Curried Peanut Butter Dip for New Year's

Here's an idea for a dip that moves beyond the usual sour cream and onion or even seafood and cream cheese based offerings. It will be a nice alternative for any vegans in the crowd, but make plenty as your non-vegan guests are sure to scoop it up as well. Great for pairing with apple or pear wedges and pita chips, either from the store or homemade, as well as carrot, celery and other vegetable dippers. 

Curried Peanut Butter Dip

1 tablespoon canola or olive oil
2 tablespoons (1/4 small) finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (if using ground ginger, may want to increase to almost 2 teaspoons)
1 teaspoon garlic powder OR 2 finely minced garlic cloves
1 tablespoon curry powder, or to taste
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes, to taste
1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup peanut butter, smooth or chunky
vegetable broth, apple juice, or water as needed

1.  Saute the onion, garlic, and ginger in the oil over medium heat until the onion is translucent and tender.
2.  Add the curry powder and pepper flakes and continue cooking just until you can smell the curry--probably about 30 seconds or so.
3.  Stir in the peanut butter and brown sugar. Combine all ingredients well and add broth or apple juice as needed to achieve desired consistency. (OR, "deglaze" the pan you sauteed the onions in with a tablespoon or two of water and use this for added liquid.) Continue heating just until mixture is well warmed.

Serve either warm or chilled--will probably need more liquid if served cold.

Date Balls and Reindeer Pretzels

 

Recently, some friends joined me in the kitchen for a little Christmas baking and a lot of fun. We made breads (yeast raised coffeecakes full of apple butter and raisins and cranberry/apricot and pumpkin applesauce quick breads) along with the two choices featured today, Date Balls and Pretzel Reindeer.

Date Balls for Christmas

When I asked my kids a few weeks ago what cookies I should be sure to make, the number one choice was Date Balls. These are dangerously addictive*, but they can be mostly handled by kids who might be lured into the tasks with the promise of getting to sample generously when done.

*A friend. who assures me she has never tried the illegal stuff, calls these the "crack cocaine of Christmas cookies. They do disappear from cookie trays quickly, so you will likely be making them often. Though I have doubled the recipe, getting the cereal and nuts stirred in evenly was much more difficult. My suggestion is to just plan to make this amount again...and again and again. They really don't take a lot of time and, if you have people hanging out in the kitchen looking for things to do, let them do the rolling into balls and sugaring. This really is a good "communal" food to make.


Ingredients:
1/2 c butter
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 c chopped dates
1/2 c flour
1 t vanilla
3 1/2 to 4 c crisp rice cereal (Rice Krispies or similar)
1 c chopped nuts (optional)

1.  Place the butter in a large, heavy saucepan. Melt over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar, eggs, dates and flour. Return to burner and continue cooking, stirring often (these stick very easily!) for about 5 minutes, until the mixture just comes to a bubbling boil.

2.  Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and then the cereal and nuts.
3.  Allow to cool until comfortable to handle. Shape into small balls and roll in powdered sugar. (The best way to do this is to put half a cup or so of powdered sugar in a quart or gallon size plastic bag and shake three to four of the balls at a time.)

Depending on the size you make these, the recipe will make 4 to 6 dozen balls.

Pretzel Reindeer

The Pretzel Reindeer are a nice variation on chocolate covered pretzels, and my friend Joy taught us all how to make them. Sadly for her, the pretzels I had were miniatures, so the reindeer were slightly under-endowed in the antler department. Adding to the proportions problem, the only red available for the mouths were a-little-large-for-the-project red cinnamon candies. As I look at these photos, I have to admit I am more reminded of a turkey than a reindeer, but still, they were fun to make--and if you start out with the right materials, yours will no doubt be spectacular!

Supplies
rod shaped pretzels
full size pretzel shaped pretzels
white chocolate chips
semi-sweet chocolate chips
cinnamon "red hots" candies
miniature chocolate chips (or miniature M&Ms or bits of red candied cherries)

(The amounts for this recipe will depend on how many you want to make and how much chocolate you end up using for each reindeer. See NOTE. )

1.  Place some white chips in a microwave-safe bowl and melt in the microwave at medium power. Depending on the amount you use, this may take two to four minutes. Stir occasionally, as it is not always apparent that the chips have melted--they will appear to be holding their shape even though they have turned to liquid. You do not want to leave them in too long.

2.  Press a pretzel-shaped pretzel into the melted chips or use a spoon or knife to spread one side of the pretzel with coating. Lay the pretzel, coating side up, on waxed paper. Repeat with remaining pretzels. Set aside.

3.  Meanwhile, repeat step 1 with a bowl of semi-sweet chips. Dip the top half of a pretzel rod in the chocolate, swirling to coat all sides--or use a knife or spoon to spread the chocolate. Immediately press the rod on to the center of one of the coated pretzels. Hold for a few moments to be sure that the two pieces are well-adhered. Set aside until cool and well-hardened. (Briefly place in refrigerator or freezer if your kitchen is very warm from baking.)

4.  If necessary, rewarm some of the white chocolate. Carefully place two small drops of the white coating in place for eyes. Press a miniature chocolate chip "eyeball" in each. Using a dot of the coating, adhere the red candy of choice for a mouth. Cool completely.

5.  For presentation, cover the reindeer heads with non-zippered sandwich size bags. Tie a ribbon at the base of the bag, around the "neck" of the reindeer.

NOTE:  These really don't take a lot of chocolate for each reindeer. We coated almost two dozen with about a cup or so of each kind of chocolate, and we had quite a bit left over. The extra coating was remelted and used to decorate other Christmas cookies. (More on that next time.)

Thirty Minute Savory Pumpkin Soup, Two Ways

For many years, I will admit that I resisted trying pumpkin soup, thinking of this fruit of fall only meant for pies and maybe some sweet breads. However, once I tried it, I became a fan. 

Now, with so much pumpkin pureed (see the last post for details), it seemed time to do some experimenting, and I discovered I could use a basic format to make both curried and Mexican themed soups with only a few variations--and, best of all, either version took less than 30 minutes from start to finish and both are easily doubled. As with most soups, both are especially good reheated. (The best way to reheat soup is to warm individual servings in the microwave.)

