Pumpkin Corn Bread

 Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
2. In a large bowl, stir flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and make a well in the center. In a small bowl, stir together the eggs, pumpkin, sugar, and oil.
3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the egg mixture. Stir just until blended; do not over mix. Fold in pecans. Divide the batter evenly among prepared muffin tin cups.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Veggie Lovers Flatbread Pizza

INGREDIENTS

• 10–12 inch thin crust pizza or flatbread
• Olive oil to sauté and to drizzle
• 1/2 cup half-moon sliced red onions
• 1/4 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 cup torn basil or herbs of choice
• 1/2 to 2/3 cup fresh diced tomatoes or canned tomatoes (drained)
• 1/2 cup sliced zucchini
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup sliced yellow squash (or other veggie of choice)
• Shredded leafy greens of choice (arugula, spinach, etc)
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta or goat cheese
• Cracked black pepper
• Dash sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F). Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Place your flatbread in the oven and lightly toast (dried) for 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
2. Add a few tsp of olive oil to a pan and sauté your onions and garlic until tender and fragrant; about 2 minutes.
3. Build your pizza! Mix your diced tomatoes with your torn herbs and spread evenly on the flatbread. Place the sauteed onion and garlic on top.
4. Layer your vegetables on top starting with sliced zucchini, yellow squash, etc. Finish topping with the shredded greens and goat cheese
5. Place in oven on center rack until edges are crispy; about 10-15 minutes.
6. Remove and top with cracked black pepper, dash of sea salt, and drizzle with olive oil.

I made this for my birthday, along with a whole roasted branzino fish. They were both delicious and satisfying

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Original recipe: Cotter Crunch
Posted by Jasmine

Asparagus Pesto Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 2 pounds asparagus

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 3 cloves garlic

• 1/4 cup pine nuts (lightly toasted if you feel like you have time)

• 1 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast)

• 1 pound spiral pasta

• 2 medium ripe tomatoes, diced (optional, delicious)

• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus (don't cut them into bite-size pieces, you'll see why in a sec). Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add the asparagus spears. Cook until just tender, about 4 minutes. Without emptying the water from the pot, lift out the asparagus spears and place them in a colander. Rinse with cool water.

2. Bring the water back to a boil. Add salt, if needed, and add pasta. Cook until the pasta is al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, and drain and rinse the pasta with cool water. Put into a serving bowl.

3. Place the asparagus on a cutting board. Trim off the top 3 inches of the asparagus spears, and put the tips into the bowl with the pasta. Cut the bottoms into several pieces, and set aside to use in the pesto sauce.

4. Use a food processor to make the pesto: With the processor running, drop in the garlic cloves and allow them to chop. Add 2 tablespoons of the pine nuts, and pulse to chop. Add the lemon juice, basil, salt, cheese, and the asparagus pieces (not the tips!) along with 3-6 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. (Start with 3 tbsp. water and add more as needed.) Puree until smooth.

5. Toss the pasta, asparagus tips, and tomatoes (if using) with the pesto, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with the remaining pine nuts.

6. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Original recipe: Fat Free Vegan

Posted by Jasmine

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Nachos

INGREDIENTS

For the roasted sweet potatoes:

• 1 to 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups cubed)
• 2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil (such as grapeseed or canola)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

For the beans:

• 2 tablespoons Sofrita sauce (in the Mexican aisle, in jars)
• 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
• Apple cider vinegar or water, as needed

For the Cheese Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 2 tablespoons Flour
• 1 cup Milk
• 1.5 cups shredded sharp Cheddar

To serve:

• Tortilla chips
• Tomatillo salsa verde, homemade or store-bought
• 1 ripe avocado, sliced thin
• Chopped tomatoes
• Fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
• Lime wedges
• Whatever else you want

  

METHOD

1. Roast the sweet potatoes: 
1. Preheat oven to 425F. 
2. In a medium-sized bowl, toss the sweet potatoes, 2 tablespoons oil, salt, cumin, and chili powder. Spread on a baking sheet in an even layer. 
3. Bake 15 minutes, then use a spatula to flip and stir the sweet potatoes. Roast another 15 minutes or until sweet potatoes have puffed up and have crisp, roasted edges.
2. Make the cheese sauce: 
1. Melt the butter in a small sauce pot. 
2. Add the flour, and heat and whisk the butter and flour together until they become bubbly and foamy. Continue to cook and whisk the bubbly mixture for about 60 seconds. 
3. Whisk the milk into the flour and butter mixture. Turn the heat up slightly and allow the milk to come to a simmer while whisking. When it reaches a simmer, the mixture will thicken. 
4. Once it's thick enough to coat a spoon, turn off the heat. Stir in the shredded cheddar, one handful at a time, until melted into the sauce. If needed, place the pot over a low flame to help the cheese melt.
3. Heat the black beans: 
1. Mix Sofrito and beans, then nuke them in the microwave until warm
4. Serve the nachos: 
1. Make a bed of chips, top with cheese sauce, then whatever toppings you wish.

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Original recipe: Simply Recipes and Budget Bytes

Posted by Jasmine

Apple, Honey & Brie Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread

INGREDIENTS

• 1 round loaf sourdough bread (or other round crusty bread)
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary
• Pinch of sea salt
• ½ apple, sliced thin
• ½ lb brie cheese, cut into thin 1 inch slices
• 2 Tbsp honey
• Thick sea salt (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tin foil.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter at 30 second intervals. Add fresh thyme and generous pinch of salt.
3. Using a serrated knife, cut the top of bread diagonally in one direction, then diagonally in the other direction, creating a criss-cross. Be careful not to cut all the way through. Gently fan the bread out slightly to accentuate the squares of bread.
4. Pour butter mixture all across the top of bread and into the crevices.
5. Place slices of brie and apple in between all the squares of bread. There is no such thing as too much in this step. Just stuff as much as you can.
6. Drizzle with honey and top with thick sea salt if desired. You can also add some additional herbs at this point on top, but it’s not necessary.
7. Place bread on top of foil lined baking sheet. Cover loosely with another piece of tin foil. Bake for 10 minutes.
8. Remove piece of foil. Bake another 10 minutes, until bread is golden and crisp, and cheese is oozing. Serve immediately.

