GINGER PUMPKIN SOUP

Original recipe from: geniuskitchen.com , Serves 4, 168 calories per serving (depends on milk / cream)

INGREDIENTS:
1 small onion chopped
1 tbsp butter
1 lb pumpkin (cubed or baked) (butternut squash will do as well)
2 cups chicken broth
2 tbsp chopped ginger (grate or puree)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chilli or paprika
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp salt
1 cup almond milk, cream, half and half or almond milk

METHOD:

Melt butter in a pot and sweat the onions for about 5 minutes till translucent.

Add pumpkin, broth, ginger, all spices and salt and simmer for 15 minutes.

Puree all ingredients in a blender.

Add milk / cream and heat through without boiling.

Nutritional yeast optional. Serve hot with bread / grilled cheese or crackers.

CHEESY SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP

Original recipe from minimalistbaker. Serves 17 for 1/2 cup servings.

INGREDIENTS: 
1 1/4 cups raw cashews
2 Tbsp olive oil (sub water if avoiding oil)
5 cloves garlic
3/4 cup chopped shallot
1 1/2 cups almond milk 
5 Tbsp nutritional yeast
4 cups loosely packed chopped fresh spinach
1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts (rinsed, drained, dried, and roughly chopped)
2 Tbsp parmesan cheese 
Salt, pepper, chilli flakes, bread crumbs

METHOD:

Soak cashews for 1 hour in very hot water (uncovered) or in cool water overnight. Then drain and set aside.

In the meantime, heat a large oven-safe metal or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add oil, garlic, and shallot. Sauté for 1-2 minutes. Then lower heat to medium/low and sauté for 2-3 minutes more or until just golden brown and slightly caramelized. Set off the heat to cool.

Once cashews are soaked and drained, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C). To a blender, add soaked and drained cashews, half of the sautéed garlic and shallot, almond milk, nutritional yeast, sea salt, and pepper and blend into a creamy purée, scraping down sides as needed.

Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Dip should be cheesy in flavor and well salted, so consider adding more nutritional yeast for cheesiness or another pinch sea salt for saltiness. Set aside.

Heat the skillet with the remaining shallot and garlic over medium-high heat and add spinach and chopped artichokes. Season with a pinch each salt and pepper and sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, to wilt spinach.

Turn heat off and add all of the sauce. Stir to combine. Sprinkle the top with vegan parmesan cheese, bread crumbs (optional), and red pepper flake (optional). 

Bake for about 5-8 minutes or until the dip is hot enough to serve. Be careful not to over-bake or the cheese sauce can begin to dry out and lose its creamy texture. Serve hot with assorted vegetables, tortilla chips, crackers, or toasted baguette - tortilla chips being our favorite.

Store leftover dip covered in the refrigerator up to 4-5 days. Reheat in an oven-safe dish at 350 degrees F (176 C) until warmed through (or in the microwave), adding more almond milk as needed if dip has dried out.

SOUTHWEST MEATBALL SKILLET

Original recipe from cleaneatingmag.com Serves 4, each serving ~200 calories

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb ground turkey / chicken
2 large eggs
1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp olive oil
1 cup frozen corn
1 15 oz can of black beans
2 cups diced tomato
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Chopped onion and bell pepper optional

METHOD:

Combine meat, eggs, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and mix well. Shape into 16 meatballs.

In a large skillet, heat oil on medium-high heat. Toss and turn the meatballs for 3-5 minutes and brown on all sides. Add corn, beans, tomatoes, broth, lemon juice, cumin and mix to combine.  Reduce heat, cover a cook for 5-10 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through.

Add cilantro <3