Stuffed, Baked Kabocha Pumpkin

Cut a hole in the top of a medium-large kabocha pumpkin/squash, like you were making a jack-o-lantern. Scoop out the insides and save the seeds for baking. Bake (with top back on) for 45 minutes in a 375 degree oven.

Meanwhile, cook the stuffing.

2 cups water
2 cups veggie broth
seasoning: cinnamon, tumeric, pepper, coriander
1 cup quinoa
3/4 cup jasmine rice

Boil for about 15 minutes. Add more water so it's moist.

Also, cut up some veggies for the stuffing. I used local white eggplant, green zucchini, shitake mushrooms, and toasted pine nuts. I didn't, but I reccomend, stir-frying the eggplant and zucchini for a few minutes to brown them. I also reccomend, but didn't, seasoning the veggies before you mix them with the stuffing.

Mix everything together. Stuff the pumpkin and put the remaining stuffing in a casserole. Bake the stuffed pumpkin again for 45 minutes at 350. Add casserole to the oven with 15 minutes to go.

Cut open pumpkin in slices, like a watermelon and serve with lots of stuffing. Don't forget to peel the pieces!

Bake the seeds for about 20 minutes, turning every so often. Top with salt!

Quinoa and Lentils

I had made this some time ago and froze it for the time when I was low on cash and motivation. Now was the time. It turned out quite tastey still after being frozen! Hurrah!

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup uncooked quinoa
1 cup dry lentils (I used brown)
8 oz fresh muchrooms, chopped (I used rehydrated oyster mushrooms)
~1 cup water
Bunch of spinach(remember it reduces when cooked)

1. Cook lentils in a pot w/ vegetable broth as directed on package (~15 minutes for red)
2. Saute onions, garlic, and mushrooms - mix in quinoa - cook 5 minutes
3. Add above to pot w/ lentils - cover and cook 20 minutes.
4. Add water as needed so mixture doesn't stick.
5. Remove from heat. Shred spinach and gently mix into pot. Cover and sit for 5 minutes.

Quinoa and Chard Pilaf

I had to use up some chard in a major way. See a trend? Yes, I tend to buy too many things...

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup uncooked quinoa
1 cup dry lentils + ~4c water/broth
8 oz mushrooms, chopped (I used dehydrated mixed wild mushrooms)
~1 cup water
Bunch of chard (remember it reduces when cooked)

1. Cook lentils in a pot w/ vegetable broth as directed on package \
2. Saute onions, garlic, and mushrooms - mix in quinoa - cook 5 minutes in large pot
3. Add above lentils to above pot - cover and cook 20 minutes.
4. Add water as needed so mixture doesn't stick.
5. Remove from heat. Shred chard and gently mix into pot. Cover and sit for 5 minutes.