Italian Veggie Layered Casserole
Posted: April 16, 2012 Filed under: Main Dishes, Uncategorized, Vegan Options, Vegetarian, Veggies | Tags: eggplant, Italian veggie casserole, layered veggie casserole, squash, squash casserole, vegan casseroles, vegetarian casseroles, veggie lasagne, zucchini, zucchini casserole 2 Comments
Becky's Italian Veggie Layered Casserole
When my kids were little, I remember going bathing suit shopping with three small children in tow. (The last child, number 4, had yet to be born.) Like most women, I’d rather pour lemon juice on a paper cut than shop for a bathing suit, especially after having incubated, grown and given birth to multiple children. The only thing that could make this task even more painful was to try to get it done with three bored and antsy preschoolers in tow.
After what must have seemed an eternity to my eldest son, he said, “Mom, just buy one of those zucchini bathing suits and let’s get out of this Lady Store!”
Little did this child know that due to his weighing in at 9 lb 2 oz, leaving stretch marks from my neck to the my knees, his mother’s days of wearing “zucchinis” (bikinis) were forever behind me.
However, I am quite fond of cooking with zucchini, and this casserole below is one of my favorite ways to use up the abundance of zucchini squash that seem to overflow everyone’s backyard garden all summer long.
I created and made this casserole last week, and it seemed to get even better the next couple of days, as I enjoyed for a vegetarian lunch or a side dish with dinner. It’s a little trouble to make, but it makes a bunch and keeps beautifully in the fridge for several days. Just cut a slice, nuke and enjoy! (Would be a great take-to-work lunch.) It also makes a gorgeous colorful side dish to go with a simple meat like baked chicken, fish, or hamburger patty for the omnivores in your family, while making a satisfying meal for any vegetarians among you. With a few tweaks, this can easily be made into a vegan-friendly dish as well.
Variations:
Vegan version below.
Add cooked seasoned ground hamburger, turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage for an all-in-one main dish casserole.
Using same technique experiment with a variety of veggies and cheeses. Try using Alfredo sauce in place of marinara.
Becky's Italian Veggie Layered Casserole
Becky’s Layered Italian Veggie Casserole
Serves 10 to
Olive oil to coat large skillet (1 to 3 Tablespoons)
1 eggplant, peeled, sliced about ¼ inch thin
2 smallish or 1 large potato, unpeeled, sliced about ¼ inch thin
1/3 c. water
3to 4 zucchini squash, sliced ¼ inch
3 to 4 yellow squash
6 slices Swiss cheese (or mozzarella or any white cheese that melts; almond or soy cheese for vegans)
4 cups marinara sauce, your favorite brand, your favorite homemade recipe or my quick blender marina sauce below * (Try to choose or cook a marinara that is a little on the thick side.)
½ c. to 2/3 c. grated Parmesan, Asiago or other firm Italian cheese (Vegans, click on this link for a recipe for fake vegan parm)
1 ½ c. crushed buttery whole wheat crackers like Ritz or Town House brands (vegans use vegan-friendly crackers of your choice)
2 T. olive oil
2 T. butter or Earth Balance for Vegans
1 t. oregano or Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper
Directions:
In large skillet, pour a couple of tablespoons of olive oil around skillet then sauté eggplant slices until partially cooked, Using tongs, place eggplant in a layer in bottom of big rectangle 11 by 13 inch baking dish. Next, partially cook potato in same skillet, adding 1/3 cup water. Then add this layer on top of the eggplant. Salt and pepper the eggplant-potato layer to taste. Pour two cups marinara sauce on top of potato and eggplant.
First layer of eggplant an potatoes with first layer of sauce being ladled on
Lay Swiss cheese or other white cheese on top of this layer. Next (using same skillet), lightly sauté zucchini and yellow squash together, adding more oil if needed. Put this layer on top of Swiss cheese. Lightly salt and pepper the squash. Pour two more cups of marina on top of squash.
Second layer of squash and marinara
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese (or vegan substitute) Melt butter with olive oil in skillet, add crushed crackers, and stir until evenly coated. Pour buttered crackers atop casserole. Sprinkle with 1 t. oregano or Italian seasoning.
Topped with cheese and buttered crackers, ready for oven
Bake at 350 until cheese is hot and melted and crackers are golden brown about 20 to 30 minutes.
A slice of Italian veggie heaven...
