Blog Archives - HAPPY VEG

Lots to share when I get home!

11/15/2016

Good day everyone!

I forgot to bring a computer with me on my trip so I am unable to share everything I've seen and done with y'all at the moment. When I get home tomorrow I will have tons of pictures, stories, and reviews to share with you all along with my first RECIPE of the week so make sure to check back with me tomorrow!

Also, make sure to be following my activities through the day on TWITTER!

xo

HAPPY VEG

Next week's food / trip!

11/12/2016

Before I get to the food I wanted to remind y'all my trip to KINGSTON ON starts Monday and I'm so excited to check out the veggie hot spots on my list! Expect lots of pictures as I take y'all along with me!

HEARTY BEAN AND POTATO STEW

As summer rolls out and sweaters roll in, everything you need in a dish is there with a stew. It's hearty and filling, warm, and delicious. What I especially love about stew is how easy it is to prepare and how easily you can add so many vegetables to it. This stew is no exception! With the addition of mixed beans, the heartiness factor takes a step up. It's absolutely comforting on a cool evening.

SMASHED CONFETTI CHICKPEA SALAD
(for sandwiches)

I absolutely love smashed chickpea salads. Since the first time I prepared this type of salad, I was in love. It was just as wonderful as any egg or chicken salad I used to enjoy and I'd go so far as to say it was better. This version includes an assortment of garden fresh veggies along with my recent obsession; pickled hot peppers! The salad is tangy, crunchy, and absolutely delicious on any kind of crusty roll, toasted bread, or bagel!

Mexican Potato Stacks

11/10/2016

What is a Mexican Potato Stack?

First of all, this idea came to me when I was itching for some potatoes and guacamole. In the past, I've prepared crispy potatoes and dipped them in guacamole for a snack that I thoroughly enjoyed, but this time I wanted to step it up a notch.

My potato stacks layer crispy, baked potato "chips" with freshly prepared guacamole, spiced refried beans, and cheddar. The combination of ingredients works tremendously together and the finished product is quite gorgeous to look at.

They taste great and look like they were a lot harder to prepare than they were. Surely these stacks would impress your guests at your next get together so head on over to the RECIPES page for the recipe!

HAPPY VEG

Mozzarella Macaroni Bake

11/8/2016

One of the things I was most looking forward to with the coming of the colder weather was the use of my oven. I really tried avoiding my oven when it was super hot out so I've got a lot of pasta bakes that were put on hold just waiting to be made.

This cheesy macaroni bake is actually quite simple to whip up and doesn't have an abundance of ingredients. Consisting of fresh tomatoes and spinach, stringy mozzarella cheese, and a crispy parmesan topping to finish it off, it's every bit as delicious as it is simple to whip up.

Get your ovens preheated and prepare for a big bowl of comfort!

HAPPY VEG

Some fab recipe ideas in need of testing!

11/7/2016

Recently, I've had to reduce my recipe shares from 3 to 2 per week because I was running low on stock. Not that I didn't have tons of recipes written mind you, but more so that I've been super busy between working both jobs I haven't had time for testing. I've decided to completely wear myself thin while also trying to maintain some kind of balance which has not been happening.

I will never put a recipe out without testing it. I want to make sure that I've got the flavours right which requires constant tasting and adjusting to my original written recipe. I also want to make sure the final product is worth putting out for all of you. I am here to help inspire happy kitchen memories, not disastrous experiences because of a poorly written recipe.

With that being said, I'm looking forward to testing several recipes this week so I'm hoping to rebuild my stock quickly! Here are some of the things I'm going to be testing in the next week.

ROASTED RED PEPPER & POTATO SOUP

I love the flavour of roasted peppers. I'd consider myself obsessed to be quite honest, they're just so delicious. A little smoky, a little sweet, just wonderful. I've been trying to work them in to different dishes (like my Roasted Red Pepper Scalloped Potatoes I shared a week ago!) and I've discovered they are very good friends of potatoes. Their flavours balance beautifully so this match made perfect sense. I'm thinking a thick, rich potato soup blended with roasted red peppers and a finishing touch of parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Sounds delicious and I can't wait to test it out!

MEXICAN MASHED BOWLS

Mashed potatoes are extremely versatile. They aren't only a delicious side, they also happen to be easily manipulated in to so many delicious things. My idea is to make a batch of mashed taters and form them into bowl shapes inside a muffin tin. Bake them until they start to crisp up and turn brown and stuff them with a combination of veggie ground meat, corn, black beans, and spices. Sounds like a match made in flavourful heaven!

KIDNEY BEAN SLIDERS

Kidney beans are on of my favourite bean as a matter of fact. Not only are they super nutritious and loaded with antioxidants, they also have great colour, texture, and taste great! I'm feeling some kidney bean sliders coming up! Beans make perfect patties when mashed up and with a few additional ingredients and spices they go from perfect patties to delicious sliders. I'm thinking small potato rolls for the sliders and am still working on toppings. They're going to be great!

Here's the next menu!

11/5/2016

MEXICAN POTATO STACKS

This dish was actually something I came up with while enjoying a few beers. However dangerous it is for me to get in the kitchen after a few drinks (I have a tendency to burn myself on the oven...repeatedly), I have to roll with inspiration. Layers of spiced refried beans, a quick scratch made guac, cheddar, and crispy chip like potatoes come together for one pretty perfect appetizer. All these babies need is a dollop of sour cream and some glorious hot sauce to cap things off. You guys will love how simple these are to make and how wonderful they look and taste when finished!

MOZZA MACARONI BAKE

Quite simply, tender macaroni, stringy mozzarella, and a crispy crumb topping bake to perfection. Pasta bakes are my thing, I love how easy they are but I especially love how well everything you throw in to them works out. I've got tomatoes and fresh spinach along for the ride in this bake adding freshness, colour, and flavour to an otherwise simple dish. Pasta bakes are comforting and perfect for fall / winter so look forward to this one next week!

Smashed Chickpea Sandwiches

11/3/2016

This has to be my new favourite sandwich. Chickpeas are smashed (or tossed in the food processor and pulsed a few times) and mixed together with traditional egg salad components. Celery, onions, and cucumbers along with fresh parsley, dill, and chives. Whipped together with mayonnaise, this salad is so resemblant of a traditional egg salad without any eggs whatsoever. It's so delicious without any of the guilt, I'm sure you all will enjoy it!

Make sure to reread up on Kala Namak salt as it is crucial to this salads egg like flavour.
http://happyveggie.weebly.com/products--facts/kala-namak-salt

Head on over to the RECIPES tab!

HAPPY VEG

Potato Croquettes

11/1/2016

These potato croquettes have the distinction of having a seriously fancy name for a seriously unfancy dish. With that being said, they are beyond delicious, especially if you are a potato lover like I am. These croquettes transform traditional mashed potatoes in to something so much more wonderful and delicious.

Mashed potatoes are rolled in to large balls and stuffed with cheddar before being breaded and fried until golden brown. A pinch of sea salt when they come out of the fryer for a finishing touch and they are ready to serve and enjoy. They are divine on their own but you could always serve them with a drizzle of your favourite gravy!

If it's up to me, I'll have y'all enjoying potatoes as often as I do in no time!
Get on over to the RECIPES tab for the recipe post!

HAPPY VEG