Category: Meatless

Chocolate Pumpkin Rugelach

I love the combination of chocolate and pumpkin together. So when I was trying to think of an update to a traditional cookie, my mind went right to these flavors, which brings me to this recipe for Chocolate Pumpkin Rugelach.

Rugelach are the perfect cookies for this combo. Traditional rugelach uses an apricot spread that is sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, walnuts, and raisins, and then rolled into a spiral. The pumpkin butter takes the place of the apricot spread, and mini chocolate chips are substituted in for the walnuts and raisins.

 

I based this recipe off the recipe I used in my Apricot and Raisin Rugelach post last month, based off a recipe from American Cookie: The Snaps, Drops, Jumbles, Tea Cakes, Bars & Brownies That We Have Loved for Generations.

 

Ingredients:

Dough:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 8 oz cream cheese, at room  temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all purpose flour, plus more for rolling the dough

Pumpkin Butter:

  • 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • the juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Filling:

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice if you have it)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 (10 oz) bag mini chocolate chips
  • 1 cup pumpkin butter (recipe above)

Egg Wash:

  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 teaspoon water

Continue reading Chocolate Pumpkin Rugelach

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Note: I was sent samples of PBfit in order to write this post. All opinions are mine alone.

I try to do a few make ahead recipes when I have the time on my weekends to make weekdays a bit easier. I tend to focus on dinners for busy weeknights, but from time to time I’m able to whip up some make ahead breakfasts as well. My favorite make ahead breakfasts? Muffins, of course! So I decided to make Peanut Butter Banana Muffins!

Not only are muffins an easy way to make a huge batch of future breakfasts, but they also freeze well! We always have bananas around the house, so when we end up with some overripe bananas, I love to use them in muffins. This recipe adds in some PBfit powder for peanut butter-y goodness!

PBfit is peanut butter powder made by pressing roasted peanuts, grinding those peanuts and mixing in some coconut palm sugar, and a pinch of salt. The result is a delicious peanut butter powder that has 87% less fat and 1/3 the calories of traditional peanut butter. Because it’s in powder form, it works great in baked goods!

Ingredients – makes 24 cupcake sized muffins, or 12 large muffins (get all ingredients here)

  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered peanut butter, such as PBfit
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 cups mashed bananas (about 6 bananas)
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Continue reading Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Pressure Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes

I really love sweet potatoes. I have a pretty bad sweet tooth, so sweet potatoes are right up my alley. Growing up, we used to always have them mashed with a ton of butter and topped with roasted marshmallows. Mmm.

This version for Pressure Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes is a bit more stripped down, no marshmallows here. The natural sweetness is allowed to shine through (although I do enhance it a bit with some maple syrup)!

Plus, because I cooked the sweet potatoes in my Pressure Cooker, this recipe is done in no time!

Ingredients:

  • 4 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into similar sized pieces
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter (or coconut oil to make dairy free/vegan)
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • thyme, for garnish

Continue reading Pressure Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Cacio e Pepe (Cheese and Pepper Pasta)

Note: This is a sponsored post, powered by BrandBacker. I was sent samples of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to make this post. Opinions are mine alone. 

Some ingredients are so wonderful, that you don’t need much else to make a beautiful dish. Parmigiano Reggiano is most certainly one of those ingredients.

Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is made in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna, and Mantua, Italy. Made by a collective of farmers and producers, Parmigiano Reggiano has just three ingredients: milk, salt, and rennet. with over eight centuries of cheese making experience, every wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is carefully tended to by workers who wipe, brush, and turn them every ten days. The outsides of the wheels dry over time to form a natural and edible rind. The wheels are typically aged for 18 to 36 months, with 24 months being the most common. So how do you know you have real Parmigiano Reggiano cheese? Look for the pin-dots on the rind, which are imprinted on every wheel.

This process results in a hard, dry cheese with a pale gold rind and a straw colored interior with a wonderful rich and sharp flavor. Pre-grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese doesn’t do the freshly grated stuff justice. And the best way to highlight the flavor of freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano is in this super simple recipe for Cacio e Pepe, or translated to Cheese and Pepper.

Traditional Cacio e Pepe is made with just 4 ingredients, but my Cacio e Pepe (Cheese and Pepper Pasta) has 7 ingredients – pasta, freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, pepper, salt, garlic, butter, and olive oil. The result is a simple but decadent pasta dish with the most luxurious, silky cheese sauce.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (16 oz) box linguine
  • salt, for the pasta water
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more for serving
  • 1 large garlic clove, very thinly sliced
  • 2 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, plus more for serving

Continue reading Cacio e Pepe (Cheese and Pepper Pasta)

Red Lentil and Butternut Squash Soup

It’s most certainly soup season!

