Curried Cauliflower and Black-Eyed Pea Soup

Serving black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is notion to deliver accurate good fortune and prosperity for the approaching yr. Because they swell with cooking, the peas are taken into consideration to represent developing prosperity within the New Year and are every so often believed to represent coins as well. Frequently the peas are served with cooked greens, specially collard vegetables, which represent money, and cornbread ? Representing gold. Whether these pleasant legumes bring accurate good fortune or now not, the meal become certainly an fun one. I never want a selected purpose to prepare dinner with black-eyed peas, but right here's hoping for peace and thought for 2014.

Combining veggies and legumes in a warming soup is a simple method to providing a nourishing meal inside the cold weather months and a cold and vicious winter it's been so far. The curry spices no longer most effective upload an additional layer of warmth to the soup revel in, they lend an attractive coloring as nicely. Savor a bowl of this soup and recognition on the warm temperature, as opposed to the frigid snowscape simply out of doors your window.

Cauliflower is going specifically well with north Indian curry spices; the taste and texture of this gently cooked vegetable absorbs the spices and presents a top notch comparison with the sweet, earthly and slightly nutty flavor of the black-eyed peas. Simple, aromatic and bursting with goodness.

More Indian cauliflower dishes you are certain to revel in:

Aloo Gobi (Curried Cauliflower and Potatoes)

Indian-Style Cream of Cauliflower Soup

Rice and Cauliflower Pilaf

Cauliflower and Pea Curry

Spicy Urad Dal with Cauliflower and Peas

On the pinnacle of the studying stack: The Vegetarian's Complete Quinoa Cookbook: From the Ontario Home Economics Association

Audio Accompaniment: Kolsch

Thai-Inspired Sweet Potato Kidney Bean Soup

Canadian winters are tough to undergo, specially ones like the current harsh iciness. Heavy blizzard, ice storms and long periods of extraordinarily bloodless temperatures have persisted into January throughout North America. Already I am tired of it and lengthy for sunshine and sandals. I warm up and take consolation with a bowl of soup. This hearty soup, or stew in case you please, combines the goodness of sweet potatoes and earthy, sturdy kidney beans, all simmered in a Thai-stimulated broth.

The lemongrass and galangal are I assume instead critical on this dish for a extra true Thai flavor, so in case you are fortunate enough to live near an Asian market, do take the little more time to are seeking for them out. The home made Thai red curry paste is likewise no longer to be overlooked ? It's smooth to make, completely vegetarian, and bursting with fresh taste. You could make up a small batch and preserve it inside the fridge for a great few weeks or longer in a tightly sealed glass jar.

More Thai creations from my kitchen you're certain to revel in:

Thai Coconut Soup with Mushrooms

Paneer Tomato Curry with Indian and Thai Flavors

Thai Green Curry Lentil and Vegetable Soup

Thai Red Curry Tempeh Soup

Tomato, Olive and Avocado Rice

Some of my preferred flavors mingle together in this colorful and pleasant dressed up rice dish. Robust Kalamata olives are really tempered via and certainly complemented by the creamy avocado and tomato. The rice is the canvas and provides the most pleasant backdrop for the mixed components. It a textural flavor revel in. Once you are achieved with the pitting, peeling and chopping, it is a fast and easy dish to prepare. Consider serving it with soup or chili.

I've published this recipe earlier than, but it's really worth reposting and I've updated the pics.

Other rice dishes you are certain to experience from my kitchen:

Baked Italian Brown Rice Balls (Arancini)

Pesto Rice

Mushroom Risotto

Aloo Mattar (Potato and Pea Curry)

Aloo mattar is a classic Punjabi dish inclusive of potatoes and inexperienced peas simmered in a highly spiced tomato gravy. Those are the primary additives of the dish, although spicing and instruction varies from cook dinner to prepare dinner. This is my trendy model of this dish that normally seems on most of the menus at the Indian eating places I have dined at. I don't order it as an awful lot as I would really like, as I am generally torn among it and mattar paneer. Although you can in no way get enough peas for my part, I generally turn out to be just ordering one or the opposite and then select different alternatives from the menu.

The amusing part is each of these dishes are smooth to put together at home, so you do not must wait until you dine out to revel in them. In reality, with some fundamental expertise of Indian delicacies and some staples reachable, you will be cooking up even finer curries than those determined at your local Indian restaurants. To complete the revel in, consider serving the curry with selfmade savory Indian flat breads, and a steaming warm bed of fresh cooked white rice.

