The Unexpected Vegan

Saturday Morning Waffles

2011-09-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

I was in the mood for waffles this morning and they turned out great! They are so easy to make, just whip up the batter and toss into a waffle maker. Here is the recipe I used:

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups soy milk
1 cup applesauce
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp maple syrup

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the wet ingredients in a different bowl. Combine and mix until just mixed up.

Spray waffle maker with non-stick spray and pour in batter.

Happy Birthday to ME!!

2011-09-07T13:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my dad and Mud Pie Vegan Bakery, http://www.mudpiebakery.com/, I got to enjoy this yummy looking cake when we went to visit Kansas City. This picture does no justice to what is waiting inside, 2 layers of Chocolate cake with vanilla frosting between and all around topped with a chocolate ganache top!

Wise words from a wise man

2011-09-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."

Albert Einstein

Ahhhhhh-MAZING!! Meat-less-ball Subs!

2011-09-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

Found a great vegan meatball, Nate's, so decided to give it a try as a sub today with lunch.

Toasted a bun, with Diaya Mozzerella on top.
Added meatballs, that were heated in pizza sauce.

Quick, easy, and delicious!!

Italian in Ft. Lauderdale

2011-08-31T12:42:00.000-07:00

We were recommend an Italian restaurant to try while on vacation, Cafe Vico's (http://www.cafevicorestaurant.com/). This place is very unassuming, hidden away in a strip mall, but it is a gem to be discovered!!! The food was fantastic! It is a family owned business who puts all the little details into making your meal outstanding. First they start you with bread and oil, but not just plain old regular oil. They chop fresh garlic, add spices, and let it marinate before serving you this amazing little starter. How anyone doesn't fill up on this alone amazes me?!!?

For dinner I ordered the Angel Hair Marinara, they served it with a rose carved out of a fresh tomato. My husband ordered the Mushroom Risotto, which is fresh and light, but amazingly delicious!

Finally for dessert they had many different flavors of Sorbet, but the presentation is was what really put it over the top. They served the Sorbet in the shell of the fruit flavor you picked, meaning I ordered orange and it showed up in a frozen orange.

If you are going to be in the Ft. Lauderdale area, this place is a MUST on your dining list!!!

Our recent trip to Ft. Lauderdale turned up some great places to eat

2011-08-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

BurgerFi, http://www.burgerfi.com is a great new burger chain that opened up just down the street from our condo. With a appealing exterior we decided to give it a try for lunch one day. It was AMAZING! They have a vegetarian burger that without the cheese is vegan, the patty is made from quinoa. It was perfect and of course we had to get an order of the fries and rings!

Eating Vegan.....

2011-08-31T10:31:00.000-07:00

"And I'd simply like people not to cringe when I tell them the cupcake I'm offering them happens to be vegan. You don't have to be a vegan to eat like a vegan. You don't have to be a vegan to put together a vegan meal. You don't have to be vegan to like vegan food!"

A quote from the cookbook Vegan Yum Yum by Lauren Ulm

Sausage and Cheese Biscuits

2011-07-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

Homemade biscuits, GimmeLean Sausage, Diaya Cheese......Yummy in my tummy, I love breakfast!!

Having the right tools for the job

2011-07-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

Sometimes inspiration comes in the strangest forms. We had our Cutco rep out to sharpen our knives and while talking he mentioned that my cheese knife (shown in below picture), which doesn't get much use anymore obviously, is great for cutting tomatoes and potatoes. This made me remember a recipe that I have been wanting to try, Potatoes auGratin. You have to slice the potatoes very thin which can be difficult, unless you have an amazing Cutco Cheese Knife!!
If you are not familiar with Cutco, I suggest giving Mike a call. www.cutcomike.com

Potatoes auGratin

4 medium potatoes (3 lbs), sliced very thing
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
4 oz vegan cheddar cheese, shredded
2 1/2-3 1/2 c soy creamer
7 tsp cornstarch
1 1/2 cups cornflakes cereal, crushed

Preheat oven 375 degrees.
In 2 qt casserole dish, evenly layer 1/2 of the potatoes, sprinkle with 1/2 salt, 1/2 pepper, and 1/2 cheese. Add remaining potatoes.
combine creamer with cornstarch, whisking. Pour over potatoes. Use spatula to press potatoes into cream. They should be submerged-if not add more cream.
Sprinkle with remaining salt, pepper, and cheese. Cover and bake 45 mins. Remove-push potatoes into cream again. Sprinkle cornflakes, bake uncovered 30-45 mins.

Pesto Kissed Tomato Sauce

2011-07-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

A nice change to basic red sauce pasta, this one mixes in pesto.

1 TBSP Olive Oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 c tomato paste
One 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
Salt and Pepper
1/4 c vegan pesto
Any pasta noodle of your choice, I did Linguine

Heat Olive Oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, cover, and cook until softened, about 5 mins. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste. Reduce the heat to low and simmer 10-15 mins. Shortly before serving, blend the pesto into the sauce.

VegGriddle

2011-07-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

McDonald's doesn't have anything on ME!!

Breakfast Casserole

2011-06-29T17:18:00.000-07:00

It doesn't need to be morning to make a great breakfast. Tonight I made a breakfast casserole that we all enjoyed, the flavorful smell that filled the house was amazing! This is a great recipe because you can make it the night before so you have a wonderful breakfast ready and waiting for you in the morning.

2 TBSP olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 c chopped or crumbled soy sausage (I like LightLife in the white package)
One 16 oz package soft tofu, pressed and crumbled
2 c soy milk
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp ground fennel seeds
Salt and Pepper
8 slices bread

Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion, cover, and cook until soft, about 5 mins. Add the soy sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 mins. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a bowl, combine tofu, soy milk, thyme, fennel seeds, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well, then blend in the sausage mixture and set aside.
Tear the bread into bite size pieces and place in a oiled 9x13 baking dish. Pour mixture evenly over the bread and set aside, at least 20 mins, up to overnight (if refrigerating overnight, bring to room temperature before baking).
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake until puffy and lightly browned, about 45 mins. Let stand 10 mins before cutting into squares.

2011-06-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

With summer here nothing satisfies like a fresh fruit smoothie. While you can throw just about anything in to make a good smoothie, I have found a recipe that I really like. A nice trick is using frozen banana slices instead of ice cubes because it won't water down the smoothie, but gives it that nice chill.

1 c strawberries
1/2 c blueberries
1 c cranberry juice cocktail
1 sliced frozen banana

Blend first 3 ingredients together, then add the banana and blend to desired consistency.

Egg-less Salad Sandwich

2011-06-28T20:01:00.001-07:00

After a very long hiatus I was browsing through a cookbook and found a new recipe that I wanted to try. Oh baby was it a good one and perfect for those summer time picnics.

16 oz package firm tofu, drained, pressed, and crumbled
1 piece of celery, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 TBSP Dijon mustard
1 large dill pickle, minced
Pinch of turmeric
1/2 c Vegenaise
Salt and Pepper

Mix everything in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to blend the flavors.

To make a fantastic sandwich:
Toast bread, spread a small amount of Vegenaise on one piece, place a piece of lettuce, then sliced tomato, then mixture on the bread and enjoy!

2011-06-28T19:55:00.001-07:00

You have to love summer and all the beautifully colored fresh fruit that comes with it!

Sweet Art, the Lunch Edition

2011-06-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

After many trips to Sweet Art for breakfast, David and I finally made it for lunch. I ordered the BLT, which the picture does it NO justice, and it was superb. David ordered the Philly Cheesesteak, while he said it was good there were so many other things on the menu that sounded great he can't wait to try something else next time.

Oh and if this sounds yummy and you find yourself there, pick me up a brownie!!

Homemade Vegan Corn Dogs

2011-06-28T19:29:00.000-07:00

With some great memories from my childhood I decided to make something my mother used to make, but with my own special vegan twist. I made my super yummy cornbread (which you should try if you haven't yet) and put vegan hot dogs in the bottom before baking. While it doesn't look as pretty as a corn dog it tasted like it, just a bit better ;)

Inspiration that is IRRESISTIBLE

2011-06-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

With some beautiful foods looking me in the face I couldn't help but take pictures and share them with you all!

