Eating Out-Vegetarian

Since we changed the way that we eat, we have struggled when it comes to eating out. Meat is not very appealing anymore, especially when we go out to eat. So, we have been trying to figure out some places that we can feel good about. We do mostly eat at home now, but sometimes it's nice to have someone else do the cooking and clean up the mess. For Valentine's Day, we reluctantly decided to eat at Pei Wei. It ended up being an excellent decision. We figured out that we could order anything with tofu to replace the meat. Very tasty. We liked it so much, we ate there again the next weekend. As a side note, we order the blazing noodles or something like that and it was hotter than hellfire. Wow. I love spicy stuff, but this was too much. So, unless you like your mouth to be on fire and tears dripping into your food, don't order this. We also like Paradise Bakery. They have a pretty good vegetarian sandwich and killer soup. We also like Citris Grill (the Draper one just closed though, dang) and then there are the standard mexican places (Bajio, Cafe Rio, etc.) that you can order stuff without meat. Bajio does have a pretty good vegetarian burro. Those places are pretty good, but we still felt like there had to be more places that we just didn't know about. Last week, I found this book at the library:

So, for those of you who live in the Salt Lake area, here are some suggestions of restaurants that serve good vegetarian/vegan food.

* Fair

**Good

***Excellent

****Outstanding

$ Inexpensive (under $10)

$$ Moderate ($10 to $20)

$$$ Expensive ($21 and above)

Bangkok Thai

***/$$

1400 South Foothill Drive

801 582 8424

They also have "Meatless Mondays" when their whole menu is exclusively vegetarian and the entrees are $5.99 at lunch and $7.99 for dinner.

Barbacoa Mexican Grill

**/$

various locations

http://eatbarbacoa.com/

Blue Iguana

***/$

Mexican

155 South West Temple

801 533 8900

http://www.blueiguanarestaurant.net/

Blue Plate Diner

**/$

American

2041 South 2100 East

801 463 1151

They serve breakfast all day. I remember reading somewhere else that they have good vegetarian burgers.

Bombay House

***/$$

Indian

1615 South Foothill Drive

801 581 0222

http://bombayhouse.com/

Cafe Med

**/$$

Middle Eastern/Mediterranean

420 East 3300 South

801 493 0100

Cafe Shambala

***/$

Tibetan

382 East Fourth Avenue

801 364 8558

They have an all you can eat lunch buffet for $5.95.

Cafe Trang

**/$$

Vietnamese/Chinese

818 South Main

801 539 1638

www.cafetrangrestaurant.com

Caffe Molise

***/$$

Italian

55 West 100 South

801 364 8833

www.caffemolise.com

The Cedars of Lebanon

**/$$

Middle Eastern/Moroccan

152 East 200 South

801 364 4096

Coffee Under the Bridge

**/$

American/Multiethnic

511 West 200 South

801 359 2278

(sandwiches, vegan mac & cheese, hummus, vegan desserts)

Ever Green House Cafe

**/$

Chinese

755 South State Street

801 328 8889

Vegan Menu

Frank Granato's Importing Company

***/$

Italian

1391 South 300 West

801 486 5688

4044 South 2700 East

801 277 7700

http://www.granatos.com/

It's also an Italian grocery.

Ginza

***/$$

Japanese

209 West 200 South

801 322 2224

Hong Kong Tea House and Restaurant

**/$$

Chinese

565 West 200 South

801 531 7010

Lemon Grass

*/$$

Thai

327 West 200 South

801 596 1778

Long Life Vegi House

*/$

Szechuan and Hunan Chinese

1353 East 3300 South

801 467 1111

Mazza

***/$$

Mediterranean/Lebanese

1515 South 1500 East

801 484 9259

http://www.mazzacafe.com/

Noodles & Company

***/$

American/Multiethnic

various locations

http://noodles.com/

Oasis Cafe

***/$$

American/Multiethnic

151 South 500 East

801 322 0404

http://www.oasiscafeslc.com/

One World Cafe

***/$

41 South 300 East

801 867 1516

Very interesting concept. No set prices. You pay what you can/feel you should. Read more about them at their website.

http://www.oneworldeverybodyeats.com/

The Pie Pizzeria

**/$

Various Locations

http://www.thepie.com/

I ate here recently and loved the vegetarian pizza.

Pinon Market Cafe

***/$

Gourmet Multiethnic

2095 East 1300 South

801 582 4539

Gourmet Sandwiches

Red Iguana

***/$$

Mexican

736 West North Temple

801 322 1489

http://www.rediguana.com/

Rico's Mexican Market

**/$

Mexican

779 South 500 East

801 533 9923

http://www.ricomarket.com/

Royal India

***/$$

10263 South 1300 East

801 572 6123

http://www.royalindiautah.com/

Sage's Cafe

****/$$

American/Multiethnic

473 East Broadway

801 322 3790

http://www.sagescafe.com/

Named the best vegetarian restaurant for the last 3 years in City Weekly.

ShangHai

**/$

Vietnamese/Chinese

145 East 1300 South

801 322 1841

Spice

*/$

American/Multiethnic

123 South West Temple

801 322 4796

Stoneground

**/$$

Italian

249 East 400 South

801 364 1368

http://www.stonegroundslc.com/

This really is not a family friendly restaurant (from what I've heard).

Thai Siam

**/$$

1435 South State Street

801 474 3322

This book was published in 2005, so the information my not be up to date. Also, if you see anything that needs to be corrected, please fix it. If you have eaten there or do eat at any place and it's no good, delete it.

As I was verifying websites, I came across a website http://www.vegguide.org/. You can search the area that you live in to find vegetarian restaurants. For Salt Lake City: http://www.vegguide.org/region/101.

There were many sites that reviewed the above restaurants when I put the name of the place in google.

Also, there were other Veg Out Guides for various cities available.

Also, another restaurant of note that is not necessarily vegetarian. Chipotle has a very interesting story and philosophy. Here is an excerpt from their website:

"The hallmarks of Food With Integrity include things like unprocessed, seasonal, family-farmed, sustainable, nutritious, naturally raised, added hormone free, organic, and artisanal. And, since embracing this philosophy, it's had tremendous impact on how we run our restaurants and our business. It's led us to serve more naturally raised meat than any other restaurant in the country, to push for more sustainable practices in produce farming, and to work with dairy suppliers to eliminate the use of added hormones from their operations. "

Not all of their restaurants have this food, but they are actively pursuing food of this nature and using it wherever available. Impressive. Read more here.

So, here are a few places that I have found that are good to eat and a huge list of suggestions. So, if you try them, leave a review.

If you have somewhere else to suggest, add it.

Happy Eating!

Black Bean Burgers

Challey's friend, Emily posted this recipe on a different blog. Challey told me these were pretty awesome, so I am cutting and pasting it here. I may try it with whole wheat bread crumbs and fresh seasonings. Can't wait to try it.

These burgers are awesome! Cooking the onions and peppers over high heat helps to give the burgers a "grilled" flavor.

1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, large dice
1 red bell pepper, large dice
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp. grill seasoning (such as McCormick Grill Mates)
salt and pepper to taste
2 cans black beans, rinsed and well drained
1 egg, beaten
3/4 c. Panko bread crumbs

Heat oil over medium-high heat until it is just starting to smoke. Add the onion and bell pepper and stir constantly to avoid scorching. When onions are golden brown, reduce heat to low; add garlic, grill seasoning and salt/pepper to taste. Stir occasionally until onions and peppers are softened.

