It's Monday, the beginning of another week, and time for another Meatless Monday. Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to get the week off to a good start, including Lucali Salad, Stuffed Peppers, and Strawberry-Rhubarb Dump Cake (because dessert is a good thing, right?). Enjoy!
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, "Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013213-layered-vegetable-torte.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
Salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
Showing posts with label Summer Vegetable Chili. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Summer Vegetable Chili. Show all posts
Monday, August 25, 2025
Monday, June 16, 2025
Meatless Monday
It's Monday, the beginning of another week. As always, we'll start off the week with another Meatless Monday. Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to get the week off to a good start, including Lucali Salad, Stuffed Peppers, and Strawberry-Rhubarb Dump Cake. Enjoy!
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, "Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013213-layered-vegetable-torte.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
Salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, "Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013213-layered-vegetable-torte.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
Salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
Monday, July 1, 2024
Meatless Monday
It's Monday, the beginning of another week, and time for another Meatless Monday. Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to get the week off to a good start, including Lucali Salad, Stuffed Peppers, and Strawberry-Rhubarb Dump Cake (because dessert is a good thing, right?). Enjoy!
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, "Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013213-layered-vegetable-torte.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
Salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, "Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013213-layered-vegetable-torte.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
Salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
Monday, August 16, 2021
Meatless Monday
It's Monday, the beginning of another week (otherwise known as Meatless Monday). Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to get the week off to a good start, including Lucali Salad, Stuffed Peppers, and Strawberry-Rhubarb Dump Cake. Enjoy!
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, "Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013213-layered-vegetable-torte.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
Salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, "Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013213-layered-vegetable-torte.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
Salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
Monday, March 29, 2021
Meatless Monday
It's Monday, the beginning of another week (otherwise known as Meatless Monday). Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to get the week off to a good start, including Lucali Salad, Stuffed Peppers, and Strawberry-Rhubarb Dump Cake. Enjoy!
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, "Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013213-layered-vegetable-torte.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
Salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, "Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013213-layered-vegetable-torte.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
Salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
Monday, February 1, 2021
Meatless Monday
It's Monday again, time for another Meatless Monday. I don't know about you, but even during the pandemic, weekends never quite seem long enough, do they? Fortunately, there's always next weekend.
In the meantime, we still need to eat. Therefore, here are six yummy recipes to get your week started off just right, including Summer Vegetable Chili and Vegan Reuben Burgers. Yum! Enjoy!
RED CURRY LENTILS WITH SWEET POTATOES AND SPINACH
This comes from Lidey Heuck at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Lidey wrote, "In this vegetarian main inspired by Indian dal, lentils are cooked with an aromatic blend of Thai spices — fresh ginger, turmeric, red curry paste and chile — then simmered in coconut milk until fall-apart tender. Browning the sweet potatoes before cooking them with the lentils brings out their sweetness, balancing the heat from the chile and curry paste, while baby spinach tossed in just before serving adds fresh flavor. Serve over steamed white or brown rice, or with toasted flatbread on the side."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020766-red-curry-lentils-with-sweet-potatoes-and-spinach.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound sweet potatoes (about 2 medium sweet potatoes), peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
3 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated (about 1 tablespoon)
1 red chile, such as Fresno or serrano, halved, seeds and ribs removed, then minced
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 cup red lentils, rinsed
4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 (13-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
1 (4- to 5-ounce) bag baby spinach
1/2 lime, juiced
Fresh cilantro leaves, for serving
Toasted unsweetened coconut flakes, for serving (optional)
Preparation
In a Dutch oven or pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high. Add the sweet potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the browned sweet potatoes to a plate and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pot and set the heat to medium-low. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the curry paste, garlic, ginger, chile and turmeric, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the lentils, stock, salt and browned sweet potatoes to the pot and bring to a boil over high. Lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are just tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
Add the coconut milk and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced and the lentils are creamy and falling apart, 15 to 20 minutes.
Add the spinach and stir until just wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the lime juice and season with salt to taste.
Divide among shallow bowls and top with cilantro and coconut flakes, if using.
VEGAN REUBEN BURGERS
Recently, I was looking through old folders on my computer, seeing what I could delete, what to save, that sort of thing. We all need to do that periodically, right?
I stumbled across one folder that read "recipes from different sources" that had another folder inside called "more recipes from online." (Okay, you with me so far?) One of those recipes was labeled "How to Make Vegan Reuben Burgers (Recipe)" that had been posted in the Broward Palm Beach New Times waaaay back on November 7, 2014. Yikes!
The article (with recipe) was posted by Hannah Sentenac. (Sorry for the delay in posting this, Hannah!) The article starts off, "I was putting ketchup on some breakfast potatoes the other day when I noticed an intriguing recipe staring at me from the back of the Heinz bottle: Reuben Burgers.
