Monthly Archives: October 2013

Braised Cauliflower and Squash Penne Pasta

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

One of the items I always keep in my pantry is at least one box of chicken broth.  I reach for it when I make a quick sauce or to moisten a leftover casserole.  But more important it’s the way to fast flavorful dinners.  Obviously its used in soups, but I also use it to whip up dishes like risotto, or a one-pot meal such as the one I have for you today.

Braised Cauliflower & Squash Penne Pasta

Braised Cauliflower & Squash Penne Pasta

If I had all the time in the world, making my own chicken broth  by simmering meat, bones, and vegetables for hours would be ideal,  but I don’t, so that’s why I love boxed chicken broth.  I have cans of broth on my shelf too, for when only small amounts are needed, and I know I’ll use all of it, but for convenience, you can’t beat the box.  Pop the top and you’re ready to go.   Even when opened it keeps a long time in the refrigerator.   If you haven’t gotten around to trying boxed chicken broth, try it once for the convenience, but be sure to choose one with reduced sodium content.

A satisfying meatless meal.

A satisfying meatless meal.

This recipe for penne pasta with cauliflower and butternut squash goes together quickly, is a wonderful combination of flavors, and best of all the pasta cooks right in the broth with the vegetables, getting all that extra flavorful.  The starch from the pasta combines with the broth as it simmers and creates a thickened silky sauce.  And because its all cooked in one pot, cleanup is a breeze.  The dish can be vegetarian/vegan by using vegetable broth instead of the chicken, but expect the sauce to be a little bit darker in color.

We loved this dish as a meatless meal, served with a green salad,  but it would also be a great side dish to baked chicken, pork or fish.

BRAISED CAULIFLOWER AND SQUASH PENNE PASTA

Yield:   Makes 4 servings

Just a few ingredients.

Just a few ingredients.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
  • 4 cups chicken broth, or vegetable broth
  • 8 ounces whole-wheat penne pasta (about 3 cups)
  • 2 cups cauliflower florets, about 1-inch size
  • 2 cups peeled butternut squash, cut about 1-inch size pieces
  • freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup shredded Romano cheese

Directions:

1.  Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.   Add garlic, thyme and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

2.  Add broth, penne, cauliflower and squash.  ( a quick side note:  I roasted my squash with red onions and a little olive oil, to caramelize it and intensify the flavor, then added it to the cauliflower and pasta mixture at the end.)

Add cauliflower and pasta to the pan with chicken broth.

Add cauliflower and pasta to the pan with chicken broth.

Bring to a boil over high heat.  Reduce heat to a lively simmer and cook, uncovered, until the pasta is tender and the liquid is thickened and greatly reduced, 14 to 16 minutes.  Remove from heat, stir in pepper and let stand for 5 minutes.  Serve topped with cheese.

Serve topped with grated Romano cheese.

Serve topped with grated Romano cheese.

SOURCE:   Eating Well

Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Breakfast, Brunch and tagged with , , , , ,
Pumpkin Spice Pancakes.

Pumpkin Spice Pancakes.

Those of you who know me by now, know that I adore anything with pumpkin spice, in fact I have a whole board on Pinterest, devoted to it.  That board gets visited a lot so I figure there are lots of other folks who love pumpkin spice anything as much as me.   Usually those foods revolve around dessert of some sort like cupcakes, pies, cookies, bars or even ice cream….but with pancakes I can bring my addiction to the breakfast table.

These are a perfect fall breakfast and a great way to use up  small amounts of pumpkin leftover from your other baking endeavors.  Sprinkling the tops with cinnamon sugar and adding just a drizzle of syrup is all these need in the way of topping.  I made these on a rainy Sunday morning when we could enjoy a leisurely breakfast.  They were wonderful !

PUMPKIN SPICE PANCAKES

All the ingredients ready.

All the ingredients ready.

