Holiday Food

Since tomorrow is Christmas, today's post deals with six more recipes for your holiday table (or, really, at any time). Check out the Easy Cranberry Sauce (so much better than the canned variety - and really very easy!) and the Acorn Squash Stuffed with Vegetarian Sausage and Apples. Enjoy!

Note: I'll be taking tomorrow off to spend time with family, but I will be back on Thursday with more yummy recipes. Happy holidays, everyone!

Also, I know I usually post taco recipes on Tuesdays. That will resume next week.

FLUFFY CRAN-RASPBERRY SALAD

This is from My Food and Family, and begins, "Introduce our sweet Fluffy Cran-Raspberry Salad to the Thanksgiving table this year. This brightly colored Fluffy Cran-Raspberry Salad gets its delicious flavor from vanilla pudding, COOL WHIP topping and frozen raspberries."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Makes 12 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/209820/fluffy-cran-raspberry-salad.

Ingredients

2 cups frozen raspberries

1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1/2 cup cranberry juice

1 can (14 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

1-1/2 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows

Directions

Microwave raspberries in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or just until thawed.

Add dry pudding mix and cranberry juice; stir 2 min.

Add cranberry sauce; stir until blended. Gently stir in COOL WHIP, then marshmallows.

Refrigerate 1 hour.

Kitchen Tips

Tip 1

Note

This festive salad can be refrigerated up to 2 days. Just stir in the marshmallows just before serving.

Tip 2

How to Thaw COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Place unopened tub in refrigerator. An 8-oz. tub will be completely thawed in 4 hours. Do not thaw in microwave.

Tip 3

Special Extra

For a touch of color, garnish with fresh mint sprigs before serving.

GLAZED HAM WITH DRIED CHERRY CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Serves 10.

Source: NPB

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/971.shtml

Ingredients

3 pound fully-cooked boneless smoked ham

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

5 medium onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 5 cups)

3 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup dried tart cherries

1/3 cup cider vinegar

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon cardamom

1/4 cup almonds, sliced or slivered, and toasted

Directions

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Place ham on rack in shallow baking pan. Roast 45 minutes to 1 hour or until a meat thermometer registers 140 degrees F. (about 15 to 18 minutes per pound).

Meanwhile, for glaze, in a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon mustard. Brush ham with glaze during the last 5 minutes of baking.

To caramelize onions, cook onions in a covered Dutch oven in hot butter over medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until onions are just tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/2 cup dried cherries, 1/3 cup cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey and 1/2 teaspoon cardamom. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir in toasted almonds. Slice ham; serve with onion mixture.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 277; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 1337 mg; Cholesterol: 43 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g

HARVEST WALNUT PUMPKIN PIE

This comes from Allrecipes, and begins, "A walnut topping adds lovely crunch to this quick and easy spiced pumpkin pie with a hint of maple flavoring. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Servings: 8; Yield: 1 9-inch pie

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/268384/harvest-walnut-pumpkin-pie/.

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can plain pumpkin puree

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon maple-flavored extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Walnut Topping

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons butter, cubed

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Combine pumpkin, condensed milk, eggs, maple extract, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Mix well and pour into the graham cracker crust. Smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking until filling is set, about 30 minutes.

Prepare walnut topping while pie is baking. Mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Cut in butter with a fork until coarse crumbs form. Stir in walnuts.

Remove pie from the oven and cover evenly with the topping. Continue baking until topping is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.

Cook's Note

Substitute an unbaked pie shell for the graham cracker crust if preferred.

EASY CRANBERRY SAUCE

This comes from One Green Planet's newsletter. The recipe states, “My Easy Cranberry Sauce is not very sweet. It has a tangy tartness and makes a beautiful side dish for your holiday table.”

To view this and other cranberry recipes, click here.

Ingredients

12 oz. Bag of fresh or frozen cranberries, with 1/2 cup set aside

1 cup sugar

zest of 1 orange

2 Tbs. Water or orange juice

Directions

Set aside 1/ 2 cup cranberries in a bowl. Put the rest of the cranberries into a saucepan. Add sugar, orange zest and water or orange juice and cook over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and cranberries soften, about 10 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high and cook until cranberries burst, about another 10 minutes. Reduce heat back to low and add in the cranberries you set aside. Add more sugar if you want, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool (you can refrigerate it if you like your cranberry sauce cold) before serving.

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH VEGETARIAN SAUSAGE AND APPLES

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan recipe for acorn squash stuffed with vegetarian sausage and apples. Use store-bought vegetarian sausage to make this fall entree for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion meal. Stuffed acorn squash makes a very presentable centerpiece for a vegetarian of vegan meal. It's filled with a bread stuffing with plenty of fresh herbs, including sage and thyme - it's these herbs which will fill your kitchen and your entire home with that fabulous Thanksgiving aroma as it bakes.

“If you're looking for a gluten-free stuffed squash recipe, try using a quinoa stuffing instead of bread.

“This vegetarian and vegan stuffed acorn squash recipe serves four, but the portions are generous, so plan on it serving 6-8 if you're serving it as a side dish.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: 4 as a main, 6 - 8 as a side.

Note: I can no longer find a working link for this, but did want to post it while acknowledging Jolinda.

Ingredients

1 package vegetarian sausage (use Gimme Lean brand)

2 cups water

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

6 stalks celery, chopped fine

1 Tbsp fresh sage OR 1 tsp dried

1 Tbsp fresh thyme OR 1 tsp dried

6 oz plain stuffing cubes, OR 8 cups toasted bread crumbs

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 medium apple, any kind, diced

1/3 cup apple cider

2 large acorn squash, cut in half, with seeds removed

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°.

Lightly brown the vegetarian sausage in a non-stick skillet sprayed with a little olive oil, breaking it up and crumbling it with a spatula as it browns, just as you would with a meat sausage. Set aside.

Bring water and olive oil to a boil in a covered pot over high heat. Stir in onion, celery, sage, and thyme. Cook, covered, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in stuffing cubes, salt and pepper, applesauce, apple cider, and the browned sausage, mixing to combine. Taste, and adjust seasonings to taste.

Divide the stuffing evenly among the acorn squash halves. Arrange the halves in a roasting pan and pour water around (not on) the squash to 1 inch.

Lightly spray a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the pan with olive oil spray. This will prevent it from sticking to the stuffing. Cover the pan tightly, tending slightly with the sprayed side down.

Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork.

BAKED BUTTER CARROTS

This comes from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs. carrots

1 T salt

2 T oleo or butter

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

dash of pepper

2 tsp. lemon juice

Directions

Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.

Holiday Recipes

Since Monday Christmas, today's post deals with six more recipes for your holiday table (or, really, at any time). Check out the Easy Cranberry Sauce (so much better than the canned variety - and really very easy!) and the Acorn Squash Stuffed with Vegetarian Sausage and Apples. Enjoy!

Note: I'll be taking Monday off to spend time with family, but I will be back on Tuesday with more yummy recipes. Happy holidays, everyone!

FLUFFY CRAN-RASPBERRY SALAD

This is from My Food and Family, and begins, "Introduce our sweet Fluffy Cran-Raspberry Salad to the Thanksgiving table this year. This brightly colored Fluffy Cran-Raspberry Salad gets its delicious flavor from vanilla pudding, COOL WHIP topping and frozen raspberries."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Makes 12 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/209820/fluffy-cran-raspberry-salad.

Ingredients

2 cups frozen raspberries

1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1/2 cup cranberry juice

1 can (14 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

1-1/2 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows

Directions

Microwave raspberries in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or just until thawed.

Add dry pudding mix and cranberry juice; stir 2 min.

Add cranberry sauce; stir until blended. Gently stir in COOL WHIP, then marshmallows.

Refrigerate 1 hour.

Kitchen Tips

Tip 1

Note

This festive salad can be refrigerated up to 2 days. Just stir in the marshmallows just before serving.

