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Category: Meat Free

No Boil Baked Penne

No Boil Baked Penne

1 jar pasta sauce (26oz)
1 1/2 cups water
15 oz. ricotta
2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
1/4 C. parmesan cheese
1 lb. sausage, cooked and crumbled
8 oz. uncooked penne

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease 9×13 pan; set aside. Combine sauce, water, ricotta 1 C. of mozzarella, sausage, parmesan and penne. Pour into 9×13 pan and cover with foil. Bake for 55 minutes. Remove foil and top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until bubbly.

Roz’s Easy Microwave Risotto with Pear and Fennel

Roz’s Easy Microwave Risotto with Pear and Fennel

½ cup finely chopped sweet onion
2 tablespoons butter
1 garlic clove minced
¼ cup olive oil (est)
1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
3 cups chicken broth
¼ cup white wine
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1 pear, peeled & chopped
1 fennel bulb, sliced

Stir first three ingredients together with a tablespoon of oil in a microwaveable bowl – microcook 3 minutes. Stir in rice and microwave 2 more minutes. Stir in 2 ¾ cup broth and ¼ cup wine. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or glass cover and microcook 9 minutes. Carefully swirl bowl around to mix a bit without uncovering and cook another 8 minutes. While rice cooks, drizzle fennel with oil to coat and add salt and pepper to taste. Roast in the oven for 350 degrees on a parchment lined pan. Peel pears, toss in oil, season with salt and pepper and add to the fennel pan after 10 minutes have elapsed. Remove rice from microwave and stir in cheese and remaining ¼ cup broth, stirring until creamy. Stir fennel and pears into rice and serve.

Hot Brie Pasta

Hot Brie Pasta

½ lb. ripe Brie
¼ cup olive oil
½ cup fresh basil, julienned
1- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tomatoes, seeded and cubed
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
½ lb. pasta (fettucine, linguine, or capellini all work well)
½ cup peas
Parmesan

Remove rind from Brie and cut into irregular pieces. Combine with next 6 ingredients and let stand 2 hours at room temperature. Cook pasta al dente, drain, and add raw peas (frozen are acceptable, but of course must be thawed first). Toss hot pasta with Brie sauce. Top with Parmesan cheese and serve at once.

Provencal Tomato Tart (Tarte aux tomatoes)

Provencal Tomato Tart (Tarte aux tomatoes)

tomato tart

Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F. Defrost 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (preferably all-butter pastry) from a 14–17-oz. box according to package directions. If the package contains 1 sheet, cut the pastry in half; if the package contains 2 sheets, just use 1. Roll out the dough slightly on a floured surface to smooth it out.

Place the pastry sheet on a parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheet and use a paring knife to gently score a 1/4” border around the edge. Using a fork, prick the pastry all over inside the border to release steam while baking.

Spread the bottom of the dough with a thin layer of Dijon mustard, and then cover with a single layer of snugly packed tomato slices, preferably heirloom tomatoes in several colors, that have been sprinkled with sea salt and drained on a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and chopped fresh thyme. Top with grated Gruyere cheese. Bake until the crust is golden and the tomatoes have collapsed. It should take about 20 to 25 minutes. Check at 20 minutes and continue to cook until pastry is golden. Remove the tart to a rack and let it cool for 20 minutes or so before slicing it into wedges.

Variations: Add slivers of kalamata olives over the cheese before baking. Or sprinkle the cooked and cooled tart with torn bits of fresh basil right before serving.

Roasted Poblano, Onion & Jack Quesadilla

Roasted Poblano, Onion & Jack Quesadilla

14997845320_4e5dab26fd_o6 poblano chiles
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon plus 2 tsp. olive oil
1 medium white onion, thinly sliced lengthwise (about 1-1/2 cups)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
two 10-inch flour tortillas
grated Monterey Jack cheese (4 to 8 oz.)
sour cream or crème fraiche to taste

To roast the peppers using a gas flame: Turn a gas burner to high and char the poblanos directly over the flame, turning them with tongs as soon as each side becomes fully blackened, about 6 to 8 minutes per pepper. To roast the peppers in the oven: Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Halve and seed the peppers and place on a parchment-lined (for easy cleanup) baking sheet. Roast for about 30 to 35 minutes or until charred in some places. (Don’t let them get too black as I did here or you will have trouble peeling them.) Immediately after roasting, put the poblanos in a bowl, cover, and set aside to steam and loosen the skins. When they’re cool enough to handle, peel the charred skin off with your hands or a small paring knife. Pull out and discard the stems and seed clusters (if you haven’t already). Slice the peppers into 1/4-inch-wide strips and put them in a small bowl. Put a baking sheet in the oven and heat the oven to 150°F (or its lowest setting). Meanwhile: heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the poblano strips, season with a generous pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are heated through, another 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and wipe the skillet clean. Heat 1 tsp. of the oil in the skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add one tortilla and scatter over it half of the cheese, half of the poblano mixture, and half of the cilantro. When the tortilla smells toasty and the bottom is browned in spots, in 1 or 2 minutes, fold it in half, pressing it with a spatula to flatten it. Transfer to the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make one more quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve with the sour cream or crème fraiche on the side — I like to open my quesadilla up and drop spoonfuls of crème fraiche inside.

Pasta with Capers and Cherry Tomatoes

Pasta with Capers and Cherry Tomatoes

recipe-image-legacy-id--281694_126 T. salt-packed capers
1 small red onion, halved lengthwise
3 garlic cloves, smashed
1/3 C. extra-virgin olive oil
3 canned whole tomatoes (preferably San Marzano), chopped
12 cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 T. chopped fresh mint
1/8 tsp. black pepper
3/4 lb dried linguine
Garnish: fresh mint leaves

Rinse capers in a sieve and transfer to a small bowl. Cover capers with water by about 2 inches and soak 30 minutes. Drain, and then repeat soaking. Drain and rinse capers, then squeeze dry and coarsely chop. Cook onion, cut sides down, and garlic in oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Add capers and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Remove and discard garlic and onion. Add canned and cherry tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Stir in mint and pepper, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, 1 1/2 hours. Shortly before sauce is done, cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve about 1 C. cooking water, then drain pasta. Add pasta to sauce and cook over high heat, tossing, 10 to 15 seconds. If pasta seems dry, add a few T. reserved cooking water. Cooks’ note: Sauce can be made 3 days ahead and chilled, covered.

