Spring Menu: Fresh Food for Dining Outdoors

This tasty muffin-sized tart is one in a great collection of Healthy Vegetarian Recipes from Women

It’s patio season in Houston.  Well, actually, with the muggy weather that has returned to the city this week, it feels a little like patio season may soon be coming to a close.  But, for me, that’s inspiration to serve at least one more beautiful dinner on the deck.

I love setting a beautiful outdoor table, gathering my loved ones, and soaking in the sound of birds chirping away in the live oak canopy shading the yard.  Pablo and Diego (my silly team of canines) will run wild in the yard, greeting anyone who happens by the fence, while K and I enjoy a seasonal, brightly flavored meal.

Jamaican Stew – Vegan Style

I’m so excited to share with you the first ever reader submission to T-Bones and Tofu.  I am posting this recipe as submitted with a big dose of gratitude to my friend – and reader – Jonathan Lee.  Jon sent me a text on one of our cold, wet Houston days a couple of weeks ago to share that he had made a big pot of Jamaican stew via a vegetarian adaptation of a family recipe.  The best part?  Jon’s not even vegetarian.  (But his brother is, so the part where we cook for those we love rings clear here.) 

Chunky Celery Soup

Note: as part of my new year house keeping, I realized this post, originally drafted more than a year ago, never quite made it to the blog.  That’s a shame because if you don’t know about this ah-maz-ing celery soup, you are definitely missing out.  It’s one of those dishes we return to again and again. (I just finished the last bowl from the most recent batch; time to make another!)  Enjoy!

We awoke Saturday morning to a dreary day.  Originally we had planned to pick between two art events and a food showcase to pass the afternoon.  But all but one of the outdoor events were canceled; it turned out that this was apropos for the day.   Kirk was slow to rise in the morning and dragged through our trip to the gym.  After we returned home, enjoyed a scrumptious brunch of eggs scrambled with sauteed mushrooms, low fat apple muffins, fat, sweet grapes and sausage (turkey for him, Morningstar for me), he still didn’t feel better and took to the sofa.

Wild Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie

St. Patrick’s day is Wednesday and I, for one, am looking forward to skipping the green beer.  However, I am excited about this fantastic shepherd’s pie featuring a robust selection of wild mushrooms.

You may have had shepherd’s pie before.  Or maybe cottage pie. (Traditionally cottage pie is made with beef and shepherd’s with lamb.)  There are several established variations, but they all hold at their core braised meat and creamy potatoes.