Vegetable Stir-fry - Meatless Monday

This vegetable stir fry is a blend of colorful veggies cooked in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce that is two quick steps to make.  You won’t heat up the kitchen too much and you can enjoy fresh veggies.   You can use this as a side dish or serve over rice for a complete meal.  Remember to cut the veggies about the same size so you can insure even cooking.

Vegetable Stir-fry

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup carrots peeled and sliced
• 1 cup mushrooms sliced
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 3/4 cup bell peppers sliced, I used red and yellow
• 1 cup snow peas trimmed
• 1/2 cup water chestnuts drained and sliced
• 3/4 cup baby corn drained and sliced
• 2 teaspoons garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger minced
• salt and pepper to taste

• 1/4 cup vegetable broth can also use water
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons honey (try an herb-infused honey for a richer flavor)
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large pan or wok over medium high heat. Add the carrots and mushrooms and cook for 4-6 minutes or until tender.  Add the broccoli, bell peppers, snow peas, water chestnuts, baby corn and 2 tablespoons of water to the pan. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes or until vegetables are tender and water has mostly cooked off.  Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper to taste.

In a bowl, whisk together the vegetable broth, soy sauce and honey. Pour the soy sauce mixture over the vegetables and cook for 30 seconds.

In a small bowl mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water.  Add the cornstarch and bring to a boil; cook for 1 more minute or until sauce has just started to thicken. Serve immediately, over rice if desired.

RECIPE THEME

Each month a theme is chosen and a number of recipes on that theme from my massive archive will be shared.  This year we have 12 new topics, different from the topics of last year.  To find the recipes of last year, check out this recipe link or search the blog with the topic Recipe2018, or Recipe2019 

You can search the monthly theme by looking for the theme keyword in the search box and it will pull up the recipes on that theme as posted, so look at the bottom of the recipe in each posting for the KEYWORD in the () to search for each  month.  All recipes this year will be tagged Recipe2020 so you can find them all.

The themes are:

Feb 2020 - Footbal Tailgate Favorites (AppFeb)

March 2020 - Kabobs (KabobMar)

April 2020 - Brunch (BrunchApr) more in 2021 also

May 2020 - Non-Traditional Pizza (PizzaMay)

June 2020 - Stir Fry Dishes (StirJun)

July 2020 - Salads with no lettuce (SaladJul)

August 2020 - Pickled things (PickleAug)

September 2020 - Quiche (QuicheSep)

October 2020 - Squash Soups (SquashOct)

November 2020 - Pumpkin (again) (PumpNov)

December 2020 - Turkey Recipes (TurkDec)

Grilled Spiced Broccoli - Monthly recipe - Meat less Monday

Adapted from a 2016 article in Grill it Bookazine this recipe gives you a great side dish, or a tasty main dish base.

Grilled Spiced Broccoli (Serves 6)

2 bunches broccoli

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup tarragon or chive blossom vinegar
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder 

1 teaspoon dried chives

1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon pepper 

Cut each bunch of broccoli into six pieces. In a 6-qt. stockpot, place a steamer basket over 1 in. of water. Place broccoli in basket. Bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer; steam, covered, 4-6 minutes or until crisp-tender. In a large bowl, whisk marinade ingredients until blended. Add broccoli; gently toss to coat. Let stand, covered, 15 minutes. 

Drain broccoli, reserving marinade. Grill broccoli, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat 6-8 minutes or until broccoli is tender, turning once. If desired, serve with reserved marinade. Combine with cooked black or white beans for a high protein main dish.

Note: you can substitute Cider Vinegar for the herbal vinegar in this recipe.

To find any recipe featured this month - use the search box and type: GrillJul

To find any theme recipe from this year type: recipe2018

For 2018 the monthly recipe themes will be:

   January - Chicken Soup (ChickJan)
   February - Beef Stew (StewFeb)
   March - Jambalaya (JambMar)
   May - Ham and Shrimp Dishes (ShrHamMay)
   June - Bread recipes (BreadJun)
   July - Grilling (GrillJul)
   August- Garden Delights 
   September - Salsa, Corn and Jelly 
   October - Squash Dishes 
   November - Pumpkin Recipes
   December - Herbal Cocktails 

Mock Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (Vegan) - Meatless Monday

All month I have been sharing Chicken soup recipes, they are chocked full of vegetables, so if you could eliminate the meat, Chicken Soup would be great for a vegetarian eater.  However, then wouldn’t it just be vegetable soup?  To make it hearty, “meaty,” and more like the flavors of Chicken soup I looked for an appropriate alternative to give my vegan readers something to try as well.  I adapted this recipe from one I found on Stacy Homemaker.  She shares great vegan and vegetarian recipes and her solution for Mock chicken using jackfruit was inspired! This is a creamy soup without any dairy also if you want to avoid lactose.

Make sure to look for these things when you buy jackfruit for cooking:

•          Fresh, ripe jackfruit is used for desserts. The unripe, young, canned jackfruit is what you want to buy to use as a meat replacement.
•          Look for canned jackfruit that is in brine, not syrup. Make sure to rinse the brine off before you cook with it, to reduce the sodium.

