Mar 19, 2014

grilled artichoke and quinoa lettuce wraps

It must be spring because I am getting a ton of artichokes in my produce box.

There are many ways to prepare artichokes including steaming, boiling, braising, roasting and grilling. The simplest is to cook them and peel off the leaves, dipping them in warm vegan Hollandaise sauce, the method preferred over all others by the Dever clan. I don't really argue with them since this requires the least prep work on my part.

For better or worse, my box has been so laden with fresh artichokes that we have finally reached the limit of the simple way to eat them; no longer will dipping the leaves and the artichoke hearts in a sauce suffice. The family needed something different.

Here is a good tutorial on how to clean artichokes. After you clean them of the choke, boil them and grill them, as directed in the recipe. If you don't have an abundance of fresh artichokes, don't have the time or the patience to clean them yourself, but you'd still like to make this otherwise fast recipe, use jarred artichoke hearts. I won't tell.

This wrap is made with quinoa, spring onions (or scallions) and lemons, all within the spring theme. If you want to know how to cook quinoa perfectly (and not have to use a microwave ;), it is all spelled out in my upcoming cookbook, Everyday Vegan Eats.

Happy Spring everyone!







And if you haven't entered the giveaway for Robin Robertson's revised edition of Vegan Planet, do so right HERE. Unless you already have the book, why not? It's an amazing volume that has stood the test of time, now with revised recipes as well as 50 new ones. Contest ends April 11.

Also, be sure to let your friends and family know that the great Meatout is March 20th (tomorrow!). Eat vegan for one day and help the animals and the planet. Pledge HERE.

Mar 15, 2014

"vegan planet" cookbook giveaway!

It is way past time to have another cookbook giveaway! This time, I am giving away Robin Robertson's revised edition of Vegan Planet. It's been dubbed the "vegan bible," "vegan joy of cooking" and the "ultimate vegan cookbook."




I tested for this book and I was so excited when Robin asked me to! When we first went vegan, this was the very first book I loved and cooked from. I was quite relieved at the time to know that vegan food does, indeed, taste great.

This new edition has revised older recipes, new information, as well as a bunch of new recipes. Robin has posted 30 of the recipes from the book on her page here. It's a great way to get to try some of the dishes from the book and see what all the excitement is about.

My original copy of Vegan Planet is being held together with rubber bands, so it was quite thrilling when I got my brand new copy of the revised edition.

Some of the amazing recipes I tested were:


CURRIED CAULIFLOWER PAKORAS

PENNE AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH KALE PESTO

RED BEAN CAKE WITH CREAMY COCONUT SAUCE


SAFFRON COUSCOUS CAKE WITH SPRING VEGETABLE SAUTE

THREE-FLAVOR PANCIT

ZA'TAR SPICED BEAN PATTIES WITH CURRY SAUCE


On to the business side of this giveaway... leave a comment and like me on facebook or follow on twitter. All the handy follow-me buttons are at the top, right side of the page. Contest ends April 11 and the winner needs to email me by the end of that weekend. US and Canada residents only please.

Also, be sure to let your friends and family know that the great Meatout is March 20th. Eat vegan for one day and help the animals and the planet. Pledge HERE.