Yes, besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Red Velvet Cake and Pasta Primavera. Enjoy!
RED VELVET CAKE
We lived in Connecticut for several years while I was growing up. During this time, a lady called the local radio station and said she’d recently returned from a trip. During a stay in a fancy hotel with her husband, she had this cake in their restaurant. Returning home, she wrote to the hotel and requested a copy of the recipe, saying she’d pay for it. She received a copy of the recipe, along with a bill for $300. (This was during the mid-1960s.) Furious over the bill, she proceeded to read the recipe over the air.
This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.
1/2 C butter (see note)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 C sugar
1 C buttermilk
2 eggs, well beaten
1 T vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
2 T cocoa
2 1/4 C flour (sifted)
2 oz. red food coloring
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour two 8” round pans.
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs.
Make paste of food coloring and cocoa. Add to first mix.
Add salt and buttermilk alternately with flour. Add vanilla.
Dissolve soda in vinegar and add this last. Blend all ingredients, as little as possible. Pour into pans and bake for 30-40 minutes. When cool, split each layer horizontally.
Frosting For Red Velvet Cake
1 C butter (see note)
1 C milk
1 C sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
5 T unbleached flour
Cream butter with sugar. Cook flour and milk in saucepan until very thick, stirring the whole time. Cool. Combine 2 mixes and add vanilla, using electric mixer. Spread on cake.
NOTE: Butter must be used in the frosting, otherwise the frosting will liquefy and refuse to harden. In the cake itself, though, margarine may be used. Also, if two 9” round pans are used, layers don’t need to be cut in half.
SCOTTISH SCONES
Servings: 16
Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/156.shtml
Ingredients
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp whipped butter
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup golden raisins
Directions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
Coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Add the butter and mix it into the flour with your fingers. Add buttermilk and knead into a soft dough. Knead in the raisins.
On a floured board, roll out the dough until 1/2" thick.
Cut dough into 16 rounds. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden in color.
Serve warm or let cool and store in an airtight container.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 97; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 115 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Carbohydrates: 16 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread
SIMPLEST ROAST CHICKEN
This is from Mark Bittman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, “With an ingredient list just four items long (chicken, olive oil, salt, pepper), the genius of this bare-bones roast chicken is in its technique. To make it, thoroughly preheat a cast-iron skillet before sliding into it a seasoned bird, breast side up. In under an hour you’ll get a stunner of a chicken, with moist, tender white meat, crisp, salty chicken skin, and juicy dark meat all done to a turn. If you don’t already have a cast-iron skillet large enough to hold a whole chicken, this recipe is a good enough reason to invest in one.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 50 to 60 minutes.
This was featured in “The Minimalist: Simplest Roast Chicken”, and can be viewed online here.
Note: Check out Melissa Clark’s guide, “How to Roast Chicken”.
Ingredients
1 whole chicken, 3 to 4 pounds, trimmed of excess fat
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Put a cast-iron skillet on a low rack in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees. Rub the chicken all over with the oil and sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper.
When the oven and skillet are hot, carefully put the chicken in the skillet, breast side up. Roast for 15 minutes, then turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees. Continue to roast until the bird is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meaty part of the thigh reads 155 to 165 degrees.
Tip the pan to let the juices flow from the chicken’s cavity into the pan. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Carve and serve.
PASTA PRIMAVERA
This comes from Publix. Makes 4 servings.
12 ounces of dried linguine, ziti, or penne pasta
2 Tbl olive oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 green onions, sliced
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 medium red sweet pepper, sliced
1 medium yellow sweet pepper, sliced
1 small zucchini, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 C chicken or veggie broth
1 C snipped fresh basil
1/4 C finely shredded Parmesan cheese
2 Tbls pine nuts, toasted
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return pasta to saucepan; cover & keep warm.
Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat olive oil. Add garlic & onions; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in carrots & sweet peppers. Cook & stir for 3 minutes. Add zucchini, salt, & pepper. Stir in chicken or veggie broth. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 1 minute or until vegetables are just tender.
Stir vegetable mixture & basil into pasta & toss. Transfer to serving dish. Sprinkle with cheese & pine nuts. Makes 4 servings.
Per serving: Calories: 443; fat: 20 g (9 g sat. fat); chol: 38 mg; sodium: 328 mg; carbs: 51 g; fiber: 6 g; protein: 14 g.
CURRIED LENTILS WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH
This is from the October 2007 issue of Runner’s World.
1 C dry lentils
1 small butternut squash
1 Tbls olive oil
1 Tbls curry powder
1 tsp grated gingerroot
1 tsp chili powder
Salt & pepper to taste
1/4 C shredded coconut (optional)
Spray 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray & set aside. Pour lentils into deep pot & cover with cold water. Bring water to boil, reduce heat, & add raw chunks of the squash (leave skin on to add nutrients & texture to dish). Simmer until squash is soft (about 1 hour). Remove pot from heat, drain, & set aside. With tongs, pull out chunks of squash & mash roughly, skins & all, with a fork, ricer, or potato masher.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In large bowl, mix drained cooked lentils & mashed squash with olive oil & all the spices (including salt & pepper). Spoon mixture into baking dish. At this point, you can cover the dish & refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. When you’re ready, bake until piping hot, about 20 minutes if you’re putting it into the oven right after mixing, or 25-30 minutes if it’s been refrigerated. Serve warm garnished with shredded coconut if you like and with a serving of wild greens, such as blanched chard. Serves two as a hearty main dish or four as a side dish.
Calories: 530; Protein: 32 g; carbs: 94 g; Fat: 8 g.
ALIGOT (MASHED POTATOES WITH CHEESE)
This is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “Somewhere between buttery mashed potatoes and pure melted cheese lies aligot, the comforting, cheese-enhanced mashed-potato dish from central France. The key to getting a smooth, airy texture is to rice the potatoes while they're still hot, then incorporate cold butter, hot milk and grated cheese over low heat. To build up the stringiness of that melting cheese, Ham el-Waylly, a chef at the Brooklyn restaurant Hail Mary, suggests whipping it with confidence, speed and vigor. This is what will create aligot's characteristic cheese strings: long and sheer, with some elasticity. ‘They should fight with you,’ Waylly says. While fresh tomme or Cantal is traditional, Gruyère or Comté work well, too.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
This was featured in “Cheesy
Mashed Potatoes for the Soul”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 pound russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/4 pound cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup cream, heated
1/2 pound Comté or Gruyère cheese, grated
Salt to taste
Preparation
Simmer the potatoes in water until very tender to the point of a knife, about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain potatoes, and tip out any remaining water from the pot. Push the hot potatoes through a ricer back into the pot. Over low heat, use a heatproof spatula to move the potatoes around the pot for a minute so that any excess water can evaporate.
Add butter to the potatoes, half at a time, stirring until completely incorporated. Add hot cream, half at a time, stirring until incorporated. Add cheese a little bit at a time, stirring vigorously, until all the cheese is evenly melted and the spoon makes cheesy strings as you pull it away from the potatoes. If necessary, turn the heat up a little. Taste, and season with salt. Serve.
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Diabetic Thursday
It's Thursday, which means Diabetic Thursday.
I remember when a loved-one was diagnosed with diabetes. I'd been sure that diabetic food meant boring food. But I was so wrong! Here are six diabetic recipes that help prove that diabetic food can be interesting, including Gingered Orange Carrots and Sweet Potato Pie. (Yes, pie for diabetics!) Enjoy!
Note: Please check out Another Day in Paradise at GoFundMe. This is to help fund a documentary on homelessness, following 2 - 3 people as they struggle to get off the street. Backing starts at $10, with goodies for donations.
GINGERED ACORN SQUASH
Servings: 4
Source: American Heart Association Cookbook
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/267.shtml
Ingredients
2 acorn squash (about 3/4 pound each)
8-ounce can pineapple tidbits in their own juice, drained
3 tablespoons raisins (optional)
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon light margarine, melted
1 teaspoon freshly grated gingerroot
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray a 13x9x2-inch baking dish with vegetable oil spray.
Cut squash in half. Scoop out and discard seeds. Put squash halves cut side up in baking dish.
In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Spoon mixture into each squash cavity. Carefully pour a small amount of water around each squash. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 24 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 29 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch; 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fruit
GINGERED ORANGE CARROTS
4g sugars and 2g dietary fiber.
Makes about 2 cups (4 servings)
Source: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/351.shtml
Ingredients
6 medium carrots (about 3/4 pound), peeled and sliced
1/2 cup homemade chicken broth, or canned reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons margarine
1 teaspoon grated fresh gingerroot, or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Directions
Combine the carrots and broth in a medium saucepan. Cover and simmer over low heat until almost tender, about 10 minutes.
Add the orange juice, margarine, and ginger; simmer, uncovered, until almost all the liquid is absorbed. Serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 52; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 72 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
APPLE AND SQUASH BAKE
This recipe begins, “This recipe combines all the best fall flavors and makes a great alternative to the candied yams often served for Thanksgiving dinner.”
Yield: 8 servings
Serving Size: 3/4 cup squash and apple bake
Source: Splenda
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1121.shtml
Ingredients
1/3 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
1 teaspoon molasses
1/4 cup light butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground mace
2 pounds butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and cut into
1/2 inch slices
2 large apples - cored, and cut into 1/2 inch slices
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F .
In a medium bowl, stir together Splenda Granulated Sweetener, molasses, butter, flour, salt, and mace. Arrange squash in an ungreased 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with slices of apple, then sprinkle with the sugar mixture. Cover with a lid or aluminum foil.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until squash is tender.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Calories from Fat: 30; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 3.5 g; Sodium: 340 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Sugars: 9 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g
SWEET POTATO PIE
Yield: 8 servings
Source: Equal
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1030.shtml
Ingredients
1 Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie
2 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (about 2 Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie pounds)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated fat-free milk
Light whipped topping (optional)
Grated nutmeg (optional)
* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
Directions
Roll pastry on floured surface into a circle 1 inch larger than inverted 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into plate; trim and flute edge. Set aside.
Blend sweet potatoes in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth. Stir in eggs, Equal, flour, lemon juice, vanilla, spices, salt and evaporated milk. Pour mixture over pastry shell.
Bake in preheated 400F oven 40 to 45 minutes or until filling is set and sharp knife inserted into center comes out clean.