In a food processor, pulse the onion and pepper mixture until finely chopped. Add the black beans, and process until the desired texture is achieved. TASTE the mixture at this point to check for seasonings. If necessary, add more salt or pepper.

Beat the egg in a large bowl. Add the bean mixture and the bread crumbs. Stir to combine. Use a large ice cream scoop to form balls, and shape into patties using wet hands. Place patties on an oiled baking sheet, and cook at 375 for 10 minutes. Flip the patties over, and cook for another 5-7 minutes. Avoid overcooking or the burgers will be dry.

Serve the burgers on crusty rolls with your favorite burger fixins'.

Chickpeas and Baby Spinach

I saw this recipe was in the NYTimes today and I thought it looked great--especially as a quick and healthy pantry meal.

Chickpeas and Baby Spinach

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, lightly toasted and ground
Salt, preferably kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 cup chicken or vegetable stock, or water
Cayenne to taste
1 6-oz. bag baby spinach

1. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, tomato paste and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring for one to two minutes, until fragrant and the tomato paste has turned a darker color. Add the chickpeas, the stock or water, and the cayenne, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer 10 minutes.
2. Stir in the spinach, a handful at a time, stirring until each addition of spinach wilts. Add salt to taste and simmer uncovered, stirring often, for five minutes. Add lots of freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt and cayenne, and serve.
Note: Another way to make this dish is to blanch the spinach separately in salted boiling water for 10 to 20 seconds. Transfer to a bowl of ice water, drain and squeeze dry. Add to the chickpeas as in step 2, but stir together for only two to three minutes.

You can serve it on its own, with couscous or pasta, or over a thick slice of toasted bread rubbed with garlic.

Zucchini Potato Latkes with Tzatziki Sauce and Roasted Tomatoes

1 pound zucchini, shredded
2 cups shredded cooked potato (see Note)
2 medium shallots, minced, divided
1 egg, beaten
2 cups fresh whole-wheat breadcrumbs (see Tip)
1/2 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1/2 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and shredded
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar

Preheat oven to 450° F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Toss zucchini, potato, 3 tablespoons shallot and egg in a large bowl. Add breadcrumbs, feta, 1 tablespoon dill, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; toss to combine. Form the mixture into 12 patties.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 6 patties, cover and cook until crispy and browned on one side, 2 to 5 minutes. Carefully transfer the latkes to the prepared pan, browned-side down. Repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and patties. Transfer the latkes to the oven and bake until firm and heated through, 10 to 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare tzatziki: Combine yogurt, cucumber, vinegar, the remaining minced shallot, 1 tablespoon dill and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl. Serve the latkes with the tzatziki on the side.

All of the recipes I just posted come from Lizzy her food site is here.

Lemon Asparagus Pasta

4 ounces whole-wheat penne pasta (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
3/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced fresh tarragon or 1/4 teaspoon dried
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Cook pasta for 6 minutes. Add asparagus and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the pasta and asparagus are just tender, about 3 minutes more. Drain and return to the pot.

Meanwhile, whisk milk, mustard, flour, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Whisk in the milk mixture. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, and cook until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in tarragon, lemon zest and juice. Stir the sauce into the cooked pasta and place over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thick, creamy and coats the pasta. Stir 1/4 cup Parmesan into the pasta until combined. Serve the pasta topped with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.

Spinach Macaroni & Cheese

3 tablespoons whole wheat breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 16-ounce or 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed
1 3/4 cups low-fat milk, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
8 ounces (2 cups) whole-wheat elbow macaroni or penne

Put a large pot of water on to boil. Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat an 8-inch-square (2-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.

Mix breadcrumbs, oil and paprika in a small bowl. Place spinach in a fine-mesh strainer and press out excess moisture. Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until steaming. Whisk remaining 1/4 cup milk and flour in a small bowl until smooth; add to the hot milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce simmers and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Cheddar until melted. Stir in cottage cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Cook pasta for 4 minutes, or until not quite tender. (It will continue to cook during baking.) Drain and add to the cheese sauce; mix well. Spread half the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish. Spoon the spinach on top. Top with the remaining pasta; sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture. Bake the casserole until bubbly and golden, 25 to 30 minutes.

Veggi Reubans

Russian dressing
2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 teaspoons ketchup
2 teaspoons chopped capers
1 teaspoon chopped pickle or relish

Sandwiches
3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
5 cups baby spinach
Freshly ground pepper to taste
4 slices rye bread
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Swiss cheese, such as Jarlsberg Lite or Alpine Lace (2 ounces)
1/2 cup sauerkraut

Prepare Russian dressing: Whisk mayonnaise and ketchup in a small bowl until smooth. Stir in capers and pickle (or relish).

To prepare sandwiches: Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and mushrooms; cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened, 4 minutes. Add spinach and cook, stirring, until it has wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a plate. Coat the pan with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and return to medium heat. Add the bread; divide cheese equally among the slices. Divide sauerkraut between 2 slices and divide the spinach mixture between the other 2 slices; cook until the cheese has melted and the bread is golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer sandwich halves to a cutting board. Divide the dressing between the spinach halves. Carefully place the sauerkraut halves on top. Cut sandwiches in half and serve.

Rethinking Breakfast

Another good NYT article about whole grains, breakfast, and expanding horizons.
Click here to read.

Grocery bill

I am curious what a typical week at the grocery store is for everyone. I have been making a slow transition to the whole foods diet for about a year now (because my husband is less than supportive). I have decided to get off the fence and just go for it and am trying to stock my pantry with whole food staples and it is really adding up. I expect it to be more in the beginning, but I am curious what I can expect to spend in the future.

Good Cookbook & Avocado Lime Salsa

I recently checked this book out from my library. I was interested because of her healthy approach to foods that we usually crave. She also believes that we should buy food as close to their natural state as possible. We liked almost every recipe that we have tried so far. The book has a mix of meat and meatless recipes (both of which we have tried). She also has a show on The Food Network (we don't have that station though), so I was able to find the recipes online also. They had different names from the book though, so I put both names in the recipe. To find her recipes online, click here. Enjoy!

We made this salsa to top steak (except we had no steak so we ate tilapia instead) tacos (if you want the recipe for the steak tacos, click here). It was very good on chips but also the next day, I had it for lunch. I had a flour tortilla spread with hummus and then topped with the salsa. I also added some hot sauce. It sounds strange, but it was actually a very good combination.

Avocado Lime Salsa

(Cucumber Avacado Salsa From the book The Food You Crave by Ellie Kreiger)

1 large cucumber peeled, seeded and cut into chunks (about 2 cups)
2 avocados, cut into chunks
1/2 red onion, diced
2 limes, juiced (about 1/4 cup)
Salt
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
2 jalapeno chiles, chopped, plus more to taste

Place cucumber, avocado and onion in a large bowl and add lime juice and salt. Add cilantro and chiles and toss gently.
Yield: 2 cups (1 serving is 1/3 cup)

Mexican Tortilla Pizza

We loved this for dinner. I added cheese to some of the pizzas. The black bean dip was very good. We liked it with chips. I would definitely double or triple it and leave it in the fridge for a black bean hummus. It was also very quick to make.

