I shy away from resurrecting old threads, but this is the best discussion I've found anywhere on this. So here I go. So I'm a weirdo and do beans in a system of semi-raised beds, two being 3'x18' on either side of a center one being a large mound that's 5'x18'. My strategy has been to plant pole beans in the middle of the rows, and bush beans densely around the sides. The mound has pole beans in the middle and then a lot of space for a jungle of bush beans on the slopes. I felt like I was doing pretty good until I read the above. Those yields are great! Mine aren't quite as high, but after everything else is added in I'm looking at probably 27 lbs of dry beans from around 200sqft of space. I grow Ireland Creek Annie and Rockwell bush beans, and Annie Jackson and Scarlet Runner pole beans. That garden is nicknamed "Jupiter". Hoping to construct "Saturn" in coming years and add a few more varieties. Wealth is burying your hands into a massive bowl of dry beans. :) Phil Whidbey Island WA

Cookalong #21-----BEANS Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Mon, Feb 8, 10 at 22:26 This subject is wide open for interpretation... .........BEANS......... green beans, navy beans, red beans, yellow beans, black beans, white beans...did you ever think about how many colors beans come in? No wonder there's a recipe called Calico beans.... :) Thank you Kathleenca...fun choice! Beans, beans, the musical fruit......(I'll stop there) Add recipes now thru Feb 20. Nancy Here is a link that might be useful: Cookalong #20---Broccoli Follow-Up Postings: o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by denise8101214 (My Page) on Mon, Feb 8, 10 at 22:34 Don't forget ceci/garbanzo/chick pea! All the earlier Cookalong threads are linked below. Here is a link that might be useful: All the other Cookalong Links o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by lorijean44 (My Page) on Mon, Feb 8, 10 at 22:42 I made a traditional hummus, cooking dried chickpeas. Much easier than I expected! Traditional Hummus Cover 1 cup dried chickpeas with water and soak overnight. Drain and place in a sauce pan with 1/2 teaspoon salt and water to cover. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer until tender, about 1 hour. Drain and reserve the water. Place the chickpeas in a food processor with the juice of 2 lemons, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 2 or 3 tablespoons of the cooking liquid. Process until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 cup tahini, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, and salt & pepper. Process. Transfer to a bowl and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons chopped parsley. (I first drizzled some good olive oil over the top before sprinkling with the parsley.) Serve with toasted pita. You can substitute one 16-ounce can of chickpeas for the dried. Yield: about 1-1/2 cups. Source: Memories of a Lost Egypt - A Memoir with Recipes, copyright 1999 Lori o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by pat_t (My Page) on Mon, Feb 8, 10 at 22:53 Lori! You're killing me! I want some! My niece suggested that I cook some red beans & rice for dinner on Wed. and then proceeded to invite herself over for dinner. I guess you know we'll be having cornbread too. RED BEANS AND RICE 1 lb. dry red beans 6 cups cold water 6 cups hot water 1 lb. meaty ham bone or smoked ham hocks 1 large onion 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 bay leaf 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. ground red pepper 1 lb. smoked sausage, cut into bite-size pieces Hot cooked rice Sliced green onions Rinse beans. Soak overnight in covered pan. Drain and rinse beans. In Dutch oven combine the beans, water, ham bone, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and red pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 2-1/2 hours or until the beans are tender, adding more water if necessary, and stirring occasionally. Remove ham bone; cut meat from bone and add to beans. Add sausage. Boil gently, uncovered, 15-20 minutes more or until a thick gravy forms, stirring occasionally. Serve over rice. Sprinkle with green onions. Remember to remove bay leaf! Yield: 8 servings. o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by ann_t (My Page) on Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 0:16 This is a favourite. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table Green Bean, Zucchini and Potato Stew (Fassolakia Iadera ======================================================= Adapted from: Krinos Foods (The original recipe called for a large can of tomatoes and did not include garlic or oregano.) Green Bean, Zucchini and Potato Stew (Fassolakia Iadera)This is a traditional vegetable mixture that is often eaten cold, accompanied by hunks of country bread and feta cheese . 1/4 cup olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 clove of garlic, minced 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed, halved crosswise 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 8 ounces zucchini, cut into 1-inch-thick slices 8 ounces russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch cubes 3/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh oregano chopped (or dried) 1 14 ounce can of Italian-style tomatoes, chopped. 1/2 cup chicken broth . Heat oil in heavy large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saut� 5 minutes.Add Garlic and green beans and saut� until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add zucchini, potatoes, cayenne pepper, parsley and oregano. Pour tomatoes and their juices over vegetables. Add chicken broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, stirring frequently, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Can be prepared 1 day ahead -- cover and refrigerate. Serve warm or at room temperature. 6 To 8 Servings o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by sherrmann (My Page) on Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 9:43 I have 2 lbs of pinto beans soaking right now. We'll eat them over the next few snow days as bean soup, tostadas, burritos, beans and eggs...... I'll see if I can find Uncle George's Amazing Baked Bean recipe to post. I make them often enough that I don't know the proportions of ingredients, but boy, are they good, and they start with canned pork and beans. Bacon, hamburger, brown sugar, ketchup, onions. Mmmmmm. o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by skeip (My Page) on Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 11:32 Two for a snowy winter day: SPICY BLACK BEAN SOUP 2 Cups Dried Black Beans 1 Large Onion, Chopped 1 Pound Bacon, Cut Up 1 6 Ounce Can Tomato Sauce 1 14 Ounce Jar Medium Hot Salsa, hotter if you wish 2 Tablespoon Minced Garlic 2 Tablespoon Dried Basil 2 Tablespoon Instant Chicken Bouillon Freshly Ground Black Pepper Salt to Taste Sort through the Beans and remove any foreign material, and any discolored beans. Rinse well under cold running water. Place the beans in a large kettle or stock pot, and cover with two inches of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for one hour. While the Beans are cooking, cut up the bacon and chop the onion. Place both in a heavy skillet and over low heat sautee until the bacon is just starting to brown and the onion is cooked. Drain off most of the Bacon Grease if you wish. Add the Salsa, Tomato Sauce, Garlic, Basil, Pepper, and Salt. Heat to a simmer, taste to correct seasonings, and remove from heat. This mixture should be fairly spicy. After the Beans have cooked for one hour, add the Bacon and Onion mixture to the stock pot. Bring back up to a simmer, cover and continue cooking over low heat for an additional hour, or until the beans are as tender as you like them. If the soup seems too thick add more water. Soup should be fairly thick, and the Beans still whole. Serve with a dollop of Sour Cream and a sprinkle of grated Cheddar Cheese and chopped Green Onion. Serves 8 generously. PROVENCAL STYLE WHITE BEAN SOUP 2 Cups Dried Navy Beans 1 Large Onion, Chopped 1 Pound Bacon, Cut up 2 14 Ounce Cans Stewed Tomatoes 2 Tablespoon Minced Fresh Garlic 2 Tablespoon Dried Basil 2 Tablespoons Dried Oregano 2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley 2 Tablespoons Instant Chicken Bouillon Freshly Ground Black Pepper Salt to Taste Sort through the Beans and remove any foreign material, and any discolored beans. Rinse well under cold running water. Place the beans in a large kettle or stock pot, and cover with two inches of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for one hour. While the Beans are cooking, cut up the bacon and chop the onion. Place both in a heavy skillet and over low heat sautee until the Bacon is just starting to brown and the Onion is cooked. Drain off most of the Bacon Grease if you wish. Add the Stewed Tomatoes, Garlic, Basil, Oregano, Parsley, and Chicken Bouillon. Bring this mixture to a simmer, taste to correct seasonings, and remove from heat. This mixture should be fairly highly seasoned. After the Beans have cooked for one hour, add the Bacon and Onion mixture to the stock pot. Bring back up to a simmer, cover and continue cooking over low heat for an additional hour, or until the beans are as tender as you like them. Soup should be fairly thin. Serve with a dollop of Plain Yogurt and a sprinkle of chopped Fresh Parsley. o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by kathleenca (My Page) on Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 15:04 A friend gave me this one about 1963. Though it starts with canned pork 'n beans, the flavor is really good. I like it a lot more than DH does - it's a little too spicy for him. Barbeque Beans 6 - 8 servings 1 1-lb 15-oz can pork 'n beans 1/2 c