We're coming into the home stretch for summer, though many of us (here in the U.S.) think of summer ending during Labor Day weekend. But either way, we're just about there. Hopefully, the weather will cool off soon.
Meanwhile, we still need to eat. Today's six recipes to get you through the weekend include Mexican-Style Stuffed Bell Peppers and Key Lime Cream Pie. Enjoy!
CANNOLI QUESADILLA WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE
This was in an old Weight Watchers email (we're talking more than 10 years ago). The plan has changed several times since then.
This recipe begins, “Whip up this Italian-inspired specialty in honor of Mother’s Day. Topped with a simple strawberry sauce or just sliced strawberries, it’s a sweet treat every mom will love.”
POINTS® Value: 3 (value from when this recipe was emailed); Servings: 4; Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 1 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
8 oz fat-free ricotta cheese
3 Tbsp McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, or similar product, or to taste
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
4 medium whole wheat tortilla
5 oz sweetened frozen whole strawberries, partially thawed and pureed (1/2 a 10 oz package), or whole sliced strawberries if you prefer
Directions
Mix together ricotta cheese, Splenda and almond extract by hand in a large bowl until well-combined and smooth; gently fold in chocolate chips. Chill for at least 2 hours (and up to overnight); drain off any liquid.
To soften tortillas, wrap them in layers of paper towels and then microwave them on high for 30 seconds.
Place about 1/4 cup of cheese mixture down the center of each cooled tortilla; fold tortilla over in half (or roll up burrito-style). Drizzle each serving with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of strawberry sauce or top with fresh strawberry slices; serve immediately. Yields 1 cannoli per serving.
Notes: Add more Splenda if you prefer your desserts very sweet. And feel free to top the quesadillas with freshly sliced strawberries when they’re in season. Or you can use a combination of pureed and sliced strawberries.
Note: Okay, this is me talking. I personally would refrain from the Splenda, simply because I'm not a big fan of non-sugar (read not-quite-sure-it's-not-synthetic) sweeteners. But that's my preference. I would use sugar or no sweetener at all. It's your call here.
KEY LIME CREAM PIE
This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!
“Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8
Special equipment: Electric mixer
View this here.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 large egg yolks
One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 lime (optional, for garnish)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.
Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.
Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from Bunny Erica on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Yield: 8-10 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
2-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Boil lentils in the water with the salt for around 45 minutes. Lentils will be soft and most of the water will be gone.
Fry the onions and carrot in the oil until soft, it will take about 5 minutes.
In a bowl mix the cooked ingredients with the pepper, soy sauce, oats and bread crumbs.
While still warm form the mixture into patties, it will make 8-10 burgers.
Burgers can then be shallow fried for 1-2 minutes on each side or baked at 200C for 15 minutes.
ORANGE BEEF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, also featured in Asian Pantry Essentials. For this recipe, Sam wrote, “This recipe for takeout-style orange beef is a variation on one the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde included in his new cookbook, "Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn," with a slightly more intensely flavored orange-flavored sauce. Mr. Talde's key insight is protected, however: Use very good steak, and cook it fast, so that below the lovely crust of its egg-white-and-cornstarch batter, the meat remains rare and luscious. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice. And make it a few times. What appears difficult the first time through — the coating of the beef, the making of the sauce, the stir-frying of the aromatics, the stir-frying of the beef — is in fact fast and easy work, and much, much better than takeout.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 1 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons orange zest, plus the juice of one orange
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
For the Beef:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
1 boneless rib-eye steak, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil
6 scallions, white and green parts cut into inchlong pieces and separated
2 to 4 dried red chiles, or to taste
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat oil in a small sauce pan set over medium-high heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ginger, jalapeño and orange zest and stir to combine. Sauté mixture until ingredients soften, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until it softens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Add orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce and fish sauce to pan and stir to combine. Allow mixture to come to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the meat: Combine egg white, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Add steak, tossing to coat the meat with the batter.
In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, heat oil until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Add beef to the pan or wok in a single layer and cook without stirring until the bottoms of the pieces are crisp and golden, approximately 60 to 90 seconds. Add white pieces of scallion and chiles to the pan, then turn the beef pieces over and cook the other sides, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter.
Pour orange sauce into the hot pan or wok, let it boil and stir it as it thickens. Add meat and white scallions and stir to coat with the sauce. Return meat and sauce to the platter and scatter green scallions over the top. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
Showing posts with label Ranch Burgers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ranch Burgers. Show all posts
Friday, September 12, 2025
Friday, August 30, 2024
Friday Recipes
It's the unofficial last Friday of the summer, though technically, summer doesn't end for another few weeks. But since it's Labor Day weekend (in the U.S.), many of us consider it the end of the summer.
Whether you're lucky enough to have a three-day weekend or not, you still need to eat. Today's six recipes to get you through the weekend include Mexican-Style Stuffed Bell Peppers and Key Lime Cream Pie. Enjoy!
CANNOLI QUESADILLA WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE
This was in an old Weight Watchers email (we're talking more than 10 years ago). The plan has changed several times since then.
This recipe begins, “Whip up this Italian-inspired specialty in honor of Mother’s Day. Topped with a simple strawberry sauce or just sliced strawberries, it’s a sweet treat every mom will love.”
POINTS® Value: 3 (value from when this recipe was emailed); Servings: 4; Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 1 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
8 oz fat-free ricotta cheese
3 Tbsp McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, or similar product, or to taste
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
4 medium whole wheat tortilla
5 oz sweetened frozen whole strawberries, partially thawed and pureed (1/2 a 10 oz package), or whole sliced strawberries if you prefer
Directions
Mix together ricotta cheese, Splenda and almond extract by hand in a large bowl until well-combined and smooth; gently fold in chocolate chips. Chill for at least 2 hours (and up to overnight); drain off any liquid.
To soften tortillas, wrap them in layers of paper towels and then microwave them on high for 30 seconds.
Place about 1/4 cup of cheese mixture down the center of each cooled tortilla; fold tortilla over in half (or roll up burrito-style). Drizzle each serving with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of strawberry sauce or top with fresh strawberry slices; serve immediately. Yields 1 cannoli per serving.
Notes: Add more Splenda if you prefer your desserts very sweet. And feel free to top the quesadillas with freshly sliced strawberries when they’re in season. Or you can use a combination of pureed and sliced strawberries.
Note: Okay, this is me talking. I personally would refrain from the Splenda, simply because I'm not a big fan of non-sugar (read not-quite-sure-it's-not-synthetic) sweeteners. But that's my preference. I would use sugar or no sweetener at all. It's your call here.
KEY LIME CREAM PIE
This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!
“Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8
Special equipment: Electric mixer
View this here.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 large egg yolks
One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 lime (optional, for garnish)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.
Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.
Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This came from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from Bunny Erica on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Yield: 8-10 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
2-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Boil lentils in the water with the salt for around 45 minutes. Lentils will be soft and most of the water will be gone.
Fry the onions and carrot in the oil until soft, it will take about 5 minutes.
In a bowl mix the cooked ingredients with the pepper, soy sauce, oats and bread crumbs.
While still warm form the mixture into patties, it will make 8-10 burgers.
Burgers can then be shallow fried for 1-2 minutes on each side or baked at 200C for 15 minutes.
ORANGE BEEF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, also featured in Asian Pantry Essentials. For this recipe, Sam wrote, “This recipe for takeout-style orange beef is a variation on one the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde included in his new cookbook, "Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn," with a slightly more intensely flavored orange-flavored sauce. Mr. Talde's key insight is protected, however: Use very good steak, and cook it fast, so that below the lovely crust of its egg-white-and-cornstarch batter, the meat remains rare and luscious. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice. And make it a few times. What appears difficult the first time through — the coating of the beef, the making of the sauce, the stir-frying of the aromatics, the stir-frying of the beef — is in fact fast and easy work, and much, much better than takeout.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 1 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons orange zest, plus the juice of one orange
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
For the Beef:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
1 boneless rib-eye steak, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil
6 scallions, white and green parts cut into inchlong pieces and separated
2 to 4 dried red chiles, or to taste
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat oil in a small sauce pan set over medium-high heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ginger, jalapeño and orange zest and stir to combine. Sauté mixture until ingredients soften, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until it softens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Add orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce and fish sauce to pan and stir to combine. Allow mixture to come to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the meat: Combine egg white, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Add steak, tossing to coat the meat with the batter.
In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, heat oil until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Add beef to the pan or wok in a single layer and cook without stirring until the bottoms of the pieces are crisp and golden, approximately 60 to 90 seconds. Add white pieces of scallion and chiles to the pan, then turn the beef pieces over and cook the other sides, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter.
Pour orange sauce into the hot pan or wok, let it boil and stir it as it thickens. Add meat and white scallions and stir to coat with the sauce. Return meat and sauce to the platter and scatter green scallions over the top. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
Whether you're lucky enough to have a three-day weekend or not, you still need to eat. Today's six recipes to get you through the weekend include Mexican-Style Stuffed Bell Peppers and Key Lime Cream Pie. Enjoy!
CANNOLI QUESADILLA WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE
This was in an old Weight Watchers email (we're talking more than 10 years ago). The plan has changed several times since then.
This recipe begins, “Whip up this Italian-inspired specialty in honor of Mother’s Day. Topped with a simple strawberry sauce or just sliced strawberries, it’s a sweet treat every mom will love.”
POINTS® Value: 3 (value from when this recipe was emailed); Servings: 4; Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 1 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
8 oz fat-free ricotta cheese
3 Tbsp McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, or similar product, or to taste
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
4 medium whole wheat tortilla
5 oz sweetened frozen whole strawberries, partially thawed and pureed (1/2 a 10 oz package), or whole sliced strawberries if you prefer
Directions
Mix together ricotta cheese, Splenda and almond extract by hand in a large bowl until well-combined and smooth; gently fold in chocolate chips. Chill for at least 2 hours (and up to overnight); drain off any liquid.
