Smoked Tofu Chili with Crushed Corn Chips

Smoked Tofu Chili
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There’s been a lot of talk about belt-tightening lately. And it’s not hard to see why. I paid $8 for a pound of butter the other day. And I have very fond memories of paying $6 for the same amount not that long ago. Consequently, I have been more financially conservative at the grocery store. A necessity I hate and resent. And all of these limitations have me reminiscing about my university days, particularly the struggle meals that sustained me. Today’s Smoked Tofu Chili is a descendant of one such meal. I guarantee whatever concoction I was eating ten years ago was not as good as this. But the bones were there and the comfort it gives me is the same, so let’s make it.

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Turkey Pistou Stew with Pearl Couscous

Turkey Pistou Stew with Israeli Couscous
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It’s Thanksgiving for my neighbors to the south today. I’m sure most of them are absorbed in the pie-of-it-all right now. But once the wishbone is broken and the last round of coffee is served, they will be confronted with a new task – consuming all the leftovers. Now, this is one of those good problems to have to be sure. But being Canadian, I know how repetitive turkey day leftovers can be. Don’t get me wrong, I love a turkey sandwich as much as the next girl. But eventually, you start to miss the way you used to eat. Pasta, salads, noodles, and of course, soup. Luckily, a leftover, like turkey, can find a home in all of the above. But today we’re concentrating on this Turkey Pistou Stew with Pearl Couscous. Why? Because this soup is perfect for those final bits of the bird that aren’t exactly sandwich-worthy.

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Creamy Chicken Tarragon Soup w Watercress

Creamy Chicken Tarragon Soup with Watercress
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Think of today’s recipe as the soup version of the classic Provençal dish Poulet à l’Estragon. Traditionally, the French dish is comprised of chicken parts, simmered in a lardon and mushroom sauce finished with creme fraiche and, of course, fresh tarragon. It’s easily one of my favorite dishes. Today’s Creamy Chicken Tarragon Soup is very much inspired by this timeless classic but it has a second muse: a can of condensed soup. Confused yet? Don’t worry, all will be revealed and no, no cans of soup were harmed in the making of this, well, soup. Let’s dive right in!

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Butternut Tamale Pie

Butternut Tamale Pie
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In my neck of the woods, Thanksgiving is less than a week away and words cannot express how not ready I feel. I’ve complained about this a lot on this blog, but I don’t care, I’m going to say it again – Canadian Thanksgiving comes up way too quickly. I’m just not ready for the pumpkin pie of it all. But I will persevere and reacquaint myself with turkey brine. But before I get to the bird, there’s a little tradition I do on this blog every year. I give the holiday-loving vegetarians a meal option that doesn’t feel tacked together and isn’t just a plate of sides. This is a full-on main event designed to make omnivores jealous. And this year it’s this Butternut Tamale Pie. 

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