Confessions of a Foodie

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Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Tuesday Recipes

Enjoy!

MANGO LIME SORBET

This comes from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “This sorbet is tangy and not very sweet. I added only enough sugar and corn syrup to allow the mixture to freeze properly without developing ice crystals.” Yield: 1 quart, serving 5 to 6.

This was featured in “Mango Ice Means Summer Is Now”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar

4 cups diced mango (3 to 4 large mangos)

2/3 cup fresh lime juice (about 6 limes)

2 tablespoons corn syrup

Preparation

Combine 1/2 cup water and sugar in a small saucepan and stir. Bring to a simmer and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat.

Combine all ingredients in a blender and purée until completely smooth. Transfer to a bowl or container and chill overnight in refrigerator.

(Chill a 1-quart container in the freezer while you spin the sorbet.) Remove bowl from refrigerator and blend the mango purée again for 1 to 2 minutes in a blender or with an immersion blender. Add to ice cream maker and spin for about 25 minutes. Transfer to chilled container and freeze for 2 hours or longer to pack.

Once frozen solid, allow to soften in refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.

ALL-PURPOSE BISCUITS

This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Biscuits are what take us into the kitchen today to cook: fat, flaky mounds of quick bread, golden brown, with a significant crumb. Composed of flour, baking powder, fat and a liquid, then baked in a hot oven, they are an excellent sop for sorghum syrup, molasses or honey. They are marvelous layered with country ham or smothered in white sausage gravy, with eggs, with grits. Biscuits are easy to make.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour.

This was featured in “A Quest for New York’s Perfect Biscuit”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 scant tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, preferably European style

1 cup whole milk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl. Transfer to a food processor. Cut butter into pats and add to flour, then pulse 5 or 6 times until the mixture resembles rough crumbs. (Alternatively, cut butter into flour in the mixing bowl using a fork or a pastry cutter.) Return dough to bowl, add milk and stir with a fork until it forms a rough ball.

Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and pat it down into a rough rectangle, about an inch thick. Fold it over and gently pat it down again. Repeat. Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

Gently pat out the dough some more, so that the rectangle is roughly 10 inches by 6 inches. Cut dough into biscuits using a floured glass or biscuit cutter. Do not twist cutter when cutting; this crimps the edges of the biscuit and impedes its rise.

Place biscuits on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

TEX-MEX MACARONI AND GROUND BEEF CASSEROLE

This comes from Diana Rattray, Southern Food expert at About.com. Diana wrote, “Taco seasoning and nacho cheese soup help to flavor this easy, tasty casserole. Serve this casserole with cornbread or biscuits.This is a great casserole to make for a family meal or potluck dinner.” Serves 6 to 8.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

8 ounces elbow macaroni or mini ziti

1 cup chopped onion

1 pound lean ground beef

1 large green bell pepper, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 package (1 ounce) taco seasoning

1 can (about 10 1/2 ounces) nacho cheese soup

1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained

2 cups shredded Mexican blend of cheeses, such as Cheddar Jack

Preparation

Cook macaroni or mini ziti in boiling water as directed on the package. Drain and rinse with hot water; set aside.

Heat oven to 350°. Grease a 2 1/2 to 3-quart baking dish or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, stirring and breaking up, with the onion until onion is softened. Add the bell pepper and continue cooking, stirring, until beef is no longer pink. Add the garlic and taco seasoning and cook for 1 minute longer.

Add soup, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and half of the cheese. Cook, stirring, until blended and bubbly. Add the drained macaroni and spoon into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and cheese topping has melted.

Note: If you cover and refrigerate earlier in the day, allow more time for warming the casserole.

MAPLE CINNAMON WALNUT BUTTER

This recipe and the next (Smokey Sriracha Peanut Butter) are from the November 2014 issue of Runner's World. Both can be found online here. This one begins, "Walnuts are one of the few vegetarian sources of omega-3s, fats that help calm postexercise inflammation, while cinnamon may help steady blood sugar. Walnuts are one of the few vegetarian sources of omega-3s, fats that help calm postexercise inflammation, while cinnamon may help steady blood sugar." Perfect Pairing: Whole-grain raisin bread; oatmeal.

Ingredients:

1 cup roasted walnuts

1 teaspoon pure maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Salt

Directions:

Blend walnuts in a food processor for 3 to 5 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.

Add syrup, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Process about 2 minutes longer, or until smooth.

Makes 1/2 cup (4 servings, 2 tablespoons each).

Nutrition per serving: 200 calories, 5 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 4 g protein, 19 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 35 mg sodium.

SMOKEY SRIRACHA PEANUT BUTTER

This one begins, "High in fiber, protein, and fat, peanuts are especially satiating; studies show people who eat them often have a lower body-mass index. The hot peppers in sriracha boost calorie burning and add a moderate amount of spice." Perfect Pairing: Celery; chicken; bacon burgers (a favorite of RW’s Editor-in-Chief!)

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon sriracha

1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

Salt

Directions:

Blend peanuts in a food processor for 3 to 5 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.

Add oil. Process 1 minute. Add sriracha, paprika, and a pinch of salt. Process 1 to 2 minutes, or until smooth.

Makes 1/2 cup (4 servings, 2 tablespoons each).

Nutrition per serving: 230 calories, 9 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 9 g protein20 g total fat, 3 g saturated fat, 115 mg sodium.

BASIC ROASTED POTATOES

This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com’s Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “These roasted potatoes are a snap to prepare, and they taste amazing. Make them with or without the garlic, and serve along with a steak, chicken, or fish.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Yield: Serves 4.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 to 2 1/2 pounds red skinned potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed and cut in 1 to 1 1/2-inch pieces

1/4 cup olive oil

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 cloves garlic, finely minced, optional

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley leaves

Preparation

Heat the oven to 400° F.

In a large bowl, toss the potato chunks with the olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic, and parsley.

Spread the potatoes out in a single layer in a large, shallow rimmed baking pan, such as a large jelly roll pan or half sheet pan.

Roast the potatoes for about 50 to 60 minutes, or until nicely browned, turning every 20 minutes to brown evenly.

Monday, August 8, 2016

Meatless Monday

Enjoy!

