Vegetarian

Ingredients 12 oz pasta (long spaghetti or similar works) 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 lb brussel sprouts, cut into half or quarters if they are large 1/2 lb cauliflower, cut into 1 inch pieces Salt and black pepper 1 medium onion, diced small 4 large garlic cloves, minced 4 plump oil packed anchovies, minced (one tin or two if you want) 1 tsp crushed red pepper 1 tsp chopped rosemary 1 tsp chopped thyme 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs 1 cup parmesan or Parmigiano Reggiano (the good stuff NOT the powder) Instructions Boil pasta according to package direction. SAVE 1/2 cup of the cooking water when you drain In a large, deep skillet, heat half the olive oil (1/4 cup) on medium heat and cook brussels, cauliflower, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook 5 minutes until slightly charred on bottom. Add the other 1/4 cup along with onion, garlic, anchovies, red pepper, rosemary and thyme. Cook uncovered until onion is slightly softened (3 minutes). Then cover and cook another 3 minutes until sprouts/cauliflower are tender. Keep warm Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp oil in small skillet and roast the bread crumbs on moderately high heat. Must stir or it will burn. Pull off when golden and crisp Add pasta, reserved cooking water to skillet with veggies. Cook on medium heat until water is nearly absorbed Remove from heat and stir in half the cheese Serve and have bread crumbs and remaining cheese at table to stir in

Ingredients 3 pounds gold potatoes 4 hard boiled eggs 1 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup buttermilk (or just milk in a pinch) 2 tbsp yellow mustard 2 dill pickles diced well Salt and pepper to taste 2 ribs celery sliced relatively small 1/4 cup red onion diced small Instructions Simmer potatoes for 20 minutes. Note: if you have potatoes that aren’t small or med, chop them in half before adding to pot. Large ones can take longer to boil Remove water from pan and return to stove under same simmer settings for 10-15 minutes to steam them (add a splash of water if they dry out completely) Optionally peel potatoes. I do not Make dressing: remove the yolk from the hard boiled eggs and mash in large bowl. Then chop the whites and add on top of them (do not mash the whites). Add rest of ingredients and stir well. Add a splash of pickle juice and stir well Chop the potatoes when done and add to the bowl you just made Let chill in the fridge. You can serve whenever but it is best if you let it chill and the flavors meld in the fridge for at least a couple hours or better overnight

Fresh Greens 2 bunches of kale (or 8 cups), cut into 1/2" or shorter sections 4-5 cloves garlic, minced Olive oil Few tbsps red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper Instructions Fresh Greens: Heat oil and add garlic plus red pepper flakes. Saute for a minute or so. Then add kale as much as you can fit. Add more as it shrinks. Saute and add pepper/salt to taste until greens are limp and tender. Serve immediately as it does not stay warm long.

Ingredients Olive oil for cooking (just a few tbsp at most) 1.5 pounds chicken thighs cut into 0.5" chunks Salt and pepper to taste (for the chicken) 5 cloves garlic minced 1 red or orange bell pepper, diced 1 onion diced 4 tbsp red curry paste (or most of a small bottle) 2 tbsp grated or minced ginger 6 cups chicken broth 1 can coconut milk (full fat) 7 oz rice noodles 2 tbsp fish sauce 3 tsp brown sugar 6 green onions sliced small 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 1/2 cup chopped basil 2.5 tbsp lime juice Instructions In a large pot over med-high heat, heat oil and pan fry the chicken until golden. You don’t have to fully cook. Set aside but leave the drippings in pot Add garlic, pepper, and onion. Cook until tender Ginger and curry paste. Stir for <1 minute until fragrant Add chicken broth, coconut milk, and partly cooked chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes to soak in the flavors and finish cooking the chicken Add noodles, fish sauce and brown sugar. Cook until noodles are tender (~5 minutes or so, check package) Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients and stir well Serve Notes If you want to do bone-in chicken and get much better chicken broth in the process. Add 6 thighs (with salt, pepper, dash of dried basil) to a pressure cooker with 4 cup package of good chicken broth (kitchen basics is the best). Pressure cook high for 30 minutes. Then debone the chicken and add all chicken and broth to pot. This gives it all a richer flavor

