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Showing posts with label Vegetarian Kofta Curry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vegetarian Kofta Curry. Show all posts

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Double-Post Thursday

Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Today's offerings include Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili and Favorite Pumpkin Granola. Enjoy!

VEGETARIAN KOFTA CURRY

This yumminess is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, "Kofta curry — a saucy dish of gently spiced meatballs — is often made with meat. But this one, based on my grandfather’s, swaps in a mash of beans. Bound with bread crumbs and seasoned with ginger, garlic, green chile and herbs, it’s a variation full of flavor and texture. Have it with some flatbread and some sliced cucumber in yogurt, or spooned over a bowl of rice. It’s also delicious in a sandwich the next day."

Time: 1 hour; Yield: 4 servings

This was featured in "I Think of My Grandfather Every Time I Make Kofta", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021415-vegetarian-kofta-curry.

Note: Seriously, you might want to click the link above to the article. I found it to be interesting. Thanks for the good read, Tejal.

Ingredients

4 garlic cloves

1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled

2 green chiles (such as jalapeño or serrano), stems removed

1 (14-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

4 spring onions or scallions, trimmed and chopped

1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped, 1 tablespoon reserved for garnish

1 bunch fresh mint, chopped, 1 tablespoon reserved for garnish

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1 egg

1 teaspoon garam masala, plus more for garnish

1/2 teaspoon red chile powder

1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more as needed

1/2 cup neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed

1 medium white onion, finely chopped

8 to 10 ripe Roma tomatoes (about 3 pounds) or 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

Black pepper

Preparation

Put the garlic, ginger and green chiles in a food processor, and pulse until you have a coarse paste. Put half the paste into a large bowl. Set the rest aside.

Add the beans, spring onions, fresh herbs, bread crumbs, egg, garam masala, chile powder and salt to the large bowl with the paste. Mix well with a fork, mashing up the beans as you go into small pieces.

Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and arrange on the pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil, and bake until lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium. Sauté the onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining garlic, ginger and chile paste, and sauté until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. If using fresh tomatoes, purée them until smooth in the food processor. Stir the tomato purée or crushed tomatoes, coriander and cumin into the skillet, and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the kofta to the skillet, and turn the heat to low. If necessary, add enough water for the liquid to come about two-thirds of the way up the sides of the meatballs, then simmer another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the kofta are warmed through and the sauce has thickened. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with a light dust of garam masala and some extra herbs.

NUTELLA® GANACHE BROWNIES

This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, “Next time you need a party dessert or just want to pamper someone special (you’re special, by the way), this is your recipe. Betty’s perfect brownies get topped with a glossy ganache and pretty sprinkle of toasted hazelnut for an impressive look that also hints at the secret ingredient: Nutella™! This delectable chocolate-hazelnut spread gets added to the ganache—a fudgy frosting made of chocolate and heavy cream—giving it extra chocolaty flavor, hint of nuttiness, and a lot of ooey-gooey texture. This simple ganache is made in the microwave, so it’s extra quick, and Betty’s brownies start with a mix, which means this spectacular dessert is actually super easy—only 15 minutes of hands-on time required!”

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes; Servings: 16

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 box (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix

Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box

1/2 cup Nutella® hazelnut spread with cocoa

1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts (filberts), toasted, skinned

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make brownie batter as directed on box. Spread in pan.

Bake 28 to 31 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 1/2 hours.

In medium microwavable bowl, microwave hazelnut spread, chocolate chips and whipping cream uncovered on High 30 seconds. Stir; continue to microwave in 15-second increments, stirring after each, until smooth. Pour hazelnut mixture over baked brownie; spread over top. Sprinkle nuts over top. Refrigerate uncovered about 2 hours or until hazelnut mixture is set. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

Expert Tips

Removing hazelnut skins can be time-consuming, but we’ve got a method that makes it efficient. Toast nuts at 375°F 10 to 12 minutes, stirring twice. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Then, pour nuts into clean kitchen towel, and gather tightly into a bundle. Rub vigorously with towel to remove skins.

If you want to skip a step, look for skinned hazelnuts. Hint: They’re sometimes called filberts. To toast skinned hazelnuts, set oven to 350°F. Spread skinned hazelnuts on ungreased baking sheet. Bake uncovered 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light brown. Keep a close eye on toasting nuts, as they can quickly become too dark.

No matter what, don’t skip the toasting step. It adds depth of flavor and brings out the richness of the nuts while also giving them a pretty warm brown color.

Microwave ovens vary, so carefully watch ganache mixture during this step. We highly recommend following the directions to help avoid burning.

The trick to cleanly removing brownies from the pan is to line it with foil. To easily do so, flip your pan upside down. Wrap the foil around the bottom of the pan, leaving a little extra length on either side—this length will serve as “handles” later—then cut your piece. When you turn the pan over, you’ll have the perfect-sized and preshaped piece of foil. After baking, allow brownies to cool completely before lifting out of pan by foil “handles.”

To serve clean-cut pieces, cut with sharp knife, and clean blade after each cut.

Nutella® is a chocolate-hazelnut spread usually found in the same aisle as peanut butter, jellies and jams. If you find yourself a fan, check out the rest of Betty’s chocolate-hazelnut desserts.

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.

FAVORITE PUMPKIN GRANOLA

This is from Lindsay on her food blog, Pinch of Yum. I absolutely love Pinch of Yum, and highly recommend it. Go ahead and check it out, and sign up for her emails. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

author: lindsay prep time: 10 mins cook time: 30 mins total time: 40 minutes yield: 9 cups (about 18 half-cup servings)

This recipe begins, “Pumpkin Granola that is both salty and sweet! Made with REAL PUMPKIN along with oats, coconut, almonds, pistachios, maple syrup, cinnamon, and olive oil. My favorite fall granola! ♡ Adapted from the Last Granola Recipe by my friend The Faux Martha.”

