Butternut Squash Soup

In celebration of the Fall Equinox, a new recipe is calling, a gathering of loved ones, and the transition to the sweet bounty of fall vegetables.

This year, especially for us, we are feeling the transition of the seasons. Our traditional weekend family meal is an invitation to welcome new vibes, start different conversations, and embrace change with open hearts and anticipation of a different set of gifts.

The fall season inspires us to slow down, wrap up in cozy textures, sit and rest a little longer, and with food, allow the flavors to simmer and blend into delicious, nourishing, and easy to digest comforts.

Soup sounds like the best way to begin the Fall Season and we will be celebrating the Equinox with new recipes and seasonal delights!

Butternut Squash Soup

Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 35 mins Total Time: 45 mins Serves 6

This vegan butternut squash soup is the ultimate fall comfort food! Store it in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to a few months.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 large yellow onion, chopped

• ½ teaspoon sea salt

• 1 (3-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed

• 3 garlic cloves, chopped

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage

• ½ tablespoon minced fresh rosemary

• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

• 3 to 4 cups vegetable broth

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Chopped parsley

• Toasted pepitas

• Crusty bread

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper and sauté until soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the squash and cook until it begins to soften, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Add the garlic, sage, rosemary, and ginger. Stir and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant, then add 3 cups of the broth. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the squash is tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Let cool slightly and pour the soup into a blender, working in batches if necessary, and blend until smooth. If your soup is too thick, add up to 1 cup more broth and blend.

Season to taste and serve with parsley, pepitas, and crusty bread

Quinoa Bfast Bowl

Another alternative recipe - instead of oat, try a gluten free, high protien packed morning bowl of flavor topped with your favorite fruits and seeds.

Roast Poblano

This is a semi spicy alternative to a stuffed bell pepper - I’m always a fan of a little heat in my food since there is a lingering cold even when the weather is warm - you could sub for a sweet pepper if your Pitta dosha needs a little less flame…

Twice Baked Sweet Potato

My mom would be so proud! She loved teaching my kids her famous twice baked potato recipe and now I let them do the work when it comes out of the oven. This is a healthy spin on her potatoes but so full of flavor and good for you warming deliciousness.

Raw Soup

This is a lovely alternative to a smoothie with a savory blend of vitamin rich ingredients. Easy to digest and full of flavor enjoy as a light evening meal to give your gut a break.

Tofu Pad Thai

This could be amped up with even more veggies! You could add bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and more…

Energy Bites

No baking required, love that! Yummy treat to snack all week :-) or even breakfast on the go.

Quinoa Cakes

This one may take some time. I have prepared these cakes for parties and even had them in part of a catering to events back in San Diego. They really are worth it - the part you want to watch is the end consistancy before patting out into a cake, make sure they are not too big and you’ve got enough flax egg to squeeze together. After baking they should have a nice crispy outside.

Roast Tomato Pesto

Pasta can be so good! I love pasta as a base for different flavors, sauces, vegetables etc. But its got such a bad rap when everyone went gluten free or freaked out about carbs. I think, better to have loads of wonderful ingredients that taste amazing and are also healthy, and allow the pasta to be enjoyed. Now there are gluten free options if that’s better for you, or you can even grab a zucchini and break out the spiralizer to whirl up some long veggie noodles.

Green Tahini Salad

I love a salad that can be warm and nutty! This one was one of our favorites from when we had our “Meal delivery” its a meal kind of salad, with crunch and zing from the cranberry, almonds and yummy dressing

Baked Pears

Soft cooked pears are a balm for the heart and comforting in the tummy. Pear's sweet taste and the relaxing aroma of cardamom make for a light breakfast or soothing mid-day snack. Baking the pears makes them tender and brings out their sweetness. You'll enjoy all the affection and softness of a apple pie without feeling weighed you down.

Pears are a treat that calm the heart and relieve restlessness. They are a soothing and cooling balm for inflamed and irritated tissues - especially in the gut. This makes pear with cardamom the perfect breakfast after a night of drinking or overindulging in coffee. This meal gently relieves raw and upset intestines. Ever notice how pear juice is thicker than apple juice? This thickness is due to its soluble fiber and key to pear's comforting demulcent quality.

