Meal Mentor

You butternut skip these recipes! (40+ Butternut recipes)

Butternut squash was feeling jealous that it didn't get a special collection like pumpkin did ;)

Below is a comprehensive list of all recipes in the app using butternut.

Don't forget to check out the Thanksgiving recipe collection too!

Here is the full list of MM recipes using Butternut Squash

Acorn Squash Tacos * (new)
Asian Butternut Bisque (new)
Autumn Roasted Ratatouille
Autumn Vegetable Soup
Basic Minestrone Soup (new)
Beet & Butternut Crostini
Black Bean & Butternut Chili
B-Nutty Panini
Bodacious Butteritos
Butternut BBQ Sliders
Butternut & Black Bean Skillet (new)
Butternut Chowder (new)
Butternut Flatbreads (new)
Butternut Green Curry
Butternut Home Fries (new)
Butternut Lasagna Rolls (new)
Butternut Lentil Bisque
Butternut Panzanella
Butternut Queso
Butternut Queso-Dillas
Butternut Sauce Penne (new)
Butternut Soup
Cranberry Sweet Potato Couscous *
Enchilada Chili *
Fall Ratatouille
Fall Enchilada Skillet
Harmony Butternut Stew
Harvest Stew (new)
Kabocha or Butternut Red Curry (new)
Maple Cinnamon Butternut Bowl (new)
Maryland Home Fries (new)
Moroccan Cobb Salad
Rustic Minestrone
Savory Butternut Hummus (new)
Savory Butternut Pie (new)
Sweet Potato & Black Bean Enchiladas * (new)
Sweet Potato Tacos with Coconut Sauce * (new)
Thai Bisque
Winter Harvest Salad
Winter Ratatouille
Winter Skillet Enchiladas
Winter Skillet Lasagna (new)

• Indicates butternut is listed as an alternative or substitute

Note: You can generally substitute canned pumpkin and mashed or pureed sweet potatoes or carrots for pureed butternut. Where butternut is cubed or diced, you can usually substitute carrots, sweet potatoes, or acorn squash.

Don't be a butt or a nut ;)
Lindsay

My favorite potato-centered Meal Mentor meals + 6 ways to cook potatoes in the summer

Potatoes are a near perfect food for humans.

They even contain protein!! and vitamins!

Potatoes are also incredibly satiating and versatile.

If you have followed me on social media the last few years, you have seen my famous “purse potatoes.” I’ve taken them everywhere: to the opera, snowboarding, camping, baseball games, weddings, work conferences, and on long international flights… ✈️

I also tend to substitute a potato for bread and I love loading up baked potatoes with all kinds of toppings as a healthy alternative… I’m talking potato “hot dogs” 🌭 & “pizza” potatoes 🍕

My favorite potato-centered Meal Mentor meals:

Memphis Potatoes

Big Mac Potatoes 🍔

Buffaloaded Potatoes

Lasagna’d Potatoes 🍝

Meatloaf’d Potatoes

Bahn Mi Stuffed Potatoes

Chili’d Potatoes

NY Deli Potatoes 🗽

Potato Nachos (using Potato Queso, heck yeah!)

Enchilada’s Potatoes

Falafel’d Sweet Potatoes 🥙

Greek’d Potatoes 🇬🇷

Thai Peanut Sweet Potatoes 🇹🇭

Gyro-Stuffed Potatoes

Loaded Mexican Potatoes 💃

Reuben Potatoes

Samosa Potatoes 🇮🇳

Sweet Potato Sundae

Stuffing’d Potatoes 🦃

And so many more… I’ll be here all day if I try to list them all!

You can find all those recipes 👆 🥔 in the app or web planner.

TOTAL MEAL MENTOR RECIPES THAT USE POTATOES: 340

SIX WAYS TO COOK POTATOES IN THE SUMMER:

(a.k.a. Without an oven because it’s already a bajillion degrees outside)

Potato pocket (a special cloth pocket for cooking potatoes in the microwave. You can find them in some supermarkets and on Amazon). I use this pocket to carry my potatoes around.

