Confessions of a Foodie

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Showing posts with label Fiesta Slaw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiesta Slaw. Show all posts

Friday, September 4, 2015

Friday Recipes

Since Monday is Labor Day (and yes, the blog will have new recipes on Monday!), here are recipes that could be used this weekend. Enjoy!

MACARONI AND CHEESE

From another long-forgotten emailing list. Prep Time 5 minutes; Cooking Time 8 minutes; Serves 4

Ingredients

3/4 pound elbow macaroni

4 tablespoons butter

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 cups)

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

a few dashes Tabasco sauce

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Directions

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the macaroni until just done, about 8 minutes. Drain and return to the hot pot.

Put the pot over the lowest possible heat and add the butter, cheese, mustard, Tabasco sauce if using, salt, and pepper. Stir until the cheese melts, and serve.

BEEF STEW

I tend to be a vegetarian for a variety of reasons. But I wasn't always a vegetarian; I do have fond memories of family gatherings where meat was served. This is one of my creations from years ago when the stew recipes that I'd run across seemed too bland. Granted, this one isn't spicy; for that, I go for spaghetti or chili. This is from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking. If you have a Kindle or other ereader that handles Kindle stuff, check it out.

2-3 lbs. stewing beef

3 T oil

1 C flour

2 C water

1 onion, chopped

8 oz tomato sauce

6 oz tomato paste

1 T soy sauce

1 clove garlic, minced

4 carrots, cut up

1 large potato, peeled & cut up

4 T vinegar

3 T honey

salt & pepper

Cut beef into bite-sized pieces. Trim fat & dredge in flour & brown in oil. Add everything except carrots & potato. Cook 15 minutes. Add carrots & cook 15 more minutes. Add potato & cook 30 minutes. Add water as needed. Serve over noodles.

BUSH’S® BEST BLACK BEAN SALAD

This comes from Bush's® Best's emailed newsletter. Check it out for more recipes! This one starts off, “This colorful Black Bean salad is dressed with a light, lime vinaigrette and only takes a few minutes to prepare. Serve with tortilla chips or as a side dish.” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Servings: 6 to 8

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 can (15 oz) BUSH'S® Black Beans, rinsed and drained

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 yellow bell pepper, diced

1/2 cup diced red onion

1 can (15.25 oz) corn, drained

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 tsp cilantro

1/4 cup olive oil

4 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp lime juice

Salt and pepper to taste

Tortilla chips

Directions

In a small bowl, combine peppers, onion, corn, garlic and cilantro.

Add olive oil, vinegar, lime juice and salt and pepper to taste. Add black beans and toss well.

Serve with tortilla chips.

CREAMY CAULIFLOWER SHELLS AND CHEESE

This comes from The Baker Chick. I absolutely love her emailed newsletter and highly recommend signing up. I'll wait...(Sound of toe tapping.) There.

This recipe, which serves 4 – 6, can be viewed at http://www.thebakerchick.com/2015/08/creamy-cauliflower-shells-and-cheese/.

Ingredients

pasta, cooked al dente and drained. (I used shells but any kind will do)

1 small head of cauliflower, cut into florets

3 tablespoons of butter

3 tablespoons of flour

3 cups of milk

2 cups of white cheddar cheese, grated

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large pot of salted water, boil the cauliflower until super soft, about 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.

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 the grated cheese, and then salt & pepper to taste. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Using a food processor or blender, pureƩ the cauliflower until smooth. Or, put the cauliflower florets directly into the cheese sauce and use an immersion blender to pureƩ the sauce.

Stir in the cooked pasta, tossing until evenly coated.

Turn the sauce/pasta into an 8x8 baking dish. Top with a bit more freshly ground pepper if you have, and bake for 10 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

While cooling, toast the panko in a medium sized skillet with a little bit of olive oil, stirring frequently until golden brown. Sprinkle over the pasta and enjoy!

HERB CHEDDAR SODA BREAD

I love everything about homemade bread – the smell, the taste – everything about it! This yummy bread comes from Elizabeth Yetter, About.com's Bread Baking expert. She writes, “Soda breads are one of the easiest breads to make, although some of the recipes can be a bit plain. Not this recipe for herb and cheese soda bread. It is anything but a Plain Jane. Flavored with delicious cheddar cheese, parsley, and Italian seasoning, this is a great bread to prepare for just about any type of meal.

”The yellow onion and butter are like the icing on the cake. They give the bread an extra boost in flavor that can't be beat. Of course, if you are on a non-dairy diet, you can use vegan butter in place of real butter and you can replace the cheddar cheese with a shredded vegan variety without any sacrifice to flavor. The buttermilk can then be replaced with unsweetened soy or almond milk.

”You can also change up the variety of herbs used in this recipe. For example, you can turn this into a rosemary soda bread by replacing the Italian seasoning with an equal amount of dried, crushed rosemary. A sage bread can be made by replacing the Italian seasoning with powdered dried sage and, instead of fresh parsley, you could add fresh lemon verbena.

