Jan 25-31

I found a vegan food blog tonight. There were several interesting looking recipes, and they included ingredients we have on hand. I thought I would give them a try!


Monday:  Pine Nut Hummus, Cauliflower Baked w/ Tomatoes and Feta Cheese & pita bread
- Recipe for Pine Nut Hummus from a courtesy post card from our Realtor, Sheila Rosart
- Recipe for Cauliflower Baked w.Tomatoes and Feta Cheese from Mediterranean Vegetarian Cooking pg. 58

Pine Nut Hummus

3/4 cup olive oil
3 TBL pine nuts
2 15 oz cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2/3 cup tahini, ell stirred
2/3 cups water
5 TBL fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup pine nuts for garnish
Fresh basil sprigs for garnish

Puree all the ingredients in a food processor and refrigerate in a covered bowl. Recipe may be prepared up to 3 days ahead. Garnish with fresh basil and pine nuts.


~Word to the wise... When a recipe indicates the use of a food processor...Use a food processor.  I am pretty sure I broke our blender making the hummus.  It tasted great but it was a strange consistency (from trying to process it in my blender.) The cauliflower dish was amazing. It was a little time consuming. Mainly due to peeling tomatoes. It was definitely worth the time. After trying it my husband declared, "This one's a keeper!" 

Tuesday: Black-Eyed Peas and Chard w/Soba Noodles
-Recipe from Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker pg. 140


~This recipe was a little more involved than I expect for a slow cooker recipe. It was very good though. It was very down home and a good mix of beans and greens. My 18 month old hates black-eyed peas, greens, and carrots.. Which is pretty much all this recipe consisted of. I was surprised when she ate it like candy! We will be having this one again, but per my husband's request not too frequently. He missed spices.

Wednesday: Mediterranean Chick'n Cutlets w/ Pitas
- Recipe from Lightlife

Thursday: Avocado Mac and "Cheese"
- Recipe from the site Eating Consciously


~I firmly believe all non-cheese mac and "cheese" recipes should not reference cheese in the title. It sets them up for failure. For instance this dish should be called pasta in an avocado sauce. This dish was different. It was not bad, but had a very unique flavor... a flavor that did not go over well in my home. We won't have this one again, but it is one of the best non-dairy mac and "cheese" attempts I have tried. 

Friday: Immune Enhancing Miso Soup with a side of Lightly Sauted Kale.
- Recipe from the site Eating Consciously

~The soup was delicious! The ginger in it is fantastic. While we were not sick...I can only imagine this soup would be an ideal under the weather soup. It would be so soothing on a sore throat, or if you were stuffy. I added our leftover soba noodles from the Black-eyed peas with Chard and Soba noodles. It was the perfect combination and ensured we have a grain. I have never sauted kale. This worked really well. Definitely a good side dish for the soup!

Saturday: Spicy Vegan Quinoa Chili
- Recipe from the site Eating Consciously


~Quinoa Chili! What a great idea! This was the best chili I have had. It was spicy and a complete meal! My daughter even loved it, and I did not think she liked spicy food. I think her pallet might be changing.

Sunday: Pesto-Infused White Bean and Sun-Dried Tomato Stew
   - Recipe from Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker pg. 71

Breakfast: Good Morning Millet Melange

- Recipe from Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker pg. 241