It's finally Friday, time to Celebrate while getting ready for the weekend (with a little help from Kool and the Gang).
No matter what your plans are for the weekend, you still need to eat. To that end, here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Capellini with Tomatoes and Basil and Barbecued Hamburgers. Enjoy!
BRIGADEIROS
This is from Natalia Pereira (and adapted by Tejal Rao) on The New York Times cooking site. Tejal wrote, "The Brazilian sweets known as brigadeiros are a classic treat at birthday parties and family get-togethers, where the fudgy, chocolate-milk caramels are often rolled in sprinkles. The chef Natalia Pereira of Woodspoon in Los Angeles also makes more grownup, bittersweet brigadeiros by rolling them in cocoa powder or shredded coconut. Try her recipe, which she learned from her mother in Minas Gerais, Brazil, using either canned condensed milk or a homemade version. Either way, the candies will be tender and delicious."
Yield: About 24 pieces; Time: 1-1/2 hours, plus cooling
This was featured in "A Brazilian Treat for Home Cooks in a Hurry" (in The New York Times Magazine on February 21, 2021), and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021918-brigadeiros.
Note: I originally read the article that this was featured in back in February, and reread it again when I was looking at this online. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend doing so.
Ingredients
For the Sweetened Condensed Milk (optional):
5 cups whole milk
1 cup granulated sugar
For the Brigadeiros:
2 teaspoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing your hands
1-3/4 cups homemade sweetened condensed milk or 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
5 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted
Pinch of flaky sea salt
1 cup chocolate or rainbow sprinkles
Preparation
If using store-bought condensed milk, skip to Step 2. If making the sweetened condensed milk from scratch, add the milk and sugar to a large saucepan. Heat over medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally and scraping the sides and bottom of the pan with a spatula, for about 30 to 40 minutes. When the milk reduces to about 1 3/4 cups, thickens to a syrup texture and turns slightly yellow, it is ready.
Prepare the brigadeiros: Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over low heat. Add the condensed milk, cocoa powder and salt, and whisk until no trace of cocoa remains, about 5 minutes.
Turn the heat up to medium, and use a heatproof spatula to stir the mixture constantly until it becomes thick and shiny and pulls away from the bottom of the pan as a mass when you drag the spatula across it, about 7 minutes. If you’re not sure the mixture is ready, take 1/2 teaspoon of it and run it under cold water. When it’s cool enough to touch, squish it with your fingers — it should be the texture of a soft and fudgy caramel.
Scrape all of the mixture onto a piece of parchment paper, and let it cool down until it’s easy to handle, about 30 minutes. Lightly butter your hands, and use them to shape a scant tablespoon of the mixture into a ball or rough cube, then roll it in the sprinkles. Place each one on a paper wrapper, if you like. The brigadeiros will keep in the fridge for 1 week, or in the freezer for 1 month. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
TROPICAL FRUIT SMOOTHIE BOWL
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “You’ll snack on this smoothie with a spoon rather than a straw. This version lets you enjoy the texture of the blended fruit and the whole fruit. The bowl gets topped with sweet, crunchy goodness, too!”
Servings: 4; Serving Size: 1/2 cup smoothie plus 1/4 cup topping
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/tropical-fruit-smoothie-bowl.
Ingredients
1 cup fat-free, plain yogurt
1 small banana, sliced crosswise, divided use
1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen papaya and 1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen papaya, divided use
1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen mango and 1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen mango, divided use
1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen pineapple and 1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen pineapple, divided use
1/2 teaspoon stevia sweetener or 1 packet stevia sweetener
1 squeeze coconut-flavored liquid stevia sweetener
1 squeeze tropical punch-flavored stevia water enhancer
1 tablespoon fresh, chopped mint
1/4 cup chopped, dry-roasted pecans
4 sprigs fresh mint leaves
Directions
In a food processor or blender, process the yogurt, 1/2 of the banana slices, 1/4 cup of the papaya, 1/4 cup of the mango, 1/4 cup of the pineapple, the stevia sweetener, and liquid stevia sweetener in the order listed, for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping the sides as needed. Pour or spoon the mixture into four small serving bowls.
In a separate small bowl, stir together the stevia water enhancer, chopped mint, and remaining banana, papaya, mango, and pineapple. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the fruit mixture on top of the yogurt mixture in each bowl. Top with 1 tablespoon pecans. Garnish each bowl with a sprig of mint.
Cooking Tip: To freeze fresh papaya, remove the peel from the papaya with a vegetable peeler. Cut the papaya in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scrape out the seeds. Slice the halves of papaya into 1-inch lengthwise slices. Cut the slices crosswise into 1-inch cubes. Place the papaya cubes on a cookie sheet. Freeze for 2 hours, or until frozen. Transfer the papaya to a resealable plastic bag or a covered plastic freezer container. Freeze for up to two months.
CAPELLINI WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL
This is from Ina Garten on her the Food Network show, Barefoot Contessa.
Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this inline, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/capellini-with-tomatoes-and-basil-recipe-1949902.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1/2 cup good olive oil, plus extra for the pot
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
4 pints small cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
18 large basil leaves, julienned
2 tablespoons chopped fresh curly parsley
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 pound dried capellini or angel hair pasta
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Extra chopped basil and grated Parmesan, for serving
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of salt and a splash of oil to the pot.
Meanwhile, heat the 1/2 cup of olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan. Add the garlic to the oil and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, thyme, 2 teaspoons salt, the pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to soften but don't break up.
While the tomatoes are cooking, add the capellini to the pot of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water.
Place the pasta in a large serving bowl, add the tomatoes and Parmesan and toss well. Add some of the pasta water if the pasta seems too dry. Serve large bowls of pasta with extra basil sprinkled on top and a big bowl of extra Parmesan on the side.
BARBECUED HAMBURGERS
This comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “Remember these for your next cookout.”
Serves: 4; Prep Time: 45 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chopped or 1 garlic clove, finely minced
1 (4-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon paprika
salt and pepper, to taste
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
4 hamburger buns, toasted
Directions
Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 10 minutes until softened but not browned. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and paprika and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Meanwhile, heat the broiler or light the charcoal grill. Let the coals get medium hot.
Divide the meat into 4 patties. Brush with the sauce and broil or grill for 6 to 7 minutes on each side for medium rare, brushing frequently with the sauce. Serve immediately on the hamburger buns and pass the extra sauce on the side.
CARIBBEAN JERK SLIDERS
This is from Eddie Jackson on the Food Network.
Total Time: 50 minutes; Active Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 8 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/eddie-jackson/caribbean-jerk-sliders-1-8080961.
Ingredients
1 pound ground chuck
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Nonstick cooking spray, for the pan
8 standard slices mild Cheddar
8 brioche slider buns
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Jerk Ketchup, recipe follows
8 Red Ale Onion Rings, recipe follows
Jerk Ketchup:
1 cup ketchup
Juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Red Ale Onion Rings:
About 4 cups canola oil
2 large Vidalia onions
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup red ale
Coarse sea salt
Special equipment: a deep-fry thermometer; a spider
Directions
Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
Combine the beef, salt, allspice, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, pepper flakes, brown sugar, thyme and black pepper in a large bowl and gently mix until just combined.
Form the meat into eight 2-ounce patties, then press the center of each with your thumb to create an indent. Coat the grill pan with cooking spray.
Grill the sliders indent-side up until the internal temperature registers 150 degrees F, 2 to 3 minutes per side, placing a slice of cheese on each patty once you flip them. Cover the patties on the grill pan with a metal bowl to allow the cheese to melt. (The cheese will melt over the sides of the patties.) Remove the patties to a plate and cover loosely with foil to rest.
Meanwhile, brush the buns with the melted butter and grill until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes per side.
Assemble the sliders by putting a tablespoon-sized dollop of the Ketchup on the bun tops and bottoms, then top each bottom with a patty. Finish with one Onion Ring on top of each slider. Close sliders and serve immediately.
Jerk Ketchup:
Yield: 1 1/4 cups
Combine the ketchup, lime juice, allspice, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, pepper flakes, brown sugar, thyme and salt in a medium nonreactive bowl and mix until incorporated.
Red Ale Onion Rings:
Pour 4 inches oil into an 8-quart Dutch oven and bring to 350 degrees F over medium-high heat.
Meanwhile, peel the onions and slice into 1/2-inch-thick rings.
Combine the flour, salt, garlic powder and black pepper in a large bowl. Whisk in the ale until the ingredients are combined. The batter should be thick but slightly loose.
Place a wire rack in a sheet pan. Working in batches, dip the onion rings into the batter. Drain any excess batter back into the bowl, then slowly lower the onions into the hot oil. Cook, flipping the onions every 30 seconds, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the onions to a wire rack with a spider and lightly season with sea salt.
Cook’s Note
Make the Jerk Ketchup to use immediately, or store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 4 days.
SOUTHWEST MEATLOAF
Recipe Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings
Source: TBC
Recipe and photo appears courtesy of Cattlemen's Beef Promotion Board.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/southwest-meatloaf.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef (95% lean)
1 cup soft bread crumbs
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup thick and chunky salsa
Directions
Heat oven to 350F. Combine all ingredients in large bowl except salsa, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
Shape beef mixture into 10 x 4-inch loaf on rack in broiler pan. Bake in 350F oven 1 hour, 15 minutes to 1 hour, 20 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160F.
Let stand 10 minutes. Top with salsa; cut into slices.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 280; Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 1.8 g; Sodium: 313 mg; Cholesterol: 120 mg; Protein: 34 g; Carbohydrates: 12 g
Friday, May 7, 2021
Thursday, May 6, 2021
What a Turkey!
When I was growing up, turkey was reserved for holidays, especially Thanksgiving and (occasionally) Christmas. But really, there's no reason why you can't enjoy turkey year-round. Check out today's six turkey recipes, including Sweet Potato and Mustard Turkey Burgers and Baked Turkey Enchiladas. Enjoy!
TURKEY MACARONI CASSEROLE
This comes from Diana Rattray, a contributor at The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "This easy turkey and macaroni casserole is an easy and tasty combination of ingredients. The sauce is made with cream of chicken soup and cheddar cheese. It's topped off with sliced or slivered toasted almonds for extra texture."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/turkey-macaroni-casserole-3061814.
Ingredients
2 cups uncooked macaroni
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups celery (chopped)
1/2 cup green bell pepper (chopped)
1/2 cup onion (chopped)
2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
2/3 cup milk
2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
1 1/2 to 2 cups cooked chopped turkey
1 (4-ounce) jar chopped pimiento (drained)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Cook and drain macaroni following package directions.
To toast nuts, spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a 350 F oven, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes. Or, toast in an ungreased skillet over medium heat, stirring, until golden brown and aromatic.
Preheat the oven to 350 F and butter a 3-quart casserole.
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add celery, green pepper, and onion; cook until tender.
Blend in soup, milk, and shredded cheese. Cook, stirring, until cheese is melted.
Combine the cheese mixture with the cooked and drained macaroni, pimiento, turkey, salt, and nutmeg.
Transfer to the prepared casserole; top with toasted almonds if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
Serve with a side salad, if desired.
BAKED TURKEY ENCHILADAS
This is also from Diana Rattray. She wrote, "Turkey enchiladas are made with leftover turkey, cheese, sour cream, and tortillas. Serve these flavorful turkey enchiladas with rice and refried beans.
"Enchiladas are typically made with corn tortillas, but you can use corn or flour in these turkey enchiladas. The easy sauce is made with mild chile peppers, but if you like a little heat, add some finely chopped jalapeno rings."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 62 minutes; Total: 82 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/baked-turkey-enchiladas-recipe-3061803.
Ingredients
3 cups turkey (shredded)
2 cups sour cream
2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded or a Mexican blend of cheeses, divided)
1 teaspoon salt
12 (10-inch) tortillas (corn or flour)
1/3 cup corn oil
For the Sauce
2 cans mild green chile peppers (4 ounces each)
Ingredients
1 clove garlic (minced)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 pounds stewed tomatoes
2 cups onion (chopped)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 cup water
Directions
Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Lightly grease a 9x13x2-inch baking pan.
Combine the shredded turkey with sour cream, 2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese, and salt. Stir to blend thoroughly.
Heat the oil and dip tortillas in until soft and drain. Or, follow package directions for heating tortillas in the microwave oven or conventional oven.
Stuff the warm tortillas with turkey mixture and roll up. Arrange the filled rolls seam side down, side-by-side in the prepared baking pan.
Gather the sauce ingredients.
In a skillet, saute the chile peppers with garlic in the olive oil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the stewed tomatoes, onions, salt, oregano, and water. Simmer uncovered until the sauce is reduced and thickened, or about 1/2 hour.
Pour the chile sauce over enchiladas and bake them for about 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and return them to the oven for a few minutes, or just until the cheese has melted.
Let the casserole stand for about 5 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Make the enchiladas with cooked shredded chicken instead of turkey. Chicken thighs make a good filling.
Replace the cheddar or cheddar jack cheese with pepper jack or a taco seasoned blend.
Add a few tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro to the filling.
Garnish the enchiladas with 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro or some sliced green onion tops when they come out of the oven.
Add 1 cup of cooked or canned black beans or pinto beans to the turkey filling or replace some of the turkey with the beans. It's a good, budget-friendly way to stretch the turkey.
