Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Today's double post deals with chicken.
There was a time when chicken was relegated to Sunday dinner. Now, it's an anytime meal. Chicken fast food restaurants seem to be everywhere; even burger places frequently have chicken sandwiches and nuggets. And many picnics and pot luck dinners have at least one or two chicken dishes, whether fried or baked, with or without gravy – there are hundreds of ways to have chicken.
As you probably guessed by now, today's post gives you six tasty ways to fix chicken, including Kung Pao Chicken and No Peek Chicken. Enjoy!
ONE-POT CHICKEN AND POTATOES
This comes from The TODAY Show, and begins, “Get all the homey, satisfying flavors of a roast chicken dinner in one pan -- no carving or trussing necessary. Aromatic garlic, shallots and herbs bring the best out of simple chicken breasts for a filling weeknight meal.” Makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 (1 pound) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 pound Yukon Gold or red potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
Kosher salt
2 cloves large garlic, thinly sliced
Freshly ground black pepper
1 medium shallot, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
Parsley, for optional garnish
Rosemary sprigs, for optional garnish
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375.
Pat the chicken breasts dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Heat the butter and oil in an ovenproof 10- to 12-inch skillet or 4-quart saute pan over medium-high heat until bubbling and steaming. Add the chicken breasts and cook about 2-3 minutes per side until just golden brown.
Remove the chicken from the skillet and add the potatoes, garlic, shallot, rosemary, and sage, tossing to coat in the butter and oil.
Place the chicken on top of the potatoes and transfer to the oven. Bake for 30 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165.
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
CHICKEN IN WINE
This is one of my numerous inventions before I moved out on my own, and can be found in my e-cookbook, titled Off the Wall Cooking, which I'm currently updating.
Ingredients
2 onions, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 T butter
2-3 lb. chicken, cut up
1 tsp mustard
1/4 C red wine (see note)
1 tsp Worchester sauce
1/4 C milk or water
3 T honey
1/2-1 C cornmeal
3 1/2 C tomatoes
6 oz. can tomato paste
salt, pepper, spices to taste (note)
Directions
Brown onions and garlic in butter. Add 2 T honey to milk or water. Dip chicken in milk and honey, then in cornmeal. Add to onions and garlic. Mix other ingredients and pour over chicken. Cover and simmer until done (about 45 minutes). Serve over brown rice.
Note: Alcohol-free wine, water or tomato juice can be used in place of the wine. For the spices, I used a mixture of oregano, marjoram, thyme, savory, and ground lemon peel, for a total of about 2 T (not including salt & pepper), though any spices can be used.
KUNG PAO CHICKEN
This was posted by Daring Gourmet in tbsp. (tablespoon)’s website. She wrote, “One of the most popular dishes throughout China and the Western world alike, this sweet and spicy chicken dish is not for the faint of taste buds. It packs a punch, or should we say, ‘PAO, right in the kisser!’” Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil
6-10 dried hot red chili peppers (or less according to heat preference), seeded and membranes removed (gloves recommended)
1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
3/4 cup dry roasted peanuts
1 bunch green onions (about 6 green onions)
For the Marinade:
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or sherry
3/4 teaspoon cornstarch
For the Sauce:
1/4 cup black Chinese vinegar or dark balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
3 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Directions
Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and pour over the chicken pieces. Toss to coat and let the chicken sit while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl, stirring until the cornstarch and sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Fry the chilies for a few seconds until they turn darker in color.
Add the chicken and marinade and fry until no longer pink. Add the garlic, ginger, and white parts of the green onions and fry for two minutes. Add the sauce and stir until thickened. Reduce the heat to medium-high and stir in the peanuts. Simmer for one minute. Remove from heat and stir in the green onions. Serve immediately with steamed rice.
EASY SHEET-PAN CHICKEN
This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “Crisp-skinned and very juicy, this is a more sophisticated version of the crumb-coated, oven-fried chicken dishes of childhood. In addition to bread crumbs, the chicken is slathered with two kinds of mustard plus fresh thyme and minced garlic, which makes it deeply flavored, bright and complex. And because it calls for only one pan, clean up is minimal. While the recipe calls for bone-in drumsticks and/or thighs, if you prefer boneless white meat, feel free to substitute it, reducing the cooking time by 5 to 10 minutes. Serve this with potatoes – either sweet or white – and your favorite green vegetable or salad. It’s weeknight cooking at its finest.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 1 hour.
This was featured in “Behold, the Sturdy Sheet Pan”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
2 teaspoons chopped thyme leaves
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks (or a mixture), patted dry
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2/3 cup plain dried bread crumbs
Olive oil, for drizzling
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, combine whole-grain mustard, thyme leaves, garlic cloves, butter and Dijon mustard.
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Rub mustard butter mixture all over chicken (some might fall off but that’s O.K.). Place bread crumbs in a wide, shallow bowl, then coat the chicken evenly with bread crumbs. Transfer chicken to a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
Bake until chicken is golden and no longer pink, 35 to 40 minutes.
MISO CHICKEN
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Making a compound of unsalted butter and the salty, fungal deliciousness of Japanese miso paste is a surefire way of adding immense flavor to a simple weeknight meal. Here the mixture is spread over chicken thighs, which are then roasted to golden perfection. But you could easily use it on salmon or flounder, on corn or potatoes. The recipe calls for white miso, which is more mild than the aged version known as red miso. But you could certainly use red for a more intense result.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes.
This was featured in Asian Pantry Essentials and can also be found online by clicking here.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup white miso
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
Black pepper, to taste
8 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, approximately 2 1/2 to 3 pounds
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Combine butter, miso, honey, rice vinegar and black pepper in a large bowl and mix with a spatula or spoon until it is well combined.
Add chicken to the bowl and massage the miso-butter mixture all over it. Place the chicken in a single layer in a roasting pan and slide it into the oven. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, turning the chicken pieces over once or twice, until the skin is golden brown and crisp, and the internal temperature of the meat is 160 to 165 degrees.
NO PEEK CHICKEN
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten email lists.
4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 package dry onion soup mix
1 cup milk or water
3/4 cup rice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken in a baking dish. In a bowl, mix remaining ingredients together. Pour mixture over chicken breasts. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours, remembering not to peek!
Confessions of a Foodie
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Diabetic Thursday
It's time for another Diabetic Thursday. Today's offerings include Beef Teriyaki and Goulash Soup. Enjoy!
VEGETABLE STIR-FRY
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/vegetable-stir-fry
Ingredients
1 pound fresh broccoli
1 teaspoon acceptable margarine
1 teaspoon acceptable vegetable oil
1 pound carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
12 ounces fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced (3-1/2 to 4 cups)
2 to 3 medium green onions, thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup)
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
Pepper to taste
Directions
Separate broccoli florets so they are of small, uniform size. Peel tough stems; cut stems into 2-inch pieces.
In a large skillet or wok, heat margarine and oil over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Stir-fry broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, and green onions for 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 65; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 57 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1 Fat
GOULASH SOUP
Recipe Yield: Servings: 6
Source: Deliciously Healthy Favorite Foods Cookbook
Book Title: Deliciously Healthy Favorite Foods Cookbook
To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/goulash-soup
Ingredients
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 pound lean round steak, cut into 1/2" cubes
4 cups water
1 beef bouillon cube
1-2 tablespoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon Morton Lite Salt Mixture
2 ounces tomato paste (or substitute 1 peeled tomato, cut up)
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
Directions
In a large, heavy soup pot sprayed with non-stick spray, stir-fry onion and garlic until golden brown. Remove from pot and set aside. Re-spray pot with non-stick spray and brown beef cubes over medium-high heat.
Add cooked onion and garlic to pot. Add water, bouillon cube, paprika, Morton Lite Salt Mixture and tomato paste or tomato. Cover and simmer for 4 hours. Add potato and simmer for 15 minutes longer.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 91; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 290 mg; Cholesterol: 23.4 mg; Protein: 10 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Lean Meat, 1/2 Bread/Starch
TUSCAN CHICKEN BREASTS WITH POLENTA
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/tuscan-chicken-breasts-with-polenta.
Ingredients
4 cups defatted low sodium chicken broth
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 skinless chicken breast halves (3 pounds)
Nonstick cooking spray
Fresh spinach leaves, steamed (optional)
Tuscan Tomato Sauce (recipe follows below)
Directions
In a large nonstick saucepan, heat chicken broth to a boil; slowly stir in cornmeal. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring frequently, 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture is very thick and pulls away from side of pan. (Mixture may be lumpy.) Pour polenta into greased 9x5-inch loaf pan. Cool; refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or until firm.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in small bowl; rub on all surfaces of chicken. Arrange chicken, breast side up, in single layer in 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered, about 45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center and juices run clear.
Remove polenta from pan; transfer to cutting board. Cut polenta crosswise into 16 slices. Cut slices into triangles, if desired. Spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Cook polenta about 4 minutes per side or until lightly browned.
Place spinach leaves, if desired, on serving plates. Arrange polenta slices and chicken over spinach; top with Tuscan Tomato Sauce.
TUSCAN TOMATO SAUCE
Makes: About 3 cups
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
2 teaspoons dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Directions
Spray medium nonstick saucepan with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until tender.
Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, rosemary and pepper; heat to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, about 6 minutes or until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 240; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 345 mg; Cholesterol: 69 mg; Protein: 29 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread, 2-1/2 Lean Meat, 1-1/2 Vegetable
CRANBERRY NUT BREAD
Recipe Yield: Servings: 2 large or 4 small loaves; 40 slices
Source: Cinnamon Hearts Newsletter
View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/cranberry-nut-bread
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1-1/4 cups sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups fresh cranberries, chopped
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp orange peel, grated
1/2 cup frozen egg substitute, thawed or 4 large egg whites
1-1/4 cups skim milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
Wax paper
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Mix flours, sugar, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl with a fork. Stir in cranberries, walnuts and orange peel. Set aside.
Beat egg substitute, milk and oil in a small bowl with fork. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture just until flour is moistened. Spoon batter into 2 wax paper-lined loaf pans (9x5x3-inches) or 4 small, wax paper-lined loaf pans. Bake 60 to 65 minutes for large loaves and 45-50 minutes for small loaves, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool bread in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove bread from pans and cool completely.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 97; Fat: 3.8 g; Sodium: 66 mg; Carbohydrates: 15 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch; 1-1/2 Fat
BEEF TERIYAKI
Recipe Yield: Servings: 5
View this online here.
Ingredients
1 pound beef boneless sirloin steak
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup dry sherry, white wine or chicken broth
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoons chopped gingerroot or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon sugar (or sugar substitute)
1 clove garlic, chopped
Directions
Trim fat from beef steak; cut beef into 3/4-inch cubes. Place beef in glass or plastic bowl. Mix remaining ingredients; pour over beef. Cover and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, at least 1 hour.
