bread crumbs over the top of macaroni and cheese mixture. Bake macaroni and cheese at 350°, uncovered, for about 45 to 50 minutes; sprinkle with remaining cheese and continue baking for about 5 minutes longer, or until macaroni and cheese is set.
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This one start off, “Macaroni and cheese, made with a homemade white sauce with cheese and butter, along with cooked macaroni and seasonings.” Serves 4 to 6.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheese, divided
salt
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°. Cook macaroni in boiling salted water according to package directions; drain well and set aside. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk and half-and-half. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add paprika, pepper, and 2 cups of the cheese; stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Combine sauce with the macaroni and add salt to taste. Place in a buttered 1 1/2-quart casserole dish. Garnish top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and dot with additional butter. Bake 25 to 30 minutes.
TRIPLE CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI
This is from Sean Paajanen, the former Coffee/Tea expert for About.com. Lindsey Goodwin now writes the coffee/tea column; she also has many great recipes, too. (Hint: check out her blog, as well as others on About.com.)
Anyway, Sean wrote, “You can never have too much chocolate. Chocolate chips and cocoa in the biscotti, and a drizzle of semi-sweet on top. If that's not enough, you can also dip these biscotti into your cup of hot cocoa.”Ingredients:
5 cups flour
1 1/2 cups cocoa powder
2 tbs baking powder
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 tbs vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400F. Cream sugar and butter. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until smooth and add vanilla extract. Sift together the dry ingredients and add to the egg mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Shape the dough into 6 longs loaves and brush with beaten egg yolk. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Cut each loaf into 1 inch slices and place back on baking sheet. Reduce heat to 350F and place slices back into the oven. Bake for another 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and cool. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate, and drizzle over the biscotti.
CHEESE STRAWS
This comes from Carroll Pellegrinelli, About.com's Desserts/Baking expert. She writes, "Here is one of my family's favorite homemade snacks. Not only do they make a good afternoon treat, but they're a crowd-pleaser at our parties too. Next time there's a bake sale, I'm making these Cheese Straws." Prep Time: 35 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cup flour
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (red) pepper, or to taste
1-1/4 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated, room temperature
1/2 cup (1/4 pound) butter, softened
Preparation
In a small bowl, combine flour, salt and other spices with a wire whisk. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, stand mixer is preferred, cream together cheddar cheese and butter. Gradually add flour mixture. Combine completely. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Allow dough to rest for 10 to 15 minutes in refrigerator. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets. Press dough through a cookie press onto prepared baking sheets. Bake cheese straws for 20 to 30 minutes or until crisp and lightly brown.
Store in tightly covered container. These Cheese Straws may be frozen with wax paper between layers.
Note: Today, you'll have a double-dose of Confessions of a Foodie: this post, as well as a Diabetic Thursday post. Happy New Year's!
OOEY GOOEY BUTTER CAKE BARS
This comes from Tablespoon's newsletter. Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 50 min; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
1 box Betty Crocker French Vanilla Cake mix
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted
3 eggs
8 oz cream cheese
1 lb bag (about 3-3/4 cups) powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Line an 8 x 8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
In a bowl, mix together the cake mix, melted butter, and 1 egg until a soft dough forms. Press into the bottom of the baking dish.
In a stand mixer, combine together the cream cheese, 2 eggs, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over the cake mix layer.
Bake bars for 45 minutes, or until edges are golden brown,and the center has set to a soft consistency.
Cool COMPLETELY before slicing into bars and serving.
SLOW-COOKER PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE
This comes from The Food Network, and starts off, “Made and served in the same pot, our slow-cooker cocoa is thickened and enriched with dark chocolate. Set up an add-ons bar beside the cooker (mini marshmallows, crushed candies and peppermint schnapps take cocoa to a whole new holiday level), then stick a ladle in the pot and let guests help themselves.” The recipe's last ingredient is peppermint schnapps, which is optional. I don't use it, and, if this is being served to children and/or people who normally don't drink – or if you're not sure – don't use it. I find that it really doesn't need it. Total Time: 2 hr 5 min; Prep: 5 min; Cook: 2 hr; Yield: 14 cups; Level: Easy
To read more, go to: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/slow-cooker-peppermint-hot-chocolate.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
12 cups whole milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon kosher salt
8 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped
24 peppermint candies, crushed (about 1 cup), for serving
3 cups mini marshmallows, for serving
2 cups peppermint schnapps, optional, for serving
Directions
Whisk together the sugar and cocoa powder in a 6-quart slow cooker. Turn the cooker to high, and slowly whisk in the milk to prevent lumps from forming. Add the vanilla and salt, cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours. The sugar and cocoa powder should be completely dissolved.
Whisk in the chopped chocolate a little at a time until it is all incorporated. Replace the lid, and cook until thickened, 30 minutes more.
Turn the cooker to warm, and serve with small bowls of the peppermint candies and mini marshmallows and a small pitcher of schnapps, if using. For minty cocoa, let a few teaspoons of the peppermints melt in an 8-ounce cup or add 2 tablespoons of schnapps.
MACARONI AND CHEESE BAKE
This and the Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipes were in an several old emails. I'm not completely sure where they're from, but something tells me they might be from About.com.
This first one starts off, “This is a custard-like macaroni and cheese casserole.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; servings: 6
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups Milk
4 tablespoons melted butter, divided
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs
Preparation:
Directions for macaroni and cheese:
Cook macaroni according to package directions in boiling salted water; drain and set aside. Combine milk, 3 tablespoons melted butter, flour, salt, pepper, and eggs in a mixing bowl; whisk until smooth and well-blended. Layer half of cooked macaroni in bottom of a shallow, buttered 2-quart baking dish; sprinkle with 2 cups cheese and top with remaining macaroni. Pour milk and egg mixture over macaroni. Toss breadcrumbs with remaining 1 tablespoon melted butter; sprinkle bread crumbs over the top of macaroni and cheese mixture. Bake macaroni and cheese at 350°, uncovered, for about 45 to 50 minutes; sprinkle with remaining cheese and continue baking for about 5 minutes longer, or until macaroni and cheese is set.
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This one start off, “Macaroni and cheese, made with a homemade white sauce with cheese and butter, along with cooked macaroni and seasonings.” Serves 4 to 6.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheese, divided
salt
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°. Cook macaroni in boiling salted water according to package directions; drain well and set aside. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk and half-and-half. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add paprika, pepper, and 2 cups of the cheese; stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Combine sauce with the macaroni and add salt to taste. Place in a buttered 1 1/2-quart casserole dish. Garnish top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and dot with additional butter. Bake 25 to 30 minutes.
TRIPLE CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI
This is from Sean Paajanen, the former Coffee/Tea expert for About.com. Lindsey Goodwin now writes the coffee/tea column; she also has many great recipes, too. (Hint: check out her blog, as well as others on About.com.)
Anyway, Sean wrote, “You can never have too much chocolate. Chocolate chips and cocoa in the biscotti, and a drizzle of semi-sweet on top. If that's not enough, you can also dip these biscotti into your cup of hot cocoa.”Ingredients:
5 cups flour
1 1/2 cups cocoa powder
2 tbs baking powder
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 tbs vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400F. Cream sugar and butter. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until smooth and add vanilla extract. Sift together the dry ingredients and add to the egg mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Shape the dough into 6 longs loaves and brush with beaten egg yolk. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Cut each loaf into 1 inch slices and place back on baking sheet. Reduce heat to 350F and place slices back into the oven. Bake for another 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and cool. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate, and drizzle over the biscotti.
CHEESE STRAWS
This comes from Carroll Pellegrinelli, About.com's Desserts/Baking expert. She writes, "Here is one of my family's favorite homemade snacks. Not only do they make a good afternoon treat, but they're a crowd-pleaser at our parties too. Next time there's a bake sale, I'm making these Cheese Straws." Prep Time: 35 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cup flour
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (red) pepper, or to taste
1-1/4 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated, room temperature
1/2 cup (1/4 pound) butter, softened
Preparation
In a small bowl, combine flour, salt and other spices with a wire whisk. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, stand mixer is preferred, cream together cheddar cheese and butter. Gradually add flour mixture. Combine completely. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Allow dough to rest for 10 to 15 minutes in refrigerator. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets. Press dough through a cookie press onto prepared baking sheets. Bake cheese straws for 20 to 30 minutes or until crisp and lightly brown.
Store in tightly covered container. These Cheese Straws may be frozen with wax paper between layers.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Wednesday Recipes
Here are today's six recipes to help you wind-down the old year. Enjoy!
BUTTERNUT SQUASH CAKE WITH HAZELNUTS
This comes from Brett Moore, About.com's Gourmet Food expert. Brett writes, “Squash for dessert? Butternut squash makes a wonderful component for desserts. The complex flavor adds a nice dimension to your cake that your guests won't be able to figure out. The hazelnut frosting is the perfect complement to this sweet and moist cake.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 80 minutes; Yield: Serves 8 to 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Cake:
4 ounces (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup canola or other neutral oil
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
13 1/2 ounces (3 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 1/4 cups peeled and grated butternut squash (about 8 ounces)
Frosting:
1 lb unsalted butter, softened
4 2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup ground hazelnuts
1/4 cup whole hazelnuts, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9- by 13-inch cake pan or 10-cup Bundt pan.
In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy.
Add the oil and beat for about half a minute until combined.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well on low speed after each one.
Add the vinegar and vanilla and mix again until just combined.
Add half of the flour and the baking soda, salt, ginger and nutmeg, mixing on low speed until just combined. Add half of the buttermilk and mix until just combined. Repeat with the remaining flour and buttermilk.
Stir the squash into the batter and transfer the batter to the prepared pan; smooth the top evenly.
Bake for approximately an hour or until a toothpick or small knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes; then carefully invert the cake onto the rack and remove the pan.
When the cake is completely cool it may be frosted.
Make the Hazelnut Frosting:
Use an electric mixer to beat together the butter, powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla until smooth.
Fold in the ground hazelnuts.
Frost cake. If you like, roughly chop some toasted hazelnuts and sprinkle over the top of the cake for decoration.
HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE
I had been looking for a really simple but good homemade macaroni and cheese recipe, and this fits the bill. My daughter and granddaughter had come over on my granddaughter's birthday; while they were here, my daughter whipped up this recipe. She'd been making it for quite a while. It was a definite hit with everyone in the house.
1 box (16 ounce) cannelloni pasta (see Note)
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Note: Just about any tubular pasta can be used in this recipe, though it seems to work best with something bigger than elbow macaroni. Some of the better substitutes for the cannelloni would be ziti, penne, rigatoni, or elicoidali.
Turn oven on to 350 degrees.
Cook pasta according to package directions. If the package gives you a bracket – say, 12 – 14 minutes – lean toward the lower time, since you don't want the pasta to be too mushy. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
In a large pot, melt butter on low heat, then add flour, salt, and pepper. Cook on low heat, stirring continuously, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add milk and cook on medium heat for approximately 5 minutes until mixture thickens, stirring continuously.
Remove from heat and add macaroni, stirring it into mixture. Add the shredded cheese, and stir in completely.
Pour mixture into a 13 X 9 inch pan and bake at 350 for 10 – 15 minutes. Remove carefully, as it will be hot. (You knew that, right?) Dig in.
This makes 4 – 5 servings.
Photo: Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, on the left in the blue dish, and Benecol Macaroni and Cheese, on right, in orange casserole dish (from Avon)
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 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
BOSTON BROWN BREAD
This comes from Jeff Gordinier in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Jeff writes, “Bread that slides out of a can? It might strike many Americans as a dubious culinary eccentricity, but throughout New England it is a staple, often purchased at the supermarket and served at home with a generous pour of baked beans. 'I had this growing up,' said Meghan Thompson, the pastry chef at Townsman, in Boston, where the cylindrical brown tower comes to the table as something of a regional wink. Her version, commissioned by the chef Matt Jennings, dials down the cloying sweetness and amps up the flavor with a totally different manifestation of beans: doenjang, the funky Korean paste made from fermented soybeans.” Time: about 2 hours; makes 2 coffee-can-size loaves, or 1 standard loaf
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons white rye flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons stone-ground whole wheat flour
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons dark rye flour
1 cup fine-ground cornmeal
1 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup egg whites (from 4 to 5 large eggs)
3/4 cup (scant) blackstrap molasses
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees and generously coat the insides of 2 10-ounce coffee cans or a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Place the white rye flour in a large skillet over medium heat and toast, whisking constantly, for 7 minutes. The flour will darken slightly and smell nutty.
Whisk the flours, cornmeal, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the doenjang and buttermilk until combined; set aside. With an electric mixer, whip the egg whites with 1 tablespoon of the molasses until stiff, silky peaks form, about 5 minutes. Whisk the remaining molasses into the buttermilk mixture. Gradually stir the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients until combined. Fold in the whipped egg whites in 2 additions.
Pour batter into the prepared cans or loaf pan. Coat pieces of foil with cooking spray, then cover the tops of the cans or pan securely. Set the cans or pan in a baking dish and add enough hot water to come about 1/4 inch up the side. Transfer to oven and bake until the top springs back when lightly touched, about 1 hour 40 minutes for the cans, or 2 hours for the loaf pan. Let cool 20 minutes on a wire rack, then invert and remove the bread to a cutting board. Let cool completely before slicing.
