I'm In Love ... With This Recipe ...

Good evening, Gnawers!  I hope this post finds you doing well and feeling rested as this weekend comes to a close.  Some of you may even be lucky enough to have tomorrow off ... if so, good for you!  As for me, I will be at work.  No biggie though, I like what I do!

Today turned to out to be much busier than I expected.  My parents told me yesterday that they were going to "stop by for a visit" this afternoon.  Their puppy is from the same litter as my puppy and we like to let them have play dates when we can.   Could the BE any cuter?!?

I envisioned us hanging out, chatting, eating, and maybe having a cocktail or two while the dogs romped around.  One day I will get it through my head that this is not how visits go with my parents!  My parents are not "hanging out" kind of people.  They are doers.  They are task-oriented people.  They like to have a good time, but they are always working ... doing ... accomplishing.  This is especially true of my dad who always has a running agenda in his head.  It is like he sees a plan ... the way things have to go ... and he cannot relax until the plan is complete.  We all know that he is like this because he loves his girls, worries about us, and only wants the best for us.  Nonetheless, we do want to give him a swift kick in the rear every now and then!  He had me sign a bunch of papers, discussed my income and budget for the year, emptied all the trash, swept the porch, told me at least 15 times I need to talk to HR about my insurance tomorrow, insisted we go to the pharmacy to pick up my medications, and even suggested when and how I should do my laundry and bed sheets.  I love my dad more than I can say and I know he has my best interest in mind at all times ... but I had to draw the line when it came to my laundry and sheets!  I am a 30 year old woman for goodness sake!

He may make me a little nutty at times, but when it comes down to it, how can I complain?  I am so lucky to have a father that loves me and cares enough to do all the things he does for me.  Can I fault the man for wanting me to sleep in fresh clean sheets?  No.  But, I can give him a good punch in the arm for being in my bedroom in the first place, right?  Luckily we are able to laugh at ourselves and talk these things through ... arm punches work well too.  ;)

Needless to say, we got a lot done.  My dad left for awhile and my mom and I stayed busy filing, cleaning, and giggling.  The dogs played until they wore themselves out.  That meant a nice quiet evening for me ... yippee!  Let me say this, it is a heck of a lot easier to cook with a Mama Molly Maid in the kitchen to clean up after me!  I made all the messes (as I typically do when I cook), and she cleaned up right behind me.  The dishes were basically done before I could even get dinner on the table.  She is that good.  It is nice to have a little help every once in a while.  I am blessed to have parents that give it so freely.

Dinner turned out to be absurdly delicious.  It was a mixture of a recipe for homemade Creamy Vegan Mashed Potatoes that I adapted from Food.Com and a recipe for Chickpea Picatta that I adapted (once again) from Post Punk Kitchen.  This meal was mouthwatering as it sizzled and cooked and even more delicious as it melted in my mouth!  Even the non-vegan visitors enjoyed it.  My dad even asked to take home leftovers.  He never does that!  If you love lemony, garlicky, savory, comforting deliciousness ... make this.  Make it soon.  You will not be sorry.

Note:  Start making the potatoes first and then get to working on the chickpea picatta ;)

Creamy Vegan Mashed Potatoes


Ingredients:

• 4-5 average sized baking potatoes
• 1/2-1 cup reduced fat Vegenaise (add more for more creaminess)
• 1/4 - 3/4 cup plain light soy milk (until desired thickness/creaminess)
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 6 cloves fresh garlic, pressed through garlic press or finely minced
• crushed sea salt to taste
• cracked black pepper to taste

Preparation Instructions:

1.  Wash potatoes.  You can peel them if you want to, but I like mine with the skins (plus there is more fiber!).

2.  Boil potatoes in a large pot until soft (about 45 minutes).

3.  Drain and mash the potatoes.

4.  Add all ingredients to the potatoes.  You can adjust amounts of spices and ingredients to taste for creaminess, thickness, and flavor.  Set aside until chickpea picatta is completed.  

Chickpea Picatta

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 cup shallots, thinly sliced
• 6 cloves fresh garlic, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs (I use Glutino gluten-free breadcrumbs)
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup dry white wine 
• crushed sea salt to taste 
• cracked black pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 16 oz. can organic chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/3 cup capers with a little brine
• 4-5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 4 cups organic arugula

Preparation Instructions:

1.  Heat olive oil in a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat.  Sauté shallots and garlic for about 5 minutes until golden.  Make sure the garlic does not get brown or it will taste bitter.

2.  Add the breadcrumbs and toast them in the pan, stirring constantly for about two minutes.  They will turn a few shades darker.

3.  Add the vegetable broth, wine, salt, pepper, and thyme to the pan.  Turn up heat and bring to a rolling boil.  Let sauce reduce by 1/2.  This should take about 7 minutes.  

4.  Add the chickpeas and capers.  Heat through, about 3 minutes.

5.  Add lemon juice and turn off heat.

Serving Instructions:

1.  Place 1 cup of arugula in each bowl (or plate).

2.  Top with 1 cup or so of mashed potatoes.

3.  Drizzle 1 cup of chickpea picatta over mashed potatoes.

4.  Serve and enjoy one of the most delicious things that will ever cross your lips! 

The pictures do not do this meal justice.  It is true perfection.  I am already dreaming of leftovers.  :)

I want to say thank you again to all of you who are supporting my blog and welcome to all of the new people who have come this way in the last few days!  There has been a surge of new folks and hits, and for that, I am tremendously grateful!  I hope you will enjoy this blog as much as I enjoy writing it.  Thank you to each of you for being here and reading.  You rock!  Well, dear Gnawers ... I am off to bed.  I am wishing you a good week ahead full of health, happiness, peace, and fun.  Until next time ... take good care of you!!!