Pages

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

St. Patrick's Day Dinner and Some Product Reviews

With my love for holidays, celebratory meals, and my Irish roots, I really have no choice but to prepare an Irish-inspired meal for St. Patrick's Day! I made Seitan Corned "Beef" and Cabbage, with Maple-Mustard Roasted Potatoes, and it was so delicious! Unfortunately, it was in the 80's here, so it was almost too hot to make such warm, comforting food! It was worth it, though. Seitan Corned "Beef" and Cabbage (serves 4)
1 lb seitan, chunked
2 stalks celery, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 cup yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups cabbage, shredded
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup pickle juice
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup beet juice (optional)
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 Tbs paprika
1 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 bay leaves
1 Tbs mustard powder
2 Tbs ketchup
1 Tbs soy sauce
1 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs caraway seeds
1 Tbs dill seeds

In a large pot, combine the 2 cups of water, pickle juice, vinegar, and the rest of the seasonings with the chunked seitan. Simmer for 20 minutes, until some of the liquid has reduced. Add in the vegetables and the 1/2 cup water and cover. Simmer on medium-low with the seitan for 20-25 more minutes, until the vegetables are softened and the liquid is mostly gone. Serve with roasted potatoes or Irish soda bread!

Maple-Mustard Roasted Potatoes (serves4)
4 medium russet potatoes, large diced
1 tsp olive oil
Preheat oven to 400 F. Toss diced potatoes in olive oil and bake on a sheet pan for 30-45 minutes, until tender on the inside and lightly browned on the outside. While the potatoes bake, prepare the maple-mustard sauce (below).
1/4 cup spicy brown mustard or Dijon mustard
2 Tbs maple syrup
1/2 tsp mustard powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
juice of 1 lemon
1/4 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1 Tbs dill weed
Whisk ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined. When potatoes are done roasting, toss the maple-mustard sauce with the potatoes until completely coated. Serve hot, with Seitan Corned "Beef" and Cabbage.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And now for some product reviews! I have tried a couple of new finds lately, and I have to talk about them!
First up, White Chocolate Wonderful Peanut Butter from Peanut Butter & Co!!! I know, I know, everyone has talked about PB&C0's awesome products, but I am going to put my two cents in! I am in love with this peanut butter! OK, I am in love with peanut butter in general, but this white chocolate variety is definitely the creamiest and sweetest pb I've ever tasted!! I can't wait to try more of their flavors...I think I'll go for the cinnamon raisin variety next...
This white chocolate pb goes especially well on toast with organic raspberry jam!
Next is the Blueberry Lavender Sorbet from Archer Farms, Target's gourmet store brand. If you like sorbet, then you will love this product! I have always enjoyed the flavor combination of blueberry and lavender, and I was very pleasantly surprised when my mom surprised me with this last week! Very refreshing flavor, smooooooth texture (especially for a sorbet), and not loaded with sugar! I'm picturing this on a hot summer day, topped with some chocolate chips and fresh berries....ahh.
Eating it straight out of the carton is also delightful....
Happy Belated St. Patrick's Day!

5 comments:

Bianca said...

Haha! Great minds think alike! We made the same thing! I love that yours included pickle juice...I drink that stuff straight from the jar, but don't tell anybody. :-)

I'll look for that sorbet at Target. It sounds wonderful. Love when stuff has lavender in it. And I'm soooo in love with PB & Co. The Mighty Maple is favorite, but White Choc Wonderful is a close second.

veggievixen said...

ooh, raspberry w/ lavendar? mmm.

VeganCowGirl said...

Oh my gosh! I heart the white chocolate peanut butter!I can't wait for a trip to Canada to hunt some up for myself.
I adore the seitan and cabbage recipe - the 80s???? oh my gosh - that is so so so warm. You must be melting - at least you have the icecream!! numnum

Lisa said...

the sorbet is so pretty!

eatme_delicious said...

Mmm I've been eating my way through the same jar of peanut butter! I was disappointed that it didn't taste like white chocolate but it is creamy and delicious. There's a peanut butter place in the states P.B. Loco (http://www.pbloco.com/) and they have COOKIE dough peanut butter!! Mmmm. Too bad I don't live anywhere near a store.