Yield:   8 – 12 pancakes

Ingredients:

  • 1  1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • Dash ground ginger
  • Dash ground cloves
  • 1 cup milk  (I used 1/3 cup skim milk and 2/3 cup pumpkin spice coffee lightener for extra flavor.)
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil or melted butter

Directions:

1.  In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and spices and stir with a whisk to combine.

2.  In another bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, and oil or butter.  Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and whisk together just until combined.

Add egg-pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients.

Add egg-pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients.

The batter may still have a few lumps–that’s okay.

3.  Preheat the oven to 200*F.  Have an oven safe platter or serving dish ready.  Heat a greased griddle or skillet over medium heat.  Once the griddle is hot,  spoon on the pancake batter.  Let cook until bubbles begin to form on the top surface.  Carefully flip with a spatula and cook the second side until golden brown, a couple minutes more.

Look how they puffed up!

Look how they puffed up!

Transfer the cooked pancakes to the oven safe dish, and place in the oven to keep warm.   Repeat with rest of the batter until it has all been cooked.

4.  Serve warm with cinnamon sugar, maple syrup, and butter as desired.

Nice robust flavor!!

Nice robust flavor!!

Served with breakfast sausages.

Served with breakfast sausages.

SOURCE:   adapted from Martha Stewart

Apple Spice Snickerdoodles

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Bars and Cookies and tagged with , , , ,

Apples and cookies just seem to go together in the fall, don’t they?  And along about now bake sales start happening again.  I was involved in baking for a sale this past weekend, and these are the cookies I contributed.

Apple Spice Snickerdoodles

Apple Spice Snickerdoodles

At most bake sales that I’ve been to the cookies that are the standard favorites  seem to be chocolate chip, sugar and peanut butter.  But I really like snickerdoodles.  Buttery, light, and slightly  crunchy with that crusty coating of sugar that makes it impossible to stop at just one.  Although  this cookie is a classic, it seems to get forgotten, so I decided to give it a slight makeover by incorporating apple into the cookie dough through the use of apple cider (or apple juice), and adding apple pie spice mix to the sugar coating.  As I said apples and cookies just seem to go together and these give you a fresh apple flavor that’s hard to resist.

Buttery, light and crunchy with a sugar-spice coating.

Buttery, light and crunchy with a sugar-spice coating.

I was told that the sale of these cookies was brisk, so I was happy that folks were adventurous in sampling a new twist on an old favorite.  You may want to try them too.

APPLE SPICE SNICKERDOODLESIMG_5220

Yield:  about 40 – 48 cookies

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup shortening, butter flavored preferred
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1  1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup apple cider, or apple juice
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2  3/4 cups all-purpose flour

For coating:

  • 2 tsp. apple pie spice
  • 1/2 cup sugar

1.  Preheat oven to 400 *F.  Lightly grease or line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2.  In a medium bowl, beat together the shortening, butter, and 1 1/2 cups sugar until smooth, then beat in the egg, again beating until smooth.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl.  Beat in the cider, baking powder and salt, then add the flour, mixing slowly until combined.

3.  In a separate shallow small bowl, mix together the apple pie spice with the 1/2 cup sugar.

4.  Drop the soft dough by the tablespoonful into the sugar mixture.  Gently roll the dough balls in the sugar until evenly coated.  Place them on prepared cookie sheets, leaving about 1 1/2″ between them.  Gently flatten each cookie until it’s about 1/2″ thick.

Roll each ball of dough in the sugar mixture, then flatten.

Roll each ball of dough in the sugar mixture, then flatten.

5.  Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until lightly golden.  Remove from the oven and let them cool on a rack.    Store at room temperature in a covered container.

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SOURCE:   Slightly modified from The Taste of Home Baking Book

Pork Scaloppine with Mustard Pan Sauce

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , ,
Pork Scalopine with Mustard Sauce

Pork Scaloppine with Mustard Sauce

Back in my youth when my mom did most of the cooking, we often had baked pork chops in a mushroom gravy,  This was made using canned cream of mushroom soup for the sauce. Very easy to make; just pour a can of undiluted cream of mushroom soup over pork chops in a baking dish.  Put into the oven and bake;  as the soup melted down it got mixed with the pork pan juices to create a flavorful gravy.  Served with baked or mashed potatoes, I loved it.

