Cranberry Quinoa Salad

Shamelessly stole this idea from the deli counter at Harmon's Grocery Store.  We looked it up online to no avail, but found some comparable ones and improvised a bit too.  Very easy to tinker around with and adjust to your liking.  LOVE this stuff.

1 c red and white quinoa mixed, rinsed

1 can vegetable broth (plus some water)

1 tbs lime juice

1 clove garlic, minced

½ c. green bell pepper, finely diced

¼ c purple onion, finely diced

½ c black/red beans

1/3 c corn (I use frozen)

½ c dried cranberries

¼ c cilantro, diced

3 tsp red wine vinegar

1 tbs olive oil

1-2 tbs agave nectar (could MAYBE substitute with honey?  Haven’t tried it…)

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook quinoa in the vegetable broth/water combination on stovetop or in rice cooker at a 2-1 ratio (2 parts liquid to 1 part quinoa) WITH lime juice and garlic.

While it’s cooking, add everything else together in a bowl and mix.  Add quinoa when it’s done and mix again.  Trends suggest this be eaten cold, but I enjoy it warm as well- your call.  Measurements are an estimate- add more or less according to your own taste.  Serves as a bountiful side dish for maybe 8-10 people?

Tomato Soup

No photo, but this is truly awesome, regardless.  I essentially compiled a bunch of soup recipes and adjusted it to what we had on hand, and came up with this.

Tomato Soup

6-7 tomatoes, seeded & chopped

¼ onion, chopped

1 c. leftover tomato-based sauce (spaghetti, soup, etc)

1 can chicken/veggie broth (about 1.75 c.)

2-3 Tbs flour

2-3 Tbs butter/olive oil

1-2 c. milk/cream

12-16 basil leaves, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Simmer first 4 ingredients listed together in a covered pot, up to 30 min.  Mix flour and butter/oil in saucepan on med heat, then add milk.  Combine all in pot.  Immersion blend with basil.  Season and serve with grilled cheese sandwiches and chocolate milkshakes.

In a pinch I’ll compensate with more sauce if not enough tomatoes are on hand.  As long as it’s heavy with tomatoes of some kind, I think you’ll be fine.

Six-Bean Barbecued Beans- Slow Cooker

Fix-it and Forget-it Cookbook (Gladys Longacre, p.213)

1 can kidney beans, drained
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can Great Northern beans, drained
1 can butter beans, drained
1 can navy/white beans, drained
1 can pork & beans (I used a vegetarian can)
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup mustard
1/3 cup ketchup
1 small onion, chopped
1 small bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup molasses (or sorghum molasses)
1 cup brown sugar

Mix together all ingredients in slow cooker.
Cook on Low 4-6 hours.

Makes 15-18 servings

(That's the only downside with this recipe- if you only intend on feeding up to 6, you'll have a mountain of beans left over, and as you're emptying out entire cans, I can't see how you could easily cut this recipe in half.  I'm just hoping they freeze well as that's what we ended up doing with our leftovers...)

Sweet Potato Casserole with Gingersnap Streusel

-Parenting Magazine

What can I say? I was hungry while looking through this magazine, and ripped the page out to give it a try. It's more of a Thanksgiving dish, but I love sweet potatoes any time of the year too.

5 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled & diced (about 4 large sweet potatoes)

1 1/4 tsp salt divided, plus more for boiling

15-20 coarsely broken gingersnap cookies

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup half & half (I used milk)

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

2 large eggs

Grease a 9x13 baking dish.

Boil potatoes with generous pinch of salt, simmer til tender (14-16 min).

Meanwhile, make the topping by combining gingersnaps, flour, sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, and melted butter. (Should look like a crumble topping.)

Drain potatoes and puree in blender or mash til smooth.

In a large bowl, whisk the maple syrup, half & half, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs, and remaining 1 tsp salt. Add the potato puree and mix. Put in baking dish and sprinkle topping mixture on top.

FROM HERE--

This can be wrapped up and stored in the freezer for up to three weeks (in preparation for Thanksgiving, for example) OR go ahead and bake it for 45 minutes on 350 F.

SO very good.

