Creole Baked Beans

Ingredients

1 small onion (diced)
1 16 ounce can white beans (undrained)
1 16 ounce can navy beans (undrained)
4 slices vegan soy bacon (diced)
1/3 Cup brown sugar
1/4 Cup ketchup
1 Tbls vegan Dijon mustard
1 Tbls vegetable oil
2 tsp Tony Cachere's "Creole Seasoning"
1 tsp Liquid Smoke Mesquite
1/2 tsp Louisiana hot sauce
1/8 tsp white pepper

Preparation

This is so easy, y'all gonna pick up

Chowda and beer bread

When it's cold outside and you need something warming and hardy, cook up a batch of white bean chowder and beer bread.

White Bean Chowder

1 1/2 cups dried great Northern beans2 slices Soy bacon, crumbled1 onion, chopped3 garlic cloves, minced2 carrots, chopped2 celery stalks, chopped1 16-oz can vegetable broth1 bay leaf2 large potatoes, diced1 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes1/2 tsp salt1/2 tsp

Mc Lefse egg sausage and cheese

Culinary memoirs of a youth misspent



Ingredients

1 8" dia lefse - prepared ahead
1 1/2" slice of firm tofu pressed between clean towel to dry
2 oz soy cheddar
1 soy sausage link
1/2 tsp soy spread
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Cook the sausage in a fry pan with 1/2 tsp soy spread. In the same pan saute the tofu on one side only until golden brown.

Top the tofu with cheese cover and

Starbucks Peppermint Brownie

Our friend Todd and his talented crew at Top Secret Recipes have come through again and conjured the makings of Starbucks sinfully rich Peppermint Brownie.

Of course we cheerfully converted it to this equally decadent vegan version just in time for Christmas 2004.



Ingredients

Brownies

1 19-20 ounce box fudge brownie mix (we used Duncan Hines, it is vegan)
1/2 Cup soy spread, melted
1/4 Cup

Snow Cream and Southern miscellany

One week to Christmas and we thought it was time to start planning the menu, but first a glance around the net to reprise some nostalgic oldies.

A friend of ours recently opined that there is room at the table for everyone, he was speaking of the recently concluded US elections and aftermath but I took it to apply as well to the literal table.

This year why not try a joint venture culinaire;

Peasant food, healthy food

There are many nouveau cuisines abroad these days but none can beat the authenticity or appeal of good home cooking. So, if someone offers you a new take on an old recipe don't run to the imported food section just use what is home grown and make your own healthy version of peasant food.



Potato and Bean Enchiladas

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board Press, 2004

Delecata Baked with Savory Stuffing and Black Beans

If you have overlooked this squash thinking it looked plain and therefore flavorless, time to reconsider. It's called the 'Delicata Delicioso' and with good reason. Not as sweet as the acorn squash but with a rich buttery flavor it readily supports this savory stuffing with onion, garlic and a touch of carrot for sweetness.

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks" Book The Green Cutting Board, 2004

Happy Thanksgiving

Creole Thanksgiving Roast
excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board Press, 2004
Ingredients

1 large sweet potato
1 6 oz pkg soy turkey slices
4 cups seasoned bread stuffing
1 small onion
1 12 ounce bag fresh cranberries
1/2 cup orange juice
6 Tbsp vegan spread
1/2 cup raw sugar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Creole seasoning
sage
salt
pepper

Preparation

Prepare the stuffing

An egg is an egg, or is it?

It may seem nonsensical to substitute tofu for the whole egg in this sandwich since there is some egg white in the soy strip but that simple switch reduces the cholesterol from 213 milligrams to 0 and increases the protein by 28% according to figures provided by the Egg Nutrition Center.



Breakfast sandwich
Appearance is everything, when it looks this good - you can be sure it will satisfy

Thanksgiving 2004, stuffed, baked acorn squash

Before dessert, before the main course and prior to the side dishes what a true Thanksgiving meal needs is a traditional American gourd cooked up sweet and savory.



Baked Stuffed Acorn Squash
excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board Press, 2004

Ingredients

2 whole acorn squash
1 tsp. soy spread
1/2 C. wild or long-grain rice
1 Tbsp. finely minced onion
1-1/4 C.

Wedding Soup

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board Press, 2004



Italian wedding soup known as Minestra Maritata has little to do with weddings. Maritata is the Italian word for marriage - a marriage in this case between different vegetables. Culinary history confirms that recipes for soups of this type were called simply, minestrone.

Ancient Roman culinary traditions have that,

Cool blue green Thanksgiv...eeng

November, a cold snap in Fla.(60s) and the advent of our annual Vegetarian Thanksgiving reminds us that this year we're settin' out a cool blue Cajun feast for the first holiday meal of the season. To kick off the festivities and in honor of those intrepid cyclers who finished the first end-to-end run; Maine to Key West along the East Coast Greenway, and because we always start with dessert we

Inaugural "East Coast Greenway" bicycle tour finishes in Key West

Key West, Florida - Nov. 3, 2004 - On Sept. 12 a group of cyclists departed
Calais, Maine aiming to be the first people ever to traverse the full
length of the East Coast Greenway, the nation's first long-distance urban,
shared-use trail for non-motorized users. Some 2,800 miles and 53 days
later they have finally achieved their common goal, concluding the historic
ride in Key West, Fla.

New Cook book for Vegan Day 2004

Photo from; Vegan, Hamlyn Publishing, 2004

Just in time for the holidays, on the eve of Vegan Day 2004, the Diamond Jubilee, we received a copy of Vegan, by vegan chef Tony Weston and nutritional tharapist Yvonne Bishop; publishers, Hamlyn.

