Scrumptious Squash Soup

1 Squash (3-3.5 lbs) - Peeled, Cubed

1 Onion

2 Cloves Garlic

3 Tbsp Earth Balance - you could leave this out and substitute water

1 tsp Cinnamon

3-4 C Vegetable Stock/Broth - I use veg bullion cubes

2 Tbsp Maple Syrup

Salt

Pepper



Cut squash in half width wise, right where it bulges, then cut those halves again lenth wise. Scoop out the seeds. Cube the squash and set aside. Cut onion in half then cut into chunks. Peel Garlic and cut into quarters. Melt Earth Balance in a large pot medium heat. Cook chopped onions for about 5 minutes, then add garlic and cinnamon until you can smell garlic (about 3 seconds). Add squash and add enough stock to cover squash. Turn heat on high until it boils. Turn heat down to low and let veggies cook gently for about 20 minutes. Veggies should be very tender. Remove from heat and ladle veggies into blender. Do this until all veggies are blended. Add stock to get the consistency you want for your soup. Add maple syrup. Salt and Pepper to taste.

CREDIT GOES TO: Kristin

Celebration Pot Pie with Pumpkin Biscuit Crust

We ate this for dinner - and loved it! I halved the recipe and still had oodles left over. Enjoy!!! It is much easier to make than it looks...

Use any combination of baking dishes--several smaller or two larger--but be sure they're deep enough to hold about 1 1/2-inches worth of stew plus another inch for the topping. You can easily turn this into a shepherd's pie by substituting mashed potatoes for the biscuit topping.

2 pounds potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 ribs celery, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
8 ounces mushrooms, quartered
2 large carrots, diced
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper -- or to taste
1 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1 1/2 cups frozen baby peas
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon mellow white miso
6 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 4 tablespoons water

Seitan
1 cup vital wheat gluten
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup Imagine No-Chicken Broth, cold (or other veg. broth)
1 tablespoon tahini or other nut butter

Biscuit Topping
2 cups unbleached white flour
2 cups white whole wheat flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup pumpkin (canned or cooked and water pressed out)
1 cup unsweetened soymilk --mixed with 2 tablespoons lemon juice
additional soymilk or water as needed

Put 12 cups of water on to boil in a large (at least 6-quart) soup pot. Add each vegetable (potatoes, onion, celery, mushrooms, carrots) to the pot as you chop it. Add the bay leaves, thyme, sage, garlic, poultry seasoning, onion powder, celery salt, soy sauce, pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the seitan: Mix the dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Combine the broth and nut butter. Stir the broth mixture into the dry ingredients until well blended. Knead gently 10 times. Turn out onto a cutting board and press it as flat as possible. Let it rest for about 5 minutes. Then using a sharp knife, cut it into 1/2-inch cubes. Add the seitan cubes to the simmering vegetables, taking care to separate them before they go into the pot. Stir well and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

After 45 minutes, remove the bay leaves and add the peas. Mix the miso in a small bowl with a little of the hot broth, and then add it to the stew, along with the nutritional yeast. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and bring to a boil, stirring often. When mixture thickens, reduce heat and allow to simmer while you make the biscuits. (If stew does not seem thick enough, add a little more cornstarch/water.)

(You can make the recipe up until this point the day before serving and refrigerate the filling. When ready to assemble, reheat the stew as you make the biscuit topping. Stew should be hot when the biscuits are placed on top.)

Preheat oven to 400 and oil two or more deep casserole dishes (any combination of casserole dishes or pie pans to hold about 6 liters). Mix the dry ingredients for the biscuits in a medium bowl. Stir in the pumpkin and the soymilk/lemon juice. Add additional soymilk or water a teaspoon at a time as you stir until all flour is moistened and dough forms a ball. Turn out onto floured board and knead two or three times. Roll out to 1/2- inch thick, and cut into circles using a 1 1/2-inch wide floured glass or biscuit cutter. Gather remaining dough and use it to cut additional biscuits. You should have between 24 and 30. (Alternately, cut the biscuit dough to fit the pans, leaving about an inch all around to allow for dough to expand.)

Pour the stew into the prepared pans, making sure there is at least 1/2-inch free at the top. Place the biscuits on top, spacing them evenly. Bake until biscuits are lightly browned, 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to stand for a few minutes before serving.

Servings: 12

CREDIT GOES TO:
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2009/11/celebration-pot-pie-with-pumpkin.html

Bean, Potato and Faux Sausage Soup

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 c. vegetable broth (I use veggie bullion cubes)

3 russet potatoes, peeled, cubed

1, 14 oz. package Tofurky Italian sausage

3 c. plain, unsweetened soy milk

1, 15 oz. can white northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 TBS. nutritional yeast

1 tsp. liquid smoke

1 tsp. salt (OR to taste)

White Pepper to tast

To make:

On medium heat, in large stockpot, cook onions for about 5 minutes. Add 1 TBS. of broth if the onions are sticking. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add vegetable broth, potatoes and cook on medium high heat for about 20 minutes or until tender. In the meantime, slice sausage into 1/4 inch rounds, and cook in a non-stick or cast iron frying pan over medium high until browned. Once potatoes are cooked, add soy milk, liquid smoke, nutritional yeast, and white beans. Simmer for 5 minutes on medium heat. Add tofurky sausage and stir until combined. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 6-8

As a side note, when I make this again I will leave the sausage out until it is served so it remains firm and tasty; though adding all of it at once isn't bad it just swells slightly. This soup is good reheated.

Quick and Easy Potato Soup

3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cooked and peeled, if desired
1/2 small onion
1 cup vegetable broth
1/4 teaspoon rosemary
1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon white pepper (using more will make it spicy)
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon raw cashews or 1/2 tbsp. cashew butter (optional)
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 1/2 cups low-fat soymilk or other non-dairy milk

High-Powered Blender Users (as in - VITA MIX): Place two of the potatoes along with the remaining ingredients into the blender in the order given. Start machine on low speed and increase to highest setting. Blend for about 4 minutes, until steaming hot. Dice remaining potato and divide it among 4 bowls. Pour the soup over the potatoes and serve hot.

Regular Blender/Stovetop Users: Chop the onion and sauté it until soft in a medium-sized saucepan. Cut the potatoes into cubes and add 2/3 of them to the pan, along with the broth, rosemary, white pepper, and salt. Simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes. Pour into blender along with cashew butter, soymilk, and nutritional yeast. Blend until smooth. Return to pan, add remaining potatoes, and cook, stirring often, over low heat until hot.

Makes 4 servings.

CREDIT GOES TO:
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2009/02/quick-and-easy-potato-soup.html