Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Today's yummy recipes include Pepper-Jack Chicken With Succotash and Enchiladas Con Carne. Enjoy!
AVOCADO CLUB CHEESEBURGERS WITH SWEET POTATO FRIES
This is from Audrey Johns on The TODAY Show website. She wrote, “This whole meal, from burger to fries, is only 477 calories, and it's also protein packed with 39 grams of protein. Great for a healthy barbecue substitute.
“Technique tip: I use parchment paper when baking the fries so that they brown nicely and don't stick to the pan.
“Swap option: You can use ground turkey, as the recipe calls for, or swap out for bison or lean beef. If you don't like sweet potato fries, swap out for russet potatoes and follow the same directions for yummy baked French fries.”
Cook Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Sweet Potato Fries
3 medium sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/3 cup fat-free Greek yogurt
1 clove garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Cheeseburgers
4 slices turkey bacon, halved
Nonstick cooking spray
1 pound ground turkey
1/4 cup minced red onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pinch kosher salt
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
4 whole-wheat burger buns
4 romaine leaves, halved
1 large tomato, cut into 4 thick slices
1/2 avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced
Preparation
For the fries:
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line three rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into steak fry-size wedges, tossing them into a large bowl as you work. Add the cooking spray, garlic salt, pepper and toss to coat the fries. Spread out the fries evenly on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 45 minutes, flipping halfway through.
For the sauce:
Whisk together all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside to let the flavors blend.
For the burgers:
Line a plate with paper towels. Lightly coat a large sauté pan with cooking spray and set over medium heat. Add the turkey bacon, and brown to your liking. Transfer to the prepared plate, leaving the oil and drippings in the pan.
In a medium bowl, mix together with your clean hands the ground turkey, onion, garlic, kosher salt and pepper until just combined (don't over mix or the burgers will be tough). Form into 4 patties and make a little dimple in the center of each so that they keep their shape while cooking.
With the pan from the bacon over medium-low heat, add the patties and cook for 8 minutes, undisturbed. Flip and top each patty with cheese and cook for another 8 minutes, until cooked through.
Place the bottom buns on four plates and layer each of them as follows: romaine, tomato, avocado, burger and bacon. Smear the top buns with sauce, and then place on top of the burgers. Divide the fries among the plates alongside the burgers and serve.
ENCHILADAS CON CARNE
This is from Sam Sifton, founding editor of New York Times Cooking. Sam wrote, “There are a few cool tricks to this recipe, one of which I picked up from an old issue of Bon Appétit, one I learned from Robb Walsh, the great Tex-Mex scholar and restaurateur who runs El Real Tex-Mex in Houston, and a final one I learned by happenstance. First, for the thickening agent in the chile sauce, toast raw all-purpose flour in a pan until it is nutty and golden brown, then reserve it to stir in with the browned beef later in the recipe. Second, if you like truly melty cheese in the classic Tex-Mex tradition, use a mixture of American cheese, like Velveeta, with the Cheddar you use inside and on top of the finished enchiladas. Finally, if you’re fearful that a casserole of cheese, chili and fried tortillas may be a little rich for dinner, serve it with a bowl of tomatillo pineapple salsa on the side. The acidity provides a nice balance. (Note also that as with all recipes, but particularly this one, some planning and practice can get the preparation down to 60 minutes.)” (Note: You may have to sign up to see the above-mentioned salsa.)
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time 1 1/2 hours
This was featured in “Enchiladas Are the Saucy, Cheesy Addition to Your Dinner Table,” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Chili Con Carne:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola
1 pound ground chuck beef, ideally 20 percent fat
Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 medium white onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper or more to taste, seeds removed if you want it less spicy, stemmed and chopped
1 cup chopped or canned crushed tomatoes
3 tablespoons chile powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, ideally Mexican
2 cups chicken stock, ideally homemade or low-sodium if store-bought
For the Enchiladas:
1/2 cup neutral oil, like canola
12 yellow corn tortillas
3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, or a mixture of 1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese and 1 1/2 cups American cheese, like Velveeta
1 medium-size white onion, peeled and chopped (optional)
Preparation
Prepare the chili con carne: Put flour in a large sauté pan set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to turn golden brown and smell nutty, then pour it onto a plate to cool.
Wipe out sauté pan and return it to high heat with 2 tablespoons oil. When oil is hot and shimmery, add ground beef to pan, and cook, breaking it up with a fork and stirring, until it is well browned, about 12 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then use a slotted spoon to remove meat to a bowl, leaving drippings behind.
Add onion, garlic and jalapeño to pan and cook, stirring to scrape up any browned bits of meat, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until vegetables are soft. Stir in tomatoes and cook until their liquid has evaporated, then add chile powder, cumin and oregano and stir to combine. After a minute or so, when mixture begins to turn fragrant, return browned meat to pan, along with toasted flour, and stir well to combine.
Lower heat to medium-high and slowly stir in chicken stock, 1/2 cup at a time, until mixture has thickened and started to simmer. Lower heat again and allow chili to cook slowly for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until meat is tender. Add more stock or water if needed. Use immediately, or let cool, cover and refrigerate for up to a few days.
When you are ready to cook the enchiladas, heat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium sauté pan set over medium-high heat, heat 1/2 cup neutral oil until it begins to shimmer. Using tongs or a wide spatula, place a tortilla in the hot fat; it should start to bubble immediately. Heat tortilla for about 10 seconds a side, until soft and lightly browned. Remove tortilla and set on a rack set over a baking pan, or just on a baking pan if you don’t have a rack. Repeat with remaining tortillas, working quickly.
Assemble the enchiladas: Using a ladle, put about 1/2 cup chili in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and spread it out a little. Roll a few tablespoons of cheese into each tortilla, along with a tablespoon or so of chili, then place it seam-side down in the pan, nestling each one against the last. Ladle remaining chili over top of rolled tortillas and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Transfer to oven and bake until sauce bubbles and cheese is melted, about 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle chopped onions over the top, if using, and serve immediately.
BARBECUED HAMBURGERS
This comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “Remember these for your next cookout.”
Serves: 4; Prep Time: 45 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chopped or 1 garlic clove, finely minced
1 (4-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon paprika
salt and pepper, to taste
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
4 hamburger buns, toasted
Directions
Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 10 minutes until softened but not browned. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and paprika and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Meanwhile, heat the broiler or light the charcoal grill. Let the coals get medium hot.
Divide the meat into 4 patties. Brush with the sauce and broil or grill for 6 to 7 minutes on each side for medium rare, brushing frequently with the sauce. Serve immediately on the hamburger buns and pass the extra sauce on the side.
PEPPER-JACK CHICKEN WITH SUCCOTASH
This comes from the Food Network kitchen.
Total: 40 min; Prep: 15 min; Cook: 25 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 ounces pepper-jack cheese, shredded
2 cups baby arugula, roughly chopped
2 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts (12 ounces each)
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for brushing
Kosher salt
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons Cajun spice blend
Vegetable oil, for the grill
1 cup frozen lima beans, thawed
1 medium yellow summer squash, diced
2 cups corn kernels
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
Juice of 1 lime
Directions
Combine the cheese and arugula in a bowl. Cut a deep 2-inch-wide pocket in the thickest part of each chicken breast with a paring knife. Stuff with the arugula mixture. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and the Cajun spice blend.
Preheat a grill to high and brush the grates with vegetable oil. Grill the chicken until blackened and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 155 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the lima beans, squash and corn, season with salt and cook until the squash is just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook 2 more minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice. Slice the chicken and serve with the succotash.
LOW-CAL FETTUCCINE ALFREDO
This is from The Food Network Kitchen.
Total: 25 min; Prep: 10 min; Cook: 15 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 cup low-fat (2%) milk
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons Neufchtel or low-fat cream cheese
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
12 ounces fresh fettuccine
Freshly ground pepper
Directions
Make the sauce: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and lemon zest and cook until the garlic is slightly soft, about 1 minute. Add in the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and 3/4 teaspoon salt and cook, whisking constantly, until just thickened, about 3 minutes. Add the Neufchatel and parmesan cheese; whisk until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the chopped parsley.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente, 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and return to the pot. Add the sauce and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water to the pasta and gently toss to combine, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt. Divide among bowls and top with parmesan and pepper.
30 MINUTE CHILI WITH GROUND BEEF AND BEANS
This comes from Diana Rattray, Southern food guide at The Spruce. Diana wrote, “This ground beef chili is hearty and delicious, and it takes only 30 minutes from start to finish! Don't feel overwhelmed by the list of ingredients, many are suggested toppings.
“The ground beef is quickly browned, then it is combined with a spice mixture, beans, and tomatoes for a quick and easy meal for a busy day. It's also easy on the budget.
“Make a pan of cornbread to go with the chili, along with a salad or slaw, or serve it with hot cooked rice and warm tortillas.
“If you're making this for a party game day gathering, offer several toppings with the chili and add a bowl of tortilla chips to the menu. The recipe is easily doubled.”
Total Time: 30 mins; Prep: 5 mins; Cook: 25 mins; Yield: 6 Servings
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Seasoning Mix:
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons onion (dried minced)
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Chili:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (at least 85% lean)
1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes with mild green chile peppers*
1 can/8 ounces tomato sauce
1 can/15 to 16 ounces black beans (undrained)
salt to taste
Optional: shredded cheddar, cheddar-jack, or a Mexican blend of cheeses
Directions
In a small bowl or cup, combine the chili powder with the dried minced onion, cumin, oregano, sugar, garlic powder, and the black and cayenne peppers. Blend well and set aside.
In a Dutch oven or large sauté pan over medium heat, brown the ground beef, turning and breaking up with a spatula as it cooks.
Drain the ground beef well. Return the beef to the pan over medium heat. Add the chili seasoning mix and stir to blend.
Add the 2 cans of tomatoes, tomato sauce, and undrained black beans. Stir to blend ingredients.
Bring the chili to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
Taste and add salt, as needed.
Topping Suggestions: sour cream, chopped green onion, chopped red onion, shredded lettuce, cilantro, guacamole, diced tomatoes
Serve with a Tex-Mex cornbread or classic Southern cornbread, biscuits, crackers, or tortilla chips, along with shredded cheese and your favorite toppings.
*If you don't have diced tomatoes with chile peppers, use regular diced tomatoes and add mild green chile peppers. Or, use about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of chunky mild to medium salsa in place of the second can of tomatoes.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Diabetic Thursday
It's time for another Diabetic Thursday. Here are today's six diabetic recipes to help you through the day, including Spicy Chicken Pie and Meat Marinara Sauce. Enjoy!
BROCCOLI FRITTATA
Yield: 4 Servings
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=692
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/692.shtml
Ingredients
1/2 cup non-fat cottage cheese
1/2 tsp dried dill
2 cup fat-free egg substitute
2 cups frozen chopped broccoli
1 tsp olive oil
2 tsp margarine
1 large onion, diced
Directions
Mix cottage cheese and egg substitute together; set aside.
In large non-stick frying pan over medium heat, saute onions in oil for 5 minutes, or until soft.
Add broccoli and dill; saute for 5 minutes, or until broccoli mixture softens. Set vegetable aside.
Wipe out frying pan. Add 1 tsp. margarine and swirl the pan to distribute it. Add half of the vegetable mixture, and then add half of the egg mixture; lift and rotate pan so that eggs are evenly distributed.
As eggs set around the edges, lift them to allow uncooked portions to flow underneath. Turn heat to low, cover the pan, and cook until top is set.
Invert onto a serving plate and cut into wedges.
Repeat with remaining 1 tsp. margarine, vegetable mixture, and egg mixture.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 150; Calories from Fat: 30; Protein: 19 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 390 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable; 2 Meat; 1 Fat
HUMMUS
Yield: 12 servings (2 tablespoons per serving)
Source: "The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/11.shtml
Print: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/661.shtml
Ingredients
1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained, reserve 1 tablespoon liquid
3-6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon sesame tahini
Juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons olive oil
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Directions
Combine all ingredients into a blender until smooth, using 1 tablespoon chickpea liquid if necessary to make a smooth spread.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (2 tablespoons): Calories: 49, Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 33 mg, Carbohydrate: 7 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 1 g, Protein: 2 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate
SPICY CHICKEN PIE
Yield: 6 servings
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=689
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/689.shtml
Ingredients
Crust:
3 cups cooked orzo pasta (about 1 cup dry)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute or 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
Butter-flavored cooked spray
Rest of Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups coarsely chopped fresh mushrooms
1 medium yellow onion, sliced and separated into rings
1-1/2 cups shredded or diced roasted chicken
14-1/2 ounce can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, crushed
1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack or Mexican-blend cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
To make the crust, place the orzo, Parmesan cheese, and egg substitute or egg whites in a large bowl and stir to mix well.
Coat a 10-inch pie pan with the cooking spray and pat the mixture evenly over the bottom and sides of the pan, forming an even crust. Spray the crust lightly with the cooking spray and bake uncovered for 10 minutes.
While the crust is baking, coat a large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray and add the mushrooms and onions. Place the skillet over medium heat, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, for several minutes until the vegetables are tender.
Add the undrained tomatoes, chili powder, and chicken to the skillet mixture. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is thick.
Spoon the chicken mixture into the baked crust and sprinkle the cheese over the top. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 295; Protein: 25 g; Fat: 7.7 g; Sodium: 426 mg; Cholesterol: 46 mg; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 29 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 2-1/2 Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable
GINGERED ORANGE CARROTS
Yield: About 2 cups (4 servings)
Source: "The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes"
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/26.shtml
Print Version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/351.shtml
Ingredients
6 medium carrots (about 3/4 pound), peeled and sliced
1/2 cup homemade chicken broth or canned reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons margarine
1 teaspoon grated fresh gingerroot, or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Directions
Combine the carrots and broth in a medium saucepan. Cover and simmer over low heat until almost tender, about 10 minutes.
Add the orange juice, margarine, and ginger; simmer, uncovered, until almost all the liquid is absorbed. Serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/2 cup): Calories: 52, Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 72 mg, Carbohydrate: 8 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 4 g, Protein: 1 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
SMOKY CHEESE DIP
Yield: 16 servings (2 tablespoons per serving)
Source: "The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/11.shtml
Print: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/662.shtml
Ingredients
1 cup fat-free cream cheese
1 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1/2 cup reduced-fat shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup cooked crumbled low-fat turkey sausage
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring
2 cloves garlic, minced
Directions
In a food processor, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Process until smooth. Fold in by hand the remaining ingredients. Serve with crackers or pita bread.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (2 tablespoons): Calories: 50, Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 7 mg, Sodium: 224 mg, Carbohydrate: 5 g, Dietary Fiber: 0 g, Sugars: 2 g, Protein: 5 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate
MEAT MARINARA SAUCE
Yield: 10 Servings
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=690
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/690.shtml
Ingredients
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 cup fresh chopped onion , chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
3/4 cup sliced green bell peppers, chopped
30 ounces whole-canned unsalted tomatoes, 2-15 ounce cans
30 ounces no-salt tomato sauce, 2-15 ounce cans
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp ground thyme
1 pound 90% lean ground beef or ground turkey
Directions
Heat oil in sauce pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic powder, and green pepper to oil. Cover and heat 2 minutes, stirring occassionally.
