It's the last Friday in June. Can the year really be just about half over? Wow!
Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend, including Cheesy Taco Meatloaf and Mexican-Style Stuffed Bell Peppers. Enjoy!
BANANA SNACKING CAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL GLAZE
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This buttery snacking cake is a bit like banana bread, but richer, and topped with a sticky caramel frosting that is dotted with crunchy flakes of sea salt. The frosting, made from brown sugar and heavy cream, is easier than a classic caramel, but just as compelling, with the sea salt contrasting perfectly with its sweetness. It’s important to use ripe bananas here. Soft, spotty ones with dark yellow skins will be the sweetest and most complex. Firm, pale yellow bananas just don’t have enough intensity to flavor the cake.”
For the Glaze:
Yield: 12 servings; Time: 1 hour, plus cooling
This was featured in “Three Snacking Cakes to Change Your Afternoons”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted, plus more for pan
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup mashed banana (from 2 to 3 very ripe bananas)
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Glaze:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick), cut into pieces
1/3 packed cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
Large pinch of fine sea salt
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
Flaky sea salt, for serving
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-9-inch pan, and then line with parchment paper, letting the two long ends hang over the edges by at least 2 inches.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking soda and salt. Whisk in bananas, melted butter, sour cream, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.
Scrape into baking pan and smooth the top. Bake until the top springs back when lightly pressed in the center, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely.
When cake is cool, make the glaze: In a medium or large pot (not a small one because the mixture will bubble up), combine butter, brown sugar, heavy cream and salt. Bring to a full boil and continue to boil over medium heat for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
Whisk in confectioners’ sugar until smooth, then immediately pour over cooled cake. Spread evenly across cake and let set for at least 30 minutes. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt before serving.
APPLE-CHEDDAR MAC AND CHEESE
This comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “Raise your hand if you like mac and cheese? And when it's teamed with apples, you'll want to raise both hands!” Serves: 4; Prep Time: 25 to 30 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups dry elbow macaroni
1 1/2 cups small diced, unpeeled, tart green or red apples
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/4 cups whole milk, lower fat milk can be substituted
1 small bay leaf
2 1/3 cup shredded sharp white or yellow Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon dry sherry (see second note)
Salt to taste
Ground white pepper to taste
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs, regular bread crumbs can be substituted
Directions
Butter a 1 1/2-quart round casserole.
Cook the pasta in a large saucepan according to package directions until al dente. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and drain well. Return the pasta to the saucepan and add the apples.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a heavy saucepan. Add the onions and cook over medium heat for about 3 minutes or until tender. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute or until fragrant. Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly until simmering gently. Add the bay leaf, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Remove and discard the bay leaf and then stir 2 cups of the cheese and the sherry into the milk. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until the cheese melts. Remove the pan from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add the cheese sauce to the pasta and apples and stir gently to combine. Transfer the mac and cheese to the casserole and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and the panko. Bake, uncovered, for about 30 minutes or just until heated through and lightly browned. Let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.
Note: You can bake the mac and cheese in individual ramekins. Butter them and bake for about 15 minutes.
Note: If you’re like me and don’t have alcohol around the house, no worries. Omit the Sherry, or add 1/2 teaspoon of milk or water with the cheese.
Per Serving: 600 calories; 33 g fat; 20 g saturated fat; 100 mg cholesterol; 660 mg sodium; 48 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 27g protein
SPICY CHEESY CHILI SAUCE LASAGNA
This comes from the Tablespoon e-newsletter, and starts off, “A simple meat lasagna that packs a spicy kick!” Prep Time: 30 min; Total Time: 1 hr 15 min; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds spicy Italian sausage
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (28 oz.) can Muir Glen™ organic diced tomatoes with basil and garlic
1 (14 oz.) can Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce
1 (12 oz.) can chili sauce
18 oz. mozzarella cheese, grated
6 large lasagna noodles, cooked al dente
Salt and pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sausage and cook until sausage is browned, 8-10 minutes.
Add tomatoes and chili sauce and stir together. Let sauce and sausage simmer for 15-20 minutes so it thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook noodles according to package (or use no-cook noodles).
In a 9x13-inch casserole dish, spoon in a cup of sauce. Lay 3 noodles on the sauce as the bottom layer. Sprinkle on about half of the cheese, then scoop in half of the remaining sauce.
Add another layer of noodles, half of the remaining cheese, the last of the meat sauce, and the last of the cheese.
Bake lasagna for 30 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling. Let cool briefly before serving!
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell's Soup, and begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr 15 minutes; Serves: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
STRAWBERRY MAPLE OAT COOKIES
This is from Crofter’s Organic, and was featured in the December 2018 issue of Taste For Life, which I’d picked up at one of my favorite places, Rollin’ Oats in St. Petersburg, Florida. If you’re ever in St. Pete (especially if you live nearby), check it out!
Anyway, the recipe begins, “This recipe is far from your grandma’s oatmeal cookie. These cookies are the epitome of summer - chewy oatmeal goodness bursting with juicy strawberry flavor all thanks to our strawberry premium fruit spread. Count us in. This flavor combination is one for the books and will take your cookie game to the next level. Not to mention, they’re healthier than your average cookie but shhh no one needs to know. That’s because they taste great. Give them a try and see for yourself! Yum!”
Serves 6 - 8; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes.
Check them out online at https://croftersorganic.com/recipe/strawberry-maple-oat-cookies/.
Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
1/2 cup coarsely ground walnuts
1 egg
2 tablespoons coconut oil melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 cup Crofter’s Organic Strawberry Premium Fruit Spread
Directions
In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients - flour, oats, baking powder, and salt. Add spices and walnuts. Mix all together until combined.
In a separate bowl whisk the egg, coconut oil, vanilla, and maple syrup. Mix well with a whisk until well combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix. Finally, stir in the diced strawberries. Mix gently with a spoon. Let the mixture sit for few minutes.
Preheat oven to 356F (180C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
With a scoop or spoon, scoop the dough, and place it on the baking sheet. Arrange the cookies 2-inches apart. Slightly flatten the dough with the spoon.
Bake 12-15 minutes until the edges of the cookies begin to brown.
Remove cookies from the oven, and let them cool for few minutes on a baking sheet. Then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
Friday, June 28, 2019
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Where's The Beef? - Double-Post Thursday
Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Today's double post deals with beef.
When I was growing up, beef was probably the most popular main food on many dinner plates. (There was also the popular Wendy's commercial during the 1980s that asked "Where's the Beef?")
Well, here's the beef, including Firehouse Chili Gumbo and Baked Spaghetti. Enjoy!
SIMPLE MEATLOAF WITH OPTIONAL TOPPING
This comes from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “This delicious and simple meatloaf recipe is a great fit for Sunday dinner. Feel free to use plain ketchup to top this dish, or, if you're feeling a little adventurous, make the optional topping. For a tasty meal, serve the meatloaf with homemade mashed potatoes and peas and carrots or your favorite vegetables.
“Note: Ground beef with a ratio of 80/20 or 85/20 will produce the moistest and most flavorful meatloaf. Baking the meatloaf in a specialty meatloaf pan or on a rack will help drain away some of the excess fat. If you don't have either, you can make a free-form loaf on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 80 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Optional Glaze/Topping:
4 tablespoons ketchup
4 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey)
2 tablespoons Dijon (or similar mustard)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
For the Meatloaf:
2 pounds ground beef
2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup fine dry breadcrumbs (plain)
2 tablespoons dried minced onion (or 1/2 cup finely minced fresh onion)
1 1/2 teaspoons burger seasoning (or 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper)
1/2 cup ketchup (plus more for topping, if desired)
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Heat over to 350 degrees F.
Srapy a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
If using the optional topping, in a small bowl, combine 4 tablespoons ketchup, maple syrup, mustard and Worcestershire until well mixed. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, onion, burger seasoning, and 1/2 cup of ketchup.
Mix until well blended and pack into the prepared loaf pan.
Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Carefully drain off any excess fat and then top the loaf with the optional topping mixture or about 4 tablespoons of ketchup. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer.
Serve and enjoy!
Tips
Ground beef with a ratio of 80/20 or 85/20 will produce the moistest and most flavorful meatloaf. Baking the meatloaf in a specialty meatloaf pan or on a rack will help drain away some of the excess fat. If you don't have either, you can make a free-form loaf on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan.
Experiment with meat mixtures in meatloaf. While beef gives excellent flavor and holds together well, adding a portion of lean ground pork will provide juiciness. Ground veal would add lightness to a loaf, and ground chicken or turkey would reduce some of the fat and calories.
Top the meatloaf with prepared barbecue sauce just before it's finished baking.
Use cracker crumbs or soft breadcrumbs in the meatloaf instead of fine dry breadcrumbs.
Line the loaf pan with parchment paper or foil, like a sling. Just grab the ends of the paper or foil and lift the meatloaf out of the pan when it's done.
Bake the meatloaf in individual muffin cups. Use about 1/4 cup of meatloaf mixture for each muffin cup.
Pack the meatloaf mixture into individual oiled ramekins, and then invert them onto a rimmed baking sheet for perfectly shaped individual meatloaves.
Instead of breadcrumbs, use crushed cheese crackers in the meat mixture.
Top a meatloaf with strips of bacon before baking, or add crumbled cooked bacon to the meat mixture.
ULTIMATE NACHOS
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1/2 lb. Extra lean ground beef
8 oz. Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6 oz. Tortilla chips (about 7 cups)
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1 can (10 oz) Ro Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, drained well
Directions
Brown meat in medium skillet; drain.
Microwave Velveeta in medium microwave-safe bowl on HIGH 1 minute or until completely melted, stirring after 30 seconds.
Place chips on large platter; top with Velveeta, meat and remaining ingredients.
BAKED SPAGHETTI
This is from the Food Network, and begins, “This mash-up of lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce makes for a warming one-pan dinner. (And if you start with leftover cooked noodles and meat sauce, you're set for a super-fast weeknight meal.) Assemble the casserole ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Inactive Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes; Level: Intermediate; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/baked-spaghetti-3361814.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
8 ounces thin spaghetti
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat a second large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring to break the meat up, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the crushed and diced tomatoes, sugar and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the time indicated in the package directions. Strain well. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cover the bottom of a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan with a third of the sauce. Add half the pasta and a third of the Cheddar; repeat the layers and add the last of the sauce; reserve the last of the Cheddar.
Bake for 30 minutes. Top with the remaining Cheddar and continue baking until it melts and the sauce bubbles, about 5 more minutes. Let cool in the dish for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley before cutting into squares.
FIREHOUSE CHILI GUMBO
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This recipe is adapted from the one that a Louisiana firefighter named Jeremy Chauvin entered into a national cook-off run by Hormel Foods in 2017, and that took home the prize for America’s Best Firehouse Chili. It is not really a chili in the Texas sense of the word. There is a roux at its base — it’s more like a chili gumbo, a bayou take on the original red. Serve with grated cheese and corn chips. Chauvin told me he was moved to enter the chili contest as a way to honor his brother Spencer, also a firefighter, who was killed in the line of duty in 2016. ‘I just want people to remember his sacrifice,’ he said.”
Yield: Serves 8 to 10; Time: 2 hours
This was featured in “This is the Best Firehouse Chili”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018961-firehouse-chili-gumbo.
Ingredients
For the Chili:
2 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola or grapeseed
3 pounds ground beef, ideally coarse-ground
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, or to taste
2 tablespoons chile powder
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons steak sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
For the Gumbo:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
2 medium shallots, peeled and diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
3 ribs celery, trimmed and diced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 6-ounce cans tomato paste
2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
1 to 2 cups tomato juice
1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon apple-cider vinegar, or to taste
2 tablespoons hot sauce, or to taste
Preparation
Make the chili. Heat the oil in a large skillet or heavy-bottomed pot set over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook the beef, stirring often, until it has begun to brown at the edges. Using a slotted spoon, transfer browned meat to a bowl.
Pour off excess fat, turn heat down to medium and return the browned beef to the skillet or pot. Add salt, peppers, chile powder, turmeric, oregano and cumin, and stir to combine. Add steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce and diced tomatoes, and stir again. Cover the skillet or pot, and cook, stirring a few times, for 15 minutes or so.
Make the gumbo. Place a large pot with a heavy bottom over medium heat, and put the butter and oil into it. When the butter is melted and foaming, sprinkle the flour into the pan, and whisk to combine. Continue whisking until the mixture is golden brown, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Add the onion, shallots, bell peppers, celery and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables have started to soften, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Make the chili gumbo. Add the beef mixture to the pot with the vegetables along with the tomato paste, tomato sauce, tomato juice and ketchup, and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 45 minutes, then add apple-cider vinegar and hot sauce to taste. Take the pot off the heat, and serve, or allow to cool and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to cure. Heat before serving.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell's Soup, and begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr 15 minutes; Serves: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
When I was growing up, beef was probably the most popular main food on many dinner plates. (There was also the popular Wendy's commercial during the 1980s that asked "Where's the Beef?")
Well, here's the beef, including Firehouse Chili Gumbo and Baked Spaghetti. Enjoy!
SIMPLE MEATLOAF WITH OPTIONAL TOPPING
This comes from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “This delicious and simple meatloaf recipe is a great fit for Sunday dinner. Feel free to use plain ketchup to top this dish, or, if you're feeling a little adventurous, make the optional topping. For a tasty meal, serve the meatloaf with homemade mashed potatoes and peas and carrots or your favorite vegetables.
“Note: Ground beef with a ratio of 80/20 or 85/20 will produce the moistest and most flavorful meatloaf. Baking the meatloaf in a specialty meatloaf pan or on a rack will help drain away some of the excess fat. If you don't have either, you can make a free-form loaf on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 80 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Optional Glaze/Topping:
4 tablespoons ketchup
4 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey)
2 tablespoons Dijon (or similar mustard)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
For the Meatloaf:
2 pounds ground beef
2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup fine dry breadcrumbs (plain)
2 tablespoons dried minced onion (or 1/2 cup finely minced fresh onion)
1 1/2 teaspoons burger seasoning (or 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper)
1/2 cup ketchup (plus more for topping, if desired)
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Heat over to 350 degrees F.
