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.

Spinach Feta Slab Pie

• 2 bunches spinach (1 pound, 6 ounces), tough stems trimmed, washed, with water still clinging to leaves
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
• Unbleached all-purpose flour, for dusting
• 1 pound store-bought pizza dough, divided in half
• 8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella, such as Polly-O, thinly sliced
• 2 ounces feta, crumbled (1/3 cup)
• Kosher salt
• Pinch of red-pepper flakes
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Place spinach in a large pot over high heat; cover. Steam until just collapsed, about 3 minutes; transfer to a colander. When cool enough to handle, squeeze out excess water; roughly chop.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with a rack in lower third. Brush a 9 1/2-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with oil. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out and stretch one piece of dough into a thin 10-by-13-inch rectangle. (If dough is springing back, let stand 5 minutes.) Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Arrange mozzarella over dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Top with spinach and sprinkle with feta. Season with salt and red-pepper flakes. Roll out and stretch remaining portion of dough into a 10-by-14-inch rectangle. Drape over filling. Pinch edges to seal; slash a few vents in top. Brush with egg wash; sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Bake until golden brown all over and filling is bubbling through vents, 40 to 45 minutes. (Check color of bottom crust by lifting corner with a spatula.) Immediately slide pie off sheet onto a wire rack. Let cool completely. Before serving, cut into squares.

Serves 12.

VERDICT:  I couldn't find the sesame seeds I thought I had, and instead off egg wash, brushed with olive oil.  It was a royal pain trying to get the dough as large as it said it was supposed to be, and I did not love the texture once it was fully cooled.  Warm, though, it was good, and I like the prefab nature of the recipe.  Probably toss, anyway.

Tempeh Gyros with Tzatziki

• 1 (8-oz.) pkg. tempeh
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup water1/4 cup minced yellow onion
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce or tamari
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
• 4 garlic cloves, minced and divided
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
• 3/4 cup silken tofu (about 6 oz.)
• 1/2 cup peeled and grated English cucumber
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
• 1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 (1.9-oz.) whole-grain flatbread wraps (such as Flatout Flatbread Light Original)
• 1/2 cup vertically sliced red onion
• 1 medium tomato, thinly sliced

Slice tempeh lengthwise into 8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Place tempeh slices in skillet, and cook until golden-brown, 3 to 4 minutes on each side.

Meanwhile, stir together 1/2 cup water, minced onion, soy sauce, rosemary, oregano, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl.

Add soy sauce mixture to tempeh in pan. Cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Braise tempeh, turning occasionally, until liquid has mostly evaporated and tempeh has absorbed the flavors, about 10 minutes.

Process silken tofu and remaining 2 garlic cloves in a high-powered blender until smooth. Place in a bowl. Stir in cucumber, lemon juice, dill, vinegar, salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon black pepper.

Serves 4; 333 calories.

VERDICT:  I found these delightful, perhaps because John did all the work--I think I ate three of the four servings all at one.  We used regular pita instead of creepy flatbreads, and plain yogurt instead of silken tofu.

Red Kidney Bean Curry

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh ginger
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 plum tomato, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 large green chili, chopped (optional)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 8 ounce can of tomato sauce or 8 ounces of one of your choice
• 3 cups boiled red kidney beans or 30 ounces canned red kidney beans, undrained
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley)

Heat oil in a deep sauce pan over medium heat for one minute. Add ginger, garlic, onion, green chili, and let sizzle for one minute. Add the tomato sauce, salt and remaining spices and cook for an additional five minutes, stirring frequently. Add the kidney beans with water or canned red kidney beans (undrained) plus one additional cup of water, and tomatoes. Bring it to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and let cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Garnish with cilantro.

Serve over rice or with naan. A dollop of plain yougurt on top is heavenly.

Serves 6.

VERDICT:  A fast, not fussy curry.  I had leftover parsley, so I used that and topped with lots of yogurt, and liked it just fine.  Keep!

