Lyrad's green sauce

this is vegan and yummy as a dip or sauce with chips, bread, on enchiladas, etc.

INGREDIENTS
1 avocado
1 cup packed parsley and cilantro leaves (combined)
1 jalapeño, ribs and seeds removed
2 cloves garlic
juice of one lime (or two - get lots of limey goodness in there!)
½ cup water
½ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup shelled pistachios

INSTRUCTIONS
Pulse all ingredients - except pistachios - in a food processor until incorporated.
Add pistachios and pulse until mostly smooth (depends on what consistency you want).
Serve as a dip, spread, or sauce -- or add additional water or oil to thin the sauce for use as a dressing or a marinade.

NOTES
you can make this with other types of nuts like walnuts and almonds and it works just fine, but the taste wasn't as good IMHO. If you can find shelled pistachios, it's worth the splurge!

Vegetable curry

Our basic curry

Saute onion and garlic. Add a can or 2 of light coconut milk. Add 1 C vegetable broth, if desired.  (To thicken, you can stir  2 T of corn starch into broth while it’s still cold.) Add 1-2 T curry, ½ t pepper and salt.  Add cooked chickpeas, cooked potato chunks, frozen green peas, cauliflower, and/or spinach. Serve over rice.

Optional: add cooked sweet potato or carrot chunks (or saute them with the onions)

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Curried Cauliflower and Potatoes

1 ½ lbs red potatoes , peeled and cubed

2 teaspoons brown mustard seeds (opt.)

2 tablespoons canola oil or 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 medium yellow onion , sliced

2 cloves garlic , minced

2 teaspoons fresh ginger , minced  

1 teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon curry powder (or lots more)

2 cups cauliflower florets (about 1 head)

1 cup water

salt

fresh black pepper

1 cup fresh peas (can use frozen)

¼ cup fresh cilantro , chopped

½ teaspoon turmeric

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)

Peel potatoes and cut into cubes, about 1 inch.

Place potatoes in bowl of water until ready to use.

Place mustard seeds in a saucepan over medium heat, and cook until they begin to pop (1-2 minutes) Add the oil, onion, garlic and ginger and cook until onions begin to soften.

Next add the spices cook until their fragrance intensifies.

Keep stirring.

Drain potatoes and add to pan along with the cauliflower florets.

Stir well to coat everything with the spices.

Add the cup of water and cook covered until the potatoes are just about tender, about 15 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper.

1Next add the peas and cook uncovered until tender, and until most of the liquid is absorbed.

(3-5 more minutes) Add chopped cilantro and serve.
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Sweet Potato and Chickpea Curry Recipe

·                                 Cooked brown rice 

·                                 2 Tbsp canola oil

·                                 1 small yellow onion, chopped

·                                 2 cloves garlic, minced

·                                 thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced

·                                 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (opt.)

·                                 1 Tbsp curry powder

·                                 1 large sweet potato, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

·                                 15-oz can chickpeas

·                                 15-oz can coconut milk, solid and liquid parts mixed (just shake the can)

·                                 1/2 cup frozen peas

·                                 1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes

·                                 1 cup water

In a heavy saucepan (Dutch oven if you have it!), heat the oil over medium-low heat. After the pan has heated up for a few minutes, add the onion, garlic, ginger, and jalapeno. Cook for about 5 minutes until everything is softened. Add the curry powder and stir for 30 seconds. Add salt and pepper (I added a lot of salt, almost a tablespoon).

Add the sweet potato, chickpeas, coconut milk, and water to the pan. Increase the heat and bring to a boil. As soon as it starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sweet potato is tender. It took about 15 minutes for me. Add the peas and tomatoes; stir occasionally until they're heated through, about 4 more minutes. Serve over brown rice.

Best Sweet Potatoes by The Pioneer Woman

§                   4 whole Medium Sweet Potatoes

§                   ½ - 1 cup Sugar

§                   1 cup Milk

§                   1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

§                   1 teaspoon Salt

Topping:

§                   1 cup Brown Sugar

§                   1 cup Pecans

§                   1/2 cup Flour

§                   3/4 sticks Butter (or less)

 Wash 4 medium sweet potatoes and bake them in a 375-degree oven until fork tender, about 30-35 minutes. When they are finished cooking slice them open and scrape out the flesh into a large bowl.

Add 1 cup of (regular grandulated) sugar, 1 cup of milk, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon of salt. With a potato masher, mash them up just enough—you don’t want to be perfectly smooth.

Now, in a separate bowl, add 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup pecans, chopped (that means measure a cup of pecans, then chop them), ½ cup flour, and ¾ stick of butter. With a pastry cutter or fork, mash together until thoroughly combined.

Spread the sweet potato mixture into a regular baking dish and sprinkle the crumb mixture all over the top.

Bake in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

 Sweet potatoes = a Thanksgiving staple

Alternate Streusel Topping-
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Oven roasted asparagus

1 bunch thin asparagus spears, trimmed

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)  

1 clove garlic, minced (optional)

½ teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)

Directions

Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Place the asparagus into a mixing bowl, and drizzle with the olive oil. Toss to coat the spears, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper. Arrange the asparagus onto a baking sheet in a single layer.

Bake in the preheated oven until just tender, 12 to 15 minutes depending on thickness. Sprinkle with lemon juice just before serving.

Vegetables

from Annalee Andrew