Confessions of a Foodie

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Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Taco Tuesday

It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's offerings include Cheeseburger Tacos and Chicken Chili Tacos. Enjoy!

GLUTEN-FREE EGG AND BLACK BEAN BREAKFAST TACOS

This comes from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD at VeryWellFit. Kaleigh wrote, “Did you know that corn tortillas are actually considered a whole grain? They are also low in sodium, so they make a great base for healthy breakfast tacos.

“Fried potatoes, meats like bacon and sausage, and cheese can quickly add up when it comes to sodium and saturated fat. These tacos have none of that. Instead, try adding sauteed vegetables, beans, and creamy avocado to your eggs for healthy and flavorful tacos that will have you feeling good all morning long.

“These breakfast tacos are gluten-free and vegetarian, and can be made dairy-free if you leave out the milk or use a milk substitute. If you have other vegetables that need to be used up, feel free to add them in with the onions and jalapeno. Top with your favorite salsa for a flavorful and delicious breakfast.”

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 2 (1 taco each).

To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

olive oil spray

2 tablespoons onion, diced

1 tablespoon jalapeno, diced

1/4 cup low sodium black beans

1 large egg

1 tablespoon skim milk

2 corn tortillas

1/4 small avocado, sliced

1 tablespoon cilantro

Directions

Heat a small nonstick skillet over medium heat and spray with oil. Add onions and jalapeno and cook, stirring, until softened, about three minutes. Add black beans and continue cooking until heated through. Remove from skillet and wipe clean.

Turn heat to low and spray skillet with oil again. Whisk together egg and milk. Pour into pan and cook, stirring, until eggs are set.

In a separate pan, heat tortillas over low heat. Divide eggs and bean mixture between the tortillas. Top with avocado and cilantro. Serve.

Ingredient Variations and Substitutions

You can use egg whites or egg substitute in place of the egg for a lower-fat version.

Cooking and Serving Tips

Serve with a side of fresh fruit for a balanced meal.

CHICKEN CHILI TACOS

This is from the TODAY Show Recipes e-newsletter. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Servings: 4.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 1/2 cups prepared pico de gallo or salsa

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 1 1/2 limes)

2 teaspoons cumin seeds, lightly toasted

2 cloves garlic. minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

12 taco shells (crisp or soft/flour or corn)

Preparation

Place the chicken, pico de gallo or salsa, lime juice, cumin seeds and garlic in a slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. (You can also cook on high for 3 hours.)

Allow to cool a bit. Scoop the chicken out with a big slotted spoon and place it in a large serving bowl. Use two forks to pull the meat apart. The chicken will shred easily. Stir in some cooking juice from the pot and top with the cilantro.

Place the shredded chicken, your taco shells and desired fixings on the table and let everyone put together their perfect taco.

MIDDLE-SCHOOL TACOS

This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Here is a taste of a time when Mexican food was not as widely available in the United States as it is today, when parents and sports bars looked for food to serve children and those who eat like them, when the combination of crunch and fat and silk was divine. It still can be, if you avoid the taco kits of yore and make your own picadillo, then put it in hard-shell tacos and top how you like. For those who want to avoid prefabricated taco shells, make a form out of aluminum foil, fry fresh corn tortillas in shimmering neutral oil and then allow them to cool into shape on their aluminum saddle. Taco night. You can’t eat just two.”

Serves 6; Time: 30 minutes.

This was featured in “The Case for Hard-Shell Tacos” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola, peanut or grapeseed

1 medium-size yellow onion, peeled and diced

4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 pounds ground beef

2 tablespoons chile powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, to taste

2 teaspoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons smoked paprika (or substitute hot or sweet paprika)

1 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes, or to taste

1 cup chicken broth or beef broth, low-sodium if store-bought

12-18 hard taco shells

Toppings: grated cheese, sliced jalapeños, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, etc.

Preparation

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add the oil. When it begins to shimmer, add the onion, and cook until softened and starting to brown, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.

Add the garlic, and cook for a minute or so to soften, and then the ground beef. Cook until the beef is starting to brown, stirring and chopping with a spoon to break up the meat, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Pour off excess fat, leaving only a tablespoon or two in the pan.

Heat oven to 325. Add the chile powder, cumin, salt, pepper, cornstarch, paprika and red-pepper flakes, and stir to combine. Add the broth, stir, bring to a simmer and cook uncovered until the sauce has thickened slightly, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.

As sauce cooks, place taco shells on a sheet pan, and toast in oven until they are crisp and smell nutty. Serve a few tablespoons of meat in each taco, along with whatever toppings you like.

TEMPEH TACOS

I originally saw this on Oh My Veggies on the Vegetarian Tacos part of the site. You can read more at http://ohmyveggies.com/recipe-tempeh-tacos-from-betty-goes-vegan/.

This recipe begins, “Spicy tacos made with crumbled tempeh from Betty Goes Vegan by Anne & Dan Shannon.”

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 6-8 tacos

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) package tempeh

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 c. Mexican-spiced diced tomatoes (I used the tomatoes with green chilies)

1 fresh jalapeño, diced

2 – 4 tsp. chili powder (2 was plenty for us!)

3 tsp. cumin

2 tsp. lime juice

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. minced chipotle pepper

1/4 c. Bragg's liquid aminos (coconut aminos or low sodium soy sauce work too)

1/2 red onion, diced

1/2 green bell pepper, diced

2 tbsp. water

salt + pepper to taste

olive oil mister or cooking spray

dash of liquid smoke (I omitted this)

6-8 hard taco shells

vegan cheese, guacamole, salsa, hot sauce, cilantro, black olives, and lime wedges for serving

Instructions

Crumble your tempeh into a large mixing bowl. Then, using a large spoon, mix in the garlic, tomatoes, jalapeño, chili powder, cumin, lime juice, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, chipotle pepper, and Bragg's. Once your tempeh is completely mixed into the spices, mix in the onion and pepper. Then drizzle the water 1 tablespoon at a time into your mix while stirring your ingredients continuously. Taste a little bit of your tempeh and add salt and pepper to taste.

Spray your favorite cast-iron skillet or frying pan with a heavy coating of olive oil cooking spray, and then heat over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, toss in the tempeh mixture and liquid smoke. Flip your tempeh-vegetable mixture a few times so that it browns evenly. You'll know it's ready when your vegetables are tender and your tempeh has crispy edges. It should take about 10 minutes.

While your tempeh is cooking, heat your taco shells slightly in the oven following the directions on the package.

Once your taco shells are warm, fill them with the tempeh and vegetable mixture. Top with vegan cheese and set aside so it can melt slightly.

Serve with guacamole, salsa, hot sauce, cilantro, black olives, lime wedges and anything else you like on your tacos!

WHITE BEAN AND POTATO TACOS (GLUTEN FREE AND VEGAN)

A while back, I stumbled across Oh My Veggies. They have all sorts of yummy veggie recipes, including a bunch of taco links.

This taco recipe, which was among the taco links on Oh My Veggies, is from Beard & Bonnet. Beard & Bonnet’s Meg van der Kruik is “the writer, mother, photographer, designer, cook and creative spirit behind Beard & Bonnet.”

This can be viewed online at http://beardandbonnet.com/white-bean-and-potato-tacos-gluten-free-and-vegan/.

