Fruits and Veggies
"Eat your Fruits & Veggies, or no dessert!"
Did you hear that when growing up? I know I did, or, at least, some variation of it, along the line of if you don't finish your dinner, no dessert!
Well, today's post has your Fruits & Veggies as part of your dessert. It's kind-of a win-win situation. Check out the Zucchini-Oat Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies, the Roasted Rhubarb and Strawberries, and the rest of today's yumminess. Enjoy!
RHUBARB CRISP
This is from Mark Bittman at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Mark wrote, "When you think of rhubarb you probably think of strawberry-rhubarb pie, a quintessential spring dessert, especially if it’s made by someone who makes good pies. I usually manage around one pie crust annually, so I need alternatives. Thus, when the spring’s first rhubarb shows up, I adjust the execution and produce a crisp. If rhubarb is young and fresh, you can trim it in seconds. If it has fibrous outer strings, peel them off as you would those of celery. Toss the rhubarb with orange or lemon juice and zest, and only a little sugar. (You can also substitute strawberries for some of the rhubarb if you want the classic combination.) Blend the ingredients for the crisp topping in a food processor, crumble the topping over the rhubarb mixture, and bake — it is nearly effortless and as good or better than a pie."
Time: 1 hour; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in "Rhubarb Crisp That Stands Up to Pie", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013147-rhubarb-crisp.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces, plus more for greasing pan
2-1/2 to 3 pounds rhubarb, trimmed, tough strings removed, and cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces (about 5 to 6 cups)
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon orange or lemon juice
1 teaspoon orange or lemon zest
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste
Pinch salt
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup pecans
Preparation
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8- or 9-inch square baking or gratin dish with a little butter. Toss rhubarb with white sugar, orange or lemon juice and zest, and spread in baking dish.
Put the 6 tablespoons butter in a food processor along with brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt, and pulse for about 20 or 30 seconds, until it looks like small peas and just begins to clump together. Add oats and pecans and pulse just a few times to combine.
Crumble the topping over rhubarb and bake until golden and beginning to brown, 45 to 50 minutes.
CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES
This is from Jesse Szewczyk in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. For this yummy recipe, Jesse wrote, "These simple, fuss-free cupcakes cram all of the beloved flavors of classic carrot cake into nostalgic, portable treats. The batter is made with melted butter, allowing you to quickly mix it in one bowl. It’s flavored with a generous amount of ground cinnamon and shredded carrots to add an earthy flavor and unbeatable moistness. An optional add-in of chopped nuts or raisins lets you customize the batter to produce your ideal version of carrot cake. Finishing the cupcakes with a swoosh of fluffy, just-sweet-enough cream cheese frosting makes them fit for any celebration."
Time: 1-1/2 hours; Makes 12 cupcakes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024173-carrot-cake-cupcakes. While you're there, you might want to sign up for The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, if you haven't already.
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
3/4 cup melted unsalted butter
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
2 large eggs
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/3 cups finely grated carrots (from 3 or 4 medium carrots), see Tip
1/2 cup/61 grams chopped walnuts, pecans, raisins or a combination of all three (optional)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
1-2/3 cups confectioners’ sugar, plus more as needed
Preparation
Position a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350 degrees. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, light brown sugar, vanilla extract and salt until smooth and glossy, about 20 seconds. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking until smooth and no streaks of unincorporated whites remain before adding the next.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder. Add to the butter mixture and stir with a rubber spatula just until no pockets of unincorporated flour remain. (Try not to overmix.) Add the grated carrots and optional nuts and raisins (if using) and stir just until the carrot shreds are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups using a cookie scoop or two spoons until they are about three-fourths of the way full. Bake until the tops of the cupcakes are slightly domed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs attached, 17 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the muffin tin.
While the cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting: Combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or in a large bowl, if using a hand mixer). Beat on medium speed until thoroughly combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Decrease the speed to low and add the confectioners’ sugar, one spoonful at a time with the mixer running, stopping and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until completely incorporated. Increase the speed to high and beat the frosting until light and fluffy, adding additional confectioners’ sugar as needed to achieve a firm frosting consistency, 2 to 3 minutes.
Once the cupcakes have fully cooled, frost the tops using a pastry bag, offset spatula or large spoon.
