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Recipe Thread #9 ~~~ 2019


YIELD 4 to 6 servings
TIME 25 minutes
Kosher salt
1 pound mezze rigatoni or penne rigate
1 cup roughly chopped hazelnuts
¼ cup olive oil
1 ½ pounds radicchio, cored and cut into 1-inch ribbons (around 2 to 3 medium heads)
Black pepper
6 ounces crumbled Gorgonzola or other mild, soft blue cheese
½ cup chopped Italian parsley
Flaky salt, for serving (optional)
Grated pecorino or Parmesan, for serving (optional)
---- PREPARATION
Bring a large pot of well-salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions. Reserve 1½ cups pasta cooking water, and drain.
Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Toast the hazelnuts, stirring frequently so they do not burn, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove and set aside and wipe out the skillet with a paper towel.
Heat the olive oil in the 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the radicchio and cook until it begins to wilt and browns in spots, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the gorgonzola and 1/2 cup pasta water, and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes more. The water should emulsify the cheese and create a velvety texture.
Add the pasta to the skillet and toss to combine with the sauce, adding 1/4 cup pasta water or more as needed until it’s glossy with sauce, about 1 minute more. Add the hazelnuts and half the parsley and toss again to combine. Top with remaining parsley and season with flaky salt. Pass grated cheese at the table, if desired.
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1...


Tuscan Farro Soup
MARK BITTMAN
YIELD 4 servings
TIME 1 1/2 hours
------ INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
2 celery stalks, trimmed and chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 cup farro, spelt or barley
1 cup dried white beans, soaked for several hours or overnight
2 cups chopped tomatoes (canned are fine; do not drain)
6 cups stock or water, more as necessary
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup chopped fresh basil, optional
Freshly grated Parmesan
----- PREPARATION
Put oil in a large, deep saucepan over medium heat; a minute later add onion, celery, carrots, a large pinch of salt and some pepper. Cook until vegetables are glossy and onion is softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, and stir; add farro, beans, tomatoes and stock, and stir.
Bring to a boil, then adjust heat so mixture simmers steadily. Cook until farro and beans are tender, at least an hour, adding stock or water as necessary if mixture becomes too thick. Stir in parsley and basil (if using), then cook another 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, then serve with lots of Parmesan.
==================
Trader Joe's sells a quick version 10 minute of Farro. I would use that. Also I use canned no sodium beans.
They also sell already prepared fresh mirepoix (diced carrot, celery, onion)
So this recipe would with these changes would be super quick.

INSTANT POT VEGETABLE NOODLE SOUP
Ingredients
* 1 onion, finely chopped
* 1 large carrot, diced
* 1/2 a small sweet potato - diced
* 1 clove of garlic, crushed
* 1/2 cup of frozen sweetcorn
* 1 tbs of tomato paste
* 1 tsp of paprika
* 1/4 tsp of garlic powder
* 1/4 tsp of chilli powder
* pinch of dried basil, oregano, thyme and parsley
* salt and black pepper
* 5 cups (1.2 litres) of vegetable or chicken stock
* 100g (3.5oz) of uncooked pasta of choice
* 4 handfuls of spinach
* spray oil
Instructions
Instant Pot
1. Set instant pot to saute mode
2. Once hot, spray with spray oil, add onion, garlic and carrots and fry for 2 minutes to soften.
3. Mix in the sweet potato, tomato paste and spices and herbs and stir to coat.
4. Add the stock, sweetcorn and pasta, add lid, close valve and set to 8 mins high pressure.
5. Once cooking is complete, do a quick pressure release and stir through the spinach. Season as needed with salt and black pepper.
7. Optional: top with a little grated parmesan as part of your Healthy Extra A allowance.
Stove Top:
Spray a deep lidded pot over a medium high with spray oil.
add onion, garlic and carrots and fry for 2 minutes to soften.
Mix in the sweet potato, tomato paste and spices and herbs and stir to coat.
Add the stock, bring to a boil, reduce heat, add lid and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add in the sweetcorn and pasta and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes until pasta is cooked.
Stir through the spinach and season as needed with salt and black pepper.
Optional: top with a little grated parmesan as part of your Healthy Extra A allowance.

We’ve had our instant pot for awhile but I am finally getting better at using it lol!

