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Showing posts with label Caramel Apple Cheesecake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caramel Apple Cheesecake. Show all posts

Monday, December 2, 2019

Meatless Monday

Here it is, another Meatless Monday, right during the holiday season. (Yes, you can have a meatless day during holidays!) Today's six vegetarian recipes include Perfect Macaroni & Cheese and Caramel Apple Cheesecake. Enjoy!

PASTA WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE AND RICOTTA

This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “This wonderful pasta is made with nothing more than fresh tomato sauce and good ricotta, plus a little pecorino. It’s most delicious if you keep the pasta quite al dente; use just enough sauce, no more; give it a good pinch of crushed red pepper; and season it with enough salt of course. For the best results, use good quality imported noodles made from hard Durum wheat.” Time: 30 minutes; makes 4 to 6 servings.

This, along with the Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce, was featured in “The Time Is Right to Make Tomato Sauce”, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 pound dried pasta, such as farfalle or penne

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons butter, softened

Crushed red pepper (optional)

2 1/2 cups Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce, warm (see recipe, which follows)

6 ounces ultra-fresh ricotta, at room temperature

Grated pecorino

Basil leaves, for garnish

Preparation

Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted water, making sure to keep it quite al dente.

Put butter in a wide deep skillet over medium heat. Add drained pasta to the pan and season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper, if using.

Add tomato sauce gradually and stir to coat pasta, using only enough sauce for a light coating (you may not need the entire 2 1/2 cups).

Transfer pasta to a warm serving bowl and dot top with spoonfuls of ricotta. Sprinkle lightly with pecorino and garnish with a few torn basil leaves.

QUICK FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

This also comes from David Tanis in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “In August and September, when tomatoes are at their ripest, make a batch of fresh tomato sauce. At the market, look for the cracked, slightly bruised tomatoes sold at a discount. The flesh of the tomato should be dense, sweet and blood red. This makes a very fresh- and bright-tasting sauce in a manageable small batch. Take advantage of good tasty tomatoes and fill a few zip-top bags for the freezer.” Time: 30 minutes; makes about 2 1/ 2 cups.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

5 pounds tomatoes

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 garlic clove, halved

1 basil sprig

1 bay leaf

Preparation

Cut tomatoes in half horizontally. Squeeze out the seeds and discard, if you wish. Press the cut side of tomato against the large holes of a box grater and grate tomato flesh into a bowl. Discard skins. You should have about 4 cups.

Put tomato pulp in a low wide saucepan over high heat. Add salt, olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, basil and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a brisk simmer.

Reduce the sauce by almost half, stirring occasionally, to produce about 2 1/2 cups medium-thick sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt. It will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator or may be frozen.

QUICK & EASY APPLE CRISP

This was posted by Deb’s Recipes on Food.com. Deb wrote, “A traditional autumn dessert that's delicious served with vanilla ice cream. I've often made this recipe ‘diabetic-friendly’ without sacrificing taste or quality by using Splenda No-Calorie Sweetener. Directions are included.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; makes 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 - 8 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (such as Granny Smith)

2 - 3 teaspoons lemon juice

1⁄4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1⁄2 cup butter

vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream

Directions

Toss apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon; turn into an 8x8" baking pan that has been lightly coated with no-stick cooking spray; dot with butter.

Cut together flour, brown sugar, and butter until crumbly; sprinkle evenly over apples.

Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes until apples are tender; serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

VARIATION: This recipe can be made diabetic-friendly by substituting Splenda for the granulated sugar and substituting 1/2 cup Splenda for 1/2 cup of the brown sugar - the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar is still used.

CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE

This is from Tearanii, also on Food.com. Tearanii wrote, “This is absolutely stunning and delicious!” Prep Time: 1 hour; Cook Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 8 - 12.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling, divided

1 10 inch graham cracker crust

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1⁄2 cup sugar

1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1⁄4 cup caramel topping

12 pecan halves, plus

2 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Reserve 3/4 cup apple pie filling.

Spoon remaining filling into pie crust.

Beat together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Add eggs and mix well.

Pour over apple filling.

Bake 35 minutes or until center is set.

Cool to room temperature.

Mix reserved apple filling and caramel topping in a small saucepan.

Heat, about 1 minute.

Arrange apple slices around outside edge of cheesecake.

Spoon caramel sauce onto the cheesecake and spread evenly.

Decorate with pecan halves around edge.

Sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

GARLICKY TOFU WITH SPINACH OVER PASTA

This comes from the October 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “A nonstick skillet is a must for this recipe—it makes the garlic cling to the tofu and form a sort of crust.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

10 oz. whole wheat linguine

1 1/2 cups prepared pasta sauce

12 oz. baked tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

6 cloves garlic, minced

10 oz. baby spinach, washed

Cook linguine according to package directions; drain.

Warm pasta sauce in pot over medium-low heat.

Coat nonstick skillet with cooking spray, and place over medium heat. Add tofu, and cook 5 minutes, or until crisp and browned, turning often. Stir in garlic, and cook 1 minute more, or until tofu is coated with browned garlic. Transfer to plate, and cover to keep warm.

Add spinach to same skillet. (Add spinach in batches, if necessary, stirring to wilt so remainder will fit.) Cover, and cook 2 minutes, or until tender.

