Saag Paneer

Serves 4
From Food Network

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• Kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 12 ounces store bought paneer (Indian cheese)
• 1 (16-ounce package) frozen chopped spinach
• 1 medium white onion, finely chopped
• 1 (1-inch thumb) ginger, peeled and minced (about 1 tablespoon)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large green serrano chile, finely chopped (seeds removed if you don't like it spicy!)
• 1/2 teaspoon store-bought or homemade garam masala
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt, stirred until smooth

Preparation
In a large bowl, whisk together the turmeric, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt and 3 tablespoons oil. Gently, drop in the cubes of paneer and gently toss. Let the cubes marinate while you get the rest of your ingredients together and prepped.

Thaw the spinach in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish, 5 minutes on high, then puree in a food processor until smooth. Alternatively, you can chop it up very finely with your knife.

Place a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add the paneer as the pan warms. In a couple of minutes give the pan a toss; each piece of paneer should be browned on one side. Fry another minute or so, and then remove the paneer from the pan onto a plate.

Add the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil to the pan. Add the onions, ginger, garlic and chile. Now here's the important part: saute the mixture until it's evenly toffee-coloured, which should take about 15 minutes. Don't skip this step - this is the foundation of the dish! If you feel like the mixture is drying out and burning, add a couple of tablespoons of water.

Add the garam masala, coriander and cumin. If you haven't already, sprinkle a little water to keep the spices from burning. Cook, stirring often, until the raw scent of the spices cook out, and it all smells a bit more melodious, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add the spinach and stir well, incorporating the spiced onion mixture into the spinach. Add a little salt and 1/2 cup of water, stir, and cook about 5 minutes with the lid off.

Turn the heat off. Add the yogurt, a little at a time to keep it from curdling. Once the yogurt is well mixed into the spinach, add the paneer. Turn the heat back on, cover and cook until everything is warmed through, about 5 minutes. Serve.

Simple Spanish Gazpacho

Serves 4-6
From food.com

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ripe juicy tomatoes, rinsed and cut into pieces
• 1 garlic clove, peeled
• 1/2 white onion, cut into 4 pieces
• 1 green bell pepper, rinsed, seeded, and diced
• 1 cucumber, about 6-7 inches long, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 1 cup virgin olive oil
• 1 piece French bread (3-4 inches long piece)

Preparation
Place the piece of bread in a bowl with water in order to soak it. Once soaked, put all water away, squeeze the soaked bread with your bare hands as much as you can and set aside.

In a good blender or food processor, put the tomatoes, the garlic, onion, pepper, cucumber, squeezed bread. Add remaining ingredients and blend on a high speed until there are no bits and pieces left. It should be creamy with a bit of texture, not watery. Pour it in a jar or bowl and let it chill in your fridge. Do not heat or freeze. Serve it in bowls as a first course for any meal.

Polenta with Mushroom Sauce

From Eating Well

INGREDIENTS

• 1 16-ounce tube prepared plain polenta, sliced into 8 rounds
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 1 pound mushrooms, such as white or cremini, sliced
• 2 cups stemmed and sliced shiitake mushrooms, (4 1/2 ounces with stems)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 2/3 cup shredded fontina cheese, (see Note)
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Arrange the polenta on the prepared baking sheet and bake until crispy on the bottom and heated through, about 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms are softened and most of the liquid has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes.
4. Pour in wine; bring to a boil and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the liquid until the pan is almost dry, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in sour cream and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat, stir in cheese and tarragon. Serve the sauce over the polenta.

Wheat Berry Black Bean Chili

Makes 4-6 servings
From Eating Well

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 large yellow bell pepper,chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed
• 2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1-2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced (see Tip)
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
• 2 cups Cooked Wheat Berries, (recipe follows)
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes, chipotle to taste, broth and brown sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes.
2. Stir in cooked wheat berries and heat through, about 5 minutes more. (If using frozen wheat berries, cook until thoroughly heated.) Remove from the heat. Stir in lime juice. Garnish each bowl with avocado and cilantro.

