Baked Polenta with Black Beans and Veggies

Polenta is a cheap, delicious, and endlessly versatile foodstuff that lends itself to any number of interesting applications: in a breakfast scramble, as a side dish or a bed for stew, or as the topping for a casserole, this creamy cornmeal concoction is simultaneously light and hearty, nutritious and comforting. Today's recipe is essentially a variation on the theme of baked polenta, this time with a Mexican vs. Italian-inspired topping, which proved an enormous hit at my house. We had it with guacamole, salsa, vegan sour cream, and a green salad with roasted sweet potatoes, and it was so popular that the vasty quantities of leftovers I'd originally envisioned proved to be nothing but a pipe dream. (Which is perfectly fine when it means that everyone is eating their veggies with such enthusiasm!)

Baked Polenta and Veggies
Ingredients
~ 6 cups vegetable broth
~ 1.5 cups polenta (I use Bob's Red Mill)
~ 1 tbsp. olive oil
~ 1 large onion, chopped
~ 1 bell pepper, diced
~ 1 large zucchini, sliced into thin rounds
~ 2 tbsp. minced garlic
~ 2 tsp. each: cumin, chili powder
~ 1 tsp. each: salt, cilantro, marjoram, smoked paprika
~ 1/4 tsp. each: cinnamon, cayenne pepper
~ 1 15 oz. can diced, fire-roasted tomatoes (I like the ones with jalapeños)
~ 1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
~ 1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
~ 1/4 cup nutritional yeast

Directions
~ Preheat oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit and coat a 9 x 13" casserole or baking dish with cooking spray.
~ In a large pot, bring the vegetable broth and olive oil to a rapid boil. Add the cornmeal in a thin stream, whisking constantly. Cook for about 10 minutes - whisking all the while - until thickened but still soft.
~ Transfer the polenta into your prepared casserole, smooth the top with a rubber spatula, and set aside.
~ In a large, deep skillet, sauté the onion in the olive oil over medium high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add the bell pepper, zucchini, garlic, and seasonings, and cook another 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are beginning to soften.
~ Add the tomatoes and beans, stir to combine, and cook another 5-10 minutes, until most of the liquid has cooked off.
~ Distribute the bean/vegetable mixture evenly on top of the polenta.
~ In a small dish, combine the crushed tortilla chips and nutritional yeast, and then sprinkle on top of the casserole. Cover the whole business with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
~ Remove the foil and bake about 10-15 minutes more, until the topping is delectably brown and crispy.
~ Allow to sit for about 10 minutes before serving.

Lavender Blueberry Tea Bread

It strikes me that my last few posts have all been baked goods, which is kind of funny because I generally think of myself as more a "cook" than a baker. And I haven't actually been baking more than usual; it's just that the meals I've been making have been tried and true standbys and/or nothing particularly blog-worthy. But anyway, here I am with another quick-bread, and at the risk of being immodest, it's a really good one. 

Today's recipe came about because I wanted to play with the culinary lavender I scored at Cardullo's, one of my all-time favorite shopping destinations. Fresh blueberries seemed like a natural pairing, and together they produced a loaf with a distinctly desserty vibe that's perfect with afternoon tea, but nice for breakfast as well. Most importantly, it is delicious, and the flavors of lavender, blueberries, and fresh lemon provide a welcome whiff of summer in the bleak midwinter. (NB that the topping is completely optional; it ups the sweet factor a little, but the bread would be every bit as good without it!)

Lavender Blueberry Tea Bread
Ingredients
~ 1 cup nondairy milk (I used almond)
~ 1 tbsp. culinary lavender, crushed or chopped to a powder
~ 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
~ 1/4 cup canola oil
~ 1/4 cup applesauce
~ Juice of one lemon
~ 1 tsp. each: vanilla extract, lemon extract
~ 2.5 cups flour (I used white whole wheat)
~ 1 tsp. each: baking powder, baking soda
~ 1/2 tsp. each: salt, cinnamon, ground ginger
~ 1/4 tsp. mace or nutmeg
~ 1 cup fresh blueberries
~ 2 tbsp. Earth Balance or other vegan margarine
~ 2 tbsp. flour
~ 2 tbsp. brown sugar

