Les Bouchées Quotidiennes

I'm not sure how it's taken me this long to stuff a vegetable. If I remember correctly, I've never made stuffed vegetables. How strange is that? Well this taco tempeh stuffed zucchini was a great place to start and it was incredible! It has everything I love about tacos without the corn tortilla shells, which is great because GF tortillas don't taste that great. The best part is that you can eat the zucchini boat too! This makes a great meal paired with cilantro lime rice, which I make by just adding some salt, vegan butter, lime juice & minced cilantro to cooked rice.

Afraid of making spring rolls? Too hot outside to cook? Check out my recipe for fresh herb & tofu spring rolls!

These are both recipes for my recipe testing position so I'll be brief, but it was delicious! This is an oven baked tempeh sandwich with avocado, tomato & vegan mayo along with Mexican tomato soup. These were both super tasty and easy to make, plus I was able to freeze leftover tomato soup (always a plus)!

Mac & cheese is my #1 comfort food, which is funny considering I almost never ate it before I was diagnosed. But now I love it, and like everything else, I love different variations on it! This is a simple spicy vegan mac & cheese with NO cashews or blending of any kind, which automatically makes it a winner in my book! It also uses pantry items only, so you can be sure that you probably always have ingredients to make this on hand! I added some cooked green peas for color but I'm sure any vegetables would be great (especially broccoli).

This is a recipe I wrote down sometime last year, but never got around to making it. But last week, these cumin chickpea fritters with parsley chutney were calling my name. They take a little more effort than most fritters because of the amount of prep, but they are totally worth it. I love toasted cumin seeds, and paired with this vibrant and zesty parsley chutney, it's a true match made in heaven. I will also say that you should at least try this chutney recipe. It's quick and goes well on everything. I put leftover chutney on some grilled salmon from the Fourth and it was amazing! The flavor is so bright and fresh that it would probably also do well on eggs, cooked potatoes, or stirred into rice with some vegan butter.

There's always a big salad planned when we visit Mike's parents! This has a bunch of ingredients but it's basically lots of lettuce, garden vegetables and peppers, fresh chopped herbs and some balsamic vinegar. We also threw in some chopped sprite melon, which was actually a very nice addition!

This is why I really have to stop buying sorbet and ice cream: this cantaloupe sorbet only has TWO ingredients. That's right, just cantaloupe and vegan organic cane sugar. Not to mention all you do is chop the melon, blend it with sugar, then pop it in your ice cream maker, and that's that! I'm on day three of it being in the freezer and it still tastes great. If you're feeling boozy: scoop some of this sorbet into a bowl and mix in a shot of Campari. Trust me.

I've been trying to figure out pantry meals that I can make easily, since school is coming back soon. These Cajun chickpea cakes with smoky Cajun mayo are a great option for any weeknight. There isn't a lot of prep time and I pretty much always have the ingredients for them on hand, minus chickpeas. I even made the homemade poultry seasoning to give it even more flavor (totally worth it). The result is an incredibly flavorful, spicy cake that has a lovely, creamy sauce on top. I highly recommend these. Sometimes I forget how great of a source Happy Herbivore is for healthy, quick meals! This originally comes from her second book.

Fresh Basil Scrambled Eggs & Zucchini-Potato Hash

I can finally check something off my bucket list: we have an herb garden going! Yesterday we ventured to the Raleigh farmer's market to buy some herbs (and produce, of course). We are now growing: globe basil, Thai basil, fennel, Italian oregano, mint, silver thyme, lettuce and banana peppers. I am beyond excited to see how they do over the summer. I will be adding dill and maybe some French (Provence) lavender to the mix if these turn out well. I'd also like to do some more peppers, if possible. Anyways, I'm thrilled, and this morning I woke up craving a typical summer breakfast for me: something with fresh herbs and farmer's market produce. So here are two recipes I created this morning that you can enjoy all summer long!

Fresh Basil Scrambled Eggs

• 2-4 fresh eggs 
• 1 TBS almond milk 
• 1-2 TBS fresh basil, thinly sliced
• salt + pepper
• 2-3 tsp vegan (or regular) butter

1. Preheat a skillet on medium heat. Add a small pat of vegan/regular butter and wait for it to melt.
2. In a bowl, beat the eggs with almond milk, a pinch of salt, pepper and basil until smooth. I usually do two eggs per person. 
3. When the butter is melted, add the eggs and a teaspoon of butter. Scramble, using a spatula, for another minute or two. 
4. Add another teaspoon of butter and scramble some more, until cooked to your desired consistency. The butter makes the eggs super fluffy and adds a little decadence! 