My husband says he doesn’t like soup, but he honestly just doesn’t like thin broth soups, like traditional chicken noodle soup. So I’m always in search of soup recipes that are thicker based — not necessarily from cream. Pureed vegetable soups have become a favorite in my house!

This recipe from Saveur for Red Lentil and Butternut Squash Soup mentions that it originates from Palestine, but I haven’t been able to find a similar butternut squash and red lentil soup to confirm that. No matter where this recipe originally comes from, the result is a perfect colder weather soup- creamy, filling, with a little bit of heat!

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 medium carrots,  chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 medium white onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red chile flakes
  • 1 pound peeled, seeded, and chopped butternut squash
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 6 cups chicken stock (or vegetable stock to make vegetarian/vegan)
  • 1 cup red lentils
  • Paprika, for garnish
  • Lemon wedges, for serving

Continue reading Red Lentil and Butternut Squash Soup

Overnight Chocolate Chia Pudding

I have such a sweet tooth. Seriously, if I could get away with eating ice cream and only ice cream for the rest of my life, I probably would. So, I am constantly looking for ways to satisfy my sweet tooth without, well, eating a pint of ice cream.

Cue this recipe for Overnight Chocolate Chia Pudding — its dairy-free, gluten free, and vegan. And, it tastes amazing!

The Coconut Almond Whipped Cream really puts it over the top. But the pudding is pret-ty darn awesome on its own!

Ingredients:

Chocolate Chia Pudding:

  • 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (check the label to make sure they are vegan)
  • 1/2 cup chia seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

Coconut Almond Whipped Cream:

  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 2-4 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Continue reading Overnight Chocolate Chia Pudding

Slow Cooker Garlic Red Potatoes

I’ve mentioned before that my smoke alarms in my house are… sensitive. If I roast anything in the oven, they tend to go off. So when possible, I try to find alternate means to cook my food. In the summer, that means a ton of grilling. And as the weather cools off, my slow cooker becomes my best friend!

My latest Hungry Harvest (note: this is a referral link) included 2 pounds of red potatoes, so I wanted to try cooking the potatoes in my slow cooker.

This recipe for Slow Cooker Garlic Red Potatoes works well as a side to a recipe that already is using up your oven, like a roast turkey or chicken. It’s also a good option for a night that you can set the slow cooker in the early afternoon, and let it do its thing while you go about your day. When it’s dinner time, your side is all set, and you can quickly whip up a seafood dish, or sautéed chicken in no time!

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
  • 2 lbs red potatoes, cut into bit sized pieces
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

Continue reading Slow Cooker Garlic Red Potatoes

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies

I’ve mentioned before that my husband is an avid runner. He’s currently training for a marathon, so I’ve been trying to support his training with more food geared toward fueling him both before and after his runs. It’s important to fuel up with  something protein rich after working out to help promote muscle recovery.

These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies are a yummy choice after a long run, while still satisfying my husband’s sweet tooth.

The cookies are made with peanut butter, protein powder and almond flour, so they are surprisingly filling too.

Ingredients (makes about 30 cookies):

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup vanilla whey protein powder (paid link)
  • 1/4 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 cup gluten-free oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips (check for vegan chocolate chips for dairy-free)

Continue reading Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies

Pasta with Roasted Romanesco and Capers

Romanesco is an intriguing little veggie. I don’t come across it terribly often, but when I do, I love using it in recipes like this recipe for Pasta with Roasted Romanesco and Capers.

Romanesco is similar to normal broccoli and cauliflower, and can be prepared the same ways. However, the flavor of Romanesco is much more muted. I personally love it roasted and tossed with pasta. The below recipe is heavily inspired by Bon Appetit’s Pasta with Roasted Romanesco and Capers recipe.

I received Romanesco in my latest Hungry Harvest (note: this is a referral link) and couldn’t wait to make this recipe!

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup sliced almonds
  • ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons olive oil; plus more for drizzling
  • 2 tablespoons drained capers, divided
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1 medium Romanesco, cored, cut into small florets
  • 8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more for serving
  • ½ cup dry white wine (or chicken/vegetable broth, if preferred)
  • 1 (16 oz box) fusilli (or your favorite pasta)
  • 2 ounces Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Continue reading Pasta with Roasted Romanesco and Capers

Ranch Chickpea Cucumber Salad

I’ve been trying to think up more bring-to-work lunch ideas recently. We tend to just eat leftovers or traditional salads for lunch, which can get boring quickly.