While in Chicago we stopped to grab a late breakfast at The Chicago Diner, www.veggiediner.com. I ordered something that I have missed so much since going vegan, biscuits and gravy. While sceptical I was very excited to try them and they were fantastic!!

As we were getting ready to leave I noticed they have vegan milkshakes, yay!!!! Who could resist? I ordered the Peanut Butter Chocolate Milkshake. OH DEAR LORD DELICIOUS!!!

Match Meat Heaven

2011-03-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

As stated in a prior post I am a new fan of the brand Match Meat. Tonight we tried their crab cakes and they did not disappoint. Really simple and easy to make and they tasted great. Really good if you want to serve your meat loving friends something that they would not guess is vegan!! Another plus is they only take about 10 mins to cook, perfect if you are short on time to make something.

Superb Sammies (Sandwiches)

2011-03-03T18:59:00.001-08:00

Wanted to make a quick, light dinner tonight. Decided to make a Avocado, Lettuce, Tomato Sandwich served up with some fresh Corn on the Cob. Hope it sounds yummy to you too!

Lovin' the Quinoa

2011-03-03T18:47:00.000-08:00

After deciding to add some more protein into my diet I thought we should give Quinoa another try. It is considered a perfect protein but I had yet to find a recipe where I love it. Found a recipe to try, Black-Eyed Pea and Quinoa Croquettes with Mushroom Sauce. While the Croquettes were not the best the Mushroom Sauce over a bed of Quinoa was AWSOME!!!

Mushroom Sauce

3 Cups vegetable broth
2 TBSP arrowroot powder
1 TBSP olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 c crimini mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp salt
fresh black pepper
1/2 c white cooking wine
3 TBSP soy sauce
1/4 c nutritional yeast flakes
1/4 c plain soy milk

In a small bowl whisk the arrowroot into vegetable broth until dissolved. Set aside.

In a medium sauce pan saute the onions and garlic in the olive oil for 3 mins. Add the mushrooms, thyme, salt and pepper and cook for 5 mins, stirring occasionally. Add the white wine and turn the heat up high to bring to a boil for 3 mins. Add the soy sauce and the broth/arrowroot mixture. Bring to a boil and then lower heat and simmer for 15 mins, stirring occasionally. Add the nutritional yeast and whisk until dissolved. Add the soy milk and whisk for another minute or so. Let cool for a few mins before serving.

Serve over a bed of warm, cooked Quinoa.
Or you could add 1/4 cup flour to the broth and arrowroot mixture making it more gravy like and serve it over pasta.

Lasagna Spirals

2011-03-03T18:22:00.000-08:00

Tonight for dinner I made a version of Lasagna, it was individual spirals. It turned out fantastic, while the prep took a bit of time it was easy and worth it!!

1 TBSP Olive Oil
2 Shallots, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
16 oz package firm tofu, drained and crumbled
3 oil-packed sun dried tomatoes, chopped
1/4 c vegan pesto
1/3 c fresh bread crumbs
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne

Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic, cover, cook until softened, about 5 mins. Transfer to food processor and add the tofu, sun dried tomatoes, pesto, bread crumbs, salt, and cayenne. Process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for 30 mins.

1 TBSP Olive Oil
2 Shallots, minced
2 TBSP Tomato Paste
1/4 c dry red wine
One 14.5 oz can plum tomatoes, drained and finely chopped
Salt and Pepper
1/4 c minced fresh basil leaves
12 lasagna noodles

Heat Olive oil in medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add shallots and cook for 5 mins, stirring frequently. Stir in the tomato paste, then add the wine, tomatoes, and sat and pepper to taste. Simmer for 10 mins, then stir in the basil. Reduce the heat to low and keep warm.

Cook the lasagna noodles. Drain and spread out on a work surface to prevent them from sticking together.

Preheat oven to 350. Divide the chilled filling among the noodles, spreading it evenly over the surface of each noodle. Roll each up tightly into a spiral shaped roll. Place seam side down in a lightly oiled baking dish. Lightly cover the rolls with sauce, saving a little for later. Cover with foil and bake until hot, about 20 mins.

To serve, spread a small amount of warm sauce on plate and place rolls in sauce.

Dinner Party with DESSERT!!

2011-01-24T14:55:00.000-08:00

We had some friends over for dinner and it turned out amazing!! Looks a bit like my Thanksgiving meal, but it was soooo good it needed to be repeated. This time I made homemade bread with dinner and for dessert we had Apple Walnut Crisp with Ice Cream!!! The Apple Crisp taste like an Apple Pie and easy to make. Served up with Soy Ice Cream it's a great Vegan Dessert!

Apple Walnut Crisp

Oat-Nut Topping-you might want to make a bit extra to put on top
1 c walnut halves-chopped into small pieces
3/4 c rolled oats
2/3 c unbleached white flour
1/2 c maple sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
6 TBSP Canola oil
2 TBSP water
1 tsp cinnamon-for dusting the top
1 tsp maple sugar-for dusting the top

Apple Filling
3 pounds apples, Honey Crisp are nice and sweet, peeled, cored, sliced, and chopped into chunks
1/2 c dried cherries or cranberries (optional)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
2 TBSP maple syrup
2 TBSP maple sugar
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp lemon zest
Pinch of sea salt
1/4 c apple juice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Toss together oats, flour, sugar, walnuts and salt. Drizzle in the oil and water, stirring lightly. Topping should be crumbly, like wet sand. Set aside.

Toss together all the filling ingredients and pour into 9x13 pyrex baking dish.

Sprinkle the Oat-Nut Topping over the apples evenly, completely covering the apples; sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the top.

Bake 15 minutes at 400, then reduce to 350 degrees and bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until the topping is cooked and the apples are tender.

Remove and let it cool. Serve with Soy Vanilla Ice Cream.

Pancake Nirvana

2011-01-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

I love pancakes but have never been able to make that perfectly round, fluffy & light, golden, delicious pancake. But I have recently found the light.....if this is something you suffer with as well, join me and I will tell you how to reach pancake nirvana.

Step One: Have the right tools for the job! I recently aquired an electric pancake griddle and it makes the job so much easier!! 6 pancakes at a time and you can control the degrees temperature, which is vital for a golden pancake. I have found 325-350 degrees is just about perfect, but you might need to play with it a bit.

Step Two: When mixing your batter be careful not to over mix, this will make your pancakes tough and chewy (a few lumps are okay). And more importantly, after mixing the batter let it sit for about 10 mins before starting to make the pancakes. This allows the gluten in the flour to relax and makes for lighter, fluffier pancakes.

Step Three: To get round and similar sized pancakes, use a 1/3 measuring cup to pour the batter. Works great every time!

Step Four: Wait for the pancake top to start bubbling before flipping. If it is getting too brown turn down the temperature.

Step Five: Enjoy the best pancakes ever!!

Perfect Pancake Recipe-has a great sweet taste

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 TBSP canola oil
1/3 cup water
1 to 1 1/4 cups plain rice or soy milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 TBSP pure maple syrup

Sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, combine all the other ingredients. Add wet to dry, mix until just combined. Let sit 10 mins.

Meanwhile preheat griddle for about 2-3 mins. You will know the griddle is ready by flicking a few water drops onto it, if they sizzle, it's ready.

Make your super yummy pancakes and remember to invite me over for some!!

I love Match Meat

2011-01-20T18:15:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a great meal without much effort you should look to your frozen section of Whole Foods. There you will find a product called Match Meat, they make meat substitutes. They have many options, but one that we love is their Stuffed Chicken Breast. I served it with home made bread and steamed veggies.

2011-01-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

Tonight we decided to pick up dinner from Whole Foods while we were grocery shopping. If you haven't tried their Chinese you should, it's amazing!! Even though it isn't on the menu they can substitute any meat for tofu. Personally I LOVE the Kung Pao Tofu with brown rice. Since they make it when you order it is so fresh and delicious!

