We’ve survived another weekend, and, if you’re like many people, you’re giving Meatless Monday a try, for any number of reasons. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but as a vegetarian, I find it easier to fix meatless meals than those centered around meat. But whether you’re a meat-eater who’s simply trying one meatless day a week (hey, it’s a start!), a vegetarian, or a vegan (something I’m working towards), here are some recipes you’re sure to want to try. Enjoy!
MAPLE-GLAZED SWEET POTATOES
This comes from the November 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 60. It starts off, “As these sweet potatoes cook, a blend of maple syrup and apple cider vinegar thickens into a light glaze.” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
1 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
2 cinnamon sticks
3 lb. sweet potatoes or garnet yams, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 Tbs. shelled roasted unsalted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine maple syrup, vinegar, 1/2 cup water, oil, salt, and cinnamon sticks in 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Add sweet potatoes, and stir to coat.
Cover dish tightly with foil, and bake 10 minutes. Uncover, and bake 30 to 35 minutes more, basting potatoes every 10 minutes with maple mixture, until maple mixture thickens and potatoes glisten and begin to brown. Remove from oven, season with salt and pepper (if desired), and stir in sunflower seeds.
nutritional information per 3/4-cup serving: Calories: 233; Protein: 2 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 51 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 332 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 32 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
SPINACH, PEPPERS, AND CHERRY TOMATOES WITH PENNE RIGATE
This is from the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 28. It begins, "Fresh cherry tomatoes and spinach add bright color, flavor, and body to this Mediterranean-style dish." Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.
To view online, click here.
2 1/2 cups penne rigate pasta (6 oz.)
1 Tbs. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
1 12-oz. jar roasted red peppers, rinsed, drained, patted dry, and sliced
10 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved (2 cups)
4 cups packed baby spinach leaves (8 oz.)
1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh oregano
1 1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain, and reserve 1/2 cup pasta-cooking water.
Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute, stirring frequently, or until lightly browned.
Increase heat to high. Add roasted peppers, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
Add tomatoes, spinach, olives, oregano, lemon zest, and pepper. Cook 4 to 6 minutes, or until tomatoes soften and spinach wilts, stirring frequently. Add pasta and reserved pasta-cooking water; cover, and cook 3 minutes more, or until heated through.
nutritional information Per 1 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 266; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 46 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 340 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan
RIGATONI TORTE WITH RICOTTA AND FALL VEGETABLES
This comes from the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 55. It starts off, “Packed with autumn flavors, this impressive main dish is mac-and-cheese elevated to its highest form.” Serves 12.
To view this online, click here.
3 sprigs fresh sage plus 2 Tbs. chopped fresh sage, divided
12 oz. white or cremini mushrooms, quartered (6 cups)
3 small leeks, white and light green parts cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds (3 cups)
12 oz. broccoli, cut into 1 1/2-inch florets (6 cups)
1 lb. uncooked rigatoni
4 Tbs. butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 32-oz. pkg. creamy butternut squash soup, such as Imagine Foods
2 cups grated Swiss or Gruyère cheese, divided
1 tsp. truffle oil, plus more for drizzling, optional
1 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 10-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Bring large pot of salted water to a boil with fresh sage sprigs; use this boiling water to separately blanch mushrooms (3 minutes), then leeks (2 minutes), and then broccoli (1 minute). Immediately transfer each vegetable to colander with slotted spoon, rinse under cold water, drain well, and transfer to 1 large bowl.
Cook rigatoni in boiling water 3 minutes less than cooking time recommended on package, then drain, rinse under cold water, and transfer to separate large bowl.
Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until beginning to turn light brown, stirring constantly. Add butternut squash soup, and cook 5 minutes, or until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 cup grated cheese, chopped sage, and 1 tsp. truffle oil (if using); season with salt and pepper, if desired. Stir soup mixture into pasta, add blanched vegetables, and stir to combine.
Spread one-third of pasta mixture in prepared springform pan; dot with 1/3 cup ricotta cheese. Repeat twice with remaining pasta mixture and ricotta, and then sprinkle with remaining 1 cup grated cheese. (If making ahead, cover springform pan tightly with foil, and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Uncover before baking.)
Place springform pan on large baking sheet, and bake 30 minutes, or until top is browned and cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before unmolding and serving.
nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 334; Protein: 15 g; Total Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 45 g; Cholesterol: 33 mg; Sodium: 296 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 8 g
SOFT APPLE GINGER SPICE COOKIES
This is from the September 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 65. The recipe starts off, “In addition to being some of the best spice cookies you’ll ever eat, these may also be the easiest since you don’t need an electric mixer to prepare the dough. You can also make them without diced apples, or substitute dried cranberries.” Makes 20 4-inch cookies.
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup Rosy Applesauce (recipe follows) or unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup molasses
3/4 cup sugar, plus 1/2 cup for rolling cookies
1 large apple, peeled and finely diced (1 cup)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper, or coat with cooking spray.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in large bowl.
Whisk together oil, applesauce, and molasses in separate large bowl. Whisk in 3/4 cup sugar. Stir in flour mixture with spatula. Fold in diced apple.
Place remaining 1/2 cup sugar in bowl. Roll 1/4 cup dough into ball, then roll ball in sugar. Repeat with remaining dough. Place balls on prepared baking sheets.
Put baking sheets in oven, and bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops of cookies are dry and bottoms are golden brown. Transfer to wire rack to cool.
Per cookie: 176 cal; 2 g protein; 6 g total fat (less than 1 g sat. fat); 30 g carb; 0 mg chol; 127 mg sodium; less than 1 g fiber; 16 g sugars
ROSY APPLESAUCE
From page 63 of the September 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times.
While this isn’t a cookie recipe, it figures into the Soft Apple Ginger Spice Cookies. It would also make a nice addition to almost any meal. The recipe starts off, “Use a variety of apples to give the applesauce a more complex flavor.” Makes 6 cups.
4 lb. apples, quartered with skins and cores
1 cup apple cider
Place apples and cider in large pot, and bring to a boil. Cover, and cook 1 hour, or until apples are mushy, stirring occasionally. Cool in pot. Pass apples through food mill or sieve. Discard solids. Store up to 1 week in fridge.
Per 1/2-cup serving: 72 cal; less than 1 g protein; less than 1 g fat (less than 1 g sat. fat); 19 g carb; 0 mg chol; 2 mg sodium; 2 g fiber; 15 g sugar
LOW-FAT VEGAN EGGPLANT LASAGNA
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com's Vegetarian food expert. She writes, "A wonderful vegetarian lasagna recipe full of healthy spinach and eggplant. This vegetarian and vegan lasagna recipe uses no cheese, making it both vegan and dairy-free, as well as much lower in fat than a traditional lasagna."
Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium eggplant, diced
2 10 ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, defrosted
1 64 ounce jar pre-made tomato sauce
1 pound lasagna noodles
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Sautee the garlic for two minutes, then add the eggplant and stir. Cover the frying pan and cook until the eggplant is just tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Cover the bottom of a 9x12 inch baking pan with 2 cups of the tomato sauce, then cover the tomato sauce with 4 or 5 uncooked noodles. Cover this with a thin layer of sauce, then add the cooked eggplant and another thin layer of sauce. Add another layer of noodles followed by a thing layer of sauce, then the spinach and another thin layer of sauce. Add the remaining noodles and sauce.
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45-50 minutes. Noodles are cooked when they can be pierced with a fork.
Makes six servings of eggplant and spinach lasagna. Reprinted with permission from The Compassionate Cook Cookbook.
Nutritional information, per serving: Calories: 347, Calories from Fat: 41; % Daily Value: Total Fat: 4.6g, 7%, Total Carbohydrates: 65.8g, 22%, Dietary Fiber: 9.2g, 37%, Protein: 16.3g, Vitamin A 199%, Vitamin C 83%, Calcium 14%, Iron 32%
Monday, April 11, 2016
Friday, April 8, 2016
Friday Recipes
Finally, Friday! Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend. Enjoy!
LEMON-ALMOND BUTTER CAKE
This yummy cake comes from Regina Schrambling in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Regina wrote, “This buttery almond cake with lemon curd baked inside is like the ultimate citrus tart, without the heartbreak of pie crust. It's fancy enough to be served as a dinner party dessert, yet substantial enough to be served with Sunday brunch. (Bonus: you'll have several tablespoons of lemon curd left over. It's delicious on toast or pancakes.)” Makes 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Curd:
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
4 extra-large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
For the Cake:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 cup plus 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup ground toasted almonds
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
About 1/2 cup heavy cream for garnish
1 tablespoon almond liqueur (optional)
Preparation
For the curd, combine zest, juice, sugar and eggs in a heatproof bowl, and beat well. Add butter, and place over a saucepan full of simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until mixture thickens into curd, about 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl, and press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming. Refrigerate until cool, at least 1 1/2 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with 1 tablespoon butter, and dust with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess.
With an electric mixer, cream the remaining butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt, and stir in. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until they start to foam. Do not overbeat or the cake will be tough. Add eggs and ground almonds to batter, and mix well.
Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Drop 8 individual tablespoons lemon curd around perimeter of batter, leaving a 1-inch border, and taking care to space drops evenly. Drop 3 to 4 tablespoons curd into center of batter. Refrigerate remaining curd for another use. Sprinkle cake with toasted almonds and 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, depending on taste.
Bake until cake is toasty brown on top and a toothpick inserted into cake (not curd) comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool on rack 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan, and cool completely.
Whip cream with almond liqueur. Present cake at table, and offer whipped cream on the side.
PASTA PRIMAVERA
This absolutely yummy recipe is from Giada De Laurentiis of The Food Network’s Everyday Italian. Total Time: 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Cook: 20 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pasta-primavera-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips
2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
15 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.
LIGHT POTATO SALAD
This is from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Nigella wrote, “I know the potato salad I suggest is in culinary terms very un-American. I resolutely believe, however, that potatoes are so much better dressed in oil and vinegar (but it must be good wine vinegar) than blanketed in mayonnaise.” Time: 45 minutes; makes 8 to 10 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Salt
5 pounds new potatoes, creamers or other small (1-inch to 1 1/2-inch diameter) potatoes
6 scallions, thinly sliced into rings
2 tablespoons garlic-infused oil
10 slices (1/2 pound) bacon
2 tablespoons yellow mustard seeds
1/4 cup good-quality white wine vinegar
Preparation
Bring a large wide pan of salted water to a boil, and add potatoes. Boil until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain potatoes, cut in two, and place in a large bowl. Add scallions, and toss gently to mix.
Return dry potato pan to medium heat, and add garlic oil and bacon. Cook bacon until very crisp, and transfer to paper towels.
Add mustard seeds to bacon fat in pan. After a few moments, they will begin to pop. Immediately turn off heat, and add vinegar and potato mixture. Toss together, then transfer back into bowl.
Cover salad with plastic wrap, and allow to rest at room temperature for about an hour. To serve, transfer to a serving bowl, and crumble crispy bacon on top.
SLOW COOKER BOLOGNESE SAUCE
This comes from Erin Chase in The Today Show’s Food Club e-newsletter. Erin also has her own blog, called $5 Dinners. I highly recommend checking it out. Seriously. I’ll wait…(Can you hear me tapping my foot?) Well, if you didn’t just check it out, please do so sometime soon, before you forget.
For this recipe, Erin wrote, “The slow cooker saves my sanity on a weekly, and sometimes daily basis. One of the favorite ways to use my slow cooker is for making double batches of sauces, like this Bolognese sauce. My large 7-quart All Clad slow cooker allows me to make big ole batches of our family’s favorite recipes. I can serve a portion of the batch for dinner that night, and let the rest cool so I can package it up for the freezer. This particular bolognese sauce is perfect for just this...eat some, freeze some for later. To make it super quick to load up in the morning, I recommend browning the ground beef and cooking the bacon the night before, ideally when you’re prepping dinner. If you really want to get ahead (so it will take you less than 5 minutes to load up in the slow cooker), you can chop the onion, celery and carrots too. If you can manage all of that prep the night before, dinner will be a cinch to get going in the slow cooker on a frantic weekday morning. Here’s my favorite doubled up version of bolognese sauce recipe for the slow cooker…” Yield: 8 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cooking Time: 8 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 lb. ground beef, browned
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 - 28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes
2 Tbsp Italian seasoning blend
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp minced onion
4 carrot sticks, peeled and finely chopped or shredded
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 small white onion, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
12 to 16 oz. pasta, for every 4 servings
Fresh veggies or side salad, as side dish
Preparation
Brown the ground beef, ideally the night before.