Tip 2

How to Thaw COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Place unopened tub in refrigerator. An 8-oz. tub will be completely thawed in 4 hours. Do not thaw in microwave.

Tip 3

Special Extra

For a touch of color, garnish with fresh mint sprigs before serving.

GLAZED HAM WITH DRIED CHERRY CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Serves 10.

Source: NPB

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/971.shtml

Ingredients

3 pound fully-cooked boneless smoked ham

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

5 medium onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 5 cups)

3 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup dried tart cherries

1/3 cup cider vinegar

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon cardamom

1/4 cup almonds, sliced or slivered, and toasted

Directions

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Place ham on rack in shallow baking pan. Roast 45 minutes to 1 hour or until a meat thermometer registers 140 degrees F. (about 15 to 18 minutes per pound).

Meanwhile, for glaze, in a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon mustard. Brush ham with glaze during the last 5 minutes of baking.

To caramelize onions, cook onions in a covered Dutch oven in hot butter over medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until onions are just tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/2 cup dried cherries, 1/3 cup cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey and 1/2 teaspoon cardamom. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir in toasted almonds. Slice ham; serve with onion mixture.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 277; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 1337 mg; Cholesterol: 43 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g

HARVEST WALNUT PUMPKIN PIE

This comes from Allrecipes, and begins, "A walnut topping adds lovely crunch to this quick and easy spiced pumpkin pie with a hint of maple flavoring. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Servings: 8; Yield: 1 9-inch pie

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/268384/harvest-walnut-pumpkin-pie/.

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can plain pumpkin puree

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon maple-flavored extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Walnut Topping

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons butter, cubed

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Combine pumpkin, condensed milk, eggs, maple extract, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Mix well and pour into the graham cracker crust. Smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking until filling is set, about 30 minutes.

Prepare walnut topping while pie is baking. Mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Cut in butter with a fork until coarse crumbs form. Stir in walnuts.

Remove pie from the oven and cover evenly with the topping. Continue baking until topping is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.

Cook's Note

Substitute an unbaked pie shell for the graham cracker crust if preferred.

EASY CRANBERRY SAUCE

This comes from One Green Planet's newsletter. The recipe states, “My Easy Cranberry Sauce is not very sweet. It has a tangy tartness and makes a beautiful side dish for your holiday table.”

To view this and other cranberry recipes, click here.

Ingredients

12 oz. Bag of fresh or frozen cranberries, with 1/2 cup set aside

1 cup sugar

zest of 1 orange

2 Tbs. Water or orange juice

Directions

Set aside 1/ 2 cup cranberries in a bowl. Put the rest of the cranberries into a saucepan. Add sugar, orange zest and water or orange juice and cook over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and cranberries soften, about 10 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high and cook until cranberries burst, about another 10 minutes. Reduce heat back to low and add in the cranberries you set aside. Add more sugar if you want, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool (you can refrigerate it if you like your cranberry sauce cold) before serving.

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH VEGETARIAN SAUSAGE AND APPLES

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan recipe for acorn squash stuffed with vegetarian sausage and apples. Use store-bought vegetarian sausage to make this fall entree for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion meal. Stuffed acorn squash makes a very presentable centerpiece for a vegetarian of vegan meal. It's filled with a bread stuffing with plenty of fresh herbs, including sage and thyme - it's these herbs which will fill your kitchen and your entire home with that fabulous Thanksgiving aroma as it bakes.

“If you're looking for a gluten-free stuffed squash recipe, try using a quinoa stuffing instead of bread.

“This vegetarian and vegan stuffed acorn squash recipe serves four, but the portions are generous, so plan on it serving 6-8 if you're serving it as a side dish.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: 4 as a main, 6 - 8 as a side.

Note: I can no longer find a working link for this, but did want to post it while acknowledging Jolinda.

Ingredients

1 package vegetarian sausage (use Gimme Lean brand)

2 cups water

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

6 stalks celery, chopped fine

1 Tbsp fresh sage OR 1 tsp dried

1 Tbsp fresh thyme OR 1 tsp dried

6 oz plain stuffing cubes, OR 8 cups toasted bread crumbs

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 medium apple, any kind, diced

1/3 cup apple cider

2 large acorn squash, cut in half, with seeds removed

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°.

Lightly brown the vegetarian sausage in a non-stick skillet sprayed with a little olive oil, breaking it up and crumbling it with a spatula as it browns, just as you would with a meat sausage. Set aside.

Bring water and olive oil to a boil in a covered pot over high heat. Stir in onion, celery, sage, and thyme. Cook, covered, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in stuffing cubes, salt and pepper, applesauce, apple cider, and the browned sausage, mixing to combine. Taste, and adjust seasonings to taste.

Divide the stuffing evenly among the acorn squash halves. Arrange the halves in a roasting pan and pour water around (not on) the squash to 1 inch.

Lightly spray a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the pan with olive oil spray. This will prevent it from sticking to the stuffing. Cover the pan tightly, tending slightly with the sprayed side down.

Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork.

BAKED BUTTER CARROTS

This comes from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs. carrots

1 T salt

2 T oleo or butter

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

dash of pepper

2 tsp. lemon juice

Directions

Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.

Meatless Monday

It doesn't seem possible that it's only a week until Christmas and two weeks until New Year's Day. Where has this year gone?

Since this will be the last Meatless Monday post of the year (I will be taking Christmas Day off), here are six vegetarian recipes to include with your holiday meal, including Ultimate Stuffed Acorn Squash and Easy Cranberry Sauce. Enjoy!

HOLIDAY SEITAN ROAST

This is from the November 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 69, and begins, “Thinly slice the seitan when serving so that each bite gets coated in sauce.” Serves 8.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1 recipe homemade seitan (recipe follows) or 1 lb. seitan, divided into 2 pieces

2 Tbs. olive oil, divided

1 Tbs. unbleached all-purpose flour

1/4 cup red wine

1/4 cup tomato paste

1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

2 tsp. tamari or soy sauce

1/2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme

1/4 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary

8 oz. baby carrots (1 1/4 cups)

3 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)

1 large parsnip, chopped (4 oz.)

12 oz. small purple potatoes, halved

2 cups pearl onions, peeled and halved if large

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Combine salt, pepper, and paprika in small bowl. Rub over seitan pieces.

Heat 1 Tbs. oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add seitan, and brown 6 minutes, turning to cook all sides. Remove seitan from pan, and set aside.

Add remaining 1 Tbs. oil to pan, sprinkle with flour, and reduce heat to medium. Cook 3 minutes, or until smooth roux forms. Add wine, then tomato paste, broth, tamari, thyme, and rosemary; cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until sauce begins to thicken.

Transfer seitan to roasting pan. Surround with carrots, celery, parsnip, potatoes, and onions. Pour sauce over top. Cover with foil, and roast 35 to 45 minutes. Remove foil, and roast 10 to 15 minutes more. Thinly slice seitan, and serve with vegetables and sauce.

nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 287; Protein: 27 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 541 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 6 g; Vegan

HOMEMADE SEITAN

Also from the November 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 69. It begins, “Seitan is essentially a dough made with vital wheat gluten, a high-protein wheat flour, and liquid. The dough can be rinsed or poached to become a chewy meat substitute that can be added to many different dishes. We've added light seasonings to this recipe so that it will work in any dish, but feel free to play around with flavors and shapes. This tried-and-true favorite can be used in any recipe calling for seitan.” Makes 1 pound.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/homemade-seitan/

Ingredients

2 cups vital wheat gluten

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

2 tsp. garlic powder

5 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided

2 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce

1/2 small onion, diced

1 clove garlic, crushed

Directions

Combine wheat gluten, yeast, and garlic powder in large bowl. Stir in 1 cup broth and soy sauce until dough forms, adding more broth if necessary. Knead dough in bowl with spoon 3 minutes, or until elastic. Shape into 2 loaves.