To soften tortillas, wrap them in layers of paper towels and then microwave them on high for 30 seconds.
Place about 1/4 cup of cheese mixture down the center of each cooled tortilla; fold tortilla over in half (or roll up burrito-style). Drizzle each serving with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of strawberry sauce or top with fresh strawberry slices; serve immediately. Yields 1 cannoli per serving.
Notes: Add more Splenda if you prefer your desserts very sweet. And feel free to top the quesadillas with freshly sliced strawberries when they’re in season. Or you can use a combination of pureed and sliced strawberries.
Note: Okay, this is me talking. I personally would refrain from the Splenda, simply because I'm not a big fan of non-sugar (read not-quite-sure-it's-not-synthetic) sweeteners. But that's my preference. I would use sugar or no sweetener at all. It's your call here.
KEY LIME CREAM PIE
This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!
“Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8
Special equipment: Electric mixer
View this here.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 large egg yolks
One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 lime (optional, for garnish)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.
Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.
Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This came from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from Bunny Erica on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Yield: 8-10 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
2-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Boil lentils in the water with the salt for around 45 minutes. Lentils will be soft and most of the water will be gone.
Fry the onions and carrot in the oil until soft, it will take about 5 minutes.
In a bowl mix the cooked ingredients with the pepper, soy sauce, oats and bread crumbs.
While still warm form the mixture into patties, it will make 8-10 burgers.
Burgers can then be shallow fried for 1-2 minutes on each side or baked at 200C for 15 minutes.
ORANGE BEEF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, also featured in Asian Pantry Essentials. For this recipe, Sam wrote, “This recipe for takeout-style orange beef is a variation on one the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde included in his new cookbook, "Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn," with a slightly more intensely flavored orange-flavored sauce. Mr. Talde's key insight is protected, however: Use very good steak, and cook it fast, so that below the lovely crust of its egg-white-and-cornstarch batter, the meat remains rare and luscious. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice. And make it a few times. What appears difficult the first time through — the coating of the beef, the making of the sauce, the stir-frying of the aromatics, the stir-frying of the beef — is in fact fast and easy work, and much, much better than takeout.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 1 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons orange zest, plus the juice of one orange
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
For the Beef:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
1 boneless rib-eye steak, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil
6 scallions, white and green parts cut into inchlong pieces and separated
2 to 4 dried red chiles, or to taste
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat oil in a small sauce pan set over medium-high heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ginger, jalapeño and orange zest and stir to combine. Sauté mixture until ingredients soften, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until it softens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Add orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce and fish sauce to pan and stir to combine. Allow mixture to come to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the meat: Combine egg white, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Add steak, tossing to coat the meat with the batter.
In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, heat oil until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Add beef to the pan or wok in a single layer and cook without stirring until the bottoms of the pieces are crisp and golden, approximately 60 to 90 seconds. Add white pieces of scallion and chiles to the pan, then turn the beef pieces over and cook the other sides, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter.
Pour orange sauce into the hot pan or wok, let it boil and stir it as it thickens. Add meat and white scallions and stir to coat with the sauce. Return meat and sauce to the platter and scatter green scallions over the top. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
Friday, September 15, 2023
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Mexican-Style Stuffed Bell Peppers and Ranch Burgers. Enjoy!
CANNOLI QUESADILLA WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE
This was in an old Weight Watchers email (we're talking more than 10 years ago). The plan has changed several times since then.
This recipe begins, “Whip up this Italian-inspired specialty in honor of Mother’s Day. Topped with a simple strawberry sauce or just sliced strawberries, it’s a sweet treat every mom will love.”
POINTS® Value: 3 (value from when this recipe was emailed); Servings: 4; Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 1 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
8 oz fat-free ricotta cheese
3 Tbsp McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, or similar product, or to taste
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
4 medium whole wheat tortilla
5 oz sweetened frozen whole strawberries, partially thawed and pureed (1/2 a 10 oz package), or whole sliced strawberries if you prefer
Directions
Mix together ricotta cheese, Splenda and almond extract by hand in a large bowl until well-combined and smooth; gently fold in chocolate chips. Chill for at least 2 hours (and up to overnight); drain off any liquid.
To soften tortillas, wrap them in layers of paper towels and then microwave them on high for 30 seconds.
Place about 1/4 cup of cheese mixture down the center of each cooled tortilla; fold tortilla over in half (or roll up burrito-style). Drizzle each serving with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of strawberry sauce or top with fresh strawberry slices; serve immediately. Yields 1 cannoli per serving.
Notes: Add more Splenda if you prefer your desserts very sweet. And feel free to top the quesadillas with freshly sliced strawberries when they’re in season. Or you can use a combination of pureed and sliced strawberries.
Note: Okay, this is me talking. I personally would refrain from the Splenda, simply because I'm not a big fan of non-sugar (read not-quite-sure-it's-not-synthetic) sweeteners. But that's my preference. I would use sugar or no sweetener at all. It's your call here.
KEY LIME CREAM PIE
This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!
“Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8
Special equipment: Electric mixer
View this here.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 large egg yolks
One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 lime (optional, for garnish)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.
Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.
Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from Bunny Erica on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Yield: 8-10 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
2-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Boil lentils in the water with the salt for around 45 minutes. Lentils will be soft and most of the water will be gone.
Fry the onions and carrot in the oil until soft, it will take about 5 minutes.
In a bowl mix the cooked ingredients with the pepper, soy sauce, oats and bread crumbs.
While still warm form the mixture into patties, it will make 8-10 burgers.
Burgers can then be shallow fried for 1-2 minutes on each side or baked at 200C for 15 minutes.
ORANGE BEEF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, also featured in Asian Pantry Essentials. For this recipe, Sam wrote, “This recipe for takeout-style orange beef is a variation on one the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde included in his new cookbook, "Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn," with a slightly more intensely flavored orange-flavored sauce. Mr. Talde's key insight is protected, however: Use very good steak, and cook it fast, so that below the lovely crust of its egg-white-and-cornstarch batter, the meat remains rare and luscious. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice. And make it a few times. What appears difficult the first time through — the coating of the beef, the making of the sauce, the stir-frying of the aromatics, the stir-frying of the beef — is in fact fast and easy work, and much, much better than takeout.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 to 1-1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons orange zest, plus the juice of one orange
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
For the Beef:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
1 boneless rib-eye steak, approximately 1 to 1-1/2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil
6 scallions, white and green parts cut into inchlong pieces and separated
2 to 4 dried red chiles, or to taste
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat oil in a small sauce pan set over medium-high heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ginger, jalapeño and orange zest and stir to combine. Sauté mixture until ingredients soften, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until it softens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Add orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce and fish sauce to pan and stir to combine. Allow mixture to come to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the meat: Combine egg white, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Add steak, tossing to coat the meat with the batter.
In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, heat oil until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Add beef to the pan or wok in a single layer and cook without stirring until the bottoms of the pieces are crisp and golden, approximately 60 to 90 seconds. Add white pieces of scallion and chiles to the pan, then turn the beef pieces over and cook the other sides, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter.
Pour orange sauce into the hot pan or wok, let it boil and stir it as it thickens. Add meat and white scallions and stir to coat with the sauce. Return meat and sauce to the platter and scatter green scallions over the top. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
CANNOLI QUESADILLA WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE
This was in an old Weight Watchers email (we're talking more than 10 years ago). The plan has changed several times since then.
This recipe begins, “Whip up this Italian-inspired specialty in honor of Mother’s Day. Topped with a simple strawberry sauce or just sliced strawberries, it’s a sweet treat every mom will love.”
POINTS® Value: 3 (value from when this recipe was emailed); Servings: 4; Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 1 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
8 oz fat-free ricotta cheese
3 Tbsp McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, or similar product, or to taste
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
4 medium whole wheat tortilla
5 oz sweetened frozen whole strawberries, partially thawed and pureed (1/2 a 10 oz package), or whole sliced strawberries if you prefer
Directions
Mix together ricotta cheese, Splenda and almond extract by hand in a large bowl until well-combined and smooth; gently fold in chocolate chips. Chill for at least 2 hours (and up to overnight); drain off any liquid.
To soften tortillas, wrap them in layers of paper towels and then microwave them on high for 30 seconds.
Place about 1/4 cup of cheese mixture down the center of each cooled tortilla; fold tortilla over in half (or roll up burrito-style). Drizzle each serving with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of strawberry sauce or top with fresh strawberry slices; serve immediately. Yields 1 cannoli per serving.
Notes: Add more Splenda if you prefer your desserts very sweet. And feel free to top the quesadillas with freshly sliced strawberries when they’re in season. Or you can use a combination of pureed and sliced strawberries.
Note: Okay, this is me talking. I personally would refrain from the Splenda, simply because I'm not a big fan of non-sugar (read not-quite-sure-it's-not-synthetic) sweeteners. But that's my preference. I would use sugar or no sweetener at all. It's your call here.
KEY LIME CREAM PIE
This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!
“Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8
Special equipment: Electric mixer
View this here.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 large egg yolks
One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 lime (optional, for garnish)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.
Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.
Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from Bunny Erica on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Yield: 8-10 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
2-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Boil lentils in the water with the salt for around 45 minutes. Lentils will be soft and most of the water will be gone.
Fry the onions and carrot in the oil until soft, it will take about 5 minutes.
In a bowl mix the cooked ingredients with the pepper, soy sauce, oats and bread crumbs.
