Samhain Recipes

[Morr]

So I want to cook a nice dinner for Samhain this year!

But I need good recipes, preferably vegetarian, for Samhain... Oh, and I am a beginner in the kitchen so the recipes can't be TOO complicated...

Help please!

[Nitefalle]

Oh, something really easy and very veggie is Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti. You get one and cut it in half lengthwise and you can either boil them or steam them, to get them all soft in the middle - probably about half an hour. One they are soft and cool a bit, scoop out the middles with a fork - they come out in strings, like spaghetti. Dump on your favorite spaghetti sauce and serve! Very good for you, too. It's recommended in phase 1 of the south beach diet. Root veggies, like squash, are very appropriate for this time of year. If you want to add more veggies, you can make a thick ragout sauce, with lots of other veggies in it.

Also appropriate - mashed turnips, as a side dish for anything. Boil and mash, like potatos. They have a very nice flavor.

[Phoenix]

For easy recipes try www.kraftcanada.com, it has a ton of recipes, and almost all are easy and with ingredients any beginner cook would recognize. (for examples one of my favs is pineapple chicken: Stir together kraft sweet and sour bbq sauce and a can of pineapple. Pour over chicken and bake. I've also tried the same sauce with meatballs to rave reviews). Heres a link to their top ten meatless dishes:

http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/HealthyLiving/SpecialDiets/Vegetarianism/Meatless.htm

[vulfsung]

I make a tasty pumpkin soup that even my Hubby will eat, and he doesn't like pumpkin.

I chop a med sized fresh pumpkin up, peel it, dump into a pot with chicken stock-you could use veggie stock too. Out of a can is fine for the stock. Bring to a boil, then turn down and simmer 'til the pumpkin is tender. Then you have two choices...savory-where you can add onions, garlic and curry powder. I also add cayenne and hot sauce when I make it this way...or sweet-where you add a tablespoon of maple syrup, cinnamon, and ginger.

Simmer for another 10-15 minutes, then mash the whole thing-or blend in a blender. I use a potato masher for some chunky texture.

When I serve, I have chopped green onions, sour cream and bacon bits with the savory-as well as a bottle of hot sauce for those who need more heat. The sweet version I serve with whipped cream flavored with maple syrup, and extra maple syrup to drizzle over the top.

[Libris]

You can also make stuffed squash. Just cut an acorn, butternut or buttercup squash in half and scoop out the innards. Place them face down in a dish filled with ~1/2 inch water and bake at 350 until just begining to get soft. Then dump out the water and turn the squash over and fill the cavity with a rice dish, bread stuffing or just a pat of butter and some brown sugar.

A really good rice dish to put in them is brown and wild rice mixed with garlic, rosemary and sage, pine nuts or walnuts and craisins. Just make the rice and mix it with the other ingredients. Spoon it in the squash and bake for about 10-15 minutes longer or until the squash is very soft and tender. Buttercup squash are my absolute favorite because they're extra sweet.

Good luck with your Samhain dinner Morr!

[Suzette]

I make a tasty pumpkin soup that even my Hubby will eat, and he doesn't like pumpkin..

My thoughts exactly! Every Samhain, I make a roast pork loin with Vermont baked apples, french cut string beans with carmelized onions and creamy mashed potatoes. My first course though is always pumpkin curry soup. I garnish it with a dollop of sour cream and a few chives and serve in my pumpkin toureen.

It's really easy, Morr, you should have no problem making this dish :) And if you wan to keep it rustic, forget the food processor. Also, when stirring, I always stir clockwise and think of how much I love those dearest to me here and those that have passed...

CURRIED PUMPKIN SOUP

1 lg. onion, sliced
3/4 c. sliced scallions, white part only
1/4 c. butter
1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin
4 c. chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. curry powder
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
Several parsley sprigs
2 c. half & half
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Saute onions and scallions in butter until golden brown. Stir in pumpkin, broth, bay leaf, sugar, curry powder, nutmeg and parsley. Bring to a simmer and continue simmering, uncovered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer soup to food processor in batches and puree. Return to pan; add half & half, salt and pepper. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes. 6 servings.

*doh, be sure to remove the bay leaf before blending or not!

[Zephyrstorm]

Colcannon

4 potatoes - (double that if you get new potatoes)
1 head of cabbage - cut as you prefer (or leeks, if you prefer)
half a cup of onion (diced)
salt and pepper (to taste)
1/4 cup of soy margarine or other butter substitute
approx. 1 cup of soy milk

Boil potatoes, diced onions and sliced cabbage until soft in saucepan. Withdraw from heat and drain off the water. Mash together thoroughly, stirring in soy milk until it has the consistency of mashed potatoes. Add margarine. Mash. Add salt and pepper to taste and fluff with a fork or sprinkle with fried onions.

For the non-vegetarian version, add crispy crumbles of bacon for added flair.
yummy!