Tampilkan postingan dengan label Vegetarian. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Vegetarian. Tampilkan semua postingan

Kamis, 19 Februari 2015

South Western Breakfast Skillet {Vegetarian}




The thing about breakfast skillets that makes them so darn amazing is that they are almost better for dinner than they are for breakfast. It's a conundrum I've yet come to understand. Something so amazingly perfect happens when you roast lightly salt and peppered potatoes, poblano peppers, scrambled eggs and cumin and chili spiced beans in a cast iron skillet. Enter salsa and avocado. 
The end. 













Whenever I start to talk about food with somebody, like I did today with a very lovely women from The Culinary Content Network, the subject of kitchen tools almost always comes up. You start sharing your favorite recipes, tips and tricks and suddenly you find yourself neck deep in kitchen gadgets you never knew you couldn't live without!


Put the wish list aside and focus on your hands down, all time, absolutely couldn't live without cooking and baking items.


go ahead, I'll give you a minute.............



We all have our go to gadgets, skillets and knives that we turn to when cooking up a good meal. There's no way I could pick just one but I can easily say that my cast iron skillets have been on my Top Three Favorite Kitchen Tools for pretty much, well  EVER!


In fact, my very first noteworthy kitchen tool was a cast iron skillet I was given as a gift in my very early 20's. I still have it and use it several times a week. The flavor and depth that it brings to all things edible is beyond compare. Even if it's a "One Pot Dish" I still always sauté my onions and other veggies in my cast iron skillet. The difference is noteworthy.












What are your favorite kitchen items, gadgets or appliances? 
 I need to know! 










TIME      30 MINUTES            SERVES      4-6


You Will Need

A good quality, cast iron skillet. Choose one depending on the size of your family. My first one was about 8 square inches and worked perfectly until child numero tres.  Like I said before, I still use it weekly to perfectly sauté onions & other veggies and to dry roast chili peppers! Works like a charm!~


1 medium size yellow onion, diced
1 large poblano pepper or green chile
1 large or 2 small red potatoes
2 cups cooked black beans (one can)
5 whole large eggs
1 cup Jack or Pepper Jack cheese, grated
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
freshly cracked pepper to taste
Cilantro, chopped for garnish
1-2 Avocados, sliced (supplies your essential healthy fats and good HDL cholesterol)
1-2 tablespoon vegetable oil




Chop potatoes into small, 1" cubes. Dice onion and chop peppers, toss them all in a bowl with salt, pepper and the oil. Meanwhile, in a small sauce pot on medium-low heat combine beans, cumin, chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt (omit salt if using canned beans!!) Cook covered for 15-20 minutes stirring occasionally.


In a large cast iron skillet that has been preheated for a few minutes on a medium-high burner, add the potatoes, onions and peppers. Cook over moderate heat stirring once or twice, you want them to sit and brown a bit! Cook for about 10-12 minutes until a fork easily pierces the potatoes but they are still a bit firm.


Drain the beans and add them to the potato mixture. Stir to combine. Let cook 2-3 more minutes. Crack the eggs into the skillet. Using a spatula, gently push the contents around to combine and coat with the egg. Add the grated cheese and let sit.  Cook just 2-3 minutes until the egg is set. Don't overcook or your eggs will be dry.


Garnish with chopped cilantro, avocado and salsa as you please. 























Rabu, 28 Januari 2015

Artichoke and White Bean Buffalo Dip #Sponsored




If you love dips, sauces and spreads as much as I do but cringe at the calories, this vegetarian, low fat dip is for you!  No mayo, no cream cheese yet all of the flavor of classic buffalo dip. Party. ON!








“By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe challenge sponsored by Cabot Creamery and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.”

















Cabot dairy  has a wonderful selection of premium cheeses so you're sure to find one that will pair well with any given recipe or to snack on with your favorite glass of wine and a bowl of fruit. When I tasted their Alpine Cheddar I knew instantly I needed to make a vegetarian Buffalo dip, minus the mayo {ick}.  The sharp and nutty flavor with hints of parmesan paired perfectly with the artichoke hearts in this dip. I decided at the last minute to add some of  Cabot's  Seriously Sharp yellow cheddar  to balance out the cheese flavors a bit. I've never been a fan of mayonnaise and haven't ever had a problem substituting plain, fat free yogurt instead as I did here.












I was going to use garbanzo beans but decided I wanted the consistency of this dip to be more, well consistent. I threw in some grated carrots to add a little bit of  sweetness to go along with the  salty  and spicy going on in here.  Grated zucchini would work equally as well!  Serve with your favorite whole grain chips or crackers and plenty of crudités.








Serve this at your Super Bowl party {that's football right?} 
Birthday, picnic, Fiesta, whatever! Just serve it!

















So Simple even a mom of 4 can do it.
