Mexican Tortilla Pizza

(Black Bean Mexican-Style Pizza From The Food You Crave by Ellie Kreiger)

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 2 as a main course or 8 as an appetizer (It easily fed our family of four)

Ingredients
4 corn tortillas, or whole-wheat tortillas (6-inches in diameter) (we used 6)
1/2 cup Black Bean Dip, recipe follows
1 large tomato, seeded and diced
1 cup shredded green cabbage
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place the tortillas onto a baking sheet and spread 2 tablespoons of black bean dip on top of each tortilla. Top with tomato and cabbage and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pizzas from the oven and sprinkle some cilantro on each one. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into wedges.

Black Bean Dip:
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced jalapeno pepper
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon water
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Heat the oil in a skillet over a medium heat. Add onions and saute until they soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and jalapeno and cook for 1 minute more.
Put the beans into a food processor. Add the onion mixture and the rest of the ingredients and puree until smooth.
Yield: 1 cup

Macaroni and Four Cheeses

When I made this, my kids really liked it. It was not as "cheesy" as traditional mac and cheese, but the flavor was very good with the sweetness from the squash. I used fresh squash that I cooked and pureed. I also left off the bread crumbs.

Macaroni and Four Cheeses

(From The Food You Crave by Ellie Krieger)

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 40 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 8 servings

Ingredients

Cooking spray
1 pound elbow macaroni
2 (10-ounce) packages frozen pureed winter squash
2 cups 1 percent lowfat milk
4 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (about 1 1/3 cups)
2 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, grated (about 2/3 cup)
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon powdered mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons unseasoned bread crumbs
1 teaspoon olive oil

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender but firm, about 5 to 8 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
Meanwhile, place the frozen squash and milk into a large saucepan and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up the squash with a spoon until defrosted. Turn the heat up to medium and cook until the mixture is almost simmering, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the Cheddar, Jack cheese, ricotta cheese, salt, mustard and cayenne pepper. Pour cheese mixture over the macaroni and stir to combine. Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the baking dish.
Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan and oil in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Then broil for 3 minutes so the top is crisp and nicely browned.

Penne with Roasted Tomatoes, Garlic, and White Beans

This was very good. I sort of had a problem with the garlic, so I just added some minced garlic also. Pretty quick and easy to prepare.

Penne with Roasted Tomatoes, Garlic, and White Beans

(From the The Food You Crave by Ellie Kreiger)

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 50 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 4 (1 1/2 cup) servings

Ingredients
3 large tomatoes, cut into wedges
4 cloves garlic, unpeeled
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1(15 ounce) can cannellini beans
1/2 pound penne pasta
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan

Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Slice each tomato into 8 wedges and discard the seeds. Put the tomato wedges and garlic into a 9 by 13-inch roasting pan. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and a few turns of pepper. Roast in the oven, uncovered, for 40 minutes.
Drain the beans into a large colander in the sink. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta into the colander containing the beans, so the hot pasta water will warm the beans. Return drained pasta and beans to the pasta pot.
When the tomatoes are done, pick out the garlic cloves, squeeze the garlic out of the skin into a small bowl and mash with a fork. Pour the roasted tomatoes into the pasta pot, add the garlic, the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the basil and additional salt and pepper, to taste. Toss to combine. Serve topped with the Parmesan.

Whole grain pasta

We are trying to introduce more whole grains and whole wheat into our diet. This week we tried whole grain pasta. At Harmon's, Barilla was by far the cheapest brand and the ingredients were all natural. Plus it's the brand recommended by Backpacker magazine (woohoo!) I'm a little vague on definitions, though, and hope to glean from the vast amount of knowledge. First of all, I noticed that it is whole grain, with about 50% whole wheat (oats were also listed as ingredients). Is that less nutritional that whole wheat pasta? Also, how much of a difference is there, nutritionally, between whole grain pasta and white pasta? 

I was a little apprehensive, but we used the Barilla whole grain pasta in the Ginger Sesame Noodles with Broccoli recipe and it was fabulous!

Penne with Tomato, Eggplant, & Ricotta

I'm sorry, I keep forgetting to take pictures of the food I make! By the time it's done we're all usually starving! Anyway, this was yummy, but I would double the eggplant.

1 small eggplant

1 large clove garlic, pressed

14oz. can diced tomatoes

16 oz. pkg. penne

1/4 cup mature ricotta or grated parmesan cheese

3 Tbls. chopped fresh parsley

olive oil

salt & pepper

Cut the eggplant into bite sized pieces, add a little salt and drain in a colander for 30 minutes. Heat olive oil in a medium pan and sweat the garlic until fragrant (you could add some red pepper flakes here). Add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Once the sauce bubbles, reduce heat and simmer for 15 mins. Cook pasta according to pkg. Rinse the eggplant and dry it and saute in olive oil until cooked through. Once the pasta is done throw it all together with a little bit of the pasta water.

Chickpea Soup

This is one of Jamie Oliver's recipes and it is so good! If you make it according to the directions it will be the consistency of mac and cheese, so you might want to double the stock. I also pureed more than half the beans leaving only about 1/4 of them whole.

1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 stick of celery, trimmed and finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
Extra virgin olive oil
A sprig of fresh rosemary, leaves picked and finely chopped
2 14-oz. cans of chickpeas
2 1/4 cups of chicken stock
3 1/2 oz. ditalini or other small Italian "soup" pasta
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Optional: a small handful of fresh basil or parsley, leaves picked and torn

Put the finely chopped onion, celery, and garlic into a saucepan with a little extra virgin olive oil and the rosemary and cook as gently as possible, with the lid on, for about 15-20 minutes, until all the vegetables are soft, without any color.
Drain your chickpeas well and rinse them in cold water, then add them to the pan and cover with the stock. Cook gently for half an hour and then, using a slotted spoon, remove half the chickpeas and put them to one side in a bowl.
Puree the soup in the pan using a handheld immersion blender. If you don't have one, you can whiz it up in a food processor instead, then pour it back into the pan. Add the reserved whole chickpeas and the pasta, season the soup with salt and pepper, and simmer gently until the chickpeas are tender and the pasta is cooked.
At this point, if the soup is a little thick, pour in some boiling water from the kettle to thin it down, and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve drizzled with good-quality extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with the fresh parsley or basil.

I suggest serving with some good bread.

Tuna Fish

My kids love tuna sandwiches, but I worry about mercury in the fish.  I've read on line and it seems that tuna in moderation is okay.  What do you all think?  

Jambalaya Pasta with Chicken (or tofu)

Tonight I made Jambalaya. It has always been one of my favorite dishes to order at restaurants. I have had a recipe for it for a few years, but due to the overwhelming list of ingredients and steps, I had never tried it before. So, several weeks ago, I finally tried it for the first time. It was sooo good. It was a little spicy, but I like it that way. So, I made it again tonight, but without the meat. I added firm tofu for the chicken and skipped the sausage all together. I also replaced the butter with olive oil (not eating dairy for the time being) and it was very tasty anyway. I used mostly whole wheat noodles (about 12 oz.) with the other 4 oz. just regular pasta. Delish. So, here is the recipe. It is pretty long and the first time I made it, it took me longer than an hour (closer to 1 1/2), but this time, I did it under an hour, very worth the time. (Sorry no picture) Another substituion for the pasta is rice. We ate it that way the first time we made it and it was very good too.

