Double-Post Tuesday

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's six yummy recipes include Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Penne and Chocolate Coconut Cake. Enjoy!

STUFFED PEPPERS WITH GROUND BEEF AND RICE

This is from Diana Rattray of The Spruce. Diana wrote, “Stuffed bell peppers make a delicious everyday meal with a tossed salad, or mashed or baked potatoes served alongside. The filling in this classic version includes ground beef and rice. Because the ground beef is not browned before it's added to the peppers, it should be quite lean. Replace the ground beef with ground turkey for a lighter option.

“This tried-and-true recipe is a family favorite, and many people consider the dish a comfort food. Make these easy stuffed peppers and find out why this dish is so popular!”

Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 85 minutes; Total Time: 110 minutes; Yield: 6 servings.

To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

6 green bell peppers (or a combination of red and green)

1 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

1 clove garlic (crushed)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

2 teaspoons salt (divided)

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (divided)

1 egg (lightly beaten)

1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

1 1/2 cups long-grain rice (cooked)

Optional: Shredded mild cheddar cheese (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup)

Directions

Cut the tops off of the bell peppers and rinse them under cold water; remove seeds and cut away the white ribs, which might be bitter. Chop the edible part of tops and set aside. Place the peppers in a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the oil is hot and the butter is foamy. Sauté the chopped bell pepper (from the tops), chopped onion, and chopped celery for about 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Add the (undrained) canned diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, crushed garlic, oregano, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Gently stir to blend; add ground beef, cooked rice, and 1 cup of the tomato sauce mixture. Mix well.

Heat the oven to 350 F.

Stuff the peppers loosely with the ground beef mixture and place them in a 13-by-9-by-2-inch baking pan. Pour the remaining tomato mixture over the stuffed peppers.

Bake the peppers for about 45 minutes, or until the meat mixture is thoroughly cooked. The meat should be cooked in that amount of time, but if you want to be sure, check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. The minimum safe temperature is 160 F for ground beef, pork or lamb, or 165 F for ground turkey or chicken.

Tips and Variations

Top stuffed peppers with a small amount of shredded cheddar cheese just before they are done and then return them to the oven and bake just until the cheese has melted.

Use green bell peppers or red bell peppers, or any combination of colors.

Ground turkey or ground chicken may be used to replace all or part of the ground beef in the recipe. Or add some extra-lean ground pork to the ground beef.

The peppers may also be halved horizontally so you have two halves to fill. You won't have the extra chopped pepper from the tops, but you can chop an extra bell pepper.

STEAK ’N’ BACON CHEDDAR MEATBALLS

This is from Juila Moskin in The New York Times cooking email. Julia wrote, “This is essentially a bacon cheeseburger in meatball form. The cooked steak should be diced into small bites, not ground, for the best texture.”

Yield: About 2 dozen meatballs, 6 to 8 servings; Time: 45 minutes.

This was featured in “Lucky to Be a Leftover” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, minced

Scant 8 ounces bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice

1 pound cooked steak, diced

1 pound ground beef, 80% lean

6 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, coarsely grated

3 large eggs

1/2 cup unseasoned bread crumbs

2 teaspoons salt

Black pepper

Preparation

In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add onion and bacon, and cook, stirring, until bacon has browned and onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer onion and bacon to a plate and cool in refrigerator.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Use the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

In a large bowl, combine steak, ground beef, cooled bacon and onions, cheese, eggs, bread crumbs and salt, and mix lightly but thoroughly by hand. To taste for seasoning, heat a small skillet and fry a chunk of the mixture until browned. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Roll mixture into golf-ball-size balls, packing firmly. Pack snugly into the prepared dish, making even rows to form a grid. Roast for 20 minutes, or until firm and cooked through. (The center should be at 165 degrees.)

Let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.

CREAMY ROASTED RED PEPPER PENNE

This is from Lindsay Funston on Delish. Lindsay wrote, “With a super-light cream sauce, this spinach and roasted red pepper penne is addictive.”

Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4

To view this online, click here.

Note: This recipe originally called for chicken broth, which I've exchanged for veggie broth. Also, if you can get hold of a veggie version of heavy cream – maybe soy? Whatever – go for it.

Ingredients

12 oz. penne

1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 c. baby spinach

1 c. sliced jarred roasted red peppers

1/2 c. heavy cream

1/2 c. low-sodium vegetable broth

1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

freshly grated Parmesan, for serving

Directions

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook penne according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water, and return to pot.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and garlic and cook until soft, 5 minutes, then add spinach and roasted red peppers. Cook until wilted and warmed through, 3 minutes.

Stir in heavy cream, vegetable broth, and 1/4 cup pasta water and bring to a simmer.

Add cooked penne to pan and stir until coated, then season with crushed red pepper flakes.

Garnish with Parmesan and serve.