Cook and crumble the bacon, ideally the night before.
To a 6-qt. or larger slow cooker, combine the browned ground beef, cooked bacon, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, minced onion, the chopped carrots, celery and onion. Mix together in the slow cooker insert.
Set on low and cook for 8 hours. Season with salt and pepper to taste, when the sauce is finished cooking.
Just before dinner, prepare the pasta and veggies.
Serve Slow Cooker Bolognese over pasta with side of veggies or salad.
To Freeze Remaining Sauce:Let cool completely before adding to plastic freezer baggie or container. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in skillet or small saucepan.
ROOT VEGETABLE SOUP
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Here's a simple, robust, cold-weather soup that you can make with almost any mixture of root vegetables you have to hand: carrots, parsnips, celery root, turnips, rutabaga, sweet or regular potato. Flavored with garlic, rosemary and bay leaves on top of a saute of onions and celery, it's an earthy, sweet, and warming meal for days where the air has some bite. Top with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice, some grated cheese, flaky salt and a shower of black pepper.” Time: 1 hour; makes 6 to 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion or 2 leeks (white and light green part only), chopped
2 to 3 celery stalks, diced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 rosemary or thyme branches
2 bay leaves
3 1/2 pounds mixed root vegetables (carrot, parsnip, celery root, turnip, rutabaga, sweet or regular potato), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 teaspoons fine sea salt, more as needed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, more as needed
Juice of 1/2 lemon, more for serving
Extra-virgin olive oil
Flaky sea salt
Crushed Aleppo, Urfa or other chile flakes, optional
Grated Parmesan or pecorino, optional
Preparation
Melt butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Stir in onion and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic, rosemary and bay leaves; cook 1 minute more. Add root vegetables, 8 cups water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer, covered, until vegetables are tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
Remove and discard rosemary branches and bay leaves. Using an immersion blender, purée soup until smooth. (Alternatively, you can purée the soup in batches in a blender or food processor.) If the soup is too thick, add a little water. Season with lemon juice and more salt to taste.
To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with a drizzle of olive oil, a few drops of lemon juice, flaky salt and crushed chile or grated cheese, if desired.
ACADIAN RIGATONI
This is from FamilyTime.com. The recipe starts out, “Three ingredients form the foundation of this Acadian dish - onion, celery, and green bell pepper. It's delectable!” Prep. time: 10 minutes, Cooking time: 28 minutes, Serves: 4. To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 pound hot Italian sausage, or andouille, casings removed, sausage cut into 1-inch pieces
1 onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 cups canned crushed tomatoes in thick puree, one 16 ounce can
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
3/4 pound rigatoni
Directions
In a large frying pan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Stir in the onion, celery, green pepper, and garlic. Cover the pan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, salt, and black pepper. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes longer.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the rigatoni until just done, about 14 minutes. Drain and toss the pasta with the sauce.
VEGAN PUMPKIN RISOTTO
I think this came from About.com, but I'm not completely sure, since it's been kicking around my email account for more than five years with not note. The person who sent this wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan twist on classic Italian risotto - pumpkin! Why not? Pumpkin adds a sweet and unique flavor perfect for fall, as a vegetarian Thanksgiving entree, or anytime. This Italian risotto recipe is both vegetarian and vegan.”
Ingredients:
1 onion. diced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups arborio (risotto) rice
1 cup white wine
4 cups vegetable broth
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated or minced
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 tbsp margarine
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Sautee the onion in olive oil over medium heat for three to five minutes, or until soft. Add the rice. Allow to cook, stirring, for a minute or two. Slowly add the wine. Start to add the vegetable broth, 1/2 cup at a time. Allow the moisture to cook off before adding the next 1/2 cup. Stir frequently. Add remaining ingredients, stirring well, and cook for just a few minutes, until heated through.
LEMON-ALMOND BUTTER CAKE
This yummy cake comes from Regina Schrambling in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Regina wrote, “This buttery almond cake with lemon curd baked inside is like the ultimate citrus tart, without the heartbreak of pie crust. It's fancy enough to be served as a dinner party dessert, yet substantial enough to be served with Sunday brunch. (Bonus: you'll have several tablespoons of lemon curd left over. It's delicious on toast or pancakes.)” Makes 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Curd:
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
4 extra-large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
For the Cake:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 cup plus 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup ground toasted almonds
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
About 1/2 cup heavy cream for garnish
1 tablespoon almond liqueur (optional)
Preparation
For the curd, combine zest, juice, sugar and eggs in a heatproof bowl, and beat well. Add butter, and place over a saucepan full of simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until mixture thickens into curd, about 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl, and press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming. Refrigerate until cool, at least 1 1/2 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with 1 tablespoon butter, and dust with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess.
With an electric mixer, cream the remaining butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt, and stir in. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until they start to foam. Do not overbeat or the cake will be tough. Add eggs and ground almonds to batter, and mix well.
Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Drop 8 individual tablespoons lemon curd around perimeter of batter, leaving a 1-inch border, and taking care to space drops evenly. Drop 3 to 4 tablespoons curd into center of batter. Refrigerate remaining curd for another use. Sprinkle cake with toasted almonds and 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, depending on taste.
Bake until cake is toasty brown on top and a toothpick inserted into cake (not curd) comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool on rack 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan, and cool completely.
Whip cream with almond liqueur. Present cake at table, and offer whipped cream on the side.
PASTA PRIMAVERA
This absolutely yummy recipe is from Giada De Laurentiis of The Food Network’s Everyday Italian. Total Time: 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Cook: 20 min; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pasta-primavera-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips
2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
15 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.
LIGHT POTATO SALAD
This is from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Nigella wrote, “I know the potato salad I suggest is in culinary terms very un-American. I resolutely believe, however, that potatoes are so much better dressed in oil and vinegar (but it must be good wine vinegar) than blanketed in mayonnaise.” Time: 45 minutes; makes 8 to 10 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Salt
5 pounds new potatoes, creamers or other small (1-inch to 1 1/2-inch diameter) potatoes
6 scallions, thinly sliced into rings
2 tablespoons garlic-infused oil
10 slices (1/2 pound) bacon
2 tablespoons yellow mustard seeds
1/4 cup good-quality white wine vinegar
Preparation
Bring a large wide pan of salted water to a boil, and add potatoes. Boil until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain potatoes, cut in two, and place in a large bowl. Add scallions, and toss gently to mix.
Return dry potato pan to medium heat, and add garlic oil and bacon. Cook bacon until very crisp, and transfer to paper towels.
Add mustard seeds to bacon fat in pan. After a few moments, they will begin to pop. Immediately turn off heat, and add vinegar and potato mixture. Toss together, then transfer back into bowl.
Cover salad with plastic wrap, and allow to rest at room temperature for about an hour. To serve, transfer to a serving bowl, and crumble crispy bacon on top.
SLOW COOKER BOLOGNESE SAUCE
This comes from Erin Chase in The Today Show’s Food Club e-newsletter. Erin also has her own blog, called $5 Dinners. I highly recommend checking it out. Seriously. I’ll wait…(Can you hear me tapping my foot?) Well, if you didn’t just check it out, please do so sometime soon, before you forget.
For this recipe, Erin wrote, “The slow cooker saves my sanity on a weekly, and sometimes daily basis. One of the favorite ways to use my slow cooker is for making double batches of sauces, like this Bolognese sauce. My large 7-quart All Clad slow cooker allows me to make big ole batches of our family’s favorite recipes. I can serve a portion of the batch for dinner that night, and let the rest cool so I can package it up for the freezer. This particular bolognese sauce is perfect for just this...eat some, freeze some for later. To make it super quick to load up in the morning, I recommend browning the ground beef and cooking the bacon the night before, ideally when you’re prepping dinner. If you really want to get ahead (so it will take you less than 5 minutes to load up in the slow cooker), you can chop the onion, celery and carrots too. If you can manage all of that prep the night before, dinner will be a cinch to get going in the slow cooker on a frantic weekday morning. Here’s my favorite doubled up version of bolognese sauce recipe for the slow cooker…” Yield: 8 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cooking Time: 8 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 lb. ground beef, browned
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 - 28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes
2 Tbsp Italian seasoning blend
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp minced onion
4 carrot sticks, peeled and finely chopped or shredded
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 small white onion, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
12 to 16 oz. pasta, for every 4 servings
Fresh veggies or side salad, as side dish
Preparation
Brown the ground beef, ideally the night before.
Cook and crumble the bacon, ideally the night before.
To a 6-qt. or larger slow cooker, combine the browned ground beef, cooked bacon, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, minced onion, the chopped carrots, celery and onion. Mix together in the slow cooker insert.
Set on low and cook for 8 hours. Season with salt and pepper to taste, when the sauce is finished cooking.
Just before dinner, prepare the pasta and veggies.
Serve Slow Cooker Bolognese over pasta with side of veggies or salad.
To Freeze Remaining Sauce:Let cool completely before adding to plastic freezer baggie or container. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in skillet or small saucepan.
ROOT VEGETABLE SOUP
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Here's a simple, robust, cold-weather soup that you can make with almost any mixture of root vegetables you have to hand: carrots, parsnips, celery root, turnips, rutabaga, sweet or regular potato. Flavored with garlic, rosemary and bay leaves on top of a saute of onions and celery, it's an earthy, sweet, and warming meal for days where the air has some bite. Top with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice, some grated cheese, flaky salt and a shower of black pepper.” Time: 1 hour; makes 6 to 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion or 2 leeks (white and light green part only), chopped
2 to 3 celery stalks, diced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 rosemary or thyme branches
2 bay leaves
3 1/2 pounds mixed root vegetables (carrot, parsnip, celery root, turnip, rutabaga, sweet or regular potato), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 teaspoons fine sea salt, more as needed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, more as needed
Juice of 1/2 lemon, more for serving
Extra-virgin olive oil
Flaky sea salt
Crushed Aleppo, Urfa or other chile flakes, optional
Grated Parmesan or pecorino, optional
Preparation
Melt butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Stir in onion and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic, rosemary and bay leaves; cook 1 minute more. Add root vegetables, 8 cups water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer, covered, until vegetables are tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
Remove and discard rosemary branches and bay leaves. Using an immersion blender, purée soup until smooth. (Alternatively, you can purée the soup in batches in a blender or food processor.) If the soup is too thick, add a little water. Season with lemon juice and more salt to taste.
To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with a drizzle of olive oil, a few drops of lemon juice, flaky salt and crushed chile or grated cheese, if desired.
ACADIAN RIGATONI
This is from FamilyTime.com. The recipe starts out, “Three ingredients form the foundation of this Acadian dish - onion, celery, and green bell pepper. It's delectable!” Prep. time: 10 minutes, Cooking time: 28 minutes, Serves: 4. To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 pound hot Italian sausage, or andouille, casings removed, sausage cut into 1-inch pieces
1 onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 cups canned crushed tomatoes in thick puree, one 16 ounce can
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
3/4 pound rigatoni
Directions
In a large frying pan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Stir in the onion, celery, green pepper, and garlic. Cover the pan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, salt, and black pepper. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes longer.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the rigatoni until just done, about 14 minutes. Drain and toss the pasta with the sauce.
VEGAN PUMPKIN RISOTTO
I think this came from About.com, but I'm not completely sure, since it's been kicking around my email account for more than five years with not note. The person who sent this wrote, “A vegetarian and vegan twist on classic Italian risotto - pumpkin! Why not? Pumpkin adds a sweet and unique flavor perfect for fall, as a vegetarian Thanksgiving entree, or anytime. This Italian risotto recipe is both vegetarian and vegan.”
