Friday, January 4, 2008

Let's Roast!

Veggies that is! I have been roasting vegetables like crazy the last few days. The oven has been keeping our house warm through this Texas winter cold snap! Wednesday night I was starving when I got home and so I fixed the tamari roasted chickpeas from ED&BV. Where have these been all my life? I ate close to the whole can of beans and still wanted more. I managed to save a couple to add to my dinner plate.

Amazing that I still had an appetite after all those legumes! The roasted items for dinner were: portobello mushroom (marinated in red wine, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, etc), brussels sprouts, and red bell pepper. And on the side some steamed swiss chard and quinoa. I discovered just how much I love balsamic glace swirled on my plate (makes it so fancy!) and sopped up with roasted veggies. This stuff is worth searching out and buying!

And alongside a salad last night, we had perfectly roasted cauliflower, tossed with just a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper and finished with lemon juice and fresh parsley.
A healthy start to the new year, if I do say so myself! Oh, and I took another step towards fulfilling my resolutions and signed up for an 8-hour cake decorating course here in Houston (spread out over four weekends). And thankfully, we get to bring our own icing and cake, so I can ensure that they are vegan :-) Can't wait to report on my learnings... Enjoy the first weekend of 2008!

25 comments:

Sarah P said...

I love chickpeas in any way, shape, or form, but when they are roasted... nothing can keep me away. ^_^

Traci Anne said...

Oh YUM. I haven't mastered brussels sprouts yet, but I do love me some cauliflower!

MeloMeals said...

Your veggies look awesome! and I adore roasted chickpeas..

Cool beans about your cake decorating class! I can't wait to see your creations.

Pink Theory said...

Mmmm, your roasted brussels make me wanna give those guys another try! I haven't had them since I was a kid and I remember not liking them...maybe roasting and balsamic glaze is the key! And yay about the cake decorating class...can't wait to see what you learn!

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

I just made roast veggies, too! But your presentation, with the balsamic glace, looks much better than mine (oh well, my veggies still taste good).

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

as I said on your Flickr page, those brussels sprouts and swiss chard look so heavenly - yum!! and the cauliflower in the salad looks great too :0)

I'm so excited for you, with the cake decorating class!! what fun THAT will be, for sure!!

aTxVegn said...

Roasted veggies are the best! I'm roasting some cauliflower right now, but haven't thought about a sauce yet - perhaps something balsamic!

Your cake decorating class will be so fun and you'll get to eat cake every weekend.

I've been freezing all week.

Ruby Red said...

Your dinner looks fabulous! I would have eaten that along with you quite contentedly. And I CANNOT believe you ate that many beans! They are so filling!

The decorating class will be great for your blog! More pretty pictures of desserts... :)

jeanette said...

I can't wait to see pictures from the skills you pick up in class. Sounds like a blast!

....roasted chickpeas....mmmmmmmm

Jillian of Bitchin' Vegan Kitchen said...

GORGEOUS!!

I wanna steal some of them chickpeas, yum.

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

I've been roasting veggies like crazy too! I love them! I managed to have roasted brussels sprouts 4 times in the past week- only made by me twice! hehe.

Rose said...

I love love love your food pics! They look so elegant :)

jd said...

Wow! That cauliflower looks absolutely delicious! It's amazing how just roasting it brings out so much flavor, isn't it?

By the way, congrats on following through with your "piping" resolution - I bet that cake decorating course will be a lot of fun. I can't wait to read about it!

Enjoy!!

Lori- the Pleasantly Plump Vegan said...

you are amazing. both of these pics are gorgeous. i love roasting veggies . . . especially chickpeas and cauliflower.
i can't wait to read about yr cake decorating adventures! and that is so cool you bring yr own cake and icing! i wish i had something like that to go to.

Dori said...

Your plate is so creative with the wonderful.... is that balsamic drizzle. I am looking forward to reading about your cake decorating adventures.

Anke said...

the chickpeas sound interesting. I finally ordered my copy of ED&BV today and this will be the first recipe I try. I looove chickpeas :-)

Vicki's Vegan Vice said...

mmmm, I love the smell of roasting veggies, and even better, the taste! Have fun decorating cakes!! Tell us all about it! :)

Sheree' said...

Roasted veggie's rock! They are my favorite way to eat them. My second favorite is cold, cooked, broccoli especially the stems. I know weird, but oh so good!

Liz Ranger (Bubble Tea for Dinner) said...

ooh, cake decorating! if your plating/balsamic-drizzling skills are any indication than those are gonna be some gorgeous cakes.

I should really get around to trying that chickpea recipe, huh? :p

Unknown said...

I'm getting hungry looking at those delicious concoctions. They look like they're from a restaurant!

zippiknits...sometimes said...

Your blog is so delicious! You are a great food stylist! I'm always coming here too late at night to dash into the kitchen and try out your recipes, too. You made me hungry, Girl!

thanks! :)

Anonymous said...

Hey--everything looks so great. I wanted to urge you to make the balsalmic glaze from ED&BV if you haven't made it yet...it is so delicious, you'll be putting it on everything!! It is so good on roasted veggies (I like it especially on roasted squash). I think I"ll make a similar tempeh chick'n salad for lunch tomorrow. Thanks for the ispiration. Jill

Ashasarala said...

Roasted veggies are the absolute best! Have you ever tried sauteeing them in a little bit of maple syrup? To die for!

Can't wait to hear about the cake decorating classes. That's something I really want to look into.

shaun.marie said...

ooh roasted cauliflower is my achilles heel... you could lure me into a trap with it. i certainly don't roast enough, and it's fun that you can make a whole meal out of roasted veggies and a dash of something saucy!

the little one said...

Holy! This is some seriously impressive work!