Category Archives: Vegan

by | June 11, 2016 · 3:47 pm

Karl’s Tapas: Garbanzos Picantes Asados (Roasted Spicy Chickpeas)

Adapted from an Eating Well recipe

I am making a Spanish tapas dinner for this Sunday. Knowing my family as I do, I knew that I needed one or two hors d’oeuvre tapas—that I could make well ahead—to keep them in check while I finished the other tapas. While some tapas have a fairly set ingredients list—like Tortilla Española—others allow for more creativity. Roasting chickpeas into crunchy “nuts” lends themselves to creative variations.

Karl’s Tapas: Garbanzos Picantes Asados (Roasted Spicy Chickpeas)

Karl’s Tapas
Garbanzos Picantes Asados
Roasted Spicy Chickpeas

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Filed under Beans, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian

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by | June 6, 2016 · 3:12 pm

Karl’s Brandied Mushrooms and Green Beans

Since I was using alcohol in my main dish—port—I thought I should keep it up and add some brandy to my vegetables. Mushrooms and green beans are very popular at our house. They also go very well with barbecued beef.

Karl’s Brandied Mushrooms and Green Beans

Karl’s Brandied Mushrooms and Green Beans

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Filed under California Fusion, Green Vegetables, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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by | June 6, 2016 · 2:45 pm

Karl’s Memorial Day Potato Salad

This salad is based loosely on my mother’s potato salad. Although I remember my mother’s salad having celery, it was not on her 3×5 card. I also could not conceive of potato salad without black pepper.

Karl’s Memorial Day Potato Salad

Karl’s Memorial Day Potato Salad

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Filed under Holidays, Potatoes, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian

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by | May 26, 2016 · 9:45 pm

Karl’s Oyster Mushrooms and Chive Stems in Black Pepper Sauce

For Miriam’s birthday dinner, she asked for Spicy chicken and pan fried noodles. This is a dish that takes an hour of “mindful” frying and—while it is a wonderful dish—I make it less than my kids would like—like maybe every day. This is a one dish meal by itself, but I decided to add another favorite of Miriam’s and make a mushroom side dish.

Karl's Oyster Mushrooms and Chive Stems in Black Pepper Sauce

Karl’s Oyster Mushrooms and Chive Stems
in Black Pepper Sauce

Note: I actually used one pound of mushrooms for this dish. It was popular enough that it left people wanting more—even though Eilene would not touch it. I added another half pound of mushrooms to the ingredients list. Continue reading →

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Filed under Sauces and Spices, Side Dishes, Stir-fry, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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by | May 25, 2016 · 6:13 pm

Karl’s Leftovers: Karl’s Ham and Baby Bok Choi Stir Fry

I made ham steak the other day and, after the meal, I had half a pound of ham left. By itself it was not enough to feed three people, but with some creativity I could make a meal of it. Stretch the meat with some vegetables—add an interesting sauce and some rice—and you have something new and different.

Karl’s Leftovers: Karl's Ham and Baby Bokchoi Stri Fry

Karl’s Leftovers:
Karl’s Ham and Baby Bokchoi Stri Fry

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Filed under Main Dishes, Pork, Sauces and Spices, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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by | May 9, 2016 · 1:05 am

Karl’s South American Slaw

A while ago, Jan went to Napa and came back raving about Pica Pica’s arepas. She demanded that I learn how to make these South American pocket breads. I did my best, based only on her description and what I could find on the internet. Last week, we went up to San Francisco and I actually got to try one of Pica Pica’s arepas. I decided to try to make them again.

Karl’s South American Slaw

Karl’s South American Slaw

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Filed under California Fusion, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

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by | April 25, 2016 · 8:22 pm

Karl’s Mushroom and Barley Soup

Jan really liked the last mushroom soup I made. She asked for a soup just for the two of us, Eilene—who hates mushrooms—was off on an overnight. Reworking that recipe actually improved it quite a bit.

Karl's Mushroom and Barley Soup

Karl’s Mushroom and Barley Soup

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Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Soups, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vegetarian MD

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by | April 23, 2016 · 10:37 pm

Karl’s Caramel Mandarin Micro Marmalade

I have been making marmalade the same way for years for a Christmas giveaway. I bought a  microplane zester that produced very fine bits of rind. Over time I have been experimenting with the recipe— no extra water, fine bits of zest and less and less sugar. This has produced an intensely flavorful marmalade.

Karl’s Caramel Mandarin Micro Marmalade

Karl’s Caramel Mandarin
Micro Marmalade

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Filed under Breakfast, California Fusion, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

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by | April 23, 2016 · 6:44 pm

Karl’s Strawberry Jam

Adapted from an Ina Garten recipe

When I was a child my mother, Claudia, would make strawberry jam every strawberry season. With five kids and a tight budget, it was one more way to stretch a dollar—even then commercial jelly was expensive. Whenever she did this, she would also bake bread—the smell of fresh bread and jam would fill the house. We would all gather around anticipating the treat of hot jam on warm bread just out of the oven.

Karl’s Strawberry Jam

Karl’s Strawberry Jam

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by | April 20, 2016 · 5:59 pm

Karl’s Chicken Taco Salad with Hot-Pan Salsa (Two Versions)

A common weekday dinner at my house is Chinese chicken salad. I have done it often enough that it has become a bit boring. I thought about what I could do that was similar, but in a different culture. When I make tacos, Jan uses the leftovers to make a taco salad for her lunch.  I thought: “That is a starting point!”

Karl’s Chicken Taco Salad with Hot-Pan Salsa

Karl’s Chicken Taco Salad
with Hot-Pan Salsa

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Filed under California Fusion, Chicken, Main Dishes, Poultry, Salads, Vegan, Vegetarian

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