* Becky’s Quick Blender Marinara
1 16 ounce can diced tomatoes with basil
1 small 4 oz. can tomato paste
1 c. water
1 t. salt
1 t. Italian seasoning
½ onion
2 garlic cloves, peeled
2 t. brown sugar
(optional: fresh basil leaves, ¼ cup red wine)
Put all ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth, or until as chunky as you like it. Makes about 4 cups marina, perfect for this recipe.
The BEST, Easiest , Juiciest Tri-Tip with Oodles of Au Jus
Posted: April 13, 2012 Filed under: Beef, Main Dishes, Sandwiches | Tags: au jus, beef, beef sandwiches, open face sandwiches, steak dip sandwiches, tri tip, tri tip dips 3 Comments
This recipe for tri-tip is so lip-smacking good, that our pastor Hugh Halter once asked me to do a little cooking demo of it before a church service. I have no idea how he tied this into the sermon, but if Hugh is anything, he is creative.
Last week I made it again for our pastor and his wife and some friends. As we sat on the back porch enjoying the meal, Hugh said, “I just don’t know how you make a piece of beef this juicy and tender!” I reminded him that I had once done a cooking demo on how to do it, in front of the entire church. Another attribute of our beloved pastor is that he has a memory like Swiss Cheese and had totally forgotten all about it.
Another one of the men at the table that day, leaned back, patted his stomach and said, “Becky this tri tip has ruined me. My father in law takes us out to the best steakhouse in town about once a year, and no steak I’ve had there is as good as this roast.”
Seriously, this tri-tip recipe will change your life. Your IQ will raise, you’ll be more beautiful, your charm quota will hit an all time high. At least in the eyes of the people to whom you serve this meal. They will look at you as if you are the Cooking Angel.
The best part: it will be the easiest roast you’ll ever make. I typically pop this roast in the oven before church – a la our mothers and grandmothers of the past – and 3 hours later, we walk into a home filled with a heavenly fragrance, lunch practically done.
I serve this roast alongside mashed potatoes and a salad the first day. But the second day is my favorite, because the I take the thinly sliced marinated leftovers and put them atop thick slices of buttery garlic toast, then top this with grilled onions and peppers, and finally the au jus. Au man, it is amazing.
I’ll first give the recipe for the Tri Tip, followed by the recipe for the Tri Tip Dip Sandwiches. Prepare to amaze yourself.
Tri Tip Dip Open-Faced Sandwich (Before pouring on au jus)
Becky’s Tri Tip
Serves 8-10
Heat oven to 325 degrees
Ingredients:
Two tri-tips (if you go to Sam’s Club, ours sells them two to a package)
Large Reynolds Cooking Bag
2/3 c. teriyaki sauce
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup
3 ½ c. water
Directions:
Take a large cooking bag and holding it upright like you would a grocery bag, fill it with teriyaki sauce, onion soup mix and warm water. Carefully squish it around. Then, put both tri tips in the bag (you may want to call for some help on this), tie the bag with the twist tie that comes in the package. Then carefully lay the tri tips into a large rectangle pan. I do not poke holes in the cooking bag, and this seems to keep the roast juicier.
Two tri-tips in cooking bag with marinade, tied up and ready for roasting
Thus far, I’ve not blown up a bag and I’ve probably made this recipe 30 times. (I use my biggest Pyrex.) Pop in the oven at 325 and bake for 3 to 3. 5 hours.
When the tri-tip is done, carefully cut a slit in the bag and pour the juices into your biggest, deepest skillet. Slice the roast (I use an electric knife) across the grain. Then put the slices into the au jus in the skillet and simmer for a few minutes to infuse the roast with juices. Test to see if it needs additional salt and pepper.
Delicious served alongside or atop mashed potatoes.
Becky’s Tri Tip Dips & “Pouring on of Au Jus”
Tri Tip Dip Open-Faced Sandwiches
Serves 2
4 slices of French bread
1 T. olive oil
1 T. butter
1 clove garlic, peeled and cut in half
1 onion, sliced thin
1 large red or yellow pepper slice
Leftover Tri-Tip, sliced and Au Jus
Directions:
Put 4 slices of French bread on a cookie sheet and spread with butter, then sprinkle with olive oil. Broil until golden brown and then rub each slice with the cut end of a piece of garlic.
Toasted garlic bread
Saute onions and peppers until soft. Put two pieces of garlic bread on a plate, followed by several slices of warmed tri-tip, and generous portion of onion and peppers. Serve warm au jus in a small bowl on plate. Just before eating pour au jus over all and eat open-face style with knife and fork.
