Broccoli, Red Pepper and Tofu Stir Fry with Balsamic Vinegar

A hit!  I made one batch with tofu and one batch with chicken!

Ingredients

• 14 ounces extra firm tofu , water-packed, drained (I used a pound of thin chicken breasts cut into cubes for the chicken based version)
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey or 1 tablespoon agave syrup
• 2 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil , for broccoli
• ½ lb broccoli floret
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil , for red pepper
• 1 red pepper , thinly sliced (I use red bell pepper)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil , for tofu
• 4 scallions , sliced, for garnish 

Directions

1.  Cut the tofu across the width into 6 slabs. Cut each slab in half to make 12 squares. Blot the tofu to remove some of the moisture and set aside.

2.  Whisk together the balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl and set aside.

3.  Saute the broccoli in 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat until bright green and starting to brown in places, about 5 minutes. Remove broccoli from the pan.

4.  Saute the red pepper in 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat until it starts to brown, about 3 minutes. Remove the red pepper from the pan.

5.  Saute the tofu in the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat until browned, 2 minutes per side or until crispy.

6.  Add the vinegar mixture to the tofu and simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.

7.  Return the broccoli and peppers to the pan and gently toss to coat with the sauce.

8.  Garnish with the scallions and serve with brown rice or another whole grain.

Shiitake Pot Pie with Polenta

Ingredients

1 T Oil

1 lb Shiitake mushrooms,  stems removed and sliced

1 t dried thyme

3/4 c Hot water

1 c peas

3 c Water

2 lb New potatoes; cubed

¼ t salt

1 1/2 tb flour

1/8 ts Ground cayenne

4 cloves of garlic - crushed

3/4 c yellow cornmeal

1 medium onion diced

1/2 oz Dried porcini

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Preparation

Soak porcinis in hot water for at least an hour. Remove mushrooms from water and, depending on their quality, either discard or reserve for another use. Strain soaking water through cheesecloth, fine sieve or coffee filter. Set aside. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly oil roasting pan large enough to hold potatoes in one layer. Roast potatoes, stirring once or twice to prevent sticking and to brown evenly, until tender, about 35 minutes. While potatoes are roasting, heat 1/2 teaspoon of oil in nonstick skillet. Add onions and garlic; saute until the onions are soft. Add fresh mushrooms, thyme and cayenne; cook until mushrooms soften and shrink to about half their original size, about 15 minutes. In separate skillet, heat remaining oil. Make a roux by adding flour and stirring until flour begins to brown. Add porcini water and mushroom mixture to the roux; cook until liquid reduces by about a third, about 5 minutes. Remove potatoes from oven; reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Combine mushroom mixture, potatoes and peas in 9x9 inch lightly oiled baking pan. Set aside. For crust, bring water and salt to rolling boil. Add polenta slowly, stirring constantly. Turn heat down to medium; stir constantly until mixture thickens and begins to pull away from sides of the pot, about 10 minutes. Spread polenta over potato and mushroom mixture; bake about 15 minutes. Remove from oven; let sit 15 minutes before cutting. Makes 4-6 servings of about 1 cup each. 5 grams of fat per serving. | 

Apple Crisp

1 cup flour
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
8 T butter

6-8 apples - peeled and diced
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1 T lemon juice

In one medium size bowl combine the flour, brown sugar and butter.

Heat oven to 350.

In second large bowl combine apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice.  Pour into greased 9 inch deep dish pie pan.  Cover with flour and brown sugar mixture.

Bake for 50-60 minutes.