TURKEY BURGERS
4 Servings
Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/423.shtml
Ingredients
1 egg white
1 thin slice whole-wheat bread
1 small onion, grated
1 pound ground turkey
2 teaspoons ground coriander
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons virgin olive oil
Directions
In a large bowl, lightly beat egg white.
Tear bread into small pieces; soak in egg white 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients, except oil and thoroughly mix. Shape into four patties.
In a large non-stick skillet, heat oil. Cook patties over medium heat about 10 minutes on each side until cooked through.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 208; Protein: 17 g; Fat: 14 g; Sodium: 195 mg; Cholesterol: 48 mg; Carbohydrates: 5 g, Exchanges: 3 Meat
SWEET POTATO AND MUSTARD TURKEY BURGERS
This is from Taste for Life, and begins, “These burgers are moist and juicy and have a savory flavor that comes from a secret ingredient: A hefty amount of mustard. Half a cup may seem like a lot of mustard, but it’s what makes these burgers outstanding. Using grated sweet potato instead of traditional flour or breadcrumbs adds extra fiber and nutrients.”
Prep Time: 40 min prep time; Number of Servings: Makes 4 to 6 burgers
Recipe Source: The Living Kitchen by Tamara Green, BA, CNP and Sarah Grossman, BA, CNP ($28, Appetite, 2018)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup grated yellow onion
1 cup grated peeled sweet potato
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup spinach, finely chopped
1/2 cup gluten-free whole-grain mustard
1/2 tsp sea salt
Pinch of black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use the grating attachment on your food processor and grate onion and sweet potato. You can also do this by hand with a box grater.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until everything is well combined.
Measure 1/4 to 1/2 cup of burger meat and shape into a patty. Place on baking sheet and repeat.
Bake in oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until top begins to get slightly golden. You can flip burgers halfway through cooking time if you want even caramelization on both sides.
These burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. You can also make a big batch and keep them in the freezer for 3 to 4 months for a quick meal option.
TURKEY TACO SOUP
This comes from Laurel Randolph, one of the writers on The Spruce. Laurel wrote, “Taco soup is an easy, one-bowl version of everyone's favorite dinner: taco night. All of the ingredients simmer together to make a robust, flavorful soup that's especially good with a side of crispy tortilla chips. And with only one dirty pot and a few dirty soup bowls, it's totally carefree. The typical ground beef is replaced with shredded turkey for a lighter meal—or you can replace it with cooked chicken, if that's what you have on hand.
“We love to make this soup after Thanksgiving, when we have leftover turkey to use up and we want to do as little cooking as possible. It's a great way to repurpose cooked, shredded breast or dark meat to create a totally different dish. No one will be complaining of leftover fatigue with this recipe.”
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: Serves 3 - 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola (or grapeseed oil)
1 small red onion (diced)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
1 jalapeño (seeded and minced)
3 garlic cloves (minced)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (with juice)
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
1 cup packed shredded cooked turkey
3 cups turkey or chicken broth
Salt and pepper
1 avocado (diced, or sour cream for serving)
Optional: Chips (for serving)
Directions
Preheat a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the oil followed by the onion. Sauté for 2 minutes.
Add the bell pepper, jalapeño and garlic. Sauté for 2 more minutes.
Add the chili powder, cumin, and oregano and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Add the tomatoes and juice, pinto beans, turkey and broth, and stir. Season with salt and pepper.
Turn up the heat and bring to a simmer.
Turn the heat to low and let simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Serve topped with diced avocado or a dollop of sour cream and tortilla chips.
TURKEY SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This comes from FamilyTime.com. It starts off, "All your Thanksgiving Day favorites are combined in this savory casserole that's so easy to make, you can enjoy it any time of year. And it goes from start to finish in less than one hour!"
Of course, you can fix this any time of year; no need to wait until Thanksgiving! Serves 6 (about 1 cup each); Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups mashed cooked peeled sweet potato
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup evaporated milk
Swanson® Chicken Stock or 1/4 cup Swanson® Chicken Broth
1 small onion, minced (about 1/4 cup)
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
3 cups cubed cooked turkey
3 tablespoons water
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Stir the potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and milk in a medium bowl. Spoon the potato mixture around the inside edge of a 10-inch round casserole to form a ring.
Heat the broth and onion in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook until the onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in the soup, turkey and water. Cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Spoon the turkey mixture into the center of the potato ring.
Bake at 350°F. for 30 minutes or until the turkey mixture is hot and bubbling. Sprinkle with the walnuts and parsley, if desired.
Easy Substitution: You can substitute chicken for the turkey.
TURKEY MACARONI CASSEROLE
This comes from Diana Rattray, a contributor at The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "This easy turkey and macaroni casserole is an easy and tasty combination of ingredients. The sauce is made with cream of chicken soup and cheddar cheese. It's topped off with sliced or slivered toasted almonds for extra texture."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/turkey-macaroni-casserole-3061814.
Ingredients
2 cups uncooked macaroni
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups celery (chopped)
1/2 cup green bell pepper (chopped)
1/2 cup onion (chopped)
2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
2/3 cup milk
2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
1 1/2 to 2 cups cooked chopped turkey
1 (4-ounce) jar chopped pimiento (drained)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Cook and drain macaroni following package directions.
To toast nuts, spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a 350 F oven, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes. Or, toast in an ungreased skillet over medium heat, stirring, until golden brown and aromatic.
Preheat the oven to 350 F and butter a 3-quart casserole.
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add celery, green pepper, and onion; cook until tender.
Blend in soup, milk, and shredded cheese. Cook, stirring, until cheese is melted.
Combine the cheese mixture with the cooked and drained macaroni, pimiento, turkey, salt, and nutmeg.
Transfer to the prepared casserole; top with toasted almonds if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
Serve with a side salad, if desired.
BAKED TURKEY ENCHILADAS
This is also from Diana Rattray. She wrote, "Turkey enchiladas are made with leftover turkey, cheese, sour cream, and tortillas. Serve these flavorful turkey enchiladas with rice and refried beans.
"Enchiladas are typically made with corn tortillas, but you can use corn or flour in these turkey enchiladas. The easy sauce is made with mild chile peppers, but if you like a little heat, add some finely chopped jalapeno rings."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 62 minutes; Total: 82 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/baked-turkey-enchiladas-recipe-3061803.
Ingredients
3 cups turkey (shredded)
2 cups sour cream
2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded or a Mexican blend of cheeses, divided)
1 teaspoon salt
12 (10-inch) tortillas (corn or flour)
1/3 cup corn oil
For the Sauce
2 cans mild green chile peppers (4 ounces each)
Ingredients
1 clove garlic (minced)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 pounds stewed tomatoes
2 cups onion (chopped)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 cup water
Directions
Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Lightly grease a 9x13x2-inch baking pan.
Combine the shredded turkey with sour cream, 2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese, and salt. Stir to blend thoroughly.
Heat the oil and dip tortillas in until soft and drain. Or, follow package directions for heating tortillas in the microwave oven or conventional oven.
Stuff the warm tortillas with turkey mixture and roll up. Arrange the filled rolls seam side down, side-by-side in the prepared baking pan.
Gather the sauce ingredients.
In a skillet, saute the chile peppers with garlic in the olive oil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the stewed tomatoes, onions, salt, oregano, and water. Simmer uncovered until the sauce is reduced and thickened, or about 1/2 hour.
Pour the chile sauce over enchiladas and bake them for about 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and return them to the oven for a few minutes, or just until the cheese has melted.
Let the casserole stand for about 5 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Make the enchiladas with cooked shredded chicken instead of turkey. Chicken thighs make a good filling.
Replace the cheddar or cheddar jack cheese with pepper jack or a taco seasoned blend.
Add a few tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro to the filling.
Garnish the enchiladas with 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro or some sliced green onion tops when they come out of the oven.
Add 1 cup of cooked or canned black beans or pinto beans to the turkey filling or replace some of the turkey with the beans. It's a good, budget-friendly way to stretch the turkey.
TURKEY BURGERS
4 Servings
Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/423.shtml
Ingredients
1 egg white
1 thin slice whole-wheat bread
1 small onion, grated
1 pound ground turkey
2 teaspoons ground coriander
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons virgin olive oil
Directions
In a large bowl, lightly beat egg white.
Tear bread into small pieces; soak in egg white 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients, except oil and thoroughly mix. Shape into four patties.
In a large non-stick skillet, heat oil. Cook patties over medium heat about 10 minutes on each side until cooked through.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 208; Protein: 17 g; Fat: 14 g; Sodium: 195 mg; Cholesterol: 48 mg; Carbohydrates: 5 g, Exchanges: 3 Meat
SWEET POTATO AND MUSTARD TURKEY BURGERS
This is from Taste for Life, and begins, “These burgers are moist and juicy and have a savory flavor that comes from a secret ingredient: A hefty amount of mustard. Half a cup may seem like a lot of mustard, but it’s what makes these burgers outstanding. Using grated sweet potato instead of traditional flour or breadcrumbs adds extra fiber and nutrients.”
Prep Time: 40 min prep time; Number of Servings: Makes 4 to 6 burgers
Recipe Source: The Living Kitchen by Tamara Green, BA, CNP and Sarah Grossman, BA, CNP ($28, Appetite, 2018)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup grated yellow onion
1 cup grated peeled sweet potato
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup spinach, finely chopped
1/2 cup gluten-free whole-grain mustard
1/2 tsp sea salt
Pinch of black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use the grating attachment on your food processor and grate onion and sweet potato. You can also do this by hand with a box grater.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until everything is well combined.
Measure 1/4 to 1/2 cup of burger meat and shape into a patty. Place on baking sheet and repeat.
Bake in oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until top begins to get slightly golden. You can flip burgers halfway through cooking time if you want even caramelization on both sides.
These burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. You can also make a big batch and keep them in the freezer for 3 to 4 months for a quick meal option.
TURKEY TACO SOUP
This comes from Laurel Randolph, one of the writers on The Spruce. Laurel wrote, “Taco soup is an easy, one-bowl version of everyone's favorite dinner: taco night. All of the ingredients simmer together to make a robust, flavorful soup that's especially good with a side of crispy tortilla chips. And with only one dirty pot and a few dirty soup bowls, it's totally carefree. The typical ground beef is replaced with shredded turkey for a lighter meal—or you can replace it with cooked chicken, if that's what you have on hand.
“We love to make this soup after Thanksgiving, when we have leftover turkey to use up and we want to do as little cooking as possible. It's a great way to repurpose cooked, shredded breast or dark meat to create a totally different dish. No one will be complaining of leftover fatigue with this recipe.”
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: Serves 3 - 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola (or grapeseed oil)
1 small red onion (diced)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
1 jalapeño (seeded and minced)
3 garlic cloves (minced)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (with juice)
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
1 cup packed shredded cooked turkey
3 cups turkey or chicken broth
Salt and pepper
1 avocado (diced, or sour cream for serving)
Optional: Chips (for serving)
Directions
Preheat a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the oil followed by the onion. Sauté for 2 minutes.
Add the bell pepper, jalapeño and garlic. Sauté for 2 more minutes.
Add the chili powder, cumin, and oregano and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Add the tomatoes and juice, pinto beans, turkey and broth, and stir. Season with salt and pepper.
Turn up the heat and bring to a simmer.
Turn the heat to low and let simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Serve topped with diced avocado or a dollop of sour cream and tortilla chips.
TURKEY SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
This comes from FamilyTime.com. It starts off, "All your Thanksgiving Day favorites are combined in this savory casserole that's so easy to make, you can enjoy it any time of year. And it goes from start to finish in less than one hour!"
Of course, you can fix this any time of year; no need to wait until Thanksgiving! Serves 6 (about 1 cup each); Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups mashed cooked peeled sweet potato
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup evaporated milk
Swanson® Chicken Stock or 1/4 cup Swanson® Chicken Broth
1 small onion, minced (about 1/4 cup)
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
3 cups cubed cooked turkey
3 tablespoons water
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Stir the potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and milk in a medium bowl. Spoon the potato mixture around the inside edge of a 10-inch round casserole to form a ring.
Heat the broth and onion in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook until the onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in the soup, turkey and water. Cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Spoon the turkey mixture into the center of the potato ring.
Bake at 350°F. for 30 minutes or until the turkey mixture is hot and bubbling. Sprinkle with the walnuts and parsley, if desired.
Easy Substitution: You can substitute chicken for the turkey.
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Soup's On!
Is there anything better than homemade soup when looking for comfort food? Maybe...or maybe not. Today's soups include French Country Bean Soup and Baked Potato Soup. Enjoy!
CHICKEN SOUP FROM SCRATCH
This is from Julia Moskin on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “Chicken soup is one of the most painless and pleasing recipes a home cook can master. This soup has all the classic flavors (celery, carrot, parsley) but has been updated for today's cooks, who can't easily buy the stewing hen and packet of soup vegetables that old-fashioned recipes used to call for. A whole bird provides the right combination of fat, salt and flavor. Don't be tempted to use all white meat, as the flavor won't be as round. Because making soup involves the bones and deep tissues of the bird, it is particularly reassuring here to use the highest-quality poultry you can find. This method produces a fragrant, golden, savory soup you want to eat all winter long; it's a perfect backdrop for noodles, rice or matzo balls.”
