Sneaky Chef Purple Puree Food

SNEAKY CHEF'S MAKE-AHEAD GREEN PUREE

Steps:

• Raw baby spinach is preferred to frozen spinach for this recipe (more mild flavor); if you must use frozen spinach, only use 1 cup of it.
• If using raw spinach, thoroughly wash it, even if the package says "prewashed."
• To prepare on the stovetop, pour about 2 inches of water into a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Put a vegetable steamer basket into the pot, add the spinach and broccoli, and steam for about 10 minutes, until very tender. Add the frozen peas to the basket for the last 2 minutes of steaming. Drain.
• To prepare in the microwave, place the broccoli and spinach in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with water, and microwave on high for 8 to 10 minutes, until very tender. Add peas for last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain.
• Place the vegetables in the bowl of your food processor along with 2 tablespoons of water. Puree on high until as smooth as possible. Stop occasionally to push the contents to the bottom. If necessary, use another tablespoon of water to smooth out the puree.
• This recipe makes about 2 cups of puree; double it if you want to store another 2 cups. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or you can freeze 1/4-cup portions in sealed plastic bags or small plastic containers.

MY TAKE ON SNEAKY ORANGE PUREE

Steps:

• Cut the squash in half and remove seeds and membranes. You may bake the squash at 400*F. for about 1/2 hour or till tender. Or you can microwave in a microwave safe dish with a tbls. or two of water for about 8-10 minutes. Pierce with fork to check if done. Or if you wish, peel squash, cut in chunks and boil with carrots and sweet potato.
• In a medium pot, cover carrots and sweet potatoes with cold water and boil for about 20 minutes until yams, and especially carrots, are very tender. If the carrots aren't completely cooked, they will leave little nubs, so make sure it's smooth.
• Drain the sweet potatoes and carrots(and squash if using) and put them in the food processor with two tbls. of water. Puree on high until smooth, no chunks should remain. Stop occasionally to push the mix from the top to the bottom. If you need to, add more of the water to make a smooth puree, but the less water the better.
• This makes about 3 cups of puree. Double the recipe if you want to store more puree. Keep in the fridge up to 3 days, or freeze 1/4 cup(or 1/2 cup) portions in sealed plastic bags or small plastic containers.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH SPINACH AND BLUEBERRIES

Steps:

• Make sneaky chef purple puree (this recipe calls for 3/4 cup) by cooking the spinach and blueberries until soft. I microwave them for 4 minutes, but you could also put them in a pan and gently cook (covered). Take the cooked spinach and blueberries and puree them in the food processor or blender. I find that the liquid that cooked off from the spinach is the right amount to make the puree work. Process until smooth. You don't want the texture to give away the presence of the veggies! 1 cup of each makes approximately 3/4 cup of "purple puree" and I find that whatever the yield has worked in this recipe.
• Preheat oven to 350°F and prep your pan(s) with cooking spray or liners.
• Melt the butter and chocolate chips together. I use 30 seconds in the microwave, but you could do this over the stove.
• Stir together the wet ingredients (melted butter and chocolate, pureed spinach and blueberries, egg, vanilla, and sugar).
• Whisk together the dry ingredients (white flour, whole wheat flour, wheat germ, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt). If you follow sneaky chef, the original recipe called for 1 cup of her flour blend.
• Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined.
• Pour into cupcakes or mini-bundt pans. I got 16 of the little silicon mold cupcakes or 6 of the wilson mini-bundt pan size.
• Bake at 350°F for 23 to 25 minutes for the cupcakes. I baked at 340°F for 25 minutes. You'll know they are done when the top springs back to the touch, or when a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool completely before tasting. If you taste these while warm, you can kind of smell the spinach even though you can't taste it. The large amount of vanilla helps cover any spinach smell that might linger.

SNEAKY CHEF'S ORANGE PUREE

Steps:

• Boil covered carrots and sweet potatoes in a medium pot for about 20 min, until both are tender. (Make sure carrots are tender).
• Drain and put them in a food processor with 2 tablespoons of water.
• Puree on high until no chunks. Stop occasionally to circulate.
• Add water as necessary. (Less is better).
• Makes around 2 cups, stores 3 days in refrigerator. or freeze in 1/4 cup portions.

SNEAKY CHEF MAKE-AHEAD WHITE PUREE

Steps:

• To prepare White Puree:.
• On the stovetop, pour about 2 inches of water into a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Put a vegetable steamer basket into the pot, add the cauliflower, and steam for about 10 minutes, until quite tender. Drain.
• To prepare in microwave, place the cauliflower in a microwave-safe bowl, cover it with water, and microwave on high for 8 to 10 minutes or until very tender. Drain.
• Meanwhile, place the raw peeled zucchini with the lemon juice in your food processor and pulse a few times. Next add the cooked cauliflower and 1 tablespoon of water to the food processor (work in batches if necessary) and puree on high until smooth. Stop occasionally to push the contents to the bottom. If necessary, use another tablespoon of water make a smooth puree, but the less water, the better.
• This recipe makes about 2 cups of puree; double it if you want to store more. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or you can freeze 1/4-cup portions in sealed plastic bags or small plastic containers.

SNEAKY CHEF BRAINY BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter or spray only the bottom, not the sides, of a 13-by- 9-inch or 9-inch square baking pan.
• Melt the butter and chocolate chips together in a double boiler or metal bowl over simmering water (or in a microwave, checking every 15 seconds). Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool a bit. Meanwhile, in another bowl, stir together the eggs, vanilla, sugar, and Purple Puree. Combine this purple egg mixture with the cooled chocolate mixture.
• In a mixing bowl, stir together Flour Blend, cocoa powder, oats, and salt. Add this to the chocolate mixture and blend thoroughly. Mix in the chopped walnuts, if using, then pour the entire mixture into the baking pan.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in pan before cutting the brownies and use a plastic or butter knife. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
• Keeps for a week in the refrigerator, covered tightly.
• Sneaky Chef Make-Ahead Recipe: Purple Puree.
• If using raw spinach, thoroughly wash it, even if the package says "prewashed." Bring spinach or collards and water to boil in a medium pot. Turn heat to low and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. If using frozen blueberries, quickly rinse them under cold water to thaw a little, and then drain.
• Fill the bowl of your food processor with the blueberries and cooked spinach, (or collards) along with the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of water, and puree on high until as smooth as possible. Stop occasionally to push top contents to bottom. If necessary, use a second tablespoon of water to make a fairly smooth puree.
• This amount of spinach and blueberries makes only about 1 cup of puree. Double the recipe if you want to store another cup of the puree. It will store in the refrigerator up to 2 days, or you can freeze 1/4 cup portions in sealed plastic bags or small plastic containers.