Meal Type: Lunch

Comforting 15-Bean Soup (Non-vegetarian)

Fall is officially here (even though the Bay Area weather doesn’t always reflect it)! As the days get shorter, we start turning to warm comfort foods. Many people attending our Empty Bowls events throughout the years might be familiar with this month’s featured soup. It comes to us from James Porter, Kitchen Manager and Chef at one of our partner agencies –Loaves and Fishes Contra Costa. We are tremendously thankful he volunteers to make this crowd favorite at our sell-out events.

This is a hearty and flexible soup which is great for filling bellies on a budget. The quantities listed below feed 15-20 people!

Ingredients:

Bag of 15-bean soup (or other available beans)
2 Cups diced ham
2 Cups diced mild sausage links
2 Cups diced chicken
2 Cups diced onions
2 Cups diced bell peppers
2 teaspoons chilli powder
2 teaspoons basil
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons thyme
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Cook beans until tender according to directions. Save the liquid the beans were cooked in.
Combine rest of ingredients-saute until ham, chicken, and mild links are done and veggies are tender
Combine meat/veggies with beans
Warm together and enjoy!

Egg-cellent nutrition for life on the run

We get it. Fall is a busy time of year. These on-the-go omelettes can be made in advance and warmed up for a quick meal or snack. And yes, you can freeze them too.

It’s hard to even call this a recipe because both the ingredients and the measurements are flexible. You can switch up the meat, the cheese, and the vegetables–your taste buds won’t get bored with so many flavor combinations.

Pro tip: these are great to make when it’s time to clean out the refrigerator to avoid food waste!

INGREDIENTS:

9 eggs
¼ cup milk or water
Salt and pepper
Meat, cheese, vegetables. Here are just a few examples:
- Chopped Meats: Bacon, Sausage, Ham
- Shredded Cheese: Cheddar, Swiss, Gruyere
- Chopped Veggies: tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, spinach, bell pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Grease muffin tins.
Loosely place approximately 2 TBSP of your desired combined meat, cheese, vegetable ingredients in each muffin cup.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs.
Stir in ¼ cup of milk or water to eggs (helps make eggs “fluffy”).
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Pour egg mixture in each filled cup to about about 2/3 full.
Bake about 20 minutes

Cool before placing in refrigerator or freezer for storage. When ready to reheat, pop a couple in the microwave for 30-45 seconds.

Best Carrot Soup by Haley Lindberg

Best Carrot Soup by Haley Lindberg was created as part of her Girl Scout Gold Project.

Ingredients:
12 large carrots, peeled, chopped
1 yellow or white onion, chopped
4 C. water or chicken broth
1 Tbsp. olive oil or butter
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 C. orange juice
1 Tbsp. ginger powder
Salt and Pepper

Directions:

Melt butter/oil in saucepan; add onions and sauté until translucent (about 5 minutes).
Place chopped carrots, sautéed onions, garlic and water (or broth) in large pot. Bring to boil, then simmer until carrots are tender (about 30 minutes).
Add orange juice and stir off heat.
Blend in a blender in batches. If needed, add additional water/broth.
Add ginger powder, salt and pepper seasoning to taste.

Minestrone Soup

Ingredients:
• 3 C. reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes or fresh tomatoes.
• 1 (15 ounce) can beans, drained
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 celery stock, chopped
• Bay leaves, sage, thyme
• Salt and pepper
• 2 C. cooked whole wheat pasta
• 1 medium squash, chopped
• 1 C.cauliflower, chopped
• Examples of other vegetables you can add: broccoli, green beans, potato, bell pepper.

Directions:
In a pot, combine broth, tomatoes, beans, carrots, celery, onion, cauliflower, bay leaves and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours. Thirty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add pasta and squash. Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Remove bay leaves and season to taste. Serves 4.

Microwave Broccoli Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients:
• 1 cup steamed broccoli
• 2 tablespoons chopped Roasted walnuts or other nut
• 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt or low-fat mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup grated cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 Slices bread

Directions:
Finely chop the broccoli and place in a microwave-safe baking dish with 2 tablespoons of water. Cover and microwave on high (power level 10) until tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Uncover immediately. Let cool and drain. In a medium bowl, add the nuts, 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt or mayonnaise, cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss gently. Spread the Greek yogurt or mayonnaise on the bread. Divide the broccoli filling between the two sandwiches.

Grilled Cheese with Pears

Ingredients:
• 4 slices of bread
• 4 slices of cheese
• 1 medium pear, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 2 tablespoons of butter or no-stick cooking spray

Directions:
Heat a frying pan on medium heat. Butter two slices of bread on one side; place buttered side down onto the pan. Top the bread with 1 slice of cheese, 3-4 pear slices, and another slice of cheese. Cook until bottom of sandwich is browned, 3-5 minutes. Flip over and cook 3-5 more minutes.