BAKED BEANS
Of course, you can't have Boston Brown Bread without a helping of Baked Beans. This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Sam writes, “Proper Boston baked beans would have salt pork instead of the bacon. James Beard cooked them with ribs. The key is to use the little white pea beans known as navy beans, and to allow time to do most of the work. (Or to cheat: Canned white beans make fantastic baked beans in about an hour. If you use them, you'll need four 15-ounce cans. Drain and then follow the directions from step 2 on to the end. Please understand that you’ll need much less water and much less time to get them where you want them to be.) The combination of molasses and dry mustard is a taste as old as America itself, and takes well to both ham and soft brown bread.” Makes 6 to 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups navy beans
Salt
1/2 pound slab bacon, cut into cubes
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1/3 cup molasses
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Preparation
Soak beans in a large bowl of water for 6 hours or overnight. Drain beans and put them in a large oven-safe pot with a heavy bottom and a tightfitting lid. Add 1 teaspoon salt and enough cool water to cover 2 inches above the beans. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the beans are just tender, approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Drain and remove beans.
Heat the oven to 250 degrees. Bring a kettle full of water to a boil on the stove. Return the heavy-bottomed pot to the stove and turn the heat to medium high. Cook the bacon in the bottom of the pot until it begins to brown, then turn off the heat and add the chopped onion and, on top of it, the beans. Mix together molasses, mustard and black pepper, and add the mixture to the pot. Pour in enough boiling water to cover beans, put the lid on and bake, occasionally adding more water to keep beans covered, until they are tender but not falling apart, 4 to 5 hours.
Remove beans from oven, uncover, stir and season with salt. With the lid off, return pot to oven and let beans finish cooking, uncovered and without additional water, until the sauce has thickened and the top is deeply crusty, about 45 minutes more.
PEPPERMINT MERINGUES
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen. It begins, “These minty, pink-striped meringues are easy to make and use a clever decorating trick: Paint lines of food coloring gel up the sides of a pastry bag before filling it with meringue, and each cookie comes out striped as you pipe it. You can use this same trick with frosting for cupcakes.” Total Time: 3 hr 30 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 2 hr; Cook: 1 hr; Yield: about 42 meringues; Level: Intermediate
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/peppermint-meringues.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 large egg whites
Pinch fine salt
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup superfine sugar
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
Red food coloring, preferably gel
Directions
Special equipment: a pastry bag fitted with a round tip; a small paintbrush or cotton swab
Position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Beat the egg whites and salt with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a large bowl until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. While beating, add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the peppermint.
Fold the top of a pastry bag fitted with a round tip over and down a few inches. Dip a paintbrush in the food coloring. Starting inside the pastry tip, brush a stroke of food coloring from the tip to the top of the bag. Repeat with 3 more evenly spaced strokes. Fill the bag with the meringue; try to spoon it directly into the center so as not to smudge the food coloring (though some smudging is inevitable). Pipe 1-inch-diameter mounds of meringue spaced 1 inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake until the meringues are no longer glossy and feel light and dry when picked up, about 1 hour. Open the oven for a few minutes, then turn it off and shut the door. Leave the meringues in the oven until they are completely dry inside, about 2 hours. The meringues can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH CAKE WITH HAZELNUTS
This comes from Brett Moore, About.com's Gourmet Food expert. Brett writes, “Squash for dessert? Butternut squash makes a wonderful component for desserts. The complex flavor adds a nice dimension to your cake that your guests won't be able to figure out. The hazelnut frosting is the perfect complement to this sweet and moist cake.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 80 minutes; Yield: Serves 8 to 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Cake:
4 ounces (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup canola or other neutral oil
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
13 1/2 ounces (3 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 1/4 cups peeled and grated butternut squash (about 8 ounces)
Frosting:
1 lb unsalted butter, softened
4 2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup ground hazelnuts
1/4 cup whole hazelnuts, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9- by 13-inch cake pan or 10-cup Bundt pan.
In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy.
Add the oil and beat for about half a minute until combined.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well on low speed after each one.
Add the vinegar and vanilla and mix again until just combined.
Add half of the flour and the baking soda, salt, ginger and nutmeg, mixing on low speed until just combined. Add half of the buttermilk and mix until just combined. Repeat with the remaining flour and buttermilk.
Stir the squash into the batter and transfer the batter to the prepared pan; smooth the top evenly.
Bake for approximately an hour or until a toothpick or small knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes; then carefully invert the cake onto the rack and remove the pan.
When the cake is completely cool it may be frosted.
Make the Hazelnut Frosting:
Use an electric mixer to beat together the butter, powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla until smooth.
Fold in the ground hazelnuts.
Frost cake. If you like, roughly chop some toasted hazelnuts and sprinkle over the top of the cake for decoration.
HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE
I had been looking for a really simple but good homemade macaroni and cheese recipe, and this fits the bill. My daughter and granddaughter had come over on my granddaughter's birthday; while they were here, my daughter whipped up this recipe. She'd been making it for quite a while. It was a definite hit with everyone in the house.
1 box (16 ounce) cannelloni pasta (see Note)
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Note: Just about any tubular pasta can be used in this recipe, though it seems to work best with something bigger than elbow macaroni. Some of the better substitutes for the cannelloni would be ziti, penne, rigatoni, or elicoidali.
Turn oven on to 350 degrees.
Cook pasta according to package directions. If the package gives you a bracket – say, 12 – 14 minutes – lean toward the lower time, since you don't want the pasta to be too mushy. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
In a large pot, melt butter on low heat, then add flour, salt, and pepper. Cook on low heat, stirring continuously, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add milk and cook on medium heat for approximately 5 minutes until mixture thickens, stirring continuously.
Remove from heat and add macaroni, stirring it into mixture. Add the shredded cheese, and stir in completely.
Pour mixture into a 13 X 9 inch pan and bake at 350 for 10 – 15 minutes. Remove carefully, as it will be hot. (You knew that, right?) Dig in.
This makes 4 – 5 servings.
Photo: Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, on the left in the blue dish, and Benecol Macaroni and Cheese, on right, in orange casserole dish (from Avon)
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 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
BOSTON BROWN BREAD
This comes from Jeff Gordinier in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Jeff writes, “Bread that slides out of a can? It might strike many Americans as a dubious culinary eccentricity, but throughout New England it is a staple, often purchased at the supermarket and served at home with a generous pour of baked beans. 'I had this growing up,' said Meghan Thompson, the pastry chef at Townsman, in Boston, where the cylindrical brown tower comes to the table as something of a regional wink. Her version, commissioned by the chef Matt Jennings, dials down the cloying sweetness and amps up the flavor with a totally different manifestation of beans: doenjang, the funky Korean paste made from fermented soybeans.” Time: about 2 hours; makes 2 coffee-can-size loaves, or 1 standard loaf
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons white rye flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons stone-ground whole wheat flour
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons dark rye flour
1 cup fine-ground cornmeal
1 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup egg whites (from 4 to 5 large eggs)
3/4 cup (scant) blackstrap molasses
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees and generously coat the insides of 2 10-ounce coffee cans or a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Place the white rye flour in a large skillet over medium heat and toast, whisking constantly, for 7 minutes. The flour will darken slightly and smell nutty.
Whisk the flours, cornmeal, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the doenjang and buttermilk until combined; set aside. With an electric mixer, whip the egg whites with 1 tablespoon of the molasses until stiff, silky peaks form, about 5 minutes. Whisk the remaining molasses into the buttermilk mixture. Gradually stir the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients until combined. Fold in the whipped egg whites in 2 additions.
Pour batter into the prepared cans or loaf pan. Coat pieces of foil with cooking spray, then cover the tops of the cans or pan securely. Set the cans or pan in a baking dish and add enough hot water to come about 1/4 inch up the side. Transfer to oven and bake until the top springs back when lightly touched, about 1 hour 40 minutes for the cans, or 2 hours for the loaf pan. Let cool 20 minutes on a wire rack, then invert and remove the bread to a cutting board. Let cool completely before slicing.
BAKED BEANS
Of course, you can't have Boston Brown Bread without a helping of Baked Beans. This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Sam writes, “Proper Boston baked beans would have salt pork instead of the bacon. James Beard cooked them with ribs. The key is to use the little white pea beans known as navy beans, and to allow time to do most of the work. (Or to cheat: Canned white beans make fantastic baked beans in about an hour. If you use them, you'll need four 15-ounce cans. Drain and then follow the directions from step 2 on to the end. Please understand that you’ll need much less water and much less time to get them where you want them to be.) The combination of molasses and dry mustard is a taste as old as America itself, and takes well to both ham and soft brown bread.” Makes 6 to 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups navy beans
Salt
1/2 pound slab bacon, cut into cubes
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1/3 cup molasses
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Preparation
Soak beans in a large bowl of water for 6 hours or overnight. Drain beans and put them in a large oven-safe pot with a heavy bottom and a tightfitting lid. Add 1 teaspoon salt and enough cool water to cover 2 inches above the beans. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the beans are just tender, approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Drain and remove beans.
Heat the oven to 250 degrees. Bring a kettle full of water to a boil on the stove. Return the heavy-bottomed pot to the stove and turn the heat to medium high. Cook the bacon in the bottom of the pot until it begins to brown, then turn off the heat and add the chopped onion and, on top of it, the beans. Mix together molasses, mustard and black pepper, and add the mixture to the pot. Pour in enough boiling water to cover beans, put the lid on and bake, occasionally adding more water to keep beans covered, until they are tender but not falling apart, 4 to 5 hours.
Remove beans from oven, uncover, stir and season with salt. With the lid off, return pot to oven and let beans finish cooking, uncovered and without additional water, until the sauce has thickened and the top is deeply crusty, about 45 minutes more.
PEPPERMINT MERINGUES
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen. It begins, “These minty, pink-striped meringues are easy to make and use a clever decorating trick: Paint lines of food coloring gel up the sides of a pastry bag before filling it with meringue, and each cookie comes out striped as you pipe it. You can use this same trick with frosting for cupcakes.” Total Time: 3 hr 30 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 2 hr; Cook: 1 hr; Yield: about 42 meringues; Level: Intermediate
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/peppermint-meringues.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 large egg whites
Pinch fine salt
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup superfine sugar
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
Red food coloring, preferably gel
Directions
Special equipment: a pastry bag fitted with a round tip; a small paintbrush or cotton swab
Position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Beat the egg whites and salt with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a large bowl until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. While beating, add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the peppermint.
Fold the top of a pastry bag fitted with a round tip over and down a few inches. Dip a paintbrush in the food coloring. Starting inside the pastry tip, brush a stroke of food coloring from the tip to the top of the bag. Repeat with 3 more evenly spaced strokes. Fill the bag with the meringue; try to spoon it directly into the center so as not to smudge the food coloring (though some smudging is inevitable). Pipe 1-inch-diameter mounds of meringue spaced 1 inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake until the meringues are no longer glossy and feel light and dry when picked up, about 1 hour. Open the oven for a few minutes, then turn it off and shut the door. Leave the meringues in the oven until they are completely dry inside, about 2 hours. The meringues can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Tuesday Recipes
Here are today's six recipes. Enjoy!
SALT-AND-PEPPER ROAST CHICKEN
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times' Cooking e-newsletter. Melissa writes, “Calling for just four ingredients – chicken, salt, pepper and whatever herbs you have around – this is a recipe for roast chicken at its simplest and best. The method is fairly straightforward. You season the bird, then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy. If you have time to season the chicken ahead, you should; it makes a difference in flavor. And bear in mind, if you have the kind of oven that starts smoking at high heat, you can cook your bird at 400 degrees instead of 450, though you’ll need an extra 5 to 20 minutes to get it done.” Makes 4 servings.
To view this recipe, as well as a great guide on roasting chicken, written by Melissa Clark, click here. Very thorough!
Ingredients
1 (3 1/2-pound) whole chicken, patted dry
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
Small bunch mixed herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and sage
Preparation
Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. If you have time, refrigerate the chicken, uncovered, for an hour, or overnight.
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place chicken breast-side up in a roasting pan or large ovenproof skillet. Stuff cavity with herbs and tie the legs together with kitchen twine. (If you don’t have twine, leave the legs as they are.)
Roast 50 minutes, then baste chicken with pan juices. Continue roasting until chicken's juices run clear when skin is pierced with a knife, 5 to 10 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before carving.
Tips: (by Melissa Clark)
“Now that you know the basics of roasting a chicken, here are some suggestions for how to serve it:
“Try a side sauce. Aioli, béarnaise sauce, salsa verde, romesco sauce, chimichurri, and make-ahead gravy can be prepared in advance, and transform a simple roast chicken into a something a little more special. Even a dollop of Dijon mustard does wonders here.
“Serve your chicken directly on top of a pile of watercress, baby kale, tatsoi, arugula, or other tender, dark greens that have been sprinkled with lemon juice and dusted with salt. The heat of the bird will wilt some of the greens while others remain crisp, and the hot chicken fat makes an instant dressing once it mixes with the lemon juice.
“Substitute hot toasted bread for the watercress or greens, above. The hot chicken fat makes these croutons exquisite.”
