Vegan...ish

By the way, yes, I'm still eating vegan. Well, vegan-ish, at least. :) Still no red meat or chicken (and honestly, still no desire!), but I have given myself the pleasure of sushi at least twice a month (I told you...I spoil myself). Also, within the past few weeks, I have leaked some cheese back into my diet. I'm pretty sure I don't have to explain how something like this might happen after 6 months of not having it. :) But, on the up side, I have still kept to keeping the foundation of my diet as natural and nutritious as possible, and these allowances are more the exception than the norm.

This week has brought with it some great motivating tips from my mother and has gotten me re-invigorated to start cooking and eating better.. stay AWAY from the french fries! :) In the end, this whole experience has nothing to do with what anyone expects or thinks of me.. it has been for my own personal satisfaction to enforce SOME restrictions on what I put into my body and assure myself there is a whole world of options when it comes to eating decisions. Plus, I feel a whole lot less guilty about contributing to the torture of animals. But that's a whole other story. :)

On that note, here's some highlights of what went on in my cooking kick this evening: some homemade whole wheat pasta salad and some freshmade vegan potato salad (including some fresh cilantro..and veganaise, of course! LoL) I had a fork full of each and I have to say it..."Damn I'm good!!!"

Where HAVE I been?

So, where have I been you might ask? Well, true to form, my life this summer has distracted me from a lot of things, including myself!

While it's true I have been spending most of my summer working frantically to succeed in a new territory that has cost me long hours, stress and tears... I've been spoiling myself rotten on the side to make up for it ;)

To follow is a mini photo montage of my Summer 2010... the best one yet! (And believe you-me...since it IS up to me..there is still a whole lot more fun to come!!) :P

(Top to bottom: Michigan City Beach Party, Weko Beach Wine Fest, martinis at Club LaSalle, 4th of July camping, Myrtle Beach in North Carolina, Taste of Chicago, girls night out at Mulligan's and loving on my family!.. P.S. as it turns out, that purple shirt has been having way too much fun with me! LoL)

Playin Martha Stewart

I came across an interesting link the other day: $25 + 1 Hour Preparation = 5 Healthy Lunches. Hmmm.... sounds good to me!

http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/05/09/cheap-healthy-lunch-recipes/

I had to make a few additions at the grocery store (bananas, parsnips, and a bottle of Cabarnet Shiraz of course) so my bill was slightly more than $25. And, given the inclusion of poultry, I had to modify a few recipes. But overall, this is a great combination of delicious foods! I popped open the bottle of wine and started chopping, blending and boiling away.

I was pretty impressed with the Homemade Hummus. I added in some garlic with diced red, jalapeno and serrano peppers for a lil "Puerto Rican" flavor, and was actually surprised it wasn't very spicy (I have my good friend Jen to vouch for that). Served with whole wheat tortilla, cut up and baked into chips, this would have been AWESOME-- except for me going fresh-squeezed-lemon crazy! lol How does one fix too much lemon? Oh well. Live and learn, live and learn.. :)

Since I was all at once trying to pre-make lunches for the week AND whip up dinner for me and Jen, I next threw together the Asian Ginger/ Noodle sauce and served it over whole wheat fettuccine noodles and a steamed vegetable mix. Sooo good.. I love Asian dressing!

I proceeded to make the Spicy Black Beans and the Vegetable salad, all while baking a recipe of Roasted Potatoes and Parsnips, given to me by my homemade-cuisine-loving boss. I had tried his delicious recipe for Cracked New Potatoes in Red Wine and (Rosemary) this past weekend, so I was sure I wouldn't be disappointed. And I wasn't. My first experience with parsnips was grandiose!

For tomorrow's lunch, I've lined a whole-wheat tortilla with hummus & salad mix, and another with the spicy black beans & salad mix. Pretty sure it's gonna be awesome- but I'll let you know for sure. And I'll let you know how that 5 day lunch budget worked too. (Can't be any worse than 5 days in a row off the Dollar Menu!)

Cauliflower & Asparagus Tart

Well, helloooo there invisible-Sherina-blog-readers!! It has been a while since I've updated this blog. Fortunately for myself, I know myself and my chaotic life, and I DID provide a disclaimer at the start that this blog might be rather infrequent. Yes, something to work on.

