Enjoy!
CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times' cooking newsletter. Nigella writes, “For me, a chocolate cake is the basic unit of celebration. The chocolate Guinness cake here is simple but deeply pleasurable, and has earned its place as a stand-alone treat.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; one 9-inch cake or 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
Butter for pan
1 cup Guinness stout
10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups superfine sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
For the Topping:
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream
Preparation:
For the cake: heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.
In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to one hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.
For the topping: Using a food processor or by hand, mix confectioners' sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.
Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness.
APPLE PEAR STRUDEL WITH DRIED FRUIT AND ALMONDS
This comes from Martha Rose Shulman in another recent New York Times cooking newsletter. Martha wrote, “This strudel is made with phyllo dough. When I tested it the first time, I found that I had enough filling for two strudels. Rather than cut the amount of filling, I increased the number of strudels to 2, as this is a dessert you can assemble and keep, unbaked, in the freezer.” Time: 45 minutes; makes 2 strudels, each serving 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Filling for 2 Strudels
1/2 pound mixed dried fruit, like raisins, currants, chopped dried figs, chopped dried apricots, dried cranberries
1 1/2 pounds apples (3 large) (I recommend Braeburns), peeled, cored and cut in 1/2-inch dice
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter for cooking the apples
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 cup chopped or slivered almonds
3/4 pound (1 large or 2 small) ripe but firm pears, peeled, cored and cut in 1/2-inch dice
For Each Strudel
8 sheets phyllo dough
7/8 cup almond flour, divided (about 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons)
1 1/2 ounces butter, melted, for brushing the phyllo
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment.
Place the dried fruit in a bowl and pour on hot or boiling water to cover. Let sit 5 minutes, and drain. Toss the apples with the lemon juice.
Heat a large, heavy frying pan over high heat and add 2 tablespoons butter. Wait until it becomes light brown and carefully add the apples and the sugar. Do not add the apples until the pan and the butter are hot enough, or they won’t sear properly and retain their juice. But be careful when you add them so that the hot butter doesn’t splatter. When the apples are brown on one side, add the vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and almonds, flip the apples and continue to sauté until golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the pears and dried fruit, then scrape out onto one of the lined sheet pans and allow to cool completely. Divide into two equal portions (easiest to do this if you weigh it).
Place 8 sheets of phyllo dough on your work surface. Cover with a dish towel and place another, damp dish towel on top of the first towel. Place a sheet of parchment on your work surface horizontally, with the long edge close to you. Lay a sheet of phyllo dough on the parchment. Brush lightly with butter and top with the next sheet. Continue to layer all eight sheets, brushing each one with butter before topping with the next one.
Brush the top sheet of phyllo dough with butter. Sprinkle on half of the almond powder. With the other half, create a line 3 inches from the base of the dough, leaving a 2 1/2-inch margin on the sides. Top this line with one portion of the fruit mixture. Fold the bottom edge of the phyllo up over the filling, then fold the ends over and roll up like a burrito. Using the parchment paper to help you, lift the strudel and place it on the other parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with butter and make 3 or 4 slits on the diagonal along the length of the strudel. Repeat with the other sheets of phyllo to make a second strudel. If you are freezing one of them, double-wrap tightly in plastic.
Place the strudel in the oven and bake 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, brush again with butter, rotate the pan and return to the oven. Continue to bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes. Serve warm or room temperature.
Tip:
Advance preparation: The fruit filling will keep for a couple of days in the refrigerator. The strudel can be baked a few hours before serving it. Recrisp in a medium oven for 10 minutes. It can also be frozen before baking, double-wrapped in plastic. Transfer directly from the freezer to the oven and add 10 minutes to the baking time.
ONE-POT RIGATONI WITH SPICY TOMATO SAUCE
This comes from the Tablespoon e-newsletter. It begins, “This one-pot version of the spicy Italian classic cooks the pasta in the sauce with shiitake mushrooms for even more earthy, delicious flavor.” Prep Time: 45 min; Total Time: 45 min; Servings: 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup sliced red onion
8 oz sliced shiitake mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, sliced
4 tablespoons spicy harissa
1 can (28 oz) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
4 cups water
16 oz uncooked rigatoni pasta
1/4 cup kalamata olives, chopped
1 cup shredded fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions
In 5-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until translucent. Add mushrooms; cook 5 to 7 minutes or until mushrooms are browned and liquid is evaporated. Add garlic, harissa and tomatoes; heat just to simmering. Stir in water; heat to boiling.
Add pasta; return to simmering. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until pasta is cooked to desired tenderness. Stir in olives. Top with basil and cheese. Serve immediately. Cover and refrigerate leftovers.
SHEPHERD'S PIE
This comes from Linda Larsen, About.com's Busy Cooks expert. Linda wrote, “This simple and delicious Shepherd's Pie recipe is made from only five ingredients.” Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
10 oz. can cream of mushroom soup with roasted garlic
1 tsp. dried marjoram leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
3 cups refrigerated mashed potatoes
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In heavy skillet cook ground beef and onion until beef is brown and onion is tender, stirring to break up meat, about 10 minutes. Drain well. Stir in vegetables and soup and cook until hot, about 4 minutes, then add marjoram and salt and pepper to taste.
Place in 9 inch pie plate. Spoon mashed potatoes over hot meat mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 35-45 minutes until potatoes are golden brown and pie is bubbling.
BAKED STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “These cabbage rolls are baked in a baking dish with an well-seasoned tomato sauce. The mixture of ground beef, rice, and onion makes a wonderful filling for the partially cooked cabbage leaves.” Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 100 minutes; Yield: Serves 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
12 to 14 large cabbage leaves
Filling
1 pound lean ground beef
3/4 cup cooked rice
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup milk
Sauce
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 to 3 tablespoons cold water, to thicken the sauce
Preparation
Freeze the whole head of cabbage for several hours or overnight. Let thaw for a few hours, then cut around the core and gently peel leaves off (starting at core end) under warm running water. They should be flexible enough to stuff. If not, steam gently to soften.
If you are starting with a fresh unfrozen head of cabbage, peel and drop cabbage leaves into boiling salted water; cover and cook for 3 minutes or just until pliable.
Drain well.
Heat the oven to 350° F.
For filling, combine ground beef, rice, onion, egg, paprika, and salt, pepper, and milk. Mix well and divide into 12 portions.
Place a portion of the ground beef mixture into the center of each cabbage leaf. Roll leaf around filling; fasten with toothpick. Place in a baking dish or Dutch oven.
In a bowl, combine the tomato sauce, tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, and 1/2 cup of water; pour over cabbage rolls.
Cover tightly with a lid or foil and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until cooked through and cabbage is tender. Remove the cabbage rolls to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Take out the toothpicks and discard.
Place the pan with juices over medium heat or transfer the juices to a saucepan and place over the heat. Stir the cornstarch and cold water mixture into the sauce; bring the sauce to a boil and cook until thickened.
4-INGREDIENT CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CAKE
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and starts off, “This clever cake calls for just a few basic ingredients, and raspberries on top. Chocolate, eggs and Betty Crocker chocolate frosting come together for a flour-free cake that’s outta this world rich, creamy, and delicious!” Prep time: 15 min; Total time: 1 hr. 15 min; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 (13 oz) package dark chocolate chips
3/4 cup Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting
8 eggs, room temperature
1 cup raspberries
1/4 cup powdered sugar for garnish (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 325ºF.
In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and frosting together until smooth. Spoon into a stand mixer and add 2 eggs at a time until all eggs have been added. Turn to high and beat for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is fluffy and well combined.
Spoon into a 7" cake pan that has been lined and rimmed with parchment paper. Place this cake pan into a large baking dish and carefully fill the outside baking dish with 1" of water. Be careful to not get any water inside your cake pan.
Bake for 50-60 minutes, or just until the center of the cake sets. Remove and refrigerate until the cake is completely cool. Gently remove the cake from the cake pan by turning it upside-down on a serving platter. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and top with raspberries just before serving.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Monday, March 21, 2016
Meatless Monday
This is a replay from my vegetarian blog, Vegetarian Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring, from Tuesday, October 27, 2015.
Four Mac and Cheese recipes, as well as a dessert and apple cider. Enjoy!
HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE
I had been looking for a really simple but good homemade macaroni and cheese recipe, and this fits the bill. My daughter and granddaughter had come over on my granddaughter's birthday; while they were here, my daughter whipped up this recipe. She'd been making it for quite a while. It was a definite hit with everyone in the house.
1 box (16 ounce) cannelloni pasta (see Note)
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Note: Just about any tubular pasta can be used in this recipe, though it seems to work best with something bigger than elbow macaroni. Some of the better substitutes for the cannelloni would be ziti, penne, rigatoni, or elicoidali.
Turn oven on to 350 degrees.
Cook pasta according to package directions. If the package gives you a bracket – say, 12 – 14 minutes – lean toward the lower time, since you don't want the pasta to be too mushy. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
In a large pot, melt butter on low heat, then add flour, salt, and pepper. Cook on low heat, stirring continuously, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add milk and cook on medium heat for approximately 5 minutes until mixture thickens, stirring continuously.
Remove from heat and add macaroni, stirring it into mixture. Add the shredded cheese, and stir in completely.
Pour mixture into a 13 X 9 inch pan and bake at 350 for 10 – 15 minutes. Remove carefully, as it will be hot. (You knew that, right?) Dig in.
This makes 4 – 5 servings.
Photo: Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, on the left in the blue dish, and Benecol Macaroni and Cheese, on right, in orange casserole dish (from Avon)
BENECOL MACARONI AND CHEESE
For several years, there was a magazine dedicated to walking, titled Walking Magazine. It had many good articles, tips and recipes for those of us who feel a little more comfortable race-walking than running. Unfortunately, the magazine folded several years ago. This recipe was in it during its final year. Serves 4.
1/2 lb. small shell style macaroni
4 Tbs. Benecol
3 Tbs. all purpose flour
3 Tbs. finely chopped onion
1 1/2 C 2% milk, warmed
few drops Tabasco Sauce
1-pint nonfat cottage (or ricotta) cheese
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C flavored bread crumbs
1 Tbs. olive oil
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9-by-9 inch pan liberally with nonstick cooking spray. Cook shells according to package directions, strain, and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
To prepare sauce, melt Benecol in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Quickly whisk in flour, add onions, and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour milk into flour mixture, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Add Tabasco Sauce and cook an additional minute. Whisk in cheese and salt, and blend in shells; transfer mixture to prepared pan.
In small bowl, mix oil and bread crumbs together; spoon over top of macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes.
Per Serving: 510 calories; 27.2% calories from fat; 3G saturated fat; 65G carbohydrates; 12MG cholesterol; 612MG sodium; 2G fiber
GRANDMA'S MAC AND CHEESE
This comes from my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking, found on Amazon.com.