Time: 2 hours, plus chilling; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in “A Superior Chicken Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018442-chicken-soup-from-scratch.
Ingredients
For the Broth:
1 chicken, 3 to 3 1/2 pounds, with skin, cut up
3 stalks celery, with leaves, cut into chunks
2 large carrots, cut into chunks
2 yellow onions, peeled and halved
1 parsnip or parsley root (optional)
About 1 dozen large sprigs parsley
About 1 dozen black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt, more to taste
To Finish The Soup:
3 tablespoons reserved chicken fat, more if needed
3 leeks, trimmed, halved lengthwise, rinsed and sliced crosswise into thin half-moons
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into small dice
Kosher salt and ground black or white pepper
Egg noodles (fresh or dried), such as packaged wide noodles, spaetzle, fettuccine or pappardelle cut into short lengths (see note)
Finely chopped herbs, such as parsley, scallions, dill or a combination
Preparation
Place the chicken, celery, carrots, onions, parsnip (if using), parsley, peppercorns, bay leaves and salt in a large soup pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to very low. Adjust the heat until the soup is “smiling”: barely moving on the surface, with an occasional bubble breaking through. Cook uncovered, until the chicken is very tender and falling off the bone, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
When cool enough to handle, use tongs to transfer chicken from the pot to a container. Taste the broth and continue to simmer it until it is concentrated and tasty. Strain broth through a fine sieve (or a colander lined with cheesecloth) into a separate container. Discard all the solids from the strainer (or reserve the vegetables, chill and serve with vinaigrette, if you wish).
Refrigerate chicken pieces and broth separately for at least 8 hours (or up to 3 days), until a thick layer of yellow fat has risen to the top of the broth.
When ready to finish the soup, use your fingers to separate chicken breast meat from bones and skin. Discard bones and skin. Use two forks to pull the breast meat apart into soft chunks, or use a knife and cut into bite-size pieces. (Reserve dark meat for another use.)
Skim chicken fat from top of broth and set aside. Place 3 tablespoons of the fat in a soup pot with a lid. Add leeks, stir to coat, and heat over medium heat until leeks begin to fry. Then reduce the heat to a gentle sizzle and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.
Add carrots, sprinkle with salt, stir, and cover the pot. Cook until vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes more. (Keep in mind that vegetables will continue to cook in the soup.) Do not brown.
Pour broth into pot with vegetables and heat to a simmer. Add noodles and simmer until heated through, soft and plumped with chicken broth. Add the breast meat, then taste broth and add salt and pepper to taste. For best flavor, soup should have some golden droplets of fat on top; if needed, add more chicken fat one teaspoon at a time.
Serve immediately, in a tureen or from the pot, sprinkling each serving with herbs.
Tip
Instead of noodles, almost any starchy garnish can be used here: matzo balls; partly cooked dry pasta, rice or other grains; or cooked white beans. Add them when you would add the noodles and simmer until heated through.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
BAKED POTATO SOUP
This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, "If we’re being honest, a baked potato isn’t really about the potato. It’s about the toppings: plush sour cream, butter, cheese, salty bacon, bright scallions. This soup version doesn’t skimp on those extras: The potatoes simmer in milk with garlic and scallions until just tender, then they join sour cream and Cheddar in the pot before the toppings — including potato skins — are added. It’s potatoey, creamy and adaptable. Make it smooth or textured, skip the bacon and serve it with a side salad (though it’s plenty hearty all on its own)."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019913-baked-potato-soup.
Ingredients
6 slices bacon, or 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 bunch scallions, white and green parts thinly sliced separately
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes, large skins reserved
6 cups whole milk
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
Black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 cup sour cream, plus more for serving
3/4 cup freshly grated Cheddar (about 3 ounces), plus more for serving
Preparation
In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon (if using) until crisp, 12 to 13 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel lined plate or cutting board. Return the pot with just 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat to the stove. (If there’s not enough fat, supplement with butter to total 3 tablespoons.) If making the soup vegetarian, melt butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
Over medium-low heat, sauté the white parts of the scallions and the garlic until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently and adjusting the heat as necessary to avoid burning the garlic. Add the potatoes, milk and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat (resist the urge to heat it faster as this can lead to curdling). Once at a boil, lower the heat and simmer covered until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
As soup simmers, prepare the potato skins: Warm the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Working in batches if needed, add the potato peels in a single layer and cook, flipping once, until crisp and golden-brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate or cutting board, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, cayenne and garlic powder. Crumble and set aside.
Once the potatoes are tender, take the pot off the heat, and purée the mixture with an immersion blender if you’d like a smooth soup. (Mash with a potato masher if you’d like a chunkier soup.) Stir in the sour cream and cheese until combined, then season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with crumbled bacon, more sour cream and Cheddar and the green parts of the scallions. Top with potato peels (eat any extra as chips, dipped in ketchup and mustard).
FRENCH COUNTRY BEAN SOUP
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings (with chicken)
Source: AICR
Recipe and image appear courtesy of American Institute for Cancer Research.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/french-country-bean-soup.
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 carrot, cut in half-moons
1 rib celery, sliced
1 small onion, chopped in bite-size pieces
1 small leek, chopped in bite-size pieces
3 outer leaves Savoy cabbage, rolled and cut in 1/2" strips
4 cups fat-free, reduced sodium chicken broth
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 garlic clove, chopped
2 cups squash (e.g. butternut), peeled and diced
1 can (15 oz.) chickpeas or white beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup cooked chicken cut in bite-size pieces (optional)
Directions
Heat oil in medium Dutch oven or large, deep saucepan. Saute carrot, celery, onion, leek, and cabbage until leaves are bright green and other vegetables start to soften, about 3 minutes. Add broth. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add thyme, garlic, squash and beans. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in chicken, if using. Ladle soup into deep bowls and serve accompanied by toasted slices of whole-grain French bread or other rustic bread. (This soup reheats well. It keeps up to 5 days, covered, in refrigerator.)
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 123; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 464 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch, 1 Lean-Meat, 1 Vegetable
IRAQI LENTIL SOUP WITH MEATBALLS
This is from Joan Nathan in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Joan wrote, “This recipe came to The Times in a 2004 article about iftar, the breaking of the fast during Ramadan, the monthlong Muslim holiday during which observers abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Soup, like this hearty, spiced lentil soup with meatballs and angel hair pasta, is a common iftar meal as it provides substantial nutrition as well as plenty of hydration. It is adapted from a recipe belonging to Suad Shallal, who moved with her family from Iraq to the United States, in 1966. It was served at her son Andy's restaurant, Mimi's American Bistro in downtown Washington, each day during Ramadan. (The restaurant is now closed.) Mrs. Shallal's recipe calls for ground allspice, but feel free to experiment with other spices found in Middle Eastern cooking like cumin, coriander, cardamom and turmeric. And don't forget to taste and season with salt as you go.”
Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in “Breaking Ramadan's Fast With a Family Meal” and can be found online here.
Ingredients
2 medium onions, minced
1 pound ground beef or lamb or both
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
1 cup soft bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt plus salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon allspice, freshly ground from about 5 whole allspice
2 tablespoons pure olive oil
10 cups chicken broth
1 pound brown or yellow lentils
3 rounds angel hair pasta (about 2 ounces)
2 carrots, diced fine
Juice of one half lemon
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees, and line a baking pan with parchment paper. Place half the onions and the ground meat, parsley, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and allspice in a medium mixing bowl. Blend ingredients, and form into balls the size of walnuts. Turn onto the baking pan.
Bake for 10 minutes, remove from pan, and drain on a paper towel. In a soup pot, sauté remaining onions in olive oil over medium heat until golden. Add chicken broth and bring to boil.
Pick any stones from over lentils, place in bowl, cover with cold water, and drain. Add them to soup, turn heat to low, and simmer slowly for about 20 minutes or until lentils are almost tender.
Crumble angel hair pasta into soup, along with carrots and meatballs. Simmer slowly for another 5-10 minutes or until lentils and noodles are cooked, adding more chicken broth or water as needed. Just before serving, squeeze lemon into soup.
VEGETABLE-CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
Recipe Yield: Servings: 6 (Serving = 1-1/2 cup)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups 1/3-less-salt chicken broth, divided
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup thinly sliced leek (white part only)
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup peeled and chopped turnip
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1-1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoons fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 ounces uncooked "no-yolk" broad noodles
1 cup diced cooked chicken
Directions
Place 1/3 cup chicken broth, celery, leek, carrot and turnip in large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
Stir in remaining 5 -2/3 cups chicken broth, parsley, thyme, rosemary, vinegar and black pepper. Bring to a boil; add noodles. Cook until noodles are tender; stir in chicken. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer until heated through.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 98; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 73 mg; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Protein: 10 g; Carbohydrates: 12 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Starch/Bread, 1 Lean Meat, 1/2 Vegetable
CHICKEN SOUP FROM SCRATCH
This is from Julia Moskin on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “Chicken soup is one of the most painless and pleasing recipes a home cook can master. This soup has all the classic flavors (celery, carrot, parsley) but has been updated for today's cooks, who can't easily buy the stewing hen and packet of soup vegetables that old-fashioned recipes used to call for. A whole bird provides the right combination of fat, salt and flavor. Don't be tempted to use all white meat, as the flavor won't be as round. Because making soup involves the bones and deep tissues of the bird, it is particularly reassuring here to use the highest-quality poultry you can find. This method produces a fragrant, golden, savory soup you want to eat all winter long; it's a perfect backdrop for noodles, rice or matzo balls.”
Time: 2 hours, plus chilling; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in “A Superior Chicken Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018442-chicken-soup-from-scratch.
Ingredients
For the Broth:
1 chicken, 3 to 3 1/2 pounds, with skin, cut up
3 stalks celery, with leaves, cut into chunks
2 large carrots, cut into chunks
2 yellow onions, peeled and halved
1 parsnip or parsley root (optional)
About 1 dozen large sprigs parsley
About 1 dozen black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt, more to taste
To Finish The Soup:
3 tablespoons reserved chicken fat, more if needed
3 leeks, trimmed, halved lengthwise, rinsed and sliced crosswise into thin half-moons
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into small dice
Kosher salt and ground black or white pepper
Egg noodles (fresh or dried), such as packaged wide noodles, spaetzle, fettuccine or pappardelle cut into short lengths (see note)
Finely chopped herbs, such as parsley, scallions, dill or a combination
Preparation
Place the chicken, celery, carrots, onions, parsnip (if using), parsley, peppercorns, bay leaves and salt in a large soup pot and cover with cold water by 1 inch.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to very low. Adjust the heat until the soup is “smiling”: barely moving on the surface, with an occasional bubble breaking through. Cook uncovered, until the chicken is very tender and falling off the bone, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
When cool enough to handle, use tongs to transfer chicken from the pot to a container. Taste the broth and continue to simmer it until it is concentrated and tasty. Strain broth through a fine sieve (or a colander lined with cheesecloth) into a separate container. Discard all the solids from the strainer (or reserve the vegetables, chill and serve with vinaigrette, if you wish).
Refrigerate chicken pieces and broth separately for at least 8 hours (or up to 3 days), until a thick layer of yellow fat has risen to the top of the broth.
When ready to finish the soup, use your fingers to separate chicken breast meat from bones and skin. Discard bones and skin. Use two forks to pull the breast meat apart into soft chunks, or use a knife and cut into bite-size pieces. (Reserve dark meat for another use.)
Skim chicken fat from top of broth and set aside. Place 3 tablespoons of the fat in a soup pot with a lid. Add leeks, stir to coat, and heat over medium heat until leeks begin to fry. Then reduce the heat to a gentle sizzle and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.
Add carrots, sprinkle with salt, stir, and cover the pot. Cook until vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes more. (Keep in mind that vegetables will continue to cook in the soup.) Do not brown.
Pour broth into pot with vegetables and heat to a simmer. Add noodles and simmer until heated through, soft and plumped with chicken broth. Add the breast meat, then taste broth and add salt and pepper to taste. For best flavor, soup should have some golden droplets of fat on top; if needed, add more chicken fat one teaspoon at a time.
Serve immediately, in a tureen or from the pot, sprinkling each serving with herbs.
Tip
Instead of noodles, almost any starchy garnish can be used here: matzo balls; partly cooked dry pasta, rice or other grains; or cooked white beans. Add them when you would add the noodles and simmer until heated through.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
BAKED POTATO SOUP
This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, "If we’re being honest, a baked potato isn’t really about the potato. It’s about the toppings: plush sour cream, butter, cheese, salty bacon, bright scallions. This soup version doesn’t skimp on those extras: The potatoes simmer in milk with garlic and scallions until just tender, then they join sour cream and Cheddar in the pot before the toppings — including potato skins — are added. It’s potatoey, creamy and adaptable. Make it smooth or textured, skip the bacon and serve it with a side salad (though it’s plenty hearty all on its own)."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019913-baked-potato-soup.