On the up side, while I haven't been able to BLOG about it, I have been doing some cooking! Since one of my advertisers is a farmer's market (Rajzer's in Decatur, go if you can!)- I am now part of the "informed" fresh produce crowd who knows it's currently asparagus season. To support my advertiser, and to my obvious benefit, I purchased some fresh asparagus with the intent of finding a vegan recipe...Luck!

I made the following recipe about 2 weekends ago. All went well until the "tart" was outta the oven and the first taste test. P.S. Am I the only person in the world that didn't know it was NOT a good idea to use vanilla soy milk in a recipe of this sorts?? Just wondering...

So, the first one ended up in the trash (Think: melted vanilla ice cream on steamed asparagus.. yuukk).

Oh well. The SECOND one turned out much better..Except, I didn't realize "Tart" was literal..?? So, to offset the slightly bitter taste, I ended up adding a seasoning mixture of Rosemary & Garlic. The result? AWWESOMENESS!! :)

Ok, enough of all that.. here's the recipe from the cookbook "Vegan" by
Tony Weston and Yvonne Bishop:

Cauliflower & Asparagus Tart

Pastry
-2 1/2 cups self-rising wholegrain flour
-1 tsp. vegan bouillon powder
-1/2 c. rapeseed oil
-1/2 c. rice milk or soy milk

** NOTE: the first time I made this, the dough didn't hold together very well. The second time, I unintentionally put in a whole cup of (NON-VANILLA) soy milk- and it worked like a charm.

***ANOTHER NOTE: I couldn't find the politically incorrect "rapeseed" oil ANYwhere....so I used Canola. Worked fine for me, and there was no awkward "ingredient" conversation involved.


Filling
-1 medium cauliflower, broken into florets
-1/4 lb asparagus, trimmed & washed
-olive oil, for oiling & frying
-2 red onions, chopped
-2 oz. shiitake mushrooms, sliced
-1/2 c. frozen sweet corn
-1 c. sweetened soy milk
-1 c. rapeseed oil
-juice of lime
-2 tbsp. rolled oats
-2 tbsp. vegan tomato sauce
-scant 2 tbsp vegan bouillon powder
-1 tbsp Dijon mustard
-smoked paprika
-black pepper

1. Grease a 12 inch tart or pie plate. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. To make the pastry, place the flour and bouillon powder in a bowl and rub in the oil, then mix in the milk. Knead the pastry gently for a few moments, then roll out on a floured surface and use it to line the prepared dish. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until just cooked through.
3. Meanwhile, steam the cauliflower and asparagus separately until hot but not cooked- about 4-5 minutes.
4. Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan and fry the onions and mushrooms until soft. Add the mashed sweet corn and stir until hot.
5. Heat the soy milk in a saucepan until hot but not boiling. Transfer to a food processor or blender, add the rapeseed oil, season with pepper and mix well. With the machine still running, add the lime juice and mix thoroughly to prevent curdling.
6. Add the oats, tomato sauce, bouillon powder and mustard to the milk mixture and blend again.
7. Oil the inner base of the pie crust, then spread a thin layer of the oat mixture over it. Place a layer of the mushroom mixture on top, then a layer of the cauliflower, followed by the remaining oat mixture.
8. Arrange the asparagus spears on top and spring with smoked paprika. Return the tart to the over and cook for 20 minutes, Serve with a green salad.

Tomato Bombs

Well, honestly, this recipe caught my eye primarily because it's the day before pay day so my refrigerator and pantry are looking a little bare. The only ingredients I had to pick up last night were large tomatoes and black olives. The recipe was SO easy, it took me less than 10 minutes to prepare- and that was adding in a side of Roasted Garlic Couscous and Spinach & Sesame Seed salad.

Aside from looking pretty on the plate, this dish was really flavorful and filling with its black olives, garlic, marjoram and parsley. (Also, I was excited to find a use for the plastic-tasting vegan cream cheese that has been sitting in my refrigerator.) I give this recipe 2 thumbs up and look forward to sharing it. By the way- the optional recipe suggested smoked tofu, seaweed and sticky rice. Definitely gonna have to try that too!

