Ratatouille

Source: Smitten Kitchen

I had a bunch of zucchini and some homemade goat cheese ready,  and have been wanting to try this for a while so I went for it. Delicious and light!  I can only imagine how much better it would be with all the different veggies in it.  I also added some ground beef for some protein into the sauce.

Ratatouille’s Ratatouille
As envisioned by Smitten Kitchen
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
1 cup tomato puree (such as Pomi) - could use the whole can of tomato sauce if adding beef. I also add some honey to offset the acidity of tomatoes.
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 small eggplant (my store sells these “Italian Eggplant” that are less than half the size of regular ones; it worked perfectly)
1 smallish zucchini
1 smallish yellow squash
1 longish red bell pepper
Few sprigs fresh thyme  (I didn't have fresh thyme on hand so just liberally sprinkled some Italian seasoning on it)
Salt and pepper
Few tablespoons soft goat cheese, for serving


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Pour tomato puree into bottom of an oval baking dish, approximately 10 inches across the long way. Drop the sliced garlic cloves and chopped onion into the sauce, stir in one tablespoon of the olive oil and season the sauce generously with salt and pepper.

Trim the ends off the eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash. As carefully as you can, trim the ends off the red pepper and remove the core, leaving the edges intact, like a tube.

On a mandoline, adjustable-blade slicer or with a very sharp knife, cut the eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash and red pepper into very thin slices, approximately 1/16-inch thick.

Atop the tomato sauce, arrange slices of prepared vegetables concentrically from the outer edge to the inside of the baking dish, overlapping so just a smidgen of each flat surface is visible, alternating vegetables. You may have a handful leftover that do not fit.

Drizzle the remaining tablespoon olive oil over the vegetables and season them generously with salt and pepper. Remove the leaves from the thyme sprigs with your fingertips, running them down the stem. Sprinkle the fresh thyme over the dish.

Cover dish with a piece of parchment paper cut to fit inside. (Tricky, I know, but the hardest thing about this.)
Bake for approximately 45 to 55 minutes, until vegetables have released their liquid and are clearly cooked, but with some structure left so they are not totally limp. They should not be brown at the edges, and you should see that the tomato sauce is bubbling up around them.

Serve with a dab of soft goat cheese on top, alone, or with some crusty French bread, atop polenta, couscous, or your choice of grain.

Roasted Root Vegetable Pizza

Had this at Amy's house. Yum!

You can roast the root vegetables ahead of time to help with prep work.
You could also grab some dough from Trader Joe's to save time.

Source: Everyday Food

Roasted Root Vegetables:

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash (2 pounds), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 pounds new potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
• 1 pound red onions, peeled and quartered lengthwise
• 1 pound carrots, halved lengthwise if thick, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 5 cloves garlic, crushed
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Divide vegetables and garlic evenly between two rimmed baking sheets; drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine, then spread in single layers.
2. Roast until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, 40 to 50 minutes, tossing vegetables and rotating sheets from top to bottom halfway through. Serve hot or at room temperature.

For the pizza:

Ingredients

• Olive oil
• 1 pound Basic Pizza Dough, or store-bought pizza dough, fresh or frozen (thawed)
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)
• 6 cups (about 1/2 recipe) Roasted Root Vegetables
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (optional)
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Brush a large rimless baking sheet with oil. Gently stretch dough into 12-by-16-inch oval (or as large as will fit on baking sheet); transfer to prepared sheet.
2. Sprinkle dough evenly with half the mozzarella. Scatter vegetables on top, then dollop with ricotta; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and the rosemary, if desired. Drizzle with oil; season with salt and pepper. Bake rotating sheet from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until crust is golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

Red Fried Rice

This is my favorite basic fried rice recipe. You can add meat for a little more protein or it is good as is. One thing I do differently from the recipe is try to use leftover rice that I have already cooked, because cold rice doesn't get as mushy as freshly made warm rice.

