Mini Gruyère Scones | |||
| Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on 28 Sep 2015 Soft with the delicious flavor of Gruyère cheese, these miniature savory dinner scones are easy to make and are a great addition to any kind of meal or a nice snack just on their own
Ingredients:
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Monday, 28 September 2015
Mini Gruyère Scones
Seems I have a reputation for making savory quick breads to go along with a meal. Whenever I suggest, or simply serve them up without saying a word, the response is always positive. An empty plate is always a sign of appreciation. My latest excursion into savory meal accompaniments somehow had to be cheesy as the weather gets cooler. There is nothing quite like Gruyère cheese, smoky or otherwise. It's truly a wonder the small block even made it into the scones, but I am glad it did, strutting it's goodness with flair as it does in these little bites. Nothing more needs to be said. Easy, irresistible and just fine with tea or any meal that you wish to adorn.
Indian-Style Samosa Potpie
It's easy to get excited about pie and my husband is visually animated when he knows that I will be making homemade pie from scratch. This is not a sweet pie, however, but something even better in my opinion, and that is a savory pie with a spicy and hearty samosa filling complete with plump chickpeas and a rich butter crust. It is a dinner pie. I was fortunate to have access to local produce, making this unique fusion-style Indian dish an extra special flavorful centerpiece for the dinner table. Think of it as a samosa on steroids.
Inventive uses of pastry, in particular pies, appear to be all the rage currently. I've noticed quite a few new publications featuring pies, mini ones and full sized ones, both savory and sweet, vying for the attention of home cooks and chefs alike. This one comes shortly after the aloo palak paneer pie with a potato crust that I served up recently as part of a ritual weekend meal that we usually enjoy with our best friend Basil. I can assure you no one left the table hungry, especially as I served it up with some pappadums with an avocado salsa, grain and side leafy green salad.
This pie is easily vegan if you opt for your favorite vegan crust rather than the butter crust I used for my pie. You may omit the chickpeas if you want a more traditional samosa filling. I had a craving and wanted to fill the dish out even further.
This recipe was inspired by Bake and Destroy
My one complaint is the rather liberal use of soy products, margarine and shortening. There are workarounds though, for both vegans and vegetarians alike. The book is surely worth your attention if you want a refreshing vegan take on old classics and combinations that you may not have even considered before. It's no wonder, as Natalie is inspired by her experience cooking with her mom, her favorite music, restaurants and pro-wrestlers too. Sweets and Treats, Morning Munchies, Party Hard Entrées, Snacks and Sides and accompaniments are all on the menu. It's generously illustrated too.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for possible review and was given the opportunity to host a giveaway. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Indian-Style Samosa Potpie |
| Recipe by Lisa Turner Adapted from Bake and Destroy : Good Food for Bad Vegans Cuisine: Indian Published on September 9, 2013 Rich, savory baked pie with a samosa-style potato, chickpea, spinach and vegetable filling in a flaky butter pie crust — this is a centerpiece for a special vegetarian meal, and none of your guests will leave the table hungry Print this recipePastry:
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Labels:
Beans and Legumes,
Chickpeas,
Green Peas,
Indian,
Potatoes,
Spinach,
Vegan Friendly,
Vegetables
Friday, 18 September 2015
Cocoa Fruit Energy Bites
When I want a snack or a quick bite for breakfast, I often just want instant gratification and don't wish to clatter and bang around dishes and pots and pans to gratify the mind and tummy. An easy and healthy solution is to have a batch of power-packed homemade protein treats on hand at all times such as these seedy little cocoa and peanut butter energy bites that are packed full of nutrients, sweet without any added processed sweetener, and just bursting with dried fruit goodness. They take very little time at all to mix up and they are raw too. No baking required.
This recipe allows for some room to move around with some favorites from your own pantry. Experiment with your favorite dried fruits, omit the nut butter if desired and toss in other seeds or even dark chocolate or carob bits if you wish. Either way, you are in for a healthy treat that nonetheless tastes like you are riding the wave of decadence. The amounts I provide here are rough estimates as I tend to throw things together with very little "formal" measuring, except for my eye that is guided by experience. I have, however, accurately written down what I did, with a little wiggle room here and there. These treats are really rather forgiving, so if they are too moist to roll, just add more cocoa, carob powder and/or cherries.
Cocoa Fruit Energy Bites | |||
| Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on September 13, 2013 Small dense bites of chocolate and peanut butter with bursts of flavor and wholesome energy from seeds and dried fruits
Ingredients:
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I'm sharing this with Ricki's Wellness Weekend.
On the top of the reading stack: We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
Audio Accompaniment: Vladislav Delay
Labels:
Breakfast,
Fruit,
Treats and Desserts,
Vegan Friendly
Spicy Curried Millet and Vegetable Soup
Any combination of vegetables can be used in this nourishing and spicy curried millet and vegetable soup. I used millet, but feel free to substitute quinoa instead. As with most soups, it tastes even better the next day once the flavors have had a chance to blend together. Make it up ahead of time and simply heat it up before serving for lunch or dinner the next day. The recipe yields a large pot making it an ideal soup to serve if you have lots of mouths to feed or if you want leftovers for a few days.
