Vegetable Tart with White Beans and a Chickpea Crust

For the crust:

1 3/4 c. chickpea (garbanzo bean) flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
1/4 c. cold water

For the bean layer:

1 can cannellini beans (use a BPA-free brand), drained and rinsed
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice

For the vegetable topping:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 cups chopped broccolini (also marketed as “baby broccoli”)
1 red bell pepper, chopped
5 ounces sliced shiitake mushrooms (approximately 8 ounces before stemming and slicing)

To make the dough, mix the chickpea flour and salt. Drizzle the olive oil over the flour mixture and work together with your hands until crumbly. Add the water and mix very briefly, just until dough comes together (add an additional teaspoon of water if the dough seems too dry.)

Flatten the dough into a disk on a floured work surface.  Roll it out with a rolling pin to about 10 inches. Loosen the pastry by slipping a pastry lifter or metal spatula underneath. Fold in half and carefully transfer to a 9-inch tart pan, pressing it into the bottom and all the way up the sides.  (If the dough breaks, don’t worry – you can just piece it together in the tart pan and press to shape.)

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Prick the crust lightly with a fork and pre-bake for 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.

To make the bean layer, thoroughly puree the beans, lemon juice and salt in a food processor. If you have trouble making a smooth puree, add a teaspoon or two of water (I didn’t find this necessary but it depends on the type of beans.)

For the vegetable mixture, heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven. Cook the onions and salt over medium-low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, until soft and starting to brown. Add the broccolini and red bell pepper, raise the heat and cook for about 5 minutes, until the broccolini is just starting to get tender. Add the mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes or until mushrooms are soft. Stir in black pepper.

To assemble, top the partially-baked crust with the bean puree, then the vegetable mixture.  Return to the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves 6

Simple Heart-Healthy Granola

6 cups rolled oats (if you are gluten-sensitive be sure to get oats marked gluten-free)
¾ to 1 cup whole raw almonds
1 tablespoon cinnamon
3/4  teaspoon salt
1/2 c maple syrup
½ cup water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
or high-oleic safflower oil
2/3 cup (or more to taste) dried fruit (recommend diced black mission figs)

Heat the oven to 275 degrees.

Combine the oats, nuts, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the maple syrup, water, vanilla and olive oil.

Combine the two mixtures, then spread on a large rimmed baking sheet.

Bake for one hour, stirring once. Add the dried fruit. Cool, then place in an airtight container for storage.

Red Lentil Dal With Cabbage
Adapted from Madhur Jaffrey, Indian Cooking

11/2 cups red split lentils (masoor dal), picked over, washed and drained
5 cups water
3 tablespoons high-oleic safflower oil
½ teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
3 small dried red chili peppers
1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced
½ small head of green cabbage, cored and thinly sliced or shredded (4-5 cups)
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cumin (preferably freshly ground)
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon coriander or garam masala
Pinch asafetida (see note above)
1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves (see note above)
1 cup finely chopped or crushed tomatoes (I used Pomi chopped tomatoes)
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly squeezed lime juice, optional

Put the lentils and water into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, until lentils are very soft.

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add ginger, garlic, mustard seeds and red chili, and cook for 1 minute. Add onion and cabbage and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes until slightly browned. Stir in cumin, turmeric, coriander or garam masala, asafetida, fenugreek and salt and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the cabbage mixture to the cooked lentils. Simmer 5 minutes. Taste, and if you want to add a bit more zip without adding more salt, squeeze in a little lime juice. Let the dal sit and thicken for 10 minutes or more, and reheat as necessary before serving.

Serves 4

Irish Soda Bread with Wild Blueberries

3 1/4 cups white whole wheat flour
¾ cup steel-cut oats
¼ cup toasted wheat germ
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup nonfat greek yogurt
1 cup fat-free milk
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons molasses (I used blackstrap)
1 tablespoon sugar
¾ cup dried wild blueberries

Heat the oven to 375 degrees.

Mix the flour, oats, wehat germ, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk the yogurt, milk, olive oil, molasses and sugar. Stir into the dry mixture along with the blueberries, mixing only until the dough just comes together. Transfer to a floured surface and gently form into a round loaf.

Place on a lightly greased cast iron skillet or baking sheet (if you use a skillet, the loaf shouldn’t be quite as large as the pan.) Score a deep X in the top of the dough. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the loaf sounds hollow when you tap the bottom. Cool before slicing.