Roasted Pumpkin Salad

From 101cookbooks.com

3 cups of pumpkin (or other winter squash), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
extra-virgin olive oi
fine grain sea salt
12 tiny red onions or shallots, peeled (OR 3 medium red onions peeled and quartered)
2 cups cooked wild rice*
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons warm water
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 375.
Toss the pumpkin in a generous splash of olive oil along with a couple pinches of salt, and turn out onto a baking sheet. At the same time, toss the onions with a bit of olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and turn out onto a separate baking sheet. Roast both for about 45 minutes, or until squash is brown and caramelized. The same goes for the onions, they should be deeply colored, caramelized, and soft throughout by the time they are done roasting. You'll need to flip both the squash and onion pieces once or twice along the way - so it's not just one side that is browning.

In the meantime, make the dressing. With a hand blender or food processor puree the sunflower seeds, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and honey until creamy. You may need to add a few tablespoons of warm water to thin the dressing a bit. Stir in the cilantro, saving just a bit to garnish the final plate later. Taste and adjust seasonings (or flavors) to your liking - I usually need to add a touch more salt with this dressing.

In a large bowl, toss the wild rice with a large dollop of the dressing. Add the onions, gently toss just once or twice. Turn the rice and onions out onto a platter and top with the roasted squash (I'll very gently toss with my hands here to disperse the pumpkin a bit). Finish with another drizzle of dressing and any remaining chopped cilantro.

Serves 4.

* To cook wild rice: Rinse 1 1/2 cups wild rice. In a medium sauce pan bring the rice and 4 1/2 cups salted water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cook for 40 minutes or until rice is tender and splitting open, stirring occasionally. You'll have enough for this recipe and some leftover.

Eggplant Parmesan

From foodnetwork.com

Serves 8

Ingredients

Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3 roasted red peppers, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 2 (28-ounce) cans plum tomatoes and their juices, crushed with your hands
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 3 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon freshly chopped oregano leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Honey, to taste

Eggplant:

• 5 cups fresh dried breadcrumbs (made from dried day-old bread)
• Butter, for greasing the dish
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano leaves
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 large eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 to 3 medium eggplants (about 2 1/4-pounds), cut into 1/2-inch-thick round slices (need about 18 slices)
• All-purpose flour, for dredging
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Sauce
• 12 ounces grated mozzarella (not fresh), plus1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
• 12 ounces grated fontina
• 3/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano
• Fresh basil leaves, torn

For the Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Sauce:

Directions

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute. Add the red peppers and cook for 1 minute.

Add the tomatoes, bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a food processor and process until smooth. Return the mixture back to the pot, add the parsley, basil and oregano and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes longer and season with honey, if needed.

For the Eggplant:

To dry out the bread crumbs:

Preheat the oven to 300 degree F.

Evenly spread the bread crumbs on a large baking sheet and place in the oven. Bake for 5 minutes, turn the oven off and let the bread crumbs sit in the oven for 30 minutes or until just dry.
Raise the temperature of the oven up to 400 degrees F. Lightly butter the bottom and sides of a 15 by 10 by 2-inch baking dish and set aside.
Place the bread crumbs into a large shallow bowl. Add the herbs, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. In another medium shallow bowl, whisk the eggs and 2 tablespoons of water together.
Season each eggplant slice on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge each eggplant slice in the flour, tapping off excess, then dip it in the egg, and finally dredge it in the bread crumb mixture. Shake off any excess breading and transfer the egg plant to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining eggplant.
Heat 1/2-inch of oil in 2 large straight-sided saute pans over medium heat until the oil reaches a temperature of 385 degrees F. Working in small batches, fry a few of the eggplant slices, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes per batch. Using tongs, transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining eggplant.
Cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish with some of the tomato sauce and arrange 1/2 of the eggplant over the sauce. Cover the eggplant with some of the sauce, grated mozzarella, fontina, Romano cheese and some of the basil. Repeat to make 3 layers ending with the sauce. Top with the fresh mozzarella and remaining Romano and bake until hot and just beginning to brown, about 30 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Couscous with Curried Potatoes and Peas

