January cookery bookclub: we're going veggie

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Come and join the cookery bookclub! Each month we choose a couple of books/blogs/magazines and cook at least two new recipes of our choice from each.

This month we're reprising some favourites from last year with a veggie theme. The two books are Ottolenghi's Plenty and River Cottage Veg Every Day.

People will also be adding their own veggie favourites from other books and blogs.

Hfw squash and fennel lasagne (substituted leeks for the fennel) was a nice after work meal. Will add to my repertoire.

Hello pantah

We did hfw pinto bean chilli the other night. Nothing sophisticated or special but I enjoyed it as good virtuous January food with a kick. Also had his roasted sprouts and shallots with some fish. The sprouts went less sprouty when cooked which was a shame for me because I adore them, but would be good for sprout haters. Shallots add sweetness too.

Ooh pantah I may make the paella this weekend if it's good.

I made the hfw merguez squash and chickpeas this week- it was really nice with some toasted flatbreads. Very easy mid week meal.

I think that's the difference between the two- hfw is good midweek food , whereas plenty is more exciting inspiration food.

On hfw lasagne the kale and mushroom is very nice with added chicken and bacon. Obviously not for me this month but an idea for others

But that's the thing pregnant, HFW's recipes should be good stand alone veggie recipes, not "they're ok if you add meat" ones. Or "they're ok if you've never cooked a veggie meal before".
Yes, Ottolenghi's may take longer/more planning, but they are generally wonderful once made.

I did the Green Pancakes (Plenty) for lunch today. I used rice milk in an attempt to cut down on dairy. Still used an egg (not vegan yet!), but not the extra white, and it was perfectly light.
I actually made a note in the book to make a dressing from the butter ingredients next time, omitting the butter, as I felt it was too rich.

I really enjoyed them - great texture, great flavour, all as expected really :)

Just flipping through plenty for meal planning and came across the cabbage a Parmesan soup- I've made it before and thought I'd mention that it's amazing, I know cabbage soup doesn't scream cook me but I made it a while ago and it was really a remarkable soup.

Oh and we had plenty crunchy parpadelle for dinner last night which was equally delicious. The topping is inspired and made for a very nice mouthfeel iykwim. Though dc weren't huge fans - the lemon and garlic were a bit strong for them. But easy to leave the crunch off the dc and on the adults.

I'm planning on the plenty sweet potato wedges and dip with the crunchy fried leeks for dc later, and might even squeeze in the stuffed onions. A nice cooking weekend in casa pp.

Planning Plentys Mushroom Lasagne tonight, anyone made it before? Oh and I've got leeks to make HFW Leek Risotto in the week. whispers I also bought a chicken and spelt to make the roast he did on F&D last night

Pantah, I made the mushroom lasagne quite a while ago - it wasn't my thing, but I can explain why, and I'm sure it'll be fine for you! :)

I didn't like the tarragon, found it too overpoweringly aniseedy. But that's just my taste, I think.

Also didn't like the baked ricotta texture - not what I personally like in a lasagne. But I should have realised it would be like this when reading the recipe, my fault

It's in, I'm a bit about the ricotta bit and I didn't have enough of anything for four layers, including room in my dish. Will be ready in 1/2hr and we'll see. I liked the idea of using the mushroom liquid in the bechamel though.

More than half way through the month and I finally made my first new recipe from the books. It's Broccolini and sweet sesame salad from Plenty. In the intro, Ottolenghi said it's based on a japanese green beans dish with ground sesame and miso, and that he particularly liked the black sesame seeds used.

I guess I should have looked at the recipe more closely before adding to my meal plan. It doesn't have miso in the sauce at all, so what is he on about? I made a couple of substitution based on it being a Japanese recipe. I used toasted sesame paste instead of tahini. This is what Chinese and Japanese cooks would have used, instead of untoasted sesame paste aka tahini. I also used black sesame seeds isntead of a mix of white sesame seeds and nigella seeds. Lastly since I'm cooking for only 2 adults and a 3yo, I used 300g broccolini, and skipped the french beans and mangetout.

I don't think it's my changes that destroyed the dish. But it's just meh. It's nice enough but doesn't stand out at all. I found this from just bento

justbento.com/handbook/recipes-sides-and-fillers/blanched-spinach-soy-sauce-sesame-sauce

easier and just as nice.

pregnantpause cabbage and parmesan soup sounds nice to me. Don't know if I could get it made before the month is up though!

Just read the recipe for the parmesan and cabbage soup. It's even better than I think. I need to start collecting parmesan rinds.

