Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Chestnuts...exploding in my oven.














I had to roast chestnuts to make the golden chestnut soup from Vegan Lunchbox last night. I cut the x slits into them, but two of them still exploded all over my oven! Boo. Note to self: next time make huge slits! The soup was okay, it had a similar texture to a potato soup. The white pepper gives it a really distinct flavour that I think I'm going to have to learn to like. I added some more salt and ate it with some whole wheat crackers, and it made a satisfying lunch.

I packed the soup along with some gingerbread vegans and icing, a mandarin orange, and Best brussel sprouts, a recipe also from Lunchbox; to make the Christmas Menu from the book. The sprouts are really good, even at room temperature. Now I've got a few ways to prepare those guys...which I can't get Billy to eat, for the life of me. I also can't get him to eat oranges, so I've been eating mandarins from the box like crazy! Not that its hard.

I also made the tomato basil bread soup from La Dolce Vegan. Not my favourite from the book but its tasty enough, with plenty of tomato and fresh basil and topped with some parm.














And finally, I have to share my dinner from last night, even though its nothing new. Bowties and cheese with some of the Best brussel sprouts. The cheese sauce turned out better than ever before...so creamy and cheesy! I do admit I was a cheese person when I wasn't vegan, but I like that fact because when people say to me "Ohhhhh, I could never be vegan, I love cheese too much!" I have something to feed them that'll shut them up (in a nice way, of course)!
Mac and Cheese
I'm so excited. My parents gave me a Christmas present early because its heavy....a pantry/cupboard! I got the birch one. My kitchen is so organized now! And everything's not crammed into one shelf. Billy tried to surprise me by starting the assembly while I was at school...didn't work out so well, but I improvised. A fight and a half later, and much insistance that I don't care that he's not a handyman...and its all good! ;)
pantry

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hehe...me and my bf fight when we are putting together furniture too. Like the time he hammered the screws into an IKEA side table, and then had to take them out because they were in the wrong place. So not a handyman! Glad to hear it's not just us!

Anonymous said...

What's the cheez? It looks great, plus you have me wanting to roast chestnuts (I've never done so).

Anonymous said...

Is that the roasted chestnut soup recipe from the Vegan Lunch Box cookbook? If so, I noticed it the other day and wondered what kind of flavour it would have...I've never had chestnuts in soup.

That pantry is absolutely gorgeous. I love it. I have a similar white one that I use as a linen closest, but it's not nearly as beautiful

Melissa said...

Judy, and I'm glad its not just us! And then we fought when we were putting Xmas lights up...LOL

Jess, its made with Earth Island cheddar cheese. The sauce is made with a roux (margarine and flour), salt, pepper and plain soymilk. Super easy.

Megan, yep, that's where its from. Its worth trying once. I'll roast chestnuts again to snack on, I'm sure.

Michelle said...

my hubby and i always fight over these things too! 'cause he wants to do it HIS way, and i want to do it the RIGHT way LOL.

i've also been considering making that soup. i've never, ever had a chestnut before!

Melissa said...

Michelle...haha, that's exactly it. When I saw that Billy started it alone, I extinguished the urge to start nagging him (why didn't you wait for me, are you sure you know what you're doing, etc) and let him do his thing. He was doing it to be nice afterall. Then the shelves broke off and all hell broke loose! Oh well...what can you do.

I made the soup because i was curious about chestnuts. You should try it! I have to add crackers to mine though because I like a bit of texture.

Anonymous said...

Haha, J and I have many stories of putting furniture together, so I had to laugh when I read yours.

I was also a bit of a cheese-aholic before going vegan and that pasta looks incredible! Is it from the Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook?

Melissa said...

Nope, its from La Dolce Vegan :)

Unknown said...

I too had a similar exploding chesnut experience too!

Glad to hear that your cabinet and relationship are intact after all of that! Too funny...

Amanda said...

Those gingerbread vegans are so cute! Aww. Exploding chestnuts sound scary. I had exploding garlic once.

Melissa said...

Mmmm at least that would smell good ;)

Sarah, thanks. We have our tiffs, just like anyone. After things escalated over christmas lights, I took a breather, went to my placement then to my parents house, and he was repentent upon my return :)

Anonymous said...

Your lunchbox is so cute! Especially the gingerbread vegans. I don't have LDV but that cheese sauce looks so delicious. I need to add LDV to my wish list.

Love the new cupboard! It's very nice. I can think of many places in my house I could use something like that!!

Melissa said...

Vivacious vegan, definitely add it to your wishlist. I've got one of those. Cupcakes is at the top of it, even though I really shouldn't get it ;)

The cupboard would be great in the bedroom or bathroom too.

sarchan said...

It's been awhile since I've checked up on your blog, but everything you make looks delicious--especially that pasta. Earth Island cheddar, huh? I don't think we can get this in the States, or at least not in Pittsburgh >_<.