Vegan Stroganoff
for Environment911.org
March 12, 2021

Traditional Beef Stroganoff gets a vegan twist with this all-mushroom version of the classic dish

There was a restaurant in my neighborhood that made a Chicken Stroganoff years ago, and I think that was the last time I had Stroganoff. I don’t enjoy beef, and tend to eat vegetarian, but the other day I saw a photo of Stroganoff and thought: I bet I can veganize this.

The results were even better than I imagined. Not only was it quick and super easy, but it was also hearty and filling—and I used a mix of mushrooms that I really enjoyed (I can’t wait to try it with seasonal ones like morels and chanterelles).

INGREDIENTS

- 2 tablespoons vegan butter
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups mushrooms, cleaned, chopped, variety of your choice
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 3/4 cup vegetable stock
- 2 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp flour
- Fresh thyme (or dried)
- 1/4 cup plain vegan yogurt or sour cream
- Salt and pepper
- 4 oz pasta, your choice, but a wide noodle is best (and make sure it doesn’t contain eggs if you're doing strictly vegan)
- 1 tbsp parsley, chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until just al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, melt the vegan butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and sauté for a few minutes, then add the garlic, thyme and the mushrooms.
Continue cooking until the mushrooms have softened (5 minutess or more, depending on the type of mushrooms used).

Add the white wine and deglaze the pan, then simmer.
In a bowl, whisk the flour with the stock and Worcestershire sauce until smooth. Then add to the skillet gradually, whisking as you go until incorporated, and the sauce begins to thicken.
Remove from heat and let stand for a minute, and then add in the vegan yogurt or sour cream, salt and pepper, cooked pasta and stir together.

Season to taste (add more thyme or salt and pepper if needed), then plate and top with chopped parsley.

Makes 2 servings

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My heart is heavy once again - we lost Indy last week.
Though he wasn't mine (I walked him frequently for his humans), the amount of time I got to spend with him over the last 2.5 years brought me such joy.

He'll never know how much he helped me through 2020 and isolation. When I couldn't see people I still got to see him and it was something to look forward to. He was and excellent model and was always up for a photo shoot, in between endless ball tosses.
I'll miss his snuggles, his excited squeaks when I showed up at his door, and his handsome face and rotating bowties.
You were a very good boy, Indyman.
March 10, 2021

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Cassandra Anderton
at Pourhouse Restaurant
February 19, 2021

Another pic from the food and wine photo shoot that I did with Cassandra of Good Life Vancouver at Pourhouse restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The window lighting in the restaurant was brilliant for the food photography, as well as the couple of portraits that I took of Cassandra beside it.
Hopefully I get to keep doing some more of these food and drink photographs, as it is nice to take photos of food that I didn’t cook myself, and spend some time with awesome people. (Plus, snacks!)

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“The Queen” Burger
Pourhouse Restaurant
February 19, 2021

”The Queen" burger paired with red wine at Pourhouse restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia.
I'm not a huge burger person, but at least when I'm doing food photography, I know the restaurants in Vancouver are going to present me with a stunner of a meal to take pics of. This was from another food and wine photo shoot that I did with Cassandra of Good Life Vancouver.
I think the colouring on the bun with the sesame seeds is my favourite part of this shot.

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Wine & Food Photoshoot with Cassandra Anderton of Good Life Vancouver
Forage, Restaurant
January 28, 2021