Posts
Well, it's been an eventful month. Most notably, I got pre-approved for a home loan which is a very exciting and freaky thing all at once. We do have a place in mind and we hope to put an offer on it this week. We'll see how that goes.
So my posts for the next month will not be as regular as I want them to be. We've got a lot going on- the home buying, the packing and decided which projects need to be tackled and when and oh yeah- the election. Ha, just signed up for a subscription for This Old House- so believe me friends there will always be a project to be tackled and a tasty meal to thank you for it. And as far as the election goes- I've committed to helping out Planned Parenthood with their projects.
Fall has certainly arrived. My sweet corn stand is no more and in its place- Pumpkin World! I cruised around it for a little while yesterday- yum and so cute. We've been eating honey crisp apples by the bushel it seems- last Sat. I spent $10 on apples alone! And I'm sure we'll be out of them by Thursday.
Our Tivo is overwhelmed- with our schedules and the new Fall season- doesn't add up to a lot of leisure time in front of the tube. But, I am completely hooked on Fringe- what a great show!
And bookwise- I just recently finished China Lake by Meg Gardiner- first of a great series. And if you're up for another very disturbing serial killer book- check out Heart sick by Chelsea Cain- wicked! I am currently reading The Whole Truth by David Baldacci which is turning into a really great read. I've also got in the queue Hot, Flat & Crowded by Tom Friedman, The War Within by Bob Woodward, Odd Thomas By Dean Koontz, Mission Canyon by Meg Gardiner, Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain and a couple of others that Rachel gave me- so I am beyond set- now I just need some quiet nights. Ha!
Here's another chapter in the squash chronicles. Pumpkin Chocolate cake- I made this for Angel to take into work for their potluck. Seriously good cake- just be sure to use a high quality cocoa powder- (not that I would put in a plug here for Penzeys), it will make the difference from a cake being drab and being fab. I was lazy and didn't glaze the cake. Oh, and this one is healthy too! Enjoy & take care.
Glazed Chocolate-Pumpkin Bundt Cake - Eating Well
Makes 16 servings
Ingredients
Cake
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1 cup granulated sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process)
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup nonfat buttermilk
1 15-ounce can unsweetened pumpkin puree
¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature (see Tip)
1 large egg white, at room temperature
¼ cup canola oil
¼ cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Glaze & Garnish
½ cup packed confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon nonfat buttermilk
2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips or toasted chopped nuts (see Tip)
Instructions
1. To prepare cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray.
2. Whisk all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, granulated sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Blend 1 cup buttermilk, pumpkin puree and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed. Beat in whole egg and egg white. Stir in oil, corn syrup and vanilla. Gradually add the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan.
4. Bake the cake until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove from the pan and let cool completely on the rack, about 2 hours.
5. To glaze & garnish cake: Combine confectioners' sugar and 1 tablespoon buttermilk in a small bowl, stirring until completely smooth. Place the cake on a serving plate and drizzle the glaze over the top; garnish with chocolate chips (or chopped nuts) while the glaze is still moist.
Tips: To warm an egg to room temperature, either set it out on the counter for 15 minutes or submerge it (in the shell) in a bowl of lukewarm (not hot) water for 5 minutes.To toast chopped nuts & seeds: Cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.
Glazed Chocolate-Pumpkin Bundt Cake Nutrition Information
Per serving: 234 calories; 5 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 13 mg cholesterol; 46 g carbohydrate; 4 g protein; 3 g fiber; 238 mg sodium; 159 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (80% daily value).
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Gov. Palin
Be proud of me- I actually fact checked an critical and inflammatory email regarding Gov. Palin today and did not forward it. I do relish this point of personal growth and I am highlighting it here for all to see.
Being a woman, you would think (well the McCain campaign does) that I'd be all excited over the prospect of a woman being on the ticket. Well, folks, I had a woman on my Presidential ticket before- granted it was before I could vote but I did plead my case to my parents to vote Mondale/Ferraro in 84.
I would hope that we all come to that point where it's not about a woman supporting a woman. It's about the experience, values and beliefs that the candidate holds that makes me believe in them and supports them.
Of course, being the yellow dog democrat- crossing parties is not an option for me. But I have had my chops busted for this before- Remember the Jack Hatch and Connie McBurney primary for Congress? Experience vs Ovaries....former State Rep. vs former KCCI weather forecaster? Yeah, I backed Jack.
