Confessions of a Foodie

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Showing posts with label Easy Vegetarian Couscous Salad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easy Vegetarian Couscous Salad. Show all posts

Monday, August 24, 2015

Meatless Monday

Another meatless Monday. Enjoy!

EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked couscous

6 green onions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

3/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp salt

dash pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.

ITALIAN PASTA SALAD

About.com's Jolinda Hackett writes, “A classic Italian pasta salad recipe with plenty of vegetables. This vegetarian pasta salad recipe is quick and easy to prepare as it uses a pre-made Italian salad dressing.”

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups shell, bow-tie or corkscrew pasta

2 cups broccoli, chopped

1 cup cauliflower, chopped

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1 6 ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup Italian salad dressing

3/4 cup sliced black olives

1 tomato, chopped

1 avocado, chopped

Preparation:

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well.

In a large salad bowl, combine the pasta, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and onion. Toss with the dressing, then cover and chill for 4 hours.

Before serving, toss the salad with the olives, tomato and avocado.

VEGAN PUMPKIN RISOTTO

I think this came from About.com, but I'm not completely sure, since it's been kicking around my email account for more than five years with not note. The person who sent this 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. This Italian risotto recipe is both vegetarian and vegan.”

Ingredients:

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 margarine

salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Sautee the onion in olive oil over medium heat for three to five minutes, or until soft. Add the rice. Allow to cook, stirring, for a minute or two. Slowly add the wine. 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. Add remaining ingredients, stirring well, and cook for just a few minutes, until heated through.

EASY BAKED BEANS

This comes from the October 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Baked beans were meant to be doctored up to suit a cook’s taste, so feel free to make these with more or less sugar, a spicier salsa or mustard, and add-ins such as soy sausage or soy hot dogs.” Serves 8.

1 1/2 cups dried red kidney beans

2 medium onions, thinly sliced (3 cups)

1 8-oz. jar medium salsa

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

3 Tbs. yellow mustard

Soak beans in 6 cups water overnight. Drain; reserve soaking liquid.

Coat Dutch oven with cooking spray, and heat over low heat. Add onions, cover, and cook 15 minutes, or until browned. Stir in 1 cup soaking liquid. Simmer 5 minutes, scraping up onion bits stuck to pot.

Stir in remaining ingredients and 5 cups water. Cover, and cook 1 1/2 hours. Uncover; simmer 1 hour more, or until sauce has thickened.

nutritional information per serving: Calories: 166; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 0.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Sodium: 566 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

TEX-MEX PIZZA

This comes from the July/August 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 66. The recipe starts off, “Serve this pizza with taco fixings such as sour cream, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and salsa. Choose a jarred prepared salsa on the pizza itself; fresh salsa from the refrigerated case can lead to a soggy crust.” Serves 6.

1 Tbs. canola or grapeseed oil, plus more for brushing grill grate

2 large portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed

1 ear fresh corn, shucked

1 cup canned refried beans

1 Par-Baked Pizza Crust (follows)

1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1/3 cup shredded Jack cheese

1 cup prepared salsa

1 avocado, halved and sliced

2 green onions, thinly sliced

Cilantro for garnish, optional

Brush grill grate well with oil, and preheat grill to medium.

Brush mushrooms and corn with 1 Tbs. oil. Grill 4 to 5 minutes, or until pronounced grill marks form, turning occasionally. Cool until easy to handle. Thinly slice mushrooms, and cut kernels off corncob.

Spread beans over crust. Top with cheeses, salsa, mushrooms, corn, avocado, and green onions. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Place pizza on grill, close lid, and cook 7 minutes, or until bottom of crust is crisp and has pronounced grill marks. Garnish with cilantro, if using.

nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 338; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 43 g; Cholesterol: 12 mg; Sodium: 713 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 5 g

PAR-BAKED PIZZA CRUST

Recipe comes from the July/August 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 64 and makes 2 pizza crusts. It starts out, “Our favorite strategy for goof-proof grilled pizza is to partially bake the crust in the oven. Add your favorite toppings, then finish your creation on the grill for flame-kissed flavor minus the angst that comes from transferring raw dough to the grill or having it sag between the grates. After rising, the dough can be wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; bring it to room temperature before rolling. Par-baked crusts can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month. Bring back to room temperature before grilling.”

1 tsp. sugar

1 0.25-oz. pkg. active dry yeast

2 1/4 cups all-purpose or bread flour

1 cup whole-wheat flour

3 Tbs. fine yellow cornmeal

2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for greasing bowl and baking sheets

3/4 tsp. salt

Stir together sugar, yeast, and 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water (105°–115°F) in small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes, or until mixture looks foamy.

Whisk together flours, cornmeal, oil, and salt in bowl. Stir in yeast mixture, adding more warm water if necessary to make moist dough.

Transfer dough to floured work surface, and knead 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Transfer dough to large bowl rubbed with oil, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with kitchen towel, and let rise in warm place 1 hour.

Punch down dough, and knead 2 minutes. Return to bowl, and let rise 1 hour more.

Preheat oven to 500°F. Rub 2 baking sheets with oil. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Roll out each piece into 12- x 9-inch rectangle or 12-inch round. Transfer to prepared baking sheets, prick crusts all over with fork, and bake 5 minutes, or until set but not browned. Cool on wire rack before adding toppings.

nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 159; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 147 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: less than 1 g; Vegan

Friday, March 27, 2015

Weekend Recipes

It's been a semi-crazy week, and I have yet to work up today's offerings. So, here's the blog from Friday, January 16, 2015. (I can almost hear that's cheating; just think of it as Throw Back Thursday, a day late.) Next week, back to fresh blog offerings Monday through Friday. In the meantime, enjoy!