Place loaves in large saucepan, and add remaining 4 cups broth, onion, garlic, and enough water to cover seitan. Cover, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 30 to 45 minutes, or until seitan is firm. Remove from heat, and cool in broth.

nutritional information Per Per 2-oz. Serving: Calories: 176; Protein: 25 g; Total Fat: lees than 1 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 167 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: less than 1 g; Vegan

EASY CRANBERRY SAUCE

This comes from One Green Planet's newsletter. The recipe states, “My Easy Cranberry Sauce is not very sweet. It has a tangy tartness and makes a beautiful side dish for your holiday table.”

To view this and other cranberry recipes, click here.

Ingredients

12 oz. Bag of fresh or frozen cranberries, with 1/2 cup set aside

1 cup sugar

zest of 1 orange

2 Tbs. Water or orange juice

Directions

Set aside 1/2 cup cranberries in a bowl. Put the rest of the cranberries into a saucepan. Add sugar, orange zest and water or orange juice and cook over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and cranberries soften, about 10 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high and cook until cranberries burst, about another 10 minutes. Reduce heat back to low and add in the cranberries you set aside. Add more sugar if you want, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool (you can refrigerate it if you like your cranberry sauce cold) before serving.

SPICE TEA

This comes from my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking, found on Amazon.com. I used to make this every year for Christmas presents. Nice-tasting, and everyone seemed to enjoy getting this. If you think you may need any last-minute presents, this can fit the bill.

Ingredients

8 oz loose tea

1 1/2 – 2 sticks cinnamon

3 orange peels

2 T chopped cloves

Directions

Cut orange peels into small pieces. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let cool, add to loose tea, along with broken cinnamon sticks & cloves. Store in tight containers.

DUCHESS POTATOES

This was in the November/December 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 67. It begins, "Mashed potatoes usually have to be made just before serving, but this ingenious dish lets you mash them a day ahead, then shape into swirls. If you don’t have a pastry bag, shape with an ice cream scoop."

Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/duchess-potatoes/.

Ingredients

3 lb. russet potatoes (about 3 large), peeled and cubed

4 Tbs. unsalted butter

3/4 cup low-fat sour cream

2 egg yolks

1/2 cup chopped chives

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Bring potatoes and enough water to cover to a boil in pot. Reduce heat to medium, and cook 10 minutes, or until soft. Drain, and mash until smooth. Stir in butter and sour cream, then egg yolks and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Transfer potatoes to pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe 8 swirled ovals onto prepared baking sheet. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until edges begin to brown, or refrigerate until ready to use.

ULTIMATE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

This comes from Vegetarian Times (November 2013, page 53), and begins, "The Native American “three sisters”—corn, beans, and squash—come together in these individual holiday entrées stuffed with corn pudding and black beans." Makes 8 servings. Great for holiday meals

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/ultimate-stuffed-acorn-squash/.

Ingredients

3 Tbs. olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.), divided

4 acorn squash, halved and seeded

1/2 tsp. ancho chile powder, plus more for sprinkling squash

1/2 tsp. ground coriander, plus more for sprinkling squash

3 cups fresh or frozen organic corn kernels, divided

2/3 cup yellow cornmeal

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper, optional

1 cup low-fat buttermilk

2 large eggs

4 Tbs. melted butter or olive oil

3 oz. soft goat cheese or low-fat cream cheese (1/3 cup)

3 oz. grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese (3/4 cup), plus more for sprinkling tops, optional

1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 large poblano chile or 1 small red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)

8 green onions, white and green parts thinly sliced (1 cup), plus more for sprinkling tops

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine oil and 2 tsp. minced garlic in small bowl. Brush squash halves with garlic oil, and sprinkle lightly with ancho chile powder and coriander. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and place on large baking sheet.

Pulse 2 cups corn kernels in food processor until finely chopped and milky. Set aside.

Whisk 1/2 tsp. each coriander and ancho chile powder into cornmeal, along with sugar, baking soda, salt, and cayenne (if using) in medium bowl. Set aside.

Whisk together buttermilk and eggs in separate bowl. Whisk in butter, then puréed corn, remaining 1 cup corn kernels, goat cheese, Cheddar, and remaining 2 tsp. garlic. Fold in cornmeal mixture with spatula, then fold in black beans, poblano chile, and green onions.

Divide filling among squash halves. Sprinkle each squash with extra Cheddar (if using).

Bake squash halves 30 to 45 minutes, or until squash are tender and filling is set. Sprinkle with green onions. Squash can be prepared 24 hours ahead, then reheated 20 minutes at 325°F.

Holiday Recipes

Since Christmas is tomorrow, today's double post deals with six more recipes for your Christmas table (or, really, at any time). Check out the Easy Cranberry Sauce (so much better than the canned variety - and really very easy!) and the Acorn Squash Stuffed with Vegetarian Sausage and Apples. Enjoy!

FLUFFY CRAN-RASPBERRY SALAD

This is from My Food and Family, and begins, "Introduce our sweet Fluffy Cran-Raspberry Salad to the Thanksgiving table this year. This brightly colored Fluffy Cran-Raspberry Salad gets its delicious flavor from vanilla pudding, COOL WHIP topping and frozen raspberries."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Makes 12 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/209820/fluffy-cran-raspberry-salad.

Ingredients

2 cups frozen raspberries

1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1/2 cup cranberry juice

1 can (14 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

1-1/2 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows

Directions

Microwave raspberries in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or just until thawed.

Add dry pudding mix and cranberry juice; stir 2 min.

Add cranberry sauce; stir until blended. Gently stir in COOL WHIP, then marshmallows.

Refrigerate 1 hour.

Kitchen Tips

Tip 1

Note

This festive salad can be refrigerated up to 2 days. Just stir in the marshmallows just before serving.

Tip 2

How to Thaw COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Place unopened tub in refrigerator. An 8-oz. tub will be completely thawed in 4 hours. Do not thaw in microwave.

Tip 3

Special Extra

For a touch of color, garnish with fresh mint sprigs before serving.

GLAZED HAM WITH DRIED CHERRY CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Serves 10.

Source: NPB

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/971.shtml

Ingredients

3 pound fully-cooked boneless smoked ham

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

5 medium onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 5 cups)

3 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup dried tart cherries

1/3 cup cider vinegar

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon cardamom

1/4 cup almonds, sliced or slivered, and toasted

Directions

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Place ham on rack in shallow baking pan. Roast 45 minutes to 1 hour or until a meat thermometer registers 140 degrees F. (about 15 to 18 minutes per pound).

Meanwhile, for glaze, in a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon mustard. Brush ham with glaze during the last 5 minutes of baking.

To caramelize onions, cook onions in a covered Dutch oven in hot butter over medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until onions are just tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/2 cup dried cherries, 1/3 cup cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey and 1/2 teaspoon cardamom. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir in toasted almonds. Slice ham; serve with onion mixture.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 277; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 1337 mg; Cholesterol: 43 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g

HARVEST WALNUT PUMPKIN PIE

This comes from Allrecipes, and begins, "A walnut topping adds lovely crunch to this quick and easy spiced pumpkin pie with a hint of maple flavoring. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Servings: 8; Yield: 1 9-inch pie

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/268384/harvest-walnut-pumpkin-pie/.

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can plain pumpkin puree

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon maple-flavored extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Walnut Topping

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons butter, cubed

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Combine pumpkin, condensed milk, eggs, maple extract, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Mix well and pour into the graham cracker crust. Smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking until filling is set, about 30 minutes.

Prepare walnut topping while pie is baking. Mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Cut in butter with a fork until coarse crumbs form. Stir in walnuts.

Remove pie from the oven and cover evenly with the topping. Continue baking until topping is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.

Cook's Note

Substitute an unbaked pie shell for the graham cracker crust if preferred.

EASY CRANBERRY SAUCE

This comes from One Green Planet's newsletter. The recipe states, “My Easy Cranberry Sauce is not very sweet. It has a tangy tartness and makes a beautiful side dish for your holiday table.”

