Tortellini Soup

Yield: 6 servings

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 carrots, small dice

2 celery stalks, small dice

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp Italian seasoning

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, diced

6 cups vegetable stock

1 can diced tomatoes

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 can cannelloni beans, divided

1 package tortellini

seasonal greens, such as kale or spinach, roughly chopped

parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Saute until the onions are translucent, approximately 5 minutes.

2. Add broth, tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir together until everything is incorporated. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 10 minutes.

3. Place half the beans into a blender with 1/4 cup water. Blend until smooth. Add to soup.

4. Add remaining beans, tortellini, and greens. Simmer for 5 more minutes until greens have wilted and tortellini is cooked.

5. Serve immediately, topping with grated parmesan cheese.

https://plantyou.com/vegan-tortellini-soup/

Shortbread Cookies

Yield: 15 cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 tsp kosher salt

2/3 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

optional: sparkling, superfine, or granulated sugar, for sprinkling

1. Preheat the oven to 325F. Line an 8x8 square pan with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, stir butter until it is the texture of mayonnaise.

3. Add the salt, sugar, and vanilla and stir to combine.

4. Add the flour and stir just until the flour is absorbed. The dough will still be lumpy.

5. Press dough into prepared baking pan.

6. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the edges begin to brown.

7. Cut into squares, bars, or wedges while still warm. Sprinkle with some sguar, if using.

https://alexandracooks.com/2021/12/18/simple-classic-shortbread-a-ted-lasso-biscuit-box-for-gifting/

Thai Peanut Chicken

Yield: 4 servings

1 tbsp olive oil

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken, cubed

salt and pepper

1 onion, chopped

2 carrots, thinly sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 can coconut milk

1/2 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tbsp tamari

1 tbsp ginger, grated

1 tbsp sriracha

3 cups broccoli florets

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

juice of 1 lime

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

optional garnishes: chopped peanuts, green onion

1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Once hot, add chicken, season with salt and pepper, and sear each side, about 5 to 7 minutes total. Chicken does not need to be fully cooked. Remove from pot and set aside.

2. Reduce heat to medium and add in onion, carrots, and garlic, cooking for 5 minutes.

3. Add in the coconut milk, chicken broth, peanut butter, tamari, ginger, and sriracha. Whisk together until well combined and smooth.

4. Stir in broccoli and bell pepper and return chicken back into the pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.

5. Stir in lime and cilantro.

6. Garnish with chopped peanuts and green onion.

https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/thai-peanut-chicken-couscous/

Chicken Enchilada Stew

Yield: 4-6 servings

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 jalapeno, seeded and diced

1 green bell pepper, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp coriander

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp oregano

salt and pepper

1 cup red enchilada sauce

2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)

1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained, divided

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken

3/4 cup corn kernels

juice of 1 lime

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

optional garnishes: tortilla strips or chips, shredded cheese, avocado, jalapeno, lime, cilantro

1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion, jalapeno, green bell pepper, and garlic. Saute until onions are translucent and begin to soften, about 2-4 minutes.

2. Reduce heat to medium and stir in all of the spices: cumin, coriander, turmeric, oregano, and salt and pepper.

3. Add in the enchilada sauce, chicken broth, 1/2 can white beans, and uncooked chicken.

4. Bring soup to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 25 to 30 minutes.

5. After 25 minutes or so, remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and shred with two forks. Add back to the pot.

6. In a blender or food processor, add the remaining white beans and 1/2 cup water (or broth). Blend until smooth, adding a little more water if necessary. Add blended white beans into the soup pot.

7. Stir in the corn, lime juice, and cilantro. Allow soup to cook and simmer uncovered for 10 more minutes to thicken and bring flavors together.

8. Optional: Serve with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, avocado, jalapeno slices, an extra lime wedge, and/or more cilantro.

https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/chicken-enchilada-soup/

Blueberry Scones

Yield: 8

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for hands and work surface

1 cup sugar

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, very cold or frozen

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup blueberries

1 egg, for eggwash

turbinado sugar

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together.

3. Grate the frozen butter into the flour mixture. With your fingers, crumble the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Set aside.

4. In a small bowl, whisk milk, egg, and vanilla extract together. Add to flour mixture and then combine together with a rubber spatula until everything appears moistened.

5. Slowly and gently fold in the blueberries. Do not overwork the dough at any point. Dough will be a little wet.

6. With floured hands, transfer dough to a floured surface. Press into a neat 8″ disc and cut into 8 equal wedges with a very sharp knife.

7. Place scones at least 2-3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. They will expand significantly when baking.

8. Brush scones with eggwash, then sprinkle a little turbinado sugar on top.

9. Transfer the baking sheet into the freezer to chill for a minimum of 20 minutes while you preheat the oven.

10. Preheat oven to 400F.

11. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until lightly golden and cooked through.

https://vancouversun.com/life/food/recipes/karen-gordon-summer-blueberry-bounty-showcases-perfectly-in-scones-squares

Falafel

Yield: 24-30 patties

1 1/2 cups dried chickpeas

3/4 cup onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup packed flat-leaf parsley

1/2 cup packed cilantro

1 tsp lemon zest

1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp ground cumin

1 1/2 tsp ground coriander

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne

1 tbsp olive oil

1. The night before, soak chickpeas. Add dried chickpeas to a large bowl filled with water. (Dried beans will triple in volume, so ensure you add plenty of water to accommodate.) Cover and let soak at room temperature for about 18 hours. Drain and rinse well.

2. In a food processor, combine chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, lemon zest, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, salt, black pepper, cayenne, and olive oil. Pulse until chickpeas are finely minced and well mixed, scraping down the sides as needed. The mixture should loosely hold together when squeezed together with your fingers. If not, process a bit more.

3. Form into patties. Scoop walnut-sized portions of the chickpea mixture and use your hands to gently roll each into a smooth ball. The batter will be slightly tacky - if it's too difficult to handle, refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes, then resume scooping.

4a. Baking: Preheat oven to 425F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange falafel on prepared baking sheets and brush each olive oil. Bake until firm and golden on the outside, 20 to 25 minutes.

4b. Frying: Heat 2 cups of vegetable oil in a small pot for several minutes until it starts to bubble. Keep the heat on medium. Drop 4 falafels gently into the oil. Let cook for 2-3 minutes until crisp and browned on the outside. Place on a plate lined with paper towel and repeat.

https://thefeedfeed.com/fufuinthekitchen/falafel-pita-sandwiches https://evergreenkitchen.ca/oven-baked-falafel/

Carrot Muffins

Yield: 12 mini muffins

1/2 cup applesauce

3/8 cup flour (or whole wheat flour)

1/4 cup oats

1 egg

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tbsp coconut oil, melted (or butter)

1/2 cup grated carrots

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a mini muffin pan and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients.

3. Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions into prepared muffin pan.

4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

5. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes and transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. Let the muffins cool completely before serving.

https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/healthy-carrot-cake-muffins/