Thread 6 beef cubes on each of 5 skewers; brush with marinade. Set oven control to broil. Broil kabobs with tops about 4 inches from heat 5 to 6 minutes; turn. Brush with marinade; broil until done, 5 to 6 minutes longer.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 200 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 17 g
Carbohydrates: 1 grams
Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 Low-Fat Meat
CHEWY PINEAPPLE PECAN SQUARES
Recipe Yield: Servings: 24 Squares. Serving Size: 1 square
Source: Cinnamon Hearts Newsletter
View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chewy-pineapple-pecan-squares
Ingredients
1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup Imperial, 30% less fat margarine
1/2 cup toasted, chopped pecans
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
8 oz. crushed pinapple in juice, drained
1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup light sour cream
Directions
Stir flours, sugar and margarine together until mixture is finely crumbled. Stir in nuts.
Press 2 cups of flour mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan which has been sprayed with vegetable coating.
Stir cinnamon, baking soda and salt into remaining flour mixture. Beat in egg, vanilla, light sour cream and vanilla yogurt until blended. Stir in pineapple.
Pour batter evenly over pressed flour mixture in pan. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes or until batter pulls away from sides of pan. Cool slightly before cutting.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 164; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 133 mg; Cholesterol: 6 mg;Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 31 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch; 1 Fat
VEGETABLE STIR-FRY
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/vegetable-stir-fry
Ingredients
1 pound fresh broccoli
1 teaspoon acceptable margarine
1 teaspoon acceptable vegetable oil
1 pound carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
12 ounces fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced (3-1/2 to 4 cups)
2 to 3 medium green onions, thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup)
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
Pepper to taste
Directions
Separate broccoli florets so they are of small, uniform size. Peel tough stems; cut stems into 2-inch pieces.
In a large skillet or wok, heat margarine and oil over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Stir-fry broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, and green onions for 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 65; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 57 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1 Fat
GOULASH SOUP
Recipe Yield: Servings: 6
Source: Deliciously Healthy Favorite Foods Cookbook
Book Title: Deliciously Healthy Favorite Foods Cookbook
To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/goulash-soup
Ingredients
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 pound lean round steak, cut into 1/2" cubes
4 cups water
1 beef bouillon cube
1-2 tablespoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon Morton Lite Salt Mixture
2 ounces tomato paste (or substitute 1 peeled tomato, cut up)
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
Directions
In a large, heavy soup pot sprayed with non-stick spray, stir-fry onion and garlic until golden brown. Remove from pot and set aside. Re-spray pot with non-stick spray and brown beef cubes over medium-high heat.
Add cooked onion and garlic to pot. Add water, bouillon cube, paprika, Morton Lite Salt Mixture and tomato paste or tomato. Cover and simmer for 4 hours. Add potato and simmer for 15 minutes longer.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 91; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 290 mg; Cholesterol: 23.4 mg; Protein: 10 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Lean Meat, 1/2 Bread/Starch
TUSCAN CHICKEN BREASTS WITH POLENTA
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/tuscan-chicken-breasts-with-polenta.
Ingredients
4 cups defatted low sodium chicken broth
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 skinless chicken breast halves (3 pounds)
Nonstick cooking spray
Fresh spinach leaves, steamed (optional)
Tuscan Tomato Sauce (recipe follows below)
Directions
In a large nonstick saucepan, heat chicken broth to a boil; slowly stir in cornmeal. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring frequently, 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture is very thick and pulls away from side of pan. (Mixture may be lumpy.) Pour polenta into greased 9x5-inch loaf pan. Cool; refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or until firm.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in small bowl; rub on all surfaces of chicken. Arrange chicken, breast side up, in single layer in 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered, about 45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center and juices run clear.
Remove polenta from pan; transfer to cutting board. Cut polenta crosswise into 16 slices. Cut slices into triangles, if desired. Spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Cook polenta about 4 minutes per side or until lightly browned.
Place spinach leaves, if desired, on serving plates. Arrange polenta slices and chicken over spinach; top with Tuscan Tomato Sauce.
TUSCAN TOMATO SAUCE
Makes: About 3 cups
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
2 teaspoons dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Directions
Spray medium nonstick saucepan with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until tender.
Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, rosemary and pepper; heat to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, about 6 minutes or until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 240; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 345 mg; Cholesterol: 69 mg; Protein: 29 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread, 2-1/2 Lean Meat, 1-1/2 Vegetable
CRANBERRY NUT BREAD
Recipe Yield: Servings: 2 large or 4 small loaves; 40 slices
Source: Cinnamon Hearts Newsletter
View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/cranberry-nut-bread
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1-1/4 cups sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups fresh cranberries, chopped
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp orange peel, grated
1/2 cup frozen egg substitute, thawed or 4 large egg whites
1-1/4 cups skim milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
Wax paper
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Mix flours, sugar, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl with a fork. Stir in cranberries, walnuts and orange peel. Set aside.
Beat egg substitute, milk and oil in a small bowl with fork. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture just until flour is moistened. Spoon batter into 2 wax paper-lined loaf pans (9x5x3-inches) or 4 small, wax paper-lined loaf pans. Bake 60 to 65 minutes for large loaves and 45-50 minutes for small loaves, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool bread in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove bread from pans and cool completely.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 97; Fat: 3.8 g; Sodium: 66 mg; Carbohydrates: 15 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch; 1-1/2 Fat
BEEF TERIYAKI
Recipe Yield: Servings: 5
View this online here.
Ingredients
1 pound beef boneless sirloin steak
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup dry sherry, white wine or chicken broth
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoons chopped gingerroot or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon sugar (or sugar substitute)
1 clove garlic, chopped
Directions
Trim fat from beef steak; cut beef into 3/4-inch cubes. Place beef in glass or plastic bowl. Mix remaining ingredients; pour over beef. Cover and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, at least 1 hour.
Thread 6 beef cubes on each of 5 skewers; brush with marinade. Set oven control to broil. Broil kabobs with tops about 4 inches from heat 5 to 6 minutes; turn. Brush with marinade; broil until done, 5 to 6 minutes longer.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 200 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 17 g
Carbohydrates: 1 grams
Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 Low-Fat Meat
CHEWY PINEAPPLE PECAN SQUARES
Recipe Yield: Servings: 24 Squares. Serving Size: 1 square
Source: Cinnamon Hearts Newsletter
View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chewy-pineapple-pecan-squares
Ingredients
1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup Imperial, 30% less fat margarine
1/2 cup toasted, chopped pecans
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
8 oz. crushed pinapple in juice, drained
1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup light sour cream
Directions
Stir flours, sugar and margarine together until mixture is finely crumbled. Stir in nuts.
Press 2 cups of flour mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan which has been sprayed with vegetable coating.
Stir cinnamon, baking soda and salt into remaining flour mixture. Beat in egg, vanilla, light sour cream and vanilla yogurt until blended. Stir in pineapple.
Pour batter evenly over pressed flour mixture in pan. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes or until batter pulls away from sides of pan. Cool slightly before cutting.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 164; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 133 mg; Cholesterol: 6 mg;Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 31 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch; 1 Fat
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Desserts
What's better than dessert? Here are six yummy dessert recipes to hep you through the day, including Tumble-Jumble Strawberry Tart and Chilly Chocolate Pie. Enjoy!
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.
TUMBLE-JUMBLE STRAWBERRY TART
This is from Dorie Greenspan at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Dorie wrote, “I first had a strawberry tart like this one more than 10 years ago at the Paris cafe La Palette, and I’ve been making my own version of it ever since. It’s simply a crust slicked with some jam and then topped with an abundance of berries; whipped cream or crème fraîche is optional. The recipe is straightforward, but the construction is genius. You bake the crust, which is both crisp and tender, to a beautiful golden color and then set it aside. (Use the scraps of dough to make cookies; sprinkle with sugar before baking.) When you’re ready for dessert, you cut and finish only as many servings as you need, ensuring that the crust will always have great texture and the berries will always be fresh and bright. You could use a store-bought crust, but there are so few components in this dessert, it’s good to make each one count.”
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling and cooling.
This was beautifully featured on “My Summer Jam: An Update of the French Fruit Tart”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020343-tumble-jumble-strawberry-tart.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup/40 grams confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
Grated zest of 1 lemon (optional)
9 tablespoons very cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, plus additional for greasing
1 large egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Topping:
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled
Granulated sugar, as needed (optional)
Whipped cream or crème fraîche, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Put the flour, both sugars, salt and lemon zest, if you’re using it, in the bowl of a food processor; pulse to blend. Scatter the butter on top; pulse the butter into the dry ingredients until you’ve got a bowlful of curds. At first the dough will look like cornmeal, but it will change as you go, so work in long pulses — you might need as many as 20 — and scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl often.
Whisk the yolk and vanilla together, and add in three additions, pulsing after each. Pulse just until the dough starts to come away from the sides of the bowl; it should form moist clumps and hold together when pinched. Turn it out onto a counter, knead it into a compact ball and flatten it into a disk between two sheets of parchment or wax paper.
Roll the dough into an 11-inch circle. If it’s cold enough, fit it into a 9- to 9 1/2-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, prick the bottom with a fork and trim the top even with the pan’s rim; if it’s not cold, chill it until it’s workable. Refrigerate the crust in the pan for at least 1 hour (or cover and freeze up to 2 months; bake straight from the freezer).
Heat oven to 400. Place the dough in its pan on a baking sheet, cover with a piece of buttered foil or parchment and fill with rice.
Bake for 20 minutes, then carefully remove the foil or paper and rice. Bake, uncovered, until the crust is golden, another 8-10 minutes. Let cool, at least 30 minutes.
If you’re serving 6, cover the bottom of the crust with a layer of jam, and then cut the tart into wedges. (Otherwise, cut the number of wedges you need, and spread each portion with jam.) Halve or quarter as many berries as you’d like — be generous — and if you want, toss with a little granulated sugar. Place each wedge of crust on a plate, and spoon over berries, letting them tumble where they might. If you’d like, top each serving with whipped cream, or pass the cream at the table.
CHERRY DREAM PIE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
1 graham cracker pie crust
3 egg yolks
1 (14 oz) can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
1/3 C. lemon juice
1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling chilled
whipped topping (optional)
Preheat oven to 350. In medium bowl, beat egg yolks; stir in sweetened condensed milk & lemon juice. Pour into prepared crust; bake 8 minutes. Cool. Chill 3 hours or overnight. Prior to serving, top with pie filling. Garnish with whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers.
LOW CALORIE CROCK-POT RICE PUDDING
I found this recipe on My Daily Moment. It begins, “You won't take this delicious dessert with a grain of rice. It's creamy, dreamy and prepared in a crockpot. One bite and you're sure to love every mouthwatering spoonful.” It serves 6.
To view this online, click here..
Ingredients
3 cups skim milk
3/4 cup rice
3/4 cup sugars, granulated
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 Pam cooking spray
4 tablespoons butter, light, stick, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
Directions
Spray crock-pot with Pam. Pour all ingredients into pot and stir, then add melted butter and stir again. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or until rice absorbs all liquid. Cook until soft and stir often. Garnish with raisins and whipped cream, if desired.
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This recipe begins, “Applesauce replaces part of the fat, Equal all of the sugar, plus you get double the chocolate flavor with both cocoa and chocolate chips – so who can resist these delicious brownies?”