Adapted from vegetariantimes.com
Serves 4-6

• 1 cup Israeli couscous (or other grain)
• 2 medium red potatoes, diced (2 cups)
• 2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
• 1 Tbs. red curry powder
• 1 cup frozen peas

1. Cook couscous according to instructions.
2. Meanwhile, coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat, and add potatoes. Cook 12 to 13 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Stir in ginger and curry powder, and cook 3 minutes more. Stir in frozen peas, and cook 2 minutes more, or until heated through. Toss potato mixture with bulgur in large serving bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Hummus

From The Hummus Blog

Ingredients
[4 extra-large bowls of Hummus]

• 1 cups dried chickpeas (the smallest you can find)
• 1/2 cup tahini
• juice from 1 squeezed lemon
• 1-2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon + 1/8-1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• salt
• olive oil
• parsley

How do I make that into Hummus?
[Brut: 10-20 hours. Net: 30 minutes]

1. Pour the chickpeas over a large plate. Go over them and look for damaged grains small stones, or any other thing you would rather leave out of the plate.

2. Wash the chickpeas several times, until the water is transparent. Soak them in clean water over night with 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Then, wash it, and soak again in tap water for a few more hours. The grains should absorb most of the water and almost double their volume.

3. Wash the chickpeas well and put them in a large pot. Cover with water, add the rest baking soda and NO salt. Cook until the grains are very easily smashed when pressed between two fingers. It should take around 1-1.5 hours, during which it is advised to switch the water once again, and remove the peels and foam which float over the cooking water. When done, sieve the grains and keep the cooking water.

4. Put the chickpeas into a food processor and grind well. Leave it to chill a little while before you continue.

5. Add the tahini and the rest of the ingredients and go on with the food processor until you get the desired texture. If the Humus is too thick, add some of the cooking water. It should be thinner than the actual desired texture.

Serve with some good olive oil and chopped parsley.

Quinoa and Brown Rice Bowl with Vegetables and Tahini

From: Food & Wine Magazine

Ingredients

1. 1 cup long-grain brown rice
2. 1 cup red quinoa
3. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4. 1 small onion, finely diced
5. 1 carrot, sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick
6. 1/4 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps thinly sliced
7. 1 small zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick
8. Salt
9. 1 head of broccoli—stems peeled and sliced into coins, heads cut into small florets
10. One 12-ounce bunch kale, large stems discarded
11. 1/4 cup tahini, at room temperature
12. 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
13. 2 garlic cloves, minced
14. 2 tablespoons warm water
15. 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
16. 1 ripe avocado, cut into 1/2-inch dice
17. 1 cup mung bean sprouts

1. In a medium saucepan, cover the brown rice with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat until the rice is just tender, about 40 minutes. Drain and return the rice to the saucepan; keep covered.
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the quinoa with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Cover the saucepan and simmer over low heat until the quinoa is tender and all of the water has been absorbed, 20 minutes.
3. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the carrot and cook until starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the shiitake, cover and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the zucchini, season with salt and cook, stirring a few times, until tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
4. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the skillet. Add the broccoli, cover and cook over moderate heat, stirring a few times, until deep green, 5 minutes. Add the kale, cover and cook, stirring a few times, until the broccoli and kale are just tender, 4 minutes. Season with salt. Stir in the other vegetables.
5. In a small bowl, whisk the tahini with the lemon juice, garlic, warm water and crushed red pepper. Season with salt.
6. Transfer the brown rice and quinoa to bowls. Top with the cooked vegetables, diced avocado and bean sprouts. Serve, passing the tahini sauce at the table.