Lentil Soup (Crockpot)

1 c dry lentils

1 1/2 c carrots, chopped

1 1/2 c celery, chopped

1 1/2 c onions, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp basil (dry)

1 tsp thyme (dry)

1 Tbs parsley (dry)

2 bay leaves

1 can diced tomatoes

3 1/2 c vegetable broth (2 cans)

1 1/2 c water

fresh ground pepper, to taste

Rinse lentils.

Place all ingredients in a 4-6 qt. slow cooker, with bay leaves on top. Cover and cook on low 12+ hours or high 5+ hours. Remove bay leaves before serving.

Serves 4-6.

Spaghetti Squash

-Allrecipes.com


1 Spaghetti Squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
2 Tbs oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 c. tomatoes, chopped
3/4 c. crumbled feta cheese
3 Tbs black olives
2 Tbs basil, chopped (less if you're using dry)

Cook spaghetti squash in oven in tray/dish, cut side up at 350F for 30 min. Let cool a bit.
Saute onion and garlic in oil then add tomatoes til they get warm.
Grate spaghetti squash out with a fork into a medium bowl, add sauteed ingredients and feta, olives, and basil. Toss and serve warm.
Serves 6.

Vegetable Parmesan Quiche

-Heart Healthy Cookbook

The beauty of quiche is that is doesn't really matter what veggies you put in. If your Mr. Picky doesn't like mushrooms, try bell pepper or spinach or ham. The green onions really add to this, so try not to substitute for that.... just don't let your Picky know it's in there....

I WILL recommend though, after trying this recipe, if using canned tomatoes, drain as much juice out as possible, and use a DEEP pie dish- mine was too shallow and it went spilling over the edges. Still good, but not very pretty.

Pie crust (scratch or store bought)

1 c. chopped mushrooms

3/4 c. chopped green onion

1/4 c. flour

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/4 all-purpose seasoning

6 ripe tomatoes, thickly sliced (I used a can of diced tomatoes)

2 oz. grated parmesan cheese

2 eggs

1 c. milk

Preheat oven to 400F. Bake piecrust alone in 9" dish for 5 minutes. Cool completely and lower oven temp to 350F. (NOTE** My mom's note in here says to skip this step entirely- I didn't, and my pie crust shrank a bit... I'll try her advice next time).

Saute mushrooms and green onions in a tiny bit of water until tender- set aside.

Mix flour, pepper, and seasoning in shallow bowl and "dredge" tomatoes in mixture (learned from this recipe that "dredge" means essentially "coat it"...) Arranged coated tomatoes as bottom layer in pie crust.

Add vegetable mixture- make sure to cover all the tomatoes up. Next layer with cheese, then mix eggs and milk and add as top layer.

Bake 40-45 min or until cooked through middle.

Serves 8 slices. Serve hot or cold.

Tomaattiperunakeitto (Tomato Potato Soup)

-Finnish Cookbook

This is one my mom found when trying to think up a thematic dish for my brother's farewell party to Finland. So darn good, and very simple. I also gained my testimony of immersion blenders from this recipe, as transporting batches of scalding hot soup into my blender wasn't doing it for me anymore. Invest in one if you get the chance- they are heaven sent.

1.5 lb fresh tomatoes, peeled (I left skins on)

6 c. vegetable broth OR water

3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed (I left peels on)

4 medium onions, peeled and diced

3 tbs. butter

3 tbs. flour

salt pepper

1 c. heavy cream

chopped parsley (I feel it's optional)

In a LARGE pot (a deep stock pot works) combine tomatoes, broth/water, potatoes, and onions. Cook over medium heat til tender. Use immersion blender to blend it all together (or pulverize it in batches in a real blender...) until smooth. Melt butter in separate saucepan and add flour to make a white paste- add to blended veggies and mix again til smooth and dissolved. Cook til thickened, add salt and pepper to taste. Just before serving, add cream and parsley. Serves 6.

Tater Tots

This is a photo of what we had for dinner tonight:

Tater tots. (with the hubby's artistic dollop of ketchup.)

Why?

Because I get lame about dinner sometimes.

Definitely not worth a post, but Mr. Picky reminded me that in truth this IS something his other picky brothers WILL eat.

