Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Warming Soups & Global Warming

We were hanging out with a most excellent friend when he presents the question. Can you name the beans for 15 Bean Soup? He then pulls out his partial list and checks it as we rattle off bean varieties that come to mind. We never completed the list, but it did prompt Art to buy a bag of 15 Bean Soup. We agreed on all the ingredients, and I prepared the soup as planned. The night before, I soaked the beans. I remember my mom doing that, so the tradition lives on and I also enjoy the anticipation of soup the next day. How many beans can you name?



ART & VICKI'S 15 BEAN SOUP

10 med. carrots
1 bunch kale
1 bunch Italian parsley
4 small leeks
2 medium onions
3 Serrano peppers
5 small garlic cloves
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 cups water
3 vegan bouillon cubes
1 pound 15 (or more!) varieties of beans

METHOD
Place beans in a large pot, cover with water, and soak overnight. After soaking, drain water, add 6 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 3 hours. While this is happening, prep your vegetables. Then, heat the olive oil in a large skillet, add the garlic, onion, and pepper and saute until almost translucent. Add the leaks and carrots saute more. At this point & in this order, I put the beans, sauteed vegetables, bouillon cubes, kale & parsley in the Slow Cooker on low for 8 hours. I seasoned mine with sea salt, and needed nothing more. Art discovered that for him adding ketchup and mustard was the perfect taste sensation!



Art's Mom gave me this silicone loaf pan for Christmas, so I tried it out on 'Pumpkin Raisin Loaf' from
TEV (pg. 169). Instead of kamut flour I used white along with vanilla soy milk and golden raisins. Delicious! The pan is refrigerator, freezer, microwave, and oven safe. Has a quick-release, non-stick surface that cooks quickly. It's also dishwasher and metal utensil safe. Love it, thanks Char!






This is 'Chickpea Broccoli Casserole' from
VwaV (pg. 96). It was really good. I ate it all myself over a 3 day period. Nope, I didn't get any help at all eating this one. But, I think my family would enjoy it with a crafty disguise -- like phyllo, samosas, tacos, pita bread, sandwiches, pizza, or something along those lines. Or, I could just continue to keep it to myself!





This soup was inspired and modeled from 'Curried Lentil, Potato, and Cauliflower Soup' from Vegetarian Soups for all Seasons Bountiful Vegan (pg. 73) Though
Nava may not recognize it because there are several changes:
I used red lentils instead of brown/green
I used 2 lg. leeks, leaving out the celery
I used kale, omitting the spinach
I also skipped the tomatoes

I ate many bowls of this soup! Art liked it too.



Here is just one of Dan Piraro's brilliant cartoons concerning the state of our planet. I share his and many of your reactions & sentiments toward Al Gore's movie, "An Inconvenient Truth." So you can imagine my overwhelming emotions holding the ticket below in my hands.....









January 22, I will hear Al Gore speak at 7 pm. "Global Warming --- Beyond The Inconvenient Truth" I CAN NOT wait. After seeing the movie & reading book, I'm anxious for the "Beyond" part. Beyond the facts and shocking truth, and on to solutions and some encouraging words for this fragile planet of ours. It is true, Gore would make his point more effectively if he was a vegetarian, but I can certainly overlook it because he seems to be the only powerful person in the US who gives a damn about this issue. That said, do you think he will mention the "V" word? Will he mention that
possibly the most powerful step we can take as individuals to avert global warming is to stop consuming animal products? We'll see... And regardless, I'd like to say to Al (if he's lurking!) "Welcome to my home town, Former Vice President & World Leader on Global Warming!"


17 comments:

Emmy said...

Wow, 15 bean soup. That sounds perfect for winter! Oh cool, you got a silicone loaf pan from your mother-in-law. The only thing my mother-in-law gives me is a massive headache. LOL The pumpkin raisin loaf looks so good! I love dessert-style breads like that.

That's awesome you're going to see Al Gore's speech on Global Warming. Looking forward to your post about it :)

I'll post my dal recipe on my blog this weekend :)

laura k said...

I love 15 bean soup blends! Funny story: My mother-in-law used to make 14-bean soup all the time for her family? She would buy the 15-bean soup mix and then sit and pick out, by hand, all the lima beans because no one liked them!

I would be stoked about the Al Gore speech--"An Inconvenient Truth" was so eye-opening and it's wonderful that such a powerful individual has taken such an interest in the topic of global warming. I agree, it's too bad that he is not vegetarian and has not really acknowledged that as a great way to fight the problem. But there are so many factors, who can get caught up about just one of them??