I'm adding my own dish to this list of yummy foods, although i cannot at all attest to its healthiness. I really need to study how to post photos here, sorry for the lack of photos. Here's a link to the one which looks most like mine. https://duckduckgo.com/?t=palemoonsp&... My notes are at the end.
Posole
This dish originated in Jalisco, Mexico, and is traditionally served at Christmas time. It is a thick, hearty soup.
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 pork steaks (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut into cubes
1 can (15 ounces) hominy, rinsed and drained
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 cup rich chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
Lime wedges for garnish
Flour tortillas, warmed
Toppings:
Shredded iceberg lettuce
Sliced radishes
Grated cheddar cheese
Chopped green onions
Diced avocados
1. Preheat oven to 350*F. In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, warm oil. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, and pork and sauté until vegetables are tender and pork is browned, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in hominy, tomato sauce, stock, seasonings, and cilantro.
2. Bake uncovered, until meat is tender and flavors are blended, about 40 minutes. Garnish with lime and serve with tortillas. Pass around toppings in small bowls. Serves 4.
My husband has had this dish in southwestern states for years but it didn't call to me until i found this recipe. He likes is "soup-y", so i add more broth. A cubed sweet potato can be added, which adds some health to it, i think. And, i add neither cilantro nor parsley to the dish, as i don't like the former and forget to buy the latter.

They say it's a genetic trait if you hate cilantro. Include me in the haters. ;)

I think so but honestly not all of the recipes I have found make it faster due to having to prep veggies, lol! Or brown the meat first.
I LOVE cilantro!! Especially in pico de gallo! I’ve taken old mt husband that I want to grow some in the house just because I love the smell too 😂😂😂

Thanks for the reply on the appliance, Stephanie. I feel somewhat the same way about slow-cookers--the prep (particularly browning the meat) makes me question whether it is a time saver. There is one delicious mushroom risotto recipe for my crockpot that i savor but the prep is over 30 minutes long and that's not counting the chopping. Pass.

We made this one last night. Very good and we have left overs for today! Added bonus when I do not have to cook the next day ;)
Didn’t add the parsley because I didn’t have any and used heavy whipping cream because I grabbed the wrong one 😜 but still turned out good...had to turn the heat up though as my pasta wasn’t getting done due to our stove not cooking that well on low.
One Pot Cajun Chicken and Sausage Alfredo Pasta
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 8 -10 servings
Ingredients
4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 pound of chicken cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
14 oz smoked sausage sliced on the diagonal
4 cloves of garlic minced
1 quart of low-sodium chicken broth
2 1/2 cups of heavy cream
1 pound of dried penne pasta
1 1/2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning plus more for topping
4 oz of freshly shredded parmesan cheese
1 cup of Italian flat leaf parsley minced
Instructions
Start with a large covered cooking pot.
Season chicken with salt and pepper and brown in olive oil over medium high heat.
Add sausage and continue to cook until lightly browned.
Stir in garlic and cook for for about two minutes.
Add chicken broth, heavy cream, dried pasta and cajun seasoning to pot.
Stir together and bring to a simmer over medium high heat.
Reduce heat to low and let cook covered for 15-20 minutes, or until pasta is tender.
Remove pot from heat and stir in parmesan cheese.
Stir in chopped parsley and sprinkle with additional cajun seasoning to taste.

Tonight i'm making
Wild Rice & Mushroom Soup
Alterations i intend to make include cooking the rice in broth, too, and adding 6, not 4, cups of veg broth. Last time i used 1/3 # button and 1/3 shiitake, as well as ½ and ½, not cream. This time i am using 1/3# baby portabellas and 1/3# "gourmet mix" of crimini, shiitake and oyster mushrooms.
Cook 1/2 cup wild rice according to package directions. Set aside.
In a soup pot, over medium-high heat, melt 3 Tablespoons butter. Add 1 celery stalk, cleaned and finely chopped, 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped, 1/3 pound porcini mushrooms, chopped and 1/3 pound button mushrooms, finely chopped. Sauté, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, until the vegetables are very soft.
Add the cooked rice, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 4 cups vegetable broth, 2 Tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, chopped and freshly ground black pepper. Reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 20 – 30 minutes.
Add 1/2 cup heavy cream, and taste for additional seasoning.

