Grandma's Kitchen Table

Eating with Ellie: Chili Today, Hot Tamale - Vegetarian Black Bean Chili with Ancho and Orange

       The 79th recipe I made with the Eating with Ellie group is Vegetarian Black Bean Chili with Ancho and Orange, and can be found online here at Food and Wine.  The theme for the week was chosen by Peggy:  Chili Today, Hot Tamale.  

        Ingredient list:  canola oil, onion, red pepper, garlic, tomato paste, ancho chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne, salt, pepper, canned crushed tomatoes, black beans, water, honey, orange zest, orange juice, garnish with parsley and Greek yogurt, if desired. 
        This week I was all set to make a chicken chili...I had my recipe all lined up, my ingredients all in the house, and somewhere between that and execution of the recipe, I waffled and bagged it in favor of a vegetarian chlii recipe of Ellie's that I found online.  I never make vegetarian chili.  This is a family of chili lovers, all who like meat in their chili...not just vegetables and definitely not chicken.  So I can't really explain what happened exactly but here it is...a perfectly delicious and healthy vegetarian chili.  And I didn't even miss the beef.  And I didn't have to apologize for using chicken in a chili recipe which around here just might be like having Thanksgiving without the turkey. 
         A really great aspect of this recipe is that you can have everything on hand in your pantry to make this when a trip to the store might be out of the question, like during a snow storm or during an extreme bout of "I'd rather do most anything than go to the grocery store right now."  And this chili is good...it tastes meaty with the beans and the flavors are ones I would normally use in chili (well not the orange, but it was very nice).  I would definitely make this one again.  It's nice to be vegetarian now and again once in awhile sometimes.  And, if the others want beef or chicken, it is easy enough to just add that in for them.

       If you wonder how the others did this week, click here to follow their post links.  You can also find the recipe schedule there for the coming weeks.  Next week's recipe theme was chosen by me and is Fowl Weather.  Please come and join us at any time, just leave the link to your post that week so that week so we know where to find you.

        Note:  In our posts, we do not publish the recipes from Ellie Krieger's book as those belong to her, we like to honor that and encourage you to guy her books to get the recipes.  You can also find her recipes at her site here, at her weekly newspaper article here, her recipes online here, and at her current tv show site here.  We know that you will enjoy using Ellie's books again and again and that you will feel your money was well spent.

 

 

TWD Dorie's Cookies: Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

       For the inaugural month, the Dorie's Cookies group participants could chose from one of two recipes to post this first month, one on the first Tuesday and the other being the post for the third Tuesday.  I chose to make the Peanut Butter Change-Ups for the first Tuesday, leaving the Chocolate Sandwich Cookies for this week.  This recipe can be found in the Dorie's Cookies on page 306, you can also find it here.
       Ingredient list:  flour, cocoa powder (I used the dark variety), butter, sugar, salt, egg white, and vanilla for the cookies; butter, confectioner's sugar, vanilla, and salt for the filling. 
      These cookies were easy to make but take a little time and planning...in other words, you can't really throw them together on a whim as they need a little time to mix, roll, freeze for an hour, cut out, bake, make the filling, spread the filling on the cookies, and then allow them to set up a bit.  I actually like recipes like this where I do a little and then go do something else for a bit and then come back and do a little more...this probably says something about my attention span these days.  I found the whole process relaxing and satisfying. 
        Mark says they taste like Oreos and maybe even a little better, fresher.  Chocolate is not my thing, so I will take his word for it.  The only note I made in my book, more to myself than anything wrong with the recipe, is that I should have used clear vanilla to get that bright white creamy center as the dark vanilla added a tint of color.  Not a big deal, but next time I'd use the clear. The recipe instructions were spot on for me, I wouldn't change a thing. Missing Alex...Oreos were his favorite cookie, he would have loved these.  Definitely repeat worthy.
       The Tuesdays with Dorie group is now baking from Dorie Greenspan's new book, Dorie's Cookies.  The posts will be the first and third Tuesdays of the month and can be linked at the main Tuesdays with Dorie website here.  You can also find the information on joining in and/or see the posts from those in the group baking along at this location. 

