Showing posts with label soup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soup. Show all posts

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Soup Recipes

This weekend I couldn't help myself.  I went to the store and bought more vegetables than usual.  But the broccoli and the butternut squash just looked sooo good.  I couldn't help myself.  And fall is in full swing too, so I thought I'd go ahead and try perfecting some soup recipes.  Well, this time I was able to do it!  Here are two soup recipes I'm proud to share with you.  I hope you enjoy them.  The flavors really come through, and there's nothing wimpy about them!

Butternut Squash Soup

2 medium butternut squash, peeled and seeded, cut into 1-inch chunks
2 Tbsp Earth Balance margarine
1 medium onion, chopped
6 cups vegetable broth
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Melt Earth Balance in large pot.  Add onion and cook until translucent.  Add vegetable broth and squash.  Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.  Remove squash with a slotted spoon and place in food processor.  Puree until squash is smooth.  Add back to pot of broth and stir until blended well.  Add salt and pepper.

All three of my sons really liked this one and even came back for seconds and thirds:

Cream of Broccoli Soup

6 Tbsp Earth Balance margarine, divided
1 onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
3 cups vegetable broth
2 large bunches of broccoli, chopped into florets
3 Tbsp white whole wheat flour
1 pint Silk creamer

Melt half the Earth Balance in large pot.  Saute onion and celery until tender.  Add broccoli and broth.  Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.  Pour the soup into a food processor.  Blend the mixture until it is smooth.  Then in the original pot melt the remaining margarine.  Once it’s melted, stir in the flour, then add the creamer.  Stir until it gets thick, and then add the blended soup and stir until blended well.

Happy eating!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Vegan Menu for Week Twenty-Nine

When I'm looking for cooking inspiration, I go to three places:  1) I have a collection of "recipes to try"--recipes torn out from newspapers and magazines or given to me by friends or family; 2) my collection of cookbooks (I still have a bunch from my carnivorous days, and they still have things I can try!); and 3) the internet.  I have to admit I go to the internet more often than not, because if I have a specific craving or specific ingredients I want to use, it's pretty easy to narrow my search down.  I can't always do that with my other two sources.

So, as a tribute, this week and possibly for several weeks after, I am going to do my version of "Best of the Web."  I want to share with you some of my favorite websites and some recipes I either intend to try or have tried and like!

Sunday
  • Chef Chloe's Flatbread with Roasted Apple, Butternut Squash, and Caramelized Onion
  • Green salad
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Breakfast of the Week
  •  Toast with homemade Low-Sugar Plum Spread (from Eating Well)--I made this and loved it (I used turbinado sugar). 
 Dessert of the Week

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Vegan Menu for Week Twenty-Six

Another celebration! This week's post marks half a year of menu ideas. 

This will be my last week going crazy with soup.  Good idea since spring is right around the corner.  But I'm really loving soup right now!

Sunday
  • Vegan ramen soup
  • Biscuits
Monday
  • Seitan piccata
  • Garlic bread
  • Garden salad
Tuesday
Italian
  • Ribollita soup
  • Breadsticks
Wednesday
  • Tempeh chili
  • Tortillas
Thursday
  • French onion soup (made with wine and vegetable stock instead of beef stock--and no cheese!)
  • French bread
Friday
Chinese
  • Vegetables Delight
  • Vegan stir-fried rice
Saturday
  • Cream of broccoli soup
  • Crackers
Breakfast of the Week
  • Vegan frittata (use vegan "bacon" and substitute tofu for eggs)
Dessert of the Week
  • Vegan ambrosia

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Vegan Menu for Week Twenty-Five

While patiently waiting for spring to arrive, I continue my soup kick this week.  There are so many delicious soups we can eat that warm the belly and the heart.  So, until the sun's rays can warm me up, I'll delight in more soups!  I hope you're inspired by this week's list too.

