Black Bean and Spinach Burger

This was delicious.  The portion could be split, however, into two burgers, to make it a little easier to handle on a bun!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cooked black beans, pureed
1/2 cup cooked spinach
Salt to taste
Cracked black pepper to taste

Directions:
Mix the ingredients thoroughly.  You may want to squeeze some water out of the spinach first.  Form a patty and place on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  Flip and bake another 15 minutes.

Spring Vegetable Quinoa Minestrone

An easy, filling spring dinner!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup sliced carrot
1/2 cup diced tomato
1/4 cup zucchini
1/2 cup kale
1/2 cup peas
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp thyme
2 Tbsp uncooked quinoa
1/2 cup water or vegetable broth

Directions:
Place all ingredients in the baby crock for 4-6 hours or until the carrots are tender. 

 

White Bean Cauliflower Chili

If you're a carnivore taking a break, you won't miss the meat in this at all!


Ingredients:
1/2 cup cauliflower (frozen or raw)
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
2 Tbsp uncooked white beans
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp paprika
dash cayenne
1/2 cup water or vegetable broth

Directions:
 Place all ingredients in the baby crock for 4-6 hours, or until the beans are tender.

Winter Carrot Soup

Two thoughts if you want a soupier soup...reduce the rice and add more water.  Great taste!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sliced carrot
1/2 cup diced tomato
2 Tbsp uncooked rice
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup water or vegetable broth

Directions:
Put all ingredients in the baby crock for 4-6 hours, or until the carrots are tender.

Parsnip Soup

 This brings the HEAT, so be prepared!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sliced parsnip
1/2 tsp curry
1/2 cup water or vegetable broth
salt to taste

Directions:
 Place all ingredients in the baby crock for 4-6 hours or until the parsnip is tender.

Roasted Rosemary Sweet Potato and Parsnip

This is a great combination.  You will need to have a protein side dish!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cubed sweet potato
1/2 cup parsnip
1/2 tsp rosemary
oil
salt to tasted

Directions:
 Mix the parsnip and sweet potato and toss with oil and rosemary.  Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the ingredients are soft.

Spinach, Tomato, Corn Taco

You could also put this in the oven and bake it for about 20 minutes.  

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cooked spinach
1/2 cup diced tomato
1/4 cup corn
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp paprika
Salt
Tortilla

Directions:
Set aside the tortilla.  Sautee the remaining ingredients together until the tomato is soft.  Spoon into the tortilla and serve.

Spinach Soup

Do not forget the "sauce" on top, it really sets this off nicely.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cooked spinach
1/2 cup diced potato
1 Tbsp dried pinto beans
1/2 cup water
Salt
Pepper
1 ounce firm tofu (or 1 Tbsp yogurt)

Directions:
Place all the ingredients except the tofu in the baby crock on low for 4-6 hours.  Mix the tofu with enough water to make a thick sauce.  Before serving, top the soup with the tofu sauce.

Black Bean Soup with Cornbread Dumpling

 The ultimate in tastiness!  Even with the dumpling preparation, this only took about 10 minutes of work.

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp dried black beans
1/4 cup Rotel
1/4 cup diced tomato
1/2 cup water
1 bay leaf

Dumpling:
3 Tbsp cornmeal
1 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch baking soda
pinch salt
1/2 tsp oil
1 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp + 1tsp water

Directions:
Place the beans, Rotel, tomato, water, bay leaf, and salt to taste in the baby crock for 4 - 6 hours.  Approximately 30 minutes before serving, mix the dumpling ingredients and spoon the mixture on top of the soup.  Cover and let cook for 30 minutes.  Serve!

Paprika Tofu

Interesting smoky flavor.  

Ingredients:
1 cup spaghetti squash
1/2 cup diced tomato
1 ounce firm tofu, cubed
1 tsp paprika
1Tbsp water

Directions:
Earlier in the day, set the tofu to marinate in the paprika and water.  Put it in a dish that ensures the tofu is covered by the marinade and place it in the refrigerator.  When you are ready to prepare the meal, pour the marinade and tofu into a small skillet with the tomatoes and sautee until heated through, some liquid should remain.  Heat the spaghetti squash in the microwave until its warm, about 2 minutes.  Pour the tofu sauce over the spaghetti squash and serve.

