Autumn Salad with Horseradish Vinaigrette

(recipe from Sprouted Kitchen)

3/4 lb. Brussels sprouts
3/4 lb. cauliflower florets
3 cups butternut squash, cut into 1/2"cubes
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. white balsamic (I used regular balsamic vinegar)
3/4-1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
few pinches of cayenne
1 cup cooked white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
2 packed cups arugula
1 Tbsp. prepared horseradish
1 large clove garlic
1/2 a shallot
1 tsp. honey
2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper, to taste
handful of fresh chives and/or parsley
dollop of crème fraiche, optional

Preheat the oven to 400F.  Cut the Brussels in half lengthwise, and cut the cauliflower into similar size chunks.  Add both of these and the squash to a large rimmed baking tray.  Drizzle the vegetables with the olive oil, balsamic, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and a few pinches of cayenne and toss everything together with your hands to coat.  Roast in the upper third of the oven for 35 minutes, until edges are browned.

While the vegetables roast, make your dressing.  In a mini blender or processor, combine the horseradish, garlic, shallot, honey, white wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper, herbs and crème fraiche, if using.  Blend everything together to mix well.  Taste for salt and pepper and set aside.

As soon as the hot tray is out of the oven, add the beans onto the tray and toss everything together.  Allow the vegetables to cool to room temperature.  Add the pomegranate seeds, arugula, and a good drizzle of the dressing and toss everything to coat.  Serve at room temperature.

Parsnip-Golden Beet Latkes

(recipe from Parade Magazine)

3 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. kosher salt
big pinch freshly ground pepper
3/4 lb. golden beets (about 3), peeled and shredded
3/4 lb. parsnips (about 2 large), peeled and shredded
3 eggs, beaten
Olive oil, for cooking

Whisk flour, baking powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl.  Squeeze shredded beets dry in a clean kitchen towel.  Toss beets and parsnips together in the bowl with the flour mixture; stir in beaten eggs.

Warm 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Drop 1/4-cupfuls of mixture into skillet and cook, pressing with a spatula to flatten, until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side.  Keep warm in a 200F oven until ready to serve.

(Optional:  Stir 2 Tbsp. each grated horseradish and finely chopped parsley into 1/2 cup sour cream and serve on the side.)

A Good Winter Salad

(recipe from 101 Cookbooks)

1 delicata squash, seeded and sliced into thin crescents
6-8 heads little gem lettuces, leaves separated
2 endives, shredded
2 medium cloves garlic
1/8+ tsp. fine grain sea salt
5 Tbsp. melted butter (I used coconut oil)
big squeeze of lemon juice
1/2 cup toasted pepitas
2 ripe avocados, slivered

Heat the oven to 375F.  Toss the squash crescents with a splash of olive oil, and roast until deeply golden.  Remove from oven and set aside.

Crush the garlic with the salt into a paste with a mortar and pestle.  Work the melted butter into the garlic paste, and finish with a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice.  Taste and add more salt if needed.

When you're ready to serve the salad, arrange the little gems and endives in a large bowl.  Drizzle with half of the butter and give a good toss.  Add the pepitas, avocados, and squash, and some dressing, and give another gentle toss.  Taste, and add more salt, and more dressing if needed.

Lentil and Basmati Salad with Tamarind, Coconut, and Cilantro

(recipe from Food 52)

1 cup basmati rice
1/2 cup du Puy lentils (French lentils)
2 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro, including stems
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 tsp. salt, to taste
1 1/2 tsp. lime juice

1 1/2 Tbsp. oil
1 tsp. black caraway seeds
1 1/2 tsp. tamarind paste
3 tsp. water
salt, to taste

In a small saucepan, combine rice, lentils and water.  Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until tender and water has evaporated, about 25 minutes.  Fluff and transfer to a large bowl to cool.

In a skillet, temper dressing by heating oil over medium heat.  Add black caraway seeds and cook for about 1 minute.  Seeds should sputter a bit.  Remove from heat.  Add tamarind paste and water, stirring to combine.

Pour dressing over rice and fold to mix thoroughly.  Fold in coconut and cilantro.  Add lime juice and salt to taste.  Serve warm or at room temperature. 

Almond Nog

(recipe origin unknown)

1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
2 Medjool dates, pitted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 ripe banana
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
pinch of sea salt
1 cup ice

Blend everything in a high speed blender until smooth.  Serve immediately.

White Bean Soup with Escarole

(recipe from The Food Network)

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups broth
2 (16-oz.) cans white cannellini beans, drained
4 fresh sage leaves, cut into chiffonade
8 oz. escarole (or kale!), cut into chiffonade
1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
salt and pepper

Heat oil in a 4-quart saucepan.  Add onion and carrots, cover, and simmer 5 minutes or until tender.  If vegetables stick to saucepan, add some water, cover and continue to simmer.

Add the garlic and sauté for a moment.  Add 1 of the cans of beans and mash with a potato masher.  Add the other can of beans along with the broth and bring to a simmer with the sage.  Simmer 10 minutes or until as thick as you like it.  If too thick, add more water; if too thin, boil down until some of the liquid has evaporated.

Stir the escarole (or kale) into the pot, cover, and simmer 5 minutes or until tender.  Uncover, add parsley and adjust seasoning.

Creamy Cashew Macaroni

(recipe from Whole Foods Market)

2 cups raw cashews
3 Tbsp. olive oil, plus more for the baking dish
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
1 Tbsp. white miso
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. whole-grain elbow or fusilli pasta
1 can (14.5 oz.) no-salt-added diced tomatoes

Soak cashews with enough water to cover for at least 4 hours. Drain.

Place cashews in bowl of food processor with oil, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, miso, garlic, salt, paprika, and pepper.  Pulse until cashews are finely chopped.  With motor running, add 3/4 cup water and process until smooth.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350F and lightly oil a 9x13-inch shallow baking dish.  Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain and return to pot.  Add cashew mixture and tomatoes and stir to combine.  Transfer to the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes or until heated through and golden on top.