Roasted Vegetable Slides with White Bean Spread

White Bean Spread

1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 head garlic, roasted
Salt and pepper to taste

Using an immersion blender or food processor, combine ingredients until fairly smooth and thick. Add water as necessary to bring the mixture to a nice, spreadable consistency.

Roasted Vegetables

1 medium zucchini, sliced 1/4" thick
1 yellow summer squash, sliced 1/4" thick
1 bell pepper (preferably red or orange), cut in large chunks
1 red onion, sliced 1/4" thick
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
4 small portobello mushrooms, peeled and gills removed
4 slices roasted green chili, peel and seeds removed
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper

Combine olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a nonreactive pan. Lay vegetables on top of oil and vinegar; salt and pepper to taste. Marinate 2 hours, turning occasionally so all the vegetables have a chance to absorb marinade.

Arrange vegetables on a baking sheet, keeping similar items together. Roast in a 450 degree oven until desired degree of doneness, checking frequently, turning as necessary. Remove items as they reach the desired doneness, setting aside.

To assembly sandwiches:

Slice 4 buns and brush cut sides with olive oil. Broil until slightly toasted.

Spread white bean spread on the bottom half of each bun. Top with roasted vegetables and top half of bun.

Zucchini-Corn Filling

Vegetarian Times, May/June 2009

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)
6 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1 diced jalapeno (my addition)
2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (2 cups)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels (I used Trader Joe's roasted corn)
1/2 cup cooked black beans
1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons lime juice
Chili powder, for sprinkling
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese, optional

Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, and jalapeno, and saute 7 minutes. Add zucchini and corn, and saute 7 minutes more. Stir in cilantro and lime juice. Spoon into Oven-Baked Sopes or tacos, and sprinkle with chili powder and cheese, if using.

Nopalitos-Style Chayote Salad

Vegetarian Times, May/June 2009

2 tablespoons lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon chili powder
3 tablespoons olive oil
1-2 drops hot sauce, optional
2 chayote squash, diced (2 cups)
1 bunch radishes, sliced (1 cup)
6 green onions, thinly sliced
4 cups watercress or arugula

Whisk together lime juice, garlic, oregano, and chili powder in bowl. Whisk in oil and hot auce, if using. Let stand 30 minutes at room temperature.

Cook chayotes in large pot of boiling, salted water 10 minutes, or until tender. Drain, and cool.

Combine chayotes, radishes, green onions, watercress, adn dressing in bowl. Toss well.

Oven-Baked Sopes

Vegetarian Times, May/June 2009

3 cups masa harina
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Whisk together masa harina, Parmesan cheese, if using, baking powder, and salt in bowl. Stir in 2 1/2 cups hot water until mixture forms soft dough. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir egg, then oil, into dough.

Roll 1/4 cup dough into ball. Press into 3-inch disk on prepared baking sheet, pinching together any cracked edges. Press indentation in center of disk using small drinking glass, then shape 1/2-inch edge around indentation with your fingers. Repeat with remaining dough.

Bake 10 minutes, or until sopes begin to look dry. Sprinkle each indentation with 2 teaspoons grated Monterey Jack cheese. Return to oven, and bake 5 minutes more, or until cheese has melted. Top with Zucchini-Corn Filling or Pico de Gallo.

Skillet Gnocchi with Chard and White Beans

Skillet Gnocchi with Chard & White Beans

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 16-ounce package shelf-stable gnocchi (see Tip)
• 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup water
• 6 cups chopped chard leaves (about 1 small bunch) or spinach
• 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes with Italian seasonings
• 1 15-ounce can white beans, rinsed
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• ½ cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add gnocchi and cook, stirring often, until plumped and starting to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
2. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and onion to the pan and cook, stirring, over medium heat, for 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and water. Cover and cook until the onion is soft, 4 to 6 minutes. Add chard (or spinach) and cook, stirring, until starting to wilt, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, beans and pepper and bring to a simmer. Stir in the gnocchi and sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover and cook until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling, about 3 minutes.

Tip: Look for shelf-stable gnocchi near other pasta in the Italian section of most supermarkets.

Banana Nut Bread

Banana Nut Bread
Adapted from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook
Yield: Two 9 by 5 inch loaves or six 6 by 2 3/4-inch loaves

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups ripe mashed banana (about 3 medium)
• 2 cups pecans, toasted and finely chopped
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• Nonstick cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat two 9-by-5 inch loaf pans with cooking spray; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs, sugar, and vegetable oil on medium-low speed until combined. Beat in the flour mixture. Add the vanilla, banana, nuts, and buttermilk, and beat just to combine.

Divide batter evenly between prepared pans; smooth with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, 60 to 65 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cook for 10 minutes. Remove loaves from pans and let cook completely. Bread can be kept at room temperature, wrapped well in plastic, for up to 1 week, or frozen for up to 3 months.

This recipe was discussed here.

Refried Beans with Cinnamon and Cloves

Refried Beans with Cinnamon and Cloves
The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper
Serves 4 to 6

• extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped into 1/4-inch dice
• salt and fresh-ground black pepper
• 4 garlic cloves, fine chopped
• 1 fresh jalapeno, seeded and fine chopped
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• one 14-oz can whole tomatoes, drained
• two 15-oz cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons butter

Generously film the bottom of a 10-inch skillet with olive oil, and heat over medium-high heat. Saute the onions with salt and pepper to taste until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. You want to hear a sizzle as they cook.

Add garlic, jalapeno, cinnamon, and cloves, and cook the mix until fragrant, about 1 minute, taking care not to burn the spices. Add tomatoes, crushing them as they go into the pan. Saute for another minute.

Stir in the beans and water. Bring to a fast simmer, crushing the beans with a potato masher (or the back of a large spoon) as they cook, and scraping the bottom of the pan as the beans begin to thicken. Simmer until the beans are thick, about 10 minutes. Blend in the butter and taste for seasoning just before serving.