Ingredients
6 slices bacon, or 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 bunch scallions, white and green parts thinly sliced separately
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes, large skins reserved
6 cups whole milk
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
Black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 cup sour cream, plus more for serving
3/4 cup freshly grated Cheddar (about 3 ounces), plus more for serving
Preparation
In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon (if using) until crisp, 12 to 13 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel lined plate or cutting board. Return the pot with just 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat to the stove. (If there’s not enough fat, supplement with butter to total 3 tablespoons.) If making the soup vegetarian, melt butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
Over medium-low heat, sauté the white parts of the scallions and the garlic until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently and adjusting the heat as necessary to avoid burning the garlic. Add the potatoes, milk and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat (resist the urge to heat it faster as this can lead to curdling). Once at a boil, lower the heat and simmer covered until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
As soup simmers, prepare the potato skins: Warm the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Working in batches if needed, add the potato peels in a single layer and cook, flipping once, until crisp and golden-brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate or cutting board, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, cayenne and garlic powder. Crumble and set aside.
Once the potatoes are tender, take the pot off the heat, and purée the mixture with an immersion blender if you’d like a smooth soup. (Mash with a potato masher if you’d like a chunkier soup.) Stir in the sour cream and cheese until combined, then season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with crumbled bacon, more sour cream and Cheddar and the green parts of the scallions. Top with potato peels (eat any extra as chips, dipped in ketchup and mustard).
FRENCH COUNTRY BEAN SOUP
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings (with chicken)
Source: AICR
Recipe and image appear courtesy of American Institute for Cancer Research.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/french-country-bean-soup.
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 carrot, cut in half-moons
1 rib celery, sliced
1 small onion, chopped in bite-size pieces
1 small leek, chopped in bite-size pieces
3 outer leaves Savoy cabbage, rolled and cut in 1/2" strips
4 cups fat-free, reduced sodium chicken broth
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 garlic clove, chopped
2 cups squash (e.g. butternut), peeled and diced
1 can (15 oz.) chickpeas or white beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup cooked chicken cut in bite-size pieces (optional)
Directions
Heat oil in medium Dutch oven or large, deep saucepan. Saute carrot, celery, onion, leek, and cabbage until leaves are bright green and other vegetables start to soften, about 3 minutes. Add broth. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add thyme, garlic, squash and beans. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in chicken, if using. Ladle soup into deep bowls and serve accompanied by toasted slices of whole-grain French bread or other rustic bread. (This soup reheats well. It keeps up to 5 days, covered, in refrigerator.)
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 123; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 464 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch, 1 Lean-Meat, 1 Vegetable
IRAQI LENTIL SOUP WITH MEATBALLS
This is from Joan Nathan in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Joan wrote, “This recipe came to The Times in a 2004 article about iftar, the breaking of the fast during Ramadan, the monthlong Muslim holiday during which observers abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Soup, like this hearty, spiced lentil soup with meatballs and angel hair pasta, is a common iftar meal as it provides substantial nutrition as well as plenty of hydration. It is adapted from a recipe belonging to Suad Shallal, who moved with her family from Iraq to the United States, in 1966. It was served at her son Andy's restaurant, Mimi's American Bistro in downtown Washington, each day during Ramadan. (The restaurant is now closed.) Mrs. Shallal's recipe calls for ground allspice, but feel free to experiment with other spices found in Middle Eastern cooking like cumin, coriander, cardamom and turmeric. And don't forget to taste and season with salt as you go.”
Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 45 minutes
This was featured in “Breaking Ramadan's Fast With a Family Meal” and can be found online here.
Ingredients
2 medium onions, minced
1 pound ground beef or lamb or both
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
1 cup soft bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt plus salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon allspice, freshly ground from about 5 whole allspice
2 tablespoons pure olive oil
10 cups chicken broth
1 pound brown or yellow lentils
3 rounds angel hair pasta (about 2 ounces)
2 carrots, diced fine
Juice of one half lemon
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees, and line a baking pan with parchment paper. Place half the onions and the ground meat, parsley, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and allspice in a medium mixing bowl. Blend ingredients, and form into balls the size of walnuts. Turn onto the baking pan.
Bake for 10 minutes, remove from pan, and drain on a paper towel. In a soup pot, sauté remaining onions in olive oil over medium heat until golden. Add chicken broth and bring to boil.
Pick any stones from over lentils, place in bowl, cover with cold water, and drain. Add them to soup, turn heat to low, and simmer slowly for about 20 minutes or until lentils are almost tender.
Crumble angel hair pasta into soup, along with carrots and meatballs. Simmer slowly for another 5-10 minutes or until lentils and noodles are cooked, adding more chicken broth or water as needed. Just before serving, squeeze lemon into soup.
VEGETABLE-CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
Recipe Yield: Servings: 6 (Serving = 1-1/2 cup)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups 1/3-less-salt chicken broth, divided
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup thinly sliced leek (white part only)
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup peeled and chopped turnip
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1-1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoons fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 ounces uncooked "no-yolk" broad noodles
1 cup diced cooked chicken
Directions
Place 1/3 cup chicken broth, celery, leek, carrot and turnip in large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
Stir in remaining 5 -2/3 cups chicken broth, parsley, thyme, rosemary, vinegar and black pepper. Bring to a boil; add noodles. Cook until noodles are tender; stir in chicken. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer until heated through.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 98; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 73 mg; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Protein: 10 g; Carbohydrates: 12 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Starch/Bread, 1 Lean Meat, 1/2 Vegetable
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday (since not everyone loves tacos). Today's offerings include Curry Stuffed Bell Peppers and Ham and Pepper Frittata. Enjoy!
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3⁄4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
ITALIAN SAUSAGE LASAGNA
This comes from the Betty Crocker e-newsletter. If you're looking for more recipes, it's a good place to start.
This recipe starts off, "No need to buy frozen lasagna when you have this much-loved recipe on hand."
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/italian-sausage-lasagna/.
Ingredients
1 lb bulk Italian pork sausage
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups Muir Glen™ organic diced tomatoes (from 28-oz can), undrained
1 can (15 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce
12 uncooked lasagna noodles (12 oz)
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese or small-curd cottage cheese (2 cups)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In 10-inch skillet, cook sausage, onion and garlic over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain.
Stir in 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the basil, sugar, tomatoes and tomato sauce. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered about 45 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package.
In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and the oregano.
Spread 1 cup of the sauce mixture in ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Top with 4 noodles. Spread 1 cup of the cheese mixture over noodles; spread with 1 cup of the sauce mixture. Sprinkle with 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat with 4 noodles, the remaining cheese mixture, 1 cup of the sauce mixture and 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining noodles and sauce mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
Cover; bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake about 15 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
Expert Tips
Leftover lasagna freezes well. Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap, then wrap again with aluminum foil. You need only unwrap and thoroughly reheat to enjoy an instant lasagna fix!
Put this recipe together lickety-split using 5 cups (40 ounces) of your favorite regular (do not use thick or extra-thick varieties) spaghetti sauce with meat instead of the first eight ingredients.
If your family likes lasagna with a milder flavor, use ground beef instead of the bulk Italian sausage.
CURRY STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, "Stuff any color bell with a mix of onion, ground turkey or chicken, zucchini, curry powder, quinoa or brown rice, and cilantro."
Makes 4 servings; Serving size: 1 stuffed pepper
To view them online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/curry-stuffed-bell-peppers.
Ingredients
4 medium bell peppers (any color) tops cut away, seeds and white membrane removed
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion (diced)
1 lb. extra-lean ground turkey or chicken
1 medium zucchini (diced)
1 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. no-calorie sweetener, granulated, 1/2 packet
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups quinoa (cooked to package instructions)
1/4 cup chopped, fresh cilantro
Directions
Preheat oven to 375.
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook 2-3 minutes until translucent.
Add turkey and brown - breaking up clumps and stirring until cooked through (it will turn greyish white).
Add zucchini, curry powder, no-calorie sweetener, cloves, garlic powder and pepper. Stir and cook 2-3 minutes more. Remove from heat.
Stir in chicken broth, quinoa, and cilantro until well mixed. Spoon 1/4 of mixture in to each bell pepper. Place peppers in an 8x8 baking dish, standing up. Add enough water to cover the bottom of the baking dish about 1/8 inch deep.
Bake 25-30 minutes in preheated oven until peppers are tender and mixture is heated through.
SIMPLE, PERFECT CHILI
This is from Ree Drummond on the Food Network. Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/simple-perfect-chili-recipe-2107099
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
2 cloves garlic, chopped
One 8-ounce can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup masa harina
One 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
One 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Shredded Cheddar, for serving
Chopped onions, for serving
Tortilla chips, for serving
Lime wedges, for serving
Directions
Place the ground beef in a large pot and throw in the garlic. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain off the excess fat, and then pour in the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and cayenne. Stir together well, cover, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If the mixture becomes overly dry, add 1/2 cup water at a time as needed.
After an hour, place the masa harina in a small bowl. Add 1/2 cup water and stir together with a fork. Dump the masa mixture into the chili. Stir together well, and then taste and adjust the seasonings. Add more masa paste and/or water to get the chili to your preferred consistency, or to add more corn flavor. Add the beans and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with shredded Cheddar, chopped onions, tortilla chips and lime wedges.
TROPICAL FRUIT SMOOTHIE BOWL
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “You’ll snack on this smoothie with a spoon rather than a straw. This version lets you enjoy the texture of the blended fruit and the whole fruit. The bowl gets topped with sweet, crunchy goodness, too!”
Servings: 4; Serving Size: 1/2 cup smoothie plus 1/4 cup topping
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/tropical-fruit-smoothie-bowl.
Ingredients
1 cup fat-free, plain yogurt
1 small banana, sliced crosswise, divided use
1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen papaya and 1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen papaya, divided use
1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen mango and 1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen mango, divided use
1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen pineapple and 1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen pineapple, divided use
1/2 teaspoon stevia sweetener or 1 packet stevia sweetener
1 squeeze coconut-flavored liquid stevia sweetener
1 squeeze tropical punch-flavored stevia water enhancer
1 tablespoon fresh, chopped mint
1/4 cup chopped, dry-roasted pecans
4 sprigs fresh mint leaves
Directions
In a food processor or blender, process the yogurt, 1/2 of the banana slices, 1/4 cup of the papaya, 1/4 cup of the mango, 1/4 cup of the pineapple, the stevia sweetener, and liquid stevia sweetener in the order listed, for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping the sides as needed. Pour or spoon the mixture into four small serving bowls.
In a separate small bowl, stir together the stevia water enhancer, chopped mint, and remaining banana, papaya, mango, and pineapple. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the fruit mixture on top of the yogurt mixture in each bowl. Top with 1 tablespoon pecans. Garnish each bowl with a sprig of mint.
Cooking Tip: To freeze fresh papaya, remove the peel from the papaya with a vegetable peeler. Cut the papaya in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scrape out the seeds. Slice the halves of papaya into 1-inch lengthwise slices. Cut the slices crosswise into 1-inch cubes. Place the papaya cubes on a cookie sheet. Freeze for 2 hours, or until frozen. Transfer the papaya to a resealable plastic bag or a covered plastic freezer container. Freeze for up to two months.
HAM AND PEPPER FRITTATA
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings, Serving size: 1/4 of recipe
Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
Book Title: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/ham-and-pepper-frittata.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or canola oil
1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup diced, lean, reduced-sodium ham
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
2 cups fat-free egg substitute
1 cup shredded, reduced-fat, white Cheddar or Swiss cheese
Directions
Coat a large ovenproof skillet with the olive oil and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, ham, parsley, and black pepper and saute for several minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the ham is beginning to brown. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the skillet.
Pour the egg substitute over the skillet mixture and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook without stirring for about 6 minutes, until the eggs are almost set (the edges will be cooked but the top will still be runny).
Remove the lid from the skillet and wrap the handle in aluminum foil (to prevent it from becoming damaged under the broiler). Place the skillet under a preheated broiler and broil for a couple of minutes, until the eggs are set but not dry. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and broil for another minute to melt the cheese. Cut the frittata into 4 wedges and serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Fat: 8.3 g; Sodium: 690 mg; Cholesterol: 32 mg; Protein: 28 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 4 Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
RANCH BURGERS
This comes from bsouth21 on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Yield: 4 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 egg, lightly beaten
3⁄4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion, chopped
Directions
Preheat the grill to high heat.
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, ranch dressing mix, egg, seasoned bread crumbs, and onion.
Form mix in to 1/4 patties.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place patties on the grill, and cook burgers until 165 degrees.
ITALIAN SAUSAGE LASAGNA
This comes from the Betty Crocker e-newsletter. If you're looking for more recipes, it's a good place to start.
This recipe starts off, "No need to buy frozen lasagna when you have this much-loved recipe on hand."
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/italian-sausage-lasagna/.
Ingredients
1 lb bulk Italian pork sausage
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups Muir Glen™ organic diced tomatoes (from 28-oz can), undrained
1 can (15 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce
12 uncooked lasagna noodles (12 oz)
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese or small-curd cottage cheese (2 cups)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In 10-inch skillet, cook sausage, onion and garlic over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain.
Stir in 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the basil, sugar, tomatoes and tomato sauce. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered about 45 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package.
In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and the oregano.
