Day 5 of the 100 Day challenge/ Pumpkin Muffins

I just finished the last bite of the last pumpkin muffin (pg 181). This delightfully moist and flavorful muffin was a big hit with our company this morning. Not only did the parents have seconds but the kids asked for seconds too!

I made them with the optional walnuts and cranberries and decreased the molasses to 1T which I thought was perfect as I am not crazy about molasses except in gingerbread.

It would be worth ordering Bill's Cookbook for this recipe alone. I still have a few copies left that I can sell at the reduced rate. Let me know if you would like one.

Today, it occured to me that my whole household has converted, with ease, to a diet free of salt, sugar, caffeine, white flour, meat and dairy just by a focus on cooking these recipes. We don't feel deprived in the slightest, in fact, we look forward to every meal with anticipation. Can you imagine the health benefits of such a diet. Try it for 30 days and I gaurantee you will never go back........

Day 4 Pear, Mandarin Orange, Walnut Delight

This would be a lovely dish for a sunday afternoon luncheon. It has very elegant presentation and the flavors combine to make something very special. This a simple dish to make as well. I think it took 15 minutes total. I made only 1/2 the recipe and it fed four people with some left over.

I have company arriving in a few minutes. My cousin from Ireland and her family will be with us for the weekend. I am not sure what I will be cooking but I will let you know..............

Day 2 & 3 Creamy Chestnut Soup & Eggplant with Pine Nuts

Two more "knock you socks" off recipes! I am sure you are saying "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" But it is really true. The soup on page 30 was rated check ++ and the eggplant dish was another Check +++.

The sauce for the eggplant dish was "to die for". It has a slight Asian taste and was not only good on the eggplant but also on the baked acorn squash and the warm pita bread I served with it. You should not let this one pass you by.

The soup was loved by all and it was suggested that it would also make a great gravy for the Thanksgiving Tofurky!!!

Ruth, recipe 1 of the 100 recipes in 100 days

I am so thrilled to have katie on board. As you now know she is a great writer as well as cook!

Can you imagine yet another Check +++ recipe? Its true! Eggplant Caponata pg 84 comes through on top. This is a most delightful and most unusual treat. It is similar to Bruchetta as you grill slices of crusty bread and top with this mixture of eggplant, pinenuts, onion, currants and fascinating seasonings such as: carob powder, mint and thyme.

We never cease to be amazed with Bill's creative cookery!

Recipe 154 Green Pea and Mint Soup

I know this is hard to believe but this soup is another Check +++. I would be thrilled if I was served this soup at a Five Star Restaurant. Wow, try it while you still have mint in your garden. It is on page 38.

I had planned to make Eggplant Caponata but time would not allow as we had church this morning, a baby shower from 12-2:00pm and then Celebrate Recovery from 5:30 to 8:00pm. So, tomorrow it is!

Tonight, I spoke with my son Chris and he told me how much he was enjoying Katie's dinners from Bill's book and how easy it is making the transition for him to a vegan diet. This is definitely the way to go.

Recipe 153

Katie made the Oven Roasted Cauliflower of page 119 and she rated it check ++. Let me take a minute and explain our agreed upon rating system:

Check - means I will never cook this again
Check means it was just OK
Check + means I liked it and would make it again
check ++ means it was great and I would serve it to company
check +++ means this is something I might expect to be served at my favorite, 5 star
restaurant.

I have to say I have never found a cookbook with so many double and triple +++.
Great meal planned for tomorrow................

Introducing my new partner, Katie Frencis

 
As you may have noticed I have been struggling to keep up with this blog and all the cooking it requires, so my wonderful daughter-in-law, Katie, has volunteered to help me. She and Chris and my grandaughter (in photo) are beginning the journey to a plant based diet and will be using Bill's book to do it. Katie is a marvelous, inventive cook in her own right and she has described cooking Bill's recipes as unfolding rare treasures! It will be fun to have her on board and to follow their journey to better health.

For dinner tonight, I made the most wonderful soup recipe yet: Pumpkin Soup with Cranberry Relish (check +++) pg 47. This soup is off the charts. Wow!!! Incredible! How does Bill do it? You have to try this one. I used my homegrown pumpkins which were not as sweet as some and not as orange as some so I added 1/4C honey and also 1 small can of pumpkin to add the color.
The relish adds the most fascinating touch. This would be a great soup to serve company. It will serve 8 people. Hope you enjoy it.