Dinner Plate #48

 

I think, to me, this is the perfect cold weather meal: Butternut squash gratin with kamut berries (recipe from VeganLovlie), sauteed mushrooms and leeks (recipe from Curious Flavors), braised red cabbage with cranberries and apples (recipe from Thyme and Love), and buttery microwave-steamed brussels sprouts.

I really loved this butternut squash gratin when I had it last time, and so as I ran low on kamut, I saved it for making this again. I have enough to make it one more time, and then I will have finally finished off the kamut. My pantry is seeming more manageable, but wow is it taking a long time to get through all my "adventure" purchases! In any case, this was still delicious, but I think I needed more sauce, and I should have cut the squash a little more thinly so it cooked through a bit more. That's okay, because there will be a next time! As with before, I doubled the smoked tofu, both for the protein and because I love smoked tofu, and also I doubled the spinach. I think that's the main reason this needed more sauce, come to think of it. 

I've also made the mushrooms and leeks before, and they are delicious; no complaints. Just make sure you add enough salt.

The cabbage was intriguing. You don't really taste the cranberries, but they contribute the acid needed to keep the cabbage that lovely color rather than turning blue. I really enjoyed this, as it wasn't the same vinegary flavor as when I usually make cabbage and apples. To be clear, there was vinegar here, but not nearly so much, perhaps? In any case, this had a fruity quality that I found really delightful. It also finished off the last of the apple juice I needed to use--progress is still happening in the using-what-I-have quest, because I substituted that for the apple cider.

And brussels sprouts! Some of the best things there are! Made in the way I love them best, all soft and buttery! 

Aside from being delicious fall/winter flavors, this was also just so beautiful, with all the colors. Summery foods are usually seen as more colorful, all those strawberries and tomatoes and cucumbers. But winter has many joys, too, including vibrant foods.

Finally, if like me you sometimes have a total rebellion against anything but vegetables, something like this is an ideal compromise. There are grains here. There is tofu here. But the stars are all veggies and fruit. I stuffed myself silly and enjoyed every bite.