I've decided that it's my mission in life to take a vegetable dish to
our church lunch every month, because nobody else does! It's all pasta
and potato salad and meatloaf and stuff like that...

Two months ago I made a big green salad with mushrooms and green
pepper and homemade dressing and homemade croutons. That went down
well except that I don't think people knew what to do with the
croutons, so I took most of them home to snack on.

Last month we didn't have any vegetables handy, so I made an apple
and pecan upside down cake with lots of fresh apple in it, and I made
some savoury pizza bites to take along too.

Yesterday was this month's lunch, so I made another batch of pizza
bites, and a big pot of pumpkin soup. Everyone thought the soup was
terribly exotic and they said they'd never had it before, but they
said it was very good when they tasted it.

So now I need some more recipes. Nothing very exotic or expensive
please. If they think pumpkin soup is esoteric, they'd run in terror
from artichoke hearts or something like that. I also have to be able
to prepare it at least a day in advance because I have to be at church
at 9.30am so I don't have time to fix the dish in the morning. I have
an electric saucepan to use that works really well for reheating
liquidy stuff. And I ALWAYS cook from scratch, so no packet mixes etc
please... I think that's one reason why people like my cooking - in
this day and age it has novelty value!

--
~Karen aka Kajikit
Crafts, cats, and chocolate - the three essentials of life
http://www.kajikitscorner.com
Online photo album - http://community.webshots.com/user/kajikit

Karen AKA Kajikit wrote:
I've decided that it's my mission in life to take a vegetable dish to
our church lunch every month, because nobody else does! It's all pasta
and potato salad and meatloaf and stuff like that...

Two months ago I made a big green salad with mushrooms and green
pepper and homemade dressing and homemade croutons. That went down
well except that I don't think people knew what to do with the
croutons, so I took most of them home to snack on.

Last month we didn't have any vegetables handy, so I made an apple
and pecan upside down cake with lots of fresh apple in it, and I made
some savoury pizza bites to take along too.

Yesterday was this month's lunch, so I made another batch of pizza
bites, and a big pot of pumpkin soup. Everyone thought the soup was
terribly exotic and they said they'd never had it before, but they
said it was very good when they tasted it.

So now I need some more recipes. Nothing very exotic or expensive
please. If they think pumpkin soup is esoteric, they'd run in terror
from artichoke hearts or something like that. I also have to be able
to prepare it at least a day in advance because I have to be at church
at 9.30am so I don't have time to fix the dish in the morning. I have
an electric saucepan to use that works really well for reheating
liquidy stuff. And I ALWAYS cook from scratch, so no packet mixes etc
please... I think that's one reason why people like my cooking - in
this day and age it has novelty value!

Don't know where you are but here in the northeast US cauliflower is in
season...

CAULIFLOWER CHEDDAR GRATIN WITH HORSERADISH CRUMBS

Active time: 35 min Start to finish: 45 min

3 lb cauliflower (1 large head), cut into 1 1/2- to 2-inch florets
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
6 oz sharp Cheddar, coarsely grated (2 cups)
1/2 cup finely chopped scallion greens
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
20 (2-inch square) saltine crackers
2 tablespoons drained bottled horseradish

Preheat oven to 450°F.
Cook cauliflower in a 5- to 6-quart pot of boiling salted water until
just tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain cauliflower well in a colander and
transfer to a buttered 2-quart baking dish.

While cauliflower is cooking, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 3- to
4-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat and whisk in flour.
Cook roux over low heat, whisking, 3 minutes. Add milk in a slow
stream, whisking, and bring to a boil, whisking frequently. Reduce heat
and simmer sauce, whisking occasionally, 8 minutes. Remove from heat
and add cheese, scallion greens, salt, and pepper, whisking until
cheese is melted. Pour cheese sauce over cauliflower and stir gently to
combine.

Coarsely crumble crackers into a bowl. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons
butter in a small saucepan, then remove from heat and stir in
horseradish. Pour over crumbs and toss to coat.

Sprinkle crumb topping evenly over cauliflower.

Bake gratin in middle of oven until topping is golden brown, about 10
minutes.

Makes 8 servings.

Gourmet
November 2002
---

CAULIFLOWER-LEEK KUGEL WITH ALMOND-HERB CRUST

Coarsely mashed vegetables are the main ingredients in this utterly
surprising - and irresistible - kugel.