ULTIMATE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

This comes from the November 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 53. It begins, “The Native American 'three sisters' – corn, beans, and squash – come together in these individual holiday entrées stuffed with corn pudding and black beans.” Serves 8.

To view this online, click here.

3 Tbs. olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp.), divided

4 acorn squash, halved and seeded

1/2 tsp. ancho chile powder, plus more for sprinkling squash

1/2 tsp. ground coriander, plus more for sprinkling squash

3 cups fresh or frozen organic corn kernels, divided

2/3 cup yellow cornmeal

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper, optional

1 cup low-fat buttermilk

2 large eggs

4 Tbs. melted butter or olive oil

3 oz. soft goat cheese or low-fat cream cheese (1/3 cup)

3 oz. grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese (3/4 cup), plus more for sprinkling tops, optional

1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 large poblano chile or 1 small red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)

8 green onions, white and green parts thinly sliced (1 cup), plus more for sprinkling tops

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine oil and 2 tsp. minced garlic in small bowl. Brush squash halves with garlic oil, and sprinkle lightly with ancho chile powder and coriander. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and place on large baking sheet.

Pulse 2 cups corn kernels in food processor until finely chopped and milky. Set aside.

Whisk 1/2 tsp. each coriander and ancho chile powder into cornmeal, along with sugar, baking soda, salt, and cayenne (if using) in medium bowl. Set aside.

Whisk together buttermilk and eggs in separate bowl. Whisk in butter, then puréed corn, remaining 1 cup corn kernels, goat cheese, Cheddar, and remaining 2 tsp. garlic. Fold in cornmeal mixture with spatula, then fold in black beans, poblano chile, and green onions.

Divide filling among squash halves. Sprinkle each squash with extra Cheddar (if using).

Bake squash halves 30 to 45 minutes, or until squash are tender and filling is set. Sprinkle with green onions. Squash can be prepared 24 hours ahead, then reheated 20 minutes at 325°F.

nutritional information Per Stuffed squash half: Calories: 425; Protein: 15 g; Total Fat: 20 g; Saturated Fat: 10 g; Carbohydrates: 53 g; Cholesterol: 80 mg; Sodium: 533 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 6 g; Gluten-Free

CHOCOLATE PUDDING

This is from the February 2001 issue of Vegetables Times. It begins, “Feeding a crowd? This recipe can easily be doubled.” Serves 4.

To view this online, click here.

Shaved chocolate (optional)

2 1/4 cups 1% fat milk or soy milk

1/2 cup sugar

Pinch of salt

2 Tbs. cornstarch

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 large egg, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Raspberries (optional)

In heavy medium saucepan, combine 2 cups milk, 1/4 cup sugar and salt; bring to a boil. In medium bowl, mix cornstarch, cocoa and remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Whisk in remaining 1/4 cup milk until smooth. Whisk hot milk mixture into bowl and return to saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring. Boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

In small bowl, beat egg with fork. Whisk 1 cup hot mixture into egg, then whisk back into hot mixture. Cook, stirring over medium-low heat, without boiling, 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla.

Pour pudding into serving glasses. To prevent skin from forming, place sheets of wax paper directly on surface of pudding. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about 2 hours. If desired, top with raspberries and shaved chocolate just before serving.

nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 223; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 43 g; Cholesterol: 59 mg; Sodium: 89 mg; Fiber: 4 g

CHUNKY VEGETABLE STEW

This comes from the February 2004 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Greens cook down considerably and will reduce at least one-quarter in volume. One pound of raw kale will yield about 2 1/2 cups cooked. A dash of hot pepper sauce adds dimension to this colorful dish.” Serves 8.

To view this online, click here.

1 medium-sized bunch kale

2 tsp. olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium-sized red onion, chopped

1 medium-sized red bell pepper, chopped

3 medium-sized unpeeled russet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 1/2 cups dry vermouth

1 6-oz. pkg. sliced white mushrooms

1 medium-sized head cauliflower, cut into about 2-inch florets

1 14.5-oz. can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes

3 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme

3 Tbs. nutritional yeast

1 1/2 Tbs. cornstarch

2 Tbs. cold water

1 Tbs. tamari soy sauce

1/4 tsp. lemon pepper

Strip kale leaves from stalks, and rinse thoroughly in colander; set aside.

Heat oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven or saucepan for 1 minute over medium-high heat. Add garlic, onions and peppers, sauté for 2 minutes and add potatoes. Cook for 4 minutes, and add vermouth, mushrooms and cauliflower. Cook for 2 minutes, add kale and mix thoroughly. Cook mixture for 5 minutes, and reduce heat to low.

Chop stewed tomatoes coarsely in food processor, and add tomatoes, thyme and yeast to kale mixture. Combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl, and stir in with tamari and lemon pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and serve.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 195; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 32 g; Sodium: 288 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 11 g; Vegan

GARLICKY COLLARD GREENS

I know many people don't like greens. Personally, I love 'em. Add garlic, and that kicks up the yum! factor, as far as I'm concerned. This recipe comes from from the May/June 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 40. It serves 4, and starts off by stating, "This technique of blanching the collard greens in boiling water, then sautéing them takes away any bitterness."

1 lb. chopped collard greens

2 Tbs. olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced (about 4 tsp.)

Bring large pot of water to a boil. Add collard greens, and simmer 5 minutes. Drain.

Heat olive oil in same pot over medium heat. Add garlic, and sauté 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant. Add greens, and sauté 5 minutes, or until tender. Season with salt and pepper, and serve warm.

nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 98; Protein: 3 g; Total Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 23 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 1 g; VeganGluten-Free

STOVETOP VEGETARIAN ORZO AND SPINACH SKILLET DINNER

Jolinda Hackett, About.com's vegetarian blog guide, writes, "This is a super easy one-pot complete vegetarian meal using pre-cooked orzo, canned chickpeas, fresh or frozen spinach and topped off with optional crumbled feta cheese, if you're not eating vegan. If you need a quick meal but don't have orzo on hand, you could try using this recipe with instant rice or even another whole grain that you have handy. Couscous would also be super quick, but orzo would be better. This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free, and, if you omit the feta cheese, it's vegan as well."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small red onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 (16 ounce) can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained

1/2 cup cooked orzo

1 lemon, juiced

2 cups fresh spinach, chopped or 12 ounces frozen, thawed and squeezed to drain

salt and pepper

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

Preparation:

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until almost clear, about 5-6 minutes. Add the beans, cooked orzo, lemon juice and spinach, stirring to combine well.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Allow to heat for 4-5 minutes until spinach has cooked through and everything is heated and well combined.

