Spinach & Ricotta-stuffed shells from 12tomatoes.com

24 jumbo pasta shells or lShellsumaconi
1 (15 oz.) container ricotta
4 cups fresh spinach
2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated, divided
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400º F.
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook pasta according to packaging directions, or until just al dente. Reserve pasta water, drain and set aside.
Return pasta water to heat and blanch spinach until just wilted. 30-60 seconds, or until bright green.
Remove spinach from boiling water and immediately place in an ice bath to prevent further cooking.
Drain spinach, then place in a large bowl and mix together with ricotta.
Season generously with salt and pepper, then transfer mixture to food processor or blender and pulse until spinach is chopped into small pieces.
Fold 1 cup mozzarella cheese into ricotta mixture, then use a spoon to stuff your shells with cheesy spinach filling. Place stuffed shells in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat and whisk in flour to create a roux.
Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, or until mixture is smooth and paste-like.
While continuing to whisk, slowly mix in heavy cream. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes, or until thickened.
Add remaining mozzarella and cook until completely incorporated. Season with lemon juice, nutmeg and salt.
Pour sauce over stuffed shells, then sprinkle parmesan over the top.
Cover with aluminum foil and place in oven. Bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 15.
Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes, then serve hot.

 

 

Coddled eggs with spinach and goat cheese from Clinton Kelly

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  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 ounces baby spinach
  • 1 store-bought roasted red pepper (diced)
  • 1/4 cup goat cheese (crumbled)
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (divided)
  • 1 tablespoon chives (finely chopped)
  • 8 slices white bread (toasted and cut in half on an angle)
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat and add butter. Once melted, add spinach and season with salt and pepper. Sauté just until the spinach has wilted. Remove from heat.
  • Line the bottom of a medium saucepan with a clean kitchen towel. Fill pan with 1 inch of water and bring to a boil.
  • Meanwhile, butter the inside of 4 (8 ounce) ramekins. Divide sautéed spinach between the ramekins. Top each with some roasted pepper, goat cheese, 2 eggs and 2 tablespoons of cream. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Place ramekins in saucepan and cover with a tight fitting lid. Cook until whites are set and yolks are still runny, about 10 minutes.
  • Carefully remove ramekins from saucepan. Serve on 4 plates lined with a napkin. Garnish with chives. Serve with toast.
  • Tips:
    – If you don’t have ramekins, use heatproof glass jars or mugs.
    – If making a large batch, bake the coddled eggs in a baking dish filled with 1 inch of warm water. Cover with foil and place in a 325ºF oven for about 10 minutes, or until the egg whites are set and do not jiggle.

Balti-Baked Squash with Feta, Tomato & Mint from The Indian Family Kitchen: Classic Dishes for a New Generation

BaltiBakedSquash_INDIANFAMILYKITCHEN

  • 2 butternut squash, cut in half lengthwise and seeds removed
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/2 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1/2 tsp black peppercorns
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil or light olive oil
  • 1 cup spinach leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 3/4 oz feta cheese, crumbled
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves
  • 6 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and roughly chopped
  • grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

Preheat the oven 400°F. Lay the squash, cut-side up, on a rimmed baking sheet.

Roughly crush the cumin and coriander seeds, peppercorns and red pepper flakes with a pestle and mortar before mixing in the garam masala and oil. Rub all over the squash, especially on the flesh side, and bake in the oven for 45 minutes, or until you can put a knife through the flesh of the squash easily.

In the meantime, make the filling by mixing together the spinach, feta, garlic, mint, sun-dried tomatoes and lemon juice.

When the squash is soft, take out of the oven and scoop out nearly all the flesh, leaving a 1/2-inch border of flesh around the inside of each squash half. Mix the scooped-out squash with the filling and pop it all back into the grooves you have just carved out. Sprinkle over the lemon zest and roast in the oven for a further 10 minutes. Serve with a delicious crisp salad, such as Green Bean Salad with Mint, Roasted Fennel & Garlic.