Published for The Vegan Society and released to coincide with World Vegan Day celebrations, the new 120 plus page vegan cookbook is in full color, and

Southern Blogs back on line

A rich heritage of Southern blogging has reemerged as the new Southern Blogs Ring. Full of good reading, eating, the politics and probity of the south all wrapped up for the holidays in a new and improved Southern Blogs Ring.

There is a special blog, the Southern Blogs Home, where you can display your Link banner, post comments, make suggestions to expand and improve the Blog Ring and check in

Crepes with curried banana and raisins

Almost everyone has their favorite restaurants or diners, some place that you know and that knows you. One of ours is Benedict's in Dunedin. Benedict's serves great food consistently and they do something else that makes them special to vegetarians, they will make changes to the menu on request.

We give you Benedict's Indian omelet, for vegetarians - no eggs, using crepes instead, delicious. We

Hot Kentucky chicken ham sandwiches with gravy and mashed potatoes

OK, it's a mouthful, but isn't that the point?



Ingredients

sandwiches

2 vegetarian chicken patties
4 slices vegetarian soy ham
4 slices of whole grain bread

gravy (roux)

2 ounces sliced mushrooms
3 Tbls vegetable oil
3 Tbls all purpose flour
1 tsp vegetable bouillon paste
1 tsp soy spread
3/4 Cup water
1/4 Cup Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
black ground pepper to taste

1 Cup mashed

Boeuf Bourguignon

This recipe started as a vegetarian homage to great French cuisine and ended somewhere south of the Greek archipelago with a nod to the Chilean highlands. You can use a merlot from Maipo - Santiago de Chile or an Agiorgitiko from Greece.

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board, 2004

Ingredients

4 oz soy steak sliced
1 cup flat noodles
4 oz sliced mushrooms
1 small

Kitchen garden soup

My grandmothers both had kitchen gardens on their farms, gardens from which grew this and other great recipes.

Ingredients

1 bunch leeks
4 oz mushrooms
1 medium potato
1 tsp vegetarian bouillon
1/3 cup vermouth
2 Tbls soy spread
1 tsp cane sugar
2 1/2 cups water
1 oz smoked Gouda (soy cheese if vegan)
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Wash the potato and cut into 3/4" cubes. Bring to

World Vegetarian Month, 2004

Inaugurated in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society October 1st is International Vegetarian Day and kicks off a month long celebration around the world. Governments, organizations and individuals are encouraged to observe the occasion through education, conferencing, festivals, social events or simply by coming together as friends and family to enjoy a vegetarian experience.

This

The Goose Way path as instruction

What do Animal Farm, Watership Down and The Handmaid's Tale have in common? They were all, most likely, devoured by John Barlow British author of Eating Mammals. In his new collection of 3 novella's Barlow uses a Wives Tale strategy to instruct through motif the ways of man in crafting his complex relationship to animals.

Sometimes political, at other times with child-like wonder Barlow

Martha Stewart Chili Pot Pie

We created this vegan pie after Martha's take on Joseph Bonanno Jr's False Alarm Vegetable Chili, just because Martha always keeps her "t".

Ingredients

1 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium carrot cut into chunks
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and

Southern Blogs

Detail from: To Have and Have Not by Christopher M. Still


...are back. Thanks to Adam at A Single Southern Guy In America we who blog in the warm, sunny and sometimes tempestuous south have a soap box once more.

To celebrate the occasion we're reprising this most antebellum of desserts the
Magnolia Pie

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups unbleached cane sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup soy

Southern Food Blogs, southern comfort

Those of us that live under the eternal warmth and comfort of the southern sun have few concerns beyond this, we live surrounded by the sea and endure her occasional petulance.

Six hours to landfall and Ivan rages toward the coast. The third major hurricane this season now threatens the "catcher's mitt" from New Orleans to Tallahassee. Two hundred miles west, out in the Gulf, Ivan kicks up

Hurricane Cinnamon Buns

Looking at these satellite images of swirled cloud masses for a solid month now we have finally yielded to subliminal suggestion and storm fatigue.

The result, The Green Cutting Board's version of cinnamon buns; "Hurricane Twists" and coffee over the morning news.

Ingredients

1 tin of Pillsbury's original crescent rolls
1/2 cup walnuts roughly chopped
1/4 cup vegan spread
1/3 cup brown

Mushroom, Black bean, and Spinach Burritos

"Burrito" or small burro isn't a worthy appellation for this hardy interpretation of Mexico's favorite wrap.




Ingredients

1 large white onion, diced
8 ounces button mushrooms, finely chopped
1 Tbls vegetable oil
1/2 lb fresh spinach
1 tsp garlic, diced
1 can black beans, drained
1/4 Cup water
1 tsp ground cumin
4 ounces of soy pepper jack cheese
4 fresh tortillas
1/2 cup taco sauce
1/2 tsp

Onion mushroom pot stew

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board, 2004

Yes, we know this looks like onion soup, but trust us, the mushrooms and flour make it a hearty 'noreaster' stew.



Ingredients

1/2 baguette, 6-3/4" slices
2 Tbls olive oil
2 Tbls soy spread
1 large white onion sliced
1/2 lb button mushrooms quartered
1 tsp chopped fresh garlic
2 tsp vegetable bouillon paste
1/2 Cup water
1/

Southern Comfort/ Peach Crisp

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board, 2004

Ingredients

1 Ripe peach pealed and sliced
2 Plums sliced
1 Tin Pillsbury Original crescent rolls
2 Tbls soy spread
1/2 Cup brown sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375
unroll dough on a non-stick baking pan
coat with soy spread and brown sugar
place sliced peaches and plums alternating in rows
bake for 30 minutes or

In Hurricane Charley's sights

In the box with two hurricanes approaching Florida's west coast, the first time on record that has happened, anywhere, it seems like a good time to do what all good journals do and publish a community advisory, so here goes.