Jambalaya Pasta with Chicken
Recipe from The California Pizza Kitchen

Grilled Garlic Chicken

2 tablespoons Olive Oil

2 teaspoons Minced Garlic

1 teaspoon Soy Sauce

½ teaspoon Salt

Two 5-ounce Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

Jambalaya Sauce
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
½ pound Andouille sausage cut into 3/8-inch- thick slices
1 medium onion, cut into ¼ inch dice
1 medium green bell pepper cut into ¼ inch dice (I don't love green, so I used another color)
1 cup diced celery (1/4 inch dice)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 ½ cups chicken stock (preferably homemade)
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes in puree
3 ounces canned tomato paste (half of a small can)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon dried rubbed sage
½ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
1 bay leaf

Caribbean Peppers and Onions
¼ cup bottled sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch squares
1 medium yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch squares
1 small red onion, cut into 1-inch squares

For the Pasta
1 pound dry linguine (or two pounds fresh)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley

To Make the Grilled Garlic Chicken:
In a mixing bowl, stir together the olive oil, garlic, soy sauce and salt. Turn the chicken breasts in this mixture and leave them to marinate at room temperature for 10 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat a stovetop grill or the broiler. Grill or broil the chicken breasts until cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Chill thoroughly in the refrigerator, and then cut into ¾ inch cubes. Cover and refrigerate. (with the tofu, I cubed it and then just cooked it in the oil mixture, gently turning it until it was browned).

To Make the Jambalaya Sauce:
In a large saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Add the sliced andouille sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, for 12 minutes. Add the onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes. Add the remaining sauce ingredients, stir well to blend and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

To Make the Caribbean Peppers and Onions:
In a mixing bowl, stir together the chili sauce, soy sauce and olive oil until thoroughly blended. Preheat a stovetop grill or the broiler. Toss the pepper and onion squares with the chili sauce marinade to coat thoroughly. Grill or broil the coated vegetables in a single layer, using a spatula or tongs to turn them occasionally, until evenly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.

To Prepare the Pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rapid boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, 5 to 6 minutes for dry pasta or about 3 minutes for fresh pasta.

Meanwhile, in a covered medium-size saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the Caribbean Peppers and Onions, Grilled Garlic Chicken cubes and Jambalaya Sauce (remove the bay leaf). Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a large mixing or serving bowl.

Drain the linguine thoroughly, add it to the sauce and toss well. Serve family-style or in individual serving bowls, garnished with chopped parsley.

(I added the sauces to the pasta, tossed well and then added the tofu, gently tossing again)

VARIATION: With Shrimp: For the chicken, substitute 20 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined. Toss them with the same marinade ingredients, but cook them for only 2 to 3 minutes, until they turn bright pink. Leave them while when combining with the other ingredients.

Coconut Cashew Stew

I've been messing with it all winter, and I think I have the right combination down now. This stew makes a great main dish. Jamie and I make a pot and live off of it for about four days. It's perfect after riding or walking out in the cold. The apples are delightful (and good for your guts).

You'll need:

2 chicken breasts (cooked and chopped)
4 medium to large apples (I like Fujis)
4 stocks of celery
1 lb. carrots
1 medium to large onion
1 lemon
5 cups chicken broth
1 can coconut milk (ca. 14 oz.)
1 can diced tomatoes (ca. 14 oz.)
2/3 cup long grain rice
1/2 cup raisins
8 oz. cashews
5 tsp curry
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground black pepper (this ain't fresh, so you may want to pull back on the amount if you have fresh pepper)

Pour broth and coconut milk in a pretty darn big pot and start heating it on medium. Chop up carrots, apples, onion and celery and add to broth/milk. Juice the whole lemon into the pot. Dump the tomatoes with their juice into the pot. Add rice, raisins and all the spices too. Turn up the heat and bring to a boil while stirring.

Once it boils, reduce heat and let simmer covered for 20 minutes. Finally, add the chicken and the cashews, and its ready to serve (though it tastes better after sitting in the fridge for at least a day).

Makes 8-10 pretty big bowls.


Jamie and I just eat it on its own, but I've been wondering what could make good side dishes with this. If you have any good ideas, please leave them as comments for me! I'd also be interested in any variations anyone finds good (vegetarian, etc.) Thanks.

Roasted Winter Vegetables

My Dad makes roasted veggies all the time.  I love them.  They are so incredibly flavorful and the texture is perfect.  Just chop some veggies, toss in a bowl and coat with olive oil and  sea salt (better flavor than table salt), roast in a 425 oven for about a half hour or until veggies are tender. 

Last night I made this and I discovered how AMAZING roasted cauliflour is.  It was so delicious.  I've only had it boiled, which is good (especially with cheese sauce), but this was ten times better.  It was sweet and nutty and mmmmm.  The brussel sprouts were very good too.  Lucy kept begging for more!?!?!  

So here are my recommendations on what is good and what isn't.

Highly recommended:

Beets (golden and/or red), brussel sprouts, sweet potato, onion, mushroom, cauliflour, squash, parsnips, carrotts, leeks.

Not recommended:

Turnips (I gagged and spit mine out)

Roast them altogether or just pick one if you like. I also chopped up some parsley and fresh thyme and we sprinkled them on at the table along with a little fresh squeezed lemon.  Delicious.  Try it as a main dish with a few noodles or rice for a side dish.   

New Cookbook and Stir-Fried Tofu

For Christmas this year, my good friend Emily gave me a new cookbook:

I love it! I especially love it even more now that I don't have to borrow her copy anymore.

I have been trying new recipes all month (from this and other cookbooks). So far, we have liked every dinner from this book. It is a must have cookbook (thanks again Emily!).

I have always wanted to try tofu, but I just wasn't sure what to make and I really wanted my kids to like it. So, I tried stir fry recipe in the book. It was very good and my kids loved it (they also thought it was chicken, but I still consider it a win). I will definitely be trying more recipes with tofu now. Sorry I don't have any pictures of any of the dinners. I have been out of blogging mode lately and just too hungry and excited to try the food. The food is good, just trust me.

Stir-Fried Tofu & Vegetable Teriyaki

serves 4

2 T. canola oil

1 lb. extra firm tofu (cut into 1/2" thick pieces)

3 scallions, minced

2 c. small broccoli florets

1 c. thinly sliced carrots

1/2 c. fresh or frozen red bell pepper strips

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 freshly squeezed orange juice (about 1 orange)

1/4 c. tamari (soy sauce)

2 T. toasted sesame oil

1 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 T. light brown sugar

salt & freshly ground black pepper

Heat 1 T. of the canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the tofu and cook, turning once, until golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Remove the tofu from the skillet and set aside on a plate.

Heat the remaining 1 T. of oil in the same skillet over medium high heat. Add the scallions, broccoli, carrots, and bell pepper strips, and stir fry until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the tofu back into the skillet and set aside while you prepare the sauce.

In a small bowl, combine the garlic, orange juice, tamari, sesame oil, lemon juice, brown sugar, and salt & pepper to taste. Blend well. Reheat the skillet over medium high heat. Pour the sauce over the tofu and vegetables and cook, stirring gently, until the tofu and vegetables are hot and well coated with the sauce, about 5 minutes.

Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce

Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce

serves 4

From the book "Quick-Fix Vegetarian" by Robin Robertson

8 oz. dried flat rice noodles or linguine
1 T. toasted sesame oil
1/3 c. peanut butter
2 T. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 T. tamari (soy sauce)
1 tsp. light brown sugar
1/4 tsp. cayenne
1 large carrot, shredded
1 c. grape tomatoes, halved
1 c. frozen baby peas, thawed
1/4 c. minced scallions

Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling water according to package directions. Drain and rinse the noodles under cold water and transfer to a large bowl. Toss with the sesame oil to coat.

While the noodles are cooking, combine the peanut butter, lime juice, tamari, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl, whisking to blend well. Add a small amount of water if necessary to make a smooth sauce. Set aside.

To the dressing in the bowl, add the carrot, tomatoes, peas, scallions, and the cooked noodles. Toss gently to combine. Serve at room temperature.

Note: Ready-to-use fresh rice noodles may be used instead of dried.
Variation: Don't be afraid to vary the vegetables to what you have on hand.

Ginger Sesame Noodles with Broccoli

Ginger Sesame Noodles with Broccoli

serves 4

From the book "Quick-Fix Vegetarian" by Robin Robertson

2 T. tahini (sesame paste)
1 T. light brown sugar
3 T. mirin (or white cooking wine)
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 c. tamari (soy sauce)
2 T. water
12 oz. linguine
8 oz. broccoli florets, cut into 1" pieces
2 T. toasted sesame oil
1 T. canola oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T. fresh or bottled minced ginger
Toasted sesame seeds or gomasio

Put the pasta water on to boil in a large covered pot. In a small bowl, combine the tahini, brown sugar, mirin, and red pepper flakes until well blended. Set aside.

When the water comes to a boil, salt it and add the linguine. Cook the linguine until it is al dente, about 10 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of the cooking time, add the broccoli and cook until just tender. When the noodles and broccoli are cooked, drain and rinse with cold water. Toss with the sesame oil and set aside.

Heat the canola oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the noodles and broccoli and the sauce, and toss to combine and heat through. Server hot, sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Variation: Substitute asparagus, cut into 2" pieces for the broccoli.

This is so yummy and extremely easy. My kids loved it. I haven't tried the asparagus yet, but that sounds good.

Tofu Lettuce Wraps

I was craving lettuce wraps yesterday and looked online and found several recipes for using tofu.  I made a version that sounded fabulous, but though they were good, they weren't wow.  So I need suggestions.  I think the sauce could have used some thickening and I think I should have first baked  or really fried the tofu to give it a bit of a denser texture and crispiness (is that how you do it????).  

Here was what I used, all diced up into little chunks or matchsticks:

Carrots

mushrooms

firm tofu (extra firm would probably be better)

plenty of garlic

shallots and onions (if I would have had more shallots I would have used just them)

scallions

water chestnuts

ginger (fresh)

bean sprouts

First I stir fried the garlic/onion/ginger, then added the tofu, then the veggies and sauce.

for the sauce:

4 TBS lime juice

4 TBS Thai fish sauce

4 TBS tamarin sauce

2 TBS vegetarian version of oyster sauce

2 TBS rice vinegar

1 TBS honey

dash of cayenne (It needed more kick and some cornstarch or something to thicken it)

Toppings:

chopped peanuts

fresh Thai Basil

Sweet Chili Sauce

 

So what do you think would make it more wow?  Any suggestions?

Update:  These were pretty wow reheated for lunch the next day.  Maybe just giving the tofu time to fully absorb the flavor of the sauce is all it takes.

Kitchen Tools

Since my husband is a hands-on experimentalist, he's a firm beliver in using the proper equipment, and being willing to pay top dollar for that equipment when it really makes a difference. So it didn't take me long to figure out that if I referred to some expensive kitchen appliance as a "tool" that it would make my case in his being willing to fund the purchase. And, I have to agree, the proper equipment will make all the difference.

Not that I'm an expert, so I'm hoping to start a discussion here about what things you feel are must-haves for a well-equiped kitchen.

Here are a few of mine:

Quality Knives:
I've found that I can do pretty much 99% of my kitchen tasks with basically just three really good knives and a pair of kitchen shears (and I was happy to tell that to the last college student that came trying to sell knives at my door). My triumvirate of knives is:

Chef's Knife: I feel like you have to start with a good chef's knife, preferably from forged steel and that is really sharp (and that you keep really sharp). It is, by far, the hardest working tool in the kitchen. I took my birthday money one year and got an 8" Wusthof classic chef's knife. I've never regretted the high price tag, and I've even started traveling with it when I know I have to cook in other people's kitchens--I love it that much.

Paring Knife: Here's the second hardest working tool in the kitchen. Again, though, I'd recommend finding a good one. In fact, since they're relatively cheap, I recommend buying two. I've usually got one in the sink from cutting fruit during the day and it's nice to always have a clean one in the drawer for prepping dinner. I was happily surprised to find that last year Target carried a Wusthof 3" knife that I think is fabulous, but I couldn't find any in the store's website when looking tonight. Still, whatever you buy, make sure it's sharp and not flimsy.

Serrated Knife: I use this pretty much for slicing bread only, but it would be hard to live without it.

Microplane Zester: Here's where I feel like the brand makes a difference. Microplane makes a fabulous zester that I use regularly for grating hard cheeses, citrus rinds, whole nutmeg, and fresh ginger. They usually run in the $13-16 range (but you can find one for $10 on sale right now at Sur la Table).

Cast-Iron Dutch Oven: I can't believe I functioned before I had a good dutch oven. I use it for soups, stews, meats, curries, etc...you name it, it seems like everything except pasta and scrambled eggs. I use it both stove top and in the oven. I didn't get good one until just a couple of years ago, since the top-of-the-line Le Creuset dutch oven (at usually around $250) was a bit out of my justifiable range. Then Cook's Illustrated did an issue where they rated dutch ovens and named the Tramontina (carried by Target at less than $60) as a perfectly suitable substitute, and at a fraction of the cost.

I found one at my local Target back then, but when I did an online search tonight I couldn't see that Target carried the Tramontina anymore, but an identical looking one by Chefmate. More online research didn't confirm if this was just a rebranding, but if you are interested, here is an article about finding one of these dutch ovens that may help.

Oxo Vegetable Peeler: You may think that all vegetable peelers are alike, but I've been through a bunch now, from the cheapies to ones that looked promising, and the Oxo peeler is my very favorite. My MIL even asked me to get her one for Christmas this year after she helped me peel potatoes for Thanksgiving. It is the best. You can buy it at places like Williams-Sonoma or Amazon, and is usually around $10.

Cuisinart Food Processor: Again, the brand rules (at least this time it's according to a review of food processor machines in Cook's Illustrated) So I trusted them and got the Cuisinart Custom Pro 11-cup. I haven't been disappointed yet. I love having a food processor for pie crusts especially, but I can't live without it for plenty of other stuff like making pesto, chopping nuts, making bread crumbs, shredding meat, and pureeing sauces. According to Cook's Illustrated, this machine is also fantastic for bread dough.

Subscription to Cook's Illustrated: No surprise as I've referred to this magazine at least a half-dozen times so far. It's made by the people behind America's Test Kitchen on PBS. It is a bit pricey as far as magazine subscriptions go, especially since it's only six issues per year. But this is because there is no advertising within the magazine and so it's solid information on recipes, kitchen equipment, and food products from cover-to-cover. I think that it's such a great investment that it's to the point that I renew my subscription in 3-year installments without even thinking about it anymore.

