Winter Suppers

[dedavis]

This recipe was in the paper. It's so tasty and interesting that you don't notice that it's full of healthy vegetables. This version is meatless, but you could add some chicken.

AFRICAN PEANUT STEW

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped celery
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger root
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
4 cups fat-free chicken or vegetable broth
1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 1/2 cups shelled edamame
1/3 cup creamy or crunchy natural peanut butter
5 ounces baby spinache leaves, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
Coarsely ground black pepper

Heat olive oil in 4-quart saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, green pepper, celery and carrot; saute till soft and translucent.

Add garlic, ginger, curry powder and saute about 1 minute. Add tomatoes and bay leaf and cook uncovered till tomatoes are slightly reduced.

Add broth and sweet potato, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer till sweet potato is cooked. Stir in edamame and peanut butter until combined. Cook until thoroughly heated. Stir in spinach until spinach wilts. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over rice.

[cheapdiva]

I have a friend whose husband in from Africa and he serves this at his restaurant - it is my favorite!!! They do put shredded chicken in theirs. I'll try this over the weekend.

[dedavis]

That is so cool! I wish we could get authentic African food within 100 miles of here.

I think peanuts have some sort of comfort-releasing endorphins. I'm not crazy about peanut butter, but I love Thai peanut sauce, and this stew is a close second for flavor satisfaction.

Deb

[Lisa S]

It sounds yummy.

[pia watson]

Vegetables are good for the health. It can prevent and cure many ailments.

[dedavis]

Here's another one. I made it up based on something I had in a restaurant.

PIZZA PASTA

Cook some penne according to the package (I use whole wheat). In a skillet, brown one mild italian sausage and a quarter pound of ground turkey. Add half a chopped onion, half a chopped green pepper and about 8 white button mushrooms cut into quarters. When the onion is translucent, add a jar of marinara sauce, and a small can of sliced black olives. Mix the sauce with the penne, and turn into a 9 inch square baking dish. Bake at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until bubbly. You can top with grated mozzarella or parmesan and let it melt.

This makes enough for supper for two nights for one person. You can double the proportions if you are making it for a lot of people and bake in a 9 X 13 dish.

[jwilsie]

even though i'm itching for spring so i can get out in my garden, i absolutely love winter food. and for some reason, soup is one of the first winter foods that comes to mind. i had this soup for the first time at a little coffee/sandwich place near my house and decided I would attempt to make it myself. surprisingly, it turned out really well!

Roasted Red Pepper & Gouda Soup

- 4 jars roasted red peppers (drained)
- 1 large can (or 2 regular cans) of diced tomatoes (you can use the kind with the seasonings or not)
- 1 sweet onion (roughly chopped)
- 1-2 jalepeno peppers, seeded and chopped (optional)
- 1 box Low Sodium Organic chicken stock
- 1/2 pint of heavy whipping cream
- 1 block of smoked gouda, finely shredded with a hand grater

Put peppers, tomatoes, onion, and jalepenos in a blender (you may have to do this in batches) and puree until smooth
In a large soup pot add the pureed mixture and heat until just bubbling.
Add box of chicken stock, bring to boil again and let simmer for about 20 minutes.
With heat still on Low/Med-Low, add 1/2 pint of heavy whipping cream while stirring continuously.
Once blended, add shredded gouda in small batches while continuing to stir. It should be a nice orangey red color by now.
Serve hot with extra cheese or a dollop of sour cream.

Should serve 4, unless everyone wants seconds and thirds :-)

[dedavis]

Yum. I wonder if there's a way to adapt that for us non-dairy folks?

[cheapdiva]

both sound good - will try them later this week.