Let me begin by telling you that I've lived and worked on the Gulf Coast now for 8 years and this is our fourth hurricane advisory. That being said I still am not entirely

Key lime pie, not just for vegan conchs

Conch (pronounced "konk"), a resident of the Florida Keys
Key lime (small, tart, green lime)
vegan (...no animal or dairy products)

Key Lime Pie

excerpt from:A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board, 2004



Ingredients

1 can sweetened condensed soya milk*
1/2 cup key lime juice (bottled is fine)
8 oz soy cream cheese
1/2 cup dissolved agar agar (allow to cool slightly)
1 8" graham

Penne rigate and mushroom Bourguignon

Rome dominated the region now known as Burgundy in central Europe for centuries. They brought order, roads, empire and citizenship as well as a strong appetite for hearty cuisine. Bourguignon formed part of what the Romans called "Gallia Lugdunensis" (Celtic Gaul). In 486 the Franks, under Clovis I, overthrew Syagrius, the last Roman governor in Gaul and France was born.

Mushroom Bourguignon

Avocado and White Bean Soup

This soup combination of cool lime, avocado and white bean is inspired by the savory fare of western moon lit trails and bright Florida nights on the gulf coast. 

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks’ Book, The Green Cutting Board Press, 2004

 

Ingredients
 
1 16 oz can white beans
1/2 ripe avocado
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 sweet onion diced
2 tsp vegetable oil 
1/2 tsp cumin 
1/4

Polly Bergen's Chili

editor's note: We don't usually publish the author's photo with a recipe; but, if you've seen one bowl of chili...well, can you blame us.

Nancy found this recipe in a copy of Parade Cookbook, "1978" and with one slight cutting board room edit created this vegan rendition that retains all the great taste and star quality of a classic chili

Polly Bergen’s Chili
veganexcerpt from : A

Beggin Your Vegan

The Green Cutting Board would like to correct an error from our publication dated 6.20.04 "No Name Wraps", which we inadvertently labeled vegan. Our friend Ryan who writes the Veg Blog kindly advised us that "Morningstar Farms" bacon strips are not vegan, they contain egg white. We apologize for any unintended misrepresentation and have corrected the recipe.

You can still keep the recipe vegan

Famous Secret recipes

T.G.I.Friday's Broccoli Cheese Soup

We veganized this original recipe and republished it with the permission of Top Secret Recipes. Find your favorite "secret recipe" and create your own vegan original - and let us in on the secret.

This is a great veganized version of TGIF's savory Broccoli and Cheese Soup.
ingredients

4 Cups vegetable broth
1 Cup water
1 Cup soy creamer
4 slices of soy

Nero-ly Missing a Point of History

Nero, Emperor of Rome circa 68 A.D., is said to have favored the leek for its voice enhancing therapeutic qualities. Even if you don't perform for your fellow citizens, you'll love

Nero's Leek Soup
excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board, 2004

Ingredients

1 leek cut in half and cleaned (as leeks grow they pick up a lot of soil)
1/2 lb button mushrooms, cleaned and

No Name Wraps...OK, Name

excerpt from A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board, 2004


We don't often call for brand name ingredients, but occasionally...well, just try these. OK.

Ingredients

1/2 tin "Pillsbury" original crescent rolls (original-no lard)
4 slices "Morningstar Farms" soy bacon strips
2 "Litelife" soy dogs
mustard

Preparation

Using 2 pair of pre-cut crescent roll wedges laid end-to-end, put

American Crocodile, Survival in the Balance

This is the third in our series examining the past and problematic future of the American Crocodile.

At the campus of the University of Florida, Gainesville the Crocodile Specialist Group works to provide evidence that this once robust Florida native is now sufficiently recovered from near extinction to be considered a renewable resource. Crocodylus acutus, or "American Crocodile" seen here in

It's a Croc

The question is, why protect a creature, why protect any creature; the answer may come to you as you read this.


It was announced earlier this year that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had taken under advisement a recommendation to down list the American Crocodile from endangered to protected which sounds for all intent and purpose a good thing, a success; a species pulled back from the brink

It's Impossible to McMess This Up

Every so often there is nothing like a fried egg sandwich. Here's one guaranteed to please even the most egg-centric among us.



Eggless Sausage McMuffin
excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board 2004

Ingredients

2 English muffins buttered and heated through, not toasted
2 soy breakfast sausage patties
4 medium size mushrooms sliced
2 1/4" slices of extra firm tofu

Spice Tells

Spiceblog from Australia digs into his particular culinaria and sends us this recipe - vegetarian if you use oil instead of ghee. Anthony writes this "talk about"...

Kabli Channa
Curried Chick Peas

Margaret Fulton is to be thanked for this recipe. She is a kind of Grand Dame of Australian cooking and, in a country that took erm' England as its culinary inspiration, something of a

Planet City in a Bowl... An Eco Town Takes Root

A poor community on the outskirts of Johannesburg paints its future green.
By the year 2007, for the first time in history, humanity will be primarily an urban species — homo sapiens urbanis.