My secondary list would include: good whisks in multiple sizes, a large saute pan, a basic but hard-working garlic press, and my favorite handmixer is the Braun M880 Multimix--comes with attachements for a stick blender and small chopper that are very nice. As for a blender, since I don't use it for much more than pureeing soups or the occasional milkshake, I've been happy with a super basic cheapie model, so someone else can pipe in here. (Also, I've never owned a mandolin and I've been debating about one, so if anyone has an opinion on this--and which brand they like--I'd love to hear it.)

And I will admit...after many years I have a Kitchen Aid now, and though it's very pretty and very useful, and it seems that recipes are often written with this appliance in mind, I'm not sure I like it better than the Bosch machine that I grew up with in my mother's kitchen. There are pros and cons for me on this issue. Thoughts?

Black Beans and Orzo

I stole this recipe several years ago from our friends, the Marosticas, and it has become a staple at our house ever since. Besides being so delish, it's primary benefit is that is uses stuff that you already have on hand in the pantry, so it's a great fix for the "what can I make for dinner in a pinch" quandry. And, it's the ultimate in, "it's so easy...and the kids just love it." Actually, I love it too. I've yet to do it starting with dried black beans, but I'm sure that it would be even better. Until I can get my act together, we've been using canned beans.

Black Beans and Orzo

olive oil
1 med onion, diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp cumin seed
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp oregano
1/2 cup salsa (the Pace variety...not a fresh pico de gallo kind)
1 14oz can diced tomatoes
1 14oz can black beans, rinsed and drained.
1/2 lb orzo pasta
grated mozzerella cheese

Heat a Tb or so of olive oil in a saute pan over med-high heat. Cook onions for 4-5 mins, or until onions are soft. Add minced garlic and saute for 1 minute more. Add cumin seed, chili powder and oregano and stir for 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Then add salsa, tomatoes, and black beans. I usually add about a 1/8th cup of water (that I've deglazed the tomato can with) as well. Bring to a boil and then turn to low and cover to simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes and then remove lid to simmer for another 10 or so minutes (or until your pasta is ready). Watch the liquid level in the pan as you may need to partially cover the pan if it looks like it's getting too dry.

In the meantime, start the water for your orzo pasta and cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain.

Serve immediately with sauce over the pasta and top each portion with grated mozzerella cheese (trust me--it sounds strange, I know).

Like most sauces, the longer you can simmer something, the better, but often we serve this as soon as the pasta is ready and it's still tasty enough.

Pad Thai Noodles

I made this for dinner last night and it was delicious.  It serves about 8.

13 oz. bag rice stick noodles

6 cloves minced garlic

1/2 cup minced cilantro

6 scallions chopped about 1 inch lengths

3 Tbs fish sauce

2 Tbs tamarind sauce (or ketchup)

2 tsp sweetner like sugar, honey, or agave nectar

1 cup bean sprouts rinsed

1/2 cup chopped peanuts

2 Thai chilies chopped ( I used a much less spicy Anaheim and it worked fine)

1 pack of firm tofu diced into squares

4 beaten eggs cooked crepe-like (so you have a round egg pancake), rolled, then sliced thin into strips

1. Put noodles in a large bowl and cover with hot water, let soak until ready (about 15 mns), then drain (let them soak while you do the next couple of steps.  You don't want them to sit undrained or they will stick together and be gross).

2. In hot frying pan pour a neutral flavored oil (like corn or grapeseed, not olive oil) and fry up the garlic, tofu, scallions, and half of the bean sprouts for about 3-5 minutes.  Remove from pan wth slotted spoon and set aside.

3. Put noodles, eggs, fish sauce, tamarind, and sweetner in frying pan and mix and fry for about 1-2 minutes.  

4. Mix noodle mixture with tofu mixture, top with peanuts, chilies, cilantro, and remaining bean sprouts.  Serve with lime wedges.  (You could also garnish with fresh sliced cucumbers)

YUM!

Granola

This recipe is based on a recipe I got from Food Matters; A Guide to Conscious Eating by Mark Bittman. If you are like me, cold cereal is handy to have around on school mornings, but just not a good option with all the additives and crap that goes in it. This granola makes a good cereal or a good snack. It is also very flexible and you can add anything you like (or not add as you please). Here are the basics:

5 cups steel cut or old fashioned oats (not instant or quick cooking)
1-1 1/2 cups honey
1 cup chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)
1 cup unsweetened coconut
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla (optional)

Pour honey over oats and nuts and coat well. Add more honey if desired.
Pour mixture on a baking sheet and cook at 350 for about 20 minutes. Make sure you remove from oven and stir a few times to avoid burning.

Remove from oven and add desired amount of dried fruit (raisins, chopped dates, apricots, cranberries, apples, whatever you like).
(To diminish any health you could even add chocolate like I had in my Museli at a youth hostel in Munich. A long time ago, but that was some yummy cereal!)

When cool put in storage container and enjoy.
You could add flax seeds, whole grain hot cereal, anything you think would add to the taste/nutrition.

For another variation skip the honey and baking and have all of it raw, like Museli.

Some Good Ideas

This great article in the NYTimes by Mark Bittman has some great ideas for eating fresher and healthier in the winter. He talks about stuff to toss out of your pantry and what fresh ingredients to put in. Here is a sample:
OUT Canned beans (except in emergencies).

IN Dried beans. More economical, better tasting, space saving and available in far more varieties. Cook a pound once a week and you’ll always have them around (you can freeze small amounts in their cooking liquid, or water, indefinitely). If you’re not sold, try this: soak and cook a pound of white beans. Take some and finish with fresh chopped sage, garlic and good olive oil. Purée another cup or so with a boiled potato and lots of garlic. Mix some with a bit of cooking liquid, and add a can of tomatoes; some chopped celery, carrots and onions; cooked pasta; and cheese and call it pasta fagiole or minestrone. If there are any left, mix them with a can of olive-oil-packed tuna or sardines. And that’s just white beans.

or how about this:

OUT Bouillon cubes or powder, or canned stock.

IN Simmer a carrot, a celery stalk and half an onion in a couple of cups of water for 10 minutes and you’re better off; if you have any chicken scraps, even a half-hour of cooking with those same vegetables will give you something 10 times better than any canned stock.

or:
OUT Bottled salad dressing and marinades. The biggest rip-offs imaginable.

IN Take good oil and vinegar or lemon juice, and combine them with salt, pepper, maybe a little Dijon, in a proportion of about three parts oil to one of vinegar. Customize from there, because you may like more vinegar or less, and you undoubtedly will want a little shallot, or balsamic vinegar, or honey, or garlic, or tarragon, or soy sauce. ...

Be sure to read through the article; there are tons of good suggestions.  In fact I am going to try Jennette's lentil soup recipe (a new fav with our family) with some prosciutto instead of bacon as per his suggestion.  

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Last year, I really wanted to make a broccoli cheese soup. I had the hardest time finding a decent recipe that didn't have Velveeta or a "cream of" soup in it. I found this from the Food Network. It was very good. I didn't puree all of it because we like to have chunks in our soup. They also suggested homemade croutons for a garnish.

