Lemon Artichoke Rigatoni

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 cups uncooked rigatoni pasta (6 oz)

2 cups vegetable broth (from 32-oz carton)

2 cups Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers™ frozen broccoli cuts

2 cups chopped artichoke hearts

1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Cooking

1 In 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic; cook about 1 minute, stirring occasionally, until softened.

2 Stir in uncooked pasta and broth. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer 11 minutes. Stir well.

3 Spread broccoli and chicken over pasta. Cover; cook 12 to 14 minutes longer or until pasta is tender.

4 Stir in lemon peel. Top with cheese.

Old Bay Cauliflower Salad

 

Ingredients

• 2 heads cauliflower
• 4 large celery stalks, finely diced
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
• 2 cups mayonnaise

• 3 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• Salt to taste

Directions

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut heads of cauliflower into 3" pieces (as seen in the picture above). Have a large bowl of ice water ready as well as a paper-towel lined (many layers) baking sheet. Working in batches, blanch the cauliflower in the hot water, each batch for 3-4 minutes. Remove and immediately place in the ice water to stop the cooking process. Let sit in water for a few minutes and remove to the paper-towel lined baking sheet (you will need to continue to add ice to keep water cold for the other batches). Repeat process with the rest of the cauliflower.
• When all cauliflower is done, break into smaller pieces with your hands (stems too) and give a rough chop with a knife. Here is the most important part, you will want your cauliflower to be really, really dry before you mix it with the mayo. Let it sit for a while in a single layer on a dry tray. Not doing this will result in a runny and diluted salad.
• Mix together mayonnaise, Old Bay, red pepper flakes and black pepper in a medium-sized bowl (you can do this up to a day ahead).
• In a large bowl add blanched cauliflower, celery, peas and red onion. Mix with the mayo-Old Bay mixture and salt to taste. Refrigerate for at least four hours before serving or overnight.

Black Bean Cocoa Brownies

Ingredients:

1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added black beans, drained and rinsed

3 large eggs

1/3 cup butter, melted plus (more for the baking dish)

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup unbleached cane sugar (plus 2 tablespoons)

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1/3 cup walnuts, finely chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F

Butter an 8-inch baking pan.

Place the black beans, eggs, melted butter, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor and blend until smooth.

Remove the blade and carefully stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.

Transfer mixture to the prepared pan.

Bake the brownies for 30 to 35 minutes, or until just set in the center.

Cool before cutting into squares.

red beans and rice (from the skinny)

Ingredients

• 1 pound dry kidney beans, washed
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 7 cups of vegetable stock
• 4 cloves of garlic, diced
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire
• 2½ teaspoons creole seasoning. I like Tony Chachere’s the best!
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 cups uncooked rice. Cooked according to package.

Instructions

1. Put all ingredients, except rice, into slow cooker.
2. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.
3. Add ½ cup a water at a time, as needed.
4. During the last two hours of cooking add extra veggies if you wish. I’ve added: eggplant, zucchini, carrots, squash, mushrooms. Anything that’s at it limit of expired produce gets thrown in
5. Serve over hot, cooked rice. I love the way brown rice taste with the beans!

zucchini carrot quinoa casserole

Ingredients

1 c quinoa

1/4 cup dried currants

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1 or 2 bay leaves

1 cinnamon stick

2 Tbls olive oil

1 c. celery, chopped small

2 medium carrots

2 small zucchini

1 tsp ground coriander

 

1/2 tsp paprika

pinch cayenne

1/2 tsp dried ginger

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp rock salt

1 1/2 - 1 3/4 cup boiling water or soup stock

Note: Use smaller amount of water for slow cooker or crockpot

1/4 c. minced parsley or cilantro

fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions

 

1. Soak quinoa 15 minutes to an hour, rinse three times through a fine metal strainer, leave to drain
2. Heat olive oil on medium in a large sauté pan or frying pan
3. Chop celery in small pieces
4. Peel and chop carrots in 1/2" dice
5. Wash, trim, and chop zucchini in 1 " dice
6. Stir fry celery until transparent
7. Add carrots, stir fry five minutes
8. Add zucchini, stir fry one minute
9. Add the spices, except for the fresh herb and salt, lower heat and stir until they start to brown
10. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use a three or four quart oven proof casserole with lid. Add all ingredients except fresh herb and pepper
11. Stir in 1 3/4 cups boiling water or stock, cover, and bake 20 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed
12. Before serving, remove the bay leaves and cinnamon stick
13. Stir in the minced fresh parsley or cilantro, fresh ground pepper, and serve

Vegetarian Southern Greens

Ingredients:
2 lbs collard greens
4 -5 garlic cloves, minced
1 large onion, chopped
3 cups vegetable stock
1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
1 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

Directions:
Wash greens well, submerging in a sink full of cold water to remove any dirt and grit. Drain well. Cut off the stems right where the leaf starts. Stack about 5-8 leaves on top of eachother, then roll lengthwise. Cut rolled up leaves into 1" slices widthwise. Repeat until all the greens are done, and add to a large pot.

Add all other ingredients. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes or until greens are extremely tender. Serve hot, using a slotted spoon to drain the liquid from the greens.

Read more at: http://soul.food.com/recipe/easy-vegetarian-collard-greens-215631?oc=linkback

 

cindys spicey root soup

Ingredients 

• 3 yellow potatoes (such as Klondike Goldust®), cubed
  
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
  
• 2 large carrots, chopped
  
• 2 turnips, diced
  
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
  
• 3/4 cup dry lentils
  
• water, or amount to cover
  
• 
  

• Cindy's Magical Motorvatin' Spice Mix:
  
• 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
  
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
  
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
  
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  
• 1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric
  
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
  
• sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
  

Directions

Combine the potatoes, spinach, carrots, turnips, garlic, and lentils in a slow cooker. Pour enough water over the mixture to cover.

In a bowl, stir the fresh basil, chili powder, cinnamon, dried basil, paprika, turmeric, cayenne pepper, ground ginger, sea salt, and black pepper; stir into the slow cooker.

Cover the cooker, and cook on High for 8 hours.