Recipe Yield: Yield: 16 brownies
Source: Equal
Recipe and image appear courtesy of Equal.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/double-chocolate-brownies.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons stick butter, softened
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Equal Spoonful*
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional: Chopped Walnuts
* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
Directions
Beat butter, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla until blended. Stir in combined flour, Equal, chocolate chips, cocoa, baking powder, nuts (optional) and salt until blended.
Spread batter in sprayed 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350F oven 18 to 20 minutes or until top springs back when gently touched. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares.
Store in airtight containers at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 77 mg; Cholesterol: 38 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat
CHILLY CHOCOLATE PIE
This is from My Daily Moment, and begins, “This simple, creamy chocolate pie is a simple fix for a weeknight, after-dinner treat. You work hard all day - why not get your just desserts?”
Serves: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup whipping cream
10 ounces Hershey's chocolate almond bar
6 tablespoons water
1 8-inch graham cracker crust pie shell
Directions
Melt chocolate bar in water over low heat stirring frequently. Remove from heat and allow cooling. Meanwhile, whip cream until it forms peaks. When chocolate mixture is cooled, gently fold in the whipped cream. Turn into piecrust and refrigerate until ready to serve, or at least 2 hours.
Ready in 30 min.
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.
TUMBLE-JUMBLE STRAWBERRY TART
This is from Dorie Greenspan at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Dorie wrote, “I first had a strawberry tart like this one more than 10 years ago at the Paris cafe La Palette, and I’ve been making my own version of it ever since. It’s simply a crust slicked with some jam and then topped with an abundance of berries; whipped cream or crème fraîche is optional. The recipe is straightforward, but the construction is genius. You bake the crust, which is both crisp and tender, to a beautiful golden color and then set it aside. (Use the scraps of dough to make cookies; sprinkle with sugar before baking.) When you’re ready for dessert, you cut and finish only as many servings as you need, ensuring that the crust will always have great texture and the berries will always be fresh and bright. You could use a store-bought crust, but there are so few components in this dessert, it’s good to make each one count.”
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling and cooling.
This was beautifully featured on “My Summer Jam: An Update of the French Fruit Tart”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020343-tumble-jumble-strawberry-tart.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup/40 grams confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
Grated zest of 1 lemon (optional)
9 tablespoons very cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, plus additional for greasing
1 large egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Topping:
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled
Granulated sugar, as needed (optional)
Whipped cream or crème fraîche, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Put the flour, both sugars, salt and lemon zest, if you’re using it, in the bowl of a food processor; pulse to blend. Scatter the butter on top; pulse the butter into the dry ingredients until you’ve got a bowlful of curds. At first the dough will look like cornmeal, but it will change as you go, so work in long pulses — you might need as many as 20 — and scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl often.
Whisk the yolk and vanilla together, and add in three additions, pulsing after each. Pulse just until the dough starts to come away from the sides of the bowl; it should form moist clumps and hold together when pinched. Turn it out onto a counter, knead it into a compact ball and flatten it into a disk between two sheets of parchment or wax paper.
Roll the dough into an 11-inch circle. If it’s cold enough, fit it into a 9- to 9 1/2-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, prick the bottom with a fork and trim the top even with the pan’s rim; if it’s not cold, chill it until it’s workable. Refrigerate the crust in the pan for at least 1 hour (or cover and freeze up to 2 months; bake straight from the freezer).
Heat oven to 400. Place the dough in its pan on a baking sheet, cover with a piece of buttered foil or parchment and fill with rice.
Bake for 20 minutes, then carefully remove the foil or paper and rice. Bake, uncovered, until the crust is golden, another 8-10 minutes. Let cool, at least 30 minutes.
If you’re serving 6, cover the bottom of the crust with a layer of jam, and then cut the tart into wedges. (Otherwise, cut the number of wedges you need, and spread each portion with jam.) Halve or quarter as many berries as you’d like — be generous — and if you want, toss with a little granulated sugar. Place each wedge of crust on a plate, and spoon over berries, letting them tumble where they might. If you’d like, top each serving with whipped cream, or pass the cream at the table.
CHERRY DREAM PIE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
1 graham cracker pie crust
3 egg yolks
1 (14 oz) can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
1/3 C. lemon juice
1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling chilled
whipped topping (optional)
Preheat oven to 350. In medium bowl, beat egg yolks; stir in sweetened condensed milk & lemon juice. Pour into prepared crust; bake 8 minutes. Cool. Chill 3 hours or overnight. Prior to serving, top with pie filling. Garnish with whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers.
LOW CALORIE CROCK-POT RICE PUDDING
I found this recipe on My Daily Moment. It begins, “You won't take this delicious dessert with a grain of rice. It's creamy, dreamy and prepared in a crockpot. One bite and you're sure to love every mouthwatering spoonful.” It serves 6.
To view this online, click here..
Ingredients
3 cups skim milk
3/4 cup rice
3/4 cup sugars, granulated
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 Pam cooking spray
4 tablespoons butter, light, stick, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
Directions
Spray crock-pot with Pam. Pour all ingredients into pot and stir, then add melted butter and stir again. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or until rice absorbs all liquid. Cook until soft and stir often. Garnish with raisins and whipped cream, if desired.
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This recipe begins, “Applesauce replaces part of the fat, Equal all of the sugar, plus you get double the chocolate flavor with both cocoa and chocolate chips – so who can resist these delicious brownies?”
Recipe Yield: Yield: 16 brownies
Source: Equal
Recipe and image appear courtesy of Equal.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/double-chocolate-brownies.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons stick butter, softened
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Equal Spoonful*
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional: Chopped Walnuts
* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
Directions
Beat butter, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla until blended. Stir in combined flour, Equal, chocolate chips, cocoa, baking powder, nuts (optional) and salt until blended.
Spread batter in sprayed 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350F oven 18 to 20 minutes or until top springs back when gently touched. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares.
Store in airtight containers at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 77 mg; Cholesterol: 38 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat
CHILLY CHOCOLATE PIE
This is from My Daily Moment, and begins, “This simple, creamy chocolate pie is a simple fix for a weeknight, after-dinner treat. You work hard all day - why not get your just desserts?”
Serves: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup whipping cream
10 ounces Hershey's chocolate almond bar
6 tablespoons water
1 8-inch graham cracker crust pie shell
Directions
Melt chocolate bar in water over low heat stirring frequently. Remove from heat and allow cooling. Meanwhile, whip cream until it forms peaks. When chocolate mixture is cooled, gently fold in the whipped cream. Turn into piecrust and refrigerate until ready to serve, or at least 2 hours.
Ready in 30 min.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's yummy offerings include Bulgogi Sloppy Joes With Scallion Salsa and Low Calorie Crock-Pot Rice Pudding. Enjoy!
ATHENIAN MEATLOAF WITH YOGURT-CUCUMBER SAUCE
Makes 8 servings
Source: TBC
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1258.shtml
Ingredients
2 pounds 96% lean Ground Beef
1 cup soft bread crumbs*
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup 2% milk
1 large egg
1 tablespoon plus 1-1/2 teaspoons dried Greek seasoning, divided
1 cup low-fat or regular Greek-style yogurt
1/2 cup diced cucumber
* To make soft breadcrumbs: Tear several slices of fresh bread (French or whole wheat work well) into 1-inch pieces and pulse in a blender or food processor to make coarse crumbs. One slice of bread yields about 1/2 cup soft breadcrumbs.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine Ground Beef, bread crumbs, onion, milk, egg, 1 tablespoon Greek seasoning in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
Shape beef mixture into 10 x 4-inch loaf on rack in broiler pan. Bake in 350F oven 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours, until instant-read thermometer inserted into center registers 160F.
Meanwhile, combine yogurt, cucumber and remaining 1-1/2 teaspoons Greek seasoning in medium bowl. Set aside.
Let stand 10 minutes; cut into slices. Serve with cucumber-yogurt sauce.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 187; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 240 mg; Cholesterol: 95 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: .4 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g
MISO CHICKEN
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Making a compound of unsalted butter and the salty, fungal deliciousness of Japanese miso paste is a surefire way of adding immense flavor to a simple weeknight meal. Here the mixture is spread over chicken thighs, which are then roasted to golden perfection. But you could easily use it on salmon or flounder, on corn or potatoes. The recipe calls for white miso, which is more mild than the aged version known as red miso. But you could certainly use red for a more intense result.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes.
This was featured in Asian Pantry Essentials and can also be found online by clicking here.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup white miso
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
Black pepper, to taste
8 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, approximately 2 1/2 to 3 pounds
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Combine butter, miso, honey, rice vinegar and black pepper in a large bowl and mix with a spatula or spoon until it is well combined.
Add chicken to the bowl and massage the miso-butter mixture all over it. Place the chicken in a single layer in a roasting pan and slide it into the oven. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, turning the chicken pieces over once or twice, until the skin is golden brown and crisp, and the internal temperature of the meat is 160 to 165 degrees.
LOW CALORIE CROCK-POT RICE PUDDING
I found this recipe on My Daily Moment. It begins, “You won't take this delicious dessert with a grain of rice. It's creamy, dreamy and prepared in a crockpot. One bite and you're sure to love every mouthwatering spoonful.” It serves 6.
To view this online, click here..
Ingredients
3 cups skim milk
3/4 cup rice
3/4 cup sugars, granulated
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 Pam cooking spray
4 tablespoons butter, light, stick, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
Directions
Spray crock-pot with Pam. Pour all ingredients into pot and stir, then add melted butter and stir again. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or until rice absorbs all liquid. Cook until soft and stir often. Garnish with raisins and whipped cream, if desired.
MEXICAN CHOCOLATE-ZUCCHINI BREAD
This comes from Deb Wise on MyRecipes. She wrote, “Got a boatload of zucchini? A loaf of so-simple quick bread is a delightful, kid-friendly way to put it to use. This decadent twist spices up classic zucchini bread with cocoa powder, cinnamon, a rich chocolate glaze, and roasted pepitas. Easy-to-make, incredibly moist, and intensely chocolatey, this Mexican Chocolate Zucchini Bread is sure to be a new favorite.”
Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes; Yield: Serves: 10 (serving size: 1 slice)
To view this online, go to https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/mexican-chocolate-zucchini-bread.
Ingredients
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups grated unpeeled zucchini
1 2/3 cups (about 7 1/8 oz.) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup, plus 2 Tbsp. roasted and salted pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds), divided
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate baking bar, finely chopped
1/2 cup (about 2 oz.) powdered sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan with baking spray.
Place eggs in a large bowl; lightly whisk. Add granulated sugar, oil, and vanilla; whisk until smooth. Stir in grated zucchini.
Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl just until combined. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, stirring just until combined. Stir chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of the pepitas into batter. Scrape batter into prepared pan; smooth top with spatula. Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 55 minutes to 1 hour.
Cool bread in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of pan to loosen bread. Remove bread from pan, and cool completely on rack, about 1 hour.
Combine cream and bittersweet chocolate in a medium-size microwaveable bowl. Microwave on MEDIUM until chocolate melts, about 45 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds. Add powdered sugar, and stir until smooth. Drizzle glaze over top of cooled bread. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons pepitas.
