Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. While it seems that cooler weather demands warm comfort food, we also want something healthy. Today's six recipes fit both bills, including Baked Macaroni and Cheese and Ginger-Blueberry Parfait. Enjoy!
ROASTED AUTUMN VEGETABLE SOUP
This recipe, as well as several other in today's post, is from a Weight Watchers' emailing lists from several years ago. This one begins, “This warm, comforting soup will stick to your ribs on cold days. Roasting the vegetables helps bring out their natural sweetness.”
Points: 2 Servings: 8
1 large onion(s), cut into large chunks
4 large carrot(s), peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
6 medium parsnip(s), peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
4 cup winter squash, such as butternut, peeled and cubed
2 sprays cooking spray
3 cup fat-free chicken broth
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Preheat oven to 400ºF. In large roasting pan combine onion, carrots, parsnips and squash; coat with cooking spray. Roast for 15 minutes. Place vegetables in large pot. Add broth & milk; season to taste. Cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes to allow flavors to combine. Transfer mixture to blender or food processor, or use an immersion blender in pot, & blend until smooth. (Puree soup in batches if necessary to prevent hot liquid from splattering. Or allow soup to cool before pureeing.) Yields about 1-1/2 cups per serving.
From: Weight Watchers
You can add more water or broth to the pureed soup to achieve desired thickness.
SPICED CARROT SOUP
Points: 2 Servings: 4
This recipe begins, “Who says home cooking takes hours? We used canned carrots in this curry & chili powder-seasoned soup to save on both preparation & cooking times.”
2 tsp canola oil
1/4 cup shallot(s), or red onion, chopped
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/8 tsp chili powder, chipotle-variety
29 oz canned carrots, sliced (undrained)
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tsp fresh lemon juice, divided
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Heat oil in medium saucepan; add shallot, curry powder & chili powder. Cook over medium heat until shallot is tender, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Add carrots, including can liquid, to saucepan.
Pour buttermilk into saucepan; swirl milk in pan to ‘pick up’ any remaining spices. Add salt, pepper & 1 teaspoon of lemon juice; puree in saucepan using an immersion blender. (Or puree in batches in a blender, careful not to splatter hot liquid). Taste soup & add remaining teaspoon of lemon juice, if desired.
Divide soup among 4 bowls & garnish with sour cream. Yields about 1 cup of soup & 1 tablespoon of sour cream per serving.
We used canned carrots because they cut cooking time considerably (you may use fresh carrots though, if you prefer). If you prefer a tangy-tasting soup, swap 1/2 cup of buttermilk for 1/2 cup of plain fat-free yogurt (may affect POINTS values).
For a festive look, spoon sour cream in the center of each serving. Using a toothpick, draw out "spokes" of sour cream from the center to create a starburst design.
IRISH HONEY OAT QUICK BREAD
2 tablespoons plus 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats or quick-cooking (not instant) oats, divided
1 1/3 cups whole-wheat flour or white whole-wheat flour (see Tip)
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 8-ounce container (scant 1 cup) nonfat or low-fat plain yogurt
1 large egg
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup clover honey or other mild honey
3/4 cup nonfat or low-fat milk
Position rack in middle of oven; preheat to 375°F. Generously coat 9-by-5-inch (or similar size) loaf pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon oats in the pan. Tip pan back & forth to coat sides & bottom with oats; set aside another 1 tablespoon oats for garnishing the loaf.
Thoroughly stir together whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt in a large bowl. Using a fork, beat together the remaining 1 cup oats, yogurt, egg, oil & honey in medium bowl until well blended. Stir in milk. Gently stir the yogurt mixture into the flour mixture just until thoroughly incorporated but not over-mixed (excess mixing can cause toughening). Immediately scrape batter into the pan, spreading evenly to the edges. Sprinkle the reserved 1 tablespoon oats over top.
Bake loaf until well browned on top & a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. (It's normal for the top to crack.) Let stand in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a table knife around & under the loaf to loosen it & turn it out onto the rack. Let cool until barely warm, about 45 minutes.
Makes 12 slices; 4 points
Nutrition Information: Per slice: 192 calories; 6 g fat (0 g sat, 3 g mono); 18 mg cholesterol; 31 g carbohydrate; 6 g protein; 2 g fiber; 395 mg sodium; 64 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Iron (15% daily value).
2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat
TIP: White whole-wheat flour, made from a special variety of white wheat, is light in color and flavor but has the same nutritional properties as regular whole-wheat flour. Two companies that distribute the flour nationally are King Arthur Flour (kingarthurflour.com) and Bob's Red Mill (bobsredmill.com).
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Store cooled bread, tightly wrapped, for up to 1 day at room temperature. If desired, warm (wrapped in foil) at 375°F before serving.
This bread has a pleasant flavor and divinely moist, tender crumb. It goes well with almost any soup or chowder. Plus, the recipe requires minimal mixing and cleanup, calls for ingredients usually stocked in the pantry, and is tasty yet healthful.