To view this online, click http://pinchofyum.com/pumpkin-granola/>here.

Ingredients

6 cups rolled oats

1 heaping cup sliced almonds

1 heaping cup pistachios (or other nuts)

1 heaping cup unsweetened flaked coconut

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 cup olive oil

1 cup maple syrup

2-3 teaspoons salt (see notes)

1-2 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions

Prep the Pumpkin Granola: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the dry ingredients together (oats, almonds, pistachios, coconut). Whisk the wet ingredients and spices together (pumpkin, olive oil, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon). Pour wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir to combine.

Bake the Pumpkin Granola: Spread the granola into a large nonstick jelly roll pan or cake pan – I do this on two separate pans or in two batches. Bake for 15 minutes; stir; bake for another 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest – it should start to crisp up.

Eat and love: Store in a plastic zip-top bag for a week or so. Serve with granola, fruit, or just with good ol’ milk.

Notes

Salt: Yup. 2-3 teaspoons salt is not a typo. This recipe, as written, is meant to be salty! I love it that way. I make mine with 2 1/2 or 3 teaspoons salt, and it gives it an awesome salty-sweet bite, but if you’re not into the salty-sweet thing, you can definitely reduce that amount. Either way, be aware that the unbaked granola “batter” will taste very salty, and fear not – that saltiness mellows out beautifully after you bake it.

Bake times: There is a fine line between perfectly toasted / caramelized and straight up burned pumpkin granola. I found that the 30 to 40 minute mark was my cut-off in our smaller studio oven, whereas in my larger oven at home I got away with about 45 minutes. I had several batches that I popped back in the oven for an extra five minutes and they went from browned to burned really quickly, so beware. That being said, even if you get a little extra browning (not burning, just browning) around the edges, I think that actually tastes really nice once mixed with the rest of the granola. Was that overall just super helpful?

Pro Tip: Sprinking raw or brown sugar and a tiny bit of extra salt over the top of the granola as it cools is never a bad idea.

Other add-ins that work well: pecans, walnuts, chia seeds. But be advised that the pecans and walnuts both burn pretty easily so I would suggest adding them towards the end of the baking time. The pistachios seem to be able to handle the heat a bit more, so I found that it worked just fine to add them with all the other ingredients.

SALSA VERDE RICE AND CHICKEN BOWLS

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Chicken tonight? Give it a glow-up with this salsa verde rice twist. Start by stirring in Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde sauce and green chiles to cooked rice before adding in a scoop of shredded rotisserie chicken. Everyone can sprinkle in their favorite taco fixings to make this chicken rice bowl recipe a hassle-free, flavorful success."

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/salsa-verde-rice-and-chicken-bowls.

Ingredients

1/2 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice

1 cup water

1/3 cup Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde sauce

1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ Chopped Green Chiles

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

2 1/2 cups chopped deli rotisserie chicken

1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ Chicken Taco Seasoning Mix

1/4 cup water

1 package (8 count) Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Bowls, heated as directed on package

1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

1/2 cup quartered grape tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

In 1 to 1 1/2-quart saucepan, heat uncooked rice and 1 cup water to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 8 to 10 minutes or until all water is absorbed. Remove from heat; let stand covered 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Stir in sauce and green chiles; cover and keep warm.

In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken, taco seasoning mix and 1/4 cup water; cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until chicken is heated through. Remove from heat.

To assemble, divide rice and chicken mixtures among warm tortilla bowls; top with cheese, tomatoes, cilantro and additional sauce, if desired.

Expert Tips



Precooked rice is available for purchase in the frozen section of the grocery store and is a convenient alternative to the cooked rice in this recipe. You may also use 1 1/2 cups leftover cooked rice, heated in microwave, before adding the sauce.

Deli rotisserie chicken makes these bowls quick and convenient!

Topping the bowls with your favorite salsa or fresh pico de gallo is a great alternative to the tomatoes and cilantro.

HAN OAK GALBIJJIM

This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, "This is a home cook’s take on the short-rib stew the chef Peter Cho serves at Han Oak, the beautiful homestyle Korean restaurant in Portland, Ore., that he runs with his wife, Sun Young Park. It is fragrant and sweet, with deep caramelized flavors that come in part from roasting the meat and vegetables separately before combining them in the braising liquid. Cho fries rice cakes before adding them to the stew, but you can just slide them in plain, if you prefer. Either way, the addition of greens at the end gives the dish an exciting brightness, a zip that many galbijjims lack."

Yield: 6 servings; Time: 2 hours

This was featured in "A Secret Ingredient Makes This Chef’s Galbijjim Perfect. Just Don’t Tell Mom.", and cam be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019918-han-oak-galbijjim.

Ingredients

3 pounds mixed root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, onions and sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

5 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola or vegetable oil

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

4 pounds bone-in short ribs, cut by a butcher into 2-inch pieces

2 medium-size Asian pears, peeled, cored and diced

1 large red onion, peeled and diced

12 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

2 tablespoons roughly chopped ginger

3 cups chicken stock

1 12-ounce can Coca-Cola

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup rice-wine vinegar

2 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean chile flakes), or to taste

4 cups roughly chopped kale, optional

1 pound Korean rice cakes, optional

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

3 scallions, trimmed and both white and green parts thinly sliced

3 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced

Sesame seeds, to taste

Preparation

Heat oven to 425. Toss the root vegetables in a large bowl with 2 tablespoons of oil, and season with an aggressive amount of salt and pepper. Turn the vegetables onto a sheet pan. Put the short ribs in the same bowl, and toss with 1 tablespoon of oil and a lot of salt and pepper, then put the ribs on another sheet pan, bone sides down. Place both pans in the oven and roast, turning the pans once or twice, until the vegetables are soft and caramelized and the ribs are well browned, approximately 40 minutes. Set the pans aside until ready to use.

