Vegan Shepherd's Pie

I don’t like being negative.

In fact, I think being a positive vegan is one of the best things we can do. With so much anger pointed towards us by meat loving omnivores, it is nice to be positive in return. I firmly believe this is the best way to spread the love and message of veganism.

I think this is especially true when it comes to food. I talk about how awesome vegan food is so much that I am sure people are sick of hearing about it. “Yes, we know fried tofu with nutritional yeast is the best thing ever… We get it!”

When it comes to vegan recipes I have been pretty lucky. There are so many creative vegans out there coming up with really clever concepts and twists on old classics. I bow to these people because I am totally unable to be as creative as these folks. Maybe someday I will. But, until then just talk about others stuff. Which, I am perfectly okay with.

So, my latest attempt it a definite twist on old classic, shepherds pie. If you have never had it, it is basically a bowl of stuff mixed together, add gravy, and cover it in potatoes. Umm, awesome! So when I saw this super easy recipe for vegan shepherds pie, I had to try it!

Sadly, this just did not live up to my expectations. It was just okay. When you cover something in mashed potatoes, there is no excuse for it not to be at least okay. Alas, you can judge for yourself. I have included some extra special thoughts, along with the recipe, after the jump.

Tweet

Cuban Style Sweet Potatoes

I didn't have sweet potatoes or yams around when I was a kid.

I remember my Aunt would roast a few at Thanksgiving, but I never ate them. She also made spinach too and she and my dad were the only ones who ate it. I don't know if I ever tried it or was just told I didn’t like it. Cut to me 20 years later and I can tear up some spinach AND sweet potato. 

Sweet potato was just never a prevalent food item in my New England home. Seems strange, right? They are such a fall food and New England is pretty much fall food central.

When I moved to Georgia I was first introduced to sweet potato casserole, which is close to godliness in my world.  Now, I could eat sweet potatoes like Bubba Gump eats shrimp.

Bake, boil, mashed, fried, or roasted; bring it on! I have a love affair and it is with sweet potatoes.

I made this Kind Life sweet potato recipe last week and fell in love with it. Lime, parsley and garlic just work together so well. Cuban food always has some of the greatest food combinations and this does not disappoint! 

Try this scrumptious and easy Cuban sweet potato recipe after the jump…

Tweet

Vegan Brunswick Stew

I was southern for two years.

Well, I lived in Georgia; so I am going to call myself southern. I lived in a great city called Athens, which is a liberal oasis in the middle of Georgia. My experience there was a really good thing for this Yankee boy who grew up in the south of Boston.

One thing about Georgia (and the south in general) is that its known for its food; think Paula Deen. Athens certainly had its fair share of barbecue and fried chicken, but it also had some of the most fabulous vegan and vegetarian food in the south. My favorite restaurant in the country, The Grit, it located right in downtown Athens.

I only knew Georgia as a vegetarian, so I never had any of the more traditional meat meals that Georgia is known for. One of them, Brunswick stew, happens to be one of husbands’ favorite. (Husband spent his formative years in GA, which is where we met)

Brunswick stew is traditionally a thick BBQ stew made up of chicken, beef, or pork and some vegetables. When husbands’ friend Beth came out with a vegan version of his favorite I knew we had to try it.

At first bite husband was instantly brought back to Georgia. He absolutely loves this stew and the fact that this recipe makes A LOT was a good thing. He ate it pretty much everyday for about a week. I have no other “original” version to compare it too, but I loved this stew regardless of it's origin.

Serve this with some vegan cornbread and you will be in love too.

So, “Glory, Glory to old Georgia,” this one’s for you!

Recipe after the jump…

Tweet

Pierogi Casserole

What do the church ladies make in your town?

You know what I am talking about…  Every town has Nana’s that spend 11 months out of the year preparing for a church picnic. At every one of those church picnics there is one food item that people rave about. Maybe it’s baklava? Empanadas? Cookies? Seitan wings?

Picture = Bad
Taste = Amazing

Although my hometown didn't have a huge Polish population, I was baptized in a Polish church and my parents were married there. The Nana’s at that church got together every day for about 11 months making pierogi (by hand) for the annual Polish Picnic. It was a really big deal.

The weird thing is I really don’t remember eating them. I just remember the stories of how many they made. I am sure they were good though because they always sold out.

Now that I live in Polish Pittsburgh, pierogi are a part of life. Finding vegan pierogi is a bit challenging, so when I saw another ‘burgher post a recipe for Pierogi casserole I totally knew I could veganize it.

So presenting the Chubby Vegan Pierogi Casserole, just in time for St. Josephs Day!  (Thanks to my Polish co-worker for that bit of knowledge)

Although my little camera doesn't do it justice, it is rich, cheesy, and just good. Yum!

Recipe and more pictures after the jump…

Tweet

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Husband worked at a steak house right before I met him. Gross.

One of the things this particular steak house was known for was their potato soup. Women would sell their children for a drop. Grandmothers would cut someone.When the server brought it to the table people would faint from pure potato soup jubilation.

It was popular.

Ever since, husband has declared himself a potato soup expert. Naturally.

Sadly, this restaurants soup was full of bacon, dairy, and god knows what other horrifying ingredients. I have always wanted to find a vegan soup recipe that would satisfy his judgmental soup palate.

Recently I have achieved victory in this quest.

I stumbled upon a recipe for Roasted Cauliflower Soup topped with Curried Cashew Crème in the January/February issue of VegNews magazine. It was one of their 7 “must try” soups; which I guarantee you is no lie.

When I told him I was making cauliflower soup he seemed a little unsure, but after snarfing down two bowls he was a surefire fan. I believe his exact comments were, “this may be the best soup I ever had.”

SUCCESS

*happy soup dance*

So it’s still winter and (for most of us) is cold and dreary out. This soup will make a delightful end to a cold and nasty day.

To soup!

Recipe and more photos after the jump…

Tweet

Potato = Joy

Everyone has a list of foods they just love more than anything. There are probably to many for me to list, but I will say that potatoes have a special place in my heart. Probably right next to asparagus and avocado. 

*vegetable love*

Potatoes are one of those things you can do just about anything with. Remember in Forrest Gump when Bubba talked about the 8 million things you can do with shrimp- just replace shrimp with potato and there you go!

When i lived in Georgia, potato soup was a big deal menu item in many different restaurants. Sadly, most of it was filled with bacon and loaded with dairy and cream. No gracias! For whatever reason I never made a vegan version... until today!

Thanks to a SUPER easy recipe from the Fat Free Vegan Kitchen, a new vegan potato soup recipe is now a part of my life. The recipe tells you to use a vitamix blender or a regular blender, but I used an immersion blender (stick blender) right in the pot and it worked out really well. 

Not my picture... but pretty darn close!

This takes like 20-25 minutes tops, from beginning to end. Its potato. Its creamy. Its low fat. It's delicious! DO IT!

Tweet