”Experiment with different cheese and herb combinations using what you have on hand and let your taste buds lead you to the perfect seasoning combination that you and your family with love. And, if worse comes to worse, you can always feed the birds with the disasters.”

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: Makes 8 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 cups bread flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 Tbsp butter

1 small yellow onion, chopped fine

3 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

3/4 cup buttermilk, about

Milk and extra cheddar cheese for topping

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease baking sheet.

In a medium bowl, sift together the bread flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and sea salt. Cut in the butter. Mix in onion, parsley, Italian seasoning, and cheddar cheese. Slowly add in the buttermilk and mix until a soft dough ball can be formed. Pick dough up with your hands, shape it into a round ball. Place dough ball onto greased sheet and gently flatten top.

Using a knife, carefully cut the dough into eight wedges without separating the wedges. Brush the bread top with milk and spring top with extra cheddar cheese.

Bake bread for 30 minutes or until done. Cool to warm on a wire rack and serve. The bread can be cut into the eight wedges or it can be torn.

FIESTA SLAW

Makes 10 servings. Find online here.

Ingredients

5 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

3 Tbsp. reduced-fat mayonnaise

5 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 tsp. canned chipotle chilies, rinsed, drained and chopped

1 Tbsp. honey

1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 large green bell pepper, cut into thin

1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips

12 oz. jicama, peeled, cut into thin strips

1/3 cup (packed) fresh cilantro leaves, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Puree first 5 ingredients in a blender or food processor until dressing is smooth.

Place peppers, jicama and cilantro in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss to mix and coat well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until the vegetables soften a little but remain crunchy. (About 4 hours.)

Serve at room temperature.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 42; Protein: 1 g; Sodium: 42 mg; Fat: under 1 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Diabetic Thursday

Enjoy!

ANGEL PECAN CUPCAKES

Yield: 12 servings

Source: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Terrific Diabetic Meals"

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/76.shtml

Ingredients

2 eggs, separated

1/4 cup hot tap water

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup fructose

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cake flour

3/4 teaspoon low-salt baking powder

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, with an electric mixer, beat egg yolks, hot water, and vanilla together until very thick and pale. Slowly beat in 1/2 cup fructose and set aside. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add salt, and continue beating until whites hold soft peaks.

Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup fructose to egg whites, beating until stiff but not dry. Stir 1/3 of whites into yolks, and sift flour and baking powder over egg mixture. Add pecans and remaining whites, and gently fold until blended.

Place 12 paper liners in a 12-cup muffin pan. Spoon batter evenly into cups, and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cupcake): Glycemic Index: 30, Glycemic Load: 6, Calories: 112, Protein: 3 g, Carbohydrate: 20 g, Dietary Fiber: Less than 1/2 g, Fat: 4 g, Saturated Fat: Less than 1 g, Cholesterol: 35 mg, Sodium: 27 g; Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch

OLD-FASHIONED SPICED BANANA BREAD

Yield: 9 servings

Source: "The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible"

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/11.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole-wheat flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg, beaten

2 bananas, mashed

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 tablespoons canola oil

1/3 cup fat-free milk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, and salt.

In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, bananas, oil, and milk. Add the banana mixture slowly to the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Don't overbeat.

Spray a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. Dust the pan lightly with flour. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake the banana bread for 45-50 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn the loaf out onto a rack and cool completely.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 slice): Calories: 214, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 47 mg, Sodium: 165 mg, Carbohydrate: 33 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 16 g, Protein: 4 g; Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Carbohydrate, 1-1/2 Fat

VEGETABLE BEEF BARLEY SOUP

Yield: 4 Servings

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/376.shtml

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 teaspoons crushed garlic

1 medium onion, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

2 carrots, diced

2 cups sliced mushrooms

3-1/2 cups beef stock

1/3 cup barley

2 small potatoes, peeled and diced

4 oz. stewing beef, diced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

In large non-stick saucepan, heat oil; saute garlic, onion, celery, carrots and mushrooms until tender, approximately 10 minutes.

Add stock, barley, potatoes and beef; cover, reduce heat and simmer approximately 50 minutes or until barley and potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 208; Protein: 11 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 1009 mg; Cholesterol: 13 mg; Carbohydrates: 31 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Medium Fat Meat, 1/2 Fat

CHICKEN JAMBALAYA

Makes 6 servings.

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/232.shtml

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2-3 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut in 3/4-inch pieces

1 can (14.5 oz.) whole plum tomatoes in juice

1 rib celery, cut in 1/2-inch slices

1 small green bell pepper, chopped

1 scallion, chopped

1 Tbsp. tomato paste

1 bay leaf

1 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 tsp. dried red pepper flakes

1 pinch ground cloves

1 cup hot long-grain brown rice, cooked according to package directions

Directions

In 3-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic. Saute, stirring frequently, until onion is tender but not brown, about 4 minutes. Add chicken and cook, stirring, until pieces are white on all sides.