Now I wouldn’t dream of cooking like this.  Why?  Because we have since learned about the high sodium content of canned soups (and other additives, we may know nothing about),  These days I want to control the amount of fat and sodium and know exactly what goes into the food I eat and feed to my family.  No white stuff in a can for me!IMG_5110

However, I still love pork chops with gravy, so when I found the recipe for this dish, I knew immediately that I would make it, and that I would like it.  Tender slices of boneless pork loin ( either tenderloin or chops), briefly cooked to just barely done, then smothered in a mustard-sour cream gravy flavored nicely with shallots, garlic and chicken broth.  This came close to my mother’s baked pork chops, without the concern about sodium, or other unknown ingredients.  I’m so glad I found this recipe.  I know I’ll be making it again.   It’s quick to produce and so good.  I think you will like it, too.

PORK SCALOPPINE WITH MUSTARD PAN SAUCE

Yield:   Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed, cut crosswise into 12 pieces, and pounded to 1/4-inch thickness.  ( I used boneless pork chops, cut each one  in half and pounded them out to about 1/4-inch thickness.  That worked very well as a substitute.)
  • 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. black pepper

    Not many ingredients.

    Not many ingredients.

  • 1 Tablespoon canola oil, divided
  • 1/4 cup minced shallot  ( 1 large shallot)
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic  ( 1 large clove)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted chicken stock
  • 2 Tablespoons grainy mustard ( Dijon preferred, but honey mustard might produce a different, sweeter, flavor.)
  • 3 Tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
  • 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

1.  Sprinkle pork with the salt and pepper.   Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add 1 teaspoon canola oil, swirl to coat.  Add 6  cutlets;  cook 2 minutes or each side or until done.  Remove from pan, keep warm.  Repeat procedure with 1 teaspoon canola oil and remaining pork.

2.  Return skillet to medium-high heat.  Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil to pan, swirl to coat.  Add shallots and garlic to pan;  cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add chick stock and mustard, cook 1 minute, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.

Saute shallots and garlic, then add mustard and chicken stock.

Saute shallots and garlic, then add mustard and chicken stock.

Stir in sour cream; cook 1 minute.

Add sour cream and stir in.

Add sour cream and stir in.

Serve pork with sauce.  Sprinkle with parsley.

Pork cutlets in a tasty cream gravy to serve other rice, noodles, or potatoes.

Pork cutlets in a tasty cream gravy to serve other rice, noodles, or potatoes.

The sauce is very good over rice or noodles.  In fact you could double the quantity of sauce if you want to serve it that way.  Roast baby carrots are a nice accompaniment to this dish also.

Baby carrots, drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake at 400*F for 20 minutes.

Baby carrots, drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake at 400*F for 20 minutes.

Pork Scalopine with Mustard Sauce

Pork Scaloppine with Mustard Sauce

SOURCE:   Cooking Light

Baked Macaroni Casserole with Three Cheeses

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish and tagged with , , , , , , ,

Ahhhh,  Baked macaroni and cheese!!!   One of the nice things about the return of cool weather is that we can indulge in some of our favorite casseroles.   The one casserole dish that stands out above all others at my house is Baked Macaroni and Cheese.  Mr. D.  goes nuts-o for it!

Baked cavatappi with three cheeses

Baked cavatappi with three cheeses

This is another of those dishes that everyone probably has a favorite recipe for, or they just make it without a recipe.  That’s usually what I do.  But back in 2006,  (Yup, way back then),  I came across this recipe that incorporates three different cheeses into the mix, and the resulting cheesiness is outstanding.  The other thing I like about it is using a different shape pasta.  Most everyone I know uses elbows, and there’s nothing wrong with elbows,  I love them, too.   But, ya know?  Sometimes I just need a change!