Cool pie completely on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate. Garnish top of pie with whipped topping and grated nutmeg, if desired. Cut pie into wedges.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 197; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 316 mg; Cholesterol: 58 mg; Carbohydrates: 28 g; Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat
CHICKEN WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES
Yield: 4 servings
Source: Magic Menus for People with Diabetes
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/868.shtml
Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound total), trimmed of cartilage and fat
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 large shallot, minced
2/3 cup low-sodium, low-fat chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/8 teaspoon marjoram
1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated in small bowl water
Directions
Cut each chicken breast half into 6 equal parts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Saute chicken in oil over moderate heat, turning, until the chicken is just opaque throughout, 4-5 minutes.
Remove chicken with a slotted spoon. Add shallot to the skillet and sauté, stirring until softened, about 1 minute. Add broth, wine (much of the alcohol will evaporate, leaving only the flavor), marjoram, and tomatoes.
Bring to a boil over moderate heat and cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Return the chicken to the skillet. Simmer, gently spooning the sauce over the chicken, until heated through. Simmer until sauce is reduced by half.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 177; Protein: 27 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 155 mg; Cholesterol: 64 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 3 g; Exchanges: 4 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Fat
TOMATO, BASIL AND MOZZARELLA SALAD
Servings: 4
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=189
View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/189.shtml
Directions
1 pound ripe tomatoes (2-3)
5-6 fresh mozzarella balls (small size)
2-3 fresh basil leaves, diced
2 teaspoons olive oil
Dash of salt (optional)
Directions
Slice tomatoes into 1/2-inch thick slices.
Arrange 2-3 tomato slices on each salad plate.
Cut fresh mozzarella ball into halves.
Top each tomato slice with sliced mozzarella.
Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes.
Top each mozzarella half with fresh basil.
Sprinkle dash of salt over dish. (optional)
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 70; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 140 mg; Cholesterol: 6 mg; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1 Medium-Fat
I remember when a loved-one was diagnosed with diabetes. I'd been sure that diabetic food meant boring food. But I was so wrong! Here are six diabetic recipes that help prove that diabetic food can be interesting, including Gingered Orange Carrots and Sweet Potato Pie. (Yes, pie for diabetics!) Enjoy!
Note: Please check out Another Day in Paradise at GoFundMe. This is to help fund a documentary on homelessness, following 2 - 3 people as they struggle to get off the street. Backing starts at $10, with goodies for donations.
GINGERED ACORN SQUASH
Servings: 4
Source: American Heart Association Cookbook
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/267.shtml
Ingredients
2 acorn squash (about 3/4 pound each)
8-ounce can pineapple tidbits in their own juice, drained
3 tablespoons raisins (optional)
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon light margarine, melted
1 teaspoon freshly grated gingerroot
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray a 13x9x2-inch baking dish with vegetable oil spray.
Cut squash in half. Scoop out and discard seeds. Put squash halves cut side up in baking dish.
In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Spoon mixture into each squash cavity. Carefully pour a small amount of water around each squash. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 24 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 29 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch; 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fruit
GINGERED ORANGE CARROTS
4g sugars and 2g dietary fiber.
Makes about 2 cups (4 servings)
Source: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/351.shtml
Ingredients
6 medium carrots (about 3/4 pound), peeled and sliced
1/2 cup homemade chicken broth, or canned reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons margarine
1 teaspoon grated fresh gingerroot, or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Directions
Combine the carrots and broth in a medium saucepan. Cover and simmer over low heat until almost tender, about 10 minutes.
Add the orange juice, margarine, and ginger; simmer, uncovered, until almost all the liquid is absorbed. Serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 52; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 72 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
APPLE AND SQUASH BAKE
This recipe begins, “This recipe combines all the best fall flavors and makes a great alternative to the candied yams often served for Thanksgiving dinner.”
Yield: 8 servings
Serving Size: 3/4 cup squash and apple bake
Source: Splenda
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1121.shtml
Ingredients
1/3 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
1 teaspoon molasses
1/4 cup light butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground mace
2 pounds butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and cut into
1/2 inch slices
2 large apples - cored, and cut into 1/2 inch slices
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F .
In a medium bowl, stir together Splenda Granulated Sweetener, molasses, butter, flour, salt, and mace. Arrange squash in an ungreased 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with slices of apple, then sprinkle with the sugar mixture. Cover with a lid or aluminum foil.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until squash is tender.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Calories from Fat: 30; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 3.5 g; Sodium: 340 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Sugars: 9 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g
SWEET POTATO PIE
Yield: 8 servings
Source: Equal
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1030.shtml
Ingredients
1 Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie
2 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (about 2 Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie pounds)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated fat-free milk
Light whipped topping (optional)
Grated nutmeg (optional)
* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
Directions
Roll pastry on floured surface into a circle 1 inch larger than inverted 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into plate; trim and flute edge. Set aside.
Blend sweet potatoes in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth. Stir in eggs, Equal, flour, lemon juice, vanilla, spices, salt and evaporated milk. Pour mixture over pastry shell.
Bake in preheated 400F oven 40 to 45 minutes or until filling is set and sharp knife inserted into center comes out clean.
Cool pie completely on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate. Garnish top of pie with whipped topping and grated nutmeg, if desired. Cut pie into wedges.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 197; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 316 mg; Cholesterol: 58 mg; Carbohydrates: 28 g; Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat
CHICKEN WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES
Yield: 4 servings
Source: Magic Menus for People with Diabetes
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/868.shtml
Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound total), trimmed of cartilage and fat
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 large shallot, minced
2/3 cup low-sodium, low-fat chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/8 teaspoon marjoram
1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated in small bowl water
Directions
Cut each chicken breast half into 6 equal parts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Saute chicken in oil over moderate heat, turning, until the chicken is just opaque throughout, 4-5 minutes.
Remove chicken with a slotted spoon. Add shallot to the skillet and sauté, stirring until softened, about 1 minute. Add broth, wine (much of the alcohol will evaporate, leaving only the flavor), marjoram, and tomatoes.
Bring to a boil over moderate heat and cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Return the chicken to the skillet. Simmer, gently spooning the sauce over the chicken, until heated through. Simmer until sauce is reduced by half.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 177; Protein: 27 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 155 mg; Cholesterol: 64 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 3 g; Exchanges: 4 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Fat
TOMATO, BASIL AND MOZZARELLA SALAD
Servings: 4
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=189
View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/189.shtml
Directions
1 pound ripe tomatoes (2-3)
5-6 fresh mozzarella balls (small size)
2-3 fresh basil leaves, diced
2 teaspoons olive oil
Dash of salt (optional)
Directions
Slice tomatoes into 1/2-inch thick slices.
Arrange 2-3 tomato slices on each salad plate.
Cut fresh mozzarella ball into halves.
Top each tomato slice with sliced mozzarella.
Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes.
Top each mozzarella half with fresh basil.
Sprinkle dash of salt over dish. (optional)
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 70; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 140 mg; Cholesterol: 6 mg; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1 Medium-Fat
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Dishing Up the Side Dishes
There are days when it's easier to pick when the main dish for dinner, but thinking up a side makes us a draw a blank. Burgers and fries are an easy combo. But then there's meatloaf and..., or chicken and...Well, you get the idea. (And yes, vegetarians do occasionally have that problem, too.)
Here are six side dishes to help you through the day, including Curried Potatoes and Sweet Potato Souffle. Enjoy!
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This was from an old Weight Watchers email; 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4.
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
Note:
Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
SWEET POTATO SOUFFLE
This is my mom’s recipe. Really good with ham. There were never any left-overs.
This can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
4 – 5 sweet potatoes
1 egg
1 small can pineapple
1 C nuts
2 T orange juice concentrate
1/2 tsp. salt
Cinnamon
dash pepper
1/2 C brown sugar
9 large marshmallows
Peel & dice sweet potatoes, place in pan of water, and cook until tender. Mash & add other ingredients except marshmallows. Put in square pan, cut in 9 squares & place 1 marshmallow in each square. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
AU GRATIN POTATOES
This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”
The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.
Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
1 Tbsp butter
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cup fat-free skim milk
2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced
1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.
Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.
Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.
CURRIED LENTILS WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH
This is from the October 2007 issue of Runner’s World.
1 C dry lentils
1 small butternut squash
1 Tbls olive oil
1 Tbls curry powder
1 tsp grated gingerroot
1 tsp chili powder
Salt & pepper to taste
1/4 C shredded coconut (optional)
Spray 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray & set aside. Pour lentils into deep pot & cover with cold water. Bring water to boil, reduce heat, & add raw chunks of the squash (leave skin on to add nutrients & texture to dish). Simmer until squash is soft (about 1 hour). Remove pot from heat, drain, & set aside. With tongs, pull out chunks of squash & mash roughly, skins & all, with a fork, ricer, or potato masher.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In large bowl, mix drained cooked lentils & mashed squash with olive oil & all the spices (including salt & pepper). Spoon mixture into baking dish. At this point, you can cover the dish & refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. When you’re ready, bake until piping hot, about 20 minutes if you’re putting it into the oven right after mixing, or 25-30 minutes if it’s been refrigerated. Serve warm garnished with shredded coconut if you like and with a serving of wild greens, such as blanched chard. Serves two as a hearty main dish or four as a side dish.
Calories: 530; Protein: 32 g; carbs: 94 g; Fat: 8 g.
TUSCAN-STYLE QUINOA
This is from the November 2005 issue of Runner’s World.
1 1/2 C quinoa
3 C water
2 Tbls olive oil
3 coves garlic, minced
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
6 C shredded Swiss chard
1 large tomato, diced
1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes
Salt and pepper
1/3 C Parmesan cheese
Place one tablespoon of the olive oil in saucepan, heat to medium-high, pour in quinoa to toast for four minutes. Cover with water, turn down to simmer, cook for 15 minutes until tender. Heat nonstick skillet with remaining olive oil & sauté garlic & onion until golden, about 5 minutes. Add chard & sauté until wilted. Add tomato & heat through. Fold in cooked quinoa, season with salt, pepper, & chili flakes to taste, & top with Parmesan cheese. Let stand 3-5 minutes to blend flavors.
CURRIED POTOATOES
This is from the June 2008 Vegetarian Times, page 80. The recipe begins, “Serve this dish on its own or with steamed rice.”
1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil
2 medium onions, diced (3 cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
4 large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks
3 carrots, peeled & cut into 2-inch pieces (1 cup)
3 Tbs. Madras curry powder
1 15-oz. can black beans
3 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
2 jalapeno chiles, seeded and finely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic & cook 5 – 7 minutes, or until onions are soft and translucent. Stir in potatoes, carrots and curry powder and cook 4 minutes.
