Crispy Quinoa Cakes

I found this recipe at Vegetarian Times. Super super delish. My hubby gave it 2 big thumbs up. The website recommends serving them with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, although I didn't try it.
Ingredients:

• 1 large egg
• 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 Tbs. tahini or nut butter
• 1 1/2 tsp. red or white wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
• 1/2 cup finely grated sweet potato
• 1/2 10-oz. pkg. frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts, optional
• 2 oz. crumbled feta cheese, optional
• 2 Tbs. finely diced onion
• 1 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
• 1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
• 1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Combine egg, flour, tahini, and vinegar in bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients, then mash together until mixture is firm enough to shape into cakes. Shape mixture into 1/4-cup patties with wet hands. Bake on prepared baking sheet 25 minutes, turning once, or until cakes are browned.

Notes about this recipe:

1. I used margarine instead of tahini or nut butter.
2. I used water instead of red or white wine vinegar.
3. I only used 1 cup of quinoa because I felt like 1 1/2 was a lot and I wanted the other flavors to stand out.
4. I did not use the cheese or nuts, but I imagine adding both is probably delish.
5. I tried to flip one of them 1/2 way through the cook time, but it just crumbled so I didn't flip the others.
6. I greased my pan before putting the quinoa cakes on it.
7. I believe that the best part of these cakes was the sun dried tomatoes (but that could be because I LOVE sun dried tomatoes). I used some homemade ones with rosemary and other herbs.

I served this up with a veggie and fruit side, along with some wheat bread.

Curried Pumpkin Soup

This recipe was sent to me by Leslie G. She found it at My Panera.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 3/4 cup chopped carrots
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) 100 percent pumpkin puree
• 1 cup canned coconut milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Pinch of sugar
• 8 thin slices from Panera Bread Three Seed Demi Bread, toasted
  

Directions:

1.Heat oil and butter in large saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add onion, carrot, garlic, ginger, and curry powder. Cook until carrots are soft, 5 to 8 minutes.

2.Pour in 1 1/2 cups of broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in pumpkin, coconut milk, salt, and sugar, and cook 2 minutes. Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree until very smooth.

3.Return to pan and heat through. Served with the toasted slices of Panera Bread Three Seed Demi Bread.

Makes 4 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes

Nutrition (per serving): 439 calories, 11 g protein, 55 g carbohydrate, 23 g fat, 8 mg cholesterol, 851 mg sodium, 11 g dietary fiber

Notes about this recipe:

It's a good soup, we didn't puree it but I imagine it tastes good all the same. It isn't too spicy, so little kids may like it.

Simple Summer Stew with Herb Butter

This recipe was submitted by Ryann P. She found it in a cookbook called Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison. We were given special permission from the author to have this recipe posted on the blog. Thanks Deborah!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 TBSP marjoram
• 1 1/2 TBSP basil
• 1 1/2 TBSP parsley
• 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
• salt and freshly milled pepper
• 4 TBSP butter, softened
• 8 oz. green beans , preferably skinny ones, tipped, cut into 3-inch lengths
• 1 TBSP olive or sunflower seed oil
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
• 8 oz. small summer squash, diced or sliced into rounds
• 1 red or yellow bell pepper, cut into squares
• 1 large tomato, peeled, seeded, and diced
• 4 ears corn, shucked, about 3 cups kernels
  

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the marjoram, basil, parsley, lemon zest, a pinch of salt, and the butter. Mix thoroughly and set aside.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and add salt. Cook the beans, uncovered for 2 minutes and then drain.

Heat the oil in a wide pan over high heat with the onion and garlic. Saute for 1 minute, then add 1/2 cup water, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the beans, squash, pepper, tomato, and corn. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, cover, and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in the herb butter, taste for salt, and season with pepper.

Notes about this recipe:

We've had this recipe a few times and discovered that it is tremendously delicious with fresh vegetables from the Farmer's Market. Four servings was barely enough to feed two. It is also tasty with grocery store vegetables, but difference is noticeable. This recipe is the perfect reason to support your local Farmer's Market before they close for the season and enjoy a little bit of vegetable heaven.