While the vegetables and ribs cook, place a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and swirl into it the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. When it shimmers, add the pears, onion, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and browning, approximately 15 minutes.

Turn heat to high, add the stock, Coca-Cola, honey, soy sauce, rice-wine vinegar and gochugaru, and bring the mixture to a lively simmer. Cook until pears are tender, approximately 20 minutes. Transfer to a blender or food processor, and purée the sauce until smooth, then return it to the pot.

Add the cooked short ribs and whatever fat has rendered from them to the pot, cover it and cook over medium-low heat for approximately 90 minutes, or until very tender.

When the meat can be flaked from the bone, add the roasted vegetables to the pot, along with the rice cakes. Cook until the vegetables are hot and the rice cakes (if using) are sticky, then add the greens, and stir them around until they have just started to turn tender.

Drizzle with the sesame oil, top with the scallions, radishes and sesame seeds to taste. Serve immediately.

Monday, November 2, 2020

Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's offerings include Light Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas and Sheet Pan Carne Asada. Enjoy!

LEMON SHEET CAKE WITH RASPBERRY WHIPPED CREAM

This is from Erin Jeanne McDowell at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Erin begins, "This lovely cake was inspired by the colors and flavors of pink lemonade. Don’t be tempted to skip the first step of this recipe, which asks you to rub lemon zest into granulated sugar: The sugar granules help release the essential oils in the zest, making for a brighter lemon flavor and fragrance. (If you’re really short on time, you can skip using your hands and just mix with the paddle attachment inside the mixer bowl on low speed for 1 minute.) Slather this sunny cake with swoopy, easy-to-make raspberry whipped cream then serve as is, or dressed up with lemon zest or sprinkles."

Yield: 1 (9-by-13-inch) cake; Time: 1 1/2 hours

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021329-lemon-sheet-cake-with-raspberry-whipped-cream.

Ingredients

For the cake:Nonstick cooking spray

2 cups granulated sugar

3 lemons, zested (about 5 tablespoons), plus 1/3 cup lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), at room temperature

1/2 cup vegetable oil

6 large eggs, at room temperature

1 1/4 cups buttermilk, at room temperature

For the frosting:

12 ounces (about 2 3/4 heaping cups) raspberries (thawed, if frozen)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Lemon zest or sprinkles, for finishing (optional)

Preparation

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch pan with nonstick spray, then line the pan with parchment paper. Lightly coat the parchment paper with nonstick spray.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, use your hands to rub together the sugar and lemon zest.

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt.

Add the butter and oil to the bowl with the lemon sugar, and transfer it to the mixer. Using the paddle attachment, cream the mixture on medium speed until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. With the mixer running, add the lemon juice in a slow, steady stream and mix until well combined, 1 minute more. Scrape the bowl well.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing on medium speed until each is incorporated before adding the next, about 1 to 2 minutes each. Scrape the bowl well every two to three additions.

Add half of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until fully incorporated. With the mixer running on low speed, add the buttermilk in a slow, steady stream, and mix until fully incorporated. Add the remaining flour and mix until it’s evenly incorporated.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Transfer to the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 27 to 32 minutes. Cool completely.

While the cake cools, make the frosting: In a medium bowl, mash the raspberries with a potato masher or large fork until broken down. Stir in 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and let macerate for 10 to 15 minutes.

Strain the raspberry mixture. (You should have at least 3/4 cup juice. Reserve any excess for cocktails, stir it into sparkling water, or drizzle over ice cream.)

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream and the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar on medium speed until the mixture reaches soft peaks, about 1 to 2 minutes.

With the mixer still running on medium speed, pour the raspberry juice into the mixer in a slow, steady stream. (Reduce splattering by pouring away from the moving whisk.) Continue to whip until the mixture forms peaks, about 30 seconds to 1 minute more.

Spoon the frosting over the cooled cake and spread into an even layer. If desired, garnish with lemon zest and sprinkles.

LIGHT SOUR CREAM CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

Recipe Yield: Servings: 6 (2 Enchiladas each)

Source: Cooking Healthy and Fast

Book Title: Cooking Healthy and Fast

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/light-sour-cream-chicken-enchiladas.

Ingredients

1 (8oz) container light sour cream

1 (8oz) container nonfat plain yogurt

1 (10-3/4oz) can cream of chicken soup with 1/3 less salt

1 (4oz) can diced green chilies

12 (6-7 inch) white corn or flour tortillas

1 Cup (4oz) shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese

1-1/2 Cups chopped cooked chicken

1/4 Cup sliced green onions

Directions

Heat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 13x9-inch (3 Qt) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In med. bowl, combine sour cream, yogurt, soup and chilies; mix well. Spoon bout 3 Tbsp sour cream mixture down center of each tortilla. Reserve 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese; sprinkle each tortilla with remaining cheese, chicken and onions. Roll tortillas and place in spray-coated dish, seam side down. Spoon remaining sour cream mixture over tortillas. Cover with foil and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Remove foil; sprinkle with reserved 1/4 cup cheese. Return to oven & bake, uncovered, an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes, if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 358; Fat: 9 g; Sodium: 590 mg; Cholesterol: 63 m; Carbohydrates: 35 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 3 Lean Meat, 2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Milk, 1 Fat

ITALIAN SAUSAGE LASAGNA

This comes from the Betty Crocker e-newsletter. If you're looking for more recipes, it's a good place to start.