Directions
~ Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit and coat a loaf pan with cooking spray.
~ Combine the milk and the crushed lavender and heat to nearly boiling (I did this in the microwave). Cover and set aside to steep for at least 15-20 minutes.
~ In a bowl, combine the sugar, oil, applesauce, lemon juice, and the vanilla and lemon extracts. Add the lavender/milk mixture and mix thoroughly.
~ In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and mace. Add the blueberries and toss to coat (this gives them some "grip" in the batter so they don't sink to the bottom).
~ Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture; combine thoroughly and transfer the batter to your prepared loaf pan.
~ In a small bowl, combine the Earth Balance, flour, and brown sugar and distribute on top of the batter.
~ Bake in the middle of the oven at 350° for 50 minutes, or until a knife or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for about ten minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Wait another 15-20 minutes before slicing.

Savory Sweet Potato Bread

Happy New Year!

Let me start out by saying that I have no idea what's going on here. One assumes that it's some sort of sweet potato sports event/community activity/rave/love-in, but it's really none of our business what root vegetables get up to on their own time ("what happens in Sweet Potato Land..." etc.). Ours is not to reason why: suffice to say I found the image of tuber shenanigans diverting, and thought it might make an amusing accompaniment to this recipe. (The other association that pops into my head when I think about sweet potatoes is this song from A Mighty Wind. You're welcome.)

So. Of all good days in the year, this recipe was conceived on Christmas Eve, when I needed to use up existing leftovers in order to make room for the ones that would be filling the refrigerator the following day (welcome to my November-December world). There was a bowl of mashed sweet potatoes just sitting there looking needy, and a savory loaf seemed like an appealing change from all the sweet breads and muffins with which we are surrounded at this time of year. So I basically took my usual pumpkin bread, switched up the seasonings, and exchanged nuts for raisins or chocolate chips. Et voila! This bread is delicious served warm, at room temperature, or - perhaps best of all - toasted, with a little Earth Balance and Marmite on top for a perfect winter breakfast.

Savory Sweet Potato Bread

Ingredients

~ 2.5 cups white whole wheat flour

~ 1 tbsp. baking powder

~ 1 tsp. each: salt, sage, garlic powder, onion powder

~ 1/2 tsp. each: white pepper, smoked paprika, baking soda

~ 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

~ 2 cups mashed sweet potato (or pumpkin)

~ 1/4 cup canola oil

~ 3/4 cup plain, unsweetened soy or rice milk

Directions

~ Coat a loaf pan with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

~ In a large mixing bowl, sift together all of the dry ingredients, making sure the walnuts are well coated with the flour mixture.

~ Combine the wet ingredients (sweet potato through soy milk) and mix thoroughly.

~ Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the sweet potato mixture; combine thoroughly with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.

~ Transfer the batter to your prepared loaf pan, and bake at 375 in the center of the oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a knife or toothpick inserted comes out clean. (Ovens vary wildly; mine tends to be a bit slow, so just keep an eye on things!)

~ Remove from the oven and allow the bread to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Lussekatter Muffins

This is my muffinization of Lussekatter, the Scandinavian saffron buns associated with Advent in general and with St Lucy's (or Lucia's) Day in particular. This feast falls on December 13th, and my youngest son's birthday is the 12th; since we are usually deep in holiday mode at that time - which inevitably entails the consumption of seasonal treats - I always associate these tasty yellow pastries with him. So when Lucia Day rolled around this year I decided to reinterpret them as something a busy and/or lazy person could throw together without being arsed about yeast, rising times, etc. One of these days I will get around to veganizing a more traditional recipe, but in the meantime, these totally hit that saffron/cardamom sweet spot that tells your mouth that it's almost Christmas. (NB this recipe makes a dozen muffins, which disappeared in about 12 hours, so you might consider doubling it if you are, like me, surrounded by hungry people.) God Jul!

