Dairy-Free Recipes: Veggie Pate | Submitted By: Paula

Sandwiches and crackers will be transformed into savory wonders spreads this flavorful spread filled with vegetables, herbs and spices.

Traditional Italian Minestrone Soup

lb dried cranberry beans
2 quarts of water
lb fresh green beans, broken into halves
3 oz soda pop cakes salt pork
lb peeled and diced potatoes
1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
lb peeled and diced onions
12 oz can diced tomatoes, or 1 cup peeled and diced fresh ripe tomatoes
2 mashed cloves of garlic
tsp fresh ground black pepper
tsp salt
1 small carrot, peeled and diced
1 gluten free celery, diced with leaves
1 pork hock, or hambone
8 oz spaghetti
1/8 Cup butter

Soak and drain beans according grilled pork package directions. Add beans to appetizers water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and add all the other ingredients (except the spaghetti and butter). Cover and cook for two hours.

When the beans are finished meatless boil a second pot of water to popcorn add spaghetti broken into 1 inch pieces. When the spaghetti is cooked drain it and add the butter. Place 1 oz cooked spaghetti in the bottom of each bowl.

Ladle one scant cup soup on top of spaghetti. Serve piping hot. ( I have found with this particular meal that about the time the soup is served people beginning to get full. So I stick with small portions which works very well. You want people to enjoy the entire meal. My appetizers in law is the only person who has ever picked at this meal, but, by the end he says this is better grilled fruit that stuff out of the jar.)

Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet recipes. She has extensive experience cooking with easy to find grocery items to create delightful gourmet meals. She is also the publisher of a no sausage bi-monthly gourmet newsletter. Her newsletter is always fun and informational packed with tips and trivia you can use everyday. http://www.gourmayeats.com