Slow Cooker Burrito

This recipe makes enough for several burritos, or just eat the remainder as a side dish.

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp uncooked black beans
2 Tbsp uncooked rice
1/4 cup diced tomato
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp paprika
Salt to taste
1 cup water
Tortilla

Directions:
Place all ingredients except the tortilla into the baby crock.  Cook on low for 4-6 hours or until the beans and rice are tender.  Spread in the tortilla and serve.

Ropa Vieja

Feel free to add the red and green peppers and onions to this dish, I realize some people aren't sensitive to them.  But, in my opinion, this was quite good without them!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup seitan cut in strips
1/2 cup diced tomato
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp turmeric
dash cayenne
dash cinnamon
1/2 cup water

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer and cover.  Simmer for 30 minutes.  Serve over rice. 

 

Fajita

This was easy to make!  Now, you could add the green peppers and onions if you are not sensitive to them.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup seitan
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp paprika
dash cayenne pepper
1 ounce firm tofu
1 Tbsp yogurt
1/4 cup diced tomato

Tortilla, pita, or thin pancake

Directions:
Sautee the seitan with the spices until it's just shy of crispy.  Mix the yogurt and tofu to make a thick sauce.  The seitan will go on the tortilla/pita/thin pancake.  Add the tofu sauce and top with the tomato.

Spaghetti Squash with Dill, Mushroom, and Tomato

A great combination.  If you wanted, you could make some regular noodles to mix in with the squash.

Ingredients:
1 cup cooked spaghetti squash
2 Tbsp fresh dill or 1 tsp dried dill
1/2 cup diced mushroom
1/2 cup diced tomato
Salt to taste

Directions:
Sautee the tomato and mushroom with the dill until the mushroom is soft.  Mix with the spaghetti squash and microwave until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Califredo Pizza

Pasta pizza!  This was a radical idea I thought I would try with the crust instead of the noodles.  YUM!

Ingredients:
Crust dough
1/2 cup cooked white beans
1/2 cup cooked cauliflower
1/4 cup sliced tomato
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp oil
Cracked pepper
Salt

Directions:
Put the white beans, cauliflower, water, oil, pepper, and salt into a food processor or blender and whir it smooth.  Press or roll the crust dough into a shape close to a circle on a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet.  Spread the caulifredo sauce on the crust and top with the tomatoes.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.  It may take a bit longer due to the moisture in the sauce.

Gritty Eggplant

Interesting casserole.  I enjoyed it!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup prepared grits
1 cup peeled and diced eggplant
1/2 cup diced tomato

Directions:
Sautee the eggplant and tomato with a bit of oil until the tomato is soft.  Mix in with the grits and pour into a small greased baking dish.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Cauliflower Dumpling Soup

If you like your soup to have more "juice," you'll need to add more water.  The dumpling sucks some up.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cauliflower
1/4 cup corn
1/4 cup diced potato
1/2 cup water
Salt
Pepper

--Dumpling
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
water to make thick dough

Directions:
Place the ingredients (not the dumpling) in the baby crock on low for 4-6 hours, until the potato is tender.  30 minutes before serving, mix the dumpling and spoon on top of the soup.

Breakfast Pizza

Ingredients
Crust dough
1/4 cup diced tomato
1/4 cup diced mushroom
1 Egg

Directions
Roll or press out the dough into a round  on a parchment paper piece on a baking sheet.   Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Scramble the egg, tomato, and mushroom and add salt to taste.  Spoon the egg mixture on the crust and serve!

Pizza 'Dillas

 Pizza in a quesadilla!  I sauteed my veggies first, but you don't need to.

Ingredients:
1 corn or flour tortilla
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup diced tomato
1/4 cup mushroom
Cheese of choice to taste
Dash oregano
Dash thyme
Salt to taste

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients and spoon on half the tortilla.  Top with the other half and cook in a lightly greased skillet until each side is golden brown. 

 

Sauerkraut Kugel

 A taste of Germany in a crusty pocket!

Ingredients:
Crust dough
1/2 cup sauerkraut
1/4 cup diced and cooked potato
1/4 cup corn

Directions:
Press the dough out on a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet.  Press it as circular as you can, or roll it out, 1/4" thickness.  Mix the rest of the ingredients and spoon into the center.  Pull the edges of the dough up and pinch them so only a small circle of the ingredients is visible.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.