Leeka's Profile

From: Hamilton, ON Canada

Joined: November 16th, 2009

About me: Bookworm, mother and vegan.

Favorite recipe: Don't make me choose.

Website:
plentysweetenough.blogspot.com


Latest review:

April 3rd, 2013

Fresh Noodle Salad with Avocado Dijon Dressing from The Blissful Chef

I love zucchini noodles so I'm always looking for new ways to dress and eat them. The avocado gave this salad dressing a lovely creaminess. I may cut down a touch on the dijon next time around. I had... read more >


recipe reviews (233)
book reviews (5)
useful review votes (211)

Leeka's Reviews


Search Reviews:

232 recipes reviewed. Showing 1 to 50Sort by: Book Title | Date | Rating | Recipe Title

The Very Best Of Recipes for Health: 250 Recipes and More from the Popular Feature on NYTimes.com

By Martha Rose Shulman
Rodale Books - 2010

Very simple ingredients that I use often, tofu, peppers, soy, garlic, chile, hoisin, and ginger. Sometimes preparing them in a slightly different manner or order makes a subtle but yummy difference in the finished dish. We enjoyed this stir fry with a slightly sweet and spicy sauce over soba noodles. It would also be great served with rice.

A definite make again for an easy week-night supper.

useful (2)  


Website: Vegweb.com

vegweb.com
 

13th July 2011 (edited: 13th July 2011)

General Toa's Tofu

Really yummy, sweet, soy based, ginger-garlic sauce. I recommend doubling the amount and throwing in some more veggies while the sauce is cooking to go with the tofu.

useful (1)  


Website: Vegweb.com

vegweb.com
 

A super quick and easy gravy made from pantry ingredients.

useful (1)  


Website: Vegweb.com

vegweb.com
 

Really moist and delicious cookies.

useful (1)  


The Vegetarian Family Cookbook

By Nava Atlas
Broadway - 2004

Simple and delicious. The recipe doesn't call for sesame seeds but I will add them next time.

useful (1)  


I didn't have orange juice concentrate so I used fresh orange juice. I wasn't in love with the orange flavour of the sauce but it was okay.

useful (0)  


The Vegetable Dishes I Can't Live Without

By Mollie Katzen
Hyperion - 2007

Tender-crisp broccoli, barely wilted red onion and tart apples, coated with a delicious mustard based dressing. I loved, loved, loved the simplicity and perfection of this salad! I substituted maple syrup for the honey and it was perfect.

useful (3)  


Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook

By Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Terry Hope Romero
Da Capo Press - 2007

29th June 2010 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Chickpea Cutlets

These cutlets were unexpectedly delicious. I panfried them a little too long and even though they were a little crispy on the bottom, they remained chewy and flavourful. Next time I will make a double batch because our family devoured them.

useful (2)  


3rd July 2010 (edited: 3rd July 2010)

Lasagne Marinara with Spinach

I would like this recipe more with the addition of vegetables other than spinach. Overall though it was very good and I didn't miss the cheese.

useful (0)  


18th July 2010 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Banana-Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

Moist and lovely to eat warm from the oven, this dessert is easy to make and not too sweet. The only sweetener added is 1/2 cup of maple syrup.

useful (0)  


18th July 2010 (edited: 18th July 2010)

Black Bean Burgers

Good texture but lacking salt.

useful (1)  


24th July 2010 (edited: 24th July 2010)

Curried Tofu

useful (0)  


24th July 2010

Tamarind Lentils

The lentils took a lot longer than 30 minutes to become tender, almost an hour but it was worth the wait. The sauce had an intense, rich flavour with a hint of sweetness.

useful (0)  


2nd August 2010 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Coconut-Lemon Bundt Cake

Outstanding! This cake is moist, chewy and fragrant. I loved the combination of lemon and coconut. No icing needed and it's the perfect cake to accompany afternoon tea or coffee.

useful (2)  


2nd August 2010 (edited: 2nd August 2010)

Eggplant Potato Moussaka with Pine-Nut Cream

I was a little disappointed in how the dish turned out after all the prep work. I much prefer the lasagna from this book which layers similar elements but results in a tastier dish.

useful (0)  


8th August 2010 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Spaghetti and Beanballs

The beanballs tasted quite bean-y or maybe I'm just not a huge kidney bean fan but all three members of my family felt the same about them. These were easy to prepare.

useful (0)  


23rd August 2010 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Fudgy Wudgy Blueberry Brownies

These brownies were moist and cakey. The whole blueberries were an interesting addition that worked for us. Next time I will serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

useful (1)  


9th January 2011 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Lemony Roasted Potatoes

If you like lemon you will love these potatoes. The flavour is quite intense so be sure to balance out your menu with that in mind. These were fairly easy to prepare and require a few stirs while cooking.

