Meatless Mondays » Living Lou

Eggplant Salad

Today, I’m sharing a recipe for a somewhat, purple dish: Eggplant Salad. It is an easy meatless, and vegan dish that is perfect to bring to a potluck. Fresh tasting, it goes well on its own or served on a piece of toast as a little crostini type dish. It’s got a little bit of a Mediterranean flare, and makes a super healthy and easy appetizer or side dish.

A little side note from the yummy recipe, March 26th is Purple Day - The Global Day of Epilepsy Awareness. Epilepsy is something close to my heart because my sister is one of the 1% of people that have epilepsy. Epilepsy is a disease that has been mistreated and condemned for centuries, but it’s something that is very real for many people. I wanted to write a little something about Epilepsy in hopes that my little spot here on the internet can help raise awareness. If you want to learn more about Purple Day and what you can do to raise awareness, take a look at the official website, Purpleday.org

Eggplant Salad
Recipe by Lou

Ingredients

1 large eggplant
1 large tomato, diced
1 tbsp diced onion
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp vinegar
3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

On a baking dish, bake eggplant for an hour. Allow to cool and cut into bite sized pieces.

Add tomato, onion and garlic to bowl. Add in the eggplant.

Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar and parsley.

I hope you enjoy this Eggplant Salad.

- Lou

French Canadian Pancakes

I don’t know if these are considered a “traditional” French Canadian Pancake but this is an old family recipe. My Dad has been making these pancakes for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, he used to roll them up, almost as you would a crepe. While I do love the thicker, fluffier pancakes, these ones will always hold a special place in my heart. As you can see, they are thin, not as thin as crepes, but thinner than you typical, fluffy pancake. The texture is a little bit chewy and magically, they soak up all of the maple syrup on the plate. My favourite part is when they get this delicious browning on all sides which adds a nice texture and sweetness.

There’s just something that is so much fun about eating a big stack of pancakes for dinner. It’s as if you’re beating the system or rebelling against society. I can just imagine a little kid stamping their feet saying, “I want pancakes for dinner, not salad.” After a long, exhausting and defeating day, pancakes are the perfect dinner to shine a little light on your day. You might even say that these can cure a case of the Mondays.

Man, Mondays are not my favourite.

French Canadian Pancakes (serves 2-4)
Old family recipe

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp white granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
3 tbsp melted butter + more for frying
2 cups milk

Directions

In a large bowl, sift dry ingredients together. Beat in remaining wet ingredients. The mixture may be a little lumpy.

Heat butter over medium heat in a large frying pan. Ladle the thin batter into the pan. Cook for one to two minutes or until bubbles appear, flip and repeat until fully cooked.

Who is going to beat a case of the Mondays with these pancakes?

- Lou

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

I can’t think of a better way to start the week other than with this Roasted Sweet Potato Soup. It’s utterly packed with vitamins and goodness and of course, flavour! It’s a dark and gloomy morning as I sit to write this post, and all I can think about is enjoying a warm and bright bowl of this soup when I get home tonight.

Sometimes, I get bored of soups – actually I get bored of most things at some point. However, I think I get bored more easily by soups and sandwiches. I don’t really know why since there are hundreds of flavor combinations to enjoy, but sometimes they’re just dull. Not this soup though – packed with rosemary and a touch of natural sweetness; it’s quickly become one of my favourites. This soup was my Mom’s idea – we both love sweet potatoes, and were craving soup, so, this soup was developed. It’s perfect for Meatless Monday and any weeknight in general. Here’s the thing people, soups are so easy to make and nice and healthy. This one is vegan but if you wanted to add a little cream or milk, I don’t see why not.

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup (serves 4-6)

Ingredients

3 medium sized sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
1 large carrot, chopped
1/2 stalk celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic
3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp dried rosemary
3 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/8 – 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 400.

Place chopped vegetables and garlic in a roasting pan – toss with olive oil, salt, pepper and 1 tsp of rosemary.

Roast for 20 minutes.

Remove from pan and add to a large soup pot. Cover with broth and add the remaining rosemary. Bring to a boil and simmer for 40-45 minutes.

Puree with the soup with an immersion blender or a regular blender. If using a regular blender, puree the soup in batches.

Stir in lemon juice and cayenne pepper.