Tip
Use the side of a box grater with the medium holes to finely grate the carrots.
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE FRUIT CUPS
This recipe is from Rachael Ray at the Food Network.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
Maybe I should add: Yumminess level: 5 on a 5-point scale!
View this online at https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/red-white-and-blue-fruit-cups-recipe-1912009.
Ingredients
1 pint fresh strawberries
1 pint fresh blueberries
1 pint fresh blackberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 pint heavy whipping cream
Directions
Slice strawberries and combine in a bowl with blue and/or blackberries. Sprinkle berries with two teaspoons sugar. Whip cream until soft peaks form and sweeten with remaining sugar. Serve berries in small cups with generous spoonfuls of fresh whipped cream.
APRICOT KOLACHE
This was from Fr. Dominic Garramone (aka The Bread Monk). I first ran across his show, Breaking Bread with Fr. Dominic, years ago on PBS. The show has since left television (at least, as far as I can tell), but you can still check out his recipes and books on his website (above).
Yield: 24 kolaches
Ingredients
4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 envelopes FLEISCHMANN'S RapidRise Yeast
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup water
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 eggs, large
Apricot Filling (recipe follows)
Directions
In a large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour, sugar, undissolved yeast and salt. Heat water, sour cream and butter until very warm (120 to 130 degrees). Gradually add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add eggs and 1 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in remaining flour to make a stiff batter. Cover tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate 2 to 24 hours.
Remove dough from refrigerator. Divide into 24 equal pieces; shape each into a ball. Cover; let rest 15 minutes. Place balls on greased baking sheets 2 inches apart. Make a deep and wide indentation on each ball by pushing outward toward edge, leaving 1/2-inch ridge around outside. Fill with 1-1/2 tablespoons Apricot Filling. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until done. Remove from baking sheets; cool on wire racks.
Apricot Filling:
In a small bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups apricot preserves, 1-1/2 cups flaked, sweetened coconut and 1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts. Stir to blend.
ZUCCHINI-OAT DARK CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
This decadent yumminess is from Very Best Baking. Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 9 minutes; Servings: 48 cookies; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.verybestbaking.com/toll-house/recipes/zucchini-oat-dark-chocolate-chip-cookies/.
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups shredded zucchini (1 medium)
1 cup quick oats
1 cup chopped nuts
1-2/3 cups (10-ounce package) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Dark Chocolate Morsels
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
Combine flour, cinnamon and baking soda in small bowl. Beat butter, sugar in large mixer bowl until well combined. Add egg and vanilla extract, beat well. Add zucchini; gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats, nuts and morsels. Drop by rounded teaspoon 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until light golden brown around edges. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature.
ROASTED RHUBARB AND STRAWBERRIES
This is from LadyStiles at Food52. (You can also view her blog here, though it looks like it might not have been updated for a while.)
Anyway, the recipe begins, "The more I shop at the local farmers' market (we have four each week) and find the best sources for local and organic produce, our meals radiate with simple fruits, vegetables, and good-quality meats. Sadly rhubarb is just passing the peak and strawberries are giving way to other summer berries. This is one last hurrah to the first sweet bounty of the season. I'm regretfully used to overly sweetened rhubarb dishes that tend to mask the bite that rhubarb offers. This, thankfully, is not one of those sugar-laden dishes. The rhubarb is delightfully roasted, holds its shape, and is complemented with a delicious syrup. Simplicity at it its finest."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Makes About 5 cups
To view this online, go to https://food52.com/recipes/12406-roasted-rhubarb-and-strawberries.
Ingredients
3 cups coarsely chopped rhubarb
2 cups hulled strawberries, cut in half
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup sweet vermouth
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon sea salt
Directions
Place a rack in the middle of the oven; heat to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet or large baking dish with parchment paper (this is a juicy dish and you don't want the delicious juices all over your oven).
In a large bowl, mix the rhubarb and strawberries. In a small bowl, whisk the maple syrup, vermouth, vinegar, and salt. Pour over the rhubarb and strawberries, gently tossing to coat.
Spread the fruit on the prepared sheet in a single layer, drizzling the juices over the fruit. Roast for about 40 minutes, until the juices are thickened and the rhubarb is tender to the touch.
Transfer to a serving bowl and serve warm.
