It's time for another foray into Meatless Monday. Are you ready to try a few vegetarian recipes? (I hope so!) If so, here are six meatless recipes to help you through the day, including Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta and Pecan Butter Chocolate Truffles with Sea Salt. Enjoy!
SWEET POTATOES ANNA WITH PRUNES
This comes from Tara Parker-Pope in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “This layered sweet potato gratin comes out of the oven caramelized on the edges and glistening with butter. The potatoes in the center are soft, their layers embedded with prunes; the ones around the edges are so crisp and sweet from the port, they taste candied. Slice the potatoes thinly — use a mandoline if you have one — and check the potatoes after 35 minutes in the oven. By 40 minutes, ours were perfect.”
Yield: 6 to 10 servings; Time: About 1 hour 30 minutes.
This was featured in “Home Cooks Rethink Sweet Potatoes” and can be viewed online here.
Also helpful is “How to Cook Potatoes”, a guide from The New York Times food writer, Julia Moskin.
Note: I don’t keep alcohol around the house, so I plan to use either water or maybe fruit juice - possibly plum or prune juice?
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup port
10 pitted prunes
5 to 6 small sweet potatoes, peeled and very thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Clarify the butter: In a small saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter. Skim off any foam, then pour the clear liquid into a bowl, leaving behind the solids.
Heat the port to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the prunes, turn off the heat and let them soak until plumped, about 20 minutes. Drain and chop the prunes coarsely.
Heat oven to 450 degrees.
Brush a layer of clarified butter onto your favorite 8- or 9-inch round baking dish or ovenproof frying pan.
Arrange a layer of potatoes, overlapping in circles, in the dish. Brush with the clarified butter and season with salt and pepper. Arrange another layer of potatoes and sprinkle with about half the prune pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Brush with clarified butter. Repeat with one more layer of potatoes and prunes, then end with a layer of potatoes. Remember to brush each layer with clarified butter and salt and pepper. You can do four layers of potatoes or six; it’s up to you. Pack the potatoes tightly by pressing down on them with your palms. If there’s a little butter left at the end, it’s no big deal.
Bake until crisp and tender, 35 to 45 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then flip the cake onto a serving plate and cut into wedges. If desired, finish with a dusting of sugar and a couple of minutes of broiling, for a brûlée top. It can also be made using apples and prunes, or just apples.
INDONESIAN TOFU AND VEGETABLE STEW
This recipe begins, “With a light coconut lime flavor, this recipe features green beans, bell peppers and zucchini. If you have other fresh veggies on hand, then you can add them as well.”
Yield: 8 servings.
Serving Size: 1 cup
Source: Patricia Chuey, RD
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=1251
View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1251.shtml
Ingredients
1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger
Juice of one medium sized lime
1 1/2 Tbsp canola oil, divided
1 (12 oz) block of firm or extra firm tofu, diced into cubes
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 cup sodium-reduced vegetable or chicken broth
1 cup light coconut milk
2 cups green beans, cut in 2 inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 medium zucchini, diced
2 Tbsp fresh cilantro
Directions
In a bowl, marinate tofu with the ginger, lime juice and 1/2 Tbsp canola oil. Toss well to coat. This can be done about 30 minutes ahead of time and up to overnight in the refrigerator.
In a large saucepan, no lid required heat remaining 1 Tbsp canola oil. Add onion and cook for about 6 minutes or until softened and slightly browned. Add garlic, cumin, coriander and cloves and stir for 2 minutes.
To saucepan, add stock and coconut milk. Simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
Add green beans, bell pepper and zucchini and cook for about 10 minutes more or until vegetables are tender. Add marinated tofu and cook an additional 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro. Serve over steamed brown rice or quinoa, if desired.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 290 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g
SPINACH MACARONI AND CHEESE
There are probably as many variations of mac and cheese as there are American cooks. This one is from Lori Mama on Food.com. On her Food.com page, Lori wrote, “It's all my father's fault I like to cook and I thank him for it. Ever since he taught me how to fry an egg, it's been a happy adventure ever since.” Works for me!
Of this recipe, Lori added, “Made for my husband.” Makes 4 servings; Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cooking Time: 15 minutes.
To view this yumminess online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups macaroni pasta, cooked
1 cup chopped cooked spinach
2 cups hot milk
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons horseradish
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese
salt and pepper, to taste
freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425.
In medium sized pot, over medium heat, melt butter.
Add the flour and cook for 3 minutes.
Pour in the hot milk and cook until thickened.
Add the spinach, cheese, seasonings, horseradish and mustard.
Mix well.
Combine with the cooked pasta.
Place in a greased cassarole dish.
Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until bubbling.
PECAN BUTTER CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES WITH SEA SALT
This dessert recipe is from the September 2016 issue of Runner's World, page 81, and begins, “Easy-to-digest dates are high in minerals, including potassium.”
This is adapted from Run Fast, Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes, by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. Published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
Makes 12 muffins.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/run-fast-eat-slow.
Ingredients (for the pecan butter)
2 cups pecans
10 Deglet dates, pitted
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Ingredients (for the coating)
2 Tbsp. virgin coconut oil
3 Tbsp. maple syrup
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. coarse sea salt
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
To make the pecan butter: Spread the pecans out on a baking sheet and roast in the center of the oven for 8 minutes, stirring after 4 minutes. Allow the pecans to cool completely.
In a food processor or high-speed blender, combine the pecans, dates, and cinnamon. Pulse or blend on high until smooth. Do not overprocess—you want the pecan butter thick. Transfer to a small bowl.
Use your hands to roll the pecan butter into bite-size balls. (If the nut butter is warm or liquid-y, chill it in the fridge to make it easier to handle.) Place the balls on the baking sheet.
To make the coating: Place the oil in a small microwaveable bowl and microwave in increments of 10 seconds, stirring in between, until almost completely melted. (Alternatively, the oil can be melted in a small saucepan over low heat.) Stir in the maple syrup and cocoa powder until smooth.
Drop one ball at a time in the chocolate coating, use a fork to lift out, and return it to the baking sheet. Continue with the remaining balls. Top each truffle with a small pinch of the salt.
Place the baking sheet in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes or until ready to serve. Makes 18 balls.
TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA PASTA
This was in the October 2016 issue Runner's World, page 45. Makes 4 to 6 servings. It is adapted from Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious, by Maria Rodale. Available in October, published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/have-a-pasta-party-from-scratch/.
Ingredients
1 lb. pasta, such as rigatoni
5 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
5-6 small tomatoes, chopped
8 oz. fresh mozzarella, torn into small pieces
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
Freshly ground black pepper
Grated Pecorino cheese
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions. In a large bowl, combine oil, garlic, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and parsley, and gently toss. Drain pasta, add to bowl, and toss to coat, adding more oil if necessary. Season with pepper to taste, and top with cheese. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving (for 4): 789; Protein: 26 g; Carbs: 88 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 8 g; Total fat: 35 g; Saturated fat: 12 g; Sodium: 157 mg
FROZEN BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST BARS
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “Get your yogurt and granola in a frozen bar that you can ‘grab and go’ for breakfast or for a snack any time of day.” Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 containers (5.3 oz each) *Yoplait® Greek blueberry yogurt
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola, coarsely crushed
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups granola and the melted butter. Firmly press in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on cooling rack. Freeze about 5 minutes or until cold.
Spoon yogurt over crust; gently spread to cover. Sprinkle with blueberries and crushed granola. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.
Remove from freezer 10 minutes before cutting. To make bars, cut into 5 rows by 2 rows. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap. Store in freezer.
*Yoplait is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT MARQUES (France) used under license.
Showing posts with label Frozen Blueberry Breakfast Bars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frozen Blueberry Breakfast Bars. Show all posts
Monday, May 14, 2018
Friday, March 31, 2017
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday, time to get ready for the weekend. Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend, including High-Altitude Bison Meatballs with Marinara Sauce and Frozen Blueberry Breakfast Bars. Enjoy!