Finally, Friday! While it's been a good week (at least for me), it's still been a long one. (Yay, Friday!) I hope your week has been decent, and that your weekend is better. And now, for your weekend recipes. Enjoy!

VEGETABLE NOODLE SOUP

This comes from The Food Network. It starts off, "This soup is just as good for dinner as it is for lunch - it's warming and comforting and perfect for a rainy day." Total Time: 30 min; Prep: 10 min; Cook: 20 min; Yield: 4 servings, about 4 cups; level: easy

To read this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/vegetable-noodle-soup-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 rib celery, sliced (about 1 cup)

1 medium carrot, sliced (about 3/4 cup)

1 clove garlic, smashed

1/4 medium onion, about 1/2 cup

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/3 cup orzo or other small pasta or egg noodles or broken up spaghetti

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (1 quart box, or 2 cans)

Small handful fresh parsley leaves, basil or dill, chopped (about 2 tablespoons)

1/2 lemon, juiced (about 1 tablespoon)

Freshly ground black pepper

Serving suggestion: Whole-wheat crackers and cheese sticks

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add all the vegetables, garlic and onion. Season with the salt, and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Add the pasta and cook until slightly toasted and golden, about 2 minutes. Add broth, and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook, covered, until pasta is just tender, about 8 minutes.

Stir in whatever herb suits you (or your young eater) and lemon juice. Season with pepper and additional salt, to taste. Fill thermos, pack in a lunch sack with crackers and cheese sticks and send off to school.

TIP: This soup freezes well, so freeze any leftovers or make a double batch to have plenty on hand. Also, you can stir in some cooked chicken or mini-meatballs, if desired, for another meal.

RANCHER'S BREAKFAST PIE

From a long-since-forgotten emailing list. Yields 6 servings

6 eggs, beaten

1/3 C milk

2 C (8 oz) shredded milk cheddar cheese

8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled

3 T chopped green onion

2 T chopped green bell pepper

1/4 t white pepper

2 C refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes

1/2 t salt

1/4 t black pepper

1 T butter or margarine, melted

Paprika

In large bowl, combine eggs and milk. Stir in cheddar cheese, bacon, onion, bell pepper and white pepper. Pour into well buttered 9 inch pie plate. Toss potatoes with salt and black pepper; sprinkle over egg mixture. Drizzle butter over potatoes; sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 325 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

NEW ENGLAND MINI CORN CAKES

Yield: 12 servings

Source: "200 Healthy Recipes in 30 minutes or Less!" by Robyn Webb

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/74.shtml

Notes: Make silver dollar pancakes the easy way, with a muffin tin.

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

1-1/3 cups yellow cornmeal

1-1/3 cups unbleached white flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup evaporated fat-free milk

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons low-calorie margarine

3 teaspoons maple extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Spray 24 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Combine all ingredients and mix until blended.

Fill each muffin cup one-third full with batter. Bake for 13 minutes until browned. Each pancake should be 1/2 inch high.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (2 cakes): Calories: 163, Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 54 mg, Sodium: 177 mg, Carbohydrate: 29 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 5 g, Protein: 6 g Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Starch

MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD

Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/.This recipe and the next (Raisin Walnut Bread) are from Breaking Bread... This recipe yields 1 loaf.

Ingredients:

1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1 cup milk

3/4 cup chunky peanut butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.

Directions:

Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.

Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.

Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.

Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)

About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.

Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.

RAISIN WALNUT BREAD

Also from Breaking Bread with Father Dominic. Yield:2 loaves.

Ingredients:

1 cup lukewarm milk

1 cup lukewarm water

2 packages FLEISCHMANN's Active Dry Yeast

2 tablespoons light molasses

2 cups rye flour, divided

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I prefer canola)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 to 3 1/2 cups bread flour, divided

2 cups raisins

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions:

Combine milk, water, yeast, molasses and 1 cup of the rye flour in a large mixing bowl; stir to mix well. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Add oil and salt; mix well. Stir in the remaining 1 cup rye flour. Let dough rest 10 minutes; the rye flour will absorb moisture.

Add 3 cups of the bread flour, one cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead vigorously 8 to 10 minutes, adding enough of the remaining 1/2 cup bread flour to make a firm (but not stiff) dough that is slightly sticky. Lightly oil surface of dough, and put in the rinsed mixing bowl. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 60 to 75 minutes, or until doubled in bulk.

Punch down dough. Knead briefly to work out the larger air bubbles. Roll out dough to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Sprinkle raisins and walnuts on top of dough. Fold the edges of the dough toward the center. Knead dough a few minutes to evenly distribute the raisins and walnuts. (At first the dough will be messy and seem to be falling apart, but be patient; it will all come together.)

Divide dough in half and shape each half into a loaf. Place loaves in lightly greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch loaf pans. Cover with a towel and let rise 40 minutes, or until nearly doubled in bulk.

About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 35 to 45 minutes, or until loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Remove from pans and let cool on wire racks.

Note: If you would prefer smaller loaves, divide the dough into four pieces and use mini-loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. I like the smaller size for gift breads or for a light buffet.

EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked couscous

6 green onions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

3/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp salt

dash pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Weekday Recipes

Another day, another batch of recipes. Enjoy!

