Isa Does It

I’m been MIA.   I’m having fun testing recipes for Isa’s next book!  I’m going to go ahead and call this as her best ever.   You’ll see!

 

2012 Goal #1-Getting out of a food rut

This has nothing to do with the post, but look how cute they are! Shae helping Silas learn to putt putt golf for the first time. So fun!

Everything got a little crazy around here over the past few months,  but it starting to settle into a new normal now.  As 2012 is rolling in, all I can think about is trying to feel more settled.  But settled in a new, old sort of way.  That doesn’t make much sense, but it feels like it does so stick with me.   I feel like the last few years have changed me and how I am living.  I’ve gotten real lazy.   Like I’m stuck in a whole bunch of ruts and have given up trying to get out of them.

Gotta do something about all that.

The first rut, the one I’m going to talk about today is food related.  I used to really enjoy learning to cook new things!  I actually went through a spell where I truly loved cooking.  It was so fulfilling and exciting!  I was so happy to be feeding myself and my family nutritious meals, while learning about food in the process.   Somewhere since the birth of my second child, cooking has become just another chore.  Sure, I love eating.  But the cooking and cleaning up after was just annoying.  I was relying way too heavily on processed, convenience foods that were super quick and didn’t involve much of anything.  Sure, we were still eating better than the typical American diet, but not anywhere near as healthy as we used to.

Somewhere around Vegan MoFo, I became interested in actually cooking again.  Just here and there when the house was quiet and I wasn’t on a strict time schedule.  It was starting to become fun again!

Sort of.  I’ll never make peace with the clean-up portion.

Mid October, my husband lost his job and I was forced to cook more to lower our food budget.  This was the best thing for me!  I had to make time to cook.  I got back into my habit of making seitan every week, doing large batches of pancakes and muffins to freeze.  Just little things that used a little time, but saved a lot of money.  Somehow by creating these new habits, I started to really enjoy cooking again.  Looking forward to it, even.

It wasn’t long before I realized that I make the same things over and over and over again.  I have all these amazing cookbooks but I haven’t made much out of them in so, so long.  I baked a few new things over the holidays and had so much fun that I decided to challenge myself to make as many new recipes & foods as I can this year.  So far, on the morning of January 9th, I’ve tried out 6 new recipes!  I am having such a great time and so happy to be back into what is feeling like my old rhythm!

I’m trying to not overwhelm myself, so I pick out a few recipes I’ve wanted to try for ages and just wimped out on at a time.   Once those are done, I add a few more.  I’d love to hear your favorite recipes of the past few years!

First up was the Santuary Dressing from Appetite for Reduction.  I grew up on Hidden Valley Ranch and remember it fondly.  I tried lots of replacements over the years and the only thing that came close (although it’s not like it AT ALL) for me was Brianna’s Poppyseed Dressing

Yummy, but expensive.

I’ll probably never buy it again but Isa’s Sanctuary Dip is absolutely perfect!  Creamy and just totally fills that Ranch sized hole in my heart.  Let’s just say that a few days after making this the first time, I made it again.  A double batch.

Second up were Katie‘s famous Tempeh Wingz from Don’t Eat of The Sidewalk.  If you’ve been on the internet AT ALL, you know how every single person that tries these loves them.  I stayed away at first because I’m a total wimp and hate anything remotely containing hot sauce.  Matt, however, has hot sauce running through his veins practically.  You would not believe the amount of space in my pantry that is decided to that stuff.  But that’s another post for a whole ‘nother day.

I decided to finally make these for him, but they smelled so good, I ate a few without sauce on them.  Holy hell!  They are amazing!  Shae and I both are ready to quit Gardein Chick’n Strips straight up.  For Shae to say that, you just don’t know what a big deal that is.  Kudo’s Katie!

Matt was super impressed too and a little betrayed that these existed so long before hitting his mouth.  Poor guy.  These are going into regular rotation for sure.

Third:  Pasta Con Broccoli from Appetite for Reduction (I’ll be using this book a lot because it’s one my most neglected).  So yummy!  Shae wasn’t the hugest fan, but I’ll use less red pepper flakes next time and replace the wine and I think that will win him over.

Fourth: Quinoa Salad from Appetite for Reduction.  Shae actually looked though my cookbooks with me and begged me to make this.  Anyone else know of a almost 13 year old boy that begs for Quinoa?  I’ve actually never made it before, but we’ve had it out plenty of times and all really love it.  I think I’ve avoided it because it’s friggin $6 a box here!  That makes 4 cups.  I want bulk bins and I want them now, dammit.  Anyway, we love it!  I think we love everything actually.

