Shroom Storg

Basically this was an accident one day when we felt like a rich dinner but didn't want the messy meat business...
so I am still not sure what makes a stroganoff and I am sure the beef version tastes fine but here is a great vegetarian alternative that is now a favourite in our home, and so damn easy to make,

fry some
garlic (and a little ginger if you like, needs to be fresh and diced)
and
shallots (or just finely sliced onions)

add in some sliced
Portobello mushrooms ( or any mushrooms but the big flat ones are best, mushrooms hold a lot of water so dependent on how many your serving you will still need a good amount for example three mushrooms per person )

to this a decent dash of paprika and braggs (Yum I like smoked paprika )
then add about a cup of vegetable stock and leave to simmer
salt and pepper to taste
before adding the stock to lift the mushrooms and shallots from the pan you can add some wine if you have some lying around

then you need to cook some pasta or some rice to serve it on
We once made this recipe while camping and ate it with japanese soba noodles, it was delicious...
then when about to serve the magic ingredient is a big spoonful of quality sour cream mixed into the mushroom mixture, to match the creaminess you desire...
then I suppose you serve and eat, if your feeling fancy and if you have any a sprinkling of fresh diced parsley is nice...

Veg! Stock

You may need to save up your plastic containers to keep this in the freezer, and use it for all things including obviously soup or savory rice, lentils and whatever else you cook that absorbs water and you want a little extra ooomph of flavour...
This is a fine affair if it is a cold rainy day and you want to keep the house warm, because your stove needs to be on for at least three hours to extract all the flavour...

you will need water
salt
peppercorns
bay leaf
garlic
leeks

basically this is fun if you have a cleaver handy, or a big knife and chopping board to whack away at all these veggies, mind your fingers do not get in the way, which could include any mix of the following
celery
carrot
pumpkin
radish
fresh herbs, basil or parsley thyme and rosemary
ginger for bite
onion
best to keep it simple and flavoured to your taste which means your own choice of vegetables and herbs or chilli added if you wish.
get a very large pot and lightly fry the leeks and celery and then add all the roughly chopped ingredients and fill with water to boil, watch it doesn't overflow then leave it to simmer with a lid on for a few hours until everything inside looks a little dead and drowned... basically you want to steal all the goodness (flavour and nutrients) from the ingredients... I tend to enjoy letting it sit until it has completely cooled and then pouring it into old plastic containers to put in the freezer with enough room left on the top for expansion... and I like most the part of squeezing ever last drop of goodness and fluid out of the heap of leftovers of what used to be vegetables till I get an inedible mass ball that I can throw guilt free in the bin...
then one day it is rainy and cold and I have nothing in my fridge but some wilting sad vegetables that need to be eaten quickly they get chopped up into nice chunks and thrown into a pot with this stock from the freezer and a handful of beans or lentils or barley and voila ' vegetable soup :)

Delicious Messy Veggie Wraps

Whats for dinner tonight ???
This question always bugs me...
hmm eggs on toast
advocado and tomato on toast
thank lordy for having bread in the kitchen

Quick easy
But for tonight something more fun and still just as easy

slice into a long strips:
a red capsicum (bell pepper)
zucchini (courgette/squash)
a few mushrooms ( the delicious big field ones)
an onion


chop up to tiney tiny sized :
a few cloves of garlic
and some ginger
and a chilli

Braggs ( I suppose you could use soy sauce, but do your self a favour go buy some braggs, because braggs makes everything better and it is vegan)
Smoked Paprika ( or just paprika )


get some: wraps, pitta or whatever you have even tortillas

chop up whatever else you have and put in bowls:
lettuce
spinach
cucumber
tomato
salsa
advocado

also good to put in:
grated cheddar cheese
feta cheese
sour cream
pumpkin or sunflower seeds


place it all nicely on the table with some plates because this is messy eating
then dig in
dinner done
delicious fun eating

Simple Salmon Recipe with love from Krista

SALMON YUM.

1. In a greased glass pan, put salmon.
2. Put a bit of mayonaise on top.
3. Put Breton cracker crumbs (or any bread crumbs/cracker crumbs) on top, coated fairly well.
4. Put almost the same amount of parmesan cheese on top.
5. Spices too (I like DILL the best.)

Bake at about 400 F for 20 mins or until salmon is flaky and done. Don't forget to put a bit of water in the pan and cover with tin foil if you can.

SALMON YUM.

The Humble Choc-Chip Cookie

bless the humble chocolate chip biscuit, a sweet homey treat for any occasion...
secret to chewy choc chips is to add an egg or two

choc chips,,,
flour
butter
brown sugar
baking powder
twirl whirl mix blend till combined
spoon a BIG or small spoonful on your baking tray and bake for 15 minutes... the less time the more cookie dough consistency you keep and the longer you leave them the more crunchy and biscuity they will be ...

Give them a special touch with whatever you fancy
any type of nuts; maple syrup and walnut or white choc chips; macadamia nuts; oats; cranberries or blueberries

With love from Asha

• vegan banana bread yum yum
  
  
  ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)
  
  3 ripe banana’s mashed
  
  1 tbsp lemon juice
  
  ½ cup oil
  
  ½ cup sugar
  
  ¾ cup chopped dates
  
  1 ½ cups flour
  
  ½ cup wheat germ
  
  ½ tsp salt
  
  ½ tsp baking powder
  
  ½ tsp baking soda
  
  
  
  Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a small bowl, mash the banana’s with a fork until the mixture is very mushy. Add the lemon juice, oil, sugar and dates and stir together. In a separate large bowl, stir together the flour, wheat germ, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add the banana mixture to the flour mixture and fix together gently until ‘just mixed’. Spoon the mixture into a lightly oiled loaf pan and bake for 40 – 50 minutes. Test with a knife to see if done.
  
  This makes one loaf.

Yum Yum Wild Welly

Some damn fine work on putting New Zealands backyard on the table

http://wildconcoctions.blogspot.com/

http://wildpicnic.blogspot.com/