Spread 1 cup of the sauce mixture in ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Top with 4 noodles. Spread 1 cup of the cheese mixture over noodles; spread with 1 cup of the sauce mixture. Sprinkle with 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat with 4 noodles, the remaining cheese mixture, 1 cup of the sauce mixture and 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining noodles and sauce mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
Cover; bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake about 15 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
Expert Tips
Leftover lasagna freezes well. Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap, then wrap again with aluminum foil. You need only unwrap and thoroughly reheat to enjoy an instant lasagna fix!
Put this recipe together lickety-split using 5 cups (40 ounces) of your favorite regular (do not use thick or extra-thick varieties) spaghetti sauce with meat instead of the first eight ingredients.
If your family likes lasagna with a milder flavor, use ground beef instead of the bulk Italian sausage.
CURRY STUFFED BELL PEPPERS
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, "Stuff any color bell with a mix of onion, ground turkey or chicken, zucchini, curry powder, quinoa or brown rice, and cilantro."
Makes 4 servings; Serving size: 1 stuffed pepper
To view them online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/curry-stuffed-bell-peppers.
Ingredients
4 medium bell peppers (any color) tops cut away, seeds and white membrane removed
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion (diced)
1 lb. extra-lean ground turkey or chicken
1 medium zucchini (diced)
1 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. no-calorie sweetener, granulated, 1/2 packet
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups quinoa (cooked to package instructions)
1/4 cup chopped, fresh cilantro
Directions
Preheat oven to 375.
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook 2-3 minutes until translucent.
Add turkey and brown - breaking up clumps and stirring until cooked through (it will turn greyish white).
Add zucchini, curry powder, no-calorie sweetener, cloves, garlic powder and pepper. Stir and cook 2-3 minutes more. Remove from heat.
Stir in chicken broth, quinoa, and cilantro until well mixed. Spoon 1/4 of mixture in to each bell pepper. Place peppers in an 8x8 baking dish, standing up. Add enough water to cover the bottom of the baking dish about 1/8 inch deep.
Bake 25-30 minutes in preheated oven until peppers are tender and mixture is heated through.
SIMPLE, PERFECT CHILI
This is from Ree Drummond on the Food Network. Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/simple-perfect-chili-recipe-2107099
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
2 cloves garlic, chopped
One 8-ounce can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup masa harina
One 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
One 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Shredded Cheddar, for serving
Chopped onions, for serving
Tortilla chips, for serving
Lime wedges, for serving
Directions
Place the ground beef in a large pot and throw in the garlic. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain off the excess fat, and then pour in the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and cayenne. Stir together well, cover, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If the mixture becomes overly dry, add 1/2 cup water at a time as needed.
After an hour, place the masa harina in a small bowl. Add 1/2 cup water and stir together with a fork. Dump the masa mixture into the chili. Stir together well, and then taste and adjust the seasonings. Add more masa paste and/or water to get the chili to your preferred consistency, or to add more corn flavor. Add the beans and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with shredded Cheddar, chopped onions, tortilla chips and lime wedges.
TROPICAL FRUIT SMOOTHIE BOWL
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “You’ll snack on this smoothie with a spoon rather than a straw. This version lets you enjoy the texture of the blended fruit and the whole fruit. The bowl gets topped with sweet, crunchy goodness, too!”
Servings: 4; Serving Size: 1/2 cup smoothie plus 1/4 cup topping
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/tropical-fruit-smoothie-bowl.
Ingredients
1 cup fat-free, plain yogurt
1 small banana, sliced crosswise, divided use
1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen papaya and 1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen papaya, divided use
1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen mango and 1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen mango, divided use
1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen pineapple and 1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen pineapple, divided use
1/2 teaspoon stevia sweetener or 1 packet stevia sweetener
1 squeeze coconut-flavored liquid stevia sweetener
1 squeeze tropical punch-flavored stevia water enhancer
1 tablespoon fresh, chopped mint
1/4 cup chopped, dry-roasted pecans
4 sprigs fresh mint leaves
Directions
In a food processor or blender, process the yogurt, 1/2 of the banana slices, 1/4 cup of the papaya, 1/4 cup of the mango, 1/4 cup of the pineapple, the stevia sweetener, and liquid stevia sweetener in the order listed, for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping the sides as needed. Pour or spoon the mixture into four small serving bowls.
In a separate small bowl, stir together the stevia water enhancer, chopped mint, and remaining banana, papaya, mango, and pineapple. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the fruit mixture on top of the yogurt mixture in each bowl. Top with 1 tablespoon pecans. Garnish each bowl with a sprig of mint.
Cooking Tip: To freeze fresh papaya, remove the peel from the papaya with a vegetable peeler. Cut the papaya in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scrape out the seeds. Slice the halves of papaya into 1-inch lengthwise slices. Cut the slices crosswise into 1-inch cubes. Place the papaya cubes on a cookie sheet. Freeze for 2 hours, or until frozen. Transfer the papaya to a resealable plastic bag or a covered plastic freezer container. Freeze for up to two months.
HAM AND PEPPER FRITTATA
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings, Serving size: 1/4 of recipe
Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
Book Title: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/ham-and-pepper-frittata.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or canola oil
1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup diced, lean, reduced-sodium ham
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
2 cups fat-free egg substitute
1 cup shredded, reduced-fat, white Cheddar or Swiss cheese
Directions
Coat a large ovenproof skillet with the olive oil and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, ham, parsley, and black pepper and saute for several minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the ham is beginning to brown. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the skillet.
Pour the egg substitute over the skillet mixture and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook without stirring for about 6 minutes, until the eggs are almost set (the edges will be cooked but the top will still be runny).
Remove the lid from the skillet and wrap the handle in aluminum foil (to prevent it from becoming damaged under the broiler). Place the skillet under a preheated broiler and broil for a couple of minutes, until the eggs are set but not dry. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and broil for another minute to melt the cheese. Cut the frittata into 4 wedges and serve hot.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Fat: 8.3 g; Sodium: 690 mg; Cholesterol: 32 mg; Protein: 28 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 4 Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday.
As strange as it might seem, I don't think I had too many tacos, if any, before moving to Florida in my late teens. My kids, on the other hand, had tacos all through their youth. Usually, they were in crisp taco shells with ground beef, shredded cheese, tomatoes, and, maybe, some lettuce, not much more.
While the ground beef/cheese/tomatoes/lettuce taco may still be what many people think of, there are so many ways to fix the humble taco. Here are six taco recipes, including Chicken Corn Tacos and Veggie Bean Tacos. Do those have your attention? Great! Enjoy!
SOUTHWEST CHIPOTLE FISH TACOS
This is from Hidden Valley. Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.hiddenvalley.com/recipe/southwest-chipotle-fish-tacos/.
Ingredients
8 frozen fish fillets
1/2 pound coleslaw or shredded cabbage
1/4 cup Hidden Valley® Spicy Ranch Dressing
8 corn tortillas
1 cup salsa
Directions
Prepare fish fillets according to package directions.
In a medium bowl, toss coleslaw and dressing until well-combined.
Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds or until warm.
To assemble, place 1 fish fillet on each tortilla, top with coleslaw and salsa. Serve immediately.
Notes: For safe meat preparation, reference the USDA website.
For dips, make and enjoy your dip creation. Then, refrigerate within 2 hours or discard.
VEGGIE BEAN TACOS
This comes from Taste of Home, and begins with this note from Tonya Burkhard (Davis, Illinois), " In the summer when fresh corn and just-picked tomatoes are in season, authentic Mexican dishes like this leave you always wanting that next bite. My personal preference is to serve them with a slice of lime to squeeze over the avocado."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Makes: 6 servings
View this online at https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/veggie-bean-tacos/.
Ingredients
2 cups fresh corn
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
4 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
3 small zucchini, chopped
1 large red onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano or 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
12 corn tortillas (6 inches), warmed
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup salsa verde
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and thinly sliced
Reduced-fat sour cream, optional
Directions
In a large skillet, saute corn in 1 tablespoon oil until lightly browned. Remove and keep warm. In the same skillet, saute tomatoes, zucchini and onion in remaining oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the beans, oregano, salt, pepper and corn; heat through.
Divide filling among tortillas. Top with cheese, salsa, avocado and, if desired, sour cream.
CHICKEN AND AVOCADO TEN MINUTE TACO BOWLS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "These taco 'bowls' are sure to be the next family favorite; even better, they come together in record time!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/chicken-and-avocado-ten-minute-taco-bowls.
Ingredient
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.25 lbs), cut into very small thin strips
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
8 Old El Paso™ Stand 'N Stuff™ soft tortillas
2 Avocados from Mexico™, pitted, peeled and diced
Make it FRESH toppings, if desired (see below)
Preparation
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on both sides. Sprinkle with taco seasoning mix. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until chicken is no longer pink in center.
While chicken is cooking, heat shells and prepare toppings. Divide chicken among shells; add avocado and other desired toppings.
Expert Tips
Ideas for Make it FRESH toppings: shredded lettuce, diced tomato, shredded cheese and sour cream.
CHICKEN NACHO TACOS
This comes from Campbells, and begins, "These tasty tacos combine a few on-hand ingredients with canned chicken and fiesta nacho cheese soup to make a delicious dish super-simple!"
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Calories: 300/serving
To view this online, go to https://www.campbells.com/recipes/chicken-nacho-tacos/.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbells® Condensed Fiesta Nacho Cheese Soup
8 taco shell, warmed
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/2 cup chopped tomato
Directions
Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and chili powder and cook until the onion is tender, stirring often.
Stir the soup and chicken in the skillet and cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Spoon the chicken mixture into the taco shells. Top with the lettuce and tomato.
CHICKEN CORN TACOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "These Chicken Corn Tacos will bring everyone to the table with a craveable combo of crunchy, sweet, and spicy. This easy one-skillet wonder uses chicken, flavored with Old El Paso™ Taco Seasoning Mix. Choose your heat with Mild, Original, or Hot and Spicy Taco Seasoning Mix, add sweet, juicy corn, then scoop the flavor into Old El Paso™ Crunchy Corn Tortilla Shells. These Chicken Corn Tacos will be a new family favorite to eat, and your favorite to make."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 10 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/chicken-corn-tacos.
Ingredients
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
1 can (7 oz) whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained
10 Old El Paso™ taco shells or flour tortillas
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)
Directions
In 12-inch skillet, mix chicken, taco seasoning mix and and amount of water called for on seasoning mix packet. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium; simmer uncovered 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until water is evaporated. Stir in corn; cook until thoroughly heated.
Heat taco shells or tortillas as directed on package. Fill each shell with 1/4 cup chicken filling. Top each with lettuce, tomato, olives and cheese. Serve immediately.
TACO SPAGHETTI BAKE
This is from Betty Crocker kitchens, and begins, "This easy, family friendly casserole, dotted with melty pockets of cheese, proves that tacos and spaghetti are a match made in heaven."
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/taco-spaghetti-bake/d777fa4f-7a46-4106-a893-bbc49e9fa97c.
Ingredients
12 oz uncooked spaghetti
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix
1/4 cup water
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
8 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ pasteurized prepared cheese product, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook spaghetti to al dente as directed on package.
In 5-quart Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix, water, chiles and cumin; stir until well blended. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese and the spaghetti; stir well to blend. Pour mixture into baking dish. Scatter cheese cubes throughout casserole, and push gently into pasta mixture. Top with remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly browned.
Expert Tips
Garnish with sour cream, sliced jalapeño chiles and chopped fresh cilantro.
Ground turkey can be substituted for ground beef in this recipe.
As strange as it might seem, I don't think I had too many tacos, if any, before moving to Florida in my late teens. My kids, on the other hand, had tacos all through their youth. Usually, they were in crisp taco shells with ground beef, shredded cheese, tomatoes, and, maybe, some lettuce, not much more.
While the ground beef/cheese/tomatoes/lettuce taco may still be what many people think of, there are so many ways to fix the humble taco. Here are six taco recipes, including Chicken Corn Tacos and Veggie Bean Tacos. Do those have your attention? Great! Enjoy!
SOUTHWEST CHIPOTLE FISH TACOS
This is from Hidden Valley. Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.hiddenvalley.com/recipe/southwest-chipotle-fish-tacos/.
Ingredients
8 frozen fish fillets
1/2 pound coleslaw or shredded cabbage
1/4 cup Hidden Valley® Spicy Ranch Dressing
8 corn tortillas
1 cup salsa
Directions
Prepare fish fillets according to package directions.
In a medium bowl, toss coleslaw and dressing until well-combined.
Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds or until warm.
To assemble, place 1 fish fillet on each tortilla, top with coleslaw and salsa. Serve immediately.
Notes: For safe meat preparation, reference the USDA website.
For dips, make and enjoy your dip creation. Then, refrigerate within 2 hours or discard.
VEGGIE BEAN TACOS
This comes from Taste of Home, and begins with this note from Tonya Burkhard (Davis, Illinois), " In the summer when fresh corn and just-picked tomatoes are in season, authentic Mexican dishes like this leave you always wanting that next bite. My personal preference is to serve them with a slice of lime to squeeze over the avocado."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Makes: 6 servings
View this online at https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/veggie-bean-tacos/.
Ingredients
2 cups fresh corn
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
4 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
3 small zucchini, chopped
1 large red onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano or 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
12 corn tortillas (6 inches), warmed
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup salsa verde
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and thinly sliced
Reduced-fat sour cream, optional
Directions
In a large skillet, saute corn in 1 tablespoon oil until lightly browned. Remove and keep warm. In the same skillet, saute tomatoes, zucchini and onion in remaining oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the beans, oregano, salt, pepper and corn; heat through.
