Healthy & Hearty Minestrone Soup

Image source: Love & Lemons.

Rainy Days Mean Soup!

On a cold, rainy day last week, I was in the mood for soup. When I found this easy, healthy, hearty, vegetarian recipe for Minestrone Soup on Love & Lemons and realized I had most of the ingredients on hand, I had to try it. This is the kind of recipe that’s easy to alter. I didn’t have white beans or kidney beans, so I used black beans instead. I didn’t have diced tomatoes, but I had can of tomato soup to add to the veggie broth. And I wanted to use the zucchini sitting in my vegetable crisper.

One of the best things about this Minestrone Soup recipe is that the onions, carrots, and celery are sautéed in the same pot in which the soup simmers. Less pots to clean. Hubby and I agreed it was so delicious, I have to make it again.

This recipe is best right after it’s made, as the pasta absorbs the broth as it sits in the leftover soup. If you want to make it ahead of time, I recommend cooking the pasta separately and stirring it into the soup as you’re ready to eat. Alternatively, you can skip the pasta and add an extra cup of beans to the soup. Prepared this way, the soup will keep well for up to four days in the fridge.

When you’re ready to eat, top each bowl with a sprinkle of parsley, red pepper flakes, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. If you’re vegan, feel free to skip the cheese, or garnish your bowl with a scoop of vegan pesto instead. (Non-vegans take note: regular pesto is also a great topping for minestrone soup!).

Serve the soup with good crusty bread and call it a day, or round out the meal with a side salad. Enjoy!

Love & Lemons

Happy cooking, hon!

Easy, Healthy, Hearty, Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

Minestrone Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 celery ribs, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3 garlic cloves, grated
• 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups white beans or kidney beans, cooked, drained, and rinsed
• 1 cup chopped green beans
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3/4 cup small pasta, elbows, shells, orecchiette
• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
• Pinches of red pepper flakes
• Grated Parmesan cheese, optional, for serving

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, salt, and several grinds of black pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.
2. Add the garlic, tomatoes, beans, green beans, broth, bay leaves, oregano, and thyme. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Stir in the pasta and cook, uncovered, for 10 more minutes, until the pasta is cooked through.
4. Season to taste and serve with parsley, red pepper flakes, and parmesan, if desired.

Servings: 4-6

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Gluten Free Apple Pie (Recipe and Video)

Gluten Free Baking cookbook by Michael McCamley.

Inspiration Photo.

Ready for Thanksgiving!

My apple pies are done and one of them is gluten free, so I’m re-posting the recipe and how-to video.

Unlike regular dough which comes together in a food processor, Michael McCamley’s recipe for gluten free dough in Gluten Free Baking is worked by hand. The dough is sticky and a bit messy, but the end result is delicious. I used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour for the pie, and have used rice flour for gluten free cookies and gluten free pancakes.

Guess what I did? I labeled the pie using my ceramics letters. Fun!

Happy Thanksgiving, Hon!

Gluten free apple pie before being baked and after!

Gluten Free Pastry Dough

Ingredients:

• 3 2/3 cups gluten free flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 stick butter (1/2 cup) plus extra for greasing (I used Crisco vegetable shortening.)
• 1 egg, plus extra for glazing
• 1/2 cup milk (I used almond milk)

Directions:

1. To make pastry dough, combine the flour, xanthan gum, and confectioner’s sugar in a large bowl. Rub in butter (or vegetable shortening) with your fingertips until mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Add the egg and milk (or almond milk) and combine to make dough. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for 20 minutes.
2. After dough has chilled, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. On a gluten free-floured surface, divide dough in two. Roll each piece out to form a large circle*–one to line pie plate and one to become top of pie.
4. Line pie plate with one of the pasty circles and spoon in the apple filling. (See Apple Pie filling below.)
5. Mix together a little milk (or almond milk) and egg and brush rim of pastry with this. Add second pastry circle as a lid and, using a fork, crimp edges of dough all the way around. Pierce pie in the middle a couple of times to let out steam during baking. If you make a basket weave top, no need to pierce dough.
6. Brush top of the pie with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden.