Whichever you choose, this is a great way to make a quick week night supper that helps you get a serving (or two!) of this beneficial dark orange vegetable. Frugal, fast, healthy, and fun!

Following the recipes are a few hints for quick preparation and ideas for turning the soups vegan. 

Spicy Curried Pumpkin Soup

1 T canola or olive oil

3/4 c chopped onion (1 medium to large)

1 t garlic powder

1/2 t turmeric

1 t (or more, to taste) curry powder

sprinkle of cayenne pepper, to taste

2 bouillon cubes--chicken or vegetable (using the latter will keep this vegtarian)

2 c water

1 c pumpkin puree

1 c evaporated milk (small can OR half a large can)

1 t sugar, to taste (optional)

1.  Saute the onion in the oil until golden and just barely tender. 

2.  Stir in the seasonings and cook for a minute or less, just to release some of the flavor but not long enough to burn. (The house is going to start smelling really wonderful about now!)

3.  Add the pumpkin, bouillon cubes, and water. Stir and continue cooking over medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes. 

4.  Transfer the mixture to processor or blender and blend into a smooth puree. (I don't have an immersion blender, but this would probably be a perfect place to use one if you have it.)

5. Return the soup to the pan and stir in the evaporated milk. Taste for seasonings, adding sugar if desired. Bring the mixture back to steaming hot, but do not boil.

If desired, garnish with some chopped cilantro. Makes about a quart, enough for 4 to 5 servings.

Mexican Style Savory Pumpkin Soup

1 T canola or olive oil

3/4 c chopped onion (1 medium to large)

1 t garlic powder

1 to 3 t chili powder, to taste

2 t cumin

1/2 t oregano

sprinkle of cayenne pepper, to taste

2 bouillon cubes--chicken or vegetable (using the latter will keep this vegtarian)

2 c water

1 c pumpkin puree

1 c evaporated milk (small can OR half a large can)

1 t sugar, to taste (optional)

1.  Saute the onion in the oil until golden and just barely tender. 

2.  Stir in the seasonings and cook for a minute or less, just to release some of the flavor but not long enough to burn. (The house is going to start smelling really wonderful about now!)

3.  Add the pumpkin, bouillon cubes, and water. Stir and continue cooking over medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes. 

4.  Transfer the mixture to processor or blender and blend into a smooth puree. (I don't have an immersion blender, but this would probably be a perfect place to use one if you have it.)

5. Return the soup to the pan and stir in the evaporated milk. Taste for seasonings, adding sugar if desired. Bring the mixture back to steaming hot, but do not boil.

If desired, garnish with some chopped cilantro. Makes about a quart, enough for 4 to 5 servings.

Variations:

Both soups use garlic powder, but fresh minced garlic (2 to 4 large cloves, to taste) could also be used. I used garlic powder because it does cut off a few minutes of prep time. 

If you have broth available, that could be substituted for some or all of the water; omit the bouillon cubes if all broth is used. 

For a vegan version, the evaporated milk could be replaced with soy milk or, especially with the curried version, coconut milk. 

*******************************

And then, one last, totally unrelated, picture:

The week before Thanksgiving I visited my favorite local orchard (Sekapps in Rochester MN--great place to go!) and discovered that one of their farm suppliers had brought in a last load of watermelon.  Minnesota watermelon in November! Turned out to be pretty good too, amazing for this time of the season in the #11 city on a list of the coldest US cities.

So, until next season, farewell to watermelon too.

Farewell Pumpkins as Decorations; I'm Turning You into Food

I love so many of the sights, smells, and sounds of the yuletide season. Trees, lights, spicy baking smells, and classic Christmas music (we'll ignore for now the less than wonderful stuff that fills too many background music channels at malls and stores).

It's all really wonderful, especially when we finally get a couple of inches of snow outside to add to the decorations. (Having lived in the desert Southwest for many years, I know that this is not really a part of everyone's Christmas, but the white frosting on the trees today just seems more traditional.) With the forecast of snow, I knew it was time to be done with the fall decor. The nice thing about using pumpkins, apples and other fall fruits and vegetables for decoration is that they can become the start of some wonderful meals.

And so, today, a pumpkin "tutorial"  for turning the Halloween/fall decorations into the basis for soups, breads, etc., along with some thoughts on pumpkin seed roasting.

Pumpkin Puree

I started out with two pumpkins that had been part of the front door fall decorations;  one was a little pie pumpkin, the other a medium sized jack-o-lantern.  The small pie pumpkins are generally better for cooking we are told, but my large pumpkin looked just too good to throw away, so I hacked away at it, pulled out the seeds for later, put the pieces on a cookie sheet (with a little water to keep the pan from being too hard to wash), and placed it in a 350 degree oven until the largest pieces were really soft when I poked at them with a fork and a well-gloved finger. For my larger pumpkin, the time was a little over two hours. You will need to adjust the time depending on the size of your own fruit.

You want to be sure the pumpkin is really well done, maybe even a little brown on the edges (note the pictures) so that you get maximum sweetness from the roasting.  My oven had no room for both pumpkins, so the smaller one went in later alongside some other baking; that one took barely an hour to reach full tenderness.




 

The next step is to let the pumpkin cool until it is easy to handle.When it is ready, use a soup spoon or serving spoon to scrape out the pulp into a bowl. My large pumpkin yielded over nine pounds of pulp, so I had to be prepared with a very large bowl.

When all the pulp is out of the shell, begin pureeing it, batch by batch, in your processor. A blender might also work, but I think you will definitely need one of the "mechanical" modes of getting the pulp as smooth as you will want for most recipes.

 When all of the pulp is pureed, you can prepare extra amounts for the freezer. I have discovered that placing a sandwich bag inside a large coffee mug and then scooping the pulp into the bag is virtually mess-free. A little experimentation with your mugs will provide just the right size for you. I package my pumpkin (as well as squash and applesauce) in two cup portions. The scale, adjusted for the weight of the mug, makes my job even easier.

Zippered bags will allow you to lay the bags flat until frozen, but I didn't have any available this time. Whichever kind of bag I use, I will put them into a larger, freezer weight bag after they are frozen solid, for maximum protection.