Instant Pot.
Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable
Pressure Cooker
Slow Cooker
Rice Cooker
Steamer
Sauté
Yogurt Maker
Warmer
"combines 7 kitchen appliances in 1, Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Marker and Warmer, prepares dishes up to 70% faster to support your busy lifestyle"
I don't have one as I have no room for another appliance. I actually have a slow cooker that I've never taken out of the box.
That said, many people seem to love the Instant Pot. There are social media groups for it, websites and cookbooks discussing it and trading recipes.

The rice cooker would be neat. My sister-in-law has an appliance which does this & her rice is perfect every time. Maybe this is on my mind because tonight's wild rice didn't cook well in broth--it never got as soft as we desired.
The yogurt maker would be fun too. However, odds are most of us would only use it for one thing and forget the machine did anything else...or at least i suspect i would. I once owned a slow cooker which sat on a Teflon cooking tray and the lid could be used as a casserole. I never employed it for more than slow cooking, though.

MELISSA CLARK
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1...

YIELD 4 servings
TIME 45 minutes
This is a lentil soup that defies expectations of what lentil soup can be. It is light, spicy and a bold red color (no murky brown here): a revelatory dish that takes less than an hour to make. The cooking is painless. Sauté onion and garlic in oil, then stir in tomato paste, cumin and chile powder and cook a few minutes more to intensify flavor. Add broth, water, red lentils (which cook faster than their green or black counterparts) and diced carrot, and simmer for 30 minutes. Purée half the mixture and return it to the pot for a soup that strikes the balance between chunky and pleasingly smooth. A hit of lemon juice adds an up note that offsets the deep cumin and chile flavors.
--------------------
Saw this in the NY Times. I don't like spicy foods but the idea of lemon appeals to me and I love lentils. Maybe I'll just use a little cumin and chili powder .
Trader Joe's sells already cooked lentils that are vacuum sealed, so they last a long time in the refrigerator. They are great over salads and also to make soup. No cooking required.


I released my soups and stews cookbook. It is currently sold on Amazon. If you would like to get a free kindle copy for possible reviews, please send me PM.
The book link is https://www.amazon.com/Soups-Stews-Re...


From: https://www.ornish.com/sample-menu/
Undo It!: How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases-- Dean Ornish
Serves: 6
Serving Size:
1/3 cup
Prep:
5 min
Ready:
5 min
---- Description:
The secret ingredient in this deliciously easy and practically instant chocolate pudding? Silken tofu. Once blended together with cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and naturally sweet stevia, this custard-textured form of tofu is transformed into an intensely chocolatey dessert that’s full of valuable phytonutrients, flavonoids, and natural plant protein. Make sure you use unsweetened cocoa powder, not prepared cocoa mix. The pudding can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
----- Ingredients:
16 OZ firm silken tofu
2 cups 3/4 CUP unsweetened cocoa powder
suggested brand: Hershey's 1/4 CUP pure maple syrup
1/4 CUP water
1 TABLESPOON pure vanilla extract
11/2 TEASPOONS stevia (powdered)
PINCH fine sea salt
1 CUP raspberries or chopped strawberries
garnish, optional
----- Directions:
In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine tofu, cocoa powder, maple syrup, water, vanilla extract, stevia, and salt. Process until mixture is smooth and creamy, stopping as necessary to scrape down sides and center of bowl with a rubber spatula. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed with more maple syrup and/or vanilla. Adjust consistency with a little more water as needed.
Divide pudding mixture between 6 small serving dishes. Refrigerate until chilled, about least 30 minutes. Top each portion with berries, if using.
---- Chef's Notes:
Widely used for vegan desserts, silken tofu has a delicate, custardy texture that’s very different from regular tofu. Different brands of silken tofu can vary greatly in flavor and texture.
--- Shopping list:
firm silken tofu, such as Mori-Nu (16 OZ) unsweetened cocoa powder (3/4 CUP) pure maple syrup pure vanilla extract powdered stevia raspberries or strawberries, optional (ONE HALF PINT)



What I also liked was the 5 min prep time. Simple, tasty and healthy. What's not to love?

