Finally, Friday. Here are six recipes to try out over the weekend. Enjoy!
LEMON-ALMOND BUTTER CAKE
This yummy cake comes from Regina Schrambling in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Regina wrote, “This buttery almond cake with lemon curd baked inside is like the ultimate citrus tart, without the heartbreak of pie crust. It's fancy enough to be served as a dinner party dessert, yet substantial enough to be served with Sunday brunch. (Bonus: you'll have several tablespoons of lemon curd left over. It's delicious on toast or pancakes.)” Makes 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Curd:
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
4 extra-large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
For the Cake:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 cup plus 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup ground toasted almonds
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
About 1/2 cup heavy cream for garnish
1 tablespoon almond liqueur (optional)
Preparation
For the curd, combine zest, juice, sugar and eggs in a heatproof bowl, and beat well. Add butter, and place over a saucepan full of simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until mixture thickens into curd, about 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl, and press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming. Refrigerate until cool, at least 1 1/2 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with 1 tablespoon butter, and dust with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess.
With an electric mixer, cream the remaining butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt, and stir in. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until they start to foam. Do not overbeat or the cake will be tough. Add eggs and ground almonds to batter, and mix well.
Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Drop 8 individual tablespoons lemon curd around perimeter of batter, leaving a 1-inch border, and taking care to space drops evenly. Drop 3 to 4 tablespoons curd into center of batter. Refrigerate remaining curd for another use. Sprinkle cake with toasted almonds and 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, depending on taste.
Bake until cake is toasty brown on top and a toothpick inserted into cake (not curd) comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool on rack 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan, and cool completely.
Whip cream with almond liqueur. Present cake at table, and offer whipped cream on the side.
CALZONES
Years ago, when we first got cable, I was channel-surfing and stumbled across a cooking show, called Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 3 calzones.
Dough:
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour blended with 1 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
no-stick cooking spray
Filling:
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese
3 ounces sliced prosciutto, cut into strips
3 tablespoon chopped chives
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese pizza sauce, optional
Combine warm water & sugar with yeast in medium-sized mixing bowl. Allow yeast to soften for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups flour and knead until smooth. Add oil & salt and gradually blend in remaining flour to make firm dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured board & knead until smooth & satiny.
Spray large bowl with no-stick cooking spray. Put dough in bowl, turning to coat thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap, then a damp towel. Allow to rise in warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, until dough is almost doubled.
Spray large baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
Knead down dough & divide into 3 pieces. On lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 9-inch circle. Place 1/3 mozzarella cheese, 1/3 Parmesan cheese, & 1/3 prosciutto on each circle of dough. Top with chives & garlic. Moisten edges & fold over to enclose filling, pressing edges firmly together.
Place on baking sheet, cover lightly with plastic wrap, & allow to rise in warm, draft-free place until dough feels light, about 35 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375-degree oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until calzone is browned. Remove from oven and brush with oil. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Serve warm with pizza sauce, if desired.
ROASTED APPLE AND WINTER SQUASH SOUP
This comes from TheKitchen, and can be viewed online here. Serves 4.
3 pounds winter squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium sweet-tart apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered
2 large cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
4 cups unsalted vegetable broth
Garnish
1 medium sweet-tart apple
Preheat oven to 400°F.
In a large bowl, combine the squash, apples, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, rosemary, thyme, and allspice. Spread the vegetables/fruit on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Roast, turning once, until tender, about 40 minutes.
Puree the roasted vegetables/fruit with the vegetable broth. If using an immersion blender, this may be done in a large pot. If using a food processor, this may be done in batches, transferring the puree to a large pot as you go along.
Place the pot over medium heat and simmer until warmed through. If a thinner consistency is desired, add water or more broth. Taste and adjust seasonings.
To serve, garnish with thinly sliced or diced apples. (Sliced apples may be pan-fried in a little butter or olive oil until golden.)
BAKED CHICKEN
This comes from Danilo Alfaro, About.com's Culinary Arts expert. He writes, “Baked chicken is different from roasted chicken in two ways. First, baked chicken is prepared with chicken parts (i.e., individual drumsticks, thighs, breasts and wings) whereas roasted chicken is cooked whole. Second, baked chicken is dredged in seasoned flour before cooking, which we don't do when roasting a whole bird.
