The official Veganomicon recipe review (to be updated)!
Posted by Allychristine on Jan 02, 2009 · Member since Dec 2007 · 15438 posts
Posted by erinmonster5 on Jan 04, 2011 · Member since Jan 2008 · 2870 posts
Seitanic red and white bean jambalaya - I absolutely loved this!! But I always over-spice, so that might be why mine turned out so wonderful and everyone else kinda hated it...and I used TexMex Style Roasted Tomatoes instead of the plain kind - and they always add a bunch of spice and flavor....my only complaint is that it took forever (I did it all on the stove in my huge enamel coated cast iron pot)! I think I had it simmering for well over an hour and the rice still wasn't perfect, but we were tired of waiting....next time I'll plan ahead for that, but I think cooking the rice in all the juices is what made it so great - It was really the best jambalaya style dish I've ever made!
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Posted by _algae_ on Jan 08, 2011 · Member since Aug 2006 · 2268 posts
Chickpeas romesco: This was kind of a pain to make and I ended up spraying my walls in the red sauce, but it was definitely tasty. Sweet and nutty and spicy sauce. It's very saucy, so maybe it could benefit from some added vegetables or something. I served it over polenta.
Chickpea cutlets: A friend had made these before and they were really dry for my taste, so I was hesitant to make them, but they came out wonderfully. It's nice that the spices are prominent enough that it tastes good on its own, unlike plain seitan. It's good with gravy too though. I gave one to a 20 month old and she proclaimed it to be yummy.
Jamaican yuca shepherd's pie with sweet potato, kidney beans, and plantains: This is an interesting dish. I was excited to make it because I was hoping that it would remind me of some Ital food I'd eaten before and loved. It really wasn't as good as I'd wanted it to be and it made enough that I got tired of eating it after a couple days. Maybe it would be better to make for a large group of people so that you don't have to eat as much of it but you can still try it, because it is good enough.
Chewy chocolate raspberry cookies: I love chocolate and raspberry, but for some reason the flavor of these seemed a bit weird. The chewy texture was spot on though.
Individual heart shaped apple galettes: These were pretty bad because there was way too much crust for the amount of apple. I will take regular apple pie over these any day.
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Posted by dannibazaar on Jan 09, 2011 · Member since May 2009 · 547 posts
Chickpea Noodle Soup: I used udon noodles instead of soba, but I'm sure that doesn't make any difference. This was a really good, comforting soup. I made it for my mum when she was ill this weekend. Definitely a keeper and its a breeze to whip up.
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Posted by Spinach K on Jan 11, 2011 · Member since Jan 2011 · 7 posts
Corn and Edamame Sesame Salad: Delicious! I made this months ago, and my toes still wiggle whenever I think about it. And it's so simple!
Lemony Roasted Potatoes: These took much longer to cook than they were supposed, for some reason. But the flavour was awesome! These are a great idea if you've done traditional roasted potatoes to death.
French Lentil Soup with Tarragon and Thyme: Yummy. The tarragon and thyme are lovely and light in this soup. Something different from your average lentil soup. It was too salty until I watered it down, but that might have been my fault.
Baked Potato and Greens Soup with Potato-Wedge Croutons: Um, awesome. My meat-loving boyfriend loved this too. Add the wine, it really adds amazing flavour. This soup might seem like it has too many steps, but actually it comes together pretty easily.
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Posted by erinmonster5 on Jan 12, 2011 · Member since Jan 2008 · 2870 posts
Baked Potato and Greens Soup w/ Potato Wedge Croutons - I enjoyed this, however I did not see the point in the potato wedges - yes, they were good on their own, but once you stuck them in the soup, they were soggy and lost their appeal. But the soup itself was delightful - a bit watery, but not too bad. I microwaved my potatoes because I'm lazy and didn't want to wait, but I followed the recipe otherwise. (erinmonster)
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Posted by eoberhauser on Jan 12, 2011 · Member since Sep 2009 · 25 posts
Made the Lower-Fat Banana Bread tonight. I did a few things differently: I didn't have applesauce so I just used all oil. I didn't have molasses, but added some vanilla. I also added a healthy handful of walnuts to the batter. I topped it with a sprinkling of sugar and walnut pieces. I thought this was really really good. I could use this recipe for any and all future banana bread making.