Divide cooked pasta among 4 individual plates. Top each with equal amounts of spinach then garlic tofu. Spoon sauce on top, and serve.

nutritional informatio Per SERVING: Calories: 506; Protein: 28 g; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 70 g; Sodium: 847 mg; Fiber: 18 g; Sugar: 8 g; Vegan

PERFECT MACARONI AND CHEESE CASSEROLE WITH BREAD CRUMBS

This comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “Lots of Cheddar cheese inside and on top make this a delicious, creamy macaroni and cheese. Serve this casserole as a main dish with a salad or serve it as a side dish.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Cook Macaroni: 8 minutes; Total Time: 58 minutes; Yield: Serves 4 to 6.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

8 ounces macaroni

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup half-and-half or light cream

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard or a spicy brown mustard

2 1/2 to 3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup soft bread crumbs, tossed with 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter

Preparation

Heat oven to 375°. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.

Cook macaroni in boiling salted water following package directions. Drain in a colander and rinse with hot water.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth and bubbly. Continue cooking and stirring for 1 minute. Add the salt, pepper, cream, and milk and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add mustard and 2 cups of the cheese.

Continue cooking, stirring, until cheese is melted.

Combine the sauce mixture with the drained macaroni. Spoon into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining 1/2 to 1 cup of shredded cheese.

Scatter the buttered bread crumbs evenly over the cheese layer.

Bake for about 25 minutes, until lightly browned and bubbly.

Monday, December 3, 2018

Meatless Monday

Here it is, another Meatless Monday, right during the holiday season. (Yes, you can have a meatless day during holidays!) Today's six vegetarian recipes include Perfect Macaroni & Cheese and Caramel Apple Cheesecake. Enjoy!

PASTA WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE AND RICOTTA

This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “This wonderful pasta is made with nothing more than fresh tomato sauce and good ricotta, plus a little pecorino. It’s most delicious if you keep the pasta quite al dente; use just enough sauce, no more; give it a good pinch of crushed red pepper; and season it with enough salt of course. For the best results, use good quality imported noodles made from hard Durum wheat.” Time: 30 minutes; makes 4 to 6 servings.

This, along with the Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce, was featured in “The Time Is Right to Make Tomato Sauce”, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 pound dried pasta, such as farfalle or penne

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons butter, softened

Crushed red pepper (optional)

2 1/2 cups Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce, warm (see recipe, which follows)

6 ounces ultra-fresh ricotta, at room temperature

Grated pecorino

Basil leaves, for garnish

Preparation

Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted water, making sure to keep it quite al dente.

Put butter in a wide deep skillet over medium heat. Add drained pasta to the pan and season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper, if using.

Add tomato sauce gradually and stir to coat pasta, using only enough sauce for a light coating (you may not need the entire 2 1/2 cups).

Transfer pasta to a warm serving bowl and dot top with spoonfuls of ricotta. Sprinkle lightly with pecorino and garnish with a few torn basil leaves.

QUICK FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

This also comes from David Tanis in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “In August and September, when tomatoes are at their ripest, make a batch of fresh tomato sauce. At the market, look for the cracked, slightly bruised tomatoes sold at a discount. The flesh of the tomato should be dense, sweet and blood red. This makes a very fresh- and bright-tasting sauce in a manageable small batch. Take advantage of good tasty tomatoes and fill a few zip-top bags for the freezer.” Time: 30 minutes; makes about 2 1/ 2 cups.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

5 pounds tomatoes

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 garlic clove, halved

1 basil sprig

1 bay leaf

Preparation

Cut tomatoes in half horizontally. Squeeze out the seeds and discard, if you wish. Press the cut side of tomato against the large holes of a box grater and grate tomato flesh into a bowl. Discard skins. You should have about 4 cups.

Put tomato pulp in a low wide saucepan over high heat. Add salt, olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, basil and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a brisk simmer.

Reduce the sauce by almost half, stirring occasionally, to produce about 2 1/2 cups medium-thick sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt. It will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator or may be frozen.

QUICK & EASY APPLE CRISP

This was posted by Deb’s Recipes on Food.com. Deb wrote, “A traditional autumn dessert that's delicious served with vanilla ice cream. I've often made this recipe ‘diabetic-friendly’ without sacrificing taste or quality by using Splenda No-Calorie Sweetener. Directions are included.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; makes 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 - 8 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (such as Granny Smith)

2 - 3 teaspoons lemon juice

1⁄4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1⁄2 cup butter

vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream

Directions

Toss apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon; turn into an 8x8" baking pan that has been lightly coated with no-stick cooking spray; dot with butter.

Cut together flour, brown sugar, and butter until crumbly; sprinkle evenly over apples.

Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes until apples are tender; serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

VARIATION: This recipe can be made diabetic-friendly by substituting Splenda for the granulated sugar and substituting 1/2 cup Splenda for 1/2 cup of the brown sugar - the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar is still used.

CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE

This is from Tearanii, also on Food.com. Tearanii wrote, “This is absolutely stunning and delicious!” Prep Time: 1 hour; Cook Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 8 - 12.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling, divided

1 10 inch graham cracker crust

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1⁄2 cup sugar

1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1⁄4 cup caramel topping

12 pecan halves, plus

2 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Reserve 3/4 cup apple pie filling.

Spoon remaining filling into pie crust.

Beat together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Add eggs and mix well.

Pour over apple filling.

Bake 35 minutes or until center is set.

Cool to room temperature.

Mix reserved apple filling and caramel topping in a small saucepan.

Heat, about 1 minute.

Arrange apple slices around outside edge of cheesecake.

Spoon caramel sauce onto the cheesecake and spread evenly.

Decorate with pecan halves around edge.

Sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

GARLICKY TOFU WITH SPINACH OVER PASTA

This comes from the October 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “A nonstick skillet is a must for this recipe—it makes the garlic cling to the tofu and form a sort of crust.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

10 oz. whole wheat linguine

1 1/2 cups prepared pasta sauce

12 oz. baked tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

6 cloves garlic, minced

10 oz. baby spinach, washed

Cook linguine according to package directions; drain.

