Meatless Minestrone for Mondays and Beyond

Meatless Minestrone for Mondays and Beyond
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Meatless Minestrone for Mondays and Beyond
Print Recipe
Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Heat a large soup pot over medium high heat. Add the tablespoon of olive oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the onions and carrots and a pinch of salt. Cook for several minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
  2. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes and the bay leaves to the pot and cook another minute or two, stirring frequently.
  3. Pour in the can of tomatoes, juice and all and the vegetable stock. Bring up to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook covered for 20 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. At this point you can cool the stock and refrigerate until the next day. You can also complete the recipe at this time if you want.
  4. Coat a non-stick pan with olive oil cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the artichoke hearts and cook for 5 - 6 minutes or so turning once until lightly browned on both sides. Remove from pan and set aside.
  5. Repeat the above process with the zucchini slices.
  6. When you are ready to complete cooking the soup, (re)heat the stock to a simmer. Add the chickpeas ans pasta and cook for 5 minutes, stirring it once or twice.
  7. Add the green beans and cook for 4 minutes or until they are the amount of tender crisp you like.
  8. Add the browned artichokes and zucchini and simmer everything gently until it is all heated through. This should only take a couple of minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
  9. Ladle into four soup bowls and top each with two of the toasted bead slices (recipe follows) and a drizzle of olive oil.
Cheese Toasts
  1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat the bread slices on both sides with olive oil cooking spray and place them on a foil lined baking sheet. Toast for 8 minutes, turning once. Top with the cheese and return to the oven set on broil and cook until the cheese is melted and slightly brown.
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Smoky Hummus Dip

Smoky Hummus Dip
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Smoky Hummus Dip
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Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Place the chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, water, tahini, and olive oil in the bowl of the processor. Pulse until everything is combined, then process steadily until the hummus is as smooth as you like.
  2. Add the measured amounts of cumin, smoked paprika, and chipotle sauce. Process long enough for the spices to be incorporated. Taste and add salt and pepper to your taste. Process again. Taste and add more of the seasonings to you preference.
  3. Chill for at least several hours. Serve with home baked salted tortilla or pita chips. It is also good with fresh vegetables.
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Penne with Chickpeas, Spinach, and Bacon

Penne with Chickpeas, Spinach, and Bacon
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This dish has lots of flavor for not much money.
Servings
2
Servings
2
Penne with Chickpeas, Spinach, and Bacon
Print Recipe
This dish has lots of flavor for not much money.
Servings
2
Servings
2
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large fry pan, Add the bacon and cook until it is lightly browned. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings, then add the onion, red pepper flakes, and garlic. Cook over medium heat until onions begin to soften and the garlic is fragrant. Add the chickpeas and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until they begin to pick up some color,about 5 minutes Add the spinach and cook until it wilts 3 minutes or so.
  2. Add the chickpea cooking water and raise the heat to medium high. Simmer for 5 -7 minutes. The sauce should thicken and reduce slightly. Bring the heat back down to medium and add half of the Romano cheese and stir until it melts.
  3. Add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss to coat it with the sauce. If it seems a little dry, add some of the reserved pasta water. Check the seasonings and add salt and pepper to taste. Top each serving with the grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
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