Lemon Dijon Tofu and Potatoes

This is another one of those Autumn meals that tastes great on a cool day. The inspiration comes from a recipe attached to a wine ad in the autumn edition of Food and Drink from the LCBO. The original recipe calls for sweet potatoes, which would be quite good, but I had none on hand. It also called for chicken, which I didn't have either.

INGREDIENTS
- 1 pkg extra firm tofu, cut into large cubes
- 1/2 cup vegetable stock
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1.5 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, cut into large chunks
- 2 leeks (white and light green part), sliced
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

METHOD
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
1. Mix 1 tbsp of the oil, mustard, lemon juice, thyme and paprika in a bowl. Set aside.
2. Heat a non-stick skillet over med-hi heat.Add tofu and fry for about 5-7 mins, until golden. Add a splash of oil if tofu begins to stick. Add 1/2 cup of stock and 1/3 of the mustard mixture. Keep stirring and allow liquid to evaporate. When liquid has completely reduced, remove from heat.
3. Heat remaining tbsp of oil over medium heat in an ovenproof skillet. Saute leeks for 1 min, then add potatoes and saute 2 mins. Add 1 cup of stock, remaining mustard mixture, and vinegar. Bring to bubbling and season to taste. Simmer for a few mins to allow potatoes to soften slightly.
4. Top potatoes with tofu, cover, and place in oven. Bake for 15-18 mins, or until liquid is bubbling. Remove lid and bake 12-15 mins more, until potatoes are soft and sauce has thickened. Serve.

Hearty Early Fall Stew

It looks like we can kiss summer goodbye here in ye olde northe. The nights are quite cool (threats of frost) and the days, while sunny, have that fallish nip in the air. Suffice it to say the bike ride into campus in the morning is a tad chilly. Weather like this makes me think of pumpkins, beautiful leaves, and tasty stews like this one. I love the whole potatoes and baby carrots because they give it a really hearty look and texture.

INGREDIENTS
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 large sweet onion, halved and sliced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 1 leek, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1.5 lbs mixed baby potatoes (red, yellow, white, purple)
- 2 cups baby carrots (or more)
- 1 can mixed beans, rinsed and drained
- water
- 1 tsp sage
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp HP or A1 sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- salt and pepper
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 1/4 cup flour
- generous 1/2 cup soy milk

METHOD
1. Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot. Saute onions, celery, leek, and garlic for 7-10 mins, until soft and translucent. Add potatoes, carrots, and beans and mix well.
2. Add enough water to cover veggies about 3/4 of the way (i.e. some veggies should be poking out of the water). Add seasonings (including parsley) and sauces and bring to bubbling. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 mins, until potatoes and carrots are soft.
3. Put flour and soy milk in a container with a tight-fitting lid and shake to mix together. Add to stew with peas and bring to bubbling. Add more liquid, or more flour mixture to get the consistency you like. Adjust seasonings to taste and serve.

The Bakery is Open!

I finally did it. I started a very small organic bakery in my home where my customers are friends and neighbours. This was an idea I toyed around with after doing an insane amount of baking for the street fair at the boys' school. Since I still have a real job, I bake twice a week--it is a great way to relax and decompress after a day of teaching. Since Wednesday night is a baking night, I won't always have a blog post for that day (as you probably noticed yesterday). But I am sure you can all get along without me.

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Here is the other dish from our Italian date night. Ontario red peppers are in season which means they are huge in size and low in price. This is a fairly simple soup that tastes great (if you like roasted red peppers) and has a deep red colour. They say that red stimulates the appetite, so this is the perfect starter for your Italian meal.

INGREDIENTS

- 4 large red peppers (5 regular size)

- 2 tbsp olive oil

- 1 large sweet onion

- 2 cloves garlic, chopped

- 2 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and chopped

- 4 or 5 cups of vegetable stock (see note below)

- 1-2 tsp oregano

- salt and pepper to taste

- 1/2 cup soy creamer

METHOD

1. Roast peppers under the broiler or on the BBQ (I think this is the easiest way), rotating until skins are blackened and wrinkled all over. Place in a large bowl, cover with a plate, and let steam for 15 mins. Skin peppers and chop.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pot over medium heat and saute onions and garlic for 5-7 mins, until onion is translucent. Add potatoes and fry for 1 min. Add peppers and water and bring to bubbling. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 mins, or until potatoes are soft.

3. Blend soup with a hand blender until smooth, then season to taste. Before serving, stir in soy creamer.

NOTE: If you are in a rush, use only four cups of water and serve after you have blended and seasoned the soup. If you have the time, use 5 cups of water, but let soup simmer, uncovered, for a few hours after blending. This will thicken the soup and let the flavours develop.

Spaghettini with Oyster Mushrooms

Vegan Mom and I are trying to sit down for a nice "grown up" meal once a week after the kids are in bed, but with the pace of life these days it has been more like once a month. We set aside some time on the weekend and I, knowing that Italian food is the way to Vegan Mom's heart, made this delicious dish. Back in the day I made this with scallops, but oyster mushrooms are a perfect substitute. Their delicate flavour and texture pair perfectly with the tomatoes and vermouth. I am salivating just thinking about it! The recipe is modified from a wee little book I picked up years ago called "The Pasta Book" by Julia della Croce.

INGREDIENTS

Serves 4

- 12 oz spaghettini (enough for 4 servings)

- 3 tbsp olive oil

- 3 large garlic cloves, minced

- 1 48 oz can chopped tomatoes, drained, with 1/2 cup of the juice reserved

- 1 generous tbsp tomato paste

- 1/3 cup dry vermouth

- 1/3 cup basil leaves, chopped (or 1-2 tsp dried)

- 1/2 tsp salt

- freshly ground white pepper

- 2 cups oyster mushrooms pieces, washed

METHOD

1. Cook pasta according to directions on box.

2. While pasta is cooking, heat oil over med-lo heat in a saucepan and gently cook garlic for 4-5 mins, until softened. Raise heat to medium, add drained tomatoes and cook for 5 mins, stirring often.

3. Add reserved tomato juice, paste, and vermouth and mix well. Bring to bubbling and cook for 5 mins. Add basil, salt, and pepper and adjust to taste.

4. Add mushrooms and bring to bubbling, then reduce heat to low and cover. Let simmer for 5 mins, until mushrooms are nice and tender.

5. Drain pasta, and top with sauce.