Punjabi-Style Black Lentils

• 2 tablespoons oil, butter (regular or ghee)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1-inch piece of ginger, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala (optional but traditional)
• Ground chile powder, to taste (start with 1/2 t.)
• 1 cup finely chopped or pureed tomatoes, fresh or from a can
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
• 1 cup dried black lentils
• 4 1/2 cups water, plus more to taste
• 4 teaspoons butter (salted is lovely here)
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• Handful chopped fresh cilantro

Make the dal: Heat oil (or oil and butter) over medium. Once hot, add onion and cumin seeds and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion browned in spots. Add garlic and ginger, cook for 1 minute more, then the rest of the spices and tomato and cook for 3 minutes more, scraping up any stuck bits. Add water and salt, then lentils. Bring to simmer, then reduce to low and cover and cook until lentils are tender, between 35 and 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. For a looser dal, you can add more water. Adjust spices and seasonings to taste.

To finish as shown: Ladle into four bowls. Place a 1-teaspoon pat of butter in the center of each, letting it begin to melt before swirling in 1 1/2 teaspoons cream and finishing with cilantro.

Serves 4.

VERDICT:  Excellent with naan on the side.  Keep.

Wheat Berry "Ribollita"

• 1 (28-oz.) can whole peeled plum tomatoes, drained and divided
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped yellow onion
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 cup chopped carrot
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 cups chopped cremini mushrooms
• 6 cups water
• 3/4 cup uncooked wheat berries
• 1 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (15-oz.) can unsalted cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (2-oz.) Parmesan cheese rind
• 5 cups loosely packed baby arugula (about 5 oz.)
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
• 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, shaved (about 1/3 cup)

Remove 3 tomatoes from can, and finely chop to equal 1/2 cup. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high. Add chopped tomatoes, onion, garlic, and red pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tomatoes are caramelized and deep red, about 7 minutes. Add carrot, celery, and mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 8 minutes. Add 6 cups water, wheat berries, salt, black pepper, beans, rind, and remaining tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; partially cover, and simmer 40 minutes or until wheat berries are tender, stirring occasionally.

Add arugula and vinegar; cook 1 minute or until arugula just wilts, stirring constantly. Discard Parmesan rind. Divide soup evenly among 8 bowls. Top servings evenly with shaved Parmesan; drizzle evenly with remaining 1 tablespoon oil.

Serves 8; 225 calories.

VERDICT:  Savory and filling (although I did only get six servings, not eight out of this recipe), with a little bit of zip and an impressive array of vegetables.  Takes a long time but is not hard and is truly one-pot.  Keep.

Zucchini Stuffed with White Beans and Olives

• 4 large zucchini, halved lengthwise
• 2 T. olive oil, plus additional for brushing
• 1/2 t. salt, plus additional for seasoning
• black pepper
• pinch ground rosemary
• 15 oz. can white beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 c. chopped pitted green olives
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 c. coarsely chopped arugula
• 1/4 c. chopped parsley
• 1 T. apple cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 375.

Brush a rimmed baking sheet with oil.  Using a small spoon or melon baller, scoop out and discard the seeds from the zucchini halves.  Brush the scooped out section with olive oil and lightly season the inside of each boat with salt, pepper, and rosemary.  Transfer the zucchini to the baking sheet, cut-side up.  Roast for 15-20 minutes, or until the zucchini are tender and lightly browned.

In a medium bowl, lightly mash the white beans with a fork.  Add the olives, garlic, arugula, parsley, vinegar, the remaining 1/2 t. salt, and the remaining 2 T. olive oil.  Season with pepper and mix well.

Spoon the bean mixture into the zucchini boats and serve.

Serves 4; 269 calories.

VERDICT:  The zucchini at Lunds were a little shrimpy, so I roasted them without scooping out the middles, chopped them, and stirred everything together in a big bowl.  (Also, I did not mash the beans and used garlic olives instead of olives and garlic.)  It turned out surprisingly well--keep!  From The Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Action Plans.

Falafel Burgers

• 2 (15.5-oz.) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 c. panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 red onion, minced
• 1/2 c. chopped parsley
• Juice of 2 lemons, divided
• 1 tsp. cumin
• kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1/2 c. plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 c. finely chopped cucumber
• 2 tbsp. Chopped fresh dill
• 12 small pitas (or 6 pitas, split into halves)
• Lettuce, for serving
• Tomato slices, for serving

Add chickpeas, red onion, panko, garlic, parsley, juice of 1 lemon, and cumin to a food processor. Season with salt and pepper. Pulse a few times to evenly distribute ingredients, then process until smooth. Form into 6 equally-sized, flat patties.

