Recipes | Real Food. Real Deals.

Homemade Mascarpone

April 17, 2013 by Annemarie 6 Comments

Mascarpone is a wonderful delicacy. Its smooth, creamy texture is a central ingredient in tiramisu, and it can also be used in risotto and pasta dishes or as a spread. The problem with delicacies like this is their high cost. You can imagine my excitement when I discovered that mascarpone is easy to make. Actually, that’s an understatement. It’s nearly effortless, and it contains just two ingredients. The hardest part of the process for me was tracking down cream that wasn’t ultra-pasteurized. After consulting several different recipes, I learned that mascarpone requires cream that is pasteurized but not ultra-pasteurized, although I imagine raw cream would work well too. My mainstream grocery stores only carry ultra-pasteurized cream, but luckily a trip to Whole Foods yielded more than one option for pasteurized cream.

Ingredients:
2 cups pasteurized heavy cream
1 tbs. lemon juice

In a medium pot, heat the cream to 190 degrees.
Add the lemon juice. Continue to simmer the cream for 5 minutes at 190 to 200 degrees, stirring constantly. The cream will thicken a bit, but it won’t separate like it does when you make homemade ricotta.
Remove the cream from the stove and let it cool for 45 minutes. It will thicken as it cools.
Set a fine-mesh strainer over a large bowl. Line the bowl with several layers of cheesecloth, or my favorite, butter muslin. (I love this muslin because it’s more tightly woven than traditional cheesecloth and it can go in the washing machine.)
Pour the cream into the strainer and cover. Strain the mascarpone in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours, until it reaches the consistency you want. Transfer it to an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Price Breakdown
This recipe yields 12 ounces of mascarpone and it costs $3.36. This quantity of store-bought mascarpone costs $7.49, more than twice the price of the homemade version. Homemade mascarpone is so simple to make, and you will love its creamy, delicious flavor.

If saving money on real food is a goal of yours, I recommend you also try your hand at homemade ricotta cheese and homemade yogurt. Homemade ricotta costs less than half what you’d pay for the store-bought version, and homemade yogurt costs four times less than what you buy at the store.

Stay tuned for a fun, unique dessert recipe with mascarpone that I’ll be posting later this week.

Linking to Fat Tuesday.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: gluten free, healthy, Recipe

Vanilla Rice Pudding

April 15, 2013 by Annemarie 8 Comments

Rice pudding is delicious comfort food. I make it with short grain brown rice and five simple ingredients. It’s a great source of calcium, and the maple and vanilla flavors shine in this version. If you don’t have a vanilla bean, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to get that deep vanilla flavor.

Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked short grain brown rice
½ cup maple syrup
4 cups whole milk (substitute coconut milk for a vegan version)
1 vanilla bean, split in half and scraped
¼ tsp. salt

In a medium pot, boil 4 cups of water. Add the rice and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the water is absorbed.
Add the remaining ingredients. Bring just to a boil, and then lower to simmer for about 45 minutes (until thickened). Stir periodically while the pudding simmers.
Enjoy warm or cold. Store in the refrigerator.

Price Breakdown
This recipe costs $4.26 to make, or $.71 per one-cup serving. Vanilla rice pudding is a delicious, comforting treat that kids and parents alike will enjoy.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: dessert, gluten free, healthy, Recipe

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

April 12, 2013 by Annemarie 4 Comments

I love Mexican food, so I’m not sure why it took me so long to discover homemade chicken enchiladas. This recipe is simple to put together, and it makes an incredibly flavorful, satisfying meal. A little bit of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce goes a long way, so I freeze what I don’t use in teaspoon-sized portions. That way, I can grab what I need whenever I want to add some extra zing to a recipe like this one. If you have leftover chicken and some cooked beans in the freezer, this is the perfect use for those leftovers.

Ingredients:
1 tsp. chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
8 ounces tomato sauce
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp. salt
3 cups cooked seasoned pinto beans
2 cups diced chicken
1 cup grated cheese
12 small corn tortillas (I use Trader Joe’s brand – just 3 non-GMO ingredients)
1 scallion

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
To make the enchilada sauce, combine the chipotle in adobo sauce, tomato sauce, garlic, and salt in a blender or food processor. Thoroughly mix the ingredients. Set aside. (Note: if you don’t want a spicy sauce, you can substitute your salsa of choice.)
Warm the tortillas in the oven in a covered casserole dish so they will roll easily. Fill each tortilla with a portion of chicken, beans, and cheese, and roll them up so the filling is inside.
Place the tortillas (open side down) in a large baking dish. Pour the sauce over the tortillas, then sprinkle with diced scallion.
Bake for about 20 minutes, until the enchiladas are heated and the cheese is melted.