Both of my grandmas were characters—I could write a book about either one. This is my dad's mom's version of the ultimate comfort food. She told me she made this for my dad and my uncle when they were kids. Very simple, but very good.
1 lb. elbow macaroni
1 – 2 jars of Cheese Whiz
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Heat Cheese Whiz, either in microwave or boiling water. (Remove lids from jars first.) Drain macaroni, dump into a large bowl, add heated Cheese Whiz, stir, and PIG OUT!!!
CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and starts off, "This classic macaroni and cheese recipe is a perfect side dish for your fall meal." Personally, I think that this would work just fine for a rainy day in any season – as would any of the macaroni and cheese recipes here. Prep time: 20 minutes; total time: 50 minutes; makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 package (7 1/2 oz) elbow macaroni (2 1/2 cups)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. Cook and drain macaroni as directed on package, using minimum cook time.
Meanwhile, in 3-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-low heat; stir in flour with whisk until smooth. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in milk; cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in salt, black pepper, red pepper and 1 cup of the cheese. Stir in cooked macaroni.
Spoon mixture into casserole. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.
Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
CHAI SPICED APPLE CIDER
This comes from one of my favorite email lists, TheKitchn. If you haven't checked out TheKitchen or its sibling site, Apartment Therapy, you should. The recipe, which serves 4, starts off, "I’m not a very frilly hot beverage kind of person. Most of the time it’s coffee with a splash of heavy cream, or a simple cup of hot tea. On occasion, I’ll splurge and get a latte but beyond that, I don’t branch out too far. However, once fall hits, I start craving hot apple cider — usually paired with a freshly made apple doughnut from the local apple orchard.
"This chai spiced apple cider is a lovely fall splurge and it's easy to make!"
To view this recipe online, click here.
4 cups apple cider
1-inch whole piece ginger, peeled
2 whole cinnamon sticks
8 whole cloves
6 whole cardamom pods
4 whole black peppercorns
1 whole star anise
1/2 whole vanilla bean, sliced in half lengthwise
1 cup whipped cream (store-bought or homemade)
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Ground cinnamon, for topping
In a 2-quart sauce pan, combine the apple cider with the ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom pods, peppercorns, star anise, and vanilla bean. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer for 15 minutes until fragrant.
Strain the cider and divide between two mugs. Fold the maple syrup into the whipped cream, then dollop it into each mug. Finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
ALMOND JOY
This yummy recipe comes from the April 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times. While I love most of the recipes I find in Vegetarian Times, some of them really stand out, as far as I'm concerned; this is one of them. It begins, “As delicious as a candy bar, this delicate dessert whips up in an instant. Use prepared chocolate syrup to garnish the cake. If you really want to fancy it up, make your own fudge sauce, and drizzle it on before serving.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 14-oz. premade angel food cake
2 12-oz. pkg. soft silken tofu
4 Tbs. confectioners’ sugar
1 Tbs. almond extract, or to taste
1 8-oz. pkg. almond paste
2 cups sliced almonds, toasted, for garnish
Chocolate syrup, as desired
Tear angel food cake into about 2×4-inch rectangles, and put about half of them into 3-quart serving dish.
Put tofu, sugar, almond extract and almond paste into blender or food processor, and purée until smooth. Pour half mixture over cake pieces, and top with remaining cake. Pour remaining mixture over cake, and garnish with almonds and drizzles of chocolate syrup. Chill, or serve immediately.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 470; Protein: 15 g; Total Fat: 23 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 53 g; Sodium: 380 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 16 g
Four Mac and Cheese recipes, as well as a dessert and apple cider. Enjoy!
HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE
I had been looking for a really simple but good homemade macaroni and cheese recipe, and this fits the bill. My daughter and granddaughter had come over on my granddaughter's birthday; while they were here, my daughter whipped up this recipe. She'd been making it for quite a while. It was a definite hit with everyone in the house.
1 box (16 ounce) cannelloni pasta (see Note)
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Note: Just about any tubular pasta can be used in this recipe, though it seems to work best with something bigger than elbow macaroni. Some of the better substitutes for the cannelloni would be ziti, penne, rigatoni, or elicoidali.
Turn oven on to 350 degrees.
Cook pasta according to package directions. If the package gives you a bracket – say, 12 – 14 minutes – lean toward the lower time, since you don't want the pasta to be too mushy. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
In a large pot, melt butter on low heat, then add flour, salt, and pepper. Cook on low heat, stirring continuously, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add milk and cook on medium heat for approximately 5 minutes until mixture thickens, stirring continuously.
Remove from heat and add macaroni, stirring it into mixture. Add the shredded cheese, and stir in completely.
Pour mixture into a 13 X 9 inch pan and bake at 350 for 10 – 15 minutes. Remove carefully, as it will be hot. (You knew that, right?) Dig in.
This makes 4 – 5 servings.
Photo: Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, on the left in the blue dish, and Benecol Macaroni and Cheese, on right, in orange casserole dish (from Avon)
BENECOL MACARONI AND CHEESE
For several years, there was a magazine dedicated to walking, titled Walking Magazine. It had many good articles, tips and recipes for those of us who feel a little more comfortable race-walking than running. Unfortunately, the magazine folded several years ago. This recipe was in it during its final year. Serves 4.
1/2 lb. small shell style macaroni
4 Tbs. Benecol
3 Tbs. all purpose flour
3 Tbs. finely chopped onion
1 1/2 C 2% milk, warmed
few drops Tabasco Sauce
1-pint nonfat cottage (or ricotta) cheese
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C flavored bread crumbs
1 Tbs. olive oil
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9-by-9 inch pan liberally with nonstick cooking spray. Cook shells according to package directions, strain, and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
To prepare sauce, melt Benecol in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Quickly whisk in flour, add onions, and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour milk into flour mixture, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Add Tabasco Sauce and cook an additional minute. Whisk in cheese and salt, and blend in shells; transfer mixture to prepared pan.
In small bowl, mix oil and bread crumbs together; spoon over top of macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes.
Per Serving: 510 calories; 27.2% calories from fat; 3G saturated fat; 65G carbohydrates; 12MG cholesterol; 612MG sodium; 2G fiber
GRANDMA'S MAC AND CHEESE
This comes from my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking, found on Amazon.com.
Both of my grandmas were characters—I could write a book about either one. This is my dad's mom's version of the ultimate comfort food. She told me she made this for my dad and my uncle when they were kids. Very simple, but very good.
1 lb. elbow macaroni
1 – 2 jars of Cheese Whiz
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Heat Cheese Whiz, either in microwave or boiling water. (Remove lids from jars first.) Drain macaroni, dump into a large bowl, add heated Cheese Whiz, stir, and PIG OUT!!!
CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This comes from Tablespoon.com, and starts off, "This classic macaroni and cheese recipe is a perfect side dish for your fall meal." Personally, I think that this would work just fine for a rainy day in any season – as would any of the macaroni and cheese recipes here. Prep time: 20 minutes; total time: 50 minutes; makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 package (7 1/2 oz) elbow macaroni (2 1/2 cups)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. Cook and drain macaroni as directed on package, using minimum cook time.
Meanwhile, in 3-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-low heat; stir in flour with whisk until smooth. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in milk; cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in salt, black pepper, red pepper and 1 cup of the cheese. Stir in cooked macaroni.
Spoon mixture into casserole. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.
Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
CHAI SPICED APPLE CIDER
This comes from one of my favorite email lists, TheKitchn. If you haven't checked out TheKitchen or its sibling site, Apartment Therapy, you should. The recipe, which serves 4, starts off, "I’m not a very frilly hot beverage kind of person. Most of the time it’s coffee with a splash of heavy cream, or a simple cup of hot tea. On occasion, I’ll splurge and get a latte but beyond that, I don’t branch out too far. However, once fall hits, I start craving hot apple cider — usually paired with a freshly made apple doughnut from the local apple orchard.
"This chai spiced apple cider is a lovely fall splurge and it's easy to make!"
To view this recipe online, click here.
4 cups apple cider
1-inch whole piece ginger, peeled
2 whole cinnamon sticks
8 whole cloves
6 whole cardamom pods
4 whole black peppercorns
1 whole star anise
1/2 whole vanilla bean, sliced in half lengthwise
1 cup whipped cream (store-bought or homemade)
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Ground cinnamon, for topping
In a 2-quart sauce pan, combine the apple cider with the ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom pods, peppercorns, star anise, and vanilla bean. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let simmer for 15 minutes until fragrant.
Strain the cider and divide between two mugs. Fold the maple syrup into the whipped cream, then dollop it into each mug. Finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
ALMOND JOY
This yummy recipe comes from the April 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times. While I love most of the recipes I find in Vegetarian Times, some of them really stand out, as far as I'm concerned; this is one of them. It begins, “As delicious as a candy bar, this delicate dessert whips up in an instant. Use prepared chocolate syrup to garnish the cake. If you really want to fancy it up, make your own fudge sauce, and drizzle it on before serving.” Serves 8 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 14-oz. premade angel food cake
2 12-oz. pkg. soft silken tofu
4 Tbs. confectioners’ sugar
1 Tbs. almond extract, or to taste
1 8-oz. pkg. almond paste
2 cups sliced almonds, toasted, for garnish
Chocolate syrup, as desired
Tear angel food cake into about 2×4-inch rectangles, and put about half of them into 3-quart serving dish.
Put tofu, sugar, almond extract and almond paste into blender or food processor, and purée until smooth. Pour half mixture over cake pieces, and top with remaining cake. Pour remaining mixture over cake, and garnish with almonds and drizzles of chocolate syrup. Chill, or serve immediately.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 470; Protein: 15 g; Total Fat: 23 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 53 g; Sodium: 380 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 16 g
Friday, March 18, 2016
Friday Recipes
Enjoy!
BOSTON BROWN BREAD
This comes from Jeff Gordinier in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Jeff writes, “Bread that slides out of a can? It might strike many Americans as a dubious culinary eccentricity, but throughout New England it is a staple, often purchased at the supermarket and served at home with a generous pour of baked beans. 'I had this growing up,' said Meghan Thompson, the pastry chef at Townsman, in Boston, where the cylindrical brown tower comes to the table as something of a regional wink. Her version, commissioned by the chef Matt Jennings, dials down the cloying sweetness and amps up the flavor with a totally different manifestation of beans: doenjang, the funky Korean paste made from fermented soybeans.” Time: about 2 hours; makes 2 coffee-can-size loaves, or 1 standard loaf
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons white rye flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons stone-ground whole wheat flour
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons dark rye flour
1 cup fine-ground cornmeal
1 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup egg whites (from 4 to 5 large eggs)
3/4 cup (scant) blackstrap molasses
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees and generously coat the insides of 2 10-ounce coffee cans or a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Place the white rye flour in a large skillet over medium heat and toast, whisking constantly, for 7 minutes. The flour will darken slightly and smell nutty.