BULGOGI SLOPPY JOES WITH SCALLION SALSA
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Sam wrote, “The dish is the Korean barbecue standard known as bulgogi — ‘fire meat,’ is the literal translation — transformed into a sandwich filling, a sloppy Joe for a more perfect union. (File under ‘Blessings of Liberty.’) Fed to children with a tall glass of milk, the sandwiches may inspire smiles and licked plates, rapt attention and the request that the meal be served at least monthly — they are not at all too spicy for younger palates. Given to adults accompanied by cold lager, cucumber kimchi and a pot of the fermented Korean hot-pepper paste known as gochujang, they can rise to higher planes.
“Bulgogi sandwiches are a taste of the sort of home cooking that can lead to more home cooking. They serve as fragrant hamburger crushers, elegant vanquishers of pizza. They are an enemy of takeout.
“To cook them, you can follow the instructions slavishly, as if working for Hooni Kim, the chef and owner of Danji, on the edge of the theater district in Manhattan. Bulgogi ‘sliders’ are a hallmark of his menu and by far the restaurant’s most popular dish. This recipe is his.”
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 30 minutes, plus overnight refrigeration.
This recipe was featured in “The Bulgogi Slider Is a Delicious Curveball”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014203-bulgogi-sloppy-joes-with-scallion-salsa.
Ingredients
For the Bulgogi
1 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon peeled and grated garlic
1 tablespoon sesame oil
3 tablespoons sake
2 tablespoons mirin
1 Asian pear, peeled, cored and puréed in a food processor
1 small carrot peeled and sliced into julienne
1 medium white onion peeled and sliced into julienne
1 cup apple juice
2 pounds beef brisket, chilled slightly and sliced thin
For the Spicy Mayonnaise
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons hot chili sauce, ideally Sriracha
For the Scallion Salsa
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean red-pepper flakes)
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
2 tablespoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons mirin
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 bunches scallions, cleaned, dried and sliced on the bias
Unsalted butter
6 soft hamburger buns
Preparation
For the Bulgogi
In a large, nonreactive bowl, combine the soy sauce, sugar, garlic, sesame oil, sake, mirin, pear, carrot, onion and apple juice. Add the sliced brisket, stir to combine, cover tightly and place in the refrigerator overnight or for at least six hours.
Meanwhile, in a small, nonreactive bowl, combine the mayonnaise, soy sauce and hot chili sauce and stir to combine. Taste and adjust flavors, then cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
When you are ready to make the sandwiches, set one very large sauté pan (or two large ones) over high heat. Using tongs, lift meat from marinade in batches, allow to drain well, then cook, turning occasionally until the excess liquid has evaporated and the edges of the beef have started to crisp.
Meanwhile, combine all the ingredients for the salsa except for the scallions, then stir to combine.
Toast and butter the hamburger buns. Spread spicy mayonnaise on the buns, and using tongs, cover one side of each set of buns with bulgogi. Add a large pinch of scallions on top of each burger and drizzle with the dressing. Serve with cucumber kimchi (see recipe).
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)
Preparation
Heat 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.
Serve one pepper half as a side dish with grilled chicken or fish for a higher protein meal.
ATHENIAN MEATLOAF WITH YOGURT-CUCUMBER SAUCE
Makes 8 servings
Source: TBC
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1258.shtml
Ingredients
2 pounds 96% lean Ground Beef
1 cup soft bread crumbs*
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup 2% milk
1 large egg
1 tablespoon plus 1-1/2 teaspoons dried Greek seasoning, divided
1 cup low-fat or regular Greek-style yogurt
1/2 cup diced cucumber
* To make soft breadcrumbs: Tear several slices of fresh bread (French or whole wheat work well) into 1-inch pieces and pulse in a blender or food processor to make coarse crumbs. One slice of bread yields about 1/2 cup soft breadcrumbs.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine Ground Beef, bread crumbs, onion, milk, egg, 1 tablespoon Greek seasoning in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
Shape beef mixture into 10 x 4-inch loaf on rack in broiler pan. Bake in 350F oven 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours, until instant-read thermometer inserted into center registers 160F.
Meanwhile, combine yogurt, cucumber and remaining 1-1/2 teaspoons Greek seasoning in medium bowl. Set aside.
Let stand 10 minutes; cut into slices. Serve with cucumber-yogurt sauce.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 187; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 240 mg; Cholesterol: 95 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: .4 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g
MISO CHICKEN
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Making a compound of unsalted butter and the salty, fungal deliciousness of Japanese miso paste is a surefire way of adding immense flavor to a simple weeknight meal. Here the mixture is spread over chicken thighs, which are then roasted to golden perfection. But you could easily use it on salmon or flounder, on corn or potatoes. The recipe calls for white miso, which is more mild than the aged version known as red miso. But you could certainly use red for a more intense result.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 45 minutes.
This was featured in Asian Pantry Essentials and can also be found online by clicking here.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup white miso
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon rice vinegar (do not use seasoned rice vinegar)
Black pepper, to taste
8 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, approximately 2 1/2 to 3 pounds
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Combine butter, miso, honey, rice vinegar and black pepper in a large bowl and mix with a spatula or spoon until it is well combined.
Add chicken to the bowl and massage the miso-butter mixture all over it. Place the chicken in a single layer in a roasting pan and slide it into the oven. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, turning the chicken pieces over once or twice, until the skin is golden brown and crisp, and the internal temperature of the meat is 160 to 165 degrees.
LOW CALORIE CROCK-POT RICE PUDDING
I found this recipe on My Daily Moment. It begins, “You won't take this delicious dessert with a grain of rice. It's creamy, dreamy and prepared in a crockpot. One bite and you're sure to love every mouthwatering spoonful.” It serves 6.
To view this online, click here..
Ingredients
3 cups skim milk
3/4 cup rice
3/4 cup sugars, granulated
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 Pam cooking spray
4 tablespoons butter, light, stick, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
Directions
Spray crock-pot with Pam. Pour all ingredients into pot and stir, then add melted butter and stir again. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or until rice absorbs all liquid. Cook until soft and stir often. Garnish with raisins and whipped cream, if desired.
MEXICAN CHOCOLATE-ZUCCHINI BREAD
This comes from Deb Wise on MyRecipes. She wrote, “Got a boatload of zucchini? A loaf of so-simple quick bread is a delightful, kid-friendly way to put it to use. This decadent twist spices up classic zucchini bread with cocoa powder, cinnamon, a rich chocolate glaze, and roasted pepitas. Easy-to-make, incredibly moist, and intensely chocolatey, this Mexican Chocolate Zucchini Bread is sure to be a new favorite.”
Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes; Yield: Serves: 10 (serving size: 1 slice)
To view this online, go to https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/mexican-chocolate-zucchini-bread.
Ingredients
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups grated unpeeled zucchini
1 2/3 cups (about 7 1/8 oz.) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup, plus 2 Tbsp. roasted and salted pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds), divided
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate baking bar, finely chopped
1/2 cup (about 2 oz.) powdered sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan with baking spray.
Place eggs in a large bowl; lightly whisk. Add granulated sugar, oil, and vanilla; whisk until smooth. Stir in grated zucchini.
Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl just until combined. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, stirring just until combined. Stir chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of the pepitas into batter. Scrape batter into prepared pan; smooth top with spatula. Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 55 minutes to 1 hour.
Cool bread in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of pan to loosen bread. Remove bread from pan, and cool completely on rack, about 1 hour.
Combine cream and bittersweet chocolate in a medium-size microwaveable bowl. Microwave on MEDIUM until chocolate melts, about 45 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds. Add powdered sugar, and stir until smooth. Drizzle glaze over top of cooled bread. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons pepitas.
BULGOGI SLOPPY JOES WITH SCALLION SALSA
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Sam wrote, “The dish is the Korean barbecue standard known as bulgogi — ‘fire meat,’ is the literal translation — transformed into a sandwich filling, a sloppy Joe for a more perfect union. (File under ‘Blessings of Liberty.’) Fed to children with a tall glass of milk, the sandwiches may inspire smiles and licked plates, rapt attention and the request that the meal be served at least monthly — they are not at all too spicy for younger palates. Given to adults accompanied by cold lager, cucumber kimchi and a pot of the fermented Korean hot-pepper paste known as gochujang, they can rise to higher planes.
“Bulgogi sandwiches are a taste of the sort of home cooking that can lead to more home cooking. They serve as fragrant hamburger crushers, elegant vanquishers of pizza. They are an enemy of takeout.
“To cook them, you can follow the instructions slavishly, as if working for Hooni Kim, the chef and owner of Danji, on the edge of the theater district in Manhattan. Bulgogi ‘sliders’ are a hallmark of his menu and by far the restaurant’s most popular dish. This recipe is his.”
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 30 minutes, plus overnight refrigeration.
This recipe was featured in “The Bulgogi Slider Is a Delicious Curveball”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014203-bulgogi-sloppy-joes-with-scallion-salsa.
Ingredients
For the Bulgogi
1 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon peeled and grated garlic
1 tablespoon sesame oil
3 tablespoons sake
2 tablespoons mirin
1 Asian pear, peeled, cored and puréed in a food processor
1 small carrot peeled and sliced into julienne
1 medium white onion peeled and sliced into julienne
1 cup apple juice
2 pounds beef brisket, chilled slightly and sliced thin
For the Spicy Mayonnaise
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons hot chili sauce, ideally Sriracha
For the Scallion Salsa
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean red-pepper flakes)
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
2 tablespoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons mirin
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 bunches scallions, cleaned, dried and sliced on the bias
Unsalted butter
6 soft hamburger buns
Preparation
For the Bulgogi
In a large, nonreactive bowl, combine the soy sauce, sugar, garlic, sesame oil, sake, mirin, pear, carrot, onion and apple juice. Add the sliced brisket, stir to combine, cover tightly and place in the refrigerator overnight or for at least six hours.
Meanwhile, in a small, nonreactive bowl, combine the mayonnaise, soy sauce and hot chili sauce and stir to combine. Taste and adjust flavors, then cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
When you are ready to make the sandwiches, set one very large sauté pan (or two large ones) over high heat. Using tongs, lift meat from marinade in batches, allow to drain well, then cook, turning occasionally until the excess liquid has evaporated and the edges of the beef have started to crisp.
Meanwhile, combine all the ingredients for the salsa except for the scallions, then stir to combine.
Toast and butter the hamburger buns. Spread spicy mayonnaise on the buns, and using tongs, cover one side of each set of buns with bulgogi. Add a large pinch of scallions on top of each burger and drizzle with the dressing. Serve with cucumber kimchi (see recipe).
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)
Preparation
Heat 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.
Serve one pepper half as a side dish with grilled chicken or fish for a higher protein meal.
Taco Tuesday
Since it's Tuesday (and my calendar says it is), it's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's yumminess includes Chicken Chili Tacos and Cheeseburger Tacos. Enjoy!
