Coming Back to the Vegetarian Campfire

I pay very close attention to my dreams. Several months ago I had a dream that made it clear to me that drinking was not my path and so I stopped.

Last week I embarked on a process called "Active Imagination." I recommend Robert Johnson's InnerWork for a reference. In my first encounter with a character from one of my dreams, I was told to stop eating meat. And while the character and I spoke about my resistance to being told what to do, I knew that I did not stand a chance.

So today is day 1. The person that will suffer the most will be Eric. He will have to get meat on his own. And ChannelChow will become a vegetarian cooking blog. omg.

Fried Rice with Greens

I often will get into "kicks" in cooking. This is one of the reason I do really well on the Ayurvedic Cleanse cuz I love the ritual of the same meal.

Today I give thanks for the Superbowl. I came home to an empty house for the first time in about 4 months. The boys are off watching the game in East End. I was giddy with delight when I realized the gift.

And I made some fried Rice which is my new favorite thing to eat.

1. Mince up some red onion
2. Mince up some turnip greens, bok choy, kale or chard or a combo. (Tonight I was lucky enough to have turnip greens which are my favorite and baby bok choy from B.D.)
3. Add some olive oil (or other favorite fat) to a non-stick pan and raise the heat
4. Add some red pepper flakes or other spice.
5. Add the onions and saute for a while then add the greens
6. When greens are wilted enough, add some leftover rice from the fridge, breaking up the clumps. (I bet this would be so good with brown rice!). Mix and allow to "brown". Eventually mixing in some Tamari Soy Sauce.
7. Beat 2 eggs in small bowl.
8. Push rice to the side and pour eggs into pan. Allow eggs to cook for a little bit before you start pushing them around. Eventually mix into rice and use your wooden edged spatula to break up the clumps.
9. Fresh ground pepper and a little soy sauce on the side to taste.

Enjoy your quiet house.

Crib Crew Dinner Menu

Each year, we kick off the CRIB with a Crew Dinner. I did not have the juice or time to pull off something elaborate and allowed what was available this morning at the Farmer's Market to guide me.

The Menu was:

Starters:
Oven Roasted Tomatoes with Mozzarella and Lemon Basil
Kale Bruschetta
Rosemary Spiced Nuts

Main Event
Potato Leek Gratin (Used Deborah Madison's Recipe from 'Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone')
Warm Red Cabbage Salad with Dried Fruit and Feta (Used Ed Brown's Recipe from 'Tomato Teachings and Radish Blessings'
Arugula Salad with Fennel, Avocado and Pomegranate Seeds

Leela brought and Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream
and Uschi brought a Pear and Almond Tart with Ginger Whip Creme

Carrots and Kale in Orange Ginger Sauce with Spiced Rice

As I mentioned before, I am trying to hone easy vegan cooking. So, these next several months I am going to see if I can pull it off by choosing to eat light and less and find out what I start to crave.

Today I used Ghee, cuz I am gearing up for a PK with my pal Jackie Parker and I am supposed to be drinking ghee daily. Ghee is obviously not vegan.

1. Basmati Rice with Spices
Heat up some fat (today I used ghee). Once hot, add some spices. Today I used mustard seed, cumin seed and coriander seed. Add soaked basmati rice. Stir and toast rice a bit. Add the right amount of water. Bring to a boil. Cover and lower heat. About 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, peel and slice up some carrots. Mince up some ginger. Slice up some kale.

3. Heat some fat in a pan. Add the ginger and stir for about 30 seconds, and then add the carrots. Allow carrots to cook in the fat, stirring every so often, until they start to brown a little. Add 1/2 a squeezed Orange, cover and allow carrots to steam and soften.

4. When rice is done, remove from heat and let sit.

5. Add kale to the carrots, stir and cover for only about a minute to wilt the kale.

6. Today I added the rice into the pan with the carrots and kale to stir it all up and soak up the extra orange ginger sauce.

7. I put it in a bowl, added a little salt and ate the whole thing.

What do You Feed the World's Spiritual Leaders?

Uma Goswami was just here. Reminding us that we are Divine. She indicated that she would like to cook together and invite 50 or so people over. I anticipate needing to become more comfortable with vegetarian Indian food.

So I am starting this journey and looking for help. Tonight we created a rice dish from what we had in the fridge and spice drawer. I do not recommend it yet. Needs work, but here is a start.

1. Heat some Ghee
2. Add some mustard seed, coriander seed, cumin seed, mixed peppercorns and cardamon pods, fry briefly. Add Madras Curry powder and stir.
3. Add soaked and drained basmati rice
4. Stir and fry rice a little.
5. Add chopped carrot and thinly sliced fennel.
6. Add chopped tomatoes
7. Add appropriate amount of water
8. Stir and bring to boil.
9. Add thinly sliced kale.
10. Salt
11. Cover and cook for 13 minutes or so.
12. Meanwhile, fry up some cashews in ghee.
13. Once rice is done, allow to rest, covered for about 5 minutes.
14. Stir in cashews and serve.

If I had had raisins, I would have put some in.
I look forward to working this out.

xo
k