Also, I used a hint I learned from a baker about quick breads. Set your oven to 400 or more (I did 420) and cook the bread for about 8-10 minutes at that higher temperature and then just knock it back down to the 350 for the rest of the time. The high heat makes the bread rise in those first few minutes so you get a taller bread. It works really well!
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Posted by 13bb on Jan 15, 2011 · Member since Jan 2007 · 145 posts
Black bean burgers - we liked these. i agree that they could use more flavor and that liquid smoke would be a good addition.
BBQ seitan and crispy coleslaw sandwich- pretty much anything slathered in BBQ sauce is delicious, so this was wonderful as I expected. I was impressed with the coleslaw though… really delicious and great on the sandwich.
Banana chocolate chip bread pudding - good. the bananas give it a good texture. i made 1/2 the recipe with choc chips and 1/2 with raisins (at my husband's request). Strangely, chocolate lover that I am, I thought the version with raisins was better, so I'm not sure what to make of that.
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Posted by eoberhauser on Jan 22, 2011 · Member since Sep 2009 · 25 posts
Cashew Ricotta (added to baked rigatoni) This stuff is AWESOME! I really did not believe it would be good.
I only used half the block of tofu and I thought it came out perfectly. In case you try this recipe, see if you like it with just half and add more to your liking.
Posted by Allychristine on Jan 23, 2011 · Member since Dec 2007 · 15438 posts
I apologize to iowachick95 and saskia, but I had to use your old posts on the first page to expand the review list (ONCE AGAIN). We have so many great reviews that before I realize it, the boxes get too long and reviews are cut off. Hopefully this is spread out enough! I will try to keep a closer eye.
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Posted by Saskia on Jan 25, 2011 · Member since Jan 2007 · 1976 posts
I totally understand, AC. Thanks for doing such a great job organizing these cookbook reviews. :spider:
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Posted by Tweety on Jan 25, 2011 · Member since Jan 2003 · 3135 posts
Yes, thanks AC. I never give you enough thanks and props. This is my favorite forum here thanks to you. :)
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Posted by Allychristine on Jan 25, 2011 · Member since Dec 2007 · 15438 posts
Aww, thanks guys/girls. I'm glad you enjoy it. It's my favorite forum too. :) Thanks for the reviews!!!
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Posted by Allychristine on Jan 29, 2011 · Member since Dec 2007 · 15438 posts
Chewy oatmeal raisin cookies
These are pretty good. I didn't notice the recipe made so many until I added the oats and I realized it was going to be a ton of dough. I would recommend halving it unless you want a ton. They are solid oatmeal raisin cookies, but not the best. I followed the recipe, but made sure to press the cookies because they don't spread at all. They are slightly dry after a day or so. I don't think I'd make them again.
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Posted by Saskia on Jan 31, 2011 · Member since Jan 2007 · 1976 posts
Chewy oatmeal raisin cookies
These are pretty good. I didn't notice the recipe made so many until I added the oats and I realized it was going to be a ton of dough. I would recommend halving it unless you want a ton. They are solid oatmeal raisin cookies, but not the best. I followed the recipe, but made sure to press the cookies because they don't spread at all. They are slightly dry after a day or so. I don't think I'd make them again.
Hmmm. I think Isa's bakery is best in the chocolate or ginger departments. Oatmeal, so-so. Her oatmeal cookies here and in VCIYCJ are fine, though not particularly memorable.
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Posted by faunablues on Feb 01, 2011 · Member since Aug 2003 · 9655 posts
Totes agree Saskia. Except the cowgirl ones are good, but that's really because of the white chocolate + cranberry than the cookie itself.
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Posted by dannibazaar on Feb 04, 2011 · Member since May 2009 · 547 posts
Creamy Tomato Soup: This is such a comforting soup! It's great on a cold day with a warm slice of homemade bread. I love a good creamy tomato soup....it kicks Campbell's soups arse! The flavour the sundried tomatoes imparted was delicious, too.