Crumpet French toast with caramelised banana

INGREDIENTS
3 large eggs
1/3 cup skim milk
8 Golden Crumpets
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 bananas, thickly sliced on the diagonal
Tamar Valley Greek Style Yoghurt, to serve
METHOD
Step 1
Whisk the eggs and milk in a large bowl until smooth. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat and lightly spray with oil. Dip 4 crumpets in the milk mixture. Drain off excess and cook in the hot pan for 3-4 minutes each side or until golden. Transfer to a plate and loosely cover with foil to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining 4 crumpets and milk mixture.
Step 2
Place the sugar and 2 tablespoons of water in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to the boil. Add the banana. Cook, gently turning the banana, for 2 minutes or until the sauce thickens and the bananas are well coated.
Step 3
Serve the crumpets with the caramelised banana and a dollop of Greek yoghurt.
https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/crum...


Healthy Sheet Pan Greek Chicken & Veggies
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Author Layla (Pinterest)
Ingredients
4 5oz chicken breasts, cut into small cubes (*see note below)
2 cups bell peppers any colors, cut into squares or slices
1 medium red onion cut into squares or slices
1 cup of zucchini broccoli, mushrooms , diced sweet potatoes or plum tomatoes (optional)
For the marinade:
4 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil or thyme
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Pre-Heat oven to 450F.
Arrange chicken and veggies on a large sheet pan to create a rainbow pattern.
In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the marinade. Brush mixture onto chicken and veggies or toss chicken and veggies in mixture.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until veggies are charred and chicken is tender. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve on rice, quinoa, with pita or alone with a fork. See below or tzatziki and pita pouch recipe.
*served this over wild rice but next time will do white rice.



Healthy Sheet..."
That sounds delicious !

Avocado Breakfast Bowl

---Ingredients
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup red quinoa
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
2 eggs
1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 avocado, diced
2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
---Directions
Stir water and quinoa together in a rice cooker; cook until quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook eggs to desired doneness; season with seasoned salt and pepper.
Combine quinoa and eggs in a bowl; top with avocado and feta cheese.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/244...

Avocado Breakfast Bowl
---Ingredients
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup red quinoa
1 1/..."
That looks good!

If it is to be various side dishes, I heat separably. If it's something i am going to mix together I will heat it all together.



I hear you. It seems like there is a 15 minute window when an avocado is not like a rock and not over ripe. :)
Trader Joe's sells a box of 6 individual sealed packets of quacamole .
It's called Avocado's number guacamole to Go.
The ingredients are:
avocado, distilled vinegar, water, jalapeno pepper, salt , onion , garlic.
I still buy avocados for salads but I also keep these in my refrigerator for avocado toast.


We are late to the avocado toast phenomena but are fans. We top ours with sunnyside up eggs but were at a restaurant which served them scrambled. Not a fan of that--we like the runny yolk!

I've had the avocado toast with eggs various ways. I think my favorite is poached. But hard-boiled, fried, and scrambled are okay, too.
In a restaurant recently they added humus which I liked. Also very thin slices of cucumber. It was a middle eastern restaurant.
I also like to add a very thin sliced/cubed red onion.

We add avocado to most of our sandwiches, if they are on sale. When i was recovering from my stomach issues two weeks ago he added that to my grilled cheese and it was perfect. Next day he added thin red onion slices, even better. He eased me into stronger foods.

I almost purchased Trader Joe's smoked salmon to put on a bagel with creme cheese. I've never had this and thought I would give this popular combo a try. When i was in the store I forgot. I mentioned it to someone at the gym today and she said she thought it might be high in sodium. So I will have to check that first.


Thanks, deb. I'll have to pass. I try to limit my sodium to 1500 total for the day.
I did try something new today. Trader Joe's Gyro Slices.
They are fully cooked and you can heat them up for 20 seconds if you wish. That's what I did.
I had it with lettuce, avocado, red onion, peppers, tomatoes, cheese and TJ's tzatziki. I had it on Trader's corn and wheat tortillas
It' was excellent and the whole thing only took me a few minutes to make.




Stephanie, until 7 years ago we didn't have a single Trader Joes in all of Texas. Then, practically overnight, there were dozens--3 right here in the Dallas area. Maybe they'll expand to your part of the world soon, too. I hope so.
Books mentioned in this topic
Doing Justice: A Prosecutor's Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law (other topics)Neurofitness: A Brain Surgeon's Secrets to Boost Performance and Unleash Creativity (other topics)
Undo It!: How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Preet Bharara (other topics)Rahul Jandial (other topics)
Rahul Jandial (other topics)
Dean Ornish (other topics)
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