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Cafe Flora (Seattle, WA)

January 13, 2010 by ericriveracooks

The folks over at Cafe Flora invited me over to their restaurant to try their new breakfast menu. As of January 4th they have been serving breakfast from 9AM-2PM during the weekdays so I made my way over this morning to see what they had to offer. It was my first time visiting Cafe Flora so I did a little bit of research before making my way over. Cafe Flora is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Seattle on Madison Ave. It’s […]

Categories: Restaurants • Tags: Cafe Flora, Cooking, Food, recipe, Restaurant, Seattle, Vegan, Vegetarian

Audrey’s Vegetarian French Dip

November 2, 2009 by ericriveracooks

My roommate Audrey made this sandwich yesterday. I thought it was worth a post because it tasted pretty damn good. It doesn’t beat a real French Dip but it certainly is a good substitute for those non-meat eaters. Ingredients: Portobello mushrooms……large and small Soy sauce Cornstarch Onions, caramelized Bread Black pepper, tt Provolone cheese Olive oil Salt Procedure: Take a medium sauce pan and pour in 3 cups of water and a few small mushrooms then simmer for an hour […]

Categories: Sandwich, Vegetarian • Tags: Cooking Blog, Food, Food Blog, French Dip, Sandwich, Vegetarian

Cauliflower Steak with Cauliflower Gratin. It’s a Cauliflower party.

October 3, 2009 by ericriveracooks

Couldn’t get a good picture of this…..oh well. That’s one of the frustrating things about posting recipes with pictures on a blog. A lot of the times the picture doesn’t do the food justice and the other part is that I know most of the people reading this won’t even make or taste the food I make so it’s a weird place to be in. Oh well. Anyway, I have roommates that are vegetarian and Mindy had the night off […]

Categories: Vegetarian • Tags: Cauliflower, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Cooking Blog, Dinner, recipe, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Vegetarian Pasta

September 11, 2009 by ericriveracooks

(Seared Tofu Anglaise) A week or so ago I mentioned that we have roommates in our house that are vegetarian. I also mentioned how the degree of difficulty in recipes has risen because of that. I’m not a vegetarian and I don’t understand the whole logic behind it, sorry. The thing that makes me angry with most vegetarians is the constant struggle with trying to make their food look like mine….meat food! “Look Eric, it’s a veggie burger and it […]

Categories: Becoming A Chef: Blogging about Culinary School, Pasta, Vegetarian • Tags: Cooking Blog, Dinner, Food, Food Blog, Pasta, recipe, Vegetarian

Agar Agar Agar

May 12, 2009 by ericriveracooks

(Click each picture to make it larger) I’ve been reading about Molecular Gastronomy for a few months now and this is my second go around with attempting to do this. I’ve turned my kitchen into a science lab and it’s really exciting. Take away all the ideas you normally have about cooking and then bring in the science! My first time working with Agar was during my 24, 24, 24 contest and it was a collosal failure. I ruined about […]

Categories: Molecular Gastronomy, Random Rants, Vegetarian • Tags: Agar, Cooking, Cooking Blog, Gelatin, Molecular Gastronomy, recipe, Vegetarian

Vegetarian Chili: Baseball Food Post #6

April 6, 2009 by ericriveracooks

Chili with no meat………I don’t know how I feel about that. Ingredients: 2 cans pinto beans, drain one and use the juice from the other one 4 tomatoes, crushed 3 chipotle pepper pods, ground 1 tbsp. chili powder 1 sweet onion, diced 6 ounces, tomato sauce 1 tbsp. salt 1 tbsp. sugar Combine all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook for 2-3 hours then serve. Enjoy, Eric

Categories: Vegetarian • Tags: Chili, recipe, Vegetarian, Vegetarian Chili

Banana Leaf Baked Vegetables

April 3, 2009 by ericriveracooks

(Click each picture to make it larger) A little love for the vegetarians that visit this blog. Ingredients: Red Spice Blend: 1 stick o’ butter, melted 2 tbsp. annatto seeds, ground 1 tbsp. coriander seeds, ground 1 tsp. cumin, ground 1/2 tbsp. kosher salt. Mix together and pour over vegetables Vegetables used: Yuca Root, peeled and cut into medallions then soaked in water for an hour Green Bell Pepper 2 jalapenos 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro 1 cup Shitake mushrooms, stems […]

Categories: Dinner, Vegetarian • Tags: Baked, Banana Leaves, Dinner, Mushrooms, recipe, Vegetarian, Yuca