Bow Tie Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes, Capers, and Basil

Bow Tie Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes, Capers, and Basil

bow-tie-pasta-ck-222291-x4 cups hot cooked bow tie pasta
4 cups halved cherry tomatoes (about 2 pints)
1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped pitted niçoise olives
2 tablespoons capers
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
Red wine vinegar (optional)

Combine first 10 ingredients in a large bowl, and toss well. Sprinkle vinegar over each serving, if desired.

Rice & Bean Patties

Rice & Bean Patties

2 1/2 C. diced onion
1 T. minced garlic (or sub dehydrated garlic or even garlic powder)
Olive oil
3/4 tsp. cumin
1 T. tomato paste
1 1/2 C. cooked beans
1 C. cooked rice
Salt and pepper
Hot sauce
2 1/2 C. breadcrumbs

Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until soft. Stir in cumin, cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste, cook 30 seconds. Coarsely puree with beans and rice (a hand held potato masher works well; leave a little texture, you don’t want it to taste like baby food!). Season with salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Stir in breadcrumbs. Form into patties. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium. Add patties, cook until heated through and browned. In non-survival mode, these are really nice with brown rice, and served with some plain greek yogurt and a sprinkle of chopped mint.

Chard and Ricotta Torta

Chard and Ricotta Torta

1 lb. frozen bread dough thawed (see notes)
3 lb. red or green chard (about 3 bunches)
1 T. olive oil
1 T. minced garlic
2 large eggs
3/4 C. part-skim ricotta cheese
6 T. whipping cream
1/4 C. chopped pitted calamata olives
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Cut off a third of the bread dough. With lightly floured hands, flatten both portions into disks. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand while preparing filling, about 30 minutes. Rinse chard and tear leaves form center ribs; discard center ribs and stems or save for another use. Pour oil into a 12-inch frying pan or a 14-inch wok over medium-high heat; when hot, add garlic and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute, Add chard and stir frequently until evenly wilted, 12 to 15minutes. Transfer mixture to a strainer and let drain until cool enough to handle. Squeeze chard to remove all liquid, then coarsely chop. In a bowl, mix chard, 1 egg, ricotta, 1/4 C. cream, olives, lemon peel, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. With a lightly floured rolling pin, on a lightly floured surface, roll the larger portion of dough into a 12-inch round about 1/4 inch thick. Brush off excess flour. Fit into a 10-inch cheesecake pan with removable rime and fold excess dough down so that edges come about halfway up sides of pan; press dough gently against sides of pan. Add chard mixture and spread level. Roll remaining dough into a 10-inch round. Center over filling and pinch with the sides to seal. In a small bowl, beat remaining egg with remaining 2 T. cream to blend. Brush top crust with egg mixture; discard remainder. Bake in a 375º regular or convection oven until top is richly browned, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes, then run a small sharp knife between tart and pan rim to loosen; remove rim. Use a serrated knife to slice into wedges. Serve warm or cool.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Calories: 314
Fat: 13g
Fiber: 3.8g

Penne with Peas, Pea Greens and Parmesan

Penne with Peas, Pea Greens and Parmesan

1 pound fresh peas, shelled (about 3/4 C.)
6 oz. pea shoots (tendrils, shoots, leaves) (1/2 big bunch), curly tendrils removed and discarded
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 bunch young spring onions or scallions, cleaned and finely chopped (about 1/2 C.)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 T. chopped fresh tarragon
1 T. chopped fresh parsley
¾ pound penne
1 to 2 oz. Parmesan, grated (1/4 to 1/2 C., to taste)

Begin heating a large pot of water for the pasta. Meanwhile, steam the peas over an inch of boiling water for 4 minutes, until just tender. Transfer to a bowl. Add the pea shoots to the steamer and steam 2 minutes, until just wilted. Remove from the heat and allow to cool until you can handle them. Do not discard the steaming water; pour it into a measuring cup. Squeeze out excess water from the pea greens and chop medium-fine. You should have about 1 C. chopped leaves and tender stems. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet and add the chopped spring onion or scallions. Cook, stirring, until wilted, about 3 minutes. Add the pea shoots and stir together for about a minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the peas, tarragon and parsley and about 1/4 C. the steaming water and heat through. When the water in the pot comes to a boil, salt generously and add the pasta. Cook al dente, using the timing instructions on the package as a guide but checking the pasta a minute before the time indicated is up. When the pasta is ready, using a ladle transfer 1/2 C. the pasta cooking water to the pan with the peas and pea shoots. Drain the pasta and toss at once with the vegetables and Parmesan. Serve hot.

Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Sauce

Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Sauce

2 1/4 pounds russet potatoes
1 large egg
2 C. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 C. whipping cream
3 C. crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (about 13 oz.)
Chopped fresh chives
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Pierce potatoes several times with fork. Microwave until tender, turning once, about 16 minutes total. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise; scoop potato flesh into bowl; discard potato skins. Mash potatoes until smooth. Mix in egg. Sift flour, salt, pepper, and nutmeg over potato mixture; stir to combine. Knead gently. Divide dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece on work surface into 1/2-inch-diameter rope. Cut dough into 1-inch lengths and make grooves in each piece with fork. Cook gnocchi in large pot of boiling salted water until gnocchi are tender and rise to surface, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer cooked gnocchi to warm platter. Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add Gorgonzola, whisking until melted. Spoon sauce over gnocchi. Sprinkle with chives and Parmesan, if desired; serve.

