As I write this, I’m deliriously tired. I haven’t been so sleep deprived since my kids were newborn babies. Instead of having a wonderful Christmas with my parents, we all contracted a very severe flu. I’ve been on a near 24 hour watch nursing my children through a case of influenza that nearly put one child in hospital because for several days they couldn’t keep anything down, not even water.
To make things worse I used the internet to do all our Christmas shopping and had “Santa” deliver everything on the lists to my parent’s home (5 hours away) instead of ours. So our Christmas was very bleak and dismal indeed. I tried to pull a Christmas Eve miracle with goods and groceries from the local store. Thank goodness my children were too delirious to care much about what was under the tree, but I was angry and miserable. How could this happen on Christmas?
Needless to say, it took me a bit to get into the Christmas Spirit. I realize we are a very fortunate family and have more than many in the world. I’m a stay at home mom and have been able to care for my children and give them comfort when they needed it most. Neighbors dropped off special gifts for them and have called to check on us regularly. We’ve had some relapses and are slowly recovering. Today we had this glorious soup (the only blog worthy meal I’ve created in the last 10 days).
Creamy Satay Soup with Tasty Baked Tofu
For the Creamy Satay Soup:
- 1 diced onion
- 1 diced carrot
- 1 diced red bell pepper
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 2 T. minced fresh ginger
- 4 C. vegetable stock
- 1/2 C. brown basmati rice
- 1/4 C. chopped cilantro
- 2 T. agave
- 2 T. soy sauce
- 2 T. lime juice
- 2 t. curry powder
- 1/2 C. natural chunky peanut butter
- 1 can coconut milk
This might be the best tofu I’ve ever eaten! Even the “not fans of tofu” people will drool over it.
For the Tasty Baked Tofu:
- 1 block extra firm tofu
- 1/4 C. organic ketchup
- 2 T. agave
- 1 T. olive oil
- 1/2 t. ground black pepper
- 2 T. soy sauce
- 1 T. apple cider vinegar
- 1 t. sriracha hot sauce
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1 t. minced ginger
- 2 T. chopped cilantro
- 1 t. liquid smoke (optional)
One of my favorite Christmas presents! The insanely awesome Tofu Xpress
Method: First press the tofu for 30 minutes or so to remove liquid (this can be done before prep and initial cook time). In a large pot, water saute the veggies for the soup until the onion is translucent. Add all other ingredients to the pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, put the lid on the pot and reduce heat to a simmer. This will need to simmer for about 45 minutes. While the soup is simmering, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Remove tofu from the press and slice into pieces. Put all the marinade ingredients in a small lidded jar and shake til combined. Put tofu back into the press and pour marinade over it.
Let absorb flavors for a few minutes, then pour out tofu and marinade onto a baking sheet (mine is lined with a knock off silpat).
Put tofu into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, turning once during baking.
Serve tofu over the top of the soup and garnish with some crushed peanuts and chopped cilantro if desired.
This recipe is featured on the Virtual Vegan Linky Potluck
Vedged Out 
I have got to remember to put that press on my kitchen wish list! So glad everyone is mending.. Feeling for you!
It’ll rock your tofu world! I had no idea what I was missing out on til’ I received this baby 🙂 Thanks for your sweetness and comments on facebook too. Time to make the blogging rounds in between coughing fits 😉 xx
I am so sorry that your Christmas was overshadowed by the flu! It is really bad this year. Someone in my office came down with the flu and was out for a week. He came back to work and a couple of days later was back home in bed.
Hope everyone is back to excellent health very soon and feeling as good as your soup looks 🙂
That’s crazy, it’s been exactly our experience, I thought we were on the mend, then pow, somehow it knocked us down again. It’s good to hear from you Debbie! Thanks for your well wishes, I’m sure we’ll be better soon.
Oh no your poor family, being ill at Christmas is more than dismal. I hope you are all recovering and manage to have a postponed celebration when you all feel better (I’m sure the soup will help ;-)). I wish you and your family and very happy and healthy New Year xxxx
Thanks Lucy, we’re going to try and take a break and head down to my parents once we are feeling better. Happy New Years to you too 🙂
A celebration to look forward to – fab!
What a drag! I’m so sorry your plans went so poorly and that your family has been so ill. You are *such* a good mommy too stay up so long despite your own fluishness, to mother hen your children! Glad you have such great friends to help out where they could. It’s nice to know that people care about you and are there when you’re feeling dreadful.