Pumpkin Seeds

 

Search for "toasted pumpkin seeds" and you'll find all kinds of approaches, from the oven to skillet to microwave. Some are just rinsed and popped into the oven while others are cooked for a few minutes first.  Last year, I used the method that calls for brining the seeds and then baking them, and it turned out much better than just putting the seeds directly in the oven. This year, however, I decided to play test kitchen and try a couple of different preparations.

The winner, surprisingly, used the microwave. This is really good to know, as there have been times when I had only a few pumpkin (or squash) seeds, and it hardly seemed worthwhile to run the oven for so little product. The microwave is perfect for these small batches, and it seemed like it was a lot easier to get the seeds really crispy throughout the whole batch. Here is the final method I used.

Microwave-Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

pumpkin or squash seeds

brine

olive or canola oil

seasonings to taste

1.  Wash the seeds well, to remove all clinging pulp.

2.  Put the seeds into water to cover, adding about a teaspoon of salt per cup of water. Place in refrigerator for several hours or overnight. (They can actually sit in the brine for a couple of days if you don't get to them earlier.)

3.  Drain the seeds in a colander. If desired, pat lightly with a towel.

4.  Spread the seeds in a microwave safe dish large enough to allow the seeds to be only a layer or two thick across the bottom. 

5. Sprinkle with a small amount of oil--probably about one to two teaspoons per cup of seeds. Using your fingers, mix the oil into the seeds, making sure they are evenly coated. 

6.  Shake the pan to spread the seeds evenly and then put in microwave on full power for about 3 to 4 minutes per cup of seeds. After a couple of minutes, remove from microwave and shake to stir.

The amount of time that will be required will depend on your microwave as well as the amount of seeds you are toasting. They should just barely be turning golden and look dry; do be careful not to overbake. If necessary, if you take the seeds out and they are not yet crunchy, you can return them for another few minutes even after they have cooled the first time.
7.  After removing from the microwave and before the seeds have cooled, sprinkle with your favorite seasoning blend. I like cajun seasoning, but you might want to try a little curry powder on some or an Italian seasoning blend with a little salt. With the small batches you will be making, you can have fun trying new flavors.

Flexible and Spicy Lentils and Vegetables

A local grocery chain has their 15 oz cans of tomatoes and chiles on sale this week and I was getting hungry for lentils. A little rummaging in the cupboard and I came up with a vegetarian main dish that would be great for left over baked or boiled potatoes* and can be made with a wide variety of other vegetables added in, depending on your own leftovers or freezer selection.

Spicy Lentil Stew--Vegan

canola or olive oil
1 c (or more) chopped onion--one medium
1 c French or other lentils--about 8 oz
1 14 to 15 oz can diced tomatoes and chiles
enough water to rinse can 2 times (about 4 cups)
2 t garlic powder OR 4 to 5 cloves garlic, minced
1 t cumin
1 to 2 t curry powder, to taste
salt to taste
1 large or 2 medium cooked or baked potatoes, cut in large chunks--about 12 oz
1 sweet potato, about 6 to 7 oz, peeled and cut in large chunks or slices
other vegetables as desired--see list below

1.  Saute the onion in a small amount of oil until it is just turning golden.
2.  Stir in the lentils, seasonings, tomatoes and chiles and water. Turn burner to medium low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes
3.  Stir in the sweet potatoes, add more water if needed, and cover. Cook another 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils and sweet potatoes are tender.
 4.  Add the cooked potatoes and any other vegetables as desired. Taste for seasoning, cover pan and allow to cook another 5 to 10 minutes, until all is heated through and flavors have blended a bit.

Optional vegetables can be anything, really. However, the most "traditional" would be these:

• frozen peas
• frozen or lightly cooked cauliflower
• spinach, kale, or other greens--if using fresh, add about 10 minutes before serving so they are just cooked through

This is a good place to use up leftover vegetables or those small amounts of frozen vegetables left when you followed that recipe that called for 10 oz of peas or corn or whatever and you had a 12 or 16 oz package.

Other notes:
Squash or carrots could also be substituted for the sweet potatoes.
If  you don't have any leftover potatoes, scrub the potato or potatoes, pierce, and put in the microwave for 3 to 6 minutes, depending on your own oven, until they are just barely tender.  You can do this while you are beginning the lentils. Allow the potatoes to cool enough to handle and cut into chunks.


*About "boiled potatoes" for younger and/or non-midwestern readers: Back in the meat and potatoes days, a very common way to make potatoes for "everyday" meals was to prepare and cook them as for mashed potatoes. When they were finished cooking, the water was drained--often as the liquid in gravy for the ubiquitous chops or steaks or meatloaf or whatever--and then served as is. Perhaps a little butter would be drizzled over along with some salt and pepper, but that was the extent of their preparation. I hardly ever see any reference to potatoes prepared in this way any more--you might want to try it out if you've never tasted this old-fashioned dish.

Spaghetti and Meatball Soup

Here's a recipe that can be a vegetarian option even with "meatball" in the title. I often make it with a vegetarian meatball recipe introduced to me by one of my daughters-in-law. It's very easy to make a huge pot of this for keeping in the refrigerator or freezer for quick family meals during the hectic holiday season.

As seen in the photo above, the soup was made with a couple of the variations noted at the end of the recipe, turning it into a little bit more like pasta fagioli. But that, after all, is part of the charm of homemade soup--you just add a little bit of this, a little bit of that, substitute what you have in your pantry for what you don't and, voila, you have an entirely new dish. Of course there is the little problem of never being able to quite duplicate that soup from last week's leftovers that everybody in the family wants you to make again, but you just keep improvising and making new "best ever" dishes. But here, in recipe form, are the basics for a warm, inexpensive fall or winter entree.

Spaghetti and Meatball Soup

(OR Spaghetti Sauce Soup, if you skip the meatballs!)