Price Breakdown
This recipe costs $5.65 to make, or $.94 per serving. These easy chicken enchiladas are a wonderful meal aside some rice and a green salad.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: casserole, dinner, gluten free, healthy, Recipe

Chili Con Carne

April 8, 2013 by Annemarie 2 Comments

Chili is one of my favorite meals, so I make lots of different versions. I love my chili full of veggies, and this squash chili recipe is one that I make frequently. My children don’t care for squash though, and I haven’t been able to master a vegetarian chili recipe that they enjoy. It’s frustrating that they won’t dig into my chili of choice, but I recently discovered that they love this basic chili con carne. It’s simple and flavorful, and it’s a great recipe for feeding a crowd.

Ingredients:
1 tbs. olive oil
½ cup chopped onion
1 clove crushed garlic
2½ lb. ground turkey and/or beef
28 ounces tomato sauce
4 cups cooked beans
1½ tbs. chili powder
1 tbs. salt
2 tsp. cumin
½ tsp. cayenne pepper

In a large pot, sauté the onion in the olive oil over medium heat until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the meat to the pot and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until all the meat is brown.
Add the remaining ingredients to the pot. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve warm. Some topping ideas include scallions, crushed tortilla chips, avocado, cheese, and cilantro.

Price Breakdown
This recipe costs $10.56 to make, or $1.06 per serving. It’s a delicious, simple version of chili con carne, and it’s appealing to all ages.

Filed Under: Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free, Recipes Tagged With: dairy free, dinner, gluten free, healthy, Recipe

Breakfast Casserole

April 1, 2013 by Annemarie 10 Comments

This breakfast casserole is the perfect all-in-one dish to serve at a potluck brunch. It’s very hearty and flavorful, and you can vary the vegetables according to what you have on hand. Many people would add cheese to a dish like this, but it’s not necessary with all the other flavors working together so well in this casserole. I use yogurt to give this dish a fluffy texture.

Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat bread cubes
1 cup chopped asparagus
6 ounces breakfast sausage or bacon, sliced or broken into bite-sized pieces
12 eggs
1 cup plain yogurt (regular or Greek)
1 tsp. mustard powder
1½ tsp. salt
2 tbs. diced scallions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.
Spread the bread cubes evenly in the bottom of the baking pan.
Blanch the asparagus for a minute or two in boiling water, until just tender. Place the asparagus in the baking dish on top of the bread.
Add the chopped sausage or bacon to the baking dish.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, mustard powder, and salt. Pour the mixture into the baking dish.
Sprinkle the scallions on top.
Bake for about 45 minutes, until eggs are set. Serve warm.

Price Breakdown
The total cost of this recipe is $6.92, or $.87 per serving. This breakfast casserole is a wonderful dish to serve for brunch, and the crowd will love it.

Linking to Fat Tuesday, Real Food Wednesday, Pennywise Platter Thursday.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: breakfast, casserole, healthy, Recipe

Easy Beef Stew

March 28, 2013 by Annemarie 6 Comments

One of the meals I remember loving as a child is beef stew. I think my mom used a packet of Lipton onion soup mix to flavor the broth, and she kept the vegetables basic (potatoes, carrots, and celery). My son hasn’t enjoyed beef stew when we’ve made it in the past, but I decided to give it another try recently. I used Martha Stewart’s beef stew recipe as a guide, but I changed it around a bit to suit our tastes. My version has less beef and more veggies than hers, which reflects my philosophy of eating smaller amounts of high-quality meat and maximizing the vegetables. The flavor of this stew is wonderful, and it’s so simple to make. You just throw everything in the slow cooker and walk away.

Ingredients:
1 lb. stew beef, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cloves garlic, mashed
¼ cup tomato paste
2 tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 tbs. white whole wheat flour (or gluten-free flour)
¼ cup water
2 lbs. potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 lb. carrots, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 onion, chopped
2 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper

Place the stew meat in the pot of a slow cooker.
Stir together the garlic, tomato paste, vinegar, flour, and water in a medium bowl. Spread the mixture over the meat.
Add the potatoes, carrots, and onion to the pot. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper.
Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours. The stew is done when the vegetables are tender and the meat is fully cooked.
Serve warm.

Price Breakdown
The total cost of this recipe is $9.07, or $1.81 per serving. This beef stew is wonderful comfort food, and the cooking method couldn’t be easier.

Filed Under: Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free, Recipes Tagged With: dairy free, dinner, healthy, Recipe, soup

Cooking with Kids: Peanut Butter Granola

March 25, 2013 by Annemarie 2 Comments

This peanut butter granola has the flavor of a peanut butter cookie. It’s crunchy and sweet, and the apricots add the perfect fruity touch. This granola is a wonderful breakfast or mid-afternoon snack. I feel a little guilty when I eat this, even though I know it’s perfectly healthy for me. It’s that good.

If you’re looking for ways to get your children involved in the kitchen, homemade granola is a great place to start. Even young children can help measure and pour the ingredients. The proportions are forgiving, so measurements don’t need to be precise. Children can stir everything together and help press the mixture down in the baking pan. When it’s done cooking, they can help transfer the granola into a storage container. It’s great to sit back and watch your little chef take over the kitchen.

Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
1½ cups brown rice crisp cereal
1 cup unsweetened dried coconut
1 cup walnuts or almonds
⅓ cup maple syrup
½ cup coconut oil
2 tbs. peanut butter (single ingredient: peanuts)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup dried apricots, chopped

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.
Mix the first 4 ingredients in a large bowl.
In a small bowl, mix the syrup, coconut oil, peanut butter, and vanilla.
Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir together.
Place the mixture in a 9×13 inch baking dish and press down the granola evenly. Bake for about an hour or until it begins to brown.
Put it on a rack to cool, and let it cool completely before removing the granola. Stir in the apricots and store in an airtight container.

Price Breakdown
The total cost of this recipe is $4.91. It yields 8 cups of granola, or approximately 10 ¾-cup servings. This comes out to $.49 per serving, a great price for a healthy, high-protein breakfast.

What types of food do your children like to prepare or cook in your kitchen?

Linking to Pennywise Platter Thursday.

Filed Under: Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free, Recipes Tagged With: breakfast, dairy free, gluten free, Recipe, snack, vegan, vegetarian

Savory Roasted Chickpeas

March 22, 2013 by Annemarie 10 Comments

Savory roasted chickpeas

These savory roasted chickpeas are an addictive, healthy snack. I’m always looking for different sources of protein to sustain me between meals, and chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) are perfect for this. A half cup of cooked chickpeas has almost 8 grams of protein, which is much higher than most snack foods. They are deliciously crunchy right out of the oven. The texture changes a bit if you store them, but you can get them crispy again by putting them under the broiler for a minute.

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chickpeas
1½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. smoked paprika
¼ tsp. chili powder
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Stir together the seasonings in a small bowl. Pour them over the chickpeas in a large bowl and stir to coat evenly.
Place the chickpeas in a single layer in a roasting pan or on a cookie sheet with sides.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
These can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Price Breakdown
I start with dried chickpeas, which are much cheaper than the canned version. They cost $.17 per cup when you start with dry beans, but they’re $.50 or more per cup when you buy the canned version. The total cost of this recipe is $.55, or $.18 per half-cup serving. These savory roasted chickpeas are a great healthy substitute for the empty carbs we often reach for between meals.

Filed Under: Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free, Recipes Tagged With: dairy free, gluten free, healthy, snack, vegan, vegetarian

Vanilla Waffles

March 20, 2013 by Annemarie 6 Comments

Vanilla extract is a wonderful ingredient for making things taste delicious without adding sugar. I recently received a beautiful package of vanilla beans and extracts from Beanilla. They have one of the best prices around for vanilla beans, so I was very happy to learn about them. My children were home from school recently for yet another snow day here in Massachusetts, so we celebrated by making a special breakfast. I used Beanilla’s vanilla extract to flavor these waffles, and they tasted wonderful. As an added benefit, your house will smell amazing for hours after you make these waffles.

Ingredients:
2 cups white whole wheat flour
1 tbs. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
3 eggs
1½ cups milk
½ cup melted butter
1 tbs. vanilla extract

My goodies from Beanilla

In a small bowl, stir together the dry ingredients.
In a large bowl, mix the remaining ingredients. Add the dry ingredients and stir to just combine.
Scoop a ladle full of batter onto a hot waffle iron and cook until light brown. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Price Breakdown
This recipe yields 6 medium waffles and it costs $1.97, or $.33 per waffle. These healthy vanilla waffles are a wonderful, whole grain breakfast that your family will love.

Beanilla is currently offering 25 Madagascar vanilla beans for $25 with free shipping. This is one of the best prices I’ve seen, and I love the quality of their products. If you get this deal, you can split the beans with a friend or make a big batch of homemade vanilla extract. It’s a great hostess gift to have on hand, and your friends will love it.

Linking to Food Holiday Link Party (Waffle Edition).

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: breakfast, healthy, Recipe, vegetarian

Five Minute Mango Smoothie

March 19, 2013 by Annemarie 8 Comments

This mango smoothie is a healthy drink that tastes like a treat. It’s delicious like a smoothie that’s full of ice cream, but it’s actually yogurt that gives it a thick, creamy consistency. My son has rejected many smoothies over the years, but he loves this one. The tropical flavor combination is wonderful, and it comes together in just a few minutes.

Ingredients:
1½ cups mango chunks
1 medium banana
1 cup plain yogurt
¼ cup milk
2 tbs. honey

Place all the ingredients in a blender and mix until well-combined and smooth.
Taste it and adjust the flavors as needed. This is how I like it, but you might want more mango or more honey.

Price Breakdown
This recipe yields 2½ cups, and the total cost is $2.62. This comes out to $.87 per ¾ cup serving. My five minute smoothie is a delicious, filling drink that will help you maintain energy between meals.

Linking to Fat Tuesday.