Add tomatoes with liquid, breaking up with spoon. Mix in celery, bell pepper, scallion and tomato paste. Stir in bay leaf, thyme, pepper flakes and cloves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until chicken is cooked and sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes.

Remove bay leaf. Stir rice into chicken mixture until well combined.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 235; Protein: 17 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 203 mg; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Exchanges: 2 Low-Fat Meat, 2 Bread/Starch, 1 Vegetable

CHOCOLATE COFFEE TIRAMISU

Makes: 16 Servings

Source: The Best Diabetes Cookbook

View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/520.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups 5% ricotta cheese

1/2 cup light cream cheese

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 egg whites

1/3 cup granulated sugar

3/4 strong, prepared coffee

3 tablespoon chocolate or coffee-flavored liqueur

16 lady finger cookies

Directions

Spray a 9-inch square baking dish with vegetable spray.

In a food processor, combine ricotta cheese, cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, cocoa, egg yolk and vanilla until smooth; transfer to a bowl.

In bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whites into the ricotta mixture.

Combine coffee and liqueur in a small bowl.

Put half of lady fingers in bottom of dish. Sprinkle with half of coffee-liqueur mixture. Spread half of ricotta mixture on top. Repeat layers. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours, or overnight.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 150; Protein: 6 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 102 mg; Cholesterol: 66 mg; Carbohydrates: 21 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Starch, 1 Other Carbohydrate, 1/2 Lean Meat, 1/2 Fat

FIESTA SLAW

Makes 10 servings.

View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/504.shtml

Ingredients

5 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

3 Tbsp. reduced-fat mayonnaise

5 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 tsp. canned chipotle chilies, rinsed, drained and chopped

1 Tbsp. honey

1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 large green bell pepper, cut into thin

1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips

12 oz. jicama, peeled, cut into thin strips

1/3 cup (packed) fresh cilantro leaves, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Puree first 5 ingredients in a blender or food processor until dressing is smooth.

Place peppers, jicama and cilantro in a large bowl.

Add dressing and toss to mix and coat well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cover and refrigerate until the vegetables soften a little but remain crunchy (about 4 hours.)

Serve at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 42; Protein: 1 g; Fat: under 1 g; Sodium: 42 mg; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Diabetic Thursday

If it's Thursday, then it's time for more yummy, not-boring diabetic meals. Enjoy!

VEGETABLE AND BEAN SOUP

This recipe is from Diabetic Gourmet

Yield: 6 servings

Source: "The Everyday Low-Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook"

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/17.shtml

Notes: Easy substitution: To make this soup completely vegetarian, substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth, and additional olive oil for the butter.

Ingredients

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes

2 (14.5) cans chicken broth

1 cube vegetable bouillon

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 (15.5 ounce) can kidney beans, drained

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

2 carrots, finely chopped

2 celery stalks, finely chopped

2 summer squashes (zucchini or yellow squash, about 1 pound total), quartered lengthwise and chopped

1 (7 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (about 4 shakes) (optional)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker crock and mix well. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours. Stir well before serving. If desired, stir in Tabasco sauce before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/6 of recipe): Calories: 210, Protein: 8 g, Carbohydrate: 18 g, Fat: 9 g, Cholesterol: 14 mg, Sodium: 1020 mg; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Lean Meat, 2 Fat, 2 Vegetable

CINNAMON APPLE FLAT BREAD

Yield: 12 servings

Source: "Mr. Food's Every Day's a Holiday Diabetic Cookbook"

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/89.shtml

Ingredients

1 pound frozen bread dough, thawed

1/4 cup peach all-fruit spread

4 medium apples, cored, peeled, and thinly sliced

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 10" x 15" rectangle. With your fingertips, gently spread the dough to cover the pan, and push it up to the edges of the pan, forming a rim. If the dough is too sticky, dust it with your hands lightly with flour.

Spread the fruit spread over the dough, then top with the sliced apples, arranged in a single layer.

In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the apples. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, or until the edges are golden.

Remove from the oven and cool slightly in the pan on a wire rack. Slice, and serve warm.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (2 squares): Calories: 143, Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 221 mg, Carbohydrate: 29 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 11 g, Protein: 3 g; Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Carbohydrate

EMERALD SALAD

Makes 4 servings. (6 cups salad)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/26.shtml

Online Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/635.shtml

Ingredients

1 slice oatmeal bread

Canola oil spray

12 Boston lettuce leaves

12 pink grapefruit sections (fresh, jarred, or canned)

12 thin avocado slices (1/2 medium avocado)

2 kiwi fruit, peeled and thinly sliced

12 finely-sliced green bell pepper rings

1/2 cup grapefruit juice

2 Tbsp. lime juice

1-2 Tbsp. honey, preferably clover

1 Tbsp. minced fresh mint leaves, or according to taste

Salt and freshly-ground black pepper

1-1/2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To make croutons, coat one side of the bread with cooking spray. Sprinkle on the oregano. Bake on a rack in the center of the oven for 3 minutes, until the bread is dry and almost hard in the center. Let it sit 2 minutes. With a serrated knife, cut the bread into 1/2-inch cubes and set aside.

