Soup & Potato

On a cold day, isn't some soup and a baked potato a nice way to warm up chilled bodies?
Here's a healthy new way to have a baked potato without bacon bits and sourcream and scratch having Campbell's from a can.
Both don't require you to watch the stove so snuggle with a book and you'll have something nice and satisfying soon.

Pictured:
Curried Parsnip Soup
Baked Sweet Potato with Steamed Broccoli and Crumbled Feta Cheese

You'll love brussels sprouts!

If you want to like brussels sprouts...don't boil them. Roasting is what brings out the natural sweetness as the sugars caramelize. Pair them with fennel and you have a very tasty dish.
I was tired of looking at spaghetti noodles so I used these organic cascarelle shapes. They look like stretched out "S"s. Some toasted pine nuts top it off.

Red Beans and Rice is Nice

This red beans recipe is a compilation of various recipes online but mostly adapted from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen. I did not have green bell peppers for what people have called the "Trinity" - (onions, bell pepper,celery) and I don't ever cook with onions besides spring ones.
I added some roasted red bell peppers instead.
The kidney beans were soaked overnight, drained and cooked for 1 1/2 hours until soft. Eventually the celery, garlic, and the spices were added. I added lots of thyme for its special flavor. There is also oregano, basil, bay leaf, , paprika, cayenne pepper, vegan Worcestershire, black pepper, sea salt and a drop of liquid smoke. It simmered for 2 hours.
If you have a slow cooker, this would be a great dish to try.
Some Tofurkey Kielbasa sausage was grilled on my cast iron skillet grill for 5 minutes.
Yes, I know Kielbasa is a Polish sausage, but I did add some hot sauce to the tops (not in picture) as an attempt a veggie chaurice. :)
Someday I'll post my veggie muffaleta!

No Injera Ethiopian Food

I made a couple preps of Ethiopian food but no Injera bread. So how is this Ethiopian you say?
I know I know, it's the injera that makes it authentic.
I have made it before and it's much like a South Indian dosa, spongy, sour and fun to make in a cast iron skillet.
Anyway, here's what's on the plate.
Gomen (spiced collard greens) with organic cottage cheese
Mesir Wat (red lentil puree)
Ethiopian Wat (my veggie stew version made with sweet potato, green beans, red potatoes, cabbage and home made niter kibbeh (seasoned oil) and freshly ground berbere spices)
If you like veggie Indian food, you'll like Ethiopian. Both are savory, spicy, and come with nice flat breads to scoop up all the delish dishes...that is, if someone takes the time out to make the flat breads!

Autumn Crackers

Looking for some replacements for goldfish crackers, Cheezits, and the other varieties of non-vegan crackers? Look no further!
You can make them at home and with any type of design you like.
I decided on "autumn shapes" to go with the numerous soups I had been making.
The cuteness factor is perfect for the kiddos.
There is a maple leaf, gingerbread person, apple, star, acorn, oak leaf, teddy bear, and fancy leaf. The hardest part is taking the time to cut out these small shapes and bake them. I baked 4 cookie sheets full of crackers and even rolled out the holey dough leftovers 3 times!
They are in a glass cookie jar now :)

Adapted from recipe: Vegan Lunch Box Goldfish crackers

Veggie Survey

Here's that survey that's been going around! Since you don't really know much about me, I figured this might be a fun way of introducing a few facets of my veggie life.

1. Favorite non-dairy milk?
I'm really just a water person and will use various non-dairy milks in recipes, but I must admit that Silk Nog is delish!

2. What are the top 3 dishes/recipes you are planning to cook?
Potato Fennel Soup, Veggie Bi Bim Bap, Thai Tofu Curry

3. Topping of choice for popcorn?
Popcorn brings back bad high school job memories so I do not partake in any version.

4. Most disastrous recipe/meal failure?
Probably gluten steaks...was only vegetarian for 6 months and tried to make fake meaties. I did not boil the gluten, so you can imagine how rubbery and inedible it could have been!

5. Favorite pickled item?
All glories to lime/mango pickle! Go to an India store and buy some authentic pickle or if you have a mango tree pick it green and make your own achar.

6. How do you organize your recipes?
TXT. files in a folder on my computer and a 3 -ring binder with some printouts in those nice plastic sheets so they don't get messed up.

7. Compost, trash, or garbage disposal?
Boo hoo, mostly trash and disposal because we live in an apt, but come January...HOUSE time and compost time!

8. If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 foods…what would they be (don’t worry about how you’ll cook them)?
Puris (fried Indian puffed breads)

Kichari (rice/mung bean stew fit for peasants and kings)

Blueberry vegan cake donuts

9. Fondest food memory from your childhood?
This is more funny: My brother cried at his 10th or 11th birthday party because I mixed my ketchup and mustard together and swirled my corndog in it. Im not sure why it pissed him off so much, but it's still a really great way to eat them (if they are vegan). Try the Twinkie pan and the recipe from the Vegan Lunch Box

10. Favorite vegan ice cream?
Don't really like frozen cold desserts so I have to admit I haven't tried that many due to lack of enthusiasm. Carob Rice Dream Bar was tasty and I didnt get the choco buzz which I am not fond of.

11. Most loved kitchen appliance?
Toaster oven and Vitamix tie

12. Spice/herb you would die without?
Fresh cilantro

13. Cookbook you have owned for the longest time?
My mom gave me this cookbook as a college graduation gift with $500 because I told her I was now vegetarian. I think it is out of print now, but it has beautiful pictures of every recipe. Not a purist book as it does have seafood recipes in the back for those "flexitarians".
The Complete Encyclopedia of Vegetables and Vegetarian Cooking

14. Favorite flavor of jam/jelly?
Blueberry

15. Favorite vegan recipe to serve to an omni friend?
Any Indian food

16. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh?
Tempeh is my least favorite, but I know its healthier.
I'm kinda going through an eat less soy desire thing, but I dont have much time to make my own seitan. Tofu is the most affordable of all 3, so I eat that the most.

17. Favorite meal to cook (or time of day to cook)?
If everyone was home, I would say Lunch....everybody's digestive fire is burning the best then!

18. What is sitting on top of your refrigerator?
Various glass jars Im saving for sprouting or storage or just because Im a cheapo and dont want to throw them away. Husband Whole Foods 365 Italian Sparkling Water

20. What’s on your grocery list?
Nothing now...too much food buying at Whole Foods this weekend

21. Favorite grocery store?
I like HEB Central Market because I can find almost everything I like, I like the layout because I can totally skip the meat/seafood depts and they carry a lot more ethnic/specialty items than Whole Foods.

22. Name a recipe you’d love to veganize, but haven’t yet.
Donuts!

23. Food blog you read the most (besides Isa’s because I know you check it everyday). Or maybe the top 3?
What the Hell Does A Vegan Eat Anyway

Slashfood

24. Favorite vegan candy/chocolate?
LaraBar

25. Most extravagant food item purchased lately
India Tree natural food color....DO NOT BUY this.
I bought it to make some orange crackers for my daughter's fall lunches...next time will just try to find some annato.
I spent $19 on a set of 3 (red, yellow,blue) and the yellow was turmeric water....bleh, I can make my own turmeric water. Still looking for the nice vegan colors that come separately and made with veggie glycerin.

Welcome to Veggie Bytes

I have finally found a decent name for a veggie food blog to accompany my personal chef business! All of you fellow veggies have been great about scooping up great domain names and coming up with some wonderful ones I could have sworn nobody would have thought of but me!
I was able to get www.veggiebytes.com and will soon get that set up.

Until I can get some pictures up, I hope that you will bookmark my blog.

Happy & Healthy Eating!
Cristina