Over 75 per cent of all North Americans and Europeans already live in cities, and in a few years most Southern citizens will have joined them. Each week another million people either move to or are born

NJ Announces 64 Mile Route to Connect Greenway

The New Jersey Department of Transportation in partnership with the East Coast Greenway Alliance, the nonprofit organization developing a 2600-mile trail connecting cities of the eastern seaboard for non-motorized users, has unveiled the new trail route for the East Coast Greenway through northern New Jersey.

NJDOT’s study identified a 64-mile route through 5 counties and 22 municipalities

Charm City Powerhouse, an Olympian Sandwich

Before I had the good sense to become a vegetarian I would often eat lunch in a small health food store near Johns Hopkins Campus on Charles St - probably closed now.

The store was staffed with students in robes more health gurus than short order cooks who served a variety of great veg deli-like food, meditational tsatskes and a jolt of energy called the "Powerhouse."

While everything in the

Yankee BBQ Ribs and Limey Potato Salad, A Memorial Day Reunion 60 Years Ago Today

Limey Potato Salad
excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board Press, 2004



Ingredients

1/2 lb small red potatoes, boiled, cubed and cut into 1/4" cubes
1/2 cup diced red onion
2 Tbls soy mayo
1 Tbls vegetable oil
1 Tbls soy yogurt
1 Tbls chopped green chilies
1 tsp raw sugar
1 tsp fresh lime zest
1 tsp fresh lime juice
cumin, cayenne and salt to taste

Preparation

Sauté

Animal Rights Legislation Prevails in Austrian National Assembly

Austrian lawmakers this week enacted legislation that would effectively ban all forms of pet and farm animal cruelty with harsh penalties imposed of up to $18,160 per incident. Long known for their care and regard for animals Austrians by a vast majority acknowledge the law, in the words of Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel as sending a stern message to the rest of Europe and the world about

It's Friday, Memorial Day weekend eve, time to lock n' load. Light em up guys, "Barbie" ain't no doll, let Mattel ya.

Last but not the least of our veg treats courtesy Cordon Vert all for Vegetarian Week.

Lentil Shepherd's Pie
recipe by: Cordon Vert
A Traditional Favourite




(Catering quantities) Read that, "Have a Party and invite all your carnivorous friends", but be sure to tell everyone it's no meat; we don't surprise them and they don't surprise us.

A herby blend of lentils and potatoes baked into a

You have 30 minutes...starting, Now

Fourth recipe from the Vegetarian Society to celebrate Vegetarian Week. How are you doing so far?

TORTILLA BEANY BAKE
recipe by:Cordon Vert

Store cupboard (for those of us in the "states" who don't speak English - this means "pantry")



Ingredients

5 - Herb flavoured wraps (large)
2 - medium Red onion, thinly sliced
6 oz - Frozen spinach (will defrost to 3 oz)
12 oz - Tinned Flageolet beans

Carbohydrates? Alright, Who's your Protein?

Considering the current trend to lo-carb diets we began to wonder if, in fact, a great meal could be prepared which actually balanced carbs, greens and healthy nutrients without the excess pile-on of meat protein.

White Spanish Casserole con Grigio
excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks’ Book, The Green Cutting Board, 2004



Ingredients

1/3 large head of cauliflower (separate the floret’s)
2

Oh go ahead, start with desert... I think that's a tradition somewhere in the world, I do, really.

Cordon Verte School's recipe number 3 in our celebration of Vegetarian Week on The Green Cutting Board.

CARAMEL BANANA & BERRY BRIOCHE WITH ZESTED MASCARPONE
recipe by Cordon Vert

Gourmet Dinner – Dessert
Serves 4
Prep Time:15 mins
Cooking Time: 7 mins


Ingredients

5 oz - vegetarian mascarpone cheese
1/2 - lime, juice and grated rind
4 - vegetarian brioche finger rolls, halved (or use

Aubergine? What...courgette

This is the second in our series of original gourmet recipes celebrating Vegetarian Week from the talented chefs at Cordon Vert School. We actually had this today for lunch and what can we say... "magnifique, s'wonderful, marvelous that they should do this for you." Do try this at home, just please give it another name, maybe "The Green Plate Special."

MEDITERRANEAN TIAN OF ASPARAGUS AND

One Tortoise, One Man and a few Possibilities

The animals in Florida like animals everywhere are under increasing pressure; overcrowded, overrun by progress and burdened with the ominous prospect of extinction.

Today was remarkable in that one got away, saved by a man who did the right thing and intervened to save not just a member of an endangered species, but a life in danger.

Traveling north on Florida's infamous coast road,

Five thousand years ago during an inconspicuous weekend not dissimilar to this coming Memorial Day weekend Nan and I decided to make a change that would forever alter our lives together, our health and, as it turned out, our destiny; we became vegetarians. It was not easy at first and there were plenty of pitfalls; knowing what not to eat is easy, knowing what to eat, that's another matter.

They say Starter, We say Dinner. Anyway You Slice it this Vegetarian Recipe is a Show Stopper.

ARTICHOKE AND TOMATO TARTS
recipe by Cordon Vert School

Gourmet Dinner Starter
Makes 4 individual tarts (or one large tart)
Prep Time: 25 mins.
Cooking Time: 15 mins



Ingredients

8 oz - can Pillsbury original puff pastry (vegan)
4 oz - quark (a soft, spreadable German cream cheese (slightly tangy) (for vegan version use dairy free soft cheese)
1-9 oz - canned artichoke hearts in brine (

Not to Crow but this Muffoletta Rules the Roost-er

A southern tradition from New Orleans introduced in the early 1900s the muffoletta which translates from Sicilian as "small mitten" is kin to Philly's "Cheese Steak", Tampa's "Cuban" and everybody's "Po'Boy." This is a GCB classic revised, our vegetarian version of the Muffoletta Sandwich. It's all about the olives, cher.