Warm pasta sauce in pot over medium-low heat.

Coat nonstick skillet with cooking spray, and place over medium heat. Add tofu, and cook 5 minutes, or until crisp and browned, turning often. Stir in garlic, and cook 1 minute more, or until tofu is coated with browned garlic. Transfer to plate, and cover to keep warm.

Add spinach to same skillet. (Add spinach in batches, if necessary, stirring to wilt so remainder will fit.) Cover, and cook 2 minutes, or until tender.

Divide cooked pasta among 4 individual plates. Top each with equal amounts of spinach then garlic tofu. Spoon sauce on top, and serve.

nutritional informatio Per SERVING: Calories: 506; Protein: 28 g; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 70 g; Sodium: 847 mg; Fiber: 18 g; Sugar: 8 g; Vegan

PERFECT MACARONI AND CHEESE

This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “Lots of Cheddar cheese inside and on top make this a delicious, creamy macaroni and cheese. Serve this casserole as a main dish with a salad or serve it as a side dish.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Cook Macaroni: 8 minutes; Total Time: 58 minutes; Yield: Serves 4 to 6.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

8 ounces macaroni

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup half-and-half or light cream

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard or a spicy brown mustard

2 1/2 to 3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup soft bread crumbs, tossed with 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter

Preparation

Heat oven to 375°. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.

Cook macaroni in boiling salted water following package directions. Drain in a colander and rinse with hot water.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth and bubbly. Continue cooking and stirring for 1 minute. Add the salt, pepper, cream, and milk and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add mustard and 2 cups of the cheese.

Continue cooking, stirring, until cheese is melted.

Combine the sauce mixture with the drained macaroni. Spoon into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining 1/2 to 1 cup of shredded cheese.

Scatter the buttered bread crumbs evenly over the cheese layer.

Bake for about 25 minutes, until lightly browned and bubbly.

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Double-Post Thursday

Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Here are six recipes to help keep you in the holiday mood, including Caramel Apple Cheesecake and Apple Rutabaga Soup. Enjoy!

PUMPKIN SPICE SCONES

This absolute yumminess comes from The Baker Chick (otherwise known as Audra). If you haven’t checked out her blog, I highly recommend doing so, along with subscribing to it. Go ahead, I’ll wait. (Imagine the sound of me tapping my foot….) Did you ? Great, if you did. If you didn’t, check it out sometime.

Okay, Audra starts off by writing, “Let’s grab a cup of coffee and a scone, what do you say? It’s been a long day, and right now I just want something delicious and a warm cup of coffee. Doesn’t that sound lovely? And, since pumpkin season seems to be at it’s peak, how about these tender, melt-in-your-mouth, Pumpkin Spice Scones? Oh these were so good. Everything you want in a scone really. Nothing dense or tough about these babies- just fall baked good perfection.” At the end of the recipe, Audra, added, “This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.”

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 8 scones. Yum!

To view this online at Audra’s blog, click here.

Ingredients

For the Scones:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into chunks

1/2 cup pumpkin pureƩ

3 tablespoons International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer

1 large egg

For the Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer

dash of cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425F. Prep a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a sil-pat. Set aside.

In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices.

Add the butter, and use a pastry blender or your hands to break down the butter chunks until they are no bigger than the size of a pea. (I like to use my hands and work them in.)

Make a well in the center of the bowl and add the pumpkin and creamer. Stir gently until dough just comes together. (It may seem dry)

Turn dough onto a well-floured surface and knead until dough has moistened and is a cohesive ball.

Shape into a 6-7 inch circle, about 2 inches thick. Cut into 8 equal wedges, and arrange on the cookie sheet.

Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until scones are just golden on the edges. Allow them to cool slightly while you make the glaze.

For the glaze:

Whisk together the powdered sugar, creamer, and cinnamon until smooth and thick. Drizzle over the scones and enjoy warm or room temperature.

VEGAN PUMPKIN RISOTTO

This is from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s Vegetarian Food expert. Jolinda wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan twist on classic Italian risotto - pumpkin! Why not? Pumpkin adds a sweet and unique flavor perfect for fall, as a vegetarian Thanksgiving entree, or anytime. Whether or not you're actually vegetarian or vegan, pumpkin risottos is a delicious, unique and creative entree choice for a fall, Halloween or Thanksgiving meal. It's also a great way to use up any leftover pumpkin you might happen to have on hand from the holidays.

“This Italian risotto recipe is both vegetarian and vegan, as long as you use a vegan margarine instead of butter. If you need it to be gluten-free as well, just be sure that the vegetable broth that you use is gluten-free, since all the other ingredients - including the rice, white wine, pumpkin and seasonings - are all gluten-free.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 - 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Instructions:

1 onion, diced

1 tbsp olive oil

2 cups arborio (risotto) rice

1 cup white wine

4 cups vegetable broth

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp fresh ginger, grated or minced

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tbsp chopped fresh basil

1 tbsp vegan margarine or butter

salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Sautee the diced onion in the olive oil over medium heat for about three to five minutes, or until the onion is mostly soft. Next, add in the rice. Allow to cook, stirring, for a minute or two, just to lightly toast the rice, and being carefuly that it doesn't burn. Slowly add in the white wine.

Next, start to add the vegetable broth, 1/2 cup at a time. Allow the moisture to cook off before adding the next 1/2 cup.

Stir frequently, and continue adding the vegetable broth 1/2 cup at a time. Many chefs advise keeping the vegetable broth heating on the stove so that it is already simmering and hot when you add it to the rice.

