Rainbow Vegetable Soup with Farro

This time of year is an interesting one for cooking because we're starting to transition into fall but still have some late summer produce, which makes this soup a perfect blend of the two.  I call this recipe rainbow soup because it has so many different beautiful colors in it, which of course is exactly what you want to get a variety of nutrients. This soup was also even better over the next day or two reheated (as many soups are). The farro (a whole wheat grain) tends to soak in additional liquid as it sits so if you're serving leftovers add just a a little water to loosen up the soup a little before heating. I think adding some freshly grated parmesan cheese at the end really ties all of the flavors together, but if you're vegan this soup will fit the bill without. In either case, I like to drizzle just a bit of olive oil over the soup in each bowl before serving, which I think adds a lovely flavor.

Rainbow Vegetable Soup with Farro
Serves 6

Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

1 lb summer squash, diced
1 onion, diced
3 carrots, diced
1 lb. roma tomatoes, diced
1 bunch rainbow chard, leaves stripped from stems and chopped
2 ears corn, kernels cut off the cob
1 c. farro
1 bunch of thyme
2 bay leaves
6 c. low sodium vegetables stock (or 6 c. water with 3 low to no salt bouillon cubes - I like the Rapunzel brand)
Kosher salt
Extra virgin olive oil
Freshly grated parmesan cheese

Heat 2 T. olive oil in a large stockpot or dutch oven. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and saute for about 5 minutes until it starts to soften. Add the carrots and squash and saute for about another 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, farro, and vegetables stock as well as 1 t. kosher salt, the bay leaves, and the bunch of thyme (you can strip off the leaves, but I find that while the soup is simmering they will melt off - you just have to remove the stems before serving). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low to medium-low setting and simmer for 45 minutes until the farro is cooked but al dente. Stir in the corn and chard and keep stirring for a minute to incorporate the chard. Let simmer another 5 minutes. Taste for additional seasoning, then ladle into bowls and top with a drizzle of olive oil and some parmesan cheese.

Big Kale Salad with Roasted Root Vegetables

You may have seen my kale salad post last fall, and it's something that I've been incorporating more and more into my cooking, such as this healthy main dish. It's simply a huge bed of the kale salad with roasted vegetables and almonds on top, but it's so good, so beautiful, and so healthy that I thought I should share it. Believe it or not, it's actually one of my husband's favorite dishes for either a weeknight dinner or weekend lunch. Plus, it's one of those meals that leaves you both fulfilled and feeling good afterwards! I sometimes double the amount of roasted vegetables while I'm already making it and use it in another dish - such as over a mixture or quinoa & lentils or pasta with parmesan cheese. 

Big Kale Salad with Roasted Root Vegetables
Serves 2 main-sized portions


Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour


Kale Salad:

2 small or 1 large bunch lacinato kale, rinsed, leaves ripped from stems, and cut or ripped into pieces

1/4 c. freshly grated pecorino or parmesan cheese

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1 T. fresh lemon juice 

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

1 T. dijon mustard

1/2 t. kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Roasted vegetables:
1 1/12 - 2 lbs. assorted root vegetables (I used carrots, celery root, red daikon, and golden beets), peeled and cut into ~3/4'' pieces
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 t. fresh thyme
1/2 t. kosher salt


1/2 c. toasted almonds (either buy them toasted or toast them yourself in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant and lightly browned)


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Peel/chop the vegetables while the oven is preheating and place in a medium sized bowl, then add the olive oil, thyme, and salt and stir to combine, then spread out on a sheet or roasting pan. Roast for approximately 45 minutes (no need to stir if they are in a relatively even layer).


Meanwhile, prepare the kale and grate the cheese. Combine all of the dressing ingredients and whisk together, then combine in a large bowl with the kale and cheese. Let sit for at least 15 minutes or for the entire time the vegetables are roasting (it's good to let the kale soften in the dressing a little bit).


When the vegetables are done, divide the kale between the two plates and top with the roasted vegetables and toasted almonds. Enjoy!

Fall Vegetable Barley Soup

We're back in California after a wonderful Thanksgiving trip up to Seattle where I pitched in to create our feast of mashed potatoes with caramelized shallots; sauteed brussel sprouts with slivered almonds, lemon zest, and thyme; a roasted trio of root vegetables (sweet potatoes, butternut and kabocha squash); stuffing; and local heritage breed turkey; not to mention my sister's fabulous homemade pumpkin pies and cranberry sauce. Needless to say it was a wonderful meal!

