No Croutons Required - The Winners for June and the Challenge for July

The votes are in for June's challenge of soups and salads featuring grilled or roasted ingredients and we have two winners this month.

Congratulations to Michelle of Food, Football and a Baby who submitted this mouthwatering Indian Roast Potatoes salad. I so love Indian dishes, and I will be trying this one soon.

Also congratulations to Raven of Cook.Eat.Delicious who entered this most tempting Roasted Vegan Corn Chowder that I could not resist trying.

I will be hosting the July edition of No Croutons Required. The theme this month is hot peppers and my regular readers will know that they are dear to my tummy. Any variety is welcome included in a vegetarian soup or salad of your choice. Hot chilies, red or green, Jalapenos, habaneros, or any hot peppers that suit your fancy. I very much look forward to your creations. If you grow your own peppers, it would be a welcome addition if you included a picture of your plant or garden, along with a picture of your finished dish.

Olive and herb focaccia

I do not understand people who don’t like olives – don’t get me wrong, I have my own food pet peeves (won’t eat liver for the life of me), but olives are so juicy, so meaty and tender... I find them completely irresistible. ;)

That is why, while setting up the ingredients for this delicious bread, I pulled 20 olives out of the jar. :D

Olive and herb focaccia
slightly adapted from The Weekend

Beet and Feta Salad Dressed with Honey, Balsamic Vinegar and Oregano

The growing season is here, but it is still early in the year and locally grown produce is just starting to hit the markets. The hot temperatures are also finally here, and I decided that I wanted a wholesome salad with my favorite root vegetable. Beets are a good and nourishing choice no matter the time of year, especially when paired with feta and a delightful vinaigrette served over some mixed greens. A choice crusty bread, slathered in butter, is an ideal accompaniment.

Such a treat to eat outside in the warmth after such a cruel winter.

Beet and Feta Salad Dressed with Honey, Balsamic Vinegar and Oregano

4 large beets
1/2 cup of cashews, split and dry roasted over medium heat until lightly browned
3/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese
1 small red onion, cut into fine strips
mixed fresh greens

For the dressing:

4 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of walnut oil
2 tablespoons of honey
1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons of fresh oregano
2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard
sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Trim the beets, wrap in foil and roast in a preheated 425 degree oven until the beets are fork tender - about 1 hour. Cool, peel and set aside.

Whisk together or blend the dressing together in a small food processor.

Arrange a heathy pile of fresh greens on a serving plater and top with chopped beets, sprinkle with cashews, feta and red onion and spoon some dressing over the mix. Season with salt and pepper, add more feta and serve with crusty bread. Such a perfect spring or summer meal.

Serves 4.

More beet recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen you are sure to enjoy:
Beetroot Rasam
Roasted Beetroot Salad with Pistachio Pesto and Goat Cheese Served over Fresh Arugula
Haloumi, Beetroot and Greens Dressed with Tahini and Lemon

On the top of the reading stack: Guy De Maupassant

Audio Accompaniment: Marsen Jules

Pear gingerbread cakes

On the couch, trying to find something nice on TV the other day, the hubby asks: “have you watched ‘The Painted Veil’?” – “Yes, four times already. But I would not mind watching it again if you’re in the mood”. What can I say? When I like something, I really like it. That’s just me. ;)

Not only did I learn to love ginger, I also bought a whole book devoted to this ingredient. That’s just me. ;

Lemon, lime and coconut bars and good/bad additions

I know, I know, I’ve made lemon lime bars before (and those were delicious, by the way). But there’s a special addition to these: coconut in the crust, which works beautifully combined with the lemon/lime filling.

While some additions are wonderful – in the case of these bars – some are disastrous: who would have thought that a simple mustache could do that much harm? ;)

Lemon, lime and

Chocolate-orange truffles with almonds - flavor combos that never tire

Since you already know that I obsess over things from time to time it will come as no surprise to you that I’ve put chocolate and orange together in ganache form again – it worked so well as tart filling I thought it would be delicious as truffles, too (and the almonds add a wonderful texture element here – do not omit them).

That way, I know you won’t find it weird that I’ve already finished

Pongal

This delightful dish is typically prepared for breakfast in Indian, but I opted to make it a dinner dish along with this amazing coconut chutney that was an ideal accompaniment to this rice and bean dish. Adapted from Mysore Style Cooking by V. Sandhya, you won't be lacking for nourishment no matter the time of day you serve this dish. So easy to digest, it is perfect for those recovering from an aliment. South Indian cuisine is my new passion.