”Your best bet is to buy a chicken already cut up, or pick out a whole bird and have your butcher cut it up for you. If you do this, be sure to take home the back, which hasn't got much meat on it but is great for making chicken broth.
”But if you're interested in doing it yourself, here's a quick video that shows you how to cut up a whole chicken.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 75 minutes; Serves: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 large fryer chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 stick butter, melted
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme, crumbled
1 tsp Kosher salt
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Combine the flour, salt, pepper and other seasonings in a shallow dish. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
Working one piece at a time, dredge each piece of chicken in the flour, dip it in the melted butter and then transfer to a baking dish skin-side-up.
Bake for about an hour or until the juices run clear and the chicken is nicely browned and cooked all the way through.
SLOPPY JOE MACARONI AND CHEESE
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. She writes, “This great tasting family casserole is a meal in one dish. The "sloppy" part of this macaroni and cheese recipe is the tasty sloppy Joe layer. A ground beef layer is followed with a homemade macaroni and cheese layer, topped with bread crumbs and baked to perfection. If your family likes sloppy Joes and macaroni and cheese, this casserole will be a hit!” Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 70 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 Servings
To view this online, go to http://southernfood.about.com/od/hamburgcasseroles/r/Sloppy-Mac-and-Cheese.htm.
Ingredients
Ground Beef
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef, 85% to 90%
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
1 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons brown sugar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
Macaroni and Cheese
8 ounces elbow macaroni
2 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese or a combination of shredded Cheddar and American cheese
salt, to taste
Bread Crumb Topping
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Preparation
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the vegetable oil. Add the ground beef and onions and cook, stirring, until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are lightly browned. Pour off excess grease.
In a small bowl or cup, combine the garlic powder, prepared mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar. Stir into the ground beef mixture. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed. Set aside.
Cook the macaroni following package directions.
Drain in a colander and rinse with hot water.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the dry mustard and fresh ground black pepper. Add the milk and cook, stirring, until thickened. Stir in the cheese and add salt, to taste.
Heat the oven to 350° F.
Combine the drained macaroni with the cheese sauce.
Spoon the ground beef mixture into a lightly greased 2 to 2 1/2-quart baking dish. Top with the macaroni and cheese mixture.
Combine the bread crumbs with the melted butter, mixing well to coat all of the crumbs. Sprinkle the crumbs over the macaroni and cheese layer.
Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until hot and the topping is lightly browned.
BEST APPLE CRISP
This also comes from Diana Rattray, who writes, “This apple crisp is my favorite, with its buttery, crumbly oatmeal and brown sugar topping. I used a combination of Granny Smith and Fuji apples in the apple crisp, but any good baking or cooking apples will work well.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes; Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings
To view this online, go to http://southernfood.about.com/od/Apple-Crisp-Recipes/r/Best-Apple-Crisp.htm.
Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup quick oats
8 tablespoons cold butter, cut in small pieces
2 1/2 to 3 pounds baking apples, such as Fuji or Granny Smith, about 5 to 6 large apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Preparation
Heat the oven to 350° F. Butter a 1 1/2-quart baking dish or 6 to 8 1- to 2-cup baking dishes.
In a mixing bowl or food processor bowl combine the flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, salt, and butter.
Work the butter in with your hands, if using a mixing bowl, or pulse with the blade attachment of the food processor until the mixture is clumping together. Add the oats and mix or pulse to blend thoroughly. Set aside.
Peel and core the apples, then cut into wedges. Slice the wedges thinly. I like to chop a few of the apples in 1/2 inch pieces to give the filling a varied texture. Put them in a bowl with the lemon juice and toss periodically to keep the apples from becoming brown. Add the cinnamon and 1/3 cup brown sugar to the apple and lemon juice mixture.
Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish(es). Top the apple mixture evenly with the crumb mixture.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the apples are tender.
Confessions of a Foodie
Showing posts with label Calzones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Calzones. Show all posts
Friday, April 1, 2016
Friday, July 10, 2015
Weekend Recipes
It's finally Friday; time for the weekend! Here are six recipes to help out with this weekend's meals. Enjoy!