So when my Hungry Harvest (note: this is a referral link) came with absolutely huge cucumbers, I figured I could make a slightly different lunch (or a make ahead side for dinner) with it!

This dish has chickpeas to make it a bit more hearty, red onions for flavor (and color), and of course, cucumbers. I tossed all of those in a lemony, zesty ranch Greek yogurt mixture.

Ingredients:

  • 1 large (or two medium) cucumber(s), cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 (15.5 oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  •  1 1/2 teaspoons ranch seasoning mix
  • the zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

Continue reading Ranch Chickpea Cucumber Salad

Balsamic Honey Roasted Carrots

I’m not sure what took me so long, but I’ve just started using Hungry Harvest. Hungry Harvest rescues produce that would normally go to waste, packages them up in different box options, and delivers it to your doorstep. Each box is customizable, so if you don’t like something in it, you can opt for another product through their website before delivery. There are also add-ons, like eggs, crushed tomatoes, or other fruits/vegetables.

To be honest, I don’t really see an issue with any of the produce I received. Apparently, reasons include that the produce is too big, too small, has some discoloring, are oddly shaped, or there were just too many in the crop.  For example, the carrots I used for this post were  “randomly sized and have some curve to them.” They still taste the same to me!

Anyways, I am loving having veggies delivered to my house and am experimenting with some new sides to add to my rotation. These carrots are inspired by a dish at a local Italian restaurant in South Philly: Ristorante Pesto. After ordering, they bring out a nice bruschetta plate as well as these awesome balsamic marinated carrots that I couldn’t get enough of! They serve theirs cold as an appetizer, but the below recipe for Balsamic Honey Roasted Carrots can be served either hot or cold.

Note: This is not a sponsored post, but if you’d like to try Hungry Harvest, feel free to use my referral link to sign up. You’ll receive $5 off your first order. I will also receive a credit when you receive your first delivery.

Ingredients: (serves 2, multiply as needed)

  • 8 oz carrots, washed and peeled
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey (or agave to make vegan)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • pinch of salt and pepper
  • fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

 

Continue reading Balsamic Honey Roasted Carrots

Moroccan Black Lentils with Kale and Onions

As much as I wish that I could meal plan and cook every night of the week, I have times where my job is too busy and I just don’t have time. During these busy periods, I usually order Blue Apron meals so that at least the meal planning and grocery shopping is done for me.

One of the meals a few months back had a side of black lentils with sauteed kale and onions that was absolutely fantastic. Since then, a version inspired by the original recipe has become a staple in my house.

Lentils in general are an awesome source of protein, and black lentils are no different. Sometimes called beluga lentils, they are named for their likeness to caviar. Black lentils hold their shape better than some other types of lentils, so they add great texture to meals.

The spice used in this recipe, ras el hanout, is a Moroccan spice blend that differs depending on the shop, so your version may come out slightly different than mine.  The name, which means “head of the shop” (which is similar to the English expression “top-shelf”) is a mixture of the best spices the seller has to offer. As such, there is no definitive ras el hanout recipe. Common ingredients include cardamom, cumin, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, coriander, paprika, and turmeric. I’m a huge fan of this spice blend, mainly because it takes a lot of the guess work out of seasoning — plus it tastes amazing! You may remember me using it in my One Pot Moroccan Chicken recipe earlier this year.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup dried black lentils, rinsed
  • 2.5 cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter (can omit for dairy free)
  • 1 onion, cut in half and thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon ras el hanout
  • 2 cups roughly chopped kale leaves
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • the juice and zest of 1 lemon
  • lemon wedges, for serving

Continue reading Moroccan Black Lentils with Kale and Onions

Blackberry Orange Margaritas

I’m not going to lie. I’m a bit of a margarita wimp. I prefer my margaritas as fruity as possible. I do have a Grilled Margarita recipe, but my other margarita recipes have pomegranates and blood oranges in them. Yum.

Anywho, I came across this recipe for Blackberry Orange Margaritas in Cooking Light and knew I’d like this one! The original recipe adds spicy serrano tequila, but I decided to keep this one spice-free.

Ingredients:

  •  6 ounces tequila
  • 12 ounces fresh blackberries
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons agave nectar

Add the blackberries, 1 cup orange juice. 1/2 cup lime juice, and 2 tablespoons agave to a blender and process until smooth.

