Monday, October 20, 2008

Yes, I am the last person to make this.

So I finally made the Leek and Bean Cassoulet from Veganomicon. Yes, I know, I know. I'm the last person alive to not have made this. We I did ok? Finally. It was wonderful. Perfect actually for this cool rainy day when work was a complete waste of time. Well not a complete waste of time, just not the best.
I also made the Tomato-Rice Soup with Roasted Garlic and Navy Beans. After seeing so many mofoers making soup I kinda got jealous and had to make something. Couldn't be left out of the soup loop. The roasted garlic gives this a warm rounded flavor and the rice & beans make this a meal in itself.
These aren't my first VCON recipes. I'm getting mighty familiar with this book and it's pretty good from what I can tell. In a post from a couple days ago I mentioned the useful bits in this book about cooking veggies, grains and beans and outfitting your kitchen and pantry. Now let's talk about the recipes. I've actually already mentioned the super awesome and quick bean burgers and coconut lemon bundt cake. We will now move along to:
Samosa Stuffed Baked Potatoes. Let's just say these are little boats of deliciousness. If there is one thing I love as much as potatoes it's peas. I dunno why. I just do. Ok?
Sauteed Spinach and Tomatoes. Indian spiced spinach yum.
Tamarind Lentils. Many people have raved about these and I am no different. Really if this book is in your home and you haven't made them then get your arse in the kitchen and get them on the stove. These are crazy amazing. I have discovered a love for tamarind.
Vietnamese Seitan Baguette with Savory Broth Dip. These are kinda like those French dip sammies you might have heard about but with a not so French flair. These had a meatiness from the seitan slices with the cool crunch of cucumbers. Oh and the broth. I may or may not be drooling just thinking about these again
Seitanic Red Bean Jumbalaya. I just love how this dish is one of those one pot meals. A great meal..
BBQ Black-Eyed Pea Collard Rolls. It's pretty self explainatory. The sauce made this feel like a cookout without having to fire up the grill.
Jalapeno-Corn Gravy over some mashed taters. I never thought I'd have a corn gravy but now I'm thinking "where have you been all my life?"
Seitan Piccata with Olives and Green Beans. Aside from it's insane deliciousness and beauty this was actually a quick dinner to put together. It looks much harder then it is but the taste is all there.

Sauteed Seitan with Mushrooms and Spinach. I served this over Broccoli Polenta. Hells yeah!
Spaghetti and Beanballs. This cures the ghetti meatball craving that pops up every now and then.
Pasta Della California. Yup, it's pasta with avocado. It's got a little something special that makes this an awesome weeknight dinner. It comes together so quickly.
Eggplant Rollatini with Spinach and Toasted Pine Nuts. More impressive looking then the photo suggests and oh so delectable.Banana Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding. I picked this one out because I had bananas the needed using, some bread in the freezer that would be suitable and bread pudding is always a good idea. The bread I used was actually a fairly grainy loaf so this was quite a hearty dessert but still forking devourable. I may or maynot have been very generous with the chocolate. Yes, I admit, I might have a problem.
And finally we come to the ice cream that started an addiction. Vanilla Ice Cream. It's a simple flavor that compliments the Fudgy Wudgy Blueberry Brownies nicely.

I've made more that never made it to film but it's not over yet.

24 comments:

APLACEFORUS said...

WOW! Can I come over to help eat all that great looking food!!! No I cant really, because I am sick and dont want to get YOU sick.. but if you feel any better I havent made that recipe yet either. But my first was the chewy chocolate somethings or others.. and I used raspberry jam instead. I think for Christmas I will make these and find some kind of thin mints (vegan style) and when they are fresh out of the oven I can sandwich them... yum!
So again.. WOW

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a rewiev! If I hadn't got that book I would now be on my way to the bookstore. Everything looks awesome!

Anonymous said...

I love it when you do reviews like this! You have been cooking up a storm. You inspire me to make stuff that I usually overlook. Good work dude, thanks :o)

Kristen's Raw said...

I've heard so many great things about that book!

Cheers,
Kristen

Jen Treehugger said...

WOAH!
So may pornz - it all looks FAB!
I've not tried the Cassoulet recipe either so you beat me to it!

Lisa -- Cravin' Veggies said...

You are not the last one to make the leek and bean cassoulet. *blushes* I have been eyeing it up, but haven't made it.

Everything else looks mighty fine too! I am going to post-it flag these recipes!! Esp. the samosa potatoes! Yum!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh! If you've made it, that means I'M the last one to try it! I've got the ingredients in the fridge, so what am I waiting for? All of the pix look great. Thanks for posting them.

Kelly said...

Wow. That is so many recipes. The samosa baked potatoes have been on my to make list for awhile as has the bread pudding so I am glad to hear both are good. I am impressed with how many things you have whipped out. Thanks for stopping by and let me know which chocolate chip cookie recipe ends up being your favorite. I'm always looking for new suggestions, especially since I didn't love the Vegetarian Times recipe I made.

Carrie said...

I haven't made the cassoulet either. That bread pudding is calling me though...I must try that.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for highlighting all of these delicious VCon recipes. The only ones you posted that I have made are the spaghetti and beanballs and the pasta della california. It seems like I'm going to have to take a closer look at that cookbook...

aTxVegn said...

You've been hoarding a lot of pictures! I've made only about half of what you posted, and I have never made the Cassoulet!

Unknown said...

hey were you intersted in participating in the swap?

APLACEFORUS said...

lindsay can I be in a swap too???
pls pls pls!!!

Tami said...

We had that jambalaya last night, for the same reasons you made the cassoulet. It was great.. and we love that cassoulet.

Dinner tonight are those seitan sandwiches. If I could only have one kind of sandwich ever again, those are the ones.

It's so cool to see so many vcon photos in one post!

Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...

Wow you have rocked the Vcon (& I'm so grateful) I had flagged a lot of those recipes (incl. Bean Cassoulet - so you are not the last to make it, I am) but now that I've had the chance to see your photos and reviews... I know what I just have to make.

allularpunk said...

yeahh...can you just box all that up and send it my way? kthnx.

Destiny's Kitchen said...

You are amazing! That is so much good food, I think I'm getting dizzy...

k said...

You're not the last to make the cassoulet, I hope to be the last very soon, and right after that the vietnamese baguette. Thanks for reminding us all of the wonderful recipes we might be missing out on or forgetting.

Anonymous said...

I need to make those lentils! I love so many of the vcon recipes - especially the tomato garlic soup, and the seitan sammitches, and the samosa baked potatoes.

Vegan_Noodle said...

This post has so much good food I'm not sure what to comment on. I want it all!

Monique a.k.a. Mo said...

Dayum! This made me realize there's a lot of stuff I still haven't made from Vcon. The piccata became my favorite meal as soon as I took the first bite.

Aissa-sah said...

might I be in your neck of the country, I would be hitting up your kitchen for dinner...

Sarah said...

wow that's some awesome!

i still haven't had the cassoulet. alas.

Bethany said...

That is a lot of food. I haven't made Leek and Bean Cassoulet, so you're not the last. but it's on my ever expanding list.

I'm still drooling over that sandwich picture. yummy stuff.

you should print those pics and put them in the cookbook. thanks for all of the reviews!