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Recipes, Tips, & Reviews from home cooks better than I am.

Joe’s Quinoa and Kale Stuffed Acorn Squash

Friday Aug 19, 2011

Submitted by Joe
Serves 2

Ingredients

1 acorn squash ½ c. quinoa
1 c. water 1 bunch kale
3 tbsp butter salt, pepper, & red chili pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut the acorn squash in half, remove the seeds & clean out the center. Add salt & pepper to the flesh of the squash & place 1 tbsp of butter into the cavity of each squash half.

2. Once the oven is ready, place the squash flesh side up on a baking sheet or casserole dish & bake for 45 minutes.

3. Put the quinoa into a bowl or container & fill it with water until the quinoa is covered. Set aside.

4. Remove the stalks from the kale & discard them. Rough chop the kale leaves & place into a skillet over medium heat along with 1 tbsp of butter. Add salt, pepper, & crushed red pepper to taste & saute until the kale is dark green & wilted, approximately 5-10 minutes.

5. Drain the water from the quinoa. Pour 1 c. of water in a pot, salt the water liberally & bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the quinoa & kale, stirring together. Place a cover on the pot & reduce the heat to low.

6. Remove the squash from the oven. Spoon the quinoa & kale mixture into the cavity of each squash half & serve.

Chef’s Note: Spinach can be substituted for kale if desired.

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Vegan Spice Cake

Wednesday Aug 17, 2011

Submitted by Sharon Nazarian
Serves 12

Ingredients

2½ c. whole wheat flour 1½ c. vegan sugar
2 tsp baking soda 2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground cloves 2 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp salt 1½ c. soy milk
6 tbsp buttery vegan spread 1 c. whole canned cranberry sauce
¼c. powdered vegan sugar

Directions

1. Melt the buttery vegan spread & combine with soy milk.

2. Stir together all the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda, spices & salt.

3. Alternate adding the cranberry sauce & the soy milk with melted vegan butter mixture to the dry ingredients until everything is fully blended.

4. Pour into a well-greased 9″ square pan (use butter spread, light vegetable oil or a light oil spray).

5. Bake on middle rack in preheated 350°F oven for 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean

6. Garnish with powdered vegan sugar (put into strainer, shake it over the entire cake).

7. Serve warm or cold.

Chef’s Note: My first piece is always warm because looks & smells so good I “need” to taste right away! I also recommend Whole Foods 365 brand vegan sugar & Earth Balance brand buttery vegan spread.

Sharon Nazarian runs BigCityVegan.com, a website dedicated to living a cruelty-free lifestyle including vegan recipes, vegan news & vegan merchandise, like cool vegan t-shirts.


Joe’s Butternut Squash Risotto

Monday Aug 15, 2011

Submitted by Joe
Serves 2-4

Ingredients

1 c. butternut squash, cubed 3 tbsp butter
½ onion, minced 2 garlic cloves, minced
1 c. Arborio rice 1/3 c. dry white wine
¼ c. Parmesan cheese, grated ¼ c. Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
salt & ground black pepper to taste 3 c. hot vegetable stock

Directions

1. Place squash cubes & 1 tbsp of butter into a skillet over medium heat. Stir occasionally until cooked through (roughly 10 minutes) then remove from heat & set aside.

2. Melt remaining butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion & garlic; cook & stir for 2 minutes until they begin to soften, then stir in the rice. Continue cooking & stirring until the rice is glossy from the butter, & the onion begins to brown on the edges, about 5 minutes more.

3. Pour in the white wine; cook, stirring constantly, until it has evaporated. Stir in 1/3 of the hot vegetable stock; reduce heat to medium. Cook & stir until the stock has been absorbed by the rice, 5 to 7 minutes. Add half of the remaining stock, & continue stirring until it has been absorbed.

4. Finally, pour in the remaining stock & butternut squash, & continue stirring until the risotto is creamy. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, & season to taste with salt & pepper. Finally top each individual serving with Pecorino Romano cheese.

Vitalicious Natural Muffins-100 Delicious Calories

Mandie’s Tilapia

Tuesday May 17, 2011

Submitted by Mandie
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

2-3 tilapia fillets Extra virgin olive oil
Chipotle Tasbasco Sauce Minced garlic
Minced onion 3-4 pinches of cilantro
Salt & pepper Pearl onions

Directions

All of the above ingredients are to taste.  Wrap all the ingredients into tin foil.  Bake at 356° F.

Chef’s Note: White rice goes well as a side dish.

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Fig & Olive Tapenade

Tuesday Aug 17, 2010

Submitted by Heresy

Ingredients

1 c. dried figs, chopped ½ c. water
1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried rosemary 1 tsp dried thyme
¼ tsp cayenne pepper 2/3 c. kalamata olives, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced 1/3 c. toasted walnuts, chopped
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

1. Combine figs & water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil & cook until tender, and liquid has reduced. Remove from heat & stir in the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, thyme, & cayenne. Add olives &  garlic, & mix well. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Cover & refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to allow flavors to blend.

2. Unwrap cream cheese block & place on a serving platter. Spoon tapenade over cheese, & sprinkle with walnuts. Serve with slices of French bread or crackers.

Vitalicious Natural Muffins-100 Delicious Calories