8 cups cauliflower florets (from 2 medium heads of cauliflower)
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4 cups coarsely chopped leeks (white and pale green parts; from 3
large)
6 tablespoons unsalted matzo meal
3 large eggs
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1/3 cup almonds, toasted, chopped

Cook cauliflower in large pot of boiling salted water until tender,
about 10 minutes. Drain; transfer to large bowl and mash coarsely with
potato masher.

Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add leeks and sauté until tender and just beginning to color, about 5
minutes. Add leek mixture to cauliflower. Mix in matzo meal. Beat eggs,
1 tablespoon parsley, 1 tablespoon dill, salt, and pepper in small bowl
to blend; stir into cauliflower mixture.

Brush 11x7-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon oil. Spread cauliflower
mixture evenly in prepared dish. Mix almonds, remaining 7 tablespoons
parsley, 7 tablespoons dill, and 2 tablespoons oil in medium bowl to
blend. Sprinkle evenly over kugel. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover
and chill.)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake kugel uncovered until set in center and
beginning to brown on top, about 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes.

Makes 8 servings.

Bon Appétit
April 2005
---

Karen AKA Kajikit wrote:
I've decided that it's my mission in life to take a vegetable dish to
our church lunch every month, because nobody else does!
[SNIP]

Peas in tomato wine sauce:
Saute a chopped onion and a little minced garlic in a bit of olive oil
Add a tablespoon or so of tomato paste and cook for a couple of minutes
to color the tomato paste (and thaw it if you store open tomato paste
spread in a sandwich bag in the freezer - you can just break off
however much you want). Add a couple tablespoons to a quarter cup of
dry white wine or vermouth and then add frozen peas and cook until the
peas are hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Melissa

In article ,
Karen AKA Kajikit wrote:

I've decided that it's my mission in life to take a vegetable dish to
our church lunch every month, because nobody else does! It's all pasta
and potato salad and meatloaf and stuff like that...

Two months ago I made a big green salad with mushrooms and green
pepper and homemade dressing and homemade croutons. That went down
well except that I don't think people knew what to do with the
croutons, so I took most of them home to snack on.

Last month we didn't have any vegetables handy, so I made an apple
and pecan upside down cake with lots of fresh apple in it, and I made
some savoury pizza bites to take along too.

Yesterday was this month's lunch, so I made another batch of pizza
bites, and a big pot of pumpkin soup. Everyone thought the soup was
terribly exotic and they said they'd never had it before, but they
said it was very good when they tasted it.

So now I need some more recipes. Nothing very exotic or expensive
please. If they think pumpkin soup is esoteric, they'd run in terror
from artichoke hearts or something like that. I also have to be able
to prepare it at least a day in advance because I have to be at church
at 9.30am so I don't have time to fix the dish in the morning. I have
an electric saucepan to use that works really well for reheating
liquidy stuff. And I ALWAYS cook from scratch, so no packet mixes etc
please... I think that's one reason why people like my cooking - in
this day and age it has novelty value!

Fried or grilled squash with portabello or regular sliced mushrooms.
Sliced celery and mushrooms is a good combination.
Mixed steamed summer squash.
Acorn squash rings, baked with butter and brown sugar.
Scalloped sweet potatoes.
Sweet potatoe baked "fries".
Mixed veggie stir fry with salad shrimp.
Cheddar mashed potatoes.
Stuffed cabbage rolls.
Steamed savoy cabbage with sliced italian sausage.
Corn chowder.
Yellow squash and creamed corn cassarole.
Steamed brocolli with sliced mushrooms and thinly sliced beef or pork or
chicken, with sesame seeds and garlic.

Cheers!
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson

"Karen AKA Kajikit" wrote in message
...
I've decided that it's my mission in life to take a vegetable dish to
our church lunch every month, because nobody else does! It's all pasta
and potato salad and meatloaf and stuff like that...

1. Cut zucchini squash into rounds.
2. Smash several cloves of Garlic and sauté in a little EVOO until soft.
3. Add some oregano and allow the dried herb to brown lightly but not burn.
4. Add the zucchini and sauté until lightly brown ( I use high heat here and
keep on turning).
5. Add enough diced tomatoes (fresh or canned) to come 1/2 way up the
zucchini.
6. Reduce the heat and simmer until tender.
7. Can be kept warm and/or topped with your favorite grated Italian cheese or
cheese and breadcrumbs to form a gratin.

Dimitri