Sweet Onion Casserole

Pulled this out of the magazine CookingLight.

YIELD: 6 servings (serving size: about 2/3 cup)

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 4 cups chopped sweet onion (about 1 3/4 pounds)
• 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain rice
• 2/3 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Gruyère cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• Cooking spray
• 1/3 cup (1 1/3 ounces) grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Preheat oven to 325°. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil; swirl to coat. Add onion; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Place onion in a large bowl. Cook rice in a large pot of boiling water 5 minutes. Drain. Stir rice and next 5 ingredients (through allspice) into onions. Spoon onion mixture into an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake at 325° for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes. Top with parsley, if desired.

Irene Lilja, Corvallis, Oregon, Cooking Light

MAY 2011

Followed pretty closely. Used only ½ TBS of olive oil. Cooked the onions longer than 5 minutes, closer to 12. Used a bit extra rice and a bit extra milk (closer to ¾ cup) and a that milk was a mix of skim with a TBS of whipping cream. Omitted allspice. I thought this was really good. My calculations come out to 213 cal per serving at 6 servings. But that was a HUGE serving. I got 8 servings out @ 160cal per serving. It freezes well.  --JT

Corny Potato Salad

JT:  Made a potato salad to take to Father's Day dinner. Really wanted to avoid the mayo -- I'd hate it even if it wasn't chock full of calories. The texture and taste have always been bad to me. So, I needed a no mayo potato salad. However, my dad doesn't like vinegar-y things... so, that made finding a good potato salad difficult! I stumbled across this one on foodgawker (fun site to browse, btw). The original recipe can be found here. I made some changes...

CORNY POTATO SALAD
serves 8 side servings

*27oz red new potatoes, cooked till fork tender (I boiled them) And the 27oz was just what I used... Orig recipe called for 2lb.
*2 Tbsp. dijon mustard (or to taste)
*2/3 of a 14oz can of creamed corn
*1 Tbsp. capers (forgot these)
*1 celery stalk, diced
*1 small red bell pepper, diced
*3 radishes sliced
*2 tsp. fresh dill
*1.5 cups of frozen green beans, thawed and dried
*3.5 slices of bacon, cooked super crispy in the oven and chopped

I cooked potatoes ahead of time and cooled. Mix mustard into creamed corn. use more or less, to taste. Could need more creamed corn too, depending on potato volume. Add potatoes and other veggies and mix gently. I garnished with chopped crispy bacon. Would also be good with different veggies -- especially cherry tomatoes! And it could have used a bit of onion.

Nutrition: Calculated the quantities/products I used... Each serving came out to about 130cal. I thought this salad was great. It has a creamy/dressed quality with out added any extra calories.

Quinoa Recipe with Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Leeks and Slivered Almonds

This elegant and easy grain dish is vegan and gluten-free. Plump golden raisins add a burst of sweetness. Slivered almonds add some crunch.

First- make your quinoa.

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
Sea salt, to taste

Add the quinoa and water to a pot (or do it my way- in a rice cooker- here's how) and season with sea salt, to taste. Cover, bring to a boil, and cook the quinoa until all the water is absorbed and the quinoa can be fluffed with a fork.

Meanwhile- preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a roasting pan, combine:

1 leek, washed, trimmed, sliced
1 lb. Brussels sprouts, washed, trimmed, halved (or quartered, if large)
1/4 cup slivered blanched almonds
1/4 cup plump golden raisins, packed
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons golden balsamic vinegar
Sea salt, to taste
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons dried dill

To serve:

2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped
Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste

Toss the prepared Brussels sprouts, almonds, and golden raisins in the olive oil. Sprinkle with golden balsamic vinegar. Season with sea salt, minced garlic and dill; and toss to coat. Roast for roughly 20 to 25 minutes, stirring at least once, until the Brussels sprouts are tender, and browned a bit.

Remove the pan from the oven. Add in the fluffed cooked quinoa and chopped parsley. Drizzle with fruity extra virgin olive oil, to taste. Add sea salt and ground pepper, to taste. Gently toss to combine the roasted Brussels sprouts and hot cooked quinoa.

