Pumkpin stew

Hearthy and easy, this dish is good year round (if you can find a pumpkin) and for many people.

Ingredients:
(4-6 people)

• 1 butternut squash or hokkaido pumpkin
• 2 onions
• 4 cloves of garlic
• (maybe a courgette or some mushrooms, potatoes or other vegetables)
• 1 can of chick peas or beans or both
• 1 can of chopped tomatoes
• Salt, pepper, spices
• Fresh green herbs, e.g basil, thyme, or coriander
• Sour cream or yoghurt
• Oil for frying

Chop all vegetables. If you're using a hokkaido pumpkin, I'd suggest washing the skin instead of cutting it off - it adds a good flavor and texture. 

Fry onions and garlic, and add the veggies. Leave for a few minutes, then add the tomatoes and peas/beans and the spices. Leave to simmer for 20-30 minutes (or 5, if you are very hungry or impatient! In which case I would suggest meditating for 10 minutes anyway...!)

Season to taste and serve either 

• sour cream or yoghurt and herbs
• over rice
• with good bread
• with some fish/chicken for the pesce-/flexitarians 
• all of the above. :) 

Chili sin carne

This recipe will make most meat-eaters as happy as any dish with meat. Very easy to make for many people.

Ingredients:
6-8 portions

• 2 onions 
• 5 cloves of garlic
• 2 fresh chilies or some chili paste or chipotle
• 3 peppers (e.g. 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 green)
• 15 champignons
• 4 carottes 
• 2 cans of chopped tomatoes
• 2 cans of beans (e.g. kidney beans, butter beans, or black beans)
• Salt and pepper
• Cumin powder
• Fresh coriander (cilantro)
• Sour cream
• Oil for frying

Chop and fry the onions, garlic, and chilies. Dice the peppers and the mushrooms, and mix it in. Add any other vegetable, you have at hand (e.g. aubergine or courgette). After a few minutes, add tomatoes and beans, and season it to your liking. Leave to simmer for 20-30 minutes, and add more spices or water to the desired consistency and taste. 

Serve with rice, bread, tortillas, tortilla chips, or mashed potatoes. Either way, with a nice cool bit of sour cream on the side, and some coriander sprinkled over. Well, actually I'd suggest to leave the dosing of coriander to your guests individually, as this is an ingredient that many disagree with...!