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Thursday, December 4, 2008

Hot Damn!

I finally ordered my copy of The Dirty South Cookbook/Hot Damn and Hell Yeah: Recipes for Hungry Banditos a few weeks ago. I don't know what took me so long considering that I am, in fact, a "Dirty South Vegan."

This book, published by Microcosm, is really two cookzines bound together. One half of the book is The Dirty South Cookbook, with Southern favorites like Yvette's Aunt Cathy's Potato Salad and Almost Paula Dee's Blueberry Buckle (the "n" is left off of "Deen" for some reason). Flip the book over and it's Hot Damn with mostly South-of-the-Border inspired dishes (i.e. Chili Con Non-Carne, homemade corn tortillas, etc.).

Flipping through the pages, I noticed a recipe for Vegetable Mountain with Gravy, which sounded intriguing. Honestly, anything with gravy sounds intriguing. So I made it for dinner last night:

It's a little hard to tell in the picture, but it's a pile of mashed potatoes loaded high with sauteed spinach, red bell pepper, carrots, mushroom, and onions. And then it's all doused in a healthy portion of gravy (note: I put way more gravy on this after snapping the photo ... just didn't want it to look like a gravy blob in the photo).

Though the book includes an easy gravy recipe, I used the packet of Road's End Organics Savory Herb Gravy that Lindsay sent me in her vegan care package. I'd tried the mushroom gravy flavor before, but never this one. It reminded me of steak sauce, like an A-1 taste. Definitely hearty and the perfect topping for this savory pile of taters.

19 comments:

  1. I really like the mac casserole from the Dirty South Cookbook. Also the enchiladas from the Hot Damn side of it are a fair amount of work but delicious.

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  2. I was recently wondering about buying this book! This dish looks Southern-licious.

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  3. What a cool book, I love spicy foods! And those vegetables look fabulous...haha I always add more toppings after I take a photo. It usually turns into a big ugly blob!

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  4. Jessy (from Happy Vegan Face) loaned me that cookbook! I actually kind of forgot I had those, I need to go through, mark down the recipes I want to scan, and send 'em back to her.

    The Veggie Mountain looks super good, and I love gravy, so I agree, it already has points in my book. I'm going to check this recipe out!

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  5. You are right, anything with gravy rocks. It is definitely a Southern thing. The dish looks awesome.

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  6. have i ever told you that i like your food porn pics? i checked out that book from the library and liked it too. when is YOUR book coming out? i've never been much of a mountain climber, but i'd do it for a vegetable mountain.

    xo jen

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  7. This is definitely one of my favorite cookzines. The bisquits and gravy are great. Try the curry with green jasmine rice. YUM!!!!

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  8. that is a mountain of deliciousness right there. wow! i have Hot Damn, too! it's got lots of yummies i still need to try - including this one! i've gotta get a move on! thanks, Bianca!

    (and i had no idea road's end made gravy - totally gonna have to grab some if i can find it!)

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  9. That was one of the first things I made from that book. You've just reminded me I need to make more!

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  10. ive heard of that book and i've always wanted to try it! it sounds so creative and im sure everything is delicious. the "mountain" looks quite tasty!

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  11. I have been asking Santa for this - I sure hope he's listening!!
    I'm also rather a sucker for gravy goodness!

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  12. I love the name of the dish! I would also be intrigued to find a recipe titled "Vegetable Mountain with Gravy".
    It just sounds good! And it looks delicious!

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  13. I've been eying that cookbook myself! Looks like it could be worth a spin- yum!

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  14. What a cool idea for a cookbook. I agree, gravy is delicious! If only it were always vegan, *sigh*.

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  15. Hot Damn! I need to try this. Your plate looks great. Gravy rocks!

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  16. that cookbook looks so bad ass. i love it.

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  17. That is some serious food porn! It's hard-core food porn! I'm a sucker for a colorful meal, and this dish couldn't be more colorful! Enjoy your new book!

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  18. I really love this book. The lentil burgers are soooooo good!!

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