So cavatappi is what is called for in this recipe, or any other interesting pasta that excites you.  But be different,  don’t use elbows.  When choosing a pasta shape, think about what will hold all that cheese sauce best– something with curves or openings for the cheese to cling to.    Along with the mac and cheese,  I like to serve ham, and a green vegetable.  The evening I made this I had sautéd beet greens, but spinach or broccoli would also be good with it.   Omit the meat and serve with just a vegetable or a big salad and it becomes a great meatless meal.

Mr. D. said this meal was so special that it felt like a Birthday dinner.  I told him I was practicing for his birthday!  😀

This recipe is one I prepare when I want to splurge a little and serve something rich and decadent, because of the quantity and quality of cheese used.  You can certainly substitute different cheeses if you wish, but choose those that have good melting abilities.

IMG_5135

CAVATAPPI CASSEROLE WITH THREE CHEESES

Yield:   6 – 8 servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound cavatappi or other short, spiral shaped pasta

    Squiggily pasta and three cheeses become a super mac and cheese dinner.

    Squiggily pasta and three cheeses become a super mac and cheese dinner.

  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • 4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (optional)
  • 8 ounces Gruyére cheese, grated ( 2 cups)
  • 6 ounces Gouda cheese, shredded ( 1 1/2 cups)
  • 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated, ( 1/2 cup)

Directions:

1.  Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain and set aside.  Lightly grease a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish, or similar size casserole, or 6 – 8 individual ramekins, and set aside.  Preheat oven to 350*F.

2.  Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Add flour, and cook whisking constantly, 1 minute.  Slowly whisk in milk, and cook, whisking constantly. 5 minutes or until mixture comes to a boil and thickens.  Whisk in salt, black pepper and if desired red pepper.  Remove from heat, and add 1 cup Gruyére, whisking until smooth.  Add Gouda and Parmesan, and whisk until smooth.

Add cheese sauce to cooked pasta.

Add cheese sauce to cooked pasta.

3.  Add sauce to pasta and stir to combine.   Transfer mixture to prepared dish or ramekins, top with remaining 1 cup Gruyére, and bake at 350*F for 20 minutes or until bubbly.

Doesn't that look good?

Doesn’t that look good?

SOURCE:   Country Living

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, Lightened Up

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Muffins & Scones and tagged with , , , , , , , ,
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins.

With the chill that’s been in the air the last few days now, I’m finally getting a desire to eat some of the foods and flavors that we typically associate with fall.  Enjoying a pumpkin latte at Starbucks is pretty high up there on my list of favorite things to do and I have been know to also order a pumpkin spice cream cheese muffin to go with it.  Nothing like a little pumpkin overload.  😀

Now, I know that those muffins contain a whopping number of calories, fat and sugar, but they are so delicious.  As an occasional treat they are OK,  but I would like to enjoy them more frequently in a healthier version.   As luck would have it, I recently came across a recipe on-line for a copycat of the pumpkin muffins, and so with that as a basis, I set out to lighten it up, and see if I could still retain the luscious taste of the original muffin.

IMG_5175

In my opinion these are pretty close to the original.  If not an exact duplicate, they are close enough to be equally enjoyable, and a whole lot healthier.  My makeover included replacing the all-purpose flour with white whole wheat, replacing much of the oil with applesauce, reducing the sugar, and using low-fat cream cheese for the filling.  In addition, I made a crumb topping that includes oats for extra texture and a little more fiber.  These muffins have been a hit with everyone who has had them, and I feel much better about sharing them, knowing that they are not such calorie bombs!.

The on-line recipe makes a total of 24 muffins, which is way too many for me and Mr. D., so I cut it in half and made only 12 muffins.  The full recipe is presented here for those of you who like to make larger quantities, but can easily be halved if you want to.  The muffins freeze very well, and rewarm nicely in the microwave.   In fact, they are more spicy and intensely flavorful when warm.