Sunday
Japanese
  • Miso soup
  • Rice
Monday
  • Sweet and sour tempeh
  • Steamed rice
Tuesday
  • Vegan cream of celery soup
  • Warm rolls
Wednesday
Indian
  • Vegan dal makhani
  • Naan (flatbread)
Thursday
  • Parsnip soup
  • Triscuit crackers
Friday
  • Barbecued seitan
  • Baked potato
  • Green salad
Saturday
  • Spinach soup
  • Warm tortillas
Breakfast of the Week
  • Blueberry soy yogurt
Snack of the Week
  • Celery and peanut butter

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Vegan Menu for Week Twenty-Four

This week, I was grocery shopping and, in a "bargain bin," I found a cookbook that focused just on soups.  Now, spring might be just around the corner, but we still have a few chilly days and weeks left, so soup is on my mind.  This week's focus will be on lots of soups serving as meals.  What a great way to warm bellies and hearts.  I hope you enjoy this week's menu ideas.

Sunday
  • Lentil tofu soup
  • Biscuits
Monday
Chinese
  • Spicy Kung Pao tofu
  • Fried rice
Tuesday
  • Corn chowder
  • Crusty bread
Wednesday
Caribbean
  • Caribbean jerk tempeh
  • Jamaican cabbage salad
Thursday
  • Red lentil soup
  • Flatbread
Friday
  • Cauliflower soup
  • Cornbread
Saturday
  • Vegan cream of mushroom soup
  • Warm tortillas
Breakfast of the Week
  • Banana muffins
Dessert of the Week
  • Fruit soup

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Vegan Menu for Week Twenty-Three

This week we have a variety of flavors to tempt your taste buds and help you enjoy your kitchen again.  There are menu ideas that span the globe, from China to the Caribbean, and links to seriously easy recipes that will taste like you spent forever in the kitchen.

Sunday
European (Russian)*
  • Vegan red borscht soup
  • Rolls
Monday
Caribbean
  • Caribbean black beans and rice
  • Baked papayas
  • Vegetarian rolled greens
Tuesday
Greek
  • Fasolia gigandes (butter bean stew)
  • Pita bread
  • Kolokithankia Tiganita (fried zucchini)
Wednesday
Northern Africa (Algeria)
  • Loubia B'dersa
  • Rice salad
Thursday
  • Spicy lentil casserole (see the recipe here under "Main Meals")
  • Pasta salad (a little vinegar and oil, some chopped veggies like onions and tomatoes, tossed with rotini)
Friday
Cold weather favorite
  • "Cheesy" broccoli soup (see the recipe here)
  • Biscuits
Saturday
Chinese
  • Vegetable Chop Suey
  • Steamed brown rice
Sanck of the Week
  • Tortilla chips and salsa or pico de gallo
Dessert of the Week
  • Vegan fudge
* Just a silly note--I had a heck of a time deciding if I wanted to place Russia under European cuisine or Asian.  Russia's land mass, after all, falls more in Asia than in Europe.  It's huge!  What finally made the deciding factor for me was a Wikipedia article on "European Cuisine."  It included Ukranian Borscht as a European dish.  So...I had been toying with the idea of putting this Russian dish under "Asian cuisine," but now I'm comfortable labeling it as "European," in case you wanted to know!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Vegan Menu for Week Twenty-One

How exciting!!!  I just keep piling on the dinner ideas.  I hope they inspire you as much as they do me!

Sunday
European (Spain)
  • Arroz negro
  • Steamed artichokes
  • Marinated mushrooms 
Monday
  • Vegan rueben sandwich (search and you will find!!!)
  • Vegetable soup 
Tuesday
 Asian
  • Szechuan Tofu
  • Steamed rice
  • Spring roll 
Wednesday
Mexican
  • Black bean tacos (add your favorite ingredients)
  • Spanish rice
  • Calabacitas 
Thursday
Indian
  • Rajma Masala
  • Saffron rice
  • Chole (curried chickpeas) 
Friday
Greek
  • Faki soupa (lentil soup Greek-style)
  • Spanakorizo (spinach and rice)
  • Warm pita bread
Saturday
  • Mushroom and rice pilaf
  • Garden salad
  • Sauteed squash and onions 
Breakfast of the Week
  •  Cinnamon toast
Dessert of the Week
  • Vegan gingerbread cookies

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Week Nineteen Menu

This week, I'll continue to explore varied and exotic cuisines...