Divide filling among tortillas. Top with cheese, salsa, avocado and, if desired, sour cream.
CHICKEN AND AVOCADO TEN MINUTE TACO BOWLS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "These taco 'bowls' are sure to be the next family favorite; even better, they come together in record time!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/chicken-and-avocado-ten-minute-taco-bowls.
Ingredient
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.25 lbs), cut into very small thin strips
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
8 Old El Paso™ Stand 'N Stuff™ soft tortillas
2 Avocados from Mexico™, pitted, peeled and diced
Make it FRESH toppings, if desired (see below)
Preparation
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on both sides. Sprinkle with taco seasoning mix. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until chicken is no longer pink in center.
While chicken is cooking, heat shells and prepare toppings. Divide chicken among shells; add avocado and other desired toppings.
Expert Tips
Ideas for Make it FRESH toppings: shredded lettuce, diced tomato, shredded cheese and sour cream.
CHICKEN NACHO TACOS
This comes from Campbells, and begins, "These tasty tacos combine a few on-hand ingredients with canned chicken and fiesta nacho cheese soup to make a delicious dish super-simple!"
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 4; Calories: 300/serving
To view this online, go to https://www.campbells.com/recipes/chicken-nacho-tacos/.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbells® Condensed Fiesta Nacho Cheese Soup
8 taco shell, warmed
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/2 cup chopped tomato
Directions
Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and chili powder and cook until the onion is tender, stirring often.
Stir the soup and chicken in the skillet and cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Spoon the chicken mixture into the taco shells. Top with the lettuce and tomato.
CHICKEN CORN TACOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "These Chicken Corn Tacos will bring everyone to the table with a craveable combo of crunchy, sweet, and spicy. This easy one-skillet wonder uses chicken, flavored with Old El Paso™ Taco Seasoning Mix. Choose your heat with Mild, Original, or Hot and Spicy Taco Seasoning Mix, add sweet, juicy corn, then scoop the flavor into Old El Paso™ Crunchy Corn Tortilla Shells. These Chicken Corn Tacos will be a new family favorite to eat, and your favorite to make."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 10 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/chicken-corn-tacos.
Ingredients
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
1 can (7 oz) whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained
10 Old El Paso™ taco shells or flour tortillas
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)
Directions
In 12-inch skillet, mix chicken, taco seasoning mix and and amount of water called for on seasoning mix packet. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium; simmer uncovered 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until water is evaporated. Stir in corn; cook until thoroughly heated.
Heat taco shells or tortillas as directed on package. Fill each shell with 1/4 cup chicken filling. Top each with lettuce, tomato, olives and cheese. Serve immediately.
TACO SPAGHETTI BAKE
This is from Betty Crocker kitchens, and begins, "This easy, family friendly casserole, dotted with melty pockets of cheese, proves that tacos and spaghetti are a match made in heaven."
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/taco-spaghetti-bake/d777fa4f-7a46-4106-a893-bbc49e9fa97c.
Ingredients
12 oz uncooked spaghetti
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix
1/4 cup water
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
8 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ pasteurized prepared cheese product, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook spaghetti to al dente as directed on package.
In 5-quart Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix, water, chiles and cumin; stir until well blended. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese and the spaghetti; stir well to blend. Pour mixture into baking dish. Scatter cheese cubes throughout casserole, and push gently into pasta mixture. Top with remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly browned.
Expert Tips
Garnish with sour cream, sliced jalapeño chiles and chopped fresh cilantro.
Ground turkey can be substituted for ground beef in this recipe.
Monday, May 3, 2021
Where's the Beef? - Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's double post asks that age-old question, "Where's the beef?" After all, it's not in the Meatless Monday post. But it is here, and includes Old-Fashioned Skillet Goulash and Easy Beef Enchiladas. Enjoy!
SLOW-COOKER SHORT-RIB GOULASH
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Meltingly tender meaty dishes like this one are made for cold nights. And while this would make a perfect Sunday supper, it’s actual possible any night of the week, thanks to your slow cooker! That’s right, this recipe truly benefits from cooking all day. Beef short-ribs are extremely flavorful, but to experience the full depth of their savoriness, you need time. Time, plus a prep technique we consider key to making the best possible slow-cooker meats: browning. Browning the short ribs, onions and garlic and deglazing the pan might sound cumbersome, but it’s actually quite efficient, since the deglazing leaves you with a clean pan, and more importantly, the whole process amounts to next-level flavor. Flavor so dynamite, we think this recipe is destined to become a part of your cold-weather dinner rotation!"
Prep Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 8 hours 45 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/3 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 bone-in beef short ribs (4 inches thick each), English cut (about 4 lb)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 cups Progresso™ beef flavored broth
1/4 cup Muir Glen™ organic tomato paste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
Directions
Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
In shallow pan, stir together flour, salt and pepper. Coat all sides of short ribs in flour mixture. Reserve any remaining flour mixture.
In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add 4 short ribs; cook 5 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned. Transfer ribs to slow cooker. Repeat with remaining 4 short ribs.
Reduce heat to medium; add onions to same skillet with drippings. Cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until softened. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Add paprika, smoked paprika, red pepper and remaining flour mixture; cook and stir 1 minute. Beat in broth and tomato paste with whisk. Heat to boiling, scraping any browned bits on bottom of skillet. Remove from heat; carefully pour broth mixture over short ribs in slow cooker.
Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours or until ribs are fall-apart tender. Transfer short ribs to serving platter. Spoon off any fat from sauce in slow cooker. Stir sauce; pour over ribs, and garnish with parsley. Serve with sour cream and egg noodles, if desired.
Expert Tips
Short ribs typically come in one of two forms, English cut or flanken. With the English cut, the ribs are cut parallel to the bone, with one bone per thick piece of short rib. They tend to hold their shape even after a long braise and make an impressive presentation. With the flanken cut, ribs are cut across the bone into 1/2-inch or so slices. Each piece has three to four short sections of bone with a generous portion of meat around them. The cooked ribs should fall off the bone in tender pieces. This recipe calls for English-cut short ribs. Look for ribs that are all about 3- to 4-inches thick. Ribs of different thicknesses will not cook in the same amount of time.
Beef short ribs contain lots of fat and connective tissue, which adds loads of beefy flavor and makes them ideal for this recipe. The extra-long cook time allows the connective tissue to break down and turn meltingly tender.
If you thought paprika was only for adding a sprinkle of color to the top of your potato salad or deviled eggs, think again—paprika has flavor. In fact, more than one. Sweet paprika has a mild red pepper flavor. Hot paprika adds some heat to that flavor and smoked paprika adds a smoky undertone.
Short ribs release a lot of fat during the long cooking process. After you remove the cooked ribs from the slow cooker, it’s easy to skim that fat off using a large spoon or ladle. To make this process extra easy, make the dish the day before, transfer ribs to a baking dish and sauce to a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or up to 2 days. When ready to serve, the fat will have hardened and removing it will be a simple matter of skimming it off with a spoon. To reheat ribs, place meaty side down in a 5-quart Dutch oven with sauce; cover, and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through—20 to 25 minutes.
TEXAS-STYLE CHILI
This is from Juila Moskin in The New York Times cooking email. Julia wrote, “Calling a dish ‘Texas Chili,’ especially if you’re not a native of that state, is clearly asking for trouble. But this recipe, refined over years of potlucks and Super Bowl parties, is too good to keep under wraps. Its depth of flavor, from different chile types, makes this recipe stand out. It also has whole spices, unsweetened chocolate and dark beer that meld seamlessly into a brick-red sauce that naps the succulent meat. The meat can be cut into large chunks, or, more traditionally, thin slices, especially if you are using a tougher cut than chuck. Sirloin also makes good chili. If you have masa harina, the corn flour used to make tortillas, that will make the gravy even thicker, but it is not necessary. Like many vigorously spiced dishes, this one tastes even better a day or two after it is made and will hold its flavor well for at least a week.”
Yield: 12 servings; Time: 2 hours.
This was featured in “Texas Chili Makes a Welcome Guest” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds
4 pounds beef chuck roast or steak
1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus extra as needed
1 large yellow or white onion, chopped, plus extra chopped onion for serving
6 large garlic cloves, minced
4 to 7 large fresh green jalapeños (depending on how much heat you like), stemmed, seeded and chopped
3 tablespoons masa harina or 1 corn tortilla, torn into pieces (optional)
2 tablespoons ground pure chile powder, such as pasilla, Chimayo or ancho
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 (12-ounce) bottle Negra Modelo beer
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, or 3 10-ounce cans Ro-Tel canned tomatoes with green chiles
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
3 whole dried large red chiles, such as New Mexico or guajillo
Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
Fritos or warmed flour tortillas, for serving
Preparation
In a small heavy skillet, toast cumin and coriander seeds until fragrant. In a mortar and pestle, or in a coffee grinder, grind to a powder and set aside.
Meanwhile, roughly cut beef into 2-inch cubes, or slice it against the grain into pieces about 1/4-inch thick by 1 1/2 inches square. Sprinkle with salt.
In a large, heavy pot over high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, brown the meat, turning occasionally until crusty. Adjust heat to prevent scorching. As it is cooked, remove the meat to drain on paper towels. Add more oil as needed for browning, but do not clean out the pot.
To the empty but crusty pot, add onion, garlic, jalapeños, masa harina or tortilla (if using), chile powder, cumin-coriander powder and oregano. Cook, stirring, until onion has softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add meat, beer, tomatoes, chocolate, whole dried chiles and 1 quart water. Bring to a gentle simmer and simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until meat is fork-tender. Remove the dried chiles. Taste and add salt if necessary.
Serve immediately or let cool and refrigerate. The chili tastes best one or two days after it is made.
Reheat over low heat if necessary and serve in bowls, sprinkled with chopped onion and cilantro. Add Fritos for crunch, or dip tortillas into the spicy gravy.
OLD-FASHIONED SKILLET GOULASH
This is from Linda Larsen on The Spruce Eats. Linda wrote, "This simple and old-fashioned recipe for Old-Fashioned Skillet Goulash is delicious and quick to make. It uses the shortcut ingredients condensed tomato soup and diced tomatoes with garlic. If you can't find diced tomatoes with garlic, add 2 cloves of minced garlic to the recipe. Cook the garlic with the ground beef and onions.
"Skillet meals are good because there is little cleanup, and they can be made quickly. And this recipe contains pasta that is cooked right with the other ingredients, making it a one-dish meal. Since the pasta is cooked in the sauce, it has a better texture and absorbs more flavors than pasta cooked in a huge pot of boiling water.<br />
"You can use other types of pasta if you'd like. Ziti or mostaccioli would be good in this dish. Those types of pasta will most likely take longer to cook than the rotini, so be sure to taste the pasta as it cooks. Always cook pasta to al dente, which means the pasta is tender, but still has some texture and a bit of resistance in the center. You can also sprinkle this recipe with some grated or shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese before serving, even though that ingredient is not traditional in goulash."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/old-fashioned-skillet-goulash-480733.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 onions (chopped)
1 red bell pepper (chopped)
1 (26 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
2 (14-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with garlic (undrained)
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 to 3 teaspoons paprika (to taste)
1 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup water
2 and 1/2 cups rotini or gemelli pasta
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley (if desired)
Directions
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic until the meat is browned and the vegetables are tender, stirring to break up the meat. Drain well.
Add the pasta sauce, diced tomatoes with their liquid, vinegar, sugar, paprika, marjoram, salt, pepper, and water to the skillet with the ground beef and onions and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until the mixture starts to boil, stirring frequently.
Add the pasta to the skillet and bring the mixture back to a simmer. Simmer the food, uncovered, stirring frequently, until the pasta is tender, about 11 to 16 minutes. Sprinkle everything with fresh parsley, if using, and serve immediately.
SLOW COOKER MEXICAN LASAGNA
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "This slow cooker Mexican lasagna is a dish the whole family will love and is perfect for busy week nights."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/slow-cooker-mexican-lasagna.
Ingredients
2 pounds hamburger
3 Tablespoons Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix, divided
1 cup salsa
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (19-ounce) can Old El Paso™ red enchilada sauce
2-3 cups shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese
4 large flour tortillas
Optional toppings: sour cream, tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, olives
Preparation
In a large frying pan, cook the hamburger over medium heat until browned. Drain grease and stir in 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning and salsa.
Add the cream cheese and 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning to a medium sized bowl. Stir until smooth and then add in the black beans.
Pour 1/3 cup enchilada sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker. Place a tortilla on top and spread with 1/3 cup cream cheese mixture. Then add about 1 cup taco meat and 3/4 cup cheese. Drizzle 1/2 cup enchilada sauce on top and then repeat with 3 layers.
Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-4 hours, or until cheese in nice and bubbly hot.
EASY BEEF ENCHILADAS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Try these easy, cheesy ground beef enchiladas, complete with sassy sauce and mild chiles."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Makes 5 servings
View this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/easy-beef-enchiladas.
