Tag: Meatless Dishes

Daily Thoughts · Starches · Uncategorized

Homemade Spanish Rice

Chocolate CastlesLeave a comment

Sorry I forgot to post this yesterday. When I began to look in the fridge to see what leftovers we had for dinner last night, I saw the leftover rice. IT was still very good. Isn’t it amazing that when you heat leftovers in the microwave they seem to taste better than warming food up in pans? Is it because we don’t have to wash so many dishes that it just makes it taste better? Anyway, we were both so pleased and enjoyed this rice so much, I decided that instead of buying The Rice a Roni or other brands of Spanish Rice, I am just going to make this from now on. Plus I still have about 25 lbs of rice left over from when we were ordering groceries instead of going to the store. Everytime I ordered pasta, the store seemed to be out and they substituted with rice. So if anyone is getting married and needs some rice to be thrown, I’m your girl. I will give it to you free OR…your wedding present from me will be a lifetime supply of rice pilaf, Spanish Rice, Rice&Broccoli or chicken & rice soup. Your choice…anyway, back to the recipe.

Ingredients:
1 cup of uncooked rice
2 teas oil
2/3 cup of Stilwell Seasoning blend (found in the frozen section of veggies. It is a combination of celery, green bell pepper and chopped onion) I use this all the time in things like this that need a little of the added veggie blend but don’t want to take the time to chop up all 3 of these)
2 1/2 cups broth. *I used half chicken broth and liquid from processing a can of Rotel Roasted tomatoes with green chilies. Pour the processed tomatoes (I just used my Bullit to process them) into a measuring cup. Add chicken broth to this to equal 2 1/2 cups.
1 teas garlic powder or 2 squares of frozen garlic cloves that you get from Trader Joes or Walmart…i simply love these. So easy to use.
2 teas Adobe Seasoning from Pensky’s Spices
1 teas dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teas oregano

In a skillet (which has a tight fitting lid), add the oil. Heat and add the rice and the veggie blend to the oil. Cook over medium heat until rice begins to lightly turn golden and the onion, bell pepper and celery are well thawed. Add the liquid and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Then turn heat to low and put lid on. Cook for 20-22 minutes or until rice is done. If you need to add more broth to get the rice done, add about 1/4 cup. Remove lid when rice is done and fluff with a fork.

Daily Thoughts · Vegetables

VEGGIE NIGHT AT OUR HOUSE

Chocolate Castles7 Comments

We have been having quite a few veggie nights for dinner. It is weird. For some reason, maybe its the heat maybe I am getting lazy (but think I will just think it is the heat instead, sounds much better), but we have been enjoying vegetables much more than before.
On Sunday night we had family over for dinner. Because my sister-in-law doesn’t eat meat except for salmon or pork roast, it is fun to try to come up with new options for when they come over to eat with us. Sunday night we ended up having fried green tomatoes (yes, I know, we just had them last week, but they were so good and I still had 2 left, I wanted to make them again)cornbread that I added diced green chiles, a small can of creamed corn and because there was not milk to be found in our house, I diluted whipping cream to use in the cornbread. After all, is there anything whipping cream would not taste good in? I put on a pot of pinto beans, had fried potatoes with onions and boiled cabbage. The cabbage was so good that I am posting what I did. You probably have a million recipes on fried potatoes and onions and pinto beans, so will skip that part. But the cabbage was really good. We ended our veggie dinner with a wonderful key lime pie with whipped cream on top. It was a really great meal! We didn’t miss having meat at all. Well, actually because we didn’t have meat, around 9:30 p.m. we started to get a little hungry, so we just had a second piece of key lime pie. Took the hunger pains away instantly! Worked like a charm.

I cut up a head of cabbage and added it to a deep heavy saucepan. Filled the pot with enough water that it covered the cabbage about halfway up the pan. I use the seasoning package of frozen onion, bell pepper and celery that you can get at almost any grocery store for about $1. I added added about 1/2 cup of this to the pot. Sprinkled 2 teas chicken bouillon over the top, 1 teas garlic powder, salt and pepper and 1 rounded teaspoon of Herb de Provence. Cooked it over medium heat for about an hour. About halfway through I threw in about 2 tables of unsalted butter because, well, because if Paula Deen ever saw this post, I would want her to be proud of me for adding butter and because we had not had our full days quota of butter yet. That’s it. It was a great dish that went over so well and my sister-in-law loved it also. If you need a good recipe for fried green tomatoes, just comment. I used one I got off the internet and they were delicious. I will be most happy to share it. Last night, we had the rest of the beans, cabbage, shredded brussels sprouts, and homemade Spanish rice, which even if I say so myself, was really very good. Will post that recipe tomorrow.

