Once again I have to say TGIF…… If at all possible this week was even crazier than last week, but the worst part was the humidity. You expect a kitchen to be hot, but when there is no airflow, and all the equipment is on, it can be very difficult to breathe when the humidity is as bad as it was this week.
Thankfully we just had a temperature changing rain, the humidity is gone and its a good 10 degrees cooler, now that’s the way to end the week! Our weather report says we’ll be waking up to 49 degrees this weekend, and let me tell you its a welcome change!
You really expect fall to be cooler, the crisp evenings, hot cider, caramel apples and pumpkins, now that’s fall to me and the sooner we get to it the happier I’ll be! But today is my happy day, it’s Guest Post Friday!! No matter how hard my week has been when I get to Friday it all changes, bringing my friends together is the highlight of my week!
Today is no exception because today I get to introduce to you Suzi from Cooking’s Good. Now you know the old chef is a bit of a carnivore, but my mind has been slowly changing to more vegetarian options, and even gluten free after seeing so many delicious healthy recipes that Suzi has been sharing with us on her blog. I think part of my reluctance to cook vegetarian was the fear of the unknown, what if it doesn’t taste good, what if it doesn’t come out right….sigh, but after following some of Suzi’s recipes my confidence and my vegetarian repertoire are both growing!
So if your in the mood for delicious, easy to prepare, healthy vegetarian cuisine, you’ve come to the right place today (just make sure you stop by Cooking’s Good later to see even more). Now sit back , relax, put your feet up and enjoy the show, as I give you………..
Cooking’s Good
Hello, I’m Suzi from Cooking’s Good. I honestly have to say that because of Chef Dennis this whole new world has opened up. My original intent for a web site was so that my daughter could learn to cook by logging on to my site and following the recipes. Chef Dennis was the first person to leave a comment and also my first Friend Connect. Long story short, I clicked on his photo and went to his blog – I was too shy at that time to leave a comment or even thank him. I just kept following along and clicking until I caught on. By the way, I have since thanked him. He is truly a wonderful person and a great mentor to the novice food bloggers. Thank you, Chef Dennis for inviting me to guest post on your Guest Post Friday blog, you are a gem….Cheers!!
My web site focuses on vegetarian dishes. I’ve been a vegetarian for the last 40 years, and am from the San Francisco hippie era if anyone knows or remembers that far back. It was an interesting time, lots of food co-ops, grains and beans were all in these huge barrels that you chose and weighed yourself, I even played in a girl rock’n’roll band. Times change but the vegetarian lifestyle stuck with me.
I really wasn’t sure what to prepare for this post but in the end I decided to make an adapted version of Julia Child’s Vegetable Gateau. I left out the crepes and turned the recipe into a layered Vegetable Muffin. This is a hearty muffin that would make a nice lunch, I eat them for breakfast. The muffins also freeze well. Enjoy!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Chop the carrots into matchstick size pieces. You can use the food processor but I find something therapeutic about standing up and cutting the carrots into sticks. You have to watch out though; it can become a little obsessive trying to make them all the same size.
Melt a tablespoon of butter in a large fry pan, add the carrots and dill, (the pungent flavor of dill adds a unique blend to the carrots) cook on medium heat until soft about 8 minute’s salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
In the same pan add the other tablespoon of butter – sauté the onions until soft. Turn the heat up to medium high and toss in the sliced mushrooms. Cook the mushroom fast so that they don’t release too much moisture, let them brown a bit, add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside in a separate bowl from the carrots.
Place the broccoli in boiling water and cook for 3 minutes. Drain; add salt and pepper to taste add butter if you wish I left it out and just added the salt and pepper. Chop the broccoli into small pieces and set aside in a separate bowl from the other vegetables.
To make the sauce place all the ingredients into a container or you can use the food processor. I used a drop down blender. Blend until creamy and smooth.
Fill the bottom of a large muffin tin with some grated cheese, press down. Add a layer of broccoli then some cheese then liberally spoon some of the sauce over the layer.
Add the next layer of mushrooms, cheese and sauce. Press down on each layer.
Now add the carrots and cheese and spoon on the rest of the sauce. The cream should be visible almost to the rim of the pan.
Place the muffin in the oven for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the top is nice and browned.