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Serves: 8; 5 Points
12 oz uncooked macaroni, elbow-type
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
12 oz fat-free evaporated milk
8 oz low-fat cheddar or Colby cheese, shredded
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
2 Tbsp dried bread crumbs
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Cook pasta according to package directions without added fat or salt; drain & transfer to a large bowl. While pasta is still hot, stir in sour cream; set aside.
Heat milk in small saucepan over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear just around the edges. Reduce heat to low, add cheese & simmer until cheese melts, stirring constantly with wire whisk, about 2 minutes; remove from heat & stir in mustard, salt, pepper & nutmeg.
Add cheese mixture to pasta; mix well. Transfer to a 4-quart casserole dish. Combine bread crumbs & Parmesan cheese; sprinkle over pasta. Bake until top is golden, about 30 minutes. Yields about 1 cup per serving.
BLUEBERRY SAUCE
This recipe and the next one (Ginger-Blueberry Parfait) are from an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.
This sauce would go well over ice cream. Yum!
SERVINGS: 4 – 6
1 pt fresh blueberries (2 C)
1/4 C + 1 Tbsp confectioners' sugar
1/4 C water
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter
Put blueberries, sugar, water, and cinnamon in medium saucepan.
Cover and cook over medium heat until blueberries have broken down a bit and mixture becomes soupy, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and swirl in butter. Serve warm or at room temperature over waffles, pancakes, ice cream, or pound cake.
NUTRITION (per serving) 140 cal, 1 g pro, 22 g carb, 2 g fiber, 6 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 50 mg sodium
GINGER-BLUEBERRY PARFAIT
SERVINGS: 4
1 C blueberries
1 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
4 Tbsp maple syrup, divided
1 Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
1 C part-skim ricotta cheese
4 sprigs fresh mint
Combine the blueberries, ginger, and 1 Tbsp of the maple syrup in a small bowl until well mixed. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the avocado, ricotta, and the remaining 3 Tbsp maple syrup. Puree the mixture.
Layer the blueberry mixture with the ricotta mixture alternately in 4 parfait glasses or dessert dishes, ending with the berries. Garnish with the mint sprigs.
NUTRITION (per serving) 217 cal, 8 g pro, 25 g carb, 10 g fat, 4 g sat fat,3 g fiber, 83 mg sodium
CROCKPOT MAPLE BBQ CHICKEN SANDWICHES
4 servings = 225 calories, 4g fat, 1g fiber; 5 points per serving
1/2 C. maple flavored syrup
2 T. prepared mustard
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
2 t. lemon juice
1/2 t. chili powder
1/4 t. garlic powder
4 boneless, skinned chicken breasts
Place all ingredients in crockpot & cook on LOW for about 7 to 8 hours or until chicken is done.
You can either eat the breasts whole or shred them on buns or rice for more points.
Confessions of a Foodie
Showing posts with label Blueberry Sauce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blueberry Sauce. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Desserts - Double-Post Thursday
Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's Double-Post Thursday. Here are six dessert recipes to help you through the day, including S’mores Cake Rolls and Ginger-Blueberry Parfait. Enjoy!
RHUBARB ICE CREAM WITH A CARAMEL SWIRL
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This ice cream is chock-full of sweet bits, but with enough satiny frozen custard to savor between the chunks. To keep the rhubarb from freezing into tooth-breaking fruity ice cubes, stew it with plenty of sugar, which keeps the fruit soft. The technique works with any summer fruit, though it’s especially nice with rhubarb, or gooseberries for that matter, both of which need a lot of sugar to tame their squint-inducing acid content. But you can substitute strawberries, apricots, cherries, peaches or plums as the summer fruit season progresses, adjusting the sugar depending upon the sweetness of the fruit.”
Yield: One scant quart
This was featured in “Rhubarb, It Turns Out, Can Be a Sweetie”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 and 1/2 cups whole milk
1 and 3/4 cup plus 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
Pinch fine sea salt
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
4 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
1 and 1/2 cups sour cream
3/4 pound rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup heavy cream
Preparation
In a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, whisk together the milk, 3/4 cup sugar, the salt, the vanilla bean seeds and its pod. Simmer gently until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and steep 30 minutes. Discard the vanilla pod and return mixture to a bare simmer.
Place the yolks in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in hot milk mixture. Scrape the custard back into the pot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Whisk in sour cream. Chill at least 3 hours or overnight.
In a saucepan, combine the rhubarb with 1 cup sugar. Simmer until rhubarb is just tender and has begun releasing its juices, but has not started to fall apart, 4 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer rhubarb to a bowl. Continue to simmer the juices until syrupy, 5 to 10 minutes more. Pour the syrup over the rhubarb. Cool completely.
In a clean, dry and preferably nonstick skillet, sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over medium heat. When it begins to melt and lightly color, sprinkle in 2 more tablespoons and start swirling pan to help evenly distribute sugar. Add the final 2 tablespoons and cook, swirling pan until all the sugar has melted. Let cook, swirling occasionally, until the sugar syrup caramelizes and turns dark brown. Pour in the heavy cream and 2 tablespoons water (stand back; it may splatter). Simmer, stirring with a heatproof rubber spatula until smooth. Cool completely.