Spicy Curried Millet and Vegetable Soup | |||
| Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Indian Originally published on July 11, 2007 Warming, wholesome and nourishing millet and vegetable soup with curry spices
Ingredients:
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Labels:
Grains,
Green Peas,
Indian,
Millet,
Soups,
Vegan Friendly,
Vegetables
Friday, 4 September 2015
Vegetarian Samosa Cakes with Tamarind Chutney
Happiness to me often comes in the form of savory Indian appetizers, such as samosas. I never can resist playing around with the classic preparation and so, after recent fusion dishes such as samosa potpie and samosa-style stuffed baked potatoes, I now present these soft, lovely little savory "samosa" cakes that reminded me very much of koftas.
These are perfect as an appetizer, but substantial enough to serve as an entrée. It is true that I don't have a samosa "proper" documented on this blog, but my best friend Basil keeps encouraging me to make it happen. And I will, as I have before, complete with photos and recipe this time for my readers. I think that I am going to try a baked version to cut down on the oil. You will all have to stay tuned to see what I come up with. On that note, if you want to skip shallow frying, I think these little cakes could easily be baked in a preheated 350° oven for about 20 minutes until browned on both sides, much the way I do with kofta.
The tamarind chutney is simply divine with the samosa cakes, but equally delicious would be a tomato or cilantro based sauce or chutney.
Vegetarian Samosa Cakes with Tamarind Chutney | |||
| Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Indian Published on September 19, 2013 Soft, savory fried potato and vegetable "samosa" cakes served with a tart, tangy and spicy tamarind chutney
Chutney:
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Other potato based dishes from Lisa's Kitchen you are sure to enjoy:
Aloo Gobi
Bengali-Style Crunchy Potatoes
Potato and Green Bean Chaat Salad
Sweet Potato Roti
On the top of the reading stack: Indian Cooking Unfolded: A Master Class in Indian Cooking, with 100 Easy Recipes Using 10 Ingredients or Less
Audio Accompaniment: ambient chill
I'm sharing this with Ricki's Wellness Weekend.
Labels:
Appetizers,
Green Peas,
Indian,
Potatoes,
Vegan Friendly,
Vegetables
Ricotta Gnudi with Homemade Chunky Tomato Sauce
The tomato sauce I present here was made with fresh tomatoes from my garden. All of a sudden I found myself with an excess of them and figured a rich and luscious homemade tomato sauce made perfect use of the harvest. I can't imagine making a sauce this delicious during the winter months when the fresh tomatoes available are expensive and rather bland. Canned varieties often don't satisfy my palate either. I was delighted to go "grocery shopping" in my backyard for hot peppers and fresh herbs to complete the experience.
I made this sauce for another reason too. I recently came across a recipe that Rosa posted for ricotta gnudi. It looked so gorgeous and was completely new to me, so I figured, why not give it a try. I admit that I was rather nervous, as I didn't know what to expect, but I adore ricotta cheese and it pairs so well with tomato sauce. Dumplings I have made, yes, but these are unlike any dumplings I have tried to date.
What is gnudi you may ask? These pillowy little pasta-like dumplings are Tuscan in origin and are much like a gnocchi without the potatoes, so they are lighter and easier to prepare. They sort of reminded me of ravioli, without the pasta component. Once you have tried them, you will find yourself craving them time and time again.
I left the ricotta mixture to chill for an hour or so in the refrigerator before shaping them, but the dough was still rather sticky and I started to worry that the gnudi was going to fall apart when I added it to the water. Gently shaping them with floured hands on a floured surface helps, and I am still researching all of the different ways cooks can make their own gnudi, and that may take a while, as there appear to be a variety of methods and flavor combinations. For the most part, they didn't fall apart and although these little bites of goodness might not look all that pretty at first to you, when you add the sauce into the mix, it becomes an attractive plate indeed. The gnudi is fairly mild on its own, making it a perfect vehicle for the slightly spicy and herby sauce.
So our Italian evening was a success. Served with a side leafy green salad dressed with an oil and balsamic dressing along with homemade mini Gruyère scones, it turned out to be an intimate meal for three. One of my diners declared it was rather like having a "snacky" meal, and I guess it was, because it was characterized by rustic charm with distinct elegance that really ought to be enjoyed slowly, in a candlelit setting. Sometimes, smaller bites make for the most satisfying dinners.
Notes: I included dried mushrooms in my sauce for an earthly and meaty texture and also sun-dried tomatoes for additional chunkiness and thickness, but you don't need to include them to come up with your own fresh and vibrant sauce. Feel free to experiment with whatever herbs you have on hand and if fresh ones are not readily available, substitute dried herbs from your spice rack. You don't even have to make it spicy at all if you don't want too (simply omit the hot pepper and spices), although I found that the spices enhanced the flavor without overpowering the other ingredients or the gnudi. If you have leftover sauce, serve it with some tortilla chips or boil up a pot of pasta or serve with your favorite savory snacks calling out for a chutney-style sauce. The sauce can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge for a few days in a well sealed jar or container.
Ricotta Gnudi with Homemade Chunky Tomato Sauce | |||
| Recipe by Lisa Turner Adapted from Rosa's Yummy Yums Cuisine: Italian Published on September 16, 2013 Tender, creamy ricotta cheese pasta dumplings served with a rich, vibrant and zesty homemade tomato sauce
Tomato sauce:
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More cheesy comfort:
Cheddar Dijon Biscuits
Cheese and Herb Fritters with Tomato and Balsamic Jam
Homemade Olive Tapenade Pizza
Ricotta Dumplings with Mushroom Sauce
On the top of the reading stack: various stacks
Audio Accompaniment: Fluxion
Labels:
Eggs and Cheese,
Italian,
Mushrooms,
Sauces and Dips
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