Thanks for braving the internet to share this recipe. I’m so psyched to try it, and I won’t be waiting on a flu to do so.
We are in better spirits even if not fully recovered. Thanks for the sweet comments. Hope you enjoy the soup 🙂
I’m so sorry to hear you’ve all been so sick. Take good care, Somer!
xo
kittee
Thanks Kittee! Happy New Year my dear 🙂 xx
oh no.. i am so sorry that you all have been sick. feel better super soon. I remember a few years back i got flu 4 times in 2 months. it was nasty, luckily my mom was around to pump in fluids into me and hubbs learnt a few soup recipes from her.
Take care and have a good new year eve and a healthy 2013!. this soup looks wonderful.
4 times in 2 months? I wonder if we’ve reinfected ourselves somehow because I thought it would be over at this point. Oh girl. Here’s to wishing for a healthy and happy new year.
YUM! this would translate well to our Aussie summer…sorry you have been sick…I know that most of the U.K. is sick as well and I dare say it will be me feeling ill in about 6 months. Lots of spicy soup with heaps of turmeric in it should hit the virus where it hurts! I hope you are all feeling better soon and Happy New Year 🙂
I’ve heard the news about the flu being rampant in the UK. Here in the US it’s hit earlier than usual. Unfortunately my kids aren’t into lots of spice, but we are slamming lots of green smoothies. Happy New Year to you too Fran.
My kids drink a lethal cocktail (lethal to the germs) of chilli, fresh ginger, lots of garlic, turmeric and bunches of green things that seems to give them a bit of an edge. Green smoothies are my new morning ritual. I have swapped oatmeal for green smoothies over summer and to help deal with my spinach explosion ;). Sorry to hear that your family have the flu…as I said, I dare say we will get it in June BUT we have 1 thing going for us…we are hermits 😉
Being hermits does help. I think the area we live in has a higher kid population than most places on earth 😉 Glad you jumped on the green smoothie train. It’s good stuff. That cocktail does sound lethal. I’m sure I could get it down, but a 4 and 9 year old…. not so much 😉
When they are sick…their resistance is low! 😉
So sorry about your Christmas! We were hit hard with the flu too – though not as severe – but the kids did ask to nap, then go to bed early on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (that never happens). Now it’s my turn and my husband’s. Hopefully the new year brings much better health to us all.
I love satay. I am one of those not a fan of tofu.. But anything you make is worth a try.
Rough, but one we’ll remember. I hope you don’t get hit too hard. I didn’t get hit as hard as the kids, which I was grateful for. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to care for them.
Satay is one of my favorites, I honestly think if I made you this tofu, you’d eat it….and like it 😉
Just tonight the small kid started up again – she was the first to come down with it and seems to be getting it again. Yay! Just finished scraping off the bathroom floor again. Hopefully this is just a quick passing bug.
Oh man oh man. That’s just what happened to us. For reals? I’ve never had a virus rebound on us like this. Bless your heart. At least the bigger kids make it to the bathroom, even if it does end up on the floor. Sending you virtual hugs and get well vibes.
Oh girl…I’m so sorry. The timing was just unreal. Hope you all are nicely on the mend. Time to kick 2012 to the curb and prepare for an awesome 2013!
The soup looks out of this world!! I made seitan satay over Christmas and loved it, but in soup – and with that yummy tofu – yowza!
Oh, seitan satay! Did you make the seitan yourself? That sounds like a fantastic idea, and it would be lovely as kebabs with peppers mushrooms and onions. Mmmm.
Yes, 2013 I’m going to go all super immune 🙂
Oh, Somer, broke my heart to read this. We went through this very same thing a couple of years ago. Wrecked the whole holiday break. (On the upside, the kids didn’t miss a single day of school.) A vomiting virus is a horrible thing to have hit the whole family. Glad to hear you are all recovered.
You are an awesome mom, Christmas or no Christmas. And it sounds like you are blessed with some awesome mom neighbors too! Relish it.
PS — Mmm…coconut and curry go with peanut butter even better than chocolate. I’d TOTALLY buy that in candy form (as long as it was vegan).
Thinking of you! Happy (illness-free) New Year!