Pour the custard base into an ice cream machine and churn. Add rhubarb compote for the last minute of churning.
Scrape a quarter of the caramel into the bottom of a freezer-proof quart container. Top with a quarter of the ice cream. Repeat layering until all of the caramel and ice cream has been used, ending with the ice cream. Freeze until firm for at least 2 hours and up to 1 week.
STRAWBERRY MANGO POPSICLES
This is from Frances Bargeman-Roth, RD, on the Today website. Frances wrote, “Cold and flu season extends into late spring, so it's smart to keep making sure your immune system is ticking. I loaded up this pop with antioxidant and vitamin C-rich ingredients like strawberries, beets and mango. If you don't want to go the extra step of freezing the strawberry puree first, simply combine the strawberry mixture with the beet mixture and freeze for a total of 6 hours, or until completely frozen.”
Prep Time: 7 minutes; Yield: 6
To view this online, click here.
Notes: You will need six (3-ounce) ice pop molds with sticks. You can typically find fresh beet juice in the refrigerated section with the fresh juices.
Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, is a nutrition expert, writer and best-selling author. Her books include Feed the Belly, The CarbLovers Diet and Eating in Color. Follow her @FrancesLRothRD.
Ingredients
10 ounces frozen unsweetened strawberries, thawed
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 cup diced mango
10 ounces fresh beet juice, store-bought
1 tablespoon sugar
Preparation
In a blender, add the berries and maple syrup. Combine until pureed. Transfer the mixture to a measuring cup with a spout and stir in the mango. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture into each pop mold and transfer to the freezer; freeze for 1 hour.
In a bowl, add the beet juice and stir in the sugar. Remove the pop molds from the freezer and pour about 1.5 ounces of the beet mixture into each mold. Return to the freezer for another 5 to 6 hours, or until completely frozen.
To unmold, run the pop briefly under warm water, remove and enjoy.
BLUEBERRY, CHAMOMILE AND MINT YOGURT POPSICLES
This is also from Frances Bargeman-Roth, RD, on the Today website. Frances wrote, “Being plugged in and scheduled 24/7 can leave us feeling frazzled. When you're in need of some chill time, reach for this calm and cool pop instead. Chamomile has long been known to help settle nerves, and may also provide a boost to your immune system. Mint helps relieve gas and indigestion, a common symptom of stress. Blueberries are loaded with anthocyanins, a type of polyphenol antioxidant that may help women cut their risk of having a heart attack by a third. Anthocyanins also are quite promising for helping to reverse age-related declines in brain function. Did I also mention that this interesting combination tastes amazing?”
Note: You will need six (3-ounce) ice pop molds with sticks.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 chamomile tea bags
8 ounces boiling water
1/2 cup blueberries, divided
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons honey
4 ounces cold water
1/4 cup whole milk vanilla yogurt
Preparation
Place about 1 tablespoon of blueberries into each pop molds and set aside.
In a blender, add the cooled tea, mint leaves, honey, water and yogurt. Blend until frothy. Pour the chamomile mixture into the pop molds and place in the freezer for 6 hours or overnight. The tea and yogurt will separate during the freezing process, but this won't affect the flavor.
To unmold, run the pop briefly under warm water, remove and enjoy.
BLUEBERRY SAUCE
This recipe and the next one (Ginger-Blueberry Parfait) are from an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.
This sauce would go well over ice cream. Yum!
SERVINGS: 4 – 6
1 pt fresh blueberries (2 C)
1/4 C + 1 Tbsp confectioners' sugar
1/4 C water
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter
Put blueberries, sugar, water, and cinnamon in medium saucepan.
Cover and cook over medium heat until blueberries have broken down a bit and mixture becomes soupy, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and swirl in butter. Serve warm or at room temperature over waffles, pancakes, ice cream, or pound cake.
NUTRITION (per serving) 140 cal, 1 g pro, 22 g carb, 2 g fiber, 6 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 50 mg sodium
GINGER-BLUEBERRY PARFAIT
SERVINGS: 4
1 C blueberries
1 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
4 Tbsp maple syrup, divided
1 Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
1 C part-skim ricotta cheese
4 sprigs fresh mint
Combine the blueberries, ginger, and 1 Tbsp of the maple syrup in a small bowl until well mixed. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the avocado, ricotta, and the remaining 3 Tbsp maple syrup. Puree the mixture.
Layer the blueberry mixture with the ricotta mixture alternately in 4 parfait glasses or dessert dishes, ending with the berries. Garnish with the mint sprigs.
NUTRITION (per serving) 217 cal, 8 g pro, 25 g carb, 10 g fat, 4 g sat fat,3 g fiber, 83 mg sodium
S’MORES CAKE ROLLS
This is from Tablespoon (tbsp.), and begins, “First things first: Yes, this cake roll tastes as good as it looks. We rolled chocolate cake around a marshmallow buttercream filling, and topped it all with melted chocolate, Golden Grahams™ cereal and marshmallows. It’s a grown-up take on s’mores that your inner child is guaranteed to love.”
