Quotes To Remember

Hello.

Today, I'm sharing a couple quotes that I hope will inspire solicitousness and help to instill a benevolence towards those that surround us. Kindness, graced upon all living things, is an absolute moral imperative and every once in a while...a reminder is warranted. 

Produce On Parade

Life. It will always be full of surprises, no matter how heedful one instinctually is. Bask in the warmth of happiness, but open yourself to the weight of inexorable tragedies and sorrows. There's lessons and insight to be gained, but only if you allow them.

And that is the truthest of truths. Stay on your on your toes, my friends. 

Wishing you happiness and peace,

               - Katie

Vegan Pot Au Feu

I had never heard of Pot Au Feu until watching the "Create" channel. We seriously only get four channels at our house and Create is one of them, lucky for me. Rick Steves and I are BFFs. Anyway, Hubert Keller was on and he was making a giant, whole vegetable and animal meat dish. My furry friends being cooked up for me to eat, I could do without but the rest of the dish; carrots, baby potatoes, celery, and cabbage...well that all looked right up my alley. 

“It was a shrewd calculation. An estimated 12 percent of millennials say they are “faithful vegetarians,” compared with 4 percent of Gen X’ers and 1 percent of baby boomers, according to one study.”
— Sam Tanenhaus from The New York Times
Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.

This recipe is inspired by Chef Keller and his Pot Au Feu. It's a classic french dish that is traditionally served with mustard, salt, and bread. It's essentially whole vegetables and a protein simmered in a broth with spices and herbs. I used tempeh as a protein instead of adorable cows.

Pot Au Feu is shockingly quick and easy to make since the vegetables need really very little prep and as far as ingredients go, it's quite simple. While simmering, it filled the whole house with a comforting, savory smell that made my mouth water. 

Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.

Although, I did exhibit a bit of unfortunate planning. You see, it's been raining for a week straight up here in Alaska and I knew this would be the perfect meal to warm my wet and chilled bones. A great introduction into early fall. Except....yesterday it was hot! Exceptionally hot. So hot that on my lunch break at a nearby lake, I had to leave early because I'm pretty sure I was experiencing heat stroke. 

Either way, this vegan Pot Au Feu was a no-frills, delicious dish. Hearty and filling. 

Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.

You see that rutabaga there on the bottom right? I (not thinking clearly) threw that bad boy in too. Don't do that. It was unapologetically bitter. 

Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.
Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.
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Vegan Pot Au Feu
by August-20-2014
This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat. Pot Au Feu was enjoyed by royalty and peasants alike. It’s very easy, quick, and exceptionally adaptable. Note that vegetables like rutabaga and brussels sprouts should be avoided because they can turn bitter when cooked this way. Adapted from Chef Hubert Keller.
Ingredients
  • 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and halved
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 2 leeks, cleaned and sliced
  • 2 springs of fresh parsley
  • 2 springs of fresh thyme
  • 2 springs of fresh oregano
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
  • 2 celery stalks, cut in half
  • 2 large carrots, cut in half
  • ½ kohlrabi, peeled and halved
  • ½ small head of cabbage, halved
  • 1/2 lb. mixed baby potatoes, whole
  • 1 8 oz. package of tempeh, quartered in triangles
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • ¼ cup stone ground mustard, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Once the onion is prepared, cut off a small chunk of the bottom and stuff in the whole cloves. Place the onion halves and clove stuffed bottom in a large pressure cooker or soup pot.Prepare the leeks by first slicing them in half down the middle and washing in between each leaf very well to remove all the dirt. Then, chop off the roots and remove one outer leaf. Gather the fresh herbs in a small bundle and wrap the leek leaf around the herbs to create a bouquet garni. Slice the remainder of the leeks, leaving about an inch of the green tops to discard. Place the herb bundle and sliced leeks in the pot. Add the remaining ingredients and heat over high until simmering. Don't worry if the broth doesn't cover all the vegetables. Cover with the pressure cooker lid and bring to pressure. Then turn to low and maintain pressure. Cook for about 10 minutes. The vegetables should be tender, but not falling apart. If using a soup pot, bring almost to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve hot with stone ground mustard, coarse salt and bread if you like.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 6
Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.
Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.
Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.

German Word of The Day

Peasant --> Bauer (yep, like Eddie Bauer) 

Good Deed of The Day

Read this article from the NYT about us Millennials. Seriously, it's very interesting and inspiring,

Cookie Dough Doughnuts

“Cakes are special. Every birthday, every celebration ends with something sweet, a cake, and people remember. It’s all about the memories.”
— Buddy Valastro

Or sometimes, instead of a cake...it's birthday doughnuts. Cookie dough doughnuts to be specific. Made from scratch and vegan to boot.

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts - A fluffy, perfectly textured vanilla doughnut layered high with creamy and delicious cookie dough. Super decadent and sure to be a huge hit!

When I asked Todd what he wanted for dessert on his birthday, he told me "cookie dough". Hmmm, okay. I can do that I guess. I know the man also loves doughnuts. He used to consume them on a very regular and not-so-secretive basis, before we went vegan. However, living in Alaska, I can't think of a single place to purchase a vegan doughnut. Even the crappy drugstore kind (he loves those too) aren't vegan. Thus, Todd hasn't had a single doughnut in a very long time. 

Aware of this doughnut famine, a while back I bought an actual doughnut pan. When he told me he wanted only cookie dough for his birthday dessert, I knew instantly what needed to be done. Cookie dough doughnuts. This was the first time I had ever used the pan and it worked perfectly. I was a little afraid that the doughnuts would taste, well, not really like doughnuts specifically. Just because they're in the shape of a doughnut does not mean a doughnut they will be. You feel me? But, doughnuts these most definitely were!

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts

Todd was pretty surprised and extraordinarily happy to have his first doughnut in over a year and a half. Plus, whenever there's cookie dough involved, the happiness aura in life is instantaneously elevated.

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts

Todd might have put himself into a birthday, cookie dough doughnut coma that day. He told me it was absolutely worth it. 

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts
Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts

We're puppy sitting this week for a friend. Meet Nala! She is Bailey's mini-me. But...a girl...obviously. They are BFFs...obviously. 

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts

Isn't she the sweetest?

Produce On Parade - Cookie Dough Doughnuts

German Word of The Day

Doughnut --> Krapfen (crahp-fen)

Good Deed of The Day

Cow's milk is so super disturbing. There are so many plant-based alternatives, why on Earth do many Americans still drink it? It's not like the elimination of all dairy products has been found to cure constipation in up to 100% of kids tested, leading to a resolution of rectal inflammation and complications such as anal fissures. Oh wait, yep, it has. The same has been proven in adults as well. Do you or a loved one have anal fissures and/or rectal inflammation? Or just think cow dairy is really scary (a rhyme!)? Switch to non-dairy milk! You heard it here first people, anal fissures. No fun. This guy knows what I'm talking about.