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Posted by VegRunSki on Feb 10, 2011 · Member since Jan 2010 · 193 posts
Not tella
This is so delicious! I believe it is even better than that non-vegan chocolate hazelnut spread. You can really taste the hazelnuts! My husband loved it, too. Like the other reviewer, I didn't have any soymilk powder or hazelnut extract/liquor (I don't think it needs this) and I used peanut oil. I only used half the amount of oil, and it was very liquid--perhaps because my hazelnut were still slightly warm? We'll see how it is after being in the fridge. I did add a little extra powdered sugar - maybe a tablespoon or two, as indicated for the "dark chocolate" variation. I was hoping to find an inexpensive source for roasted and skinned hazelnuts, but to no avail. Removing the skins is a pain, but I think you really just need to remove the loosened parts that might be burned. I'd say I had up to 50% of the skins still on, and it is still delicious.
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Posted by peaceable_palate on Feb 12, 2011 · Member since Feb 2011 · 63 posts
The Hot Sauce-Glazed Tempeh recipe is my favorite tempeh recipe of all time! My husband likes to dip tortillas chips in the leftover marinade, and got very upset with me one day when I threw it out (it had been in the fridge for almost a week for Pete's sake!).
The Lasagne Marinara with Spinach is perfection! I make this dish for guests, or to bring to gatherings where I know there won't be vegan fare, so my hubby and I have something to eat. Anybody who tries it loves it, and can't believe the ricotta is dairy free. The Cashew Ricotta is the only vegan ricotta recipe I use. Don't leave out the Pine Cream. It's delectable! If you have leftover ricotta and pine nut cream, make stuffed shells, and drizzle the cream over the top!
The Mashed Spiced Sweet Potatoes are perfect for Thanksgiving. They're smooth and creamy with traditional Thanksgiving type spices. No need to wait until Thanksgiving to make these though. I like them any old time.
The Corn and Edamame Salad is my lazy summertime salad. Simple ingredients, but huge on flavor. I love this recipe!
I didn't care for the Snobby Joes. I prefer the Tempeh Sloppy Joe recipe from Nava Atlas' Vegetariana. Snobby Joes calls for lentils instead of tempeh, but I prefer the texture of tempeh better for sloppy joes.
I also didn't care for the Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions. The recipe calls for long-grain basmati (brown or white). I used brown, but didn't think to adjust the water quantity and cooking time (the recipe didn't provide any info on this) . As a result, everything got kind of dried out, and the lentils never got very tender. I tried adding more water, but without success. The caramelized onions were tasty though.
The Jelly Donut Cupcakes came out really well. I don't think I let them cool enough, however, because the powdered sugar I sprinkled on top was absorbed into the cupcakes. I reapplied, but it got absorbed again! Still yummy though.
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Posted by lotus42 on Feb 13, 2011 · Member since Mar 2007 · 3081 posts
French Lentil Soup with Tarragon and Thyme
This was a great weeknight dinner. It was quick, healthy, tasty, and filling. I followed the recipe except I used about 1/2 cup canned tomatoes instead of fresh. I served it with Outrageously Easy Big Bread seasoned with tarragon, thyme, and cracked pepper. The leftovers have gotten pretty thick in the fridge, so I think I'm going to eat them for lunch over some quinoa.
Posted by Eldsjäl on Feb 15, 2011 · Member since Sep 2009 · 97 posts
A hummus recipe - Not just a hummus recipe. It's THE hummus recipe. I always use this.
Mediterranean style cashew cucumber dip - I'll never make regular tzaziki again. This is really good with falafel! Maple mustard dressing - This is my favorite salad dressing. Chickpea quinoa pilaf - It was okay. Not very flavorful as it is, but it works as a side dish. I upped the spices and added some garam masala. I'll probably use this recipe again, but play around with it a bit.
Tamarind lentils - It tastes like Indian Snobby Joes! At first I thought the flavor was like OMG! But after a few bites I got tired of it. It might have been something wrong with my tamarind though. I think I'll make it again sometime, since I really liked it at first. Creamy tomato soup - Not really my cup of tea. But I don't love tomato soups in general. If I were to make it again, I'd add something sweet, like a little bit of sugar or agave syrup. Mac daddy - My cheezy sauce didn't thicken, but it worked out anyway. I thought it was too lemony though. Next time I make it, I'll omit the lemon juice and maybe replace the tofu mixture with cashew ricotta (without nutritional yeast though, the sauce has enough of it...) to make it even creamier. All in all, I really liked it!