GREEN GODDESS ROASTED CHICKEN
This also comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times' Cooking e-newsletter. Here, Melissa writes, “Green Goddess dressing — a creamy, piquant blend of herbs, garlic and anchovies — is good to eat on salad. And it’s wonderful as a dipping sauce for vegetables. But its best use may be as a marinade for roast chicken. The mild chicken absorbs all the zippy flavors of the dressing, to emerge from the oven fragrant and golden, flecked with green. To intensify the herbal flavor, some of the green goddess mixture is set aside to use as a sauce. You could even pour a little on a salad or some vegetables on the side, and enjoy the best of all the Green Goddess variations in one savory bite.” Makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups buttermilk or plain yogurt
1 cup packed basil leaves
1/4 cup packed chives
2 garlic cloves, peeled
2 anchovy fillets (optional)
1 scallion, white and green parts
Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 (4- to 5-pound) chicken, halved through the breast and back bones, patted dry with paper towels
1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Preparation
In a blender, purée buttermilk, basil, chives, garlic, anchovies (if using), scallion, lime zest and juice, salt and pepper until smooth.
Put chicken halves in a bowl or large heavy-duty resealable plastic bag and cover with three-quarters of the Green Goddess marinade. (Save the rest to serve as a sauce.) Refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
Heat oven to 500 degrees. Remove chicken from the marinade, shaking off as much liquid as possible, and lay the halves on a rimmed baking sheet. (Discard the used marinade.) Pat chicken tops dry with paper towels and drizzle with oil. Roast until cooked through, about 30 to 45 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving, with some of the reserved sauce if you like.
VICHY CARROTS
This comes from Sam Sifton, founding member of NYT Cooking. Sam writes, “Vichy carrots are a dish in which the vegetables are cooked through in water with a little sugar on them to create a glaze. Historically, the excellence of this preparation derived from the quality of the spring water in Vichy, a resort town in central France. Jody Williams, the chef at Buvette in Greenwich Village, from whom this recipe is adapted, adds sherry vinegar to the water, along with, eventually, some honey, shallots and a pinch or two of fresh thyme. Who knows if the Vichyssoise would recognize the result. But served hot, room temperature or cold, they are some fantastic carrots.” Time: 25 minutes; makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound carrots, young ones if possible, or older ones cut into lengths of around 1/2 inch by 2 inches, trimmed and peeled
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium-size shallot, peeled and finely diced
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped
Black pepper, to taste
Preparation
Put carrots in a sauté pan, season aggressively with salt and add a tablespoon of the vinegar. Add cold water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the carrots. Set pan over high heat and bring liquid to a boil.
Turn heat down to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots are just cooked through, about 15 minutes. (If pan appears about to dry out during this process, add a splash or two of water.)
Once carrots are cooked through, discard any excess liquid in the pan. Add remaining tablespoon sherry vinegar to pan, along with the honey, olive oil, shallot and thyme, and cook for about 2 minutes to glaze the carrots. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, or at room temperature, or cold from the refrigerator.
HONEY DIJON BAKED CHICKEN
This chicken recipe comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Diana writes, “In this recipe, the split bone-in chicken breasts are baked with a delicious mixture of honey, spicy mustard, and curry powder for an entree that's full of flavor. If you have time, marinate the chicken breasts for an hour or two before baking.
“This chicken is absolutely delicious with cooked kale or chard and baked potatoes. Serve a simple green salad or sliced tomatoes on the side.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 85 minutes; Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup Dijon or spicy brown mustard
3 teaspoons curry powder
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Dash ground cayenne pepper
4 split chicken breast halves, bone-in, skin removed or left on
Preparation
In a bowl, combine the honey, mustard, curry powder, butter, and peppers; blend well.
Trim away any excess fat and remove skin, if desired.
Arrange the chicken breasts, skin or meaty side up, in a lightly greased baking pan. Coat the chicken with the honey mixture. Cover with foil and refrigerate for an hour or two.
Bake the chicken, covered tightly with foil, in a 375° oven for 45 minutes.
Remove foil and baste the chicken with pan juices. Continue baking, uncovered, for 30 minutes longer, basting every 10 to 15 minutes.
HOT PINK RASPBERRY AND CREAM CAKE
Here's a great recipe to try for New Year's Eve! It comes from Tablespoon's e-newsletter, and begins, “Create layers of luscious cream and cake with a tart punch of fresh raspberries.” Prep Time: 30 min; Total Time: 1 hr 40 min; makes 8 servings.
To view this online, along with a photo of this (!), click here.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups Pillsbury BEST® Self-Rising Flour
2 eggs
1 cup Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Hot Pink Vanilla Flavored Frosting
3/4 cup sugar
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 cups fresh raspberries
DirectionsHeat oven to 350°F. Line bottoms of 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with parchment paper; spray paper with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray.
In a medium bowl, beat flour, eggs, frosting, 1/4 cup of the sugar and 1/3 cup water with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on high speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until blended. Pour and spread batter evenly in pans.
Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 15 minutes. Carefully invert cake layers from pans onto cooling racks; remove parchment paper. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
To make filling, in medium bowl, beat cream cheese and remaining 1/2 cup sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in whipped topping on low speed until blended.
To assemble cake, place 1 cake layer top side down on serving plate. Spread half of filling to edge; top with 1 cup of the raspberries; pressing berries into filling. Sprinkle with half of the pink decorator sugar. Place remaining cake layer, rounded side up on raspberries; press gently. Spread remaining filling on cake. Top with remaining raspberries and pink decorator sugar. Store in refrigerator.
PINK LEMONADE CUPCAKES
This recipes also comes from Tablespoon's e-newsletter. This one begins, “With some pink lemonade concentrate and a box of Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist® natural vanilla cake mix, you can create uniquely colorful pretty-in-pink cupcakes.” Prep Time: 25 min; Total Time: 1 hr 30 min; Makes 24 servings.
To view this recipe and a photo of these yummy cupcakes online, click here.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
1 box Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ natural vanilla cake mix
3/4 cup frozen (thawed) pink lemonade concentrate
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
3 eggs
Pink food color, if desired
Frosting and Garnish
2 containers Betty Crocker™ Whipped fluffy white frosting
6 tablespoons frozen (thawed) pink lemonade concentrate
Pink food color, if desired
Pink candy sprinkles, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Make cake batter as directed on box, using cake mix, 3/4 cup lemonade concentrate, 1/2 cup oil, the water, eggs and food color. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
In large bowl, beat frosting, 6 tablespoons lemonade concentrate and the food color with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Frost cooled cupcakes. Garnish tops with candy sprinkles.
SALT-AND-PEPPER ROAST CHICKEN
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times' Cooking e-newsletter. Melissa writes, “Calling for just four ingredients – chicken, salt, pepper and whatever herbs you have around – this is a recipe for roast chicken at its simplest and best. The method is fairly straightforward. You season the bird, then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy. If you have time to season the chicken ahead, you should; it makes a difference in flavor. And bear in mind, if you have the kind of oven that starts smoking at high heat, you can cook your bird at 400 degrees instead of 450, though you’ll need an extra 5 to 20 minutes to get it done.” Makes 4 servings.
To view this recipe, as well as a great guide on roasting chicken, written by Melissa Clark, click here. Very thorough!
Ingredients
1 (3 1/2-pound) whole chicken, patted dry
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
Small bunch mixed herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and sage
Preparation
Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. If you have time, refrigerate the chicken, uncovered, for an hour, or overnight.
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place chicken breast-side up in a roasting pan or large ovenproof skillet. Stuff cavity with herbs and tie the legs together with kitchen twine. (If you don’t have twine, leave the legs as they are.)
Roast 50 minutes, then baste chicken with pan juices. Continue roasting until chicken's juices run clear when skin is pierced with a knife, 5 to 10 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before carving.
Tips: (by Melissa Clark)
“Now that you know the basics of roasting a chicken, here are some suggestions for how to serve it:
“Try a side sauce. Aioli, béarnaise sauce, salsa verde, romesco sauce, chimichurri, and make-ahead gravy can be prepared in advance, and transform a simple roast chicken into a something a little more special. Even a dollop of Dijon mustard does wonders here.
“Serve your chicken directly on top of a pile of watercress, baby kale, tatsoi, arugula, or other tender, dark greens that have been sprinkled with lemon juice and dusted with salt. The heat of the bird will wilt some of the greens while others remain crisp, and the hot chicken fat makes an instant dressing once it mixes with the lemon juice.
“Substitute hot toasted bread for the watercress or greens, above. The hot chicken fat makes these croutons exquisite.”
GREEN GODDESS ROASTED CHICKEN
This also comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times' Cooking e-newsletter. Here, Melissa writes, “Green Goddess dressing — a creamy, piquant blend of herbs, garlic and anchovies — is good to eat on salad. And it’s wonderful as a dipping sauce for vegetables. But its best use may be as a marinade for roast chicken. The mild chicken absorbs all the zippy flavors of the dressing, to emerge from the oven fragrant and golden, flecked with green. To intensify the herbal flavor, some of the green goddess mixture is set aside to use as a sauce. You could even pour a little on a salad or some vegetables on the side, and enjoy the best of all the Green Goddess variations in one savory bite.” Makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups buttermilk or plain yogurt
1 cup packed basil leaves
1/4 cup packed chives
2 garlic cloves, peeled
2 anchovy fillets (optional)
1 scallion, white and green parts
Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 (4- to 5-pound) chicken, halved through the breast and back bones, patted dry with paper towels
1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Preparation
In a blender, purée buttermilk, basil, chives, garlic, anchovies (if using), scallion, lime zest and juice, salt and pepper until smooth.
Put chicken halves in a bowl or large heavy-duty resealable plastic bag and cover with three-quarters of the Green Goddess marinade. (Save the rest to serve as a sauce.) Refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
Heat oven to 500 degrees. Remove chicken from the marinade, shaking off as much liquid as possible, and lay the halves on a rimmed baking sheet. (Discard the used marinade.) Pat chicken tops dry with paper towels and drizzle with oil. Roast until cooked through, about 30 to 45 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving, with some of the reserved sauce if you like.
VICHY CARROTS
This comes from Sam Sifton, founding member of NYT Cooking. Sam writes, “Vichy carrots are a dish in which the vegetables are cooked through in water with a little sugar on them to create a glaze. Historically, the excellence of this preparation derived from the quality of the spring water in Vichy, a resort town in central France. Jody Williams, the chef at Buvette in Greenwich Village, from whom this recipe is adapted, adds sherry vinegar to the water, along with, eventually, some honey, shallots and a pinch or two of fresh thyme. Who knows if the Vichyssoise would recognize the result. But served hot, room temperature or cold, they are some fantastic carrots.” Time: 25 minutes; makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound carrots, young ones if possible, or older ones cut into lengths of around 1/2 inch by 2 inches, trimmed and peeled
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium-size shallot, peeled and finely diced
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped
Black pepper, to taste
Preparation
Put carrots in a sauté pan, season aggressively with salt and add a tablespoon of the vinegar. Add cold water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the carrots. Set pan over high heat and bring liquid to a boil.
Turn heat down to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots are just cooked through, about 15 minutes. (If pan appears about to dry out during this process, add a splash or two of water.)
Once carrots are cooked through, discard any excess liquid in the pan. Add remaining tablespoon sherry vinegar to pan, along with the honey, olive oil, shallot and thyme, and cook for about 2 minutes to glaze the carrots. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, or at room temperature, or cold from the refrigerator.
HONEY DIJON BAKED CHICKEN
This chicken recipe comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Diana writes, “In this recipe, the split bone-in chicken breasts are baked with a delicious mixture of honey, spicy mustard, and curry powder for an entree that's full of flavor. If you have time, marinate the chicken breasts for an hour or two before baking.
“This chicken is absolutely delicious with cooked kale or chard and baked potatoes. Serve a simple green salad or sliced tomatoes on the side.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 85 minutes; Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup Dijon or spicy brown mustard
3 teaspoons curry powder
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Dash ground cayenne pepper
4 split chicken breast halves, bone-in, skin removed or left on
Preparation
In a bowl, combine the honey, mustard, curry powder, butter, and peppers; blend well.
Trim away any excess fat and remove skin, if desired.
Arrange the chicken breasts, skin or meaty side up, in a lightly greased baking pan. Coat the chicken with the honey mixture. Cover with foil and refrigerate for an hour or two.
Bake the chicken, covered tightly with foil, in a 375° oven for 45 minutes.
Remove foil and baste the chicken with pan juices. Continue baking, uncovered, for 30 minutes longer, basting every 10 to 15 minutes.
HOT PINK RASPBERRY AND CREAM CAKE
Here's a great recipe to try for New Year's Eve! It comes from Tablespoon's e-newsletter, and begins, “Create layers of luscious cream and cake with a tart punch of fresh raspberries.” Prep Time: 30 min; Total Time: 1 hr 40 min; makes 8 servings.
To view this online, along with a photo of this (!), click here.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups Pillsbury BEST® Self-Rising Flour
2 eggs
1 cup Pillsbury™ Funfetti® Hot Pink Vanilla Flavored Frosting
3/4 cup sugar
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 cups fresh raspberries
DirectionsHeat oven to 350°F. Line bottoms of 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with parchment paper; spray paper with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray.
In a medium bowl, beat flour, eggs, frosting, 1/4 cup of the sugar and 1/3 cup water with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on high speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until blended. Pour and spread batter evenly in pans.
Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 15 minutes. Carefully invert cake layers from pans onto cooling racks; remove parchment paper. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
To make filling, in medium bowl, beat cream cheese and remaining 1/2 cup sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in whipped topping on low speed until blended.
To assemble cake, place 1 cake layer top side down on serving plate. Spread half of filling to edge; top with 1 cup of the raspberries; pressing berries into filling. Sprinkle with half of the pink decorator sugar. Place remaining cake layer, rounded side up on raspberries; press gently. Spread remaining filling on cake. Top with remaining raspberries and pink decorator sugar. Store in refrigerator.
PINK LEMONADE CUPCAKES
This recipes also comes from Tablespoon's e-newsletter. This one begins, “With some pink lemonade concentrate and a box of Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist® natural vanilla cake mix, you can create uniquely colorful pretty-in-pink cupcakes.” Prep Time: 25 min; Total Time: 1 hr 30 min; Makes 24 servings.
To view this recipe and a photo of these yummy cupcakes online, click here.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
1 box Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ natural vanilla cake mix
3/4 cup frozen (thawed) pink lemonade concentrate
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
3 eggs
Pink food color, if desired
Frosting and Garnish
2 containers Betty Crocker™ Whipped fluffy white frosting
6 tablespoons frozen (thawed) pink lemonade concentrate
Pink food color, if desired
Pink candy sprinkles, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Make cake batter as directed on box, using cake mix, 3/4 cup lemonade concentrate, 1/2 cup oil, the water, eggs and food color. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
In large bowl, beat frosting, 6 tablespoons lemonade concentrate and the food color with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Frost cooled cupcakes. Garnish tops with candy sprinkles.
Monday, December 28, 2015
Meatless Monday
Hope your holiday weekend was good. Now we're in this year's home-stretch. (And yes, I'll be posting on Friday, which happens to be New Year's Day. And now, for today's six recipes. Enjoy!
CLASSIC WALDORF SALAD
This comes from the April/May 2012 issue of aVegetarian Times, page 61. It begins, “Created in the 1890s at the Waldorf Hotel in New York City, and noted in Cole Porter’s 1934 tune 'You’re the Top,' Waldorf Salad was once the be-all and end-all of culinary elegance.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Salad
3/r cup broken walnut pieces
4 10-inch celery stalks, cut into 3/8-inch dice (2 cups)
2 red-skinned apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch dice (3 cups)
1 cup halved red grapes
12 Boston lettuce leaves
Dressing
1/2 cup light or vegan mayonnaise
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. honey or agave nectar
1 Tbs. chopped parsley
To make Salad: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread walnuts on baking sheet, and toast 8 to 10 minutes, or until light brown and fragrant. Cool.
Combine celery, apples, grapes, and toasted walnuts in large bowl.
To make Dressing: Stir together mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey, and parsley in bowl. Toss with Salad. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
To serve, arrange 2 lettuce leaves on each plate. Top each with 1 cup Salad.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 188; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 176 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 12 g; Gluten-Free
CHICKPEA TACOS
This comes from the March 2008 issue of aVegetarian Times, page 36. It begins, “Turns out, tacos don’t have to be hot to be delicious. The chickpea-avocado mash used as a filling here is prepared and served at room temperature. (It makes a great sandwich spread as well.) Because the fat content of taco shells can vary, look for brands that contain approximately 6 grams or fewer per shell.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
4 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
8 corn taco shells
2 cups baby salad greens
1 cup prepared salsa (medium or hot)
1/2 cup nondairy sour cream
Place avocado in small bowl, and mash with fork. Stir in chickpeas, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic; season with salt and pepper.
Set taco shells in napkin-lined basket. Place salad greens, salsa, and sour cream in separate bowls, and set out alongside chickpea-avocado mash.
To serve, let each person build their own taco by filling each shell with 1/4 cup chickpea-avocado mash, some greens, salsa, and sour cream.
nutritional information Per Serving (2 tacos): Calories: 402; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 19 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 800 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
VEGAN ANGEL HAIR PASTA PRIMAVERA
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian expert. She writes, “Primavera is a healthy main dish easy enough to prepare on a weeknight. Made from a simple creamy homemade white sauce and plenty of garlic and basil for flavor, this is a healthy and filling vegetarian pasta dish perfect for a quick and easy vegetarian dinner.”
She adds, “With lots of veggies and a soymilk-based sauce, this vegetarian and vegan pasta primavera with angel hair is very low in fat.”
Ingredients
3 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp dried basil
6 tbsp flour
3 cups soy milk
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 small head broccoli, cut into florets
1 medium carrot, sliced
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup frozen peas
salt and pepper to taste
1 pound angel hair pasta
Preparation
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion, garlic and basil until the onion becomes translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the flour to make a paste.
Slowly add the soy milk, stirring constantly. Stir in the nutritional yeast, then cook over low heat until the mixture thickens.
Steam the broccoli and carrot, and add to the sauce along with the mushrooms and peas. Add salt and pepper to taste, then cook until heated through.
Cook the pasta according to package directions, then serve sauce over pasta.
VEGAN CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP
This recipe comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide. She writes, “With just four ingredients plus a little salt and pepper to taste, this is a very simple and basic vegan cream of asparagus soup recipe. Be sure to use a vegan margarine to make sure your asparagus soup is completely vegan and dairy-free.”
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup water or vegetable broth
1 bunch fresh asparagus
2 tbsp vegan margarine
2 tbsp flour
1 3/4 cups soy milk
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
Blanch asparagus in water or vegetable broth for just a few minutes until asparagus is tender, but not soft and overcooked. Drain, reserving the cooking liquid, and set aside.
In a large soup pot, melt the margarine over medium-low heat, then add the milk and flour, stirring until a thick roux is formed. Remove from heat.
In a blender or food processor, add the asparagus, soy milk roux, asparagus cooking liquid and asparagus. Pulse a few times, until just blended, or until you have the desired consistency. I like to have a few pieces of whole asparagus in my soup, though you may prefer a smoother asparagus soup.
Return to the stove to reheat your soup, and season generously with salt and pepper.
GRILLED VEGETABLE PANZANELLA
From the July/August 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 27. The recipe starts off, “Grilled summer vegetables require little seasoning to taste spectacular in this hearty bread salad.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view online, click here.
4 slices rustic French bread (8 oz.)
1 12-oz. pkg. cherry tomatoes
16 large green beans (4 oz.)
1 large yellow squash, quartered lengthwise
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. white balsamic vinegar
1 large clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
1 small head radicchio, diced
1 oz. chilled blue cheese, crumbled or coarsely grated (1/3 cup)
4 hard-boiled eggs, roughly chopped
Coat grill pan or basket with cooking spray, and preheat over medium heat.
Grill bread slices 3 to 4 minutes per side until crisp and lightly charred. Slice into cubes, and transfer to large bowl.
Coat tomatoes, green beans, and squash lightly with cooking spray, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Arrange in separate groups on prepared grill pan or in grill basket. Grill 8 minutes, or until squash and beans are charred and just tender, and tomatoes are splitting open, turning vegetables occasionally.
Transfer all but 4 tomatoes to medium bowl. Press tomatoes in bowl slightly to release juices. Spoon tomatoes, and then their juices, over toast cubes.
Whisk together oil, vinegar, and garlic in large serving bowl. Add remaining 4 tomatoes, mash coarsely, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cut green beans and squash crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Add cut vegetables, radicchio, and blue cheese to bowl with dressing. Toss to coat. Add bread cube mixture, and toss to coat. Sprinkle chopped eggs over top.
nutritional information Per 2-cup serving: Calories: 361; Protein: 15 g; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 39 g; Cholesterol: 192 mg; Sodium: 533 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 8 g
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!
CLASSIC WALDORF SALAD
This comes from the April/May 2012 issue of aVegetarian Times, page 61. It begins, “Created in the 1890s at the Waldorf Hotel in New York City, and noted in Cole Porter’s 1934 tune 'You’re the Top,' Waldorf Salad was once the be-all and end-all of culinary elegance.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Salad
3/r cup broken walnut pieces
4 10-inch celery stalks, cut into 3/8-inch dice (2 cups)
2 red-skinned apples, cored and cut into 1/2-inch dice (3 cups)
1 cup halved red grapes
12 Boston lettuce leaves
Dressing
1/2 cup light or vegan mayonnaise
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. honey or agave nectar
1 Tbs. chopped parsley
To make Salad: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread walnuts on baking sheet, and toast 8 to 10 minutes, or until light brown and fragrant. Cool.
Combine celery, apples, grapes, and toasted walnuts in large bowl.
To make Dressing: Stir together mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey, and parsley in bowl. Toss with Salad. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
To serve, arrange 2 lettuce leaves on each plate. Top each with 1 cup Salad.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 188; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 176 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 12 g; Gluten-Free
CHICKPEA TACOS
This comes from the March 2008 issue of aVegetarian Times, page 36. It begins, “Turns out, tacos don’t have to be hot to be delicious. The chickpea-avocado mash used as a filling here is prepared and served at room temperature. (It makes a great sandwich spread as well.) Because the fat content of taco shells can vary, look for brands that contain approximately 6 grams or fewer per shell.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
4 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
8 corn taco shells
2 cups baby salad greens
1 cup prepared salsa (medium or hot)
1/2 cup nondairy sour cream
Place avocado in small bowl, and mash with fork. Stir in chickpeas, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic; season with salt and pepper.
Set taco shells in napkin-lined basket. Place salad greens, salsa, and sour cream in separate bowls, and set out alongside chickpea-avocado mash.
To serve, let each person build their own taco by filling each shell with 1/4 cup chickpea-avocado mash, some greens, salsa, and sour cream.
nutritional information Per Serving (2 tacos): Calories: 402; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 19 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 800 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 2 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
VEGAN ANGEL HAIR PASTA PRIMAVERA
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian expert. She writes, “Primavera is a healthy main dish easy enough to prepare on a weeknight. Made from a simple creamy homemade white sauce and plenty of garlic and basil for flavor, this is a healthy and filling vegetarian pasta dish perfect for a quick and easy vegetarian dinner.”
She adds, “With lots of veggies and a soymilk-based sauce, this vegetarian and vegan pasta primavera with angel hair is very low in fat.”
Ingredients
3 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp dried basil
6 tbsp flour
3 cups soy milk
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 small head broccoli, cut into florets
1 medium carrot, sliced
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup frozen peas
salt and pepper to taste
1 pound angel hair pasta
Preparation
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion, garlic and basil until the onion becomes translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the flour to make a paste.
Slowly add the soy milk, stirring constantly. Stir in the nutritional yeast, then cook over low heat until the mixture thickens.
Steam the broccoli and carrot, and add to the sauce along with the mushrooms and peas. Add salt and pepper to taste, then cook until heated through.
Cook the pasta according to package directions, then serve sauce over pasta.
VEGAN CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP
This recipe comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide. She writes, “With just four ingredients plus a little salt and pepper to taste, this is a very simple and basic vegan cream of asparagus soup recipe. Be sure to use a vegan margarine to make sure your asparagus soup is completely vegan and dairy-free.”
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup water or vegetable broth
1 bunch fresh asparagus
2 tbsp vegan margarine
2 tbsp flour
1 3/4 cups soy milk
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
Blanch asparagus in water or vegetable broth for just a few minutes until asparagus is tender, but not soft and overcooked. Drain, reserving the cooking liquid, and set aside.
In a large soup pot, melt the margarine over medium-low heat, then add the milk and flour, stirring until a thick roux is formed. Remove from heat.
In a blender or food processor, add the asparagus, soy milk roux, asparagus cooking liquid and asparagus. Pulse a few times, until just blended, or until you have the desired consistency. I like to have a few pieces of whole asparagus in my soup, though you may prefer a smoother asparagus soup.
Return to the stove to reheat your soup, and season generously with salt and pepper.
GRILLED VEGETABLE PANZANELLA
From the July/August 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 27. The recipe starts off, “Grilled summer vegetables require little seasoning to taste spectacular in this hearty bread salad.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view online, click here.
4 slices rustic French bread (8 oz.)
1 12-oz. pkg. cherry tomatoes
16 large green beans (4 oz.)
1 large yellow squash, quartered lengthwise
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. white balsamic vinegar
1 large clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
1 small head radicchio, diced
1 oz. chilled blue cheese, crumbled or coarsely grated (1/3 cup)
4 hard-boiled eggs, roughly chopped
Coat grill pan or basket with cooking spray, and preheat over medium heat.
Grill bread slices 3 to 4 minutes per side until crisp and lightly charred. Slice into cubes, and transfer to large bowl.
Coat tomatoes, green beans, and squash lightly with cooking spray, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Arrange in separate groups on prepared grill pan or in grill basket. Grill 8 minutes, or until squash and beans are charred and just tender, and tomatoes are splitting open, turning vegetables occasionally.
Transfer all but 4 tomatoes to medium bowl. Press tomatoes in bowl slightly to release juices. Spoon tomatoes, and then their juices, over toast cubes.
Whisk together oil, vinegar, and garlic in large serving bowl. Add remaining 4 tomatoes, mash coarsely, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cut green beans and squash crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Add cut vegetables, radicchio, and blue cheese to bowl with dressing. Toss to coat. Add bread cube mixture, and toss to coat. Sprinkle chopped eggs over top.
nutritional information Per 2-cup serving: Calories: 361; Protein: 15 g; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 39 g; Cholesterol: 192 mg; Sodium: 533 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 8 g
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!