Sunday
Chinese
  • Vegan Moo Goo Gai Pan
  • Steamed brown rice
Monday
Japanese
  • Vegan sushi
  • Vegan spring rolls
  • Rice
Tuesday
Indian
  • Vegan Rajma Chawal
  • Jeera rice
Wednesday
  • Vegan Senate Bean Soup
  • Vegan biscuits
  • Garden salad
Thursday
Latin American (Brazil)
  • Vegan Feijoada
  • Warm flour tortillas
  • Green salad
Friday
Southern Africa (Congo)
  • African peanut soup
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Mixed greens salad
Saturday
Mexican
  • Vegan fideo
  • Spanish rice
  • Flour tortillas
Breakfast of the Week

  • Vegan waffles drizzled with maple syrup and fresh fruit of your choice
Dessert of the Week
  • Apple turnovers

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Week Eleven Menu

Sunday

  • Veggie Kebobs (with cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, chunks of green pepper, onions, and any other veggies you like) with vegan BBQ sauce on the side
  • Baked potatoes
  • Green salad with mock Ranch dressing (check out the recipe on PETA's website)
  • Millet cooked in veggie broth
Monday
  • Linguine in lemony olive oil sauce with peas
  • Marinated mushrooms
  • Edamame
Tuesday
Tex-Mex
  • Brown bean soup (see my recipe here)
  • Cornbread
  • Garden salad with Italian dressing
Wednesday
Chinese
  • Orange "chicken" (substitute seitan for chicken)
  • Vegan wonton soup (there are plenty of these recipes if you search for them!)
  • Steamed rice
Thursday
Mexican
  • Vegan enchiladas (vegan enchilada sauce with black beans, diced onions, tomatoes, and peppers wrapped in corn tortillas)
  • Spanish rice
  • Calabacitas
Friday
  • Quinoa in tomato-garlic sauce
  • Roasted veggies (think sliced onions, squash, and red bell peppers drizzled with olive oil)
  • Wilted greens salad
Saturday
Chinese
  • Szechuan noodles
  • Steamed carrots
  • Edamame
Breakfast of the Week
  • Cornbread muffins slathered in your favorite jam or Earth Balance margarine or even plain!
  • Sliced peaches 
Snack of the Week
  • Hummus and falafel chips

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe

Sure, it's nice to put menus together (and doing so gives me so many ideas), but recipes are even better when I have them!  I have always loved split pea soup, and when I initially became vegetarian, I quickly came up with this version.  I can't imagine going the rest of my life without this warm, filling comfort food (that is very easy to make); fortunately, I won't have to!  I hope you enjoy it as well.

This article was originally published on Suite101.com.  To see the article in its entirety and its original state, click on this link:  Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe

Vegan Split Pea Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 16-ounce package of green split peas
  • 4 cups of water
  • 2 14-ounce cans of vegetable broth*
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Directions:
  1. Rinse the split peas and remove any dirt or stones mixed in. Then, in a large pot or Dutch oven, combine split peas, water, vegetable broth, onion, and carrot. Heat pot to boiling. Then reduce heat to simmer and add salt and pepper. Cover loosely and simmer for one to two hours. Check and stir occasionally. Soup is done when the peas are soft.
  2. This soup can be eaten as is, or it can be pureed for a creamy version. Also, for those people who prefer their soup in between, they can take a potato or bean masher and mash the soup until it reaches their preferred consistency. It can also be cooked longer for a thicker consistency.
Enjoy!

