The Vegetarian Epicure

Having enjoyed yesterday’s vegetarian time travel I thought I’d take another trip .

This time, back to 1972 with The Vegetarian Epicure by Anna Thomas. Mine’s a second hand copy purchased for £1.

Although appearing 10 years earlier than the Cranks book, it seems more contemporary, perhaps due to being written in Los Angeles. Even so, people still expressed puzzlement to the author over what it actually was that vegetarians ate.

Rather than hand thrown, it’s hand rolled that defines this era.
In the section On Entertaining – in case you were given to fretting over such things – advice is offered on how to time courses to take care of the hunger that can strike when ‘you have passed a joint around before dinner… and will most likely pass another one after ….’

But as it’s tomatoes I grow, let’s see what I could magic up 70′s West Coast style…..

To add to the stuffed tomatoes options – Hot Tomatoes a la Provencale and Tomatoes Dal and Dill – which as I love dahl sounds delicious.

Polish Tomatoes – onion, basil, dill, parsley with an oil and wine vinegar dressing.

Aubergine Tomato Casserole – a gratin really and none the worse for that.

Tomato and Chili sauce for enchiladas which would surely have been a tongue twister and mouth burner in one for those of us accustomed only to the exoticness of a Findus Crispy Pancake .

Simple Tomato Sauce for Pasta includes green pepper which I would have to argue with but Creamed Tomato Soup with Cognac might just get me to throw away the tin opener, the Heinz and retry home made.  Tomatoes, onions, basil, 1 pint of double cream and 4 – 5 tablespoons of cognac…..

All I need now are flowers in my hair……