Pumpkin baked ziti with caramelized onions and sage crumb topping - I used roasted butternut squash instead of pumpkin. I love pretty much all baked pasta dishes, and I liked this too, but it wasn't all that special. The caramelized onions were really tasty though, and the sage crumb topping was a nice surprise. I usually hate sage!
Backyard BBQ sauce - Tasty, but next time I'll make it a little less sweet.
Cashew ricotta - This is awesome. I don't use as much lemon juice as the recipe calls for though.
Poppy seed cornmeal roti - The best flatbread I've ever had! I want this to accompany all of my future Indian dishes. I'm sure it would work very well with tex-mex too!
Seitanic red and white bean jambalaya - I absolutely loved this!! But I always over-spice, so that might be why mine turned out so wonderful and everyone else kinda hated it...and I used TexMex Style Roasted Tomatoes instead of the plain kind - and they always add a bunch of spice and flavor....my only complaint is that it took forever (I did it all on the stove in my huge enamel coated cast iron pot)! I think I had it simmering for well over an hour and the rice still wasn't perfect, but we were tired of waiting....next time I'll plan ahead for that, but I think cooking the rice in all the juices is what made it so great - It was really the best jambalaya style dish I've ever made!
Chickpeas romesco: This was kind of a pain to make and I ended up spraying my walls in the red sauce, but it was definitely tasty. Sweet and nutty and spicy sauce. It's very saucy, so maybe it could benefit from some added vegetables or something. I served it over polenta.
Chickpea cutlets: A friend had made these before and they were really dry for my taste, so I was hesitant to make them, but they came out wonderfully. It's nice that the spices are prominent enough that it tastes good on its own, unlike plain seitan. It's good with gravy too though. I gave one to a 20 month old and she proclaimed it to be yummy.
Jamaican yuca shepherd's pie with sweet potato, kidney beans, and plantains: This is an interesting dish. I was excited to make it because I was hoping that it would remind me of some Ital food I'd eaten before and loved. It really wasn't as good as I'd wanted it to be and it made enough that I got tired of eating it after a couple days. Maybe it would be better to make for a large group of people so that you don't have to eat as much of it but you can still try it, because it is good enough.
Chewy chocolate raspberry cookies: I love chocolate and raspberry, but for some reason the flavor of these seemed a bit weird. The chewy texture was spot on though.
Individual heart shaped apple galettes: These were pretty bad because there was way too much crust for the amount of apple. I will take regular apple pie over these any day.
Chickpea Noodle Soup: I used udon noodles instead of soba, but I'm sure that doesn't make any difference. This was a really good, comforting soup. I made it for my mum when she was ill this weekend. Definitely a keeper and its a breeze to whip up.
Corn and Edamame Sesame Salad: Delicious! I made this months ago, and my toes still wiggle whenever I think about it. And it's so simple!
Lemony Roasted Potatoes: These took much longer to cook than they were supposed, for some reason. But the flavour was awesome! These are a great idea if you've done traditional roasted potatoes to death.
French Lentil Soup with Tarragon and Thyme: Yummy. The tarragon and thyme are lovely and light in this soup. Something different from your average lentil soup. It was too salty until I watered it down, but that might have been my fault.
Baked Potato and Greens Soup with Potato-Wedge Croutons: Um, awesome. My meat-loving boyfriend loved this too. Add the wine, it really adds amazing flavour. This soup might seem like it has too many steps, but actually it comes together pretty easily.