The surprising choice of Gov. Palin for me really highlights Sen McCain's rash decision making. I would be shocked to find out that he really thought this through- and all of the trickling out of the details afterwards, hmm yeah. And, really I think its condescending that thought of planning to put a woman on the ticket would attract women to vote for that ticket- as if we can't can't see beyond the bra. The thought that former Hillary Clinton supporters would migrate over- no way, no how, McCain- she is the polar opposite of what Clinton supporters believe in.
Her kids should be off limits- but if one of Obama's kids got knocked up this election cycle- what do you think the commentators would say?
And I think it's completely unfair that there is speculation that how can she handle her family responsibilities and the Vice Presidency- because if she were a guy, it wouldn't come up. I did watch the weirdest story on the Today show last week about the inevitable culture shock her husband would be in for if they moved to DC. I mean seriously, commenting on how he won't be able to fish or hunt with in the immediate DC area- it's just as stupid as saying that the wife of a VP candidate will have all these new shopping prospects when she gets there.
And I like the whole "small town spunky" spin that she's getting- I'm very sure that there is a certain opinionated, experienced, sharp woman Senator from New York that would of loved the spunky label instead of the shrill moniker.
Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:
She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage.
Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.
She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000.
Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.
She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.
She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as a threatened species-she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.
(By the way- I can direct you to a site where these are cited with facts- check out Moveon.org)
So, of course she's exciting the Republican hardcores- she's one of them. And its fascinating for me to watch those people who once decried the entering of women into the workforce supporting her now.
I'm not surprised she didn't make the rounds of the Sunday morning political talk show circuit- In fact I came across the quote of the McCain staffer that she wouldn't unless they showed her respect and deference. Deference? Who exactly deserves DEFERENCE on the talk show circuit? This does highlight the hypocrisy of the whole situation- when the going gets tough they can pull the whole apron string defence.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2008/09/07/AR2008090702402.html
If ya ain't ready to run with the polar bears, best bet to stay inside.
Hmmm- how long away is November?
P.S. Senator McCain? Senator Obama called- he saw your recent ad and he wants his campaign slogan back....
Being a woman, you would think (well the McCain campaign does) that I'd be all excited over the prospect of a woman being on the ticket. Well, folks, I had a woman on my Presidential ticket before- granted it was before I could vote but I did plead my case to my parents to vote Mondale/Ferraro in 84.
I would hope that we all come to that point where it's not about a woman supporting a woman. It's about the experience, values and beliefs that the candidate holds that makes me believe in them and supports them.
Of course, being the yellow dog democrat- crossing parties is not an option for me. But I have had my chops busted for this before- Remember the Jack Hatch and Connie McBurney primary for Congress? Experience vs Ovaries....former State Rep. vs former KCCI weather forecaster? Yeah, I backed Jack.
The surprising choice of Gov. Palin for me really highlights Sen McCain's rash decision making. I would be shocked to find out that he really thought this through- and all of the trickling out of the details afterwards, hmm yeah. And, really I think its condescending that thought of planning to put a woman on the ticket would attract women to vote for that ticket- as if we can't can't see beyond the bra. The thought that former Hillary Clinton supporters would migrate over- no way, no how, McCain- she is the polar opposite of what Clinton supporters believe in.
Her kids should be off limits- but if one of Obama's kids got knocked up this election cycle- what do you think the commentators would say?
And I think it's completely unfair that there is speculation that how can she handle her family responsibilities and the Vice Presidency- because if she were a guy, it wouldn't come up. I did watch the weirdest story on the Today show last week about the inevitable culture shock her husband would be in for if they moved to DC. I mean seriously, commenting on how he won't be able to fish or hunt with in the immediate DC area- it's just as stupid as saying that the wife of a VP candidate will have all these new shopping prospects when she gets there.
And I like the whole "small town spunky" spin that she's getting- I'm very sure that there is a certain opinionated, experienced, sharp woman Senator from New York that would of loved the spunky label instead of the shrill moniker.
Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:
She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage.
Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.
She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000.
Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.
She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.
She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as a threatened species-she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.
(By the way- I can direct you to a site where these are cited with facts- check out Moveon.org)
So, of course she's exciting the Republican hardcores- she's one of them. And its fascinating for me to watch those people who once decried the entering of women into the workforce supporting her now.