Srapy a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
If using the optional topping, in a small bowl, combine 4 tablespoons ketchup, maple syrup, mustard and Worcestershire until well mixed. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, onion, burger seasoning, and 1/2 cup of ketchup.
Mix until well blended and pack into the prepared loaf pan.
Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Carefully drain off any excess fat and then top the loaf with the optional topping mixture or about 4 tablespoons of ketchup. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer.
Serve and enjoy!
Tips
Ground beef with a ratio of 80/20 or 85/20 will produce the moistest and most flavorful meatloaf. Baking the meatloaf in a specialty meatloaf pan or on a rack will help drain away some of the excess fat. If you don't have either, you can make a free-form loaf on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan.
Experiment with meat mixtures in meatloaf. While beef gives excellent flavor and holds together well, adding a portion of lean ground pork will provide juiciness. Ground veal would add lightness to a loaf, and ground chicken or turkey would reduce some of the fat and calories.
Top the meatloaf with prepared barbecue sauce just before it's finished baking.
Use cracker crumbs or soft breadcrumbs in the meatloaf instead of fine dry breadcrumbs.
Line the loaf pan with parchment paper or foil, like a sling. Just grab the ends of the paper or foil and lift the meatloaf out of the pan when it's done.
Bake the meatloaf in individual muffin cups. Use about 1/4 cup of meatloaf mixture for each muffin cup.
Pack the meatloaf mixture into individual oiled ramekins, and then invert them onto a rimmed baking sheet for perfectly shaped individual meatloaves.
Instead of breadcrumbs, use crushed cheese crackers in the meat mixture.
Top a meatloaf with strips of bacon before baking, or add crumbled cooked bacon to the meat mixture.
ULTIMATE NACHOS
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1/2 lb. Extra lean ground beef
8 oz. Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6 oz. Tortilla chips (about 7 cups)
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1 can (10 oz) Ro Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, drained well
Directions
Brown meat in medium skillet; drain.
Microwave Velveeta in medium microwave-safe bowl on HIGH 1 minute or until completely melted, stirring after 30 seconds.
Place chips on large platter; top with Velveeta, meat and remaining ingredients.
BAKED SPAGHETTI
This is from the Food Network, and begins, “This mash-up of lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce makes for a warming one-pan dinner. (And if you start with leftover cooked noodles and meat sauce, you're set for a super-fast weeknight meal.) Assemble the casserole ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Inactive Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes; Level: Intermediate; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/baked-spaghetti-3361814.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
8 ounces thin spaghetti
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat a second large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring to break the meat up, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the crushed and diced tomatoes, sugar and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the time indicated in the package directions. Strain well. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cover the bottom of a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan with a third of the sauce. Add half the pasta and a third of the Cheddar; repeat the layers and add the last of the sauce; reserve the last of the Cheddar.
Bake for 30 minutes. Top with the remaining Cheddar and continue baking until it melts and the sauce bubbles, about 5 more minutes. Let cool in the dish for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley before cutting into squares.
FIREHOUSE CHILI GUMBO
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This recipe is adapted from the one that a Louisiana firefighter named Jeremy Chauvin entered into a national cook-off run by Hormel Foods in 2017, and that took home the prize for America’s Best Firehouse Chili. It is not really a chili in the Texas sense of the word. There is a roux at its base — it’s more like a chili gumbo, a bayou take on the original red. Serve with grated cheese and corn chips. Chauvin told me he was moved to enter the chili contest as a way to honor his brother Spencer, also a firefighter, who was killed in the line of duty in 2016. ‘I just want people to remember his sacrifice,’ he said.”
Yield: Serves 8 to 10; Time: 2 hours
This was featured in “This is the Best Firehouse Chili”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018961-firehouse-chili-gumbo.
Ingredients
For the Chili:
2 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola or grapeseed
3 pounds ground beef, ideally coarse-ground
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, or to taste
2 tablespoons chile powder
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons steak sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
For the Gumbo:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
2 medium shallots, peeled and diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
3 ribs celery, trimmed and diced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 6-ounce cans tomato paste
2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
1 to 2 cups tomato juice
1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon apple-cider vinegar, or to taste
2 tablespoons hot sauce, or to taste
Preparation
Make the chili. Heat the oil in a large skillet or heavy-bottomed pot set over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook the beef, stirring often, until it has begun to brown at the edges. Using a slotted spoon, transfer browned meat to a bowl.
Pour off excess fat, turn heat down to medium and return the browned beef to the skillet or pot. Add salt, peppers, chile powder, turmeric, oregano and cumin, and stir to combine. Add steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce and diced tomatoes, and stir again. Cover the skillet or pot, and cook, stirring a few times, for 15 minutes or so.
Make the gumbo. Place a large pot with a heavy bottom over medium heat, and put the butter and oil into it. When the butter is melted and foaming, sprinkle the flour into the pan, and whisk to combine. Continue whisking until the mixture is golden brown, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Add the onion, shallots, bell peppers, celery and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables have started to soften, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Make the chili gumbo. Add the beef mixture to the pot with the vegetables along with the tomato paste, tomato sauce, tomato juice and ketchup, and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 45 minutes, then add apple-cider vinegar and hot sauce to taste. Take the pot off the heat, and serve, or allow to cool and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to cure. Heat before serving.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell's Soup, and begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr 15 minutes; Serves: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Diabetic Thursday
It's time for another Diabetic Thursday. Check out the Chunky Chicken and Vegetable Soup, go on to the Strip Steaks with Broiled Asparagus, then check out the rest of today's yummy recipes. Enjoy!
BAKED APPLES BURNETTE
Yield: 4 servings
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/743.shtml
Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/24.shtml
Ingredients
4 MacIntosh or Rome apples
2 tablespoons raisins
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Few drops pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon frozen orange juice concentrate
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Core apples and peel away about 1/2 inch of skin from top of each. Prick each a few times with a fork.
Fill each core with raisins, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg and a drop of vanilla.
Place apples in a baking dish and add water mixed with orange juice.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes until apples are soft, basting occasionally with liquid. Serve warm or chilled with syrup.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 96; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 2 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Fruit
CHUNKY CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE SOUP
This came from a diabetic recipe magazine years ago; I wish I had noted it better than that. If anyone recognizes this and where it's from, please comment and let me know. (Thanks!) Serves 4.
Ingredients
1 Tbs canola oil
1 boneless skinless chicken breast (4 ounces), diced
1/2 C chopped green bell pepper
1/2 C thinly sliced celery
2 green onions, sliced
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) chicken broth
1 C water
1/2 cup sliced carrots
2 Tbs cream
1 TBS finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/8 tsp black pepper
Directions
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add chicken; cook & stir 4-5 minutes or until no longer pink. Add bell pepper, celery & onions. Cook & stir 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Add broth, water, carrots, cream, parsley, thyme & black pepper. Simmer 10 minutes or until carrots are tender.
Per serving: Calories 130; Total fat 8g (Sat fat 3g); Protein 9g; Carbohydrate 5g; Cholesterol 27mg; Sodium 895mg; Dietary fiber 1g; Exchange: 1 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1 Fat
MEXICAN CHICKEN SOUP
Yield: 10 servings. Serving Size: 1-1/2 cups. May be viewed online at http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1206.shtml
Ingredients
1 Tbsp canola oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, sliced
4 celery stalks, sliced
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp red pepper flakes
8 cups low-sodium chicken stock
2/3 cup lentils
1 can (19 oz) tomatoes, chopped
3 medium carrots, thinly sliced
2 lbs cooked chicken, cubed
1 small zucchini, thinly sliced
1 cup frozen peas
1 small avocado, peeled and sliced
Directions
In Dutch oven, heat canola oil. Add garlic, onion and celery. Sauté until vegetables are tender. Season with black pepper, cumin and red pepper flakes.
Add chicken stock, lentils, tomatoes and carrots. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes, or until carrots are tender.
Add chicken, zucchini and peas.
Cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until vegetables are tender. Garnish with avocado slices.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 250; Protein: 33 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 280 mg; Cholesterol: 75 mg; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g
STRIP STEAKS WITH BROILED ASPARAGUS
Yield: 2 servings
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/727.shtmlView online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/727.shtml
Source: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Terrific Diabetic Meals
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/76.shtml
Ingredients
Vegetable oil cooking spray
1 (8 ounces) boneless beef top loin (strip) steak, cut about 3/4-inch thick, trimmed of all fat
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon cracked or coarsely ground black pepper
8 - 10 (6 ounces) thin asparagus spears, trimmed
2 teaspoons garlic-flavored olive oil or regular olive oil
Sauce:
1/2 cup low-salt beef broth
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Directions
Rub steak on both sides with a mixture of garlic and pepper. Place asparagus in shallow dish and drizzle with oil.
For sauce, in a medium skillet stir together broth and wine. Cook over high heat for 4 to 5 minutes or until mixture is reduced in volume to 1/4 cup. Whisk in mustard. Remove from heat and keep warm.
Preheat the broiler. Spray an unheated broiler pan with cooking spray and place steak on it. Broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 8 to 10 minutes for medium rare or 10 to 12 minutes for medium, turning once and place asparagus into the pan next to the steak for the last two minutes of broiling.
Spoon sauce onto a plate. Cut steak in half crosswise and place atop sauce. Top with asparagus spears.
Serving size: 3 ounces cooked beef top loin steak with 2 tablespoons sauce and four spears of asparagus
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 226; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 58 mg; Cholesterol: 67 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 3 g; Exchanges: 3 Medium-Fat Meat, 1 Fat, 1/2 Vegetable
LEMON BASIL PESTO WITH FRESH VEGETABLES
Yield: Makes 8 servings.
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/914.shtml
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups packed basil leaves
1/2 cup packed baby spinach leaves
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated Asiago cheese
2 Tbsp. soft silken tofu
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 3/4" strips
1 pint small cherry tomatoes
Directions
In food processor, pulse basil and spinach until finely chopped. Add nuts and cheese. Whirl until nuts are finely chopped. Add tofu, salt and pepper.
With motor running, drizzle in oil. Add lemon zest and whirl to blend. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Makes 1 cup pesto.
To serve, scoop pesto into serving bowl. Set bowl in center of a plate and arrange pepper strips and tomatoes around it. Provide toothpicks so tomatoes can be neatly dipped.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 140; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 180 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 4 g
GRANNY SMITH APPLE TART
Yield: 1 tart (8 servings)
Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/501.shtml
Ingredients
1 refrigerated fill-and-bake pie crust (7 to 7-1/2 ounces)
3 large Granny Smith apples (about 1-1/2 pounds total), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sour half-and-half, or 1/4 cup nonfat sour cream
1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Put the pie crust into a 9-inch-diameter tart pan with a removable bottom; press the crust against the fluted edge and trim off any pastry that extends over the top. Roll the trimmed dough into a ball; flatten to 1/4 inch and cut 2 or 3 shapes with a cookie cutter. Prick the tart shell in several places with the tines of a fork.
Put the sliced apples in a large bowl; drizzle them with lemon juice and toss to mix.
In a small bowl, blend the brown sugar, sour half-and-half, tapioca, and cinnamon.
Fold the brown sugar mixture into the apples until all the fruit is coated. Spoon the apples into the tart shell; arrange the dough shapes on top of the apples. Sprinkle granulated sugar over the top.
Bake for 35 minutes, or until the apples are tender. Cut in 8 equal slices. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 200; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 146 mg; Cholesterol: 8 mg; Carbohydrates: 34 g: Exchanges: 2 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Fat
BAKED APPLES BURNETTE
Yield: 4 servings
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/743.shtml
Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/24.shtml
Ingredients
4 MacIntosh or Rome apples
2 tablespoons raisins
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Few drops pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon frozen orange juice concentrate
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Core apples and peel away about 1/2 inch of skin from top of each. Prick each a few times with a fork.
Fill each core with raisins, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg and a drop of vanilla.
Place apples in a baking dish and add water mixed with orange juice.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes until apples are soft, basting occasionally with liquid. Serve warm or chilled with syrup.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 96; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 2 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Fruit
CHUNKY CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE SOUP
This came from a diabetic recipe magazine years ago; I wish I had noted it better than that. If anyone recognizes this and where it's from, please comment and let me know. (Thanks!) Serves 4.
Ingredients
1 Tbs canola oil
1 boneless skinless chicken breast (4 ounces), diced
1/2 C chopped green bell pepper
1/2 C thinly sliced celery
2 green onions, sliced
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) chicken broth
1 C water
1/2 cup sliced carrots
2 Tbs cream
1 TBS finely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/8 tsp black pepper
Directions
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add chicken; cook & stir 4-5 minutes or until no longer pink. Add bell pepper, celery & onions. Cook & stir 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Add broth, water, carrots, cream, parsley, thyme & black pepper. Simmer 10 minutes or until carrots are tender.
Per serving: Calories 130; Total fat 8g (Sat fat 3g); Protein 9g; Carbohydrate 5g; Cholesterol 27mg; Sodium 895mg; Dietary fiber 1g; Exchange: 1 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1 Fat
MEXICAN CHICKEN SOUP
Yield: 10 servings. Serving Size: 1-1/2 cups. May be viewed online at http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1206.shtml
Ingredients
1 Tbsp canola oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, sliced
4 celery stalks, sliced
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp red pepper flakes
8 cups low-sodium chicken stock
2/3 cup lentils
1 can (19 oz) tomatoes, chopped
3 medium carrots, thinly sliced
2 lbs cooked chicken, cubed
1 small zucchini, thinly sliced
1 cup frozen peas
1 small avocado, peeled and sliced
Directions
In Dutch oven, heat canola oil. Add garlic, onion and celery. Sauté until vegetables are tender. Season with black pepper, cumin and red pepper flakes.
Add chicken stock, lentils, tomatoes and carrots. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes, or until carrots are tender.
Add chicken, zucchini and peas.
Cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until vegetables are tender. Garnish with avocado slices.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 250; Protein: 33 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 280 mg; Cholesterol: 75 mg; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g
STRIP STEAKS WITH BROILED ASPARAGUS
Yield: 2 servings
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/727.shtmlView online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/727.shtml
Source: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Terrific Diabetic Meals
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/76.shtml
Ingredients
Vegetable oil cooking spray
1 (8 ounces) boneless beef top loin (strip) steak, cut about 3/4-inch thick, trimmed of all fat
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon cracked or coarsely ground black pepper
8 - 10 (6 ounces) thin asparagus spears, trimmed
2 teaspoons garlic-flavored olive oil or regular olive oil
Sauce:
1/2 cup low-salt beef broth
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Directions
Rub steak on both sides with a mixture of garlic and pepper. Place asparagus in shallow dish and drizzle with oil.
For sauce, in a medium skillet stir together broth and wine. Cook over high heat for 4 to 5 minutes or until mixture is reduced in volume to 1/4 cup. Whisk in mustard. Remove from heat and keep warm.
Preheat the broiler. Spray an unheated broiler pan with cooking spray and place steak on it. Broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 8 to 10 minutes for medium rare or 10 to 12 minutes for medium, turning once and place asparagus into the pan next to the steak for the last two minutes of broiling.
Spoon sauce onto a plate. Cut steak in half crosswise and place atop sauce. Top with asparagus spears.
Serving size: 3 ounces cooked beef top loin steak with 2 tablespoons sauce and four spears of asparagus
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 226; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 58 mg; Cholesterol: 67 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 3 g; Exchanges: 3 Medium-Fat Meat, 1 Fat, 1/2 Vegetable
LEMON BASIL PESTO WITH FRESH VEGETABLES
Yield: Makes 8 servings.
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/914.shtml
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups packed basil leaves
1/2 cup packed baby spinach leaves
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated Asiago cheese
2 Tbsp. soft silken tofu
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 3/4" strips
1 pint small cherry tomatoes
Directions
In food processor, pulse basil and spinach until finely chopped. Add nuts and cheese. Whirl until nuts are finely chopped. Add tofu, salt and pepper.
With motor running, drizzle in oil. Add lemon zest and whirl to blend. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Makes 1 cup pesto.
To serve, scoop pesto into serving bowl. Set bowl in center of a plate and arrange pepper strips and tomatoes around it. Provide toothpicks so tomatoes can be neatly dipped.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 140; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 180 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 4 g
GRANNY SMITH APPLE TART
Yield: 1 tart (8 servings)
Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/501.shtml
Ingredients
1 refrigerated fill-and-bake pie crust (7 to 7-1/2 ounces)
3 large Granny Smith apples (about 1-1/2 pounds total), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sour half-and-half, or 1/4 cup nonfat sour cream
1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Put the pie crust into a 9-inch-diameter tart pan with a removable bottom; press the crust against the fluted edge and trim off any pastry that extends over the top. Roll the trimmed dough into a ball; flatten to 1/4 inch and cut 2 or 3 shapes with a cookie cutter. Prick the tart shell in several places with the tines of a fork.
Put the sliced apples in a large bowl; drizzle them with lemon juice and toss to mix.
In a small bowl, blend the brown sugar, sour half-and-half, tapioca, and cinnamon.
Fold the brown sugar mixture into the apples until all the fruit is coated. Spoon the apples into the tart shell; arrange the dough shapes on top of the apples. Sprinkle granulated sugar over the top.
Bake for 35 minutes, or until the apples are tender. Cut in 8 equal slices. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 200; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 146 mg; Cholesterol: 8 mg; Carbohydrates: 34 g: Exchanges: 2 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Fat
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Lasagna
If you love lasagna as much as I do, today's post is for you. Try out the Mexican Lasagna or Slow Cooker Lasagna, then go from there. Enjoy!
QUICK, HIGH-PROTEIN VEGGIE LASAGNA
This recipe is from Vegetarian Times, and was posted on their website on January 2, 2005. It begins, “This easy-to-follow recipe provides you with 21 grams of protein per serving, thanks to the soy "steak" strips. The lasagna can be assembled quickly since you don't have to cook the pasta first. Excerpted from Diet Simple by Katherine Tallmadge.” Makes 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. minced garlic
12 oz. soy "steak" strips
1/2 lb. eggplant, cubed
1 ripe tomato, cubed
1 zucchini, diced
2 1/2 cups marinara sauce
2 tsp. dried oregano, or to taste
1 9-oz. pkg. oven-ready lasagna sheets
2 cups low-fat ricotta cheese
2 cups low-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray nonstick 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat, and brown garlic 2 to 3 minutes. Add soy strips, and sauté 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggplant, tomato, zucchini and 1 cup of marinara sauce; cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in oregano, salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, place 6 sheets of lasagna in bottom of pan, overlapping as needed to fill gaps. Spoon in eggplant mixture, and top with layer of ricotta cheese. Place remaining lasagna strips over ricotta, and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Spread remaining marinara sauce on top, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and cover pan tightly with foil. Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until top layer of pasta is soft. Remove and serve.
MEXICAN LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “A delicious twist on lasagna!”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6-8 large tortillas
1 lb ground beef
1 packet Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
1/3 medium onion, diced
1 can (19 oz) Old El Paso™ mild red enchilada sauce
1 can (16 oz) Old El Paso™ refried beans, any type
1 1/2 cup cheddar or mexican blend cheese
3 small or medium tomatoes, diced
Cilantro, as desired
Black olives, as desired
Sour cream, for topping
Shredded lettuce, for topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large non-stick skillet on stove, cook onions and beef until cooked through. Remove skillet from heat, drain off grease and stir in taco seasoning. Set aside.
Cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with a thin coat of enchilada sauce. Layer tortilla halves in the bottom of the pan with the cut (straight) sides facing outward toward edges of pan. Cut pieces of another tortilla as needed to fill in any gaps and create a solid tortilla layer in the bottom of the pan.
Continue layering ingredients in the following order, making sure to save enough of each ingredient to form a second layer: refried beans, enchilada sauce, beef and onion mixture, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro and black olives (if desired).
Using equal amounts of ingredients as the first layer, form your second layer in the following order: tortillas, beans, enchilada sauce, meat and onions, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro and olives.
Top with a final layer of tortillas, and cover with a thin coating of enchilada sauce and cheese.
Bake lasagna for 30-45 minutes until cheese is melted and tortillas start to crisp. Serve with sour cream, lettuce and additional toppings as desired.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One time, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting better than when I made it.
I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I ended up changing the recipe drastically, changing ingredients and amounts. The funny thing is that, while I use one or two packages of tofu crumbles instead of meat, it tastes enough like meat to fool several non-vegetarians. One person, after eating this, even looked at me aghast, asking, “What are you, some kind of vegetarian?” Never heard from him again.
Ingredients
Tomato sauce:
2 – 3 onions, chopped
3 – 5 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can tomatoes
2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
1 or 2 – 10 oz. package tofu crumbles
Cheese layer:
2 C sour cream
2 C cottage cheese
2 eggs
4 C mozzarella, grated
2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 C Parmesan cheese
Directions
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles
Make cheese layer:
Mix ingredients together in large bowl.
Assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9” X 13” pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.
SLOW COOKER LASAGNA
This was posted on Pure Wow, and is from Ali, whose blog, GimmeSomeOven, is absolutely fantastic! If you’ve never checked it out, you really should. Go ahead, I’ll wait. (Tap, tap, tap…)
Okay, so Ali starts this recipe off with, “This Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe is easy to make and customize with your favorite ingredients in the crock pot!”
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Yield: 10 - 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-lasgana-recipe/print/.
Ingredients
1 pound ground Italian sausage (I used spicy) or ground beef*
2 (24-ounce) jars of good-quality Italian pasta sauce**
16 uncooked no-boil lasagna noodles
32 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups chopped fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup finely-chopped fresh basil
Directions
Add the ground Italian sausage (or ground beef) to a large saute pan, and cook over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, using a large spoon to stir and break up the meet into small crumbles as it cooks. Remove from heat and drain off any excess grease. Set aside.
Meanwhile, as the meat is cooking, go ahead and get ready to assemble the lasagna. Begin by spraying the insert of a large 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Then layer the ingredients in the following order:
Spread 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce evenly along the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 4 lasagna noodles — breaking them into smaller pieces as needed to fit — evenly over the sauce to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 1/3 of the ricotta cheese (a little over 1 cup) evenly on top of the noodles. (I found it was easiest to do this in small spoonfuls, and then spread them out with a spatula. It’s totally ok if it’s messy and uneven!)
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the shredded Mozzarella cheese and 2 Tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese in an even layer on top of the ricotta.
Layer about 1/3 of the cooked ground meat in an even layer on top of the cheeses.
Layer about 1/3 of the chopped spinach in an even layer on top of the ground meat.
Layer 1 cup of pasta sauce in an even layer on top of the spinach.
Repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then add one more layer of noodles, sauce, and Mozzarella.
Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, or until the noodles are tender.
Turn off the heat, and sprinkle the top of the lasagna evenly with the remaining Parmesan and fresh basil. Serve immediately. (Or if you let the lasagna sit and rest for 30 minutes, it will cut into pieces much more easily.)
BUDGET-FRIENDLY PASTITSIO (GREEK LASAGNA)
This is from Diabetes Food Hub, and begins, “This version of Greek Lasagna is a great family meal that pairs well with a green salad topped with a little feta cheese and light Greek salad dressing.”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 12; Serving Size: 1 slice
View this online at https://www.diabetesfoodhub.org/recipes/budget-friendly-pastitsio-greek-lasagna.html.
Ingredients
1 spray Nonstick cooking spray
1 medium onion (diced)
20 oz lean ground turkey (93% fat-free)
2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground oregano
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 can tomato sauce (15 ounce, low-sodium)
1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
1 lbs brown rice or quinoa penne pasta (or whole wheat penne pasta)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp whole wheat flour
2 cups skim milk
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
1 egg
Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 8
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.
Add cooking spray to a large nonstick sauté pan. Sauté onions for 4-5 minutes or until translucent. Add in ground turkey and sauté for 8-10 minutes, or until turkey is cooked through.
Add cinnamon, oregano, salt (optional), ground black pepper, and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer for 5-7 minutes or until just starting to thicken.
Stir in parsley and set aside.
Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt. Drain and stir immediately into turkey mixture. Pour the pasta and turkey mixture into the baking sheet and press down so it is evenly spread in the pan.
Add the olive oil to a small sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook the flour for 1-2 minutes, taking care not to brown it. Stir constantly.
Slowly whisk in the skim milk and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Whisk in the nutmeg and parmesan cheese.
In a small bowl, whisk the egg and then slowly whisk in the hot milk mixture to temper the egg. Add the rest of the milk mixture to the egg and then pour over the top of the pasta, spreading to coat the entire thing.
Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly and top is golden brown.
QUICK, HIGH-PROTEIN VEGGIE LASAGNA
This recipe is from Vegetarian Times, and was posted on their website on January 2, 2005. It begins, “This easy-to-follow recipe provides you with 21 grams of protein per serving, thanks to the soy "steak" strips. The lasagna can be assembled quickly since you don't have to cook the pasta first. Excerpted from Diet Simple by Katherine Tallmadge.” Makes 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. minced garlic
12 oz. soy "steak" strips
1/2 lb. eggplant, cubed
1 ripe tomato, cubed
1 zucchini, diced
2 1/2 cups marinara sauce
2 tsp. dried oregano, or to taste
1 9-oz. pkg. oven-ready lasagna sheets
2 cups low-fat ricotta cheese
2 cups low-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray nonstick 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat, and brown garlic 2 to 3 minutes. Add soy strips, and sauté 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggplant, tomato, zucchini and 1 cup of marinara sauce; cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in oregano, salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, place 6 sheets of lasagna in bottom of pan, overlapping as needed to fill gaps. Spoon in eggplant mixture, and top with layer of ricotta cheese. Place remaining lasagna strips over ricotta, and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Spread remaining marinara sauce on top, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and cover pan tightly with foil. Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until top layer of pasta is soft. Remove and serve.
MEXICAN LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “A delicious twist on lasagna!”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6-8 large tortillas
1 lb ground beef
1 packet Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
1/3 medium onion, diced
1 can (19 oz) Old El Paso™ mild red enchilada sauce
1 can (16 oz) Old El Paso™ refried beans, any type
1 1/2 cup cheddar or mexican blend cheese
3 small or medium tomatoes, diced
Cilantro, as desired
Black olives, as desired
Sour cream, for topping
Shredded lettuce, for topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large non-stick skillet on stove, cook onions and beef until cooked through. Remove skillet from heat, drain off grease and stir in taco seasoning. Set aside.
Cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with a thin coat of enchilada sauce. Layer tortilla halves in the bottom of the pan with the cut (straight) sides facing outward toward edges of pan. Cut pieces of another tortilla as needed to fill in any gaps and create a solid tortilla layer in the bottom of the pan.
Continue layering ingredients in the following order, making sure to save enough of each ingredient to form a second layer: refried beans, enchilada sauce, beef and onion mixture, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro and black olives (if desired).
Using equal amounts of ingredients as the first layer, form your second layer in the following order: tortillas, beans, enchilada sauce, meat and onions, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro and olives.
Top with a final layer of tortillas, and cover with a thin coating of enchilada sauce and cheese.
Bake lasagna for 30-45 minutes until cheese is melted and tortillas start to crisp. Serve with sour cream, lettuce and additional toppings as desired.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One time, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting better than when I made it.
I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I ended up changing the recipe drastically, changing ingredients and amounts. The funny thing is that, while I use one or two packages of tofu crumbles instead of meat, it tastes enough like meat to fool several non-vegetarians. One person, after eating this, even looked at me aghast, asking, “What are you, some kind of vegetarian?” Never heard from him again.
Ingredients
Tomato sauce:
2 – 3 onions, chopped
3 – 5 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can tomatoes
2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
1 or 2 – 10 oz. package tofu crumbles
Cheese layer:
2 C sour cream
2 C cottage cheese
2 eggs
4 C mozzarella, grated
2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 C Parmesan cheese
Directions
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles
Make cheese layer:
Mix ingredients together in large bowl.
Assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9” X 13” pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.
