Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Bananas Foster Stir Fry

I got this recipe from my Pampered Chef consultant. :)


5 medium bananas
1 can (284mL) butterscotch ice cream topping
1 lemon
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon rum extract (or 1/4 cup rum)
4 cups frozen vanilla low-fat yogurt or ice cream

1.)Slice bananas using Egg Slicer Plus. Zest whole lemon using lemon Zester/Scorer; set aside. Juice lemon to measure 1/4 cup juice.

2.) Combine butterscotch, lemon juice and cinnamon in Stir-Fry Skillet. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally; remove from heat. Stir in bananas and rum.

3.) For each serving, spoon about 1/2 cup of the banana mixture over a scoop of frozen yogurt. Garnish with lemon zest.

Cook's Tip: To serve Bananas Foster Stir-Fry over toasted pound cake, preheat oven to 350°F. Slice pound cake into 1/2 inch slices and place on Rectangle Stone. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden and toasted.

Saturday, May 03, 2008

Chopped Vegetable & Bean Salad

I got this recipe from "Experience Life" magazine - it's a magazine put out with my gym membership at LifeTime Fitness.

Makes 4 servings

For the dressing:
2 T red wine vinegar
1/2 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
2 T olive oil

For the salad:
1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 c peeled and diced cucumber
1/2 c diced red bell pepper
1/4 c diced yellow bell pepper
1/4 c diced red onion
1/4 c diced black olives
3/4 t chopped fresh oregano
2 t chopped fresh basil
3/4 c diced tomato
3/4 c cooked white beans
1/2 c cooked garbanzo beans
1/2 c chopped hearts of palm

In a small bowl, combine red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Add olive oil and beat well with a wire whip.

In a large bowl, combine salad ingredients. Add salad dressing and toss lightly. Divide equally into large salad bowls.

Cornbread

Cornbread

4 Servings
One of the most popular American quick breads, cornbread is traditionally made with milk or buttermilk and eggs. This vegan alternative can be spiced up with chopped jalapenos or green chile for a delicious Southwestern twist.

Ingredients:
1 ¼ cups yellow cornmeal (organic and stone ground, if possible)
1 ¼ cups unbleached white flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 ½ cups boiling water mixed with 2 tablespoons expeller-pressed canola oil, plus a little extra for oiling the skillet
Instructions:
1. Heat oven to 425° F. Lightly oil a cast-iron skillet with a little canola oil. Heat it in the oven while you mix the cornbread batter.

2. In a large bowl stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, brown sugar and salt.

3. Add the boiling water mixed with 2 tablespoons canola oil and stir to mix, but do not overbeat. Add additional hot water if necessary to make a light batter.

4. Spoon batter into the hot cast-iron skillet. Batter should sizzle when it contacts the skillet. Bake 30 minutes or until the cornbread is light brown on top and springs back to the touch.

5. Cut into wedges and serve.

Friday, May 02, 2008

Mango Cream

Mango Cream

1 Serving
If you haven't eaten mango, this is an easy way to introduce this delicious fruit into your diet. Pick a ripe mango that feels firm and smells good. You may be able to buy frozen mango, which works fine for this recipe. For a festive touch, layer the mango cream with fresh berries in a parfait glass and top with chopped almonds.

Ingredients:
1 ripe mango
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

Instructions:
Peel the mango and cut the ripe portion of the fruit into pieces (The portion around the stone will be hard.). Put the mango in a blender or food processor with the yogurt. Blend until smooth.

Vegetarian Chili

Vegetarian Chili

6 Servings
In the culture and cuisine of the Southwest, chili is serious business. But contrary to what many believe, good chili doesn't require "carne" or meat. The key to great chili is knowing how to harness the fiery flavor of a wide range of available chile peppers to make the dish exciting yet edible. ("Chili" commonly refers to the dish made with "chile" peppers.) My favorites are the red New Mexican chile peppers traditionally tied in strings called ristras or available as ground powder, and chipotles which are ripe (red) jalapeños that have been dried and smoked. Experiment with different amounts until you find a level of intensity you're comfortable with. Be aware, however, that capsaicin, the active component in chile peppers that gives them their heat, is concentrated in the white tissue attached to the seeds. If you're using whole chiles, you may want to remove that white tissue if you don't want your chili too hot.

Ingredients:
7 1/2 cups cooked beans, like pintos, anasazi, adzuki, or kidney (roughly four 15-oz cans or 1 pound dried beans, cooked)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large onions, diced
1 dried or canned chipotle pepper
1 tablespoon mild red New Mexican chile powder, or to taste
1 tablespoon dried whole oregano
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 large can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes, undrained
5 cloves garlic, mashed
Salt and pepper, to taste

Garnishes:
Chopped raw onion
Chopped tomato
Shredded lettuce
Tortillas

Instructions:
1. Drain beans in a colander.

2. Heat oil in a large dutch oven or saucepan. Add the onions and sauté over medium heat until onions are soft and golden.

3. Crush the chipotle pepper if using dried, or mince if using canned.

4. Add the chipotle pepper, red chile powder, oregano, cumin and allspice to the onions. Cook for 2 minutes.

5. Add the tomatoes and beans. Simmer for 45 minutes, adding liquid if the mixture gets too dry.

6. Add salt and pepper to taste, and more chili if you want a hotter dish.

7. Serve in bowls with warm tortillas. Garnish with chopped raw onion, chopped tomato, and shredded lettuce.