Vegan Pot Au Feu

I had never heard of Pot Au Feu until watching the "Create" channel. We seriously only get four channels at our house and Create is one of them, lucky for me. Rick Steves and I are BFFs. Anyway, Hubert Keller was on and he was making a giant, whole vegetable and animal meat dish. My furry friends being cooked up for me to eat, I could do without but the rest of the dish; carrots, baby potatoes, celery, and cabbage...well that all looked right up my alley. 

“It was a shrewd calculation. An estimated 12 percent of millennials say they are “faithful vegetarians,” compared with 4 percent of Gen X’ers and 1 percent of baby boomers, according to one study.”
— Sam Tanenhaus from The New York Times
Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.

This recipe is inspired by Chef Keller and his Pot Au Feu. It's a classic french dish that is traditionally served with mustard, salt, and bread. It's essentially whole vegetables and a protein simmered in a broth with spices and herbs. I used tempeh as a protein instead of adorable cows.

Pot Au Feu is shockingly quick and easy to make since the vegetables need really very little prep and as far as ingredients go, it's quite simple. While simmering, it filled the whole house with a comforting, savory smell that made my mouth water. 

Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.

Although, I did exhibit a bit of unfortunate planning. You see, it's been raining for a week straight up here in Alaska and I knew this would be the perfect meal to warm my wet and chilled bones. A great introduction into early fall. Except....yesterday it was hot! Exceptionally hot. So hot that on my lunch break at a nearby lake, I had to leave early because I'm pretty sure I was experiencing heat stroke. 

Either way, this vegan Pot Au Feu was a no-frills, delicious dish. Hearty and filling. 

Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.

You see that rutabaga there on the bottom right? I (not thinking clearly) threw that bad boy in too. Don't do that. It was unapologetically bitter. 

Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.
Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.
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Vegan Pot Au Feu
by August-20-2014
This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat. Pot Au Feu was enjoyed by royalty and peasants alike. It’s very easy, quick, and exceptionally adaptable. Note that vegetables like rutabaga and brussels sprouts should be avoided because they can turn bitter when cooked this way. Adapted from Chef Hubert Keller.
Ingredients
  • 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and halved
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 2 leeks, cleaned and sliced
  • 2 springs of fresh parsley
  • 2 springs of fresh thyme
  • 2 springs of fresh oregano
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
  • 2 celery stalks, cut in half
  • 2 large carrots, cut in half
  • ½ kohlrabi, peeled and halved
  • ½ small head of cabbage, halved
  • 1/2 lb. mixed baby potatoes, whole
  • 1 8 oz. package of tempeh, quartered in triangles
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • ¼ cup stone ground mustard, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Once the onion is prepared, cut off a small chunk of the bottom and stuff in the whole cloves. Place the onion halves and clove stuffed bottom in a large pressure cooker or soup pot.Prepare the leeks by first slicing them in half down the middle and washing in between each leaf very well to remove all the dirt. Then, chop off the roots and remove one outer leaf. Gather the fresh herbs in a small bundle and wrap the leek leaf around the herbs to create a bouquet garni. Slice the remainder of the leeks, leaving about an inch of the green tops to discard. Place the herb bundle and sliced leeks in the pot. Add the remaining ingredients and heat over high until simmering. Don't worry if the broth doesn't cover all the vegetables. Cover with the pressure cooker lid and bring to pressure. Then turn to low and maintain pressure. Cook for about 10 minutes. The vegetables should be tender, but not falling apart. If using a soup pot, bring almost to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve hot with stone ground mustard, coarse salt and bread if you like.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 6
Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.
Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.
Produce On Parade - Pot Au Feu - This is a vegan spin on a simple vegetable dish from France, using tempeh instead of animal meat.