Tofu and Shitake Bit Salad

March 17, 2009 by ericriveracooks

(Click each picture to make it larger) Yes, baked Shitake mushrooms with sea salt and olive oil taste like bacon. It’s very cool and is a great substitute for you vegetarians looking for the elusive taste of bacon. Ingredients: For Shitake Mushroom Bits Recipe from Chef Elliot Prag via Sciencentral.com (CLICK FOR LINK AND VIDEO) Ingredients: • 1⁄2 pound shitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced • 1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil • 1 teaspoon sea salt Cooking instructions: 1. Preheat […]

Categories: Molecular Gastronomy, Salad, Vegetarian • Tags: Molecular Gastronomy, Shitake, Tofu, Vegetarian

Veggie Pasta Sauce

March 3, 2009 by ericriveracooks

(click each picture to make it larger) Healthy food……..weeeeeeeeeeeeee. It’s nothing special, it’s healthy. Ingredients: -2 tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil, you’ll never see me abbreviate it. -1 garlic clove, diced -1/2 white onion, diced -1/2 carrot, minced -2 celery stalks, minced -1 tomato, diced -1/4 head of broccoli -1/4 cup tomato sauce -1 tbsp. basil -1 tsp. rosemary -1 tsp. crushed red pepper -1/2 tsp. salt -2 ounces grated mozzarella -2 cups cooked penne pasta In a medium sauce […]

Categories: Pasta, Sauce • Tags: Pasta sauce, recipe, Vegetarian

Vegetarian Sun Dried Tomato Spaghetti

February 27, 2009 by ericriveracooks

(Click each picture to make it larger) The taste will linger with you for a little bit, this is a good thing. Ingredients: -1/2 white onion, diced -2 garlic gloves, diced -2 cups white wine -1/4 cup heavy cream -2 tbsp. sun dried tomatoes -2 tbsp. pesto -1 tsp. crushed white peppercorn http://www.worldspice.com -1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flake 2 cups cooked spaghetti In a medium sauce pan pour in a little olive oil and cook on high. Once the […]

Categories: Pasta, Sauce, Vegetarian • Tags: Pasta, recipe, Spaghetti, Sun Dried Tomato, Vegetarian

Corn Tortilla Nachos:

February 21, 2009 by ericriveracooks

(click each picture to make it larger) This is super easy, it’s been done a billion times, and it still gets a smile when I serve it. Yes, regular corn tortillas deep fried and served fresh, not rocket science. Sometimes it’s about being quick and easy, this definitely fits the bill. There isn’t an exact recipe to this since nachos can have so many variations so just try it for yourself and you’ll be glad you did. Ingredients: -20 corn […]

Categories: Appetizer, Vegetarian • Tags: Corn Tortillas, Deep Fried, Nachos, recipe, Vegetarian

Spinach Cream Pasta Sauce

February 15, 2009 by ericriveracooks

Popeye would love this stuff and you will too. Ingredients: -2 cups baby spinach -1/4 cup heavy cream -2 ounces mozzarella cheese -1/2 stick butter -1 garlic clove, minced -1 tsp. garlic salt -Pinch of black pepper -Parmesan cheese, grated -2 cups cooked pasta Steam the spinach for about 5-7 minutes or until it starts to wilt. Take the spinach and place in a food processor and puree. In a medium sauce pan on medium heat melt the butter and […]

Categories: Sauce, Vegetarian • Tags: Pasta sauce, recipe, Spinach, Vegetarian

Mango Salsa

February 3, 2009 by ericriveracooks

Such is Mango. Ingredients: -1 green bell pepper -1 large mango -1/2 bunch cilantro -3 plum tomatoes -4 jalapenos (if you would like to take some of the heat off then remove the seeds and don’t add to mixture) -1 green olive -2 limes. Zest them then pour juice in mixture -Zest from a medium orange -1 tsp. cayenne pepper -1 tsp. salt -1 tsp. sugar Take about 1/4 of each ingredient and place in a blender, liquify. Dice the […]

Categories: Salsa, Vegetarian • Tags: Mango, Mango Salsa, recipe, Salsa, Vegetarian

Red Wine Pasta Sauce

January 28, 2009 by ericriveracooks

This is any easy pasta sauce that doesn’t take much work. It’s nothing special but it’s a quick and easy sauce you can make in under 45 minutes. Ingredients: -1 zucchini, chopped in big chunks -1/2 onion, sliced thin -1/4 cup tomato sauce -1 can tomato paste 8oz -1 can stewed tomatoes -1/4 bottle red wine, use something you like -1 tsp Italian seasoning -1 tbsp paprika -1 tbsp pesto Saute the onions and zucchini in a medium sauce pan. […]

Categories: Dinner, Pasta, Vegetarian • Tags: Pasta sauce, recipe, tomato, Vegetarian, wine

Eric Rivera's Cooking Blog

Food, because I just want an excuse to cook.