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VEGAN FEAST SUBSCRIBERS' COOKING AND RECIPE FORUM>
Help with menu, Bryanna, fellow subscribers?...
Linda
434 posts
Sep 29, 2005
8:11 AM
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Hopefully, if it's not in the 90's this Sunday (!!), I want to make my nephew a nice Autumnal dinner for his birthday. I definitely want to start with one of your greens recipes, Bryanna, since my nephew grew up with greens, loves them, and, I'm sure hasn't had any in quite some time. So from there, I'd like help forming a menu. what would go well with this as the starter?
I've only come up with cornbread so far!
Also, what drinks? And a dessert suggestion would be nice. I'm leaning toward his favorite chocolate cake, but I always make him that :). I'd like something new; perhaps something that goes nicely with the rest of the menu.
Julie, maybe a suggestion from your cupcakes book???
Thanks to any and all suggestions :)
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Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1194 posts
Sep 29, 2005
8:44 AM
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How about a nice green gumbo to go with the cornbread?
BRYANNA’S GUMBO Z'HERBES 8 generous servings
This evidently was originally a vegetarian Lenten dish, but meat and seafood are usually added nowadays. Here's a low-fat version Ithat is absolutely scrumptious! I use browned flour and a little oil instead of the traditional roux that contains half flour and half fat.
2/3 c. dark browned flour (see recipe text for directions)
2 T. olive oil
2 large onions, minced
1 c. celery, minced
1 medium bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garlic (or more), chopped
12 cups chopped greens
(NOTE: should have at least 5 [up to 12] different kinds-- can be mustard, turnip, collard, spinach, parsley, beet tops, radish tops, rapini, escarole, kale, chard, cabbage, etc.)
6 c. vegetarian broth
1 bay leaf
OPTIONAL: 1/2 tsp. filé powder
1/4 tsp. EACH cayenne, dried thyme, dried marjoram
pinch each ground cloves and allspice
lots of freshly-ground black pepper
1 T. good-quality soy “bacon” bits or chips (omit for soy-free)
OPTIONAL: 1 tsp. liquid smoke
2-3 c. cooked (or drained and rinsed canned) black-eyed peas or chickpeas
OR sliced spicy vegetarian “weiners” or “sausages” (browned)
OR any favorite “mock meat”or “mock seafood”
salt to taste
2 c. dry long grain brown rice, cooked (brown basmati the tastiest--see recipe text for how to cook it.)
To make Browned Flour, brown 2/3 c. unbleached flour over medium heat in a dry cast iron pan, stirring constantly, until it is as dark as brown coffee, being careful not to burn it.
In a large pot, heat the oil. Saute the onions, celery, pepper and garlic slowly in the oil til the onion softens. Stir in the browned flour. Stir in the broth, then add the greens, spices, bacon bits, and any "mock meats" you might be using. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and cook, covered, for 1 hour.
Cook the rice while the gumbo cooks: Mix the rice with 3 c. water and 1/2 tsp. salt in a covered saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn to low and cook, covered tightly, for 45 minutes.
Taste the gumbo for salt and pepper. Serve each bowl with about 3/4 c. of cooked rice.
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
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cv
109 posts
Sep 29, 2005
11:17 AM
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Hi Linda,
Here's a Nava Atlas recipe that I like a a lot:
http://www.vegkitchen.com/SummerSides.html
GREENS WITH PINTO BEANS
She doesn't mention it, but if you use Swiss Chard, you can chop the stems and saute them separately (since they take a lot longer to cook than the leaves) then add them back in. It's especially colorful if you have "rainbow chard" in your area--in a single bunch, you get red and yellow and white stems. Catherine
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kourtney
99 posts
Sep 29, 2005
12:17 PM
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The only things I can think of that I do with greens for parties is crepes stuffed with them, topped with bechamel and baked or spanikopita (other types of greens than spinach might be really good).
As for dessert, what about Bryanna's pumpkin roulade from one of the newsletters? Or a sweet potato pie? Something with root vegetables would be seasonal. You can also put grated beets in chocolate cake, although I don't have a vegan recipe.
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Debbie
845 posts
Sep 29, 2005
3:57 PM
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Linda,
How about beans and greens from Nonna's Italian Kitchen cookbook? Does he like beans? Then, you can serve them on top of bruschetta (toasted Italian bread).
For dessert, for a hot day like this (man, it is 100 degree here in LA area), Bryanna's Key Lime Pie. There is no cooking involved in making this dessert.
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Debbie
Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all. ~ Harriet Van Horne
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Linda
436 posts
Sep 29, 2005
4:52 PM
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Thank you, Guys!! The suggestions sound great. Do you think just the greens with cornbread is enough?
Good suggestion for the pie, Debbie!
Last Edited Linda on 29-Sep-2005 4:54 PM
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