A new week in 2012, vegan style!

I know it's only day 5 of the new year, but I'm feeling pretty good about things so far.  Getting back to the weight watchers plan and being more dedicated to delicious dining vegan style has made me feel better already.  It didn't take a New Years resolution to convince me I want to be vegan, but dedicating to eating a HEALTHIER vegan lifestyle, (cuz nachos can be soooo vegan!), was a smoooooth  move!

How did I handle the New Year holiday and that fantastic traditional meal?  So easy!  I simply prepared the sauerkraut by itself, which I might add tastes so much fresher when you don't cook it to death with a pork roast!!  With that we had black eyed peas, smooshed taters and turnip greens.  All prepared vegan style of course!  It was excellent!!   While I couldn't convince the onmi's to forego the pork as well, they did enjoy the rest of the offering.  Small step, small steps...they still get you somewhere!

My diligence is paying off in other ways too!  Day 5 and I've lost a lb.!  Yay me!  I've been focusing on family friendly, healthier vegan meals and I've found some real keepers that have been getting me through the week and given me a better outlook for future reference.  My new breakfast favorite is a Tofu Breakfast Sandwich.  Man is it good, and so versatile.  I've included a picture of this mornings feast.  I did have a browned potato on the side that isn't pictured here.  Yummy.!  

      This is the second version I tried.  It has the fried tofu, asparagus, apple slices and Dijon  style nayonaise on toasted whole grain bread.  It was a very filling sandwich for only   4 weight watchers points!

On a less that thrilled side, I have worked out but not the way I want to.  I am not giving that direction up and when done fulfilling my internet addiction for the evening I'll be attending to that as well.  I also have plans to  join the local gym within the week and I'm really looking forward to that.  Wish me luck!  

                                   

Sloppy Janes and the New Year

Hello 2012!  We rang in the New Year relatively low key in our household.  The honey had to be at work at 9 a.m. so we agreed a nice bottle of Yellow Tail Shiraz-Cabernet at home was right on target.  Watching a ridicules comedy and laughing and talking made for a comfortable evening.

I made a grand effort of f aux-resolution keeping on the Eve and think it made my transition into today much easier.  I had made a massive batch of Sloppy Janes and had them for lunch and part of my dinner.  So yummy!  Not sure I'm past the craving yet. Not so terrible as they are so low in points on Weight Watchers, which is the healthy guideline choice I've decided to use . I have to make a note that the picture above is of a a commercial sites sloppy janes, as I ate mine before I thought to take a picture!  I've previously said that I am no longer going to let myself try to use this as an official food blog, but I happen to think my Sloppy Janes recipe is the bomb, so I've included it at the bottom of the blog.  Hope you'll try them and enjoy.

I worked yesterday as did the honey.  I found myself in a phenomenally good mood and really have been looking forward to starting the New Year.  The moment of change was a disappointment somewhat, although that is another story for maybe never another time, but I enjoyed the day and today's First Day of the New Year is going well.  Not so much in what's happening as in my mood.  I mentioned that the honey had to work, so I miss him today, but the evening will be comfy cozy.  I've managed a vegan menu that he'll enjoy, although he'll still have the traditional pork roast with his as well.  My part of the meal will be Turnip greens, black eyed peas, boiled potatoes and sauerkraut.  mmmmmmm!  lol! I will take a picture of that I assure you!

I've promised the dogs a walk today and the weather is blustery and turning into a more expected winters day. We won't be swayed however and I find that I'm looking forward to it.  I may document that for View of the World later.

I also have to consider that it is almost time to take down the tree.  I find I don't want to!  It's so cozy in my living room right now!  I've determined that it will stay up until Tuesday evening.

No more procrastinating now, the dogs are waiting and the weather is fast deteriorating for walking.  All part of my resolution...Here I Come World!

                                              Peace to you all!


Dondi's Sloppy Janes:

All ingredients are determined by your preference.