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Leftovers
I normally don't post here on Saturdays, but since yesterday was Christmas, I figured that most people, like me, have leftovers. Since my Monday posts tend to be Meatless Mondays, I didn't want to wait until Tuesday to give you recipes for leftovers. If you fixed a turkey yesterday, you're in luck; leftover ham or other meat will need another way of finding out how to use leftovers. (Ham works well in omelets!)
By the way, if you had fish for Christmas Eve, or simply want a really good read, check out Jeff Klinkenberg's column titled "Last fish monger of Ybor" in the Tampa Bay Times (then the St. Petersburg Times). It can also be found in Jeff's book, Seasons of Real Florida. For anyone looking for a good read - especially if you like Florida or simply want to read about the state - any of Jeff's books make for a good read.
I would be remiss if I didn't add that I first heard about this story from a certain well-loved (and now retired) professor of Florida Studies at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. (Merry belated Christmas to the Morminos and Klinkenbergs!)
Today's post is a rerun from November 28, 2014 and November 28, 2015. It has several really good recipes to use up some of your Thanksgiving leftovers. Enjoy!
So, you've survived Thanksgiving (if you're in the U.S.) and you have all those leftovers. What to do with them? True, there's the old pile-a-little-of-everything-on-a-plate-and-nuke-it,-then-veg-out (possibly one of those guilty pleasures we all seem to have). But there are a few other ways to use the leftovers. I've included a few of my favorites, as well as a couple of other dishes. Enjoy!
TURKEY-RICE CASSEROLE
Also called Chicken-Rice Casserole
This has been a favorite of my family for years. I know, I know...if you've followed this blog for a while, you're probably aware that I'm a vegetarian - for most of the year. The only time I really have trouble with that is at the holidays. Siiiiigh... This recipe comes from my very battered 40+-year-old Betty Crocker Cookbook. Most foodies I know have several cookbooks (several shelves of 'em, in some cases) that we love for different reasons: the one put out by that funky inn we grew up near; the one from Grandma's church; that vegetarian one with the kicking muffin and apple butter recipes. Then there are the one or two (or three) cookbooks that get so used that we don't even have to look up in the index for a particular recipe; we simply look for one of the many pages that have food stains all over them. That's the way my old Betty Crocker Cookbook looks. (One of my sons likes to joke that he can tell which pages have recipes that no one tried out; they're the clean pages!) The cookbook calls it the Chicken-Rice Casserole, but we make it with leftover turkey. Makes 6 to 8 servings
1/4 cup chicken fat or butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
1 cup chicken broth (you can use 1 chicken bouillon cube in 1 cup boiling water, or use canned chicken broth; I've also used vegetable broth or, in a pinch, water)
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups cooked white or wild rice (I use brown rice, as that's the rice I always buy) - see note at end of recipe
2 cups cut-up cooked chicken or turkey
1 can (3 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained (I never use them, but the recipe does call for them)
1/3 cup chopped green pepper (I usually use any leftover celery instead of pepper, but use whichever you want)
2 tablespoons chopped pimiento
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Heat over to 350 degrees. Melt chicken fat in large saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour, salt, and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in broth and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Pour into an ungreased baking dish (10 X 6 X 1 1/2 inch OR 1 1/2-quart dish; if doubling recipe, use a 13 X 9 inch pan). Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes.
Note: To get 1 1/2 cups of rice, start with 1 cup water and 1/2 cup rice, with a pinch of salt. Bring water (with salt, if using) to a boil in a small pot, add rice, turn heat down so that rice simmers, and put a lid on it. Check periodically. When water is absorbed (about 30 minutes for non-instant rice), rice is ready. Drain and use. Other liquids can be used, too, in place of water, usually veggie or chicken broth.
CHICKEN DINNER PIE
On the same page of my old Betty Crocker Cookbook. I really wish I could tell you which issue of the B.C.C. this is, but the cover and copyright page (as well as several other pages) have long since fallen off...This version was bought in late 1973, and had come out a year or two earlier. If you find the appropriate copy, these two recipes would be on page 307.
This recipe makes 6 servings
Pastry for 9-inch Two-crust pie
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons four
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon thyme
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup light cream
2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey
1 can (1 pound) peas and carrots, drained, or 1 package (10 ounces frozen peas and carries, cooked and drained
1 can (8 ounces) small whole onions, drained
Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare pastry as directed except - roll 2/3 of pastry for bottom crust; fit into 9-inch pie pan. Roll remained into rectangle, about 10 X 6 inches. Cut rectangle into 12 strips.
Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour, salt, pepper and thyme. Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in checken broth and cream. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in chicken and vegetables.
Pour into crust-lined pie pan. Place 7 strips of pastry across filling; arrange remaining strips crisscross to make lattice top.
Trim; turn edge of bottom crust over strips. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning; remove foil last 15 minutes of baking. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.
TURKEY SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This comes from FamilyTime.com. It starts off, "All your Thanksgiving Day favorites are combined in this savory casserole that's so easy to make, you can enjoy it any time of year. And it goes from start to finish in less than one hour!" Serves 6 (about 1 cup each); Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups mashed cooked peeled sweet potato
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup evaporated milk
Swanson® Chicken Stock or 1/4 cup Swanson® Chicken Broth
1 small onion, minced (about 1/4 cup)
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
3 cups cubed cooked turkey
3 tablespoons water
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Chopped fresh parsley
Stir the potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and milk in a medium bowl. Spoon the potato mixture around the inside edge of a 10-inch round casserole to form a ring.
Heat the broth and onion in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook until the onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in the soup, turkey and water. Cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Spoon the turkey mixture into the center of the potato ring.
Bake at 350°F. for 30 minutes or until the turkey mixture is hot and bubbling. Sprinkle with the walnuts and parsley, if desired.
Easy Substitution: You can substitute chicken for the turkey.
SWEET POTATO PANCAKES
This one comes from SeriousEats.com. Serves 2.
To view online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups leftover mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup milk
1 large egg
1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup, plus more for serving
4 tablespoon butter, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Pinch nutmeg
Pinch cinnamon
Directions
Combine sweet potatoes, sour cream, milk, egg, and maple syrup in a medium bowl. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the microwave or in a small saucepan and add to mixture. Whisk until homogenous.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add wet ingredients to dry and whisk until just combined (do not overmix).
Melt 1 tablespoon remaining butter in a large skillet over medium heat and swirl to coat pan. Add four 1/4-cup batches of batter, using the back of a ladel to smooth them out into 4-inch disks. Cook, swirling gently on occasion, until the first side is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until browned un second side and pancakes are puffed, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a plate set in a warm oven and repeat until all pancakes are cooked. Serve immediately with extra maple syrup.
CHICKEN RICE CASSEROLE
I know...Another chicken (turkey) rice casserole. This was from an 5-year-old email; I think it came from one of About.com's emailings, though I'm not 100% certain. It starts off, "This super easy five ingredient recipe is pure comfort food." Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; Serves 6
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
10 oz. can cream of mushroom soup with roasted garlic
1 cup water
3 cups cooked cubed chicken
6 oz. pkg. long grain and wild rice mix
2 cups frozen peppers and onions, thawed and drained
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix milk, soup and water in large bowl and stir with wire whisk to combine. Add remaining ingredients and stir to blend. Pour into 3 quart glass casserole dish and cover tightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, then remove from oven and stir well. Bake uncovered 30-40 minutes longer until rice is cooked and edges are bubbling, stirring once more halfway through baking time. 6 servings.
TURKEY A LA KING
And one more leftover turkey recipe. This is also from a long-ago email...I think possibly from About.com, though I'm not 100% sure. It starts off, "An easy recipe with leftover turkey and veggies. Serve this turkey over rice or toast."
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
4 ounces sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups half-and-half or milk
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 jar (2 ounces) pimiento strips or chopped
2 1/2 cups cooked cubed turkey
dash onion powder
dash pepper
Preparation:
Melt butter; add green pepper and mushrooms. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Remove vegetables with slotted spoon. Add flour to butter, cooking and stirring until smooth. Add half-and-half and cream of mushroom soup, stirring until smooth and thickened. Add turkey, pimiento, mushrooms, green pepper, and seasonings. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve over hot cooked rice, biscuits, or noodles.
By the way, if you had fish for Christmas Eve, or simply want a really good read, check out Jeff Klinkenberg's column titled "Last fish monger of Ybor" in the Tampa Bay Times (then the St. Petersburg Times). It can also be found in Jeff's book, Seasons of Real Florida. For anyone looking for a good read - especially if you like Florida or simply want to read about the state - any of Jeff's books make for a good read.
I would be remiss if I didn't add that I first heard about this story from a certain well-loved (and now retired) professor of Florida Studies at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. (Merry belated Christmas to the Morminos and Klinkenbergs!)
Today's post is a rerun from November 28, 2014 and November 28, 2015. It has several really good recipes to use up some of your Thanksgiving leftovers. Enjoy!
So, you've survived Thanksgiving (if you're in the U.S.) and you have all those leftovers. What to do with them? True, there's the old pile-a-little-of-everything-on-a-plate-and-nuke-it,-then-veg-out (possibly one of those guilty pleasures we all seem to have). But there are a few other ways to use the leftovers. I've included a few of my favorites, as well as a couple of other dishes. Enjoy!
TURKEY-RICE CASSEROLE
Also called Chicken-Rice Casserole
This has been a favorite of my family for years. I know, I know...if you've followed this blog for a while, you're probably aware that I'm a vegetarian - for most of the year. The only time I really have trouble with that is at the holidays. Siiiiigh... This recipe comes from my very battered 40+-year-old Betty Crocker Cookbook. Most foodies I know have several cookbooks (several shelves of 'em, in some cases) that we love for different reasons: the one put out by that funky inn we grew up near; the one from Grandma's church; that vegetarian one with the kicking muffin and apple butter recipes. Then there are the one or two (or three) cookbooks that get so used that we don't even have to look up in the index for a particular recipe; we simply look for one of the many pages that have food stains all over them. That's the way my old Betty Crocker Cookbook looks. (One of my sons likes to joke that he can tell which pages have recipes that no one tried out; they're the clean pages!) The cookbook calls it the Chicken-Rice Casserole, but we make it with leftover turkey. Makes 6 to 8 servings
1/4 cup chicken fat or butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
1 cup chicken broth (you can use 1 chicken bouillon cube in 1 cup boiling water, or use canned chicken broth; I've also used vegetable broth or, in a pinch, water)
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups cooked white or wild rice (I use brown rice, as that's the rice I always buy) - see note at end of recipe
2 cups cut-up cooked chicken or turkey
1 can (3 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained (I never use them, but the recipe does call for them)
1/3 cup chopped green pepper (I usually use any leftover celery instead of pepper, but use whichever you want)
2 tablespoons chopped pimiento
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Heat over to 350 degrees. Melt chicken fat in large saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour, salt, and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in broth and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Pour into an ungreased baking dish (10 X 6 X 1 1/2 inch OR 1 1/2-quart dish; if doubling recipe, use a 13 X 9 inch pan). Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes.
Note: To get 1 1/2 cups of rice, start with 1 cup water and 1/2 cup rice, with a pinch of salt. Bring water (with salt, if using) to a boil in a small pot, add rice, turn heat down so that rice simmers, and put a lid on it. Check periodically. When water is absorbed (about 30 minutes for non-instant rice), rice is ready. Drain and use. Other liquids can be used, too, in place of water, usually veggie or chicken broth.
CHICKEN DINNER PIE
On the same page of my old Betty Crocker Cookbook. I really wish I could tell you which issue of the B.C.C. this is, but the cover and copyright page (as well as several other pages) have long since fallen off...This version was bought in late 1973, and had come out a year or two earlier. If you find the appropriate copy, these two recipes would be on page 307.
This recipe makes 6 servings
Pastry for 9-inch Two-crust pie
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons four
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon thyme
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup light cream
2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey
1 can (1 pound) peas and carrots, drained, or 1 package (10 ounces frozen peas and carries, cooked and drained
1 can (8 ounces) small whole onions, drained
Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare pastry as directed except - roll 2/3 of pastry for bottom crust; fit into 9-inch pie pan. Roll remained into rectangle, about 10 X 6 inches. Cut rectangle into 12 strips.
Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour, salt, pepper and thyme. Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in checken broth and cream. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in chicken and vegetables.
Pour into crust-lined pie pan. Place 7 strips of pastry across filling; arrange remaining strips crisscross to make lattice top.
Trim; turn edge of bottom crust over strips. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning; remove foil last 15 minutes of baking. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.
TURKEY SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This comes from FamilyTime.com. It starts off, "All your Thanksgiving Day favorites are combined in this savory casserole that's so easy to make, you can enjoy it any time of year. And it goes from start to finish in less than one hour!" Serves 6 (about 1 cup each); Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups mashed cooked peeled sweet potato
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup evaporated milk
Swanson® Chicken Stock or 1/4 cup Swanson® Chicken Broth
1 small onion, minced (about 1/4 cup)
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
3 cups cubed cooked turkey
3 tablespoons water
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Chopped fresh parsley
Stir the potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and milk in a medium bowl. Spoon the potato mixture around the inside edge of a 10-inch round casserole to form a ring.