On each of four salad plates, make a bed using 3 lettuce leaves. Place 3 grapefruit sections and 3 avocado slices in the center. Arrange kiwi slices in an overlapping ring around them. Place the 3 pepper rings over the grapefruit and avocado.

For the dressing, whisk together in a small bowl the grapefruit and lime juice, 1 tablespoon honey and mint. Whisk in the oil. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Taste, and if too tart, add the remaining honey, as desired.

To serve, drizzle dressing over top of each salad. Sprinkle one-fourth of the warm croutons over each and serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 159; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 42 mg; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 28 g

LEMON-GLAZED BABY CARROTS

Yield: 4 servings

Source: "America's Everyday Diabetes Cookbook"

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/17.shtml

View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/950.shtml

Ingredients

1 pound peeled baby carrots

1/4 cup chicken stock, or vegetable stock

1 tablespoons margarine or butter

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1/4 teaspoon salt

Pepper to taste

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley or chives

Directions

In a medium saucepan, cook carrots in boiling salted water for 5 to 7 minutes (start timing when water returns to a boil) or until just tender-crisp; drain and return to saucepan.

Add stock, butter, brown sugar, lemon juice and rind, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or until liquid has evaporated and carrots are nicely glazed.

Sprinkle with parsley or chives and serve.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 91; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 251 mg; Cholesterol: 8 mg; Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetables, 1/2 Fat

KOOL-AID FIZZY FLOAT

Yield: 8 servings Serving Size: 1 (8 oz.) drink

Found online at http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1110.shtml

Ingredients

1 quart cold water

2 cups light white grape juice, chilled

1 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 package your favorite flavor Kool-Aid Unsweetened Soft Drink Mix

2 cups seltzer water, chilled

2 cups no-sugar-added light vanilla ice cream

Directions

Combine water, grape juice, Splenda Granulated Sweetener, and Kool-Aid Soft Drink Mix in a pitcher, stirring until Splenda Granulated Sweetener dissolves.

Pour 3/4 cup of the mixture into each of 8 tall glasses; add 1/4 cup of the seltzer to each glass.

Top each serving with 1/4 cup of the ice cream. Serve immediately.

Store leftover prepared drink in refrigerator.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 70; Calories from Fat: 20; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 85 mg; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Fat: 2.5 g; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g

FIESTA SLAW

Makes 10 servings. Find online here.

Ingredients

5 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

3 Tbsp. reduced-fat mayonnaise

5 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 tsp. canned chipotle chilies, rinsed, drained and chopped

1 Tbsp. honey

1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 large green bell pepper, cut into thin

1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips

12 oz. jicama, peeled, cut into thin strips

1/3 cup (packed) fresh cilantro leaves, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Puree first 5 ingredients in a blender or food processor until dressing is smooth.

Place peppers, jicama and cilantro in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss to mix and coat well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until the vegetables soften a little but remain crunchy. (About 4 hours.)

Serve at room temperature.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 42; Protein: 1 g; Sodium: 42 mg; Fat: under 1 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable

Friday, August 29, 2014

Yummy Friday Recipes

Is there anything better than Friday, with the weekend ahead? A three-day weekend, of course! With Labor Day on Monday, most of us in the U.S. feel like it's the end of summer. Here are some recipes to get you through the weekend. Enjoy!

PLUM AND ROSEMARY JAM

This comes from Seattle's Macrina Bakery. If you aren't on their emailing list, you really should sign up. And if you're ever in Seattle, stop by. I know that if I'm ever on a road trip that way, I soooo plan to stop in!

The recipe starts off, “Savory jams often take a backseat to their sweet counterparts, but they add an unexpected thrum of flavor to everyday dishes. For an easy appetizer, spread this Plum & Rosemary Jam on a toasted wedge of our Pizza Bianca or layer it on our Seeded Sardinian Flatbread with your favorite cheese. As a topping for a juicy lamb burger or roasted pork sandwich, this jam is a game-changer. If using Italian plums instead of red plums, be sure to use less sugar to accommodate the sweetness of the fruit.” Makes 1/2 cup.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon pure olive oil

1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon finely chopped red onion

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground coriander seed

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 cups pitted plums, medium dice

1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary

Preparation

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil, onion, ginger and coriander. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid browning.

Add the vinegar, brown sugar and plums and cook for 20 to 25 minutes over low heat to reduce the moisture from the plums. During the last 5 minutes of cooking time, stir the rosemary into the plum mixture.

Remove the pan from heat and let the jam cool to room temperature. Transfer jam to an airtight container and store in refrigerator for up to 10 days.

PUMPKIN SPICE WHOOPIE PIES

From Food.com. Prep time: 30 minutes, total time: 45 minutes, Yield: 12-18 sandwiched cookies

The person who wrote this for Food.com wrote, "Whoopie Pies are big sandwiched cookie. These are a hit with kids and adults alike. I prefer mine frozen!"

