Mushroom Parmesan

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing the grill pan
• 4 to 6 portobello mushrooms
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup marinara sauce (store bought or homemade)
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill.

Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil over both sides of the mushrooms. Sprinkle the mushrooms with salt and pepper. Drizzle olive oil on the grill to prevent the mushrooms from sticking. Grill until the mushrooms are heated through and tender, about 5 minutes per side.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Spread 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Place the grilled mushrooms on top of the marinara sauce and top with the remaining marinara sauce. Sprinkle with the cheeses and top with the butter pieces. Bake until the cheese melts and the top is golden, about 15 minutes. Serve.

By Giada De Laurentiis

Tasty Thursdays: Chicken and Summer Vegetable Tostadas

My cousin sent me this recipe which she found on MyRecipes and it just sounds & looks absolutely delish! The following recipes makes 4 servings.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 
• 2 teaspoons canola oil 
• 12 ounces chicken breast tenders 
• 1 cup chopped red onion (about 1) 
• 1 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears) 
• 1 cup chopped zucchini (about 4 ounces) 
• 1/2 cup green salsa
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided 
• 4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas 
• Cooking spray 
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat broiler.
2. Combine first 3 ingredients, stirring well. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over chicken. Add chicken to pan; sauté for 3 minutes. Add onion, corn, and zucchini to pan; sauté for 2 minutes or until chicken is done. Stir in salsa and 2 tablespoons cilantro. Cook 2 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates, stirring frequently.
3. Working with 2 tortillas at a time, arrange tortillas in a single layer on a baking sheet; lightly coat tortillas with cooking spray. Broil 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Spoon about 3/4 cup chicken mixture in the center of each tortilla; sprinkle each serving with 1/4 cup cheese. Broil an additional 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Repeat procedure with remaining tortillas, chicken mixture, and cheese. Sprinkle each serving with about 3/4 teaspoon of remaining cilantro.

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Garlic Potato Salad

6 cups new potatoes (cubed)
3 cloves garlic (or 6 garlic scapes)
1 cup green onions (minced)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbs balsamic vinegar
2 tsp fresh rosemary finely chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Boil new potatoes in water until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

2. Combine remaining ingredients in large bowl. Add cooked potatoes and stir to coat. Chill about 3 hours before serving.

Black Bean Burger

Ingredients

• 1/2 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained, divided
• 2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro leaves
• 2 teaspoons freshly chopped parsley leaves
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• Salt and fresh ground black pepper
• 4 hamburger rolls

Optional Toppings:

• 1 tomato, sliced
• 4 small Romaine lettuce leaves, or any other type you have on hand
• 1/4 cup ketchup

Directions

Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-low heat.

In a food processor, pulse onion and garlic until finely chopped. Add 1 can black beans, cilantro, parsley, egg, and red pepper flakes and pulse to combine.

Transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl, add the remaining can of black beans and the bread crumbs. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and mix until well combined.

Reserve 1/3 of the black bean mixture for Round 2 Recipe. Divide remaining mixture into 4 portions and form into patties. Place on hot oiled grill over medium-low heat and cook about 6 minutes a side or until heated through. Toast hamburger buns on a grill. Place a burger on the bottom of each bun. Top with lettuce, tomato and ketchup. Cover the burgers with the top of the bun and serve.

Use the leftovers from this recipe in Black Bean Enchiladas.

Musroom and rice Stew

1Tbl Oil

1 Onion Chopped

2 celery stalks diced

8 oz package Musrooms cleaned and chopped

Fresh herbs (sage)

4 Tbl Whole wheat flour

5 cups of Vegetable Broth

1 Tbl Lite Soy Sauce

3 cups of brown rice

Tofu strips cooked and cut into cubes

pan-fried or baked previously

green onion optional Heat oil in deep sided skillet or large sauce pan. Saute onion, celery, mushrooms and herbs till softened, stir in flour and cook just a little bit untill browned.then add vegetable broth and soy sauce. Cover and simmer 20-30 minuts or till rice is cooked. Do not open lib often while cooking Add already cooked tofu while its warm. Garnish this dish with chopped green onion and enjoy.

http://veganomics-101.blogspot.com/

Herb Roasted Potatoes

1 large shallot

1 large clove garlic

1 bay leaf

1 Tbs fresh thyme leaves

1 Tbs fresh sage

1 Tbs fresh oregano

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 cup olive oil

16 small new potatoes

1. In a food processor or blender, mix together everything except the olive oil and new potatoes.

2. Add the olive oil.

3. Transfer 1/3 of the herb mixture to a large bowl. Add potatoes and toss until coated.

4. Bake in preheated oven at 375F, turning occasionally, until tender when pierced with a small knife and crusty brown, about 45 minutes. Drizzle with the remaining herb mixture and serve.