Serves 4; Prep Time: 20 min

Ingredients

2 cups cooked white beans, I used Navy beans, or 1 can of cannelini beans, washed and drained

4-5 small potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed, and cut into tiny cubes (or 1 large russet potato)

1/2 cup cilantro, minced

Juice and zest of 1 lime

Olive oil for frying

salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

To assemble

6-8 white corn tortillas, blistered on both sides in a cast iron skillet

pickled jalapenos & radishes

cherry tomatoes, halved; I used Sungold cherry tomatoes from my CSA

lime wedges for serving

Instructions

Pour about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes and a large pinch of salt, toss to coat and cover with a tight fitting lid. The potatoes will take about 5-8 minutes to cook through. Be sure to periodically lift the lid, scrape the pan, and toss the potatoes to ensure that all sides are crisp and golden.

While the potatoes are cooking toss the precooked, warmed, white beans with the chopped cilantro, lime zest, and juice. Mix well to combine and set aside.

When the potatoes are finished cooking set up an assembly line at your table with the tortillas, potatoes, white beans, and toppings. Allow your family to each build there own to suit their tastes.

CHEESEBURGER TACOS

This recipe comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “Cheeseburger tacos are a tasty take on tried-and-true burgers. Try them filled with lettuce, onion and pickle relish and seasoned with savory taco seasoning mix.”

Serves: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound lean lean beef

3/4 cup water

1 packet (1.25-oz.) ORTEGA® Taco Seasoning Mix

8 ounces pasteurized prepared cheese, cubed

2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard

12 ORTEGA® Taco Shells or White Corn Taco Shells, warmed

2 cups shredded lettuce

2 cups chopped tomato

1 cup sweet pickle relish

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup ORTEGA® Medium Taco Sauce

Directions

Brown beef; drain. Stir in water and seasoning mix; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened. Add cheese and mustard; stir until cheese is melted.

Fill taco shells with beef mixture. Top with lettuce, tomato, relish, onion and taco sauce.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's yummy recipes include Apricot-Orange Chicken with Glazed Onions and Strawberry “Ice Cream” Cake. Enjoy!

MEXICAN-STYLE STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. This one begins, “In this Latin twist on stuffed bell peppers, black beans replace the traditional rice and salsa stands in for the standard tomato sauce.” Serves 4; 1 stuffed bell pepper per serving.

To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Mexican-Style-Stuffed-Bell-Peppers/.

Ingredients

4 large red or green bell peppers, or a combination, stems, seeds, and ribs discarded, tops chopped and reserved

Cooking spray

1/2 cup chopped onion

3 medium garlic cloves, minced

8 ounces 95% fat-free ground beef

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/8 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup salsa (lowest sodium available)

1 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided use

1/4 cup low-fat shredded 4-cheese Mexican blend

1/4 cup fat-free sour cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

In a microwave oven, place the bell peppers with the cut side up on a paper towel. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 4–5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Transfer with the cut side up to a 9-inch square baking dish or shallow casserole dish.

Meanwhile, lightly spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Cook the chopped bell pepper tops, onion, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the beef. Discard any drippings.

Sprinkle the beef mixture with the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salsa. Remove from the heat.

Gently stir in the beans and cup cilantro. Spoon the beef mixture into the peppers. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the Mexican blend cheese over the beef mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Top the peppers with the sour cream. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro.

HUNGARIAN CABBAGE WITH NOODLES

This recipe is from Barbara Rolek on The Spruce Eats. Barbara wrote, “This Hungarian comfort-food dish known as kaposztás tészta is a simple recipe to make, consisting of cabbage, onion, butter, egg noodles, salt, and pepper.

“Cabbage with noodles is a popular and easy dish common throughout Eastern Europe. In Poland, it's called kapusta z kluski or hałuski, in the Czech Republic, it's known as nudle s zelí, and Slovaks call it haluski (without the accent on the "L" as in Polish).

“This can be a strictly vegetarian dish, sometimes with added sautéed mushrooms, or can be enhanced with bacon or other smoked meat, and it makes a terrific side dish or main-course offering that holds up well on a buffet table. If this recipe doesn't tickle your fancy, there are many more Eastern European cabbage recipes to choose from.

Total: 50 mins; Prep: 20 mins; Cook: 30 mins; Yield: 6 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 large head cabbage (cored and shredded)

1 large onion (chopped)

8 ounces butter (2 sticks)

Salt (to taste)

Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

1 pound medium Hungarian egg noodles (homemade or store-bought, cooked)

Directions

Gather the ingredients.

In a large skillet or Dutch oven, sauté cabbage and onion in butter until golden brown and tender.

Season with salt and pepper.

Mix with cooked egg noodles. Adjust seasonings and rewarm if necessary to serve piping hot.

Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

Add 1 cup sliced button, cremini or other mushrooms to the skillet with the cabbage and onion, and cook until they are all golden brown and tender.

Before serving, add 1 cup cooked, crumbled or diced bacon to the cabbage, onion, and noodles mixture.

After mixing the cabbage and onion with the noodles, add 1 cup chopped ham combining well and rewarm to serve hot.

More Hungarian Noodle Recipes

Basic Hungarian Noodle Dough Recipe: This egg dough can be transformed into thin noodles, wide noodles and everything in between.

Tarhonya or Grated Egg Noodles Recipe: These noodles are made by grating chunks of noodle dough instead of rolling and cutting. They are dried and used in soups or browned in butter as a side dish.

More About Hungarian Noodles

Hungarian egg noodles, known as Magyar tojasos teszta (MAHG-yahr toy-YAH-shohss TESS-tah) or metelt (MEH-telt), come in a staggering number of varieties, rivaled possibly only by Italian pasta.

Hungarians roll them, cut them, pinch them, grate them, and drop them. There's a noodle for every dish and a dish for every noodle.

Teszta is actually the Hungarian word for "dough" and metelt means "noodles," but they are used interchangeably.

When the word tojasos is added, we're talking about egg noodles, the pride of Hungarian cuisine. They are made with three simple ingredients—flour, eggs, and salt—and, in some kitchens, not even any salt.

No water or oil is added to authentic Hungarian noodle recipes because many cooks feel the addition of water creates longer drying times and increases the potential for the noodles to mold when stored.

BEST EVER NO FAT BANANA BREAD

This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Serves: 16; Preparation time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

2 very ripe bananas, mashed

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 egg substitutes

1/4 cup water or soymilk

1 2/3 cups flour of choice (I use whole wheat)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

cinnamon to taste (I use several shakes worth)

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees & spray a 9 inch square pan with non-stick cooking spray. If using a standard loaf pan, increase heat to 350.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together first five ingredients until well incorporated.

In a medium bowl, mix the remaining ingredients.

Dump flour mixture into the wet and stir just until uniformly moist. DO NOT OVERMIX! Depending on the type of flour you use, you may need to add a little extra water or soymilk to reach the right consistency. The dough should be somewhere in between pancake batter and cookie dough.

Dump into prepared pan and give it a couple shakes to distribute the batter.

Place on the middle oven rack and bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes. (If using a standard loaf pan, increase baking time.) Check the bread at around 30 minutes. It is done when just starting to brown around the edges and still a little moist looking in the middle. Allow to cool ten minutes before cutting into squares or slices.