Ingredients:
1 onion. diced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups arborio (risotto) rice
1 cup white wine
4 cups vegetable broth
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated or minced
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1 tbsp margarine
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Sautee the onion in olive oil over medium heat for three to five minutes, or until soft. Add the rice. Allow to cook, stirring, for a minute or two. Slowly add the wine. Start to add the vegetable broth, 1/2 cup at a time. Allow the moisture to cook off before adding the next 1/2 cup. Stir frequently. Add remaining ingredients, stirring well, and cook for just a few minutes, until heated through.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Diabetic Thursday
It's Thursday, which means it's Diabetic Thursday. If you're cooking for someone who is diabetic (whether it's you or a loved one), you realize that it can be a little challenging. But most of us want something that tastes good, as well as something that's good for us. Fortunately, the recipes from Diabetic Gourmet prove that diabetic food does not have to be boring or bland. If you're not on their emailing list - even if you're not diabetic or cooking for someone who is - you might want to check it out. In the meantime, here are six more recipes to try out. Enjoy!
BLACK BEAN AND TOMATO SALSA
Yield: 4 servings
Source: "The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/87.shtml
Ingredients
1 cup seeded, diced plum tomatoes (3-4 tomatoes)
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed
2 tablespoons chopped scallions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
1 tablespoon lime juice
1-1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2-1 teaspoon minced canned chipotle in adobo sauce
1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; stir to blend. If not serving immediately, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/2 cup each): Calories: 83, Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Carbohydrate: 11 g, Protein: 4 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sodium: 283 mg; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch
MEXICAN TURKEY SALAD
This recipe, like most recipes on Thursday's blog, comes from Diabetic Gourmet. Their emailing list is great for anyone who is a diabetic or who has a loved one who diabetic. And the recipes are great tasting! This recipe makes about 10 servings.
Online Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/htmll/708.shtml
Ingredients
3 cups cooked, cubed turkey breast
1 can (15 oz.) corn, drained (1 3/4 cups)
1 can (15.5 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/2 cup peeled jicama, diced small
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2-3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice, or to taste
3/4 cup thick salsa
3 drops, or to taste, red pepper sauce (optional)
2-4 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup low-fat shredded Cheddar cheese for garnish (optional)
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro or flat-parsley leaves, for garnish (optional)
Directions
In a large bowl, place turkey, corn, beans, bell peppers and jicama. Gently toss until well mixed and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil and lime juice. Mix in salsa. Add red pepper sauce if desired. Add enough water to thin consistency so dressing can be thinly drizzled over salad. Transfer to serving pitcher.
Drizzle dressing over turkey mixture, tossing to coat salad ingredients evenly.
Cover and chill 1 to 3 hours so flavors can meld. Bring to room temperature and check seasoning before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired. Drain off any excess dressing. Place in serving bowl. Sprinkle top of salad with cheese (if using) and cilantro. Serve with baked tortilla chips, if desired.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 238; Protein: 16 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 413 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g
BROCCOLI CHOWDER
From Diabetic Gourmet. Yield: 6 servings, 1 cup each
Source: "The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook"
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped (1-1/2 cups)
1 large carrot, diced (1/2 cup)
2 stalks celery, diced (1/2 cup)
1 large potato, peeled and diced (1-1/2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3-1/2 cups vegetable broth (two 14-ounce cans)
8 ounces broccoli crowns, cut into 1-inch pieces, stems and florets separated (3 cups)
1 cup grated reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Directions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until the onion and celery soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Add potato and garlic; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, dry mustard and cayenne; cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add broth and broccoli stems; bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in florets; simmer, covered, until the broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes more.
Transfer 2 cups of the chowder to a bowl and mash; return to the pan. Stir in Cheddar and sour cream; cook over medium heat, stirring, until the cheese is melted and the chowder is heated through. Season with salt.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup each): Calories: 180, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 15 mg, Carbohydrate: 23 g, Protein: 6 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sodium: 354 mg Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1 High-Fat Meat
STRAWBERRY-PEACH COOLER
Yield: 2 servings
Serving size: 1 cup
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/737.shtml
Source: The Diabetes Snack, Munch, Nibble, Nosh Book
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/1.shtml
Ingredients
1 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen strawberries
2/3 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen peaches
3/4 cup orange juice
Directions
In a 2-cup measure or similar microwave-safe bowl, combine the strawberries and peaches.
Cover with wax paper, and microwave on high power 45 seconds to 1 minute to thaw the fruit slightly. The fruit should be icy but not hard.
Working with a small knife in the measuring cup, cut each peach slice in half.
Transfer the peaches and strawberries to a blender container.
Add the orange juice. Blend on low power to combine. Then increase power to high and continue to blend until the peaches are completely pureed, at least 1-1/2 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 2 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 23 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Exchanges: 2 Fruit
MUSHROOM MEATLOAF
Yield: 8 servings
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/739.shtml
Source: Secrets of Good-Carb Low-Carb Living
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds 95-percent-lean ground beef or ground turkey
2 cups very finely chopped fresh mushrooms
3/4 cup very finely chopped onion
3/4 cup quick-cooking (1-minute) oats
8-ounce can tomato sauce with roasted garlic or Italian herbs
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons fat-free egg substitute
1/4 cup very finely chopped fresh parsley, or 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Place all of the ingredients except for 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce in a large bowl, and mix well.
Coat a 9-by-5-inch meatloaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and press the mixture into the pan to form a loaf.
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Spread the remaining tomato sauce over the meatloaf and bake for 30 additional minutes, or until the meat is no longer pink inside and a meat thermometer reads at least 160 degrees.
Remove the loaf from the oven, and let sit for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 160; Protein: 20 g; Fat: 4.4 g; Sodium: 399 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 1.6 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.7 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 3 Low-Fat Meat, 1 Vegetable
COLORFUL COLESLAW
Yield: 4 servings
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/740.shtml
Source: Secrets of Good-Carb Low-Carb Living
Ingredients
1 cup thinly sliced green cabbage
1 cup thinly sliced red cabbage
1 medium carrot shredded with a potato peeler, or 1/2 cup precut matchstick carrots
Dressing Ingredients:
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or canola oil
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
Place the cabbage and carrots in a medium bowl, and toss to mix.
Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to mix well. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss again.
Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 52; Protein: 0.8 g; Fat: 3.6 g; Sodium: 187 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.2 g; Carbohydrates: 5 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
BLACK BEAN AND TOMATO SALSA
Yield: 4 servings
Source: "The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/87.shtml
Ingredients
1 cup seeded, diced plum tomatoes (3-4 tomatoes)
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed
2 tablespoons chopped scallions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
1 tablespoon lime juice
1-1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2-1 teaspoon minced canned chipotle in adobo sauce
1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; stir to blend. If not serving immediately, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/2 cup each): Calories: 83, Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Carbohydrate: 11 g, Protein: 4 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sodium: 283 mg; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch
MEXICAN TURKEY SALAD
This recipe, like most recipes on Thursday's blog, comes from Diabetic Gourmet. Their emailing list is great for anyone who is a diabetic or who has a loved one who diabetic. And the recipes are great tasting! This recipe makes about 10 servings.
Online Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/htmll/708.shtml
Ingredients
3 cups cooked, cubed turkey breast
1 can (15 oz.) corn, drained (1 3/4 cups)
1 can (15.5 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/2 cup peeled jicama, diced small
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2-3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice, or to taste
3/4 cup thick salsa
3 drops, or to taste, red pepper sauce (optional)
2-4 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup low-fat shredded Cheddar cheese for garnish (optional)
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro or flat-parsley leaves, for garnish (optional)
Directions
In a large bowl, place turkey, corn, beans, bell peppers and jicama. Gently toss until well mixed and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil and lime juice. Mix in salsa. Add red pepper sauce if desired. Add enough water to thin consistency so dressing can be thinly drizzled over salad. Transfer to serving pitcher.
Drizzle dressing over turkey mixture, tossing to coat salad ingredients evenly.
Cover and chill 1 to 3 hours so flavors can meld. Bring to room temperature and check seasoning before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired. Drain off any excess dressing. Place in serving bowl. Sprinkle top of salad with cheese (if using) and cilantro. Serve with baked tortilla chips, if desired.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 238; Protein: 16 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 413 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g
BROCCOLI CHOWDER
From Diabetic Gourmet. Yield: 6 servings, 1 cup each
Source: "The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook"
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped (1-1/2 cups)
1 large carrot, diced (1/2 cup)
2 stalks celery, diced (1/2 cup)
1 large potato, peeled and diced (1-1/2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3-1/2 cups vegetable broth (two 14-ounce cans)
8 ounces broccoli crowns, cut into 1-inch pieces, stems and florets separated (3 cups)
1 cup grated reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Directions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until the onion and celery soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Add potato and garlic; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, dry mustard and cayenne; cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add broth and broccoli stems; bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in florets; simmer, covered, until the broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes more.
Transfer 2 cups of the chowder to a bowl and mash; return to the pan. Stir in Cheddar and sour cream; cook over medium heat, stirring, until the cheese is melted and the chowder is heated through. Season with salt.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup each): Calories: 180, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 15 mg, Carbohydrate: 23 g, Protein: 6 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sodium: 354 mg Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1 High-Fat Meat
STRAWBERRY-PEACH COOLER
Yield: 2 servings
Serving size: 1 cup
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/737.shtml
Source: The Diabetes Snack, Munch, Nibble, Nosh Book
Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/1.shtml
Ingredients
1 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen strawberries
2/3 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen peaches
3/4 cup orange juice
Directions
In a 2-cup measure or similar microwave-safe bowl, combine the strawberries and peaches.
Cover with wax paper, and microwave on high power 45 seconds to 1 minute to thaw the fruit slightly. The fruit should be icy but not hard.
Working with a small knife in the measuring cup, cut each peach slice in half.
Transfer the peaches and strawberries to a blender container.
Add the orange juice. Blend on low power to combine. Then increase power to high and continue to blend until the peaches are completely pureed, at least 1-1/2 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 2 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 23 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Exchanges: 2 Fruit
MUSHROOM MEATLOAF
Yield: 8 servings
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/739.shtml
Source: Secrets of Good-Carb Low-Carb Living
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds 95-percent-lean ground beef or ground turkey
2 cups very finely chopped fresh mushrooms
3/4 cup very finely chopped onion
3/4 cup quick-cooking (1-minute) oats
8-ounce can tomato sauce with roasted garlic or Italian herbs
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons fat-free egg substitute
1/4 cup very finely chopped fresh parsley, or 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Place all of the ingredients except for 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce in a large bowl, and mix well.
Coat a 9-by-5-inch meatloaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and press the mixture into the pan to form a loaf.
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Spread the remaining tomato sauce over the meatloaf and bake for 30 additional minutes, or until the meat is no longer pink inside and a meat thermometer reads at least 160 degrees.
Remove the loaf from the oven, and let sit for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 160; Protein: 20 g; Fat: 4.4 g; Sodium: 399 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 1.6 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.7 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 3 Low-Fat Meat, 1 Vegetable
COLORFUL COLESLAW
Yield: 4 servings
View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/740.shtml
Source: Secrets of Good-Carb Low-Carb Living
Ingredients
1 cup thinly sliced green cabbage
1 cup thinly sliced red cabbage
1 medium carrot shredded with a potato peeler, or 1/2 cup precut matchstick carrots
Dressing Ingredients:
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or canola oil
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
Place the cabbage and carrots in a medium bowl, and toss to mix.
Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to mix well. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss again.
Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 52; Protein: 0.8 g; Fat: 3.6 g; Sodium: 187 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.2 g; Carbohydrates: 5 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Wednesday Recipes
Here are today's six recipes. Enjoy!
TARRAGON CHICKEN
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Nigella wrote, “I hesitate even to call this a recipe. Don't think of that sauce-heavy French traditional dish, but rather a quick way of infusing poultry with a liquorish herbal hit of summery freshness. You can marinate it in the fridge all day in advance, but if planning ahead is not one of your strengths, then know that even half an hour at room temperature does its bit.” Time: 1 hour; makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 3- to 4-pound chicken
3/4 cup chopped fresh tarragon
Juice and grated zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup olive oil
Malden salt or other flaky sea salt
Preparation
Butterfly chicken by placing it breast-side down and, using kitchen shears, cutting along both sides of backbone and through small rib bones. Discard backbone, and place chicken in a large plastic bag with zipper. Add 1/2 cup tarragon, the lemon juice and zest, and olive oil. Expel as much air as possible from bag, and make sure marinade coats chicken. Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour and up to 24 hours.
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place chicken in a roasting pan, spread flat, breast side up. Roast until skin is crisp and golden, 35 to 45 minutes.
Sprinkle with salt to taste, and cut into 8 serving pieces. Transfer to a platter, and garnish with remaining tarragon. Serve, if desired, with salad and roasted potatoes.
