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| From An Opera Singer in the Kitchen |
Another weekend bites the dust! Is everyone ready to meet the new week? I guess I have to since it is here. I told my mom today that I could NOT believe it was July 12th already because that only meant August was so close in arriving. I know this summer has flown by and I want it to slow down.
Yesterday was filled with many events. My mom’s A/C compressor has been wanting to call it quits so it had been nice and toasty in the house. It was turned off for 30 minutes and then the A/C started working again. All I know is that the repair people came by and gave the thumbs up for a new compressor. Meanwhile, life went continued on. At the last minute we decided that it was cool enough to have my girlfriend over with her mom for lunch. I had been looking forward seeing them and hoped I could get to cook for them.
The morning was spent preparing and showing my mom and sister how to make a vegan quiche made from tofu and a great salad inspired by another restaurant in New Mexico. I then made a virgin mojito to accompany the meal. Come to find out, my non-vegan friends were wondering whether they would be served a vegan meal or not. Yet again, I forget to prepare friends that know I eat vegan that:
- They should not be afraid
- Have they seen the recipes I make?
- It is not rabbit food
In fact, Ryan reccomended I make the quiche since it had been a hit at an Easter brunch. I was sold. My friends were also sold on it too!
Do you prepare or communicate to non-vegan friends that non-vegan items will be made available or do you skip that communication?
Anyway, back to lunch. I made this WONDERFUL salad I cannot wait to share with you when I get back to MI, but for the meantime, imagine romaine lettuce tossed with avocado,tomatoes,pumpkin seeds, etc with a vegan cilantro lime ranch dressing. So delicious!
My mom enjoyed watching the quiche process and thought it was simple to make. She was totally impressed by the tofu as a cheese and egg substitute and gladly embraced it. I hope you can embrace it like I have and that you can impress your guests like I was able to do.
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| From An Opera Singer in the Kitchen |
Quiche, southwestern salad and virgin mojitos. Who could ask for anything more?
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| From An Opera Singer in the Kitchen |
Sun-dried Tomato and Leek Quiche with an Almond / Pine nut Crust
makes a 12 inch deep dish quiche
Crust
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1/4 + 1/8 cup pine nuts
1/4 +1/8 cup whole almonds
1/4 +1/8 tsp baking powder
1/4 + 1/8 cup unsweetened almond milk
3 Tbs. olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 350F. Coat 12-inch pie plate cooking spray.
Pulse flour, pine nuts, almonds and baking powder in food processor until finely ground.
Whisk together almond milk, oil and salt in bowl. Stir in flour mixture. Press into pan. Bake 5 minutes, then cool.
Filling
6 Tbs. olive oil, divided
2 large leek, white and light green parts chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup chopped reconstituted sun-dried tomatoes, drained
12 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained and cut into 1.5-inch cubes
3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
3 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 tsp. salt
1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 tsp Italian seasonings
Heat 1 Tbs. oil in skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and sun-dried tomatoes, and saute’ 8 minutes, or until lightly browned. Set aside.
Bring large saucepan of water to a boil. Add tofu, and simmer 5 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
Whisk together remaining oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt in bowl. Add tofu and blend with an immersion blender or food processor.
Stir in breadcrumbs, Italian seasonings, sun-dried tomatoes and leeks.
Bake 40 minutes, or until crust is browned. Cool 10 minutes and then slice.
The afternoon was sealed with a special time for my sister and I. We reconnected with my cousin whom we had not seen in 10 years and spend a great time sharing and catching up. It is in these moments and opportunities where I thank God for the power of reconciliation and for family. I soaked up the time and shed a few tears for lost time but thanked God for the opportunity that Facebook was able to provide to finding relatives. Amazing is it not? I love it.
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| From An Opera Singer in the Kitchen |