PASTA ALLA NORMA

This comes from Danette St. Onge, About.com's Italian Food expert. She writes, "Pasta alla Norma is a classic dish originating in the Sicilian city of Catania. Allegedly it was created by a Catanese chef in tribute to the opera Norma by 19th-century composer Vincenzo Bellini, also from Catania. Ricotta salata, a firm, tangy sheep's-milk cheese, is an essential ingredient in this dish. It is quite different from soft and creamy fresh ricotta, though if you can't locate ricotta salata, a mild feta cheese such as French-style feta can be substituted." Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; total time: 50 minutes; yield: 4 to 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 large eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices

Coarse sea salt (Maldon salt works well)

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 teaspoon red chile pepper flakes

One 28-ounce can (or 3 cups) passata di pomodoro (tomato puree)

Fine sea salt, to taste

1 pound penne, rigatoni, or any other short, tube-shaped pasta

8-12 fresh basil leaves, for garnish

3 ounces ricotta salata, coarsely grated

Preparation

Place the eggplant slices on a paper towel-lined tray or baking sheet and lightly sprinkle them with coarse sea salt, to draw out excess water. Set aside for about 10-15 minutes, then thoroughly pat the slices dry with more paper towels.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the eggplant slices (do not overcrowd) and fry them, turning occasionally, until well browned on both sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer fried eggplant to a paper towel-lined platter or tray and set aside.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and garlic in a saucepan over medium heat until garlic is just golden and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chile pepper flakes and saute until fragrant, another 30 seconds. Add the tomato puree, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower heat until sauce is just simmering. Cover and let simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with fine sea salt.

Meanwhile, bring salted water for the pasta to boil in a large pot. When boiling, add the pasta and cook until just al dente, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water when draining the pasta.

Return the pasta to the pot, add the tomato sauce and a little of the cooking water (just one spoonful at a time, as necessary) to thin the sauce slightly and help it adhere to the pasta. Toss to coat the pasta and then divide between serving plates. Lay a few slices of fried eggplant on top of each serving of pasta, then top with a generous grating of ricotta salata and a few fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately.

FUSILLI WITH FRESH TOMATOES AND CORN

Yield: 8 servings

Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/22.shtml

Ingredients

2 cups chopped plum tomatoes

1 cup fresh whole-kernel corn, cooked

1/2 cup sliced green onions and tops

2-2/3 cups (6 oz.) fusilli OR corkscrews, cooked, room temperature

Fresh Basil Dressing (recipe follows)

Directions

Combine tomatoes, corn, onions, and pasta in salad bowl; pour Fresh Basil Dressing over and toss.

FRESH BASIL DRESSING

Ingredients

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh, or 1 teaspoon dried, basil leaves

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Mix all ingredients; refrigerate until serving time. Mix again before using. Makes about 1/4 cup

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 135, Protein: 4.1 g, Carbohydrate: 21.8 g, Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 141 mg; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1 Bread/Starch, 1 Fat

SKILLET CHICKEN POT PIE WITH CHEDDAR BISCUITS

This comes from The Baker Chick, who writes, "Though I made this with chicken this could be an easy vegetarian option by skipping the meat and just adding extra veggies!" I love that kind of flexibility! Yield: 6-8 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

For the Filling:

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed

4 cups chopped veggies, (potatoes, green beans, carrots, broccoli etc.)

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Other spices to taste (garlic, celery seed etc.)

2 cups of chicken broth

1 to 1 1/2 cups milk

For the Biscuits:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

6 oz Cheddar, coarsely grated (1 1/2 cups)

1 cup well-shaken buttermilk

Instructions

Place the chopped veggies* and chicken in a 12-inch cast iron skillet and cover with chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cook for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the veggies have softened. Drain the veggies reserving the broth. Set both aside.

Wipe out the skillet and melt the butter. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are soft and translucent. Add the flour, salt, pepper, and spices. Stir constantly until golden.

Slowly add 1 cup of milk and 1 1/2 cups of broth. Whisk liquids in until sauce is smooth. Stir frequently until thick and bubbly.

Add the chicken & veggies into the sauce mixture, tossing to combine. If mixture doesn't seem saucy enough, add more milk or broth and needed to thoroughly coat the chicken & veggies.

Preheat oven to 425F

For the Biscuits:

Stir together the flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda and salt.

Add the butter chunks and use your hands to work them in, breaking them apart until coarse crumbs are formed with no bigger than pea sized chunks.

Stir in the grated cheese and then the buttermilk, stirring together until just combined.

Scoop the dough on top of the chicken/veggie mixture, spreading evenly with your hands.

Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden.

Notes

*Some veggies need more cooking time than others. I always add carrots, potatoes & green beans to boil in the broth mixture, but if I use broccoli I like it less cooked so I just add that in with the cream sauce at the end.

EASY CROCKPOT LASAGNA

This comes from Tablespoon.com, and starts off, "This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it without all of the work." Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time 4 hr 15 min; Servings: 10

*Works best with a 4 to 6 quart size slow cooker.

1 pound (16 ounces) ground beef

1/2 cup diced white onion

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 (24 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce

1/2 cup water

1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese

2 cups mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 whole egg

2 Tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley

6 uncooked lasagna noodles

Directions

In a large skillet brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.

Add spaghetti sauce and water and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 Tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.

Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4 to 6 quart sized slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (If the noodles don't fit exactly break them to fit) and cheese mixture and meat sauce.

Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or until noodles are soft. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining parmesan. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Do not overcook and don't try to speed up the process by cooking it on high.

EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked couscous

6 green onions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

3/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp salt

dash pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Wednesday Recipes

I know I'm running a little late, but better late than never, right? Enjoy!

