Banana Nut Bread

Banana Nut Bread
Adapted from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook
Yield: Two 9 by 5 inch loaves or six 6 by 2 3/4-inch loaves

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups ripe mashed banana (about 3 medium)
• 2 cups pecans, toasted and finely chopped
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• Nonstick cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat two 9-by-5 inch loaf pans with cooking spray; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs, sugar, and vegetable oil on medium-low speed until combined. Beat in the flour mixture. Add the vanilla, banana, nuts, and buttermilk, and beat just to combine.

Divide batter evenly between prepared pans; smooth with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, 60 to 65 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cook for 10 minutes. Remove loaves from pans and let cook completely. Bread can be kept at room temperature, wrapped well in plastic, for up to 1 week, or frozen for up to 3 months.

This recipe was discussed here.

Refried Beans with Cinnamon and Cloves

Refried Beans with Cinnamon and Cloves
The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper
Serves 4 to 6

• extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped into 1/4-inch dice
• salt and fresh-ground black pepper
• 4 garlic cloves, fine chopped
• 1 fresh jalapeno, seeded and fine chopped
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• one 14-oz can whole tomatoes, drained
• two 15-oz cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons butter

Generously film the bottom of a 10-inch skillet with olive oil, and heat over medium-high heat. Saute the onions with salt and pepper to taste until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. You want to hear a sizzle as they cook.

Add garlic, jalapeno, cinnamon, and cloves, and cook the mix until fragrant, about 1 minute, taking care not to burn the spices. Add tomatoes, crushing them as they go into the pan. Saute for another minute.

Stir in the beans and water. Bring to a fast simmer, crushing the beans with a potato masher (or the back of a large spoon) as they cook, and scraping the bottom of the pan as the beans begin to thicken. Simmer until the beans are thick, about 10 minutes. Blend in the butter and taste for seasoning just before serving.

Rustic Jam Shortbread Tart

Rustic Jam Shortbread Tart
Copyright: The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper

• Zest of 1/2 lemon
• 1/4 cup whole almonds
• 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, organic preferred (measured by dipping and leveling)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Generous pinch of salt
• 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 6 chunks
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3/4 cup jam (tart cherry and wild blueberry are especially good)

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Butter a 9-inch round silver-colored cake or tart pan. (If using a dark-colored pan, you will want to cut baking time by about 5 minutes.)

2. With the food processor running, drop in the lemon zest and almonds, and grind them fine. Stop the machine, scrape down the sides, and add the flour, sugar, salt, butter, egg yolk, and almond extract. Pulse until they are blended and starting to come together in small clumps at the bottom of the processor. (They should look like clusters of peas.)

3. Turn the pastry dough into the pan. With your hands, pat it out to evenly cover the bottom of the pan. Give the tart a standing rim by nudging the dough 1/2 inch up the sides of the pan. Don't worry if it looks a little ragged.

4. Bake the crust in the center of the oven for 13 to 16 minutes, or until its edges are golden and the center is starting to color. The rim will sink down a little, which is fine.

5. Remove the pan from the oven, and turn the heat up to 500 F. Carefully spread the jam over the tart, and immediately return it to the oven (don't wait for the temperature to reach 500). Bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until the jam is bubbly.

6. Cool the tart on a rack, slice it into squares or wedges, and serve. Serve the tart warm - but not hot, because hot jam can burn.

English Lemon Shortbread Strips

English Lemon Shortbread Strips
Adapted from Land O Lakes via Culinary in the Country

For the dough

• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh grated lemon zest
• 1 pound (4 sticks or 32 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

For the glaze

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh grated lemon zest

To prepare the dough

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and salt.

In a large mixing bowl, add sugar and zest - use your fingers to massage the zest into the sugar until very fragrant and combine. Add butter and beat mixture together until smooth. Add juice and mix until combined and creamy, making sure to scrape down the sides as needed. Add flour mixture and beat just until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Scoop mixture into a 10" x 15" baking pan coated with nonstick spray. Place into the oven and bake until the top is lightly golden, about 25 to 35 minutes. Remove and place pan on a wire rack to cool completely.

To prepare the glaze

In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar, butter and lemon juice until smooth. Spread glaze over the cooled shortbread and sprinkle with lemon zest, if desired. Set aside and let stand at least 30 minutes before cutting.

Makes about 40 cookies.

We talked about this recipe here.

