Wednesday, February 07, 2007

How I Used the Homemade Ketchup

Sometimes I get tunnel visioned, like I thought I had to use my homemade ketchup that I made Saturday and let sit until Tuesday, only as ketchup. Then I got some nice suggestions from those of you who share my loathing for wasting food. I decided to convert the ketchup into a sweet and sour sauce, which is not my favorite thing, but I had lots of fresh veggies for a great stirfry. I took 2 cups of the ketchup and added Braggs, rice vinegar, and fresh ginger. The sauce was good, but did take on quite a cinnamon flavor when heated. I had fresh mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, and carrots, and frozen sugar snap peas.


I put it over some leftover brown rice for a filling dinner.


Tonight Chase and his gf came by for a burger dinner, so we really got to use ketchup! That's it in the agave nectar bottle (that was supposed to go home with Chase Sunday). We had your usual lettuces, tomatoes, onions, and avocado, hot black beans with carrots, onions, and salsa added in, and freezer Ore-Ida fries. I had never bought frozen fries until today. That's how desperate I was to not waste the ketchup! Anyway, the ketchup - as ketchup - is really good. I think I'll make it again when I can use fresh tomatoes.


Right before I popped these lovely buns into the oven, I checked the ingredients again and was sad to discover they contain honey. We ate them anyway, and they were really very good. I tried to make myself feel better with the fact that honey was far down on the ingredient list.


I am trying to learn to like eggplant, so one evening I made eggplant patties from Eat to Live.



I ate them with some leftover greens and veggies. Actually, I put the veggies on the patties, then folded them like a taco and ate them. I have many leftover patties.



Saturday night I'm planning on using a Christmas gift certificate for dinner out at our Veg Award winning restaurant Nu Age Cafe. I go there often for lunch and get my favorite salad. Since winning the award, a new chef was hired and he has for some reason added dairy to many of the entrees, including my favorite soy nuggets over broccoli. The menu used to be all vegan. Am I the only person who thinks food tastes better without butter and cheese?

20 comments:

Judy said...

Glad you found a way to use up that ketchup.

That's too bad that the restaurant isn't totally vegan anymore. Why in the world would one need to add dairy to something like soy nuggets over broccoli? Isn't that inherently vegan?

Jody from VegChic said...

That's fuuny...I worry so much about wasting food too. Unfortunately, I am not always as creative as you. I'm glad it didn't go to waste though.

I've never been much of an eggplant fan. On rare occasions I find a dish with eggplant that I love.

That is frustrating about the restaurant. I agree, why add cheese?

Anonymous said...

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Have a great day!

Mikaela said...

I'm totally with you on the "making myself like eggplant" issue; so did you like it prepared this way?

Unknown said...

dont' beat yourself up about the honey...honey:-) Your vegan efforts have done wonders for animals and the environment..

bazu said...

I love your creative use of the ketchup. I love that you refuse to waste food- I just read yesterday that 40% of the food that gets produced in the U.S. is thrown away! And half of that is perfectly edible when thrown away-yikes, what are people thinking??

Good luck in your quest to like eggplant- it's so good for you! I love your taco ideas.

I'm a little mad about the change in the Nu Age cafe menu...wtf?? After they win an award,why would they tinker with their menu? I totally agree with you-even before going veg., I never like things smothered with cheese. It's like a crutch for people.

Tell us how your meal goes! Pictures! we want pictures...

Anonymous said...

Your food always looks so good. I love your burger spread -- those black beans looks amazing.

Eggplant is an acquired taste. I love fried eggplant but baked and grilled can be a little slimey-tasting.

I agree with Bazu, I think people use dairy as a crutch to get that "wow" factor in cooking. It's sad that a restaurant that won an award would change their cooking style.

Kati said...

Food is certainly better without butter and cheese!! It's irritating that a previously vegan restaurant is now taking steps in the wrong direction. That's really too bad.

It was fun seeing what you did with the ketchup - I probably would have gotten tunnel vision as well and never would have thought to use it in a sweet and sour sauce.

Eggplant is not something I care for either. I think the trick is that you have to spend a lot of time prepping it in order for it to taste okay. When I was in yoga teacher training, we had a nutrition seminar with an Ayurvedic doctor who prepared eggplant by soaking it in salt water first, then broiling it, and THEN using it in a recipe. Too much work for me!

madeinalaska said...

Funny, I just tried susan's (fatfreevegan) vegan eggplant parmesan last night. It was good, not my fav. The kids did eat it though..That my dear says something!!
My fav. to date is the Baked breaded eggplant from the Venturesome Vegetarian. Yum!

Anonymous said...

i know you will find a way to use the ketchup! dont worry about the honey!

Harmonia said...

Everything looks so fun and great! YAY!

Anonymous said...

I love eggplant, I wish I could eat it still (it makes me hurt). My favorite is a chinese dish called Lover's Eggplant, that comes with bamboo shoots and onions and a spicy sauce (yuuummmm).

Hmm, I thought that tomato based products last a long time because they are so acidic (maybe someone mentioned this in the comments on the last post, I didn't read them. Shame on me!)

I know honey isn't vegan, but I don't worry about it terribly, although I aways avoid dairy/eggs/meat. Darnit I'm not perfect. :(

Anonymous said...

Diann, thanks for clearing that up (your comment on my blog). I can be such a numnut sometimes!

Sheree' said...

You are not alone! Oh my that is a bummer about the buns. That is the only bun our family uses and I did not know they had honey in them. Shoot! Thank goodness I was visiting Melody's blog and she has made some awesome looking buns. I thought I would make them this weekend, now I know I will. Check hers out melomeals.blogspot.com. I sure am glad honey is listed way down on the list.

Anonymous said...

Mmmm. I love eggplant. It's so delicious. I think your idea of little eggplant tacos is a great idea. MadeInAlaska commented about FatFreeVegan's eggplant parmesan. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this dish. I don't use her sauce though. I use my favorite store bought jarred sauce and I use a lot of it. I serve it over pasta noodles. So delicious.

Great idea with the ketchup. I never would have thought about sweet and sour sauce.

Kate said...

GReat job with the ketchup. I also love your eggplant taco idea, it sounds amazing.

Twisted Cinderella said...

All of those pics look wonderful. Very inspiring.

Carrie™ said...

I've tried & tried, but I just can't get a taste for eggplant. Some dishes sound so delicious though that I keep trying.
I've never made ketchup. Sounds like it would be good. I've made home made BBQ sauce, so why not? And the stir-fry looks fantastic!

Tofu Mom (AKA Tofu-n-Sprouts) said...

Eh, I hear you about the honey. I can't find ANY whole grain vegan bread around here without a 50 mile drive, so when I haven't properly stocked up I go with the ones that have 'just a little honey'...

Have you tried eggplant roasted and then used in moussaka or in a dip like baba ganoush? I'm definitely not a huge fan of it plain...

Emmy said...

The eggplant patties look great. I love eggplant. WTG on using your ketchup up in a sweet and sour sauce :)