Apple Crisp

-Cochrane family, Barrie, ONT

I love this recipe because it's so darn easy.

4 tart apples, sliced (with or without peels- good either way)

2/3 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. rolled oats

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/3 c. melted butter (or 1/3 c. olive oil)

Grease square pan. Sliced apples on bottom, mix remaining ingredients, and sprinkle over apples. Bake at 375 F for 30 minutes. Serve with ice cream. Eat the leftovers for breakfast. Yum.

Sweet Potatoes & Apples

-Aunt Jillyn

No matter where we bring this dish to, someone inevitably asks me for the recipe. This is a fantastic dish to bring to a potluck or holiday party.

1/2 c. butter (or 1/2 c. olive oil)

1 c. sugar (Tried 3/4 c. and it's still great. Might try 1/2 c. next time.)

3 tbs. corn starch

1 c. water

1 c. orange juice (ready to drink)

2 29 oz. cans yams, cut in chunks

4-5 tart apples, peeled and cut in chunks

Melt butter in pan, mix in corn starch and sugar. Add water and juice. Stire over heat until thickened (stir constantly). Place sliced apples and yams in 8x10 pan OR LARGER (I prefer to use a 9x13 pan so they don't spill out everywhere). Pour mixture on top. Bake 1 hour at 350 F.

Vegetable Soup

- Cooking Light- Slow Cooker

Fantastic slow cooker recipe. The veggies can be varied too. (I'm not a huge fan of cauliflower, but I love onions, and corn. I'd actually love to try sweet potatoes in here next time. Throw in whatever you want as long as the mass amount adds up to what they call for.)

1 garlic clove, minced

2 c. vegetable broth

1 envelope onion soup mix

2 medium potatoes, chopped

3 c. water

14.5 ox can diced tomatoes

1 c. broccoli pieces

1 c. carrots, chopped

1 c. cauliflower, chopped

1 c. green beans (or 1 can)

1 c. frozen peas

1/4 tsp. black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker, cook 4 hrs. on high OR 8 hrs. on low. 4-6 servings. (Add peas during last hour or so.)

African Sweet Potato Stew with Red Beans

-Cooking Light: Slow Cooker

Wow, this soup rocks. I couldn't stop raving about it last night. The hubby gave it around 4 stars, but perked up and gave it a definite 5 stars when I told him it was vegan approved.

2 tsp olive oil

1 1/2 c chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

4 c sweet potato, cubed & peeled (I used 2 med/large)

1 1/2 c cooked small red beans (I used one can)

1 1/2 c vegetable broth

1 c chopped red bell pepper

1/2 c water

1 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 can diced tomatoes, drained (14.5 oz)

1 can chopped green chilies, drained (4.5 oz) (I left this OUT for sure)

3 tbs creamy peanut butter

3 tbs chopped peanuts

6 lime wedges

Saute onion and garlic in oil in a pan. Put onion & garlic in 5 quart slow cooker, add remaining ingredients except for peanut butter, peanuts, and limes. Cook on low for 8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Spoon 1 cup of cooking liquid out of slow cooker and whisk peanut butter into it. Put new mixture back into stew, stir, and ladle into bowls. Garnish with peanuts and lime wedges. Serves 4-6.

Crock Pot Pesto Lasagna

-Cooking Light- Slow Cooker

Looking for a vegetarian lasagna? This one's awesome. Hubby gave it 4 stars. The pesto's great.

I just realized Kris posted a very similar recipe. Oops. Well, now you have two to choose from. :)

4 c. torn spinach, steamed

2 c. cremini mushrooms, sliced (though the type doesn't matter so much)

1/2 c. commerical pesto

3/4 c. mozzarella chhese, shredded

3/4 c. provolone, shredded

15 oz. carton ricotta cheese

1 egg, beaten

1/4 c. parmesan cheese (plus 1/2 c. for later)

26 oz. jar tomato pasta sauce

8 oz. can tomato sauce

8 oz. package precooked lasagna noodles

cooking spray/ shortening

Steam spinach, squeeze dry, chop coarse, and combine with mushrooms and pesto in medium bowl.

