Roasted Garlic & Pumpkin Soup

Roasted Garlic

• 4 heads of garlic
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Soup

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups onions coarsely chopped
• 2 cups carrots, peeled and coarsely diced
• 3 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely diced
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 can pumpkin puree 
• 1 cup yellow flesh potatoes, peeled and coarsely diced
• 2 tbsp fresh sage coarsely chopped
• 8 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 cup 35% cream 
• Freshly granted nutmeg to taste
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Slice tops off the whole heads of garlic to expose just the tips of the cloves, place on a large sheet of foil and drizzle garlic with olive oil.  Wrap completely and bake in the middle of the oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Once roasted, open package and let cool.
3. In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high, add onions, carrots, ginger and chili powder and cook until onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes.  Add to the pot the pumpkin, potatoes, sage and chicken stock.
4. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and let cook uncovered until the potatoes are very tender, about 35 minutes.
5. While soup is cooking remove all the garlic from its skin and add to pot along with any residual oil.
6. Once soup is cooked, let cool slightly and puree with a hand blender or in a stand-up blender.
7. Once soup is pureed, add cream, nutmeg, salt and pepper to tase, and warm through.  Garnish with extra sage leaves, if desired.

Rachel's Thoughts: I added only half of the amount of stock (due to pot size) with the intention of adding it in at the end but decided that I likely the soup super dense and opted to leave it out.

Source: LCBO Magazine (Autumn 2011)

Eggplant Parmesan

INGREDIENTS:  Serves 6

• Olive oil cooking spray
• 3 large egg whites, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup whole-wheat panko or bread crumbs
• 6 tbsp low-fat Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 globe eggplants (about 2 1/4 lb total)
• 2 medium tomatoes (about 14 oz), cut into large chunks
• 1 tbsp no-salt-added tomato paste
• 2 cloves garlic
• 8 large basil leaves, divided
• 1 cup part-skim, low-moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat 2 rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Place egg whites in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, oregano, garlic powder and salt. Trim ends off eggplants and cut each eggplant crosswise into 6 3/4-inch slices. One at a time, dip eggplant slices in egg whites, then panko mixture, arranging coated slices on prepared baking sheets. Bake until eggplant is tender and golden brown, about 25 minutes.
3. While eggplant is cooking, combine tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic and basil leaves in a food processor and pulse to make a chunky sauce. Transfer to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened slightly, 8 to 10 minutes.  Season to taste with salt and pepper
4. Remove eggplant from oven and preheat broiler. Arrange an oven rack about 8 inches from heating element.
5. Spoon tomato sauce over eggplant slices, dividing it evenly. Sprinkle mozzarella over tomato sauce, dividing it evenly. Use a spatula to place 6 eggplant slices on top of 6 others, making 6 2-slice stacks on 1 baking sheet. Broil until mozzarella is browning on top and melted in the middle, about 3 minutes.

Source: Clean Eating Cookbook

Rachel's Thoughts: scale this down if it is only for two people - but it was SO good.  Make sure you put lots of salt/pepper on the egg plants before the initial roasting.

Harvest Vegetable Pancake with Greens and Goat Cheese

• 3 large beets, scrubbed and peeled
• 3 medium carrots, peeled
• 1 can of chick peas, rinsed
• 1 cup of cooked diced potato
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• salad greens - I used spinach
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 cup of crumbled goat cheese

Grate beets and carrots on a box grater (or shred in food processor).  Stir in chick peas, potato, flour, 1 tsp salt and season with pepper.  In a large non-stick straight-sided skillet, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat.  Add beet mixture and, with a rubber spatula, firmly press into pan.  Cook undisturbed for 10 minutes.


Remove pan from heat, cover with a serving platter (or cutting board) and carefully invert pancake onto platter.  Slide pancake back into pan and cook until crisp and brown around edge, 10-12 minutes.  Invert into platter.


In a medium bowl, toss salad greens with 2 tbsp olive oil and lemon juice.  Season with salt and pepper.  To serve, top pancake with salad and goat cheese.