Mash tomatoes into small pieces and stir into tomato sauce.
Add spices and tomato mixture to sauce pan. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer.
Brown beef or turkey in skillet. Place in a colander or strainer.
Bring a tea kettle full or 3 quart sauce pan of water to a rapid boil. Place colander over a large bowl and pour boiling water over the meat to remove excess grease.
Add meat to tomato sauce mixture and continue to simmer another 20 minutes on medium heat.
Remove bay leaves and serve over pasta or rice.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 225; Protein: 14 g; Fat: 8.5 g; Sodium: 67 mg; Saturated Fat: 2.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Sugars: 11 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g; Exchanges: 3/4 Fat, 1-1/2 Meat, 4-1/2 Vegetable
BROCCOLI FRITTATA
Yield: 4 Servings
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=692
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/692.shtml
Ingredients
1/2 cup non-fat cottage cheese
1/2 tsp dried dill
2 cup fat-free egg substitute
2 cups frozen chopped broccoli
1 tsp olive oil
2 tsp margarine
1 large onion, diced
Directions
Mix cottage cheese and egg substitute together; set aside.
In large non-stick frying pan over medium heat, saute onions in oil for 5 minutes, or until soft.
Add broccoli and dill; saute for 5 minutes, or until broccoli mixture softens. Set vegetable aside.
Wipe out frying pan. Add 1 tsp. margarine and swirl the pan to distribute it. Add half of the vegetable mixture, and then add half of the egg mixture; lift and rotate pan so that eggs are evenly distributed.
As eggs set around the edges, lift them to allow uncooked portions to flow underneath. Turn heat to low, cover the pan, and cook until top is set.
Invert onto a serving plate and cut into wedges.
Repeat with remaining 1 tsp. margarine, vegetable mixture, and egg mixture.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 150; Calories from Fat: 30; Protein: 19 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 390 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable; 2 Meat; 1 Fat
HUMMUS
Yield: 12 servings (2 tablespoons per serving)
Source: "The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/11.shtml
Print: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/661.shtml
Ingredients
1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained, reserve 1 tablespoon liquid
3-6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon sesame tahini
Juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons olive oil
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Directions
Combine all ingredients into a blender until smooth, using 1 tablespoon chickpea liquid if necessary to make a smooth spread.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (2 tablespoons): Calories: 49, Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 33 mg, Carbohydrate: 7 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 1 g, Protein: 2 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate
SPICY CHICKEN PIE
Yield: 6 servings
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=689
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/689.shtml
Ingredients
Crust:
3 cups cooked orzo pasta (about 1 cup dry)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute or 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
Butter-flavored cooked spray
Rest of Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups coarsely chopped fresh mushrooms
1 medium yellow onion, sliced and separated into rings
1-1/2 cups shredded or diced roasted chicken
14-1/2 ounce can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, crushed
1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack or Mexican-blend cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
To make the crust, place the orzo, Parmesan cheese, and egg substitute or egg whites in a large bowl and stir to mix well.
Coat a 10-inch pie pan with the cooking spray and pat the mixture evenly over the bottom and sides of the pan, forming an even crust. Spray the crust lightly with the cooking spray and bake uncovered for 10 minutes.
While the crust is baking, coat a large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray and add the mushrooms and onions. Place the skillet over medium heat, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, for several minutes until the vegetables are tender.
Add the undrained tomatoes, chili powder, and chicken to the skillet mixture. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is thick.
Spoon the chicken mixture into the baked crust and sprinkle the cheese over the top. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 295; Protein: 25 g; Fat: 7.7 g; Sodium: 426 mg; Cholesterol: 46 mg; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 29 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 2-1/2 Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable
GINGERED ORANGE CARROTS
Yield: About 2 cups (4 servings)
Source: "The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes"
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/26.shtml
Print Version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/351.shtml
Ingredients
6 medium carrots (about 3/4 pound), peeled and sliced
1/2 cup homemade chicken broth or canned reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons margarine
1 teaspoon grated fresh gingerroot, or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Directions
Combine the carrots and broth in a medium saucepan. Cover and simmer over low heat until almost tender, about 10 minutes.
Add the orange juice, margarine, and ginger; simmer, uncovered, until almost all the liquid is absorbed. Serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/2 cup): Calories: 52, Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 72 mg, Carbohydrate: 8 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 4 g, Protein: 1 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
SMOKY CHEESE DIP
Yield: 16 servings (2 tablespoons per serving)
Source: "The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/11.shtml
Print: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/662.shtml
Ingredients
1 cup fat-free cream cheese
1 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1/2 cup reduced-fat shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup cooked crumbled low-fat turkey sausage
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring
2 cloves garlic, minced
Directions
In a food processor, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Process until smooth. Fold in by hand the remaining ingredients. Serve with crackers or pita bread.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (2 tablespoons): Calories: 50, Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 7 mg, Sodium: 224 mg, Carbohydrate: 5 g, Dietary Fiber: 0 g, Sugars: 2 g, Protein: 5 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate
MEAT MARINARA SAUCE
Yield: 10 Servings
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=690
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/690.shtml
Ingredients
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 cup fresh chopped onion , chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
3/4 cup sliced green bell peppers, chopped
30 ounces whole-canned unsalted tomatoes, 2-15 ounce cans
30 ounces no-salt tomato sauce, 2-15 ounce cans
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp ground thyme
1 pound 90% lean ground beef or ground turkey
Directions
Heat oil in sauce pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic powder, and green pepper to oil. Cover and heat 2 minutes, stirring occassionally.
Mash tomatoes into small pieces and stir into tomato sauce.
Add spices and tomato mixture to sauce pan. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer.
Brown beef or turkey in skillet. Place in a colander or strainer.
Bring a tea kettle full or 3 quart sauce pan of water to a rapid boil. Place colander over a large bowl and pour boiling water over the meat to remove excess grease.
Add meat to tomato sauce mixture and continue to simmer another 20 minutes on medium heat.
Remove bay leaves and serve over pasta or rice.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 225; Protein: 14 g; Fat: 8.5 g; Sodium: 67 mg; Saturated Fat: 2.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Sugars: 11 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g; Exchanges: 3/4 Fat, 1-1/2 Meat, 4-1/2 Vegetable
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Wednesday Recipes
Here we are, half-way through the work week. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through today, as well as the rest of the week, including Meatloaf with a Twist and Beef and Broccoli. Enjoy!
EASY CLASSIC CHILI
This is from Paula Deen Magazine, and begins, “This Easy Classic Chili is a delicious mixture of slow-cooked ground chuck, tomatoes, kidney beans, sweet onions, and bell peppers. Complete this meal by serving it with a side of cornbread or crackers.”
Makes 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 pounds ground chuck
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups chopped sweet onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (1.75-ounce) packet chili seasoning
Toppings: shredded Cheddar cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro
Instructions
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add beef, salt, and pepper, and cook until browned and crumbly; drain well.
In a 6-quart slow cooker, stir together cooked beef, tomatoes, beans, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and seasoning until well combined. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Serve with toppings.
EASY PASTITSIO (GREEK LASAGNA)
This recipe is from tbsp.com, and begins, “This big, fat Greek pasta is as delicious as it is comforting. Packed with a meaty tomato sauce, penne pasta, warm spices and topped with an easier-than-you-think béchamel, it’s a take on lasagna we highly recommend.”
Prep: 45 minutes; Total: 1 hour 30 minutes; Servings: 8
View this online here.
Ingredients
Pasta
12 oz uncooked penne pasta (4 cups)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb extra-lean (at least 90%) ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato basil pasta sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 eggs, beaten
Topping
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add beef; cook 5 to 7 minutes, breaking up any lumps with back of wooden spoon. Add onion; cook and stir about 4 minutes or until softened. Add garlic, cinnamon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the pepper; cook 1 minute. Stir in pasta sauce. Heat to simmering; reduce heat to low. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix tomato sauce mixture, cooked pasta, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and 3 eggs. Spread in baking dish; spread top smooth.
In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour, 1 teaspoon salt and the nutmeg. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly. Gradually beat in milk with whisk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; beat in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. In small bowl, beat 1/2 cup of the hot mixture into beaten egg. Return egg mixture to pan, beating constantly. Pour over top of pasta.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until top is bubbly and lightly browned in spots. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
MEATLOAF WITH A TWIST
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “This moist and flavorful meatloaf gets an extra kick from picante sauce...it takes just 10 minutes of your time before you bake it, so it's as easy as it is good to eat!”
Serves: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 65 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell's® Mushroom Gravy
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
Directions
Thoroughly mix 1/4 cup gravy, beef, bread crumbs, egg and 1/4 cup picante sauce in a large bowl. Shape the beef mixture firmly into an 8 x 4-inch loaf in a baking pan.
Bake at 350°F. for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Heat 2 tablespoons drippings, the remaining gravy and the remaining picante sauce in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat until it's hot and bubbling. Serve the gravy mixture with the meatloaf.
Serving Suggestion: Serve the meatloaf with hot mashed potatoes.
PICADILLO
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Picadillo is one of the great dishes of the Cuban diaspora: a soft, fragrant stew of ground beef and tomatoes, with raisins added for sweetness and olives for salt. Versions of it exist across the Caribbean and into Latin America. This one combines ground beef with intensely seasoned dried Spanish chorizo in a sofrito of onions, garlic and tomatoes, and scents it with red-wine vinegar, cinnamon and cumin, along with bay leaves and pinches of ground cloves and nutmeg. For the olives you may experiment with fancy and plain, but rigorous testing here suggests the use of pimento-stuffed green olives is the best practice. A scattering of capers would be welcome as well.”
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in “The Ultimate Cuban Comfort Food: Picadillo”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium-size yellow onions, peeled and chopped
2 ounces dried chorizo, diced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 ripe tomatoes, chopped, or one 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and crushed
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 bay leaves
Pinch of ground cloves
Pinch of nutmeg
2/3 cup raisins
2/3 cup pitted stuffed olives
Preparation
Put the olive oil in a large, heavy pan set over a medium-high flame, and heat until it begins to shimmer. Add onions, chorizo and garlic, stir to combine and cook until the onions have started to soften, approximately 10 minutes.
Add the ground beef, and allow it to brown, crumbling the meat with a fork as it does. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
Add tomatoes, vinegar, cinnamon, cumin, bay leaves, cloves and nutmeg and stir to combine. Lower the heat, and let the stew simmer, covered, for approximately 30 minutes.
Uncover the pan, and add the raisins and the olives. Allow the stew to cook for another 15 minutes or so, then serve, accompanied by white rice.
BEEF AND BROCCOLI
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Here is a streamlined, powerfully flavorful recipe for a delivery-food standby: velvety wok-fried beef in a oyster-soy sauce, served in a forest of green. ‘It’s diaspora food,’ the chef Jonathan Wu told me, describing the cooking of Chinese immigrants to the United States and a dish that is almost unknown in China but beloved in America. The recipe is a version of the one Wu’s mother made for dinner when he was growing up outside Hartford, Conn., with a little chile-garlic paste added for zip and, thanks to the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde, a pat of butter swirled into the sauce at the end. This provides a plush gloss that is far better than the traditional cornstarch slurry. It is midweek family cooking at its best.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes.
This was featured in “The Best Beef and Broccoli, No Delivery Required” and can be viewed online here.
Note: This is me (Robin) writing. Cooking can be a fun, creative process. There have been many times over the years when I have not had an ingredient on hand; I’ve either run out, or, in the case of alcohol, just plain don’t have it around at all. If that sounds familiar, you can usually experiment. I personally would either use non-alcoholic wine or water for the wine, and either hoisin sauce or soy sauce in place of the oyster sauce. But that’s just me. Feel free to follow Sam’s recipe here to the letter. But either way, make sure you get some enjoyment out of your food and the company you eat with!
Ingredients
1/3 cup Shaoxing rice wine, dry sherry or sake
3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pound beef — chuck or rib steak — sliced thin against the grain
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1/2 tablespoon chile-garlic sauce, or to taste
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon neutral oil, like canola, grapeseed or peanut
1 pound broccoli, the head cut into florets and the stems peeled and cut into planks
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Preparation
In a large bowl, whisk together the wine, 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce and the cornstarch. Add the beef to the bowl, and toss to combine, then cover the bowl, and set aside for 20 minutes or so.
To make the sauce, combine in a small bowl the remaining soy sauce, the oyster sauce and the chile-garlic sauce, and mix to combine, then add a tablespoon of water and mixagain. Set aside.
Heat the 1/2 cup of oil in a wok set over high heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add about half the beef to the wok, and stir-fry until it is browned and crisp and barely cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl or plate, and set aside. Then repeat with remaining beef.
Pour off the oil in the wok, wipe it out with a towel and return it to the stove over high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon oil, and swirl it around and heat it until it is smoking. Add the broccoli and cook, tossing and stirring frequently, until lightly charred in spots, about 2 minutes.
Add 2 tablespoons water to the wok, and toss and stir the broccoli in the steam for an additional 2 minutes, then return beef to the wok, followed by the sauce. Cook, stirring and tossing frequently, for 30 seconds or so, then add the butter, and stir and toss again for 30 seconds more. Serve immediately, with rice.
SPICY BUFFALO-STYLE MEATBALLS
Recipe Yield: Makes 32 appetizer servings.
To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/spicy-buffalo-style-meatballs
Ingredients
1 pound 95% lean ground beef
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 to 3 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon honey
Blue cheese dressing
Celery sticks
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, onion, garlic, salt and pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
Shape beef mixture into 32 1-inch meatballs; place on rack in broiler pan. Bake in 350F oven 18 to 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine hot pepper sauce, butter and honey in large bowl; mix well. Add meatballs; stir to coat.
Serve with dressing and celery sticks, as desired. Makes 32 appetizer servings.
Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef done-ness.
