Lentil Stew with Butternut Squash

Lentil Stew with Butternut Squash

    3 large stalks celery, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices

    1 large yellow onion, chopped

    1 large butternut squash, cut into 1-inch chunks

    4 cups brown lentils

    6 cups vegetable broth

    2 bay leaves

    1 teaspoon of cinnamon 

    1 teaspoon dried rosemary

    1 teaspoon of salt 

    1 tablespoon of cracked black pepper

1 ounce Parmesan cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler

1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped

1.    In a large pot, combine celery, onion, squash, lentils, bay leaves, cinnamon, broth, rosemary, salt, and black pepper.

2.    Cover pot with lid, and cook on medium heat for 1 hour.

3.    To serve, spoon lentil stew into serving bowls; top with Parmesan shavings, and sprinkle with chopped parsley. 

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup 

½ cup butter

6 pounds butternut squash, diced (reserve seeds)

2 pounds tart apples, diced and sprinkled with lemon juice

juice of 1 lemon

2 leeks, finely diced

2 cinnamon sticks

½ cup honey

12 cups veggie stock

4 cups cider

roasted squash seeds

freshly ground nutmeg

1 cup plain yogurt

1. In a large stockpot over low heat, melt butter and add the squash, apples, and leeks.

2. Cook for a few minutes and then add the cinnamon sticks and honey. 

3. Cook another 2 minutes.

4. Add the stock and cider and bring to a simmer. 

5. Cook until squash is soft.

6. Remove the cinnamon sticks, then purée in batches in a food processor.

7. Return purée to pot and bring back to a simmer.

8. Adjust the tart/sweet balance with additional lemon juice or honey, salt to taste.

9. Garnish with squash seeds that have been roasted with a little salt; add a dollop of yogurt, and a dash of fresh nutmeg.

Greek Lemon Rice Soup

Greek Lemon Rice Soup

4 cups veggie broth

1 cup white rice

1 ½ cups silken tofu

1 tablespoon olive oil

¼ teaspoon turmeric

¼ cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

   1. Bring broth and rice to a boil in a large saucepan.

   2.  Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the rice is very tender, about 15 minutes.

3.  Carefully transfer rice mixture to a blender.

4.  Add tofu, oil and turmeric; process until smooth.

5.  Whisk the tofu mixture, lemon juice, dill and pepper into the soup remaining in the pan.

6. Heat through.

Corn Chowder

Corn Chowder

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup onions, chopped

3 red potatoes, halved or quartered, depending on size

1 large carrot, chopped

½ cup celery, chopped

1 sweet red bell pepper, minced

4 cups sweet corn

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon dried thyme

½ teaspoon dried basil

1 to 2 cups veggie stock

1 cup evaporated milk

1. In a medium soup kettle begin cooking onions, potatoes, and carrot in the butter over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring constantly.

2. Add celery and keep cooking for 5 to 10 minutes. 

3. Add peppers, corn, and seasonings. 

4. Stir well and cover. 

5. Reduce heat, letting it cook for 5 to 10 minutes.

Turkish Style Vegetable Stew

Turkish Style Vegetable Stew

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 medium onions, halved then sliced

8 cloves garlic, crushed

18 ounces green beans, halved lengthwise, then crosswise

18 ounces okra, cut into ½-inch slices

3 28-oz. cans whole peeled Italian-style tomatoes, drained, ½ cup juice reserved

2 cups vegetable broth

2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon cayenne

6 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into ½-inch chunks

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

2 teaspoon coarse salt

2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Romano cheese, shredded for garnish (optional)

1.  In large saucepan, heat oil over medium-low heat.

2.  Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is softened about 5 minutes.

3.  Stir in green beans, okra, tomatoes, reserved tomato juice, broth, cinnamon, cayenne, and cumin.

4.  Bring to a boil, breaking up tomatoes with wooden spoon.

5.  Reduce heat to low, partially cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.

6.  Increase heat to medium-low.

7.  Stir in zucchini, parsley, salt and pepper, cover and cook until zucchini is just tender about 8 minutes.

White Bean Stew with Swiss Chard and Tomatoes

White Bean Stew with Swiss Chard & Tomatoes

2 pounds Swiss chard, cut crosswise into 2-inch strips

¼ cup olive oil

3 garlic cloves thinly sliced

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 cup tomatoes, chopped

2 cups vegetable stock

2 cups cannellini beans, cooked

1 teaspoon thyme

cracked black pepper

Salt

      1.  In the saucepan, heat the oil.

      2.  Add garlic and crushed red pepper and cook over moderate heat until the garlic is golden 1 minute.

      3.  Add tomatoes and stock and bring to a boil.

      4.  Add beans and simmer over moderately high heat for 3 minutes.

      5.  Add Swiss chard and simmer over moderate heat until the flavors meld, 5 minutes.

      6.  Season the stew with salt and serve

Vegetarian Pho

Vegetarian Pho

·  

·        6 cups vegetable broth

·        3 large shallots, sliced

·        ½ cup dried shiitake mushrooms

·        10 cloves garlic, crushed

·        3 tablespoons tamari

·        12 ¼-inch coins fresh ginger

·        1 tablespoon brown sugar

·        1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

·        1 teaspoon ground black pepper

·        2 cinnamon sticks

·        2 star anise

·        6 basil stems, leaves reserved 

·        6 cilantro stems, leaves reserved 

·        8 oz. rice noodles

·        8 oz. Asian-flavor baked tofu, thinly sliced

·        2 cups soybean sprouts

·        2 cups watercress

·        4 green onions, sliced 

·        ¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves

·        1 cup fresh basil leaves

·        1 lime, cut into wedges

          1 jalapeno, thinly sliced

1.     