"Needless to say, they weren't vegan. Nor were they healthy. Nonetheless, I was inspired to veganize them, and the end result was magically delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I knew I had to share."
And the recipe? Yum
You can view this online at https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/how-to-make-vegan-reuben-burgers-recipe-6905451.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sauerkraut
2 slices of rye bread (toasted)
2 slices Creamy Original Field Roast Chao Cheese (or dairy-free cheese of choice)
1/3 package Trader Joe's Beefless Ground Beef (or meatless crumbles of choice)
2 TBS Tofutti Sour Cream
2 TBS Heinz ketchup
Instructions:
Heat up the beefless beef in a skillet over medium heat for two or three minutes. Add the Tofutti Sour Cream and the Heinz Ketchup and stir until mixed.
Remove from heat and spoon mixture over pre-toasted slice of rye bread.
Top with Chao cheese and allow to melt (you can also pop it in the microwave for a few seconds -- Chao cheese is super melty). Then, spoon sauerkraut on top.
Top with remaining slice of rye bread. Cut in half. Eat. NOM NOM NOM.
SOUR CREAM BANANA BARS
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup Sugar
1 cup Sour cream
1/2 cup Butter, softened
2 Eggs
1 1/2 cup Bananas, mashed, 3 large
2 tsp Vanilla
2 cup Flour
1 tsp Baking soda
1/2 cup Nuts, chopped
Directions
Mix sugar, sour cream, butter and eggs in large mixing bowl on low speed, scraping bowl occasionally, about 1 minute. Beat in banana and vanilla on low speed, 30 seconds. Beat in flour and baking soda on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, 1 minute. Stir in nuts. Spread dough in greased and floured jelly roll pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes in preheated 375F oven. When cool, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting. Cut into bars.
Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat 3 oz pkg cream cheese, 1/3 cup butter, 1 T milk and 1 tsp vanilla until creamy. Stir in 2 cups powdered sugar until smooth.
TABBOULEH FRUIT SALAD
Yield: 6 servings
Source: "The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan"
Found in Info: “The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan: A Guide to Understanding the Emerging Epidemic of Prediabetes and Halting Its Progression to Diabetes”
Ingredients
2-1/2 cups prepared bulgur wheat
3/4 cup seedless red grapes
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup sliced scallions
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sliced almonds or pine nuts
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
Dressing Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
Combine the bulgur wheat, grapes, apricots, scallions, almonds or pine nuts, parsley, and mint and toss to mix well. Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and stir to mix well. Add the dressing to the salad and toss to mix well. Cover the salad and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (per 3/4 cup serving): Calories: 186, Carbohydrate: 27 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Fat: 8.2 g, Saturated Fat: 0.9 g, Fiber: 5.7 g, Protein: 4.6 g, Sodium: 204 mg, Calcium: 42 mg
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Fruit, 1 Fat
PAUL CARMICHAEL'S CURRIED RICE
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, "I ate a version of this rice as an accompaniment to a few deep-fried paddles of Australian crab, sitting at the kitchen counter of Paul Carmichael’s excellent Momofuku Seiobo in Sydney. It tasted of a world far away, of Mr. Carmichael’s childhood in Barbados, in the Lesser Antilles, where influences of Africa, India, China and Britain combine in the food: the grains fried in butter scented with murky yellow curry powder, warm and fragrant, and flavored with fiery minced habanero and a salty punch of soy and oyster sauces. I sighed when I finished and asked for a recipe. I’ve been messing with it ever since. Please note: You’ll end up with more curry paste than you’ll need to season the rice, even if you season aggressively. Refrigerate the extra to make the dish a second time (it keeps well), or to enliven ground meat for a Caribbean-ish version of sloppy joes, even just to improve a bowl of instant ramen."
Yield: 2 to 4 servings, plus additional curry paste; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in "The Evolution of Curried Rice", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020231-paul-carmichaels-curried-rice.
Ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
3 tablespoons curry powder
2 teaspoons canola or other neutral oil
5 fresh curry leaves
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 shallots, peeled and diced
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons soy sauce, plus additional as needed
1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce, plus additional as needed
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 to 2 habanero chiles, seeded and minced
3 cups cooked white rice, cooled
2 limes, 1 juiced and 1 quartered
Preparation
Place a large skillet over medium heat, and add to it the black pepper and white pepper. Toast, shaking the pan occasionally, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the curry powder, shake again and toast for 1 minute more. Scrape the toasted-curry-powder blend into a small bowl using a rubber spatula, and set aside.
Add the oil to the skillet, and swirl it around. When it shimmers, add the curry leaves, and fry, 1 minute. Stir in 4 tablespoons butter. When it melts, add the shallots and garlic. Lower the heat, and cook, stirring frequently, until the shallots are soft and translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.