This recipe starts off, "No need to buy frozen lasagna when you have this much-loved recipe on hand."

Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/italian-sausage-lasagna/.

Ingredients

1 lb bulk Italian pork sausage

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

1 clove garlic, crushed

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1 teaspoon sugar

2 cups Muir Glen™ organic diced tomatoes (from 28-oz can), undrained

1 can (15 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce

12 uncooked lasagna noodles (12 oz)

1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese or small-curd cottage cheese (2 cups)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In 10-inch skillet, cook sausage, onion and garlic over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain.

Stir in 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the basil, sugar, tomatoes and tomato sauce. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered about 45 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package.

In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and the oregano.

Spread 1 cup of the sauce mixture in ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Top with 4 noodles. Spread 1 cup of the cheese mixture over noodles; spread with 1 cup of the sauce mixture. Sprinkle with 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat with 4 noodles, the remaining cheese mixture, 1 cup of the sauce mixture and 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining noodles and sauce mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Cover; bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake about 15 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

Expert Tips

Leftover lasagna freezes well. Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap, then wrap again with aluminum foil. You need only unwrap and thoroughly reheat to enjoy an instant lasagna fix!

Put this recipe together lickety-split using 5 cups (40 ounces) of your favorite regular (do not use thick or extra-thick varieties) spaghetti sauce with meat instead of the first eight ingredients.

If your family likes lasagna with a milder flavor, use ground beef instead of the bulk Italian sausage.

VEGETARIAN KOFTA CURRY

This yumminess is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, "Kofta curry — a saucy dish of gently spiced meatballs — is often made with meat. But this one, based on my grandfather’s, swaps in a mash of beans. Bound with bread crumbs and seasoned with ginger, garlic, green chile and herbs, it’s a variation full of flavor and texture. Have it with some flatbread and some sliced cucumber in yogurt, or spooned over a bowl of rice. It’s also delicious in a sandwich the next day."

Time: 1 hour; Yield: 4 servings

This was featured in "I Think of My Grandfather Every Time I Make Kofta", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021415-vegetarian-kofta-curry.

Note: Seriously, you might want to click the link above to the article. I found it to be interesting. Thanks for the good read, Tejal.

Ingredients

4 garlic cloves

1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled

2 green chiles (such as jalapeño or serrano), stems removed

1 (14-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

4 spring onions or scallions, trimmed and chopped

1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped, 1 tablespoon reserved for garnish

1 bunch fresh mint, chopped, 1 tablespoon reserved for garnish

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1 egg

1 teaspoon garam masala, plus more for garnish

1/2 teaspoon red chile powder

1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more as needed

1/2 cup neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed

1 medium white onion, finely chopped

8 to 10 ripe Roma tomatoes (about 3 pounds) or 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

Black pepper

Preparation

Put the garlic, ginger and green chiles in a food processor, and pulse until you have a coarse paste. Put half the paste into a large bowl. Set the rest aside.

Add the beans, spring onions, fresh herbs, bread crumbs, egg, garam masala, chile powder and salt to the large bowl with the paste. Mix well with a fork, mashing up the beans as you go into small pieces.

Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and arrange on the pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil, and bake until lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium. Sauté the onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining garlic, ginger and chile paste, and sauté until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. If using fresh tomatoes, purée them until smooth in the food processor. Stir the tomato purée or crushed tomatoes, coriander and cumin into the skillet, and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the kofta to the skillet, and turn the heat to low. If necessary, add enough water for the liquid to come about two-thirds of the way up the sides of the meatballs, then simmer another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the kofta are warmed through and the sauce has thickened. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with a light dust of garam masala and some extra herbs.

SALSA VERDE RICE AND CHICKEN BOWLS

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Chicken tonight? Give it a glow-up with this salsa verde rice twist. Start by stirring in Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde sauce and green chiles to cooked rice before adding in a scoop of shredded rotisserie chicken. Everyone can sprinkle in their favorite taco fixings to make this chicken rice bowl recipe a hassle-free, flavorful success."

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/salsa-verde-rice-and-chicken-bowls.

Ingredients

1/2 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice

1 cup water

1/3 cup Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde sauce

1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ Chopped Green Chiles

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

2 1/2 cups chopped deli rotisserie chicken

1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ Chicken Taco Seasoning Mix

1/4 cup water

1 package (8 count) Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Bowls, heated as directed on package

1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

1/2 cup quartered grape tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

In 1 to 1 1/2-quart saucepan, heat uncooked rice and 1 cup water to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 8 to 10 minutes or until all water is absorbed. Remove from heat; let stand covered 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Stir in sauce and green chiles; cover and keep warm.

In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken, taco seasoning mix and 1/4 cup water; cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until chicken is heated through. Remove from heat.

To assemble, divide rice and chicken mixtures among warm tortilla bowls; top with cheese, tomatoes, cilantro and additional sauce, if desired.

Expert Tips



Precooked rice is available for purchase in the frozen section of the grocery store and is a convenient alternative to the cooked rice in this recipe. You may also use 1 1/2 cups leftover cooked rice, heated in microwave, before adding the sauce.

Deli rotisserie chicken makes these bowls quick and convenient!

Topping the bowls with your favorite salsa or fresh pico de gallo is a great alternative to the tomatoes and cilantro.