Cranberry Orange Kale Salad
Posted: April 12, 2012 Filed under: Salads, Uncategorized | Tags: almonds, cranberries, kale, main salad dish, massaged kale, orange marmalade, salad dressing, side dish, vegan, veggies 4 CommentsThe Condiment Queen, that’s what I call my mom. At any given moment she has no less than 100 condiments lining the door of her refrigerator. Growing up, we always had at least ten varieties of mustard, ample obscure relishes, and enough barbeque sauce to smother 50 pigs … yet (due to raising four teenagers & a revolving door of their hungry friends) we were almost always out of milk, bread, and other essentials.
She loves her condiments so much, she even travels with them. Last week I peeked into the back of my refrigerator to see a jar of orange marmalade. I didn’t buy that, I thought. My mom always has orange marmalade in her refrigerator though. She must have traveled all the way from Denver to Dallas with it the last time she visited, in fear, I’m sure, that there might be a shortage of condiments in my fridge.
In honor of my Condiment Queen mama and her beloved orange marmalade, I used the remainder of the jar to dress the salad at our Easter lunch. The sweet dressing went perfectly with the slightly bitter massaged kale greens, dried cranberries, and slivered almonds. It would be great on spinach or mixed greens too if we haven’t sold you on the delicious wonders of one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet yet (at least according to the Whole Foods Aggregate Nutrient Density Index.)
Cranberry Orange Kale Salad
Serves ~ 6
Ingredients
1 bunch of kale, washed & dried
2 T. orange marmalade
3 T. olive oil
1 T. apple cider vinegar (or white wine or regular vinegar)
2 T. orange juice (I used one clementine)
Salt & pepper to taste
A handful of slivered almonds
A handful of dried cranberries
Directions
First, take your clean and dry kale and massage it with your hands for a few minutes until it looks like it has been lightly sauteed. It will significantly reduce in size and soften up quite a bit. Think deep tissue massage. Kale is tough and can take a nice firm touch.
(As is, kale is very fiberous and takes a long time to chew, but massaging kale breaks down the fibers and makes it nice and soft like sauteed kale with all the benefits of eating raw greens.)
Next, mix the marmalade, olive oil, vinegar, orange juice, and salt and pepper together. Taste for seasoning. Toss the kale with the dressing. Top with slivered almonds and dried cranberries.
Make this a main dish for 2-3 people by serving it on a bed of quinoa, or topping with grilled tofu, chicken (or vegan chick’n strips).
Sweet and Smoky Tilapia
Posted: April 11, 2012 Filed under: Fish, Main Dishes | Tags: blackened fish, blackened tofu, brown sugar, cumin, easy fish recipes, fish, smoked paprika, sweet and smoky tilapia, tilapia, tofu, vegan friendly 1 Comment
Becky's Sweet Smoky Talapia
I raised my kids on a lake in the country in small town Texas. I had three sons who all loved to fish, and by the time my youngest, Gabe, was six, he could dig for his own worms, bait his own hook, walk out the back door to the dock and pull in a small crappie (pronounced “croppie” ) or two.
His older brothers would paddle the boat out further and catch bigger bass, and Gabe longed to catch a bass with all his little heart. One day, I was being interviewed “live” on the radio, via telephone. I think I was discussing my first book, Worms in My Tea (co-authored with my mom, Ruthie), when the door to my office swung open, and a large mouth bass nearly smacked me in the face. When I calmed down from the shock of a fish flying in my office, I realized the fish was on the hook end of a fishing pole, being held by one excited little boy on the other end.
“Mom!” he yelled. “I caught a bass!” He sure did, and the news of it was broadcast live, somewhere on the radio in middle America. I managed to wipe fishy lake water from my brow, congratulate Gabe and carry on with the interview. These are things professional mothers do.
But I digress. I started this blog post thinking about crappie, and how, though they aren’t very big, they are, as we say in Texas, “some good eatin’.” And we ate a lot of them. So when the small fish, tilapia, seemed to swim out of nowhere into our supermarkets and on to the foodie scene as the new Rock Star of mild, affordable fish, I couldn’t help thinking how much they looked and tasted like crappie. In fact, who knows? They might just be crappie, with a fancy new name.
I loved tilapia at first bite. And it’s the best last-minute dinner! Even if it is frozen, it thaws in no time. Below is one of my favorite fish dishes. It’s fast, it is easy, it tastes amazing with its sweet, smoky, spicy, citrus flavors. And look how beautiful it is! Serve with an ear of fresh corn and a salad with avocado, and you’ve got a beautiful plate of healthy “good eatin’.”