You are cracking me up. Don’t know if I would like this as a candy bar 😉 The kids pediatrician said that they would be contagious for 10 days after their fever breaks, which puts them back at school exactly at the end of the break. Any ideas for bored to tears kids. I won’t take them out of the house. I don’t want to share this with anyone. xoxo
Make Christmas ornaments for next year? LOL
http://www.junkmailgems.com/DIY_Ornament.html
I feel for you, woman. No fun having not-sick-anymore-but-not-well-enough-to-throw-them-outside bored kids at home for the holidays. If it helps, my kids are bored too. Already. Geez.
Ohhh, good idea, my kids would love that, especially since our tree is looking a little ratty with old and partly broken ornaments (puppy and a 3 year old last year tag teamed the tree). Funny that your kids are bored too. I had grand ideas to do all these crafts, but I’m just too worn out 😉
Mmm this certainly sounds delicious, I’ll have to try it!
Do you think I can substitute cashew butter instead of peanut butter and still get a similar taste? I see peanuts in a lot of vegan recipes these days, and my boyfriend has an allergy to peanuts, walnuts, and pecans.
Can he have almonds? While cashews would be delicious, almonds butter would match the taste more. 🙂
well jell of your tofu press, im gonna get one, at the moment i use a giant chunky art book and I feel sooo bad about ho many papper towls i have to use. Hope you feel better soon 😦
That paper towel thing totally got to me too…. One of my friends uses clean kitchen towels…. The tofu press is really incredible!
I really want one, I would eat so much tofu though if i had one, wait thats not too bad a thing!
I love all of your recipes that you share here.. Thank you and have a great new year ahead!
Thanks 🙂
The baked tofu looks delicious, I can’t wait to try it as soon as the stores reopen in the New Year. And I’ve got to get myself one of those tofu presses, I’m going to google it as soon as I’ve posted this comment. I hope you are all feeling better, there’s been a sickness bug making it’s way around the UK too and everyone has been miserable over Christmas. I’ve managed to avoid it so far (touch wood), which I’m putting down to my plant-based eating. Happy New Year!
There’s a link under the photo above. It’s well worth the expense. The tofu turns out amazingly! Stay well. We eat plant based entirely and it didn’t save us 😦 I’m blaming it on living in a neighborhood with hundreds of children and not enough hand washing.
I’m surprised I didn’t catch it this weekend. On Friday I stayed at my friend’s house and her youngest son apparently started throwing up just after I left. Then on Saturday my godson came to stay with me and he was up coughing all night. Fingers crossed I’ve managed to avoid it. I checked out the link for the tofu press, thanks for that. I will probably order that one and get it shipped from the US as unfortunately you can’t buy them here in the UK 😦
Your soup looks awesome – can’t wait to try and had to pin! – but what a sad Christmas story. Glad you are all on the mend, and that you got to enjoy your Tofu Xpress. LOVE mine; it might be the greatest invention ever for veg-heads. Happy new year! 🙂
It totally is the best invention for veg heads! I have another block in the fridge ready to go for dinner. I love this thing!
Oooh this looks so yummy!! So sorry you were so ill during the Holidays. Hope you’re all feeling better now! During cold & flu season I always add some raw garlic to a smoothie (once a week or so, if ill a lot more often) and this kills off infections like no one’s business. Ginger also helps thin the blood a little & gets rid of headaches. Onion also helps & lemon. So I put all these into a fruity smoothie & say goodbye to illnesses!!
I forget about things like raw garlic at times like these, but we have been pounding the smoothies. I’ll take these tips and use them. Thanks!
Reblogged this on spicy sprout and commented:
this looks yummy!
Yay! Thanks!
Sorry you’ve all been sick. I was around a lot of sick family members during the holidays and thought I would get the flu but have somehow managed to avoid it. I hope you’re on the mend now. Thanks for the review of the tofu press. I looked into getting one this past year but didn’t know if it worked and was worth it. I’d be happy to get rid of the heavy pot full of water that I precariously place on my tofu to drain! I’ve had some kitchen disasters with my current method! Happy New Year and let’s try to meet at some point in 2013 — I live in Farmington.
Glad you stayed well. My littlest is still sick, so we’re working our way there, unfortunately his illness has been keeping him up all night, and I’ve been up with him. Delirium is setting in 😉
Oh Laurie, you would LOVE this tofu press. I didn’t imagine it would make such a difference, but the results are marked. It’s a kitchen gadget that is totally worthwhile. Pressing for a few hours is recommended but even 20 minutes will release nearly a cup of liquid from an all ready drained block of tofu. The end product is much firmer and somehow tastier. Yes, we need to meet up! I can’t wait to get to know you bettter 🙂
I’m SO, so sorry to hear about all of you guys getting so sick Somer. 😦 That makes me feel so bad for y’all. We were all sick too…but not nearly to the degree you all have been. That sucks! I sure pray that y’all feel better really soon. On another note, your soup looks so freaking delicious and I bet would make anybody feel better after a bowl. You always have the best ingredients and flavors!!!
