One Potato . . . Two Potato January 26, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Food & Drink, Less IS More, Vegetarian Recipes.trackback
In our recent effort to shift to a more whole food plant based diet (and lessen our reliance on C~H~E~E~S~E), we’ve put our Slow Cooker to good use this week ~ making Split Pea Soup, Vegetarian Chili, Vegetable Soup with Farro, and . . .
Yesterday, I realized I had 4 onions and 3 pounds of spuds screaming for attention.
I peeled and diced the potatoes and sliced the onions and tossed them in the slow cooker with diced carrot and celery.
I left the slow cooker to do its thing while I flipped through recipes to find a few to suit the spudsy base.
I selected three ~ a veritable potage à trois!
* Potato Curry
* Tattie Soup
* Hash Browns / Home Fries
Once the potatoes and onions were cooked, I reserved 2/3 of the base for the soup and hash browns, then added a bag of peas, some cooked brown rice, 2 tbsp. of curry powder, and 2 cups of vegetable broth to the slow cooker and set it to simmer, low and slow.
I served the fragrant and hearty Potato Curry for dinner last night with a sprinkling of peanuts and raisins on top. Yummy!
Today (a chilly day), Tattie Soup will be a hit for lunch and a breeze to fix: heat 4 cups of vegetable broth, add cooked potatoes, onions, carrots, and celery. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Smash the tatties with a hand masher. Done!
While the soup is heating, we’ll fry up some home fries for the side.
And we’re not the only ones groaning with delight. Our freezer is a happy camper, stocked with assorted ready-to-go meals on its shelves ~ pea soup, baked ziti, veggie-farro soup, vegetarian chili, potato curry, and tattie soup.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Spirit Lights The Way 
It all sounds so tasty. I’m coming for dinner.
Come awa’!
I was wondering about Tattie Soup.. 😀 I could probably give up cheese but I would be missing good old pizza. Lots of other things to stick on top but I’d miss it.
I don’t think we’re going to give up pizza yet. But we’re going to eat more low fat high flavor vegan meals between pies. 😀
CH discovered MorningStar Farms Original ‘Sausage’ patties and he is a happy guy.. 🙂 I like them too, better than the pig kind.. 😀
We use those on top of pizza sometimes. And I agree with you ~ better than piggie sausage!
Missed the part about letting go of the cheese. Am doing the same!
We haven’t decided to be 100% vegan (life is too short to aim for “perfection”), but we’re eating more meals that don’t rely on dairy products. And we’re also cutting out reliance on packaged processed meal in favor of low fat high flavor meals made from whole food.
I trying to go back vegetarian. I felt so much better when this was part of my lifestyle. Food looks yum over here.
Yes. I feel better when we build our meals around lots of fruits, veggies, and grains. We’d gotten a bit “lazy” about reaching for high fat processed meals ~ like Mac & Cheese ~ when we didn’t feel like cooking. That’s why we decided to stock the freezer with ready-to-go foods that are good eats!
Never met a potato I didn’t like. But then again, the only cheese I don’t like has blue in it.
I love cheese and don’t plan to eliminate it from all meals, but we were eating way too much dairy. We’ll still enjoy pizza, grilled cheese, mac & cheese, etc. . . . just less often.
I’m not a vegetarian but that sounds so yummy!
Thanks, Kathy. When we transitioned to a vegetarian diet, we had lots of FUN transforming meat dishes into meat-less dishes. Ethnic cuisine offers so many meatless meal options that everyone will love ~ curries, stir fries, chili, pasta, rice, potatoes, beans. It’s a blast playing around with flavor combos.
I think I could be vegetarian although I DO like a nice steak.
I love veggies and have withdrawal symptoms if I don’t get them regularly.
Finding the right balance is key. That’s what we’re trying to do right now with the cheese issue ~> eating mostly vegan meals while enjoying the occasional cheese pizza with no guilt.
yummmm…love potatoes all ways. 😉
Filling, versatile, nutritious, delicious, economical, low fat, high fiber. Potatoes rock!
PS: I am a vegetarian, have been for 20 years. It’s easy and delish, if you like to cook. 🙂
I love to cook . . . when I’m in the mood to cook. That’s why I freeze leftovers so we have lots of ready-to-go meals on days when I just want to get something in our tummies without cooking.
Good ‘stuff.’ Good for us. The only spud missing is the sweet one, baked and then drizzled in olive oil.
Sorry, got lost in my own little world there. 🙂
Baked sweet potatoes are Fab Food, indeed. We like ours with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Nancy, This post is in perfect timing for me because I have been thinking of trying pressure cooking. You have motivated me to give this a try!
Experimenting in the kitchen is Fun Stuff! Good luck.
Hmmm. Where’s my fish and chips and roasts and grills? 🙂
I’m guessing they’re in your just-defrosted fridge. 😀
Yum, yum! I wish I lived next door! I love potatoes. I will have to try some of those recipes. Thank you very much for posting them.
The potato curry has been a real treat. Very warming on a chilly day. Hope you enjoy!
Your potato curry sounds delicious. I love something all ready to eat. I need to follow your example and stock my freezer.
It’s great having prepared meals in the freezer for nights when cooking holds less appeal than eating. Have fun stocking yours.
You had me at potatoes and onions! All three of your potato options sound fantastic to me! I like the idea of using the slow cooker. You’ve set my mind to thinking what I might cook up. You’ve given me an appetite for soup! 🙂
Yay! I’m making a vegetarian paella in the slow cooker today. I love to “set it and forget it” and find a hot delicious meal waiting at the end of the day. Have fun!
Potatoes and onions – how could that not be yummy? 🙂 I like the idea of utilizing the slow cooker. We have one, but I never seem to remember it early enough in the day to use it.
When I had to leave EARLY for work, I would set up ingredients in the slow cooker the night before and leave it in the fridge. In the morning, I just set the pot on the base and turned it on.
Before we switched to a vegetarian diet, an EASY favorite was a pound of boneless chicken and a jar of spaghetti sauce. When we got home, we’d cook spaghetti noodles for “chicken parm.”
Nom nom nom – now I’m hungry 😀
Come for dinner! Tonight is Veggie Paella (spicy), Crusty Cuban Bread, and Fresh Watermelon.
Yum – I’ll be there! 😀
It was FABULOUS ~ just the right mix of heat and spice. Food is one of life’s simple pleasures.
Come live with me… no dairy allowed here! I like the sound of spuds a la Nancy and I’ll be giving them a try,
Yay! The potato curry is a new favorite. Tattie soup is an old fave. Hope you’ll enjoy them both.
I’m finding vegan eating to be a culinary delight. We haven’t missed cheese at all . . . but we haven’t given it up for good. We’ll still enjoy the occasional pizza.
As my mammy used to say: A little of what you fancy, does you good!
Yo mammy be wize! 😀
Do you get celeriac in your part of the world, Nancy?
I think we can get it, but don’t know that I have tried it. I gave it a quick google and don’t think I’ve ever had one in my kitchen. Sounds like an intriguing veggie ~ a cross between celery and parsley
Layered slice potato alternated with layered sliced celeriac, salt & white pepper, baked in a bit of stock is quite delicious (I use milk or cream as stock, and also throw in some grated cheese, but seeing as you are trying to cut down on the cheese, this won’t do – it would work as well with a little veg stock and maybe some grated cauliflower)
That sounds yummy, BB. I love Au Gratin Potatoes with a bit of celery. I’ll keep my eyes open and see if I bump into any celeriac. If I do, I’ll give it a try.