Before we left, I made this great soup to get us ready for the holiday using up some of the fall vegetables from our last CSA box - tokyo turnips and carrots. Tokyo turnips are tender white turnips that don't need to be peeled, and this recipe even takes advantage of the greens that are attached. If your turnips don't have greens or are a harder variety, peel them before chopping and substitute the turnip greens with some kale. Even if you think you don't like turnips I encourage you to try this recipe - when they're cut up small and a component of this flavorful soup, you'll forget you ever didn't like them.

Fall Vegetable Barley Soup
Serves 4-6

Active Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

4 turnips, peeled if thick skinned, and diced into small pieces
Turnip greens from the bunch of carrots, or 1 small bunch kale, chopped
3 medium carrots, diced into small pieces (similar in size to the turnips if you can)
3-4 stalks celery, diced into small pieces (ditto on the size)
3 leeks, white and light green parts, thinly sliced
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
1 15-oz can crushed tomatoes
6 c. low-sodium vegetable broth
1 c. semi-pearled barley
1 t. dried or fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
Extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Black pepper

Heat 2 T. olive oil in a dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat. Add the turnips, carrots, celery, garlic, leeks, thyme, and a pinch of salt and pepper and saute until softened a little, about 5 minutes.

Add the broth, tomatoes, and bay leaf, and 1 t. kosher salt as well as some fresh ground black pepper and bring to a low boil. Add the barley, reduce the heat to medium low, and let cook for about 25-30 minutes or until the barley is al dente. Then, add the turnip greens (or kale) and cook while stirring for another 1-2 minutes until the greens are wilted. Taste for additional seasoning depending on the saltiness of your broth and serve.

Fall Moroccan Tagine

This was my first attempt at a Moroccan-style tagine and it was quite successful! Traditionally, a tagine is made in a special dome-shaped pot, but I found that using a dutch oven (or any large saucepan or stockpot with a lid) substituted just fine. This dish incorporates some classic tagine spices - coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, paprika, ginger, and cayenne, with butternut squash, carrots, sweet potato, chickpeas, dried apricots and olives. Other than prepping the ingredients, it's an easy dish to make, incredibly healthy and wonderfully warming on a fall evening. I served this over whole-wheat couscous, but quinoa or brown rice would also work well.

Fall Moroccan Tagine
Serves 4

Active Time: 20-25 minutes
Total Time: 65-70 minutes

Extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large sweet potato or yam, peeled and cut into small (~1/2'') pieces
1/2 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into small (~1/2'') pieces
1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 c. green olives (such as castelvetrano)
1/2 c. dried apricots, chopped
1 t. coriander
1 t. cumin
1 t. turmeric
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. sweet paprika
1/2 t. ground ginger
Kosher salt

Toast the spices in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until fragrant, a few minutes, and set aside.

In a dutch oven or stockpot, heat 1 T. olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute another 30 seconds, then stir in the spices. Add the carrots, sweet potato/yam, butternut squash, and apricots to the pan, along with 1 1/2 c. water and 1 t. salt. Cook for a minute longer until everything reheats, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the chickpeas and olives, reduce heat to low, re-cover, and cook another 10-15 minutes. Season to taste with salt (I added another 1 t.), stir, and serve over whole-wheat couscous, quinoa, or brown rice.

Coconut Carrot Bread

With the weather cooling off this weekend, I felt like baking and wanted to create a quick bread to have as an afternoon snack or in the morning with coffee. I love carrot cake, and this incorporates some of the flavors of carrot cake but in a much healthier version. It's very easy to make and the walnuts and coconut flakes give it a nice texture, but if you're not a nut person you can always omit those. I like this best served warm with a little butter.

Coconut Carrot Bread

1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/2 c. honey
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. nutmeg
1 1/2 c. carrots (about 3 medium), grated
1/2 c. unsweetened coconut flakes (plus a little extra for the top)
1/2 c. walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. Put the walnuts in a small skillet and toast over low heat.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the olive oil and honey together, then add the applesauce, whisking to combine. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk until well incorporated.

In a medium-sized bowl, add the dry ingredients - whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg - and whisk with another whisk or a fork until well combined.

Chop the walnuts into small pieces when they are done toasting. Add the grated carrots and cocunut flakes to the wet ingredients and stir with a spoon. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until incorporated. Fold in the walnuts.

Pour the batter into a greased 9'' loaf pan and top with some more of the coconut flakes. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out relatively clean.