Vegan Pumpkin Peanut Butter Soup

Instructions for Fresh Roasted Pumpkin:

Purchase a “pie pumpkin” (also called a “sweet pumpkin”), which are typically around 2 to 4 pounds. On average, each “pound” will yield about 1 cup of pumpkin puree. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the pumpkin in half lengthwise. Use a sharp spoon or ice cream scoop to scoop out all seeds and strings (reserve the seeds for roasting). Drizzle the pumpkin with olive oil, salt and pepper. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place the pumpkin halves skin side down. Using the tip of a sharp knife, carefully place a few slits in the skin of the pumpkin. Roast in a 375 F oven for 40 minutes to 60 minutes. It will entirely depend on the size of your pumpkin. Remove from oven and allow to cool. When cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh and set aside.

Instructions for Pumpkin Soup:

In a large pot over medium-high heat, melt coconut oil. Add sliced leeks and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sauté for 5 to 8 minutes or until leeks are soft and creamy. Add vegetable stock, pumpkin puree, peanut butter, coconut milk, and spices to pot. Stir well to combine, and allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Working in batches, add soup to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth, return to pot and taste for seasoning adding more salt if needed. Serve with a drizzle of sriracha and a spoonful of vegan (plain, unsweetened) coconut yogurt.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk fortified with vitamin B-12
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds for garnish
• Orange slices for garnish

Instructions

1. In a mason jar, mix yogurt, oats, milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, orange zest, cardamom, and cinnamon. Place the lid on the mason jar and shake.

2. Leave in the fridge overnight.

3. Top with pumpkin seeds and orange slices or other fruit.

Warming Soup Ideal
For Special Diets

Soups and stews are staples of winter. Such dishes might be hearty, but they often feature noodles, potatoes or other starches, which can be irritating for those with irritable bowel conditions or sensitivities to FODMAP ingredients. But that doesn’t mean individuals with such sensitivities must avoid soup entirely. This recipe for “Ginger Miso Chicken Soup” from “The Complete IBS Diet Plan” (Rockridge Press) by Amanda Foote is filling even without the heavy carbohydrates.

Instructions

1. In a large, deep pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ginger and chicken thighs, browning the chicken for 3 to 5 minutes per side.

2. Add the broth and miso to the pot, then cover and cook over medium-low heat for 30 minutes.

3. Remove the chicken from the pot and transfer it to a cutting board. Shred the chicken with 2 forks.

4. Return the chicken to the pot and stir it into the soup.

5. Add the bok choy and cook for 5 minutes. Crack the eggs into the soup and stir constantly so the egg cooks in ribbons. The eggs will cook quickly.

Poultry/Beef Broth Instructions

1. In a medium pot over medium-high heat, stir together the water, bones, carrots, leeks, celery, oil, salt, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low.

2. Simmer the broth for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Strain the solids and discard.

3. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 year.

(Note: Garlic or onion oil is made by simmering 5 garlic cloves or 1/2 chopped onion in 1/2 cup olive oil for 10 minutes, then straining out the onion or garlic.)

Transform Salads
For Fall Dining

Who says salads are just for summertime? Now that hot and humid days have given way to the crisp evenings of fall, it’s time to tweak lunch and dinner menus accordingly. Even though soups and stews are the norm this time of year, salads can have their menu moments as well. What better way to usher in fall than with a seasonal staple like apples?

Juicy and tart apples add crunch to this spinach-based salad. The addition of nuts and cheese also enhance the sweet-salty appeal of “Double-Apple Spinach Salad,” while also offering up plenty of fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Try this easy recipe, courtesy of “The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook” (Rockridge Press) from the editors of Rockridge University Press.

Mediterranean Flavors
Shine Through In Salad

People often turn to lighter fare when the weather warms because a dense, hot meal can contribute to feeling sluggish or overheated when the mercury has risen. In addition to sandwiches and platters of finger foods, salads can be refreshing on warm days. They also tend to be less calorie-dense and healthier than other offerings.

This recipe for “Mediterranean Salad,” courtesy of The American Heart Association, is full of vegetables and beans and fits with a heart-friendly diet. It’s filling and delicious any time of the day or year.

Expand your campsite culinary repertoire

Hiking and camping opportunities heat up when the weather warms. Come summer, individuals feel compelled to load up their campers or pack their tents and enjoy some forested paradise.

Meals are a consideration when camping. Certainly frankfurters or sandwiches can get you by in a pinch, but for avid campers, it helps to have a more diverse array of recipes at the ready, which can really enhance the camping experience. Consider this recipe “Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork” courtesy of “The New Trailside Cookbook” (A Firefly Book) by Kevin Callan and Margaret Howard.