CHEESY MEXICAN SKILLET CASSEROLE
This comes from The Baker Chick. While her emailing list one one that I've been on for a relatively short time, I still recommend signing up. This casserole recipe serves 6. Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups of cooked rice (any variety, quinoa would be great too)
1 medium or large onion, diced
2 bell peppers, diced
1 lb. of ground beef (or turkey)
1- 15 oz can of black beans, rinsed
1-15 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 cup of sour cream or full fat greek yogurt
1 cup of grated cheese, (I used cheddar)
1 jalapeno pepper, sliced (optional)
lime wedges & tortilla chips for serving (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400F.
In a large cast iron skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.
Sauté the onion and pepper until soft. Add the beef and break apart with a spoon, stirring until browned and cooked through. Add the taco seasoning and stir well to combine.
Add the beans, rice, and tomatoes, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
Stir in the sour cream and top with the grated cheese and jalapeños. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden.
Serve with a squeeze of lime and some tortilla chips on the side.
INDIAN CUCUMBER SALAD
Serves: 4
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/274.shtml
Ingredients
3 medium-size cucumbers
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried mint leaves
Directions
Peel cucumbers, cut in half, discard seeds and slice thinly. Mix remaining ingredients together , add cucumbers and stir together.
Nutritional Information Per Serving : Calories: 37; Protein: 3 g; Sodium: 46 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable
THREE-BEAN SOUP
This is one of my favorite quick meals that I usually only fix on weekends, especially if it happens to be cold and/or rainy. It’s from the November/December 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 37, in that issue’s “30 Minutes; Quick, Fast Food” section. This vegan recipe serves 6, and starts off, “Here’s a straight-from-the-pantry soup that’ll become a weeknight favorite. (Or, in my case, weekend favorite.) Pureeing one of the cans of beans creates a creamy base without adding extra fat or cholesterol. Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and serve with vegetable chips, if desired.”
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 15.5-oz. can navy beans, drained and rinsed
1 15.5-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
6 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 Tbs.)
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or water
1 15.5-oz. can great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Saute onion 2 to 3 minutes, or until soft. Add navy beans, black beans and garlic, and continue cooking and stirring 8 to 10 minutes more. Stir in 1 cup broth.
Meanwhile, put great Northern beans and remaining 1 cup broth into food processor or blender, and puree until smooth. Pour puree into soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Thin with more broth or water, if desired.
Spoon into individual soup bowls, and serve hot.
Per serving: 231 calories; 13 g protein; 5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat); 39 g carbs; 0 mg cholesterol; 557 mg sodium; 11 g fiber; 5 g sugars
MEATLESS-BALL SUBS
1 package Meatless Balls (see note)
1 26 oz. Jar spaghetti sauce
4 hoagie rolls
cheese slices
Place spaghetti sauce and meatless balls into a good-sized saucepan. Stir, and cook over medium-low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.


Open hoagie rolls, add cheese, cover with meatless balls and sauce.

Makes 4 meatless ball subs.
Note: I use Veggie Patch Meatless Meatballs, though really, you can use any brand you like. I had used another brand for a number of years, but unfortunately, I can no longer find that particular brand anywhere now. Whatever brand you buy is fine, as well as the jarred spaghetti sauce.
ITALIAN TOMATO & BREAD SOUP
This comes from another of my favorite emailing lists. (Yes, I do subscribe to a few. I've left some for a variety of reasons; others, like those in today's blog, I've found and stuck with because I like/love them.) This one is from Seattle's Macrina Bakery. I know I've said this before on this blog, but if I'm ever fortunate enough to take a touring-the-U.S. road trip, this is one of the places in Seattle that I'll have to stop in and check out the bakery.
Ingredients
8 medium-sized ripe tomatoes
1/4 cup pure olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
2 1/2 tbsp coarsely chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp coarsely chopped fresh oregano
4 cups (about 6 oz) day-old white bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 cups chicken stock
Extra virgin olive oil, for garnish
Coarse sea salt, for garnish
Preparation
Fill a large saucepan with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Place a handful of ice cubes in a medium bowl and fill it halfway with cold water; this will be an ice bath to “shock,” or stop, the cooking of the tomatoes after they are blanched.
Cut a 1-inch X at the base of each tomato, then remove the top core. Gently drop the tomatoes into the boiling water and bring the water back up to a boil. Cook until the skin at the X in the base of the tomatoes peels away easily. This might take only a few seconds or possibly up to a few minutes, depending on the tomatoes’ ripeness (the riper they are, the more quickly their skins will loosen). With a slotted spoon, lift the tomatoes out and place them into the cold-water bath. Cool for 10 minutes.
