Blue Corn Tortillas

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Blue Corn Tortilla With Pintos, Salsa and CilantroOur friend, Kristin, gave us some ears of Blue Corn from her garden recently, so I decided to cook up nixtamal and press some tortillas. It was my first time working with quicklime.

The kernels weighed out at a little over half a pound after shelling the ears, so I added them to two quarts of boiling water and a couple tablespoons of pickling lime. After boiling for half an hour, I covered the pot and let the corn soak overnight in the solution.

After rinsing and scrubbing by hand, the cooked nixtamal went into the food processor with 1/4 cup of water, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of raw sugar and 2 tablespoons of avocado oil. Processed smooth, it was ready for the tortilla press.

Six smallish ears made eight nice tortillas. I considered cutting them into triangles and deep frying into chips, but decided to just load them up with some pintos and salsa. They were very, very good.

There’s something especially satisfying in taking a home grown product through an old fashioned process like this, rather than just mixing up store bought masa, no matter how high the quality. This is definitely something I’ll take the time to do again.

 

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Cataplana

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CataplanaI’ve been listening to the Spirit of the Camino podcast lately on my morning runs. In the first season, there’s a lot of discussion about the culture of Portugal, where Nick and Wendy live. They mentioned Cataplana at some point, and I was intrigued.

I researched recipes online and ran across a couple that were either Vegan or nearly so, and adapted them.

It seems like the three essential ingredients are tomatoes, bell peppers and onions, so those feature prominently in my version. I’d love to try the “authentic” dish one of these days, to learn whether or not my spice and herb mix was close. I can’t vouch that this recipe would pass as a genuine Cataplana in Portugal, but it sure was tasty.

I didn’t have an actual Cataplana dish to cook in, so I used a 6 quart stock pot.

Sauté:

  • 2 Large Onions, Chopped (I used 1 yellow and 1 red), Salt and Ground Black Pepper
  • 5 Cloves of Garlic, Minced (after the onions are pretty well cooked)

Season With:

  • 2 T Paprika
  • 2 T Cumin
  • Some Red Pepper Flakes and Oregano
  • 1/2 Can Tomato Paste

If you wanted, you could probably use Tarragon instead of the Oregano. It might be a little more typical of Portuguese seasoning.

Once all of that mess is combined and fragrant, I added some garden fresh green beans that we had on hand, and stirred them around in the mixture.

Deglaze:

  • 1/2 Cup Sherry (you could use white wine if you want)
  • 2 Cups Veggie Stock

Add:

  • 2 Cans Diced Tomatoes (fire roasted is nice)
  • 2 Bell Peppers, Chopped
  • 6 Medium Potatoes, Cubed
  • Some Miso Paste
  • 1 Sheet Nori, Cut Into Small Pieces

Cover and cook until the veggies are tender. I added some frozen peas toward the end, so they could warm through, but not get mushy.

You could also add or substitute whatever other vegetables you would like. Zucchini and Eggplant would be good choices. Perhaps Snow Peas or Chick Peas as well. If you wanted to add some spicy peppers, they should work fine too.

We served this with some “take and bake” Italian bread from Aldi. The soup was savory, tangy and nicely sweet. It must’ve been beginner’s luck, but this goes right onto my list of favorite soups.

If you’re not Vegan, you could add some shrimp, clams or whitefish.

Here are links to some of the recipes I reviewed.

https://vegancooking.livejournal.com/3345350.html

https://www.veganbearchef.com/vegan-cataplana.html

https://food52.com/recipes/41744-portuguese-cataplana

http://yumblog.co.uk/archives/9727

https://www.luisa-paixao.us/blogs/life-in-portugal/cataplana-the-5-best-recipes

 

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Paella de Verduras

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Paella de VerdurasPaella is one of those dishes that seem to put everyone in a festive mood. When I first began making it five years ago, I did my best to keep it as authentic as I could, which I thought meant including pork, poultry and shellfish.

As our family moved more and more toward plant-based cooking, I substituted Vegan Chorizo for the pork, but always included shrimp and chicken atop the pan for the folks around the table who still consumed them, thinking that it really wouldn’t be Paella without them.

I was delighted to learn recently that Paella de Verduras is also a traditional dish in Spain. I decided to try this vegetable-only version for supper the last evening that my sons were back in the US for a visit. From start to finish, the meal took about an hour and a half to prepare, so it’s not a quick weeknight meal, but I was still able to pull it off in time to eat at a decent hour even beginning after the work day ended.

