White Beans with Fennel

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Side Dish, Vegetables and tagged with beans, fennel, healthy, recipe, side dish, spinach, vegan, vegetarian April 14, 2015

White Beans with Fennel.

Since I’ve cut back sharply on the amount of carbohydrates we are eating, I’ve been leaning pretty heavily on vegetables. We have 2 – 3 veggies at each main meal. In this dish you get three vegetables all getting cozy together. So if you are trying to make healthy choices, this dish might be a good thing to incorporate into your menu plan. It has white beans to provide some protein and complex carbohydrates, fennel for flavor and fiber, and spinach for color, and vitamins.

Lunch is often the most difficult meal for me to get right. I wait until I’m starving, then head for the kitchen to grab what ever is quickest to fill that empty hole, and often that’s peanut butter on toast. ( Oh no, I just revealed my secret vice.) Oh well, it was bound to come out sometime, so now you know I’m not perfect. But I could be if I had a bowl of white beans and fennel in my refrigerator to munch on when I get hungry. Actually a bowl of anything that’s healthy is a very good thing to have on hand when lunch-time hungries strike. Good, hearty, real food that isn’t scrambled eggs, that you can eat right from the fridge….if you’re into that sort of thing, and aren’t we all? This tastes as good cold as it does hot!

All I’m saying is, if you decide to make this dish, make enough so you’ll have some left over for that bowl of real healthy food to munch on whenever hunger strikes.

WHITE BEANS WITH FENNEL

Yield: Makes about 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 large fennel bulb, cut in half vertically, core removed
2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
1/2 tsp. salt, divided
1/2 tsp. pepper, divided
1 clove garlic, minced
3 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained (any white bean will do)
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450*F. Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray.

2. Slice fennel into 1/4-inch thick slices. In a medium bowl, toss with 1 Tbsp. olive oil, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper, and minced garlic.

Arrange on baking sheet and bake at 450*F. for 15 minutes or until it is beginning to brown. Stir. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and bake for 5 minutes more.

3. In a large skillet heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil over medium heat. Add the beans and cook for 2 minutes. Add the fennel and baby spinach, plus 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper.

Sauté beans then add fennel and spinach.

Cook 2 minutes to heat through. Add the splash of lemon juice and stir in.

Ready to serve.

Serve with salmon or other fillet of fish. Add a salad and you will have a wonderful meal.

SOURCE: Unknown

Coconut Biscotti

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Bars and Cookies and tagged with Biscotti, coconut, coconut oil, cookies, recipe, twice-baked cookies, vegan, vegetarian February 18, 2015

Coconut Biscotti

When you serve biscotti, you’re styling’, did you know that? These crunchy, nutty, hard cookies are custom-made for dunking in a frothy cappuccino, or nibbling on between sips of dark, thick, espresso. Or maybe you’re having them at the end of the day with a glass of sweet dessert wine. If it’s wine you’re having, make it a wine from Tuscany, the reputed home of biscotti.

A surprising fact to me is that biscotti were first developed for Lent, when all types of festive and fancy baking was curtailed. Their plain appearance is deceiving. You may think that the cookie is plain and boring, but not so. In going through my recipes recently, I noted that I have quite a number of recipes for biscotti, and they are all different. The several characteristics they all share are the elongated shape, usually cut on a diagonal, the inclusion of toasted nuts, and the fact that they are twice baked, making them crisp and crunchy.

The name of these cookies, when translated, breaks down to bis (twice) and cottare (to cook). Because they are a firm, sturdy cookie they are perfect for packing and shipping to someone far from home.

This recipe utilizes coconut in several forms; toasted and finely ground in the dough, and coconut oil used for shortening in the dough; there is also coconut cream (liquid) and coconut flavoring in the glaze. The basic cookie is not sweet, but the glaze they are dipped into adds a touch of sweetness at the end. If you choose not to dip them into the glaze, they will still be a very enjoyable mildly sweet treat.

The nuts called for in the recipe are salted macadamia nuts, chopped; however I didn’t have any so I used a combination of hazelnuts and cashews from a jar of salted nuts, and they worked just fine.

If you have never made biscotti before this could be the recipe to get you started, especially as we approach the start of Lent. I have never given up sweets for Lent because I can’t survive without a goodie now and then, but I do try to abstain from rich decadent desserts. With biscotti on hand, I know I can have my “goodie” without going overboard.