LIGHTER PUMPKIN CREAM CHEESE MUFFINS

Yield:   24 muffins

Ingredients:

For the filling:

  • 8 oz. reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 2 Tbsp. honey

For the muffins:

Five spices plus cocoa and molasses make them intensely flavorful.

Five spices plus cocoa and molasses make them intensely flavorful.

  • 3 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1 tsp. cloves
  • 1/2  tsp. ginger
  • 4  tsp. pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups pumpkin puree
  • 1 Tbsp. molasses
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

For the topping: *

  • 4 Tbsp. white whole wheat flour
  • 7 Tbsp. old fashioned rolled oats
  • 3 Tbsp. turbinado (coarse) sugar or brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 3 Tbsp. cold butter, cut into small pieces

Directions:

1.   Make the filling:  combine the cream cheese and honey in a small bowl.  Beat with an electric beater until smooth.  Scrape onto a piece of wax paper, and shape into a long roll (log), not any wider than a muffin cup.  Place into the freezer to chill while you mix up the batter and fill the pans.

Make filling, roll into a log and chill it.

Make filling, roll into a log and chill it.

2.  Make the muffins:  Preheat the oven to 350*F.  Line muffin pans with paper liners.  In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients ( flour through baking soda).

In  another bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, pumpkin puree, oil and applesauce.  Blend well.  Add to dry ingredients, and stir just until incorporated.

3.  Make the topping:  combine all ingredients except butter in a medium bowl.  Whisk to blend.  Cut in the butter using a pastry blender or two forks until mixture is course and crumbly.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

Have the topping all made and ready.

Have the topping all made and ready.

4.  Assemble muffins:  fill each muffin cup with a small amount of batter ( 1 – 2 Tablespoons) just to cover bottom of the liner.

A little batter in the bottom of each cup.

A little batter in the bottom of each cup.

Remove filling from freezer and cut into 24  slices.  Place one slice of filling in each muffin cup.

Put a slice of filling into each cup.

Put a slice of filling into each cup.

Divide the remaining batter among the muffin cups, placing it on top of the cream cheese to cover completely.

Cover with remaining batter.

Cover with remaining batter.

Sprinkle a small amount of the topping mixture over each muffin.

Sprinkle on topping.

Sprinkle on topping.

5.  Bake for 20 – 25 minutes.  A toothpick inserted near the center should test clean. (Avoid the cream cheese filling.) Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before serving.

Imagine biting into one of these!

Imagine biting into one of these!

This will be extremely difficult to do, but the filling gets very hot, so please resist temptation.  😀

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, unbelievably delicious.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, unbelievably delicious.

*  Topping is completely optional.  These muffins are great with or without the topping.  Chopped walnuts or pecans could be mixed into the topping, or sprinkled on top in place of the topping.

P. S.  I wish I had made 24, because now they are all gone and I just have to make more.

SOURCE:   Heavily adapted from Food.com

Apple Slab Pie

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Pies, Pastry and tagged with , , , , , ,
Apple Slab Pie

Apple Slab Pie

This recipe is about as American is mother’s apple pie.  Because it IS apple pie, only in a non-traditional form.  You don’t need a pie dish to make this pie, just a baking sheet.

You can make this with Perfect Pastry Blend, for pastry that will be tender and flaky, or use regular all-purpose flour and your own favorite pie crust recipe.  The slab shape offers each serving some extra crust for those who are especially fond of the crust, and the apple filling is thick and nicely cinnamon flavored.  I used local Paula Red apples, but I don’t know how wide-spread their availability is, so use whatever  kind of good pie-apple is coming on the market where you live.

IMG_5060

I made this pie for a special dinner when we were entertaining friends, and since I don’t have a tray or platter large enough to hold it I placed it on a hugh cutting board, and brought it to the table that way.  It was kind of fun for my guests to see the whole pie, and watch me slice and serve it up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream with caramel syrup drizzled over all.  There were only a few crumbs left on the plates so I know everyone enjoyed it.