Moroccan Green Bean Tagine

Moroccan Green Bean Tagine

Copyright: The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper

The Saute:

• 2 to 3 tablespoons good-tasting extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 to 2 1/4 pounds green beans, trimmed
• 2 medium to large onions, coarse chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper, or to taste
• 5 large garlic cloves, minced

Spice Blend

• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon pure chile powder, or to taste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 2 generous tablespoons sweet paprike

Liquids

• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup dry red or whtie wine
• 28-ounce can whole tomatoes
• Water as needed

1. In a straight-sided 12-inch saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the green beans and onions. Sprinkle them with the salt and pepper, and saute for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are browning. (Browning deepens flavors and opens up new character.) Stir in the garlic and all the ingredients in teh spice blend. Cook until the spices are fragrant, no more than 1 minutes.

2. Pour in the vinegar and wine, and boil them down as yo scrape up any brown glaze on the bottom of the pan. When there is no moisture left, stir in the tomatoes and their juices, crushing them with your hands as they go into the pan. The vegetables should be barely covered with liquid. Add a little water if necessary.

3. Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer, cover the pan, adn cook for 10 minutes (check for sticking), or until the beans are tender. Uncover the pan and turn up the heat so the liquid is at a fast bubble. cook off the excess liquid, stirring the stew often to protect the beans and spices from burning. You want the sauce to be thick and rich-tasting. Don't worry about overcooking the green beans; they will not cook much further.

4. Season the stew to taste. Serve it hot, at room temperature, or reheated.

Greek Pot Crushed Potatoes

Greek Pot-Crushed Potatoes

Copyright: The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper

Serves 4 to 6
10 minutes prep time; 15 minutes stove time

• 4 quarts salted water in a 6-quart pot
• 8 large garlic cloves
• 2 pounds red-skin potatoes, unpeeled
• Good-tasting extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and fresh-ground black pepper
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• A few spoonfuls of water
• 1 tight-packed teaspoon fresh oregano leaves, torn
• 1/3 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 4 whole scallions, thin sliced
• Juice to 1 to 1 1/2 lemons

1. Bring the salted water to a boil

2. Thin-slice the garlic in a food processor; remove and set it aside, then thin-slice the potatoes. Drop the potatoes into the boiling water and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain teh potatoes in a colander, shaking away any excess water.

3. Put the empty pot back on the stove (don't worry if there are traces of potato starch), film it with the olive oil, and set it over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic, salt and black pepper, red pepper flakes, and water. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 5 minutes to soften the garlic, adding more water if necessary to keep the garlic from browning.

4. Add the oregano and cook until it is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Return the potatoes to the pot. Lightly crush the potatoes while blending them with the sauteed garlic, and season to taste. Fold in the parsley, scallions, and lemon juice. Turn into a bowl and serve.

Lemon Chickpea Soup with Orzo

Lemon Chickpea Soup with Orzo
Adapted from Ellie Krieger's The Food You Crave

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 4 teaspoons olive oil
• 8 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into small chunks
• Pinch of salt, plus more to taste
• 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 2 stalks celery, diced (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 medium carrot, diced (about 1/2 cup)
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup orzo, preferably whole-wheat
• 2 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with the salt, add it to the pot, and cook, stirring, a few times, until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a dish and set aside.

Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil to the pot. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and thyme and cook, stirring over medium-high heat until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add 5 cups of the broth and bring to a boil. Add the orzo and let simmer until tender, about 8 minutes. Turn the heat down to low to keep the soup hot but not boiling.

Warm the remaining 1 cup broth in a small saucepan until it is hot but not boiling. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Gradually whisk the lemon juice into the eggs. Then gradually add the hot broth to the egg-lemon mixture, whisking all the while. Add the mixture to the soup, stirring well until the soup is thickened. Do not let the soup come to a boil. Add the cooked chicken to the soup. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups

Warm White Bean Salad with Fragrant Garlic and Rosemary

Warm White Bean Salad with Fragrant Garlic and Rosemary

Copyright: The Spledid Table's How to Eat Supper

Topping:

• 1/2 slice coarse whole-grain bread, coarse ground in a food processor (2 generous tablespoons crumbs)
• 3 tablespoons fresh-grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• Generous 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

Salad:

• 5 large garlic cloves crushed with 1/2 teaspoon salt and coarse chopped
• 1/4 cup good-tasting extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tight-packed tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, coarse chopped
• Two 15-ounce cans organic white beans (cannellini or Great Northern), drained and rinsed
• 1 large handful mixed salad greens (frisee andromaine, spring mix, or a blend of baby greens)
• Additional salt and fresh-ground black pepper

1. In a 12-inch skillet or saute pan over medium heat, toaste the bread crumbs until lightly browned, stirring often. Transfer the crumbs to a small bowl to cool. When cooled, stir in the Parmigiano and pepper. Set aside.

