I'm always veganizing recipes that I love...so...I'm working my way
through all of the amazing recipes in Julia Child's
Mastering the Art of French Cooking...
...making a Vegan Version of each one...... sometimes successfully - sometimes not...Recipe Count 518/524 (from Julie's count)...but really 629

Monday, December 30, 2013

Vegan Gratin Jurassien

[Scalloped Potatoes with Heavy Cream and Cheese]

...oh Man!...do I love me some potatoes...and creamy, cheese-y potatoes even more...Julia describes this creamy dish as 'mouth-watering'...
...start with some potatoes sliced thinly - about 1/8 inch...
...grease a baking dish with some Earth Balance...
...arrange your potatoes in a single layer in the dish...and dot with more Earth Balance...and sprinkle with salt and pepper...
...continue adding layers...
...Julia uses swiss cheese...but I used Daiya shredded cheddar...which I keep in the freezer so mine is still slightly frozen in this picture...
...pour on your heavy cream...I make cream by adding powdered soymilk to unsweetened soymilk to make a thick and creamy substitute...sometimes I just use plain Silk Creamer...but this seems a little sweet to me...so I only use that when I don't mind a little bit of sweetness...
...Julia says not to let it come to a boil in the oven...keep it below a simmer...I don't think that will apply to the vegan cream...but I followed the instructions anyway...
...so creamy and delicious...

Substitutions:
Earth Balance for Butter
Vegan Cheese for the Swiss Cheese - I used Daiya Cheddar
Vegan Creamer or Soymilk mixed with soymilk powder for the cream

Recipe here: Mastering the Art of French Cooking

p. 524

Friday, December 13, 2013

Vegan Sauce Moutarde

[Cold Mustard Sauce with Herbs]

...Julia says this sauce is perfect for cold meats and vegetables...
...for some reason I used a pot for mixing...you can use a bowl as there is really no cooking involved...

...start with some prepared dijon mustard...
...add some boiling water...
...then some olive oil...whisked in by droplets...
...squeeze some fresh lemon juice...
...and whisk that in as well...
...beat in salt, pepper and herbs...
...to make a creamy sauce...
...thick and creamy and pretty ...
...and delicious...
...originally I planned to have it with my leftover cold Thanksgiving Seitan Roast, since Julia says it's for cold meat...but in the end decided to reheat it...and this sauce was good warm too...

Substitutions:
NONE - already vegan HA!
Recipe here: Mastering the Art of French Cooking

pp. 95-96

Friday, December 6, 2013

VEGAN MARRONS BRAISÉS

[Whole Braised Chestnuts]

...I had been sort of putting off doing any of the Chestnut recipes...because I had a very bad experience with puréed chestnuts when I was in France...I'm pretty sure they came from a tin...so now that I loved these braised ones...I'm excited to try the puréed ones too...

...anywhoo...after the big vegan feast on Thanksgiving Day...my Mom came for a visit...and so we had to have another big feast...

...but these Chestnuts were easy to make and surprisingly delicious...
...you start by putting 24 peeled chestnuts in a baking dish just large enough to hold them in one layer...I know I only have 21...
...then you mix some port with some arrowroot...
...and 2 cups of good brown stock...I used Washington's Rich Brown Seasoning and Broth...
...bring to a simmer...
...the liquid should cover the chestnuts by 1/2 inch...
...add some Earth Balance...

...set in the lower third of the oven and regulate the heat so that the liquid simmers for 45-60 minutes until the chestnuts are tender...
...Julia says that if the liquid has not reduced to a syrupy glaze to drain it off and boil it down in a saucepan...and we did have to do that...
...these were so good...and totally unlike what I was expecting...when you cut them with your fork...they separated into 3 or 4 little chunks...and they had sort of a potato-like starchy consistency which was very pleasant and not at all what I remembered from France...

...so...we'll definitely be making these again...

Substitutions:
Earth Balance for Butter

Recipe here: Mastering the Art of French Cooking

pp. 519-520