Brilliant Green & Red Soup (Spinach)
Makes 6 servings
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 4 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 6 c packed spinach leaves (about 2 bunches), stems removed
- 4 c chicken broth
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 4 tomatoes, diced; divided
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Place onion, garlic, celery, and cumin in pot with olive oil over medium heat. Cook 5 minutes.
- Add spinach; stir well. Reduce heat to low; cover. Simmer until spinach is wilted, about 4 minutes.
- Add broth and oregano; simmer, covered, 20-25 minutes.
- Working in batches, puree mixture. Place mixture and 2 cups diced tomatoes in pot and heat through. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve garnished with reserved diced tomatoes.
Pattypan Squash New Orleans
Makes 4 servings
- 8 pattypan squash (about 5-inch diameter)
- 1 1/2 c water
- 1 large white onion, chopped
- 1 small bay leaf
- 1 c crushed cooked tomatoes
- 1/4 c freshly chopped parsley
- 1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 c cooked brown or white rice
- 1/4 c chopped parsley
- Cut squash into wedges; simmer in pot with water, onion, and bay leaf until tender. Drain but reserve cooking liquid. Discard bay leaf.
- Mash vegetables with fork; place in microwave-safe serving dish. Mix in tomatoes, parsley, Tabasco, salt and pepper. Add rice and cooking liquid as needed to keep moist.
- Stir well, reheat in microwave, and serve garnished with parsley.
Vegetable Medley (Squash)
Makes 4 servings
- 1 Tbsp margarine
- 2 medium yellow summer squash, sliced
- 1 medium zucchini, sliced
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 medium fresh tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 c corn kernels
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp basil
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- Melt margarine in a large pan over medium heat. Add squash, zucchini and onion. Cook 3-4 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, corn, garlic, oregano, basil and pepper. Cook and stir 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Serve immediately.
Mashed Sweets with Maple Syrup (Sweet Potatoes)
Makes 4 servings
- 5 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom or nutmeg
- 1 Tbsp butter
- Place potatoes on baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees 35 - 45 minutes, or until very soft when squeezed.
- Cool potatoes until you can handle them. Cut ends off potatoes; peel. Place in a deep bowl and mash.
- Add maple syrup, salt, black pepper, and ground cardamom or nutmeg; mix well. If desired, reheat briefly in microwave.
- Serve topped with butter.
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Makes 1 1/2 dozen
- 1 1/4 c flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 3 Tbsp shortening
- 1 c mashed, cooked sweet potatoes
- 1/4 c milk
- Mix flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in mixing bowl. Cut shortening into flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal.
- Cut in sweet potatoes. Add milk all at once and toss with fork until mixture comes together. On lightly floured board, knead lightly 8 times.
- Roll out on floured surface to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with biscuit cutter. Arrange 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake at 450 degrees 12 minutes or until golden and puffed.


