Groovy Green Fruit Smoothie

Yield: Seves 2
This one comes from my friend Joelle at NVHS...

Ingredients
1 banana
1 C green grapes
6 oz vanilla yogurt
½ apple
1½ C spinach leaves

Directons
Cut the banana into chunks; peel, core and chop the apple.
Place all ingredients in blender; blend until smooth, stopping as needed to push down solid ingredients.

Spinach Salad with Apple (& Walnuts)

Since I'm allergic to nuts, I'll generally substitute peanuts or sunflower seeds...or just leave them out, but they do add a nice textural element to the salad as well as a subtle saltiness.

Ingredients 

2 Tblsolive oil

1 Tbls cider vinegar

1 tsp Dijon mustard

salt& pepper

5 oz spinach leaves (about 5 C, lightly packed)

½ Granny Smith apple 

¹/₃ C walnut pieces 

Directions 

Toast walnut pieces in a dry skillet over medium high heat until fragrant (about 2 minutes).

Whisk together oil, vinegar and mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss spinach with dressing to coat evenly.

Core apples, slice into matchsticks (“julienne” - photo doesn't accurately reflect this). Sprinkle apple pieces over salad, followed by walnut pieces.* Serve immediately.

* Nuts, a common allergen, can also be served “on the side”.

COOL BEANS: White-Bean and Tomato Bruschetta

4 oz sliced pancetta
3 Tbls olive oil
1 C chopped onion
1 tsp dried rosemary
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 C dry white wine
1 (15 oz) can white beans
2 C lightly packed spinach leaves
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
salt
pepper
1 loaf Italian bread

Chop spinach leaves. Rinse and drain white beans; drain diced tomatoes.

Fry pancetta in 1 Tbls oil in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp; drain on paper towel and break into small pieces. Set aside. (Pancetta is a seasoned, Italian bacon. Not at all hard to find even here in the States, but you could substitute ham or other bacon. Not exactly the same...but a reasonable substitute.)

Add remaining oil, onion and rosemary to skillet; cook over medium heat about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook another 2 minutes. Add wine and bring to a boil; boil 1 minute. Stir in beans, reduce heat to low, cover, simmer gently for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in spinach, tomato, salt and pepper (to taste). Cover and let stand while toasting bread.

Slice bread on the diagonal and toast: Arrange bread slices ona baking sheet adn place under broiler. Toast on one side until golden (about 2 minutes); turn bread and toast second side.

Stir bean mixture and spread on toasts; sprinkle with reserved pancetta.

Evil Jungle Soup

Sheree Johnston's recipe.

3 stalks lemon grass, cut into 1" pieces
4" piece of fresh ginger, sliced thinly
4 cloves garlic, cut into quarters
8-10 cups chicken stock

1 garnet yam, peeled, cut into 1-2" cubes
1 onion, diced
2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, sliced
3 handfuls fresh spinach
1 jalapeno or Serrano pepper


Combine lemon grass, ginger, garlic and chicken stock in a pot. Simmer for 40 minutes; strain. Add the yam and cook 10 minutes. Add chicken and vegetables, simmer until the yams are soft (about 24 minutes). Makes 8 servings.

Sausage & Spinach over Polenta

1¾ C chicken broth
1¾ C water
1¼ C cornmeal
¾ C shredded mozzarella (3 oz)
12 oz fully cooked sausage
(turkey, pork, anykind...)
1 tsp oil
1 medium onion, cut in thin wedges
4 garlic cloves, minced
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp cornstarch
10 oz. spinach, coarsely chopped

For polenta...
In a large saucepan, heat 1¼ C chicken broth and 1¾ C water just until boiling. Slowly stir in cornmeal, ¼ C at a time. Bring mixture to boiling; reduce heat to very low. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often. Stir in ½ C shredded mozzarella. Spread evenly in a casserole dish, sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare sausage and spinach...
Bias cut sausage into ¼" thick slices. Heat oil in a large skilled; add sausage, onion, garlic and cayenne. Cook for 5 minutes or until onion is tender and sausage is heated through.

In a small bowl, stir together cornstarch and remaining chicken broth. Add to skillet mixture; cook and stir until boiling. Reduce heat and add spinach, a little at a time, stirring constantly until all is wilted. Serve over polenta.

I like garlic, but I could do with a little less in this recipe; let the other flavors come through a bit more. 2-3 cloves, or 4 small cloves...