Month: November 2011

by betsy

Give the Gift that Lasts All Year–The Blooming Platter Cookbook: A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes!

Move over “Black Friday;” some of us favor “Green” when it comes to our holiday shopping!

And if you happen to be one of those people–and I suspect you are–perhaps the blooming platter cookbook would be perfect for someone on your list.

TBPC is truly a gift that lasts all year–year after year– with what has been called “Four Seasons of Yum!”

 

Note: for local residents, I’ll be signing books at the Eastern Shore Chapel Parish Book Store holiday open house this Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m. to noon.  Please join us!

by betsy

Our Blooming Thanksgiving Platter–Third Up: Barley with Butterut Squash and Baby Bellas

For this addition to our five-star Thanksgiving feast, I turned to star chef, Emeril Legasse. 

In a recent culinary magazine, his recipe for a barley, mushroom, and squash risotto made in a slow cooker really appealed to me.  I gave my slow cooker away age ago–I just don’t enjoy cooking that way–but I loved his concept.  So I simply made some quick-cooking barley and folded in cubed and sauteed butternut squash and baby bellas whose flavor I deepened with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast.  It was a hit and it made a ton, so I plan to add broth and make soup with the leftovers.  

Minced rosemary would be a nice addition, but I was flavoring the gravy with rosemary, so I didn’t include and it is still super tasty.   Similarly, since our dressing included sauteed onion, I didn’t add, but sauteed onion and garlic would be nice, though my stripped down version was delicious and satisfying.

Yield: 16 servings (when served with a couple of other side dishes and a main dish)

4 cups vegetable broth or stock

Pinch sea salt

2 cups quick cooking barley

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 butternut squash about 8 inches long, seeds, membrane, and peel removed; cut ino 1/2 inch pieces

Pinch of sea salt

1 pound baby bella mushrooms, sliced about 1/4-inch thick (I purchased them pre-sliced from Trader Joe’s)

Approximately 1/4 cup nutritional yeast

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

In a 2-quart saucepan, bring the broth or stock and a pinch of salt to a simmer.  Stir in the quick cooking barley, and simmer, loosely covered, about 12 minutes or until tender and water is evaporated.  Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high.  Add squash and a pinch of salt and saute, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until tender and just beginning to develop some color.  Lower heat if necessary to prevent from sticking.  Add mushrooms and continue sauteeing and stirring for about 3 minutes or until tender.  Turn off heat and stir in nutritional yeast.  Spoon cooked barley into a large bowl, add vegetables, and gently stir to combine.  Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if desired.  Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately.  If you make the dish well in advance of serving, spoon it into an oiled heat-proof serving dish, cool, cover, and refrigerate until about an hour and a half before serving time. Remove the dish from the refrigerator about an hour before serving.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and heat barley mixture, covered, for 20-30 minutes or until lheated through.  Serve immediately.

by betsy

Our Blooming Thanksgiving Platter–Second Up: Vegan Apple-Roasted Pecan-Sage Stuffing

On a recent Sunday, listening to our outstanding local public radio station, WHRV, announcer and jazz musician, Jae Sinnett, host of “Sinnet in Session,” shared his recipe–as he frequently does, for his show follows “Splendid Table” in their line-up–for an apple-pecan stuffing.  I didn’t write the recipe down, since I was driving; rather I just used it for inspiration, thinking it sounded perfect for our Thanksgiving feast.  To Jae’s basic recipe, I added cornbread to the bread base, as our family has always used a combination for what we think is the best taste and texture.  I also used roasted pecans–and a lot of them!–for depth of flavor.

Yield: 10-12 servings (when served with a couple of other side dishes)

1-8 inch pan of cornbread, cooked and cooled

About 10 ounces of multi-grain bread

1 pound roasted and lightly salted pecan pieces or halves (I purchased them already roasted and salted and Trader Joe’s; if using halves, break them with your fingers as you add to the stuffing); reserve a few to sprinkle on the top if desired

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large yellow onion, but into 1/4-inch dice

About 3 stalks of celery, trimmed, and cut lengthwise into 4 strips and then cut crosswise ino 1/4-inch pieces

2 sweet-tart apples (I used an apple grown here in Virginia), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/4 inch pieces

Approximately 2 teaspoons of rubbed sage or to taste

Vegetable broth or stock, added a little at a time until mixture is very moist but holds its shape and is not soggy (this will take at least 2 cups, so start with that amount)

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Photo Credit: SoupAddict.com