Remove the skins from the tomatoes and discard. Halve the tomatoes and discard the seeds. Coarsely chop the tomatoes into 1/2-inch pieces and put in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Pour the pure olive oil into a medium soup pot over low heat. When the oil is warm, add the crushed garlic. Cook gently for 1 minute (avoid burning the garlic), then add the basil and oregano and cook, stirring, for another minute. Add the bread cubes and toss so they absorb the oil and herbs. Increase the heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes, tossing regularly to lightly brown the bread cubes. Add the tomatoes and increase the heat to medium, releasing their juices. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the chicken stock and bring the soup back to a simmer, cooking for about 20 minutes to slightly reduce the stock and develop flavor. This is a typical rustic soup, so there is no need to puree, but do use a potato masher or slotted spoon to break up any large chunks. Ladle your bread soup into a shallow soup bowl and top it with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of coarse sea salt.
CALZONES
Years ago, when we first got cable, I was channel-surfing and stumbled across a cooking show, called Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 3 calzones.
Dough:
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour blended with 1 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
no-stick cooking spray
Filling:
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese
3 ounces sliced prosciutto, cut into strips
3 tablespoon chopped chives
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese pizza sauce, optional
Combine warm water & sugar with yeast in medium-sized mixing bowl. Allow yeast to soften for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups flour and knead until smooth. Add oil & salt and gradually blend in remaining flour to make firm dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured board & knead until smooth & satiny.
Spray large bowl with no-stick cooking spray. Put dough in bowl, turning to coat thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap, then a damp towel. Allow to rise in warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, until dough is almost doubled.
Spray large baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
Knead down dough & divide into 3 pieces. On lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 9-inch circle. Place 1/3 mozzarella cheese, 1/3 Parmesan cheese, & 1/3 prosciutto on each circle of dough. Top with chives & garlic. Moisten edges & fold over to enclose filling, pressing edges firmly together.
Place on baking sheet, cover lightly with plastic wrap, & allow to rise in warm, draft-free place until dough feels light, about 35 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375-degree oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until calzone is browned. Remove from oven and brush with oil. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Serve warm with pizza sauce, if desired.
CHEESY MEXICAN SKILLET CASSEROLE
This comes from The Baker Chick. While her emailing list one one that I've been on for a relatively short time, I still recommend signing up. This casserole recipe serves 6. Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups of cooked rice (any variety, quinoa would be great too)
1 medium or large onion, diced
2 bell peppers, diced
1 lb. of ground beef (or turkey)
1- 15 oz can of black beans, rinsed
1-15 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 cup of sour cream or full fat greek yogurt
1 cup of grated cheese, (I used cheddar)
1 jalapeno pepper, sliced (optional)
lime wedges & tortilla chips for serving (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400F.
In a large cast iron skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.
Sauté the onion and pepper until soft. Add the beef and break apart with a spoon, stirring until browned and cooked through. Add the taco seasoning and stir well to combine.
Add the beans, rice, and tomatoes, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
Stir in the sour cream and top with the grated cheese and jalapeños. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden.
Serve with a squeeze of lime and some tortilla chips on the side.
INDIAN CUCUMBER SALAD
Serves: 4
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/274.shtml
Ingredients
3 medium-size cucumbers
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried mint leaves
Directions
Peel cucumbers, cut in half, discard seeds and slice thinly. Mix remaining ingredients together , add cucumbers and stir together.
Nutritional Information Per Serving : Calories: 37; Protein: 3 g; Sodium: 46 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable
THREE-BEAN SOUP
This is one of my favorite quick meals that I usually only fix on weekends, especially if it happens to be cold and/or rainy. It’s from the November/December 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 37, in that issue’s “30 Minutes; Quick, Fast Food” section. This vegan recipe serves 6, and starts off, “Here’s a straight-from-the-pantry soup that’ll become a weeknight favorite. (Or, in my case, weekend favorite.) Pureeing one of the cans of beans creates a creamy base without adding extra fat or cholesterol. Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and serve with vegetable chips, if desired.”
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 15.5-oz. can navy beans, drained and rinsed
1 15.5-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
6 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 Tbs.)
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or water
1 15.5-oz. can great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Saute onion 2 to 3 minutes, or until soft. Add navy beans, black beans and garlic, and continue cooking and stirring 8 to 10 minutes more. Stir in 1 cup broth.