North African Lentil Stew

North African Lentil Stew

North African Lentil Stew

1 tbsp. paprika

1 1/2 tsp. each: coriander and cumin

3/4 tsp. each: salt and pepper

1/4 plus 1/8 tsp. allspice

2 tsp. olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

8 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth, divided

1/4 cup tomato paste

1 lb. dried brown lentils, picked over and rinsed

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 cups seeded, peeled and chopped butternut squash

1 medium turnip, peeled and chopped

2 tbsp. lemon juice

1 cup plain yogurt

Chopped fresh cilantro

 

Stir together paprika, coriander, cumin, salt, pepper and allspice in small bowl. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes or until soft, stirring often. Add garlic and 1 1/2 tbsp. of spice mixture and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add 1 cup broth and tomato paste and bring to a boil, stirring to scrape up browned bits from bottom of skillet. Transfer to a 4- or 5- quart slow cooker.

Add remaining broth, lentils, carrots, squash and turnip. Cook, covered, on LOW for 8 hours or until lentils are tender.

 

Serving Size: 1 ½ C.

Calories: 283

Fat: 3g

Fiber:16g

Joyce Chen’s Egg Foo Yung

Joyce Chen’s Egg Foo Yung

2 C. Chicken Broth
1/4 tsp. MSG
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Catsup
1 T. Soy Sauce
3 1/2 T. Flour in 1/4 C. Cold Water
1 T. Oil
1/2 C. Shredded Celery, using end of stalk
1/4 C. Onion, sliced longwise
1 C. Mushrooms
1 tsp. Salt
5-7 Eggs
1 C. Bean Sprouts

To make sauce combine first 5 ingredients (Broth through Soy Sauce) in a small pan. Heat until boiling, stir in flour water. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and glossy. Heat oil in sauté pan. Add onion, celery and mushrooms to pan, cooking until onions are clear and vegetables are all soft. Sprinkle with salt, remove from pan; place in large bowl. Add eggs and bean sprouts; mix well. Drop onto hot greased skillet about 1/2 cup at a time. Fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes total. Serve drizzled with warm sauce.

Evelyn Wright’s Impossible Zucchini Pie

Evelyn Wright’s Impossible Zucchini Pie

2 C. chopped Zucchini
1 C. chopped Tomato
1/2 C. chopped Onion
1/3 C. Grated Cheese
1 1/2 C. Milk
3/4 C. Bisquick
3 Eggs
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Pepper

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 10″ quiche dish or pie plate. Spread zucchini in bottom of dish. Sprinkle tomato, onion and cheese over zucchini. Beat remaining ingredients until smooth, about 15 seconds in blender or 1 minute with hand blender. Pour evenly over vegetable mixture in dish. Bake until knife comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool 5-10 minutes before serving.

Doris’ Broccoli Casserole

Doris’ Broccoli Casserole

1 box Frozen Broccoli (Or equivalent in fresh)
1 pint Cottage Cheese
3 Eggs, beaten
1/4 C. Butter
2 T. Onion, minced
3 T. Flour
1/4 lb. diced Cheddar Cheese
Salt & Pepper

Cook broccoli and drain. Place broccoli in greased casserole dish. Beat cottage cheese until creamy. Add milk, eggs, butter, onion and flour until well mixed. Stir in cheese. Pour over broccoli. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Chiles Rellenos

Chiles Rellenos

6 long green Anaheim Chilies (or any moderately hot chilies)
2 oz. Ricotta Cheese
2 oz. Cream Cheese
3/4 cup Corn, fresh or frozen
1/4 cup Chives, freshly snipped
1/2 tsp. Salt

2 T. Canola or Olive Oil
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 1/2 T. Red Chili Powder
1 Tbs. All-purpose Flour
1 tsp. dried Oregano
2 cups Water
1/4 cup Tomato Paste
3/4 tsp. Salt

Preheat the broiler. Place the fresh chilies on a baking skeet and broil about 6 inches from the heating element, until the skin is blistered a bit, about 6 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer the chilies to a clean paper bag and close tightly to steam the chilies for about 10 more minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, cream cheese, corn, chives, and salt together. Preheat the oven to 300-F degrees. Making sure to keep the stems attached, slip the skins off the chilies. Make a lengthwise slit in each of the chilies to remove the seeds. Fill each chili with about 2 or 3 tablespoons of the cheese
and corn filling, and close the chili so it appears whole. Place the chilies, seam-side up, in a large baking dish. Bake the chilies for about 20 minutes, or until heated through. Serve with the Red Chili Sauce.

Meanwhile, prepare the red Chili sauce by warming the oil in a heavy skillet over medium
heat. Add the garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Add the chili powder, flour, and oregano. Cook, stirring constantly, for another minute.
Add the water alternating with portions of the tomato paste. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and serve warm. Makes about 2 cups of sauce.

Nettle Ravioli Filling

Nettle Ravioli Filling

1 1/2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 C. minced leek whites
1/2 C. minced scallion (“spring” or “green onion”), white and green parts
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. fresh ricotta cheese
2/3 C. ricotta salata, grated
1/2 C. mascarpone
1/4 C. grated parmesan cheese
4 C. cooked, squeezed, chopped nettles
2 T. chopped fresh basil leaves
2 T. chopped fresh parsley
1 egg, beaten

Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Add the leek and cook, stirring, until softened. Add the scallion and cook for another minute or two, until the scallion has softened. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside to cool. Combine the cheeses. Add the leek and scallion mixture. Incorporate the nettles and herbs, and stir in the beaten egg. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Potherb and Goat Cheese Pie with a Potato Crust

Potherb and Goat Cheese Pie with a Potato Crust

1 bunch Swiss chard (about 12 oz.)
1 small bunch curly kale (about 8 oz.)
¼ C. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
4 Yukon Gold potatoes
2 T. clarified butter (see below)
8 eggs
¼ C. heavy cream
½ tsp. finely ground unrefined sea salt
4 oz. chèvre

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Trim the Swiss chard of any tough stems or veins, then stack the leaves on top of one another, roll them into a cigar, and slice them crosswise into strips about ¼- inch wide. Tear the kale leaves away from the tough stems and into small pieces no bigger than ½ inch; discard the stems. Put the torn kale in a bowl with the Swiss chard, parsley, and thyme. Keeping the skins on, slice the potatoes crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Melt the butter in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-low heat. Swirl the skillet so that the butter lightly coats the bottom and sides. Turn off the heat and carefully arrange the potato slices along the bottom and sides of the pan to form a crust. Tightly pack the greens and herbs into the potato-lined skillet. Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl and add the cream and salt. Beat them together until uniform in color. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables, filling the skillet to within ½ inch of its rim; you may not need to use all the eggs. Drop the chèvre a tsp. at a time into the eggs and vegetables. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the center of the pie no longer wobbles when you gently shake the pan. Allow the pie to rest for 5 minutes before slicing into wedges and serving.