Strain through a sieve, discarding the solids. Use a spoon to press down on the sieve to strain the liquid.

Stir in the tequila. Divided mixture among 4 ice-filled glasses and serve.

Tangy, slightly sweet, and super refreshing. Exactly what I want in a cocktail!

I love the color of this too. The photos don’t really do it justice. Definitely a statement drink that would be perfect for the next time you’re entertaining. You can also make this ahead of time and pour when ready to serve.

Print
Blackberry-Orange Margaritas

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Calories per serving: 180

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces tequila
  • 12 ounces fresh blackberries
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons agave nectar

Instructions

  1. Add the blackberries, 1 cup orange juice. 1/2 cup lime juice, and 2 tablespoons agave to a blender and process until smooth.
  2. Strain through a sieve, discarding the solids. Use a spoon to press down on the sieve to strain the liquid.
  3. Stir in the tequila. Divided mixture among 4 ice-filled glasses and serve.
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Ful Medames

One of my favorite new-ish shows is PBS’s No Passport Required with Marcus Samuelsson. Each episode explores the immigrant communities and food within different U.S. cities. There have only been 6 shows, but I’m hooked. Each episode includes Chef Samuelsson meeting, hanging out, and eating with members of the different immigrant communities in Detroit, New Orleans, Chicago, Queens, Miami, and Washington, D.C.

Not only is the show really interesting and informative, it’s difficult to not get hungry while watching,! PBS luckily includes some recipes on their website. But there was one I was hoping they’d post and at least as of this post, it’s not there: Ful Medames from the Washington, D.C. episode which highlighted the Ethiopian community in our nation’s capital.

Ful Medames is a breakfast dish of mashed fava beans, topped with hard boiled eggs, feta cheese, tomato, and jalapeno. I’ve had a bag of dried fava beans sent to me from Bob’s Red Mill in my pantry for a while now, and I knew they were destined for this recipe. Not only does Ful Medames sound fantastic, but my husband is currently training for a marathon, and this sounded like the perfect fuel after a long training run.

Ful Medames gets a lot of its flavor from a spice blend called berbere. Berbere is an Ethiopian spice mixture that usually includes chilies, garlic, ginger, basil, fenugreek, coriander, and cardamom. It is spicy, but I adjusted so this version doesn’t have too much heat. Feel free to add more for spiciness. For my local Philadelphians, I found berbere in The Head Nut in Reading Terminal, but there are recipes online to make your own at home if you don’t live near a spice shop. Penzey’s also has a version of berbere.


My version isn’t terribly authentic, but the general idea is there. I used soft boiled eggs instead, solely because I don’t love hard boiled eggs. Feel free to substitute in hard-boiled.

Note: Before cooking with the fava beans, be sure to soak them overnight.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups dried fava beans, soaked overnight
  • 5 cups water, plus more as needed
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more for serving
  • 1 medium sized onion, finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons berbere, divided
  • 3/4 teaspoon cumin, divided
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 4 eggs (omit for vegan)
  • 1 tomato (or ~4 oz cherry tomatoes), finely chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, seeds and membranes removed, finely chopped
  • 2 oz feta cheese (omit for vegan)
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • the juice of 1 lemon
  • Pita bread, for serving (omit for gluten free)

Continue reading Ful Medames

Mango Rum Kefir Lassi

I think I’m pretty sure I’m late to the Kefir game here, but at least I’ve finally arrived! Kefir is a culture milk drink that is high in nutrients and probiotics which helps aid in digestion. A 6 ounce serving of Kefir has 6 grams of protein and 20% of your recommended daily calcium, and is actually a more potent source of probiotics than yogurt.

Its tangy flavor works really well in smoothies. So when I saw Cooking Light’s recipe for a Mango Rum Kefir Lassi, I knew I had to try it out. (You can omit the rum to have a really awesome lassi for breakfast as well. But hey, who doesn’t love a cocktail that has some health benefits to it?) A lassi is typically yogurt-based, so Kefir is a really simple substitute.

This Cooking Light recipe is most certainly not a traditional lassi, but it’s really tasty and is packed with good-for-you ingredients: kefir, coconut water, honey, turmeric, cinnamon, mango, and bananas. Yum!

Ingredients (makes 3 servings):

  • 1 cup plain low-fat kefir
  • 1/2 cup coconut water
  • 1/4 cup spiced rum (I used a coconut-spiced rum), if desired
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 (12 oz) bag frozen chopped mango
  • 1 ripe banana
  • ancho chile powder, for garnish

Continue reading Mango Rum Kefir Lassi

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