While still warm form the mixture into patties, it will make 8-10 burgers.
Burgers can then be shallow fried for 1-2 minutes on each side or baked at 200C for 15 minutes.
ORANGE BEEF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, also featured in Asian Pantry Essentials. For this recipe, Sam wrote, “This recipe for takeout-style orange beef is a variation on one the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde included in his new cookbook, "Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn," with a slightly more intensely flavored orange-flavored sauce. Mr. Talde's key insight is protected, however: Use very good steak, and cook it fast, so that below the lovely crust of its egg-white-and-cornstarch batter, the meat remains rare and luscious. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice. And make it a few times. What appears difficult the first time through — the coating of the beef, the making of the sauce, the stir-frying of the aromatics, the stir-frying of the beef — is in fact fast and easy work, and much, much better than takeout.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 to 1-1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons orange zest, plus the juice of one orange
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
For the Beef:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
1 boneless rib-eye steak, approximately 1 to 1-1/2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil
6 scallions, white and green parts cut into inchlong pieces and separated
2 to 4 dried red chiles, or to taste
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat oil in a small sauce pan set over medium-high heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ginger, jalapeño and orange zest and stir to combine. Sauté mixture until ingredients soften, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until it softens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Add orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce and fish sauce to pan and stir to combine. Allow mixture to come to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the meat: Combine egg white, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Add steak, tossing to coat the meat with the batter.
In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, heat oil until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Add beef to the pan or wok in a single layer and cook without stirring until the bottoms of the pieces are crisp and golden, approximately 60 to 90 seconds. Add white pieces of scallion and chiles to the pan, then turn the beef pieces over and cook the other sides, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter.
Pour orange sauce into the hot pan or wok, let it boil and stir it as it thickens. Add meat and white scallions and stir to coat with the sauce. Return meat and sauce to the platter and scatter green scallions over the top. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
Friday, September 1, 2023
Friday Recipes
It's the unofficial last Friday of the summer, though technically, summer doesn't end for another few weeks. But since it's Labor Day weekend (in the U.S.), many of us consider it the end of the summer.
Whether you're lucky enough to have a three-day weekend or not, you still need to eat. Today's six recipes to get you through the weekend include Mexican-Style Stuffed Bell Peppers and Key Lime Cream Pie. Enjoy!
CANNOLI QUESADILLA WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE
This was in an old Weight Watchers email (we're talking more than 10 years ago). The plan has changed several times since then.
This recipe begins, “Whip up this Italian-inspired specialty in honor of Mother’s Day. Topped with a simple strawberry sauce or just sliced strawberries, it’s a sweet treat every mom will love.”
POINTS® Value: 3 (value from when this recipe was emailed); Servings: 4; Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 1 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
8 oz fat-free ricotta cheese
3 Tbsp McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, or similar product, or to taste
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
4 medium whole wheat tortilla
5 oz sweetened frozen whole strawberries, partially thawed and pureed (1/2 a 10 oz package), or whole sliced strawberries if you prefer
Directions
Mix together ricotta cheese, Splenda and almond extract by hand in a large bowl until well-combined and smooth; gently fold in chocolate chips. Chill for at least 2 hours (and up to overnight); drain off any liquid.
To soften tortillas, wrap them in layers of paper towels and then microwave them on high for 30 seconds.
Place about 1/4 cup of cheese mixture down the center of each cooled tortilla; fold tortilla over in half (or roll up burrito-style). Drizzle each serving with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of strawberry sauce or top with fresh strawberry slices; serve immediately. Yields 1 cannoli per serving.
Notes: Add more Splenda if you prefer your desserts very sweet. And feel free to top the quesadillas with freshly sliced strawberries when they’re in season. Or you can use a combination of pureed and sliced strawberries.
Note: Okay, this is me talking. I personally would refrain from the Splenda, simply because I'm not a big fan of non-sugar (read not-quite-sure-it's-not-synthetic) sweeteners. But that's my preference. I would use sugar or no sweetener at all. It's your call here.
KEY LIME CREAM PIE
This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!
“Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8
Special equipment: Electric mixer
View this here.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 large egg yolks
One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 lime (optional, for garnish)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.
Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.
Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from Bunny Erica on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Yield: 8-10 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
2-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Boil lentils in the water with the salt for around 45 minutes. Lentils will be soft and most of the water will be gone.
Fry the onions and carrot in the oil until soft, it will take about 5 minutes.
In a bowl mix the cooked ingredients with the pepper, soy sauce, oats and bread crumbs.
While still warm form the mixture into patties, it will make 8-10 burgers.
Burgers can then be shallow fried for 1-2 minutes on each side or baked at 200C for 15 minutes.
ORANGE BEEF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, also featured in Asian Pantry Essentials. For this recipe, Sam wrote, “This recipe for takeout-style orange beef is a variation on one the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde included in his new cookbook, "Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn," with a slightly more intensely flavored orange-flavored sauce. Mr. Talde's key insight is protected, however: Use very good steak, and cook it fast, so that below the lovely crust of its egg-white-and-cornstarch batter, the meat remains rare and luscious. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice. And make it a few times. What appears difficult the first time through — the coating of the beef, the making of the sauce, the stir-frying of the aromatics, the stir-frying of the beef — is in fact fast and easy work, and much, much better than takeout.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 1 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons orange zest, plus the juice of one orange
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
For the Beef:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
1 boneless rib-eye steak, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil
6 scallions, white and green parts cut into inchlong pieces and separated
2 to 4 dried red chiles, or to taste
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat oil in a small sauce pan set over medium-high heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ginger, jalapeño and orange zest and stir to combine. Sauté mixture until ingredients soften, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until it softens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Add orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce and fish sauce to pan and stir to combine. Allow mixture to come to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the meat: Combine egg white, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Add steak, tossing to coat the meat with the batter.
In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, heat oil until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Add beef to the pan or wok in a single layer and cook without stirring until the bottoms of the pieces are crisp and golden, approximately 60 to 90 seconds. Add white pieces of scallion and chiles to the pan, then turn the beef pieces over and cook the other sides, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter.
Pour orange sauce into the hot pan or wok, let it boil and stir it as it thickens. Add meat and white scallions and stir to coat with the sauce. Return meat and sauce to the platter and scatter green scallions over the top. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
Whether you're lucky enough to have a three-day weekend or not, you still need to eat. Today's six recipes to get you through the weekend include Mexican-Style Stuffed Bell Peppers and Key Lime Cream Pie. Enjoy!
CANNOLI QUESADILLA WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE
This was in an old Weight Watchers email (we're talking more than 10 years ago). The plan has changed several times since then.
This recipe begins, “Whip up this Italian-inspired specialty in honor of Mother’s Day. Topped with a simple strawberry sauce or just sliced strawberries, it’s a sweet treat every mom will love.”
POINTS® Value: 3 (value from when this recipe was emailed); Servings: 4; Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 1 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
8 oz fat-free ricotta cheese
3 Tbsp McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, or similar product, or to taste
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
4 medium whole wheat tortilla
5 oz sweetened frozen whole strawberries, partially thawed and pureed (1/2 a 10 oz package), or whole sliced strawberries if you prefer
Directions
Mix together ricotta cheese, Splenda and almond extract by hand in a large bowl until well-combined and smooth; gently fold in chocolate chips. Chill for at least 2 hours (and up to overnight); drain off any liquid.
To soften tortillas, wrap them in layers of paper towels and then microwave them on high for 30 seconds.
Place about 1/4 cup of cheese mixture down the center of each cooled tortilla; fold tortilla over in half (or roll up burrito-style). Drizzle each serving with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of strawberry sauce or top with fresh strawberry slices; serve immediately. Yields 1 cannoli per serving.
Notes: Add more Splenda if you prefer your desserts very sweet. And feel free to top the quesadillas with freshly sliced strawberries when they’re in season. Or you can use a combination of pureed and sliced strawberries.
Note: Okay, this is me talking. I personally would refrain from the Splenda, simply because I'm not a big fan of non-sugar (read not-quite-sure-it's-not-synthetic) sweeteners. But that's my preference. I would use sugar or no sweetener at all. It's your call here.
KEY LIME CREAM PIE
This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!
“Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8
Special equipment: Electric mixer
View this here.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 large egg yolks
One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 lime (optional, for garnish)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.
Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.
Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from Bunny Erica on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Yield: 8-10 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
2-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Boil lentils in the water with the salt for around 45 minutes. Lentils will be soft and most of the water will be gone.
Fry the onions and carrot in the oil until soft, it will take about 5 minutes.
In a bowl mix the cooked ingredients with the pepper, soy sauce, oats and bread crumbs.
While still warm form the mixture into patties, it will make 8-10 burgers.
Burgers can then be shallow fried for 1-2 minutes on each side or baked at 200C for 15 minutes.
ORANGE BEEF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, also featured in Asian Pantry Essentials. For this recipe, Sam wrote, “This recipe for takeout-style orange beef is a variation on one the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde included in his new cookbook, "Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn," with a slightly more intensely flavored orange-flavored sauce. Mr. Talde's key insight is protected, however: Use very good steak, and cook it fast, so that below the lovely crust of its egg-white-and-cornstarch batter, the meat remains rare and luscious. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice. And make it a few times. What appears difficult the first time through — the coating of the beef, the making of the sauce, the stir-frying of the aromatics, the stir-frying of the beef — is in fact fast and easy work, and much, much better than takeout.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 1 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons orange zest, plus the juice of one orange
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
For the Beef:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
1 boneless rib-eye steak, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil
6 scallions, white and green parts cut into inchlong pieces and separated
2 to 4 dried red chiles, or to taste
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat oil in a small sauce pan set over medium-high heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ginger, jalapeño and orange zest and stir to combine. Sauté mixture until ingredients soften, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until it softens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Add orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce and fish sauce to pan and stir to combine. Allow mixture to come to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the meat: Combine egg white, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Add steak, tossing to coat the meat with the batter.
