Squash Soup

Ingredients:

• 2-3 lb of cubed squash (peeled delicata, butternut, etc.)
• One green apple, peeled and cubed
• One yellow onion, quartered
• Four cloves garlic
• Two carrots, chopped
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• ¼ tsp ground sage
• 3 springs rosemary (or ½ tsp dried)
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Pinch of ground nutmeg
• Pinch of ground ginger
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
• ½ cup coconut milk

Preparations:

1. Roast vegetables. On a baking tray, drizzle some olive oil. Add the squash, onion, carrot, and garlic. Top with the chunks of apple. Drizzle with more olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add to an oven at 425F for 20 minutes, tossing halfway through. 
2. In a large saucepan, heat the vegetable broth and roasted vegetables. Add the spices and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
3. Add ¼ cup of the coconut milk and stir to combine. Remove the sprigs of rosemary. In batches, blend the soup in a blender (using a cloth to cover instead of the lid). Add more coconut milk if needed to blend smooth. Return to the saucepan. 
4. Serve with shredded cheese, feta, roasted pumpkin seeds, etc. 

Enchilada Orzo Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 (14.5oz) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 (10oz) can enchilada sauce
• 1 (4.5oz) can chopped green chiles, drained
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1/2 water, or more, as needed
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
• 16oz uncooked orzo pasta

Preparations:

1. Place diced tomatoes, enchilada sauce, green chiles, vegetable broth, water, corn and black beans into a slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper. Stir until well combined. Top with cream cheese.
2. Cover and cook on high heat for 1-2 hours.
3. Uncover and stir until cream cheese is well combined. Stir in orzo. Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 15-30 minutes. Add more water as needed until the desired consistency is reached.
4. Serve immediately.

Egg Roll Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 pound fake sausage
• 2 Tbsp sesame oil (or olive oil)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 small green cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup water
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  optional toppings: toasted sesame seeds, thinly-sliced green onions, wonton strips, sriracha

Preparations:

1. Heat one tablespoon of sesame oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add sausage and cook over for 5-6 minutes, stirring and breaking it up occasionally, until it is lightly browned.  Transfer the sausage to a separate bowl and set aside.
2. Add the remaining sesame oil and onion, and stir to combine.  Saute for 5 minutes, until translucent.  Add the carrots and garlic, and saute for 2 more minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the cabbage, stock, water, ginger, and cooked sausage. Stir to combine.
3. Increase heat to high and cook until the soup reaches a simmer.  Then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes, or until the carrots and cabbage are nice and tender.  Stir in the toasted sesame oil until combined. 
4. Serve immediately, garnished with your desired toppings.

Southwestern Pasta

Ingredients:

• 13.5 oz. of rotini (or any pasta you like)
• 2 cups frozen corn kernels
• 1 medium green bell pepper cut into thin strips
• 1/2 medium red onion, sliced
• 1 15 oz. can Rotel canned tomatoes and chilies (or just diced tomatoes) 
• 1/4 cup taco seasoning (roughly one standard packet)
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 Tbsp lime juice
• 1/4 cup shredded cheese, plus more for topping (Optional)

Preparations:

1. Add all but the last three ingredients (beans, lime, and cheese) to a large pot. Stir, cover, and bring to a rolling boil.
3. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. There should still be some liquid in the bottom of the pot when the pasta is cooked.
4. Remove from heat. Stir in the black beans, lime juice, and cheese. Let it rest for 5 minutes to warm the beans, melt the cheese, and absorb the excess liquid.

Chili Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1/2 Tbsp ground red pepper or cayenne
• 1/2 Tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 15 oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
• 15 oz can black beans
• 15 oz can pinto beans
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups uncooked macaroni noodles
• 1.5 cups shredded cheese

Preparations:

1. Saute the onion and garlic with olive oil in the bottom of a large soup pot over medium heat for 5-8 minutes, or until the onions are soft and transparent.
2. Add the flour and peppers to the onions and garlic. Continue to stir for about two minutes, or just until the flour and chili powder begin to coat the bottom of the pot.
3. Drain and rinse the beans. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, all the beans, corn, and vegetable broth to the pot. Stir to combine and to dissolve any flour and chili powder off the bottom of the pot. Turn up the heat to medium high.
4. Add the uncooked macaroni noodles and stir to combine. Place a lid on the pot and let the pot come up to a boil. Stir every other minute or so to loosen the noodles from the bottom of the pot as it heats up.
5. When the pot reaches a boil, turn the heat down so it continues to gently simmer. Let the pot gently simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and the liquid is thick and saucy.
6. Once the pasta is tender, add the shredded cheddar and stir it in until melted.

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.

Mexican Rice

Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked rice
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin

Preparations:

1. Combine all ingredients into a medium, non-stick pot. 
2. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 25 minutes. 
3. Remove from heat and let rice stand with lid on for 10 minutes. Remove lid and fluff rice with a fork.

Coconut Curry

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 1 small sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 Tbsp curry powder
• A pinch of crushed pepper flakes
• 2 cans (14 oz) light coconut milk
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 roma tomato, diced
• Lemon juice (optional)
• For the Coconut Quinoa:
• 1 can (14 oz) light coconut milk
• 1 cup quinoa    

Preparations:

1. If serving with coconut quinoa, begin by washing thoroughly in a fine mesh strainer. Add to a medium saucepan over medium heat and toast for 3 minutes. Add 1 can light coconut milk and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the quinoa is light, fluffy and the liquid is absorbed. Set aside until serving.
2. In the meantime, heat a large pot to medium heat and add olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, ginger, carrot, sweet potato, bell pepper, and a pinch each salt and pepper and stir. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened – about 10 minutes.
3. Add curry powder, pepper flakes, vegetable broth, coconut milk, another healthy pinch of salt and stir. Bring to a simmer then reduce heat slightly and continue cooking for 10-15 minutes. Sample a bit of the sweet potato. If it is fully cooked, continue to the next step. 
4. Add the tomatoes and cook another 5 minutes.
5. Serve over coconut quinoa with a bit of lemon juice.