Vegetarian friend

[tiffanyh]

I have just agreed to make dinner for a vegetarian friend. She said she relly loves trying different salads - any ideas? My favorite salads are the ones with mixed greens, pears or apples, crumbled cheese and some kind of nuts. Does anyone have one like this that they would recommend? Also, at Christmas time, my aunt made a salad like this that had pecans that she had cooked that were very sweet - some sort of brown sugar on them (is this candied?). She cannot remember where she got the recipe - maybe Martha Stewart? Ring any bells with anyone?

She also does not like pasta, so any other suggestions for a main dish (and I don't like spicy foods and I have to eat it too)?

[Vanessa]

Well since she does not like pasta what about a vegetable stir fry? You can also add Silken extra firm tofu to enhance it. You can start with a soup or spring rolls or egg rolls vegetarian then the stir fry with white rice you can serve jasmine tea during dinner & for dessert, wedges of oranges, fortune cookies a dessert of your choice or make it simple a mango sorbet.
If pressed for time why don't you make a quick run to your local Chinesse restaurant picking up the egg rolls or spring rolls and a soup (following vegetarian guidelines)

[This message has been edited by Vanessa (edited 01-24-2001).]

[lindrusso]

Hi TiffanyH. I recently posted a link to a salad that sounds like something you might like. I'll post it here to make it easier to find. As for a main dish, there have been many threads about vegetarian cooking. If you search the board for "vegetarian", you should get links to many great ideas.

Here's the salad. I did a lot of tweaking, but it really is great!

My notes: I decreased the amount of goat cheese to about 6-8 ounces, decreased the amount of almonds to about 3/4 cup, and decreased the amount of oil to 1/4 cup. Also, you can easily caramelize almonds by simply heating the almonds in a pan with some sugar (in this case you would use far less sugar than in this recipe - try using about 1/3 cup, even less). This not only gets them caramelized, but also toasts them at the same time. I also added dried cherries for more interest - yummy!

MIXED GREENS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND CANDIED ALMONDS

Candied almonds:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups slivered almonds, toasted

Salad:
4 cups apple cider
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons grated onion
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 cup olive oil

2 (5-ounce) bags mixed salad greens
12 ounces soft fresh goat cheese, crumbled

1. For almonds: Place foil on work surface. Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush. Increase heat and boil without stirring until mixture turns deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 9 minutes. Mix in almonds. Immediately pour out onto foil, separating almonds with fork. Cool completely (mixture will harden).

2. For salad: Boil apple cider in heavy large saucepan until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 23 minutes (this part took longer for me - 45 min to an hour). Transfer to medium bowl and chill until cold. Add vinegar, onion, mustard and poppy seeds. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Toss greens, cheese and almonds in bowl with enough dressing to coat; serve.

[miamadre]

Hi Lindrusso. I this recipe from Epicurious?
It seems familiar to me. My DH does not like goat cheese so I didn't seriously consider making this especially when it calls for such things as almonds, cheese and 1 cup oil. LOL If I am going to eat calorie and fat loaded food, I'd rather eat chocolate, cheesecake, cookies, . . . not salad! But if this is the recipe from Epicurious, it got rave reviews over there. I am going to have to try your modifications because it really does sound like a fabulous salad.

Mary

[lindrusso]

miamadre - Yes, this is the one from Epicurious! And yes, they took a healthy thing like salad and loaded it with fat. Not only did I cut down on the fat quite a bit, but I upped the greens. The way it is originally written, I think you'd end up with more almonds and cheese than greens!

Does your husband like Feta or a mild blue cheese? You could probably substitute one of those.

[jliah]

Tiffanyh, my whole family loves the following recipe. Maybe you might want to serve this as a side dish.

Mandarin Orange Salad

1 head lettuce, torn up
1 or 2 cans mandarine oranges
1/4 to 1/2 cup slivered almonds
2T sugar

Dressing:
1/4 cup salad oil (I use canola)
1/2 t salt
1 T dried parsley
2 T vinegar
2 T sugar
dash pepper
dash red pepper sauce (Tabasco)

On medium heat, brown almonds with 2T sugar (for about 10 minutes). Cool on waxed paper. Mix dressing ingredients and pour over the lettuce just before serving. Next, add the oranges and cooled almonds.