COCONUT BISCOTTI

Yield: Makes about 24 cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
Coconut oil, melted, is the shortening in this recipe.
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup salted macadamia nuts, chopped
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 Tbsp. coconut cream ( may use milk or cream instead)
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. coconut extract
coarse sugar for decorating, if desired

Directions:

1. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350*F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Spread 1 cup coconut flakes on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, about 3 minutes.

Coconut flakes, toasted

Let cool completely. Transfer to a food processor; add the granulated sugar and pulse until finely ground.

Pulse in processor with sugar.

3. Whisk the coconut-sugar mixture, the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.

Mix all the dry ingredients together.

Melt the coconut oil in the microwave; add to the flour mixture along with 1/3 cup water and the vanilla, and mix with a wooden spoon until a stiff dough forms.

Stir in the chopped nuts and the remaining 1/2 cup coconut flakes, gently knead until the dough comes together.

4. Divide the dough in half and shape into two 9-by-2-inch logs; place 1 log on each baking sheet.

Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the logs are firm and golden, about 25 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 300*F.

I baked them both on one sheet and they spread into each other.

5. Let the logs cool 10 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board. Slice diagonally, with a serrated knife, into 3/4-inch thick pieces.

Cut on the diagonal and lay flat on baking sheet to be re-baked.

Arrange the slices cut-side down on the baking sheets. Bake, flipping halfway through, until just golden and centers still have a little give, 20 to 25 minutes. (It has been my experience that over-baking can happen at this stage of the game, so I underbake a little to be cautious.) With these cookies, I baked 8 minutes on the first side, turned them over and baked for 10 minutes more. They were plenty crispy, and they continue to crisp up as they cool. Cool completely on wire racks before glazing.

6. Whisk the confectioners’ sugar, coconut cream, (or milk) and coconut extract in a small bowl until smooth. Dip the biscotti in the glaze and sprinkle with decorative sugar if desired.

To store: Allow the glaze to harden completely before storing in an air-tight container. Separating the layers with wax paper will keep the cookies from sticking together. They will keep “forever”, but we always eat them up way before then 🙂

SOURCE: FoodNetwork Magazine

Roasted Tomato and Pesto Grilled Cheese

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Sandwichs and tagged with grilled cheese, lunch, pesto, recipe, roasted tomatoes, sandwich, vegan, vegetarian January 30, 2015

Tomato-Pesto Grilled Cheese.

This is day two of being snowed-in. Sidewalk is shoveled, but driveway not plowed! Go figure that one. Snowplow guy seems to be busy elsewhere. Well, there’s still plenty of food in the house, so no rush about going anywhere.

Under these house-bound conditions, almost as soon as breakfast is over, I start thinking about lunch. Wouldn’t you? I’m imagining some kind of a grilled cheese sandwich. Most folks love the combo of tomato soup and grilled cheese, so let me see if I can cram the two of them together in a knock-your-socks-off sandwich. Get ready for an ooey-gooey delight.

First we’re going to go to our refrigerators to gather up all the delicious things we’ll need. If those things should happen to be roasted, pesto-ed, or melty, that’s ideal.

Today I’m lucky, I have some good things. This is not always the case. Sometimes all I have in the fridge is skim milk and some bendy celery with brown tops. That’s why there’s frozen pizza, right? Skim milk and bendy celery are not allowed in this sandwich. Absolutely not, not when I see some precious Romano, cheddar and pesto in there, not to mention some beautiful red tomatoes.

This is what it looks like to pack every delicious item in your refrigerator between toasted onion rolls.

(These are not the best photos I’ve ever taken, but I was too impatient to eat this sandwich.)

I’m the kind of person who likes to always have pesto on hand. Quite some time ago I posted my recipe for homemade pesto(s), and I really recommend you make some for your refrigerator. Made from herbs or spinach or kale (ignore that bendy celery), you’ll thank yourself when you go looking in your refrigerator for some “good things”. BTW, make lots–it freezes well, too.

On this sandwich we layer shredded cheddar, smeared pesto, roasted tomato puree, salty Romano cheese and mayo!

Roasting the tomatoes intensifies their flavor and sweetness. The pesto adds a happy green, garlic-y kick. Two kinds of cheese because we’re the kind of people who deserve two kinds of cheese on our sandwich. Spread the top and bottom of the sandwich with mayo and grill on each side until the center is warm and melty.

