vegetarian dumplings

It has been a snowy February and we have had to shovel ourselves out more than once this month! Everything is so crisp, white and beautiful. I am reminded of a quote I once read, "Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night will always fill my heart with sweet clarity" (by Novala Takemoto). In the spirit of the month, I have decided to make something out of the ordinary, but still along the lines of my comfort food theme of late. After what seems like endless amounts of rice, pasta and other comfort foods, I really needed something a bit different... I decided to try making dumplings! Tofu and vegetable filled dumplings served with a side of soy sauce, yum!

My husband and I went to the store and stocked up on cabbage, carrots, fresh ginger, scallions, dumpling wrappers and soy sauce and set to work as soon as we got home. The mixture for the filling was the easy part, folding all of the tiny dumplings was the hard part - make sure you have plenty of time to fold before you start this particular project (the end product is well worth it however!) 

Vegetarian Dumplings
(serves about 4, or 2 for two nights!)

1/2 cabbage, diced

2 carrots, grated finely

3 scallions, chopped finely

1-2 tsp. grated, fresh ginger

1 package, extra-firm tofu

2 tbsp. rice wine vinegar

Dumpling/wonton wrappers (found in the refrigerated section)

coconut oil

Soy sauce (for dipping)

Start out by dicing up half of a cabbage (we could only find organic napa cabbage, but any will do) and start it cooking in a large sautee pan. While that is cooking, take your tofu and crumble it with your hands. add this to the cabbage mixture.

Next grate your carrots and chop your scallions and put them aside in a big bowl. Into this carrot mixture add your ginger and rice wine vinegar - mix well. (It will smell delicious, but wait to dig in till the whole thing is done!)

When your cabbage is softened, take it off the heat and add to your carrot mixture. Mix well.

Now it is time to fill 'em up! Take a dumpling wrapper:

Put about 1 tbsp. of filling in the center:

Wet the edges with warm water, take one corner and pull to the opposite corner, it will look like a triangle:

 

Finally, take the two lower edges of the triangle and pull them together, attach them with a little water and pull the top flap downwards (or not, the top flap staying up looks a lot nicer I.M.O.):

Set aside all of your dumplings until you have finished wrapping them all. Now take your coconut oil (about 1-2 tbsp.) and heat in a large frying pan. When it is hot start frying the dumplings, go until they are golden on their underside (about 2-3 minutes). Flip them and cook for about 1 minute. Add about 1/8-1/4 cup of water and cover so it steams up really hot. Keep covered until all of the water disappears. This will give the dumplings a great chewy texture.

 

Serve still warm with a side of soy sauce for dipping!

- Night Owl Gal

Valentine's day comes round again!

Valentine's day; a day for lovers, a day for businesses and corporations to "rake in the dough," and for some a historical reminder of a past that was a tad more gory than many would care to acknowledge... Valentine's day - love it or hate it, it is truly a major holiday observed by millions every February. Chocolate sales abound, lover's cards fly off the shelves and roses seem to sprout out of the woodwork! According to history.com Valentine's day is the second-most popular card sending holiday (after Christmas!)... So where did this holiday come from? Why are we so susceptible to its charms?

I found a very interesting article covering the history of Valentine's day and it's patron saints on History.com (http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day - check it out!) in summation: essentially the origin of Valentine's day comes from early Roman and christian sources, perhaps even some early pagan origins as well. The Catholic religion has at least three martyred saints known as Valentine, one of whom dates back to the Roman Emperor Claudius II, whence Valentine was supposed to be a priest who refused to acknowledge the Emperor's law that soldiers must not marry (because single men supposedly made better soldiers). Valentine continued to secretly perform marriage ceremonies for young couples, however Emperor Claudius somehow found out Valentine's secret and had Valentine put to death... A martyr for love?

Other stories tell of a young Valentine who helped Christians escape Roman prisons. Valentine might have fallen in love with one of the prison-keeper's daughters, giving her one of (if not the very first) valentine note. He supposedly signed it "from your Valentine" which, as we know, is a common term in today's version of the holiday.

Could Valentine's day have had Pagan beginnings? There is also a legend that the Christian religion wanted to "Christianize" a Pagan festival of fertility known as Lupercalia. Lupercalia was outlawed by Christianity in the 5th century and officially declared St. Valentine's Day February 14th. 

In America valentine's were exchanged since before the country was, well a country! Mass produced cards first truly appeared in the 1840's by Esther Howland, known as the "Mother of the Valentine."  It was a pretty straight shot from that point, to where we are today.

My husband and I have never really fallen into the "Valentine's Day" consumerist trap, instead we quietly observe the day by making a tasty, home-cooked meal followed by something sweet and delicious, and then some quality time together. This year there were no roses bought, no chocolates exchanged and no fancy dinner out - and it was one of the best Valentine's days ever!

We began by making a delicious dinner of fresh thai spring rolls, pan fried tofu with sweet and sour sauce, and a big green salad - deelish! We followed this with some coconut "ice cream" and hot coffee. I must say that out tummies were happy after that meal!

So here's hoping you had a fabulous holiday, give someone special a hug and tell them you love them!

- Night Owl Gal