Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

(recipe adapted from May All Be Fed: Diet For A New World by John Robbins)

1 butternut squash (about 1 3/4 lbs.), peeled, cut into 2-inch cubes
4 1/2 cups vegetable stock
1/2 cup raw almonds
1 1/2 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper
Chopped parsley leaves, to taste
1 tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and finely chopped

Put the squash and three cups of the vegetable stock in a large pot.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat, cover and cook until the squash is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

Blanch the almonds in boiling water for 30 seconds.  Drain.

Put the blanched almonds and the remaining 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock into a blender.  Blend until smooth, about 1 minute.  Add the squash and cooking liquid, curry, salt, pepper, parsley and apple and process until smooth.

Pour back into the pot and bring just to a simmer over medium heat.

Endive and Apple Salad

(recipe from Food & Wine magazine)

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. minced shallot
1 tsp. sugar
3/4 cup olive oil
3 heads Belgian endive, halved lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup torn escarole leaves
1/2 medium Fuji or Braeburn apple, cored, cut into 6 wedges, thinly sliced crosswise

Whisk first 4 ingredients in a small bowl.  Gradually whisk in the oil.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Set vinaigrette aside.  Mix endive, escarole, and apple in a large bowl.  Toss salad with 1/4 cup of the vinaigrette, or to taste.

Shaved Cabbage Salad with Paprika Vinaigrette

(recipe from Food & Wine magazine)

1 small shallot, minced
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tsp. honey
1 1/2 Tbsp. sweet paprika, plus more for garnish
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper
One 3/4-lb. head each of green and red cabbage - halved, cored and shredded
1 large apple - peeled, cored and julienned
1 cup chopped parsely
1 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup snipped chives
1/2 cup julienned baby turnips
1/2 cup salted roasted pepitas
6 red radishes, thinly sliced

In a bowl, whisk the shallot with the mustard, lemon juice, vinegar, honey and the 1 1/2 Tbsp. of paprika.  Gradually whisk in the olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.

In a large bowl, toss the cabbages with the apple, parsley, cilantro, chives, turnips, pepitas, and radishes.  Add 1/2 cup of the dressing and toss well.  Season with salt and pepper and garnish with paprika.  Serve the additional dressing at the table. 

(It is helpful to shred the cabbages, apple, and turnips in a food processer using the shredding attachment.)

Kale Apple Salad with Maple Balsamic Dressing

(recipe from Amazing Grass)

2 cups baby kale
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 large apple, diced
2 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. maple syrup
2 Tbsp. chopped raw almonds
1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh basil
Salt and pepper, to taste

In a large bowl, combine the kale, quinoa, and apple.  In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, and maple syrup; season to taste with salt & pepper.  Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.  Garnish with almonds and basil and toss once more before serving.

Raw Cranberry Sauce

(recipe from Whole Foods Market)

1 orange, peeled
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1 medium apple, quartered
5 pitted dates (or to taste)
1/3 cup pecans or walnuts
Zest of 1 orange

Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse till chunky.

(So easy and delicious!  And healthy!)

Carrot Walnut Cookies

(recipe from Whole Foods Market)

1 cup raw unsalted walnuts
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 carrots, grated
1 apple, cored and seeded, grated
1 very ripe banana, peeled and mashed
1/4 cup apple juice

Preheat oven to 350F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Combine walnuts, oats, and raisins in a food processor and pulse until finely ground.  Transfer to a bowl and stir in flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and ginger.  Add carrots, apple, banana, and apple juice and stir until combined.  Drop by rounded tablespoons an inch apart on the prepared baking sheets, making about 24 cookies.  Press down on each cookie with the back of a fork to flatten slightly.  Bake until tops and bottoms are lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.

(Tasty little healthy cookies!  Wholesome enough to eat for breakfast.  Quick and easy to make.)

Chris-anna's Green Smoothie

(recipe from Healthy Girl's Kitchen)

spinach
kale or swiss chard
celery
parsley
apple
almond milk
ice

Blend!

(I just bought a Vitamix.  F-ing amazing!  This was the first smoothie I made in it, because I had some leftover chard.  I used coconut water in place of the almond milk, since all of the packaged almond milks have weird added ingredients.  Tasty and healthy green drink!  The celery and parsley add nice notes.)

Not-Tuna Salad

(recipe from WholeFoodsMarket.com)

1 15oz. can (or equivalent cooked dried) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 apple, cored and chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped pecans
2 Tbsp. dill relish
2 Tbsp. finely chopped red onion
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. kelp granules (I just used some herby salt)
ground pepper to taste

Pulse the garbanzo beans in bowl of a food processor until coarsely chopped.  Transfer to a medium bowl and add apple, celery, pecans, relish, red onion, dill, lemon juice, and kelp granules.  Stir until well combined.  Season with pepper and chill until ready to use.

Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or spread on crackers.

(I ate this within whole wheat wraps, spread with a little Dijon mustard, along with a few small kale leaves.  I love dill, so I thought this had marvelous flavor.  Oddly tuna salad like in texture and taste...  So easy, and so delicious.)