Pasta Salad with Goat Cheese and Arugula

From: http://www.marthastewart.com/

Ingredients

• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 3/4 pound gemelli or other short pasta
• 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 3/4 cup crumbled fresh goat cheese (3 ounces)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 bunch arugula (8 ounces), torn
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

Directions

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente. Drain pasta and rinse under cold water. In a large bowl, toss pasta with beans and goat cheese.
2. Make dressing: In a bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, and mustard and season with salt and pepper. (To store, refrigerate pasta mixture and dressing separately, up to 1 day.) To serve, toss pasta mixture with dressing, arugula, and onion.

Very Green Lentil Soup

From www.eatingwell.com

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish
• 2 large yellow onions, chopped
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
• 2 tablespoons plus 4 cups water, divided
• 1 cup French green (Le Puy) or brown lentils
• 8 large green chard leaves
• 1 medium Yukon Gold potato, scrubbed
• 12 cups gently packed spinach (about 10 ounces), any tough stems trimmed
• 4 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 5 cups vegetable broth, store-bought or homemade
• 2 cups chopped broccoli
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, lightly toasted and ground (see Tip)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• 1/2 jalapeño pepper, minced
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or more to taste
• Crumbled feta cheese for garnish

Preparation

1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onions and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, add 2 tablespoons water and cover. Cook, stirring frequently until the pan cools down, and then occasionally, always covering the pan again, until the onions are greatly reduced and have a deep caramel color, 25 to 35 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, rinse lentils and pick out any small stones; combine the lentils with the remaining 4 cups water in a soup pot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Trim the white ribs out of the chard; chop the greens and slice the ribs (keep in separate piles). Cut potato into 1/2 -inch dice. Chop spinach; set aside.
3. When the lentils have cooked for 20 minutes, stir in the chard ribs, potato, scallions, broth and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt; return to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
4. Stir in the chard leaves, broccoli, cumin and coriander. When the onions are caramelized, stir a little of the simmering liquid into them; add them to the soup. Return to a simmer, cover and cook 5 minutes more. Stir in the reserved spinach, cilantro, mint, jalapeño and pepper; return to a simmer, cover and cook until the spinach is tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes more. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice and/or pepper, if desired. Garnish each bowl of soup with a drizzle of olive oil and crumbled feta cheese.

Lentil and Bulgur Salad

Serves 4
From Everyday Food

*3/4 cup lentils, picked over and rinsed
*Scant 3/4 cup bulgur wheat
*salt and pepper
*1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
*4-6 scallions, thinly sliced
*juice of one lemon
*2 tbsp olive oil
*crumbled feta cheese

Bring 1 cup pf water to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir in bulgur, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Cover; remove from heat and let stand until bulgur has absorbed the liquid, 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, cover lentils with water by one inch. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until lentils are tender but still holding their shape, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain well.

Transfer bulgur to a large bowl. Gently stir in lentils, tomatoes, scallions, lemon juice and oil. Serve sprinkled with feta.

Tomato & Spinach Dinner Strata

Serves 8
From Eating Well Magazine

*olive oil
*1 onion, chopped
*8 oz mushrooms, thinly sliced
*pepper
*salt
*15 oz container part-skim ricotta cheese
*10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, moisture squeezed out
*1/8 tsp nutmeg
*2 cups prepared marinara sauce
*6 slices whole wheat bread
*1 cup mozzarella cheese
*3 large eggs
*1 cup low fat milk
*1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
*2 tbsp parsley, chopped

Coat a 7" x 11" baking dish with cooking spray.

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion and cook, stirring often until softened but not browned. Transfer to a bowl. Add more oil and then mushrooms and cook until moisture has evaporated. Transfer to the bowl with the onions, season with salt and pepper.

Combine ricotta, spinach, nutmeg, and pepper in another bowl.

Spoon 1 cup marinara sauce into the prepared baking dish. Break each slice of bread into roughly 4 equal pieces; arrange half the bread on the sauce (the bread doesn't have to completely cover the sauce). Spoon ricotta mixture over the bread. Arrange the remaining bread over the ricotta. Scatter the mushroom mixture over the bread. Top with mozzarella. Spoon the remaining bread over the top. The pan will be very full.