In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, heat oil until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Add beef to the pan or wok in a single layer and cook without stirring until the bottoms of the pieces are crisp and golden, approximately 60 to 90 seconds. Add white pieces of scallion and chiles to the pan, then turn the beef pieces over and cook the other sides, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter.
Pour orange sauce into the hot pan or wok, let it boil and stir it as it thickens. Add meat and white scallions and stir to coat with the sauce. Return meat and sauce to the platter and scatter green scallions over the top. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
Monday, July 10, 2023
Beef - Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's double post deals with recipes with beef, including Ranch Burgers and Texas Red Chili. Enjoy!
FLANK STEAK FAJITA BURRITOS
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “These delicious steak burritos get a zesty marinade of lime, orange juice, and chipotle peppers. Full of fresh peppers and zucchini, this burrito recipe will quickly become a family favorite.”
Prep: 20 mins; Marinate: 1 hr to 12 hrs; Cook: 25 mins; Servings: 6; Yield: 6 burritos
View this online here.
Ingredients
1 orange
1 lime
1/4 cup plus 1 tsp. vegetable oil
2 – 3 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (seeded if desired), finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 2 pound beef flank steak, halved crosswise
1 large sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 medium green, red, and/or yellow sweet peppers, cut into thin strips
1/2 medium zucchini, halved and sliced
6 10 inch flour tortillas, warmed
3/4 cup guacamole
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
1 cup purchased salsa verde
Directions
Zest the lime and juice both the orange and lime. In a large resealable plastic bag combine 1/4 cup orange juice, 1 teaspoon lime zest, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1/4 cup oil, chipotle peppers, 1 teaspoon of the cumin, and the salt. Add steak. Seal bag; turn to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator 1 to 12 hours.
Remove meat from marinade. Reserve 2 tablespoons marinade; discard any remaining marinade. Pat meat dry with paper towels. In a large grill pan, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Add steak to pan. Cook for 14 to 18 minutes or until steak reaches desired doneness, turning once halfway through cooking. If needed cook in batches. (Or, for a gas or charcoal grill, grill the steak on the greased rack of a covered grill over medium heat for 17 to 21 minutes or until steak reaches desired doneness.) Transfer meat to a cutting board. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Cut steak across grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
Meanwhile, heat the same grill pan* over medium-high heat. Add the onions to the drippings in the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Stir in the sweet peppers and zucchini. Cook 1 minute more. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons marinade and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Cook and stir 2 minutes more.
Lay tortillas on a flat work surface. Arrange meat along the bottom one-third of the tortillas. Top with cooked vegetables, guacamole, and cilantro. Fold bottoms of tortillas over filling. Fold in sides. Roll up tortillas tightly. Cut burritos in half. Serve with salsa verde.
Tips
If using a gas or charcoal grill, use a large skillet to cook the vegetables. Use 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in place of the drippings.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 620 calories, (8 g saturated fat, 6 g polyunsaturated fat, 6 g monounsaturated fat), 101 mg cholesterol, 1007 mg sodium, 48 g carbohydrates, 7 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 41 g protein.
30-MINUTE CHILI WITH GROUND BEEF AND BEANS
This comes from Diana Rattray, a southern food cook on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “This ground beef chili is hearty and delicious, and it takes only 30 minutes from start to finish! Don't feel overwhelmed by the list of ingredients, many are suggested toppings.
“The ground beef is quickly browned, then it is combined with a spice mixture, beans, and tomatoes for a quick and easy meal for a busy day. It's also easy on the budget.
“Make a pan of cornbread to go with the chili, along with a salad or slaw, or serve it with hot cooked rice and warm tortillas.
“If you're making this for a party game day gathering, offer several toppings with the chili and add a bowl of tortilla chips to the menu. The recipe is easily doubled.”
Total Time: 30 mins; PrepTime: 5 mins; Cook: 25 mins; Yield: 6 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Seasoning Mix:
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons onion (dried minced)
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Chili:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (at least 85% lean)
1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes with mild green chile peppers*
1 can/8 ounces tomato sauce
1 can/15 to 16 ounces black beans (undrained)
salt to taste
Optional: shredded cheddar, cheddar-jack, or a Mexican blend of cheeses
For Toppings (optional):
sour cream
green onion (chopped)
red onion (chopped)
lettuce (shredded)
cilantro
guacamole
tomatoes (diced)
Directions
In a small bowl or cup, combine the chili powder with the dried minced onion, cumin, oregano, sugar, garlic powder, and the black and cayenne peppers. Blend well and set aside.
In a Dutch oven or large sauté pan over medium heat, brown the ground beef, turning and breaking up with a spatula as it cooks.
Drain the ground beef well. Return the beef to the pan over medium heat. Add the chili seasoning mix and stir to blend.
Add the 2 cans of tomatoes, tomato sauce, and undrained black beans. Stir to blend ingredients.
Bring the chili to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
Taste and add salt, as needed.
Serve with a Tex-Mex cornbread or classic Southern cornbread, biscuits, crackers, or tortilla chips, along with shredded cheese and your favorite toppings.
Tip
If you don't have diced tomatoes with chile peppers, use regular diced tomatoes and add mild green chile peppers. Or, use about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of chunky mild to medium salsa in place of the second can of tomatoes.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
TEXAS RED CHILI
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: Family Circle's "All-time Favorite Recipes"
Book Title: Family Circle's "All-time Favorite Recipes
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/texas-red-chili.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 beef brisket (about 2 pounds), cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 cup chopped onion
3 jalapeno chiles, halved, seeded and finely, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 can (13-3/4 ounces) beef broth
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) stewed tomatoes
1 bottle (12 ounces) beer
1 bay leaf
Lime wedges for garnish
Directions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, saute brisket until browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Add onion, jalapenos and garlic to drippings in pot; cook over medium-low heat until onion is very tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in chili powder, cumin, salt, and red pepper; cook 1 minute. Return meat to pot. Stir in broth, tomatoes, beer and bay leaf. Heat to boiling. Lower heat; simmer with cover slightly ajar until meat is tender, about 1-1/2 hours. For last 20 minutes, uncover to thicken chili.
To serve, ladle chili into bowls. Garnish each bowl with lime wedge.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 334; Fat: 17 g; Sodium: 712 mg; Cholesterol: 84 mg; Protein: 30 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch; 4 Medium-Fat Meat
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3⁄4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
ORANGE BEEF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, also featured in Asian Pantry Essentials. For this recipe, Sam wrote, “This recipe for takeout-style orange beef is a variation on one the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde included in his new cookbook, "Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn," with a slightly more intensely flavored orange-flavored sauce. Mr. Talde's key insight is protected, however: Use very good steak, and cook it fast, so that below the lovely crust of its egg-white-and-cornstarch batter, the meat remains rare and luscious. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice. And make it a few times. What appears difficult the first time through — the coating of the beef, the making of the sauce, the stir-frying of the aromatics, the stir-frying of the beef — is in fact fast and easy work, and much, much better than takeout.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 to 1-1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons orange zest, plus the juice of one orange
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
For the Beef:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
1 boneless rib-eye steak, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil
6 scallions, white and green parts cut into inchlong pieces and separated
2 to 4 dried red chiles, or to taste
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat oil in a small sauce pan set over medium-high heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ginger, jalapeño and orange zest and stir to combine. Sauté mixture until ingredients soften, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until it softens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Add orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce and fish sauce to pan and stir to combine. Allow mixture to come to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the meat: Combine egg white, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Add steak, tossing to coat the meat with the batter.
In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, heat oil until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Add beef to the pan or wok in a single layer and cook without stirring until the bottoms of the pieces are crisp and golden, approximately 60 to 90 seconds. Add white pieces of scallion and chiles to the pan, then turn the beef pieces over and cook the other sides, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter.
Pour orange sauce into the hot pan or wok, let it boil and stir it as it thickens. Add meat and white scallions and stir to coat with the sauce. Return meat and sauce to the platter and scatter green scallions over the top. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
FLANK STEAK FAJITA BURRITOS
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “These delicious steak burritos get a zesty marinade of lime, orange juice, and chipotle peppers. Full of fresh peppers and zucchini, this burrito recipe will quickly become a family favorite.”
Prep: 20 mins; Marinate: 1 hr to 12 hrs; Cook: 25 mins; Servings: 6; Yield: 6 burritos
View this online here.
Ingredients
1 orange
1 lime
1/4 cup plus 1 tsp. vegetable oil
2 – 3 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (seeded if desired), finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 2 pound beef flank steak, halved crosswise
1 large sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 medium green, red, and/or yellow sweet peppers, cut into thin strips
1/2 medium zucchini, halved and sliced
6 10 inch flour tortillas, warmed
3/4 cup guacamole
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
1 cup purchased salsa verde
Directions
Zest the lime and juice both the orange and lime. In a large resealable plastic bag combine 1/4 cup orange juice, 1 teaspoon lime zest, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1/4 cup oil, chipotle peppers, 1 teaspoon of the cumin, and the salt. Add steak. Seal bag; turn to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator 1 to 12 hours.