Eating with Ellie: Perfect Pasta - Lemon-Thyme Orzo Pilaf

       The 78th recipe I made with the Eating with Ellie group is Lemon-Thyme Orzo Pilaf, and can be found in Ellie Krieger's book Weeknight Wonders, on page 263.  The theme for the week was chosen by Gaye:  Perfect Pasta.  

        Ingredient list: shallots, olive oil, orzo, chicken broth, Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, thyme, lemon, salt, and pepper.  

       It has taken me quite awhile to learn to think of orzo as pasta.  It looks a lot like rice so I tend to use it where I would use rice and not really as pasta on its own.  This week's theme inspired me to select orzo when considering which Ellie pasta dish I wanted to make.  The recipe is simple and delicious, I would not hesitate to make it over and over, and the combinations could be endless. 
        The Parmesan melts into the pasta giving it that cheesy goodness that I love with any kind of pasta (sometimes I think it is really the cheese I'm going for and not the actual pasta). The chicken broth gives it a savory flavor as do the shallots and tomatoes.  The lemon just makes it all sing.  All of the ingredients are simple, the directions are all simple, and it is all weeknight friendly as it takes hardly any time at all.  We served it with baked chicken on a bed of lettuce with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and a sprinkling of fresh ground pepper.  Make enough for leftovers as it reheats well in the microwave and/or it is also great morphed into a pasta salad...I did a little of each. 

       If you wonder how the others did this week, click here to follow their post links.  You can also find the recipe schedule there for the coming weeks.  Next week's recipe theme was chosen by Peggy and is Chili Today, Hot Tamale.  Please come and join us at any time, just leave the link to your post that week so that week so we know where to find you.

        Note:  In our posts, we do not publish the recipes from Ellie Krieger's book as those belong to her, we like to honor that and encourage you to guy her books to get the recipes.  You can also find her recipes at her site here, at her weekly newspaper article here, her recipes online here, and at her current tv show site here.  We know that you will enjoy using Ellie's books again and again and that you will feel your money was well spent.

 

Eating with Ellie: Fall Harvest - Roasted Brussels Sprouts

       The 77th recipe I made with the Eating with Ellie group is Roasted Brussels Sprouts, and can be found in Ellie Krieger's book So Easy, on page 188.  The theme for the week was chosen by Margaret:  Fall Harvest.  

        Ingredient list: Brussels sprouts, olive oil, salt.  

       Brussels sprouts always seem to get a bad rap.  Whenever they are mentioned most everyone goes, "ewwww" and the discussion comes to an abrupt end.  I happen to love Brussels sprouts.  I just steam them for a little tiny bit and put a tiny glisten of butter on them and a little tiny bit of salt, and that's all they need, they are just wonderful.  Yes, they are...stop that right now. 
         Roasting the Brussels sprouts is new to me, I haven't made them like this before and I have to say these are fantastic.  The outer leaves turn sort of papery and crunchy and the inner part is soft but not mushy.  I didn't add a thing to them and they were just perfect.  Definitely a repeat, and often!

       If you wonder how the others did this week, click here to follow their post links.  You can also find the recipe schedule there for the coming weeks.  Next week's recipe theme was chosen by Gaye and is Perfect Pasta.  Please come and join us at any time, just leave the link to your post that week so that week so we know where to find you.

        Note:  In our posts, we do not publish the recipes from Ellie Krieger's book as those belong to her, we like to honor that and encourage you to guy her books to get the recipes.  You can also find her recipes at her site here, at her weekly newspaper article here, her recipes online here, and at her current tv show site here.  We know that you will enjoy using Ellie's books again and again and that you will feel your money was well spent.

