Recipes for Mushrooms

 

Mushroom Gravy
Broiled Portabella Mushrooms
Almond Mushroom Pate
Sweet Potato Soup with Roasted Shiitake Mushrooms

Mushroom Gravy*

This tasty and full-bodied gravy is excellent on mashed potatoes, nut loaf, steamed vegetables and roasted root vegetables. Enjoy!

3 cups of vegetable stock
1 cup thinly sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup diced onion
1/4 cup each diced carrot and celery
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 tbsp. tamari
2 tbsp. parsley, chopped (fresh or dry)
1 tbsp. nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp. each dried thyme and sage
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup water

Sauté mushrooms, onion, carrot, celery and garlic in 2 tbsp. of veg. stock until soft. Stir in remaining stock, tamari, parsley, yeast, thyme and sage.

Measure flour and water into jar, cover with lid and shake until blended. Strain mixture into pan. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir frequently. *From Cooking Vegetarian. Published by Macmillan Canada.

Broiled Portabella Mushrooms*

1 pound portabella mushrooms
1 tbsp. light miso
1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. water
2 tsp. olive oil

Preheat the broiler. Carefully brush the dirt from the mushrooms. Cut into 1/2-inch thick slices.

Whisk together the miso, vinegar, water and oil. Brush the mushrooms with the marinade and broil for about 5 minutes until browned.

Enjoy with hearty bread and a salad and you have a lovely lunch. *From Moosewood Restaurant Low Fat Favourites. Clarkson Potter Publishers.

All the recipes in this week's newsletter come from Ladybug customer, Cathy Gillan. She guarantees success with these delights from her favourite cookbook "Mama Never Cooked Like This" written by Susan Mendelson. Happy eating!

Almond Mushroom Pate*

1 cup toasted almonds
2 tbsp. finely chopped onions
6 cups chopped mushrooms
6 tbsp. margarine or butter
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. thyme
pinch of pepper
1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. cider vinegar
1 tbsp. oil

Pulverize or finely grind the almonds. Sauté the onions and mushrooms in 4 tbsp. margarine or butter over high heat, until the liquid evaporates.

Add the spices, honey and cider vinegar, and simmer until the mushrooms are almost completely dry. Puree the mixture in a blender with the ground almonds, then blend in the remaining 2 tbsp. margarine and the oil.
Place your pate in an attractive bowl, or form it into a loaf shape on a serving dish. Cover the pate tightly and chill to blend the flavours for an hour. *From Salt Spring Island Cooking. Published by Macmillan Canada.

Sweet Potato Soup With Roasted Shiitake Mushrooms

4 sweet potatoes
12 shiitake mushrooms
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced carrot
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons flour
8 cups vegetable stock

Roast the whole sweet potatoes, skin on, at 350°F for an hour or until tender. Meanwhile, brush the shiitake mushrooms with a little oil and roast until tender, about 20 minutes. Slice the mushrooms and set aside.

While potatoes roast, heat the oil in a heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and carrots and cook until tender and translucent. Add the flour and stir so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Stir in the stock and bring to a simmer, stirring often.

Peel the warm potatoes and add the pulp to the simmering soup. Bring the soup back to a simmer and season with salt and pepper. Puree the mixture in a blender, strain it and return it to a clean pot. Slowly warm the soup and adjust seasonings.

Place the soup in warm serving bowls and garnish with the shiitake mushroom slivers.

Serves: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 90 minutes
Source: healthwell.com/deliciouskitchen

bugus@ladybugorganics.com