Add beans and their liquid, tomatoes, broth, jalapeno chiles, vinegar an 1 cup water; season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 45 minutes or until potatoes are flaky amd carrots are cooked through, stirring occasionally.
Per serving: 282 cal; 9 g protein; 4 g total fat (0.5 g sat. fat); 55 g carb; 0 mg cholesterol; 499 mg sodium; 10 g fiber; 9 g sugars; vegan
Here are six side dishes to help you through the day, including Curried Potatoes and Sweet Potato Souffle. Enjoy!
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This was from an old Weight Watchers email; 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4.
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
Note:
Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
SWEET POTATO SOUFFLE
This is my mom’s recipe. Really good with ham. There were never any left-overs.
This can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.
4 – 5 sweet potatoes
1 egg
1 small can pineapple
1 C nuts
2 T orange juice concentrate
1/2 tsp. salt
Cinnamon
dash pepper
1/2 C brown sugar
9 large marshmallows
Peel & dice sweet potatoes, place in pan of water, and cook until tender. Mash & add other ingredients except marshmallows. Put in square pan, cut in 9 squares & place 1 marshmallow in each square. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
AU GRATIN POTATOES
This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”
The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.
Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
1 Tbsp butter
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cup fat-free skim milk
2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced
1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.
Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.
Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.
CURRIED LENTILS WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH
This is from the October 2007 issue of Runner’s World.
1 C dry lentils
1 small butternut squash
1 Tbls olive oil
1 Tbls curry powder
1 tsp grated gingerroot
1 tsp chili powder
Salt & pepper to taste
1/4 C shredded coconut (optional)
Spray 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray & set aside. Pour lentils into deep pot & cover with cold water. Bring water to boil, reduce heat, & add raw chunks of the squash (leave skin on to add nutrients & texture to dish). Simmer until squash is soft (about 1 hour). Remove pot from heat, drain, & set aside. With tongs, pull out chunks of squash & mash roughly, skins & all, with a fork, ricer, or potato masher.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In large bowl, mix drained cooked lentils & mashed squash with olive oil & all the spices (including salt & pepper). Spoon mixture into baking dish. At this point, you can cover the dish & refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. When you’re ready, bake until piping hot, about 20 minutes if you’re putting it into the oven right after mixing, or 25-30 minutes if it’s been refrigerated. Serve warm garnished with shredded coconut if you like and with a serving of wild greens, such as blanched chard. Serves two as a hearty main dish or four as a side dish.
Calories: 530; Protein: 32 g; carbs: 94 g; Fat: 8 g.
TUSCAN-STYLE QUINOA
This is from the November 2005 issue of Runner’s World.
1 1/2 C quinoa
3 C water
2 Tbls olive oil
3 coves garlic, minced
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
6 C shredded Swiss chard
1 large tomato, diced
1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes
Salt and pepper
1/3 C Parmesan cheese
Place one tablespoon of the olive oil in saucepan, heat to medium-high, pour in quinoa to toast for four minutes. Cover with water, turn down to simmer, cook for 15 minutes until tender. Heat nonstick skillet with remaining olive oil & sauté garlic & onion until golden, about 5 minutes. Add chard & sauté until wilted. Add tomato & heat through. Fold in cooked quinoa, season with salt, pepper, & chili flakes to taste, & top with Parmesan cheese. Let stand 3-5 minutes to blend flavors.
CURRIED POTOATOES
This is from the June 2008 Vegetarian Times, page 80. The recipe begins, “Serve this dish on its own or with steamed rice.”
1 1/2 Tbs. vegetable oil
2 medium onions, diced (3 cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
4 large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks
3 carrots, peeled & cut into 2-inch pieces (1 cup)
3 Tbs. Madras curry powder
1 15-oz. can black beans
3 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
2 jalapeno chiles, seeded and finely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic & cook 5 – 7 minutes, or until onions are soft and translucent. Stir in potatoes, carrots and curry powder and cook 4 minutes.
Add beans and their liquid, tomatoes, broth, jalapeno chiles, vinegar an 1 cup water; season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 45 minutes or until potatoes are flaky amd carrots are cooked through, stirring occasionally.
Per serving: 282 cal; 9 g protein; 4 g total fat (0.5 g sat. fat); 55 g carb; 0 mg cholesterol; 499 mg sodium; 10 g fiber; 9 g sugars; vegan
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Double-Post Tuesday
It's a Double-Post Tuesday! Here are six more recipes to help you through the day, including Sweet Potato Pie with Cashew Cream and Corn and Black Bean Taquitos. Enjoy!
SWEET POTATO PIE WITH CASHEW CREAM
This is from the fall issue of UnitedHealthCare's magazine, Renew. This recipe begins, “When roasted, the “sweet” in sweet potatoes intensifies. Dates add more natural sweetness, with a low glycemic index. The “silken”-style tofu is usually found in the Asian section of most grocery stores and generally doesn’t need to be stored in the refrigerator.”
1 prepared pie crust
Pie Filling:
3 medium sweet potatoes
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
4 dates, pitted and chopped
1 (12.5 ounce) package extra firm silken tofu
pinch sea salt
Cashew Cream:
1/2 cup raw cashews
2 dates, pitted
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch sea salt
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Prick sweet potatoes all over with a fork and place on a baking pan. Roast the sweet potatoes until tender, about 45–50 minutes. Remove peels when cool enough to handle.
Place sweet potatoes in the bowl of a food processor (or blender) and add the remaining filling ingredients. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides occasionally.
Pour filling mixture into the prepared pie crust. Bake pie in the oven at 375 degrees for 45–50 minutes, until it no longer jiggles.
While the pie is baking, soak cashews and dates in 1/4 cup water for at least an hour. Blend in a blender or food processor with the vanilla extract and sea salt until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
The pie will slice best when cooled at least two hours at room temperature and then refrigerated for at least another hour. Serve each slice of pie with a dollop of the cashew cream.
Serves 8.
Calories: 284, Total Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 0g, Sodium: 383mg, Carbs: 35g, Dietary Fiber: 5.2g, Sugar: 17g, Protein: 7.6g
TIP: If you are using a frozen pie crust that comes in an aluminum tin, but still want to bake your pie in a pretty ceramic pie plate, just transfer the crust over while it’s still frozen.
WILD BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE SMOOTHIE
This is from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD, at VeryWell. Kaleigh wrote, “Smoothies are a great way to pack a lot of nutrition into a single meal, especially if you're on the go. They can also be loaded with sugary syrups and fat if you aren't careful when grabbing a smoothie away from home. For a nutritious smoothie you can feel good about, skip the shop and make this tasty version at home.
“Frozen wild blueberries are extra sweet and pack a lot of flavor and antioxidants into this wild blueberry cheesecake smoothie. They also make this smoothie extra cold and frosty without having to use ice. Research suggests that daily blueberry consumption could lower blood pressure due to the production of nitric oxide.
“The Greek yogurt and avocado duo lends a luxurious creamy texture and also contributes healthy fats, fiber, and plenty of protein to keep you fueled and full. Make this smoothie for a sweet breakfast treat, or split it in half for a healthy snack or dessert.”
Total Time: 5 minutes; Prep: 5 minutes; Cook: 0; Yield: 1 serving.
This can be viewed online here. It can also be found at Kaliegh’s website, Lively Table.
Ingredients
1 cup wild blueberries, frozen
1/2 small avocado
3/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 lemon, juiced
Preparation
Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend until smooth. You may need to add more milk to your desired consistency.
Pour into a glass and enjoy.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
You can typically find wild blueberries in the freezer section of your grocery store. If you can’t find them, you can substitute regular frozen blueberries, but they will not be as sweet.
This is a great smoothie recipe to disguise veggies, so add a handful of spinach if you want to get a little more vegetable power.
To make this smoothie dairy-free, use dairy-free yogurt, such as Silk, and unsweetened dairy-free milk of your choice.
Cooking and Serving Tips
This recipe makes a meal-sized smoothie. For a post-workout snack or a healthy dessert, divide into two servings.
BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP
This is from Ree Drummond of The Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman. Total Time: 45 minutes; Active Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 10 servings; Level: Easy.
Click here to view this online.
Ingredients
4 heads broccoli, cut into 1-inch pieces
Olive oil, for drizzling
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter
1 whole onion, diced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
2 cups half-and-half
Pinch nutmeg
3 cups grated cheese (mild Cheddar, sharp Cheddar, Jack, etc.), plus more for garnish, optional
1 cup chicken broth, optional
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Remove 2 cups of the broccoli florets, cut in half, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet cut-side down and bake until the florets begin to crisp and turn slightly brown.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle the flour on top. Stir to combine and cook until the flour is absorbed and smells lightly toasted, 1 minute or so. Add the milk and half-and-half. Add the nutmeg, then the broccoli, a small dash of salt and plenty of black pepper. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the broccoli is tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Stir in the cheese and allow to melt.
Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve the soup as is, mash with a potato masher to break up the broccoli a bit, or transfer to a blender in two batches and puree completely. (If you puree in a blender, return the soup to the heat to heat back up. Splash in some chicken broth if needed for thinning.) Garnish with the toasted broccoli or grated cheese and serve.
CORN AND BLACK BEAN TAQUITOS
This begins, “Minimum prep and bake time makes homemade taquitos a healthy "fast food" for busy days. Couple with a side salad for a balanced meal.”
This is from Diabetic Connect.
Can be viewed at http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/7259-corn-and-black-bean-taquitos
Ingredients
8 low carb tortillas
15 oz. black beans, drained
1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
3 TBSP salsa
2 TBSP lime juice
1/2 tsp cumin
Pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Slightly mash beans with a fork. Add all ingredients together and mix well.
Spoon 3 – 4 TBSP of mixture into the center of each tortilla. Tightly roll and place on greased baking sheet. Spray the taquitos with olive oil or coconut oil cooking spray.
Bake 15-20 minutes or until taquitos are lightly brown and crisp.
Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; For 1 taquito: Calories 102; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 242 mg; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Protein: 7 g
BEEF ROLLS
This is one of Grandma Hallock’s recipes. I've posted several of her recipes here, including her Oatmeal Cookies and Peanut Butter Cookies.
For this recipe, Grandma wrote, “Made these a lot when we were young. Kids loved them. Used flank steak.” She also sent a recipe for Baked Butter Carrots which, she also wrote, are “good with Beef Rolls.”
This recipe, as well as the next one (Baked Butter Carrots) can be found in my e-book, Off the Wall Cooking.