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Crumble cornbread into a large mixing bowl.  Tear bread into bite-size pieces into the same bowl and toss gently to combine.   In a large cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high.  Add the onion and saute, stirring frequently, for about 3 minutes.  Add celery, and continue sauteeing and stirring for about 2 minutes.  Add the apple and do the same for about 3 minutes.  All vegetables should be tender, but still hold their shape.  Add them to the breads in the large mixing bowl along with the sage, and toss gently to combine.  Begin adding broth or stock, stirring and “fluffing” with a fork until desired consistency is reached.   Taste to check for seasoning, and stir in salt, pepper, and sage as needed.   Oil a 9 x 13-inch glass or ceramic dish and spoon in stuffing without packing it down.  Sprinkle with reserved pecan halves if desired.  Bake just until heated through, about 25 to 30 minutes.  Cover with foil if the top appears to be drying out during the baking process.    Serve immediately.  If you want to prepare earlier in the day and reheat before serving, simply bake for about 20 minutes, cool, cover, and refrigerate.  About an hour and a half before serving, remove the dish from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for an hour.  Then reheat, covered, in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or just until heated through.

by betsy

What Bloomed on Our Platters for Vegan Thanksgiving 2011–First Up: Vegan Roasted Pumpkin with Pepita and Sage Pesto

Thanksgiving 2011 Hosts: Betsy & Joe DiJulio

This Thanksgiving was surely one of the best in recent memory, if a bit bittersweet.

In 1991, the year after my husband and I got married and moved to Virginia, we began a tradition of hosting the Thanksgiving celebration for both of our families.  Over the ensuing two decades, our families changed and grew with everyone welcome, though busy lives, blended families, and family responsibilities to aging relatives meant that not everyone could come every year.  However, some years, we happily picked up an aunt or two and a good family friend.  More recently, both Joe’s and my mothers experienced increasing health issues to the point that his couldn’t travel for the last two years and mine couldn’t travel last year, so we went to our respective homes for the holidays in 2010.  Sadly, Joe’s mother passed away last April (and had been predeceased a few years by his father), but my mother rebounded.  So this year, nine of our clan once again gathered here to revive the tradition.

It was a joyful day of cooking and visiting.   Our niece Gabriella and Joe’s Aunt Cathy stayed with us, with everyone else in beachfront hotels.  Before everybody woke and/or came over, I sprung out of bed and cleaned out our kitchen and garage refrigerators so we would have a clean slate.   The result was two sparkling fridges and an entire dishwasher load of food storage cartons.   Cathy dried every single one of them (I don’t run the heated dry cycle on the fridge to save energy) and she somehow kept up with the food prep dishes and tools all day, as I hand wash a lot of them either because they are special or because they will be reused.

 

Minnie Quickly Had Mom Trained

With the great fridge clean-out and a nice dog walk with Gab and Cathy under our belts, my parents and sister arrived and we all eased into a nice leisurely five hours of food preparation.  Joe and his sisters went to the gym, stopped by to say “hi,” and then headed to their hotel suite, complete with kitchen, to see about their contributions, returning around 4 p.m. with them in tow for the feast.

Meanwhile, at home, our house guests and my family were wonderfully helpful and conversant kitchen companions, easily moving in and out to offer help as needed.  And plenty was needed, as the only preparation my sister and I had done the day before was to make the dessert–Cranberry Crunch, a longtime family favorite–and a pan of cornbread for the dressing.  My dad turned out to be the ace pumpkin cleaner and peeler.  Doing that for a crowd is a bit of a chore, but was so much more enjoyable with my papa.

When we sat down to dinner my husband said he was surprised that there was nothing green on the menu.  He was right: there were no green vegetables!  But that was somewhat by design, as there simply wasn’t anything other than collards and broccoli at my go-to farmer’s market, and I didn’t have a particular hankerin’ for either.  But the market did have beautiful pumpkins and butternut squash, so I served both. 

Let’s begin with a recipe I’ve featured here on The Blooming Platter before:  Roasted Pumpkin with Pepita and Sage Pesto.  It is loved by many, including former pumpkin haters.  And, after introducing it to our Thanksgiving guests this year, it has even more fans.  Simply click on the link to access the recipe.  Note that, for Thanksgiving, I used six small striped pumpkins about 6 inches in diameter (see photo below) instead of a Turk’s Turban Squash and doubled the pesto recipe to serve 10 to 12 people (with other side dishes).  But we prepared the pumpkins the same way: roasting them for a little bit before removing the seeds, pulp, and peel; cutting it into chunks; and then roasting the chunks again for 17-20 minutes, or 8-10 minutes on each of two sides.

These Beauties Are as Tasty as They Are Pretty

Be sure to check out my three remaining Thanksgiving posts for my Apple-Roasted Pecan Dressing and Barley with Sauteed Butternut Squash and Baby Bellas plus my sister-in-law’s Cranberry-Orange Relish with Ginger and Walnuts and Aunt Cathy’s Caponata.

