RECIPE: Roasted Chickpeas

You know how you have a recipe you've been meaning to try out for years, and somehow never quite manage it? The one that falls out of your recipe file every time you're rummaging around in there, and you glance at it *again* and think "Oh, yeah, I've really got to try that!" and then stick it back in there and forget about it *again* for the millionth time. This is one of those recipes. And I am SO glad I finally did try it, because it's become one of our favourite snacks around here. In fact, I have to restrain myself from nibbling away most of the batch while I'm waiting for them to cool down enough to put in a storage container afterward.

If you like chickpeas at all, you will LOVE these! And even if chickpeas aren't on your top ten favourite foods list, I think you'll be surprised by how much you might like them (my older son, who doesn't normally care for chickpeas, will happily munch away on these crunchy little morsels). They are super easy to make, and are a great protein-rich snack. While they are addictive to eat on their own, they also make a great salad topper. And (the icing on the cake) you can whip up a batch of these for less than 50 cents if you use cooked-from-dried beans.

Ingredients:

3 cups cooked chickpeas
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
other seasonings as desired (cumin, chili powder, curry, Italian seasoning), optional

Instructions:
In a medium bowl, combine the chickpeas, olive oil, salt, pepper, and other seasonings (if using). Spread in a single layer on a parchment-paper lined cookie sheet. Bake at 375F for 30-45 minutes, until chickpeas are crunchy. Cool and store in an airtight container.

I shared this recipe at Recipe Swap Thursday,  Frugal Food Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, the GCC Recipe Swap, Fat Camp Friday and Friday Favorites.

RECIPE: Lemony Chicken & Spinach Pasta

It'll be a while yet before we'll be eating fresh spinach from our garden (the nighttime temperatures are still dipping well below zero degrees Celsius, so I won't be planting anytime soon!). Still, this dish says "spring" to me, even though it's easily enjoyed year-round. It's best to have all the ingredients prepped and ready to go, as this dish comes together quickly once you start cooking.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb uncooked spaghetti noodles
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
meat from about 5-6 uncooked chicken thighs or drumsticks, cut into 1/2" pieces
4 oz cream cheese, cubed
1/2 cup light cream (milk will do if you don't have any on hand)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
juice and zest of 1 lemon
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, or 2 tsp dried
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 bunch spinach, chopped
extra Parmesan cheese for sprinkling

Instructions:
In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta until tender. Drain.

While pasta is cooking, saute the onion and garlic in oil until they start to soften. Add the chicken pieces and cook until no traces of pink remain. Add the cream cheese and cook for a couple of minutes until it starts to melt. Add the cream, Parmesan, lemon, basil, salt and pepper and simmer for a few minutes until cream cheese is completely melted and sauce is smooth. Add the spinach, cover, and simmer for a few minutes until spinach melts. Toss sauce with cooked pasta and serve immediately with extra Parmesan on the side for sprinkling.

Hungry for more pasta? Try these dishes:
Spicy Chickpea Pasta
Thai-Style Peanutty Pasta
Italian-Style Baked Pasta
Cheesy Mac & Beef Skillet
Spinach & Parmesan Pasta Bake

I shared this recipe at Tasty Tuesday, Full Plate Thursday, Recipe Swap Thursday, Frugal Food Thursday, Fat Camp Friday, the GCC Recipe Swap, Friday Favorites and This Week's Cravings.

RECIPE: Everything-But-the-Kitchen-Sink Lentil Soup

I'm sure every frugal cook has their own version of "anything goes" soup; this is mine! It's a bit of a joke around our house that when we have this soup for dinner I've managed to make a meal out of stuff most people would have thrown out. Honestly, even though that's sometimes pretty close to the truth, it's still one of the best soups I make. Although it never comes out exactly the same twice, it always makes a tasty and filling meal.

Basic soup:

1 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

2 cups chicken or vegetable stock

2 cups water

1 carrot, diced

1 cup frozen peas or green beans

1 cup dried red lentils

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

¾ - 1 cup crushed tomatoes

juice of 1 lemon

1 tbsp dried parsley (or ¼ cup fresh minced)

In a large saucepan, saute garlic and onions in oil until tender. Add stock, water, carrots, peas, lentils, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender (about 10-15 minutes). Add the crushed tomatoes, lemon juice and parsley and simmer another 10-15 minutes to allow flavours to blend.