Broth for the Rice

Sauté 5 cloves of garlic in some olive oil. Add 3 T of tomato paste and 1 1/2 T paprika and let it caramelize just a bit. Add 2/3 cup of Sherry and a quart of veggie stock. Since I was leaving out clam juice this time to keep things Vegan, I added a splash of apple cider vinegar and some soy sauce to kick up the umami a bit, and then let this boil for a few minutes to bring all the flavors together.

On the Grill

I fired up the Weber Genesis gas grill and started by grilling some strips of Red Bell Pepper, and some chunks of Zucchini and Eggplant that I’d hit with olive oil, salt and ground black pepper. Then I got my Paella Pan good and hot, and sautéed a couple of Spanish Onions in some olive oil. 3 cups of medium grain rice went in next, and then the broth. Once it cooked with the grill closed for 15 minutes, I rotated the pan a quarter of a turn and put the grilled veggies on top. After another 15 minutes, I turned the pan again and topped it with jarred artichoke hearts, some pimiento stuffed olives and frozen peas. From there on, I just checked and rotated the pan every five minutes or so until it looked like things were pretty well done. I grabbed a spoon of rice to check for doneness, and then brought the pan in to rest at table for a little while before we ate.

I think everyone enjoyed this, as there were few leftovers. It was every bit as tasty as the meat and seafood version. The only thing I will change next time is to get a little more seasoning into the broth. Maybe some salt and some red pepper flakes or cumin or somesuch.

Ingredients list is below, in case you want to try it yourself. If you don’t have a Paella pan, you could use a large iron skillet or Dutch Oven and cut the recipe in half or thirds. One of the tricks is to not stir the rice after you add the broth. The dark, almost burnt crusty rice closest to the pan is part of what makes the dish unique and tasty.

Ingredients

  • 5 Cloves Garlic, Crushed and Diced or Pressed
  • 3 T Tomato Paste
  • 1 1/2 T Paprika
  • 2/3 C Sherry
  • 1 Quart Vegetable Stock
  • 3 Red Bell Peppers cut into strips
  • 1 Medium Eggplant cut into rounds, then quartered
  • 4 Small Zucchini cut into rounds, then quartered
  • 1 Jar Quartered Artichoke Hearts, drained
  • 1 Jar Spanish Style Pimiento Stuffed Olives, drained
  • 2 Cups Frozen Peas

¡Buen Apetito!

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Mexicali Rice and Beans

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Beans and Rice PlatedThis made for a tasty weeknight meal, that came together in about 45 minutes.

I chopped up an onion, a green bell pepper and a red bell pepper in the Cuisinart, and sautéed them in a 6 quart pot with a sprinkle of salt. Once they were caramelized pretty well, I added a couple cloves of minced garlic. Spices went next (some red pepper flakes and about a teaspoon each of paprika and cumin), then a can of fire roasted tomatoes.

Once those flavors started to meld, I added a cup of vegetable stock, a can of drained black beans, a can of drained sweet corn and a cup of brown Basmati rice. When this mess began to boil, I turned down the heat and put on the lid.

As the rice was cooking, I mixed up some Masa Harina, water and a pinch of salt and pressed it out into tortillas, cooking them in an iron skillet with a tiny bit of vegetable oil.

The rice wasn’t done at 30 minutes, so I covered it again and left it another ten before killing the heat.

The recipe I adapted said that it serves 4, but two of us ate our fill and there was a lot left over, so I think you could probably feed six with this, especially if you include tortillas or other sides. The dish reminded me of a grownup version of the “Spanish Rice” my mom used to serve when I was a kid. Same basic flavor and texture profile, but a lot heartier and more complex.

Would highly recommend making the homemade tortillas, by the way. So much better in all ways compared to storebought, and worth the time it takes to mix the batter, press them out, and fry. Claudia gave me a Victoria tortilla press for Father’s Day this year, and it makes the process a breeze.

I wasn’t sure what to call this, because it’s not authentic Mexican cuisine, and not even really Tex-Mex. Gene Autry’s “Mexicali Rose” came to mind for some reason while I was cooking, so there you go.

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Vegan Coney Dogs

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Vegan Coney Dog and FriesThere is a “hot dog and root beer stand” type of restaurant in our town that is renowned for their Coney Sauce. They are called Jaenicke’s. They’re only open in the warm weather months, so opening day each spring is a much anticipated event here in Kankakee.

When Claudia and I were first dating, it was a sort of rite of passage for our relationship to have a “sauce bun with cheese” together at Jaenicke’s.

