Meatless Monday: Searching for Inspiration

Meatless Monday is here again, and I've hit a roadblock. I've kept it a Meatless Monday, I haven't tried any exciting new meatless recipes or foods to share. I've spent the last half hour looking for exciting recipes, and now I feel too exhausted to cook them. Fortunately, I found two I'd like to try: Macadamia Nut Pesto Fettuccine and Corn and Potato Chowder. At some point this week, I will attempt to make one of the two recipes so that next Monday is inspired.  

Meatless Monday: Inspiration for a Meatless Thanksgiving

I apologize - this was scheduled to post last Monday, but apparently did not. Better late than never I guess!

A Thanksgiving without turkey sounded sacrilegious at first. But when I really thought about it, all my favorite dishes (mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pie, etc.) are meatless.  So this year, I’m focusing on the meatless options, especially those dishes that are vegan or veggie based. The recipes I've found make a meatless thanksgiving look surprisingly tempting...

I've been obsessed with Jennifer Segal's Once Upon a Chef blog ever since I saw her pumpkin bread recipe on metrocurean. Fortunately,  the blog has some delicious-looking holiday veggie recipes.

I found more meatless Thanksgiving inspiration in these dishes:
Roasted Squash, Pear, and Ginger Soup
Walnut Apple Stuffing
Sourdough Stuffing with Pine Nuts and Raisins
Easy Vegan Pumpkin or Squash PieVegetarian Shepherds Pie

Bayou Bakery Opens!

According to Metrocurean, Bayou Bakery is finally open in Courthouse!

I can't wait to try out their beignets.

Helping a good cause is as easy as pie...

Thanksgiving is the ultimate foodie holiday, but it's also a time to appreciate what we have and think of others less fortunate. Every year Food and Friends celebrates both traditions with their Slice of Life pie sale. The proceeds go toward delivering meals to children and adults battling HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses. Tomorrow is the last day to order a pie, so order your pie before it's too late!

Boston - or another excuse for becoming a delinquent blogger...

Last week I was eating my way through Boston with my friend Liz. We checked out some impressive places...

Dining:

Elephant Walk 

When a friend of mine said this French and Cambodian fusion restaurant was her favorite, I added it to my list of places to go. A cozy neighborhood restaurant, Elephant Walk offers knowledgeable servers, a relaxed atmosphere, and mid-range prices. But what really stands out is its awe-inspiring menu with a huge range that accommodated multiple dietary preferences (vegan, gluten-free, and meat lovers). Literally everything on the menu looked delicious. It was so difficult to chose one dish that I almost made a pro-con list. Finally I made a decision.

I started with the Salade de Timbale au Chevre, or Vermont goat cheese tossed with grapes, sweet Moroccan dates, diced Bartlett pear and walnut on a bed of baby greens.

For my entree, I tried the Crevettes Amrita. The dish sautees shrimp in a lightly sweet and spicy Cambodian satay sauce with coriander, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, peanuts, star anise and lemongrass.

Il Villaggio

I love Italian food, so Boston's North End was like heaven. Italian grocers, pastry shops, and one amazing-looking restaurant after another. But when Liz and I walked past Il Villaggio, we knew it was the restaurant for us. It was small with a reasonably priced yet still tempting menu. Inside, the ambiance was low key but the cool lighting gave it a great vibe. Our waitress was helpful and attentive. The food was excellent. I got a butternut squash ravioli with prosciutto accompanied by a delicious wine.

Dessert:

Mike's Pastry 

The best part about any Italian neighborhood is the pastry. In Boston, Mike's Pastry is the place to go. It's always crowded, but worth the wait. The cannoli is phenomenal. I know this because I actually got a cannoli hangover. Not in Boston? You can order Mike's online!

Tatte 

Another great recommendation. This bakery has elegant pastries and cookies with subtle flavors.

Burdick Chocolate

A friend and chocolate aficionado recommended Burdick after she went on a Boston Chocolate Tour. It had some of the best chocolate of my life.  The shop also made a good cup of coffee.

Going Out:

Grendel's Den 

They serve mulled wine in November.  Need I say more?

Deep Ellum 

I loved the well-crafted drinks with a dive bar atmosphere.  And who wouldn't be impressed by a place that offers a Manhattan 8 different ways?

Meatless Monday: What to pack in a meatless lunch box...

Packing a lunch for work has always been challenging for me.  I rarely find frozen meals I like - sandwiches get soggy, soup gets gross fast, take out is hit-or-miss, and people feel sorry for you if they see you eating cereal.  But recently I found two Trader Joe's frozen meals that I like (or can at least tolerate) a few days a week: Reduced-Guilt Roasted Vegetable Couscous and Channa Masala.  

Both are meat free and I no longer get pitying looks from coworkers.  Neither beats a homemade meal or a good lunch out, but they're solid meatless options with fewer drawbacks from the alternatives. 

Crumbs coming on Saturday!

Meatless Mondays will return next week, but in the meantime, I have some sweet news.  According to the Washington Business Journal, Crumbs Bakery is finally opening this Saturday in Chinatown!  I can't wait to check it out.

A quick blog before picking up where I left off...

I apologize, I've gotten woefully behind on this blog. I promise to pick up my posting pace in the next week.


In the meantime, here’s a quick write-up of the standouts from my trip:


The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English – The menu includes, burgers, wine and cheese, fresh seafood, and a dumpling bar. The food is phenomenal. The atmosphere is casual but elegant. Definitely worth checking out!

Sushi Samba – By far the best meal of the trip. I was skeptical of Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian fusion, but Sushi Samba pulled it off. My favorite dish was the yellowtail jalapeno and lemongrass. Amazing.

Magnolia Bakery - Lived up to the hype, but didn't have the range of flavors I've become accustomed to at Georgetown. Their pumpkin spice cupcake was a perfect way to enjoy autumn in New York.