Recipes May 17, 2020

Quarantine cooking and more! An assortment of things I've been boiled, smashed, and stuck in a stew. This page is a work in progress as I try to figure out the easiest way to write recipes with recipe metadata needed for importing into apps.

Bakery

Tagine Bread

By

2/27/2021 Bakery

I've been using a cast-iron tagine with great success to bake the New York Times no-knead bread recipe. Seriously, it's like a secret weapon.

Remember to start the night before so you can let the dough rise for 12-18 hours.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 18H
  • Cook time: 1H
  • Yield: 1 loaf

Ingredients

  • See recipe

Instructions

  • See recipe for prep.

  • When it comes to the baking step, use the tagine where it says "heavy covered pot".

Bannock Bread

By

8/29/2020 Bakery

This isn't really different from any other bannock recipe on the internet (it's a very old and simple recipe). Bannock is a traditional Scottish/Irish quick bread that can be cooked a variety of ways - baked, cooked on a griddle, even cooked over a fire on a stick.

I've come back to this recipe and added things like cinnamon, raisins, and cheese, and tried forming the dough into different shapes (scones, biscuits, one big loaf, smaller loaves), and it always turns out pretty well.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 10M
  • Cook time: 30M
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup melted butter or oil
  • 2 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F, or lightly grease a skillet.

  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Knead 10 times and form into a 1" thick flat disc, or several smaller shapes.

  • Bake for 30 min at 350F. Alternately, cook in a preheated, greased skillet for 10-15 min over medium heat, flipping once.

  • Remove from heat, let cool.

Southern-Style Biscuits

By

8/1/2020 Bakery

I followed the recipe from the New York Times Cookbook, but substituted buttermilk for oat milk + cider vinegar.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 15M
  • Cook time: 10M
  • Yield: 12 biscuits

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk or oat milk*
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar*
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 tbsp butter, cold

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 500F.

  • (Optional) Make buttermilk substitute by combining 3/4 cup oat milk and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar.

  • Sift flour and other dry ingredients into a mixing bowl.

  • Cut butter into pieces and add to dry mix. Using hand mixer, blend until butter chunks are tiny (flour will resemble corn meal).

  • Add buttermilk mixture to dough and blend dough until it forms a sticky ball.

  • Prepare a baking sheet. If it is not non-stick, add grease or parchment paper.

  • Form dough into golf-ball sized pieces, flatten to about 1/2 thick, and place on baking sheet.

  • (Optional) wash the biscuits with milk or butter before baking.

  • Bake for 10-12 min at 500F or until golden brown.

  • Remove from oven, let cool.

Sweet Potato Bread

By

7/13/2020 Bakery

The sweet potato lends a lot of sweetness to the recipe so you don't need that much sugar. Goes really well with a topping of plum chutney.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 20M
  • Cook time: 1H
  • Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 large whole sweet potato, baked and mashed
  • 1/3 cup melted butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar (or more to taste)
  • 3 tbsp apple sauce
  • 1/4 cup yoghurt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 pinch chili powder
  • 1/4 cup roast pecans, chopped (optional)
  • 1/4 cup raisins (optional)
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  • Before you start, make sure you have a prebaked sweet potato. You can make one or two ahead of time and use them in yoghurt, granola, etc. Bake at 400F for 1 hour with slashes cut across the top, then scoop out insides.

  • Preheat oven to 350F.

  • Melt butter in a pan. When it starts to turn brown, remove from heat and let cool while you do the next steps.

  • Scoop inside of sweet potato into mixing bowl and mash with a spoon or hand mixer.

  • Add melted butter, 1 egg, spices, 3 tbsp apple sauce, 1/4 cup yoghurt, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp baking soda to bowl and combine.

  • Mix in 1/2 cup sugar, 1 1/2 cup flour and mix thoroughly

  • Mix in optional fillings, like chopped pecans or walnuts, raisins, and chocolate chips

  • Lightly grease baking pan

  • Pour in bread mix.

  • Sprinkle 1 tbsp sugar and more chopped pecans on top.

  • Bake for about 1 hour. A toothpick poked into the loaf should come out clean.

  • Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for about 10 min before dumping it out onto a rack. Let it cool before serving.

Banana Bread w/Sweet Potato and Pecans

By

6/9/2020 Bakery

Based on this recipe: Best Banana Bread

Substitute 1 banana (use 3 instead of 4) with about 1/3 cup cooked + mashed sweet potato insides. Add some chopped roasted pecans to the mix, and sprinkle some more on top.

I baked it more than an hour (1H15M) since it was in one big loaf pan instead of the standard banana bread size (small) tins.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 20M
  • Cook time: 1H
  • Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 soft bananas with lots of brown spots
  • 1/3 cup sweet potato, cooked and mashed
  • 1/4 cup roast pecans, chopped
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 2/3 cups white sugar
  • 2 tbsp turbinado or brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 pinch ground nutmeg

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F.

  • Melt butter in a pan. When it starts to turn brown, remove from heat and let cool while you do the next steps.

  • Mash together 3 bananas and 1/3 cup sweet potato in a mixing bowl. I used about half of a baked sweet potato: bake at 400F for 1 hour with slashes cut across the top, then scoop out insides.