Prep Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes; Servings: 16
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Cake
6 eggs
1 box Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ chocolate fudge cake mix
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Filling
1 jar (7 oz) Kraft™ Jet-Puffed™ marshmallow creme
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Glaze
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Decorations
3/4 cup Golden Grahams™ cereal, coarsely crushed
1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
Directions
Heat oven to 375°F. Line bottom only of two 15x10x1-inch pans with cooking parchment paper. Spray parchment paper with baking spray with flour.
In large bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on high speed about 6 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Add cake mix, water and oil; beat on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 1 minute. Pour 2 1/4 cups batter into each pan; spread evenly.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched in center.
Meanwhile, sprinkle 1/2 cup powdered sugar over two clean kitchen towels. Remove cakes from oven. Run metal spatula around edges of pans; carefully turn one on to each kitchen towel. Peel away parchment paper. Immediately roll up cake and towel from narrow end. Let rolled cakes cool with seam centered on bottom of cake. Allow cakes to cool 30 minutes on cooling rack.
In large bowl, beat marshmallow crème, softened butter and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, scraping bowl occasionally. On low speed, beat in 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
Carefully unroll cakes. Allow narrow end to remain slightly curled. Drop 1 cup of the filling by spoonfuls over each cake, and spread evenly to within 1/2 inch of edges. Reroll filled cake, using kitchen towel to help roll up cake. Wrap in plastic wrap, making sure seam is centered on bottom. Repeat rolling with second cake. Place both wrapped cakes on cookie sheet; refrigerate 30 minutes.
In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and heavy cream uncovered on High 60 to 90 seconds; stir. Continue to microwave in 15-second increments, until chips can be stirred smooth. Remove plastic wrap from cakes. Place cakes on cooling rack placed over waxed paper. Pour chocolate mixture over each cake to cover. Let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle tops of cakes with cereal and marshmallows. Return cakes to refrigerator about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.
Set a timer to be sure you beat the eggs for a full 6 minutes. This will help ensure a spongy cake texture and will help keep the cake from breaking when you roll it.
You must roll the cake into the kitchen towel immediately after turning it out. The cake is most malleable while still hot.
For best results, work quickly when assembling cake rolls to prevent cracking.
RHUBARB ICE CREAM WITH A CARAMEL SWIRL
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This ice cream is chock-full of sweet bits, but with enough satiny frozen custard to savor between the chunks. To keep the rhubarb from freezing into tooth-breaking fruity ice cubes, stew it with plenty of sugar, which keeps the fruit soft. The technique works with any summer fruit, though it’s especially nice with rhubarb, or gooseberries for that matter, both of which need a lot of sugar to tame their squint-inducing acid content. But you can substitute strawberries, apricots, cherries, peaches or plums as the summer fruit season progresses, adjusting the sugar depending upon the sweetness of the fruit.”
Yield: One scant quart
This was featured in “Rhubarb, It Turns Out, Can Be a Sweetie”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 and 1/2 cups whole milk
1 and 3/4 cup plus 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
Pinch fine sea salt
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
4 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
1 and 1/2 cups sour cream
3/4 pound rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup heavy cream
Preparation
In a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, whisk together the milk, 3/4 cup sugar, the salt, the vanilla bean seeds and its pod. Simmer gently until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and steep 30 minutes. Discard the vanilla pod and return mixture to a bare simmer.
Place the yolks in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in hot milk mixture. Scrape the custard back into the pot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Whisk in sour cream. Chill at least 3 hours or overnight.
In a saucepan, combine the rhubarb with 1 cup sugar. Simmer until rhubarb is just tender and has begun releasing its juices, but has not started to fall apart, 4 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer rhubarb to a bowl. Continue to simmer the juices until syrupy, 5 to 10 minutes more. Pour the syrup over the rhubarb. Cool completely.
In a clean, dry and preferably nonstick skillet, sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over medium heat. When it begins to melt and lightly color, sprinkle in 2 more tablespoons and start swirling pan to help evenly distribute sugar. Add the final 2 tablespoons and cook, swirling pan until all the sugar has melted. Let cook, swirling occasionally, until the sugar syrup caramelizes and turns dark brown. Pour in the heavy cream and 2 tablespoons water (stand back; it may splatter). Simmer, stirring with a heatproof rubber spatula until smooth. Cool completely.
Pour the custard base into an ice cream machine and churn. Add rhubarb compote for the last minute of churning.
Scrape a quarter of the caramel into the bottom of a freezer-proof quart container. Top with a quarter of the ice cream. Repeat layering until all of the caramel and ice cream has been used, ending with the ice cream. Freeze until firm for at least 2 hours and up to 1 week.