Baked Potato and Greens Soup w/ Potato Wedge Croutons - I enjoyed this, however I did not see the point in the potato wedges - yes, they were good on their own, but once you stuck them in the soup, they were soggy and lost their appeal. But the soup itself was delightful - a bit watery, but not too bad. I microwaved my potatoes because I'm lazy and didn't want to wait, but I followed the recipe otherwise. (erinmonster)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1382.snc4/163485_10150124786964359_681159358_7737996_609563_n.jpg
Made the Lower-Fat Banana Bread tonight. I did a few things differently: I didn't have applesauce so I just used all oil. I didn't have molasses, but added some vanilla. I also added a healthy handful of walnuts to the batter. I topped it with a sprinkling of sugar and walnut pieces. I thought this was really really good. I could use this recipe for any and all future banana bread making.
Also, I used a hint I learned from a baker about quick breads. Set your oven to 400 or more (I did 420) and cook the bread for about 8-10 minutes at that higher temperature and then just knock it back down to the 350 for the rest of the time. The high heat makes the bread rise in those first few minutes so you get a taller bread. It works really well!
Black bean burgers -
we liked these. i agree that they could use more flavor and that liquid smoke would be a good addition.
BBQ seitan and crispy coleslaw sandwich-
pretty much anything slathered in BBQ sauce is delicious, so this was wonderful as I expected. I was impressed with the coleslaw though… really delicious and great on the sandwich.
Banana chocolate chip bread pudding -
good. the bananas give it a good texture. i made 1/2 the recipe with choc chips and 1/2 with raisins (at my husband's request). Strangely, chocolate lover that I am, I thought the version with raisins was better, so I'm not sure what to make of that.
Cashew Ricotta (added to baked rigatoni) This stuff is AWESOME! I really did not believe it would be good.
I only used half the block of tofu and I thought it came out perfectly. In case you try this recipe, see if you like it with just half and add more to your liking.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs246.snc6/179485_10150130478769359_681159358_7817610_4563071_n.jpg
I apologize to iowachick95 and saskia, but I had to use your old posts on the first page to expand the review list (ONCE AGAIN). We have so many great reviews that before I realize it, the boxes get too long and reviews are cut off. Hopefully this is spread out enough! I will try to keep a closer eye.
I totally understand, AC. Thanks for doing such a great job organizing these cookbook reviews. :spider:
Yes, thanks AC. I never give you enough thanks and props. This is my favorite forum here thanks to you. :)
Aww, thanks guys/girls. I'm glad you enjoy it. It's my favorite forum too. :) Thanks for the reviews!!!
Chewy oatmeal raisin cookies
These are pretty good. I didn't notice the recipe made so many until I added the oats and I realized it was going to be a ton of dough. I would recommend halving it unless you want a ton. They are solid oatmeal raisin cookies, but not the best. I followed the recipe, but made sure to press the cookies because they don't spread at all. They are slightly dry after a day or so. I don't think I'd make them again.
Chewy oatmeal raisin cookies
These are pretty good. I didn't notice the recipe made so many until I added the oats and I realized it was going to be a ton of dough. I would recommend halving it unless you want a ton. They are solid oatmeal raisin cookies, but not the best. I followed the recipe, but made sure to press the cookies because they don't spread at all. They are slightly dry after a day or so. I don't think I'd make them again.
Hmmm. I think Isa's bakery is best in the chocolate or ginger departments. Oatmeal, so-so. Her oatmeal cookies here and in VCIYCJ are fine, though not particularly memorable.
Totes agree Saskia. Except the cowgirl ones are good, but that's really because of the white chocolate + cranberry than the cookie itself.
Creamy Tomato Soup: This is such a comforting soup! It's great on a cold day with a warm slice of homemade bread. I love a good creamy tomato soup....it kicks Campbell's soups arse! The flavour the sundried tomatoes imparted was delicious, too.
Not tella
This is so delicious! I believe it is even better than that non-vegan chocolate hazelnut spread. You can really taste the hazelnuts! My husband loved it, too. Like the other reviewer, I didn't have any soymilk powder or hazelnut extract/liquor (I don't think it needs this) and I used peanut oil. I only used half the amount of oil, and it was very liquid--perhaps because my hazelnut were still slightly warm? We'll see how it is after being in the fridge. I did add a little extra powdered sugar - maybe a tablespoon or two, as indicated for the "dark chocolate" variation. I was hoping to find an inexpensive source for roasted and skinned hazelnuts, but to no avail. Removing the skins is a pain, but I think you really just need to remove the loosened parts that might be burned. I'd say I had up to 50% of the skins still on, and it is still delicious.