Whisk the flours, cornmeal, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the doenjang and buttermilk until combined; set aside. With an electric mixer, whip the egg whites with 1 tablespoon of the molasses until stiff, silky peaks form, about 5 minutes. Whisk the remaining molasses into the buttermilk mixture. Gradually stir the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients until combined. Fold in the whipped egg whites in 2 additions.
Pour batter into the prepared cans or loaf pan. Coat pieces of foil with cooking spray, then cover the tops of the cans or pan securely. Set the cans or pan in a baking dish and add enough hot water to come about 1/4 inch up the side. Transfer to oven and bake until the top springs back when lightly touched, about 1 hour 40 minutes for the cans, or 2 hours for the loaf pan. Let cool 20 minutes on a wire rack, then invert and remove the bread to a cutting board. Let cool completely before slicing.
BAKED BEANS
Of course, you can't have Boston Brown Bread without a helping of Baked Beans. This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Sam writes, “Proper Boston baked beans would have salt pork instead of the bacon. James Beard cooked them with ribs. The key is to use the little white pea beans known as navy beans, and to allow time to do most of the work. (Or to cheat: Canned white beans make fantastic baked beans in about an hour. If you use them, you'll need four 15-ounce cans. Drain and then follow the directions from step 2 on to the end. Please understand that you’ll need much less water and much less time to get them where you want them to be.) The combination of molasses and dry mustard is a taste as old as America itself, and takes well to both ham and soft brown bread.” Makes 6 to 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups navy beans
Salt
1/2 pound slab bacon, cut into cubes
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1/3 cup molasses
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Preparation
Soak beans in a large bowl of water for 6 hours or overnight. Drain beans and put them in a large oven-safe pot with a heavy bottom and a tightfitting lid. Add 1 teaspoon salt and enough cool water to cover 2 inches above the beans. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the beans are just tender, approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Drain and remove beans.
Heat the oven to 250 degrees. Bring a kettle full of water to a boil on the stove. Return the heavy-bottomed pot to the stove and turn the heat to medium high. Cook the bacon in the bottom of the pot until it begins to brown, then turn off the heat and add the chopped onion and, on top of it, the beans. Mix together molasses, mustard and black pepper, and add the mixture to the pot. Pour in enough boiling water to cover beans, put the lid on and bake, occasionally adding more water to keep beans covered, until they are tender but not falling apart, 4 to 5 hours.
Remove beans from oven, uncover, stir and season with salt. With the lid off, return pot to oven and let beans finish cooking, uncovered and without additional water, until the sauce has thickened and the top is deeply crusty, about 45 minutes more.
FROZEN BLUEBERRY LEMONADE PIE
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “Blueberries give this frozen lemonade pie extra color and flavor, and it is a fabulous pie for a hot summer day. The pie takes just a few minutes to mix - just freeze and eat!” Prep Time: 6 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Total Time: 6 minutes; Yield: 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 can (6 ounces) frozen lemonade
1 tub (8 ounces) whipped topping, regular or "lite," thawed in the refrigerator
1 deep dish graham cracker pie crust, homemade or purchased
Preparation
Put the blueberries, sweetened condensed milk, and frozen lemonade in a blender container. Blend until well mixed.
Pour into a bowl and fold in the whipped topping until well blended.
Spoon into the prepared crust.
Cover and freeze for at least 4 hours.
If frozen solid, take it out of the freezer 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
Note: I used a "2 extra servings" deep dish ready crust for the pie. A smaller pie shell will leave you with extra filling.
Just freeze any excess in small ramekins or 4-ounce canning jars and serve as a frozen pudding.
ITALIAN BAKED CHICKEN AND PASTINA
This comes from Giada De Laurentiis, star of The Food Network's Everyday Italian. Total Time: 55 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/italian-baked-chicken-and-pastina-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 a small onion)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.
Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook until the onions are soft and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Put the chicken mixture into the bowl with the cooked pasta. Add the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Place the mixture in a buttered 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. Dot the top with small bits of butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.
GJELINA'S ROASTED YAMS
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “These roasted yams are adapted from a recipe that Travis Lett, the chef and an owner of Gjelina in Venice, Calif., published in a 2015 cookbook devoted to the restaurant’s food. They are a marvelous accompaniment to a roast chicken, but they are maybe even better as a platter to accompany a salad of hearty greens, cheese and nuts. What makes them memorable is a technique Lett calls for during the cooking: tossing the tubers in honey before roasting them, which intensifies their caramelizing. The crisp, near-burned sweetness works beautifully against the heat of the pepper and the acidic creaminess of the yogurt you dab onto the dish at the end. It is a simple dish, but it results in fantastic eating.” Time: 1 hour; Serves 3 to 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 large yams
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon Espelette pepper, or crushed red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup Greek-style yogurt
4 tablespoons fresh lime juice, approximately 2 limes
2 scallions, both green and white parts, trimmed and thinly sliced, for garnish
Preparation
Heat oven to 425. Cut the yams lengthwise into 4 wedges per yam. Put them in a large bowl, and toss them with the honey, 1/2 tablespoon of the Espelette pepper or crushed red-pepper flakes and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Let it sit for 10 minutes or so, tossing once or twice to coat, as the oven heats.
Transfer the yams to a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet, season with salt and pepper and then bake until they are deeply caramelized around the edges and soft when pierced with a fork at their thickest part, approximately 30 to 35 minutes.
As the yams roast, combine the yogurt, lime juice and remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl, and whisk to combine, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
When the yams are done, transfer them to a serving platter, drizzle the yogurt over them and garnish with the remaining Espelette pepper or red-pepper flakes, the scallions and some flaky sea salt if you have any.
BEEF STEW
This is from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking. Check it out!
2 – 3 lbs. stewing beef
1 clove garlic, minced
3 T oil
4 carrots, cut up
2 C water
1 large potato, peeled & cut up
1 onion, chopped
6 oz tomato paste
8 oz tomato sauce
4 T vinegar
1 C flour
3 T honey
1 T soy sauce
salt & pepper, to taste
Cut beef into bite-sized pieces. Trim fat & dredge in flour & brown in oil. Add everything except carrots & potato. Cook 15 minutes. Add carrots & cook 15 more minutes. Add potato & cook 30 minutes. Add water as needed. Serve over noodles.
BOSTON BROWN BREAD
This comes from Jeff Gordinier in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Jeff writes, “Bread that slides out of a can? It might strike many Americans as a dubious culinary eccentricity, but throughout New England it is a staple, often purchased at the supermarket and served at home with a generous pour of baked beans. 'I had this growing up,' said Meghan Thompson, the pastry chef at Townsman, in Boston, where the cylindrical brown tower comes to the table as something of a regional wink. Her version, commissioned by the chef Matt Jennings, dials down the cloying sweetness and amps up the flavor with a totally different manifestation of beans: doenjang, the funky Korean paste made from fermented soybeans.” Time: about 2 hours; makes 2 coffee-can-size loaves, or 1 standard loaf
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons white rye flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons stone-ground whole wheat flour
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons dark rye flour
1 cup fine-ground cornmeal
1 cup lightly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon doenjang (Korean soybean paste)
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup egg whites (from 4 to 5 large eggs)
3/4 cup (scant) blackstrap molasses
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees and generously coat the insides of 2 10-ounce coffee cans or a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Place the white rye flour in a large skillet over medium heat and toast, whisking constantly, for 7 minutes. The flour will darken slightly and smell nutty.
Whisk the flours, cornmeal, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the doenjang and buttermilk until combined; set aside. With an electric mixer, whip the egg whites with 1 tablespoon of the molasses until stiff, silky peaks form, about 5 minutes. Whisk the remaining molasses into the buttermilk mixture. Gradually stir the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients until combined. Fold in the whipped egg whites in 2 additions.
Pour batter into the prepared cans or loaf pan. Coat pieces of foil with cooking spray, then cover the tops of the cans or pan securely. Set the cans or pan in a baking dish and add enough hot water to come about 1/4 inch up the side. Transfer to oven and bake until the top springs back when lightly touched, about 1 hour 40 minutes for the cans, or 2 hours for the loaf pan. Let cool 20 minutes on a wire rack, then invert and remove the bread to a cutting board. Let cool completely before slicing.
BAKED BEANS
Of course, you can't have Boston Brown Bread without a helping of Baked Beans. This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times' Cooking newsletter. Sam writes, “Proper Boston baked beans would have salt pork instead of the bacon. James Beard cooked them with ribs. The key is to use the little white pea beans known as navy beans, and to allow time to do most of the work. (Or to cheat: Canned white beans make fantastic baked beans in about an hour. If you use them, you'll need four 15-ounce cans. Drain and then follow the directions from step 2 on to the end. Please understand that you’ll need much less water and much less time to get them where you want them to be.) The combination of molasses and dry mustard is a taste as old as America itself, and takes well to both ham and soft brown bread.” Makes 6 to 8 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups navy beans
Salt
1/2 pound slab bacon, cut into cubes
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1/3 cup molasses
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Preparation
Soak beans in a large bowl of water for 6 hours or overnight. Drain beans and put them in a large oven-safe pot with a heavy bottom and a tightfitting lid. Add 1 teaspoon salt and enough cool water to cover 2 inches above the beans. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the beans are just tender, approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Drain and remove beans.
Heat the oven to 250 degrees. Bring a kettle full of water to a boil on the stove. Return the heavy-bottomed pot to the stove and turn the heat to medium high. Cook the bacon in the bottom of the pot until it begins to brown, then turn off the heat and add the chopped onion and, on top of it, the beans. Mix together molasses, mustard and black pepper, and add the mixture to the pot. Pour in enough boiling water to cover beans, put the lid on and bake, occasionally adding more water to keep beans covered, until they are tender but not falling apart, 4 to 5 hours.
Remove beans from oven, uncover, stir and season with salt. With the lid off, return pot to oven and let beans finish cooking, uncovered and without additional water, until the sauce has thickened and the top is deeply crusty, about 45 minutes more.
FROZEN BLUEBERRY LEMONADE PIE
This comes from Diana Rattray, About.com's Southern Food expert. Diana wrote, “Blueberries give this frozen lemonade pie extra color and flavor, and it is a fabulous pie for a hot summer day. The pie takes just a few minutes to mix - just freeze and eat!” Prep Time: 6 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Total Time: 6 minutes; Yield: 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 can (6 ounces) frozen lemonade
1 tub (8 ounces) whipped topping, regular or "lite," thawed in the refrigerator
1 deep dish graham cracker pie crust, homemade or purchased
Preparation
Put the blueberries, sweetened condensed milk, and frozen lemonade in a blender container. Blend until well mixed.
Pour into a bowl and fold in the whipped topping until well blended.
Spoon into the prepared crust.
Cover and freeze for at least 4 hours.
If frozen solid, take it out of the freezer 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
Note: I used a "2 extra servings" deep dish ready crust for the pie. A smaller pie shell will leave you with extra filling.
