Spinach/Orange/Banana/Berry Smoothie

Smoothie recipes are pretty easy to invent but here's a good basic one...

2 oranges
1/2 banana
1/2 C berries (mixed or just strawberries or blueberries, etc)
2-3 C spinach
1/3 C coconut milk/cream of coconut/or other liquid
1/4-1/3 C water
1+ C ice

Curried Lentil Soup

1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 C broth
3 C baby spinach

1 tsp garlic
1 1/2  Tbsp curry powder
1 Tbsp vinegar
dash of pepper

1 bag lentils (cooked) or you can add more water to the crockpot and cook them in there...
sour cream

Drop the first four in the crockpot and cook till tender. Immersion them ;) Add spices and lentils...

Spinach Mushroom Pasta

1 8oz cream cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2-1 C milk
1/4 C dried onion
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp thyme (about)
1 tsp onion powder (about)
1 Tbsp parsley (about)
3-4 C spinach, chopped
1/2 - 1 C mushrooms, chopped (I use about 10 mushrooms)
1/4 - 1/2 C parmesan cheese

Pasta (about 12-14oz), cooked

Throw that in a pan everything in a pan and cook...if you want cook the garlic and onion first with a little butter. Then milk, cream cheese, mushrooms, spinach, spices. Cook until cream cheese is melted. Add parmesan cheese...serve over pasta

We thought it was so good we just dipped crackers into it waiting for the pasta to finish...

Spinach Polenta Soup

This was seriously good...

Ingredients

6 cups (or more) chicken broth/vegetable broth

3/4 cup polenta (corn grits)

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 tablespoons butter/oil

3 garlic cloves, peeled, crushed

4-6 C spinach leaves

pepper to taste (also rosemary or thyme if you want :)

Bring 6 cups broth to simmer in large saucepan. Whisk polenta and flour in heavy large pot. Add 2 cups hot broth to polenta whisking constantly while you add it to prevent lumps. Stir in butter and garlic and pepper and spices. Gradually add the rest of the broth. Simmer gently over medium heat until polenta is tender and soup is creamy and thickened. Stir frequently and adding more broth to thin. (I simmer it about 10-13 minutes and then let it sit for a bit covered with spinach) Stir in spinach and simmer a few more minutes.

Italian Sausage Soup

• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 (14 ounce) cans beef broth
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1 cup barley (can use beans)
• 2 small zucchini, cubed
• 1-2 cups spinach (frozen works good)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Cook the sausage, drain...add everything :)

PS I have used different sausage and way, way less of it...

Quinoa Butternut Squash Soup

1 tablespoon butter
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or fresh oregano (also used some fresh rosemary)
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
4 cups chicken broth/vegetable broth
1 can (14-oz) stewed tomatoes
2-3 cups chopped butternut squash
2/3 cup uncooked quinoa
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1-2 cups chopped fresh spinach (you don't have to have the spinach although we like it)


Saute chopped onions, oregano, and garlic in butter. Add the broth and bring to a boil.
Add the tomatoes, butternut squash, and quinoa. Simmer for 15 minutes until the squash is tender and quinoa is cooked. Add pepper and more flavor if needed. Stir in the spinach. Cook 1-2 minutes until the spinach is wilted.

PS Sometimes I have added a link or two of turkey sausage but if your broth is flavorful you don't need the meat...

Honey Beans

Spinach Lasagna

SPINACH LASAGNA

9 lasagna noodles (or enough to make 3 layers in a 9x13), cooked (if you need to)
1 jar spaghetti sauce or 32oz of homemade sauce (use meatless if you want vegetarian)
1 C chopped onion
4 cloves minced garlic
1/2 C chopped mushrooms (I use dried and just rehydrate them if I don't have fresh ones)
1/2-1 C roasted peppers chopped (I often used the frozen kind)
1 (10oz) package frozen spinach, thawed and drained (can use fresh)
1 (15oz) package of ricotta cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp fresh basil
1 tsp oregano
1 C shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese

Cook onion in a small amount of butter.  Add garlic and mushrooms and saute till tender.  Stir in peppers and cook for another minute or two then let cool.
Combine egg and ricotta cheese.  Add basil, oregano, mozzarella, Parmesan, and spinach.  Mix together.  Add pepper mixture to to cheese mixture and stir.
Spread 1/2 C spaghetti sauce on bottom of pan.  Layer - noodles, 1/2 cheese mixture, 1 C spaghetti sauce, noodles, 1/2 cheese mixture (rest of it), 1 C spaghetti sauce, noodles, 1/2-1 C spaghetti sauce.  Top with Parmesan cheese.
Bake at 375 covered for 20 minutes.  Uncover and bake another 10-15 minutes