my daughter's best friend katie is a vegan. i must admit i was a vegetarian for about 20 years. then suddenly one day i wanted a hamburger and have never looked back. i get it, being a vegetarian was quite pleasant, however i love having a nice rare steak from time to time. most of what we eat as a family leans towards vegetarian to this day, but the occasional meat fix rounds out our diet at this point in time. with all this said i must say that i was pleasantly challenged to create a hearty and satisfying winter meal for katie and our family last night.
hearty winter veggie stew
Prep 20 minutes +1 1/2 hours cook time
1/2 cup diced shallots
4 cloves garlic finely chopped ( I use a micro planer to grate my garlic)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups sliced mushrooms
2 cups cubed zucchini
1 cup cubed yellow squash
1 cup cubed fresh turnips
3 cups thicky chopped tuscan kale
1 cup sliced carrots ( I like a chunky slice 1/2 inch)
1 15 oz. can garbanzo beans
1 15 oz. can cannelli beans
1 28 oz. can can crushed tomatoes
1 32 oz. box vegetable stock
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup farro
salt and pepper
add shallots, garlic, oil and mushrooms to a heavy stock pot. cook on high and caramelize the mushrooms about 10 minutes until golden brown. add veggies and cook until golden brown. add beans and crushed tomatoes stir until thoroughly mixed. add stock and herbs and faro season with salt and pepper to taste. simmer for 1 1/2 hours on low.
Serves 6
red grape and walnut salad with lemon dressing
6 cups mixed salad, including arugula
2 cups red grapes, ( if they are larger cut in 1/2)
1 cup walnut pieces
1 cup feta cheese ( this is not vegan but a vegetarian option)
1/2 lemon
4 tablespoons lemon olive oil
salt and pepper
mix the salad ingredients and toss with lemon and oil, add salt and pepper to taste.
serves 6
flat bread ( I use this as pizza dough as well)
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 package dry yeast
1 cup tepid water ( add more water if the dough seems dry while mixing, should be a soft dough ball in the end)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
Place water and yeast in the bowl of a mixer combine and let sit for 10 minutes until yeast starts reacting. add flours and oil and salt mix with the dough attachment in the mixer until a soft ball forms about 2-3 minutes in the meantime oil a bowl , pull dough out of mixer bowl form dough into a perfect ball with your hands. place into oiled bowl and cover the top of the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. let sit for 1 hour.
Pre heat the oven to 400 degree F. with a pizza stone.
pull dough from the bowl and flatten on a lightly floured surface for 1/4" thick disk ( you should yield 3 disks 8" in diameter from this dough)
toss disks onto the hot stone, bake for about 10 minutes until golden brown.
camponata recipe use this recipe from last summer while i was in italy.
Hope you enjoy this menu, let me know if you try it how it turned out.