Vegan Slow Cooker Chicken Wild Rice Soup

1 medium onion, diced

2 stalks celery, sliced

3 carrots, sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 lb mushrooms, sliced

2 cans of jackfruit in brine (rinsed and drained well)

2 to 3 tsp Italian seasoning (or a combo of basil, oregano and thyme)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 bay leaf

1 1/4 cups wild rice 

1 quart vegetable broth (about 4 cups)

2-3 cups of water (enough to just cover everything in the crock pot)

1 8 to 10-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk (discard the water)

2 tsp corn starch 

Parsley for garnish

Directions

Put onions, celery, carrots, garlic, mushrooms, jackfruit, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, bay leaf, vegetable broth, and wild rice into a crock pot. Add enough water to cover all ingredients.  Cover and turn on high, cook for 3 1/2 hours.

After 3 1/2 hours, remove 1/2 cup of the broth and put into a small bowl. Add the cornstarch to the bowl, whisk to combine. Pour it back into the crockpot to thicken the sauce.

Pour the coconut milk into the slow cooker, discard the water in the can. Stir to combine.

Replace the lid and cook for 30 additional minutes.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.  Serve with a sprinkle of parsley and black pepper. Enjoy!

Notes

If you don't like jackfruit or cannot find it at the store, try potatoes, artichoke hearts, cauliflower, or another meat substitute instead but adjust the cooking time accordingly, as these will cook faster.

Do not add the cornstarch into the slow cooker! If you do, it will clump and you won't be able to whisk the clumps out. You have mix the thickener in a separate small bowl and then add it to the soup.

When you warm up leftovers, add a little bit more plant milk to help loosen the broth.

You can use a blend of wild and regular rice if plain wild rice is not available.  (I buy mine bulk from the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa in Wisconsin, but you can get some from the Native Mobile Farmers Market)

To find any recipe featured this month - use the search box and type: ChickJan
To find any theme recipe from this year type: recipe2018

For 2018 the monthly recipe themes will be:
   January - Chicken Soup (ChickJan)
   February - Beef Stew
   March - Jambalaya
   April - Ham & Shrimp Dishes
   May - Bread recipes
   June - Garden Delights
   July - Grilling
   August - Salsa, Corn & Jelly
   September - Squash Dishes
   October - Pumpkin Recipes
   November - Chili
   December - Herbal Cocktails

Meatless Monday Creamy Herb Dressing

If you like a cream dressing but cannot use milk or cream in your foods, this versatile recipe may be your solution.  Tofu provides the creaminess without the cream. Make the dressing with any herb that matches your meal or mood. Serve over your favorite greens.

I recommend making a combo of three herbs, like basil, savory and lemon balm or lemon basil, thyme and oregano.

Creamy Herb Dressing

• 1⁄2 cup soft silken tofu (4 oz.)
• 1⁄2 cup tightly packed fresh herbs, such as basil, dill, cilantro or a combo of three herbs
• 3 Tbs. olive oil
• 2 Tbs. water
• 1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice, plus more if needed
• 1⁄2 tsp. salt, plus more if needed

Directions:
In blender or food processor, combine all ingredients and 2 tablespoons water. Process until very smooth, scraping down sides of bowl once or twice, about 2 minutes.

Use immediately or refrigerate in tightly sealed container for up to 3 days. (The vibrant color will become olive drab, but the taste will not be affected.) Stir well before each use. Thin with 1⁄2 teaspoon lemon juice or water (or more if needed) if dressing becomes too thick.

This recipe adapted from one in Vegetarian Times

Meatless Monday - Corn Stuffed Tomatoes

Today is the day of the ellipse.  I wanted to go down south to watch it, but I scheduled a lecture for tonight so I cannot go 5 hours south of here and get back before the program. Since I was doing a program on cooking I went out to find some special recipes to make it worth forgoing the trip.

The theme is using the bounty of your garden.  I found this great recipe that is mostly all vegetables.  It is too lengthy to do during the program, but I just loved it and wanted to share it.  It is tasty and can be a side dish, or served in pairs, a main dish.

Corn Stuffed Tomatoes

6 large tomatoes

½ tsp salt, optional

½ cup plain or Italian seasoned bread crumbs

2 cups corn cut fresh from the cob or frozen corn, thawed

2 Tbls celery, chopped

2 Tbls onion, diced fine

1 Tbls oregano, chopped

1 Tbls parsley, chopped

2 Tbls half and half cream

1 Tbls butter, melted

2 Tbls shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese

¼ cup water

Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomatoes, scoop out and discard pulp.  Sprinkle salt inside tomatoes if desired.  Invert on paper towel to drain.  Combine bread crumbs, corn, celery, onion,  cream, herbs and butter.  Spoon into the tomatoes.  Place in an ungreased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese.  Pour water into the baking dish.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until tomatoes are tender.  Makes 6 servings.

NOTE: You can add 2 Tbls. green pepper, diced fine to the corn mixture if you like peppers (I don't.) You can substitute 2 Tbls or basil cut in ribbons for the other herbs.