Crumbles Pie

Is there anything really simpler than throwing ingredients into a pie shell and baking it? The answer would be no, there isn't anything simpler. It's just a matter of combining the right ingredients to make a tasty dish. And, let's face it, even that isn't hard!

Crumbles Pie

One package vegan beef crumbles
One onion, chopped
2 t. chili powder
1 t. oregano leaves
One can tomato soup
One can sliced carrots, drained
One can kernel corn, drained

And here is the truly difficult part - mix everything together and pour into a pie shell. I actually threw some leftover veggies from the fridge into the mix, too. You can make a topping if you'd like, but I went for quick and simple. Bake in a 400 oven for about 15 minutes, or until piecrust in nicely golden.

Now wasn't that hard? No? I didn't think so, either. Now enjoy!

Emerald Isle Pot Pie

I don't think there is anything easier to throw together for supper when you use premade pie crusts. Add the ingredients and pop it in the oven and voila! Supper!

Emerald Isle Pot Pie

Premade frozen double crust
Any vegetables you like, chopped
Vegetable broth
Olive oil

Saute the chopped vegetables in the olive oil until softened. Add a little vegetable broth to moisten. Add sauteed vegetables to the pie crust and top with second pie crust. Poke a few holes with a fork on the top crust. Place pot pie on a cookie sheet, and bake at 375 for about 30-40 minutes until the crust is golden. Enjoy!

 The veggies I used were onion, cabbage, potatoes, green pepper, green onions, collards. Throw in some herbs like dill, thyme, sage or any you love. Season with salt and pepper to taste. This is one of the most versatile dishes you can ever make! I made mine for with lots of greens to celebrate my Irish heritage.

These Vegetables are Very Gay

That's happy for those of us that remember the word differently!

I'm not sure how I found it. Probably looking for something else, and it popped up in a search. However I found it, though, it was fun to watch.

I'm talking about the Hardcore Vegan Chef and his cooking dvd. Language warning! The recipes were simple and delicious sounding, the cooking tips handy and all done in an entertaining style - if you are in your early twenties. I'm not, but that didn't detract from the recipes for me.

It was a day or two later when I realized I needed to take a dish to the potluck we always have when my women's group gets together. A delicious vegan soup and salad were already being planned, so I wanted something that would work with it. I remembered one of the recipes I saw whipped up by the Hardcore Chef, and voila! Instant success! He titles it Vegetable Medley of Hardcore Gaiety. I just call it yummy!

2 cucumbers, diced
3 tomatoes, diced
2 cans chickpeas, drained
2 cans whole black olives, drained
A handful of fresh parsley, minced
2 T. olive oil
2 T. balsamic vinegar
Pinch of oregano, celery salt and thyme

It's all very simple; mix the veggies together. Mix the olive oil, vinegar and seasonings until well blended and pour over the veggies. Stir until all are well coated. Serve.

It was quite a hit at my meeting, and even a bigger hit back home. We served it atop mixed greens with some extra dressing and literally devoured it. It was so simple to throw together and yet very tasty.

Try the recipe. Check out the dvd. You won't be disappointed!

Shepherdess Pie

I love autumn. I love foods associated with autumn. I love to cook. Hmmm, sounds like a match made in heaven! That's what you'll think when you eat this.

Shepherdess Pie

1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into bite sized chunks
1 rutabaga, peeled and cut into bite sized chunks
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, sliced
10 pkg. frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed
3 stalks celery, sliced
8 cloves garlic, sliced
Olive oil
1 t. poultry type seasoning
dash ground cloves
dash nutmeg
pinch anise seeds
1 t. paprika
sprinkle of Braggs aminos
Potatoes

Make mashed potatoes in the way you like. I don't peel the potatoes, just wash and but into eighths. Cover with water, bring to a boil, cover with a lid and turn to simmer until potatoes are soft, about 20-30 minutes, depending on how many potatoes you are boiling and how small you cut them. When done, drain the water, add some soy milk or vegetable broth, salt, pepper, sprinkle of basil and oregano, a little bit of nutritional yeast and mix away!