     1.  Place first 13 ingredients in large pot with 8 cups water. 

  

     2.  Cover, and bring to a boil. 

     3.  Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, 1 hour. 

     4.  Strain broth, and return to pot. Discard solids.

    5.  Cook rice noodles according to package directions. 

    6.  Drain, and rinse under cold water. 

    7.  Divide among 6 large soup bowls. 

    8.  Ladle broth over noodles, and top with tofu, sprouts, watercress, and green onions. 

    9.  Serve cilantro, basil, lime wedges, and jalapeno on the side to be stirred into soup.

Spiced Lentil Soup

Spiced Lentil Soup

8 cups vegetable stock
4 onions, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
8 tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground cumin
12 cardamoms
1½ cinnamon stick
2 cups red lentils
4 cups coconut milk
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
salt and pepper to taste

1.  In a large saucepan add water, onions, garlic, tomatoes, turmeric, cumin, cardamoms, cinnamon, and lentils. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes.

2.  Remove the cardamoms and cinnamon stick, and then puree the mixture in a food processor. 

3.  Press the soup through a strainer and return to the pan.

4.  Add the remaining ingredients; reserve some coconut milk to use as a garnish.

5.  Stir well and reheat the soup gently until ready to serve.

Fennel and Potato Soup

Fennel and Potato Soup

3 medium fennel bulbs, slice reserve 2 tablespoons of feathery leaves

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 shallots, finely chopped

4 cups veggie stock

1 large russet potato, cubed

dash of nutmeg

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Heat butter and olive oil together in a medium pot over medium-low heat.

2. When butter has melted, add sliced fennel, shallots, and 1 cup of the stock.

3. Cover and simmer gently until fennel is soft and translucent, about 15 minutes.

4. Increase heat to medium, add potatoes and remaining 3 cups stock, and bring to a boil.

5. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently until potatoes are very soft and cooked through about 25 minutes.

6. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper.

7. Gently mash the vegetables with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon until the soup is thick and chunky (but not puréed), adding a little stock if it becomes too thick.

8. Chop the reserved fennel leaves, then stir into soup.

9. Remove soup from heat and set aside for 5 minutes to allow flavors to develop.

10. Ladle soup into four bowls and serve warm, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil, if you like.

Artichoke Stew

Artichoke Stew

24 artichokes

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 bunch spring onions, chopped

2 lemons, halved

1 teaspoon salt

1 pound snow peas, trimmed 

2 pounds thin asparagus, cut diagonally into 3-inch-long pieces

4 cups vegetarian broth

½ cup chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley and mint

1. Cut artichokes in half lengthwise. 

2. Heat 2 tablespoons butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

3. Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.

4. Add artichokes and juice of 2 lemons and cook 2 minutes. 

5. Add peas, asparagus, veggie broth, and salt to taste. 

6. Simmer, stirring, until just cooked through, about 10 minutes.

7.  Add herbs and cook 1 minute. Stir in remaining butter. 

Edamame Pate

Edamame Pate

1 ¼ cups shelled edamame

·     ½ cup walnuts, toasted

      2 tablespoons of sesame oil

·     1/3 cup mint leaves

·     1 green onion, chopped

·     1 tablespoon tamari

·     3 tablespoon lemon juice

       toasted black and white sesame seeds, garnish

1. Purée edamame, walnuts, sesame oil, mint, green onion, and tamari in a food processor until finely chopped. 

2. With motor running, add lemon juice. 

3. Process until smooth.

Sweet Potato Kale Frittata

Sweet Potato Kale Frittata

6 large eggs

1 cup half-and-half

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground pepper

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 cup sweet potatoes

2 tablespoon olive oil

2 cup firmly packed chopped kale

½ small red onion

2 clove garlic

3 oz. goat cheese

½ cup kale, sliced

    1.  Preheat oven to 350°F.

    2.  Whisk together eggs and next 3 ingredients.

3.  Sauté sweet potatoes in 1 tablespoon hot oil in a 10-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender and golden; remove and keep warm.

4.  Sauté kale and next 2 ingredients in remaining 1 tablespoon oil 3 to 4 minutes or until kale are wilted and tender; stir in potatoes.