2. In the same pan, slowly warm the garlic in the olive oil over low heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in the rosemary, blending for another minute or so, taking care not to burn the garlic. It should be very fragrant and just beginning to soften.

3. Immediately add the beans and fold them in very gently. Turn the heat to medium. Heat the beans through, about 3 minutes, occasionally lifting and turning them as they heat, as stirring will turn them to mush. Add the greens and gently move them around in the pan until they are slightly wilted, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Turn into a serving bowl, top with the bread-crumb mixture, and season with salt and pepper.

Coriander-Orange-Scented Red Lentil Soup

Coriander-Orange-Scented Red Lentil Soup

Copyright: The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper

Serves 2 to 3 as a main dish; 4 to 5 as a first course
10 minutes prep time; 25 minutes stove time

Cook to Cook: If you use only one organic ingredient for this recipe, let it be the orange, since the peel is cooked into the dish.

The inspiration here is pure East India. India glorifies dried peas and lentils like no other place on Earth, and Indian meals often include a souplike dish called dal. Cooks there marry lentils and spices in a unique way with a technique you'll find yourself using in other dishes.

Since legumes are notorious for smothering flavors, Indian cooks sauté the seasonings separately, adding them toward the end of the cooking time to create bright, true tastes.

• 1 small bunch (1-inch-diameter bouquet at stems) fresh coriander
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 medium onions, chopped into 1/4-inch dice
• Salt and fresh-ground black pepper
• 4 large garlic cloves, fine chopped
• One 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and fine chopped
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander seed
• Zest and juice of 1 medium orange
• One 14-ounce can vegetable or chicken broth
• 2-1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup red lentils, rinsed and sorted
• Juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon
• 2/3 to 1 cup additional fresh orange juice

1. Wash and dry the bunch of coriander. Cut off the bottom 2 to 3 inches of the stems and chop them fine. Set them aside. Coarse-chop half of the remaining coriander leaves, refrigerating the rest for another dish.

2. Generously film the bottom of a 4-quart saucepan with olive oil and heat it over high heat. Stir in two-thirds of the onions, and season with salt and pepper. Saute until the onions begin to brown. Blend in the coriander stems, garlic, ginger, ground coriander seed, and the orange zest. Saute for about 20 seconds over high heat, or until fragrant. Scrape into a bowl and set aside.

3. Pour the broth, water, lentils, and remaining onions into the same saucepan. Bring to a gentle bubble, partially cover, and simmer for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the lentils are nearly tender. Add the sautéed seasonings and additional salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pot tightly and simmer for another 15 minutes to blend the flavors. (At this point the soup could be refrigerated for up to 3 days, or frozen, and reheated.)

4. Just before serving, stir in the juice from half a lemon, the juice of the zested orange, and the additional orange juice to taste, starting with 2/3 cup. You will probably want almost the entire cup of additional orange juice, but trust your own taste. Then sample the soup for salt, pepper, and lemon juice, and adjust them as needed.

5. Scatter the coriander tops over the soup, and ladle it into deep bowls.

Asian-Style Chopped Salad on Lettuce Spears

Asian-Style Chopped Salad on Lettuce Spears

Copyright: The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper

Dressing:

1 large garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
5 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup rice or cider vinegar
4 to 6 tablespoons sugar
1 medium sweet onion (such as Vidalia)
8 red radishes

Salad:

4 ounces cellophane (bean threat) or thin rice noodles, soaked 10 minutes in hot water
(or until softened), rinsed, and drained

20 medium inner leaves napa cabbage, washed, thoroughly dried, and sliced into thin slivers

10 ounces Soyrizo, crumbled and cooked in a hot skillet, then allowed to cool

1/3 light-packed cup fresh Thai or regular basil leaves

1/3 light-packed cup fresh coriander leaves (optional)

2/3 tight-packed cup fresh spearmint leaves

2 apples (Honeycrisp, Haralson, Braeburn, Fuji, or Pink Lady), cored but not peeled, cut into 1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces; or 1 fresh pineapple cut the same size

1 cup salted peanutes or almonds, lightly crushed

Finish:

16 romaine leaves, or 1 head iceberg lettuce, cut into 4 wedges
2 limed, quartered

1. To make the dressing, combine the garlic, red pepper flakes, fish sauce, water, vinegar, and sugar in a food processor and blend. Taste for sweet-tart-hot balance; adjust the seasonings as necessary. Switch the blade to a thin slicing blade, and slice the onion and radishes into the dressing. Let them marinate while you pull together the rest of the recipe.