I also usually add at least 1 tablespoon instead of 1tsp of tomato paste.

useful (0)  


30th April 2011 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Lost Coconut Custard Pie

I loved the creamy, coconut filling but found the crust too sweet using graham cracker crumbs, coconut and sugar. Next time I will cut the sugar out completely or use one of the other crust options.

useful (0)  


2nd May 2011 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Herb-Scalloped Potatoes

useful (0)  


I blame this rating on the tinned tomatoes. I think this soup has the potential to be much better than what I tasted today. The brown rice and navy beans give it a wonderful heartiness and texture but all I could taste was the that awful tinned tomato flavour and the roasted garlic was completely overpowered and virtually undetectable. What a shame.

Next time I will use fresh tomatoes along with a bit of tomato paste and some veggie stock. I think this soup is worth tinkering with.

useful (0)  


19th June 2011 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Mediterranean-Style Cashew-Cucumber Dip

This dip is a vegan version or variation of the delicious Greek tzatziki. I was unsure when I read the ingredients but gave it a shot and was really happy with the results. It's definitely richer than tzatziki because of the cashew base but the cucumber adds a lovely freshness to balance that out. We enjoyed this dip with some toasted pita triangles and then I slathered the remains on some toast. Yum!

ETA: As I wasy typing in the ingredients I realized that I forgot to add the garlic when I made it. I also chose to use the optional fresh dill which added a nice flavour.

useful (1)  


24th June 2011 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Cauliflower and Mushroom Potpie with Black Olive Crust

A friend of mine told me that she enjoys this recipe as a side dish without making the crust. My first go round I wanted to make it with the topping even though I'm not an olive lover and don't stock them in my pantry. The sauce was creamy and rich with the tarragon being the dominant flavour. I think I would have liked a little hint of sweetness or acidity in the sauce for some balance. I didn't have sherry and used the option of white wine vinegar instead but I think the small amount was lost in the sauce.

Overall, I enjoyed the dish. It's a little bit time and labour intensive for a quick supper but I'm glad I tried it. It would go well paired with a crisp green salad or some greens.

useful (1)  


26th June 2011 (edited: 26th June 2011)

Cheater Baked Beans

My husband and I really enjoyed these beans. Unfortunately, because I didn't have the required light molasses, I had to use a very strongly flavoured dark molasses and my daughter couldn't get past the overpowering smell and flavour. I cut the amount in half and added some agave nectar to replace it but it did not mask the strong smell. I will definitely have to re-stock my pantry because these simple baked beans were very satisfying and we enjoyed them paired with fluffy steamed rice and veggies.

This is a fairly quick recipe to put together and then throw in the oven for an hour while you prepare the rest of your meal.

useful (3)  


This is a quick and flavourful meal to put together. I love cilantro but those that don't wont find it overpowering in the least. I used regular spaghetti in place of the spinach liguine and thoroughly enjoyed every bite while thinking "Why don't I make pesto more often?".

useful (0)  


27th June 2011

Basil-Cilantro Pesto

Excellent and kid-approved! I think I added a touch too much lemon juice because I just eyeballed the amount but otherwise the flavours were nicely balanced. I like that this recipe calls for a mix of my favourite herb cilantro along with basil and I was also able to use up some of the sliced almonds in my pantry. A definite make-again!

useful (1)  


3rd July 2011 (edited: 12th March 2012)

White Bean Aioli

This is simply delicious! Not only does it taste great but it only takes about 10 minutes to prepare start to finish. My five year old loved it, my husband loved it and I am happy to discover an alternative to hummus with delicious garlic and lemon flavours that I can make in a snap. I served it as a spread on some toasted baguette - YUM!

useful (4)  


7th July 2011 (edited: 7th July 2011)

Snobby Joes

The whole family enjoyed these lentils, they had very good flavour and a little bit of heat. I only used 2 tablespoons of chili powder instead of three because I thought that would be plenty for our palates and I was right. I also let everything sit in the pot for a while (30 minutes) before serving to give the flavours a chance to meld. I think this is something that could be easily made ahead and taste great after a little rest.

Overall I thought this was a hearty and satisfying dish piled on top of some crusty, toasted rolls. My husband enjoyed it without any accompaniment at all!

useful (3)  


Very moist muffins, the orange zest lends a wonderful aroma combined with carrot and pineapple. Lovely texture and not too sweet.

useful (1)  


A really simple and delicious side with only four ingredients. The crushed coriander seeds pair really well with the sweetness of the squash. I left mine in the oven without flipping as per the directions and the dish still turned out fine.

useful (2)  


19th December 2011 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Lower-Fat Banana Bread

Very good. Not quite as moist as my regular recipe from The Joy of Vegan Baking but there were no complaints from the family. I like that it was not too sweet and half the loaf was gone within an hour of it coming out of the oven.

useful (1)  


Website: veganbaking.net

www.veganbaking.net
 

30th October 2011 (edited: 30th October 2011)

Gingerbread Pecan Biscotti

This was my first time making biscotti and the spicy scent of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves filled the air. I was really pleased with how easy it was to make these crunchy cookies dotted with pecans and crystallized ginger. Great flavour.

useful (5)  


Vegan Yum Yum: Decadent (But Doable) Animal-Free Recipes for Entertaining and Everyday