ketchup 1/8 c Worchestershire sauce 2 - 3 squirts Tabasco sauce 3 Tbsp dark molasses 1 tsp salt 1/2 - 1 tsp liquid smoke 1 - 2 Tbsp dry mustard 1 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp vinegar Mix all ingredients in a 2-qt baking dish & bake in a 325 degree oven until bubbly. Bake for 2 hours for more flavor. Can also be simmered in a pot on the stove, but the baked flavor is richer. I have also made it with vegetarian beans. o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by liz_h (My Page) on Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 15:56 We had red beans & rice the other day. I usually use andouille sausage, but tried it with Johnsonville's hot 'n spicy bratwurst (with Cajun seasoning) instead. It was very good! Red Beans & Rice for Two 1/3 medium onion 1 stalk celery 1/2 bell pepper 1 tsp bacon fat, butter or oil 1 bay leaf salt & pepper 1 or 2 cups homemade stock (pork, chicken or beef) 1 can red beans 1 link andouille sausage, cooked and sliced 2/3 cup dry rice, prepared with 1-1/3 cups water Mince vegetables & saute in hot fat for a few minutes. Add stock & bay leaf. Boil until liquid is reduced to about 1/4 cup. Add sausage and undrained can of beans. Simmer together for 10 minutes or so. Meanwhile, prepare rice. Serve beans over rice. DH suggested that next time I cook the rice with the beans from the beginning, making it even simpler to prepare (& clean up) I'll try that. o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by doucanoe (My Page) on Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 17:47 Can you believe I have never had red beans & rice? I am definitely going to try one (or both) of the above recipes! Here are my contributions. I'll probably be making the minestrone in the next few days. Julie�s Baked Beans 1lb ground beef, browned and drained 1/2lb bacon, cooked until crisp, crumbled 1T Worcestershire sauce 1/2c catsup 1/2c light molasses 1/2c brown sugar 2 medium onions, chopped 1 3lb7oz can B&M or Bush�s beans Place all ingredients in casserole and bake one hour at 325F OR Place all ingredients in crockpot and cook 5-6 hours on low. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cannellini Minestrone my adaptation of a recipe found in Cooking Light magazine. 1 T olive oil 1 c chopped onion 1/2 c chopped celery 1 clove garlic, minced 3 14 oz cans cannellini beans, drained 1 tsp salt 1/8 tsp black pepper 1-1/2 c beef broth 1 T dried parsley 1 T dried basil 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes 12 oz fresh spinach, roughly chopped 1/2 tsp green chili sauce Heat olive oil in large non-stick skillet, saut� onion, celery and garlic 3-5 minutes or until tender. Place1 can of the beans, salt and pepper in food processor, puree until smooth. Place drained beans in a large stock pot. Stir in puree and beef broth. Add onion mixture to pot and bring to a simmer. Stir in parsley, basil, pepper, tomatoes, spinach and chili sauce, simmer until spinach is wilted and soup is heated through. 8 servings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Navy Bean Soup From Food Network Kitchens 1 lb navy beans, picked over, rinsed and drained 10 sprigs parsley 2 sprigs fresh thyme 1 bay leaf 2 large smoked ham hocks, about 1-1/2 lb 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped 1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped 8 c cold water 1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper Butter for garnish Place beans in a large saucepan and cover with cold water by about 2 inches. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, remove from heat, cover and let sit for one hour. Drain and reserve. Tie parsley, thyme and bay leaf together with kitchen twine. In large soup pot or dutch oven, combine the beans, herb bundle, hocks, onions and garlic with the water. Bring to a boil, cover and adjust the heat so that the soup cooks at a gentle simmer. Cook until the beans and hocks are completely tender, about 1-1/2 hours. Turn off heat and remove hocks. Cool slightly. Remove meat from hocks, discarding the bones, fat and skin. Cut meat into small cubes. Remove herb bundle from soup and discard. Puree about 3 cups of the beans with some of the liquid in a blender. (For a smooth soup, you may puree all the beans). Stir the puree and diced meat into the soup. Heat the soup and adjust seasoning as needed with salt & pepper. Ladle into heated bowls, place a small pat of butter on top of each bowl of soup, serve. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Green & Yellow Bean Salad with Chunky Tomato Dressing and Feta Source: The Best of Cooking Light 3/4 lb yellow wax beans, timed 3/4 lb green beans, trimmed 2 c chopped tomato 1 T sherry vinegar 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1/2 c fresh basil, thiny sliced 1/2 c crumbled feta cheese Cook beans in boiling water 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and rinse with cold water Combine tomato, vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Divide the beans among 8 salad plates. Spoon 1/4 cup of the tomato mixture over beans on each plate. Sprinkle each serving with 1 T of the basil and 1 T of the feta. Serves 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nacho Cups 4 (12 inch) flour tortillas 6 oz Monterrey Jack Cheese, shredded 3 roma tomatoes, diced � red bell pepper, chopped 4-5 green onions, chopped 1 (14 0z) can black beans with cumin & spices � c salsa 6 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray two 12 cup muffin tins with cooking spray. Cut each tortilla into 6 wedges, and push each wedge into muffin pan to form a cup. Layer approx. 1 tsp each of cheese, tomato, pepper, onions, beans, salsa and cheese in each cup. Cover loosely with foil and bake 5 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 minutes more until bubbly and cheese is golden. Makes 24 appetizers **You could use any ingredients you like in these, try cooked taco meat, diced jalapenos, Mexican rice, pepper jack cheese, etc. for different flavor combinations. Linda o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by ci_lantro (My Page) on Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 17:59 Recipe from a New Orleans souvenir postcard. I've been using this recipe for years: Red Beans & Rice 1 ham bone 1/2# ham, cubed 1# dried red beans 1 large onion, chopped 1 c. chopped green onions, tops & bottoms 1/4 c. chopped bell pepper 1/4 c. chopped parsley 1/2 t. basil 2 bay leaves 1/4 c. butter Salt & cayenne pepper to taste *I aways add lots of garlic to this recipe Put beans in a heavy pot w/ enough water to cover; bring to a rolling boil for a couple of minutes, then soak overnight in that same water. In the morning, bring to a boil again & add all the other ingredients. Reduce heat & simmer for at least 3 hours. The ham bone is important for flavor. Be sure beans are not old. They should become very creamy, but most will remain whole. Add cold water as needed. Goes well with smoked sausage & sliced raw onions. ***[Rice cooking instructions that I've never followed but including it because it's part of the orig recipe.] Serve over fluffy long grain rice cooked as follows. Bring 3 quarts of water to a rapid boil. Add salt, one tablespoon of oil and one of vinegar, and one cup of rice. Oil will keep water from boiling over and vinegar will let each grain of rice falls to itself. Reduce heat and simmer exactly 18 minutes. Drain in a colander, rinse off excess starch with cold water and steam in colander until well warmed again. This is a very good recipe, very much like the red beans & rice that I ate in NOLA. I always douse them liberally w/ Tabasco. o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by kathleenca (My Page) on Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 20:34 Here's another recipe that's especially good this time of year. Pistou Soup makes 3 1/2 quarts 2 Tbsp butter 1 c chopped onion White part of 1 leek OR green onion, chopped 1 c 2-inch cut green beans 1 c shelled butter beans OR small lima beans 1 c peeled potatoes in 2-inch cubes 1 1/2 c peeled chopped tomatoes OR 1 c canned tomatoes, broken up 8 c chicken stock 1/2 c vermicelli, spaghetti or small pasta, broken into 1-inch pieces salt & pepper 2 Tbsp tomato puree 1/4 c olive OR salad oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme OR 1/2 tsp dried 1 c grated Parmesan chees Melt butter in large pot or skillet over medium heat. Saute onion & leek until tender. Add green beans, butter beans, potatoes, tomatoes with liquid, & chicken stock. Cover & bring to boil. Reduce heat & simmer 15 minutes. Add pasta & cook 15 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender. Season to taste with salt & pepper. Place tomato puree in bowl & whisk in oil, drop by drop. Add garlic, basil & thyme. Stir mixture into soup. (Soup may be made to this point several days in advance, frozen & reheated.) Sprinkle with grated Parmesan at serving. o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by lpinkmountain (My Page) on Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 23:09 Ack, I just got the ingredients for the broccoli cookalong today, that's how behind I usually am! I eat beans almost every day, so every day is bean cookalong for me! What I'd like to make is hummus starting from scratch with dried garbanzo beans. I've only ever made it with canned before. I saved the hummus thread so that's where I'll get my recipe. Right now I've got two bowls of butterbean soup to finish, and then I'll probably make this soup out of my "Cucina Ebraica" cookbook by Joan Nathan. It is very, very similar to the other bean soups listed, and pretty typical of the kind I usually make, with the exception of adding the fake meat crumbles. Pasta e Fagioli alla Veneta - Venetian White Bean Soup with Pasta and Beef Sausage Serves 6 1 3/4 cups (~14 oz.) dried white or borlotti beans, picked over and rinsed. (I'll use canned canelinni beans this time) 4 TBLSP EVOO 2 onions, finely chopped 2 celery stalks, finely chopped 2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped 3/4 lb. freshly made or purchased fresh fettuccine, cut into maltagliati (irregular 1 1/2 inch pieces) (I bought tiny penne for this instead, dried. I can't afford fresh pasta and I don't make it.) About 2 cups meat broth (I'll use veggie broth) 1/2 lb. meat mixture for beef sausage, rolled into tiny meatballs. (You're on your own with this, I'll use 1/2 lb. fake meat crumbles or fake italian sausage cut up.) The mix Joan mentions included boneless beef shoulder, finely ground, 1/2 lb. beef kidney fat (whatever THAT IS), and lots of spices. Maybe chuck that and just buy some italian sausage and cut it up. Buy all beef if you want to stick to the original Jewish origins of this dish. Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Cook beans as you usually do for dried beans (in my case that means soaking in 2 times their volume of water overnight and then draining). Add fresh water to cover and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, sautee the onions, celery, and carrots in 4 TBLSP of olive oil until softened, about 10 min. Add to the beans and return to a boil. Cover and reduce heat and simmer until beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. If you're making this with canned beans, you can skip the cover with water and bring to a boil part, and just add the beans after you've sauteed the vegetables. Then add the vegetable broth to cover all the soup ingredients. Also, I would suggest adding 1 tsp. of italian seasoning unless you are using a spicy italian sausage in the soup. While the soup is simmering, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta. Also, scoop out half the bean mixture and puree when the beans are sofrt(I just run the hand blender for a couple of seconds until half the soup is pureed, or mash with a potato masher a bit). The recipe says bring the meat broth to a boil and cook the meatballs. If you're doing meatballs you're on your own as to how you make them, but they need to be the small ones. Add the meat broth and meatballs to the soup and simmer 10 more minutes for flavors to meld. (In my case it will be add the fake meat and some additional broth to cover.) At the very end, add the pasta and 2 cups chopped cooked swiss chard or curly endive to the soup. (Yeah right. I just toss in some frozen chopped spinach and cook until it is defrosted and heated through). Before serving, season with salt and pepper to taste. You can also use tubetti pasta in this soup. I couldn't find tubetti which is why I bought the tiny penne. The last recipe I'll share is from my friend Carolyn. I've been craving it, but I have a ton of other food to use up in the fridge so probably won't get to it this cookalong. But it is definately worth trying if you're up for something adventurous and want to expand your bean repertoire. Carolyns' kids are quite picky yet they like this, although they have been raised vegetarian so they love pasta. Definately for cilantro lovers though, that's what makes the dish. Carolyn's Yummy Sauce 1 can of white beans 6 garlic cloves pressed (I use 3) 2 TBLSP fresh ginger, grated 2 cups fresh cilantro (basically one bunch) 1 TBLSP chinese sesame oil 1 TBLSP hot chili oil (1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper dissolved in 1 TBLSP sesame oil). (I use commercial Thai chili sauce) 1/2 cup peanut butter (or maybe tahini, but I use peanut butter) 1/2 cup soy sauce 2 TBLSP sugar (I use brown) 3 TBLSP rice wine vinegar or rice wine Combine all ingredients in a food processor and puree until the mixture is of uniform creamy consistency. Pour over hot pasta and heat additionally in a pan if necessary to heat through. Garnish with chopped scallions, sesame seeds, chopped peanuts or diced cucumber if desired. This is great with fusilli, shell shaped pasta, or cavatelli, or orichiette or those snail shaped ones, lumache or whatever they are called. I add a small amount of finely chopped steamed broccoli to this or spinach, or sauteed red pepper, if I am in the mood but it is not necessary. Don't use tahini in this if you can't get it fresh, peanut butter is fine. o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by katiec (My Page) on Wed, Feb 10, 10 at 0:58 We eat a lot of beans, but I don't have many recipes. I don't think I've ever had red beans and rice either...maybe that's what we'll make this weekend. Doubt I could fine andouille around here,though. This is a fun one... * Exported from MasterCook * Quitza Recipe By : Katie, from Baking With Julia Serving Size : 1 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- --DOUGH-- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast 1/2 cup Yellow cornmeal 3 tablespoons Nonfat dry milk 3 cups Unbleached all purpose flour 2 ts Chili powder 1 1/2 ts Salt 1 cup refried beans 1/4 cup Chile-infused olive oil or vegetable oil 1 lg Egg 1 tablespoon Chile-infused olive oil or vegetable oil 2/3 cup water -- (approximately) --TOPPING-- 12 ounces cream cheese -- room temp 2 cups chunky salsa -- drained if watery 1 cup Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese -- shredded Put dough ingredients into bread machine and set for dough. Dough should form a ball; add up to 1/3 cup more water a little at a time, if necessary. At the end of the dough cycle, remove and let rest on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes. Working on a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 16 inch circle. Fit the dough into oiled pan, stretching and pressing it so that it covers the bottom of the pan and comes up the sides. Spread the softened cream cheese over the bottom of the dough. Spoon the salsa over the cream cheese and top it with the shredded cheese. Let rise, uncovered, at room temperature for about 30 minutes or until the dough is puffy and doubled in bulk. Bake at 475F on center rack for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the crust is deep brown and the cheese is bubbling. Serve hot or at room temperature. Quitza is best served the day it is made. o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by rob333 (My Page) on Wed, Feb 10, 10 at 11:44 I can't take a photo of it (I guess I could use my cell phone, but that wouldn't really be all that great!). I'll post one my mom and I asked for the recipe at a local restaurant. It's pretty close to what they make. Haricot Vert from J Alexander's 1/2 1b green beans, snapped and strings removed 2 tablespoons olive oil Montreal seasoning (recipe below) Cook the beans according to your preference. I like to boil the beans until tender, but still green, and then drain them. While the beans are still hot, add them back to the pan, drizzle with olive oil and then sprinkle on Montreal seasoning. Toss. These are usually best when the beans sit for a few minutes and absorb the oil and spices. __________________________________________________________________ Montreal seasoning 2 tablespoons black pepper 2 tablespoons paprika 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon granulated garlic 1 tablespoon granulated onion 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon ground coriander 1 tablespoon dill seeds Combine and set aside o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by sally2 (My Page) on Wed, Feb 10, 10 at 12:30 I do something with green beans kinda similar to what Ann posted, but just with onions, garlic occasionally, green beans and new potatoes. It's very informal. I just saute a sliced onion till softened, add the garlic and saute for a minute more, then add either fresh, which is best of course, or canned green beans and small or quartered large new potatoes. Add enough water or veggie broth, or broth of your choice, to cover, and let cook slowly till tender and the liquid has reduced a bit. Salt and pepper and butter to taste. Some chopped parsley is good added at the last minute, too. Simple but very tasty. I also like to just quick cook fresh green beans till al dente, either by steaming or sauteing, and top with a Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette. The vinaigrette is actually from a recipe for asparagus, but it's great on green beans, too. I just substitute green bean for asparagus. It's from Jack Bishop's The Complete Italian Vegetarian. 