EASY BAKED BEANS

This comes from the October 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Baked beans were meant to be doctored up to suit a cook’s taste, so feel free to make these with more or less sugar, a spicier salsa or mustard, and add-ins such as soy sausage or soy hot dogs.” Serves 8.

1 1/2 cups dried red kidney beans

2 medium onions, thinly sliced (3 cups)

1 8-oz. jar medium salsa

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

3 Tbs. yellow mustard

Soak beans in 6 cups water overnight. Drain; reserve soaking liquid.

Coat Dutch oven with cooking spray, and heat over low heat. Add onions, cover, and cook 15 minutes, or until browned. Stir in 1 cup soaking liquid. Simmer 5 minutes, scraping up onion bits stuck to pot.

Stir in remaining ingredients and 5 cups water. Cover, and cook 1 1/2 hours. Uncover; simmer 1 hour more, or until sauce has thickened.

nutritional information per serving: Calories: 166; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 0.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Sodium: 566 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

CHOCOLATE CHIP SCONES

Prep Time: 25 Minutes - Cost: $
Servings: 10 - Difficulty Level: 3

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/130.shtml

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 T sugar

1 T brown sugar

1 T cold light butter or light margarine, suitable for baking

1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, combine flours, baking powder, salt, and sugars. WIth pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Using a rubber spatula, stir in yogurt, extract and chips until mixture holds together and forms a ball.

Place dough ball on prepared baking sheet. Pat into a 9-inch circle. Using a sharp knife, mark dough into 12 wedges, cutting into, but not through, dough.

Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into wedges and serve warm. Or, cool and store covered and/or freeze up to 3 months. To reheat, bake uncovered at 350 degrees F. for 5 to 10 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 136; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 181 mg; Cholesterol: 4 mg; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Exchanges: 1 starch; 1/2 fruit and 1/2 fat (2 carb choices)

SWEET POTATO MAC AND CHEESE

This comes from The Baker Chick. I've subscribed to her email newsletter for a few months now, and so far, the food is always yummy. While I haven't tried this recipe yet (it came in this morning's emails), I have no doubt that it's as good as everything else she's sent out. This yields 4 to 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons of butter

3 tablespoons of flour

2 cups of milk

3 cups of grated cheese*

2 sweet potatoes, cooked**

6 cups of pasta, cooked to al dente

1/2 cup of panko bread crumbs

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F.

In a large saucepan or dutch oven, melt the butter. Add the flour and whisk constantly until golden brown. Gradually add the milk and stir until smooth and thickened (about 5 minutes.) Add all but a small handful of the grated cheese, and then sat & pepper to taste. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Scoop the sweet potato out of the skin, and pureé until smooth. Or, put the sweet potato chunks directly into the cheese sauce and use an immersion blender to pureé the sauce. Stir in the cooked pasta, tossing until evenly coated.

Turn the sauce/pasta into an 8x8 baking dish and top with panko and remaining grated cheese. Top with a bit more freshly ground pepper if you have, and bake for 15 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Broil for an addition 5 minutes to really crisp up the top if desired.

Notes

* I mostly used sharp cheddar but I also used a few slices of Organic American Cheese that I had in my fridge- this always gives an amazing texture.

** To easily cook your potatoes, place directly on the oven rack with a sheet underneath for catching drips. Start with a cold oven and preheat to 450F. Cook for 45 minutes or until soft.

SHAMROCK SHAKES

This comes from Tablespoon.com. Prep time: 10 minutes; total time: 10 minutes; Servings: 2

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3 cups vanilla ice cream

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon mint extract (gel green food coloring or paste food coloring recommended)

2 cups whipped cream

sprinkles

Directions

Combine the ice cream, milk, mint extract and food coloring in a blender and pulse until combined. Add more green food coloring as desired. Transfer the shakes to serving glasses, then top with whipped cream and sprinkles. Serve immediately.

LASAGNA PRIMAVERA

This recipe is from FamilyTime's newsletter. It starts off, "Using oven-ready lasagna noodles makes this recipe simple to prepare...and layering vegetables into the lasagna is a brilliant way to add flavor and lighten up this delicious dish." Prep. time: 40 minutes; Cooking time: 45 minutes; Serves: 8 servings (about 1 1/2 cups each); Source: Campbell's Recipes To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons light butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups skim milk

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 medium zucchini, or summer squash, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 3 cups)

1 package (10 ounces) cremini mushroom, sliced (about 3 3/4 cups)

1 medium red pepper, cut into 2-inch-long strips (about 1 1/2 cups)

1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch-long pieces (about 2 cups)

3 cups Prego® Heart Smart Ricotta Parmesan Italian Sauce

12 oven-ready lasagna noodles, (no boil)

Directions

Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or the mixture is golden. Gradually stir in the milk. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until the milk mixture boils and thickens. Stir in the nutmeg and black pepper. Remove the saucepan from the heat.

Heat the remaining butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini, mushrooms, pepper and asparagus and cook for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender-crisp, stirring occasionally.

Layer 1/2 cup Italian sauce, 4 lasagna noodles, 3/4 cup Italian sauce, one-third of the milk mixture and half the vegetable mixture in a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Repeat the layers. Top with the remaining lasagna noodles, sauce and milk mixture. Cover the baking dish loosely with foil.

Bake for 45 minutes at 375°F. or until the lasagna is hot and bubbling. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked couscous

6 green onions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

3/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp salt

dash pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Friday Recipes

Finally, Friday! While it's been a good week (at least for me), it's still been a long one. (Yay, Friday!) I hope your week has been decent, and that your weekend is better. And now, for your weekend recipes. Enjoy!