Heat the broth and onion in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook until the onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in the soup, turkey and water. Cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Spoon the turkey mixture into the center of the potato ring.
Bake at 350°F. for 30 minutes or until the turkey mixture is hot and bubbling. Sprinkle with the walnuts and parsley, if desired.
Easy Substitution: You can substitute chicken for the turkey.
SWEET POTATO PANCAKES
This one comes from SeriousEats.com. Serves 2.
To view online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups leftover mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup milk
1 large egg
1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup, plus more for serving
4 tablespoon butter, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Pinch nutmeg
Pinch cinnamon
Directions
Combine sweet potatoes, sour cream, milk, egg, and maple syrup in a medium bowl. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the microwave or in a small saucepan and add to mixture. Whisk until homogenous.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add wet ingredients to dry and whisk until just combined (do not overmix).
Melt 1 tablespoon remaining butter in a large skillet over medium heat and swirl to coat pan. Add four 1/4-cup batches of batter, using the back of a ladel to smooth them out into 4-inch disks. Cook, swirling gently on occasion, until the first side is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until browned un second side and pancakes are puffed, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a plate set in a warm oven and repeat until all pancakes are cooked. Serve immediately with extra maple syrup.
CHICKEN RICE CASSEROLE
I know...Another chicken (turkey) rice casserole. This was from an 5-year-old email; I think it came from one of About.com's emailings, though I'm not 100% certain. It starts off, "This super easy five ingredient recipe is pure comfort food." Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; Serves 6
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
10 oz. can cream of mushroom soup with roasted garlic
1 cup water
3 cups cooked cubed chicken
6 oz. pkg. long grain and wild rice mix
2 cups frozen peppers and onions, thawed and drained
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix milk, soup and water in large bowl and stir with wire whisk to combine. Add remaining ingredients and stir to blend. Pour into 3 quart glass casserole dish and cover tightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, then remove from oven and stir well. Bake uncovered 30-40 minutes longer until rice is cooked and edges are bubbling, stirring once more halfway through baking time. 6 servings.
TURKEY A LA KING
And one more leftover turkey recipe. This is also from a long-ago email...I think possibly from About.com, though I'm not 100% sure. It starts off, "An easy recipe with leftover turkey and veggies. Serve this turkey over rice or toast."
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
4 ounces sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups half-and-half or milk
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 jar (2 ounces) pimiento strips or chopped
2 1/2 cups cooked cubed turkey
dash onion powder
dash pepper
Preparation:
Melt butter; add green pepper and mushrooms. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Remove vegetables with slotted spoon. Add flour to butter, cooking and stirring until smooth. Add half-and-half and cream of mushroom soup, stirring until smooth and thickened. Add turkey, pimiento, mushrooms, green pepper, and seasonings. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve over hot cooked rice, biscuits, or noodles.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Christmas Eve Recipes
Is it already Christmas Eve? It doesn't seem possible that tomorrow is Christmas and that one week from today will be the last day of 2015. Where has this year gone?
Here are today's six recipes. Remember, I won't be posting recipes tomorrow, but will return on Monday morning bright and early with the first of a week's worth of recipes. (Yes, I'll be posting on New Year's Day.) And I may be back on Saturday with a few recipes for the rest of the weekend. In the meantime, Merry Christmas. Enjoy!
EASY PINTO BEANS
This comes from the now-infamous long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
2 cans (16 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup diced cooked ham
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon leaf oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 7 hours. Stir before serving. Serves 4 to 6.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
ROASTED CHICKEN PROVENCAL
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Sam writes, “This is a recipe I picked up from Steven Stolman, a clothing and interior designer whose 'Confessions of a Serial Entertainer' is a useful guide to the business and culture of dinner parties and general hospitality. It is a perfect dinner-party meal: chicken thighs or legs dusted in flour and roasted with shallots, lemons and garlic in a bath of vermouth and under a shower of herbes de Provence. They go crisp in the heat above the fat, while the shallots and garlic melt into sweetness below. You could serve with rice, but I prefer a green salad and a lot of baguette to mop up the sauce.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Make 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 chicken legs or 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 to 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons herbes de Provence
1 lemon, quartered
8 to 10 cloves garlic, peeled
4 to 6 medium-size shallots, peeled and halved
1/3 cup dry vermouth
4 sprigs of thyme, for serving
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Put the flour in a shallow pan, and lightly dredge the chicken in it, shaking the pieces to remove excess flour.
Swirl the oil in a large roasting pan, and place the floured chicken in it. Season the chicken with the herbes de Provence. Arrange the lemon, garlic cloves and shallots around the chicken, then add the vermouth to the pan.
Put the pan in the oven, and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, then baste it with the pan juices. Continue roasting for another 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is very crisp and the meat cooked through.
Serve in the pan or on a warmed platter, garnished with the thyme.
HOLIDAY STICKY BUNS
This yummy recipe comes from Ina Garten of The Food Network's Barefoot Contessa. Total Time: 55 min; Prep Time: 20 min; Inactive: 5 min; Cook: 30 min; Yield: 12 sticky buns; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/holiday-sticky-buns-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup pecans, chopped in very large pieces
1 package (17.3 ounces/ 2 sheets) frozen puff pastry, defrosted
For the filling:
2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup white raisins
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees f. Place a 12-cup standard muffin tin on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 12 tablespoons of butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Place 1 rounded tablespoon of the mixture in each of the 12 muffin cups. Distribute the pecans evenly among the 12 muffin cups on top of the butter and sugar mixture.
Lightly flour a wooden board or stone surface. Unfold one sheet of puff pastry with the folds going left to right. Brush the whole sheet with 1 tablespoon of the melted butter. Leaving a 1-inch border on the puff pastry, sprinkle each sheet with 1/3 cup of brown sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon, 1/4 cup of the cranberries and 1/4 cup of the raisins. Starting with the end nearest you, roll the pastry up snugly like a jelly roll around the filling, finishing the roll with the seam-side down. Trim the ends of the roll about 1/2 inch and discard. Slice the roll in 6 equal pieces, about 1 1/2 inches each. Place each piece, spiral side up, in 6 of the muffin cups. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry to make 12 sticky buns.
Bake for 30 minutes, until the sticky buns are golden to dark brown on top and firm to the touch. Allow to cool for 5 minutes only, invert the buns onto the parchment paper (ease the filling and pecans out onto the buns with a spoon) and cool completely.
ONION SUPREME
This comes from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
My dad came for a week at Christmas, 1987. He fixed this to go with Christmas dinner, along with several other veggies. The day I drove him to Tampa International to fly back to New York, we went for coffee at a shop in the airport. When I asked for a copy of this, he grabbed a paper napkin and wrote down the recipe. It’s a great way to fix onions; I’ve always had onions in things, but never as a side dish. However, this is incredibly easy, as well as fantastic.
2 leeks (discard green), sliced thin
4 bunches scallions (discard green), sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, sliced thin
3 – 4 yellow onions, sliced thin
1 stick butter or margarine
20 small white onions
1 1/2 C half & half
Melt butter over low heat & sauté leeks, scallions, garlic & yellow onions for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, cook white onions in enough water to just barely cover. Add white onions (after 45 minutes) to skillet & pour in half & half. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes more & serve.
JEAN'S SPECIAL POTATOES
This also comes from Off the Wall Cooking.
Jean and I used to spend many hours on the phone together. One afternoon, we spent the better part of 30 minutes talking about food. I told her about Dad’s Onion Supreme; she, in turn, gave me this recipe.
8 – 10 potatoes
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. sour cream
1/2 C butter
2 tsp. chives
Peel & cook potatoes. Whip cream cheese & add potatoes. Mix sour cream, butter & chives. Add to potato mix. Cover & chill overnight (or several hours). Put in greased 2-quart casserole & cover; bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Here are today's six recipes. Remember, I won't be posting recipes tomorrow, but will return on Monday morning bright and early with the first of a week's worth of recipes. (Yes, I'll be posting on New Year's Day.) And I may be back on Saturday with a few recipes for the rest of the weekend. In the meantime, Merry Christmas. Enjoy!
EASY PINTO BEANS
This comes from the now-infamous long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
2 cans (16 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup diced cooked ham
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon leaf oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 7 hours. Stir before serving. Serves 4 to 6.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
ROASTED CHICKEN PROVENCAL
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Sam writes, “This is a recipe I picked up from Steven Stolman, a clothing and interior designer whose 'Confessions of a Serial Entertainer' is a useful guide to the business and culture of dinner parties and general hospitality. It is a perfect dinner-party meal: chicken thighs or legs dusted in flour and roasted with shallots, lemons and garlic in a bath of vermouth and under a shower of herbes de Provence. They go crisp in the heat above the fat, while the shallots and garlic melt into sweetness below. You could serve with rice, but I prefer a green salad and a lot of baguette to mop up the sauce.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Make 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 chicken legs or 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 to 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons herbes de Provence
1 lemon, quartered
8 to 10 cloves garlic, peeled
4 to 6 medium-size shallots, peeled and halved
1/3 cup dry vermouth
4 sprigs of thyme, for serving
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Put the flour in a shallow pan, and lightly dredge the chicken in it, shaking the pieces to remove excess flour.
Swirl the oil in a large roasting pan, and place the floured chicken in it. Season the chicken with the herbes de Provence. Arrange the lemon, garlic cloves and shallots around the chicken, then add the vermouth to the pan.
Put the pan in the oven, and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, then baste it with the pan juices. Continue roasting for another 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is very crisp and the meat cooked through.
Serve in the pan or on a warmed platter, garnished with the thyme.
HOLIDAY STICKY BUNS
This yummy recipe comes from Ina Garten of The Food Network's Barefoot Contessa. Total Time: 55 min; Prep Time: 20 min; Inactive: 5 min; Cook: 30 min; Yield: 12 sticky buns; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/holiday-sticky-buns-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup pecans, chopped in very large pieces
1 package (17.3 ounces/ 2 sheets) frozen puff pastry, defrosted
For the filling:
2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup white raisins
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees f. Place a 12-cup standard muffin tin on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 12 tablespoons of butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Place 1 rounded tablespoon of the mixture in each of the 12 muffin cups. Distribute the pecans evenly among the 12 muffin cups on top of the butter and sugar mixture.
Lightly flour a wooden board or stone surface. Unfold one sheet of puff pastry with the folds going left to right. Brush the whole sheet with 1 tablespoon of the melted butter. Leaving a 1-inch border on the puff pastry, sprinkle each sheet with 1/3 cup of brown sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon, 1/4 cup of the cranberries and 1/4 cup of the raisins. Starting with the end nearest you, roll the pastry up snugly like a jelly roll around the filling, finishing the roll with the seam-side down. Trim the ends of the roll about 1/2 inch and discard. Slice the roll in 6 equal pieces, about 1 1/2 inches each. Place each piece, spiral side up, in 6 of the muffin cups. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry to make 12 sticky buns.
Bake for 30 minutes, until the sticky buns are golden to dark brown on top and firm to the touch. Allow to cool for 5 minutes only, invert the buns onto the parchment paper (ease the filling and pecans out onto the buns with a spoon) and cool completely.
ONION SUPREME
This comes from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
My dad came for a week at Christmas, 1987. He fixed this to go with Christmas dinner, along with several other veggies. The day I drove him to Tampa International to fly back to New York, we went for coffee at a shop in the airport. When I asked for a copy of this, he grabbed a paper napkin and wrote down the recipe. It’s a great way to fix onions; I’ve always had onions in things, but never as a side dish. However, this is incredibly easy, as well as fantastic.
2 leeks (discard green), sliced thin
4 bunches scallions (discard green), sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, sliced thin
3 – 4 yellow onions, sliced thin
1 stick butter or margarine
20 small white onions
1 1/2 C half & half
Melt butter over low heat & sauté leeks, scallions, garlic & yellow onions for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, cook white onions in enough water to just barely cover. Add white onions (after 45 minutes) to skillet & pour in half & half. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes more & serve.
JEAN'S SPECIAL POTATOES
This also comes from Off the Wall Cooking.
Jean and I used to spend many hours on the phone together. One afternoon, we spent the better part of 30 minutes talking about food. I told her about Dad’s Onion Supreme; she, in turn, gave me this recipe.
8 – 10 potatoes
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. sour cream
1/2 C butter
2 tsp. chives
Peel & cook potatoes. Whip cream cheese & add potatoes. Mix sour cream, butter & chives. Add to potato mix. Cover & chill overnight (or several hours). Put in greased 2-quart casserole & cover; bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Wednesday Recipes
Enjoy!
LENTIL VEGETABLE SOUP
This comes from Ina Garten of The Food Network's Barefoot Contessa. Total Time: 2 hr 5 min; Prep: 20 min; Inactive: 15 min; Cook: 1 hr 30 min; Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lentil-vegetable-soup-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
1 pound French green lentils
4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 large onions)
4 cups chopped leeks, white part only (2 leeks)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
1/4 cup good olive oil, plus additional for drizzling on top
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 cups medium-diced celery (8 stalks)
3 cups medium-diced carrots (4 to 6 carrots)
3 quarts chicken stock
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons red wine or red wine vinegar
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In a large bowl, cover the lentils with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drain.