Broccoli and Cheese Soup with Croutons
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 1 hr 10 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 4 servings

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup yellow onions or sliced leeks (white parts only, well rinsed)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
Pinch nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken stock or canned, low-sodium chicken broth
1 (16-ounce) package frozen broccoli, thawed and separated
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 1/4 cups shredded medium Cheddar

In a medium pot, melt the 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, until soft, 3 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme cook, stirring, until fragrant, for 20 seconds. Add the flour and cook, stirring until the mixture is well blended and smells fragrant, 2 minutes. Slowly add the chicken stock, whisking constantly, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the broccoli and cook, stirring, until tender, for 10 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and puree with a hand-held immersion blender. (Alternatively, in batches, puree in a blender or food processor and return to the pot.)
Add the cream and bring to bare simmer to heat through. Add the cheese and cook over low heat, stirring, until melted. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons cold butter, stirring to blend.
Remove from the heat and ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle croutons over the top of the soup and serve immediately.

Bean Burritos

I got this recipe from Everyday Food on PBS (photo is also from website). It's pretty quick (it didn't take me an hour to make) and easy. I used the organic frozen sweet corn from Costco, which made the burritos have a sweet flavor. It makes quite a bit and can be frozen.

Bean Burritos

Serves 8 Prep time: 1 hour Total time: 1 hour

¾ cup rice (brown or white)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 jalapeño chile, chopped (ribs and seeds removed, for less heat)
½ teaspoon ground cumin
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 box frozen corn kernels (10 ounces)
6 scallions, thinly sliced
8 burrito-size (10-inch) flour tortillas
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (8 ounces)
Salsa and sour cream (optional)

1. Cook rice according to package instructions; set aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add onions, garlic, jalapeño, and cumin; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Add tomato paste, and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
3. Add beans and 1 ½ cups water; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 10 to 12 minutes. Add corn; cook to heat through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in scallions.
4. Heat tortillas according to package instructions; fill with rice, bean mixture, and cheese.
5. Assemble: Mound ¼ cup rice, ¾ cup bean mixture, and ¼ cup cheese on one side of tortilla. Fold, and hold in sides. Starting from filled end, holding sides in as you work, tightly roll into a bundle. Place on a baking sheet, seam side down, and prepare remaining burritos.
6. Serve immediately, with salsa and sour cream, if using, or wrap individually in plastic and freeze up to 3 months.

Per serving: (without salsa and sour cream) 519 calories; 18.6 grams fat; 18.7 grams protein; 70.5 grams carbohydrates; 7.4 grams fiber

Note: Before wrapping individually, freeze burritos on a baking sheet so they don’t come apart in the process; then put back in freezer.

Reheating From Frozen:
Microwave and oven: Remove frozen burritos from plastic wrap. Place on a microwave-safe plate; microwave on high for 3 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet; bake at 450° until crispy, about 10 minutes. This is our favorite quick method.
Oven only: Remove frozen burritos from plastic wrap; rewrap individually in aluminum foil. Place on a baking sheet; bake at 450°, 40 minutes; remove foil, and bake to crisp, 5 to 10 minutes. (To reheat defrosted burritos, remove any wrapping, and bake for 10 minutes.)
Microwave only: Remove frozen burritos from plastic wrap. Place on a microwave-safe plate, covered with a microwave-safe bowl, and defrost at high power for 3 to 4 minutes; uncover, and microwave on high, 3 to 4 minutes longer.

Indian-Style Curry

I made this for dinner last week and loved it. It took me over an hour to make but it made quite a bit. I just served it with white rice. Pretty tasty.

Indian-Style Curry with Potatoes, Cauliflower, Peas and Chickpeas

from americastestkitchen.com

This curry is moderately spicy when made with one chile. For more heat, use an additional half chile. For a mild curry, remove the chile's ribs and seeds before mincing. Onions can be pulsed in a food processor. You can substitute 2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon for the garam masala.

Serves 4 to 6 as a main course


2 tablespoons curry powder (sweet or mild)
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala (see note above)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 medium onions , chopped fine (about 2 cups)
12 ounces Red Bliss potatoes , scrubbed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
3 medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
1 - 1 1/2 serrano chiles , ribs, seeds, and flesh minced (see note above)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 medium head cauliflower , trimmed, cored, and cut into 1-inch florets (about 4 cups)
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes , pulsed in food processor until nearly smooth with 1/4-inch pieces visible
1 1/4 cups water
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas , drained and rinsed
Table salt
8 ounces frozen peas (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup heavy cream or coconut milk

1. Toast curry powder and garam masala in small skillet over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until spices darken slightly and become fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove spices from skillet and set aside.
2. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onions and potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized and potatoes are golden brown on edges, about 10 minutes. (Reduce heat to medium if onions darken too quickly.)
3. Reduce heat to medium. Clear center of pan and add remaining tablespoon oil, garlic, ginger, chile, and tomato paste; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add toasted spices and cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute longer. Add cauliflower and cook, stirring constantly, until spices coat florets, about 2 minutes longer.
4. Add tomatoes, water, chickpeas, and 1 teaspoon salt; increase heat to medium-high and bring mixture to boil, scraping bottom of pan with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer briskly, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in peas and cream or coconut milk; continue to cook until heated through, about 2 minutes longer. Adjust seasoning with salt and serve immediately, passing condiments separately.


Step-by-Step: Key Steps for Building Flavor for Vegetable Curry
1. Toast the curry powder and garam masala in a dry skillet.
2. Rather than simmering potatoes in the curry, brown them with the onions.
3. Add tomato paste to the traditional garlic, ginger, and chiles for sweetness and depth.
4. Add the toasted spices to the pot to infuse the dish with flavor.
5. Sauté vegetables in spices following a simple Indian technique called bhuna

Breakfast Bars

Okay, sorry for taking over the blog, but here is another recipe. It's for yummy breakfast bars. It's a recipe that I got from my Aunt Sarah.

Breakfast Bars

5 cups of oats
2 ½ cups milk (rice, soy or dairy)
4 medium eggs or flax seed egg replacer, see below
¾ cup honey
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp pumpkin spice
1 pinch of salt
1 Tsp vanilla extract
½ cup raisins
Add dried apples, nuts, and seeds-whatever you think would taste good!

Mix together and pour into an ungreased 9x13 baking pan.Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown This re-heats well. Assemble ahead overnight and bake it in the morning, it will soften all the dried fruit in it. After you cut it up, wrap it in food wrapper and freeze.

Flax Seed Egg Replacer
Grind: ½ cup flax seeds. Blend until a fine meal (use a coffee grinder, it will ruin your wheat grinder with the oil $10 at Walmart) Add 1 ½ cup cold water and blend 2-3 minutes until thickened and has consistency of eggs (I just make it first and let it sit on the counter, this directions for the substitute will make 8 eggs, which will make you 2 of the recipes above. If you want to make 1 recipe, use half of this egg replacement recipe). Use ¼ cup flax seed egg replacer mixture to replace one egg in baking.

To make it a little extra special, try pouring half of the batter in the pan, then placing fresh, canned or sliced fruit over top. If you use dehydrated fruit, try softening with water first. Use bananas, kiwi, apples and others. Now, pour the remaining batter over the fruit and spread evenly to cover. Bake as directed.

I made 3 batches a few weeks ago and they are so good. I made a blueberry (you can also add coconut-didn't have any), banana (I was out of pecans) and rasin spice. You just cut them up into whatever size you want, then wrap them up in saran wrap and store them in the freezer until you are ready to eat them. Because of the protein (flax seed), they stick with you very well. I usually am not hungry again for at least 3 hours.