Happy Snacking!












SERVES 6-8 AS AN APPETIZER TIME 30 MINUTES TOTAL



Ingredients

1 White (Cannellini or Great Norther) beans
1 can Artichoke Hearts in water, chopped
8 ounces Cabot Alpine Cheddar, shredded
8 ounces Cabot Seriously Sharp yellow Cheddar, shredded
1 cup plain, fat free yogurt
2 medium-small carrots, grated
1/3 cup (about 1 bunch) scallions chopped (white and light green part only)
1 cup Buffalo Wing Sauce

Celery, Carrots, Jicama, Radishes, whole grain chips or crackers for dipping.




Preheat your oven to 375F

Mix all ingredients in a medium size bowl to combine. Spoon into an ungreased, 10" casserole dish.
Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until hot and bubbly. Remove from oven and let cool for 10-15 minutes. Serve warm.







notes:
Do not add salt! The cheeses have just enough salt to make this dish right. Grate your cheese while it's cold, it's much easier. Greek yogurt is my favorite mayo substitute, just as creamy with zero fat.

Senin, 26 Januari 2015

Vegetarian South Western Egg Rolls #Sponsored




Craving something fried but are still trying to fit back in your skinny jeans or that little black dress? These veggie loaded egg rolls are so simple to throw together and full of the flavors of the south west. The best part is that they are not fried but baked to a golden brown perfection so you won't miss the crunch factor. 







“I received free samples of Cabot Cheese mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe challenge sponsored by Cabot Creamery and am eligible to win prizes. I was not additionally compensated for my time.”








Wonton wrappers are so easy to work with making this a perfect middle of the week treat. Don't forget the salsa, sour cream and guacamole for dipping! Vitamin loaded red bell peppers and purple cabbage give these babies a satisfying crunch factor which is said to help you feel full and eat less. 
Of course they wouldn't be perfect with cheese! Cabot's creamy Pepper Jack cheese is melted throughout all of the beans and veggies stuffed inside and brings just the right amount of a spicy kick to each bite. 




These are requested as an appetizer for almost any get together we have with family and friends. Of course they would be perfect to add to your Super Bowl party food tray!








SERVES          4-6 AS AN APPETIZER            TIME      30 MINUTES


You Will Need

1 package of Wonton Wrappers (usually around 12-15 wrappers per package)
1 can of black beans (negro frijoles) rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen corn kernals
1 small red bell pepper, diced
1 cup purple cabbage, chopped into small pieces
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
8 oz Cabot Pepper Jack cheese, shredded
1-2 teaspoon cumin (I like 2)
2 teaspoons chile powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon oil or parchment paper
Stone baking sheet or cookie sheet
Optional dips: sour cream, guacamole, favorite salsa







Putting it all together


Preheat your oven to 450F with the rack in the middle.


In a large bowl combine all ingredients (except wonton wrappers). Mix well. Using a small spoon, place a golf ball size amount of the filling in the lower 1/3 of the wonton wrapper. Fold the bottom of the wrapper over the mixture and gently press the mixture to tightly press it all together. Fold the two sides over your first fold, just like a burrito, pressing any of the mixture back inside. Continue to roll closed and place folded side down on a very lightly greased stone baking sheet or on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.



Bake at 450F for 15-20 minutes until crispy and golden brown. I did not need to turn my egg rolls at all. They crisped up quite nicely. Serve hot with condiments of choice. 










notes:

When you use a stone baking sheet (my most used kitchen item) you drastically cut down on the amount of oil you use and whatever you are baking ends up evenly browned and crispy. 


When you purchase items from Simply Healthy Family's store it helps support this blog! All items are trusted favorites of ours. 

















Selasa, 20 Januari 2015

Three Cheese Pie with Leeks, Mushrooms and Spring Peas



I wanted to call this an Eggless, Three Cheese Quiche but my 5 year old daughter who is my editor in training adamantly insisted I "call it what it is, a Three Cheese Pie!" Which by the way, she "liked almost a lot but not as much as tacos." Back to the drawing board.











This is a recipe my mom has been making since I was a little girl and I've tweaked it just a little varying the cheeses and fillings which can be done to your liking each time. My mom calls this a torte,  call it what you will, I've made this pie twice this week, yes twice. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you are well aware of the fact that after hours of preparation (mostly cosmetics and prop work) I eagerly pulled my first quiche out of the oven forgetting it had a removable bottom  and the outer ring which had been in the oven for 45 minutes then the broiler for 5 found itself sizzling on my bare wrist. As any dedicated chef would do when the sun is quickly setting and all hope of snapping a decent picture is fading away, I left the scalding hot metal ring on my wrist trying to find another towel or pot holder for at least 7.5 seconds.


Then, I dropped my beautiful quiche/pie/cheesey disaster right onto the open oven door.


