My earliest musical memories center around jazz and food: popcorn by the fire on blustery winter nights warmed by the playful yet melancholy piano of Vince Guaraldi (and good as it is, I’m not talking about that Charlie Brown stuff); the family hanging together in the kitchen eating stinky Italian olives and even stinkier provolone cheese to the funky genius of Thelonious Monk; dad manning the grill on soft summer evenings with the windows open wide and the pure, octave-defying notes of Cleo Laine or Swingin’ Miss D gracing the warm breezes. And there was always some Fats Waller, Dave Brubeck, Charlie Byrd, Django Reinhart (not to mention Stephane Grappelli), and Billie Holiday to be heard. Those early tunes gilded my childhood memories and no doubt influenced the music choices I would later make.
I went on to teach myself piano (not very well, I’m afraid) and play the cornet (also badly) in junior high and high school; I sang in the choir and in a quartet – but I was much better at listening to music than making it. I’ll leave the music-making to talented folks like Laura Theodore, who not only has amazing pipes, but is a talented chef, cookbook author, and an engaging TV and radio personality. Being a music lover and vegan, how could I not be awed by someone calling herself the Jazzy Vegetarian? And – – she’s a Cleveland girl just like I am.
The jazzy part of the [Jazzy Vegetarian] is my secret ingredient – me sharing my love of singing a catchy tune with my passion for cooking. The vegetarian part relates to what I love to cook – great vegan food. – Laura Theodore
Just as Ms. Theodore has her own unique take on jazz standards, in Jazzy Vegetarian Classics: Vegan Twists on American Family Favorites, she reinvents classic American cuisine to make it deliciously animal-free. You’ll find Caeser Salad Dressing, Rocky Mountain Toast, Macaroni Salad, Twice-Baked Potatoes, and Blueberry Cheez Cake – just to name a few recipes. I had a lot of fun making many of the recipes in Jazzy Vegetarian Classics and every one of them was easy to put together and absolutely yummy. This is a cookbook that I’ll return to again and again.
To learn more about Laura’s singing, visit her website here; for more about her television and radio shows, click here.
Enter the giveaway (below) for a chance to win a copy of this beautiful cookbook. Giveaway runs through midnight CT April 22 and is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.
Thank you to Laura Theodore and BenBella Books for giving me the opportunity to review Jazzy Vegetarian and to share a copy with my readers.
Jazzy Vegetarian’s Mushroom Nut Burgers
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 40
- Total Time: 55
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Healthy and hearty mushroom nut burgers that will satisfy anyone’s need for juicy, flavorful sandwich. This recipe from Jazzy Vegetarian hits the spot!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups lightly packed, fresh soft whole-grain bread crumbs (from about 3 to 4 large slices)
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning or all-purpose seasoning
- 1/2 tsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 cups chopped mushrooms
- 1/3 cup diced onion
- 1 tsp. reduced-sodium tamari or 1/4 tsp. sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375-degrees F. Line a medium baking pan with unbleached parchment paper.
- Put the bread crumbs, Italian or all-purpose seasoning, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt in a large bowl. Put the walnuts in a blender and process in pulses until they resemble coarsely ground flour. Add the walnuts to the bread crumbs and stir gently to incorporate. Put the mushrooms, onion, and tamari in a blender and process to a chunky puree. Add the mushroom mixture to the walnut-bread crumb mixture and stir to incorporate.
- Place a 3-inch cookie ring on the parchment. Pack one quarter of the mushroom-bread crumb mixture into the ring and press it firmly and evenly into the ring to form a “burger.” Gently remove the ring. Repeat with the remaining mushroom-bread crumb mixture.
- Flatten each burger slightly with the back of a flat spatula. Bake for 18 minutes. Flip each burger and bake for an additional 15 to 25 minutes, or until the burgers are slightly crisp and golden.
- Serve on toasted whole-grain buns, topped with lettuce, tomato, sweet onion, mustard and catsup.
Notes
- This recipe shared with permission from Laura Theodore and BenBella.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 98
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 166
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 0
Yummmmm – those mushroom and nut burgers sound so good. When I was vegetarian, I used to love these pre-made ones you can get at the supermarket, but they have dairy products in so I don’t have them anymore, but I reckon these would come pretty close!
Isn’t that irritating? Sneaking in that dairy! I think you’ll really like these.
Laura Theodore sounds like a gal who lives life to the full. Those mushroom burgers look fabulous, I’m going to have to try them (thanks for the recipe). I enjoyed reading your list of musicians, you had a very cool musical upbringing.
I know, right?! Reading through her bio on her website made me feel like I needed to get out there and DO STUFF! And possibly sing while I’m doing it ;-). I feel pretty lucky. My dad is a huge music fan and was fortunate enough to see some of the jazz greats while they were in their prime.
Wow everything looks sooo good!!! What a fantastic looking book and it seems like it’s got wonderful easy recipes 🙂
Brandi, one of the things I like about this book is it’s hardback (as opposed to paperback)! Sounds silly, but it just makes it feel a little extra special. There are some really great – and yes, classic – recipes here.