The center gets melty and warm.

Now the pay-off. Take that sandwich to your favorite comfy place and settle yourself into coziness. Sit down on the floor if you have to, just relax and enjoy it. Now eat slowly and savor every delicious bite. Relax. Read your e-mails, or check out Pinterest. Only move when the desire for some chips or a beverage motivates you beyond laziness. Bendy celery, get outta here!

ROAST TOMATO PESTO GRILLED CHEESE

Yield: Makes 2 sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
4 plum tomatoes, halved and seeded
2 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1/2 tsp. dried basil
dash of salt and pepper
4 tsp. canola mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. pesto
2 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese, (about 1/2 cup)
2 oz. Romano cheese, thinly sliced
4 slices of whole grain bread or rolls of choice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400*F. Combine 1 tsp. oil, tomatoes, and garlic on a baking sheet.

Cut in half and seed tomatoes.

Bake at 400*F. for 20 minutes. Remove skins and discard. Squeeze garlic to extract the pulp, discard skins.

Roast with garlic. Remove skins.

2. Combine tomatoes, garlic pulp, basil, salt and pepper in a mini food processor pulse 10 times.

Place in mini processor and chop finely.

3. Spread mayonnaise on two slices of bread or top half of rolls. Spread pesto on remaining 2 slices bread or bottoms of rolls.

Spread mayo and pesto on bread slices.

4. Spread about 1 1/2 tablespoon tomato mixture on sandwich bottoms. Cover with half the grated cheese on each bottom, top that with thinly sliced Romano cheese.

5. Cover with sandwich tops. Lightly coat outsides of sandwiches with cooking spray.

6. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon oil, swirl to coat. Place sandwiches in pan; cook about 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Flip sandwiches, and continue to cook until lightly browned and cheese is melted. Cut in half and serve immediately.

7. If you have a panini pan, sandwiches may be cooked in that instead of a skillet.

SOURCE: Carolyn’s Originals

Winter Immunity Boost: Roast Parsnips and Sweet Potatoes

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Side Dish, Vegetables and tagged with gluten-free, honey-mustard sauce, parsnips, recipe, roast vegetables, side dish, sweet potatoes, vegan, vegetables, vegetarian January 21, 2015

Honey-Mustard Glazed Parsnips and Sweet Potatoes

Flu season is upon us. Am I going to get it? Nope! Not going to do that. Cold season? No, get outta here with that stuff.

Feeling achy? Sniffles? Congestion? Don’t have time for it!

There’s no guarantee, of course, but I’m doing everything I can to keep the sickness ‘bugs” away from our door. How, you might be asking? I’m preparing as much healthy produce as I possibly can and shoving it into our mouths 2-3 times a day.

In the morning it could be a green smoothie, for lunch a salad with both cooked and raw veggies, throw in some citrus for good measure; and for dinner at least two veggie side dishes per meal. I haven’t fallen in love with every combination I’ve put together, but there have been several that I will be making again. This is one of them.

Parsnips are a late fall vegetable, harvested after frosts have set in, as they need the cold weather to convert their starches into sugar. They are not a vegetable that I cook with any frequency, since up until now, I hadn’t found a way to prepare them that was terribly appealing. In this dish, however, the parsnips are combined with sweet potatoes; two vegetables that each have their own kind of sweetness. Roasting them concentrates and blends their flavors, and then just before serving you pour a simple glaze of honey and Dijon mustard over them and toss to coat. Well, that sauce is the magic that makes this dish sing.

I went from “not sure I’m going to like this” to “Wow, I love these”. As I write this, it’s two days since I made the original dish and this evening I’m making it again. That’s how much I loved these veggies. And Mr. D. loved them too!! So I know I’ve got a winner in this dish. Won’t you try it and see if you agree?

HONEY-MUSTARD GLAZED PARSNIPS AND SWEET POTATOES

Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 1/4 pounds parsnips (about 3 large or 4 medium)
1 1/4 pounds sweet potatoes
2 Tbsp. olive oil
coarse salt and ground pepper
2 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
chopped parsley (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425*F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.

2. Prepare the vegetables. To cut parsnips: Trim tops and bottoms; peel, and slice in half crosswise to separate thick and narrow parts. Halve or quarter thick parts lengthwise, until all parsnip pieces are roughly the same size. Then cut on a diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick pieces.