Ingredients

Cookies

1 cup pumpkin

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 package spice cake mix (2 layer size)

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

Marshmallow Spice filling

1/2 cup butter

1 (8 ounce) packages softened cream cheese

2 cups powdered sugar

3 1/2 ounces marshmallow cream ( half of a 7 oz jar)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

Cookies: Beat pumpkin and butter with an electric mixer until smooth.

Add cake mix, eggs and milk and beat on low speed until combined, then on medium speed for one minute.

Cover cookie sheets with parchment or oiled foil.

Drop large mounds of dough 3 inches apart on cookie sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees F.

Filling: Beat together butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar, marshmallow cream, vanilla and cinnamon and nutmeg. Beat until well combined. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until cookies are ready to be filled.

When cookies are cool, spoon filling on bottom of cookies and sandwich together.

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size: 1 (1549 g); Servings Per Recipe: 1; Amount Per Serving % Daily Value: Calories 477.2; Calories from Fat 250 52%; Amount Per Serving % Daily Value: Total Fat 27.7g 42%; Saturated Fat 15.0g 75%; Cholesterol 93.9mg 31%; Sugars 40.2 g; Sodium 444.8mg 18%; Total Carbohydrate 54.1g 18%; Dietary Fiber 0.7g 2%; Sugars 40.2 g 161%; Protein 4.3g 8%

AUTUMN SQUASH CASSEROLE

Ingredients

1 stick of butter, melted

1 onion, chopped

5 lbs butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1 1/2 cups orange juice

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 tsp cinnamon

Directions

Place the butter, onion, squash and orange juice in the slow cooker. Cook on Low for 6 to 10 hours or on High for 3 to 4 hours. Add the cinnamon and maple syrup. Using a potato masher, mash the ingredients. Mix until smooth and serve warm.

CLASSIC BLUEBERRY PIE

Another recipe from Macrina Bakery. The recipe starts out, “Few things in life are as wonderful as homemade blueberry pie. It is heaven on earth! I recommend using slightly tart organic blueberries whenever possible.”

Makes one 9-inch double-crusted pie

7 cups (3-1/2 pints) organic blueberries

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup light brown sugar

2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

One top and bottom pie crust, chilled

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Egg wash made with 1 egg and 1 teaspoon water

Coarse raw sugar


Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Sort through the blueberries, removing any stems and leaves. Gently rinse the berries and lay them out on paper towels to air dry.

Combine 3-1/2 cups of the blueberries, granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon zest, cinnamon, vanilla extract and flour in a medium saucepan. Mix with a spoon. Cook over medium heat until the fruit juices have been released and the mixture has thickened, 5 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently to keep the mixture from burning. Pour the cooked fruit into a large stainless steel bowl and add the remaining blueberries. Stir with a spoon and set aside until the fruit has cooled to room temperature.

Divide the chilled pie dough into 2 pieces, making one piece slightly larger than the other. Coat your hands with flour and shape the larger piece of dough into a ball. Working on a floured surface, flatten the ball slightly, then roll it into a 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Fit the rolled dough into a 9-inch pie pan. Trim the edges of the dough to leave a 1-inch overhang around the pan. Roll out the remaining piece of dough 1/8-inch thick and trim it into a 10-inch circle. Set aside. This will be the top crust.

Pour the cooled fruit into the pie shell and dot with butter. Brush the top side of the overhanging dough with a little egg wash. Lift the top crust onto the pie, folding it in half to make it easier to accurately position. Lift the overhanging dough onto the top crust and crimp with your fingers. Mark the crimped edges with a fork, then brush all of the crust with egg wash. Sprinkle with coarse raw sugar and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the pie on the prepared baking sheet. Using a sharp knife cut 4 slits in the center of the crust. Bake pie for 50 to 55 minutes. The crust will be golden brown and the fruit will be bubbling in the center of the pie. Let cool for 30 to 40 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

RASPBERRY-LEMONADE SORBET

From the July/August 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 73. The recipe starts off, “ Extra-lemony and not too sweet, this is an easy sorbet to whip up year-round with frozen raspberries. Try the recipe with blueberries, blackberries, or cherries as well.” Makes one quart.

5 cups fresh or frozen raspberries

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup lemon juice

PurƩe raspberries in blender or food processor until no whole fruit remains. Press purƩe through fine sieve, and discard seeds. (You should have 2 cups.)

Stir 1/2 cup water into sugar in saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice. Stir sugar mixture into raspberry purƩe.

Chill mixture in refrigerator until cold, then churn in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions. Transfer to 1-quart container, and freeze.

nutritional information Per 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 141; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: less than 1 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 1 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 29 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

FIESTA SLAW

Makes 10 servings. Find online here.