Possible additions

I've successfully used all of the following in this soup:

-leftover cooked vegetables (in place of the carrots and peas)

-small amounts of leftover gravies and sauces

-scraps of cheese or the last bit of sour cream from the bottom of the container

-small amounts (less than 1/2 cup) leftover mashed potatoes

-leftover cooked rice or barley (or any cooked grain)

-finely diced leftover meat

Depending on how many additions you use, you may need to add some more water or stock to thin it out a bit.

What's your favourite go-to dish for using up a bunch of leftovers?

I shared this recipe at Full Plate Thursday,  Frugal Food Thursday, Recipe Swap Thursday, Tip Day Thursday, Friday Favorites, Fat Camp Friday, and the GCC Recipe Swap.

RECIPE: Aloha Muffins

 I figure that by the middle of February almost all of us could use a little taste of the tropics. One bite of these muffins and you'll magically be transported to a distant exotic beach (okay, that might be stretching it a bit, but they are darn good muffins!)

Ingredients: 
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened coconut
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 cup mashed ripe banana (3 medium bananas)
1 cup *undrained* crushed pineapple
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, wheat germ, sugar, coconut, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a small bowl, combine the egg, oil, banana, crushed pineapple and vanilla. Gently stir into the flour mixture just until combined. Divide batter between 12 well-greased muffin cups. Bake at 400F for 25 minutes or until golden brown and tops spring back when lightly touched.

Makes 12 muffins.

Hungry for more muffins? Try these:
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Rhubarb Muffins
Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

I shared this recipe at Full Plate Thursday,  Frugal Food Thursday, Recipe Swap Thursday, It's A Keeper Thursday, the GCC Recipe Swap, Fat Camp Friday, Friday Favorites and Sweets for a Saturday.

RECIPE: African-Style Vegetable Stew

Since I had so many positive responses to my Spicy Black Bean Bake, I thought I'd share another recipe for a quick and easy vegetarian entree. This simple stew is more filling than you might suspect. It's perfect served with fresh homemade bread, biscuits, or cornbread on the side. More vegetables can easily be added based on what you've got hanging around in the fridge and freezer.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp canola or vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups shredded cabbage
1 small or 1/2 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2" chunks
1 cup crushed tomatoes
2 cups water
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions:

In a large saucepan, saute the onion and garlic in oil until onion begins to soften. Add the cabbage and sweet potatoes and cook over medium heat for a few minutes until cabbage softens. Add tomatoes, water, peanut butter, cumin, cayenne, salt and pepper. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender. Serves 4.

Love the peanut-and-tomato combination? Try these other recipes:
West African Style Baked Beans
Spicy Peanut and Tomato Soup

Need to use up the rest of that cabbage?
Colourful Cabbage Salad

I shared this recipe at Just Another Meatless Monday, My Meatless Mondays, Midnight Maniac Meatless Mondays, Mouthwatering Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Full Plate Thursday,  Frugal Food Thursday, Recipe Swap Thursday, the GCC Recipe Swap, Friday Favorites, Fat Camp Friday and Seasonal Sunday.

RECIPE: Spinach & Parmesan Pasta Bake

Any kind of baked pasta is sure to be a hit at my house. One day when I was trying to come up with a way to use up half a bag of spinach I invented this dish. If you happen to have some leftover ham, chop it fine and stir it into the pasta when you add the sauce and spinach mixture.

Ingredients:

1 lb of fusilli or rotini pasta
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 a 900 g bag of spinach (about a pound), thoroughly washed and chopped
2 1/2 tbsp flour
2 1/2 tbsp butter
2 1/2 cups milk
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Topping:
Grated mozzarella cheese OR breadcrumbs (about a cup, mixed with 2 tbsp olive oil)

Instructions:

Cook the pasta in boiling water until al dente; drain and return to cooking pot. While the pasta is cooking, saute the onion and garlic in a large frying pan until tender. Add the spinach and cook until it wilts (about 2-3 minutes). Remove from heat. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour and stir until it is fully incorporated with the fat. Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly over medium-low heat (a whisk is ideal for this). Once the sauce has thickened (this might take a few minutes), add the nutmeg, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Add the sauce and the spinach mixture to the pasta and stir until well combined. Turn into a lasagna pan. If topping with cheese, bake at 375F covered with foil for 20 minutes, remove from oven and sprinkle cheese on top, then bake uncovered a final 5 minutes. If topping with breadcrumbs, sprinkle on before baking, then bake for 25 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

Makes 6 servings.

I shared this recipe at Tasty Tuesday.

RECIPE: Turkey Pinwheels

I took a blogging break this weekend to focus on our family's Thanksgiving celebrations (for my international readers, yesterday was Thanksgiving Day here in Canada). So now that I'm back - with a fridge full of leftover turkey - I thought it would be fitting to share this quick recipe. It's a fantastic way to use leftover turkey to make a lunch dish that looks much fancier than your standard turkey sandwich. If you don't happen to have a post-holiday stash of leftover turkey, you can use leftover ham or roast chicken in place of the turkey (or even a couple cans of tuna). These pinwheels also make a satisfying light supper with some soup and salad on the side.

Ingredients:

1/3 of a recipe (1 loaf's worth) whole wheat refrigerator bread dough
2 cups chopped leftover turkey
1/2 a medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 a red pepper, diced
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2-3/4 cup grated cheese (mozzarella, Swiss or cheddar)

Instructions:

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the bread dough to a 15"x12" rectangle. In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Spread turkey mixture evenly over the bread dough. Starting with the long side, roll up tightly, jelly-roll style, pinching the end slightly to seal. Put log seam side down and slice into 12 pieces (I find a serrated knife works best for this). Place slices on parchment covered baking sheets, leaving about 1-2 inches between them. Cover with a clean tea towel and let rise for about 30 minutes. Bake at 375F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

I shared this recipe at Tasty Tuesday, the GCC Recipe Swap and Friday Favorites.

Really Easy Stuffed Jalapenos

My jalapeno pepper plant is producing like crazy right now! This is one of the best ways I know to use up a bunch of them - and they certainly don't last long (at least not around here).

Ingredients:
jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
cream cheese, softened
cheddar cheese, grated
salt and pepper
1 slice of bacon (uncooked) for every 4 pepper halves

The amount of cheese you need will obviously depend on how many peppers you have to fill. Start with about 1/4 to 1/3 cup cream cheese and stir in about half as much grated cheddar (you can add a bit more if you want, you just want to end up with a bit more cream cheese than cheddar in the mix). Add salt and pepper to taste. Fill the jalapenos pretty generously with this mixture. Cut the bacon slices into 4 equal size pieces and wrap a piece around each stuffed pepper. You can secure the bacon with a toothpick if you want; I usually just tuck the ends underneath the bottom of the pepper. Place the peppers in a baking dish large enough to hold them all without crowding them too much. Bake at 350F for about 25 minutes or until the bacon is cooked and a little crispy.

I shared this recipe at Tasty Tuesday, the GCC Recipe Swap and Friday Favorites.

RECIPE: Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

 These muffins make a great breakfast when paired with a bowl of fresh strawberries. It's nearly time for fresh local strawberries here in Southern Ontario, and I can't wait to have some with one of these muffins on the side! If you prefer a more "cakey" muffin, you can use all white flour instead of half white and half whole wheat.

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp poppyseeds
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

2 eggs
1 cup vanilla or plain yogurt
1/4 cup canola oil (or other light vegetable oil)
1 tbsp grated lemon zest

 In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine flours, sugar, powder, soda, poppyseeds and salt. In another bowl, combine eggs, yogurt, oil and lemon zest and beat well until thoroughly combined. Gently stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture, stirring just until blended (over-stirring the batter will result in a tough muffin).

Spoon the batter into greased muffin tins, filling each cup about 2/3 full. Bake at 375F for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown on top and tops spring back when lightly touched.

While muffins are baking, prepare lemon glaze:


Lemon Glaze:
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp water

Combine all glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil for 1 minute then remove from heat.

When the muffins are done, poke the top of each muffin several times with a fork. Drizzle glaze over muffin tops and let muffins cool in pan for 5-10 minutes to absorb glaze before removing to serve.

RECIPE: Pull-Apart Garlic & Parmesan Breadsticks

I whipped these up to go with a spaghetti dinner last week and my family thought they'd died and gone to heaven! An enticing bread can make even an "ordinary" meal seem extra special. Fortunately, these breadsticks are quick and easy to prepare, so you can be rewarded with lots of "oohs" and "ahs" without having to go to a lot of trouble. Get them rising before you start your main meal prep, and they'll be done in time to serve them fresh from the oven.

Ingredients:

1 loaf worth (1/3 recipe) Whole Wheat Refrigerator Dough
1/4 cup melted butter
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2-4 tbsp Parmesan cheese

Drizzle a small amount of the butter in the bottom of a 7x11" lasagna pan, and spread around so the entire bottom of the pan is coated. Divide the bread dough into 12 equal portions. Using your hands, roll out each portion into a long, skinny rope just a bit shorter than the width of your lasagna pan. Place the breadsticks in the pan, arranging them so they are evenly spaced across. Add the minced garlic to the remaining butter and drizzle over top of the breadsticks, then sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over top. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for about 15-20 minutes. Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top.

RECIPE: Colourful Cabbage Salad

This recipe is a family favourite and one that I prepare on a regular basis year-round. One thing I love about it is that I can make a large batch and it will keep in the fridge well for 3-4 days (although it's rare that it lasts that long around here). You could easily substitute whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand for the peppers and carrots. Moat of the prep time for this salad is chopping the vegetables. Use a food processor to shred the cabbage - this will speed your prep time considerably!

Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 6-8 as a side dish

1 *small* cabbage, shredded (or approx. 1/2 a large cabbage)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, diced
1/2 a medium red pepper, finely chopped
6 strips regular or turkey bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled (optional but tasty!)
3/4 cup cheddar cheese, cut into small (1/2" or less) cubes
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 tbsp honey mustard
1 tsp celery seed
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped fine

1. In a large bowl, combine cabbage, onion, carrots, red pepper, bacon and cheese.

2. In small bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix until well combined.

3. Pour dressing over cabbage mixture and stir until vegetables are well coated with dressing.

4. Transfer to serving dish. Can be served immediately or prepared up to 24 hrs in advance.

RECIPE: Rhubarb Muffins

Judging by how quickly these are disappearing from my kitchen, this one is a winner! The rhubarb is from our CSA share.

Time: 20 minutes prep
20 minutes baking

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups finely chopped rhubarb

Topping:
1 tbsp melted butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Preparation:

1. In a medium bowl, combine flours, brown sugar, soda, powder and salt. Mix well.

2. In a separate small bowl, combine egg, vanilla, oil, buttermilk and rhubarb.

3. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add rhubarb mixture and gently stir until just moistened.

4. Spoon mixture into greased muffin cups.

5. Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle over muffin tops, pressing topping lightly into muffin batter.

6. Bake at 400 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched.

"Use What You've Got" Tip:
-If you don't have buttermilk on hand, put 1/2 tbsp vinegar in the bottom of your measuring cup, then add regular milk to make 3/4 cup
-I've also used half milk/half plain yogurt or half milk/half sour cream in place of buttermilk with good success (in baked goods)

RECIPE: Easy Oven Fries

I know I'll have a happy family on my hands if I make oven fries for dinner! We like them cut really chunky but you can slice them finer if you prefer.

Time: 45 minutes
Serves: flexible

Approx. 2 medium potatoes per person
Olive oil (approx 1-2 tbsp)
Sea salt (approx 1-2 tsp)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Peel the potatoes and cut them into desired size pieces. Place potatoes in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, stirring until potatoes are uniformly coated. Sprinkle with sea salt (add more salt if you like them really salty) and mix well to distribute evenly amongst potatoes. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper, spread potatoes out evenly onto cookie sheets in a single layer. Place on middle rack of oven. Bake for 15 minutes, then flip fries over and bake about 10 minutes more or until golden brown.