1 1/2 lbs. flank steak, sliced thin
1/2 C boiling water
1/2 tsp. onion flakes
1 egg
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
3/4 C bread crumbs
3/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
flour
1/8 tsp. pepper
butter for browning
Wash meat, trim fat. Cut into 6 slices, making them as square as possible. Beat egg. Add crumbs & seasonings. Place in center of pieces of meat, then pin 4 corners of meat with toothpick or tie with string. Flour them, then brown in butter. Add 2 T flour to thicken sauce around meat. Put in casserole. Pour boiling water over it. Cover & bake in oven at 275 degrees for 3 hours or 300 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Serves 6.
BAKED BUTTER CARROTS
This is also from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!
2 1/2 lbs. carrots
1 T salt
2 T oleo or butter
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
dash of pepper
2 tsp. lemon juice
Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.
SWEET POTATO PIE WITH CASHEW CREAM
This is from the fall issue of UnitedHealthCare's magazine, Renew. This recipe begins, “When roasted, the “sweet” in sweet potatoes intensifies. Dates add more natural sweetness, with a low glycemic index. The “silken”-style tofu is usually found in the Asian section of most grocery stores and generally doesn’t need to be stored in the refrigerator.”
1 prepared pie crust
Pie Filling:
3 medium sweet potatoes
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
4 dates, pitted and chopped
1 (12.5 ounce) package extra firm silken tofu
pinch sea salt
Cashew Cream:
1/2 cup raw cashews
2 dates, pitted
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch sea salt
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Prick sweet potatoes all over with a fork and place on a baking pan. Roast the sweet potatoes until tender, about 45–50 minutes. Remove peels when cool enough to handle.
Place sweet potatoes in the bowl of a food processor (or blender) and add the remaining filling ingredients. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides occasionally.
Pour filling mixture into the prepared pie crust. Bake pie in the oven at 375 degrees for 45–50 minutes, until it no longer jiggles.
While the pie is baking, soak cashews and dates in 1/4 cup water for at least an hour. Blend in a blender or food processor with the vanilla extract and sea salt until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
The pie will slice best when cooled at least two hours at room temperature and then refrigerated for at least another hour. Serve each slice of pie with a dollop of the cashew cream.
Serves 8.
Calories: 284, Total Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 0g, Sodium: 383mg, Carbs: 35g, Dietary Fiber: 5.2g, Sugar: 17g, Protein: 7.6g
TIP: If you are using a frozen pie crust that comes in an aluminum tin, but still want to bake your pie in a pretty ceramic pie plate, just transfer the crust over while it’s still frozen.
WILD BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE SMOOTHIE
This is from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD, at VeryWell. Kaleigh wrote, “Smoothies are a great way to pack a lot of nutrition into a single meal, especially if you're on the go. They can also be loaded with sugary syrups and fat if you aren't careful when grabbing a smoothie away from home. For a nutritious smoothie you can feel good about, skip the shop and make this tasty version at home.
“Frozen wild blueberries are extra sweet and pack a lot of flavor and antioxidants into this wild blueberry cheesecake smoothie. They also make this smoothie extra cold and frosty without having to use ice. Research suggests that daily blueberry consumption could lower blood pressure due to the production of nitric oxide.
“The Greek yogurt and avocado duo lends a luxurious creamy texture and also contributes healthy fats, fiber, and plenty of protein to keep you fueled and full. Make this smoothie for a sweet breakfast treat, or split it in half for a healthy snack or dessert.”
Total Time: 5 minutes; Prep: 5 minutes; Cook: 0; Yield: 1 serving.
This can be viewed online here. It can also be found at Kaliegh’s website, Lively Table.
Ingredients
1 cup wild blueberries, frozen
1/2 small avocado
3/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 lemon, juiced
Preparation
Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend until smooth. You may need to add more milk to your desired consistency.
Pour into a glass and enjoy.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
You can typically find wild blueberries in the freezer section of your grocery store. If you can’t find them, you can substitute regular frozen blueberries, but they will not be as sweet.
This is a great smoothie recipe to disguise veggies, so add a handful of spinach if you want to get a little more vegetable power.
To make this smoothie dairy-free, use dairy-free yogurt, such as Silk, and unsweetened dairy-free milk of your choice.
Cooking and Serving Tips
This recipe makes a meal-sized smoothie. For a post-workout snack or a healthy dessert, divide into two servings.
BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP
This is from Ree Drummond of The Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman. Total Time: 45 minutes; Active Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 10 servings; Level: Easy.
Click here to view this online.
Ingredients
4 heads broccoli, cut into 1-inch pieces
Olive oil, for drizzling
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter
1 whole onion, diced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
2 cups half-and-half
Pinch nutmeg
3 cups grated cheese (mild Cheddar, sharp Cheddar, Jack, etc.), plus more for garnish, optional
1 cup chicken broth, optional
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Remove 2 cups of the broccoli florets, cut in half, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet cut-side down and bake until the florets begin to crisp and turn slightly brown.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle the flour on top. Stir to combine and cook until the flour is absorbed and smells lightly toasted, 1 minute or so. Add the milk and half-and-half. Add the nutmeg, then the broccoli, a small dash of salt and plenty of black pepper. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the broccoli is tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Stir in the cheese and allow to melt.
Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve the soup as is, mash with a potato masher to break up the broccoli a bit, or transfer to a blender in two batches and puree completely. (If you puree in a blender, return the soup to the heat to heat back up. Splash in some chicken broth if needed for thinning.) Garnish with the toasted broccoli or grated cheese and serve.
CORN AND BLACK BEAN TAQUITOS
This begins, “Minimum prep and bake time makes homemade taquitos a healthy "fast food" for busy days. Couple with a side salad for a balanced meal.”
This is from Diabetic Connect.
Can be viewed at http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/7259-corn-and-black-bean-taquitos
Ingredients
8 low carb tortillas
15 oz. black beans, drained
1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
3 TBSP salsa
2 TBSP lime juice
1/2 tsp cumin
Pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Slightly mash beans with a fork. Add all ingredients together and mix well.
Spoon 3 – 4 TBSP of mixture into the center of each tortilla. Tightly roll and place on greased baking sheet. Spray the taquitos with olive oil or coconut oil cooking spray.
Bake 15-20 minutes or until taquitos are lightly brown and crisp.
Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; For 1 taquito: Calories 102; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 242 mg; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Protein: 7 g
BEEF ROLLS
This is one of Grandma Hallock’s recipes. I've posted several of her recipes here, including her Oatmeal Cookies and Peanut Butter Cookies.
For this recipe, Grandma wrote, “Made these a lot when we were young. Kids loved them. Used flank steak.” She also sent a recipe for Baked Butter Carrots which, she also wrote, are “good with Beef Rolls.”
This recipe, as well as the next one (Baked Butter Carrots) can be found in my e-book, Off the Wall Cooking.
1 1/2 lbs. flank steak, sliced thin
1/2 C boiling water
1/2 tsp. onion flakes
1 egg
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
3/4 C bread crumbs
3/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
flour
1/8 tsp. pepper
butter for browning
Wash meat, trim fat. Cut into 6 slices, making them as square as possible. Beat egg. Add crumbs & seasonings. Place in center of pieces of meat, then pin 4 corners of meat with toothpick or tie with string. Flour them, then brown in butter. Add 2 T flour to thicken sauce around meat. Put in casserole. Pour boiling water over it. Cover & bake in oven at 275 degrees for 3 hours or 300 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Serves 6.
BAKED BUTTER CARROTS
This is also from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!
2 1/2 lbs. carrots
1 T salt
2 T oleo or butter
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
dash of pepper
2 tsp. lemon juice
Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.
Taco Tuesday
It's Taco Tuesday. Here are today's six yummy taco recipes to help you through today, including Crunchy Black Bean Tacos and Grilled Tofu Tacos w/Walla Walla Sweet Onion Slaw (& opt. Chicken). Enjoy!
CARROT-AND-BLACK BEAN CRISPY TACOS
This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Dig into vegetarian tacos with tons of fresh flavor.” Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 (15.5-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lb. medium carrots, cut into 3" to 4" sticks
1 tsp. ground cumin
8 whole-grain taco shells, warmed
Sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped fresh cilantro and radishes, for serving
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Add chili powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add black beans and 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash beans with the back of the spoon until thick. Stir in lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with cumin and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
Divide beans and carrots between taco shells. Top with avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, and radishes. Serve with lime wedges alongside.
PER SERVING: protein: 8 g; fat: 17 g; carbohydrate: 42 g; fiber: 10 g; sodium: 261 mg; cholesterol: 0 mg; calories: 334.
CRUNCHY BLACK BEAN TACOS
This comes from The Kitchn’s e-newsletter. If you haven’t signed up for The Kitchn’s e-newsletter yet, I highly recommend that, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy.
This recipe serves 3 to 4, or makes 8 tacos; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes and can be found online by clicking here.
2 cups cooked black beans
1/2 cup minced red onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
Pinch of salt
4 to 6 ounces (1 heaping cup) grated Pepper Jack cheese
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
8 corn tortillas
Toppings
Avocado
Hot sauce
Salsa
Sour cream
In a medium bowl, add beans along with red onion, cilantro, cumin, and paprika. Add a pinch of salt and lightly mash all the ingredients together. Grate the cheese and have it ready as well.
In a large, nonstick or cast-iron skillet, add the 2 tablespoons oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add one corn tortilla at a time and let each get hot in the oil for a few seconds. Then add about 1/4 cup of the bean filling to one half of the tortilla. Top with a sprinkle of grated cheese. Try not to overfill the tacos, or you might have issues flipping them without losing filling.
Using a spatula, carefully fold the other half of the tortilla over to form a shell. Press down lightly on the tortilla so it holds its shape. If some cheese spills out, don’t worry — it will get crispy and delicious.
As the first taco cooks, move it to the side and begin a second one. Depending on the size of your pan, you can cook two or three tacos at once. A griddle will hold even more.
Cook each taco until they are nicely browned and crispy, about 3 minutes per side. When flipping the taco to cook on the other side, use a spatula and flip the taco toward the fold so the filling doesn’t fall out. If your pan is very dry between batches, add another drizzle of oil.
Place the cooked tacos in a warm oven while you finish the rest. If the tacos are very greasy, blot them with a paper towel before moving them to the oven.
Serve tacos with toppings like hot sauce, salsa, avocados, and sour cream.
Recipe Notes:
Corn tortillas are resilient to heat. Don’t worry about burning them; they are very sturdy. Just be sure to cook tortillas on each side long enough to get them really crispy.