HIGH-ALTITUTDE BISON MEATBALLS WITH MARINARA SAUCE
This dinner recipe is from the September 2016 issue of Runner's World, page 80, and begins, “In a rush? Simply sauté meatball ingredients minus the almond meal and egg.”
This is adapted from Run Fast, Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes, by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. Published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
Makes 4 servings.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/run-fast-eat-slow.
Ingredients
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
1 cup finely minced kale (about 4 leaves), stems discarded (a food processor works great for this)
1/4 cup almond meal or almond flour or fine bread crumbs
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. fennel seeds
3/4 tsp. fine sea salt
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 lb. ground bison or ground beef (preferably not lean)
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Prepared marinara sauce
12 oz. dried spaghetti (gluten-free if sensitive)
8 fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)
Instructions
In a large bowl, stir together the egg, Parmesan, kale, almond meal, garlic, oregano, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper flakes. Add the bison (or beef) and use your hands to combine the meat. Form the mixture into 12 2-inch meatballs, rolling each meatball firmly in your hands.
In a heavy-bottomed pot with a lid, warm the oil over medium-high heat. Place the meatballs in the pot in a single layer without crowding them, and cook, turning the meatballs so they brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pot as you go. If using ground beef, pour out all but 1 to 2 Tbsp. of the fat prior to adding the sauce.
Add marinara sauce to meatballs. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, 30 to 45 minutes. Cover and keep warm over low heat until ready to serve.
While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to the package directions.
To serve, divide the pasta among 4 pasta bowls and arrange the meatballs on top, along with a generous ladle of sauce. Garnish with Parmesan and fresh basil, if using. Makes 4 servings.
SPICY BROCCOLI RABE AND SAUSAGE PASTA
This was in the October 2016 issue Runner's World, page 45. Makes 6 servings. It is adapted from Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious, by Maria Rodale. Available in October, published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/have-a-pasta-party-from-scratch/.
Ingredients
1 lb. pasta (any kind)
4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. sausage, cut into 1" pieces
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups chopped broccoli rabe or broccoli florets
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
Crushed red pepper flakes or hot chili oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Grated Romano cheese
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions. In a large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. of oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring, for 6 minutes or until browned. Add garlic and broccoli rabe, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes. Drain pasta and add to skillet with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil, parsley, and pepper flakes. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Toss to combine. Top with cheese. Makes 6 servings.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving: 493; Protein: 23 g; Carbs: 58 g; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 3 g; Total fat: 18 g; Saturated fat: 4 g; Sodium: 503 mg
QUINOA ENCHILADA BAKE
This recipe begins, “Never tried quinoa? This enchilada bake is a great way to be introduced to the superfood.”
http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/7286-quinoa-enchilada-bake
Ingredients
1 TBSP olive oil
1 lb extra lean ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic finely chopped
1/2 cup dry quinoa
2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 cup tomato sauce
2 TBSP chili powder
2 tsp cumin
Pepper to taste
1 can black beans
3/4 cup corn
Optional toppings:
Cheese, tomato, green onion, cilantro
Directions
Heat oil in a large skillet. Brown ground beef.
Add onion, pepper and garlic. Cook 2 minutes.
Pour into slow cooker along with remaining ingredients, except black beans and corn.
Cook on high for 3-31/2 hours.
40 minutes before it's done, add beans and corn. Heat last 40 minutes.
Serve over chopped romaine or tortilla (optional).
Top with desired toppings.
Nutritional Facts: Servings 12; For 1/12 the recipe excluding optional toppings: Calories 170; Saturated Fat 2 g; Sodium 242 mg; Carbohydrates 15 g; Dietary Fiber 2 g; Protein 12 g
FROZEN BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST BARS
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “Get your yogurt and granola in a frozen bar that you can ‘grab and go’ for breakfast or for a snack any time of day.” Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 containers (5.3 oz each) *Yoplait® Greek blueberry yogurt
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola, coarsely crushed
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups granola and the melted butter. Firmly press in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on cooling rack. Freeze about 5 minutes or until cold.
Spoon yogurt over crust; gently spread to cover. Sprinkle with blueberries and crushed granola. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.
Remove from freezer 10 minutes before cutting. To make bars, cut into 5 rows by 2 rows. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap. Store in freezer.
*Yoplait is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT MARQUES (France) used under license.
SPAETZLE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “Expand the concept of pasta a bit, and you arrive at spaetzle, the quickly made and rather thin dough (somewhat akin to savory pancake batter) that is often “grated” into boiling water on a spaetzle maker, a tool that looks like a grater without sharp edges. I find spaetzle makers unnervingly tricky, so I prefer to do what I've often seen done by Alsatians, for whom spaetzle is traditional: drop the batter by the spoonful into boiling water. As with all pasta, the more fragile the batter is, the lighter the result will be, so don't make it too stiff; just stiff enough to hold together.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
This was featured in “THE MINIMALIST; Fresh Pasta At Ferrari Speed” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
Salt
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, more to taste
3 eggs
1 cup milk, more if needed
2 to 4 tablespoons butter or olive oil
Chopped fresh parsley or chives for garnish
PreparationSet a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. In a bowl, combine flour with pepper and a large pinch of salt. Lightly beat together eggs and milk, and add to flour, stirring. If necessary, add a little more milk until mixture has the consistency of pancake batter.
Scoop a tablespoon or so of batter, and drop it into water; small pieces may break off, but batter should remain largely intact and form a disk. Repeat, using about one-third to one-fourth the batter, depending on the size of the pot. When spaetzle rise to top a couple of minutes later (you may have to loosen them from the bottom, but they will pop right up), cook another minute or so, then remove with a slotted spoon into a bowl of ice water. Repeat until all the batter is used up.
Drain spaetzle; at this point you can toss them with a bit of oil and refrigerate, covered, for up to a day. Heat butter or oil in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add spaetzle a few at a time, and quickly brown on both sides. Serve hot, garnished with parsley or chives.
POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH BACON
View this online at http://www.publix.com/recipes-planning/aprons-recipes/potato-leek-soup-with-bacon
Ingredients
3 large leeks, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
2 lb gold potatoes
3 slices bacon, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups unsalted chicken stock (or broth)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
Directions
Chop well-rinsed leeks (white part only; 2 cups); chop garlic and thyme. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
Preheat large stockpot on medium-low 2–3 minutes. Cut bacon into pieces. Place oil in pot, then add bacon; cook and stir 4–5 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon from pot. Place leeks and garlic in same pot; cook and stir 6–7 minutes or until tender (do not brown).
Stir in stock, salt, pepper, potatoes, and thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
Remove pot from heat; puree soup with a stick blender. (Or you can use an electric blender; let soup cool 5–8 minutes, then puree in batches until smooth.) Chop chives. Stir yogurt into soup; top each serving with bacon and chives. Serve warm or chill before serving.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: CALORIES (per 1/6 recipe) 240kcal; FAT 9.00g; SAT FAT 2.50g; TRANS FAT 0.00g; CHOL 10mg; SODIUM 370mg; CARB 31g; FIBER 2.00g; SUGARS 1g; PROTEIN 10g; CALC 4%; VIT A 6%; VIT C 60%; IRON 10%
HIGH-ALTITUTDE BISON MEATBALLS WITH MARINARA SAUCE
This dinner recipe is from the September 2016 issue of Runner's World, page 80, and begins, “In a rush? Simply sauté meatball ingredients minus the almond meal and egg.”
This is adapted from Run Fast, Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes, by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. Published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
Makes 4 servings.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/run-fast-eat-slow.
Ingredients
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
1 cup finely minced kale (about 4 leaves), stems discarded (a food processor works great for this)
1/4 cup almond meal or almond flour or fine bread crumbs
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. fennel seeds
3/4 tsp. fine sea salt
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 lb. ground bison or ground beef (preferably not lean)
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Prepared marinara sauce
12 oz. dried spaghetti (gluten-free if sensitive)
8 fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)
Instructions
In a large bowl, stir together the egg, Parmesan, kale, almond meal, garlic, oregano, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper flakes. Add the bison (or beef) and use your hands to combine the meat. Form the mixture into 12 2-inch meatballs, rolling each meatball firmly in your hands.
