Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Super Soy Chicken and Mushroom Quesadillas


Now for the gourmets who enjoy more challenge in the Kitchen. . .
Amy's quesadillas pictured here inspired this latest creation in the kitchen.
Yum-Yum!





Super Soy 'Chicken' and Mushroom Quesadillas


1/4 cup oil for cooking (vegetable, olive, or coconut as you prefer)


1 cup boiling water

1 tbsp taco seasoning (optional)

1/2 cup chopped onions

1 lb. assorted mushrooms (try crimini, portobello, shiitake, or any other variety)

1 Tbsp. chopped garlic

1 Tbsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. cumin

2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

12 flour tortillas (recommend the whole wheat or low-carb versions)

2 cups shredded vegan Monterey Jack cheese





> Stir taco seasoning into boiling water, then add Super Soy Chicken Strips, let sit 5 minutes

**note: recommend crumbling or smashing dry soy pieces into smaller pieces before reconstituting**

>Heat the oil in a large sauté pan; add the soy chicken pieces and cook for 3 minutes on each side, or until browned and crispy. Remove from the oil and set aside.
>Next, add the onions to skillet and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until softened.
>Add the mushrooms and garlic and sauté on medium-high heat for 8 minutes, or until the mushrooms have softened and released their liquid. (Note: You may add additional oil if the mushrooms become dry during cooking.)
>Place the chili powder, cumin, salt, and cilantro in the pan and mix well; remove from the heat. Return "chicken" pieces and stir again.
>Lay out 6 tortillas and evenly spread the cooked mixture onto each tortilla. (Note: If there is residual liquid, pick the mushrooms up out of the liquid to prevent soggy quesadillas.)

>Sprinkle the "cheese" on top, cover with the remaining tortillas, and brush the tops lightly with oil.
>Heat a clean nonstick sauté pan and place one quesadilla at a time, oiled side down, into the heated pan. Brush oil on the dry side of the quesadilla.
>Cook for 3 minutes, or until browned. Flip and cook the other side. Repeat until all the ingredients are used.
>Cut each quesadilla into 4 segments and serve with salsa, guacamole, and vegan sour cream.

Alternate Cooking Method: Oil both sides of the quesadillas, place on a cookie sheet, and cook in a preheated 375°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crispy.
Makes 6 quesadillas



My thanx to Amy for her blog receipes and helping inspire me to my own versions.!
May Abundance be found in Your Kitchen and Your Heart,
Laura in the Kitchen

Protien-Packed Quesadillas

Here's a protien-packed and reduced fat version of an old favorite!

QUESADILLAS



4 8-10 inch torillas (recommend the whole wheat or low carb kind)
1/2 cup boiling water
1 tbsp, rounded, of taco seasoning
1/2 cup Super Soy Ground Beef

1/2 can fat-free refried beans
1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese (may use Montery or other as you like)

Stir taco seasoning into boiling water, then add super soy ground beef. Mix thoroughly and let sit.

Spread 1 tbsp refriend beans on half of each torilla (like peanut butter on bread).
Next spread 1/8 cup of reconstitued super soy ground beef over refried beans.
Follow with 1 tbsp shredded cheese or more to taste.

Fold torilla in half. Heat in non-stick skillet on medium heat till outside of torilla is lightly browned. Then flip and brown other side.

Cut into 3-4 wedges and serve.

Can be served with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole as a Snack, Appetizer, or Pary food. Combine with side of refried beans, rice, or salad for a full meal. This is so simple teens can fix their own snack for a lower-fat alternative to Taco Bell :)

**Simple enough to let the kids "HELP"--spread beans, scoop meat, sprinkle cheese; not recommended to have children participate with cooking on stove.**






Let's meet again in the Kitchen :)
Laura in KY

Super Soy Personal Pizza Cups

What do you get when you combine 2 kid favorites????



Pizza + Cupcakes = Super Soy Personal Pizza Cups!!
(picture to come later *grin*)

I've found this to be a hit with kids and grownups alike :)

1 can (12 oz) refrigerated biscuits (10 biscuits)
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup Super Soy Ground Beef
1 jar (14 oz) Pizza sauce [1/2 a jar of spaghetti sauce works too]
1/2 cup low fat shredded mozzarella cheese
garlic to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix super soy ground beef with boiling water, may add dash or two of garlic if you like. Set aside, Let soy reconstitute 3-5 minutes.

In 12 cup muffin pan, evenly press each biscuit in bottom and up side of each cup; set aside, you may place in frig to chill until ready to fill.

Now stir together reconstituted soy and sauce, heat through.

Evenly spoon "soy beef" mixture into prepared muffin cups. Bake 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and biscuits are golden. Let stand 5 minutes. Gently remove pizza cups from muffin pan and serve.

Makes 10 pizza cups.

Estimated Prep: 10 minutes Estimated Cook Time: 25 minutes

>>>I wanted to share this receipe as a tribute to my sister Julie, who shared the receipe with me, and Michael Brian who thinks ANY party is complete with pizza & cupcakes :)

SUGGESTION #1: If you like more "stuff" on your pizza, reduce the amount of super-soy ground beef and add some veggies like mushrooms, onions, green peppers, etc. Let your imagination RUN WILD!

SUGGESTION #2: This can be a great way to use up left over spaghetti sauce, OR when preparing spaghetti for dinner one night go ahead and fix extra "soy-meat" sauce and use the day after for this receipe.

SUGGESTION #3: Let the kids JOIN IN! Older children could participate in pressing biscuits into muffin pan. yourger children could be allowed to scoop sauce (give them a specific size scoop like 1/8 cup) or let them pinch and sprinkle the cheese.

SUGGESTION #4: Serve with carrot or cucumber chips ( ripple cut slices)
[I got my ripple cutting tool from Pampered Chef: Kim Mays 270-737-9615 email: kim@mail.krmhome.com ]

SUGGESTION #5: This is also a great food for potlucks! Crowd Pleaser!!!!

SUGGESTION #6: Use minature muffin pan [Pampered Chef has one of these too] and split biscuit dough in half for each cup, while doubling the number of muffins--will be popular with little fingers.



Hope You Enjoy!!!!
From the Kitchen,
Your Friend Laura in KY

Friday, May 16, 2008

Super Quick, Super Soy Dinner Solutions -- Super Soy Vegetable & Rice Skillet Dinner




Super Quick, Super Soy Dinner Solutions


Preface: Watching a good friend and single parent of 2 young boys trying to prepare dinner amid the noise and chaos of children under foot. After a day apart between work, school, and daycare, these boys just wanted mom's attention. . .

It started me to thinking. . .


How Can Dinner Be Made Faster and Easier
Without Skimping on Nutrition??????????????

So off to the kitchen, I scanned a few receipes,
then thought about where could corners be cut?
what could be done to reduce and simplify prep time??

Ideas:
>>Reduce cooking time. . .
>>Reduce time spent cutting up meat or vegetables
>>Minimize # of dishes (that require washing later)



Result: Super Soy Vegetable & Rice Dish




WOW! The dish was actually done cooking in 23 minutes.


From cupboard to table in 30 minutes!!


1 cup Super Soy Ground Beef
1 tsp Super Soy Onion Broth mix
2 1/4 cups boiling water (hint: heat quickly in microwave)
1 tbsp dried minced onion [Like OnionOnion *]
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
(hint: remove from freezer and zap in microwave x 2-3 minutes)
2 cups Minute White Rice, uncooked
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2-3 shakes of garlic powder

Mix 1 cup boiling water with 1 cup Super Soy Ground Beef, stir and let sit a few minutes.

Place a large skillet on stovetop, Medium heat. Add entire can of tomatoes to skillet.
Stir in 1 tbsp dried minced onion and reconstituted Super-Soy Ground Beef.

Mix 1 1/4 cup boiling water with 1 tsp Super Soy Onion Broth, then at broth to skillet.
Add thawed vegetables and garlic powder, Stir. Bring mixture to a boil.

Once boiling, mix in rice and cheese; cover and remove from heat.
Let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese before serving, if desired.


Time Savers:
>>No need to layout meat in advance or defrost.
>>Heating water and reconstituting super soy saved the time it takes to brown raw ground beef.
>>Using dried minced onion saved time required to peel and chop onion, then sautee.
>>Frozen vegetables come pre-mixed and no cutting required.


I was amazed at how quick and easy this dish was to prepare. A fast, simple and nutritious meal--a great dinner solution for busy moms, singles, non-cooks, vegetarians, persons with hand or joint limitations such as arthritis. . .
well, you get the idea. :)
I buy my super soy products online here.
**I enjoy using "OnionOnion" a product by Tastefully Simple.
Hope you enjoy!
In the Kitchen, Laura in KY