Raise the heat to medium. Stir in the toasted-curry-powder blend, followed by 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce and the sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add habanero to taste, then adjust the levels of soy sauce and oyster sauce if you want to go a little saltier or sweeter. Scrape the curry paste into the small bowl.
To finish the dish, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet, and heat over medium-high. When the butter melts and foams, flake the rice into it, and allow it to crisp slightly, then stir a few heaping tablespoons of curry paste into the rice to season to taste. Finish with lime juice to taste, and serve with lime wedges alongside fried fish, stewed chicken, goat or lamb, or just on its own. Transfer remaining curry paste to a lidded container. Let cool, cover and refrigerate up to 1 month.
Tip
You’ll end up with more curry paste than you’ll need to season the rice, even if you season aggressively. Refrigerate the extra to make the dish a second time (it keeps well), or to enliven ground meat for a Caribbean-ish version of sloppy joes, even just to improve a bowl of instant ramen.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
In the meantime, we still need to eat. Therefore, here are six yummy recipes to get your week started off just right, including Summer Vegetable Chili and Vegan Reuben Burgers. Yum! Enjoy!
RED CURRY LENTILS WITH SWEET POTATOES AND SPINACH
This comes from Lidey Heuck at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Lidey wrote, "In this vegetarian main inspired by Indian dal, lentils are cooked with an aromatic blend of Thai spices — fresh ginger, turmeric, red curry paste and chile — then simmered in coconut milk until fall-apart tender. Browning the sweet potatoes before cooking them with the lentils brings out their sweetness, balancing the heat from the chile and curry paste, while baby spinach tossed in just before serving adds fresh flavor. Serve over steamed white or brown rice, or with toasted flatbread on the side."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020766-red-curry-lentils-with-sweet-potatoes-and-spinach.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound sweet potatoes (about 2 medium sweet potatoes), peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
3 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated (about 1 tablespoon)
1 red chile, such as Fresno or serrano, halved, seeds and ribs removed, then minced
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 cup red lentils, rinsed
4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 (13-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
1 (4- to 5-ounce) bag baby spinach
1/2 lime, juiced
Fresh cilantro leaves, for serving
Toasted unsweetened coconut flakes, for serving (optional)
Preparation
In a Dutch oven or pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high. Add the sweet potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the browned sweet potatoes to a plate and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pot and set the heat to medium-low. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the curry paste, garlic, ginger, chile and turmeric, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the lentils, stock, salt and browned sweet potatoes to the pot and bring to a boil over high. Lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are just tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
Add the coconut milk and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced and the lentils are creamy and falling apart, 15 to 20 minutes.
Add the spinach and stir until just wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the lime juice and season with salt to taste.
Divide among shallow bowls and top with cilantro and coconut flakes, if using.
VEGAN REUBEN BURGERS
Recently, I was looking through old folders on my computer, seeing what I could delete, what to save, that sort of thing. We all need to do that periodically, right?
I stumbled across one folder that read "recipes from different sources" that had another folder inside called "more recipes from online." (Okay, you with me so far?) One of those recipes was labeled "How to Make Vegan Reuben Burgers (Recipe)" that had been posted in the Broward Palm Beach New Times waaaay back on November 7, 2014. Yikes!
The article (with recipe) was posted by Hannah Sentenac. (Sorry for the delay in posting this, Hannah!) The article starts off, "I was putting ketchup on some breakfast potatoes the other day when I noticed an intriguing recipe staring at me from the back of the Heinz bottle: Reuben Burgers.
"Needless to say, they weren't vegan. Nor were they healthy. Nonetheless, I was inspired to veganize them, and the end result was magically delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I knew I had to share."
And the recipe? Yum
You can view this online at https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/how-to-make-vegan-reuben-burgers-recipe-6905451.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sauerkraut
2 slices of rye bread (toasted)
2 slices Creamy Original Field Roast Chao Cheese (or dairy-free cheese of choice)
1/3 package Trader Joe's Beefless Ground Beef (or meatless crumbles of choice)
2 TBS Tofutti Sour Cream
2 TBS Heinz ketchup
Instructions:
Heat up the beefless beef in a skillet over medium heat for two or three minutes. Add the Tofutti Sour Cream and the Heinz Ketchup and stir until mixed.
Remove from heat and spoon mixture over pre-toasted slice of rye bread.
Top with Chao cheese and allow to melt (you can also pop it in the microwave for a few seconds -- Chao cheese is super melty). Then, spoon sauerkraut on top.
Top with remaining slice of rye bread. Cut in half. Eat. NOM NOM NOM.
