Potato Leek Soup with Caramelized Shallots

Another Quintess Test Recipe. Lovely, elegant and I need another bowl. YUMMY!

Let me just say that helping test upcoming cookbook recipes is a lot of work especially because I am such a slapdash cook but it does yield some yummy dinners! Imagine, me measuring even salt and diced potatoes! My tiny flower bowls are getting quite a lot of use as measured spice cups. Fun and exciting but I dont know that I am cut out to be a secret tester, I have a hard time not divulging the recipe!

Mexican Fiesta Rice and Perfect Pinto Beans

More secret test recipes for VegWeb's own Quintess' upcoming cookbook. Last night I finally got around to testing out two recipes; Mexican Fiesta Rice and Perfect Pinto Beans.

The rice, though due to my own forgetfulness I had to do a substitution, was amazing. Flavorful, mild and zippy with a hint of lime. The beans, as promised, were perfect. Their natural flavor shown through and the instructions had everything dead on to make a perfect bean without that bursting that occasionally happens.

I ate this whole bowl quite happily and am looking forward to leftovers today! It was absolutely perfect when all mixed together.

This morning I also made another recipe by Quintess; Lemon Poppyseed Muffins. Now my hubby eats two mini lemon poppy muffins for breakfast every day. He was heartbroken to learn his favorite muffins, made by Stop & Shop's bakery, had been discontinued. He is right now tasting two of these muffins with his coffee as he plays World of Warcraft.

Chickpea Salad

Lunch today was simple and light, just right for the first truly beautiful and warm New England day.

Chickpea Salad on a Chibatta roll with cauliflower and whole grain chips. Sparkling Grapefruit Izze was to wash it all down.

Now this sandwich spread is so easy, light and yet full of nutrition and taste. I wish I had measured this but alas I was also making another recipe for a mixed bean salad and just sort of boshed things together as I went.

Roughly this is one can of chickpeas (drained, rinsed and then mashed), minced onion, diced celery, veganaise, dill relish, tiny splash of apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, Hungarian Paprika, dill seed, dry mustard and salt. Once this is all together I placed a healthy scoop on a fresh roll and put a handful of baby spinach on top. So yummy. Though the spread does kind of gush out if you put too much on, so dont do that! Not that I know this for a fact or anything. *cough*

Alternatively you could put this in a tortilla, in a lettuce wrap, on salad, as a dip for crudities, on chips or even just eaten with your fingers. I mean spoon, with a spoon!

Now I have to go get another sammich. nom nom nom

Moong Dal

This Moong Dal was lovely. The split mung beans had a bit more of a chewy, fibery texture than I am used to in dal's but it was good. The tomato topping on the other hand, was phenomenal. Seriously the best thing to put on any Indian dish, I am thinking.

As this is a cookbook test recipe I cannot divulge the secrets contained in that picture. Just let me assure you, it is awesome!

More Sweet & Sara review

This afternoon I am indulging in some more of my Sweet & Sara goodies. I whipped up a simple soy milk hot chocolate, made with Ghiradelli Premium Hot Cocoa, and topped it with two quartered marshmallow meltaways.

The cocoa is slightly above comfortable sipping level, temperature wise. So I am slurping just a little bit of air in with the hot liquid. My first sip had a small cube of mallow dancing on my lip briefly with its silky soft side. Thus the second sip I braved the heat and sucked in a warmed bite. Its flavor is delicate and almost completely hidden in the rich hazelnut chocolate but its there. Surrounded by a creamy shell that does melt upon your tongue as quickly as you try to keep the flavor there to savor it. The texture is perfect, slightly firm but silky smooth with just a slight sticky thrown in to keep it held together.

While I sip this cup of sheer euphoria I noticed that they do seem to expand slightly in the liquid. Which is great as I wish I had dropped more in there!

I almost want to cry over this warm cup of mellow sugary goodness. With spring arriving my chance, and desire, to drink hot chocolate wanes. Where oh where were you oh beautiful vegan meltaways five months ago?! Weatherman, bring on the rain and gloom of April showers! I need to enjoy these to their fullest!

I jumped on the band waggon!

The Sweet & Sara band waggon that is! My trip to Whole Foods today netted me the last S'more Pie in original flavor and one small tub of vanilla marshmallows. I nibbled on the pie after my late lunch and groaned in ecstasy at the rich chocolate topping, the sweet graham cookie and gooey marshmallow center. These are pretty substantial in size, I could only eat half, and so rich and delicious. Definitely worth the price I paid for it. I have half left in the fridge and now I simply hope no one here spies it and scarfs it down before me. Should I have licked it in an obvious manner? haha

Other things I got today: Vitamins by VegLife and Floradix Iron & Herbs, white lentils, split mung beans, whole wheat pastry flour, brown basmati rice and yes, my favorite LightLife Balgona. mmm soy!


On my way back to work, since this was my lunch break, I stopped in at Penzeys Spices. All I can really say is WOW. I had six jars in my hands before I even scoped out half the store. Needless to say, I bought about a dozen spices, mostly things I was looking for. My haul? From memory as its all safely out in the car: cumin seeds, arrowroot, Mexican Oregano, brown mustard seeds, sumac, Veggie soup base, and ginger. I know I am forgetting some but the pics will clear up what else I procured tonight.

I do have more shopping to do tonight to round out my weekly menu. Maybe I will get home in time to take a reasonable pic of it that isn't super dark. Cross your fingers!

The whole haul:


Just the spices:

Pictures from the long silences

Here I sit, after a good long absence, thinking I would wow my minuscule fan base with two dozen pics of everything I have made. Wouldn't you guess, I took a whole 4 notable pics all month. *sigh*

So let me apologize and say, this will happen again. But I hope to have a much better photo spread next time! ;)

Arroz con Seitan made with mild chik'n flavored seitan of greatness.


My Sweet Vegan French toast with a blood orange slice or two. Good stuff!

Peach muffin. So good, was moist, light and gooey. Perfect lightly warmed.

Chickpea's over Basmatti rice. This recipe is from my awesome coworker friend Andal. She makes this recipe for her family regularly and shared the secret with me. Personally, I think its awesome with cauliflower mingling its mild flavor amongst the savory Garam Masala, coriander and cumin. I will share the recipe at a later time when I make it from it exactly as she wrote it or I note my changes. I love Indian food.

Today I did go to an awesome vegan Potluck. It was so good. I am still stuffed beyond full from the huge array of awesome eats; appetizers, salad w/homemade dressing, casserole, pizza and of course more desserts than the table could hold. Yum!

Seitan Snausage and two homemade cheezes! Very yummy.


This awesome confetti salad was A-MAZING! I must get the recipe and make it frequently.

Caesar salad dressing over yummy romaine. That dressing was unbelievably good and superb on pizza!

A lovely garlicky bean dip with a zip of lime in it. So yummy.

Requisite spinach dip and crudities. So good though. Those raw green beans were fabulous, just like the dip!

Artichoke spinach dip! With pita chips!

mmmm Pizza!

Tortilla Casserole.


And finally, dessert! Sexy Low Fat Lemon cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream, Green Tea cupcakes w/ green tea icing, Soy Delicious Ice Creams and Chocolate Mousse.