German Word of The Day

Peasant --> Bauer (yep, like Eddie Bauer) 

Good Deed of The Day

Read this article from the NYT about us Millennials. Seriously, it's very interesting and inspiring,

French Toast Smoothie

This is the ultimate breakfast smoothie. Especially when you want your smoothie to actually taste like...well, breakfast! Some of these ingredients might seem like odd additions, what with avocado and nutritional yeast, but I assure you this is the real deal. Make it and see for yourself! Produce On Parade - French Toast SmoothieThis dreamy smoothie really tastes just like french toast. It has that perfect eggy, maple syrup, and sweet vanilla flavor that you find only in french toast. I might have made this for dinner, but breakfast was clearly on my mind. 

French Toast Smoothie

Serves 1 

Notes: I like soy milk here because coconut and almond milk have too strong of a flavor. I used frozen avocado because of it's more neutral taste, though you could use a banana, but I think it's too strong of a flavor. The nutritional yeast is essential to this smoothie. 

  • 1 cup soymilk
  • 1/4 avocado, frozen and chopped
  • 1/2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast, large flake
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp. ground flax seed (or 1 tsp. whole)
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • small grating of fresh nutmeg
  • pinch of salt

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Feel free to blend in a few ice cubes too, if you like. 

Produce On Parade - French Toast Smoothie Produce On Parade - French Toast SmoothieServe topped with fresh nutmeg and a dash of maple syrup!

Produce On Parade - French Toast Smoothie Produce On Parade - French Toast SmoothieListening to: [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/101489187" params="color=96c1b2&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

German word of the day: Arme Ritter --> French Toast (pronounced: armeh ritter)

Good deed of the day: Sign this petition at Change.Org and Speak Out Against Idaho's Dangerous Ag-Gag Bill. It only takes 5 seconds and thousands of farm animals will thank you! And me too!

[yumprint-recipe id='82']

Spiced Chai French Toast

This perfectly vegan fluffy french toast is scented with chai spice and deliciously decadent. If you think you need eggs for the best french toast ever, you are mistaken. I'm sorry, I'm just the messenger. Have you had vegan french toast? No? Better get on it! Gosh, I'm sooo bossy today.

Ooooo, I am so excited to share today's recipe with you! This is the most delightful breakfast ever.  When I worked up at Hatcher Pass Lodge (see cool photos here), I was a french toast making extraordinaire. I learned how to make the most splendid and lavish french toast.

And I have to tell you, if you're making french toast with regular ol' sammy bread...you're doing it wrong. Just STOP. No more, I forbid it. Once you make french toast with actual french bread (well, french "style" bread)...oh gosh, just...if you haven't, you need to. This is not The Depression. Make it with french bread, not sandwich bread. Sandwich bread is for sandwiches and french bread is obviously for, well, french toast. 

Also, you have to wear your fancy pants when you eat these.

Oh, also...we slathered ours with birch syrup. If you're in Alaska (like me) and have a small fortune to squander (unlike me), it's time to get yo'self some birch syrup. I think it's, please excuse my contrived snootiness here, richer and way more complex than maple syrup. It's has so much more going on. It's darker and more caramelly (it's a word, I checked). If you get the chance to try it, please do!

Spiced Chai French Toast


Spiced Chai French Toast
By

This perfectly vegan fluffy french toast is scented with chai spice and deliciously decadent. If you think you need eggs for the best french toast ever, you are mistaken.

Ingredients
  • 1 cup unsweetened plain plant milk (I use oat milk)
  • 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
  • 1 Tbsp. maple syrup
  • 2 tsp. chai spice
  • 1/2 tsp. ground flaxseed or ground psyllium husk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 lb of french bread, about 6 1 inch thick slices
Ingredients
  1. In a liquid measuring cup whisk together all the ingredients except for the bread then transfer to a shallow rimmed dish, like a pie dish.
  2. Coat a large frying pan with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Dip each slice of bread in the french toast liquid for about 5-10 seconds on each side. The bread should feel slightly heavier but not soaked completely through. That's the trick!
  3. Cook the slices for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until deep golden brown.
  4. Serve hot; drench with maple (or birch!) syrup, vegan butter, and topped with powdered sugar and strawberries, or whatever your favorite toppings are!

    5. Prep time:
    Cook time:
    Total time:
    Yield: 3-4 servings

This french toast means business. 

Listening to Electric Guest – This Head I Hold