Clarifying butter deepens its flavor and color and concentrates its butterfat by removing its milk solids. The process also helps to extend its shelf life. Store clarified butter at room temperature out of direct light, just as you would store olive oil, coconut oil, or any other concentrated fat. Once you’ve removed the milk solids from the butterfat, there’s little risk of spoilage. You can apply high heat to clarified butter in ways that would cause regular butter to scorch. Makes about 12 oz..

Place 1 pound unsalted butter in a wide sauté pan set over low heat. Allow the butter to melt slowly. As it heats, froth and foam will gather on top of the liquid butter. Skim this off and discard it. Continue heating the butter until it becomes perfectly clear, about 10 minutes.

Set a fine-mesh sieve over a bowl and line it with a double layer of cheesecloth or a single layer of butter muslin. Pour the melted butter through the cloth and into the bowl. Discard the milk solids in the cloth, then pour the clarified butter into three 4-oz. jars or one 12-oz. jar and cover tightly. Stored in a cool, dark space, the clarified butter will keep for up to 1 year.

Basic Black Bean Patties

Basic Black Bean Patties

These incredibly tasty patties can be served with a variety of sauces. It all depends on what flavor you’re in the mood for. Spicy peanut sauce works great, but so do salsa and barbecue sauce.

One 16-oz. can diced white potatoes, drained
One 15.5-oz. can black beans, drained (and rinsed, if possible)
1 T. dehydrated minced onion
1 tsp. dried parsley
¼ C. dried bread crumbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 T. olive oil

In a large bowl mash the potatoes and beans with a potato ricer until broken up. Add the onion, parsley, and bread crumbs, and then salt and pepper to taste. Mix until well combined. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and use your hands to shape into patties. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the bean patties until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and serve hot with your favorite sauce.

Green Chile Buckwheat Polenta

Green Chile Buckwheat Polenta

4 C. vegetable or chicken stock
1 tsp. salt
1 C. coarse grind buckwheat groats or kasha (or commercially ground buckwheat)
1 tsp. ground cumin
several grinds pepper
1/4 C. chopped (Hatch) green chile or small can of diced chiles
1 T. butter
1/2 C. cheese – cotija, pepper jack, cheddar, etc.
Canned Salsa Verde

Fresh Garnishes, if Available:
4 eggs (cooked any style)
avocado, diced
cilantro, chopped

To a medium saucepan, add the stock and salt. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat. Slowly whisk in the ground buckwheat (to avoid lumps). Add the cumin and ground pepper. Cover and simmer until desired texture is achieved. The time will vary according to the coarseness of your buckwheat. I cooked mine low and slow for about 40 minutes. My kasha (buckwheat) was milled on the 2nd coarsest setting. Substitute commercial buckwheat if preferred. Refer to package instructions for liquid quantity and cooking time. Add the green chile, butter, and cotija (or other) cheese. Stir to combine.

Top with an egg and avocado, sprinkle with crumbled cotija and cilantro, and drizzle with salsa verde. Dig in!

Creamy Red Beans and Pasta Salad

Creamy Red Beans and Pasta Salad

½ C. dried carrots
½ C. freeze dried peas
4 C. cooked and drained small pasta
2-15oz. cans red beans or 3 ½ c.
½. C. bottled Italian dressing
½ C. mayonnaise
2 tsp. dried parsley

Simmer carrots in 1 ½ C. water for 10 minutes. Add peas and simmer an additional 3-4 minutes. Drain vegetables, combine with pasta and beans and cool. Whisk together dressing, mayonnaise and parsley; pour over salad and toss. Serves 4-5.

Cheddar Chive Soufflés

Cheddar Chive Soufflés

butter for greasing the ramekins
2 tsp. grated parmigiano reggiano
3 tsp. butter
3 tsp. flour
1.25 C. hot milk
4 egg yolks
6 oz. sharp cheddar, grated
1 tsp. mustard
2 tsp. chopped chives
5 egg whites mixed with 1 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
salt and pepper

Grease the bottom and sides of your ramekin(s) and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Pop into the freezer for at least 5 minutes so the parmesan cheese sticks. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and cook until it stops sputtering (the water has cooked out). Whisk in the flour and a pinch of salt and cook for 2 minutes over medium. While constantly whisking, slowly pour in the milk, and turn the heat to high. Keep whisking, and once the mixture starts to boil, take the pan off the heat. In a big bowl, whisk together the egg yolks until smooth. Temper the eggs into the mixture by first pouring some of the hot sauce into the eggs (while constantly whisking), then pouring the eggs into the saucepan (whisk, whisk, whisk)! Whisk in the cheddar, mustard, chives, and a pinch of salt and pepper. In a very clean bowl, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar together with a hand mixer, until you get stiff peaks. Stir in 1/4 of the stiff egg whites into the egg yolk cheese base to lighten it, then fold the rest in via 3 installments, until the mixture is nice and light. Be gentle so you don’t deflate the egg whites. Portion the souffle mixture into your ramekins, and fill them up to the top. Place on a sheet pan and bake for 25 minutes if you are using the small ramekins, and 35 minutes if you are doing the big one. Enjoy!