I'm not surprised she didn't make the rounds of the Sunday morning political talk show circuit- In fact I came across the quote of the McCain staffer that she wouldn't unless they showed her respect and deference. Deference? Who exactly deserves DEFERENCE on the talk show circuit? This does highlight the hypocrisy of the whole situation- when the going gets tough they can pull the whole apron string defence.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2008/09/07/AR2008090702402.html
If ya ain't ready to run with the polar bears, best bet to stay inside.
Hmmm- how long away is November?
P.S. Senator McCain? Senator Obama called- he saw your recent ad and he wants his campaign slogan back....
Chili
Here is the keeper recipe for chili we had this weekend. Great vegetarian make ahead dish- because chili can only get better the second day. I added a couple of roasted Hatch chilis and used some chipotle powder instead of cracking open a can of chipotles. Canned chipotles do freeze well- just stick them in ice cube trays with a bit of the adobo sauce, freeze and store the cubes in a ziploc bag.
Vegetarian Chili from Cooking Light
Chipotle lends subtle yet deep smoky spice to this substantial meat-free dish. We use a light-bodied lager beer along with vegetable broth to deglaze the pan. Serve with baked tortilla chips.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons canola oil
2 cups chopped onion (about 1)
1 1/2 cups chopped green bell pepper (about 1)
1 1/2 cups chopped red bell pepper (about 1)
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups organic vegetable broth
1 cup beer
1 tablespoon chopped chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can small red beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup preshredded reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese
Preparation
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell peppers to pan; sauté 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add chili powder and garlic to pan; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add broth and beer, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add chipotle, beans, and tomatoes to pan; simmer 40 minutes or until thick. Stir in salt. Sprinkle each serving with cheese.
Yield
6 servings (serving size: about 1 1/2 cups chili and 4 teaspoons cheese)
Nutritional Information
CALORIES 216(19% from fat); FAT 4.5g (sat 1.4g,mono 1.1g,poly 1g); IRON 2.4mg; CHOLESTEROL 5mg; CALCIUM 193mg; CARBOHYDRATE 35.1g; SODIUM 711mg; PROTEIN 10.1g; FIBER 8.8g
Vegetarian Chili from Cooking Light
Chipotle lends subtle yet deep smoky spice to this substantial meat-free dish. We use a light-bodied lager beer along with vegetable broth to deglaze the pan. Serve with baked tortilla chips.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons canola oil
2 cups chopped onion (about 1)
1 1/2 cups chopped green bell pepper (about 1)
1 1/2 cups chopped red bell pepper (about 1)
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups organic vegetable broth
1 cup beer
1 tablespoon chopped chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can small red beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup preshredded reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese
Preparation
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell peppers to pan; sauté 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add chili powder and garlic to pan; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add broth and beer, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add chipotle, beans, and tomatoes to pan; simmer 40 minutes or until thick. Stir in salt. Sprinkle each serving with cheese.
Yield
6 servings (serving size: about 1 1/2 cups chili and 4 teaspoons cheese)
Nutritional Information
CALORIES 216(19% from fat); FAT 4.5g (sat 1.4g,mono 1.1g,poly 1g); IRON 2.4mg; CHOLESTEROL 5mg; CALCIUM 193mg; CARBOHYDRATE 35.1g; SODIUM 711mg; PROTEIN 10.1g; FIBER 8.8g
Monday, September 8, 2008
Fall has fallen
Well, we went from the last days of humid Summer to Fall pretty much overnight last week. We had a surprise visitor last Tuesday- my dear friend Jay was in town visiting his family including meeting his new nephew. We went to Django for an excellent lunch, and then I took him around the east Village and Gateway Market. Also got a chance to drive him buy the house we looked at twice last week- which met his approval. Such a great chance to catch up with a great friend- and Ms. Charlie was very happy to get some guy time and a belly rub.
So, you know last week how excited I was to get roasted Hatch chilies at the market? I haven't seen them here at all- until Wed. I went to HyVee before work and what greeted me was the humongous multimedia display of Hatch Chilis- d'oh!!
Ah well- braving a chilly morning- we picked up this week our first batch of honeycrisp apples, a buttercup squash, peppers, a leek, sweet corn and split a pumpkin pie cupcake from Carefree Patisserie. This time of year is my favorite at the farmers market- all of the summer produce and the fall stuff is just starting to appear.
I have decided that it may be a little better for my mental health to get most of my information about the Republican pres. ticket filtered through Jon Stewart. Oh, I promise my take on Gov. Pallin later this week. However, I adored Jon's comment on how the Democratic party always has to prove its patriotism, but everyone knows that the Republican party loves our country- they just hate half the people living here.