 

Eating with Ellie: Rice is Nice - Chicken, Broccoli, Brown Rice Casserole

        The 76th recipe I made with the Eating with Ellie group is Chicken, Broccoli, Brown Rice Casserole, and can be found in Ellie Krieger's book You Have It Made, on page 181.  The theme for the week was chosen by Margaret:  Rice is Nice.  

        Ingredient list: chicken, salt, pepper, olive oil, onion, garlic, thyme, flour, white wine, chicken broth, milk, lemon zest, Parmesan cheese, brown rice, and broccoli.  

       This is a whole lot of ingredients touching in a small space...I'm not that fond of this sort of thing, casseroles in general, but I had chicken and rice and broccoli and it seemed like a good time to try it as I do like all those ingredients.  Since I could see all the ingredients in the recipe, I figured I could separate them all and eat them that way.  And that worked.  I did like the flavor of the lemon and the wine in the mix.  Other than that, it was kind of bland and I'm not really sure how I would jazz that up.  The little bit of cheese melted on the top was nice.  Would I make this one again?  Probably not, not the fault of the recipe, just that I'm not all that fond of casseroles in general...but once in awhile one should make one just to see if that's changed.  It hasn't.    That, however, doesn't mean you won't like it.  :-)

       If you wonder how the others did this week, click here to follow their post links.  You can also find the recipe schedule there for the coming weeks.  Next week's recipe theme was chosen by Gaye and is Perfect Pasta.  Please come and join us at any time, just leave the link to your post that week so that week so we know where to find you.

        Note:  In our posts, we do not publish the recipes from Ellie Krieger's book as those belong to her, we like to honor that and encourage you to guy her books to get the recipes.  You can also find her recipes at her site here, at her weekly newspaper article here, her recipes online here, and at her current tv show site here.  We know that you will enjoy using Ellie's books again and again and that you will feel your money was well spent.

 

Eating with Ellie: This Spud's For You - Cheeseburger-Stuffed Twice-Baked Potatoes

       The 75th recipe I made with the Eating with Ellie group is Cheeseburger-Stuffed Twice-Baked Potatoes, and can be found in Ellie Krieger's book You Have It Made, on page 132.  The theme for the week was chosen by me:  This Spud's for You.  

        Ingredient list: russet potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, lean ground beef, onion, garlic, onion powder, paprika, mushrooms, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and broccoli.  

       The photo of this recipe in the book looked so inviting and delicious for dinner.  I made it just like she said and had great success...okay, in my world broccoli should not be touching anything else too much so I didn't put it in the mix but instead served it on the side, which was just wonderful, but you can mix yours up if you like, I'm sure you will enjoy that.  Other than that, I made it all as she directed.  it was and easy and enjoyable dinner.  Depending on the size of your potatoes, one half might be plenty for one person, you will know as you are making it.

       If you wonder how the others did this week, click here to follow their post links.  You can also find the recipe schedule there for the coming weeks.  Next week's recipe theme was chosen by Gaye and is Perfect Pasta.  Please come and join us at any time, just leave the link to your post that week so that week so we know where to find you.

        Note:  In our posts, we do not publish the recipes from Ellie Krieger's book as those belong to her, we like to honor that and encourage you to guy her books to get the recipes.  You can also find her recipes at her site here, at her weekly newspaper article here, her recipes online here, and at her current tv show site here.  We know that you will enjoy using Ellie's books again and again and that you will feel your money was well spent.

 

Eating with Ellie: It's Peachy - Peach Pie Smoothie

        The 74th recipe I made with the Eating with Ellie group is Peach Pie Smoothie, and can be found in Ellie Krieger's book So Easy, on page 22.  The theme for the week was chosen by Gaye: It's Peachy.  

        Ingredient list: nonfat milk, nonfat yogurt, unsweetened frozen peaches, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and ice.  

        Sometimes you just want an extra special treat that makes you think you had something really decadent and tasty but you know that you really should have something healthy instead.  This would describe the Peach Pie Smoothie, it tastes very much like peach pie and gives you the satisfaction of maybe just having had a nice slice of peach pie, but in fact it is healthy and guilt-free.  A winning combination.  It goes together much faster than a peach pie for sure.  Definitely a repeat.