BUFFALO STYLE TACOS
Makes 8 servings
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=1341
View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1341.shtml
Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package JENNIE-O Lean Ground Turkey
1/3 cup hot pepper wing sauce
8 hard corn taco shells, heated as specified on package
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, sliced
1/2 cup blue cheese dressing
Directions
Cook turkey as specified on package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.
Add hot pepper sauce. Stir to combine.
Fill tacos shells with lettuce, turkey mixture, tomatoes and avocado.
Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 220; Protein: 14 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g
GRILLED TOFU TACOS WITH WALLA WALLA SWEET ONION SLAW (AND OPTIONAL CHICKEN)
I originally found this at Oh My Veggies. The site has a mess of taco recipes from different places, which can be found here.
This recipe begins, “Smoky seasoned tofu (and/or chicken), creamy avocado, and crunchy slaw make these super easy summer tacos shine.”
PREP: 2 HOURS 20 MINUTES COOK: 15 MINUTES TOTAL: 2 HOURS 35 MINUTES; YIELD: 10-12 TACOS.
This is from Kitchen Treaty and can be viewed online at http://www.kitchentreaty.com/grilled-tofu-tacos-with-walla-walla-sweet-onion-slaw-and-optional-chicken/
Ingredients
2 (14-ounce) blocks extra-firm tofu
or, if using chicken for half:
1 (14-ounce block extra firm tofu
1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken thighs
For the marinade:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
For the slaw:
1/2 medium cabbage, quartered and thinly sliced
1/2 medium Walla Walla Sweet onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup lime juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Plus:
1 large avocado, sliced
10-12 tortillas (depending on how full you like to stuff your tacos)*
Directions:
Press tofu to drain. I place each block on a dinner plate on top of a layer of paper towels, then place more paper towels on top. Then I put 3-4 dinner plates on top and let it press down on the tofu for 20-30 minutes. Slice tofu into 6-7 1/2-inch pieces. Place in a zipper bag or container with airtight cover. If using chicken, add chicken to a zipper bag.
Make the marinade. Add all marinade ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until combined. Pour marinade over tofu and/or chicken. If using half tofu/half chicken, just evenly divide the marinade between the two. Place in refrigerator and marinate for 2 hours.
Heat grill to medium-high, about 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook tofu and/or chicken until browned and cooked through, 10-14 minutes. We only have one grill, so we always use the left side for my vegetarian stuff, and the right side for the meaty stuff. Remove tofu and/or meat from grill and let cool enough to cut into taco-size pieces (I just cut the tofu pieces in half).
Place the tortillas on the grill and heat until slightly browned and heated through, about 1-2 minutes on each side. Keep on a plate covered by a damp dishtowel until ready to serve.
While the tofu/meat and tortillas are cooking, make the slaw. In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients with salad tongs or your clean hands. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired.
To assemble tacos, grab a tortilla and lay one or two avocado slices on the bottom. Top with a coulple pieces of tofu or chicken, and top with slaw. Serve.
*GLUTEN-FREE OPTION
Use corn tortillas (or other gluten-free tortillas)
LOADED CRISPY TOFU TACOS
This is from The Woks of Life, and can be viewed online at http://thewoksoflife.com/2014/07/loaded-crispy-tofu-tacos/.
Prep time: 30 mins; Cook time: 15 mins; Total time: 45 mins; Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
Ingredients
You'll need:
1 package firm tofu
1 tablespoon Sriracha
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup fine cornmeal
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup oil
3 scallions
1 bunch cilantro
1/4 cup yogurt
warm corn tortillas
Other toppings:
shredded cheese
chopped tomato
chopped onion
sweet corn
avocado
lime wedges
Instructions
Cut the tofu into 3/4 inch cubes. In a wide, shallow bowl, combine the Sriracha and honey, and gently toss the tofu in the mixture. In another wide, shallow bowl, combine the cornmeal, chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Toss the tofu in this dry mixture until well-coated.
In a cast iron or non-stick skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the tofu and allow the pieces to crisp up on all sides. While that's happening, whizz up the scallions, cilantro, and yogurt in a food processor or blender. Build your tacos with tortillas, your sauce, and whatever toppings you like.
BLACK BEAN AND POBLANO TACOS
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “There are many kinds of tacos, some piled high and overstuffed and some more minimal, meant to be more a snack than a meal. These little tacos are in the second category, similar to what you might find in a Mexican market for a quick bite. Savory black beans and roasted poblano chiles make a satisfying vegetarian version. Fresh soft corn tortillas, hot off the griddle, are essential.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings.
This was featured in “The Unstuffy Taco” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 pound black beans, rinsed and soaked 4 to 6 hours, or overnight if possible
1 small onion, halved
1 bay leaf
1 large sprig epazote (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
4 poblano chiles
Soft corn tortillas
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella or Oaxacan-style string cheese, shredded
1/2 pound queso fresco, available in Latino groceries
8 ounces crème fraîche or Mexican crema
Preparation
Drain beans, put in medium pot, add water to cover and bring to a boil over hight heat. Add onion, bay leaf, epazote and salt and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 1 hour, longer if necessary, adding water occasionally if liquid falls below surface of beans. When beans are tender, taste and adjust salt. Keep beans warm in their broth.
Meanwhile, roast poblano chiles over a charcoal grill, under the broiler or directly on a gas stovetop burners until skins are completely blackened and blistered. Set chiles aside to cool, then split lengthwise. Scrape away skins and seeds with a paring knife. Cut cleaned chiles into 1/2-inch ribbons, transfer to small bowl and season lightly with salt.
To serve, warm the tortillas on a hot griddle or cast iron pan over a burner. Put 2 warm tortillas side by side on a small plate. With a slotted spoon, place 2 tablespoons beans on each tortilla. Top with a few shreds of mozzarella and 2 or 3 strips of poblano. Crumble a little queso fresco and drizzle about 1 teaspoon crème fraîche on each taco.
CARROT-AND-BLACK BEAN CRISPY TACOS
This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Dig into vegetarian tacos with tons of fresh flavor.” Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 (15.5-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lb. medium carrots, cut into 3" to 4" sticks
1 tsp. ground cumin
8 whole-grain taco shells, warmed
Sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped fresh cilantro and radishes, for serving
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Add chili powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add black beans and 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash beans with the back of the spoon until thick. Stir in lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with cumin and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
Divide beans and carrots between taco shells. Top with avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, and radishes. Serve with lime wedges alongside.
PER SERVING: protein: 8 g; fat: 17 g; carbohydrate: 42 g; fiber: 10 g; sodium: 261 mg; cholesterol: 0 mg; calories: 334.
CRUNCHY BLACK BEAN TACOS
This comes from The Kitchn’s e-newsletter. If you haven’t signed up for The Kitchn’s e-newsletter yet, I highly recommend that, as well as its sibling site, Apartment Therapy.
This recipe serves 3 to 4, or makes 8 tacos; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes and can be found online by clicking here.
2 cups cooked black beans
1/2 cup minced red onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
Pinch of salt
4 to 6 ounces (1 heaping cup) grated Pepper Jack cheese
2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
8 corn tortillas
Toppings
Avocado
Hot sauce
Salsa
Sour cream
In a medium bowl, add beans along with red onion, cilantro, cumin, and paprika. Add a pinch of salt and lightly mash all the ingredients together. Grate the cheese and have it ready as well.
In a large, nonstick or cast-iron skillet, add the 2 tablespoons oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add one corn tortilla at a time and let each get hot in the oil for a few seconds. Then add about 1/4 cup of the bean filling to one half of the tortilla. Top with a sprinkle of grated cheese. Try not to overfill the tacos, or you might have issues flipping them without losing filling.
Using a spatula, carefully fold the other half of the tortilla over to form a shell. Press down lightly on the tortilla so it holds its shape. If some cheese spills out, don’t worry — it will get crispy and delicious.
As the first taco cooks, move it to the side and begin a second one. Depending on the size of your pan, you can cook two or three tacos at once. A griddle will hold even more.
Cook each taco until they are nicely browned and crispy, about 3 minutes per side. When flipping the taco to cook on the other side, use a spatula and flip the taco toward the fold so the filling doesn’t fall out. If your pan is very dry between batches, add another drizzle of oil.
Place the cooked tacos in a warm oven while you finish the rest. If the tacos are very greasy, blot them with a paper towel before moving them to the oven.
Serve tacos with toppings like hot sauce, salsa, avocados, and sour cream.
Recipe Notes:
Corn tortillas are resilient to heat. Don’t worry about burning them; they are very sturdy. Just be sure to cook tortillas on each side long enough to get them really crispy.
BUFFALO STYLE TACOS
Makes 8 servings
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=1341
View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1341.shtml
Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package JENNIE-O Lean Ground Turkey
1/3 cup hot pepper wing sauce
8 hard corn taco shells, heated as specified on package
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, sliced
1/2 cup blue cheese dressing
Directions
Cook turkey as specified on package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.
Add hot pepper sauce. Stir to combine.
Fill tacos shells with lettuce, turkey mixture, tomatoes and avocado.
Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 220; Protein: 14 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g
GRILLED TOFU TACOS WITH WALLA WALLA SWEET ONION SLAW (AND OPTIONAL CHICKEN)
I originally found this at Oh My Veggies. The site has a mess of taco recipes from different places, which can be found here.
This recipe begins, “Smoky seasoned tofu (and/or chicken), creamy avocado, and crunchy slaw make these super easy summer tacos shine.”
PREP: 2 HOURS 20 MINUTES COOK: 15 MINUTES TOTAL: 2 HOURS 35 MINUTES; YIELD: 10-12 TACOS.
This is from Kitchen Treaty and can be viewed online at http://www.kitchentreaty.com/grilled-tofu-tacos-with-walla-walla-sweet-onion-slaw-and-optional-chicken/
Ingredients
2 (14-ounce) blocks extra-firm tofu
or, if using chicken for half:
1 (14-ounce block extra firm tofu
1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken thighs
For the marinade:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
For the slaw:
1/2 medium cabbage, quartered and thinly sliced
1/2 medium Walla Walla Sweet onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup lime juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Plus:
1 large avocado, sliced
10-12 tortillas (depending on how full you like to stuff your tacos)*
Directions:
Press tofu to drain. I place each block on a dinner plate on top of a layer of paper towels, then place more paper towels on top. Then I put 3-4 dinner plates on top and let it press down on the tofu for 20-30 minutes. Slice tofu into 6-7 1/2-inch pieces. Place in a zipper bag or container with airtight cover. If using chicken, add chicken to a zipper bag.