Once you've added all the vegetable broth and the rice is nearly cooked, add in the canned pumpkin, fresh ginger, nutmeg, fresh basil and vegan margarine or butter. Stir well to combine everything well, and season lightly with a bit of salt and pepper, to taste.

All everything to heat, just for another minute or two, until everything is thoroughly heated through, and stirring frequently.

QUICK & EASY APPLE CRISP

This was posted by Deb’s Recipes on Food.com. Deb wrote, “A traditional autumn dessert that's delicious served with vanilla ice cream. I've often made this recipe ‘diabetic-friendly’ without sacrificing taste or quality by using Splenda No-Calorie Sweetener. Directions are included.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; makes 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 - 8 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (such as Granny Smith)

2 - 3 teaspoons lemon juice

1⁄4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1⁄2 cup butter

vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream

Directions

Toss apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon; turn into an 8x8" baking pan that has been lightly coated with no-stick cooking spray; dot with butter.

Cut together flour, brown sugar, and butter until crumbly; sprinkle evenly over apples.

Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes until apples are tender; serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

VARIATION: This recipe can be made diabetic-friendly by substituting Splenda for the granulated sugar and substituting 1/2 cup Splenda for 1/2 cup of the brown sugar - the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar is still used.

CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE

This is from Tearanii, also on Food.com. Tearanii wrote, “This is absolutely stunning and delicious!” Prep Time: 1 hour; Cook Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 8 - 12.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling, divided

1 10 inch graham cracker crust

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1⁄2 cup sugar

1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1⁄4 cup caramel topping

12 pecan halves, plus

2 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Reserve 3/4 cup apple pie filling.

Spoon remaining filling into pie crust.

Beat together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Add eggs and mix well.

Pour over apple filling.

Bake 35 minutes or until center is set.

Cool to room temperature.

Mix reserved apple filling and caramel topping in a small saucepan.

Heat, about 1 minute.

Arrange apple slices around outside edge of cheesecake.

Spoon caramel sauce onto the cheesecake and spread evenly.

Decorate with pecan halves around edge.

Sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

ROASTED PUMPKIN AND LEEK SOUP

This comes from Jen Hoy, About.com’s Whole Foods Cooking expert. Jen wrote, “This roasted pumpkin and leek soup brings the quintessential flavors of fall to the table. It's an easy recipe and can be made with Cinderella pumpkin (pictured), the small, richly flavored sugar pumpkin, or from Hokkaido squash, Red Kuri, Kabocha, or any other deep orange, dense squash. Orange squash and pumpkin are marvelously rich in nutrients, especially beta-carotene, and very nourishing to the spleen and stomach. Roasting the vegetables creates a rich and more complex flavor, and actually makes for an easy soup: all you do is add water to the roasted veggies. You can add a dab of Romesco Sauce when serving to give a bit of extra richness to the soup, but we like it as is!” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 70 minutes; Yield: Serves 4 - 6.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 pounds pumpkin or deep orange squash, peeled and cut into 1” chunks* (See note below)

1 large onion, cut into 1” chunks

2 carrots, scrubbed and chopped

2 leeks, washed well and cut into chunks

2 tablespoons olive oil

6 cups water, Vegetable Broth, or Chicken Broth

1 branch of fresh thyme

2 teaspoons ground cumin, curry or other spice as desired

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit.

*Note: If you don’t want to peel the squash ahead of time, cut it into larger (3-inch or so) pieces and remove the skin before adding it to the soup pot. Unlike raw, cooked squash is very easy to peel. Toss the vegetables with the olive oil in a roasting pan and spread them out corner to corner. Roast the vegetables in the middle of the oven for 35 minutes, or until they are beginning to soften and take a bit of golden color.

Remove the tray from the oven. (If you need to peel the squash, let the vegetables sit until the pumpkin is cool enough to handle).

Place the veggies in a soup pot with water or broth to cover and add the thyme and desired spices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the vegetables are very soft. Puree the soup with an immersion or standard blender, season to taste and serve.

APPLE RUTABAGA SOUP

This came from Brett Moore, About.com’s Gourmet Food expert. He wrote, “Here's a beautiful comfort soup from Chef Patrick O'Connell (The Inn at Little Washington). Delicious and complex flavors with a velvety texture. Perfect for those cold winter days.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

1 stick (1/4 pound) butter

1 cup onion, roughly chopped

1 cup Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped

1 cup rutabaga, peeled and roughly chopped

1 cup butternut squash, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped

1 cup carrots, peeled and roughly chopped

1 cup sweet potato, peeled and roughly chopped

1 quart good chicken stock

2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup maple syrup

Salt and cayenne pepper to taste

Preparation:

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the onion, apple, rutabaga, squash, carrots and sweet potato and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until all of the vegetables are cooked through and tender.

Puree the vegetables in a blender or food processor. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into the same pot you used to cook the vegetables. Add the cream, maple syrup, salt and cayenne pepper.

Return the pot to the stove, bring the soup to a simmer, and serve.

Monday, April 24, 2017

Meatless Monday

It's Monday, which means (ta-da) Meatless Monday (as well as Double-Post Monday). Here are six vegetarian recipes to help you through the day, including Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce and Caramel Apple Cheesecake. Enjoy!

PASTA WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE AND RICOTTA

This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “This wonderful pasta is made with nothing more than fresh tomato sauce and good ricotta, plus a little pecorino. It’s most delicious if you keep the pasta quite al dente; use just enough sauce, no more; give it a good pinch of crushed red pepper; and season it with enough salt of course. For the best results, use good quality imported noodles made from hard Durum wheat.” Time: 30 minutes; makes 4 to 6 servings.