I served this warming vegetable dish with savory rice and urad dal pancakes (dosas) for a complete and pleasing meal.

Notes: Adjust the water as necessary to achieve your desired consistency. I generally like my curries fairly thick, so I only used about 1 1/2 cups of water.

I chose now not to use garlic or onion this time, but you could upload some in case you desire. Add to the pan after the seeds are completed and stir and fry for a couple of minutes earlier than you upload the floor spices and other elements.

Other vegetable curries you're certain to revel in from Lisa's Kitchen:

Mushroom Masala (Succulent Mushrooms with Tomatoes and Spices)

Paneer and Mixed Vegetables in a Creamy Gravy

Mushroom Curry Simmered in a Fenugreek Cream Sauce with Green Peas

Aloo Gobi (Curried Cauliflower and Potatoes)

On the top of the reading stack: Bartleby by Herman Melville

Audio Accompaniment: Thom Brennan - Mist (album)

Barley Muffins with Apple and Cashew Pieces

Muffins are one in all my favourite quick breads to make due to the fact they're easy to put together and there are endless opportunities to hold your taste buds interested. There is nothing like a nice basketful of truffles to provide nourishment at some point of the day. Not simplest do they make for a fast breakfast, they may be a superb portable snack to take to paintings for spoil time, and once I am hungry inside the evening but fussy approximately what I may want, muffins will commonly do the trick.

In this situation, I desired something a touch one of a kind and incorporated some barley and cashews, along with apples that make up the fruit factor, for an particularly nourishing and healthful alternative to keep-offered sugar-crammed desserts masquerading as truffles as I recognize them. Not there may be something wrong with indulging your sweet tooth once in a while, however in case you need to eat cake, properly eat cake and you may nevertheless have your muffin and devour it too.

Probably some of the maximum unique cakes I even have made in a long time, I changed into specifically overjoyed with the layers of texture from the grain, seeds, nuts and fruit ? Chewy, crunchy and gentle sensations within the mouth with every bite. Little sweetener is wanted here to make these a treat and also you might not be able to stop at one, specially in case you are lucky to experience one clean out of the oven.

More savory quick breads you're positive to experience from Lisa's Kitchen:

Apple Cheddar Scones

Classic Blueberry Muffins

Mini Gruyere Scones

Quick and Easy Cornbread Muffins

On the top of the reading stack: 660 Curries by Raghavan Iyer

Audio Accompaniment: Aes Dana

Mixed Vegetable Rice

I've been making an effort to incorporate more greens into my food. An smooth solution while you do not have a whole lot of time is to add them to rice. It's also a great manner to expend veggies earlier than their expiry date. Despite the ease of coaching, this dish is packed full of taste and certainly elegant. It made for a excellent accompaniment to paneer rajma.

Use any mixture of blended greens which you choose. Here I used a mixture of green beans, mushrooms, frozen peas and carrots.

Other rice dishes you are positive to experience from Lisa's Kitchen:

Miso Mushroom Risotto

Indian Yellow Rice

Rice and Cauliflower Pilaf

Saffron Rice with Cardamon

On the top of the reading stack: The Stranger by Albert Camus

Audio Accompaniment: The subject

Kidney Bean Casserole with Mushrooms and Spicy Tempeh Strips

Hearty and simple fare, baked beans have stored Canadian families going through harsh winters for generations. Originally little extra than huge pots of military beans cooked for hours with nothing but salt, red meat and molasses, the present day vegetarian or vegan has plenty of elements at her disposal to cast off the beef and upload taste whilst preserving all of its strong and filling nourishment.

Baked in a wealthy spiced tamari, tomato and mushroom sauce with strips of marinated and fried tempeh, this scrumptious and flavorful purple kidney bean casserole is surely robust and meaty sufficient to fill the bellies of all and sundry, and it's miles absolutely vegan too. Serve with rice or bread and greens, and nobody may be leaving the desk hungry.

If the usage of a 12 ounce bundle of tempeh, you probably won't want all of it for the casserole, however this is excellent because any of the ultimate marinated and fried strips make for a scrumptious snack on their own.

More baked legume dishes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:

Nigerian Baked Beans

Baked Gigantes Beans in Tomato Sauce

Baked Cheese and Tortilla Pie with Jalape?Os, Corn and Pinto Beans

Cornmeal Crusted Chili

Audio Accompaniment: Aes Dana - Pollen