Make the marinade. Add all marinade ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until combined. Pour marinade over tofu and/or chicken. If using half tofu/half chicken, just evenly divide the marinade between the two. Place in refrigerator and marinate for 2 hours.
Heat grill to medium-high, about 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook tofu and/or chicken until browned and cooked through, 10-14 minutes. We only have one grill, so we always use the left side for my vegetarian stuff, and the right side for the meaty stuff. Remove tofu and/or meat from grill and let cool enough to cut into taco-size pieces (I just cut the tofu pieces in half).
Place the tortillas on the grill and heat until slightly browned and heated through, about 1-2 minutes on each side. Keep on a plate covered by a damp dishtowel until ready to serve.
While the tofu/meat and tortillas are cooking, make the slaw. In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients with salad tongs or your clean hands. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired.
To assemble tacos, grab a tortilla and lay one or two avocado slices on the bottom. Top with a coulple pieces of tofu or chicken, and top with slaw. Serve.
*GLUTEN-FREE OPTION
Use corn tortillas (or other gluten-free tortillas)
LOADED CRISPY TOFU TACOS
This is from The Woks of Life, and can be viewed online at http://thewoksoflife.com/2014/07/loaded-crispy-tofu-tacos/.
Prep time: 30 mins; Cook time: 15 mins; Total time: 45 mins; Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
Ingredients
You'll need:
1 package firm tofu
1 tablespoon Sriracha
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup fine cornmeal
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup oil
3 scallions
1 bunch cilantro
1/4 cup yogurt
warm corn tortillas
Other toppings:
shredded cheese
chopped tomato
chopped onion
sweet corn
avocado
lime wedges
Instructions
Cut the tofu into 3/4 inch cubes. In a wide, shallow bowl, combine the Sriracha and honey, and gently toss the tofu in the mixture. In another wide, shallow bowl, combine the cornmeal, chili powder, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Toss the tofu in this dry mixture until well-coated.
In a cast iron or non-stick skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the tofu and allow the pieces to crisp up on all sides. While that's happening, whizz up the scallions, cilantro, and yogurt in a food processor or blender. Build your tacos with tortillas, your sauce, and whatever toppings you like.
BLACK BEAN AND POBLANO TACOS
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “There are many kinds of tacos, some piled high and overstuffed and some more minimal, meant to be more a snack than a meal. These little tacos are in the second category, similar to what you might find in a Mexican market for a quick bite. Savory black beans and roasted poblano chiles make a satisfying vegetarian version. Fresh soft corn tortillas, hot off the griddle, are essential.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings.
This was featured in “The Unstuffy Taco” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1/2 pound black beans, rinsed and soaked 4 to 6 hours, or overnight if possible
1 small onion, halved
1 bay leaf
1 large sprig epazote (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
4 poblano chiles
Soft corn tortillas
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella or Oaxacan-style string cheese, shredded
1/2 pound queso fresco, available in Latino groceries
8 ounces crème fraîche or Mexican crema
Preparation
Drain beans, put in medium pot, add water to cover and bring to a boil over hight heat. Add onion, bay leaf, epazote and salt and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 1 hour, longer if necessary, adding water occasionally if liquid falls below surface of beans. When beans are tender, taste and adjust salt. Keep beans warm in their broth.
Meanwhile, roast poblano chiles over a charcoal grill, under the broiler or directly on a gas stovetop burners until skins are completely blackened and blistered. Set chiles aside to cool, then split lengthwise. Scrape away skins and seeds with a paring knife. Cut cleaned chiles into 1/2-inch ribbons, transfer to small bowl and season lightly with salt.
To serve, warm the tortillas on a hot griddle or cast iron pan over a burner. Put 2 warm tortillas side by side on a small plate. With a slotted spoon, place 2 tablespoons beans on each tortilla. Top with a few shreds of mozzarella and 2 or 3 strips of poblano. Crumble a little queso fresco and drizzle about 1 teaspoon crème fraîche on each taco.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Double-Post Monday
It's Double-Post Monday. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Super Chili and Hot and Sour Soup. Enjoy!
ROASTED APPLE AND RAISIN PIE WITH ORANGE YOGURT CUSTARD
This is from the fall issue of UnitedHealthCare's magazine, Renew. This recipe begins, “Many pie recipes rely on sugar and starch to thicken up a pie filling. Roasting the fruit before filling the pie reduces excess moisture and concentrates the natural sugars in the fruit so adding sugar isn’t necessary. A light, creamy yogurt custard balances the fruit and spice. The oatmeal crust holds up well with the addition of ground flax seed, which acts as a binder and adds fiber and crunch.”
Filling:
6 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cubed
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
zest and juice of one orange, zest used for custard topping
2 tablespoons raisins
Oatmeal Pie Crust:
1 cup quick oats
4 tablespoons ground golden flax seed
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
Custard:
3/4 cup plain Greek non-fat yogurt
2 eggs, beaten
reserved orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon sugar substitute
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Toss cubed apples with cinnamon, salt and orange juice in a 9-by-9-inch baking pan and roast until tender, about 35– 40 minutes. While apples are roasting, prepare crust by blending the oats, flax seed, walnuts and salt together in a food processor (or blender) until crumbly. Stir in applesauce and mix until oats are evenly moistened.
Butter a 9-inch glass or ceramic pie plate. Press all but 2 tablespoons of the crust mixture into the dish, evenly along the bottom and up the sides. Reserve remaining 2 tablespoons of crust for the streusel topping.
Bake crust at 375 for 10–12 minutes, until lightly browned. When the roasting apples have softened, remove from the oven and stir in the raisins. Allow it to cool for 15 minutes before spooning into the pre-baked pie crust.
Whisk yogurt, eggs, orange zest, vanilla, sugar substitute and cornstarch together in a small bowl and pour over the apple filling. Bake until custard is set, about 20–25 minutes. Allow pie to cool for at least an hour before cutting.
Serves 8.
Calories: 229, Total Fat: 8.2g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 175mg, Carbs: 36g, Dietary Fiber: 6.5g, Sugar: 19g, Protein: 7.5g
EGGPLANT LASAGNA
This recipe begins, “An extra set of hands from a little helper can shave minutes off the assembly of this Eggplant Lasagna, while getting a youngster excited about digging into a veggie-centric dinner.”
Yield: 8 servings
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=1320
View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1320.shtml
Ingredients
Pam Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 large eggplant (about 1 pound), cut into 1/4-inch thick lengthwise slices
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 package (20 ounces) ground turkey
3/4 cup chopped yellow onion
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1 can (14.5 ounces) Hunt's Original Diced Tomatoes, No Salt Added, drained
1/4 cup Hunt's Tomato Paste (or Hunt’s Organic)
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1-1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Directions
Heat oven to 350F.
Spray 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.
In small bowl, combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning; set aside.
Heat grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush eggplant slices with oil; sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
In batches, place eggplant on grill pan. Cook each side 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned and tender. Remove and place on baking sheet lined with paper towels; pat to remove excess moisture.
Spray large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add turkey and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add onion and garlic; cook 2-3 minutes more or until onion is tender and turkey is crumbled and no longer pink. Drain.
Add drained tomatoes, tomato paste and basil to skillet; stir to combine. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes more.
Assemble lasagna by spreading 3/4 cup meat mixture over bottom of dish. Place 3 eggplant slices over meat mixture, top with 3/4 cup meat mixture, half of ricotta cheese mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
Repeat layers, ending with a layer of eggplant slices topped with meat mixture and remaining mozzarella cheese.
Spray underside of aluminum foil with cooking spray; cover dish tightly with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 318; Protein: 22 g; Fat: 19 g; Sodium: 363 mg; Cholesterol: 72 mg; Saturated Fat: 7 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g ; Carbohydrates: 13 g
MEXICORN CHICKEN
This is one of my inventions, and can be found in my e-book, Off the Wall Cooking.
2 – 3 lb. chicken, cut up
12 oz. can Mexicorn
3 T oil
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 onion, chopped
1 C water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T soy sauce
2 T wheat germ
1 T honey
Brown chicken in oil. Put in baking dish. Brown onion, garlic & wheat germ, stirring. Pour over chicken. Add mexicorn, soup, water, soy sauce & hone. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
SUPER CHILI
Another one of my inventions, this can also be found in my e-book, Off the Wall Cooking.
2 C pinto beans
2 T oil or butter
4 C water
1 lb. ground beef
4 – 8 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 lb. bacon, chopped
2 – 4 onions, chopped
28 oz. can tomatoes (undrained)
2 T chili powder
6 oz. can tomato paste
1 tsp. oregano
1 T chili powder
Soak beans in water for several hours. Drain & place in 4 C water. Add 2-4 cloves garlic, 1 onion & 1 T chili powder. Bring to boil, stir, reduce heat, cover & simmer several hours, or until soft & creamy. Add tomato paste & 1 T chili powder & water as needed. Stir, cover & let simmer 30 more minutes. While beans are simmering, brown 1-3 onions, 2-4 cloves garlic & ground beef in butter. Add to beans. Cook bacon & add to beans. Add tomatoes, oregano & 1 T chili powder. Cook for 1-1 1/2 hours. Great for anyone who likes good, hot chili. Better the next day.
AU GRATIN POTATOES
This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”
The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.
Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
1 Tbsp butter
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cup fat-free skim milk
2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced
1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.
Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.
Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.
HOT AND SOUR SOUP
This comes from Publix Supermarket's Aprons. Makes 6 servings.
1/4 cup green onions (2 – 3 onions)
1 (28-ounce) can chop suey vegetables (drained)
4 1/4 cups water
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon miso paste
1/2 cup shredded carrots
2 teaspoons chili bean sauce
1 tablespoon vegetable base
1/4 cup Oriental salad dressing
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Wash onions and remove any wilted portions. Chop enough green onions into 1/4-inch pieces to measure 1/4 cup, including up to half of green tops. Discard tops or reserve for another use. Set aside.
Open can of vegetables and drain liquid by squeezing lid against vegetables. Set aside.
Place in large saucepan: 4 cups water, onions, vegetables, mushrooms, hoisin sauce, miso paste, carrots, bean sauce, vegetable base and salad dressing. Bring to boil on medium-high heat. Place 1/4 cup water and cornstarch in 2-cup measuring cup. Stir together until creamy. When boiling, stir in cornstarch mixture. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Serve.
