Monday, July 21, 2008

Curry Noodle Bowl

Tonight I decided to make curry noodle bowls for dinner and our lunch tomorrow. I found that there could be some improvements made to this dish next time around. I used soba noodles for a change and decided that a nice udon noodle would have worked much better in the dish. Also I used a red curry and it seems that it would be nicer with a yellow curry but we will see next time how I like that versus the red. Lastly I chose to use morningstar chik'n strips and they did not hold up well in the curry for the future I would use tofu or try a fake chik'n that holds up better such as Yves chik'n strips.

(Picture to come)

Recipe:

CURRY NOODLE BOWL (adapted from Hooked on Heat)
Prep time: 15 min Cooking time: 15 min Serves: 4

1 lb noodles of choice
1 cup morningstar chik'n strips
1 small onion, thinly sliced
2 cups chopped napa cabbage
1 cup sliced cremini mushrooms
1 tbsp crushed garlic
2 tbsp red curry
1 stalk lemon grass, bruised and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 can coconut milk
3 cups light flavored vegetable stock
1 tbsp light cooking oil
salt & pepper, to taste
fresh coriander leaves, chopped chillies and lemon wedges, for garnish (really makes a huge difference so make sure in include!)

HEAT oil in a deep pan, and saute garlic and curry paste till fragrant. Add in onions and chik'n, and saute till lightly brown.

ADD in coconut milk, stock and lemon grass, and let it come to a boil on low heat. Add in musrooms and noodles, and cook covered till noodles are tender and done. Stir in napa cabbage, and cover cook for 5 minutes.

SEASON with salt and pepper, add garnish with coriander leaves, chillies and a dash of lemon juice. Ladle in large bowls and serve piping hot.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Sarducci's




Last night we made it a date night and went to Sarducci's in Montpelier,VT. There are number of vegetarian/vegan friendly selections such as:
Antipasti
Bruschetta:
Toasted Italian bread with olive oil, roasted garlic and parmesan (sans parmesean)
al Pomodoro:
with pesto, tomatoes, and parmesan (sans parmesean)

Insalate
Mista:
Assorted greens, tomato and black olives with balsamic vinaigrette. 3.50
Greca:
Lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, kalamata olives and feta cheese in an oregano red wine vinaigrette (sans feta)
Pasta
Spaghetti alla Marinara:
Spaghetti with fresh marinara sauce 7.99

Capellini dell'Angelo:
Angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil and garlic in a light tomato sauce

Capellini di Verdure:
Angel hair pasta with spinach, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, tomatoes and goat cheese in a white wine basil sauce (sans goat cheese)

Penne Pugliesi:
Mushrooms, spinach, black olives, roasted eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil and garlic over penne






My husband got the Penne Pugliesi and it was SO good! I got the Capellini di Verdure sans goat cheese and it was very good as well.


Vegan Friendly Rating: 3 out of 5 carrots
Food Quality Rating: 3.5 out of 5 carrots

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Finally Married!

So after a year of planning all the details of our wedding it finally happened on May 31st, 2008. We were lucky enough to have 100 or so friends and family join us from all over the States and Canada to celebrate our special day. Our ceremony was held in the rain under a pavilion at the Belvidere Ball Park and our reception at the VFW in Hyde Park, VT
Our wedding was catered by Tasty Persuasions out of Grand Isle, Vermont and Tina the caterer did an amazing job with all of our food.
The menu included (all vegan):
Appetizers:
• Stuffed Mushrooms (amazing)
• Ranch Dip and Veggies
• Hummus and Pita Chips
• Bruschetta
• Potato Skins
Entrees:
• Tempeh and Veggie Kabobs
• Green Salad with Balsamic Dressing
• Rolls and Earth Balance
• Seasoned Green Beans
• Pasta with Ratatouille
• Roasted Potatoes

For desert we had lemon and carrot cake cupcakes and a small Chocolate Raspberry cake (both Vegan) that were baked and decorated by my Aunt Betty as a wedding gift.








All Photos by Dona Davis

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

WOW!

So it's been over a year since I last updated this blog and goodness it's been a busy year. However I am at work currently so there is little time to update right now however there will be new and improved updates with vegan recipes, product reviews and dining picks!

until later! xo.Lindsay

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Pad Thai

Neil made me this one night for dinner and then we made it for my parents while they were visiting. We just use our favorite veggies and tofu and it is so good.

20-Minute Pad-Thai-Style Noodles- vegcooking.com

You’ll find most of these ingredients in your pantry and fridge. In the time that it takes to boil pasta, you’ll have a delicious meal!

For the Sauce:
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup hot vegetable broth
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 Tbsp. Sriracha sauce (or more, to taste)
2 Tbsp. sesame oil
2 Tbsp. flour

• Whisk all the ingredients together until smooth.

For the ‘Pad Thai’:
1 pkg. fettuccine noodles
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1/3 cup sliced red onion
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 broccoli crown, cut into florets
1/3 cup shredded carrots
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1/4 cup crushed peanuts

• Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a wok or large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute, or until fragrant.
• Add the onion, mushrooms, and broccoli. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the onion has softened.
• Stir in the carrot, bell pepper, prepared sauce, and cooked pasta. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and the dish is heated through.
• Top with the crushed peanuts before serving.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Yummy Slow Cooker BBQ

Barbecue Tofu- vegcooking.com

Tofu is slow cooked in a zesty homemade barbecue sauce for a delicious anytime meal.