Serves 8

Apple Pie Filling

Ingredients:

• 6 cups apple slices (I use a combination of Granny Smith and other varieties)
• 3/4 cup sugar (I cut the sugar to about 1/2 cup)
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• approximately 1 Tablespoon gluten free flour
• dash salt
• 1 egg, beaten (used to brush on top of crust before baking)

Directions:

1. Combine apples, sugar, lemon juice, spices and salt.  This mixture will give off a lot of liquid so use a slotted spoon when spooning into pie crust, allowing you to spoon the apple mixture without the excess liquid.

Tips:

*I rolled out the dough by a)pressing dough ball down to flatten it, b)sandwiching dough between two pieces of wax paper, then c)rolling the rolling pin on top of the wax paper.  (Demo can be seen in the video.) If the dough sticks to the wax paper, you can spray the wax paper with non-stick spray.

**You can make this pie ahead and freeze it.  Let pie cool completely before wrapping in saran wrap and aluminum foil.  A couple of days before serving, defrost at room temperature.

Serving options:

Serve warm–after removing from oven, let cool about 20 minutes.

Serve room temperature–cool completely.

Rewarm defrosted pie– warm in a preheated 250- 275 degrees F oven, uncovered, until desired temperature.

Ginger & Turmeric Carrot Soup c/o Simply Quinoa

Image source: simplyquinoa.com

Autumn puts me in the mood for soup!

Preferably vegetable, creamy and hearty.Velvety Vegetable Soup has been my go-to, but I wanted to try something different this year. I found this recipe for Ginger & Turmeric Carrot Soup that also calls for butternut squash on Simply Quinoa, where Alyssa says, “This creamy ginger & turmeric carrot soup is anti-inflammatory and perfect for a chilly night. It’s packed with nutrients, has a velvety smooth texture and tastes delicious!” Thanks, Alyssa–all credit for top photo and recipe to you!

To make enough for Thanksgiving and extra to give away and to freeze, I multiplied the recipe by 6! (Would that be called “sextupling?”) With two huge soup pots simmering on the stove, the house smelled delicious. I taste-tested this new recipe, and it may be the first time, but won’t be the last, I make this healthy, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, parve Ginger & Turmeric Carrot Soup.

Happy cooking, hon!

Single Serving Tip: Did I share my single-serving tip? Pour soup into either a disposable coffee-to-go-cup or a small container, leaving room at the top for liquid to expand as it solidifies, and freeze. Freezing soup in ice trays is another tip. Pop out as many cubes as needed to make whatever size bowl is desired.

Ginger & Turmeric Carrot Soup

Ginger & Turmeric Carrot Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 leek , cleaned and sliced
• 1 cup chopped fennel (1 small head)
• 3 cups chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped butternut squash (or more carrots)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger (about 2″ piece)
• 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 3 cups low sodium vegetable broth
• 1 (14.5 oz) can lite coconut milk

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven or saucepan. Add the fennel, leeks, carrots, and squash. Saute for 3 – 5 minutes until the veggies start to soften. Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric, salt, and pepper, and saute for a few more minutes.
2. Add the broth and coconut milk. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Once the soup is cooked, add it to a blender and blend until creamy. You could also use an immersion blender. Taste and adjust seasonings to your taste.
4. Serve immediately with a dollop of coconut yogurt and enjoy!

Servings: 4

Pre-Schoolers & Pumpkins, Roasted Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

Scooping out the insides of a pumpkin with my 2021-2022 co-teacher, Hannah.

Autumn Exploration

Carving out the insides of a pumpkin with an audience of little onlookers is fun. Inviting the kids to explore its’ texture is funny. Some are game and some are not! A few reluctant kids change their minds when they see others touching the orange, wet, and stringy pulp and seeds. One girl tasted the pulp and seeds. I know who’ll be a fan of pumpkin lattes!

At the end of the school day, I collected the seeds and, hon, you know what came next. I made Roasted Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds (recipe below) and brought them in for the kids to try. Yum!

We also painted mini-pumpkins, crinkled leaves to decorate paper trees, and explored a texture tray filled with smooth acorns, bumpy pinecones, and itty-bitty pumpkins snipped off of Pumpkin Tree branches. We rolled pinecones in paint and then rolled the paint-covered pinecones on blank paper to create original prints.

Hands-on learning!

