New Recipe - Raw Sweet Potato and Zucchini Salad

I don't have a great picture of this, but it was a nice side for Julie Hasson's Rockin' Reuben! The reuben is a test recipe for her upcoming Vegan Diner cookbook.

The dressing for this gets it's creaminess from raw cashews. It is gluten and soy free too!

Raw Zucchini and Sweet Potato Salad

2 1/2 cups shredded raw sweet potato (approx 1 large sweet potato)
3 1/2 cups shredded raw zucchini
1/4 cup cashews
2 Tablespoons warm filtered water
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/4 cup cold pressed canola oil
1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper (or to taste)
salt to taste

After shredding zucchini, gently squeeze excess liquid from zucchini with a towel or cheesecloth. In a large bowl mix zucchini and sweet potato. In a food processor or blender blend cashews and water until smooth. Add vinegar, mustard, and thyme and pulse a couple of times to blend. With processor running, slowly add oil until it is emulsified. Toss dressing with veggies. Add salt and pepper to taste.

**this is best eaten fresh. The texture gets a little odd if it sits in the fridge.

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Fred and I both had to work on the actual day, but we were so lucky to be able to enjoy dinner with our families the night before. As we knew most of our guests would have traditional dishes the next day, we decided to go with a Latin theme.

Our lovely daughter in law Randi made some killer creamy tomatillo salsa and guacamole.

My sister made Julie Hasson's tester for Vegan Diner Smoky Spinach and Tomato Salad

My friend Piot made a yummy bean salad (for some reason it missed the camera).

The main course was Terry Romero's Spicy Tortilla Casserole with Roasted Pabalanos from her upcoming Viva Vegan and Isa's Potato Kale Enchiladas from Veganomicon. Also not pictured were Terry's Cilantro Lime Rice and Yellow Garlic Rice, two kinds of pinto beans.

To finish things off we had my favorite Apple-Cranberry Ribbon Pie and a variation of Julie Hasson's Chocolate Truffle pie (this one was Mexican Kahlua flavored).

We were so thankful to have friends and family around us, good food, a warm house, clothes on our back, shoes on our feet and a wonderful holiday. Wishing the same for all of you and yours!

First Harvest

I haven't had a garden since I was living with my parents. This fact has always made me a bit sad. Growing up, we always had a great garden and fruit trees to provide the best fresh summer goodies. As a kid, I took garden fresh produce for granted. These days with all of the crap that is allowed in our food supply the garden takes on new and greater importance to me. I am thrilled to be able to go outside, know there are no pesticides being sprayed on my food, and eat something right off of the plant. Ah, the peace and happiness this brings me!

Fred feverishly worked to put a beautiful garden in for us this fall. Being in AZ we can really get some good stuff during the winter months. He planted all sorts of goodies. We are now starting to see the fruits...or rather veggies of his labors. There are a few small green tomatoes on the plants. Our friend gave us a pepin plant that has a couple of bright red hot babies on it. The lettuces and kale are starting to look promising. We will have a great harvest in the coming weeks and months.

For now, we got our first little beauties - radishes! I haven't had one yet, but Fred says they are very mild and crunchy. I will soon be making a lovely radish salad. I can't wait!