Here’s something you may not know about tilapia, but as soon as you read this you can tell your friends and amaze them with it. Or just sound like a fish fact Know-it-All. Tilapia can be found in the Sea of Galilee, and are sometimes called “St. Peter’s fish.” This comes from the story in the Gospel of Matthew about the apostle Peter catching a fish that carried a coin in its mouth. (Matthew 14:24-27.)
Becky's Sweet and Smoky Talapia
Becky’s Sweet and Smoky Tilapia
Serves 2
Ingredients
2 T. olive oil
2 T. butter
4 medium to large tilapia fillets
2 T. smoked paprika
2 T. cumin
3 T. brown sugar
salt and pepper
1 lemon, cut in half
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350.
Put oil and butter in rectangle pan (large enough to hold tilapia without overlapping) and put in oven until butter has melted. Tilt pan until it is evenly coated.
In small bowl, mix paprika, cumin and brown sugar. Lightly salt and pepper both sides of 4 fillets. Lay tilapia fillets side by side in the buttery pan. Turn over so both sides are coated with oil/butter. Generously sprinkle tops of tilapia with the brown sugar-spice mix (using all of it), patting it in gently as you would a rub or blackening seasoning. Squeeze one half lemon over all.
Put in oven for 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily. Then turn oven to broil and watching carefully, broil the tops of the fish until the spice mixture starts to caramelize. Remove, serve with the remaining lemon half, cut in pretty slices as garnish.
Variations: Try this method with other fish and other spices you enjoy!
Vegan Variation: Use Earth Balance instead of butter, pressed or plain tofu slices or veggie burgers instead of fish.
Rachel made this with thin slices of pressed tofu & Earth Balance, following the above directions exactly and said it was delicious!
Three Pea Salad
Posted: April 10, 2012 Filed under: Salads, Vegan | Tags: black-eyed peas, chickpeas, peas, salad, side dish, spring side dish, tabasco, vegan, vegan protein Leave a commentWe had the most wonderful, relaxing Easter this year. Jared’s parents and brother came over to our house and we enjoyed a beautiful spread of food for vegans and omnivores alike.
Easter Lunch
Rhonda, my wonderful mother-in-law, brought ham, and homemade macaroni and cheese, delicious roasted corn, and an apple pie. Jared and I weren’t short on choices though! I made zucchini basil risotto, balsamic roasted veggies, cranberry orange kale salad, cashew queso in a bread bowl, and three pea salad. We washed it all down with peach iced tea and Bogle Chardonnay. It was quite a feast for the five of us.
We meandered through lunch, then headed out for Jackson’s first Easter egg hunt before heading to the evening church service.
I could have just eaten him up in his little Easter duds. Lucky for him, I was pretty full from lunch.
(Jared and I just got Iphones so I can now do fun things like this with my phone pictures. I’ll try not to share a nostalgic shaded picture of my baby in every post. But know, each time I don’t, it took major restraint. Jared, on the other hand promptly dropped his phone in the toilet and ruined the camera. Thanks to Apple Care, a new one is on the way.)
I’ll share most of the recipes I made on upcoming posts, but I’m starting off with the one I finished off first, the Three Pea Salad. I was trying to come up with a vegan version of the old classic Spring Pea Salad with mayonaise and cubes of cheese, but I was afraid Jared wouldn’t go for just peas in a salad, so I veered off of that path pretty far. What I ended up with was a filling, tangy, spicy side dish. It’s one of those salads that gets better the longer it sits. I ate a bowl for dinner last night and then finished it off for lunch today.
Sweet Peas, Chick"peas," and Black Eyed Peas in a creamy tangy dressing.
Rachel’s
Three “Pea” Salad
Ingredients
1 16 oz can of Chickpeas, drained & rinsed
1 16 oz can of Black Eyed Peas, drained & rinsed
1 1/2 cups of Frozen Peas, cooked & cooled (put in ice water to quickly cool off)
3 T. Sweet Onion, minced
1/4 c. Vegenaise (or mayo of choice)
1 T. Rice Vinegar (any vinegar would be fine)
2 t. Frank’s hot sauce
A few splashes of Tabasco (optional for extra heat)
1 t. Salt
1/2 t. Pepper
1 t. Garlic Powder (or one minced garlic clove)
1/4 c. Parsley, chopped
Directions
In a medium sized bowl, mix all the ingredients together. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is best). Check for seasoning. Serve cold.