Cook's Tip: 1 package (about 18 ounces) frozen fully-cooked beef meatballs can be substituted for ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook meatballs according to package directions. Continue as directed in step 3.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 33; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 78 mg; Cholesterol: 16 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 1 g
EASY CLASSIC CHILI
This is from Paula Deen Magazine, and begins, “This Easy Classic Chili is a delicious mixture of slow-cooked ground chuck, tomatoes, kidney beans, sweet onions, and bell peppers. Complete this meal by serving it with a side of cornbread or crackers.”
Makes 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 pounds ground chuck
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups chopped sweet onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (1.75-ounce) packet chili seasoning
Toppings: shredded Cheddar cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro
Instructions
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add beef, salt, and pepper, and cook until browned and crumbly; drain well.
In a 6-quart slow cooker, stir together cooked beef, tomatoes, beans, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and seasoning until well combined. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Serve with toppings.
EASY PASTITSIO (GREEK LASAGNA)
This recipe is from tbsp.com, and begins, “This big, fat Greek pasta is as delicious as it is comforting. Packed with a meaty tomato sauce, penne pasta, warm spices and topped with an easier-than-you-think béchamel, it’s a take on lasagna we highly recommend.”
Prep: 45 minutes; Total: 1 hour 30 minutes; Servings: 8
View this online here.
Ingredients
Pasta
12 oz uncooked penne pasta (4 cups)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb extra-lean (at least 90%) ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato basil pasta sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 eggs, beaten
Topping
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add beef; cook 5 to 7 minutes, breaking up any lumps with back of wooden spoon. Add onion; cook and stir about 4 minutes or until softened. Add garlic, cinnamon, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the pepper; cook 1 minute. Stir in pasta sauce. Heat to simmering; reduce heat to low. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix tomato sauce mixture, cooked pasta, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and 3 eggs. Spread in baking dish; spread top smooth.
In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour, 1 teaspoon salt and the nutmeg. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly. Gradually beat in milk with whisk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; beat in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. In small bowl, beat 1/2 cup of the hot mixture into beaten egg. Return egg mixture to pan, beating constantly. Pour over top of pasta.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until top is bubbly and lightly browned in spots. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
MEATLOAF WITH A TWIST
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “This moist and flavorful meatloaf gets an extra kick from picante sauce...it takes just 10 minutes of your time before you bake it, so it's as easy as it is good to eat!”
Serves: 6 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 65 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell's® Mushroom Gravy
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
Directions
Thoroughly mix 1/4 cup gravy, beef, bread crumbs, egg and 1/4 cup picante sauce in a large bowl. Shape the beef mixture firmly into an 8 x 4-inch loaf in a baking pan.
Bake at 350°F. for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Heat 2 tablespoons drippings, the remaining gravy and the remaining picante sauce in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat until it's hot and bubbling. Serve the gravy mixture with the meatloaf.
Serving Suggestion: Serve the meatloaf with hot mashed potatoes.
PICADILLO
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Picadillo is one of the great dishes of the Cuban diaspora: a soft, fragrant stew of ground beef and tomatoes, with raisins added for sweetness and olives for salt. Versions of it exist across the Caribbean and into Latin America. This one combines ground beef with intensely seasoned dried Spanish chorizo in a sofrito of onions, garlic and tomatoes, and scents it with red-wine vinegar, cinnamon and cumin, along with bay leaves and pinches of ground cloves and nutmeg. For the olives you may experiment with fancy and plain, but rigorous testing here suggests the use of pimento-stuffed green olives is the best practice. A scattering of capers would be welcome as well.”
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in “The Ultimate Cuban Comfort Food: Picadillo”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium-size yellow onions, peeled and chopped
2 ounces dried chorizo, diced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 ripe tomatoes, chopped, or one 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and crushed
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 bay leaves
Pinch of ground cloves
Pinch of nutmeg
2/3 cup raisins
2/3 cup pitted stuffed olives
Preparation
Put the olive oil in a large, heavy pan set over a medium-high flame, and heat until it begins to shimmer. Add onions, chorizo and garlic, stir to combine and cook until the onions have started to soften, approximately 10 minutes.
Add the ground beef, and allow it to brown, crumbling the meat with a fork as it does. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
Add tomatoes, vinegar, cinnamon, cumin, bay leaves, cloves and nutmeg and stir to combine. Lower the heat, and let the stew simmer, covered, for approximately 30 minutes.
Uncover the pan, and add the raisins and the olives. Allow the stew to cook for another 15 minutes or so, then serve, accompanied by white rice.
BEEF AND BROCCOLI
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Here is a streamlined, powerfully flavorful recipe for a delivery-food standby: velvety wok-fried beef in a oyster-soy sauce, served in a forest of green. ‘It’s diaspora food,’ the chef Jonathan Wu told me, describing the cooking of Chinese immigrants to the United States and a dish that is almost unknown in China but beloved in America. The recipe is a version of the one Wu’s mother made for dinner when he was growing up outside Hartford, Conn., with a little chile-garlic paste added for zip and, thanks to the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde, a pat of butter swirled into the sauce at the end. This provides a plush gloss that is far better than the traditional cornstarch slurry. It is midweek family cooking at its best.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes.
This was featured in “The Best Beef and Broccoli, No Delivery Required” and can be viewed online here.
Note: This is me (Robin) writing. Cooking can be a fun, creative process. There have been many times over the years when I have not had an ingredient on hand; I’ve either run out, or, in the case of alcohol, just plain don’t have it around at all. If that sounds familiar, you can usually experiment. I personally would either use non-alcoholic wine or water for the wine, and either hoisin sauce or soy sauce in place of the oyster sauce. But that’s just me. Feel free to follow Sam’s recipe here to the letter. But either way, make sure you get some enjoyment out of your food and the company you eat with!
Ingredients
1/3 cup Shaoxing rice wine, dry sherry or sake
3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pound beef — chuck or rib steak — sliced thin against the grain
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1/2 tablespoon chile-garlic sauce, or to taste
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon neutral oil, like canola, grapeseed or peanut
1 pound broccoli, the head cut into florets and the stems peeled and cut into planks
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Preparation
In a large bowl, whisk together the wine, 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce and the cornstarch. Add the beef to the bowl, and toss to combine, then cover the bowl, and set aside for 20 minutes or so.
To make the sauce, combine in a small bowl the remaining soy sauce, the oyster sauce and the chile-garlic sauce, and mix to combine, then add a tablespoon of water and mixagain. Set aside.
Heat the 1/2 cup of oil in a wok set over high heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add about half the beef to the wok, and stir-fry until it is browned and crisp and barely cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl or plate, and set aside. Then repeat with remaining beef.
Pour off the oil in the wok, wipe it out with a towel and return it to the stove over high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon oil, and swirl it around and heat it until it is smoking. Add the broccoli and cook, tossing and stirring frequently, until lightly charred in spots, about 2 minutes.
Add 2 tablespoons water to the wok, and toss and stir the broccoli in the steam for an additional 2 minutes, then return beef to the wok, followed by the sauce. Cook, stirring and tossing frequently, for 30 seconds or so, then add the butter, and stir and toss again for 30 seconds more. Serve immediately, with rice.
SPICY BUFFALO-STYLE MEATBALLS
Recipe Yield: Makes 32 appetizer servings.
To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/spicy-buffalo-style-meatballs
Ingredients
1 pound 95% lean ground beef
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 to 3 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon honey
Blue cheese dressing
Celery sticks
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, onion, garlic, salt and pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
Shape beef mixture into 32 1-inch meatballs; place on rack in broiler pan. Bake in 350F oven 18 to 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine hot pepper sauce, butter and honey in large bowl; mix well. Add meatballs; stir to coat.
Serve with dressing and celery sticks, as desired. Makes 32 appetizer servings.
Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef done-ness.
Cook's Tip: 1 package (about 18 ounces) frozen fully-cooked beef meatballs can be substituted for ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook meatballs according to package directions. Continue as directed in step 3.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 33; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 78 mg; Cholesterol: 16 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 1 g
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Cake - Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's double post is dedicated to that wonderful treat, cake. Here are six cake recipes to help you through the day, including Stuffed Pinata Cake and Red Velvet Cake. Enjoy!
AMBROSIA CAKE
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “If you love the combination of oranges, coconut and marshmallows found in a traditional ambrosia — the salad or dessert that often also contains pineapple, bananas, cherries and some kind of creamy dressing such as whipped cream or sour cream — you’ll adore this cake. The coconut is baked into the cake layers and used as a sweet, shaggy garnish, while the oranges (in this case, diminutive, seedless clementines) are juiced into curd and sliced fresh for the filling. Then, as a final, fluffy touch, a homemade marshmallow frosting tops it off. It may be a lot of work, but it’s an impressive result. And you can make the curd and cake a few days ahead. Just be sure to make the frosting and assemble everything within 8 hours of serving. Otherwise the fruit starts to break down and the icing may crystallize.”
Yield: 12 servings; Time: 3 hours
This was originally featured in “An Ambrosial Cake, and That’s Just the Filling” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 tablespoon coconut rum or dark rum (or use 1 teaspoon coconut extract)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil, melted and cooled (or use more butter)
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature, whites and yolks separated
1 1/4 teaspoons finely grated clementine zest (from about 2 clementines)
For the Filling:
1/3 cup fresh clementine juice (from about 4 clementines), plus 2 1/2 teaspoons finely grated clementine zest
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
4 large eggs
4 large egg yolks (reserve whites for frosting)
7 tablespoons sugar
Pinch kosher salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), cubed
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Frosting:
4 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch kosher salt
For Decorating and Assembling:
8 to 10 seedless clementines
1 1/2 to 3 cups shredded sweetened or unsweetened coconut, to taste
Strawberries, sliced (optional)
Preparation
Bake the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the middle. Butter two 9-inch cake pans and line with parchment paper on the bottom.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, coconut milk, rum and vanilla.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter, coconut oil and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time, then beat in zest. Beat in half the flour mixture, followed by half the milk mixture. Repeat, beating just until combined and scraping down bowl as necessary.
In a separate bowl, use an electric beater to whisk egg whites just until stiff peaks form. Fold into cake batter.
Divide batter between pans. Bake until lightly golden and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes, then unmold cakes and cool completely on rack. (Cakes can be made up to 2 days ahead; once cool, wrap in plastic and refrigerate.)
Meanwhile, make the filling: Bring clementine juice and lemon juice to a boil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, yolks, sugar and salt. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot juice into eggs, then return mixture to saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in butter and vanilla. Push through a strainer set over a medium bowl, and stir in clementine zest. Cover with plastic wrap directly on surface of curd and refrigerate until cold. (Curd can be made up to 5 days ahead.) Or to speed up cooling, set bowl of curd in a larger bowl filled with ice water and stir curd until very cold, 7 to 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
Prepare clementines for decorating the cake: Cut the top and bottom off a clementine and set it cut-side down on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut away peel and pith, following the curve of the fruit from top to bottom. Working over a bowl to catch the juices, carefully cut out each segment from the membrane; it should fall into the bowl as you cut. Lay segments out on paper towels to dry slightly while you cut remaining fruit.
Use a large knife to trim tops of cakes to level them, and cut both cakes in half horizontally to make layers.
Place a cake layer on a serving dish and spread a third of the curd over it, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Layer a third of the clementine segments on top of curd, spacing them evenly so cake will be balanced. Top with another layer, spread another third of curd over it, and layer with 1/2 cup shredded coconut. Top with cake layer, repeat curd and clementines, saving some clementines for top of cake. Place the remaining cake layer on top, and chill while making frosting.
Make the frosting: Bring a medium pot with 1 inch of water to boil. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and salt. Set bowl over simmering water and whisk constantly until eggs reach 160 degrees, or the sugar has melted. Remove from heat, and beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
Immediately spread frosting on cake and press coconut shreds into tops and sides. Top with clementine wedges and strawberries if using; serve within an hour or two. (Or, keep refrigerated for up to 8 hours and wait until just before serving to top with fresh fruit.)
GRANNY’S CHOCOLATE CAKE
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This cake recipe was adapted from the chef Larry Forgione, who served his grandmother's cake recipe at his restaurant An American Place. The dessert proved so popular that every time he tried to take it off of the menu, he said his customers threatened to riot. It's a perfect proportion of crumb to buttercream, ideal for birthdays or other celebrations where layer cake is required.”
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours, plus cooling
This was featured in “Endangered: The Beloved American Layer Cake” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
Butter and flour for preparing pans
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
q/w teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
Chocolate frosting (see recipe, which follows)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 3 9-inch round cake pans, and line the bottoms with wax or parchment paper. Lightly butter the paper. Dust pans with flour, and shake out excess.
Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, combine buttermilk and vanilla.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set at medium-high speed, cream the butter. Slowly add the sugar, and continue beating until well blended and light colored. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk mixture in 2 or 3 additions, beating well after each addition. Beat in the melted chocolate until well blended. Spoon batter into prepared pans, and smooth tops with a rubber spatula.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of a cake layer comes out clean. Let cake layers cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes, then invert onto other racks and peel off the paper. Invert again, and let cool completely on the racks. Frost with chocolate frosting.
CHOCOLATE FROSTING
This is also from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Here is a buttercream frosting like your grandmother might have made. Pair it with chocolate cake for a rich birthday treat.”
Yield: 2 cups; Time: 20 minutes.
This was also featured in “Endangered: The Beloved American Layer Cake” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 egg yolks
1 1/4 pounds semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
Preparation
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter with 1/3 cup water and the cocoa, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, and let cool.
Add confectioners' sugar, salt and vanilla, and stir until smooth. Stir in egg yolks until smooth, and then chocolate. Use immediately.
STUFFED PINATA CAKE
This is from The Food Network, and begins, “Your guests will certainly be delighted by the sight of this bright cake. But make sure they don't put their cameras away too soon: once you cut into it, a candy surprise comes spilling out!”
Total: 3 hours 15 minutes; Active: 1 hour 5 minutes; Yield: 8 to 10; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/stuffed-pinata-cake.
Ingredients
Frosting:
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Pinch fine salt
6 large egg whites
4 sticks (1 pound) unsalted butter, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks, at room temperature
5 cups sweetened shredded coconut
Filling and Decoration:
Blue, orange, yellow, purple and pink food coloring
2 cups of your favorite small and soft candies (none in wrappers), such as gummies or candy-covered chocolates
Cake:
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pans
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
Directions
For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans with butter and line the bottom of each with parchment.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the milk, vanilla, eggs and egg yolk together in another medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium high until light and fluffy. Add about a third of the flour mixture and beat on medium low until incorporated. Now add a third of the egg-milk mixture and continue to beat on medium low until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Repeat with the remaining flour and egg-milk mixtures, finishing with the flour.
Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake until the cake bounces back when pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely in the cake pans on a rack.
For the frosting: Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan that can hold a heatproof stand mixer's bowl above the water.
Add the sugar, lemon juice, salt and egg whites to the mixer bowl and whisk together by hand. Set the bowl above the boiling water and whisk until the mixture is warm to the touch and the sugar completely dissolves. Transfer to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat at medium-high speed until cool and the whites hold stiff peaks, 10 to 15 minutes.
Toss in a couple of chunks of butter at a time, making sure the pieces are incorporated before adding more. After all the butter is added, continue beating on medium-high speed. The mixture will deflate and appear curdled. Continue beating until the frosting comes back together to a smooth and spreadable consistency. (If the frosting is very soft or begins to break, refrigerate until set but still spreadable, then beat until light before using.)
For the filling and decoration: Dye the coconut: Have ready 5 resealable plastic bags or plastic containers. Put 1 1/2 cups of the coconut in one container with 6 to 8 drops of blue food coloring. Put 1 cup of coconut in the second container with 5 to 6 drops of orange food coloring, 1 cup of coconut in the third with 5 to 6 drops yellow food coloring and 1 cup of coconut in the fourth with 6 to 8 drops purple food coloring. Put the remaining 1/2 cup coconut in the fifth container with 4 to 5 drops pink food coloring. Seal each container and shake vigorously until the coconut is evenly dyed. Add more food coloring 1 drop at a time as needed to get bright, vibrant colors.
Assemble the cake: Cut a 4-inch circle out of the center of each cake (reserve the small cut-out cake rounds). Put one of the cake rings on a cake stand or serving platter and frost with about 1 cup of frosting. Put the other cake ring on top and push down slightly. Fill the hole with candy. Cut one of the reserved cake rounds in half horizontally to make 2 thinner rounds. Use one to fill the hole on top of the cake. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.
Cut a strip of parchment about 30 inches long and 3 inches wide. Wrap this parchment around the cake like a collar, leaving 1 inch of frosting exposed around the bottom perimeter of the cake. Pack some of the blue coconut onto the exposed frosting to make your first strip of color. Lift the collar up another 1 inch and do the same with the orange coconut. Remove the collar and fill the remaining inch of frosting with the yellow coconut. For the top, make 1-inch-wide rings, starting on the outside and working your way in, with the purple, pink, blue and orange coconut until the top is completely covered. Let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour before serving.
THE CAKE
This recipe was given to my mom by a friend, who worked as a lawyer for years. She was married to an Episcopal priest; both were involved in the civil rights movement.
This can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
1 package (18 oz.) yellow cake mix
1 egg, unbeaten
3/4 C oil
1 package (small) vanilla pudding
3/4 C sherry
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Put ingredients in bowl. Beat for 5 minutes. Pour into greased tube cake pan or mold. Bake for 45 minutes.
RED VELVET CAKE
Another one of the recipes from Off the Wall Cooking.
We lived in Connecticut for several years while I was growing up. During this time, a lady called the local radio station and said she’d recently returned from a trip. During a stay in a fancy hotel with her husband, she had this cake in their restaurant. Returning home, she wrote to the hotel and requested a copy of the recipe, saying she’d pay for it. She received a copy of the recipe, along with a bill for $300. (This was during the mid-1960s.) Furious over the bill, she proceeded to read the recipe over the air.
1/2 C butter (note)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 C sugar
1 C buttermilk
2 eggs, well beaten
1 T vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
2 T cocoa
2 1/4 C flour (sifted)
2 oz. red food coloring
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease & flour two 8" round pans. Cream butter & sugar. Add eggs. Make paste of food coloring & cocoa. Add to 1st mix. Add salt & buttermilk alternately with flour. Add vanilla. Dissolve soda in vinegar & add this last. Blend all ingredients, as little as possible. Pour into pans & bake for 30-40 minutes. When cool, split each layer horizontally.
Frosting For Red Velvet Cake
1 C butter (note)
1 C milk
1 C sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
5 T unbleached flour
Cream butter with sugar. Cook flour & milk in saucepan until very thick, stirring the whole time. Cool. Combine 2 mixes & add vanilla, using electric mixer. Spread on cake.
NOTE: Butter must be used in the frosting, otherwise the frosting will liquefy & refuse to harden. In the cake itself, though, margarine may be used. Also, if two 9" round pans are used, layers don’t need to be cut in half.
AMBROSIA CAKE
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “If you love the combination of oranges, coconut and marshmallows found in a traditional ambrosia — the salad or dessert that often also contains pineapple, bananas, cherries and some kind of creamy dressing such as whipped cream or sour cream — you’ll adore this cake. The coconut is baked into the cake layers and used as a sweet, shaggy garnish, while the oranges (in this case, diminutive, seedless clementines) are juiced into curd and sliced fresh for the filling. Then, as a final, fluffy touch, a homemade marshmallow frosting tops it off. It may be a lot of work, but it’s an impressive result. And you can make the curd and cake a few days ahead. Just be sure to make the frosting and assemble everything within 8 hours of serving. Otherwise the fruit starts to break down and the icing may crystallize.”
Yield: 12 servings; Time: 3 hours
This was originally featured in “An Ambrosial Cake, and That’s Just the Filling” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 tablespoon coconut rum or dark rum (or use 1 teaspoon coconut extract)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil, melted and cooled (or use more butter)
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature, whites and yolks separated
1 1/4 teaspoons finely grated clementine zest (from about 2 clementines)
For the Filling:
1/3 cup fresh clementine juice (from about 4 clementines), plus 2 1/2 teaspoons finely grated clementine zest
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
4 large eggs
4 large egg yolks (reserve whites for frosting)
7 tablespoons sugar
Pinch kosher salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), cubed
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Frosting:
4 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch kosher salt
For Decorating and Assembling:
8 to 10 seedless clementines
1 1/2 to 3 cups shredded sweetened or unsweetened coconut, to taste
Strawberries, sliced (optional)
Preparation
Bake the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the middle. Butter two 9-inch cake pans and line with parchment paper on the bottom.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, coconut milk, rum and vanilla.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter, coconut oil and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time, then beat in zest. Beat in half the flour mixture, followed by half the milk mixture. Repeat, beating just until combined and scraping down bowl as necessary.
In a separate bowl, use an electric beater to whisk egg whites just until stiff peaks form. Fold into cake batter.
Divide batter between pans. Bake until lightly golden and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes, then unmold cakes and cool completely on rack. (Cakes can be made up to 2 days ahead; once cool, wrap in plastic and refrigerate.)
Meanwhile, make the filling: Bring clementine juice and lemon juice to a boil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, yolks, sugar and salt. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot juice into eggs, then return mixture to saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in butter and vanilla. Push through a strainer set over a medium bowl, and stir in clementine zest. Cover with plastic wrap directly on surface of curd and refrigerate until cold. (Curd can be made up to 5 days ahead.) Or to speed up cooling, set bowl of curd in a larger bowl filled with ice water and stir curd until very cold, 7 to 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
Prepare clementines for decorating the cake: Cut the top and bottom off a clementine and set it cut-side down on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut away peel and pith, following the curve of the fruit from top to bottom. Working over a bowl to catch the juices, carefully cut out each segment from the membrane; it should fall into the bowl as you cut. Lay segments out on paper towels to dry slightly while you cut remaining fruit.
Use a large knife to trim tops of cakes to level them, and cut both cakes in half horizontally to make layers.
Place a cake layer on a serving dish and spread a third of the curd over it, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Layer a third of the clementine segments on top of curd, spacing them evenly so cake will be balanced. Top with another layer, spread another third of curd over it, and layer with 1/2 cup shredded coconut. Top with cake layer, repeat curd and clementines, saving some clementines for top of cake. Place the remaining cake layer on top, and chill while making frosting.
Make the frosting: Bring a medium pot with 1 inch of water to boil. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and salt. Set bowl over simmering water and whisk constantly until eggs reach 160 degrees, or the sugar has melted. Remove from heat, and beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
Immediately spread frosting on cake and press coconut shreds into tops and sides. Top with clementine wedges and strawberries if using; serve within an hour or two. (Or, keep refrigerated for up to 8 hours and wait until just before serving to top with fresh fruit.)
GRANNY’S CHOCOLATE CAKE
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This cake recipe was adapted from the chef Larry Forgione, who served his grandmother's cake recipe at his restaurant An American Place. The dessert proved so popular that every time he tried to take it off of the menu, he said his customers threatened to riot. It's a perfect proportion of crumb to buttercream, ideal for birthdays or other celebrations where layer cake is required.”
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours, plus cooling
This was featured in “Endangered: The Beloved American Layer Cake” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
Butter and flour for preparing pans
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
q/w teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
Chocolate frosting (see recipe, which follows)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 3 9-inch round cake pans, and line the bottoms with wax or parchment paper. Lightly butter the paper. Dust pans with flour, and shake out excess.
Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, combine buttermilk and vanilla.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set at medium-high speed, cream the butter. Slowly add the sugar, and continue beating until well blended and light colored. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk mixture in 2 or 3 additions, beating well after each addition. Beat in the melted chocolate until well blended. Spoon batter into prepared pans, and smooth tops with a rubber spatula.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of a cake layer comes out clean. Let cake layers cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes, then invert onto other racks and peel off the paper. Invert again, and let cool completely on the racks. Frost with chocolate frosting.
CHOCOLATE FROSTING
This is also from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Here is a buttercream frosting like your grandmother might have made. Pair it with chocolate cake for a rich birthday treat.”
Yield: 2 cups; Time: 20 minutes.
This was also featured in “Endangered: The Beloved American Layer Cake” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 egg yolks
1 1/4 pounds semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
Preparation
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter with 1/3 cup water and the cocoa, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, and let cool.
Add confectioners' sugar, salt and vanilla, and stir until smooth. Stir in egg yolks until smooth, and then chocolate. Use immediately.
STUFFED PINATA CAKE
This is from The Food Network, and begins, “Your guests will certainly be delighted by the sight of this bright cake. But make sure they don't put their cameras away too soon: once you cut into it, a candy surprise comes spilling out!”
Total: 3 hours 15 minutes; Active: 1 hour 5 minutes; Yield: 8 to 10; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/stuffed-pinata-cake.
Ingredients
Frosting:
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Pinch fine salt
6 large egg whites
4 sticks (1 pound) unsalted butter, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks, at room temperature
5 cups sweetened shredded coconut
Filling and Decoration:
Blue, orange, yellow, purple and pink food coloring
2 cups of your favorite small and soft candies (none in wrappers), such as gummies or candy-covered chocolates
Cake:
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pans
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
Directions
For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans with butter and line the bottom of each with parchment.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the milk, vanilla, eggs and egg yolk together in another medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium high until light and fluffy. Add about a third of the flour mixture and beat on medium low until incorporated. Now add a third of the egg-milk mixture and continue to beat on medium low until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Repeat with the remaining flour and egg-milk mixtures, finishing with the flour.
Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake until the cake bounces back when pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely in the cake pans on a rack.
For the frosting: Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan that can hold a heatproof stand mixer's bowl above the water.
Add the sugar, lemon juice, salt and egg whites to the mixer bowl and whisk together by hand. Set the bowl above the boiling water and whisk until the mixture is warm to the touch and the sugar completely dissolves. Transfer to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat at medium-high speed until cool and the whites hold stiff peaks, 10 to 15 minutes.
Toss in a couple of chunks of butter at a time, making sure the pieces are incorporated before adding more. After all the butter is added, continue beating on medium-high speed. The mixture will deflate and appear curdled. Continue beating until the frosting comes back together to a smooth and spreadable consistency. (If the frosting is very soft or begins to break, refrigerate until set but still spreadable, then beat until light before using.)
For the filling and decoration: Dye the coconut: Have ready 5 resealable plastic bags or plastic containers. Put 1 1/2 cups of the coconut in one container with 6 to 8 drops of blue food coloring. Put 1 cup of coconut in the second container with 5 to 6 drops of orange food coloring, 1 cup of coconut in the third with 5 to 6 drops yellow food coloring and 1 cup of coconut in the fourth with 6 to 8 drops purple food coloring. Put the remaining 1/2 cup coconut in the fifth container with 4 to 5 drops pink food coloring. Seal each container and shake vigorously until the coconut is evenly dyed. Add more food coloring 1 drop at a time as needed to get bright, vibrant colors.
Assemble the cake: Cut a 4-inch circle out of the center of each cake (reserve the small cut-out cake rounds). Put one of the cake rings on a cake stand or serving platter and frost with about 1 cup of frosting. Put the other cake ring on top and push down slightly. Fill the hole with candy. Cut one of the reserved cake rounds in half horizontally to make 2 thinner rounds. Use one to fill the hole on top of the cake. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.
Cut a strip of parchment about 30 inches long and 3 inches wide. Wrap this parchment around the cake like a collar, leaving 1 inch of frosting exposed around the bottom perimeter of the cake. Pack some of the blue coconut onto the exposed frosting to make your first strip of color. Lift the collar up another 1 inch and do the same with the orange coconut. Remove the collar and fill the remaining inch of frosting with the yellow coconut. For the top, make 1-inch-wide rings, starting on the outside and working your way in, with the purple, pink, blue and orange coconut until the top is completely covered. Let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour before serving.
THE CAKE
This recipe was given to my mom by a friend, who worked as a lawyer for years. She was married to an Episcopal priest; both were involved in the civil rights movement.
This can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
1 package (18 oz.) yellow cake mix
1 egg, unbeaten
3/4 C oil
1 package (small) vanilla pudding
3/4 C sherry
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Put ingredients in bowl. Beat for 5 minutes. Pour into greased tube cake pan or mold. Bake for 45 minutes.
RED VELVET CAKE
Another one of the recipes from Off the Wall Cooking.
We lived in Connecticut for several years while I was growing up. During this time, a lady called the local radio station and said she’d recently returned from a trip. During a stay in a fancy hotel with her husband, she had this cake in their restaurant. Returning home, she wrote to the hotel and requested a copy of the recipe, saying she’d pay for it. She received a copy of the recipe, along with a bill for $300. (This was during the mid-1960s.) Furious over the bill, she proceeded to read the recipe over the air.
1/2 C butter (note)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 C sugar
1 C buttermilk
2 eggs, well beaten
1 T vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
2 T cocoa
2 1/4 C flour (sifted)
2 oz. red food coloring
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease & flour two 8" round pans. Cream butter & sugar. Add eggs. Make paste of food coloring & cocoa. Add to 1st mix. Add salt & buttermilk alternately with flour. Add vanilla. Dissolve soda in vinegar & add this last. Blend all ingredients, as little as possible. Pour into pans & bake for 30-40 minutes. When cool, split each layer horizontally.