I love this woman’s recipes a lot too, she rocks. These mushrooms nut burgers look wonderful & so do all of the rest of the recipes you have made,.’.Yum Yum Yummm
She DOES rock! So talented!
yes, yes, so true! x
I grew up with music, thanks to a wonderful grandfather who taught violin and piano to schoolchildren.
You must have some lovely memories, Ali!
My mom is a musician/singer, so I have so many musical memories! My earliest is probably her singing “bicycle built for two” to me and replacing the name in the song with my name 🙂
Courtney
Oh, wow! That’s amazing, Courtney! You couldn’t help but have beautiful music memories!
Listening to Michael Jackson off the wall in the small loft my parents had with huge bean pillows. The best memories
Great album! Thanks for sharing, Saniel!
Music has always been a big part of my life. My first memories would be my mom singing all the time. I could be in a horrible mood, until I heard her beautiful voice! Because of her I sing to all my girls, who now sing along with me! 🙂
That is the sweetest! How wonderful that you’ve carried on the “tradition.” Making lovely memories for them.
I love those memories! Gorgeous! I also really, really want to make those burgers.
They’re mighty tasty!
When I was young my family took driving vacations. No satellite radio and poor radio reception, we often sang to occupy the hours. Some fun songs I remember: Mares Eat Oats, Bicycle Built for Two, and Bedbugs and Cooties!
I’m going to sound like an old fuddy-duddy, but those were the days! My family would stand around the piano and sing while my dad played – good times. Seems hard to imagine these days!
My earliest music memory is that of sweet sounds of jazz that my parents used to play on the radio.
Nice! Do you still listen to jazz?
I NEED MORE DAYS TO COOK!!!
Don’t I KNOW IT!
That is some serious bread! My earliest memories of music are… my grandfather playing that song that sings, “There was green alligators and long-necked geese,
Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees,
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born,
The loveliest of all was the Unicorn” on his record player. Also my grandmother singing to me “bicycle built for two”.. which I saw someone else here commented, so funny:).
Ciabatta rolls 😉
Oh my gosh, the “green alligators” song brought back some memories! Thank you for sharing – I love hearing these little stories.
Such a lovely background story Annie, I could really picture it. And now I want those burgers and fries, you’re mean 😉
So sorry, Poppy!! There’s something just deeply satisfying about veggie burgers and fries, isn’t there?
Yes!! Sometimes, just nothing else will do! I think I will have to make a burger in a lettuce wrap to ease that craving (mind you I always have that craving) 😉
I’ve been enjoying The Jazzy Vegetarian on public television. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of her book.
My earliest music memory is listening to my mom and dad play their 45’s on an old mono record player. It was all ’50’s rock and roll with them, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly…
Your house must’ve been swingin’ :-)! For some reason my parents weren’t into the early rock and roll. They also claim to “not remember Beatlemania” which I find incredible!
Listening to No doubt on the radio!
Ah, Sarah, you’re making me feel old ;-)!
My earliest music memory is my mom singing to me. She has a beautiful voice – and thank you for reminding me of that memory!
That’s a wonderful memory, Laura! Did she have a particular tune she liked?
A lot of them were hymns, but the tradition lullaby’s were there too. Not one stands out, but I’m going to ask her now!
🙂 let me know, please – I’m curious!
Neither of us can remember the name, but it’s the “skidamarinkadinkadink, skidamarinkado, I love you…”
I gotta Google that one :-P! You reminded me that my mom used to wake us kids up in the morning for school by singing: “How I hate to get up in the morning! How I’d love to stay in bed!”
Wow this burger looks fantastic, delicious looking fresh ingredients 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Earliest music memory? I’d have to say….watching reruns of The Monkees with my little brother. Davy was soooooooooo dreamy. Good times.
Haha! Oh my – we also used to watch the Monkees – – thanks for reminding me!
You have great taste in music. It’s always more fun to cook with music in the background.
Earliest music memory is hearing my mom singing “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” while my dad played piano.
I love hearing these stories! I agree with you, Mark. Music and cooking are a perfect pair! I always have the tunes on when preparing meals.
I enjoy watching Laura’s show on the Create channel – she’s made some great looking dishes! I would love to add her book to my collection of cookbooks! The burger recipe looks delish (as do the fries in the photo!). Thanks for sharing the recipe and offering the giveaway! Looking forward to exploring your blog more closely – found it via Laura’s post. 🙂
The fries were delicious – the recipe for them is also in Laura’s cookbook. Thank you for entering, visiting, and commenting, Alison! Best of luck in the giveaway :-)!
A Jimmy Buffett song with a bad word! My dad would sing it and make my sister and me giggle..
Haha! Good one!
oh we grew up with bollywood movie. every movie has 5-10 songs. earliest memory would be some hindi movie songs 🙂 i also learnt to play harmonium (indian piano) and sitar a bit.
One of my earliest and fondest memories of music was when I heard my first “rock” band. It was Creedence Clearwater Revival on an eight-track tape. I know I’m dating myself. LOL 🙂
My mum loved listening to opera & classical music when I was young, so I pretty much grew up listening to “Ave Maria” 😉
Watching the Lawrence Welk Show
And a one and a two and a…. 🙂
🙂
Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas album on a record. I had a kids record player. I used to play that non stop. My poor parents. 🙂
They’ve probably never forgiven you ;-)!
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