CARROT-AND-BLACK BEAN CRISPY TACOS
This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Dig into vegetarian tacos with tons of fresh flavor.” Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 (15.5-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lb. medium carrots, cut into 3" to 4" sticks
1 tsp. ground cumin
8 whole-grain taco shells, warmed
Sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped fresh cilantro and radishes, for serving
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4to 6 minutes. Add chili powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add black beans and 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash beans with the back of the spoon until thick. Stir in lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with cumin and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
Divide beans and carrots between taco shells. Top with avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, and radishes. Serve with lime wedges alongside.
PER SERVING: protein: 8 g; fat: 17 g; carbohydrate: 42 g; fiber: 10 g; sodium: 261 mg; cholesterol: 0 mg; calories: 334.
MAPO TOFU TACOS
I first found this at Nosh On.It, along with several other vegetarian taco recipes (you can check out all nine here). This one is from Alice Choi and her wonderul blog, Hip Foodie Mom.
Alice wrote, “While in college, mapo tofu was one of the first dishes I learned to make. . . well, kind of. You have to remember, I was in college and needed to eat quickly so I could go back to playing or studying or whatever I was doing so I was hardly ever in the kitchen cooking. Ever.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; servings: 5 - 6.
To view this recipes online, as well as the rest of Alice’s description of this recipe, go to https://hipfoodiemom.com/2013/02/07/mapo-tofu-tacos/. And while you’re there, check out the rest of the site. I think you’ll be glad you did!
Note: You can double the ingredients for the mapo sauce in order to have a bowl of the sauce on the table if dipping is desired while eating.
Ingredients
For the baked tofu:
1-2 cups all purpose flour
2 eggs; slightly beaten
about 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 - 19 oz container of firm tofu; cubed not small cubes but slightly larger ones; should make about 30 tofu cubes
For the mapo sauce:
1 tablespoon soy bean paste
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1-2 tablespoons szechuan sauce start with 1 tablespoon
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
2 gloves garlic minced
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste; if needed
For the tacos:
corn or flour tortillas I actually preferred the flour tortillas for this even though they are photographed with the corn tortillas
shredded carrots
shredded cabbage
scallions; diced for garnish
sriracha sauce
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and prepare a lined baking sheet with foil, a non-stick baking sheet or parchment paper.
Set-up the dredging area: Place the flour in a medium bowl and place the eggs in another bowl and whisk with a fork for about 20 seconds. Place the panko in a third bowl.
After you have cut your tofu, pat dry each one in paper towels to drain the excess water/liquid. Dip each tofu cube into the flour, then in the eggs and then lastly into the panko. You want each cube lightly breaded with panko. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip each tofu cube and bake for another 10 minutes.
While your tofu is in the oven, prepare the sauce. Heat a medium sized sauce pan over high heat. Add all of the sauce ingredients (start with 1 tablespoon of the szechuan sauce) and mix well for a couple minutes. Taste and add more szechuan sauce or water or salt if needed and bring to a slight boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and let simmer for an additional 4 - 5 minutes. Gently stir and blend well.
When the sauce and tofu is ready, prepare your tacos. Heat the tortillas slightly in a toaster oven and assemble: place your warm tortilla on a plate, place 3-4 tofu cubes on top, pour the mapo sauce over the crispy tofu cubes, add the shredded carrots, then the cabbage (you can drizzle some more mapo sauce over the cabbage if desired) and garnish with the diced scallions and drizzle on some sriracha sauce if needed. Serve immediately.
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.
SLOW COOKER TACO SALAD
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “This slow cooker Cinco de Mayo recipe is ready when you are! Perfect for an after work party, this spicy salad is as easy as setting your slow cooker. Serve up the finished meat mix with fresh lettuce, corn, and avocado.”
Prep: 25 mins; Cook: 5 hrs to 6 hrs (low) or 2 1/2 to 3 hours (high); Servings: 8; Yield: 15 cups
View online here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
1 16 ounce jar green salsa
1 15 ounce can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 large sweet onion, cut into thin wedges (2 cups)
1 medium red sweet pepper, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
Directions
In a large skillet cook ground meat over medium heat until browned. Drain off fat.
In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine meat and the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove half of the meat mixture from the slow cooker. Cover and refrigerate for another use.
Make It a Salad
Arrange 6 cups chopped leaf lettuce on a large platter. Top with 3 ounces (3 cups) blue corn tortilla chips. Spoon half of the meat mixture (chill or freeze remaining meat mixture for another use) over tortilla chips. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese cheese (4 ounces). Top with 3/4 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed; 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped (or 3/4 cup purchased guacamole); and 3/4 cup halved cherry tomatoes. Serve with 1/4 cup sour cream.
Tip
Use remaining half of meat mixture for a second taco salad another night. Or use it to make hard- or soft-shell tacos. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in a saucepan over medium low heat.
Make-Ahead Directions
Cook ground meat as directed in Step 1. In the removable crockery liner of the slow cooker combine meat and remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before placing liner in the slow cooker unit. Slow cook as directed, Chop lettuce, cut tomatoes, thaw corn; place in separate covered containers and store in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.
For Easy Cleanup
Line your slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Add ingredients as directed in recipe. Once your dish is finished cooking, spoon the food out of your slow cooker and simply dispose of the liner. Do not lift or transport the disposable liner with food inside.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 298 calories, (7 g saturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 7 g monounsaturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 411 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 15 g protein.
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.
EASY GREEN CHILE CHICKEN TACOS
This taco recipe is from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, who not only posts recipes on VeryWell Fit, but has her own food site, called Lively Table.
For this recipe, Kaleigh wrote, “Instead of making the same old tacos this week, why not change things up with delicious and healthy green chile chicken tacos?
“This chicken taco recipe is super easy to make. Just boil the chicken in a bit of broth, shred, and add diced green chiles. It's a simple nutritious meal that the whole family will love.
“Corn tortillas are naturally whole grain, so they make a great choice for these tacos. Top with a bit of shredded red cabbage, creamy avocado, and fresh cilantro to make a weeknight meal.”
Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; CookTime: 30 minutes; Servings: 4 (2 tacos each)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 cloves garlic
1 fresh jalapeno
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
Water
1 can (7-ounce) diced green chiles
8 warm corn tortillas
1 small avocado, sliced
1 cup red cabbage, shredded
Fresh cilantro, to taste
Preparation
In a medium saucepan, add chicken, garlic, jalapeno, and broth. Add water to cover the chicken. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove chicken and shred using two forks. Discard garlic and jalapeno, reserving cooking liquid.
In a skillet, add green chiles and shredded chicken. Cook over low heat, stirring until warmed through and sauce is thickened. Add reserved cooking liquid as needed to keep the chicken moist.
Serve with warmed corn tortillas, avocado, cabbage, and cilantro.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Use any type of tortilla that you like. Look for whole grain options, if possible.
You can also leave out the tortillas and serve the chicken on top of lettuce to make a taco salad or with brown rice and beans to make taco bowls.
Canned green chiles are usually found in the Mexican food aisle at the grocery store. They come in two varieties, spicy and mild. Choose the kind that best suits your taste.
Cooking and Serving Tips
Serve tacos with a side of low-sodium canned black beans for a quick and easy meal.
Add any toppings you like, such as your favorite salsa, tomatoes, or a dollop of plain Greek yogurt.
CARROT-AND-BLACK BEAN CRISPY TACOS
This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Dig into vegetarian tacos with tons of fresh flavor.” Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 (15.5-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lb. medium carrots, cut into 3" to 4" sticks
1 tsp. ground cumin
8 whole-grain taco shells, warmed
Sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped fresh cilantro and radishes, for serving
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4to 6 minutes. Add chili powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add black beans and 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash beans with the back of the spoon until thick. Stir in lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with cumin and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
Divide beans and carrots between taco shells. Top with avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, and radishes. Serve with lime wedges alongside.
PER SERVING: protein: 8 g; fat: 17 g; carbohydrate: 42 g; fiber: 10 g; sodium: 261 mg; cholesterol: 0 mg; calories: 334.
MAPO TOFU TACOS
I first found this at Nosh On.It, along with several other vegetarian taco recipes (you can check out all nine here). This one is from Alice Choi and her wonderul blog, Hip Foodie Mom.
Alice wrote, “While in college, mapo tofu was one of the first dishes I learned to make. . . well, kind of. You have to remember, I was in college and needed to eat quickly so I could go back to playing or studying or whatever I was doing so I was hardly ever in the kitchen cooking. Ever.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; servings: 5 - 6.
To view this recipes online, as well as the rest of Alice’s description of this recipe, go to https://hipfoodiemom.com/2013/02/07/mapo-tofu-tacos/. And while you’re there, check out the rest of the site. I think you’ll be glad you did!
Note: You can double the ingredients for the mapo sauce in order to have a bowl of the sauce on the table if dipping is desired while eating.
Ingredients
For the baked tofu:
1-2 cups all purpose flour
2 eggs; slightly beaten
about 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 - 19 oz container of firm tofu; cubed not small cubes but slightly larger ones; should make about 30 tofu cubes
For the mapo sauce:
1 tablespoon soy bean paste
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1-2 tablespoons szechuan sauce start with 1 tablespoon
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
2 gloves garlic minced
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste; if needed
For the tacos:
corn or flour tortillas I actually preferred the flour tortillas for this even though they are photographed with the corn tortillas
shredded carrots
shredded cabbage
scallions; diced for garnish
sriracha sauce
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and prepare a lined baking sheet with foil, a non-stick baking sheet or parchment paper.
Set-up the dredging area: Place the flour in a medium bowl and place the eggs in another bowl and whisk with a fork for about 20 seconds. Place the panko in a third bowl.
After you have cut your tofu, pat dry each one in paper towels to drain the excess water/liquid. Dip each tofu cube into the flour, then in the eggs and then lastly into the panko. You want each cube lightly breaded with panko. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip each tofu cube and bake for another 10 minutes.
While your tofu is in the oven, prepare the sauce. Heat a medium sized sauce pan over high heat. Add all of the sauce ingredients (start with 1 tablespoon of the szechuan sauce) and mix well for a couple minutes. Taste and add more szechuan sauce or water or salt if needed and bring to a slight boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and let simmer for an additional 4 - 5 minutes. Gently stir and blend well.
When the sauce and tofu is ready, prepare your tacos. Heat the tortillas slightly in a toaster oven and assemble: place your warm tortilla on a plate, place 3-4 tofu cubes on top, pour the mapo sauce over the crispy tofu cubes, add the shredded carrots, then the cabbage (you can drizzle some more mapo sauce over the cabbage if desired) and garnish with the diced scallions and drizzle on some sriracha sauce if needed. Serve immediately.
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.
SLOW COOKER TACO SALAD
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “This slow cooker Cinco de Mayo recipe is ready when you are! Perfect for an after work party, this spicy salad is as easy as setting your slow cooker. Serve up the finished meat mix with fresh lettuce, corn, and avocado.”
Prep: 25 mins; Cook: 5 hrs to 6 hrs (low) or 2 1/2 to 3 hours (high); Servings: 8; Yield: 15 cups
View online here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
1 16 ounce jar green salsa
1 15 ounce can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 large sweet onion, cut into thin wedges (2 cups)
1 medium red sweet pepper, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
Directions
In a large skillet cook ground meat over medium heat until browned. Drain off fat.
