Tag Archives | mushrooms

Mushroom & Lentil Soup with Lemony Massaged Kale

Published on in Freeze-able, Greens, Legumes, Main course, Nightshade-free, Nuts, Soup By |
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Mushroom & Lentil Soup with Lemony Massaged Kale

You know it’s winter in Vancouver when you can’t find your raincoat or umbrella because they’re hanging in the shower, still not quite dry from the last time you used them. It’s the time of year that warm, hearty food is really appealing, the kind that lights a tiny furnace inside you. The kind that used to make you salivate as the smell drifted upstairs while you were (pretending to) do your homework. Enter this awesome soup.

Mushroom & Lentil Soup with Lemony Massaged Kale

My sister ordered a bowl of soup like this in a restaurant while I was visiting her in Amsterdam (PS –the Dutch do soup really well, I think it might be the antidote to their chilly, all-weather bike riding). It was simply called ‘lentil soup’ on the menu (at least the English version) but she gave me a taste and it was so rich and flavourful, but most interestingly, there was a nutty pop happening that totally worked. It came from toasted pine nuts –not as an expensive, toasty garnish, but stirred right into the soup.

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Green Bean Casserole…

Published on in Main course, Nightshade-free, Nuts, Sauce By |
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Green bean casserole is a dish that has haunted my dreams. I have made several versions of it for Americans working in Vancouver over their Thanksgiving Holiday. For the first Thanksgiving I catered, I googled ‘American Thanksgiving classics’ just to make sure I didn’t miss out on anyone’s favourites. I wasn’t expecting it to be too much different from ours, and it wasn’t, except for this mystery casserole (oh yeah, also the marshmallow yams…).

I knew I couldn’t buy canned mushroom soup and boxed fried onions to serve over green beans for people who were at their most thankful (and paying me actual money). Not in good conscience anyway. So green bean casserole became something I thought about a disproportionate amount in October/November. I have made it with real mushrooms and heavy cream, topped with deep fried shallots, I’ve made it with a rich, gluten-free mascarpone béchamel, dried porcinis and double smoked bacon and now, years later, I have my most current version, the one I am most proud of.

Whether gb casserole is a part of conversation in your household this time of year, or you are like I was, Canadian and gbc-ignorant, this is something you are going to want to try. To say it is gluten-free, dairy-free, and plant-based doesn’t drum up a lot of enthusiasm in times of comfort food requirements, I’m well aware of this. Don’t worry, despite its pure soul, it is just as rich and decadent as the original. The dairy is replaced by some blended up nuts and hemp hearts, the mushrooms are as wild as you can find them, and the (3 ingredient), extremely addictive crispy onions can almost be considered straight up health food.

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Veggie Shepherd’s Pie (aka Gardener’s Pie)

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Vegan Shephard's Pie with Cauliflower & Parsnip Topping

It currently feels like spring where I live. There is no snow on the mountains, the cherry blossoms are out, making the world beautiful (and attacking my husband’s sinuses), and I haven’t worn a winter coat in at least two weeks. I may even have gotten a suntan today, I’m not complaining, it is a little weird though; it’s February! It’s also noticeably lopsided considering on the other side of the country there are people creating tunnel slides in the 7 feet of snow in their backyard.

Vegan Shephard's Pie with Cauliflower & Parsnip Topping

It is still winter though, and I’m sure our West Coast winter coats will get a little more action before spring officially arrives. For this reason, and for the sake of the rest of the shivering country, I want to talk about foods that keep us nourished and warm through the colder months. (more…)

Traditional Hummus with Toppings

Published on in Legumes, Seeds, Snack By |
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I rarely make plain, classic, delicious hummus. I am easily excited and wind up putting extra veggies, herbs and spices into it, making it more interesting and more powerful in the health department (case in point).

So much so that now, when I am at a party or somewhere where there is classic hummus served, I get mildly obsessive about the delicious simplicity of it. I then promise myself that I will only make it that way from now on.

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