Small Adjustments

2011-01-18T08:16:00.001-08:00

Many people are intrigued by the idea of Veganism but feel that it is too overwhelming of a commitment to take on. To those of you I suggest trying to make small adjustments in your everyday life. Try switching from milk to a milk substitute, such as Almond Milk or Soy Milk. Try making one dinner a week meat free (I know a great place to get some easy recipes, wink wink).

I heard a wonderful motto the other day by a fellow vegan, Kathy Freston. She said, "Progress, not Perfection" it's all about making small adjustments in our life to try and make ourselves and the world better. What a wonderful point. You can always stick your toe into the world of being Vegan, nothing says you have to jump all the way in!

20 Minutes to Delicious!

2011-01-12T19:18:00.000-08:00

Tonight's dinner was so quick and easy to make! It required no more than a pot for pasta and a pot for the "topping". It would be a great meal to attempt if you have a limited kitchen or are looking for something fast (start to finish this meal took 20 mins to prepare). Don't let it's simplistic nature fool you, it tasted wonderful!!

Pepita Fettucini with Spinach and Cranberries

8 oz Fettucini
1 Cup Raw, Unsalted Pepitas (Pumpkin seeds)
2 TBSP Oil
1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
6 Large Handfuls Spinach, torn
3 TBSP Soy Sauce or Tamari
3 TBSP Maple Syrup
2-3 Fresh Thyme Sprigs, optional
3/4 Cup Dried Cranberries

Cook Fettucini according to package directions.

Put pepitas in food processor until pretty finely chopped (or hand crush in a bag). Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add spinach. Use tongs to coat the spinach in the hot oil. Add the red pepper flakes, the tamari and maple syrup, and the thyme if you’re using it. Toss in the cranberries and mix everything up really well. Turn heat to low (or just turn it off and cover it until your pasta is cooked).

Drain pasta and add it to your skillet. Add crushed pepitas and toss well until everything is coated. Taste a noodle and see if you need an extra splash of tamari and/or maple syrup. The noodles should look like they don’t have a sauce on them, but they’ll taste like they do.

Serve immediately.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-01-10T18:59:00.001-08:00

I have missed fresh, hot out of the oven, chocolate chip cookies. I found a recipe that tastes just like what I used to love, but Vegan! These cookies are perfect right out of the oven, still hot.

1 c vegan margarine (Earth Balance makes sticks)
1 1/4 c sugar
1 TBSP molasses
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 c chocolate chips (I like Sunspire)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together margarine and sugar until fluffy. Add the molasses and vanilla. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, mix well. Fold in the chocolate chips. Do not let the batter fool you. It will be very loose, like you forgot a liquid.
Form into balls by pressing in hands. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes, until ever so slightly browned. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack (or your mouth).

New Year's Resolution

2011-01-10T18:42:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolution's was to make things that intimidate me. I have always wanted to make homemade pizza dough so tonight I did. We had homemade BBQ Pizza with Boca Crumbles, Pineapple, Onion, Red Peppers, and Daiya Mozzarella Cheese. I was shocked at how easy it was, but I did use my food processor.

1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
3/4 c warm water
1 c cake flour
1 cup plus 3 TBSP all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp salt
2 TBSP EVOO

In a small bowl, whisk together the yeast, sugar, and warm water and let stand until foamy, about 5 mins.

In a food processor fitted with the dough blade, combine the cake flour, all-purpose flour, and salt and pulse 3 or 4 times.

Whisk 1 TBSP of the olive oil into yeast mixture. With the motor running, slowly add the yeast mixture, allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding more. Pulse the machine 10-15 times to knead the dough. The dough should clean the insides of the bowl but will be slightly sticky.

Coat the inside of a large bowl with 1 TBSP oil. Dust your hands with flour and remove the dough from the food processor. Form the dough into a ball and place in the bowl. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1-1 1/2 hours. Divide the dough in half and roll out.

Add sauce and toppings.

Cook at 450 degrees for 12-15 mins, or until edges are brown.

2011-01-10T18:31:00.000-08:00

I love baked potatoes and had an idea tonight on how to jazz it up a bit. Before wrapping the potato, I added sliced onions and peeled garlic. Then I wrapped everything up and tossed it in the oven. It smelled great and tasted even better!!

Simple but Oh-So-Satisfying

2011-01-10T18:22:00.000-08:00

For a treat tonight I made a Chocolate Ganache. Served with some fresh fruit and graham crackers for dipping, it was a perfect dessert to satisfying that chocolate craving!!

Chocolate Ganache

1/4 c soy milk
4 oz grain sweetened chocolate chips (I like Sunspire brand)
2 TBSP pure maple syrup

Bring soy milk to a gentle boil in a small sauce pan. Immediately remove from heat and add the chocolate and maple syrup. Whisk until fully melted and smooth. Serve!!

It couldn't get much easier, or better!

Good Breakfast in STL!!!

2011-01-10T18:14:00.000-08:00

I am always in search of vegan breakfast, which seems to be the most limited thing possible! We found a new place to add to our short list, MoKaBe's Coffeehouse (http://www.mokabes.com/). I had the Scrambled Tofu Burritto which was FANTASTIC!!! David ordered the scrambled tofu and french toast with a side of vegan sausage patties. The scrambled tofu had a great seasoning to it.
You know you are in the right place when the chef brings out the food and says, "Thanks for ordering this. Best thing I have got to make all day so far."

Fettucini I'm-Alfredo-Not

2011-01-03T13:23:00.000-08:00

Tonight I made a Fettucini Alfredo recipe. While it was tasty, it did NOT taste like a creamy alfredo sauce. Here is the recipe if you would like to give it a try. It is very good but do not think it is Fettucini Alfredo!

1 Cup Soymilk
1/3 Cup Raw, Unsalted Cashews
1/4 Cup Nutritional Yeast
3 Tbs Low-Sodium Tamari or Soy Sauce
2 Tbs Earth Balance Margarine
1 Tbs Tahini
1 Tbs Fresh Lemon Juice
2 tsp Dijon Mustard
1/2 tsp Paprika
1 Pinch Nutmeg
2-4 Cloves of Garlic
Black pepper

Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
Boil pasta according to directions, and drain. Pour sauce over pasta and serve!
I added steamed broccoli to mine and it tasted great!

Seitan and Broccolini with Clementine Teriyaki

2010-12-13T18:02:00.001-08:00

My daughter inspired me to make this dish because she LOVES Clementines!! David and I ended up loving the dish. The sauce has a great flavor to it and paired with the noodles it helps to not overwhelm the dish. While it might sound complicated to make it was not. Trust me, with 2 kids running around while I'm making dinner complicated is not an option.

This serves 2, if you want to serve 4 just double Seitan and Broccolini, there is more than enough sauce.

8 Ounces Sliced Seitan
6-8 Stalks of Broccolini
Lo Mein Noodles

Clementine Teriyaki Sauce

1/2 Cup Low Sodium Tamari
1/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar
1/3 Cup Fresh Clementine Juice
1/4 Cup + 1 Tbs Rice Vinegar
1/4 Cup Water
Zest from 1 Clementine

Mix all the sauce ingredients together in a small pan let it go at a lively simmer for 20 minutes, until reduced and slightly thick. The sauce will NOT be super thick when it is hot. It will very slightly cover the back of a spoon and look syrupy, but it’s not going to be thick until it cools, so don’t worry if it seems runny. At the end of the cooking you should see large, excited bubbles (this is the sugar caramelizing), so if you don’t see those, keep cooking. Set aside.

Cook Lo Mein Noodles according to package directions. Set aside.

Heat a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium high heat. Add the seitan and let brown on all sides, about 5-10 minutes. Remove to a bowl, turn up the heat to high, and add broccolini in one layer. Once you get color on one side, flip, reduce heat to low, and cover the pan to finish the cooking, another 2-3 minutes. The broccolini should be bright green and cooked to a tender-crisp.