In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine meat and the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove half of the meat mixture from the slow cooker. Cover and refrigerate for another use.
Make It a Salad
Arrange 6 cups chopped leaf lettuce on a large platter. Top with 3 ounces (3 cups) blue corn tortilla chips. Spoon half of the meat mixture (chill or freeze remaining meat mixture for another use) over tortilla chips. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese cheese (4 ounces). Top with 3/4 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed; 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped (or 3/4 cup purchased guacamole); and 3/4 cup halved cherry tomatoes. Serve with 1/4 cup sour cream.
Tip
Use remaining half of meat mixture for a second taco salad another night. Or use it to make hard- or soft-shell tacos. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in a saucepan over medium low heat.
Make-Ahead Directions
Cook ground meat as directed in Step 1. In the removable crockery liner of the slow cooker combine meat and remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before placing liner in the slow cooker unit. Slow cook as directed, Chop lettuce, cut tomatoes, thaw corn; place in separate covered containers and store in the refrigerator up to 24 hours.
For Easy Cleanup
Line your slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Add ingredients as directed in recipe. Once your dish is finished cooking, spoon the food out of your slow cooker and simply dispose of the liner. Do not lift or transport the disposable liner with food inside.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 298 calories, (7 g saturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 7 g monounsaturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 411 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 15 g protein.
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.
EASY GREEN CHILE CHICKEN TACOS
This taco recipe is from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, who not only posts recipes on VeryWell Fit, but has her own food site, called Lively Table.
For this recipe, Kaleigh wrote, “Instead of making the same old tacos this week, why not change things up with delicious and healthy green chile chicken tacos?
“This chicken taco recipe is super easy to make. Just boil the chicken in a bit of broth, shred, and add diced green chiles. It's a simple nutritious meal that the whole family will love.
“Corn tortillas are naturally whole grain, so they make a great choice for these tacos. Top with a bit of shredded red cabbage, creamy avocado, and fresh cilantro to make a weeknight meal.”
Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; CookTime: 30 minutes; Servings: 4 (2 tacos each)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 cloves garlic
1 fresh jalapeno
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
Water
1 can (7-ounce) diced green chiles
8 warm corn tortillas
1 small avocado, sliced
1 cup red cabbage, shredded
Fresh cilantro, to taste
Preparation
In a medium saucepan, add chicken, garlic, jalapeno, and broth. Add water to cover the chicken. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove chicken and shred using two forks. Discard garlic and jalapeno, reserving cooking liquid.
In a skillet, add green chiles and shredded chicken. Cook over low heat, stirring until warmed through and sauce is thickened. Add reserved cooking liquid as needed to keep the chicken moist.
Serve with warmed corn tortillas, avocado, cabbage, and cilantro.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Use any type of tortilla that you like. Look for whole grain options, if possible.
You can also leave out the tortillas and serve the chicken on top of lettuce to make a taco salad or with brown rice and beans to make taco bowls.
Canned green chiles are usually found in the Mexican food aisle at the grocery store. They come in two varieties, spicy and mild. Choose the kind that best suits your taste.
Cooking and Serving Tips
Serve tacos with a side of low-sodium canned black beans for a quick and easy meal.
Add any toppings you like, such as your favorite salsa, tomatoes, or a dollop of plain Greek yogurt.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Soup - Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's double post deals with soup.
With the weather starting to cool off, soup just seems to be the perfect food to warm us up. Today's six yummy soup recipes include Vegetable-Chicken Noodle Soup and Turkey Taco Soup. Enjoy!
POTATO AND ONION SOUP
This is from Roadfood.com. The send out emails periodically which are almost always interesting. This recipe, from Harry Caray's, starts off, “Cooking potatoes in beef stock gives the starchy vegetable a savor that all carnivores will appreciate. A sprinkle of Parmesan on each serving adds just the right zip.”
Preparation Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes Servings: 6
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups peeled and sliced Spanish onions
3-1/2 cups homemade beef stock or equivalent amount of canned, low salt beef broth
3 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Melt the butter in a large sauté pan and add the olive oil.
Add the onions and sauté until they become clear and turn a light brown. Set aside.
In a large stock pot, bring the beef stock to a boil. Reduce the heat and add the diced potatoes. Simmer over medium heat until the potatoes are soft.
Add the onions to the stock pot and simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
Salt and pepper the soup to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese on top and serve.
VEGETABLE-CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
Servings: 6 (Serving = 1-1/2 cup)
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/253.shtml
Ingredients
6 cups 1/3-less-salt chicken broth, divided
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup thinly sliced leek (white part only)
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup peeled and chopped turnip
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1-1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoons fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 ounces uncooked "no-yolk" broad noodles
1 cup diced cooked chicken
Directions
Place 1/3 cup chicken broth, celery, leek, carrot and turnip in large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
Stir in remaining 5 -2/3 cups chicken broth, parsley, thyme, rosemary, vinegar and black pepper. Bring to a boil; add noodles. Cook until noodles are tender; stir in chicken. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer until heated through.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 98; Protein: 10 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 73 mg; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Starch/Bread, 1 Lean Meat, 1/2 Vegetable
CREAM OF TURNIP SOUP
This also comes from the January 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “This comforting soup is so subtly flavored that even turnip-haters like it. Baby turnips have a milder taste, but the recipe works just as well with regular turnips. Thinly sliced celery leaves mimic lovage, an herb often used in France to season turnip dishes.” Serves 6.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/cream-of-turnip-soup/.
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 lb. fresh baby turnips, peeled and diced
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup soy creamer, optional
1/4 cup celery leaves, sliced into fine strips
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add turnips and onion, and cook 15 minutes, or until vegetables are translucent, stirring occasionally. Add bay leaves and 3 cups water, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover, and cook 25 to 30 minutes, or until turnips are very tender.
Remove from heat, and remove bay leaves. Add soy creamer, if using. Use blender or food processor to purée ingredients until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and stir in celery leaves just before serving.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 79; Protein: 1 g; Total Fat: 4.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 216 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 5 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
FRENCH ONION SOUP
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
7 cups halved and thinly-sliced onions
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
6 cups low sodium vegetable broth
1/3 cup dry sherry
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 French bread loaf, cut 1/2" thick slices
10 ounces shredded Jarlsberg or Gruyere cheese
In large, heavy pot, melt 2 tablespoons butter with oil over medium heat. Stir in onions, sugar, & salt. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Reduce heat, cover & cook 10 minutes. Remove lid & cook 15 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Add remaining butter to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized & very soft, about 15 minutes. Stir in flour & cook 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in broth, sherry, thyme, salt to taste & pepper. Cover & simmer 15 minutes, adding more salt if needed. Preheat broiler. Lightly toast bread slices. Ladle soup into 6 ovenproof bowls or crocks & arrange on baking sheet. Put enough bread on top of each serving, cutting & fitting if necessary to cover soup. Sprinkle bread with shredded cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly & golden. Serve hot. Serves 8.
VEGETARIAN TORTILLA SOUP
This is from Alison Roman in The New York Times cooking email. Alison wrote, “This vegetarian version of tortilla soup is no less complex than its chicken counterpart, thanks to plenty of vegetables, spices and a secret ingredient: canned chipotles in adobo. Smoked and dried jalapeños softened in a vinegar-tomato mixture, these little powerhouses do much of the heavy lifting in this vegetarian soup, offering depth and a certain meatiness to an otherwise light and tangy broth.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 1/4 hours
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Soup:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 jalapeño, seeds removed, finely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons chile powder
2 chipotles in adobo, finely chopped
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, drained and crushed
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed
For the Tortillas and Assembly:
2 cups vegetable oil
8 small corn tortillas, cut into 1/4-inch strips
Kosher salt
1 avocado, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup crumbled queso fresco or shredded Cheddar or Monterey jack
3/4 cup sour cream or crema
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 red or yellow onion, finely chopped
Lime wedges, for serving
Preparation
Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and jalapeño and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Add chile powder and stir to coat. Cook a minute or two to toast the spices, then add chipotles and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to caramelize a bit on the bottom of the pot, concentrating their flavor.
Add vegetable broth, corn and 2 cups of water. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Simmer until flavors meld and broth tastes rich and flavorful, 15 to 20 minutes.
Heat oil in a large cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet or heavy-bottomed pot. Bring oil to 375 degrees and working in batches, fry tortilla strips until light golden brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt.
Place about 3/4 of the tortilla strips into broth and stir to submerge and soften for a few minutes. Divide soup among bowls and top with avocado, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, onion and remaining fried tortilla strips. Serve lime alongside for squeezing.
TURKEY TACO SOUP
This comes from Laurel Randolph, one of the writers on The Spruce. Laurel wrote, “Taco soup is an easy, one-bowl version of everyone's favorite dinner: taco night. All of the ingredients simmer together to make a robust, flavorful soup that's especially good with a side of crispy tortilla chips. And with only one dirty pot and a few dirty soup bowls, it's totally carefree. The typical ground beef is replaced with shredded turkey for a lighter meal—or you can replace it with cooked chicken, if that's what you have on hand.
“We love to make this soup after Thanksgiving, when we have leftover turkey to use up and we want to do as little cooking as possible. It's a great way to repurpose cooked, shredded breast or dark meat to create a totally different dish. No one will be complaining of leftover fatigue with this recipe.”
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: Serves 3 - 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola (or grapeseed oil)
1 small red onion (diced)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
1 jalapeño (seeded and minced)
3 garlic cloves (minced)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (with juice)
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
1 cup packed shredded cooked turkey
3 cups turkey or chicken broth
Salt and pepper
1 avocado (diced, or sour cream for serving)
Optional: Chips (for serving)
Directions
Preheat a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the oil followed by the onion. Sauté for 2 minutes.
Add the bell pepper, jalapeño and garlic. Sauté for 2 more minutes.
Add the chili powder, cumin, and oregano and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Add the tomatoes and juice, pinto beans, turkey and broth, and stir. Season with salt and pepper.
Turn up the heat and bring to a simmer.
Turn the heat to low and let simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Serve topped with diced avocado or a dollop of sour cream and tortilla chips.
With the weather starting to cool off, soup just seems to be the perfect food to warm us up. Today's six yummy soup recipes include Vegetable-Chicken Noodle Soup and Turkey Taco Soup. Enjoy!
POTATO AND ONION SOUP
This is from Roadfood.com. The send out emails periodically which are almost always interesting. This recipe, from Harry Caray's, starts off, “Cooking potatoes in beef stock gives the starchy vegetable a savor that all carnivores will appreciate. A sprinkle of Parmesan on each serving adds just the right zip.”
Preparation Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes Servings: 6
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups peeled and sliced Spanish onions
3-1/2 cups homemade beef stock or equivalent amount of canned, low salt beef broth
3 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Melt the butter in a large sauté pan and add the olive oil.
Add the onions and sauté until they become clear and turn a light brown. Set aside.
In a large stock pot, bring the beef stock to a boil. Reduce the heat and add the diced potatoes. Simmer over medium heat until the potatoes are soft.
Add the onions to the stock pot and simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
Salt and pepper the soup to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese on top and serve.