2 large onions, chopped--1 1/2 to 2 cups
1 28 to 29 oz can or jar spaghetti sauce
1 to 2 chopped red and/or green bell peppers
1 12 to 16 oz pkg chopped spinach--don't thaw before adding
2 chicken or vegetable bouillon cubes or packets
1/2 t 1 t hot pepper flakes (optional)
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 28 to 29 oz can crushed or dicd tomatoes
2 large carrots, grated
Italian seasoning, oregano, salt and black pepper to taste
1 T sugar
1 or 2 15 to 16 oz cans garbanzo beans, including liquid
water
1 lb pre-cooked meatballs (frozen pre-packaged or made from your own recipe, with or without meat)

1. Saute onions and four of the garlic cloves in a little oil until the onions are soft and slightly browned.
2.  Meanwhile, combine all the other ingredients except the spinach and meatballs in a large pot. Fill the spaghetti sauce, beans, and tomato cans with water to rinse out and add to the soup. You should add about 2 to 3 cans of water to attain a good "soupy" consistency.
3.  Add the sauteed onions and garlic and simmer for an hour or so. (This could be put on LOW in a large slow cooker for about 3 to 4 hours)
4.  About an hour before serving, add the remaining garlic, the spinach, and the meatballs. Taste and adjust for seasoning as needed. If the soup is too thick, you can also add some water at this time too.

The soup keeps well (is often thought even better the second day) and freezes well.

Variations:
Other vegetables can be added, such as corn, grated zucchini, more beans, kale, etc.
Substitute a cup or so of butternut squash puree for the carrots--or use cubed or grated squash.
Pasta can be added to the soup as well, in one of two ways.
Dry pasta:  Add one to two cups of pasta, your choice of shapes, with the other ingredients in step 2.
Cooked pasta:  Add two to four cups cooked pasta with the spinach and meatballs in step 4.
Beans: while garbanzos are my favorite for this soup, any other dried beans may be substituted as well.)

Vegetarian Meatballs

2 c grated Longhorn, cheddar, or mozzarella cheese--or a mixture
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 c fine dry bread crumbs
3/4 c pecans, ground or finely chopped
2 pkg vegetarian broth or bouillon granules (See NOTE)
garlic to taste (may use garlic powder or minced fresh garlic)
5 to 6 eggs

1.  Saute the onions in a small amount of olive or canola oil.
2.  Combine all ingredients but the eggs in a food processor fitted with a plastic mixing blade and blend until evenly mixed.
3.  Add the eggs one at a time, until the mixture just comes together and can be formed into a ball with your fingers.
4.  Shape the mixture into balls of your preferred size--I like to use one of my round measuring tablespoons as it makes these quite even and a nice round shape. For best flavor and even cooking, I would never make these larger than a ping pong ball.
You will end up with 40 to 70 meatballs, depending on the size you make them.
5.  To freeze for later use:  put the balls on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then repackage in a tightly sealed freezer bag and remove only as many as needed.
6.  To cook immediately:  you may saute the balls in a little oil on the stove top or use the method I prefer--place without touching on a pan and bake at 350 degrees until the outsides are golden brown and just starting to get crisp. The length of time will depend on how large you have made the balls.

NOTE:  If you use bouillon cubes instead of granules, crush these before adding to the other ingredients, to be sure they are well mixed.

The photo below gives a more close up view of one of the meatballs in today's soup.

Birthday Cake for Breakfast Too

I have it on "good medical authority" that breakfast may be the ideal time to eat birthday cake, since you have the rest of the day when your metabolism could be at its best to work off those extra calories. Since this cake also has a cup of very healthy butternut squash in it (and some bitter chocolate for more healthy rationalization), it certainly should be able to be eaten both at the birthday dinner and the following morning for breakfast.

Okay, so this is still a pretty over the top treat that is best reserved for those special once a year type occasions like birthdays. Nonetheless, this is a wonderful cake to have in your arsenal of special family favorites.

The recipes here include a longtime favorite--chocolate carrot cake--adapted for the squash I have in abundance right now and a new, and maybe this time really "never fail" fudge frosting. (To see the way my previous favorite-for-flavor fudge frosting looks, you can check out
http://frugalfastfun.blogspot.com/2011/08/zucchini-part-ii-dessert.html.)

Chocolate Butternut Squash Cake

2 c sugar
1 c butter, softened but not melted
4 eggs
1 c cooked, mashed or pureed butternut squash
1/3 c cocoa
1/2 t vanilla
2 c flour
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 c milk
1/2 to 1 c coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

1.  Preheat oven to 350. Oil well a Bundt or 10 inch tube pan. Sprinkle lightly with a mixture of about a teaspoon of cocoa and a teaspoon of flour and shake to evenly coat the bottom and about an inch or two up the sides of the pan. (You can use just flour for this step, but the cocoa adds a touch of flavor and eliminates the white spots on the crust that flour alone can leave.) It is important to be sure you have well-oiled and floured the pan to be sure the cake comes out with minimal problems.
2. Combine the sugar and butter. Beat together for several minutes, until the mixture is very light and fluffy. (Old-fashioned cooks would actually rub a little of the mixture between their fingers to observe whether the sugar was no longer granular to the touch.) This is a wonderful time to have a stand mixer!
3.  Add the eggs and continue beating another few minutes until the mixture is light and lemony.
4.  Pour in the squash, vanilla, and cocoa and stir until well-blended.
5.  Sift the dry ingredients together and then add alternately with the milk, stirring after each addition.
6.  Fold in nuts if used. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees fr 55 to 65 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
7.  Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then remove from pan. (I usually turn it directly on to the cake plate I will be using rather than on a cooling rack, as this is easier than trying to move the cake later.)

Variation:  Original Chocolate Carrot Cake--use 1 cup cooked and mashed or pureed carrots in place of the squash. 

Never Fail Microwave Fudge Frosting

1 c sugar
1/4 c milk
1/4 c butter
3/4 c semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 to 1 c miniature marshmallows

1.  Combine sugar, milk, and butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for about a minute and a half. Stir and return to microwave for another 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until the mixture has come to a full boil. (This is why you need a big bowl--it will increase in volume more than you ever thought!)
2.  Remove from microwave and immediately stir in the chocolate chips and marshmallows. Beat well.
3.  Return the mixture to the microwave and heat for a minute or two at power level 2 or 3. Again remove the mixture and beat until the chips and marshmallows are completely melted into the mixture.
4.  Spread the frosting on the cake while still warm, as it sets rather quickly.


