January’s Four Seasons Food ‘Virtuous’ WHOPPER Round-Up!
February 2, 2014
You virtuous, healthy eating lot you! I honestly had no idea at the response we’d get with a ‘Virtuous’ theme. But Fifty Nine entries later I can confirm it was quite a whopper of a response. Clearly you’re all being exceptionally well behaved after the festive indulgence, but I wonder if that’ll continue into February!. Just saying. Writes the lady with tea and cheesy crumpets to hand as she writes.
I had a bit of a think a few days ago as to who I might ask to do the Four Seasons honours and pick out a winning recipe. I didn’t have to think long. Who would you consider to be the most ‘virtuous’ blogger out there in the blogosphere? Well I’m betting most of you, well those that know, her anyway, would be quick to name Kellie. Kellie of the fabulously inspiring not to mention stunningly gorgeous blog Food to Glow. And luckily for me she very kindly agreed to do the deed, please do read through to see her chosen winning recipe and what she had to say about it.
And being that I have fifty nine entries to round up I’ve decided to go for the minimal approach this month. I’m going to attempt to sum up each of the posts in just three words, without using the word virtuous once. I did say attempt. For an overly wordy person like myself this is going to be a tough challenge in itself, but here goes….
Hearty, Winter, Goodliness
Simply Sensational Food: Broccoli and Potato Curry
Punjabi, Aromatic, Deliciousness
Caroline Makes: Slimming World Tiramisu
Genius, Diet, Tiramisu
I’d Much Rather Bake Than: Chicken and Bacon Pearl Barley Bake
Ryvita, Barley, Guilt-free
Birmingham Student Foodie: Oven-Baked Bubble and Squeak
Baked, Veggietastic, Loveliness
My Kitchen Odyssey: Guacamole Made from Scratch
Dip-tastic, Healthy, Mexican
The More Than Occasional Baker: Banana, Cranberry, Pecan & Oat Muffins
Muffin-tastic, Goodliness, Healthful
Cooking Without Kitchen: Okra with Instant Stir-Fry Masala / Bharli Bhindi
Stuffed Okra Deliciousness
Caroline Makes: Broccoli, Courgette & Stilton Soup
Sneaky, Super, Soup
Eat Your Veg: A Simple Chicken, Pearl Barley & Veggie Stew
Simplicity, Comforting, Nutritious
How to Cook Good Food: A Salad of Spiced Oranges, Dates, Green Olives & Parsley
Moroccon, Zing, Refreshing
Caroline Makes: Mini Oreo Cheesecakes, Slimming World Style
Naughty, Low-Fat, Low-Syn
Citrus Spice: Five Minute Pasta Salad
Colourful, Delicious, Sunshine
The More Than Occasional Baker: Olive Oil Cake with Rosemary and Chocolate
Fabulous Flavour Combination!
Eat Your Veg: Chocolate Avocado Mousse
Child Deception Rocks!
Veggie Desserts: Healthy Avocado Oat Cookies with Raisins
I’ve been OUTDONE!
Kellie’s Food to Glow: Citrus and Roasted Winter Vegetable Salad with Pomegranate Dressing
Stunning, Vibrant, Mouthwatering
The Gluten Free Alchemist: Butternut, Quinoa & Pine Nut Patties
Wonderful, Wholesome, Flavour-packed
Veggie Desserts: Cinnamon Kale Chips
Snack-tastic, Crispy, Ingenuity
Caroline Makes: Slimming World-Style Low Fat Chocolate Swiss Roll
Syn-less, Quark, Choc-Hit!
Spices Galore: Chipotle Black Bean Soup with Orange and Red Onion Salsa
Smoky, Store-cupboard, Heartiness
The More Than Occasional Baker: Yorkshire Tea Biscuit or Fat Rascal
Pretty, Fruity, Yummy
Fuss Free Flavours: Spiced Buckwheat & Oat Porridge with Coconut & Carrot
Best, Breakfast, Ever?
