Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Vegetarian Pot Pie/ Tofurky and Tofu and Options

I love the idea of a Vegetarian Pot Pie.
We ate at a local restaurant with friends and again with our family.
Both times someone ordered the amazing Chicken Pot Pie.
I wanted to put together a recipe for a Vegetarian Pot Pie.
Here's a Vegetable version that can be made with the addition of Cubed,
Crispy Baked Tofu or Roasted Tofurky.
Recipe for the Tofu included.


This is one of the Vegetarian Chicken Broth Products I use.
Frontier's Vegetarian Broth Powder, Chicken Flavored.

This is another one of my favorite Vegetarian Broth Products.
It comes in "No Chicken", "No Beef", Vegetable and Mushroom.
I use it for Soups and Gravies.
I add it to Mashed Potatoes and a variety of other recipes.


If you're adding Tofu, I make it ahead of time and have it warming in the oven to add to the Vegetable Mix.

Here's what you'll need:

Preheat the Oven to 425 degrees.
2 -  9" purchased Double Deep Dish Pie Crusts.
You'll need a Top and Botton Crust for each Pie.

1 C Diced Carrots
1 C Frozen Peas
1 C Diced Potato
1/2 C Diced Celery
1/3 C Diced Onion
8 TBS Butter
1/3 C Flour
Salt and Pepper to taste.
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1 3/4 C Vegetarian Chicken Broth.
2/3 C Whole Milk
1 C cubed Pre-Roasted Tofurky ( I use leftovers from my Roasted Tofurky recipe) or cubed Crispy Baked Tofu (recipe to follow)


In a Saucepan on Medium High Heat:
Carrots
Peas
Celery
Potato 
Add just enough water to cover the vegetables.
Bring to a Boil.
Cook for 15 minutes.
Drain well and Set Aside.

In a Skillet on Medium Heat:
Butter, until melted.
Onion
Sauté 5 minutes, stirring.

Add:
Flour
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Garlic Powder
Stir to combine well.
Cook 2 minutes.

Add:
Broth, slowly.
Milk, slowly.
Reduce Heat to Low.
Simmer 5 minutes.
Stirring until thickened.


Remove from Heat.
Add:
Vegetables
Stir to combine well.
At this step you can add the Tofu Cubes or Tofurky Cubes.
Mix well.

Roll out crusts for the bottom of the pans.
Divide  Vegetable Mixture equally among the Pie Pans.

Top them with the remaining Crusts.
Use a Fork and seal the edges with the Tines.
Cut a few slits in the top.

Bake 30 - 35 minutes
Remove Pies to a Rack to Cool for 5 minutes.

Serve Hot.




Crispy Baked Tofu:

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
A Sheet Pan lined with Parchment Paper.
1 - 14 oz. package of Firm or Extra Firm Tofu.

Preparing the Tofu:
You'll need 2 Dinner Plates.
You can use the Dinner Plates with a Heavy Object.

 ( I use a large Soup Bowl and a Heavy Crock filled with Utensils)
Line the Bottom Plate or the Soup Bowl with several layers of Paper Towels.

Place the Block of Tofu on the Plate.
Cover it with the second plate.
Place the heavy object on top.
Allow it to Press for 30 - 40 minutes.
Discard the Liquid and Prepare according to the recipe.

Cut the Tofu into 1" cubes Cubes.

In a Mixing Bowl:

1 TBS Olive Oil
1 TBS Cornstarch or Arrowroot.
Whisk well.

Add:
Tofu and Gently Toss to Coat Well.

Transfer to the Sheet Pan.
Bake for 25 - 30 minutes until Golden Brown and Crispy.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!









Vegetable Pie


Vegetable Pie
This is Dinner in a Pan.



This can be made with Broccoli, Cauliflower or a combination of both.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
A 9" Pie Pan Greased well with Vegetable Oil or Cooking Spray.

2 C Chopped Broccoli or Cauliflower.
1/3 C Diced Onion
1/3 C Diced Green Bell Pepper
1/3 C Diced Red Bell Pepper
1 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 C Bisquick Mix
1 C Whole Milk
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Large Eggs

In a Saucepan with 1" of Water, on Medium High Heat:

Broccoli/Cauliflower
Cover
Bring to a Boil
Cook 5 minutes
Drain well

In a Mixing Bowl:
Broccoli
Onion
Green Bell Pepper
Red Bell Pepper
Cheddar Cheese
Stir to combine well.

Add:
Remaining ingredients
Mix well
Spoon into the Pie Pan

Bake 35 - 45 Minutes, until Golden Brown.
A Tooth Pick in the Center should come out clean.

Remove Pan to a Rack to Cool for 5 minutes.

Serve Hot.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
















Sunday, August 26, 2018

Christmas Roasted Brussels Sprouts


We're having a Dickens Christmas this year and this will be on the menu.






18 Fresh Brussels sprouts cut in half
2 TBS Olive Oil
4 TBS Butter, Divided.
8 Peeled and thinly sliced Fresh Chestnuts.
Salt and Pepper to taste.
1/2 C Vegetarian Chicken Broth

In a Large Skillet on Medium High Heat:
Oil, until Hot.

Add:
2 TBS Butter, until Melted and combined with the Oil.

Add:
Sprouts
Stir well and Sauté until Browned.

Lower Heat to Medium.
Add:
Broth, Cover and allow to Steam a bit.

Add:
Remaining Butter
Chestnuts
Salt
Pepper
Continue Cooking just until the Chestnuts are tender.

Serve Hot.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!



British Rock Cookies

These are a great cookie to serve at Christmas.
They're filled with a variety of Dried Fruits. 