Serve topped with feta cheese.

Makes four servings.

Nutritional information, per serving: Calories: 329; Total Fat 13g; Sodium 746mg;Dietary Fiber 10g; Protein 12g; Sugars 3g; Cholesterol 17mg

VEGETARIAN "SAUSAGE" AND CHEDDAR QUICHE WITH GIMMELEAN

Another from About.com. I'm guessing that this is from the vegetarian blog, but the email (from 2008) only states that it's from about.com. The recipe starts off, "If you're a vegetarian who likes a more 'meaty' quiche try this vegetarian 'sausage' and cheddar quiche recipe with Gimme Lean Sausage. You can make this recipe vegan by using egg substitute and vegan cheese. Recipe courtesy of Lightlife Foods." Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 9 inch pre-made pie crust

1/4 package Gimme Lean Sausage

2 cups milk, soy milk or rice milk

3 whole eggs or egg substitute

1/4 cup onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup cheddar cheese or soy cheese

nutmeg to taste

salt and pepper to taste

salsa

Preparation:

Bake pie crust according to the package directions and set aside. Saute Gimme Lean Sausage and onions in cooking oil or spray, then transfer to cooled pie shell. Sprinkle cheese or soy cheese over sausage and onions. Beat milk and eggs, add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Mix together and pour over sausage, onions and cheese.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

Per serving: Fat-25g, Fiber-1g, Sodium-610mg, Carbohydrates-14g, Protein-20g (soy protein 2g), Calories-370.

Friday, August 5, 2016

Friday Recipes

Enjoy!

BUCKWHEAT BERRY STRIPED CAKE

This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “A combination of buckwheat and whole wheat flour gives this deeply buttery cake a character that is nutty, rich and complex, while a little almond flour adds tenderness. Baking it in a shallow tart pan instead of a cake pan allows the colorful berries to rest on top of the batter rather than sink to the bottom. It’s prettiest in a 10-inch tart pan, where the pattern will be at its most striking. But if you don’t have one, a 9-inch pan also works. We arranged the berries into stripes here, but feel free to create any design you like. Serve this on the same day as you bake it, preferably within 6 hours of baking. It doesn’t keep well overnight.” Yield: 10 servings; Time: 45 minutes.

This was featured in “The Trick to Keeping Berry Cake Beautiful” and can be viewed by clicking here.

Ingredients

1/3 cup almond flour

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup buckwheat flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 stick butter, softened, more for buttering pan

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

1/4 cup buttermilk, sour cream or whole milk yogurt

1 cup mixed berries, such as strawberries, blueberries or raspberries, more as needed

1 tablespoon turbinado (or use granulated sugar)

Confectioners’ sugar, for serving

Whipped cream or crème fraîche (optional)

Preparation

Heat oven to 375 degrees and butter a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Line the bottom with a round of parchment, and butter that as well.

In a large bowl, whisk together almond, all-purpose, whole wheat and buckwheat flours, baking powder and salt.

Using an electric mixer, beat together butter, sugar and vanilla extract until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Beat in buttermilk. (The mixture will look curdled, and that’s O.K.) Stir in flour mixture until just combined.

Scrape batter into prepared pan, smoothing and leveling the top. Place berries on top of batter and sprinkle with turbinado or granulated sugar.

Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack and unmold. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar and serve, with whipped cream if you like.

KOREAN MEATBALLS AND NOODLES

This comes from Florence Fabricant, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Florence wrote, “This kalbi meatball recipe, adapted from the cookbook “Koreatown,” is easy and quick enough to consider for midweek dinner. It offers the sweetly peppered, slightly funky flavors typical of many Korean dishes, and gives new personality to everyday spaghetti and meatballs. My favorite utensil for making ground meat mixtures, by the way, is an old-fashioned potato masher. The book suggests wrapping the meatballs in lettuce, but I tossed them with noodles in a sauce that exploited the brown bits left in the cooking of the meatballs.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes.

This was featured in “A Second Look at Washington Syrah” and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef, preferably short rib and chuck

1 1/2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon Asian sesame oil

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1/3 cup chopped peeled Bosc or Asian pear

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 tablespoon grated ginger

3 tablespoons soy sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 large egg, beaten

1/3 cup dry bread crumbs, preferably whole wheat

6 ounces udon noodles or linguine

2 tablespoons gochujang, or ketchup seasoned with 1 teaspoon hot sauce

3 scallions, trimmed and slant-cut

Preparation

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place beef in a bowl.

Combine honey, black pepper, sesame oil, vinegar, pear, onion, ginger, soy sauce and half the garlic in a food processor or blender and whirl until well blended. Mix with beef. Add egg and bread crumbs and mix again. Form into 1 1/2-inch balls and arrange on the baking sheet with a bit of space between them. Place in the oven and bake 20 minutes.

While meatballs bake, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles and boil 5 minutes for udon, about 8 minutes for linguine. Reserve 2/3 cup of the pasta water, then drain pasta.

When meatballs are done, transfer them to a bowl and scrape pan juices into a sauté pan. Heat on medium, add remaining garlic and cook briefly until it starts to color. Whisk in gochujang, then pasta water. Simmer about 3 minutes, until sauce reduces and starts to thicken. Reduce heat to low, add noodles and toss in sauce. Add meatballs and mix gently. Transfer to a warm serving dish or individual bowls, scatter with scallions and serve.

HONEY PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

This comes from Anita Schecter, About.com’s Middle Eastern Food expert. Anita wrote, “As much as I love all desserts, nothing quite makes me swoon as much as the combination of sweet and salty. It's why chocolate covered salty pretzels and I are old friends and caramel sauce only interests me if it's got a good hit of sea salt. Candied or chocolate covered nuts are good but way more awesome if the nuts are salted.

“And so, as fond as I am of pistachios, pistachio ice cream and, basically all things pistachio, store bought pistachio ice cream is usually too sweet and one note for me. I'm missing the balance of the salt.

