Satsuma Vodka-tini

• 1 cup fresh cranberries 
• 1 cup vodka 
• ½ cup sugar 
• 4 satsumas 
• ¾ cup Grand Marnier 
• ¼ cup lime juice 

Combine cranberries, vodka, sugar, and satsumas in a food processor; process until pureed. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. 

Strain mixture through a cheesecloth-lined sieve over a bowl, pressing to extract juice. Discard solids. Stir in Grand Marnier and lime juice. 

Place 1 cup satsuma mixture in a martini shaker with 1/2 cup crushed ice; shake. Strain mixture into 2 martini glasses. Repeat procedure to yield 10 cocktails.

Serves 10; 187 calories.

VERDICT:  Made with only things already in the house, and delicious!  (I did use Cointreau, and then Triple Sec in place of the Grand Marnier.)  Would be a good Christmas/Thanksgiving cocktail--make-ahead and batched.  Keep.

Mushroom Cauliflower Bolognese

• 12 oz. mushrooms, such as shiitake or crimini, stems removed
• 1 medium head of cauliflower (about 2¼ lb.), broken into florets
• ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 chile, such as serrano, Holland, or Fresno, thinly sliced, or ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 Tbsp. finely chopped rosemary
• ⅓ cup double-concentrated tomato paste
• Kosher salt
• 1 lb. rigatoni
• 2 oz. finely grated Parmesan (about 1 cup), plus more for serving
• 3 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley
• ½ lemon

Pulse mushrooms in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer to a small bowl. Wipe out food processor bowl.

Working in 3 batches, pulse cauliflower in food processor until pieces are about the size of a grain of rice (some smaller and some larger ones are fine), transferring to a medium bowl as you go.

Heat ¼ cup oil and 2 Tbsp. butter in a large heavy pot over medium-high. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 4–6 minutes. Add onion and 2 Tbsp. oil to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is very soft and golden brown, 6–8 minutes. Add garlic, chile, and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is softened and mixture is very fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until paste is slightly darkened, about 2 minutes. Add cauliflower and cook, yes, still stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is cooked down slightly and begins to stick to bottom of pot, 6–8 minutes. Season with salt, then keep warm over low heat.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until almost al dente, about 1 minute less than package directions.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer pasta to pot with sauce. Add 1 cup Parmesan, remaining 2 Tbsp. butter, and 1 cup pasta cooking liquid. Increase heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and sauce is clinging to pasta, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt (it'll probably need another pinch or two). Finely zest lemon over pasta and toss once more.

Divide pasta among bowls. Top with more Parmesan, then drizzle with oil.

Serves 6.

VERDICT:  This was not as hard as I expected it to be--the bulk of the chopping happens in the food processor--it has achievable ingredients, and it's delicious. Keep!

Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili

• 2 tbsp. avocado or olive oil
• 6 scallions, sliced, dark-green parts reserved for garnish
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 small butternut squash, peeled and chopped (about 3 cups)
• 2 cups vegetable stock
• 1 can (about 15 oz.) black beans, rinsed
• 1 can (about 14.5 oz.) diced fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1/3 cup bulgur
• 2 tbsp. chili powder
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
• Sour cream, for garnish

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium. Add the white and light-green scallion parts, the bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the squash, stock, beans, tomatoes with juices, bulgur, chili powder, and chipotle pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the squash and bulgur are tender, 25 to 30 minutes.

Divide the chili among bowls. Garnish with sour cream and the dark-green scallion parts.

Serves: 4

VERDICT: I made this to use up some scallions and a sweet potato (which I subbed in for the butternut squash) and was surprised by how much I liked it.  The bulgur adds nice texture.

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
• 1 large onion, finely diced 
• 2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced 
• 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced 
• 10 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced 
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste 
• 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, such as Annie's Naturals 
• 1 dried bay leaf 
• 1 cup French green lentils, picked over 
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 
• 1 cup frozen peas 
• 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces 
• 4 cloves garlic 
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 
• 1/2 cup whole milk, warmed

Heat oil in a medium pot over medium. Add onion, carrots, and celery and cook, stirring, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add Worcestershire, bay leaf, 4 cups water, and lentils; season with salt and pepper. 

Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until lentils are tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Stir in peas; remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place potatoes and garlic in a medium saucepan; cover with 2 inches of cold water. Season generously with salt; bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until a knife pierces potatoes easily, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain; return potatoes and garlic to pot. Add butter and milk; mash with a fork or potato masher until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Transfer lentil mixture to a 2-quart baking dish. Dollop with mashed potatoes; spread evenly to edges. Transfer to a baking sheet; bake until golden and bubbling around edges, about 15 minutes. Let stand 20 minutes; serve.

Serves: 8

VERDICT: This was not wildly exciting, but I also did not get sick of the leftovers, which is a huge plus and pushes it over into "keep" territory.

Chia Seed Pudding

• 1 cup vanilla-flavored unsweetened almond milk
• 1 cup plain low-fat (2 percent) Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (preferably grade B), plus 4 teaspoons for serving
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Kosher salt
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1 pint strawberries, hulled and chopped
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

In a medium bowl, gently whisk the almond milk, yogurt, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, the vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt until just blended. Whisk in the chia seeds; let stand 30 minutes. Stir to distribute the seeds if they have settled. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, in a medium bowl, toss the berries with the remaining 4 teaspoons maple syrup. Mix in the almonds. Spoon the pudding into 4 bowls or glasses; mound the berry mixture on top and serve.

Serves 4; 201 calories.

VERDICT:  I like this chia seed pudding better than others I've tried.  I made it with macadamia nut milk from Trader Joe's, and just threw fresh raspberries and blackberries on instead of the strawberries.  Keep!  

Granola Pudding Bowls

Granola and Chia Pudding

• 3 cups old-fashioned oats
• ½ cup coarsely chopped skin-on hazelnuts or pecans
• ½ cup skin-on almonds
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
• ¼ cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp. kosher salt
• ½ cup honey
• ¼ cup virgin coconut oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• ½ tsp. flaky sea salt
• 3 cups brewed rooibos tea, cooled
• ¾ cup chia seeds

Assembly

• 4 cups plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tsp. honey
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• 4 Tbsp. apricot jam

Preheat oven to 300°. Toss oats, hazelnuts, almonds, coconut flakes, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, and kosher salt in a large bowl.

Heat honey, oil, and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium-low, whisking until melted and combined, about 2 minutes. Pour over oat mixture and mix thoroughly to coat. Spread out on a rimmed parchment-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with sea salt.

Bake granola 10 minutes. Remove from oven and stir. Return to oven and bake until golden brown and crisp, 8–10 minutes. Remove from oven and stir again. Let cool on baking sheet.

Combine tea and chia seeds in a 1-qt. jar or airtight container. Cover and shake to combine. Let sit 5 minutes, then shake again. Let sit at least another 15 minutes before serving. (You’ll have enough granola and chia pudding for about 16 servings. Keep on hand for making more bowls or other uses (try a scoop of chia pudding in a smoothie!).

Do Ahead: Granola and chia pudding can be made 10 days ahead. Store granola airtight at room temperature and chill chia pudding.

Serves 16 (if you buy more yogurt).

VERDICT:  This takes a little bit of time to assemble in the morning, but I genuinely looked forward to eating it every day, and none of the advance work is difficult at all.  I also had everything to make the granola in the cupboard already (I used pecans instead of hazelnuts)--all I bought was rooibos, yogurt and jam.  I skip the step of adding honey and vanilla to the yogurt and don't miss it at all.  A tiny bit fancy and delicious.  Keep!

Vidalia Onion Soup with Wild Rice

• 1/2 cup wild rice, uncooked
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 pounds (about 4) Vidalia onions, or other sweet onions, quartered and very thinly sliced
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• Herb bundle (see Note)
• Salt and pepper
• 8 slices baguette
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 ounces Maytag or other young, not too sharp, blue cheese, at room temperature

Note: This soup calls for an herb bundle that’s roughly 3/4 cup of your favorite fresh herbs, chopped. (He calls for 3 tablespoons chopped chives, basil, flat-leaf parsley and 4 tablespoons chopped tarragon, though I don’t think you need to be overly rigid in adhering to a formula.)

