Fried Green Tomatoes (air fried)

Teflon Non-Stick Baking Sheets

I bake a lot.  Everyone knows how much I love my convection toaster oven as it saves a bunch on energy.  But the struggle gets really real when the time comes to clean the silpat baking mat.  After a few uses, the heat makes cleaning them next to impossible.  Just ugly, but still reusable.

My mission was to find and try out new pan liners because the higher end silpat just could not cut it!

Here comes me on a whim, decided to try the Teflon baking sheets.  They look different online than in real view, but trust me, it's a winner.

Black Bean Burger Nachos

The mats deliver in 3 pieces, 40 cm x 60 cm.  I took one mat and cut it into four equal parts with fit the pan, though it is slightly larger.  I would rather this be the case than lose the edges to trash.  This way I was able to form a "sandwich" with one mat piece on the bottom, food in the middle, and topped it with another!

The results are what you see.  Chips remain crunchy but not burned.  It absorbs heat but does also the vents allow heat displacement.  Cheese melts without the food never having to come in direct contact with the heating elements.  

FYI:

• 3 PCs, 40 cm x 60 cm
• Non-stick
• Holds heat up to 600 degrees
• Great for Grilling
• Great for Baking
• Oil Proof
• Reusable

I am not a paid to share this information.  I like the product, so I am sharing it with you! 

If you would like to know more or try it for yourself click here:  3 PC Teflon Mats.

Greek (Inspired) Vegetarian Burger

One of my high school mates shared a Greek Turkey Burger recipe with me on Facebook.  At first I was taken aback, but then she offered that I could turn this into a Vegetarian Burger...and so I did!

If you want the recipe from root to stem, drop a comment and follow!!!

Directions.

Follow this recipe for the basis of your burger mix.  Add a 1/2 cup diced black olives.  You may also boast more protein by simply adding 1 cup cooked brown lentils.  I do!!!

I use a scale to make sure all of my burgers have approximately the same mass.  If you do not own a scale, use the 1/3 measure cup.  With each portioned burger, you will add 1-2 T of Vital Wheat Gluten.  This will help hold your mix together along with steaming it.  If you have a steamer use it.  Otherwise use a double boil system of a strainer or colander over a pot of boiling water. 

The secret to its form is the spring form pan. 

After mixing in your gluten, allow the burgers to rest in the refrigerator while you prepare your steam pan and mix your tzatziki dressing.

Form your patties by pressing them into the spring form pans.  Place pans into the double-boil or steam system.  You should steam this for an hour.  Then let the burger rest and cool for an additional 30 minutes.  Broil.  Dress to your desire, but keep it Greek!!!

Steaming

Spinach Pepper Jack Cheese Pinwheels

Start with the multigrain roll recipe here.

This is a great recipe that can be used for pizza as well.  I like to make a recipe and then divide it into fourths.  Last Friday I wanted pizza, then had a chance to experiment with pinwheels.

Spread melted margarine!

Add Pepper Jack Cheese, sauteed onion and bacon, salt pepper

Top with spinach and roll...

Just like you would a log of cinnamon rolls!

Using a bread cutting knife and cut into pinwheels.
Cover for 20 mins. (with plastic under a towel) in a warm place.
Brush the tops and sides with mix of 1 T melted margarine and milk.
For the pinwheels I added ranch seasoning!

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown

As you can see, I baked both side-by-side in an 11" x 7" brownie pan found at Dollar Tree.  I usually use a silpat mat and I did this time, but I also lined the pan with some parchment and sprayed butter.

Because this was not a full recipe, I used what I had in the freezer saved from other cooking preps.

The ingredients for the Pinwheels:  thawed spinach-strained (Stevia), sauteed onions & Morningstar Farms Bacon, minced garlic, salt, pepper jack cheese, ranch seasoning.  

Sesame Cauliflower

You are going to start with that fried cauliflower, courtesy of your very own air fryer.  If you do not own one, the traditional frying in a sauce pot of oil works just fine.  The difference is that you will need to make sure the oil is very hot so that browning can commence early.  You want this to happen to ensure that a bit of a bite remains in the cauliflower.

Sesame Cauliflower, Fried Vegetable Brown Rice,
& Steamed Broccoli

Next...

Sauce Ingredients & Preparation
1 T Tomato Paste (or 3 T Pasta Sauce)
1 pinch Smoked Paprika
2-3 T Brown Sugar
2 T Soy Sauce
2 T White Vinegar
2 t Corn Starch
1/4 c Water
1/4 t Sesame Seeds

Mix the corn starch and water to make slurry.  Then add all of the ingredients into a sauce pot, and bring the heat up to medium-high, stirring with a whisk.

You want the sauce to be thick enough to hold to the cauliflower but not like a syrup or glue.  If you need to thin it with a little water, do so at 1 T at a time.  Remove sauce from heat.  Let it stand for 5 minutes.  Toss your fried cauliflower into the sauce.  Plate and Serve with Sesame Seeds on top.  

Fresh Mixed Berry Jam

Ingredients
1 lemon (juice & zest)
1/4 c sugar
1 c strawberries
1/2 c blueberries
1-2 T corn starch or pectin
water
Utensils
sauce pot
small canning jar
potato masher

Preparation.  Prepare jar for canning by sterilizing it and the lid in boiling water, for 10 minutes.

Place berries in a sauce pot.  Add sugar, lemon juice (whole lemon), and zest (half lemon).  Bring up heat to med-low.  Mash berries with potato masher.  Increase heat.  Boil until thickened (15-20 mins.).  Scoop 1 cup out and mix in the starch.  Stir until dissolve.  Pour cup back into the pot.  Stir until it becomes gelatinous. Pour into glass jar.  Cover with lid.  Cool at room temperature.  Place into refrigerator and use for up to two-weeks.

Beyond Meat New Product & Coupon Download

In case you are not registered (Why are you not registered?) with beyondmeat.com, I received two great gifts in my email yesterday. 

(1) Debut of "beyond" sausage, achieving great reviews, and it is sure to turn up near you!

(2) Coupon - Expiration Date 3/31/18!