Ingredients 1 yellow onion chopped 4 garlic cloves minced 3 carrots chopped 3 tsp oregano 1.5 tsp cumin 1 tsp rosemary (or more) 1 tsp red pepper flakes 2 bay leaves 1-1.5 cup crushed tomatoes from a can 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth (buy the good stuff not the cheap salt variety) 1-1.5 cup red lentils Salt and pepper to taste Few tbsp lemon juice Optional toppings: Feta cheese, greek rice, crackers, bread Instructions Heat oil in big pot and saute onion, garlic and carrots for a few minutes on med-high heat Add spices and bay leaves and stir a few seconds. Quickly add tomatoes, broth and lentils before spices burn Simmer for 15-20 minutes until lentils are fully cooked Using an immersion blender (or blender) pulse until you get it as smooth as you want it Add lemon juice and serve with optional toppings available

Ingredients 4 lb tomatoes (any type) 3 tbsp olive oil divided Salt and pepper to taste when called for 1 huge yellow onion, diced 7 cloves garlic minced 1 tsp smoked paprika 1-2 tsp red pepper flakes, or more to taste 4 cups vegetable broth (chicken broth works too) 1 cup loosely packed basil leaves chopped Optional toppings: parmesan, drizzle of olive oil or cream, sour cream, basil Serve with garlic bread, grilled ham/cheese sandwiches or crackers. ...

Ingredients 1 large Spaghetti Squash Salt Olive oil Instructions Microwave the squash for 2 minutes (to make it easier to cut) and then cut in half lengthwise Drizzle on cut side of each half olive oil and salt Flip over onto a baking pan (with tinfoil) and bake for 45 minutes at 400°F

Ingredients (sauce) Olive oil 1 large cauliflower cut into florets 1 med to large onion diced really well (or food processed into mush) 4-6 cloves garlic minced 2 inch ginger minced 2 large tomatoes diced 1-3 green chiles minced (more for more heat) 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce Spices 1.5 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp turmeric 2.5 tsp ground coriander 1-3 tsp red chili powder (if you use 3 this is quite hot) 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes Salt to taste Other 1 can coconut milk, full fat 0.5 cup water Tbsp lime Fresh cilantro (optional) Rice Instructions Heat oil on med high and add cumin seeds until starting to brown. Add onion, garlic, ginger, and pepper and saute until aromatic (1 min or less). Add all the spices and stir in for 20 seconds or so. Add tomatoes, cauliflower and chili garlic sauce. Stir well. Add coconut milk and water and simmer for 15 min while stirring occasionally. Add lime and cilantro and adjust salt to taste. Serve over rice.

Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter 1 yellow onion, minced or in food processor 3-4 cloves garlic, minced or in food processor 1 tsp salt or more to taste 1 tsp dill, if using fresh (don’t have to) throw in food processor with garlic and onion Lots of ground black pepper 1 lb, 12 oz can crushed, concentrated tomatoes 2 cups water 1 tbsp honey (optional) 1 tbsp mayonnaise or sour cream (for texture and appearance) 2 medium fresh tomatoes, diced small For optional toppings: yogurt, minced parsley, minced basil, minced scallions or chives Instructions Heat olive oil and butter in dutch oven or deep pan. Add onion, garlic, salt, dill, and black pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent. Note: It is best to throw the onion, garlic and dill (if fresh) in food processor to mince them even better prior to cooking Add canned, crushed tomatoes, water, and optional honey. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat About 5 minutes before serving, whisk in mayonnaise or sour cream, and stir in diced tomatoes Serve with option toppings, added by the eater Garlic Bread (10/10) Ingredients: fresh baguette or similar bread, sliced 1/2" i.e. thin ish, butter or country crock, garlic salt, and parmesan cheese (the flakes not the ground stuff) ...

Example photo for half size quesadillas Ingredients 1 package LARGE Flour Tortillas (comes in pack of 8 or 10) Few tbsp oil 1 large yellow onion, diced 1 poblano, diced 1-2 jalapeños, diced 1 bell pepper, diced Meat (if desired), cook first if using 1-2 tbsp cumin 1-2 tbsp chili powder Pepper to taste Garlic salt to taste 4 cups shredded mexican cheese Salsa, avocado, fresh diced tomatoes, greens Instructions Cook meat/veggies with spices in large frying pan. Add spices near end of cooking to preserve flavor (especially important for cumin and chili powder) With veggies cooked, add half the cheese and mix together well. It will melt quick Set aside and now to make the quesadillas On cutting board, prepare as follows: one tortilla → thin layer of cheese (think few pinches) → some mixture as made → thin layer of cheese again → another tortilla. Do this for each as you go Add a little oil to same pan over medium heat. Cook on each side until browned (do not flip too early or it will fall apart). Also pressing down with spatula helps the cheese stick/melt to tortilla Cook one at a time and cut into 4ths to serve Top with salsa and other stuff