Image soure: Joy Food Sunshine

Roasted Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

Tips Before Roasting Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds must dry completely before roasting. Remove the seeds from pumpkins and rinse thoroughly, discarding any stringy orange pieces. Drain seeds by lining a large baking pan with paper towels, spreading seeds evenly in a layer, and letting sit for 24 hours. At the 12 hour mark, change damp paper towels for dry ones, stir to air out pumpkin seeds.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups pumpkin seeds dried for at least 24 hours
• 3 Tablespoons coconut oil or butter (or vegan butter)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar (or coconut sugar to make paleo)
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Very lightly grease a large baking pan, set aside.
2. In a small bowl, mix together sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
3. Melt coconut oil or butter in a large microwave safe bowl or on the stovetop in a 4-quart pot.
4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
5. Mix in pumpkin seeds until they are all evenly coated.
6. Add dry ingredients to the pumpkin seeds and mix until all they are evenly coated.
7. Spread pumpkin seeds on your prepared baking pan in single layer.
8. Bake for 25-35 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. They are done when they start to brown.
9. To test for doneness: remove a few seeds from the pan and let sit on the counter to cool. If they harden up the seeds are done. If they remain soft, return to the oven, checking them after 5 minutes. Continue baking in 5 minute intervals until done.
10. Once seeds are done, transfer them from the warm pan to another pan lined with parchment paper to let cool.

Yield: 3 cups

Store pumpkin seeds in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Blueberry, Almond and Lemon Cake

Image source: Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.

I saw this recipe in the Cooking section of The New York Times and, as usual, Bookmarked it. When I was ready to try it, I shopped for ingredients, but didn’t realize the almond flour I had at home was actually almond meal, a grittier, nuttier-tasting “flour.” I decided to use it anyway, and also incorporated suggested adjustments to the recipe for Blueberry, Almond and Lemon Cake by Yotam Ottolenghi. Alterations include decreasing the amount of sugar, separating eggs, beating egg whites, coating blueberries in dry ingredients, and baking for a shorter time uncovered.

The cake smelled so good coming out of the oven, I didn’t make the icing–the recipe below is essentially a Blueberry, Almond, and Lemon Loaf rather than a cake. Slice it and enjoy plain or with butter or cream cheese. The inside is super moist and the blueberries are–umm–berry sweet!

Happy baking, hon!

Combine dry ingredients with butter/sugar/egg yolk mixture.

Beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks.

Fresh out of the oven.

Berry yummy!

Ingredients

• ½ cup (1 stick) 150 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing the pan (I used non-stick spray for greasing pan and parchment paper.)
• 1/2 cup/95 grams granulated or superfine sugar (caster sugar)
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest (grated lemon), plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice (or more juice as needed)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (vanilla essence)
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 large eggs, room temperature and separated
• ⅔ cup/90 grams all-purpose flour (plain flour)
• 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup/110 grams almond flour
• 1 ½ cups/200 grams fresh blueberries
• ⅔ cup/70 grams confectioners’ sugar (icing sugar)

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit/200 degrees Celsius. Grease a 9- or 8-inch/21-centimeter loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray, line with a parchment paper sling and butter the paper. Set the pan aside.

2. Combine butter, sugar, lemon zest, vanilla and almond extract in a bowl and mix with paddle attachment. Beat on high speed for 3 to 4 minutes, until light. Add eggs yolks and beat. Don’t worry if mix splits a little: It’ll come back together once dry ingredients are added.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and almond flour.

4. Sprinkle about 1 Tablespoon of dry ingredients over blueberries (or just enough to coat blueberries) and carefully toss. Set blueberries aside. (Coating blueberries w/dry ingredients helps to keep them suspended in batter rather than sinking to bottom.)

5. Beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks.

6. In three additions, add dry ingredients to butter/sugar/egg mixture and mix just until no white specks remain. Fold in blueberries by hand. Fold in stiff egg whites. Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan.

7. Bake uncovered for approximately 1 hour. Test middle with toothpick and when it comes out clean, cake is done. Let cook in pan for at least 10 minutes before removing cake from pan and placing on wire rack to cool completely.

8. When cake is cool, make the icing: Add lemon juice and confectioner’s sugar to a bowl and whisk until smooth, adding a bit more juice if necessary, just until the icing moves when you tilt the bowl. Pour over the cake and gently spread out. The blueberries on the top of the cake may bleed into the icing a little, but this will add to the look. Let icing set (about 30 minutes), slice and serve.