Remember what your mom always told you…eat your veggies and have a butterful evening!

Daily Thoughts · Starches · Uncategorized · Vegetables

Lemon-Green Bean Pasta

Chocolate CastlesLeave a comment

This week I saw this recipe on FB and decided that I had to try it. We cooked it Friday evening and it was delicious. No meet, yet, it was so good that we didn’t even miss the meatballs! Quick and easy, you might even have everything in the house that is needed to make it. We have decided next time to add some fresh spinach along with the green beans but you will love this wonderful meatless Italian dish.

1 box angel hair or spaghetti
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 tables olive oil
1/3 cup finely chopped purple onion
5 tables unsalted butter
4 teas lemon zest
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 teas Italian Seasoning
1/2 teas crushed red pepper
2 cups fresh green beans (I bought the bag of fresh green beans that you can cook in microwave in the bag and cooked them for 3 min in microwave before adding to the skillet.
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
2 teas lemon juice

Cook pasta according to directions on box, set aside saving about 1/2 cup pasta water.
Add olive oil and butter to skillet and stir until butter is melted. Saute onion, garlic and green beans in the oil/butter mixture until onion is clear. Add salt and pepper to your liking. Add the crushed red pepper and Italian seasoning and cook until green beans are tender (remember I cooked them first in the microwave to save on time). When these vegetables are done, add the pasta to the green bean mixture along with the pasta water, lemon juice and zest to mixture. Add the Parmesan cheese to the mixture before serving. Serve with garlic bread and Tomato-Mozzarella salad!

Casseroles · Daily Thoughts · Starches · Uncategorized

Thanksgiving Sides

Chocolate CastlesLeave a comment

Since we will have two sets of our kids here for Thanksgiving, I thought I would ask each of them what dish would they want that says, “Thanksgiving” to them. I won’t do that again. Some of the reply’s were fried chicken tenders, mac & cheese, Coke Salad and stuffed jalapeños. Since macaroni and cheese was requested, I began to look for a good recipe and find it I did…In Cook’s Country magazine. So instead of just having a box of Kraft mac & cheese, I think I will treat them to a special dish of gourmet mac! Maybe it will make them want to come back again soon.

8 oz (2 cups) elbow macaroni
salt and pepper
8 oz mild cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
2 teas cornstarch
4 tables unsalted butter
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
3 tables all purpose flour
2 teas dry mustard
1/8 teas cayenne pepper
2 cups water
1 cup heavy cream
2 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk (slightly beaten)
2 teas Worcestershire sauce
4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)

Adjust oven rack to upper middle position and heat to 375
Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large saucepan. Add macaroni and 1 teas salt and cook for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside. Toss milk cheddar with cornstarch in a bowl and set aside.
In now empty saucepan, melt 1 tables butter over medium low heat. Add panko crumbs and stir, cooking until golden, about 4 minutes. Transfer to bowl and reserve.
Return saucepan to heat and melt remaining 3 tables butter. Add onion and cook until beginning to soften, about 3 mins.
Stir in flour, mustard, 1/2 teas salt, 3/4 teas pepper and cayenne and cook stirring constantly until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Whisk in water and cream and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium low. Simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
Remove cream sauce from heat and whisk in mid cheddar-cornstarch mixture until melted. Whisk in eggs, yolk, Worcestershire. Stir in precooked macaroni. Transfer macaroni mixture to 8″ square baking dish. Sprinkle with sharp cheddar cheese, then panko crumbs. Bake until well browned and set, 20-25 minutes. Let rest for 15 minutes. Serve warm.

appetizers · Vegetables

Zucchini A La Meatless

Chocolate Castles2 Comments

I know, that is a corny name, but just couldn’t help myself today. This past weekend we had two different sets of friends from California over for dinner as they were passing through town. It was not only imagegreat to see them, but it allowed me to cook for more than two, which just thrilled my soul. On Facebook last week, there was a recipe for stuffed zucchini, which looked and sounded so good, I had to try it. Am so glad I did. It was delicious! I do have to admit that the first night I made it, I followed the recipe pretty much to a T, and felt that it could use a little more seasoning, so the second night I made it, I added more and it was really good. So here it is:

4 zucchini, washed, dried and cut in half, vertically. With a small spoon, scoop out the middle of the pulp, being sure to leave the skin in tact. I also left the each end intact, so as to create like a boat, so the stuffing wouldn’t fall out either end.