Our chefs'

Muffoletta Sandwich

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book,

Vegetarian Week Recipes...Take a Taste Drive

Monday May 24th begins "Vegetarian Week" a week long celebration of vegetarian cuisine, life style, healthy eating and community around the world. In a special week long feature The Green Cutting Board will, beginning tomorrow, publish an original gourmet vegetarian recipe along with news, updates and links to vegetarian events around the globe.

The chefs at "Cordon Vert" school in

Green Pizza for Two

While Nancy was outside lovingly watering her garden, supper was left in my less than capable hands, the solution: pizza from leftovers.


Ingredients

2 "Mission" brand tortillas (wraps) / Mission, because they use no lard (good on them)
1 sliced ripe avocado
1/2 green pepper, sliced
several button mushrooms, sliced
1/2 tomato, again, sliced
olives
spinach
olive oil
chopped garlic
cheese if you

Sunshine On My Shoulders Makes Me Happy...

What do pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists, skate borders, astronomers and NASA have in common; answer, the East Coast Greenway trail. Today we received the first pictures from the ECGA trail folks of the newly installed "Art on the Greenway” in Maryland along the Baltimore & Annapolis (B&A) Railway Road.

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Anne Arundel County, Maryland and the ECGA have teamed

More Spice! Interview continued with Tina Avila owner of Casa Tina Grill...hola mole that's hot.

Aussies, its midnight here so meet our guest, Tina Avila owner of Casa Tina Mexican Grill, Main Street Dunedin, Florida. In yesterday's story we introduced Tina on webRadio InstantFM.com. Today we have more of that interview and give our readers a recipe or two to boot.


Casa Tina's is a mix Gourmet Mexican and vegetarian grill which Tina explains is the philosophy behind their successful

The Naked Vegetarian Cooks on Instant FM

The Naked Vegetarian webRadio show on Instant FM Talk Radio aired its second edition today with guest restauranteur, Tina Avila. Tina, a cyclist and vegetarian, who, along with husband Javier, owns Casa Tina Grill on the Gulf Coast of Florida. She reveals her take on traditional Mexican cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients and a view to creating a family friendy dining experience for veggies

Wraps of a Different Sort

Asparagus In a Blanket

excerpt from: A Vegetarians Cooks’ Book, The Green Cutting Board Press, 2004


Ingredients

1 15 oz can of asparagus spears
1 roll of 8 refrigerated crescent rolls (Pillsbury* brand original, made without lard)
1 tsp soy spread

Savory Sauce

3 oz silken tofu
1 1/2 Tbls Dijon mustard
1 1/2 Tbls soy Veganais
2 Tbls white wine
2 Tbls olive oil
pinch sea salt
pinch

"S" Stands for Shishkabob and Sauce...

The essence of growth I have found is to accept criticism with studied perseverance or perhaps said more succinctly; if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Nancy and I had a wonderful day at our private beach (that’s not what it sounds like, but more on that later) and when it came time for supper we decided to keep it simple, perhaps too simple!



We made barbecued shishkabobs of cherry

Time creates friends, friends create time

It was my birthday today and so my beautiful wife and my best friend (they're the same person by the way) took the day off to spend it with me. We started by going out for breakfast and ended... well, that's not really your business.


Breakfast at Kelly's, Kelly's in Dunedin on the coast is two blocks from the Gulf of Mexico and miles from ordinary. We had not been there in a while, our mistake

Walnuts to that Neat Loaf, Let's Cook...

OK, enough of self-promoting, egoistic, brazen "Come-on-along and sing with me, the lullaby of Broadway." Enough of that!

"The Naked Vegetarian" web radio show not withstanding this publication is, after all, about "vegetarian community news, recipes, comment, editorial and... did someone say recipes.

We got this from those wonderful folks at the "Food Network", we just veganized it a little.

The Naked Vegetarian to Broadcast Web Talk Show

Would you tune in to listen to a Naked Vegetarian host a Talk Radio Show?


Of course you would... beginning Monday, May 10th at 12 noon East Coast Time The Green Cutting Board will be on the air at InstantFM.com web radio. You can follow this link to hear
"The Vegetarian Voice" on the World Wide Web

The Naked Vegetarian will be hosting an hour of Vegetarian talk radio, news, comment and

What'da ya mean he don't eat no spice?

Something that all vegetarians and vegans have in common, other than food preference is the common question we all receive from someone who is just plain baffled by the thought of never eating meat; well, they ask, what do you eat? Anything I want is the fast answer, the key word being want. I have always liked spicy food and I understand the draw. For centuries mankind has used the natural

The Deli News

In our on going series of 'Veg Friendly' restaurant reviews we visited the Deli News Cafe in Dunedin, a prominent bistro on Main Street.

The Deli News Cafe is singular in that it was created from the shell of a Shell or some sort of abandoned service station within biking, skating or walking distance of the Pinellas Trail (see our story "A Trail Runs Through It," April 14). "The Deli News" is

Aussie Barbary Burger

A great burger is always welcome especially when it comes from an AU reader. Scott from Tin Can Bay, Queensland sent us this recipe for a tall barbie burger with an ingredient we've not heard of before, "Mountain Pepper Leaf", we did our best Scott, thanks. Presenting The Green Cutting Board's version of Scott's "Barbary Burger", Dunk Island, Queensland.