Combine cheeses & egg in another bowl (add 1/4 c. parmesan last)

Combine tomato sauces in another bowl.

Grease large 6 quart oval slow cooker. Line: 1 c. tomato sauce, 1 c. lasagna noodles, 1 c. cheese mix, 1 c. spinach mix. Continue til noodles gone, top with sauce and add remaining 1/2 c. parmesan.

Cover and cook on low 5 hours.

Yields 8 servings.

So not vegan, but very vegetarian. And very good.

p.s. let me just testify of the miracle that is precooked lasagna noodles. I'm a convert.

"Mama's Old Fashioned Bread"

- Paula Deen's The Deen Family Cookbook

Many thanks to Kat for physically coming over and reassuring me that bread is not as scary to make as I first assumed.
I've made this a few times this week already, and I eat way more than my share of it- it's hard to maintain self-control when it tastes to dang good.
ADVISORY:
This bread takes a few days to reach fruition, but it's worth it.

LESSONS LEARNED:
1. The late morning is a good time to start this recipe, as you'll end up baking it in the afternoon 2 days later.
2. Kneading by hand (at least with this recipe) is not bad, but keeping your hands and surfaces sufficiently floured is key to it's success.
3. Make sure you have THREE bread pans on hand, or you'll be running to your neighbor's in a panic looking to borrow one.
4. Don't bake this when you're home alone, otherwise you'll have eaten a whole loaf by yourself before your Hubby can come home to stop you.

(You see this?! Yeah, I made it all by myself!)

STARTER:
One 1/4 oz package active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1/2 cup instant mashed potato flakes
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp salt

In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in 2 1/2 cups water. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and leave the starter out at room temperature for 24 hours.
Transfer 1 cup of the starter to a separate large bowl, cover loosely, and leave it out at room temperature for 12 hours more. Refrigerate the rest of the starter, covered, and feed it every 3-5 days.
(To feed the started combine 1 cup water with 3/4 cup sugar and 3 tbs potato flakes and stir. The starter will keep for years if you feed it regularly and keep it refrigerated.)

BREAD:
1 cup starter
6 cups bread flour, plus more as needed
1/2 cup oil (they say corn oil, I used olive) plus more for brushing
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbs salt

Lightly grease a large bowl. In bowl with starter, add 1 1/2 cups water and stir. Then add remaining ingredients. Knead once or twice in the bowl, then turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until a stiff dough forms, adding more flour as needed by the 1/4 cupful. (I found if you get it to the consistency where you can pull your hand out of kneading it without globs of dough sticking to you, it's ready.) Place dough in the greased bowl, brush the top with oil, and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Leave the dough out at room temperature for 6-8 hours, until it has tripled in size.

Lightly grease three 9x5 loaf pans. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into three equal pieces. Knead each piece once or twice, form into a loaf, and place in the prepared pan. Bursh tops of the loaves with oil and loosely cover with plastic wrap. Leave out at room temperature for 6-8 hours, until the dough has again tripled in size. he dough will be puffed over the tops of the pans.

Prehead oven to 350*. Bake the loaves for 25-30 minutes, until the tops are an even golden brown, with not light spots. Allow the loaves to cool in the pans for 20-30 minutes, then gently turn them out. Once the bread has cooled completely, cut into thick slices to serve.

Spinach Flatbread Pizza

-Taste of Home Magazine

This one is very easy. The hubster gave it 4 stars- I gave it 5 out of simplicity and yummy goodness. I don't follow the measurements with precision on this one. Be your own boss when it comes to making imitation pizza. :)


- 1 small onion, sliced
- olive oil
- 4 pita flatbreads
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- Alfredo sauce (bottled or see below) OR hummus

Caramelize/saute onions in oil. Put pitas on baking sheet (line with foil to control mess level) and add ingredients like unto pizza. Bake at 425* for 6-8 min (or until cheese burns to your liking.)
Makes 4 small pizzas which can feed two ravenous people or four people with munchies.
Note: My pizzas tend to stick to the pan/foil. I tried sprinkling the underside of the pita with cornmeal this time, and it worked like a non-stick charm. Never understood why Pizza Hut did this, but now I finally get it. :)

** Alfredo sauce (if you want to make your own):
1/2 cup heavy cream (I used half & half)
1/8 cup butter
1/4-1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tbs parsley (give or take)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder (or a little more if you like it)

Melt butter in pan, add cream, and then everything else. It tends to be a little soupy, so I thickened mine up at the end with some cornstarch, but you could use flour as well, or just leave it as is. This amount makes enough for 4 pizzas.