CHOCOLATE BABKA
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Baking a chocolate babka is no casual undertaking. The Eastern European yeast-risen coffee cake has 14 steps and takes all day to make. But the results are worth every sugarcoated second – with a moist, deeply flavored brioche-like cake wrapped around a dark fudge filling, then topped with cocoa streusel crumbs.
“If you want to save yourself a little work and love Nutella, you can substitute 1 1/2 cup of it for the homemade fudge filling. Also note that you can make this over a few days instead of all at once. Babka freezes well for up to 3 months, so if you need only one loaf now, freeze the other for later.” Makes 2 loaves.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
1/2 cup whole milk
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus a pinch
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, more as needed
1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest (optional)
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
4 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing bowls and pans
For the Fudge Filling:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
Pinch kosher salt
6 ounces/170 grams extra bittersweet chocolate, preferably between 66 and 74 percent cocoa, coarsely chopped
8 tablespoons/1 stick unsalted butter, diced, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Chocolate Streusel:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
For the Syrup:
2/3 cup granulated sugar
Preparation
Prepare the dough: In a small saucepan or a bowl in the microwave, warm the milk until it’s lukewarm but not hot (about 110 degrees). Add yeast and a pinch of sugar and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, until slightly foamy.
In an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, or in a food processor, mix together flour, 1/3 cup sugar, the salt, the vanilla, the lemon zest (if using) and the nutmeg. (If you don't have a mixer or processor, use a large bowl and a wooden spoon.) Beat or process in the yeast mixture and eggs until the dough comes together in a soft mass, about 2 minutes. If the dough sticks to the side of the bowl and doesn’t come together, add a tablespoon more flour at a time until it does, beating very well in between additions.
Add half the butter and beat or pulse until the dough is smooth and elastic, 3 to 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed. Beat in the rest of the butter and continue to beat or pulse until the dough is smooth and stretchy, another 5 to 7 minutes. Again, if the dough sticks to the sides of the bowl, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
Butter a clean bowl, form the dough into a ball and roll it around in the bowl so all sides are buttered. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place (inside of a turned-off oven with the oven light on is good) until it puffs and rises, about 1 to 2 hours. It may not double in bulk but it should rise.
Press the dough down with your hands, re-cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight (or, in a pinch, for at least 4 hours, but the flavor won't be as developed).
Prepare the filling: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, cream and salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar completely dissolves, about 5 minutes. Scrape mixture into a bowl. Stir in chocolate, butter and vanilla until smooth. Let cool to room temperature. Filling can be made up to a week ahead and stored, covered, in the fridge. Let come to room temperature before using.
Prepare the streusel: In a bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Stir in melted butter until it is evenly distributed and forms large, moist crumbs. Stir in the chocolate chips. Streusel can be prepared up to 3 days ahead and stored, covered, in the fridge.
Prepare the syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 2/3 cup/158 milliliters water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves.
Butter two 9-inch loaf pans, then line with parchment paper, leaving 2 inches of paper hanging over on the sides to use as handles later.
Remove dough from refrigerator and divide in half. On a floured surface, roll one piece into a 9-by-17-inch rectangle. Spread with half the filling (there's no need to leave a border). Starting with a long side, roll into a tight coil. Transfer the coil onto a dish towel or piece of plastic wrap and stick it in the freezer for 10 minutes. Repeat with the other piece of dough.
Slice one of the dough coils in half lengthwise to expose the filling. Twist the halves together as if you were braiding them, then fold the braid in half so it’s about 9 inches long. Place into a prepared pan, letting it curl around itself if it’s a little too long for the pan. Cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until puffy (it won’t quite double). Alternatively, you can cover the pans with plastic wrap and let them rise in the refrigerator overnight; bring them back to room temperature for an hour before baking.
When you're ready to bake, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Use your fingers to clump streusel together and scatter all over the tops of the cakes. Transfer to oven and bake until a tester goes into the cakes without any rubbery resistance and comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. The cakes will also sound hollow if you unmold them and tap on the bottom. An instant-read thermometer will read between 185 and 210 degrees.
As soon as the cakes come out of the oven, use a skewer or paring knife to pierce them all over going all the way to the bottom of the cakes, and then pour the syrup on top of the cakes, making sure to use half the syrup for each cake.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
CHICKEN IN MUSTARD
This comes from Melissa d’Arabian of The Food Network’s Ten Dollar Dinners. Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Inactive Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/chicken-in-mustard-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
1 1/2 to 2 pounds chicken thighs, skin removed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 onion, chopped
1/4 pound white button mushrooms, quartered
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tomato, chopped
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup chicken stock, plus more if needed
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons sour cream
Super Buttered Noodles, recipe follows
Super Buttered Noodles:
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 pound egg noodles
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon sour cream
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Rinse and dry the chicken thighs and season with salt and pepper.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the thighs on both sides, working in batches if needed. Remove the chicken and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the Dutch oven and cook the onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and continue to cook until the mushrooms have softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and flour and cook, stirring, to remove the raw flour flavor, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tarragon. Turn up the heat and deglaze the pan with the white wine, allowing to bubble for a minute or two. Return the chicken to the Dutch oven. Add enough chicken stock to reach halfway up the sides of the chicken. Cover, place in the oven, and braise for 45 minutes, removing the lid halfway through.
When finished, remove the chicken from the Dutch oven and set aside. Add the mustard and sour cream and whisk to blend well. Return the chicken to the pan and allow the flavors to meld before serving, about 5 minutes. Serve over Super Buttered Noodles.
Super Buttered Noodles:
In a large pot filled with boiling water, dissolve the bouillon cubes and cook the noodles according to package directions. Drain the noodles in a colander and then nestle the colander into the pot so some of the pasta water goes into the pot as the pasta continues to drain. Remove the colander and stir the butter and sour cream into the pot until the butter melts. Add the parsley and the noodles. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine well. Pour into a serving bowl and serve.
SKILLET ROSEMARY CHICKEN
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen. Total Time: 40 min; Prep: 15 min; Cook: 25 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/skillet-rosemary-chicken-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3/4 pound small red-skinned potatoes, halved, or quartered if large
Kosher salt
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus 1 tablespoon leaves
1 clove garlic, smashed
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Juice of 2 lemons (squeezed halves reserved)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts (6 to 8 ounces each)
10 ounces cremini mushrooms, halved
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450. Cover the potatoes with cold water in a saucepan and salt the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until tender, about 8 minutes; drain and set aside.
Pile the rosemary leaves, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and the red pepper flakes on a cutting board, then mince and mash into a paste using a large knife. Transfer the paste to a bowl. Stir in the juice of 1 lemon and the olive oil. Add the chicken and turn to coat.
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until the skin browns, about 5 minutes. Turn the chicken; add the mushrooms and potatoes to the skillet and drizzle with the juice of the remaining lemon.
Add the rosemary sprigs and the squeezed lemon halves to the skillet; transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.
BIG CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE
This comes from Ree Drummond of The Food Network show, The Pioneer Woman. Total Time: 1 hr 45 min; Prep: 20 min; Inactive: 1 hr; Cook: 25 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/big-chocolate-birthday-cake-recipe.html?oc=linkback.
Ingredients
Cake:
4 sticks butter, plus more for greasing
8 heaping tablespoons cocoa, plus more for dusting
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups boiling water
1 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 whole eggs, beaten
Frosting:
3 cups heavy cream
24 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into pieces
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heavily grease and dust with cocoa four 9-inch round cake pans.
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt.
In a saucepan, melt the butter. Add the cocoa. Stir together. Add the boiling water, allow the mixture to boil for 30 seconds and then turn off the heat. Pour over the flour mixture and stir lightly to cool.
Combine the buttermilk, baking soda, vanilla and beaten eggs. Stir the buttermilk mixture into the butter/chocolate mixture.
Divide the batter among the prepared cake pans and bake for 20 minutes.
Cool completely before icing. Refrigerate the layers after cooling for best results.
For the frosting: Heat the cream until very hot, and then pour over the chocolate pieces. Stir to completely melt, and then pour into the bowl of an electric mixer. Refrigerate to cool.
Once completely cooled, add the vanilla and beat with an electric mixer until light and airy.
Frost the cake in between each layer, on the top and around the sides.
ASIAN CHICKEN WITH PEACHES
This comes from the Tablespoon e-newsletter, and begins, “So many flavors, so little time! You can get this easy supper on your table in less than an hour.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 1/4 lb)
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups pitted sliced peaches, thawed if frozen
2 green onions, whites and greens separated, sliced on the bias
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
Lime wedges
Cooked white rice
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F. In 12-inch ovenpoof skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Rub chicken breasts with salt; add to skillet. Cook 3 to 4 minutes or until browned on first side. Turn; cook 3 to 4 minutes longer or until browned on second side. Transfer to plate; cover to keep warm.
Add peaches and green onion whites to skillet; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until beginning to brown. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar and the water; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until caramelized. Remove from heat.
In small bowl, mix remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar, the rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce and soy sauce. Place chicken on top of peaches in skillet; brush rice vinegar mixture over breasts. Bake 16 to 20 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F). Top with green onion greens. Serve with lime wedges and rice.
TARRAGON CHICKEN
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Nigella wrote, “I hesitate even to call this a recipe. Don't think of that sauce-heavy French traditional dish, but rather a quick way of infusing poultry with a liquorish herbal hit of summery freshness. You can marinate it in the fridge all day in advance, but if planning ahead is not one of your strengths, then know that even half an hour at room temperature does its bit.” Time: 1 hour; makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 3- to 4-pound chicken
3/4 cup chopped fresh tarragon
Juice and grated zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup olive oil
Malden salt or other flaky sea salt
Preparation
Butterfly chicken by placing it breast-side down and, using kitchen shears, cutting along both sides of backbone and through small rib bones. Discard backbone, and place chicken in a large plastic bag with zipper. Add 1/2 cup tarragon, the lemon juice and zest, and olive oil. Expel as much air as possible from bag, and make sure marinade coats chicken. Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour and up to 24 hours.
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place chicken in a roasting pan, spread flat, breast side up. Roast until skin is crisp and golden, 35 to 45 minutes.
Sprinkle with salt to taste, and cut into 8 serving pieces. Transfer to a platter, and garnish with remaining tarragon. Serve, if desired, with salad and roasted potatoes.
CHOCOLATE BABKA
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Baking a chocolate babka is no casual undertaking. The Eastern European yeast-risen coffee cake has 14 steps and takes all day to make. But the results are worth every sugarcoated second – with a moist, deeply flavored brioche-like cake wrapped around a dark fudge filling, then topped with cocoa streusel crumbs.
“If you want to save yourself a little work and love Nutella, you can substitute 1 1/2 cup of it for the homemade fudge filling. Also note that you can make this over a few days instead of all at once. Babka freezes well for up to 3 months, so if you need only one loaf now, freeze the other for later.” Makes 2 loaves.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
1/2 cup whole milk
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1/3 cup granulated sugar, plus a pinch
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, more as needed
1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest (optional)
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
4 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing bowls and pans
For the Fudge Filling:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
Pinch kosher salt
6 ounces/170 grams extra bittersweet chocolate, preferably between 66 and 74 percent cocoa, coarsely chopped
8 tablespoons/1 stick unsalted butter, diced, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Chocolate Streusel:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
For the Syrup:
2/3 cup granulated sugar
Preparation
Prepare the dough: In a small saucepan or a bowl in the microwave, warm the milk until it’s lukewarm but not hot (about 110 degrees). Add yeast and a pinch of sugar and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, until slightly foamy.
In an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, or in a food processor, mix together flour, 1/3 cup sugar, the salt, the vanilla, the lemon zest (if using) and the nutmeg. (If you don't have a mixer or processor, use a large bowl and a wooden spoon.) Beat or process in the yeast mixture and eggs until the dough comes together in a soft mass, about 2 minutes. If the dough sticks to the side of the bowl and doesn’t come together, add a tablespoon more flour at a time until it does, beating very well in between additions.
Add half the butter and beat or pulse until the dough is smooth and elastic, 3 to 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed. Beat in the rest of the butter and continue to beat or pulse until the dough is smooth and stretchy, another 5 to 7 minutes. Again, if the dough sticks to the sides of the bowl, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
Butter a clean bowl, form the dough into a ball and roll it around in the bowl so all sides are buttered. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place (inside of a turned-off oven with the oven light on is good) until it puffs and rises, about 1 to 2 hours. It may not double in bulk but it should rise.
