Eggplant a la Adithi

This one really isn't mine to share.  I took a few liberties with the recipe but Adithi took pity on my overabundance of eggplants and provided an Indian recipe for me.  It works quite nicely on cauliflower rice and is such a great combination of spices that I don't really miss any of the things I'm not eating... grain, dairy, soy, sugar... 

Simple... chopped eggplant, tomato & onion.

 

Lots of spices- garlic, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, ground mustard...

 

Cover, simmer for a while and then it turns into something like this... 

  

Fall Farmer's Market Bake

Random experiment gone beautifully right. An assortment of fall vegetables (and a few staples thrown in for good measure) roasted, baked and surprisingly delicious. Picked up an assortment of vegetables at the Westside Market on Monday and come the end of the week needed to find a way to get many of them cooked.

The peppers got sliced and baked into spring rolls which it turns out are a delicious place to put some of my (much beloved) salsa.  The persimmon was also a wonderful new discovery and I expect there will be many more in my future.

The vegetable bake would be great with meat if one was so included to cook and add it but is sufficient on its own.  Could easily be made vegan by leaving the cheese off the top.  Could easily be switched up by changing the vegetables you're including.  Zucchini or squash would fit right in with the rest.  Sweet potatoes or any potato would be nice sliced, roasted and layered in here as well. 

Servings: 12
Calories: 120
Nutrition: Carbs 21g; Protein 6g; Fat 3g

Ingredients
1 eggplant (450g)
1 acorn squash (1250g)
1 cup pumpkin puree (200g)
6 large roma tomatoes (775g)
2 small white onion (150g)
1 bunch asparagus (250g)
14 oz mushrooms
1 T oregano
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp crushed garlic
nutmeg
1 cup mozzarella, shredded
1/4 cup pecan halves, chopped
olive oil or olive oil spray


Directions:

*  Preheat oven to 400F
* Divide acorn squash longitudinally.  Scoop out seeds.  Spray or brush lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with nutmeg.

* Place squash in oven directly on rack with open face up.
* Line baking sheets with foil.  Thickly slice two small onions.  Spray lightly or brush with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano.
* After squash has cooked for 15 minutes increase temperature to 450F and add baking sheet with onions to the oven.

 * Cut tomatoes in half lengthwise.  Again, coat lightly with olive oil and oregano.  After onions have been in oven for 10 minutes add tomatoes to oven.

* Remove the woody base of the stems from the asparagus.  Coat lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano.

* Slice eggplant in half and then slice into 1/2-inch strips.  Again coating with olive oil and oregano.

* Add eggplant and asparagus to oven on baking sheets after tomatoes have been cooking for 10 minutes. 

* Prepare baking pan by spraying or coating with oil.
* Slice mushrooms and saute in pan on stove until tender.
* Remove vegetables 20 minutes after adding asparagus and eggplant (1 hour after starting to cook squash) and reduce temperature to 350F

* Begin layering roasted vegetables in 9X13 pan by placing eggplant on bottom of dish with some overlapping.  

 * Top eggplant with tomatoes and then asparagus.  Sprinkle with remaining oregano, garlic and rosemary.

* Continue layering vegetables with onions and mushrooms.

 * Skin cooked squash and cut into approximately 1-inch thick slices.  Place slices to top of dish.  Mash squash lightly with large spoon and spread to coat other vegetables.

* Top with pumpkin puree and spread evenly.   Spread shredded over top.

* Place pan in oven.  After 15 minutes sprinkle chopped pecans over top of dish.

* Bake for addition 10 minutes or until cheese starts to turn golden brown around the edges.

* Remove from the over, cut and serve.

Italian Vegetable Soup

Tomato-based vegetable soup with italian inspired seasoning and vegetables

 

 Makes: 12 cups

 Ingredients:

300g carrots, peeled and sliced

400g celery, sliced

200g green pepper, coarsely chopped

10 oz mushrooms, quartered

10 oz zucchini diced (~1 medium)

6 oz (~1/2 medium) eggplant

1/2 white onion, coarse chopped

40 oz (2.5 lbs) tomatoes; peeled, seeded and pureed

28 oz (1.75 lbs) crushed tomatoes

8 cloves garlic, minced

2T balsamic vinaigrette

1T dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried rosemary

1/2 tsp rubbed sage

1/2 tsp salt

6 1/2 cup water

Directions

* Chop and prepare ingredients as above

* Combine tomatoes with 6 Cup water, oregano, rosemary and sage in soup pot.  Place on medium heat and simmer.

* At same time, heat 2T balsamic vinaigrette in saute pan.  Add carrots, garlic, celery, pepper and onion.  Saute until tender.

* Add vegetable mix to pot with tomatoes

* Deglaze saute pan with 1/2 cup water.  Add remaining vegetables - eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms to pan.  Siummer approximately 10 minutes or until tender

* Add vegetables to pot with tomatoes and continue heating to boiling.Once boiling reduce heat and simmer 5-10 minutes. 

Pepper Slaw

Ingredients:
1 green bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 cubanelle pepper
1 anaheim pepper
1 medium white onion
2 cups shredded cabbage
2T basalmic vinegar

1. Thinly slice peppers and onions.  Shred cabbage.
2. Mix in large bowl and toss with vinegar

Even better when allowed to sit for 24 hours in the refrigerator before eating...

Mango Sorbet

A great treat that would have been great for hot summer days.  Just enough spice to be a little tangy and keep the palate interesting; not too sweet but just enough to take down the tartness of the mango a little for my taste.

 

Makes: 3 Cups

55 cal per 1/2 cup serving

Ingredients:

2 mangos (450g)

1/2 cup splenda or white sugar

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 tsp ground ginger

1/8 tsp ground cumin

Directions: 

- Peel and remove core from 2 mangos. I left some pieces of the peel behind because I like the red and greed speckles in the sorbet.  Chop into approximately 1" pieces. 

- Place all ingredients in blender or mix with immersion blender until smooth

- Pour into freezer safe container and place in freezer.  

- Remove from freezer and mix every 30 minutes until firm

Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Makes: 21 1-ounce servings
34 calories/serving

Ingredients:
4 large red peppers
15 oz (1 can) garbanzo beans, drained
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp dried basil
2 T lemon juice

Directions:
- Heat broiler.  Core, de-seed and clean red peppers.  Cut so they can be 'unrolled' and lay flat on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.  Place in broiler for 10 minutes or until skin is completely blackened.

- Remove from broiler and place peppers in cold water to cool.  Once cooled remove the skins from the peppers and discard skins.

- Place red peppers along with remaining ingredients into food processor or blender and mix well to desired consistency.