Happy (Skinny) Belly Soup
serves 2


2 T + olive oil
1 large handful combination of chopped yellow onion & celery
1/2 c black beluga lentils, rinsed well (look for them in bulk)
1 t fennel seeds, roughly chopped
1 t cumin seeds, roughly chopped
2 c water
1 c vegetable stock
1 t coriander powder
1/2 t turmeric powder
chopped cilantro & fresh croutons to garnish
In a medium pot, heat oil over medium heat, then add onion/celery and saute until onion is soft, but not translucent. Add lentils and seeds, and stir occasionally for 3-4 minutes. Add water first, then vegetable stock. Stir, cover and cook for 30 minutes, or until lentil are soft, but not falling apart. Add coriander & turmeric, stir and cover for 5 more minutes. Lentil should be slightly falling apart upon serving. Serve with freshly chopped cilantro and warm croutons.

From HERE

Ingredients:
(Always use organic ingredients when available.)
Wrap:
Large collard leaves
Red bell pepper, sliced
Carrots, julienned
Yellow and green zucchini squash, julienned
Purple Cabbage, chopped


Mango Dipping Sauce:

1 Ripe mango, peeled and chopped
1 Carton cherry tomatoes, about 2 cups
1/2 red bell pepper
1 Handful of fresh cilantro

Directions:

1. Slice, peel, julienne, and chop all of the wrap fillings.
2. Using a sharp knife, remove all or most of the collard green stems. This allows for more flexibility when it comes time to wrap.
3. Lay out the fillings across the collard leaf and roll it up as you tuck in the sides of the leaf.
4. For the dressing, place all of the “dressing” ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth (or desired texture, if you prefer a chunkier sauce)

found HERE

Makes 8 tacos
For the chimichurri (makes about 1 cup):
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 medium shallot, peeled
1 cup firmly packed flat-leaf parsley, large stems removed
2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves (can substitute 2 teaspoons dried)
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Crushed red pepper to taste (I like using Aleppo pepper)


For the tacos:
8 cups kale, stems removed and chopped
2 tablespoons water
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained (or 1 1/2 cups cooked)
8 corn tortillas
2 avocados, chopped just before serving
Pumpkin seeds for garnish


Using a food processor, roughly chop the garlic and shallot. Add the parsley and oregano, and pulse until finely chopped but not puréed. (Alternatively, you can finely chop the ingredients by hand.) Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and red pepper to taste. Let stand at room temperature for at least 20 minutes, or cover and refrigerate up to 3 days.

Skim 2 tablespoons of oil off the top of the chimichurri and heat it in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the kale and water, and toss to combine. Cover and cook for 1 minute. Uncover, add the drained beans, and cook for another minute or so until the kale is tender but still bright and the beans are heated through. Stir in 1/3 cup of chimichurri.

To assemble the tacos, warm the tortillas, fill them with kale and black beans, and top with avocado. Garnish with pumpkin seeds and additional chimichurri, if desired.

Found here: thekitchn.com

Serves 2 to 3


1/2 pound spaghetti [I use whole wheat but use whatever you prefer]
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, sliced lengthwise as thinly as possible
2 tablespoons lemon zest, from 1-2 lemons
juice from 1 lemon
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1 cup fresh ricotta, homemade or best quality
4-6 tablespoons leftover ricotta whey or leftover pasta boiling water
4 cups lightly packed arugua
salt
Bring a pot of well salted water to boil
While the water is coming to a boil, slice the garlic and put a small saute over low heat. Add the olive oil, the garlic, and a nice pinch of salt. Let the oil and garlic slowly heat up. You don't want the garlic to brown. You are just warming the oil and letting garlic infuse it.
While the oil and garlic are doing their thing, zest the lemon and wash and dry the arugula.
Once the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and reserve some pasta water if you don't have any ricotta whey.
Once the pasta is boiling, turn the heat under the saute pan to as low as it goes and add the ricotta, lemon zest, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. You just want it all to warm it up while the pasta is cooking.
Once you drain the pasta, add it to the saute pan and toss well. Add 1/4 cup of whey or cooking water and the arugula and toss again to coat and wilt the arugula. If you feel it is too dry, add up to 2 more TB of whey or cooking water. Taste for salt and add the juice from 1/2 a lemon and toss once more.
Serve, topping each bowl with a few sprinkles of coarse salt or fleur de sel and a few drops of lemon juice."

from here

2 large leeks
2 pound yukon gold potatoes, cubed
5 cups vegetable broth
2 cups water
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon minced fresh dill
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup whipping cream (optional)

1. Remove the leeks' root and tough outer; halve lengthwise.

2. Soak in 10 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar for 30 minutes.

3. Rinse well and chop.

4. Melt butter in a large stock pot over a medium-high heat.

5. Add chopped leeks, cook till softened.

6. Add the remaining ingredients.

7. Simmer over a medium-low heat until the potatoes fall apart (about 1 hour).

8. Remove from heat.

9. Using an immersion blender, puree to desired thickness.

from HERE

Serves 6 to 8

Use all manner of kale, chard or other hearty greens in this filling cold weather soup. Look for Parmigiano Reggiano rinds, ideal for flavoring soups and stews, in the specialty cheese department.
Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
4 plum tomatoes, cored and chopped
2 carrots, chopped
8 cups water
1 bunch Swiss chard (about 3/4 pound), roughly chopped
1/2 bunch escarole (about 1/2 pound), stemmed and roughly chopped
1/2 pound dried bowtie (farfalle) pasta
1 (3-inch) Parmigiano Reggiano rind, plus grated Parmigiano Reggiano for garnish
1/4 pound baby spinach
Directions:

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic, onions, bay leaf, salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until caramelized, about 15 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until most of the liquid is released and absorbed, about 5 minutes more. Add carrots and water and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

Stir in Swiss chard, escarole, pasta and Parmigiano Reggiano rind, reduce heat, cover and simmer until broth is flavorful and greens and pasta are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in spinach and season with salt and pepper.

Remove and discard bay leaf and rind from soup then ladle into bowls, garnish with grated cheese and serve.

~I really want to try this one - haven't found any place to get Parmigiano Reggiano rind :(

Ingredients

2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
6 cups water
1 cup red lentils
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon olive oil
Directions

In large pot saute; the onions, garlic, and ginger in a little olive oil for about 5 minutes.
Add the water, lentils, chick peas, white kidney beans, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, garam masala, cardamom, cayenne pepper and cumin. Bring to a boil for a few minutes then simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or longer, until the lentils are soft.
Puree half the soup in a food processor or blender. Return the pureed soup to the pot, stir and enjoy!

from HERE