Fifth & Sixth: Shittake Risotto from Yellow Rose Greatest Hits & Maple Carrots from Appetite for Reduction.  You all know that you NEED TO OWN every single book Isa is involved with right?  Well same goes for Joanna Vaught.  Just buy it and you’ll thank me.  I have her first book and zines, but bought this one too.  I’m not sure if the Risotto is in one of her others and I just overlooked it or what?  But it jumped out to us now.  Actually when Matt heard I was going to attempt it, he said “I love Joanna.  Is that okay?”.  Of course it’s okay.  I’d be concerned if he didn’t.  Risotto sounds scary, right?  I’ve always been terrified and assumed it was just way above my skill level.  No longer, suckers!  It turned out just amazing.  We basically oohed and awwed the entire meal.  This is what I’ll be making to impress people!   I trust Joanna’s recipes and directions and just went with it and it’s actually SUPER EASY.  Basically, lots of stirring.  Which you can do while playing Words with Friends.  Bonus!   The carrots were great too, just sweet enough.  Shae devoured them and asked if we can always make them that way from now on.

I don’t mention Silas’ opinions much because Silas hates food.  I’m working on it guys, believe me.  Sensory issues are not the easiest job for a Mama.  I’ve helped him through many other little hurdles, this one will be in the past soon enough.

Today I’m going to try out Mama Pea’s Zee Bars.  We do buy the Clif Zbars.  Not because they are marketed for “kidz” as Mama Pea harps on, but because they taste good and are an easily available prepackaged treat.  Shae used to keep them in his classrooms in elementary school for unexpected birthdays and stuff instead of sitting there watching the other kids with their eggy cupcakes.  Silas loves them now.  They have gotten us through a few really long bus rides on vacation!  Matt and I prefer them to Luna or Clif bars.  Maybe we are just kidZ still?  Who knows, but Mama Pea’s recipe looks yummy so I’m excited to see how they taste!

And super excited to be excited about cooking!

Vegan Kid vs Food

 

Your eyes aren’t fooling you.  That pancake really is the size of the plate.  A regular dinner plate, mind you.

Shae was watching Man vs Food and couldn’t stand it any longer.  He needed a challenge.   The pancake episode put him over the edge.  Apparently the sight of a huge stack of a zillion pounds of pancakes heaping over a plate is too much for my kid to handle.

We drew the line at the going full-on Adam Richman, but Matt cooperated with making ONE plate sized pancake.  The negotiations started much, much higher.

 

 

While I adore Isa’s VwaV pancake recipe but Matt’s a bisquik guy.  If I had never told him Bisquik was vegan, we could always have the VwaV recipe!  Regrets.

 

 

Our griddle isn’t insanely huge, those are Silas’ teeny pancakes.  He wanted no part in this nonsense.

 

Shae needed a dollap of buttery spread and  thing layer of maple syrup to “balance the starch”.

 

And yeah, he ate the WHOLE thing.

In this battle of Vegan Kid, vs Food, Kid reigns supreme.  Watch out, food.

Adam would be proud.  I’m a bit horrified(/jealous).

 

Donut time!

If you know me, you know I pretty much spend my entire life craving donuts.  Sadly (and fortunately!) I live hours from anywhere selling vegan donuts.

We schedule trips around searching for them.  You don’t want to know how many I ate on my last vacation to Orlando!  Or maybe you do.  If you ever find yourself in Orlando, Florida, the Winter Park Wholefoods had AMAZING chocolate frosted donuts and eclairs. Reminded me of the ones I used to love from the grocery store bakery as a child.  Babycakes NYC in Downtown Disney has super yummy, yet healthier, donuts as well.  Baked, not fried, but super moist and delicious. The Vanilla Crunch was my favorite.

Enough about them, this post is about me and my donuts!

I have a mini donut pan, so these babies are teenier than they appear.  That’s a little salad plate.

 

Despite the grudge I hold against Lolo for screwing over an awesome vegan company (and me over in a cookie swap!), I couldn’t resist using her donut recipe.  I had made it a few times years ago and loved them.   This time I made random little changed throughout the rec, but didn’t really write them down, so all I remember is that I used way less Earth Balance.

Then I lazily melted some chocolate chips in the microwave and dipped them.

They turned out really great and totally hit the spot!  Super moist and fluffy, and a great contrast from the chocolate topping.

 

This sweet girl was very, very interested in watching me bake.  She stared longingly at me the entire time, even though I was not using one of her 3 approved human foods: potatoes, grits, or chickpeas.

She ended up with a bit of canned kitty food as a treat afterwards.  Can’t let those pleading eyes go unrewarded.  Not sure if I updated here or not, but Karma has an aggressive mammary tumor that is cancerous.  Too far progressed for any surgical interventions, so our time with her is limited.  She’s still acting like herself and enjoying being treated like the princess she has always declared herself.  We’re just hoping she stays happy and we get to enjoy her awhile longer.  Don’t want to imagine life without her cute little face in it.

