Fab Cakes with 'Smarter' Sauce

Fab Cakes

8 oz. tempeh (first simmered in 2-3 cups of water or vegetable broth for about 20 minutes, then cooled)

1 -1 1/8 cups cooked potatoes, roughly chopped (can use leftover boiled or roasted potatoes)

2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 1/2 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp kelp granules (optional; ex: Maine Coast Sea Seasonings brand)

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves

Pinch cayenne pepper

1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced

2/3 cup apple, peeled and diced (toss in a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent browning)

1/3 cup sliced green onions (use both greener and whitish portions) or chives

Dash hot sauce (optional)

1/3 cup (roughly) potato flour (for frying, optional)

1 1/2 - 2 tbsp olive oil (for frying)

After simmering and cooling tempeh, squeeze excess water from tempeh cake with your hands (it’s okay to squish since tempeh will be processed/mashed). In a food processor, first pulse the tempeh with the potatoes, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, kelp granules, salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, and cayenne (pulse through until combined and broken up, but not fully pureed – alternatively, you can mash these ingredients by hand). Add the bell pepper, apple, and green onions, and stir through. Take small scoops of the mixture (about ¼ cup) and form into small cakes with your hands. Lightly coat each side of the patties in the potato flour. Repeat until you have used all of the mixture. In a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the patties, flatten gently on the pan, and fry for 7-9 minutes on each side, until golden and a crust has developed; flip them over only once or twice (the second side will cook quicker than the first). Serve with dollops of Smarter Sauce.  Makes 11 - 12 Patties.

Smarter Tartar Sauce

1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise of choice (see note)

1 1/2 tbsp rice wine vinegar (unseasoned, or use red wine or apple cider vinegar)

1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped

1/4 cup cucumber, seeds removed, and minced

1 tbsp capers (drained)

3/4 tsp agave nectar

1/8 – 1/4 tsp dried mustard (use full 1/4 tsp for more ‘bite’)

1/4 tsp (rounded) onion powder

1 tsp lemon zest

1/8 tsp sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir through until well combined. Refrigerate (covered) until serving.

Ridiculously Easy Curry-Scrambled Tofu

Tofu can be either crumbled or cubed. Omit or reduce the salt to lower sodium. The black salt gives tofu a very eggy flavor but can be overpowering so use cautiously.

Ingredients

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1/2 red pepper, chopped

8 ounces mushrooms, trimmed and sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed

14 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained, dried off, and cubed or crumbled

1 teaspoon good curry powder (or more, to taste)

1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (or to taste)

1/4 cup vegetable broth

1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

pinch black salt (kala namak), optional

Instructions

1. Heat a non-stick skillet. Spray it lightly with pan spray if you wish and add the chopped peppers and mushrooms. Cook until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute or two until mushrooms have darkened in color.

2. Stir in the tofu, sprinkle it with curry powder and ground red pepper, and pour the vegetable broth over it. Cook on medium-high, turning gently with a spatula, until most of the liquid is evaporated and tofu is hot and beginning to brown in places. Stir in salt to taste along with nutritional yeast and black salt, if using. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s) | Cooking time: 15 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 3

Shell Pasta in Barbeque Sauce

Barbeque Sauce:

1 cup tomato ketchup

1 tbsp minced garlic

1 tbsp grated ginger

2 tbsp chilli sauce

1 tbsp dijon mustard

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup tamari (use soy sauce if you can't find this)

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-low heat. Simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Set aside.

Pasta:

Cook 1 pound of pasta according to package directions, or until al dente.

 In the last five minutes of cooking add to it:

1/2 large head or 1 small head of cauliflower, separated into small florets

Drain the pasta and cauliflower and place it in a bowl. Add to it:

1 cup dried kala chana (brown chickpeas), soaked overnight and cooked until tender.

1 to 1 1/2 cups of barbeque sauce (go by your tastebuds but add slowly because the sauce is strong)

Mix in 1/4 cup of capers.

Mix well and serve.

Curried Sweet Potato Soup

from The Essential New York Times Cookbook via joy

serves 6 to 8

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup coarsely chopped onions

1 large clove garlic, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon chopped ginger

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick

6 cups chicken broth, or slightly more as needed.

salt and pepper to taste

6 to 8 teaspoons goat cheese

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add the onions and saute until the onions begin to brown, about 10 minutes.  Add the garlic and saute, stirring for 30 seconds.  Add the ginger, cumin, coriander, turmeric and red pepper flakes.  Add the sweet potatoes and broth and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat and simmer until the sweet potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes.

Puree the soup, in batches in a blender or food processor.  Season to taste.  The soup can be made a day ahead and kept in the fridge.  Reheat over a low flame.  If the soup is too thick, add a little more stock.

Chicken Salad

		main meals |  We lightened up this sandwich favorite with reduced-calorie mayonnaise and sour cream. walnuts.*

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound(s) Chicken breast without skin, roasted, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 cup(s) celery, finely diced
• 1/3 cup(s) dill pickle(s), or sweet gherkins, finely diced
• 1/4 cup(s) reduced-calorie mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp reduced-fat sour cream
• 2 Tbsp parsley, fresh, chopped
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground

Instructions

• Place all ingredients in a large bowl; mix until blended. Yields about 2/3 cup per serving.

Baked Ham with Spiced Pineapple Glaze

By Summer

• 1 Smithfield Spiral Sliced Ham
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup honey
• fresh pineapple slices, optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325°. In a medium bowl, combine glaze ingredients. Remove packaging from ham and score in a diamond pattern with a sharp knife, making shallow cuts about 1 inch apart. Place ham cut-side down in a roasting pan, pour glaze over ham, reserving 1/4 cup to be used when serving. Stud with fresh pineapple slices, if desired. (Secure pineapple to ham with toothpicks.) Cover and roast for 10 to 12 minutes per pound. Allow ham to rest 10 minutes before carving. Serve warm, with reserved glaze.

Black Bean-Pineapple Soup Stew Chil

by SUSANV on APRIL 7, 2011

Black Bean-Pineapple Soup Stew Chili

Add more broth to make this stew more like soup and less to make it more like chili. Or, use even less to make a thick filling for tacos or a dip for tortilla chips.

Ingredients

• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, preferably fire-roasted
• 2 16-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups vegetable broth (or water plus bouillon cubes)
• 1 tablespoon Ancho chili powder (or other pure, mild chili powder)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• generous grating black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1 pound yellow squash or zucchini
• 1 cup crushed pineapple and juice

Instructions

1. Heat a non-stick pot and spray with cooking spray if desired. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until golden and beginning to brown (a pinch of baking soda will speed up this process). Add the bell pepper  cook until softened, about two minutes. Add the garlic, stir briefly, and then add tomatoes, beans, broth, and seasonings (but not squash or pineapple). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
2. While the beans are cooking, trim the squash and cut into small cubes.
3. Add the squash and pineapple, increase the heat a little, and cover. Simmer until squash is just tender. Check seasonings, adding more to taste, and serve.

Cooking time (duration): 40

Number of servings (yield): 6