Once you are ready to serve, add the seitan to the pan with the broccolini. Drizze enough teriyaki sauce in to coat everything. Beware, if the pan is too hot you risk burning your sauce. Once everything is heated and covered in a nice glaze, serve immediately with the Lo Mein Noodles.

This sauce is strong so you just need enough to coat.

2010-12-12T12:29:00.000-08:00

This side dish was emailed to me by a friend, so I thought I would try it tonight with dinner. It's Quinoa with Garlic, Pine Nuts, and Raisins and it was quite good. Had a mild but very addictive flavor!

1 c Quinoa, rinsed well (I might only do 3/4 c next time I make it)
1/4 c pine nuts
2 TBSP olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, sliced or diced
1/3 c parsley, chopped
1/4 c raisins
1 TBSP fresh lemon juice
Salt and pepper

Toast quinoa in saucepan over medium heat (about 2 mins). Add 1 3/4 c water and boil. Reduce to med-low and simmer, covered, until liquid absorbed (about 10-15 mins). Remove and let sit covered for 2 mins.

Toast pine nuts in skillet on high heat until turning brown, toss while toasting to prevent burning on one side, transfer to plate. In pan, add olive oil and garlic and cook until golden (about 2 mins). Transfer garlic to plate, leaving oil in pan.

Fluff quinoa with fork and add all ingredients.

Leftovers can make a great meal

2010-12-08T12:16:00.001-08:00

As you all know when you make chili it makes a huge amount. I decided to have chili dogs tonight to use up all my leftover chili from last night. Great easy meal!

Brrrrrr...time for something warm!

2010-12-05T18:22:00.000-08:00

With the cold weather here I decided it was time for some yummy Chili with Sweet Cornbread. Now I'm not going to give you a chili recipe because everyone thinks their mom's chili is the best. But I am going to suggest you try my Sweet Cornbread, it was fantastic.

2/3 c maple syrup
1/3 c canola oil
1 c plain soymilk
1 c whole wheat flour
1 c fine organic cornmeal
1 TBSP baking powder
1 tsp salt

Preheat oven 350 degrees and spray 9x9 baking pan with nonstick spray.

Mix all wet ingredients. Mix all dry ingredients. Mix together and pour batter into pan. Bake 35 mins or until toothpick comes out clean.

Real Garlic Bread

2010-12-05T18:16:00.000-08:00

I decided to go gourmet and make real garlic bread with dinner tonight. It was amazing!! I love garlic and used 2 heads for 1 loaf of french bread. If you have the time give it a try!

Cut off the top of a garlic head, coat with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.

Wrap it in foil, and roast it at 350 degrees for 30-50 mins or until golden and tender. Turn it over halfway through cooking.

Broil french bread cut in half and buttered, soy butter of course :)

Squeeze out the garlic from the skin and smear it onto toasted bread.

Enjoy!!

Who doesn't love appetizers?

2010-12-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

I found a recipe for Artichoke Dip (from The Kind Diet) so I decided to try it tonight before dinner. It turned out pretty good. Served with some whole wheat crackers, it was a great addition to a good meal!

2 (8.5 oz) cans quartered artichoke hearts in water, drained
1 c Vegenaise
1 c grated soy Parmesan
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
Paprika
Crackers for dipping

Mash up the artichokes in a bowl. Add Vegenaise, cheese, and garlic and combine well. Place in baking dish, and bake 350 degrees for 30 mins or until browned on top. Sprinkle with paprika and serve.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2010-11-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

I'm sure there are many of you out there wondering what I did yesterday for Thanksgiving. Here is what was on my menu:

Field Roast (premade-bought from Whole Foods)
Mashed Potatoes, made with Soy Milk and Soy Butter
Tofurkey Gravy
Roasted Vegetables (which I made and everyone RAVED about)
Dinner Roll

And for dessert, I made Pumpkin Muffins!!!

I was a wonderful meal, so good I might have to make it again soon!!

The POWER of a Vegan Lifestyle!

2010-11-23T12:54:00.000-08:00

"A picture is worth a thousand words"

BEFORE

NOW

Obviously a vegan lifestyle has changed our lives. Hopefully it's changing yours too!

Panera VS Bread Co

2010-11-10T19:14:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a great vegetarian sandwich, I have found one! It's at Bread Co (or for you non-STL's, Panera) and it's called the Mediterranean Veggie and it's delish!! To be vegan just ask for no feta. It has a great spread and a nice crunch to it. It's also only 560 calories for a whole sandwich, which is one of the lowest on their menu!

Amazing Side Dish!

2010-11-10T19:04:00.001-08:00

Maple-Mustard-Glazed Potatoes and String Beans!!! It sounds scrumptious, doesn't it?? The smell was mouth-watering and it did not disappoint! Best side dish I have made, would be great to impress a non-Vegan friend!

2 pounds small Yukon gold potatoes, halved
1/2 pound string beans, halved, ends cut off (I would add a bit more)
1 yellow onion, thickly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 TBSP tamari or soy sauce
1/4 c pure maple syrup
3 TBSP Dijon mustard
2 TBSP olive oil

Preheat oven to 400, grease 9x13 dish. Put potatoes, string beans, and onion is a 9x13 dish. In a bowl mix together remaining ingredients until the mustard is dissolved. Pour over the vegetables and mix until coated. Cover with foil and put in oven. Bake 25 mins. Remove and toss, spooning sauce over mixture. Turn oven down to 350 and cook for 25 mins uncovered. Remove and toss, spooning sauce over mixture again, cook 25 more mins.

Salads and Shopping

2010-11-05T06:11:00.001-07:00

I spent quite a bit of time shopping yesterday at Nordstroms Half-Yearly Sale. After all my conquests, ie. purchases, I decided it was time for a quick bite. Since I was right next to Nordstroms Cafe I thought I should give it a try. After looking over the menu I decided on their Nicoise Salad. I was delicious!! The dressing was amazing and the potatoes were hot which added an interesting touch to the salad. I ordered it without the egg and salmon.

Mexican Casserole

2010-11-03T19:59:00.001-07:00

Tonight for dinner I made a new recipe, a Mexican Casserole. While everything in it I love, (tortilla chips, "ground beef", refried beans, cheese) together it did not turn out great. Oh well, you have to keep trying to find ones you like!

So Simple Pasta

2010-10-26T18:28:00.000-07:00

I love this recipe. Literally all you have to cook is the pasta and it taste great. Not a strong flavor but still delicious. Easy to make if you are somewhere with limited supplies, oh say.....a dorm room? (wink, wink)

Linguini with Pesto, Pine Nuts, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

8 oz whole wheat linguini
1/2 c basil pesto (see below for recipe or you can buy from a store)
1/2 c sun-dried tomatoes, diced
1/2 c pine nuts

Cook pasta, drain keeping some of the water. Return pasta to pot and stir in the pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and pine nuts. If pasta seems too dry add some of the pasta water.

Basil Pesto Makes 1 1/3 cup
1/4 c pine nuts
4 cloves garlic
3 c fresh basil
1/4 c vegan Parmesan Cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
3/4 c EVOO

In food processor, or blender, combine the pine nuts and garlic and pulse. Add the basil and pulse. Add the cheese, salt, and pepper and pulse. Slowly add the EVOO, processing until the oil if fully combined.

I HAVE FOUND A CHEESE!!!

2010-10-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

This is a breakthrough in my cooking options!! Since going vegan my husband and I have been unhappy with all the cheese options that are out there. With a recommendation from a cooking class I decided to give a new one a try. Daiya, and I love it!! Now I have only tried the shredded cheddar, but it does not disappoint. Tonight we made cheese and bean quesadillas and they turned out fantastic. So simple and easy, but soooo delicious! To help them brown spray tortilla with oil before placing in pan.

Great Eats in KC

2010-10-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

While visiting Kansas City recently someone recommend a new restaurant. Eden's Alley, www.edenalley.com, has something for everyone. They offer many different options from vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, even raw. They start your meal with Agave butter, which is like honey butter, and bread-yum yum! My father ordered the waffles with maple syrup and walnuts. They were so sweet it was like dessert for breakfast. While I ordered the Vegan Breakfast, which consisted of tofu over breakfast potatoes. It was great and you know I couldn't pass up an opportunity to have breakfast!! I will definitely be going back next time I visit KC!