Yield: 8 servings

Three Berry Crisp

Berry Delicious!

This perfect-for-summer Three Berry Crisp is yummy by itself, served with ice cream, or topped with whipped cream. There’s plenty of berry juice at the bottom to drizzle on waffles, brownies or anything else you want to dress up with some red and blue sweetness. Found on Oukosher.org by Eileen Goltz, this Three Berry Crisp is gluten-free, nut-free if walnuts are eliminated, and vegan and parve when margarine is used. The recipe is missing one thing–a note that spoons are required for serving and eating–lol!

Happy baking, hon!

Pour berry mixture into greased dish.

Crumble topping over berry mixture.

Bake until topping is browned.

Ingredients

Fruit Filling:

• 3 cups raspberries
• 1½ cups blackberries
• 2 cups blueberries
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Topping:

• 1¾ cups flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup granulated sugar (I cut to approx. 1/4 cup.)
• ¼ cup powdered sugar, sifted
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup coarsely-chopped walnuts (Or substitute with plain oatmeal to make nut-free.)
• ⅔ cup unsalted butter or margarine, melted and cooled
• Optional: dashes of ground cloves and cardamom

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly butter a 7×11-inch baking dish and set aside. (I used two deep pie dishes.)

To Prepare the Filling:

2. Lightly rinse the berries and drain on a paper towel-lined half sheet pan. Gently pat dry and then place in a large bowl. Add the sugar and cornstarch and toss them gently with the berries. Add the lemon juice and toss gently. Transfer the filling to the prepared dish.

To Prepare the Topping:

3. Combine the flour, baking powder, sugars, cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl and mix to combine. Add the nuts. Pour in the butter and toss with a fork to form crumbs. 

4. Take a clump of the crumb mixture and squeeze gently to form a larger clump. Break the larger clump apart over the fruit. Repeat, using all of the crumb mixture. (Optional: Sprinkle cinnamon on top of crumb mixture before baking.)

5. Bake for 35 minutes, or until the crumbs begin to brown and the fruit juices are bubbling. 

6. Serve warm with ice cream or sweetened whipped cream.

Yield: 6-8 servings

Tip: Make ahead. Warm before serving in a 300 degrees F oven for approx. 10 -15 minutes.

Note: Berry Crisps are prone to leaking. If transporting, wrap in foil from bottom up and carry in leak-proof bag or dessert carrier.

Strawberry Galette

Strawberry Galette

I haven’t posted a recipe in awhile, but I’m still collecting them! Every time I see something interesting, I “Bookmark” it on my computer. So many recipes to try!

I discovered this recipe for Strawberry Galette by Naz Deravian in the Cooking section of The New York Times. Though not complicated, this recipe takes time. I read comments and found out some steps can be skipped. I needed to make this dairy-free and nut-free, so I used non-dairy whipping cream, margarine, and rice flour. Hubby whipped up whipping cream and, hon, the dessert was delicious!

A strawberry galette served with a side of fresh whipped cream or ice cream is a spring salve that is just as soothing to prepare for oneself as it is to share with others. Inspired by the baker Alice Medrich’s yogurt-butter pie dough, the dough in this recipe includes almond flour for a flaky, subtly nutty crust that comes together without much fuss. This dough is very forgiving and works well with the rustic charm of a galette. It’s OK if the edges of the crust crack and some juices leak. Even out-of-season strawberries would work, as there’s just enough sugar here to coax them back to life. Make sure you give the galette enough time to rest before slicing into it, so that the juices have time to set.

The New York Times Cooking Section

Make the crust.

Make the filling.

Mound strawberries in middle of dough and fold border over fruit.

Brush dough with egg wash.

Bake until crust is golden and strawberries are bubbling.

