Chunky Vegetable Stew

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, thickly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14 1/2 oz) can stewed tomatoes, undrained
2 c cooked garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
2 yams, peeled, cut into 2" chunks
3/4 tsp crushed rosemary
1 large zucchini, cut into 1/4" thick slices
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 c Parmesan cheese

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, separating slices; cook 5 minutes or until soft. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes and juice, beans, yams and rosemary. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. (You may need to add a little water at this point to make sure there is enough liquid to cover the bottom of pan.) Add zucchini and stir. Cover and cook 15-20 minutes or until yams are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste and top each serving with cheese to taste.

NOTES
From Vegetarian Times.
One of our favorites!
We like to add sliced kielbasa to this (add at the same time as yams etc.).
I usually use diced tomatoes instead of stewed.
When we have the time we like to cook this long enough for the yams to mush (a couple of hours). In this case we add the zucchini in the last 15-20 minutes so it doesn't also turn to mush.

Carrot Soup

1 Tbsp butter, divided
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1 apple, peeled, cored, diced
1 1/2 lbs carrots, sliced
1/2 lb sweet potatoes, peeled, cubed
2 Tbsp rice (white or brown basmati or regular long-grain)
1/4 tsp turmeric or curry powder
5 1/2 c vegetable stock or water
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
fresh lemon juice to taste
2 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro or fresh parsley

In a large pot heat 1/2 Tbsp butter over medium heat. Toast fennel seeds until darkened (2-3 minutes). Add apple, carrot and potato and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add rice, turmeric or curry, stock or water and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer until rice and vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.

Drain soup, reserving broth. Remove and discard bay leaf. Transfer mixture and small amounts of reserved broth in batches to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Return pureed soup and any remaining broth to soup pot.

Simmer 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Melt remaining butter and drizzle over soup; sprinkle with cilantro or parsley.

NOTES
I think this is from Vegetarian Times.
I like this a lot, but no one else in my family likes it quite as well as I do.
I usually skip the fennel, lemon juice and herbs in the interest of making the soup more kid-friendly.
I always use turmeric, never curry powder.
We like to eat this with croutons on top.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

2 medium-large sweet potatoes or yams
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
2 (14-15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 (14-15 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 (4 ounce) can chopped mild green chilies
1 cup frozen corn kernels
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 - 1 tsp chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt to taste

Microwave the sweet potatoes for about 3 or 4 mintes per potato. When cool enough to handle, peel and cut into 3/4-inch dice. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add the onion and garlic and sauté over medium heat until golden. Add the bell pepper, beans, tomatoes, chilies, corn, cumin, chili powder, and oregano. (I like to add a dash or two of chipotle seasoning or cayenne pepper; not necessary, but tasty if you've got 'em and don't mind a little heat. You can feel free to add whatever spices you normally like in your chili -- it's easily customizable.)

Bring chili to a simmer. Cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes and continue to simmer until the vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Season lightly with salt.

At this point you can eat it, or let it sit for an hour or two before eating, to give the flavors a little time to blend. Either way, it's delicious.

You can garnish with all your favorite chili toppings: cheese, sour cream, lime, tortilla chips, avocado, whatever.

NOTES
My recipe, adapted from various others.

Sweet Potato and Pear Casserole

4 medium sweet potatoes or yams; peeled, cooked and mashed
1/4 c melted butter
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp honey
1 tsp grated orange peel
1 (16 oz) can pear halves, syrup reserved

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a greased 1 1/2 quart baking dish, combine potatoes, 3 Tbsp of the melted butter, sugar salt and cinnamon.

In a medium saucepan, blend honey, remaining 1 Tbsp butter, orange peel and 3 Tbsp reserved syrup; bring to a boil.

Arrange pear halves over potatoes; then pour honey mixture on top.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden.

NOTES
I think this comes from Mr. Food.
Untried.

Cranberry Candied Yams

4 medium sweet potatoes or yams
1/2 c whole berry cranberry sauce
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1/3 c honey
1 Tbsp melted butter

Cook potatoes in boiling water until just tender.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cool potatoes slightly; then peel, split lengthwise and place in a greased 8" square baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine cranberry sauce and lemon juice; spread over potatoes.

Bake 25 minutes, basting occasionally.

NOTES
I think this comes from Mr. Food.
Untried.

Spinach and Sweet Potato Risotto

risotto
chicken or vegetable broth
1 medium sweet potato
olive oil
2 c fresh chopped spinach
salt and pepper
grated Parmesan cheese

Prepare risotto according to package directions; use broth to cook risotto.

Peel sweet potato and cut into small cubes. Saute in olive oil until soft and browned (about 10 minutes). Add spinach and toss gently until spinach wilts. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Stir spinach and sweet potato into risotto; top each serving with Parmesan cheese.

NOTES
Original source unknown.
This used to be a favorite of mine but I haven't made it in a long time due to the time-consuming nature of risotto.
I use yams instead of sweet potatoes in virtually every recipe.

Roasted Carrot and Herb Spread

2 lb carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large yam, peeled, cubed in 1" pieces
1 medium onion, cut into wedges, separated
1/4 c olive oil
1 tsp dried thyme (2 Tbsp chopped fresh)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

Spray a 15"x10"x1" pan with cooking spray. Place carrots, yam and onion in pan; drizzle with oil; sprinkle with thyme, garlic, salt and pepper, Stir to coat. Roast uncovered at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. Process vegetables in a food processor until blended. Spoon into serving bowl; serve warm with French bread slices.

NOTES
I don't remember where I first got this; it can be found in a few different places online.
I love this, although it was not terribly popular with my kids the last time I made it.
I'd probably up the garlic, but then, I can never get enough garlic.

Vegetable Shepherd's Pie

2 lb sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 2" chunks
1 Tbsp plus 1/2 tsp salt
6 Tbsp butter
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 parsnips, peeled, sliced 1/4" thick
2 stalks celery, sliced 1/4" thick
2 medium fennel bulbs, cut into a 1/2" dice
2 c Brussels sprouts, halved
2 Tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 c vegetable broth
3 c fresh spinach or torn Swiss chard leaves
pinch ground nutmeg

Place sweet potatoes and 1 Tbsp salt in a large pot. Add enough cold water to cover; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, over medium-low heat, melt 2 Tbsp butter. Add onion and cook 10 minutes. Add parsnips, celery, fennel, Brussels sprouts, parsley, pepper and remaining salt and toss. Add the broth, increase heat, and simmer until vegetables are tender, 15-20 minutes. Add spinach or Swiss chard and stir until wilted. Remove from heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to a casserole or 9" pie plate. Drain the potatoes and return to pot. Add remaining butter and mash until smooth. Spread mashed potatoes over vegetables. Set broiler on high. Broil until lightly browned, 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

NOTES
From Real Simple.
Have made a variation of this: potatoes and carrots in place of parsnips, omitting fennel, Brussels sprouts and nutmeg, and adding chickpeas. Chickpeas were a mistake, but otherwise quite good -- using sweet potatoes in place of ordinary potatoes as a topping is an excellent variation on standard shepherd's pie.