IMG_5063

APPLE SLAB PIE

Yield:  8 – 10 servings

Ingredients—

Pastry:

  • 2 cups King Arthur Perfect Pastry Blend, or all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup ( 1 stick, 8 Tbsp.) cold unsalted butter
  • 6 – 8 Tbsp. ice waterIMG_5055

Filling:

  • 1 1/2 pounds (about 6 ) baking apples, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3/4 tsp. Apple Pie spice, or 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  • 3 Tbsp. Pie Filling Enhancer or cornstarch ( I use Instant Clear-Gel from King Arthur Flour.)
  • pinch salt
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 egg, beaten with 1 Tbsp. water (egg wash)

1.  To make pastry:  Combine the flour and salt.  Work in the butter, with fingers or a pastry cutter,

IMG_5052

then sprinkle in the water, mixing until cohesive.  Form pastry into two rectangles, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

IMG_5053

Form two rectangles, wrap and chill.

Form two rectangles, wrap and chill.

2.  Preheat the oven to425*F.  Lightly grease a baking sheet, or line with parchment paper.

3.  To make the filling:  Mix together all the ingredients except the egg.

4.  Roll one piece of pastry into a 17″ x 7″ rectangle, trimming the edges.  Roll the second piece into a 16″ x 6″ rectangle, also trimming the edges.

5.  Place the smaller rectangle on the pan and brush with egg wash.

Bottom layer of pastry, brushed with egg wash.

Bottom layer of pastry, brushed with egg wash.

Spread the apple filling over the pastry, leaving 3/4 “- wide bare edges.  Center the other piece of pastry over the apples and press down, crimping the edges to seal.  Brush with egg wash and cut several vents.

IMG_5059

6.  Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375*F and bake for 12 to 14 minutes longer, until golden.

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SOURCE:  King Arthur Flour

Shrimp Tacos with Corn and Avocado Salsa

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , ,
Shrimp tacos with corn and avocado salsa.

Shrimp tacos with corn and avocado salsa.

Continuing with my meal solutions for an extremely busy week,  this is another meal that goes together quickly, can be made in parts, and supplies a lot of good quality nutrients —–

Tacos made with shrimp and a tasty corn and avocado salsa make a light and easy meal.  The shrimp are sautéed with garlic, cumin and coriander, and the salsa, made with corn, chopped tomato, red onion, jalapeño pepper, cilantro, avocado and lime, provides the perfect combination of flavors to compliment the shrimp.  Fresh corn is preferred, but frozen corn will work in a pinch.  You can also make your own taco corn tortillas, as described in the recipe notes, or use “store bought” ones.

IMG_5211

SHRIMP TACOS WITH CORN AND AVOCADO SALSA

Yield:   Makes 8 tacos,  ( 4 – 6 servings)

Ingredients:

  • 1  1/4 pounds large shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removedIMG_5212
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, very finely chopped
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. coriander
  • 1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning (optional)
  • 8 taco shells  ( or 6-inch corn tortillas–see notes, below)
  • 1/2 cup queso fresco, or finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese

For the Salsa:

  • 2 ears sweet corn, kernels removed, about 1 cup
  • 1 large, ripe tomato, seeded and chopped,  about 1/2 cup
  • 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 medium avocado, peeled and cut into small cubes
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

1.  Place the shrimp in a large bowl and toss with the olive oil, garlic, cumin, coriander and Old Bay Seasoning.  Set aside.

2.  Combine the corn, tomato, red onion, jalapeño, lime juice and cilantro.  Season to taste with salt and pepper, then add the avocado, taste and season again.  Set aside.   This can be made in advance and refrigerated until meal time.

Note:  If your corn is very fresh and tender,  you can use the kernels raw.  If not, place them in a shallow dish, cover and microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on high.  If using frozen corn, be sure to thaw and blot away any excess moisture with a paper towel before adding to the salsa.