“Fortunately, I can easily remedy this situation by making my own and by using roasted and salted pistachios. You can make this with sugar only and omit the honey, if you like, but honey vanilla is another favorite flavor of mine so I decided to combine the two.

“When it comes to homemade ice cream, you can use a cooked custard base, which contains eggs. Or you can go for a straight dairy only option which doesn't require cooking. Because I wanted little bits and pieces of pistachios in my finished ice cream, I went with a no-cook method. If I wanted to strain them out, I would have cooked them with the base mix.

“I should also note that the color of pistachios, while definitely green, is nowhere near the deep green shade you find in store bought pistachio or even mint ice cream. You can certainly add some green food color to your ice cream if you really want that bright green shade. But I prefer to keep it all natural so my ice cream is still mostly beige but with green flecks from the bits of pistachios.

“This recipe is easy and simple and results in the perfect hit of sweet, salty and creamy. A perfect treat for a hot summer day. Enjoy!”

Prep Time: 12 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Freeze: 240 minutes; Total Time: 292 minutes; Yield: 8 (1/2 Cup) Servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 Cup whole milk

2 Cups heavy cream

1/2 Cup honey

1/4 Cup sugar

1 Tablespoon vanilla (vanilla paste is best, if you have it)

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1 Cup shelled roasted and salted pistachios

Preparation

In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, honey, sugar, vanilla and salt. Add the pistachios to a food processor and pulse a few times until the nuts are very broken down but not powder or paste. Add to the bowl.

Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions for use. Churn for 40 minutes and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.

BEEF TACO SALAD

This comes from Judy Kim on Delish. According to Delish, “Judy Kim is a NYC-based food stylist, recipe developer, and photographer. She also writes recipes for her website The Judy Lab."

For this recipe, Judy wrote, “Try a healthier twist on Taco Tuesdays.” Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp. Taco Seasoning

2 tbsp. tomato paste

vegetable oil

2 corn tortillas, cut into 1/4" strips

2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped

cherry tomatoes, halved

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 c. shredded Cheddar

1 c. Pico de Gallo

sour cream

1/4 c. Chopped cilantro

Directions

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Brown beef using a wooden spoon and break up meat into small pieces. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, taco seasoning, 2 tablespoons water, and tomato paste. Cook through, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and set aside.

In a sauté pan add about 1/2" of vegetable oil. Heat until hot but not smoking. Fry tortilla strips until golden brown; transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Season tortillas with salt just after removing from hot oil.

Assemble salad in 4 bowls with romaine, tomatoes, black beans, and warm taco meat. Top with cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, and sour cream. Garnish with cilantro and crisp tortilla strips.

BARBECUE SAUCE

This comes from a long-since-forgotten-email-list.

1/2 cup Karo light or dark corn syrup

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup prepared mustard

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

In 1 1/2-quart saucepan combine Karo corn syrup, onion, ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Stirring frequently, bring to boil. Reduce heat; boil gently 15 minutes or until thickened. Brush on chicken, ribs or beef, turning frequently, during last 15 to 20 minutes of grilling. Heat remaining sauce to serve with meat.

GRILLED PEACHES WITH MAPLE HONEY MARSCAPONE CHEESE

One of the email newsletters that I receive is from Delish. They find recipes from a variety of places; this comes from Joyful Healthy Eats. It starts off, “A sweet healthy dessert that will leave you feeling satisfied and guilt free, fresh Grilled Peaches with a Maple Honey Mascarpone Cheese topping!” Prep time: 3 mins; Cook time: 3 mins; Total time: 6 mins; Serves: 12 peach halves

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 peaches, halved

canola oil

1/2 cup of almond slices {as garnish}

Maple Honey Mascarpone Cheese:

8 oz. of mascarpone cheese

1 tablespoon of maple syrup

1 tablespoon of honey

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Instructions

In a small bowl, mix together mascarpone, maple syrup, honey, and vanilla extract until combined. Set aside.

Heat grill to medium high heat.

Brush peaches with canola oil.

Place flesh side of peaches on grill.

Grill for 2-3 minutes on flesh side. Remove from grill.

Serve peaches with a tablespoon of mascarpone and a tablespoon of almond slices.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Diabetic Thursday

Enjoy!

20-MINUTE CHICKEN CREOLE

Yield: 4 servings (1-1/2 cups per serving)

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1057.shtml

Ingredients

12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips

1 cup canned whole peeled tomatoes, chopped

1 cup chili sauce (look for lowest sodium version)

1-1/2 cup green bell pepper, rinsed and chopped

1-1/2 cup celery, rinsed and chopped

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1 Tbsp garlic, minced (about 2–3 cloves)

1 Tbsp fresh basil, rinsed, dried, and chopped (or 1 tsp dried)

1 Tbsp fresh parsley, rinsed, dried, and chopped (or 1 tsp dried)

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

1/4 tsp salt

Directions

Spray saute pan with cooking spray. Preheat over high heat.

Cook chicken in hot saute pan, stirring for 3–5 minutes. Reduce heat.

Add tomatoes with juice, chili sauce, green pepper, celery, onion, garlic, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper, and salt. Bring to boil over high heat, and then reduce heat to simmer.

Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 274; Protein: 30 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 383 mg; Cholesterol: 73 mg; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g ; Carbohydrates: 30 g

15-MINUTE CHILI

Serving Size: 1 cup

Serves 4

Source: Express Lane Diabetic Cooking

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/236.shtml

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey

1 (15 oz.) can kidney or pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 can low-fat, low sodium chicken broth

1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained (flavored with chilies if you can find it)

1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Directions

In a large non-stick saucepan, brown the ground turkey until it is no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat.

Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 293; Protein: 33 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 596 mg; Cholesterol: 63 mg ; Carbohydrates: 30 g; Exchanges: 2 Starch, 4 Very Lean Meat

CARIBBEAN CHICKEN

Servings: 6; 1 serving = 1-1/4 cup

Source: Gourmet Inspirations Healthy Cooking

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/67.shtml

Ingredients

2 teaspoons oil

6 single chicken breasts (24 oz. raw weight) skinned, boned, washed, sliced in 1/2" strips

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup peach or apricot chutney (fruit sweetened)

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1/2 teaspoon each curry powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

1-1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth

3 tablespoons dry white wine

2 teaspoons coconut flavoring

Directions

In a large skillet, heat oil to medium high, and saute chicken pieces until brown.