In a large stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions, leeks, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and cumin for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are translucent and very tender. Add the celery and carrots and saute for 10 more minutes. Add the chicken stock, tomato paste, and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, until the lentils are cooked through. Check the seasonings. Add the red wine and serve hot, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with grated Parmesan.
CRANBERRY ORANGE QUICK BREAD
This comes from Elizabeth Yetter, About.com's Bread Baking expert. Elizabeth wrote, “Enjoy the sweet taste of dried cranberries and the aroma of oranges with this delicious recipe for cranberry orange quick bread. The quick bread batter is made into 3 mini loaves that are perfect for family gatherings and gift giving. Individual loaves can be wrapped in foil, bagged, and frozen if they are not glazed.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 75 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
2/3 cup butter, chilled
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup dried cranberries
rind and juice from medium orange
milk (see instructions)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup confectioner’s sugar
water
Preparation:
Grease 3 mini loaf pans.
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
In large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Cut butter into thin slices and add to bowl. Break butter into mixture with fingers until mixture is crumbly.
Stir in brown sugar.
Stir in cranberries.
Grate the rind off of one medium orange. Add rind to the mixture.
Cut orange in half and squeeze juice out into bowl. Remove any seeds from juice.
Pour orange juice (it should be about 1/4 cup) into liquid measuring cup. Add enough milk to the orange juice to make 3/4 cup.
Pour orange juice and milk into mixture. Add eggs and stir. Batter should be thick but not dry. If necessary, add more milk, a tablespoon at a time.
Scrape batter into three greased mini loaf pans.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until done.
Turn loaves out and let cool on rack.
In small bowl, add enough water to confectioner’s sugar to make a thin icing. Drizzle icing over loaves.
HOT CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “These one-bowl brownies couldn't be easier to make, and adding leftover hot chocolate mix is the perfect way to make them extra special. Interested in a Mexican hot chocolate version? Just add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients and sprinkle the top of each brownie with a pinch of chili powder.” Total Time: 1 hr 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 35 min; Yield: 24 brownies; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-brownies.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Cooking spray
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
One 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips
72 mini marshmallows
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, and spray with the cooking spray.
Stir together the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add the flour, hot chocolate mix, salt and baking powder and stir until just combined. Stir in half the chocolate chips. Spread the mixture in the prepared baking pan.
Bake until the brownies begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and are set in the center, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven, immediately sprinkle with the remaining chocolate chips, and let stand until they are very soft, about 5 minutes. Spread the melted chips evenly with a spatula, and let cool for about 10 minutes. Use the foil to lift the brownies out of the pan, and let cool completely on a rack. Cut into 24 squares, and top each with 3 mini marshmallows.
CACIO E PEPE
This comes from Mark Bittman of The New York Times Cooking email. Mark wrote, “It is among the most basic, simplest pastas there is, and suddenly trendy to boot. Why? Because when made right, it is incredible.” Time: 20 minutes; makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Salt
1 1/2 cups finely grated pecorino Romano, plus more for dusting completed dish
1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 tablespoon ground black pepper, plus more for finishing the dish
3/4 pound tonnarelli or other long pasta like linguine or spaghetti
Good olive oil
Preparation
Put a pot of salted water on to boil. In a large bowl, combine the cheeses and black pepper; mash with just enough cold water to make a thick paste. Spread the paste evenly in the bowl.
Once the water is boiling, add the pasta. The second before it is perfectly cooked (taste it frequently once it begins to soften), use tongs to quickly transfer it to the bowl, reserving a cup or so of the cooking water. Stir vigorously to coat the pasta, adding a teaspoon or two of olive oil and a bit of the pasta cooking water to thin the sauce if necessary. The sauce should cling to the pasta and be creamy but not watery.
Plate and dust each dish with additional pecorino and pepper. Serve immediately.
QUICK FRESH TOMATO SAUCE
This comes from David Tanis of The New York Times' Cooking email. David wrote, “In August and September, when tomatoes are at their ripest, make a batch of fresh tomato sauce. At the market, look for the cracked, slightly bruised tomatoes sold at a discount. The flesh of the tomato should be dense, sweet and blood red. This makes a very fresh- and bright-tasting sauce in a manageable small batch. Take advantage of good tasty tomatoes and fill a few zip-top bags for the freezer.” Time: 30 minutes; Makes about 2 1/ 2 cups
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
5 pounds tomatoes
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 garlic clove, halved
1 basil sprig
1 bay leaf
Preparation
Cut tomatoes in half horizontally. Squeeze out the seeds and discard, if you wish. Press the cut side of tomato against the large holes of a box grater and grate tomato flesh into a bowl. Discard skins. You should have about 4 cups.
Put tomato pulp in a low wide saucepan over high heat. Add salt, olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, basil and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a brisk simmer.
Reduce the sauce by almost half, stirring occasionally, to produce about 2 1/2 cups medium-thick sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt. It will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator or may be frozen.
BAKED BUTTER CARROTS
This comes from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!
2 1/2 lbs. carrots
1 T salt
2 T oleo or butter
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
dash of pepper
2 tsp. lemon juice
Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.
LENTIL VEGETABLE SOUP
This comes from Ina Garten of The Food Network's Barefoot Contessa. Total Time: 2 hr 5 min; Prep: 20 min; Inactive: 15 min; Cook: 1 hr 30 min; Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lentil-vegetable-soup-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
1 pound French green lentils
4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 large onions)
4 cups chopped leeks, white part only (2 leeks)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
1/4 cup good olive oil, plus additional for drizzling on top
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 cups medium-diced celery (8 stalks)
3 cups medium-diced carrots (4 to 6 carrots)
3 quarts chicken stock
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons red wine or red wine vinegar
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In a large bowl, cover the lentils with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drain.
In a large stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions, leeks, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and cumin for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are translucent and very tender. Add the celery and carrots and saute for 10 more minutes. Add the chicken stock, tomato paste, and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, until the lentils are cooked through. Check the seasonings. Add the red wine and serve hot, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with grated Parmesan.
CRANBERRY ORANGE QUICK BREAD
This comes from Elizabeth Yetter, About.com's Bread Baking expert. Elizabeth wrote, “Enjoy the sweet taste of dried cranberries and the aroma of oranges with this delicious recipe for cranberry orange quick bread. The quick bread batter is made into 3 mini loaves that are perfect for family gatherings and gift giving. Individual loaves can be wrapped in foil, bagged, and frozen if they are not glazed.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 75 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
2/3 cup butter, chilled
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup dried cranberries
rind and juice from medium orange
milk (see instructions)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup confectioner’s sugar
water
Preparation:
Grease 3 mini loaf pans.
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
In large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Cut butter into thin slices and add to bowl. Break butter into mixture with fingers until mixture is crumbly.
Stir in brown sugar.
Stir in cranberries.
Grate the rind off of one medium orange. Add rind to the mixture.
Cut orange in half and squeeze juice out into bowl. Remove any seeds from juice.
Pour orange juice (it should be about 1/4 cup) into liquid measuring cup. Add enough milk to the orange juice to make 3/4 cup.
Pour orange juice and milk into mixture. Add eggs and stir. Batter should be thick but not dry. If necessary, add more milk, a tablespoon at a time.
Scrape batter into three greased mini loaf pans.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until done.
Turn loaves out and let cool on rack.
In small bowl, add enough water to confectioner’s sugar to make a thin icing. Drizzle icing over loaves.
HOT CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “These one-bowl brownies couldn't be easier to make, and adding leftover hot chocolate mix is the perfect way to make them extra special. Interested in a Mexican hot chocolate version? Just add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients and sprinkle the top of each brownie with a pinch of chili powder.” Total Time: 1 hr 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 35 min; Yield: 24 brownies; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-brownies.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Cooking spray
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
One 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips
72 mini marshmallows
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, and spray with the cooking spray.
Stir together the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add the flour, hot chocolate mix, salt and baking powder and stir until just combined. Stir in half the chocolate chips. Spread the mixture in the prepared baking pan.
Bake until the brownies begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and are set in the center, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven, immediately sprinkle with the remaining chocolate chips, and let stand until they are very soft, about 5 minutes. Spread the melted chips evenly with a spatula, and let cool for about 10 minutes. Use the foil to lift the brownies out of the pan, and let cool completely on a rack. Cut into 24 squares, and top each with 3 mini marshmallows.
CACIO E PEPE
This comes from Mark Bittman of The New York Times Cooking email. Mark wrote, “It is among the most basic, simplest pastas there is, and suddenly trendy to boot. Why? Because when made right, it is incredible.” Time: 20 minutes; makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Salt
1 1/2 cups finely grated pecorino Romano, plus more for dusting completed dish
1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 tablespoon ground black pepper, plus more for finishing the dish
3/4 pound tonnarelli or other long pasta like linguine or spaghetti
Good olive oil
Preparation
Put a pot of salted water on to boil. In a large bowl, combine the cheeses and black pepper; mash with just enough cold water to make a thick paste. Spread the paste evenly in the bowl.
Once the water is boiling, add the pasta. The second before it is perfectly cooked (taste it frequently once it begins to soften), use tongs to quickly transfer it to the bowl, reserving a cup or so of the cooking water. Stir vigorously to coat the pasta, adding a teaspoon or two of olive oil and a bit of the pasta cooking water to thin the sauce if necessary. The sauce should cling to the pasta and be creamy but not watery.
Plate and dust each dish with additional pecorino and pepper. Serve immediately.
QUICK FRESH TOMATO SAUCE
This comes from David Tanis of The New York Times' Cooking email. David wrote, “In August and September, when tomatoes are at their ripest, make a batch of fresh tomato sauce. At the market, look for the cracked, slightly bruised tomatoes sold at a discount. The flesh of the tomato should be dense, sweet and blood red. This makes a very fresh- and bright-tasting sauce in a manageable small batch. Take advantage of good tasty tomatoes and fill a few zip-top bags for the freezer.” Time: 30 minutes; Makes about 2 1/ 2 cups
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
5 pounds tomatoes
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 garlic clove, halved
1 basil sprig
1 bay leaf
Preparation
Cut tomatoes in half horizontally. Squeeze out the seeds and discard, if you wish. Press the cut side of tomato against the large holes of a box grater and grate tomato flesh into a bowl. Discard skins. You should have about 4 cups.
Put tomato pulp in a low wide saucepan over high heat. Add salt, olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, basil and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a brisk simmer.
Reduce the sauce by almost half, stirring occasionally, to produce about 2 1/2 cups medium-thick sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt. It will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator or may be frozen.
BAKED BUTTER CARROTS
This comes from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!
2 1/2 lbs. carrots
1 T salt
2 T oleo or butter
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
dash of pepper
2 tsp. lemon juice
Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Tuesday Recipes
Enjoy!
CREAMY PASTA WITH BROCCOLI, PARMESAN CHEESE, AND HAM
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Diana writes, “This pasta is a snap to prepare. Cook the pasta, quickly steam the broccoli, and stir-fry the ham and garlic for a few minutes. The simple sauce is made with heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. For a gluten-free diet, serve the dish with gluten-free pasta.
“Leave out the ham and this could easily become a vegetarian dish.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
8 ounces pasta (penne, elbows, shells, or similar)
3 cups broccoli florets, roughly chopped, about 1 medium broccoli crown
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 to 2 cups diced ham, about 8 ounces
1 large clove garlic, finely minced
2 to 3 teaspoons chopped fresh basil or about 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf basil
3/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan) cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Preparation
Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling salted water following the package directions. Drain in a colander.
Meanwhile, put the broccoli pieces in a steaming basket. Bring about an inch of water to a boil in a medium to large saucepan. Put the steaming basket in the pan (above the water, so the broccoli doesn't sit in the water). Cover the pan and steam the broccoli for about 4 minutes, or until the florets are just barely tender.
In a skillet or saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the ham and cook, stirring, until browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the basil, cream, and Parmesan cheese. Bring to a simmer over low heat and continue cooking for about 1 minute.
Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed. Combine with the drained pasta and toss. Heat through.
Transfer the pasta mixture to a serving bowl and toss again at the table just before serving.
Serve with extra Parmesan cheese, a tossed salad or Caesar Salad, along with crusty rolls or bread.
Variations
Replace the ham with diced Canadian bacon or about 6 to 8 strips of cooked diced bacon.
Replace the broccoli with steamed or microwaved frozen peas.
CLASSIC SOUTHERN BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Diana writes, “This is an excellent cornbread to serve freshly baked in wedges with beans or greens, or a big bowl of chili. It makes great stuffing, too!
“For a little extra flavor, add some bacon drippings to the skillet, or duck fat, if you have it.
“This cornbread is the classic buttermilk cornbread you'll find throughout the South. There's generally no sugar added to Southern cornbread, but if you prefer a sweeter cornbread, add a few tablespoons of sugar or honey.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 22 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: Serves 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups white or yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 large egg
3 tablespoons melted shortening, plus more for the skillet
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F. Position the rack in the center of the oven. Put about 1 tablespoon of shortening in a 9- to 10-inch cast iron skillet and put the skillet in the oven.
In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Whisk to blend thoroughly.
In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and shortening. Add the buttermilk mixture to the dry mixture and stir just until blended.
Carefully remove the hot cast iron pan from the oven and set it on a metal rack. Pour the batter into the sizzling shortening in the hot skillet.