SLOW COOKER LASAGNA
This was posted on Pure Wow, and is from Ali, whose blog, GimmeSomeOven, is absolutely fantastic! If you’ve never checked it out, you really should. Go ahead, I’ll wait. (Tap, tap, tap…)
Okay, so Ali starts this recipe off with, “This Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe is easy to make and customize with your favorite ingredients in the crock pot!”
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Yield: 10 - 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-lasgana-recipe/print/.
Ingredients
1 pound ground Italian sausage (I used spicy) or ground beef*
2 (24-ounce) jars of good-quality Italian pasta sauce**
16 uncooked no-boil lasagna noodles
32 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups chopped fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup finely-chopped fresh basil
Directions
Add the ground Italian sausage (or ground beef) to a large saute pan, and cook over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, using a large spoon to stir and break up the meet into small crumbles as it cooks. Remove from heat and drain off any excess grease. Set aside.
Meanwhile, as the meat is cooking, go ahead and get ready to assemble the lasagna. Begin by spraying the insert of a large 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Then layer the ingredients in the following order:
Spread 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce evenly along the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 4 lasagna noodles — breaking them into smaller pieces as needed to fit — evenly over the sauce to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 1/3 of the ricotta cheese (a little over 1 cup) evenly on top of the noodles. (I found it was easiest to do this in small spoonfuls, and then spread them out with a spatula. It’s totally ok if it’s messy and uneven!)
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the shredded Mozzarella cheese and 2 Tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese in an even layer on top of the ricotta.
Layer about 1/3 of the cooked ground meat in an even layer on top of the cheeses.
Layer about 1/3 of the chopped spinach in an even layer on top of the ground meat.
Layer 1 cup of pasta sauce in an even layer on top of the spinach.
Repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then add one more layer of noodles, sauce, and Mozzarella.
Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, or until the noodles are tender.
Turn off the heat, and sprinkle the top of the lasagna evenly with the remaining Parmesan and fresh basil. Serve immediately. (Or if you let the lasagna sit and rest for 30 minutes, it will cut into pieces much more easily.)
BUDGET-FRIENDLY PASTITSIO (GREEK LASAGNA)
This is from Diabetes Food Hub, and begins, “This version of Greek Lasagna is a great family meal that pairs well with a green salad topped with a little feta cheese and light Greek salad dressing.”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 12; Serving Size: 1 slice
View this online at https://www.diabetesfoodhub.org/recipes/budget-friendly-pastitsio-greek-lasagna.html.
Ingredients
1 spray Nonstick cooking spray
1 medium onion (diced)
20 oz lean ground turkey (93% fat-free)
2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground oregano
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 can tomato sauce (15 ounce, low-sodium)
1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
1 lbs brown rice or quinoa penne pasta (or whole wheat penne pasta)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp whole wheat flour
2 cups skim milk
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
1 egg
Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 8
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.
Add cooking spray to a large nonstick sauté pan. Sauté onions for 4-5 minutes or until translucent. Add in ground turkey and sauté for 8-10 minutes, or until turkey is cooked through.
Add cinnamon, oregano, salt (optional), ground black pepper, and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer for 5-7 minutes or until just starting to thicken.
Stir in parsley and set aside.
Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt. Drain and stir immediately into turkey mixture. Pour the pasta and turkey mixture into the baking sheet and press down so it is evenly spread in the pan.
Add the olive oil to a small sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook the flour for 1-2 minutes, taking care not to brown it. Stir constantly.
Slowly whisk in the skim milk and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Whisk in the nutmeg and parmesan cheese.
In a small bowl, whisk the egg and then slowly whisk in the hot milk mixture to temper the egg. Add the rest of the milk mixture to the egg and then pour over the top of the pasta, spreading to coat the entire thing.
Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly and top is golden brown.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Supernatural Brownies and Spicy Orange Chicken That's Better Than Take-Out. Enjoy!
GREEN TEA, BLUEBERRY, AND BANANA SMOOTHIE
This recipe, as well as the next one (Blueberry-Lemon Scones), was found in an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.
SERVINGS: 1
3 tbsp water
1 green tea bag
2 tsp honey
1 1/2 C frozen blueberries
1/2 med banana
3/4 C calcium fortified light vanilla soy milk
Microwave water on high until steaming hot in a small glass measuring cup or bowl. Add tea bag and allow to brew 3 minutes. Remove tea bag. Stir honey into tea until it dissolves.
Combine berries, banana, and milk in a blender with ice crushing ability.
Add tea to blender. Blend ingredients on ice crush or highest setting until smooth. (Some blenders may require additional water to process the mixture.) Pour smoothie into tall glass and serve.
NUTRITION (per serving) 269 cal, 3.7 g pro, 3.4 g carb, 7.8 g fiber, 2.7 g fat, 0.2 g sat fat, 52.3 mg sodium
BLUEBERRY-LEMON SCONES
SERVINGS: 12
Scones
3 C all-purpose flour
1/2 C granulated sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 C cold butter, cut into small cubes
1 C buttermilk
1/4 C unsweetened applesauce
1 C fresh or frozen blueberries
Glaze
1 1/2 – 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 c confectioners' sugar
To Make the Scones: Heat oven to 400°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Put flour in large bowl. Reserve 1 Tbsp of the flour in small bowl. Add granulated sugar, lemon zest, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt to large bowl with flour. Cut in butter with pastry blender or hands until fine crumbs form.
Combine buttermilk and applesauce. Gradually mix with dry ingredients, stirring gently to form dough. Toss berries with reserved flour in small bowl and gently fold into batter. (Mix well, but do not overwork dough.) Separate into 2 equal portions.
Flour a clean surface and your hands. Press dough into two 1"-thick rounds. Cut each round into 6 wedges.
Transfer scones to prepared baking sheets. Bake until firm to the touch and golden brown on top, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool on rack.
To Prepare the Glaze: Gradually mix lemon juice into confectioners' sugar in small bowl until just pourable in consistency. Drizzle over scones. Cover leftovers with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.
NUTRITION (per scone): 227 cal, 4 g pro, 43 g carb, 1 g fiber, 4.5 g fat, 2.5 g sat fat, 285 mg sodium
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Directions
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
ANTHONY'S CHICKEN CACCIATORE
This comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “Using bottled pasta sauce and shredded cheeses makes this classic Italian dish quick and easy – and so good!” Serves 4 to 6; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
8 ounces of fettuccine, cooked as package directs
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
4 (about 1 pound) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups (about 8 ounces) fresh mushrooms, slice
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (26 ounce) jar CLASSICO roasted garlic pasta sauce
1 cup (about 2 ounces) shredded mozzarella or provalone cheese
Directions
In shallow dish, combine flour and Italian seasoning. Coat chicken with mixture. In large skillet, over medium-high heat, brown chicken in hot oil; remove chicken from skillet. Add mushrooms and onions to skillet; cook and stir until tender. Add pasta sauce and chicken. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. Top each chicken breast with cheese. Serve with hot pasta.
SUPERNATURAL BROWNIES
This is from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “This recipe is an accidental creation by Nick Malgieri, who (in a rare human moment for a pastry chef) once forgot to double the flour when baking his own fudge brownie recipe. He also adds a measure of brown sugar to the basic formula. The experts are divided as to whether the brown sugar actually contributes flavor or simply makes the brownie moister (molasses, which makes brown sugar brown, is powerfully hydrophilic). It’s my belief that the slightly bitter taste of molasses acts as an invisible enhancer to the chocolate. The result is as complex and sophisticated as any terrine or truffle I have ever produced.”
Yield: 15 large or 24 small brownies; Time: About 1 hour
This was featured in “Simple Pleasure, American Style”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 sticks (16 tablespoons) butter, more for pan and parchment paper
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 cup dark brown sugar, such as muscovado
1 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or 3/4 cup whole walnuts, optional
Preparation
Butter a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and line with buttered parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, or on low power in a microwave, melt butter, chocolate and sugars together. Cool slightly. In a large bowl or mixer, whisk eggs. Whisk in salt and vanilla.
Whisk in chocolate mixture. Fold in flour just until combined. If using chopped walnuts, stir them in. Pour batter into prepared pan. If using whole walnuts, arrange on top of batter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until shiny and beginning to crack on top. Cool in pan on rack.
Tip
For best flavor, bake 1 day before serving, let cool and store, tightly wrapped.
SPICE ORANGE CHICKEN THAT'S BETTER THAN TAKE-OUT
This comes from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD on Very Well. Kaleigh's website, Lively Table, is full of wonderful recipes.
Kaleigh wrote, "Chinese takeout is notorious for being a href=https://www.verywell.com/watching-your-sodium-intake-2505914>full of sodium. Between the sugar and sodium-laden sauces, breaded meat, egg rolls, and fried rice, a takeout meal can quickly add up when it comes to saturated fat and salt. A better option is to make your own at home. It may seem intimidating at first, but it's actually pretty easy and doesn't require too many ingredients.
"This recipe for spicy orange chicken uses fresh orange juice, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes for tons of flavor without added sugar or salt. The only sodium comes from a little bit of reduced-sodium soy sauce, which research shows can actually reduce the amount of sodium in dishes without affecting flavor. Searing the chicken instead of breading and frying it and adding plenty of carrots makes this dish even more virtuous.
"Serve this dish with a side of cooked brown rice or quinoa and top with sliced green onions and red pepper flakes for a super-easy version of takeout that is much healthier. It all comes together in less than 30 minutes—perfect for weeknight dinner!"
To view this online, click here.
Total Time: 25 min; Prep: 10 min; Cook: 15 min; Yield: 2 servings (400 calories each)
Ingredients
3/4 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed (from about 2 medium oranges)
zest from 1/2 an orange
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 boneless skinless chicken breast (8 ounces), cut into 1-inch cubes
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1 cup cooked brown rice or quinoa
2 sliced green onion
red pepper flakes, to taste
Preparation
In a medium bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients. Set aside.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, stirring occasionally so that all sides get browned. Once chicken has browned, add carrots and cook, stirring, until carrots are softened, about 5 minutes.
Pour in sauce and cook until sauce is thickened, 3 to 5 more minutes.
Spoon into bowls with rice or quinoa and sprinkle with green onions and red pepper flakes.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
To bulk up this dish even more, add more veggies like broccoli, snow peas, or cabbage.
For a gluten-free version, use low-sodium tamari instead of soy sauce, or look for gluten-free soy sauce.
For a grain-free version, use low-sodium tamari instead of soy sauce or arrowroot (or tapioca) starch instead of cornstarch and serve with cauliflower “rice."
Cooking and Serving Tips
This dish comes together quickly, so make sure your ingredients are chopped and prepped ahead of time to make cooking go more smoothly.
GREEN TEA, BLUEBERRY, AND BANANA SMOOTHIE
This recipe, as well as the next one (Blueberry-Lemon Scones), was found in an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.
SERVINGS: 1
3 tbsp water
1 green tea bag
2 tsp honey
1 1/2 C frozen blueberries
1/2 med banana
3/4 C calcium fortified light vanilla soy milk
Microwave water on high until steaming hot in a small glass measuring cup or bowl. Add tea bag and allow to brew 3 minutes. Remove tea bag. Stir honey into tea until it dissolves.
Combine berries, banana, and milk in a blender with ice crushing ability.
Add tea to blender. Blend ingredients on ice crush or highest setting until smooth. (Some blenders may require additional water to process the mixture.) Pour smoothie into tall glass and serve.
NUTRITION (per serving) 269 cal, 3.7 g pro, 3.4 g carb, 7.8 g fiber, 2.7 g fat, 0.2 g sat fat, 52.3 mg sodium
BLUEBERRY-LEMON SCONES
SERVINGS: 12
Scones
3 C all-purpose flour
1/2 C granulated sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 C cold butter, cut into small cubes
1 C buttermilk
1/4 C unsweetened applesauce
1 C fresh or frozen blueberries
Glaze
1 1/2 – 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 c confectioners' sugar
To Make the Scones: Heat oven to 400°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Put flour in large bowl. Reserve 1 Tbsp of the flour in small bowl. Add granulated sugar, lemon zest, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt to large bowl with flour. Cut in butter with pastry blender or hands until fine crumbs form.
Combine buttermilk and applesauce. Gradually mix with dry ingredients, stirring gently to form dough. Toss berries with reserved flour in small bowl and gently fold into batter. (Mix well, but do not overwork dough.) Separate into 2 equal portions.
Flour a clean surface and your hands. Press dough into two 1"-thick rounds. Cut each round into 6 wedges.
Transfer scones to prepared baking sheets. Bake until firm to the touch and golden brown on top, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool on rack.
To Prepare the Glaze: Gradually mix lemon juice into confectioners' sugar in small bowl until just pourable in consistency. Drizzle over scones. Cover leftovers with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.
NUTRITION (per scone): 227 cal, 4 g pro, 43 g carb, 1 g fiber, 4.5 g fat, 2.5 g sat fat, 285 mg sodium
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Directions
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
ANTHONY'S CHICKEN CACCIATORE
This comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “Using bottled pasta sauce and shredded cheeses makes this classic Italian dish quick and easy – and so good!” Serves 4 to 6; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
8 ounces of fettuccine, cooked as package directs
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
4 (about 1 pound) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups (about 8 ounces) fresh mushrooms, slice
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (26 ounce) jar CLASSICO roasted garlic pasta sauce
1 cup (about 2 ounces) shredded mozzarella or provalone cheese
Directions
In shallow dish, combine flour and Italian seasoning. Coat chicken with mixture. In large skillet, over medium-high heat, brown chicken in hot oil; remove chicken from skillet. Add mushrooms and onions to skillet; cook and stir until tender. Add pasta sauce and chicken. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. Top each chicken breast with cheese. Serve with hot pasta.
SUPERNATURAL BROWNIES
This is from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “This recipe is an accidental creation by Nick Malgieri, who (in a rare human moment for a pastry chef) once forgot to double the flour when baking his own fudge brownie recipe. He also adds a measure of brown sugar to the basic formula. The experts are divided as to whether the brown sugar actually contributes flavor or simply makes the brownie moister (molasses, which makes brown sugar brown, is powerfully hydrophilic). It’s my belief that the slightly bitter taste of molasses acts as an invisible enhancer to the chocolate. The result is as complex and sophisticated as any terrine or truffle I have ever produced.”