Ingredients
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
2 cans (10 oz each) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
1 package (8.2 oz) Old El Paso™ flour tortillas for soft tacos & fajitas (6 inch)
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (6 oz)
Make it FRESH toppings, as desired (see below)
Preparation
Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish or pan with cooking spray.
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce and the chiles.
Spread 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce evenly in baking dish. Spread 1/4 cup beef mixture down center of each tortilla; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cheese. Wrap tortillas tightly around filling, placing seam side down in baking dish. Top with remaining enchilada sauce. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving; add Make it FRESH toppings.
Expert Tips
Ideas for make it FRESH toppings: diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro leaves, green onions, diced avocado.
Try green enchilada sauce for a new twist!
LASAGNA ROLL UPS
This comes from GNelson at Allrecipes. The recipe begins, "Thick and hearty rolls filled with ricotta, Parmesan, and a beefy tomato sauce. A fun spin on a family favorite!"
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes; Yield: 9 servings
View this online at https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/228649/lasagna-roll-ups-ii/.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/4 white onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (26 ounce) jar chunky tomato sauce (such as Ragu®)
3 tablespoons white sugar
18 lasagna noodles
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (12 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese, or as needed
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Cook and stir ground beef, onion, garlic powder, and oregano in a large skillet over medium heat until onion is tender and beef is browned, about 10 minutes. Add tomato sauce and sugar; simmer until sauce is heated through, about 10 minutes.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
Mix ricotta cheese, egg, parsley, and 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese together in a bowl.
Place a lasagna noodle on a work surface. Spoon one layer of ricotta cheese mixture, one layer meat sauce, and one layer mozzarella cheese atop the lasagna noodle; top with another lasagna noodle. Roll up the stuffed lasagna noodles in the jelly-roll style; place in the prepared casserole dish. Repeat with remaining lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Spread a spoonful of meat sauce atop each lasagna roll; top with remaining mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes.
SLOW-COOKER SHORT-RIB GOULASH
This comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Meltingly tender meaty dishes like this one are made for cold nights. And while this would make a perfect Sunday supper, it’s actual possible any night of the week, thanks to your slow cooker! That’s right, this recipe truly benefits from cooking all day. Beef short-ribs are extremely flavorful, but to experience the full depth of their savoriness, you need time. Time, plus a prep technique we consider key to making the best possible slow-cooker meats: browning. Browning the short ribs, onions and garlic and deglazing the pan might sound cumbersome, but it’s actually quite efficient, since the deglazing leaves you with a clean pan, and more importantly, the whole process amounts to next-level flavor. Flavor so dynamite, we think this recipe is destined to become a part of your cold-weather dinner rotation!"
Prep Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 8 hours 45 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/3 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 bone-in beef short ribs (4 inches thick each), English cut (about 4 lb)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 cups Progresso™ beef flavored broth
1/4 cup Muir Glen™ organic tomato paste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
Directions
Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
In shallow pan, stir together flour, salt and pepper. Coat all sides of short ribs in flour mixture. Reserve any remaining flour mixture.
In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add 4 short ribs; cook 5 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned. Transfer ribs to slow cooker. Repeat with remaining 4 short ribs.
Reduce heat to medium; add onions to same skillet with drippings. Cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until softened. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Add paprika, smoked paprika, red pepper and remaining flour mixture; cook and stir 1 minute. Beat in broth and tomato paste with whisk. Heat to boiling, scraping any browned bits on bottom of skillet. Remove from heat; carefully pour broth mixture over short ribs in slow cooker.
Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours or until ribs are fall-apart tender. Transfer short ribs to serving platter. Spoon off any fat from sauce in slow cooker. Stir sauce; pour over ribs, and garnish with parsley. Serve with sour cream and egg noodles, if desired.
Expert Tips
Short ribs typically come in one of two forms, English cut or flanken. With the English cut, the ribs are cut parallel to the bone, with one bone per thick piece of short rib. They tend to hold their shape even after a long braise and make an impressive presentation. With the flanken cut, ribs are cut across the bone into 1/2-inch or so slices. Each piece has three to four short sections of bone with a generous portion of meat around them. The cooked ribs should fall off the bone in tender pieces. This recipe calls for English-cut short ribs. Look for ribs that are all about 3- to 4-inches thick. Ribs of different thicknesses will not cook in the same amount of time.
Beef short ribs contain lots of fat and connective tissue, which adds loads of beefy flavor and makes them ideal for this recipe. The extra-long cook time allows the connective tissue to break down and turn meltingly tender.
If you thought paprika was only for adding a sprinkle of color to the top of your potato salad or deviled eggs, think again—paprika has flavor. In fact, more than one. Sweet paprika has a mild red pepper flavor. Hot paprika adds some heat to that flavor and smoked paprika adds a smoky undertone.
Short ribs release a lot of fat during the long cooking process. After you remove the cooked ribs from the slow cooker, it’s easy to skim that fat off using a large spoon or ladle. To make this process extra easy, make the dish the day before, transfer ribs to a baking dish and sauce to a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or up to 2 days. When ready to serve, the fat will have hardened and removing it will be a simple matter of skimming it off with a spoon. To reheat ribs, place meaty side down in a 5-quart Dutch oven with sauce; cover, and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through—20 to 25 minutes.
TEXAS-STYLE CHILI
This is from Juila Moskin in The New York Times cooking email. Julia wrote, “Calling a dish ‘Texas Chili,’ especially if you’re not a native of that state, is clearly asking for trouble. But this recipe, refined over years of potlucks and Super Bowl parties, is too good to keep under wraps. Its depth of flavor, from different chile types, makes this recipe stand out. It also has whole spices, unsweetened chocolate and dark beer that meld seamlessly into a brick-red sauce that naps the succulent meat. The meat can be cut into large chunks, or, more traditionally, thin slices, especially if you are using a tougher cut than chuck. Sirloin also makes good chili. If you have masa harina, the corn flour used to make tortillas, that will make the gravy even thicker, but it is not necessary. Like many vigorously spiced dishes, this one tastes even better a day or two after it is made and will hold its flavor well for at least a week.”
Yield: 12 servings; Time: 2 hours.
This was featured in “Texas Chili Makes a Welcome Guest” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds
4 pounds beef chuck roast or steak
1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus extra as needed
1 large yellow or white onion, chopped, plus extra chopped onion for serving
6 large garlic cloves, minced
4 to 7 large fresh green jalapeños (depending on how much heat you like), stemmed, seeded and chopped
3 tablespoons masa harina or 1 corn tortilla, torn into pieces (optional)
2 tablespoons ground pure chile powder, such as pasilla, Chimayo or ancho
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 (12-ounce) bottle Negra Modelo beer
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, or 3 10-ounce cans Ro-Tel canned tomatoes with green chiles
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
3 whole dried large red chiles, such as New Mexico or guajillo
Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
Fritos or warmed flour tortillas, for serving
Preparation
In a small heavy skillet, toast cumin and coriander seeds until fragrant. In a mortar and pestle, or in a coffee grinder, grind to a powder and set aside.
Meanwhile, roughly cut beef into 2-inch cubes, or slice it against the grain into pieces about 1/4-inch thick by 1 1/2 inches square. Sprinkle with salt.
In a large, heavy pot over high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, brown the meat, turning occasionally until crusty. Adjust heat to prevent scorching. As it is cooked, remove the meat to drain on paper towels. Add more oil as needed for browning, but do not clean out the pot.
To the empty but crusty pot, add onion, garlic, jalapeños, masa harina or tortilla (if using), chile powder, cumin-coriander powder and oregano. Cook, stirring, until onion has softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add meat, beer, tomatoes, chocolate, whole dried chiles and 1 quart water. Bring to a gentle simmer and simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until meat is fork-tender. Remove the dried chiles. Taste and add salt if necessary.
Serve immediately or let cool and refrigerate. The chili tastes best one or two days after it is made.
Reheat over low heat if necessary and serve in bowls, sprinkled with chopped onion and cilantro. Add Fritos for crunch, or dip tortillas into the spicy gravy.
OLD-FASHIONED SKILLET GOULASH
This is from Linda Larsen on The Spruce Eats. Linda wrote, "This simple and old-fashioned recipe for Old-Fashioned Skillet Goulash is delicious and quick to make. It uses the shortcut ingredients condensed tomato soup and diced tomatoes with garlic. If you can't find diced tomatoes with garlic, add 2 cloves of minced garlic to the recipe. Cook the garlic with the ground beef and onions.
"Skillet meals are good because there is little cleanup, and they can be made quickly. And this recipe contains pasta that is cooked right with the other ingredients, making it a one-dish meal. Since the pasta is cooked in the sauce, it has a better texture and absorbs more flavors than pasta cooked in a huge pot of boiling water.<br />
"You can use other types of pasta if you'd like. Ziti or mostaccioli would be good in this dish. Those types of pasta will most likely take longer to cook than the rotini, so be sure to taste the pasta as it cooks. Always cook pasta to al dente, which means the pasta is tender, but still has some texture and a bit of resistance in the center. You can also sprinkle this recipe with some grated or shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese before serving, even though that ingredient is not traditional in goulash."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/old-fashioned-skillet-goulash-480733.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 onions (chopped)
1 red bell pepper (chopped)
1 (26 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
2 (14-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with garlic (undrained)
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 to 3 teaspoons paprika (to taste)
1 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup water
2 and 1/2 cups rotini or gemelli pasta
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley (if desired)
Directions
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic until the meat is browned and the vegetables are tender, stirring to break up the meat. Drain well.
Add the pasta sauce, diced tomatoes with their liquid, vinegar, sugar, paprika, marjoram, salt, pepper, and water to the skillet with the ground beef and onions and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until the mixture starts to boil, stirring frequently.
Add the pasta to the skillet and bring the mixture back to a simmer. Simmer the food, uncovered, stirring frequently, until the pasta is tender, about 11 to 16 minutes. Sprinkle everything with fresh parsley, if using, and serve immediately.
SLOW COOKER MEXICAN LASAGNA
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "This slow cooker Mexican lasagna is a dish the whole family will love and is perfect for busy week nights."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/slow-cooker-mexican-lasagna.
Ingredients
2 pounds hamburger
3 Tablespoons Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix, divided
1 cup salsa
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (19-ounce) can Old El Paso™ red enchilada sauce
2-3 cups shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese
4 large flour tortillas
Optional toppings: sour cream, tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, olives
Preparation
In a large frying pan, cook the hamburger over medium heat until browned. Drain grease and stir in 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning and salsa.
Add the cream cheese and 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning to a medium sized bowl. Stir until smooth and then add in the black beans.
Pour 1/3 cup enchilada sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker. Place a tortilla on top and spread with 1/3 cup cream cheese mixture. Then add about 1 cup taco meat and 3/4 cup cheese. Drizzle 1/2 cup enchilada sauce on top and then repeat with 3 layers.
Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-4 hours, or until cheese in nice and bubbly hot.
EASY BEEF ENCHILADAS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Try these easy, cheesy ground beef enchiladas, complete with sassy sauce and mild chiles."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Makes 5 servings
View this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/easy-beef-enchiladas.
Ingredients
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
2 cans (10 oz each) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
1 package (8.2 oz) Old El Paso™ flour tortillas for soft tacos & fajitas (6 inch)
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (6 oz)
Make it FRESH toppings, as desired (see below)
Preparation
Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish or pan with cooking spray.
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce and the chiles.
Spread 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce evenly in baking dish. Spread 1/4 cup beef mixture down center of each tortilla; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cheese. Wrap tortillas tightly around filling, placing seam side down in baking dish. Top with remaining enchilada sauce. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving; add Make it FRESH toppings.
Expert Tips
Ideas for make it FRESH toppings: diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro leaves, green onions, diced avocado.
Try green enchilada sauce for a new twist!
LASAGNA ROLL UPS
This comes from GNelson at Allrecipes. The recipe begins, "Thick and hearty rolls filled with ricotta, Parmesan, and a beefy tomato sauce. A fun spin on a family favorite!"
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes; Yield: 9 servings
View this online at https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/228649/lasagna-roll-ups-ii/.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/4 white onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (26 ounce) jar chunky tomato sauce (such as Ragu®)
3 tablespoons white sugar
18 lasagna noodles
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (12 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese, or as needed
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Cook and stir ground beef, onion, garlic powder, and oregano in a large skillet over medium heat until onion is tender and beef is browned, about 10 minutes. Add tomato sauce and sugar; simmer until sauce is heated through, about 10 minutes.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
Mix ricotta cheese, egg, parsley, and 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese together in a bowl.
Place a lasagna noodle on a work surface. Spoon one layer of ricotta cheese mixture, one layer meat sauce, and one layer mozzarella cheese atop the lasagna noodle; top with another lasagna noodle. Roll up the stuffed lasagna noodles in the jelly-roll style; place in the prepared casserole dish. Repeat with remaining lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Spread a spoonful of meat sauce atop each lasagna roll; top with remaining mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes.
Meatless Monday
It's time for another Meatless Monday.
If your weekend was anything like mine, it definitely wasn't long enough to get everything done that you wanted to do. (Does that sound familiar?) No problem, there's always next weekend (which will also go by too fast). In the meantime, here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to get your week started off just right, including Cheese and Rice Stuffed Peppers and Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Scones. Enjoy!