To view this and other cranberry recipes, click here.

Ingredients

12 oz. Bag of fresh or frozen cranberries, with 1/2 cup set aside

1 cup sugar

zest of 1 orange

2 Tbs. Water or orange juice

Directions

Set aside 1/ 2 cup cranberries in a bowl. Put the rest of the cranberries into a saucepan. Add sugar, orange zest and water or orange juice and cook over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and cranberries soften, about 10 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high and cook until cranberries burst, about another 10 minutes. Reduce heat back to low and add in the cranberries you set aside. Add more sugar if you want, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool (you can refrigerate it if you like your cranberry sauce cold) before serving.

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH VEGETARIAN SAUSAGE AND APPLES

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan recipe for acorn squash stuffed with vegetarian sausage and apples. Use store-bought vegetarian sausage to make this fall entree for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion meal. Stuffed acorn squash makes a very presentable centerpiece for a vegetarian of vegan meal. It's filled with a bread stuffing with plenty of fresh herbs, including sage and thyme - it's these herbs which will fill your kitchen and your entire home with that fabulous Thanksgiving aroma as it bakes.

“If you're looking for a gluten-free stuffed squash recipe, try using a quinoa stuffing instead of bread.

“This vegetarian and vegan stuffed acorn squash recipe serves four, but the portions are generous, so plan on it serving 6-8 if you're serving it as a side dish.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: 4 as a main, 6 - 8 as a side.

Note: I can no longer find a working link for this, but did want to post it while acknowledging Jolinda.

Ingredients

1 package vegetarian sausage (use Gimme Lean brand)

2 cups water

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

6 stalks celery, chopped fine

1 Tbsp fresh sage OR 1 tsp dried

1 Tbsp fresh thyme OR 1 tsp dried

6 oz plain stuffing cubes, OR 8 cups toasted bread crumbs

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 medium apple, any kind, diced

1/3 cup apple cider

2 large acorn squash, cut in half, with seeds removed

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°.

Lightly brown the vegetarian sausage in a non-stick skillet sprayed with a little olive oil, breaking it up and crumbling it with a spatula as it browns, just as you would with a meat sausage. Set aside.

Bring water and olive oil to a boil in a covered pot over high heat. Stir in onion, celery, sage, and thyme. Cook, covered, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in stuffing cubes, salt and pepper, applesauce, apple cider, and the browned sausage, mixing to combine. Taste, and adjust seasonings to taste.

Divide the stuffing evenly among the acorn squash halves. Arrange the halves in a roasting pan and pour water around (not on) the squash to 1 inch.

Lightly spray a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the pan with olive oil spray. This will prevent it from sticking to the stuffing. Cover the pan tightly, tending slightly with the sprayed side down.

Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork.

BAKED BUTTER CARROTS

This comes from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs. carrots

1 T salt

2 T oleo or butter

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

dash of pepper

2 tsp. lemon juice

Directions

Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.

Christmas Recipes - Double-Post Thursday

Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Since Christmas is this tomorrow, today's double post deals with six more recipes for your Christmas table (or, really, at any time). Check out the Easy Cranberry Sauce (so much better than the canned variety - and really very easy!) and the Acorn Squash Stuffed with Vegetarian Sausage and Apples. Enjoy!

Note: I'll be taking tomorrow off to spend time with family. See you Monday for the start of another week of yummy recipes!

TURKEY BREAST ROULADE WITH GARLIC AND ROSMARY

This recipe is by Ina Garten and adapted by Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, "Ina Garten has been known as the Barefoot Contessa since she opened a gourmet store by that name in East Hampton, N.Y., in 1985. She shared this recipe from her book “Modern Comfort Food” with The Times for Thanksgiving in 2020, when many cooks were looking for alternatives to whole turkey. If you don’t like fennel seeds, leave them out: Garlic, sage and rosemary give this roast the flavors of Italian porchetta, and it will still be fragrant, juicy and delicious without them."

Time: 3 hours; Yield: 8 to 10 servings

This yummy recipe (and aren't most of Ina's recipes yummy?) was featured in "How Does Ina Do It?", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021643-turkey-breast-roulade-with-garlic-and-rosemary.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons good-quality olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)

3/4 teaspoon whole fennel seeds

6 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves, plus 4 whole sage leaves

1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary leaves

1 whole butterflied boneless, skin-on turkey breast (about 4 to 5 pounds)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup cold unsalted butter (1/2 stick)

4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto

1 cup dry white wine, such as Chablis

Preparation

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium (10-inch) skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and fennel seeds and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the onion is tender. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Off the heat, stir in the chopped sage and the rosemary; set aside to cool.

Set the turkey breast on a cutting board and open it up, skin side down. If necessary, pound the turkey to an even thickness of about 1 inch. Sprinkle the turkey with 4 teaspoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Once the onion mixture has cooled, spread it evenly on the meat. Grate the butter and sprinkle it on top. Arrange the prosciutto on top to totally cover the filling and meat.

Starting at one long end of the turkey breast, roll the meat up jelly-roll style to make a compact cylindrical roulade, ending with the seam side down. Tie the roulade tightly with kitchen twine at 2 to 2 1/2-inch intervals to ensure that it will roast evenly. Slip the whole sage leaves under the twine down the center of the roulade.

Place the roulade, seam side down, in a roasting pan and pat the skin dry with paper towels. Brush the skin with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pour the wine and 1 cup water into the roasting pan, surrounding the turkey with the liquids without pouring them directly over the roulade. Roast for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours, until the skin is golden brown and the internal temperature is 150 degrees.

Remove from the oven, cover the turkey with foil, and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Remove the string, slice the roulade crosswise in 1/2-inch-thick slices, and serve warm with the pan juices.

FLUFFY CRAN-RASPBERRY SALAD

This is from My Food and Family, and begins, "Introduce our sweet Fluffy Cran-Raspberry Salad to the Thanksgiving table this year. This brightly colored Fluffy Cran-Raspberry Salad gets its delicious flavor from vanilla pudding, COOL WHIP topping and frozen raspberries."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Makes 12 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/209820/fluffy-cran-raspberry-salad.

Ingredients

2 cups frozen raspberries

1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1/2 cup cranberry juice

1 can (14 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

1-1/2 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows

Directions

Microwave raspberries in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or just until thawed.

Add dry pudding mix and cranberry juice; stir 2 min.

Add cranberry sauce; stir until blended. Gently stir in COOL WHIP, then marshmallows.

Refrigerate 1 hour.

Kitchen Tips

Tip 1

Note

This festive salad can be refrigerated up to 2 days. Just stir in the marshmallows just before serving.

Tip 2

How to Thaw COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Place unopened tub in refrigerator. An 8-oz. tub will be completely thawed in 4 hours. Do not thaw in microwave.

Tip 3

Special Extra

For a touch of color, garnish with fresh mint sprigs before serving.

HARVEST WALNUT PUMPKIN PIE

This comes from Allrecipes, and begins, "A walnut topping adds lovely crunch to this quick and easy spiced pumpkin pie with a hint of maple flavoring. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Servings: 8; Yield: 1 9-inch pie

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/268384/harvest-walnut-pumpkin-pie/.

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can plain pumpkin puree

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon maple-flavored extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Walnut Topping

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons butter, cubed

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Combine pumpkin, condensed milk, eggs, maple extract, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Mix well and pour into the graham cracker crust. Smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking until filling is set, about 30 minutes.

Prepare walnut topping while pie is baking. Mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Cut in butter with a fork until coarse crumbs form. Stir in walnuts.

Remove pie from the oven and cover evenly with the topping. Continue baking until topping is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.

Cook's Note

Substitute an unbaked pie shell for the graham cracker crust if preferred.

EASY CRANBERRY SAUCE

This comes from One Green Planet's newsletter. The recipe states, “My Easy Cranberry Sauce is not very sweet. It has a tangy tartness and makes a beautiful side dish for your holiday table.”