Meanwhile, put great Northern beans and remaining 1 cup broth into food processor or blender, and puree until smooth. Pour puree into soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Thin with more broth or water, if desired.
Spoon into individual soup bowls, and serve hot.
Per serving: 231 calories; 13 g protein; 5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat); 39 g carbs; 0 mg cholesterol; 557 mg sodium; 11 g fiber; 5 g sugars
MEATLESS-BALL SUBS
1 package Meatless Balls (see note)
1 26 oz. Jar spaghetti sauce
4 hoagie rolls
cheese slices
Place spaghetti sauce and meatless balls into a good-sized saucepan. Stir, and cook over medium-low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.


Open hoagie rolls, add cheese, cover with meatless balls and sauce.

Makes 4 meatless ball subs.
Note: I use Veggie Patch Meatless Meatballs, though really, you can use any brand you like. I had used another brand for a number of years, but unfortunately, I can no longer find that particular brand anywhere now. Whatever brand you buy is fine, as well as the jarred spaghetti sauce.
ITALIAN TOMATO & BREAD SOUP
This comes from another of my favorite emailing lists. (Yes, I do subscribe to a few. I've left some for a variety of reasons; others, like those in today's blog, I've found and stuck with because I like/love them.) This one is from Seattle's Macrina Bakery. I know I've said this before on this blog, but if I'm ever fortunate enough to take a touring-the-U.S. road trip, this is one of the places in Seattle that I'll have to stop in and check out the bakery.
Ingredients
8 medium-sized ripe tomatoes
1/4 cup pure olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
2 1/2 tbsp coarsely chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp coarsely chopped fresh oregano
4 cups (about 6 oz) day-old white bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 cups chicken stock
Extra virgin olive oil, for garnish
Coarse sea salt, for garnish
Preparation
Fill a large saucepan with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Place a handful of ice cubes in a medium bowl and fill it halfway with cold water; this will be an ice bath to “shock,” or stop, the cooking of the tomatoes after they are blanched.
Cut a 1-inch X at the base of each tomato, then remove the top core. Gently drop the tomatoes into the boiling water and bring the water back up to a boil. Cook until the skin at the X in the base of the tomatoes peels away easily. This might take only a few seconds or possibly up to a few minutes, depending on the tomatoes’ ripeness (the riper they are, the more quickly their skins will loosen). With a slotted spoon, lift the tomatoes out and place them into the cold-water bath. Cool for 10 minutes.
Remove the skins from the tomatoes and discard. Halve the tomatoes and discard the seeds. Coarsely chop the tomatoes into 1/2-inch pieces and put in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Pour the pure olive oil into a medium soup pot over low heat. When the oil is warm, add the crushed garlic. Cook gently for 1 minute (avoid burning the garlic), then add the basil and oregano and cook, stirring, for another minute. Add the bread cubes and toss so they absorb the oil and herbs. Increase the heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes, tossing regularly to lightly brown the bread cubes. Add the tomatoes and increase the heat to medium, releasing their juices. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the chicken stock and bring the soup back to a simmer, cooking for about 20 minutes to slightly reduce the stock and develop flavor. This is a typical rustic soup, so there is no need to puree, but do use a potato masher or slotted spoon to break up any large chunks. Ladle your bread soup into a shallow soup bowl and top it with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of coarse sea salt.
CALZONES
Years ago, when we first got cable, I was channel-surfing and stumbled across a cooking show, called Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 3 calzones.
Dough:
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour blended with 1 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
no-stick cooking spray
Filling:
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese
3 ounces sliced prosciutto, cut into strips
3 tablespoon chopped chives
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese pizza sauce, optional
Combine warm water & sugar with yeast in medium-sized mixing bowl. Allow yeast to soften for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups flour and knead until smooth. Add oil & salt and gradually blend in remaining flour to make firm dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured board & knead until smooth & satiny.
Spray large bowl with no-stick cooking spray. Put dough in bowl, turning to coat thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap, then a damp towel. Allow to rise in warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, until dough is almost doubled.
Spray large baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
Knead down dough & divide into 3 pieces. On lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 9-inch circle. Place 1/3 mozzarella cheese, 1/3 Parmesan cheese, & 1/3 prosciutto on each circle of dough. Top with chives & garlic. Moisten edges & fold over to enclose filling, pressing edges firmly together.