This recipe stays a little within the "frugal, fast, and fun" parameters of this blog by using cocoa instead of baking chocolate, and it is a fun part of our family birthday traditions. Since I also try to add "fit" to most of my recipes, I could say that the squash makes this cake "healthy," but that is probably more of a stretch than reality. And fast? Well, you could make a cake mix cake or you could cut back on the amount of time creaming the butter and sugar, but sometimes maybe it's good to slow down and go back to a kind of heritage recipe, for the experience of making a "real" cake if nothing else.

Last Minute but Still All Homemade Apple Pie

So here it is Thanksgiving morning and you really shouldn't be on the computer, but you just realized you need one more pie, with little time or counter space to make your usual masterpiece.

The following recipe goes together pretty quickly and, assuming you have some apples around this time of year, probably takes nothing you don't usually have in your cookin' kitchen. Start to finish, it should take less than half an hour to prepare and then can just go in the oven with whatever else you have baking, though there will be about 12 minutes that you'll want to pump up the heat to 400 degrees. The recipes for all parts follow a few hints.

First the crust. If you bought some refrigerated or frozen shells, they can be used; just bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees before putting in the filling. However, this recipe assumes that part of your problem is that you have to come up with a crust as well as filling.

(The crust for this pie is one I had posted here earlier, for pre-baked pie shells, at Pat in the pan crust.)

The filling is similar to "tart tartin" but it doesn't require quite so much care in cutting the apples or making sure that the filling holds together, as this will stay right in the pan, like any apple pie. And the crumbles on top are similar to an apple crisp, just a lot fewer, enough to cover the apples and keep them from getting too brown.

So here is the method to use for this "quick" version of a totally from scratch pie.

1.  Wash the apples, cut, and begin caramelizing. Preheat the oven to 400 if you don't already have it on for other things.

2.  While the apples are cooking, assemble the crust in the pan.

3.  Put the crust in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes.  Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.

4.  Continue to stir and caramelize the apples while mixing up the crumbles.

5.  Remove crust from oven and pour the apples into the crust--now is the time for a silicone scraper, as you need to be sure you get every bit of the caramelized juices out of the pan and into the pie! Bake as directed below.

Now, to the recipes for the three parts.

Fast, But All Homemade, Apple Pie

Crust
1 3/4 c flour
2 t sugar
1/2 t salt
1/3 c vegetable oil
3 T milk

Filling
6 to 7 c cored but not peeled apples, sliced thin
1/2 to 3/4 c sugar, depending on sweetness of apple variety
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t mace (or nutmeg)

Topping
3 T butter, melted
1/3 c brown sugar
1/3 c flour
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t mace (or nutmeg)
1/2 c oatmeal
1/2 c coarsely chopped walnuts

Preparation:
Crust:
1.  Stir the dry ingredients together in a 9 inch pie pan.
2.  Mix the oil and milk together and pour over the dry mixture. Using a fork and then your fingers, combine the ingredients until well mixed. As you mix, begin to pat the dough into shape, pressing up the sides of the pan and then fluting the edges.
3.  Prick the shell in several places with a fork. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes, just until it is beginning to look dry and set but not at all browned.  Remove from oven and fill immediately with hot apple filling. Turn oven down to 375 degrees.

Here is the unbaked pie shell and the apples that are just starting to cook:




Filling:
1.  Wash, core, and slice the apples. Be sure to use plenty because they will cook down far more than you know. My mother's approach is still my favorite--slice the apples into the pie pan (or one of similar size) and then heap them as high as you can, filling it at least twice as much as you would expect to have when you are done.
2.  Put the apples in a large heavy pan. Spread the sugar over the top, then sprinkle with the cinnamon and mace. Begin heating the apples over medium high heat, stirring as they begin to caramelize.
3.  Continue cooking the apples, stirring occasionally, until they are evenly softened and well caramelized. Early on, the juices will be somewhat runny, so you should continue to cook until the mixture begins to thicken and take on a caramelized texture. This should take about as much time as required to make and pre-bake the crust and stir up the topping. You'll probably be able to peel a few potatoes or wash the green beans or something else as well--just an occasional stir should be fine.
4.  Pour the filling into the pie shell as soon as it is removed from the oven. Be sure to scrape all the juices out with the apples for maximum flavor.

Here are the apples ready to go in the shell--note how much they have cooked down. As usual, my patting of the crust has resulted in a few cracks in the partially baked crust, but this will not create any problems with the final result--don't worry if your shell does the same!

Topping:
1.  Combine the butter, sugar, spices and flour and mix to an even paste. A table fork will work fine for this step.
2.  Stir in the oatmeal and the nuts and mix to an even crumble.
3.  Spread evenly over the pie (your fingers will work best for an even finish!) and return the pie to the oven.

4.  Return the pie to the oven (now at 375 degrees) for about 20 minutes, just until the filling  begins to bubble around the edges. If the crust starts to brown too much, put some strips of foil around the edge for the last ten minutes or so.

And here you have the finished product:

Golden Squash Sweet Rolls

Today's recipe is guaranteed to fill your home with the warm and wonderful smell of home-baking. It uses the fruits of the season and is a (relatively) healthy bread to serve for brunch on a chilly fall morning. 

A few notes before the recipe:

• I almost always use water and dry milk powder in my baking, but, if the latter is not usually in your cupboards, you can just substitute milk for the water. Two reasons why I like my approach:  I can add extra milk powder for a protein and calcium boost and warming water is a lot easier than making sure the milk doesn't scorch or boil over. 
• The ground walnuts provide added protein and some really good flavor but may not be available everywhere. (Our Fleet Farm store stocks ground walnuts, pecans, and almonds, so I have a big advantage here.)  You could grind your own but I don't know that I would try to use chopped nuts in the dough. As noted in the filling recipe, the chopped walnuts could be included there.
• I made this both as cut cinnamon rolls and as a round coffee cake. Both were iced with plain powdered sugar icing. Unfortunately, all were eaten so quickly, I didn't get a photo of the baked results, so you will have to make do with pictures taken before these went into the oven.

