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So…I have the Curry Lovers set of spices from the Savory Spice Shop (Bend, Oregon) that I need to get using. I don’t want stale spices! I got to thinking– what better way to work them into my cooking repertoire than to “curry up” some split pea soup? Here’s my yummy creation…
Curried Split Pea Soup
CHOP THESE VEGGIES:
1 onion
2 carrots
6 garlic cloves (minced)
*1/2 of a cauliflower
*3 Yukon Gold Potatoes
(*A variation of this recipe is to omit the potatoes, increase the cauliflower to a full head, and add a yellow pepper.)
COMBINE THESE SPICES:
dash garlic powder
dash celery salt
1 bay leaf
1/2 t oregano
1/2 t turmeric
1 t sage
1 t parsley
1 t thyme
1 t Garam Masala (Mine is from the bulk section of the Skagit Valley Food Co-op. It contains cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, pepper, and coriander)
1 t Savory Spice Shop’s Thai Green Curry powder (use your choice of dried curry powder)
1 T nutritional yeast
RINSE:
1 1/2 C green split peas
SET ASIDE:
Coconut oil
1/2 t fenugreek
6 C water
4 t Vogue Instant VegeBase (Low Sodium)
Large soup pot
Vitamix Blender
ASSEMBLY:
Heat 1/2 T coconut oil and 1/2 t fenugreek in a large soup pot on medium heat. Add the veggies and sizzle for a few minutes. Stir in the spices and wait several more minutes. Add the split peas, water, and VegeBase. Heat to a boil. Simmer covered for at least 1 hour, then turn off the heat. Remove the bay leaf.
Now…my preference with split pea soup is to puree part of the soup in my Vitamix blender. (I just like the texture of the peas better that way.)
Here is the half that stays chunky…
Chunky Curried Split Pea Soup
Here is the blended half…
Smooth Curried Split Pea Soup
And here is the combination…
Half smooth, half chunky Curried Split Pea Soup
This recipe makes about 12 cups and is quite mild on the spicy index.
I don’t think I could ever tire of soup! 🙂
NSNG = No Sugar No Grains
Several weeks ago, I spotted this Gardein Holiday Roast on sale at my favorite grocery store (the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, in Mt Vernon, WA). Of course I had to buy a box, since I’m always eager to try new vegan food products.
Gardein Holiday Roast
Since we’re skiing for 4 days over this New Year’s holiday weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to cook up this animal-free treat. The roast will feed Eric and I for 3 dinners. The box suggests that the roast serves 8, but I think 6 servings is more realistic and appropriate.
Preparation is a snap…
1. Keep the roast frozen until you’re ready to cook it.
2. Prepare the (optional) Basting Glaze from the recipe on the box…
Whisk together: 1 T tamari, 1 t vegetable oil, 1 T orange marmalade, 2 T orange juice, 1 t Dijon mustard and 1/4 t dried thyme.
(I didn’t have orange marmalade, so I used the apricot jam that I already had in my fridge. I also used all of the juice from a fresh-squeezed orange.)
3. Place the frozen roast on top of your choice of veggies with about half of the glaze. I chose onions and carrots. My loaf pan was perfect for the job.
4. Bake covered at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Drizzle half of the remaining glaze over the roast and bake another 15 minutes. Repeat one more time, for a total of 60 minutes.
Basting Glaze and Frozen Gardein Holiday Roast
Cooked Gardein Holiday Roast with Basting Glaze over Carrots and Onions
Instead of baking the potatoes in the glaze (which probably would have been better), I baked 3 potatoes in a pan.
Baked Potatoes
The roast includes a 14 ounce gravy packet that you simply thaw and heat. Note that we ate the whole packet of gravy in one night! We didn’t need to skimp on the gravy since I made extra (Mmm…that would be the Mushroom Gravy recipe out of “Big Vegan,” by Robin Asbell.)
Gardein Homestyle Gravy
If you follow this blog, you’ll recognize this Pineapple Cranberry Sauce:
Pineapple Cranberry Sauce
We rounded out the meal with steamed broccoli and cauliflower. After I took this picture I drenched everything with more gravy!
Basted Gardein Holiday Roast with Carrots & Onions, Baked Potato, Homestyle Gravy, Pineapple Cranberry Sauce, and Steamed Broccoli & Cauliflower
Finally, I must NOT forget to mention that the Gardein Holiday Roast is absolutely, utterly, and wonderfully delicious! YUM. I look forward to my next 2 dinners!
Speaking of forgetting…
I forgot to prepare a dessert…oh, BOO. Instead, a spoonful of Wax Orchards Classic Fudge will have to do!
Freeheel Vegan 