Just freeze any excess in small ramekins or 4-ounce canning jars and serve as a frozen pudding.
ITALIAN BAKED CHICKEN AND PASTINA
This comes from Giada De Laurentiis, star of The Food Network's Everyday Italian. Total Time: 55 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/italian-baked-chicken-and-pastina-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 a small onion)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.
Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook until the onions are soft and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Put the chicken mixture into the bowl with the cooked pasta. Add the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Place the mixture in a buttered 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. Dot the top with small bits of butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.
GJELINA'S ROASTED YAMS
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times Cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “These roasted yams are adapted from a recipe that Travis Lett, the chef and an owner of Gjelina in Venice, Calif., published in a 2015 cookbook devoted to the restaurant’s food. They are a marvelous accompaniment to a roast chicken, but they are maybe even better as a platter to accompany a salad of hearty greens, cheese and nuts. What makes them memorable is a technique Lett calls for during the cooking: tossing the tubers in honey before roasting them, which intensifies their caramelizing. The crisp, near-burned sweetness works beautifully against the heat of the pepper and the acidic creaminess of the yogurt you dab onto the dish at the end. It is a simple dish, but it results in fantastic eating.” Time: 1 hour; Serves 3 to 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 large yams
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon Espelette pepper, or crushed red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup Greek-style yogurt
4 tablespoons fresh lime juice, approximately 2 limes
2 scallions, both green and white parts, trimmed and thinly sliced, for garnish
Preparation
Heat oven to 425. Cut the yams lengthwise into 4 wedges per yam. Put them in a large bowl, and toss them with the honey, 1/2 tablespoon of the Espelette pepper or crushed red-pepper flakes and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Let it sit for 10 minutes or so, tossing once or twice to coat, as the oven heats.
Transfer the yams to a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet, season with salt and pepper and then bake until they are deeply caramelized around the edges and soft when pierced with a fork at their thickest part, approximately 30 to 35 minutes.
As the yams roast, combine the yogurt, lime juice and remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl, and whisk to combine, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
When the yams are done, transfer them to a serving platter, drizzle the yogurt over them and garnish with the remaining Espelette pepper or red-pepper flakes, the scallions and some flaky sea salt if you have any.
BEEF STEW
This is from my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking. Check it out!
2 – 3 lbs. stewing beef
1 clove garlic, minced
3 T oil
4 carrots, cut up
2 C water
1 large potato, peeled & cut up
1 onion, chopped
6 oz tomato paste
8 oz tomato sauce
4 T vinegar
1 C flour
3 T honey
1 T soy sauce
salt & pepper, to taste
Cut beef into bite-sized pieces. Trim fat & dredge in flour & brown in oil. Add everything except carrots & potato. Cook 15 minutes. Add carrots & cook 15 more minutes. Add potato & cook 30 minutes. Add water as needed. Serve over noodles.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Diabetic Thursday
Today's article from The Diabetic News is titled “Study: Obamacare Improving Management of Diabetes and Other Conditions.” Give it a read when you have a minute or two.
And now, on to today's recipes. Enjoy!
BOSTON BAKED BEANS
Yield: 16 servings
Source: "Forbidden Foods Diabetic Cooking" by Maggie Powers
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/12.shtml
Ingredients
1 pound dried navy beans
1 large onion, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1 tomato, chopped
1/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
Directions
Place the beans in a strainer and sort through the beans to remove stones, discolored beans, or any other objects. Rinse with cold water until beans are clean, about 2 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine the beans, onion, salt, and enough water to cover them by 2 inches. Let stand 8 hours or overnight at room temperature; do not refrigerate.
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
In a strainer, drain and rinse the beans and onion. Place in a 4-quart saucepan and add the tomato, sugar, molasses, vinegar, ketchup, ginger, mustard, and pepper; stir until blended. Add enough water to cover the beans, about 2 cups. Cover and bake until bubbly and the beans are soft, 5 hours.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/2 cup): Calories: 110, Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 50 mg, Carbohydrate: 21 g, Dietary Fiber: 4 g, Sugars: 4 g, Protein: 6 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch
FOIL-ROASTED HERB POTATOES
Yield: 4 servings, 1/2 cup each
Source: "The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/11.shtml
Ingredients
1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 sprigs rosemary
2 sprigs oregano
2 sprigs thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon paprika
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Tear four large sheets of foil.
Divide all ingredients among the four sheets of foil. Wrap up the potatoes, seal tightly. Put all packets on a baking sheet.
Roast the potatoes in the oven for 35 minutes.
Place one packet on each dinner plate and allow diners to open their packets.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (About 1/2 cup): Calories: 146, Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 9 mg, Carbohydrate: 21 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 2 g, Protein: 3 g Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1 Fat
HUMMUS-VEGGIE WRAPS
Yield: 4 servings
Source: "The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/60.shtml
Ingredients
4 whole-wheat flour tortillas (8 to 9-inch rounds)
1 cup ready-made hummus
1 small carrot, shredded with a potato peeler
2 slices red onion, separated into rings
12 thin slices peeled cucumber
16 young tender spinach leaves or 1 cup alfalfa sprouts
Directions
Warm the tortillas according to package directions. Lay the tortillas on a flat surface and spread the lower half only of each tortilla with 1/4 cup of the hummus.
Top the hummus on each tortilla with a quarter of the carrots, onion rings, cucumber slices, and spinach or sprouts, leaving a 1-1/2 inch margin on the right and left sides.
Fold the right and left margins in, then roll each tortilla up from the bottom to enclose the filling. Cut each warp in half and serve immediately.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/4 of recipe): Calories: 258, Carbohydrate: 38 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Fat: 8.6 g, Saturated Fat: 0.5 g, Fiber: 6.7 g, Protein: 10 g, Sodium: 625 mg, Calcium: 56 mg, Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 Starch, 1 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Vegetable, 1 Fat
CRANBERRY-ORANGE SAUCE
Yield: 16 (2-tablespoon) servings
Source: "Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine" by Betty Marks
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/24.shtmlIngredients
1 (12 oz.) package fresh cranberries
3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
1 teaspoon no-sugar-added raspberry conserve
1 orange, cut in 8 sections
Directions
Rinse cranberries and place in a medium-size saucepan with a small amount of water. Cook over medium heat, stirring in next 2 ingredients, until berries are soft.
In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, process half the cranberries and four orange sections. Repeat with remaining cranberries and oranges. Chill before serving. Makes 2 cups.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (2 tablespoons): Calories: 21, Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Carbohydrate: 5 g, Protein: 0 g, Sodium: 0 mg, Diabetic Exchanges: FREE
MINIATURE APPLE MUFFINS
This recipe begins, "With the right amount of spice and a sprinkling of raisins, these bite-size muffins have the flavor of an old-fashioned apple cake." Yield: 36 servings
Source: Splenda
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1120.shtml
Ingredients
3/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons molasses
2 large eggs
1/3 cup apple juice concentrate, thawed
2 teaspoons grated fresh lemon peel
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup peeled, shredded fresh apple
2/3 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup raisins
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray miniature muffin pans with vegetable cooking spray; set aside.
Beat Splenda Granulated Sweetener, butter, and molasses at medium speed of an electric mixer 1 minute or until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition; add apple juice concentrate and lemon peel, beating until blended.
Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda, and salt; add to Splenda Granulated Sweetener mixture, beating on low speed just until blended. Stir in apple, oats, and raisins.
Spoon batter into prepared pans; filling three-fourths full. Bake until edges are lightly browned, 12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 125 mg; Cholesterol: 25 mg; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g
CRANBERRY APPLE CRISP
Yield: 8 servings
Source: Equal
View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/876.shtml
Filling:
3 cups peeled, cored, sliced apples
2 cups fresh or frozen thawed cranberries
1 cup Equal Spoonful*
Topping:
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup stick butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup Equal Spoonful**
* Substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
** Substitute 12 packets Equal sweetener
Directions
For Filling, combine apples, cranberries and 1 cup Equal in an ungreased 10-inch pie plate.
For Topping, combine flour, pecans, melted butter and 1/2 cup Equal. Mix until well blended. Sprinkle flour mixture over apples and cranberries in pie plate.
Bake in preheated 350F oven 55 to 60 minutes or until fruit is tender. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 145; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 67 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1-1/2 fat
And now, on to today's recipes. Enjoy!
BOSTON BAKED BEANS
Yield: 16 servings
Source: "Forbidden Foods Diabetic Cooking" by Maggie Powers
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/12.shtml
Ingredients
1 pound dried navy beans
1 large onion, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1 tomato, chopped
1/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
Directions
Place the beans in a strainer and sort through the beans to remove stones, discolored beans, or any other objects. Rinse with cold water until beans are clean, about 2 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine the beans, onion, salt, and enough water to cover them by 2 inches. Let stand 8 hours or overnight at room temperature; do not refrigerate.
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
In a strainer, drain and rinse the beans and onion. Place in a 4-quart saucepan and add the tomato, sugar, molasses, vinegar, ketchup, ginger, mustard, and pepper; stir until blended. Add enough water to cover the beans, about 2 cups. Cover and bake until bubbly and the beans are soft, 5 hours.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/2 cup): Calories: 110, Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 50 mg, Carbohydrate: 21 g, Dietary Fiber: 4 g, Sugars: 4 g, Protein: 6 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch
FOIL-ROASTED HERB POTATOES
Yield: 4 servings, 1/2 cup each
Source: "The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/11.shtml
Ingredients
1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 sprigs rosemary
2 sprigs oregano
2 sprigs thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon paprika
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Tear four large sheets of foil.
Divide all ingredients among the four sheets of foil. Wrap up the potatoes, seal tightly. Put all packets on a baking sheet.
Roast the potatoes in the oven for 35 minutes.
Place one packet on each dinner plate and allow diners to open their packets.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (About 1/2 cup): Calories: 146, Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 9 mg, Carbohydrate: 21 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 2 g, Protein: 3 g Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1 Fat
HUMMUS-VEGGIE WRAPS
Yield: 4 servings
Source: "The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/60.shtml
Ingredients
4 whole-wheat flour tortillas (8 to 9-inch rounds)
1 cup ready-made hummus
1 small carrot, shredded with a potato peeler
2 slices red onion, separated into rings
12 thin slices peeled cucumber
16 young tender spinach leaves or 1 cup alfalfa sprouts
Directions
Warm the tortillas according to package directions. Lay the tortillas on a flat surface and spread the lower half only of each tortilla with 1/4 cup of the hummus.
Top the hummus on each tortilla with a quarter of the carrots, onion rings, cucumber slices, and spinach or sprouts, leaving a 1-1/2 inch margin on the right and left sides.