I still miss the sauce buns, and feel a little nostalgia for “Wiener Wednesdays” in the summer months. So I figured I would try to replicate the fare using plant based ingredients.

I had used the Jaenicke’s knockoff recipe from Geek Eats TV before, substituting black lentils for the ground beef. Although I like the lentils as a substitute in Moussaka, I wasn’t nuts about the sauce. This time I used Beyond Burger, and it was quite a bit better, and very close to the original, except for that characteristic BB aftertaste. I think Impossible Burger may be the way to go, and I’ll try to make the sauce again using that product soon.

Two other components that were not quite spot on this time. First, I really should have steamed the buns. Our teenager, Caro, says that one of the great things about the buns at Jaenicke’s is that they are so soft that it’s always a risk that they will fall apart in your hands.

Secondly, the “cheese” sauce came out a little too thin, and just a tad vegetal tasting. I think that this is because I added a splash too much of the steaming water to the Vitamix.

All in all, not a bad attempt. Field Roast franks stood in well for the dogs, and I have no complaint at all about those.

Stay tuned!

 

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Oatmeal Muffins

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Oatmeal MuffinsEach month, during shelter season, I take at least one meal to the Fortitude Community Outreach homeless shelter. Sometimes it’s for an evening meal, but most of the time lately it’s breakfast.

This week, one of the items on the breakfast menu was “muffins, banana bread, or similar.” Not being the baker in the family, I was a little insecure to sign up, but I figured I could always opt for store bought if necessary.

Luckily, I found this recipe for Oatmeal Muffins from John Kanell’s site and it looked simple enough for even a novice like myself.

I used Old Fashioned Oats, and they turned out great. Not only tasty, but also lovely to behold. Yay.

I made these according to the recipe, substituting oat milk for the dairy. At some point I’ll experiment with using applesauce or chia seed instead of egg to keep it 100% plant based.

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Aloo Tikki

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Aloo Tikki PlatedI had a few potatoes that needed to be used, so I made these Indian potato cakes for a quick brunch on Saturday Morning.

Using the recipe from Tiffin and Tea, I left out the corn starch and green chilies.

I peeled and cubed three potatoes and boiled until tender. After draining, I mashed them with the remaining ingredients.

  • Juice of 1/2 Lemon
  • 1 t Chilli Powder
  • 1/2 t Turmeric
  • 1 1/2 t Cumin Powder
  • 1 1/2 t Coriander Powder
  • 1 t Ginger Powder
  • 1/2 t Garam Masala
  • 1 T Coriander (I used Parsley)
  • 4 T Breadcrumbs
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 T Avocado Oil

These were easy to form into patties, and frying in the iron skillet didn’t take long. They were delicious. Three potatoes made a nice plate each for Claudia and I. We topped with a dollop of sour cream, but I would use cashew cream spread next time to keep it vegan. In India, they would likely top with yoghurt.

As a child, I always loved it when my mom would make potato pancakes from left over mashed potatoes. This was like that, but with the nice warm flavor profile of Indian spices.

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Chana Dosa

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Chana Dosa with Cheese and Veggie SautéFor Sunday Brunch this week I made my second run at dosas, which are sort of like crêpes, except made from plant protein sources instead of eggs. Chana Dosa is a delicious and nutritious version using chickpeas as the batter base.

We had these last summer at the ISKCON Temple in Naperville during their vegetarian food festival, and have been wanting to make them ever since.

I adapted a recipe from the Bhusanur Cooking YouTube channel.

  • 1 c raw chickpeas
  • 1/2 c uncooked rice (we used brown Basmati)
  • 1 t Fenugreek
  • 1/2 t Asofoetida
  • 3/4 t salt

Rinse the chickpeas and rice a few times, then soak for at least 8 hours.

Drain, and place in Vitamix with 1 c water and the other ingredients, and mix until batter consistency.

Let mixture rest and ferment in a bowl at least 8 hours. After this, add a few tablespoons of water at a time and mix by hand until it’s pancake batter consistency.

I added probably 6 T of water total, and think I could have used more.

The first time I made these, I used a crêpe pan to cook, and had issues with sticking and trouble getting the thickness correct, so I opted for a cast iron skillet this time. I got the best results on medium/high heat using olive oil spray.

Add a dollop of batter to the hot pan and use the back of the ladle to spread it thin in a circular motion. Cover the pan with a lid and set a timer for 1 minute. At that point, the dosa is nearly done, it just needs to be flipped for a few seconds to toast the other side a bit before adding the filling.