Frosting For Red Velvet Cake
1 C butter (note)
1 C milk
1 C sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
5 T unbleached flour
Cream butter with sugar. Cook flour & milk in saucepan until very thick, stirring the whole time. Cool. Combine 2 mixes & add vanilla, using electric mixer. Spread on cake.
NOTE: Butter must be used in the frosting, otherwise the frosting will liquefy & refuse to harden. In the cake itself, though, margarine may be used. Also, if two 9" round pans are used, layers don’t need to be cut in half.
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's tacos include Quick Fresh Tomatillo Salsa and Buffalo Turkey Tacos. Enjoy!
SUMMER TACOS WITH CORN, GREEN BEANS AND TOMATILLO SALSA
This is from Martha Rose Schulman, in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Another way to use the versatile green bean in summer cooking. Cut into one-inch lengths and add to a mix of corn, chiles and green tomatillo salsa. Green beans are such a reliable and versatile summer vegetable. I serve them on their own, of course, but I also throw them into various pasta dishes and salads, and here I’ve used them in a taco filling. Cook the beans first, just until tender, then cut them into one-inch lengths and add to this sweet and spicy mix of corn, chiles and green tomatillo salsa.”
Serves 4; Time: 20 minutes
This was featured in “Vegetarian Taco Night” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 pound green beans, topped and tailed
4 ears corn
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small red or white onion, finely chopped
Salt to taste
1 serrano chile, minced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 recipe fresh tomatillo salsa (also, recipe follows)
8 warm corn tortillas
1/4 to 1/2 cup crumbled feta, queso fresco or goat cheese
Preparation
Bring a large saucepan full of water to a boil and salt generously. Add green beans and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, drain and cut in 1-inch lengths.
Cut the kernels off corncobs. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the corn and chile, and continue to cook for another 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until corn is tender. Stir in green beans and cilantro, and about 1/4 cup of the salsa (more to taste). Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Top warm tortillas with corn and bean mix. Sprinkle cheese over the corn and add more salsa if desired.
Tip
Advance preparation: You can make this filling a few hours before serving, but the fresher it is, the better. Reheat gently in a pan.
QUICK FRESH TOMATILLO SALSA
This also comes from Martha Rose Schulman, in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. For this one, Martha wrote, “Tomatillos, which are closer botanically to the gooseberry than to the tomato, have a wonderful acidic tang. To get the best out of them they should be simmered or grilled for about 10 minutes, until they’re soft and the color has gone from pale green to olive. You can use them for a quick, blended salsa (like the one in this recipe) and also for a cooked salsa, which has a rounder, seared flavor. Use on tacos, or as chip or vegetable dip, or alongside grilled chicken or pork.”
Of course, if you’re a vegetarian, as I am, you can forget the grilled chicken or pork, but this salsa does work well alongside a variety of entrees.
Yield: 2 cups, serving 8; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in “Summer Tacos” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 pound tomatillos, husked and rinsed
2 to 4 jalapeño or serrano chiles, seeded for a milder salsa, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chopped onion, soaked for 5 minutes in cold water, drained and rinsed
1/4 to 1/2 cup coarsely chopped cilantro (to taste)
Salt to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon)
1/4 to 1/2 cup water, as needed
Preparation
Place the tomatillos in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping them over halfway through, until softened and olive green. Remove from the heat. Transfer to a blender. Add the chiles, onion, cilantro, and 1/4 cup water to the blender and blend to a coarse puree. Transfer to a bowl, add salt, and thin out as desired with water. Taste and adjust salt, and set aside for at least 30 minutes before serving, to allow the flavors to develop.
BUFFALO TURKEY TACOS
Source: Jennie-O
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/buffalo-turkey-tacos
Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package JENNIE-O Lean Ground Turkey
1/3 cup hot pepper wing sauce
8 hard corn taco shells, heated as specified on package
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, sliced
1/2 cup blue cheese dressing
Directions
Cook turkey as specified on package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.
Add hot pepper sauce. Stir to combine.
Fill tacos shells with lettuce, turkey mixture, tomatoes and avocado.
Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 220; Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 14 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g; Sugars: 1 g
BEEF TACO SALAD
This comes from Judy Kim on Delish. According to Delish, “Judy Kim is a NYC-based food stylist, recipe developer, and photographer. She also writes recipes for her website The Judy Lab.
For this recipe, Judy wrote, “Try a healthier twist on Taco Tuesdays.” Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp. Taco Seasoning
2 tbsp. tomato paste
vegetable oil
2 corn tortillas, cut into 1/4" strips
2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
cherry tomatoes, halved
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 c. shredded Cheddar
1 c. Pico de Gallo
sour cream
1/4 c. Chopped cilantro
Directions
Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Brown beef using a wooden spoon and break up meat into small pieces. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, taco seasoning, 2 tablespoons water, and tomato paste. Cook through, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and set aside.
In a sauté pan add about 1/2" of vegetable oil. Heat until hot but not smoking. Fry tortilla strips until golden brown; transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Season tortillas with salt just after removing from hot oil.
Assemble salad in 4 bowls with romaine, tomatoes, black beans, and warm taco meat. Top with cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, and sour cream. Garnish with cilantro and crisp tortilla strips.
TURKEY TACO BOWLS
This is from page 35 of the June 2017 issue of Runner’s World, and begins, “A large egg adds 6 grams of muscle-rebuilding protein.”
Makes 4 servings
To view this, as well as other recipes in the article, online here.
Ingredients
5 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
4 cups shredded red cabbage
2 cups chopped kale
Juice of 1 lime
Salt to taste
4 eggs
2 whole-wheat tortillas
1 tablespoon crumbled feta
1 avocado, sliced
1 tablespoon salsa (optional)
Instructions
Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add turkey, taco seasoning, and 1/2 cup of water. Cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until water has evaporated and turkey is browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Meanwhile, in another large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add cabbage and kale and cook until bright-colored and slightly wilted, about 4 minutes. Stir in lime juice and sprinkle with salt. Divide mixture among 4 bowls. Wipe skillet and heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat and cook eggs sunny side up, 3 to 4 minutes. Warm tortillas, then cut into 1/2″-wide strips. Top each bowl of cabbage mixture with turkey, an egg, and tortilla strips. Sprinkle each with feta, avocado, and salsa, if desired.
VEGAN TACOS
This recipe is by Taqueria Los Gorditos and was in the September 2009 issue of Bon Appetite. Makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 onion, sliced
2 teaspoons chopped seeded jalapeño chile
1 12-ounce package soy chorizo (sometimes labeled Soyrizo), casing removed
1 15.4-ounce to 16-ounce can vegetarian refried black beans
12 corn tortillas, warm
Diced onion
Chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onion and jalapeño; sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add soy chorizo and cook until beginning to brown in spots, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook beans in heavy small saucepan over low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Stack 2 warm tortillas for each of 6 tacos. Spread scant 2 tablespoons beans over each stack. Top with soy chorizo mixture, dividing equally. Sprinkle with diced onion and cilantro.
SUMMER TACOS WITH CORN, GREEN BEANS AND TOMATILLO SALSA
This is from Martha Rose Schulman, in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Another way to use the versatile green bean in summer cooking. Cut into one-inch lengths and add to a mix of corn, chiles and green tomatillo salsa. Green beans are such a reliable and versatile summer vegetable. I serve them on their own, of course, but I also throw them into various pasta dishes and salads, and here I’ve used them in a taco filling. Cook the beans first, just until tender, then cut them into one-inch lengths and add to this sweet and spicy mix of corn, chiles and green tomatillo salsa.”
Serves 4; Time: 20 minutes
This was featured in “Vegetarian Taco Night” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 pound green beans, topped and tailed
4 ears corn
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small red or white onion, finely chopped
Salt to taste
1 serrano chile, minced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 recipe fresh tomatillo salsa (also, recipe follows)
8 warm corn tortillas
1/4 to 1/2 cup crumbled feta, queso fresco or goat cheese
Preparation
Bring a large saucepan full of water to a boil and salt generously. Add green beans and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, drain and cut in 1-inch lengths.
Cut the kernels off corncobs. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the corn and chile, and continue to cook for another 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until corn is tender. Stir in green beans and cilantro, and about 1/4 cup of the salsa (more to taste). Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Top warm tortillas with corn and bean mix. Sprinkle cheese over the corn and add more salsa if desired.
Tip
Advance preparation: You can make this filling a few hours before serving, but the fresher it is, the better. Reheat gently in a pan.
QUICK FRESH TOMATILLO SALSA
This also comes from Martha Rose Schulman, in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. For this one, Martha wrote, “Tomatillos, which are closer botanically to the gooseberry than to the tomato, have a wonderful acidic tang. To get the best out of them they should be simmered or grilled for about 10 minutes, until they’re soft and the color has gone from pale green to olive. You can use them for a quick, blended salsa (like the one in this recipe) and also for a cooked salsa, which has a rounder, seared flavor. Use on tacos, or as chip or vegetable dip, or alongside grilled chicken or pork.”
Of course, if you’re a vegetarian, as I am, you can forget the grilled chicken or pork, but this salsa does work well alongside a variety of entrees.
Yield: 2 cups, serving 8; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in “Summer Tacos” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 pound tomatillos, husked and rinsed
2 to 4 jalapeño or serrano chiles, seeded for a milder salsa, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chopped onion, soaked for 5 minutes in cold water, drained and rinsed
1/4 to 1/2 cup coarsely chopped cilantro (to taste)
Salt to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon)
1/4 to 1/2 cup water, as needed
Preparation
Place the tomatillos in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping them over halfway through, until softened and olive green. Remove from the heat. Transfer to a blender. Add the chiles, onion, cilantro, and 1/4 cup water to the blender and blend to a coarse puree. Transfer to a bowl, add salt, and thin out as desired with water. Taste and adjust salt, and set aside for at least 30 minutes before serving, to allow the flavors to develop.
BUFFALO TURKEY TACOS
Source: Jennie-O
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/buffalo-turkey-tacos
Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package JENNIE-O Lean Ground Turkey
1/3 cup hot pepper wing sauce
8 hard corn taco shells, heated as specified on package
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, sliced
1/2 cup blue cheese dressing
Directions
Cook turkey as specified on package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.
Add hot pepper sauce. Stir to combine.
Fill tacos shells with lettuce, turkey mixture, tomatoes and avocado.
Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 220; Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 14 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g; Sugars: 1 g
BEEF TACO SALAD
This comes from Judy Kim on Delish. According to Delish, “Judy Kim is a NYC-based food stylist, recipe developer, and photographer. She also writes recipes for her website The Judy Lab.
For this recipe, Judy wrote, “Try a healthier twist on Taco Tuesdays.” Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp. Taco Seasoning
2 tbsp. tomato paste
vegetable oil
2 corn tortillas, cut into 1/4" strips
2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
cherry tomatoes, halved
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 c. shredded Cheddar
1 c. Pico de Gallo
sour cream
1/4 c. Chopped cilantro
Directions
Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Brown beef using a wooden spoon and break up meat into small pieces. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, taco seasoning, 2 tablespoons water, and tomato paste. Cook through, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and set aside.
In a sauté pan add about 1/2" of vegetable oil. Heat until hot but not smoking. Fry tortilla strips until golden brown; transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Season tortillas with salt just after removing from hot oil.
Assemble salad in 4 bowls with romaine, tomatoes, black beans, and warm taco meat. Top with cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, and sour cream. Garnish with cilantro and crisp tortilla strips.
TURKEY TACO BOWLS
This is from page 35 of the June 2017 issue of Runner’s World, and begins, “A large egg adds 6 grams of muscle-rebuilding protein.”
Makes 4 servings
To view this, as well as other recipes in the article, online here.
Ingredients
5 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
4 cups shredded red cabbage
2 cups chopped kale
Juice of 1 lime
Salt to taste
4 eggs
2 whole-wheat tortillas
1 tablespoon crumbled feta
1 avocado, sliced
1 tablespoon salsa (optional)
Instructions
Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add turkey, taco seasoning, and 1/2 cup of water. Cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until water has evaporated and turkey is browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Meanwhile, in another large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add cabbage and kale and cook until bright-colored and slightly wilted, about 4 minutes. Stir in lime juice and sprinkle with salt. Divide mixture among 4 bowls. Wipe skillet and heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat and cook eggs sunny side up, 3 to 4 minutes. Warm tortillas, then cut into 1/2″-wide strips. Top each bowl of cabbage mixture with turkey, an egg, and tortilla strips. Sprinkle each with feta, avocado, and salsa, if desired.
VEGAN TACOS
This recipe is by Taqueria Los Gorditos and was in the September 2009 issue of Bon Appetite. Makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 onion, sliced
2 teaspoons chopped seeded jalapeño chile
1 12-ounce package soy chorizo (sometimes labeled Soyrizo), casing removed
1 15.4-ounce to 16-ounce can vegetarian refried black beans
12 corn tortillas, warm
Diced onion
Chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onion and jalapeño; sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add soy chorizo and cook until beginning to brown in spots, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook beans in heavy small saucepan over low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Stack 2 warm tortillas for each of 6 tacos. Spread scant 2 tablespoons beans over each stack. Top with soy chorizo mixture, dividing equally. Sprinkle with diced onion and cilantro.
Monday, May 28, 2018
Memorial Day Food - Double-Post Monday
Not only is it Meatless Monday, it's also Memorial Day. Here is a re-run from Memorial Day, 2016.
It's Memorial Day here in the U.S. If you – or anyone in your family – is/was in the Armed Services – Thank You!
This also means a three-day holiday weekend. I've got six recipes to help you celebrate the day, including Baked Hawaii and Edamame Succotash, all of which can be added to any cookout. Be safe, and Enjoy!
THAI VEGETABLE STIR-FRY
This is from the February 2001 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Serve with quick-cooking brown rice and toss a salad of curly endive, seedless orange chunks and slivered red onion. For dessert, a bowl of grapes would go well.” Makes 4 servings in 30 minutes or less.
3 medium cloves garlic, peeled
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/2 tsp. grated lime peel
14-oz. can lite coconut milk
1 lb. mixed vegetables (about 4 cups): fresh mushrooms, quartered; sliced asparagus; sliced bell
peppers; water chestnuts, halved
1 small bok choy, stems sliced and leaves left whole
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
10 fresh basil leaves, slivered
In food processor or blender, combine garlic, jalapenos and lemon and lime peel; process to a paste.
Heat large skillet or wok over high heat; add coconut milk and paste mixture and stir well. Simmer 1 minute.