Place on baking sheet, cover lightly with plastic wrap, & allow to rise in warm, draft-free place until dough feels light, about 35 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375-degree oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until calzone is browned. Remove from oven and brush with oil. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Serve warm with pizza sauce, if desired.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Friday Food
Finally - Friday! And with it, hopefully cooler weather, as well as good weekend food. Enjoy!
LEMON SOUR CREAM MUFFINS
From one of the many emailing lists that I subscribed to years ago. Not sure which list, or who shared this with the list. But it is yummy.
1 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup margarine
1 egg
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Mix flour, soda and baking powder in large bowl. Cut in margarine till mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in center of mixture. Beat egg in small bowl, add sour cream, milk, lemon juice, sugar and lemon peel. Add to flour mixture, mixing just until moistened. Spoon into muffin pan 2/3 full. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
FRENCH ONION SOUP
My dad used to make French Onion Soup after church on Sundays, so I associate this with the weekend. This version of the recipe comes from About.com's American Food email. It starts off, “French onion soup is one of America's most popular 'restaurant soups,' but with this easy recipe you can make it at home anytime you want. This French onion soup recipe is topped with the traditional Gruyere cheese, but any melting cheese will work.” It makes 8 portions.
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Ingredients:
4 large yellow onions, cut in large dice
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 tbsp sherry vinegar
1/4 cup dry sherry wine
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1/2 tsp salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
3 cups high-quality beef broth
3 cups high-quality chicken broth
1 cup water
For the topping:
toasted French bread
8 oz shredded Gruyere cheese, or other Swiss cheese
Preparation:
In a large soup pot, melt the butter over med-low heat. Add the onions and salt; slowly cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden-brown - about 30 minutes.
Add the vinegar and sherry; cook for 5 minutes, and then add the remaining ingredients. Simmer on low for one hour. Taste and adjust seasoning. Ladle into heatproof bowls, or crocks, and top with a piece of toasted bread (cut to fit top of bowl).
Cover with the cheese, and place under a preheated broiler until the cheese melts and begins to brown. Serve hot.
VEGETARIAN 'BEEF' AND GUINNESS STEW
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian food guide, writes, “Beef and Guinness stew, an Irish pub favorite, gets a vegetarian makeover in this recipe, using seitan instead of beef to absorb all that rich stout flavor. Yum! The flavor of the beer is very strong in this recipe, so I've suggest using half the amount of Guinness and adding an equal amount of vegetable broth if you aren't a Guinness fan.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes
Ingredients:
Approx 14 oz seitan, cut into thin strips
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp steak sauce
3 tbsp butter or margarine
1 onion, diced
3 ribs celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 medium potatoes chopped into 1 inch pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 12 oz bottles Guinness Stout OR 1 bottle plus 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp brown sugar (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Saute seitan in olive oil and soy sauce until slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat, add steak sauce and stir until seitan is lightly coated. Remove from heat and aside. In a large pot, sautee onions, celery, carrots, potatoes and garlic in butter or margarine for 3-5 minutes, or until onions are slightly soft. Reduce heat and slowly add Guinness, gently stirring to combine. Add flour, thyme, sugar, salt and pepper and stir well. Add seitan and allow stew to simmer until Guinness reduces and stew thickens, about 40-50 minutes.
Add more salt and pepper if desired and enjoy!
SWEET POTATOES WITH SAGE AND CRANBERRIES
This comes from Publix Supermarket's Entertaining magazine (possibly the winter 2005 issue).
2 1/2 - 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into eighths
1/2 C finely chopped onion
1/4 C butter
1 Tbs snipped fresh sage or 1 tsp ground sage
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 C dried cranberries
1/4 C half-and-half or light cream
In Dutch oven place potatoes & enough salted water to cover. Bring to boil, reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook onion in hot butter over medium heat until tender. Add sage, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in cranberries. Remove from heat.
Drain potatoes. Return to Dutch oven. Add half-and-half; mash with potato masher or beat with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Stir in onion-sage mixture. Makes 6 servings.
Nutrition facts per serving: 225 cal, 9 g total fat (5 g sat. fat), 25 mg chol., 274 mg sodium, 34 g carbo., 5 g fiber, 3 g protein.