We're having a Dickens Christmas this year and I'll be serving these cookies.







Here's what you'll need:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
A Sheet Pan lined with Parchment Paper.

2 1/2 C Flour
1/4 tsp Salt
2 tsp Baking Powder
3/4 C + 2 TBS Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Allspice
12 TBS Butter, cut into small pieces.
1 C  Chopped, Mixed Dried Fruits (golden raisins, apricots, cherries, cranberries) or a Cup of purchased Chopped Christmas Fruits already prepared.
1 Egg, Whisked Well.

In a Mixing Bowl:
Flour
Salt
Baking Powder
Sugar
Nutmeg
Allspice
Whisk Well

Add:
Butter by Hand
Incorporate it until it resembles a fine Crumble.

Add:
Fruit
Mix with a Wooden Spoon or Silicone Spatula until well combined.

Add:
Egg
Mix well by hand until incorporated and it forms a stiff Dough.

Break off Pieces of the Dough and Drop onto the Sheet Pan. Leave them Irregular looking like a Rock.

Bake 18 - 20 Minutes, until Golden Brown.

Remove Pan ro a Rack to Cool for 5 minutes.
Transfer Cookies to the Rack to Cool Completely.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!






Monday, August 20, 2018

Whipped Cream

This is my favorite recipe for homemade Whipped Cream.



Homemade Whipped Cream:

1 C Heavy Cream
1 tsp Vanilla
1 TBS Confectioner's Sugar.
Whip the Cream in a Stand Mixer with a Whisk Attachment.
Beat to Soft Peak.
Add:
Vanilla
Confectioner's Sugar
Beat to Stiff Peak.
Transfer to a Serving Bowl to serve.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Peach Crescent Roll Cobbler

Peach Crescent Roll Cobbler.



Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
An 8" X 8" Casserole Dish, sprayed with a Vegetable Cooking Spray.

3/4 tsp Cinnamon, divided.
1/3 C + 1 TBS Granulated Sugar, divided, + extra for Sprinkling.
1/3 C Brown Sugar
6 TBS Butter, cut into TBS. Melt 2 of the TBS and set aside.
16 Frozen Peach Slices from a 10 oz. Bag, thawed.
1 - 8 oz. container of Pillsbury Refrigerated Crescent Rolls.
2 tsp Vanilla

In a Small Mixing Bowl:
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/3 C Granulated Sugar
Brown Sugar
Whisk well.

Add:
Butter, by hand to create a Crumble.

Separate the Crescent Rolls.
Put 2 Slices of Peaches on each Roll across the Wide end of the Pastry.

Sprinkle each Slice with about 2 tsp of the Cinnamon Sugar Mixture.
Roll the Pastry from the widest end to the small end.
Place them in the Casserole Dish.
Sprinkle any remaining  Cinnamon Sugar Mixture around the Crescents.

Brush the Top of each Crescent with the Melted Butter.

Mix together:
Remaining 1/4 tsp of Cinnamon and 1 TBS of Granulated Sugar.
Sprinkle the tops of the Crescents.
Bake 30 - 35 minutes.

Remove the dish to a Rack to cool for 5 - 10 minutes.

Serve Warm, garnished with Homemade Whipped Cream:

This is my favorite recipe for homemade Whipped Cream.



Homemade Whipped Cream:

1 C Heavy Cream
1 tsp Vanilla
1 TBS Confectioner's Sugar.
Whip the Cream in a Stand Mixer with a Whisk Attachment.
Beat to Soft Peak.
Add:
Vanilla
Confectioner's Sugar
Beat to Stiff Peak.
Transfer to a Serving Bowl to serve.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!





Saturday, August 18, 2018

French Christmas Chocolate Marteau

French Christmas Chocolate Marteau
A traditional French treat to give to friends during the Christmas Season.

The Word Marteau means Hammer in English.
You would use a small Wooden Mallet to break the Chocolate just before serving.








Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
A 9" X 13"  Pan lined with a piece of Parchment Paper
A Sheet Pan lined with Parchment Paper to Roast the Nuts

  • 1 C Whole Roasted Cashews, Roughly Chop after Roasting.
  • 1 C Whole Roasted Hazelnuts, Roughly Chop after Roasting.
  • 1 C  Whole Roasted Pistachios, Roughly Chop after Roasting.
  • 8 oz. Semisweet Chocolate, finely chopped
  • 8 oz. Dark Chocolate, finely chopped
  • 1/4 C Small Diced Crystallized Ginger
  • 1/2 C Dried Cherries
  • 1/2 C Diced Dried Apricots
  • 1/2 C Golden Raisins

On the Sheet Pan in a preheated Oven:

Cashews\Hazelnuts
Pistachios
Bake for 8 minutes, stirring once.

Remove Pan to a Rack to Cool Completely.


In a Microwave Proof Glass Bowl:

Semisweet Chocolate 
Dark Chocolate
Heat for 20 - 30 seconds, stir with a Silicone Spatula.
Continue heating and checking, just until the Chocolate has melted and is Creamy Smooth.
Remove and allow to sit at Room Temperature until slightly Cooled.
Stir well.

Spoon the Melted Chocolate into the Paper Lined Casserole Dish.

Immediately Sprinkle the Top evenly in the following order:
Cashews
Hazelnuts
Pistachios
Ginger
Cherries
Apricots
Raisins

Tap the Surface Gently with a Silicone Spatula to make sure all ingredients will Set in the Chocolate.

Set aside at Room Temperature to Set for at least 2 hours.

Remove from the Dish and Break into Pieces to Serve.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Joyeux Noël