not broken

Soooooooooooo....it turns out my computer wasn't broken. The internet phone people just didn't know how to fix our phone problem so decided to just tell us our computer was broken. We will still be getting a new computer though....I have a ton of food pics that i've taken during my hiatus which will be posted over the next few days..



Seitan Tacos w. Salsa, Avocado and Raw Zucchini with Sauteed Swiss Chard


Lets just say I'm obsessed with these. I purchased a package of taco seasoning not expecting much from it. I was wrong. I was devouring the seitan out of the pan before any other part of the meal was ready. Peter and my sister were lucky I didn't eat all of it. I'm now in the process of developing my own taco seasoning. I can't see buying it when I have a ton of my own spices that need to be used.



Real Food Daily Basic Seitan

Is this the best seitan I've ever made? Maybe. I have always wanted the Real Food Daily cookbook and would never buy it. I received it for x-mas this year and am now kicking myself for not having it sooner. I love the cooking process for this seitan recipe. You get sorta the best of both boiled and baked seitan all at once. It was perfect for the taco's above.



Wednesday Potluck

Every Wednesday I get a break from motherhood and hang out with some girls (and one guy) and we watch TV..play Wii..talk politics and why we shouldn't have survived our childhood. Some Wednesday have a theme. Most don't. I'm a fan of the non theme pot lucks because of the crazy mix of food you get to eat. The pot luck plate pictured above has the Seitan Hot Wingz that I contributed to the meal, some delicious fried tofu made by my sister by way of my friend Rachele, salsa and chips, hummus and pita, and a delicious mixed salad.

BROKEN...

Sad news for now...my internet thing on my laptop has broken. We are in the process of buying ourselves a new computer so I won't be able to post until then. This is good and bad for me.

First the good. Its finally giving me time to actually think about and start writing my food zine which is something I've wanted to do for a very long time. As of right now it will be two issues a year the first being the Fall/Winter (this september or october) the second being Spring/Summer (next year april-ish). I hope. I will eventually put the call out for testers and whatnot.

The bad...I miss all the food and stories I read everyday on all the other blogs and sites. I'll still be able to check in on my sister computer, which I'm using right now, plus we should be up and running I hope within he next 2 weeks with our new Mac.

So see ya then!

Best Breakfast..

Mexican Potato and Black Bean Hash

This is a picture heavy post...to start with is the breakfast I made for myself and Peter on Sunday. We usually go out and get us some baked goods from Whole Foods. I've decided for New Years to start making us more morning meals on the weekends.

I created this meal in my head the night before. It just sorta came out of no where and I amazingly remembered it the next morning. I think I originally wanted to make a tofu scramble but didn't want to use tofu (?). I'm pretty sure that's what happened and I'm pretty sure Peter wouldn't be open to tofu scramble. I used potatoes instead of tofu and the rest just seemed to naturally flow and happen.

ingredients: yukon gold potatoes, bell pepper, onions, garlic, jalapeno, tumeric, cumin, cayenne, chile powder, black beans, spinach, salsa, avocado, scallions, salt, pepper and olive oil.



another pic of the Best Breakfast!



Chickpea Noodle Soup from Veganomicon

There is sickness going around. We haven't caught it yet and we are trying to keep it that way so I made some Chickpea Noodle Soup from V-con with extra garlic and miso. I used Barley Miso because I bought it by mistake and tried to use it for pesto which didn't work out well. The miso did however work out well in this soup recipe.



A Pretty Salad

Peter demands salads for "the vegan challenge". Peter gets salads.



Chocolate, Banana and Peanut Butter Milkshake


Before the vegan challenge Peter enjoyed Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshakes from the like of Magic Fountain and Stone Cold Creamery. I made a vegan version for us and went one step further and added banana. It was soooooooooooooooo good I wish I had bought 2 large containers of soy chocolate ice cream so we could have it again today and then the next day...etc..etc..

Piccata two ways.

Chickpea Piccata w. String Beans + Rice

I have been serving V-Con's chickpea patties to everyone. Simply because I believe they are very omni friendly. My dad was over for dinner the other night and I figured this would be the best thing to serve. I finally made a sauce for them. I used V-con's Piccata. I've made many many many piccata's in my days and I have to say this is one of the best. EVER! Peter and my dad agreed that it was delicious. (both chickpea patties and piccata)

I have 2 more people, my sister and friend Rachele, to serve chickpea patties too and then I'm done writing about them. My sister wants them during the "vegan challenge". Rachele just wants them.



Piccata Sandwich

What do you do with leftover Chickpea Piccata? Eat it as a sandwich on christmas day before you go to the in-laws.

A mess of food..baby.

Poppyseed Bagel Toasted w. Peanut Butter and Homemade Iced Latte

I went M.I.A. for the holidays. There was no reason for it. But I'm back now.

Above was a breakfast I very recently had after realizing I haven't had a peanut butter bagel in...well...forever! I missed it so. It was delicious. I wish I had one right now. Perhaps tomorrow I'll trek out and get a bagel to make this wonderful concoction again.

Something I will make again tomorrow are my homemade latte's, always iced. Now I have my own espresso machine but I still would go out and buy myself an iced latte a few times a week. It gets to be very expensive. VERY EXPENSIVE!! Try adding up what you pay for coffee everyday for a week and then times that by 52 weeks and you can probably go on vacation or buy yourself some wonderful new clothes (which i need!). Since I need things and have my own espresso machine I make them myself now and they are better than what I get out so I win in the end either way.



Rice and Beans

I made an old favorite of Peter's the other night..Rice and Beans. We haven't had it in awhile. Nothing special about it. Just some beans, garlic, onions, jalapeno's and spices.




The Vegan Challenge Veggie Stir Fry!

What's the Vegan Challenge? My husband and sister are taking what they call The Vegan Challenge..where for 3 weeks (at least) they will eat only a vegan diet. Peter wants to see if he will really feel better like a forward to one of my cookbooks by a Dr. said he would. My sister likes challenges. She has even said she'd do it for 3 months..but she will see if she last the 3 weeks first. I wish them luck. Stay tuned for updates on their challenge for the next 3 weeks. Will they make it??? I hope so. Tonight we went to my sisters for the first dinner of the challenge and I made them a simple stir fry to start them off.



Reno

Not food but I like to chew on her ribs. It makes her laugh. The best thing in the world is when a baby laughs. Here she is all dressed up for X-mas. She got a ton of stuff. But nothing from us. I feel the fact that we gave her life this year was enough of a gift.

She is now 4 months old!

Happy 2008!!