BROCCOLI FRITTATA
Yield: 4 Servings; Online Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/692.shtml
Ingredients
1/2 cup non-fat cottage cheese
1/2 tsp dried dill
2 cup fat-free egg substitute
2 cups frozen chopped broccoli
1 tsp olive oil
2 tsp margarine
1 large onion, diced
Directions
Mix cottage cheese and egg substitute together; set aside.
In large non-stick frying pan over medium heat, saute onions in oil for 5 minutes, or until soft.
Add broccoli and dill; saute for 5 minutes, or until broccoli mixture softens. Set vegetable aside.
Wipe out frying pan. Add 1 tsp. margarine and swirl the pan to distribute it. Add half of the vegetable mixture, and then add half of the egg mixture; lift and rotate pan so that eggs are evenly distributed.
As eggs set around the edges, lift them to allow uncooked portions to flow underneath. Turn heat to low, cover the pan, and cook until top is set.
Invert onto a serving plate and cut into wedges.
Repeat with remaining 1 tsp. margarine, vegetable mixture, and egg mixture.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 150; Calories from Fat: 30; Protein: 19 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 390 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable; 2 Meat; 1 Fat
CALZONES
Years ago, when we first got cable, I was channel-surfing and stumbled across a cooking show, called Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 3 calzones.
Dough:
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour blended with 1 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
no-stick cooking spray
Filling:
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese
3 ounces sliced prosciutto, cut into strips
3 tablespoon chopped chives
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese pizza sauce, optional
Combine warm water & sugar with yeast in medium-sized mixing bowl. Allow yeast to soften for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups flour and knead until smooth. Add oil & salt and gradually blend in remaining flour to make firm dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured board & knead until smooth & satiny.
Spray large bowl with no-stick cooking spray. Put dough in bowl, turning to coat thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap, then a damp towel. Allow to rise in warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, until dough is almost doubled.
Spray large baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
Knead down dough & divide into 3 pieces. On lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 9-inch circle. Place 1/3 mozzarella cheese, 1/3 Parmesan cheese, & 1/3 prosciutto on each circle of dough. Top with chives & garlic. Moisten edges & fold over to enclose filling, pressing edges firmly together.
Place on baking sheet, cover lightly with plastic wrap, & allow to rise in warm, draft-free place until dough feels light, about 35 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375-degree oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until calzone is browned. Remove from oven and brush with oil. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Serve warm with pizza sauce, if desired.
LEMON SOUR CREAM MUFFINS
From one of the many emailing lists that I subscribed to years ago. Not sure which list, or who shared this with the list. But it is yummy.
1 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup margarine
1 egg
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Mix flour, soda and baking powder in large bowl. Cut in margarine till mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in center of mixture. Beat egg in small bowl, add sour cream, milk, lemon juice, sugar and lemon peel. Add to flour mixture, mixing just until moistened. Spoon into muffin pan 2/3 full. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
FRENCH ONION SOUP
My dad used to make French Onion Soup after church on Sundays, so I associate this with the weekend. This version of the recipe comes from About.com's American Food email. It starts off, “French onion soup is one of America's most popular 'restaurant soups,' but with this easy recipe you can make it at home anytime you want. This French onion soup recipe is topped with the traditional Gruyere cheese, but any melting cheese will work.” It makes 8 portions.
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Ingredients:
4 large yellow onions, cut in large dice
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 tbsp sherry vinegar
1/4 cup dry sherry wine
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1/2 tsp salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
3 cups high-quality beef broth
3 cups high-quality chicken broth
1 cup water
For the topping:
toasted French bread
8 oz shredded Gruyere cheese, or other Swiss cheese
Preparation:
In a large soup pot, melt the butter over med-low heat. Add the onions and salt; slowly cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden-brown - about 30 minutes.
Add the vinegar and sherry; cook for 5 minutes, and then add the remaining ingredients. Simmer on low for one hour. Taste and adjust seasoning. Ladle into heatproof bowls, or crocks, and top with a piece of toasted bread (cut to fit top of bowl).
Cover with the cheese, and place under a preheated broiler until the cheese melts and begins to brown. Serve hot.