Do Ahead: The fruit can be roasted 1 week ahead. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Did you hear that when growing up? I know I did, or, at least, some variation of it, along the line of if you don't finish your dinner, no dessert!
Well, today's post has your Fruits & Veggies as part of your dessert. It's kind-of a win-win situation. Check out the Zucchini-Oat Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies, the Roasted Rhubarb and Strawberries, and the rest of today's yumminess. Enjoy!
RHUBARB CRISP
This is from Mark Bittman at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Mark wrote, "When you think of rhubarb you probably think of strawberry-rhubarb pie, a quintessential spring dessert, especially if it’s made by someone who makes good pies. I usually manage around one pie crust annually, so I need alternatives. Thus, when the spring’s first rhubarb shows up, I adjust the execution and produce a crisp. If rhubarb is young and fresh, you can trim it in seconds. If it has fibrous outer strings, peel them off as you would those of celery. Toss the rhubarb with orange or lemon juice and zest, and only a little sugar. (You can also substitute strawberries for some of the rhubarb if you want the classic combination.) Blend the ingredients for the crisp topping in a food processor, crumble the topping over the rhubarb mixture, and bake — it is nearly effortless and as good or better than a pie."
Time: 1 hour; Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This was featured in "Rhubarb Crisp That Stands Up to Pie", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013147-rhubarb-crisp.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces, plus more for greasing pan
2-1/2 to 3 pounds rhubarb, trimmed, tough strings removed, and cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces (about 5 to 6 cups)
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon orange or lemon juice
1 teaspoon orange or lemon zest
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste
Pinch salt
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup pecans
Preparation
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8- or 9-inch square baking or gratin dish with a little butter. Toss rhubarb with white sugar, orange or lemon juice and zest, and spread in baking dish.
Put the 6 tablespoons butter in a food processor along with brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt, and pulse for about 20 or 30 seconds, until it looks like small peas and just begins to clump together. Add oats and pecans and pulse just a few times to combine.
Crumble the topping over rhubarb and bake until golden and beginning to brown, 45 to 50 minutes.
CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES
This is from Jesse Szewczyk in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. For this yummy recipe, Jesse wrote, "These simple, fuss-free cupcakes cram all of the beloved flavors of classic carrot cake into nostalgic, portable treats. The batter is made with melted butter, allowing you to quickly mix it in one bowl. It’s flavored with a generous amount of ground cinnamon and shredded carrots to add an earthy flavor and unbeatable moistness. An optional add-in of chopped nuts or raisins lets you customize the batter to produce your ideal version of carrot cake. Finishing the cupcakes with a swoosh of fluffy, just-sweet-enough cream cheese frosting makes them fit for any celebration."
Time: 1-1/2 hours; Makes 12 cupcakes
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024173-carrot-cake-cupcakes. While you're there, you might want to sign up for The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, if you haven't already.
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
3/4 cup melted unsalted butter
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
2 large eggs
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/3 cups finely grated carrots (from 3 or 4 medium carrots), see Tip
1/2 cup/61 grams chopped walnuts, pecans, raisins or a combination of all three (optional)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
1-2/3 cups confectioners’ sugar, plus more as needed
Preparation
Position a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350 degrees. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, light brown sugar, vanilla extract and salt until smooth and glossy, about 20 seconds. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking until smooth and no streaks of unincorporated whites remain before adding the next.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder. Add to the butter mixture and stir with a rubber spatula just until no pockets of unincorporated flour remain. (Try not to overmix.) Add the grated carrots and optional nuts and raisins (if using) and stir just until the carrot shreds are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups using a cookie scoop or two spoons until they are about three-fourths of the way full. Bake until the tops of the cupcakes are slightly domed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs attached, 17 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the muffin tin.
While the cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting: Combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or in a large bowl, if using a hand mixer). Beat on medium speed until thoroughly combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Decrease the speed to low and add the confectioners’ sugar, one spoonful at a time with the mixer running, stopping and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until completely incorporated. Increase the speed to high and beat the frosting until light and fluffy, adding additional confectioners’ sugar as needed to achieve a firm frosting consistency, 2 to 3 minutes.
Once the cupcakes have fully cooled, frost the tops using a pastry bag, offset spatula or large spoon.
Tip
Use the side of a box grater with the medium holes to finely grate the carrots.