In a large skillet, add vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the falafel patties and cook until 

golden brown and the mixture is heated through, about 3 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, make yogurt-dill sauce. Stir together yogurt, cucumber, dill, and juice of 1 lemon in a small bowl..

Divide patties between 6 small pitas. Top with yogurt sauce, lettuce, and tomato slices. Top each serving with a second small pita.

Serves: 6

VERDICT:  Super easy, and good. From delish.com.  Keep.

Potato and Chorizo Tacos

• 1 pound red-skinned or Yukon Gold potatoes
• Kosher salt
• 3/4 pound Mexican chorizo, casings removed, if necessary
• 1 cup finely chopped white onions
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh serrano or jalapeño chile (including seeds)
• About 2 teaspoons olive or vegetable oil, if necessary

Put the potatoes in a small pot and add enough cold water to cover them. Salt the water generously, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and cook at a vigorous simmer until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of your potatoes. Drain the potatoes, and when they're cool enough to handle, remove the peel with your fingers as best you can and cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes.

Put the chorizo in a cold, large, heavy pan or cast-iron skillet and set it over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring and breaking up the chorizo slightly, until it's completely cooked and lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Add the onions and chile, along with a teaspoon or two of oil if your chorizo hasn't rendered much fat, and cook, stirring and scraping, until the onions are translucent and soft, about 8 minutes.

Add the potatoes and 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and cook until the potatoes are hot all the way through and have absorbed some chorizo flavor, about 10 minutes. As you cook, mash some of the potatoes. Season with salt to taste.

Serve alongside 12 warm corn tortillas and top with crema, chopped cilantro, and salsa.

VERDICT: We used soy chorizo from the vegan butcher, cooked in some olive oil, and served with sour cream, avocados, cilantro, salsa verde, and radishes.  Keep!  From The Splendid Table.

"Aloo Gobi"

• 2 tablespoons Ginger-Garlic Paste, recipe follows, or 2 teaspoons grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 cup water, divided
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 1 large serrano pepper, split down the middle leaving halves attached
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 small head cauliflower, cut into small florets
• 1 russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (similar size to cauliflower)
• Kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons freshly minced cilantro leaves, to garnish

Mix the Ginger-Garlic Paste, coriander, turmeric, and 1/2 cup water in a small bowl. This is a simple wet masala (spice mix). Set aside.

In a large pot, warm the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add the serrano pepper, wait 30 seconds, and then add the cumin seeds and wait until they're done spluttering.

Add the wet masala (careful, it will also splutter). Cook until the paste thickens, deepens in color slightly, and oil oozes out of the perimeter of the masala, about 2 minutes.

Add the cauliflower and potatoes, stirring to coat the vegetables with the masala. Season with salt and add 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook over medium heat 10 to 15 minutes. Then, remove the lid, stir, and cook until the cauliflower and potatoes are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Ginger-Garlic Paste:

• 1/2 cup cloves garlic, whole
• 1/2 cup fresh ginger, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 1/4 cup canola oil

Throw the garlic, ginger, and canola oil in a mini-food processor and let it go until it forms a semi-smooth paste. There will still be tiny little pieces in there, but overall, it should resemble a paste.
Save what you don't use in a small glass jar. It should last in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks.

Serves 4.

VERDICT:  I didn't make the Ginger-Garlic Paste, since I don't have a mini-food processor.  I substituted a tablespoon of grated ginger and about a tablespoon of grated garlic.  Maybe that made a difference?  This wasn't as flavorful as I expected, but it wasn't bad.  I would add more potatoes, I think.  And also not touch my eye after slicing the serrano.  Keep.

Roasted Leek and White Bean Galettes

For the pastry:

• 1 1/4 cups (160 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• 8 tablespoons (4 ounces or 115 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces and chill again
• 1/4 cup (60 grams) plain yogurt or sour cream
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) ice water

For the filling

• 6 small-to-medium leeks, dark green tops discarded, white and light green parts halved lengthwise
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 2/3 cup grated gruyère cheese, divided

Glaze:

• 1 egg yolk beaten with 1 teaspoon water

Make dough: Stir the flour and salt together in a large bowl. Sprinkle bits of butter over dough and, using a pastry blender or your fingertips, work it into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse meal, with the biggest pieces of butter the size of tiny peas. In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, lemon juice and water and add this to the butter-flour mixture. With your fingertips or a wooden spoon, mix in the liquid until large lumps form. Pat the lumps into a ball. Wrap with plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour, or up to 2 days.

