Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Chickpea Broccoli Casserole

We've been having left-overs and pasta with sauce from a jar for the past few nights, so there's been very little to blog about. With the exception of some Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from ED&BV, and some more vegan muffins, I haven't really cooked anything.

So, tonight I thought I'd get back in the kitchen. I decided to make up this Chickpea Broccoli casserole from Vegan with a Vengeance. It seemed simple enough, and it was. It was also great because I could make it up and refrigerate it, then have Rob pop it in the oven while I was out teaching my class. Seems like the perfect solution to a quick weeknight meal, right? Well, it was the perfect solution if you like bland casserole with more or less raw vegetables in it. In other words, BLECH!!! I even heeded Isa's warning that it was bland and added what I thought was an adequate amount of seasoning....still, no flavor. I also cooked it the recommended amount of time......basically raw veggies. This casserole was an all out flop. It really was the most unsatisfying meal I've ever eaten. I couldn't even bring myself to make the kids try it, and we all ended up eating cereal.

I know there are a lot of VwaV fans out there, but I have to say I'm not one of them. I've checked this book out of the library several times, and I've never found a recipe in it that I like. Most of the recipes seem to include soy which Stella can't have, or seitan, which all of you who follow my blog know how I feel about that!! I guess I'm gonna have to send this one back to the library and stick with my trusty ED&BV, because I've had quite the opposite experience with it.....I have LOVED every recipe I've tried!!

5 comments:

Susan Chipley said...

I've heard very bad things about that casserole! If you still have the cookbook, you must make the Apple-pie Crumb-cake muffins. They are off-the-hook. I promise! I always sub whole wheat pastry flour for half of the flour.

carrie said...

I still have the book, I'll try the muffins before I take it back. We've really been digging the blueberry muffins lately, so maybe they will be a nice change.

I don't know, I just don't seem to be a fan of Isa's cooking. I've tried a few things from V-con and haven't really been that impressed either (with the exception of Snobby Joes). I LOVE Dreena's recipes on the other hand....I think I'm gonna have to invest in another Dreena Burton book.

Susan Chipley said...

I just bought Veganomicon. I really wanted ED&BV, but it won't ship from amazon until mid-February. None of the bookstores here have it in stock either. The library doesn't have it either! So, it's on order. I'm not entirely impressed with what I see in Veganomicon. I tend to like Isa's baked goods the most. Plus the chickpea gravy is just insane. Everyone at Thanksgiving dinner thought it was the best thing there. Even the non-vegs. So, there are a few gems in there, but many of the things I have no desire to try.

carrie said...

I've been meaning to try the chickpea gravy since you've raved about it several times, but my crew aren't big gravy people, and I doubt it'd go over well.

I think Isa uses entirely too much tofu and seitan, where Dreena's recipes contain a lot more legumes and grains, which I much prefer.

catnip13 said...

I'm a big Isa fan and love that cookbook, but I hated that casserole. Try the garlicky kale with tahini dressing (or whatever it is called). Yum.