SHEET PAN CARNE ASADA

This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Get delicious, flame-kissed carne asada on the table in less than an hour with this sheet pan carne asada oven recipe made entirely in the broiler. There is no need to marinate the steak the night before, just brush on our classic Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix and ground spicy red pepper. Toss your fresh vegetables with cumin and coriander and then arrange it all on your sheet pan to let the broiler do the rest of the work. You may not go back to grilling carne asada after tasting the delicious and tender steak and vegetables from this easy-to-make broiler recipe!"

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/sheet-pan-carne-asada.

Ingredients

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 ears fresh sweet corn, cut in thirds, or 6 pieces frozen corn on the cob, thawed (from 12-ct package)

1 medium red bell pepper, cut in thin strips

1 medium yellow bell pepper, cut in thin strips

1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced

1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)

1 1/3 lb beef flank steak

Tortillas and Toppings, as desired : Old El Paso™ flour tortillas, crumbled queso fresco, sliced radishes, diced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, sour cream

Directions

Position oven rack 4 inches from broiler element. Spray 18x13-inch rimmed sheet pan with cooking spray.

In large bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil, the cumin, coriander and salt. Add corn, bell peppers and onion to bowl, and toss to coat; transfer to pan. In same large bowl, mix remaining 2 tablespoons oil, the taco seasoning mix and ground red pepper. Add steak; rub mixture in to steak. Transfer to pan with vegetables.

Broil 8 to 10 minutes, turning steak and stirring vegetables once, until instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of steak reads 135°F (for medium). Transfer steak to cutting board; cover with foil, and let steak rest 5 minutes.

Stir vegetables in pan; return to oven, and broil 4 to 6 minutes longer or until vegetables are blackened in spots. Thinly slice steak on the bias, against the grain. Serve with vegetables in tortillas with toppings.

Expert Tips

While traditional carne asada is all about the marinade, when you don’t have time to marinate your meat for several hours this recipe is the perfect solution. To make sure your steak is properly spiced before broiling, season one piece of sliced steak at a time. Sprinkle the seasoning over the steak first on both sides and then use your hands to rub it further into the steak. Make sure the steak is completely covered with the spice mix, rubbing in the spices to the front, back and the sides.

We love eating this flavor-packed corn straight from the cob. But feel free to cut the corn off the cob after taking it out of the broiler to make serving easier.

If your oven’s broiler only covers the center of your oven, arrange your pan with the steak in the center of the pan when you are first broiling. When you remove the steak rest, thoroughly stir the vegetables and position them in the center to ensure all elements get plenty of time directly under the flames.

Give your carne asada-packed tortillas a flavor boost with homemade guacamole! We can’t get enough of our recipe for Guacamole with Queso Fresco. This guacamole is perfect for adding to tacos and burritos or great when you are just snacking with a bag of corn chips!

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Double-Post Thursday

Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Today's offerings include Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili and Favorite Pumpkin Granola. Enjoy!

VEGETARIAN KOFTA CURRY

This yumminess is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, "Kofta curry — a saucy dish of gently spiced meatballs — is often made with meat. But this one, based on my grandfather’s, swaps in a mash of beans. Bound with bread crumbs and seasoned with ginger, garlic, green chile and herbs, it’s a variation full of flavor and texture. Have it with some flatbread and some sliced cucumber in yogurt, or spooned over a bowl of rice. It’s also delicious in a sandwich the next day."

Time: 1 hour; Yield: 4 servings

This was featured in "I Think of My Grandfather Every Time I Make Kofta", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021415-vegetarian-kofta-curry.

Note: Seriously, you might want to click the link above to the article. I found it to be interesting. Thanks for the good read, Tejal.

Ingredients

4 garlic cloves

1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled

2 green chiles (such as jalapeño or serrano), stems removed

1 (14-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

4 spring onions or scallions, trimmed and chopped

1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped, 1 tablespoon reserved for garnish

1 bunch fresh mint, chopped, 1 tablespoon reserved for garnish

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1 egg

1 teaspoon garam masala, plus more for garnish

1/2 teaspoon red chile powder

1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more as needed

1/2 cup neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed

1 medium white onion, finely chopped

8 to 10 ripe Roma tomatoes (about 3 pounds) or 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

Black pepper

Preparation

Put the garlic, ginger and green chiles in a food processor, and pulse until you have a coarse paste. Put half the paste into a large bowl. Set the rest aside.

Add the beans, spring onions, fresh herbs, bread crumbs, egg, garam masala, chile powder and salt to the large bowl with the paste. Mix well with a fork, mashing up the beans as you go into small pieces.

Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and arrange on the pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil, and bake until lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium. Sauté the onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining garlic, ginger and chile paste, and sauté until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. If using fresh tomatoes, purée them until smooth in the food processor. Stir the tomato purée or crushed tomatoes, coriander and cumin into the skillet, and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the kofta to the skillet, and turn the heat to low. If necessary, add enough water for the liquid to come about two-thirds of the way up the sides of the meatballs, then simmer another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the kofta are warmed through and the sauce has thickened. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with a light dust of garam masala and some extra herbs.

NUTELLA® GANACHE BROWNIES

This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, “Next time you need a party dessert or just want to pamper someone special (you’re special, by the way), this is your recipe. Betty’s perfect brownies get topped with a glossy ganache and pretty sprinkle of toasted hazelnut for an impressive look that also hints at the secret ingredient: Nutella™! This delectable chocolate-hazelnut spread gets added to the ganache—a fudgy frosting made of chocolate and heavy cream—giving it extra chocolaty flavor, hint of nuttiness, and a lot of ooey-gooey texture. This simple ganache is made in the microwave, so it’s extra quick, and Betty’s brownies start with a mix, which means this spectacular dessert is actually super easy—only 15 minutes of hands-on time required!”