In a heavy-bottomed pot with a lid, warm the oil over medium-high heat. Place the meatballs in the pot in a single layer without crowding them, and cook, turning the meatballs so they brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pot as you go. If using ground beef, pour out all but 1 to 2 Tbsp. of the fat prior to adding the sauce.
Add marinara sauce to meatballs. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, 30 to 45 minutes. Cover and keep warm over low heat until ready to serve.
While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to the package directions.
To serve, divide the pasta among 4 pasta bowls and arrange the meatballs on top, along with a generous ladle of sauce. Garnish with Parmesan and fresh basil, if using. Makes 4 servings.
SPICY BROCCOLI RABE AND SAUSAGE PASTA
This was in the October 2016 issue Runner's World, page 45. Makes 6 servings. It is adapted from Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious, by Maria Rodale. Available in October, published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/have-a-pasta-party-from-scratch/.
Ingredients
1 lb. pasta (any kind)
4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. sausage, cut into 1" pieces
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups chopped broccoli rabe or broccoli florets
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
Crushed red pepper flakes or hot chili oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Grated Romano cheese
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions. In a large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. of oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring, for 6 minutes or until browned. Add garlic and broccoli rabe, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes. Drain pasta and add to skillet with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil, parsley, and pepper flakes. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Toss to combine. Top with cheese. Makes 6 servings.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving: 493; Protein: 23 g; Carbs: 58 g; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 3 g; Total fat: 18 g; Saturated fat: 4 g; Sodium: 503 mg
QUINOA ENCHILADA BAKE
This recipe begins, “Never tried quinoa? This enchilada bake is a great way to be introduced to the superfood.”
http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/7286-quinoa-enchilada-bake
Ingredients
1 TBSP olive oil
1 lb extra lean ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic finely chopped
1/2 cup dry quinoa
2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 cup tomato sauce
2 TBSP chili powder
2 tsp cumin
Pepper to taste
1 can black beans
3/4 cup corn
Optional toppings:
Cheese, tomato, green onion, cilantro
Directions
Heat oil in a large skillet. Brown ground beef.
Add onion, pepper and garlic. Cook 2 minutes.
Pour into slow cooker along with remaining ingredients, except black beans and corn.
Cook on high for 3-31/2 hours.
40 minutes before it's done, add beans and corn. Heat last 40 minutes.
Serve over chopped romaine or tortilla (optional).
Top with desired toppings.
Nutritional Facts: Servings 12; For 1/12 the recipe excluding optional toppings: Calories 170; Saturated Fat 2 g; Sodium 242 mg; Carbohydrates 15 g; Dietary Fiber 2 g; Protein 12 g
FROZEN BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST BARS
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “Get your yogurt and granola in a frozen bar that you can ‘grab and go’ for breakfast or for a snack any time of day.” Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 containers (5.3 oz each) *Yoplait® Greek blueberry yogurt
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola, coarsely crushed
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups granola and the melted butter. Firmly press in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on cooling rack. Freeze about 5 minutes or until cold.
Spoon yogurt over crust; gently spread to cover. Sprinkle with blueberries and crushed granola. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.
Remove from freezer 10 minutes before cutting. To make bars, cut into 5 rows by 2 rows. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap. Store in freezer.
*Yoplait is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT MARQUES (France) used under license.
SPAETZLE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “Expand the concept of pasta a bit, and you arrive at spaetzle, the quickly made and rather thin dough (somewhat akin to savory pancake batter) that is often “grated” into boiling water on a spaetzle maker, a tool that looks like a grater without sharp edges. I find spaetzle makers unnervingly tricky, so I prefer to do what I've often seen done by Alsatians, for whom spaetzle is traditional: drop the batter by the spoonful into boiling water. As with all pasta, the more fragile the batter is, the lighter the result will be, so don't make it too stiff; just stiff enough to hold together.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
This was featured in “THE MINIMALIST; Fresh Pasta At Ferrari Speed” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
Salt
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, more to taste
3 eggs
1 cup milk, more if needed
2 to 4 tablespoons butter or olive oil
Chopped fresh parsley or chives for garnish
PreparationSet a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. In a bowl, combine flour with pepper and a large pinch of salt. Lightly beat together eggs and milk, and add to flour, stirring. If necessary, add a little more milk until mixture has the consistency of pancake batter.
Scoop a tablespoon or so of batter, and drop it into water; small pieces may break off, but batter should remain largely intact and form a disk. Repeat, using about one-third to one-fourth the batter, depending on the size of the pot. When spaetzle rise to top a couple of minutes later (you may have to loosen them from the bottom, but they will pop right up), cook another minute or so, then remove with a slotted spoon into a bowl of ice water. Repeat until all the batter is used up.
Drain spaetzle; at this point you can toss them with a bit of oil and refrigerate, covered, for up to a day. Heat butter or oil in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add spaetzle a few at a time, and quickly brown on both sides. Serve hot, garnished with parsley or chives.
POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH BACON
View this online at http://www.publix.com/recipes-planning/aprons-recipes/potato-leek-soup-with-bacon
Ingredients
3 large leeks, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
2 lb gold potatoes
3 slices bacon, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups unsalted chicken stock (or broth)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
Directions
Chop well-rinsed leeks (white part only; 2 cups); chop garlic and thyme. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
Preheat large stockpot on medium-low 2–3 minutes. Cut bacon into pieces. Place oil in pot, then add bacon; cook and stir 4–5 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon from pot. Place leeks and garlic in same pot; cook and stir 6–7 minutes or until tender (do not brown).
Stir in stock, salt, pepper, potatoes, and thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
Remove pot from heat; puree soup with a stick blender. (Or you can use an electric blender; let soup cool 5–8 minutes, then puree in batches until smooth.) Chop chives. Stir yogurt into soup; top each serving with bacon and chives. Serve warm or chill before serving.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: CALORIES (per 1/6 recipe) 240kcal; FAT 9.00g; SAT FAT 2.50g; TRANS FAT 0.00g; CHOL 10mg; SODIUM 370mg; CARB 31g; FIBER 2.00g; SUGARS 1g; PROTEIN 10g; CALC 4%; VIT A 6%; VIT C 60%; IRON 10%
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Thursday Recipes
Okay, it's Thursday, which means Double Post Thursday. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes and General Tso’s Chicken. Enjoy!
FRESH VEGGIE PASTA
This was in the October 2016 issue Runner's World, page 46. Makes 6 to 8 servings. It is adapted from Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious, by Maria Rodale. Available in October, published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/have-a-pasta-party-from-scratch/.
Ingredients
1 lb. thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta
4 medium tomatoes, chopped
1/2 small white onion, finely chopped
1 lb. shelled edamame, steamed
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions. Place tomato, onion, and edamame in large bowl. Drain pasta and add to bowl. Add oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving (for 6): 511; Protein: 19 g; Carbs: 69 g; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 5 g; Total fat: 17 g; Saturated fat: 2 g; Sodium: 136 mg
SPAGHETTI WITH EGGS
This was in the October 2016 issue Runner's World, page 47. Makes 4 servings. It is adapted from Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious, by Maria Rodale. Available in October, published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/have-a-pasta-party-from-scratch/.
Ingredients
3 cups tomato sauce
4 Tbsp. butter
1 medium onion, peeled
6 large hardboiled eggs, peeled
1 lb. spaghetti
Grated Romano cheese
Instructions
In a deep, medium saucepan, heat the sauce over low heat until warmed through. Add butter and onion and stir until butter is melted and combined. Add eggs and cook over low heat. Separately, cook the pasta according to package. Drain and divide among 4 serving bowls. Discard onion and divide sauce, adding 3 egg halves to each bowl. Top with cheese and serve. Makes 4 servings.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving: 749; Protein: 29 g; Carbs: 102 g; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 15 g; Total fat: 25 g; Saturated fat: 11 g; Sodium: 697 mg
FROZEN BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST BARS
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “Get your yogurt and granola in a frozen bar that you can ‘grab and go’ for breakfast or for a snack any time of day.” Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 containers (5.3 oz each) *Yoplait® Greek blueberry yogurt
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola, coarsely crushed
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups granola and the melted butter. Firmly press in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on cooling rack. Freeze about 5 minutes or until cold.