To view this and other cranberry recipes, click here.

Ingredients

12 oz. Bag of fresh or frozen cranberries, with 1/2 cup set aside

1 cup sugar

zest of 1 orange

2 Tbs. Water or orange juice

Directions

Set aside 1/ 2 cup cranberries in a bowl. Put the rest of the cranberries into a saucepan. Add sugar, orange zest and water or orange juice and cook over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and cranberries soften, about 10 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high and cook until cranberries burst, about another 10 minutes. Reduce heat back to low and add in the cranberries you set aside. Add more sugar if you want, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool (you can refrigerate it if you like your cranberry sauce cold) before serving.

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH VEGETARIAN SAUSAGE AND APPLES

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan recipe for acorn squash stuffed with vegetarian sausage and apples. Use store-bought vegetarian sausage to make this fall entree for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion meal. Stuffed acorn squash makes a very presentable centerpiece for a vegetarian of vegan meal. It's filled with a bread stuffing with plenty of fresh herbs, including sage and thyme - it's these herbs which will fill your kitchen and your entire home with that fabulous Thanksgiving aroma as it bakes.

“If you're looking for a gluten-free stuffed squash recipe, try using a quinoa stuffing instead of bread.

“This vegetarian and vegan stuffed acorn squash recipe serves four, but the portions are generous, so plan on it serving 6-8 if you're serving it as a side dish.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: 4 as a main, 6 - 8 as a side.

Note: I can no longer find a working link for this, but did want to post it while acknowledging Jolinda.

Ingredients

1 package vegetarian sausage (use Gimme Lean brand)

2 cups water

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

6 stalks celery, chopped fine

1 Tbsp fresh sage OR 1 tsp dried

1 Tbsp fresh thyme OR 1 tsp dried

6 oz plain stuffing cubes, OR 8 cups toasted bread crumbs

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 medium apple, any kind, diced

1/3 cup apple cider

2 large acorn squash, cut in half, with seeds removed

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°.

Lightly brown the vegetarian sausage in a non-stick skillet sprayed with a little olive oil, breaking it up and crumbling it with a spatula as it browns, just as you would with a meat sausage. Set aside.

Bring water and olive oil to a boil in a covered pot over high heat. Stir in onion, celery, sage, and thyme. Cook, covered, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in stuffing cubes, salt and pepper, applesauce, apple cider, and the browned sausage, mixing to combine. Taste, and adjust seasonings to taste.

Divide the stuffing evenly among the acorn squash halves. Arrange the halves in a roasting pan and pour water around (not on) the squash to 1 inch.

Lightly spray a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the pan with olive oil spray. This will prevent it from sticking to the stuffing. Cover the pan tightly, tending slightly with the sprayed side down.

Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork.

BAKED BUTTER CARROTS

This comes from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs. carrots

1 T salt

2 T oleo or butter

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

dash of pepper

2 tsp. lemon juice

Directions

Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.

Thanksgiving Recipes - Double-Post Tuesday

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Since Thanksgiving is this week, today's double post deals with six more recipes for your Thanksgiving table (or, really, at any time). Check out the Easy Cranberry Sauce (so much better than the canned variety - and really very easy!) and the Acorn Squash Stuffed with Vegetarian Sausage and Apples. Enjoy!

TURKEY BREAST ROULADE WITH GARLIC AND ROSMARY

This recipe is by Ina Garten and adapted by Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, "Ina Garten has been known as the Barefoot Contessa since she opened a gourmet store by that name in East Hampton, N.Y., in 1985. She shared this recipe from her book “Modern Comfort Food” with The Times for Thanksgiving in 2020, when many cooks were looking for alternatives to whole turkey. If you don’t like fennel seeds, leave them out: Garlic, sage and rosemary give this roast the flavors of Italian porchetta, and it will still be fragrant, juicy and delicious without them."

Time: 3 hours; Yield: 8 to 10 servings

This yummy recipe (and aren't most of Ina's recipes yummy?) was featured in "How Does Ina Do It?", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021643-turkey-breast-roulade-with-garlic-and-rosemary.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons good-quality olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)

3/4 teaspoon whole fennel seeds

6 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves, plus 4 whole sage leaves

1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary leaves

1 whole butterflied boneless, skin-on turkey breast (about 4 to 5 pounds)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup cold unsalted butter (1/2 stick)

4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto

1 cup dry white wine, such as Chablis

Preparation

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium (10-inch) skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and fennel seeds and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the onion is tender. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Off the heat, stir in the chopped sage and the rosemary; set aside to cool.

Set the turkey breast on a cutting board and open it up, skin side down. If necessary, pound the turkey to an even thickness of about 1 inch. Sprinkle the turkey with 4 teaspoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Once the onion mixture has cooled, spread it evenly on the meat. Grate the butter and sprinkle it on top. Arrange the prosciutto on top to totally cover the filling and meat.

Starting at one long end of the turkey breast, roll the meat up jelly-roll style to make a compact cylindrical roulade, ending with the seam side down. Tie the roulade tightly with kitchen twine at 2 to 2 1/2-inch intervals to ensure that it will roast evenly. Slip the whole sage leaves under the twine down the center of the roulade.

Place the roulade, seam side down, in a roasting pan and pat the skin dry with paper towels. Brush the skin with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pour the wine and 1 cup water into the roasting pan, surrounding the turkey with the liquids without pouring them directly over the roulade. Roast for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours, until the skin is golden brown and the internal temperature is 150 degrees.

Remove from the oven, cover the turkey with foil, and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Remove the string, slice the roulade crosswise in 1/2-inch-thick slices, and serve warm with the pan juices.

FLUFFY CRAN-RASPBERRY SALAD

This is from My Food and Family, and begins, "Introduce our sweet Fluffy Cran-Raspberry Salad to the Thanksgiving table this year. This brightly colored Fluffy Cran-Raspberry Salad gets its delicious flavor from vanilla pudding, COOL WHIP topping and frozen raspberries."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Makes 12 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/209820/fluffy-cran-raspberry-salad.

Ingredients

2 cups frozen raspberries

1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1/2 cup cranberry juice

1 can (14 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

1-1/2 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows

Directions

Microwave raspberries in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or just until thawed.

Add dry pudding mix and cranberry juice; stir 2 min.

Add cranberry sauce; stir until blended. Gently stir in COOL WHIP, then marshmallows.

Refrigerate 1 hour.

Kitchen Tips

Tip 1

Note

This festive salad can be refrigerated up to 2 days. Just stir in the marshmallows just before serving.

Tip 2

How to Thaw COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Place unopened tub in refrigerator. An 8-oz. tub will be completely thawed in 4 hours. Do not thaw in microwave.

Tip 3

Special Extra

For a touch of color, garnish with fresh mint sprigs before serving.

HARVEST WALNUT PUMPKIN PIE

This comes from Allrecipes, and begins, "A walnut topping adds lovely crunch to this quick and easy spiced pumpkin pie with a hint of maple flavoring. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Servings: 8; Yield: 1 9-inch pie

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/268384/harvest-walnut-pumpkin-pie/.

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can plain pumpkin puree

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon maple-flavored extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Walnut Topping

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons butter, cubed

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Combine pumpkin, condensed milk, eggs, maple extract, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Mix well and pour into the graham cracker crust. Smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking until filling is set, about 30 minutes.

Prepare walnut topping while pie is baking. Mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Cut in butter with a fork until coarse crumbs form. Stir in walnuts.

Remove pie from the oven and cover evenly with the topping. Continue baking until topping is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.

Cook's Note

Substitute an unbaked pie shell for the graham cracker crust if preferred.

EASY CRANBERRY SAUCE

This comes from One Green Planet's newsletter. The recipe states, “My Easy Cranberry Sauce is not very sweet. It has a tangy tartness and makes a beautiful side dish for your holiday table.”

