Thursday Dinner - Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomato Italian Easter Pie with Herbed Crust(June 10)

This is my version of the classic Italian Easter Pie. 

This is a meal that is typically served on holidays. I can almost understand why: there are a dozen reasons. Because I did not use the DOZEN eggs most recipes I looked at called for, I needed to up the ingredients, and therefore I wound up enhancing the flavor. I put artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, sausage and homemade tofu ricotta in there. The crust was a snap to make, using the food processor, and I added a teaspoon each of oregano and basil to it. It came out flaky and crispy and oh, so delicious.

I am not a fan of bland, so I am glad this turned out so wonderful.

Cost Breakdown:

crust: $1

sausage: $1

artichoke and spinach: $3

onion, seasoning, garlic: $1

tofu, lemon, almond: $3

salad: $3

Total to feed a family of 5:

$12.00

5 out of 5 stars

Italian Easter Pie Recipe

Saturday Dinner - Chicago Deep Dish Pizza (June 5)

Visions of Uno's and Lou Malnati's Pizza has been dancing in my head.

And now on my palate as well.

American Vegan Kitchen by Tamasin Noyen has a pretty authentic recipe (minus the spinach), complete with the sausage (also in the cookbook, and also an easy recipe),  tomato sauce (can it really be called that, it just being drained, seasoned tomatoes?), and dough. The dough, which I popped into my bread machine and forgot about it until it was ready, turned out golden brown and crunchy - no soggy dough here! 

I'll stop raving now, but I do admit pizza is one of my old-time faves.

Suffice it to say everyone loved it.

Ahh.

Cost Breakdown:
1/2 Daiya, 1/2 Follow Your Heart: $5
Can of Eden tomato: $2.50
Homemade crust and seasonings: $1
Homemade seitan: $1
Salad: $3
Total to feed a family of 5:
$12.50

5 out of 5 stars 

Wednesday Lunch - Classic Pesto (Mikel) (June 2)

Mikel cooked lunch today. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was Italian, having chosen most of last week's Italian dishes. His choice for today is no exception: Pesto.

Pesto is one of those super fabulous sauces that is easy to make, store, and cook with. Not to mention tasty.

The pesto used today was made late last week because I did not want the basil to go bad. In addition to the basil, I also add some dark leafy greens. Covered with some olive oil, it can keep for a long time. Oh, did I mention it is heavenly? Mikel used a brown rice pasta to go with his pesto, and his sister slathered some on a whole grain bread and toasted it.

5 out of 5 stars

Saturday Lunch - Basil Stuffed Shells, Two Ways (May 29)

 Happy Birthday, Mikel

For his Birthday Lunch I made Basil Stuffed Shells, Two Ways. Basil Ricotta, and Bolognese Ricotta. I cooked the pasta sauce for 4 hours, easy to do if you get it on in the morning and stir every now and then. I made the Bolognese adapted from Nonna's Italian Kitchen by Bryanna Clark Grogan, which we have used for Lasagna recipes for the past six years. This was an awesome variation on that recipe, using my Basil Ricotta as a base
They both turned out exquisite.

5 out of 5 stars

Mikel's cake was the Portal Cake.

The Cake is a lie.

Uh,... you have to be 15, and, or a gamer to understand the reference, I'm afraid.

Friday Lunch - Minestrone Soup (May 28)

Olive Garden style.

Cat loves Olive Garden's Minestrone soup, but to pay $8 for a simple soup, dry bread sticks, and a salad with no dressing, makes little sense, not to mention what the rest of us would eat. So, we had to make it at home for her, and I think we've made it even better.

An optional pesto swirl adds an extra dimension.

Of course, not everyone likes Minestrone, so this reduces the stars:

4 out of 5 stars

Minestrone Soup Recipe

Wednesday Dinner - Eggplant Parmesan (May 27)

Italian Night!

If Mikel had to pick one food to take with him on deserted island, it would be this. It was a little challenging figuring out how to bread the eggplant without eggs and without frying it, but the answer is very simple - yogurt. A thin layer of soy yogurt and then the panko crumbs mixed with some fine bread crumbs and the result is crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. The cheeze is a mix of Daiya and Follow Your Heart, and the sauce is homemade. With the exception of eldest daughter who would like this if it were not eggplant, we all dig this dish.

5 out of 5 stars

Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

Friday Dinner - Seitan Scallopini (May 22)

If you are not familiar with Bryanna Clark Grogan, it is time you should be. Tonight's dinner was inspired by her scallopini recipes in

 Nonna's Italian Kitchen.

I made some seitan a few nights ago, and if you are intimidated by making seitan, don't be. (I am in the process of making a video to help you conquer the fear of seitan.) I made a 'light', 'chicken'-flavored seitan, and sliced it 1/4 inch thin. After breading the slices, I pan-fried them until golden, added mushrooms, shallots, and garlic, and about a cup of wine (or Marsala, sherry, or just vegetable broth). I let the sauce reduce and served the cutlets with whipped potatoes and sauteed garlic spinach.

Originally I had the cutlets over pureed baby turnips, but that was a bit much for the rest of the family - too bitter for them - so the picture is of whipped potatoes. If you do use potatoes instead of turnips, consider changing the greens to kale or rapini (broccoli rabe). - it will give a nice flavor contrast. I liked it a lot with the turnips, however, so here is your chance to use up those last turnips in your CSA box. 

4.5 out of 5 stars

Seitan Scallopini Recipe

Wednesday Dinner - Mushroom Bolognese (May 12)

Wednesday night is Italian/Pasta night.

This was a very quick meal to make - 30 minutes. This recipe required one pound of mushrooms, a small can of tomatoes, and I added spinach and green peppers to boost the nutrition. Alas, the family was so-so about it. You can't win them all!

3 out of 5 stars

Yeah, that's what I thought... the picture in the book looked good, too. This is adapted from Cook's Encyclopedia of Vegetarian Cooking.