Toasted Granola

Cracked open my new cookbook "Vegan" last night and prepped for today by preparing my first recipe: Toasted Granola.

I was able to find some Blackstrap Molasses at Martin's- honestly, it looks like a container of motor oil so definitely a little scary. But, the recipe called for it, so that's what I got. I had some natural granola left from my last trip to Apple Valley, so I mixed it with the molasses, some soy milk and some EVOO, considering I couldn't find "rapeseed" oil at Martin's (something to do with it's politically incorrect name??). Baked for 15 mintues and Voila! Toasted Granola.

I ate some this morning with vanilla soy milk.. and it was pretty good! I think I'm used to the manufactured Granola that's held together with a buncha not-so-good-for-you stuff, cause I prefer it more crunchy than chewy. Or, it could just be that I need to figure out how to replicate the crunchy granola. Either way, this recipe was flavorful and filling, and that's a success to me!

Work it out!

Along with changing my way of eating, I am still...occasionally...dedicated to working out. But more occasionally now than in the past..so that's a good thing! :)

As this has been another struggle I have fought since childhood, I have gotten pretty good at pinpointing reasons why I have been unsuccessful at keeping a workout routine. One of the biggest being that...it's a routine (see my first blog). But, again, this is no longer the time for excuses.

SOO..!! With that in mind, I am now focused on discovering and holding tight to NEW and exciting ways of keeping physically fit! I've discovered kayaking, disc golf, yogalaties and Zumba. And, I must admit, all of these discoveries have been quite humorous to see....

BUT, I am going to keep it fun and interesting..and make being physically fit an INSEPERABLE part of my life. Well, my life from now on.

Because I KNOW I can do it and I WANT to do it.

As I approach my 30th year of life, I realize that now is the time to do all those things I have been dreaming of, thinking about, planning on doing. Life is not coming back to me, it is only passing me by.... So NOW is the time to design my new life and LIVE it!!

Eatin Vegan

Highest on my list of self-improvements, you will find, is my health.

I've analyzed, deduced, equated, and pondered trying to figure out HOW I got to where I am when it comes to weight, eating habits, physical inactivity and all that jazz. In the end, I have decided that no matter whether it stems from bad childhood training, emotional distress or mere laziness, the result will be the same. Change will occur!

And it has.

Almost 2 years ago, one of my best friends became vegan. While I have been avidly "dieting" since I was 10 years old, this was my first exposure to such a drastic lifestyle change. More intriguing was the ease with which she grasped veganism. So while I was curious for so long, it was only 2 months ago that I finally focused my attention and had a long conversation with her on the ins and outs of being vegan. She suggested I read the book that changed her thinking, "Skinny Bitch." I did. And it changed mine too.

I've reformed my emotional..and physical...attachment to food and gotten it back into my control. I'm proud of that. And, along the way, I have discovered an exciting world of food that I never knew existed- one void of chemically-saturated and inhumanely-reaped animal meat and byproducts- (Yes, I have given up the cheese. I now know all things are possible.)- and filled with a rainbow of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and legumes most of which I have never even heard.

It is this discovery that part of my blog will share. While I have already been introduced to (and fallen in love with!) such staples as hummus, veggie burgers, and avocadoes, I am excited that there is still so much to experience!

With this in mind, and in the light of the recent movie "Julie & Julia," I have decided to cook my way through a recently acquired cookbook "Vegan" by Tony Weston and Yvonne Bishop. Except, unlike the movie, I am unwilling to sacrifice my sanity and social time. With that said, the cooking will come at my own pace. And I will love it..and love blogging about it!

Movin on up....

My first blog! I've never been the first to jump on any technological bandwagon, but I'm happy to say I am becoming better as the years go by. Which is the essence of this blog- to analyze myself, pinpoint exactly where I am lacking as a better person...and do something to fix it!

Don't worry, I'm not a perfectionist. I think I would better be described as...slightly ADD.

In truth, I get antsy with mundane. I get bored with repetitive. I get restless with stability. It's a situation where I can't even drive home the same way every day because.. I don't want to. So when it comes to my life, I simply aim to keep it new and exciting. Not too hard, right?

In actuality, my journey through life may not need ANY assistance at staying far from boring... But what fun is that when I have so much more to add? :)