Spoon yogurt over crust; gently spread to cover. Sprinkle with blueberries and crushed granola. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.
Remove from freezer 10 minutes before cutting. To make bars, cut into 5 rows by 2 rows. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap. Store in freezer.
*Yoplait is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT MARQUES (France) used under license.
ROASTED CARROT AND RED LENTIL RAGOUT
This is from Molly O’Neill in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Molly wrote, “Somehow, over the centuries, the word ragout (which in 17th-century France meant anything that stimulated appetite) has come to signify a dish of sturdy consolation. Nearly any simmered food, be it meat, vegetable, fish or fowl, can be called a ragout, although in France, it is generally assumed that the main ingredients will be of a uniform chunk cut into slightly smaller than bite-size pieces. This spicy carrot and lentil ragout can be served first as a main course and later extended with coconut milk or chicken broth to make a soup. Serve it over rice to temper the heat.”
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Food; Simmer Down” and can be viewed online here. Also, check out Melissa Clark’s guide, titled “How to Cook Beans” to help with the cooking process.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled
5 tablespoons olive oil
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 medium onion, sliced thin
3/4 teaspoon ancho chili powder
3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup red lentils
5 cups chicken stock
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lay the carrots in a roasting pan and toss with 3 tablespoons oil. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper. Roast for 20 minutes. Turn the carrots, add the onion and roast 15 minutes, until the carrots are brown and tender. When carrots are cool enough, cut them in 1/4-inch dice.
Warm 2 tablespoons oil in a saucepan. Add the carrot-and-onion mixture, the chili powders and the cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the lentils. Add the stock and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, until the lentils are falling apart. Season with remaining salt and pepper to taste. Serve with rice, or as a thick soup.
GENERAL TSO’S CHICKEN
I recently saw a post on Facebook where the person asked, “Who is General Tso, and why do we have his chicken?”
This is from Fuchsia Dunlop, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “In this Taiwanese version, the dish is hot and sour and lacks the sweetness of its Americanized counterpart.”
Yield: 2 to 3 servings; Time: About 40 minutes.
This recipe was featured in “Hunan Resources”, which helps answer the above mentioned question of who General Tso was and why this was named after him. It can also be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon double-concentrate tomato paste, mixed with 1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon of water
1/2 teaspoon potato flour
1/2 teaspoon dark soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
3 tablespoons chicken stock or water
For the Chicken:
12 ounces (about 4 to 5) skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1/2 teaspoon dark soy sauce
2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons potato flour
1 quart peanut oil, more as needed
6 to 10 dried red chilies
2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons sesame oil
Scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
Preparation
Make the sauce by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
To prepare the chicken, unfold the chicken thighs and lay them on a cutting board. Remove as much of the sinew as possible. (If some parts are very thick, cut them in half horizontally.) Slice a few shallow crosshatches into the meat. Cut each thigh into roughly 1/4-inch slices and place in a large bowl. Add the soy sauces and egg yolk and mix well. Stir in the potato flour and 2 teaspoons peanut oil and set aside. Using scissors, snip the chilies into 3/4-inch pieces, discarding the seeds. Set aside.
Pour 3 1/2 cups peanut oil into a large wok, or enough oil to rise 1 1/2 inches from the bottom. Set over high heat until the oil reaches 350 to 400 degrees. Add half the chicken and fry until crisp and deep gold, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a plate. Repeat with the second batch. Pour the oil into a heatproof container and wipe the wok clean.
Place the wok over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons peanut oil. When hot, add the chilies and stir-fry for a few seconds, until they just start to change color. Add the ginger and garlic and stir-fry for a few seconds longer, until fragrant. Add the sauce, stirring as it thickens. Return the chicken to the wok and stir vigorously to coat. Remove from the heat, stir in the sesame oil and top with scallions. Serve with rice.
RED VELVET MINI CUPCAKES
This comes from The Food Network and begins, “Oil takes the place of butter in these cupcakes, making them lower in fat, but also making the crumb moist. Also, all of the flour is whole wheat! The frosting is simply sweetened reduced-fat cream cheese, but it's plenty tasty.”
Total: 1 hr; Active: 20 min; Yield: 48 mini cupcakes (2 cupcakes per serving); Level: Easy
To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/red-velvet-mini-cupcakes-recipe
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup lowfat (1-percent) buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
Nonstick cooking spray, for coating ice cream scoop
8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 48 mini muffin cups (2 large tins or 4 small) with paper liners.
Whisk together the flour, cocoa and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl. Beat together the oil and granulated sugar on medium-high speed with a hand mixer in a large bowl until well combined. Add the egg and beat until well blended. Beat in the food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla.
On low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour, beating well after each addition. Whisk together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl, and then beat into the batter until fully incorporated.
Using a small ice cream scoop sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, evenly divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack.
Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Sift the confectioners' sugar over the mixture and beat until smooth. Beat in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Spread or pipe the frosting over the cooled cupcakes.
FRESH VEGGIE PASTA
This was in the October 2016 issue Runner's World, page 46. Makes 6 to 8 servings. It is adapted from Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious, by Maria Rodale. Available in October, published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/have-a-pasta-party-from-scratch/.
Ingredients
1 lb. thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta
4 medium tomatoes, chopped
1/2 small white onion, finely chopped
1 lb. shelled edamame, steamed
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions. Place tomato, onion, and edamame in large bowl. Drain pasta and add to bowl. Add oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving (for 6): 511; Protein: 19 g; Carbs: 69 g; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 5 g; Total fat: 17 g; Saturated fat: 2 g; Sodium: 136 mg
SPAGHETTI WITH EGGS
This was in the October 2016 issue Runner's World, page 47. Makes 4 servings. It is adapted from Scratch: Home Cooking for Everyone Made Simple, Fun, and Totally Delicious, by Maria Rodale. Available in October, published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/have-a-pasta-party-from-scratch/.
Ingredients
3 cups tomato sauce
4 Tbsp. butter
1 medium onion, peeled
6 large hardboiled eggs, peeled
1 lb. spaghetti
Grated Romano cheese
Instructions
In a deep, medium saucepan, heat the sauce over low heat until warmed through. Add butter and onion and stir until butter is melted and combined. Add eggs and cook over low heat. Separately, cook the pasta according to package. Drain and divide among 4 serving bowls. Discard onion and divide sauce, adding 3 egg halves to each bowl. Top with cheese and serve. Makes 4 servings.
Nutrition Information: Calories per serving: 749; Protein: 29 g; Carbs: 102 g; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 15 g; Total fat: 25 g; Saturated fat: 11 g; Sodium: 697 mg
FROZEN BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST BARS
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “Get your yogurt and granola in a frozen bar that you can ‘grab and go’ for breakfast or for a snack any time of day.” Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 containers (5.3 oz each) *Yoplait® Greek blueberry yogurt
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola, coarsely crushed
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups granola and the melted butter. Firmly press in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on cooling rack. Freeze about 5 minutes or until cold.
Spoon yogurt over crust; gently spread to cover. Sprinkle with blueberries and crushed granola. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.
Remove from freezer 10 minutes before cutting. To make bars, cut into 5 rows by 2 rows. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap. Store in freezer.
*Yoplait is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT MARQUES (France) used under license.
ROASTED CARROT AND RED LENTIL RAGOUT
This is from Molly O’Neill in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Molly wrote, “Somehow, over the centuries, the word ragout (which in 17th-century France meant anything that stimulated appetite) has come to signify a dish of sturdy consolation. Nearly any simmered food, be it meat, vegetable, fish or fowl, can be called a ragout, although in France, it is generally assumed that the main ingredients will be of a uniform chunk cut into slightly smaller than bite-size pieces. This spicy carrot and lentil ragout can be served first as a main course and later extended with coconut milk or chicken broth to make a soup. Serve it over rice to temper the heat.”