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes; Servings: 16

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 box (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix

Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box

1/2 cup Nutella® hazelnut spread with cocoa

1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts (filberts), toasted, skinned

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make brownie batter as directed on box. Spread in pan.

Bake 28 to 31 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1 1/2 hours.

In medium microwavable bowl, microwave hazelnut spread, chocolate chips and whipping cream uncovered on High 30 seconds. Stir; continue to microwave in 15-second increments, stirring after each, until smooth. Pour hazelnut mixture over baked brownie; spread over top. Sprinkle nuts over top. Refrigerate uncovered about 2 hours or until hazelnut mixture is set. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

Expert Tips

Removing hazelnut skins can be time-consuming, but we’ve got a method that makes it efficient. Toast nuts at 375°F 10 to 12 minutes, stirring twice. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Then, pour nuts into clean kitchen towel, and gather tightly into a bundle. Rub vigorously with towel to remove skins.

If you want to skip a step, look for skinned hazelnuts. Hint: They’re sometimes called filberts. To toast skinned hazelnuts, set oven to 350°F. Spread skinned hazelnuts on ungreased baking sheet. Bake uncovered 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light brown. Keep a close eye on toasting nuts, as they can quickly become too dark.

No matter what, don’t skip the toasting step. It adds depth of flavor and brings out the richness of the nuts while also giving them a pretty warm brown color.

Microwave ovens vary, so carefully watch ganache mixture during this step. We highly recommend following the directions to help avoid burning.

The trick to cleanly removing brownies from the pan is to line it with foil. To easily do so, flip your pan upside down. Wrap the foil around the bottom of the pan, leaving a little extra length on either side—this length will serve as “handles” later—then cut your piece. When you turn the pan over, you’ll have the perfect-sized and preshaped piece of foil. After baking, allow brownies to cool completely before lifting out of pan by foil “handles.”

To serve clean-cut pieces, cut with sharp knife, and clean blade after each cut.

Nutella® is a chocolate-hazelnut spread usually found in the same aisle as peanut butter, jellies and jams. If you find yourself a fan, check out the rest of Betty’s chocolate-hazelnut desserts.

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.

FAVORITE PUMPKIN GRANOLA

This is from Lindsay on her food blog, Pinch of Yum. I absolutely love Pinch of Yum, and highly recommend it. Go ahead and check it out, and sign up for her emails. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

author: lindsay prep time: 10 mins cook time: 30 mins total time: 40 minutes yield: 9 cups (about 18 half-cup servings)

This recipe begins, “Pumpkin Granola that is both salty and sweet! Made with REAL PUMPKIN along with oats, coconut, almonds, pistachios, maple syrup, cinnamon, and olive oil. My favorite fall granola! ♡ Adapted from the Last Granola Recipe by my friend The Faux Martha.”

To view this online, click http://pinchofyum.com/pumpkin-granola/>here.

Ingredients

6 cups rolled oats

1 heaping cup sliced almonds

1 heaping cup pistachios (or other nuts)

1 heaping cup unsweetened flaked coconut

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 cup olive oil

1 cup maple syrup

2-3 teaspoons salt (see notes)

1-2 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions

Prep the Pumpkin Granola: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the dry ingredients together (oats, almonds, pistachios, coconut). Whisk the wet ingredients and spices together (pumpkin, olive oil, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon). Pour wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir to combine.

Bake the Pumpkin Granola: Spread the granola into a large nonstick jelly roll pan or cake pan – I do this on two separate pans or in two batches. Bake for 15 minutes; stir; bake for another 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest – it should start to crisp up.

Eat and love: Store in a plastic zip-top bag for a week or so. Serve with granola, fruit, or just with good ol’ milk.

Notes

Salt: Yup. 2-3 teaspoons salt is not a typo. This recipe, as written, is meant to be salty! I love it that way. I make mine with 2 1/2 or 3 teaspoons salt, and it gives it an awesome salty-sweet bite, but if you’re not into the salty-sweet thing, you can definitely reduce that amount. Either way, be aware that the unbaked granola “batter” will taste very salty, and fear not – that saltiness mellows out beautifully after you bake it.

Bake times: There is a fine line between perfectly toasted / caramelized and straight up burned pumpkin granola. I found that the 30 to 40 minute mark was my cut-off in our smaller studio oven, whereas in my larger oven at home I got away with about 45 minutes. I had several batches that I popped back in the oven for an extra five minutes and they went from browned to burned really quickly, so beware. That being said, even if you get a little extra browning (not burning, just browning) around the edges, I think that actually tastes really nice once mixed with the rest of the granola. Was that overall just super helpful?

Pro Tip: Sprinking raw or brown sugar and a tiny bit of extra salt over the top of the granola as it cools is never a bad idea.

Other add-ins that work well: pecans, walnuts, chia seeds. But be advised that the pecans and walnuts both burn pretty easily so I would suggest adding them towards the end of the baking time. The pistachios seem to be able to handle the heat a bit more, so I found that it worked just fine to add them with all the other ingredients.

SALSA VERDE RICE AND CHICKEN BOWLS

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Chicken tonight? Give it a glow-up with this salsa verde rice twist. Start by stirring in Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde sauce and green chiles to cooked rice before adding in a scoop of shredded rotisserie chicken. Everyone can sprinkle in their favorite taco fixings to make this chicken rice bowl recipe a hassle-free, flavorful success."

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/salsa-verde-rice-and-chicken-bowls.

