Eggplant, Zucchini and Rice Casserole

Adapted from What's For Dinner?

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups water
• 1 not chicken bouillon cube
• 1 cup short grain brown rice
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced
• 1 large eggplant, peeled and cubed  (toss cubes with salt, let sit 30 minutes, rinse)
• 1 1/2 cups peeled and diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 package Daiya Pepper Jack Cheese

METHOD:

• Combine water, bouillon and rice; bring to boil and cook for 50 minutes or to just before all of the water is absorbed
• While the rice is cooking, saute onion and garlic in olive oil about 5 minutes
• Add zucchini and eggplant, combine and cook about 5 minutes
• Add tomatoes, basil and pepper; reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice is almost done
• Spread rice with any remaining cooking water in casserole dish
• Spread eggplant mixture on top of rice
• Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 15 minutes
• Sprinkle cheese evenly on top; return to oven for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted

Swiss Chard with Pasta

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bunch Swiss Chard, stems removed and chopped, leaves sliced
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cube vegetable bouillon
•  1 cup peeled, diced tomatoes with juice
• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
• salt
• 1 box (13.25 oz) whole grain pasta, cooked and drained

METHOD:

• Heat oil and saute onion, garlic and chard stems for about 5-10 minutes
• Add water and bouillon and simmer another 5 minutes
• Add chard leaves and stir until they start to wilt
• Stir in Cajun seasoning and tomatoes
• Simmer a few more minutes
• Stir in cooked, drained pasta
• Season to taste with salt

Creole Eggplant with Black Eyed Peas and Rice

Adapted from SparkRecipes

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups dried black-eyed peas
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 sweet onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 4-6 cups peeled, cubed eggplant
• 3-4 tomatoes with juice, diced
• 1 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cube vegetable bouillon
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 cup Texmati rice

METHOD:

• Soak black-eyed peas overnight or bring to boil for 2 minutes, turn off heat and let stand 60 - 90 minutes; drain
• Cover soaked black-eyed peas with fresh water and cook until tender, about 45 minutes
• While peas are cooking, heat oil in large pot, add onion, garlic and eggplant and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes
• Add water, bouillon, tomatoes, oregano, thyme and red chili pepper
• Cook over medium/low heat for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally
• In a separate pot, combine rice with 1 3/4 cups water, bring to boil and simmer 15 minutes; turn off heat and let stand 10 minutes or until everything else is done
• When the eggplant is finished, remove from heat and stir in lemon juice
• Stir in drained black-eyed peas and salt to taste
• Serve over rice

Pasta with Eggplant, Tomatoes and Peppers

Adapted from For Love of the Table

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound eggplant, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
• 3 green peppers, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
• 2 pounds tomatoes (about 5) peeled and chopped with juices
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
• salt
• 1 box (13.25 ounce) whole grain rotini

METHOD

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in deep skillet over medium-high heat until very hot
• Add eggplant and cook for several minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides; remove to plate
• Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil and heat
• Add tomato with juices and maintain a rapid simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes
• Return eggplant to the pan with peppers, salt and red chili pepper flakes
• Cover and simmer gently until the peppers are tender, about 1 hour
• Just before the sauce is ready, cook pasta according to package directions
• Add cooked pasta to the sauce and combine

Spaghetti Squash as a Side Dish

Adapted from Ava Catau

INGREDIENTS

• 1 medium spaghetti squash
• 1 large or 2 medium tomatoes, peeled
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons olive oil

METHOD

• Cut spaghetti squash in half, place cut side down in pan, add 1 inch of water and roast at 375 degrees for 50 minutes until tender; cool then shred strands of squash with fork
• Puree the rest of the ingredients in a blender
• Toss spaghetti squash with sauce until well blended

Pasta Salad

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 box (13.25 oz.) whole grain rotini
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons organic extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 bag (16 oz.) frozen peas
• 4 medium carrots, shredded
• 2 medium cucumbers, seeded, quartered and sliced
• salt and pepper

METHOD:

• While pasta is cooking according to package directions, pour frozen peas into a colander
• In a blender, combine red wine vinegar, olive oil, mustard, basil and oregano
• When the pasta is finished cooking, pour with cooking water into colander on top of peas; stir to distribute peas so they thaw while cooling the pasta
• Once peas have thawed, finish cooling pasta by rinsing with cold water; drain well
• Pour pasta and peas into a large bowl
• Add carrots and cucumbers
• Pour dressing over pasta and vegetables and stir well
• Season with salt and pepper
• Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving

Sweet Potato and Oat Dog Biscuits

Recipe from Righteous Bacon

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 sweet potato
• 3 1/2 cups old fashioned oats, divided
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup flax seed

METHOD:

• Wash, puncture and microwave sweet potato until tender, 8-10 minutes, cool and remove skin
• Pulse 3 cups oats in food processor to make coarse oat flour (I found I needed 4 cups so would vary depending on size of sweet potato); set aside in bowl
• Pulse 1/2 cup oats in food processor to make course oat flour; set aside for use in rolling out biscuits
• Pulse eggs, flax and sweet potato in food processor
• Add oat flour and combine in until ball forms
• Using reserved 1/2 cup of oat flour, roll out dough and cut into shapes
• Arrange on parchment lined cookie sheet
• Bake at 350 for 12 minutes
• Reduce heat to 170 and continue baking 40 minutes longer until mostly dried