Ingredients

2 soy burgers
2 hard rolls

An Octopus may be Somebody's Other

We found the latest deep "Star" rising on the international cooking scene, non other than Chef Tako and his show "Deep Fried, Live." Ladies and gentlemen, the "Octopus Gourmand," the "Cephalopod with the Nod," put your working class hands together for the hardest working cooking show at sea...Heeere's TAKO!

Featured Site "The Savvy Vegetarian"

Every now and then as a publisher we are pleasantly surprised, that happened a few days ago when another web publisher contacted us whom we had not come across before. Her name is Judy Kingsbury and she is the "Savvy Vegetarian"

Judy has an amazing site full to overflowing with resources for newbie vegetarians and experienced veg-heads alike. Her advice column is reminiscent of Anne Landers the

Southwestern Taco Salad with Mock Chicken, Black Beans and Mushrooms

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks’ Book, The Green Cutting Board Press, 2004

Ingredients

4 spinach tortillas
2 BOCA meatless chicken patties thawed
1 Cup mixed fresh greens
1 ripe tomato cut into chunks
1 Cup prepared black beans drained
1/2 Cup black olives sliced
1/2 Cup Monterey Jack shredded
1/2 Cup baby portabella mushroom sliced
1 Tbls vegetable oil
taco seasoning (see home made)
soy

Meet the First ETE Trekkers

The East Coast Greenway Alliance "people trail" from Maine to Key West is a project which over the past 10 years has labored to develop a pedestrian/bike trail through the densely populated urban centers of the Eastern United States. Starting early this September, twelve volunteer cyclists will embark on the first 2600 mile End-To-End tour from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida arriving in Key

Earthday 2004

Eighteen years ago while I was still teaching and very confident, if somewhat confused about my future the college that tolerated my youthful effusiveness managed in its own starry-eyed enthusiasm to capture a ray of sunlight. On a wonderfully warm and bright blue spring day in May of 1986 a person came to our campus who, for some of us, epitomized the reality of our potential, our possibilities

A Trail Runs Through It

The East Coast Greenway Alliance is ten years old and doing very well thanks to the effort of countless volunteers and a singular vision to create a contiguous pedestrian nature trail from Maine to Key West. With twenty percent of the trail complete and another 50 percent of the right of way secured and ready to begin construction the Greenway Trail is about to become a reality.

The trail is

The Good, The Bad and the Frugal, an Easter Tale

Recently I came across two stories that while not related have a common thread and, if you think about it, a tale to tell.

The first is this story from Sun City Center, Florida. The parishioners of a new congregation named St. John the Divine Episcopal Church found themselves the benefactors of an unusual fund raising event, a “Big Tent Pork Barbeque.” Now, you may say, what is so unusual about

Manatees in Jeopardy

We were researching a story for todays edition when a feed came through from Denlines. This is an issue for those of us who live in Florida, it's true, but beyond that it surely impacts any of you who have lived near or heard of these gentle giants of the sea. We urge you to write to the folks listed below and voice your dismay at the potential for suffering and loss that this legislation

DULCINEA PIE

This recipe is the result of a late evening and the coincidence that aired a version of Cervante's Don Quixote, "Man of La Mancha," 1972 starring Peter O'Tool and Sophia Loren as "Dulcinea."

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cuttingboard Press, 2004


Ingredients

3 10" dia. tortillas
2 Tbls vegetable oil
6-8 bussels sprouts cut in half
1/2 Cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 Cup tomato

USDA Food Pyramid, Reexamined

In 1992 the USDA introduced the "Food Pyramid" a graphic representation of the basic food groups and their relative portioning in the course of a "healthy" human diet. The pyramid is a clear visual representation, easily reproduced and distributed by various media for use in public information campaigns, schools, and libraries. It was a brilliant marketing concept created and precisely executed

It is always nice to be noticed

Elisabeth Donovan, Research Editor for the Miami Herald provides a nifty online running commentary about Blogs and Bloggers notable if you blog or just like to read them. Ms Donovan serves up a full plate of some of the best, most entertaining and informative WeBlogs to be found...and I'm not saying that just because she included "The Green Cutting Board" in her column yesterday.

Definitely

A Fellow Food Fan Fein

A friend, Shenanchie published her Vegan Recipe Page yesterday and so, I want to acknowledge Deborah's work. There is a moment in each life when writing will transcend art. Her publication Shenanchie's Kitchen embraces both, but why should it not; Shenanchie is Gaelic for "Story Teller" and Deborah means "Bee" or "kind words" in Hebrew, both applicable I assure you. Enjoy this site..."Bain

Taco Seasoning Mix...

Today became an interesting coalescence of imitation and inspiration, on one hand we had suddenly developed a craving for tacos, on the other hand, we found ourselves without the means to properly season the dish. We had taco shells, onion, soy cheese, lettuce, tomato, soy burger crumbles and vegetarian refried beans, everything we needed but not a single package of "taco" seasoning was to be

The Bread Board an Edible History of Civilization

Send us your food stories of triumphs and trials in the kitchen, we'll publish it on The Bread Board so our readers can devour every savory tale.

Introducing The SunCoast ECO Report

For those of us fortunate enough to live on the "Sun Coast" of Florida there are few things more important than the quality of our environment. The sea with its rich composition and constant, weathering presence influences every aspect of our lives. Our back yard is the Gulf of Mexico and our homes inhabit the space between two great oceans. Florida shares a

Green Board Irish Stew...How could we not?