Cooking Instructions

At home: Mix together the chili sauce, mustard, honey, chili powder, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, paprika, and garlic. Store in a tightly sealed container or freeze for longer storage.

At camp: Place onions in the bottom of a Dutch oven. Thaw pork, place over onions; top with apples. Pour sauce over meat and apples. Cover and cook on medium heat for 4 hours or until meat is tender and starts to fall apart. Remove meat from oven and place on a large plate. Using two forks, shred meat along its length. Stir meat back into sauce. Serve on rolls, or as desired.

Transform Bananas Into A Moist Dessert

Bananas are a versatile fruit that can be eaten right off the bunch or utilized in a bevy of recipes. Despite being characterized as the first “superfood” endorsed by the American Medical Association in the early 20th century, bananas are avoided by some people. Some claim that bananas make people gain weight or develop constipation, but many medical organizations point to the nutritional benefits of bananas, which contain potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, fiber, and manganese.

A banana’s flavor starts out as mildly sweet and gains more sweetness as it ripens. Very ripe bananas, or those that have brown speckled skins, don’t need to be discarded. They make perfect additions to baked goods, notably banana bread. Before tossing out brown bananas, consider this recipe for “Chocolate Chip Banana Bread” courtesy of Jenna Barnard and the Butternut Bakery Blog.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 325 F and grease and line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together the melted butter and sugars until you reach a paste-like consistency. This may take some vigorous whisking for a minute or two. You can either use a whisk or an electric mixer with the paddle attachment.

Add in your mashed bananas followed by the eggs, yogurt and vanilla.

Once all of your wet ingredients are mixed together, fold in the dry ingredients. Then, fold in the chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top if you like.

Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let it cool completely before removing from the pan. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Bountiful Blueberries Make Treats Even Better

There are so many reasons to include blueberries in recipes. Not only are they plentiful in supermarkets and at fruit stands, blueberries often perfectly balance the sweet with the tart in flavor. These little berries also are one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits you can find, plus they are very high in fiber. That makes eating blueberries – whether they’re nestled in pancakes or served atop a slice of cheesecake – a little less indulgent.

Blueberries are right at home in many different dishes. Blueberries can make salads sing and desserts light up. They’re equally delightful in breakfasts and snacks. “Honey-Laced Blueberry Parfaits” can be enjoyed any time of day. Made with tasty layers of blueberries, yogurt and angel food cake, these parfaits are light, flavorful and refreshing. To tailor them for patriotic celebrations, add a few red berries, such as raspberries or strawberries, to embrace a red, white and blue theme.

Enjoy this recipe, courtesy of “Cooking Light® Fresh Food Superfast” (Oxmoor House) by The Cooking Light Editors.

Instructions

1. Combine yogurts in a bowl; gently fold in whipped topping.

2. Layer about 1/3 cup angel food cake, 1/4 cup blueberries and 1/3 cup yogurt mixture in each of four dessert glasses. Repeat procedure once. Drizzle honey evenly over parfaits. Top evenly with cereal. Serve immediately.

Waffles Can Be Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner

Few people can resist the appeal of waffles. They’re tasty in the morning for breakfast, and equally at home in the afternoons or evening with chicken or ice cream accompanying them. Indeed, few foods can be enjoyed any time of day as easily as waffles.

Waffles can be made from gluten-free and alternative ingredients, making them available to people who have different types of food limitations. Such is the case with this recipe for “Belgian Waffles” courtesy of “Plant-Based Gourmet” (Apollo Publishers) by Chef Suzi Gerber. This recipe features ingredients that fit into a plant-based lifestyle.

Instructions

1. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the oat milk, butter, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar, then slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, whisking to combine.

2. Grease a waffle iron and preheat. Pour about 1/2 cup of the batter into the waffle iron and let stand for 30 to 45 seconds, then close and cook approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Gently open to check, adding an additional 1 to 2 minutes if needed. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Tip: Add freeze-dried berries, whole or powdered, or even blue spirulina or pitaya powder to get colorful waffles with fruity flavors and even a bit of crunch. Alternating colors of waffles is fun, nutritious, and festive.

Fresh Potato Chips
Can’t Be Beat

Everyone has his or her own idea of comfort food. For some, it is biting into a piping-hot slice of pepperoni pizza. Others can’t get enough of a hearty bowl of beef stew.