To view this and other cranberry recipes, click here.

12 oz. Bag of fresh or frozen cranberries, with 1/2 cup set aside

1 cup sugar

zest of 1 orange

2 Tbs. Water or orange juice

Set aside 1/ 2 cup cranberries in a bowl. Put the rest of the cranberries into a saucepan. Add sugar, orange zest and water or orange juice and cook over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and cranberries soften, about 10 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high and cook until cranberries burst, about another 10 minutes. Reduce heat back to low and add in the cranberries you set aside. Add more sugar if you want, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool (you can refrigerate it if you like your cranberry sauce cold) before serving.

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH VEGETARIAN SAUSAGE AND APPLES

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan recipe for acorn squash stuffed with vegetarian sausage and apples. Use store-bought vegetarian sausage to make this fall entree for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion meal. Stuffed acorn squash makes a very presentable centerpiece for a vegetarian of vegan meal. It's filled with a bread stuffing with plenty of fresh herbs, including sage and thyme - it's these herbs which will fill your kitchen and your entire home with that fabulous Thanksgiving aroma as it bakes.

“If you're looking for a gluten-free stuffed squash recipe, try using a quinoa stuffing instead of bread.

“This vegetarian and vegan stuffed acorn squash recipe serves four, but the portions are generous, so plan on it serving 6-8 if you're serving it as a side dish.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: 4 as a main, 6 - 8 as a side.

Note: I can no longer find a working link for this, but did want to post it while acknowledging Jolinda.

Ingredients

1 package vegetarian sausage (use Gimme Lean brand)

2 cups water

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

6 stalks celery, chopped fine

1 Tbsp fresh sage OR 1 tsp dried

1 Tbsp fresh thyme OR 1 tsp dried

6 oz plain stuffing cubes, OR 8 cups toasted bread crumbs

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 medium apple, any kind, diced

1/3 cup apple cider

2 large acorn squash, cut in half, with seeds removed

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°.

Lightly brown the vegetarian sausage in a non-stick skillet sprayed with a little olive oil, breaking it up and crumbling it with a spatula as it browns, just as you would with a meat sausage. Set aside.

Bring water and olive oil to a boil in a covered pot over high heat. Stir in onion, celery, sage, and thyme. Cook, covered, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in stuffing cubes, salt and pepper, applesauce, apple cider, and the browned sausage, mixing to combine. Taste, and adjust seasonings to taste.

Divide the stuffing evenly among the acorn squash halves. Arrange the halves in a roasting pan and pour water around (not on) the squash to 1 inch.

Lightly spray a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the pan with olive oil spray. This will prevent it from sticking to the stuffing. Cover the pan tightly, tending slightly with the sprayed side down.

Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork.

BAKED BUTTER CARROTS

This comes from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs. carrots

1 T salt

2 T oleo or butter

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

dash of pepper

2 tsp. lemon juice

Directions

Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.

Acorn Squash Stuffed...,Harvest Walnut Pumpkin Pie,Turkey Breast Roulade w/Garlic...,Easy Cranberry Sauce,Fluffy Cran-Raspberry Salad,Baked Butter Carrots,

Thanksgiving Recipes - Double-Post Tuesday

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Here are six recipes to help with your Thanksgiving holiday meal, including Cranberry Orange Quick Bread and Easy Cranberry Sauce. Enjoy!

LENTIL VEGETABLE SOUP

This comes from Ina Garten of The Food Network's Barefoot Contessa. Total Time: 2 hr 5 min; Prep: 20 min; Inactive: 15 min; Cook: 1 hr 30 min; Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Level: Easy

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lentil-vegetable-soup-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

1 pound French green lentils

4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 large onions)

4 cups chopped leeks, white part only (2 leeks)

1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)

1/4 cup good olive oil, plus additional for drizzling on top

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried

1 teaspoon ground cumin

3 cups medium-diced celery (8 stalks)

3 cups medium-diced carrots (4 to 6 carrots)

3 quarts chicken stock

1/4 cup tomato paste

2 tablespoons red wine or red wine vinegar

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a large bowl, cover the lentils with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drain.

In a large stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions, leeks, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and cumin for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are translucent and very tender. Add the celery and carrots and saute for 10 more minutes. Add the chicken stock, tomato paste, and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, until the lentils are cooked through. Check the seasonings. Add the red wine and serve hot, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with grated Parmesan.

CRANBERRY ORANGE QUICK BREAD

This comes from Elizabeth Yetter, who wrote from The Spruce Eats. Elizabeth wrote, “Enjoy the sweet taste of dried cranberries and the aroma of oranges with this delicious recipe for cranberry orange quick bread. The quick bread batter is made into 3 mini loaves that are perfect for family gatherings and gift giving. Individual loaves can be wrapped in foil, bagged, and frozen if they are not glazed.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 75 minutes

Note: The old link no longer worked, but this is so yummy, I wanted to post it, along with acknowledging Elizabeth.

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tbsp cinnamon

pinch of salt

2/3 cup butter, chilled

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup dried cranberries

rind and juice from medium orange

milk (see instructions)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/3 cup confectioner’s sugar

water

Preparation:

Grease 3 mini loaf pans.

Preheat oven 350 degrees F.

In large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

Cut butter into thin slices and add to bowl. Break butter into mixture with fingers until mixture is crumbly.

Stir in brown sugar.

Stir in cranberries.

Grate the rind off of one medium orange. Add rind to the mixture.

Cut orange in half and squeeze juice out into bowl. Remove any seeds from juice.

Pour orange juice (it should be about 1/4 cup) into liquid measuring cup. Add enough milk to the orange juice to make 3/4 cup.

Pour orange juice and milk into mixture. Add eggs and stir. Batter should be thick but not dry. If necessary, add more milk, a tablespoon at a time.

Scrape batter into three greased mini loaf pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until done.

Turn loaves out and let cool on rack.

In small bowl, add enough water to confectioner’s sugar to make a thin icing. Drizzle icing over loaves.

EASY CRANBERRY SAUCE

This comes from One Green Planet's newsletter. The recipe states, “My Easy Cranberry Sauce is not very sweet. It has a tangy tartness and makes a beautiful side dish for your holiday table.”

To view this and other cranberry recipes, click here.

12 oz. Bag of fresh or frozen cranberries, with 1/2 cup set aside

1 cup sugar

zest of 1 orange

2 Tbs. Water or orange juice

Set aside 1/ 2 cup cranberries in a bowl. Put the rest of the cranberries into a saucepan. Add sugar, orange zest and water or orange juice and cook over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and cranberries soften, about 10 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high and cook until cranberries burst, about another 10 minutes. Reduce heat back to low and add in the cranberries you set aside. Add more sugar if you want, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool (you can refrigerate it if you like your cranberry sauce cold) before serving.

HOT CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “These one-bowl brownies couldn't be easier to make, and adding leftover hot chocolate mix is the perfect way to make them extra special. Interested in a Mexican hot chocolate version? Just add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients and sprinkle the top of each brownie with a pinch of chili powder.” Total Time: 1 hr 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 35 min; Yield: 24 brownies; Level: Easy

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-brownies.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

Cooking spray

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 cup sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix

1 teaspoon fine salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

One 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips

72 mini marshmallows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, and spray with the cooking spray.

Stir together the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add the flour, hot chocolate mix, salt and baking powder and stir until just combined. Stir in half the chocolate chips. Spread the mixture in the prepared baking pan.

Bake until the brownies begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and are set in the center, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven, immediately sprinkle with the remaining chocolate chips, and let stand until they are very soft, about 5 minutes. Spread the melted chips evenly with a spatula, and let cool for about 10 minutes. Use the foil to lift the brownies out of the pan, and let cool completely on a rack. Cut into 24 squares, and top each with 3 mini marshmallows.

BAKED BUTTER CARROTS

This comes from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!

