by Anna Green » Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:59 pm
Ms. Doodlepunk, I too am trying to figure out how to do my mama's cookin with no fat, no seafood, and no animal. I do like to cook red beans and rice especially for a Monday. I do it different every time but some of the stuff I put in is: bay leaf, onion, bellpepper, garlic, celery, parsley, liquid smoke, red pepper, tabasco, vegan Worcestershire (weird I know), oregano, thyme. You could look for some cajun/creole seasoning mix. You can put some of the onion, bellp, garlic, celery in the pot when you start cooking, some midway, and some toward the end. A friend taught me this saying it gives different flavor for the same ingredient at different lengths of cooking and she makes some awesome beans. I hope that made sense. Don't be shy with the seasoning. Cook the beans till creamy or you can mash some of them. My aunt used to add some grated carrot. The only real consistency in cooking throughout my family is that the food is well seasoned. I also like cooking collard, turnip and mustard greens in veggie broth. Use a lot of garlic, if you like some onion though I don't, some red pepper flakes and liquid smoke. Cook them till they fall apart, put them in a bowl with some of the pot liquor and then top with corn bread. Everyone has their own way of doing it. I made some herb gumbo not that long ago but as usual did not pay attention to what I put in it. I know I made a roux. You know you don't have to have fat to make a roux. The flour can be toasted in a dry pot- watch it, stir. It still gives some good thickening and a little flavor. My brother did not use roux, he just thickened with file and okra. So I will have to try again. I am sure this is not different from your cooking.
Good day eating, hard work day. Talked myself down from eating SAD. I am so glad because if I hadn't I would have not had my taco salad inspired by Sandra.
Morning: 1 1/2 peaches, apple, bowl of veggie, lentil soup
Afternoon: 2 red potatoes, arugula
Evening: bowl of veggie lentil soup w/ shroons added, taco salad with microwaved tortillas-3 and spinach, spicy black beans, salsa, nutr. yeast