Apple filled squash rolls

2 1/2 c warm water

1/2 c rolled oats

1 c nonfat dry milk powder

1/2 c canola oil

1/2 to 3/4 c sugar

2 t salt

2 eggs

1 c butternut squash puree

1 t cinnamon

1/2 c ground walnuts (optional)

1 package (2 1/2 t) instant dry yeast

4 c bread flour

2 to 3 c unbleached flour, or more as needed

1.  Combine first ten ingredients (through the ground walnuts) in a large bowl and beat thoroughly. Stir in yeast and 2 cups bread flour. Allow to sit in a warm place for 30 to 60 minutes, until the mixture has become quite bubbly and has begun to rise.

2.  Stir in remaining bread flour and beat until satiny. Gradually add unbleached flour, beating after each addition, until the mixture forms a ball that begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. When too stiff to stir, begin kneading with your hands, working in only enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to your hands. At this point, you can continue kneading right in the bowl or turn out on a lightly floured surface and knead, until the dough is springy.

3.  Brush the ball of dough with a little oil and cover. Let rise an hour or so, until doubled in bulk. Punch down once or twice if desired (this is how you can adapt yeast dough to your own schedule!).

4.  When ready to bake, cut off about a third of the dough and roll into a large rectangle. Spread with a third of the filling and roll and cut as for any cinnamon rolls. Place on a well-oiled baking sheet and allow to rise until again doubled in bulk, 40 to 55 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough.

5.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 18 minutes, depending on the size of the rolls.

If desired, part or all of the dough can be made into coffee cake instead of rolls. Roll and fill as for the cinnamon rolls, but do not cut. Instead, place the full roll on the baking sheet, forming it into a circle and sealing the ends together. Use a sharp knife or kitchen scissors to cut slashes every two inches or so, halfway into the roll. Allow to rise as for the rolls. Baking time will be longer than for the rolls, about 20 to 25 minutes

Apple Filling

4 c diced apples, packed

1/2 c sugar

2 t cinnamon

3 T butter

Put apples, sugar, and cinnamon in microwave for 3 to 4 minutes on high. Stir once or twice if needed. Remove and stir in butter. Allow to cool before filling rolls.

If desired, 1/2 to 1 cup chopped walnuts can be added with the butter.

Brunch, Lunch, Supper--A Flexible and Fast Main Dish

Potatoes O'Brien is a dish found on many coffee shop menus, while Lyonnaise Potatoes may appear on the breakfast listings at a little more upscale hotel restaurant. Whatever the name, these usually have a similar base, sliced (occasionally diced) potatoes sauteed with some onion and, in the case of the O'Brien version, bell peppers. Most often, these will be offered as a side dish, with eggs cooked to your preference along with toast, English muffin, or bagel. Often, bacon, sausage, or ham are also loaded onto the already crowded plate. These potatoes may also be a side dish for a three (!) egg omelet loaded with all kinds of other goodies, like the afore-mentioned breakfast meats, lots of wonderfully gooey cheese, etc.

Oy.

When cooked in a lot of fat, added to an already calorie and fat-heavy meal and then with the redundant carbs of one of those bread choices, this potato dish can seem anything but healthy.

However, the version I'm including today can actually be a good choice for a quick meal anytime of the day.  A few ways to move it into the category of a welcome choice:

• Make this the only carb choice--no need for toast or other bread-y additions
• Reduce the amount of fat used for the potatoes--not at all hard if you start with a nonstick or (best of all) well-seasoned cast iron skillet
• Use eggs as your source of protein (Read the NOTE below the recipe to see more on this)
• Potatoes are high on many glycemic indices, but keep the peeling on. Treat them as the carb part of the meal, not as one of your vegetable servings and you'll be okay. That's why this dish, loaded up with lots of veggies--squash or carrots and lots of onion and bell pepper--works well nutritiously
• Add a glass of milk and some fresh fruit in season for a completely balanced meal

 The following recipe takes all of these steps into account, resulting in a warm and friendly meal that can be prepared quickly and inexpensively.

Potato Eggs O'Brien

These amounts are for one to two servings. Multiply as needed for the number of people you are feeding.

1 T canola or olive oil
1/2 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 large potato, scrubbed (but not peeled) and sliced (about 2 cups)
1/4 to 1/3 c diced bell pepper--if possible, use green and red for maximum color appeal
1 c lightly cooked butternut squash, cubed OR
1 c sliced or diced carrot (about 1 medium)
2 eggs
seasoning salt and cayenne (or black) pepper, to taste

1.  Saute onion in oil over medium to high heat for about 5 minutes, while you are preparing the other vegetables.

2.  Add the potatoes (and carrots, if using these instead of squash) and continue cooking about 5 minutes, until the potatoes are golden on the bottom. Turn and sprinkle with a small amount of seasoning salt and pepper. Cover and continue cooking about 5 more minutes. Stir and add the bell pepper and squash, cover again and continue cooking until the potatoes are just tender.

3.  Reduce the heat to medium/low and push the vegetables to the sides of the pan, opening an area in the center. Continue cooking in one of the following ways:

For eggs "sunny side up":  Break the eggs into this cleared area, sprinkle with a few drops of water, and cover the pan. Continue cooking until the eggs are set.

For eggs scrambled into the rest of the mixture:  Lightly mix the eggs with a fork and pour into the center. As they begin to set, gently stir the eggs into the vegetables, coating all lightly. Cook until all parts of the egg are set.

May serve with salsa, ketchup, and/or plain yogurt as desired.


NOTE:
Eggs?  For many of us who remember the decades of warnings against eating any eggs at all, the moves toward bringing these back into the acceptable nutrition category may be hard to get used to. However, there are now well-grounded studies that show eggs can be valuable--and very inexpensive--additions to a well-balanced diet. No, three fried eggs every day for breakfast will never again be seen as good, but you can easily eat eggs a few times a week without any fear of problems. (NOTE: For a few people, eggs are still a problem; if your doctor has indicated they are not for you, do heed his or her advice!)