This, along with the Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce, was featured in “The Time Is Right to Make Tomato Sauce”, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 pound dried pasta, such as farfalle or penne

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons butter, softened

Crushed red pepper (optional)

2 1/2 cups Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce, warm (see recipe, which follows)

6 ounces ultra-fresh ricotta, at room temperature

Grated pecorino

Basil leaves, for garnish

Preparation

Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted water, making sure to keep it quite al dente.

Put butter in a wide deep skillet over medium heat. Add drained pasta to the pan and season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper, if using.

Add tomato sauce gradually and stir to coat pasta, using only enough sauce for a light coating (you may not need the entire 2 1/2 cups).

Transfer pasta to a warm serving bowl and dot top with spoonfuls of ricotta. Sprinkle lightly with pecorino and garnish with a few torn basil leaves.

QUICK FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

This also comes from David Tanis in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “In August and September, when tomatoes are at their ripest, make a batch of fresh tomato sauce. At the market, look for the cracked, slightly bruised tomatoes sold at a discount. The flesh of the tomato should be dense, sweet and blood red. This makes a very fresh- and bright-tasting sauce in a manageable small batch. Take advantage of good tasty tomatoes and fill a few zip-top bags for the freezer.” Time: 30 minutes; makes about 2 1/ 2 cups.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

5 pounds tomatoes

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 garlic clove, halved

1 basil sprig

1 bay leaf

Preparation

Cut tomatoes in half horizontally. Squeeze out the seeds and discard, if you wish. Press the cut side of tomato against the large holes of a box grater and grate tomato flesh into a bowl. Discard skins. You should have about 4 cups.

Put tomato pulp in a low wide saucepan over high heat. Add salt, olive oil, tomato paste, garlic, basil and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a brisk simmer.

Reduce the sauce by almost half, stirring occasionally, to produce about 2 1/2 cups medium-thick sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt. It will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator or may be frozen.

QUICK & EASY APPLE CRISP

This was posted by Deb’s Recipes on Food.com. Deb wrote, “A traditional autumn dessert that's delicious served with vanilla ice cream. I've often made this recipe ‘diabetic-friendly’ without sacrificing taste or quality by using Splenda No-Calorie Sweetener. Directions are included.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; makes 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 - 8 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (such as Granny Smith)

2 - 3 teaspoons lemon juice

1⁄4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1⁄2 cup butter

vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream

Directions

Toss apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon; turn into an 8x8" baking pan that has been lightly coated with no-stick cooking spray; dot with butter.

Cut together flour, brown sugar, and butter until crumbly; sprinkle evenly over apples.

Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes until apples are tender; serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

VARIATION: This recipe can be made diabetic-friendly by substituting Splenda for the granulated sugar and substituting 1/2 cup Splenda for 1/2 cup of the brown sugar - the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar is still used.

CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE

This is from Tearanii, also on Food.com. Tearanii wrote, “This is absolutely stunning and delicious!” Prep Time: 1 hour; Cook Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 8 - 12.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling, divided

1 10 inch graham cracker crust

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1⁄2 cup sugar

1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1⁄4 cup caramel topping

12 pecan halves, plus

2 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Reserve 3/4 cup apple pie filling.

Spoon remaining filling into pie crust.

Beat together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Add eggs and mix well.

Pour over apple filling.

Bake 35 minutes or until center is set.

Cool to room temperature.

Mix reserved apple filling and caramel topping in a small saucepan.

Heat, about 1 minute.

Arrange apple slices around outside edge of cheesecake.

Spoon caramel sauce onto the cheesecake and spread evenly.

Decorate with pecan halves around edge.

Sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

GARLICKY TOFU WITH SPINACH OVER PASTA

This comes from the October 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “A nonstick skillet is a must for this recipe—it makes the garlic cling to the tofu and form a sort of crust.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

10 oz. whole wheat linguine

1 1/2 cups prepared pasta sauce

12 oz. baked tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

6 cloves garlic, minced

10 oz. baby spinach, washed

Cook linguine according to package directions; drain.

Warm pasta sauce in pot over medium-low heat.

Coat nonstick skillet with cooking spray, and place over medium heat. Add tofu, and cook 5 minutes, or until crisp and browned, turning often. Stir in garlic, and cook 1 minute more, or until tofu is coated with browned garlic. Transfer to plate, and cover to keep warm.

Add spinach to same skillet. (Add spinach in batches, if necessary, stirring to wilt so remainder will fit.) Cover, and cook 2 minutes, or until tender.

Divide cooked pasta among 4 individual plates. Top each with equal amounts of spinach then garlic tofu. Spoon sauce on top, and serve.

nutritional informatio Per SERVING: Calories: 506; Protein: 28 g; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 70 g; Sodium: 847 mg; Fiber: 18 g; Sugar: 8 g; Vegan

PERFECT MACARONI AND CHEESE

This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “Lots of Cheddar cheese inside and on top make this a delicious, creamy macaroni and cheese. Serve this casserole as a main dish with a salad or serve it as a side dish.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Cook Macaroni: 8 minutes; Total Time: 58 minutes; Yield: Serves 4 to 6.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

8 ounces macaroni

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup half-and-half or light cream

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard or a spicy brown mustard

2 1/2 to 3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup soft bread crumbs, tossed with 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter

Preparation

Heat oven to 375°. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.

Cook macaroni in boiling salted water following package directions. Drain in a colander and rinse with hot water.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth and bubbly. Continue cooking and stirring for 1 minute. Add the salt, pepper, cream, and milk and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add mustard and 2 cups of the cheese.

