Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Harissa, and a Q & E Vegan Slow Cooking Giveaway!


Do you know about this Moroccan miracle condiment? I first read about it a few years ago, right around the time I went vegan. I was planning to make a Moroccan vegetable stew with fried almonds to serve over a lemony couscous, so I had a look around at harissa recipes. I happened across a great article in the LA Times, made the recipe, and fell in love. Harissa is a recipe you can tinker around with, so here is my version.Perhaps you would like to have it on farmer's market gado gado, like I did above. You could also stir it into a scramble, dip flatbread in it, use as a sandwich spread, try a Moroccan recipe, or try that vegetable stew and couscous.

Harissa

3 cloves garlic (large)
5 sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed
1 large red pepper, roasted, skin removed
1 t New Mexican chile powder
1 t chipotle powder
¾ t caraway seeds and ¾ t coriander seeds, pulverized in a coffee/spice grinder
3 T olive oil

Blend in food processor for two minutes or until smooth. Store in refrigerator covered with thin coating of olive oil.

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On to the giveaway! Today it's special, because I have two copies of a brand-spanking-new cookbook to give away. Or rather, the promise of two cookbooks to give away: the lovely Carla Kelly's Quick & Easy Vegan Slow Cooking, a title to be released just after New Year's. The Experiment is providing a copy for US residents, and the author is providing a copy for non-US residents. Two winners will receive a copy upon this book's release. January: what better time for a slow cooker book? Thanks to The Experiment (thank you, Ms. Molly!) and to Carla!

I have had the pleasure of testing a number of recipes from this book, and they are wonderful. Look for the kick-ass moussaka, and definitely make the beautiful poached garlic and garlic oil. Amazon's product description states, "Quick and Easy Vegan Slow Cooking makes it easier than ever to plan ahead for healthy, comforting vegan main meals--including soups, stews, chilies, curries, casseroles, pasta bakes, grains, and more--that you can set, almost forget--then thoroughly enjoy! With just a little prep time in the morning, on-the-go vegans and others looking to eat more healthfully can come home hours later to a perfectly cooked meal loaded with vegetables and quality vegan protein. There are no tricky culinary skills or fancy ingredients here, just trouble-free recipes perfectly adjusted for discerning vegans and cooks on a schedule. The nutritious, straightforward recipes include Parsnip and Chickpea Soup, Smoky Mushroom and Tofu Stroganoff, Tempeh Tikka Masala, Kidney Bean and Sweet Potato Chili, Roast Fennel and Red Pepper Crustless Quiche, Southwestern Pasta, Thai-Inspired Green Quinoa, and more—plus Carla Kelly offers kitchen tips and hints for success."

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below, and indicate US or outside US so I can separate the entrants! Tell me what you make in your slow cooker, or your favorite winter warm-up foods, or anything at all. This giveaway is open to everybody everywhere, whether you are in Seoul, San Diego, or Sydney. The winners will be chosen by a random number generator and posted tomorrow below tomorrow's giveaway. If you win a giveaway on this blog at some point this month, please be kind and don't enter further giveaways--I'd love as many people to win something as possible!

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The winner of yesterday's Japanese Cooking, Traditional and Contemporary giveaway is Mandi! Congratulations! Please send your name and address to me at miso...@yahoo.com. (<---make sure to click on the . . . link for the rest of the email address. This is a spam avoidance thing.)

24 comments:

  1. I haven't used harissa myself I've always worried it would be too hot for me!

    I started testing for this but when it switched to being a slow cooker book I had to pull out as I don't have one. I now have a pressure cooker so I hope I'll be able to use that to cook from this book. So far I love cooking stews in mine. (ETA: I'm an overseas entrant)

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  2. My two favorite slow cooker meals are chili and crust-less pot pie. Sometimes we make steel cut oats in it too, but otherwise it's a pretty neglected appliance. I need to change that! (within US)

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  3. I love making seitan pot roast in my slow cooker (US entry).

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  4. I love making baked beans in my slow-cooker, as well as split pea soup. (outside US)

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  5. (In US!) I love making ratatouille! Then I try to bribe my husband to watch the movie.... that part usually doesn't work so well, but at least we have yummy food. :-)

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  6. (In the US) I love to make vegan Chicago-style "beef" in my slow cooker. :-)

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  7. (US) I am going to be boring and say I like to make beans in my slow cooker. I love beans!

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  8. (outside US) I love making chili in my slow cooker... which qualifies as a winter comfort food too :)

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  9. I live in the US, and my favorite winter warm-up foods are chili or any kind of hearty soup/stew. Thanks for having such a nice giveaway!

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  10. I love a really hearty vegan chili in the winter! So good! (inside US)

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  11. Just made a delicious vegan lasagne in my crock pot, though usually I will make refried beans, chili or baked potatoes in it! [inside U.S.]

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  12. I'd love to win this! If I do I'll definitely buy the slow cooker I've wanted for ages. My favourite winter food has to be mac 'n' cheese, perfect comfort food. (I'm outside the US)

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  13. I love making my 3 bean chili recipe in the crock pot! So delicious! The only good thing about the temperature dropping is all of the warm comfort food I plan on eating! Would love to get a copy of this book!

    Thanks!

    kaycee@veganmachine.com
    United States

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  14. I don't yet have a slow-cooker, but Carla's book might be the proper impetus to pick one up! I love long-simmered soups, curries, and stews, so I know I'd like this. I'm in Canada.

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  15. I make chili in my slow cooker, especially if I'm having a party, because it basically makes itself while I take care of other party prep. (US entry)

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  16. I don't have one but am seriously thinking of buying a slow cooker as I've been having major issues with fatigue in the last 18 months and I've been seeing so much good stuff on vegan blogs recently cooked in this way. Would be great to have food ready made when I get home from work exhausted! (non-US)

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  17. US. I just used my slow cooker to cook down a bunch of tomatoes, so I'll have fresh tasting ones to add to things all winter long.

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  18. We make a fiery 3-bean chili...Thanks!
    US

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  19. I love making a nice hearty soup or stew in my slow cooker!
    Canada

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  20. i was just commenting to my running pal yesterday that i needed to invest in a slow cooker this year! it get's mighty cold in in northern ontario over the winter... perfect for curries!
    {canada}
    http://cupcakesandkale.blogspot.com

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  21. oh, i love getting out my slow cooker each autumn! it's amazing to come home to a hot delicious meal!

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  22. I love harissa! it's a little hard to find in this town, for some odd reason, so hooray for the internet.
    also: I really need to get myself a slow-cooker. I used to have a tiny one but never even used it. for shame!

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  23. I would love to try slow cooking! As a grad student I'm often resorting to unhealthy foods because I'm too tired to cook anything.
    US

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  24. This is a seriously awesome cookbook! I got to test for it too, and I heartedly suggest everyone buy a copy the minute it comes out! (US)

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