And for even more seasonal specialties, I hope you will check out The Blooming Platter Cookbook, great for everyone on your holiday gift list.

by betsy

Vegan Thai Red Curry, Pumpkin and Coconut Milk Sauce with Fresh Peanut Butter-Roasted Pumpkin and Tofu Recipe

My Thanksgiving Day post is coming up, but–and I bet it is no different in your household–there is no time for carefully staging food photographs in the midst of the convivial holiday hubbub.  So, before the throngs gather today–and, in any event, with less going on in the kitchen–I hope to photograph the components of our meal.  I made one recent recipe and two brand new ones that received rave reviews, so I’m looking forward to sharing them with you.

In the meantime, though, I am excited to offer this Thai-inspired pumpkin dish.  If you follow The Platter, you know that I am all about fresh pumpkin this year, including in Asian preparations, like this one and my Vegan Miso-Roasted Pumpkin and Grilled Tofu over Udon Noodles which was featured on OneGreenPlanet.org.

Pumpkin is so agreeable to rubs, and this peanut butter riff is no exception.  Enjoy it with creamy white chunks of tofu over my silky, golden, and pleasantly spicy melange of red bell peppers, onions and chard in a coconut-red curry sauce thickened with pureed pumpkin.  Its subtle tang is courtesy of fresh lime juice and vegan fish sauce.

Yield: 4 servings

Fresh Peanut Butter-Roasted Pumpkin:

2 tablespoons smooth natural peanut butter

1 tablespoon vegan fish sauce (sold as “vegetarian fish sauce” in Asian markets)

1 teaspoon prepared Thai red curry paste

1 1/4 pounds pumpkin (this weight is with seeds and pulp removed, but the skin still on) , peeled and cut into about 3/4 inch cubes

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Oil a large metal baking dish and set aside.  In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, vegan fish sauce, and curry paste until smooth.  Add pumpkin and toss gently to coat.  Transfer to the prepared baking pan, spread out, place in the oven and roast for about 8 minutes.  Stir gently or flip chunks, and roast an additional 8 minutes or until lightly caramelized.  While pumpkin roasts, make sauce.  When pumpkin is finished cooking, remove the pan from the oven.  If sauce isn’t quite finished, cover pumpkin to keep warm.

Vegan Thai Pumpkin and Coconut Milk Curry Sauce:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 of a large onion, cut into 1/4-inch wide slivers

Pinch sea salt

1 large red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, cut into 1/4-inch wide slivers and then cut in half crosswise

2 large garlic cloves, minced

2 cups finely chopped Swiss chard–I use the food processor for this task (about 1 bunch with thick stems removed; you may use kale or spinach instead, but the chard was lovely at our farmer’s market recently)

2 tablespoons prepared red curry paste (feel free to adjust the amount to your taste)

1-15 ounce can coconut milk or lite coconut milk

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup vegan fish sauce

Juice of one lime

Sea salt to taste

Optional, but recommended:  1 tablespoon each finely chopped Thai basil and cilantro or to taste

Accompaniments: 12 ounces regular tofu cut into 1 inch chunks (baked, broiled or simply heated and kept warm until serving time); and 2 cups cooked Jasmine rice

Garnish: chopped peanuts,  sliced green onions, and optional lime wedges

In a large cast iron skillet or wok, heat olive oil over medium-high.  Add onion and a pinch of sea salt and saute, stirring, for about 3 minutes or until onion begins to soften.  Add bell peppers and continue sauteing for about 2-3 more minutes or until it begins to soften.  Add garlic and chard and saute for one to two  minutes or until chard is tender, but still bright green.  Add curry paste and saute, stirring, just until smooth and incorporated.  Add coconut milk and pumpkin puree, and cook until heated through.  Add fish sauce and lime juice, and stir to combine.  Check for seasoning, and add salt if necessary.  Stir in optional Thai basil and cilantro and remove from heat.  Serve sauce over cooked Jasmine rice topped with roasted pumpkin and tofu.  Garnish with chopped peanuts and sliced green onion.

 

For 150+ more specialties of the season, I hope you will check out The Blooming Platter Cookbook.

by betsy

A Blooming Platter Vegan Thanksgiving Recipe Featured on Super Vegan

The good folks at “Super Vegan” have been posting vegan Thanksgiving recipes for the past several days and were kind enough to include my Sweet Potatoes Caribbean recipe which is from The Blooming Platter Cookbook: A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes.

Check out my recipe and all the other delicious offerings on the Super Vegan site.