Remove chicken, set aside.

Saute garlic and onion in skillet until soft, and golden.

Stir in chutney and spices and cook one minute.

Add broth and wine, and heat through, stirring constantly.

Return chicken to sauce, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.

Stir in coconut flavoring. Serve over hot rice.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 160; Protein: 19 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 44 mg; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 3 low-fat meat; 1/3 fruit

GINGERBREAD MUFFINS

Yield: 12 servings

See the recipe here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/947.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups Kellogg's Special K cereal, crushed to 1 cup

3/4 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*


1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup low-fat buttermilk

2 egg whites

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

3 tablespoons light molasses

* May substitute 18 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Lightly coat 12 muffin cups with nonstick spray or line with paper-liners; set aside.

Combine flour, crushed cereal, Equal, raisins, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking soda and salt in large mixing bowl.

Stir in buttermilk, egg whites, vegetable oil and molasses until all ingredients are just moistened. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling 2/3 full.

Bake in preheated 400F oven 18 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 152; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 273 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Exchanges: 2 starch, 1/2 fat

LEMON-GLAZED BABY CARROTS

Yield: 4 servings

Source: America's Everyday Diabetes Cookbook

See the recipe here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/950.shtml

Ingredients

1 pound peeled baby carrots

1/4 cup chicken stock, or vegetable stock

1 tablespoons margarine or butter

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1/4 teaspoon salt

Pepper to taste

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley or chives

Directions

In a medium saucepan, cook carrots in boiling salted water for 5 to 7 minutes (start timing when water returns to a boil) or until just tender-crisp; drain and return to saucepan.

Add stock, butter, brown sugar, lemon juice and rind, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or until liquid has evaporated and carrots are nicely glazed.

Sprinkle with parsley or chives and serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 91; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 251 mg; Cholesterol: 8 mg; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetables, 1/2 Fat

SUGAR-FREE NEW YORK STYLE CHEESECAKE

Yield: 16 servings.
Serving Size: 1 slice.

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/529.shtml

Ingredients

Crust:

1-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1/4 cup butter, melted

Filling:

2-1/2 pounds regular cream cheese

1-2/3 cups Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

3 tablespoons flour

5 large eggs

2 egg yolks

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.

Make Crust: Mix crust ingredients together and press into a 10-inch springform pan.

Make filling: Beat cream cheese, Splenda Granulated Sweetener and flour in a medium bowl until well mixed and smooth. Add eggs and egg yolks, beat until smooth. Add vanilla. Scrape sides of bowl. Mix briefly and add heavy cream. Mix until well blended. Pour filling over crust.

Bake 10 minutes at 475 degrees F. Turn oven temperature down to 200 degrees F and bake for 1 hour. Turn oven off and leave cheesecake in the oven for one more hour. Cheesecake will be slightly firm to the touch. Let cool 15-20 minutes before placing in the refrigerator. Refrigerate a minimum of 4- 6 hours or preferably overnight before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 360; Protein: 8 g; Fat: 32 g; Sodium: 300 mg; Cholesterol: 185 mg; Carbohydrates: 11 g

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Wednesday Recipes

Enjoy!

CRUNCHY BERRY ALMOND CRUMBLE

This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “The paradox of a fruit crisp is that it's usually not crisp, nor is a fruit crumble necessarily crumbly. Here, however, the crumbs are as crisp as cookies, offering a textural contrast to the puddinglike berries. This delicious treat is at once crispy, crumbly and profoundly fruity.” Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

This was originally featured in ”A Good Appetite; A Crisp, Made Truly Crisp” and can also be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

For the Filling:

8 cups mixed berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries (halved or quartered) and blackberries

2 to 4 tablespoons granulated sugar, depending upon sweetness of berries

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca (optional)

For the Crumble Topping:

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup sliced almonds, finely chopped

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon allspice

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup/8 tablespoons melted butter (1 stick)

Vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)

Preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees. To prepare filling, toss berries with sugar, lemon zest and tapioca (if using). Set aside.

To make topping, in a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, almonds, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and salt. Stir in butter. Coarse crumbs will form.

Pour filling into a 2-quart gratin dish or 10-inch round cake pan (do not grease first). Using your fingers, form topping mixture into 3/4-inch to 1-inch crumbs and spread over cake.

Bake until filling bubbles and topping is light golden, about 55 minutes. Let cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature with ice cream if you like. Crisp can be made up to 8 hours ahead and kept at room temperature, or warmed up briefly in a 350 degree oven.

CHRISTINA TOSI’S CROCKPOT CAKE

This comes from Sam Sifton, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Christina Tosi, the pastry chef and an owner of Momofuku Milk Bar, sits near the beating heart of David Chang’s eclectic and innovative Momofuku restaurant empire. Off the clock, though, her cooking runs to inspired simplicity, as in this simple, tangy, slightly-caramelized at the edges slow-cooker cake, a version of which appears in her cookbook from Clarkson Potter, “Milk Bar Life.” Slow-cooker recipes invariably tell you to make something at night and enjoy them in the morning, or to make them in the morning and eat them after work. That only works if you don’t sleep much, or have a part-time job. This is a recipe for a weekend afternoon, or for cooking from the moment you get home until the very near end of a dinner party. It is a four-to-six hour affair.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: about 5 hours.

This was featured in “The Slow Cooker, Redeemed” and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

1/2 pound unsalted butter (2 sticks), at room temperature

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

3 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/3 cup neutral oil, like canola or grapeseed

1 1/2 cups/180 grams cake flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation

Put all but 1 tablespoon of the butter and the sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer and cream with the paddle attachment at medium-high speed, until the mixture is smooth and pale, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in the eggs and vanilla, then continue to mix for another 3 minutes, until fluffy. Add the buttermilk and oil and mix briefly to combine.

Set the mixer to a very low speed and add the cake flour, baking powder and salt, mixing for a minute or so and scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice, until the batter has just come together, with no lumps.

Use the remaining tablespoon of butter to grease the interior of a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, then pour the batter into the pot. Cover and cook on low for somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 to 6 hours, until the cake has set and is cooked through at the center. To serve, run a knife around the edge of the slow cooker to loosen the cake and then carefully invert onto a platter, or simply spoon the cake out of the slow cooker.