Although this dressing uses mayo, it doesn’t call for very much and results in a nice light coating of dressing (the way I prefer). If you want a thick creamy dressing, you may want to add more mayo and seasonings.
Chicken-Cream Cheese-Nut Cranberry Monte Cristos
Posted: April 9, 2012 Filed under: Main Dishes, Sandwiches, Uncategorized | Tags: chicken sandwiches, cranberry, cream cheese, ham sandwiches, monte cristos, walnut Leave a comment
Chicken-Cream Cheese-Nut Cranberry Monte Cristos
If you, like me, served a big bunch of family and friends a large Easter dinner yesterday, then I declare tonight to be “Cook’s Night Off!” If, however, like me, the thought of getting dressed, driving to a restaurant, and making polite conversation with other human beings sounds like it would take more energy than you currently have leftover, this AMAZING and easy sandwich recipe will help you get out of the kitchen and onto the comfy couch quick.
Sorry about the long name. I tried to work with just the initials (a la the “BLT”) but “CCNCMC Sandwiches” sounded like robot food.
I also give you permission to eat this buttery deliciousness in your most comfy T-shirt and stretchy pants. Or better yet, just wear your PJs and ratty old robe. Home chefs that serve big holiday meals deserve to be as lazy as you want to be the next day. Wallow in it, I say!
Feel free to substitute ham if you’ve got lots of it leftover and want to use it in place of chicken or as an addition to it. I am personally a little “hammed out” today.
A vegan version also follows, because I love my daughter and I want her to taste this dynamite flavor combo!
Becky’s Chicken-Cream Cheese-Nut Cranberry Monte Cristos
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 slices good bread (I like the round sliced French boule from Whole Foods, a light and airy artisan bread)
1/2 c. whipped cream cheese (Toffuti “Better than Cream Cheese” if you are vegan)
1/4 c. chopped walnuts, pecans, or pistachios
1 T. chopped green onions
4 slices turkey or chicken (use extra portion of of chopped nuts in place of meat for vegans)
1/3 c. whole cranberry sauce
2 eggs beaten with a dash milk (vegans use egg-replacer of choice and 1/3 c. non-dairy milk)
1 T. olive oil
1 T. butter (Earth Balance for vegans)
1/4 c. arugala or other lettuce greens
1 T. powdered sugar
Directions:
Mix whipped cream cheese or Tofutti with chopped nuts and green onions. Spread 4 pieces of bread with this mixture on one side. Lay two slices of chicken or turkey on two slices of the bread. (Add extra layer of chopped nuts in place of meat if you are vegan.) Spread cranberry sauce on the other two slices. Put together to make two chicken-cheese-walnut-cranberry sandwiches.
Melt butter or Earth Balance and oil together in a skillet big enough to hold two sandwiches. In a wide shallow bowl, beat the two eggs with milk (or substitutes if you are vegan). Carefully dip both sides of the sandwiches in the egg mixture as you would for French toast. Place the sandwiches, gently, into the skillet and let cook at medium heat until one side is golden brown. Carefully turn over the sandwiches and grill the other side (adding more oil and butter if needed.)
Sizzling Sandwich
Cut in half, tuck in a few arugula leaves, sprinkle tops lightly with powdered sugar. Serve with extra dollop of cranberry sauce if desired.
Rustic Iron Skillet Pot Pie
Posted: April 6, 2012 Filed under: Beef, Chicken, Main Dishes, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegan Options, Vegetarian | Tags: beef pot pie, chicken pot pie, gravy, iron skillet pot pie, pie crust, pot pie, rustic pot pie, vegan pot pie, vegetarian pot pie, veggie pot pie 4 Comments
Homestyle Iron Skillet Pot Pie
My daughter is usually somewhat appalled at the disorganization in my refrigerator, along with the occasional discovery of leftovers-turned-science experiments lurking in its dark recesses.
On her last visit to Denver, her husband Jared was hungry and I told him, “Just look in the fridge and see what looks good to you. You never know what you might find.” To which Rachel immediately deadpanned, “Or what might jump out at you.”
So before I accidentally create new life forms from my leftovers, I really do try to use them up in more timely fashion these days. There are certain recipes I go-to when I need to use up the food I have on hand at the end of the week. This easy version of pot pie is one of the most successful and requested ones.
It is a little slice of flaky, creamy, hot home-style goodness. I don’t know why pot pie tastes so much better in an iron skillet than in a pie pan, but it does. And you’ll be amazed how easy it is, how fast it cooks up and comes together. (However, if you don’t have an iron skillet, it is still pretty darn amazing in a deep dish pie pan.)