Roasted Vegetable Stacked Enchiladas Part 2

Remember the previous post? Here are the adaptations I made to the recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod. In the picture above the left side is the no-cheese side and the right side is the cheesy side.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 sweet potato, chopped
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and diced
• 1/2 red pepper, chopped, seeds removed
• 1/2 green pepper, chopped, seeds removed
• 1/2 yellow squash, chopped
  
• 1/2 zucchini, chopped
• 1/2 cup black beans, rinsed and drained (if from a can)
• 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. chipotle chili powder
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• About 8-10 oz of red enchilada sauce
• About 8-10 corn tortillas
  
• About 1 1/4 c. chedder cheese (optional)
  

Directions:

1. Heat oil in large skillet, saute sweet potatoes and carrots until soft (about 7-10 minutes). Then add onions, peppers, yellow squash, zucchini and cook until getting blackened (kinda crispy).

2. Add the beans, cumin, chipotle chili powder, garlic, and salt & pepper to taste. Cook for about 2 more min.

3. Put about 1/4 c. enchilada sauce on bottom of an 8x8 square baking dish. Spread it around, then lay down corn tortillas to cover the bottom (about 2 or 3...I broke one in half for each of my layers). Then add about 1/2 of the veggie mixture from the pan. Add a layer of cheese. Then add another layer of tortillas, enchilada sauce, remaining veggie mixture, more cheese. End with a layer of tortiallas and more sauce on top. You can sprinkle cheese on the very top if you like.

4. Cover dish with foil and put in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Take the foil off and cook an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese on top is totally melted.

Roasted Vegetable Stacked Enchiladas

This recipe was submitted by Katie M. She found it over at Two Peas and Their Pod. Her husband told her that this is his favorite veggie dish that she has made so far.

Funny story--Katie sent this recipe to me and as I was reading over it I realized I had found the EXACT same recipe and had tried it out a few weeks ago. I will post my version of this recipe next, cause I made a few different changes than Katie. Further funny, my husband also LOVED this dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 large red pepper, chopped, seeds removed
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 1 medium yellow squash, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jalapeño, minced
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 cups red enchilada sauce
• 9-10 small corn tortillas
• 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place red pepper, zucchini, yellow squash, and onion on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toss until vegetables are coated. Season with salt and pepper. Roast vegetables for 30-40 minutes, or until tender, stirring occasionally. Remove vegetables from oven and let cool to room temperature. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

2. Grease an 8x8 square baking pan and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine roasted vegetables, black beans, cumin, chili powder, garlic, jalapeño, and cilantro. Stir and season with salt and pepper.

3. Spread 1/4 cup of enchilada sauce into the bottom of the baking pan. Add a layer of tortillas, to completely cover the bottom of the pan. You might have to cut the tortillas to make them fit. Top with 1/3 of the vegetable/bean mixture and 1/3 of the cheese. Make a second layer of tortilla, enchilada sauce, vegetables/beans, and cheese. Top with with a layer of tortillas, enchilada sauce, vegetables/beans, and cheese. Spray a sheet of aluminum foil with cooking spray and cover the pan.

4. Bake enchiladas for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and the enchiladas are bubbling. Remove enchiladas from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Cut into squares and serve warm.

Notes about this recipe:
1. I didn't have a jalapeno and they were still great. Though I don't like things really hot.
2. I expected to want some sour cream on top to add some contrast but was pleasantly surprised that these stand alone quite well.
3. I think these would be easy to try again without having to stick to the vegetables used here. For example, I think in the winter you could used some butternut squash and less summer squash and it would still be good.

Quinoa Stew

I found this recipe at Whole Food Mommies.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c. quinoa (can use 1 c. as well, for a chunkier stew)
• 1 c. water (2 c. if using 1 c. quinoa)
• 2 c. chopped onions
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Tb. olive oil or less
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1 carrot, cut on the diagonal into 1/4 inch think slices
• 1 bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 c. cubed zucchini
• 2 c. undrained chopped fresh or canned tomatoes
• 1 c. water or vegetable stock
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
  
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• Pinch of cayenne (or more to taste)
• 2 tsp. fresh oregano (1 tsp. dried)
• Salt to taste
• Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions:

Using a fine sieve, rinse the quinoa well. Place it in a pot with the water and cook, coverd, on medium low heat for about 15 minutes, until soft. Set aside.

While the quinoa cooks, saute the onions and garlic in a deep pot in oil for 5 minutes on medium heat.

Add celery and carrots. Cook another 5 minutes, stirring often.

Add the bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, and stock.

