I recently hosted bookclub at my house and I have to admit I’m always excited about putting together the menu. My bookclub is the most fantastic group of gals that have been noshing, sipping and gabbing since 2009-that’s almost EIGHT years now! We do always discuss the book at some point during the night (if only to validate our name as a book club for our significant others) but first we dig into the spread provided by the hostess with the mostess. This time around while hosting, I wanted to create some food that could be appreciated by my vegan friend (hi Kata!) and that’s the beginning of these Vegan Mushroom Pesto Tartlets….
Good Food Reads II 04.07.17
So many things for Good Food Reads this week, so little time! Today is the day that With Two Spoons is taking it on the road, as both Holly and I will be happily soaking up the sun in Arizona! Unfortunately I will soon be heading back to Minneapolis. The only saving grace is that spring time in Minneapolis is BEAUTIFUL! So as an Ode to Spring-here is this week’s Good Food Reads-dedicated to Spring!
First let’s talk donuts. DONUTS! Strawberry lemon donuts to be exact. These Strawberry Lemon Donuts by Tornadough Alli look amazing. Like eat the whole batch at one sitting amazing. In fact I may need to make these when the kids are at school-and then hide them.
Maybe I’m strange, but I also think of pasta for spring. I know, I know, it’s spring-I should be worrying about lightening things up and cutting the carbs, but when you see this Garlic Butter Asparagus Pasta by Diethood and this Lemon Cream Pasta Primavera by Foodtastic Mom, you are going to see exactly why I think pasta belongs to springtime. Because it does.
One of my spring resolutions is to make my own bread. I’ve done homemade bread and it is a million times better than that processed pre-sliced stuff from the supermarket. I even went so far as to take home some sourdough starter from a friend, which I promptly killed. (I know who kills sourdough starter? That isn’t even an easy thing to do) I haven’t had the heart to tell my friend (although she’s probably reading it here-I’m so sorry Retu!). BUT-I came across this recipe for Sourdough Starter by WellFloured. So maybe I’ll make my own. And keep it alive this time.
So from bread, a normal transition would be butter, right? Check out this Basil Lime Vegan Butter by Healing Tomato, which is a sensational way to use up those herbs that are about to die an awful death. And a great use for those herbs you are going to plant this summer. Just remember basil likes it hot and dry. Hot and dry. (And now you’re going to click to check it out, not because of the basil, but because you, like me, are saying “what the hell is vegan butter”? Well, I still don’t have an answer to that, but I bet you can make this with regular butter as well. Pretty cool indeed!)
As a blogger, I’m frequently checking out other blogs. Bloggers are doing such amazing food these days. But every once in awhile, I come across a dish where I say-“If I can make this at home, my life will be complete”. And that is how I feel about Food, Faith, Fitness’ Larb Gai Thai Chicken Skillet. One look at the photos and I didn’t even need to know what the rest of the words meant. All I know is it looked like my idea of heaven in a cast iron skillet, and that is saying a lot for something that does not contain chocolate. I will definitely be making this at my house. And if this does it for you too, well-then you’re invited.
As I’m writing this with a glass of wine in hand, relaxing in the beautiful Arizona twilight, I will tell you about the Instant Pot I bought for my in-laws. We have been using it for everything this week, which is great because in Arizona, who wants to turn on the oven? Tonight’s dinner was Flank Steak with Chimichurri-a recipe from our own blog, with Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot from A Pinch of Healthy and Pressure Cooker Corn on the Cob by This Old Gal. Is there anything this miracle machine can’t do?
Finally, a recipe for the artists among us. There is a lot of great food art out there right now (for some reason Easter seems to spark a lot of creative juices). I really like this Easter Bunny Bread by Foodie with Family because, well, I’m not sure exactly why, other than I am a bread addict. Pretty sure this one would be loved by kids and adults alike. I’m not usually one who attempts food art, but this one I might actually try. Stay tuned.
Well, that’s all for this edition of Good Food Reads. Join us again next Tuesday for a new recipe and again next Friday for another jaunt around the good food of the internet. Until then, have a great week-and as always, let us know what YOU are making in your kitchens!
Instant Pot Chipotle Black Bean Soup
The Instant Pot. It’s all you hear about these days. But a pressure cooker? I wasn’t sold. And my husband was threatening me if I bought ONE. MORE. KITCHEN. GADGET. But, me, being me, went ahead and got an Instant Pot (read further for my marriage saving advice). And when I finally took my Instant Pot out of the box I found I just cannot stop using it. This gadget is magical! Pure magic! If you don’t have one, it’s definitely time to go get one. In fact, I like mine so much, I shipped one to my in-laws, just so I could keep cooking with it when we visited on Spring Break!
So, like any discerning person, I bet you are asking yourself-sure it’s great, but what are you actually making in it? Well, this Instant Pot Chipotle Black Bean Soup for one. You haven’t heard about the Instant Pot? Read further for some great information and this fabulous recipe!…
Falafel with Lemon Tahini Dressing
I’ve always had a thing for Falafel. Never thought I could MAKE it though! Turns out it’s not too hard…and oh so worth it!
I recently read a book where all of the characters went outside of their comfort zones and ended up reaping some great rewards. I truly wouldn’t have believed how much greatness was going to come from going outside of my culinary comfort zone! I decided to dabble in vegan cooking-and YOU GUYS…!!!!
Turns out you don’t need meat, nor dairy, nor eggs to create an amazing flavorful meal! Just try this Falafel with Lemon Tahini Dressing!…
Slow Cooker African Peanut Stew
It is officially winter here in Minneapolis. It was well below zero when I drove home from work last night and it has just warmed up to zero as I am writing this now! We have entered the deep freeze and as the temperatures drop, we are all looking for warmth. This Slow Cooker African Peanut Stew will warm you from the inside out! Easily made vegetarian and even vegan, this is hearty soup everyone will love!…
Healthy Cookie Dough Balls
A staple treat of my 90s childhood, recently vilified by both my pregnancy (raw eggs!) and the FDA (salmonella in raw flour!). Thankfully, to fulfill my craving for a sweet/salty, studded with chocolate treat, there are these Healthy Cookie Dough Balls, slightly modified from a genius recipe by Angela from Oh She Glows. Thrown together in under 10 minutes in a food processor or high speed blender, these little balls of goodness are the perfect substitute for traditional cookie dough and are safe for everyone having no raw eggs or traditional flour. If you buy gluten free oats and use carob chips instead of chocolate chips, they are also vegan and gluten free, if you’re into that sort of thing….