Classic Vegetable Lasagna

Cookbook * The Angelica Home Kitchen
Recipe * Classic Vegetable Lasagna
Yumm or Yuck? * Yumm

I just returned from San Francisco where everyone speaks veg and the food tastes so good I almost want to take up residence...but, I would miss Seattle's weather. So, you want to know about lasagna...its loaded with fresh kale or green of choice, olives, mushrooms, and topped with a tofu ricotta. For those who can plan ahead more than a few days, assemble and freeze this baby for up to a month. Overall the flavor combo can't be beat, but the ricotta seemed too watered down and I would probably try a different ricotta recipe next time. I used my own tomato sauce so can't vouch for the suggested No-Mato Sauce. Beyond flavor, this is an eye-catching dish that holds up well for serving and its very healthy lookin'. If you are ever in NYC, give Angelica a try, its down a tiny one-way in a colorful neighborhood.

Mushroom Phyllo Turnovers

Cookbook * The Angelica Home Kitchen
Recipe * Mushroom Phyllo Turnovers
Yumm/Yuck * Yumm with Help

There was a time when the thought of using phyllo mortified me. Its too temperamental, too vulnerable to drying out or sticking together...you understand. Well, this recipe has cured my phllyo phobia. Instructions are easy to follow and after you do about 12 or so, it kind of becomes fun, in a "get a life" kind of way. The filling is rich with mushrooms, spinach, sage, tofu, garlic, onion, and other good stuff that tastes great and smells like the holidays. While these morsels are flavorful as is, they could be improved dramatically with a little help. Eat your spinach!

Help: Try steaming the spinach separately and then press, squeeze and otherwise ring the hell out of it before adding to the saute. If you follow the cookbook instructions, you will steam the spinach directly with the filling and the water released by the spinach when it cooks will dilute your lovely filling. I know, I should have known better, but I like to give cookbooks the benefit of the doubt as they are usually right.