Fold the right and left margins in, then roll each tortilla up from the bottom to enclose the filling. Cut each warp in half and serve immediately.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/4 of recipe): Calories: 258, Carbohydrate: 38 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Fat: 8.6 g, Saturated Fat: 0.5 g, Fiber: 6.7 g, Protein: 10 g, Sodium: 625 mg, Calcium: 56 mg, Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 Starch, 1 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Vegetable, 1 Fat
CRANBERRY-ORANGE SAUCE
Yield: 16 (2-tablespoon) servings
Source: "Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine" by Betty Marks
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/24.shtmlIngredients
1 (12 oz.) package fresh cranberries
3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
1 teaspoon no-sugar-added raspberry conserve
1 orange, cut in 8 sections
Directions
Rinse cranberries and place in a medium-size saucepan with a small amount of water. Cook over medium heat, stirring in next 2 ingredients, until berries are soft.
In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, process half the cranberries and four orange sections. Repeat with remaining cranberries and oranges. Chill before serving. Makes 2 cups.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (2 tablespoons): Calories: 21, Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Carbohydrate: 5 g, Protein: 0 g, Sodium: 0 mg, Diabetic Exchanges: FREE
MINIATURE APPLE MUFFINS
This recipe begins, "With the right amount of spice and a sprinkling of raisins, these bite-size muffins have the flavor of an old-fashioned apple cake." Yield: 36 servings
Source: Splenda
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1120.shtml
Ingredients
3/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons molasses
2 large eggs
1/3 cup apple juice concentrate, thawed
2 teaspoons grated fresh lemon peel
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup peeled, shredded fresh apple
2/3 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup raisins
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray miniature muffin pans with vegetable cooking spray; set aside.
Beat Splenda Granulated Sweetener, butter, and molasses at medium speed of an electric mixer 1 minute or until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition; add apple juice concentrate and lemon peel, beating until blended.
Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda, and salt; add to Splenda Granulated Sweetener mixture, beating on low speed just until blended. Stir in apple, oats, and raisins.
Spoon batter into prepared pans; filling three-fourths full. Bake until edges are lightly browned, 12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 125 mg; Cholesterol: 25 mg; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g
CRANBERRY APPLE CRISP
Yield: 8 servings
Source: Equal
View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/876.shtml
Filling:
3 cups peeled, cored, sliced apples
2 cups fresh or frozen thawed cranberries
1 cup Equal Spoonful*
Topping:
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup stick butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup Equal Spoonful**
* Substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
** Substitute 12 packets Equal sweetener
Directions
For Filling, combine apples, cranberries and 1 cup Equal in an ungreased 10-inch pie plate.
For Topping, combine flour, pecans, melted butter and 1/2 cup Equal. Mix until well blended. Sprinkle flour mixture over apples and cranberries in pie plate.
Bake in preheated 350F oven 55 to 60 minutes or until fruit is tender. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 145; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 67 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1-1/2 fat
St. Patrick's Day
Today is a two-for-one day on Confessions of a Foodie: One post for St. Patrick's Day, and one for the usual Diabetic Thursday. Enjoy!
CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE
This is from the FamilyTime e-newsletter. It begins, “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day! Celebrate with this traditional boiled meal and don't forget about it on other days of the year. Always delicious!” Serves: 6; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 3 hours
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 pounds corned beef, or brisket
4 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
6 medium-size onions
6 medium-size potatoes, scrubbed
6 medium-size carrots, peeled and trimmed
1 green cabbage, trimmed and cut into 6 wedges
Directions
Put the beef in a large, heavy pan or pot with enough cold water to cover it by 1 inch. Add the garlic and peppercorns, bring to the boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook gently for about 3 hours until the beef is tender but not falling apart.
About 20 minutes before beef is done, add the onions, potatoes, carrots and cabbage and continue cooking until they are just tender.
Remove the beef and transfer it to a serving platter. Cover and keep warm.
Increase the heat under the saucepan to moderately high and cook for 10 to 15 minutes longer until the vegetables are tender. Arrange the vegetables on the platter around the beef. Serve immediately with pickles, horseradish and mustard.
COLCANNON
I've posted two colcannon recipes today. The first one comes from the March 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times. It starts of, "This ultra-Irish dish varies from one county to the next, with some cooks using cabbage in place of kale, others using leeks or onions for extra flavor. Here, it gets a modern-day makeover with purple potatoes, garlic and shiitake mushrooms to reflect all the delicious new options found in Irish markets today. If you can’t find purple potatoes, Yukon gold, fingerling or russet varieties also work well." Serves 6
1 lb. purple potatoes
1 lb. kale, tough stems removed
2 to 3 Tbs. olive oil
10 oz. shiitake mushrooms, sliced (about 3 cups)
3 cloves garlic, chopped (about 1 Tbs.)
1 cup unsweetened rice milk, warmed
Place potatoes in large pot, and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, or until very tender. Drain, and return to pot. Heat potatoes over medium heat 1 to 2 minutes to steam off excess water, and set aside.
Meanwhile, bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add kale, and cook 5 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and garlic, and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until mushrooms are soft and all liquid has evaporated. Stir in kale, and cook 1 minute more, or until hot. Season with salt and pepper.
Mash rice milk into potatoes until soft, but still chunky. Fold in kale mixture, and serve.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 184; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g; Sodium: 406 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 5 g; Vegan
COLCANNON
This one comes from About.com's Fiona Haynes, who does the Low Fat Cooking blog. She writes, "Colcannon is a perfect side dish for St. Patrick's Day. It's basically a mashed potato and cabbage dish, although many variations exist. I like to blend in milk-simmered leeks in this version. Other people swear by kale rather than cabbage, which may be more in keeping with tradition. Add a little nutmeg or mace if you have it." Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Serves 6 - 8.
To view online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
1 small cabbage, cored and chopped
2 small leeks, white parts only, sliced
1 cup fat-free milk
4 ounces fat-free cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Directions
Boil potatoes in a large pot of water until tender, about 20-25 minutes. Meanwhile, in a second pot, boil or steam cabbage for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain, cover and set aside.
In a medium saucepan, simmer leeks in milk for 5 minutes. When leeks are soft, remove with a slotted spoon and put to one side, reserving the milk.
When potatoes are tender, drain well. Add half the milk used to simmer the leeks. Mash the potatoes until all the lumps have gone. Add cream cheese and white pepper then mash again until blended. Use remaining milk if needed. Stir in cabbage and leeks.
Serve immediately.
Per Serving: Calories 132, Calories from Fat 6, Total Fat 0.7g (sat 0.2g), Cholesterol 2mg, Sodium 113mg, Carbohydrate 25.3g, Fiber 4.2g, Protein 6.2g
IRISH SODA BREAD
This is from Fiona Haynes, About.com's Low Fat Cooking expert. She writes, "Irish Soda Bread requires only a few simple ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk. Throw in a cup of raisins if you like, and some orange zest, too. Traditional Irish Soda Bread is made without these, however, as it was made as a daily bread to accompany meals. Enjoy the original version warm with a little low fat spread with some tea, or as an accompaniment to a lean beef stew." Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Yields 1 round loaf (8 - 10 wedges or slices)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups low fat buttermilk
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, stir dry ingredients together with a whisk. Make a well in the center and add 1 cup of the buttermilk, reserving 1/2 cup. Combine dry ingredients and buttermilk with a fork, gradually adding more of the remaining liquid until a soft dough is formed.
Knead the dough lightly on a floured surface for 1 minute. Form into a slightly flattened circle. Place on a parchment lined (or silicone baking mat) cookie sheet. Mark a large 1/2-inch deep X with a sharp knife and bake soda bread for 40-45 minutes. The bread is ready when it is golden and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Per Serving: Calories 148, Calories from Fat 6, Total Fat 0.7g (sat 0.4g), Cholesterol 1 mg, Sodium 582mg, Carbohydrate 30.5g, Fiber 1g, Protein 5g
IRISH MINT BROWNIES
This comes from Linda Larsen, About.com's Busy Cooks expert. She writes, “These fabulous brownies with a rich mint topping are perfect for St. Patrick's Day or anytime. I like to bake these brownies in a 9" round cake pan and cut it into wedges for a slightly fancier presentation.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Yields 16 brownies.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup fudge ice cream topping
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tub vanilla ready to spread frosting
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
Few drops green food coloring
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1-1/2 Tbsp. water
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In heavy saucepan, melt butter with brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and blend in fudge topping with wire whisk. Add sugar, beating well. Then add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa and mix well. Stir in 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips. Spray bottom of 9x9" square cake pan with baking spray containing flour. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until just set. Cool completely.
In small bowl combine frosting, green food coloring, and mint extract and beat well until frosting is evenly colored. Spread over brownies in pan.
In medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and cocoa and mix with wire whisk. In microwave safe bowl, combine 2 Tbsp. butter and 1-1/2 Tbsp. water and microwave for 30-45 seconds until butter melts. Add to powdered sugar mixture and beat with wire whisk until smooth. Stir in vanilla. You may need to add more water to reach a pouring consistency. Then carefully pour this frosting over the green frosting and gently spread to cover. Don't worry if some of the chocolate frosting mixes with the green frosting; that just looks pretty!
MASHED POTATOES WITH CHIVES
I absolutely love potatoes, especially mashed. This comes from the March 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “It really isn’t an Irish dinner unless there are potatoes. These can be served as a side dish, or combined with a stew to make a cottage pie: Simply place the stew in a pie dish, spread the potatoes on top, and place under the broiler until the potatoes are browned.” Serves 2 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices
3/4 cup low-fat milk
1 1/2 Tbs. butter
3 Tbs. finely chopped chives
1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg
Place potatoes in medium pot and cover with 1 inch water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Drain, and put potatoes through ricer or mash in medium bowl.
Heat milk and butter in small saucepan until butter is melted. Stir into potatoes along with chives and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 331; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 55 g; Cholesterol: 27 mg; Sodium: 404 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 7 g; Gluten-Free
CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE
This is from the FamilyTime e-newsletter. It begins, “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day! Celebrate with this traditional boiled meal and don't forget about it on other days of the year. Always delicious!” Serves: 6; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 3 hours
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 pounds corned beef, or brisket
4 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
6 medium-size onions
6 medium-size potatoes, scrubbed
6 medium-size carrots, peeled and trimmed
1 green cabbage, trimmed and cut into 6 wedges
Directions
Put the beef in a large, heavy pan or pot with enough cold water to cover it by 1 inch. Add the garlic and peppercorns, bring to the boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook gently for about 3 hours until the beef is tender but not falling apart.
About 20 minutes before beef is done, add the onions, potatoes, carrots and cabbage and continue cooking until they are just tender.
Remove the beef and transfer it to a serving platter. Cover and keep warm.
Increase the heat under the saucepan to moderately high and cook for 10 to 15 minutes longer until the vegetables are tender. Arrange the vegetables on the platter around the beef. Serve immediately with pickles, horseradish and mustard.