Yield: Serves 4

from glutenfreegoddess

Asparagus and Baby Artichoke Quinoa Salad

(makes 4 servings)
Ingredients:
8 baby artichokes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup quinoa
2 cups vegetable broth (or water)
1/2 cup asparagus and ramp pesto (regular pesto!)
1/2 pound asparagus (trimmed, cut into 1 inch pieces and blanched)
1 cup chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
1/4 cup feta (crumbled)
1 splash lemon juice

Directions:
1. Peel the leaves from the artichokes until you get to the paler tender inner 2. leaves. Cut the top third off and discard and cut the artichoke in half.
2. Heat the oil in a pan.
3. Add the artichoke hearts and saute until tender, about 6-8 minutes.
4. Add the quinoa and broth, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the quinoa is tender, about 15-20 minutes.
5. Mix everything and serve

Quinoa, Corn and Edamame Salad

Quinoa and edamame contribute lots of protein to this mildly spicy, highly textured summer salad.

For the salad:

1 cup quinoa, cooked
2 ears sweet corn
1 small red onion, finely diced
1 red bell pepper, cut in small dice
1/2 cup thinly sliced celery, from the tender inner stalks
4 or 5 radishes, sliced
1/2 cup fresh or thawed frozen edamame
2 ounces feta, cut in small dice (about 1/2 cup, optional)
1 jalape?r serrano chile, minced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

For the dressing:
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 garlic clove (more to taste), finely minced or pureed
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste

1. Cut the corn kernels away from the cobs. Discard the cobs (or use for stock), and place the kernels in a steamer above 1 inch of boiling water. Cover and steam for four minutes. Remove from the heat, rinse with cold water and drain.

2. Soak the onion in cold water to cover for five minutes. Drain, rinse and drain on paper towels.

3. Combine all the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk together the dressing ingredients and toss with the salad. Serve.

Yield: Serves four to six.

Advance preparation: The quinoa freezes well and the assembled salad will keep for a day in the refrigerator.

Nutritional information per serving (four servings): 359 calories; 18 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 milligrams cholesterol; 43 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 25 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during cooking); 10 grams protein

Nutritional information per serving (six servings): 239 calories; 12 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 milligrams cholesterol; 29 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 17 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during cooking); 7 grams protein

From NYTimes

Cooked Grains Salad With Tomato Vinaigrette

You can use a variety of grains in this salad. I've made it with a mixture of brown rice and farro, with quinoa and with bulgur. The mixture makes a robust main-dish salad for summer.

1/2 pound ripe, locally grown tomatoes
1 garlic clove, green shoot removed, finely chopped or pur?
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 cups cooked grains, such as quinoa, brown rice, medium or large bulgur, or a combination
Kernels from 1 ear of corn, steamed four minutes (you can cut them from the cob before or after you steam)
1 medium cucumber, seeded and diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill, parsley or tarragon, or a combination

1. Cut the tomatoes in half across the equator, and grate on the large holes of a box grater into a wide bowl. Stir in the garlic, salt and pepper, vinegar and olive oil. Add the remaining ingredients, toss together and serve.

Yield: Serves four to six.

Advance preparation: You can make this several hours ahead and keep in the refrigerator, but leave out the herbs until ready to serve. Leftovers are good for a couple of days.

Nutritional information per serving (four servings): 320 calories; 11 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 milligrams cholesterol; 48 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams dietary fiber; 21 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during preparation); 10 grams protein

Nutritional information per serving (six servings): 214 calories; 7 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 milligrams cholesterol; 32 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 14 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during preparation); 7 grams protein

Creamy Potato Salad With Yogurt Vinaigrette

You may worry about the amount of dressing in this luscious salad, but you'll find that it is largely absorbed by the potatoes. The salad resembles a classic creamy potato salad with lots of crunchy celery, but there's only a smidgeon of mayonnaise here. The technique of softening the onions with boiling water comes from cookbook author Deborah Madison.

1 medium red onion, diced
1/3 cup vinegar (red or white wine, sherry or apple cider)
1 to 2 garlic cloves, to taste, minced or pureed
Salt to taste
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon Hellmann's or Best Foods Mayonnaise (optional)
Freshly ground pepper
2 pounds red potatoes, scrubbed and quartered if small, cut in large dice if large
4 stalks celery, diced or sliced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Optional: 2 or 3 hard-cooked eggs, diced

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar, garlic, salt, mustard, olive oil, yogurt and mayonnaise (if using). Place the onion in a bowl, and pour on boiling water to cover. Drain immediately, rinse with cold water and transfer to the bowl with the dressing.

2. Steam the potatoes above one inch of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes until tender. Remove from the heat, and toss gently with the onion. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the remaining ingredients and toss together. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Yield: Serves six to eight.