  • Add butter, 1 egg, spices, and 1 tsp baking soda to the bowl

  • Mix in 2/3 cup sugar, then 1 1/2 cup flour to the bowl

  • Mix in 1/3 cup chopped pecans

  • Lightly grease 2 small baking pans, or 1 larger one

  • Pour in banana bread mix.

  • Sprinkle 2 tbsp brown sugar and more chopped pecans on top.

  • Bake for 1 hour if using small pans or about 1:15 if using a single pan. A toothpick poked into the loaf should come out clean.

  • Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for about 15 min before dumping it out onto a rack. Let it cool before serving.

Burger Buns with Sweet Potato

By

6/9/2020 Bakery

I tried to combine these two recipes: Brown Butter Sweet Potato Buttermilk Rolls, 40 minute super soft hamburger buns. It worked OK!

Buttermilk can be substituted for dairy or non-dairy milk and 1 tsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 1H
  • Cook time: 15M
  • Yield: 6 medium buns

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1/4 oz (1 packet) instant dry yeast
  • 1/3 to 1/3 cup sweet potato, cooked and mashed
  • 2 tbsp white sugar
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1/3 cup water, warm
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 egg yolk, beaten, for egg wash (optional)
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.

  • Combine warm water and buttermilk (or substitute) in a bowl. Add 1/4 oz yeast packet and mix until dissolved. Let sit 5 min.

  • Stir together all remaining ingredients, and the yeast mixture, in a mixing bowl.

  • Dust a kneading surface with flour, remove dough, and knead for 10 minutes. It was extremely sticky and I lost a fair amount of it.

  • Shape the dough into a ball (as best you can, it's sticky) and place in a lightly-greased bowl. Cover with a cloth and let sit for 45 min to an hour in a warm place.

  • Prepare a baking sheet. If it is not non-stick, add grease or parchment paper.

  • After dough rises to about double in size, punch down the dough and then divide into 4-6 equal pieces. Shape them into balls and place on baking sheet.

  • (Optional) egg wash the dough balls, or add a little melted butter on top

  • Bake for 14-18 min at 400F.

  • Remove from oven, let cool.

Pumpkin Brownies

By

5/20/2020 Bakery

This recipe uses brownie mix, but you can make it all from scratch following this more involved recipe: Pumpkin Brownies on AllRecipes.

I didn't try it, but might be a good idea to add 1-3 tbsp olive oil to the ingredients below, as it can break down the eggs and possibly soften up the brownies. The brownies turned out fine without, though.

Goes well with Pumpkin Granola and ice cream or whipped cream.

Pumpkin puree is available year-round in cans.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 10M
  • Cook time: 35M
  • Yield: 12 brownies

Ingredients

  • 1 15oz package brownie mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 can (7.5oz) pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp pumpkin spice

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F.

  • Gently combine brownie mix and 2 eggs in a large bowl, then stir in the 1/2 can of pumpkin puree (you can also layer it in the pan later). Add a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice (not too much, the cinnamon can be overbearing).

  • Lightly grease a medium (8"x11") baking pan. Be sure to get the corners and walls so the brownie's don't stick.

  • Pour in brownie batter.

  • Bake for 35 min.

  • Remove from oven and let cool a bit before digging in. Store covered.

Pumpkin Granola

By

5/20/2020 Bakery

This is a slurry of pumpkin puree and granola, baked in a pan. Good as a topping or filling, or a breakfast/snack.

Use the other half of the can to make Pumpkin Brownies. You can bake them at the same time.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 35M
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granola
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 can (7.5oz) pumpkin puree

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F.

  • Mix 1/2 can pumpkin puree with 1 tbsp brown sugar and 1 cup granola.

  • Lightly grease a small (5"x8") baking pan. Be sure to get the corners and walls so the granola doesn't stick. I used coconut oil, but anything (butter) should work.

  • Pour in granola mix.

  • Bake for 35 min.

  • Serve with whipped cream, yoghurt, etc.

Nadiyah's Banana Tarte Tatin with Pecans

By

5/16/2020 Bakery

I baked the banana tarte tatin from Nadiyah's Time to Eat on Netflix/BBC2. The only changes I made were changing the hazelnuts to pecans, and using about half as much sugar.

Recipe: Banana Tarte Tatin on BBC Food

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 15M
  • Cook time: 45M
  • Yield: 1 pan

Ingredients

  • See source recipe

Instructions

  • Follow the instructions on the BBC site. I'd suggest watching the video as well. The hardest part is caramelizing the sugar. You don't want to overstir it or it will recrystallize, but don't let it burn. If anything, under cook it since it's going to bake in the pan anyways.

Soda Bread

By

5/16/2020 Bakery

Soda bread is a super easy bread to make because it doesn't need all day to rise and uses baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) instead of yeast. It's sort of like a big biscuit and goes well with butter and jam or cheese.

I followed this recipe from the Irish Times: Easy soda bread for the ultimate cheese on toast, but since I didn't have buttermilk, I used the suggestions from this recipe and added a different source of acid instead (they used lemon, I used apple cider vinegar): Vegan Irish Soda Bread. Both recipes called for a bit bigger loaf than I made; I downsized from about 4 cups of flour to 3.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 15M
  • Cook time: 45M
  • Yield: 1 loaf

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cup buttermilk*
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (*if not using buttermilk)
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 390F (recipes suggest temperatures from 450F to 350F).

