A veggie dressed-up topping for the standard spud

The prosaic baked spud got a makeover with the addition of some healthy, crunchy toppings.

In a recent issue of Southern Living readers were encouraged to think outside the spud with some “good-for-you” subs for the typical sour cream and cheese potato-toppers.

Roasted Vegetable Loaded Potatoes was the suggestion (out of four very good ones) I chose to try. I’ve never seen a baked potato emerge so dressed in its Sunday finest.

To a potato baked the standard way (I bake mine in the microwave, although some people prefer them cooked in the oven) you add chopped fresh cauliflower and Brussels sprouts along with sliced red onion, olive oil, and salt and pepper. All gets roasted in the oven for 25 minutes.

After all that’s done, I tossed in some raisins and walnuts and lite bottled vinaigrette dressing. This made a delicious, unusual side that was heaping with health and texture.

Roasted Vegetable Loaded Potatoes

3 cups chopped fresh cauliflower

2 cups sliced fresh Brussels sprouts

1/2 medium-size red onion, sliced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or salt substitute)

basic baked potatoes

1/4 cup golden raisins

1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts

2 tablespoon lite bottled Italian vinaigrette

Preheat over to 400 degrees. Toss together first 6 ingredients on a lightly greased 15-inch-by-10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare potatoes as directed. Bake cauliflower mixture with potatoes, 25 minutes or until cauliflower is brown. Stir once. Toss with raisins, walnuts, and vinaigrette. Spoon over potatoes. Makes 6 servings. (Source: Southern Living, September 2012)

Open foil packets to reveal a simple, dramatic salmon-and-green beans meal

Impressive! What a memorable presentation when you unfurl this entrée, Salmon Baked in a Foil Parcel with Green Beans and Pesto, to reveal a sumptuous, steaming, one-dish feast of fish and a fresh veggie.

The AARP’s recent magazine had as a dinner feature this easy-to-assemble delight. I liked the fact that this dish had enough panache for use at a dinner party but was simple and basic enough for a quick weeknight meal.

A little lemon juice squeezed on top of the fillet and some quality green pesto are all the adornments needed. In the interest of time I subbed some lemon-pepper seasoning for the green pesto. That seasoning in itself made the duo plenty tasty.

Opening the parcel at the dinner table is dramatic. The salmon and green bean combination is an excellent pairing. And we all need to eat more fish!

Salmon Baked in a Foil Parcel with Green Beans and Pesto

2 handfuls green beans

2 salmon fillets (4 ounces each), skin on, scaled, and bones removed

olive oil, as needed

sea salt (or salt substitute) and freshly ground black pepper

1 lemon

2 heaping tablespoons green pesto

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Trim the beans by cutting off the stalk ends but leaving on the wispy tips. Halve the lemon. Take a yard of aluminum foil; fold it in half. Bring the narrow sides together to make 2 layers. Put a handful of green beans in the middle of the folded aluminum foil. Lay a salmon fillet, skin-side down, across the beans. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of green pesto on top. Drizzle with olive oil, squeeze the juice from one of the lemon halves over all, and season with salt and pepper. Pull the aluminum-foil edges together and scrunch them up to seal the parcel. Repeat these steps to make your second salmon-fillet parcel; place both foil parcels onto a sheet pan. Put the sheet pan in the oven and cook the parcels for 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let it stand for 1 minute before you carefully unwrap and check that the salmon is cooked through. Serve the parcels either on plates as they are or carefully unwrap them before you serve. Makes 2 servings. (Source: AARP The Magazine, September 2012)

Grilled tomato sandwich yummy to the last Goud-a bite

A grilled-cheese sandwich always will be one of my great loves. Give me a grilled cheese for lunch and I’m a happy camper any day. If I can’t figure out what to order on a restaurant menu, grilled cheese is my default button. 

The AARP magazine (one of the benefits of being that “certain age” is that you get to read this classy publication) recently featured an upscale G.C. that takes a healthiness detour. It combines grilled tomatoes with shredded Gouda over whole- wheat bread sautéed in olive oil. The Tomato and Gouda Grilled Cheese Sandwich is touted for its health benefits because it says cooked tomatoes have more healthful antioxidants than do raw ones. 

This made a wonderful lunch option for us. I was happy to eat it open-faced without the top layer of bread. This menu item was ready in minutes and was yummy to the last Goud-a bite. 