Well I’m off to battle the gloominess outside but am eagerly awaiting this bowl of this sunshine when I get home!

Here’s to a great week,

Lou

Roasted Red Pepper Dressing

I go through phases, you could even say obsessions with certain things. Sometimes it’s a movie, or a song, maybe it’s a band or a photographer, perhaps an ingredient or a food is grabbing my attention, but there’s always something. For instance, I’ve had a long time love affair with the films of Wes Anderson and roasted red peppers. Recently, I’ve become obsessed with The Devil Wears Prada.

I caught it on TV the other night, and let’s just say that I watched it at 9:30 and then again at 12. Yep. Officially obsessed, and I want to watch it again tonight. I feel like my film teachers would shake their heads in disgust if I said that I was obsessed with this movie. And my fellow classmates, I don’t even want to know what they would think. I don’t care though because I love it. The best part is that a couple of months ago I was lucky enough to attend a Q&A session with director David Frankel, and perhaps hearing him talk about the process of making The Devil Wears Prada (among his many other films) just made me fall even more in love with the film. Whatever the reason, I’m obsessed. You can’t deny that Meryl’s delivery of Miranda Priestly is just perfect, how she remembers all those lines and delivers them so quickly and with such a frosty demeanor. Love Meryl. Have I mentioned that before?

This salad dressing is packed with flavor. The roasted red pepper adds a nice sweetness and makes the dressing creamy without adding any sour cream or yogurt. I feel like Miranda Priestly would approve of this salad dressing, at least I hope she would!

Roasted Red Pepper Dressing (makes 2/3 cup)
Recipe by Lou

Ingredients

1 roasted red pepper
1/2 clove garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp basil

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until combined.

Now that is a delicious salad dressing that is perfect for Meatless Mondays.

Do you think Miranda Priestly would approve?

- Lou

Lentil Soup

Well hello there 2012! I feel like many people will agree with me in saying that there’s something special about the beginning of a new year. It’s like a fresh start, a blank slate of sorts. It’s a new year and we can become whoever we want to be. Let’s all take 2012 into our own hands and really live; let’s make it count.

People all over the blogging world have been coming up with goals, words and resolutions for the new year. If you read my blogs over at The Kit you know how much I believe in goal setting, so of course I have goals. Currently I have a list of 16 goals, but I’m adding to it each day. Some goals are big, like exclusively posting recipes I’ve created on the blog and some are smaller, like drinking green tea every day. Of course, along with thousands of other people, one of my goals for 2012 is to eat healthily and exercise regularly. Within this health goal is the idea of eating more vegetarian and vegan meals, which is something I have wanted to do ever since watching Forks over Knives back in June.

This Lentil Soup recipe is a flavorful, healthy and comforting soup. It’s vegan, but loaded with protein and fibre from the lentils. I think it’s the cumin and coriander which really make this soup, but it’s also the velvety texture from the olive oil and the slight crunch of the lentils that make this a well balanced meal. It’s definitely a winning and simple soup recipe.

Lentil Soup (serves 6)
Recipe by Lou

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups lentils
3 cups water
1/4 cup olive oil + 2 tbsp for sauteing vegetables
3 carrots, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
3 cloves garlic, crushed
3 bay leaves
8 cups vegetable broth (or water)
1 cup crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 cups olive oil
1 tsp red chili flakes (optional)
2 tsp lemon juice (fresh lemon)
1/2 tsp wine vinegar
Pinch salt and pepper

Directions

Cover the lentils with 3 cups of water and soak for 1/2 an hour. After soaked, drain and rinse the lentils.

In a large soup pot, heat 1/2 cup of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped vegetables and sauté for 3 minutes.

Add the cumin, coriander, and garlic to the pot and sauté for another 2 minutes, (add more oil if needed).

Next, add the lentils, water, and bay leaves to the pot. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes.

After 25 minutes, pour in the crushed tomatoes, remaining olive oil, red pepper flakes (optional), and the lemon juice to the pot. Cover and simmer for another 25 minutes.

Add vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper to the soup, stir and serve.

Happy Meatless Monday everyone.

- Lou

[I've entered this recipe in the Lentils Recipe Revelations Contest, check out their Facebook page and vote for me!]

Eggplant Salad

French Canadian Pancakes

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

Roasted Red Pepper Dressing

Lentil Soup

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