Cut the narrow end from the thick end, then quarter the thick end.

To cut sweet potatoes: quarter them lengthwise so they are about the same thickness as the parsnips, then cut crosswise into 1/2-inch thick pieces.

3. Put the parsnips and sweet potatoes in a large bowl, and add the olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly. Spread in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Spread seasoned veggies on a baking sheet.

Roast until tender and golden, tossing once or twice, about 30 minutes. Transfer into a serving bowl.

4. In a small bowl, stir together honey and mustard.

Whisk together the honey and mustard.

Pour over vegetables, toss to coat. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired. Serve immediately.

Isn’t this dish brightly colored and beautiful? I mean… vitamin C, vitamin A….. There’s no way a cold is getting us down. Knock on wood!

SOURCE: Martha Stewart Living

Kale, Mandarin and Avocado Salad

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Salads and tagged with avocado, clementines, kale, recipe, rice vinegar, romaine, salad, sesame oil, sesame seeds, tangerines, vegan, vegetarian December 8, 2014

Kale, Mandarin and Avocado Salad

I have over-indulged! Way over. I imagine there are any number of people saying the same thing about now. Don’t we ALWAYS over-indulge during the holidays? And we’ve got only the first one behind us.

I’ve eaten too much sweet potato casserole, stuffed myself with stuffing, picked at one too many pieces of pecan pie. I’ve done the peppermint stick ice-cream. It was delicious, but it’s over.

Stomach, I’m going to be nicer to you, because you deserve a break. Before I start making cookies, I’m making a salad. This is going to be so good, you’ll be thanking me all over the place. So, hang on to your hat.

A salad begins with greens, right? And what’s the most popular green in town? Kale! Yes, kale, chopped up nice and fine, raw and crunchy. Next we add some romaine, also chopped up nice and fine, also crunchy.

Cut up the greens nice and fine.

To sweeten up this deal we’re adding clementine or tangerine. Grab and peel those babies.

Avocados go in next; for color, for fat nutrients, for creaminess…..oh heck, just put them in because we love them, and they love to hang out with citrus. Bright and juicy meets soft and creamy.

Avocado + Citrus = True Love

Last, we sprinkle in some toasted sesame seeds because we need something to get stuck in our teeth to embarrass us later. If you want to leave them out that’s okay, you can still go ahead and walk around with kale stuck in your teeth.

To soften the kale, you can rub it with a bit of olive oil and salt….that’s called a kale massage….a totally normal thing to do. If you find baby kale you can skip this step. My supermarket is now carrying baby kale.

Once the kale is massaged, make the dressing. The dressing ingredients go into a small jar. They consist of rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, soy sauce and pepper. Add in a tiny bit of minced garlic if you’d like.

These become the dressing.

Now tighten the lid, and start shaking. Shake, shake, shake like mad. That’s it. Done.

Toss dressing with salad.

Toss some with the salad, and as it gets tossed together the orange segments may split open and the avocado may mash a bit making these two elements a lovely addition to the sesame dressing. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.

Now’s the time to grab a fork and dig in. Your stomach will thank you.

Do yourself a favor, take a break today with a salad this good.

KALE, MANDARIN AND AVOCADO SALAD

Yield: Serves 4 as a side salad

Ingredients:

3 cups clean and well-chopped kale
1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
pinch of salt
3 cups clean and well-chopped romaine lettuce
2 tangerines or clementines, peeled and divided into segments
1 ripe avocado, sliced
1 1/2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
3 Tbsp. rice vinegar
2 Tbsp. sesame oil
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 teaspoon honey
fresh pepper and coarse salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Place kale in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Massage the oil and salt into the kale.

2. Add the romaine, tangerines, and avocado to the bowl.

3. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

4. In a small jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, honey, and pepper. Place the lid on the jar and shake vigorously until emulsified. If you don’t have a jar, whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined.

5. Drizzle the dressing over the salad. Toss to combine. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and enjoy!

SOURCE: adapted from The Joy of Baking

Fresh Whole Cranberry Sauce

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Dressings, Sauces, Side Dish and tagged with citrus fruits, cranberries, fresh cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, recipe, sauce, side dish, vegan, vegetarian November 26, 2014

Fresh Whole Cranberry Sauce

I think that cranberries are one of the best things about this time of year. They appear on the scene as fresh fruit at just the right time. All the color outside has just about disappeared and everything is looking very “gray”. That probably won’t last long as we have a forecast for snow starting tomorrow. (I so hope the forecasters are wrong!) Anyway, cranberries show up with their perfect red color and suddenly things are looking up.