Saute the onion, garlic, rutabaga, carrots, celery and squash until onions have wilted. Add spinach and spices and mix up.

Pour cooked veggies into a casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes, being sure to seal all edges.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Comes out sizzling and delicious!

The history of shepherd's pie is one of meat and potatoes. Mine, however, is cruelty free. It lends itself to any variety of ingredients, but always topped with potatoes.

Cottage pie refers to an English or Irish meat pie made with ground beef and with a crust made from mashed potato. A variation on this dish using ground lamb is known as shepherd's pie. Unlike standard pies, cottage or shepherd's pie does not include a bottom pastry crust.

The term cottage pie is known to have been in use in 1791, when the potato was being introduced as an edible crop affordable for the poor (cf. "cottage" meaning a modest dwelling for rural workers).

In early cookery books, the dish was a means of using leftover roasted meat of any kind, and the pie dish was lined with mashed potato as well as having a mashed potato crust on top.
The term "shepherd's pie" did not appear until the 1870s, and since then it has been used synonymously with "cottage pie", regardless of whether the principal ingredient was beef or mutton. Several countries have their own version: 
In Ireland and parts of Canada  the dish is commonly called shepherd's pie even when containing beef.
In the United States a similar dish is called cowboy pie. In New England the most common recipe for shepherd's pie consists of ground beef, canned creamed corn, mashed potatoes, and cream of mushroom soup.
In Quebec, a similar dish is called pâté chinois (Chinese pie).
In France, a similar dish is called hachis Parmentier.
In Jordan, Syria and Lebanon a similar dish is referred to as "Siniyet Batata" (literally meaning a plate of potatoes), or "Kibbet Batata".
In Russia, a similar dish is called "Картофельная запеканка" (Kartofel'naya zapekanka, or "potato baked pudding").
In Chile a similar dish is called pastel de papa (potato pie).
In Argentina a similar dish is called pastel de carne (meat pie)
In the Dominican Republic this is called pastelon de papa (potato casserole), it has a layer of potatoes, one or two of meat, and another of potatoes, topped with a layer of cheese.
In New Zealand it is also referred to as a potato-top pie, and is commonly filled with ground beef.

I hope you enjoy it as much as my family did!

Waste Not, Want Not!

As is typical for me, I start on one thing only to get side-tracked onto another. At least this time it flowed along the same lines! I was going back and forth from the fridge to gather up everything I needed for tonight's meal. In doing so, I see, for only the hundredth time, produce that needs pulled out and probably composted. I get the crockpot going and start pulling out all the produce I can find, and drop it all onto the counter, planning to dump all of it into a bowl to take out to my compost. I pull out the first items. Fruit. Hmm, this doesn't look too bad. Cauliflower is next. A little trimming, but still usable. Lo and behold several vegetables later, I've got a slew of veggies that are still in pretty good shape! I cut them up into small pieces, trimming away any parts that are bruised. Mix them together in a casserole dish, pour over some melted vegan butter. Next I pull out some vegan sour cream, mix it with some Daiya cheddar, slather it one top, pop it into a 350 oven for about an hour, and voila! Vegetable Casserole! It looks beautiful and tastes lovely, so I got a nice hot lunch for my efforts, and my compost pile did, too! The fruit I just peeled and sliced for dessert. Easy peasy!

Because of the wildlife in abundance in our suburban backyard (really!), rather than just dump the goods on top of the compost pile, I like to make what I call worm soup. I drop all the veggie trimmings, coffee grinds, tea bags, etc. into my blender, give it a whiz and instant worm soup! I pour this on top of my compost pile. Before I add it to the pile, I always say:
From the Earth you came
To the Earth you shall return.
Go with thanks.

It just seems appropriate to me to give thanks to the food that didn't directly feed my family, but will do so indirectly.