Press the dough down with your hands, re-cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight (or, in a pinch, for at least 4 hours, but the flavor won't be as developed).
Prepare the filling: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, cream and salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar completely dissolves, about 5 minutes. Scrape mixture into a bowl. Stir in chocolate, butter and vanilla until smooth. Let cool to room temperature. Filling can be made up to a week ahead and stored, covered, in the fridge. Let come to room temperature before using.
Prepare the streusel: In a bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Stir in melted butter until it is evenly distributed and forms large, moist crumbs. Stir in the chocolate chips. Streusel can be prepared up to 3 days ahead and stored, covered, in the fridge.
Prepare the syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 2/3 cup/158 milliliters water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves.
Butter two 9-inch loaf pans, then line with parchment paper, leaving 2 inches of paper hanging over on the sides to use as handles later.
Remove dough from refrigerator and divide in half. On a floured surface, roll one piece into a 9-by-17-inch rectangle. Spread with half the filling (there's no need to leave a border). Starting with a long side, roll into a tight coil. Transfer the coil onto a dish towel or piece of plastic wrap and stick it in the freezer for 10 minutes. Repeat with the other piece of dough.
Slice one of the dough coils in half lengthwise to expose the filling. Twist the halves together as if you were braiding them, then fold the braid in half so it’s about 9 inches long. Place into a prepared pan, letting it curl around itself if it’s a little too long for the pan. Cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until puffy (it won’t quite double). Alternatively, you can cover the pans with plastic wrap and let them rise in the refrigerator overnight; bring them back to room temperature for an hour before baking.
When you're ready to bake, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Use your fingers to clump streusel together and scatter all over the tops of the cakes. Transfer to oven and bake until a tester goes into the cakes without any rubbery resistance and comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. The cakes will also sound hollow if you unmold them and tap on the bottom. An instant-read thermometer will read between 185 and 210 degrees.
As soon as the cakes come out of the oven, use a skewer or paring knife to pierce them all over going all the way to the bottom of the cakes, and then pour the syrup on top of the cakes, making sure to use half the syrup for each cake.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
CHICKEN IN MUSTARD
This comes from Melissa d’Arabian of The Food Network’s Ten Dollar Dinners. Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Inactive Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/chicken-in-mustard-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
1 1/2 to 2 pounds chicken thighs, skin removed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 onion, chopped
1/4 pound white button mushrooms, quartered
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tomato, chopped
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup chicken stock, plus more if needed
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons sour cream
Super Buttered Noodles, recipe follows
Super Buttered Noodles:
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 pound egg noodles
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon sour cream
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Rinse and dry the chicken thighs and season with salt and pepper.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the thighs on both sides, working in batches if needed. Remove the chicken and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the Dutch oven and cook the onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and continue to cook until the mushrooms have softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and flour and cook, stirring, to remove the raw flour flavor, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tarragon. Turn up the heat and deglaze the pan with the white wine, allowing to bubble for a minute or two. Return the chicken to the Dutch oven. Add enough chicken stock to reach halfway up the sides of the chicken. Cover, place in the oven, and braise for 45 minutes, removing the lid halfway through.
When finished, remove the chicken from the Dutch oven and set aside. Add the mustard and sour cream and whisk to blend well. Return the chicken to the pan and allow the flavors to meld before serving, about 5 minutes. Serve over Super Buttered Noodles.
Super Buttered Noodles:
In a large pot filled with boiling water, dissolve the bouillon cubes and cook the noodles according to package directions. Drain the noodles in a colander and then nestle the colander into the pot so some of the pasta water goes into the pot as the pasta continues to drain. Remove the colander and stir the butter and sour cream into the pot until the butter melts. Add the parsley and the noodles. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine well. Pour into a serving bowl and serve.
SKILLET ROSEMARY CHICKEN
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen. Total Time: 40 min; Prep: 15 min; Cook: 25 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/skillet-rosemary-chicken-recipe.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
3/4 pound small red-skinned potatoes, halved, or quartered if large
Kosher salt
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus 1 tablespoon leaves
1 clove garlic, smashed
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Juice of 2 lemons (squeezed halves reserved)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts (6 to 8 ounces each)
10 ounces cremini mushrooms, halved
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450. Cover the potatoes with cold water in a saucepan and salt the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until tender, about 8 minutes; drain and set aside.
Pile the rosemary leaves, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and the red pepper flakes on a cutting board, then mince and mash into a paste using a large knife. Transfer the paste to a bowl. Stir in the juice of 1 lemon and the olive oil. Add the chicken and turn to coat.
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until the skin browns, about 5 minutes. Turn the chicken; add the mushrooms and potatoes to the skillet and drizzle with the juice of the remaining lemon.
Add the rosemary sprigs and the squeezed lemon halves to the skillet; transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.
BIG CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE
This comes from Ree Drummond of The Food Network show, The Pioneer Woman. Total Time: 1 hr 45 min; Prep: 20 min; Inactive: 1 hr; Cook: 25 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/big-chocolate-birthday-cake-recipe.html?oc=linkback.
Ingredients
Cake:
4 sticks butter, plus more for greasing
8 heaping tablespoons cocoa, plus more for dusting
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups boiling water
1 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 whole eggs, beaten
Frosting:
3 cups heavy cream
24 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into pieces
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heavily grease and dust with cocoa four 9-inch round cake pans.
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt.
In a saucepan, melt the butter. Add the cocoa. Stir together. Add the boiling water, allow the mixture to boil for 30 seconds and then turn off the heat. Pour over the flour mixture and stir lightly to cool.
Combine the buttermilk, baking soda, vanilla and beaten eggs. Stir the buttermilk mixture into the butter/chocolate mixture.
Divide the batter among the prepared cake pans and bake for 20 minutes.
Cool completely before icing. Refrigerate the layers after cooling for best results.
For the frosting: Heat the cream until very hot, and then pour over the chocolate pieces. Stir to completely melt, and then pour into the bowl of an electric mixer. Refrigerate to cool.
Once completely cooled, add the vanilla and beat with an electric mixer until light and airy.
Frost the cake in between each layer, on the top and around the sides.
ASIAN CHICKEN WITH PEACHES
This comes from the Tablespoon e-newsletter, and begins, “So many flavors, so little time! You can get this easy supper on your table in less than an hour.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 1/4 lb)
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups pitted sliced peaches, thawed if frozen
2 green onions, whites and greens separated, sliced on the bias
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
Lime wedges
Cooked white rice
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F. In 12-inch ovenpoof skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Rub chicken breasts with salt; add to skillet. Cook 3 to 4 minutes or until browned on first side. Turn; cook 3 to 4 minutes longer or until browned on second side. Transfer to plate; cover to keep warm.
Add peaches and green onion whites to skillet; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until beginning to brown. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar and the water; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until caramelized. Remove from heat.
In small bowl, mix remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar, the rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce and soy sauce. Place chicken on top of peaches in skillet; brush rice vinegar mixture over breasts. Bake 16 to 20 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F). Top with green onion greens. Serve with lime wedges and rice.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Tuesday Recipes
Enjoy!
MASHED RED POTATOES WITH GARLIC AND PARMESAN
This was sent in by MizzNezz in the Food e-newsletter. MizzNezz wrote, “The potatoes are ready in our garden, and this is the first recipe I reach for! These are SO good!!” Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1⁄2 lbs red potatoes, unpeeled, quartered
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons butter
1⁄2 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions
Put potatoes and garlic in large pan.
Cover with water.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
Drain well.
Mash with the butter, milk, and salt.
Stir in the parmesan cheese.
SKINNY MEXICAN CHICKEN CASSEROLE
This comes from the Tablespoon e-newsletter, and begins, “An easy Mexican dinner for just 300 calories per serving. You can even assemble it ahead of time, refrigerate, then bake just before serving!” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Servings: 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 bag (10 oz) frozen whole grain brown rice
1 bag (12 oz) frozen whole kernel sweet corn
1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed
2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
2 cans (10 oz each) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped green onions (4 medium)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups shredded 2% milk reduced-fat Mexican style cheese blend (8 oz)
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 tomato, chopped
Directions
Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook rice and corn as directed on bags. In baking dish, carefully stir rice, corn, beans, chicken, enchilada sauce, bell pepper, 2 tablespoons of the green onions, the cilantro, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and 1 cup of the cheese until well blended.
Bake uncovered 30 to 35 minutes or until bubbly and heated through. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese; bake 3 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Top with shredded lettuce, tomato and remaining 2 tablespoons green onions.
MEDITERRANEAN BRAISED BEEF
Makes 6 servings
See the recipe here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/993.shtml
Ingredients
1 boneless beef chuck shoulder pot roast (2-1/2 to 3 pounds)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 small onions, halved, sliced
4 medium shallots, sliced
1/4 cup chopped pitted dates
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Heat oven to 325F.
Lightly coat beef pot roast with flour. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Brown pot roast; remove.
Add 1-1/2 cups water and vinegar to Dutch oven; cook and stir until brown bits attached to pan are dissolved. Return pot roast. Add onions, shallots, dates, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Cover tightly and cook in 325F oven 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until pot roast is fork-tender. Remove pot roast; keep warm.
Cook liquid and vegetables over medium-high heat to desired consistency. Carve pot roast. Serve with sauce.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 290; Protein: 29 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 275 mg; Cholesterol: 75 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.2 g; Carbohydrates: 16 g
20-MINUTE HERBED CHICKEN
This comes from the FamilyTime e-newsletter. It begins, “It's quick, it's easy and your family will love it...all it takes is 25 minutes and a few on-hand ingredients until dinner is served.” Serves: 4 servings; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast half
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken with Herbs Soup
1/2 cup milk
Directions
Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6 minutes or until browned on both sides.
Stir the soup and milk in the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Serving Suggestion: Serve the chicken and soup mixture with Broth Simmered Rice: Heat 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Chicken Broth and 1 cup water in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil. Stir in 2 cups uncooked instant white rice. Cover the saucepan and remove from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Ingredient Note: We develop our recipes using a 4-to 5-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breast half per serving. However, there are a range of sizes available in-store, from the butcher counter to the meat case and the freezer section. Use whichever you prefer- just follow the recipe as written above for the best result. If you're using larger chicken breasts they may require a little longer cooking time.
CITRUS CHEESECAKE
This is from Taste of Home. TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 65 min. + chilling MAKES: 12-14 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
Filling
5 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1-3/4 cups sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1-1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Topping
1-1/2 cups (about 12 ounces) sour cream
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla.
Combine flour and lemon peel; gradually add to creamed mixture. Mix until dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Divide dough in half; cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
Remove sides of a 9-in. springform pan. Grease bottom. Between waxed paper, roll half the dough to fit bottom of pan. Peel off top paper; invert dough onto bottom of pan. Remove paper; trim dough to fit pan.
Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Attach sides of the pan and grease sides. Pat remaining dough 1-1/2 in. up sides of pan, pressing dough to bottom crust to seal.
For filling, in another large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour, peels and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs and yolks; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in cream just until combined. Pour into crust. Return pan to baking sheet.
Bake at 400° for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325°; bake 55-65 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Combine topping ingredients; spread over cheesecake. Refrigerate overnight.
SWISS EASTER RICE TART
This comes from Florence Fabricant in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. I know, it’s an Easter rice tart, and Easter has passed, but it still looks yummy. Besides, there’s no reason not to have it any other time!
Anyway, Florence wrote, “This is a custard tart, with rice, lemon and almonds in the filling, which is served only at Easter in Switzerland. ‘It was called gâteau de Pâques and I remember it very well,’ said Gray Kunz, the chef who was born in Singapore but grew up in Geneva and Bern. ‘There would be a bunny in icing sugar stenciled on top.’ Nick Malgieri, the baking teacher and author, based this somewhat lighter recipe on several he found in Switzerland.” Time: 2 hours; makes 8 to 10 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour and more for dusting
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
11 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, in 11 slices
1/2 cup long-grain rice
3 cups milk
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/2 cup blanched almonds, finely ground in food processor
3 large eggs
Confectioners' sugar
Preparation
Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the baking powder in food processor. Pulse to blend. Add 10 tablespoons butter and pulse 3 to 4 times, until butter is in pea-size pieces. Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons cold water. Pulse 4 times. Dough will not come together. Turn dough out on lightly floured work surface and knead gently a few times to form a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Meanwhile, half fill a 3-quart saucepan with water, bring to a boil, stir in rice, lower heat to medium and cook until rice is soft, about 15 minutes. Drain rice and return it to saucepan. Add milk, remaining butter, 1/2 cup sugar and remaining salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer until mixture has thickened almost to a risotto consistency, about 25 minutes.