Remove meat from marinade. Reserve 2 tablespoons marinade; discard any remaining marinade. Pat meat dry with paper towels. In a large grill pan, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Add steak to pan. Cook for 14 to 18 minutes or until steak reaches desired doneness, turning once halfway through cooking. If needed cook in batches. (Or, for a gas or charcoal grill, grill the steak on the greased rack of a covered grill over medium heat for 17 to 21 minutes or until steak reaches desired doneness.) Transfer meat to a cutting board. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Cut steak across grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
Meanwhile, heat the same grill pan* over medium-high heat. Add the onions to the drippings in the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Stir in the sweet peppers and zucchini. Cook 1 minute more. Add the reserved 2 tablespoons marinade and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Cook and stir 2 minutes more.
Lay tortillas on a flat work surface. Arrange meat along the bottom one-third of the tortillas. Top with cooked vegetables, guacamole, and cilantro. Fold bottoms of tortillas over filling. Fold in sides. Roll up tortillas tightly. Cut burritos in half. Serve with salsa verde.
Tips
If using a gas or charcoal grill, use a large skillet to cook the vegetables. Use 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in place of the drippings.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 620 calories, (8 g saturated fat, 6 g polyunsaturated fat, 6 g monounsaturated fat), 101 mg cholesterol, 1007 mg sodium, 48 g carbohydrates, 7 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 41 g protein.
30-MINUTE CHILI WITH GROUND BEEF AND BEANS
This comes from Diana Rattray, a southern food cook on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “This ground beef chili is hearty and delicious, and it takes only 30 minutes from start to finish! Don't feel overwhelmed by the list of ingredients, many are suggested toppings.
“The ground beef is quickly browned, then it is combined with a spice mixture, beans, and tomatoes for a quick and easy meal for a busy day. It's also easy on the budget.
“Make a pan of cornbread to go with the chili, along with a salad or slaw, or serve it with hot cooked rice and warm tortillas.
“If you're making this for a party game day gathering, offer several toppings with the chili and add a bowl of tortilla chips to the menu. The recipe is easily doubled.”
Total Time: 30 mins; PrepTime: 5 mins; Cook: 25 mins; Yield: 6 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Seasoning Mix:
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons onion (dried minced)
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Chili:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (at least 85% lean)
1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes with mild green chile peppers*
1 can/8 ounces tomato sauce
1 can/15 to 16 ounces black beans (undrained)
salt to taste
Optional: shredded cheddar, cheddar-jack, or a Mexican blend of cheeses
For Toppings (optional):
sour cream
green onion (chopped)
red onion (chopped)
lettuce (shredded)
cilantro
guacamole
tomatoes (diced)
Directions
In a small bowl or cup, combine the chili powder with the dried minced onion, cumin, oregano, sugar, garlic powder, and the black and cayenne peppers. Blend well and set aside.
In a Dutch oven or large sauté pan over medium heat, brown the ground beef, turning and breaking up with a spatula as it cooks.
Drain the ground beef well. Return the beef to the pan over medium heat. Add the chili seasoning mix and stir to blend.
Add the 2 cans of tomatoes, tomato sauce, and undrained black beans. Stir to blend ingredients.
Bring the chili to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
Taste and add salt, as needed.
Serve with a Tex-Mex cornbread or classic Southern cornbread, biscuits, crackers, or tortilla chips, along with shredded cheese and your favorite toppings.
Tip
If you don't have diced tomatoes with chile peppers, use regular diced tomatoes and add mild green chile peppers. Or, use about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of chunky mild to medium salsa in place of the second can of tomatoes.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
TEXAS RED CHILI
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: Family Circle's "All-time Favorite Recipes"
Book Title: Family Circle's "All-time Favorite Recipes
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/texas-red-chili.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 beef brisket (about 2 pounds), cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 cup chopped onion
3 jalapeno chiles, halved, seeded and finely, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 can (13-3/4 ounces) beef broth
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) stewed tomatoes
1 bottle (12 ounces) beer
1 bay leaf
Lime wedges for garnish
Directions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, saute brisket until browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Add onion, jalapenos and garlic to drippings in pot; cook over medium-low heat until onion is very tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in chili powder, cumin, salt, and red pepper; cook 1 minute. Return meat to pot. Stir in broth, tomatoes, beer and bay leaf. Heat to boiling. Lower heat; simmer with cover slightly ajar until meat is tender, about 1-1/2 hours. For last 20 minutes, uncover to thicken chili.
To serve, ladle chili into bowls. Garnish each bowl with lime wedge.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 334; Fat: 17 g; Sodium: 712 mg; Cholesterol: 84 mg; Protein: 30 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch; 4 Medium-Fat Meat
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3⁄4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
ORANGE BEEF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, also featured in Asian Pantry Essentials. For this recipe, Sam wrote, “This recipe for takeout-style orange beef is a variation on one the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde included in his new cookbook, "Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn," with a slightly more intensely flavored orange-flavored sauce. Mr. Talde's key insight is protected, however: Use very good steak, and cook it fast, so that below the lovely crust of its egg-white-and-cornstarch batter, the meat remains rare and luscious. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice. And make it a few times. What appears difficult the first time through — the coating of the beef, the making of the sauce, the stir-frying of the aromatics, the stir-frying of the beef — is in fact fast and easy work, and much, much better than takeout.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 to 1-1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons orange zest, plus the juice of one orange
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
For the Beef:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
1 boneless rib-eye steak, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil
6 scallions, white and green parts cut into inchlong pieces and separated
2 to 4 dried red chiles, or to taste
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat oil in a small sauce pan set over medium-high heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ginger, jalapeño and orange zest and stir to combine. Sauté mixture until ingredients soften, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until it softens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Add orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce and fish sauce to pan and stir to combine. Allow mixture to come to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the meat: Combine egg white, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Add steak, tossing to coat the meat with the batter.
In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, heat oil until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Add beef to the pan or wok in a single layer and cook without stirring until the bottoms of the pieces are crisp and golden, approximately 60 to 90 seconds. Add white pieces of scallion and chiles to the pan, then turn the beef pieces over and cook the other sides, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter.
Pour orange sauce into the hot pan or wok, let it boil and stir it as it thickens. Add meat and white scallions and stir to coat with the sauce. Return meat and sauce to the platter and scatter green scallions over the top. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday (since not everyone loves tacos). Today's post includes Sweet Potato and Mustard Turkey Burgers and Easy Sheet-Pan Chicken. Enjoy!
CHICKEN PAPRIKASH
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Spices lose their flavor over time but few as quickly as paprika, which starts out tasting of pepper and sunshine but deteriorates in but a few months to sawdust and bitterness. For this recipe, get some new at the market: sweet or hot Hungarian paprika is best, but the generic article isn’t terrible and the smoky Spanish varieties known as pimentón de La Vera would not be out of place either, lending a deep, woodsy aroma reminiscent of cooking over an open fire. It’s a dish that pairs beautifully with butter-slicked egg noodles.” Yield: Serves 4 - 6; Time: 1 hour.
This was featured in “The Fresher the Spice, the Better the Chicken Paprikash” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
3 to 4 pounds chicken thighs and drumsticks, or whole chicken legs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon neutral oil, like canola
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large yellow or Spanish onion, peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3 tablespoons Hungarian paprika, sweet or hot, or a combination
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes or 1 large ripe tomato, chopped
1 cup chicken broth, homemade or, if not, low-sodium
1 pound egg noodles
3/4 cup sour cream
Preparation
Heat oven to 400. Season the chicken aggressively with salt and pepper. Heat the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large, heavy, oven-safe sauté pan or Dutch oven set over high flame, until the butter is foaming. Sear the chicken in batches, skin-side down, until it is golden and crisp, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Then turn the chicken over, and repeat on the other side, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate to rest.
Pour off all but a tablespoon or 2 of the accumulated fat in the pot. Return the pot to the stove, over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring frequently with a spoon to scrape off any browned bits of chicken skin, until the onion has softened and gone translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Add the garlic, and stir again, cooking it until it has softened, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the paprika and the flour, and stir well to combine, then cook until the mixture is fragrant and the taste of the flour has been cooked out, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
Add tomatoes and broth, whisk until smooth and then nestle the chicken back in the pan, skin-side up. Slide the pan or pot into the oven, and cook until the chicken has cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, set a large pot of heavily salted water to boil over high heat. Cook noodles in the water until they are almost completely tender, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Drain the noodles, and toss them in a bowl with the remaining butter, then toss again to coat.
Place the chicken on top of the noodles, then add the sour cream to the sauce, stir to combine and ladle it over the whole.
EASY SHEET-PAN CHICKEN
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Crisp-skinned and very juicy, this is a more sophisticated version of the crumb-coated, oven-fried chicken dishes of childhood. In addition to bread crumbs, the chicken is slathered with two kinds of mustard plus fresh thyme and minced garlic, which makes it deeply flavored, bright and complex. And because it calls for only one pan, clean up is minimal. While the recipe calls for bone-in drumsticks and/or thighs, if you prefer boneless white meat, feel free to substitute it, reducing the cooking time by 5 to 10 minutes. Serve this with potatoes – either sweet or white – and your favorite green vegetable or salad. It’s weeknight cooking at its finest.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 1 hour.
This was featured in “Behold, the Sturdy Sheet Pan”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
2 teaspoons chopped thyme leaves
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks (or a mixture), patted dry
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2/3 cup plain dried bread crumbs
Olive oil, for drizzling
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, combine whole-grain mustard, thyme leaves, garlic cloves, butter and Dijon mustard.
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Rub mustard butter mixture all over chicken (some might fall off but that’s O.K.). Place bread crumbs in a wide, shallow bowl, then coat the chicken evenly with bread crumbs. Transfer chicken to a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
Bake until chicken is golden and no longer pink, 35 to 40 minutes.
CAST-IRON APPLE AND BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE
This is from Matt Abdoo and was posted on the TODAY Show’s site. Matt wrote, “My dad used to make this for me growing up! Apples from upstate New York are some of the best in the country. They always added the perfect amount of tartness and sweetness to this crispy crumble.