I used a sauté of onions, bell peppers and celery, with savory seasonings and just a bit of the Fenugreek and Asofoetida. We also added some freshly shredded Swiss Cheese. After spooning that on half of the dosa, fold the top over and let things get hot and gooey.

This recipe made six nice size dosas, and they were delicious and surprisingly filling. Definitely a keeper.

Thank you, India.

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Vegan Chorizo Hash with Tofu Scramble

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Tofu Scramble and HashWhenever I run across recipes from Weber Grills these days, my first thought is often “I don’t eat that.” When I am conscious, my second thought is “How can I adapt this to not use meat?”

This Chorizo and Potato Hash with Egg recipe is a perfect example. It’s the sort of thing that would have had me running to Jewel for Chorizo and firing up the Genesis back when I was carnivorous. So when it hit my inbox, I was intrigued, then momentarily disappointed. Then I realized that I already had a recipe for Chorizo made with plant-based meat that I’d been wanting to try. I’d also had good luck with Tofu Scramble in the past, and although it’s not quite the same as a gooey, runny egg yolk dripping over the potatoes, I figured it would stand in nicely.

So I filed the recipe away in my Evernote, hoping I’d remember to get around to it. On a recent trip to Aldi, they had Beyond Beef  bulk burger on sale, so we picked up a couple packages, and I finally remembered to put this meal together for Sunday Dinner this week. I opted for cooking indoors, just for the sake of efficiency, but I’ll definitely make this again on the cast iron plancha out on the Genesis this summer.

The Chorizo seasoning comes from America’s Test Kitchen’s Cooking With Plant Based Meat.

  • 4 t Ancho Chile Powder
  • 4 t Paprika
  • 2 t Ground Cumin
  • 1 t Ground Coriander
  • 2 t Dried Oregano
  • 2 t Sugar (I used Turbinado)
  • 1/2 t Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 t Cinnamon
  • Pinch Cayenne Pepper
  • Pinch Ground Allspice

This is supposed to be enough for 12 ounces of ground plant-based meat, but it did fine to season a full pound of the Beyond Burger.

I used two pounds of potatoes, cubing them with the skins on, and soaking them in a bowl of water with a little salt and white vinegar until I was ready to cook. Once they were in the pot and about starting to boil, I sautéed the Chorizo in my wok with a little olive oil. When it was done (five or six minutes) I removed it to a bowl, deglazed the wok with a splash of vinegar, and then sautéed a diced green bell pepper and yellow onion. Once those were done, I removed them, and added the drained par-cooked potatoes. I debated on using another type of oil, but at the temps I was cooking the olive oil was just fine. The potatoes were seasoned with cumin, paprika, Ancho Chile powder and black pepper. They cooked for about fifteen or twenty minutes, and then I added the onion and pepper back in to cook for awhile, and then finally added the Chorizo.

My tofu scramble turned out good, although I added a bit too much dry mustard. The recipe calls for prepared Dijon, so I should have cut back a bit using the powder. Once it was on top of the hash, with a little salsa and scallions, it was fine.

This was a hit even with the carnivores in the household, though Claudia did make actual scrambled eggs for herself and her mom. She brought out some soft corn tortillas and folks were putting the hash and scramble into those for seconds.

The hash turned out better than any I’ve ever made. It occurred to me that I could adapt this recipe for Corned Beef Hash using my Pastrami seasoning instead of the Chorizo spices. I might add a little Vegan Worcestershire next time.

I will definitely make the Chorizo again as well, and use it this summer when we cook Paella.

Vegan Chorizo Hash in the Wok

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Creamy Cashew Cheese Dip

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Cashew Cream Cheese BagelI purchased a Vitamix blender with some Amazon points and a gift certificate that I received from work, and have now tried several plant-based cheese recipes. So far, this one is my favorite.

It starts with 2 cups of raw cashews, soaked overnight in water.

After draining, the cashews go into the blender for about 45 seconds with these ingredients.

  • 1/2 C Cold Filtered Water
  • 1 Clove Garlic, Diced
  • 2 T Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
  • 2 T Nutritional Yeast
  • 1 t Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 1/2 t Thyme
  • 1/2 t Salt
  • 1/4 t Ground Black Pepper

This is another recipe from Deli Devi. I’ve also tried their Vegan Mozzarella and their Veggie Nacho Sauce. All great recipes, and this is not a paid endorsement. 🙂

This Cashew recipe is good as a dip for crackers or chips, and also serves as a decent substitute for cream cheese on a toasted bagel.

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