ASPARAGUS CHEF SALAD

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/227.shtml

Source: Cooking Healthy and Fast

Yield: 4-1/2 (1 cup) servings

Ingredients

2-1/2 lb. asparagus, trimmed

8 oz. mushrooms, sliced

2 oz. part-skim julienne Swiss cheese

2 oz. lean julienne ham

1 Tbsp.finely chopped onion

1 orange, peeled and cubed

Dressing:

1 pkg. lemon and herb salad dressing mix

2 Tbsp. water

1/4 cup vinegar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions

Chop asparagus into bite-sized pieces and place in a microwavve-proof casserole dish. Add 2 Tbsp. water, cover, and Microwave for 2 minutes. Drain. Measure remaining ingredients into a salad bowl. Add asparagus when completely cool.

Prepare dressing in a shaker container and add approximately 1/3 of it to the salad. Save remaining dressing for greens and fresh vegetables.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 151; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 347 mg; Cholesterol: 25 mg; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable; 1 Lean Meat; 1 Fat

HONEY PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

This comes from Anita Schecter, About.com’s Middle Eastern Food expert. Anita wrote, “As much as I love all desserts, nothing quite makes me swoon as much as the combination of sweet and salty. It's why chocolate covered salty pretzels and I are old friends and caramel sauce only interests me if it's got a good hit of sea salt. Candied or chocolate covered nuts are good but way more awesome if the nuts are salted.

“And so, as fond as I am of pistachios, pistachio ice cream and, basically all things pistachio, store bought pistachio ice cream is usually too sweet and one note for me. I'm missing the balance of the salt.

“Fortunately, I can easily remedy this situation by making my own and by using roasted and salted pistachios. You can make this with sugar only and omit the honey, if you like, but honey vanilla is another favorite flavor of mine so I decided to combine the two.

“When it comes to homemade ice cream, you can use a cooked custard base, which contains eggs. Or you can go for a straight dairy only option which doesn't require cooking. Because I wanted little bits and pieces of pistachios in my finished ice cream, I went with a no-cook method. If I wanted to strain them out, I would have cooked them with the base mix.

“I should also note that the color of pistachios, while definitely green, is nowhere near the deep green shade you find in store bought pistachio or even mint ice cream. You can certainly add some green food color to your ice cream if you really want that bright green shade. But I prefer to keep it all natural so my ice cream is still mostly beige but with green flecks from the bits of pistachios.

“This recipe is easy and simple and results in the perfect hit of sweet, salty and creamy. A perfect treat for a hot summer day. Enjoy!”

Prep Time: 12 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Freeze: 240 minutes; Total Time: 292 minutes; Yield: 8 (1/2 Cup) Servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 Cup whole milk

2 Cups heavy cream

1/2 Cup honey

1/4 Cup sugar

1 Tablespoon vanilla (vanilla paste is best, if you have it)

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1 Cup shelled roasted and salted pistachios

Preparation

In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, honey, sugar, vanilla and salt. Add the pistachios to a food processor and pulse a few times until the nuts are very broken down but not powder or paste. Add to the bowl.

Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions for use. Churn for 40 minutes and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.

30-MINUTE PIZZA PASTA SKILLET

This comes from the Tablespoon e-newsletter, and begins, “Ready, set, go! Pizza flavors wrap up a skillet meal in just 30 minutes!” Prep Time: 30 min; Total Time: 30 min; Makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 lb. lean ground beef

2 oz. (1/2 cup) sliced pepperoni, chopped

1 (14-oz.) jar spaghetti sauce (2 cups)

3/4 cup water

7 oz. (2 cups) uncooked ready-cut spaghetti

1/4 cup sliced ripe olives

1/2 green bell pepper, cut into bite-sized strips

4 oz. (1 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

Brown ground beef in large skillet over medium-high heat until thoroughly cooked. Add pepperoni; cook 1 minute. Drain.

Stir in spaghetti sauce, water and uncooked spaghetti. Bring to a boil; stir. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until spaghetti is of desired doneness, stirring occasionally.

Add olives; stir gently to mix. Arrange pepper strips over top. Sprinkle with cheese. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

APPLE PIE A LA ZING

I'm not sure what emailing list this came from, though the email says that the source is Fabulous Food Associations; it also ends with “Ocean Spray Cranberries,” so I'd be willing to bet it came from either/or (or both?). Either way, it starts off by saying, “Cranberries and apples make a festive, flavorful pie.” While you may have to wait another month or two to buy fresh cranberries where you live, once they do arrive, you can do what I do: buy a bag or two every time I go shopping, then stash them in the freezer. That way, I have cranberries all year long! Serves 8; prep time: 10 minutes; cooking time: 50 minutes.

Ingredients

4 cups pared, sliced apples

2 cups fresh or frozen Ocean Spray cranberries

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

1 (9-inch) two-crust pie shell

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine all ingredients, except pastry, in a medium mixing bowl; mix well. Pour into a pastry-lined pie plate. Cover with top crust. Seal edges and cut several slits in top crust. Bake 50 minutes or until golden brown. Cover edges with foil if they begin to brown too quickly.

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Tuesday Recipes

Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY SORBET

This comes from Amanda Hesser in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Amanda wrote, “This mouthwatering summer sorbet is an adaptation of one served at the River Café in London. Yes, it calls for an entire lemon (rind and all), but trust us: the sweet of the strawberries and sugar, the tart and bitter of the lemon – it all works together beautifully.” Yield: Makes 1 1/ 2 quarts; Time: 10 minutes.

This was originally featured in “The Arsenal”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

1 whole lemon, seeded and roughly chopped

2 cups sugar

2 pounds strawberries, hulled

Juice of 1 to 2 lemons

Preparation

Place the chopped lemon and sugar in a food processor, and pulse until combined. Transfer to a bowl.

Purée the strawberries in a food processor, and add to the lemon mixture, along with the juice of 1 lemon. Taste and add more juice as desired. The lemon flavor should be intense but should not overpower the strawberries. Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine and churn until frozen.