The key is, as with all foods, keeping the preparation as healthy as possible. If you choose to accompany your eggs with high fat "breakfast" meats or you always choose cooking methods that also include cheese (omelets, frittatas, etc.), the problem will not be with the eggs!

Bottom line:  If you are one of those people who find an egg with a side  "home fries" or "hash browns" one of life's guilty pleasures, enjoy this version, guilt-free.

My Daughter's Great Tree Hugger Chili--and some thoughts on hiding vegetables

(Yes, there really is a recipe in this entry; you just have a little more prose to plow through to get there. I have been told, by a reliable source, that it is better to put the recipes up front, since those are what people are really interested in. However, I just have to have my say about the hidden vegetable thing. Besides, this chili recipe is well worth waiting for, so bear with me for a few more paragraphs.)


A few years ago, there was a little bit of a dust up over two competing cookbooks designed to "hide" vegetables in kids' meals. Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Foods by Jessica Seinfeld (Mrs. Jerry Seinfeld) hit the stores only a few months after Missy Chase Lapine had published her cookbook, The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals. There were charges of plagiarism over the similarities and also some spirited debate over whether it is ever good to try to slip disliked vegetables into foods rather than just getting kids to eat "what's good for them."

Meanwhile, I found the whole thing pretty funny, since I had long ago been influenced by Confessions of a Sneaky Organic Cook, by Jane Kinderlehrer--and my own mother. Both of these women knew how to add flavor and nutrition to foods by slipping in unexpected ingredients. For my mother, this meant putting grated carrots in her meatloaf for added juiciness and including all manner of leftover vegetables in soups and casseroles. She made carrot cakes and breads, tucked leftover beets into a delicious hash whenever there was leftover pot roast, and combined applesauce and other fruits in pies and cakes--and perhaps even things we never knew about!

Kinderlehrer added an infamous (for my kids at least) idea that I used often when my children were small: including a small amount of ground liver to ground beef for burgers and meatloaf. Because two of my children were often anemic, I had been told to serve liver more often, never something children enjoy, so this little hint was one that seemed just right. I would buy a pound of liver, grind it in the blender, and then freeze it in tablespoon size packages. I started with about a tablespoon per pound and was usually able to get up to two to three tablespoons before the family started to notice. The more I included other, strong flavored ingredients like lots of onion, bell pepper, and garlic, the less they were able to detect the liver. And I quickly learned that spaghetti sauce and chili didn't work with this trick because the liver was never really incorporated as well as with the more compact forms of burgers and loaves.

As with any good thing, I did have a tendency to overdo the liver addition, causing the entire meatloaf or hamburger to become liverloaf or liver patties, not welcome entrees! Today my kids still remind me of those least favorite meals, but they didn't realize how often they did eat--and enjoy--liver-enhanced ground meat dishes, when I learned how to moderate the amounts.

Liver aside, I did begin collecting recipes that that included vegetables and sometimes fruits in unexpected places. At first, they were mostly for breads, cakes, and other desserts. Then, following my mother's frequent addition of carrots to various main dishes, I grated these always available orange vegetables into just about anything that had a tomato sauce and then branched out to adding carrot puree to cheese-based sauces, even using them to replicate the bright orange fluorescence of the mac and cheese in the little blue boxes.

Spinach is another vegetable I learned to add into foods in unlikely places. First my meatloaf, sometimes almost more vegetable than meat, and then lasagna, chili, and spaghetti sauce. Frozen chopped spinach mixed into these tomato-sauce based foods is barely distinguishable, yet its addition gives depth of flavor without itself standing out separately.

However, it was not until my daughter introduced me to her incredible killer vegetarian chili that I really learned about tucking lots of vegetables into all manner of foods. Her chili doesn't try to hide anything, but it still has unexpected ingredients that, like the spinach I had been adding to other things, don't step up and say, hi, did you know you just had zucchini in your chili, yet the added flavor makes her recipe a really good one.

In addition to zucchini and any other squash, she incorporates barley. This is another good food to include if you are trying to move to more vegetarian meals. It provides a texture in chili, spaghetti and other sauces very similar to ground beef--a good "starter" for those trying to move toward more vegetarian options...and, it's an excellent choice for the coming cold weather months, when nothing is so warming as a steaming bowl of chili or soup.

If you are looking for a vegetarian dish that will satisfy even the most carnivorous eaters, you can't do better than Darcie's own chili.

Darcie's Tree Hugger Chili

2 1/2 c dry kidney and/or black beans, soaked (see NOTE)
1 very large onion, chopped
2 to 3 stalks celery, diced
6 to 8 large cloves garlic, minced (don't be afraid to use too much!)
1 to 2 medium bell peppers, chopped
1 c pearl barley
2 t chili powder, or to taste
black and cayenne pepper to taste
2 to 3 t cumin
1 small can tomato paste
46 oz can tomato juice
2 T olive oil
1 medium carrot, diced
1 to 3 zucchini OR any butternut or other winter squash, cubed
2 t basil
1 1/2 t garlic salt
1 t Italian seasoning
1 14 1/2 to 15 oz can stewed tomatoes
1 T sugar or molasses (opt)

1. Soak beans for at least 4 hours before cooking, or overnight. Prepare all other ingredients while the beans are cooking.
2. Place the soaked beans in a large kettle, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Partially cover, turn heat down to a simmer, and cook until tender (about 1 1/4 hours, slightly longer for black beans). Watch the water level during cooking, adding more if necessary. Drain off any excess water when the beans are done.
3. Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized skillet. Add onion, half the garlic, carrot, celery, and seasonings. Saute over medium heat about 5 minutes, add bell pepper and zucchini, and saute until all of the vegetables are tender.
4. Stir in half the tomato juice. Simmer, uncovered, gradually adding rest of tomato juice, tomato paste, and barley. Keep cooking slowly until of desired thickness. Taste to see if more seasonings are needed.
5. Add beans, canned tomatoes, and more chili powder and cayenne pepper if necessary. Continue simmering over lowest possible heat, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 30 minutes or longer. After about 15 minutes, add remaining garlic. Barley will continue to swell even after cooking.

Serve topped with cheese and with toasted flour tortilla strips on the side. This becomes more and more tasty the longer it sits. It reheats very well in the microwave, but tends to separate if frozen.

