Cookbook Challenge Week 4. VwaV - White Bean and Roasted Garlic Soup

Trying to keep up with the Cookbook Challenge, trying to create my own recipes, working, trying to have a social life and getting enough sleep while still getting up before the sun has been extremely difficult the past 2 weeks so I have decided to take the next week off from the challenge. I also don't own the book for Week 5, Eat, Drink and Be Vegan, though I could very well just google some recipes, I have decided a break is in order. In addition to all that, I am now the proud owner of my very first DSLR, my dad bought me a used Nikon D40. I am beyond excited to learn how to use it and see the quality of my photos increase. That being said, I have no idea how to use it so I want to take my time and photograph whatever I am eating but without the (self imposed) pressure of cooking a few meals a night from scratch from a cookbook. I will still be blogging though, it will just be shorter posts with not so detailed recipes. Now, I will leave you with the last  thing I made from Vegan with a Vengeance for Week 4.

When I started this challenge I decided I was only going to use recipes that I had never made before but I cheated. I have made the White Bean and Roasted Garlic Soup before and all week leading up to Thursday I couldn't stop thinking about it. It is such a simple soup to prepare but is so full of flavor and filling I couldn't not make it again. There aren't many ingredients but the combination of them all works in a way I could have never imagined. After I roasted the garlic I sauteed up some onion and threw most of everything else in the pot. After giving it a go in the VitaMix I was left with creamy perfection. I sprinkled the soup with a little more salt and pepper and a few drops of truffle oil for some extra deliciousness. As if the soup wasn't already awesome enough it was even better with a piece of chewy rosemary ciabatta toast dipped in it.

Cookbook Challenge. Week 1. AFR-40 Clove Chickpea and Broccoli

If there was ever an easy, healthy and delicious meal made up specifically for me, this would be it. This was really one of the easiest recipes I have ever made from a cookbook. With only a few ingredients, 1 cutting board, 1 baking dish and a ton of garlic, you really can't go wrong. This is without a doubt going to become a staple in my cooking!

While the recipe says "40 clove" it really doesn't have that many. It only has 10! It's really so simple that it doesn't call for a huge long post about it. Throw some broccoli, chickpeas and smashed garlic into a baking dish sprinkled with some olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano and lemon zest. Bake for 30 minutes, add some veggie broth and bake 15 more minutes. I cooked up some brown rice to serve it with and I had the perfect lazy night meal!That's it! Dinner is done! 

The slight crunchiness the slightly browned bits of broccoli with the tenderness of the chickpeas and garlic with the veggie broth spooned over a bowl of brown rice really hits the spot on a cold snowy New England night. I highly recommend you make this dish. Soon.

I'm sad to see the week end for Appetite for Reduction but at the same time I am very excited to see the week for Veganomicon start. I love that cookbook so much and have made quite a few recipes from it since I bought it over the summer but am definitely looking forward to trying out some new ones so stay tuned next week for more vegan goodness!