Advance preparation: This will keep for four to five days in the refrigerator.

Nutritional information per serving (six servings): 214 calories; 10 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 1 milligram cholesterol; 29 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 81 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during preparation); 4 grams protein

Nutritional information per serving (eight servings): 160 calories; 7 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 1 milligram cholesterol; 22 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 61 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during preparation); 3 grams protein

Corn and Green Bean Salad With Tomatillo Dressing

In a great end-of-summer salad, this tomatillo dressing has a delicate and wonderfully herbal flavor. The salad is all about texture and color.

For the dressing:
1/4 pound fresh tomatillos, husked
1 serrano chili, seeded for a milder dressing and coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
10 cilantro sprigs
1 tablespoon chopped onion, soaked in cold water for five minutes, drained and rinsed
1 garlic clove, peeled
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste

For the salad:
Kernels from 2 ears corn
3/4 pound green beans, trimmed and cut in 2-inch lengths (about 3 cups)
1 large or 2 medium tomatoes, cut in 1/4-inch dice
4 radishes, cut in half lengthwise then sliced thin in half-moons
2 tablespoons minced chives
Lettuce leaves for the platter or bowl
1/4 cup crumbled queso fresco (1 ounce)

1. Preheat the broiler. Cover a baking sheet with foil and place the tomatillos on top, stem side down. Place under the broiler at the highest rack setting and broil two to five minutes, until charred on one side. Turn over and broil on the other side for two to five minutes, until charred on the other side. Remove from the heat and transfer to a blender, tipping in any juice that may have accumulated on the baking sheet. Add the chili, lime juice, cilantro sprigs, onion, garlic and olive oil to the blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust salt, and set aside.

2. Steam the corn kernels (or steam the entire ear, then cut the kernels off) and beans above one inch of boiling water for five minutes, until tender. Remove from the heat, refresh with cold water and drain on paper towels. Place in a bowl and toss with the tomato, radishes, chives and the dressing. Line a platter or wide bowl with the lettuce leaves, top with the salad, sprinkle on the crumbled cheese and serve.

Yield: Serves six generously.

Advance preparation: You can prepare the dressing and the salad several hours before serving, but don't toss together until ready to serve. Refrigerate in separate bowls.

Nutritional information per serving: 129 calories; 8 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 2 milligrams cholesterol; 14 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 19 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during preparation); 3 grams protein

From NYTimes

Quinoa and Squash Gratin

I’m drawing in this recipe on the Provençal tradition of combining rice with vegetables in a savory gratin, but I’m substituting quinoa for the rice. You can serve this comforting gratin as a main dish or a side.

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
Salt to taste
2 to 3 garlic cloves (to taste), minced
1 1/2 pounds summer squash, diced
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
Freshly ground pepper to taste
3 large eggs
1 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup grated Gruyère cheese (2 ounces)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a two-quart baking dish or gratin. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt and the garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add the summer squash, thyme and rosemary. Cook, stirring often, until the squash is tender but not mushy, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and remove from the heat.

2. Beat the eggs in a large bowl, and stir in the squash mixture, the cooked quinoa and the cheese. Mix well and season, then scrape into the baking dish. Place in the oven, and bake 35 minutes or until it’s set and the top is lightly browned. Serve hot, warm or room temperature.

Yield: Serves four to six.

Advance preparation: You can prepare the squash through Step 1 up to a day or two before you assemble the gratin. The gratin will keep for four or five days in the refrigerator and reheats well.

Nutritional information per serving (four servings): 220 calories; 12 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 173 milligrams cholesterol; 16 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 103 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during cooking); 13 grams protein

Nutritional information per serving (six servings): 146 calories; 8 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 116 milligrams cholesterol; 11 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 69 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during cooking); 8 grams protein

From NYTimes

Potato and Onion Frittata

This dish is based on the classic omelet of Spain, tortilla española. In the authentic dish, the potatoes are fried, and most recipes call for copious amounts of oil. In this version, I steam the potatoes to cut down on oil and use a waxier variety of potato with a lower glycemic index. Waxier potatoes also have a better texture when steamed instead of fried.

1 pound boiling potatoes, peeled if desired and cut in small dice (1/2 to 3/4 inch)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow or red onion, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (about 3/4 teaspoon)
6 large eggs

1. Steam the potatoes until tender, about eight minutes, and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a heavy 10-inch nonstick skillet, and add the onions and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until tender but not browned, about five minutes. Add the potatoes to the pan, and toss together gently so that the potatoes don’t break apart. Season generously with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.