Yield: 15 large or 24 small brownies; Time: About 1 hour
This was featured in “Simple Pleasure, American Style”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
2 sticks (16 tablespoons) butter, more for pan and parchment paper
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 cup dark brown sugar, such as muscovado
1 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or 3/4 cup whole walnuts, optional
Preparation
Butter a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and line with buttered parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, or on low power in a microwave, melt butter, chocolate and sugars together. Cool slightly. In a large bowl or mixer, whisk eggs. Whisk in salt and vanilla.
Whisk in chocolate mixture. Fold in flour just until combined. If using chopped walnuts, stir them in. Pour batter into prepared pan. If using whole walnuts, arrange on top of batter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until shiny and beginning to crack on top. Cool in pan on rack.
Tip
For best flavor, bake 1 day before serving, let cool and store, tightly wrapped.
SPICE ORANGE CHICKEN THAT'S BETTER THAN TAKE-OUT
This comes from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD on Very Well. Kaleigh's website, Lively Table, is full of wonderful recipes.
Kaleigh wrote, "Chinese takeout is notorious for being a href=https://www.verywell.com/watching-your-sodium-intake-2505914>full of sodium. Between the sugar and sodium-laden sauces, breaded meat, egg rolls, and fried rice, a takeout meal can quickly add up when it comes to saturated fat and salt. A better option is to make your own at home. It may seem intimidating at first, but it's actually pretty easy and doesn't require too many ingredients.
"This recipe for spicy orange chicken uses fresh orange juice, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes for tons of flavor without added sugar or salt. The only sodium comes from a little bit of reduced-sodium soy sauce, which research shows can actually reduce the amount of sodium in dishes without affecting flavor. Searing the chicken instead of breading and frying it and adding plenty of carrots makes this dish even more virtuous.
"Serve this dish with a side of cooked brown rice or quinoa and top with sliced green onions and red pepper flakes for a super-easy version of takeout that is much healthier. It all comes together in less than 30 minutes—perfect for weeknight dinner!"
To view this online, click here.
Total Time: 25 min; Prep: 10 min; Cook: 15 min; Yield: 2 servings (400 calories each)
Ingredients
3/4 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed (from about 2 medium oranges)
zest from 1/2 an orange
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 boneless skinless chicken breast (8 ounces), cut into 1-inch cubes
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1 cup cooked brown rice or quinoa
2 sliced green onion
red pepper flakes, to taste
Preparation
In a medium bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients. Set aside.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, stirring occasionally so that all sides get browned. Once chicken has browned, add carrots and cook, stirring, until carrots are softened, about 5 minutes.
Pour in sauce and cook until sauce is thickened, 3 to 5 more minutes.
Spoon into bowls with rice or quinoa and sprinkle with green onions and red pepper flakes.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
To bulk up this dish even more, add more veggies like broccoli, snow peas, or cabbage.
For a gluten-free version, use low-sodium tamari instead of soy sauce, or look for gluten-free soy sauce.
For a grain-free version, use low-sodium tamari instead of soy sauce or arrowroot (or tapioca) starch instead of cornstarch and serve with cauliflower “rice."
Cooking and Serving Tips
This dish comes together quickly, so make sure your ingredients are chopped and prepped ahead of time to make cooking go more smoothly.
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday (for all of us who love tacos!). Today's offerings include Chicken Tacos with Chipotle and Stir-Fry Vegetable Tacos. Enjoy!
TACO CASSEROLE
This comes from Kraft Recipes, and begins, “Give your friends and family something to taco about with this quick and easy Taco Casserole recipe. Make this yummy Taco Casserole in under one hour.”
br />Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Makes 12 servings.
To view this online, click here.
br />Ingredients
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 green onions, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pkg. (1 oz.) TACO BELL® Taco Seasoning Mix
1 can (15.5 oz.) kidney beans, undrained
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 can (4.5 oz.) chopped green chiles, undrained
1 pkg. (30 oz.) ORE-IDA Shredded Hash Brown Potatoes
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Cook meat, onions, garlic and taco seasoning mix in large skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat 10 min. or until meat is done, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
Drain beans, reserving 1/4 cup of the liquid; set beans aside. Add reserved bean liquid to meat mixture along with the tomato sauce and chiles; mix well.
Spread half the meat mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with layers of half each of the beans and potatoes. Repeat layers.
Bake 30 min. or until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with cheese; bake 5 min. or until melted.
Kitchen Tips
Tip 1
Serving Suggestion
Serve topped with guacamole, BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream, and/or additional sliced green onions.
Tip 2
Make Ahead
This delicious casserole can be mixed together ahead of time. Refrigerate up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, bake as directed, increasing the baking time as necessary until casserole is hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with cheese; bake 5 min. or until melted.
STEAK TACOS
This recipe begins, “Your slow cooker makes Mexican-style magic, turning flank steak fork-tender and infusing it with irresistible flavors for the best steak tacos you ever ate.”
http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/2664-steak-tacos
Ingredients
1 lb raw lean flank steak (I use semi-frozen steak)
1 packet Taco Seasoning Mix
1 medium onion
4 oz chopped green chilies
1/2 cup (or more) sliced bell pepper
6 Corn tortillas
Directions
Cut steaks in half; rub with taco seasoning. Place in a crock pot coated with nonstick cooking spray. Top with onion, bell pepper and chilies. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until meat is tender. Remove steaks and cool slightly; shred meat with two forks. Return to crock pot; heat through. Spoon about 1/2 cup meat mixture down the center of each tortilla. Top with cheese, tomato and sour cream. Fold ends and sides over filling.
Nutritional Facts: Servings 6; Yield 6 servings – 210 Calories; 9 g fat (48.1% calories from fat); 17 g Protein; 16 g Carbohydrate; 2 g Dietary Fiber; 39 mg Cholesterol; 186 mg Sodium.
CHICKEN TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. He wrote, “For good tacos, you need fresh, hot tortillas and a zesty filling. Canned chipotle chiles will do the trick with their smoky heat; it's an easy way to get flavor fast. Look for small cans with “chipotle chiles in adobo” on the label. And Mexican groceries generally have better-quality tortillas than the ones you find in supermarkets; it's worth seeking those out and heating them gently over steam, or by toasting them in a dry cast-iron pan. You can also use this recipe with precooked chicken, which makes this already quite simple recipe as easy as falling out of bed.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 hour.
This was featured in “Chichen Tacos Let You Think Fast” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos:
4 large bone-in chicken thighs, about 1 1/2 pounds
3 scallions, left whole
1 bay leaf
1 thyme branch
3 black peppercorns
1 allspice berry
2 cloves
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 or 3 chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped
3 tablespoons adobo sauce, from the can
1/2 cup broth (use broth from simmered chicken)
8 fresh corn tortillas
For Garnish:
1 small white onion, finely chopped, soaked in ice water for 10 minutes and drained
Thinly sliced serrano chile
Thinly sliced radishes
Sliced avocado
Crumbled queso fresco or mild feta cheese
Crème fraîche or Mexican crema
Cilantro sprigs
Dried oregano
Lime wedges
Preparation
Put chicken thighs in a saucepan and cover with 3 cups water. Add scallions, bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, allspice, cloves and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Simmer for 30 minutes, then remove chicken and cool. Shred chicken with your fingers, discarding chicken skin and bone. Strain broth and reserve. You should have about 2 cups shredded chicken.
Put olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced yellow onion, season with salt and cook until softened and a bit browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cumin and cook for 1 minute more. Add chopped chipotle chile and adobo sauce and stir to combine. Add shredded chicken, salt lightly and stir to coat. Add chicken broth and simmer for 2 or 3 minutes, until sauce has thickened somewhat. Keep warm.
Heat the tortillas over steam or by your favorite method, keeping them soft and pliable.
Build the tacos quickly: Put a spoonful of the saucy chicken in the center of each tortilla. Top with a teaspoon of chopped white onion, a few slivers of serrano chile, some radish and avocado slices, a teaspoon of queso fresco and a teaspoon of crème fraîche. Add a few cilantro springs and a small pinch of oregano. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
STIR-FRY VEGETABLE TACOS
This one also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Spice up these tacos with sliced pickled ginger, crushed wasabi peas, and sriracha chile sauce, for garnish." Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
3 Tbs. peanut oil
2 cups shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced (6 oz.)
1 cup sugar snap peas, trimmed
1 cup frozen shelled edamame
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
3 Tbs. white miso
2 Tbs. orange juice
2 tsp. rice vinegar
2 cups broccoli slaw
4 6-inch corn or flour tortillas, warmed
2 Tbs. sliced green onions
Instructions:
Heat oil in nonstick skillet over high heat. Add mushrooms, sugar snap peas, edamame, and cayenne pepper; cook 7 to 9 minutes, or until vegetables start to turn golden, stirring occasionally. Transfer to bowl, and cool 10 minutes in refrigerator.
Meanwhile, whisk together miso, orange juice, and rice vinegar in small bowl. Drizzle over mushroom mixture. Stir in broccoli slaw. Fill tortillas with vegetable mixture, and garnish with green onions.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 272; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 386 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 10 g
MAPO TOFU TACOS
I first found this at Nosh On.It, along with several other vegetarian taco recipes (you can check out all nine here). This one is from Alice Choi and her wonderul blog, Hip Foodie Mom.
Alice wrote, “While in college, mapo tofu was one of the first dishes I learned to make. . . well, kind of. You have to remember, I was in college and needed to eat quickly so I could go back to playing or studying or whatever I was doing so I was hardly ever in the kitchen cooking. Ever.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; servings: 5 - 6.
To view this recipes online, as well as the rest of Alice’s description of this recipe, go to https://hipfoodiemom.com/2013/02/07/mapo-tofu-tacos/. And while you’re there, check out the rest of the site. I think you’ll be glad you did!
Note: You can double the ingredients for the mapo sauce in order to have a bowl of the sauce on the table if dipping is desired while eating.
Ingredients
For the baked tofu:
1-2 cups all purpose flour
2 eggs; slightly beaten
about 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 - 19 oz container of firm tofu; cubed not small cubes but slightly larger ones; should make about 30 tofu cubes
For the mapo sauce:
1 tablespoon soy bean paste
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1-2 tablespoons szechuan sauce start with 1 tablespoon
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
2 gloves garlic minced
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste; if needed
For the tacos:
corn or flour tortillas I actually preferred the flour tortillas for this even though they are photographed with the corn tortillas
shredded carrots
shredded cabbage
scallions; diced for garnish
sriracha sauce
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and prepare a lined baking sheet with foil, a non-stick baking sheet or parchment paper.
Set-up the dredging area: Place the flour in a medium bowl and place the eggs in another bowl and whisk with a fork for about 20 seconds. Place the panko in a third bowl.
After you have cut your tofu, pat dry each one in paper towels to drain the excess water/liquid. Dip each tofu cube into the flour, then in the eggs and then lastly into the panko. You want each cube lightly breaded with panko. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip each tofu cube and bake for another 10 minutes.
While your tofu is in the oven, prepare the sauce. Heat a medium sized sauce pan over high heat. Add all of the sauce ingredients (start with 1 tablespoon of the szechuan sauce) and mix well for a couple minutes. Taste and add more szechuan sauce or water or salt if needed and bring to a slight boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and let simmer for an additional 4 - 5 minutes. Gently stir and blend well.
When the sauce and tofu is ready, prepare your tacos. Heat the tortillas slightly in a toaster oven and assemble: place your warm tortilla on a plate, place 3-4 tofu cubes on top, pour the mapo sauce over the crispy tofu cubes, add the shredded carrots, then the cabbage (you can drizzle some more mapo sauce over the cabbage if desired) and garnish with the diced scallions and drizzle on some sriracha sauce if needed. Serve immediately.
SLOW COOKER TACO SALAD
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “This slow cooker Cinco de Mayo recipe is ready when you are! Perfect for an after work party, this spicy salad is as easy as setting your slow cooker. Serve up the finished meat mix with fresh lettuce, corn, and avocado.”
Prep: 25 mins; Cook: 5 hrs to 6 hrs (low) or 2 1/2 to 3 hours (high); Servings: 8; Yield: 15 cups
View online here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
1 16 ounce jar green salsa
1 15 ounce can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 large sweet onion, cut into thin wedges (2 cups)
1 medium red sweet pepper, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
Directions
In a large skillet cook ground meat over medium heat until browned. Drain off fat.
In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine meat and the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove half of the meat mixture from the slow cooker. Cover and refrigerate for another use.
Make It a Salad
Arrange 6 cups chopped leaf lettuce on a large platter. Top with 3 ounces (3 cups) blue corn tortilla chips. Spoon half of the meat mixture (chill or freeze remaining meat mixture for another use) over tortilla chips. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese cheese (4 ounces). Top with 3/4 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed; 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped (or 3/4 cup purchased guacamole); and 3/4 cup halved cherry tomatoes. Serve with 1/4 cup sour cream.
Tip
Use remaining half of meat mixture for a second taco salad another night. Or use it to make hard- or soft-shell tacos. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in a saucepan over medium low heat.
Make-Ahead Directions
Cook ground meat as directed in Step 1. In the removable crockery liner of the slow cooker combine meat and remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before placing liner in the slow cooker unit. Slow cook as directed, Chop lettuce, cut tomatoes, thaw corn; place in separate covered containers and store in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.
For Easy Cleanup
Line your slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Add ingredients as directed in recipe. Once your dish is finished cooking, spoon the food out of your slow cooker and simply dispose of the liner. Do not lift or transport the disposable liner with food inside.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 298 calories, (7 g saturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 7 g monounsaturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 411 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 15 g protein.
TACO CASSEROLE
This comes from Kraft Recipes, and begins, “Give your friends and family something to taco about with this quick and easy Taco Casserole recipe. Make this yummy Taco Casserole in under one hour.”
br />Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Makes 12 servings.