- 2 tablespoons butter
- lb carrots cut into matchsticks
- 1 tablespoon dill
- 1 lb mushrooms sliced
- 2 bunches broccoli florets chopped small
- 3 small shallots chopped small
- lb Swiss cheese grated
- Salt and pepper to taste
- cup heavy cream
- 4 eggs
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- Generous pinch of nutmeg
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Chop the carrots into matchstick size pieces. You can use the food processor but I find something therapeutic about standing up and cutting the carrots into sticks. You have to watch out though; it can become a little obsessive trying to make them all the same size.
- Melt a tablespoon of butter in a large fry pan, add the carrots and dill, (the pungent flavor of dill adds a unique blend to the carrots) cook on medium heat until soft about 8 minute’s salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
- In the same pan add the other tablespoon of butter – sauté the onions until soft. Turn the heat up to medium high and toss in the sliced mushrooms. Cook the mushroom fast so that they don’t release too much moisture, let them brown a bit, add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside in a separate bowl from the carrots.
- Place the broccoli in boiling water and cook for 3 minutes. Drain; add salt and pepper to taste add butter if you wish I left it out and just added the salt and pepper. Chop the broccoli into small pieces and set aside in a separate bowl from the other vegetables.
- To make the sauce place all the ingredients into a container or you can use the food processor. I used a drop down blender. Blend until creamy and smooth.
- Fill the bottom of a large muffin tin with some grated cheese, press down. Add a layer of broccoli then some cheese then liberally spoon some of the sauce over the layer.
- Add the next layer of mushrooms, cheese and sauce. Press down on each layer.
- Now add the carrots and cheese and spoon on the rest of the sauce. The cream should be visible almost to the rim of the pan.
- Place the muffin in the oven for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the top is nice and browned.
What did I tell you, that muffin in all that gooey cheesy glory is calling to me, what a delicious way to enjoy your vegetables, and don’t get me started about Julia Child! She was a national treasure, anything she made had to be good!
Now before you forget, head on over to Cooking’s Good and say hi to Suzi, just remember to tell her Chef Dennis sent you. Make sure you add Suzi as a friend and bookmark her site, with so many delicious dishes to choose from you’re going to be coming back often to see what else is Cooking because you know its going to be Good!
Interesting recipe, it is similar to the individual quiches that I love to make, but minus the crust–and I love the use of cream cheese as well to add texture. Thanks for sharing this recipe, I’d have to try this sometimes
Several thoughts. First Suzi, I promise this is not a gratuitous blog comment; I AM going to make this at the first chance I get. I love this entire concept and they look great. I feel you are channeling Jessica Seinfeld’s ‘get vegetables into your kids’ with this, and through delicious means! What a completely clever idea! I absolutely love it. What a pleasure to ‘meet you’ here.
Chef Dennis, I’m am never surprised but always nodding my head in agreement (and with some sentimentality) reading the intro your guest bloggers start off with. Always the same; how you have helped and encouraged them. For all of us, it is the same. We feel so indebted to you and you do not expect anything from us other than to pass it along. You are the architect of community, my friend.
I Stumbled this too……I think……not so nimble on that quite yet!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I do hope that you make the muffins and enjoy them. Let me know.
This is absolutely incredible! What a terrific recipe! I’ve buzzed this one….and I’m hitting the stumble button! I love it!
Okay – I’ve got to wait til he puts it on FoodBuzz first…..I got this thru email – but it’s gonna get buzzed….thanks for such a GREAT guest post!
Ann, you are fabulous. Thank you!!
I like the portability of this muffin. It looks very filling and satisfying, and healthy too!
These look so beautiful! With all those colourful layers of yummy veggies! Really pretty! I am sure they taste great too! Awesome guest post Suzi and Chef Dennis! Thanks
Thanks you Manu.
This rocks!
Yeah, Thanks!
Wow, those look delicious. I love the fact that they’re done in muffin tins as well. Suzi, thank you so much for sharing this with us. And, just so you know, yes, I do remember the hippy era…barely. I loved the addition of dill in the carrots and am with you; standing at the counter and match sticking carrots (or any vegetable) is very therapeutic. I’ll take that over the mechanized way every time.
Chef, as usual, thank you for another fantastic guest post. I’m going to go check out Suzi’s site now.
What a great ingredients list. This is not the everyday muffin. This is a very healthy muffin!
Hi Suzi! Your muffins look to die for! I love vegetables. I can never get enough of them. I can see myself eating these for a meal hehe.
Hi Chef! Hope your week isn’t as busy this next week. Take it east this weekend!
These look very tasty! I love that you can make them and freeze them for a quick breakfast or lunch. Another great guest post!