Chocolate Log Blog: Paprika and Cocoa Roasted Cauliflower
Intriguingly Brilliant Combination!
Nutritious Deliciousness: Pea Pesto
Peatastic, Creamy, Yumminess
Dinner with Crayons: Quick-a-Leekie Easy Leek and Potato Soup
Classic, Warming, Loveliness
Detoxifying, Comforting, Warming
Rachel Cotterill: Mushroom & Kale Cannelloni
Satisfying, Kale-Liscious, Frugal
Caroline Makes: Indian Vegetable Curry
Creamy, Veggie-tastic, Curry-licious
The More Than Occasional Baker: Orange Squash Cupcakes
Gluten-Free, Fat-Free, Treat-Perfect
Bangers & Mash: Sweet and Sour Winter Salad
Crunchy, Zingy, Taste-Bud-Tickle
Tinned Tomatoes: Savoury Lentil and Bean Stew
Hearty, Vegan, Satisfying
Heart-Warming, Greek, Comforting
My Kitchen Odyssey: Raagi Semiya / Raagi sevai/ Raagi Upma
Nutritrious, Healthy, Grain-licious
Feeding Boys and a Firefighter: Spicy Thai Noodle Soup
Zingy, Noodly, Fragrancy
Fab Food 4 All: Apple, Grape and Kiwi Quencher
Juicy, Quenching, Goodliness
Coconuty, Lemony, Rice-liciousness
Bangers and Mash: Winter Minestrone with Panchetta
Wintery, Smoky, Veggie-licious
Knead Whine: Parsnip, Apple & Leek Soup
Soupy, Fruity, Comforting
The More Than Occasional Baker: Apple, Pear and Raspberry Yoghurt Muffins
Fruity, Wholesome, Treaty
Franglais Kitchen: Braised Poussin with Baby Vegetables in Chilli and Lime Broth
Romantic, Luchito, Sublimity
Eat Your Veg: Better For You Apricot, Coconut and Plain Chocolate Cookies
Yumtious, Treaty, Nutritious
The Spicy Pear: Carrot and Courgette Fritters
Frittery, Scrummy, Goodliness
Caroline Makes: Spinach, Cottage Cheese and Roasted Garlic Cannelloni
Low-Fat, Tasty, Slimming-World
Chip Butties and Noodle Soup: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Ras el Hanout
Nourishing, Spicy, Comforting
Caroline Makes: Vietnamese Prawn Stir-Fry
Kicking, Slimming, Noodle-liciousness
Allotment 2 Kitchen: Vegetable Chilli Pot
Cheery, Wintery, Hugging
Nutritious Deliciousness: Walnut and Lentil Pate
Nutty, Nutritious, Delicious
Eat Your Veg: Thai Style Root Veggie Curry
Root-tastic, Creamy, Sunshine
Jibber Jabber: Slow Cooker Carrot and Coriander Soup
Vegan, Warming, Classic
The Taste Space: Vegan Cheesy Chickpea Dip with Coconut Bacon
Intriguing, Coconut-Bacon, Must-be-Tried!
Caroline Makes: Yorkshire Curd Tarts
Weightwatchers, Tarty, Yumminess
Deena Kakaya: Spicy Paneer Wontons in a gentle Spinach Soup
Soothing, Wonton-tastic, Gorgeousness
Kellies Food to Glow: Broccoli, Cheese and Sweet Potato Gozleme
Moreish, Turkish, Scrumptious
Family-Friends-Food: Egg & Dairy-Free Spiced Apple & Raisin Cupcakes
Vegan, Fruity, Yummy
Tales from the Kitchen Shed: Slow Cooker Guernsey Bean Jar
Newbie-to-me, Blues-Banishing, Hearty
Snackilicious, Green, Goodliness
Vohn’s Vittles: Haggis and Scallops on Pea Puree
Burns-Twist, Heavenly, Delightful
Ren Behan: Shredded Chicken Pancakes for Chinese New Year
Genius, Healthier, Pancake-tasticness!