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Food; Simmer Down” and can be viewed online here. Also, check out Melissa Clark’s guide, titled “How to Cook Beans” to help with the cooking process.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled
5 tablespoons olive oil
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 medium onion, sliced thin
3/4 teaspoon ancho chili powder
3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup red lentils
5 cups chicken stock
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lay the carrots in a roasting pan and toss with 3 tablespoons oil. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper. Roast for 20 minutes. Turn the carrots, add the onion and roast 15 minutes, until the carrots are brown and tender. When carrots are cool enough, cut them in 1/4-inch dice.
Warm 2 tablespoons oil in a saucepan. Add the carrot-and-onion mixture, the chili powders and the cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the lentils. Add the stock and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, until the lentils are falling apart. Season with remaining salt and pepper to taste. Serve with rice, or as a thick soup.
GENERAL TSO’S CHICKEN
I recently saw a post on Facebook where the person asked, “Who is General Tso, and why do we have his chicken?”
This is from Fuchsia Dunlop, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “In this Taiwanese version, the dish is hot and sour and lacks the sweetness of its Americanized counterpart.”
Yield: 2 to 3 servings; Time: About 40 minutes.
This recipe was featured in “Hunan Resources”, which helps answer the above mentioned question of who General Tso was and why this was named after him. It can also be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon double-concentrate tomato paste, mixed with 1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon of water
1/2 teaspoon potato flour
1/2 teaspoon dark soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
3 tablespoons chicken stock or water
For the Chicken:
12 ounces (about 4 to 5) skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1/2 teaspoon dark soy sauce
2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons potato flour
1 quart peanut oil, more as needed
6 to 10 dried red chilies
2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons sesame oil
Scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
Preparation
Make the sauce by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
To prepare the chicken, unfold the chicken thighs and lay them on a cutting board. Remove as much of the sinew as possible. (If some parts are very thick, cut them in half horizontally.) Slice a few shallow crosshatches into the meat. Cut each thigh into roughly 1/4-inch slices and place in a large bowl. Add the soy sauces and egg yolk and mix well. Stir in the potato flour and 2 teaspoons peanut oil and set aside. Using scissors, snip the chilies into 3/4-inch pieces, discarding the seeds. Set aside.
Pour 3 1/2 cups peanut oil into a large wok, or enough oil to rise 1 1/2 inches from the bottom. Set over high heat until the oil reaches 350 to 400 degrees. Add half the chicken and fry until crisp and deep gold, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a plate. Repeat with the second batch. Pour the oil into a heatproof container and wipe the wok clean.
Place the wok over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons peanut oil. When hot, add the chilies and stir-fry for a few seconds, until they just start to change color. Add the ginger and garlic and stir-fry for a few seconds longer, until fragrant. Add the sauce, stirring as it thickens. Return the chicken to the wok and stir vigorously to coat. Remove from the heat, stir in the sesame oil and top with scallions. Serve with rice.
RED VELVET MINI CUPCAKES
This comes from The Food Network and begins, “Oil takes the place of butter in these cupcakes, making them lower in fat, but also making the crumb moist. Also, all of the flour is whole wheat! The frosting is simply sweetened reduced-fat cream cheese, but it's plenty tasty.”
Total: 1 hr; Active: 20 min; Yield: 48 mini cupcakes (2 cupcakes per serving); Level: Easy
To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/red-velvet-mini-cupcakes-recipe
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup lowfat (1-percent) buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
Nonstick cooking spray, for coating ice cream scoop
8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 48 mini muffin cups (2 large tins or 4 small) with paper liners.
Whisk together the flour, cocoa and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl. Beat together the oil and granulated sugar on medium-high speed with a hand mixer in a large bowl until well combined. Add the egg and beat until well blended. Beat in the food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla.
On low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk in thirds, beginning and ending with the flour, beating well after each addition. Whisk together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl, and then beat into the batter until fully incorporated.
Using a small ice cream scoop sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, evenly divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack.
Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Sift the confectioners' sugar over the mixture and beat until smooth. Beat in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Spread or pipe the frosting over the cooled cupcakes.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Thursday Recipes
It's time for another Double-Post Thursday. Here are six more recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!
SUPERHERO MUFFINS
This snack recipe is from the September 2016 issue of Runner's World, page 79, and begins, “Butter is rich in fat-soluble vitamins A, E, and K, essential for calcium absorption.”
This is adapted from Run Fast, Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes, by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. Published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
Makes 12 muffins.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/run-fast-eat-slow.
Ingredients
2 cups almond meal
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup raisins, chopped dates, or chocolate chips (optional)
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup grated zucchini
1 cup grated carrots
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup dark amber maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper muffin cups.
In a large bowl, combine the almond meal, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt, and walnuts, plus raisins, dates, or chocolate chips if using.
In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, zucchini, carrots, butter, maple syrup, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. The batter will be thick.
Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each to the brim. Bake until the muffins are nicely browned on top and a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.
CAN’T BEET ME SMOOTHIE
This breakfast smoothie is from the September 2016 issue of Runner's World, page 77, and begins, “Save time by using raw beets (instead of baked). Puree them in a high-speed blender.”
This is adapted from Run Fast, Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes, by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. Published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
Makes 2 servings.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/run-fast-eat-slow.
Ingredients
1 cooked beet, peeled and quartered
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 small frozen banana
1 cup unsweetened almond milk or other milk of choice
1 cup coconut water
1-inch knob fresh ginger, peeled
1 Tbsp. almond butter
Instructions
Place the beet, blueberries, banana, milk, coconut water, ginger, and almond butter in a blender. Blend on high speed for several minutes until smooth. Makes 2 servings.
CHEESE-STUFFED SHELLS IN MARINARA SAUCE
This is from Familytime, and begins, “A traditional Italian-style favorite is made easier for you! Combine Buitoni Marinara Sauce with stuffed shells, add a tossed salad and warm bread and sit down to a satisfying meal!” Serves: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
12 dried jumbo whole-wheat or regular pasta shells, prepared according to package directions
1 cup (4 ounces)shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup fat free or reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 container (15 oz.) BUITONI® refrigerated Marinara Sauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
Combine 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg and pepper in a medium bowl. Stuff each shell evenly with cheese mixture; place in ungreased 12 x 71/2-inch (2-quart rectangular) baking dish. Pour sauce over shells.
Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
For Freeze Ahead:
Prepare as above; do not bake. Do not top with remaining mozarella cheese. Cover; freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
FROZEN BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST BARS
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “Get your yogurt and granola in a frozen bar that you can ‘grab and go’ for breakfast or for a snack any time of day.” Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 containers (5.3 oz each) *Yoplait® Greek blueberry yogurt
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola, coarsely crushed
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups granola and the melted butter. Firmly press in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on cooling rack. Freeze about 5 minutes or until cold.
Spoon yogurt over crust; gently spread to cover. Sprinkle with blueberries and crushed granola. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.
Remove from freezer 10 minutes before cutting. To make bars, cut into 5 rows by 2 rows. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap. Store in freezer.
*Yoplait is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT MARQUES (France) used under license.
SWEET POTATOES ANNA WITH PRUNES
This comes from Tara Parker-Pope in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “This layered sweet potato gratin comes out of the oven caramelized on the edges and glistening with butter. The potatoes in the center are soft, their layers embedded with prunes; the ones around the edges are so crisp and sweet from the port, they taste candied. Slice the potatoes thinly — use a mandoline if you have one — and check the potatoes after 35 minutes in the oven. By 40 minutes, ours were perfect.”
Yield: 6 to 10 servings; Time: About 1 hour 30 minutes.
This was featured in “Home Cooks Rethink Sweet Potatoes” and can be viewed online here.
Also helpful is “How to Cook Potatoes”, a guide from The New York Times food writer, Julia Moskin.