Snack foods also can be categorized as comfort foods – and potato chips (or “crisps” as they’re known across the pond) are no exception. Potato chips come in different flavors and cuts, including crinkle and kettle chips. While it’s easy to pick up a bag at the store, why not whip up a fresh batch right at home? You will have complete control over the ingredients and enjoy the freshest chips around. Try this recipe for “Homemade Potato Chips” courtesy of home cook, and country living blogger Kathy from Beyond the Chicken Coop.

Cooking Instructions

1. Peel potatoes and place potato in a bowl filled with water.

2. Slice potatoes to 1/16 inch thick. Use a mandoline to get an even, consistent size. Immediately place sliced potatoes in another bowl filled with cold water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Allow potatoes to soak for at least 1 hour.

3. Drain potatoes and rinse with cold water. Leave potatoes in colander and allow all water to drain.

4. Place drained potatoes on a clean, dry kitchen towel. Pat lightly to remove any remaining water.

5. Fill pot with 2 inches of oil. Preheat oil to 380 F. Use a thermometer to test temperature of oil.

6. Test oil temperature. Ideal temperature will vary from 370 to 380 F. Fry one or two slices in the oil and cook until they are nicely browned. If the potatoes brown quicker than 3 minutes, lower the temperature by 5 degrees.

7. Place one handful of sliced potatoes in the oil. Stir gently to prevent potatoes from sticking to each other. Cook until golden; 3 minutes.

8. Scoop out and place on a baking sheet lined with a baking rack.

9. Sprinkle with salt immediately and repeat until all potatoes are cooked.

Tips: Soaking the potatoes helps remove excess starch and prevents the potatoes from sticking together. It also helps them fry up more crispy. Chips are best eaten the day they are made. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Healthier Salad Makes BBQs Better

Warm weather beckons people outdoors. Al fresco dining offers a chance to spend even more time outdoors, and many people will attest that no outdoor gathering is complete without the requisite grilled fare and complementary sides that are staples of spring and summer dining.

Potato salad is one such food that turns up regularly this time of year in many shapes and forms. Traditional potato salad is delicious, but it may not be so great for health-conscious individuals, as it’s typically swimming in mayonnaise. A lighter version featuring Greek yogurt in the dressing is ideal for those who want to eat healthy. Greek yogurt also adds gut-healthy live active cultures to the recipe, which may provide gastrointestinal benefits. Enjoy this recipe for “Greek Yogurt Potato Salad” courtesy of The Diabetes Council and Pitchfork Foodie Farms.

Cooking Instructions

A Taste of Traditional Irish Cooking

St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for the world to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint and Irish culture with family, friends, food, and fun. Many St. Patrick’s Day traditions have been passed down through generations. This includes various foods and recipes that are native to Ireland that have spread around the globe thanks to the vast Irish diaspora.

When dishing up new traditions at home, try this recipe for “Traditional Irish Colcannon” courtesy of Kerrygold, producers of Irish butters and cheeses. Colcannon is a mashed potato recipe made even more savory with the inclusion of cabbage and other ingredients. Serve with corned beef, Irish bacon or Irish stew.

Cooking Instructions

Dish up a Classic Comfort Food this St. Patrick’s Day

Everyone has “corned beef and cabbage” on the brain come St. Patrick’s Day. But another flavorful dish might appeal to a greater number of people with Irish roots.
Shepherd’s Pie is a savory dish made of minced lamb that originated in England but also made the jump to Ireland, where it became a popular comfort food. While Shepherd’s Pie can be made with freshly cooked ground meat, it also is a fine way to use leftovers from a previous meal. Shepherd’s Pie is commonly mistaken for Cottage Pie, which is very similar, yet tends to use beef as the meat of choice.
Many families have their own ancestral recipes for Shepherd’s Pie, but for those looking to cook the dish for the first time, try “Shepherd’s Pie”, courtesy of Alton Brown, which appeared in Season 12 of his hit show “Good Eats”.

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400 F.

2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1/2-inch dice. Put them in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set said pan over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, drop the heat to maintain a simmer, and cook until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Heat the oil in an 11-inch saute pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the meat, salt and pepper, and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes.

4. Sprinkle the meat with the flour, toss to coat, and continue to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, broth, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, and thyme and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat to low, cover, and simmer slowly until the sauce is thickened slightly, 10 to 12 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, combine the half-and-half and butter in a microwave-safe container and nuke until warmed through, about 35 seconds.

6. Drain the potatoes and return them to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes (a masher is an excellent tool for this, though a hand mixer will do), then add the hot half-and-half mixture, as well as the salt and pepper. Mash to smoothness, then stir in the egg yolk.