  • Add in dry ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Make a hole/crater in the center.

  • Pour buttermilk into crater. Following the advice of the vegan recipe: "On a lightly floured surface, gently knead just until the dough comes together, 10 or 12 turns. Do not overwork or you’ll end up with a tough mess! Shape into a disc about 1.5 inches in height."

  • Bake for 45 min on a lightly greased baking sheet (I used a pizza stone, but it stuck a little bit. Would probably go with the baking sheet.)

  • Remove from oven and let cool a bit before digging in. Should keep for 3-4 days if stored in an airtight container.

Dinner

Beyond Beef Meatloaf

By

1/23/2021 Dinner

Beyond Beef meatless meatloaf. Would probably work with regular beef, too.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 15M
  • Cook time: 1H
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Beyond Beef
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 3 tbsp plain yoghurt
  • 3 tbsp rolled oats
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tsp spicy mustard

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.

  • For the sauce that will go on top of the meat loaf while it cooks - use premade barbecue sauce, or whisk together ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar in a small cup.

  • Thoroughly combine Beyond Beef, vegetables, yogurt, oats, and spices in a bowl Press into a small casserole dish and cover with the sauce.

  • Bake at 400F for 1 hour.

Tagine Turkey Leg

By

11/30/2020 Dinner

A tagine is a cone-shaped North African cooking pot that can be used in many dutch-oven style recipes.

This is a meat-over-rice one-pot recipe that can work in a variety of ways:

  • Use darker meat with the skin on, like chicken thighs or wings
  • Add lentils, quinoa, or chickpeas to the rice
  • Layer sliced delicata squash or pumpkin chunks on top of the rice

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 20M
  • Cook time: 90M
  • Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 turkey legs
  • 2/3 cup wild rice
  • 1/3 cup white rice
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 delicata squash
  • 1 1/3 cup water or broth
  • 2 tbsp turkey pan trailings or butter
  • 2 tbsp quince jam
  • 2 tsp zatar spice

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300F

  • Add rice and broth/water to the tagine pot.

  • Layer with thickly sliced onion.

  • Chop squash in half lengthwise, de-seed, and slice into 1/2" thick semicircles. (Delicata squash skins are edible, but you have to peel other types of squash first.) Layer squash over rice.

  • Season meat with za'atar and quince jam

  • Place meat on top of rice

  • Cook for 90M at 300F

  • Remove lid and broil for 3-4 minutes to crisp meat.

  • At this stage, check that rice is cooked. I've needed to add some water and re-cover for 15-20 min if the rice/broth ratio was off initially.

  • Remove from oven

Veggie Pie No. 1

By

8/29/2020 Dinner

A filling vegetarian pot pie that could also support some meat.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 10M
  • Cook time: 45M
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup green beans, cut (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 cup carrots, chopped
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup (8oz)
  • 1/2 lb beyond burger or equivalent (i.e., ground beef)
  • 2 scallions, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1 cup (a fist-sized roll) of unsweetened biscuit-like dough, such as bannock

Instructions

  • Stir together all filling ingredients in a 9"x13" greased baking pan

  • Flatten the dough ball and stretch over the filling, sealing the edges against the baking pan

  • Bake at 375F for 45 minutes

Veggie Pie No. 2

By

8/29/2020 Dinner

Another vegetarian pot pie

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 15M
  • Cook time: 45M
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 small sweet potatoes, cubed
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 bundle broccoli florets, chopped
  • 1 small eggplant, sliced
  • 1 cup vegan celebration roast, cubed
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • 1/4 cup broth
  • 1/4 cup red cooking wine
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup (a fist-sized roll) of unsweetened biscuit-like dough, such as bannock

Instructions

  • In a skillet over medium heat, add oil and cook onions until translucent (3 min)

  • Add sweet potatoes to skillet and cook until soft (6 min)

  • Add broccoli, eggplant, broth, and cooking wine. Simmer for 15 min.

  • Add chopped protein (vegan celebration roast) and spices to vegetables.

  • Transfer filling to a greased pie pan. Cover with pie crust.

  • Bake at 350F for 30 minutes.

Dirty Rice

By

7/13/2020 Dinner

One-pot leftover rice dish

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 15M
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 3 mini bell peppers (1/2 cup chopped)
  • 1/4 cup salsa
  • 1/4 lb beyond burger
  • 2 tbsp sundried tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp curry powder

Instructions

  • Before doing anything else, cook rice, or use leftover rice.

  • Chop bell peppers into small pieces. Lightly sautee in a large pan for 3-5 min.

  • Add 1/4 cup Beyond Burger to the pan. As it cooks, break into small pieces with a spoon. Cook for 3 more min until pieces are browned.

  • Add rice, sundried tomatoes, water, salsa, and curry powder. Cook for 5 min.