Stir in the cumin, chili powder, ground coriander, cayenne, oregano, and simmer for 10-15 minutes until vegetables are tender.

Stir cooked quinoa into the stew and add salt to taste.

Notes about this recipe:

1. The picture posted with this recipe shows that avocado was also added. I tried adding some to mine when I made it and I thought that was an excellent choice. Oh how I love avocados!

2. I served this with tortilla chips.

Potato Cheese Soup

This recipe comes from Vanessa H. She got it in her high school Home Economics class and still uses it. She says it's easy to make and delicious and her husband is always asking her to make it.

Ingredients and Directions:

Soup:

• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 Tbsp minced onion
• white sauce*
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
  

Combine broth, potatoes, and onion. Bring to boil and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook about 15 minutes until potatoes are soft.

*While the potatoes are cooking, make the white sauce:

• 2 Tbsp butter/margarine
• 3 Tbsp flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
  

Melt butter and flour together in saucepan over medium heat. When mixed well and bubbling, pour in milk. Stir until thickened and liquid comes to a boil. (This takes a while, be patient!) Boil for about 10 seconds and remove from heat.

Combine the potato broth and white sauce. Mix well. Stir in the cheese (At this point, I don't measure. I always put more than 1 cup because we love cheese around here. I just do a couple of big handfuls.) Season with salt and pepper. (I add a LOT of salt. Potatoes soak up salt like crazy, so anytime you cook with potatoes you usually have to over-salt.) If it's too thick for your liking, add more milk to get it to the consistency you want.

Notes about this recipe:

1. I like to eat it with saltine crackers or bread. It's also really fun in bread bowls! I'm sure you can add anything you want into it, too. One of these days I want to experiment and make this a Broccoli-Potato Cheese Soup!

Spicy Bean Burritos

Photo from Pink Parsley.

I found this recipe on Annie's Eats. She adapted it from Pink Parsley, who adapted it from Cooking Light. So it's been through some changes since the original recipe was found! You basically make your own re-fried beans, but they are much more tasty!

Ingredients:

For the bean filling:

• 2 tsp. canola or vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. minced chipotle in adobo sauce
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• ¼ tsp. kosher salt
• Dash cayenne pepper
• 1/3 cup water, vegetable broth or chicken broth
• 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 6 tbsp. fresh salsa

For serving:

• 6 (9- or 10-inch) flour tortillas, warmed
• Shredded cheese
• Diced tomatoes
• Shredded romaine lettuce
• Chopped green onions
• Low-fat sour cream or Greek yogurt

Directions:

To make the bean filling, heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, chili powder, chipotle, cumin, salt and cayenne; stir, cooking just until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Add the beans and the water or broth to the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat, stir in the salsa and mash the mixture with a spoon or fork.

Spoon about a third of a cup of the bean mixture down the center of each tortilla. Top each serving with a pinch of shredded cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, green onions and sour cream. Roll the tortilla up tightly, burrito style, and serve immediately.

Yields about 6 servings.

Notes about this recipe:

1. I didn't use the cayanne pepper and only used 3 Tb. of our medium salsa and it was still a tad bit spicy. If you aren't one for spice I would put less of the chipotle in adobo or chili powder.

2. I added olives to mine and it was delish.

Quinoa with Basalmic Roasted Mushrooms

This recipe was referred to me by Maghann B. She found it at Whole Foods Market, but hadn't had a chance to try it out. I finally got to make it and it was yummy! The almonds gave it a delicious crunch.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 pear, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
• 1 garlic clove, halved
• 2 pounds portobello mushrooms, stemmed and gills scraped out
• 1 cup red or white quinoa
• 3 cups tightly packed fresh spinach, chopped
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 475°F.

Put vinegar, mustard, pear and garlic in a blender with 1/3 cup water and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Cut mushrooms into chunks and combine in a large mixing bowl with 1/4 cup of the pear balsamic dressing. Spread mushrooms in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until tender, stirring occasionally, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.

While mushrooms roast, prepare quinoa. In a medium pot, bring 1 3/4 cups water to a boil. Stir in quinoa, cover pot, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove pot from heat and set aside, covered, 10 minutes more. Uncover and fluff quinoa with a fork.

Combine mushrooms, quinoa, spinach, green onions, almonds, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup more pear balsamic dressing in a large, wide serving bowl. Stir to mix well. Serve with remaining dressing on the side.