The recipe ends with, “Cover and hide the bread so no one else eats it!!”

APRICOT-ORANGE CHICKEN WITH GLAZED ONIONS

Yield: 4 servings; Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe

Source: Express Lane Diabetic Cooking

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/9.shtml

View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/454.shtml

Ingredients

1 whole roasted deli chicken, skinned

3 tablespoons no-added-sugar apricot preserves, divided

3 tablespoons no-added-sugar orange marmalade, divided

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, divided

Nonstick cooking spray

1 large onion, quartered

1 clove garlic, minced

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In small bowl, blend 1 tablespoon each apricot preserves, marmalade, and vinegar.

Place chicken in baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Add water to pan to a depth of 1/4-1/2 inch. Brush chicken with preserve mixture. Combine the remaining preserves, marmalade, vinegar, onion, and garlic and spoon around the chicken.

Roast, covered, for 25 minutes. Uncover and roast for 10 more minutes, until onion is tender.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 278; Protein: 34 g; Sodium: 110 mg; Cholesterol: 100 mg; Fat: 9 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g; Exchanges: 1 Carbohydrate, 4 Lean Meat

OLD-FASHIONED MEATLOAF

This comes from Verywellfit, and begins, “This lighter meatloaf recipe is similar to the one most of us enjoyed during our childhoods, but without all of the extra fat. Choose a lean ground beef or, better yet, ground turkey to cut down on the fat. And since you can't make meatloaf without breadcrumbs, why not replace the white, unrefined with whole wheat for added fiber? Also, using two egg whites in place of one whole egg will reduce the calories and fat while still helping to bind the mixture together.”

Total Time: 70; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 8

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 pounds ground meat (85% to 90% lean, or ground turkey)

1 cup breadcrumbs (whole wheat)

1/4 cup onion (finely chopped or 1 tablespoon dehydrated onion flakes)

2 cloves garlic (minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)

1 teaspoon mustard powder

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon sage

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 large egg whites

1/4 cup water (or low-fat milk)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients. Mix well, using your hands, but don't overmix because you will toughen the meat.

Turn mixture into a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips, and bake for about 1 hour.

To be sure the meatloaf is done, insert an instant-read meat thermometer into the center of the loaf. The temperature should register 155F when it is done.

About 10 to 15 minutes before you think the meatloaf will be done, you can cover it with barbecue sauce if you like.

International Meatloaf

If you are looking for a different kind of meatloaf, try kofta kebabs, a Middle Eastern grilled ground meat recipe. The spices in this meat mixture (traditionally lamb) are a delicious change of pace from the usual. If you don't have the time or inclination to place them on skewers, you can make them into oblong-oval shapes that look like sausages without the casings.

STRAWBERRY 'ICE CREAM' CAKE

Of course, it does help to have the occasional dessert, right? This one, from page 80 of the March 2016 issue of Vegetarian Times, starts off, “Sssshhh … don’t tell kids this delicious dessert is actually just good-for-them yogurt and fruit with a few graham crackers and waffle cones thrown in for crunch.” I'm not telling, if you're not! Serves 12.

To view this yummy recipe online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/strawberry-ice-cream-cake/.

Ingredients

15 full graham crackers

5 waffle cones

1 20-oz. bag whole frozen strawberries

1 32-oz. container honey-flavored Greek yogurt

2 Tbs. honey

Directions

Line 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper, and set aside.

Pulse graham crackers in food processor with 1 to 2 tsp. water until crumbly and moist. Transfer to bowl.

Pulse waffle cones in food processor until crumbly. Transfer to separate bowl.

Bring strawberries to a simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes, or until soft and liquid starts to fill bottom of pan. Cool completely.

Stir together yogurt and honey. Set aside.

Press graham cracker crumbs on bottom of prepared springform pan. Spread half of yogurt, then half of strawberries, then half of crumbled waffle cones in pan. Repeat layering, ending with a sprinkling of waffle cones. Freeze at least 3 hours, or until frozen. Let sit at room temperature 1 hour before serving.

nutritional information Per Per slice: Calories: 250; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 39 g; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Sodium: 107 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 25 g

Meatless Monday

It's time for another Meatless Monday. Today's six yummy vegetarian recipes include Mediterranean Quinoa Stuffed Peppers and Minted Yogurt Parfait. Enjoy!

FRUIT-GRANOLA CRUMBLE

This recipe and the next (Minted Yogurt Parfait) are found in an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.

Servings: 6

3 C fresh blueberries

4 thinly sliced fresh peaches (about 1 1/4 lb or 4 c) or 1 lb frozen sliced peaches, thawed

1/3 C sugar

2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 C granola (without dried fruit), large pieces broken apart

1/2 C walnut halves, chopped

1 1/2 Tbsp butter

Heat oven to 375°F.

Mix blueberries and peaches in 8" x 8" pan.

Combine sugar, flour, ginger, and salt and then stir into fruit. Top with granola and walnuts and dot with butter.

Bake until fruit is bubbly, about 45 minutes. Cool at least 5 minutes. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold.

NUTRITION (per serving) 310 cal, 5 g pro, 55 g carb, 6 g fiber, 10 g fat, 2.5 g sat fat, 280 mg sodium

MINTED YOGURT PARFAIT

Servings: 4

2 1/2 C fresh blueberries

2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint

2 Tbsp honey

1 tsp freshly grated orange zest (from 1 orange), optional

1/4 C pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped

1 C vanilla frozen yogurt

Toss together blueberries, mint, honey, orange zest (if using), and 3 tablespoons of the pecans in bowl.

Spoon about half of the berry mixture into 4 glasses.

Top each with 2 tablespoons of the frozen yogurt.

Divid remaining berries among the glasses and top each with 2 more tablespoons yogurt. Sprinkle with remaining pecans.

NUTRITION (per serving) 180 cal, 4 g pro, 32 g carb, 3 g fiber, 6 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 30 mg sodium

KIWI-BLUEBERRY TART

This was found in an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.

SERVINGS: 4

2 store-bought pie doughs

4 mini tart pans

2/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1 tbsp light brown sugar

1 1/4 cups quartered sliced kiwifruit

1/4 cup blueberries

Heat oven to 375°F. Unroll 2 store-bought pie doughs and cut into 4 circles (5 1/2" diameter).

Press into 4 mini tart pans with removable bottoms (about 4 3/4" diameter). Prick with fork and freeze until firm, 10 minutes.

Line tart shells with foil and pie weights (or dried beans) and bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Remove foil and pie weights and bake until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Let cool completely.

Stir together 2/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream and 1 Tbsp light brown sugar. Remove shells from pans and top evenly with sour cream mixture, 1 1/4 cups quartered sliced kiwifruit, and 1/4 cup blueberries.