For all my adoring fans, I'm BACK!!

2010-10-22T07:04:00.000-07:00

What a better way to start back than with a wonderful appetizer.

I love Bruchetta, but you already know that. Here is a great recipe that I found. Easy to make but takes some time chopping.

Double Tomato Burchetta Servings 12

6 roma (plum) tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 c sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 c olive oil
2 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 c fresh basil, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 French Baguette, sliced

Mix everything in a large ziploc and let marinate.

Preheat oven Broiler, low. Broil baguette, until slightly brown, 5-6 mins. Top with tomato mixture. Viola!!

Date Night Dinner

2010-09-12T07:16:00.001-07:00

Last night we tried a new restaurant, Sub-Zero Vodka Bar (http://subzerovodkabar.com/). It was fantastic! They have a lot of options for Vegans, including a build your own burger. We started with deep fried green beans and a veggie sushi roll, which was amazing!! Then for dinner we both built a veggie burger.

By the way, try the Sweet Carolina Peach Sweet Tea Vodka, taste like Peach Ice Tea!!!! That could get you into trouble, haha!!

Best Recipe Ever!

2010-09-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

I made the BEST dish I have made since going Vegan!! Yes, that is a bold statement but I have found a recipe that I LOVE!! What else can I say about this, try it and let me know what you think.

Pasta Bake

8 oz Rotini (or Penne, Rigatoni)
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (with basil if possible)
1 TBSP Olive Oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup sliced black olives
3 Italian-style soy sausages, cut into 1/4" slices
2 TBSP tomato paste
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp hot pepper flakes
1 1/2 c shredded vegan Cheddar Cheese (I like Daiya)

Cook pasta, set aside. Preheat oven to 350.
In a large skillet, heat oil over med heat. Add garlic and cook for 2 min. Stir in tomatoes, olives, soy sausages, tomato paste, basil, oregano, parsley, black pepper and hot pepper flakes. Reduce heat to med-low, cover, and cook for 10 mins.
Add pasta to sauce and half of cheese, stir until coated. Pour into a 9x13 greased casserole dish, sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Cover with foil and bake for 15 mins. Remove foil and bake for 10 mins.

Another great plus, it reheats great!

Back with a BANG!

2010-09-03T19:30:00.001-07:00

Yes!! I am still here and still Vegan! August was a crazy month and we spent a lot of time eating out, traveling, and making old recipes. My goal this week was to eat at home every night and make 2 new recipes, goal accomplished. My first recipe was not blog worthy, but tonight's was delicious!!!

I made BBQ Tofu Nuggets with Garlic Lemon Broccoli and Cauliflower. The nuggets were fantastic and everyone was a fan! So simple and easy, but a bit of time involved. These would also make a great appetizer.

Smoked Tofu, cubed
BBQ Sauce
Plain or BBQ Potato Chips, crushed

Brush each piece of tofu with BBQ sauce and roll in crushed chips. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.

So simple, so delicious!

2010-07-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

Tonight we ordered out Pei Wei, my daughter loves Chinese! As I was deciding what to order I realized I didn't not want to order my "usual", Pad Thai-no egg. As I looked over the menu I remembered that I used to LOVE the Dan Dan Noodles dish Pre-Vegan, but could not order it because they use egg noodles. Then I had a thought, why not just ask them to use rice noodles instead? I am in LOVE!!!! It was delicious and a much needed change. I always tell everyone you can find something vegan to eat just about anywhere. I forget that just because they have some options if something else sounds good see if you can tweak it. Don't just look at what is offered, but what sounds good. Most places are more than happy to change a few ingredients so you can enjoy the meal you want.

Almond Milk vs Regular Milk

2010-07-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

As I was sitting at my kitchen table this morning, ready to eat my breakfast, I looked down at my bowl of cereal and thought how pretty the fresh fruit had made it look. How often do you take the time to "dress up" your food so that it looks more appealing and taste more delicious? My plain bowl of cereal with just a little bit of fruit added made me stop and think about what I was eating, and stop to enjoy it.

Interesting comparison between Almond Milk(Vegan) vs 2% Milk. Almond Milk has 60 calories, milk has 100. Almond milk has 2.5 g of fat and so does milk, but Almond Milk has 0 Trans Fat whereas milk has 1.5 g. Almond Milk has 0 cholesterol, milk has 10 mg. Almond milk has less carbs and sugars. This is what is probably most surprising to any non-Vegans, Almond milk and milk have the same amount of Calcium and Vitamins A & D. You should try it some time and see what you think, we like Almond Breeze unsweetened.

2010-07-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

Sometime we get so caught up on how difficult something is suppose to be that we make it harder than it is. I think a lot of people have this attitude with eating vegan. It should be so difficult to find things to eat, when in reality it is so simple. My husband is out of town so dinner tonight had to be quick, easy, and no prep time. I decide to make pasta marinara with garlic bread and a big side salad. I often forget to not worry about finding a recipe and just make something I love.

Easy and Delicious

2010-07-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

Tonight's dinner was so easy to make that I recommend if you have been wanting to try something, make this. It was easy to put together and took no cooking skills, only down side is you have to give yourself enough time. We had Roasted Sausage, Peppers, Onions, and Garlic over Brown Rice, delicious! So simple, here you go:

12 cloves of garlic (you don't even have to mince these, just peeled!!!)
3-4 red, yellow, or green bell peppers (any combo will do) cut into 3/4" strips
2 onions, quartered and cut into 3/4" strips
2 TBSP Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
4 vegan Italian Sausages (I used Smart Sausages by LightLife)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine garlic, bell peppers, onions, oil, salt, and pepper, tossing to coat. Place on baking sheet and cook for 20 mins. Stir in the sausages and cook 15-20 mins, until sausages start to brown.

I served this over brown rice made with vegetable broth instead of water, it was great!

You say broŏˈsketə, I say Bruschetta

2010-07-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

I had some of the best Bruschetta I have ever eaten at Brio (http://www.brioitalian.com/index.html)!! It is their seasonal Bruschetta so you have to go soon if you want to try it. It has a basil pesto sauce spread on the bread, with heirloom tomatoes and yellow peppers drizzles in olive oil, topped with fresh basil. YUM YUM!!

Big Ass Crunchy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

2010-07-09T19:11:00.000-07:00

My daughter insisted on making a special treat for her grandpa who came to visit today. I found this recipe and believe me, the picture does not do it justice! They were wonderful!! Give them a try.

2 c whole wheat flour
2 c rolled oats
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3/4 c canola oil
3/4 c peanut butter
1 c granulated sugar
1 c brown sugar
1/2 c vanilla soy milk
2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, lightly grease two cookie sheets.
Mix flour, oats, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl mix together the oil, peanut butter, sugars, soy milk, and vanilla.
Add dry ingredients to the wet, and mix. For perfectly round, large cookies: pack a 1/3 c measuring cup with dough, pop out and roll the dough into a firm ball. Lightly grease the bottom of a pie plate; press the top of the cookies with the bottom of the pie plate to flatten to a 1/2-inch thickness. Bake 12-15 min till cookies have puffed a bit and are lightly browned. Allow to cool at least 10 mins to firm up before moving off the cookie sheet.
Makes 12 cookies.

Breakfast for Dinner

2010-07-08T18:33:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't been following my blog, or don't know me, I am a huge lover of breakfast!! Finding Vegan breakfast can be difficult but I have found a new cookbook with lots of recipes and ideas. Tonight for dinner we had pancakes and they were scrumptious!! They were very filling and had a sweet touch to them. I dressed them up with powdered sugar and fresh strawberries. I served it with vegan sausage, what a great meal!!

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 TBSP canola oil
1/3 c water
1 to 1 1/4 c soy milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 TBSP pure maple syrup

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. In separate bowl, combine all the other ingredients. Add wet ingredients to dry, mix until just combined-do not overmix.