Cook the wild rice in a small saucepan according to package directions.

Melt the butter in the bottom of a 4- to 5-quart saucepan or Dutch oven over moderately low heat. Add the onions, toss to coat them in oil and cover the pot. Reduce the heat to real low and let them slowly steep for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, uncover the pot, raise the heat slightly and season the onions with a bit of salt and pepper. Cook onions, stirring frequently, for another 15 to 25 minutes, until they are tender, limp and sweet. Add the stock and simmer for 20 minutes. Wrap the herbs (see Note up top) in a small piece of cheesecloth and tie with kitchen string. Trotter suggests you drop the bundle into the broth for one minute, then remove it, but after going through such an effort to make one, I decided to leave mine in a little longer; it made me feel better. Adjust seasonings with additional salt and pepper, if needed.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Brush both sides of the baguette slices with oil. Bake on a baking sheet until light golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. While the croutons are still warm, spread them with cheese.

To serve, divide the rice among four bowls, and ladle broth and onions on top. Float two croutons in the center of each bowl, and sprinkle with more pepper. Eat immediately.

Serves 4.

VERDICT: I took some liberties.  Instead of chopping herbs, tying them up and floating the bundle for ONE MINUTE, I grabbed a bunch of un-chopped chives, tarragon, and flat-leaf parsley with tongs and floated them in the soup for a few minutes.  I also added chopped tarragon, parsley, and chives to the soup and left them there, which was pretty and delicious.  I also somehow neglected to buy either baguette or cheese, so there were no croutons.  But, it was still good--slightly sweet, with a really nice note of tarragon.  It's relatively cheap to make, especially if you have millions of chives in the garden.  Keep.

Strawberry Rhubarb Yogurt Popsicles

• 1 lb. strawberries, hulled and minced
• 3⁄4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1⁄4 tsp. kosher salt
• 3 stalks rhubarb, trimmed and minced
• 4 oz. plain 2 percent Greek yogurt
• 1⁄2 cup honey, preferably orange blossom

Bring strawberries, juice, salt, and rhubarb to a simmer in a 4-qt. saucepan; cook until fruit begins to break down, 3–4 minutes. Let cool and, using a slotted spoon, transfer 1⁄2cup fruit to a bowl. Transfer remaining fruit mixture to a blender; add yogurt and honey and purée until smooth. Stir in reserved fruit; divide mixture between individual ice-pop molds. Freeze 1 hour, then insert a popsicle stick into each mold; freeze until pops are solid, about 3 hours more. To release ice pops from molds, briefly run the bottom of the molds under warm water.

Yield: 12 pops.

VERDICT: These turned out great--more strawberry than rhubarb, but good flavor and texture.  I also like the relatively simple ingredients and using up some rhubarb.  Keep!

Vegan Egg Salad Sandwiches

• ¼ cup vegan mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon capers
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 7.5 ounces extra-firm tofu, cut into ¼-inch cubes
• Pinches of celery salt
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 6 slices of whole-grain sandwich bread
• Watercress or spring greens, optional
• Pickled red onion, optional
• Radish slices, optional

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, mustard, capers, lemon juice, garlic, turmeric, salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Mix in the tofu, then lightly crumble it with your hands, keeping some of the cubes intact. We’re going for the texture of egg salad, not scrambled eggs.Stir in the celery salt, dill, and chives. Chill until ready to serve.

Assemble the sandwiches with watercress or spring greens, a scoop of the egg salad, and pickled onions and radish slices, if desired.

Serves 3.

VERDICT: I made this to use up some leftover tofu and radishes, and it is wonderful--reminiscent of the the delightful tuna-salad-like Smashed Chickpea Sandwiches. Tangy from the mustard and capers, with a truly almost-eggy texture.  I used dried dill--I'm sure it would be better with fresh, but I also think you could probably leave it out altogether.  Keep!  From Love and Lemons.

Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins

• 1 c. quick oats
• 1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1/3 c. vegetable oil
• 1 c. fresh blueberries

Heat oven to 400F.

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.  Mix egg, milk, and oil into dry ingredients.  Add blueberries into batter.  Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups with batter 2/3 full.

Bake 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.

Yield: 12 muffins.

VERDICT:  John made these with a Neat Egg, and they are delicious!  They taste like graham crackers.  Keep! (From the side of the oatmeal box.)

White Bean and Farro Salad

• 1½ cup farro
• 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 small shallot, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup sherry vinegar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¾ teaspoon black pepper
• 5 ounces baby arugula
• 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup)
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

Cook farro according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cool running water.

Toss together farro, beans, shallot, oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Let stand 15 minutes.

Add arugula and feta and toss to combine. Garnish with dill.

Serves 4; 510 calories.  (As with most Real Simple recipes, the portions are wildly generous--we fed four people with it originally, and it looks like I'll end up with three servings leftover. )

VERDICT:  I added a whole 8oz box of feta, cubed, and also threw in the entire little package of dill, chopped, without measuring.   Turned out deliciously with very little fuss.  Keep!  

Farro, Green Bean and Kale Salad

• 4 cups water
• 1 cup halved haricots verts or green beans
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (8.5-oz.) pkg. precooked farro (2 cups)
• 2 cups thinly sliced lacinato kale
• 1 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled (about 1/4 cup)

Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add green beans; cook 3 to 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain, and rinse well with cold water; drain.
Step 2

Combine vinegar, oil, mustard, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Heat farro according to package directions. Add farro, kale, tomatoes, and green beans to dressing; toss well. Sprinkle with cheese.

Serves 2 (2 c.); 321 calories.

VERDICT: With pre-washed kale and green beans, easy, and nicely used one basket of cherry tomatoes from the farmer's market.  Since I was already meant to be cooking the beans, I just made farro and threw the green beans in for the last few minutes of cooking.  Could do with lots more feta.  Keep!

Farro, Kale & Squash Salad

Farro

• ¾ cup farro
• 1½ cups water
• Pinch of salt

Squash

• 4 cups cubed butternut squash (½-inch)
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

Kale

• 7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 5 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons minced shallot
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon salt plus ⅛ teaspoon, divided
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper plus ⅛ teaspoon, divided
• 1 bunch kale (about 8 ounces)
• 1¼ cups water, plus more as needed
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
• ¼ cup toasted pepitas

Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

To prepare farro: Toast farro in a medium saucepan over medium heat until lightly fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add 1½ cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, cover and cook until the farro is tender, 25 to 35 minutes. Drain, if necessary; fluff with a fork.

To prepare squash: Meanwhile, toss squash with 1 tablespoon oil and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Spread on the prepared baking sheet and roast, stirring once or twice, until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

To prepare kale: Combine 6 tablespoons oil, vinegar, garlic, shallot, mustard and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl. Separate kale leaves from stems. Slice the leaves crosswise into strips and add to the bowl. Massage the dressing into the leaves until the volume is reduced by half.
5Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the kale stems and the remaining ⅛ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add ¼ cup water, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Repeat four or five more times, each time adding ¼ cup water and steaming for 2 minutes, until the kale stems are tender. Transfer to a cutting board and slice on the diagonal into 2-inch pieces.

To assemble: Stir the farro and squash into the kale salad; arrange on a platter. Serve topped with the kale stems, feta and pepitas.

Serves 6; 372 calories.

VERDICT: I should have made this in January/February, when the magazine came out--in May, it was a bit hot to have the oven on and farro and kale steaming away.  It turned out well enough, but was a fair amount of chopping and roasting for a Thursday night.  Keep for winter weekends?

The Witty Comeback

• 2 ounces rye whiskey (preferably Old Overholt)
• ½ ounce Averna amaro
• ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
• ½ ounce ginger simple syrup
• Orange twist (for serving)

Combine rye, Averna, lemon juice, and ginger simple syrup in a cocktail shaker; fill shaker with ice. Shake until outside of shaker is frosty, about 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass or a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with orange twist.