 

Italian orzo tomato spinach soup from littlespicejar.com

This soup is loaded with classic Italian flavors and it’s simple to make! Orzo tomato spinach soup is completely vegetarian friendly and it’s so warm and comforting! The perfect soup so serve on a chilly day.
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  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1//2 cups chopped onions
  • 1¼ cup carrots, sliced into ½ inch rounds
  • 1 cup celery
  • 6 cloves of roasted garlic (see notes)
  • 6½ cups of vegetable stock
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1½ tablespoons pesto
  • 1½ cups orzo (whole wheat or regular)
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • 3 cups baby spinach, packed
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  1. Heat the oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté them for 4-5 minutes until they get soft. Add the carrots, celery, and roasted garlic and continue to sauté for an additional 3 minutes. Add the stock, along with the tomatoes, pesto, orzo, thyme, Italian seasoning, and oregano, stir to combine. Reduce the heat to medium and let the orzo pasta cook to al-dente, about 10 minutes, stir occasionally.
  2. Just before serving, add the baby spinach and continue to cook for 1 minutes or until the spinach gets nice and bright green and wilts down. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
To roast your own garlic: Heat an oven to 400 degrees F. Position a rack in the center of the oven. Peel off most of the paper from the garlic, leaving the head intact with the cloves attached. Trim the top off the head of garlic by ¼ inch. Drizzle 2 teaspoons of olive oil over the exposed surface, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Wrap in foil and bake for 40 minutes. Check the garlic, it is done when the center clove is completely soft with pierced with a paring knife. Continue roasting for an additional 5 -10 minutes to help deepen the golden color and caramelize further. Exact roasting time may vary due to size. Garlic can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks and frozen for up to 3 months.

fat flush soup from skinnyms.com

12065603_10153231590538111_2931130283495035989_nThe soup is packed with nutritional powerhouses such as sweet potato, spinach, garlic, carrots, and tomatoes, this soup truly flushes the fat away by restoring acid-alkaline and sodium-potassium balance to the body’s organs and glands. It is a warming and deliciously comforting treat that has the added bonus of detoxing your body and adding much needed nutrients.

The superfoods in this soup are packed with antioxidants and fiber and aid with flushing toxins and, subsequently, fat from the body.

 

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2″ cubes
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Pinch of Kosher or sea salt, more or less to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon paprika
1 bay leaf
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp marjoram
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed (optional, navy beans)
6 cups vegetable broth
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes (no salt added), *this is an optional ingredient
4 cups baby spinach or kale, loosely packed or use kale

Stovetop Method: prep veggies add to large pot, cover, and simmer until veggies are tender, approximately 45 min – 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes to prevent sticking. Add spinach or kale at the end of cooking time, remove from heat, cover and allow spinach to wilt before serving. If using kale cook for 10 min more or until tender.  I waited 20 to add potatoes as I didn’t want them to be mushy.

Autumn crunch pasta salad from chelseasmessyapron.com

AUTUMN-CRUNCH-PASTA-SALAD
  • 5 ounces fresh spinach (half a 10 ounce bag)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups dry small pasta
  • 3/4 cup chopped celery
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 can (15 ounces) mandarin oranges
  • 1 large Granny Smith Apple
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup pecans
  • Optional: Feta cheese
Dressing
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 2-4 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon each: paprika, onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing. In a food processor or blender (I used my small Twister jar on the Blendtec) combine the oil (the vegetable oil yields a richer and in my opinion better taste, but the olive oil is healthier and still tastes great), apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, sugar, (adjust — more or less to personal preference, we like a less sweet dressing and use about 2 tablespoons) paprika, and onion powder. Pulse or blend for about 10 seconds. Stir in the poppyseeds.
  3. Drain the pasta once it’s cooked through and immediately toss a few tablespoons of the dressing with the pasta. This helps the pasta soak in the dressing and the flavor.
  4. Chill the dressed pasta in the fridge.
  5. Meanwhile, combine the (washed and de-stemmed) spinach with the chopped celery in a large bowl. Add in the cranberries and a can of drained mandarine oranges.
  6. If desired peel the apple (We like to leave on the peel!) and then slice into thin slices. Toss with lemon juice and then add to the salad.
  7. Pour dressing over the salad and toss. Add in the completely cooled pasta and toss with the rest of the salad.
  8. If you want to toast the pecans, place them in a single layer in a dry saucepan (don’t add anything) over medium heat. Stir constantly until the nuts are barely fragrant — just a couple of minutes. Watch carefully as the nuts are VERY easily scorched/burned.
  9. Alternatively, you can candy the pecans if desired. Check the link in the last paragraph of the blog text for how to candy pecans.
  10. Top the salad with the pecans and feta cheese.
  11. Enjoy immediately.  Serves: 6-8 as a side
NOTES
This salad (like most) aren’t very great leftover. If you aren’t eating this immediately, keep the ingredients separate from the dressing and only toss with the dressing right before eating. Top with pecans and feta after dressing the salad.