VEGETABLE NOODLE SOUP

This comes from The Food Network. It starts off, "This soup is just as good for dinner as it is for lunch - it's warming and comforting and perfect for a rainy day." Total Time: 30 min; Prep: 10 min; Cook: 20 min; Yield: 4 servings, about 4 cups; level: easy

To read this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/vegetable-noodle-soup-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 rib celery, sliced (about 1 cup)

1 medium carrot, sliced (about 3/4 cup)

1 clove garlic, smashed

1/4 medium onion, about 1/2 cup

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/3 cup orzo or other small pasta or egg noodles or broken up spaghetti

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (1 quart box, or 2 cans)

Small handful fresh parsley leaves, basil or dill, chopped (about 2 tablespoons)

1/2 lemon, juiced (about 1 tablespoon)

Freshly ground black pepper

Serving suggestion: Whole-wheat crackers and cheese sticks

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add all the vegetables, garlic and onion. Season with the salt, and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Add the pasta and cook until slightly toasted and golden, about 2 minutes. Add broth, and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook, covered, until pasta is just tender, about 8 minutes.

Stir in whatever herb suits you (or your young eater) and lemon juice. Season with pepper and additional salt, to taste. Fill thermos, pack in a lunch sack with crackers and cheese sticks and send off to school.

TIP: This soup freezes well, so freeze any leftovers or make a double batch to have plenty on hand. Also, you can stir in some cooked chicken or mini-meatballs, if desired, for another meal.

RANCHER'S BREAKFAST PIE

From a long-since-forgotten emailing list. Yields 6 servings

6 eggs, beaten

1/3 C milk

2 C (8 oz) shredded milk cheddar cheese

8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled

3 T chopped green onion

2 T chopped green bell pepper

1/4 t white pepper

2 C refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes

1/2 t salt

1/4 t black pepper

1 T butter or margarine, melted

Paprika

In large bowl, combine eggs and milk. Stir in cheddar cheese, bacon, onion, bell pepper and white pepper. Pour into well buttered 9 inch pie plate. Toss potatoes with salt and black pepper; sprinkle over egg mixture. Drizzle butter over potatoes; sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 325 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

NEW ENGLAND MINI CORN CAKES

Yield: 12 servings

Source: "200 Healthy Recipes in 30 minutes or Less!" by Robyn Webb

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/74.shtml

Notes: Make silver dollar pancakes the easy way, with a muffin tin.

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

1-1/3 cups yellow cornmeal

1-1/3 cups unbleached white flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup evaporated fat-free milk

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons low-calorie margarine

3 teaspoons maple extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Spray 24 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Combine all ingredients and mix until blended.

Fill each muffin cup one-third full with batter. Bake for 13 minutes until browned. Each pancake should be 1/2 inch high.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (2 cakes): Calories: 163, Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 54 mg, Sodium: 177 mg, Carbohydrate: 29 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 5 g, Protein: 6 g Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Starch

MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD

Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/.This recipe and the next (Raisin Walnut Bread) are from Breaking Bread... This recipe yields 1 loaf.

Ingredients:

1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1 cup milk

3/4 cup chunky peanut butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.

Directions:

Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.

Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.

Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.

Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)

About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.

Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.

RAISIN WALNUT BREAD

Also from Breaking Bread with Father Dominic. Yield:2 loaves.

Ingredients:

1 cup lukewarm milk

1 cup lukewarm water

2 packages FLEISCHMANN's Active Dry Yeast

2 tablespoons light molasses

2 cups rye flour, divided

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I prefer canola)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 to 3 1/2 cups bread flour, divided

2 cups raisins

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions:

Combine milk, water, yeast, molasses and 1 cup of the rye flour in a large mixing bowl; stir to mix well. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Add oil and salt; mix well. Stir in the remaining 1 cup rye flour. Let dough rest 10 minutes; the rye flour will absorb moisture.

Add 3 cups of the bread flour, one cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead vigorously 8 to 10 minutes, adding enough of the remaining 1/2 cup bread flour to make a firm (but not stiff) dough that is slightly sticky. Lightly oil surface of dough, and put in the rinsed mixing bowl. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 60 to 75 minutes, or until doubled in bulk.

Punch down dough. Knead briefly to work out the larger air bubbles. Roll out dough to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Sprinkle raisins and walnuts on top of dough. Fold the edges of the dough toward the center. Knead dough a few minutes to evenly distribute the raisins and walnuts. (At first the dough will be messy and seem to be falling apart, but be patient; it will all come together.)

Divide dough in half and shape each half into a loaf. Place loaves in lightly greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch loaf pans. Cover with a towel and let rise 40 minutes, or until nearly doubled in bulk.

About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 35 to 45 minutes, or until loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Remove from pans and let cool on wire racks.

Note: If you would prefer smaller loaves, divide the dough into four pieces and use mini-loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. I like the smaller size for gift breads or for a light buffet.

EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked couscous

6 green onions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

3/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp salt

dash pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

End Of the Year Recipes

The next-to-last day of the year. Where did the time go? No, I don't know, either, but someone I know keeps responding to that question (Where does the time go?) with, "Into the past." Makes sense...No matter. Here's another day's worth of recipes. A few of them would be good for New Year's Eve. Enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER TURTLE PUDDING

This is from Tablespoon.com's newsletter. They usually have yummy recipes. This one starts off, “Ooey gooey chocolate pudding, caramel and pecans make this slow cooker dessert extra delicious.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 3 hr 10 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

1 1/2 cups Original Bisquick™ mix

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup caramel topping

1 2/3 cups hot water

1/2 cup chopped pecans, if desired

Directions

Spray 3-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix Bisquick mix, 1/2 cup of the sugar and the cocoa. Stir in milk and 1/2 cup of the caramel until well blended. Put in slow cooker. Pour hot water over top (do not stir). Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup sugar.

