Hearty Harvest Soup

Hello everyone! With the leaves changing and the weather getting colder for fall I'm getting excited for squashes, tomatoes, and apple cider. A bit of a mixture of all, Hearty Harvest Soup is a simple vegetarian meal that is sure to please the stomach.

Ingredients/Items:

1 acorn squash (Or 1 butternut squash)

2 honey crisp apples

3 tomatoes

slow cooker

blender

1 can veggie or chicken stock

1/4 of a stick of non-salted butter 

microwave

This recipe serves 3-4

Directions:

1. Cut squash in half and gut out the inside goop, then microwave for six minutes in a bowl with 5 tbsp of water with the insides facing down

Tip: Keep the seeds to roast and eat as a snack

2. Peel the squash and apples, cut into approx 1 x 1 inch cubes, add to slow cooker. Remove stem from tomato (if any), cut into four slices and add to slow cooker. Add veggie or chicken stock and butter.

3. Slow cook for approx. 3 hours or until very mushy

4. Blend until creamy and serve

Tip: Goes great with grilled cheese sandwiches!

Simple ingredients for a flavor-fully delicious meal that you'll feel happy to eat

"Green to Go" Spicy Mint Chutney

I know Ive been away for awhile, I recently moved and Ive been bouncing between school and work. But forgetting excuses, Spring is here! What better way to feel green and fresh than with spicy mint chutney! A hot vegetarian dish!

Ingredients:
1 habanero pepper for hot (1 green chile for mild chutney)
1 bushel of cilatro
7-8 stalks of mint
3-4 tablespoons of plain yogurt
A blender
A bowl

Instructions:
1) Prepare all ingredients in blender
2) Blend
3) Enjoy with bread, naans, or crackers

My fiance loves this chutney with naans when we eat curry, but its also great for an outdoor picnic or party on a hot day! Good luck!

DIY: Chocolate Covered Fruit

I love chocolate covered fruit as a dessert, its refreshing and satisfying after a meal or a long day! Chocolate covered fruit is pretty easy to make, but for those of you that don't know - lets get started!

DIY: Chocolate Covered Fruit

(Note: This recipe will feed 4)

Ingredients:

1 package of quick melt chocolate (I use Wilton's Candy Melts)

2 cups of fruit of your choice (I use strawberries and blueberries)

1 small pot 

1 spatula

1-2 corn holders or a long sturdy needle

Non-stick cooking spray

Tin foil or wax sheet (if using wax sheet you will not need non-stick cooking spray)

(Note: I am using a pot to melt the chocolate on the oven, if you prefer you can use a microwavable safe bowl and slowly, stirring occasionally, melt the chocolate in the microwave)

Directions:

1. Prepare tin foil large enough to hold the fruit you have bought, spray with non-stick cooking spray

2. Empty half the bag of candy melts into the pot, stir gently on LOW heat 

3. Once most of the candy is melted, add the second half of the bag, stir gently

4. Once all the candy is melted (the mixture is a smooth consistency) remove from heat and begin to dip fruit in the melted candy mixture. (For strawberries I dipped them in the candy while holding the stem, for blueberries I stabbed with a corn holder and rubbed the fruit in the candy until well coated) 

5. Place all candy coated fruit in the freezer for about seven minutes to quickly eat or set in refrigerator until needed

Your chocolate covered fruit is complete! A quick and delicious dessert that is sure to delight all, good luck!

Holiday Jellied Sandwich Cookies

November has arrived and therefore the holidays are approaching! Time to get in some warm pajamas and curl up with some cookies and a good book. This simple recipe is delicious for the occasion!

Holiday Jellied Sandwich Cookies

Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted butter

2 cup sugar

4 tbsp lemon zest (optional)

2 egg

1/2 tsp salt

3 cup flour

1/2 cup jam

Other items needed:

A mixer

A cookie sheet

A bowl

A spatula

A knife

Cling wrap

Tin foil

Measuring cups and spoons

Refrigerator

Circular cookie cutter (if you want perfectly round cookies)

Directions:

1. Beat butter, sugar, zest, eggs and salt into a bowl using your mixer

2. Slowly beat in flour

3. Roll dough into two round cylinders about the same size each

4. Cover the dough with cling wrap and leave in the refrigerator for at least an hour, overnight would be best

5. Preheat oven to 375 F, take dough out of the fridge and cut into 1/4 inch thick disks. (Note: I remolded some of my cookies edges so that they were fairly more round, a cookie cutter can fix any misshapen cookies if you want them to be perfectly round)

(Note: If you happen to have a small cookie cutter, you can cut the center out of some cookies so that the jam can show through on the finished assembled cookie)

6. Bake 7-10 minutes

7. Let cool

8. Add jam to the bottom of one cookie and stick together with the bottom of another cookie (so that both tops of cookies are on each outer side of the cookie)

Congratulations! You have now made delicious cookies to indulge yourself or impress your family with! Happy Holidays!