2 1/2 lbs. carrots

1 T salt

2 T oleo or butter

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

dash of pepper

2 tsp. lemon juice

Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH VEGETARIAN SAUSAGE AND APPLES

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan recipe for acorn squash stuffed with vegetarian sausage and apples. Use store-bought vegetarian sausage to make this fall entree for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion meal. Stuffed acorn squash makes a very presentable centerpiece for a vegetarian of vegan meal. It's filled with a bread stuffing with plenty of fresh herbs, including sage and thyme - it's these herbs which will fill your kitchen and your entire home with that fabulous Thanksgiving aroma as it bakes.

“If you're looking for a gluten-free stuffed squash recipe, try using a quinoa stuffing instead of bread.

“This vegetarian and vegan stuffed acorn squash recipe serves four, but the portions are generous, so plan on it serving 6-8 if you're serving it as a side dish.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: 4 as a main, 6 - 8 as a side.

Note: I can no longer find a working link for this, but did want to post it while acknowledging Jolinda.

Ingredients

1 package vegetarian sausage (use Gimme Lean brand)

2 cups water

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

6 stalks celery, chopped fine

1 Tbsp fresh sage OR 1 tsp dried

1 Tbsp fresh thyme OR 1 tsp dried

6 oz plain stuffing cubes, OR 8 cups toasted bread crumbs

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 medium apple, any kind, diced

1/3 cup apple cider

2 large acorn squash, cut in half, with seeds removed

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°.

Lightly brown the vegetarian sausage in a non-stick skillet sprayed with a little olive oil, breaking it up and crumbling it with a spatula as it browns, just as you would with a meat sausage. Set aside.

Bring water and olive oil to a boil in a covered pot over high heat. Stir in onion, celery, sage, and thyme. Cook, covered, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in stuffing cubes, salt and pepper, applesauce, apple cider, and the browned sausage, mixing to combine. Taste, and adjust seasonings to taste.

Divide the stuffing evenly among the acorn squash halves. Arrange the halves in a roasting pan and pour water around (not on) the squash to 1 inch.

Lightly spray a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the pan with olive oil spray. This will prevent it from sticking to the stuffing. Cover the pan tightly, tending slightly with the sprayed side down.

Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork. F

Double-Post Tuesday - Thanksgiving Style

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Here are six recipes to help with your Thanksgiving holiday meal, including Cranberry Orange Quick Bread and Easy Cranberry Sauce. Enjoy!

LENTIL VEGETABLE SOUP

This comes from Ina Garten of The Food Network's Barefoot Contessa. Total Time: 2 hr 5 min; Prep: 20 min; Inactive: 15 min; Cook: 1 hr 30 min; Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Level: Easy

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lentil-vegetable-soup-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

1 pound French green lentils

4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 large onions)

4 cups chopped leeks, white part only (2 leeks)

1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)

1/4 cup good olive oil, plus additional for drizzling on top

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried

1 teaspoon ground cumin

3 cups medium-diced celery (8 stalks)

3 cups medium-diced carrots (4 to 6 carrots)

3 quarts chicken stock

1/4 cup tomato paste

2 tablespoons red wine or red wine vinegar

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a large bowl, cover the lentils with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drain.

In a large stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions, leeks, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and cumin for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are translucent and very tender. Add the celery and carrots and saute for 10 more minutes. Add the chicken stock, tomato paste, and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, until the lentils are cooked through. Check the seasonings. Add the red wine and serve hot, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with grated Parmesan.

CRANBERRY ORANGE QUICK BREAD

This comes from Elizabeth Yetter, About.com's Bread Baking expert. Elizabeth wrote, “Enjoy the sweet taste of dried cranberries and the aroma of oranges with this delicious recipe for cranberry orange quick bread. The quick bread batter is made into 3 mini loaves that are perfect for family gatherings and gift giving. Individual loaves can be wrapped in foil, bagged, and frozen if they are not glazed.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 75 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tbsp cinnamon

pinch of salt

2/3 cup butter, chilled

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup dried cranberries

rind and juice from medium orange

milk (see instructions)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/3 cup confectioner’s sugar

water

Preparation:

Grease 3 mini loaf pans.

Preheat oven 350 degrees F.

In large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

Cut butter into thin slices and add to bowl. Break butter into mixture with fingers until mixture is crumbly.

Stir in brown sugar.

Stir in cranberries.

Grate the rind off of one medium orange. Add rind to the mixture.

Cut orange in half and squeeze juice out into bowl. Remove any seeds from juice.

Pour orange juice (it should be about 1/4 cup) into liquid measuring cup. Add enough milk to the orange juice to make 3/4 cup.

Pour orange juice and milk into mixture. Add eggs and stir. Batter should be thick but not dry. If necessary, add more milk, a tablespoon at a time.

Scrape batter into three greased mini loaf pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until done.

Turn loaves out and let cool on rack.

In small bowl, add enough water to confectioner’s sugar to make a thin icing. Drizzle icing over loaves.

EASY CRANBERRY SAUCE

This comes from One Green Planet's newsletter. The recipe states, “My Easy Cranberry Sauce is not very sweet. It has a tangy tartness and makes a beautiful side dish for your holiday table.”

To view this and other cranberry recipes, click here.

12 oz. Bag of fresh or frozen cranberries, with 1/2 cup set aside

1 cup sugar

zest of 1 orange

2 Tbs. Water or orange juice

Set aside 1/ 2 cup cranberries in a bowl. Put the rest of the cranberries into a saucepan. Add sugar, orange zest and water or orange juice and cook over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and cranberries soften, about 10 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high and cook until cranberries burst, about another 10 minutes. Reduce heat back to low and add in the cranberries you set aside. Add more sugar if you want, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool (you can refrigerate it if you like your cranberry sauce cold) before serving.

HOT CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “These one-bowl brownies couldn't be easier to make, and adding leftover hot chocolate mix is the perfect way to make them extra special. Interested in a Mexican hot chocolate version? Just add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients and sprinkle the top of each brownie with a pinch of chili powder.” Total Time: 1 hr 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 35 min; Yield: 24 brownies; Level: Easy

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-brownies.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

Cooking spray

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 cup sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix

1 teaspoon fine salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

One 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips

72 mini marshmallows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, and spray with the cooking spray.

Stir together the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add the flour, hot chocolate mix, salt and baking powder and stir until just combined. Stir in half the chocolate chips. Spread the mixture in the prepared baking pan.

Bake until the brownies begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and are set in the center, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven, immediately sprinkle with the remaining chocolate chips, and let stand until they are very soft, about 5 minutes. Spread the melted chips evenly with a spatula, and let cool for about 10 minutes. Use the foil to lift the brownies out of the pan, and let cool completely on a rack. Cut into 24 squares, and top each with 3 mini marshmallows.

BAKED BUTTER CARROTS

This comes from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!

2 1/2 lbs. carrots

1 T salt

2 T oleo or butter

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

dash of pepper

2 tsp. lemon juice

Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH VEGETARIAN SAUSAGE AND APPLES

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s Vegetarian Food expert. Jolinda wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan recipe for acorn squash stuffed with vegetarian sausage and apples. Use store-bought vegetarian sausage to make this fall entree for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion meal. Stuffed acorn squash makes a very presentable centerpiece for a vegetarian of vegan meal. It's filled with a bread stuffing with plenty of fresh herbs, including sage and thyme - it's these herbs which will fill your kitchen and your entire home with that fabulous Thanksgiving aroma as it bakes.

“If you're looking for a gluten-free stuffed squash recipe, try using a quinoa stuffing instead of bread.

“This vegetarian and vegan stuffed acorn squash recipe serves four, but the portions are generous, so plan on it serving 6-8 if you're serving it as a side dish.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: 4 as a main, 6 - 8 as a side.

Ingredients

1 package vegetarian sausage (use Gimme Lean brand)

2 cups water

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

6 stalks celery, chopped fine

1 Tbsp fresh sage OR 1 tsp dried

1 Tbsp fresh thyme OR 1 tsp dried

6 oz plain stuffing cubes, OR 8 cups toasted bread crumbs

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 medium apple, any kind, diced

1/3 cup apple cider

2 large acorn squash, cut in half, with seeds removed

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°.

Lightly brown the vegetarian sausage in a non-stick skillet sprayed with a little olive oil, breaking it up and crumbling it with a spatula as it browns, just as you would with a meat sausage. Set aside.

Bring water and olive oil to a boil in a covered pot over high heat. Stir in onion, celery, sage, and thyme. Cook, covered, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in stuffing cubes, salt and pepper, applesauce, apple cider, and the browned sausage, mixing to combine. Taste, and adjust seasonings to taste.

Divide the stuffing evenly among the acorn squash halves. Arrange the halves in a roasting pan and pour water around (not on) the squash to 1 inch.

Lightly spray a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the pan with olive oil spray. This will prevent it from sticking to the stuffing. Cover the pan tightly, tending slightly with the sprayed side down.

Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork.

Meatless Monday

It doesn't seem possible that it's only a week until Christmas and two weeks until New Year's. Where has this year gone?

This is a repost from last year on Christmas Eve on my vegetarian blog, and includes Holiday Seitan Roast and Easy Cranberry Sauce. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE CHIP ICEBOX COOKIES

This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. She writes, “These icebox cookies are filled with ground chocolate chips. Use a small food processor or chopper to grind or chop the chocolate chips for these cookies. The dough is chilled slightly and then it's rolled into logs and thoroughly chilled until it's very firm. Plant to let the dough logs chill for at least four hours, or leave them in the refrigerator overnight.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 11 minutes; Total Time: 26 minutes; Yield: About 3 dozen

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 cup butter (8 ounces)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups all-purpose flour, 13 1/2 ounces

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, ground or finely chopped

Preparation

In large mixing bowl with an electric mixer cream the butter and sugars together until light; add eggs, vanilla and salt and beat until light and fluffy.

With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour. Stir in the ground chocolate chips.

Chill the dough for about 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until firm enough to shape.

Divide dough into 2 portions; form each portion into a log and wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper.

Refrigerate the dough logs for at least 4 hours, or until very firm.

Heat the oven to 350° F (180° C/Gas 4). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, or lightly grease the pan.

Cut a log into 1/4-inch slices and place on the prepared baking sheet about an inch apart.

Bake for 9 to 12 minutes.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH STRAWBERRY COULIS

This comes from the April/May 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 52. It begins, “Similar to a chocolate soufflé, this cake will rise, then fall slightly when cooled, leaving a cracked top. A fresh strawberry sauce balances the richness of the chocolate. The cake can be made up to two days in advance. For perfect, clean-cut cake wedges, dip the knife in hot water before cutting each slice.” Serves 12.

To view this online, click here.

Cake

8.5 oz. bittersweet (60% cacao) chocolate, chopped

3/4 cup unsalted butter

4 large eggs, separated, at room temperature, divided

2 egg whites

1/2 cup sugar

Coulis

1 1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries (8 oz.)

1 Tbs. sugar

1/2 Tbs. lemon juice

Preheat oven to 300˚F. Coat 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.

Melt chocolate and butter in double boiler. Remove from heat, and whisk until smooth and glossy. Whisk egg yolks, then stir into chocolate mixture.

Beat all 6 egg whites with electric mixer on high 1 to 2 minutes, or until foamy. Add sugar, and beat 4 minutes, or until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg white mixture into chocolate mixture until just combined. Pour into prepared pan, and bake 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out mostly clean. Cool.

To make Coulis: Combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in bowl of food processor; let stand 5 minutes. Add 2 Tbs. water, and purée until smooth. Strain through fine-mesh strainer. Serve Cake drizzled with Coulis.

nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 275; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 20 g; Saturated Fat: 12 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Cholesterol: 94 mg; Sodium: 36 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 18 g; Gluten-Free

HOLIDAY SEITAN ROAST

This is from the November 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 69, and begins, “Thinly slice the seitan when serving so that each bite gets coated in sauce.” Serves 8.

To view this online, click here.

1 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1 recipe homemade seitan (recipe follows) or 1 lb. seitan, divided into 2 pieces

2 Tbs. olive oil, divided

1 Tbs. unbleached all-purpose flour

1/4 cup red wine

1/4 cup tomato paste

1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

2 tsp. tamari or soy sauce

1/2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme

1/4 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary

8 oz. baby carrots (1 1/4 cups)

3 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)

1 large parsnip, chopped (4 oz.)

12 oz. small purple potatoes, halved

2 cups pearl onions, peeled and halved if large

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Combine salt, pepper, and paprika in small bowl. Rub over seitan pieces.

Heat 1 Tbs. oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add seitan, and brown 6 minutes, turning to cook all sides. Remove seitan from pan, and set aside.

Add remaining 1 Tbs. oil to pan, sprinkle with flour, and reduce heat to medium. Cook 3 minutes, or until smooth roux forms. Add wine, then tomato paste, broth, tamari, thyme, and rosemary; cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until sauce begins to thicken.

Transfer seitan to roasting pan. Surround with carrots, celery, parsnip, potatoes, and onions. Pour sauce over top. Cover with foil, and roast 35 to 45 minutes. Remove foil, and roast 10 to 15 minutes more. Thinly slice seitan, and serve with vegetables and sauce.

nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 287; Protein: 27 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 541 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 6 g; Vegan

HOMEMADE SEITAN

Also from the November 2014 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 69. It begins, “Seitan is essentially a dough made with vital wheat gluten, a high-protein wheat flour, and liquid. The dough can be rinsed or poached to become a chewy meat substitute that can be added to many different dishes. We've added light seasonings to this recipe so that it will work in any dish, but feel free to play around with flavors and shapes. This tried-and-true favorite can be used in any recipe calling for seitan.” Makes 1 pound.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/homemade-seitan/

2 cups vital wheat gluten

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

2 tsp. garlic powder

5 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided

2 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce

1/2 small onion, diced

1 clove garlic, crushed

Combine wheat gluten, yeast, and garlic powder in large bowl. Stir in 1 cup broth and soy sauce until dough forms, adding more broth if necessary. Knead dough in bowl with spoon 3 minutes, or until elastic. Shape into 2 loaves.

Place loaves in large saucepan, and add remaining 4 cups broth, onion, garlic, and enough water to cover seitan. Cover, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 30 to 45 minutes, or until seitan is firm. Remove from heat, and cool in broth.

nutritional information Per Per 2-oz. Serving: Calories: 176; Protein: 25 g; Total Fat: lees than 1 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 167 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: less than 1 g; Vegan

EASY CRANBERRY SAUCE

This comes from One Green Planet's newsletter. The recipe states, “My Easy Cranberry Sauce is not very sweet. It has a tangy tartness and makes a beautiful side dish for your holiday table.”

To view this and other cranberry recipes, click here.

12 oz. Bag of fresh or frozen cranberries, with 1/2 cup set aside

1 cup sugar

zest of 1 orange

2 Tbs. Water or orange juice

Set aside 1/2 cup cranberries in a bowl. Put the rest of the cranberries into a saucepan. Add sugar, orange zest and water or orange juice and cook over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and cranberries soften, about 10 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high and cook until cranberries burst, about another 10 minutes. Reduce heat back to low and add in the cranberries you set aside. Add more sugar if you want, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cool (you can refrigerate it if you like your cranberry sauce cold) before serving.

SPICE TEA

This comes from my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking, found on Amazon.com. I used to make this every year for Christmas presents. Nice-tasting, and everyone seemed to enjoy getting this. If you think you may need any last-minute presents, this can fit the bill.

8 oz loose tea

1 1/2 – 2 sticks cinnamon

3 orange peels

2 T chopped cloves

Cut orange peels into small pieces. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let cool, add to loose tea, along with broken cinnamon sticks & cloves. Store in tight containers.