Notes about this recipe:

1. I used regular mushrooms instead of portobellos. I only had 8 oz, but wished I had used 16 oz because they were tasty!
2. My pear wasn't incredibly ripe so the pear flavor was really faint. For stronger flavor use a fairly ripe pear.
3. If you serve it as a main dish I would suggest something like yams and a yummy wheat bread to go with it, plus some fruit.

Peanut Butter Smoothie

My husband and I tested out using peanut butter in our smoothies a while back and found a pretty delicious combination. I decided to try it out with a green smoothie twist and it was fabulous!

Ingredients:

• 8 oz liquid, 1/2 orange juice 1/2 water
• 1 1/2 handfuls of spinach
• 2-4 Tb. milled flax seed
• 1/4 c.-1/2 c. oats
• 1 banana
• 8 strawberries
• about 1/8 c. peanut butter

Directions:

Blend the liquid and spinach for about 20-30 seconds. Add the flax seed, oats, and banana and blend for another 30 seconds. Add strawberries and peanut butter, blend till smooth and enjoy!

Veggie Fried Rice

This is a super recipe for using veggies that are about to go bad.

Ingredients:

• A little bit of olive oil
  
• 1 egg
  
• 1/2 cup cooked sweet potatoes, diced (as best you can....they are a bit mushy)
• 1 carrot, peeled and sliced
• 3 mushrooms, sliced
• 5 green onions, sliced
• About 3 cups cooked brown rice (or any rice)
• 1/2 c. frozen peas
• 1/2 c. frozen corn
  
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 Tb. soy sauce

Directions:

First put a tiny bit of olive oil in a large frying pan and scramble the egg. Once cooked, remove it and set aside in a small bowl.

Then saute the sweet potato and carrot in a little more olive oil, about 5-7 min. Then add mushrooms, green onions and cook till just soft. Add rice, ginger, soy sauce, a little more olive oil, frozen peas and corn. Add the egg back into the pan.

Fry until the rice starts to brown and get a bit crispy.

Notes about this recipe:

1. All of the ingredients are up to you. Use what you have, add more if you like it, don't add it if you don't like it.

2. If you prefer you can fry it until the rice is warm. That's if you don't like it a bit crispy.

Spinach-Artichoke Stuffed Shells

This recipe was submitted by Vanessa H. She found it over at Rachael Ray's website. She says "Spinach and artichoke. The. perfect. combination."

Ingredients:

• Salt
• 20 large pasta shells
• 1 28-ounce can whole plum tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 7 to 8 leaves basil, torn
• Ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 1 10-ounce box chopped frozen spinach, defrosted or 3/4 pound fresh baby spinach, chopped
• A few grates fresh nutmeg
• 1 10-ounce box frozen baby or regular artichoke hearts, defrosted and chopped
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon thyme leaves, chopped
• 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Place a large pot of water over high heat to boil the pasta. When the water reaches a bubble, salt it well, drop the shells in and cook them to al dente according to package directions. Drain the cooked shells and shock them under cold water to stop them from cooking. Reserve.

While the shells are cooking, mash up the tomatoes in the bottom of a casserole dish. Stir in the butter, basil, some salt and pepper into the dish, and set aside.

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Add the garlic to the pan and cook until aromatic and light golden brown, about 1 minute. Add the spinach, and nutmeg to the pan, and cook to heat through.

Transfer the spinach to a large bowl and stir in the artichokes, ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, lemon zest, thyme, egg yolk, parsley, some salt and pepper. Fill the reserved pasta shells with the mixture, arranging them on top of the sauce in the casserole dish as you complete them.

Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and transfer to the oven. Bake covered for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and turn the oven up to 425˚F. Continue cooking until the filling is golden brown and bubbly, about 15 minutes more.

Makes 4 servings with 4 shells to each person topped with some of the sauce.

Notes about this recipe:

1. I have tried it with fresh basil leaves and with dried basil leaves. I didn't really notice a difference. So if you don't want to buy the expensive fresh basil, just use the dried stuff you have in your pantry :) Same goes for the parsley...
2. I have tried using the frozen chopped spinach and the fresh baby spinach. I hated working with the frozen chopped stuff, so it's fresh from now on.
3. I have yet to find frozen artichokes at the store, so I just use artichoke hearts out of a can.