       If you wonder how the others did this week, click here to follow their post links.  You can also find the recipe schedule there for the coming weeks.  Next week's recipe theme was chosen by Gaye and is Perfect Pasta.  Please come and join us at any time, just leave the link to your post that week so that week so we know where to find you.

        Note:  In our posts, we do not publish the recipes from Ellie Krieger's book as those belong to her, we like to honor that and encourage you to guy her books to get the recipes.  You can also find her recipes at her site here, at her weekly newspaper article here, her recipes online here, and at her current tv show site here.  We know that you will enjoy using Ellie's books again and again and that you will feel your money was well spent.

 

Eating with Ellie: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish - Halibut Nicoise in Foil Packets

       The 73rd recipe I made with the Eating with Ellie group is Halibut Nicoise in Foil Packets, and can be found in Ellie Krieger's book Weeknight Wonders, on page 190.  The theme for the week was chosen by Margaret: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. 

        Ingredient list:  thin green beans, Roma tomatoes, lemon, halibut fillets, salt, pepper, black olive tapenade, white wine, olive oil, fresh thyme, and fresh basil leaves.  

        I am a fan of cooking in foil...well, let me change that to read cooking in parchment paper, which is like cooking in foil, but I just happen to prefer parchment paper over foil.  I always think the foil part is going to react badly with any acid in the food, with parchment paper you don't have to worry about it.  Cooking in parchment lets you assemble everything ahead of time and simply place it on a tray and into the oven when it is time to bake it for dinner.  Cleanup is easy, just toss the paper into the trash.
  
         This is a wonderful recipe...I loved everything about it, the flavors, the combination of ingredients, and the end result of having a lovely baked fish with vegetables all ready to eat in one small packet.  Definitely a repeat.  Often.

       If you wonder how the others did this week, click here to follow their post links.  You can also find the recipe schedule there for the coming weeks.  Next week's recipe theme was chosen by Gaye and is Perfect Pasta.  Please come and join us at any time, just leave the link to your post that week so that week so we know where to find you.

        Note:  In our posts, we do not publish the recipes from Ellie Krieger's book as those belong to her, we like to honor that and encourage you to guy her books to get the recipes.  You can also find her recipes at her site here, at her weekly newspaper article here, her recipes online here, and at her current tv show site here.  We know that you will enjoy using Ellie's books again and again and that you will feel your money was well spent.

 

TWD Dorie's Cookies: Peanut Butter Change-Ups

      Beginning this week, the Tuesdays with Dorie group is now baking from Dorie Greenspan's new book, Dorie's Cookies (which was just released last month).  The group posts for this will be the first and third Tuesdays of the month and can be linked at the main Tuesdays with Dorie website here.  You can also find the information on joining in and/or see the posts from those in the group baking along at this location. 
      Cookies are a good fit for us, even with it just being the two of us at home these days.  They are always a welcome snack, can be frozen for later use, or easily given away to cookie-loving recipients.  Cookies are easily transportable, definitely making things much more convenient when you are looking for a home for extra baked goods.
      The group could chose from one of two recipes to post this week, leaving the other recipe for the post on the third Tuesday.  I chose to make the Peanut Butter Change-Ups. This recipe was posted in the Washington Post so you can access that here and try them for yourself while you wait for your own copy of the book to arrive. 
       Ingredient list:  flour, baking powder, nutmeg, peanut butter, butter, salt, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and peanuts. 
      The cookies were easy to make, used common pantry ingredients, and were full of wonderful peanut-y goodness.  I would not hesitate to make these again.  Definitely repeat worthy.  Wonder what the others thought?  You can check it out here.

                                               

Purchase a copy of Dorie Greenspan's Dorie's Cookies and bake along with the group or just bake on your own.  Dorie's books are always wonderfully written and illustrated, and you will have 300 cookie recipes at your fingertips.  :-)