Pongal

1 cup of basmati rice
1/2 cup of split mung dal
4 1/2 cups of water
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
1/2 cup of cashews, split and dry roasted
sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons of coconut

For the tempering:

4 tablespoons of ghee, butter or oil
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1 teaspoon of crushed peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon of asafetida
1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 hot chilies, seeded and finely chopped
a handful of dried curry leaves
1/4 cup of fresh parsley or coriander, finely chopped

Rinse the rice well and let soak for 20 minutes. Air dry for another 15 minutes. Rinse the split mung well and set aside.

In a heavy frying pan, dry roast the rice over medium heat for a few minutes. Transfer to a large pot. Dry roast the split mung and transfer to the pot with the rice along with the water and turmeric. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low, cover and simmer until the dal and rice are tender - about 20 - 30 minutes.

For the tempering, heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add the cumin seeds, peppercorns, asafetida, ginger, chilies, curry leaves and parsley. Stir and fry for a minute or so. Add to the cooked rice and beans, stir and cover for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the coconut and garnish with the roasted cashews.

Serves 4 - 5

More South Indian recipes you are sure to enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Tamarind Chickpeas
Carrot Sambar
Spicy Tamarind Black Beans
Mung Bean and Tamarind Dal

On the top of the reading stack: Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes From London's Ottolenghi

Audio Accompaniment: relative silence

Summer blueberry tart and nice surprises

Isn’t it great to find good things unexpectedly? Surfing the net I accidentally discovered that Camera Obscura is the band responsible for a song I adore. Nice surprise. Like the one I had the other day while buying fruit at a supermarket near the office: fresh blueberries. They’re not easy to find near my house so I decided to buy a couple of punnets (despite their not-very-friendly price).

Berry and almond cake

After making the devilish angel food cake several times and not having much time to play around with macarons, I decided to use my frozen egg whites in something new – and found this cake. It tastes delicious – people at work have been talking about it for two weeks now – looks beautiful right out of the oven and is packed with almonds (yum!) and berries (yum, yum!). The texture is very tender

Onion soup – a classic dish for a chilly fall

Classics don’t become classics for nothing: there must be something special, different, unusual about them to be considered as such; I’m particularly fond of some: movies, music bands, wardrobe items, and for that reason I do not know why it took me so long to try a classic dish like this soup; it is delicious, rich and comforting, not to mention simple and easy to make – everything classic

Rose water panna cotta with baked blueberry jam

Anyone who listens to my Ipod or my CDs will notice that most of the music I love is old – I’m not interested in the music enjoyed by most people nowadays (with a few exceptions). My favorite songs have been favorites for the last 20 years or so. Does that make me an old fart? You can be honest and tell me. ;)

To balance the situation, I’ve brought you today four “things” relatively new to me

Jalapeño and Tomato Macaroni & Cheese

An occasional craving for comfort food is one that most of us share when stresses or anxieties abound, an impulse to revisit times or places of simplicity and security, no matter how real or perceived our memories. It's a pleasure of mine to indulge my loved ones with kitchen comfort at those times, not to mention that fussing with pots, pans and food can be a welcome relief to myself when others around me are feeling strains. Into these dishes I can pour the love and care that aren't always easy to express in words.

One of my husband's favourite comfort foods — and one shared by many others — is a big helping of macaroni and cheese. In his case, he remembers the Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese that his father baked with a can of crushed tomatoes. Of course, now that he's eating out of my kitchen he gets my own brand of comfort food, meaning fresh quality ingredients assembled by hand and with a little spicy touch of my own tossed in. I'm happy to say that a big helping of warm and creamy homemade jalapeño and tomato mac'n'cheese did just the comfort trick for him while giving him a taste of something new at the same time. After all, moving forward is important even when we want to indulge our nostalgic feelings.

This is my submission to Presto Pasta Nights, a very popular weekly event started by Ruth of Once Upon a Cook, and hosted this week by Pictures of all my princesses. I am running on about two hours of sleep in the last 48 hours and sick besides, but I wanted to share this recipe because it is so good and easy to prepare.

Jalapeño and Tomato Macaroni & Cheese

Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on June 13, 2011 A classic comfort food with an extra loving homemade touch Print this recipe Ingredients: 3 plum tomatoes 1/2 cup dried bread crumbs 1/4 cup cornmeal 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1/2 pound uncooked macaroni 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 12 oz can evaporated milk 2 eggs 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1 teaspoon sea salt fresh ground black pepper, to taste 16 oz cheddar, colby or Monterey Jack cheese, grated 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and cut into thin rounds Instructions: Chop the tomatoes and place in a fine sieve to drain the juices, tossing occasionally. Meanwhile, combine the bread crumbs and cornmeal with the melted butter and set aside. Cook the macaroni to al dente in a large saucepan according to instructions on the package. Drain and return to the saucepan. Add the remaining butter. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, mustard, salt and black pepper. Add 3/4 of the cheese and combine. Stir the cheese mixture into the macaroni and butter over medium heat. Keep stirring for 5 - 10 minutes or until the sauce thickens and is hot and bubbling. Remove from heat and stir in the tomatoes and jalapeños. Preheat an oven to 350°. Pour the macaroni into a lightly greased 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese, followed by the bread crumb and cornmeal mixture. Bake uncovered for 30 - 40 minutes or until the bread crumbs and cornmeal are browned. Remove from heat and serve.. Makes 6 - 8 servings