Phew! That was quite a round-up. And so much healthy, virtuous deliciousness I’m quite frankly ravenous. An enormous thanks to everyone that took part, you’ve once again blown me away with your inspired, beautiful, seasonal and downright delightful food. Special mention should be made to one busy lady, Caroline of Caroline Makes, who linked up a staggering eight low-fat entries this month!
As with each month we have to choice a winner to feature in our Winners Galleries. This is where I hand you over to the Virtuous Queen herself, Kellie of Food to Glow, this is what Kellie had to say:
“my clear favourite was from the Gluten Free Alchemist - Butternut Squash, Quinoa and Pine Nuts Patties. I would make them with the brown basmati and the quinoa, rather than including also the suggested black Thai rice. Other than that I wouldn’t change a thing. Lovely balance of textures and flavours, and beautifully described to make you want to rush to the kitchen. I will be making this recipe soon!”
So there we go, well done Kate, a wonderful winning entry. I so had my eye on your tasty patties too! You will now be duly placed in our Winners Galleries. And thanking you very kindly Kellie for taking on the onerous task of picking this month’s winner, very much appreciated.
Well that’s it for January folks, thanks again to everyone that took part in a wonderful whopping month. Anneli has already opened the February event over at Delicieux, so do drop by to see what she has in store for you all this month!
Louisa x
Brilliant round up. I think I’d find it harder to sum each entry in three words than write an essay on each one!
Brilliant round-up Louisa. I love your three word summaries! I’m bookmarking almost all of these! Vohn x
There’s some amazing entries aren’t there? Totally impressed!
Me too, but needs must! If I wrote my normal ramble I’d still be writing the round-up in March!
Loving the three-word summaries - pithy and so accurate! I was very pleased to be asked to pick this month’s winner. Virtuous I am not but I had a great/difficult time narrowing down my favourites from this bumper list of wonderful-looking recipes. Other than the winner I also really liked the Spicy Paneer Wontons in Spinach Soup from Deena Kakaya and Cooking Without Kitchen’s Stuffed Okra - on my list!
what an utterly brilliant round-up, so many new recipes to try!
I went through the entire round-up. There are so many new food options to try out. Thanks for hosting.
Woowzer! Great round up Lou! So many lovely recipes to try
Nayna’s potatoes are on my list for quite a while now!
I love how you tackled this round-up Louisa, and there are so many tempting recipes I want to try out. Well done, you did an amazing job!
A mammoth round up - it must have taken you ages. I’ve got my eye on that tasty-looking pea pesto and so many others. Thanks for including me. Ren x
Wow, what an amazing and inspiring selection of healthy recipes Louisa! Very deftly rounded up too. Have to admit I’m now craving puds with custard and pies for Feb, but I think (for the sake of my waist and arteries) it may be a good idea to fit a good few of these dishes in too.
Gosh what a round-up. Well done. Healthy these recipes maybe, but they all look so delicious, I have knife, fork and spoon all ready to tuck in.
far too many amazing recipes there! I’ll probably stick to trying something simple like the kale seaweed!
I. Am. Hungry.
Janie x
Well done Lou! Epic round up…very well executed :0 And well done you for so many entries as well. Sorry I missed the deadline. xx
Superb round up of amazing entries.
Nice roundup Lou. Thanks for including me
Wow what a fantastic collection of recipes. I had my eye on those patties, so definitely the right winner. So many dishes I would like to recreate at home.
Wow! You must have needed a long lie down in a dark room after writing up this little lot! Some amazingly virtuous recipes in there; think I’ll be bookmarking a fair few. And such an inspired ‘three word’ summary technique!!!
What an AMAZING round up! And an incredible bunch of cooks out there. I have my eye on the carrot & courgette fritters………… I am so excited to have earned a place in the winners gallery, especially amongst so much talent. Thank you so much!
what a super mega store of healthy recipes! lovely inspiration here for me thanks Louisa x
Great round up, there are so many really tasty recipes. GG