NUTRITION (per serving) 308.2 cal, 3.7 g pro, 36.6 g carb, 1.9 g fiber, 18 g fat, 8.5 g sat fat, 276.4 mg sodium

BROCCOLI RABE LASAGNA

This comes from David Tanis, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. David wrote, “Broccoli rabe (sometimes spelled raab, or known as rapini greens) is one of the most delicious members of the mustard green family. The leaves, tender stems and broccoli-like buds have a distinctive pleasant bitterness when cooked. For this vegetarian lasagna, some of the cooked greens are puréed to make a garlicky pesto and the rest is coarsely chopped and added to the layers.” Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; makes 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

For the Béchamel Sauce:

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups half-and-half, heated, plus a little more if necessary

Salt and pepper

Pinch of cayenne

Grated nutmeg, to taste

For the Lasagna:

1 pound dry lasagna noodles

Salt and pepper

2 bunches broccoli rabe, about 2 pounds

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound ricotta cheese

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

4 tablespoons butter

4 ounces grated Parmesan, about 2 cups, or a combination of Parmesan and pecorino

Preparation

Make the béchamel: Melt butter in a small saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook for a minute over medium heat without browning. Gradually whisk in half-and-half, 1/2 cup at a time, to obtain a smooth, lightly thickened sauce. Turn heat to low. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, some ground black pepper, the cayenne and nutmeg. Cook, whisking, for 4 to 5 minutes, then place saucepan in a hot-water bath to keep sauce warm. Thin if necessary with a little more half-and-half.

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to the boil. Add lasagna noodles and cook for 5 minutes. Lift noodles from water with a spider and rinse well in a bowl of cold water. Drain and lay noodles flat on a kitchen towel.

Using the same cooking water, blanch the greens for 1 minute, until just wilted. Rinse greens with cool water, squeeze dry and chop them roughly. Put 1 cup of chopped greens, the minced garlic and ?1/2 cup olive oil in a food processor or blender and purée to make a pesto. Season with salt and pepper to taste and transfer to a small bowl.

Mix the ricotta and lemon zest in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Organize to have all ingredients within easy reach for assembling lasagna. Use 2 tablespoons butter to grease an 8-by-10-inch baking dish.

Assemble the lasagna: Put a layer of cooked noodles on the bottom of the baking dish. Spoon a quarter of the béchamel over noodles, then dot with a third of the ricotta. Complete layer with chopped greens, a drizzle of pesto and some grated cheese. Continue layering, finishing with a layer of pasta. Spread the last of the béchamel on top and sprinkle with Parmesan. (There should be 4 layers of pasta and 3 layers of filling.)

Dot with remaining butter and bake, covered with foil, for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for 20 minutes more, until nicely browned and bubbling. Let lasagna rest 10 minutes before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA STUFFED PEPPERS

This is from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RN, LD on VeryWell.com. Kaleigh wrote, "When your blood pressure is high, it’s important to include plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and fiber in your diet. Stuffed bell peppers incorporate all of these into one convenient meal. This Mediterranean version includes whole grain quinoa, chickpeas, and plenty of vegetables, which all provide filling fiber. The bright red peppers and tomatoes also provide vitamins A and C and the antioxidant lycopene for a nutritious punch.

"Stuffed peppers are easy to prepare and hold up well in the refrigerator for lunches during the week. You can customize what you add to them. Switch up the grains with brown rice or farro if you have it, or add different beans and vegetables that need to be used up. You can also add cooked chicken or steak if you want to add a little more protein if you plan to eat the peppers by themselves."

Total Time: 35 min; Prep 10 min, Cook 25 min; Yield 2 peppers (346 calories)

To view this online, click here. To check out Kaleigh's website, go to Lively Table.

Ingredients

2 large red bell peppers

1 cup cooked quinoa

1 cup low sodium cooked chickpeas

1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

2 tablespoons pine nuts

2 tablespoons sliced black olives

1 clove garlic

1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Chopped parsley, for serving (optional)

PreparationHeat oven to 350F.

Cut bell peppers vertically down the center in half and remove stems and seeds. Place peppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat.

In a mixing bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Scoop mixture into pepper halves.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until peppers are soft but still hold their shape. Remove from oven and sprinkle with parsley before serving (optional).

Ingredient Variations and Substitutions

You may use cooked brown rice or other grain, such as farro, in place of the quinoa.

Include any vegetables that you have in your refrigerator that need to be used.

Cooking and Serving Tips

Serve these stuffed peppers hot as a vegetarian dinner or cold as lunch or serve one pepper half as a side dish.

CREAMY VEGAN MAYO-FREE POTATO SALAD

This is from Brittany at I Love Vegan and begins, “Good ol’ potato salad is a quintessential summer salad and a staple at barbeques and potlucks. This creamy vegan potato salad is made without mayo! 30 minutes of active cooking time. Makes 4 cups.”

Prep 30 mins; Cook 25 mins; Inactive 2 hours, 15 mins; Total 3 hours, 10 mins; Yield 4 cups

This can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 - 1.5lb bag of The Little Potato Company’s Blushing Belle Creamer potatoes

1/2 cup Coconut milk (full-fat)

1/3 cup Nutritional yeast flakes

1/4 cup Canola oil (or other neutral-tasting vegetable oil)

3 tbsp Dill pickle juice (or 2 tbsp white vinegar)

1 tbsp Granulated sugar (evaporated cane sugar)

1 tsp Hot mustard

1 1/2 tsp Sea salt, plus more to taste

Black pepper, to taste

1/4 cup Chopped fresh dill

1/4 cup Thin-sliced celery (approx. 1 rib celery)

1/4 cup Grated carrot (approx. 1 medium carrot)

1/4 cup Chopped green onion (approx. 4-5 shoots)

2-3 tbsp minced shallot (soaked in salt water) (approx. 1 small shallot)

2 tbsp Chopped dill pickle (approx. 1 large pickle)

Instructions

Begin cooking the potatoes while you prep the vegetables and the dressing. In a large pot of cold water, heat the potatoes over high heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the largest potato is fork-tender in the center. Once the potatoes are cooked, drain and set aside to cool slightly.

While the potatoes are cooking, combine coconut milk, nutritional yeast, canola oil, pickle juice, sugar, hot mustard, sea salt, and black pepper. Mix vigorously and set aside. Prepare the dill, celery, carrot, green onion, shallot, and pickle.

Once the potatoes are just cool enough to handle, halve them and transfer them to a large bowl. (Refer to recipe notes for tips on changing the texture of the potato salad)

Cover the warm potatoes with dressing and add all of the chopped vegetables. Mix roughly and thoroughly to the help break up the potatoes and thicken the dressing.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours (until thoroughly chilled – overnight is best so there’s plenty of time for the dressing to thicken.)

Mix well, taste and adjust seasoning to suit your preferences.

Notes

Depending on your personal preferences, it's easy to adjust the texture of this potato salad. I coarsely mashed the halved potatoes for a thick salad with different-sized chunky pieces of potato. For a more evenly textured potato salad, dice 2/3 of the warm potatoes and thoroughly mash the remaining potatoes. If you prefer a mashed potato salad, fully mash the potatoes.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Friday Recipes

It's last Friday in summer. Where does the time go?

Whatever your feelings about the coming autumn, we still have to eat through the weekend. To that end, today's offering include Baked Ham with Honey Glaze and Strawberry Cobbler. Enjoy!

CHAPLI BURGERS

This comes from Samin Nosrat on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Samin wrote, “This recipe is inspired by the thin, heavily spiced Pakistani patties known as chapli kebabs, which are typically drizzled with green chutney and served wrapped in warm naan. This version replaces naan with buns and welcomes the classic crunch of iceberg lettuce. But what really sets these burgers apart are the other flavorful toppings and condiments: thinly sliced onions, tomatoes and cucumbers, a creamy herbed yogurt, and tomato ketchup spiked with tamarind paste. Take a few extra minutes to put together the sauces — the mouthwatering tang, sweetness, creaminess and spice they'll add will make all the difference.”

Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 30 minutes.

You can view this online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019435-chapli-burgers.

Ingredients

For Burgers:

1 tablespoon coriander seeds

Sea salt

2 tablespoons fresh or dried pomegranate seeds

1 pound ground beef

1/2 small yellow onion, minced

1/2 medium tomato, finely chopped and drained of juice

1 clove garlic, finely grated or pounded

1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger

1/2 jalapeño, seeded and minced

1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes

1 teaspoon garam masala

1 teaspoon cumin powder

1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems

1 egg

Neutral oil for cooking

To Serve:

Burger buns

Iceberg lettuce

Tamarind ketchup (see recipe)

Herbed yogurt (see recipe)

Sliced Persian cucumbers, red onions and tomatoes

Preparation

Place coriander seeds in a small saucepan, and set over medium heat. Swirling pan, lightly toast seeds for 2 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat, and finely pound in a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt (alternatively, use a spice grinder or small food processor). Add pomegranate seeds, and coarsely pound (it’s fine if the inner seed does not break down). Scrape paste into a large mixing bowl.

Add beef, onion, tomato, garlic, ginger, 1/2 jalapeño, pepper flakes, garam masala, cumin, 1/4 cup cilantro, egg and 2 teaspoons salt. Use hands to knead mixture until combined.

Fry a quarter-size piece of the mixture, and taste. Adjust seasoning with salt and spices.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide meat mixture onto parchment into 6 balls, and flatten into thin, 4-inch-round patties.

Set a large cast-iron pan over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. When it shimmers, lay three patties into the pan, and cook for 2 minutes on each side until browned, then set aside on a plate. Drain grease from pan, and wipe with a paper towel, then cook remaining patties. (Alternatively, grill burgers over high heat for 2 minutes per side until browned.)

Serve immediately on toasted buns with tamarind ketchup, herbed yogurt and other garnishes.

Tip

Patties can be formed, covered and refrigerated up to one day in advance. Bring to room temperature before cooking. The burgers won’t be complete without the tamarind ketchup and herbed yogurt, which take only a few minutes to make and add welcome creaminess, sweetness and tang.

HERBED YOGURT

This comes from Samin Nosrat on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Samin wrote, “This simple sauce comes together quickly to provide a welcome creaminess and tang to Chapli burgers, kebabs, stewed chickpeas and fried potatoes alike.”

Yield: About 1/2 cup; Time: 15 minutes.

This was featured in “A Burger, But Better”, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro

1 teaspoon finely chopped mint

1 teaspoon minced jalapeño

Sea salt

Preparation

In a small bowl, stir together yogurt, cilantro, mint, jalapeño and a pinch of salt. Taste, and adjust seasoning as needed.

TAMARIND KETCHUP

The final of today's recipes from Samin Nosrat on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Samin wrote, “A touch of tamarind paste lends tomato ketchup an edgy pucker. Spread this sauce all over Chapli burgers, kebabs, fried potatoes or anywhere else you'd think to use the plain stuff.”

Yield: About 1/3 cup; Time: 5 minutes

This was featured in “A Burger, But Better”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019439-tamarind-ketchup.

Ingredients

1/3 cup ketchup

4 teaspoons tamarind paste

Preparation

In a small bowl, stir together ketchup and tamarind paste.

BAKED HAM WITH HONEY GLAZE

This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 18 to 20 servings.

Ingredients

10 to 12 lb. fully cooked bone in ham

Whole cloves

1/2 c. honey

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. dry mustard

1 Tbsp. orange juice

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place ham, fat side up, on rack in roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer in thickest part. Bake, uncovered, 2 hours.

With sharp knife, remove skin, if any; then score fat into 1 inch diamonds; stud each with a clove.

Combine honey, sugar, mustard and orange juice in 1 quart saucepan. Over medium heat bring to a boil while stirring. Brush half of honey glaze over ham; bake 30 minutes. Brush with rest of glaze; bake 30 minutes until golden and thermometer reads 130 degrees. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes before carving.

STRAWBERRY COBBLER

This was posted at Vegetarian Times on July 11, 2019, and begins, “Serve this delicately sweet dessert warm or at room temperature, or cover, and refrigerate up to two days.”

Makes 6 servings.

View this online here.

Ingredients

6 cups fresh strawberries, halved

3/4 cup sugar, divided

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. flour, divided

1 Tbs. lemon juice

1/8 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt

3 1/2 Tbs. nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat 11- x 7-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Toss together strawberries, 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. sugar, 2 Tbs. flour, and lemon juice in bowl. Transfer to prepared baking dish.

Whisk together remaining 1/2 cup flour, remaining 2 Tbs. sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in separate bowl. Add shortening, and mix well with fork until mixture is crumbly. Stir in 1/2 cup water. Spread over strawberry mixture. Bake 20 to 30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

CHEESE & BEAN ENCHILADAS

This is from MyDailyMoment.com, and begins, “Ole! Ole! Life without Mexican is boring! Spice up your dinner with this bean and cheese enchilada recipe. It will leave you saying Cha, Cha Cha!”

Serves: 4

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

8 large corn tortillas

1 teaspoon oil

1 green pepper, chopped

2 small onions

3 tablespoons chili powder

3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

3/4 teaspoon onion powder

1 2/3 cups cooked kidney beans, or 1 can, drained

1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese

1 1/2 cups tomato puree or sauce (1 10.75 oz. can)

2 ounces shredded Monterey jack cheese

Directions

Soften tortillas if needed by wrapping in a damp paper towel and microwaving on high for 30 seconds. Cook onion and green pepper in oil until soft. Drain beans and mash. Add 2 tbsp. of the chili powder, ½ tsp. of the garlic powder, 3 tbsp. of the tomato puree or sauce, and the mashed beans and cottage cheese to the onions and green pepper. Mix well. Place 3 tbsp. of the bean and cheese mixture on each tortilla. Roll tortillas up and place in a baking dish. In a small bowl, combine remainder of tomato puree, remainder of the garlic powder, and all the onion powder. Stir well. Pour the seasoned tomato puree or sauce over the enchiladas, and top with Monterey jack. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, until heated through and cheese on top is melted. Ready in 50 min.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Double-Post Thursday

Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Today's offerings include 30-Minutes Chili with Ground Beef and Beans and Honey Bee Ambrosia. Enjoy!

FABULOUS VEGAN FUDGE CAKE WITH BITTERSWEET ICING

This recipe, from the September 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 66, begins, “'I’ve tried vegan cake recipes in the past, but didn’t like the sour taste of the vinegar that is usually used to activate the leavening,' says single mom and café manager Shelly Platten. 'I tinkered with some recipes that didn’t use vinegar to come up with a fudgy, satisfying cake.'” Serves 8.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups Bob’s Red Mill organic unbleached white flour

1 2/3 cups Florida Crystals organic cane sugar, divided

1 1/3 cups Chatfield’s cocoa powder, divided

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup Silk vanilla soymilk, divided

1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup canola oil, divided

1 cup toasted chopped hazelnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9-inch round pan with parchment paper, and spray with cooking spray.

