Tag Archives: vegan

Maple Butternut Squash & Roasted Brussels Sprouts

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Maple Butternut Squash, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Pumpkin Seeds, and Cranberries – a perfect Autumn or Winter side dish, bursting with colors and flavors! Healthy, delicious, gluten free recipe packed with veggies.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Brussels sprouts, ends trimmed, yellow leaves removed
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 1/2 lb butternut squash peeled, seeded, and cubed into 1-inch cubes (Yields about 4 cups of uncooked cubed butternut squash)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 2-4 tablespoons maple syrup optional

Instructions

Roasted Brussels sprouts:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly grease the foil-lined baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
  2. Make sure Brussels sprouts have trimmed ends and yellow leaves are removed. Then, slice all Brussels sprouts in half. In a medium bowl, combine halved Brussels sprouts, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt (to taste), and toss to combine. Place onto a foil-lined baking sheet, cut side down, and roast in the oven at 400 F for about 20-25 minutes. During the last 5-10 minutes of roasting, turn them over for even browning, the cut sides should be nicely and partially charred but not blackened.

Roasted butternut squash:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly grease the foil-lined baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine cubed butternut squash (peeled and seeded),1 tablespoon of olive oil, maple syrup, and cinnamon, and toss to mix.
  3. Place butternut squash in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, turning once half-way through baking, until softened.
  4. Note: You can roast both Brussels sprouts and butternut squash on 2 separate baking sheets at the same time, on the same rack in the oven.

Assembly:

  1. In a large bowl, combine roasted Brussels sprouts, roasted butternut squash, pumpkin seeds, and cranberries, and mix to combine. (OPTIONAL): For more sweetness, add 2 or 4 tablespoons of maple syrup, if desired – do not add all maple syrup at once, start with 2 tablespoons, then add more, if desired, and toss with the ingredients to combine.

Meatless Painless!

Quinoa Harvest Chili

Lent is upon us, which immediately makes many “Lenten eaters” rush to that Friday night all-you-can-eat fish fry. We deserve better! How about sitting around the family table, enjoying conversation about the week-gone-by or the weekend plans, while enjoying a warm bowl of chili.

Not all chili is loaded with beef, and for non-vegetarians, meatless Mondays (as well as Lenten days) are becoming the healthy choice. The following recipe is one I found (and modified slightly) in a magazine and is from Brianne Jamerson of Indiana. Many vegetarian choices by non-vegetarians can be rather thin on protein, but this yummy chili is loaded! Black beans and quinoa pack a great punch of protein as well as fiber. Quinoa is an ancient grain that is high in protein, dietary fiber, several B vitamins and minerals and essential amino acids, AND you can now find quinoa is almost every grocery store!

Make it ahead, use a slow cooker, freeze some. Enjoy!

Quinoa Harvest Chili

1 medium onion, chopped
1 Tablespoons olive oil
3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
2 15-ounce cans black beans, thoroughly drained and rinsed
1 sweet potato (about 8-9 ounces before peeling) peeled and cubed
1 large zucchini, chopped
5 cups water
2 cups vegetable (or chicken) broth, fat-free, reduced sodium
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed and drained
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Plain Greek yogurt and/or snipped cilantro (optional)

In a 5 to 6 quart Dutch oven, cook onions in olive oil over medium heat until tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the beans, sweet potato, zucchini, water, broth, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin and oregano. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.

Stir in the quinoa. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes or until quinoa and potatoes are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls. If desired, top with yogurt and/or cilantro.

Freezes well!

Makes 10 servings (3 quarts)