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Original recipe: Kveller

Posted by Jasmine

Jeweled Potato & Green Bean Salad with Sunflower Seed Dressing

This is one of the salads we had made for our wedding.  Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe.  I also used to make this for picnics when we went to the Renaissance Faire.

Since this isn’t a mayo or ranch-dressed potato salad, those of you who have egg or dairy allergies will be happy to note that you can still partake of a creamy, dairy-free dressing.

Ingredients

• 6 medium new (yellow) potatoes
• 6 medium red potatoes
• 6 medium blue potatoes
• 1 c French-cut green beans, cut in half
• 1/2 medium red onion
• 1 T olive oil
• 1/4 t thyme
• 1/4 t tarragon
• 1/8 t rosemary
• 1/8 t dried basil
• 1/2 t sea salt
• 1/2 fresh ground pepper
• For the dressing
• 1/2 c light olive oil
• 1/2 c hulled sunflower seeds
• 1/3 c freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 T white wine vinegar
• 2 T honey
• 3-4 T water (for thinning)
• 1/2 t sea salt

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 425°. 
2. Rinse the potatoes well and pat dry. Cut the potatoes into quarters or eighths (chunks should be about 1-1 1/2″ in size) and place in a bowl. Add the 2 T olive oil and toss together, followed by the herbs, sea salt, and ground pepper. Mix together well so that all of the potato chunks are evenly coated with the oil & herbs. 
3. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Place in the oven and roast for about 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven & allow to cool.
4. In the meantime, quickly blanch the green beans by putting them in a pot of rapidly boiling water for about 30 seconds and immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water. Drain & set aside. 
5. Thinly slice the red onion and add to the green beans. 
6. Prepare the dressing by combining all remaining ingredients except for the water and puree well until you have a thick, creamy base. The dressing will be very thick & almost pasty at first; don’t worry! Simply add the water one tablespoon at a time until the dressing is about the same consistency as ranch or bleu cheese.
7. When potatoes have cooled, place in a bowl and add the green beans & onions. Toss together gently. Spoon onto a plate or bowl and drizzle generously with the dressing. If you prefer your salad to have the dressing already mixed in, add about 2-3 tablespoons of the dressing to the potatoes & veggies and fold into the salad until everything is completely coated. 
8. Serve as a side or an entree, and enjoy!

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Original recipe: Poor Girl Eats Well

Posted by Jasmine

Puppy Chow

Emilee's HERETICAL Recipe

Ingredients:

• 9 c rice Chex
• 1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips or 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
• 1⁄2 c smooth peanut butter, melted
• 1⁄4 c butter, melted
• 1 -2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1⁄2 c powdered sugar
• Paper bag

Directions:

1. In a microwave safe bowl (or on the stovetop with a double boiler) melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter together.
   
   If using the microwave, set for 30 second intervals, stirring in between until combined.
   
   If using stovetop, stir occasionally until combined.


2. Add vanilla to chocolate/butters mixture
3. Coat rice Chex with the delicious goop
4. Dump all of this into the paper bag
5. Add powdered sugar
6. While holding the bag closed, and supporting the bottom, shake vigorously to evenly coat all rice Chex
7. Enjoy!

Deirdre's Recipe (the correct way)

Ingredients

• 7 c rice Chex
• 1 c semisweet chocolate chips
• ½ c peanut butter (chunky is better but either works)
• 1 stick (½ c) butter
• 2 c powdered sugar (or as much as needed)

Directions

1. Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter and mix until smooth.
2. Pour over Chex (in a paper bag or a large bowl). Stir to coat.
3. Add powdered sugar and mix/shake until perfectly coated and beautiful.

Note: The smaller box of Chex is about 10 cups total, so I like to do 1.5x the original recipe and use the entire box.

Edit: so after some experimentation I have determined that the Family Size box of Chex is something like 16c of cereal. Which means it breaks down nicely into two batches, if you're a little generous with your measurements. I've also determined that with my particular set of bowls, it's easier to mix/shake a 7c batch than a 10c one. IN CASE ANYONE WAS WONDERING.

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Original Recipe: unknown

Posted by Emilee and Piera, respectively

Hot Tomato Basil Cheese Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 c sour cream
• 1/2 tsp mustard powder
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 8 oz mozzarella cheese, coarsely grated (about 2 cups)
• 12 oz Monterey Jack cheese, coarsely grated (about 3 cups)
• 1 c basil leaves, chopped, plus more for serving
• 1/2 c cherry tomatoes, quartered
• Italian bread for slicing, or pre-made bagel chips

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix sour cream, mustard powder, and thyme in a large bowl 
3. Stir in the mozzarella, Monterey jack and 1 cup chopped basil leaves. 
4. Pour into a 2-quart baking dish or pie dish. Bake until the cheese has melted and is bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Turn oven to broil and broil the cheese dip until golden brown on top, about 2 minutes. Serve warm with tomato and extra basil leaves scattered on top and alongside toasted bread slices or bagel chips.

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Original Recipe: unknown

Posted by Emilee