Vegetarian Wet Burrito

By

6/30/2020 Dinner

"Wet" (sauce-covered) burritos with Beyond Meat vegetarian filling.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 25M
  • Cook time: 15M
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 6 mini bell peppers (about 1 cup chopped)
  • 4 green onions (about 3/4 cup chopped)
  • 1/2 lb Beyond Burger
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil (for pan)
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1/2 cup grated cheese (or more to taste)
  • 1 can (10oz) green enchilada sauce
  • 4 to 6 flour tortillas

Instructions

  • Before doing anything else, cook rice.

  • Chop green onions and bell peppers into small pieces. Lightly sautee in a large pan for 3-5 min, until slightly brown.

  • Add 1/2 lb Beyond Burger to the pan with the onions and peppers. As it cooks, break into small pieces with a spoon. Cook for 3 more min until pieces are browned.

  • Preheat oven to 425F.

  • Spoon rice, filling, and some cheese onto tortillas. Roll up and place in a baking dish. Pour green enchilada sauce over burritos. Sprinkle cheese on top.

  • Bake at 425F for 12-15min or until cheese is bubbling.

  • Serve burritos topped with sour cream, guacamole, etc.

BBQ Jackfruit Flatbread Pizza

By

5/23/2020 Dinner

A healthy vegetarian flatbread pizza. Shredded jackfruit with barbecue sauce is a great substitute for pulled pork.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 15M
  • Cook time: 12M
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 naan or flatbread
  • 1 lb barbecue jackfruit
  • 1/2 red onion
  • 1/2 cup brocolli, chopped
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated

Instructions

  • Prepare dough for naan bread according to this recipe

  • Divide dough into 2 pieces and flatten into rounds

  • Top each naan with 1/2 package BBQ jackfruit, 1/4 cup chopped red onion, 1/4 cup chopped broccoli, and mozzarella cheese

  • Bake at 425F for 12min

Instant Pot Jambalaya with Andouille Sausage and Catfish

By

5/23/2020 Dinner

I followed this recipe, Instant Pot Jambalaya, with a few tweaks:

  • I swapped the shrimp out for 1 catfish filet, which I sauteed for about 4 min per side in the oil from the sausage, and then set aside before adding the onions. You could also use a lot of other things: chicken, shrimp, salmon, textured vegetable protein, tempeh...
  • Used brown rice instead of white rice, and cooked it a bit longer by turning the sautee setting back on for 5 min after releasing the pressure and adding the sausage and fish.
  • Added about 1 tsp Tuti's All Purpose Seasoning from Aloha Spice Co. in Hawaii.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 15M
  • Cook time: 25M
  • Yield: null

Ingredients

  • See recipe link

Instructions

  • See recipe link

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

By

5/16/2020 Dinner

Using a pressure cooker makes cooking mashed potatoes a bit easier and faster.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 15M
  • Cook time: 20M
  • Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 5-8 Yukon Gold potatoes
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 package (1/2 cup) cream cheese
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1-2 cups water for instant pot

Instructions

  • Take cream cheese from fridge and allow it warm up

  • Chop potatoes into quarters (approximately), resulting in 1" cubes

  • Add water and potatoes to instant pot pressure cooker. Use fewer potatoes if you have a smaller cooker.

  • Set pressure to high and pressure timer to 10 mins (this should give you about 10 min extra time while it warms up).

  • Melt butter in a pan and add finely-chopped chop garlic. Cook for 1-2 min.

  • Once potatoes are cooked, slide the quick-release pressure valve to the vent position, wait for pressure valve to be released, then open pot and transfer to a large mixing bowl with a slotted spoon. Use a large spoon or smasher to mash the potatoes until large chunks are squished.

  • Pour in butter and garlic, and add cream cheese. Mix into potatoes.

  • Serve immediately or transfer to containers and let them cool in fridge before covering.

Peanut Butter Noodles

By

5/16/2020 Dinner

Someone mentioned that "peanut butter noodles" are a great hiking food. I've been using this often during shelter-in-place because I have a lot of peanut butter around. It's kind of like Pad Thai.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 2M
  • Cook time: 15M
  • Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp fish sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 servings of cooked noodles
  • 1/2 cup mixins like stir-fry vegetables or meat

Instructions

  • Cook 2-3 servings of noodles according to directions. Udon, soba, or rice noodles work well.

  • Warm up a small pan to med-low heat (3 min or so).

  • Drop peanut butter in the pan and wait for it to melt a bit, then spread it around.

  • Add remaining ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon or nonstick spatula. When combined, cook for 1 min.

  • Throw noodles into pan and combine with any mix-ins, then serve.

Poor Man's Lobster Mac

By

5/16/2020 Dinner

OK, this doesn't actually contain lobster at all! It uses monkfish, which is a sweet white fish that tastes a lot like lobster.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 15M
  • Cook time: 15M
  • Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 box macaroni and cheese
  • 1 or 2 ready-to-cook monkfish filets

Instructions

  • Prepare mac and cheese any way you like, but when you drain the pasta, leave a little water behind because you will want to keep cooking once the fish is added. If you're doing a "fancy" baked macaroni method, you'd probably want to add the fish about 10 min from the end.

  • Cook monkfish until flaky. You can pan-fry it or bake it at around 375F for 15min. You may want to add breadcrumbs, like this Mock Lobster recipe.

  • Note: frozen monkfish from a supermarket should be "ready-to-cook", but if you get it from a fishmarket you may need to remove a membrane from the meat before cooking.