Ginger Simple Syrup

• ¾ cup sugar
• ¼ cup chopped peeled ginger

Bring sugar, ginger, and ¾ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and let sit 20 minutes. Strain into a jar, cover, and chill.

Yield: 1 drink.

VERDICT:  These were meant for dinner for Jen and Beth, which got blizzarded out--they turned out to be the perfect drink for a snowy day.  John and I drank them until the Old Overholt ran out (not as long as you'd think).  Keep!

Orange Orzo Salad with Almonds, Feta and Olives

• 8 ounces whole wheat orzo pasta (I used DeLallo brand)
• ½ cup raw almonds
• 1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
• ½ cup chopped green onion
• ½ cup raisins, preferably golden
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• ¼ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice (from 1 to 2 oranges, preferably organic)
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 medium clove garlic, pressed or minced
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the orzo and cook until al dente, according to package directions. Before draining, reserve roughly ½ cup pasta cooking water. Drain, and immediately rinse the orzo under cold running water until the orzo is no longer warm. Drain well.

Toast the almonds in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant and turning golden on the edges, about 5 minutes. Transfer the almonds to a cutting board and chop them.
In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked orzo, chopped almonds, parsley, olives, green onion, raisins, and feta (if using).

In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, combine the orange zest, orange juice, olive oil, vinegar, garlic and salt. Add ¼ cup of the reserved pasta cooking water, and whisk until blended.

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. It might seem like too much dressing at first, but don’t worry. Season with pepper, to taste.

Let the orzo salad rest for at least 10 minutes (or up to several hours in the refrigerator) so it has time to soak up the dressing. Season to taste with additional salt, if necessary, and serve. Leftovers will keep well in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Yield: 6 side servings.

VERDICT:  I made a double batch of this for a potluck at work--I had a million oranges to use up, and almonds and raisins from making granola--and it was just right.  Leftovers were good for a few days.  Keep!  From Cookie and Kate.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Parsley-Chive Swirl

• 2 1/2 pounds cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets 
• 1 large leek, white and pale green parts only, halved lengthwise, rinsed and cut into ½-inch pieces
• 3/4 cups extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1 teaspoons ground pepper, divided
• 1 1/4 cups fresh parsley
• 1/3 cup fresh chives
• 6 cups low-sodium no-chicken or chicken broth
• 2 1/2 teaspoons white-wine vinegar

Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat 2 large rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray.

Toss cauliflower and leeks with ½ cup oil and 1¼ teaspoons each salt and pepper in a very large bowl (you may need to do this in 2 batches). Divide the vegetables evenly between the prepared baking sheets. Roast, switching the pans from top to bottom and back to front halfway, until soft and browned on the bottom, 25 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, place parsley, chives and the remaining ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper in a blender; pulse several times to chop, scraping down the sides once or twice. With the motor running, slowly add the remaining 1 cup oil and process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and rinse out the blender.

Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large pot and add broth. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Puree the soup in batches in a blender. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Stir in vinegar. Serve with some of the herb sauce swirled on top.

To make ahead: Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Serves 6; 329 calories.

VERDICT:  This reminded me strongly of our family spinach dip, which I think comes from the black pepper.  It's a fair number of dishes, but few enough ingredients, one of which is the ever-present chive!  We made this with the first chives of the season--just before they started to flower.  Keep.

Lentil Soup

• 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tsp. ground cumin
• 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 quart vegetable or chicken stock
• 1 cup lentils
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper
• Crumbled feta cheese for garnish

Heat the olive oil in a large pot, add the onion, celery and garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the cumin and cook, stirring, for 1 minute longer. Add the tomato paste, stir until smooth and add the stock and lentils. Bring just to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes, or until the lentils are very soft. Add 1 cup of water if the soup seems too thick. Puree in batches in a food processor or blender, return to the pot and stir in the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Serve garnished with feta cheese.

Serves 4; 210 calories.

VERDICT: I made this as part of one of the Medica Journeys and to use up some celery and tomato paste, and it was surprisingly delicious!  Keep.

