Weekend Recipes

It's been a semi-crazy week, and I have yet to work up today's offerings. So, here's the blog from Friday, January 16, 2015. (I can almost hear that's cheating; just think of it as Throw Back Thursday, a day late.) Next week, back to fresh blog offerings Monday through Friday. In the meantime, enjoy!

Finally, Friday! While it's been a good week (at least for me), it's still been a long one. (Yay, Friday!) I hope your week has been decent, and that your weekend is better. And now, for your weekend recipes. Enjoy!

VEGETABLE NOODLE SOUP

This comes from The Food Network. It starts off, "This soup is just as good for dinner as it is for lunch - it's warming and comforting and perfect for a rainy day." Total Time: 30 min; Prep: 10 min; Cook: 20 min; Yield: 4 servings, about 4 cups; level: easy

To read this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/vegetable-noodle-soup-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 rib celery, sliced (about 1 cup)

1 medium carrot, sliced (about 3/4 cup)

1 clove garlic, smashed

1/4 medium onion, about 1/2 cup

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/3 cup orzo or other small pasta or egg noodles or broken up spaghetti

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (1 quart box, or 2 cans)

Small handful fresh parsley leaves, basil or dill, chopped (about 2 tablespoons)

1/2 lemon, juiced (about 1 tablespoon)

Freshly ground black pepper

Serving suggestion: Whole-wheat crackers and cheese sticks

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add all the vegetables, garlic and onion. Season with the salt, and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Add the pasta and cook until slightly toasted and golden, about 2 minutes. Add broth, and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook, covered, until pasta is just tender, about 8 minutes.

Stir in whatever herb suits you (or your young eater) and lemon juice. Season with pepper and additional salt, to taste. Fill thermos, pack in a lunch sack with crackers and cheese sticks and send off to school.

TIP: This soup freezes well, so freeze any leftovers or make a double batch to have plenty on hand. Also, you can stir in some cooked chicken or mini-meatballs, if desired, for another meal.

RANCHER'S BREAKFAST PIE

From a long-since-forgotten emailing list. Yields 6 servings

6 eggs, beaten

1/3 C milk

2 C (8 oz) shredded milk cheddar cheese

8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled

3 T chopped green onion

2 T chopped green bell pepper

1/4 t white pepper

2 C refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes

1/2 t salt

1/4 t black pepper

1 T butter or margarine, melted

Paprika

In large bowl, combine eggs and milk. Stir in cheddar cheese, bacon, onion, bell pepper and white pepper. Pour into well buttered 9 inch pie plate. Toss potatoes with salt and black pepper; sprinkle over egg mixture. Drizzle butter over potatoes; sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 325 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

NEW ENGLAND MINI CORN CAKES

Yield: 12 servings

Source: "200 Healthy Recipes in 30 minutes or Less!" by Robyn Webb

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/74.shtml

Notes: Make silver dollar pancakes the easy way, with a muffin tin.

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

1-1/3 cups yellow cornmeal

1-1/3 cups unbleached white flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup evaporated fat-free milk

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons low-calorie margarine

3 teaspoons maple extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Spray 24 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Combine all ingredients and mix until blended.

Fill each muffin cup one-third full with batter. Bake for 13 minutes until browned. Each pancake should be 1/2 inch high.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (2 cakes): Calories: 163, Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 54 mg, Sodium: 177 mg, Carbohydrate: 29 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 5 g, Protein: 6 g Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Starch

MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD

Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/.This recipe and the next (Raisin Walnut Bread) are from Breaking Bread... This recipe yields 1 loaf.

Ingredients:

1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1 cup milk

3/4 cup chunky peanut butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.

Directions:

Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.

Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.

Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.

Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)

About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.

Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.

RAISIN WALNUT BREAD

Also from Breaking Bread with Father Dominic. Yield:2 loaves.

Ingredients:

1 cup lukewarm milk

1 cup lukewarm water

2 packages FLEISCHMANN's Active Dry Yeast

2 tablespoons light molasses

2 cups rye flour, divided

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I prefer canola)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 to 3 1/2 cups bread flour, divided

2 cups raisins

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions:

Combine milk, water, yeast, molasses and 1 cup of the rye flour in a large mixing bowl; stir to mix well. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Add oil and salt; mix well. Stir in the remaining 1 cup rye flour. Let dough rest 10 minutes; the rye flour will absorb moisture.

Add 3 cups of the bread flour, one cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead vigorously 8 to 10 minutes, adding enough of the remaining 1/2 cup bread flour to make a firm (but not stiff) dough that is slightly sticky. Lightly oil surface of dough, and put in the rinsed mixing bowl. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 60 to 75 minutes, or until doubled in bulk.

Punch down dough. Knead briefly to work out the larger air bubbles. Roll out dough to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Sprinkle raisins and walnuts on top of dough. Fold the edges of the dough toward the center. Knead dough a few minutes to evenly distribute the raisins and walnuts. (At first the dough will be messy and seem to be falling apart, but be patient; it will all come together.)

Divide dough in half and shape each half into a loaf. Place loaves in lightly greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch loaf pans. Cover with a towel and let rise 40 minutes, or until nearly doubled in bulk.

About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 35 to 45 minutes, or until loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Remove from pans and let cool on wire racks.

Note: If you would prefer smaller loaves, divide the dough into four pieces and use mini-loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. I like the smaller size for gift breads or for a light buffet.

EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked couscous

6 green onions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

3/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp salt

dash pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.