Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jan 30, 2012, 6:30 am
Veggin’ is going to go on a very brief hiatus. We’re climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and will be gone most of February. Please don’t despair! I will be back and I’ll share with you our vegetarian adventures in Africa. Beautiful photo by brettocop.
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jan 29, 2012, 11:15 am
I adapted this recipe that was adapted by This American Bite. I used regular cheddar cheese (after recently using up all my vegan shredded cheese) and used black beans that were pressure cooked the day before. The flavoring of this tamale pie depends on the type of salsa you use. Aim towards a deep...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jan 25, 2012, 7:14 pm
This tomato soup is smoky, flavorful and, best of all, creamy…and, the surprise is, it’s vegan. Pair this with a grilled cheese sandwich, on some really good sourdough bread, and you’ve got a perfect stomach-warming meal on a cold day. Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup by Megabeth 12 plum tomatoe...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jan 22, 2012, 3:38 pm
Much like in the movie Ratatouille, there are many flavors that can take me back to childhood, and this is one of them. This celery root salad was a ubiquitous feature on my grandmother’s table whenever we came to visit. My mother now makes it for any special family meal. Celery root, or celeriac...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jan 12, 2012, 9:19 pm
Looking to make some pasta but wanting to kick it up a notch? Add some roasted butternut squash, toasted pecans and you’ve got it. The pecans add a crunchy texture into what would otherwise be “normal” pasta while the basil brings in a hint of spring that I’ve been longing for on these long ...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jan 8, 2012, 7:06 pm
This is a recipe worthy of being doubled or even tripled. Be forewarned, the measurements below make just enough for two people as a side dish. The curry flavoring and the bite of pecorino cheese adds a unique twist to how one may normally eat spinach. I wish I had made more because it was certainly...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jan 4, 2012, 10:21 am
Remember that warm quinoa and corn salad I made a few recipes ago? Well, it’s back and paired up with some roasted vegetables to make a taco. One thing I am always, Dear Reader, is honest. And, I must confess something here. The flavors of this recipe were really super good, but my execution of i...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Dec 30, 2011, 7:20 pm
This year got off to a rocky start due to a mending arm after a bike accident which meant I spent a little less time in the kitchen. Once I got going, I did hit upon several recipes that are worth profiling here in my 2011 Year in Review. Without further ado, the winners of the 2011 Veggin’ Award...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Dec 26, 2011, 11:29 am
This vegetarian chicken divan pot pie tastes like it too hours to make when in fact, it only takes about 5 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to cook. (Just remember to thaw your puff pastry ahead of time.) Because you’re only placing a few squares of puff pastry on the top, you don’t get overwhelm...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Dec 16, 2011, 12:25 pm
The other night I was faced with a couple portobello mushrooms that needed to be cooked. I grabbed some shredded parmesan, panko, sun-dried tomatoes and basil and voila! A new Veggin’ creation good enough for a quick weekday meal and uniquely flavorful enough for a dinner party for eight. So quic...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Dec 14, 2011, 1:53 pm
You ever go to a restaurant, eat your meal, and wish you could recreate what you just ate at home? Shahi Paneer has been that elusive dish for me. Until now. This recipe nails it on the head. This paneer in a creamy creamy cashew sauce with that oh-so-good flavor will keep you going back for more. ...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Dec 12, 2011, 10:39 am
Quinoa. I’ve cooked with it many times here on Veggin’, and I can’t say enough about it. It’s so easy to cook and it packs a punch with protein that it really should be in every pantry. This quinoa and corn salad is fabulous warm or cold on it’s own. You can also pair it with other recipe...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Dec 4, 2011, 10:57 am
Indian food is so flavorful and is so easy to make. It’s win-win. These potatoes are so warm and savory on a chilly fall evening and you can get them from stove to plate in no time flat. The secret to prepping Indian food is to measure out all your spices before you start cooking. That way, you a...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Nov 27, 2011, 3:36 pm
Minimal chopping? Ingredients that I already had on hand? Throw everything in a blender and that’s it? A unique, spicy hummus? Sign me up. No lie. This took less than 5 minutes to make. And, to quote the writer of this recipe, it’s “Oh so good.” (Honestly, I didn’t think Mr. Food was still...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Oct 31, 2011, 8:24 pm
Fresh green chilies (from our garden), fresh corn, fresh zucchini, fresh tomatoes and manchego cheese – perfection. These calabacitas were whipped up for a potluck celebrating el Dia de los Muertos. I thought that blending the cheese and tortillas was genius. The cheese melted evenly and didn’t...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Oct 29, 2011, 5:33 pm
Trick or treat, indeed. Strange weather brewing in the DC area today. Folks are enjoying the Halloween weekend with some early snowfall. I guess I need to head down into the basement to dig out my snowboots. No time to be in the kitchen today, instead I bring to you this Halloween post from my archi...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Oct 16, 2011, 4:43 pm
This is truly one of the best pesto recipes I’ve ever made. The nutritional yeast adds a nutty flavor to the pesto that balances the sharpness of the pine nuts. I have few recipes actually memorized, this one has made the cut. And, especially now that my Aerogarden is growing basil like gangbuster...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Sep 29, 2011, 8:08 pm
