From the Well on Wheels Kitchen

It's been a busy couple of months and I haven't had time to post photos of some of the meals I've been making for clients. Here's a quick peek at what's been cooking in the Well on Wheels kitchen:

Sesame Tempeh with Asian Slaw, Tempeh "Sausage" and Peppers with Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Roots with Maple Mustard Almond Butter on Confetti Rice

4th of July Special: Barbecue Chickpeas with Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, and Chili Spiced Street Corn

Jambalaya with Creole Spiced Zucchini and Cashew Crema

Testing the Maple Mustard Almond Butter Sauce on Roasted Sweet Potato

Brown Rice, Carrot, and Collard Green Sauté 

Testing No oil, No Sugar Dessert: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies made with Sunflower Seed Butter and Bananas

Cabbage Stuffed with Sautéed Veggies, Mushrooms, and Tahini Dressing

Testing Carrot Ginger Sauce on White Bean Cakes 

Carrot Ginger Sauce on Sesame Tofu, Brown Rice, and Veggies

Roasted Sweet Potato "Steaks" with Sundried Tomato and Mushroom Sauce on Sautéed Kale and Quinoa topped with Almond Cream Cheese 

Sesame Tofu with Crimini Mushroom Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, and Green Bean Amandine

Tofu Piccata with Asparagus and Mashed Potatoes

Salt & Pepper Tempeh with Carrot Ginger Sauce and Sautéed Shiitake

Veggie Pasta with Cashew Crema and Fresh Garden Herbs

Jamaican Kale and Butternut Stew with Cashew Crema, Barbecue Chickpeas with Mashed Potatoes and Veggies, Three Sisters Stew with Quinoa

Spinach, Pumpkin, and Chickpea Coconut Curry on Basmati Rice, Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Spring Veggies, Black Bean and Brown Rice Stuffed Zucchini with Roasted Red Pepper Coulis

A Month of Menus

We're in the depths of winter here at Well on Wheels headquarters, but like the birdies, I'm thinking spring.  This month's menu features some warming comfort foods as well as light and refreshing green vegetables to ease into the seasonal transition.  An abundance of spices such as curry, cumin, cinnamon and ginger liven up many of these meals.

Coconut Curry Tofu and Veggies with Brown Rice  

Azuki Bean, Kambocha Squash and Kale Sautee with Brown Rice

Triple Green Tofu with Brown Rice

Tofu Scramble with Spicy Homefries and Salsa

Dijon Agave Glazed Tempeh with Quinoa and Strignbeans Amandine

Fire-roasted Tomato and Black Bean Chili, Cumin Spiced Zucchini and Brown Rice

Sesame Tofu with Cabbage and Carrot Ribbons and Brown Rice

Chickpea Tuno with Raw Cruciferous Vegetable Slaw

Red Lentil Millet Cakes with Carrots, Strignbeans and Green Curry

Tempeh Stroganoff with Mushroom and Broccoli on Rice Noodles

Baked Tofu with Eggplant Caponata and Sautéed Greens with Caramelized Onion

Lentils with Strignbeans and Brown Rice

Tofu Mock Salmon with Beets, Sautéed Kale, Quinoa and Cashew Tartar Sauce

Creamy Pumpkin Penne with Escarole and White Beans

Sesame Tempeh, Broccoli and Red Pepper Stir Fry with Brown Rice

Maple Glazed Tempeh with Forbidden Rice Pilaf and Brussels Sprouts

Sezuan Tofu with Eggplant and Red Pepper on Brown Rice

Escarole and White Beans with Asparagus and Leek Risotto

White Bean Fritters with Pumpkinseed Pesto and Zucchini Ribbons

Dijon Agave Glazed Tofu with Mashed Root Vegetables and Brussels Sprouts Amandine

Mexican Chili with Brown Rice

Pasta with Shiitake Mushroom, Snow Peas and Fresh Basil

Spring Vegetable Stew with Baked Polenta

Thai Yellow Curry with Tofu and Veggies on Brown Rice

Stuffed Portobello on a Bed of Asparagus Risotto with Chipotle Cashew Aioli

Eggplant Caponata with Creamy Butter Beans and Baked Polenta

Tofu Piccata with Mashed Root Veggies and Asparagus

Tempeh and Broccoli with Spicy Sesame Peanut Sauce on Rice Noodles

Barbecue Tofu with Dilled Red Bliss Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

Easy Peasy Vegan Cooking Class

This week I had the pleasure of teaching a seasonal cooking class featuring recipes from my new cookbook, Easy Peasy Vegan Eats.  This was for the North Branford Adult Education program, which is part of the Connecticut Shoreline adult education system ERACE.

Nine students gathered with me in the school's cafeteria to learn about vegan cooking, where to get your protein, iron and calcium, and how to make quick and easy recipes that everyone will enjoy. I was happy to hear that most everyone was familiar with the health benefits of a plant-based diet and had come to the class wanting to learn more about what to eat to reverse conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure and diverticulitis.  I think everyone was also pleasantly surprised to learn that healthy food could also be pretty darn tasty, too!

The menu featured recipes made with fresh local ingredients I picked up from the City Seed farmers market in Edgewood Park.  The gorgeous heirloom tomatoes were from Rosedale Farm in Simsbury and the luscious peaches were from Rose's Berry Farm in Glastonbury.  Using these fruits and vegetables when they're at their peak provides the most nutrients and flavor.

For our main dish I made Three Sisters Stew which incorporates squash, corn and beans into a tomato based broth seasoned with cumin and oregano.  The dish was served on top of creamy polenta and garnished with a drizzle of parsley pistou and a sprinkling of toasted spiced pepitas.

The colors, tastes and textures create a culinary balance that leaves one feeling satisfied.

For dessert I modified a recipe for Gooey Toffee Apple Crisp from my cookbook, substituting peaches for the apples because they just looked so tempting.  They soften up in the oven and meld nicely with the crunchy topping.  A dollop of vegan coconut milk ice cream would be the perfect accompaniment, but this was a nice refreshingly sweet ending to the meal on its own.

Thank you to Pat Cardozza and ERACE for inviting me to give this class and for everyone who attended.  I will be creating more meals like this in the coming weeks.  Stay tuned for more Easy Peasy classes and events!