My first post in a Vegan Blog has to be about my favourite cookery book at the moment, Chloe's Kitchen.
Chloe trained at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York and really knows her stuff. She was the first Vegan to win Food Network's Cupcake Wars which proved to be a bit of a "Susan Boyle" moment. Everyone assumed, wrongly, that with such a disadvantage she couldn't possibly win but, in fact, she blew them out of the water and showed the world how good Vegan baking can be. "You would never know it wasn't 'real' baking" my cheeky friend Barry (himself a chef) said in response to my rendition of the award winning "Ginger Nutmeg Spice Cupcakes". My son says you can't be 'that good' if you are that young and pretty - Chloe is.
I have become quite obsessed with cooking from the book, even though I own hundreds (literally) of recipe book this is my favourite at the moment, it's getting a little like Julie and Julia with the ages reversed. But, enough of the chat and on to the recipes, these are some of the ones I have cooked so far:
- Black Baby Bean cakes - my favourite beans and these are delicious little patties, it is served in the book with Pineapple Salsa but I didn't have time so left it out.
- Double Double Drive-Thru Burgers - Tempeh Burgers (she steams the Tempeh first and now I do that I haven't looked back, any bitterness disappears). Served with a lovely "Special" Sauce, tofu based and remarkably (my children inform me) like the MacDonalds sauce on Big Macs - I'll take their word for that.
- Falafel Sliders with Avocado Hummus - Falafel as good as you'll get with an interesting Hummus (where Guacamole meets Hummus but it kinda works) and with a Tahini sauce that keeps in the fridge and goes well with other things like chips. This meal is a "Protein Fest" - who says we never get Protein?
- Thai Chickpea Burgers with Sweet 'n' Spicy Sauce - she calls them Fusion Burgers which is very accurate, I cut the chilli down because we are 'woozys' when it comes to heat.
- Best ever baked Macaroni and Cheese. Last night's dinner and today's lunch as it happens. Can't decide whether it tasted better first or second time.
- Fettuccine Alfredo. Amazing, why would you ever want cream.
- Penne alla Vodka. never mind which Pasta you have in the pantry this is such a tasty sauce, like most tomato dishes it is better the nest day.
- Wild Mushroom Stroganoff Fettuccine. Rich and creamy sauce and so so tasty.
- "Orange you Glad I made Crispy Tofu". With rice and a stir fry you have a perfect dinner.
- "Pancakes for Dinner". ... or brunch, or lunch. Light and fluffy Blueberry pancakes, I have bought extra Blueberries for the freezer so I can make them whenever and they work beautifully. Gluten free works well too. These are what you want when you get an attack of the munchies.
- "Tempeh Piccata" - which showed me I liked Tempeh and my daughter she liked capers.
- "Banana Cupcakes with Lemon Icing". Can't make enough of these. My youngest daughter's "go to" cupcake.
- "Ginger Nutmeg Spice Cupcakes" - Award winning, what can I say :-) (they are pictured on the book cover but without the toffee sauce.
- "Iced Apple Cake Squares". The only recipe that hasn't gone right for me but I was frazzled and didn't have all the correct ingredients and, in fairness, it was delicious but not what Chloe had in mind, more of a Streusel than a cake - I will try it again and see what happens.
Having looked at these 14 recipes I now feel that I should give some other author and book a chance, I would think there are only a few that I have cooked that many recipes from.
But who and in which book ? ........
