Moosewood Restaurant Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burrito

Ingredients:
5 cups peeled cubed sweet potatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons canola or other vegetable oil
3-1/2 cups diced onions
4 large garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 Tablespoon minced fresh green chile
4 teaspoons ground cumin
4 teaspoons ground coriander
4-1/2 cups cooked black beans (three 15-ounce cans, drained)
2/3 cup lightly packed cilantro leaves
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
8 eight-inch flour tortillas
Fresh tomato salsa or jarred

Procedures:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan with the salt and water to cover. Cover and bring to a boil, then simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

While the sweet potatoes are cooking, warm the oil in a medium skillet or saucepan and add the onions, garlic, and chiles. Cover and cook on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender, about 7 minutes. Add the cumin and coriander and cook for 2 to 3 minutes longer, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and set aside.

In a food processor, combine the black beans, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, and cooked sweet potatoes and puree until smooth. (You can also mash the ingredients in a large bowl by hand using a potato masher. The result will be a less smooth but nicely textured filling.) Transfer the sweet potato mixture to a large mixing bowl
and mix in the cooked onions and spices.

Lightly oil a large baking dish. Spoon about 2/3 to 3/4 cup of the filling in the center of each tortilla, roll it up, and place it, seam side down, in the baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake for about 30 minutes, until piping hot. Serve topped with salsa.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Outback Steakhouse Honey Wheat Bushman Bread

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
2 cups bread flour, plus extra
2 cups wheat flour
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons instant coffee powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
1 teaspoon caramel color (optional)
3 tablespoons cornmeal - for dusting
Whipped butter, for serving

Procedures:
1. Place all of the ingredients except the cornmeal and whipped butter in a bread machine and follow the manufacturer's directions. The dough will be a little on the wet side and sticky, but if it seems too wet, add more bread flour. When dough is done let it rise for 1 hour.

2. Remove from machine, punch down and divide into 8 portions. Form the portions into tubular-shaped loaves 6 to 8 inches long and 2 inches wide.

3. Sprinkle the entire surface of the loaves with the cornmeal and place the loaves on two cookie sheets. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

5. Bake for 20-25 minutes. The internal temperature of a loaf of yeast bread when baked to perfection is 210 degrees F. Serve warm with whipped butter.

Makes 8 loaves

Outback Creamy Onion Soup

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups sweet yellow onions (thinly sliced)
1 (15 ounce) can chicken broth or stock
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1/4 cup diced Velveeta cheese, cubes (compressed in measuring cup)
1 1/2-1 3/4 cups white sauce
4 bay leaves (more or less if you like)
shredded cheddar cheese or monterey jack cheese or colby cheese (to garnish, or a combo)

Procedures
1) For the white sauce: In a 1-quart saucepan melt butter and add flour, cook on medium heat until the flour turns thick and comes away from the side of the saucepan. Pour milk in flour a little at a time and stir constantly. Mixture should thicken and become like thick pudding. Remember to stir constantly taking care not to let mixture lump, set aside off from heat until ready to use for the soup.

2) In 2-quart saucepan place 3 tablespoons butter and sliced onions. Cook at low to medium heat stirring frequently until soft and clear but not brown. Add chicken broth or stock from can, chicken bouillon cubes, bay leaves, pepper, and stir until
completely heated through.

3) Add white sauce and Velveeta cheese to onion mixture. White sauce will be thick because it has been removed from the heat. Simmer on medium low heat until the cheese is melted and all ingredients are blended, stirring constantly. Turn temperature to warm and let cook for additional 30 minute to 45 minutes.

4) Serve with a garnish of shredded cheese(s), and a couple of slices of warm dark Russian Bread.