Calories 332 kcal; Fat 11 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Carbohydrate 45 g; Fiber 6 g; Protein 14 g; Sodium 1954 mg
Daily Values: Vitamin A 39%; Vitamin C 15%; Calcium 10%; Iron 16%
ROASTED APPLE AND RAISIN PIE WITH ORANGE YOGURT CUSTARD
This is from the fall issue of UnitedHealthCare's magazine, Renew. This recipe begins, “Many pie recipes rely on sugar and starch to thicken up a pie filling. Roasting the fruit before filling the pie reduces excess moisture and concentrates the natural sugars in the fruit so adding sugar isn’t necessary. A light, creamy yogurt custard balances the fruit and spice. The oatmeal crust holds up well with the addition of ground flax seed, which acts as a binder and adds fiber and crunch.”
Filling:
6 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cubed
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
zest and juice of one orange, zest used for custard topping
2 tablespoons raisins
Oatmeal Pie Crust:
1 cup quick oats
4 tablespoons ground golden flax seed
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
Custard:
3/4 cup plain Greek non-fat yogurt
2 eggs, beaten
reserved orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon sugar substitute
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Toss cubed apples with cinnamon, salt and orange juice in a 9-by-9-inch baking pan and roast until tender, about 35– 40 minutes. While apples are roasting, prepare crust by blending the oats, flax seed, walnuts and salt together in a food processor (or blender) until crumbly. Stir in applesauce and mix until oats are evenly moistened.
Butter a 9-inch glass or ceramic pie plate. Press all but 2 tablespoons of the crust mixture into the dish, evenly along the bottom and up the sides. Reserve remaining 2 tablespoons of crust for the streusel topping.
Bake crust at 375 for 10–12 minutes, until lightly browned. When the roasting apples have softened, remove from the oven and stir in the raisins. Allow it to cool for 15 minutes before spooning into the pre-baked pie crust.
Whisk yogurt, eggs, orange zest, vanilla, sugar substitute and cornstarch together in a small bowl and pour over the apple filling. Bake until custard is set, about 20–25 minutes. Allow pie to cool for at least an hour before cutting.
Serves 8.
Calories: 229, Total Fat: 8.2g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 175mg, Carbs: 36g, Dietary Fiber: 6.5g, Sugar: 19g, Protein: 7.5g
EGGPLANT LASAGNA
This recipe begins, “An extra set of hands from a little helper can shave minutes off the assembly of this Eggplant Lasagna, while getting a youngster excited about digging into a veggie-centric dinner.”
Yield: 8 servings
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=1320
View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1320.shtml
Ingredients
Pam Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 large eggplant (about 1 pound), cut into 1/4-inch thick lengthwise slices
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 package (20 ounces) ground turkey
3/4 cup chopped yellow onion
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1 can (14.5 ounces) Hunt's Original Diced Tomatoes, No Salt Added, drained
1/4 cup Hunt's Tomato Paste (or Hunt’s Organic)
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1-1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Directions
Heat oven to 350F.
Spray 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.
In small bowl, combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning; set aside.
Heat grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush eggplant slices with oil; sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
In batches, place eggplant on grill pan. Cook each side 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned and tender. Remove and place on baking sheet lined with paper towels; pat to remove excess moisture.
Spray large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add turkey and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add onion and garlic; cook 2-3 minutes more or until onion is tender and turkey is crumbled and no longer pink. Drain.
Add drained tomatoes, tomato paste and basil to skillet; stir to combine. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes more.
Assemble lasagna by spreading 3/4 cup meat mixture over bottom of dish. Place 3 eggplant slices over meat mixture, top with 3/4 cup meat mixture, half of ricotta cheese mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
Repeat layers, ending with a layer of eggplant slices topped with meat mixture and remaining mozzarella cheese.
Spray underside of aluminum foil with cooking spray; cover dish tightly with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 318; Protein: 22 g; Fat: 19 g; Sodium: 363 mg; Cholesterol: 72 mg; Saturated Fat: 7 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g ; Carbohydrates: 13 g
MEXICORN CHICKEN
This is one of my inventions, and can be found in my e-book, Off the Wall Cooking.
2 – 3 lb. chicken, cut up
12 oz. can Mexicorn
3 T oil
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 onion, chopped
1 C water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T soy sauce
2 T wheat germ
1 T honey
Brown chicken in oil. Put in baking dish. Brown onion, garlic & wheat germ, stirring. Pour over chicken. Add mexicorn, soup, water, soy sauce & hone. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
SUPER CHILI
Another one of my inventions, this can also be found in my e-book, Off the Wall Cooking.
2 C pinto beans
2 T oil or butter
4 C water
1 lb. ground beef
4 – 8 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 lb. bacon, chopped
2 – 4 onions, chopped
28 oz. can tomatoes (undrained)
2 T chili powder
6 oz. can tomato paste
1 tsp. oregano
1 T chili powder
Soak beans in water for several hours. Drain & place in 4 C water. Add 2-4 cloves garlic, 1 onion & 1 T chili powder. Bring to boil, stir, reduce heat, cover & simmer several hours, or until soft & creamy. Add tomato paste & 1 T chili powder & water as needed. Stir, cover & let simmer 30 more minutes. While beans are simmering, brown 1-3 onions, 2-4 cloves garlic & ground beef in butter. Add to beans. Cook bacon & add to beans. Add tomatoes, oregano & 1 T chili powder. Cook for 1-1 1/2 hours. Great for anyone who likes good, hot chili. Better the next day.
AU GRATIN POTATOES
This was in a Weight Watchers' email years ago. The recipe begins, “Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser: rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.”
The POINTS® Value at that time listed this as 3 points.
Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 90 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
1 Tbsp butter
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cup fat-free skim milk
2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced
1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.
Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.
Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.
HOT AND SOUR SOUP
This comes from Publix Supermarket's Aprons. Makes 6 servings.
1/4 cup green onions (2 – 3 onions)
1 (28-ounce) can chop suey vegetables (drained)
4 1/4 cups water
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon miso paste
1/2 cup shredded carrots
2 teaspoons chili bean sauce
1 tablespoon vegetable base
1/4 cup Oriental salad dressing
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Wash onions and remove any wilted portions. Chop enough green onions into 1/4-inch pieces to measure 1/4 cup, including up to half of green tops. Discard tops or reserve for another use. Set aside.
Open can of vegetables and drain liquid by squeezing lid against vegetables. Set aside.
Place in large saucepan: 4 cups water, onions, vegetables, mushrooms, hoisin sauce, miso paste, carrots, bean sauce, vegetable base and salad dressing. Bring to boil on medium-high heat. Place 1/4 cup water and cornstarch in 2-cup measuring cup. Stir together until creamy. When boiling, stir in cornstarch mixture. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes. Serve.
Calories 332 kcal; Fat 11 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Carbohydrate 45 g; Fiber 6 g; Protein 14 g; Sodium 1954 mg
Daily Values: Vitamin A 39%; Vitamin C 15%; Calcium 10%; Iron 16%
Meatless Monday
It's Monday, which means both Meatless Monday and Double-Post Monday (at least for a while).
Many people feel that chili can't be made without meat. But meatless chili is entirely do-able. Here are six vegetarian chili recipes to give you your chili fix without the meat, including Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread Casserole and Ultimate Vegan Chili. Enjoy!
BLACK BEAN CHILI
This recipe is from the Silk emailed newsletter. Total time: 1 hr 15 min; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 medium green, yellow, orange or red bell pepper, finely chopped with stem and seeds removed
3 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 (28-oz) can diced tomatoes, with juice
1/4 cup Silk Original Cashewmilk
2 (15-oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 3/4 cups vegetable stock
Whole cilantro leaves or parsley, if desired
6 scallions, chopped, if desired
Preparation
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and pepper, reducing the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft (about 10 minutes).
Stir in chili powder, cumin, bay leaf and salt. CooStir in chili powder, cumin, bay leaf and salt. Cook, stirring often, until spices are fragrant (about 1 minute), stirring often, until spices are fragrant (about 1 minute).
Add tomatoes with juice, stir, and reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 25-30 minutes.
Add Silk, beans, quinoa and stock, cooking for an additional 20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Serve topped with cilantro and scallions, if desired.
LOW-CALORIE, ALMOST FAT-FREE VEGETABLE CHILI
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's vegetarian blog's guide, wrote, "Using extra vegetables, tomato juice and tomatoes with fewer beans keeps this vegetarian chili lower in calories. Though meatless chili is already a healthy and low-fat choice, this version is extra low-cal. It's really more like a chili-spiced tomato soup than a hearty chili. This was one of those recipes that came about purely because of what I had on hand in my kitchen, which happened to be lots of veggies, and not so many beans. But I really wanted chili."
Ingredients:
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp water
1 large carrot, sliced thin
1 green bell pepper, chopped small
1 red bell pepper, chopped small
2 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 cup corn kernels
1 15-ounce can kidney beans
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
1 12-ounce can tomato juice or V8
water
1 jalapeno or other small spicy pepper, minced
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
green onions for garnish, optional
Preparation:
In a large non-stick pot, heat the garlic and onions for 3-4 minutes. Add the water and carrots and heat, stirring, for another 3-4 minutes. Add green bell pepper, red bell pepper and soy sauce, stirring to combine well. Heat for just another minute or two. Reduce heat to medium low and add all the remaining ingredients, except for the green onions. Cover and allow to slowly simmer for at least 25 minutes and up to 40 minutes.
Adjust the seasonings to taste, garnish with some green onions or even a bit of cheese or sour cream if you're not eating vegan.
Nutritional information, via CalorieCount: Calories: 195; Calories from Fat: 10; Total Fat: 1.1g, 2% daily value; Trans Fat: 0.0g; Cholesterol: 0mg, 0%; Sodium: 614mg, 26%; Total Carbohydrates: 38.0g, 13%; Dietary Fiber: 9.6g, 38%; Sugars: 9.5g; Protein: 11.2g; Vitamin A 80%, Vitamin C 159% Calcium 5%, Iron 32
VEGETARIAN CHILI AND CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, Vegetarian Food expert for About.com. Jolinda wrote, “Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread Casserole. With beans and mock meat for plenty of protein, this easy vegetarian and vegan chili casserole can be prepared in just a few minutes, and can be a great way to use up leftover chili, if you have some. If you like corn bread, you'll like this recipe.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 - 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 15 ounce cans kidney beans, well drained
2 cups vegetarian ground beef substitute
1 cup corn
2 15 ounce cans tomato sauce
2 tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 tsp salt
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
2 cups cornmeal
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tbsp baking powder
2 cups soy milk (or another non-dairy milk substitute)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tbsp maple syrup
Preparation
Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the beans, beef substitute, corn, tomato sauce and spices and spread in the bottom of a large baking pan.