(Original article publication date:  November 9, 2009)
* I no longer buy canned vegetable broth but instead buy the kind found in boxes.  It's more environmentally friendly, and it's a great way to avoid BPA which is often found in the plastic used as a liner inside cans.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Week Nine Menu

Sunday
Fall favorite
  • Vegan Tomato Soup
  • Grilled "Cheese" Sandwiches (made with vegan American cheese)
  • Millet with vegan margarine
Monday
Mexican
  • Arroz con "Pollo" with Boca Chik'n Nuggets (see my recipe here)
  • Warm whole wheat tortillas
  • Refried beans
Tuesday

  • Quinoa and bean salad (combine quinoa and beans with your favorite spices, veggies, and vinegar and oil and toss)
  • Steamed carrots lightly sprinkled with sea salt
Wednesday
  • Pinto beans and rice with Tex-Mex flavors (garlic, cumin, jalapenos, and Anaheims)
  • Cornbread
  • Green salad with light vinaigrette
Thursday
Comfort food
  • Vegan Shepherd's Pie (substitute either Boca crumbles or mild beans--think pinto or kidney--for hamburger and Vegan cheese for cow's cheese)
  • Garden salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions, and diced carrots
  • Steamed rice
Friday
Italian
  • Lasagna with spinach and either tofu or vegan cheese (add onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and whatever other veggies sound good, smothered in marinara sauce)
  • Salad in Italian dressing
  • Crusty garlic bread
Saturday
  • "Beef" Stroganoff (check out PETA's website for a recipe called "Better than Beef Stroganoff")
  • Rice pilaf in vegetable broth
  • Steamed green beans
Breakfast of the Week
Quick and Easy
  • Cascadian Farm Organic Cinnamon Crunch cereal in vanilla soy or almond milk
Dessert of the Week
  • Strawberries over vegan shortcake

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Week Six Menu

Sunday
Fall favorite
  • Vegan butternut squash soup
  • Side salad
  • Triscuit crackers
Monday

  • Black bean burger
  • Asparagus lightly steamed with pinch of sea salt
  • Celery and carrot sticks
Tuesday

  • Flatbread sandwich with thinly-sliced bell peppers, tomatoes, red onions, alfalfa sprouts with a little Italian dressing and Vegenaise
  • Vegan baked beans
Wednesday
Mexican
  • Gorditas (make the shells out of masa dough and lightly fry--see pictures and ideas in a post later this week)
  • Refried beans
Thursday

  • Pinto and kidney bean "goulash" with whole grain macaroni or rotini pasta (make the sauce with vegetable broth, tomatoes, onions, garlic, paprika, chili powder, and whatever other spices you'd like)
  • Diced watermelon
  • Vegan biscuits
Friday
Italian
  • Pasta with basil pesto
  • Crusty bread with olive oil and garlic
  • Salad with red oak leaf lettuce and vinaigrette
Saturday
Quick and Easy

  • Kashi Black Bean Mango frozen entree
  • Side salad with your favorite lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots with red wine vinaigrette
Breakfast of the Week
  • Strawberry-banana smoothie (two fruits, a little ice and water in the blender for just a few seconds)
Snack of the Week
  • Rice cake with natural peanut butter

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Week Four Menu

Sunday
Quick and Easy (sometimes it's nice to take it easy!)
  • Amy's Roasted Vegetable Pizza (it is non-dairy and has organic shiitake mushrooms, sweet onions, and roasted red peppers)
  • Salad with Bibb lettuce, grape tomatoes, and Italian dressing
Monday
  • Bagel sandwich (make sure the bagel is vegan!)--lightly toasted if you like it that way.  Then spread each slice with sun-dried tomato spread.  For sandwich fillings, the sky's the limit, but you might try some or all of these:  garlic, basil leaves, romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and red onion slices)
  • Spinach salad
  • Dill pickle spear
Tuesday
Fall favorite
  • Vegan Minestrone soup (you can see my recipe here)
  • Vegan biscuits or warmed flatbread
Wednesday

  • Portobello mushroom steaks
  • Brown rice cooked in vegetable broth
  • Canned pears
Thursday
  • Boca Chik'n Nuggets (yes, they're vegan!)
  • Vegan "Honey" Mustard dressing (see tomorrow's post for my recipe, and, yes, it's vegan too!)
  • Sweet potato fries
If you'd prefer mustard or a vegan BBQ sauce for dipping instead, go for it.  I just like my dressing!