I just finished Thurston Clarke's hertbreaking account of Robert Kennedy's Presidential campaign- "The Last Campaign. Bobby Kennedy has always been an inspiration to me and this country suffered a great loss when he was killed. This book was a great insight into the campaign, not portraying Bobby as a saint but recognizing his courage and the huge shadow of his brother he overcame throughout the campaign. And repeatedly throughout the book- what really amazed me was his direct challenging of his audiences from ladies clubs to college campuses, saying that we were the reason why Vietnam was happening, that student deferments for the draft were completely unfair and discriminatory against poor Americans who couldn't afford to go to college, that black Americans were dying in Vietnam fighting for a country that was not guaranteeing their equal rights as citizens back home, we allow children to die of starvation in this country because we turn a blind eye to the suffering we can't see.
Now, just imagine today a political candidate, blowing off his advisers, and saying something akin to that in prime-time. The truth is hardest to hear- we allowed our country to get into this position and its up to us to fix it, one step at a time by making different lifestyle changes, getting involved in our communities and schools and forgo chilling on the couch every night to most importantly educating ourselves and voting in every election. Government by any means can not solve all the problems- but with the right leadership and agenda- it is a part of the solution.
And the author pointed out that in his speeches on Vietnam, that if you replaced the words Vietnam with Iraq and Communism with Al-Qaeda- it would just be as timely and persuasive today. Try it: "Our brave young men are dying in the swamps of Southeast Asia. Which of them might have written a poem? Which of them might have cured cancer? Which of them might have played in a World Series or given us the gift of laughter from the stage or helped build a bridge or a university? Which of them would have taught a child to read? It is our responsibility to let these men live....It is indecent if they die because of the empty vanity of their country."
For all you Democrats who may need reassurance:
"As long as America must choose, that long will there be a need and a place for the Democratic Party. We Democrats can run on our record but we cannot rest on it. We will win if we continue to take the initiative and if we carry the message of hope and action throughout the country. Alexander Smith once said, "A man doesn't plant a tree for himself. He plants it for posterity." Let us continue to plant, and our children shall reap the harvest. That is our destiny as Democrats."
Here is one of my favorite quotes from him:
"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation... It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. "
So, you know last week how excited I was to get roasted Hatch chilies at the market? I haven't seen them here at all- until Wed. I went to HyVee before work and what greeted me was the humongous multimedia display of Hatch Chilis- d'oh!!
Ah well- braving a chilly morning- we picked up this week our first batch of honeycrisp apples, a buttercup squash, peppers, a leek, sweet corn and split a pumpkin pie cupcake from Carefree Patisserie. This time of year is my favorite at the farmers market- all of the summer produce and the fall stuff is just starting to appear.
I have decided that it may be a little better for my mental health to get most of my information about the Republican pres. ticket filtered through Jon Stewart. Oh, I promise my take on Gov. Pallin later this week. However, I adored Jon's comment on how the Democratic party always has to prove its patriotism, but everyone knows that the Republican party loves our country- they just hate half the people living here.
I just finished Thurston Clarke's hertbreaking account of Robert Kennedy's Presidential campaign- "The Last Campaign. Bobby Kennedy has always been an inspiration to me and this country suffered a great loss when he was killed. This book was a great insight into the campaign, not portraying Bobby as a saint but recognizing his courage and the huge shadow of his brother he overcame throughout the campaign. And repeatedly throughout the book- what really amazed me was his direct challenging of his audiences from ladies clubs to college campuses, saying that we were the reason why Vietnam was happening, that student deferments for the draft were completely unfair and discriminatory against poor Americans who couldn't afford to go to college, that black Americans were dying in Vietnam fighting for a country that was not guaranteeing their equal rights as citizens back home, we allow children to die of starvation in this country because we turn a blind eye to the suffering we can't see.
Now, just imagine today a political candidate, blowing off his advisers, and saying something akin to that in prime-time. The truth is hardest to hear- we allowed our country to get into this position and its up to us to fix it, one step at a time by making different lifestyle changes, getting involved in our communities and schools and forgo chilling on the couch every night to most importantly educating ourselves and voting in every election. Government by any means can not solve all the problems- but with the right leadership and agenda- it is a part of the solution.