Add all vegetables and season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, soy sauce, lime juice and basil. Simmer 5 minutes. Serve hot.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 163; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 359 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Vegan
BAKED HAWAII
This comes from the February 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “With a blending of coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts, this pie takes its cues from the tropics. Be sure to squeeze out any excess juice from the pineapple shreds, or it may dilute the filling. A quick freezing of the filling mix firms it up fast.” Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
1 pkg. instant coconut-flavored pudding mix
1 3/4 cups nonfat milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 prepared crumb pie shell
1 3/4 cups canned shredded pineapple
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup crushed macadamia nuts as garnish
1/4 cup shredded coconut as garnish
2 Tbs. diced crystallized ginger, or more as desired, for garnish
Preheat oven to 450F.
Mix instant pudding with milk and vanilla extract, and pour into prepared pie shell. Put in freezer immediately.
Drain pineapple, and reserve juice for another use. Squeeze excess juice from shreds, and put shreds in baking dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar, and bake for 15 minutes, or until sugar bubbles. Remove from oven.
Take firmed pudding mixture from freezer, spoon pineapple mixture over top and garnish with macadamia nuts, coconut shreds and crystallized ginger.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 310; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Sodium: 450 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 35 g
FABULOUS VEGAN FUDGE CAKE WITH BITTERSWEET ICING
This recipe, from the September 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 66, begins, “'I’ve tried vegan cake recipes in the past, but didn’t like the sour taste of the vinegar that is usually used to activate the leavening,' says single mom and café manager Shelly Platten. 'I tinkered with some recipes that didn’t use vinegar to come up with a fudgy, satisfying cake.'” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
1 1/4 cups Bob’s Red Mill organic unbleached white flour
1 2/3 cups Florida Crystals organic cane sugar, divided
1 1/3 cups Chatfield’s cocoa powder, divided
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup Silk vanilla soymilk, divided
1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup canola oil, divided
1 cup toasted chopped hazelnuts
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9-inch round pan with parchment paper, and spray with cooking spray.
2. Whisk together flour, 1 cup sugar, 2/3 cup cocoa, baking soda, and salt in bowl. Whisk together 2/3 cup soymilk, 1/3 cup oil, and 1/2 cup water in separate bowl. Stir soymilk mixture into flour mixture. Spread in prepared pan, and bake 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Unmold onto plate.
3. Warm remaining 2/3 cup cocoa, 2/3 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup oil in saucepan over medium heat. Pour in remaining 1/3 cup soymilk, and cook 1 minute, or until smooth. Spread icing over warm cake, and sprinkle with hazelnuts.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 525; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 25 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 67 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 315 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 43 g
CHIPOTLE CHILI NON-CARNE
This recipe comes from the November 2001 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “This spicy chili really warms the bones on a cold evening. Chipotle powder is made from smoked jalapeño peppers. Look for it in specialty gourmet stores. To make the chili milder, omit the chipotle powder and reduce the chili powder to two teaspoons. MEAL PLAN: Delicious with cornbread. Add a tossed green salad with low-fat bottled cilantro dressing.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 tsp. olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 green or yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 tsp. chipotle chile powder or to taste
1 Tbs. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
3 (15-oz.) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
14 1⁄2-oz. can diced tomatoes
In large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, 2 minutes. Add bell pepper and corn and cook, stirring often, 2 minutes. Stir in chipotle powder, chili powder, cumin and oregano and cook 1 minute. Stir in beans, tomatoes and 3/4 cup water.
Reduce heat, partially cover pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. If chili becomes too thick, add 1/4 cup hot water. Add salt and pepper to taste. If desired, sprinkle chili with shredded cheese before serving.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 341; Protein: 21 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 63 g; Sodium: 25 mg; Fiber: 21 g; Vegan
EDAMAME SUCCOTASH
This yummy recipe is from the January 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times. Amazingly simple, and oh-so-good! It begins, “Fresh green soybeans, called edamame, have a sweet, nutty flavor. They offer a great variation on this classic dish, standing in for the traditional lima beans. Edamame are available frozen and fresh, in the pod and shelled. Look for them in large supermarkets, natural food stores or Asian markets. For a great twist, serve the succotash in hollowed-out tomatoes. If you’re using frozen edamame, make it according to package directions, omitting any salt. Drain well.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/edamame-succotash/.
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen shelled edamame
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
3 Tbs. white wine or vegetable stock
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbs. chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper, onion and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, 2 minutes. Stir in edamame, corn and wine; cook 4 minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove pan from heat. Stir in salt, pepper, parsley and basil. Serve.
nutritional information Per serving: Calories: 140; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 200 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan
BLUEBERRY BUCKLE
This recipe, from page 64 of the July/August 2006 of Vegetarian Times, begins, “This vegan take on an old-fashioned dessert will become a summer favorite. Serve à la mode with soy ice cream, if desired.” Personally, I think it can be an anytime favorite! Serves 12.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/blueberry-buckle/.
Streusel
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour or spelt flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
4 to 6 Tbs. canola oil
Cake
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour or spelt flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup canola oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
4 cups fresh blueberries
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch springform pan and wrap bottom with foil.
To make Streusel: Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in bowl. Stir in oil 1 Tbs. at a time until mixture looks crumbly.
To make Cake: Sift flours and baking powder into bowl. Whisk syrup, oil, vanilla, and salt in second bowl.
Stir syrup mixture into flour mixture. Fold in berries.
Spread batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle streusel over top. Bake 1 hour 10 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 30 minutes on wire rack. Cool 15 minutes, unmold, and serve.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 305; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 44 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 262 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 23 g; Vegan
It's Memorial Day here in the U.S. If you – or anyone in your family – is/was in the Armed Services – Thank You!
This also means a three-day holiday weekend. I've got six recipes to help you celebrate the day, including Baked Hawaii and Edamame Succotash, all of which can be added to any cookout. Be safe, and Enjoy!
THAI VEGETABLE STIR-FRY
This is from the February 2001 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Serve with quick-cooking brown rice and toss a salad of curly endive, seedless orange chunks and slivered red onion. For dessert, a bowl of grapes would go well.” Makes 4 servings in 30 minutes or less.
3 medium cloves garlic, peeled
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/2 tsp. grated lime peel
14-oz. can lite coconut milk
1 lb. mixed vegetables (about 4 cups): fresh mushrooms, quartered; sliced asparagus; sliced bell
peppers; water chestnuts, halved
1 small bok choy, stems sliced and leaves left whole
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
10 fresh basil leaves, slivered
In food processor or blender, combine garlic, jalapenos and lemon and lime peel; process to a paste.
Heat large skillet or wok over high heat; add coconut milk and paste mixture and stir well. Simmer 1 minute.
Add all vegetables and season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, soy sauce, lime juice and basil. Simmer 5 minutes. Serve hot.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 163; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 359 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Vegan
BAKED HAWAII
This comes from the February 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “With a blending of coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts, this pie takes its cues from the tropics. Be sure to squeeze out any excess juice from the pineapple shreds, or it may dilute the filling. A quick freezing of the filling mix firms it up fast.” Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
1 pkg. instant coconut-flavored pudding mix
1 3/4 cups nonfat milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 prepared crumb pie shell
1 3/4 cups canned shredded pineapple
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup crushed macadamia nuts as garnish
1/4 cup shredded coconut as garnish
2 Tbs. diced crystallized ginger, or more as desired, for garnish
Preheat oven to 450F.
Mix instant pudding with milk and vanilla extract, and pour into prepared pie shell. Put in freezer immediately.
Drain pineapple, and reserve juice for another use. Squeeze excess juice from shreds, and put shreds in baking dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar, and bake for 15 minutes, or until sugar bubbles. Remove from oven.
Take firmed pudding mixture from freezer, spoon pineapple mixture over top and garnish with macadamia nuts, coconut shreds and crystallized ginger.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 310; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Sodium: 450 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 35 g
FABULOUS VEGAN FUDGE CAKE WITH BITTERSWEET ICING
This recipe, from the September 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 66, begins, “'I’ve tried vegan cake recipes in the past, but didn’t like the sour taste of the vinegar that is usually used to activate the leavening,' says single mom and café manager Shelly Platten. 'I tinkered with some recipes that didn’t use vinegar to come up with a fudgy, satisfying cake.'” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
1 1/4 cups Bob’s Red Mill organic unbleached white flour
1 2/3 cups Florida Crystals organic cane sugar, divided
1 1/3 cups Chatfield’s cocoa powder, divided
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup Silk vanilla soymilk, divided
1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup canola oil, divided
1 cup toasted chopped hazelnuts
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9-inch round pan with parchment paper, and spray with cooking spray.
2. Whisk together flour, 1 cup sugar, 2/3 cup cocoa, baking soda, and salt in bowl. Whisk together 2/3 cup soymilk, 1/3 cup oil, and 1/2 cup water in separate bowl. Stir soymilk mixture into flour mixture. Spread in prepared pan, and bake 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Unmold onto plate.
3. Warm remaining 2/3 cup cocoa, 2/3 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup oil in saucepan over medium heat. Pour in remaining 1/3 cup soymilk, and cook 1 minute, or until smooth. Spread icing over warm cake, and sprinkle with hazelnuts.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 525; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 25 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 67 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 315 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 43 g
CHIPOTLE CHILI NON-CARNE
This recipe comes from the November 2001 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “This spicy chili really warms the bones on a cold evening. Chipotle powder is made from smoked jalapeño peppers. Look for it in specialty gourmet stores. To make the chili milder, omit the chipotle powder and reduce the chili powder to two teaspoons. MEAL PLAN: Delicious with cornbread. Add a tossed green salad with low-fat bottled cilantro dressing.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 tsp. olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 green or yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 tsp. chipotle chile powder or to taste
1 Tbs. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
3 (15-oz.) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
14 1⁄2-oz. can diced tomatoes
In large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, 2 minutes. Add bell pepper and corn and cook, stirring often, 2 minutes. Stir in chipotle powder, chili powder, cumin and oregano and cook 1 minute. Stir in beans, tomatoes and 3/4 cup water.
Reduce heat, partially cover pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. If chili becomes too thick, add 1/4 cup hot water. Add salt and pepper to taste. If desired, sprinkle chili with shredded cheese before serving.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 341; Protein: 21 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 63 g; Sodium: 25 mg; Fiber: 21 g; Vegan
EDAMAME SUCCOTASH
This yummy recipe is from the January 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times. Amazingly simple, and oh-so-good! It begins, “Fresh green soybeans, called edamame, have a sweet, nutty flavor. They offer a great variation on this classic dish, standing in for the traditional lima beans. Edamame are available frozen and fresh, in the pod and shelled. Look for them in large supermarkets, natural food stores or Asian markets. For a great twist, serve the succotash in hollowed-out tomatoes. If you’re using frozen edamame, make it according to package directions, omitting any salt. Drain well.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/edamame-succotash/.
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen shelled edamame
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
3 Tbs. white wine or vegetable stock
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbs. chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper, onion and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, 2 minutes. Stir in edamame, corn and wine; cook 4 minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove pan from heat. Stir in salt, pepper, parsley and basil. Serve.
nutritional information Per serving: Calories: 140; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 200 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan
BLUEBERRY BUCKLE
This recipe, from page 64 of the July/August 2006 of Vegetarian Times, begins, “This vegan take on an old-fashioned dessert will become a summer favorite. Serve à la mode with soy ice cream, if desired.” Personally, I think it can be an anytime favorite! Serves 12.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/blueberry-buckle/.
Streusel
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour or spelt flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
4 to 6 Tbs. canola oil
Cake
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour or spelt flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup canola oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
4 cups fresh blueberries
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch springform pan and wrap bottom with foil.
To make Streusel: Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in bowl. Stir in oil 1 Tbs. at a time until mixture looks crumbly.
To make Cake: Sift flours and baking powder into bowl. Whisk syrup, oil, vanilla, and salt in second bowl.
Stir syrup mixture into flour mixture. Fold in berries.
Spread batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle streusel over top. Bake 1 hour 10 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 30 minutes on wire rack. Cool 15 minutes, unmold, and serve.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 305; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 44 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 262 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 23 g; Vegan
Meatless Monday
It's Meatless Monday, time to check out a day without meat. Here are today's six vegetarian recipes to try your hand at, including “Meatballs” Stroganoff and Key Lime Pie. Enjoy!
The first four recipes come from the January 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, in an article titled “5 Ingredients: Frozen Assets: Hot ideas for winter dishes - straight from your freezer.” The article begins, “If the pitiful-looking winter produce selection has you singing the “what can I make for dinner” blues, it’s time to steer your grocery cart over to the freezer aisle. There you’ll find everything you need to make wholesome dishes without spending a fortune. And when you stock up on these frozen goodies—vegetables, soy meatballs, sweet berries and a pint or two of ice cream—the fast, delectable recipes here mean you don’t have to go out in the cold to get a hot meal on the table.”
Now, I know, someone is bound to think, “Winter? Excuse me, but it’s May! That hardly qualifies as winter.” That’s okay, these are still yummy recipes. So, give ‘em a try!
HEAVENLY ICE CREAM CAKE WITH RASPBERRY COULIS
This recipe begins, “Prepared angel food cakes from the supermarket bakery section are good items to have on hand for desserts. Before preparing this elaborate-looking recipe, freeze the cake completely. It slices easily with a serrated knife.” Serves 12.
You can also view this online, here.
1 16-oz. angel food cake, frozen
1 10-oz. jar raspberry preserves
1/4 cup raspberry liqueur or orange juice
2 pints low-fat vanilla ice cream, softened, divided
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen raspberries in syrup, thawed
Cut cake into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cover bottom of 9-inch springform pan with slices, cutting one or two slices as necessary to fill in gaps.
Combine raspberry preserves and liqueur in small saucepan over medium heat, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 5 minutes. Brush half of raspberry mixture over cake in pan. Spread 1 pint ice cream over cake, and smooth top. Arrange more cake slices over ice cream to cover completely. Spread remaining raspberry mixture over cake. Smooth remaining pint of ice cream over cake. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze overnight. (Can be prepared up to 3 days in advance up to this point.)
Purée thawed raspberries and syrup in food processor until smooth. Strain into bowl.
Run knife around sides of springform pan. Release sides from cake. Slice into wedges, and top with raspberry coulis.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 273; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 60 g; Cholesterol: 3 mg; Sodium: 319 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 31 g
PENNE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PESTO
This recipe begins, “Cubed butternut squash is a recent addition to most frozen food sections—and a welcome one since it eliminates all the peeling, scraping and slicing that go with fresh squash. (Fresh butternut squash will also work, though.)” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
This can also be viewed this online here.