Lussekatter Muffins
Ingredients
~ 1.5 cups plain, unsweetened soy milk
~ 1 tsp. saffron threads
~ 3/4 cup currants or raisins
~ 1/4 cup canola oil
~ 1 tsp. vanilla extract
~ 1/2 tsp. almond extract
~ 2.5 cups white whole wheat flour
~ 1 tbsp. baking powder
~ 1 tsp. cardamom
~ 1/2 tsp. each: baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon
~ 1/4 tsp. mace 
~ 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
~ 1/3 cup slivered almonds (optional)
~ 1 tbsp. sugar mixed with 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Directions
~ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and coat a muffin tin with cooking spray.
~ In a bowl or beaker, combine the soy milk, saffron threads, and raisins. Cover and microwave about two minutes; leave covered and set aside for at least 15-20 minutes to allow the raisins to plump up, and the saffron to infuse them and the milk. (You could obviously do this in a pot on the stovetop, too.) After that's done, add the canola oil and the vanilla and almond extracts.
~ In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cardamon, mace, brown sugar, and slivered almonds, if using.
~ Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir until just combined, being careful not to over-mix.
~ Spoon the batter into your waiting muffin tin, and top with a sprinkle of the sugar/nutmeg mixture.
~ Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
~ Remove from the oven and allow the muffins to rest in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring to a rack; these are equally good served warm or at room temperature.

Tempeh, Kale, and Potato Skillet with Cheezy Sauce

Strictly speaking, this isn't really a "skillet meal" because some of the components are cooked in the oven, but I figured that since everything winds up in a skillet, what the hell. Besides, this woman is so blissed out about having a frying pan so shiny she can check her lipstick in it that I just had to share; who knew stainless steel could bring such joy? (Hubby looks pretty satisfied with himself out there, too: "the family that 'buffs' together," etc.!)

Anyway, it occurs to me that this dish would be absolutely perfect for a lazy weekend brunch; this is because it was conceived on of those "breakfast for dinner" kind of nights, following a long day of staring down my last seminar paper ever. (O, brave new world of comprehensive exams!) And you know what? The leftovers made a perfect breakfast the next day! In fact, this stuff is so damned good that I say go right ahead and make a panful for breakfast, dinner, or even - yes, say it! - lunch.

And I recommend that you do so soon, because at this festive time of year we need all the strength we can muster, and between the tempeh, the veggies, and all that nooch in the sauce you'll be ready to take on the most abominable holly jolly crap the Blessed Holiday Season can dish out!

Tempeh, Kale, and Potato Skillet
Ingredients
~ 3-4 tbsp. olive oil
~ 8 oz. package tempeh, cubed (I love Henry's)
~ 3-4 good-sized potatoes, cut into 1" wedges (sweet potatoes would also be nice)
~ 5-6 large carrots, cut diagonally into 1" slices
~ 1 large head of kale, cleaned and chopped
~ 1 large onion, diced
~ 1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced
~ 1 tbsp. garlic, minced
~ 1 tsp. each: salt, chili powder, marjoram
~ A few generous grinds of black pepper

Directions
~ Heat the oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit and spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
~ In a large bowl, combine the salt, paprika, marjoram, and garlic powder with 2-3 tbsp. of the oil. Add the tempeh, potatoes, and carrots, and coat thoroughly (I use my hands for this). Transfer to the baking sheet and roast in the oven for about 25-30 minutes, shaking things around occasionally so they brown on most (if not all) sides. Please remember that ovens vary and you might need more or less time; just keep an eye on them!
~ In a large, deep skillet, heat the remaining tbsp. of oil and sauté the onion over medium-high heat about 5 minutes, until starting to brown. Add the mushrooms and cook another 7-10 minutes, until they are getting a bit crispy. If things start to get sticky you can add a splash of water or - if you're feeling chefy - white wine to get things moving again.
~ Add the kale and a few grinds of black pepper, stir to combine, and cook another 3-5 minutes, until wilted but still green.
~ Add the roasted potato, carrot, and tempeh cubes and mix thoroughly. Serve hot topped with...

Cheezy Sauce (adapted from Isa's Easy Breezy Cheezy Sauce)
Ingredients
~ 1 cup nutritional yeast
~ 2 tbsp. all purpose flour
~ 1 tsp. each: white pepper, paprika, garlic powder, dry mustard
~ 1/2 tsp. turmeric
~ 2.5 cups hot "no chicken" broth
~ 1 tsp. each: Marmite, prepared English mustard, vegan Worcestershire sauce

Directions
~ In a medium-sized saucepan, whisk together all the dry ingredients.
~ Stir in the hot broth and turn the heat to high; add the Marmite, mustard, and Worcester sauce and mix thoroughly.
~ Once the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat to simmer and cook about 5-7 minutes, whisking pretty much constantly, until you have a smooth, thick, "cheesy" texture. Serve hot on everything!