2. In a large salad bowl, toss together the drained noodles, the cabbage, and the sausage. Coarse-chop the green herbs together and add them to the bowl. (This mixture can wait for about 30 minutes at room temperature.)

3. When you are ready to serve, add theapples or pineapple to the noodles and cabbage. Add the dressing, with the onion and radishes, and the nuts. Toss to blend. If necessary, season with salt and pepper. Make a ring of the romaine or separated iceberg lettuce leaves on a platter. Pile the salad in the center. Tuck in the lime wedges.

4. To eat the salad, pile some onto an individual lettuce leaf, moisten it with a squeeze of fresh lime juice, roll it up, and eat it out of hand.

Ribbons of Greens and Green Apple Salad

Ribbons of Greens
And Green Apple Salad

Copyright: The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper

1 medium red onion, cut into thin rings

Pale green inner leaves from 1 large head curly endive,
frisee, or other tangy lettuce

Pale green inner leaves from 1 large head escarole, or 1 small head oak-leaf lettuce or green radicchio

1 small head red-leaf or Bibb lettuce

1 crisp apple, such as Granny Smith, Fuji, Pink Lady, or Braeburn,
quartered, cored (not peeled) and thin sliced

1/3 cup whole salted almonds, coarse crushed

Salt and fresh-ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

2 to 3 tablespoons peppery extra-virgin olive oil

1 to 2 tablespoons red wine or cider vinegar

1. Place the onion in a bowl, add ice water to cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2. Wash and thoroughly dry the greens. Stack 4 leaves, roll them up into a tight cylinder, and thin-slice crossways. Repeat with the remaining leaves. You'll have fine ribbons of salad. Put them in a large salad bowl, and add the apple slices and almonds.

3. Just before serving, drain the onion and pat dry. Sprinkle the greens with salt and pepper, the basil, and the drained onion.

4. At the table, toss the salad with enough oil to barely coat the greens, about 2 tablespoons. Toss with vinegar to taste, starting with 1 tablespoon. Taste for balance, making sure the vinegar is assertive, but not harsh.

Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Cilantro Slaw

Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Cilantro Slaw

Adapted from Bon Appetit February, 2009

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
4 corn tortillas
cooking spray

2 teaspoons olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
2 cups thinly shredded cabbage
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
3 green onions, chopped

Optional toppings:
Queso Fresco
Salsa

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. While oven is heating, mash together black beans, cumin, and salt and pepper. Place the corn tortillas on a large baking sheet; spray both sides with cooking spray. Bake for 2-3 minutes, until tortillas are soft and pliable, but not beginning to crisp.

Remove tortillas from the oven. Spoon 1/4 of bean mixture down the center of each tortilla, then fold tortilla over to make a taco shape. Place the tacos back in the oven for 5-7 minutes, then turn tacos over and cook another 5-7 minutes until tortillas are crisp.

While the tacos are baking, place olive oil and lime juice in a bowl. Add cabbage, cilantro, and green onions. Toss until thoroughly combined; refrigerate until ready to serve.

Once the tacos are crisp, remove from the oven. Top each with cilantro slaw, salsa, and queso fresco if you wish. Serve immediately.

Soup of Fresh Greens and Alphabets

Soup of Fresh Greens and Alphabets

Copyright: The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper

8 cups (double recipe) Cheater's Homemade Broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup canned whole tomatoes, crushed with your hands (do not use canned crushed tomatoes)
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 medium to large onion, minced
One 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 large handfuls curly endive leaves, fine chopped (2 1/2 to 3 cups)
1/3 tight-packed cup fresh basil leaves, fine chopped
1/2 cup tiny pasta (alphabets, orzo, or stars)
Salt and fresh-ground black pepper
1 cup or more fresh-grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (optional)

In a 6-quart pot, combine the broth, wine, and tomatoes. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, onion, chickpeas, greens, and basil. Simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes or until onions are tender.

Stir in the pasta and simmer, partially covered, for 6 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Taste the soup for seasoning, adding salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, passing the cheese at the table.

Rosemary Garlic Foccacia

Rosemary Garlic Foccacia
Adapted from rebar modern food cookbook

Bread:

1 3/4 cups warm water (120 to 130 degrees)
1 tablespoon Rapid Rise baking yeast
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup olive oil
4 cups unbleached flour

Topping:

6 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse salt
2 tablespoons chopped rosemary, or 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
cracked black pepper

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Whisk to combine. Add the warm water and olive oil, mixing with the dough hook to combine. Add additional flour if necessary until dough loses its stickiness, and kneading until it becomes firm and resilient.