1 1/2 pounds Green Beans 1 teaspoon grated zest and 2 tablespoons juice from 1 large lemon 1 medium shallot, minced Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil. Whisk together the lemon zest and juice, shallot and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in the oil until smooth. Adjust the seasonings and set aside. For the green beans, either bring a pot of water to boil and boil the green beans just until tender but not mushy, (In the original recipe using asparagus, he says to boil till tender but not limp, about 4 minutes. I think green beans would take about the same amount of time, maybe a little longer, though) or steam them till the same texture. Drain the green beans and place in a single layer on a large platter. Whisk the dressing again and drizzle it over the green beans. Let cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. I have to confess...one of my favorite things to do when I don't feel like cooking is to toss a can of black beans or pinto beans and a can of Chile Fixins Rotel together, with some chopped onion and sometimes a diced clove of garlic, and some chopped cilantro if I have some on hand. Heat until hot and serve. I call them chile beans. Simple, and surprisingly good. Do Lentils count as beans? I've made this lentil soup before, and it's quite good. I don't remember if I've posted it before, so I apologize if I'm being redundant. from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison (You'd think I didn't have any other cookbooks, but really I do. It's just that this is my go to cookbook for most of my every day things.) Hearty Lentil Soup 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups finely diced onion 3 large garlic cloves Salt and freshly milled pepper 3 tablespoons tomato paste 1/3 cup finely diced celery 1/3 cup finely diced carrot 2 bay leaves 1/2 cup chopped parsley 1 1/2 cups French green or brown lentils, sorted and rinsed 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar Chopped celery leaves and parsley Heat the oil in a soup pot over high heat. Add the onion and saute until it begins to color around the edges., 5 to 7 minutes. Meanwhile, mince or pound the garlic in a mortar with 1 teaspoon salt. Work the tomato paste into the onion, then add the garlic, celery, arrot, bay leaves, and parsley and cook for 3 minutes. Add the lentils, 2 quarts water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are tender, 25 to 35 minutes. Stir in the mustard and vinegar. Taste and add more of either as needed. Check the salt, season with plenty of pepper, remove the bay leaves, and serve, garnished with the celery leaves and parsley. The longer the soup sits before serving, the better it will taste. Sally o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by jude31 (My Page) on Fri, Feb 12, 10 at 20:57 AnnT...we loved your Green bean, Zucchini and Potato Stew. We had it with a rotisserie chicken and rolls and it was GREAT, definitely a keeper. Thanks, jude o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by jude31 (My Page) on Wed, Feb 17, 10 at 18:41 This chick pea salad is really good and a little different. Chick Pea Salad: 2 16 oz. cans Chick Peas, rinsed and drained 2 C. chopped Romaine Lettuce (use scissors) 1 1/3 C. Seedless Red Grapes, halved 1 C. Sweet Red Pepper, chopped 2/3 C.thinly sliced Celery 1/2 C finely chopped Onion 1 1/2 to 2 C. Poppy Seed Dressing Poppy Seed Dressing: 3/4 C. sugar 1/3 C. cider vinegar (heat to boil and pour over sugar) 1 teas.salt 1 teas. dry mustard 1 teas. finely chopped green onion 1 C. vegetable oil 1 T. (+) poppy seeds Combine first 5 ingredients in blender til smooth. Turn blender on high and gradually pour in oil in slow steady stream. Stir in poppy seeds - cover and chill. Enjoy. jude o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by ruthanna (My Page) on Thu, Feb 18, 10 at 8:45 My family has always loved beans and I make them so many ways. This recipe posted here by AdrienneLIQ is one of our favorites. When I make a casserole of beans, it's usually served as the main course rather than a side dish. TUSCAN BAKED BEANS Ingredients: 1 lb dried cannellini beans 4 T EVOO 2 cloves garlic, crushed 4 oz. Pancetta, roughly chopped 3 leaves fresh sage (if fresh not available, use 4t chopped fresh parsley). 1 Leek, finely sliced 1 14 oz. can plum tomatoes, chopped with their juice salt and freshly ground black pepper. 1. Carefully pick over the beans, discarding any stones or other particles. Place the eans in a large bowl and cover with water. Soak for at least 6 hours or overnight. Drain. 2. Preheat the oven to 350. In a small saucepan, cook pancetta until crisp. Remove pancetta from pan and set aside. Heat the oil and sautee the garlice cloves and sage leaves for 3-4 minutes until garlic is tender but not brown. Remove from the heat. 3. In a large deep baking dish combine the beans with the leek and tomatoes. Stir in the oil with the garlic and sage. Add pancetta. Add enough fresh water to cover the beans by 1 inch. Mix well. Cover the dish with a lid or foil, and place in the center of the oven. Bake for 1 3/4 hours. 4. Remove the dish from the oven, stir the beans, and season with salt and pepper. Return the beans to the oven, uncovered, and cook for another 15 minutes, or until the beans are tender. Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 7-8 minutes before serving. Serve hot or at room temperature. **For vegetarian version, simply omit the pancetta. For 'everyday' baked beans, I use this recipe. They're better when made ahead and reheated with some additional water to thin out the sauce. BAKED BEANS 1 lb. Great Northern or navy beans, soaked overnight in cold water 1 cup chopped onions 4 slices bacon, diced 2 Tbs. white sugar 1 Tbs. dry mustard 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper 2/3 cup molasses 2 Tbs. cider vinegar 1 1/2 cups tomato juice 1 cup water Salt to taste Drain beans and add fresh water. Simmer until beans are almost tender. Drain. Combine remaining ingredients and add to beans. Bake uncovered in bean pot or deep casserole at 250 degrees for 4 hours or until very tender. Check them every once in a while and add more water to keep them from drying out. I have made nearly every bean recipe in Molli Katzen's Vegetable Heaven cookbook because that woman know what to do with them. Here are two recipes from her book that I have made many times. FIRECRACKER RED BEANS (6-8 servings) 2 Tbs. olive oil 3 cups finely minced onions 2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger 2 tsp. fennel seeds 2 Tbs. minced garlic 1/2 tsp. allspice 1 tsp. dried thyme 1 1/2 to 2 tsp. salt 1 cup dry sherry 2 Tbs. prepared mustard 1/4 cup ketchup 1 tsp. minced chipotle chiles 1 cup water 1/4 cup almond butter 2 Tbs. brown sugar 1/2 cup boiling water About 6 cups cooked small red beans or kidney beans (3 or 4 15-ounce cans, rinsed and drained) Wedges of lime Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over med-high heat. Add the onion, ginger, and fennel seeds, and saute for about 5-10 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium, add the garlic, allspice, thyme and 1 1/2 tsp. salt. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for about 3 minutes. Stir in sherry, mustard, ketchup, chipotles and 1 cup water. Cover and cook for another 10 minutes. Place the almond butter and brown sugar in a small bowl. Add the boiling water and mash with a spoon until it becomes a uniform mixture. Stir this into the sauce and cook uncovered over low heat for about 5 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place the beans in a 9 X 13 inch baking dish or equivalent casseerole, and pour in all the sauce. Cover with tight-fitting lid or foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove the pan from the oven and let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes, still tightly covered, so the beans can continue to absorb the liquid. Serve hot or warm, with squeezable wedges of lime on the side. Notes: You can make the sauce a day or two before serving and keep in the refrigerator; then combine with the beans before baking. Add 15 minutes baking time. The sauce can also be pureed in the blender before pouring onto the beans but I like it chunky. TUNISIAN TOMATO SOUP 1 to 2 (15 oz.) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 cup uncooked lentils (any kind), rinsed and picked over 7 cups water 1 cinnamon stick 2 Tbs. olive oil 4 cups finely minced onion 2 Tbs. minced garlic 2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. tumeric 1 1/2 tsp. whole cumin seeds 1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin 1/4 tsp. ground coriander 2 large or 3 small bay leaves Approx. 6 cups water, chicken broth, or vegetable broth 1 20-oz. can crushed tomatoes Black pepper and cayenne to taste 3 Tbs. fresh lemon juice (or to taste) Cook the lentils with 7 cups of water or broth and the cinnamon stick until tender, about 30 minutes for gray lentils or about half that time for red lentils, which I prefer for this soup. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick; drain lentils, saving the cooking water. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion, garlic, salt, tumeric, ground and whole cumin and coriander, and saute over medium heat for 6 to 10 minutes, or until the onions are slightly softened. Add 6 cups of water or broth (including the reserved cooking water from the lentils, if any is left) and the tomatoes, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer, partially cover, and cook for another 15 minutes of so. Fish out and discard the bay leaves. Stir in chickpeas and lentils, and cook for only about 5 minutes longer, so the legumes don�t get mushy. Season to taste with black and cayenne pepper and lemon juice. Serve hot, topped with some yogurt and fresh chopped mint, if desired. Makes about 6 servings and freezes well in an airtight container. o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by ci_lantro (My Page) on Thu, Feb 18, 10 at 10:57 Oh my--those Firecracker Beans sounds delicious, Ruthanna! My mom copycatted a green bean recipe from a local restaurant many, many years ago. Quickly became a family favorite. She dubbed it 'Spanish Green Beans' because it is much like her Spanish Rice recipe. No specific am'ts. It's one of those wing-it type recipes. Anyway, it goes like this: Jerry's Spanish Green Beans Saute some chopped bacon (3-4 strips) to desired degree of doneness. Remove the bacon & discard most of the fat, leaving 1-2 T. Add chopped onions to the bacon fat & saute til soft. In a casserole dish, empty a couple of cans of green beans. Stir in reserved bacon & sauteed onions. To this, add some tomatoes. Doesn't really matter--she used home canned tomatoes. OR, a couple of small cans of tomato sauce is very good. I kinda' prefer using the tomato sauce. Alternatively, a combination of tomatoes & tomato sauce makes for a prettier dish & is very good. [Garlic is a nice addition.] Cover the dish & bake in oven. I often cheat & use the microwave, but the results are better