And cried.



So here we are having "Cheese Pie" 2 days in a row. I'm o.k. with that. My daughter wants tacos.
The suffrage of little children who are born to food bloggers.












The second attempt was more glorious than the first (I pretty much burned the pastry edges in trying to beat the setting sun) and so all is good. Due to the fact that I had a faulty tart pan  dropped my first pie, I am extending the giveaway from Lucerne for a $100 giveaway to Safeway Stores. My misfortune is your good luck!




Please do enter HERE, the odds are good and the Lucerne assortment of cheeses even better! I do most of my shopping at Safeway and am a Lucerne Dairy lover from way back!










Ingredients


1-2 tablespoons olive oil (mushrooms require more oil)

1/2 pound baby bella mushrooms, sliced

1 leek (*white and light green parts only) sliced lengthwise twice then chopped

1/2 cup frozen peas

3/4 cup half and half

10 ounces ricotta cheese

8 ounces white sharp cheddar cheese, grated 

3 ounces crumbled goat cheese

1 teaspoon Herbs de Provence

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

generous amount of freshly ground black peppercorns

Tomato wedges for spreading on top





Saute mushrooms & leek in oil for a few minutes. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients (except tomatoes) & pour into baked pie shell.  Top with tomato wedges. 



Bake 325°F. 45 min.  Cool slightly. Cut into wedges & serve







For the Crust




 1-1/2 c flour

 1/4 t salt

 1/2 c butter ~ 6 tablespoons ice water.  





Blend first 3 ingredients in a Kitchen Aid mixer til butter is thoroughly blended in and it looks somewhat like cornmeal.  Add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, while blending, til dough comes together into a ball.  Roll out to a size slightly larger than your pie plate.  Roll crust onto rolling pin and place on pie plate. Prick the pie shell a few times with a fork and bake in preheated 400°F. oven, for 8 minutes only. 

























YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE





Baked Three Cheese Mac with Slow Roasted Tomatoes
























Toasted Ravioli Caprese






























Mushroom and Eggplant Stroganoff






Minggu, 18 Januari 2015

Pozole Rojo #SundaySupper




This classic south western soup hails from Mexico and is exploding with all of the traditional flavors and spices you would find there. When the weather is frigid and gloomy during the winter months I can't get my hands on a piping hot bowl of spicy pozole quick enough. 












This week on Sunday Suppers we are all sharing the foods and flavors from our home towns. I could not be more excited to share my favorite cuisine, Mexican food, with all of you.


Growing up and living in the southern Arizona my entire life means that the flavors and traditions of the south west are home to me. Salsas, guacamole, spicy beans and rice and the sauces, oh the sauces! We pretty much put cayenne, cumin, garlic and especially salsa on almost everything here in Phoenix, especially in our household. Even on peanut butter, eggs and cottage cheese!



This soup is very hearty and just spicy enough. Home made rojo (red) sauce is as easy as soaking dried ancho or guajjillo peppers in hot water and throwing them in your blender with a few spices. The flavor is unparalleled to the canned stuff you'll find on the grocery store shelves.












Hominy is basically dried corn that has been soaked in a mineral lime bath.



This alkali process, known as nixtamalization, loosens the hulls from the kernels and softens the kernels themselves. The process can cause the kernels to double in size, which is why it may look a little strange. 



In Mexico it's mixed with water and milk to make the beverage atole, which is sometimes flavored with chocolate. Closer to home, it's used to make grits. It's also the main ingredient in masa used to make tamales.




I personally don't care for the canned stuff. I buy this brand in the frozen aisle. 










Tempeh, is a fermented soy product originally from Indonesia. While not as popular as tofu here in the States it has significantly better health benefits than tofu. It is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake like form and is used in vegetarian burgers, tacos, on top of salads and in this pozole!



Read more about Tepeh on World's Healthiest Foods

















Recipe slightly adapted from Thug Kitchen Cookbook







SERVES       6               TIME      INACTIVE:   20 MINUTES      ACTIVE: 30 MINUTES





You Will Need:

5 large dried guajillo or ancho chilies, toasted
2 cups tepid to warm water
5 cloves garlic clove, chopped
2 Tablespoons of unsweetened cacao powder
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 large white or yellow onion, chopped
8 oz tempeh, crumbled
2 cups cooked hominy 
1 zucchini, chopped
1 Tablespoons of dried oregano
2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 cups vegetable or chicken broth (preferably home made to reduce the sodium intake)
1 teaspoon walnut syrup or honey
Juice of just one lime






Throw chilies in the water and soak for 15-20 minutes. Remove chilies, reserve the water. Cut of the chili tops, remove seeds, and chop up. Place in a blender with garlic cloves, cacao powder, and chili pepper water and blend til you have chili-garlic clove paste without any large lumps.



