Vietnamese Vegetarian Pate Recipe

This is a recipe that didn't make it into the Bánh Mì cookbook, my second publication that is already available for pre-order. I prepared a vegetable and tofu pâté that's often used in vegetarian bánh mì  sandwiches. This dish is called tàu hũ chưng in Vietnamese. I mixed tofu and a mirepoix of vegetables, which is a combination of coarsely chopped carrots, onions, leek, celery and mushrooms. The preparation is steamed then baked until firm.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been posting a vegetarian recipe each Monday. It’s part of an effort on my part to eat a little bit healthier by reducing my meat consumption. So from now on, you'll find a vegetarian recipe every "Meatless Monday".

Meyer Lemon Risotto Recipe

This is the time of the year when my husband Lulu brings me lots and lots of citrus from our garden. I'm always most excited about the lemons from our Meyer lemon tree. If you go to the market, you'll notice how expensive this variety of lemon is. It was such a treat when Lulu came inside a couple of days ago with about 50 Meyer lemons. It’s a small dwarf tree and hasn’t produced nearly as much in the past, but boy did it make up for it this year!

In honor of our bounty, I have a few recipes I’m going to dust off and make, such as Meyer lemon mousse, lemon curd, lemon cake and a few jars of marmalade. I also tried to  think of a savory dish I could make, and Lulu suggested I adapt the lemon pasta sauce I made in the past (that recipe in turn was from Ina Garten) and turn it into a risotto. 

This evening, I made the Meyer lemon flavored risotto and it was such a hit. I used a combination of garlic, shallots, butter and half and half in the dish, so really, how could it go wrong?

Sweet Potato and Brussels Sprout Soup Recipe

After my husband Lulu got sick (a nasty cold, then bronchitis), I got sick too. Now both of us are well again, but the rest of the family, not so much. They all spent the weekend in bed with watery eyes and a tissue box by their side. It was not a happy sight.

I find a nice hot bowl of soup to be one of the few comforts when I’m not feeling well, so I made a big pot with with Japanese white sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and leftover chicken and flavored it with ginger, onions and turmeric. It got me thinking that this soup would be perfect as a starter on Thanksgiving, or the day after using Thanksgiving leftover yams, Brussels sprouts and turkey.  Enjoy! 

Homemade Vegetable Soup Recipe

My husband Lulu has been stuck in bed for the last 2 days because of a bad cough. I made a comforting vegetable soup to soothe his throat. The ingredients of the soup are pretty standard. I used leeks, carrots, turnips, oregano, green onions, green peas and potatoes. For added crunch, saltiness and as a reminder of the flavoring in the soup, I topped the soup with fried green peas.

When I became a mom, I told myself I wouldn't become the kind of annoying mother, oversharing baby photos. So with that in mind, here's a really cute picture of my daughter Aria in her first Halloween costume. Isn't she a cutie pie?

Roasted Pumpkin Soup Recipe

We're finally back home to the Bay Area after our trip to Europe. Surprisingly, the weather in Paris was a lot warmer and more pleasant than California. It's been raining quite a bit here. With Halloween coming, I picked up 3 small pumpkins and made comforting creamy pumpkin soup to ward off the cold.

The preparation is fairly easy: roast the pumpkins, add a little molasses, puréed sunflower seeds and cream and you're good to go. I paired the soup with grilled slices of baguette bread, so my husband Lulu and I could reminisce about the wonderful time we just had in Paris. I'll be posting a lot of photos of our recent trip very soon. Stay tuned!