SOUR CREAM CHEESECAKE WITH VANILLA BEAN

This is also from Amanda Hesser in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “This elegant cheesecake is based on Amanda Hesser's mother's simple recipe. The crust is made of Nabisco chocolate wafers and butter. The bottom layer is a fluffy pool of cream cheese, eggs and sugar. The top is a thin layer of sour cream and sugar. Her recipe called for vanilla extract, but this one uses the seeds of one whole vanilla bean, which has a way of elevating all the other subtle flavors – cinnamon, chocolate and the tang of the sour cream and cream cheese – in a magical way.” Yield: 12 servings; Time: 1 hour 10 minutes.

This was featured in “An Exotic Import: Hardly Plain Vanilla”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

18 Nabisco chocolate wafers, finely crushed

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 pound cream cheese, room temperature

2 eggs at room temperature, lightly beaten

2/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar

1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise and seeds scraped

1 1/2 cups sour cream

Preparation

In a bowl stir together crushed wafers and cinnamon with a fork. Pour in butter, and stir until mixture is moist. Press mixture into a 9-inch springform pan, forming a crust just over 1 inch high around the sides. You might think you need more wafers, but you don't. Press patiently until a tight, thin layer forms. Chill until needed.

Heat oven to 350 degrees with baking sheet on center rack. In an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until creamy and fluffy. Add eggs, 2/3 cup sugar and seeds from vanilla bean, and beat until very smooth. Scrape bowl with a spatula to break up lumps. Pour into crust, and place on baking sheet. Bake 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, blend sour cream with 3 tablespoons sugar. After 25 minutes, remove cake from oven, and let sit 5 minutes. Increase oven heat to 450 degrees. Gently spoon sour cream mixture on top, and spread evenly. Return cake to oven, and bake 7 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

GRILLED CORN ON THE COB

This comes from Ina Garten from The Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa. Total Time: 45 min; Prep: 25 min; Cook: 20 min; Yield: 1 serving; Level: Easy

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/grilled-corn-on-the-cob.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

1 ear fresh corn on the cob, with the husk

1 teaspoon unsalted butter, melted

Kosher salt

Directions

Prepare a charcoal grill with a single layer of hot coals.

Peel back the husk from the corn and remove the silk. Brush the kernels with the melted butter and replace the husk to cover the ear of corn.

Grill the corn for a total of 20 minutes, turning it every 5 minutes. Remove the ear from the grill and carefully peel back the husk. Sprinkle the kernels with salt and serve.

ULTIMATE CHICKEN POT PIE

This comes from GE Appliances e-newsletter. It begins, “Using convenience products like canned soup, cooked chicken, frozen veggies and refrigerated pie crusts make this comfort food classic a cinch to prepare. It's chock full of flavor and ready in just 50 minutes.” Makes 4 servings; Time: 35 minutes.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

1 package (about 14 ounces) refrigerated pie crust (2 crusts), at room temperature

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)

1/2 cup milk

2 cups diced cooked chicken

1 package (12 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed (about 2 2/3 cups)

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces)

Directions:

Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate with 1 pie crust. Trim any excess.

Stir the soup, milk, chicken and vegetables in a medium bowl. Spoon the chicken mixture into the pie plate. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup cheese. Place the remaining pie crust over the filling. Trim any excess. Crimp the edges of the top and bottom crusts together. Using a sharp knife, cut several slits in the top crust.

Bake for 35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Sprinkle the crust with the remaining cheese.

Chef’s Notes:

Make-Ahead: Bake 2 pot pies, eat one now and freeze one for later!

ROASTED VEGETABLE & CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

This also comes from GE Appliances e-newsletter. It begins, “Roasted veggies are combined with rotisserie chicken for these amazing enchiladas topped with a creamy chile verde sauce and melted Pepper Jack cheese.” Makes 8 servings; Time: 1 hour.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp. olive oil

1 red bell pepper

1 small zucchini

1/2 of a medium red onion

1/2 cup black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup shredded chicken (from a rotisserie chicken)

8 corn tortillas

2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese

Chile Verde Sauce:

1/2 cup half & half

2 cans diced green chilies

1 1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Chop bell pepper, zucchini, and red onion into 1-inch pieces. Toss the veggies with 3 tablespoons olive oil and spread on a large, rimmed baking pan.

Roast in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. Remove from oven; reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.

While the veggies are roasting, prepare the sauce by combining half & half, diced green chiles, cumin, salt, and garlic cloves.

For the enchilada filling, combine the roasted vegetables, black beans and chicken.

Heat corn tortillas slightly to soften. Wrap the tortillas in a clean kitchen towel and microwave for 30 seconds. Keep them in the towel as you fill the tortillas to keep them soft and pliable.

Fill each tortilla with approximately ⅓ cup of the filling. Roll tightly and place seam-side down in 9x13 inch pan. Repeat until all the tortillas are filled. Pour sauce evenly over enchiladas. Top with shredded cheese and cover with aluminum foil.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until cheese is fully melted.

Remove from the oven and top with fresh cilantro.

Chef’s Notes:

Use any leftover filling for a quick and easy breakfast. Reheat the vegetable and black bean mixture and add a fried egg to the top.

BLUEBERRY CRUNCH GRANOLA

This is from the November 2014 issue of Runner's World, and begins, "Packed with grains, nuts, and fruit, granola is one of chef Marcus Samuelsson's go-to breakfasts. He keeps it on hand for fuel before or after his nearly daily six-mile loop through New York City's Central Park. 'The beauty of making granola at home is that it's cheaper, it's fresher, and I can customize it the way I want,' says the Top Chef Masters champ, who just published his latest cookbook, Marcus Off Duty. 'This is a very forgiving mix,' he adds. 'Swap in other nuts or fruits or sweeteners that you prefer.'"

This can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients:

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup unsweetened dried blueberries

3/4 cup sliced almonds

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut

1/2 cup raw cashews

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300F. In a large bowl, combine oats, blueberries, almonds, coconut, cashews, sugar, and allspice. Mix well. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter with the maple syrup. Pour over the granola and toss to coat. Spread granola on a baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until it is golden brown. Sprinkle cinnamon over the granola and stir it in.

Makes 6 cups. (24 servings, 1/4-cup each)

Nutrition Information: 123 calories; 14 grams carbs (6 grams sugar); 2 grams fiber; 3 grams protein; 6 grams total fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 4 miligrams sodium

Beyond Yogurt

•Stir granola into cooked oatmeal or pancake and muffin batter.