Microwave.

Slow-Cooker (wrap each potato in foil, LOW 8-10 hours)

Pressure Cooker

Campfire (chop, wrap in foil with an ice cube, toss on coals).

Grill

Electric Steamer

BOTTOM LINE: A baked potato with stuff on top is a totally fantastic, healthy meal.

In love of spuds 🥔,
Lindsay

Free Recipe Friday: Spanish Chickpea Stew (Espinacas con Garbanzos)

This week's free recipe from the current (9/1/23) meal plan is popular tapas in Spain.
You'll really wow your family this week!

This version serves 4, but there is also an individual version that serves 2 in the app.

Spanish Chickpea Stew (Espinacas con Garbanzos)

Serves: 4
Total Time: 25
Active Time: 10

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup dry couscous
1 small onion, dice
3-4 garlic cloves,
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander (optional)
1-2 tsp smoked paprika
dash cayenne pepper (optional)
1 bell pepper (any), seed, dice
28-oz can diced tomatoes (fire-roasted is best)
15-oz can chickpeas, drain, rinse
1 bag (about 12-oz) fresh spinach
sherry (or marsala wine) (optional)
1-3 tsp tomato paste (optional)
sliced almonds (optional)

Directions:

Prepare couscous: Pour 1 1/2 cups HOT water on couscous; set aside to absorb. Fluff with a fork and season with salt and pepper.

For stew:
Line a large pot with water or broth, about 1/3-cup.
Sauté onion and garlic until translucent.
Stir in spices to coat.
Add tomatoes (with juices).
Use your spatula to break down any big pieces.
Add bell peppers and tomato paste (if using).
Cover and simmer until peppers are soft.
Transfer HALF to a blender and puree; Return to pot.
Add a squirt or two ketchup (or 1-3 tsp brown sugar) if it's acidic.
Stir in chickpeas.
Heat over low for a few minutes.
Turn off heat and rest 5-10 minutes (or longer).
Stir in spinach until it mixes in.
Add more spices to taste, if desired, plus salt and pepper.
Add a few drops of sherry or masala wine to season, if desired.

Serve stew over couscous.

Garnish with sliced almonds or cilantro, if desired.

Notes: For Gluten-Free, substitute cooked quinoa. 1/2 or 2/3 cup tomato sauce can be substituted for tomato paste. For more smoke, add smoked paprika (I add another 1/2 to 1 tsp). For heat, add hot sauce or a dash of cayenne. Some traditional recipes finish with a splash of vinegar.

Make Ahead: Yes; but add spinach when reheated and store couscous separate.

calories 400 — fat 1.8g — carbs 78.5g — fiber 13.2g — sugars 9.2g — protein 17.7g —

Free Recipe Friday: Spanish Chickpea Stew (Espinacas con Garbanzos)

This week's free recipe from the current (9/1/23) meal plan is popular tapas in Spain.
You'll really wow your family this week!

This version serves 4, but there is also an individual version that serves 2 in the app.

Spanish Chickpea Stew (Espinacas con Garbanzos)

Serves: 4
Total Time: 25
Active Time: 10

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup dry couscous
1 small onion, dice
3-4 garlic cloves,
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander (optional)
1-2 tsp smoked paprika
dash cayenne pepper (optional)
1 bell pepper (any), seed, dice
28-oz can diced tomatoes (fire-roasted is best)
15-oz can chickpeas, drain, rinse
1 bag (about 12-oz) fresh spinach
sherry (or marsala wine) (optional)
1-3 tsp tomato paste (optional)
sliced almonds (optional)

Directions:

Prepare couscous: Pour 1 1/2 cups HOT water on couscous; set aside to absorb. Fluff with a fork and season with salt and pepper.