Whisk together flour, 1 cup sugar, 2/3 cup cocoa, baking soda, and salt in bowl. Whisk together 2/3 cup soymilk, 1/3 cup oil, and 1/2 cup water in separate bowl. Stir soymilk mixture into flour mixture. Spread in prepared pan, and bake 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Unmold onto plate.

Warm remaining 2/3 cup cocoa, 2/3 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup oil in saucepan over medium heat. Pour in remaining 1/3 cup soymilk, and cook 1 minute, or until smooth. Spread icing over warm cake, and sprinkle with hazelnuts.

from the September 2012 issue, p.66

nutritional information

Per Slice:

Calories: 525; Protein: 5 g; Total Fat: 25 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 67 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 315 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 43 g

30-MINUTE CHILI WITH GROUND BEEF AND BEANS

This comes from Diana Rattray, a southern food cook on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “This ground beef chili is hearty and delicious, and it takes only 30 minutes from start to finish! Don't feel overwhelmed by the list of ingredients, many are suggested toppings.

“The ground beef is quickly browned, then it is combined with a spice mixture, beans, and tomatoes for a quick and easy meal for a busy day. It's also easy on the budget.

“Make a pan of cornbread to go with the chili, along with a salad or slaw, or serve it with hot cooked rice and warm tortillas.

“If you're making this for a party game day gathering, offer several toppings with the chili and add a bowl of tortilla chips to the menu. The recipe is easily doubled.”

Total Time: 30 mins; PrepTime: 5 mins; Cook: 25 mins; Yield: 6 Servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

For the Seasoning Mix:

3 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons onion (dried minced)

1 1/2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

For the Chili:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef (at least 85% lean)

1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes

1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes with mild green chile peppers*

1 can/8 ounces tomato sauce

1 can/15 to 16 ounces black beans (undrained)

salt to taste

Optional: shredded cheddar, cheddar-jack, or a Mexican blend of cheeses

For Toppings (optional):

sour cream

green onion (chopped)

red onion (chopped)

lettuce (shredded)

cilantro

guacamole

tomatoes (diced)

Directions

In a small bowl or cup, combine the chili powder with the dried minced onion, cumin, oregano, sugar, garlic powder, and the black and cayenne peppers. Blend well and set aside.

In a Dutch oven or large sauté pan over medium heat, brown the ground beef, turning and breaking up with a spatula as it cooks.

Drain the ground beef well. Return the beef to the pan over medium heat. Add the chili seasoning mix and stir to blend.

Add the 2 cans of tomatoes, tomato sauce, and undrained black beans. Stir to blend ingredients.

Bring the chili to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.

Taste and add salt, as needed.

Serve with a Tex-Mex cornbread or classic Southern cornbread, biscuits, crackers, or tortilla chips, along with shredded cheese and your favorite toppings.

Tip

If you don't have diced tomatoes with chile peppers, use regular diced tomatoes and add mild green chile peppers. Or, use about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of chunky mild to medium salsa in place of the second can of tomatoes.

EASY HOMEMADE MEATLOAF

Servings: 6

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/45.shtml

Ingredients

1 egg

2 tablespoons green pepper, chopped fine

2 cups lean ground round (15% fat or less)

1 teaspoon salt

2 slice bread, cubed fine

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 cup catsup

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

1/3 cup onion, chopped fine

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix all ingredients well.

Form into a loaf.

Place in foil-lined 5x9 pan.

Bake until done (15-20 minutes).

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 258; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 15 g; Carbohydrates: 7.5 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Bread; 3 Lean-Meat; 1-1/2 Fat

PUFF PUFF

This is from Yewande Komolafe in the The New York Times cooking email. Yewande wrote, “The genius of puff puff is in the simplicity of the dough: A nutmeg-spiked batter, a bit of patience for the yeast to rise and time to fry up the balls will result in the most delightful little puffs. If the batter seems wet, you are on the right track. The consistency should be similar to a yeasted pancake or waffle batter. Tossing the fried dough in spiced sugar is optional, but recommended: The added layer creates an irresistible crunch. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.”

Yield: 8 to 10 servings (about 32 puffs); Time: 30 minutes, plus rising

This was featured in “Yewande Komolafe’s 10 Essential Nigerian Recipes” and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020287-puff-puff.

Ingredients

For the Puff Puff:

1 1/2 cups warm water or whole milk (110 degrees)

4 teaspoons active dry yeast

2/3 cup granulated sugar

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg

3 to 4 cups canola oil or other neutral oil, for frying

For the Spiced Sugar:

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Pinch of ground cloves

Preparation

In a small bowl, whisk together the warm water, yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let sit until foamy, 8 to 10 minutes.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, nutmeg and the remaining sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture once it’s foamy. Combine, stirring with a wooden spoon, to incorporate all the ingredients into a smooth batter. The batter should be wet and slightly loose, similar to a yeasted waffle batter.

Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel, and allow dough to double in size, about 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the spiced sugar: In a medium bowl, toss the sugar, nutmeg, allspice and cloves to combine; set aside.

Pour 1 inch of oil into a large, deep skillet. Line a baking sheet with a rack or paper towels to absorb excess oil.

Once the batter has doubled in size, heat the oil over medium-high to 350 degrees. Drop tablespoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, working in batches to avoid crowding the skillet. Fry the puff puff, turning frequently until golden brown all over and cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes per batch. (Be careful not to let the oil get too hot or the exteriors will become overly dark before the interiors are cooked through.) Move the puff puff to the rack or paper towels to drain and repeat the process until all the batter has been fried.

Toss the puff puff in the spiced sugar to coat while still warm. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

VEGETABLE MANICOTTI

This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. It begins, “A great back-to-school recipe, this manicotti can be prepared in advance and kept frozen until you are ready to bake them.” Yields: 6 servings

1/2 cup carrots, shredded

1/2 cup zucchini, shredded

1 cup spinach, chopped

2 cups plain yogurt cheese

1 tablespoon Italian parsley, chopped

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon basil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3 eggs

1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

12 manicotti shells, cooked

1 32oz jar tomato sauce

Using layered cheesecloth, strain the whey from 1 quart of yogurt overnight to make yogurt cheese. One quart of yogurt will yield approximately 2 cups of yogurt cheese.

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil, and cook manicotti noodles until still slightly firm, being careful not to overcook. Drain noodles, rinse with cold water.

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a 9x13 baking dish, coat the bottom of the dish with 4 tablespoons of tomato sauce. Set aside.

In large mixing bowl, fold vegetables, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, herbs, salt, pepper & eggs into yogurt cheese. Using a spoon, gently fill the manicotti shells with the cheese & vegetable mixture & place in the baking dish. Once shells have been filled, top manicotti with remaining tomato sauce. Bake for 25 minutes. Top with remaining shredded cheese & bake for an additional 15 minutes or until cheese is golden brown. Serve warm.

HONEY BEE AMBROSIA

This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

4 medium oranges

1 medium banana

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup honey

2 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 cup flaked coconut

Pare oranges. Cut crosswise into thin slices. Place in serving bowl. Peel bananas. Cut thin slices. Place in the bowl with oranges. Toss fruits. Blend orange juice, honey & lemon juice. Pour over fruits. Sprinkle with coconut.