2 lbs. extra-firm tofu, pressed and diced
1 1/2 cups ketchup
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1-2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

• Combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.
• Serve on a bed of lettuce or on a hoagie roll.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

I made this the other day for Neil and it was soooo good. His mom then made it with vegan meatballs and added some mushrooms and a little water to thin it out and it was amazinggg!

Monday, July 9, 2007

It's been so many months since either of us have posted! We have been so busy with planning our wedding and such but hopefully soon we will be back on and more consistent!

Monday, March 12, 2007

Veggie Jerky's

So I just opened up a packet of veggie jerky and it inspired me to write this post. i have only tried a few types of veggie jerky specifically primal strips and tasty eats. Also a few kinds of dried bean curd type from the Asian market.

Tasty Eats is horrible. VERY dry and the Jamacian Chicken one is awful tasting. I couldn't even swallow it. On the other hand Primal Strips are very good I love the texas bbq and my boyfriend loves the lime one.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Crazy Times

It's been crazy lately with presentations, exams and march break. Neil and I just got back from Vermont yesterday and are trying to get back into our routines. Soon we will be posting more recipes and will be working on getting recipes up a few times a week.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Valentines Dinner Part 1

Neil and I decided since February 13th was our 5 month anniversary and Valentines day was the next day that we would each take on the challenge of making each other dinner. I got 2/13 and I decided to make a vegan 5 course meal.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

The First Course:
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Roasted Red Pepper Soup (vegcooking.com)
Creamy and savory, this soup is the perfect starter for any romantic meal.
1/2 cup vegan margarine (try Earth Balance brand)
1 large white onion, minced
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 roasted red peppers, seeded and chopped
2 cups vegetable stock
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup plain soy milk, at room temperature
Fresh basil for garnish
• In a medium pot over medium-high heat, melt the margarine. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until slightly softened.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic. Continue cooking, stirring often, until the vegetables are soft. Add the peppers and cook for another 10 minutes. Add the vegetable stock and season with salt and pepper.
• Purée in a blender until smooth. Return to the pot and stir in the soy milk. Cook until warm.
• Divide evenly into 4 bowls and garnish with the basil.

Makes 4 servings


Second Course:

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Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Stuffed Crescent Rolls

1 pkg. whole wheat crescent rolls
1/2 mushrooms
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
1 T olive oil to cook in

sautee in a pan.
grease a muffin tin.
stuff the mushroom/onion mixture into crescent rolls and place in muffin tin.
bake at 375F for 11 minutes.

Third Course:

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Sundried Tomato Penne

1/2 small jar of sundried tomatoes with oil
1 T italian seasoning
1 t crushed red pepper

Blend in a food processor and mix with warm whole wheat penne.


Fourth Course:


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Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms
· 2 portabella mushrooms
· ¼ c spinach, chopped
· ¼ c bell pepper
· 1 clove garlic, chopped
· ¼ c onion, chopped
· 1 tbsps olive oil
· 2 tbsps vegan parmesan (1 tablespoon for each mushroom)
· Salt and pepper
· 1 c red rice
Cut the portobello stalks and carve the inside using a small spoon, reserving the flesh.
Cover the portobellos with a little oil, using your hands so that the oil goes everywhere.
Put them in the oven and grill them until they are almost done.
cook bulgar according to directions Drain.
In a pan, heat some olive oil, sauté bell pepper, garlic, onion, spinach and portobello flesh. Add the bulgur and stir everything together. Salt and pepper to taste.
With this mixture, stuff the portobellos, sprinkle with parmesan and bake for 5 minutes

Final Course:

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Chocolate Cheesecake with Oreo Crust


Cheesecake
Ingredients:

1/2 block soft tofu, drained
1/3 cup + 1T soy milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Mixture can be prepared the night before you plan to make it. Preheat oven to 375F. Soften tofu in large mixing bowl, combining in cocoa powder, vanilla extract and sugar. Once the added ingredients are combined, gradually stir in chocolate soy milk. Make sure all ingredients are well combined.

Pour mixture into graham cracker crust. Place in preheated oven for 25 to 35 minutes until the top of the cheese cake appears solid. Allow cheesecake to sit in fridge for 1 to 2 hours, before serving.
This recipe for Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake serves/makes 4

Cookie Crust:
2 1/2 cups vegan creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (i.e. vegan version of Oreos)
2 tablespoon margarine
Cookie Crust:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Place cookies in large plastic bag and crush with rolling pin. Or crush the cookies in a food processor.

3. Transfer crumbs to medium bowl, drizzle with melted margarine, and mix with fingers until well combined. Pour crumbs into 9-inch pie plate.

4. Press crumbs evenly onto bottom and up sides of pie plate.

5. Refrigerate for 20 minutes to firm crumbs, Bake until crumbs are set, about 10 minutes. Let it cool.