Mountain Soup

Gather up the nearest 8-year-old, who happens to be named Mountain.  Ask him what sorts of things should go into a vegetable soup.

3/4 pound baby carrots
1/2 pound frozen chopped broccoli
2 potatoes
1 cup TVP (optional)
6-8 cups vegetable broth
(or 6-8 cups water, and 6-8 cubes vegetable bouillon)
1 tablespoon dehydrated chopped onion
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon MSG
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1/8 teaspoon dill weed
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
2 bay leaves
Olive oil

Chop the baby carrots into 3rds.  Allow Mountain to chop a few; cringe while supervising.  Peel the potatoes; chop the potatoes in half the long way, then slice thin.  Put the vegetables into a crock pot; add enough water to cover.  Crush up bouillon cubes and stir into the soup.  Ask Mountain to sniff various herbs and spices, to see which should go into the soup.  Cook on "high" for 3 hours.  Serve, adding olive oil to taste.

Notes: the TVP was ultimately rejected by Mountain, who ate around it.

Cheesy Potato and Broccoli Comfort Casserole

2 tbsp flour
1 (13.5 oz) can coconut milk
5/6 cup nutritional yeast (because fuck you)
2 tsp spicy brown mustard
1 tsp paprika

Whisk flour with coconut milk in small saucepan, then cook over medium heat until sauce thickens and bubbles.  Remove from heat, stir in other shit, cover.



1 cup pork-flavored dry TVP
1 cup water
½ bag of frozen chopped onions and celery
5 cloves garlic, big-ass ones
1 lb chopped broccoli
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes with chilis
2lb potato fries/hash browns (precooking optional for more crispy texture)
1-2 tbsp hot sauce

Preheat oven to 350º.  Spray bottom of casserole dish with oil, cuz reasons.

Mix ham bits and water to soak.

Sautee onion.  Mince garlic and add to onions.

Realize you forgot to thaw broccoli.  Pour it into pan and warm it in oven for 10 minutes.

Pour fries out over broccoli.

Mix all remaining ingredients with cheesy sauce, and then pour over casserole.

Bake 45 minutes.

Inspired by Nutritional Yeast Cheese Sauce on Our Fresh Kitchen and Flavorful Tater Tot Casserole on AllRecipies.com.

Found Item Soup

5 1/2 cups water
3 cubes vegetable bouillon (or 3 cups broth replacing 3 cups water)
1.5 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp dehydrated onion
1 tbsp oregano
2 tsp paprika
some tarragon
1 tbsp chives
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp coarse ground black pepper
1 cup pork flavor dry TVP
1/2 cup very finely chopped cilantro stems
4 dried chili peppers
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with chilis
1 (10 oz) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/2 cup unflavored dry TVP
1/2 lb frozen sweet corn
1 lb can refried beans
1/2 lb frozen broccoli
3 cups frozen diced potatoes

Combine in slow cooker; cook on low till you get hungry, 4-8 hours.