SOUR CREAM BANANA BARS
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup Sugar
1 cup Sour cream
1/2 cup Butter, softened
2 Eggs
1 1/2 cup Bananas, mashed, 3 large
2 tsp Vanilla
2 cup Flour
1 tsp Baking soda
1/2 cup Nuts, chopped
Directions
Mix sugar, sour cream, butter and eggs in large mixing bowl on low speed, scraping bowl occasionally, about 1 minute. Beat in banana and vanilla on low speed, 30 seconds. Beat in flour and baking soda on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, 1 minute. Stir in nuts. Spread dough in greased and floured jelly roll pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes in preheated 375F oven. When cool, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting. Cut into bars.
Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat 3 oz pkg cream cheese, 1/3 cup butter, 1 T milk and 1 tsp vanilla until creamy. Stir in 2 cups powdered sugar until smooth.
TABBOULEH FRUIT SALAD
Yield: 6 servings
Source: "The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan"
Found in Info: “The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan: A Guide to Understanding the Emerging Epidemic of Prediabetes and Halting Its Progression to Diabetes”
Ingredients
2-1/2 cups prepared bulgur wheat
3/4 cup seedless red grapes
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup sliced scallions
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sliced almonds or pine nuts
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
Dressing Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
Combine the bulgur wheat, grapes, apricots, scallions, almonds or pine nuts, parsley, and mint and toss to mix well. Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and stir to mix well. Add the dressing to the salad and toss to mix well. Cover the salad and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (per 3/4 cup serving): Calories: 186, Carbohydrate: 27 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Fat: 8.2 g, Saturated Fat: 0.9 g, Fiber: 5.7 g, Protein: 4.6 g, Sodium: 204 mg, Calcium: 42 mg
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Fruit, 1 Fat
PAUL CARMICHAEL'S CURRIED RICE
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, "I ate a version of this rice as an accompaniment to a few deep-fried paddles of Australian crab, sitting at the kitchen counter of Paul Carmichael’s excellent Momofuku Seiobo in Sydney. It tasted of a world far away, of Mr. Carmichael’s childhood in Barbados, in the Lesser Antilles, where influences of Africa, India, China and Britain combine in the food: the grains fried in butter scented with murky yellow curry powder, warm and fragrant, and flavored with fiery minced habanero and a salty punch of soy and oyster sauces. I sighed when I finished and asked for a recipe. I’ve been messing with it ever since. Please note: You’ll end up with more curry paste than you’ll need to season the rice, even if you season aggressively. Refrigerate the extra to make the dish a second time (it keeps well), or to enliven ground meat for a Caribbean-ish version of sloppy joes, even just to improve a bowl of instant ramen."
Yield: 2 to 4 servings, plus additional curry paste; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in "The Evolution of Curried Rice", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020231-paul-carmichaels-curried-rice.
Ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
3 tablespoons curry powder
2 teaspoons canola or other neutral oil
5 fresh curry leaves
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 shallots, peeled and diced
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons soy sauce, plus additional as needed
1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce, plus additional as needed
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 to 2 habanero chiles, seeded and minced
3 cups cooked white rice, cooled
2 limes, 1 juiced and 1 quartered
Preparation
Place a large skillet over medium heat, and add to it the black pepper and white pepper. Toast, shaking the pan occasionally, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the curry powder, shake again and toast for 1 minute more. Scrape the toasted-curry-powder blend into a small bowl using a rubber spatula, and set aside.
Add the oil to the skillet, and swirl it around. When it shimmers, add the curry leaves, and fry, 1 minute. Stir in 4 tablespoons butter. When it melts, add the shallots and garlic. Lower the heat, and cook, stirring frequently, until the shallots are soft and translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.
Raise the heat to medium. Stir in the toasted-curry-powder blend, followed by 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce and the sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add habanero to taste, then adjust the levels of soy sauce and oyster sauce if you want to go a little saltier or sweeter. Scrape the curry paste into the small bowl.
To finish the dish, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet, and heat over medium-high. When the butter melts and foams, flake the rice into it, and allow it to crisp slightly, then stir a few heaping tablespoons of curry paste into the rice to season to taste. Finish with lime juice to taste, and serve with lime wedges alongside fried fish, stewed chicken, goat or lamb, or just on its own. Transfer remaining curry paste to a lidded container. Let cool, cover and refrigerate up to 1 month.
Tip
You’ll end up with more curry paste than you’ll need to season the rice, even if you season aggressively. Refrigerate the extra to make the dish a second time (it keeps well), or to enliven ground meat for a Caribbean-ish version of sloppy joes, even just to improve a bowl of instant ramen.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Chili
I've loved chili ever since I was a kid. It's one of those dishes that brings up tons of recipes whenever I make it.
With that in mind, here are six yummy chili recipes to help you through the day, including Slow Cooker Chili With Ground Beef and Beans and Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili. Enjoy!