Warm the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute for just two minutes. Add tempeh and saute until both onion and tempeh begin to brown, about 3 more minutes.
Add hominy, zucchini, oregano, cumin, and salt. Stir altogether, adding chili-garlic clove paste. Toss it around so things are well covered. Pour in broth, cover and allow it to simmer for 20-30 minutes. Remove from heat and add walnut syrup and lime juice. Taste and adjust spices to your liking.



Serve hot together with your favorite toppings, for example sliced cabbage, avocado, green onions radish matchsticks cilantro and lime wedges.







YOU MAY ALSO LIKE



Sopa de Almejas  {Clam Soup}

















Simple Pozole Verde




















Grilled Fish Tacos on Home Made Blue Corn Tortillas

























A huge thanks to Coleen from The Red Head Baker for hosting this fun Sunday Supper!


This is an amazing opportunity to discover some of my favorite foodies favorite foods from their own home towns! Who better to look to for good food than someone who has grown up cooking and perfecting the flavors of the place they know best?



Breakfast

Drinks

Appetizers and Snacks

Main Dishes

Side Dishes

Desserts

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement

Kamis, 18 Desember 2014

Stuffed Aubergines {Baby Eggplant} in Coconut Curry Sauce



This sauce is so thick and creamy and slightly sweet you'll want to slurp up every last drop and then lick the bowl clean. I'm not ashamed.....  








No one is questioning whether or not this is a busy time of year, least of all me. While there are countless different traditions, faiths and even circumstances across the globe the Holidays are a unique and special time of year for most of us. I think it's safe to say that the people of the United States, while multi cultured are known for their spending and splurging habits. Myself included.


While I like to pride myself on being fairly modest and non self indulgent when it comes to material things, I find myself getting wrapped up {no pun intended} in the American way of Christmas most every year. More, more, more, more. And then the guilt sets in. It's not enough, it's too much, I need to volunteer/donate, why do I only do that once a year....... and so forth.


I made a small change this year. Very small yet extremely significant to how I feel about the Holidays and about myself.  This year, I refocused. 



I still bought the children several small gifts and one large one which was most definitely NOT on the initial plan, an Xbox One. Mind you I have major reservations about video games due to the tantrums, lack of the children's priorities and overall hassle involved. I still somehow got talked into (yeah, my arm was twisted) into buying one for the BIG family gift this year.  Again, too much???








Nevertheless, I made a small change within this year. I have spent more time volunteering, giving and truly focusing on the immaterial parts of Christmas, which really, are what Christmas is all about.


While I have a lot of self reflection to do on this subject, I noticeably feel a warmth in my heart. The funny thing is, it's been one of the most hectic Holidays ever and yet I'm more at Peace than I have been in quite a while.




Of course being in my kitchen making stuffed eggplant in a rich and creamy spiced curry helps with the whole being at peace thing for me! Perfect for a cold night, I love how curries warm your tummy and soul and are my idea of the perfect comfort food.




This sauce is so thick and creamy and slightly sweet you'll want to slurp up every last drop and then lick the bowl clean. I'm not ashamed.....





TIME      40 MINUTES               SERVES      6



7-8 baby eggplants (Indian eggplants), cut off end parts & make a cross cut (like Brussels sprouts, only cut halfway down the eggplant)

For the CURRY: 

1 c yogurt
 2 c water
 1/4 c chickpea flour (besan)
 1 t salt
 1/2 t turmeric
1/4 t red chili powder

Blend w/whisk. Let stand at least ~15 min. (overnight is best)


Remaining Ingredients:

1/4 cup raw peanuts
1/4 cup sesame seeds (not toasted)
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon black pepper
2-4  tablespoons coconut oil {divided}
1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 inch piece of ginger root, peeled and finely chopped
3/4 cup diced red onion





To a hot dry pan {cast iron or a ceramic Dutch oven is best}, add  peanuts, sesame seeds and coconut flakes.

Stir and dry roast over medium-high heat. 

Add salt, garam masala, & black pepper. 


Once they are nice and brown, put in a blender & add 1/4 c water. Blend to a smooth paste. This is the stuffing. With a spoon,  fill the eggplants as much as you can.



Heat a pan and add 1-2 T oil.  Place eggplants in pan and roll in the oil; fry til they are nice and brown on all sides and about 80% done.



In another pan, prepare the curry using the ingredients above.  To the hot pan, add 2 T oil and heat. 



Add  fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds,  ginger root  chopped red onion. Sauté for a few minutes so that onions are no longer raw. Add any leftover stuffing or any masala. 



Add curry base (yogurt+water, spices and chickpea flour) and keep stirring until it comes to a gentle boil and thickens. Add eggplants that are mostly done and let them simmer in the curry sauce for a few minutes.



Serve w/rice or flatbread.