Easy lentil soup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed
1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes
2 quarts chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground toasted cumin
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground grains of paradise

Directions
Place the olive oil into a large 6-quart Dutch oven and set over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, carrot, celery and salt and sweat until the onions are translucent, approximately 6 to 7 minutes. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander, cumin and grains of paradise and stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook at a low simmer until the lentils are tender, approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Using a stick blender, puree to your preferred consistency. Serve immediately.

Noodle dish

Prep veggies: wash watercress, thinly slice red bell peppers, thinly slice red onions, bean sprouts, sugar snaps

Sauce: some people use alot of canola oil and don't cook the sauce but I like to use chicken stock. In sauce pan, cook a couple of cups of chicken stock, veggie oil, sugarless peanut butter, tahini, soy sauce, grated ginger, chopped garlic, hot sauce or red pepper flakes, black pepper, a splash of rice wine vinegar and roasted sesame oil for flavor. Heat till it's all blended together. I don't know the measurements, just kind of taste as I go. Just make enough to coat a pound of pasta and have a little extra to put on top.

Cook a pound of whole wheat pasta or udon noodles.

After the pasta is cooked and drained, put in large bowl and mix with the sauce and all the veggies. Sprinkle with chopped scallions or cilantro.

I also like to grill chicken or shrimp and add on top of pasta. Super easy.
julie

Spaghetti Pie

Ingredients:

5 oz spaghetti
2 Tbls butter
1/3 cup Parmesan
1/2 tsp salt & 1/4 tsp pepper
2 eggs - beaten
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup onion
1 13 1/2 oz jar spaghetti sauce
1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp garlic salt, 1/2 tsp oregano
1 cup sour cream
1 3 oz pkg cream cheese
1 1/4 cup mozzarella

Cook spaghetti. Stir butter, cheese, salt, pepper, eggs. Spread in greased 9x13 pan. Saute beef & onion; add sugar, oregano, garlic salt & spaghetti sauce. Mix cream cheese and sour cream; spread over spaghetti. Top with meat sauce. Bake 40 min @ 350. Add mozzarella on top and return to oven for 5 min. Wait 5 min to cut.

Enjoy!! (the spaghetti pie seems to feed a lot so you might not want to make it unless you don't mind eating leftovers for a few days!)
Hope you're well & can't wait to see you in the new year!!
xo,
abby

Peachy Chicken or Pork Picante

Ingredients:

1 lb pork or chicken, cubed
2 tsp oil
1 Tbls taco mix
1 Tbls dried parsley
1 8 oz mild salsa
1/3 c peach preserves

Coat chicken/pork with taco mix and parsley & brown in skillet
Add salsa & preserves, lower heat, cover & simmer 15-20 minutes
Serve over rice
abby

Butternut Squash soup

This Butternut Squash soup is best parred with another food for a meal since it is not too heavy or filling. I got this recipe from kraftfoods.com years ago.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 butternut squash (4 lb.), peeled, seeded and cut into chunks
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
2 cans (14-1/2 oz. each) chicken broth
1/2 cup Light Sour Cream

HEAT oil in large saucepan on medium heat. Add squash, onions and garlic; cook 5 min. or until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in allspice; cook and stir 1 min.

ADD broth. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on low heat 15 min. or until squash is tender. Process, in batches, in food processor until smooth. Return to saucepan; cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.

LADLE into bowls. Add 1 Tbsp. sour cream to each serving; swirl slightly. Serve with crackers.

Makes 8 cups of soup.
Total time to make: 45 min.
Becky

Gravy

Gravy: 1 tblspoon Butter, 3 tblspoon flour, seasoning (salt, pepper, and I always add a little boullion flavor), melt in saucepan, mix with fork, cook on low/med, mashing together butter and flour. Add 1 cup of fluids (milk, broth (can be broth from meat or canned broth, etc.) Mix on low to get lumps out and slowly thicken.
Double recipe to make more gravy.
debbie