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE CRUST: 

• 1 cup/120 grams all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• ½ cup/50 grams almond flour (from blanched, skinless almonds, not almond meal) I substituted rice flour.
• 8 tablespoons/113 grams very cold unsalted butter I substituted margarine.
• ¼ cup/60 grams cold plain whole yogurt (not Greek) I substituted nondairy whipping cream.
• 1 tablespoon ice-cold water, plus up to 3 tablespoons more, if needed
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
• 1 egg beaten with 1 teaspoon yogurt or water (for the egg wash)

FOR THE FILLING:

• ½ to ¾ cup/100 grams to 150 grams granulated sugar I used the smaller amount of sugar.
• ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1 ½ pounds stemmed strawberries (about 5 cups), sliced
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
•  Small pinch of salt

PREPARATION

1. Whisk the all-purpose flour and the almond flour in a large bowl, then set aside. (It’s best to stick it in the freezer for about 15 minutes until ready to use, to ensure a well-chilled dough.)
2. Slice 3 tablespoons of the butter as thinly as possible without getting obsessive about it. (It’s OK if pieces break.) Cut the remaining 5 tablespoons of butter into 1/2-inch cubes. Keeping the sliced butter and cubed butter separate, set the butter in the fridge to chill until ready to use. 
3. In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix the 1/4 cup yogurt with 1 tablespoon of the water and keep cold in the fridge until ready to use.
4. Whisk the flour mixture with the 1 teaspoon sugar and the salt. Spread the cubed butter pieces over the flour and cut the butter into the flour using a pastry blender or your fingers until the chunks look slightly smaller than pea size. Toss the butter slices with the flour mixture, separating them as you go, then gently press them into the flour between your fingers into flat sheets. (This extra step is helpful in creating pockets of steam, which will make for a flakier crust, an added bonus for pie dough makers of any skill!) I used a food processor to make the dough. I skipped this step and in a food processor, I added the flour to the container, dropped sliced butter through the tube and pulsed.
5. Drizzle the chilled yogurt over the flour and butter mixture. Use a spatula or a wooden spoon to toss and combine. If the dough seems dry, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the ice water, and continue tossing and combining, incorporating any dry flour bits at the bottom of the bowl and scraping off the spatula as you go, until the mixture just comes together in a mound. If needed, drizzle more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, without allowing the dough to get too wet. I skipped this step, adding cold water through food processor tube a little at a time until dough came together in a mound.
6. Transfer the dough to a large piece of plastic wrap, then press the dough into a 6-inch disk and wrap well. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days. 
7. Heat oven to 400 degrees with the rack in the center position. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. 
8. Prepare the filling: Place 1/2 cup sugar and the lemon zest in a large bowl and rub the lemon zest into the sugar with your fingertips. Add the strawberries, cornstarch and salt; mix well to combine, making sure the cornstarch is well incorporated. Add up to another 1/4 cup sugar if desired, depending on the sweetness of your strawberries and your desired level of sweetness.
9. Dust your countertop with flour, then transfer the chilled dough to it and sprinkle a little flour on top of the dough. Roll the dough out to a 12- to 14-inch round, lightly flouring as needed. (It’s OK if the edges break and the shape isn’t perfectly round.) Gently transfer the dough by rolling it over a rolling pin and onto the prepared baking sheet. (At this point, if you’ve forgotten something, like preparing the egg wash, or if your dough has warmed up slightly, place the sheet pan in the fridge for a few minutes.) 
10. Mound the strawberries and their juices in the middle of the dough and leave a 2-inch border. Fold the border over the fruit, pleating as you fold and leaving the center of the galette exposed. Brush the crust with the egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. 
11. Bake until the crust is golden and the strawberries are bubbling, about 35 minutes. It’s OK if some juices leak. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour and serve.

• YIELD: 6 servings
• TIME: 1 to 1½ hours, plus chilling and resting 

Cinnamon Swirl Apple Bread

Image source: Once Upon a Chef

Gather ingredients.

Optional-line loaf pan with parchment paper “sling.” Image source: Once Upon a Chef

This is the first time I baked Cinnamon Swirl Apple Bread, but it won’t be the last! I intended to bake Coffee Cake, but didn’t have sour cream or buttermilk on hand. Searching for a recipe that contained ingredients I already had in my kitchen, I came across Jen Segal’s blog Once Upon a Chef  and found just what I was looking for. Her recipes look so good, I’m sure I’ll be referring to her blog again. The Cinnamon Apple Swirl Bread smelled amazing while it was in the oven!

Happy baking, hon.