Meanwhile, prepare filling: Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange leeks cut-side-up in a large (9×13-inch) baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Flip the leeks so that their cut sides face down, add 3 tablespoons of water to the dish, cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes until tender. Uncover and continue roasting the leeks for 10 to 15 minutes, or until caramelized. Leave oven on. Let leeks cool slightly, then chop into segments and place in a large bowl. Toss with beans, garlic, lemon zest, parsley, 1/2 cup grated cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble galettes: Divide dough into 4 pieces. On a floured counter, roll the first piece dough out into a roughly 8-inch round, although it really doesn’t need to be perfectly shaped. Transfer to a large parchment-lined baking sheet; I like to fold my dough gently, without creasing, in quarters then unfold it onto the baking pan. Sprinkle about 1/4 of the prepared filling into the center of the dough, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle with about 1/4 of the remaining cheese. Fold the border over the filling, pleating the edge to make it fit. The center will be open. Brush crust with egg yolk glaze. Repeat with remaining dough and filling, making 4 small galettes.

Bake the galettes: For 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown all over. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes, then slide the galette onto a serving plate. Or, if you’re planning ahead, let cool completely and refrigerate until needed. Gently rewarm before serving in a low oven.

Serves: 4.

VERDICT:  These were fairly time-consuming to make, what with the dough-chilling and the roasting, and then still having to bake them.  They were really good, though.  Keep for having people over.

Tempeh with Charred Peppers and Kale

• 1/4 cup canola oil, divided 
• 1 (14-ounce) package tempeh, cut into (1/3-inch-thick) slices 
• 2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce 
• 1 cup vertically sliced onion 
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 
• 4 cups thinly sliced Lacinato kale (about 1 bunch) 
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar

Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil to pan. Add tempeh; cook 4 minutes, turning to brown evenly. Drizzle soy sauce into pan. Immediately remove tempeh from pan; keep warm.

Increase heat to high. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to pan. Add onion and bell pepper. Cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add kale, salt, and pepper to pan; cook 1 minute, tossing to combine. Add vinegar to kale mixture; toss to coat. Divide mixture evenly among 4 plates; top evenly with tempeh.

Serves 4; 384 calories.

VERDICT: Not outstanding, but good enough be worth the minimal amount of effort.  I like the short ingredient list and the satisfaction of making things in the sizzling cast iron pan.  Keep.

Squash Lasagne

• olive oil
• 1 large butternut squash (3 lbs)
• 1 level tsp. ground coriander
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 fresh red chile
• 2 T. balsamic vinegar
• 2 14oz cans plum tomatoes
• 7 oz baby spinach
• 2 oz Pamesan cheese
• 8 oz dried whole-wheat lasagne sheets
• 14 oz reduced-fat cottage cheese
• 6 T. 2% milk
• 1 T. raw sunflower seeds
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and rub two large roasting pans with a little oil. Halve and seed the squash, leaving the skin on, then slice into 1/2 inch half-moon shapes.  Lay in a single layer across the pans.  Sprinkle over the ground coriander and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then roast for 50 minutes, or until soft and lightly golden.

Meanwhile, peel the garlic, seed the chile, then finely slice both and place in a large pan on med-high heat with 1 T. oil.  Cook for 3 minutes, or until lightly golden, then add the balsamic and canned tomatoes, breaking them up as you go, and 1 can's worth of water.  Simmer on medium heat for 15-20 minutes, or until slightly thickened, then season to perfection.

To layer up, spread a third of the tomato sauce across the base of a 10x12 -inch baking dish.  Cover with a layer of raw spinach leaves, a layer of roasted squash, a fine grating of Parmesan, and a layer of lasagne sheets.  Repeat the layers twice more, finishing with the lasagne sheets. Loosen the cottage cheese with the milk, mashing the curds a little, then lightly season and spoon over the top. Finely grate over the remaining Parmesan and scatter over the sunflower seeds. Rub the rosemary sprig with oil, then strip the leaves over the top.  Bake at the bottom of the overn for 45 minutes, or until golden and bubbling, then serve.

Serves 6; 438 calories.