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet but does a soy product named “chicken” taste like chicken? We all know it – “fake” meat gets a bad rap. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times…fake meat products are not meant to taste like the original meat it’s trying to ...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Sep 10, 2011, 8:46 pm
Empanadas. If you stuff food into a pastry, I’m so totally there. The word “empanada” is derived from the Spanish verb empanar meaning “to wrap with bread”. Empanadas in Spain can either be made as small finger foods or similar to a pie that’s cut into slices. These little savory pocket...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Sep 8, 2011, 8:39 pm
Featured Recipes Saffron Potatoes Grilled Zucchini Artichoke Manchego Cakes Salmorejo (Tomato Soup) Herb and Garlic Broth Spanish Chickpea Balls Paella Tortillas de Patatas are a ubiquitous dish at tapas bars in Spain so it’s only natural I feature them on the Vegetarian Vuelta a España. Traditi...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Sep 1, 2011, 8:23 pm
We’re entering into the long Labor Day weekend here in the States, so I’ll be disappearing a little bit for a few days. I’ve somehow gotten myself talked into heading down to the woods in North Carolina for some rustic camping and cycling. It seems innocent enough, but the many of the folks I�...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Aug 29, 2011, 9:39 pm
This recipe clearly is a clear reflection of the period of Islamic rule in Spain during the 6th century and how it influenced the cuisine in the area. Albóndigas, or Spanish meatballs, are often flavored with a variety of aromatic spices and flavors and most often include garlic, mint, onions, ore...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Aug 26, 2011, 9:25 pm
This post is sort of a conglomeration of various cycling things, recipes, and stories. You see, at the same time as the running of the Vuelta a España is the first running of the US Pro Cycling Challenge over in Colorado. Tommy Danielson is a US Pro Cycling Challenge race favorite (no, really this...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Aug 24, 2011, 9:59 pm
Featured Recipes Saffron Potatoes Grilled Zucchini Artichoke Manchego Cakes Thursday’s Vuelta a España stage brings us to a finish line in Córdoba. Córdoba is a beautiful town featuring lots of gorgeous architecture and a very fascinating history. It is also the birthplace of the soup known as...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Aug 22, 2011, 10:02 pm
Continuing on through the Vegetarian Vuelta a España we get to one of my favorite subjects – Cheese! Manchego is a grassy, crumbly sheep cheese produced in the La Mancha region of Spain. Spaniards don’t mess around with the production of this cheese outlining particular qualities for a cheese t...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Aug 20, 2011, 8:23 pm
According to the International Olive Council, Spain completely smokes the competition when it comes to olive oil production. In 2009, Spain exported 1,150,000 tons of olive oil obviously winning this race in a stunning breakaway. Put that in context and that’s 40% of all olive oil produced in the ...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Aug 19, 2011, 9:46 pm
It all began couple years ago on Veggin’ with a vegetarian Tour of France, then a vegetarian Giro d’Italia, next a brief dip into a vegetarian Tour of California, now let’s tour España. Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be bringing some vegetarian twists on Spanish recipes that will coincid...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Aug 17, 2011, 7:01 pm
Stay tuned! August 20th through September 11th. Get your fork, get your plate, and get ready to dig into some Spanish vegetarian recipes. No need to put on any cycling gear…you can let the pros do that. Tune in here on Veggin’ for the Vegetarian Vuelta a España starting on August 20th.   ...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Aug 15, 2011, 6:19 pm
Someone at The House Gastropub in Little Rock, Arkansas must love vegans and vegetarians. It’s a nice feeling to walk into a casual neighborhood bar and know that you will walk away satisfied with not only all the options but the meal itself. Starters include a heart of palm street dip, hummus and...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Aug 11, 2011, 9:34 pm
I wanted something easy, something comforting and something spicy for dinner. And, I found that in this recipe of peas and cheese in a spicy sauce. If you double this recipe, you won’t be sorry. In fact, the leftovers are twice as good as the original. I borrowed the basics of this recipe from a ...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Aug 3, 2011, 7:20 pm
We vegetarians learn early that when traveling, sometimes it’s easier to find a local grocery store and stock up on food. Fast food options are paltry and some restaurants think that great vegetarian food is an ice berg lettuce salad and a sad fetuccine alfredo. Most supermarket chains will do ju...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jul 29, 2011, 2:05 pm
This recipe almost turned me off with the thought of “warm cottage cheese”. I’m a purest when it comes to cottage cheese. I like a little salt and a little pepper on my cold cottage cheese. Warm cottage cheese gives me the willies. But, for the sake of adventure, I figured I’d try this appet...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jul 27, 2011, 7:21 pm
Megabeth here. Every once and a while I let Veggin’ get overtaken by a guest poster. I don’t often do this lightly, as there is usually an intense application process, a skills assessment test and a rigorous boot camp training that guest posters must submit to. But, in this particular case, I sk...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jul 16, 2011, 9:52 am