1/3 cup olive oil

1/2 tea each s of the following: Italian seasoning, seasoned pepper, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and onion powder

1 ball of fresh mozzarella, cut into 1″ size squares (or you can sometimes find the fresh mozzarella already in little balls)

1 pint of cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

6 teaspoons of Italian flavored breadcrumbs

Chopped fresh basil

When zucchini is washed and wiped dry, scoop out the seeds with enough of the pulp to give you room to stuff each piece. Combine the seasonings with the olive oil. Using a pastry brush, brush the seasoned olive oil in all of the insides of the zucchini. Use a teaspoon to sprinkle about 1/2 to 1 teas of the breadcrumbs into the zucchini boat. Then cutting 16 cherry tomatoes in half, place 4 halves in each boat, leaving room between them to place a piece of mozzarella in them (this will be done after the first baking, not now)k Sprinkle some of the parmesan cheese over the tomatoes.

Bake in preheated 350 oven for about 25-30 minutes or until squash is tender. Remove from oven and place now the mozzarella pieces (or balls) in-between the tomato halves.

Cut fresh basil and sprinkle over the top. Place in oven and broil for 2-4 minutes until cheese is melted and is beginning to brown.

Daily Thoughts · Starches · Vegetables

Chile Rellanos/Tkbakesalot Style

Chocolate CastlesLeave a comment

image.jpegRandy and I are hooked!  We have such fun making these so we look for anyone who is wanting to try them! Last week we had some family over who loves Mexican food so had told them we would make them! They brought guacamole and I fried flour tortillas into homemade chips!  The difference is that I make green chile sauce to pour over the Rellanos and then sprinkle some cheddar cheese on top and put them in the oven for a min until the cheese on top is melted!  I just googled “recipe for chile Rellanos” which is easy so am only posting the green chile sauce! There are several recipes that are posted for these do pick one that you like and use this sauce to make them extra flavorful!

1 small can (like a soup size can) chicken broth

1 small can mild green chiles (diced)

1 small can mild green chile sauce

1 stick butter

1/3cup flour

sslt, pepper & garlic powder to your liking

melt butter in large skillet! Sprinkle flour a little at a time over melted butter and whisking continually to avoid lumping. When you have a paste of the flour mixture add the green chilies, green chile sauce and chicken broth (a little at a time as you might not need all the chicken broth) and seasoning! Stir continually until mixture is thickened as gravy consistency! Set aside while you make the Rellanos and the top each Rellano with about 2 tables of the sauce mix! Sprinkle shredded cheddar over the entire pan and place in preheated 425 oven until cheese is melted!

I also use this green chile sauce over my chicken green chile enchiladas!

 

 

 

Casseroles

Mushroom Stroganoff *Taken from Southern Living

Chocolate CastlesLeave a comment

This is one of my favorite dishes! Meatless, yet full of flavor this amazing dish will become one of those dishes that you will be so proud to serve to anyone.

1 (8 oz) package egg noodles

1 tables olive oil

2 tables butter, divded

3 (8 oz) packages sliced cremini mushrooms

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 fresh thyme sprigs

1 1/2 teas smoked paprika

1 teas kosher salt

1/2 teas freshly ground black pepper

2 tables flour

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 cup sour cream

1 tables chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Cook egg noodles according to directions on bag. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.

Heat olive oil and 1 tables butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and next 4 ingredients and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes or until mushrooms are slightly browned.

Add flour and remaining butter to skillet and stir, over low heat, about 2 minutes. Whisk in broth, slowly, constantly stirring. Bring to a boil, stirring. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream and parsley. Serve on noodles.

appetizers · Breads · Super Bowl Recipes

Mushroom Bread

Chocolate Castles2 Comments

Looking for a filling meatless appetizer for Super Bowl? This is taken from Taste of Home and sounds like a great one.

1 tube (8 oz) refrigerated crescent rolls

2 cups thinly sliced fresh mushrooms

1 tables butter, melted with garlic powder tailored to your liking

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teas Italian seasoning

Fresh ground pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350. On an ungreased baking sheet, unroll crescent dough into one long rectangle; press perforations to seal. Prick dough several times with a fork. Bake 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, toss mushrooms with melted butter (with added garlic powder); arrange on crust. Sprinkle with cheese and seasonings. Bake 12-14 min longer until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Cut into 12 pieces.