Green Salsa

(recipe from Eating Well magazine)

8 oz. tomatillos
2 cloves garlic, unpeeled
1 jalapeno pepper
1/4 cup sliced white onion
1/2 ripe avocado
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 tsp. salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Bring a pot of water to a boil.  Remove husks from tomatillos and rinse well.  Cook the tomatillos in the boiling water until soft, 5 to 8 minutes.  Drain and set aside.

Toast garlic cloves, jalapeno, and onion in a dry medium skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until browned, fragrant and soft, 5 to 7 minutes.

When cool enough to handle, peel the garlic.  Remove the jalapeno stem and remove seeds if desired.  Combine the tomatillos, garlic, jalapeno, onion, and avocado in a bender or food processor.  Process until smooth.  Stir in the cilantro, salt, and pepper.

(Creamy and tangy sauce for tacos or whatever!)

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.)

Quinoa Salad with Spring Vegetables

(recipe from Saveur magazine)

1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 cup red quinoa
1/2 cup white wine
2 sprigs each tarragon and thyme (I used dried herbs)
1 cup frozen lima beans
1 cup frozen peas
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 tsp. honey
Salt and pepper, to taste
5 radishes, sliced

In a medium saucepan, melt the coconut oil.  Add the quinoa and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until toasted, 2 minutes.  Add 1 1/2 cups water, the wine, and the herbs and bring to a boil.  Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.  Discard the herb sprigs.  Cool the quinoa to room temperature.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan of salted boiling water, cook the lima beans for 2 minutes.  Add the peas and cook for 1 minute longer.  Drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water; drain again.

In a large bowl, whisk the lemon juice, olive oil, mustard and honey; season with salt and pepper.  Stir in the quinoa, lima beans, peas and radishes.  Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Massaged Kale & Wild Rice Salad

(Recipe from Amazing Grass)

2 cups baby kale
3 Tbsp. olive oil, plus a drizzle for massaging
1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
1 large grapefruit, peeled, segmented and chopped
1 cup cooked wild rice
1/4 cup diced red onion
Juice of 1 large lemon
2 tsp. honey
Pinch of cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp. chopped raw walnuts
Large pinch fresh lemon zest
Salt and pepper to taste

Using your hands, massage the kale with a drizzle of olive oil in a large bowl.  Add the cucumber, grapefruit, rice and onion.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, honey, and cayenne pepper; sea salt and pepper to taste; whisk to combine.  Drizzle over the salad mixture and toss to combine.  Top with walnuts and lemon zest and serve.

Roasted Lemon Cauliflower with Walnuts

(recipe from Amazing Grass)

1 large head cauliflower, cut into small florets
2 Tbsp. coconut oil
Juice of 1 large lemon
Large pinch cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp. finely chopped red onion
3 Tbsp. chopped raw walnuts
Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 450F.  Toss the cauliflower with the coconut oil, lemon juice, and cayenne and bake on a baking pan for 30 minutes.  Stir in the parsley and onion.  Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve topped with the walnuts.

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.

Spicy Chili Beans with Tempeh and Dried Peaches

(recipe from The Vegan Gourmet by Susann Geiskopf-Hadler & Mindy Toomay)

2 cups dried pinto beans
1 cup dried adzuki beans
3 bay leaves
1 tsp. dried red chili flakes
6 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 large white onion, coarsely chopped
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
1 Tbsp. mustard seeds
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. chili powder
8 oz. tempeh, crumbled
1/2 tsp. salt
1 can (4oz.) chopped green chilies
1/2 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
1 can (28 oz.) chopped tomatoes
1/3 cup chopped dried peaches or apricots
1 Tbsp. molasses

Sort the beans carefully and discard any small stones or discolored beans.  Soak the two types of beans together in plenty of water at room temperature several hours or overnight.  Drain off the soaking water and rinse the beans, then place in a stockpot with 10 cups of water, bay leaves, chili flakes, and half of the chopped garlic.  Simmer over low heat until beans are barely tender - about 1 to 1 1/2 hours - adding more hot water, if necessary, to keep the beans submerged.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Sauté the onion, the remaining garlic, oregano, mustard seeds, cumin, chili powder, and tempeh.  Add 1/4 tsp. of the salt and stir and sauté until the onion is becoming limp and the tempeh is nicely browned, about 10 minutes.

When the beans are tender, remove the bay leaves and stir in the remaining 1/4 tsp. salt.  Add the tempeh mixture, orange juice, tomatoes and their juice, green chilies, peaches, and molasses.  Simmer, stirring frequently, for 20 minutes.  Serve hot.