Our Salute to that which be Erin, Fen and braugh
Green River Irish Stew

Ingredients

1 large potato peeled and cut into large chunks
3 carrots peeled and chunked
1 medium turnip peeled and cut into large pieces
2 small onions peeled and cut in half
8-10 Brussels sprouts
4 -5 medium florets cauliflower whole
4 -5 large button mushrooms sliced
3 Cups cold water
3 Tbls flour
1 vegetable bullion

I'm gonna roux the day I did this, but it's so good...yea yea, yea yea!

Take a Leek Soup

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cuttingboard Press, 2004

Ingredients:

1/2 whole leek, sliced (thin slices from the root to the green, no further)
8 ounces button mushrooms, chunked
1 yellow squash, sliced
1 Tbls chopped garlic
1 8 ounce can white navy beans, drained
1/2 Cup vegetable oil
2 Tbls all-purpose flour
2 Tbls soy spread
2 Cups water
1/2 Cup white

The Garden's Gift... A Question of Rhubarb

The inspiration for this recipe comes from Gladys who is the master of cold weather, warm rhubarb desserts and a pretty damn good cook to boot. The twist is Pillsbury's original crescent rolls in a tin. The reason is two fold, our friend Jackie at The Daily Bread who is talented enough to have nurtured rhubarb through the snow, the second reason is that Pillsbury provides a ready made vegan pie

Mexi-Corn Lasagna

Marco Polo is credited among other things with introducing pasta to Italy after one of his explorations to the orient, add New World corn, cumin and bake; we should really call this dish Around the World in Italia Maize...but we won't.

excerpt from: "A Vegetarian Cooks' Book"
The Green Cutting Board Press, 2004



Ingredients

1 can (17 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce

Falafel...not a character in Harry Potter!

The 'Burger' for this recipe comes from Jackie, 'part of the loaf' at The Daily Bread who has graciously agreed to let us use it, thank you Jackie.



Southwestern Falafel Burgers with Ancho Chile Relish and Onion



Ingredients

1 16-ounce can of chick peas (garbanzo beans)
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, diced
1/3 cup parsley coarsely chopped
1/4 cup fresh coriander coarsely chopped
2

Score One for the Environment, Everglades Cleanup...

The Associated Press released a story Tuesday 2/24 announcing the start up Monday in southern Florida of the long awaited South Bay Pumping Station. The station is to fill the world's largest man made wetland, 26 square miles, which will in turn, filter water drained from agricultural districts to the north as they flow into the Everglades. The Everglades is actually a river, the Kissimmee River

Nathalie Dupree’s Mississippi Caviar

Back in the early 90s I was traveling a great deal for my employer. I had the pleasure one evening of enjoying dinner at Nathalie Dupree’s restaurant in Virginia. I was served an appetizer called Mississippi Caviar and was so taken by the rich flavors that I asked my server if I could possibly have the recipe. She came back a few moments later and presented me with a copy of Nathalie’s recipe!

Country Cooking and Country Boys...

Back on the road for more of our tour of Tampa Bay's Guide to Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants, this time Country Boy Family Restaurant at 1353 Main Street in Dunedin. Lunch is a happy time for most diners at family restaurants because, if you're lucky the grill is still up for breakfast items like omelets or French toast as well as grilled sandwiches and by 11 AM the soup of the day is piping hot

A Brunch For Two, Happy Saint Valentines Day

A Bit of Heaven on Earth in Palm Harbor

Today we continue our survey of Tampa Bay area vegetarian friendly restaurants and businesses designed to help our winter visitors enjoy their stay on The Sun Coast. We set out early for breakfast at Consciousness Blossoms, a small brightly decorated bistro style restaurant serving breakfast and lunch. They specialize in organic, vegetarian and vegan cuisine and the menu is surprisingly varied

Baked Alaska...not what you might think

The Governor of Alaska has for the second time overRULED (and we use the term loosely) his constituency by allowing the aerial hunting of wolves which commenced this January, Read our story Dec 4, 2003. Governor Frank Murkowski has once again set aside the decision of Alaskans who have twice voted to ban the hunt. Way to go Frank...think California. Read the complete story

governor@

It's Cold in Florida and we have the pthaw

Curried Split Pea Soup

Serves 2
vegan

Ingredients

1 small sweet onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbls olive oil
1 small potato, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
2 1/2 C vegetable stock
½ C dried split green peas
½ Tbls Braggs Liquid®
1 bay leaf
½ tsp oregano
½ tsp cumin
1 tsp curry
black pepper and salt to taste

Preparation

In a heavy saucepan heat the oil, sauté the onions and garlic.

Welcome Toronto, CA Vegetarians

February in Florida if you've been here marks the beginning of spring, especially if you visit the "Sunshine Coast" of Tampa Bay. With the coming of spring there appear two perennials: "Snowbirds" and "Baseball"; here in Dunedin we have both in spades; snowbirds et al from Toronto and elsewhere and a newly refurbished Blue Jays spring training camp. Today The Green Cutting Board begins its series

Reinventing the Egg...or How to Lay One Madison Avenue Style

Vegetarian Eggs?

During a recent trip to a local supermarket a new product caught my eye. Packaged in clear plastic trays and nestled among the other paper and foam containers was something labeled "Vegetarian Eggs". Priced at $3.24 a dozen these were no mere eggs, rather the label announced proudly that these eggs were laid by hens to which "No animal by-product will ever be fed", therefore by

Tortilla Meets Tahini. All's well that Falafels.