Zucchini + Potato Hash

• 1-3 large Russet potatoes, diced
• 1 large or 2 small zucchinis, diced
• 2-4 garlic cloves, minced,
• 1 TBS olive oil, divided 
• salt + pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp cumin

1. In a pot big enough to fit the potatoes with some room, place the potatoes inside and add enough water to cover by an inch or more. Set to boil on the stove. When boiling, turn down slightly and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. It should pierce easily with a fork. When tender, drain and set aside.
2. Preheat a large skillet on medium heat. Add 1/2 TBS olive oil, then potatoes and a pinch of salt. Saute, until starting to get crispy, about 6 minutes. 
3. Add the zucchini, paprika, cumin, another pinch of salt and another 1/2 TBS olive oil. Turn the heat up to med-hi to sear. Stir, and cook about 5-6 minutes, until everything is starting to sear and cook through. There should be little black marks under everything and the zucchini should be tender.
4. In the last two minutes of cooking, add the garlic and stir. Adjust seasoning to your liking and serve!

Top Recipes of 2013

The year is already over! After this upcoming semester, I will be a senior (which is terrifying)! This year has been full of good food, drinks, friends, and other wonderful people. I am really looking forward to a new year to make better habits, for my health and education. So here is a look back at the best things I cooked this year! What was your favorite dish that you made in 2013? 

1. Wonder Fries with Miso-Mayo 

Food 52

 2. Tofu Curry Laska + Rice Noodles

Appetite For Reduction

3. Edamame Hummus 

Oh She Glows

4. Harissa-Miso Roasted Fingerling Potatoes + Delicata Squash 

101 Cookbooks

5. Pad Thai 

Happy Herbivore

6. Peach, Arugula + Lentil Salad with Roasted Jalapeno Vinaigrette 

Sprouted Kitchen

 7. Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Love & Lemons

8. Pumpkin Pie Squares with Graham Cracker Crust 

Oh She Glows

9. Rustic Chickpea Vegetable Soup

Foodess

10. Hottie Black-Eyed Peas + Greens with Fried Cornbread 

The PPK

11. Zucchini Fritters 

Smitten Kitchen

12. Garden Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk, Chives + Lime 

The PPK

13. Sweet Chili Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Bleu Bird



HAPPY NEW  YEAR!

July Favorites

I'm trying to do some new things with the blog lately to keep it interesting! Monthly favorites is something a lot of my favorite blogs do (see here). So here's a roundup of my favorite things I made in July! I hope I can still post a lot even with school and other various activities. 

 1. garden corn chowder with basil + chives//the PPK
     I'm mildly obsessed with corn chowder and the many variations that exist on it, so this obviously had to be made. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the lime juice and coconut milk paired with the corn/potato mix. I'll still be dreaming about this one when fall rolls around.

 2. Foil-packet soy lime salmon with green beans, cajun corn salad + herb potato salad
     //J + S, Budget Bytes + Thug Kitchen
      I made salmon for the first time (finally)! All three of these meal components are incredibly easy to pull together. I made an easier version of the corn salad by just using what I had on add and adding a LOT of hot sauce. The potato salad was a refreshing and incredibly garlicky twist on the mayo-laden side we all eat in the South. The salmon can be made on any weeknight since it takes little prep. 

 3. The 5-Minute Cajun Grit Bowl//here!
      I have been making this grit bowl since I learned how to make polenta grits and microwave eggs. Together, they make an easy, hearty, and spicy breakfast. I can be half awake and still be able to pull this together. 

 4. Summer Squash Soup with Tofu Croutons//Super Natural Every Day
     I'm pretty sure I have mentioned this book a few times. Heidi Swanson is the first cookbook author I discovered when I was 17 or so, and her recipes have really impacted how I cook food. I highly recommend her book to anyone who wants to experience more with vegetables, grains, beans, and eat more vegetarian food. This soup is exquisite. It's the only word I know that fits. You make a coconut oil/curry paste mash to cook potatoes and squash in, then make a coconut milk broth, finished off with crispy pan-fried tofu croutons. All of the recipes in both of her books are just as amazing.