Becky’s
Rustic Iron Skillet Pot Pie
Serves 4 to 5
Ingredients
1 pie crust, your favorite recipe, or refrigerated version or vegan version. (Click link for a great flaky vegan recipe!)
1/4 c. flour
2 T. olive oil
2 T. butter or Earth Balance (vegan)
1 1/2 c. chicken, veggie, or beef broth
2 potatoes, peeled and diced
4 medium carrots, peeled and diced
1/4 c. teriyaki sauce
1/2 t. grated garlic
1/2 c. frozen corn
1/2 c. frozen peas
Any other bits of leftover cooked veggies you have on hand. (I had about a 1/2 c cooked mushrooms to toss into the mix tonight, along with some leftover sauteed onions & peppers.)
Leftover diced cooked meat: chicken or beef, or any combination to make 1 1/2 to 2 cups, depending on how much you like and how much room is left in the skillet! (I diced a large cooked chicken breast and a cup of diced leftover roast. I often use leftover Rotisserie chicken meat for this dish.)
For Vegans: Use 1 can drained kidney beans and 1 can drained butter beans in place of meat. The kidney beans add a nice firmness and color and the butter beans are big and creamy and well, buttery. The combination makes a very tasty veggie pot pie. If you have a favorite vegan meat substitute, this could also be used.
Salt & Pepper to taste
Directions:
Preheat to 400 degrees.
Cook diced potatoes and carrots in about two cups water with dash of salt, turning burner to high to get a boil going, then down to medium heat to let them simmer.
While potatoes and carrots are cooking, mix 1/4 c. flour with 2 T. oil and 2 T. butter (Earth Balance for Vegans) in bottom of 10 inch iron skillet. Cook and stir constantly on medium heat until a paste forms (happens quickly), and while stirring with one hand (use a whisk), pour 2 1/2. cups veggie, beef or chicken broth slowly into skillet to make thickened gravy. (If you are new to gravy-making it helps to have a partner do the slow pouring of broth while you whisk.)
To the simmering gravy add:
2 T. teriyaki sauce
1/2 t. grated garlic
1/2 c. frozen corn
1/2 c. frozen peas
Any other leftover veggies you have on hand. (I had about a 1/2 c cooked mushrooms to toss in to the mix tonight, along with some leftover sauteed onions & peppers.)
To this add the drained, cooked carrots and potatoes. Gravy should be pretty thick and creamy (about consistency of heavy cream); adjust to desired thickness by simmering more to thicken, or adding a little more broth to thin. (You can add a splash of half-in-half or cream if you want a more creamy gravy.)
At this point, add salt and pepper to taste. Stir. Remove from burner.
Place uncooked pie crust over the top of the hot gravy-veggie mixture and carefully (that skillet is hot!) tuck the edges of the pie crust just inside the cast iron pan as pictured. Cut decorative slits in pie crust with a sharp knife to allow steam to escape.
Transfer skillet (using potholders) to 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until crust is flaky and golden.
Serve pot pie at the table in the skillet, with big spoon to let each person dip out what they want. (Be sure to wrap a tea towel around handle of iron skillet so nobody burns themselves touching it.) Best served and eaten in bowls to catch every drop of goodness. Serve with a simple side of sliced fresh fruit and you’ve got dinner!
Variations: Some people prefer more “crust” with their pot pie. I love pie crust, too, but too often the bottom of pot pies can be soggy. So I will simply cook an extra round of pie dough, flat, on a cookie sheet, break it up in about 2 inch pieces, and serve in a bowl at the table, allowing “pie crust” lovers to add more crispy crusts to their bowl if desired. No soggy bottoms!
Kinda’ Healthy Vegan Apple Fritters
Posted: April 5, 2012 Filed under: Breakfast Foods, Desserts | Tags: apple fritters, apples, breakfast, dessert, fritters, pastries, vegan, vegan donuts 6 Comments
Kinda' Healthy Vegan Apple Fritters
Confession: I don’t eat kale and carrots for every meal. Especially with a hyper eight month old on my hip, sometimes the best meal I have all day is a can of black beans wrapped in a tortilla. Well, I don’t generally wrap and eat the whole can itself. I do try and at least open the can first. I’m no savage.
Sometimes I crave down right bad things for me…like donuts. My favorite donut for as long as I can remember is an apple fritter. That two-handed sweet cinnamon pastry with bits of real apple, deep fried and drizzled with sugary icing. What’s not to love?