7. Add the corn and peas to the meat mixture and spread evenly in a 7-by-11-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling over, and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Place on a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooking rack and let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Valentine’s Day Indulgence Done Devilishly Right

If asked to describe the favored foods of Valentine’s Day in a single word, “decadent” might prove the most apt descriptor. Foodies and non-foodies alike recognize that Valentine’s Day
and chocolate are intertwined, making the day an ideal time to indulge in something decadent. This Valentine’s Day, couples can share their love for decadent delights by working alongside one another to whip up this recipe for “Devil’s Food Layer Cake” from Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad Robertson’s “Tartine” (Chronicle Books).

Cooking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter and lightly flour the sides of two 9-inch cake pans, knocking out the excess flour. Line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper cut to fit exactly.

To make the cake layers, sift together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt into a bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light and creamy. Slowly add the sugar and continue to beat on the same speed light in color and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until incorporated before adding the next egg. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with the rubber spatula. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 equal batches alternately with the buttermilk in 2 batches, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Stop the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and then mix again for another few seconds.

Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake until the top springs back when lightly touched or a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on a wire rack.

When the cakes are cool, turn them out by inverting the pans, and then turn the cakes upright. Using a serrated knife, slice off the domed portion from the top of each cake to make the tops flat. If you want to decorate the cake with crumbs as described in the headnote, reserve the slices for making the crumbs.

To make the crumbs, preheat the oven to 250 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick liner. Break up the cake slices and spread on the lined baking sheet. Place in the oven and toast until completely dry, about 1 hour. Let cool completely, then transfer to a food processor or blender and process until finely ground. Sift the crumbs through a medium-mesh sieve. (Don’t use a sieve with fine mesh or the crumbs won’t pass through.) Set aside.

To make the ganache, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl, using the smaller amount of each ingredient if you will be decorating the cake with crumbs and the larger amount if you will not. Bring the cream to just under a boil in a small saucepan. Pour the cream over the chocolate. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes without stirring until the chocolate is partially melted, and then stir with a rubber spatula until smooth and shiny.

To assemble the cake, split each cake into 2 layers to make 4 layers in all. Transfer 1 layer to a serving plate. Using an offset spatula, spread 3 tablespoons of the caramel evenly over the cake layer. Spread a thin layer of ganache (about 1/4-inch thick) over the caramel. Top with a second cake layer, and again spread with 3 tablespoons caramel and then a thin layer of ganache. Top with the fourth cake layer. Refrigerate the cake until the center seems firm, 1 to 2 hours. Cover the remaining ganache with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature for finishing the cake.

Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Using the rest of the ganache, frost the top and sides of the cake with the offset spatula. If you are going to coat the cake with the toasted cake crumbs, the cake must be evenly frosted and the ganache must be soft enough for the crumbs to adhere. If the ganache has hardened, use a kitchen torch to soften it slightly, or put the whole cake into a 400 F oven for 10 seconds or so, just until the chocolate looks shiny. Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the top of the cake, then tilt and turn the cake so that they spill over the sides, adhering to them as they fall. If you are using only the ganache and not the crumbs, the ganache will be thicker on both the top and sides.

Serve the cake at room temperature. To store, cover tightly and keep in a cool place for up to 4 days. It is not necessary to keep this cake in the refrigerator.

Certain items are staples of the Thanksgiving dinner table. For example, mashed potatoes, candied yams and stuffing are Thanksgiving stalwarts. Pumpkin and apple pies help wrap up the festivities.

Thanksgiving hosts and hostesses interested in injecting more variety into their Thanksgiving offerings may want to consider a few unique side dishes to complement their turkey dinners. Sides that borrow from familiar flavors may fit seamlessly into the holiday feast and add spark to the meal.

This recipe for “Gnocchi with Roasted Cauliflower” from “Real Simple Dinner Tonight: Done!” (Time Home Entertainment) from the editors of Real Simple is rooted in popular ingredients synonymous with Thanksgiving. Gnocchi is a chewy and filling pasta made from potato – a holiday standard, while cauliflower is a mild, versatile vegetable that absorbs the spices and flavors of other ingredients. Putting these two ingredients together allows holiday hosts to provide a new side with some familiar flavors at this year’s Thanksgiving dinner.

Heat oven to 400 F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the cauliflower and sage with the oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Roast, tossing once, until the cauliflower is golden brown and tender, 25 to 30 minutes.

Fifteen minutes before the cauliflower is finished, cook the gnocchi according to the package directions. Divide the gnocchi among bowls and top with the cauliflower and Parmesan.

Tip: Cauliflower florets are easier to separate if you remove the core first. Place the head stem-side up. Using a paring knife, cut around the core at an angle, creating a cone-shaped piece, then lift it out. If the head is very large, halve it first through the core. 

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