Balsamic Roasted Figs and Shallots with Herbed Socca (chickpea flatbread)

Balsamic Roasted Figs and Shallots with Herbed Socca (chickpea flatbread)

1/2 C. chickpea flour
3/4 C. water
a few dashes of salt and pepper
1 tsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped
2 T. olive oil

1 T. olive oil
4-5 shallots, skinned and halved
8-10 fresh figs, halved
a handful of walnut halves
1-2 T. balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
a few sprigs of fresh thyme

To make the socca, whisk together all of the socca ingredients and one T. olive oil in a small bowl. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Place a small cast-iron skillet in the oven during the preheating time. Remove it, and place the remaining T. olive oil into the pan. Tilt the skillet to ensure coverage, then pour the batter into the skillet. Tilt it to ensure the batter is evenly coated in the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the socca by flipping it onto a plate. Set aside. Place one T. olive oil back into the skillet. Throw in the halved shallots and roast for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, then flip them over and roast for an additional 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Now place the halved figs and walnuts into the skillet, and drizzle the balsamic vinegar over the top. Stir gently to combine. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast for an additional 10-15 minutes. During the last 3 minutes of roast time, throw in a few sprigs of fresh thyme of top. Serve straight out of the skillet with the herbed socca.

To-Full Blooms

To-Full Blooms

120g pressed Tofu
1 lg. Egg
¼ tsp. Chicken Bouillon (or more)
1 tsp. Cornstarch
1 T. Oil
Cherry Tomatoes
Cilantro/parsley sprigs

Mash tofu with fork and mix with egg, bouillon and cornstarch. Oil a 6” baking dish, add tofu mash, and smooth out to level. Half cherry tomatoes and arrange on tofu, add herbs as stems and leaves. Bake 20 minutes at 200 C.

Or mash and mix, then oil a 3 inch ring and nonstick skillet. Place ring in skillet, fill with 2 heaping tablespoons of the tofu mash and level. Decorate with (slices) of tomato and herbs. Cook until firming up and lightly brown on bottom. Flip and cook until done.

Garlic Scape and Arugula Pesto

Garlic Scape and Arugula Pesto

8 ounces/225 S garlic scapes (2 to 3 bunches)
1 cup/20 g packed arugula leaves
1/2 cup/70 g pine nuts, toasted
1/4 cup/25 g grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup/60 ml olive oil, plus more as needed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Chop the garlic scapes into l-inch/2.5 cm lengths and combine them with the arugula leaves, toasted pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until a paste begins to form. Remove the lid and scrape down the bowl, if necessary. Once you’ve gotten to a chunky paste, slowly stream in the 1/4 cup/60 ml of olive oil with the motor running and process until well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning to taste. Pack the pesto into a half-pint/250 ml jar (if you’re freezing it, try dividing it between 2 quarter-pint/125 ml jars). Cover with a thin layer of olive oil (it keeps out the oxygen and prevents the top of the pesto from browning) and either refrigerate or freeze. It will keep in the refrigerator for at least a week, or in the freezer for up to a year.

BBQ Tofu Baguette

BBQ Tofu Baguette

Olive Oil
4 ½ oz. firm Tofu, patted dry and cut into 4 long slices (rec: follow Alton Brown’s instructions for prepping tofu for marinade)
2 small Baguettes
2 Lettuce Leaf, shredded
1 Tomato, seeded and thinly sliced

Marinade:
1 T. Honey or Sweet Chili Sauce
1 T. Ketchup
1 T. Soy Sauce
¼ tsp. Smoked Paprika

In shallow dish, mix together ingredients for marinade. Place tofu slices in marinade, turn to coat; allow to rest in marinade at least one hour to overnight. Generously brush griddle pan with olive oil, and then heat until hot. Carefully place tofu on pan and cook 4 minutes on each side or until golden, occasionally spooning over more marinade. Slice baguette open lengthwise and open it out. Place 2 slices tofu on bread, top with lettuce and tomato. Close up bun and press down lightly.

Falafel Hash with Grapefruit- Arugula Tabbouleh

Falafel Hash with Grapefruit- Arugula Tabbouleh

¼ C. bulgur
Salt and pepper
3 T. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
8 oz. eggplant
1 T. za’atar
15-oz. can chickpeas
1 onion
1½ tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. ground coriander
½ tsp. baking soda
Cayenne pepper
1 tsp. chopped garlic
Handful fresh parsley
2 lemons
¼ C. tahini paste
2 whole-wheat pitas
1 grapefruit
2 oz. baby arugula
Handful fresh mint

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put bulgur, ½ C. water and pinch of salt in small pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover and let seep. Check for doneness in 15 minutes; water should be absorbed. Grease a rimmed pan with 1 T. oil. Rinse and trim eggplant, then slice into 4-inch-long sticks. Spread out on pan, sprinkle with za’atar and salt and roast, turning once, until they’re brown, 20 to 30 minutes. Make falafel: Put 1 T. oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Drain and rinse chickpeas; add to skillet. Trim, peel and chop onion. Add to pan along with cumin, coriander, baking soda and ¼ tsp. cayenne. Add chopped garlic and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir mixture, then crush about half the chickpeas with fork or masher. Cook, undisturbed, until bottom is crisp and brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Make tabbouleh: Rinse, trim and dry parsley, then chop leaves. Rinse and halve lemons. Add parsley and juice of 1 lemon to chickpea mixture, stir, and taste and adjust seasoning. Whisk together tahini, juice of 1/2 lemon, 2 T. water and a sprinkle of salt and pepper in small bowl and let sit. Wrap pitas in foil and warm in oven, 5 to 10 minutes.Transfer cooked bulgur to large mixing bowl. Rinse and peel grapefruit, cut flesh from core and chop it, removing any seeds. Rinse, dry and chop arugula as finely as you like. Rinse and dry mint; strip leaves from stems and chop them. Add grapefruit, arugula, mint, juice of 1/2 lemon, remaining 1 T. oil and a pinch of salt and pepper to bowl. Toss well, and taste and adjust seasonings.
Serve tabbouleh with falafel hash and eggplant alongside; pass pitas and tahini sauce at the table.