COLCANNON
I've posted two colcannon recipes today. The first one comes from the March 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times. It starts of, "This ultra-Irish dish varies from one county to the next, with some cooks using cabbage in place of kale, others using leeks or onions for extra flavor. Here, it gets a modern-day makeover with purple potatoes, garlic and shiitake mushrooms to reflect all the delicious new options found in Irish markets today. If you can’t find purple potatoes, Yukon gold, fingerling or russet varieties also work well." Serves 6
1 lb. purple potatoes
1 lb. kale, tough stems removed
2 to 3 Tbs. olive oil
10 oz. shiitake mushrooms, sliced (about 3 cups)
3 cloves garlic, chopped (about 1 Tbs.)
1 cup unsweetened rice milk, warmed
Place potatoes in large pot, and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, or until very tender. Drain, and return to pot. Heat potatoes over medium heat 1 to 2 minutes to steam off excess water, and set aside.
Meanwhile, bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add kale, and cook 5 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and garlic, and sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until mushrooms are soft and all liquid has evaporated. Stir in kale, and cook 1 minute more, or until hot. Season with salt and pepper.
Mash rice milk into potatoes until soft, but still chunky. Fold in kale mixture, and serve.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 184; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g; Sodium: 406 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Sugar: 5 g; Vegan
COLCANNON
This one comes from About.com's Fiona Haynes, who does the Low Fat Cooking blog. She writes, "Colcannon is a perfect side dish for St. Patrick's Day. It's basically a mashed potato and cabbage dish, although many variations exist. I like to blend in milk-simmered leeks in this version. Other people swear by kale rather than cabbage, which may be more in keeping with tradition. Add a little nutmeg or mace if you have it." Prep Time: 0 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Serves 6 - 8.
To view online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
1 small cabbage, cored and chopped
2 small leeks, white parts only, sliced
1 cup fat-free milk
4 ounces fat-free cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Directions
Boil potatoes in a large pot of water until tender, about 20-25 minutes. Meanwhile, in a second pot, boil or steam cabbage for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain, cover and set aside.
In a medium saucepan, simmer leeks in milk for 5 minutes. When leeks are soft, remove with a slotted spoon and put to one side, reserving the milk.
When potatoes are tender, drain well. Add half the milk used to simmer the leeks. Mash the potatoes until all the lumps have gone. Add cream cheese and white pepper then mash again until blended. Use remaining milk if needed. Stir in cabbage and leeks.
Serve immediately.
Per Serving: Calories 132, Calories from Fat 6, Total Fat 0.7g (sat 0.2g), Cholesterol 2mg, Sodium 113mg, Carbohydrate 25.3g, Fiber 4.2g, Protein 6.2g
IRISH SODA BREAD
This is from Fiona Haynes, About.com's Low Fat Cooking expert. She writes, "Irish Soda Bread requires only a few simple ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk. Throw in a cup of raisins if you like, and some orange zest, too. Traditional Irish Soda Bread is made without these, however, as it was made as a daily bread to accompany meals. Enjoy the original version warm with a little low fat spread with some tea, or as an accompaniment to a lean beef stew." Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Yields 1 round loaf (8 - 10 wedges or slices)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups low fat buttermilk
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, stir dry ingredients together with a whisk. Make a well in the center and add 1 cup of the buttermilk, reserving 1/2 cup. Combine dry ingredients and buttermilk with a fork, gradually adding more of the remaining liquid until a soft dough is formed.
Knead the dough lightly on a floured surface for 1 minute. Form into a slightly flattened circle. Place on a parchment lined (or silicone baking mat) cookie sheet. Mark a large 1/2-inch deep X with a sharp knife and bake soda bread for 40-45 minutes. The bread is ready when it is golden and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Per Serving: Calories 148, Calories from Fat 6, Total Fat 0.7g (sat 0.4g), Cholesterol 1 mg, Sodium 582mg, Carbohydrate 30.5g, Fiber 1g, Protein 5g
IRISH MINT BROWNIES
This comes from Linda Larsen, About.com's Busy Cooks expert. She writes, “These fabulous brownies with a rich mint topping are perfect for St. Patrick's Day or anytime. I like to bake these brownies in a 9" round cake pan and cut it into wedges for a slightly fancier presentation.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Yields 16 brownies.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup fudge ice cream topping
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tub vanilla ready to spread frosting
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
Few drops green food coloring
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1-1/2 Tbsp. water
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In heavy saucepan, melt butter with brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and blend in fudge topping with wire whisk. Add sugar, beating well. Then add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa and mix well. Stir in 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips. Spray bottom of 9x9" square cake pan with baking spray containing flour. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until just set. Cool completely.
In small bowl combine frosting, green food coloring, and mint extract and beat well until frosting is evenly colored. Spread over brownies in pan.
In medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and cocoa and mix with wire whisk. In microwave safe bowl, combine 2 Tbsp. butter and 1-1/2 Tbsp. water and microwave for 30-45 seconds until butter melts. Add to powdered sugar mixture and beat with wire whisk until smooth. Stir in vanilla. You may need to add more water to reach a pouring consistency. Then carefully pour this frosting over the green frosting and gently spread to cover. Don't worry if some of the chocolate frosting mixes with the green frosting; that just looks pretty!
MASHED POTATOES WITH CHIVES
I absolutely love potatoes, especially mashed. This comes from the March 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “It really isn’t an Irish dinner unless there are potatoes. These can be served as a side dish, or combined with a stew to make a cottage pie: Simply place the stew in a pie dish, spread the potatoes on top, and place under the broiler until the potatoes are browned.” Serves 2 in 30 minutes or less.
To view this online, click here.
1 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices
3/4 cup low-fat milk
1 1/2 Tbs. butter
3 Tbs. finely chopped chives
1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg
Place potatoes in medium pot and cover with 1 inch water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Drain, and put potatoes through ricer or mash in medium bowl.
Heat milk and butter in small saucepan until butter is melted. Stir into potatoes along with chives and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 331; Protein: 8 g; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 55 g; Cholesterol: 27 mg; Sodium: 404 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 7 g; Gluten-Free
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Almost St. Patrick's Day - Wednesday Recipes
Since tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, here are six recipes to try tomorrow - or any time, for that matter! Enjoy!
CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times' cooking newsletter. Nigella writes, “For me, a chocolate cake is the basic unit of celebration. The chocolate Guinness cake here is simple but deeply pleasurable, and has earned its place as a stand-alone treat.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; one 9-inch cake or 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
Butter for pan
1 cup Guinness stout
10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups superfine sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
For the Topping:
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream
Preparation:
For the cake: heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.
In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to one hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.
For the topping: Using a food processor or by hand, mix confectioners' sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.
Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness.
IRISH SODA BREAD
This comes from Ina Garten of The Food Network's Barefoot Contessa. Total Time: 1 hr 15 min; Prep Time: 20 min; Cook: 55 min; Yield: 1 loaf; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/irish-soda-bread-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for currants
4 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken
1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 cup dried currants
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.
With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. It will be very wet.
Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound.
Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD
This traditional bread comes from The Baker Chick. She writes, “I love how simple this recipe is. It’s made up of just 4 ingredients that I usually have on hand, which means I can have a loaf of delicious bread ready and waiting any time I want. Flour- Baking Soda- Salt-Buttermilk. Who would know that simply that could result in such a perfect loaf of bread? With an almost biscuit-like taste and a crisp crust, we slathered this with some delicious salted butter, but a slather of jam or a dunk in a bowl of soup would be a perfect match as well. The bread is simple as can be to throw together and has that rustic, country look I really love. I’m a total fan of making yeasted bread, but this is by far the best I’ve had for something so quick! I’m glad I discovered this recipe right in time for St. Patty’s, but I know it will be a kitchen standard all year round!”
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb. (3-1/2 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more as needed
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1-1/2 to 1-3/4 cups buttermilk
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450F.
Stir together the flour, salt and baking in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the middle of the mixture and pour in 1 1/2 cups of the buttermilk.
Use a wooden spoon or your hand to combine the ingredients. You want the dough to be soft- don't over mix it. Add more buttermilk if needed to get the dough to come together.
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and give it a few kneads and shape it into a 6-inch diameter disk (about 2 inches tall.)
Use a sharp knife to score an X on the top of the loaf (I did mine a bit too deep as you can tell, you only need to cut in a little bit.) Transfer to a cookie sheet or pizza stone and bake for 15 mins.
Reduce the heat to 400F and bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the crust is golden, and the bread sounds hollow when you tap it.
Let bread cool slightly before slicing and slathering with salted butter!
CREAMY IRISH POTATO SOUP
This recipe comes from Campbell's Kitchen; to view this recipe online, click here. The recipe starts off, "This rich and creamy potato soup is subtly flavored with celery and green onions. It's the kind of soup you'll want to savor slowly...even though it's ready in just 35 minutes."
Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 25 minutes; Serves: 5 servings (1 1/4 cups each)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
4 medium green onion, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 stalk celery, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 3/4 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth, (Regular, Natural Goodness® or Certified Organic)
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 medium potato, sliced 1/4-inch thick (about 3 cups)
1 1/2 cups milk
Directions
Heat the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and cook until they're tender.
Stir the broth, black pepper and potatoes in the saucepan and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Place half of the broth mixture and half of the milk in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth. Repeat with the remaining broth mixture and remaining milk. Return to the saucepan and heat through.
CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE TARTS
Linda Larsen runs about.com's Busy Cooks channel. Linda wrote, "I love this recipe for these individual little Corned Beef and Cabbage Tarts. The creamy cheese, crisp-tender cabbage and sweet red onion blend so well with the corned beef and the flaky pastry. You can omit the corned beef entirely for a nice vegetarian entree."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 crust pastry recipe
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
1/4 large head red cabbage, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. honey
1/3 cup water
1 cup cooked cubed corned beef or ham
1 cup cubed Swiss or Havarti cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
Prepare pie crust and divide dough into four pieces. Roll out each between waxed paper into 7" rounds. Fit each into a 4" tart ring, or simply put the crusts on two cookie sheets. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Saute onion in olive oil in a large skillet until soft. Then add cabbage, vinegar, honey, and water. Cover pan and simmer for 10 minutes, until cabbage is soft, stirring frequently. Then uncover pan and cook for 5-8 minutes longer on medium high heat, stirring frequently, until liquid is absorbed.
Divide half of the cabbage mixture evenly among the pastry circles, using about 1/2 cup for each. If you aren't using the tart rings, just mound the mixture in the center of the circles of pastry. Divide the corned beef evenly onto the cabbage mixture. Sprinkle with Gruyere cheese cubes and grated Parmesan cheese, and top with remaining cabbage mixture. Fold crust edges over the top of the cabbage mixture, pleating to form a ruffled edge. Bake tarts at 425 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Remove tart rings and serve.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY SOUP
This is from GE Appliances, and begins, “What a tasty home-made potato soup, made with both Idaho and sweet potatoes.” Makes 4 to 6 servings in 20 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 large Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
1 large onion, chopped
4 cups chicken broth or bouillon
2 teaspoons thyme
1- 16 oz. container sour cream
1 stick butter or margarine
1/2 cup flour
2 cups milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Place potatoes, onion, broth and thyme into a 5-quart pot. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Melt butter in a medium size saucepan. Stir in flour with a whisk or wooden spoon to make a smooth paste.