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until top springs back when touched lightly (center will still be soft). Turn off slow cooker; let stand uncovered 20 minutes to cool slightly. Serve warm pudding with remaining 1/4 cup caramel topping and chopped pecans.

PIZZA POT PIES

This is from Giada De Laurentiis, of The Food Network's Everyday Italian. Total Time: 1 hr 10 min; Prep: 30 min; Cook: 40 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Intermediate

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pizza-pot-pies-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

Tomato Sauce:

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon fresh minced rosemary leaves

2 ounces diced pancetta

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Pizza Pot Pies:

3 cups Tomato Sauce

2 cups diced roasted chicken

2 cups broccoli cut into small, bite-sized pieces

1 1/2 cups diced mozzarella cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 pounds pizza dough

1/3 cup olive oil

6 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Directions

Special equipment: 6 (10-ounce) ramekins

For the Tomato Sauce: Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, rosemary, and pancetta. Saute until the pancetta is crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, stir to combine, and simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes. Add the salt and pepper. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl combine the Tomato Sauce, chicken, broccoli, mozzarella, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Divide the chicken mixture evenly between the ramekins. Roll out the pizza dough and cut circles with a pairing knife that are 1-inch wider in diameter than the ramekins. Place the circles of dough over the filled ramekins and press down to seal, making sure to pull the dough over the edge of the ramekin. Brush the top of the pizza dough with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cut a small slit in the top of the pizza dough with a pairing knife. Bake until the pizza crust is golden, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.

PUMPKIN COFFEE CAKE

This is from a long-forgotten emailing list. It would be nice for any holiday morning get-together.

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

3 eggs

2 cups flour

1/2 cup sour cream

1 1/4 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 3/4 cup solid-pack canned pumpkin

1 egg, beaten lightly

1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

For the streusel topping:

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup butter

2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 325F. Cream together butter, 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla. Beat in 3 eggs. Combine flour, baking soda and powder, and add to the butter mixture along with the sour cream. In another mixing bowl, mix pumpkin, 1 beaten egg, 1/3 cup sugar and pumpkin pie spice. In a 13x9 baking pan, pour half the plain batter, then half the pumpkin batter, then half the streusel. Repeat layers, making sure to end with the streusel. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

LASAGNA PRIMAVERA

This recipe is from FamilyTime's newsletter. It starts off, "Using oven-ready lasagna noodles makes this recipe simple to prepare...and layering vegetables into the lasagna is a brilliant way to add flavor and lighten up this delicious dish." Prep. time: 40 minutes; Cooking time: 45 minutes; Serves: 8 servings (about 1 1/2 cups each); Source: Campbell's Recipes To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons light butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups skim milk

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 medium zucchini, or summer squash, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 3 cups)

1 package (10 ounces) cremini mushroom, sliced (about 3 3/4 cups)

1 medium red pepper, cut into 2-inch-long strips (about 1 1/2 cups)

1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch-long pieces (about 2 cups)

3 cups Prego® Heart Smart Ricotta Parmesan Italian Sauce

12 oven-ready lasagna noodles, (no boil)

Directions

Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or the mixture is golden. Gradually stir in the milk. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until the milk mixture boils and thickens. Stir in the nutmeg and black pepper. Remove the saucepan from the heat.

Heat the remaining butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini, mushrooms, pepper and asparagus and cook for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender-crisp, stirring occasionally.

Layer 1/2 cup Italian sauce, 4 lasagna noodles, 3/4 cup Italian sauce, one-third of the milk mixture and half the vegetable mixture in a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Repeat the layers. Top with the remaining lasagna noodles, sauce and milk mixture. Cover the baking dish loosely with foil.

Bake for 45 minutes at 375°F. or until the lasagna is hot and bubbling. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked couscous

6 green onions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

3/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp salt

dash pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.

EASY BAKED BEANS

This comes from the October 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Baked beans were meant to be doctored up to suit a cook’s taste, so feel free to make these with more or less sugar, a spicier salsa or mustard, and add-ins such as soy sausage or soy hot dogs.” Serves 8.

1 1/2 cups dried red kidney beans

2 medium onions, thinly sliced (3 cups)

1 8-oz. jar medium salsa

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

3 Tbs. yellow mustard

Soak beans in 6 cups water overnight. Drain; reserve soaking liquid.

Coat Dutch oven with cooking spray, and heat over low heat. Add onions, cover, and cook 15 minutes, or until browned. Stir in 1 cup soaking liquid. Simmer 5 minutes, scraping up onion bits stuck to pot.

Stir in remaining ingredients and 5 cups water. Cover, and cook 1 1/2 hours. Uncover; simmer 1 hour more, or until sauce has thickened.

nutritional information per serving: Calories: 166; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 0.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Sodium: 566 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

Friday, August 22, 2014

Weekend Meals - Almost the End of Summer

It's Friday, which means weekend meals again. Enjoy!