Tofu in Lime Ginger Sauce

Tofu in Lime Ginger Sauce

1/4 C. fresh cilantro, chopped
3 T. fresh ginger, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped
3 T. lime juice
1 T. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
1/4 tsp. turmeric
1 lb. tofu, cut into 1 inch slices

Combine first 4 ingredients in a blender or food processor. Process until smooth, adding a little water if necessary. Add next 4 ingredients and mix thoroughly. Transfer mixture to a shallow dish. Add tofu and toss to coat well. Cover and refrigerate 10 minutes. Spread enough marinade to cover bottom of a large, heavy nonstick skillet. Add tofu to skillet. Spread remaining marinade over tofu. Cover skillet tightly and cook over medium low heat 15 minutes until tofu is cooked throughout.

Yield: 4 servings
Calories: 142
Fat: 9g
Fiber: 2.3g

Orzo with Dried Porcini Mushrooms, Radicchio and aged Balsamic Vinegar

Orzo with Dried Porcini Mushrooms, Radicchio and aged Balsamic Vinegar

1 oz dried porcini mushrooms
kosher salt
1 C. orzo
3 T. olive oil
1 T. minced fresh garlic
1 T. minced shallot
2 C. shredded radicchio leaves {about 3/4 of a head}
1 C. freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus extra for garnish
4 T. butter
high quality olive oil for drizzling
4 tsp. aged balsamic vinegar
freshly ground black pepper

Place the mushrooms in a bowl and add enough hot water to cover them. Cover with plastic wrap for 10 minutes and continually remind yourself that when you drain them you must reserve some of the liquid. Drain, reserving 1 c of liquid. Bring a large pot of water to boil and add a generous bit of kosher salt. Add the orzo, return to a boil and stir occasionally to prevent the orzo from sticking together. Cook until just tender, per the packaging instructions. While the pasta is cooking, heat 3 T olive oil, garlic, shallots and a pinch of kosher salt in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir constantly to prevent browning, cooking until the shallots and garlic are soft and fragrant, about 1 minute. Turn the heat to high and stir in the 1 c reserved liquid from the mushrooms, the mushrooms and radicchio. Turn off the heat. Reserve 1/4 c pasta water and drain the pasta, transferring quickly to the skillet while it is still dripping with water. Turn the heat to high and stir in the reserved pasta water and cheese. Lower the heat and cook for 30 seconds. Add the butter and stir to melt. Taste and adjust salt if necessary. To serve, spoon pasta on 4 plates or in 4 bowls. Drizzle with high quality olive oil and 1 t of balsamic vinegar per plate. Grate a small amount of cheese on top of each plate and finish with freshly ground black pepper.

Mushroom, Potato, & Nettle Soup

Mushroom, Potato, & Nettle Soup

Nettles, once cooked, they can be handled and used as you would spinach – scramble with eggs or use in quiche or frittatas, add them to Greek spanakopita fillings, ravioli filling, risotto, soups, stir-frys, puree them for nettle pasta dough, top pizzas, make creamed nettles, or simply sauté them with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and a squeeze of lemon (just like spinach!).

To soften the stingers, and render them harmless, cook them as such:

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Tip the contents of your bag of nettles into the pot, or use tongs to lift them into the pot. Push them down and stir them around a bit with a wooden spoon or tongs. Let them boil, and, after a minute, the stingers will have softened so that the nettles can be handled. Within 2-3 minutes, the nettles will be fully cooked. Lift them out with a spider or strainer and either refresh them under cold water, or spread them out on a baking sheet to cool. Once cool, they can be squeezed of excess water if desired (a good idea if you are adding them to eggs), or chopped to add to soups. If the stem is tender, you can chop the vegetable in its entirety and use the whole thing. If the stem is woody, just pluck the leaves from the stem and discard the stem (much easier than donning gloves and plucking the leaves from the raw stem).

Note that the nettles are lifted from the boiling water rather than pouring out the contents of the pot into a colander. This is so that you remove the floating nettles, and leave the sunken sediment (if any) behind in the pot. In preparing the nettles in this manner, you can avoid having to wash the raw nettles and risk a run-in with the stingers. Also note that I have never had anyone mention that the nettles retain any sediment, nor have I ever encountered it when eating nettles prepared in this manner. Occasionally, though, there will be a thin twig or pine needle that has to be removed.

I am often asked if nettles can be steamed rather than boiled. Yes, they can, but they should be washed first, because the sediment will not be washed away by the steam. Also, if you blanch or boil rather than steam, you have the advantage of getting a “2 for 1” with your vegetable purchase.

After par-boiling, you have a nutrient-dense leafy green (think nutrient content of spinach, times 10, with added trace minerals), plus the nutrient-dense cooking liquid. If you have salted the cooking water, you can use the resulting Nettle Broth as a rich vegetarian soup broth or for cooking rice and risotto. If you have kept your nettle boiling water unsalted, you will have a Spring Tonic of Nettle Tea to drink.

Both the nettles and the nettle cooking liquid freeze beautifully, and will keep the better part of a year. A tip: Don’t squeeze out the water from the cooked nettle leaves before freezing; the extra water will help to preserve their integrity in the freezer, and you can always squeeze them out when they have thawed.

Mushroom, Potato, & Nettle Soup

Don’t feel limited to the mushrooms listed – a great number of wild mushrooms will work just as well. This soup freezes quite nicely.

1/2 lb. young nettles
¼ C. good flavored olive oil, plus more for cooking the mushrooms
1 lb. potatoes, peeled, halved, and sliced ¼ inch thick
a pinch of chile flake
2 large garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
½ lb. shiitake mushrooms, sliced
½ lb. maitake mushrooms, chopped or pulled apart into petals
10 C. good quality meat, chicken, mushroom, or vegetable broth (you can include some of the nettle cooking liquid in the soup broth – it is rich and will add another layer of flavor to the soup)
sea salt & black pepper

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Season the water with salt. Carefully add the nettles and cook until the stingers have softened, about a minute. Drain the nettles and refresh them briefly under cold water until cool enough to handle. Pick the leaves from the larger, woodier stems (the tender young stems can be chopped and added to the soup). Set the nettles aside.

Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over a medium flame. Add the sliced potato and cook, stirring every so often, until the potatoes have started to take on some color (10-15 minutes). Add the chile flake and sliced garlic. Add another T. oil if the ingredients in the pot seem dry. Cook for 1 more minute. Break up the potatoes slightly with a potato masher or wooden spoon, then add the stock to the pot. Bring to a boil.

Meanwhile, sauté the mushrooms in additional oil. Add them to the soup. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer the soup for 20 minutes, then add the nettles. Warm through and serve.

Crispy Gnocchi with Zucchini, Sweet Corn and Basil

Crispy Gnocchi with Zucchini, Sweet Corn and Basil

1-1/2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
16oz. packaged gnocchi
1-1/2 tsp. butter
1 small zucchini, chopped
1/2 C. frozen corn
1/4 small onion, chopped
salt & pepper
2 garlic cloves
8 leaves basil, chopped & divided
1/4 C. half & half
2 tsp. freshly grated parmesan cheese

Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add gnocchi then spread in one layer and sauté undisturbed for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown on the bottom. Toss then continue sautéing for 3-4 more minutes or until golden brown on all sides. Remove skillet from heat then set aside. Meanwhile, heat butter in another large skillet then add zucchini, corn, and onion, and then season with salt and pepper. Sauté until vegetables are tender, about 3-4 minutes, then add chopped garlic and half the basil, and then sauté for 30 more seconds. Remove skillet from heat then add half & half and parmesan cheese, and stir to combine. Pour mixture into skillet with gnocchi then toss to combine. Season with more salt and pepper if necessary then serve topped with remaining chopped basil.

Mexican Baked Polenta with Salsa Beans & Sautéed Veggies

Mexican Baked Polenta with Salsa Beans & Sautéed Veggies

1 (24-oz.) tube polenta, cut into 16 slices (I used Sun-Dried Tomato)
1 T. olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. oregano
Pinch of cayenne
1 medium zucchini, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 (15-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 C. jarred salsa
4 oz. queso fresco, crumbled
Chopped cilantro, lime wedges, and additional salsa for serving

Preheat oven to 450ºF. Use an oil mister filled with a high smoke point cooking oil (like grapeseed or olive oil (light, not extra-virgin) to coat a large baking sheet. Place the polenta slices on the sheet and spray the tops with additional oil. Bake for about 30 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time, until the polenta is crispy and golden brown on the edges. While the polenta is baking, start the sautéed veggies. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened and starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano, and cayenne; cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the zucchini and red pepper to the skillet and cook, stirring often, about 3 minutes more, until slightly softened. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. Combine the beans and salsa in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Divide the polenta slices onto 4 plates, then top each with salsa beans, veggies, and queso fresco. Serve with chopped cilantro, lime wedges, and additional salsa.

Squash Blossom, Zucchini and Gouda Frittata

Squash Blossom, Zucchini and Gouda Frittata

2 small zucchini
6 squash blossoms
2 sage leaves
8 eggs
1/3 C. whole milk
1 C. shredded Gouda cheese
1/4 tsp. sea salt
black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil skillet and set aside. Thinly slice zucchini, using a mandoline if you have one, into rounds. Gently cut squash blossoms in half length-wise and remove stamen. Cut sage leaves into thin slices. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Stir in cheese, zucchini and sage. Pour mixture into skillet, making sure zucchini is evenly distributed around the pan. Gently press squash blossom halves into the egg mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until just barely set in the middle. Switch to broiler for about 2 additional minutes till top is golden. Remove and serve warm.

Spinach Malfatti With Sage Brown Butter Sauce

Spinach Malfatti With Sage Brown Butter Sauce

In Italian, malfatti translates to “bad made.” Unlike gnocchi, their dumpling cousin, malfatti are more “roughly” made: hand-rolled, then crudely cut without much thought to uniformity or perfection. But that’s precisely what makes them so lovely – their provincial form and handmade taste. Because they’re made mostly with ricotta and contain very little flour, the result are light and airy pillows, a feat not so easily achieved in gnocchi making. In fact, if you’ve ever made gnocchi you’ll find that more times than not they turn out more dense than you’d like, and you have to concentrate fiercely on the task at hand, making sure to not overwork the dough. Malfatti, on the other hand, are easy to make and hard to ruin.

1 ½ C. Ricotta cheese
2 C. packed fresh spinach
1 C. Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs or panko
2 eggs, beaten
¼ C. Parmesan cheese
¼ C. minced green onions
1 T. basil, finely chopped
¼ tsp. nutmeg
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
½ tsp. salt
Flour
4 T. butter
Approximately 10 sage leaves

In a medium covered saucepan, steam spinach in 2 T. water until done, approximately 1 minute. Drain spinach and squeeze out extra liquid until very dry. Combine spinach with all ingredients, except flour and sage. Refrigerate 1 hour. Bring a large pot half full of salted water to a simmer. Drop spinach cheese mixture by T. into flour and roll each lightly into long logs. Cut into 1 ½- inch dumplings. Drop dumplings into the gently simmering water. When they rise to the top, remove with a slotted spoon, approximately 3 to 5 minutes. In a saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat. Once butter begins to brown, add sage and cook until leaves are crisp (approximately 1 to 2 minutes.. Spoon brown butter over malfatti and top with the crisp sage leaves. If preferred, top with more Parmesan cheese.

Gorditas de Frijol Estilo Veracruz (Veracruz Style Inflated Bean Gorditas)

Gorditas de Frijol Estilo Veracruz (Veracruz Style Inflated Bean Gorditas)

1 C. cooked Black Beans
1 lb. White Masa (for tortillas)
2 T. Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
Salt, to taste
½ C. Lard
¾ C. Salsa
½ C. Crema Mexicana
½ C. Queso Fresco, grated

Place the beans in a food processor and process to form a thick purée. In a large bowl, mix the masa, puréed cooked beans, flour, baking powder, and season with salt to taste. The masa should feel firm, but not dry (almost like play-doh). Cover with plastic wrap and let the masa rest for 20 minutes. Form ½ inch balls, covering them while you work. In a deep skillet, heat the lard or oil over medium-high heat. Form the tortillas in a tortilla press covered with 2 rounds of plastic wrap. Place the ball in the middle and press, turn 180°, and press lightly again. Transfer each tortilla to the prepared skillet, and deep fry until they inflate, remove and drain. Serve immediately with the salsa of your choice, crema mexicana and grated queso fresco.

