Fiery Vegetarian Chili

After a fun fall day of apple picking and farm animal watching, chili was the perfect thing. I usually make this with about a half pound of ground turkey, but it’s so easily omitted and I honestly didn’t notice the difference. Veggies win again.

Mini Meatloaves with Chipotle Sweet Potatoes

I’m trying to get back on the weight watchers train again…this is meal #1. And it was GOOD, even though the picture is not stellar. The mini meatloaves, aside from being adorable (i like mini things), were really delicious — from the Cook Yourself Thin TV show/cookbook. I was scared off after that Cook Yourself Thin chocolate beet (+salmon, oops) cake incident, but I may just have to try a few more things from that cookbook now.

Stroganoff with Beef Short Ribs

This was pretty darn yummy. If you’ve got a few hours to kill in the kitchen before dinner, I’d say give this a shot. I’d try covering the ribs with foil as they roast — i think mine got unnecessarily tough on the outside because they weren’t covered.

Easiest Stir Fry On the Planet

My roommate finally asked me to stop hogging the pantry (she’s going to learn to cook soon and needs space! Yay!). I found all sorts of mysterious dry goods in there in the process, including a jar of General Tsao’s sauce from Trader Joe’s. Seems like a good way to get a fast and healthy stir fry dinner in sometime during the week. Use any veggies you have in the fridge – this is what I had.

Pasta with Kale, Roasted Sugar Pumpkin, and Butternut Squash

For my weekly vegetarian challenge, I served up this big baby. It was so delicious and super seasonal, it may just rank as one my favorite pasta dishes of all time. Next week’s goal is to find a satisfying vegetarian dish that isn’t pasta or cheese-based. This madness just can’t continue.

Marrow on Toast w/ Parsley Salad

Ok, ok. This is definitely an acquired taste, but it’s something I grew up eating and still love the taste and smell (not so much the sight…) of this yummy treat. Growing up and even today, my family fights over the marrow from the lamb shanks in the gravy for Sunday’s supper…Easily the best part. I thought I’d try to prepare a little differently – and since Anthony Bourdain said this would be his choice for last meal, I thought this was as good a choice as any.