Category Archives: Vegetables

Ham, Italian, Main Dish, Pasta, Spinach

Pasta Florentine

October 7, 2011 Sharon Leave a comment

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup chicken broth

12 oz sliced mushrooms

1 1/2 cups frozen peas

3 cloves garlic

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

4 oz ham (Black Forest if possible), julienned

1/4 cup chopped parsley

8 oz pasta (your favorite shape), cooked according to package directions

Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh parsley, chopped

Heat extra virgin olive oil and garlic in a sauté pan over medium-low heat. Once garlic starts to sizzle, add mushrooms. Sauté 2-3 minutes. Add heavy cream and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Allow to slightly reduce, for about 10 minutes. Add ham, peas and parsley and cook 4 minutes. Return cooked, drained pasta to pot and add sauce. Cook until sauce simmers and coats the pasta. Remove pot from heat and stir in grated Parmesan. Toss gently to combine. Transfer to large serving platter. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

Chef’s Tip: Use a small amount of salt. The parmesan cheese naturally contains salt.

4 Servings

Breakfast, Potatoes

Hash brown Strata

September 25, 2011 Sharon Leave a comment

Nonstick cooking spray

2 cups frozen loose-pack diced hash brown potatoes with onion and peppers

1 cup cut broccoli florets

1/3 cup finely chopped turkey bacon or turkey ham (about 2 ounces)

1/3 cup evaporated fat-free milk

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 8-ounce cartons refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed

1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (2 ounces)

1 tablespoon snipped fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Fresh basil sprigs (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 2-quart square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange hash brown potatoes and broccoli in bottom of baking dish; top with turkey bacon or ham. Set aside.

Stir milk gradually into flour in a medium bowl. Stir in egg product, half of the cheese, the snipped or dried basil, and black pepper. Pour egg mixture over vegetables.

Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Let stand for 5 minutes. If desired, garnish with fresh basil sprigs.

Makes 6 main-dish servings.

Casseroles, Italian, Main Dish, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Eggplant Parmesean – Light Version

September 25, 2011 Sharon Leave a comment

Use whole-wheat panko in this recipe; the regular type became soggy in a test.

Eggplant:

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon water

2 cups whole-wheat panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

2 (1-pound) eggplants, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices

Cooking spray

Filling:

1/2 cup torn fresh basil

1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 (16-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Remaining ingredients:

1 (24-ounce) jar premium pasta sauce

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 ounces thinly sliced mozzarella cheese

3/4 cup (3 ounces) finely grated fontina cheese

Preheat oven to 375°.

To make eggplant, combine 2 eggs and 1 tablespoon water in a shallow dish. Combine panko and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano in a second shallow dish. Dip eggplant in egg mixture; dredge in panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere and shaking off excess. Place eggplant 1 inch apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until golden, turning once and rotating baking sheets after 15 minutes.

To make filling, combine basil and next 6 ingredients (through egg). To assemble, spoon 1/2 cup pasta sauce in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer half of eggplant slices over pasta sauce. Sprinkle eggplant with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Top with about 3/4 cup pasta sauce; spread half of ricotta mixture over sauce, and top with a third of mozzarella and 1/4 cup fontina. Repeat layers once, ending with about 1 cup pasta sauce. Cover tightly with aluminum foil coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 35 minutes. Remove foil; top with remaining third of mozzarella and 1/4 cup fontina. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and cheese melts; cool 10 minutes.

10 Servings

Casseroles, Italian, Main Dish, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Eggplant Parmesan

September 24, 2011 Sharon Leave a comment

4 eggplants, sliced 1/2″ thick

dash salt

2 cups seasoned bread crumbs

2 eggs, beaten

4 cups spaghetti sauce

2 cups low fat mozzarella cheese, shredded

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Sprinkle salt on slices of eggplant. Let sit for 30 minutes, blot moisture from eggplant slices. Dip each slice of eggplant in egg then in bread crumbs. Fry in a small amount of oil until browned on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Put one cup of sauce on bottom of 13×9″ baking dish. Layer eggplant slices, top with sauce then cheeses. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 or until cheese is bubbly.

8 Servings

Main Dish, Pasta, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Creamy Veggies with Spaghetti

September 24, 2011 Sharon Leave a comment

1/2 lb broccoli florets

1 cup sliced zucchini

1 cup sliced fresh mushroom

1 cup thinly sliced carrot

1 tablespoon olive oil

8 ounces spaghetti

1/4 cup chopped onion

3 cloves minced garlic

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

3 tablespoons chicken bouillon

1 teaspoon thyme

2 cups milk

1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

In large skillet, sauté broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, and carrots in oil until crisp-tender. Set aside.

Cook spaghetti according to package directions.

In another saucepan, sauté onion and garlic in butter for 30 seconds. Stir in flour, bullion and thyme. Slowly add milk, bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low; stir in cheeses. Add vegetables; heat through. Drain spaghetti; toss with vegetable mixture.