The mushroom lasagne split the critics here. DS2 and enthusiastic foodie thought it had too much cheese and couldn't finish it unheard of, DH thought it great and had second helpings, I ate it all but wasn't wowed to be honest. We're still waiting on DS1 verdict, he's taken some to work to heat up, hopefully it'll pass muster. If I make it again I'll double up the bechamel and leave out the ricotta.

Hmm mixed bag for the lasagne then.

The sweet potato wedges were very nice. Nothing to write home about but very nice. The leeks were delicious- though this is just my opinion the rest of my family disagree - my dh pronounced them 'leeky and wrong' and the dc followed suit.. I'll make them again when it's just me, I'll happily eat the lot

I went back and looked at my notes for the lasagne and I'd written "too cheesy and a bit bland. Might be good layered with spinach. Maybe serve with tomato sauce for flavour and garlic bread for texture"

Or clearly not, as I've never made it since!!

Planning on doing the baked eggs with rocket this week, also the spiced red lentils - doesn't look particularly "wow", but seeing as I never usually follow a recipe for dhal, thought I would this time!

Huevos - the baked eggs are great - a big hit in our house.

May I join? It might give me the motivation to change out menu a bit.
I haven't got either of the books, but I'll find something online, for sure.
Also, I am vegetarian. So, if that's ok, I'll follow your book and chose a vegetarian recipe and one dessert (if the book should be all about french poultry or the like).

Silver it was your recommendation that gave me the inspiration to make the eggs :) I've seen the recipe before but not bothered reading it, always assumed it was spinach rather than rocket, rocket appeals more :)

KiaOra, welcome :) The bookclub started out with the idea of actually using the books that we had on our shelves, but never used, so if you have any suggestions for next months books, fire away! But now it's more "we choose a couple of books and get them from the library, or recipes online" and a few of us usually end up buying the book as we fall in love with it during the month.
Some books haven't interested me at all, but others have loved; others I have fallen for and they have opened my meal plans up enormously - Mexican and Sichuan especially

And I'm enjoying revisiting Plenty in the winter - I can't remember if it was bookclub time or not, but I last used it intensively in July, different recipes are appealing in this cold weather!

pregnant if you liked the fried leeks (they do sound good, but sadly I'm not keen on red peppers), and enjoy the leekiness, have you tried the spicy leek, walnut and beetroot salad in Jerusalem? It sounds meh, but the flavours combine amazingly, I had never truly appreciated the leek before

Hi kiaora, yes do join us and hunt online as required. Eat your books is good for looking up what's in a book and you can then search for the recipe. Or spmetimes kind souls on here will type things up.

We had hfw roasted roots frittata at the weekend. It was very easy and tasty, a good way of using up odds and ends. DD is just growing out of an egg allergy and can now tolerate well cooked egg. This was the first time we'd given her an egg dish per se and she adored it. Yay!

For the rest of us it wasn't so exciting but a good week night stand by. For me the hfw book is just handy for easy weeknight veggie meals. We do a day or two meat free in the week and it's all we need for that. Plenty is obviously more sophisticated and we've got mee goreng down for tonight so obviously not devoid of weeknight staples either.

Huevos - you've reminded me about the fried leeks in Plenty, dh is allergic to nuts, so sadly we'll have to give the salad a miss....or maybe substitute with pine nuts, will have a look....I do love beetroot and leeks! But with the down turn in temp I'm looking towards soups to warm and confort so I'm going to give the Savoy cabbage and parmesan rind soup a go too, I always collect parmesan rinds in the freezer for minestrone and bolognaise.

Leek Risotto with fried chestnuts was very nice, will be making again. The chestnuts added a bit of oomph in taste and texture.

Hi, another late joiner here. To all that mentioned the beetroot and walnut hummus, thanks, I made it at the weekend and it is amazing.

I can highly recommend A Modern Way to Eat by Anna Jones, got it a week ago and have done chickpea and preserved lemon stew and saag aloo, only I did it with broccoli as that was all I had. I also had a revelation that turmeric tastes really quite nice out of a brand new packet, rather than an old box that been in the cupboard for 5 years.

I've got the spicy beetroot, walnut and leek from Jerusalem in my meal plan this week, HuevosRancheros.

toomuchapplepie I've got the chickpea and preserved lemon stew marked. Have you tried the dhal in the same book? It's amazing. I made the coconut chutney the first time, but skipped it and used a jar of mango chutney the second time. Such an amazing one dish meal.

We are allowed to talk about new recipes cooked in other books I hope

That's half the point terror- those of us who are cookbook -addicts- enthusiasts can buy a new one. Then suggest it for next month

Talking of next month we mentioned ages ago (after doing Delia Summer, I guess) that we would do Delia Winter at some point - anyone still fancy it? I'm not holding out much hope for much veggie excitement, but could maybe try some new puddings :)

Have Anna Jones on order at the library still, but getting impatient now!