Diabetic Thursday

It's Diabetic Thursday, the time of week to explore how truly yummy diabetic food can be. Yes, it really can taste good, as today's six recipes prove, including Chocolate Filled Cake Roll and Lemon Basil Pesto with Fresh Vegetables. Enjoy!

LEMON CAESAR SALAD

Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

Source: Manitoba Canola Growers Association

Photo & Print Version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1213.shtml

Ingredients

1 head Romaine lettuce, washed and trimmed, cut into bite size pieces

1-1/2 cups grape tomatoes

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 garlic clove, minced

1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp dry mustard

1 tsp lemon zest

1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 (2 oz) can anchovies

1 cup canola oil

4 thick slices whole grain bread, cut into cubes

2 Tbsp canola oil

2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

dash of pepper

1 Tbsp Italian parsley, very finely chopped

Directions

In a large salad bowl, prepare lettuce and toss with tomatoes. Cover and refrigerate while preparing the dressing.

Combine lemon juice, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, lemon zest, freshly ground pepper and Parmesan cheese in a food processor. Blend on high speed for 30 seconds. With processor running, add canola oil in a fine stream and continue to blend until smooth.

Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Toss bread with canola oil, Parmesan cheese, pepper and Italian parsley. Spread on lightly greased baking sheet and bake about 20 minutes, until croutons are golden.

Pour desired amount of dressing over salad, add croutons and toss lightly. Top the salad with additional Parmesan cheese shavings. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 490 ; Protein: 9 g; Fat: 46 g ; Sodium: 570 mg; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Saturated Fat: 4.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g

CHOCOLATE FILLED CAKE ROLL

Servings: 4 (1/2 cup)

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/118.shtml

Ingredients

Cake:

5 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

3 packets of Sweet'n Low

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon baking powder

Filling:

2 cups skim milk

1 package sugar-free chocolate instant pudding mix

Topping:

2 teaspoons sugar-free cocoa mix

Directions

Preheat oven to 400F.

Grease and line the bottom of a 10x15" jelly roll pan with waxed paper.

Beat eggs in a large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy.

Sprinkle sugar, Sweet'n Low and vanilla over eggs; continue beating for 2 minutes.

Sift flour, cornstarch, and baking powder together.

Sprinkle half the mixture over batter; fold in with spatula.

Repeat with remaining flour mixture.

Spread batter evenly in pan.

Bake on center rack in oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until cake is golden and springs back when lightly touched.

Arrange a towel on work surface and cover with aluminum foil.

Loosen edges of cake; unmold on foil.

Roll cake jelly roll style, using towel as a guide.

Leave cake rolled until it cools into jelly roll shape.

To make filling, blend milk with pudding mix according to package directions.

Refrigerate pudding until it thickens.

Unroll cake, spread evenly with pudding, and reroll.

Lightly sprinkle sugar-free cocoa over the top to decorate.

Cut into 1" slices and serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 122; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 197 mg; Cholesterol: 92 mg; Carbohydrates: 21 g; Exchanges: 1 Fruit; 1/2 Skim Milk; 1/2 Fat; 1 Starch

BLACK BEAN AND CHORIZO SOUP

This recipe begins, "This hearty Black bean soup will warm you up on a cold day."

Yield: 10 servings. 1/2 cup per serving.

Photo/Print: http://diabeticgourment.com/recipes/html/1204.shtml

Ingredients

1 Tbsp canola oil

1/2 onion, cubed

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tomato, deseeded and chopped

1 ancho chile, seeded, soaked in hot water

1 pasilla pepper, seeded, soaked in hot water

1 (19 oz) can black beans

1 bouquet garni (1 Tbsp each dried cilantro, oregano, marjoram wrapped in cheesecloth)*

1 lime, halved

4 cup chicken broth

2 Tbsp mezcal or tequila

Salt to taste

6 Tbsp chorizo, fried and crumbled

6 Tbsp low-fat buttermilk

* Bouquet garni is a bundle of herbs used to prepare soup, stock and various stews. The bouquet is boiled with other ingredients, but removed prior to consumption. To make the bouquet, use 1 Tbsp each of dried cilantro, oregano and marjoram and place in cheesecloth to form a bundle.

Directions

In deep pan or pot, heat canola oil at high heat and add onion. Saute until brown and add garlic. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in tomatoes and peppers. Cook 15 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid burning.

Combine black beans, bouquet garni, limes and broth with mixture. Cook 5 minutes. Add mezcal or tequila, salt and discard lime halves and herbs. Cook 10 minutes. Blend and season to taste.

Garnish with buttermilk and chorizo.

Tip: If too thick, add more broth

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 180; Protein: 10 g; Fat: 7 g ; Sodium: 310 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g

LEMON BASIL PESTO WITH FRESH VEGETABLES

Yield: Makes 8 servings.

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/914.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups packed basil leaves

1/2 cup packed baby spinach leaves

1/2 cup walnuts

1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated Asiago cheese

2 Tbsp. soft silken tofu

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest

1 large red bell pepper, cut into 3/4" strips

1 pint small cherry tomatoes

Directions

In food processor, pulse basil and spinach until finely chopped. Add nuts and cheese. Whirl until nuts are finely chopped. Add tofu, salt and pepper. With motor running, drizzle in oil. Add lemon zest and whirl to blend. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Makes 1 cup pesto.

To serve, scoop pesto into serving bowl. Set bowl in center of a plate and arrange pepper strips and tomatoes around it. Provide toothpicks so tomatoes can be neatly dipped.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 140; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 180 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 4 g

TART CHERRY PIE

This comes from Diabetic Connect, and starts off, "Tart cherries in a sweet, creamy filling make this a pie that's sure to please."

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 (16 ounce) cans pitted tart cherries (in water - no syrup)

1 large box cook & serve sugar-free vanilla pudding mix

1 small box sugar-free cherry gelatin

Sugar substitute to equal 4 teaspoon sugar

1 baked 9-inch almond flour pie crust (recipe below)

1 1/4 cups almond flour

3 packets of Splenda

4 tablespoons softened butter

Directions

Drain cherries, reserving juice. Set cherries aside.

In a saucepan, combine cherry juice and dry pudding mix. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil and is thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat; stir in gelatin powder and sweetener until dissolved. Stir in the cherries; transfer to pie shell. Cool completely. Store in refrigerator.

Pie Crust: Combine almond flour, splenda, and butter to form a pastry dough. Evenly spread dough in pie tin and bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes until browned.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; Calories 176; Sodium 293 mg; Cholesterol 0; Carbohydrate 24 gm; Protein 3 gm; Fat 8 gm; Diabetic Exchange1 starch; 1/2 fruit

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MINI MUFFINS

Yield: 48 servings

Print Version & Photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/788.shtml

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup light butter, softened

1/3 cup Splenda Sugar Blend

1/3 cup packed Splenda Brown Sugar Blend

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 medium ripe bananas, mashed

1 large egg

1 (12 ounce) package Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 48 mini-muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; set aside.

Combine butter, Splenda Sugar Blend, Splenda Brown Sugar Blend and vanilla in large bowl; beat at medium speed with a mixer until creamy. Beat in bananas and egg.