if you cook it in the oven. I've always used canned products for this, probably because it's a hearty winter-type dish. (My garden fresh & frozen beans usually get a quick saute.) o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by bunnyman (My Page) on Thu, Feb 18, 10 at 14:14 I like to keep my beans simple. Being single and working I don't have time for anything these days. With beans I like to work with smoke, heat, and sweet for flavoring. For smoke I use ham, smoked poultry, or liquid smoke. For heat I use red cayenne and habenera with green jalapeno and serreno peppers used pretty much chili only. The red peppers seem to tickle my taste with bean dishes. For sweets I work with brown sugar, onions, garlic, molasses, and maple syrup. To me onions and garlic are fairly potent sweeteners when cooked with beans. I've had lots of fun with variations on bean soup. My current favorite is a mixture of black beans and kidney beans in a ham broth with cayenne... chopped cabbage optional. Hot and smokey. Lentils I've fallen in love with adding spinach to the soup. Gives the soup a green tint and flavor. White beans (navy/great northern) I've been enjoying as a side dish. I was making bean soup when I got hungry and scooped out a bowl of just done beans. I had flavored the cooking water with a couple drops of liquid hickory smoke but added nothing else. They were delicious and I drained the cooking water so the rest of the beans could be eaten as just beans. Dry beans are one of the best bargins on my grocery bill! My pantry has a few pounds most all of the time. At the moment I have black, navy, and kidney beans, as well as green peas and lentils. Peas soup is wicked with a single slice of habenera pepper added to the pot. Amazing how many people I meet that have never had pea soup! When I cook a pot full I often share some with friends and have made a few into soup-a-holics. : ) lyra o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by lpinkmountain (My Page) on Sun, Feb 21, 10 at 17:12 Well, finally, two weeks after I got the ingredients, I made my version of the Pasta e Fagioli alla Veneta - Venetian White Bean Soup with Pasta and Beef Sausage. I used fake italian sausage instead of making meatballs, and I used tiny pene instead of making fresh pasta or breaking up spaghetti. And I added a bay leaf and 1.25 tsp. of Penzey's "Tuscan Sunset" to the soup. Oh, and I used a red onion because I had half of one I had to use up, and I threw in one wilting roma tomato. And I used canelinni beans because I have never seen borlotti beans. For someone who is of N. European Jewish and Scots Irish, English and Dutch heritage, I sure have an affinity for Italian style cooking! o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Sun, Feb 21, 10 at 19:47 Green Beans Oriental 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans 2 slices bacon 1/2 cup red bell pepper strips 1/2 cup thin onion wedges 1/2 cup whole cashews In a small bowl, stir together the teriyaki sauce, honey, and butter. Fill a bowl with cold water and ice cubes. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the lemon juice. Drop in the beans and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until beans are bright green. Drain the beans in a colander and then plunge them into the iced water. Drain again and set aside. In a skillet, cook the bacon until very crispy, crumble and set aside. Saute the bell pepper and onion in the hot bacon fat for 2 minutes. Add the beans, cashews, and bacon to the skillet. Add the teriyaki-honey sauce and toss gently Note: I have made this using soy sauce and maple syrup instead of teriyaki and honey, both ways are good. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michigan Beans & Sausage 1 lb. fully cooked kielbasa or Polish sausage, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced 1 medium onion, chopped 1 c. catsup 3/4 c. packed brown sugar 1/2 c. sugar 2 T. vinegar 2 T. molasses 2 T. prepared mustard 3 cans (15.5 oz. each) great northern beans, rinse and drained Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In an oven-proof Dutch oven, bring the kielbasa and onions to a boil with water to cover and boil for 2 minutes. Drain. Put the remaining ingredients in the Dutch oven with the kielbasa and onions. Mix well. Cover and bake for 1 1/2 hours until the mixture reaches the desired thickness. Serves 8-10. NOTE: Can also be prepared in a Crock Pot. Prepare up to baking and place in Crock Pot on LOW and heat for 6-8 hours. Nancy o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS// clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Sun, Feb 21, 10 at 20:53 I just pulled a new name out of the hat...from those who posted over the last two weeks... it is: ~~~~~~~~~~ Lorijean44 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lori, please post your choice for the next cookalong here. I'll be watching for it... Thanks Nancy o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by sally2 (My Page) on Mon, Feb 22, 10 at 10:03 Well, I didn't make beans this weekend, but we've had beans frequently during this time period. Shortly after this cookalong was posted, I cooked up a pot of pinto beans. Nothing fancy, just good old fashioned pinto beans with onions, carrots, celery, garlic, poblano peppers, bay leaves and other herbs I've forgotten, salt and pepper - oh, and a splash of liquid smoke. I still have some in the freezer, as I can't make just a small amount of beans. That Pasta e Fagioli alla Veneta looks delicious! I'm going to have to try that soon. Sally o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Mon, Feb 22, 10 at 10:39 Sally, that sounds good and something I need to do, soon! Lorijean.....please pick the next cookalong ingredient. Nancy o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by annie1992 (My Page) on Mon, Feb 22, 10 at 11:53 I'm not really late, just late in posting. I cleaned out my pantry last week and found that I had cranberry beans, great northern beans, navy beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, red lentils, green lentils, brown lentils, green split peas, yellow split peas and half a package of mayacoba beans! So, Elery made bean patties for breakfast, we had them with eggs and salsa. Well, he had salsa, I had eggs and bean cakes, LOL, and then Saturday we had split pea soup for lunch. Beans twice in one day... Annie o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Mon, Feb 22, 10 at 14:22 ttt Lori??? o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by annie1992 (My Page) on Mon, Feb 22, 10 at 16:19 Lpinkmountain, I forgot to mention, that bowl is just beautiful, I love the colors. C'mon Lori, pick the next ingredient..... Annie o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by ci_lantro (My Page) on Mon, Feb 22, 10 at 18:49 Annie--What are bean cakes? How do you make them? o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by annie1992 (My Page) on Mon, Feb 22, 10 at 21:03 cilantro, Elery likes spicier food than I do and he eats it for breakfast, so be forewarned, LOL. The original recipe comes from Mayo Clinic, but Elery added the jalapenos and he adds cumin to everything, I swear. The bean cakes are easy, drain and rinse two cans of black beans, mash them roughly with a fork or potato masher. Add a couple of cloves of mashed/minced garlic, some chopped green onion, maybe 1/2 cup of cilantro and a tsp. of cumin. Elery adds jalapenos to his but he made mine before he put jalapeno in the rest of them. Shape the mixture into patties and put them in the refrigerator for an hour or so to firm up. Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and fry the bean cakes until they are browned and crunchy on both sides. We had ours topped with soft eggs, he had salsa. Not me, mine were just bean cakes, no jalapenos and eggs. I don't know how he can eat that stuff first thing in the morning, he always covers his eggs with Sriracha if we're having omelettes! Annie o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Tue, Feb 23, 10 at 12:31 ttt....still looking for Lori I'll try an email o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by lorijean44 (My Page) on Tue, Feb 23, 10 at 14:01 I'm here! I'm here!! How about... Eggplant! Lori :D o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by ci_lantro (My Page) on Tue, Feb 23, 10 at 14:39 Thx, Annie! They sound yummy. I love hot & spicey so I'll try it the Elery-way but w/ less cumin. :) o RE: Cookalong #21-----BEANS clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings * Posted by wizardnm (My Page) on Tue, Feb 23, 10 at 15:55 We seem to be on a real vegetable roll... Lori has picked Eggplant for the next Cookalong A big -----THANK YOU---- to all who participated!! Nancy

