The Clean Out Continues
By Monica on January 22nd, 2008
This week I’ve forced myself to do something with the obscene amount of lentils and beans that have been hiding in my pantry since the last ice age. Despite the frigid weather, I’m not in the mood for soup lately, so using the beans and lentils is becoming a challenge. If anyone has suggestions for them other than soups, salads, or burgers, send suggestions my way!
Up first we have perhaps my favorite use for black beans - Southwestern Pasta Salad. It’s packed with chili powder and cumin, so it satisfies a chili craving while being light enough to call a salad.
I found a bag of tiny black lentils hiding, so I used those to make a quick lentil salad with a tomato-soy yogurt dressing, and threw in an avocado just to be saucy. A meal in itself!
But because woman cannot live on lentils alone, I put some aging bananas to use with a wholewheat version of Sarah Kramer’s Banana Waffles. I need to drag my waffle iron out more often, these are so good!
And last, but not least, a good use for a can of cherries that had been stowed away in the pantry. Honestly, I don’t even remember buying some of the things in there! Cherry Coffee Cake:
Southwestern Pasta Salad
8 oz. pasta
1/3c canola oil
1/4c fresh lime juice
2T chili powder
2t cumin
1/2t salt
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 1/2c whole kernel corn
15 oz. canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2c diced green pepper
1/2c diced red pepper
1/2c fresh cilantro
1c chopped tomato
Cook pasta al dente.
In a large bowl, combine oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, salt, and garlic. Stir in cooked pasta and set aside to cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
Stir in corn, green pepper, red pepper, cilantro, and tomato. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Cherry Coffee Cake
Cake:
1C sugar
1/2c softened EB
1c tofu sour cream
4T apple sauce
1t vanilla extract
2c flour
1 1/2t baking powder
1/2t baking soda
1/2t salt
1 21oz. can cherries or cherry pie filling
Topping:
1/4c flour
1/4c sugar
1/4c chopped pecans
1t cinnamon
3T EB, cold
Preheat oven to 325°. Combine 1 cup of sugar and 1/2c EB in a large mixer bowl and beat at medium speed until creamy (1-2 minutes). Add sour cream, apple sauce, and vanilla and continue beating until well mixed. Add 2 cups of flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat again until well mixed.
Spread half of batter into greased and floured 13×9″ pan. Spoon cherries over batter. Spoon remaining batter over cherries and spread carefully.
Stir together 1/4c flour, 1/4c sugar, pecans, and cinnamon in medium bowl. Cut in 3T EB until mixture resembles course crumbs. Sprinkle over batter. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean and topping is dark golden brown.
VeggieGirl says:
“pantry clean-out dishes” always intrigue me, since the results can be hit or miss - all of your “pantry clean-out dishes” are definite hits - especially the coffee cake and waffles!!
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 am
Vegan Chili says:
[...] The Clean Out Continues [...]
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Suzie says:
That pasta looks so delicious! I just had some bow-tie pasta with a chili sauce last night.
Everyone’s been posting yummy-looking waffles lately. I think that means they’re calling to me.
By the way, here’s the link for that butternut squasha and spinach lasagna recipe.
http://whatdoiknow.typepad.com/recipes/2007/11/open-lasagna-wi.html
Enjoy!
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Liz² says:
man, your pantry-clean-out-food looks better than a lot of going-out-for-specific-ingredient-food!
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Chocolatecoveredvegan says:
Oh that coffee cake! Make me some! Oh fine, I’ll just make it myself (thanks for the recipe). And the waffles look super-yum as well! Your pantry clean-out certainly looks delicious!
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
melody says:
What about sprouting some of the legumes?
… and many beans lend themselves well in a marinanra.. just puree them along with veggies and tomatoes..
hmm.. I assume you’ve made enchilada bake and refried beans..
I think you can puree beans and use them in baking.. I’ve done it in the past with good results..
Use white beans and veggies and garlic, miso, nooch, olive oil as a pasta sauce.. dips.. as a topping for bruschetta..
I also like to add them whole into pasta and other dishes… good luck!
I already need to clean out my pantry here..
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:05 am
bazu says:
Oooooh, you make the best-looking food ever! Not to mention, a pantry clean-out is always a worthy cause. Yum.
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Chocolatecoveredvegan says:
Haha sometimes it can be fun to eat ice cream when it’s cold… a few years ago I went to Italy for Christmas. Of course my family could NOT leave without sampling the gelato, even though it was SO COLD outside. So we stood there in our hats and gloves eating gelato :o).
January 24th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
vegetalion says:
your waffles are so beautiful - it realllly makes me want a waffle iron!
January 24th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Cakespy says:
That stew looks gorgeous, but I think perhaps the cake looks better!
January 25th, 2008 at 10:28 am
jd says:
a.) That lentil salad looks so delish - maybe woman can live on lentils alone!
b.) I’m so jealous that you started cleaning out your pantry already - I’ve been planning a “pantry challenge” situation since Jan. 1, but haven’t forced myself to do it yet. Soon - I swear!
c.) I haven’t been able to stop thinking about your kolaches since I saw them weeks ago. They were actually in my DREAM last night! No joke!!
d.) I miss keeping up with your blog more regularly. Things have been so busy lately that I hardly have time to post - let alone visit everyone else’s blogs. So, today’s my catch-up day! Yay - I’ve missed you
January 25th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Vegyogini says:
Spinach would totally work and it’d be delicious! I had a bowl of this soup for lunch and it definitely hit the spot. It’s been raining here since Monday.
January 25th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Vegyogini says:
Wow, you’re doing such a great job cleaning out the pantry. The pasta recipe looks really good!
January 29th, 2008 at 7:13 pm