VERDICT:  I had some problems with execution.  The top layer seemed like it needed more liquid than the cottage cheese provided--it got tough and crunchy.  On the whole, though, it was good, and fairly easy as far as lasagna goes.  Roasting the butternut squash with the skin on was a revelation--so much easier than peeling.  Keep, with construction modifications. (From Jamie Oliver's Everyday Super Food.)

Butternut Squash and Barley Risotto

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 cup pearl barley
• 1 butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (2 ounces), plus more, shaved, for serving

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the wine and cook until syrupy, 5 to 7 minutes.

Add the broth and barley and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until almost tender, 24 to 26 minutes. Add the squash and cook, stirring occasionally, until the barley and squash are tender, 25 to 35 minutes more (adding more liquid if the risotto becomes too thick before the barley and squash are tender). Stir in the Parmesan.

Serve topped with additional shaved Parmesan.

Serves 4.

VERDICT:  This could not be easier and is really good--savory and creamy.  Keep!

Mushroom Bouguignon

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 pounds portobello mushrooms, in 1/4-inch slices (save the stems for another use) (you can use cremini instead, as well)
• 1/2 carrot, finely diced
• 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup full-bodied red wine
• 2 cups beef or vegetable broth (beef broth is traditional but vegetable to make it vegetarian; it works with either)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (1/2 teaspoon dried)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup pearl onions, peeled (thawed if frozen)
• Egg noodles, for serving
• Sour cream and chopped chives or parsley, for garnish (optional)

Heat the one tablespoon of the olive oil and one tablespoon of butter in a medium Dutch oven or heavy sauce pan over high heat. Sear the mushrooms until they begin to darken, but not yet release any liquid — about three or four minutes. Remove them from pan.

Lower the flame to medium and add the second tablespoon of olive oil. Toss the carrots, onions, thyme, a few good pinches of salt and a several grinds of black pepper into the pan and cook for 10, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for just one more minute.

Add the wine to the pot, scraping any stuck bits off the bottom, then turn the heat all the way up and reduce it by half. Stir in the tomato paste and the broth. Add back the mushrooms with any juices that have collected and once the liquid has boiled, reduce the temperature so it simmers for 20 minutes, or until mushrooms are very tender. Add the pearl onions and simmer for five minutes more.

Combine remaining butter and the flour with a fork until combined; stir it into the stew. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 more minutes. If the sauce is too thin, boil it down to reduce to the right consistency. Season to taste.

To serve, spoon the stew over a bowl of egg noodles, dollop with sour cream (optional) and sprinkle with chives or parsley.

Serves 4.

VERDICT:  I wanted to use up a little red wine, and this sounded good.  (Also, I had a mysterious half-bag of pearl onions in the freezer.)  It's a nice winter-y, but still vegetarian dish.  I served it over polenta instead of egg noodles.  Keep.

Mujaddara with Spiced Yogurt

For the Mujaddara

• 3/4 cup Puy lentils (aka French lentils, the tiny dark brown ones)
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 cup jasmine rice
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 cups onions (about 3 medium onions), halved and thinly sliced

For the yogurt

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin (freshly ground, if possible)
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander (freshly ground)
• 1/2 teaspoon spicy paprika or aleppo pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• Juice and zest of half a lemon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Put lentils, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 4 cups water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer lentils until soft but not mushy, about 20 minutes. Drain lentils and set aside. Rinse pot.
Add rice, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 1/2 cups water to the pot, set over medium heat, and bring to a boil. When water begins to boil, cover pot, transfer to oven, and cook for 17 minutes (the tried-and-true Amanda Hesser method!) until perfectly cooked. Remove from oven, uncover, and fluff with a fork. Set aside.

While rice cooks, set a wide, deep saute pan over medium-low heat and add butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter has mostly melted, add onions and toss to incorporate with butter and oil.
After 5 minutes, onions will have softened slightly and started to release their liquid. Raise heat to medium and cook 10 to 12 minutes more, until onions are very soft and browned. Add water by the tablespoon if pan gets too dry or if onions start to stick. When onions are well browned, add last tablespoon of olive oil and raise heat to high. Cook another 3 to 4 minutes, until bottom layer of onions has charred and crisped; try not to stir too much, or onions won't crisp up.

Combine rice, lentils, and most of the onions in large serving bowl and let sit for at least 15 minutes, to marry the flavors together. (Truth be told, this dish improves with age.) Taste, and add more onions if desired. Meanwhile, make the yogurt: mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. (Yes, it's really that simple.)