LEMON-SPICE VISITING CAKE

This comes from Dorie Greenspan on The New York Times cooking emailing list. Dorie wrote, “Whether you pack this cake as a gift or have it ready when visitors come to you, the imperative to share is implicit in its name. The cake is built for comfort and durability – make it on Thursday or Friday and have it all weekend. And if it stales, toast it; the heat will intensify the lemon and spice deliciously. The cake is easy to make (no machines needed) and, like all spice cakes, better after a day’s rest. Giving it a swish of warmed marmalade when it comes out of the oven is optional. What shouldn't be passed up is what I call the ‘lemon trick’: Use your fingertips to rub the recipe’s lemon and sugar together until the sugar is moist and aromatic. This easy step transfers everything essential from the lemon to the cake. Think of it as aromatherapy for the cake and you.”

Yield: 10 servings; Time: 85 minutes.

This yumminess was featured in “A Cake You Can Take With You Anywhere” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

Butter and flour for the pan

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 large (or 2 small) lemons

4 large eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

5 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1/3 cup marmalade (for optional glaze)

1/2 teaspoon water (for optional glaze)

Preparation

Center a rack in the oven, and preheat it to 350. Butter an 8 1/2-inch loaf pan (Pyrex works well), dust with flour and tap out the excess. (For this cake, bakers’ spray isn’t as good as butter and flour.) Place on a baking sheet.

Whisk the 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, cardamom, ginger and salt together.

Put the sugar in a large bowl, and grate the zest of the lemon(s) over the sugar. Squeeze the lemon(s) to produce 3 tablespoons juice, and set this aside. Using your fingers, rub the sugar and zest together until the mixture is moist and aromatic. One at a time, add the eggs, whisking well after each. Whisk in the juice, followed by the heavy cream. Still using the whisk, gently stir the dry ingredients into the batter in two additions. Stir the vanilla into the melted butter, and then gradually blend the butter into the batter. The batter will be thick and have a beautiful sheen. Scrape it into the loaf pan.

Bake for 70 to 75 minutes (if the cake looks as if it’s getting too dark too quickly, tent it loosely with foil) or until a tester inserted deep into the center of the cake comes out clean. Transfer to a rack, let rest for 5 minutes and then carefully run a blunt knife between the sides of the cake and the pan. Invert onto the rack, and turn over. Glaze now, or cool to room temperature.

For the glaze: Bring the marmalade and water to a boil. Brush the glaze over the top of the warm cake, and allow to it to set for 2 hours. The glaze will remain slightly tacky.

When the cake is completely cool, wrap in plastic to store. If it’s glazed, wrap loosely on top.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT CAKE

This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times' Cooking e-newsletter. Melissa writes, “The fine, feathery crumb of this dessert, which is on the lighter side of chocolate cakes, is balanced by a slather of glossy, fudgy frosting. A topping of shredded coconut provides additional richness and texture. Make it the day before serving; its flavor only improves overnight.” Time: 1 1/4 hours, plus cooling; makes one 10-inch torte, 8 to 10 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

7 ounces unsalted butter (1 3/4 sticks), plus more for the pan

5 1/4 ounces chopped dark chocolate (at least 60 percent)

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut

4 large eggs, whites and yolks separated

1 cup superfine sugar

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream

For the Frosting:

7 ounces chopped dark chocolate (at least 60 percent)

1/2 ounce unsalted butter (1 tablespoon)

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees, and bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Butter a 10-inch springform pan.

Make the cake: In a metal bowl, combine the butter and chocolate; place the bowl over (not in) the pot of simmering water. Melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat to cool slightly. (Alternatively, melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave on a low setting.)

Into a medium bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt. Add the shredded coconut and stir to combine.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the cooled chocolate mixture, mix to combine. Alternating, fold the flour mixture and the cream into the batter.

In the clean bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff, then fold gently into the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake emerges clean, about 50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Make the frosting: In a medium heatproof bowl, melt the chocolate over a pot of simmering water (or you can do this in a microwave on a low setting). Remove from heat and stir in the butter. Cool slightly, until the chocolate thickens somewhat, then spread the frosting over the cake. Sprinkle coconut on top; let set, then serve.

CHIPOTLE ASPARAGUS QUESADILLAS

This comes from the April/May 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 34. It begins, “Canned chipotles in adobo sauce lend mellow, smoky heat to quesadillas. Leftover chipotles (there are usually four or five in a can) can be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen for future use.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

Quesadillas

1 lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces (2 cups)

1 red bell pepper, sliced (1 cup)

1 medium onion, sliced (1 cup)

1 1/2 tsp. olive oil or vegetable oil

1 tsp. dried oregano

4 8-inch sprouted-grain tortillas

Chipotle Spread

3 Tbs. vegan mayonnaise

2 tsp. minced, drained chipotles in adobo sauce

1 Tbs. lime or lemon juice

Preheat oven to 425°F.

To make Quesadillas: Toss together asparagus, bell pepper, onion, oil, and oregano in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Spread on large baking sheet, and roast 10 to 12 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, stirring once or twice.

Meanwhile, to make Chipotle Spread: blend all ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth.

Spread 1 1/2 tsp. Chipotle Spread on one side of each tortilla, spreading all the way out to edges. Top with 2/3 cup filling on one half of each tortilla, then fold over tortillas, pressing edges together to enclose filling and form half-moons.

Coat large skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium heat. Cook each quesadilla in skillet 2 to 3 minutes, turning once.

nutritional information Per Quesadilla: Calories: 273; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 32 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 235 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan