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Today's date is: November 20, 2009  
3ABN Today Recipes Click here for a print friendly version!    
Micheff Sisters "Tuscan Countryside Cuisine"—07024     View/Print these recipes as PDF.

  Onion Herb Focaccia Bread
1 Tbsp. active dry yeast
1 1/4 c. warm water
3 Tbsp. olive oil
3 c. unbleached white flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 medium red onion, sliced in very thin slivers
1/2 tsp. rosemary leaves
1/2 tsp. thyme leaves
1/4 tsp. oregano leaves

1. Sprinkle yeast into 1 cup warm water and stir with fork to dissolve. Let sit for five minutes. Mix flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the dissolved yeast and oil.
2. Mix in the flour a little at a time. Add the additional water one tablespoon at a time, to form a soft sticky dough. Add more water, one tablespoon at a time if needed. Dough should not be dry.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, approximately 10 minutes.
4. Brush top of dough with olive oil and cover with a dish towel. Let rise until doubled in size, about 30 - 40 minutes. Punch down and divide the dough into two pieces. Place on cookie sheet and stretch dough into rectangular shape approx. 6" x 12 " each.
5. Let rise again until double, approx. 30 minutes, then use finger tips to gently press into the surface of the dough to form "dimples" about 1/2 inch deep. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with herbs and onion slivers.
6. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25 - 30 minutes or until golden. Serve hot or room temperature.

Yield:
2 loaves (12" x 13")

I made this for my husband Tim, and he couldn’t stop thanking me all through dinner. He tells me he could eat it every day! This is a moist bread full of flavor. You can add your own variety of herbs as you like, and also sometimes I add sliced Greek olives just to shake it up a bit.


Brenda Walsh

  White Bean Dip with Pita Bread
3 c. cooked great northern beans
1/4 c. Tofutti Sour Supreme
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 c. water
pita or crackers
fresh parsley for garnish

1. Put all the above ingredients except for the parsley and pita into a food processor. Process until the mixture is smooth.
2. Fold in the parsley. Serve hot or cold with pita bread, pita chips or your favorite cracker.

Yield: 8 quarter cup servings

We love this quick and easy bean dip. It can also be made without the Tofutti Better than Cream Cheese. Just add your favorite seasonings, 1/4 c. salsa and blend until smooth.


Linda Johnson

  Caponata over Polenta
1 large orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips
1 large onion, cut into thin strips
1 clove garlic, chopped
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 small eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 small zucchini, sliced
2 small yellow summer squash, sliced
2 c. sliced grape tomatoes
2 - 3 Tbsp. snipped fresh basil
1 Tbsp. dried chervil or parsley
2 Tbsp. VegeSal or all-purpose vegetable seasoning
salt to taste
5 - 6 c. prepared polenta

1. Place hot polenta in a 9 x 13" baking dish that has been sprayed with a non-stick baking spray. Set aside and keep warm.
2. To prepare caponata, in a large saucepan, cook the onion, garlic and peppers until onion is clear. Add the rest of the ingredients and cover. Simmer on medium to low heat for about 10 - 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Stir occasionally.
3. To serve, cut polenta into singles serving squares and place on each individual plate. Spoon warm Caponata over the polenta and serve immediately. If desired, sprinkle with soy Parmesan cheese.

Yield:
14 half-cup servings

This caponata is also good served over brown rice or pasta. Of course, for my husband Joel, I add a little cayenne pepper!


Cinda Sanner

  Tuscan Eggplant Roll-Ups
2 one-pound eggplants
1 medium onion, finely minced
2 cloves fresh garlic
2 Tbsp. olive oil
4 c. fresh baby spinach
2 c. seasoned bread crumbs or stuffing mix (Pepperidge Farm is good)
1 12.3-oz. package Mori-Nu tofu, firm
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. hot water
1 vegetable bouillon cube
4 c. spaghetti sauce of your choice

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice eggplant into 1/4" slices lengthwise. You should get at least 7 slices, discarding each outside slice. Place in boiling water for 1 minute and remove. Do not overcook as eggplant will fall apart and be too mushy to roll.
2. In a large skillet, sauté onion in olive oil until clear. Add fresh garlic and spinach. Add salt. Cook until leaves are wilted. Turn heat off and add tofu, onion, and stuffing mix. Dissolve 1 bouillon cube in 1 cup hot water, then add to above mixture. Mix well and set aside.
3. Pour four cups spaghetti sauce into bottom of 9" x 13" glass baking dish. Spread spinach mixture over each eggplant slice and roll up. Place in baking dish seam side down. Continue until all eggplant slices have been rolled. Brush tops of eggplant rolls with olive oil and bake at 400 degrees for 30 - 45 minutes or until eggplant is tender.
4. Serve over angel hair pasta.

Yield:
14 - 15 roll-ups

I like to serve this recipe when I have company coming because it always makes my guests feel like I have fixed something special! The best part is...it is fast, fun and easy to make! I sometimes change the filling by adding herb and chive flavored Better than Cream Cheese. It is also good with mushrooms.


Brenda Walsh

  Stuffed Tomatoes
1 1/4 c. cooked brown rice
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. dried parsley
1 Tbsp. fresh basil, finely diced
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. fresh minced garlic
1/4 c. onions, finely diced
1/4 c. water
6 medium fresh tomatoes
1/2 c. stewed tomatoes

1. In a skillet, sauté 1 teaspoon fresh garlic and 1/4 c. fresh diced onion in 1/4 c. water. Scoop out the centers of the tomatoes and cut this into small pieces. Add the small pieces of tomato chunks to the garlic and onion. Cook until the onions are tender.
2. In a medium sized bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients. Add the garlic and tomato mixture and stir together until well mixed. Stuff each tomato with 1/4 cup of the rice mixture. Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes. Serve with fresh Italian bread, green beans, vegetable salad and your favorite dessert.

Yield: 6 stuffed tomatoes

This recipe can be made the night before and then baked the next day. Use cherry tomatoes to make this recipe for appetizers. When cooking the rice for this recipe, be sure to cook some extra. It is a great time saver for other meals. My husband and mother-in-law love it when I cook the brown rice with raisins and dates with just a touch of cinnamon. I add a little soy milk to make it creamy. It makes a great hot cereal. Enjoy!


Linda Johnson

  Florentine Risotto
1 12.3-oz. carton of Mori-Nu firm tofu
1 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, saving the juice
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 medium onion, chopped
1 1lb. box risotto (2 1/2 cups)
5 c. water
3 Tbsp. McKay’s chicken style seasoning

1. In a blender or food processor, blend the tofu, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 3 tablespoons spinach juice, and salt, until smooth and creamy. In a large saucepan, sauté the onion in the remaining 1 Tbsp. olive oil until clear.
2. Add the risotto and continue to saute for 3 - 4 minutes. Mix the McKay’s chicken style seasoning into the 5 cups water and add to the risotto mixture. Add the blended tofu mixture along with the thawed spinach and stir well.
3. Put a lid on the pan and simmer for 20 - 30 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Mixture will be creamy and risotto will be "al dente" or soft yet chewy. Serve hot.

Yield:
10 servings

Make sure you use risotto and not regular rice. The regular rice grain will not give the creamy texture to this dish. You could also add sautéed mushrooms to this recipe.


Cinda Sanner