5.  Pour egg mixture evenly over vegetables, and cook 3 more minutes.

6.  Sprinkle egg mixture with goat cheese and kale.

7.  Bake at 350 degrees F 10 to 14 minutes or until set.

Roasted Red Pepper Almond and Garlic Dip Romesco

Roasted Red Pepper Almond and Garlic Dip

½ cup almonds, whole, toasted
1 red pepper, roasted 
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
3 large garlic cloves, roasted

1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon of thyme

1 teaspoon oregano

2 tablespoons olive oil

1.  Fine chop almonds in processor.

2.  Add the rest of the ingredients, except the olive oil; process to coarse puree.

3.  With machine running, pour olive oil through feed tube and process until puree thickens slightly.

4.  Season dip to taste with salt and pepper. 
5. Serve in a small bowl with veggies, bread, crackers, etc. 

Apple and Endive Salad with Lemon and Thyme

Apple and Endive Salad with Lemon and Thyme

	1	tablespoon fresh lemon juice
	2	tablespoons olive oil
	1 ½	tablespoon fresh thyme leaves red onion
	3	apples, cored
	2	Belgian endives
	~	Salt and freshly ground black pepper

       1.      Put the lemon juice in a medium bowl and gradually whisk in the olive oil in a steady stream until blended.

       2.      Then whisk in the thyme leaves.

       3.      Cut the red onions, apples, and endives into thin strips about 2 inches long.

       4.      Add the red onions, apples, and endives to the dressing, then taste and season with salt, pepper.

Jicama and Orange Salad

Jicama and Orange Salad

   1 large jicama

   1 English cucumber

   4 medium navel oranges

   3 to 4 limes

   1 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped

   1 tablespoon olive oil

   1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

   Salt and pepper

1. Using a sharp knife, trim top and bottom of jicama and generously peel tough brown skin.
2. Cut jicama into matchstick-size pieces; you should have about 8 cups.
3. Peel cucumber in alternating strips; cut in half lengthwise, then into 1/4-in.-thick half-moons.
4. With knife, cut peel and white pith from oranges and discard.
5. Cut each orange crosswise into 1/4-in. rounds; cut each round in half and transfer to large bowl.
6. From limes, grate 2 teaspoons peel and squeeze 5 tablespoons juice.
7. To bowl with oranges, add jicama, cucumber, lime peel and juice, cilantro, oil, red pepper flakes, pepper, and salt.
8. Toss well. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 4 hours

Arugula with Plums and Marinated Goat Cheese

Arugula with Golden Plums and Marinated Goat Cheese

1 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons plus ½ cup chopped fresh basil
 14 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled

16 ounces arugula
5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
6 large ripe golden plums, pitted, each cut into 18 wedges and grilled

1.  Whisk oil and 4 tablespoons basil in a shallow bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

2.  Add cheese; spoon basil oil over. 

3.  Cover; let stand at room temperature 2 hours.

4.  Remove cheese from basil oil; reserve oil.

5.  Toss greens and ½ cup basil in large bowl. 

6.  Add reserved basil oil and vinegar; toss. Season with salt and pepper.

7.  Top each salad with goat cheese and plum wedges.

Avocado Caprese Salad

Avocado Caprese Salad

 1 avocado, cut into chunks

4 cups of various cherry and grape tomatoes, cut in half

2 cups of fresh mozzarella, cut into chunks

1/2 cup of basil

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper

1. Place all the ingredients in a bowl and gently toss to combine.

Green Bean and Radicchio Salad with Roasted Beets and Balsamic Red Onions

Green Bean and Radicchio Salad with Roasted Beets and Balsamic Red Onions

1 large red onion, cut in half thinly sliced crosswise

¼ cup plus 6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 bay leaf

6 large beets

1 tablespoon plus ½ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons water

1 ½ pounds slender green beans, cut in half 

¼ cup chopped shallots

1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme

1  tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

1 large head of radicchio

1.  Place onion, ¼ cup vinegar, and bay leaf in a large jar or medium bowl.

2.  Add just enough water to cover. 

3. Season generously with salt and pepper and chill.

4.  Preheat oven to 350°F. Place a large piece of foil on baking sheet. 

5. Place beets in center of foil.

6.  Drizzle beets with 1 tablespoon oil and 2 tablespoons water.

7.  Top with another piece of foil; crimp edges to seal tightly.

8.  Roast beets until tender when pierced with a fork, about 1 hour 15 minutes; cool completely.

9.  Steam beans in a large pot until crisp-tender, about 6 minutes.

10.  Whisk remaining 6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, ½ cup oil, shallots, oregano, and thyme in small bowl to blend. 

11. Season dressing with salt and pepper.

12.  Peel and cut beets into ¼ inch-thick slices.

13.  Arrange large radicchio leaves over the very large platter to cover.

14.  Drain red onions; scatter over radicchio.

15.  Arrange beans over onions.

16.  Arrange beet slices decoratively over beans. 

17. Pour dressing over salad and serve. 

Spinach and Raddichio Salad with Mushrooms and Cashews

Spinach and Radicchio Salad with Mushrooms and Cashews

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon dill, chopped

½ cup olive oil

6-ounces baby spinach

1 head radicchio, torn into pieces

8 ounces mushrooms, sliced

2 green onions, minced

½ cup chopped roasted cashews 

1. Whisk first 4 ingredients in small bowl. 

2. Gradually whisk in oil. 

3. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.

4.  Combine spinach and all remaining ingredients in large bowl.