NOTE:
Canned beans may be used, drained of their juices. You would probably want three to four 15 1/2 ounce cans and can mix black and kidney beans if desired.

Also--if you are using butternut squash instead of zucchini, you may use precooked puree, adding this with the tomato juice in step 4, rather than in step 3 with the other vegetables.

And, in case you wondered, with cheese and cilantro on top, it looks like this:

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

After years of loving Indian food but being afraid to try making it myself, I have become a little more adventurous with curry, garam masala and all the rest, and this soup has made me glad that I have branched out, especially because it's such an easy recipe.

There are only two "hard' steps--cutting the squash can sometimes be a challenge but, as I mentioned in an earlier post, putting a squash in the microwave for 3 minutes or so makes cutting it much, much easier.

The other step that is difficult for me at times is the patience I need to practice while letting the onions caramelize. After you have heated the oil and added the onions, you really do need to turn the heat to medium at most and then allow the onions to slowly, slowly cook to a sweet, dark golden mass. Since these could also be cooked ahead if needed, you might want to saute them while you are washing dishes or preparing other foods, since you just have to give them a stir now and then while you wait.

As made today, this soup is meatless but not vegetarian. I had some wonderful broth that needed to be used, so that became the base for the dish I served my guests today. However, if you want to go the whole vegan route, just use vegetable broth instead of the chicken broth in the ingredients list below.

And by all means, make this ahead and reheat--it really does get better the second time around.

Curried Squash Soup

5 c roasted butternut squash (about a 2 to 3 pound squash)
2 to 3 c chopped onion--err on the side of more, not less!
3 T canola or olive oil (OR, for a non-vegetarian version, use the chicken fat from the chicken broth)
1 to 2 t finely chopped or grated fresh ginger
3 to 4 large garlic cloves, minced
1 to 1 1/2 T curry powder
1 quart chicken broth
water
1 to 2 t salt, to taste--this will vary depending on the saltiness of the broth you are using
1/2 to 1 t cayenne, according to your taste
1 c unsweetened applesauce
1 to 2 t sugar, to taste

1. Cut the squash in half and place on a baking sheet. Cover lightly with aluminum foil and roast at 350 to 375 for an hour or so, until the flesh is very soft throughout. Allow to cool and then scoop the pulp from the peeling. This step can be done well in advance of making the soup--or you can even use frozen squash puree, thawed slightly.

2. Saute the onion slowly in the oil until it is deep golden brown and almost caramelized. (Cover the pan for most of the time that the onions are cooking, stirring occasionally to be sure they don't stick on and that they are cooking evenly.) Stir in the ginger, garlic, and curry powder and continue cooking for another 5 minutes or so.

3. Add the applesauce, sugar, and broth to the sauteed onions and stir well. Simmer for a few minutes before removing the mixture from the burner so that it cools slightly.

4. In batches, combine the squash and the broth and onion mixture in a food processor and blend until very smooth. Return all of the pureed mixture to the soup pot. Add the salt and cayenne and adjust other seasonings as needed. If desired, water can be added for a thinner consistency.

5. Continue simmering the soup for a half hour or more (a slow cooker on LOW is a good thing for this) before serving, OR refrigerate and then heat slowly the next day.

If desired, sprinkle with chopped cilantro before serving.

Additional Notes:

Don't have a processor or blender?

You can still have a very smooth soup, by making sure that the onions are chopped quite fine and then mashing the onions and squash until smooth, using a potato masher. For this version, you probably would be better off using ground ginger and garlic powder instead of fresh ginger and garlic, for maximum smoothness.

Don't have applesauce handy?

Substitute a finely chopped apple or two for the applesauce and saute with the onions. 

A Quick--and Healthy--Salad for Fall and Winter

As the last of the local tomatoes have been killed off by frost, and even the lettuce is getting a little more pricey and a little less local, it is time to switch to salads based on entirely different ingredients. Classic Waldorf Salad is something that we can fall back on now that there are abundant apples and celery in the stores, but this is one of those "salads" that can too often be taken over by high fat, high sugar, ingredients. This version is nonfat and minimizes the added sugars. With all the ingredients in the refrigerator, you should be able to assemble enough for a family of four or more in just minutes.

Light Waldorf Salad

1 1/2 c coarsely chopped apples--core but do not peel
1 to 1 1/2 c sliced or diced celery
1/2 c broken walnut pieces
6 to 8 oz vanilla yogurt
1 T lemon juice (may use bottled, reconstituted, such as ReaLemon)
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
optional additions:
black or red grapes, sliced
raisins or dried currants
sunflower seeds

1. Prepare the celery, walnuts, and any of the optional ingredients and place in a large serving bowl.
2. Cut the apples and sprinkle with the lemon juice. Toss lightly to coat all surfaces.
3. Add the apples to the other prepared ingredients. Stir in yogurt, a little at a time, until the desired creaminess is reached.
4. Season generously with the salt and pepper. The pepper will bring out the flavors, so don't omit because you don't associate fruit with this interesting spice!

A note on the apples: Although any variety may be used, this is best with the crisp, slightly tart, varieties so often available in the fall. I have used, at various times, Haralson, Regent, Prairie Spy, Sweet 16, and Honey Gold (a precursor of the well-loved Honey Crisp). Mixing red, green, and yellow apples can make this an especially attractive salad as well. While some varieties will discolor more quickly than others, cutting the apples after all the rest of the salad is prepared will minimize browning. Tossing them with the lemon juice also helps them keep their color, as does adding the yogurt as soon as possible after cutting.

The portion shown in the photo above was refrigerated overnight, illustrating how well the color stays once the apples are mixed with the dressing. (Apples for this version were a mix of Haralson and Prairie Spy.)

Variation: For a slightly less sweet salad, use plain yogurt and only a teaspoon or so of sugar, tasting for your preferred level of sweetness.

AND...

A Variation my daughter helped develop many years ago:

Pink Lady Salad

Use either strawberry or raspberry yogurt for the dressing; omit salt and pepper (and maybe reduce the celery by half) and you'll have a kid-friendly dish for even the most salad-a-phobic child.