o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by caliloo (My Page) on Fri, Feb 17, 12 at 14:27 Oh Lpink - I'm sure you and BF will love the Southern Style... I was amazed how good it was! Oh, and since we did have some leftovers, DH finished them over a bowl of Garlic Smashed Potatoes... he was a happy man! Alexa o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by jude31 (My Page) on Fri, Feb 17, 12 at 15:26 Sol, I have so-o-o missed your posts and your beautiful photos. jude o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by jude31 (My Page) on Sat, Feb 18, 12 at 9:31 Sol, I have so-o-o missed your posts and your beautiful photos. jude o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by dcarch (My Page) on Sat, Feb 18, 12 at 9:56 Posted by jude31 "Sol, I have so-o-o missed your posts and your beautiful photos. jude" You can say that again! :-) Simply stunning. In addition to being able to create beautiful food, Sol is amazing in creating the right atmosphere for the beautiful food. dcarch o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by MichelleDT (My Page) on Sat, Feb 18, 12 at 12:07 So many great recipes above! We love kale chips but that is kinda boring! How about Sausage, Cauliflower and Kale Potpie?? Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound sweet Italian sausage links, casings removed and meat broken into 3/4-inch pieces 2 medium onions, chopped 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary kosher salt and black pepper 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 bunch kale, torn into bite-size pieces (about 10 cups) 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 small head cauliflower (about 2 pounds), cut into florets 2 sheets puff pastry (one 17.3-ounce package), each cut into 4 rectangles Directions: Heat oven to 400F. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, tossing occasionally, until browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a large bowl. Add the onions, rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper to the drippings in the skillet and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the broth and simmer until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the kale, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and cook, tossing, until the kale is wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the kale mixture and cauliflower to the sausage and toss to combine. Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch or some other 3-quart baking dish and top with the puff pastry, overlapping the rectangles slightly. Bake until the pastry is golden and the filling is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. By Dawn Perry and Charlyne Mattox, Real Simple March 2012 o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by sally2 (My Page) on Sun, Feb 19, 12 at 9:27 Sol, my jaw literally dropped when I saw your photo. Then I followed your link, and my jaw is still on the ground, making it very hard to type this. Wow! I'm planning to keep this thread and cook my way through it like Julie did with Julia's book! There's a recipe I used to make when my kids were little, and they loved it, even though it had turnip greens in it. I couldn't get them to eat turnip greens to save my or their lives, but with this recipe they did. Unfortunately, I don't know where I have it, but I'll try to remember it. I've been making a vegetarian version of it for years, but when they were little, I made it the original way. It came from a magazine, probably Woman's Day, way back in the 1980's. I don't even remember the name of the recipe. The recipe calls for canned black-eyed peas, which makes it a good quick supper recipe, but I'm sure you could use all fresh ingredients if you wish. This makes a thick stew kind of dish. Turnip Greens and Black-eyed peas 1 kielbasa or smoked sausage, cut into bite size pieces 2 15 oz. cans black-eyed peas, drained 1 28 oz. can tomatoes 1 16 oz. bag frozen turnip greens lemon juice salt and pepper to taste Combine all the ingredients and heat till done. Add a squeeze of lemon juice just before serving. Season to taste. I don't remember if I sauteed the sausage before adding it, but I think I just added everthing into a pot. To make it vegetarian (which my dh doesn't like nearly as well, but I like it (grinning thinking about the lying vegan thread!), omit the sausage, and use olive oil for the fat - a couple of tablespoons is good. I add a very small amount, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of liquid smoke to get that smokey flavor that the sausage gives the meat version. If I find the original recipe, I'll check to make sure I didn't make a mistake on this. Sally o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by teresa_nc7 (My Page) on Sun, Feb 19, 12 at 9:39 Y'all can really be a good influence! Yesterday at the grocery store I bought a big bag of frozen chopped spinach (on sale!), a head of cabbage (.25 a lb.), and a bag of chopped collards. Those plus a pack of frozen sugar snap peas and 2 bags of carrots (.57 per lb. bag), sweet potatoes and a couple of baking potatoes kept my focus on buying more vegetables than meat. I did a freezer inventory last weekend and saw that I need to use up the meat in my freezer before I buy more. Today I'm making a spinach and cheese quiche for dinner tonight and lunch on Meatless Monday. I also plan to try a bean/sausage/greens recipe on Kalyn's Kitchen blog that I found this past week. Teresa Here is a link that might be useful: Sausage, Beans, and Greens crock pot recipe o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by jasdip (My Page) on Sun, Feb 19, 12 at 9:56 Sally2, I'm perusing Sol's site as I type this. I LOVE the way you write, Sol. Very very funny and witty, I'm laughing, sitting here with my coffee. Thanks for your recipes, your photography and your blog. o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by sally2 (My Page) on Sun, Feb 19, 12 at 10:25 I got to thinking, and that recipe I posted above probably had an onion in it. I'd probably saute the onion, then the sausage, then add the other ingredients - after draining excess fat, of course. Sorry about the omission. Sally o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by ann_t (My Page) on Sun, Feb 19, 12 at 11:15 I love this salad. I can't say that about many salads. This is my version of the house salad at Vittorio's in Toronto. Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table Vittorio's Spinach Salad ======================== Washed and dried spinach (Baby) 4 hard boiled eggs, peeled 4 or 5 cleaned mushrooms, sliced 1 can of artichoke hearts halved or quartered 3 Roma tomatoes, quartered 2 chopped green onions Kalamata olives Dressing 1/4 teaspoon tarragon 1/2 clove of garlic 2 or 3 tablespoons wine vinegar 1/2 cup homemade mayo or Hellmans Salt and pepper . Place spinach in a large salad bowl. Decorate with eggs, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, tomatoes and green onions and olives. Drizzle with dressing and toss. Can be made on individual plates as well. Dressing Soak tarragon and garlic in vinegar. Add salt to dissolve. Mix vinegar mixture into mayonnaise and adjust seasoning to taste. o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by arley (My Page) on Sun, Feb 19, 12 at 11:46 Inspired by this thread, I tried sauteeing some romaine lettuce last night. Simply washed the greens, cut them crossways so you had about an inch of stem flanked by some curly greens, and sauteed them in a little butter/evoo mix until the greens were a little wilted. Fantastic! Needed no accompaniment, though I bet a little freshly grated parmesan would do great on it. o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by ynnej (My Page) on Sun, Feb 19, 12 at 12:31 Ann, that dressing sounds amazing. Sol, your blog is just wonderful, and I can practically hear your voice as you read. You have a terrific writing style. My husband showed up with a big bunch of beets for me this Valentine's Day. He knows me too well. Beet Green and Sage Pesto with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes Photobucket This was the first time I've tried slow-roasted tomatoes. What a difference! I don't think I'll ever go back to sundried. o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by jasdip (My Page) on Sun, Feb 19, 12 at 12:34 I've got cabbage and leeks in the slow-cooker now, with a bit of chicken broth. When it's cooked, a cream sauce gets made for it. I'll let you know how we like it. o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by sally2 (My Page) on Mon, Feb 20, 12 at 12:38 Every time I read this thread, I drool. Imagine, drooling over greens. But I've always loved greens. As a child, spinach was my favorite vegetable. I even ate the stuff the school cafeteria passed off as spinach - that's how much a spinach-aholic I am. Here's a recipe I tried last night. Yesterday I was weeding my garden, thinking about this cookalong, and kept eyeing the beet greens. I have some beets left over from fall or even last spring, where the beets are way too mature to eat, but they keep producing nice greens. So, I decided to try a recipe from Annie Somerville's cookbook, Fields of Greens. I thought it an appropriate cookbook for this cookalong. In case anyone doesn't already know, beets and Swiss chard are very closely related. I use their greens interchangeably. So, for last night, I subbed beet greens for the Swiss chard called for in the recipe. I also used regular raisins, since we didn't have the currents or golden raisins on hand, and I didn't want to go to the store. I think regular raisins are just fine in this recipe, and I don't even like raisins. I did feel like cooking and having fun with my grandson, so we made pasta from scratch. He had fun feeding the pasta dough through the machine! It's not necessary to make it from scratch at all, as the note that goes with the recipe indicates. Sorry, I forgot about picture taking until it was all gone. Fettuccine with Swiss Chard, Currants, Walnuts, and Brown Butter from Fields of Greens, New Vegetarian Recipes from the Celebrated Greens Restaurant, by Annie Somerville Serves two to four We use fresh fettuccine here, but penne is also a delicious pasta choice. It can be cooked in advance, tossed with a little olive oil, and reheated with the sauce, a make-ahead technique that works well for this dish. 1/3 cup brown butter (recipe follows) 1 tablespoon dried currants 2 tablespoons golden raisins 1 bunch of red or green Swiss chard, about 8 cups packed leaves 1 tablespoon light olive oil 1/2 medium -size red onion, thinly sliced, about 1 cup Salt and pepper 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1/2 pound fresh fettuccine 1/3 cup walnut pieces, toasted Grated parmesan cheese Make the brown butter and keep it warm over very low heat. Set a large pot of water on the stove to boil. Plump the currants and golden raisins in a small bowl covered with 1/4 cup hot water. Trim the stems from the chard and slice across the leaves to make 2-inch-wide ribbons. Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan; add the onion, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a few pinches of pepper. Saute over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the onion softens and begins to release its juices. Add the garlic, chard, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Saute for 4 to 5 minutes, until the chard is just barely tender, then reduce the heat to low. When the water boils, add 1 teaspoon salt. Add the fettuccine to the boiling water, timing it to finish cooking with the chard. (The chard should be very tender but not overcooked when the pasta is done.) When the pasta is just tender, drain it immediately in a colander, shake off excess water, and add it to the onions and chard, along with the plumped fruit, walnuts, and brown butter. Toss together and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan. Variation: We often make this pasta with a mixture of winter greens - spinach, Swiss chard, and kale make a particularly satisfying combination. Kale is the slowest cooking of the greens, so add it to the onions 2 or 3 minutes before the chard. The spinach can be wilted quickly, so add it just before tossing with the cooked pasta. Brown Butter The time and attention needed to make brown butter are minimal - just be sure to use unsalted butter and remove it from the heat before its warm amber color begins to darken. The butter will hold indefinitely in the refrigerator, so make enough to have on hand when you need it. 1/2 pound unsalted butter Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. As the butter gently simmers, the butter fat and mil solids will separate from each other. The solids will settle to the bottom of the pan, coloring the butter as it cooks. When it turns a rich amber color, in about 8 to 10 minutes, remove from the heat. Line a fine-mesh strainer with a paper towel or cheesecloth and pour the butter through it, straining out the solids. The butter can be used immediately or cooled and refrigerated in a sealed container. Makes about 3/4 cup. One additional note from me. I doubled this recipe to make enough to serve 5 as a main dish. I doubled the amount of brown butter, which I think was a mistake - it was too greasy. If doubling, I'd suggest using just a little more brown butter rather than doubling it. Sally o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by ynnej (My Page) on Mon, Feb 20, 12 at 13:24 That sounds really good, Sally! I've got a few beet greens left over and I think I might try this. o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by cloudy_christine (My Page) on Mon, Feb 20, 12 at 13:25 This is by far my favorite thing to make with kale. An Irish dish that is bright green, perfect for St. Patrick's Day. Colcannon kale potatoes -- Not the waxy red ones. Yukon Golds are especially good. But russet types, being drier, let you use more of the scallion-infused milk. scallions milk butter Wash the kale and strip out the tough stems. Cook it in a large pot of boiling water until tender. (This keeps it bright green. Steam it if you insist.) Drain the kale; when it's cool enough, squeeze it to get out as much water as you can. Chop it finely. I like a knife chop, but if your kids will be put off by "pieces" you can process it. Meanwhile, boil peeled potatoes until tender. Heat some milk with finely sliced or chopped scallions. Use some butter and the scallion milk to mash the potatoes. Serve with a good-sized pat of butter. Little kids will eat a lot of "green mashed potatoes." o forgot clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by cloudy_christine (My Page) on Mon, Feb 20, 12 at 13:57 The recipe should say to add the cooked chopped kale to the mashed potatoes. o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by lpinkmountain (My Page) on Tue, Feb 21, 12 at 12:56 Ynnej I would love it if you would post the recipe for the beet green pesto and also the slow roasted tomatoes. I tried doing some roasted cherry tomatoes a couple of weeks ago, they were good but I don't think I roasted them quite right. Sally2 I'm like you, I would love to cook my way through this post. Unfortunately, my rate of participation on this Cookalong has slowed due to my ruining my oven's computer once again, and this time I think for good. Last time it healed itself after a few weeks, but last time the clock at least kept working. Now it seems to be dead as a doorknob. I've already researched fixing it and getting a new stove, so it's just a matter of time before I get the new stove. Meanwhile, I'm a stovetop cook. Also, I've been under the weather for a couple of days, so not much cooking going on and then there will be stuff to do to make up for my lost work time. Meanwhile, here's the soup I made last weekend. It's kind of hard core vegetarian and you'll love it if you love the combo of beans, butternut squash and greens. It's a good healthy and colorful starter for a Mediterannean type meal. Butternut Squash Greens Soup (Lpink's adaptation of a recipe she got off a recipe card she got at some grocery store ages ago.) 1 TBLSP of extra virgin olive oil (or less) for sauteeing 1/2 cup each diced onion and celery (you could probably use fennel in place of celery. Omit celery if using beet greens, use the beet stems instead. White onions are good, I also like this soup with red onions, they're colorful). Bunch of fresh greens, about 1 1/2 cooked cups worth. I most often use beet greens and the amount is what comes from a bunch of beets. I have also used frozen chopped greens for this dish, such as frozen kale or frozen spinach. 1 1/2 cups butternut squash (I just use a 10 oz. block of the Bird's Eye frozen pureed butternut squash). 3-4 cups vegetable or chicken broth 1 can small white beans (I usually use canelinni) 1/4 cup chives (I often use 3 scallions or 1/8 cup dried chives when I don't have fresh chives) 1/2 - 1 tsp. good italian seasoning 1 dash balsamic vinegar (slightly more than 1 tsp.) salt and pepper to taste Sautee onion, celery in oil until translucent. Add greens and cook until wilted. Add 2 cups broth and bring to a simmer. Add the block of frozen butternut squash. (You can microwave it to thaw it out if you want, or use 1.5 cups fresh squash, cooked and pureed). Cook until squash is combined. Add one can of beans, rinsed, and the italian seasoning. Add more broth until the soup reaches the consistency you like (1-2 more cups). Add scallions or chives and simmer 10 min. Adjust seasoning with a healthy dose of salt and pepper. Add a dash of balsamic vinegar. Taste and adjust additional seasonings to taste as you wish. Serve with croutons floating in the soup and a dusting of parmesean cheese. Here's a pic. I was almost out of soup and out of croutons by the time I remembered to take a photo. o Squash soup post script clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by lpinkmountain (My Page) on Tue, Feb 21, 12 at 12:58 Oh I forgot to add GARLIC in the soup recipe. The original recipe doesn't call for it, but I think a little bit is OK. I just add a dash of garlic powder, but you could add 1-2 cloves minced garlic in with the onions. o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by ynnej (My Page) on Tue, Feb 21, 12 at 13:07 Garlic is non-negotiable in my book! I put it in just about everything. For slow-roasted tomatoes, I just halve them, toss them in a little oil with salt, pepper, and thyme and heat in 220 oven for 2-3 hours. Here is the Beet Green Pesto Recipe. Beet Green and Sage Pesto 2 cups chopped beet greens, center ribs removed 1/2 cup walnuts 1/2 cup sage leaves 1 cup fresh grated parmesan 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 tsp lemon juice 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste 1/4 tsp pepper, or to taste 2 tbsp water 1/2 cup olive oil+ more for frying Add enough oil to coat a large frying pan and bring to medium low heat. Add beet greens and cook until wilted. Let cool. Add walnuts to food processor and grind until fine, then add cooked greens and all other ingredients, streaming in olive oil at the end. o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by lpinkmountain (My Page) on Tue, Feb 21, 12 at 13:15 Oh, that's what I did wrong with the tomatoes, I fast roasted them, in the oven at 400 for about 15 min. They tasted good but burst out of their skins leaving sad little skin curls in the pan. o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by ynnej (My Page) on Tue, Feb 21, 12 at 14:20 And the skin's the best part! I wouldn't say you did it wrong, though. Slow-roasted is just a completely different outcome- like sundried tomatoes, only juicier. o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by magothyrivergirl (My Page) on Tue, Feb 21, 12 at 18:01 Lpink - I posted the Kale and Chicken Stew recipe ~ I am glad you and BF love it ~ we feel the same ~ can't make it often enough! KALE & CHICKEN STEW Here is the recipe from the Nov's New Recipes post with the changes I make. I found this recipe when searching for ways to cook kale. We thought it was delicious. Changes I made: I use a Rotisserie chicken & homemade chicken broth I had in the freezer. I also added Trader Joe's Everyday Seasonings - so season with your favorite spices. Potatoes I used: Yukon golds, Red potato, Russet, and an all purpose white. Scrubbed and did not peel. Roast on some nonstick aluminum foil. I always rinse & drain the beans. I cooked it early and let it sit to meld the flavors. It is going to be a favorite comfort food this year as the weather turns cold. Kale and Chicken Stew Serves 6-8 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 5 medium mixed potatoes; diced (I used Yukon gold, red and purple) 1 teaspoon fresh thyme 4 tablespoons olive oil Kosher salt freshly cracked black pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion; chopped 1 large shallot; minced 2 carrots; peeled and diced 6 cups chicken stock 2 sprigs fresh thyme 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese; finely grated 5 cups chopped kale 15-ounce can cannellini beans; drained salt and pepper to taste Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan. Rub with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. In a separate sheet pan, toss the potatoes with olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred the meat. Cover and set aside. Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and shallot and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the carrots and cook 15 minutes until softened. Add in chicken stock, thyme, chicken, potatoes, Parmesan, salt and pepper bring to a simmer. Add the kale and beans and simmer for another 20 minutes, until the kale is tender and the beans are hot. Related: Five Ways to Eat: Kale Rebekah Peppler November 2, 2010 06:00PM o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by sally2 (My Page) on Tue, Feb 21, 12 at 19:40 Lpink, that soup sounds delicious. So does the pesto, Ynnej. I'll have to make some of that. Sally o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by solsthumper (My Page) on Wed, Feb 22, 12 at 9:37 Jenny, you're sweet; thank you! I followed the link to your wonderful blog, and I'm looking forward to trying your dishes on my boy, a vegetarian who hates vegetables :) Thank you Ann, Lpink, Jude, Sally and Dcarch for your very kind words! Your comments may just turn me into a Peanuts character, big head, tiny body. I apologize for the lack of new blog entries. The blog was accidentally deleted by Blogger recently, and even though they brought most of it back, I've been busy doing damage control. I hope to get it up and running by this weekend. It has been an unusually-mild winter this year, and I've been craving more greens than ever before. So, I'm saving this entire thread and the delicious photos. Arley, I've taken note of the parmesan tip on the cooked romaine! Sol o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by bbstx (My Page) on Wed, Feb 22, 12 at 11:43 Great minds think alike! Cooking Light has kale recipes today. Here is a link that might be useful: Cooking Light - 14 Kale Recipes o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by MichelleDT (My Page) on Wed, Feb 22, 12 at 12:56 This was very good! Chowhound's Garlic and Smoky Greens Soup w/Poached Egg. 3 large garlic heads 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for serving 2 medium leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced crosswise (white and pale green parts only) 2 bay leaves 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 medium russet potato, peeled and medium dice 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, plus more as needed 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth 12 ounces kale, tough stems removed and leaves cut into 1/2-inch slices (about 4 cups) 1 cup water 4 poached eggs (optional) Prep Heat the oven to 375F and arrange a rack in the middle. Peel any loose outer skins from the garlic heads and cut off the top quarter of each head to expose the cloves. Place the garlic heads, cut side up, on a large piece of foil, drizzle 1 tablespoon of the oil over all 3 heads, and wrap tightly to form a foil packet. Place the packet on a baking sheet and bake until the garlic cloves are golden brown and very tender, about 60 to 75 minutes. Remove from the oven, open the packet, and let the garlic sit until cool enough to handle. Squeeze the roasted cloves from their skins and place in a small bowl; set aside. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the leeks, bay leaves, and rosemary, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until the leeks have begun to soften and the herbs are fragrant, about 4 minutes. Add the potato, roasted garlic, and paprika, season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until a bit of crust begins to form on the bottom of the pan, about 10 minutes. Add the broth and, using a wooden spoon, loosen the crusty bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to low, cover with a tightfitting lid, and let simmer until the potatoes are knife tender, about 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and remove the pan from the heat. Using a blender, puree the soup in batches until smooth, removing the small cap from the blender lid (the pour lid) and covering the space with a kitchen towel (this allows steam to escape and prevents the lid from popping off). Place the blended soup in a clean saucepan. (Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender to puree the soup in the original saucepan.) Return the soup to a simmer over low heat. Add the kale and water and stir to combine. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the kale is tender but still brightly colored, about 10 to 12 minutes. Taste and add more paprika, salt, and pepper as needed. Ladle the soup into bowls, drizzle with olive oil, season with pepper, and top with a poached egg if desired. Photobucket (Pic from the recipe on Chowhound) Link has two other soups - one with bok choy wontons which sounds like another one to make! Here is a link that might be useful: Soups with Greens from Chowhound o RE:: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by MichelleDT (My Page) on Wed, Feb 22, 12 at 19:23 Cooking Light just posted 14 tasty kale recipes for those interested. Here is a link that might be useful: Cooking Light Kale Recipes o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by ruthanna (My Page) on Wed, Feb 22, 12 at 19:43 What a great Cookalong thread! I haven't been on line much lately but have been eating my greens. I made Chi83's Massaged Kale & Avocado Salad and it was excellent. CC, I haven't made Colcannon for a couple of years. Thanks for the reminder since I just bought 10 lbs. of potatoes. I also made some chard soup. CHARD AND SAUSAGE SOUP 1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed, crumbled 1 Tbs. chopped garlic 1 pound Swiss chard, trimmed and coarsely chopped 4 to 5 cups chicken broth 1/2 cup broken (1 inch) pieces capellini or vermicelli pasta 4 slices crusty French or Italian bread, 1/2 inch thick 4 tsp. olive oil 4 tsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese Heat a large saucepot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring and chopping to break up clumps, until browned, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Add chard and broth and bring to boiling. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, then bring back to a boil. Add pasta, cover and boil 2-4 minutes or until pasta is done. Meanwhile, heat broiler. Broil bread slices on cookie sheet about 1 minute per side, until toasted. Drizzle each slice with 1 tsp. oil; sprinkle each with 1 tsp. grated Parmesan. Divide soup among 4 large soup bowl and top each with prepared toast. Serves 4 I had more chard left so tonight made these sci-fi-looking blobs on a flying saucer of Hollandaise. Photobucket No real recipe but I blanched the chard leaves in the microwave and put them in greased custard cups with the ends of the leaves hanging over the sides. Then I added a filling of cooked basmati rice, cubes of cooked chard stems and golden beets, parsley, S&P, some grated Parmesan and a beaten egg white to bind. After covering the rice mixture with the overhanging chard leaf pieces, I baked them in a pan of hot water at 350 for about 20-25 minutes. I let them cool for about 3 minutes before inverting onto the plates. DH loved his greens "surprise package". Photobucket o RE: Cookalong #41 -Greens, Cooked and Raw clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by teresa_nc7 (My Page) on Thu, Feb 23, 12 at 10:28 The chard bundles are very creative, Ruthanna! That chard and sausage soup sounds good to me - if/when we get some more cold weather. Who knew we loved our greens so much? Teresa

Congrats on your new toy! Perfect time of year for it. I have a Breville multicooker, which is similar, though the settings may be a bit different. I use it for beans and bean stews on slow cook. That means that I've attempted to sprout beans in it, but it only worked with cannelini beans. Mostly me being anxious about them disintegrating or getting mushy before they could sprout. Draining twice a day. Not plugged in or with the lid down (breathable cover). Just sitting in the wet trying to sprout. Then cook the beans on the bean setting, with the time adjusted as per the manual for the beans being soaked. Drained again, and while they're in the colander, brown the meat on the sear setting. I cut cheap(ish), lean beef into dice 1/2" tops because it want it to cook down to nothing. Set aside with the beans or in a bowl. Next, brown the onions on the sauté setting, and start the rest of the veg cooking once the onions are golden. Peppers, carrots, celery (mirepoix x trinity), plus anything I want to use up. Change to stew setting, add the beans and meat, diced tomatoes (canned or fresh), tomato paste or chili sauce, and some herbs and spices. I usually want to cook it half again as long as the base number, so I adjust that. When it's done and tastes "right", I use the reduce setting to steam off the excess water, to get a thick, rich stew. I've also caramelized onions in it, but it's going to take running the deodorizing recipe to fully remove the smell of that...