VEGETABLE-CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
Servings: 6 (Serving = 1-1/2 cup)
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/253.shtml
Ingredients
6 cups 1/3-less-salt chicken broth, divided
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup thinly sliced leek (white part only)
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup peeled and chopped turnip
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1-1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoons fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 ounces uncooked "no-yolk" broad noodles
1 cup diced cooked chicken
Directions
Place 1/3 cup chicken broth, celery, leek, carrot and turnip in large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
Stir in remaining 5 -2/3 cups chicken broth, parsley, thyme, rosemary, vinegar and black pepper. Bring to a boil; add noodles. Cook until noodles are tender; stir in chicken. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer until heated through.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 98; Protein: 10 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 73 mg; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Starch/Bread, 1 Lean Meat, 1/2 Vegetable
CREAM OF TURNIP SOUP
This also comes from the January 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times, and begins, “This comforting soup is so subtly flavored that even turnip-haters like it. Baby turnips have a milder taste, but the recipe works just as well with regular turnips. Thinly sliced celery leaves mimic lovage, an herb often used in France to season turnip dishes.” Serves 6.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/cream-of-turnip-soup/.
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 lb. fresh baby turnips, peeled and diced
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup soy creamer, optional
1/4 cup celery leaves, sliced into fine strips
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add turnips and onion, and cook 15 minutes, or until vegetables are translucent, stirring occasionally. Add bay leaves and 3 cups water, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover, and cook 25 to 30 minutes, or until turnips are very tender.
Remove from heat, and remove bay leaves. Add soy creamer, if using. Use blender or food processor to purée ingredients until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and stir in celery leaves just before serving.
nutritional information Per Serving: Calories: 79; Protein: 1 g; Total Fat: 4.5 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 216 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 5 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free
FRENCH ONION SOUP
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
7 cups halved and thinly-sliced onions
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
6 cups low sodium vegetable broth
1/3 cup dry sherry
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 French bread loaf, cut 1/2" thick slices
10 ounces shredded Jarlsberg or Gruyere cheese
In large, heavy pot, melt 2 tablespoons butter with oil over medium heat. Stir in onions, sugar, & salt. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Reduce heat, cover & cook 10 minutes. Remove lid & cook 15 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Add remaining butter to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized & very soft, about 15 minutes. Stir in flour & cook 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in broth, sherry, thyme, salt to taste & pepper. Cover & simmer 15 minutes, adding more salt if needed. Preheat broiler. Lightly toast bread slices. Ladle soup into 6 ovenproof bowls or crocks & arrange on baking sheet. Put enough bread on top of each serving, cutting & fitting if necessary to cover soup. Sprinkle bread with shredded cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly & golden. Serve hot. Serves 8.
VEGETARIAN TORTILLA SOUP
This is from Alison Roman in The New York Times cooking email. Alison wrote, “This vegetarian version of tortilla soup is no less complex than its chicken counterpart, thanks to plenty of vegetables, spices and a secret ingredient: canned chipotles in adobo. Smoked and dried jalapeños softened in a vinegar-tomato mixture, these little powerhouses do much of the heavy lifting in this vegetarian soup, offering depth and a certain meatiness to an otherwise light and tangy broth.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 1/4 hours
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Soup:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 jalapeño, seeds removed, finely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons chile powder
2 chipotles in adobo, finely chopped
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, drained and crushed
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed
For the Tortillas and Assembly:
2 cups vegetable oil
8 small corn tortillas, cut into 1/4-inch strips
Kosher salt
1 avocado, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup crumbled queso fresco or shredded Cheddar or Monterey jack
3/4 cup sour cream or crema
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 red or yellow onion, finely chopped
Lime wedges, for serving
Preparation
Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and jalapeño and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Add chile powder and stir to coat. Cook a minute or two to toast the spices, then add chipotles and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to caramelize a bit on the bottom of the pot, concentrating their flavor.
Add vegetable broth, corn and 2 cups of water. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Simmer until flavors meld and broth tastes rich and flavorful, 15 to 20 minutes.
Heat oil in a large cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet or heavy-bottomed pot. Bring oil to 375 degrees and working in batches, fry tortilla strips until light golden brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt.
Place about 3/4 of the tortilla strips into broth and stir to submerge and soften for a few minutes. Divide soup among bowls and top with avocado, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, onion and remaining fried tortilla strips. Serve lime alongside for squeezing.
TURKEY TACO SOUP
This comes from Laurel Randolph, one of the writers on The Spruce. Laurel wrote, “Taco soup is an easy, one-bowl version of everyone's favorite dinner: taco night. All of the ingredients simmer together to make a robust, flavorful soup that's especially good with a side of crispy tortilla chips. And with only one dirty pot and a few dirty soup bowls, it's totally carefree. The typical ground beef is replaced with shredded turkey for a lighter meal—or you can replace it with cooked chicken, if that's what you have on hand.
“We love to make this soup after Thanksgiving, when we have leftover turkey to use up and we want to do as little cooking as possible. It's a great way to repurpose cooked, shredded breast or dark meat to create a totally different dish. No one will be complaining of leftover fatigue with this recipe.”
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Yield: Serves 3 - 4.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola (or grapeseed oil)
1 small red onion (diced)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
1 jalapeño (seeded and minced)
3 garlic cloves (minced)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (with juice)
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
1 cup packed shredded cooked turkey
3 cups turkey or chicken broth
Salt and pepper
1 avocado (diced, or sour cream for serving)
Optional: Chips (for serving)
Directions
Preheat a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the oil followed by the onion. Sauté for 2 minutes.
Add the bell pepper, jalapeño and garlic. Sauté for 2 more minutes.
Add the chili powder, cumin, and oregano and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Add the tomatoes and juice, pinto beans, turkey and broth, and stir. Season with salt and pepper.
Turn up the heat and bring to a simmer.
Turn the heat to low and let simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Serve topped with diced avocado or a dollop of sour cream and tortilla chips.
Meatless Monday - Lasagna
It's time for another Meatless Monday. Today's meatless recipes deal with one of my favorite foods, lasagna.
I love lasagna. And autumn is the perfect time for this yummy food.
I can almost hear someone thinking, Yeah, but don't you need meat for lasagna? Believe it or not, no. Here are six yummy vegetarian lasagna recipes to help you through the day, including Tortilla Lasagna and Low-Fat Vegan Eggplant Lasagna. Enjoy!
HERBED TOFU LASAGNA WITH ZUCCHINI
This comes from the April 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Simple, fresh flavors and an innovative way with tofu—it's blended with herbs and seasonings until creamy and ricotta-like—make this lasagna one you'll want to make year-round. The key: Use the best purchased marinara sauce you can find, then drizzle each serving with extra virgin olive oil.” Serves 10.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/herbed-tofu-lasagna-with-zucchini/.
Ingredients
2 14-oz. pkg. firm tofu, well drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 cloves garlic, peeled
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. sugar
1 Tbs. olive oil
4 medium-size zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices (about 3 cups)
5 cups marinara sauce
16 no-cook lasagna noodles (9 oz.)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Combine tofu, basil, parsley, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt, red pepper flakes and sugar in food processor; blend until smooth and similar to ricotta in texture.
Put oil and zucchini in large nonstick skillet. Sauté 3 to 5 minutes over medium-high heat, or until just tender.
Spread 3 Tbs. marinara sauce over bottom of prepared baking dish. Cover with layer of noodles, overlapping slightly, half of tofu mixture and half of zucchini mixture. Top with another layer of noodles, remaining tofu and zucchini, and 1/2 cup sauce. Finish with another layer of noodles and remaining sauce.
Cover with foil, and bake 1 hour. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 314; Protein: 18 g; Total Fat: 12 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Sodium: 617 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 10 g; Vegan
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.
TORTILLA LASAGNA
This is from the January/February 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 48. It begins, "This easy, crowd-pleasing dish is also a kid favorite. Toasting the tortillas before building the lasagna keeps them from getting soggy as the dish bakes. Feel free to mix things up with different beans, cheeses, or vegetables between the layers." Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 8-inch fat-free flour tortillas
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 Tbs. chili powder
2 tsp. ancho chile powder
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 cups strained tomatoes, such as Pomì, divided
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium chayote, peeled and diced, or 2 medium zucchini, diced (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack or pepper Jack cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast tortillas on 2 baking sheets in oven 5 minutes, or until light brown, turning once.
Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 minutes, or until soft. Stir in chili powder, ancho chile powder, and garlic, and cook 30 seconds. Add 11/2 cups strained tomatoes, beans, chayote, corn, and 1/2 cup water, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cover, and cook 10 minutes, or until chayote is tender.
Coat 2-inch-deep x 8-inch round baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/4 cup strained tomatoes in bottom of pan. Set 1 toasted tortilla in pan; top with 3/4 cup bean mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layering 4 more times. Top with last tortilla, and spread remaining 1/4 cup strained tomatoes over top. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until casserole is bubbly and cheese has melted. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into 8 wedges.
nutritional information Per Wedge: Calories: 226; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g; Cholesterol: 19 mg; Sodium: 506 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 4 g
ROASTED VEGETABLE LASAGNA
This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The recipe begins, “Roasted vegetable purée gives lasagna a new twist! For variety, substitute zucchini or yellow squash for the eggplant.”
POINTS® Value: 5; Servings 6; Preparation Time: 25 min; Cooking Time: 65 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Ingredients
3 medium raw eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 medium sweet red pepper(s), chopped
4 small tomato(es), plum, seeded and chopped
4 medium garlic clove(s), peeled and chopped
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp table salt, or more to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper, or more to taste
9 serving dry lasagna noodles, 9 noodles, cooked and drained
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
In roasting pan, combine vegetables and garlic with olive oil. Bake 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
Place half of vegetables, salt and pepper, and 1/2 cup water in food processor and process until smooth. Spoon 1/2 cup of vegetable purée into bottom of a 9 X 13-inch baking dish. Place three noodles over purée. Top with 1/2 cup of purée, 1/2 of remaining vegetables, 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers and then top with remaining 3 noodles, purée and cheese. Bake until bubbly, about 45 minutes. Slice into 6 pieces and serve.
LOW CALORIE SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from Kimberly Eggleston, a nutritionist on The Spruce. Kimberly wrote, “You wouldn't think that lasagna could be a lean and delicious dish until you have tried this low-calorie spinach lasagna recipe. You can see from the ingredient list that it doesn't even take a whole lot of ingredients to make up this yummy dish. And the ingredients that are included are relatively lean. Instead of fatty sausage and beef, the bulk of this lasagna filling is part skim mozzarella, low-fat cottage cheese, and spinach which give the lasagna nice texture and color. There aren't too many calories coming from those ingredients!
“Another great thing about his spinach lasagna is that this lasagna recipe is so easy to throw together about an hour and fifteen minutes before dinner. Yes, that's only a little over one hour before dinner, and the majority or that time is the lasagna cooking, which frees you up to do other things.
“And there is no need to precook the noodles. You will add water to the dish once you have layered the lasagna together, using uncooked dry noodles. Then the water will cook the noodles during baking time resulting in perfectly al dente noodles when it is finished. One less pot to wash when it is all finished is certainly worth it.”