Ingredients

5 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

3 Tbsp. reduced-fat mayonnaise

5 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 tsp. canned chipotle chilies, rinsed, drained and chopped

1 Tbsp. honey

1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 large green bell pepper, cut into thin

1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips

12 oz. jicama, peeled, cut into thin strips

1/3 cup (packed) fresh cilantro leaves, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper



Directions

Puree first 5 ingredients in a blender or food processor until dressing is smooth.

Place peppers, jicama and cilantro in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss to mix and coat well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until the vegetables soften a little but remain crunchy. (About 4 hours.)

Serve at room temperature.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 42; Protein: 1 g; Sodium: 42 mg; Fat: under 1 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Week day recipes

A few more end-of-summer recipes. Enjoy!

WATERMELON-RASPBERRY GRANITA

From the Food Network Kitchens. Total Time: 4 hr 25 min; Prep: 15 min; Inactive: 4 hr; Cook: 10 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy; Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/watermelon-raspberry-granita.print.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

1 pint raspberries

1/2 cup sugar

4 cups cubed seedless watermelon

Juice of 1 lime

Directions

Combine the raspberries, sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the raspberries have completely broken down, about 6 minutes.

Press the raspberry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a blender; let cool completely. Add the watermelon and lime juice and puree until smooth. Pour the mixture into an 8-inch-square stainless-steel or glass baking dish.

Freeze until ice crystals begin forming around the edges, about 45 minutes. Use a fork to scrape the crystals toward the center of the pan, then continue freezing, scraping every 30 minutes, until frozen, about 4 hours.

KOOL-AID FIZZY FLOAT

Yield: 8 servings Serving Size: 1 (8 oz.) drink

Found online at http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1110.shtmlIngredients

1 quart cold water

2 cups light white grape juice, chilled

1 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 package your favorite flavor Kool-Aid Unsweetened Soft Drink Mix

2 cups seltzer water, chilled

2 cups no-sugar-added light vanilla ice cream

Directions

Combine water, grape juice, Splenda Granulated Sweetener, and Kool-Aid Soft Drink Mix in a pitcher, stirring until Splenda Granulated Sweetener dissolves.

Pour 3/4 cup of the mixture into each of 8 tall glasses; add 1/4 cup of the seltzer to each glass.

Top each serving with 1/4 cup of the ice cream. Serve immediately.

Store leftover prepared drink in refrigerator.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 70; Calories from Fat: 20; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 85 mg; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Fat: 2.5 g; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g

FIESTA SLAW

Makes 10 servings. Find online here.

Ingredients

5 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

3 Tbsp. reduced-fat mayonnaise

5 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 tsp. canned chipotle chilies, rinsed, drained and chopped

1 Tbsp. honey

1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 large green bell pepper, cut into thin

1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips

12 oz. jicama, peeled, cut into thin strips

1/3 cup (packed) fresh cilantro leaves, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Puree first 5 ingredients in a blender or food processor until dressing is smooth.

Place peppers, jicama and cilantro in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss to mix and coat well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until the vegetables soften a little but remain crunchy. (About 4 hours.)

Serve at room temperature.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 42; Protein: 1 g; Sodium: 42 mg; Fat: under 1 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable

TOMATO AND MINT TABBOULEH

Yield: 12 side-dish servings

Online Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/695.shtml

Source: The All New Good Housekeeping Cookbook

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/48.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups bulgur wheat

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1-1/2 cups boiling water

1 pound ripe tomatoes (3 medium), cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 medium cucumber (8 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

3 green onions, chopped

3/4 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped

1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Directions

In medium bowl, combine bulgur, lemon juice, and boiling water, stirring to mix. Let stand until liquid has been absorbed, about 30 minutes.

To bulgur mixture, add tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, parsley, mint, oil, salt, and pepper, stirring to mix. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour to blend flavors or up to 4 hours.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 87; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 157 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread

CHERRY TOMATO FOCACCIA

This is from the July/August 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 61. The recipe starts out with, “This bread is hearty enough to be served with a salad for a light lunch or supper.” Serves 8.

Topping

1/4 cup shelled roasted pistachios

1/4 cup olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)

1/2 tsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary

2 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved

Focaccia

3 1/2 cups bread flour

1 Tbs. sugar

2 1/2 tsp. instant yeast

2 tsp. salt

Olive oil, for greasing baking sheet

To make Topping: Pulse pistachios in food processor until ground, but with some larger pieces. Transfer to bowl, and stir in olive oil, garlic, and rosemary.

To make Focaccia: Stir together flour, sugar, yeast, salt, and 1 1/4 cups water in bowl. Knead dough in bowl 5 minutes. Cover bowl with towel, and let rise 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Generously grease rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. Stretch dough into 12- x 11-inch rectangle in sheet pan. Let dough rise 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 450°F. Dimple dough with fingers. Whisk 2 Tbs. water into pistachio mixture, and brush onto dough. Press tomato halves cut-side up into dough. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown on top and bottom.

nutritional information Per Slice: Calories: 329; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 48 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 589 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan

SPINACH AND ONION SOUP

Yield: 4 servings

Online Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html.672.shtml

Source: Great Healthy Food - Diabetes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 medium onions, thinly sliced

3-3/4 cups vegetable stock

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper

2/3 cup white wine

6 cups leaf spinach

Directions

Heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the onions for about 5-8 minutes over low heat, until they have softened.

