Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Monday, November 19, 2012

Cheesy Broccoli Soup

Recipe:  Cheesy Broccoli Soup
Verdict:  This is my husband's new favorite meal.


My husband has always loved cheesy broccoli soup and will order or buy it whenever he has the opportunity.  After looking at a lot of different recipes online, I decided to try making a version of this soup at home.  It was a huge success and super easy.  Here is the recipe I created.
6 cups of veggie broth
6 cups of broccoli florets
2 cloves of garlic
6 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup of half and half
Salt, to taste
Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Chili pepper flakes, to taste

1.  Heat the veggie broth to a low boil.  Add the garlic, salt, black pepper and chili flakes while heating.
2.  Add the broccoli and cook until tender.
3.  Add the shredded cheese and stir until melted.
4.  Stir in the half and half.
5.  Heat through, without boiling, and serve

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Mock Tuna Salad

When I was a kid, I loved tuna salad sandwiches.  In fact, I brought tuna salad as part of my school lunch so often that when I moved, my classmates gave me a can of tuna as a going-away gift.  I think I may even still have it stashed away somewhere.  Anyway, I finally decided to try a vegetarian version and I now I have a new love: mock tuna salad.

Recipe:  Mock Tuna Salad with my modifications

Ingredients:
1 can of garbanzo beans, drained and mashed
2 tablespoons Nayonaise
2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
1 tablespoon dill pickle relish
1 stalk celery
2 green onions, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Mix everything together in a bowl.  This recipe makes about 4 servings.  I served mine as a sandwich on toast.  Yum!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Best Tofu Ever!!

Recipe:  Black Pepper and Garlic Tofu (Modified)
Verdict:  Best tofu dish ever!!!  Amazing!
I have always thought that oil was necessary in order to have crispy tofu.  Boy, was I wrong!

This recipe is slightly modified from Susan Voisin's recipe on her blog Fat Free Vegan Kitchen

1 16 oz package of extra firm tofu
1 Tablespoon Bragg's liquid aminos
2 Tablespoons water
3 cloves of garlic, pressed
Lots of black pepper, freshly ground
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

Preheat oven to 400F.  Cut the tofu into strips and gently press between paper towels to remove moisture.  Place the tofu in a Ziploc bag.  Mix the marinade ingredients in a bowl and pour over the tofu.  I had to go to the store to buy parchment paper, so I let the tofu sit in the marinade while I was at the store.  It was the perfect amount of time.  Bake the tofu in the oven for 1 hour, turning at 15 minute intervals.  I baked for the extra time to make the tofu even crispier.  Yum!

Now to make the sauce.
1 1/2 Tablespoons Bragg's liquid aminos
1/2 cup of veggie broth
1 teaspoon Sriracha
Lots of freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons cornstarch

Combine all ingredients in a small pan.  Whisk frequently while heating.  Sauce will thicken as it heats.

Once the sauce was complete, I added the tofu and mixed them together.  I then served the tofu with a baked potato (which I prepared at the same time as the tofu) and some green peas.

This meal was so amazing!!  I cannot put in words how tasty the tofu was.  And the spice was perfect.  I hope to make it again and again.  Thank you Susan at Fat Free Vegan!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Orzo Salad

Recipe: Orzo Salad

My husband and I wanted to make a tabbouleh salad one day, but didn't have any of the necessary ingredients other than tomatoes, cucumber and lemons. After going through the pantry and the fridge, we came up with this.
4oz orzo pasta, cooked according to package directions then cooled
about 20 cherry tomatoes quartered (or equivalent slicer tomatoes, chopped)
about half a cucumber, peeled and chopped
fresh basil leaves, chopped
juice of 1 lemon
1-2 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients in a large bowl and mix together. Could it be any easier??

We like to serve it with falafel, tahini sauce (tahini whisked with lemon juice and a little water), and hot sauce. Yum. You can easily stretch this meal for more people by adding hummus, pita bread, stuffed grape leaves, olives...... Now I'm hungry :)

Monday, January 2, 2012

Vegetarian Gravy

I love this recipe. Gravy is great on rice, on potatoes, with biscuits, etc.

Vegetarian Brown Gravy
2 1/2 Tablespoons butter
1/8 cup of flour (I usually use whole wheat flour)
1-1 1/2 cups veggie broth
1-2 tablespoons liquid aminos (could substitute soy sauce)
black pepper to taste
1. Start by melting the butter in a saucepan.
2. Add the flour and whisk. Allow to cook for about 30 seconds.
3. Begin to add the veggie broth. Add a little at a time and whisk, allowing the sauce to thicken to your preference.
4. Add the liquid aminos to your taste. This also adds the brown color.
5. Add pepper to taste.
6. Serve on your favorite meal.
Enjoy!