Cannellini Beans with Pancetta & Spinach

olive oil
onion, chopped

bacon, chopped or pancetta

cannellini beans

spinach, chopped

minced garlic

salt

red pepper flakes

Saute onions and bacon or pancetta in olive oil.  Add cannellini beans, garlic and spinach and cook until spinach is wilted, then add salt and pepper.

Baked french toast casserole

photo credit: https://cafedelites.com/french-toast-casserole

1/4 cup (2 oz) butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
challah or bread, in 1 inch thick slices, enough to be fully soaked with a little extra milk/egg mixture in the dish
5 large eggs
1 cup milk or half and half
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon grand marnier (or another 1 tsp vanilla)
lemon or orange zest (optional)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (or more)
1/4 teaspoon salt

strawberries (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter and stir in sugar and maple syrup; mix in all other ingredients and throughly soak bread in mixture.  Arrange bread slices in one layer in a 13x9x2 baking dish, squeezing them slightly to fit.   Bake uncovered until puffed and edges are lightly golden, about 40 minutes. Top with fresh strawberries.

Veggie fried rice

photo credit: https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/spicy-vegetable-fried-rice

Wegman's 16oz fresh stir fry veggie pack (break up any oversized veggies)

Trader Joe's Vegetable Fried Rice (frozen)

2 cups of chopped spinach

1-2 cubes of frozen garlic

1-2 cubes of frozen ginger

soy sauce

green onions, chopped

Cook veggies in a bit of avocado oil and add garlic, ginger, and soy sauce partway through.  Then add veggie fried rice and spinach and cook until warmed.  Garnish with a generous amount of green onions.

Minestrone

photo credit: http://laurencariscooks.com/winter-vegetable-minestrone-soup

1 pound lean ground beef

1/2 large red onion, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes (and juice) 

1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15-ounce) can white beans, drained
4 cups beef broth

1 (26-ounce) jar prepared pasta sauce

2 teaspoons oregano

 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup dry pasta

Brown the meat on the stovetop.  Add carrots, onion, and celery and cook until softened.  Add the drained beans, tomatoes, pasta sauce, beef broth, salt, pepper, and oregano.  Cook for an additional 15 minutes until vegetables are tender.  Cook pasta separately and add to individual portions (or could add in the last 10 minutes to cooking).