3. Beat the eggs in a bowl, and add 1/2 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of freshly ground pepper. Stir in the potatoes and onions.

4. Return the pan to the stove, and heat the remaining olive oil over medium-high heat. Drizzle in a drop of egg; when it sizzles and cooks at once, scrape the eggs and vegetables back into the pan. Shake the pan gently while you lift the edges of the frittata, and tilt the pan to let egg run underneath and set. When the bottom of the frittata has set, turn the heat to low and cover the pan. Cook gently for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the broiler.

5. Uncover the pan, and slide under the broiler for a minute or two (watch closely) to set the top. Remove from the heat. Let the tortilla set in the pan for a few minutes, then slide out onto a serving plate. Allow to cool to room temperature, and cut into small diamonds to serve as hors d’oeuvres.

Variations: You can add other vegetables to this to make beautiful tapas. Try 1 cup thawed frozen peas, 1 cup diced steamed carrots or 1/2 to 1 cup chopped blanched greens. Stir into the eggs with the potatoes.

Yield: Serves 10 as a tapa.

Advance preparation: Tortilla española is usually served at room temperature, so you can make this hours before serving. You can even make it a day ahead and refrigerate it, but be sure to allow it to come to room temperature before serving.

Nutritional information per serving: 103 calories; 6 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 127 grams cholesterol; 9 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 45 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during preparation); 5 grams protein

From NYTimes

Sweet Potato, Carrot and Dried Fruit Casserole

This dish is inspired by several tsimmes recipes in Joan Nathan’s “Jewish Cooking in America.” Tsimmes, a Yiddish word that means “fuss,” doesn’t have to be fussy at all. Sometimes the dish contains meat (and is fussier than this one), but sometimes it’s just fruit and vegetables. Warning: You may find yourself eating this for breakfast

6 medium carrots (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled and cut in 3/4-inch dice
3 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 1/4 pounds), peeled and cut in 3/4-inch dice
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut in medium dice
1/4 pound pitted prunes, cut in half
1/4 pound pitted apricots, quartered
2 tablespoons mild honey, like clover
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Salt to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon)
1 cup fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Note: Sweet potatoes may be labeled as yams. Look for dark orange flesh.

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter or oil a 3-quart baking dish.

2. Place the carrots and sweet potatoes in a steamer set above 1 inch of boiling water, and steam for five to 10 minutes, until just tender. Drain and toss with the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Combine well, and scrape into the prepared baking dish. Place in the oven, and bake 40 to 50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until the sweet potatoes and carrots are thoroughly tender. Dot the top with butter, and bake another 10 minutes until the top is lightly browned. Remove from the heat, and serve hot or warm.

Yield: Serves eight.

Advance preparation: You can assemble this dish several hours before baking. You can bake it a day or two ahead of serving; reheat it in a medium oven.

Nutritional information per serving: 245 calories; 2 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 4 milligrams cholesterol; 57 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams dietary fiber; 259 milligrams sodium (does not include salt to taste); 4 grams protein

From the NYTimes

Twice Baked Potato Pie

4 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, washed, pricked all over with a fork
1 stick butter
1 cup sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, whatever cheese you prefer, grated
1 cup sour cream
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup whole milk or cream
Salt and white pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp each dried parsley, chives
Dash onion and garlic powder
Butter, for the casserole

a 13 x 9 baking pan, or 9 x 9 x 4 deep baking dish

Just looking at that list of ingredients makes me wince, but let's do this.

Preheat the oven to 350f. Depending on the size of your taters, bake for 1:15 - 1:30, until they're soft when poked. Cool 15 minutes.

Slice them in half, and using a spoon, scoop the flesh into a bowl. Add butter, sour cream, cheese, milk, salt and pepper and garlic, and mash well. You want them soft, airy, so don't over mash, and add a little water if you feel they're too thick. Using an electric beater, whip them for a couple minutes to aerate. Fold in your egg and set aside.

Butter your casserole dish.

Mince the potato skins well, and add the dried herbs and onion and garlic powders. Salt them a teeny bit and press them into the bottom of the casserole, making a crust.

Spoon the mashed potato mix over the potato skins, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for an hour, or until the middle has puffed and there's brown in spots.

