Summary (Pea Soup)

This was a scrumptious, filling meal. Super easy to make

Pea Soup (Adam 4/5 Alex 4/5)

Doesn't blow my mind, but it was homely. We enjoyed it in the park and it was one of the best soups I've had as a stand alone meal filler. We used ruffles all-dressed chips as 'soup spoons' which was extra fun!

Pea Soup

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

Serves: 6

1 900g bag Split Peas
2 medium onions
3 cloves garlic
1 leek
2 small carrots
2 stalks celery
1 cube vegetable bullion
salt (to taste)
sage (to taste)
parsley(to taste)
oil
water

Fry onions, garlic, and leeks in oil over medium for 4 minutes. Then add in other ingredients and enough water to cover all the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Add more water if necessary.

Summary (poutine)

The. Best. If there is one recipe on the blog (aside from Chinese week, which you must do), make this one. Easy and very very yummy. My mother was down for the weekend and was thoroughly weirded out/ impressed by the strange concoction.  
 Daiya, a soy-free vegan cheese is a bit of an esoteric ingredient. We found it at the Stone Store in Guelph, but you could probably find it at any health-food/hippy-food store.

Poutine (Adam 5/5 Alex 6/5)

All that needs to be said has been said. Put on epic music; cook; enjoy. 

Meal 3 (Poutine)

Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4

Fries
5 medium potatoes, cut into fry shape
Vegetable Oil
1 Package Daiya (soy-free vegan "cheese")

Gravy
2 tbsp margerine
1 onion, diced
2tbsp flour
1tbsp cornstarch
1.5 cup water
2tbsp soy sauce
1tbsp nutritional yeast

Fry onions in a small pot with the margarine over medium for 4 minutes. Add remaining gravy ingredients and turn heat to low.

While the gravy is simmering on low, cut the potatoes. Place the cut potatoes on a plate and microwave for 5 minutes. Transfer onto a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 350 until golden brown (~10 minutes).

Top fries with gravy and daiya. Microwave for an additional 30 seconds.

Enjoy noms.

Gravy based on this recipe

Summary (TVP Tortiere)

I found the bare bones of this recipe while perusing the internet some time ago. It was such a weird idea, I never thought I'd actually make it. Then the blog happened...

Tortiere (Adam 4.5/5 Alex 4/5)


Ok, so I feel the need to justify giving this only a 4/5. The recipe is amazing, but when we made it we used oil instead of vegetable shortening in the crust- big mistake. Vegetable shortening makes the world go round, and the blood pulse through my veins (although ironically it does the opposite of that). There. I said it.

Otherwise the recipe was yum yum, yum yum yum. yum.

Meal 2 Summary (TVP Tortiere)

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4

Crust

3 cups white flour

4tbsp sugar

1 cup vegetable shortening

4tbsp soymilk (or water)

Filling

4 sm mushrooms

2 sm onions

2 tsp vinegar

2 tsp soya sauce

1 tbsp oil

3 sm potatoes

Allspice

Basil

Salt 

pepper

Parsely 

Basil

Thyme

2 cups Tvp

1 cup boiling water

2 cups water

2 cloves garlic

3 sm carrots 

Directions

Fry onions and garlic in a medium pot over medium heat for about 4 minutes. In a small bowl, add the water to the TVP. Add this and the remaining ingredients into the pot, bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cook while preparing crust (10 minutes).

Prepare crust first by cutting vegetable shortening into flour in a medium bowl. Add sugar, a pinch of salt, and soymilk (or water). Mix and then flatten half into a pie dish. Add filling into pie dish. Flatten the remaining half of the crust and gently place on top of the tortiere filling.
Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, or until slightly brown crust appears. Fill one's self with food.

Inspiration from here and here. 

Summary (Ketchup)

This was a nice easy ketchup to make. Further, the results were astonishing! I think Adam almost fainted with tasty overload- I soon followed.

No one eats ketchup just like that!! Here it is on some of Adam's favourite home made burgs' and focaccia.

Ketchup ( Adam 5/5  Alex 5/5) 

When considering the rating, Adam said "put me down for 5/5, no question". THAT'S how good it was! 

'nuff said.

Actually no. It was quite easy to make and has a high yield. Cost was pretty low too, so it's a good investment. 

Ketchup (Catsup for you Americans)

Time: 45 mins

Serves: (makes 1L)

2lbs tomatoes, diced

5 medium onions, diced

1 cup vinegar

2/3cup sugar

2tbsp salt

1tsp cinnamon

1tsp cloves

1/2tsp allspice

1/2tsp mace

1tbsp mustard seeds

1tsp dill, minced

Bring tomatoes and onions to a boil in a medium pot. Lower heat to low, add remaining ingredients. Maintain a simmer for 30 minutes. After the ketchup has cooked for 30 minutes, blend it, and pour it into containers.

Enjoy delicious. 

Inspiration: this recipe

Week 4: Franco North America

Not sure if this counts as an ethnic region, but we make the rules. Adaptations will abound. Joy and potatoes will be had.

Grocery List:

2.5 kg Potatoes
1 medium bag Split Peas
2 lbs Tomatos
3 Leeks
1 Bunch Celery
8 sm Mushrooms

Total: $23

Recipes:

Vichyssoise
TVP Tortiere
Poutine
Home-made Ketchup
Pea Soup