VEGAN CHILI
This comes from J. Kenji López-Alt at The New York Times cooking newsletter. The recipe begins, "This chili starts with a few different whole dried chiles, toasted and blended together, then fried with vegan ground meat and other aromatics to form the complex backbone of this stew. Along with tomatoes and kidney beans, I like to add some soy sauce (for umami depth), cider vinegar (for acidity and brightness) and a shot of hard liquor. The volatile alcohol in the liquor helps pull aromas up and out of the chili and into your nose. If you want to opt for a vegetarian version, feel free to use unsalted butter in place of the vegan butter, and garnish with sour cream or Cheddar."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "How to Cook With Plant-Based Meats", and can be found online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020866-vegan-chili.
Ingredients
For the Chile Paste (see Note):
2 whole dried ancho, pasilla or mulato chiles, stems and seeds removed, torn into rough 1-inch pieces (about 1/2 ounce)
1 whole dried New Mexico red, California, costeño or choricero chile, stems and seeds removed, and torn into rough 1-inch pieces (about 1/8 ounce)
1 to 2 dried hot chiles, such as árbol or pequín, stems and seeds removed and torn into rough pieces (optional)
For the Chili:
2 tablespoons vegan butter
1 pound vegan ground meat, such as Impossible or Beyond
1 medium onion, grated on large holes of a box grater (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 large garlic cloves, grated on Microplane (about 4 teaspoons)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Kosher salt
2 chipotle peppers packed in adobo sauce, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 (15-ounce) can whole tomatoes packed in juice, drained and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
1 (16-ounce) can dark kidney beans, drained
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon whiskey, vodka or brandy (optional)
Diced onions, chopped cilantro, chopped pickled jalapeños, sliced black olives, vegan sour cream, shredded vegan cheese, fresh tortillas or tortilla chips, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Make the chile paste: Add all the dried chiles to a Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottomed saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until slightly darkened and giving off an intense roasted aroma, 2 to 5 minutes. Turn down the heat if they begin to smoke. Add 1 cup water; it should immediately boil. Reduce heat so water barely simmers, and cook until chiles have softened, about 4 minutes. Transfer the chiles and liquid to a blender and blend at high speed, scraping down sides as necessary, until a completely smooth purée is formed, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
Prepare the chili: Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the vegan ground meat and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until fat has mostly rendered and it is starting to sizzle rather than steam, about 10 minutes. (I don’t mind leaving the rendered fat in the chili. It homogenizes as the chili reduces, so the end result should not be greasy. However, you can drain the mixture at this point if you prefer less fat in the finished chili.)
Add the onion, garlic, oregano and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions have softened, about 2 minutes. Add the chipotles, cumin and reserved chile paste, and cook, stirring frequently, until the paste reduces to the point that it starts to sizzle and fry, about 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently until homogenous, about 1 minute.
Add chopped canned tomatoes and scrape up any brown bits that have stuck to the pan. Add kidney beans, soy sauce and 1 cup water, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors have developed and chili is thickened to desired consistency, about 30 minutes. Stir in vinegar and liquor, if using. Adjust texture by adding water, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with whatever garnishes you like.
Tip
You can omit the chile paste, and substitute 3 tablespoons chile powder instead. Add chile powder with chipotles and cumin in Step 3, and cook, stirring frequently, until aromatic, about 30 seconds, then add the tomato paste and continue with Step 4.
CHILI CARNIVALE
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings
Source: TBC
Recipe and photo appears courtesy of Cattlemen's Beef Promotion Board.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chili-carnivale.
Ingredients
2 pounds Ground Beef (95% lean)
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes, undrained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
1 can (14 to 14-1/2 ounces) regular or reduced-sodium beef broth
1 bottle (12 ounces) regular or light beer
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 medium green, red, yellow or orange bell peppers, diced
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1/3 cup chili powder
1 large jalapeno pepper, seeded, finely chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed, drained
Lime wedges and baked tortillas chips (optional)
Toppings:
Sliced cherry tomatoes, sliced green onions, sliced serranos or jalapenos, chopped onion
Directions
Heat stockpot over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove drippings.
Add tomatoes, beef broth, beer, onions, bell peppers, tomato paste, chili powder, jalapeno pepper, garlic, cumin and oregano to stockpot, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in black beans and continue to simmer 15 minutes or until thickened to desired consistency, stirring occasionally.
Season with salt and black pepper, as desired. Garnish with Toppings, as desired. Serve with lime wedges and baked tortilla chips, if desired.