1/4 cup prepared pesto, divided
1 cup chopped frozen onions
1 1/4 lb. frozen diced butternut squash, about 4 cups
2/3 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
3/4 lb. whole-wheat penne
Heat 1 Tbs. pesto in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 6 minutes, or until softened. Stir in squash and broth. Cover, and cook over medium low 10 minutes, or until squash is tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, and divide among 4 bowls. Swirl remaining 1 Tbs. pesto into sauce, and season with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over pasta, and use remaining pesto to garnish each serving.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 489; Protein: 16 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 87 g; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Sodium: 332 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 7 g
GREEN COCONUT CURRY
This one begins, “Prepared Thai curry paste is available in the Asian section of most supermarkets. If you can’t find green, feel free to use red or yellow. Since the paste is quite spicy, taste a little before you add it and use more or less as preferred. Garnish with chopped roasted peanuts and cilantro if desired.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less. Vegan.
1 cup reduced-fat coconut milk
1 tsp. green curry paste
1 1/2 lb. frozen mixed Asian vegetables (mixes with peas are good here)
2 Tbs. teriyaki sauce
4 cups cooked brown rice
Combine coconut milk and curry paste in wok or large saucepan over medium heat, and bring to a boil. Stir in frozen vegetables. Simmer over medium heat 10 minutes. Stir in teriyaki sauce, and serve over rice.
PER SERVING: 376 CAL; 10G PROT; 7.5G TOTAL FAT (3G SAT. FAT); 66G CARB; 0MG CHOL; 889MG SOD; 6G FIBER; 8G SUGARS
“MEATBALLS” STROGANOFF
The recipe begins, “For a hot, filling dinner, this take on a traditional Hungarian dish can’t be beat. Frozen spinach lightens it up and makes for a well-balanced meal. Serve over long, wide pasta to soak up the sauce.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
2 tsp. garlic-flavored olive oil
2 cups frozen chopped onion
1 16-oz. bag frozen whole-leaf spinach
1 12-oz. pkg. frozen soy zesty Italian meatballs
1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
Heat oil in nonstick skillet on medium high. Add onion, and sauté 10 minutes, or until golden. Add 1/3 cup water, spinach and soy meatballs. Cover, and cook over medium heat 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in sour cream just before serving, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until heated through, but without boiling. Season with salt and pepper, and serve over egg noodles, if desired.
PER SERVING: 269 CAL; 18G PROT; 14.5G TOTAL FAT (6G SAT. FAT); 20G CARB; 31MG CHOL; 622MG SOD; 7G FIBER; 5G SUGARS
POTATO CAVATELLI
This comes from Kim Severson in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Kim wrote, “These are an easy, homey version of handmade pasta that freeze well. They are sturdier and more toothsome than gnocchi but have more character than dried cavatelli. It takes a little practice to get the flip of the indentation just right, but once you get the feel for it you can turn out enough for dinner quickly. They hold up well under a heavy tomato ragù, but also take well to a simple sauce of butter, a little pasta water and Parmesan or pecorino. This recipe is easy to double, too, which leaves plenty to freeze for another night. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet dusted in flour, then store in a zippered plastic bag.” Time: 45 minutes; makes 6 servings as a first course, 4 as a main course.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 large russet potatoes
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup neutral oil, like canola
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 eggs
3 cups flour/450 grams, plus more for rolling
Preparation
Boil potatoes unpeeled and send through a ricer to make 2 cups. Alternately, peel and boil, then mash. Mix in butter and milk. Let cool.
In a sturdy bowl, using a stand mixer with a dough hook, or a wooden spoon or your hands, mix potatoes, oil, salt and eggs until smooth. Work in 2 cups flour, gradually adding more until dough is stiff and not sticky. (The amount of flour needed can vary greatly.)
Pinch off a ball of dough, roll into a rope about an inch in diameter and cut into 3/4-inch dumplings. On a floured surface, press your thumb against the cut side of each dumpling and press down and away, so the dough flattens and flips up over your thumb. The result should look like a miniature hot dog bun.
In boiling salted water, cook cavatelli, stirring once or twice as soon as you put them in, for about 5 minutes or until they rise to the top. Alternately, put them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then store in the freezer in a plastic bag. Dumplings will take about 10 to 12 minutes to cook. Top with tomato sauce, pesto or butter and Parmesan.
KEY LIME PIE
This recipe, also from the February 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 52, begins, “The secret to this pie is cream of coconut, most commonly used by bartenders to make piña coladas. Don't confuse it with coconut milk, which is unsweetened and thinner. Chill well before serving.” Serves 10.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/key-lime-pie-2/.
Crust
1 1/2 cups crushed vegan graham crackers, plus more for garnish
1/4 cup nonhydrogenated vegan margarine, melted
1/4 cup agave nectar
Filling
1 cup cream of coconut, such as Coco Lopez
1 cup raw, unsalted cashews
7 oz. extra-firm tofu (half pkg.), drained
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbs. agave nectar
2 tsp. grated lime zest
Lime slices, for garnish
To make Crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Stir together crushed graham crackers, margarine, and agave nectar in bowl. Press mixture into bottom and sides of 9-inch pie dish using fingers or bottom of drinking glass. Place Crust in freezer while oven preheats.
Bake Crust 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden. Cool.
To make Filling:
Place cream of coconut, cashews, tofu, lime juice, cornstarch, agave nectar, and lime zest in blender or food processor; blend until very smooth (press mixture through strainer if blender cannot completely blend cashews).
Transfer Filling to saucepan, and heat over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, or until Filling thickens, stirring constantly.
Spread Filling in Crust. Chill at least 4 hours before serving. Serve garnished with lime slices and crushed graham crackers.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 364; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 49 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 138 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 35 g; Vegan
The first four recipes come from the January 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, in an article titled “5 Ingredients: Frozen Assets: Hot ideas for winter dishes - straight from your freezer.” The article begins, “If the pitiful-looking winter produce selection has you singing the “what can I make for dinner” blues, it’s time to steer your grocery cart over to the freezer aisle. There you’ll find everything you need to make wholesome dishes without spending a fortune. And when you stock up on these frozen goodies—vegetables, soy meatballs, sweet berries and a pint or two of ice cream—the fast, delectable recipes here mean you don’t have to go out in the cold to get a hot meal on the table.”
Now, I know, someone is bound to think, “Winter? Excuse me, but it’s May! That hardly qualifies as winter.” That’s okay, these are still yummy recipes. So, give ‘em a try!
HEAVENLY ICE CREAM CAKE WITH RASPBERRY COULIS
This recipe begins, “Prepared angel food cakes from the supermarket bakery section are good items to have on hand for desserts. Before preparing this elaborate-looking recipe, freeze the cake completely. It slices easily with a serrated knife.” Serves 12.
You can also view this online, here.
1 16-oz. angel food cake, frozen
1 10-oz. jar raspberry preserves
1/4 cup raspberry liqueur or orange juice
2 pints low-fat vanilla ice cream, softened, divided
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen raspberries in syrup, thawed
Cut cake into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cover bottom of 9-inch springform pan with slices, cutting one or two slices as necessary to fill in gaps.
Combine raspberry preserves and liqueur in small saucepan over medium heat, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 5 minutes. Brush half of raspberry mixture over cake in pan. Spread 1 pint ice cream over cake, and smooth top. Arrange more cake slices over ice cream to cover completely. Spread remaining raspberry mixture over cake. Smooth remaining pint of ice cream over cake. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze overnight. (Can be prepared up to 3 days in advance up to this point.)
Purée thawed raspberries and syrup in food processor until smooth. Strain into bowl.
Run knife around sides of springform pan. Release sides from cake. Slice into wedges, and top with raspberry coulis.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 273; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 60 g; Cholesterol: 3 mg; Sodium: 319 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 31 g
PENNE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND PESTO
This recipe begins, “Cubed butternut squash is a recent addition to most frozen food sections—and a welcome one since it eliminates all the peeling, scraping and slicing that go with fresh squash. (Fresh butternut squash will also work, though.)” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
This can also be viewed this online here.
1/4 cup prepared pesto, divided
1 cup chopped frozen onions
1 1/4 lb. frozen diced butternut squash, about 4 cups
2/3 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
3/4 lb. whole-wheat penne
Heat 1 Tbs. pesto in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 6 minutes, or until softened. Stir in squash and broth. Cover, and cook over medium low 10 minutes, or until squash is tender, stirring occasionally.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, and divide among 4 bowls. Swirl remaining 1 Tbs. pesto into sauce, and season with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over pasta, and use remaining pesto to garnish each serving.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 489; Protein: 16 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 87 g; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Sodium: 332 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 7 g
GREEN COCONUT CURRY
This one begins, “Prepared Thai curry paste is available in the Asian section of most supermarkets. If you can’t find green, feel free to use red or yellow. Since the paste is quite spicy, taste a little before you add it and use more or less as preferred. Garnish with chopped roasted peanuts and cilantro if desired.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less. Vegan.
1 cup reduced-fat coconut milk
1 tsp. green curry paste
1 1/2 lb. frozen mixed Asian vegetables (mixes with peas are good here)
2 Tbs. teriyaki sauce
4 cups cooked brown rice
Combine coconut milk and curry paste in wok or large saucepan over medium heat, and bring to a boil. Stir in frozen vegetables. Simmer over medium heat 10 minutes. Stir in teriyaki sauce, and serve over rice.
PER SERVING: 376 CAL; 10G PROT; 7.5G TOTAL FAT (3G SAT. FAT); 66G CARB; 0MG CHOL; 889MG SOD; 6G FIBER; 8G SUGARS
“MEATBALLS” STROGANOFF
The recipe begins, “For a hot, filling dinner, this take on a traditional Hungarian dish can’t be beat. Frozen spinach lightens it up and makes for a well-balanced meal. Serve over long, wide pasta to soak up the sauce.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
2 tsp. garlic-flavored olive oil
2 cups frozen chopped onion
1 16-oz. bag frozen whole-leaf spinach
1 12-oz. pkg. frozen soy zesty Italian meatballs
1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
Heat oil in nonstick skillet on medium high. Add onion, and sauté 10 minutes, or until golden. Add 1/3 cup water, spinach and soy meatballs. Cover, and cook over medium heat 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in sour cream just before serving, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until heated through, but without boiling. Season with salt and pepper, and serve over egg noodles, if desired.
PER SERVING: 269 CAL; 18G PROT; 14.5G TOTAL FAT (6G SAT. FAT); 20G CARB; 31MG CHOL; 622MG SOD; 7G FIBER; 5G SUGARS
POTATO CAVATELLI
This comes from Kim Severson in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Kim wrote, “These are an easy, homey version of handmade pasta that freeze well. They are sturdier and more toothsome than gnocchi but have more character than dried cavatelli. It takes a little practice to get the flip of the indentation just right, but once you get the feel for it you can turn out enough for dinner quickly. They hold up well under a heavy tomato ragù, but also take well to a simple sauce of butter, a little pasta water and Parmesan or pecorino. This recipe is easy to double, too, which leaves plenty to freeze for another night. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet dusted in flour, then store in a zippered plastic bag.” Time: 45 minutes; makes 6 servings as a first course, 4 as a main course.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 large russet potatoes
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup neutral oil, like canola
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 eggs
3 cups flour/450 grams, plus more for rolling
Preparation
Boil potatoes unpeeled and send through a ricer to make 2 cups. Alternately, peel and boil, then mash. Mix in butter and milk. Let cool.
In a sturdy bowl, using a stand mixer with a dough hook, or a wooden spoon or your hands, mix potatoes, oil, salt and eggs until smooth. Work in 2 cups flour, gradually adding more until dough is stiff and not sticky. (The amount of flour needed can vary greatly.)
Pinch off a ball of dough, roll into a rope about an inch in diameter and cut into 3/4-inch dumplings. On a floured surface, press your thumb against the cut side of each dumpling and press down and away, so the dough flattens and flips up over your thumb. The result should look like a miniature hot dog bun.
In boiling salted water, cook cavatelli, stirring once or twice as soon as you put them in, for about 5 minutes or until they rise to the top. Alternately, put them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then store in the freezer in a plastic bag. Dumplings will take about 10 to 12 minutes to cook. Top with tomato sauce, pesto or butter and Parmesan.
KEY LIME PIE
This recipe, also from the February 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 52, begins, “The secret to this pie is cream of coconut, most commonly used by bartenders to make piña coladas. Don't confuse it with coconut milk, which is unsweetened and thinner. Chill well before serving.” Serves 10.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/key-lime-pie-2/.
Crust
1 1/2 cups crushed vegan graham crackers, plus more for garnish
1/4 cup nonhydrogenated vegan margarine, melted
1/4 cup agave nectar
Filling
1 cup cream of coconut, such as Coco Lopez
1 cup raw, unsalted cashews
7 oz. extra-firm tofu (half pkg.), drained
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbs. agave nectar
2 tsp. grated lime zest
Lime slices, for garnish
To make Crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Stir together crushed graham crackers, margarine, and agave nectar in bowl. Press mixture into bottom and sides of 9-inch pie dish using fingers or bottom of drinking glass. Place Crust in freezer while oven preheats.
Bake Crust 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden. Cool.
To make Filling:
Place cream of coconut, cashews, tofu, lime juice, cornstarch, agave nectar, and lime zest in blender or food processor; blend until very smooth (press mixture through strainer if blender cannot completely blend cashews).
Transfer Filling to saucepan, and heat over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, or until Filling thickens, stirring constantly.
Spread Filling in Crust. Chill at least 4 hours before serving. Serve garnished with lime slices and crushed graham crackers.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 364; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 49 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 138 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 35 g; Vegan
Friday, May 25, 2018
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Not sure what I'll be doing this weekend, but it's sure to include some cooking.
Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend, including Chicken Pot Pie Squares and Absurdly Easy Chocolate Fudge. Enjoy!
SPINACH & ARTICHOKE CHICKEN
This comes from Lauren Miyashiro on Delish. The recipe begins, “This creamy skillet chicken dinner will give you life.”
Yields: 6; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
6 chicken breasts
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
3 tbsp. butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 c. baby spinach
1 (13.75-oz.) can artichoke hearts, chopped
1/2 c. sliced roasted red peppers
1 c. half-and-half
3/4 c. shredded mozzarella
1/4 c. Parmesan
Directions
Season chicken all over with salt, pepper, and oregano. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add chicken and cook until golden, about 6 minutes per side. Remove chicken from skillet.
Melt butter in skillet then stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in baby spinach, artichokes and red peppers and cook until spinach starts to wilt. Add half-and-half and bring mixture to a simmer. Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
Return chicken to skillet and cook until sauce has thickened slightly and chicken is completely cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Remove from heat.