Dinner Party

2010-07-07T19:42:00.001-07:00

Tonight we had a few friends over for a dinner party. It was great company, great food, and fun times!
For our appetizer we had an Insalata Caprese Salad-Vegan Style: Tomato, Cucumber, and Basil with Balsamic Vinegar and fresh pepper.

For dinner we had Pasta Puttanesca with home made garlic bread.

And for dessert we had peanut butter cookies with chocolate drizzled on top and fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate.

Vegan Breakfast, Yay!!

2010-07-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

I was told about a place here in St. Louis that does a great vegan breakfast so this morning me and the family loaded up and went. I am a huge fan of the first meal of the day so I was rather excited to give it a try. It's called SweetArt (http://www.sweetartstl.com/) and it was heavenly!!! We ordered a VEGAN CINNAMON ROLL!! Wonderful, but unfortunately no pic-it was just a bit too good to stop!! Then we got french toast, which was divine and scrambled tofu with tomato, avocado, and facon (fake bacon) all on a english muffin. They also have a bakery that offers many vegan options. Guess we will have to go back to give some other things a try.

Pigs in a Blanket

2010-06-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

I love when you find a recipe that you once loved and it's been Vegan-ized. I found Vegan Pigs in a Blanket, so I gave it a try. This takes some time, but is a great classic dinner. To balance the time spent making the Pigs in a Blanket I made the side salad last night and let it marinate over night. It was so easy, just chop up some veggies you love (cucumber, yellow pepper, cherry tomatoes, and onion) and toss them in balsamic vinegar.

Pigs in a Blanket

2 c whole wheat flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/3 c vegetable shortening
1 c water
1/2 TBSP applesauce
1 package vegan hot dogs (cut each one into 3 pieces)

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Add in shortening and mix with blender. Make a well in the center and pour water and applesauce in, stir until well blended.

Knead dough on a lightly floured surface. Tear off a small ball of dough, flatten it out, and roll around a hot dog piece.

Place onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 mins at 450 degrees.

Yummy!!

Taking the Time

2010-06-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

Tonight I had a wonderful experience. I went to a mindful eating cooking class and it opened my eyes to so many things.

How often do you eat and not even bother to stop and really look at the food, or take the time to truly taste what you are eating? We order something we "love" and then eat it so quickly we can not even enjoy it. Take time to slow down, smell it, look at it, enjoy all the flavors as you taste it.

We have lost sight of the purpose of food. It is to nourish our bodies and minds. Think about what you are putting into your body. Think of all the things that your body does for you without you even asking it to. Do you ever thank it for all it does? We do not treat our bodies kindly. When thinking of food we have become obsessed with calories, carbs, good for you, bad for you. Think about what is the energy of the food you are eating? Are you giving your body what it need to do it's job or are you trying to be healthy by giving it the lowest calories possible, empty calories with no nutritional value.

Love your body, thank your body. Fuel it with all the wonderful things that it wants.

It's nice to be back

2010-06-28T18:07:00.001-07:00

After a week long hiatus from cooking we have finally gotten back on track. I decided to make our first meal an easy one to prepare, a "meatloaf" with garlic broccoli and sweet potatoes. It was a delicious way to start the week!!

David is not a fan of broccoli and he loved it tonight, ate 3 servings!!! Give it a try!

Garlic Broccoli

1 TBSP Olive Oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
5 c broccoli florets
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c water

Place oil and garlic in skillet on med heat and cook for 2 mins. Stir in broccoli, salt, and water. Cover and increase heat to high, when you hear a strong sizzle, reduce heat to low and cook 2-3 mins, stirring frequently.

2010-06-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

I was recommended a new place to try, Foundation Grounds, and it did not disappoint. It is an adorable coffee house/cafe/bakery and they have a vegan friendly menu. I got the Tempeh Salad Sandwich with a side salad. It is like a chicken salad sandwich with cranberries and raisins in it, yummm!! The Balsamic Dressing on the salad is the best I have ever tasted, you have to try it if you go.

They had a selection of vegan desserts, so of course I had to get some!! I got a cookies n cream cupcake and a pumpkin muffin, the muffin was outstanding-you wouldn't even be able to tell it's vegan. I also heard they have the BEST vegan chocolate chip cookies.

On a side note

2010-06-18T19:09:00.000-07:00

Side dishes can make or brake a meal and finding easy quick ones can be difficult. Tonight for dinner we had Sesame Roasted Asparagus and it was wonderful!! Give it a try:

1 lb fresh asparagus, ends removed
2 tsp dark sesame oil
1/2 tsp salt
1 TBSP sesame seeds, toasted

Toss asparagus, oil, salt, and sesame seeds until coated. Bake for 10-12 mins at 475 degrees.

Interesting tip I read: to determine where you should cut the ends off asparagus hold both ends and bend, it will snap where it should be cut.

Newton's Law

2010-06-17T19:08:00.000-07:00

Making dinner tonight was so frustrating. Everything that could go wrong, did! I was making a new stir-fry recipe that I had found. Simple enough, right?? Not so much, I had Tamari instead of Tahini, when I grated my ginger I used the wrong side and it didn't grate, I forgot to use the sesame oil, and so on. But guess what, I just kept going and it actually turned out pretty good. David even said it's a keeper!! I will definitely try to make the recipe again, but I will also keep tonight's version. If you want to give my version a try it was super easy (without all the mistakes, haha)!

1 small onion, chopped
1/2 block firm tofu, cubed
4 large button mushrooms, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 small red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup bean sprouts
Tamari (quantity depends on how much you like)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Saute onions, tofu, and mushrooms in oil until the onions are translucent. Add the garlic and red peppers and saute for 2-3 mins. Add the tamari, bean sprouts, salt, and pepper, saute for 1-2 mins. Serve over brown rice.

This doesn't make a huge quantity, enough for maybe 2 people.

Dollars and Sense

2010-06-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

One of David's biggest concerns with going Vegan was not what are we going to eat, but how much is this new lifestyle going to cost us? This was a valid question to which I did not have the answer, nor could I simply look it up. Now that we have been Vegan for 3 months (yay!!) I am able to answer this question.

I have compared our eating out and grocery bills pre-vegan and post-vegan. Surprising to the both of us we have saved money with our new lifestyle. Not only are we now filling our bodies with wonderful, and usually organic, foods but we are saving money doing it! When I shop at the grocery store I mostly shop in the produce section, with a few exceptions. But I no longer shop in the meat, dairy, or processed foods section.

You are probably thinking, "Of course they are saving money, they don't eat out any more." Not true! We are eating at home more than before because the whole point is to try and be more healthy, but we still eat out often.

Here is a perfect example: This is the sandwich I had at Einstein's today for lunch. It was super yummy and my whole meal only cost $3.20!!!!

An Interesting Comparison

2010-06-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

For those of you out there reading this and still doubting or still wondering, here is an incredible comparison I did today at lunch.

People always ask, "How do you get enough protein in your diet if you don't eat meat?" Please notice which hot dog has the higher amount of protein. Which one do you want to eat now?

Philly, You were so good to us!

2010-06-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

This morning was our last day in Philly and we decided to grab brunch at Mi Lah Vegetarian. They have a completely Vegan Brunch on Sat and Sun, I was in heaven!! Breakfast is probably what I have missed the most from going vegan and they had it all! I got Belgian Waffles and David got French Toast. It was perfect and amazing.

I am very shocked at how vegan friendly Philly has been. We have eaten somewhere different each day with many options to choose from (4 places are within 2 blocks of our hotel). I look forward to visiting again some day and will spread the word of what a fun and exciting city this is to visit!!

Philly Fun-Day 2

2010-06-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

Today for lunch I got to try something I have been wanting for a while, Vegan Sushi. It was delicious! We got a fried sweet potato roll and an avocado and squash roll. We also had an order of Mushroom and Asparagus in Teriyaki Sauce, AMAZING!!