“Technique tip: Use your favorite apples for a signature taste and to make it your own.
“Swap option: Pears work great and so do peaches! You can also use a 10- by 15-inch baking dish if not using the grill.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, go to https://www.today.com/recipes/cast-iron-apple-blackberry-crumble-recipe-t154818.
Ingredients
Crumble Topping
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 packs (1 cup) apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
8 ounces (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, grated
Apple Filling
2 pounds honey crisp apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 pound granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 pint blackberries
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Preparation
Pre-heat oven or grill to 350°F.
For the crumble topping:
In a medium sized mixing bowl combine flour, apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal, chopped pecans, light brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cold grated butter until it forms a coarse crumble.
For the apple filling:
In another large mixing bowl combine the apples with melted butter, flour, corn starch, lemon juice, light brown sugar, salt and spices and toss to fully coat the apples. Next fold in the blackberries and pour the apple mixture into a 12-inch cast iron pan.
To assemble:
Fully coat the top of the apple mixture with the crumble topping and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
Allow the crumble to cool slightly, and then serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Or chill overnight and serve cold.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3⁄4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
SWEET POTATO AND MUSTARD TURKEY BURGERS
This is from Taste for Life, and begins, “These burgers are moist and juicy and have a savory flavor that comes from a secret ingredient: A hefty amount of mustard. Half a cup may seem like a lot of mustard, but it’s what makes these burgers outstanding. Using grated sweet potato instead of traditional flour or breadcrumbs adds extra fiber and nutrients.”
Prep Time: 40 min prep time; Number of Servings: Makes 4 to 6 burgers
Recipe Source: The Living Kitchen by Tamara Green, BA, CNP and Sarah Grossman, BA, CNP ($28, Appetite, 2018)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup grated yellow onion
1 cup grated peeled sweet potato
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup spinach, finely chopped
1/2 cup gluten-free whole-grain mustard
1/2 tsp sea salt
Pinch of black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use the grating attachment on your food processor and grate onion and sweet potato. You can also do this by hand with a box grater.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until everything is well combined.
Measure 1/4 to 1/2 cup of burger meat and shape into a patty. Place on baking sheet and repeat.
Bake in oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until top begins to get slightly golden. You can flip burgers halfway through cooking time if you want even caramelization on both sides.
These burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. You can also make a big batch and keep them in the freezer for 3 to 4 months for a quick meal option.
HOME-STYLE GINGERBREAD
This was originally from about.com, which has changed to dotdash.com. I've checked around, and can't locate this recipe on any of their channels; if anyone happens to find it there, please let me know!
This recipe began, “This wonderful ginger and cinnamon-scented cake is sure to bring a smile to your face, and it's the perfect dessert for a cold winter weekend. Top this warm gingerbread with a generous dollop of fresh sweetened whipped cream and sprinkle with a little cinnamon.”
Ingredients
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup molasses
3/4 cup hot water
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
Grease & flour 9-inch square baking pan or spray with baking spray with flour. Heat oven to 325°. Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl; beat on low speed of electric mixer until ingredients are combined. Scrape sides of the bowl & increase mixer speed to medium; beat for about 3 minutes longer. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Cut into squares and serve with freshly whipped cream. To serve leftover gingerbread, warm slightly in the microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds.
This gingerbread freezes well: cut into squares and wrap individually. Thaw & warm in the microwave just before serving.
CHICKEN PAPRIKASH
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Spices lose their flavor over time but few as quickly as paprika, which starts out tasting of pepper and sunshine but deteriorates in but a few months to sawdust and bitterness. For this recipe, get some new at the market: sweet or hot Hungarian paprika is best, but the generic article isn’t terrible and the smoky Spanish varieties known as pimentón de La Vera would not be out of place either, lending a deep, woodsy aroma reminiscent of cooking over an open fire. It’s a dish that pairs beautifully with butter-slicked egg noodles.” Yield: Serves 4 - 6; Time: 1 hour.
This was featured in “The Fresher the Spice, the Better the Chicken Paprikash” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
3 to 4 pounds chicken thighs and drumsticks, or whole chicken legs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon neutral oil, like canola
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large yellow or Spanish onion, peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3 tablespoons Hungarian paprika, sweet or hot, or a combination
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes or 1 large ripe tomato, chopped
1 cup chicken broth, homemade or, if not, low-sodium
1 pound egg noodles
3/4 cup sour cream
Preparation
Heat oven to 400. Season the chicken aggressively with salt and pepper. Heat the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large, heavy, oven-safe sauté pan or Dutch oven set over high flame, until the butter is foaming. Sear the chicken in batches, skin-side down, until it is golden and crisp, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Then turn the chicken over, and repeat on the other side, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate to rest.
Pour off all but a tablespoon or 2 of the accumulated fat in the pot. Return the pot to the stove, over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring frequently with a spoon to scrape off any browned bits of chicken skin, until the onion has softened and gone translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Add the garlic, and stir again, cooking it until it has softened, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the paprika and the flour, and stir well to combine, then cook until the mixture is fragrant and the taste of the flour has been cooked out, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
Add tomatoes and broth, whisk until smooth and then nestle the chicken back in the pan, skin-side up. Slide the pan or pot into the oven, and cook until the chicken has cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, set a large pot of heavily salted water to boil over high heat. Cook noodles in the water until they are almost completely tender, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Drain the noodles, and toss them in a bowl with the remaining butter, then toss again to coat.
Place the chicken on top of the noodles, then add the sour cream to the sauce, stir to combine and ladle it over the whole.
EASY SHEET-PAN CHICKEN
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Crisp-skinned and very juicy, this is a more sophisticated version of the crumb-coated, oven-fried chicken dishes of childhood. In addition to bread crumbs, the chicken is slathered with two kinds of mustard plus fresh thyme and minced garlic, which makes it deeply flavored, bright and complex. And because it calls for only one pan, clean up is minimal. While the recipe calls for bone-in drumsticks and/or thighs, if you prefer boneless white meat, feel free to substitute it, reducing the cooking time by 5 to 10 minutes. Serve this with potatoes – either sweet or white – and your favorite green vegetable or salad. It’s weeknight cooking at its finest.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 1 hour.
This was featured in “Behold, the Sturdy Sheet Pan”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
2 teaspoons chopped thyme leaves
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks (or a mixture), patted dry
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2/3 cup plain dried bread crumbs
Olive oil, for drizzling
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, combine whole-grain mustard, thyme leaves, garlic cloves, butter and Dijon mustard.
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Rub mustard butter mixture all over chicken (some might fall off but that’s O.K.). Place bread crumbs in a wide, shallow bowl, then coat the chicken evenly with bread crumbs. Transfer chicken to a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
Bake until chicken is golden and no longer pink, 35 to 40 minutes.
CAST-IRON APPLE AND BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE
This is from Matt Abdoo and was posted on the TODAY Show’s site. Matt wrote, “My dad used to make this for me growing up! Apples from upstate New York are some of the best in the country. They always added the perfect amount of tartness and sweetness to this crispy crumble.
“Technique tip: Use your favorite apples for a signature taste and to make it your own.
“Swap option: Pears work great and so do peaches! You can also use a 10- by 15-inch baking dish if not using the grill.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, go to https://www.today.com/recipes/cast-iron-apple-blackberry-crumble-recipe-t154818.
Ingredients
Crumble Topping
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 packs (1 cup) apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
8 ounces (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, grated
Apple Filling
2 pounds honey crisp apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 pound granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 pint blackberries
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Preparation
Pre-heat oven or grill to 350°F.
For the crumble topping:
In a medium sized mixing bowl combine flour, apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal, chopped pecans, light brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cold grated butter until it forms a coarse crumble.
For the apple filling:
In another large mixing bowl combine the apples with melted butter, flour, corn starch, lemon juice, light brown sugar, salt and spices and toss to fully coat the apples. Next fold in the blackberries and pour the apple mixture into a 12-inch cast iron pan.
To assemble:
Fully coat the top of the apple mixture with the crumble topping and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
Allow the crumble to cool slightly, and then serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Or chill overnight and serve cold.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3⁄4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
SWEET POTATO AND MUSTARD TURKEY BURGERS
This is from Taste for Life, and begins, “These burgers are moist and juicy and have a savory flavor that comes from a secret ingredient: A hefty amount of mustard. Half a cup may seem like a lot of mustard, but it’s what makes these burgers outstanding. Using grated sweet potato instead of traditional flour or breadcrumbs adds extra fiber and nutrients.”
Prep Time: 40 min prep time; Number of Servings: Makes 4 to 6 burgers
Recipe Source: The Living Kitchen by Tamara Green, BA, CNP and Sarah Grossman, BA, CNP ($28, Appetite, 2018)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup grated yellow onion
1 cup grated peeled sweet potato
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup spinach, finely chopped
1/2 cup gluten-free whole-grain mustard
1/2 tsp sea salt
Pinch of black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use the grating attachment on your food processor and grate onion and sweet potato. You can also do this by hand with a box grater.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until everything is well combined.
Measure 1/4 to 1/2 cup of burger meat and shape into a patty. Place on baking sheet and repeat.
Bake in oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until top begins to get slightly golden. You can flip burgers halfway through cooking time if you want even caramelization on both sides.
These burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. You can also make a big batch and keep them in the freezer for 3 to 4 months for a quick meal option.
HOME-STYLE GINGERBREAD
This was originally from about.com, which has changed to dotdash.com. I've checked around, and can't locate this recipe on any of their channels; if anyone happens to find it there, please let me know!