To view this online, click here.
br />Ingredients
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 green onions, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pkg. (1 oz.) TACO BELL® Taco Seasoning Mix
1 can (15.5 oz.) kidney beans, undrained
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 can (4.5 oz.) chopped green chiles, undrained
1 pkg. (30 oz.) ORE-IDA Shredded Hash Brown Potatoes
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Cook meat, onions, garlic and taco seasoning mix in large skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat 10 min. or until meat is done, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
Drain beans, reserving 1/4 cup of the liquid; set beans aside. Add reserved bean liquid to meat mixture along with the tomato sauce and chiles; mix well.
Spread half the meat mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with layers of half each of the beans and potatoes. Repeat layers.
Bake 30 min. or until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with cheese; bake 5 min. or until melted.
Kitchen Tips
Tip 1
Serving Suggestion
Serve topped with guacamole, BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream, and/or additional sliced green onions.
Tip 2
Make Ahead
This delicious casserole can be mixed together ahead of time. Refrigerate up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, bake as directed, increasing the baking time as necessary until casserole is hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with cheese; bake 5 min. or until melted.
STEAK TACOS
This recipe begins, “Your slow cooker makes Mexican-style magic, turning flank steak fork-tender and infusing it with irresistible flavors for the best steak tacos you ever ate.”
http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/2664-steak-tacos
Ingredients
1 lb raw lean flank steak (I use semi-frozen steak)
1 packet Taco Seasoning Mix
1 medium onion
4 oz chopped green chilies
1/2 cup (or more) sliced bell pepper
6 Corn tortillas
Directions
Cut steaks in half; rub with taco seasoning. Place in a crock pot coated with nonstick cooking spray. Top with onion, bell pepper and chilies. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until meat is tender. Remove steaks and cool slightly; shred meat with two forks. Return to crock pot; heat through. Spoon about 1/2 cup meat mixture down the center of each tortilla. Top with cheese, tomato and sour cream. Fold ends and sides over filling.
Nutritional Facts: Servings 6; Yield 6 servings – 210 Calories; 9 g fat (48.1% calories from fat); 17 g Protein; 16 g Carbohydrate; 2 g Dietary Fiber; 39 mg Cholesterol; 186 mg Sodium.
CHICKEN TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. He wrote, “For good tacos, you need fresh, hot tortillas and a zesty filling. Canned chipotle chiles will do the trick with their smoky heat; it's an easy way to get flavor fast. Look for small cans with “chipotle chiles in adobo” on the label. And Mexican groceries generally have better-quality tortillas than the ones you find in supermarkets; it's worth seeking those out and heating them gently over steam, or by toasting them in a dry cast-iron pan. You can also use this recipe with precooked chicken, which makes this already quite simple recipe as easy as falling out of bed.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 hour.
This was featured in “Chichen Tacos Let You Think Fast” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos:
4 large bone-in chicken thighs, about 1 1/2 pounds
3 scallions, left whole
1 bay leaf
1 thyme branch
3 black peppercorns
1 allspice berry
2 cloves
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 or 3 chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped
3 tablespoons adobo sauce, from the can
1/2 cup broth (use broth from simmered chicken)
8 fresh corn tortillas
For Garnish:
1 small white onion, finely chopped, soaked in ice water for 10 minutes and drained
Thinly sliced serrano chile
Thinly sliced radishes
Sliced avocado
Crumbled queso fresco or mild feta cheese
Crème fraîche or Mexican crema
Cilantro sprigs
Dried oregano
Lime wedges
Preparation
Put chicken thighs in a saucepan and cover with 3 cups water. Add scallions, bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, allspice, cloves and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Simmer for 30 minutes, then remove chicken and cool. Shred chicken with your fingers, discarding chicken skin and bone. Strain broth and reserve. You should have about 2 cups shredded chicken.
Put olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced yellow onion, season with salt and cook until softened and a bit browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cumin and cook for 1 minute more. Add chopped chipotle chile and adobo sauce and stir to combine. Add shredded chicken, salt lightly and stir to coat. Add chicken broth and simmer for 2 or 3 minutes, until sauce has thickened somewhat. Keep warm.
Heat the tortillas over steam or by your favorite method, keeping them soft and pliable.
Build the tacos quickly: Put a spoonful of the saucy chicken in the center of each tortilla. Top with a teaspoon of chopped white onion, a few slivers of serrano chile, some radish and avocado slices, a teaspoon of queso fresco and a teaspoon of crème fraîche. Add a few cilantro springs and a small pinch of oregano. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
STIR-FRY VEGETABLE TACOS
This one also comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "Spice up these tacos with sliced pickled ginger, crushed wasabi peas, and sriracha chile sauce, for garnish." Yield: Serves 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients:
3 Tbs. peanut oil
2 cups shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced (6 oz.)
1 cup sugar snap peas, trimmed
1 cup frozen shelled edamame
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
3 Tbs. white miso
2 Tbs. orange juice
2 tsp. rice vinegar
2 cups broccoli slaw
4 6-inch corn or flour tortillas, warmed
2 Tbs. sliced green onions
Instructions:
Heat oil in nonstick skillet over high heat. Add mushrooms, sugar snap peas, edamame, and cayenne pepper; cook 7 to 9 minutes, or until vegetables start to turn golden, stirring occasionally. Transfer to bowl, and cool 10 minutes in refrigerator.
Meanwhile, whisk together miso, orange juice, and rice vinegar in small bowl. Drizzle over mushroom mixture. Stir in broccoli slaw. Fill tortillas with vegetable mixture, and garnish with green onions.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 272; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 386 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 10 g
MAPO TOFU TACOS
I first found this at Nosh On.It, along with several other vegetarian taco recipes (you can check out all nine here). This one is from Alice Choi and her wonderul blog, Hip Foodie Mom.
Alice wrote, “While in college, mapo tofu was one of the first dishes I learned to make. . . well, kind of. You have to remember, I was in college and needed to eat quickly so I could go back to playing or studying or whatever I was doing so I was hardly ever in the kitchen cooking. Ever.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; servings: 5 - 6.
To view this recipes online, as well as the rest of Alice’s description of this recipe, go to https://hipfoodiemom.com/2013/02/07/mapo-tofu-tacos/. And while you’re there, check out the rest of the site. I think you’ll be glad you did!
Note: You can double the ingredients for the mapo sauce in order to have a bowl of the sauce on the table if dipping is desired while eating.
Ingredients
For the baked tofu:
1-2 cups all purpose flour
2 eggs; slightly beaten
about 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 - 19 oz container of firm tofu; cubed not small cubes but slightly larger ones; should make about 30 tofu cubes
For the mapo sauce:
1 tablespoon soy bean paste
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1-2 tablespoons szechuan sauce start with 1 tablespoon
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
2 gloves garlic minced
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste; if needed
For the tacos:
corn or flour tortillas I actually preferred the flour tortillas for this even though they are photographed with the corn tortillas
shredded carrots
shredded cabbage
scallions; diced for garnish
sriracha sauce
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and prepare a lined baking sheet with foil, a non-stick baking sheet or parchment paper.
Set-up the dredging area: Place the flour in a medium bowl and place the eggs in another bowl and whisk with a fork for about 20 seconds. Place the panko in a third bowl.
After you have cut your tofu, pat dry each one in paper towels to drain the excess water/liquid. Dip each tofu cube into the flour, then in the eggs and then lastly into the panko. You want each cube lightly breaded with panko. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip each tofu cube and bake for another 10 minutes.
While your tofu is in the oven, prepare the sauce. Heat a medium sized sauce pan over high heat. Add all of the sauce ingredients (start with 1 tablespoon of the szechuan sauce) and mix well for a couple minutes. Taste and add more szechuan sauce or water or salt if needed and bring to a slight boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and let simmer for an additional 4 - 5 minutes. Gently stir and blend well.
When the sauce and tofu is ready, prepare your tacos. Heat the tortillas slightly in a toaster oven and assemble: place your warm tortilla on a plate, place 3-4 tofu cubes on top, pour the mapo sauce over the crispy tofu cubes, add the shredded carrots, then the cabbage (you can drizzle some more mapo sauce over the cabbage if desired) and garnish with the diced scallions and drizzle on some sriracha sauce if needed. Serve immediately.
SLOW COOKER TACO SALAD
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “This slow cooker Cinco de Mayo recipe is ready when you are! Perfect for an after work party, this spicy salad is as easy as setting your slow cooker. Serve up the finished meat mix with fresh lettuce, corn, and avocado.”
Prep: 25 mins; Cook: 5 hrs to 6 hrs (low) or 2 1/2 to 3 hours (high); Servings: 8; Yield: 15 cups
View online here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
1 16 ounce jar green salsa
1 15 ounce can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 large sweet onion, cut into thin wedges (2 cups)
1 medium red sweet pepper, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
Directions
In a large skillet cook ground meat over medium heat until browned. Drain off fat.
In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine meat and the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove half of the meat mixture from the slow cooker. Cover and refrigerate for another use.
Make It a Salad
Arrange 6 cups chopped leaf lettuce on a large platter. Top with 3 ounces (3 cups) blue corn tortilla chips. Spoon half of the meat mixture (chill or freeze remaining meat mixture for another use) over tortilla chips. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese cheese (4 ounces). Top with 3/4 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed; 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped (or 3/4 cup purchased guacamole); and 3/4 cup halved cherry tomatoes. Serve with 1/4 cup sour cream.
Tip
Use remaining half of meat mixture for a second taco salad another night. Or use it to make hard- or soft-shell tacos. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in a saucepan over medium low heat.
Make-Ahead Directions
Cook ground meat as directed in Step 1. In the removable crockery liner of the slow cooker combine meat and remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before placing liner in the slow cooker unit. Slow cook as directed, Chop lettuce, cut tomatoes, thaw corn; place in separate covered containers and store in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.
For Easy Cleanup
Line your slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Add ingredients as directed in recipe. Once your dish is finished cooking, spoon the food out of your slow cooker and simply dispose of the liner. Do not lift or transport the disposable liner with food inside.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 298 calories, (7 g saturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 7 g monounsaturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 411 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 15 g protein.
Monday, June 24, 2019
Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's six recipes include Classic Hot Fudge Sundae and Easy Pumpkin Pudding Cake. Enjoy!
HONEY PISTACHIO ICE CREAM
This comes from Anita Schecter, who writes for The Spruce Eats.
For this recipe, Anita wrote, “As much as I love all desserts, nothing quite makes me swoon as much as the combination of sweet and salty. It's why chocolate covered salty pretzels and I are old friends and caramel sauce only interests me if it's got a good hit of sea salt. Candied or chocolate covered nuts are good but way more awesome if the nuts are salted.
“And so, as fond as I am of pistachios, pistachio ice cream and, basically all things pistachio, store bought pistachio ice cream is usually too sweet and one note for me. I'm missing the balance of the salt.
“Fortunately, I can easily remedy this situation by making my own and by using roasted and salted pistachios. You can make this with sugar only and omit the honey, if you like, but honey vanilla is another favorite flavor of mine so I decided to combine the two.
“When it comes to homemade ice cream, you can use a cooked custard base, which contains eggs. Or you can go for a straight dairy only option which doesn't require cooking. Because I wanted little bits and pieces of pistachios in my finished ice cream, I went with a no-cook method. If I wanted to strain them out, I would have cooked them with the base mix.
“I should also note that the color of pistachios, while definitely green, is nowhere near the deep green shade you find in store bought pistachio or even mint ice cream. You can certainly add some green food color to your ice cream if you really want that bright green shade. But I prefer to keep it all natural so my ice cream is still mostly beige but with green flecks from the bits of pistachios.
“This recipe is easy and simple and results in the perfect hit of sweet, salty and creamy. A perfect treat for a hot summer day. Enjoy!”
Prep Time: 12 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Freeze: 240 minutes; Total Time: 292 minutes; Yield: 8 (1/2 Cup) Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 Cup whole milk
2 Cups heavy cream
1/2 Cup honey
1/4 Cup sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla (vanilla paste is best, if you have it)
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup shelled roasted and salted pistachios
Preparation
In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, honey, sugar, vanilla and salt. Add the pistachios to a food processor and pulse a few times until the nuts are very broken down but not powder or paste. Add to the bowl.
Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions for use. Churn for 40 minutes and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
CLASSIC HOT FUDGE SUNDAE
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “There is a reason a hot fudge sundae is such an enduring classic: That combination of warm, rich chocolate fudge mixing with frozen ice cream and melting it slightly is absolutely irresistible. Of course, if you have homemade fudge sauce and homemade ice cream, it gets even better. Vanilla ice cream is the standard here, but feel free to use your favorite flavor, or a combination of flavors. And if you like nuts, by all means use them here. The added crunch is marvelous against all the rich creaminess.”
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 35 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Check out Melissa Clark’s guide “How to Make Ice Cream”.
Ingredients
For the Fudge Sauce:
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup or honey
3 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
7 ounces finely chopped bittersweet chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 tablespoon brandy or rum
For Assembly:
1 cup chilled heavy cream
1 tablespoon superfine sugar, more to taste
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 pints your favorite flavor ice cream
Chopped toasted nuts, such as almonds, peanuts, or pecans (optional)
Cherries, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream, sugar, corn syrup or honey, cocoa, and salt to a simmer, whisking until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the chocolate and let cook until the chocolate melts. Stir in butter and vanilla or liquor. Let cool slightly. Contrary to its name, hot fudge is best served warm, not piping hot.
For assembly, make the whipped cream. Using a whisk or an electric mixer, beat the cream, sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form.
Pour a little fudge sauce into the bottoms of sundae dishes or bowls. Top with ice cream, then more hot fudge, then nuts if using. Cover all with whipped cream and a cherry if you like. Serve.
TEX-MEX BEEF AND RICE SKILLET
This is from tbsp., and begins, “Wherein we turn a humble pound of ground beef into a supremely satisfying and totally doable meal in a matter of minutes. Now you never have to wonder what’s for dinner. You’re welcome.”
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup diced yellow onion
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 can (10 oz) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix
3 cups cooked white rice
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (4 oz)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Directions
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef 6 to 8 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until brown. Drain, and wipe out skillet.
Add oil to skillet, and heat over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and corn. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender.
Stir in beef, enchilada sauce and taco seasoning mix. Heat to simmering; stir in rice. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until rice is heated through.
Top with cheese and cilantro.