Source: Vegetarian, The Best Ever Recipe Collection

Ingredients:
Basmati rice - 3/4 cup

Peanut oil - 2 tbsp (i use coconut oil)

Small red onion - 1, chopped

Red bell pepper - 1, seeded and chopped

Cherry tomatoes - 8 ounces, halved

Eggs - 2 beaten

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Wash the rice several times under cold running water to remove starch. Drain well. Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Add the rice and cook for 10-12 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a wok until very hot. Add the onion and pepper and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the cherry tomatoes and continue stir-frying for 2 minutes more.
3. Pour in the beaten eggs all at once. Cook for 30 seconds without stirring, then stir to break up the egg as it sets.
4. Drain the cooked rice thoroughly. Add to the wok and toss it with the vegetable and egg mixture over the heat for 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Creamed Chard And Spring Onions

You can swap cream or half and half for all or a portion of the milk, if you want this to be extra lush. You could also stir in a few tablespoons of grated Parmesan. (We ended up using a couple of cans of evaporated milk as that was all we had, really YUM!)

Source: Smitten Kitchen

1 1-pound bunch Swiss chard, thick stems removed and leaves sliced into ribbons
3 spring onions, ends trimmed, white and some green parts sliced into thin coins
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups milk
Salt and pepper

Wash your chard, but no need to dry it, just place it in a large pot over high heat. Cook, covered, with just the water clinging to leaves, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 6 minutes.
Press or squeeze out the excess liquid any number of ways, either by wringing it out in cheesecloth, putting it in a mesh strainer and pressing the moisture out with a spatula or large spoon or letting it cool long enough to grab small handfuls and squeezing them to remove as much water as possible.
Wipe out the large pot so you can use it again. Heat milk or cream in a small saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until warm. Keep warm. Meanwhile, cook onion and garlic, if using, in butter in your wiped-out large pot over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about six minutes. Whisk in flour and cook roux, whisking, about three minutes. Add warm milk or cream in a slow stream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps, and simmer, whisking, until thickened, three to four minutes. Stir in chard, then salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring, until heated through.

To make Creamed Chard and Spring Onion Pasta: Use 1 3/4 cups of milk instead of 1 1/4 cups. Stir 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan into the sauce while cooking, and keep extra on hand for serving. This should be enough to toss with about half a pound of pasta (more or less depending on how saucy you like yours).

Braised Red Cabbage with Apple and Onion

We often end up doubling the "sauce" - (vinegar, sugar, water, salt and pepper) and keep adjusting until the flavor is where we want it. The apples, cabbage and onion make a good combination!

Source: Everyday Food

YieldServes 4

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 Gala or Fuji apple, halved, cored, and sliced
• 1 head red cabbage (2 pounds), cored, quartered, and thinly sliced
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 4 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 cup water

Directions

1. In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, melt butter over medium. Add onion and apple; cook, stirring, until onion softens, 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in red cabbage and season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Add cider vinegar, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until cabbage is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and sugar.

Coconut Pumpkin Soup

This soup is one of my absolute favorites. I look forward to making it every fall/winter and always double the recipe below! It's easy to add some cooked shredded chicken breast for a little protein as well (especially easy if I remember to grab a rotisserie chicken before I checkout!).

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Makes: 12 (1/2-cup) servings

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes

Ingredients

2 medium carrots, chopped
1 medium green sweet pepper, seeded and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 15-ounce can pumpkin (or you can roast your own pie pumpkin!)
1 14-ounce can unsweetened light coconut milk
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 medium fresh jalapeno chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro 

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, cook carrots, sweet pepper, and onion in hot oil over medium heat about 5 minutes or until vegetables are nearly tender. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, coconut milk, and broth. Stir in brown sugar, jalapeno pepper, salt, and ginger. Stir pumpkin mixture into cooked carrot mixture. 


2. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 10 minutes or until heated through, stirring frequently. Before serving, stir in cilantro. 

Goat Cheese Arugula Pizza

A tasty use of our CSA arugula tonight! I tossed the arugula with a little lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh cracked black pepper before topping the pizza. Yummy!

Source: All Recipes

Ingredients

• 1 unbaked pizza crust
• 6 tablespoons prepared pesto sauce
• 3 roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 (8 ounce) package seasoned goat cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 cup fresh arugula
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven according to pizza package instructions.
2. Dab pesto onto the center of the pizza base, and spread toward the outer edges. Cut the goat cheese into thin coins, and spread or crumble across the pizza. Arrange tomato slices over goat cheese. Sprinkle with garlic. Brush the crust edges lightly with olive oil.
3. Place pizza directly on preheated oven rack. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the crust edges are golden.
4. After taking pizza out of the oven, allow to cool for a few minutes so that the cheese has time to set. After a couple of minutes, cover the pizza with a few handfuls of arugula. Cut, serve, and enjoy!