Place saucepan in a large bowl of ice and water 10 minutes, to cool mixture to tepid. Purée in food processor. Pour into a bowl and add lemon zest. Mix ground almonds with 1 tablespoon flour and add to bowl. Stir in eggs one at a time.
Place oven rack in lowest position and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove pastry from refrigerator and place on lightly floured surface. Lightly dust top with flour. Use a rolling pin to press down on dough to soften it. Roll out disk to 12 inches in diameter. Transfer to a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press dough evenly into pan. Trim edges flush with pan. Pour filling into pastry.
Bake about 35 minutes, until filling is set and golden. Cool on a rack. Dust with sifted confectioners’ sugar before serving.
MASHED RED POTATOES WITH GARLIC AND PARMESAN
This was sent in by MizzNezz in the Food e-newsletter. MizzNezz wrote, “The potatoes are ready in our garden, and this is the first recipe I reach for! These are SO good!!” Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 1⁄2 lbs red potatoes, unpeeled, quartered
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons butter
1⁄2 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions
Put potatoes and garlic in large pan.
Cover with water.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
Drain well.
Mash with the butter, milk, and salt.
Stir in the parmesan cheese.
SKINNY MEXICAN CHICKEN CASSEROLE
This comes from the Tablespoon e-newsletter, and begins, “An easy Mexican dinner for just 300 calories per serving. You can even assemble it ahead of time, refrigerate, then bake just before serving!” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Servings: 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 bag (10 oz) frozen whole grain brown rice
1 bag (12 oz) frozen whole kernel sweet corn
1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed
2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
2 cans (10 oz each) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped green onions (4 medium)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups shredded 2% milk reduced-fat Mexican style cheese blend (8 oz)
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 tomato, chopped
Directions
Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook rice and corn as directed on bags. In baking dish, carefully stir rice, corn, beans, chicken, enchilada sauce, bell pepper, 2 tablespoons of the green onions, the cilantro, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and 1 cup of the cheese until well blended.
Bake uncovered 30 to 35 minutes or until bubbly and heated through. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese; bake 3 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Top with shredded lettuce, tomato and remaining 2 tablespoons green onions.
MEDITERRANEAN BRAISED BEEF
Makes 6 servings
See the recipe here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/993.shtml
Ingredients
1 boneless beef chuck shoulder pot roast (2-1/2 to 3 pounds)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 small onions, halved, sliced
4 medium shallots, sliced
1/4 cup chopped pitted dates
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Heat oven to 325F.
Lightly coat beef pot roast with flour. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Brown pot roast; remove.
Add 1-1/2 cups water and vinegar to Dutch oven; cook and stir until brown bits attached to pan are dissolved. Return pot roast. Add onions, shallots, dates, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Cover tightly and cook in 325F oven 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until pot roast is fork-tender. Remove pot roast; keep warm.
Cook liquid and vegetables over medium-high heat to desired consistency. Carve pot roast. Serve with sauce.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 290; Protein: 29 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 275 mg; Cholesterol: 75 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.2 g; Carbohydrates: 16 g
20-MINUTE HERBED CHICKEN
This comes from the FamilyTime e-newsletter. It begins, “It's quick, it's easy and your family will love it...all it takes is 25 minutes and a few on-hand ingredients until dinner is served.” Serves: 4 servings; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast half
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken with Herbs Soup
1/2 cup milk
Directions
Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6 minutes or until browned on both sides.
Stir the soup and milk in the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Serving Suggestion: Serve the chicken and soup mixture with Broth Simmered Rice: Heat 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Chicken Broth and 1 cup water in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil. Stir in 2 cups uncooked instant white rice. Cover the saucepan and remove from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Ingredient Note: We develop our recipes using a 4-to 5-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breast half per serving. However, there are a range of sizes available in-store, from the butcher counter to the meat case and the freezer section. Use whichever you prefer- just follow the recipe as written above for the best result. If you're using larger chicken breasts they may require a little longer cooking time.
CITRUS CHEESECAKE
This is from Taste of Home. TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 65 min. + chilling MAKES: 12-14 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
Filling
5 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1-3/4 cups sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1-1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Topping
1-1/2 cups (about 12 ounces) sour cream
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla.
Combine flour and lemon peel; gradually add to creamed mixture. Mix until dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Divide dough in half; cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
Remove sides of a 9-in. springform pan. Grease bottom. Between waxed paper, roll half the dough to fit bottom of pan. Peel off top paper; invert dough onto bottom of pan. Remove paper; trim dough to fit pan.
Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Attach sides of the pan and grease sides. Pat remaining dough 1-1/2 in. up sides of pan, pressing dough to bottom crust to seal.
For filling, in another large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour, peels and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs and yolks; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in cream just until combined. Pour into crust. Return pan to baking sheet.
Bake at 400° for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325°; bake 55-65 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Combine topping ingredients; spread over cheesecake. Refrigerate overnight.
SWISS EASTER RICE TART
This comes from Florence Fabricant in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. I know, it’s an Easter rice tart, and Easter has passed, but it still looks yummy. Besides, there’s no reason not to have it any other time!
Anyway, Florence wrote, “This is a custard tart, with rice, lemon and almonds in the filling, which is served only at Easter in Switzerland. ‘It was called gâteau de Pâques and I remember it very well,’ said Gray Kunz, the chef who was born in Singapore but grew up in Geneva and Bern. ‘There would be a bunny in icing sugar stenciled on top.’ Nick Malgieri, the baking teacher and author, based this somewhat lighter recipe on several he found in Switzerland.” Time: 2 hours; makes 8 to 10 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour and more for dusting
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
11 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, in 11 slices
1/2 cup long-grain rice
3 cups milk
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/2 cup blanched almonds, finely ground in food processor
3 large eggs
Confectioners' sugar
Preparation
Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the baking powder in food processor. Pulse to blend. Add 10 tablespoons butter and pulse 3 to 4 times, until butter is in pea-size pieces. Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons cold water. Pulse 4 times. Dough will not come together. Turn dough out on lightly floured work surface and knead gently a few times to form a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Meanwhile, half fill a 3-quart saucepan with water, bring to a boil, stir in rice, lower heat to medium and cook until rice is soft, about 15 minutes. Drain rice and return it to saucepan. Add milk, remaining butter, 1/2 cup sugar and remaining salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer until mixture has thickened almost to a risotto consistency, about 25 minutes.
Place saucepan in a large bowl of ice and water 10 minutes, to cool mixture to tepid. Purée in food processor. Pour into a bowl and add lemon zest. Mix ground almonds with 1 tablespoon flour and add to bowl. Stir in eggs one at a time.
Place oven rack in lowest position and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove pastry from refrigerator and place on lightly floured surface. Lightly dust top with flour. Use a rolling pin to press down on dough to soften it. Roll out disk to 12 inches in diameter. Transfer to a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press dough evenly into pan. Trim edges flush with pan. Pour filling into pastry.
Bake about 35 minutes, until filling is set and golden. Cool on a rack. Dust with sifted confectioners’ sugar before serving.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Meatless Monday
It's Monday, which means that the Confessions of a Foodie blog is doing its weekly Meatless Monday. Here are today's six vegetarian recipes for you to try your hand - and mouth - at. Enjoy!
CROCKPOT CHUNKY APPLESAUCE
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes (8 hours); Total Time: 495 minutes; Yield: 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
10 to 12 large cooking apples, peeled, cored, and cut in chunks
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 to 1 cup granulated sugar
Preparation
Combine ingredients in slow cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours.
Serve warm or chilled with a dollop of whipped cream or with ice cream.
FOIL-ROASTED HERB POTATOES
Yield: 4 servings, 1/2 cup each
Source: "The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/11.shtml
Ingredients
1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 sprigs rosemary
2 sprigs oregano
2 sprigs thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon paprika
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Tear four large sheets of foil.
Divide all ingredients among the four sheets of foil. Wrap up the potatoes, seal tightly. Put all packets on a baking sheet.
Roast the potatoes in the oven for 35 minutes.
Place one packet on each dinner plate and allow diners to open their packets.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (About 1/2 cup): Calories: 146, Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 9 mg, Carbohydrate: 21 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 2 g, Protein: 3 g Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1 Fat
HUMMUS-VEGGIE WRAPS
Yield: 4 servings
Source: "The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/60.shtml
Ingredients
4 whole-wheat flour tortillas (8 to 9-inch rounds)
1 cup ready-made hummus
1 small carrot, shredded with a potato peeler
2 slices red onion, separated into rings
12 thin slices peeled cucumber
16 young tender spinach leaves or 1 cup alfalfa sprouts
Directions
Warm the tortillas according to package directions. Lay the tortillas on a flat surface and spread the lower half only of each tortilla with 1/4 cup of the hummus.
Top the hummus on each tortilla with a quarter of the carrots, onion rings, cucumber slices, and spinach or sprouts, leaving a 1-1/2 inch margin on the right and left sides.
Fold the right and left margins in, then roll each tortilla up from the bottom to enclose the filling. Cut each warp in half and serve immediately.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/4 of recipe): Calories: 258, Carbohydrate: 38 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Fat: 8.6 g, Saturated Fat: 0.5 g, Fiber: 6.7 g, Protein: 10 g, Sodium: 625 mg, Calcium: 56 mg, Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 Starch, 1 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Vegetable, 1 Fat
ROASTED CAULIFLOWER LASAGNA
This comes from The Food Network, and starts off, “Cauliflower is the star in this healthy lasagna, appearing in two roles-once when it's blended into the ricotta cheese filling for texture, and a second time when it's roasted and used in place of the traditional meatballs or sausage. Sweet red bell pepper adds complexity to the tomato sauce and balances the richness of the cheeses.” Total Time: 1 hr. 40 min; Prep: 20 min; Cook: 1 hr 20 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Intermediate
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/roasted-cauliflower-lasagna.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
8 cups cauliflower florets (from 1 head cauliflower; about 2 1/2 pounds)
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for coating the lasagna noodles
Kosher salt
One 28-ounce can no-salt added whole plum tomatoes
5 cloves garlic, 4 sliced and 1 chopped
1 large red bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup fresh basil leaves
8 ounces whole-wheat lasagna noodles (about 10 noodles)
1 cup part-skim ricotta
1 large egg
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, choppedDirections
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Toss the cauliflower in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread the florets in an even layer on a baking sheet and roast, tossing once, until tender and golden brown in spots, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool slightly.
Put the tomatoes in a medium bowl and use your hands to crush them. Rinse the can with 1 1/2 cups water and add it to the bowl of tomatoes.
Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil with 4 cloves sliced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small Dutch oven over medium heat until the garlic begins to sizzle and becomes aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add the bell pepper and cook, stirring, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir to incorporate, about 30 seconds. Add the crushed tomatoes with their juice and 4 large leaves of basil. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 40 minutes. You should have about 3 3/4 cups of sauce.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop the lasagna noodles one at a time into the pot. Cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the noodles in a colander. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons oil to the noodles, tossing to coat to prevent them from sticking, and drape over the side of a large bowl.
Combine the ricotta, egg, 1 1/2 cups of the roasted cauliflower and 1 chopped clove garlic in a food processor and pulse until evenly pureed. Tear the remaining basil into small pieces, add to the food processor and pulse 3 to 4 more times to chop the basil finely, but not puree. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl.