From NoFacePLate

Good Luck Potatoes

Preparation:
3 pounds russet potatoes
3 ounces finely grated Gruyere cheese
¼ cup butter, melted
½ cup milk
¾ cup whipping cream
3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (I used shredded)

Scrub the potatoes and poke several holes in each with a fork. Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees for 45-60 minutes, or until a fork pierced into one of the thicker ones meets little resistance. Cool potatoes briefly. Cut them in half, and using a towel in your hand to keep the potatoes from burning you, spoon the flesh from the peels. Put the potato flesh in a large bowl and discard the peels. Mash the potatoes a few times with a masher and add the melted butter. Continue to mash the potatoes until they are evenly coated with butter. Add the milk and continue to mash until the potatoes are the consistency that you like. You can add a splash more milk if you need to get to a good consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste. (Seriously, taste it…you need good mashed potatoes as a base for this amazing topping). Spread the potatoes into a greased 3 quart baking dish. Depending on how much the potatoes have cooled during this process, you might cover them and put them in a warm oven (perhaps 250 degrees while you prepare the cream. The potatoes only go into the oven for an additional 10 minutes so they need to be warm before you add the topping).

Whip the cream until it is fluffy, but soft and fold in Gruyere cheese. Spread over the potatoes and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 500 degrees for 10 minutes.

From TheMeaningOfPie

Warm Quinoa Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Sage

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 cups cubed sweet potatoes
1 cup quinoa
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups fresh baby spinach, chopped or torn into small pieces
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup slices almonds

Directions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss cubed sweet potatoes with one tablespoon of olive oil. Bake until potatoes are tender when pricked with a form, for about 15-20 minutes.

Step 2: Meanwhile, rinse quinoa in a fine mesh sieve. Bring vegetable broth to a boil in a medium saucepan or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the quinoa cook until mixture returns to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook over low heat for 8-10 minutes. Remove the lid and add spinach for the last 2 minutes of cooking. Remove pot from heat.

Step 3: Whisk red wine vinegar, oil, thyme sage and salt together rin a large bowl. Add quinoa mixture, almonds and toss combine. Garnish with additional herbs, if desired.

From Craft

Full recipe has 1550 calories , 66g faT, 200g carb, 30g fiber, 44g protein...
With only 1TBS of oil = 1315cal, 39g fat, no change in others.
With NO oil = 1200cal, 26g fat, no change.

JT update...
Made this 2/23/11 - Roughly followed the recipe ;)  Ended up with 4.5 cups of cooked quinoa, 3 cups of roasted sweet potatoes (which took MUCH longer to roast that the recipe indicates), and 5-6 cups of greens (spinach and arugula combined).  The quinoa came out a bit too wet at this ratio.  Used chicken broth instead of veggie broth (not recommended - the flavor is strong).  Didn't add a ton of dressing because of the dampness.  Used only 1TBS of dressing, extra vinegar, and dried herbs.  Overall, I liked this, it wasn't amazing, but it was good.  Perhaps next time I'll follow the recipe more closely.  The flavor/seasonings just weren't that stellar -- needs tweaking.  Made 8 servings out of the batch @ 225cal each.  I froze the leftovers in individual servings - will report back on the effectiveness.

Crispy Potato Roast

Serves 8
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 2 1/4 hours

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled
4 shallots, thickly sliced lengthwise
course salt
1/2 to 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes (optional)
8 sprigs thyme

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine butter and oil. Brush bottom of a round 9-inch baking dish with some butter mixture. With a sharp knife or mandoline, slice potatoes very thinly crosswise.

2. Arrange potato slices vertically in dish. Wedge shallots throughout. Sprinkle with salt and red-pepper flakes (if using); brush with remaining butter mixture. Bake 1 1/4 hours. Add thyme and bake until potatoes are cooked through with a crisp top, about 35 minutes more.

From The Bitten Word (Originally from Everyday Food)

JT -- I made this with sweet potatoes.  It was easy and good, but not exceptional.  The potatoes were a little too soft for my taste, not really roasted.  Tasty though.  May try again without packing them so tightly.

Spicy Sweet Potatoes

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

2.5 tbs olive oil

2.5 tbs brown sugar

1 tsp chili powder

0.5 tsp salt

0.25 tsp cayenne pepper

Honey

1. In a ziploc bag, combine brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper; shake to mix the ingredients. Add olive oil. Add sweet potatoes and toss to coat. Allow sweet potato mixture sit on counter for 10 minutes, turning once.