Return the skillet to the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 375° F, and bake for about 20 to 24 minutes, until golden brown.
Cut the cornbread in wedges and serve hot with soups, stew, chili, beans, or greens. Many people like to crumble their cornbread in a glass and fill it with cold milk. A pan of cornbread also makes great dressing to go with chicken, pork, or turkey.
CRANBERRY BUTTERMILK UPSIDE DOWN CAKE
This comes from The Baker Chick (otherwise known as Audra).
Prep time: 15 mins; Cook time: 50 mins; Total time: 1 hour 5 mins; Yield:10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons butter, separated
3/4 cup plus 1/2 cup white sugar, separated
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste, separated
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (12 ounce) bag fresh or frozen cranberries
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
Instructions
Thoroughly pray or grease a 10-inch ring pan, 9-inch cake pan or bundt pan*. Preheat oven to 350F.
In a medium sized saucepan, combine the stick of butter, 3/4 cup sugar, cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir until the butter has melted and then add the cranberries, tossing until they are coating in the butter mixture. Pour into the bottom of the cake pan, set aside.
In a large mixing bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the 6 tablespoons of butter with the remaining 1/2 cup of white sugar and the brown sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, vanilla, and buttermilk.
Whisk the dry ingredients together and slowly add to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until well combined.
Pour/scoop the batter over the cranberry mixture and use the back of a spoon to smooth if needed.
Bake for 35-50 minutes, depending on your pan, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Notes: *This amount of batter was perfect for the 10 inch ring pan I used, but I think if I made this as a bundt cake I would keep the amount of berries the same but increase the amount of batter just to fill the pan a bit more.
PEPPERMINT MERINGUES
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen. It begins, “These minty, pink-striped meringues are easy to make and use a clever decorating trick: Paint lines of food coloring gel up the sides of a pastry bag before filling it with meringue, and each cookie comes out striped as you pipe it. You can use this same trick with frosting for cupcakes.” Total Time: 3 hr 30 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 2 hr; Cook: 1 hr; Yield: about 42 meringues; Level: Intermediate
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/peppermint-meringues.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 large egg whites
Pinch fine salt
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup superfine sugar
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
Red food coloring, preferably gel
Directions
Special equipment: a pastry bag fitted with a round tip; a small paintbrush or cotton swab
Position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Beat the egg whites and salt with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a large bowl until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. While beating, add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the peppermint.
Fold the top of a pastry bag fitted with a round tip over and down a few inches. Dip a paintbrush in the food coloring. Starting inside the pastry tip, brush a stroke of food coloring from the tip to the top of the bag. Repeat with 3 more evenly spaced strokes. Fill the bag with the meringue; try to spoon it directly into the center so as not to smudge the food coloring (though some smudging is inevitable). Pipe 1-inch-diameter mounds of meringue spaced 1 inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake until the meringues are no longer glossy and feel light and dry when picked up, about 1 hour. Open the oven for a few minutes, then turn it off and shut the door. Leave the meringues in the oven until they are completely dry inside, about 2 hours. The meringues can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
APPLE COBBLER
This comes from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list. Serves 6 to 8
4 cups sliced, peeled cooking apples
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon almond extract, optional
6 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup milk
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Place apples in 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup sugar, cinnamon and almond extract; dot with 2 tablespoons butter.
Sift flour, baking powder, 1/3 cup sugar, and salt together into mixing bowl. Cut in 1/4 cup butter with pastry blender or 2 knifes until mixture is slightly coarser than cornmeal.
Combine egg and milk in separate bowl; pour into flour mixture. Stir just enough to combine; spoon over apples in baking dish.
Bake for 30 minutes, until browned. Serve with whipped cream, sour cream, or ice cream, if desired.
OVEN-ROASTED CHICKEN SHAWARMA
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Sam writes, “Here is a recipe for an oven-roasted version of the classic street-side flavor bomb usually cooked on a rotisserie. It is perfect for an evening with family and friends. Serve with pita and tahini, chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, some olives, chopped parsley, some feta, fried eggplant, hummus swirled with harissa, rice or rice pilaf. You can make the white sauce that traditionally accompanies it by cutting plain yogurt with mayonnaise and lemon juice, and flecking it with garlic. For a red to offset it, simmer ketchup with red pepper flakes and a hit of red-wine vinegar until it goes syrupy and thick, or just use your favorite hot sauce instead.” Time: 45 minutes, plus marinating; makes 4 to 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 lemons, juiced
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cloves garlic, peeled, smashed and minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
A pinch ground cinnamon
Red pepper flakes, to taste
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 large red onion, peeled and quartered
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Preparation
Prepare a marinade for the chicken. Combine the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon and red pepper flakes in a large bowl, then whisk to combine. Add the chicken and toss well to coat. Cover and store in refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours.
When ready to cook, heat oven to 425 degrees. Use the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to grease a rimmed sheet pan. Add the quartered onion to the chicken and marinade, and toss once to combine. Remove the chicken and onion from the marinade, and place on the pan, spreading everything evenly across it.
Put the chicken in the oven and roast until it is browned, crisp at the edges and cooked through, about 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to rest 2 minutes, then slice into bits. (To make the chicken even more crisp, set a large pan over high heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan, then the sliced chicken, and sauté until everything curls tight in the heat.) Scatter the parsley over the top and serve with tomatoes, cucumbers, pita, white sauce, hot sauce, olives, fried eggplant, feta, rice — really anything you desire.
CREAMY PASTA WITH BROCCOLI, PARMESAN CHEESE, AND HAM
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Diana writes, “This pasta is a snap to prepare. Cook the pasta, quickly steam the broccoli, and stir-fry the ham and garlic for a few minutes. The simple sauce is made with heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. For a gluten-free diet, serve the dish with gluten-free pasta.
“Leave out the ham and this could easily become a vegetarian dish.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
8 ounces pasta (penne, elbows, shells, or similar)
3 cups broccoli florets, roughly chopped, about 1 medium broccoli crown
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 to 2 cups diced ham, about 8 ounces
1 large clove garlic, finely minced
2 to 3 teaspoons chopped fresh basil or about 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf basil
3/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan) cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Preparation
Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling salted water following the package directions. Drain in a colander.
Meanwhile, put the broccoli pieces in a steaming basket. Bring about an inch of water to a boil in a medium to large saucepan. Put the steaming basket in the pan (above the water, so the broccoli doesn't sit in the water). Cover the pan and steam the broccoli for about 4 minutes, or until the florets are just barely tender.
In a skillet or saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the ham and cook, stirring, until browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the basil, cream, and Parmesan cheese. Bring to a simmer over low heat and continue cooking for about 1 minute.
Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed. Combine with the drained pasta and toss. Heat through.
Transfer the pasta mixture to a serving bowl and toss again at the table just before serving.
Serve with extra Parmesan cheese, a tossed salad or Caesar Salad, along with crusty rolls or bread.
Variations
Replace the ham with diced Canadian bacon or about 6 to 8 strips of cooked diced bacon.
Replace the broccoli with steamed or microwaved frozen peas.
CLASSIC SOUTHERN BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Diana writes, “This is an excellent cornbread to serve freshly baked in wedges with beans or greens, or a big bowl of chili. It makes great stuffing, too!
“For a little extra flavor, add some bacon drippings to the skillet, or duck fat, if you have it.
“This cornbread is the classic buttermilk cornbread you'll find throughout the South. There's generally no sugar added to Southern cornbread, but if you prefer a sweeter cornbread, add a few tablespoons of sugar or honey.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 22 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: Serves 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups white or yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 large egg
3 tablespoons melted shortening, plus more for the skillet
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F. Position the rack in the center of the oven. Put about 1 tablespoon of shortening in a 9- to 10-inch cast iron skillet and put the skillet in the oven.
In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Whisk to blend thoroughly.
In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and shortening. Add the buttermilk mixture to the dry mixture and stir just until blended.
Carefully remove the hot cast iron pan from the oven and set it on a metal rack. Pour the batter into the sizzling shortening in the hot skillet.
Return the skillet to the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 375° F, and bake for about 20 to 24 minutes, until golden brown.
Cut the cornbread in wedges and serve hot with soups, stew, chili, beans, or greens. Many people like to crumble their cornbread in a glass and fill it with cold milk. A pan of cornbread also makes great dressing to go with chicken, pork, or turkey.
CRANBERRY BUTTERMILK UPSIDE DOWN CAKE
This comes from The Baker Chick (otherwise known as Audra).
Prep time: 15 mins; Cook time: 50 mins; Total time: 1 hour 5 mins; Yield:10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons butter, separated
3/4 cup plus 1/2 cup white sugar, separated
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste, separated
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (12 ounce) bag fresh or frozen cranberries
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
Instructions
Thoroughly pray or grease a 10-inch ring pan, 9-inch cake pan or bundt pan*. Preheat oven to 350F.
In a medium sized saucepan, combine the stick of butter, 3/4 cup sugar, cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir until the butter has melted and then add the cranberries, tossing until they are coating in the butter mixture. Pour into the bottom of the cake pan, set aside.
In a large mixing bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the 6 tablespoons of butter with the remaining 1/2 cup of white sugar and the brown sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, vanilla, and buttermilk.
Whisk the dry ingredients together and slowly add to the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until well combined.
Pour/scoop the batter over the cranberry mixture and use the back of a spoon to smooth if needed.
Bake for 35-50 minutes, depending on your pan, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Notes: *This amount of batter was perfect for the 10 inch ring pan I used, but I think if I made this as a bundt cake I would keep the amount of berries the same but increase the amount of batter just to fill the pan a bit more.
PEPPERMINT MERINGUES
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen. It begins, “These minty, pink-striped meringues are easy to make and use a clever decorating trick: Paint lines of food coloring gel up the sides of a pastry bag before filling it with meringue, and each cookie comes out striped as you pipe it. You can use this same trick with frosting for cupcakes.” Total Time: 3 hr 30 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 2 hr; Cook: 1 hr; Yield: about 42 meringues; Level: Intermediate
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/peppermint-meringues.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 large egg whites
Pinch fine salt
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup superfine sugar
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
Red food coloring, preferably gel
Directions
Special equipment: a pastry bag fitted with a round tip; a small paintbrush or cotton swab
Position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Beat the egg whites and salt with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a large bowl until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. While beating, add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the peppermint.
Fold the top of a pastry bag fitted with a round tip over and down a few inches. Dip a paintbrush in the food coloring. Starting inside the pastry tip, brush a stroke of food coloring from the tip to the top of the bag. Repeat with 3 more evenly spaced strokes. Fill the bag with the meringue; try to spoon it directly into the center so as not to smudge the food coloring (though some smudging is inevitable). Pipe 1-inch-diameter mounds of meringue spaced 1 inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake until the meringues are no longer glossy and feel light and dry when picked up, about 1 hour. Open the oven for a few minutes, then turn it off and shut the door. Leave the meringues in the oven until they are completely dry inside, about 2 hours. The meringues can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
APPLE COBBLER
This comes from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list. Serves 6 to 8
4 cups sliced, peeled cooking apples
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon almond extract, optional
6 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup milk
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Place apples in 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup sugar, cinnamon and almond extract; dot with 2 tablespoons butter.
Sift flour, baking powder, 1/3 cup sugar, and salt together into mixing bowl. Cut in 1/4 cup butter with pastry blender or 2 knifes until mixture is slightly coarser than cornmeal.
Combine egg and milk in separate bowl; pour into flour mixture. Stir just enough to combine; spoon over apples in baking dish.
Bake for 30 minutes, until browned. Serve with whipped cream, sour cream, or ice cream, if desired.
OVEN-ROASTED CHICKEN SHAWARMA
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Sam writes, “Here is a recipe for an oven-roasted version of the classic street-side flavor bomb usually cooked on a rotisserie. It is perfect for an evening with family and friends. Serve with pita and tahini, chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, some olives, chopped parsley, some feta, fried eggplant, hummus swirled with harissa, rice or rice pilaf. You can make the white sauce that traditionally accompanies it by cutting plain yogurt with mayonnaise and lemon juice, and flecking it with garlic. For a red to offset it, simmer ketchup with red pepper flakes and a hit of red-wine vinegar until it goes syrupy and thick, or just use your favorite hot sauce instead.” Time: 45 minutes, plus marinating; makes 4 to 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 lemons, juiced
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cloves garlic, peeled, smashed and minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
A pinch ground cinnamon
Red pepper flakes, to taste
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 large red onion, peeled and quartered
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Preparation
Prepare a marinade for the chicken. Combine the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon and red pepper flakes in a large bowl, then whisk to combine. Add the chicken and toss well to coat. Cover and store in refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours.
When ready to cook, heat oven to 425 degrees. Use the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to grease a rimmed sheet pan. Add the quartered onion to the chicken and marinade, and toss once to combine. Remove the chicken and onion from the marinade, and place on the pan, spreading everything evenly across it.
Put the chicken in the oven and roast until it is browned, crisp at the edges and cooked through, about 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to rest 2 minutes, then slice into bits. (To make the chicken even more crisp, set a large pan over high heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan, then the sliced chicken, and sauté until everything curls tight in the heat.) Scatter the parsley over the top and serve with tomatoes, cucumbers, pita, white sauce, hot sauce, olives, fried eggplant, feta, rice — really anything you desire.
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