  • Chop fish into chunks and gently mix into pasta while it's still hot in the pan. Continue cooking combination on the stovetop or oven for about 5 min. You could also transfer to ramekins and bake for 10-15 min with an additional layer of cheese and breadcrumbs.

  • Remove from heat and serve in bowls.

  • This doesn't keep well, so eat it all immediately.

Shepherd's Pie (Turkey)

By

5/16/2020 Dinner

A shepherd's pie consists of a savory meat and veggie filling topped with mashed potatoes.

It's not really a "shepherd's pie" if you don't use lamb, but any ground protein should do here. I used turkey, but beyond burger, beef, bison, or textured vegetable protein would also be great.

Based on Alton Brown's Recipe

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 30M
  • Cook time: 30M
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 medium-sized potatoes
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1/4 cup yoghurt
  • 3/4 lb ground protein (I used 2 turkey burger patties)
  • 1 cup frozen mixed veggies with corn and carrots
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste or 4 tbsp crushed tomatoes + 1 tsp ketchup
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 green onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 cup stock or broth or stout beer
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp thyme

Instructions

  • Peel and chop potatoes into 1/2in chunks.

  • Add potatoes to a pot, cover with water, and boil for 15 minutes.

  • While potatoes are boiling, prepare filling.

  • Add onions to a large pan with oil over medium heat. Saute 2-3 mins until fragrant and colorful.

  • Add ground meat to pan and break apart. Keep somewhat separate from vegetables. Cook until brown, 3-5 mins.

  • Add mixed vegetables to pan and mix in with onions. Add flour to the meat and coat.

  • Add spices and 1 cup broth or beer to pan. Simmer for 10 minutes.

  • Once potatoes are cooked, drain and then return to pot. Use a large spoon or smasher to mash the potatoes until large chunks are squished. Mix in butter, yoghurt, and salt and pepper. Alton Brown's recipe also added an egg yolk here.

  • Preheat oven to 400F.

  • Pour filling into a baking pan. Top with mashed potatoes, smoothing with a spoon and reaching to edges.

  • Bake 25 min.

  • Remove from oven and serve in deep dishes or bowls. Top with chopped green onion.

Soba Curry

By

5/16/2020 Dinner

Soba noodles are a great hearty noodle that goes well with lots of toppings. The curry can be cooked and stored separately so you can mix it with other things later, like rice or ramen noodles. If you do that you can reduce the amount of soba to just what you plan to eat in one sitting.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 15M
  • Yield: 3 servings

Ingredients

  • 10oz (1/2 package) buckwheat soba noodles
  • 1 packet golden curry cubes, or 3-4 tbsp curry powder and 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 lb meat or tofu
  • 1 onion, chopped in 1" pieces
  • 1 cup carrots, chopped in 1" pieces
  • 2 large potatoes, chopped in 1" pieces
  • 2 cups water
  • 1-2 tbsp oil

Instructions

  • Cook the soba noodles according to the directions on the package (it's a bit more involved than normal noodles, you have to add cold water and bring the water to a boil again).

  • If you have golden curry cubes, follow the instructions on the packet, which are basically:

    • Prepare curry by first sauteeing meat in a deep pan until browned, then adding chopped onion, carrots, and potatoes and cooking for 5 min.
    • Add water to pan and simmer for 15-20 mins.
    • Add curry powder or cubes and cook for about 5 min. Golden curry cubes will thicken up the sauce, but plain curry powder may need some added starch (using grainy potatoes can help, or adding a bit of cornstarch).
  • Distribute soba noodles into serving bowls, storing some for later in an covered container.

  • Pour curry over noodles and eat!

  • Divide leftover curry into containers and place in fridge.

Stuffed Pasta Shells with Veggies

By

5/16/2020 Dinner

If you get a box of large pasta shells, it probably has a recipe like this on it. However, they usually are pretty heavy on the cheese and don't have vegetables. This one is a bit healthier.

I've made this a few times. It's great for leftover lunches.

Overview: cook pasta shells in water, steam or microwave vegetables, combine veggies with cheese, stuff the shells, cover with pasta sauce, and bake.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 20M
  • Cook time: 1H
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 box of large shell pasta (about 10oz dry)
  • 1-2 cups ricotta
  • 1/2 cup grated cheese, your preference
  • 1 or 2 italian sausages, cooked and chopped (optional)
  • 1 cups frozen vegetables (spinach or peas and carrots work well)
  • 24oz (1 jar) tomato pasta sauce (any kind, like marinara)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375F.

  • Cook the shells in water as directed on box, about 15 min including boiling the water.

  • While cooking shells, steam or microwave 1 cup or so of frozen vegetables like a pea/carrot medley or spinach for 1-2 min.

  • Drain the shells and place open-side up in a medium-size baking pan. I used a ceramic pan about 8x12in. You want a bige enough pan that the shells don't overlap and can be covered by the sauce.

  • Mix ricotta, vegetables, and precooked sausage pieces (optional) together thoroughly. Use a spoon to stuff the shells with the mixture.

  • Pour tomato sauce over the shells, making sure no edges are exposed (any pasta sticking out will be more dried out and chewy instead of soft and moist).

  • Cover the pan with foil.