Thanks Brandi. You are so sweet. Sorry to hear you guys weren’t well either. Disappointing when you want Christmas to be magical for the kids and instead it’s miserable, it’s one we’ll remember for sure. The soup was good, but unfortunately didn’t cure us 😉 xx
Wow – that looks AMAZING! Definitely a recipe to try out 🙂 Get well soon. We were sick over Christmas as well!! (but all the way over in New Zealand!)
I love dishes like these and I am sure it warmed you up… Hope you and your family get better soon… its normally a time of the year I get a bit sick, but this year I have been feeling good 🙂 Hope you had a nice Christmas and New Year 🙂
Sorry to hear the sickness in your family put a damper on Christmas! I hope your kids are all better now, nothing worse than seeing your children ill. I love creamy soups, peanut butter and tofu, so this looks like a winning combination to me!
We finally left the house for the first time yesterday, it was *almost* like leaving prison 😉 If you love all those things, this soup is definitely for you!
Waw! What an amazing & tasty recipe! So very filling too! 🙂 MMMMMM! I must make that tasty tofu baked recipe! looks really tasty! Happy 2013!! Hugs too!
Thanks Sophie! Enjoy the tofu, it’s super good!
Your blog is amazing! Inspiring and everything looks delicious—just in time for the new year. Thanks for the like on my blog—I’m so happy to find yours 🙂
Oh Somer I am so sorry to hear that your Fam was so sick during the Holidays – that is never fun 😦 Hopefully everyone is on the mend!
That tofu alone has me drooling, then you added it to an amazing soup – totally blog worthy!
Still have one little one down and out, but the rest of us are well now thank goodness. I wish I had a giant bowl of this right now! Thanks girl!
Ugh! I’m so sorry everyone was so sick, and how scary to have to take your child to the hospital. I hope everyone’s on the mend. Take care and happy new year! One of my resolutions is to try your tahini recipe. 🙂
So sorry to hear about your whole family being sick! I’m just now catching up. That really stinks, after all the preparation to not be able to enjoy the day. Hope everyone is back up to speed! This soup sounds absolutely amazing! I’m definitely trying this. And your new toy is pretty intriguing as well. At least Santa delivered something cool when you did get it!
This looks so good but more importantly I am SO sorry to hear about your struggles over Christmas! Glad you are feeling better but man, what a tough test! I’ve been just slammed over here and am crazy behind with my blog reading – sending you loads of energy for a great month of getting healthy and back to killing it 🙂 XO
I am definitely going to make this ~ thank you SO much for sharing it here. And oh my goodness what a horrible time you all went through, and at Christmas? Absolutely awful. Thank heaven’s you’re all mending beautifully now, into the second week of the new year. All the best! ~Gina
I’m so sorry to hear that you and your family were so ill over Christmas! I hope you all are doing much better!
This soup looks amazing and I’m so jealous- I want a tofu press so bad! 🙂
Love, love, love your recipes! Best baked tofu, best soups…thanks so much!!! I found your vegedout post on a facebook davis trail running group. So nice to find like-minded people.
I made this for dinner tonight in the crock pot. It was great. I didn’t have basmati rice, but I did have black japonica rice, which was wonderful in the soup (and it held up really well in the crock pot).
Next time, I will add another carrot and probably another bell pepper, I did feel like it was a little short on veggies, but I think I usually prefer more of a stew to soup.
Can’t wait to make it again!
My tofu press arrived last week and I got to try it for the first time this weekend. One word review – amazing! We have to pester people in the UK until they stock them here too. Thanks for the recipe Somer, the baked tofu tastes awesome!
absolutely fabulous!!! Awesome winter soup!
Thanks!
yum! looks delicious and so perfect for winter.. love it!
This is good. We had a charity fundraiser at work—a soup sale. People loved it, and we raised a bunch of money for the Soup Ladies. Thanks!
Next time, I will leave the oil out of the marinade, I think it will soak it up better. 20 minutes in the oven didn’t brown the tofu—next time I’ll bake it longer, or fry it in a pan.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’ll check the bake time on the tofu. It’s possible my oven runs hot.