This recipe began, “This wonderful ginger and cinnamon-scented cake is sure to bring a smile to your face, and it's the perfect dessert for a cold winter weekend. Top this warm gingerbread with a generous dollop of fresh sweetened whipped cream and sprinkle with a little cinnamon.”
Ingredients
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup molasses
3/4 cup hot water
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
Grease & flour 9-inch square baking pan or spray with baking spray with flour. Heat oven to 325°. Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl; beat on low speed of electric mixer until ingredients are combined. Scrape sides of the bowl & increase mixer speed to medium; beat for about 3 minutes longer. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Cut into squares and serve with freshly whipped cream. To serve leftover gingerbread, warm slightly in the microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds.
This gingerbread freezes well: cut into squares and wrap individually. Thaw & warm in the microwave just before serving.
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday (since not everyone loves tacos). Today's offerings include Athenian Meatloaf with Yogurt-Cucumber Sauce and Baked Ham with Honey Glaze. Enjoy!
COCONUT RED CURRY WITH TOFU
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Melissa wrote, “This simple weeknight red curry relies on jarred or canned red curry paste for flavor, which you can find at larger supermarkets and specialty markets. Transfer leftover canned curry paste to a jar, top it with a little oil and store in the refrigerator for up to a month. Or freeze for longer storage. Feel free to substitute other vegetables for the mushrooms and snow peas, though you might have to increase the cooking time slightly if using something dense like carrot or cubed winter squash.”
Yield: Serves 4; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “Curry and Coconut Milk Fire Up a Weeknight Basic”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016196-coconut-red-curry-with-tofu.
Ingredients
14 ounces extra-firm tofu
1 tablespoon peanut or safflower oil
1-inch ginger root, peeled and minced
2 shallots or 1 small onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Thai chile or 2 serrano peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro stems
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons prepared red curry paste
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 teaspoons Asian fish sauce
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 cup snow peas
Basil and/or cilantro leaves, for garnish
Brown or white rice, for serving
Preparation
Cut tofu into 1-inch slabs and place on paper towel-lined baking sheet. Cover with another layer of paper towels and place another baking sheet on top. Let sit for 20 minutes. Cut into 1-inch cubes.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add ginger, shallots, garlic, chile and cilantro stems, and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Stir in curry paste and cook 2 minutes. Pour in coconut milk, scraping up any curry paste with a wooden spoon. Add fish sauce, lime zest and juice. Add tofu cubes and snow peas. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the snow peas are tender, 7 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste and add more salt and/or fish sauce if needed.
Serve warm with brown rice and a scattering of torn basil and/or cilantro leaves on top.
POTATO AND ONION SOUP
This is from Roadfood.com. The send out emails periodically which are almost always interesting. This recipe, from Harry Caray's, starts off, “Cooking potatoes in beef stock gives the starchy vegetable a savor that all carnivores will appreciate. A sprinkle of Parmesan on each serving adds just the right zip.”
Preparation Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes Servings: 6
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups peeled and sliced Spanish onions
3-1/2 cups homemade beef stock or equivalent amount of canned, low salt beef broth
3 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Melt the butter in a large sauté pan and add the olive oil.
Add the onions and sauté until they become clear and turn a light brown. Set aside.
In a large stock pot, bring the beef stock to a boil. Reduce the heat and add the diced potatoes. Simmer over medium heat until the potatoes are soft.
Add the onions to the stock pot and simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
Salt and pepper the soup to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese on top and serve.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
BAKED HAM WITH HONEY GLAZE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 18 to 20 servings.
Ingredients
10 to 12 lb. fully cooked bone in ham
Whole cloves
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 Tbsp. orange juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place ham, fat side up, on rack in roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer in thickest part. Bake, uncovered, 2 hours.
With sharp knife, remove skin, if any; then score fat into 1 inch diamonds; stud each with a clove.
Combine honey, sugar, mustard and orange juice in 1 quart saucepan. Over medium heat bring to a boil while stirring. Brush half of honey glaze over ham; bake 30 minutes. Brush with rest of glaze; bake 30 minutes until golden and thermometer reads 130 degrees. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes before carving.
RAISIN OATMEAL COOKIES
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, though it looks like it was from a diabetic list.
Yield: 2-1/2 dozen cookies (1 per serving)
Ingredients
6 tablespoons margarine, softened
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins for baking
Directions
Mix margarine, sour cream, egg, and vanilla in large bowl; mix in brown sugar. Mix in combined oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Mix in raisins.
Drop dough onto greased cookie sheets, using 2 tablespoons for each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees F. until browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cookie): Calories: 90, Fat: 2.7 g, Cholesterol: 7.1 mg, Sodium: 57 mg, Protein: 1.5 g, Carbohydrate: 15.3 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat
ATHENIAN MEATLOAF WITH YOGURT-CUCUMBER SAUCE
Makes 8 servings
Source: TBC
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1258.shtml
Ingredients
2 pounds 96% lean Ground Beef
1 cup soft bread crumbs*
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup 2% milk
1 large egg
1 tablespoon plus 1-1/2 teaspoons dried Greek seasoning, divided
1 cup low-fat or regular Greek-style yogurt
1/2 cup diced cucumber
* To make soft breadcrumbs: Tear several slices of fresh bread (French or whole wheat work well) into 1-inch pieces and pulse in a blender or food processor to make coarse crumbs. One slice of bread yields about 1/2 cup soft breadcrumbs.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine Ground Beef, bread crumbs, onion, milk, egg, 1 tablespoon Greek seasoning in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
Shape beef mixture into 10 x 4-inch loaf on rack in broiler pan. Bake in 350F oven 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours, until instant-read thermometer inserted into center registers 160F.
Meanwhile, combine yogurt, cucumber and remaining 1-1/2 teaspoons Greek seasoning in medium bowl. Set aside.
Let stand 10 minutes; cut into slices. Serve with cucumber-yogurt sauce.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 187; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 240 mg; Cholesterol: 95 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: .4 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g
COCONUT RED CURRY WITH TOFU
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Melissa wrote, “This simple weeknight red curry relies on jarred or canned red curry paste for flavor, which you can find at larger supermarkets and specialty markets. Transfer leftover canned curry paste to a jar, top it with a little oil and store in the refrigerator for up to a month. Or freeze for longer storage. Feel free to substitute other vegetables for the mushrooms and snow peas, though you might have to increase the cooking time slightly if using something dense like carrot or cubed winter squash.”
Yield: Serves 4; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “Curry and Coconut Milk Fire Up a Weeknight Basic”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016196-coconut-red-curry-with-tofu.
Ingredients
14 ounces extra-firm tofu
1 tablespoon peanut or safflower oil
1-inch ginger root, peeled and minced
2 shallots or 1 small onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Thai chile or 2 serrano peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro stems
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons prepared red curry paste
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 teaspoons Asian fish sauce
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 cup snow peas
Basil and/or cilantro leaves, for garnish
Brown or white rice, for serving
Preparation
Cut tofu into 1-inch slabs and place on paper towel-lined baking sheet. Cover with another layer of paper towels and place another baking sheet on top. Let sit for 20 minutes. Cut into 1-inch cubes.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add ginger, shallots, garlic, chile and cilantro stems, and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Stir in curry paste and cook 2 minutes. Pour in coconut milk, scraping up any curry paste with a wooden spoon. Add fish sauce, lime zest and juice. Add tofu cubes and snow peas. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the snow peas are tender, 7 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste and add more salt and/or fish sauce if needed.
Serve warm with brown rice and a scattering of torn basil and/or cilantro leaves on top.
POTATO AND ONION SOUP
This is from Roadfood.com. The send out emails periodically which are almost always interesting. This recipe, from Harry Caray's, starts off, “Cooking potatoes in beef stock gives the starchy vegetable a savor that all carnivores will appreciate. A sprinkle of Parmesan on each serving adds just the right zip.”
Preparation Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes Servings: 6
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups peeled and sliced Spanish onions
3-1/2 cups homemade beef stock or equivalent amount of canned, low salt beef broth
3 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Melt the butter in a large sauté pan and add the olive oil.
Add the onions and sauté until they become clear and turn a light brown. Set aside.
In a large stock pot, bring the beef stock to a boil. Reduce the heat and add the diced potatoes. Simmer over medium heat until the potatoes are soft.
Add the onions to the stock pot and simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
Salt and pepper the soup to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese on top and serve.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
BAKED HAM WITH HONEY GLAZE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 18 to 20 servings.
Ingredients
10 to 12 lb. fully cooked bone in ham
Whole cloves
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 Tbsp. orange juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place ham, fat side up, on rack in roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer in thickest part. Bake, uncovered, 2 hours.
With sharp knife, remove skin, if any; then score fat into 1 inch diamonds; stud each with a clove.
Combine honey, sugar, mustard and orange juice in 1 quart saucepan. Over medium heat bring to a boil while stirring. Brush half of honey glaze over ham; bake 30 minutes. Brush with rest of glaze; bake 30 minutes until golden and thermometer reads 130 degrees. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes before carving.
RAISIN OATMEAL COOKIES
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, though it looks like it was from a diabetic list.
Yield: 2-1/2 dozen cookies (1 per serving)
Ingredients
6 tablespoons margarine, softened
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins for baking
Directions
Mix margarine, sour cream, egg, and vanilla in large bowl; mix in brown sugar. Mix in combined oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Mix in raisins.
