Thursday, May 21, 2009

Japanese Steel

It's no Hitori Hanzo sword, but I have Japanese steel! You know the part in the Veganomicon where Isa and Terry tell you to consider dropping a benjamin on a good knife? You should listen. My brother showed up on vacation with his Top Chef style knife kit and well, I got a little jealous. So the ninja (who sanctions all household weaponry) got me a new knife set. Let me tell you this baby slices through a potato like it was buttah (or Earth Balance, whatever.)

On to this evenings creation. It's potato, mushroom, and red swiss chard layered and topped with sauteed leeks. I used a 4 inch springform pan for the mold.

Mashed potato Layer: potato, earth balance, unsweetened silk, tofutti sour cream, salt and fine herbes

Mushroom Layer: cremini 'schrooms, olive oil, sake, fine herbs, salt

Swiss Chard Leaves Layer: swiss chard leaves, olive oil, garlic, salt

Swiss Chard Stems Layer: Thinly sliced stems from swiss chard cut into bite sized ribbons, olive oil, and hickory bacon salt. Yes, I said Bacon salt. The hickory, peppered, applewood, and mesquite flavors are vegan.

I also quickly pan fried the tempeh and added some bacon salt to that, too.

For dessert we had a baked asian apple pear. I saw this on Christina Cooks. I ate most of it before I remembered to shoot the photo, but you get the idea...

10 comments:

  1. Everything looks delicious! Yeah, I get jealous whenever I see those Top Chef people pull out their knife collections, so nicely folded in those customized cloth holder thingys.

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  2. I treated myself to a new knife in March when i moved into my new place and it has made SUCH a difference to my cooking, it's brilliant.

    the potato / mushroom creation looks delicious.

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  3. Whoa Jenn! Those knives are... sexy!!

    I've recently invested $$ in a paring knife -- figured it was the knife my kids use the most and better would be safer.

    A good quality chef's knife is next of my list.

    And that pear looks divine!!!

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  4. Agreed, nice knives are worth the money.

    I looove apple pears, I have never thought of baking them, yum!

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  5. Very nice and very creative! I am inspired!

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  6. Everything looks so good! Enjoy your knives!

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  7. I need a good knife set...sigh...I think I'll to wait til Xmas. I keep meaning to try that bacon salt.

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  8. Ooh. Good knives changed my life. But I would love to buy some even better ones.

    Everything looks great.

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  9. Wow! Looks amazing, very well put together.

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