Whisk eggs and milk in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the casserole, poking gently with the tip of a knife until the egg mixture is evenly distributed and the bread is saturated. Coat a piece of foil with cooking spray on one side and cover the casserole, sprayed side down. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to one day.

Preheat oven to 375. Bake the strata, uncovered for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan and bake until puffed and golden brown, 10 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes. Serve sprinkled with parsley.

Bean and Hominy Potpie

Serves 6
From Eating Well Magazine

Filling
*olive oil
*1 onion, thinly sliced
*3 cloves garlic, minced
*2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
*1 tbsp paprika
*1 tsp ground cumin
*1 tsp dried oregano
*1/4 ground cinnamon
*pinch ground cloves
*3 cups squash, seeded and diced
*14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
*1 cup vegetable broth
*15 oz. can pinto beans, rinsed
*15 oz. can hominy, rinsed
*1/4 tsp salt
*pepper

Topping
*olive oil
*1/4 tsp salt
*8 corn tortillas
*1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400.

To prepare filling: heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion and cook until softened. Add garlic and jalapenos, cook 1 minute more. Add paprika, cumin, oregano, cinnamon and cloves; cook, stirring until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add squash, tomatoes and broth; bring to a simmer. Simmer, covered, until the squash is just tender, about 10 minutes. Add beans and hominy. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a 2-3 quart baking dish.

To prepare topping: combine 1 tbsp oil and 1/4 tsp salt in a small bowl; brush on both sides of the tortillas. Cut tortillas into 3/4" strips and cut the strips in half. Scatter the tortilla strips over the filling.

Bake the potpie in the center of the oven until the filling is bubbling, 25-30 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top and return to oven until melted, 1-3 minutes.

Chickpea Burgers

Serves 4
From Eating Well Magazine

*2 tbsp sesame seeds
*1 tbsp ground coriander
*1 tbsp ground cumin
*canola oil
*4 scallions, chopped
*3 garlic cloves, minced
*15 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
*1 cup cooked brown rice
*2/3 cup wheat germ, divided
*3 tbsp lemon juice
*1/2 tsp salt
*pepper
*4 6-inch whole wheat pita breads, warmed
*tomato, sliced
*baby spinach
*plain yogurt

Heat a small skillet over low heat. Add sesame seeds and toast, stirring 2-4 minutes. Add coriander and cumin; cook until fragrant, 10-20 seconds more. Let cool. Grind in a spice mill or clean coffee grinder; set aside.

Add oil to the pan and heat over medium. Add scallions and garlic, cooking until softened. Set aside. Position rack in upper third of oven and preheat broiler.

Coarsely mash chickpeas in a medium bowl with a potato masher or fork. Stir in rice, 1/3 cup wheat germ, lemon juice, salt, pepper, reserved spice mixture and scallion mixture. Shape mixture into four 3/4" thick patties. Place the remaining wheat germ in a shallow dish and dredge the patties, pressing the wheat germ onto them firmly. Place the patties on a baking sheet with a Silpat and broil for 3 minutes, flip them over and broil 3 minutes more.

Tuck burgers into pitas with tomatoes, spinach and yogurt.

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili

Serves 4
From Eating Well

*olive oil
*1 medium-large sweet potato, peeled and diced
*1 large onion, diced
*4 cloves garlic, minced
*2 tbsp chili powder
*4 tsp cumin
*1/2 tsp ground chipotle chile
*salt
*2 1/2 cups water
*2 15oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed
*14 oz. can diced tomatoes
*4 tsp lime juice
*1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

Heat oil in a Dutch oven. Add sweet potato and onion and cook, stirring often, until onion begins to soften. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, chipotle and salt and cook, stirring constantly for 30 seconds. Add water and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to maintain a gently simmer and cook until sweet potato is tender, 10-12 minutes.

Add beans, tomatoes and lime juice; increase heat to high and return to simmer, stirring often. Simmer until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro.