•Add to root vegetables halfway through roasting; use as a topping for a holiday gratin.

•Swap in granola for croutons in green salads or use as a garnish on soup.

•When shopping for store-bought versions, choose brands with a max of 10 grams each of sugar and fat per serving.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Meatless Monday

It's Monday, which means (ta-da) Meatless Monday. Here are today's six vegetarian recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!

BLACKBERRY-RHUBARB FOOL

This comes from the March 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Foolishly simple to make, this old-fashioned English dessert marries a fruit purée with whipped cream. To cut down on calories, we folded drained vanilla yogurt into a small amount of real whipped cream.” Serve 6.

To view this online, click here.

3 cups chopped fresh or frozen rhubarb (about 12 oz.)

1 1/2 cups frozen blackberries, divided

1/3 cup sugar

1 Tbs. orange juice

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 6-oz. containers low-fat vanilla yogurt (1 1/4 cups)

1/3 cup whipping cream

1 Tbs. crushed vanilla wafers

Combine rhubarb, 1 cup berries, sugar, orange juice and cinnamon in saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium low, cover, and cook 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove lid and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until rhubarb is tender and mixture has broken down into a chunky purée, stirring often. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, line sieve or colander with cheesecloth or coffee filters, and set over bowl. Spread yogurt in sieve, and let drain in refrigerator 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or overnight.

Chill mixing bowl and beaters in freezer 1 hour, or overnight. (This will make it easier to whip cream.) Put remaining 1/2 cup blackberries in refrigerator.

Fold yogurt into rhubarb mixture with spatula. Whip cream in chilled bowl with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold into rhubarb-yogurt mixture, leaving distinct swirls. Spoon into dessert dishes, and garnish with wafer crumbs and thawed blackberries.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 157; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Carbohydrates: 25 g; Sodium: 41 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 20 g

PINEAPPLE-COCONUT SORBET

This also comes from the March 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Desserts don't get faster or easier than this: Frozen fruit plus a food processor equal a refreshing sorbet.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

1/3 cup coconut chips or flaked coconut, optional

1 16-oz. pkg. unsweetened frozen pineapple chunks (3 cups)

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup light unsweetened coconut milk, chilled

2 Tbs. lime juice

Preheat oven to 300°F if using coconut chips. Spread on small baking sheet, and toast 5 to 10 minutes, or until light golden, stirring occasionally. Cool, and store in airtight container.

Pulse pineapple and sugar in food processor until finely chopped. Combine coconut milk and lime juice in small bowl. Pour coconut milk mixture gradually through feed tube, with machine running. Process until smooth and creamy, stopping once or twice to scrape down bowl.

Serve sorbet, garnished with coconut chips if desired. To store, transfer to airtight container, and freeze. Place in refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to soften slightly, or microwave at low (20%) power, 1 to 2 minutes.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 107; Protein: 1 g; Total Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g; Sodium: 4 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 16 g; Vegan

LEMON POTATO SALD WITH MINT

This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This light and refreshing potato salad is the antithesis of the usual, creamy, mayonnaise-based recipes. The mint and scallion add a bright, herbal flavor while the sprinkle of chile lends a kick. Make this the morning you plan to serve it and let it marinate at room temperature all day long. Or refrigerate for longer storage but be sure to bring it to room temperature before serving. Other herbs like cilantro, parsley, tarragon and sage can be substituted for the mint; adjust the quantity to taste.” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 45 minutes.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 pounds small waxy white or yellow potatoes, roughly about the same size

Juice of 1 lemon, more for serving

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, more as needed

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions, white and light green parts, more for serving

1/4 cup torn mint leaves, more for serving

1/4 teaspoon Turkish pepper, more for serving

Preparation

Place whole unpeeled potatoes in a large pot with enough salted water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until potatoes are just tender, 15 to 25 minutes depending upon size. Drain and cut potatoes into 1 1/2-inch chunks as soon as you can handle them.

In a bowl, whisk together lemon juice, salt and olive oil.

Transfer hot potatoes to a large bowl and toss with dressing, scallions, mint and Turkish pepper. Let cool to room temperature, or refrigerate until ready to use. Just before serving, top with additional lemon juice, scallions, mint and Turkish pepper.

TOFU WITH HOT CHIPOTLE BARBECUE SAUCE

This comes from Martha Rose Schulman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Instead of throwing out the adobo sauce that canned chipotle peppers are packed in, use it for this sauce. You can marinate the tofu in it for an extra-hot dish, or just brush it on cooked or uncooked tofu. This makes enough for a pound of tofu.” Yield: 1/2 cup.

This was featured in “Tofu Dresses To Beat the Heat”, and can also be found by clicking here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon adobo sauce from canned chipotles

2 teaspoons light or dark brown sugar

Salt to taste

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons unrefined peanut oil or extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 to 2 tablespoons water (more to taste)

Preparation

Mix together all of the ingredients. Brush on seared or grilled tofu as soon as it comes off the heat, or onto uncooked slices.

Tip

Advance preparation: This keeps for a week in the refrigerator.

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

GEMELLI WITH BLISTERED CHERRY TOMATOES, CHICKPEAS, AND SMOKED PAPRIKA

This recipe comes from the September 2015 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 28, and begins, “For an extra kick of flavor, sprinkle this spicy-smoky dish with quartered Kalamata olives.” Serves 4 in 30 minutes or less.

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2 Tbs. olive oil

16 oz. cherry, tear drop, or grape tomatoes (about 3 cups)

1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)

1/2tsp. smoked paprika

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

2 Tbs. chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 Tbs. chopped fresh marjoram

1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

8 oz. gemelli

1 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese, optional

Heat 1 Tbs. oil in large non-stick skillet over high heat. Add tomatoes, and cook 10 minutes, or until tomatoes blister in spots, stirring occasionally. Stir in remaining 1 Tbs. oil, garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Fold in parsley and marjoram, then chickpeas. Remove from heat.

Meanwhile, cook gemelli in large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup cooking liquid.

Add gemelli to tomato-chickpea mixture in skillet, and toss to coat. Mix in enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and serve sprinkled with feta (if using).

nutritional information Per Per 1 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 393; Protein: 13 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 64 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 248 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 8 g