By Lauren Ulm
HCI - 2009

18th November 2009

Apple Cider Brussel Sprouts

These were good but next time I will cook the sprouts in a combination of apple juice and apple cider vinegar instead of all vinegar which was quite overpowering.

useful (0)  


19th November 2009 (edited: 19th November 2009)

Soy Mirin Tofu with Snow Peas and Peanut Sauce

This was a few more steps than I normally like for a fast dinner but apart from the snow peas, the ingredients are all staples in our house. it was very tasty and I will definitely make it again. I also added mushrooms while pan-frying the tofu.

useful (0)  


20th November 2009 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Hurry Up Alfredo

This recipe has become a staple in our house. I end up making it at least once a week. It is delicious, simple, fast and nutritious. This sauce is full of flavour without being full of cream and fat. The cashews add a touch of nuttiness and texture. All the ingredients are simply thrown into the blender and then poured on either pasta or vegetables. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an alternative to tomato based pasta sauce!

useful (1)  


21st November 2009

Weekend Pancakes Made Easy

Easy to whip up in the blender the night before. Thin, fairly light pancakes a little on the sweet side perhaps because I used sweetened soy milk for half the amount called for.

useful (0)  


21st November 2009 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Spicy Tomato Chickpea Soup

Tangy, spicy goodness and very easy to prepare. Next time I will double the recipe because it made less than expected and I like to have soup ready to go in the fridge for a few days.

ETA: I left out the chili flakes and subbed paprika so it would suit my daughter's palate. The experiment was successful. I also stirred in a spoonful of sugar at the end.

useful (2)  


22nd November 2009 (edited: 27th November 2009)

Creamy Sweet Potato Bake

This tasted better the second day when reheated.

useful (0)  


23rd November 2009 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Broccoli Almond Sweet and Sour Tofu

I was missing a few ingredients to make the tofu crispy and simply pan fried it but since I had everything for the sauce I am confident the next I make this it will be even better. The sauce was more sweet than sour but I have a tendency to like sweet sauces so it worked for me.

useful (1)  


20th December 2009

Baked Mac and Cheeze

I wasn't so keen on this dish because it didn't taste anything like mac and cheese to me but my husband really liked it. The sauce was too thick and strong tasting. I'd have to play around with the ingredients, perhaps leave out the miso to make it more appetizing.

useful (2)  


4th March 2010 (edited: 6th March 2010)

Corn Fritters

Sadly, these fritters did not live up to our expectations. Both my daughter and I found them too heavy and a bit greasy for our tastes. The photo accompanying the recipe looked fabulous but the taste did not measure up.

useful (0)  


8th May 2010 (edited: 8th May 2010)

Super Quick Tomato Basil Cream Pasta

A fairly easy recipe with few ingredients still makes a creamy sauce with fresh tomato flavour. I sauteed some onion and mushrooms along with the garlic to add to the sauce and then threw some kale in the pasta pot at the end because I like more veggies.

useful (1)  


24th July 2010 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Sweet Chili Lime Tofu

I like the citrusy, sweet glaze on the tofu.

useful (0)  


25th July 2010 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Roasted Eggplant and Caramelized Onion Marinara

The ingredients are simple and roasting the eggplant before adding it to the sauce results in pure bliss for an eggplant lover like me. I used fresh tomatoes instead of canned. This will definitely become a staple dish in our house.

useful (0)  


23rd August 2010 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Crispy Sesame Kale

This is a fantastic way to get greens into kids! Very tasty but watch that you don't over-roast the kale or it becomes bitter.

useful (2)  


18th February 2011 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Potato Leek Soup

This simple, warming soup was a big hit with everyone in our house. I liked it's velvety texture and the fact that few ingredients were required. Next time I will reduce the amount of salt and season at the end if required.

useful (0)  


19th July 2011 (edited: 12th March 2012)

Creamy Broccoli Dal

A delicious combination of finely chopped broccoli and onion with red lentils and Indian spices such as mustard and cumin seeds. At the end, soy milk, turmeric and a bit of lemon juice are added. The turmeric gives it a really lovely colour. I ate a bowl of this after eating a plate of spicy noodles and amazingly was still able to appreciate all the flavours.

useful (0)  


Website: Vegan Yum Yum

veganyumyum.com
 

27th December 2011

Hot and Sour Cabbage Soup

I've had a cold for a few weeks that I can't seem to shake and though this soup might help clear out my sinuses. I loved the tangy-sourness of the broth. I added garlic and two tablespoons of grated ginger for extra zip and flavour and was happy with the results. The spiciness was just right and the pepper ground on top gives a great kick.

useful (0)  


Vegan with a Vengeance : Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock

By Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Da Capo Press - 2005

27th February 2010

The Best Pumpkin Muffins

These muffins are so delicious and moist, even my super picky four year old will eat them. They are my absolute favourite muffins and are perfect for an afternoon snack or really anytime as they are not too sweet.

useful (3)  


7th May 2010 (edited: 7th May 2010)

Corn Chowder

Very tasty and sweet with a kick. I left out the jalapenos and the cayenne provided enough spiciness for my tastebuds.

useful (0)