Vicki's Vegan Vice said...

hi raising kahne! he puts ketchup on some wacky things! you too?

hi emmy! yes, please! i want to make your dal -- looking forward to the recipe.

hi laura! that's really cute about your m-i-law! i used to hate lima beans, but have recently developed a taste for baby limas.
about gore: i completely agree with you - there are so many ways we can help as individuals: save energy @ home, get around on less, consume less & conserve more, be a catalyst for change. i can do more. there are even more significant ways the government should be helping and that's what i'd like to see today. boy am i jazzed about this conference! :o)

Tanya Kristine said...

whoa...you're going to see al speak? that's totally awesome! why didnt' we know this kind of stuff about mr. gore before he ran for president??? I think it would've made some difference.

you should've named the beans for us...pretty pix OF the beans by the way.

Teresa said...

15 bean soup- I wonder if I could name even 10 of the beans. Now that I think about it, I've never really even heard of it. I'm going to have to get on that.

Wow you're seeing Al Gore speak! I'm definintely jealous, but even more I'm very interested to hear your reaction. I hope that he is able to publicly provide people with more answers. We talked about a lot of different solutions in my environmental science class last semester. Have a great time!

-Teresa

madeinalaska said...

Ohh I would love to see Mr. Gore talk. Lucky girl!
Funny I keep looking at that broccoli casserole dish thinking I want to make it.. but, I don't think my kids would go for it either.. You just never know though.. Looks good to me though!

Anonymous said...

hello vicky!
15 bean? I believe that I don´t meet so many beans :)


I use a translator to understand better your recipes. How do you translate mine? do you speak Spanish?

greetings,
elena

Dori said...

Yeah and in person visit with Mr. Gore, wow! I'm looking forward to the update. I hope your holidays were nice, the restaurants you posted made me want to take a vacation.

Let's see 15 bean soup:
Beans:
1. small red
2. kidney
3. navy
4. great northern
5. yellow split peas
6. green split peas
7. lentils
8. pinto
9. turtle black beans
10. baby lima
11. gigantes lima
12. chickpeas aka garbanzo
13. cranberry looks like a pinto, but striped)
14. green - this one has me stumped because edaname is green, but those are fresh soybeans?

I don't know what other hard dry bean is green, unless it is the whole dried pea
15. adzuki

I can tell the beans were soaked, it is interesting the way they swell and looks like they have ribs

Unknown said...

Lucky you. I saw An Inconvenient Truth, have not read the book but would love to. Unfortunately I couldn't get anybody I know to watch it with me. Too bad, I think everyone should. I must admit that I was never an Al Gore fan but upon hearing and reaading more and more about this passion of his, I really do respect him now. You are so lucky to be able to hear him in person. I, too, can't wait to hear about it.

And the bean soup...looks and sounds mahr-velous.

aTxVegn said...

Everything looks amazing, Vicki! I don't think I've ever made anything with more than three kinds of beans in it. All the colors are so pretty.

I really need to make the chickpea and broccoli casserole - those are my two favorite ingredients. I would eat all too!

Enjoy your evening with Mr. Gore.

bazu said...

I love 15 bean soup! Yum. I always add a little wine to mine to make the flavor even more earthy and comforty.
So lucky to see Gore talk! You must fill us in after you see it. I'm dumb- Gore was talking at Syracuse University, 10 minute walk from my house, and I totally missed it. Boo.

funwithyourfood said...

I'm excited to hear about Gore's speech!

Teddy

urban vegan said...

Your post reminded me that I have a 15-bean bag that's been sitting in my pantry way too long. I've been meaning to try that chickpea brcocoli casserole. It's funny how there are so many great recipes and so little time.

Gore may not be veggie, but like you said, he seems to be one of the only suits who is speaking out and rasising awareness about environmental issues, so kudos to him for that.

Candi said...

Vicki, the foods all look great, and that cartoon made me laugh! :)

you are so lucky to hear Al Gore speak. I'd love to be a part of that. I cannot wait for you to post about it!!!!

Dan said...

Hello from one vegan to another! Nice blog you have here. I actually attended a function with Piraro a couple of years ago in Manhattan. I believe his then-girlfriend had just converted him to being a vegan. I guess it "took" huh?

Tanya Kristine said...

damn. good job Dori...

how was Al, Vicki?

Mikaela said...

Pretty pic of the beans, lady :)