Showing posts with label Sweeping Up Glass. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sweeping Up Glass. Show all posts

Friday, January 15, 2010

Comfort


Recently I've been busy reading. My mom had recommended a particular title to me that I had given her on audiobook; I borrowed it for myself from the library. Sweeping Up Glass by Carolyn Wall was an amazing read! I highly recommend it. It takes place in rural Kentucky during the depression and recounts Olivia's life and how she comes to be at a particular point in her life. As a voracious reader, it is hard for me to be truly surprised by a book - this one truly surprised me. There is a certain depth to this plain story that compelled me in such a way that I could not put the book down. The issues confronted in this tale are not easy, but they are engaging. So, after reading such an emotionally wrenching book, I am in the mood for some comfort food.

After going through the pile of recipes I've been wanting to try, I decided on these two: Creamy Vegetable Cobbler and "Creamed" Spinach. Both are Weight Watcher recipes.

Creamy Vegetable Cobbler
Serves 6, 5 ww points per serving (1 2/3 cups)

1 onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 cups fat-free milk
1 cup reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (16 oz) bag frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup fat-free egg substitute
2 tablespoons canola oil

1- Preheat the over to 350° F. Spray a 9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
2- To make the filling, spray a large nonstick saucepan with nonstick spray and set over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring constantly, just until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Stir in 1 cup of the milk and the broth. Vigorously whisk in the 2 tablespoons flour until smooth and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and bubbles, about 2 minutes. Stir in the mixed vegetables, tarragon, oregano, salt, and pepper. Pour into the baking dish.
3- To make the topping, combine the 1 cup flour, the cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, and paprika in a large bowl. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup milk, the egg substitute, and oil until a sticky dough forms, Drop by heaping tablespoons over the filling in the baking dish.
4- Bake until the topping is lightly browned and the filling bubbles, about 25 minutes.

"Creamed" Spinach
Serves 4, 1 ww point per serving (1/4 of spinach)

2/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1/4 cup low-fat milk
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 (10 oz) bags spinach, steamed until tender and chopped

1- In a food processor or blender, combine the cottage cheese, milk, Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper; puree. Add one-fourth of the spinach; puree until smooth.
2- In a large nonstick skillet, combine the remaining spinach with the cottage cheese mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes.

I'll let you know how it all turns out - dinner that is, you'll have to read the book for yourself.