Continue cooking, stirring, until cheese is melted.

Combine the sauce mixture with the drained macaroni. Spoon into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining 1/2 to 1 cup of shredded cheese.

Scatter the buttered bread crumbs evenly over the cheese layer.

Bake for about 25 minutes, until lightly browned and bubbly.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Apples!

Apples are one of those foods - like pumpkins - that fits in nicely in autumn and with holiday meals. Here are six apple recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!

APPLE SLAB PIE

This was posted by Bren in LR on Food.com. Bren wrote, “A slab pie is simply a shallow pie that's made in a rimmed baking sheet, usually a jelly roll pan.” Prep Time: 2 hours; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 12.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Crust

3 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, chilled very cold (3 sticks)

3/4 cup very cold ice water

Filling

3 1/2 - 4 lbs apples, peeled, cored and chopped into approx 1/2 inch chunks (about 8 cups)

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/8 teaspoon salt

To finish

2 tablespoons heavy cream (or one egg, beaten with 1 Tbs of water)

glaze (optional)

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon milk (or water, lemon juice or fresh apple cider, plus a drop or two more if needed)

Directions

Make pie crust: Whisk together flour, sugar and salt in the bottom of a large bowl. Using a pastry blender, 2 forks, or your fingertips, work the butter into the flour until the biggest pieces of butter are the size of peas. (You'll want to chop your butter into the small bits first, unless you're using a very strong pastry blender in which case you can throw the sticks in whole.).

Gently stir in the water with a rubber spatula, mixing it until a craggy mass forms. Get your hands in the bowl and knead it just two or three times to form a ball. Divide dough roughly in half, one being slightly larger than the other. Wrap each half in plastic wrap and flatten a bit, like a disc.

Chill in fridge for at least an hour or up to two days or slip plastic wrapped dough into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 1 to 2 months. To defrost, leave in frig for 1 day.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line bottom of 10x15x1 inch baking sheet or jellyroll pan with parchment paper.

Prepare filling: In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice until coated. Top with remaining filling ingredients and stir to evenly coat.

Assemble pie: On a lightly floured surface, roll one of your dough halves (the larger one first) into an 18x13 inch rectangle. Do your best to work quickly, keeping the dough as cold as possible and using enough flour that it doesn't stick to the counter. Transfer to your prepared baking sheet and gently drape some of the overhang in so that the dough fills out the inner edges and corners. Some pastry will spill over the sides of the pan; trim this to 3/4 inch.

Pour apple mixture over prepared pan and spread evenly.

Roll the second of your dough halves (the smaller one) into a 16x11 inch rectangle. Drape over filling and fold the bottom crust's overhang over the edges sealing them together. Cut small slits to act as vents all over the lid. Brush lid with heavy cream or egg wash. Bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, 40-45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack until just warm to the touch, about 45 minutes.

In a medium bowl, stir together confectioner's sugar and liquid of your choice until a pourable glaze consistency is reached. Use a spoon to drizzle over top. Serve slab pie in squares or rectangles, warm or at room temperature.

It keeps at room temperature for at least 3 days.

CREAMY APPLE DESSERT

This was posted by BarbarK, also on Food.com. BarbaraK wrote, “Easy dessert.” Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Makes 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (like Eagle brand)

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

Preheat over to 350°F.

Use a 1/ 1/2 quart baking dish (10x6) and melt butter or margarine in the oven.

Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs over melted butter and mix well.

Press into the bottom of the dish to make a crust.

Mix sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese and lemon juice.

Spread evenly over crust.

Spoon pie filling evenly over creamy layer.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes until set.

Cool slightly.

In small dish, mix together nuts and cinnamon.

Sprinkle over pie filling.

Serve warm or cold.

Refrigerate leftovers (if there are any!).

DUTCH APPLE CAKE

Servings: 12

Source: Sweet Inspirations - A Sugar Free Dessert Cookbook

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/160.shtml

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=160

Ingredients

1/4 cup fruit sweetener**

1/4 cup apple butter or unsweetened apple sauce

1 egg

2/3 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup diced apples

1/2 cup chopped nuts

** To make this fruit sweetener, mix together 1/8 cup frozen apple juice concentrate (thawed) and 1/8 cup granulated fructose.

Directions

Combine fruit sweetener and apple butter. Beat in egg.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Blend into creamed mixture.

Fold in apples and nuts.

Pour into 8" x 8" pan which has been sprayed with non-stick coating. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 325F.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 130; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 60 mg; Cholesterol: 23 mg; Carbohydrates: 15 g; Exchanges: 1 Fruit; 1 Fat

QUICK & EASY APPLE CRISP

This was posted by Deb’s Recipes on Food.com. Deb wrote, “A traditional autumn dessert that's delicious served with vanilla ice cream. I've often made this recipe ‘diabetic-friendly’ without sacrificing taste or quality by using Splenda No-Calorie Sweetener. Directions are included.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; makes 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 - 8 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (such as Granny Smith)

2 - 3 teaspoons lemon juice

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream

Directions

Toss apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon; turn into an 8x8" baking pan that has been lightly coated with no-stick cooking spray; dot with butter.

Cut together flour, brown sugar, and butter until crumbly; sprinkle evenly over apples.

Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes until apples are tender; serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

VARIATION: This recipe can be made diabetic-friendly by substituting Splenda for the granulated sugar and substituting 1/2 cup Splenda for 1/2 cup of the brown sugar - the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar is still used.

CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE

This is from Tearanii, also on Food.com. Tearanii wrote, “This is absolutely stunning and delicious!” Prep Time: 1 hour; Cook Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 8 - 12.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling, divided

1 10 inch graham cracker crust

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1⁄4 cup caramel topping

12 pecan halves, plus

2 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Reserve 3/4 cup apple pie filling.

Spoon remaining filling into pie crust.

Beat together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Add eggs and mix well.

Pour over apple filling.

Bake 35 minutes or until center is set.

Cool to room temperature.

Mix reserved apple filling and caramel topping in a small saucepan.

Heat, about 1 minute.

Arrange apple slices around outside edge of cheesecake.

Spoon caramel sauce onto the cheesecake and spread evenly.

Decorate with pecan halves around edge.

Sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

DEEP-DISH APPLE PIE

This is from Ina Garten of The Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa. Total Time: 2 hr 15 min; Prep: 45 min; Inactive: 30 min; Cook: 1 hr; Yield: 1 (9-or 10-inch) pie; Level: Intermediate

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/deep-dish-apple-pie-recipe.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

4 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, quartered, and cored

1 lemon, zested

1 orange, zested

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 teaspoon to sprinkle on top

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

Perfect Pie Crust, recipe follows

1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut each apple quarter in thirds crosswise and combine in a bowl with the zests, juices, 1/2 cup sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Roll out half the pie dough and drape it over a 9- or 10-inch pie pan to extend about 1/2-inch over the rim. Don't stretch the dough; if it's too small, just put it back on the board and re-roll it.

Fill the pie with the apple mixture. Brush the edge of the bottom pie crust with the egg wash so the top crust will adhere. Top with the second crust and trim the edges to about 1-inch over the rim. Tuck the edge of the top crust under the edge of the bottom crust and crimp the 2 together with your fingers or a fork. Brush the entire top crust with the egg wash, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar, and cut 4 or 5 slits.

Place the pie on a sheet pan and bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, or until the crust is browned and the juices begin to bubble out. Serve warm.

Perfect Pie Crust:

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) very cold unsalted butter

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon sugar

1/3 cup very cold vegetable shortening

6 to 8 tablespoons (about 1/2 cup) ice water

Dice the butter and return it to the refrigerator while you prepare the flour mixture. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and shortening. Pulse 8 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse the machine until the dough begins to form a ball. Dump out on a floured board and roll into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Cut the dough in half. Roll each piece on a well-floured board into a circle, rolling from the center to the edge, turning and flouring the dough to make sure it doesn't stick to the board. Fold the dough in half, place in a pie pan, and unfold to fit the pan. Repeat with the top crust.

Yield: 2 (10-inch) crusts

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Tuesday Recipes - Autumn Stuff

Here are six recipes to help you get into the autumn mood. Enjoy!

PUMPKIN SPICE SCONES

This absolute yumminess comes from The Baker Chick (otherwise known as Audra). If you haven’t checked out her blog, I highly recommend doing so, along with subscribing to it. Go ahead, I’ll wait. (Imagine the sound of me tapping my foot….) Did you ? Great, if you did. If you didn’t, check it out sometime.

Okay, Audra starts off by writing, “Let’s grab a cup of coffee and a scone, what do you say? It’s been a long day, and right now I just want something delicious and a warm cup of coffee. Doesn’t that sound lovely? And, since pumpkin season seems to be at it’s peak, how about these tender, melt-in-your-mouth, Pumpkin Spice Scones? Oh these were so good. Everything you want in a scone really. Nothing dense or tough about these babies- just fall baked good perfection.” At the end of the recipe, Audra, added, “This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.”

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 8 scones. Yum!

To view this online at Audra’s blog, click here.

Ingredients

For the Scones:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into chunks

1/2 cup pumpkin pureƩ

3 tablespoons International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer

1 large egg

For the Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer

dash of cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425F. Prep a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a sil-pat. Set aside.

In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices.

Add the butter, and use a pastry blender or your hands to break down the butter chunks until they are no bigger than the size of a pea. (I like to use my hands and work them in.)

Make a well in the center of the bowl and add the pumpkin and creamer. Stir gently until dough just comes together. (It may seem dry)

Turn dough onto a well-floured surface and knead until dough has moistened and is a cohesive ball.

Shape into a 6-7 inch circle, about 2 inches thick. Cut into 8 equal wedges, and arrange on the cookie sheet.

Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until scones are just golden on the edges. Allow them to cool slightly while you make the glaze.

For the glaze:

Whisk together the powdered sugar, creamer, and cinnamon until smooth and thick. Drizzle over the scones and enjoy warm or room temperature.

VEGAN PUMPKIN RISOTTO

This is from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s Vegetarian Food expert. Jolinda wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan twist on classic Italian risotto - pumpkin! Why not? Pumpkin adds a sweet and unique flavor perfect for fall, as a vegetarian Thanksgiving entree, or anytime. Whether or not you're actually vegetarian or vegan, pumpkin risottos is a delicious, unique and creative entree choice for a fall, Halloween or Thanksgiving meal. It's also a great way to use up any leftover pumpkin you might happen to have on hand from the holidays.

“This Italian risotto recipe is both vegetarian and vegan, as long as you use a vegan margarine instead of butter. If you need it to be gluten-free as well, just be sure that the vegetable broth that you use is gluten-free, since all the other ingredients - including the rice, white wine, pumpkin and seasonings - are all gluten-free.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 - 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Instructions:

1 onion, diced

1 tbsp olive oil

2 cups arborio (risotto) rice

1 cup white wine

4 cups vegetable broth

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp fresh ginger, grated or minced

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tbsp chopped fresh basil

1 tbsp vegan margarine or butter

salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Sautee the diced onion in the olive oil over medium heat for about three to five minutes, or until the onion is mostly soft. Next, add in the rice. Allow to cook, stirring, for a minute or two, just to lightly toast the rice, and being carefuly that it doesn't burn. Slowly add in the white wine.

