Umbrian Vegetable Soup



This recipe courtesy of the Huffington Post


1⁄2 cup packed basil leaves
1⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

2 tbsp. minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
4 cloves garlic
1⁄2 medium onion, cut into chunks
8 oz. red new potatoes, cut into 1⁄2" cubes
3 stalks celery, minced
2 medium carrots, minced
2 plum tomatoes, cored and minced
Kosher salt, to taste
3 oz. spinach, trimmed and rinsed
(about 2 loosely packed cups)

1 1⁄2 cups canned cannellini beans, rinsed
1 cup fresh or frozen green peas

1⁄2 small head frisée, leaves cut into bite-size pieces (about 2 cups)
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Freshly grated Grana Padano or Parmesan, for serving

1. Place half the basil, 2 tbsp. oil, parsley, garlic, and onions in the bowl of a food processor and process until slightly chunky. Heat remaining oil in an 8-qt. pot over medium-high heat and add herb–garlic mixture. Cook, stirring often, until no liquid remains, about 5 minutes. Add potatoes, celery, carrots, and tomatoes. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add salt and 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

2. Stir in spinach, beans, peas, and frisée and cook until greens are wilted and just tender, about 10 minutes; season with salt and pepper and stir in remaining basil. To serve, ladle soup into bowls, sprinkle with Grana Padano, and drizzle with oil.

SERVES 12

Apple Stuffed Pork Chops

1 tablespoon chopped onion

1/4 cup butter

3 cups soft bread cubes
2 cups finely chopped apples
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
6 bone-in pork loin chops (1-1/2 inches thick and 7 ounces each)
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

In a small skillet, saute onion in butter until tender. Remove from the heat; add the bread cubes, apples, celery, parsley and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Cut a pocket in each chop by making a horizontal cut through the meat almost to the bone. Sprinkle inside and outside with pepper and remaining salt. Spoon stuffing loosely into pockets.

In a large skillet, brown the chops on both sides in oil. Place in an ungreased large baking pan. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 30 minutes longer or until meat thermometer reads 160° when inserted into the meat and juices run clear. Yield: 6 servings.

Nutrition: 1 pork chop equals 364 calories, 19 g fat (8 g saturated fat), 107 mg cholesterol, 534 mg sodium, 15 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 32 g protein.

Colorful Chicken Stew - Diabetic

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 (14 1/2 oz.) can Italian diced tomatoes, undrained
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2−inch cubes
5 medium carrots, chopped
3 celery ribs, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
2 (4 oz.) cans mushroom stems and pieces, drained
2 low−sodium chicken bouillon cubes
Artificial Sweetener equal to 2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 T. cornstarch
2 C. cold water

In a 5−quart crockpot, combine the first 12 ingredients.

In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir into chicken mixture. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or until vegetables are tender. Serves 10.

Nutritional Analysis: One 1−cup serving equals: 123 calories,

209 mg sodium, 25 mg cholesterol, 16 gm carbohydrate, 11 gm protein,

1 gm fat, 3 gm fiber.

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetables, 1 very lean meat, 1/2 starch.

Grilled Summer Veggies

3/4 cup Italian salad dressing
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1-1/2 teaspoons lemon-pepper seasoning
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning  (optional)
1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 medium yellow summer squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 small onion, julienned
1/2 medium green pepper, julienned
1 large carrot, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 celery rib, cut into 3/4-inch slices
4 whole fresh mushrooms, quartered

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the salad dressing, vinegar, parsley, lemon-pepper and Cajun seasoning. Add the vegetables; seal bag and turn to coat. Let stand for 15 minutes; drain. Arrange vegetables on a grill rack. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 20-25 minutes or until tender, turning frequently. 4 servings.

Broiled Stuffed Tomatoes

6 medium tomatoes, washed
salt and pepper
1 can (6 1/2 - 7 ounces) tuna, drained and flaked
1/2 cup diced celery
2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
1/2 cup mayonnaise

Cut a slice from the end of each tomato; scoop out center and pulp of tomatoes. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper; turn upside-down to drain.

Combine tuna, celery, relish, mayonnaise; season to taste with salt and pepper. Fill tomato cups with tuna mixture. Arrange stuffed tomatoes in a baking dish. Place under broiler, about 4 to 5 inches from heat source, for 5 minutes. Top each tomato with a little more mayonnaise; broil for 4 to 5 minutes longer, until mayonnaise is browned.

Broiled Stuffed Tomatoes

6 medium tomatoes, washed
salt and pepper
1 can (6 1/2 - 7 ounces) tuna, drained and flaked
1/2 cup diced celery
2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
1/2 cup mayonnaise
PREPARATION:
Cut a slice from the end of each tomato; scoop out center and pulp of tomatoes. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper; turn upside-down to drain.

Combine tuna, celery, relish, mayonnaise; season to taste with salt and pepper.

Fill tomato cups with tuna mixture. Arrange stuffed tomatoes in a baking dish. Place under broiler, about 4 to 5 inches from heat source, for 5 minutes. Top each tomato with a little more mayonnaise; broil for 4 to 5 minutes longer, until mayonnaise is browned.

Save energy by using this broiler unit rather than your conventional oven!

Basic Pot Roast

4 to 5 pounds beef roast
1 tablespoon shortening
salt
1/4 cup water
1 medium onion, sliced
1 cup diced rutabaga or turnip
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced potatoes
1/4 cup sliced celery with leaves
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
salt and pepper to taste

In Dutch Oven or heavy kettle, brown meat on all sides in hot shortening. Sprinkle with salt. Add water and sliced onion. Cover and simmer for 3 to 4 hours. Add remaining ingredients; simmer for 30 minutes more, or until vegetables are done.

Remove meat and thicken liquid with flour and water paste To thicken: Stir a few tablespoons of water into a few tablespoons of flour and stir until smooth. Stir hot liquid while adding small amounts of flour paste until thickened as desired. Taste and season pot roast with salt and pepper to taste.

Amish Macaroni Salad

1/2 lb macaroni or shell pasta, cooked and drained

1/4 cup finely chopped celery

1/4 cup finely grated or chopped carrots

1/8 cup finely chopped onion

3 hard boiled eggs, cooled and chopped

Once the macaroni is cooked and cooled, mix with all the above except the eggs. Set eggs aside until ready to add dressing.

Dressing:

1 cup miracle whip salad dressing (not mayonaise)

1 T brown mustard

1/3 cup sugar

Blend dressing well and fold into macaroni along with chopped eggs.

Cover and refrigerate until well chilled. Line a pretty glass bowl with curly lettuce leaves and spoon salad in, garnish with sliced eggs or parsley. Sprinkle a gentle amount of paprika on top.