2. Form the dough into a ball and place in a large, lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a damp towel and place in a warm spot until doubled in bulk (approximately 1 hour). Punch the dough down and let it rise again until doubled.

3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the dough on a lightly oiled 12" x 16" baking sheet with 1/2" sides. Gently stretch the dough to roughly fit the dimensions of the pan. Drizzle the surface olive oil and spread the minced garlic over the entire area. Sprinkle rosemary and salt evenly over top. Finish with cracked pepper to taste. Use your fingertips to gently poke indentations over the entire surface until it appears dimpled. Let rise again for about 15 minutes.

4. Place the leaf in the center rack of the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. The garlic should be lightly golden. Be careful not to overbake.

Cheater's Homemade Broth

November 1, 2008

Reprinted from The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper: Recipes, Stories, and Opinions from Public Radio's Award-Winning Food Show by Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift (Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 2008). Copyright 2008 by American Public Media

Makes about 4 cups; doubles and triples easily.
10 minutes prep time; 12 minutes stove time
This is good warm and cool and keeps in the refrigerator for a day or two

• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 2 large garlic cloves, crushed (leave unpeeled if organic)
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 canned tomato
• 1 bay leaf, broken
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
• Three 14-ounce cans chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 medium to large onion, coarse chopped (if organic, trim away root but leave skin)
• 1/2 large celery stalk with leaves, coarse chopped
• 1/2 medium carrot, coarse chopped (leave unpeeled if organic)

1. In a 4-quart pot, combine all the ingredients. Bring to a simmer, partially cover, and cook for 30 minutes.

2. Strain the broth into a bowl or a storage container. Either use it right away, refrigerate it, or freeze it.

Pasta with Chopping-Board Pistachio Pesto

Pasta with Chopping-Board Pistachio Pesto
Copyright: The Splendid Table How to Eat Supper

The Pesto:

1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper, or to taste
2 large garlic cloves
1 tight-packed cup coarse-chopped fresh chives or scallion tops
4 tight-packed tablespoons fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons fine-chopped red onion
1/3 cup shelled salted pistachios or almonds
2 tablespoons good-tasting extra virgin olive oil

Pasta and Finish:

1 pound imported spaghetti or linguine
1 tablespoon good-tasting extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fine-chopped red onion
1 cup (4 ounces) grated Asiago or Stella Fontinella cheese

1. Bring 5 quarts salted water to a boil

2. To make the pesto, pile the salt and pepper on a chopping board. Crush the garlic into it with the side of a large knife, and fine chop. Add the chives, basil, and onion, and continue chopping until the pieces are cut very fine. Add the nuts to the pile and continue cutting until they are coarse chopped. Directly on the board, blend in the oil. Taste for salt and pepper.

3. Drop the pasta into the boiling water and cook at a fierce boil, stirring often, until it is tender but still a little firm to the bite. Scoop out 1 cup of the pasta water and set it aside. Quickly drain the pasta.

4. Film the empty pasta pot with the 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place it over medium heat, and saute the fine-chopped onion in it for 1 minute. Stir in the pesto. Warm it for only a few seconds over medium heat to let the flavors blossom--do not cook it. Stir in about 1/3 cup of the reserved pasta water to stretch the sauce. Immediately pull the pot off the heat.

5. Add the drained pasta to the pot, and toss with the pesto and the cheese, adding more pasta water if the mixture seems very dry. Taste again for seasoning, and serve.

White Bean Enchiladas

White Bean Enchiladas
Copyright: Cooking Light Magazine, May 2007

The reader loves experimenting in the kitchen, and is always on the lookout for low-fat ideas. This reader once came across a lasagna recipe that called for white beans instead of cheese; that's what inspired this dish. These enchiladas are really easy to make, and you can put them together up to a day ahead. They reheat well in the microwave, too.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons fat-free sour cream
1 (16-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup (2 ounces) preshredded reduced-fat Mexican blend or cheddar cheese, divided
2 tablespoons canned chopped green chiles
1 tablespoon sliced green onions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce (such as Old El Paso), divided
1/4 cup water
6 (6-inch) corn tortillas
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro (optional)


Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine the sour cream and beans in a food processor; process until almost smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese, chiles, onions, chopped cilantro, and cumin.

Combine 1/3 cup enchilada sauce and 1/4 cup water in a small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Dip one tortilla in the sauce mixture to soften; transfer to a plate. Spread 1/4 cup bean mixture down center of tortilla; roll up. Place roll, seam side down, in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining tortillas and bean mixture. Add remaining sauce to pan; cook 1 minute. Spoon over enchiladas; sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese.

Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with minced cilantro, if desired.