 

And now a swift turn to something less sad.

Silas messily eating a donut!

 

With every bit, he was “yum yum yum”ing along.  I’m with you, kid.

He was not so thrilled when I declared 2 mini donuts enough.  There was a lot of glaring.

 

I’m going to pretend I didn’t sneak back for a third afterwards.

 

 

 

Tags: chocolate, donuts, mini donuts

Vegan MoFo: Last day!

The last day of Vegan MoFo is so bittersweet!  I’m so glad I stuck with it for the entire month and got my feet wet in regular blogging again.  I had a lot of fun, but I didn’t do nearly as much as I had planned to.  I didn’t even get around to reviewing local restaurants.  This just means I’ll have plenty to keep me around and posting.

I discovered so many great blogs and bloggers.  I have a long list of recipes to try.  And I have a renewed sense of positivity at seeing the huge amount of vegan bloggers who participated.  Living in a place pretty much devoid of veganism cuts you off a bit from the big picture and can feel a bit lonely.  The vast online vegan presence is just so motivating,  I feel all warm & fuzzy just knowing you are all out there!

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Time to announce the winner of Friday’s Free Pin grab bag giveaway…

I put everyone’s name in the pumpkin and Silas was happy to chose one.  The winner is…. Sarah!  Congrats!  I love that my vegan kid drew the name of another vegan kid.  I’ll be emailing you to get your info, Sarah.  Thanks for entering everyone!

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My lunch is cooking and I’m starving so I think I’ll so a little roundup of the things I am currently drooling over:

• Kittee’s tofu inspired my lunch today.
• Celyn did a review & giveaway of Caribbean Vegan today and it’s killing me.  The creole spaghetti!   The Caribbean Potato Salad!
• These steamed bbq seitan buns at Meet the Wikos.
• The eggless eggs in a basket on this gorgeous photography blog have me reminiscing like crazy.
•  The cashew dill sauce on this seitan wrap.
• Mo’s swedish meatballs!
• Erin’s apple pie.

Tags: giveaway winner, roundup, vegan, veganmofo

Vegan Zombies eat… grains?

Must have…. graaaiinnnsssss!

Vegan Parrots do not like when their brother turns into a Zombie.

But they do like Lollipops.

(gone are the days of “LA! LA! pops!  already)

And Zombies, by association to Lollipops only.

Or maybe he forgot Soccer Zombie Brother was even there?

Tweet, tweet.

Tags: halloween, vegan, vegan kids, zombies

Vegan MoFo: Traditional Halloween Spider Crackers

Every Halloween,  since Shae was 5, we make the same little spider crackers.  I’ve tried to convince Shae that we should create something new this year, but he says no, spider cracker are Tradition.  He’s a huge fan of holiday traditions.  So, that’s that.

We brought them to school when he was little and the kids always squealed over them.  The teachers were happy to see a healthy snack amidst all of the chocolate.  Win, win.

Well, this year, Shae was just too exhausted from a long week of school  and 3 hour daily soccer practices, but Silas was pumped.   Making a spider?  Whhaaaa?  EATING a spider?  What the what?!

I usually use pretzel sticks for the little spider legs, but I forgot we didn’t have those until Silas was already determined to create a spider.  We had to think fast.  Fortunately we had some licorice leftover from a movie day.

Mysteriously enough, Shae was not too tired to sneak licorice from us.

Interesting.

First we chopped the licorice into 8 tiny spider legs.

Licorice for legs! Pretzel sticks are even better.

Some peanut butter between two crackers, holding the legs in place.  And a few drops to hold on chocolate chips (or raisins!) as eyes and our spider is complete!

pretend I'm creepy, okay?

What, other bloggers don’t have a 3 year old with a Lightning McQueen camera doing their food photography?

Mama's little food photographer.

Silas needed to double check me for accuracy before eating.  Slowly counting all the legs and eyes.  Repeatedly.  Once he was happy with my work he shouted “Eight legs!  Two eyes” many, many times.

Good counting buddy, but this camera’s heavy and Mama just wants to see you eat the blasted spider.

"Eight legs! Two eyes!"

The flying test.  This is necessary to check all food for eat-ability in Silas Land.  The outdated squish test was less cute, and much more messy.

A properly constructed spider cracker can fly.

Yep, it flies.  Now let’s lick it.  Always with the licking.

Yum, peanut butter!

Success!  Chomp, chomp.

nom nom.

I’m still pining over the pretzel sticks are cuter method, but both boys seemed quite pleased with the addition of candy.  Obviously.

P.S. It’s not to late to enter yesterday’s Free Pin giveaway!  I’ll draw a winner on Monday.

Tags: halloween, kids, snacks, spiders, treats, vegan, veganmofo