2. Spray a 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Add sweet potato mixture to dish and drizzle with honey.

3. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 40-45 minutes or until potatoes are tender, stirring every 10 minutes.

from SweetPea's Kitchen

Oma Ingrid's German Potato Salad

2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/4 - 1/3 cup hot vegetable broth (water with a vegetable bullion cube dissolved)
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon brown deli mustard
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 tablespoons parsley, minced
2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped

Preparation:

Wash potatoes, place in a double boiler/steamer basket over hot water and cook until tender. Remove and let cool for about 5 minutes, then peel and cut into quarters which are then cut into 1/8 inch slices and place in a large bowl.

Immediately after slicing the potatoes, add the oil, vinegars, and 1/4 cup of the broth. Carefully toss to coat. Add onions, mustard, herbs, and season with salt and pepper. If your potato salad seems dry, add the rest of the broth. Serve or refrigerate until ready for use.
from susi's kochen

quinoa with sundried tomatoes, chickpeas and lemon

Ingredients:
1 cup (250 ml) quinoa, uncooked
2 cups (500 ml) water
juice of half a lemon
2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil, approximately
1/2 cup (125 ml) pinenuts, toasted
4 to 6 sundried tomatoes in oil, chopped
1 cup (250 ml) cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup (125 ml) Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 cup (250 ml) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 to 1/2 cup (60 to 125 ml) fresh parmesan or romano cheese, finely grated (add more at the table)
salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Put quinoa into saucepan or rice cooker and add water to cover. Soak for 5 to 10 minutes. You may omit this step if short on time.

Drain and rinse the quinoa using a strainer/colander, stirring with your fingers as you run the water over the quinoa.

Add the water and quinoa to the rice cooker or saucepan on the stovetop to cook. If using the saucepan, cover, bring the water to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer until the water is absorbed (about 15 minutes).

While the quinoa is cooking, prepare the other ingredients - toast the pinenuts, chop the sundried tomatoes, cucumber and Italian flat-leaf parsley, and rinse and drain the chickpeas.

When the quinoa is cooked, remove the saucepan from the heat on the stovetop, or transfer the quinoa from the rice cooker to a bowl, fluff with a fork (if it's a bit sticky you may need to break it up a bit) and let cool.

When cooled, add the pinenuts, sundried tomatoes, cucumber, Italian flat-leaf parsley and chickpeas.

Squeeze half a lemon into a measuring cup or bowl and remove any seeds. Add to the mixture and stir thoroughly.

Add olive oil, cheese (if using) and one or two grinds of pepper and salt. Mix thoroughly. Taste and add more lemon, oil or seasoning to suit your taste.
from teh tastetraveller

Golden Chickpea and Artichoke Salad

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (15 ounce) can chick peas, drained and rinsed well
5 to 7 artichoke hearts, drained and sliced lengthwise (canned or frozen both work fine. I like to rinse the canned ones.)
¼ cup sliced almonds, toasted if desired
1 teaspoon lemon juice (I used more to taste)
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley (I used 1 teaspoon dried)

1. Heat oil in a seasoned wok or cast-iron skillet. Add the chickpeas and cook on medium-high for 10 minutes, stirring only occasionally to prevent burning, until the chickpeas are golden brown all over. When done, put them in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

2. Add more oil to the pan and cook the sliced artichoke hearts until browned. Add them to the bowl of chickpeas.

3. Toast the almonds in a dry skillet (if desired) and then grind them in a food processor. Add the almonds to the artichokes and chickpeas. Season the salad with lemon juice and salt and stir in the chopped parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature, adjust the seasoning if needed.
from the cooking photographer

Spicy Edamame

Wok-charred Edamame (from Three Dog Kitchen)
1 pound edamame in the pod
2 TB salt
3 TB sesame oil
2 tsp. finely minced fresh garlic
1 tsp. finely minced fresh ginger
1 tsp. white sesame seeds
1 TB sugar
1 TB soy sauce
1 to 2 tsp. shichimi (Japanese chili pepper, available at Asian grocery stores)
Heat a large wok over medium-high heat. Add 2 TB of the oil and toss in the edamame. Stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, until well-coated with the oil.
Make a well in the edamame and add the remaining 1 TB oil, garlic, and ginger. Stir-fry for 20 to 30 seconds, until barely light golden brown, then add the sesame seeds to the well. Stir to mix evenly, coating the edamame. Sprinkle in the sugar and toss several times, allowing the sugar to melt and glaze the edamame. Add the soy sauce, shichimi and mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, if necessary. Transfer to a platter and serve immediately.
from Charm and Salt