 5. Blueberry-Raspberry Cobbler with Oat Biscuit Topping//Sprouted Kitchen
     My first cobbler! July seemed to be filled with a lot of 'firsts' for Infinite Zest! I had fresh, local, organic blueberries from a farm that my parents have been going to for years here in the Triad, and I wanted to make something special. I also had some raspberries to throw in. The oat biscuit topping pairs perfectly with the berries and lemon juice/zest. 
[For substitutions: 1/2 C oat flour, 1/4 C sorghum flour, 1/4 C tapioca starch, 1 tsp xanthan gum, 1/2 C GF rolled oats, 5 T Earth Balance baking sticks, 1/2 C plain coconut milk yogurt]

 6. The Balm 57 Cocktail//here!
      It's pretty obvious that I love cocktails. I mean, next to food, I really love reading blogs like The Boys Club that post extensive info on liquor and classic drinks. This is also my first cocktail creation, recreated from a drink I had at Sticks & Stones! Dreamy blackberry whiskey pairs with agave, lemon juice, and mint for a refreshing summer drink. Bottoms up!

 7. Peach Arugula Salad with Lentils, Avocado + Roasted Jalapeno Vinaigrette//Sprouted Kitchen
     I'm trying to be better about making lunches for myself. Sometimes the day just gets away from me, then 4 rolls around, and suddenly I'm starting dinner with out having eaten since breakfast. Whoops! It's horrible. But I have SO many recipes saved that it makes no sense for me to just skip lunch. This decadent, perfect salad is everything I want for lunch. NC peaches, arugula from Guilford College's farm, French lentils, avocados, and the best roasted jalapeno shallot vinaigrette. The dressing will burn your nostrils a bit, but what's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing. Go make this pronto!

8. Zucchini Fritters//Smitten Kitchen
    Perfection in the kitchen is not easily reached, but when it is, it creates quite a sensation. You labor over something for so long: shredding the zucchini, pressing just the right amount of water out, cleaning your cast iron skillet for the first time JUST for these perfect little fritters, watching them like first-time parents to make sure they don't burn too much. It may seem tedious, like, who cares that much about some damn fritters? Well, when you take all of these extra precautions and treat it carefully, you are rewarded with this: the perfect fritter. Golden brown, puffy, and to-die-for with a cashew sour cream. Sometimes the extra effort really is worth it.

Cheater Zucchini Marinara

We all have nights when we really don't want to cook. I can be especially bad about this. Lately I am trying to go as long as possible with out eating at a restaurant due to trying to save money and not wanting to be gluten-ized again. Meals like this, that are easy to pull together and healthy, keep me from going out.

I always keep a jar of organic pasta sauce in my pantry. I like to try different flavors, like Cabernet or roasted garlic. I try to make sure that it's organic and made with actual onions and garlic, not granulated or dehydrated. Of course it would be great to have homemade marinara always on hand, but having a reliable back up pasta sauce is just as good! 

Cheater Zucchini Marinara

• 1 small/medium zucchini, diced 
• 1/4-1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 T olive oil
• salt
• thyme, oregano + red pepper flakes
• 2-3 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1/2 a jar or more of store-bought organic marinara (or homemade!)
• GF spaghetti
• optional add-ins: cheese, vegan cheese, nutritional yeast

1. Boil water for pasta and cook according to package directions.
2. Heat a small/large skillet (depending on how much sauce you need) on medium high heat. Add the oil, then onions and a pinch of salt. Cook until soft and caramelized, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes or more. 
3. Right before your onions start browning slightly, add the zucchini. Cook onions and zucchini until they are both slightly golden brown and zucchini is cooked through, another 5 minutes or so. Stir in smashed garlic and cook until fragrant, 2 minutes.
4. Add as much pasta sauce from a jar/homemade that you need for your pasta. I used about half a jar. Add thyme, oregano, salt and red pepper flakes. Turn up heat until it starts to bubble, then turn down low to simmer while your pasta cooks. If the sauce is getting too thick, feel free to add a splash of water, red wine, or vegetable broth. 
5. Drain your pasta whenever it's done and toss with pasta sauce! Voila!

(736) home sweet home

things have been pretty mellow here. school starts in 2 weeks and some days. I go to the beach Sunday! ready for a vacation and also for school to start!

nothing I love more than a simple meal, hard cider, and a dear friend. I am always willing to trade dinner for drinks. always. 

makings for the first soup I'll make

delicious lentil soup for two topped off with fresh lemon juice

one of the best friends in my life. pretty much a brother to me

breakfast for Ashley and I: dill scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, strawberries, toast, and juice boxes

delicious two-toned squash. sauteed this with onions and served with buttered pasta

orange colored tomato, red onion + balsamic vinegar salad

first time making (perfect) hard-boiled eggs resulted in dill egg salad

oven baked vegan nachos

finally tried this wine! suits me just fine

//1. spiced chickpea zucchini saute
//2. quick lentil soup for one
//3. breakfast nachos