The Hot Sauce-Glazed Tempeh recipe is my favorite tempeh recipe of all time! My husband likes to dip tortillas chips in the leftover marinade, and got very upset with me one day when I threw it out (it had been in the fridge for almost a week for Pete's sake!).
The Lasagne Marinara with Spinach is perfection! I make this dish for guests, or to bring to gatherings where I know there won't be vegan fare, so my hubby and I have something to eat. Anybody who tries it loves it, and can't believe the ricotta is dairy free. The Cashew Ricotta is the only vegan ricotta recipe I use. Don't leave out the Pine Cream. It's delectable! If you have leftover ricotta and pine nut cream, make stuffed shells, and drizzle the cream over the top!
The Mashed Spiced Sweet Potatoes are perfect for Thanksgiving. They're smooth and creamy with traditional Thanksgiving type spices. No need to wait until Thanksgiving to make these though. I like them any old time.
The Corn and Edamame Salad is my lazy summertime salad. Simple ingredients, but huge on flavor. I love this recipe!
I didn't care for the Snobby Joes. I prefer the Tempeh Sloppy Joe recipe from Nava Atlas' Vegetariana. Snobby Joes calls for lentils instead of tempeh, but I prefer the texture of tempeh better for sloppy joes.
I also didn't care for the Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions. The recipe calls for long-grain basmati (brown or white). I used brown, but didn't think to adjust the water quantity and cooking time (the recipe didn't provide any info on this) . As a result, everything got kind of dried out, and the lentils never got very tender. I tried adding more water, but without success. The caramelized onions were tasty though.
The Jelly Donut Cupcakes came out really well. I don't think I let them cool enough, however, because the powdered sugar I sprinkled on top was absorbed into the cupcakes. I reapplied, but it got absorbed again! Still yummy though.
French Lentil Soup with Tarragon and Thyme
This was a great weeknight dinner. It was quick, healthy, tasty, and filling. I followed the recipe except I used about 1/2 cup canned tomatoes instead of fresh. I served it with Outrageously Easy Big Bread seasoned with tarragon, thyme, and cracked pepper. The leftovers have gotten pretty thick in the fridge, so I think I'm going to eat them for lunch over some quinoa.
http://i51.tinypic.com/2yvmb9d.jpg
A hummus recipe - Not just a hummus recipe. It's THE hummus recipe. I always use this.
Mediterranean style cashew cucumber dip - I'll never make regular tzaziki again. This is really good with falafel!
Maple mustard dressing - This is my favorite salad dressing.
Chickpea quinoa pilaf - It was okay. Not very flavorful as it is, but it works as a side dish. I upped the spices and added some garam masala. I'll probably use this recipe again, but play around with it a bit.
Tamarind lentils - It tastes like Indian Snobby Joes! At first I thought the flavor was like OMG! But after a few bites I got tired of it. It might have been something wrong with my tamarind though. I think I'll make it again sometime, since I really liked it at first.
Creamy tomato soup - Not really my cup of tea. But I don't love tomato soups in general. If I were to make it again, I'd add something sweet, like a little bit of sugar or agave syrup.
Mac daddy - My cheezy sauce didn't thicken, but it worked out anyway. I thought it was too lemony though. Next time I make it, I'll omit the lemon juice and maybe replace the tofu mixture with cashew ricotta (without nutritional yeast though, the sauce has enough of it...) to make it even creamier. All in all, I really liked it!
Pumpkin baked ziti with caramelized onions and sage crumb topping - I used roasted butternut squash instead of pumpkin. I love pretty much all baked pasta dishes, and I liked this too, but it wasn't all that special. The caramelized onions were really tasty though, and the sage crumb topping was a nice surprise. I usually hate sage!
Backyard BBQ sauce - Tasty, but next time I'll make it a little less sweet.
Cashew ricotta - This is awesome. I don't use as much lemon juice as the recipe calls for though.
Poppy seed cornmeal roti - The best flatbread I've ever had! I want this to accompany all of my future Indian dishes. I'm sure it would work very well with tex-mex too!
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