Red Lentil Stew With Cauliflower - Vegan & Glutenfree

I am always on the lookout for vegan recipes.  I love beans, and lentils are some of my favorites.  You can get this recipe by clicking on Vegan Richa.   One of the ingredients is asafetida, and you should be able to find it at any Indian grocery store. 
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Photos courtesy of Vegan Richa

Chock Full O Nuts Famous Nutted Cheese Sandwich

This is a photo of the nutted cheese sandwich that was sort of a signature sandwich at Chock Full O Nuts coffee shop.  I remember well going there when I was growing up and the nutted cheese sandwich being order by many of the patrons of Chock Full O Nuts.  This is a delicious sandwich.  It is cream cheese on date nut bread.  YUM!

Pasta and Cheese bake

I made this today for dinner.  Below is the recipe but I warn you about measurements.  I am not good with that.  I use the "eyeball it" method.

Ingredients
macaroni
whole milk
shredded colby and monterrey jack cheese
cheddar cheese
asiago cheese
butter
habanero peppers 

Preparation

First let me say that I did add ziti noodles into this because I had just a little bit left in the box so I figured why not just throw in too.   That is why you see ziti in my mac and cheese picture.

Anyway, first put a pot of water on to boil.  Add some sea salt to taste and then wait for the water to boil.  Once the water starts to boil you can add the macaroni.  While the pasta is cooking add milk to another pot or saucepan.  I would say add about 2 cups of milk or more depending on how much macaroni and cheese you are making.  Add in all the cheese except for the asiago.  Also add the butter.  Set the stove to medium heat and make sure to keep stirring until all the  cheese and butter has melted into the milk.  Do not let it boil.  You may have to adjust the heat accordingly.  You just want the mixture to be hot enough to melt everything in it without it coming to a boil.  That may end up scalding the milk if you let it come to a boil. 

Drain the pasta after it has cooked and then transfer it into your baking dish.  Pour the hot cheese mixture over the pasta and mix everything up real good.  Sprinkle the asiago cheese on top.  You can give it a generous sprinkle.  I then placed the two habanero peppers on top.  That is optional.  You can also sprinkle some bread crumbs on top if you want.  Place into a 360 degree oven for about 15 to 20 minutes. 

Then eat and enjoy!       

Dutch Oven Pots

I love my blue dutch oven pot by Lodge.  I purchased it from a seller on eBay for a very reasonable price.  I love all the difference colors that you can get these pots in.  Le Creuset also sells them in a nice variety of colors.  The colors help to perk up the look of any kitchen.

Organic Artisan Flour

 

I just purchased several pounds of organic artisan flour from my local Food Coop on recommendation.  I look forward to using it to see how well it performs.

French Triple Creme Cheese

I was shopping in my local Food Coop this afternoon when the man behind the counter asked if I would like to try a sample of French triple creme cheese.  Since I love to eat I said yes.  The man gave me a generous helping of Saint Angel triple creme on a cracker.  It is absolutely delicious! It is super creamy with an almost buttery flavor.  I highly recommend this French cheese.  Of course I had to purchase some. 

Where Women Cook

I just found out about this magazine.  Where have I been that I am just discovering this?  Now I must get copies of the back issues.  I purchased the latest copy of Where Women Cook from Joanne's.  I used their 40% off coupon on the purchase.  I LOVE this magazine!  Actually all of the magazines by Stampington & Company are fabulous.  I really enjoy cooking and I love my kitchen design.  This magazine not only has great recipes but you get to see the fabulous and warm kitchen spaces of other women who also enjoy cooking.   

My Cookbook Collection

Food is one of the things I completely enjoy about life.  Cooking food and then eating it to me is part of having a spiritual experience.  My parents are from the Republic of Panama and I was born there.  I was brought to the USA six days after my second birthday.  I grew up eating Spanish and West Indian Foods.  Every meal of the day, including breakfast, is a big deal and highly flavorful.  When I was growing up, every Sunday we ate coconut rice and peas, fried plantains, cook up chicken, lettuce-tomato-cucumber salad and potato salad.  Sometimes my Mom also included a beef dish, but I was never a big fan of beef so I did not eat it much when Mom prepared it.  I did like spareribs, so if my Mom prepared that I would eat it. I still love spareribs, but I do not eat it anymore.  I also love ham, but I do not eat that anymore either simply because it is better not to.  I still eat chicken but not often.  To me there is a big difference in taste when the chicken is organic.  I love fish, king crab, shrimps and continue to indulge in eating them.  I do not eat seafood often either, but when I do feel like having some I will not deny myself the pleasure.  In Panama the seafood that comes out of the Atlantic ocean is so delicious.  When seafood is fresh like that it does not stink up your kitchen when you are preparing it.

I have quite a large collection of cookbooks.  I love purchasing cookbooks but I had to put a serious stop to that because of space issues.  Below are pictures of some of my cookbooks.  

Urban Farming

I Love this magazine.  It is filled with lots of interesting information for people like me who live in the city but want to have some degree of farming happening within the city.  I like having easy access to fresh food that is not laced with chemicals and nor genetically modified.   This is a picture of the premiere issue but Urban Farming magazine has been around for a while.  

Doesn't this soup look delicious?  Soup always tastes best when it is homemade from scratch.  I grew up eating homemade soup. 

I love most vegetables but I do have my favorites.  Collard Greens is one of them.  

 Kale is another one of my favorite vegetables.

 This is another type of kale that I enjoy eating.

 Butternut squash soup is one of my favorite soups to make and it is very easy and quick to prepare.  

 I love sweet peas too.  I just steamer just for a few minutes to cook.  They are delicious topped with just a little butter.

 I love corn too, on or off the cob.  The sweeter the corn the better too.  I love what is called candy corn.  It is sweet like sugar.

I guess that I don't have to tell you that I love carrots too.  I like to put it in soup, roast them, steam them or just eat them raw.

 Another favorite vegetable.....broccoli