Tuna Pasta Salad (Pasta de Ajo y Mantequilla)

Ingredients:
• 1/2 pound pasta, cooked and drained
• 2 cups broccoli or zucchini, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
• 1 can tuna, drained

Directions:
Combine pasta and vegetables in a bowl. Add dressing and stir until well combined. Tip: add protein with 2-3 sliced hard boiled eggs, or 1 can of drained beans

Ingredientes:
• 1/2 libra de pasta cocida, enjuagada y escurrida
• 2 tazas de brócoli o calabazas, picado
• 1 tomate, picado
• 1/4 taza de aderezo Italiano
• 1 lata de atún, escurrido

Direcciones:
Combine la pasta y verduras en un tazón. Agregue el aderezo y revuelva hasta que estén bien combinados. Sugerencia: Añada proteína con 2-3 huevos duros, o una lata de frijoles escurridos.

Pasta Primavera

Ingredients:
• 1/2 pound of pasta, cooked, drained
• 4 tablespoons oil
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1-2 cloves garlic, sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add garlic, vegetables, sauté 5-7 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste, Combine pasta with vegetables.

Ingredientes:
• 1/2 libra de pasta, cocida, enjuagada y escurrida
• 4 cucharadas de aceite
• 1 zanahoria, picada
• 1 calabacita, picada
• 1-2 dientes de ajo, picado
• Sal y pimienta al gusto

Direcciones:
Caliente el aceite en un sartén a fuego medio. Agregue ajo, verduras y saltée 5-7 minutes. Sazone con sal y pimienta al gusto. Combine las verduras con la pasta.

Grilled Cheese (Sándwich de Queso Fundido)

Ingredients:
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 2 slices of bread
• 2 slices of cheese
• 3 thin slices of apple or pear

Directions:
Heat a pan over medium-low heat. Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.

Once the pan is warm, add one slice of bread, buttered side down, then top with half of the cheese, add the apple slices, and the remaining cheese. Close the sandwich with the second slice of bread, buttered side up. Cook until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

Ingredientes:
• 1 cucharada de mantequilla, suavizada
• 2 rebanadas de pan
• 2 rebanadas de queso
• 3 rodajas finas de manzana o pera

Direcciones:
Unta mantequilla en las partes exteriores del pan. Dentro del sandwich pon una rebanada de queso, las rodajas de manzana o pera, y el queso restante.

En un sartén precalentada a una temperatura media-baja pon el sandwich, cocínalo lentamente (asegurando que no se queme) y cuando esté bien dorado dale la vuelta. Estará hecho cuando el queso esté derretido.

Classic Carrot Salad (Ensalada Clásica de Zanahoria)

Ingredients:
• 3-4 cups of grated carrots
• 1/2 cup of raisins
• 1 large apple, chopped
• 1/4 cup low fat mayonnaise or plain yogurt

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl.

Ingredientes:
• 3-4 tazas de zanahoria rallada
• 1/2 taza de pasitas
• 1 manzana, picada en trocitos
• 1/4 taza de mayonesa baja en grasa o yogur sin sabor

Direcciones:
Combine todos los ingredientes en un sartén.

Chicken Cabbage Salad (Ensalada de Pollo con Repollo)

Ingredients:
• 4 cups cabbage, shredded
• 1 pound carrots, thinly sliced
• 2 cups chicken, cooked shredded
• 1 cup low fat mayo or salad dressing
• 2 apples or pears, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.

Ingredientes:
• 4 tazas de repollo, rallado
• 1 libra de zanahorias, en rodajas finas
• 2 tazas de pollo, cocido y rallado
• 1 taza de mayonesa baja en grasa o aderezo
• 2 manzanas o peras, picada
• Sal y pimienta al gusto

Direcciones:
Mezcla todos los ingredientes en un recipiente grande.

Creamy Broccoli and Apple Slaw (Ensalada Cremosa de Brócoli y Manzana)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt or mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon of vinegar (optional)
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 cups broccoli, finely chopped
• 1 apple or pear, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:

In a large bowl, stir together the yogurt or mayonnaise, vinegar, onion, and salt and pepper. Add broccoli and apple or pear, mix well and enjoy. Tip: add ¼ cup of dried cranberries, your favorite nuts for additional flavor.

Ingredientes:

• 1/2 taza de yogur o mayonesa baja en grasa
• 1 cucharada de vinagre (opcional)
• 1 cebolla pequeña, picada finamente
• 3 tazas de brócoli, picado en trocitos
• 1 manzana o pera, picada en trocitos
• Sal y pimienta al gusto

Direcciones:

En un recipiente grande, mezcle el yogur o mayonesa, el vinagre, la cebolla, y sal y pimienta al gusto. Añada el brócoli, manzana o pera y mezcle bien. Consejo: agregue ¼ taza de pasitas o nueces para darle más sabor.

Meal Type: Lunch

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