Cabbage Soup

2 cans diced tomatoes
1 medium onion, diced
3 stalks celery, diced
3 medium carrots, diced
1 head cabbage, shredded
1.5 cups frozen green beans
1.5 cups frozen corn
1 15 oz can pinto beans

Mix first five ingredients and cook over low heat for about 30 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cook until heated through. I added a little seasoning salt on each bowl.

Roasted Veggies and Chickpeas

Adapted from a BH&G recipe. This was so pretty and made the house smell divine while it was cooking.

In a large bowl, mix:

1 lb. baby carrots
1 lb. diced sweet potatoes
1 large purple onion, cut into wedges
1 lb. white potatoes (I added some red, too)
7 cloves of garlic
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 T olive oil
1/4 c fresh rosemary
1 T packed brown sugar
a little salt and pepper

Mix well. Spread on a baking sheet and cook for 45 minutes at 400, stirring a few times.

Cole Slaw

1. Run 1/2 head of cabbage and about 1c of carrots through the food processor.

2. Mix 1/4c oil, 1/3 c mayo, a little salt, 3T vinegar, and 2T sugar.

3. Mix and add golden raisins.

Dhal Makhani and Mattar Pilau

Yummy and easy (for Indian food). And it made my kitchen smell ridiculously good.

Dhal Makhani (adapted from Tasty Kitchen)

1 cup lentils (I used red split)
1 can (15 Oz. Can) tomato sauce (I used spaghetti sauce because I was out of tomato sauce)
1 T ginger
3 cloves garlic
2 t cayenne
2 T butter
3 T plain yogurt

1. First, put the lentils into a pot. Cover them in cold water by 2 inches, and bring to a boil over high heat. Once it starts boiling, decrease the heat to medium high, cover the pot, and cook for 20 minutes.

2. After 20 minutes, drain them in the sink, and then return them to the pot with the tomato sauce, grated ginger, minced garlic, cayenne, and butter. Cover the pot and turn the heat down to low.

3. Cook for an hour, stirring occasionally and adding water if needed and stirruing

4. Stir in the yogurt, and serve over rice.

Mattar Pilau

1.25 c basmati rice
1/3 c butter
2-3 dried red chilies
6 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 bay leaves
1 t turmeric
1 diced onion
3/4 c frozen peas
1.25 t salt
2.5 c water

1. Melt the butter. Add chilies, gloves, cinnamon, and bay leaves. Stir and add onion. Saute five minutes.

2. Add rice, peas, turmeric, and salt. Stir fry for 5 minutes.

3. Add water, boil, cover, reduce heat for 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit 10 minutes. Do not lift lid!

Grilled Cauliflower

This was amazing--spicy and sweet.

Thaw a bag of frozen cauliflower. Put in a large bowl. Drizzle oil on it and add some crushed red pepper and seasoning salt. Stir. Put on an indoor grill in a single layer for about five minutes.

Red Lentil Soup

This was really yummy. I served it with grilled cauliflower and a salad consisting of only yogurt, purple onion, cucumber, and tomato. It was a truly fabulous meal. The recipe is adapted from Cate's World Kitchen.

1 T oil
1 onion, diced
1 cinnamon stick
1 T ginger
1 T garlic clove
pinch cayenne pepper
2 cups red lentils
3 cups vegetable broth
2-3 cups hot water
juice of 1 lemon
salt

1 T butter
2 medium onions, cut into thin half-circles
pinch salt
chopped fresh cilantro

Heat the oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cinnamon and cook until the onions are soft (about 5 minutes). Add the garlic, ginger, and cayenne and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the lentils and stir them so they’re coated with oil. Add 2 cups of broth and 2 cups of warm water. Stir well, then bring to a boil. Turn heat down to low, cover, and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the additional cup of broth and water, as well as the the lemon juice while the soup is cooking, adding additional liquid if it gets too thick. Add about a teaspoon of salt. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils have completely broken down into a smooth, creamy soup.

While the soup is simmering, caramelize the onions. Heat the butter in a skillet. Add the onions and cook over low, sirring occasionally for about 20 minutes, until onions are very soft and brown.

To serve the soup, ladle it into bowls and top with onions and cilantro.

Pizza Wraps

Saute a half pound of mushrooms.

Fill a tortilla with:

mushrooms
pepperoni
spaghetti sauce
mozzarella
purple onion
green onion

Fold and grill.