Note: I don’t keep alcohol around the house, so I plan to use either water or maybe fruit juice - possibly plum or prune juice?
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup port
10 pitted prunes
5 to 6 small sweet potatoes, peeled and very thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Clarify the butter: In a small saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter. Skim off any foam, then pour the clear liquid into a bowl, leaving behind the solids.
Heat the port to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the prunes, turn off the heat and let them soak until plumped, about 20 minutes. Drain and chop the prunes coarsely.
Heat oven to 450 degrees.
Brush a layer of clarified butter onto your favorite 8- or 9-inch round baking dish or ovenproof frying pan.
Arrange a layer of potatoes, overlapping in circles, in the dish. Brush with the clarified butter and season with salt and pepper. Arrange another layer of potatoes and sprinkle with about half the prune pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Brush with clarified butter. Repeat with one more layer of potatoes and prunes, then end with a layer of potatoes. Remember to brush each layer with clarified butter and salt and pepper. You can do four layers of potatoes or six; it’s up to you. Pack the potatoes tightly by pressing down on them with your palms. If there’s a little butter left at the end, it’s no big deal.
Bake until crisp and tender, 35 to 45 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then flip the cake onto a serving plate and cut into wedges. If desired, finish with a dusting of sugar and a couple of minutes of broiling, for a brûlée top. It can also be made using apples and prunes, or just apples.
LAURIE COLWIN’S BAKED MUSTARD CHICKEN
This also comes from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. It begins, “This old-school chicken, Sunday-night-supper chicken, even dinner party chicken, is baked for about two hours (yes, you read that correctly: two hours) until its bread crumb-coated skin is crisp — yet the meat miraculously maintains its moisture. The recipe, adapted from the great food writer Laurie Colwin, is so simple to make that her original version was written out in a brief paragraph, casually instructing the home cook to coat the chicken with mustard, garlic, a little thyme, a pinch of cinnamon. We have adapted the recipe to include measurements and more specific direction, but that shouldn’t stop you from absorbing her nonchalance and confidence as you make it, the certainty that it will turn out delicious every time. (The New York Times)”
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: About 2 hours 15 minutes
This was featured in “Laurie Colwin: A Confidante in the Kitchen” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
3/4 cup Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Salt and black pepper
2 cups fine dry unseasoned bread crumbs
2 chickens, 2 to 3 pounds each, quartered, rinsed and dried
1 tablespoon sweet paprika, or as needed
3 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine mustard, garlic, thyme, cinnamon, a pinch of salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Place bread crumbs in another large bowl.
Working in batches, coat chicken quarters on all sides with mustard mixture. Shake off excess mustard, then coat completely with bread crumbs. Arrange in a single layer in a large, shallow baking pan.
Dust the chicken with paprika and scatter butter pieces on top. Bake until crust is deep golden brown and crispy, about 2 hours. (Depending on the oven, the size of the pan and the size of the chickens, baking time may be as long as 2 1/2 hours.) Serve hot or at room temperature.
SUPERHERO MUFFINS
This snack recipe is from the September 2016 issue of Runner's World, page 79, and begins, “Butter is rich in fat-soluble vitamins A, E, and K, essential for calcium absorption.”
This is adapted from Run Fast, Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes, by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. Published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
Makes 12 muffins.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/run-fast-eat-slow.
Ingredients
2 cups almond meal
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup raisins, chopped dates, or chocolate chips (optional)
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup grated zucchini
1 cup grated carrots
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup dark amber maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper muffin cups.
In a large bowl, combine the almond meal, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt, and walnuts, plus raisins, dates, or chocolate chips if using.
In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, zucchini, carrots, butter, maple syrup, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. The batter will be thick.
Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each to the brim. Bake until the muffins are nicely browned on top and a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.
CAN’T BEET ME SMOOTHIE
This breakfast smoothie is from the September 2016 issue of Runner's World, page 77, and begins, “Save time by using raw beets (instead of baked). Puree them in a high-speed blender.”
This is adapted from Run Fast, Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes, by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. Published by Rodale, owner of Runner’s World.
Makes 2 servings.
This can be viewed online at http://www.runnersworld.com/recipes/run-fast-eat-slow.
Ingredients
1 cooked beet, peeled and quartered
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 small frozen banana
1 cup unsweetened almond milk or other milk of choice
1 cup coconut water
1-inch knob fresh ginger, peeled
1 Tbsp. almond butter
Instructions
Place the beet, blueberries, banana, milk, coconut water, ginger, and almond butter in a blender. Blend on high speed for several minutes until smooth. Makes 2 servings.
CHEESE-STUFFED SHELLS IN MARINARA SAUCE
This is from Familytime, and begins, “A traditional Italian-style favorite is made easier for you! Combine Buitoni Marinara Sauce with stuffed shells, add a tossed salad and warm bread and sit down to a satisfying meal!” Serves: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
12 dried jumbo whole-wheat or regular pasta shells, prepared according to package directions
1 cup (4 ounces)shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup fat free or reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 container (15 oz.) BUITONI® refrigerated Marinara Sauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
Combine 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg and pepper in a medium bowl. Stuff each shell evenly with cheese mixture; place in ungreased 12 x 71/2-inch (2-quart rectangular) baking dish. Pour sauce over shells.
Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
For Freeze Ahead:
Prepare as above; do not bake. Do not top with remaining mozarella cheese. Cover; freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
FROZEN BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST BARS
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “Get your yogurt and granola in a frozen bar that you can ‘grab and go’ for breakfast or for a snack any time of day.” Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 containers (5.3 oz each) *Yoplait® Greek blueberry yogurt
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola, coarsely crushed
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups granola and the melted butter. Firmly press in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on cooling rack. Freeze about 5 minutes or until cold.
Spoon yogurt over crust; gently spread to cover. Sprinkle with blueberries and crushed granola. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.
Remove from freezer 10 minutes before cutting. To make bars, cut into 5 rows by 2 rows. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap. Store in freezer.
*Yoplait is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT MARQUES (France) used under license.
SWEET POTATOES ANNA WITH PRUNES
This comes from Tara Parker-Pope in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “This layered sweet potato gratin comes out of the oven caramelized on the edges and glistening with butter. The potatoes in the center are soft, their layers embedded with prunes; the ones around the edges are so crisp and sweet from the port, they taste candied. Slice the potatoes thinly — use a mandoline if you have one — and check the potatoes after 35 minutes in the oven. By 40 minutes, ours were perfect.”
Yield: 6 to 10 servings; Time: About 1 hour 30 minutes.
This was featured in “Home Cooks Rethink Sweet Potatoes” and can be viewed online here.
Also helpful is “How to Cook Potatoes”, a guide from The New York Times food writer, Julia Moskin.
Note: I don’t keep alcohol around the house, so I plan to use either water or maybe fruit juice - possibly plum or prune juice?
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup port
10 pitted prunes
5 to 6 small sweet potatoes, peeled and very thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Clarify the butter: In a small saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter. Skim off any foam, then pour the clear liquid into a bowl, leaving behind the solids.
Heat the port to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the prunes, turn off the heat and let them soak until plumped, about 20 minutes. Drain and chop the prunes coarsely.
Heat oven to 450 degrees.
Brush a layer of clarified butter onto your favorite 8- or 9-inch round baking dish or ovenproof frying pan.
Arrange a layer of potatoes, overlapping in circles, in the dish. Brush with the clarified butter and season with salt and pepper. Arrange another layer of potatoes and sprinkle with about half the prune pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Brush with clarified butter. Repeat with one more layer of potatoes and prunes, then end with a layer of potatoes. Remember to brush each layer with clarified butter and salt and pepper. You can do four layers of potatoes or six; it’s up to you. Pack the potatoes tightly by pressing down on them with your palms. If there’s a little butter left at the end, it’s no big deal.
Bake until crisp and tender, 35 to 45 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then flip the cake onto a serving plate and cut into wedges. If desired, finish with a dusting of sugar and a couple of minutes of broiling, for a brûlée top. It can also be made using apples and prunes, or just apples.