Assemble the lasagna: Spread a thin layer of sauce (around 1/4 cup) on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lay 4 of the noodles on the bottom, without overlapping, cutting to fit, if necessary. Spread with half of the cauliflower-ricotta mixture, followed by half of the roasted cauliflower, one-third of the tomato sauce, one-third of the mozzarella and one-third of the Parmesan. Loosely fit 3 more noodles on top of the cheese without overlapping. Spread with the remaining cauliflower-ricotta mixture, followed by the remaining roasted cauliflower, one-third more of the tomato sauce, one-third more of the mozzarella and one-third more of the Parmesan. Top with the remaining 4 lasagna noodles, cutting just to fit. Then add the remaining tomato sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake until bubbly and hot, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and cook until the cheese begins to brown, about 10 minutes more. Allow to rest for 10 minutes so the lasagna will cut more easily. Garnish with the parsley.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One time, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting better than when I made it.
I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I ended up changing the recipe drastically, changing ingredients and amounts. The funny thing is that, while I use one or two packages of tofu crumbles instead of meat, it tastes enough like meat to fool several non-vegetarians. One person, after eating this, even looked at me aghast, asking, “What are you, some kind of vegetarian?” Never heard from him again.
Tomato sauce:
2 – 3 onions, chopped
3 – 5 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can tomatoes
2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
1 or 2 – 10 oz. package tofu crumbles
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles & make cheese layer.
Cheese layer:
2 C sour cream
2 C cottage cheese
2 eggs
4 C mozzarella, grated
2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 C Parmesan cheese
Mix ingredients together in large bowl.
Assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9” X 13” pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.
CHOCOLATE-ORANGE MAPLE SNAPS
This comes from the March 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 71. It starts off, “These snaps are great on their own, or as wafers for sandwich cookies. Maple syrup lends flavor and moisture, which lets you cut down on oil in the dough.” Makes 40 cookies in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup canola oil
1 Tbs. cornstarch dissolved in 1 Tbs. water
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbs. grated orange zest
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
3 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat three baking sheets with cooking spray.
Whisk together maple syrup, oil, cornstarch mixture, vanilla, and orange zest in large bowl.
Sift together flours, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk dry ingredients into wet ingredients until smooth.
Measure out cookie dough in 1-tsp. scoops, and arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until cookies are firm on top and edges have darkened.
nutritional informationPer Cookie: Calories: 42; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 30 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan
CROCKPOT CHUNKY APPLESAUCE
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes (8 hours); Total Time: 495 minutes; Yield: 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
10 to 12 large cooking apples, peeled, cored, and cut in chunks
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 to 1 cup granulated sugar
Preparation
Combine ingredients in slow cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours.
Serve warm or chilled with a dollop of whipped cream or with ice cream.
FOIL-ROASTED HERB POTATOES
Yield: 4 servings, 1/2 cup each
Source: "The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/11.shtml
Ingredients
1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 sprigs rosemary
2 sprigs oregano
2 sprigs thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon paprika
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Tear four large sheets of foil.
Divide all ingredients among the four sheets of foil. Wrap up the potatoes, seal tightly. Put all packets on a baking sheet.
Roast the potatoes in the oven for 35 minutes.
Place one packet on each dinner plate and allow diners to open their packets.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (About 1/2 cup): Calories: 146, Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 9 mg, Carbohydrate: 21 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 2 g, Protein: 3 g Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1 Fat
HUMMUS-VEGGIE WRAPS
Yield: 4 servings
Source: "The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/60.shtml
Ingredients
4 whole-wheat flour tortillas (8 to 9-inch rounds)
1 cup ready-made hummus
1 small carrot, shredded with a potato peeler
2 slices red onion, separated into rings
12 thin slices peeled cucumber
16 young tender spinach leaves or 1 cup alfalfa sprouts
Directions
Warm the tortillas according to package directions. Lay the tortillas on a flat surface and spread the lower half only of each tortilla with 1/4 cup of the hummus.
Top the hummus on each tortilla with a quarter of the carrots, onion rings, cucumber slices, and spinach or sprouts, leaving a 1-1/2 inch margin on the right and left sides.
Fold the right and left margins in, then roll each tortilla up from the bottom to enclose the filling. Cut each warp in half and serve immediately.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/4 of recipe): Calories: 258, Carbohydrate: 38 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Fat: 8.6 g, Saturated Fat: 0.5 g, Fiber: 6.7 g, Protein: 10 g, Sodium: 625 mg, Calcium: 56 mg, Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 Starch, 1 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Vegetable, 1 Fat
ROASTED CAULIFLOWER LASAGNA
This comes from The Food Network, and starts off, “Cauliflower is the star in this healthy lasagna, appearing in two roles-once when it's blended into the ricotta cheese filling for texture, and a second time when it's roasted and used in place of the traditional meatballs or sausage. Sweet red bell pepper adds complexity to the tomato sauce and balances the richness of the cheeses.” Total Time: 1 hr. 40 min; Prep: 20 min; Cook: 1 hr 20 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Intermediate
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/roasted-cauliflower-lasagna.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
8 cups cauliflower florets (from 1 head cauliflower; about 2 1/2 pounds)
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for coating the lasagna noodles
Kosher salt
One 28-ounce can no-salt added whole plum tomatoes
5 cloves garlic, 4 sliced and 1 chopped
1 large red bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup fresh basil leaves
8 ounces whole-wheat lasagna noodles (about 10 noodles)
1 cup part-skim ricotta
1 large egg
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, choppedDirections
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Toss the cauliflower in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread the florets in an even layer on a baking sheet and roast, tossing once, until tender and golden brown in spots, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool slightly.
Put the tomatoes in a medium bowl and use your hands to crush them. Rinse the can with 1 1/2 cups water and add it to the bowl of tomatoes.
Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil with 4 cloves sliced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small Dutch oven over medium heat until the garlic begins to sizzle and becomes aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add the bell pepper and cook, stirring, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir to incorporate, about 30 seconds. Add the crushed tomatoes with their juice and 4 large leaves of basil. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 40 minutes. You should have about 3 3/4 cups of sauce.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop the lasagna noodles one at a time into the pot. Cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the noodles in a colander. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons oil to the noodles, tossing to coat to prevent them from sticking, and drape over the side of a large bowl.
Combine the ricotta, egg, 1 1/2 cups of the roasted cauliflower and 1 chopped clove garlic in a food processor and pulse until evenly pureed. Tear the remaining basil into small pieces, add to the food processor and pulse 3 to 4 more times to chop the basil finely, but not puree. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl.
Assemble the lasagna: Spread a thin layer of sauce (around 1/4 cup) on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lay 4 of the noodles on the bottom, without overlapping, cutting to fit, if necessary. Spread with half of the cauliflower-ricotta mixture, followed by half of the roasted cauliflower, one-third of the tomato sauce, one-third of the mozzarella and one-third of the Parmesan. Loosely fit 3 more noodles on top of the cheese without overlapping. Spread with the remaining cauliflower-ricotta mixture, followed by the remaining roasted cauliflower, one-third more of the tomato sauce, one-third more of the mozzarella and one-third more of the Parmesan. Top with the remaining 4 lasagna noodles, cutting just to fit. Then add the remaining tomato sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake until bubbly and hot, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and cook until the cheese begins to brown, about 10 minutes more. Allow to rest for 10 minutes so the lasagna will cut more easily. Garnish with the parsley.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One time, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting better than when I made it.
I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I ended up changing the recipe drastically, changing ingredients and amounts. The funny thing is that, while I use one or two packages of tofu crumbles instead of meat, it tastes enough like meat to fool several non-vegetarians. One person, after eating this, even looked at me aghast, asking, “What are you, some kind of vegetarian?” Never heard from him again.
Tomato sauce:
2 – 3 onions, chopped
3 – 5 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can tomatoes
2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
1 or 2 – 10 oz. package tofu crumbles
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles & make cheese layer.
Cheese layer:
2 C sour cream
2 C cottage cheese
2 eggs
4 C mozzarella, grated
2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 C Parmesan cheese
Mix ingredients together in large bowl.
Assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9” X 13” pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.
CHOCOLATE-ORANGE MAPLE SNAPS
This comes from the March 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 71. It starts off, “These snaps are great on their own, or as wafers for sandwich cookies. Maple syrup lends flavor and moisture, which lets you cut down on oil in the dough.” Makes 40 cookies in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup canola oil
1 Tbs. cornstarch dissolved in 1 Tbs. water
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbs. grated orange zest
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
3 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat three baking sheets with cooking spray.
Whisk together maple syrup, oil, cornstarch mixture, vanilla, and orange zest in large bowl.
Sift together flours, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk dry ingredients into wet ingredients until smooth.
Measure out cookie dough in 1-tsp. scoops, and arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until cookies are firm on top and edges have darkened.
nutritional informationPer Cookie: Calories: 42; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 30 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan
Friday, April 1, 2016
Friday Recipes
Finally, Friday. Here are six recipes to try out over the weekend. Enjoy!
LEMON-ALMOND BUTTER CAKE
This yummy cake comes from Regina Schrambling in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Regina wrote, “This buttery almond cake with lemon curd baked inside is like the ultimate citrus tart, without the heartbreak of pie crust. It's fancy enough to be served as a dinner party dessert, yet substantial enough to be served with Sunday brunch. (Bonus: you'll have several tablespoons of lemon curd left over. It's delicious on toast or pancakes.)” Makes 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Curd:
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
4 extra-large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
For the Cake:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 cup plus 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup ground toasted almonds
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
About 1/2 cup heavy cream for garnish
1 tablespoon almond liqueur (optional)
Preparation
For the curd, combine zest, juice, sugar and eggs in a heatproof bowl, and beat well. Add butter, and place over a saucepan full of simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until mixture thickens into curd, about 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl, and press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming. Refrigerate until cool, at least 1 1/2 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with 1 tablespoon butter, and dust with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess.
With an electric mixer, cream the remaining butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt, and stir in. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until they start to foam. Do not overbeat or the cake will be tough. Add eggs and ground almonds to batter, and mix well.
Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Drop 8 individual tablespoons lemon curd around perimeter of batter, leaving a 1-inch border, and taking care to space drops evenly. Drop 3 to 4 tablespoons curd into center of batter. Refrigerate remaining curd for another use. Sprinkle cake with toasted almonds and 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, depending on taste.
Bake until cake is toasty brown on top and a toothpick inserted into cake (not curd) comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool on rack 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan, and cool completely.
Whip cream with almond liqueur. Present cake at table, and offer whipped cream on the side.
CALZONES
Years ago, when we first got cable, I was channel-surfing and stumbled across a cooking show, called Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 3 calzones.
Dough:
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour blended with 1 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
no-stick cooking spray
Filling:
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese
3 ounces sliced prosciutto, cut into strips
3 tablespoon chopped chives
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese pizza sauce, optional
Combine warm water & sugar with yeast in medium-sized mixing bowl. Allow yeast to soften for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups flour and knead until smooth. Add oil & salt and gradually blend in remaining flour to make firm dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured board & knead until smooth & satiny.
Spray large bowl with no-stick cooking spray. Put dough in bowl, turning to coat thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap, then a damp towel. Allow to rise in warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, until dough is almost doubled.
Spray large baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
Knead down dough & divide into 3 pieces. On lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 9-inch circle. Place 1/3 mozzarella cheese, 1/3 Parmesan cheese, & 1/3 prosciutto on each circle of dough. Top with chives & garlic. Moisten edges & fold over to enclose filling, pressing edges firmly together.
Place on baking sheet, cover lightly with plastic wrap, & allow to rise in warm, draft-free place until dough feels light, about 35 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375-degree oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until calzone is browned. Remove from oven and brush with oil. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Serve warm with pizza sauce, if desired.
ROASTED APPLE AND WINTER SQUASH SOUP
This comes from TheKitchen, and can be viewed online here. Serves 4.
3 pounds winter squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium sweet-tart apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered
2 large cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
4 cups unsalted vegetable broth
Garnish
1 medium sweet-tart apple
Preheat oven to 400°F.
In a large bowl, combine the squash, apples, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, rosemary, thyme, and allspice. Spread the vegetables/fruit on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Roast, turning once, until tender, about 40 minutes.
Puree the roasted vegetables/fruit with the vegetable broth. If using an immersion blender, this may be done in a large pot. If using a food processor, this may be done in batches, transferring the puree to a large pot as you go along.
Place the pot over medium heat and simmer until warmed through. If a thinner consistency is desired, add water or more broth. Taste and adjust seasonings.
To serve, garnish with thinly sliced or diced apples. (Sliced apples may be pan-fried in a little butter or olive oil until golden.)