Add milk, a little at a time, stirring to make the mixture smooth. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thickened. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add to the potato mixture.
Stir in sour cream.
Heat thoroughly and serve.
CHOCOLATE GUINNESS CAKE
This comes from Nigella Lawson in The New York Times' cooking newsletter. Nigella writes, “For me, a chocolate cake is the basic unit of celebration. The chocolate Guinness cake here is simple but deeply pleasurable, and has earned its place as a stand-alone treat.” Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; one 9-inch cake or 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
Butter for pan
1 cup Guinness stout
10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups superfine sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
For the Topping:
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream
Preparation:
For the cake: heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.
In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to one hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.
For the topping: Using a food processor or by hand, mix confectioners' sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.
Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness.
IRISH SODA BREAD
This comes from Ina Garten of The Food Network's Barefoot Contessa. Total Time: 1 hr 15 min; Prep Time: 20 min; Cook: 55 min; Yield: 1 loaf; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/irish-soda-bread-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for currants
4 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken
1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 cup dried currants
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.
With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. It will be very wet.
Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound.
Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD
This traditional bread comes from The Baker Chick. She writes, “I love how simple this recipe is. It’s made up of just 4 ingredients that I usually have on hand, which means I can have a loaf of delicious bread ready and waiting any time I want. Flour- Baking Soda- Salt-Buttermilk. Who would know that simply that could result in such a perfect loaf of bread? With an almost biscuit-like taste and a crisp crust, we slathered this with some delicious salted butter, but a slather of jam or a dunk in a bowl of soup would be a perfect match as well. The bread is simple as can be to throw together and has that rustic, country look I really love. I’m a total fan of making yeasted bread, but this is by far the best I’ve had for something so quick! I’m glad I discovered this recipe right in time for St. Patty’s, but I know it will be a kitchen standard all year round!”
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb. (3-1/2 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour; more as needed
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1-1/2 to 1-3/4 cups buttermilk
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450F.
Stir together the flour, salt and baking in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the middle of the mixture and pour in 1 1/2 cups of the buttermilk.
Use a wooden spoon or your hand to combine the ingredients. You want the dough to be soft- don't over mix it. Add more buttermilk if needed to get the dough to come together.
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and give it a few kneads and shape it into a 6-inch diameter disk (about 2 inches tall.)
Use a sharp knife to score an X on the top of the loaf (I did mine a bit too deep as you can tell, you only need to cut in a little bit.) Transfer to a cookie sheet or pizza stone and bake for 15 mins.
Reduce the heat to 400F and bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the crust is golden, and the bread sounds hollow when you tap it.
Let bread cool slightly before slicing and slathering with salted butter!
CREAMY IRISH POTATO SOUP
This recipe comes from Campbell's Kitchen; to view this recipe online, click here. The recipe starts off, "This rich and creamy potato soup is subtly flavored with celery and green onions. It's the kind of soup you'll want to savor slowly...even though it's ready in just 35 minutes."
Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 25 minutes; Serves: 5 servings (1 1/4 cups each)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
4 medium green onion, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 stalk celery, sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 3/4 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth, (Regular, Natural Goodness® or Certified Organic)
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 medium potato, sliced 1/4-inch thick (about 3 cups)
1 1/2 cups milk
Directions
Heat the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and cook until they're tender.
Stir the broth, black pepper and potatoes in the saucepan and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Place half of the broth mixture and half of the milk in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth. Repeat with the remaining broth mixture and remaining milk. Return to the saucepan and heat through.
CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE TARTS
Linda Larsen runs about.com's Busy Cooks channel. Linda wrote, "I love this recipe for these individual little Corned Beef and Cabbage Tarts. The creamy cheese, crisp-tender cabbage and sweet red onion blend so well with the corned beef and the flaky pastry. You can omit the corned beef entirely for a nice vegetarian entree."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 crust pastry recipe
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
1/4 large head red cabbage, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. honey
1/3 cup water
1 cup cooked cubed corned beef or ham
1 cup cubed Swiss or Havarti cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
Prepare pie crust and divide dough into four pieces. Roll out each between waxed paper into 7" rounds. Fit each into a 4" tart ring, or simply put the crusts on two cookie sheets. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Saute onion in olive oil in a large skillet until soft. Then add cabbage, vinegar, honey, and water. Cover pan and simmer for 10 minutes, until cabbage is soft, stirring frequently. Then uncover pan and cook for 5-8 minutes longer on medium high heat, stirring frequently, until liquid is absorbed.
Divide half of the cabbage mixture evenly among the pastry circles, using about 1/2 cup for each. If you aren't using the tart rings, just mound the mixture in the center of the circles of pastry. Divide the corned beef evenly onto the cabbage mixture. Sprinkle with Gruyere cheese cubes and grated Parmesan cheese, and top with remaining cabbage mixture. Fold crust edges over the top of the cabbage mixture, pleating to form a ruffled edge. Bake tarts at 425 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Remove tart rings and serve.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY SOUP
This is from GE Appliances, and begins, “What a tasty home-made potato soup, made with both Idaho and sweet potatoes.” Makes 4 to 6 servings in 20 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 large Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
1 large onion, chopped
4 cups chicken broth or bouillon
2 teaspoons thyme
1- 16 oz. container sour cream
1 stick butter or margarine
1/2 cup flour
2 cups milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Place potatoes, onion, broth and thyme into a 5-quart pot. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Melt butter in a medium size saucepan. Stir in flour with a whisk or wooden spoon to make a smooth paste.
Add milk, a little at a time, stirring to make the mixture smooth. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thickened. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add to the potato mixture.
Stir in sour cream.
Heat thoroughly and serve.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Count Down to St. Patrick's Day
It's that time of year again when everyone seems to be just a little Irish, even those who aren't. Yes, seems like just last week, we celebrated the new year, and now it's time for St. Patrick's Day. Believe it or not, there are those who don't celebrate it as a day remember a necessarily great person, but I'm not going to discuss politics here. (Maybe I should start a political blog, but being decidedly....well, wait, didn't I just say I wouldn't discuss politics? lol Sorry!)
Well, back to the food. Whether you celebrated March 17 as St. Patrick's Day or anti-St. Patrick's Day, my motto when it comes to good food is this: Let's eat!
SWEET IRISH POTATO ROLLS
From About.com's Bread Breaking expert, Elizabeth Yetter, who wrote, "Sweet Irish potato rolls are made with mashed potatoes and the water you use to boil the potatoes. These rolls are soft, moist, and slightly sweet. They taste great with salty dinners, such as ham, and with most stews. The rolls can be made ahead of time, cooled, and frozen. This recipe for sweet Irish potato rolls makes 18 medium sized rolls."
Prep Time: 2 hours; Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 cup mashed potatoes
1 cup potato water
1 tbsp (2 pkg) active dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
5 cups bread flour, about
Preparation:
Melt stick of butter in small saucepan.
In large bowl, add mashed potatoes, potato water, and melted butter. Mix and let set until lukewarm.
Add yeast, sugar, salt and eggs to mixture. Stir well.
Stir in 2 cups bread flour. Let mixture sit for 15 minutes in warm place.
Stir down sponge and add enough flour to make a soft dough. Turn dough out onto floured board and knead until soft and smooth. Put dough in greased bowl. Turn dough over in bowl so that the top is also lightly greased. Cover and let rise for 1 hour or until double in bulk.
Punch dough down. Turn out onto lightly floured board and knead out air bubbles. Divide and shape dough into 18 rolls. Put rolls on 2 greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes or until doubled.
Bake rolls at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden. Serve warm or cold.
COLCANNON
Possibly from one of about.com's channels. Not sure, though. Whoever came up with this recipes wrote, "Leeks and bacon flavor this traditional Irish side dish recipe of mashed potatoes with cabbage."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
2 pounds russet potatoes
4 slices bacon
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 leek, rinsed and chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups shredded green cabbage
1/3 cup butter
1 cup hot milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. white pepper
Preparation:
Peel potatoes and cube. Place in saucepan and cover with cold water. Place on high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Meanwhile, cook bacon in large saucepan until crisp and browned, turning often while cooking. Remove bacon to paper towels to drain; crumble. To drippings remaining in saucepan, add olive oil. Cook onion, garlic, and leeks until crisp tender, about 3-5 minutes. Then add cabbage, cover, and cook for 6-10 minutes until cabbage is tender.
When potatoes are cooked, drain and return potatoes to hot pot; shake over low heat for a few minutes to dry. Add butter and mash. Add milk and salt and pepper; beat until combined. Stir in bacon and cabbage mixture. Serve immediately, or place in serving dish and keep warm in 200 degrees F oven for 1 hour. Serves 6-8.
VEGETARIAN "BEEF" AND GUINNESS STEW
Jolinda Hackett is about.com's vegetarian cuisine guide. She wrote, "Beef and Guinness stew, an Irish pub favorite, gets a vegetarian makeover in this recipe, using seitan instead of beef to absorb all that rich stout flavor. Yum! The flavor of the beer is very strong in this recipe, so I've suggest using half the amount of Guinness and adding an equal amount of vegetable broth if you aren't a Guinness fan."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes
Ingredients:
Approx 14 oz seitan, cut into thin strips
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp steak sauce
3 tbsp butter or margarine
1 onion, diced
3 ribs celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 medium potatoes chopped into 1 inch pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 12 oz bottles Guinness Stout OR 1 bottle plus 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp brown sugar (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Sautee seitan in olive oil and soy sauce until slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat, add steak sauce and stir until seitan is lightly coated. Remove from heat and aside. In a large pot, sautee onions, celery, carrots, potatoes and garlic in butter or margarine for 3-5 minutes, or until onions are slightly soft. Reduce heat and slowly add Guinness, gently stirring to combine. Add flour, thyme, sugar, salt and pepper and stir well. Add seitan and allow stew to simmer until Guinness reduces and stew thickens, about 40-50 minutes.
Add more salt and pepper if desired and enjoy!
CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE TARTS
Linda Larsen runs about.com's Busy Cooks channel. Linda wrote, "I love this recipe for these individual little Corned Beef and Cabbage Tarts. The creamy cheese, crisp-tender cabbage and sweet red onion blend so well with the corned beef and the flaky pastry. You can omit the corned beef entirely for a nice vegetarian entree."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 crust pastry recipe
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
1/4 large head red cabbage, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. honey
1/3 cup water
1 cup cooked cubed corned beef or ham
1 cup cubed Swiss or Havarti cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
Prepare pie crust and divide dough into four pieces. Roll out each between waxed paper into 7" rounds. Fit each into a 4" tart ring, or simply put the crusts on two cookie sheets. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Saute onion in olive oil in a large skillet until soft. Then add cabbage, vinegar, honey, and water. Cover pan and simmer for 10 minutes, until cabbage is soft, stirring frequently. Then uncover pan and cook for 5-8 minutes longer on medium high heat, stirring frequently, until liquid is absorbed.