  • Place the pan in the oven and bake at 375F for 45 min to 1 hour.

Breakfast

Blue Corn Coconut Pancakes

By

2/21/2021 Breakfast

Made with a mixture of corn flour and coconut, these pancakes have a light and fluffy texture.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 10M
  • Yield: 4-6 large pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup blue corn masa harina
  • 1/3 cup corn meal
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 egg, cracked and whipped
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted
  • 2 tbsp plain yoghurt
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup coconut flakes

Instructions

  • Blend ingredients until just combined, adding in order listed. The mixture will be a little more liquid than other pancake mixes.

  • Cook heaping scoops of batter over med-low heat on a non-stick or lightly greased skillet for about 1:00 - 2:00 min per side, flipping once.

  • Goes well with berries, bananas, and syrup.

Eggs Menemen

By

2/26/2021 Breakfast

Menemen is a Turkish egg dish with peppers and tomatoes.

My favorite peppers to use for this dish are Jimmy Nardello peppers, an Italian frying pepper. Poblanos and bell peppers are also good, especially if you add a spicy companion like a padron or chili.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 10M
  • Cook time: 20M
  • Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 or 2 large peppers, sliced
  • 1 or 2 chili or spicy peppers, chopped
  • 1 can diced tomatoes, or 1-2 fresh tomatoes, diced
  • 2 to 4 eggs
  • 1 onion (optional)

Instructions

  • Sautee pepper and chili over medium heat until softened, about 5 min. If using onions, add at the same time.

  • Add tomatoes. Simmer for about 15 min.

  • Make slight pockets in the tomato mixture and crack in eggs. Let them sit and cook in the liquid.

  • To set the eggs, cover the pan and cook over low heat for 3-5 minutes or transfer it to the broiler for 2-3 min.

  • Serve in the pan and dip with pita/bread and yoghurt. Goes well with a cup of Turkish coffee.

Beyond Burger Breakfast Sausage

By

10/22/2020 Breakfast

A spice combination that makes beyond burger taste taste like a breakfast sausage patty.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 5M
  • Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb beyond burger
  • 1/2 tsp
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 dash cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp oregano

Instructions

  • Combine spices with beyond burger and form into spoon-sized patties

  • Cook in a lightly oiled skillet over medium heat until brown

  • Serve with pancakes, waffles, etc.

Pumpkin Pancakes

By

8/19/2020 Breakfast

Pumpkin pancakes are perfect for fall. These are particularly fluffy.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 10M
  • Yield: 4-6 large pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dry pancake mix, store-bought or homemade (see below)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup half-and-half
  • 1/2 can pumpkin puree (7.5oz)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  • Blend ingredients until just combined (a little lumpy) to make pancake batter.

  • Cook heaping scoops of batter over med-low heat on a non-stick or lightly greased skillet for about 1:30 - 2:00 min per side, flipping once.

  • Goes well with any or all of these toppings: butter, applesauce, cottage cheese, cream cheese, maple syrup, chicken apple sausage.

Blueberry Pancakes

By

5/16/2020 Breakfast

In my opinion, the ability of a pancake to contain big, plump blueberries is one of the main reasons to make pancakes instead of waffles.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 10M
  • Yield: 4-6 large pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 bowl pancake batter (about 4 cups)
  • 1/2 cup blueberries, thawed if frozen

Instructions

  • Prepare pancake batter the normal way.

  • After adding pancakes to the griddle, toss in blueberries on top. Doing this while cooking instead of before prevents them from being crushed into the batter while mixing. The berries should sink into the middle of the pancake while it cooks.

  • Enjoy.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

By

5/16/2020 Breakfast

The classic pancake

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 10M
  • Yield: 4-6 large pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 bowl pancake batter (about 4 cups)
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Prepare pancake batter the normal way.

  • After pouring pancake batter on the griddle, toss in chocolate chips on top and let them sink.

  • Enjoy.

Pancake Mix From Scratch

By

5/16/2020 Breakfast

Recipe list for pancakes that doesn't use store-bought mix.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 2M
  • Cook time: 0M
  • Yield: 4 large pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp oil

Instructions

  • Whisk together dry and wet ingredients in a bowl

  • Preheat a frying pan or griddle to medium-low heat. Lightly grease with butter or oil.

  • Scoop 1 ladleful (or 1 spoonful for silver-dollar pancakes) at a time onto griddle over medium-low heat, cook 1-2 min and then flip and cook 1 more min or until firm. Both sides should be evenly light brown. You should try to flip the pancakes just as the bottom firms up all the way to the edge and the pancake has enough structural integrity for a hearty flip.

  • As you cook the pancakes, keep the ones you already made on a prewarmed, covered plate so they don't get cold.

Pecan & Coconut Pancakes

By

5/16/2020 Breakfast

When I made this, I used coconut flakes and pecans left over from a plate of brownies.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 20M
  • Yield: 4-6 large pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 bowl pancake batter (about 4 cups)
  • 1/2 cup coconut flakes
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  • Prepare pancake batter the normal way.

  • Add in coconuts and pecans. Mine were toasted from baking on top of a sheet of brownies, but that's probably not necessary.

  • Make the pancakes.

  • Enjoy with whatever you like on pancakes.

