Sweet Potato Pancakes with Brown Butter Pecans

Note: I was sent a box of Krusteaz Buttermilk Protein Pancake & Flapjack Mix in order to write this post. Opinions are mine alone.

Happy National Pancake Day! Also known as Shrove Tuesday, coincides with Mardi Gras, the end of Carnevale, and the beginning of Lent. It’s a day to indulge, but you can indulge while still eating something nutritious!

To celebrate National Pancake Day, Krusteaz sent me a box of their new Buttermilk Protein Pancake & Flapjack Mix. This mix is packed with 15 grams of protein per serving! This pancake mix needs just water to become light and fluffy pancakes. For added protein, you can substitute in milk and add eggs to the mix as well!

I decided to up the nutrition of these pancakes with the addition of mashed sweet potato. Not only does it add a bit of sweetness to the pancakes, sweet potatoes are a great source of Vitamins A and C.

With all of the protein and vitamins in this recipe, a little bit of browned butter won’t hurt, right? 🙂 I topped these pancakes with a bit of browned butter chopped pecans and a drizzle of maple syrup to make these Sweet Potato Pancakes with Brown Butter Pecans.

Ingredients:

Continue reading Sweet Potato Pancakes with Brown Butter Pecans

Citrus Poppy Seed Pound Cake

My mom’s birthday was earlier this week and I wanted to make her a treat to celebrate. She might be citrus’ biggest fan, so I knew I had to incorporate a couple of citrus components into it. This Citrus Poppy Seed Pound Cake was the result!

This recipe is adapted from a NYTimes Cooking recipe.

Ingredients:

  • Butter, for greasing the loaf pan
  • 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour, plus 1 tablespoon, divided 
  • the zest and juice of 1 orange, divided
  • the zest and juice of 1 lemon, divided 
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 ½ tablespoons poppy seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, or vanilla extract to make nut free
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar

Continue reading Citrus Poppy Seed Pound Cake

Sumac Scented Eggplant and Chickpeas

Have you ever used ground sumac? Ground sumac is made from dried ground berries from the sumac bush, which is native to the Middle East. The flavor is similar to lemons, sour and tangy, but less tart than lemon juice.

I purchased ground sumac a while back patiently waiting for the “right” recipe to cross my path. After receiving eggplant in my most recent Hungry Harvest, I came across this recipe for Sumac Scented Eggplant and Chickpeas, which I knew I had to make!

I ended up cooking dried chickpeas in an electric pressure cooker, made my own pomegranate molasses, but using canned chickpeas and store bought pomegranate molasses works just as well. I adapted this recipe from New York Times Cooking.

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup olive oil, divided 
  • 2 pounds eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • Salt and pepper, to taste 
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon ground sumac
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
  • 2 cups cooked chickpeas, or 1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, drained
  • 4 scallions, sliced, light green and white parts separated from dark green parts
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint, plus more for garnish
  • 2 cups cooked white rice, for serving
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt, for serving (omit for dairy free/vegan)
  • Toasted pita, for serving (omit for gluten free)

Continue reading Sumac Scented Eggplant and Chickpeas

African Peanut Stew

African Peanut Stew  (or Groundnut Stew) is a wonderfully hearty dish that originates in West Africa. Ingredients vary widely, but generally include a broth of ground peanuts and tomatoes with other vegetables served over rice. The dish can be made with chicken, but when omitted, this stew is a protein-rich vegan dish on its own.

My version below includes a little bit of heat from jalapenos and hot sauce, and some warmth from ground cumin, which is somewhat muted by the addition of creamy coconut milk.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
  • 1 jalapeno, membranes and seeds removed, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into cubes
  • 1/2 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter (whatever you have on hand)
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 (13.5 oz can) light coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce, or to taste (I used sriracha)
  • 1 bunch collard greens or kale, chopped (I used 1/2 bag of frozen collard greens)
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3 cups cooked rice
  • fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
  • roasted peanuts, chopped, for garnish

Continue reading African Peanut Stew

Pressure Cooker Black Bean Dip

I love a good dip. It’s one of my favorite snack to bring to a party — it travels well and are always a hit! As a somewhat recent owner of COSORI 6 Qt Electrical Pressure Cooker and I had yet to use it for beans, so I needed to change that! In case you didn’t know, you can use an electric pressure cooker (or multi-cooker) to cook dried beans relatively quickly, without needing to soak them overnight or boil them for an hour.