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE FRUIT CUPS
This recipe is from Rachael Ray at the Food Network.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
Maybe I should add: Yumminess level: 5 on a 5-point scale!
View this online at https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/red-white-and-blue-fruit-cups-recipe-1912009.
Ingredients
1 pint fresh strawberries
1 pint fresh blueberries
1 pint fresh blackberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 pint heavy whipping cream
Directions
Slice strawberries and combine in a bowl with blue and/or blackberries. Sprinkle berries with two teaspoons sugar. Whip cream until soft peaks form and sweeten with remaining sugar. Serve berries in small cups with generous spoonfuls of fresh whipped cream.
APRICOT KOLACHE
This was from Fr. Dominic Garramone (aka The Bread Monk). I first ran across his show, Breaking Bread with Fr. Dominic, years ago on PBS. The show has since left television (at least, as far as I can tell), but you can still check out his recipes and books on his website (above).
Yield: 24 kolaches
Ingredients
4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 envelopes FLEISCHMANN'S RapidRise Yeast
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup water
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 eggs, large
Apricot Filling (recipe follows)
Directions
In a large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour, sugar, undissolved yeast and salt. Heat water, sour cream and butter until very warm (120 to 130 degrees). Gradually add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add eggs and 1 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in remaining flour to make a stiff batter. Cover tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate 2 to 24 hours.
Remove dough from refrigerator. Divide into 24 equal pieces; shape each into a ball. Cover; let rest 15 minutes. Place balls on greased baking sheets 2 inches apart. Make a deep and wide indentation on each ball by pushing outward toward edge, leaving 1/2-inch ridge around outside. Fill with 1-1/2 tablespoons Apricot Filling. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until done. Remove from baking sheets; cool on wire racks.
Apricot Filling:
In a small bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups apricot preserves, 1-1/2 cups flaked, sweetened coconut and 1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts. Stir to blend.
ZUCCHINI-OAT DARK CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
This decadent yumminess is from Very Best Baking. Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 9 minutes; Servings: 48 cookies; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.verybestbaking.com/toll-house/recipes/zucchini-oat-dark-chocolate-chip-cookies/.
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups shredded zucchini (1 medium)
1 cup quick oats
1 cup chopped nuts
1-2/3 cups (10-ounce package) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Dark Chocolate Morsels
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
Combine flour, cinnamon and baking soda in small bowl. Beat butter, sugar in large mixer bowl until well combined. Add egg and vanilla extract, beat well. Add zucchini; gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats, nuts and morsels. Drop by rounded teaspoon 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until light golden brown around edges. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature.
ROASTED RHUBARB AND STRAWBERRIES
This is from LadyStiles at Food52. (You can also view her blog here, though it looks like it might not have been updated for a while.)
Anyway, the recipe begins, "The more I shop at the local farmers' market (we have four each week) and find the best sources for local and organic produce, our meals radiate with simple fruits, vegetables, and good-quality meats. Sadly rhubarb is just passing the peak and strawberries are giving way to other summer berries. This is one last hurrah to the first sweet bounty of the season. I'm regretfully used to overly sweetened rhubarb dishes that tend to mask the bite that rhubarb offers. This, thankfully, is not one of those sugar-laden dishes. The rhubarb is delightfully roasted, holds its shape, and is complemented with a delicious syrup. Simplicity at it its finest."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Makes About 5 cups
To view this online, go to https://food52.com/recipes/12406-roasted-rhubarb-and-strawberries.
Ingredients
3 cups coarsely chopped rhubarb
2 cups hulled strawberries, cut in half
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup sweet vermouth
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon sea salt
Directions
Place a rack in the middle of the oven; heat to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet or large baking dish with parchment paper (this is a juicy dish and you don't want the delicious juices all over your oven).
In a large bowl, mix the rhubarb and strawberries. In a small bowl, whisk the maple syrup, vermouth, vinegar, and salt. Pour over the rhubarb and strawberries, gently tossing to coat.
Spread the fruit on the prepared sheet in a single layer, drizzling the juices over the fruit. Roast for about 40 minutes, until the juices are thickened and the rhubarb is tender to the touch.
Transfer to a serving bowl and serve warm.
Do Ahead: The fruit can be roasted 1 week ahead. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.


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