Ricotta Pancakes

By

5/16/2020 Breakfast

There's not a lot of consensus on how to make lemon ricotta pancakes. I decided to split the difference on the eggs from some popular recipes and use 3, and add a small amount of plain yoghurt.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 15M
  • Cook time: 20M
  • Yield: 4-6 large pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dry pancake mix, store-bought or homemade (see below)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/3 cup plain yoghurt

Instructions

  • Slice the lemon, juice it, and zest the outside of the peel with a zester or cheese grater. You could probably use bottled lemon juice here if you don't have a fresh lemon.

  • Mix everything in a big bowl until barely combined (no more flour lumps). The mixture will be pretty yellow because of all the eggs.

  • Preheat a frying pan or griddle to medium-low heat. Add butter or oil if not using a non-stick pan.

  • Scoop 1 ladleful at a time onto griddle over medium-low heat, cook 2-3 min and then flip and cook about 2 more min or until firm.

  • Serving suggestions: top with lemon curd & berries or sauteed apples with whipped cream, chicken apple sausage on the side

Pancake Sauce

By

5/16/2020 Breakfast

A berry sauce for pancakes and waffles. You don't need the alcohol, but it gives it a little kick.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 2M
  • Cook time: 5M
  • Yield: Enough for 1 platter of pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 to 1 cup blueberries or mixed berries
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1-2 tbsp butter
  • 1-2 tbsp whiskey

Instructions

  • Warm berries in a saucepan on the stovetop or in the microwave (about 60 seconds).

  • Add in syrup and butter and continue to heat until bubbling and the berries are starting to distintegrate (a few mins on the stove 60-90s in the microwave)

  • Stir in whiskey (if desired) and cook a bit more.

  • Serve over pancakes and waffles with some whipped cream.

Lunch

Brown Rice Quesadillas

By

8/16/2020 Lunch

A very filling quesadilla

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 3M
  • Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 2 tortillas
  • 1/4 cup brown rice, cooked
  • 2 tbsp sharp cheddar
  • 1 tbsp cream cheese
  • 1 scallion
  • 2 tbsp salsa verde

Instructions

  • Preheat a skillet and add a small amount of butter or oil.

  • Spread all of the filling ingredients on one tortilla and top with another.

  • Cook the quesadilla in the hot oil, about 1 min per side.

Cold Soba Tuna Lunch

By

5/16/2020 Lunch

If you have a bowl of chilled leftover soba noodles, mix in a can of tuna and 1 tbsp of mayo. That's it. That's the recipe.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 4M
  • Cook time: 0M
  • Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 1 bowl cold soba noodles
  • 1 can of tuna
  • 1 tbsp mayonaise

Instructions

  • Mix one can of tuna and 1 tbsp of mayonaise with a bowl of cold soba noodles.

Fancied-Up Instant Mac and Cheese

By

5/16/2020 Lunch

A few little twists you can do with box mac and cheese to make it a little, shall we say, fancy.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 2M
  • Cook time: 15M
  • Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 box macaroni and cheese
  • 1/4 cup greek yoghurt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup fresh grated cheese (optional)
  • 1 tbsp garlic salt or minced garlic
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper or to taste
  • 1 sliced spicy sausage, like a hot link or andouille sausage (optional)

Instructions

  • Boil macaroni pasta in a saucepan as long as instructed on the box. Pour out water, but leave a bit of water behind so pasta remains wet for more cooking. Turn the pan to low heat.

  • Crack egg into pasta while it is still wet and pan is hot. Stir thoroughly.

  • Add 1/4 cup greek yoghurt to the pan, instead of butter and milk. Add cheese packet, or substitute/supplement with fresh cheese. Add garlic, salt, and pepper.

  • If adding meat, chop the precooked sausage into 1/2" pieces and mix into pan.

  • Cook for 2-3 min over med-low heat to cook the egg, stirring often.

Dessert

Peach Tarte

By

3/8/2021 Dessert

A fluffy fruit tart with nuts, similar to a pear frangipane tart

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 10M
  • Cook time: 45M
  • Yield: 1 pie

Ingredients

  • 1 pie crust, 9 in
  • 1 can peaches or 3/4 cup peach preserves
  • 1/2 can (7 oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/4 cup fromage blanc
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425F.

  • Whip the eggs together with the fromage blanc. Add in the condensed milk and flour and mix until even and smooth.

  • Arrange peaches in bottom of pie crust (or tarte dough). Pour the egg batter over the peaches.

  • Sprinkle chopped pecans over the top of the batter.

  • Place in preheated 425F oven. After 5 min, reduce heat to 350F and bake for 40 min, until batter puffs up significantly. A toothpick poked into the batter should come out clean.

  • Remove from oven and let cool for at least 30 mins before serving. Cover & refrigerate leftovers.

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

By

1/21/2021 Dessert

Chocolate chip cookies with cocoa powder. Tastes like those giant Costco chocolate muffins. There are no eggs in this recipe, so if you use plant-based milk and butter it can be vegan.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 10M
  • Cook time: 12M
  • Yield: 12 cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • 2/3 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter, softened
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder (Red Dutch style)
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 3 tbsp rolled oats
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 3 tbsp milk (I used Ripple pea milk)
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375F.

