A (Failed) Taste of Summer Sandwich

Winter finally came to the Burgh last week. Last weekend was the first time all winter I didn't run because it was so cold and snowing. And it was the first time I started craving summer's fresh fruits and veggies.

I've been mostly making Happy Herbivore test recipes, but in between those I've been making mostly soup. I'm a little sick of soup so thought I'd make a Vegan Yum Yum sandwich I made last year a lot and loved: Pan-Seared Tomato and Rosemary Artichoke Sandwich. The recipe warned to use only ripe, in-season tomatoes or else just make another sandwich. But I was craving a summer sandwich so much that I bought an expensive but generally unappetizing looking organic tomato and made it anyway. This mess was the result:

I made it open-faced, so you can't even see the baguette, and dowsed the whole thing in balsamic reduction. What was I thinking?! The baguette (my blessed, beloved baguette bread I bought as a rare treat) got soggy, the tomatoes were mealy, and the balsamic reduction was way too much. Sigh. I guess I'll just have to wait for summer for good tomatoes and summer sandwiches.

But on a quest to make something new (that is, not soup), I decided to buy organic red kale instead of my usual green. I used it in an HH test recipe, and the dish was not only delicious but also gorgeous. I think I'll try to grow some red kale this summer.

One of the recent HH test recipes I made was a baked good. It was so amazing! I'm baking another loaf tonight to take to work tomorrow. It's one of those recipes that's so good, no one would guess it's not only vegan but also fat-free with no added oils.

Happy Herbivore Recipe Testing Bliss

Since the beginning of January, I've been testing recipes for the next Happy Herbivore cookbook. So while I've been posting about indulgences like Dulce de Leche Cheerios and Cream of Mushroom Soup, most of my meals have been healthy and delicious Happy Herbivore recipes. These recipes use whole, nutritious foods, most of which are already in my pantry, and they're quick, easy, and inexpensive to make. And because they contain no added fats, they've been perfect for helping me maintain my weight loss. But best of all--they're delicious! I haven't yet tested a recipe I didn't like, and most of my reviews say either, "I love this!" or "I think this is my favorite recipe so far!" Here's my review of the most recently published cookbook, Everyday Happy Herbivore. From the recipes I've tried so far, this new cookbook promises to be just as good! A few photos of the recipes I've tested...

Queso Sauce

Tonight I tested a Mexican-inspired recipe for the next Happy Herbivore cookbook. I'd been wanting to try the Quick Queso Sauce from the first Happy Herbivore cookbook--after all, it's one of the author's favorites.

The sauce's foundation is soymilk and nutritional yeast, with herbs, spices, and thickening ingredients giving it lots of flavor and creaminess. Like so many HH recipes, it took all of five minutes to make. It was awesome. I could have eaten the whole recipe alone with a spoon. Instead, I poured it over tonight's black bean based test recipe and wrapped it in a tortilla for a quick and delicious dinner.

Back to Cooking: Recipe Test Pics

Wow, house renovations suck. As I mentioned, my husband and I are renovating the third floor of our house. It's a very large room that will become our hang out and guest room and my exercise room. Contractors worked on it for three weeks before we had to paint. After five long weekend days, five late weeknights, a giant bucket of primer, and four shades of paint, we are finally done painting so the contractors can finish. But boy, I bitched and moaned the whole time. Not only was it just awful, miserable work, but I had very little time for cooking. I am not happy when I'm not cooking.

I did manage to squeeze in some test recipes for the next Happy Herbivore cookbook. Lindsay's recipes were perfect when I wanted something fast and nutritious with ingredients I mostly had on hand. And, I swear, each recipe was better than the next. For fat-free or low-fat recipes, pretty much every recipe I tried just blew me away. Every time I sent in feedback, I'd say, "I think this is my favorite recipe so far!" I'm warning you in advance: You will want this cookbook! Here are just a few pictures of some of the recipes. The second one, sadly, does not do this dish justice. And the last one...if I even told you the name of it (which I can't do), you would probably start drooling. Trust me: Awesome!

Recipe Testing for Happy Herbivore Continues

I wish that I could rave about a recipe I made tonight for dinner, but it's a test recipe for the next Happy Herbivore cookbook, so my lips are sealed. I can say this: for both recipes I've tested this week, I had all the ingredients on hand and didn't have to shop for a thing. The recipes I've tested have been incredibly easy to make, quick for an after-work meal, and very good. But the recipe I made tonight was so good that I'm planning on making more this weekend. I think everyone's going to love the new cookbook when it comes out!

More Recipe Testing for Happy Herbivore

Tonight's dinner was a recipe for the next Happy Herbivore cookbook. It was easy to make, called for ingredients I had in the house, and tasted great served with some baked french fries.