Moroccan Spiced Chickpeas and Spinach

recipe from: http://www.cookrepublic.com/recipe-archive/moroccan-spice-chickpea-and-spinach/

Spice Mixture

Shown served with Quinoa

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
6 garlic cloves, finely chopped (jarred kind works fine)
2 small red chilis, seeded and finely chopped
4 tablespoons Moroccan Spice (see below)
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup water or low sodium vegetable broth
3 to 4 cups spinach leaves, coarsely chopped
~30oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
juice of half a lemon

Spice Mix (makes about 10 Tbsp so you could half it, or save the rest in an airtight container):
5 tablespoons ground cumin
5 tablespoons ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon allspice
1 tablespoon ground paprika
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric

Directions:
First, mix together all of the spices.
Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Cook onion, garlic and chili for about 5 minutes until soft. Add Moroccan spice. Mix well.
Add tomato paste. Cook for a minute. Add water until desired consistency is reached. Add the spinach and chickpeas. Cook, stirring occasionally until spinach has wilted (about 3 to 4 minutes). Remove from heat.
Stir in the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with coriander (optional).

Vegetarian Sausage, Asparagus and Corn Risotto

adapted from: http://vegenista.com/post/22065874565/vegan-sausage-fennel-risotto

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups arborio rice
~5 cups low sodium vegetable stock (I used 5 cups hot water mixed with 5 tsp vegetarian better than buillion)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1/2 package (2 sausages) Tofurky italian sausage with tomato and basil, chopped
1 bunch asparagus, stalks chopped into thirds or fourths
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp Earth Balance (or butter)
salt + pepper to taste

Directions:
In a large skillet, heat 1 Tbsp. of the olive oil. Add vegan sausage & cook over medium-high heat until browned, about 5 minutes. Add asparagus and corn and cook until asparagus starts to soften (but is still crunchy) and corn is hot. (alternatively, roast the asparagus in the oven for 10 min at 400 degrees F). Cover and keep warm.

In a small sauce pan, bring vegetable stock to a simmer; reduce heat & keep warm.

In a large saucepan, heat the remaining 2 Tbsp. olive oil. Add onion, salt & pepper, and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add rice & cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to thoroughly coat it with the oil, & becomes lightly “toasted." Add the wine to the rice, stirring until the wine is absorbed. Add 1 cup of the warm stock and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until liquid is absorbed. Continue adding the stock 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly, until liquid is nearly absorbed between additions. The risotto is done when the rice is al dente, thick & creamy, about 20-30 minutes total. Season with salt & pepper. Stir in the margarine/butter and parmesan. Then stir in the veg sausage, asparagus and corn mixture.
Serve immediately.

Three Bean Salad

recipe from: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/three_bean_salad/

INGREDIENTS
1 15-oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 large red onion, chopped
1 medium bell pepper (any color)
1 cup (lightly packed) fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
3 to 4 Tbsp granulated sugar, to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced (jarred)
1 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

DIRECTIONS
Chop bell pepper into very small pieces. Chop onion into small pieces, then add to a food processor and pulse until pieces are very small. In a large bowl, combine all of the beans with the pepper and onion.
In the bowl of a food processer, combine oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, garlic and parsley. Pulse until mixed and parsley is finely chopped.
Add the dressing to the bean mixture and mix until coated. Chill beans in the refrigerator for several hours, to allow the beans to soak up the flavor of the dressing.

Black Bean and Marinated Tofu Tacos

Ingredients:
1 package (8 count) 8-inch tortillas
1 batch of Copycat T-Sam's Marinated Tofu
1 can (15 oz) black beans (not drained)

optional ingredients:
lettuce
chopped tomato
salsa
avocado/guacamole
hot sauce
sour cream
shredded cheese

Instructions:

In a frying pan, cook the tofu over medium heat until it begins to brown. In a small saucepan, empty the can of black beans and heat over medium-low heat.
While the tofu and beans are cooking, prepare the optional ingredients. Heat the tortillas in the microwave, then assemble the tacos.

Copycat T-Sam's Marinated Tofu

Ingredients:
1/3 cup tamari (soy sauce)
2 to 3 Tbsp cup sesame oil (or toasted sesame oil)
1 tsp cilantro ( I used dried, but fresh would probably be better)
1 tsp rice vinegar
1.5 tsp minced or crushed garlic
1/4 tsp powdered ginger
2 to 4 Tbsp water

Directions:

Drain and press tofu (I use Tofu Xpress) for at least 30 min to an hour. Cut into bite sized pieces.

Mix together all ingredients and combine with tofu in a sealed container, making sure all tofu is coated. Let marinate in the fridge overnight.

"Skinny" Spaghetti Squash Alfredo with Tomato and Vegetarian Chicken

Recipe adapted from:  http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/03/skinny-spaghetti-squash-alfredo.html

Ingredients:
1 medium-large spaghetti squash
3 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp butter (I used Earth Balance margarine)
1 1/2 cups milk (I used almond milk)
2 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp cream cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese (I used shredded)
few shakes red pepper flakes
few shakes italian seasoning
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1 large tomato (or 2 small, or 4 little)
1 package Quorn chicken tenders (or other vegetarian chicken)

Directions:
Roast the squash:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut squash in half, and scrape out the seeds and gooey bits. Place sides face down in a baking pan with sides, filled with 1/2-1 inch of water. Roast for 30-45 minutes.

While the squash is roasting:
- Chop the tomatoes into bite sized pieces
- Cook the veg chicken in a frying pan until browned and cooked through
- Make the sauce:
---melt the butter in a saucepan, add garlic and cook for a few minutes.
---add the flour and wisk into a paste
---add the milk and wisk until combined well over medium heat
---once hot, add cream cheese and spices and wisk until combined well
---take off of heat and mix in parmesan cheese

Remove all of the flesh from the squash with a fork - it will be a spaghetti consistency.
In a square baking dish (8x8 or 9x9):
layer squash, some of the sauce and chicken and tomatoes. Then layer with the remaining squash, sauce, tomatoes and chicken. Stir until mixed well and spread evenly in the dish. Top with parmesan cheese, and place under the broiler (low) for up to 5 minutes - until cheese is melted and starts to brown.