Drop dough onto greased cookie sheets, using 2 tablespoons for each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees F. until browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cookie): Calories: 90, Fat: 2.7 g, Cholesterol: 7.1 mg, Sodium: 57 mg, Protein: 1.5 g, Carbohydrate: 15.3 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat
ATHENIAN MEATLOAF WITH YOGURT-CUCUMBER SAUCE
Makes 8 servings
Source: TBC
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1258.shtml
Ingredients
2 pounds 96% lean Ground Beef
1 cup soft bread crumbs*
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup 2% milk
1 large egg
1 tablespoon plus 1-1/2 teaspoons dried Greek seasoning, divided
1 cup low-fat or regular Greek-style yogurt
1/2 cup diced cucumber
* To make soft breadcrumbs: Tear several slices of fresh bread (French or whole wheat work well) into 1-inch pieces and pulse in a blender or food processor to make coarse crumbs. One slice of bread yields about 1/2 cup soft breadcrumbs.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine Ground Beef, bread crumbs, onion, milk, egg, 1 tablespoon Greek seasoning in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
Shape beef mixture into 10 x 4-inch loaf on rack in broiler pan. Bake in 350F oven 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours, until instant-read thermometer inserted into center registers 160F.
Meanwhile, combine yogurt, cucumber and remaining 1-1/2 teaspoons Greek seasoning in medium bowl. Set aside.
Let stand 10 minutes; cut into slices. Serve with cucumber-yogurt sauce.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 187; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 240 mg; Cholesterol: 95 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: .4 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g
Friday, January 13, 2023
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Mexican-Style Stuffed Bell Peppers and Ranch Burgers. Enjoy!
CANNOLI QUESADILLA WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE
This was in an old Weight Watchers email (we're talking more than 10 years ago). The plan has changed several times since then.
This recipe begins, “Whip up this Italian-inspired specialty in honor of Mother’s Day. Topped with a simple strawberry sauce or just sliced strawberries, it’s a sweet treat every mom will love.”
POINTS® Value: 3 (value from when this recipe was emailed); Servings: 4; Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 1 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
8 oz fat-free ricotta cheese
3 Tbsp McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, or similar product, or to taste
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
4 medium whole wheat tortilla
5 oz sweetened frozen whole strawberries, partially thawed and pureed (1/2 a 10 oz package), or whole sliced strawberries if you prefer
Directions
Mix together ricotta cheese, Splenda and almond extract by hand in a large bowl until well-combined and smooth; gently fold in chocolate chips. Chill for at least 2 hours (and up to overnight); drain off any liquid.
To soften tortillas, wrap them in layers of paper towels and then microwave them on high for 30 seconds.
Place about 1/4 cup of cheese mixture down the center of each cooled tortilla; fold tortilla over in half (or roll up burrito-style). Drizzle each serving with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of strawberry sauce or top with fresh strawberry slices; serve immediately. Yields 1 cannoli per serving.
Notes: Add more Splenda if you prefer your desserts very sweet. And feel free to top the quesadillas with freshly sliced strawberries when they’re in season. Or you can use a combination of pureed and sliced strawberries.
Note: Okay, this is me talking. I personally would refrain from the Splenda, simply because I'm not a big fan of non-sugar (read not-quite-sure-it's-not-synthetic) sweeteners. But that's my preference. I would use sugar or no sweetener at all. It's your call here.
KEY LIME CREAM PIE
This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!
“Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8
Special equipment: Electric mixer
View this here.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 large egg yolks
One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 lime (optional, for garnish)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.
Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.
Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from Bunny Erica on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Yield: 8-10 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
2-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Boil lentils in the water with the salt for around 45 minutes. Lentils will be soft and most of the water will be gone.
Fry the onions and carrot in the oil until soft, it will take about 5 minutes.
In a bowl mix the cooked ingredients with the pepper, soy sauce, oats and bread crumbs.
While still warm form the mixture into patties, it will make 8-10 burgers.
Burgers can then be shallow fried for 1-2 minutes on each side or baked at 200C for 15 minutes.
ORANGE BEEF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, also featured in Asian Pantry Essentials. For this recipe, Sam wrote, “This recipe for takeout-style orange beef is a variation on one the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde included in his new cookbook, "Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn," with a slightly more intensely flavored orange-flavored sauce. Mr. Talde's key insight is protected, however: Use very good steak, and cook it fast, so that below the lovely crust of its egg-white-and-cornstarch batter, the meat remains rare and luscious. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice. And make it a few times. What appears difficult the first time through — the coating of the beef, the making of the sauce, the stir-frying of the aromatics, the stir-frying of the beef — is in fact fast and easy work, and much, much better than takeout.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 to 1-1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons orange zest, plus the juice of one orange
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
For the Beef:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
1 boneless rib-eye steak, approximately 1 to 1-1/2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil
6 scallions, white and green parts cut into inchlong pieces and separated
2 to 4 dried red chiles, or to taste
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat oil in a small sauce pan set over medium-high heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ginger, jalapeño and orange zest and stir to combine. Sauté mixture until ingredients soften, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until it softens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Add orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce and fish sauce to pan and stir to combine. Allow mixture to come to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the meat: Combine egg white, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Add steak, tossing to coat the meat with the batter.
In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, heat oil until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Add beef to the pan or wok in a single layer and cook without stirring until the bottoms of the pieces are crisp and golden, approximately 60 to 90 seconds. Add white pieces of scallion and chiles to the pan, then turn the beef pieces over and cook the other sides, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter.
Pour orange sauce into the hot pan or wok, let it boil and stir it as it thickens. Add meat and white scallions and stir to coat with the sauce. Return meat and sauce to the platter and scatter green scallions over the top. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
CANNOLI QUESADILLA WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE
This was in an old Weight Watchers email (we're talking more than 10 years ago). The plan has changed several times since then.
This recipe begins, “Whip up this Italian-inspired specialty in honor of Mother’s Day. Topped with a simple strawberry sauce or just sliced strawberries, it’s a sweet treat every mom will love.”
POINTS® Value: 3 (value from when this recipe was emailed); Servings: 4; Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 1 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
8 oz fat-free ricotta cheese
3 Tbsp McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, or similar product, or to taste
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
4 medium whole wheat tortilla
5 oz sweetened frozen whole strawberries, partially thawed and pureed (1/2 a 10 oz package), or whole sliced strawberries if you prefer
Directions
Mix together ricotta cheese, Splenda and almond extract by hand in a large bowl until well-combined and smooth; gently fold in chocolate chips. Chill for at least 2 hours (and up to overnight); drain off any liquid.
To soften tortillas, wrap them in layers of paper towels and then microwave them on high for 30 seconds.
Place about 1/4 cup of cheese mixture down the center of each cooled tortilla; fold tortilla over in half (or roll up burrito-style). Drizzle each serving with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of strawberry sauce or top with fresh strawberry slices; serve immediately. Yields 1 cannoli per serving.
Notes: Add more Splenda if you prefer your desserts very sweet. And feel free to top the quesadillas with freshly sliced strawberries when they’re in season. Or you can use a combination of pureed and sliced strawberries.
Note: Okay, this is me talking. I personally would refrain from the Splenda, simply because I'm not a big fan of non-sugar (read not-quite-sure-it's-not-synthetic) sweeteners. But that's my preference. I would use sugar or no sweetener at all. It's your call here.
KEY LIME CREAM PIE
This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!
“Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8
Special equipment: Electric mixer
View this here.
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
4 large egg yolks
One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 lime (optional, for garnish)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.
Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.
Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.
Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.
MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.
Ingredients
4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved
Cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)
1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.
Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.
Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.
Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from Bunny Erica on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Yield: 8-10 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
2-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Boil lentils in the water with the salt for around 45 minutes. Lentils will be soft and most of the water will be gone.
Fry the onions and carrot in the oil until soft, it will take about 5 minutes.
In a bowl mix the cooked ingredients with the pepper, soy sauce, oats and bread crumbs.
While still warm form the mixture into patties, it will make 8-10 burgers.
Burgers can then be shallow fried for 1-2 minutes on each side or baked at 200C for 15 minutes.
ORANGE BEEF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, also featured in Asian Pantry Essentials. For this recipe, Sam wrote, “This recipe for takeout-style orange beef is a variation on one the Brooklyn chef Dale Talde included in his new cookbook, "Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes From the Philippines to Brooklyn," with a slightly more intensely flavored orange-flavored sauce. Mr. Talde's key insight is protected, however: Use very good steak, and cook it fast, so that below the lovely crust of its egg-white-and-cornstarch batter, the meat remains rare and luscious. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice. And make it a few times. What appears difficult the first time through — the coating of the beef, the making of the sauce, the stir-frying of the aromatics, the stir-frying of the beef — is in fact fast and easy work, and much, much better than takeout.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 to 1-1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons orange zest, plus the juice of one orange
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
For the Beef:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
1 boneless rib-eye steak, approximately 1 to 1-1/2 pounds, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup neutral oil
6 scallions, white and green parts cut into inchlong pieces and separated
2 to 4 dried red chiles, or to taste
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat oil in a small sauce pan set over medium-high heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ginger, jalapeño and orange zest and stir to combine. Sauté mixture until ingredients soften, approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until it softens, approximately 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Add orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce and fish sauce to pan and stir to combine. Allow mixture to come to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the meat: Combine egg white, cornstarch and salt in a bowl. Add steak, tossing to coat the meat with the batter.
In a large skillet or wok set over high heat, heat oil until it shimmers and is about to smoke. Add beef to the pan or wok in a single layer and cook without stirring until the bottoms of the pieces are crisp and golden, approximately 60 to 90 seconds. Add white pieces of scallion and chiles to the pan, then turn the beef pieces over and cook the other sides, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a platter.
Pour orange sauce into the hot pan or wok, let it boil and stir it as it thickens. Add meat and white scallions and stir to coat with the sauce. Return meat and sauce to the platter and scatter green scallions over the top. Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice.
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