This formula is especially useful for heat conditions in the lungs, such as in asthma or bronchitis. Cooling pears are a natural expectorant and cardamom specifically breaks up mucus and opens up the airways of the lungs without aggravating inflammation.

Winter Chili

Stuffed Bello’s

This one is a great recipe for sharing with other’s if you just multiply by your guests!

Hot Cocoa

Adaptogens are herbs, roots and other plant substances (like mushrooms) that help our bodies manage stress and restore balance after a stressful situation. People take adaptogens as herbal supplements in capsule form, drink them in teas or in a powder added to soups, smoothies and other foods.

Any kind of stress — physical, emotional, hormonal, and even things we eat and drink —affects the body’s systems. Experts believe that adaptogens interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which initiates your body’s stress response and plays a big role in keeping your body in balance.

Not all herbs work as adaptogens. To be considered an adaptogen, an herb or plant substance must:

1. Be nontoxic at normal doses

2. Support the entire body’s ability to cope with stress

3. Help the body return to a stable state

Sweet Potato/ Kale

This Ayurvedic recipe highlights sweet potatoes which are rich in complex carbohydrates, meaning these roots can satisfy the appetite for long stretches of time. Unlike white potatoes, sweet potatoes are light on your stomach, and recommended for weight loss while still being nourishing. Sweet potatoes won't make you feel tired like white potatoes either. The addition of healthy fats in the form of sunflower oil adds strength and vigor to this dish.

Sweet potato is unique among comfort foods because it is extremely easy to digest. This tuber is a helpful Ayurvedic remedy for those with heavy digestive symptoms. Despite the name "sweet," it may be a beneficial food for diabetics as preliminary studies revealed it helps to stabilize blood sugar levels. Sweet potatoes contain ample fiber to encourage good elimination. Ginger increases your ability to digest food with comfort by stimulating the release of digestive juices in your stomach. Cooling kale adds roughage, further supporting easy, regular bowel movements. This Ayurvedic sweet potato recipe is the perfect healthy recipe to include in your menu this week.

Sesame Cookies

A sweet treat with sesame as the main winter ojas providing resource.

If you are new to baking without eggs here is a great opportunity! You can always swap the flax egg for 1 whisked egg, but if your ready to start plant based baking, learning to make the “flax egg” is a great tool

Grab a small bowl. Many stores now have flax meal available in their baking department. When we were in Mexico I made my own be grinding the flax seed down to a pulp with my vitamix. But having a bag of flaxmeal can be great for baking and add fiber and protein to your smoothies and oatmeal too. You can use a Tablespoon or just heap a large spoonful of the meal into the bowl. Add Water. First just cover the meal in the bowl, stir it up, if its not looking like a swirling egg white, add a bit more water. It should bind quickly, which is its job when baking. Play with your proportions, if you added too much water and it looks watery, add a pinch more flax. You’ll get it ;-)

Carrot Ginger Soup

As we were speaking about simplifying diets in the seasonal tips, this carrot soup is nourishing, warming, and easy to digest.

Brazil Nut Tofu

This is a tasty and EASY recipe, especially if you shop at TJ’s and get the carrots and broccoli already pre chopped! The leeks are mostly a spring find, so if not available go for the yellow onion. And if you haven’t figured, Braggs Liquid Aminos should be part of your pantry :-)

Brazil nuts are a good source of protein, fiber and selenium which is a trace mineral that helps support the thyroid.

Date Balls

The great thing about dates, is their high amount of potassium, fiber and antioxidants. Yes they are sweet, but one date ball really covers the sweet taste and combined with the bitter of cacao and almonds…well this makes a satisfying and nutritious snack.

Warm Quinoa Salad

Quinoa, the amazing ancient grain, is a fast cooker and easy to mix with loads of suitable vegetables, nuts, beans and goodness.

This recipe is a good foundation for exploring other thoughts that may work better for you. What about adding fresh herbs? or a different type of nut or seeds? Play with it and share! The lemon dressing is also a lovey base and can be adapted for taste.