FARMERS' MARKET POT PIE

This comes from About.com's American Food guide, Kathy Kingsley. She writes, “This recipe is easily adaptable as it can be prepared with almost any fresh vegetables of your liking. So look to see what's in season and available at your local farmer's market or farmstand. The biscuit crust makes a wonderful flaky pot pie topping. This recipe can also be made into individual pot pies, in which case reduce the baking time to 15 to 18 minutes.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: Serves 6. The recipe can be viewed online here.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 cup thinly sliced celery

1 cup diced red bell pepper

1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup milk, whole or low-fat

2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 teaspoon tamari or low-sodium soy sauce

1/2 teaspoons dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried sage

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Biscuit Topping

1 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry four

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into small pieces

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 teaspoons honey

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, broccoli, bell pepper and green beans, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.

In glass measuring cup, combine the milk and the broth. Slowly add to vegetable mixture while whisking constantly. The sauce will start to thicken. Add the parsley, tamari, thyme, and sage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.  Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole, and set aside ( use individual 8 to 10-ounce ramekins or small baking dishes).

Make the topping: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal. In a glass measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and honey. Add to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork to form a stiff dough. Add more buttermilk if the dough is too dry. Knead the dough lightly in the bowl for 3 to 5 minutes, until it is no longer sticky. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a shape to cover the casserole dish.

Lay biscuit topping lightly over the filling. Do not seal the edges. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve hot.

MAGIC CATERPILLAR PEANUT BUTTER BREAD

Years ago, I got hooked on Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 1 loaf.

Ingredients:

1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1 cup milk

3/4 cup chunky peanut butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

For decoration: tubes of colored frosting, candies, gumdrops, licorice, etc.

Directions:

Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl; stir to dissolve yeast. Let stand about 10 minutes, or until foamy.

Combine milk, peanut butter, sugar and salt in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Let cool to lukewarm, then add to yeast mixture. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until flour is thoroughly incorporated.

Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 5 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour as needed to keep dough manageable. Rinse and dry bowl, then lightly oil surface of dough and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dry cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place 1 hour.

Punch down dough. Knead briefly to expel large air bubbles. Roll dough into a rope about 24 inches long. Form rope into a large S shape on a lightly greased 18x12-inch baking sheet. Using a butter knife or dough scraper, chop rope into 3-inch sections, but do not separate completely. Cover with a cloth and let rise about 30 minutes. (The caterpillar will magically grow back together during rising and baking.)

About 15 minutes before end of rising time, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake loaf 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Decorate cooled loaf with frosting and gumdrops or other candy. Poke holes in the sides with a wooden pick and insert sections of licorice for legs.

Note: Decorating gel doesn't work as well as frosting as a glue for the candy decorations, so make sure you pick up the right tube at the store. Any candies will work to make spots for the caterpillar's sections. Thin red licorice makes the perfect legs and antennae, unless you know your youngsters prefer the flavor of black licorice.

EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked couscous

6 green onions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

3/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp salt

dash pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.

FRENCH ONION SOUP

My dad used to make French Onion Soup after church on Sundays, so I associate this with the weekend. This version of the recipe comes from About.com's American Food email. It starts off, “French onion soup is one of America's most popular 'restaurant soups,' but with this easy recipe you can make it at home anytime you want. This French onion soup recipe is topped with the traditional Gruyere cheese, but any melting cheese will work.” It makes 8 portions.

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Ingredients:

4 large yellow onions, cut in large dice

1/2 stick unsalted butter

1 tbsp sherry vinegar

1/4 cup dry sherry wine

2 sprigs fresh thyme

1/2 tsp salt

fresh ground black pepper to taste

1 bay leaf

3 cups high-quality beef broth

3 cups high-quality chicken broth

1 cup water

For the topping:

toasted French bread

8 oz shredded Gruyere cheese, or other Swiss cheese

Preparation:

In a large soup pot, melt the butter over med-low heat. Add the onions and salt; slowly cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden-brown - about 30 minutes.

Add the vinegar and sherry; cook for 5 minutes, and then add the remaining ingredients. Simmer on low for one hour. Taste and adjust seasoning. Ladle into heatproof bowls, or crocks, and top with a piece of toasted bread (cut to fit top of bowl).

Cover with the cheese, and place under a preheated broiler until the cheese melts and begins to brown. Serve hot.

CREAMY IRISH POTATO SOUP

This recipe comes from Campbell's Kitchen; to view this recipe online, click here. The recipe starts off, "This rich and creamy potato soup is subtly flavored with celery and green onions. It's the kind of soup you'll want to savor slowly...even though it's ready in just 35 minutes."

Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 25 minutes; Serves: 5 servings (1 1/4 cups each)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

4 medium green onion, sliced (about 1/2 cup)

1 stalk celery, sliced (about 1/2 cup)

1 3/4 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth, (Regular, Natural Goodness® or Certified Organic)

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

3 medium potato, sliced 1/4-inch thick (about 3 cups)

1 1/2 cups milk

Directions

Heat the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and cook until they're tender.

Stir the broth, black pepper and potatoes in the saucepan and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

Place half of the broth mixture and half of the milk in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth. Repeat with the remaining broth mixture and remaining milk. Return to the saucepan and heat through.

BEST MAC AND CHEESE

From My Daily Moment. Makes 6 servings; ready in 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 tbsp. butter

2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups skim milk

1 1/2 cup (6 oz.) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese

3 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp. low-sodium Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

1/8 tsp. pepper

1/8 tsp. hot sauce

4 cups hot cooked medium elbow macaroni

Directions

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add flour. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; add cheeses and next 4 ingredients, stirring until cheeses melt. Combine cheese sauce and macaroni in a bowl; stir well. Serve immediately.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Another Meatless Monday

Another meatless Monday. Enjoy!