I’ll admit it, my cooking sprees in the summertime are fewer and far between because I’d rather be outside than in the kitchen. So, one night I was looking for something fast to make and something I could throw on the grill. Using my handy cookbook, The New Vegetarian Grill, I was able to meet b...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jul 1, 2011, 4:42 pm
Dave Zabriskie, from Team Garmin-Cervélo, will be racing in the Tour de France for the fifth time.  As a Tour veteran, you can be sure he’s honed a regular routine to get him through three weeks of grueling racing.  This year, though, one essential component of that plan is going to be a lot di...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jun 26, 2011, 4:00 pm
On the Big Island of Hawaii, tucked into a strip mall in Hilo, lies the Hilo Bay Cafe. This little paradise is only a stone throw from a Wal-Mart but should not be overlooked. We stopped in for lunch after our half hour flight from Honolulu as it was less than 10 minutes from the Hilo airport. Once ...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jun 23, 2011, 8:40 pm
A traditional macaroni and cheese kicked up a notch with some jalapenos and tomatoes. So good. So yummy. Get in the kitchen and make this. ‘Nuff said. Jalapeño and Tomato Macaroni & Cheese adapted from Lisa’s Kitchen 3 medium tomatoes (campari, plum or other tomato of your choice) 1/2 cup dr...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Jun 19, 2011, 4:59 pm
Even though the Giro is over, I still have a few recipes left from Italy to feature. This Sicilian recipe, with Spanish origins, features eggplant which were first brought over to the island back to the ninth century.  It was introduced by people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman p...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - May 28, 2011, 4:55 pm
Did you you that there is a type of pasta that was originally made, before pasta maker machines, by wrapping the pasta around a bicycle spoke? Yup, fusilli avellinesi is that pasta. Think about the condition of your bicycle spokes and let’s all hope that they used brand new ones in the pasta makin...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - May 21, 2011, 4:32 pm
As we wind down the Tour of California, I had to end on a high note (much like the Mt. Baldy climb) and feature what I think is a phenomenal recipe. But, first, a little background on the main ingredient – the artichoke. When thinking about the artichoke, most people find them to be a bit fussy to...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - May 18, 2011, 4:18 pm
Let’s talk Brussels sprouts! Ok, before you go running to (or rather cycling to) the hills, I understand, some folks out there can’t imagine putting one of these in their mouths.  In fact, I was one of the many that turned my nose up at them. But, then, something happened…I started liking the...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - May 17, 2011, 5:47 am
So, the Tour of California certainly got off to an interesting start (or, rather, non-start? or, perhaps a stutter start?) For this next recipe featuring California cuisine, I take us to the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. In 1923, the English actor George Arliss was staying at the Palace Hotel. The ...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - May 14, 2011, 11:05 pm
Just to add a little more excitement for cycling fans in the month of May, the Tour of California now rides into the scene. (Yes, that’s right, for those following along at home, it goes on at the same time as the Giro d’Italia.) This eight day race takes us through some of the most scenic areas...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - May 10, 2011, 10:13 pm
After the events of the Monday’s stage, the Veggin’ household really needed some warming comfort food. We needed a family meal to eat together while we mourned the passing of Wouter Weylandt. We ate this meal watching Weylandt take the stage in a glorous sprint just a year before during stage th...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - May 8, 2011, 9:28 pm
Today’s ending sprint took a lot out of me so Veggin’ needs to take a rest day…or two. Besides, I can’t start a 21 day race without keeping something in the reserves, eh? Don’t worry, my pals Basso and Nibali have been helping me out with the preparation of more recipes. (Our packed refri...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - May 7, 2011, 10:33 pm
    Here we go! The Giro opened with a Team Time Trial resulting in HTC taking the first lead in the race. Stage Two brings us to the city of Alba. And, we know what that means – truffles!  Wait, what?!  Okay, let me explain. These little underground mushrooms are coveted by chefs and foo...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - May 6, 2011, 7:59 pm
Greetings all! It’s time for the 2011Vegetarian Giro d’Italia – where the vegetarian lifestyle and Italian cuisine merge in the month of May. For those that are new to following my own grand tour at home,  I am a HUGE fan of professional cycling and I cross post these entries so that the hool...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Apr 29, 2011, 8:08 pm
I’d like to announce a brand-new, original, and occasional series here on Veggin’ called “Vegetarianism Through the Ages”. Every direction you turn there are cookbooks, articles, news stories and celebrity updates about the vegetarian lifestyle. It seems like the concept has lately been  r...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Apr 24, 2011, 3:25 pm
It’s been a little bit, but I’m back with some more Veggie Brothers reviews. Let’s start again with their Black Bean Soup. As with many of the other Veggie Brothers products, you simply place the pouch in water on the stove and bring it to a boil. A few minutes later, you get a steaming bow...
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Megan J. posted an article on Veggin' - Apr 20, 2011, 4:23 pm
Let’s say you’re stuck in the Monterey Convention Center for a meeting. It’s lunch time and you have limited time to dine due to a busy schedule but you really want some good vegetarian food. What to do…what to do? Well, dash out the door, go a few blocks to Petra Cafe and you’ve got yours...
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