Quick Pea “Risotto”

Quick Pea “Risotto”

Quick Pea “Risotto”

Peas and chives add a Spring touch to this creamy, any-time-of-year, main dish.

1/2 C. arborio rice

2/3 C. vegetable broth

1/2 C. frozen petite peas

1/8 tsp. dried thyme

1 T. finely chopped chives

1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

Place rice, vegetable broth, peas and thyme in rice bowl or 4 C. glass dish. Stir briefly to combine. Place bowl in steamer tray, filling water level to medium and steam uncovered for 30 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes. Add chives and oil, stirring gently to combine.

WIW: Fawaffle & Hummus

WIW: Fawaffle & Hummus

WIW: Fawaffle & Hummus

 

1 C. dried chickpeas, picked over and soaked in water overnight in the refrigerator

1/2 small onion, roughly chopped

3 cloves garlic

1/4 C. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

2 T. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. ground coriander

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

nonstick cooking spray

1 can (15 oz.) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 small clove garlic, minced

1/4 tsp. salt, plus extra to taste

1/4 C. extra virgin olive oil

1/4 C. tahini

2 T. fresh lemon juice

4 pockets pita bread

 

Preheat the waffle iron on medium. Preheat the oven on its lowest setting. Drain the chickpeas and place them with the onion and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until blended but not pureed. Add the parsley, olive oil, flour, salt, cumin, coriander, baking powder, black pepper and cayenne pepper, and pulse until mostly smooth. Coat both sides of the waffle iron grid with nonstick spray. For each fawaffle, place about 1/4 C. of batter in the waffle iron, leaving a bit of space between scoops for each to expand. Close the lid of the waffle iron and cook for 5 minutes before checking. Remove the fawaffles when they are cooked through and evenly browned. Repeat cooking with the remaining mixture. Keep finished fawaffles warm in the oven. Fill a large bowl with water, pour chickpeas into the bowl and rub them gently to pop off as many skins as you can. The skins float to the top where they can be skimmed off. It’s not necessary to get every last one off, so leave the stubborn ones. In a food processor or with a blender, pulse the chickpeas until just pureed. Add the garlic, 1/4 tsp. salt, olive oil, tahini and lemon juice, and blend until smooth. Taste and add more salt or lemon juice, if desired. Place fawaffles in pita pockets and top with hummus.

WIW: Ramen

WIW: Ramen

WIW: Ramen

1 large egg

1 tsp. soy sauce, plus more for serving

1 T. sesame seeds, plus more for serving

Toasted sesame oil

1 packet instant ramen noodles (about 100 grams), soaked in hot water for 3 minutes and drained

Nonstick cooking spray

1 T. chopped green onions for garnish (optional)

 

Preheat waffle iron. (If it has temperature adjustment, set it to medium.). In a medium bowl, beat egg with soy sauce, sesame seeds, and a few drops of sesame oil. Add prepared noodles and stir to coat noodles evenly with egg mixture.  Place noodle mixture in waffle iron and close lid. Cook until golden brown in spots, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from waffle iron and serve hot, garnished with chopped green onions, sesame seeds and soy sauce.

Tunisian Brik

Tunisian Brik

Tunisian Brik

 

2 medium sweet potatoes

1½ tsp. coriander seeds

2 dried red chillies

½ tsp. ground cinnamon, plus a little extra

sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

2 spring onions trimmed and finely chopped

1 large free-range egg, beaten

150 g butter

6 sheets filo pastry

1 red onion finely sliced

1 bunch fresh watercress

1 bunch fresh mint, leaves picked

1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked

4 T. fat-free natural yoghurt

3 lemons, 1 juiced, 2 cut in half

extra virgin olive oil

1 pinch ground cumin

 

Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6. Wash the sweet potatoes and bake them, in their skins, in the preheated oven until cooked and soft. Allow to cool (leaving the oven on), then peel and mash them.

Bash up 1 tsp. of the coriander seeds and the chillies in a pestle and mortar. Stir with the cinnamon into the mashed sweet potato and season well. Fold the spring onions and beaten egg into the mashed potato. Gently melt the butter in a pan. Bash up the remaining coriander seeds. Brush a sheet of filo with some melted butter and sprinkle with a pinch of ground cinnamon and a little of the ground coriander. Cover with the second sheet, and brush and sprinkle as before. Repeat for the third sheet. With a sharp knife, cut the stacked filo sheets into two 15cm squares. Working quickly to prevent the pastry from drying, do the same with the remaining filo sheets. You should now have four squares of filo. Place a generous T. of the sweet potato mixture in the centre of each square and spread out slightly. Brush the edges of each square with water and fold in half, corner to corner, to make a triangle. Press down at the edges to seal. Brush both sides of each triangle with the rest of the melted butter, place on a baking tray and bake in the preheated oven until light brown – this will take about 10 minutes. Mix the red onion with the watercress, mint and parsley. Mix the yoghurt with the lemon juice, a lug of olive oil and the cumin. Dress the salad with the yoghurt dressing and serve with the hot filo briks and the lemon halves.

 

 

Easy Skillet Ravioli

Easy Skillet Ravioli

1 package, about 24 oz. frozen cheese ravioli
2 1/4 C. water
1/2 tsp. salt
1 jar Old World Style Traditional Sauce
1/4 C. heavy cream or half and half or milk

In large nonstick skillet, bring ravioli, water and salt to a boil over high heat. Continue boiling, stirring gently to separate ravioli, 5 minutes. Stir in sauce. Cook covered and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until ravioli are tender. Stir in cream and heat through.