BAKED CHICKEN
This comes from Danilo Alfaro, About.com's Culinary Arts expert. He writes, “Baked chicken is different from roasted chicken in two ways. First, baked chicken is prepared with chicken parts (i.e., individual drumsticks, thighs, breasts and wings) whereas roasted chicken is cooked whole. Second, baked chicken is dredged in seasoned flour before cooking, which we don't do when roasting a whole bird.
”Your best bet is to buy a chicken already cut up, or pick out a whole bird and have your butcher cut it up for you. If you do this, be sure to take home the back, which hasn't got much meat on it but is great for making chicken broth.
”But if you're interested in doing it yourself, here's a quick video that shows you how to cut up a whole chicken.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 75 minutes; Serves: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 large fryer chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 stick butter, melted
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme, crumbled
1 tsp Kosher salt
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Combine the flour, salt, pepper and other seasonings in a shallow dish. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
Working one piece at a time, dredge each piece of chicken in the flour, dip it in the melted butter and then transfer to a baking dish skin-side-up.
Bake for about an hour or until the juices run clear and the chicken is nicely browned and cooked all the way through.
SLOPPY JOE MACARONI AND CHEESE
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. She writes, “This great tasting family casserole is a meal in one dish. The "sloppy" part of this macaroni and cheese recipe is the tasty sloppy Joe layer. A ground beef layer is followed with a homemade macaroni and cheese layer, topped with bread crumbs and baked to perfection. If your family likes sloppy Joes and macaroni and cheese, this casserole will be a hit!” Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 70 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 Servings
To view this online, go to http://southernfood.about.com/od/hamburgcasseroles/r/Sloppy-Mac-and-Cheese.htm.
Ingredients
Ground Beef
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef, 85% to 90%
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
1 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons brown sugar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
Macaroni and Cheese
8 ounces elbow macaroni
2 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese or a combination of shredded Cheddar and American cheese
salt, to taste
Bread Crumb Topping
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Preparation
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the vegetable oil. Add the ground beef and onions and cook, stirring, until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are lightly browned. Pour off excess grease.
In a small bowl or cup, combine the garlic powder, prepared mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar. Stir into the ground beef mixture. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed. Set aside.
Cook the macaroni following package directions.
Drain in a colander and rinse with hot water.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the dry mustard and fresh ground black pepper. Add the milk and cook, stirring, until thickened. Stir in the cheese and add salt, to taste.
Heat the oven to 350° F.
Combine the drained macaroni with the cheese sauce.
Spoon the ground beef mixture into a lightly greased 2 to 2 1/2-quart baking dish. Top with the macaroni and cheese mixture.
Combine the bread crumbs with the melted butter, mixing well to coat all of the crumbs. Sprinkle the crumbs over the macaroni and cheese layer.
Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until hot and the topping is lightly browned.
BEST APPLE CRISP
This also comes from Diana Rattray, who writes, “This apple crisp is my favorite, with its buttery, crumbly oatmeal and brown sugar topping. I used a combination of Granny Smith and Fuji apples in the apple crisp, but any good baking or cooking apples will work well.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes; Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings
To view this online, go to http://southernfood.about.com/od/Apple-Crisp-Recipes/r/Best-Apple-Crisp.htm.
Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup quick oats
8 tablespoons cold butter, cut in small pieces
2 1/2 to 3 pounds baking apples, such as Fuji or Granny Smith, about 5 to 6 large apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Preparation
Heat the oven to 350° F. Butter a 1 1/2-quart baking dish or 6 to 8 1- to 2-cup baking dishes.
In a mixing bowl or food processor bowl combine the flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, salt, and butter.
Work the butter in with your hands, if using a mixing bowl, or pulse with the blade attachment of the food processor until the mixture is clumping together. Add the oats and mix or pulse to blend thoroughly. Set aside.
Peel and core the apples, then cut into wedges. Slice the wedges thinly. I like to chop a few of the apples in 1/2 inch pieces to give the filling a varied texture. Put them in a bowl with the lemon juice and toss periodically to keep the apples from becoming brown. Add the cinnamon and 1/3 cup brown sugar to the apple and lemon juice mixture.
Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish(es). Top the apple mixture evenly with the crumb mixture.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the apples are tender.
LEMON-ALMOND BUTTER CAKE
This yummy cake comes from Regina Schrambling in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Regina wrote, “This buttery almond cake with lemon curd baked inside is like the ultimate citrus tart, without the heartbreak of pie crust. It's fancy enough to be served as a dinner party dessert, yet substantial enough to be served with Sunday brunch. (Bonus: you'll have several tablespoons of lemon curd left over. It's delicious on toast or pancakes.)” Makes 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Curd:
Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
4 extra-large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
For the Cake:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 cup plus 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup ground toasted almonds
2 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
About 1/2 cup heavy cream for garnish
1 tablespoon almond liqueur (optional)
Preparation
For the curd, combine zest, juice, sugar and eggs in a heatproof bowl, and beat well. Add butter, and place over a saucepan full of simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until mixture thickens into curd, about 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl, and press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming. Refrigerate until cool, at least 1 1/2 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch spring-form pan with 1 tablespoon butter, and dust with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess.
With an electric mixer, cream the remaining butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt, and stir in. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until they start to foam. Do not overbeat or the cake will be tough. Add eggs and ground almonds to batter, and mix well.
Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Drop 8 individual tablespoons lemon curd around perimeter of batter, leaving a 1-inch border, and taking care to space drops evenly. Drop 3 to 4 tablespoons curd into center of batter. Refrigerate remaining curd for another use. Sprinkle cake with toasted almonds and 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, depending on taste.
Bake until cake is toasty brown on top and a toothpick inserted into cake (not curd) comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool on rack 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan, and cool completely.
Whip cream with almond liqueur. Present cake at table, and offer whipped cream on the side.
CALZONES
Years ago, when we first got cable, I was channel-surfing and stumbled across a cooking show, called Breaking Bread with Father Dominic on (if I remember correctly) the Food Network. Unfortunately, the show has since left the air, at least where I live, although the episodes can still be found here. Check out his website, The Bread Monk, at http://www.breadmonk.com/. This recipe yields 3 calzones.
Dough:
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 package FLEISCHMANN'S Active Dry Yeast
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour blended with 1 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
no-stick cooking spray
Filling:
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese
3 ounces sliced prosciutto, cut into strips
3 tablespoon chopped chives
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese pizza sauce, optional
Combine warm water & sugar with yeast in medium-sized mixing bowl. Allow yeast to soften for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups flour and knead until smooth. Add oil & salt and gradually blend in remaining flour to make firm dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured board & knead until smooth & satiny.
Spray large bowl with no-stick cooking spray. Put dough in bowl, turning to coat thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap, then a damp towel. Allow to rise in warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, until dough is almost doubled.
Spray large baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
Knead down dough & divide into 3 pieces. On lightly floured surface, roll each piece into a 9-inch circle. Place 1/3 mozzarella cheese, 1/3 Parmesan cheese, & 1/3 prosciutto on each circle of dough. Top with chives & garlic. Moisten edges & fold over to enclose filling, pressing edges firmly together.
Place on baking sheet, cover lightly with plastic wrap, & allow to rise in warm, draft-free place until dough feels light, about 35 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375-degree oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until calzone is browned. Remove from oven and brush with oil. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Serve warm with pizza sauce, if desired.
ROASTED APPLE AND WINTER SQUASH SOUP
This comes from TheKitchen, and can be viewed online here. Serves 4.
3 pounds winter squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium sweet-tart apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered
2 large cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
4 cups unsalted vegetable broth
Garnish
1 medium sweet-tart apple
Preheat oven to 400°F.
In a large bowl, combine the squash, apples, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, rosemary, thyme, and allspice. Spread the vegetables/fruit on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Roast, turning once, until tender, about 40 minutes.
Puree the roasted vegetables/fruit with the vegetable broth. If using an immersion blender, this may be done in a large pot. If using a food processor, this may be done in batches, transferring the puree to a large pot as you go along.
Place the pot over medium heat and simmer until warmed through. If a thinner consistency is desired, add water or more broth. Taste and adjust seasonings.
To serve, garnish with thinly sliced or diced apples. (Sliced apples may be pan-fried in a little butter or olive oil until golden.)
BAKED CHICKEN
This comes from Danilo Alfaro, About.com's Culinary Arts expert. He writes, “Baked chicken is different from roasted chicken in two ways. First, baked chicken is prepared with chicken parts (i.e., individual drumsticks, thighs, breasts and wings) whereas roasted chicken is cooked whole. Second, baked chicken is dredged in seasoned flour before cooking, which we don't do when roasting a whole bird.
”Your best bet is to buy a chicken already cut up, or pick out a whole bird and have your butcher cut it up for you. If you do this, be sure to take home the back, which hasn't got much meat on it but is great for making chicken broth.
”But if you're interested in doing it yourself, here's a quick video that shows you how to cut up a whole chicken.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 75 minutes; Serves: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 large fryer chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 stick butter, melted
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme, crumbled
1 tsp Kosher salt
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Combine the flour, salt, pepper and other seasonings in a shallow dish. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
Working one piece at a time, dredge each piece of chicken in the flour, dip it in the melted butter and then transfer to a baking dish skin-side-up.
Bake for about an hour or until the juices run clear and the chicken is nicely browned and cooked all the way through.
SLOPPY JOE MACARONI AND CHEESE
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. She writes, “This great tasting family casserole is a meal in one dish. The "sloppy" part of this macaroni and cheese recipe is the tasty sloppy Joe layer. A ground beef layer is followed with a homemade macaroni and cheese layer, topped with bread crumbs and baked to perfection. If your family likes sloppy Joes and macaroni and cheese, this casserole will be a hit!” Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 70 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 Servings
To view this online, go to http://southernfood.about.com/od/hamburgcasseroles/r/Sloppy-Mac-and-Cheese.htm.
Ingredients
Ground Beef
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef, 85% to 90%
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
1 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons brown sugar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
Macaroni and Cheese
8 ounces elbow macaroni
2 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese or a combination of shredded Cheddar and American cheese
salt, to taste
Bread Crumb Topping
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Preparation
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the vegetable oil. Add the ground beef and onions and cook, stirring, until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are lightly browned. Pour off excess grease.
In a small bowl or cup, combine the garlic powder, prepared mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar. Stir into the ground beef mixture. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed. Set aside.
Cook the macaroni following package directions.
Drain in a colander and rinse with hot water.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the dry mustard and fresh ground black pepper. Add the milk and cook, stirring, until thickened. Stir in the cheese and add salt, to taste.
Heat the oven to 350° F.
Combine the drained macaroni with the cheese sauce.
Spoon the ground beef mixture into a lightly greased 2 to 2 1/2-quart baking dish. Top with the macaroni and cheese mixture.
Combine the bread crumbs with the melted butter, mixing well to coat all of the crumbs. Sprinkle the crumbs over the macaroni and cheese layer.
Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until hot and the topping is lightly browned.
BEST APPLE CRISP
This also comes from Diana Rattray, who writes, “This apple crisp is my favorite, with its buttery, crumbly oatmeal and brown sugar topping. I used a combination of Granny Smith and Fuji apples in the apple crisp, but any good baking or cooking apples will work well.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes; Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings
To view this online, go to http://southernfood.about.com/od/Apple-Crisp-Recipes/r/Best-Apple-Crisp.htm.
Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup quick oats
8 tablespoons cold butter, cut in small pieces
2 1/2 to 3 pounds baking apples, such as Fuji or Granny Smith, about 5 to 6 large apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Preparation
Heat the oven to 350° F. Butter a 1 1/2-quart baking dish or 6 to 8 1- to 2-cup baking dishes.
In a mixing bowl or food processor bowl combine the flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, salt, and butter.
Work the butter in with your hands, if using a mixing bowl, or pulse with the blade attachment of the food processor until the mixture is clumping together. Add the oats and mix or pulse to blend thoroughly. Set aside.
Peel and core the apples, then cut into wedges. Slice the wedges thinly. I like to chop a few of the apples in 1/2 inch pieces to give the filling a varied texture. Put them in a bowl with the lemon juice and toss periodically to keep the apples from becoming brown. Add the cinnamon and 1/3 cup brown sugar to the apple and lemon juice mixture.
Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish(es). Top the apple mixture evenly with the crumb mixture.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the apples are tender.
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