STRAWBERRY MANGO POPSICLES
This is from Frances Bargeman-Roth, RD, on the Today website. Frances wrote, “Cold and flu season extends into late spring, so it's smart to keep making sure your immune system is ticking. I loaded up this pop with antioxidant and vitamin C-rich ingredients like strawberries, beets and mango. If you don't want to go the extra step of freezing the strawberry puree first, simply combine the strawberry mixture with the beet mixture and freeze for a total of 6 hours, or until completely frozen.”
Prep Time: 7 minutes; Yield: 6
To view this online, click here.
Notes: You will need six (3-ounce) ice pop molds with sticks. You can typically find fresh beet juice in the refrigerated section with the fresh juices.
Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, is a nutrition expert, writer and best-selling author. Her books include Feed the Belly, The CarbLovers Diet and Eating in Color. Follow her @FrancesLRothRD.
Ingredients
10 ounces frozen unsweetened strawberries, thawed
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 cup diced mango
10 ounces fresh beet juice, store-bought
1 tablespoon sugar
Preparation
In a blender, add the berries and maple syrup. Combine until pureed. Transfer the mixture to a measuring cup with a spout and stir in the mango. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture into each pop mold and transfer to the freezer; freeze for 1 hour.
In a bowl, add the beet juice and stir in the sugar. Remove the pop molds from the freezer and pour about 1.5 ounces of the beet mixture into each mold. Return to the freezer for another 5 to 6 hours, or until completely frozen.
To unmold, run the pop briefly under warm water, remove and enjoy.
BLUEBERRY, CHAMOMILE AND MINT YOGURT POPSICLES
This is also from Frances Bargeman-Roth, RD, on the Today website. Frances wrote, “Being plugged in and scheduled 24/7 can leave us feeling frazzled. When you're in need of some chill time, reach for this calm and cool pop instead. Chamomile has long been known to help settle nerves, and may also provide a boost to your immune system. Mint helps relieve gas and indigestion, a common symptom of stress. Blueberries are loaded with anthocyanins, a type of polyphenol antioxidant that may help women cut their risk of having a heart attack by a third. Anthocyanins also are quite promising for helping to reverse age-related declines in brain function. Did I also mention that this interesting combination tastes amazing?”
Note: You will need six (3-ounce) ice pop molds with sticks.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 chamomile tea bags
8 ounces boiling water
1/2 cup blueberries, divided
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons honey
4 ounces cold water
1/4 cup whole milk vanilla yogurt
Preparation
Place about 1 tablespoon of blueberries into each pop molds and set aside.
In a blender, add the cooled tea, mint leaves, honey, water and yogurt. Blend until frothy. Pour the chamomile mixture into the pop molds and place in the freezer for 6 hours or overnight. The tea and yogurt will separate during the freezing process, but this won't affect the flavor.
To unmold, run the pop briefly under warm water, remove and enjoy.
BLUEBERRY SAUCE
This recipe and the next one (Ginger-Blueberry Parfait) are from an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.
This sauce would go well over ice cream. Yum!
SERVINGS: 4 – 6
1 pt fresh blueberries (2 C)
1/4 C + 1 Tbsp confectioners' sugar
1/4 C water
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter
Put blueberries, sugar, water, and cinnamon in medium saucepan.
Cover and cook over medium heat until blueberries have broken down a bit and mixture becomes soupy, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and swirl in butter. Serve warm or at room temperature over waffles, pancakes, ice cream, or pound cake.
NUTRITION (per serving) 140 cal, 1 g pro, 22 g carb, 2 g fiber, 6 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 50 mg sodium
GINGER-BLUEBERRY PARFAIT
SERVINGS: 4
1 C blueberries
1 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
4 Tbsp maple syrup, divided
1 Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
1 C part-skim ricotta cheese
4 sprigs fresh mint
Combine the blueberries, ginger, and 1 Tbsp of the maple syrup in a small bowl until well mixed. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the avocado, ricotta, and the remaining 3 Tbsp maple syrup. Puree the mixture.
Layer the blueberry mixture with the ricotta mixture alternately in 4 parfait glasses or dessert dishes, ending with the berries. Garnish with the mint sprigs.
NUTRITION (per serving) 217 cal, 8 g pro, 25 g carb, 10 g fat, 4 g sat fat,3 g fiber, 83 mg sodium
S’MORES CAKE ROLLS
This is from Tablespoon (tbsp.), and begins, “First things first: Yes, this cake roll tastes as good as it looks. We rolled chocolate cake around a marshmallow buttercream filling, and topped it all with melted chocolate, Golden Grahams™ cereal and marshmallows. It’s a grown-up take on s’mores that your inner child is guaranteed to love.”
Prep Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes; Servings: 16
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Cake
6 eggs
1 box Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ chocolate fudge cake mix
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Filling
1 jar (7 oz) Kraft™ Jet-Puffed™ marshmallow creme
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Glaze
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Decorations
3/4 cup Golden Grahams™ cereal, coarsely crushed
1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
Directions
Heat oven to 375°F. Line bottom only of two 15x10x1-inch pans with cooking parchment paper. Spray parchment paper with baking spray with flour.
In large bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on high speed about 6 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Add cake mix, water and oil; beat on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 1 minute. Pour 2 1/4 cups batter into each pan; spread evenly.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched in center.