Total Time: 70 mins; Prep: 10 mins; Cook: 60 mins; Yield: 8 Servings; Per Serving Calories: 304
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 16 oz. carton low-fat cottage cheese
1 10 oz. package frozen spinach, thawed and rinsed
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 oz.), divided
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (2 oz.)
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
9 lasagna noodles, uncooked
2 cups jarred marinara sauce
1 cup water
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
To begin with, prepare the cheese and spinach filling for the lasagna.
In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, spinach, 3/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella, pepper, oregano, and salt. Use large spoon to gently stir together the mixture until it is well combined.
Next, spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.
Place 3 of the uncooked noodles in the bottom of the pan. Top with half of the cottage cheese mixture, and use a large spoon or a spatula to gently spread the cheese mixture over the noodles, trying to cover all the noodles.
Next, over the cheese and spinach mixture, spread 2/3 cup of the marinara sauce, and then top the layer of marinara sauce with 1/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella. Repeat the layers two more times. End with the last three noddles, topped with 2/3 cup of sauce and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Now that the lasagna is assembled, pour 1 cup of water around the edges of the pan gently and slowly, allowing the water to fill in the gaps slowly so that it does not overflow. Cover the pan tightly with tin foil.
Place the covered lasagna in the preheated oven, and bake for 1 hour. Once the lasagna is done cooking, remove it from the oven, and loosely uncover the dish while the lasagna cools. Let the lasagna stand for 10 minutes before serving in order to allow the lasagna to become far easier to cut.
LOW-FAT VEGAN EGGPLANT LASAGNA
This came from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "A wonderful vegetarian lasagna recipe full of healthy spinach and eggplant. This vegetarian and vegan lasagna recipe uses no cheese, making it both vegan and dairy-free, as well as much lower in fat than a traditional lasagna." Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium eggplant, diced
2 10 ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, defrosted
1 64 ounce jar pre-made tomato sauce
1 pound lasagna noodles
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Sautee the garlic for two minutes, then add the eggplant and stir. Cover the frying pan and cook until the eggplant is just tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Cover the bottom of a 9x12 inch baking pan with 2 cups of the tomato sauce, then cover the tomato sauce with 4 or 5 uncooked noodles. Cover this with a thin layer of sauce, then add the cooked eggplant and another thin layer of sauce. Add another layer of noodles followed by a thing layer of sauce, then the spinach and another thin layer of sauce. Add the remaining noodles and sauce.
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45-50 minutes. Noodles are cooked when they can be pierced with a fork.
Makes six servings of eggplant and spinach lasagna. Reprinted with permission from The Compassionate Cook Cookbook.
Nutritional information, per serving: Calories: 347, Calories from Fat: 41; % Daily Value: Total Fat: 4.6g, 7%, Total Carbohydrates: 65.8g, 22%, Dietary Fiber: 9.2g, 37%, Protein: 16.3g, Vitamin A 199%, Vitamin C 83%, Calcium 14%, Iron 32%
I love lasagna. And autumn is the perfect time for this yummy food.
I can almost hear someone thinking, Yeah, but don't you need meat for lasagna? Believe it or not, no. Here are six yummy vegetarian lasagna recipes to help you through the day, including Tortilla Lasagna and Low-Fat Vegan Eggplant Lasagna. Enjoy!
HERBED TOFU LASAGNA WITH ZUCCHINI
This comes from the April 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Simple, fresh flavors and an innovative way with tofu—it's blended with herbs and seasonings until creamy and ricotta-like—make this lasagna one you'll want to make year-round. The key: Use the best purchased marinara sauce you can find, then drizzle each serving with extra virgin olive oil.” Serves 10.
To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/herbed-tofu-lasagna-with-zucchini/.
Ingredients
2 14-oz. pkg. firm tofu, well drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 cloves garlic, peeled
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. sugar
1 Tbs. olive oil
4 medium-size zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices (about 3 cups)
5 cups marinara sauce
16 no-cook lasagna noodles (9 oz.)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Combine tofu, basil, parsley, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt, red pepper flakes and sugar in food processor; blend until smooth and similar to ricotta in texture.
Put oil and zucchini in large nonstick skillet. Sauté 3 to 5 minutes over medium-high heat, or until just tender.
Spread 3 Tbs. marinara sauce over bottom of prepared baking dish. Cover with layer of noodles, overlapping slightly, half of tofu mixture and half of zucchini mixture. Top with another layer of noodles, remaining tofu and zucchini, and 1/2 cup sauce. Finish with another layer of noodles and remaining sauce.
Cover with foil, and bake 1 hour. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 314; Protein: 18 g; Total Fat: 12 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Sodium: 617 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 10 g; Vegan
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.
TORTILLA LASAGNA
This is from the January/February 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 48. It begins, "This easy, crowd-pleasing dish is also a kid favorite. Toasting the tortillas before building the lasagna keeps them from getting soggy as the dish bakes. Feel free to mix things up with different beans, cheeses, or vegetables between the layers." Serves 8.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 8-inch fat-free flour tortillas
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 Tbs. chili powder
2 tsp. ancho chile powder
2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
2 cups strained tomatoes, such as Pomì, divided
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium chayote, peeled and diced, or 2 medium zucchini, diced (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack or pepper Jack cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast tortillas on 2 baking sheets in oven 5 minutes, or until light brown, turning once.
Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 5 minutes, or until soft. Stir in chili powder, ancho chile powder, and garlic, and cook 30 seconds. Add 11/2 cups strained tomatoes, beans, chayote, corn, and 1/2 cup water, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cover, and cook 10 minutes, or until chayote is tender.
Coat 2-inch-deep x 8-inch round baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/4 cup strained tomatoes in bottom of pan. Set 1 toasted tortilla in pan; top with 3/4 cup bean mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layering 4 more times. Top with last tortilla, and spread remaining 1/4 cup strained tomatoes over top. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until casserole is bubbly and cheese has melted. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into 8 wedges.
nutritional information Per Wedge: Calories: 226; Protein: 11 g; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g; Cholesterol: 19 mg; Sodium: 506 mg; Fiber: 10 g; Sugar: 4 g
ROASTED VEGETABLE LASAGNA
This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The recipe begins, “Roasted vegetable purée gives lasagna a new twist! For variety, substitute zucchini or yellow squash for the eggplant.”
POINTS® Value: 5; Servings 6; Preparation Time: 25 min; Cooking Time: 65 min; Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Ingredients
3 medium raw eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 medium sweet red pepper(s), chopped
4 small tomato(es), plum, seeded and chopped
4 medium garlic clove(s), peeled and chopped
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp table salt, or more to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper, or more to taste
9 serving dry lasagna noodles, 9 noodles, cooked and drained
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
In roasting pan, combine vegetables and garlic with olive oil. Bake 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
Place half of vegetables, salt and pepper, and 1/2 cup water in food processor and process until smooth. Spoon 1/2 cup of vegetable purée into bottom of a 9 X 13-inch baking dish. Place three noodles over purée. Top with 1/2 cup of purée, 1/2 of remaining vegetables, 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers and then top with remaining 3 noodles, purée and cheese. Bake until bubbly, about 45 minutes. Slice into 6 pieces and serve.
LOW CALORIE SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from Kimberly Eggleston, a nutritionist on The Spruce. Kimberly wrote, “You wouldn't think that lasagna could be a lean and delicious dish until you have tried this low-calorie spinach lasagna recipe. You can see from the ingredient list that it doesn't even take a whole lot of ingredients to make up this yummy dish. And the ingredients that are included are relatively lean. Instead of fatty sausage and beef, the bulk of this lasagna filling is part skim mozzarella, low-fat cottage cheese, and spinach which give the lasagna nice texture and color. There aren't too many calories coming from those ingredients!
“Another great thing about his spinach lasagna is that this lasagna recipe is so easy to throw together about an hour and fifteen minutes before dinner. Yes, that's only a little over one hour before dinner, and the majority or that time is the lasagna cooking, which frees you up to do other things.
“And there is no need to precook the noodles. You will add water to the dish once you have layered the lasagna together, using uncooked dry noodles. Then the water will cook the noodles during baking time resulting in perfectly al dente noodles when it is finished. One less pot to wash when it is all finished is certainly worth it.”
Total Time: 70 mins; Prep: 10 mins; Cook: 60 mins; Yield: 8 Servings; Per Serving Calories: 304
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 16 oz. carton low-fat cottage cheese
1 10 oz. package frozen spinach, thawed and rinsed
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 oz.), divided
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (2 oz.)
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
9 lasagna noodles, uncooked
2 cups jarred marinara sauce
1 cup water
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
To begin with, prepare the cheese and spinach filling for the lasagna.
In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, spinach, 3/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella, pepper, oregano, and salt. Use large spoon to gently stir together the mixture until it is well combined.
Next, spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.
Place 3 of the uncooked noodles in the bottom of the pan. Top with half of the cottage cheese mixture, and use a large spoon or a spatula to gently spread the cheese mixture over the noodles, trying to cover all the noodles.
Next, over the cheese and spinach mixture, spread 2/3 cup of the marinara sauce, and then top the layer of marinara sauce with 1/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella. Repeat the layers two more times. End with the last three noddles, topped with 2/3 cup of sauce and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Now that the lasagna is assembled, pour 1 cup of water around the edges of the pan gently and slowly, allowing the water to fill in the gaps slowly so that it does not overflow. Cover the pan tightly with tin foil.
Place the covered lasagna in the preheated oven, and bake for 1 hour. Once the lasagna is done cooking, remove it from the oven, and loosely uncover the dish while the lasagna cools. Let the lasagna stand for 10 minutes before serving in order to allow the lasagna to become far easier to cut.
LOW-FAT VEGAN EGGPLANT LASAGNA
This came from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "A wonderful vegetarian lasagna recipe full of healthy spinach and eggplant. This vegetarian and vegan lasagna recipe uses no cheese, making it both vegan and dairy-free, as well as much lower in fat than a traditional lasagna." Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium eggplant, diced
2 10 ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, defrosted
1 64 ounce jar pre-made tomato sauce
1 pound lasagna noodles
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Sautee the garlic for two minutes, then add the eggplant and stir. Cover the frying pan and cook until the eggplant is just tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Cover the bottom of a 9x12 inch baking pan with 2 cups of the tomato sauce, then cover the tomato sauce with 4 or 5 uncooked noodles. Cover this with a thin layer of sauce, then add the cooked eggplant and another thin layer of sauce. Add another layer of noodles followed by a thing layer of sauce, then the spinach and another thin layer of sauce. Add the remaining noodles and sauce.
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45-50 minutes. Noodles are cooked when they can be pierced with a fork.
Makes six servings of eggplant and spinach lasagna. Reprinted with permission from The Compassionate Cook Cookbook.
Nutritional information, per serving: Calories: 347, Calories from Fat: 41; % Daily Value: Total Fat: 4.6g, 7%, Total Carbohydrates: 65.8g, 22%, Dietary Fiber: 9.2g, 37%, Protein: 16.3g, Vitamin A 199%, Vitamin C 83%, Calcium 14%, Iron 32%
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