And the author pointed out that in his speeches on Vietnam, that if you replaced the words Vietnam with Iraq and Communism with Al-Qaeda- it would just be as timely and persuasive today. Try it: "Our brave young men are dying in the swamps of Southeast Asia. Which of them might have written a poem? Which of them might have cured cancer? Which of them might have played in a World Series or given us the gift of laughter from the stage or helped build a bridge or a university? Which of them would have taught a child to read? It is our responsibility to let these men live....It is indecent if they die because of the empty vanity of their country."
For all you Democrats who may need reassurance:
"As long as America must choose, that long will there be a need and a place for the Democratic Party. We Democrats can run on our record but we cannot rest on it. We will win if we continue to take the initiative and if we carry the message of hope and action throughout the country. Alexander Smith once said, "A man doesn't plant a tree for himself. He plants it for posterity." Let us continue to plant, and our children shall reap the harvest. That is our destiny as Democrats."
Here is one of my favorite quotes from him:
"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation... It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. "
Monday, September 1, 2008
The squash adventures continue
The squash chronicles were continued this weekend with an excellent pumpkin curry from Thai Flavors. An amazing complex, rich dish- with yes, cubed pumpkin. Remember, pumpkin is a squash like butternut. It's just that everyone only sees it in one incarnation, pumpkin pie. Think outside the pie!
Today, even though it started to get hot once again, I tried an excellent recipe for Chocolate Zucchini bread. It turned out a very dark, moist rich loaf- a little healthier than the Paula Dean creation my mom found. I try not to over mix quick breads and muffins as a rule- if you do it makes them tough. But, be sure to mix in the zucchini- otherwise you may end up with a ball of zucchini in the middle of your loaf- not very appetizing. So, we just plan to eat around that chunk.
At the farmers market this weekend- I splurged, not on cake, but on a bag of roasted chilis. When I tasted them as a puree, they were sweet with a little kick. I froze them and am looking forward to pulling them out for chili or enchiladas sometime soon.
It is kind of weird having two days off in a row. I had a lot of plans this weekend, baking, cooking, dyeing my hair, cleaning- but got some stuff accomplished. We went to see a house for sale yesterday- which we liked very much and drove past some others that were on our potential list. We did the whole running errands thing- returned the dress which I shouldn't of bought in the first place, finally bought cat food (Mischa was sooo excited). Today I finished a dishcloth that had been lingering on my knitting needles forever, all I had to do was bind it off- why didn't I do it sooner? I made the bread this morning, went out for lunch with Angel's family and organized my knitting needles, made meatballs and froze them- I love the handi-vac!! and thinking about dinner....
Last night Angel was quite disgusted with my dinner plans- but really, trust me it was good! I tried this recipe, just using a multi-grain pita bread for the crust. Those pitas make great individual size pizzas- quick and easy dinner. Be sure to look for ones that are lower in fat, sometimes you can find flatbreads that have 9-10 grams of fat and really high in calories. The ones I am diggin' now are the Toufayan Bakeries that have 173 calories and 1 gram of fat- and no, they don't taste like cardboard.
Earlier this week, I used them to make bbq chicken pizzas, using bbq sauce, leftover smoked chicken, sauteed onions and peppers and mozzarella cheese. They are also great stuffed with egg salad or chicken salad or roasted veggies and cheese or hummus.
She hates beets- she tried one a couple of years ago and spit it into the trash. But at least she tried. I will use goat cheese the next time I do this and add more mozzarella cheese (for more cheesy goodness) - the feta was a bit too much, and I omitted the honey. Sliced in thin slices, it would make a great hors d'oeuvres. Enjoy!
Roasted Beet Pizza (Pizza alla Barbabietola Arrostito)
"People who think they don't like beets often become converts after sampling this tasty pizza," says Senior Food Editor Alison Ashton. Roast several golden beets at once, and enjoy the extras with salads, on sandwiches, or as a snack with crusty bread and goat cheese.
1 (4-ounce) golden beet
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 (10-inch) Basic Pizza Dough
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup vertically sliced shallots
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon honey
1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. Leave root and 1 inch of stem on beet; scrub with a brush. Wrap beet in foil. Bake at 450° for 40 minutes or until tender. Remove from oven; cool. Trim off beet root; rub off skin. Cut beet in half crosswise; thinly slice halves.
3. Position an oven rack in the lowest setting. Place a pizza stone on lowest rack.
4. Increase oven temperature to 500°. Preheat pizza stone 30 minutes before baking pizza.
5. Gently brush oil over Basic Pizza Dough. Arrange cheese, beet slices, and shallots evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Slide dough onto preheated pizza stone, using a spatula as a guide.
