Blog Archives - HAPPY VEG

Big News

11/30/2016

If you follow me on twitter you've likely read my tweet about big news coming up. Well, it's time to reveal that news.

I am working on getting in to canning and selling my signature sauces! I have been looking in to starting my own little business and this is a great start. I'm going to start with two or 3 varieties including;

Pureed Roasted Red Pepper & Basil Tomato Sauce
Pureed Vegetable Tomato Sauce
Chunky Homestyle Herb Tomato Sauce

All of the ingredients will be organic and of the best quality. I am sourcing San Marzano tomatoes for the best value I can find and will also be investigating sourcing local produce. Ontario has some pretty amazing produce and I'd love to promote local farmers!

At this point, I am running numbers and looking at finding the best way to go about this and ensure that I've covered all of my bases and feel confident in canning. Improper canning can produce botulism which is extremely bad news and could possibly be fatal. I am definitely doing my research and doing some hardcore studying / practicing in the coming weeks to make sure I am fully comfortable and satisfied with what I'd be putting out.

I am looking forward to developing this idea and getting things rolling. I am thinking by February we'll see some action. I am looking forward to sharing my favourite sauce recipes with all of you as well!

HAPPY VEG

Warm Zucchini & Corn Soup

11/29/2016

Soup is literally one of my favourite dishes to prepare. It's the perfect vessel for a variety of fresh ingredients coming together to create the most delicious dish.

My zucchini and corn soup gets a little kick with the addition of red pepper flakes leaving it with a bit of warmth that is so very welcome on a cool evening. Corn pairs well with spice so the red pepper flakes are the perfect addition to the soup.

This soup only requires a few fresh ingredients and you've got a lovely, flavourful soup. Head on over to the RECIPES tab!

HAPPY VEG

The next menu!

11/27/2016

WARM ZUCCHINI & CORN SOUP

What's warm about this soup? The addition of plenty of red pepper flakes giving the broth a welcome spice. Corn really plays nicely with heat so a little spice is a fabulous addition to the soup. This soup is tremendously simple with only a few fresh, delicious ingredients and takes very little time to whip up. Nothing beats the winter blues like a comforting bowl of soup especially when it comes with just the right amount of heat.

TOMATO SALAD STUFFED MUFFINS

Savoury muffins are so wonderful. I have a muffin recipe that always gives me muffins I enjoy so I use it for everything. This batch has a fresh surprise waiting for you in the centre! A fresh salad of medley tomatoes, feta cheese, and fresh basil sits beautifully in the middle of these muffins and they are such a treat to enjoy! Lots of flavour and a great addition to a tomato based meal like soup or pasta!

Tested 2 new recipes!

11/26/2016

This has been quite a hectic week back at work and I've barely had a minute to spare. With that being said, I've managed to test a couple ideas I had written as well as come up with a few new ideas so I've somehow remained productive.

I've prepared a Mexican Shepherds Pie that was absolutely delicious. The bottom layer consists of meaty soy crumble and chickpeas along with corn, peppers, onions, and the perfect blend of Mexican inspired seasonings. I finished with a layer o cheesy, chili spiced mashed potatoes and balked the pie under a layer of cheddar. It was seasoned beautifully, so filling, and extremely delicious.

I also whipped up a batch of Stuffed Muffins! I used my favourite savoury muffin recipe and filled them with a simple and fresh tomato, feta, and basil salad. Once baked, the tomato salad was such a delight inside the muffins. All they needed was to be sliced open and smeared with a little soft, unsalted butter and served with a pickled hot pepper for a real zing.

I've also written a few more ideas down that I'm looking forward to testing out this week.

Mac N Cheese stuffed Potato Skins. I'm thinking a creamy, 4 cheese macaroni stuffed inside a crispy potato skin. I'll top them with a bread crumb topping and bake them until crispy and delicious.
Kidney Bean Sliders are also on my to do list. I want to make a chili and cumin spiced slider and serve it on a pillowy potato roll. I haven't decided on toppings just yet but I'll figure it out.
Peanut Butter & Jam Smoothies are life. I recently had one on my trip to Kingston and I loved the combination of creamy peanut butter and cherry compote. I have prepared one with blueberries, honey, chia seeds, peanut butter, banana, and milk as well as a vegan version including cashew milk. I just need to perfect it and it will be shared here.

I've got lots of ideas but no time so bear with me, I'll be back up to 3 recipes a week very soon! I'm off to find a snack now that I've written about food for the past 20 minutes!

HAPPY VEG

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Bake

11/25/2016

My second dish of the week featuring roasted red peppers is this delicious pasta bake. Roasted red peppers are cooked down with the tomato sauce and blended until smooth. I love how vibrant the sauce looks after being blended, it looks so velvety and delicious as well.

This is a simple dish to prepare and it is quite hearty and filling. Just what you need on a cold evening after a long day!

Head on over to the RECIPES tab!

HAPPY VEG

New Posts!

11/24/2016

There are new posts under the VEGGIE TRIP ACROSS ON tab and the MY PERSONAL BLOG tab.

HAPPY VEG

Recipe Alert !

11/21/2016

My roasted red pepper and potato soup is posted and ready for viewing! I hope you guys enjoy it!

HAPPY VEG

Here's what's coming up!

11/20/2016

I finished writing a few reviews for my trip advisor account and as soon as they become available, I will share them with all of you! Expect to see the reviews of all the places I visited in Kingston On throughout the week!

I've also decided to dedicate this week to peppers. Not just any peppers mind you but the roasted variety. Their sweetness and flavour are really quite delicious and I absolutely love them. Their flavour pairs so well with so many different ingredients so it's fun to find new ways to use them!

recently discovered that potato and roasted pepper pair perfectly together so I knew a soup was imminent. My ROASTED RED PEPPER & POTATO SOUP has got to be one of my new favourite soups. Creamy potato soup blended with the flavours of roasted red pepper and seasonings and garnished with grated parmesan, cracked pepper, and fresh parsley or basil. It's so luxurious that a second bowl is a given!

I also happen to know that a tomato sauce is extra special with some roasted red pepper blended in. My ROASTED RED PEPPER PASTA BAKE is just the thing. A simple blended sauce of tomatoes, red pepper, and fresh herbs poured over a colourful batch of radiatori pasta and baked. The resulting dish is flavourful and fabulous!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and see you all in the new week!

HAPPY VEG

Smashed Confetti Chickpea Salad

11/18/2016

As I mentioned before, these mayo based chickpea salads have to be my favourite salads for sandwiches. The broken down chickpeas take on a very tuna-esque texture and flavour that is so welcoming after years of avoiding fish. I love how the creaminess of the salad contrasts the crispiness of toast and there are so many ways to play around with this concept.

In this case, I've tossed together some garden style veggies along with pickled hot peppers for tang and a little spice. It's as delicious as the traditional version I shared with y'all a few weeks ago but also unique enough to keep things interesting.

Chickpeas are super nutritious and full of protein so enjoying this salad as often as I do is not a bad thing!

Head on over to the RECIPES tab!

HAPPY VEG

Hearty Bean & Potato Stew

11/16/2016

When you call something hearty, it had better deliver and this stew certainly does. Stew in general is pretty hearty which is why it is such a delightful dish to enjoy when things start getting cold.

I've taken my regular stew recipes and added in some mixed beans to really amp up the protein and keep you feeling full and satisfied. I think the addition of the beans is also wonderful because of the texture they bring to the dish. They add extra bite to an otherwise potentially soft dish.

Head on over to the RECIPES tab for some comfort in a bowl!

HAPPY VEG