What a brilliant idea!! I love these healthy yet savory little muffins!!
That looks great!
Wow! These look so good. I am loving the savory muffin trend. I am really excited about trying these. And thanks for sharing your story. Isn’t it amazing what some encouragement can do?
Thanks and you are absolutely right about encouragement. Yes!
Suzi – well done on such a lovely guest post: wonderful, colourful layers. It’s funny, I used to be vegetarian, then started eating meat again in France but now after seeing all those wonderful veggie meals, as you say Dennis, I’m thinking of returning to the veggie camp! Bon weekend xo
Wow, these veggie muffins look incredible (I love the contrasting layers!) and they also sound delicious! I don’t know if I will opt for the hand chopping. Maybe it’s my experiences cooking in restaurant atmosphere or maybe it’s my impatience but I probably will opt for the food processor.
I’m so glad I “met” you Suzi! The men in my house revolt at anything without meat, but it’s psychological. I’ll use my Taylor-made-it tactic and the might just not even notice that there isn’t any meat! I’m going to go check out your blog for more recipes!
Dennis and Suzi I hope you both have an awesome Friday and an incredible weekend!
I love that this is a riff on quiche. I could happily serve this at a dinner party with a salad and/or a winter soup. The fact that they freeze and are portable is a huge bonus. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Love this! I am a vegetarian and this is a dream come true for me! Thanks for sharing.
Great job Suzi!!! These look amazing.
What a neat way to eat your veggies! I could probably even get my kids to eat these and that’s saying something. Thanks for sharing another awesome blogger with us, Dennis!
Welcome, Suzi!! This is so awesome!! I’ve never seen a muffin like this!!! I want to bite into one right now!!!
OK, now I’m hungry–these would make a great portable lunch!
Hi Dennis! What a wonderful guest post…thank you Suzi, for sharing these incredible savory muffins!
Those muffins look insanely good! My teenage daughter just decided to become vegetarian, so these are perfect!
Thanks Margaret, I was a teenager also when I became a vegetarian. There really are a lot of good things to eat in the veggie world.
What a delicious guest post!!! This is the way I want to eat my veggies! Off to visit Suzi’s blog to say hello~
These look absolutely wonderful! How ingenious! Great guest post and – BTW – I DO remember the hippie era of 40 years ago. Fun times!
Oh MJ, I am so happy to hear you say that. Thanks!!
It’s great that they can be frozen – it’s always nice to have a few items you can toss in the freezer to unthaw when you’re in a pinch for time or just don’t feel good.
I love the sound of this recipe! Served as breakfast or brunch would be delicous! And there is no flour, makes it perfect for my gluten intolerant friend!
Okay, this is a keeper of a recipe. I am definitely making this, perfect for a diabetic’s breakfast!
What a great idea for breakfast! It’s like a loaded individual frittata =)
Love this vegetable filling.
Congrats on T-9!
LL
Congrats on Foodbuzz top 9!
Thank you Dennis. What a great opportunity this has been, all the way to the top. WOW.
You are the King!!
Enjoy your weekend.
Suzi
Suzi…..these look awesome!
Thanks Trish.
This looks great. They don’t stick to the bottom of the muffin pan do they?
These muffins look so pretty, and with that amazing cream sauce and all the cheese they must be a real comfort food!
What an amazing recipe for healthy, delish muffins and a fantastic post ! I love all the mouth-watering photos! Thanks for sharing your TGIF guest post & recipe!
Oh my! I just love this. Like quiche without the crust, but So. Much. Prettier! Love, love, love how this looks when you cut into it.
These look fantastic! Great color & presentation.
http://allykayler.blogspot.com
oh wow, these veggie muffins look absolutely mouth watering, I am so hungry right now just looking at them!!!!!!!! Fabulous recipe, fabulous guest post!
This is such an interesting concept/method and I love these muffins!! These are something that I’d love to feed kids as a snack. Congrats on your guest post Suzi, and thanks Chef Dennis for the wonderful guest!
These muffins are great, but the prep time is extremely misleading. It took me nearly an hour and a half to get these in the oven (all the veggie chopping, cooking, making the sauce, grating the cheese, etc). It’s a good thing I wasn’t in a time crunch to make these. Maybe I’m a slow poke, but I would love to see someone do all that prep in 20 minutes! Just wanted to alert anyone attempting this recipe that it is A LOT of preparation. But all that being said, it’s worth it! it is absolutely delicious!!