Thursday

Sesame maple tofu (recipe in the comments from November 23, 2007)
Broccoli slaw salad

Hot tea
Pound cake

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This is a recipe that sounds yucky, but turns out to be amazing. Instead of tasting sweet, the sauce is extremely subtle, but brings out the flavors of the onion and peas and infuses the tofu with a yummy richness. It's easy, as you just toss a few things together and then roast unattended. I know the ingredients don't seem, at least to me, like they'll work together, but, trust me, they do!

Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Tofu cubes, sliced onions, broccoli
Time: 35 minutes, much of it inactive
Make ahead: I would probably do this last minute, but you could prep all the ingredients, toss at the last minute and roast.

Reaction
J: "One of our most elegant tofus!"
M: "Tofu-licious."

Thursday

Kung pao tofu (recipe in the comments)
Rice
Cucumber salad

Hot tea
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This is the latest in our tofu quest. Sadly, right before we made it I looked at the online version of the recipe and noted that ALL the reader reviews were negative. They all felt like the finished product was tasteless! Uh oh. I was a bit skeptical of the reviews because several of them complained about it not being spicy enough and can easily fix that when taste testing as we cook. That said, I was on the lookout for flavorless and we made some adjustments as we went. We doubled the five spice powder and really increased the ginger and garlic. Last, we added a small amount of soy sauce. In the end, it ended up very tasty and we both really enjoyed it. That said, it wasn't that different from many stir frys we make and seemed like the prep was more intense than some others. I'm not sure where I come down on making it again.

Prep Notes
Difficulty: Moderate
Chopping: Tofu, bell peppers, ginger, garlic
Time: 35 minutes
Make ahead: I would do this last minute.

Reaction
J: "Definitely not flavorless."
M: "I'm not sure this is that different from some of our other recipes."

Wednesday

Saag tofu (recipe in the comments)
Basmati rice
Okra supreme

Peppermint ice cream
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The quest for good tofu recipes is well documented on the blog,as is our love of Indian food. Here the two come together in a blessed union. The creamy spinach of Saag dishes is a favorite of our entire family when we eat at an Indian restaurant. Here tofu replaces the heavier paneer cheese commonly used. The result has the air of the traditional dish, but is much lighter and fresher tasting - a good at-home version. Okra is a common side for our Indian meals in the winter when cucumbers are less available. Frozen okra is a wonderful invention. That said, we doubled this recipe and it had too much volume to brown well, making it mushy tonight. Next time we double it'll be in two pans! Regular readers will note that we're going a little lighter than we have been lately. L is still visiting, but with the return to work today we're taking off our holiday eating shoes - a welcome change that remains a bit depressing. It's a good thing we have such wonderful recipes to welcome us back!

Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Onion, ginger, garlic
Time: 40 minutes
Make ahead: This saves very well.

Reaction
J: "The perfect start to a new year!"
M: "Nothing better than good vegetarian after the holidays."
L: "Tofu is better than people think."

Wednesday

Baba ghanooj (Trader Joe's with extra lemon)
Raw vegetables
Multi-grain flatbreads

Sesame maple roasted tofu (recipe in the comments)
Basmati rice
Cucumber salad

Dark chocolate dipped shortbread, Cocoa almonds, Kit Kats
Hot tea
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Our vegetarian friend (S) arrived, so now we're cooking for quite the crowd. This is one of those recipes that M and I think sounds unappetizing- tahini and maple syrup??? Because of our perpetual quest for good tofu dishes and our trust in Eating Well, we tried it and were very pleasantly surprised! First of all, roasting is an EXCELLENT and easy preparation for tofu, allowing you to make the tofu and many vegetables at once. Second, the sauce is a wonderful and unique blend of flavors (and doesn't taste maple-y at all!). Like the chicken with cherry marsala sauce, this is an excellent meal for company. It's colorful and tempting!

Prep Notes
Difficulty: Easy
Chopping: Tofu cubes, sliced onions, cucumbers
Time: 35 minutes, much of it inactive
Make ahead: You can prep all the ingredients and make the sauce ahead.

Reaction
J: "A taste sensation!"
M: "Unexpectedly good."