Chow Vegan

After pigging out on donuts, I’m getting back on track with The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook by Dr. Neal Barnard and Robyn Webb. It’s the latest cookbook I’ve received for review from the publisher.

The first part of the book covers how a plant-based diet can improve your health and the science behind it. There’s also a section of inspiring stories of people reaping the many benefits of a vegan diet including weight loss, reversing diabetes and lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure.

The second part is a collection of simple, low-fat recipes and menu ideas using easy to find ingredients at the local run-of-the-mill supermarket.

I really like breakfast potatoes. So imagine my delight to see a recipe for Sweet Potato Hash with Peppers. But since I have a deep aversion to bell peppers, I replaced them with fresh shiitake mushrooms.

I also threw in fresh chopped parsley at the last minute. Quite tasty and so colorful, it’s a nice change from regular white potatoes (nutritional information is also provided with all of the recipes).

To get you started on healthier eating or back on track, whatever the case may be, I’m giving away a copy of The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook.

To enter, complete the following:

1. Subscribe to chowvegan.com via RSS reader or email.

2. Leave a comment in this post with your favorite breakfast food. It doesn’t have to be something healthy. Comment must be made by midnight PST on Tuesday, July 27th; one entry per person. Giveaway is open to US mailing addresses only.

One winner will be randomly selected from the comments received and announced on Wednesday, July 28th.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon links, I get a few coins tossed my way if you click on any of the links and make a purchase of anything.

The cookbook I’m giving away is the copy I received from the publisher. I did not get any food on it.

After my fun-filled trip to the French bistro Bouchon, I feel like a quiche. I couldn’t have their quiche but I sure can make one myself. It’s actually a fairly easy recipe. For one thing, I used a pre-made crust. Because let’s face it, I’m not a baker. I can’t bake to save my life. I think it’s the exact measurement thing that gets me every time. But I do have a secret ingredient that makes up for it – fresh tofu.

Fresh tofu is nothing like the store bought variety. Besides great taste, it hardly has any water in it. You know how you have to press and squeeze out a ton of water from tofu before using it? You do that to fresh tofu and all it does is make the paper towel damp. No excess water means no runny quiche, instead it’ll set up nicely when it bakes and hold its shape the next day and the day after that. Excellent for a make-ahead dish for breakfast or an Easter brunch or even dinner.

Leek and Mushroom Quiche
Makes one pie

1 pre-made whole wheat pie crust
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium-sized leek, white and pale green parts only, coarsely chopped
5 ounces crimini mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/2 pound Bloomsdale spinach, or other fresh small leaf spinach
1 pound firm fresh tofu, water pressed out
1/2 cup soy milk
Salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
1/2 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
Olive oil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Precook the pie crust according to the package directions if necessary.

Heat a skillet until hot, lightly drizzle with olive oil and saute garlic and leeks until done, season with salt to taste while cooking. Transfer to a dish and set aside. Heat skillet again and saute and season the mushrooms until cooked, drain any water and set aside. Saute and season the spinach until just wilted. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Squeeze out any water and coarsely chop.

In a food processor or blender, combine the tofu, soy milk, salt and pepper to taste, nutmeg, thyme, parsley and nutritional yeast, process until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl, add the vegetables, mix well and scoop into the pie crust, spreading the filling evenly. Bake for about 35 minutes, let the quiche cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

Fun and Food is hosting a monthly weekend breakfast blogging event; this month’s theme is Balanced Breakfast Meals. I’m submitting the quiche as I can’t think of anything more balanced than that. Its got fresh vegetables, whole grains and soy protein – a delicious way to start off any day.