LOW CALORIE SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from Kimberly Eggleston, a nutritionist on The Spruce. Kimberly wrote, “You wouldn't think that lasagna could be a lean and delicious dish until you have tried this low-calorie spinach lasagna recipe. You can see from the ingredient list that it doesn't even take a whole lot of ingredients to make up this yummy dish. And the ingredients that are included are relatively lean. Instead of fatty sausage and beef, the bulk of this lasagna filling is part skim mozzarella, low-fat cottage cheese, and spinach which give the lasagna nice texture and color. There aren't too many calories coming from those ingredients!
“Another great thing about his spinach lasagna is that this lasagna recipe is so easy to throw together about an hour and fifteen minutes before dinner. Yes, that's only a little over one hour before dinner, and the majority or that time is the lasagna cooking, which frees you up to do other things.
“And there is no need to precook the noodles. You will add water to the dish once you have layered the lasagna together, using uncooked dry noodles. Then the water will cook the noodles during baking time resulting in perfectly al dente noodles when it is finished. One less pot to wash when it is all finished is certainly worth it.”
Total Time: 70 mins; Prep: 10 mins; Cook: 60 mins; Yield: 8 Servings; Per Serving Calories: 304
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 16 oz. carton low-fat cottage cheese
1 10 oz. package frozen spinach, thawed and rinsed
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 oz.), divided
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (2 oz.)
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
9 lasagna noodles, uncooked
2 cups jarred marinara sauce
1 cup water
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
To begin with, prepare the cheese and spinach filling for the lasagna.
In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, spinach, 3/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella, pepper, oregano, and salt. Use large spoon to gently stir together the mixture until it is well combined.
Next, spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.
Place 3 of the uncooked noodles in the bottom of the pan. Top with half of the cottage cheese mixture, and use a large spoon or a spatula to gently spread the cheese mixture over the noodles, trying to cover all the noodles.
Next, over the cheese and spinach mixture, spread 2/3 cup of the marinara sauce, and then top the layer of marinara sauce with 1/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella. Repeat the layers two more times. End with the last three noddles, topped with 2/3 cup of sauce and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Now that the lasagna is assembled, pour 1 cup of water around the edges of the pan gently and slowly, allowing the water to fill in the gaps slowly so that it does not overflow. Cover the pan tightly with tin foil.
Place the covered lasagna in the preheated oven, and bake for 1 hour. Once the lasagna is done cooking, remove it from the oven, and loosely uncover the dish while the lasagna cools. Let the lasagna stand for 10 minutes before serving in order to allow the lasagna to become far easier to cut.
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
EASY PUMPKIN PUDDING CAKE
This is from Ashley, a high school teacher turned blogger, on her wonderful site, The Recipe Rebel. This recipe begins, “This Easy Pumpkin Pudding Cake takes just 10 minutes prep and makes it’s own caramel pudding sauce as it bakes! Perfect hot from the oven with a scoop of ice cream.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; Makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour (I use whole wheat!)
3/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of cloves
3/4 cup pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling!)
1/3 cup milk (I use 1%)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
Sauce
1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 1/4 cup hot or boiling water
2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9" pie plate or baking dish.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and cloves with a spoon.
Add in pumpkin, milk, oil and vanilla and stir until a thick batter forms. Spread into prepared pie plate.
In a small bowl, stir together 1 cup brown sugar and corn starch until there are no clumps. Sprinkle over cake batter.
Add butter to hot water and stir until melted. Pour over brown sugar mixture in pan.
Bake for 35-40 minutes until top is completely set (keep in mind that there is a thick layer of caramel sauce in the bottom, so it may jiggle). Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator and reheat perfectly!
HONEY PISTACHIO ICE CREAM
This comes from Anita Schecter, who writes for The Spruce Eats.
For this recipe, Anita wrote, “As much as I love all desserts, nothing quite makes me swoon as much as the combination of sweet and salty. It's why chocolate covered salty pretzels and I are old friends and caramel sauce only interests me if it's got a good hit of sea salt. Candied or chocolate covered nuts are good but way more awesome if the nuts are salted.
“And so, as fond as I am of pistachios, pistachio ice cream and, basically all things pistachio, store bought pistachio ice cream is usually too sweet and one note for me. I'm missing the balance of the salt.
“Fortunately, I can easily remedy this situation by making my own and by using roasted and salted pistachios. You can make this with sugar only and omit the honey, if you like, but honey vanilla is another favorite flavor of mine so I decided to combine the two.
“When it comes to homemade ice cream, you can use a cooked custard base, which contains eggs. Or you can go for a straight dairy only option which doesn't require cooking. Because I wanted little bits and pieces of pistachios in my finished ice cream, I went with a no-cook method. If I wanted to strain them out, I would have cooked them with the base mix.
“I should also note that the color of pistachios, while definitely green, is nowhere near the deep green shade you find in store bought pistachio or even mint ice cream. You can certainly add some green food color to your ice cream if you really want that bright green shade. But I prefer to keep it all natural so my ice cream is still mostly beige but with green flecks from the bits of pistachios.
“This recipe is easy and simple and results in the perfect hit of sweet, salty and creamy. A perfect treat for a hot summer day. Enjoy!”
Prep Time: 12 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Freeze: 240 minutes; Total Time: 292 minutes; Yield: 8 (1/2 Cup) Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 Cup whole milk
2 Cups heavy cream
1/2 Cup honey
1/4 Cup sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla (vanilla paste is best, if you have it)
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup shelled roasted and salted pistachios
Preparation
In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, honey, sugar, vanilla and salt. Add the pistachios to a food processor and pulse a few times until the nuts are very broken down but not powder or paste. Add to the bowl.
Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions for use. Churn for 40 minutes and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
CLASSIC HOT FUDGE SUNDAE
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “There is a reason a hot fudge sundae is such an enduring classic: That combination of warm, rich chocolate fudge mixing with frozen ice cream and melting it slightly is absolutely irresistible. Of course, if you have homemade fudge sauce and homemade ice cream, it gets even better. Vanilla ice cream is the standard here, but feel free to use your favorite flavor, or a combination of flavors. And if you like nuts, by all means use them here. The added crunch is marvelous against all the rich creaminess.”
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 35 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Check out Melissa Clark’s guide “How to Make Ice Cream”.
Ingredients
For the Fudge Sauce:
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup or honey
3 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
7 ounces finely chopped bittersweet chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 tablespoon brandy or rum
For Assembly:
1 cup chilled heavy cream
1 tablespoon superfine sugar, more to taste
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 pints your favorite flavor ice cream
Chopped toasted nuts, such as almonds, peanuts, or pecans (optional)
Cherries, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream, sugar, corn syrup or honey, cocoa, and salt to a simmer, whisking until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the chocolate and let cook until the chocolate melts. Stir in butter and vanilla or liquor. Let cool slightly. Contrary to its name, hot fudge is best served warm, not piping hot.
For assembly, make the whipped cream. Using a whisk or an electric mixer, beat the cream, sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form.
Pour a little fudge sauce into the bottoms of sundae dishes or bowls. Top with ice cream, then more hot fudge, then nuts if using. Cover all with whipped cream and a cherry if you like. Serve.
TEX-MEX BEEF AND RICE SKILLET
This is from tbsp., and begins, “Wherein we turn a humble pound of ground beef into a supremely satisfying and totally doable meal in a matter of minutes. Now you never have to wonder what’s for dinner. You’re welcome.”
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup diced yellow onion
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 can (10 oz) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix
3 cups cooked white rice
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (4 oz)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Directions
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef 6 to 8 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until brown. Drain, and wipe out skillet.
Add oil to skillet, and heat over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and corn. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender.
Stir in beef, enchilada sauce and taco seasoning mix. Heat to simmering; stir in rice. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until rice is heated through.
Top with cheese and cilantro.
LOW CALORIE SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from Kimberly Eggleston, a nutritionist on The Spruce. Kimberly wrote, “You wouldn't think that lasagna could be a lean and delicious dish until you have tried this low-calorie spinach lasagna recipe. You can see from the ingredient list that it doesn't even take a whole lot of ingredients to make up this yummy dish. And the ingredients that are included are relatively lean. Instead of fatty sausage and beef, the bulk of this lasagna filling is part skim mozzarella, low-fat cottage cheese, and spinach which give the lasagna nice texture and color. There aren't too many calories coming from those ingredients!
“Another great thing about his spinach lasagna is that this lasagna recipe is so easy to throw together about an hour and fifteen minutes before dinner. Yes, that's only a little over one hour before dinner, and the majority or that time is the lasagna cooking, which frees you up to do other things.
“And there is no need to precook the noodles. You will add water to the dish once you have layered the lasagna together, using uncooked dry noodles. Then the water will cook the noodles during baking time resulting in perfectly al dente noodles when it is finished. One less pot to wash when it is all finished is certainly worth it.”
Total Time: 70 mins; Prep: 10 mins; Cook: 60 mins; Yield: 8 Servings; Per Serving Calories: 304
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 16 oz. carton low-fat cottage cheese
1 10 oz. package frozen spinach, thawed and rinsed
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 oz.), divided
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (2 oz.)
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
9 lasagna noodles, uncooked
2 cups jarred marinara sauce
1 cup water
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
To begin with, prepare the cheese and spinach filling for the lasagna.
In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, spinach, 3/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella, pepper, oregano, and salt. Use large spoon to gently stir together the mixture until it is well combined.
Next, spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.
Place 3 of the uncooked noodles in the bottom of the pan. Top with half of the cottage cheese mixture, and use a large spoon or a spatula to gently spread the cheese mixture over the noodles, trying to cover all the noodles.
Next, over the cheese and spinach mixture, spread 2/3 cup of the marinara sauce, and then top the layer of marinara sauce with 1/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella. Repeat the layers two more times. End with the last three noddles, topped with 2/3 cup of sauce and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Now that the lasagna is assembled, pour 1 cup of water around the edges of the pan gently and slowly, allowing the water to fill in the gaps slowly so that it does not overflow. Cover the pan tightly with tin foil.
Place the covered lasagna in the preheated oven, and bake for 1 hour. Once the lasagna is done cooking, remove it from the oven, and loosely uncover the dish while the lasagna cools. Let the lasagna stand for 10 minutes before serving in order to allow the lasagna to become far easier to cut.
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
EASY PUMPKIN PUDDING CAKE
This is from Ashley, a high school teacher turned blogger, on her wonderful site, The Recipe Rebel. This recipe begins, “This Easy Pumpkin Pudding Cake takes just 10 minutes prep and makes it’s own caramel pudding sauce as it bakes! Perfect hot from the oven with a scoop of ice cream.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; Makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour (I use whole wheat!)
3/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of cloves
3/4 cup pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling!)
1/3 cup milk (I use 1%)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
Sauce
1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 1/4 cup hot or boiling water
2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9" pie plate or baking dish.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and cloves with a spoon.
Add in pumpkin, milk, oil and vanilla and stir until a thick batter forms. Spread into prepared pie plate.
In a small bowl, stir together 1 cup brown sugar and corn starch until there are no clumps. Sprinkle over cake batter.
Add butter to hot water and stir until melted. Pour over brown sugar mixture in pan.
Bake for 35-40 minutes until top is completely set (keep in mind that there is a thick layer of caramel sauce in the bottom, so it may jiggle). Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator and reheat perfectly!
Meatless Monday
It's time for another Meatless Monday. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Summer Veggie Kebabs with Fresh Corn Relish and Satay Noodle Salad. Enjoy!
STRAWBERRY SALSA
Strawberry Salsa? Ewwww! But really, what's wrong with using strawberries in salsa? According to Delish.com, “It's hard to believe that this salsa would be good, but trust us—it's amazing. Use it exactly how you would a tomato-based salsa: with chips, as a condiment..., or, frankly, with a spoon.” Total Time: 25 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 c. fresh strawberries, chopped
2 cups fresh kiwi, peeled and chopped
1/2 c. red onion, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
3 tbsp. honey
3 tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 pinch kosher salt
Directions
Combine strawberries, kiwi, onion, and jalapeno in a bowl. Mix to combine. Add in honey, lime juice, and pinch of salt, and gently toss to coat. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. Serve with chips.
SUMMER VEGGIE KEBABS WITH FRESH CORN RELISH
As a kid in New York (state, not city), it seemed as though everyone had at least one recipe for kebabs, which usually started off with meat, interspersed with veggies, and usually fixed several times over the summer. This version is strictly veggies, and comes from the July/August 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 32. It begins, “Easy-to-assemble vegetable kebabs are paired with a lightly sautéed corn relish for a dish that can be served either as an appetizer or as an entrée when placed atop couscous or another quick-cooking grain. To ensure even cooking, make sure all the vegetables are about the same size.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Corn Relish
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium yellow tomato, diced (2/3 cup)
1 large ear corn, kernels removed (1 1/3 cups kernels)
1 1/2 Tbs. white balsamic or white wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. dry mustard powder
2 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh basil
Kebabs
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbs. white balsamic or white wine vinegar
3/4 tsp. dry mustard powder, divided
1 small yellow bell pepper, halved, seeded, and cut into 12 square pieces
1 medium zucchini, halved and cut into 12 slices
1/2 small red onion, cut into 12 chunks
12 whole cremini mushrooms
12 grape or cherry tomatoes
Directions
Coat grill grate or grill pan with cooking spray, and preheat over medium heat.
To make Corn Relish: Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add tomato, cover, and cook 4 minutes, or until tomato is breaking down. Add corn kernels, and cook 2 minutes, or until corn is tender. Stir in vinegar and mustard powder, and cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat. Mix in basil; season with salt and pepper, if desired.
To make Kebabs: whisk together oil, vinegar, and mustard powder in small bowl.
Thread each of 12 skewers with 1 bell pepper square, 1 zucchini slice, 1 red onion chunk, 1 mushroom, and 1 tomato. Place skewers on large platter, and brush with vinaigrette mixture. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Grill skewers 6 to 8 minutes, turning every 2 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and browned on all sides. Serve with Corn Relish.
nutritional information Per Serving (3 kebabs and 1/2 cup relish): Calories: 247; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 18 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 30 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 9 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
SATAY NOODLE SALAD
This also comes from the July/August 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 30. It begins, “Lightly grilled vegetables are paired with fresh pasta and tossed in a creamy peanut sauce for a one-bowl meal that’s delicious hot or cold. Feel free to substitute your favorite seasonal vegetables for those in the recipe.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 oz. fresh fettuccine (1/3 9-oz. pkg.)
