Cacciatore

What You Need:

• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, sliced medium thick
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 3 medium stalks celery, thinly sliced
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• 3-4 cups cooked seitan or wheat gluten, sliced (this would probably be equally yummy with fried tofu triangles).
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 5 plum tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup dried shiitake mushroom slices, hydrated with boiling water and drained (you could use sliced fresh mushrooms too).
• 2 cups canned diced tomatoes
• 1/3 cup dry sherry
• 1 teaspoon unbleached granulated sugar

What You Do:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium high heat.
2. Add the onion, garlic, celery, carrots and salt and saute until soft.
3. Add the seitan, rosemary and oregano and continue to cook and stir for about five minutes.
4. Add the plum tomatoes and let cook until they begin to soften.
5. Stir in the mushrooms, canned tomatoes, sherry and sugar.
6. Simmer about 10-15 minutes and season with more salt to taste.

Serve over steamed brown rice or with crusty Italian bread. Makes about six servings with rice.