“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person."


Thursday, October 7, 2010

Fall is here! That means sweet potatoes, pumpkins, honeycrisp apples and SOUP!
Chili is one of my favorite things to eat this time of year. Here are some of my favorite fall recipes!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 2 cups diced yellow onion (about 2 medium)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3 (15.8-ounce) cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
  • 4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 cups chopped cooked turkey
  • 1/2 cup diced seeded plum tomato (about 1)
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 lime wedges (optional)

Preparation

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 10 minutes or until tender and golden. Add chili powder, garlic, and cumin; sauté for 2 minutes. Add oregano and beans; cook for 30 seconds. Add broth; bring to a simmer. Cook 20 minutes.

Place 2 cups of bean mixture in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Return pureed mixture to pan. Add turkey, and cook 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat. Add diced tomato, chopped cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper, stirring well. Garnish with lime wedges, if desired.

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 large onion, diced
  • 2 small carrots, diced
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 2 pounds wild mushrooms, stemmed and diced if large
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1/4 pound cremini mushrooms, stemmed and quartered
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup canned whole San Marzano tomatoes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seeds
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh gnocchi
  • Mascarpone and/or fresh mint, for topping

Directions

Use our simple, step-by-step instructions for making homemade gnocchi.

Heat half of the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add half of the wild mushrooms and cook until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then push to the edges of the pot. Add the remaining olive oil and wild mushrooms and cook 3 to 5 more minutes. Add the cremini mushrooms and cook 1 more minute. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes. Add the wine; cook, scraping up any browned bits, about 2 more minutes. Add the tomatoes, 2 cups water, the bay leaves, coriander, fennel, red pepper flakes, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Simmer over medium heat, about 30 minutes (thin with water if needed). Season with salt and pepper.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi, stir and cook for 1 minute after they float, about 3 minutes total. Transfer with a slotted spoon to the pot with the sauce and gently stir over low heat. Serve topped with mascarpone and/or mint.



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Directions

Toss 2 pounds sweet potatoes (cut into wedges) with 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons each brown sugar and salt, 1/4 teaspoon each cumin and chili powder, and a pinch of cayenne. Roast cut-side down on a baking sheet in a 425 oven until crisp, 30 minutes, turning once.


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Ingredients

  • Butter
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions

For the cake: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.

In a large bowl, beat the sugars, oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla extract to blend. Add the dry ingredients and stir until just blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with aspatula. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake for 10 minutes. Unmold the cake and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar and cut into slices for serving.

PS.... If you toast the spice cake then put a scoop of ice cream on top or a spread of cream cheese... YUM!

LOVE MUCHO CHAN

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