Meanwhile, sprinkle 1/2 cup powdered sugar over two clean kitchen towels. Remove cakes from oven. Run metal spatula around edges of pans; carefully turn one on to each kitchen towel. Peel away parchment paper. Immediately roll up cake and towel from narrow end. Let rolled cakes cool with seam centered on bottom of cake. Allow cakes to cool 30 minutes on cooling rack.
In large bowl, beat marshmallow crème, softened butter and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, scraping bowl occasionally. On low speed, beat in 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
Carefully unroll cakes. Allow narrow end to remain slightly curled. Drop 1 cup of the filling by spoonfuls over each cake, and spread evenly to within 1/2 inch of edges. Reroll filled cake, using kitchen towel to help roll up cake. Wrap in plastic wrap, making sure seam is centered on bottom. Repeat rolling with second cake. Place both wrapped cakes on cookie sheet; refrigerate 30 minutes.
In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and heavy cream uncovered on High 60 to 90 seconds; stir. Continue to microwave in 15-second increments, until chips can be stirred smooth. Remove plastic wrap from cakes. Place cakes on cooling rack placed over waxed paper. Pour chocolate mixture over each cake to cover. Let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle tops of cakes with cereal and marshmallows. Return cakes to refrigerator about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.
Set a timer to be sure you beat the eggs for a full 6 minutes. This will help ensure a spongy cake texture and will help keep the cake from breaking when you roll it.
You must roll the cake into the kitchen towel immediately after turning it out. The cake is most malleable while still hot.
For best results, work quickly when assembling cake rolls to prevent cracking.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Here are six chicken recipes to help you through the day, including Ginger-Blueberry Parfait and Crispy Chickpeas With Ground Meat. Enjoy!
BERRY VANILLA SENSATION
This recipe, as well as the next one (Tutti-Frutti Smoothie)are from “20 Super Healthy Smoothie Recipes” on the Runner’s World website. They’re originally from The Editors of Prevention.
This one begins, “Vanilla yogurt adds a touch of sweetness to this tangy fruit smoothie recipe.”
Servings: 2
1/2 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries
1/2 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
3/4 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1 cup (8 oz) fat-free vanilla yogurt
Combine the raspberries, strawberries, and pineapple juice. Add the yogurt. Blend until smooth.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 192; Protein: 7 g; Carbs: 41 g; Fiber: 2.5 g; Sugar: 35 g; Total fat: 0.5 g; Saturated fat: 0.1 g; Sodium: 86.5 mg
TUTTI-FRUTTI SMOOTHIE
This recipe begins, “A splash of orange juice infuses summer citrus into this healthy and refreshing snack.”
Servings: 2
1/2 cup loose-pack mixed frozen berries or strawberries
1/2 cup canned crushed pineapple in juice
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup sliced ripe banana
1/2 cup orange juice
Combine the berries, pineapple (with juice), yogurt, banana, and orange juice in a food processor fitted with the metal blade, in a blender, or in a large measuring cup with an immersion blender. Process for about 2 minutes, or until smooth.
Nutrition Information: Calories (per serving): 140; Protein: 3.5 g; Carbs: 29 g; Fiber: 2.5 g; Sugar: 16 g; Total fat: 2.5 g; Saturated fat: 1.5 g; Sodium: 30 mg
SKILLET CHICKEN WITH TOMATOES, PANCETTA AND MOZZARELLA
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “With a topping of tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella, it’s no wonder that I always think of this easy skillet dish as "pizza chicken." It’s a tangy, milky, gooey, lovable meal that’s somewhat reminiscent of chicken Parmesan, but with succulent bone-in chicken pieces instead of breaded and fried cutlets. Even better, it has pancetta and anchovies for complexity of flavor, and the whole thing comes together in under an hour.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was originally featured in “Skillet Chicken Swimming in Tomato Sauce” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
3 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken pieces (or use a 31/2 pound chicken cut into 8 pieces)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
5 ounces pancetta, diced
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 anchovy fillets
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (28-ounce) can whole plum tomatoes
1 large basil sprig, plus more chopped basil for serving
8 ounces bocconcini, halved (or use mozzarella cut into 3/4-inch pieces)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
In a large oven-proof skillet, warm oil over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and cook, stirring frequently, until browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pancetta to a paper-towel-lined plate.
Add chicken to skillet. Sear, turning only occasionally, until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a large plate. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon oil.
Add garlic, anchovy and red pepper flakes to skillet; fry 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes and basil. Cook, breaking up tomatoes with a spatula, until sauce thickens somewhat, about 10 minutes.
Return chicken to skillet. Transfer skillet to oven and cook, uncovered, until chicken is no longer pink, about 30 minutes.
Scatter bocconcini or mozzarella pieces over skillet. Adjust oven temperature to broil. Return skillet to oven and broil until cheese is melted and bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes (watch carefully to see that it does not burn). Garnish with pancetta and chopped basil before serving.
