November 20, 2012 · 1:37 pm

Hasty Tasty Cranberry Sauce

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The tart cranberry is delicious and healthful. Unfortunately, the cranberry is overlooked except during the holidays yet is good any time of the year. But don’t open up a can of jellied cranberry sauce–make your own! In less than 30 minutes, you can have homemade cranberry sauce. You can store it in the refrigerator in a mold or in the serving bowl–your choice. Molds are impressive but not necessary. Here’s my Hasty Tasty version:

RECIPE

Hasty Tasty Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 12 ounce package fresh cranberries
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • dash salt
  • one orange, zested and juiced
  • 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger

Directions:

  1. Combine brown sugar and juice of an orange (reserve zest) in a 2-quart sauce pan. Add cranberries.
  2. Gently heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for fifteen minutes or until berries burst.
  3. Remove from heat. Stir in zest of orange and grated ginger.
  4. Carefully tranfer contents to the Vitamix or a food processor. Cover.*
  5. Beginning with the lowest speed (Vitamix variable speed 1), process cranberries to desired consistency. Just pulse a few times for a chunkier sauce.*
  6. Carefully pour sauce into a mold or a serving dish, cover, and refrigerate for a minimum of one hour. Overnight is better.

*Processing the sauce is optional. Cranberries taste great either whole sauce or pureed.

Yield: 1 pint cranberry sauce

Variations: add your choice of seasonings in place of the grated ginger, such as cloves, cinnamon, or even jalapeño pepper!

2 Comments

Filed under condiments, cooking, fruit, Healthful Eating, Recipes

Tagged as ,

November 3, 2012 · 11:04 am

Five-Minute Asparagus

Delicious asparagus in five minutes? Now that’s hasty and tasty.

I love asparagus as long as it’s cooked properly. I loathe canned or limp, overcooked slime. My asparagus must be bright green and crisp, cooked tender but not too cooked. If you don’t eat asparagus, perhaps you have been a victim of the overcooked slimy variety. Give this dish a try and you might change your mind.

Why asparagus? One serving offers 2 grams fiber in only 20 calories, making it a good food if you’re watching your weight. Nutritionally rich in vitamin A and K, it also offers iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Counting carbs? One serving has about 3.7.

Here’s how I cook it (and I credit TV Chef Alton Brown for the idea):

  1. Wet a generous length of paper towels (approximately two full-size) with water.
  2. Spread the trimmed, washed asparagus spears along the length of paper towel.
  3. Season with salt, pepper, and freshly grated nutmeg (or your choice of spices).
  4. Roll the asparagus up in the wet paper towel to form a “log” and place in the microwave oven.
  5. Cook for three minutes (1000 watts–adjust for your microwave’s power level).
  6. Using tongs, carefully remove the asparagus from the microwave oven.
  7. Gently unroll the paper towel “log” to deposit cooked asparagus into serving dish.

Enjoy!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

3 Comments

Filed under Asparagus, Healthful Eating, Recipes, Vegetables

Tagged as ,

October 25, 2012 · 12:03 pm

Pumpkin Cake

 

Pumpkin Cake with Maple Glaze

Pumpkin is rich in nutrients and abundant in the fall. Whether you puree your own or buy canned, you can enjoy pumpkin in a variety of dishes. Canned pumpkin puree (Not pumpkin pie filling!) makes this cake a hasty tasty quick bread. I use the Vitamix to make the batter, but a mixer works, too. The maple glaze is optional.

RECIPE

Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients:

  • cooking spray
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 6 oz. Egg Beaters®
  • 15 oz. can pureed pumpkin
  • 3 Tbsp. powdered sugar (for glaze)
  • 1 Tbsp. real maple syrup (for glaze)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
  2. Spray inside of a 8½” X 4½” loaf pan or a small tube cake pan with cooking spray.
  3. In a 2 quart mixing bowl or pitcher, combine all dry ingredients. Form a depression in the center. Set aside.
  4. In the Vitamix container (or a mixing bowl) combine the pumpkin and Egg Beaters® starting at Variable Speed 1. Gradually increase speed to 10 then High. Run for 20 seconds.
  5. Add the wet ingredients to the center of dry ingredients and fold using a spatula or spoon. Don’t over mix. Batter will be stiff.
  6. Spoon batter into the loaf pan and place in the oven.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  8. Remove cake from pan and cool on a rack, at least 30 minutes.
  9. In a small plastic food storage bag, combine powdered sugar and real maple syrup. Seal bag then snip a hole in one corner to create a small piping bag.
  10. Drizzle the cake lightly with the glaze and serve.

Variations: If you prefer a less dense cake, use 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1 cup all-purpose flour. Add ½ cup nuts for more fiber and flavor.

Note: Cake will be dense and moist.

Yield: 12 servings

1 Comment

Filed under Cake, Healthful Eating, Pumpkin, Recipes

Tagged as , ,

October 12, 2012 · 1:11 pm

Basic Barbecue Sauce

I had leftover pork roast and wanted to make pulled pork barbecued sandwiches, but I couldn’t find a bottle of barbecue sauce in either my fridge or pantry. No problem. I made my own, and in the time it would have taken me to drive to the nearest store. 

RECIPE

BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup catsup
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. real maple syrup
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
½ tsp. smoked paprika

Directions:

Mix together in a small saucepan. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Cool.

Variations: Add 1 tsp. each chili sauce, freshly grated ginger, and lemon zest for an Oriental barbecue sauce; Increase maple syrup to 2 Tbsp. for a sweeter barbecue sauce; Add 1 tsp. cumin for a southwestern smoky flavor.

Yield: 12 ounces

BBQ pulled pork sandwich

This recipe is so easy I’ll never shop for bottled sauces again!

1 Comment

Filed under condiments, Healthful Eating, sauces

Tagged as