Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Part of the Very Vegan Thanksgiving series.

4 lbs. Yukon Gold Potatoes, cubed
1-2 bulbs Colossal Garlic
1/4 cup President's Reserve Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2/3 cups Earth Balance spread
Fresh snipped chives to garnish.

Cut tips off garlic heads, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast at 400 degrees from 30 minutes. Simmer potatoes in water until tender, about 20 minutes. Pop garlic cloves out of skin and mash with potatoes and Earth Balance. Serves 6-8.

Cheesy Spinach Polenta

Never knew what to do with that yellow tube of polenta in your pantry? Now you do!

1 bag Baby Spinach
1 bag Shredded Mozzarella
1 jar Organic Marinara Sauce
2 tubes of Polenta, sliced

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Layer polenta, spinach, cheese, and sauce in greased 9x13 casserole dish. Bake for 30 minutes or until spinach juice is absorbed.

Vegetarian Chili Cornbread

A southern favorite reminiscent of Frito pie.

2 boxes Cornbread Mix
3 cans Vegetarian Chili
1 bag Three Cheese Blend

Mix cornbread according to the box directions, adding shredded cheese. Spread chili on the bottom of a greased 9x13 casserole dish. Carefully pour cornbread batter evenly over chili. Bake according to cornbread directions, adding about 15 minutes to the total baking time. Serves 8-10.

Green Eggs and Ham

I like them, Sam I am, I like green eggs and ham!

12 eggs, whisked
1 pkg. fresh cilantro
1/2 bunch green onion
1 jar Salsa Verde
1/2 pkg. Avocado's Number Guacamole
1 Fully Cooked Ham Steak, diced
Shredded Mozzarella

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Puree cilantro, green onion, salsa, and guacamole. Mix with eggs and ham, pour into greased 9x13 casserole dish, and bake for about 40 minutes. Garnish with mozzarella and chopped green onion. Serves 6-8.

Bacon and Potato Frittata

A hearty breakfast for, say, a day of chopping wood and hauling lumber.

2 pkg. diced Latkes
12 eggs, whisked
1 pkg. Uncured Applewood-Smoked Bacon, diced and panfried
1 pkg. Three Cheese Blend
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients, reserving 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese. Pour into greased 9x13 casserole dish and bake for 30-45 minutes. Garnish with reserved cheese. Serves 6-8.

Eggplant Lentil Soup

So savory and rich, so hearty and delicious!

1 box Low-Sodium Vegetable Broth
1 jar Eggplant Garlic Spread
1 pkg. Fully Cooked Lentils
1 pkg. frozen Grilled Eggplant and Zucchini, chopped
Fresh parsley to garnish

Combine ingredients over medium-low heat until simmering. Serves 4-6.

Creamy Gnocchi Soup

The alfredo sauce is back! This is technically not a vegetarian dish because of the rennet in the cheese in the sauce.

1 pkg. Gnocchi
1 box Butternut Squash Soup or Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup
1/2 jar Alfredo Sauce
1 Tbsp. Fresh Pesto
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil to garnish

Heat all ingredients over medium-low heat until simmering. Garnish with basil. Serves 4-6.

General Tso's Baked Beans

Courtesy of another unofficial collection of recipes... I was dubious until I tried it. Absolutely fantastic stuff.

4 cans White Kidney Beans
2 jars General Tso's Sauce
1 pkg. Pancetta or chopped bacon
1 chopped onion

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Saute pancetta and onion until browned. Mix with undrained beans and sauce in greased 9x13 casserole dish. Cover and bake for about an hour. Add more sauce or liquid if beans start to look dry while cooking. Serves 6-8.

Chicken Wonton Soup

A twist on the classic chicken noodle.

1 box Free-Range Chicken Broth
1 bag Chicken Cilantro Mini Wontons
1/2 cup Shredded Carrots
1/2 Tbsp. Crushed Garlic
1/2 Tbsp. Rice Vinegar
1 Tbsp. Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp. Toasted Sesame Oil
Red Pepper Flakes to taste
4 chopped green onions

Combine all ingredients over medium heat until simmering. Garnish with green onions. Serves 4.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Perfect for a cold, rainy day.

2 boxes Low Sodium Chicken Broth
2 cans White Chicken in Broth
1 jar Salsa Autentica or 1 tub Mild Fresh Salsa
1 can Roasted Diced Tomatoes and Chilies
1/2 bag frozen Roasted Sweet Corn
1 can Black Beans (optional)
2 Tbsp. Taco Seasoning or 21 Seasoning Salute, Cumin, and Red Pepper Flakes
To garnish: Sour cream, Three-Cheese Blend, Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, and/or Avocado's Number Guacamole.

Combine broth, chicken, salsa, tomatoes, corn and seasoning in large pot over medium heat until simmering. Serve with corn chips and cheese, sour cream and guacamole.