CINNAMON SWIRL APPLE BREAD

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup peeled and finely diced tart baking apple (such as Granny Smith)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and set oven rack in middle position. Spray an 8.5 x 4.5-inch loaf pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Optional:  line the long side of loaf pan with parchment paper “sling” and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray again.
2. In a small bowl, mix  brown sugar and cinnamon until evenly combined. Set aside.
3. In a larger bowl, combine granulated sugar and eggs. Using an electric mixer with paddle attachment, blend on medium speed until pale and creamy
4. With mixer on low, gradually add melted butter followed by milk and vanilla. Mix just until evenly combined.
5. Add flour, salt, and baking powder to batter and mix on low speed until evenly combined.
6. Add apples to batter and fold with a rubber spatula until evenly incorporated.
7. Spoon about 2/3 of the batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle about 2/3 of brown sugar-cinnamon mixture on top of batter. Spoon remaining batter over top, followed by remaining brown sugar-cinnamon mixture. Using a butter knife, swirl layers by making a zig-zag motion through the batter once in each direction (don’t overdo it!).
8. Bake for about 50 minutes, until bread is golden brown and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Let bread cool on rack for about 30 minutes, then use parchment sling to lift bread out of pan and onto rack. Let cool completely before slicing, a few hours or overnight. Store loosely covered with aluminum foil on the countertop for up to 4 days.

Yield:  One 8.5 x 4.5 inch loaf (approx. 8-12 slices)

Turkey Chili with Sweet Potatoes

Image source: Kalyn’s Kitchen

When the temperature dips below 20 degrees F and we’re covering our faces not because of a virus, but because our cheeks may freeze, hot comfort food is in order! I’ve posted recipes for Vegetarian Chili and Beef Chili, but Turkey Chili with Sweet Potatoes is my new favorite warm-up-in-cold-weather recipe. I made this Turkey Chili in a crockpot, but it can be cooked on a stove. Have extra? Freeze it for another-ummm–chilly day. Do you make Turkey Chili? Do you add sweet potatoes? Have suggestions for other ingredients to add?

Stay warm, hon.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground turkey
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-2 inch chunks
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 (28-ounce) cans tomatoes (I used one can diced tomatoes and one can crushed tomotoes)
• 1 (16-ounce) can red kidney beans
• 1 cup water or 1/2 cup beef broth and 1/2 cup water
• 2 Tablespoons chili powder (adjust if you like things more or less spicy)
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder (yup–cocoa powder)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of pepper

Directions:

1.  Brown ground turkey.

2.  Place browned turkey and remaining ingredients in crock pot, stirring to blend.

3.  Cover and cook on low setting 6 hours.

Don’t have a crock pot?  Don’t worry.

1.  In a frying pan, saute ground beef and onions until soft.

2.  Drain off fat.

3.  Transfer mixture to a large pot.

4.  Add remaining ingredients.

5.  Bring to a boil, them simmer, covered, approx. 45 minutes. Chili’s ready when sweet potatoes can be sliced easily.

Yield:  Approx. 8-10 servings.

Hosting for the Holidays Hot Cocoa Bar

Image source: Southbound Bride

Image source: In Fine Taste

Sweater Weather!

As soon as it gets dark at 5pm and morning frost hardens blades of grass, I crave a hot drink every night. Hot chocolate is my favorite winter aperitif, so when researching ideas for an upcoming magazine article on creative hosting ideas, my favorite idea was–you guessed it–a Hot Cocoa Bar!

Easy Kids Activity: Why not ask older kids and tweens to participate? Set up a separate table with a wintery tablecloth or a cleared countertop. Supply mugs and spoons, mix-ins and containers, and labels and markers, and let the kids set up the display with a place saved for the hot cocoa. After you add the hot drink, they can be in charge of introducing the Hot Cocoa Bar to the rest of the guests.

Perk of the “job?” They get first dibs!

Supplies and Ingredients:

• mugs, saucers, spoons
• carafe of cocoa or hot water and powdered cocoa
• containers with or without labels
• mix-ins such as cinnamon sticks, chocolate shavings, peppermint sticks, toasted coconut, crushed toffee or whatever are the fan favorites
• whipped cream and marshmallows

Note: Depending on diet preferences, ingredients may be parve (dairy free), gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan.

Happy hosting, hon!