Creamy Roasted Parsnip Soup

This parsnip soup is rich, creamy, and seasoned with aromatic spices to make a flavorsome autumn soup.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

• 3 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 large onion, diced

• 3 stalks celery, diced

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom

• ½ teaspoon ground allspice

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 4 cups chicken stock

• 1 cup whole milk

• ½ cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

2. Place parsnips and carrots in a mixing bowl; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Toss to coat the vegetables with oil, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread vegetables evenly over a baking sheet.

3. Roast in the preheated oven until parsnips are tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes.

4. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onion and celery; cook and stir until the vegetables have softened and onion is beginning to turn golden brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low; stir in butter, garlic, brown sugar, and roasted parsnips and carrots. Continue to cook and stir until the vegetables are very soft and beginning to brown, about 5 to 10 minutes.

5. Season with ginger, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper; stir for 1 minute. Pour in chicken stock; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover, and simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes.

6. Pour soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Blend in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot.

7. Stir in milk and cream. Return to a simmer over medium-low heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

Fully Loaded Carbonara

Chicken carbonara is a classic Italian dish that never fails to satisfy the palate. This indulgent pasta dish combines tender pieces of chicken with rich and creamy carbonara sauce.

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon, chopped

• 1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

• 3 cloves garlic

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

• ½ cup white wine

• 1 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese

• 3 large eggs

• 1 gallon water

• 1 pound spaghetti

• 2 cups frozen peas

Directions

1. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon from skillet with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Drain fat from skillet, reserving 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings.

2. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon bacon drippings in the skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken breast halves in the bacon drippings until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 5 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Transfer to cutting board and tent with foil. Rest chicken for 5 minutes before slicing; set aside.

3. Heat remaining tablespoon bacon drippings in skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Cook and stir garlic and ground black pepper in skillet until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour wine into skillet; cook at a simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

4. Whisk Parmesan cheese and eggs together in a bowl. Slowly stream wine mixture into the Parmesan mixture while whisking continually.

5. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Remove 1/2 cup of the water from the pot for later use.

6. Put the peas in a large colander. Drain the pasta in the colander with the peas. Return drained pasta and peas to the pot. Stir bacon, chicken, and wine mixture into the spaghetti. Thin sauce with reserved pasta water as desired.

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

This is a quick, throw together slow cooker soup packed with all the flavors you'd expect in a Tex-Mex chili.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1 (16 ounce) can chili beans, with liquid

• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans with liquid

• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, with liquid

• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

• 2 cups water

• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans peeled and diced tomatoes

• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chili peppers

• 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

Directions

1. Gather all ingredients.

2. In a medium skillet, cook the ground beef until browned over medium heat. Drain, and set aside.

3. Place the ground beef, onion, chili beans, kidney beans, corn, tomato sauce, water, diced tomatoes, green chile peppers and taco seasoning mix in a slow cooker.

4. Mix to blend, and cook on Low setting for 8 hours.

Corn Pudding

Corn pudding is comfort food at its best. This creamy corn casserole is easy to make with both whole kernel and cream-style corn, resulting in a custardy pudding that will be a welcome addition to your dinner table.

Ingredients

• 5 large eggs

• ⅓ cup butter, melted and slightly cooled

• ¼ cup white sugar

• ½ cup milk

• ¼ cup cornstarch

• 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained

• 2 (14.75 ounce) cans cream-style corn

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.

2. Whisk eggs lightly in a large bowl. Add milk, melted butter, sugar, and cornstarch; whisk until well combined. Stir in drained corn and cream-style corn until fully blended. Pour mixture into the prepared casserole dish.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 1 hour.

Greek Green Beans

A nice mix of green beans, onion, and tomatoes simmered until soft and delicious!

Ingredients

• ¾ cup olive oil

• 2 cups chopped onions

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 2 pounds fresh green beans, rinsed and trimmed

• 3 large tomatoes, diced

• 2 teaspoons sugar

• salt to taste

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

2. Cook and stir the onions and garlic in the skillet until tender.

3. Mix the green beans, tomatoes, sugar, and salt into the skillet.

4. Reduce heat to low, and continue cooking 45 minutes, or until beans are soft.

Grilled Stuffed Poblanos

Fire up dinnertime with these grilled vegetarian stuffed poblano peppers that benefit from charred, smoky flavors.

Ingredients

• 8 poblano peppers

• 5 ears corn, husks and silks removed

• 1 (15-ounce can) no-salt-added black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 2 tablespoons flour

• 1 cup milk

• 1 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese

• 1 cup pico de gallo

• cilantro leaves, lime wedges, and/or radish slices, for serving (optional)

• chili powder, for garnish

Directions

1. Prepare an outdoor grill for indirect grilling, lighting burners on just one side or pushing lit coals to one side. Preheat to medium-high heat (375 to 400 degrees F (180 to 200 degrees C)). Lightly oil grill grates over lit side.

2. Grill poblanos and corn, covered, turning occasionally, until poblano
   skins and corn are charred, about 10 minutes. Keep grill lit.

3. Transfer poblanos to a large bowl, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, let corn stand until cool enough to handle; cut kernels from cobs.

4. Remove and discard poblano skins, keeping stems intact. Make a lengthwise slit down one side of each poblano, starting at stem and being careful not to cut through to other side. Remove and discard
   seeds and membranes.

5. Stir together beans, corn kernels, cilantro, oregano, garlic, salt, cumin, and black pepper in a large bowl. Spoon about 1/2 cup bean mixture into each pepper, enclosing pepper around the filling.

6. For the cheese sauce, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; whisk in flour. Cook, stirring until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in milk; simmer, stirring, until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in cheese until melted. Remove from heat and keep warm, stirring occasionally.

7. Lightly oil grill grate over unlit side of grill. Grill stuffed poblanos, covered, until filling is heated through, 5 to 7 minutes.

8. Serve immediately with cheese sauce; pico de gallo; and (if using) cilantro, lime wedges, and/or radishes. Garnish with chili powder.