LAURIE COLWIN’S BAKED MUSTARD CHICKEN
This also comes from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. It begins, “This old-school chicken, Sunday-night-supper chicken, even dinner party chicken, is baked for about two hours (yes, you read that correctly: two hours) until its bread crumb-coated skin is crisp — yet the meat miraculously maintains its moisture. The recipe, adapted from the great food writer Laurie Colwin, is so simple to make that her original version was written out in a brief paragraph, casually instructing the home cook to coat the chicken with mustard, garlic, a little thyme, a pinch of cinnamon. We have adapted the recipe to include measurements and more specific direction, but that shouldn’t stop you from absorbing her nonchalance and confidence as you make it, the certainty that it will turn out delicious every time. (The New York Times)”
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: About 2 hours 15 minutes
This was featured in “Laurie Colwin: A Confidante in the Kitchen” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
3/4 cup Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Salt and black pepper
2 cups fine dry unseasoned bread crumbs
2 chickens, 2 to 3 pounds each, quartered, rinsed and dried
1 tablespoon sweet paprika, or as needed
3 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine mustard, garlic, thyme, cinnamon, a pinch of salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Place bread crumbs in another large bowl.
Working in batches, coat chicken quarters on all sides with mustard mixture. Shake off excess mustard, then coat completely with bread crumbs. Arrange in a single layer in a large, shallow baking pan.
Dust the chicken with paprika and scatter butter pieces on top. Bake until crust is deep golden brown and crispy, about 2 hours. (Depending on the oven, the size of the pan and the size of the chickens, baking time may be as long as 2 1/2 hours.) Serve hot or at room temperature.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Desserts
Yes, it's another Double Posting Thursday.
Okay, so it's really only the third Thursday in a row that I've had a double posting, and I'm not sure how long I'll be doing that, but no matter. We'll see how long it lasts. It's either that or maybe a weekend post...
Today's double post deals with desserts. Enjoy!
RAINBOW SPRINKLE CAKE
This is from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “In the 1990s, when home bakers started putting rainbow sprinkles in their cakes, as well as on their cakes, the Funfetti craze was born. Pillsbury introduced its Funfetti cake mix in 1989, and the idea was quickly adopted by home cooks for waffles, pancakes and cupcakes. Now, as seen on photo-friendly social media sites like Instagram and Pinterest, rainbow sprinkles are decorating everything from morning smoothie bowls to late-night martinis. But the Funfetti layer cake is still the most fun. You can buy premixed rainbow sprinkles, but professionals mix their own to get just the right color combination. (Coming up with a signature "house blend" is a good Saturday morning project for kids.) And though it may be tempting, do not use any sprinkles made with natural colorings in the cake -- they fade away, instead of leaving beautiful streaks of color.” Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours, plus cooling.
This was featured in “The Funfetti Explosion” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), slightly softened, more for pans
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, more for pans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
2/3 cup whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1 whole egg plus 2 egg whites
1/3 cup rainbow sprinkles (not pastel, or naturally colored)
For the Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, slightly softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), slightly softened
1/8 teaspoon fine salt, more to taste
3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted, more to taste
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup rainbow sprinkles (see note)
Preparation
Make the cake: Heat oven to 325 degrees and place a rack in the center. Butter and line the bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Butter the parchment. Flour the pans, coating the bottom and sides, then tap out any excess flour.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, stir together milk and vanilla.
In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low and, with mixer running, slowly add egg and whites and beat until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape down bowl. Add half the flour mixture, then the milk mixture, then the remaining flour mixture, beating to blend after each addition. Scrape down bowl and blend once more. Remove bowl and use a spatula or spoon to mix in sprinkles by hand.
Divide batter evenly between the pans and bake until the tops are just dry to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Rotate the pans halfway through baking.
Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cool completely, at least 4 hours, before turning out.
Make the frosting: In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, butter and salt together at medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low and, with mixer running, slowly add sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in vanilla just until incorporated. Taste frosting; you should be able to taste the cream cheese and a little bit of saltiness, as well as the sweetness. If desired, add more salt or sugar. Keep refrigerated.
Turn cooled cakes out of pans. Using a bread knife, cut off any domed or uneven parts of each cake to make flat surfaces. Place one of the cakes on a platter or a cake stand, cut side up. Using an offset spatula, frost the top. Stack the other layer on top, cut side down. Place remaining frosting on top of the cake and, working from the center outward, frost the top and sides of the cake.
Place a baking sheet under the platter or cake stand, to catch any fallen sprinkles. Sprinkle the top with a layer of sprinkles. Toss remaining sprinkles at the sides of the cake, or press handfuls of sprinkles gently up the sides to make a thicker coating. Gather fallen sprinkles and repeat until coated to your liking.
Refrigerate cake 30 minutes or longer to set. Serve cool.
Tip
Julia's house blend: 2 parts blue, 1 part yellow, 1 part orange, 1 part bright pink. It's best not to use white, light pastel or "natural" sprinkles. They just disappear (poof!) into the cake after baking.
PUMPKIN DUMP CAKE
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
1 (29 oz.) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. white sugar
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. cloves
1 pkg. yellow or spice cake mix
1/2 C. chopped pecans
1/2 C. melted butter or margarine
Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9x13 pan. In bowl, mix everything except last 3 ingredients. Pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over top of pumpkin, then sprinkle pecans over mix. Drizzle butter over the nut/mix. Bake 50-60 minutes, the edges will be light brown. Good warm or cold with Cool Whip or whipped cream.
SWEET POTATO-PECAN PIE
This yummy recipe is from Publix. Servings: 12; Total Time: about 3 1/2 hours; Active Time: 20 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 large sweet potato
2 tablespoons + 3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, divided
1 tablespoon heavy cream
4 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1 egg + 2 eggs, beaten
1 frozen deep-dish piecrust
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Whipped topping, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Melt butter. Peel potato and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups). Place in microwave-safe bowl and cover; microwave on HIGH 7–8 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork. Mash with potato masher (or hand mixer).
Combine in medium bowl: potatoes, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoons sugar, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, cream, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 1 egg; beat with hand mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread over bottom of piecrust.
Combine in second bowl: remaining 2 tablespoons butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, corn syrup, salt, pecans, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pie spice, and remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla until thoroughly blended; pour over sweet potatoes. Bake 60–65 minutes or until center is set. Let stand 2 hours (or overnight), to cool. Serve with whipped topping.
FROZEN BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST BARS
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “Get your yogurt and granola in a frozen bar that you can ‘grab and go’ for breakfast or for a snack any time of day.” Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 containers (5.3 oz each) *Yoplait® Greek blueberry yogurt
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola, coarsely crushed
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups granola and the melted butter. Firmly press in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on cooling rack. Freeze about 5 minutes or until cold.
Spoon yogurt over crust; gently spread to cover. Sprinkle with blueberries and crushed granola. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.
Remove from freezer 10 minutes before cutting. To make bars, cut into 5 rows by 2 rows. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap. Store in freezer.
*Yoplait is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT MARQUES (France) used under license.
PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
This is from Gale Gand on The Food Network show Sweet Dreams. If I wasn’t getting hungry just thinking of the show’s name, reading this recipe will do it.
Total Time: 1 hr 3 min; Prep: 1 hr; Cook: 3 min; Yield: 32 balls
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/peanut-butter-balls-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
18 ounces peanut butter, recipe follows
1 (16-ounce) box confectioners' sugar
1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
12 ounces milk chocolate, melted
Peanut Butter:
3 cups peanuts, shelled, unsalted and dry roasted
Peanut oil, if necessary
Directions
In a large bowl, combine peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and butter. Mash together until combined. Form the mixture into balls. Transfer to the refrigerator until hardened, about 30 minutes. Dip the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate and set inside mini paper cupcake forms. Let the chocolate set before serving.
Peanut Butter:
Peanut Butter: In the bowl of a food processor, grind the peanuts until smooth. With the motor of the food processor running, add peanut oil if necessary, and puree until the peanuts are the consistency of peanut butter.