Fassolokia (Greek Style Green Beans)

These stewed beans are a dead ringer for the Greek-style ones my dad used to make; he occasionally added leftover lamb or beef, but they usually appeared as you find them here. (To replicate the "meatier" version, I think marinated, sautéed soy curls, or the Viana veggie gyro stuff would do the trick. I'll report back and update if I ever get around to trying it!) This recipe is a delicious way to cook green beans, and as part of a spread including moussaka, lemony roasted potatoes, squash with tahini and za'atar, rice pilaf, and a big, beautiful salad, these babies will be right at home on this year's Mediterranean-themed Christmas table. Highly recommended!

Fassolokia

Ingredients

~ 2 tbsp. olive oil

~ 1 large red onion, chopped

~ 3 tbsp. minced garlic

~ 1 red bell pepper, diced

~ 1 lb. green beans, washed and snapped in half

~ 2 tsp. oregano

~ 1 tsp. each: salt, marjoram, dill, parsley

~ A good pinch of cinnamon

~ Fresh black pepper

~ 1 28 oz. can diced, fire-roasted tomatoes, including liquid




Directions

~ In a large, deep pot, sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.

~ Add the bell pepper, green beans, and seasonings; continue cooking another 5-7 minutes.

~ Stir in the canned tomatoes, including their liquid, and combine thoroughly. Cover the pot and bring briefly to a boil before lowering the heat to a simmer. Continue cooking on low heat for about an hour (stirring occasionally), until you have thick, aromatic stew. 

~ Serve hot, and be sure to have some bread on hand to sop up the sauce.

Eggplant and Red Lentil Dal

A Pot of Red Lentils

simmers on the kitchen stove.

All afternoon dense kernels

surrender to the fertile

juices, their tender bellies

swelling with delight. 

~ Peter Pereira

There are few things more comforting and nutritious than a bowl of spicy lentils, but between schoolwork, my Vegan Mofo austerity theme, and the traditional podgy foods associated with Thanksgiving, it's been awhile since I made a nice, big cauldron of dal. I decided to correct this situation on a recent snowy afternoon, when a craving for red lentils coincided with the presence of a large and lovely eggplant in our vegetable bin; the rest, as they say, is history (or at least dinner). Alongside a pile of mashed sweet potatoes and some garlicky greens, this was a super healthy and satisfying meal that - best of all - made more than enough to feed off for a few days. (And as everyone knows, leftovers are always even better, because they're already cooked!)


Eggplant and Red Lentil Dal
Ingredients
~ 1 tbsp. canola oil
~ 1 large onion, diced
~ 2 tbsp. minced garlic
~ 1 tbsp. grated ginger
~ 2 carrots, diced
~ 1 red or yellow bell pepper, diced
~ 1 medium-large eggplant, diced
~ 1 cup diced, fresh tomato
~ 1-2 tbsp. good curry powder
~ 1 tsp. each: salt, cumin, garam masala
~ 1/2 tsp. each: cinnamon, turmeric, cayenne pepper (more to taste)
~ Pinch of mace or nutmeg
~ 1.5 cup red lentils
~ 5-6 cups vegetable broth (depending on the thickness you want)
~ 1/2 lb. frozen, chopped spinach

Directions
~ In a large, deep pot, sauté the onion over medium heat for about two minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook about one minute more, until fragrant.
~ Add the carrots, bell pepper, and seasonings, and cook until just softened; about 5 minutes. You can add a splash of broth or water if things start to look dry or sticky.
~ Add the eggplant, tomato, and 1 cup of the broth. Stir to coat and cook for 5-7 minutes.
~ Add the lentils and remaining stock, raise the heat to high, cover, and bring to a boil.
~ Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about an hour, until the lentils are smooth and the eggplant has broken down completely.
~ Stir in the frozen spinach and cook another minute or two, until it is bright green and just wilted. If the mixture seems too thick, add a little extra broth; if too thin, uncover the pot and cook a bit longer.
~ Allow the whole business to stand for about 10-15 minutes to let the flavors blend; return to heat and serve over basmati rice.