Golden Veggie Bouillon Powder & White Bean Barley Soup

Another slow cooker day! 

From Vegan Slow Cooking for Two or Just For You by Kathy Hester

I'm still looking for recipes to use up all my assorted grains, etc. and this one calls for barley. The only ingredient I needed to buy was the mushrooms. I first made the bouillon powder which is a quick and easy way to substitute for vegan bouillon cubes. You use 2 Tbsp. of the seasoning mix for 1 cube.

Ingredients for the Golden Veggie Bouillon Powder. 

You just blend everything in the food processor and you're ready to go. I did notice a typo in the amount this yields: it makes 3/4 cup not 1/4 cup as is printed.

The soup recipe called for jalapeno powder, which I've never heard of, so I used my Cajun Spice blend instead. I also didn't add another 1/2 tsp. of thyme since the bouillon powder had plenty of thyme in it. The liquid smoke added after cooking really highlighted all the rich, hearty flavor of the beans, barley and mushrooms. 

White Bean Barley Soup with Faux Parmesan Garlic Bread

Potato, Greens, and Soy Curls Curry

I could get used to these slow cooker days! Another great recipe from Kathy Hester's Vegan Slow Cooking for Two or Just For You. I wanted to use up the rest of my soy curls and this was perfect. I made a commitment to myself to use up all the grains, beans, legumes and other assorted ingredients I have hanging out in my pantry before I buy anything else. The only groceries I'm going to try and buy are fresh veggies (hopefully!) 

This recipe has quite a few ingredients but goes together quickly in the morning. Lots of spices-garlic, ginger, garam masala, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric, coriander and cardamom. Thirty minutes before serving you stir in a cup of minced kale, more fresh garlic and ginger, some vegan sour cream and salt. Instead of the pureed tomatoes (which I didn't have) I used a can of fire roasted diced tomatoes. It gave it some extra smoky flavor.

I had these packages of Quinoa & Brown Rice I used instead of the basmati rice. 

Yum! I added a generous helping of sriracha sauce on top for some more spice.

Lentil Quinoa Taco 'Soup'

I had good intentions to cook and blog while in Sedona this past weekend; but who can think about cooking and blogging when you have scenery like this to look at?!! (Also, no reliable internet connection)

I did make my favorite Creamy Curried Veggies since I had some of the ingredients available at the cabin. 

We're still working hard on fixing up 'the old girl'. I was cleaning out the kitchen cupboards and found a few of my late grandma's cooking utensils and I knew I had to display them:

Wow! It's a percolator coffepot; don't see those anymore! There was also this metal strainer; I like to use old stuff but I just had to replace this with a new one to use.

These really remind me of Grandma Violet. She loved to cook and bake. I can still see her scooping out sugar and flour with these measuring cups. They have a special place in the kitchen now.

This was in preparation for making this recipe at the cabin. Oops! Didn't get it done; too much to do. I even bought another Crock Pot for the cabin (okay, at last count I have five now-hehe)

cilantro, chopped tomato, shredded romaine lettuce, Daiya cheddar, chopped green onions

This recipe is from Kathy Hester's cookbook Vegan Slow Cooking for Two; she shares the recipe here on her website. It is supposed to be a filling for tacos but I checked it as it was cooking and I thought the mixture was getting too thick so I added extra water. Now we are eating taco soup! Tastes just as delicious with all the toppings on top and lots of Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce. We used warmed up rolled whole wheat flour tortillas to dip in the soup.

Lentil Quinoa Taco 'Soup'

We finished the whole pot. I love this cookbook; no leftovers!

Carolina Barbecue Soy Curls

I love this new cookbook from Kathy Hester. The recipes make smaller portion sizes which is perfect for me and the hubby. And I LOVE my baby Crock Pot! It's a 2 quart size; now I have four Crock Pots! This was so easy to throw everything in and let cook all day. I had some Butler Soy Curls that were getting ready to expire so I thought I would try this recipe.  Instead of the cayenne pepper, I used some of my Cajun Spice seasoning. 

BBQ Soy Curl Sandwich
The flavors are sweet and spicy and the soy curls give it just the right texture of a BBQ sandwich. I spooned a little more of the simmering juice on top of mine. Hubby really liked this one; next time I'll double the recipe!