CRISPY CHICKPEAS WITH GROUND MEAT
This is from Mark Bittman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “Chickpeas have characteristics other legumes don't share. When cooked until tender, they don't turn to mush, and their cooking broth is delicious. This recipe takes advantage of both assets. Related to a classic chili, it combines chickpeas, meat and spices. The cooked chickpeas are sautéed over high heat until browned and slightly crisp, and the pan is deglazed with chickpea cooking liquid.
“This dish works equally well with canned or homecooked chickpeas, and if you like a bit more kick, double or triple the ancho chiles or chile powder. Turmeric or saffron, as a couple of readers suggested, also work well. Don't want to use ground beef? Ground turkey, chicken or pork would sub in well here. For a bit more flavor, add a clove or two of chopped garlic to the browning meat. The point is: Improvise. This recipe begs for it.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “THE MINIMALIST; Chickpeas, Dressed Up To Show Off’ and can be viewed onlinehere.
Ingredients
1/2 to 1 pound ground beef or other meat
4 cups cooked chickpeas (about 1 28-ounce can), drained (reserve 1 cup liquid)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 ancho or chipotle chile, soaked, stemmed, seeded and minced; or 1 teaspoon good chile powder
2 teaspoons minced garlic
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Minced cilantro or parsley for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Turn heat to high under a large, deep skillet, and add meat a little at a time, breaking it into small pieces as you do. Stir and break up meat a bit more, then add chickpeas. Keep heat high, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until chickpeas begin to brown and pop, 5 to 10 minutes. Don't worry if mixture sticks a bit, but if it begins to scorch, lower heat slightly.
Add cumin, chili or chili powder and garlic. Cook, stirring, for about a minute. Add reserved cooking liquid, and stir, scraping bottom of pan to loosen any browned bits. Season with salt and pepper, then turn heat to medium-low. Continue to cook until mixture is no longer soupy but not dry.
Stir in olive oil, then taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish if you like, and serve immediately, with rice or pita bread.
BLUEBERRY SAUCE
This recipe and the next one (Ginger-Blueberry Parfait) are from an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.
This sauce would go well over ice cream. Yum!
SERVINGS: 4 – 6
1 pt fresh blueberries (2 C)
1/4 C + 1 Tbsp confectioners' sugar
1/4 C water
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter
Put blueberries, sugar, water, and cinnamon in medium saucepan.
Cover and cook over medium heat until blueberries have broken down a bit and mixture becomes soupy, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and swirl in butter. Serve warm or at room temperature over waffles, pancakes, ice cream, or pound cake.
NUTRITION (per serving) 140 cal, 1 g pro, 22 g carb, 2 g fiber, 6 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 50 mg sodium
GINGER-BLUEBERRY PARFAIT
SERVINGS: 4
1 C blueberries
1 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
4 Tbsp maple syrup, divided
1 Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
1 C part-skim ricotta cheese
4 sprigs fresh mint
Combine the blueberries, ginger, and 1 Tbsp of the maple syrup in a small bowl until well mixed. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the avocado, ricotta, and the remaining 3 Tbsp maple syrup. Puree the mixture.
Layer the blueberry mixture with the ricotta mixture alternately in 4 parfait glasses or dessert dishes, ending with the berries. Garnish with the mint sprigs.
NUTRITION (per serving) 217 cal, 8 g pro, 25 g carb, 10 g fat, 4 g sat fat,3 g fiber, 83 mg sodium
BERRY VANILLA SENSATION
This recipe, as well as the next one (Tutti-Frutti Smoothie)are from “20 Super Healthy Smoothie Recipes” on the Runner’s World website. They’re originally from The Editors of Prevention.
This one begins, “Vanilla yogurt adds a touch of sweetness to this tangy fruit smoothie recipe.”
Servings: 2
1/2 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries
1/2 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
3/4 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1 cup (8 oz) fat-free vanilla yogurt
Combine the raspberries, strawberries, and pineapple juice. Add the yogurt. Blend until smooth.
Nutrition Information: Calories: 192; Protein: 7 g; Carbs: 41 g; Fiber: 2.5 g; Sugar: 35 g; Total fat: 0.5 g; Saturated fat: 0.1 g; Sodium: 86.5 mg
TUTTI-FRUTTI SMOOTHIE
This recipe begins, “A splash of orange juice infuses summer citrus into this healthy and refreshing snack.”
Servings: 2
1/2 cup loose-pack mixed frozen berries or strawberries
1/2 cup canned crushed pineapple in juice
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup sliced ripe banana
1/2 cup orange juice
Combine the berries, pineapple (with juice), yogurt, banana, and orange juice in a food processor fitted with the metal blade, in a blender, or in a large measuring cup with an immersion blender. Process for about 2 minutes, or until smooth.