Kale-Radicchio Salad with Lemon Miso Dressing

• 1 cup farro, rinsed and drained
• 1 large bunch kale, finely chopped, stems removed
• 1 batch Lemon Miso Dressing (recipe below)
• 1 small head radicchio, quartered, cored and cut crosswise into thin strips
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts

In a large pot, place farro with enough water to cover by a couple of inches and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until farro is tender but still chewy, about 30 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool. Toss kale with three-quarters of the dressing in a large salad bowl. With clean hands, gently massage kale with dressing to soften the leaves. Add radicchio, Parmesan, walnuts and farro, and toss again. Taste and add remaining dressing, if needed.

Lemon Miso Dressing

• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp. miso paste (preferably mellow white)
• 1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Combine oil, lemon juice, garlic, miso, salt and pepper in a glass jar with a lid. Use a fork to stir in the miso, then shake vigorously to emulsify. Pour generously over your favorite salad. This dressing will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week. If the oil solidifies, briefly microwave on low until melted.

VERDICT:  This took more effort than I would have expected and made a pile of dishes, but it turned out well and worked well as leftovers, a rarity for a salad. Keep.  From Eat Slow, Run Fast,

Warm Squash and Chickpea Salad with Tahini

• 2 pounds pumpkin or other winter squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Sea salt and black pepper
• 14 ounces canned or home-cooked chickpeas, drained
• 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped (soaked in cold water for 15 minutes if you want to soften the bite)
• 4 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 garlic clove, crushed to a paste with a pinch of salt
• 3 1/2tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons tahini paste
• 2 tablespoons water, to taste
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Heat the oven to 425°F.

Toss the squash with the garlic, allspice, olive oil, and some salt and pepper.

Place on a tray, optionally lined with parchment, in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until soft. Remove and allow to cool slightly.

While the squash is cooking, make the tahini sauce. Mix the crushed garlic with lemon juice and add the tahini. Now thin with the water and olive oil, and check for seasoning. You should taste a balance between the nutty tahini and lemon.

To assemble the salad, place the squash, chickpeas, red onion, and cilantro in a mixing bowl. Pour on the tahini sauce and remaining oil and toss carefully. Season with salt and pepper.

Serves 4.

VERDICT:  I liked this a lot--both the sharp bite of garlic and red onion against the sweetness of the squash and the easy ingredients.  Keep!

Fig Jam Cookies

Filling:

• 2 cups (10 ounces) dried black mission figs, stems removed
• ⅓ cup tahini (ground sesame seeds)
• 1 tablespoon water
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Dough:

• 1½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup almond flour or almond meal
• ½ cup sesame seeds
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ⅓ cup coconut oil
• ½ cup maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

To make the filling: In a food processor, combine the figs, tahini, water, and cinnamon and puree until smooth, stopping as needed to scrape down the sides and underneath the blade.

To make the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, almond flour or meal, sesame seeds, and salt.

Place the oil in a small microwaveable bowl and microwave in increments of 10 seconds, stirring in between, until almost completely melted. (Alternatively, the oil can be melted in a small saucepan over low heat.) Stir in the maple syrup and vanilla. Pour over the flour mixture and mix until a dough forms.

To form the cookies: Divide the dough into 3 balls. Roll each ball out on a lightly floured work surface to create three 12 x 4-inch rectangles (use your hands to shape while rolling).

Divide the fig jam into thirds, shape into 1-inch wide logs, and place centered on each piece of dough. Fold the edges of the dough over the figs to overlap slightly in the middle and press gently to seal (use your fingers to smooth out any cracks).

Gently roll the tops of each log to slightly flatten. Slice each log into 8 cookies and bake until lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.

Yield: 18 cookies.

VERDICT: Yum!  I made these out of an overwhelming desire for a cookie on a no-white-flour, no-white-sugar diet, and they were surprisingly good--way better than a real Fig Newton, even.  A little fussy, but not unapproachable.  They keep well, and feel healthy enough to eat for breakfast.  Keep!  From Eat Slow, Run Fast.