Sweet Potato-Cauliflower Soup

Sweet Potato-Cauliflower Soup

olive oil

1/2 large Vidalia onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 sweet potato, cut into small cubes (I don’t peel mine, but feel free to do so if you wish)

2 cups cauliflower florets, cut into small pieces

6 cups vegetable stock/broth

1 (15.5 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

4 stems of kale, deveined and torn into small pieces

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 sea salt

dash cinnamon (optional–I love cinnamon and the subtle sweetness it adds to savory dishes)

In a large soup pot, heat a few swirls of olive oil over medium heat (about 2 tablespoons?  I didn’t measure).  Add your onion and garlic and cook until the onion is soft and translucent, about 8 minutes.  Add the sweet potato and stir so it is coated with some of the oil.  Allow to cook about 5 minutes.  Add the cauliflower, stock, parsley, thyme, and salt and bring to a boil.  Lower heat and simmer about 25-30 minutes.  Add the black beans and kale and cook another 15-20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.  Stir in the dash of cinnamon and serve.

[from Maryea]

Stir Fry

tonight is a stir fry recipe from my neighbor...i'll let you know how it turns out, but it smells great so far:




chicken or tofu (i used 3 chicken tenders)
1 small onion
8 oz mushrooms (i only had half a package, so just use what you have9
10 oz spinach or kale (we are using kale)
1T thyme
1T (to taste) soy sauce
olive oil



using stir fry pan (i use a wok) cook chicken or tofu in olive oil at med high heat and season with salt, pepper, thyme and soy sauce. set aside

add more oil to the pan. throw in diced onion and sliced mushrooms. saute.

add chopped spinach or kale, turning until wilted. this takes a bit of space, so if you pan isn't large, i would set aside the onions/mushrooms first. also drizzle with soy sauce. kale takes longer than spinach, so take that into account.

add in chicken and stir. test seasonings. serve over white or brown rice.



ps: caroline doesn't do well with kale, so she will have the chicken and rice with chopped baby carrots (raw). :)

[from Rochelle]

Chard Soup Bliss

This soup is served at the Olive Garden. It is very good. It is my husband's most favorite soup ever.



1 lb ground sausage, cooked *We used country sausage for the sausage and Nate loved it. You could also do Italian.

1 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper *I didn't use any red pepper because I don't like spicey foods

1 large Onion, diced

4 Tbs bacon, chopped

2 Tbs garlic puree

10 cups water

5 chicken bouillon cubes

1 cup heavy cream

1 lb potato peeled and diced (3 large potatoes)

2 cups chard or kale



1. Sauté sausage and crushed red pepper (if using). Drain. Refrigerate while prepping the rest.



2. Saute onions, bacon, and garlic over low-med heat for about 15 minutes or until onions are soft.



3. Add bouillon cubes and water. Heat until it starts to boil.



4. Add potatoes. Cook until soft (about 30 minutes).



5. Add heavy cream. Cook until heated thourouly.



6. Stir in sausage and chard/kale. Heat through.
 
[from Valerie]

Cooking With Greens

I usually use a hambone when cooking any "green" like that. Then I just do the simple, sauteed onions, garlic, chicken broth and hambone (and some leftover ham) and cook those greens until they're the way you like them (of course salt/pepper). I like mine to still have bite/chew to them. I'm not big on the cooked till slimey type.


I've done it this way with both Kale and Chard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I also love, love, love my kale just sauteed in olive oil, garlic and onions (s/p). It gets as tender as you want it and we just woof it down. My MIL will make it like this and sometimes add either celery or apples to the mix.

[from Charisa]