Source: Martha Stewart Everyday Food


Rachel's Thoughts:  I just served it right from the pan because the whole flipping thing was a bit difficult.  This dish was delicious!

Quinoa and Crescenza with Sauteed Mushroom

6 tbsp clarified butter or olive oil [I used half of each]
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped

1 cup quinoa, rinsed 
1/2 cup good quality dry white wine [I used pinot grigio]

1 cup water
2 big pinches of red pepper flakes
1 lb mushrooms, sliced
3-4 oz Crescenza cheese*

* If you can’t find this tangy cheese, try substituting taleggio, gruyere, or brie.

Heat 2 tablespoons of butter/oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, then add the onion and garlic and saute for 5 minutes, or until the onion starts to soften and get translucent. Add the quinoa, wine, and 1 tsp salt, until the liquid has reduced a bit.

Add the water, return to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 25 minutes, or until the quinoa opens up, revealing a little spiral, and is soft and pleasant to chew.

Meanwhile, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter/oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, along with the red pepper flakes and a few pinches of salt. Stir in the mushrooms and cook without stirring for a few minutes, until they’ve begun to brown and release their juices. Then shake the skillet every few minutes until the mushrooms are evenly browned, about 4 more minutes. [I added in a glug of the white wine towards the inn to deglaze the pan]. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Once the quinoa is perfectly tender yet textured, drain off any excess liquid and stir in the cheese. Ladle into big bowls and top with the mushrooms.

Serves 2- plus 2 lunches.

Rachel's Thoughts: You may need to add more water to the quinoa - keep an eye on it.

Source: 101 Cookbooks - Heidi Swanson

Barlic-Butter Rubbed Chicken with Roasted Oranges and Red Onions

• Prep Time 15 minutes
• Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
• Yield Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Coarse salt
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 navel oranges (preferably organic), 1 zested, both cut into 2-inch wedges
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme, plus a few sprigs
• 1 whole chicken (4 to 4 1/2 pounds)
• 2 red onions, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch wedges

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mash garlic and 1 teaspoon salt into a paste.
   
2. Combine garlic paste, butter, zest, and chopped thyme. Gently separate skin from breast of chicken, and rub half of the butter mixture under the skin on each side. Season with salt.
   
3. Fill cavity with 2 orange wedges, 1 onion wedge, and thyme sprigs. Place chicken, breast side up, on a rimmed baking sheet, and tuck wings under. Tie legs together with kitchen twine. Scatter remaining oranges and onions around chicken. Dot oranges and onions with 1 tablespoon butter mixture.
   
4. Roast for 30 minutes. Brush chicken with remaining butter mixture. Flip oranges and onions. Rotate sheet, and roast for 15 minutes more. Remove oranges and onions if caramelized. Roast chicken until juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh reaches 165 degrees, 10 to 15 minutes more. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
   
   
   Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/326628/garlic-butter-rubbed-chicken-with-roaste
   
   Rachel's Thoughts: we doubled the amount of oranges and onion because we had room in our roasting pan - it was a good decision :)
   

Chickpea Burgers

Rachel's Thoughts: Heather and I enjoyed these with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and avocado.   We just used the 'burger' as the base and loaded everything on top!

2 1/2 cups sprouted garbanzo beans (chickpeas) OR canned garbanzos, drained and rinsed
4 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 onion, chopped
Grated zest of one large lemon
1 cup micro sprouts, chopped (try brocolli, onion, or alfalfa sprouts - optional)
1 cup toasted (whole-grain) bread crumbs
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or clarified butter)

If you are using sprouted garbanzos, steam them until just tender, about 10 minutes. Most of you will be using canned beans, so jump right in and combine the garbanzos, eggs, and salt in a food processor. Puree until the mixture is the consistency of a very thick, slightly chunky hummus. Pour into a mixing bowl and stir in the cilantro, onion, zest, and sprouts. Add the breadcrumbs, stir, and let sit for a couple of minutes so the crumbs can absorb some of the moisture. At this point, you should have a moist mixture that you can easily form into twelve 1 1/2-inch-thick patties. I err on the moist side here, because it makes for a nicely textured burger. You can always add more bread crumbs a bit at a time to firm up the dough if need be. Conversely, a bit of water or more egg can be used to moisten the batter.

Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium low, add 4 patties, cover, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, until the bottoms begin to brown. Turn up the heat if there is no browning after 10 minutes. Flip the patties and cook the second side for 7 minutes, or until golden. Remove from the skillet and cool on a wire rack while you cook the remaining patties. Carefully cut each patty in half, insert your favorite fillings, and enjoy immediately.

Makes 12 mini burgers.

Source: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001567.html

To try: Salmon with Brown Sugar and Mustard Glaze

• Prep Time 15 minutes
• Total Time 20 minutes
• Yield Serves 8

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large shallot, minced
• 1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup whole-grain mustard
• 1/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 side salmon (about 3 pounds), skin removed, cut into 8 fillets
• 1 bunch watercress (about 3/4 pound), thick stems trimmed
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving

Directions

1. Heat broiler, with rack in top position. In a small saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Add shallot and cook, stirring often until softened, 3 minutes. Add vinegar and cook until slightly evaporated, 1 minute. Add mustard and brown sugar; stir until warm and combined, 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat. (To store, refrigerate cooled glaze in an airtight container, up to 1 day.)
2. Place salmon fillets on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Transfer 1/2 cup glaze to a small dish and brush on top of salmon. Broil salmon until glaze is bubbling and fish is opaque throughout, 5 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness; brush remaining glaze over fillets. Serve salmon along with watercress and lemon wedges.
   
   Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/344987/salmon-with-brown-sugar-and-mustard-glaz
   

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 bell peppers (any color), seeded and diced large
• 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and halved
• 5 scallions, thinly sliced
• 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped roasted peanuts (optional)

Directions

1. Cook rice according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together cornstarch, sugar, soy sauce, and vinegar. Set aside.
   
2. In a large skillet or wok, heat oil over high. Add chicken, bell peppers, and green beans and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add scallions, ginger, and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 4 minutes.
   
3. Whisk soy sauce mixture, add to skillet, and cook, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Fluff rice with a fork. To serve, spoon chicken mixture over rice and top with peanuts if desired.
   

Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/335056/sweet-and-sour-chicken-with-green-beans

Total time: 25 mins - Serves 4

Parmesan Chicken with Mushrooms and Brussel Sprouts

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup panko or plain dried breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan (2/3 ounce)
• 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 3/4 pound cremini or button mushrooms, trimmed and halved (quartered if large)
• 3/4 pound brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved lengthwise (quartered if large)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. In a small bowl, mix together panko and Parmesan. In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, toss chicken with 1 teaspoon oil and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Arrange chicken in a single layer and sprinkle with panko mixture. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil and bake on upper rack until topping is golden brown and chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, on a rimmed baking sheet, toss mushrooms and brussels sprouts with 2 teaspoons oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast on lower rack until golden brown and tender when pierced with a knife, 20 minutes. Serve vegetables with chicken.
   
   
   Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/335195/parmesan-chicken-with-mushrooms-and-brus
   Total time: 30 min - Serves 4

Strawberry Rhubarb Sangria

In a small sauce pan combine 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of water, bring to a boil.  Add 2 rhubarb stalks, cut into 1/2 inch pieces and cook for 1 minute.  Transfer mixture to a medium heatproof bowl and let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.  Meanwhile, in a pitcher, combine 1/2 cup fresh orange juice (from 1 orange), 1 orange halved and cut into 1/4 inch slices, and 1 pint of strawberries, hulled and quartered.  To serve, add cooled rhubarb mixture, 4 cups chilled seltzer, 1 bottle (750 ml) chilled sparkling wine, such as champagne or Prosecco, and ice.  Serves 8.

Source: Everyday Food Mag.