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Showing posts with label Healthy Foods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Healthy Foods. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Pumpkin or Squash Soup

This is a comfort food recipe that my friend got out of the Oregonian last fall.  She's made it a handful of times and I've had the pleasure of eating it!  It's the BEST soup ever!  It's full of flavor and so yummy with some warm rolls to dip in it!  The recipe calls for pumpkin, but I've used butternut squash and acorn squash, and it's just as yummy!  So use what you have!  I guess they're all from the squash family anyway!



1/4 cup butter 
1 clove garlic, crushed 
1/2-1 cup chopped onion (depends on how much you like onion)    
1 tsp curry powder 
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp coriander
a pinch of red pepper (opt).   
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups pumpkin or squash, soft
1 cup Half & Half

1.  If you're using fresh squash, cut in half, scoop out seeds, place face down on a greased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until squash is fork soft.  (You can also use canned pumpkin.) Let squash cool.  Once cool, scoop out the soft insides and set aside.
2.  Melt butter in a dutch oven or large soup pot.  Saute garlic and onion in the butter until soft.
3.  Add curry powder, salt, coriander, and the red pepper.  Cook for a minute more.
4.  Add the chicken broth and boil gently for 10-15 minutes.  (I'm not sure I even wait that long...why?)
5.  Add 2 cups of squash or pumpkin and a cup of half & half.  If you don't have half & half, milk works just fine.
6.  Blend with an emersion blender or ladle into a blender and blend until smooth.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Bean, Grilled Corn, and Avocado Salad


This is one of the most filling, tasty, and pretty salads I've had in a long time!  Makes a great meal or side dish, served with some grilled chicken.  I was surprised that the avocado lasted for a few days too.  It must have been because of the lime juice and oil in the dressing!  So it makes a great left-over meal!  


Ingredients

  • 1 cup halved heirloom grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon salt, divided
  • ears shucked corn
  • medium white onion, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
  • jalapeño pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Cooking spray
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
  • (15-ounce) can no-salt-added pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • (15-ounce) can no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
  • (15-ounce) can no-salt-added kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • diced peeled avocados 


Preparation

  1. 1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
  2. 2. Place the tomatoes in a large bowl, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let stand 10 minutes.
  3. 3. Brush corn, onion, and jalapeño evenly with oil. Place vegetables on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill corn for 12 minutes or until lightly charred, turning after 6 minutes. Grill onion slices and jalapeño 8 minutes or until lightly charred, turning after 4 minutes. Let vegetables stand 5 minutes. Cut kernels from cobs. Coarsely chop onion. Finely chop jalapeño; discard stem. Add corn, onion, and jalapeño to tomato mixture; toss well. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, cilantro, and next 4 ingredients (through kidney beans) to corn mixture; toss well. Top with avocado.