Butternut Squash and Couscous Salad

When your [appreciative] vegan friends come into town, you're forced to make new recipes or go out for all meals. So cooking one meal out of six isn't bad, right? After asking my coworker for a recipe, we came up with an almost vegan dish: Couscous Salad with Butternut Squash and Cranberries. Technically the recipe isn't vegan since it has goat cheese in it, but vegan cheese could be substituted, so I thought it was a winner. I bought the recipe home to show H, who made the best horrified face I've ever seen! I realized quickly that the recipe was too sweet for the guy. After thinking about it, I decided to alter it a little to make it a little more savory sounding. Here's what I came up with:

Butternut Squash and Couscous Salad

1 medium (2 1/2 - 3 lb) butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 onion, diced
1/4 cup diced fresh tomatoes

1/4 cup diced sun-dried tomatoes

1 cup water

1 cup uncooked couscous

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon chili-infused olive oil

1 teaspoon chipotle tabasco hot sauce

Zest of one orange

1/2 teaspoon coriander

1 teaspoon Albanian-rubbed sage

1/2 teaspoon rosemary

1 teaspoon cumin

2-4 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 can garbanzo beans, drained

3 oz goat cheese (or vegan cheese)

Pre-heat oven to 425° F. Toss the squash and onion with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread them out on a baking sheet and roast, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender and the onions are starting to crisp at the tips, about 30 minutes. 

Meanwhile, bring 1 teaspoon salt, the water, and 1 teaspoon olive oil to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir in the couscous and remove from heat. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes until the couscous has absorbed all the water. Fluff the couscous with a fork and set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, olive oil, hot sauce, orange zest, spices, and 1 teaspoon of salt.

Combine squash, onions, couscous, garbanzo beans, and tomatoes in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and stir to combine. Gently fold the cheese into the salad. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

The original recipe says to serve the salad cold or at room temperature. Personally, I think this version is better served warm (so I heated mine up in the microwave for 20-30 seconds). 

8 Layer Dip

It's Super Bowl time! Okay, I'm not a huge football person, but I do love to eat! So, I made a variation of this 7 Layer Dip. Here's mine:

8 Layer Dip

8 oz refried beans
1 c colby jack cheese
1 c pepper jack cheese
8 oz sour cream
2 avocados
salt
pepper
lemon juice
ground red pepper
1/2 c salsa
4 oz sliced black olives
2 roma tomatoes, diced
3 green onions, sliced

Mash avocados; add salt, pepper, lemon juice, and ground red pepper to taste. Spread refried beans in the bottom of a 9 inch round pan (or something close to that). Sprinkle 1/2 c colby jack and 1/2 c pepper jack cheese over beans. Spread sour cream over cheese. Spread mashed avocado over sour cream. Spread salsa over avocado. Sprinkle the rest of both cheeses over salsa. Top with black olives, tomatoes, and green onions. Serve with chips!

Home-grown

Mmmm!  I love home-grown veggies!  My container garden has been through a lot (including a move to a new state), but it has survived.  I have ONE pepper and lots of tomatoes.  I also have three tiny cucumbers!  My yellow squash has flowered at least three times, but not squash yet.  My zucchini died...as did my radishes and green onion.  My carrots have lots of green leaves showing, but I'm too scared to pull any up yet.  Here are some pictures:

Cucumbers (3 little ones)

Sweet Pepper (only 1)

Tomatoes (multiple cherry and regular-sized ones)

Basil (also in the container: cilantro, parsley, and oregano)

The tomatoes are DELICIOUS!  I can't wait for the green ones to turn red...they're not producing fast enough for me.  Hehe.  :)

Fire-Roasted Salsa

Seriously, some of the best salsa I've ever tasted!  Delicious when it's still a little warm from the grilling.  Also delicious after it's been chilled.  Make it and enjoy it!  The first night we ate this salsa, we put it on Ultimate Grilled Quesadillas.  The second night, we used it as a topping on Parmesan Turkey Burgers.

(Pictured with guacamole and pickled Jalapenos)

Fire-Roasted Salsa

• 4 Roma Tomatoes
• 1 Jalapeno pepper
• 2 Anaheim pepper
• 2/3 Onion (any variety) 
• Cilantro (handful or to taste)

Heat grill.  Slice open and seed the Anaheim peppers.  Slice the top off the Jalapeno. Quarter the onion; poke toothpicks through to keep layers in tack.  Place everything but cilantro on the grill over high heat.  Grill Anaheims skin side down until skin is charred. Grill the Jalapeno, onion, and tomatoes until charred on all sides.  Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse to desired consistency (we like ours a bit chunky).