Note: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F. Color is not a reliable indicator of Ground Beef doneness.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 318; Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Fiber: 7.5 g; Sodium: 955 mg; Cholesterol: 76 mg; Protein: 32 g; Carbohydrates: 28 g
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
BEEF CHILI
This yummy chili recipe is from Tyler Florence on The Food Network. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cooki Time: 2 hours 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/beef-chili-recipe-1937323.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 pounds beef shoulder, cut into large cubes
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons ancho chili powder
1 tablespoons ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 onions, diced
10 garlic cloves, halved
3 canned chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, crushed by hand
1/2 cup masa harina
3 cups shredded white Cheddar, for garnish
2 bunches chopped chives, for garnish
1 1/2 cups sour cream, for garnish
Ingredients
In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil. Season the beef shoulder all over with salt and pepper, add it to the pot and brown it. As it's browning stir in the chili powder, coriander, cumin, paprika, oregano and cinnamon. Lower the temperature under the meat to "toast" the spices. In a food processor puree the onions, garlic, chipotle peppers, jalapeno, tomato paste and sugar and add it to the pot. Increase the heat to medium to steam vegetables a little and sweeten the peppers. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch, about 1 quart, and add tomatoes with their liquid. Bring to a boil and skim off any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer until the meat is fork-tender and comes apart with no resistance, about 2 hours. As it cooks down, add more water, if necessary. When done, stir in the masa harina. Take a potato masher and mash the chili so the meat comes apart in shreds. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish each serving with the shredded Cheddar, chives, and sour cream.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND TURKEY CHILI
This comes from the Food Network, and begins, "This recipe captures many of the traditional flavors of chili, but boosts its texture, color and vitamins. We've used protein-rich black beans, lean ground turkey and sweet butternut squash, as well adding some unexpected crunch and thickening power with chia seeds."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/butternut-squash-and-turkey-chili-3363131.
Ingredients
3 teaspoons olive oil
1 pound 99 percent fat-free ground turkey
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
3 tablespoons tomato paste
Kosher salt
1 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 3 1/2 cups)
4 ripe plum tomatoes, chopped
Two 14-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup chia seeds
Freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
Directions
Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of the oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven. Add the turkey and cook, breaking up chunks with the side of a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Push the turkey to the edges of the pan, leaving the middle empty. Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil, then the onion and garlic to the center of the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin and coriander and stir about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and 1 teaspoon salt and stir until the paste begins to darken in color, about 30 seconds. Then add the squash, tomatoes and 4 cups water, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any stuck bits. Bring to a simmer, adjust the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the chili has thickened and the squash is tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
Stir the beans and chia seeds into the chili and heat through, about 5 minutes. Season with an additional 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper, then taste the chili and stir in up to 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Spoon the chili into bowls and top each bowl with cilantro and a dollop of sour cream.
SLOW COOKER CHILI WITH GROUND BEEF AND BEANS
This is from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, "A slow cooker filled with hearty chili is a perfect meal, and it's a cinch to make. This beef and bean chili recipe could not be easier. It will take only about 15 minutes to prepare in the morning, and it cooks all day so that it will be ready just in time for dinner.
"This chili recipe includes fresh vegetables along with two kinds of beans. While kidney beans are standard in chili, the pork and beans are a bit unusual. It's an interesting twist, and the molasses sauce adds a nice depth of flavor to the tomato-based sauce we love in chili.
"To complete this hearty and delicious meal, serve it with freshly baked cornbread and a simple salad. It's a perfect weeknight meal that the entire family will love."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 8 hours; Total Times: 8 hours 15 minutes; Makes 8 servings
You can view this online at https://www.thespruceeats.com/peggys-chili-with-ground-beef-and-beans-3055038.
Ingredients
2 pounds lean ground beef (browned and drained)
2 medium onions (coarsely chopped)
2 ribs celery (coarsely chopped)
1 green bell pepper (coarsely chopped)
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
30 ounces red kidney beans (canned, drained)
3 to 4 ounces mushroom pieces (canned, drained)
15 ounces baked pork and beans with molasses (canned)
29 ounces tomatoes
6 ounces tomato paste
2 to 3 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon cumin (ground)
Salt to taste
Directions
Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain the grease.
At the same time, chop the onions, celery, and green bell pepper. Crush the garlic as well.
Add the cooked beef and vegetables to a 4-quart (or larger) slow cooker.
Drain the kidney beans and mushrooms and add them to the slow cooker along with the (undrained) pork and beans.
Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and all of the seasonings.
Stir well until everything is thoroughly combined.
Cover and cook on low for 8 to 12 hours. To speed it up, cook on high for 4 to 6 hours.
Creative Ways to Use Leftover Chili
Too much chili? Chili is the ideal dish for leftovers, and it is just as appetizing on the second day as it was on the first. You can also 'repurpose' it into other dishes, so no one gets bored. Depending on the size of your family, you might even get two or three meals out of one slow cooker.
Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator and enjoy a second helping for lunch the next day. You may even have enough to make tasty chili dogs for tomorrow night's dinner. Also, consider serving the chili over a bed of freshly cooked spaghetti noodles, it's a specialty of Cincinnati and surprisingly delicious.
With that in mind, here are six yummy chili recipes to help you through the day, including Slow Cooker Chili With Ground Beef and Beans and Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili. Enjoy!
VEGAN CHILI
This comes from J. Kenji López-Alt at The New York Times cooking newsletter. The recipe begins, "This chili starts with a few different whole dried chiles, toasted and blended together, then fried with vegan ground meat and other aromatics to form the complex backbone of this stew. Along with tomatoes and kidney beans, I like to add some soy sauce (for umami depth), cider vinegar (for acidity and brightness) and a shot of hard liquor. The volatile alcohol in the liquor helps pull aromas up and out of the chili and into your nose. If you want to opt for a vegetarian version, feel free to use unsalted butter in place of the vegan butter, and garnish with sour cream or Cheddar."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "How to Cook With Plant-Based Meats", and can be found online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020866-vegan-chili.
Ingredients
For the Chile Paste (see Note):
2 whole dried ancho, pasilla or mulato chiles, stems and seeds removed, torn into rough 1-inch pieces (about 1/2 ounce)
1 whole dried New Mexico red, California, costeño or choricero chile, stems and seeds removed, and torn into rough 1-inch pieces (about 1/8 ounce)
1 to 2 dried hot chiles, such as árbol or pequín, stems and seeds removed and torn into rough pieces (optional)
For the Chili:
2 tablespoons vegan butter
1 pound vegan ground meat, such as Impossible or Beyond
1 medium onion, grated on large holes of a box grater (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 large garlic cloves, grated on Microplane (about 4 teaspoons)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Kosher salt
2 chipotle peppers packed in adobo sauce, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 (15-ounce) can whole tomatoes packed in juice, drained and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
1 (16-ounce) can dark kidney beans, drained
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon whiskey, vodka or brandy (optional)
Diced onions, chopped cilantro, chopped pickled jalapeños, sliced black olives, vegan sour cream, shredded vegan cheese, fresh tortillas or tortilla chips, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Make the chile paste: Add all the dried chiles to a Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottomed saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until slightly darkened and giving off an intense roasted aroma, 2 to 5 minutes. Turn down the heat if they begin to smoke. Add 1 cup water; it should immediately boil. Reduce heat so water barely simmers, and cook until chiles have softened, about 4 minutes. Transfer the chiles and liquid to a blender and blend at high speed, scraping down sides as necessary, until a completely smooth purée is formed, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
Prepare the chili: Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the vegan ground meat and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until fat has mostly rendered and it is starting to sizzle rather than steam, about 10 minutes. (I don’t mind leaving the rendered fat in the chili. It homogenizes as the chili reduces, so the end result should not be greasy. However, you can drain the mixture at this point if you prefer less fat in the finished chili.)
Add the onion, garlic, oregano and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions have softened, about 2 minutes. Add the chipotles, cumin and reserved chile paste, and cook, stirring frequently, until the paste reduces to the point that it starts to sizzle and fry, about 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently until homogenous, about 1 minute.
Add chopped canned tomatoes and scrape up any brown bits that have stuck to the pan. Add kidney beans, soy sauce and 1 cup water, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors have developed and chili is thickened to desired consistency, about 30 minutes. Stir in vinegar and liquor, if using. Adjust texture by adding water, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with whatever garnishes you like.
Tip
You can omit the chile paste, and substitute 3 tablespoons chile powder instead. Add chile powder with chipotles and cumin in Step 3, and cook, stirring frequently, until aromatic, about 30 seconds, then add the tomato paste and continue with Step 4.
CHILI CARNIVALE
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings
Source: TBC
Recipe and photo appears courtesy of Cattlemen's Beef Promotion Board.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chili-carnivale.
Ingredients
2 pounds Ground Beef (95% lean)
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes, undrained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
1 can (14 to 14-1/2 ounces) regular or reduced-sodium beef broth
1 bottle (12 ounces) regular or light beer
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 medium green, red, yellow or orange bell peppers, diced
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1/3 cup chili powder
1 large jalapeno pepper, seeded, finely chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed, drained
Lime wedges and baked tortillas chips (optional)
Toppings:
Sliced cherry tomatoes, sliced green onions, sliced serranos or jalapenos, chopped onion
Directions
Heat stockpot over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove drippings.
Add tomatoes, beef broth, beer, onions, bell peppers, tomato paste, chili powder, jalapeno pepper, garlic, cumin and oregano to stockpot, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in black beans and continue to simmer 15 minutes or until thickened to desired consistency, stirring occasionally.
Season with salt and black pepper, as desired. Garnish with Toppings, as desired. Serve with lime wedges and baked tortilla chips, if desired.
Note: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F. Color is not a reliable indicator of Ground Beef doneness.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 318; Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Fiber: 7.5 g; Sodium: 955 mg; Cholesterol: 76 mg; Protein: 32 g; Carbohydrates: 28 g
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
BEEF CHILI
This yummy chili recipe is from Tyler Florence on The Food Network. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cooki Time: 2 hours 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/beef-chili-recipe-1937323.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 pounds beef shoulder, cut into large cubes
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons ancho chili powder
1 tablespoons ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 onions, diced
10 garlic cloves, halved
3 canned chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, crushed by hand
1/2 cup masa harina
3 cups shredded white Cheddar, for garnish
2 bunches chopped chives, for garnish
1 1/2 cups sour cream, for garnish
Ingredients
In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil. Season the beef shoulder all over with salt and pepper, add it to the pot and brown it. As it's browning stir in the chili powder, coriander, cumin, paprika, oregano and cinnamon. Lower the temperature under the meat to "toast" the spices. In a food processor puree the onions, garlic, chipotle peppers, jalapeno, tomato paste and sugar and add it to the pot. Increase the heat to medium to steam vegetables a little and sweeten the peppers. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch, about 1 quart, and add tomatoes with their liquid. Bring to a boil and skim off any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer until the meat is fork-tender and comes apart with no resistance, about 2 hours. As it cooks down, add more water, if necessary. When done, stir in the masa harina. Take a potato masher and mash the chili so the meat comes apart in shreds. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish each serving with the shredded Cheddar, chives, and sour cream.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND TURKEY CHILI
This comes from the Food Network, and begins, "This recipe captures many of the traditional flavors of chili, but boosts its texture, color and vitamins. We've used protein-rich black beans, lean ground turkey and sweet butternut squash, as well adding some unexpected crunch and thickening power with chia seeds."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/butternut-squash-and-turkey-chili-3363131.
Ingredients
3 teaspoons olive oil
1 pound 99 percent fat-free ground turkey
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
3 tablespoons tomato paste
Kosher salt
1 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 3 1/2 cups)
4 ripe plum tomatoes, chopped
Two 14-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup chia seeds
Freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
Directions
Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of the oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven. Add the turkey and cook, breaking up chunks with the side of a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Push the turkey to the edges of the pan, leaving the middle empty. Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil, then the onion and garlic to the center of the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin and coriander and stir about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and 1 teaspoon salt and stir until the paste begins to darken in color, about 30 seconds. Then add the squash, tomatoes and 4 cups water, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any stuck bits. Bring to a simmer, adjust the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the chili has thickened and the squash is tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
Stir the beans and chia seeds into the chili and heat through, about 5 minutes. Season with an additional 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper, then taste the chili and stir in up to 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Spoon the chili into bowls and top each bowl with cilantro and a dollop of sour cream.
SLOW COOKER CHILI WITH GROUND BEEF AND BEANS
This is from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, "A slow cooker filled with hearty chili is a perfect meal, and it's a cinch to make. This beef and bean chili recipe could not be easier. It will take only about 15 minutes to prepare in the morning, and it cooks all day so that it will be ready just in time for dinner.
"This chili recipe includes fresh vegetables along with two kinds of beans. While kidney beans are standard in chili, the pork and beans are a bit unusual. It's an interesting twist, and the molasses sauce adds a nice depth of flavor to the tomato-based sauce we love in chili.
"To complete this hearty and delicious meal, serve it with freshly baked cornbread and a simple salad. It's a perfect weeknight meal that the entire family will love."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 8 hours; Total Times: 8 hours 15 minutes; Makes 8 servings
You can view this online at https://www.thespruceeats.com/peggys-chili-with-ground-beef-and-beans-3055038.
Ingredients
2 pounds lean ground beef (browned and drained)
2 medium onions (coarsely chopped)
2 ribs celery (coarsely chopped)
1 green bell pepper (coarsely chopped)
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
30 ounces red kidney beans (canned, drained)
3 to 4 ounces mushroom pieces (canned, drained)
15 ounces baked pork and beans with molasses (canned)
29 ounces tomatoes
6 ounces tomato paste
2 to 3 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon cumin (ground)
Salt to taste
Directions
Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain the grease.
At the same time, chop the onions, celery, and green bell pepper. Crush the garlic as well.
Add the cooked beef and vegetables to a 4-quart (or larger) slow cooker.
Drain the kidney beans and mushrooms and add them to the slow cooker along with the (undrained) pork and beans.
Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and all of the seasonings.
Stir well until everything is thoroughly combined.
Cover and cook on low for 8 to 12 hours. To speed it up, cook on high for 4 to 6 hours.
Creative Ways to Use Leftover Chili
Too much chili? Chili is the ideal dish for leftovers, and it is just as appetizing on the second day as it was on the first. You can also 'repurpose' it into other dishes, so no one gets bored. Depending on the size of your family, you might even get two or three meals out of one slow cooker.
Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator and enjoy a second helping for lunch the next day. You may even have enough to make tasty chili dogs for tomorrow night's dinner. Also, consider serving the chili over a bed of freshly cooked spaghetti noodles, it's a specialty of Cincinnati and surprisingly delicious.
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