5. Note: DH made this in his Smoker/Roaster/Grill.

Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

• whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoon(s) cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) freshly ground pepper
• 1 1/2 pound(s) zucchini, (about 3 medium), cut into 1/2-by-3-inch sticks
• 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Combine flours, cornmeal, salt and pepper in a large sealable plastic bag. Dip zucchini in egg white, shake in the bag to coat, and arrange, not touching, on the baking sheet. Coat all exposed sides with cooking spray.bake on the center rack for 7 minutes. Turn the zucchini and coat any floury spots with cooking spray. Continue to bake until golden and just tender, about 5 minutes more. Serve hot.1/2 cup(s)

Peneer with spinach and cheese

1 1/4 cups basmati rice

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 8 ounces paneer cheese cut into 1 inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons ghee or vegetable oil
• 1 dried red hot chile, crushed
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 2 1/2 cups water
• Salt, to taste
• 4 ounces fresh spinach, chopped

Directions

Wash and drain the rice and soak it in cold water for 20 minutes. Drain and set aside. Preheat the oven to 250°F.

Line a sheet pan with paper towels. Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium heat to 350°F. Test the oil with a cube of cheese: the cheese should begin to bubble immediately. Lightly fry the paneer until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside to drain on lined baking sheet.

Heat the ghee or oil in a 3 1/2 quart ovenproof pot with a tight lid and fry the red chile, bay leaves, and peppercorns for 1 minute on medium-high heat. Stir in the rice and fry for 2 minutes. Add the water and salt and bring to a boil. Add the cheese, reduce the heat to low, and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes, adding a few tablespoons of water if the rice gets too dry.

Stir in the spinach and cook uncovered until the water has evaporated, 5 minutes. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and the lid and place in the oven to bake, 5 minutes.

Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. Adjust salt to taste and serve hot.

Read more: http://www.kitchendaily.com/recipe/spinach-and-paneer-cheese-pulao-151837/#ixzz1kysj8pLw

Tasty Thursdays: "Garlicky" Green Beans

[image source]

String beans are one of my favorite vegetables, and a fun way to jazz them up is with garlic! I found the following recipe on Delish & it serves 8 people.

Ingredients:

• 2 pound(s) green beans, trimmed
• 3 tablespoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoon(s) minced fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoon(s) minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon(s) chopped fresh tarragon or 2 teaspoons dried
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place a large bowl of ice water next to the stove.
2. Add half the green beans to the boiling water and cook until tender-crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer the beans with a slotted spoon to the ice water to cool. Repeat with the remaining beans. Place a kitchen towel on a baking sheet and use a slotted spoon to transfer the beans from the ice water; blot dry with another towel.
3. Just before serving, heat oil in a large Dutch oven or large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the green beans and stir. Add parsley, tarragon, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until heated through, 1 to 3 minutes.

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ButterNut skwishy Squash

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (1 1/2 to 2-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup water
3 amaretti cookies, crumbled
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 1/2 cups whole milk
Pinch nutmeg
3/4 cup (lightly packed) fresh basil leaves
12 no-boil lasagna noodles
2 1/2 cups shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the squash and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the water into the skillet and then cover and simmer over medium heat until the squash is tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly and then transfer the squash to a food processor. Add the amaretti cookies and blend until smooth. Season the squash puree, to taste, with more salt and pepper.

Melt the butter in a heavy medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the nutmeg. Cool slightly. Transfer half of the sauce to a blender*. Add the basil and blend until smooth. Return the basil sauce to the sauce in the pan and stir to blend. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, to taste.

Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.

Lightly butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spread 3/4 cup of the sauce over the prepared baking dish. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles on the bottom of the pan. Spread 1/3 of the squash puree over the noodles. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Drizzle 1/2 cup of sauce over the noodles. Repeat layering 3 more times.

Tightly cover the baking dish with foil and bake the lasagna for 40 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the lasagna. Continue baking uncovered until the sauce bubbles and the top is golden, 15 minutes longer. Let the lasagna stand for 15 minutes before serving.

*When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smoo

Batter-Fried Zucchini

• 1 1/2 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour, divided
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 pound fresh zucchini or yellow summer squash (about 3 medium)
• Crisco® Butter Shortening, for frying
• OR Crisco® Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening Sticks, for frying
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• 
  
• 1COMBINE 1 cup flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, lemon pepper, onion powder, milk and egg in medium bowl. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

1. 2.
   PLACE remaining 1/2 cup flour in plastic or paper bag. Cut zucchini into 1/4-inch diagonal slices. Rinse and pat dry. Shake slices in flour to coat.
2. 3.
   MELT shortening to a depth of 2 to 3 inches in a deep fryer or deep saucepan; heat to 375ºF. Dip floured zucchini in chilled batter. Let excess drip back into bowl.
3. 4.
   FRY a few at a time in hot oil 4 to 4 1/2 minutes, or until golden brown, turning several times. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately or keep warm in 175ºF oven. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.