Tomato and Gouda Grilled Cheese Sandwich

1 medium vine-ripened tomato, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices (I used several Roma tomatoes)

3 ounces Gouda

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing the bread

Kosher salt (or salt substitute) and freshly ground black pepper

4 slices whole-wheat bread

In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, add the oil; swirl to coat. When the oil is hot, add the tomato slices; season tomatoes with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the tomatoes to a plate. Use oil to brush the bread on both sides. Set 2 or 3 tomato slices onto 2 of the bread slices. Grate Gouda over the tomatoes; top with the remaining bread. Wipe out the sauté pan and place it over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the sandwiches; cook until the bread is golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the sandwiches over and grill to brown on the other side, another 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately. Serves 2. (Source: AARP The Magazine, September 2012)

Caramel Apple Muffins and promises of fall refresh the heart

What pleasant thoughts get conjured up by a magazine feature entitled “Apple Delights”! Who doesn’t feel hopeful reading about a variety of ways with apples? Fall and the promises it holds suddenly feel a lot closer when a recipe for Caramel Apple Muffins sits on my kitchen counter with ingredients for it gathered.

Muffins from this recipe appeared on the cover of the September issue of Southern Living magazine. Darling little muffins that resemble real caramel apples, with a nut-sprinkled caramel glaze on top and little twig handles for decor, were so appealing, I had to bake them first thing.

A basic muffin batter with 2 cups diced apples fills muffin cups, with a cinnamon topping sprinkled on before all is baked. Once removed from the pan these muffins remain top-side down. You melt the caramels and dip the bottom side of the muffin surface (yes, I did a double-take on that one, too!) and then roll this surface in nuts. I decided to forego inserting sticks or twigs and enjoy these without the dress-up, but the idea is cute indeed.

Not long after those delicious-beyond-words muffins popped out of the oven, our part of the world experienced a refreshing cool spell that put everyone in a better state of mind. Fall and its promises and Caramel Apple Muffins—they make the heart sing.

                                                               Caramel Apple Muffins

1 (8-ounce) container sour cream (I used fat-free)

1 cup sugar (I used sugar substitute)

2 large eggs (I used egg substitute)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt (I used salt substitute)

2 cups peeled and diced Granny Smith apples

1 (14-ounce) package caramels

3 tablespoons whipping cream

1 cup chopped lightly salted roasted pecans (I used walnuts)

wax paper

food-safe twigs or craft sticks

Cinnamon topping:

1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 1/2 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 1/2 tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl prepare cinnamon topping by combining brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse meal. Set topping aside. Beat sour cream and next 3 ingredients at a low speed with an electric mixer 30 seconds or until all is blended. Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients. Add to sour-cream mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended. (Do not overmix.) Stir in diced apples. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 12-cup muffin pan. Fill muffin cups three-fourths full. Sprinkle with cinnamon topping. Bake at 375 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes or until muffins are golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in center emerges clean. Immediately remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely (about 30 minutes). Microwave caramels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl at high 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture is smooth. Stir at 30-second intervals. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until thick enough to coat muffins. Quickly dip bottom three-fourths of each muffin into caramel mixture; roll bottom half of caramel-coated portion of muffin in chopped nuts. Place muffins, caramel sides up, on lightly greased wax paper. (If caramel mixture begins to harden before you’ve dipped all the muffins, microwave mixture a few seconds to siften.) Insert food-safe twigs or craft sticks into caramel-covered portions of muffins. Makes 1 dozen muffins. (Source: Southern Living September 2012)

Colorful salad pizza is a meal in one

I had a new kitchen utensil and was eager to use it. My daughter had been to a party that featured cooking gadgets and had bought for me a chopping instrument to smooth out ground meat or turkey crumbles (see below). Accompanying my purchase was a featured recipe. Hubby and I were keeping the grandmunchkin over the weekend; I knew he liked pizza. I thought this salad pizza would be a good way to encourage his veggie intake.

It encouraged the rest of us as well. Wow, what a great dish—and an easy one. Refrigerated roll dough formed the crust. After browning the dough in the oven the cook piles on a sour-cream layer and then a cooked ground turkey mixture that has been stirred with salsa and seasonings; then the healthy toppings. After the crust nothing else gets baked. A wonderful, colorful meal is ready in minutes. 

