Spiced Carrot Waffles

Yield: Serves 3-4

ingredients:

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c whole wheat flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs, divided
1 cup packed shredded carrot
1 3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. melted butter

directions:

Sift together dry ingredients in a large bowl. Combine egg yolks, milk, carrots and oil in a medium bowl; stir into dry ingredients. Beat whites in a separate smaller bowl until soft peaks form. Carefully fold whites into the batter, leaving a few fluffs.

Bake on hot waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions.

Nat's Notes:
1. For buttermilk waffles, substitute 2 c. buttermilk for regular milk. Add ½ tsp baking soda and reduce baking powder to 2 tsp.

Adapted from http://www.perrysplate.com/2010/01/spiced-carrot-waffles.html

Tomato, Basil, and Cheddar Soup

From: http://morefruitplease.net/2012/04/23/tomato-basil-and-cheddar-soup/

Makes 6 servings

• 2 28-oz. cans of diced tomatoes
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 cups of vegetable broth
• 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup basil, chopped, loosely packed
• 2 tsp of oregano
• 1 tsp sugar
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:  Over medium heat, add the olive oil to a large pot. Add the chopped onion and allow to cook until tender, about three to four minutes. Add in chopped garlic and cook for an additional two minutes. Pour in the two cans of tomatoes (juice and all) and the vegetable stock. Stir in the basil, oregano, sugar, and salt and pepper. Place the lid back onto the pot and allow to simmer ten minutes. At the end, stir in the Greek yogurt and cheddar cheese until well blended. Use either an immersion blender or food processor to puree the soup if you prefer a smooth texture. Garnish with chopped basil and grated cheddar cheese if desired.

Quinoa Salad with Black Beans, Avocado and Cumin-Lime Dressing

From: http://www.eating-for-england.com/quinoa-salad-beans-avocado/

serves 4-6

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed
• 1 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
• 1 3/4 cup water
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 avocado, chopped into chunks
• handful cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped into chunks
• small handful cilantro, diced
• 1 limes, juiced
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• salt, to taste

Directions

1. Warm the olive/coconut oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once it’s hot add the rinsed quinoa and toast for about 2-3 minutes until it starts smelling nutty and lovely. Add water, stir once, cover, and simmer with a lid on for 20 minutes.
2. While the quinoa is cooking, prepare all other ingredients. Prepare the dressing by combining the lime juice, oil, cumin, and salt. Whisk it aggressively. Adjust seasoning as necessary.
3. When the quinoa has finished cooking, remove it from heat and fluff with a fork. Add black beans and toss to warm them through.
4. Let the quinoa cool for about five minutes and then add all the remaining ingredients, including the dressing, and mix. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve with tortilla chips.

Quinoa Black Bean Burrito Bowls

From: http://theshiksa.com/2012/05/01/quinoa-black-bean-burrito-bowls/

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

• 1/4 tsp chili powder (mild)
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (spicy)
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• Salt

OPTIONAL TOPPING INGREDIENTS

• Grated cheddar or jack cheese
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt
• Pico de gallo or salsa
• Diced seeded tomatoes

• Hot sauce or sriracha
• Sliced avocado
• Guacamole
• Corn

Servings: 4

*Note: I also like to add grilled salmon to the bowl.

Stacked Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas

From: http://www.perrysplate.com/2011/03/stacked-roasted-vegetable-enchiladas.html

I absolutely loved this... the husband and kids just liked it. 

This is such a great dish. It’s customizable. It’s fairly healthy. (Hello, check out all of the veg!) And it’s pretty. I love pretty food.

Any meal that starts out with a giant pan of roasted vegetables is a winner to me. The first time I made this, I thought it was a tad tortilla-heavy, so I boosted the amount of roasted vegetables, added some fresh spinach and made some thinner corn tortillas from scratch.

I love ooey-gooey, cheesy enchiladas, but I thought this fresher, lighter version was great as well. I avoided having to roll individual enchiladas, and it didn’t put me into an enchilada coma for the rest of the evening. Very nice.