Pour in the stock and bring to a boil. Add the bay leaf and the seasonings. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Pour in the wine and add the spinach. Continue to cook, but only until the spinach has wilted slightly.

Remove the bay leaf and serve hot.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 141; Protein: 6 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 1011 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1 Fat

Friday, July 11, 2014

Weekend Meals

Finally! You've waited all week for Friday and the weekend! Here it is, along with yummy meals for the weekend. Enjoy!

RED, RED SALAD

From the June 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times. The recipe, which serves 8 and is ready in 30 minutes or less, begins, “Reminiscent of the '50s favorite chopped salad, this dish indulges your whim for something red and colorful for spring and summer eating. You can dress this with an oil-and-balsamic vinegar mixture or any other preferred dressing. Because this is a focal point for lunch or supper, accompany the salad with grilled cheese squares and wrap the meal up with a tempting sweet, such as a wedge of berry pie. Toast the meal with icy lemonade. This makes about 8 1- to 1 1/2-cup servings.”

1 bunch radishes, greens removed, trimmed and quartered

1/2 head red cabbage, cored and chopped

1 cup grape tomatoes

2 1/2 cups red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 large red bell pepper, seeded and diced

1/2 large red onion, diced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Salad dressing to taste

Put all vegetables and beans in a large salad bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Dress with salad dressing, toss and serve.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 100; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Sodium: 200 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 3 g; Vegan

COOL, COOL GAZPACHO

This recipe comes from FamilyTime. Check this recipe out online here.

The recipe starts off, “Vegetable juice adds a burst of great flavor to this zesty gazpacho, bursting with diced fresh vegetables. It's a refreshing dish for a hot summer's day...but it's so easy to make, you can enjoy it any time.” Prep. Time: 30 minutes; serves 6 (about 1 1/4 cups each)

Ingredients

6 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped (about 6 cups)

1 1/2 cups V8® 100% Vegetable Juice

1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced (about 1 1/3 cups)

1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)

1 small green pepper, finely chopped (about 1/3 cup)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons vinegar

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

hot pepper sauce, to taste

Directions

Stir the tomatoes, vegetable juice, cucumber, onion, green pepper, garlic, oil, vinegar, black pepper and hot pepper sauce in a large mixing bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until ready to serve.

ALMOND CAKE WITH RASPBERRIES & CHOCOLATE GANACHE

From Seattle's Macrina Bakery. The recipe states, “This combination of toasted almonds in a buttery cake, accompanied by fresh raspberries and bittersweet chocolate ganache is our best-selling wedding cake. It satisfies everyone's taste with nuts, fruit, and of course, chocolate. This recipe makes individually sized cakes that are baked in a jumbo muffin pan. Once they've cooled, you remove the paper liner, invert the cakes so the tapered side is up, fill with sweetened cream and raspberries, and top with chocolate ganache.” Makes 8 Jumbo cupcakes.

For the batter:

1/2 cup raw almonds (skins on), toasted

1-1/2 cups cake flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons low-fat plain yogurt, divided

2 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

For the whipped cream filling:

1 pint fresh raspberries (about 24 berries)

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons sugar

For the chocolate ganache:

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400°F. Lightly grease the top of a jumbo muffin pan with canola oil to prevent any stray batter from sticking, and line 8 cups with jumbo cupcake liners.

To make the batter, first grind the toasted almonds in a food processor until they are very fine and powdery. (Alternatively, grind them by hand: chop the nuts as finely as you can with a chef's knife, then use the flat side of the knife to crush the chopped nuts into a powder.) Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. Add the almonds and toss with your hands to evenly distribute. Set aside.

Whisk 2 tablespoons of the yogurt, eggs, and almond and vanilla extracts in a small bowl. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar; start on low speed and increase to medium, stopping to scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed to fully incorporate the ingredients. The mixture will be light, fluffy, and pale. Add the flour mixture and the remaining 1/2 cup yogurt, slowly mixing for 1 minute. Once the flour is incorporated, increase to medium speed and mix for 1 minute more, then scrape down the bowl again. Add the egg mixture in 3 additions, mixing for 20 seconds after each addition, then scraping down the bowl.

Using a large spoon or #30 ice cream scoop, fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full with batter. Smooth the tops for even baking. Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, or until the cupcakes are deep golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. (Note that these cupcakes will rise only to the top of the muffin pan as they bake.) Cool them in the pan for 45 minutes, then remove them and peel off the cupcake liners. Invert the cakes onto a plate, so the bottoms are up and using a teaspoon, scoop out a 1-1/2 inch ball from the center of each cake and discard (or eat!) the cake.

