VEGAN SHEPHERD'S PIE
I had the opportunity to watch my daughter-in-law bake Vegetable Shepherd's Pie about seven years ago. Last week I tried making a Vegan version using the available ingredients in my kitchen for my dear grand daughter. It turned out well and the family enjoyed the one dish meal which was quite filling and tasty too !

INGREDIENTS
Potatoes ( Cooked and mashed smoothly ) - 2 to 3 cups
Cabbage ( Minced ) - 2 cups
Carrots ( Finely chopped ) - 2 cups
Capsicum ( Minced ) - 2 cups
Beans ( Finely chopped ) - 2 cups
(All vegetables of your choice either grated or minced can be included )
Onion - ( Finely chopped ) - 1 cup
Tomatoes ( Finely chopped ) - 1 cup
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Fresh ginger ( grated ) - 1 tbsp
Sambar Powder - 1 tsp ( I love to add this to all my recipes for its flavour and colour!)
Salt - 1 1/2 tsp
Sesame oil - 2 tbsps
Quinoa - 1/2 cup
Cashew nuts - 12
Pepper powder - 1 tsp
TO MAKE CASHEW CHEESE
Soak Cashew nuts in warm water for half an hour and drain them. Add a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper powder and grind the soaked nuts into a spreadable paste adding little water . Now your Vegan cheese is ready. (Addition of a spoon of nutritional yeast would give it a cheesy flavour )
TO COOK QUINOA
Wash and soak Quinoa for about fifteen minutes and drain. Add one cup of water and cook on medium flame till the water evaporates.
TO PREPARE THE PIE
1. Heat oil in a kadai and splutter cumin seeds.
2. Add chopped onion and grated ginger and saute till it turns glassy.
3. Add tomatoes followed by Sambar Powder and salt , stir and cook till it becomes mushy.
4. Add all the chopped vegetables one by one and stir fry till done.
5. Add cooked quinoa, about two table spoons of mashed potatoes and a dash of pepper powder and blend well with the sauteed vegetables.
Taste the vegetable filling and adjust salt if necessary.
6. Grease a baking dish . Fill it up with the vegetable filling and pat and pack it neatly into the dish.
7. Add a dash of pepper powder and salt to the remaining mashed potatoes and whip well to make it smooth .
8. Spread the whipped potato evenly on top of the vegetables .
9. Spread the Vegan Cashew Cheese evenly on top of the potato layer.
Vegan Shepherd's Pie is ready to be baked.
Bake the pie in a pre heated oven at 350 degree F for twenty minutes until the top turns into a golden brown clolur .
I used the Convection Cooking option in my microwave to bake the Pie. Cooked the Pie for 20 minutes at 200 degrees C in the pre heated oven.
Once the top turns golden in colour allow the Vegan Shepherd's Pie to slightly cool down and then remove it carefully from the oven .


Scoop out a portion of the Vegan Shepherd's Pie into the serving plate and enjoy with tomato sauce.

QUINOA PEPPER UPMA
Protein and fiber rich Quinoa is a nutritious food which can be used in the preparation of any South Indian dish which appeals to the taste buds. Quinoa Vegetable Upma turned out good when I tried it out for the first time long time ago . Here is another simple and easy version of Quinoa Upma seasoned with pepper -  a comfort food to keep one warm on a cold and rainy day. Posting this recipe on request for a follower who was interested in the  recipe on seeing the picture posted on the face book page of CAK.

INGREDIENTS



White Quinoa - 1 cup
Sesame oil - 2 tbsps
Black pepper ( Crushed ) - 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cashew nuts - as required
Fresh ginger ( Chopped) - 1 tsp
Green chillies ( Chopped ) - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - a few
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Fresh grated coconut - 2 tbsps
METHOD 
1. Rinse Quinoa two or three times and soak in clean water for 15 minutes.
2. Drain the soaked Quinoa and cook with 2 cups of water and 1/2 tsp of oil.
3. Cook on low flame for 15 minutes till all the water evaporates and allow it to cool down.
4. Heat the remaining oil in a pan and add the crushed pepper and cumin seeds.
5. Add cashew nuts and fry till they are golden in colour.
6. Add asafoetida followed by green chillies, ginger and curry leaves.
7. Fluff up the cooked Quinoa and add it to the seasoning along with salt.
8. Stir well till the moisture evaporates , and the Upma emanates a pleasant aroma .
9. Stir in grated coconut and switch off flame.




Mix well and enjoy the Quinoa Pepper Upma with Vegetable Salad or Raita.