Nutrition Information: Calories (per serving): 140; Protein: 3.5 g; Carbs: 29 g; Fiber: 2.5 g; Sugar: 16 g; Total fat: 2.5 g; Saturated fat: 1.5 g; Sodium: 30 mg
SKILLET CHICKEN WITH TOMATOES, PANCETTA AND MOZZARELLA
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “With a topping of tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella, it’s no wonder that I always think of this easy skillet dish as "pizza chicken." It’s a tangy, milky, gooey, lovable meal that’s somewhat reminiscent of chicken Parmesan, but with succulent bone-in chicken pieces instead of breaded and fried cutlets. Even better, it has pancetta and anchovies for complexity of flavor, and the whole thing comes together in under an hour.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was originally featured in “Skillet Chicken Swimming in Tomato Sauce” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
3 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken pieces (or use a 31/2 pound chicken cut into 8 pieces)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
5 ounces pancetta, diced
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 anchovy fillets
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (28-ounce) can whole plum tomatoes
1 large basil sprig, plus more chopped basil for serving
8 ounces bocconcini, halved (or use mozzarella cut into 3/4-inch pieces)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
In a large oven-proof skillet, warm oil over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and cook, stirring frequently, until browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pancetta to a paper-towel-lined plate.
Add chicken to skillet. Sear, turning only occasionally, until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a large plate. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon oil.
Add garlic, anchovy and red pepper flakes to skillet; fry 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes and basil. Cook, breaking up tomatoes with a spatula, until sauce thickens somewhat, about 10 minutes.
Return chicken to skillet. Transfer skillet to oven and cook, uncovered, until chicken is no longer pink, about 30 minutes.
Scatter bocconcini or mozzarella pieces over skillet. Adjust oven temperature to broil. Return skillet to oven and broil until cheese is melted and bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes (watch carefully to see that it does not burn). Garnish with pancetta and chopped basil before serving.
CRISPY CHICKPEAS WITH GROUND MEAT
This is from Mark Bittman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “Chickpeas have characteristics other legumes don't share. When cooked until tender, they don't turn to mush, and their cooking broth is delicious. This recipe takes advantage of both assets. Related to a classic chili, it combines chickpeas, meat and spices. The cooked chickpeas are sautéed over high heat until browned and slightly crisp, and the pan is deglazed with chickpea cooking liquid.
“This dish works equally well with canned or homecooked chickpeas, and if you like a bit more kick, double or triple the ancho chiles or chile powder. Turmeric or saffron, as a couple of readers suggested, also work well. Don't want to use ground beef? Ground turkey, chicken or pork would sub in well here. For a bit more flavor, add a clove or two of chopped garlic to the browning meat. The point is: Improvise. This recipe begs for it.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “THE MINIMALIST; Chickpeas, Dressed Up To Show Off’ and can be viewed onlinehere.
Ingredients
1/2 to 1 pound ground beef or other meat
4 cups cooked chickpeas (about 1 28-ounce can), drained (reserve 1 cup liquid)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 ancho or chipotle chile, soaked, stemmed, seeded and minced; or 1 teaspoon good chile powder
2 teaspoons minced garlic
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Minced cilantro or parsley for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Turn heat to high under a large, deep skillet, and add meat a little at a time, breaking it into small pieces as you do. Stir and break up meat a bit more, then add chickpeas. Keep heat high, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until chickpeas begin to brown and pop, 5 to 10 minutes. Don't worry if mixture sticks a bit, but if it begins to scorch, lower heat slightly.
Add cumin, chili or chili powder and garlic. Cook, stirring, for about a minute. Add reserved cooking liquid, and stir, scraping bottom of pan to loosen any browned bits. Season with salt and pepper, then turn heat to medium-low. Continue to cook until mixture is no longer soupy but not dry.
Stir in olive oil, then taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish if you like, and serve immediately, with rice or pita bread.
BLUEBERRY SAUCE
This recipe and the next one (Ginger-Blueberry Parfait) are from an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.
This sauce would go well over ice cream. Yum!
SERVINGS: 4 – 6
1 pt fresh blueberries (2 C)
1/4 C + 1 Tbsp confectioners' sugar
1/4 C water
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter
Put blueberries, sugar, water, and cinnamon in medium saucepan.
Cover and cook over medium heat until blueberries have broken down a bit and mixture becomes soupy, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and swirl in butter. Serve warm or at room temperature over waffles, pancakes, ice cream, or pound cake.
NUTRITION (per serving) 140 cal, 1 g pro, 22 g carb, 2 g fiber, 6 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 50 mg sodium
GINGER-BLUEBERRY PARFAIT
SERVINGS: 4
1 C blueberries
1 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
4 Tbsp maple syrup, divided
1 Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
1 C part-skim ricotta cheese
4 sprigs fresh mint
Combine the blueberries, ginger, and 1 Tbsp of the maple syrup in a small bowl until well mixed. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the avocado, ricotta, and the remaining 3 Tbsp maple syrup. Puree the mixture.
Layer the blueberry mixture with the ricotta mixture alternately in 4 parfait glasses or dessert dishes, ending with the berries. Garnish with the mint sprigs.
NUTRITION (per serving) 217 cal, 8 g pro, 25 g carb, 10 g fat, 4 g sat fat,3 g fiber, 83 mg sodium
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