YumSugar

Monday's Leftovers: Spinach Ravioli With Tomato Sauce

YumSugar — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:00:31 -0800

After discovering a ridiculous inventory of grains, pastas, and sauces while cleaning out my pantry, I've decided to focus on cooking whatever's already on hand at home.

Tonight, I plan to use leftover canned Italian plum tomatoes, chopped salami, and spinach ravioli to create a straightforward Italian dinner.
Hoping to make it a meatless Monday? Then simply omit the cured meat. Either way, with a chunky, bright sauce and just-grated cheese, the result will taste just as good as any restaurant special. Get the recipe now.

Sunday Slow Cooker: Creamy Tomato-Vodka Soup

YumSugar — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:30:12 -0800

The slow cooker isn't just great for braised meats and stews; it's also the ideal vehicle for making smooth and creamy blended soups. This recipe is a staple of mine; it's wonderful on the fly because it calls for commonplace ingredients like broth and canned plum tomatoes.

When pureeing the hot soup, I recommend allowing it to cool slightly and partially covering it as you use an immersion blender. Or, opt for a standing blender if you're worried about being splashed by hot soup.
For a complete meal, serve with crusty homemade garlic bread and, if you want to add a little more protein, a topping of crispy baked prosciutto. See the recipe when you read more.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Baked Cod with Chorizo

partysugar — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:50:23 -0800

The addition of pork, whether it's bacon, sausage, or ham, is an instant flavor boost to all sorts of dishes. In this recipe, chorizo acts as a fatty, spicy seasoning for flaky white fish. It gives the cod a rich smokiness that's completely satisfying without being overly indulgent. Fresh tomatoes, chopped thyme, and canned white beans are the supporting ingredients that make this a healthful and savory meal. To look at the uncomplicated procedure, read more.

Baked Cod With Chorizo
From Eating Well

Ingredients

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 ounces Spanish chorizo or turkey kielbasa, diced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup dry white wine, divided
1 15-ounce can great northern beans, rinsed
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1 1/4 pounds Pacific cod, cut into 4 pieces
Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallot, chorizo (or kielbasa) and thyme and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add tomatoes and 1/4 cup wine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are broken down and the wine is almost evaporated, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in beans and 1/4 teaspoon salt and remove from the heat.
Sprinkle fish with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper; place in the prepared baking dish. Top each piece of fish with equal amounts of the tomato mixture (about 1/2 cup per fillet). Pour the remaining 1/4 cup wine into the pan and cover the pan with foil.
Bake until the fish is just cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve the fish with the sauce spooned over the top.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Monday's Leftovers: Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas

YumSugar — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:00:10 -0800

Whoever first conceived of quesadillas is a genius: It's virtually impossible to go wrong with the combination of skillet-toasted flour tortillas, diced vegetables and meat, and warm, melted cheese.

Take advantage of last night's versatile roasted chicken and vegetables like mushrooms and spinach to create a filling Monday night supper. If you don't have time to grab those, make your life easier: Plenty of other mix-ins, like bell peppers, roasted piquillos, beans, or cooked broccoli would work, too.

Serve it alongside fresh salsa, and you've got a symphony of well-balanced flavors - as well as a nutritionally balanced meal. Make this in minutes when you read on.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Mexican Cod and Potato Stew

partysugar — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:50:48 -0800

During the Winter, when I hear the word "stew," I automatically envision a slow-cooked and hearty beef or lamb dish. That's why, when I came across this recipe for a Mexican-style fish stew, I got excited.

Filled with frozen corn and canned tomatoes, it's a refreshing break from the stereotypical stew. Not to mention it's ready in under 30 minutes, because the whole one-pot meal is cooked in the microwave! To learn the uncomplicated procedure, please keep reading.