Mexican Style Lasagna

I made this for dinner last night. I thought it was really good. You must really like spinach though. I also doubled the beans. We love beans around here. The photo is also from the website.

Mexican Style Lasagna (from PBS Everyday Food)

Serves 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes



1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
4 scallions, coarsely chopped
Coarse salt and ground pepper
10 ounces fresh baby spinach
Nonstick cooking spray
8 corn tortillas (6-inch)
1 can (15.5 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup prepared salsa (mild or medium)
8 ounces pepper Jack cheese, grated (about 2 cups)



1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a food processor, combine cilantro, scallions, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper with as much spinach as will fit; pulse, adding remaining spinach in batches, until coarsely chopped.

2. Coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Lay 4 tortillas in bottom of dish (they will overlap slightly). Layer with half of beans, salsa, spinach mixture, and cheese; repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with cheese and pressing in gently.

3. Cover dish with foil; place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes; remove foil, and continue baking until golden, 15 to 20 minutes more. Cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.



Per serving: 446 calories; 21 grams fat; 21.6 grams protein; 48.2 grams carbohydrates; 10.4 grams fiber

I also made a Cuban Black Bean soup this week. You can get that recipe here.

Homemade Whole Wheat Bread

Hi everyone!

Challey has asked me to post several recipes on this blog. I am sort of blog-challenged (I never seem to have my computer on and then I never seem to find time to look at it), but I love cooking and recipes so I will try to get them all on here. Plus, I am excited to see what you all have added already!

This is my version of a recipe that Sarah from Sarah Baking Co. uses. Her bread products are delicious and if you ever see her at a boutique, you should pick up a few things.

Homemade Whole Wheat Bread
Blend in Bosch mixer:
4 and 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup wheat gluten
1 Tbs yeast

Then add:
3 cups very warm water

Blend 1 minute. Turn off mixer and cover for 12 minutes to sponge. Should rise to about double.

After sponging, add:
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
3 tsp. salt

Run mixer, then add:
3+ cups flour, 1 cup at a time. (If making ½ wheat, ½ white bread, use white flour at this step.) Flour should be added JUST until the dough starts to pull away from or clean the side of the bowl. Knead for 10 minutes on power level 1 on your Bosch.

Check dough. If too sticky,add 1/4 cup flour at a time until dough is not too sticky. If too stiff, drizzle warm water over it while kneading.

Preheat oven to warm/lowest setting, just for a minute, then turn it off.

With oiled hands, turn dough out onto oiled counter/plastic mat. Divide and shape into 3 loaves for 8x4" loaf pans. You can use 2 larger bread pans instead if you prefer the bigger size. Place dough into oiled (pam) loaf pans.

Put into warm oven (make sure oven is off). Let rise until the dough is about 1 to 1 ½ inches over the top of the pan (usually 45 min to 1 hr). Leaving loaves in, turn oven on to 350 and bake for 30 minutes. Take out of pans immediately and put on a rack to cool completely.

I like to make the 3 smaller loaves. I freeze one of them and leave the other two out (wrapped up) on the counter. Once we've used the first loaf, I thaw out the frozen one. This gives us enough bread for 1 1/2 to 2 weeks, depending on the week.

Enjoy!

The Mansion on Turtle Creek Tortilla Soup

The Mansion on Turtle Creek Tortilla Soup

3 tsp. corn oil (I use olive oil)
4 corn tortillas cut into long strips (use more for a thicker soup)
8 garlic cloves, peeled
2 cups fresh onion puree
4 c. fresh tomato puree (you can use canned, I use some of both)
5 dried New Mexican chilies (fire roasted & seeded-look for these in the Mexican food aisle, they come in a package of about 10)
2 jalapeños (depends how spicy you want it)
1 T. cumin powder
2 T. chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 large bay leaf
1 ½ qts. Chicken stock
Salt to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste

Toppings:
Chicken breast, cut into thin strips (optional)
Avocado, cut into cubes
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour Cream
Cilantro

Tortilla Chips

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add tortillas and garlic and sauté until tortillas are crisp and garlic is golden brown (4-5 minutes). Add onion puree and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally (until reduced by half). Add tomato puree, chilies, jalapeños, cumin, coriander, cilantro, bay leaf and chicken stock. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for approximately 40 minutes. Skim fat from surface. Process through a blender, can be thinned with more chicken stock. Season to taste with salt, lemon and cayenne.

Don't let Stratton fool you, it's a very tasty soup. He basically looks that way every night at dinner unless it's Macaroni & Cheese.

Quinoa

Dang it--I'd been meaning to do a post for ages about how much I love quinoa, but had just not gotten around to it. Now there's an article in the NYTimes about it that beats me to the punch. It really is a fabulous grain that is as easy to cook up as cous cous and a great substitute for rice if you're looking for a hearty side. We use it in soups, flavor it with curry and mint, or just eat it plain when cooked in broth. Whatever the case, you'll love it....and it's so good for you.

Here are 3 of my most-used quinoa recipes:

Basic Quinoa

1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
butter (optional)
salt and freshly ground pepper

Place the quinoa and the stock in a medium saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer until all the stock has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork and transfer to a large bowl. Add butter (optional) and salt and pepper to taste.

Additions: add freshly chopped parsley, chives, or mint before serving.


Quinoa and Apple Salad with Curry Dressing (from Martha Stewart Living, Oct. 2004)

1/4 cup raw whole almonds
1 cup white quinoa
1 tsp honey
1 Tb finely chopped shallot
1 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp coarse salt
2 Tb fresh lemon juice
freshly ground pepper
2 Tb extra virgin olive oil
2 Tb dried currants
1 small McIntosh (or other crunchy) apple cut into 1/8-inch thick wedges
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, coarsely chopped, plus more for garnish


1. Spread almonds in a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 7 minutes. Let cool; coarsely chop nuts.
2. Rinse quinoa thoroughly in a fine sieve; drain. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add quinoa; return to a boil. Stir quinoa, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer until quinoa is tender but still chewy, about 15 minutes. Fluff quinoa with a fork; let cool.
3. Whisk together honey, shallot, curry powder, salt and lemon juice in a large bowl. Season with pepper. Whisking constantly, pour in oil in a slow, steady stream; whisk until dressing is emulsified. Add quinoa, currants, apple, mint and nuts; toss well. Garnish with mint.


Peruvian Chicken Ragout (from Better Homes and Gardens, January 2004)

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (although, I've used breast pieces when I have those on hand) cut into 1-inch pieces
2 Tb all-purpose flour
1 tsp chili powder
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tb cooking oil
1 28oz can diced tomatoes
1 14oz can chicken broth
1 meduim potato, peeled and diced
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
1/2 cup quinoa
2 cups packed fresh spinach leaves
finely shredded lemon peel (set aside)
2 Tb lemon juice

1. Place chicken, flour, chili powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper in a plastic bag. Seal and shake to coat.
2. In a 4-to-6-quart Dutch oven cook chicken mixture, onion, and garlic in hot oil over medium heat until browned. Add undrained tomatoes, broth, potato, corn, and quinoa. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes and quinoa are tender. Stir in spinach and lemon juice; cook until spinach is just wilted. Garnish each serving with shredded lemon peel.