Feel free to switch out the vegetables or cheese for those you like, add some beans or shredded chicken of your family is particularly carnivorous, or even use flour tortillas if you don’t have (or like) corn. Another great dish adapted from The Roasted Vegetable by Andrea Chesman.

(No, I’m not getting sponsored to rave about her book. I would love it if she’d give me a dozen books to give away to you, though!)

Stacked Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas

ingredients:

1 poblano chile, cut into matchsticks
2 red bell peppers, cut into matchsticks
1/2 head of cauliflower, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 medium onion, halved and slivered
1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
3 T heat-safe oil like grapeseed or coconut
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt and black pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 cups homemade or store bought salsa/pico de gallo
2 ounces baby spinach leaves (about 2 big handfuls)
9-10 corn tortillas, halved (try making homemade tortillas!)
2 cups shredded cheese (I used a cheddar-Monterey Jack blend)
sour cream and thinly sliced scallions (green onions) for garnish, if desired

directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly oil a large shallow roasting pan or rimmed cookie sheet.

Place poblanos, red bell peppers, cauliflower, sweet potato, onion, and corn kernels onto cookie sheet. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle the cumin and minced garlic over top. Add a generous pinch or two of salt and black pepper, then use your hands to mix everything together. After everything is coated well, spread the vegetables evenly in the pan. Roast for 30-40 minutes until vegetables are tender and begin to brown in spots. Stir or shake the pan every 10 minutes for even roasting. Remove pan from oven and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Prepare an 8x8x2 or 9x9x2-inch square baking pan with nonstick spray. In a small bowl, stir the cilantro into the salsa. Spread 1/4 cup of salsa into the bottom of the baking pan. Add a layer of tortilla pieces, to completely cover the salsa. Top with 1/3 of the vegetables, a handful of spinach, and 1/3 of the cheese. Make a second layer of tortilla, salsa, vegetables, spinach, and cheese. Top with with a layer of tortillas, salsa, vegetables, and cheese. Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and everything is heated through.

Let it sit for 5 minutes and cut into squares. Serve with sour cream and a sprinkle of sliced scallions.

Serves 4-5

Stacked Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas

I loved this so much! I think roasted veggies are the best. My family wasn't as excited about it... too many veggies!

from http://www.perrysplate.com/

1 poblano chile, cut into matchsticks
2 red bell peppers, cut into matchsticks
1/2 head of cauliflower, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 medium onion, halved and slivered
1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
3 T heat-safe oil like grapeseed or coconut
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt and black pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 cups homemade or store bought salsa/pico de gallo
2 ounces baby spinach leaves (about 2 big handfuls)
9-10 corn tortillas, halved (try making homemade tortillas!)
2 cups shredded cheese (I used a cheddar-Monterey Jack blend)
sour cream and thinly sliced scallions (green onions) for garnish, if desired

directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly oil a large shallow roasting pan or rimmed cookie sheet.

Place poblanos, red bell peppers, cauliflower, sweet potato, onion, and corn kernels onto cookie sheet. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle the cumin and minced garlic over top. Add a generous pinch or two of salt and black pepper, then use your hands to mix everything together. After everything is coated well, spread the vegetables evenly in the pan. Roast for 30-40 minutes until vegetables are tender and begin to brown in spots. Stir or shake the pan every 10 minutes for even roasting. Remove pan from oven and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Prepare an 8x8x2 or 9x9x2-inch square baking pan with nonstick spray. In a small bowl, stir the cilantro into the salsa. Spread 1/4 cup of salsa into the bottom of the baking pan. Add a layer of tortilla pieces, to completely cover the salsa. Top with 1/3 of the vegetables, a handful of spinach, and 1/3 of the cheese. Make a second layer of tortilla, salsa, vegetables, spinach, and cheese. Top with with a layer of tortillas, salsa, vegetables, and cheese. Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and everything is heated through.

Let it sit for 5 minutes and cut into squares. Serve with sour cream and a sprinkle of sliced scallions.

Serves 4-5