3.  Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the shrimp and sauté until pink and opaque, about 2 minutes.

To serve, spoon a portion of the corn salsa into the bottom of each taco shell.  Top with shrimp and a sprinkling of cheese.

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How to Make Your Own Taco Shells

Preheat the oven to 375*F.  Lightly brush or spray both sides of the 6-inch tortillas with vegetable oil.  Turn a 12 cup muffin pan upside down, fold the tortillas in half and position them between the muffin cups to support the sides in a taco shape.  Bake until crisp, 8 – 10 minutes.

SOURCE:   MyGourmetConnection.com

Italian Sausage, Orecchetti, and Broccoli Rabe

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish and tagged with , , , , ,
Italian Sausage, Oreccietti, and Broccoli Rabe.

Italian Sausage, Oreccietti, and Broccoli Rabe.

Last week was  crazy busy.  All of a sudden it seems everything cranked up leaving me wishing for the quiet days of a month ago when all I had to do was sit outside and read, sip iced tea, and dream of meal plans and menus.  Well, it was almost like that!

Anyway, I feel like I’m in over my head with a mother-in-law just in the hospital for surgery,  trying to keep Dad well fed, two birthdays, back to back, each requiring a cake,  and a husband out several evenings a week and needing an early dinner.  Plus keeping up with my dance lessons and classes.  Whew!

I’m not handling this with the ease and grace you’ve come to expect of me.  Quit laughing.  I mean it.  I can be graceful sometimes.  OK, fine.  I’m handling it with a glass of wine in my hand and complaining loudly.

But once in a while I do plan ahead, and this dish is one of my fall-back-on meals for such times.  It makes a fairly large quantity, enough to freeze a portion for another time, or enough to share, which is what I did, so I could send a nourishing meal to Dad.  It doesn’t take very long to make, and you know you’re eating a filling and healthy meal. It also reheats well in the microwave, for when people are coming and going and need to eat at different times.

All the ingredients getting cozy together to make a great meal.

All the ingredients getting cozy together make a great meal.

SAUSAGE, ORCCHIETTE, AND BROCCOLI RABE

Yield:   6 – 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 ( 16 oz. ) package orcchiette pastaIMG_5156
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 pound bulk or link Italian sausage ( if using link sausage, remove casings)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2  1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 bunch broccoli rabe, trimmed of tough stems,  (substitute broccoli if you must)
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1  1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions:

1.  Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat.  Add the pasta, and cook until al dente,  8 to 10 minutes;  drain.

2.  Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Stir in the Italian sausage until crumbly and no longer pink, about 5 minutes.

Sausage crumbled and brown, add in minced garlic.

Sausage crumbled and brown, add in minced garlic.

3.  Stir in the garlic, and continue cooking until the sausage begins to brown, about 5 minutes more.  Pour off the excess grease, then pour in the chicken broth and red pepper flakes.

Chicken broth added--no pepper flakes for us.

Chicken broth added–no pepper flakes for us.

Bring to a boil over high heat, then add the broccoli rabe, and cover.  Cook until the broccoli rabe is tender, about 4 minutes.

Broccoli rabe added.

Broccoli rabe added.

4.  When the broccoli rabe is done, stir in the butter, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper until the meat sauce has thickened.  Toss with the pasta and serve with more cheese to grate at the table.

The light broth, butter and cheese sauce makes a nice change.

The light broth, butter and cheese sauce makes a nice change.

Served with tomato salad. Pretty plate!

Served with tomato salad. Pretty plate!

SOURCE:   Allrecipes.com

Harvest Pumpkin Scones

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Muffins & Scones and tagged with , , , , , , , ,
Harvest Pumpkin Scones

Harvest Pumpkin Scones

I do love pumpkin!!!  So I’m wondering why it is that I seem to bake with it only in the fall.  I know fall, October and pumpkins just go together, but pumpkin is available- the canned variety–all year long.  Are you like that, too? I think it might be that pumpkin’s bright splash of color matches the vivid colors of autumn around the country.  And as the landscape turns drab, pumpkin is still there giving us a lift.