Next, start to add the vegetable broth, 1/2 cup at a time. Allow the moisture to cook off before adding the next 1/2 cup.

Stir frequently, and continue adding the vegetable broth 1/2 cup at a time. Many chefs advise keeping the vegetable broth heating on the stove so that it is already simmering and hot when you add it to the rice.

Once you've added all the vegetable broth and the rice is nearly cooked, add in the canned pumpkin, fresh ginger, nutmeg, fresh basil and vegan margarine or butter. Stir well to combine everything well, and season lightly with a bit of salt and pepper, to taste.

All everything to heat, just for another minute or two, until everything is thoroughly heated through, and stirring frequently.

QUICK & EASY APPLE CRISP

This was posted by Deb’s Recipes on Food.com. Deb wrote, “A traditional autumn dessert that's delicious served with vanilla ice cream. I've often made this recipe ‘diabetic-friendly’ without sacrificing taste or quality by using Splenda No-Calorie Sweetener. Directions are included.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; makes 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 - 8 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (such as Granny Smith)

2 - 3 teaspoons lemon juice

1⁄4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1⁄2 cup butter

vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream

Directions

Toss apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon; turn into an 8x8" baking pan that has been lightly coated with no-stick cooking spray; dot with butter.

Cut together flour, brown sugar, and butter until crumbly; sprinkle evenly over apples.

Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes until apples are tender; serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

VARIATION: This recipe can be made diabetic-friendly by substituting Splenda for the granulated sugar and substituting 1/2 cup Splenda for 1/2 cup of the brown sugar - the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar is still used.

CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE

This is from Tearanii, also on Food.com. Tearanii wrote, “This is absolutely stunning and delicious!” Prep Time: 1 hour; Cook Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 8 - 12.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling, divided

1 10 inch graham cracker crust

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1⁄2 cup sugar

1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1⁄4 cup caramel topping

12 pecan halves, plus

2 tablespoons chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Reserve 3/4 cup apple pie filling.

Spoon remaining filling into pie crust.

Beat together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Add eggs and mix well.

Pour over apple filling.

Bake 35 minutes or until center is set.

Cool to room temperature.

Mix reserved apple filling and caramel topping in a small saucepan.

Heat, about 1 minute.

Arrange apple slices around outside edge of cheesecake.

Spoon caramel sauce onto the cheesecake and spread evenly.

Decorate with pecan halves around edge.

Sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

ROASTED PUMPKIN AND LEEK SOUP

This comes from Jen Hoy, About.com’s Whole Foods Cooking expert. Jen wrote, “This roasted pumpkin and leek soup brings the quintessential flavors of fall to the table. It's an easy recipe and can be made with Cinderella pumpkin (pictured), the small, richly flavored sugar pumpkin, or from Hokkaido squash, Red Kuri, Kabocha, or any other deep orange, dense squash. Orange squash and pumpkin are marvelously rich in nutrients, especially beta-carotene, and very nourishing to the spleen and stomach. Roasting the vegetables creates a rich and more complex flavor, and actually makes for an easy soup: all you do is add water to the roasted veggies. You can add a dab of Romesco Sauce when serving to give a bit of extra richness to the soup, but we like it as is!” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 70 minutes; Yield: Serves 4 - 6.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 pounds pumpkin or deep orange squash, peeled and cut into 1” chunks* (See note below)

1 large onion, cut into 1” chunks

2 carrots, scrubbed and chopped

2 leeks, washed well and cut into chunks

2 tablespoons olive oil

6 cups water, Vegetable Broth, or Chicken Broth

1 branch of fresh thyme

2 teaspoons ground cumin, curry or other spice as desired

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit.

*Note: If you don’t want to peel the squash ahead of time, cut it into larger (3-inch or so) pieces and remove the skin before adding it to the soup pot. Unlike raw, cooked squash is very easy to peel. Toss the vegetables with the olive oil in a roasting pan and spread them out corner to corner. Roast the vegetables in the middle of the oven for 35 minutes, or until they are beginning to soften and take a bit of golden color.

Remove the tray from the oven. (If you need to peel the squash, let the vegetables sit until the pumpkin is cool enough to handle).

Place the veggies in a soup pot with water or broth to cover and add the thyme and desired spices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the vegetables are very soft. Puree the soup with an immersion or standard blender, season to taste and serve.

APPLE RUTABAGA SOUP

This came from Brett Moore, About.com’s Gourmet Food expert. He wrote, “Here's a beautiful comfort soup from Chef Patrick O'Connell (The Inn at Little Washington). Delicious and complex flavors with a velvety texture. Perfect for those cold winter days.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

1 stick (1/4 pound) butter

1 cup onion, roughly chopped

1 cup Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and roughly chopped

1 cup rutabaga, peeled and roughly chopped

1 cup butternut squash, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped

1 cup carrots, peeled and roughly chopped

1 cup sweet potato, peeled and roughly chopped

1 quart good chicken stock

2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup maple syrup

Salt and cayenne pepper to taste

Preparation:

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the onion, apple, rutabaga, squash, carrots and sweet potato and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until all of the vegetables are cooked through and tender.

Puree the vegetables in a blender or food processor. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into the same pot you used to cook the vegetables. Add the cream, maple syrup, salt and cayenne pepper.

Return the pot to the stove, bring the soup to a simmer, and serve.