  • Combine all dry ingredients except chocolate chips in a saucepan over low heat.

  • Slowly add the butter, milk, oil, and vanilla extract. Add the chocolate chips.

  • Mix thoroughly and allow chocolate to melt slightly.

  • Transfer dough onto baking sheet in scoops slightly smaller than a golf ball or walnut.

  • Bake for 10-12 min at 375F. Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes before digging in.

Sweet Dessert Quesadillas

By

5/16/2020 Dessert

A dessert quesadilla, for a sweet snack. You don't have to fry it, but you can.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 3M
  • Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 1 tortilla
  • 1 tbsp cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp jam
  • 1/2 tsp sriracha sauce
  • 1/2 tsp honey

Instructions

  • Preheat a skillet and add a small amount of butter or oil.

  • Spread the condiments on one side of a tortilla and fold in half. (Folding instead of using 2 tortillas fold makes one side less messy for eating whole; make 2 if you want a full circle.)

  • Cook the quesadilla in the hot oil over medium heat, about 1 min per side.

Snacks

Mushroom Poutine

By

2/26/2021 Snacks

A dish so Canadian, you will be eligible for citizenship

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 15M
  • Cook time: 45M
  • Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 large russet potatoes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder or minced garlic
  • 1 tsp za'atar spice
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 cup cheese curds or chopped mozzarella
  • Mushroom gravy

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375F

  • Slice potatoes lengthwise into fry shape. Pat dry with a paper towel.

  • Toss fries in olive oil mixed with garlic, paprika, and za'atar spices

  • Place a wire rack on top of a sheet pan. Spread fries onto rack so they aren't touching.

  • Bake fries in the oven for 45 minutes at 375F.

  • While the potatoes are cooking, make this [mushroom gravy recipe](mushroom gravy. It should take about the same amount of time as the fries.

  • Remove fries from oven and toss in a bowl. Spread mushroom gravy over the top, and add chunks of cheese curd.

  • (Optional) if your bowl or dish is oven-safe, heat it for a few minutes in the oven to melt the curds.

  • Serve! If you have extra gravy, refrigerate it separately from the fries so they don't get mushy.

Smoked Salmon Dip

By

5/16/2020 Snacks

This dip goes well with whole grain crackers or veggie sticks, and is good for parties and potlucks

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 0M
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 smoked salmon filet
  • 1/4-1/2 cup cream cheese (roughly 1:2 cheese:salmon ratio)
  • 1 tsp dill
  • 2 tsp chives
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Combine ingredients in a bowl with a fork.

  • Serve with crackers or vegetables like carrots and celery. Goes well with Scandivian hors d'oeuvre like pickles and cold potato salad. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate if you want to save it for later.

Dips

Quick Plum Chutney

By

5/16/2020 Dips

Chutney is like jam but better. This is "refrigerator chutney" in that you don't have to can it, but it only stays good for a few weeks and must be refrigerated. If you are a canning pro you can find more complex recipes that involve proper pickling.

This plum chutney goes well with crackers, rolls, and meats like turkey or ham.

See also: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/freshplumchutney_1320, http://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/249478/plum-chutney/

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 10M
  • Cook time: 30M
  • Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ripe plums
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Chop the plums in half and remove the pits. This will be messy.

  • Mix plums, sugar, and vinegar, and any spices, in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir to dissolve sugar and break up the plums. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered for 20-30 mins til the mixture begins to reduce and become sticky.

  • Remove from heat and pour into glass bowl. Allow to cool and refrigerate, covered. Chutney should last a week or two.

Beverages

Raktajino

By

5/20/2020 Beverages

A hot cup of raktajino is the drink of choice for the crew of Deep Space 9. It's described as "Klingon coffee" but there's no offical Star Trek recipe for it. This one is as good as any!

I normally brew an espresso-style shot with an Aeropress, and then add hot water (Americano style).

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 5M
  • Cook time: 5M
  • Yield: 1 cup

Ingredients

  • 1 cup freshly brewed coffee
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric (to taste)
  • 1 dash of ground black pepper
  • 1 dash more spices paprika, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon (optional)
  • 1 tbsp milk (plant-based works)
  • 1/2 tsp to 1 tbsp fat (unsalted butter, ghee, or coconut oil) (optional)
  • 1 tbsp collagen protein powder (optional)

Instructions

  • Brew fresh coffee however you like it, but grind a small amount of black pepper into the grounds before brewing.

  • In a prewarmed mug, add spices. You can experiment - a shake of turmeric, a tiny spec of cayenne pepper, a little cinnamon, a little nutmeg, a dash of smoked paprika.

  • Add in 1 tbsp milk, and optionally up to 1 tbsp healthy fat and collagen powder for "bulletproof" style coffee.

  • Pour coffee or espresso shot into mug. Add hot water if using espresso.

  • Mix with a spoon or hand frother until milk is foamy.

Wingerale

By

5/20/2020 Beverages

Like a mimosa.

Prep Time

  • Prep Time: 1M
  • Cook time: 0M
  • Yield: 1 cup

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup white wine or rosé
  • 1/2 cup gingerale
  • 1/4 cup orange juice (optional)

Instructions

  • Combine wine and gingerale.

  • Drink up.