Black Bean Hummus

If you can't tell, Mr. Picky is on a black bean crusade right now. Don't know where he got this recipe but he's experimented with many different versions and likes this one the best.

1 clove garlic (smaller one)
1 can black beans (drain & reserve liquid)
2 tbs lemon juice
1 1/2 tbs tahini
3/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (or 1/2 tsp black pepper)
1/4 tsp paprika
olive oil

Put all in blender and blend. Accentuate with olive oil when serving.

Black Bean Soup

- Food Network, Dave Liberman

Attention everyone... attention....
We have a 5 STAR recipe here.
My Mr. Picky ate this for dinner, and then breakfast and lunch the next day. A very good sign indeed. The only thing I'd do differently is experiment with how they added the bacon, or try it with no bacon at all. Still a little too fatty for our taste (the fat cooked but didn't dissolve, so rather chewy if you know what I mean...) but that didn't stop us from eating it. Smells awesome too.

10 slices bacon, finely chopped
2 medium onions, chopped (about 2 1/2 cups)
6 garlic cloves, pressed
1 can chicken broth
1 1/2 c canned chopped tomatoes
2 tbs ketchup
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbs chili powder
4 cans black beans (drained but not rinsed)
salt & pepper
1 bunch cilantro
juice of 1/2 lime (about 1 tbs)
thin sliced scallions (garnish)
sour cream (garnish)
grated cheddar (garnish)

Cook bacon in large pot (about 4 min) then add onions and cook til transparent (about 4 min?). Add garlic and cook til you can smell it (1 min).
Add broth, tomatoes, ketchup, worcestershire sauce, and chili powder. Stir.
Add beans and bring to a gentle boil for about 10 min.
Season with salt & pepper.
Cut stems off cilantro, wash and shake dry. Chop coarsely and add to mix. Cook til thick (5 min). Stir in lime juice. Serve with garnishes.

Serves 8-10

White Chili

- Fix-it and Forget-it Cookbook, Esther Martin

3 15 oz. cans Great Northern bean, drained
8 oz. cooked and shredded chicken breasts (I used one 5 oz. can of chicken breast)
1 cup chopped onions
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow, red, or green bell peppers (I used one red)
2 jalapeno chili peppers, stemmed, seeded, and chopped (opt) (Skipped this entirely so I could enjoy it.)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
3 1/2 cups chicken broth (essentially two cans worth)
sour cream
shredded cheddar cheese
tortilla chips

1. Combine all ingredients except sour cream, cheddar cheese, and chips in a slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours or High 4-5 hours. (I did the Low version).
3. Ladle into bowls and top with sour cream cheddar cheese, and chips.

The little white floaty things in it are cottage cheese bits. Hope I didn't gross any of you out, but we were drastically low on sour cream and I had to improvise. Still quite good.

SO good. 4 stars from the Hubby AND my Dad and brother (I would personally give it 4.5). It makes 8 servings but there was only one spoonful to scrape out of the bottom for leftovers... I take it that means they all enjoyed it.

Winter Squash and White Bean Stew

A Crock Pot Recipe!!
-From the "Fix-it and Forget-it Cookbook"

1 cups chopped onions
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 garlic clove, minced
3 cups peeled butternut squash, cut into 3/4" cubes (or smaller!)
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
19 oz. can cannellini beans, drained
14 1/2 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker
2. Cover Cook on High 1 hour. Reduce heat to Low and heat 2-3 hours (I say 3-4 hours. I don't like crunchy onions...)

This smells so dang good when it's done. I learned from this experience that I don't HATE cilantro, as long as it's cooked.
Quite good with cheese, and I'm sure it'd be rockin' with some sour cream.

Hubby and I both gave this 4 stars. Baby was quite fond of the cubes of squash.