WEIGHT WATCHERS VANILLA POUND CAKE
This came from Lainey6605 on Food.com. Lainey wrote, “This pound cake is sweet, moist and delicious. It will make 12 servings and is 5 points per serving, according to Weight Watchers.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes: Yield: 1 loaf, 12 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
cooking spray
2 large eggs
3 large egg whites
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
8 ounces light cream cheese
3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/3 cups sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
Directions
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Coat a 9-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, vanilla extract and almond extract; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together cream cheese and butter until blended.
Beat in sugar, baking powder and salt until blended.
Beat in flour and egg mixture, little by little, beginning and ending with flour.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes.
Cool cake in pan on a wire rack.
Cut into 12 slices and serve.
Yields 1 slice per serving.
Okay, so it's really only the third Thursday in a row that I've had a double posting, and I'm not sure how long I'll be doing that, but no matter. We'll see how long it lasts. It's either that or maybe a weekend post...
Today's double post deals with desserts. Enjoy!
RAINBOW SPRINKLE CAKE
This is from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “In the 1990s, when home bakers started putting rainbow sprinkles in their cakes, as well as on their cakes, the Funfetti craze was born. Pillsbury introduced its Funfetti cake mix in 1989, and the idea was quickly adopted by home cooks for waffles, pancakes and cupcakes. Now, as seen on photo-friendly social media sites like Instagram and Pinterest, rainbow sprinkles are decorating everything from morning smoothie bowls to late-night martinis. But the Funfetti layer cake is still the most fun. You can buy premixed rainbow sprinkles, but professionals mix their own to get just the right color combination. (Coming up with a signature "house blend" is a good Saturday morning project for kids.) And though it may be tempting, do not use any sprinkles made with natural colorings in the cake -- they fade away, instead of leaving beautiful streaks of color.” Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours, plus cooling.
This was featured in “The Funfetti Explosion” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), slightly softened, more for pans
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, more for pans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
2/3 cup whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1 whole egg plus 2 egg whites
1/3 cup rainbow sprinkles (not pastel, or naturally colored)
For the Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, slightly softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), slightly softened
1/8 teaspoon fine salt, more to taste
3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted, more to taste
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup rainbow sprinkles (see note)
Preparation
Make the cake: Heat oven to 325 degrees and place a rack in the center. Butter and line the bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Butter the parchment. Flour the pans, coating the bottom and sides, then tap out any excess flour.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, stir together milk and vanilla.
In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low and, with mixer running, slowly add egg and whites and beat until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape down bowl. Add half the flour mixture, then the milk mixture, then the remaining flour mixture, beating to blend after each addition. Scrape down bowl and blend once more. Remove bowl and use a spatula or spoon to mix in sprinkles by hand.
Divide batter evenly between the pans and bake until the tops are just dry to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Rotate the pans halfway through baking.
Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cool completely, at least 4 hours, before turning out.
Make the frosting: In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, butter and salt together at medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low and, with mixer running, slowly add sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in vanilla just until incorporated. Taste frosting; you should be able to taste the cream cheese and a little bit of saltiness, as well as the sweetness. If desired, add more salt or sugar. Keep refrigerated.
Turn cooled cakes out of pans. Using a bread knife, cut off any domed or uneven parts of each cake to make flat surfaces. Place one of the cakes on a platter or a cake stand, cut side up. Using an offset spatula, frost the top. Stack the other layer on top, cut side down. Place remaining frosting on top of the cake and, working from the center outward, frost the top and sides of the cake.
Place a baking sheet under the platter or cake stand, to catch any fallen sprinkles. Sprinkle the top with a layer of sprinkles. Toss remaining sprinkles at the sides of the cake, or press handfuls of sprinkles gently up the sides to make a thicker coating. Gather fallen sprinkles and repeat until coated to your liking.
Refrigerate cake 30 minutes or longer to set. Serve cool.
Tip
Julia's house blend: 2 parts blue, 1 part yellow, 1 part orange, 1 part bright pink. It's best not to use white, light pastel or "natural" sprinkles. They just disappear (poof!) into the cake after baking.
PUMPKIN DUMP CAKE
This came from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.
1 (29 oz.) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. white sugar
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. cloves
1 pkg. yellow or spice cake mix
1/2 C. chopped pecans
1/2 C. melted butter or margarine
Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9x13 pan. In bowl, mix everything except last 3 ingredients. Pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over top of pumpkin, then sprinkle pecans over mix. Drizzle butter over the nut/mix. Bake 50-60 minutes, the edges will be light brown. Good warm or cold with Cool Whip or whipped cream.
SWEET POTATO-PECAN PIE
This yummy recipe is from Publix. Servings: 12; Total Time: about 3 1/2 hours; Active Time: 20 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 large sweet potato
2 tablespoons + 3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, divided
1 tablespoon heavy cream
4 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1 egg + 2 eggs, beaten
1 frozen deep-dish piecrust
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Whipped topping, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Melt butter. Peel potato and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups). Place in microwave-safe bowl and cover; microwave on HIGH 7–8 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork. Mash with potato masher (or hand mixer).
Combine in medium bowl: potatoes, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoons sugar, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, cream, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 1 egg; beat with hand mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread over bottom of piecrust.
Combine in second bowl: remaining 2 tablespoons butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, corn syrup, salt, pecans, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pie spice, and remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla until thoroughly blended; pour over sweet potatoes. Bake 60–65 minutes or until center is set. Let stand 2 hours (or overnight), to cool. Serve with whipped topping.
FROZEN BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST BARS
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and begins, “Get your yogurt and granola in a frozen bar that you can ‘grab and go’ for breakfast or for a snack any time of day.” Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 3 hr 25 min; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 containers (5.3 oz each) *Yoplait® Greek blueberry yogurt
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons Cascadian Farm® organic oats & honey granola, coarsely crushed
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups granola and the melted butter. Firmly press in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes on cooling rack. Freeze about 5 minutes or until cold.
Spoon yogurt over crust; gently spread to cover. Sprinkle with blueberries and crushed granola. Freeze about 3 hours or until firm.
Remove from freezer 10 minutes before cutting. To make bars, cut into 5 rows by 2 rows. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap. Store in freezer.
*Yoplait is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT MARQUES (France) used under license.
PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
This is from Gale Gand on The Food Network show Sweet Dreams. If I wasn’t getting hungry just thinking of the show’s name, reading this recipe will do it.
Total Time: 1 hr 3 min; Prep: 1 hr; Cook: 3 min; Yield: 32 balls
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/peanut-butter-balls-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
18 ounces peanut butter, recipe follows
1 (16-ounce) box confectioners' sugar
1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
12 ounces milk chocolate, melted
Peanut Butter:
3 cups peanuts, shelled, unsalted and dry roasted
Peanut oil, if necessary
Directions
In a large bowl, combine peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and butter. Mash together until combined. Form the mixture into balls. Transfer to the refrigerator until hardened, about 30 minutes. Dip the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate and set inside mini paper cupcake forms. Let the chocolate set before serving.
Peanut Butter:
Peanut Butter: In the bowl of a food processor, grind the peanuts until smooth. With the motor of the food processor running, add peanut oil if necessary, and puree until the peanuts are the consistency of peanut butter.
WEIGHT WATCHERS VANILLA POUND CAKE
This came from Lainey6605 on Food.com. Lainey wrote, “This pound cake is sweet, moist and delicious. It will make 12 servings and is 5 points per serving, according to Weight Watchers.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes: Yield: 1 loaf, 12 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
cooking spray
2 large eggs
3 large egg whites
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
8 ounces light cream cheese
3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/3 cups sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
Directions
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Coat a 9-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, vanilla extract and almond extract; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together cream cheese and butter until blended.
Beat in sugar, baking powder and salt until blended.
Beat in flour and egg mixture, little by little, beginning and ending with flour.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes.
Cool cake in pan on a wire rack.
Cut into 12 slices and serve.
Yields 1 slice per serving.
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