Cauliflower stew Indian style, Tempeh Curry and Pilau rice with green beans and potatoes; Warm broccolli-bulgur wheat salad with a fresh basil dressing; HRH Tomato Soup..photos of some of the prep for tomorrow''s deliveries

Cauliflower and broccoli added at the end of cooking a vegetable base with lime leaves, garam masala and coconut milk to be served with piilau brown rice

Fresh Locally grown cauliflower

The lime leaves and vegetable base for the cauliflower stew

Steamed brown rice is added to sauteed green beans, onions, garlic and potatoes with ground turmeric

HRH Tomato Soup  see "Recipes for Success'

Curried Tempeh and potatoes with green beans

Blanched fresh veggies for the warm salad

Added bulgur wheat

Cooler temps and late season rain showers are making Los Angeles perfect for cold weather dishes.
A taste of the tropics with these dishes and I am also preparing a white squash and pasta bake and mushroom  stuffed orange peppers, and blueberry-almond sourdough waffles.
Hoping for more rain tonight and def. this week

have a great week, John Nigel

SOUTHWEST STYLE VEGETABLE STEW & SHEPHERD'S PIE; MINESTRONE SOUP; ASIAN STYLE NOODLE VEGETABLE SOUP; CARAWAY SOURDOUGH BREADS; ASIAN EGGPLANT RICE BAKE; A SORT OF ASIAN "FUSION" MENU..PHOTOS AND INFO FOR TOMORROW'S DELIVERIES VEGAN-VEGETARIAN

SOUTHWEST STYLE VEGETABLE STEW AND FILLING FOR THE SHEPHERD'S PIE..CUMIN, GARLIC, SMOKED PAPRIKA, CARROTS, ONIONS, CELERY, SQUASH, SWEET POTATO, TOMATOES

MINESTRONE SOUP WITH EGG NOODLES

WHOLEWHEAT CARAWAY SOURDOUGH

MINESTRONE SOUP TOPPED WITH THYME AND MINCED PARSLEY

ASIAN STYLE VEGETABLE SOUP ALSO WITH EGG NOODLES AND TOPPED WITH MINCED DULSE

ASIAN EGGPLANTS IN A TOMATO & SQUASH SAUCE FOR THE RICE BAKE

THE VEGETABLE BASE FOR THE SHEPHERD'S PIE

STEAMED JASMINE RICE WITH OREGANO

TOPPED WITH THE EGGPLANT AND TOMATO MIX AND GRATED WHITE CHEDDAR

BAKED YAM..FOR THE TOPPING FOR THE SHEPHERDS PIE, PEEL WHILE HOT AND THEN MASH WITH VEGAN MARGARINE AND BLACK PEPPER

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THE COMPLETED SOUTHWEST STYLE SHEPHERD'S PIE TO BE BAKED AT CLIENT'S HOME

THE BAKED SOURDOUGH BREADS..THESE HAVE TO DRY OUT OVERNIGHT BEFORE SLICING

Last night we had the first of 2 big rain storms and I managed to collect 5 gallons of rainwater for my water barrels..tonight I am hoping for a lot more, thanks to El Nino.
Tomorrow's menu  features 2 noodle soups, one Asian style where the vegetables are added to a strong vegetable stock and simmered quickly with egg noodles, so the veggies remain crispy when served;
An Italian style Minestrone where the vegetables are sauteed in olive oil and then white wine and thyme are added and it is simmered in stock and tomato sauce for 1 hour, then noodles added for the last 20 mins.
Minestrone is not determined by season and can be made with whatever vegetables you have on hand..adding more or less as you wish. Sometimes in place of pasta, rice or cooked polenta can be added.

The south west stews, along with cumin and cracked black pepper or chili flakes, you can add whatever vegetables you like but must inc. bell peppers and a starch either potatoes or yams..simmer slowly for 1 hour and let the flavors develop. This may be served spicy or not, your choice..also this is great served with pinto beans rather than add them as they tend to make the stew dryer. This is going to be served with  steamed quinoa.

Also rice and veggie layered bakes are a great way of introducing more Gluten-free dishes to any menu.
The pies and bakes will be cooked at the client's homes.

As with all my vegan-vegetarian cooking these are prepared intentionally the day before delivery so their flavors mature and develop.

Happy week everyone...Spring flowers and blossoms are showing themselves now in windy Southern California and the  Mojave High Desert  is blooming too.

here's a simple custom menu: all vegetable, CHEESE AND TOMATO ENCHILADAS; ASPARAGUS AND YELLOW SQUASH RAGOUT AND ROASTED SALTED PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES..ALL PHOTOS PLUS SOME GREAT TIPS

Vegetable and cheese filled corn tortillas, covered in a tomato-bell pepper sauce and more grated cheese

As above without cheese

Previous 2 the field asparagus and yellow squash ragout, to be served with cooked pasta or brown rice at client's home

All fresh dairy butter, salted peanut butter cookies

Tomatoes, orange bell peppers and yellow squash soaking in clean water

The vegetable filling for the enchiladas

Here is a custom vegetarian order for a client...cooler weather is now going to give way to rain by the weekend.
I also made a very deep flavored tomato and bell pepper soup by first roasting the vegetables, this brings out the natural sweetness and intensifies their flavors.
I prepared some vegetable and cheese turnovers with the same filling as the enchiladas too.

March is bringing Spring forward very quickly, here are some of the flowers in my garden this morning:

perpetual basil

faux Orange blossoms

eggplant flowers