VEGETARIAN 'BEEF' AND GUINNESS STEW
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian food guide, writes, “Beef and Guinness stew, an Irish pub favorite, gets a vegetarian makeover in this recipe, using seitan instead of beef to absorb all that rich stout flavor. Yum! The flavor of the beer is very strong in this recipe, so I've suggest using half the amount of Guinness and adding an equal amount of vegetable broth if you aren't a Guinness fan.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes
Ingredients:
Approx 14 oz seitan, cut into thin strips
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp steak sauce
3 tbsp butter or margarine
1 onion, diced
3 ribs celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 medium potatoes chopped into 1 inch pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 12 oz bottles Guinness Stout OR 1 bottle plus 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp brown sugar (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Saute seitan in olive oil and soy sauce until slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat, add steak sauce and stir until seitan is lightly coated. Remove from heat and aside. In a large pot, sautee onions, celery, carrots, potatoes and garlic in butter or margarine for 3-5 minutes, or until onions are slightly soft. Reduce heat and slowly add Guinness, gently stirring to combine. Add flour, thyme, sugar, salt and pepper and stir well. Add seitan and allow stew to simmer until Guinness reduces and stew thickens, about 40-50 minutes.
Add more salt and pepper if desired and enjoy!
SWEET POTATOES WITH SAGE AND CRANBERRIES
This comes from Publix Supermarket's Entertaining magazine (possibly the winter 2005 issue).
2 1/2 - 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into eighths
1/2 C finely chopped onion
1/4 C butter
1 Tbs snipped fresh sage or 1 tsp ground sage
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 C dried cranberries
1/4 C half-and-half or light cream
In Dutch oven place potatoes & enough salted water to cover. Bring to boil, reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook onion in hot butter over medium heat until tender. Add sage, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in cranberries. Remove from heat.
Drain potatoes. Return to Dutch oven. Add half-and-half; mash with potato masher or beat with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Stir in onion-sage mixture. Makes 6 servings.
Nutrition facts per serving: 225 cal, 9 g total fat (5 g sat. fat), 25 mg chol., 274 mg sodium, 34 g carbo., 5 g fiber, 3 g protein.
BROCCOLI FRITTATA
Yield: 4 Servings; Online Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/692.shtml
Ingredients
1/2 cup non-fat cottage cheese
1/2 tsp dried dill
2 cup fat-free egg substitute
2 cups frozen chopped broccoli
1 tsp olive oil
2 tsp margarine
1 large onion, diced
Directions
Mix cottage cheese and egg substitute together; set aside.
In large non-stick frying pan over medium heat, saute onions in oil for 5 minutes, or until soft.
Add broccoli and dill; saute for 5 minutes, or until broccoli mixture softens. Set vegetable aside.
Wipe out frying pan. Add 1 tsp. margarine and swirl the pan to distribute it. Add half of the vegetable mixture, and then add half of the egg mixture; lift and rotate pan so that eggs are evenly distributed.
As eggs set around the edges, lift them to allow uncooked portions to flow underneath. Turn heat to low, cover the pan, and cook until top is set.
Invert onto a serving plate and cut into wedges.
Repeat with remaining 1 tsp. margarine, vegetable mixture, and egg mixture.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 150; Calories from Fat: 30; Protein: 19 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 390 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable; 2 Meat; 1 Fat
CALZONES
Years ago, when we first got cable, I was channel-surfing and stumbled across a cooking show, called Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 3 calzones.
Dough:
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour blended with 1 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
no-stick cooking spray
Filling:
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese
3 ounces sliced prosciutto, cut into strips
3 tablespoon chopped chives
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese pizza sauce, optional
Combine warm water & sugar with yeast in medium-sized mixing bowl. Allow yeast to soften for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups flour and knead until smooth. Add oil & salt and gradually blend in remaining flour to make firm dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured board & knead until smooth & satiny.
Spray large bowl with no-stick cooking spray. Put dough in bowl, turning to coat thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap, then a damp towel. Allow to rise in warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, until dough is almost doubled.
Spray large baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
Knead down dough & divide into 3 pieces. On lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 9-inch circle. Place 1/3 mozzarella cheese, 1/3 Parmesan cheese, & 1/3 prosciutto on each circle of dough. Top with chives & garlic. Moisten edges & fold over to enclose filling, pressing edges firmly together.
Place on baking sheet, cover lightly with plastic wrap, & allow to rise in warm, draft-free place until dough feels light, about 35 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375-degree oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until calzone is browned. Remove from oven and brush with oil. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Serve warm with pizza sauce, if desired.
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