To make the filling, pick through the raspberries, reserving 8 beauties for garnish. Whisk the heavy cream and sugar in a small bowl, whipping until they form medium-firm peaks, then fold in the raspberries. You want the berries to break up a bit—but don't let them get soupy. Spoon the raspberry whipped cream into the hole in the cakes, piling in as much as you can and leveling the top.

To make the ganache, pour the heavy cream into a small saucepan. Over medium heat bring the cream to a froth just before it boils. Turn off the heat and add the semisweet and bittersweet chocolate chips. Using a rubber spatula, stir until the chocolate completely melts, then remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool for about 10 minutes. The ganache will thicken as it cools.

To assemble, top each cake with 1 tablespoon of the ganache; spread it evenly, but leave a little of the golden cake showing around the edges. Garnish with a raspberry.

These cakes taste best the day they are made. You can prepare them up to the point of making the filling and store, covered, at room temperature for 2 days.

FIESTA SLAW

Makes 10 servings. Find online here.

Ingredients

5 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

3 Tbsp. reduced-fat mayonnaise

5 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 tsp. canned chipotle chilies, rinsed, drained and chopped

1 Tbsp. honey

1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 large green bell pepper, cut into thin

1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips

12 oz. jicama, peeled, cut into thin strips

1/3 cup (packed) fresh cilantro leaves, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Puree first 5 ingredients in a blender or food processor until dressing is smooth.

Place peppers, jicama and cilantro in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss to mix and coat well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until the vegetables soften a little but remain crunchy. (About 4 hours.)

Serve at room temperature.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 42; Protein: 1 g; Sodium: 42 mg; Fat: under 1 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable

BLUEBERRY SORBET

Fiona Haynes is About.com's Low Fat Cooking guide. She writes, “Sorbet is a refreshing, low calorie, virtually fat free summertime treat. Blueberries make for a gorgeous, intensely purple sorbet. If, like me, you don't have an ice cream maker, the second stint in the blender or food processor improves the texture of the sorbet, to make it smoother. If you do have an ice cream maker, simply place the chilled syrup and pureed blueberries into the can and follow the manufacturer's instructions.” Serves 8.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup water

2/3 cup sugar

2 lbs/1 quart fresh blueberries

2 tbsp lemon juice

Preparation:

Stir sugar and water together in a small saucepan over low heat until sugar has dissolved. Bring sugar and water syrup to a boil, then remove from heat. Allow to cool in pan for a 1/2 hour (the syrup is extremely hot) before transferring to a 1 cup container and chilling it for an hour in the refrigerator.

While the syrup is cooling, place blueberries in a food processor or blender (you may need to do this in two batches). Blend blueberries to a puree, then pour through a sieve into a medium size bowl. Add lemon juice, and stir well.

Refrigerate puree until syrup has chilled – about 1 hour.

Combine chilled syrup and blueberry puree, then transfer to an 8-inch metal baking pan (stainless steel is best).

Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 3 hours. Remove sorbet from freezer and puree once more in a food processor or blender. Return blueberry puree mixture to metal pan, cover and freeze for 3-4 more hours. Remove from freezer about 10-15 minutes before serving.

Per Serving: Calories 112, Calories from Fat 2, Total Fat 0.3g, (Sat 0g), Cholesterol 0g, Sodium 4mg, Carbohydrate 27.1, Fiber 2g, Protein 0.5g

BROWN SUGAR & ALMOND COFFEECAKE

Another yummy recipe from Macrina Bakery. The emailed recipe started off, “NOTE: We've updated the recipe to include the bake time for the perfect Brown Sugar & Almond Coffeecake. This coffeecake is a stand-out favorite among our brunch customers. I like to use fresh berries whenever possible, but frozen fruit will also work well in this recipe.” All I know is that it's good. Makes 1 (9-inch square) cake.

4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

2-1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

10 ounces (2-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1-3/4 cups light brown sugar

5 eggs

1/2 cup whole milk

2 tsp pure almond extract

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk


2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries

1 cup whole almonds, coarsely chopped

Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325° F. Oil a 9" square pan

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Toss with your hands and set aside.
Combine butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, mix on medium speed for 5 to 8 minutes to cream the butter. The mixture should be smooth and pale in color.

In a medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, and almond and vanilla extracts. Mix with a whisk. Add a small amount of egg mixture to the bowl of creamed butter and mix on medium speed until fully incorporated. Continue adding small amounts until all of the egg mixture is mixed into the butter. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and mix for another 30 seconds.

Remove the bowl from your stand mixer. Alternately add small amounts of the flour mixture and the buttermilk to the bowl, mixing with a wooden spoon just until all the ingredients are incorporated. Fold in the raspberries taking care not to smash the fruit. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle chopped almonds over the top.

Bake on center rack of oven for about 1 hour, or until glolden brown. Test center of cake with a skewer. It will come out clean when the cake is finished. Let cool for 20 minutes on a wire rack, then dust with powdered sugar and cut into pieces. This coffeecake will be fragile until it has completely cooled, so remove the warm pieces carefully, using a pie server to lift the pieces out of the pan.