EASY VEGETARIAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian Food guide, writes, “Like couscous salads? This one is just about perfect. It's an easy vegetarian and vegan couscous salad recipe with chickpeas and cucumbers in a light lemon Dijon dressing with chopped fresh parsley. Couscous salad is always a good choice to bring to a vegetarian potluck or picnic.”

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked couscous

6 green onions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 cup cucumber, chopped

1/2 cup chickpeas (garbanzo beans) pre-cooked or canned

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

3/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp salt

dash pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine the couscous, onions, tomatoes, cucumber chickpeas and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk or blend together the remaining ingredients and pour over the couscous, tossing gently to coat.

ITALIAN PASTA SALAD

About.com's Jolinda Hackett writes, “A classic Italian pasta salad recipe with plenty of vegetables. This vegetarian pasta salad recipe is quick and easy to prepare as it uses a pre-made Italian salad dressing.”

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups shell, bow-tie or corkscrew pasta

2 cups broccoli, chopped

1 cup cauliflower, chopped

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1 6 ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup Italian salad dressing

3/4 cup sliced black olives

1 tomato, chopped

1 avocado, chopped

Preparation:

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well.

In a large salad bowl, combine the pasta, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and onion. Toss with the dressing, then cover and chill for 4 hours.

Before serving, toss the salad with the olives, tomato and avocado.

VEGAN PUMPKIN RISOTTO

I think this came from About.com, but I'm not completely sure, since it's been kicking around my email account for more than five years with not note. The person who sent this 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. This Italian risotto recipe is both vegetarian and vegan.”

Ingredients:

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 margarine

salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Sautee the onion in olive oil over medium heat for three to five minutes, or until soft. Add the rice. Allow to cook, stirring, for a minute or two. Slowly add the wine. 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. Add remaining ingredients, stirring well, and cook for just a few minutes, until heated through.

EASY BAKED BEANS

This comes from the October 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Baked beans were meant to be doctored up to suit a cook’s taste, so feel free to make these with more or less sugar, a spicier salsa or mustard, and add-ins such as soy sausage or soy hot dogs.” Serves 8.

1 1/2 cups dried red kidney beans

2 medium onions, thinly sliced (3 cups)

1 8-oz. jar medium salsa

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

3 Tbs. yellow mustard

Soak beans in 6 cups water overnight. Drain; reserve soaking liquid.

Coat Dutch oven with cooking spray, and heat over low heat. Add onions, cover, and cook 15 minutes, or until browned. Stir in 1 cup soaking liquid. Simmer 5 minutes, scraping up onion bits stuck to pot.

Stir in remaining ingredients and 5 cups water. Cover, and cook 1 1/2 hours. Uncover; simmer 1 hour more, or until sauce has thickened.

nutritional information per serving: Calories: 166; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 0.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Sodium: 566 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 12 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

TEX-MEX PIZZA

This comes from the July/August 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 66. The recipe starts off, “Serve this pizza with taco fixings such as sour cream, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and salsa. Choose a jarred prepared salsa on the pizza itself; fresh salsa from the refrigerated case can lead to a soggy crust.” Serves 6.

1 Tbs. canola or grapeseed oil, plus more for brushing grill grate

2 large portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed

1 ear fresh corn, shucked

1 cup canned refried beans

1 Par-Baked Pizza Crust (follows)

1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1/3 cup shredded Jack cheese

1 cup prepared salsa

1 avocado, halved and sliced

2 green onions, thinly sliced

Cilantro for garnish, optional

Brush grill grate well with oil, and preheat grill to medium.

Brush mushrooms and corn with 1 Tbs. oil. Grill 4 to 5 minutes, or until pronounced grill marks form, turning occasionally. Cool until easy to handle. Thinly slice mushrooms, and cut kernels off corncob.

Spread beans over crust. Top with cheeses, salsa, mushrooms, corn, avocado, and green onions. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Place pizza on grill, close lid, and cook 7 minutes, or until bottom of crust is crisp and has pronounced grill marks. Garnish with cilantro, if using.

nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 338; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 43 g; Cholesterol: 12 mg; Sodium: 713 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 5 g

PAR-BAKED PIZZA CRUST

Recipe comes from the July/August 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 64 and makes 2 pizza crusts. It starts out, “Our favorite strategy for goof-proof grilled pizza is to partially bake the crust in the oven. Add your favorite toppings, then finish your creation on the grill for flame-kissed flavor minus the angst that comes from transferring raw dough to the grill or having it sag between the grates. After rising, the dough can be wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; bring it to room temperature before rolling. Par-baked crusts can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month. Bring back to room temperature before grilling.”

1 tsp. sugar

1 0.25-oz. pkg. active dry yeast

2 1/4 cups all-purpose or bread flour

1 cup whole-wheat flour

3 Tbs. fine yellow cornmeal

2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for greasing bowl and baking sheets

3/4 tsp. salt

Stir together sugar, yeast, and 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water (105°–115°F) in small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes, or until mixture looks foamy.

Whisk together flours, cornmeal, oil, and salt in bowl. Stir in yeast mixture, adding more warm water if necessary to make moist dough.

Transfer dough to floured work surface, and knead 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Transfer dough to large bowl rubbed with oil, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with kitchen towel, and let rise in warm place 1 hour.

Punch down dough, and knead 2 minutes. Return to bowl, and let rise 1 hour more.

Preheat oven to 500°F. Rub 2 baking sheets with oil. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Roll out each piece into 12- x 9-inch rectangle or 12-inch round. Transfer to prepared baking sheets, prick crusts all over with fork, and bake 5 minutes, or until set but not browned. Cool on wire rack before adding toppings.

nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 159; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 147 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: less than 1 g; Vegan