Someone suggested that we try Horizons (http://www.horizonsphiladelphia.com/) for dinner and I am so glad they did! We started our meal with an order of their Vietnamese Tacos, so good, so spicy! For dinner I ordered the Grilled Seitan. It is Seitan served over a bed of mashed potatoes with spinach and a special sauce. It was superb! It was one of those meals that makes you realize that you don't miss meat or dairy at all!

Oh yeah, I also got a piece of Vegan Cheesecake, but no pictures of that. It looked so good that I forgot to take a picture!

Philly Fun!

2010-06-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

Today was so much fun!! We headed out the door of the hotel and decided to just walk and see where it took us. About 5 blocks south of our hotel we ran into a Vegan Bakery, Sweet Freedom (http://sweetfreedombakery.com/index.html) and it was divine!! I got a chocolate chip cookie sandwich and it was so good I was licking my fingers to finished it.

Later we grabbed a cab over to Sabrina's Cafe (http://www.sabrinascafe.com/) where David and I ordered the same thing because it sounded so good. We got the Tofu Scramble, which is like scrambles eggs, with toast and home fries. Yummy!!!

After lunch we went on a Segway Tour. It was such a phenomenal experience, I would recommend it to anyone. I had to include a picture because David and I enjoyed ourselves so much!

And lastly for dinner we found an all Vegan Chinese restaurant, "Chicken" Sweet & Sour, "Shrimp" Fried Rice, and Moo Shu "Pork". Today has been such a great day with good eats!

Greetings from Philly

2010-06-09T17:24:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are in Philadelphia from today till Sunday to celebrate our anniversary, 6 years this Saturday!!! I will attempt to keep you updated with all the fun and exciting foods that we are eating.

Tonight we walked right out the door of our hotel and saw a pizza place called SliCE. Pizza sounded good so we decided to give it a try. Can you believe they had Vegan Mozzarella Cheese!! We started with Garlic Bread with Marinara. Our pizza was awesome, we got mozzarella, spinach, onion, and fresh garlic. What a great find when we weren't even looking.

Pick Ax Burrito

2010-06-08T18:34:00.000-07:00

Dinner tonight was fantastic and for two reasons. One David loved it (he can be hard to please sometimes). Two it was a Mexican dish that didn't have beans, which can be hard to find in a Vegan recipe. We have tried burritos before with Boca crumbles and not liked them. I found a new recipe and decided to give it another go, it turned out great! The key is to really let the crumbles get browned and crispy on the stove top. Here is the recipe:

1 onion, diced
16 oz frozen vegetarian meat crumbles
1/4 c water
1 tsp Bragg Liquid Aminos (you can find it in a health food store, Whole Foods, etc)
2 TBSP chili powder
1 TBSP cumin
Whole Grain Wraps
1 can corn, rinsed and drained
Diced Tomatoes
Shredded Romaine Lettuce
Salsa

In a skillet on high heat, saute the onion for 3 min. Add the crumbles, water, Bragg's, and spices. Cook on med-high heat for 10 mins (or until browned and crispy). Fill wrap with "meat" and all the toppings (ie. corn, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa).

For a bonus I had a leftover potato and sauteed it with some green onion in a skillet and used it as a filler/topping also. It was a wonderful addition!!

Stunning Changes

2010-06-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

When my family went vegan there were certain changes that I expected, cooking at home, weight loss (yay!!), and cravings for foods we loved but were now "forbidden". But there have been many changes that I never expected and have come as such a great surprise.

We have gotten away from making food the entertainment. Going out on date night...where are we going to eat? Hanging out with friends tonight....where are we going to eat? Now instead we actually do things that are, well...entertaining. When some friends came in town we went to the Horse Track Races, now when I want to get together with family/friends we get our bikes and go for a ride. I am finding all these things that are fun and healthy for me and my life!

Another extraordinary surprise came today at an unexpected time. My daughter and I went to a graduation party and there was food everywhere, none that I would/should eat. Audrey, of course, wants a snack. I ask her what she wants, there are chips, dips, sweets, and what does she pick out of all of this.....carrots!!!! What?!?! Have I accidentally taught her something invaluable? My McDonald's loving, cookie eating monster picked something healthy all on her own. This is the best reward I could have asked for.

Oh and as for the craving of forbidden foods, not an issue. I have found SO many alternatives. I can truly say that there is nothing that I am missing!

2010-06-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

I LOVE BBQ Chicken pizza and today ran across a recipe for BBQ pizza. I gave it a try and it turned out fantastic!!! Super easy, here is how:

1/2 c tomato paste mixed with 1 c barbecue sauce and 2 tsp dried oregano
2 store made pizza crusts
1 red onion, sliced
1 bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 can pineapple chunks, drained

Follow cooking instructions on pizza crust.

This is enough to make 2 pizzas. By the way-I love sauce on a pizza but I would suggest going light, it gets to be a bit much.

Talking the Talk and Walking the Wok

2010-06-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

Tonight for dinner I used my new Wok for the first time. It is so fun trying something new and having it turn out successful. We had Vegetable Stir-Fry with Seitan (a chicken like substance and taste). It was great, here is how I made it, give it a try!!

1 lb seitan, strips
1/2 onion, sliced into half rounds
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 bell pepper, seeded and sliced thin
2 carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 TBSP tamari and 1 TBSP brown sugar, combined

Heat a large, sprayed wok. Add the ingredients in order listed, stirring for 1 minute after each addition. Serve over rice.

Popsicles

2010-05-31T18:13:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of left over fruit from the birthday party so I decided to blend it all together and make popsicles. They were delicious and all natural. Here is a picture of my 3 year old enjoying hers.

Happy 1st Birthday!!

2010-05-29T14:48:00.001-07:00

Yesterday my adorable son turned 1 so, of course, we threw him a birthday party. We had family and friends over for a barbecue, which would mean meat by their standards. So I had to get creative and managed to have everything at the party Vegan with the exceptions of the burgers and cake. No one was aware that they only had Vegan options and everyone enjoyed all the delicious things available to eat.

We had bruchetta, chips and hummus, and salsa for appetizers. For dinner we had burgers, vegan brats, fresh fruit, edamame succotash, chips, and pasta salad. And for dessert we had the classic birthday cake, but as a treat to my family we got vegan cupcakes!!!!

I threw a great party and successfully fed and satisfied my guests!! And I managed to be true to my new lifestyle without making excuses or exceptions.

Bow Tie Pasta with Pesto

2010-05-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

This is a quick and easy meal. Yummy but a bit bland so I added some red pepper flakes.

3 cloves of garlic
1 cup walnuts
2 cups fresh basil, packed
1/2 cup soy milk or water
16 oz whole grain bow tie pasta, cooked

Blend the garlic and nuts briefly in a food processor. Add the basil and liquid, and process to a thick consistency. Toss well with the pasta.

I served this with zucchini and squash.

An Amazing Week

2010-05-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

I just got home from Florida and I am so proud of myself. I took my first vacation as a Vegan. I thought it would be challenging and difficult and I found it easy with some great surprises!! Before we left for our trip I spend some time online looking for dining out suggestions. The top spot on my list was Sublime (http://www.sublimerestaurant.com/home.html), it was sensational!!! Everything on the menu was vegan, what a great opportunity to try some new and exciting things.

We started with the Frito Misto, which is crispy cauliflower with sweet chili sauce and sesame seeds.

For dinner I had gardein cutlets (looks and tastes like chicken), with grilled asparagus over pasta with a lemon caper sauce.

And the pictures of the desserts speak for themselves....phenomenal!!!! It was ALL vegan and all amazing!

This experience has made me realize that their are many options out there and that if you decide to do this there is a whole world out there to support you!! And hopefully, you my reader, realize I am here to support you.

My Apologies

2010-05-22T14:58:00.000-07:00

To my faithful followers...haha

I am in Florida on vacation right now and do not have access to the internet. We have been eating wonderful food and I plan on updating you when I get home. Look forward to new posts Tues 25th!!!

Seriously....THIS is Vegan??!!