Other great mac'n'cheese recipes from Lisa's Kitchen:
Classic Macaroni & Cheese
Macaroni & Paneer Cheese
Greek Macaroni & Cheese

On the top of the reading stack: Sukham Ayu: Cooking at Home With Ayurvedic Insights

Audio Accompaniment: Rustling Leaves

Ginger cookies with lemon icing and acquired tastes in life

Certain things we learn to love really early in life, while others are an acquired taste. I remember going crazy for Scorsese right after watching “Goodfellas” (the first of his movies I ever watched), but not until I was a young woman I fully appreciated the beauty of “The Godfather”. Go figure.

Not a ginger fan until my late twenties, I can eat a bag of crystallized ginger in no time

Plum and frangipane tartlets and controlling anxiety

I have the terrible habit of watching movie trailers way before they premiere only to get anxious for months (depending on the movie it arrives here in Brazil months after their premiere in the U.S.). I know it’s self- inflicted pain, but I cannot help it. Luckily there are times when things can be done to ease the anxiety a little: I got so blown away by “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”

Toor Dal Soup

This is another recipe adapted from Mysore Style Cooking by V Sandhya. Such an elegant and informative book that is essential for cooks wishing to learn more about South Indian cuisine. As I enjoy toor dal and soup, I decided to make Sandhya's Soup. She tells us that it is particularly good for babies and children as it is easy to digest. You may wish to omit the hot peppers. It is also easy to prepare and delicious. Adjust the amount of water to achieve your desired consistency. I opted for a thicker version.

Toor Dal Soup

1 cup of toor dal, well rinsed
1 teaspoon of ghee, butter or oil
2-3 hot green chilies
1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds
freshly cracked black pepper
2 teaspoons of tamarind paste
1 small tomato

For the tempering:

1 tablespoon of ghee or oil
1 teaspoon of black mustard seeds
a generous handful of curry leaves
1/2 teaspoon of asafetida

a handful of fresh coriander leaves

Wash the toor dal well in a strainer. Transfer to a medium pot along with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, cover and cook until the dal is tender - roughly 30 minutes. Puree the beans in a food processor or with an electric hand blender. Stir in the tomato, hot peppers, tamarind paste, cumin seeds, a pinch or two of sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Add a few more cups of water and simmer for another 15 minutes or so.

For the tempering, heat some ghee or oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add the mustard seeds and stir and fry until they turn grey and begin to splutter and pop. Toss in the curry leaves and asafetida, stir for a few seconds and then transfer to the soup. Cover and let sit for another 10 minutes. Stir in the coriander leaves.

Serves 4.

More toor dal recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Toor Dal Palak
Toor Dal and Green Bean and Pea Poriyal
Roasted Toor Dal and Coconut Chutney
Tarka Dal

On the top of the reading stack: Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes From London's Ottolenghi

Audio Accompaniment: Biosphere

Papaya-lime sorbet for a day of bad news

So I’ve read that my #2 all time favorite band has come to an end and Detective Stabler is leaving “Law & Order: SVU”, not to mention they’re adding Jennifer Love Hewitt to the cast (the show will be dead to me then) – all that on the same day. Poor me. :(

After such bad news one really needs something sweet to lighten up their day; even better if it’s a dessert with a minimum amount of guilt.

Sweet and Sour Beet and Sprouted Mung Bean Salad

Messy though they are to prepare, beets are one of my favorite vegetables. This recipe was adapted from Mysore Style Cooking by V. Sandhya. I was intrigued by this dish as it included not only beets, but also some coconut and pineapple. Served alongside some Jasmine rice, this was certainly a satisfying summer meal that I enjoyed with my dinner guests on my front deck. Summer is finally here.

This is my submission to My Legume Love Affair, a most popular event started by lovely Susan and hosted this month by Aqua of Served with Love.

Sweet and Sour Beet and Sprouted Mung Salad

a generous handful of fresh beet greens
3 beets, peeled and grated
1 cup of mung bean sprouts
3 tablespoons of unsweetened coconut
2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped
juice from one lime
1 cup of pineapple, finely chopped
1 teaspoon of sea salt

For the tempering:

2 teaspoons of oil
1 teaspoon of black mustard seeds
1/4 teaspoon of asafetida
pinch of cayenne
pinch of turmeric

Rinse the mung beans well and soak overnight in enough water to cover. Drain and transfer them to the center of a few paper towels. Wrap with string, transfer to a pot, cover and let sit for 24 hours.

