Thai Green Curry, Shepherd's pie Matar Paneer, Vegan Chocolate Cake Dinner Party

So recently I had a dinner party to test out how non-vegetarians would like the vegetarian food I've been cooking. And I have to say it was definitely a success! All my friends that can really enjoyed it, and it was very valuable for my project. 

Here are the recipes for what I made (that haven't been posted before)

Thai Green Curry
Ingredients:
-Firm tofu, 2 packages
-Bamboo shoots, sliced (2 cans)
-Sweet peppers
-Baby corn
-Snowpeas
-Coconut milk
-Thai green curry paste
-Salt
-Soy sauce
-Ginger paste
-Garlic paste
Directions:
-Slice the tofu into cubes to your liking
-Add oil, garlic and ginger paste to pan.
- Add vegetables, cook until vegetables are still firm, but not raw.
-Add in tofu
-Add coconut milk
-Add green curry paste (carefully, to make sure you don't use too much)
-Add salt and a VERY small amount of soy sauce, to taste
-Cover with lid, let simmer until vegetables are cooked.
Serve!

Shepherd's pie
Ingredients:
-Onions
-Celery
-Carrots
-Cannelini beans
-Frozen peas
-Potatoes
-Canned tomato
-Mashed potates, instant (2 packages)
-Shredded cheddar
-Flour
-Salt
-Pepper
Directions:
-Add oil to a large pot
-Dice onions, and add to oil
-When onions are clear, add celery, carrots, peas and beans
-Add in tomato and diced potatoes

-When potatoes are cooked, turn off the stove
-Add flour (as needed) to "stew" portion to keep the consistency from being too soupy
-Make instant mashed potatoes according to instructions
-Layer vegetable mixture in a casserole pan
-Layer mashed potatoes on top
-Put shredded cheddar on top
-Bake in oven until top is golden brown

I also made Matar Paneer
A link to the recipe: http://leangreencookingmachine.blogspot.com/2013/11/matar-paneer-paneer-with-peas.html

 Double chocolate cake (from Betty Crocker cookbook)
It's also vegan!
Ingredients:
-1 and 2/3 cup all purpose flour **not self rising**
-1 cup granulated sugar
-1/4 cup cocoa
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1 cup water
-1/3 cup vegetable oil
-1 teaspoon vinegar
-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
-1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
-Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, sugar, coca, baking soda, and salt in bowl. Mix in remaining ingredients except chocolate chips. Sprinkle chocolate chips over batter.
-Pour into greased cake pan (8x8x2)
-Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes. Sprinkle with powder sugar if desired.

 I don't have a picture of my exact cake, but this is pretty much what it will look like!
apeswithguns.blogspot.com

Enjoy! :-)

Chocolate Chip Pie

This pie always brings back memories for me of when my mom used to make it when I was a little kid. Its tastes like a combination of a brownie and a cookie and smells amazing while its baking! 

This recipe is pretty standard, but I used the one from http://www.verybestbaking.com, with some changes. I don't put nuts in my pie, since I don't like them. And I also add some vanilla extract, salt, and instant coffee to boost the chocolate flavor and balance out sweetness.

Hope you enjoy! :-)
Note: The picture is what the pie looks like before baking. Afterwards it looks something like this: 

Ingredients

• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell *
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 cup (6 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of instant coffee
• Sweetened whipped cream or ice cream (optional)

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 325° F.

BEAT eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon into pie shell.

BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm with whipped cream, if desired.

* If using frozen pie shell, use deep-dish style, thawed completely. Bake on baking sheet; increase baking time slightly.