Right now I have about six recipes lined up that include pumpkin,  so if they turn out well, I think you’ll be seeing the results of my baking in the coming weeks.

This recipe is one of the first I tried.  Mainly for two reasons:  1) I haven’t made scones in quite a while and these sounded really good to me, and 2) the recipe needs only part of a can of pumpkin, so I can make something else with the remainder.  A sort of two-for-one deal.  I try to match up recipes that each use only part of a can, so no pumpkin goes to waste.  Otherwise I freeze the part I didn’t use for a later date.

IMG_5097

This recipe did not let me down in the least.  I knew that my expectations were met when they came out of the oven, a deep-gold color and with an aroma of all the spices they contain.  Besides the cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg, I included some crystallized ginger and cinnamon chips to take their flavor over the top.   These are way-good.  :D.  Make them soon and see if you don’t agree.

IMG_5093

HARVEST PUMPKIN SCONES

Yield:   12 scones

Ingredients:

Whole allspice

Whole allspice

  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice**
  • 1/2 cup cold butter
  • 1 to 2 cups minced crystallized ginger, cinnamon chips, or chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup canned pumpkin
  • 2 large eggs

    Ground fresh allspice

    Ground fresh allspice

  • coarse white sparkling sugar, for topping

**  I use whole allspice and grind it fresh as needed.  The flavor is so much stronger and better than when you purchase the already ground variety.

Directions:

1.  In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and spices.

Mix together all the dry ingredients.

Mix together all the dry ingredients.

2.  Work in the butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers, just until the mixture is unevenly crumbly;  it’s OK for some larger chunks of butter to remain unincorporated.

Some larger pieces of butter are ok.

Some larger pieces of butter are ok.

3.  Stir in the ginger and/or chips, if you’re using them.

Mix in crystallized ginger and cinnamon chips.

Mix in crystallized ginger and cinnamon chips.

4.  In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin and eggs till smooth.  Add to the dry ingredients and stir until all is moistened and holds together.

Mix together the eggs and pumpkin.

Mix together the eggs and pumpkin.

5.  Line a baking sheet with parchment;  or, if no parchment paper on hand, use the baking sheet without greasing it.  Sprinkle a bit of flour atop the parchment or pan.

6.  Scrape the cough onto the floured parchment or pan, and divide it in half.  Round each half into a 5 – 6 inch circle, about 3/4’s-inch thick.

Divide dough into two 6-inch circles.

Divide dough into two 6-inch circles.

7.  Brush each circle with a little milk, and sprinkle with coarse white sparkling sugar or cinnamon sugar, if desired.

Brush with a little milk or cream.

Brush with a little milk or cream.

Coarse sugar (left), cinnamon sugar (right).

Coarse sugar (left), cinnamon sugar (right).

8.  Using a knife or bench knife that you’ve run under cold water, slice each circle into 6 wedges.

Cut each circle into 6 wedges.

Cut each circle into 6 wedges.

9.  Carefully separate the wedges from each other just a little, with about 1/2″ space between them, at their outer edges.

10.  For best texture and highest rise place the pan of scones in the freezer for 30 minutes, uncovered.  While the scones are chilling, preheat the oven to 425*F

11.  Bake the scones for 22 to 25 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean.

Isn't that a beautiful rise?

Isn’t that a beautiful rise?

12.  Remove from the oven and serve warm.  Wrap any leftovers airtight, and store at room temperature.  Reheat briefly in the microwave, if desired.

A pretty golden color.

A beautiful golden color.

P. S.  If you’re making your own pumpkin puree from a fresh roasted pumpkin be aware that fresh pumpkin has a lot more liquid in it than canned, and should be drained throughly.  You may use a colander, lined with coffee filters, or several layers of cheesecloth.

SOURCE:   King Arthur Flour