SLOW-COOKER SLOPPY JOES [VEGAN]
This recipe comes from OneGreenPlanet, and is Dairy Free and Vegan. Serves 7 – 8; Cook Time: 6 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups textured vegetable protein
3 cups water
5 garlic cloves
1 cup Medjool dates, soaked and pitted
6 ounce can tomato paste
1 tomato, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 medium white onion, diced
1 tablespoon black strap molasses
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons mustard
3 tablespoons hot sauce
Preparation
Add water, dates, garlic cloves, tomato, and tomato paste to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth. Next, add remaining ingredients to the blender except the textured vegetable protein and stir, or blend on low until fully incorporated.
Turn a crock pot on high. Add textured vegetable protein, blender mixture, and diced onion. Stir until protein is thoroughly coated with the blender sauce and onion. Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
SPAGHETTI AGLIO E OLIO
This is from Katherine Gillen, a contributor to PureWow. She wrote, "There are nights when we want to pull out all the stops on a fancy mac and cheese, and there are nights when we’ll do almost anything to not make dinner. Spaghetti aglio e olio is for those nights. Our version of the traditional Neapolitan pasta dish takes just 20 minutes to make (and calls for only five ingredients).
"A few tips come dinnertime: One, you’ll want to use a good quality olive oil, since it’s one of the stars of this recipe. And two, cook the oil-garlic mixture in a large, high-sided skillet (or better yet, a Dutch oven) so you’re free to toss vigorously when you add the noodles. It’ll make achieving a glossy sauce *that much* easier."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.purewow.com/recipes/spaghetti-aglio-e-olio.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
12 ounces long strand pasta (such as spaghetti, bucatini or linguine)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more as needed
Finely grated Parmesan cheese, fresh chopped parsley and flaky salt, to garnish (optional)
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with kosher salt. Cook the pasta until just shy of al dente (about 2 minutes less than the package directions). Use a liquid measuring cup to reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is sizzling and golden, about 3 minutes.
Using tongs, transfer the pasta from the water directly into the olive oil and garlic mixture. Add about 1/2 of the reserved pasta water, and cook, tossing vigorously, until the sauce lightly coats the pasta. (You can add more pasta water as needed.)
Divide the pasta among four bowls, and garnish with more pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, parsley and flaky salt, if using.
HEALTHY LENTIL CHILI
This is from the Food Network, and begins, "This hearty vegetarian chili is both nutritious and satisfying, thanks to the protein-packed navy beans and brown lentils. We added a generous dose of dried spices and other pantry staples to boost the flavor and make this dish accessible for any night of the week."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Servings: 6; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/healthy-lentil-chili-8707622.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
Two 14.5-ounce cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
One 15-ounce can navy beans or another small white bean (do not drain)
1 cup dried brown lentils
1 dried bay leaf
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Shredded reduced-fat Cheddar, plain yogurt, pickled jalapenos and crushed tortilla chips, for serving (all are optional)
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper. Cook until vegetables are just tender and browned in spots, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, oregano and cumin, then continue to cook until fragrant and brick-red in color, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, beans (and their liquid), lentils, bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a couple grinds of black pepper. Bring to a steady simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Partially cover with a lid and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender and the chili has thickened slightly, 35 to 45 minutes.
Remove the bay leaf and stir in the vinegar. Season with salt and black pepper. Ladle into bowls and serve with toppings as desired.
CINNAMON APPLE QUICK BREAD WITH APPLE CIDER GLAZE
This is from Samantha Seneviratne in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Samantha wrote, “Warm spices, applesauce and a shredded tart apple make this homespun loaf comforting, but the gooey apple-cider glaze makes it stand out. You might want to double the amount of glaze, and drizzle it over ice cream, pancakes or maybe even your morning oatmeal.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 10 minutes.
View this online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019659-cinnamon-apple-quick-bread-with-apple-cider-glaze.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
Unsalted butter, for greasing the pan
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the pan
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of ground cloves
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 large Granny Smith apple, unpeeled and shredded (about 1 cup)
For the Glaze:
1 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
Pinch of kosher salt
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 8 1/2-inch-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and cloves. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, applesauce, sugars, eggs and apple.
Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Transfer to the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes.
Transfer to a rack to cool slightly, then remove the cake from the pan and let it cool completely.
When the cake has cooled, prepare the glaze: Bring the apple cider to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Continue to cook the cider until it has reduced to 1/3 cup, about 10 minutes. Add the butter, confectioners’ sugar and salt. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and continue to cook the mixture, whisking often, until it has become syrupy and thickened slightly, about 4 minutes. Set aside to cool until it thickens slightly.
Drizzle the glaze over the cake, and serve.
MAPLE PECAN SWEET POTATO SCONES
This comes from United HealthCare, and begins, "Tender and fluffy, these spiced scones are full of veggies, whole grains and maple syrup and are best served warm. Even better? They’re easy enough to whip up for brunch or afternoon coffee."
Yields:12
You can view this online by clicking here.
Ingredients:
Scones
2 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 stick cold butter, diced
2/3 cup sweet potato, cooked and mashed
1/3 cup real maple syrup
2 eggs
Glaze
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon real maple syrup
2–3 teaspoons milk
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger and nutmeg. Cut in the butter with two knives or a pastry blender until crumbly. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the sweet potato, maple syrup and eggs until blended.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and combine until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough in half and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Pat each half into a 6-inch circle about 1 inch thick. Transfer the two circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a knife, cut each circle into 6 wedges, gently separating the wedges with the knife until they are about 1/4 inch apart.
Bake the scones for 16–18 minutes or until golden. Whisk together the glaze ingredients and drizzle over the warm scones. Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
Yields 12. Calories: 231, Total fat: 10.8g, Saturated fat: 5.4g, Cholesterol: 51.3mg, Sodium: 96mg, Carbs: 30.8g, Dietary fiber: 3.7g, Sugars: 8.3 g, Protein: 5.2 g
CHEESE AND RICE STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings
Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes
Book Title: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/cheese-and-rice-stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 medium green bell peppers
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Slice off the tops of the peppers. Wash the peppers and remove the cores and seeds. Stand the pepper cups upright in a saucepan containing 1/2 cup boiling water. Cover tightly and allow steam 5 minutes. Remove and drain.
In a large bowl, mix together the rice, cheese parsley, salt, and ground pepper. Divide the mixture and stuff each pepper.
Stand the peppers in a loaf pan or cupcake tins. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the filling is hot and the cheese melts.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 455 mg; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Protein: 12 g; Carbohydrates: 31 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 2 Vegetable, 1 Lean Meat
If your weekend was anything like mine, it definitely wasn't long enough to get everything done that you wanted to do. (Does that sound familiar?) No problem, there's always next weekend (which will also go by too fast). In the meantime, here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to get your week started off just right, including Cheese and Rice Stuffed Peppers and Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Scones. Enjoy!
SLOW-COOKER SLOPPY JOES [VEGAN]
This recipe comes from OneGreenPlanet, and is Dairy Free and Vegan. Serves 7 – 8; Cook Time: 6 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups textured vegetable protein
3 cups water
5 garlic cloves
1 cup Medjool dates, soaked and pitted
6 ounce can tomato paste
1 tomato, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 medium white onion, diced
1 tablespoon black strap molasses
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons mustard
3 tablespoons hot sauce
Preparation
Add water, dates, garlic cloves, tomato, and tomato paste to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth. Next, add remaining ingredients to the blender except the textured vegetable protein and stir, or blend on low until fully incorporated.
Turn a crock pot on high. Add textured vegetable protein, blender mixture, and diced onion. Stir until protein is thoroughly coated with the blender sauce and onion. Cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
SPAGHETTI AGLIO E OLIO
This is from Katherine Gillen, a contributor to PureWow. She wrote, "There are nights when we want to pull out all the stops on a fancy mac and cheese, and there are nights when we’ll do almost anything to not make dinner. Spaghetti aglio e olio is for those nights. Our version of the traditional Neapolitan pasta dish takes just 20 minutes to make (and calls for only five ingredients).
"A few tips come dinnertime: One, you’ll want to use a good quality olive oil, since it’s one of the stars of this recipe. And two, cook the oil-garlic mixture in a large, high-sided skillet (or better yet, a Dutch oven) so you’re free to toss vigorously when you add the noodles. It’ll make achieving a glossy sauce *that much* easier."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.purewow.com/recipes/spaghetti-aglio-e-olio.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
12 ounces long strand pasta (such as spaghetti, bucatini or linguine)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more as needed
Finely grated Parmesan cheese, fresh chopped parsley and flaky salt, to garnish (optional)
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with kosher salt. Cook the pasta until just shy of al dente (about 2 minutes less than the package directions). Use a liquid measuring cup to reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is sizzling and golden, about 3 minutes.
Using tongs, transfer the pasta from the water directly into the olive oil and garlic mixture. Add about 1/2 of the reserved pasta water, and cook, tossing vigorously, until the sauce lightly coats the pasta. (You can add more pasta water as needed.)
Divide the pasta among four bowls, and garnish with more pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, parsley and flaky salt, if using.
HEALTHY LENTIL CHILI
This is from the Food Network, and begins, "This hearty vegetarian chili is both nutritious and satisfying, thanks to the protein-packed navy beans and brown lentils. We added a generous dose of dried spices and other pantry staples to boost the flavor and make this dish accessible for any night of the week."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Servings: 6; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/healthy-lentil-chili-8707622.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
Two 14.5-ounce cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
One 15-ounce can navy beans or another small white bean (do not drain)
1 cup dried brown lentils
1 dried bay leaf
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Shredded reduced-fat Cheddar, plain yogurt, pickled jalapenos and crushed tortilla chips, for serving (all are optional)
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper. Cook until vegetables are just tender and browned in spots, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, oregano and cumin, then continue to cook until fragrant and brick-red in color, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, beans (and their liquid), lentils, bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a couple grinds of black pepper. Bring to a steady simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Partially cover with a lid and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender and the chili has thickened slightly, 35 to 45 minutes.
Remove the bay leaf and stir in the vinegar. Season with salt and black pepper. Ladle into bowls and serve with toppings as desired.
CINNAMON APPLE QUICK BREAD WITH APPLE CIDER GLAZE
This is from Samantha Seneviratne in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Samantha wrote, “Warm spices, applesauce and a shredded tart apple make this homespun loaf comforting, but the gooey apple-cider glaze makes it stand out. You might want to double the amount of glaze, and drizzle it over ice cream, pancakes or maybe even your morning oatmeal.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 10 minutes.
View this online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019659-cinnamon-apple-quick-bread-with-apple-cider-glaze.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
Unsalted butter, for greasing the pan
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the pan
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of ground cloves
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 large Granny Smith apple, unpeeled and shredded (about 1 cup)
For the Glaze:
1 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
Pinch of kosher salt
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 8 1/2-inch-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and cloves. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, applesauce, sugars, eggs and apple.
Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Transfer to the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes.
Transfer to a rack to cool slightly, then remove the cake from the pan and let it cool completely.
When the cake has cooled, prepare the glaze: Bring the apple cider to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Continue to cook the cider until it has reduced to 1/3 cup, about 10 minutes. Add the butter, confectioners’ sugar and salt. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and continue to cook the mixture, whisking often, until it has become syrupy and thickened slightly, about 4 minutes. Set aside to cool until it thickens slightly.
Drizzle the glaze over the cake, and serve.
MAPLE PECAN SWEET POTATO SCONES
This comes from United HealthCare, and begins, "Tender and fluffy, these spiced scones are full of veggies, whole grains and maple syrup and are best served warm. Even better? They’re easy enough to whip up for brunch or afternoon coffee."
Yields:12
You can view this online by clicking here.
Ingredients:
Scones
2 3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 stick cold butter, diced
2/3 cup sweet potato, cooked and mashed
1/3 cup real maple syrup
2 eggs
Glaze
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon real maple syrup
2–3 teaspoons milk
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger and nutmeg. Cut in the butter with two knives or a pastry blender until crumbly. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the sweet potato, maple syrup and eggs until blended.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and combine until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough in half and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Pat each half into a 6-inch circle about 1 inch thick. Transfer the two circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a knife, cut each circle into 6 wedges, gently separating the wedges with the knife until they are about 1/4 inch apart.
Bake the scones for 16–18 minutes or until golden. Whisk together the glaze ingredients and drizzle over the warm scones. Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
Yields 12. Calories: 231, Total fat: 10.8g, Saturated fat: 5.4g, Cholesterol: 51.3mg, Sodium: 96mg, Carbs: 30.8g, Dietary fiber: 3.7g, Sugars: 8.3 g, Protein: 5.2 g
CHEESE AND RICE STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings
Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes
Book Title: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/cheese-and-rice-stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 medium green bell peppers
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Slice off the tops of the peppers. Wash the peppers and remove the cores and seeds. Stand the pepper cups upright in a saucepan containing 1/2 cup boiling water. Cover tightly and allow steam 5 minutes. Remove and drain.
In a large bowl, mix together the rice, cheese parsley, salt, and ground pepper. Divide the mixture and stuff each pepper.
Stand the peppers in a loaf pan or cupcake tins. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the filling is hot and the cheese melts.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 455 mg; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Protein: 12 g; Carbohydrates: 31 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 2 Vegetable, 1 Lean Meat
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