Apparently, my body is adjusting to the new season as well — I woke up with a sore throat, stuffy head, and lots of snot (ick!). At first, I was certain I was dying of the swine flu, but my mom reassured me that my lack of a fever was a good sign. I'm feeling a bit better now, but that may just be all the cold medicine.
Despite battling the sickies, I couldn't resist cooking a delicious meal to celebrate the Autumn Equinox (also known as Mabon, the traditional celebration of the second harvest). I whipped up this Southern Fried Tofu with Roasted Beets and Whipped Garlic Taters & Gravy:
The tofu is another recipe from my upcoming cookbook (fyi for those who've asked — there's no date set yet, but I'm aiming for some time in 2010). It's beer-battered and deep-friend, just the way tofu should be.On the side, I whipped some boiled Yukon Gold potatoes and roasted garlic in the Kitchenaid. Then I topped them with Road's End Organics Golden Gravy.
The locally-grown beets were tossed with a little olive oil, salt, and maple syrup and roasted in a 400 degree oven for about 35 minutes. The perfect heavy meal to welcome autumn and say sayonara to summer.
girl, you know how to rock the tofu the right way!! loooove that beer battering...i'm thinking of making the chik'n and waffle tester recipe again...i gotta have it!!
ReplyDeletethat all sounds delish! i really only have mashed potatoes at thanksgiving, it's very sad.
ReplyDeletefeel better! i was sick last wk, it sucks!! vegans get better faster though b/c we eat so many vitamins and antioxidants!! but you know that. ;)
Eating tons of garlic is one of the best ways to fend off the sickies! I would keep it coming. Hope you feel better!
ReplyDeleteThat dinner looks absolutely perfect to me, but especially the beets. Now that its fall I really need to get back into my beet obsession.
I think we might be tastebud twins. Everything you make looks EXACTLY like something I would make for myself....if only I had your soon to be cookbook! You are so right, beer battered and deep fried is the way tofu was meant to be! I have never tried to roast beets, can you believe it? They are one of my favorite foods so I'll have to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteIf that isn't a Plate of Vegan Comfort, then I don't know what is! I really love your creativity with combining colors, textures, & nutrition. A way cool meal to greet Autumn, too...and, a lovely photo/blog to view just before I hit the road for Memphis - Woo Hoo!!! Film at 11.
ReplyDeleteYay! Happy Fall!
ReplyDeletei had some serious blog catching up to do! yay for dinner parties, southern fried goodness, vegan omelettes, and cornbread pizza. sounds really good. wish you were here cookin' for me since i've lacked ambition to do anything in the kitchen lately.
ReplyDeletexo jewy!
ps i posted about the GUMBO!
Thank goodness that 2010 is right around the corner!
ReplyDeletei need some roasted beets in my life, IMMEDIATELY! thanks for the sweet idea
ReplyDeleteI would like some of that tofu, please.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to buy your book!!! HURRY UP 2010!!!!! I'll have to check out that gravy. I have sampled several vegan gravys but I had to add a ton of crap to make them taste good (like salt and garlic powder). I'll look for that one.
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That does look like the perfect autumn meal. Yum!
ReplyDeleteI'm sad to see the end of summer too, but there's a lot to be said for comforting fall foods. Your plate looks great!
ReplyDeleteare these on the tester site? i'm drooling over that tofu!
ReplyDeletehoodie season = my favorite season! wahoooooooo!
ReplyDeletei'm sorry you're under the weather, Bianca - i hope you're 100% super soon!
beer battered 'fu, mashed taters, gravy, and roasted beets, too?!? that's one plate of gloriousness, fo 'sho! mmmmmmmm!
Gimme that tofu!!!
ReplyDeleteTHOSE BEETS!!! Stellar. And I loooove garlic :)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to get over a nasty cold too - sending YOU good health vibes, dear Bianca!!
Love beets raw boiled or in soup. I have never thought to roast beets before. Are roast beets a drrty south thing? They look awesome and really bring some colour to the plate. We will have to try them out soon. :)
ReplyDeleteHey, just found your blog because of the Vegan MoFo and liked what I read! I'm adding your blog to mine ;)
ReplyDeleteThat looks so tasty! Yum. I love me some mashed potatoes.
ReplyDeleteHey Bianca, there is an explanation of the aussie version of bread biscuits here: http://brissievegan.blogspot.com/2009/09/striking-and-scones.html
ReplyDeleteThe quick bread that you have along with dinner isn't really a popular item in these parts, which is a bit disappointing really!
And I'm still bilingual--I call the chewy ones "cookies" still and the crunchy ones "biscuits". It just seems to fit better, in my opinion!
We are coming in to spring/summer here, but that looks fantastic! I love cooking with the seasons, but am always up for a bit of seasonally inappropriate cooking when the mood strikes! ;)
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