Well, the 500 or so calories and 20 or so grams of fat might be a little unlovable, and the milk, egg, and butter are less than kind.
I set out to make a healthier version of my old favorite. These are definitely still a treat, but subbing half of the flour for whole wheat flour, apple sauce for eggs, and nondairy milk and margarine for their dairy counterparts helps. Then instead of making huge fritters, I made mini fritters that were pan fried instead of deep fried. They still aren’t health food, but they are certainly better than the average donut shop fritter.
I prefer a donut for dessert, but if you’re a sweets-for-breakfast kind of gal or guy, then feel free to make these ahead and then re-crisp them in the morning under the broiler. I might cut the sugar a little if I were having these for breakfast though as I’m not a sweets-for-breakfast kind of gal.
Rachel’s
Kinda’ Healthy Vegan Apple Fritters
Makes 15 small fritters
Ingredients
Fritters
1 Apple, peeled and chopped into small pea size pieces
1/2 c. Whole Wheat Pastry Flour (or your flour of choice)
1/2 c. All Purpose Flour
1 1/2 t. Baking Powder
2-3 t. Cinnamon
1/2 t. Fresh Grated Nutmeg (fresh really is best)
1/4 c. Vegan Sugar
Dash of Salt
1/2 t. Vanilla Extract
1 T. Earth Balance Margarine, melted
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce (ripe banana also works well)
1/3 c. non-dairy milk
Canola and/or Coconut Oil
Icing
3 T. Powdered Sugar
1/4 t. Fresh Grated Nutmeg
Nondairy milk
Directions
Fritters
Mix the dry ingredients together, then add the wet until everything is just combined, being careful not to over mix. Fold in the apples.
Put approximately 3 tbs of oil into your pan (you may need more or less depending on how large your pan is) and turn the burner onto med low heat. (I found on my electrical stove, 3, on a 9 setting nob, was the perfect setting.) Carefully drop batter by the tablespoon into the oil. Cook for 60-90 seconds on each side. You might want to test one first before doing a whole batch to see if your oil is the right temperature. You want them to be crispy on the outside and cooked thoroughly on the inside. Put fritters on a paper towel lined plate. Repeat, adding more oil as needed until all the fritters are pan fried.
Icing
Mix the powdered sugar and nutmeg with a tiny drizzle of milk. Keep add milk a little at a time until the icing is thin enough to easily drizzle over the fritters. If it gets too thin, just add a little more powdered sugar.
Drizzle the icing over the fritters and try your best not to eat the whole batch before your husband gets home from work. If, by “accident,” you do, just call that a trial batch and make another official batch for sharing. I think my next recipe trial better be one of the kale and carrots variety. 🙂
Ooops
Posted: April 4, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentIt was bound to happen sometime, since I am a little ditzy, especially near midnight.
I (Becky) accidentally hit “publish” instead of “save draft” and sent a too-early version (just notes) of Homestyle Iron Skillet Pot Pie to your inbox. Please ignore. (I promise the new, complete version will pop up on Friday.)
However, Rachel’s apple fritters will appear in your inbox soon, and this post is ready for prime time!
Time for bed!
Refreshing Mandarin Orange & Pineapple Cake (Vegan Friendly)
Posted: April 4, 2012 Filed under: Desserts, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegan Options, Vegetarian | Tags: birthday cakes, coconut milk, coconut oil, crushed pineapple, mandarin orange and pineapple cake, mandarin orange cake, Mandarin oranges, pineapple, pineapple cake, refreshing cake, refrigerator cakes, Spring cakes, Summer cakes, vegan birthday cakes, vegan cakes, whipped coconut cream, whipped cream 1 Comment
One warm day when my daughter Rachel was about fourteen, she bounced in the kitchen and said, “Mom, you have GOT to get the recipe for this cake called ‘Refreshing Cake’ that Cricket’s mom made today. It was cold and full of fruit and not too sweet, and creamy… and I want it for my birthday cake.”
Cricket was one of Rachel’s best friends, and luckily her mom was the sweet-natured recipe-sharing sort, so her recipe for “Refreshing Cake” (made with cake mix, eggs, pudding mix, a cup of oil, canned fruit and Cool Whip) showed up not only at birthdays, but was our go-to Spring and Summer dessert for family gatherings.
Then Rachel grew up, married, and became a vegan, bravely waving good-bye to many of her favorite desserts made with lots of dairy and eggs.