Ingredients

1/2 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice

1 cup water

1/3 cup Old El Paso™ Creamy Salsa Verde sauce

1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ Chopped Green Chiles

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

2 1/2 cups chopped deli rotisserie chicken

1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ Chicken Taco Seasoning Mix

1/4 cup water

1 package (8 count) Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Bowls, heated as directed on package

1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

1/2 cup quartered grape tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

In 1 to 1 1/2-quart saucepan, heat uncooked rice and 1 cup water to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 8 to 10 minutes or until all water is absorbed. Remove from heat; let stand covered 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Stir in sauce and green chiles; cover and keep warm.

In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken, taco seasoning mix and 1/4 cup water; cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until chicken is heated through. Remove from heat.

To assemble, divide rice and chicken mixtures among warm tortilla bowls; top with cheese, tomatoes, cilantro and additional sauce, if desired.

Expert Tips



Precooked rice is available for purchase in the frozen section of the grocery store and is a convenient alternative to the cooked rice in this recipe. You may also use 1 1/2 cups leftover cooked rice, heated in microwave, before adding the sauce.

Deli rotisserie chicken makes these bowls quick and convenient!

Topping the bowls with your favorite salsa or fresh pico de gallo is a great alternative to the tomatoes and cilantro.

HAN OAK GALBIJJIM

This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, "This is a home cook’s take on the short-rib stew the chef Peter Cho serves at Han Oak, the beautiful homestyle Korean restaurant in Portland, Ore., that he runs with his wife, Sun Young Park. It is fragrant and sweet, with deep caramelized flavors that come in part from roasting the meat and vegetables separately before combining them in the braising liquid. Cho fries rice cakes before adding them to the stew, but you can just slide them in plain, if you prefer. Either way, the addition of greens at the end gives the dish an exciting brightness, a zip that many galbijjims lack."

Yield: 6 servings; Time: 2 hours

This was featured in "A Secret Ingredient Makes This Chef’s Galbijjim Perfect. Just Don’t Tell Mom.", and cam be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019918-han-oak-galbijjim.

Ingredients

3 pounds mixed root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, onions and sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

5 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola or vegetable oil

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

4 pounds bone-in short ribs, cut by a butcher into 2-inch pieces

2 medium-size Asian pears, peeled, cored and diced

1 large red onion, peeled and diced

12 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

2 tablespoons roughly chopped ginger

3 cups chicken stock

1 12-ounce can Coca-Cola

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup rice-wine vinegar

2 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean chile flakes), or to taste

4 cups roughly chopped kale, optional

1 pound Korean rice cakes, optional

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

3 scallions, trimmed and both white and green parts thinly sliced

3 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced

Sesame seeds, to taste

Preparation

Heat oven to 425. Toss the root vegetables in a large bowl with 2 tablespoons of oil, and season with an aggressive amount of salt and pepper. Turn the vegetables onto a sheet pan. Put the short ribs in the same bowl, and toss with 1 tablespoon of oil and a lot of salt and pepper, then put the ribs on another sheet pan, bone sides down. Place both pans in the oven and roast, turning the pans once or twice, until the vegetables are soft and caramelized and the ribs are well browned, approximately 40 minutes. Set the pans aside until ready to use.

While the vegetables and ribs cook, place a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and swirl into it the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. When it shimmers, add the pears, onion, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and browning, approximately 15 minutes.

Turn heat to high, add the stock, Coca-Cola, honey, soy sauce, rice-wine vinegar and gochugaru, and bring the mixture to a lively simmer. Cook until pears are tender, approximately 20 minutes. Transfer to a blender or food processor, and purée the sauce until smooth, then return it to the pot.

Add the cooked short ribs and whatever fat has rendered from them to the pot, cover it and cook over medium-low heat for approximately 90 minutes, or until very tender.

When the meat can be flaked from the bone, add the roasted vegetables to the pot, along with the rice cakes. Cook until the vegetables are hot and the rice cakes (if using) are sticky, then add the greens, and stir them around until they have just started to turn tender.

Drizzle with the sesame oil, top with the scallions, radishes and sesame seeds to taste. Serve immediately.

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Friday, October 16, 2020

Friday Recipes

It's Friday, time to Celebrate (wouldn't you agree?).

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the weekend. Today's offerings include Creamy Chicken Enchiladas and a Pepperoni Pizza Pocket, as well as as other yummy recipes to help you through the weekend. Enjoy!

BEST BEEF STROGANOFF

This is from Bri22 on Food. Time: 35 minutes; Serves: 6 - 8

To view this online, click here..

Ingredients

1⁄2 cup minced onion

1 cup sour cream

1 garlic clove, minced

1⁄4 cup butter

1 lb ground beef

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon salt

1⁄4 teaspoon pepper

canned mushroom stems and pieces, 2-3 cans, drained

1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup (I always use the top name brand)

1 (12 ounce) bag egg noodles, cooked

Directions

Sauté onion and garlic in butter over medium heat.

Stir in ground beef and brown stir in flour, salt, mushrooms, and pepper cook 5 minutes, then stir in soup. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes.

Stir in sour cream until heated. Serve over noodles.

VEGETARIAN KOFTA CURRY

This yumminess is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, "Kofta curry — a saucy dish of gently spiced meatballs — is often made with meat. But this one, based on my grandfather’s, swaps in a mash of beans. Bound with bread crumbs and seasoned with ginger, garlic, green chile and herbs, it’s a variation full of flavor and texture. Have it with some flatbread and some sliced cucumber in yogurt, or spooned over a bowl of rice. It’s also delicious in a sandwich the next day."

Time: 1 hour; Yield: 4 servings

This was featured in "I Think of My Grandfather Every Time I Make Kofta", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021415-vegetarian-kofta-curry.

Note: Seriously, you might want to click the link above to the article. I found it to be interesting. Thanks for the good read, Tejal.

Ingredients

4 garlic cloves

1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled

2 green chiles (such as jalapeño or serrano), stems removed

1 (14-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

4 spring onions or scallions, trimmed and chopped

1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped, 1 tablespoon reserved for garnish

1 bunch fresh mint, chopped, 1 tablespoon reserved for garnish

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1 egg

1 teaspoon garam masala, plus more for garnish

1/2 teaspoon red chile powder

1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more as needed

1/2 cup neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed

1 medium white onion, finely chopped

8 to 10 ripe Roma tomatoes (about 3 pounds) or 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

Black pepper

Preparation

Put the garlic, ginger and green chiles in a food processor, and pulse until you have a coarse paste. Put half the paste into a large bowl. Set the rest aside.

Add the beans, spring onions, fresh herbs, bread crumbs, egg, garam masala, chile powder and salt to the large bowl with the paste. Mix well with a fork, mashing up the beans as you go into small pieces.

Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and arrange on the pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil, and bake until lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium. Sauté the onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining garlic, ginger and chile paste, and sauté until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. If using fresh tomatoes, purée them until smooth in the food processor. Stir the tomato purée or crushed tomatoes, coriander and cumin into the skillet, and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the kofta to the skillet, and turn the heat to low. If necessary, add enough water for the liquid to come about two-thirds of the way up the sides of the meatballs, then simmer another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the kofta are warmed through and the sauce has thickened. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with a light dust of garam masala and some extra herbs.

MARASCHINO CHERRY CREAM CHEESE BROWNIES

This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, “Cream cheese, maraschino cherries and Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix create a trio of delight in this fudgy irresistible treat!”

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes; Servings: 16.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Filling

3 oz (from 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons chopped maraschino cherries, drained, patted dry

1 teaspoon maraschino cherry juice

1 egg, separated, yolk reserved for brownie batter

Brownies

1 box (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix

Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box

Reserved egg yolk

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. In small bowl, mix cream cheese and sugar with spoon until smooth. Add flour, cherries, cherry juice and egg white; mix until well blended. Set aside.

Make brownie batter as directed on box adding reserved egg yolk. Reserve 3/4 cup brownie batter; set aside. Spread remaining batter in pan. Spoon filling by tablespoonful dollops evenly onto batter, making 3 rows by 3 rows. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the reserved brownie batter in center of each filling dollop. Draw knife through mixture in four straight lines horizontally, the vertically for swirled design.

Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool 30 minutes on cooling rack. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until chilled. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Expert Tips

Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before stirring up the batter, allowing it to soften and warm up. Or, to quickly soften cream cheese, remove from wrapper and place on microwavable plate. Microwave uncovered on High about 10 seconds or just until softened.

To make a pinker filling, add a few drops of red gel food color when making the cream cheese filling.

Adding the extra egg yolk to the brownie batter gives structure and helps the cream cheese filling swirl throughout the brownies.

Be sure to insert toothpick in the brownie and not the cream cheese filling when testing for doneness.

To make cutting the brownies a breeze, line the baking pan with foil, allowing some to hang over edges of pan. Once the brownies are chilled, you can lift them out of the pan onto a large cutting board, peel foil away and cut into serving pieces.

CHICKEN POT PIE

This comes from Robbie Rice on the AllRecipes website. Robbie wrote, "A delicious chicken pie made from scratch with carrots, peas and celery."

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 8; Yield: 1 9-inch pie

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/26317/chicken-pot-pie-ix/.

Ingredients

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed

1 cup sliced carrots

1 cup frozen green peas

1/2 cup sliced celery

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon celery seed

1 3/4 cups chicken broth

2/3 cup milk

2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

In a saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas, and celery. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.

In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.

Place the chicken mixture in bottom pie crust. Pour hot liquid mixture over. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

CREAMY CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

This comes from Reynolds Kitchens, and begins, “Enchiladas are simple and delicious when you line your pans with Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil.” Prep Time: 15 - 25 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 6; Course: Main Dish.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream, divided

1 1/2 cups shredded cheese

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

12 (6-inch) flour tortillas

1 1/2 cups salsa

Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking pan with Reynolds Wrap® 18-inch Wide Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil. Grease or spray foil to prevent sticking. Combine chicken and soup with half of sour cream, cheese and cilantro.

Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place, seam-sides down, in foil-lined pan. Top with salsa and remaining cheese. Cover with foil.

Bake for 15 minutes; remove foil. Continue baking 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with cilantro and sour cream.

PEPPERONI PIZZA POCKET

This comes from Jeff Mauro, of The Food Network’s Sandwich King. Total Time: 50 min; Prep: 20 min; Cook: 30 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/jeff-mauro/pepperoni-pizza-pocket-recipe.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for brushing

1/2 small onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes

1/2 teaspoon sugar

Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

4 to 6 leaves fresh basil, torn

All-purpose flour, for dusting

1 pound pizza dough, divided into 4 balls

2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella

12 ounces pepperoni, thinly sliced

Grated Parmesan, to taste

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat the olive oil in a small saucepot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and saute until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add in the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add in the tomato paste and saute for 1 more minute. Stir in the diced tomatoes, sugar and season with salt and pepper. Add the torn basil leaves and bring to a slow simmer. Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes while you make your pizza pocket.

Roll out the dough balls on a lightly floured surface into 4 equal rounds. On half of each round, layer some mozzarella, and then some pepperoni slices. Fold in half, covering the filling, and then fold the outer edges up and crimp the edges with your fingers to seal. Place the pockets on a baking sheet, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with grated Parmesan. Bake until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with the sauce on the side.