Butternut Squash and White Bean Soup
Adapted from Alice Waters’ The Art of Simple Food

1 cup dried cannellini beans
3 cups vegetable broth (see note above)
4 cups water
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch salt
1 bay leaf
¼ to ½ teaspoon Aleppo pepper
1/4 cup dry or medium-dry sherry
4 large thinly sliced shallots (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 medium butternut squash, cut into ½ inch cubes (about 4 cups)
1 5-ounce package baby spinach
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar

Rinse and soak beans in a large bowl of cold water overnight, or use the quick-soak method.  Drain and place in a medium saucepan with broth and water Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until beans are tender (the time will depend on how old your dried beans are).  Drain, reserving liquid.

Heat the oil over low heat in a Dutch oven. Add the shallots, bay leaf, salt and Aleppo pepper, then cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Raise heat, add sherry and cook for 30 seconds. Add squash and 6 cups of liquid (reserved bean cooking liquid plus additional broth if necessary.)

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until squash is tender, then add beans and spinach. Simmer for one minute longer, then add sherry vinegar, add additional salt to taste and serve.

Serves 6

Smoky Pasta e Fagiole

2 cups dried cranberry beans
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large red or yellow onion, chopped
1 cup chopped carrots
1 stalk celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ to ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper or Aleppo pepper flakes (use the greater amount of Aleppo)
½ cup dry white wine or vermouth
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
4 cups vegetable stock (recommend Imagine No-Chicken broth here)
4 cups water
1 cup Pomi chopped tomatoes (or BPA-free crushed tomatoes such as Bionaturae or Muir Glen)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika
½ teaspoon salt, or more to taste
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 bunches Swiss chard, stemmed and chopped well
1 1/2 to 2 cups (dry) whole wheat pasta (such as ditalini or smallish shells), cooked until al dente

Soak the beans in a large bowl of cold water overnight, or use the quick-soak method.  Drain.  Place in a pot and cover with cold water by a couple inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the beans are just tender, about 1 hour.  Drain, reserving cooking liquid.

Remove 1 cup of beans and ½ cup water to a food processor. Puree until smooth.

Heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large Dutch oven. Add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add wine, oregano and rosemary and raise heat to high and cook for until the liquid is evaporated. Add vegetable stock, water, tomatoes, paprika, salt and pepper.  Bring back to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, or until carrots are tender.

Add whole and pureed beans, and Swiss chard, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the pasta and heat through. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Serves 6

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Black Soybeans

1 cup quinoa (I prefer red, but any type will do)
1.5 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup of cooked black soybeans, rinsed (if using canned, recommend BPA-free Eden brand)
1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives
1 red bell pepper, roasted, peeled and diced
2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons fat-free feta cheese

Place the quinoa and broth in a small saucepan. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 12-14 minutes, until water is absorbed and quinoa is cooked but still a bit crunchy. Cool slightly.

In a serving bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice. Add olives, red pepper, parsley, salt and pepper, then gently stir in quinoa and beans. Top with feta cheese and serve. (Note: keeps well for three days, but I think it’s best served immediately, as flavors can fade slightly with refrigeration.)

Serves 4

Pumpkin-Banana-Cranberry-Chocolate-Pecan Bread

2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
4 tablespoons water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup pumpkin
puree
½ cup mashed super-ripe banana
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup cranberries, roughly chopped (if frozen, do not thaw)
½ cup dark chocolate chips (60% to 72%)
½ cup chopped pecans

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix pumpkin, banana and sugars in a medium bowl. Vigorously whisk together the flax and water, and add to pumpkin mixture. Stir in the vanilla and oil.

In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and baking powder, then mix into the wet ingredients. Fold in the chocolate chips cranberries and pecans.

Pour into oiled 9 x 5″ loaf ban and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Leave in the pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and remove to a rack. Let cool before serving.

Farro Risotto with Delicata Squash and Mushrooms

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 delicata squash (about 1 ½ pounds), peeled and cubed
1 small fennel bulb
2 cloves garlic
1 medium yellow onion, diced
10 ounces mushrooms (shiitake, crimini or a combination)
1 1/2 cups pearled farro (can substitute barley)
1/2 cup vermouth
4 cups vegetable broth (plus more if needed)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt, or less if your broth is salty
Black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

Cut the base off the fennel bulb, cut a V-shape in the bottom to remove the core, and cube. Toss the squash and fennel with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast for about 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

In a 4 quart saucepan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté 5 minutes. Add the farro and sliced mushrooms and sauté for 3 minutes.

Raise the heat, add the vermouth and cook until it has evaporated. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add ½ cup broth. Simmer, stirring frequently, until it is absorbed. Repeat this with the remainder of the broth, in ½-cup increments. It should take about 25 minutes; the farro should be cooked through but al dente.

Add the roasted squash and fennel, and simmer for three minutes longer, stirring occasionally and adding more broth if the risotto seems too dry.

Add parsley and black pepper, and serve.