Spinach and Berries Salad with Dill, Phyllis Keating

spinach_and_berries_salad_w_dillRed Wine Vinaigrette
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
2 clove garlic
1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoons pepper
1/4 teaspoons dry mustard
1/4 teaspoons onion powder

Salad
1 cup almonds
1 pounds baby spinach
1 pounds butter lettuce
1 bunch scallions
1/2 pints strawberries
1/2 pints raspberries
1/2 pints blueberries
1/4 c dill weed

Toast the almonds for about 5 minutes at 350F . Cool. Toss the almonds, spinach, lettuce, onions, fruit and dill week in a large bowl. Add the vinaigrette just before serving and toss to coat.  Serving Size: 8

Spinach, Apple and Pecan Salad from the bigoven.com

spinach-apple-and-pecan-salad-2

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 golden delicious apple; halved, cored,
1/4 c. thinly sliced red onion; cut in thin strips
3/4 lb spinach; washed, stems removed, leaves torn
1/2 cup toasted pecans

  1. In serving bowl, whisk oil, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper until thick.
  2. Add apple and onion.
  3. Toss until apples and onions are covered with dressing.
  4. Place spinach on top, then pecans.
  5. Just before serving, toss.
  6. might add some blue cheese

4 servings

Spinach Salad with Bosc Pears, cranberries, red onion and hazelnuts from epicurious.com

355430Dressing

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries
  • 8 cups lightly packed fresh baby spinach leaves, stemmed if needed
  • 2 firm but ripe Bosc pears (do not peel), quartered lengthwise, cored, and cut into long, thin slices
  • 2/3 cup hazelnuts, toasted and chopped

To make the dressing, in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper to taste. Cover tightly and shake vigorously to blend. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Set aside.

Place the onions in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Let stand for 30 minutes. This crisps the onion and takes away the raw onion taste. Drain well and pat dry on paper towels.

In a small bowl, toss the cranberries with 2 tablespoons of the dressing to soften them. Set aside for at least 20 minutes or until ready to serve the salad.

To assemble the salad, place the spinach, onions, and pears in a large bowl. Give the remaining dressing a last-minute shake and pour over the salad. Toss to coat evenly. Arrange the salad in a large serving bowl or divide it evenly among 8 salad plates. Scatter the cranberries and hazelnuts over the top(s). Serve immediately.

Cook’s Notes
You can substitute unsalted cashews for the hazelnuts. Toast cashews, as directed above for hazelnuts, for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned.

The dressing can be made up to 1 day in advance, covered tightly, and refrigerated. Remove from the refrigerator 2 hours before serving. The nuts can be toasted up to 1 day in advance; store at room temperature in an airtight container. The onions and cranberries can be prepared up to up to 4 hours in advance. Set aside at room temperature.

 

Bulgur, Spinach and Tomato Casserole, NY Times

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1 cup coarse (#3) bulgur
Salt to taste
1 28-ounce can chopped tomatoes with juice
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 plump garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice or cinnamon (to taste)
Freshly ground pepper
1 12-ounce bunch spinach, stemmed and washed thoroughly in 2 changes of water, or 2 6-ounce bags baby spinach
2 teaspoons dried mint or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (1 can, drained and rinsed) (optional)
2 ounces Gruyère, or 1 ounce each Gruyère and Parmesan, grated (1/2 cup)

1. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the bulgur and salt to taste, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until the water is absorbed. Remove from the heat, uncover and place a clean dish towel over the pan, then replace the lid. Allow to sit undisturbed for 10 minutes or longer. Transfer to a large bowl.

2. Pulse the tomatoes with their juice in a food processor. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, wide skillet or a shallow 3-quart saucepan and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds, and add the tomatoes, sugar, salt to taste, and allspice or cinnamon. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until the tomatoes have cooked down to a fragrant sauce, about 20 minutes. Taste, adjust salt and add freshly ground pepper.

3. Steam the spinach until it wilts, 1 to 2 minutes, rinse briefly with cold water and squeeze out excess water. Do this by the handful to get out all the water. Chop coarsely. Add to the bulgur. Add the mint and the chickpeas if using, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce and toss together.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart gratin or baking dish. Spread the bulgur mixture in the dish in an even layer. Top with the remaining tomato sauce. Sprinkle on the cheese. Drizzle on the last tablespoon of olive oil. Bake 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.  Yield: Serves 6

Variation: Substitute feta for the Gruyère.