At one time way back when, I was very neutral toward cranberries. Like, “Oh, yeah, cranberry sauce with turkey..that’s nice”; and that’s all I thought they were good for. But now-a-days, because they freeze so easily, we can cook and bake with the little jewels all year long. But somehow they seem most welcome in the fall and through the Holidays. I really think it’s because of their wonderful color when everything else around us is so drab. They’re bright and cheerful, make you smile, and they’re a very flattering shade of red.

Oh, you are SO gorgeous !

Now their flavor is something else!! Most people are scared of a cranberry. My goodness, how do you sweeten it up? Try eating just one…..raw. That little baby has major pucker power. They are so tart they make an average lemon seem like a wimp. But you know, that’s really the best part. Cranberries provide a contrast. Think about your favorite foods, aren’t there contrasts involved? Savory against sweet; sweet decadent desserts with a little salt; a crunchy topping on a smooth custardy base; and cranberries—all twisted up with something sweet really get to shine.

Well cranberry sauce is like that. A contrast in and all by itself. It’s sweet, but it’s tart. It can be smooth and jellied, or chunky and rough. It’s satisfying and flavorful on its own, and it gets even better when other fruits are added to it. Citrus fruits pair with cranberries very well, especially oranges, so I add some zest and some juice. I also add some lime, the zest and juice, to deepen that layer of citrus you detect. Making my own fresh cranberry sauce is so fun and this recipe can be dressed up with additional fruits like chopped apples, or pears and some raisins to turn it into a chutney. Think of it as a garnish to go with whatever you may be serving and have some fun with it. Cranberry with pineapple and ham, anyone?

WHOLE CRANBERRY SAUCE

Yield: about 12 servings, or 3 cups

Ingredients:

1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked over
2 cups granulated sugar ( I use about 1 3/4 cups, as we like it less sweet)
1 tsp. grated orange peel
1 tsp. grated lime peel
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup water

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes until the berries pop.

Skim off any large amount of foam that may form on the surface. Allow to cool to room temperature.

2. This sauce will thicken nicely as it cools because of the high level of pectin in the cranberries. Store in the refrigerator in a covered container. Serve with chicken or turkey, or any other entree of your choice.

Pear Hazelnut Bread

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Bread, Rolls and tagged with cardamom, coconut oil, fall, Holidays, pears, quick bread, recipe, vegan, vegetarian, whole grains November 21, 2014

Pear-Hazelnut Bread

Quick breads often meet my need for something sweet, without a guilt trip about how many calories I’m ingesting. Of course not all of them meet that description, but this one is a nice compromise between a little sweetness and something you feel good about eating for breakfast. It bakes up nice and hearty, with shredded pears and chopped hazelnuts folded into a cardamom-scented batter.

This bread would be a welcome addition to a holiday brunch or just nice to have with your morning’s coffee, on an average day. Although, in my opinion, no day is average when it starts with a home-baked bread or muffin.

Fresh, firm pears are needed for this recipe, so when they are grated you will not have a pile of mush. I like Bosc pears but firm Bartletts work well also. Wait to prepare them until you’re ready to put the bread together or the shredded fruit will turn brown.

While the original recipe for this bread called for 1 1/2 cups white all-purpose flour, I use a mixture of whole grains to make a total of 1 1/2 cups. Examples are oats, spelt flour, whole wheat flour, and barley flakes. The proportions should be about 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour, and 1/4 cup something else like oats or barley flakes. This will give you a bread that is tender with good texture. Toasting the hazelnuts in the oven for about 5 minutes improves their nutty flavor, but watch them carefully so they don’t get too browned.

PEAR-HAZELNUT BREAD

Yield: 1 9″x5″ loaf

Ingredients:

1 cup shredded, peeled, ripe pears that are still firm (about 2 )
1/2 cup vegetable oil, or coconut oil
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour (see recommended types above)
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. lemon zest
1 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350*F. and line a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides. Coat well with cooking spray and set aside.

2. Whisk together the vegetable oil, yogurt, eggs, and vanilla together well. Stir in the shredded pears.

3. Whisk together all the dry ingredients, adding in the chopped nuts also.

Whisk together all the dry ingredients.

4. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ones, mixing just to moisten thoroughly.

Mixing wet ingredients into dry.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Test carefully as the top of this loaf may brown and look done while the center is still moist because of the pears.

5. Let cool in the pan for about an hour, then remove from pan and transfer to a rack to cool completely.

SOURCE: Adapted from Whole Grain Mornings by Megan Gordon

Coconut Oil…the next best thing?

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Beverages, Kitchen Basics and tagged with beauty products, coconut oil, coconut-oat smoothie, health benefits, recipe, skin moisturizers, vegan, vegetarian November 18, 2014

Coconut Smoothie

It seems as if coconut oil is taking the grocery stores by storm. It’s so rich, versatile, and vegan. Has it become one of your kitchen staples yet?

It’s popularity seems to be well-deserved–after all, it’s as rich as butter (without the cholesterol) and as versatile as vegetable oil. And now we can find the good stuff in our grocery stores: organic, non-hydrogenated varieties. It’s pressed from the raw coconut, so the oil has a subtle nutty flavor, and it’s a wonderful substitute for butter in baked goods. You can also use it in cooking for a flavor boost in savory dishes as well.

Did you know that coconut oil turns to liquid between 75 and 81 degrees F., so its consistency may change from day to day. To maintain its solid, spreadable state and keep it from turning rancid, store it in a cool, dark cupboard.

This natural moisturizer is going gangbusters in beauty products as well. Organic sugar mixes with organic coconut oil to make a wonderful exfoliating body scrub. Try putting a small amount of coconut oil into the palm of your hand, let it melt, then add a few grains of sugar and mix in. Use as a facial scrub. After rinsing well, your face will feel very soft and smooth.

Crack the coconut trend, and keep an eye out in stores where beauty products are sold. I’ve seen a nourishing coconut oil body mist that you can spritz on after a shower, or add some to your bath for a rich soak. Coconut water can also be found in body cleansers; and coconut oil and shea butter make a soothing, smoothing skin softener.

I have been using coconut oil at night as a hand moisturizer. At the first sign of cool weather my hands become very dry, and the skin around my nails develops painful cracks. As I prepare for bed, I rub coconut oil generously on my hands and nails, then put on cotton gloves to sleep in. In the morning my hands are soft, and in repeating this ritual, I believe my hands are improving and are less dry and cracked.

I came across this recipe for a smoothie that incorporates coconut oil… you might want to try it. The ingredients are nourishing and filling. I made it this weekend for lunch with some fresh fruit. Easy, and delicious!!

COCONUT-OAT SMOOTHIE

Yield: Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:

1/2 banana
1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats ( or quick oats)
1/3 cup Greek yogurt, plain
2 Tablespoons coconut oil
1 Tablespoon honey
1/3 cup orange juice
1/2 cup ice

Directions:

1. In a blender container, combine banana, oats, yogurt, coconut oil, honey, orange juice, and ice. Puree until smooth. Transfer to a tall glass and drink immediately.

SOURCE: M.Stewart Living

Maple-Glazed Delicata Squash

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Side Dish, Vegetables and tagged with delicata squash, maple syrup, recipe, sage, side dish, squash, vegan, vegetarian October 20, 2014

Maple-Glazed Delicata Squash

Does anyone else besides me wonder how come maple sap flows and is turned into maple syrup in the spring, but seems to team up so well with fall fruits and vegetables? Just wondering!!

Here’s a perfect example of what I mean. One of the early fall squashes to arrive is this delicata squash. Its name says it all….delicate. The outer skin is tender so there’s no need to peel it. Plus the stripes add a colorful accent. The flesh is a pale yellow and has a mild flavor. However, it needs to have some enhancements to spice it up and give it some UMPH! Maple syrup is its sole-mate. The syrup adds just the right amount of sweetness, and sage contributes the savory note. Together they really dress up this squash. If you are planning to roast a cut of meat or poultry, try this squash as a side dish for a perfect pairing.

I recently roasted a loin of pork, and made this squash casserole as a side dish. Oven browned baby potatoes, and crisp coleslaw rounded out the meal. Let me also state for the record that I made half the recipe (just 2 of us, you know), and used dried sage as fresh sage was not available at the time.

MAPLE-GLAZED DELICATA SQUASH

Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients:

1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup packed fresh sage leaves, or 2 teaspoons dried sage
2 medium (about 2.5 pounds) delicata squash
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Prepare the squash: trim the ends, cut in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Then slice into 1-inch half moons.

