Broccoli Cheese Soup and Still on the Veg Wagon!

Yay! I'm still on the veggie wagon and I feel fantastic! I've been drinking my green juice and getting my Pilates in this week, too. I found this yummy soup recipe in Zsu Dever's cookbook:

The recipe uses 2 Tbsp of her Savory Broth Mix for flavoring. This seasoning has nutritional yeast and about thirteen different herbs and spices. It's nice to have on hand in the pantry instead of dragging out every spice in the cupboard! 

This soup is so creamy, 'cheesy' and delicious. I would have liked my broccoli a little more cooked but it was still tasty. The leftover soup really thickened up in the fridge. It would be good spooned over some baked potatoes. 

~ Broccoli Cheese Soup ~ 

Three Quick & Easy Meals

Whew! I finally had my sinus surgery after dealing with this for seven months this time. My last surgery was 15 years ago so hopefully this will last for another 15! Recovery is not a breeze but it will be worth it in the long run. Cooking is the last thing I want to do but I'm slowly getting back into it. In the meantime, I just keep ordering cookbooks! heehee. I got Vegan Casseroles by Julie Hasson; OATrageous Oatmeals by Kathy Hester; Super Seeds by Kim Lutz; Thug Kitchen(!) and The Mystic Cookbook-the secret alchemy of food by Denise & Meadow Linn. The last has a few recipes (not all vegan) but more of our spiritual connection to food. It's dangerous when you're lying around recuperating with an ipad in your hands!  I'm still browsing through them making lists of what I want to cook first. Here are three fairly simple and quick meals to fill the belly without resorting to crappy fast food. 

~ Fast & Fresh Tomato Sauce ~

La Dolce Vegan

Such an easy pasta sauce using fresh tomatoes and a few spices. 

I love Beyond Meat Chicken-Free Strips. I found this recipe for Chicken-Free Salad Sandwiches in Everyday Vegan Eats.  It tastes just like I remember chicken salad should taste. 

~Chicken-Free Salad on Pita Bread ~

The hubby really liked this chicken-free salad. 

Ok, now I'm almost embarrassed to add this one. When I found out about earth balance mac & cheese I ordered some from Vegan Essentials; I got the regular and the white cheddar. This is an old standby from when my kids were little using the traditional nitrite hot dogs and kraft mac & cheese . But this version is guilt-free! And so simple it's ridiculous. Make your mac & cheese per box instructions; heat up 3 or 4 veggie hot dogs in microwave and cut in coins; mix all together and eat! 

~Guilt-Free Mac & Cheese with Veggie Dogs ~

I served my "gourmet" mac & cheese with some Dry-Sauteed Green Beans. I love these things! They taste just like the ones at P.F. Chang's. Here is the link to the recipe. 

Tater Tot Casserole

This is the first new cookbook I've bought this year! I'm so proud of myself but I couldn't hold out any longer. I love the recipes in here. Easy, recognizable ingredients and lots of photos. 

I knew the first recipe I had to try was the Tater Tot Casserole. I grew up on those little processed spuds! I did buy organic Cascadian Farms Spud Puppies for this; so they're a little healthier. There are a few steps to this recipe before you can put it all together and get it in the oven. First, I had to make my Savory Broth Mix which will be used in future dishes. 

The Savory Broth Mix has 1 cup nutritional yeast flakes and thirteen other spices and seasonings in it! You whirl it all up in the blender and it makes about a cup. 

The next step is preparing the soy curls. They simmer in the Savory Broth, drained and then are browned in a little oil. 

A sauce is made with onions, soymilk and a tablespoon of the Savory Broth Mix. Then it all gets mixed together with the soy curls and some peas and topped with the tater tots. This makes a big 9x13 pan so we have plenty of leftovers. 

Mmm! mmm! A yummy, meaty down-home casserole. The hubby loved it.