If mujaddara has cooled significantly, reheat in a low oven or even in the microwave for a couple minutes. To serve, plate a big scoop of mujaddara and top with a dollop of yogurt.

Serves 4.

VERDICT: Lots of pots and pans, but easy ingredients.  Good and good for you.  Keep.

Spinach and Feta Pie with Chickpea-Flour Crust

Filling:

• 1 pound frozen cut-leaf spinach, thawed, moisture squeezed out
• 2 eggs
• 6 oz feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 c. 2% cottage cheese
• 1/4 tsp salt
• black pepper

Crust:

• 1 c. chickpea flour (also called besan)
• 1 T. extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1 c. water

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.  Use cooking spray to lightly mist a cast-iron skillet; place skillet in oven and heat for at least 10 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together crust ingredients (chickpea flour, olive oil, salt and water) until there are no lumps.

Remove hot skillet from oven.  Pour batter for crust into skillet.  Return to oven for 10 minutes.

In a separate bowl, combine spinach with eggs, feta, cottage cheese, and salt.  Blend well.

Remove skillet from oven, and reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees.  Spread spinach filling evenly over crust, sprinkle with black pepper, and bake for 20 minutes longer. Cool for 10 minutes before slicing into six pieces.

Serves 6; 187 calories.

VERDICT:  I could not find chickpea flour anywhere, so I used whole-wheat flour instead.  The whole crust process didn't seem like it could possibly work, but it was kind of magical.  The spinach filling was salty and delicious, and the whole thing felt quite healthy.  From Racing Weight.  Keep!

Pumpkin, Leek, and Mushroom Pita Pizzas

• 1 Tbs. olive oil
• 4 small or 2 medium leeks, halved or quartered and thinly sliced (4 cups)
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ¼ cup white wine
• ¾ cup pumpkin or butternut squash purée
• ¼ cup prepared pesto
• 4 whole-wheat pita rounds
• 6 button mushrooms, thinly sliced

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and salt, cover pan, and cook 5 minutes, or until softened. Add wine, and simmer uncovered 2 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated. Set aside.

Stir together pumpkin purée and pesto in small bowl.

Spread each pita with 1/4 cup pumpkin mixture. Top with 1/2 cup leeks, then mushroom slices. Place pitzas on ungreased baking sheet, and bake 8 minutes, or until crust is crisp and edges are browned.

Serves 4: 333 calories.

VERDICT:  Super-easy and good.  Also surprisingly amenable to toaster-oven cooking at work, once all the components are made.  Keep!

Mushroom Tacos al Pastor

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 pound assorted mushrooms (creminis and portabellos work well), cleaned and cut into large chunks
• 2 cloves garlic, miced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 2 teaspoons dark chili powder
• 1 orange, juiced
• 1 lime, juiced, plus two wedges of lime
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Cilantro
• 6 small corn tortillas
• queso fresco, optional

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high-heat. Set aside 3 T. onion.  Add remaining onion and mushrooms to the skillet and sauté for about 10 minutes--until onions are tender and mushrooms begin to brown.

Add garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder to onions and mushroom.  Saute for 30 seconds until garlic is aromatic, then add orange and lime juice, and salt.  Cook for two to three minutes until the juice reduces.

Heat tortillas according to package directions.

Spoon mushroom mix into tortillas and garnish with reserved raw onion, chopped cilantro, and queso fresco, if using.  Squeeze lime juice on top.

Serves 2; 498 calories.

VERDICT:  These are good, and probably would be even better with a little fresh pineapple, as suggested by the recipe note.  However, a pound of mushrooms for two people is a considerable expense and cleaning effort.  Toss.

Chickpea, Cherry, and Ginger Salad

• 2 15.5oz cans chickpeas
• 1 11oz can mandarin oranges
• 1/2 red onion diced
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 2 T. minced ginger
• 2/3 c. chopped pecans
• 2/3 c. dried tart cherries
• 1 minced jalapeno
• 1 c. chopped parsley
• 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese or feta
• 2 T. apple cider vinegar
• 2 T. olive oil
• salt & pepper

Combine all salad ingredients in large bowl. Whisk together cider vinegar & olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Pour over salad and mix well.

Serves 4; 587 calories.

VERDICT:  I thought the canned mandarin oranges might be weird, but the whole thing is oddly good and satisfying.  Keep.