6 oz. stringless sugar snap peas
4 bunches baby bok choy, greens chopped, stem ends halved
6 radishes, trimmed and halved
2 medium Japanese eggplants, sliced diagonally
3 Tbs. natural creamy peanut butter
3 Tbs. unseasoned rice vinegar
3 Tbs. honey
1 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp. chile sauce, such as sriracha
Directions
Coat grill pan or grill basket with cooking spray, and preheat over medium heat.
Cook noodles in boiling salted water 2 minutes. Add sugar snap peas, and cook 1 minute more. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again. Transfer to bowl.
Arrange bok choy stems, radishes, and eggplant slices on grill pan or in grill basket. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cook 6 minutes, turning once.
Meanwhile, whisk together peanut butter, vinegar, honey, soy sauce, and chile sauce in small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Cut eggplant into strips. Slice bok choy stems and radishes. Add vegetables to noodle mixture, and toss with peanut sauce.
nutritional information Per 2 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 256; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 41 g; Cholesterol: 17 mg; Sodium: 362 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 21 g
GRILLED PEACH AND RASPBERRY FRUIT SALAD
This comes from the July/August 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 66. It begins, “The play of temperatures and textures, plus the surprise addition of tomatoes, gives this simple salad extra flavor.” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pt. fresh raspberries, divided
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1 1/2 Tbs. agave nectar
1 Tbs. grated lemon zest
1 Tbs. chopped fresh mint, plus more for garnish
8 firm, ripe peaches, halved and pitted
4 tsp. vegetable oil, plus more for grill or grill pan
1 Tbs. sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
2 small or 1 large heirloom tomato, cut into wedges (2 cups)
2/3 cup toasted pecan halves (2 oz.)
Directions
Mash 1 cup raspberries with fork in bowl. Stir in lemon juice, agave nectar, lemon zest, and mint. Set aside.
Brush cut sides of peaches with oil. Combine sugar, cinnamon, and pepper in bowl; sprinkle cut side of peaches with sugar mixture. Set aside.
Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
Lightly grease grill plates. Place peaches cut side down on grill or grill pan. Grill 3 to 5 minutes, or until grill marks appear and peaches are tender.
Divide peaches, tomato wedges, and remaining 1 cup raspberries among serving plates. Serve topped with raspberry sauce, pecans, and chopped mint.
Nutrition Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 176; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 25 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 2 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 19 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
LOVELY, TENDER ANGEL FOOD CAKE
From the June 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times page 75. The recipe serves 10, and states, “One secret to perfect angel food cake is sifting the flour with some of the sugar so it blends into the meringue with minimal folding. The other is hanging the tube pan upside down over a glass bottle so the cake won’t deflate.”
Ingredients
1 cup cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
1 1/4 cups egg whites (9–10 eggs)
1 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. almond extract
Directions
Position oven rack just below center, and preheat oven to 350°F. Sift cake flour and 1/2 cup sugar into medium bowl. Set aside.
Beat egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla, salt, and almond extract in separate bowl with handheld electric mixer at medium-low speed until soft peaks form. Increase speed to medium. Gradually beat in remaining 1 cup sugar. Increase speed to medium-high, and beat 5 minutes, or until meringue is thick and shiny, and firm peaks hold when beaters are lifted.
Sprinkle one-quarter of flour mixture over meringue, and gently fold in with spatula or flat whisk just until blended (do not overmix). Repeat 3 more times. Scrape batter into ungreased 10- x 4-inch angel food cake pan with removable center.
Bake cake 30 to 32 minutes, or until puffed and lightly browned, and wooden skewer inserted near center comes out clean. Insert narrow-neck bottle into center tube, and invert pan to cool cake upside down.
Once cooled, remove pan from atop bottle, and cut around pan sides to loosen cake. Lift out pan’s center tube with cake. Cut under cake and around center tube to release cake. Cut into wedges, and serve.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 185; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: less than 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 41 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 99 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 31 g
BROCCOLI STIR-FRY WITH GINGER-AVOCADO SAUCE
This is from the June 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 55. The recipe makes 4 servings in 30 minutes or fewer. The recipe states, “This veggie-packed stir-fry is served over a bed of baby spinach and dressed with a creamy ginger-avocado sauce.”
Ingredients
Ginger-Avocado Sauce
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into coins
2 avocados
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1 Tbs. cold-pressed olive oil
2 tsp. raw honey
2 tsp. grated lemon zest
2 pinches sea salt
Stir-Fry
1 Tbs. coconut oil
1 medium red onion, halved and sliced (1 1/2 cups)
1/4 tsp. sea salt
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)
1 head broccoli, cut into florets (4 cups)
1 small head cabbage or 1 bunch kale, sliced into thin ribbons (1/2 lb.)
4 cups organic baby spinach
1/4 cup lightly toasted sesame seeds, for garnish, optional
Directions
To make Ginger-Avocado Sauce: Place ginger in food processor, and pulse to mince. Add remaining ingredients, and blend until smooth. Blend in up to 1/2 cup water to thin to desired consistency. Store in refrigerator.
To make Stir-Fry: Heat coconut oil in wok or large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and salt; stir-fry 5 minutes, or until onion softens. Add garlic, and cook 2 minutes more. Add broccoli and 1/4 cup water; cover, and steam 3 minutes. Add cabbage; cover, and steam 2 minutes more.
Place 1 cup spinach on plate. Top with 1 cup broccoli mixture, and drizzle with 2 Tbs. Ginger-Avocado Sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds (if using).
STRAWBERRY SALSA
Strawberry Salsa? Ewwww! But really, what's wrong with using strawberries in salsa? According to Delish.com, “It's hard to believe that this salsa would be good, but trust us—it's amazing. Use it exactly how you would a tomato-based salsa: with chips, as a condiment..., or, frankly, with a spoon.” Total Time: 25 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 c. fresh strawberries, chopped
2 cups fresh kiwi, peeled and chopped
1/2 c. red onion, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
3 tbsp. honey
3 tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 pinch kosher salt
Directions
Combine strawberries, kiwi, onion, and jalapeno in a bowl. Mix to combine. Add in honey, lime juice, and pinch of salt, and gently toss to coat. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. Serve with chips.
SUMMER VEGGIE KEBABS WITH FRESH CORN RELISH
As a kid in New York (state, not city), it seemed as though everyone had at least one recipe for kebabs, which usually started off with meat, interspersed with veggies, and usually fixed several times over the summer. This version is strictly veggies, and comes from the July/August 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 32. It begins, “Easy-to-assemble vegetable kebabs are paired with a lightly sautéed corn relish for a dish that can be served either as an appetizer or as an entrée when placed atop couscous or another quick-cooking grain. To ensure even cooking, make sure all the vegetables are about the same size.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Corn Relish
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium yellow tomato, diced (2/3 cup)
1 large ear corn, kernels removed (1 1/3 cups kernels)
1 1/2 Tbs. white balsamic or white wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. dry mustard powder
2 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh basil
Kebabs
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbs. white balsamic or white wine vinegar
3/4 tsp. dry mustard powder, divided
1 small yellow bell pepper, halved, seeded, and cut into 12 square pieces
1 medium zucchini, halved and cut into 12 slices
1/2 small red onion, cut into 12 chunks
12 whole cremini mushrooms
12 grape or cherry tomatoes
Directions
Coat grill grate or grill pan with cooking spray, and preheat over medium heat.
To make Corn Relish: Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add tomato, cover, and cook 4 minutes, or until tomato is breaking down. Add corn kernels, and cook 2 minutes, or until corn is tender. Stir in vinegar and mustard powder, and cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat. Mix in basil; season with salt and pepper, if desired.
To make Kebabs: whisk together oil, vinegar, and mustard powder in small bowl.
Thread each of 12 skewers with 1 bell pepper square, 1 zucchini slice, 1 red onion chunk, 1 mushroom, and 1 tomato. Place skewers on large platter, and brush with vinaigrette mixture. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Grill skewers 6 to 8 minutes, turning every 2 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and browned on all sides. Serve with Corn Relish.
nutritional information Per Serving (3 kebabs and 1/2 cup relish): Calories: 247; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 18 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 30 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 9 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
SATAY NOODLE SALAD
This also comes from the July/August 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 30. It begins, “Lightly grilled vegetables are paired with fresh pasta and tossed in a creamy peanut sauce for a one-bowl meal that’s delicious hot or cold. Feel free to substitute your favorite seasonal vegetables for those in the recipe.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 oz. fresh fettuccine (1/3 9-oz. pkg.)
6 oz. stringless sugar snap peas
4 bunches baby bok choy, greens chopped, stem ends halved
6 radishes, trimmed and halved
2 medium Japanese eggplants, sliced diagonally
3 Tbs. natural creamy peanut butter
3 Tbs. unseasoned rice vinegar
3 Tbs. honey
1 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp. chile sauce, such as sriracha
Directions
Coat grill pan or grill basket with cooking spray, and preheat over medium heat.
Cook noodles in boiling salted water 2 minutes. Add sugar snap peas, and cook 1 minute more. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again. Transfer to bowl.
Arrange bok choy stems, radishes, and eggplant slices on grill pan or in grill basket. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cook 6 minutes, turning once.
Meanwhile, whisk together peanut butter, vinegar, honey, soy sauce, and chile sauce in small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Cut eggplant into strips. Slice bok choy stems and radishes. Add vegetables to noodle mixture, and toss with peanut sauce.
nutritional information Per 2 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 256; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 41 g; Cholesterol: 17 mg; Sodium: 362 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 21 g
GRILLED PEACH AND RASPBERRY FRUIT SALAD
This comes from the July/August 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 66. It begins, “The play of temperatures and textures, plus the surprise addition of tomatoes, gives this simple salad extra flavor.” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pt. fresh raspberries, divided
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1 1/2 Tbs. agave nectar
1 Tbs. grated lemon zest
1 Tbs. chopped fresh mint, plus more for garnish
8 firm, ripe peaches, halved and pitted
4 tsp. vegetable oil, plus more for grill or grill pan
1 Tbs. sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
2 small or 1 large heirloom tomato, cut into wedges (2 cups)
2/3 cup toasted pecan halves (2 oz.)
Directions
Mash 1 cup raspberries with fork in bowl. Stir in lemon juice, agave nectar, lemon zest, and mint. Set aside.
Brush cut sides of peaches with oil. Combine sugar, cinnamon, and pepper in bowl; sprinkle cut side of peaches with sugar mixture. Set aside.
Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
Lightly grease grill plates. Place peaches cut side down on grill or grill pan. Grill 3 to 5 minutes, or until grill marks appear and peaches are tender.
Divide peaches, tomato wedges, and remaining 1 cup raspberries among serving plates. Serve topped with raspberry sauce, pecans, and chopped mint.
Nutrition Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 176; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 25 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 2 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 19 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
LOVELY, TENDER ANGEL FOOD CAKE
From the June 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times page 75. The recipe serves 10, and states, “One secret to perfect angel food cake is sifting the flour with some of the sugar so it blends into the meringue with minimal folding. The other is hanging the tube pan upside down over a glass bottle so the cake won’t deflate.”
Ingredients
1 cup cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
1 1/4 cups egg whites (9–10 eggs)
1 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. almond extract
Directions
Position oven rack just below center, and preheat oven to 350°F. Sift cake flour and 1/2 cup sugar into medium bowl. Set aside.
Beat egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla, salt, and almond extract in separate bowl with handheld electric mixer at medium-low speed until soft peaks form. Increase speed to medium. Gradually beat in remaining 1 cup sugar. Increase speed to medium-high, and beat 5 minutes, or until meringue is thick and shiny, and firm peaks hold when beaters are lifted.
Sprinkle one-quarter of flour mixture over meringue, and gently fold in with spatula or flat whisk just until blended (do not overmix). Repeat 3 more times. Scrape batter into ungreased 10- x 4-inch angel food cake pan with removable center.
Bake cake 30 to 32 minutes, or until puffed and lightly browned, and wooden skewer inserted near center comes out clean. Insert narrow-neck bottle into center tube, and invert pan to cool cake upside down.
Once cooled, remove pan from atop bottle, and cut around pan sides to loosen cake. Lift out pan’s center tube with cake. Cut under cake and around center tube to release cake. Cut into wedges, and serve.
nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 185; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: less than 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 41 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 99 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 31 g
BROCCOLI STIR-FRY WITH GINGER-AVOCADO SAUCE
This is from the June 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 55. The recipe makes 4 servings in 30 minutes or fewer. The recipe states, “This veggie-packed stir-fry is served over a bed of baby spinach and dressed with a creamy ginger-avocado sauce.”
Ingredients
Ginger-Avocado Sauce
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into coins
2 avocados
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1 Tbs. cold-pressed olive oil
2 tsp. raw honey
2 tsp. grated lemon zest
2 pinches sea salt
Stir-Fry
1 Tbs. coconut oil
1 medium red onion, halved and sliced (1 1/2 cups)
1/4 tsp. sea salt
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.)
1 head broccoli, cut into florets (4 cups)
1 small head cabbage or 1 bunch kale, sliced into thin ribbons (1/2 lb.)
4 cups organic baby spinach
1/4 cup lightly toasted sesame seeds, for garnish, optional
Directions
To make Ginger-Avocado Sauce: Place ginger in food processor, and pulse to mince. Add remaining ingredients, and blend until smooth. Blend in up to 1/2 cup water to thin to desired consistency. Store in refrigerator.
To make Stir-Fry: Heat coconut oil in wok or large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and salt; stir-fry 5 minutes, or until onion softens. Add garlic, and cook 2 minutes more. Add broccoli and 1/4 cup water; cover, and steam 3 minutes. Add cabbage; cover, and steam 2 minutes more.
Place 1 cup spinach on plate. Top with 1 cup broccoli mixture, and drizzle with 2 Tbs. Ginger-Avocado Sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds (if using).
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