Potato Salad!

I've got to be honest guys, I have never liked potato salad and because of this, I have never made potato salad.  I saw this recipe in my Vegetarian Family Cookbook and decided that just because I don't like something doesn't mean that my children shouldn't try it.  This was hard for me because it meant that I had to actually put the food on my plate and at least appear to be eating it... :/  Along with it we had some unblogworthy (that's a word, right? haha) burgers and some corn on the cob, my favourite kind of summer meal.  Turns out?  I LIKED this potato salad... not loved, but definitely liked.  Don't tell anyone though...

Golden Potato Salad

1 sweet potato

6 white potatoes

1 chopped red pepper

1 cup of peas

3 chopped green onions

 dressing:

1/2 cup mayo (I used vegan mayo because that's what I had)

1/2 cup yogurt (I used 10% MF because that's what I had :P)

3 cloves minced garlic 

Juice from 1/2 lemon

2 tsp dijon mustard

salt and pepper

1 large handful of chopped dill

*Peel and boil potatoes (and sweet potatoes) until done but still firm (You could leave the peel on but my potatoes had thick skin)

*Allow to cool to room temperature and cut into chunks.

*Place in a large bowl with red pepper, peas, and green onion.

*In a small bowl, combine dressing ingredients and stir together.

*Pour into potato mixture and place in refrigerator.

Easter Dinner

I think today there might have been too much food, even for this foodie.  It started yesterday when I made the mashed potatoes, ratatouille and started the tofurkey.  After church and swimming (our Sunday morning tradition!) I almost immediately got to work on the rest of our Easter supper.  It was a beautiful day (finally!) and I could hear the kids playing outside and feel the lovely breeze.  I spent a bit of time (while the rolls were rising) sitting with a neighbour on her porch.  It was a perfect day.  I can hardly move now though, from both sheer exhaustion and because I am pretty sure that I am literally stuffed full of food.

 

 

  So from the top, I have: the super easy cranberry sauce (sugar, water, cranberries, orange zest),steamed vegetables, apple pie (the only change I had was using slightly more apples), vegetarian gravy, Amy's super wicked mashed potatoes, quinoa rolls, tofurkey (which didn't at all hold up like the pictures BUT it did taste good!, ratatouille (I found this recipe in the Metro a few weeks ago), and stuffing (box mix that I added craisins, yellow and red onion, and celery to).

Amy's Super Wicked Mashed Potatoes

10 medium potatoes, boiled until very tender

1/4 cup butter

8 oz cream cheese

1 cup sour cream

salt and pepper

2 tbsp melted butter

1/4 cup bread crumbs

*Mash together potatoes, butter, cream cheese, and sour cream

*Add salt and pepper to taste

*Transfer to a greased baking dish

*In a small bowl, mix together melted butter and bread crumbs, top potato mixture

*Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before cooking

*Bake at 350 for 45 minutes

Ratatouille

 2 tbsp olive oil

2 sliced yellow onions

3 cloves chopped garlic

1 diced red pepper

1/2 cup fresh chopped basil

1 tbsp fresh chopped thyme

1 can diced tomatoes

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

1/2 tsp each salt and pepper

3-4 sliced zucchini

1 1/2 cups comte cheese (or gruyere)

*In a large skillet, saute onion, garlic and pepper for 10 minutes.

*Add basil, thyme, tomatoes, vinegar, salt and pepper.  Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

*Spread a third of the tomato mixture over the bottom of a deep dish pie pan.

*Arrange a third of the zucchini on top, then a third of the cheese.  Repeat the layering two more times.

*Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Walnuts in a burger? Yes, please!

I tried another recipe from my Veggie Burgers Every Which Way cookbook tonight; Quinoa, Red Bean and Walnut burgers.  I was a little wary of what the combination would taste like, but like Joey (from Friends) said , "Quinoa... good, red beans.. good, walnuts.... good."  I really hope I'm not the only one who gets that reference.  Its one of my favourite TV moments, ever.  I served the burgers with some potato "chips" and some raw veggies.  Last night I tried out my yogurt maker so it seemed appropriate to make a cucumber dip with some homemade yogurt.

Quinoa, Red Bean, and Walnut Burgers

1 cup quinoa, rinsed

2 small potatoes, peeled

2 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves minced garlic

1 1/2 bunch thinly sliced green onion

1 cup chopped parsley

4 tbsp grated ginger

3 cups cooked red beans

1 cup roughly chopped walnuts
1 cup panko bread crumbs

1 tsp salt

juice from one lemon

*cook quinoa according to package instructions

*Steam or boil potatoes until tender, mash with fork

*Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in skillet, add green onion, parsley, garlic, and ginger.  Stir gently for 1-2 minutes, remove from heat

*Mash together cooked quinoa, potato, green onion mixture, beans, walnuts and bread crumbs.  Add salt and lemon juice and shape into 12 patties

*Cook on non-stick grill for 5-6 minutes per side