Could it Be? February 4, 2010

Chocolate Cake in 5 minutes? And I can figure out how to veganize it? I’m in heaven.

Maybe I’m Not So Crazy January 31, 2010

I once posted about vegan projects I would like to see. One of them was a site dedicated entirely to vegan mac and cheese. I just discovered (thanks to KaliMama on Vegan Represent) WaffleParty. A site all about vegan waffles.

Could a Mac n Cheeze Party next?

Annoyance January 30, 2010

I don’t know about other Vegans, but the single most annoying question I get is “What do you eat*?”

I’m not as bothered by the question as I am by my answer. And by “answer” I mean  stammering, hemming and hawing and trying to think of anything I ate in the last 24 hours.

It goes something like this:

Inquisitor: What do you eat?

Me: (shit, what do I eat? I can’t say a lot of broccoli and sprouts. Oh! Veggie Burgers! No, then the next question will be, if meat is so bad, why are you eating fake meat? Damn. Ok, pizza without cheese? Hell no. That’s not gonna appeal to anyone and I’m trying to sell this veganism thing. I don’t want them thinking I’m deprived. Crap) Oh, I eat lots of things mumble mumble.

In an attempt to avoid this kind of panic, I’m thinking I might start flogging a little. No, not with whips or thorn bushes (not a very Jewish thing to do, anyway) I mean a food log….but you knew that already, right?

Yes, it’s super boring and a blog cop-out so I don’t plan to make it my only content or for it to go on forever. It’s just an exercise in paying even MORE attention to what I eat so when someone asks, I’m more prepared. Oh, and I wouldn’t mind a little input from readers, either….(ha ha. Like I have readers.)

*ahem*

Captain’s Food Log Stardate 5770

Breakfast

Hot cereal: Quinoa Flakes with raisins, brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon and a dash of vanilla

Lunch

Baked potato topped with manwich stuff (made with Smart Ground), Brocoli

Dinner

Went to our favorite burrtio lounge: El Rey and had the Cali (rice, black beans, tomatoes and guac.) Thank heaven for this place…they know what I mean when I tell ‘em I’mvegan.

*Which, by the way, I’ve come to believe is a loaded question. Yes, they are asking, but they aren’t at all open to the idea of a vegan diet, so no matter what I say they will dismiss it.

Veganize It! January 8, 2010

Sometimes while I read blogs and surf the ‘net (more like “stumble around on the ‘net”) I find a recipe that even I, in my cooking disabled state, could veganize. This is one of them. Adding to the “easy to veganize” appeal would be the use of the crockpot. ‘Cause crockpots rule.

So here is what I plan to do. (Since actually testing out my veganizing theories before I report to you would be so boring.)

• (3) Chicken Italian Sausage And I don’t really see the need to try and find any thing to replace it.
• (1) box  Near East Wild Mushroom & Herb Rice Pilaf (I have to call and check on the “natural flavors” listed in the ingredients)
• (1) box Green Giant Healthy Weight frozen vegetables (sliced carrots, sugar snap peas, black beans and edamame) Or substitute what I have in the freezer since I’m trying to avoid the grocery store this month
• 1/2 of a decent size onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
• 2 cans College Inn Light & Fat Free Chicken Broth (Veggie broth)
• 1 can Rienzi Chick Peas (Garbanzo beans)
• 1 can Rienzi Cannellini Beans
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper

Eat From The Pantry! January 3, 2010

I mentioned in my last post the Eat From the Pantry Challenge. I’m not officially “in”, but I want to do something similar. So I guess I should have some goals or something. It’s just two of us in the house, but we only want to eat out once a week and I take my lunch to work every day and sometimes Hubadub comes home for lunch. I eat breakfast at home every day…Hubadub not so much. This means we keep more food in the house than one would expect two people to have. (An aside: Hubadub used to be 150 pounds heavier and I’m vegan…honestly, I think he and I have psychological food-is-love issues…or something. We really do obsess quite a bit over our meals and what we eat.)

I don’t really have any goals right now other than to go as long as possible between grocery trips and keep up with how much I spend in January and then maybe continue the challenge thru February (when I might be able to say something like “don’t spend more than $X.)

This morning I made a list of dishes I could make just with what I have in the house. The freezer is stuffed with frozen veggies that can be steamed to add to a meal.

Breakfasts

• Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal (Note to self: write up and share this recipe)
• Apple Strudel Quinoa
• Peanut Butter and Facon Pitas
• Homefries
• Pancakes

Lunch/Dinner

• Couscous with Tomatoes (Note to self: write up and share this recipe, too)
• Carrabba’s Tagliarini Picchi Pacchiu Knock off
• Baked Bean Pasta Bake
• Soups (canned and frozen)
• Aloo Palak
• Black Beans and Rice
• Black Eyed Peas and Tomatoes
• “Chik’n” and rice soup
• Boca Chik patties
• Manwiches

(FYI: one of my January Goals is to phase out meat analogs and processed foods.)

I wonder how long I can go before I have to break down and go to the grocery store. I kind of wonder if the ladies who began the challenge have pets. With four cats, I feel like I’m always having to run out for food or kitty litter.

To Be a Better Vegan January 2, 2010

I think there is a blogging rule somewhere that says you have to acknowledge the New Year be posting a list of resolutions. Well, I hate those damn things. They just make me feel pressured and I spend pretty much every day of the year berating myself…I don’t need the added ammunition of failing at my New Year’s Resolutions.

But I do need to be a better vegan. I did not finish 2009 very well. I’ve made my confessions elsewhere and I’m moving on.

This year I want to focus on not buying so much and not using so many meat analogs and processed foods.

When I went vegan I also became a sucker for vegan stuff. I completely missed the point of the less is more aspect of veganism. So this year in the kitchen and in my life I want to make do with what I have and really decide if the item I am wishing for is really needed.  So, I’ll keep a wish list this year and next year I’ll start thinking about whether I should actually buy the things I put on the wish list. And I’m not going to freak out if I don’t have every spice or ingredient listed in a vegan recipe. Substitutions are ok.

That being said, I need to get my pantry/grocery shopping under control. If it is just Hubadub and I at home why does it seem I’m grocery shopping every week? I read about the Eat From the Pantry Challenge and I want to give it a try.

So…tonight I’ll be making a list and checking it twice and hopefully this weekend I will make the first of no more than 2 trips to the grocery stores (since I have to go to 3 different stores to get everything I need) this month. The biggest challenge will be not to spend more than $75…which is sometimes hard when you live in an area with a 10% sales tax (and yes, food and  meds are taxed.)

New Year’s Menu January 1, 2010

Simple but tasty.

• Black eyed peas with tomatoes (recipe below)
• Cornbread (this recipe is awesome.)
• what ever green veggie Hub-a-dub decides to steam…since I sort of “forgot” the collards (that’s code for 1. I don’t like them and 2. I don’t know how to prepare them.)

Black Eyed Peas with Tomatoes

1 16 oz bag frozen black-eyed peas

1 14ish oz can diced tomato

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1 cup water

1 onion, chopped

pepper to taste

1ish tbs olive oil

Brown the onions in the olive oil approx 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the frozen black eyed peas. Add tomatoes, sauce pepper to taste and water. Bring to boil. Let simmer uncovered 20-30 minutes until liquid has cooked off and peas are tender. If they aren’t as tender as you like, feel free to add water as needed and continue to let it simmer.