In a large bowl, combine the beet greens, grated beet, mung bean sprouts, coconut, parsley, lime juice, pineapple and salt.

For the tempering, heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. When hot, toss in the mustard seeds and stir and fry until they begin to pop. Now add the asafetida, cayenne and turmeric and stir into the salad, taking care to mix until everything is well combined.

Serves 4 - 6.

More Mung Bean Recipes you are sure to enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Mung Bean Paneer
Moong Dal
Mung Bean and Vegetable Soup
Mung and Azuki Beans with Fresh Peas and Spices

On the top of the reading stack: Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes From London's Ottolenghi

Audio Accompaniment: silence, finally

Cashew blondies

“Videodrome” was on TV the other day and I was dying to watch it again – I saw it when I was a teenage girl – but I was so sleepy I could barely watch the first 5 minutes. One thing I did not recall about the movie was Debbie Harry as part of the cast, and that made me curious.

Speaking of Ms. Harry, I have blondies for you today. ;)



Cashew blondies
from here

½ cup (113g/1 stick) unsalted

Tomato and Feta Casserole with Gigantes Beans

Just yum! One of the tastiest dishes I have made recently. Adapted from Closet Cooking, I used gigantes beans instead of the cod that Kevin's recipe called for. Such a perfect spring meal and how could I resist excellent feta and olives from the Perfect Bakery, located at 116 Hamilton Road here in London, Ontario. They have the best olives and feta in the city. Such a pleasure to grow fresh herbs outside too that are an ideal addition to meals. You must try this creation. Nourishing and creative, you can't go wrong with this dish. Your carnivorous friends won't miss the flesh.

Tomato and Feta Casserole with Gigantes Beans

1 cup of gigantes beans
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 small red onion, diced
2 small cloves of garlic, minced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 - 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
1/4 cup of white wine
2 large tomatoes, diced
5 sun-dried tomatoes - soaked in hot water for 20 minutes, drained and diced
1 tablespoon of fresh oregano, finely chopped
a sprig of thyme, finely chopped
a dash of cayenne
1/4 cup of fresh parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup of fresh dill, finely chopped
2/3 cup of crumbled feta cheese
sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
1/2 cup of Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced

Soak the beans overnight in enough water to cover. Drain, transfer to a large pot, cover with water, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low, cover and simmer until the beans are tender - about 1 hour. Set aside.

Soak a whole star anise in the wine while you prepare the other ingredients and cook the beans. Remove before adding the wine.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic, hot peppers and chili pepper flakes and stir and fry until fragrant, about a minute. Add the white wine and simmer for 5 minutes.

Toss in the tomatoes, oregano, thyme and cayenne. Simmer until the mixture begins to thicken - about 15 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley, dill, feta cheese, olives and beans and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a lightly buttered casserole dish and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 - 15 minutes.

More Greek recipes from my kitchen:
Greek Lentil Soup - Fakes
Baked Gigantes in Tomato Sauce
Greek Macaroni and Cheese
Greek Feta & Olive Frittata

On the top of the reading stack: Mysore Style Cooking by V. Sandhya

Audio accompaniment: Ben Harper

Marmalade and almond tart and being persistent

Some people say I'm stubborn – myself included, sometimes – but this time I’ll choose the term “persistent”. :)

Remember those silly pastry strips from the other day? The ones that almost ruined my Saturday morning? Here they are, in this beautiful – and delicious – tart. Or did you think I was going to give up on this recipe just like that? ;)

This tart is for marmalade fans – and I am

Coconut Chutney

I made this coconut and tamarind flavored chutney to go along with a rice based dish known as Pongal that will leave you begging for seconds. I tempt you now, but soon, I will share the perfect pairing for this chutney. It is adapted from "Mysore Style Cooking" by V. Sandhya, an essential book for those curious about the intricate and healing properties of South Indian cooking. We are told it works well as a spread for flatbreads and sandwiches. My chutney had a bit drier consistency than the creamier ones I usually prepare in anticipation of serving it with the Pongal.

Coconut Chutney

1 cup of grated coconut
2 teaspoons of fresh parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon of tamarind paste
2 green chilies, seeded and chopped
3 - 4 tablespoons of water
sea salt to taste

In a mortar and pestle, blender or food processor, combine all of the ingredients until you reach your desired consistency, adding more water as necessary.

More Coconut Chutneys from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen you are sure to enjoy:
Shredded Mango and Coconut Chutney
Coconut and Mint Chutney
Roasted Toor Dal and Coconut Chutney

On the top of the reading stack: Ethnic Vegetarian: Traditional & Modern Recipes from Africa,& the Caribean by Angela Shelf Medearis

Audio Accompaniment: wind