Monday's Leftovers: Roasted Tomato and Chickpea Curry

YumSugar — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:00:30 -0800

Along with diced, whole, and roasted tomatoes, canned chickpeas are another pantry item that I'm never without. They're inexpensive, tasty, and versatile, plus they've got an extended shelf life. Even my meat-loving significant other is willing to eat a vegetarian meal if it's loaded with protein-rich garbanzo beans.

Use basic chickpeas and tomatoes to create a stunning dish like this chickpea curry. With its madras powder and yogurt topping, it's a restaurant-quality riff on the Indian favorite known as chana masala. For the 20-minute meal, keep reading.

What the Experts Won't Even Eat

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:50:26 -0800

Grocery shopping can be a daunting task. That's why a recent article from Prevention magazine really caught my eye. The magazine asked experts who work in the field of food safety what they avoid eating at all costs, and though some of their answers were things I already knew, others were pretty eye opening. Here are a few items to think twice about the next time you're out buying food.

Microwave popcorn. Popcorn usually makes a great snack, but the bags used to make microwave popcorn are lined with harmful chemicals that are "linked to infertility in humans." Prevention warns that these chemicals are transferred to popcorn upon microwaving and can live in your body for years to come. Instead of buying microwave popcorn, make it on your stove or use an air popper instead.

To hear what other items the experts avoid, read more.

Nonorganic potatoes. You'd think that root vegetables would be protected since they grow underground, but they absorb all the pesticides and fertilizers that are in the soil. And potatoes are treated with harmful toxins multiple times - while growing, being harvested, and after they're picked. Always, always buy organic potatoes since "washing isn't good enough if you're trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh."
Canned tomatoes. It's been shown that there are harmful levels of bisphenol-A (BPA) in canned goods that can migrate onto food. Expert Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies BPA, told Prevention that this is especially true of canned tomatoes, which can contain up to 50 mcg of BPA per liter. As a result, vom Saal won't go near canned tomatoes and opts for boxed and fresh instead.

Check out the rest of Prevention's list to find out what other foods the experts avoid, and be sure to get up to speed on what foods you should always consider buying organic.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Tomato Bisque With Mozzarella Crostini

partysugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:09 -0800

When the weather outside is frightful, but the fire inside is delightful, there's nothing I crave more than a bowl of steaming hot soup. Tomato soup is the ultimate comfort soup and this rendition is super creamy, but not loaded with fattening ingredients.

In fact, there's no cream, milk, or half-and-half in this recipe; the rich, smooth texture comes from the addition of silken tofu. Sound intriguingly scrumptious? Wait until you read the recipe, after the break.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Pork Chops With White Beans

partysugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:50:05 -0800

With so much energy going toward Thanksgiving, it's easy to overlook the meals leading up to the big day.

Tonight fix up a simple and delicious dinner that's a cinch to put together. Canned white beans simmered with onions and red peppers serves as a bed for succulent and juicy bone-in pork chops.

It's a hearty, comforting, uncomplicated, and adaptable recipe, so learn how to prepare it and read more.

Pork Chops With White Beans
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 can (15 1/2 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
4 well-trimmed bone-in pork rib chops (about 2 pounds; each 1 inch thick)

Directions

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and rosemary; season generously with salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together broth and tomato paste. Pour mixture into skillet; stir in beans. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until beans are coated evenly and sauce is thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, generously season both sides of pork chops with salt and pepper.
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook pork (in 2 batches, if necessary) until just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve on top of bean mixture.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Fast & Easy Dinner: Gnocchi With Chard and White Beans

partysugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:50:38 -0700

If you think gnocchi is a dish that can only be enjoyed in restaurants, think again! These days most grocery stores offer packaged gnocchi in the fresh or regular pasta sections. Why not make this staple a part of your busy-cook pantry? Then when you're in the mood for a comforting Italian-style meal, make this dish! The gnocchi is combined with hearty chard, stewed tomatoes, and white beans. The recipe calls for a topping of mozzarella and parmesan cheese, but if you are trying to eat healthy, simply omit them. Sound delish? Wait till you read the recipe.