6. Bake at 500° for 8 minutes or until crust is golden. Remove from pizza stone. Sprinkle with salt, and drizzle with honey. Cut into 8 wedges.
Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)CALORIES 104 (20% from fat); FAT 2.3g (sat 1.2g,mono 0.8g,poly 0.2g); IRON 1.2mg; CHOLESTEROL 6mg; CALCIUM 40mg; CARBOHYDRATE 17.7g; SODIUM 295mg; PROTEIN 3.5g; FIBER 1g Cooking Light, SEPTEMBER 2008
Today, even though it started to get hot once again, I tried an excellent recipe for Chocolate Zucchini bread. It turned out a very dark, moist rich loaf- a little healthier than the Paula Dean creation my mom found. I try not to over mix quick breads and muffins as a rule- if you do it makes them tough. But, be sure to mix in the zucchini- otherwise you may end up with a ball of zucchini in the middle of your loaf- not very appetizing. So, we just plan to eat around that chunk.
At the farmers market this weekend- I splurged, not on cake, but on a bag of roasted chilis. When I tasted them as a puree, they were sweet with a little kick. I froze them and am looking forward to pulling them out for chili or enchiladas sometime soon.
It is kind of weird having two days off in a row. I had a lot of plans this weekend, baking, cooking, dyeing my hair, cleaning- but got some stuff accomplished. We went to see a house for sale yesterday- which we liked very much and drove past some others that were on our potential list. We did the whole running errands thing- returned the dress which I shouldn't of bought in the first place, finally bought cat food (Mischa was sooo excited). Today I finished a dishcloth that had been lingering on my knitting needles forever, all I had to do was bind it off- why didn't I do it sooner? I made the bread this morning, went out for lunch with Angel's family and organized my knitting needles, made meatballs and froze them- I love the handi-vac!! and thinking about dinner....
Last night Angel was quite disgusted with my dinner plans- but really, trust me it was good! I tried this recipe, just using a multi-grain pita bread for the crust. Those pitas make great individual size pizzas- quick and easy dinner. Be sure to look for ones that are lower in fat, sometimes you can find flatbreads that have 9-10 grams of fat and really high in calories. The ones I am diggin' now are the Toufayan Bakeries that have 173 calories and 1 gram of fat- and no, they don't taste like cardboard.
Earlier this week, I used them to make bbq chicken pizzas, using bbq sauce, leftover smoked chicken, sauteed onions and peppers and mozzarella cheese. They are also great stuffed with egg salad or chicken salad or roasted veggies and cheese or hummus.
She hates beets- she tried one a couple of years ago and spit it into the trash. But at least she tried. I will use goat cheese the next time I do this and add more mozzarella cheese (for more cheesy goodness) - the feta was a bit too much, and I omitted the honey. Sliced in thin slices, it would make a great hors d'oeuvres. Enjoy!
Roasted Beet Pizza (Pizza alla Barbabietola Arrostito)
"People who think they don't like beets often become converts after sampling this tasty pizza," says Senior Food Editor Alison Ashton. Roast several golden beets at once, and enjoy the extras with salads, on sandwiches, or as a snack with crusty bread and goat cheese.
1 (4-ounce) golden beet
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 (10-inch) Basic Pizza Dough
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup vertically sliced shallots
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon honey
1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. Leave root and 1 inch of stem on beet; scrub with a brush. Wrap beet in foil. Bake at 450° for 40 minutes or until tender. Remove from oven; cool. Trim off beet root; rub off skin. Cut beet in half crosswise; thinly slice halves.
3. Position an oven rack in the lowest setting. Place a pizza stone on lowest rack.
4. Increase oven temperature to 500°. Preheat pizza stone 30 minutes before baking pizza.
5. Gently brush oil over Basic Pizza Dough. Arrange cheese, beet slices, and shallots evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Slide dough onto preheated pizza stone, using a spatula as a guide.
6. Bake at 500° for 8 minutes or until crust is golden. Remove from pizza stone. Sprinkle with salt, and drizzle with honey. Cut into 8 wedges.
Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)CALORIES 104 (20% from fat); FAT 2.3g (sat 1.2g,mono 0.8g,poly 0.2g); IRON 1.2mg; CHOLESTEROL 6mg; CALCIUM 40mg; CARBOHYDRATE 17.7g; SODIUM 295mg; PROTEIN 3.5g; FIBER 1g Cooking Light, SEPTEMBER 2008
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