Gradually mix in flour mixture; stir in morsels. Spoon batter evenly into prepared pan, filling cups 2/3 full.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans on wire rack. Remove muffins from pans to wire rack to cool completely.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 90; Calories from Fat: 35; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 3.5 g; Sodium: 55 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Desserts

Who doesn't love dessert?

I know, someone is sure to think, "Well, there's my Uncle, and my dad..." But most of us love dessert. So, today, here are six dessert recipes, including Key Lime Cream Pie and Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake Minis. Enjoy!

CANNOLI QUESADILLA WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE

This was in an old Weight Watchers email (we're talking more than 10 years ago). The plan has changed several times since then.

This recipe begins, “Whip up this Italian-inspired specialty in honor of Mother’s Day. Topped with a simple strawberry sauce or just sliced strawberries, it’s a sweet treat every mom will love.”

POINTS® Value: 3 (value from when this recipe was emailed); Servings: 4; Preparation Time: 10 min; Cooking Time: 1 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

8 oz fat-free ricotta cheese

3 Tbsp McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, or similar product, or to taste

1/4 tsp almond extract

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

4 medium whole wheat tortilla

5 oz sweetened frozen whole strawberries, partially thawed and pureed (1/2 a 10 oz package), or whole sliced strawberries if you prefer

Directions

Mix together ricotta cheese, Splenda and almond extract by hand in a large bowl until well-combined and smooth; gently fold in chocolate chips. Chill for at least 2 hours (and up to overnight); drain off any liquid.

To soften tortillas, wrap them in layers of paper towels and then microwave them on high for 30 seconds.

Place about 1/4 cup of cheese mixture down the center of each cooled tortilla; fold tortilla over in half (or roll up burrito-style). Drizzle each serving with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of strawberry sauce or top with fresh strawberry slices; serve immediately. Yields 1 cannoli per serving.

Notes: Add more Splenda if you prefer your desserts very sweet. And feel free to top the quesadillas with freshly sliced strawberries when they’re in season. Or you can use a combination of pureed and sliced strawberries.

Note: Okay, this is me talking. I personally would refrain from the Splenda, simply because I'm not a big fan of non-sugar (read not-quite-sure-it's-not-synthetic) sweeteners. But that's my preference. I would use sugar or no sweetener at all. It's your call here.

KEY LIME CREAM PIE

This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter’s Melissa Clark, and post on The TODAY Show’s website. The recipe begins, “Key lime pies are an iconic American dessert. But they're not always so easy to make. They've gotta be decadent but light, cool and creamy ... and this one has it all!

Technique tip: Be sure to allow 2 hours after the pie is cooked to chill. The pie can be made ahead of time and left in the refrigerator up to one day.”

Cook Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 8

Special equipment: Electric mixer

View this here.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 11-12 sheets of crackers)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 tablespoons sugar

4 large egg yolks

One (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest

2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice or regular lime juice (from 5 to 6 limes)

Pinch of fine sea salt

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

1 lime (optional, for garnish)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven. In a large bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate and press crumb mixture into an even layer on the bottom and up the sides.

Place pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg yolks until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the condensed milk, scraping sides if needed. Whisk in lime zest and juice until just combined.

Scrape the mixture into cooled pie shell, then return to oven and bake until filling has just set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours and up to one day.

Just before serving, in the bowl of an electric mixer set with the whisk attachment, beat together cream and confectioners sugar until thick and fluffy. Dollop whipped cream on slices of the cooled pie. If you’d like, grate the zest from a lime over the whipped cream for a gorgeous green accent. Serve.

WATERMELON SORBET

This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 8 servings.

The recipe began, “This fresh sorbet is the perfect dessert for a tropical meal.”

Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 4 cups seeded and pureed watermelon

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 teaspoon lime zest

Directions

In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup watermelon puree and sugar to simmer and remove it from heat. Add lime juice and zest and allow mixture to cool for 20 minutes. Add the 4 cups fresh watermelon puree to melon-lime mixture, then freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.

HOME-STYLE GINGERBREAD

This was originally from about.com, which has changed to dotdash.com. I've checked around, and can't locate this recipe on any of their channels; if anyone happens to find it there, please let me know!

This recipe began, “This wonderful ginger and cinnamon-scented cake is sure to bring a smile to your face, and it's the perfect dessert for a cold winter weekend. Top this warm gingerbread with a generous dollop of fresh sweetened whipped cream and sprinkle with a little cinnamon.”

Ingredients

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 cup molasses

3/4 cup hot water

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Grease & flour 9-inch square baking pan or spray with baking spray with flour. Heat oven to 325°. Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl; beat on low speed of electric mixer until ingredients are combined. Scrape sides of the bowl & increase mixer speed to medium; beat for about 3 minutes longer. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.

Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Cut into squares and serve with freshly whipped cream. To serve leftover gingerbread, warm slightly in the microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds.

This gingerbread freezes well: cut into squares and wrap individually. Thaw & warm in the microwave just before serving.

STRAWBERRY MARGARITA CHEESECAKE MINIS

This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “With plenty of strawberry, lime, and even a pretzel crust (for a nod to the salty rim!) there's only thing missing from this mini cheesecake recipe to make it just like a strawberry margarita: a shot of tequila!”

Prep: 1 hr; Bake: 15 mins at 325°; Cool: 10 mins; Chill: 4 hrs to 1 day; Yield: 36 mini cheesecakes

View this online here.

Ingredients

1 recipe Salted Pretzel Crust (below)

1 1/2 8 ounces tubs cream cheese spread, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons finely shredded lime peel

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1 cup sliced small strawberries

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon lime juice

Finely shredded lime peel (optional)

Salted Pretzel Crust Ingredients

1 3/4 cups pretzel sticks

1/4 cup melted butter

2 tablespoons sugar

Directions

Place pretzel sticks in a resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Crush pretzels with a rolling pin until fine crumbs form (you should have 1 cup). In a medium bowl stir together crushed pretzels, butter, and sugar.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line thirty-six 1 3/4-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside. Prepare Salted Pretzel Crust. Press about 1 1/2 teaspoons pretzel mixture into the bottom and up the side of each muffin cup. Bake for 5 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack.

Meanwhile, for filling, in a medium bowl beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add the 1/2 cup sugar, flour, the 1 1/2 teaspoons lime peel, and vanilla; beat until combined. Add egg; beat on low speed just until combined.

Spoon filling into muffin cups, filling each three-fourths full. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until filling is set. Cool in muffin cups on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove cheesecakes from cups. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.

Before serving, in a small bowl stir together strawberries, the 1 tablespoon sugar, and lime juice. Spoon on top of cheesecakes. If desired, sprinkle with additional lime peel.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 68 calories, (3 g saturated fat, 0 g polyunsaturated fat, 1 g monounsaturated fat), 18 mg cholesterol, 119 mg sodium, 7 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 1 g protein.

DUMP CAKE

This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.

Ingredients

1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling

1 (15 oz) can crushed pineapple

1 (18 oz) pkg. yellow cake mix

8 oz. chopped walnuts

1/2 C. butter (melted)

Directions

In a 9x13 pan mix cherry pie filling and pineapple. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pineapple and cherry mixture, stir until just combined. Then sprinkle walnuts over top. Drizzle top with melted butter. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.