Falafel Wraps with Tahini Sauce
by Nancy

Ingredients

1 1/2 Cups canned, cooked chickpeas
1 small onion chopped
1/4 Cup chopped fresh parsley
3 cloves garlic crushed
1 Tbls chickpea liquid (stock)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbls flour, plus 1 Tbls flour for coating
1/3 Cup extra virgin olive oil
4 Tortillas
Tahini Sauce

1. Place cooked

Tail Gators and a 'Bloody Bay'

Tailgating fervor in Louisiana raised to a red-hot fever with this weeks entry in The Green Cutting Board's contest to find vegetarian versions of Famous Restaurants Signature Dishes. This simple, delicious party dip serves up lots of the taste of the sea in a sauce even old Crabers would appreciate. Melanie's secret: "Old Bay Seasoning"

Vegetarian Version of
Margaritaville® Famous Crab,

This story appeared in ANC today, it's an interesting follow up to a story posted Dec 13th For All Our Sakes. From the tone and content of this current legislation it would seem that Governor McGreevey has had enough fallout from his earlier animal rights debacle and has turned a corner. Today's primary in New Hampshire is the half way heads up marker to his own reelection bid in 2005. Let's hope

Changing Office

Good Morning New Hampshire! The chase is a foot and while we eagerly await your Primary results the Green Cutting Board will be changing OFFICE space, it's time... see you on the other side. Kerry on.

Johnny Cashew Smoothie. Gesundheit!

JC Smoothie
by Nancy

Dedicated to the “NASA Mars Rover in Blackout”: Phone Home!




1/8 cup cashew butter
1 tbls almond extract
1 tsp maple syrup
¼ cup soy yogurt
1 banana
1 ¼ cup soy milk

Blend together and enjoy.

Veggie Panini at McDonalds...you still can't have it your way!

McDonalds opened one of their new 'Bistro Gourmet' restaurants in the Tampa Bay area this week; there are only eight in Florida. Today we had a chance to sample the bill of fair at the remodeled eatery in Pinellas County just north of Tampa Road and Eastlake. On a day when the estate of Mrs. Ray Krok announced the bequest of more than 2 Billion dollars in charitable donations to the Salvation

Secret Recipe Contest ...TGI Friday's Broccoli and Cheese Soup, another notch

Another Monday and another Secret Recipe adapted by vegetarians for everyone. We have mentioned TGIF on several occasions in this publication because it is one of the few nationally known restaurants that actually strive to serve vegetarian fare along with their regular menu. TGIF's veggie selections are as tempting and flavorful as the rest of the menu. I have taken meat eating friends to dine

That Dog Don't Hunt

Jane M. of Greenbelt, MD sent in this recipe and remembrance from a trip to Louisiana. We love the story and so we pass it to you along with a heaping good helping of Creolé cookin'.




My husband and I vacationed in Louisiana this past summer and we were pleasantly surprised to find that contrary to our expectations, we're both vegetarians, there was plenty of great food to enjoy,

The Count de Monte Christo Meets The Earl of Sandwich...well, not really.

Monte Christo Sandwich
by Harlan
vegan

excerpt from: A Vegetarian Cooks' Book, The Green Cutting Board Press, 2004

This sandwich is the classic Monte Christo first thought to have appeared in southern California in the mid 50s. There have been many incarnations since, everywhere from New Orleans to Boston and now, a vegan version.



Ingredients

2 slices French bread
2 slices of soy Ham
2

Local retailers stock vegan wines from Frey Vineyards

Referring back to our article Nov 7th 2003, "The Hunt for Red October" we are happy to announce that there are now two new outlets in Tampa Bay that carry the Frey Vineyards selection of Vegan/Organic wines. They are the Natural Food Store in Palm Harbor and Albertsons Supermarkets.

We contacted Frey Vineyards in California and they affirmed their continued commitment to the Veg'n/ organic wine

Florida Caucus... Early 1st Returns of the "Secret Recipe Contest"

With lots of good Vegetarian/Vegan Versions of Secret Restaurant Recipes coming in from our readers we had to call on the expertise of a true gastronomic professional to sort through the flood. Many of you may recognize Fernando Ficus from his by line on our side bar, "The Culinary Adventures of a Tree in the Big City." Fernando is a traveler and correspondent of international reputation and

Green Eggs and Spam .... a quick breakfast before you turn the computer on

Breakfast for 2

Ingredients

6 ounces of extra firm tofu
1 small onion diced
2 Tbls green bell pepper diced
1 Tbls Braggs liquid
1/2 Tsp tumeric
1 tsp canola oil
3 Fresh strawberries sliced
4 slices of soy bacon
2 whole wheat English muffins toasted
2 tsps Earth Balance
2 tsps strawberry preserves

Preparation

In a pan over medium heat saute the onion and bell pepper in 1 tsp of canola oil

In a study recently released by NASA scientists 432 active and inactive astronauts were polled regarding their opinions concerning space food. The results were mixed but one uniform conclusion emerged, astronauts are a representative cross section of the larger earth bound population; they're "space food" junkies.

Topping the list of preferred comfort food for astronauts is M&Ms, followed a

Egg wash or white wash, Publix isn’t saying.

We recently conducted a survey of the three major supermarket chains in west central Florida. A reader wrote that they had found misinformation regarding the ingredients listed on bread products at Publix Stores, namely egg wash. Our reader asked a bakery associate at Publix if there were any breads available that did not receive an egg wash before baking.



The Publix employee stated that

SECRET RECIPE CONTEST, Shhhh....its a secret

Engage in a little 'Industrial Espionage' and take a shot at the Big Time.

If you are a vegetarian you're aware of the difficulties faced when trying to go out to eat. One restaurant may have some decent entrées but wholly miss the point when it comes to desserts or appetizers, still others may have grand salads and great vegetarian soups but nothing else on the menu that is not beefed up,