pumpkin casserole with crunchy pecan topping :: by radish*rose

pumpkin casserole with crunchy pecan topping

I love savory pumpkin dishes. Also, anything involving Ritz crackers is likely to be delicious. Perhaps not slenderizing, but delicious, especially when also featuring a savory blend of pumpkin, red pepper, onion, and garlic, with some smoked paprika and chipotle for pizzazz, topped with crunchy pecans and panko, and baked until slightly puffed and golden brown. The original recipe from The New York Times uses yellow summer squash, which one steams and purees for inclusion in the dish, but I didn’t have enough squash so I substituted a can of pumpkin for half the squash puree; you can make the whole casserole with all pumpkin instead of squash. Plus, it’s less work that way since you needn’t steam and puree the squash. Win! You can bake this in a casserole (2 1/2 quarts), or small ramekins or cocottes for a cute presentation (just bake it for less time). We had this as a main dish, but it would also be great as a side for a holiday meal such as Thanksgiving. Yay!

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spicy vegan slow cooker tortilla soup :: by radish*rose

spicy vegan slow cooker tortilla soup

Since my husband and I have been on our quest to consume fewer animal products, my slow cooker has had a little vacation. I was used to making meat-based roasts, stews and curries and it took a little while to find my way into veggie territory. I was determined, though, because you can’t beat the convenience of the slow cooker. I expected to find beans, beans, and nothing but beans! And while slow-cooked beans are indeed delightful, it turns out there is a whole world of delicious vegetarian and vegan slow cooking to play with, and it’s not brown and mushy as one might fear, but colorful and intensely flavored. This tortilla soup will make your whole home smell so smoky, spicy and delicious that you will hardly be able to wait to eat it. Get some really nice multi-grain tortilla chips to serve with it. My husband and I aren’t really vegan, so we had regular low-fat sour cream as a topping, but if you’re keeping it animal-free, just use vegan sour cream or skip it. Continue reading

smoky butternut squash and black bean ragout with pepitas and feta :: by radish*rose

smoky butternut squash and black bean ragout with pepitas and feta

Ah, fall. Don’t you just want to curl up with a fuzzy blanket, a fluffy pillow, maybe a cat on your lap if that’s your thing, and a bowl of yum? Smooth butternut, smoky chipotle, savory beans, crunchy pepitas, salty feta, and bright lime make a savory combination of flavors that will make your taste buds *pop*. Thanks Vegetarian Times! One thing I’ve always wondered about using chipotles in adobo – what the heck do I do with the leftovers? Chipotles are smoked jalapenos. What?! Keep reading – I’ll post about ways to use the remaining smoky spicy goodness next. Continue reading