Divide half of the cabbage mixture evenly among the pastry circles, using about 1/2 cup for each. If you aren't using the tart rings, just mound the mixture in the center of the circles of pastry. Divide the corned beef evenly onto the cabbage mixture. Sprinkle with Gruyere cheese cubes and grated Parmesan cheese, and top with remaining cabbage mixture. Fold crust edges over the top of the cabbage mixture, pleating to form a ruffled edge. Bake tarts at 425 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Remove tart rings and serve.
CROCKPOT CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE
Linda Larsen wrote, "For St. Patrick's Day or any cold winter day, this recipe for classic Corned Beef and Cabbage is delicious and super easy too."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 10 hours
Ingredients:
6 carrots, cut into chunks
2 onions, chopped
2-3 lb. corned beef brisket with seasoning packet
12 oz. can beer (non alcoholic is fine)
2 Tbsp. yellow mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
8 wedges cabbage
Preparation:
In 4-6 quart crockpot, combine carrots and onions. Rinse corned beef under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Place in crockpot and sprinkle with contents of seasoning mix. Pour beer over brisket and spread mustard on brisket. In small bowl mix brown sugar with water and pour over brisket. Cover crockpot and cook on low setting for 11-12 hours. Remove corned beef from crockpot and cover with foil to keep warm. Add cabbage wedges to vegetables and liquid in crockpot. Cover crockpot and cook on high for additional 30-40 minutes or until cabbage is crisp tender. To serve, cut corned beef across grain into thin slices. Remove vegetables from slow cooker with slotted spoon and serve with corned beef. Serve cooking juices over the food, if desired. Offer additional mustard on the side. 8 servings.
IRISH MINT BROWNIES
Linda Larsen wrote, "These fabulous brownies with a rich mint topping are perfect for St. Patrick's Day or anytime. I like to bake these brownies in a 9" round cake pan and cut it into wedges for a slightly fancier presentation." All I know is that they're yummy!
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup fudge ice cream topping
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tub vanilla ready to spread frosting
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
Few drops green food coloring
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1-1/2 Tbsp. water
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In heavy saucepan, melt butter with brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and blend in fudge topping with wire whisk. Add sugar, beating well. Then add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa and mix well. Stir in 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips. Spray bottom of 9x9" square cake pan with baking spray containing flour. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until just set. Cool completely. In small bowl combine frosting, green food coloring, and mint extract and beat well until frosting is evenly colored. Spread over brownies in pan.
In medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and cocoa and mix with wire whisk. In microwave safe bowl, combine 2 Tbsp. butter and 1-1/2 Tbsp. water and microwave for 30-45 seconds until butter melts. Add to powdered sugar mixture and beat with wire whisk until smooth. Stir in vanilla. You may need to add more water to reach a pouring consistency. Then carefully pour this frosting over the green frosting and gently spread to cover. Don't worry if some of the chocolate frosting mixes with the green frosting; that just looks pretty! Yields 16 brownies.
Well, back to the food. Whether you celebrated March 17 as St. Patrick's Day or anti-St. Patrick's Day, my motto when it comes to good food is this: Let's eat!
SWEET IRISH POTATO ROLLS
From About.com's Bread Breaking expert, Elizabeth Yetter, who wrote, "Sweet Irish potato rolls are made with mashed potatoes and the water you use to boil the potatoes. These rolls are soft, moist, and slightly sweet. They taste great with salty dinners, such as ham, and with most stews. The rolls can be made ahead of time, cooled, and frozen. This recipe for sweet Irish potato rolls makes 18 medium sized rolls."
Prep Time: 2 hours; Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 cup mashed potatoes
1 cup potato water
1 tbsp (2 pkg) active dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
5 cups bread flour, about
Preparation:
Melt stick of butter in small saucepan.
In large bowl, add mashed potatoes, potato water, and melted butter. Mix and let set until lukewarm.
Add yeast, sugar, salt and eggs to mixture. Stir well.
Stir in 2 cups bread flour. Let mixture sit for 15 minutes in warm place.
Stir down sponge and add enough flour to make a soft dough. Turn dough out onto floured board and knead until soft and smooth. Put dough in greased bowl. Turn dough over in bowl so that the top is also lightly greased. Cover and let rise for 1 hour or until double in bulk.
Punch dough down. Turn out onto lightly floured board and knead out air bubbles. Divide and shape dough into 18 rolls. Put rolls on 2 greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes or until doubled.
Bake rolls at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden. Serve warm or cold.
COLCANNON
Possibly from one of about.com's channels. Not sure, though. Whoever came up with this recipes wrote, "Leeks and bacon flavor this traditional Irish side dish recipe of mashed potatoes with cabbage."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
2 pounds russet potatoes
4 slices bacon
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 leek, rinsed and chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups shredded green cabbage
1/3 cup butter
1 cup hot milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. white pepper
Preparation:
Peel potatoes and cube. Place in saucepan and cover with cold water. Place on high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Meanwhile, cook bacon in large saucepan until crisp and browned, turning often while cooking. Remove bacon to paper towels to drain; crumble. To drippings remaining in saucepan, add olive oil. Cook onion, garlic, and leeks until crisp tender, about 3-5 minutes. Then add cabbage, cover, and cook for 6-10 minutes until cabbage is tender.
When potatoes are cooked, drain and return potatoes to hot pot; shake over low heat for a few minutes to dry. Add butter and mash. Add milk and salt and pepper; beat until combined. Stir in bacon and cabbage mixture. Serve immediately, or place in serving dish and keep warm in 200 degrees F oven for 1 hour. Serves 6-8.
VEGETARIAN "BEEF" AND GUINNESS STEW
Jolinda Hackett is about.com's vegetarian cuisine guide. She wrote, "Beef and Guinness stew, an Irish pub favorite, gets a vegetarian makeover in this recipe, using seitan instead of beef to absorb all that rich stout flavor. Yum! The flavor of the beer is very strong in this recipe, so I've suggest using half the amount of Guinness and adding an equal amount of vegetable broth if you aren't a Guinness fan."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes
Ingredients:
Approx 14 oz seitan, cut into thin strips
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp steak sauce
3 tbsp butter or margarine
1 onion, diced
3 ribs celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 medium potatoes chopped into 1 inch pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 12 oz bottles Guinness Stout OR 1 bottle plus 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp brown sugar (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Sautee seitan in olive oil and soy sauce until slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat, add steak sauce and stir until seitan is lightly coated. Remove from heat and aside. In a large pot, sautee onions, celery, carrots, potatoes and garlic in butter or margarine for 3-5 minutes, or until onions are slightly soft. Reduce heat and slowly add Guinness, gently stirring to combine. Add flour, thyme, sugar, salt and pepper and stir well. Add seitan and allow stew to simmer until Guinness reduces and stew thickens, about 40-50 minutes.
Add more salt and pepper if desired and enjoy!
CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE TARTS
Linda Larsen runs about.com's Busy Cooks channel. Linda wrote, "I love this recipe for these individual little Corned Beef and Cabbage Tarts. The creamy cheese, crisp-tender cabbage and sweet red onion blend so well with the corned beef and the flaky pastry. You can omit the corned beef entirely for a nice vegetarian entree."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 crust pastry recipe
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
1/4 large head red cabbage, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. honey
1/3 cup water
1 cup cooked cubed corned beef or ham
1 cup cubed Swiss or Havarti cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
Prepare pie crust and divide dough into four pieces. Roll out each between waxed paper into 7" rounds. Fit each into a 4" tart ring, or simply put the crusts on two cookie sheets. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Saute onion in olive oil in a large skillet until soft. Then add cabbage, vinegar, honey, and water. Cover pan and simmer for 10 minutes, until cabbage is soft, stirring frequently. Then uncover pan and cook for 5-8 minutes longer on medium high heat, stirring frequently, until liquid is absorbed.
Divide half of the cabbage mixture evenly among the pastry circles, using about 1/2 cup for each. If you aren't using the tart rings, just mound the mixture in the center of the circles of pastry. Divide the corned beef evenly onto the cabbage mixture. Sprinkle with Gruyere cheese cubes and grated Parmesan cheese, and top with remaining cabbage mixture. Fold crust edges over the top of the cabbage mixture, pleating to form a ruffled edge. Bake tarts at 425 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Remove tart rings and serve.
CROCKPOT CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE
Linda Larsen wrote, "For St. Patrick's Day or any cold winter day, this recipe for classic Corned Beef and Cabbage is delicious and super easy too."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 10 hours
Ingredients:
6 carrots, cut into chunks
2 onions, chopped
2-3 lb. corned beef brisket with seasoning packet
12 oz. can beer (non alcoholic is fine)
2 Tbsp. yellow mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
8 wedges cabbage
Preparation:
In 4-6 quart crockpot, combine carrots and onions. Rinse corned beef under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Place in crockpot and sprinkle with contents of seasoning mix. Pour beer over brisket and spread mustard on brisket. In small bowl mix brown sugar with water and pour over brisket. Cover crockpot and cook on low setting for 11-12 hours. Remove corned beef from crockpot and cover with foil to keep warm. Add cabbage wedges to vegetables and liquid in crockpot. Cover crockpot and cook on high for additional 30-40 minutes or until cabbage is crisp tender. To serve, cut corned beef across grain into thin slices. Remove vegetables from slow cooker with slotted spoon and serve with corned beef. Serve cooking juices over the food, if desired. Offer additional mustard on the side. 8 servings.
IRISH MINT BROWNIES
Linda Larsen wrote, "These fabulous brownies with a rich mint topping are perfect for St. Patrick's Day or anytime. I like to bake these brownies in a 9" round cake pan and cut it into wedges for a slightly fancier presentation." All I know is that they're yummy!
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup fudge ice cream topping
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tub vanilla ready to spread frosting
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
Few drops green food coloring
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1-1/2 Tbsp. water
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In heavy saucepan, melt butter with brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and blend in fudge topping with wire whisk. Add sugar, beating well. Then add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa and mix well. Stir in 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips. Spray bottom of 9x9" square cake pan with baking spray containing flour. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until just set. Cool completely. In small bowl combine frosting, green food coloring, and mint extract and beat well until frosting is evenly colored. Spread over brownies in pan.
In medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and cocoa and mix with wire whisk. In microwave safe bowl, combine 2 Tbsp. butter and 1-1/2 Tbsp. water and microwave for 30-45 seconds until butter melts. Add to powdered sugar mixture and beat with wire whisk until smooth. Stir in vanilla. You may need to add more water to reach a pouring consistency. Then carefully pour this frosting over the green frosting and gently spread to cover. Don't worry if some of the chocolate frosting mixes with the green frosting; that just looks pretty! Yields 16 brownies.
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