And have yourself a beautiful T-Day (Tofu-Day) regardless of what’s on your menu.

by betsy

Spicy Vegan Brussels Sprout Slaw with Maple-Mustard-Allspice Vinaigrette

Here’s a tasty twist on tradition for your Thanksgiving table: a spicy slaw made from Brussels sprouts inspired by an almost comical-looking stalk of this misunderstood vegetable at the farmer’s market.  The spicy notes are courtesy of a hint of jalapeno and a light and lively vinaigrette made from the favorite fall flavor of maple kicked up with mustard and given depth with the incorporation of savory-sweet allspice.  It’s also delicious with my “Pulled” Spaghetti Squash BBQ.

Yield 4-6 servings

2 cups whole Brussels sprouts, trimmed

1/2 cup red onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice

1 to 2 medium or hot small peppers (about 2.5 to 3 inches), seeds and membrane removed, and very finely chopped (I would add one, taste, and add part or all of another if desired)

Pinch sea salt

Maple-Mustard-Allspice Vinaigrette (recipe follows)

Thinly slice Brussels sprouts using the slicer blade of a food processor if available.  Place in a medium bowl and add remaining slaw ingredients.  Toss lightly with a fork to combine.  Pour vinaigrette over the slaw mixture and toss again with a fork to distribute the dressing evenly.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  It is best if the flavors are allowed to marry for 2 or more hours before serving.

Maple-Mustard-Allspice Vinaigrette:

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon hazelnut or walnut oil

1 tablespoon maple syrup

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice or to taste

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Pinch sea salt

In a small bowl or cup, whisk together all ingredients until well combined.

For 150+ savory, spicy and sweet seasonal recipes, I invite you to peruse The Blooming Platter Cookbook: A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes.

by betsy

Vegan Silver Dollar Pumpkin-Espresso-Oatmeal Pancake-Fritters

Yield:  Approximately 8-10 silver dollar pancakes

Here in America, Thanksgiving approaches.  It is so many people’s favorite holiday, and for good reason.  Non-denominational and, in fact, not necessarily religious in any direct way, it tends to be a gracious gathering of friends and family who come together to share a traditional meal of fall favorites while giving thanks to anyone for anything they choose.

Pumpkin dishes typically take center stage on the menu, but I crave them before, during and after.  If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving late in the day, you might enjoy these pancake-fritters for breakfast; or if your clan breaks bread earlier in the day, try these treats the morning after.   Or, heck, go ahead and make them today!

I call them “pancake-fritters” because they are a hybrid, but not by design, at least initially.  Rather, the pleasant “stickiness” of the batter and the amount of sugar meant that my first batch, cooked as regular pancakes, had to be put down the disposal!  I discovered that they have to be small, and they have to be pan fried in a bit more oil than what pancakes require to prevent them from sticking to the skillet and scorching.

So don’t be tempted to make these as larger pancakes or use less oil or yours will meet the same fate as mine.  My second try is what you see pictured and well worth the failed experiment.   The resulting pancake-fritters are a little oilier than a pancake, like a fritter or even a fried cake doughnut, with a crispy exterior and a soft and tender interior.

Pumpkin pancakes are a dime a dozen, so while a half-cup of leftover pumpkin initiated the recipe, the desire for a twist on a classic resulted in the addition of oatmeal and espresso powder inspired by my Baked Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal with a cup of coffee.   Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

1/2 cup white whole wheat flour (or unbleached all-purpose)

1 cup old fashioned oats

4 tablespoon natural sugar

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

pinch sea salt

1/4 cup soymilk (I use unsweetened, but plain is fine)

2 teaspoons instant espresso

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional garnish: maple syrup plus a dab of vegan sour cream and a walnut piece per pancake

 

Preheat the oven to warm and line a plate with a double thickness of paper towel.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the first 7 dry ingredients and make a well in the center.  In a small bowl, whisk together soymilk and espresso powder to dissolve the latter.  Then whisk in pumpkin puree and vanilla.   Pour the wet ingredients into the well and whisk all together just until combined.  In a large cast iron skillet, heat about 1/8 inch of canola oil over medium-high.   Make pancakes-fritters, 4 at a time, using 1 rounded tablespoon of batter, gently smoothing the  top.  Cook for about 2 minutes per side, loosening each pancake from the bottom of the pan with a metal spatula after a minute or less of cooking, just enough time for the pancakes to be set enough to gently lift.  Reduce heat if cooking too fast.  Remove to the lined plate, cover with more paper towel, and keep warm in the oven while you continue with the remaining batter in the same manner.  Serve each garnished with maple syrup, a dollop of vegan sour cream and a walnut piece.

For 150+ additiona recipes perfect for this and every season, I invite you to check out The Blooming Platter Cookbook: A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes.

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