Gumbo! Gumbo! Gumbo!

Southern U.S. + Med = SoMed

1. onion

2. garlic

3. celery

4. carrots

5. tomato paste

6. beans (lima, butter, and/or navy)

7. okra

8. yam

9. corn

prepare beans

soften yam in oven

saute 1-4, add 5 & water/stock

add 6-9

+ bay leaf, basil, cumin, turmeric

+molasses

serve over quinoa or rice, garnished w/ chopped green olives

Coconut-Sweet Potato Soup

1. onion

2. garlic

3. lemon grass

4. carrot

5. coconut milk

6. sweet potato (cubed)

saute 1-3, add 4-5 (thin with vegetable stock if desired), + ginger, cumin, turmeric, coriander, cayenne pepper, salt to taste

bake 5 at 450' until crisp

cook noodle of choice, drain and toss in sesame oil

put everything in a bowl, over fresh kale (or leafy green of choice)

Cheaper than Pine-Nut Pesto

1. walnuts

2. cilantro (or basil)

3. honey (optional)

4. lemon juice

5. olive oil

6. kalamata olives (optional)

7. garlic 

8. chile pepper (if you want it spicy)

all in the food processor

+ salt and pepper to taste

serving ideas:

a.) spread it on ciabatta and make a spinach-sprout-tomato sandwich

b.) spread it on penne and garnish with diced tomato 

c.) spoon that shit straight into your mouth, you won't regret it

Miso-Soba Salad

1. salad greens

2. bean sprouts

3. mushrooms (thinly sliced)

4. carrots (likewise)

5. cilantro

6. green onion

cook soba noodles

mix everything and toss with:

miso paste (thinner or thicker depending on desired soupy-ness)

chili-garlic oil (chili pepper + garlic + rice vinegar + sesame oil, combined in food processor)

Sweet Potato - Plantain Hash

1. sweet potato (cubed, small)

2. plantain (likewise)

3. onion 

4. garlic

5. red pepper

6. corn

7. currants 

mix everything with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey (opt.)

+cumin, basil, cayenne pepper

roast, covered, until potatoes are soft, then broil uncovered until browned

Sweet & Spicy Eggplant-Pumpkin Spread

1. eggplant

2. onion

3. garlic

4. pumpkin

5. red pepper

5. tomato

6. currants 

roast 1-5. saute 6 & 7.

+ lemon juice, red wine vinegar, basil, cumin, turmeric, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, honey or turbinado or agave nectar (optional)

throw everything in a food processor with olive oil to taste; add 1 tablespoon water at a time to desired consistency.

spread on anything, or just eat with your hands, it's that good

Autumnomia

Lasagna for the people.

1. pumpkin

2. onion

3. garlic

4. shiitake (or other) mushrooms

5. spinach (or arugula, if you self-identify as an elitist)

6. silken tofu

7. tomatoes (canned works fine, preferably whole) + sauce or paste

8. lasagna noodles

halve and seed 1, roast, also roast the seeds (season to taste, I recommend a little nutmeg here)

cook the noodles (unless you have those magical bake-only ones), rinse in cold water, coat in olive oil

separately, make a killer tomato sauce (basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme... recipe upon request)

separately, saute 2 until caramelized, add 3 and 4 (each sliced thin), then 5

combine 1 (roasted) and 6 in a food processor + salt and pepper to taste

layer: noodle - tofu/pumpkin mix - saute - seeds - sauce (repeat, ending with noodle and light sauce on top)

bake for a while