Friday
Mexican
  • Chipotle-style tacos...cumin-y black beans and lime-y basmati rice with pico de gallo and chopped lettuce in white corn taco shells
  • Refried beans
  • Calabacitas (without cheese)
The good news...you can find plenty of Chipotle-clone recipes and calabacitas recipes online easily!

Saturday

  • Lima beans, slow cooked all day, spiced up however you like
  • Vegan biscuits
  • Garden salad (use some of the leftover "honey" mustard dressing from earlier in the week!)
  • Steamed broccoli
Breakfast of the Week

  • Chef Chloe's vegan French toast with blueberry compote (see the link to her blog on this page!)
Dessert of the Week

  • Vegan carrot cake

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Week Three Menu

Sunday
Mexican
  • Veggie Fajitas (bell peppers--a combination of green and red looks pretty; onions; carrots; and mushrooms fried in olive oil in spices, wrapped in warm flour tortillas)
  • Refried beans
  • Spanish rice
Monday

  • Sub sandwiches (hoagie rolls with a variety of chopped veggies, vinegar, and oil--I like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, spinach, and green peppers, but you can also have pickles, avocado slices, alfalfa sprouts--whatever sounds good)
  • Vegan potato salad (no eggs and substitute Veganaise for mayonnaise or try a mixture of olive oil and Dijon mustard)
Tuesday

  • Veggie burgers--eat in a whole wheat bun with mustard, lettuce, tomato, and onion and, of course, a Boca burger
  • French fries (with ketchup if you like it)
Wednesday
Japanese
  • Vegan Yakisoba (make sure the sauce and noodles are vegan)
  • Edamame
  • Brown rice
Thursday

  • Thin spaghetti in garlic sauce (sliced garlic and fresh sage lightly sauteed)
  • Garden salad with Bibb lettuce, onion slices, and cherry tomatoes with oil and vinegar
  • Bread for dipping in olive oil
Friday
Fall favorite
  • Split pea soup (click this link for my recipe)
  • Vegan biscuits
  • Sliced peaches
Saturday
  • Black bean wraps (whole wheat tortilla, chopped Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and black beans, piled with your favorite salsa)
  • Chips and salsa for dipping
Breakfast of the Week

  • Toast with no-sugar-added jam
  • Canned pears
Dessert of the Week
  • Vegan sugar cookies

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Week Two Menu

Sunday
Italian

  • Spaghetti with marinara
  • Garden salad with Italian dressing
  • Garlic bread with olive oil

Monday
Mexican

  • Tostadas with beans and guacamole (if you need cheese, try some soy cheese)
  • Spanish rice

Tuesday

  • Vegetarian Vegetable soup (click to see my recipe)
  • Garlic toast (use either olive oil or vegan margarine and mince several garlic cloves)

Wednesday

  • Veggie pita sandwiches (add whatever your favorite veggies are--I like chopped Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers with a little vinegar and oil, but sprouts and avocado are also nice.  Add whatever sounds good or comes out of the garden or farmer's market!)
  • Potato chips
  • Leftover soup from Tuesday is also nice with this meal!

Thursday
Chinese

  • Vegetable Chow Mein
  • Steamed brown rice

Friday

  • Vegan Louisiana Red Beans and Rice
  • Vegan Coleslaw

Saturday

  • Linguine in olive oil with peppers and tomatoes (slice green and red bell peppers and onions, dice tomatoes, and saute for a few minutes; throw in with freshly-cooked linguine drizzled in olive oil--for extra kick, drizzle in a little balsamic or red wine vinegar as well)
  • Veggie marinade--cherry or grape tomatoes, onion chunks, mushrooms, bell pepper chunks, and cucumber slices in a marinade of olive oil and red wine vinegar with minced garlic (the longer it marinates, the better it tastes)

Breakfast of the Week

Crockpot oatmeal (put it all together the night before and enjoy the next morning!)
Fresh in-season fruit

Dessert of the Week

Vegan brownies