Remove seeds, and slice cross-wise into half moons, or chunks.

2. Preheat heat oven to 400*F. In a small lidded pot, combine maple syrup and sage. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to low, cover and cook 15 minutes. Set aside, covered.

3. Meanwhile, in a bowl, toss squash slices with olive oil and salt. Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer; bake at 400*F for 20 minutes.

Toss with olive oil and salt and bake for 20 minutes.

Pour maple syrup-sage mixture evenly on top of squash. Bake 20 minutes more until squash is browned and tender, stirring once or twice so all slices get glazed with the syrup.

Syrup and sage mixture.

Pour syrup mixture over squash and continue baking another 20 minutes.

Fragrant and golden.

Perfection!

SOURCE: Family Circle Magazine.

Sweet Potato Spice Bread

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Bread, Rolls and tagged with coconut oil, honey, molasses, quick breads, recipe, sweet potatoes, vegan, vegetarian October 17, 2014

Sweet Potato Spice Breads

I’ve been spending some of my time weeding out my closets, getting rid of those oldies that I no longer wear. Every few years I “bite the bullet’ and make some hard decisions about letting go of some favorite clothes. Even though I loved them once, some things are no longer right because of changing fashions, changing fit, or no longer appropriate. Ba-bye, mini skirt!

In doing this, I’ve reacquainted myself with some of my fall clothes, but strangely my jeans seem to have somehow shrunken in the closet since the last time I wore them. Do jeans shrink from neglect? I think so! I’ve also rediscovered my collection of scarves. Scarves are neck warmers and are perfectly acceptable to wear in public or at home. Once your neck gets used to the comfort of a scarf, it feels cold without one. I think I need a few more 🙂

Speaking of comfort and wanting to feel warm, I’m really getting into the color orange in a big way. Orange is such a HOT color whether you wear it or eat it. So orange colored foods are on my wanna-eat list. There’s no use fighting it, so let’s rediscover some old things and make them new again. Like this recipe for Sweet Potato Spice bread. It offers a familiar comfort that I’m looking for these days. While I’ve made this recipe many times in the past, I don’t think I’ve gotten around to sharing it with you. This time I’ve replaced the canola oil with coconut oil, swapped out the granulated sugar for honey and some molasses and for a tad of extra spiciness I added the slightest dash of black pepper for a little mystery. I like to layer flavors in everything I make. Little things can make a big difference.

An added feature of this recipe is that it makes 2 mini loaves, or 1 small loaf. Perfect for a single person or a couple. And its also great for gift-giving. With the holidays not too far away, this is a recipe to save for future reference.

These sweet potatoes are the first of the season, and we love them roasted, so if I’m roasting a few sweet potatoes I roast a lot.

Roast Sweet Potatoes

They’re great for dinner with lots of butter and a bit of broccoli, they are wonderful in Sweet potato and pecan waffles, and don’t get me started on sweet potato pie. This recipe uses only 1/3 cup mashed sweet potato, so you can easily make these loaves with just a small amount of leftover sweet potato.

What are we waiting for? Let’s get going…..

SWEET POTATO SPICE BREAD

Yield: 2 mini loaves: 5 3/4″ x 3″

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. each, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice
dash freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp. salt
1 egg, slightly beaten ( vegans, use egg substitute)
1/3 cup mashed sweet potato
1/3 cup honey
3 tbsp. coconut oil, melted
2 tbsp. molasses
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease two mini loaf pans, 5 3/4″ x 3″ x 2″.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, spices, salt and pepper.

Don’t forget that dash of black pepper!

3. In a small bowl, combine the egg and mashed sweet potato, stirring well. Add the honey, coconut oil, and molasses. Whisk to incorporate.

Whisk together all the wet ingredients to blend.

4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, stirring just to moisten.

Wet meets day.

Fold in the walnuts.

5. Divide batter between two mini loaf pans, and bake at 350*F. for 25 – 30 minutes.

Divide batter between two small loaf pans.

Test with a toothpick for doneness. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack.

SOURCE: This recipe is of unknown origin, It’s an adaptation of one I’ve had forever.

Delicious on a Dollar

Devoted to the preparation of healthy & economical foods that taste fabulous!

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Sweet Potato Spice Bread

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