In a separate bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour and baking powder. Slowly whisk in the soy milk, oil and maple syrup, stirring just until combined. Pour this cornbread batter over the chili mixture and spread in the dish.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
You could also make this recipe using any kind of leftover chili or canned vegetarian chili.
ULTIMATE VEGAN CHILI
This comes from the February 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 51. It begins, “This chili is made with a base of seitan and mushrooms for a rich, thick dish that is, for lack of a better word, meaty! In lieu of chili beans such as Bush's Best Chili Beans, you can substitute or 1 can each black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans, partially drained. If you like your chili three-alarm hot, add an extra chipotle chile or two.” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped (2 cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, drained and minced
8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
2 8-oz. pkgs. seitan, chopped (3 cups)
3 Tbs. tomato paste
2 tsp. smoked paprika
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
3/4 tsp. celery salt
3 15-oz. cans chili beans, partially drained
1 cup chopped carrots (2 to 3 large carrots)
2 Tbs. low-sodium tamari or soy sauce
1 Tbs. vegan Worcestershire sauce
Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 7 to 10 minutes, or until beginning to brown, stirring often. Add garlic and chipotle chile, and sauté 1 minute more. Stir in mushrooms; cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Add seitan, tomato paste, paprika, oregano, chili powder, celery salt, and 1 cup water; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add beans, carrots, tamari, and Worcestershire sauce. Cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 1 hour, or until carrots are tender.
nutritional information Per 1-cup Serving: Calories: 276; Protein: 24 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 844 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan
VEGETARIAN CHILI
This also comes from PureWow. Makes 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large white onion, diced
2 large (or 4 small) poblano peppers, seeded and diced
1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chile powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
4 cups vegetable broth
One 15-ounce can chickpeas
One 15-ounce can black beans
2 cups frozen corn, thawed
Sour cream, for garnish
1 avocado, diced, for garnish
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, poblano pepper and sweet potato, and sauté until the onion is translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook until fragrant, 1 minute more.
Add the chile powder, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt and pepper, and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until good flavor develops and the vegetables are very tender, 30 to 35 minutes.
Stir in the beans, chickpeas and corn, and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
To serve, ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, 1 to 2 tablespoons avocado and 2 teaspoons cilantro. Leftover chili will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
BLACK BEAN VEGETARIAN CHILI WITH SWEET POTATO
This is from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s Vegetarian Food expert. For this one, Jolinda wrote, “I have to confess, chili is not my favorite of vegetarian meals, but even I couldn't stop eating this vegetarian and vegan black bean chili, it was just so flavorful! The sweet potatoes and carrots match perfectly with the spiciness of the fresh chili flavor. This is my new favorite homemade chili recipe!” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 3-4 servings (though it ends “Makes 5 servings of homemade black bean chili.”)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 medium carrots, sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (optional)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 15 ounce can black beans (or a little less than two cups, if you're cooking them fresh)
1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes or tomato sauce
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne (or to taste)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Preparation
Sautee onions and garlic in olive oil for a minute or two, then add sweet potatoes, carrots and bell pepper until onions are soft, about 5-6 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium low, and add remaining ingredients, stirring to combine well.
Simmer, partially covered and stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes, until flavors have mingled and vegetables are cooked.
Many people feel that chili can't be made without meat. But meatless chili is entirely do-able. Here are six vegetarian chili recipes to give you your chili fix without the meat, including Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread Casserole and Ultimate Vegan Chili. Enjoy!
BLACK BEAN CHILI
This recipe is from the Silk emailed newsletter. Total time: 1 hr 15 min; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 medium green, yellow, orange or red bell pepper, finely chopped with stem and seeds removed
3 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 (28-oz) can diced tomatoes, with juice
1/4 cup Silk Original Cashewmilk
2 (15-oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 3/4 cups vegetable stock
Whole cilantro leaves or parsley, if desired
6 scallions, chopped, if desired
Preparation
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and pepper, reducing the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft (about 10 minutes).
Stir in chili powder, cumin, bay leaf and salt. CooStir in chili powder, cumin, bay leaf and salt. Cook, stirring often, until spices are fragrant (about 1 minute), stirring often, until spices are fragrant (about 1 minute).
Add tomatoes with juice, stir, and reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 25-30 minutes.
Add Silk, beans, quinoa and stock, cooking for an additional 20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Serve topped with cilantro and scallions, if desired.
LOW-CALORIE, ALMOST FAT-FREE VEGETABLE CHILI
Jolinda Hackett, About.com's vegetarian blog's guide, wrote, "Using extra vegetables, tomato juice and tomatoes with fewer beans keeps this vegetarian chili lower in calories. Though meatless chili is already a healthy and low-fat choice, this version is extra low-cal. It's really more like a chili-spiced tomato soup than a hearty chili. This was one of those recipes that came about purely because of what I had on hand in my kitchen, which happened to be lots of veggies, and not so many beans. But I really wanted chili."
Ingredients:
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp water
1 large carrot, sliced thin
1 green bell pepper, chopped small
1 red bell pepper, chopped small
2 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 cup corn kernels
1 15-ounce can kidney beans
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
1 12-ounce can tomato juice or V8
water
1 jalapeno or other small spicy pepper, minced
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
green onions for garnish, optional
Preparation:
In a large non-stick pot, heat the garlic and onions for 3-4 minutes. Add the water and carrots and heat, stirring, for another 3-4 minutes. Add green bell pepper, red bell pepper and soy sauce, stirring to combine well. Heat for just another minute or two. Reduce heat to medium low and add all the remaining ingredients, except for the green onions. Cover and allow to slowly simmer for at least 25 minutes and up to 40 minutes.
Adjust the seasonings to taste, garnish with some green onions or even a bit of cheese or sour cream if you're not eating vegan.
Nutritional information, via CalorieCount: Calories: 195; Calories from Fat: 10; Total Fat: 1.1g, 2% daily value; Trans Fat: 0.0g; Cholesterol: 0mg, 0%; Sodium: 614mg, 26%; Total Carbohydrates: 38.0g, 13%; Dietary Fiber: 9.6g, 38%; Sugars: 9.5g; Protein: 11.2g; Vitamin A 80%, Vitamin C 159% Calcium 5%, Iron 32
VEGETARIAN CHILI AND CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, Vegetarian Food expert for About.com. Jolinda wrote, “Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread Casserole. With beans and mock meat for plenty of protein, this easy vegetarian and vegan chili casserole can be prepared in just a few minutes, and can be a great way to use up leftover chili, if you have some. If you like corn bread, you'll like this recipe.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 - 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
4 15 ounce cans kidney beans, well drained
2 cups vegetarian ground beef substitute
1 cup corn
2 15 ounce cans tomato sauce
2 tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 tsp salt
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
2 cups cornmeal
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tbsp baking powder
2 cups soy milk (or another non-dairy milk substitute)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tbsp maple syrup
Preparation
Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the beans, beef substitute, corn, tomato sauce and spices and spread in the bottom of a large baking pan.
In a separate bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour and baking powder. Slowly whisk in the soy milk, oil and maple syrup, stirring just until combined. Pour this cornbread batter over the chili mixture and spread in the dish.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
You could also make this recipe using any kind of leftover chili or canned vegetarian chili.
ULTIMATE VEGAN CHILI
This comes from the February 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 51. It begins, “This chili is made with a base of seitan and mushrooms for a rich, thick dish that is, for lack of a better word, meaty! In lieu of chili beans such as Bush's Best Chili Beans, you can substitute or 1 can each black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans, partially drained. If you like your chili three-alarm hot, add an extra chipotle chile or two.” Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped (2 cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, drained and minced
8 oz. baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
2 8-oz. pkgs. seitan, chopped (3 cups)
3 Tbs. tomato paste
2 tsp. smoked paprika
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
3/4 tsp. celery salt
3 15-oz. cans chili beans, partially drained
1 cup chopped carrots (2 to 3 large carrots)
2 Tbs. low-sodium tamari or soy sauce
1 Tbs. vegan Worcestershire sauce
Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 7 to 10 minutes, or until beginning to brown, stirring often. Add garlic and chipotle chile, and sauté 1 minute more. Stir in mushrooms; cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Add seitan, tomato paste, paprika, oregano, chili powder, celery salt, and 1 cup water; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add beans, carrots, tamari, and Worcestershire sauce. Cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 1 hour, or until carrots are tender.
nutritional information Per 1-cup Serving: Calories: 276; Protein: 24 g; Total Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 844 mg; Fiber: 9 g; Sugar: 4 g; Vegan
VEGETARIAN CHILI
This also comes from PureWow. Makes 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large white onion, diced
2 large (or 4 small) poblano peppers, seeded and diced
1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chile powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
4 cups vegetable broth
One 15-ounce can chickpeas
One 15-ounce can black beans
2 cups frozen corn, thawed
Sour cream, for garnish
1 avocado, diced, for garnish
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, poblano pepper and sweet potato, and sauté until the onion is translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook until fragrant, 1 minute more.
Add the chile powder, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt and pepper, and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until good flavor develops and the vegetables are very tender, 30 to 35 minutes.
Stir in the beans, chickpeas and corn, and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
To serve, ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, 1 to 2 tablespoons avocado and 2 teaspoons cilantro. Leftover chili will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
BLACK BEAN VEGETARIAN CHILI WITH SWEET POTATO
This is from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s Vegetarian Food expert. For this one, Jolinda wrote, “I have to confess, chili is not my favorite of vegetarian meals, but even I couldn't stop eating this vegetarian and vegan black bean chili, it was just so flavorful! The sweet potatoes and carrots match perfectly with the spiciness of the fresh chili flavor. This is my new favorite homemade chili recipe!” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 3-4 servings (though it ends “Makes 5 servings of homemade black bean chili.”)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 medium carrots, sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (optional)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 15 ounce can black beans (or a little less than two cups, if you're cooking them fresh)
1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes or tomato sauce
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne (or to taste)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Preparation
Sautee onions and garlic in olive oil for a minute or two, then add sweet potatoes, carrots and bell pepper until onions are soft, about 5-6 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium low, and add remaining ingredients, stirring to combine well.
Simmer, partially covered and stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes, until flavors have mingled and vegetables are cooked.
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