Delicious Mushroom Soup

Mushrooms are a powerhouse of nutrients that support your immune system. They can even produce their own vitamin D when left in the sunshine before cooking.

Soups are a great way to use herbs and vegetables. Making a broth from your veggie scraps is also a great way to reduce kitchen waste.

Makes: 5 cups; serves: 4 to 6

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• ¼ cup diced onions

• 3 cups sliced white, portobello, or shiitake mushrooms (really any mushroom you like)

• 2 tablespoons chickpea flour

• 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder or fresh minced garlic

• a pinch dried thyme or poultry seasoning

• 1/3 cup vegan creamer (unsweetened) (I like to use Nutpods brand creamer)

In a 3-quart saucepan; heat the oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions with garlic until translucent. Add flour and stir. Add 1 cup broth ¼ cup at a time and stir until broth is thickened. Add the mushrooms and cook (stirring) until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in remaining broth, pepper, and thyme/seasonings. Cook, stirring constantly, until soup comes to a boil. Add the creamer and remove from heat, stirring until the cream is warmed. Enjoy!

PORTOBELLO FRENCH BEAN CASSEROLE

Makes: 5 cups; serves: 4 to 6

MUSHROOM SAUCE

3 tablespoons olive oil

¼ cup diced onions

3 cups sliced white mushrooms or Portobello mushrooms

2 tablespoons chickpea flour

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Pinch dried thyme

1/3 cup vegan creamer (unsweetened)

In a 3-quart saucepan; heat the oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions with garlic  powder until translucent. Add flour and stir. Add 1 cup broth ¼ cup at a time and stir until broth is thickened. Add the mushrooms; cook, stirring, until softened, about 3  minutes. Stir in remaining broth, pepper, and thyme. Cook, stirring constantly, until soup  comes to a boil. Add the creamer and remove from heat, stirring until the cream is  warmed.

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

16 oz Fresh or frozen green beans (French-cut)

4 – 5 cups Mushroom Sauce

1 small can (8 oz) Water chestnuts (chopped)

Fried onions (1/8 cup)

Black pepper

Preheat oven to 350°. Layer green beans, water chestnuts, sauce, onions and pepper; then repeat, saving  some onions for later. Bake 40 minutes. Add remaining onions and bake for 5 minutes to brown.

CASHEW CREAM GRAVY

3 cups cashews, milled in blender (or almonds, soaked overnight)

2 cups Cremini and Shiitake mushrooms (sliced or chopped)

2 cups veggie broth

2 tbsp cassava or chickpea flour

3 cloves roasted garlic

1 shallot or 2 Cipollini onions

1 lemon (juiced)

1/2 to 1 cup water

1 tbsp nutritional yeast

1 tbsp sea salt (to taste)

1 tbsp poultry seasoning

Dried or fresh sage

In a medium saucepan, sauté mushrooms with onions, shallot and garlic until softened.  add flour and stir. Pour in broth and seasoning and bring to a simmer. Blend nuts, lemon  and water to make the cashew sauce. Add water until you reach a smooth consistency.  Remove saucepan from heat and add cream sauce, stirring until warmed. This gravy can  be rewarmed without worrying about separation. Sprinkle on some sage. You can also  blend in the blender for a smoother gravy.