Avocado and Tempeh Bacon Wraps

Another recipe chosen for its page number, Avocado and Tempeh Bacon Wraps {page 113} also graced my table on Friday the 13th.

This is one of those things that you don't really need a recipe for, but that the recipe is in the book to remind you to make it. As I chose from the two recipes on page 113, I realized "Oh man, it's been a while since I've made BLTs..." and with the added avocado {does that make them BLATs? I think so...}, these sounded delicious.

They were quick and easy to put together, and tasted great. I mean really, where can you go wrong by wrapping tempeh bacon, tomato, avocado, lettuce, and Vegenaise up in a tortilla? You just can't, it's impossible.

So while this isn't a "recipe", in my mind, I'm grateful for it being in there as it reminded me to start making these again.

This is your reminder -- make BLTs {or BLATs!} sometime very soon.

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

Mango-Avocado Spring Rolls

I am a great lover of spring rolls {in my household we call them "summer rolls", to differentiate them from their fried cousins}. I usually make mine with mandarin oranges and sprouts. Upon discovering the presence of leftover rice paper and rice noodles in my cupboard, I was excited to make Mango-Avocado Spring Rolls {page 25}.

I took all the components to my friend Jess' house, as I thought it would be a fun activity for us to do for dinner. The only hitch in the plan was that it is not really mango season here, and it turns out that the mango I bought was reallllly gross and not ripe. So, we had to omit the mango, which omitted some of the sweetness and a layer of flavor, but the rolls were still really good. I had a lot of fun teaching her to soften the rice papers and how to roll all the fillings in tightly.

We ate the rolls with a sweet stir-together peanut sauce. They were delicious. I really enjoyed the creaminess that the avocados added. I think I will start adding avocado to all my spring/summer rolls from now on.

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

Chile-Lime Tortilla Soup

Tonight, in addition to Mr. V and myself, we had a guest taste tester. When expecting company, I typically stick with something tried and true so as not to embarrass myself. But in the face of the blog project I am fearless! It was somewhat a last minute invite, and with tonight's meal already planned, our guest knew he would be part of the experiment.

Thanks to preparing extra potatoes for last night's Spicy Chipotle Potato Quesadillas, there was enough left over to serve four of these bits of carb heaven as an appetizer.

Next, on to the main course--Chile-Lime Tortilla Soup (p145).



In preparation for this dish, I made the Basic Simmered Seitan (p305) last night. Seitan made using vital wheat gluten is quick and easy to put together, but it does require about an hour to simmer, so factor that into your timing when planning a meal. This recipe makes approximately two pounds, and since the soup recipe only called for 8oz, I have three more pieces labeled and stored in the freezer. Those will come in handy for busy weeknight meals.

My modifications to the soup recipe were minor. Instead of fresh serrano peppers I used pickled jalapenos; fire-roasted diced tomatoes instead of plain; and I tossed in some frozen spinach at the very end. The instructions state to simmer for 20 minutes after bringing to a boil, and then to adjust flavors according to taste. I took a nibble at the 20 minute mark and thought "eh, maybe this won't be one of my faves." But something magical happened in the next ten minutes. The flavors came together exactly as I had imagined based on the ingredient list. This soup is deep and rich and full of flavor, belying it's brief simmer time. The fresh avocado balances beautifully with the spicy background of the soup. You could certainly enjoy this soup without it, but the cool and creamy avocado lends so much to the overall flavor experience, I highly recommend using it. Topping with baked corn tortilla strips adds a nice element of texture, both when crispy and after blending into the soup.

Mr. V and our guest proclaimed this dish a definite taste victory, and I agree. I also appreciate the fact that once you have seitan on hand, this soup comes together quickly--and deliciously. I would proudly serve again to company, or happily curl up on the sofa with a bowl and settle in for movie night. I might up the heat factor a bit next time, but that's just what I do.

--The Divine Miss V