Saturday, November 3, 2007

Afternoon delights

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A cool Saturday afternoon begs for some time in the kitchen. Today I got busy with a couple of Robin Robertson's recipes. First, I made the PDQ Pot Pie from Quick Fix Vegetarian (p137). I'm renaming this one "World's Ugliest Pot Pie" for obvious reasons, but that's because I used a round pie crust in a rectangular pyrex. Hey, as long as it tastes good, right? Which it does. And as promised, it was indeed a quick fix. Found myself to be out of onions today (how can I be out of onions??), so I added some onion powder to the vegetable mixture, and some broccoli and celery. I also used Tofurkey brats. Robin suggests using extra firm tofu or some type of "meat" analog--and the brats were the only thing in the fridge that would work (since I had other plans for the tofu). I also added a gob of garlic. Cuz that's how I roll.
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Next, I tried Robin's recipe for Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal Cookies from Vegan Planet (p511). Only I didn't have any cranberries, so out come the raisins. For such a simple cookie, this one was actually a bit disappointing. Turns out you need to flatten them as you're putting the dough on the cookie sheet, not make them as drop cookies per the instructions. Don't get me wrong--they're good, just not my favorite oatmeal raisin cookie recipe. I prefer a chewy cookie, these are a bit crunchier than I like. Of course this will not stop us from eating them. Duh. Cookies are cookies.
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One more homemade thing for today--and the best thing in the world to have as a homemade treat--BREAD. This is a fantastic bread, light and fluffy, herby, crusty, just what bread should be. The recipe is from The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook. Do you have this book? Well you should. It's not vegan, but everything is veganizable. Except for maybe your favorite buttermilk honey cheese pepperoni bread, although I'm sure someone could figure that out too. Anyway, this bread is delicious. It's just the plain ole Herb Bread recipe (p304), which calls for marjoram, basil, and tarragon. Of those three, I had basil. You don't really think that would stop me from having homemade bread, do you? I threw in some garlic powder and rosemary along with the basil, and a handful of sesame seeds, and it's fantastico.
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5 comments:

Bella Vegan said...

I'm sooo coming out to DC to cook with you - we're going to be so full! I'm trying to get back my vegan cooking mojo. I think it's coming back again...albeit slowly. Do you have a really good chocolate chip cookie recipe? If so, send it to me - it's an emergency!
Su Gordita Amiga en Reno :-)

The Divine Miss V said...

Anytime, baby! Anytime!

Haven't made them yet, but check out the cc cookie recipe in the new The Joy of Vegan Baking.

Unknown said...

Okay, I like how you roll, the cranberry cookies are good (and I would venture better) with cranberries in them - and I sooooo need that bread recipe!!!

Unknown said...

Please don't bring that pie to any potlucks, ok? Otherwise you might have to be charged with deactivism.

The Divine Miss V said...

Oh shut up, xod. :) That shit was good. Don't hate.

E, maybe one day when I'm feeling generous I'll copy down the recipe and send it to you.