For stew:
Line a large pot with water or broth, about 1/3-cup.
Sauté onion and garlic until translucent.
Stir in spices to coat.
Add tomatoes (with juices).
Use your spatula to break down any big pieces.
Add bell peppers and tomato paste (if using).
Cover and simmer until peppers are soft.
Transfer HALF to a blender and puree; Return to pot.
Add a squirt or two ketchup (or 1-3 tsp brown sugar) if it's acidic.
Stir in chickpeas.
Heat over low for a few minutes.
Turn off heat and rest 5-10 minutes (or longer).
Stir in spinach until it mixes in.
Add more spices to taste, if desired, plus salt and pepper.
Add a few drops of sherry or masala wine to season, if desired.

Serve stew over couscous.

Garnish with sliced almonds or cilantro, if desired.

Notes: For Gluten-Free, substitute cooked quinoa. 1/2 or 2/3 cup tomato sauce can be substituted for tomato paste. For more smoke, add smoked paprika (I add another 1/2 to 1 tsp). For heat, add hot sauce or a dash of cayenne. Some traditional recipes finish with a splash of vinegar.

Make Ahead: Yes; but add spinach when reheated and store couscous separate.

calories 400 — fat 1.8g — carbs 78.5g — fiber 13.2g — sugars 9.2g — protein 17.7g —

29 New RECIPES

As if the 700+ new recipes we added last year (so all the meal plans this year had brand new recipes!) we've got 30 more for you!

The "beese" (bean based cheese sauce) has been a mega hit since we unveiled it on Wednesday.

Below is the list of 29 more new recipes.

All recipes are in the app NOW!

Basic Compote
Basic Gravy
Basic Ketchup (no sugar)
Basic Pasta Sauce
Basic Rice Risotto
Basic Vegetable Stock
Buckwheat Pancakes
Escabeche (restaurant-style Mexican pickled vegetables)
Faux Cornbread (no corn cornbread; made with millet!)
Green Bean Spread (faux pate)
How To Steam Vegetables + Time Table
Masala Butternut Soup
Onion Gravy
Orange Thai Peanut Sauce (no sugar)
PC Caribbean Black Beans
PC Louisiana Red Beans
PC Refried Beans
Pickled Daikon (perfect for the Japanese Bowl!)
Rice Pudding (baked-no stove required!)
Saag Tofu
Scott's Favorite Sauce
Scott's Raw Pecan Pie
Scott's Tofu Marinade
Simple Tomato Soup
Sunbutter Blueberry Muffins for kids
Tofu Marinade (Asian)
Tofu Marinade (Curry)
Warming Red Lentil Dal
Whole Wheat Bread

Bean-Based Vegan Cheese Recipe (no nuts, no oil, low carb, gluten-free, low calorie)

INTRODUCING "BEESE"

Most vegan "cheese" is made with nuts (e.g. cashews) a combination of potatoes and carrots OR with flour (e.g. the popular Quick Queso--recipe in the app!).

THIS new cheese recipe Is suitable for a lower carb plant-based diet, a nut-free diet, a gluten-free diet, and most other diet-styles.

Currently we are OBSESSED with this bean-based cheese.

RECIPE IS IN THE APP :)

1 can (15-oz) navy beans (or other white beans), drain and rinse
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1-2 tsp Dijon mustard (see note)
1-3 tsp tahini
1/4 tsp granulated garlic powder
dash smoked paprika
1-2 tsp apple cider vinegar
vegetable broth, as needed

Combine in a personal blender (e.g. Bullet) and blend until smooth and creamy, adding broth as needed. Adjust to taste (you might like 1 tbsp more nutritional yeast). or add salt/miso to taste.

NOTE: Annie's Dijon doesn't work well in this recipe. I prefer using a generic Dijon mustard from a supermarket. Trader Joe's dijon also doesn't execute well.

For a queso, add green chilis!

If you want it more yellow-ish, add a dash of turmeric and heat on stove.