I, too, became more health conscious in my own way. I grew up in the 70’s when our collective moms (prompted by TV and the health advice de jour) stocked the kitchen with the latest new-fangled foods: Fresca, Tang (Why drink OJ from an actual orange when you can drink orange flavored sugar water?), margarine, IMO (A sour cream substitute. What those initials stood for is still a government secret.), saccharine, Mellorine (an artificial ice cream that melted into tile grout) and Cool Whip, that luscious tub full of hydrogenated oil and air!
We were a generation of kids raised on NASA and chemicals, basically eating astronaut food.
(I must hasten to add that my mother turned into something of a health nut in the decade of the 80’s, and has remained healthily and happily so ever since.)
But somewhere along the way to adulthood, I tasted real butter and ice cream (Blue Bell), promptly fell in love with the real McCoys, and began cooking with all things “natural.”
Now recipes with “artificial food” ingredients leave a slight chemical aftertaste in my mouth, not to mention an ache in my tummy.
But with the coming of Spring, visions of that moist pineapple and Mandarin orange cake, with its pineapple-whippy-pudding frosting started dancing in my head again. Along with the thought, “I wonder if I could create a ‘real food’ vegan-friendly version of this cake that doesn’t taste like fruit flavored mashed tofu and lentils?”
I’m pleased to say that with a quick trip for a couple of specialty items at Whole Foods, I produced a Refreshing Cake that is not only chemical free, organic and vegan… it tastes better than the original to me. No weird aftertaste, no achy tummy. Just a pure “real food” moist, yummy cake.
It would also make a great make-ahead cake for Easter lunch or dinner. A little preview tip: two cans of whole full fat coconut milk will need to go in your fridge overnight before making the recipe. This allows the “cream” to solidify and rise to the top so you can skim it off and whip it!
Becky’s Refreshing Mandarin Orange and Pineapple Cake
Serves 9 to 12, depending on size of pieces
Ingredients:
Some of the ingredients for “Better for You” Refreshing Cake
For Cake:
Dr. Oetker’s Organic Vanilla Cake Mix, (This mix has no dairy or eggs in the mix, so if you don’t add any, it can be vegan.)
4 eggs (Vegans use egg-replacer equal to 4 eggs. You can click on link for recipe or buy “egg-replacer” in a box at most health food stores.)
1/2 c. coconut oil
1/2 c. applesauce (you may also use another 1/2 c. of canola or coconut oil instead, but applesauce makes it lighter in calories)
1 11 ounce can Mandarin Oranges with juice
For Frosting:
2 16 oz. cans full-fat coconut milk, chilled overnight in fridge. (You will only use the coconut cream that rises to the top.) If you prefer dairy, you can use 1 c. whipping cream instead. Or 1 can of coconut cream and 1/2 c. whipping cream combined which is what I use most often as it seems to render the best of both!
1/2 c. vegan vanilla pudding mix (I used about half a package of Mori Nu vanilla pudding mix. If you aren’t vegan you can use any 3 1/2 oz. package of instant vanilla pudding mix.)
1 28 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
1/4 c. raw organic sugar or agave nectar
2 t. good vanilla
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
To make the cake, mix the organic cake mix with eggs or egg-replacer of your choice, coconut oil and applesauce. When thoroughly blended, fold in mandarin oranges with juice, breaking gently as you stir. Pour batter into an 11 by 13 inch pan and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and cake springs back to touch in the middle. Cool and refrigerate until cool to the touch before frosting.
Refreshing Cake before frosting
Using an electric mixer, whip the coconut cream as you would cream until it has the consistency of whipped cream. (Or if you prefer to use dairy, whip 1 c of heavy cream. I often use half coconut cream and have whipping cream.) Add 1/2 c. of vegan pudding mix (save rest for another cake, another day:) and continue to beat. Add vanilla and 1/4 c organic sugar or agave. Fold in the can of well-drained can of pineapple. ( Really squeeze the juice out, pushing pineapple against the colander holes.) Keep in fridge until you are ready to frost. If frosting feels too thick, add a little pineapple juice until it has the consistency of easy-to-spread, slightly stiff, whipped cream. If too thin, let it set in fridge for up to an hour and it should thicken.
Whipped Coconut Cream with Pineapple folded in
When the cake is chilled, frost with coconut-cream-pineapple frosting. You may want to garnish with a little flaked coconut. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in fridge until you are ready to serve. I think this cake tastes even better the next day or two as flavors have a chance to chill and mingle.
Becky Johnson
Rachel Randolph
We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook 