Viva Vegan! by Terry Hope Romero

[Kitteh]

http://veganlatina.com/img/book1.jpg

I pre-ordered this book as the tester photos looked so good! You can check out Terry's website (http://veganlatina.com/), she's included a shopping list (it's in the book as well) for the ingredients you'll need which was really helpful.

So far I've made basic sofrito, Venezuelan black beans, fried green plantains and sweet potato chipotle bisque - all delicious! I've tagged so many recipes, can't wait to try more.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4586106280_a360836659.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1269/4598089112_3f638d11de.jpg

[smallhelen]

My copy arrived today, hurray! Have had a look through and feel all inspired. However, I'll have to search my local Sainsburys to see if I can find all the ingredients I need. Now, which recipe should I try first.......

[Kitteh]

Yay Helen! I would suggest the Venezuelan Black Beans, the Potato Chickpea Enchiladas, the Black Bean Tamales or the Guatita!

Here's what else I've made:

Sweet Nutty Stuffed & Roasted Plantains
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4625569167_3527876b05.jpg

Potato & Chickpea Enchiladas with Green Tomatillo Sauce
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4626174870_a13246b9fd.jpg

Arroz con Gandules with tostones
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4651620572_85fd325ca7.jpg

Black Bean Sweet Potato Tamales with rice and avocado
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4651620682_9b1c62b253.jpg

Gluten free Coconut Tres Leches Cake
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4651002223_c5c99c4a62.jpg

Guatita
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4651002273_ecdf0f798d.jpg

[smallhelen]

Thanks Kitteh. Those dishes look delicious. I've managed to surprise myself
by finding masa harina in our local supermarket, so this weekend it will be tortillas all round. I might try the Potato and Chickpea Enchilladas, if I can find all the other ingredients.
Nom nom

[Poison Ivy]

My copy should be here in the next couple of days!:)

[smallhelen]

OK, first attempts today.
Homemade Corn Tortillas (gluten intolerant OH is now very happy, as we can't buy corn tortillas very easily here).
Portobello Feijoada
Braised Brazilian Shredded Kale (ok, cheated here and used the spring cabbage I had in the fridge)

Nom nom :D

http://www.veganforum.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=88&pictureid=423

Will report when I have my next creative session, but the Pupusas look tasty, as do the Tostones...

[Kitteh]

That looks delicious, Helen! And lovely looking homemade tortillas, I still have to try making some. And I keep hearing about the Portobello Feijoada, must make it soon!

I too want to try the pupusas and the empanadas and the arepas.... and everything else!

Yesterday I made myself a carb-fest! I made the Papas Rellanas (Potatoes Stuffed with Mushrooms) and the Llapingachos (Mashed Potato Pancakes) - both delicious! I also made So Good, So Green Dipping Sauce (Green Aji Sauce) and Salsa de Mani (Peanut Sauce) to go with them. Such a good meal.

Changes I made: left the olives out of the stuffing mixture and used rice crumbs to make it gluten free. I used chickpea flour in the pancakes so they were gluten free too. I used cashews in place of mayo in the green dipping sauce so it was soy free.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4674065302_580ab02477.jpg

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[smallhelen]

Ok, last night made the mashed potato pancakes, and tonight made the tostones with avocado and palm cerviche:
http://www.veganforum.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=425

Nom nom nom. Think I need a little more practice making the tostones, but the ceviche is absolutely delish. May end up eating it by the spoon later tonight (or might save it and put it in fresh tortillas tomorrow).
My only complaint is: why did nobody tell me about this tasty tasty food earlier???

[Mollfie]

This looks so good! Next time I have some money spare I'll have to nab myself a copy.

[Nik]

I love this cookbook! I just got back from Nicaragua this week, and was inspired to make a vegan Latina feast w/one of my bfs (she's not vegan, but loves ALL of the vegan recipes I have ever made and even bought some meat-substitutes for making some stuff).

I am thinking of planning the following dinner:

--cilantro & lime rice
--Venezuelan-style black beans
--And enchiladas w/green tomatillo sauce and pine nut crema (I am thinking of filling w/Venezuelan-style seitan since I have some seitan that I desperately need to use) and potato.

I also want to make some cabbage, I think, since I practically lived on it while in Managua, but I need to find out if my friend likes it first (for some reason I think I remember her saying she isn't too fond of it, but we will see).

Hopefully I will have some awesome pics to share sometime this week.

And Helen, your tostones look YUM YUM YUM! You are inspiring me to try them soon:)

[smallhelen]

The next stage of the Viva Vegan adventure:
my attempt at Creamy Potato Peanut Stew:
http://www.veganforum.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=434

Not quite as liquid as Kitteh's version, but still extremely tasty.
To quote my omni OH: 'This is excellent. I'd pay for this in a restaurant'.
Result! :D

What next?

[Nik]

Helen: yours looks really, really good too!!! Now that I see both of your postings, I think this may be the next recipe I try:)

[Kitteh]

Looks great, Helen, the guatita is delicious! And Nic, your meal plan sounds great, enjoy your feast!

I made lots of arepas last weekend, I love 'em

Arepas with Red Beans with Dominican-style Sazón
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4705052179_d678097a16.jpg

I also made the Sexy-Avocado Tempeh filling but I used mushrooms instead of tempeh.

[Nik]

The Tuesday night feat was amazing! My non-vegan friend said it was the best meal she had ever had! (She may have been exaggerating, but she did make the rice and beans the next night for dinner, so maybe not).

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1296/4712484197_5374152588.jpg

--I made the potato and chickpea enchiladas (subbing Venezuelan-style seitan for the chickpeas) w/the green tomatillo sauce and pine nut crema.
--Venezuelan-style black beans w/extra green peppers.
--Cilantro-lime rice
--my version of guasacaca: avocado, tomato, garlic, red onion, cilantro, scallions & lime juice.

I also made Mexican chocolate rice pudding from VWAV.

It was a delicious, filling dinner. It takes way too long to prep for me to make it on a regular basis (well, that and it really adds up to get all of the ingredients)...but this is definitely a great party/special treat!

[cedarblue]

i'm inspired to get a copy, hopefully soon!

[smallhelen]

Am currently waiting for a selection of food goodies to arrive after ordering them on the internet. Then I can cook even more tasty things....

[smallhelen]

It's arrived! My package was delivered today, so now I have tomatillas, hominy (is that spelled right?), dried chipotle chillis and achiote paste.
Will make the potato and chickpea thingie this weekend, I think.

[smallhelen]

http://www.veganforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=701
Was going to make the Guatita again tonight, but then realized I had no tomatoes, so made Cachapas instead. Made it GF, and once again got the OH's seal of approval. I might try the empanadas this weekend...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsmall/4799720634/

[Kitteh]

That looks so good, Helen! I don't even think I've noticed that recipe.

I haven't made anything for a while, but before my holiday I made the lime coriander rice, which was delicious and I did the mojo recipe but with mushrooms
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4855048418_340fe83f9a.jpg

And the Gallo Pinto which is so good
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4855048502_9257582294.jpg

[fondducoeur]

I made the green posole seitan stew with chard and white beans, and it was delicious. The seitan is made from the steamed white seitan recipe, and it was awesome. I have never made seitan via steaming before, and was very pleased with the results. The recipe had a nice flavor, and a really rocking texture.

The picture does not look as appetizing as I would have hoped, but I will definitely be making this again.

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae144/kmbeane/DSC01799.jpg

[Kitteh]

I love the green posole, it looks great FDC!

I have about 20 recipes to go before I've finished cooking my way through this book.