WORLD: Autumn Vegetable Soup

Another recipe from Simply in Season.

½ cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup each kale, cabbage, carrots, red or green sweet pepper, chopped
½ tsp each salt, dried basil, dried oregano
1/8 tsp pepper
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup tomato juice
¾ cup cooked beans
½ cup corn
2 tsp dried instant barley
2 tsp alphabet or orzo pasta
½ cup tomatoes
1 TBSP fresh parsley

1. In soup pot, sauté onion in 1 TBSP olive oil over medium heat until soft. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute.
2. Add kale, cabbage, carrots, peppers, salt, basil, oregano, and pepper. Sauté a little, then turn heat down to low, cover pan, and let cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add broth, tomato juice, beans, corn, barley, and pasta. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer about 15 minutes.
4. Add tomatoes and parsley. Simmer another few minutes.

MEXICAN: Chili con Carne with Beans

So, this is one of three things that I make that my dad will actually eat seconds of.

1 TBSP vegetable oil
1 pound ground beef
2 cups chopped yellow onions
1 cup chopped green bell peppers
4 tsp minced garlic
1 ½ TBSP chili powder
1 TBSP Essence of Emeril (recipe following)
½ tsp salt
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 (15-oz.) can whole tomatoes
3 TBSP tomato paste
1 (15-oz.) can beans of your choice
1 tsp sugar
2 cups water

1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add the meat and stir to break up the pieces.
3. Cook, stirring, until the meat is brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the onion, green bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, Essence, salt, cumin, and oregano, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 4 minutes.
5. Put the whole tomatoes in a large mixing bowl and squeeze them with your hands to break them into pieces.
6. Add the squeezed tomatoes and their juices, the tomato paste, beans, sugar, and water to the pot.
7. Stir well and bring to a boil.
8. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

I got this recipe from Recipezaar.com.

FUSION: Mexican Supper with Quinoa

This recipe is from The Allergy Self-Help Cookbook. It’s one of my favorite cookbooks for people with food allergies. This recipe can be made with buckwheat as well.

2 TBSP vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tsp mild chili powder
1-2 cloves garlic
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup quinoa
2 cups chopped tomatoes
2 cups cooked kidney beans, pinto beans, or chickpeas
1/4 cup chopped green chilies
1 tsp dark agave nectar or honey
1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro
1 1/2 cup guacamole (optional)

1. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the onion, celery, pepper flakes, and chili powder, and cook for eight minutes, or until the vegetables are soft.
3. Add the garlic and cook for one minute.
4. Stir in the water, salt, quinoa, tomatoes, beans or chickpeas, chilies, and agave nectar or honey. Cook for twenty-five minutes, covered, stirring occasionally.
5. Stir in the cilantro and cook for five minutes.
6. Top each portion with a dollop of guacamole if you wish.