Acorn Squash Stuffed with Chard and White Beans

Serves 4
From Eating Well

*2 medium acorn squash, halved and seeded
*2 tbsp olive oil, divided
*salt and pepper
*1/2 cup chopped onion
*2 cloves garlic, minced
*2 tbsp water
*1 tbsp tomato paste
*1 bunch chard
*15 oz. can white beans, rinsed
*1/4 cup kalamata olives
*1/3 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
*1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

Cut a small slice off the bottom of each squash half so it rests flat. Brush the insides with oil; season with salt and pepper. Place in a microwave-safe dish, cover with plastic and microwave on high until squash is fork tender, about 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring, until starting to brown, 2-3 minutes. Add garlic; cook, stirring for 1 minute. Stir in water and tomato paste and season again with salt and pepper. Stir in chard, cover and cook until tender, 3-5 minutes. Stir in white beans and olives; cook until heated through. Remove from heat.

Position rack in center of oven; preheat broiler.

Combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan and 1 tbsp olive oil in a bowl. Fill each squash half with about 1 cup of the chard mixture. Place in a baking pan and sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture. Broil in the center of the oven until the breadcrumbs are browned, 1-2 minutes.

Warm Quinoa, Spinach and Shiitake Salad

Serves 4
From Everyday Food

*1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
*1/3 cup olive oil
*salt and pepper
*2 lbs mushrooms, including shiitake
*1 1/2 cups quinoa
*1 lb. spinach
*8 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

Heat broiler; set rack 4 inches from heat. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. On a large baking sheet, toss mushrooms with half the dressing and reserve the rest. Broil, tossing occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and mushrooms are tender, 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine quinoa, 3 cups water and 1 1/2 tsp salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer until liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.

Place spinach in a large bowl; add hot mushrooms, quinoa and reserved dressing. Toss to combine (spinach will wilt slightly). Top with crumbled feta and serve immediately.

Lentil Curry

Serves 4
From Everyday Food

*olive oil
*1 medium onion, finely chopped
*2 tbsp curry powder
*1 lb. sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
*1 head cauliflower (2 1/2 lb.), stemmed and separated into florets
*1 cup brown lentils
*2 cans diced tomatoes with juice
*salt
*plain yogurt, for serving

In a non-stick Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened. Add curry powder; cook, stirring constantly. Stir in sweet potatoes, cauliflower, lentils, tomatoes and their juice, and 1 1/2 cup water; season with salt. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cover and cook until lentils and sweet potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately with yogurt.

Winter Vegetable Pot Pie

From Everyday Food
Serves 6

For the vegetable filling:
*4-5 medium carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise and cut into 3/4" chunks
*1 1/2 lb. button mushrooms, trimmed and halved
*1 1/2 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1" chunks
*3 large parsnips, peeled, halved lengthwise and cut into 1" chunks
*1 lb. leeks, white and pale green parts, sliced into 1/2" half moons
*1/4 cup olive oil
*3/4 tsp dried thyme
*salt and pepper
*3 cups vegetable broth
*1/2 cup dry red wine
*2 tbsp corn starch

For cheddar biscuit topping:
*2 cups all purpose flour
*2 1/4 tsp baking powder
*3/4 baking soda
*1/2 tsp salt
*1/4 pepper
*6 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
*3/4 cup buttermilk
*3/4 cup cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 425. Make filling: in a bowl toss vegetables with oil and thyme. Divide between two rimmed baking sheets. Roast 25 minutes; toss. Roast until browned and tender, 20 to 25 minutes more. Transfer to shallow, 3 qt. baking dish. Raise oven heat to 450.

Meanwhile, make topping: in a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, with some pea-size lumps. Mix in buttermilk and cheese until combined. With a floured hand, knead dough against side of bowl until it holds together. If it is sticky, knead in up to 1/4 cup more flour.

In a small saucepan, bring broth and wine to a boil. Whisk in cornstarch mixture; boil 1 minute. Pour over vegetables; toss to coat. Drop small mounds of topping on vegetables; bake until brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes; serve.