stuffed acorn squash

i'd been dying to make this since my friend bonnie told me about it.

i (kind of) followed this recipe.

it was a bit overcooked but still delicious.

and the smell...mmmm...while i was cooking john texted me from upstairs to tell me that it smelled like a "delightful fall day down there!" =)

i added toasted pecans and fresh local cranberries, quartered and simmered in maple syrup.

this meal required the use of all 4 burners and the oven....yikes!

but that's ok, because the stove's going to have a little rest when Carmella and Don arrive!

*spots are still available for the Raw in a Flash class this Friday, Oct. 30th.

let me know if you want in!

turnips and greens

with the little roots and all! =)

this was the first time i've cooked turnips. they were given to me by a woman named hortense who has opened an organic market in collingswood, nj. i've been working with her and experimenting with different treats i may sell at her store. the grand opening is november 14th for those in the area. stay tuned!

hortense said to cut them up and saute them with the greens- that's it! so quick, easy, and tasty! i cut them, cooked them, and we scarfed them right down all in less than 20 minutes.

i sauteed the turnips first in a little garlic and olive oil. after a few minutes i added the greens, then threw in some walnuts. mmm mmm good!

how do you like your turnips?

snacks and pumpkins

 alfalfa sprouts, local apples and peanut butter

(sprouts with pb is delish. don't knock it til you try it!) 

i sprout my alfalfa seeds the same way i sprout mung beans. 

(i ran out of nylon panty hose so i used tulle this time and it worked great!)

 

thin rolls toasted with garlic and olive oil, carrots and guacamole

 

~pierre and his girlfriend~

painted by my little sister crystal and me. 

vegetable soup tutorial

 red bell pepper, black beans, rutabaga, buckwheat and cilantro

veggie soup is great in my opinion because you can throw in whatever you have, add some spices, let it simmer and voila - you've got dinner and maybe even enough leftover for lunch the next day. plus i feel soup is fairly easy to make and so comforting on chilly days.

sure, it's great to follow tried and true soup recipes, but here is a simple basic soup guide i play with when i have some veggies to work with.  (i'm no expert but this method for soup making works for me!)

(makes 6-8 servings)

1 - gather and chop ingredients.

2 - prepare 6 cups veg broth by heating 6 cups filtered water with 2 vegetable bouillon cubes. the boxes/cans of vegetable stock work but i find its cheaper to use the cubes. i usually make the broth in the same pot i will  use for the soup. when the cubes dissolve, i pour the hot broth in a glass container and set aside for the next step.

3 - heat 1-2 tablespoon butter (i like earth balance) or olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

add onions or garlic if you'd like and the tougher veggies:

rutabaga

turnip

potato

carrot

parsnip

celery

fennel

yam

beet

let them cook for about 5 minutes while stirring occasionally.

carrot, fennel, green onions

4 - add the 6 cups of veggie broth and anywhere from a 1/4 to 1 cup of grains/seeds (you could use one of the following or any other grain you like - i used lentil below):

buckwheat

lentil

barley

millet

brown/wild rice

quinoa

5 - add a few pinches of seasonings and bring the broth to a boil. sometimes i will throw in a bay leaf. this soup has smoked paprika, cumin, a very small pinch of nutmeg and turmeric.

6 - cover the pot, lower the heat and allow the soup to simmer about 25 minutes (15 minutes if you pre-soaked the grain).

7 - when there is about 5 minutes left add the soft or frozen veggies:

corn

peas

cooked beans (chick peas are my fave)

mushrooms

broccoli

bell pepper

carefully taste the soup (it's HOT!) and add more seasonings if needed.

cover and simmer for 5 more minutes. 

serve to your family and enjoy the yummy sounds they make!

=)

*of course there are a lot more veggies and grains to work with for veggie soups, i just listed the ones i could think of.  i'd gladly appreciate any more ideas! =)