Pizza Hummus

Ingredients:

• 6 cloves garlic, preferably roasted
• 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas – drained, but liquid from can reserved
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 6 basil leaves
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/4 Cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 Cup Ricotta Cheese
• 2 tsp tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp onion Powder
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 3/4 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Preparations:

1. Pulse the garlic in the food processor until roughly chopped, about 5 pulses.
2. Add in all the remaining ingredients, except the olive oil and reserved bean liquid. Process until combined and almost smooth in consistency, about 1 minute. stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary.
3. With the food processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil through the opening at the top of the processor and process until smooth. Add in the reserved bean liquid, 1-2 tablespoons at time. Process until desired consistency and thinness is achieved.

Mediterranean Cous-cous

Ingredients:

• 3 cups prepared cous-cous (1 box)
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 Tbsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups chickpeas (1 15oz can), drained
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
• 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped
• 4oz feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice

Preparations:

1. Prepare the cous-cous according to the packaging
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the red onion. Saute for 5-8 minutes.
3. Add the garlic, oregano, and black pepper to the pan and saute for 1-2 minutes.
4. Stir in the chickpeas and cook for 6-8 minutes until the chickpeas start to brown.
5. Turn off the heat. Stir in the olives and sun dried tomatoes. Add the cous-cous, feta, and lemon juice to the pan and stir. Once everything is evenly warm, serve. 

Slow Cooker Potato Corn Chowder

Ingredients:

• 24 oz red potato, diced
• 16 oz frozen corn, or 2 ears fresh
• 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 6 cups vegetable stock
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 Tbsp milk

Preparations:

1. Place potatoes and corn into a slow cooker. Stir in flour and gently toss to combine. 
2. Stir in chicken stock, thyme, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours.
4. Once fully cooked, stir in butter and heavy cream.

Pot Pie Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 lb soy ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
•  1 10.5 oz can of Cream of Celery soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 3 potatoes, peeled and chopped into half inch pieces
• 1 cup corn
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1 8 oz can of Crescent rolls
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt

Preparations:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9x12-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion, about 10 minutes. Add in garlic and cook for a minute or two, until fragrant.
3. Add corn, potatoes, and fake meat to the pan and heat until thoroughly warmed through. Spoon the cooked mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and half of thyme and oregano. 
4. Mix together the cream of celery soup, milk, and egg in a small bowl. Pour the soup mixture over top of the cooked mix. Top with Cheddar cheese in a layer. Unroll the crescent dough, and place over the cheese.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until the crescent dough is golden brown and the filling is bubbling, about 25 minutes. Cover with foil and cook for another 25 minutes. Let sit 10 mintes before serving.

Slow Cooker Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 14 oz cans diced tomatoes
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 cup diced carrot
• 1 cup diced onion (or 1/2 onion, diced)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 4 tsp dried basil
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups milk, warm
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 black pepper

Preparations:

1. Add vegetables, tomatoes, broth, oregano, basil, and bay leaf to the crock pot. 
2. Cook on low for roughly six hours.
3. Remove bay leaf. In batches, blend the hot soup. Return the smoothed soup to the pot. 
4. 30 minutes before serving, prepare the roux. Melt the butter on low in a sauce pan. Slowly add flour, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Stir for 6-7 minutes. Slowly mix in one cup of the soup. Once thoroughly combined, return mixture to the crock pot.
5. Add the parmesan, milk, salt, and pepper. Cook another 30 minutes.
6. Serve with grilled cheese sandwiches. 

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili

Ingredients:

• 2 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
• 32 oz vegetable stock (4 cups)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into bite sized chunks (roughly 1/2”)
• 1 cup dry quinoa
• salt and pepper to taste
• avocado for garnish  (optional) 

Preparations:

1. Heat the oil in a large heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, and cook until soft and they start to turn brown (about 10 minutes). 
2. Add the garlic, and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, cilantro, and oregano and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. 
3. Add the beans, stock, and potatoes, and season with salt and pepper, bring to a boil. Then add the quinoa. Continue cooking for about 25 minutes – 40 minutes, stirring frequently, until quinoa and potatoes are cooked and the chili has thickened.
4. Top with avocado

Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:

• Any fresh tomatoes you wish to use up, diced
• 1/2 an onion, finely diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced (or 1.5 tsp garlic powder)
• 1/2 a bell pepper, finely diced
• 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 2 tbsp dried parsley
• 1 tbsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup + 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar (optional)

Preparations:

1.  In a saucepan, saute onion in 1 tsp olive oil over medium heat for 10 minutes.
2. Add bell pepper, garlic, and fresh tomatoes and bring to a simmer.
3. Combine remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. 
4. Cover with a lid slightly askew and simmer on medium-low for 30 minutes.
5. Remove lid, lower temperature to low, and simmer for at least 30 more minutes.

Tortellini Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper
• 1 14 oz can Italian-style diced tomatoes
• 6 cups vegetable stock
• 1 500g pkg of fresh tortellini
• 1/4 tsp salt

Preparations:

1. Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.
2. Add onions, green pepper, and garlic in that order as you chop them. Cook an additional 5 minutes.
3. Add basil, oregano, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
4. Add tomatoes and stock. Heat on high until boiling, reduce to medium, and add tortellini.
5. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, until pasta is cooked. Add salt if desired. 

Cook Time: 35 minutes
Serves: 8 

Cheesy Zucchini Bake

Ingredients:

• 2 medium zucchini
• 2 medium-sized yellow squash
• 4 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 4 Tbsp thinly sliced green onion
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1 shredded Italian cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Preparations: 

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray an 8" x 8" baking dish with non-stick spray. 
2. Wash the squash and cut in slices or half-moon slices. Wash basil, spin dry or dry with paper towels and finely chop. Slice green onions. 
3. Combine the sliced squash, chopped basil, sliced green onions, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, half cup of shredded cheese, all the parmesan, and stir together until the veggies are coated with cheese and the herbs are well-distributed. 
4. Put the mixture in the baking dish and bake uncovered for about 40 minutes.
5. Take the casserole dish out of the oven and sprinkle over the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese. Put the dish back in the oven and bake 20 minutes longer, or until the cheese is melted and nicely browned.

Cook Time: 1.25 hours

Serves: 9