This Pressure Cooker Black Bean Dip can be made in about 1 hour, and is creamy and flavorful, and comes topped with all the fixins!

Ingredients:

Seasoning blend:

  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Other ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked black beans, rinsed
  • 1 red onion, chopped and divided
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 2 cups vegetable broth or water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • seasoning blend (above), or 1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • the zest and juice of 1 lime
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce

For serving:

  • bell peppers, finely chopped (I used mini sweet peppers for more color)
  • reserved red onion, chopped
  • cilantro
  • pico de gallo
  • sour cream (omit to make dairy-free)
  • tortilla chips

Continue reading Pressure Cooker Black Bean Dip

Pressure Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip

My goodness, 2018 was a quick year. I cannot believe it’s the end of December! I wanted to post a recipe that would be welcome at any New Year’s Eve party, and with the help of a pressure cooker, can be made in no time with little effort!

This recipe for Pressure Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip takes just 20 minutes to make – you dump most of the ingredients in (including the frozen spinach, no need to defrost!) and let it do its thing.

It can also easily be doubled to serve a large crowd; just make sure your multi-cooker is large enough to hold it all!

Ingredients (serves 8):

  • 1 (10 oz) box frozen chopped spinach
  • 1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 (8 oz) container parmesan cheese
  • 1 (8 oz) bag shredded low moisture mozzarella cheese
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • crackers or toasted baguette rounds, for serving

Continue reading Pressure Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip

Pressure Cooker Khichuri (Bengali Red Lentil Risotto)

Note: I was sent a copy of Instant Indian: Classic foods from every region of India made easy in the Instant Pot for review. All opinions are mine alone.

I really enjoy Indian recipes. I’ve dabbled a bit in Indian cooking on my blog so far, although most of my recipes aren’t terribly authentic. I’ve even taken a class with Haneeda’s Kitchen to learn more about the cuisine. But a lot of the recipes can be pretty involved, and take quite a bit of time to make, so knowing ways to speed up the cooking process without sacrificing flavor are always welcome!

Cookbook author, blogger and cooking teacher Rinku Bhattacharya has put together a collection of 100 authentic Indian recipes all made in a multi-cooker, cutting down the time to make these recipes without sacrificing flavor. Instant Indian: Classic Foods from Every Region of India Made Easy in the Instant Pot showcases the diversity and range of the foods of India, where every state and region boasts its own unique dishes. Rinku Bhattacharya provides techniques and recipes that showcase the rich culinary diversity of Indian food.  Her recipes are culled from the culinary regions of North India, Western India, Eastern India and South India.

The cookbook features recipes covering everything from spice blends to meat dishes to desserts. Nearly all the recipes are gluten free, and there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options throughout the cookbook too!

Khichuri (or khichdi) is a classic rice and lentil mixture that can be found throughout India, with different regions having their own spin on it. This version is from Bengal and uses sautéed red onions, red lentils, cauliflower, potatoes and peas. The version below for Pressure Cooker Khichuri is gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan.

Note: I used my COSORI 6 Qt Electrical Pressure Cooker to make this recipe, so the directions are written with that in mind.

Ingredients: (serves 6)

Adapted  from Instant Indian by Rinku Bhattacharya/Hippocrene Books/October

Khichuri:

  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3/4 cup red lentils
  • 1/2 cup basmati rice
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 cups cauliflower florets
  • 1 medium Yukon gold potato, peeled and cut into bite-sized cubes
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas

Toppings:

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 2 whole dried red chilies
  • the juice of 1 lime

Continue reading Pressure Cooker Khichuri (Bengali Red Lentil Risotto)

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

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

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

Exit mobile version