Balsamic Root Vegetables

Balsamic Root Vegetables

Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings Total:4 Hours, 25 Minutes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes
• 1 pound parsnips
• 1 pound carrots
• 2 large red onions, coarsely chopped
• 3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Preparation

1. Peel first 3 ingredients, and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Combine parsnips, carrots, onions, and cranberries in a lightly greased 6-qt. slow cooker; layer sweet potatoes over top.
2. Whisk together sugar and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl; pour over vegetable mixture. (Do not stir.)
3. Cover and cook on HIGH 4 to 5 hours or until vegetables are tender. Toss with parsley just before serving.

Parsnip Soup with Caramelized Apples

Apples bring a mild sweetness to this rich soup, which can be made a day ahead.

Yield: Makes 10 to 12 servings

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
3 Fuji apples (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 cups chopped onions
1 carrot, peeled, chopped
2 pounds parsnips, peeled, chopped
4 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
4 cups water
1/2 cup half and half
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add apples and cook until golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Transfer 2/3 of apples to small bowl; set aside for garnish. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to apples in pot. Add onions and carrot; sauté until onions begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add parsnips, broth, and water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly. Puree soup in 3 batches in blender until smooth. Return soup to pot. Stir in half and half and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover soup and apples separately and refrigerate. Bring soup to simmer before using.)
Rewarm reserved apples in small skillet over medium heat. Divide soup among 10 to 12 bowls. Top with apples.

Cauliflower Soup with White Truffle Oil

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
 1 large onion, finely chopped
1 pound cauliflower florets (about 5 cups)
2 14 1/2-ounce cans low-salt chicken broth
1 teaspoon white truffle oil* or extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon thinly sliced chives 

Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat.
Add onion and sauté until tender, about 8 minutes. Add cauliflower and sauté 2 minutes. Add broth.

Cover and simmer until cauliflower is tender, about 25 minutes. Working in batches, transfer soup to blender and purée until smooth.
Return soup to pot. (Soup can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate.) Bring soup to simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls.
Drizzle truffle oil over. Garnish with chives.

Moroccan Couscous

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup chopped shallots
• 3 cups Chicken Stock,
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups couscous
• 1/2 cup pignoli nuts, toasted
• 1/4 cup currants

Directions

Melt the butter in a large saute pan, add the shallots and cook for 3 minutes over medium heat. Add the chicken stock, salt and pepper, raise the heat to high and bring the stock to a boil. Off the heat and add the couscous. Cover the pan and let it sit for 10 minutes.

Add the pignoli nuts and currants to the couscous, stir and serve.

Crock Pot Moroccan Chicken, Chickpea and Apricot Tagine

Ingredients

6 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped into large chunks ( or assorted chicken pieces, about 3 lbs)
1 tablespoon flour or 2 tablespoons cornflour
2 large onions, chopped
3 -4 garlic cloves, chopped finely
1 -2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 inch fresh gingerroot, finely chopped
6 ounces dried apricots
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 (14 ounce) cans chopped tomatoes
2 (14 ounce) cans chickpeas
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 pint chicken stock
1 pinch saffron or 1 teaspoon turmeric
4 teaspoons ras el hanout spice mix ( or make up spice mix below)
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
salt and black pepper
chopped fresh coriander, to serve ( Cilantro)

OPTIONAL

2 carrots, peeled & diced (optional)
1 preserved lemons, chopped into small wedges (optional)

Accompaniment

harissa

Directions

1. PLEASE NOTE: This recipe lists canned chickpeas in the ingredients, NOT dried! If you use dried chickpeas, you MUST soak them and cook them first!
2. Heat up olive oil in a frying pan/skillet & saute chopped onions & garlic for 5-10 minutes.
3. Add chicken stock & gradually mix in flour or cornflour until well mixed & not lumpy.Add honey & tomato paste & mix well.
4. Add herbs,spices & finely chopped ginger with salt & pepper to taste.
5. Finally add tinned tomatoes & mix well.
6. Pour the above tomato,onion & spice mix into slow cooker or tagine.
7. Add chicken & chickpeas & mix well.
8. Add dried apricots making sure they are covered by juice. (Add the carrots if using.).
9. Give it a gentle but good stir to mix everything together well.
10. Crock Pot or Slow Cooker - Cook on high for about 3 to 4 hours OR automatic with keep warm facility for up to 8 hours. (Please note that the cooking times depend on your crockpot, the cooking times I have suggested work fine with mine which is a Morphy Richards Slow Cooker.).
11. If cooking in a Traditional Tagine, do as above & cook SLOWLY over gas or barbeque for about 2-3 hours.
12. Electric Tagine cooking - same as the slowcooker. If you need to thicken it up towards the end of the cooking time, add cornflour which has been mixed with a little water & add to the tagine - mix well.
13. Serve with freshly chopped Coriander/Cilantro sprinked on top & either with couscous, rice, fresh flat bread, pitta bread or salads. It is also good (if not traditional) served with fluffy pureed or mashed potatoes & pasta.
14. Note: You can use chicken pieces or whole chicken which has been cut up into portions, but you will then need to brown them in a frying pan or skillet beforehand. Preserved lemons make a great addition, add them when you add the apricots and carrots.