Mexican Fiesta Salad Pizza

2 packages (8-ounces each) refrigerator crescent rolls

1 1/4 pound lean ground turkey

1 1/4 cups medium thick and chunky salsa

1 (1-ounce) envelope taco seasoning mix

1 clove garlic, pressed

1 cup sour cream (I used fat-free)

2 cups thinly sliced iceberg lettuce

2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced

2 green onions with tops, thinly sliced

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup pitted ripe olives, coarsely chopped

additional salsa (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unroll crescent dough; separate into 16 triangles. Arrange 14 of the triangles in a circle on lightly floured round baking stone (I used a regular, rectangular cookie sheet) with wide ends even with edge of baking stone and points toward the center. Place the remaining two triangles in the center; pinch seams to seal. Roll dough to create a smooth surface. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until dough is golden brown. Remove from oven; cool completely. In 12-inch skillet, cook ground turkey over medium heat 10-12 minutes or until it no longer is pink. Break turkey into crumbles. (Recipe recommends using a Mix ’n Chop cooking utensil that is sold by the recipe source, The Pampered Chef.) Drain if necessary. In a medium bowl combine salsa, seasoning mix, and garlic; mix well. Add to turkey in skillet; toss to coat. Spread sour cream over crust. Spoon turkey mixture over sour cream. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, and olives. Serve immediately with additional salsa, if desired. Makes 8 servings. (Source: The Pampered Chef.)

Tomato-can label prompts a great veggie soup

Another of those unlikely places to find a great recipe—the label on the can of diced peeled tomatoes. The store brand, at that. But the recipe on the side attracted me with the words “Chunky Tomato Basil Soup”. It called for several items, including fresh basil and carrot, I already had on hand. I decided to give it a try.

End result: Hubby said it was one of the best soups he had in a long time. I cheated a little and added a few veggie leftovers, including some speckled butterbeans left from last week’s blog, to up the healthiness content.

This soup got better every day it sat in the refrigerator. We were so sad when we ladeled out the last few vegetable chunks and tomato broth. This is a dream recipe in terms of speed of preparation—lightning fast. Chopping the carrots, celery, and onion is the most involved part.

I’m already saving and freezing chopped vegetables for a repeat performance.

Chunky Tomato Basil Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 ribs celery, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 (14.5-ounce) cans No Salt Added Diced tomatoes, undrained

1 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled

3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

salt (or salt substitute) and black pepper to taste

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat add oil and saute´ onion, celery, and carrots until all are tender—about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook another minute. Add the diced tomatoes, dried basil, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes or until vegetables are soft. Ladle into bowls; garnish with fresh basil. Serve hot. Refrigerate any leftovers. Makes 6 servings. (Source: label for Kroger-brand No Salt Added Diced Peeled Tomatoes in Tomato Juice) 

A garden-fresh hot-dog topping to remember

I’m probably not the only one who has been trying to squeeze the last bit of life out of summer before fall sets in. Not that we wouldn’t like to jettison the summer temps that surged again late last week to turn Labor Day weekend into another oven. But the foods of summer—I wouldn’t mind keeping them around a while.

I saved my upscale hot-dog recipes for the holiday weekend that we just observed. “Build a Better Hot Dog” was the theme of a recent Southern Living feature that taught everyone how to dress up the average frankfurter.

Among the four dress-ups proposed I liked best the Greek-style version because it called for some garden-fresh elements—cucumber, lettuce (I used spinach), red onion, and tomato, along with fresh dill. A creamy sauce with Greek yogurt as its base accompanied a marinated salad-like topping. The recipe called for sun-dried tomato chicken sausages, but I used a simple turkey frank and a hoagie bun.

Previously Hubby might have turned his nose up at the thought of hot dogs for supper, but he consumed these eagerly and asked whether he could split a second one with me. In his mind this was a feast. I echo what the magazine reported—it was frankly delicious.

Greek-Style Dogs

1 (7-ounce) container 2-percent reduced-fat plain Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons light mayonnaise

1 tablespoon grated cucumber

2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives

1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

salt (or salt substitute) and pepper to taste

4 sun-dried tomato chicken sausages (I used turkey franks)

reduced-fat hot-dog buns

toppings: shredded romaine lettuce, thinly sliced red onion, diced tomato, diced cucumber, bottled Greek dressing

Stir together yogurt, mayonnaise, grated cucumber, chives, dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Cook sausages according to package directions. Place sausages in buns. Top with yogurt mixture, lettuce, red onion, tomato, cucumber, and Greek dressing. Makes 4 servings.