2010-05-17T18:23:00.000-07:00

A throwback to one of David's favorite meals.

Vegan Meatloaf (made by Whole Foods)

with garlic green beans and a baked potato. Quick, easy, and delicious!!

There are so many options out there, you just have to open your eyes and look around.

Graduation Party

2010-05-15T20:14:00.001-07:00

David's brother, Daniel, graduated from Law school on Thursday night (Congrats Dan-we are so proud of you) so his dad took us all out for dinner. We went to Scape in the Central West End and because I knew where we were going I called a few days ahead to find out what options they had for a Vegan. I talked to someone who couldn't have been more helpful. She told me they have a vegetarian menu and would bring out the chef to talk about what options they could make to suit our diet.

That night I had one of they best meals I have had since I have been Vegan (going on 2 months now, yay). We started with the Cucumber Spring Rolls and a Spring Asparagus Salad.

These were incredible on their own, but my entree is what amazed me!! I had a Vegan Lasagna. It was wrapped in the thinnest layer of cucumber and it had everything in it from corn, mushroom, spinach, tomato marinara. But the best part was it had pureed cashews which were the "cheese". It was GREAT!! I recommend it to all, Vegan or not. And at the end of the night I was completely satisfied and did not feel stuffed. What a nice change.

Tennessee Corn Pone Muffins

2010-05-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

Last night I made a Vegan version of Tennessee Corn Pone Muffins. It is a corn muffin with seasoned beans on top. I served it with some fried zucchini and a great side salad. It was quick and easy to make and tasted delicious!!

Yummy Granola

2010-05-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

Today while the kids were taking their nap I decided to whip up some granola mix from a recipe I found in a magazine. It is vegan, of course, but also delicious! It's so good David was enticed to clean the whole kitchen with promises of granola after!!

4 cups Old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking)

1 cup sliced almonds

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

2 TBSP canola oil

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup dried fruit (I used raisins and dried cherries)

Toss oats, almonds, coconut, and the seeds with the maple syrup, oil, and salt.

Spread onto baking sheet, bake 350 degrees for 25-30 mins, tossing once during.

Add dried fruit.

New Twist On An Old Favorite

2010-05-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

I love love love getting an Insalata Caprese Salad (aka Tomato, Mozzarella, & Basil in Balsamic Vinegar) at a good Italian restaurant. Today I found a great substitution recipe and made it tonight with dinner. It was a huge hit, we finished the whole plate!! And it was super easy to put together:

Sprinkle a plate with Balsamic Vinegar

Place cut up tomato slices on plate

Place cucumber on top of tomato

Place fresh basil on top of cucumber

Sprinkle with Balsamic Vinegar

Top with fresh pepper

Let chill/marinate for an hour

2010-05-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

Last night I went out to dinner with some friends who are Non-Vegan, but very open-minded and we found a great new spot. Lemongrass, (http://www.lemongrass-rest.com/) it is a Vietnamese restaurant. I was recommended the Vegetarian Rice in Hot Pot, which I have never even heard of. Boy am I glad I tried it, it was amazing!! It was lots of veggies in a brown sauce with a rice that turned crunchy on the bottom, delish!!

And David had Sesame Tofu with Broccoli, and it was amazing!! It tasted just like chicken and the sauce was great! Our friends also loved what they ordered and tried ours and thought it was yummy.

We will definitely be making a trip back, maybe very soon!!

Something New

2010-05-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight for dinner I made something that everyone will turn their noses up at...Cauliflower soup!

It was made for me in a vegan cooking class and it was amazing! Surprisingly sweet and very satisfying. My father, husband, and 3 year old daughter all LOVED it!! I suggest that you step outside of your box and give it a try, it's amazing! I topped it with some caramelized onions and had a great bread on the side, Seeduction from Whole Foods. It was so sweet and delicious......come on, try something new tonight!!

Creamy Sweet Vegetable Soup

You can make this with any sweet vegetable:

1) Chop up 1 onion and sauté in 2 TBSP olive oil until translucent. Add vegetable (amount depends on how much soup you want to make, I used a whole head of cauliflower) and add enough water to cover the vegetable.

2) Boil and simmer until veggies are tender; you can add seasonings like salt, pepper, ginger, red pepper flakes, etc.

3) Use an immersion blender to cream the soup. Taste and adjust seasonings.

4) Sautéed, caramelized onions taste incredible as a topping/garnish.

Caramelized Onions

1-2 Vidalia onions depending on how much you want to make

1 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP soy butter

1 tsp honey

Heat oil in skillet. Add onions and sauté for a couple of minutes. Add a pinch of sea salt. Continue to sauté until the onions start to brown slightly. Add the butter. After another 5 minutes add the honey. The onions will really start to brown so watch them.

They can't all be winners

2010-05-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

Last night for dinner I made Black Bean Cakes topped with avocado and rice and fried zucchini.

While it tasted fine it was not worth the effort, tasted like a burrito minus the tortilla. Although the fried zucchini was excellent!! Can't wait to eat that again.

Mexican-Vegan Style

2010-05-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

Today my dad and I stopped for a yummy lunch at Amigo's in Kirkwood. They have a wonderful vegetable burrito and if you leave off the cheese it's vegan!! We also indulged in guacamole and a Corona!!

Surprising Sources

2010-05-02T18:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday David and I drove to Chicago to shop for a new dining room table. After much driving and shopping we decided to break for lunch. As we were leaving the store the salesperson asked what kind of food we were looking for, hoping to be helpful since we did not live in the area. David and I exchanged a quick glance, do we ask if she knows of any vegan dining in the area or do we play it safe and ask where to get a good salad?

We took a chance and asked for a vegan suggestion. Another salesperson overheard us and was able to suggest a place not 2 blocks from where we were. Excited, we hopped in the car. Karen's Vegan Gourmet (http://www.karynraw.com/Raw-Cafe/) was the suggestion and it was a great one!!! We had nachos that were amazing and both loved our lunch entrees.

What a great find and great suggestion. And to think......we almost didn't ask.

Familiar Foods

2010-04-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

Everyone always thinks eating Vegan means eating things that you are unfamiliar with. Tonight for dinner we had...

Vegan Bratwursts with mixed veggies and potato chips

I challenge you to try it and tell me if you can even taste the difference. Oh yeah, and it took 10 mins to make the whole meal!!!

Try Try Again

2010-04-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

They say a child has to try something 17 times before they decide if they truly dislike it. So my question is are we adults much different? In the last 5 weeks I have tried tofu 4 times and disliked it every single time, yet today I found myself ordering it again at lunch. Fortunately for me I know that everywhere you go things always taste a bit different because today I LOVED it!! We went to Pei Wei and I had my meal with Tofu and vegetables and it was wonderful. It taste just like what I used to get when I went there BV (aka before vegan).

So my point to you today is if you find a milk you don't like try a few more. If you find an ice cream you don't like try a few more. Keep trying until you find one that works for you and don't rule out anything until you have given it 17 chances....or maybe just a good effort.

Tuesday Night Dinner

2010-04-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

Tonight for dinner we had a salad and

Fusilli with Roasted Asparagus, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Toasted Pine Nuts.

It was AMAZING!!

The Beginning

2010-04-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

On March 22 2010 I convinced my husband to join me on a crazy adventure. We decided to go from the lifestyle of McDonald's to......VEGAN! Talk about quite a change. But, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself-here is how it happened.

I had recently read The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone which opened my eyes to what we are putting into our bodies. After doing some research and talking to a few people it was suggested that I read The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn. That book has a few chapters about how what we eat effects everything in our body and what we can to do change it. After having my eyes opened I felt like going Vegan was something I had to do.

Now please understand we went from eating out twice a day, every day to Vegan and we did it "cold turkey" (or maybe I should say "cold tofu"). We have been Vegan for 5 weeks and are loving it. If I can do it I know you can too!!!

My purpose of this blog is to show you all the yummy food that we are eating and all the things we love that we never knew about!! Please follow us on our food adventure and see how it changes not only what we eat but our entire lives....