Iron Chef Challenge #1

Beetroot. I do not like it. (I probably am the most pickiest vegan!) But I only know it as going in salads and being covered in vinegar, and the purple just put me off I guess. Food shouldn't be purple unless its a cake! I remember seeing something about a beetroot risotto somewhere on the internet a few months ago though and well it sounded like the easiest thing ever. For some strange reason I'd actually picked up beetroot on the weekly shop, purely because I was intrigued to see if I still hated it and it was just a happy coincidence it was the secret ingredient for this weeks Iron Chef Challenge.

Alright alright, i know!I got it pre-done in a box, it's my own fault it was soaked in vinegar and whatever else you want to rub in my face! Plus the annoying fact I was stupid enough to let it stain my hands, although I suppose that didn't matter since I went on to tie dye some sheets purple after this. 

I must admit it was pretty exciting mixing the beetroot, garlic and onions in and for the rice to take on this colour. Not going to lie, I felt like I was about to eat princess food...

To avoid the risotto breaking or getting too dry i added 4 tablespoons of soya cream and 4 tablespoons of Tofutti cream cheese. There was still that slight hint of vinegar but it went just right! This was also ready in 20 minutes, unlike the 1 hour or so it usually takes to do risotto. 

Mix and Match

Friday is always food shop day, and I'd already had in mind what i wanted for dinner. It was going to be a pesto risotto. So happily walking around Tesco, come to the aisle with all the glorious different types of pesto (seriously you wouldn't believe how many different types there are). The first i pick up it has milk in, a little peeved off but hey ho, I'm sure the next one will be fine. Five different brands later and they are swimming in milk or egg and some even had fish in. After checking 12 of them i was in a fit of rage, probably because i have a very short fuse but it meant i had to change the whole dish i wanted to cook. I mean yes i could have made the pesto myself but... well i don't have a good reason, but it's Friday, I don't want to spend the whole evening in the kitchen especially with a damn cold.
So i search high and low for something of similar nature, mainly something green but there is nothing at all. I already had some gnocchi, courgettes, soy cream and pine nuts in the trolley (amongst other goods) so i thought of what could work with it...

Yes...Green Thai curry paste. Now you're thinking, she must be mad, curry paste with pasta?! Who would ever do that!
I'm a bit funny when it comes to doing things right, I'll never follow a recipe how it is supposed to and I'll make it up all on the spot. But I believe when one ingredient says it has to be in the form of one thing, I must challenge it to be something more.

{I try to put pine nuts into anything I cook right now as well, they're just so moreish!} 

I adore cooking with gnocchi because it's so quick and easy, you really cannot go wrong with it, and also it tastes great with literally anything. I used 3 heaped teaspoons on the curry paste and added about half a cup of soy cream as I'm not a massive fan of food that burns my tongue off. 

And there we have it, ready in 6 minutes!