Serve chicken warm with sauce.
VEGAN CHILI
This yummy recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. The recipe begins with the words, “Hearty and healthy.” Works for me!
Yields: 6; Prep Times: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 bell peppers, diced
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (12-oz) bottle Mexican beer such as Modelo
1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28-oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2 c. vegetable broth
For Topping
1 avocado, sliced
Lime wedges
thinly sliced scallions
Directions
In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add peppers, onions and celery and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
Add beer and cook until it has reduced by half, about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sweet potato, black and pinto beans, tomatoes and vegetable broth. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced and sweet potatoes are cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
Serve with the toppings of your choice.
BAKED ARANCINI WITH PEPPERY TOMATO SAUCE
This is from Michelle Stark of the Tampa Bay Times. Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
For the sauce:
1 red bell pepper
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
2 garlic cloves
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Red pepper flakes, to taste
Handful of fresh basil, chopped
For the arancini:
1 to 2 cups panko bread crumbs
Salt, to taste
Garlic powder, to taste
2 to 3 cups cooked and chilled risotto
1 egg
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Parmesan cheese, for serving
Fresh parsley, chopped, for serving
Make the sauce: Cut the top off the red bell pepper, then halve it lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and ribs and cut into quarters. Place on a baking sheet lined with foil. Drizzle with olive oil, making sure the pepper pieces are coated. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Place in oven on the top rack and broil until pepper is very brown and charred. Keep an eye on it. When pepper pieces are mostly charred, remove from oven. Carefully remove any very charred skin and chop the rest of the pepper very finely. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add garlic and a swirl of olive oil. Cook for 5 minutes until garlic is lightly browned, then add crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a boil, season with salt and pepper and stir. Lower to a simmer and add red pepper flakes and basil. Taste it and adjust seasonings if desired. Simmer for 15 minutes while you prepare arancini.
Make the arancini: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread bread crumbs out on the parchment paper, spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt and garlic powder. Cook for 5 minutes, until crumbs are lightly browned and fragrant. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, place cooked risotto in a large bowl, then add egg, yogurt, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Start adding flour 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing in between each addition. About 4 tablespoons in, try to form a ball about the size of a golf ball with the risotto. If mixture is too sticky or not holding together, add the rest of the flour. If ball holds together, you’re good to go.
Prepare another baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper and coating with cooking spray. Gently roll risotto mixture into balls; you’ll likely get between 20 to 25. Place on balls on prepared baking sheet.
Carefully roll balls, one at a time, in bread crumbs on other baking sheet until each ball is coated entirely with crumbs.
Place arancini back on risotto baking sheet and spray generously with cooking spray. Season with salt and pepper and bake for about 25 minutes until brown. If you want them even browner, broil for about 5 minutes, watching them to make sure they don’t burn.
Serve hot with sauce on the side and more Parmesan cheese and parsley to garnish.
GRILLED SOY-BASTED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH SPICY CASHEWS
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Here's a hack I performed on a recipe for an appetizer portion of skewered chunked chicken thighs that the great live-fire cooks and cookbook writers Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby wrote many years ago, and that I have slowly altered into a main-course grilled dinner. The skinless chicken browns nicely over a medium flame, and the sugary soy basting sauce lacquers it beautifully in the final few minutes of cooking. It's terrific with rice, or as a topping for a salad of sturdy greens. You may wish to double the recipe for Sriracha-roasted cashews. Those are addictive, and for them you will find many delicious uses.”
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in “Charcoal Or Gas? Depends On What You’re Grilling” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted cashews
2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
Hot sauce, to taste
2 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1/4 cup brown sugar (light or dark) or molasses
2 tablespoons peeled and minced ginger
4 scallions, sliced thin
5 or 6 springs cilantro, tough stems removed and roughly chopped (approximately 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat oven to 300 degrees. Combine cashews and Sriracha sauce in a small bowl and stir until nuts are coated. Line a small baking pan with foil and spread the coated cashews out on it, then place in the oven and bake until nuts are dry, approximately 20 minutes. Carefully remove the nuts from the foil and let cool, then chop roughly and set aside in a small bowl.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together sesame oil, 1/2 cup soy sauce, the hoisin sauce and the black pepper, and hot sauce if using. Add chicken thighs and stir to coat. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
For the basting sauce, combine the remaining 3 tablespoons soy sauce, the brown sugar and the ginger in a small bowl, and whisk until the sugar has dissolved.
When you are ready to cook the chicken, build a fire in a charcoal grill, leaving about 1/3 of the cooking space free of coals. When coals are covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the coals for 5 to 7 seconds), you are ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn one burner to high, leaving the others off, then lower cover and heat for 15 minutes.)
Using tongs, remove chicken thighs from marinade and cook, directly over the coals, turning every few minutes, until they are well-browned but not crusty, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Then, using a pastry brush, begin to baste them with the soy, ginger and sugar mixture, until they develop a lacquer, an additional 8 to 10 minutes, again turning every few minutes. (If chicken threatens to burn, place it over the part of the grill without coals.)
Transfer chicken to a warmed platter, sprinkle with the chopped cashews, the scallions and the cilantro, and serve.
CHICKEN POT PIE SQUARES
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Using convenience products like puff pastry sheets, purchased gravy and a frozen vegetable combination makes these enjoyable pot pies easy enough for everyday cooking.”
Serves: 6 servings (1 filled square each); Time: 35 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast half (about 1 pound), cut into cubes
1 jar (12 ounces) Campbell's® Slow Roast Chicken Gravy
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
2 cups frozen vegetable combination (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots) or mixed vegetables
Directions
Heat the oven to 400°F.
Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Cut the pastry sheet into 3 strips along the fold marks. Cut each strip in half crosswise, making 6 pastry rectangles in all. Place the pastry rectangles onto a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Remove the pastries from the baking sheet and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Split each pastry into 2 layers, making 12 layers in all.
Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until it's well browned, stirring often.
Stir the gravy, thyme, onion powder and vegetables in the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender.
Spoon about 2/3 cup chicken mixture on each bottom pastry layer. Top with the top pastry layers.
ABSURDLY EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE
What's better than chocolate fudge? If it's also easy to make. This yummy recipe comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times' Cooking e-newsletter. Time: 15 minutes; makes 16 two-inch squares.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, plus extra for greasing the pan
1 pound semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/8 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Preparation
Butter an 8-inch-square baking pan. Line with parchment or wax paper, letting edges of paper hang over sides of pan.
In top of a double boiler or a metal bowl set over (not resting in) simmering water, combine all ingredients except nuts. Mix just until melted and well combined. (Alternatively, use a microwave on low power to melt ingredients, stopping every 10 to 20 seconds to mix well.) The mixture should be heated as little as possible. Mix in nuts, if using.
Scrape mixture into prepared pan. Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours or overnight. Lift fudge on paper out of pan and use a large knife to cut into squares.
Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend, including Chicken Pot Pie Squares and Absurdly Easy Chocolate Fudge. Enjoy!
SPINACH & ARTICHOKE CHICKEN
This comes from Lauren Miyashiro on Delish. The recipe begins, “This creamy skillet chicken dinner will give you life.”
Yields: 6; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
6 chicken breasts
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
3 tbsp. butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 c. baby spinach
1 (13.75-oz.) can artichoke hearts, chopped
1/2 c. sliced roasted red peppers
1 c. half-and-half
3/4 c. shredded mozzarella
1/4 c. Parmesan
Directions
Season chicken all over with salt, pepper, and oregano. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add chicken and cook until golden, about 6 minutes per side. Remove chicken from skillet.
Melt butter in skillet then stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in baby spinach, artichokes and red peppers and cook until spinach starts to wilt. Add half-and-half and bring mixture to a simmer. Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
Return chicken to skillet and cook until sauce has thickened slightly and chicken is completely cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Remove from heat.
Serve chicken warm with sauce.
VEGAN CHILI
This yummy recipe is from Lena Abraham on Delish. The recipe begins with the words, “Hearty and healthy.” Works for me!
Yields: 6; Prep Times: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 bell peppers, diced
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (12-oz) bottle Mexican beer such as Modelo
1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28-oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2 c. vegetable broth
For Topping
1 avocado, sliced
Lime wedges
thinly sliced scallions
Directions
In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add peppers, onions and celery and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano and sauté until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
Add beer and cook until it has reduced by half, about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sweet potato, black and pinto beans, tomatoes and vegetable broth. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced and sweet potatoes are cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
Serve with the toppings of your choice.
BAKED ARANCINI WITH PEPPERY TOMATO SAUCE
This is from Michelle Stark of the Tampa Bay Times. Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
For the sauce:
1 red bell pepper
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
2 garlic cloves
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Red pepper flakes, to taste
Handful of fresh basil, chopped
For the arancini:
1 to 2 cups panko bread crumbs
Salt, to taste
Garlic powder, to taste
2 to 3 cups cooked and chilled risotto
1 egg
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Parmesan cheese, for serving
Fresh parsley, chopped, for serving
Make the sauce: Cut the top off the red bell pepper, then halve it lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and ribs and cut into quarters. Place on a baking sheet lined with foil. Drizzle with olive oil, making sure the pepper pieces are coated. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Place in oven on the top rack and broil until pepper is very brown and charred. Keep an eye on it. When pepper pieces are mostly charred, remove from oven. Carefully remove any very charred skin and chop the rest of the pepper very finely. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add garlic and a swirl of olive oil. Cook for 5 minutes until garlic is lightly browned, then add crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a boil, season with salt and pepper and stir. Lower to a simmer and add red pepper flakes and basil. Taste it and adjust seasonings if desired. Simmer for 15 minutes while you prepare arancini.
Make the arancini: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread bread crumbs out on the parchment paper, spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt and garlic powder. Cook for 5 minutes, until crumbs are lightly browned and fragrant. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, place cooked risotto in a large bowl, then add egg, yogurt, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Start adding flour 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing in between each addition. About 4 tablespoons in, try to form a ball about the size of a golf ball with the risotto. If mixture is too sticky or not holding together, add the rest of the flour. If ball holds together, you’re good to go.
Prepare another baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper and coating with cooking spray. Gently roll risotto mixture into balls; you’ll likely get between 20 to 25. Place on balls on prepared baking sheet.
Carefully roll balls, one at a time, in bread crumbs on other baking sheet until each ball is coated entirely with crumbs.
Place arancini back on risotto baking sheet and spray generously with cooking spray. Season with salt and pepper and bake for about 25 minutes until brown. If you want them even browner, broil for about 5 minutes, watching them to make sure they don’t burn.
Serve hot with sauce on the side and more Parmesan cheese and parsley to garnish.
GRILLED SOY-BASTED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH SPICY CASHEWS
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Here's a hack I performed on a recipe for an appetizer portion of skewered chunked chicken thighs that the great live-fire cooks and cookbook writers Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby wrote many years ago, and that I have slowly altered into a main-course grilled dinner. The skinless chicken browns nicely over a medium flame, and the sugary soy basting sauce lacquers it beautifully in the final few minutes of cooking. It's terrific with rice, or as a topping for a salad of sturdy greens. You may wish to double the recipe for Sriracha-roasted cashews. Those are addictive, and for them you will find many delicious uses.”
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in “Charcoal Or Gas? Depends On What You’re Grilling” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted cashews
2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
Hot sauce, to taste
2 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1/4 cup brown sugar (light or dark) or molasses
2 tablespoons peeled and minced ginger
4 scallions, sliced thin
5 or 6 springs cilantro, tough stems removed and roughly chopped (approximately 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat oven to 300 degrees. Combine cashews and Sriracha sauce in a small bowl and stir until nuts are coated. Line a small baking pan with foil and spread the coated cashews out on it, then place in the oven and bake until nuts are dry, approximately 20 minutes. Carefully remove the nuts from the foil and let cool, then chop roughly and set aside in a small bowl.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together sesame oil, 1/2 cup soy sauce, the hoisin sauce and the black pepper, and hot sauce if using. Add chicken thighs and stir to coat. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
For the basting sauce, combine the remaining 3 tablespoons soy sauce, the brown sugar and the ginger in a small bowl, and whisk until the sugar has dissolved.
When you are ready to cook the chicken, build a fire in a charcoal grill, leaving about 1/3 of the cooking space free of coals. When coals are covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the coals for 5 to 7 seconds), you are ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn one burner to high, leaving the others off, then lower cover and heat for 15 minutes.)
Using tongs, remove chicken thighs from marinade and cook, directly over the coals, turning every few minutes, until they are well-browned but not crusty, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Then, using a pastry brush, begin to baste them with the soy, ginger and sugar mixture, until they develop a lacquer, an additional 8 to 10 minutes, again turning every few minutes. (If chicken threatens to burn, place it over the part of the grill without coals.)
Transfer chicken to a warmed platter, sprinkle with the chopped cashews, the scallions and the cilantro, and serve.
CHICKEN POT PIE SQUARES
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Using convenience products like puff pastry sheets, purchased gravy and a frozen vegetable combination makes these enjoyable pot pies easy enough for everyday cooking.”
Serves: 6 servings (1 filled square each); Time: 35 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast half (about 1 pound), cut into cubes
1 jar (12 ounces) Campbell's® Slow Roast Chicken Gravy
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
2 cups frozen vegetable combination (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots) or mixed vegetables
Directions
Heat the oven to 400°F.
Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Cut the pastry sheet into 3 strips along the fold marks. Cut each strip in half crosswise, making 6 pastry rectangles in all. Place the pastry rectangles onto a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Remove the pastries from the baking sheet and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Split each pastry into 2 layers, making 12 layers in all.
Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until it's well browned, stirring often.
Stir the gravy, thyme, onion powder and vegetables in the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender.
Spoon about 2/3 cup chicken mixture on each bottom pastry layer. Top with the top pastry layers.
ABSURDLY EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE
What's better than chocolate fudge? If it's also easy to make. This yummy recipe comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times' Cooking e-newsletter. Time: 15 minutes; makes 16 two-inch squares.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, plus extra for greasing the pan
1 pound semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/8 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Preparation
Butter an 8-inch-square baking pan. Line with parchment or wax paper, letting edges of paper hang over sides of pan.
In top of a double boiler or a metal bowl set over (not resting in) simmering water, combine all ingredients except nuts. Mix just until melted and well combined. (Alternatively, use a microwave on low power to melt ingredients, stopping every 10 to 20 seconds to mix well.) The mixture should be heated as little as possible. Mix in nuts, if using.
Scrape mixture into prepared pan. Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours or overnight. Lift fudge on paper out of pan and use a large knife to cut into squares.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)