Saute diced onion, sweet red pepper, celery and mushrooms in a bit of canola oil until onions are clear.
Add about a 1/2 c. of cooked brown rice, continue to saute.  Add pressed, crumbled, extra-firm tofu.  About 1/4 of a block.  Saute a bit more to get flavor into tofu.  I freeze and thaw my tofu before using for a better texture and easier to squeeze the water out.  To this mix add 1 can of vegan tomato soup.  Mix well. Add enough cooked split peas to desired consistency. You can use any split peas you want but for better visual appleal yellow is best. You want to simmer this mix about 10 mins. and it will thicken a bit so leave it just a little soupy when you first add the split peas. You can add water if needed.  Salt and pepper to taste.  I also put in some crushed red pepper cus I like some zip.  I served mine on a hearty  toasted whole wheat bread.  For the final touch, and not to be excluded because it compliments totally, a dill pickle!  A big one!

Just a ...Nosh????

I seem to have a definite problem keeping up with this blog!  Today I think I've figured out why...

It all started out with wanting to share my trek thru the confusion of "becoming" vegan.  Somehow I let it get twisted into trying to be a vegan food blog.  NOT!  That just isn't me.  So I apologize.  Kinda like a country western song...I'm goin' back to my roots!

I think what really opened my eyes to the problem was my recent obsession.  I say obsession because becoming vegan has really become an obsession on some level.  I think that this is probably true for all of us as we begin the journey.  I could be wrong.  I don't think so.  I've lightened up on that basic level.  My new obsession has been looking into going the extra mile, or as Alicia Silverstone calls it...becoming a "super hero".

Dondi what the hell are you talking about????  I can hear you...I know that 's what your thinking.  I'm sure it's what my husband has been thinking the last few weeks!  I'm discovering what a treasure he really is lately.

I'm talking about going to a totally Macrobiotic Diet.  What is that??  I'm not even going to attempt to tell you!  I'm just going to say that I think it's the healthiest possible way to eat.  I have been researching and looking at recipes and trying to understand it.  More than once in my researching I came across excellent articles that all said the same thing.  Here are the basics but get with a counselor.  The recipes and food are fabulous!  It all makes perfect sense!  If you can figure it out.  If you can get someone else to come in and explain it all to you....and cook...and shop....and give you money so you can afford the shopping....or even figure out WHERE to shop.

Yes I really think it's the best possible way to eat...but I also came to the realization that for me...it's just too darn complicated.  I don't think it should be that way.  It's based on the traditional Okinawan diet.  But I don't live in Okinawa.  So while I think if you can figure it out and follow it it's wonderful and a plus, I've taken the liberty to just take what principles I can figure out and try to apply them to me and live the kindest way I can figure out to do.  Just like that.

  Sorry Alicia....and besides...have you looked at Madonna lately??? I mean, yeah, I want to lose weight...I am a chubby vegan...all those vegan nachos!  But Madonna and I are about the same age.....and...well..........yuck!

  I have not been eating for the Healthy soul lately and I've really been feeling it.  This morning I got up felt it was crucial for me to get back to the basics.  I did not feel very creative or much like cooking.  It's a long awaited day off and I truly just wanted to laze around today. As a result I made an impromptu "power soup" that was really quite good!  I neglected to take a photo but I will say it looked pretty and was very satisfying, recipe included!

Quick and Easy Bowl of Corn Chowder SuperFood!

1 med. potatoe, cooked till soft in microwave and then diced and broken up.  With Skin
aprx. 1/2 c. of frozen corn, cooked in microwave.
2 lrg. T. diced tomatoes w/green chilies, cnd.
1/8 C. cnd, asparagus tips.
4 oz can v-8
Place corn and asparagus in food processor and pulse till chunky smooth.

Place potato in a med. saucepan, Add corn mixture, tomatoes, and v-8.  Heat till hot, season with some sea salt  and coarse black pepper to taste.

So after this I lazed around in my pj's most of the day, occassional bouts of house cleaning, until I could not stand it anymore and I showered and got dressed..Shameful I know!

By this time I was getting a bit hungry again.

Again I wanted simple and quick.

What was in the fridge but some leftover corn tortillas and some promising ingredients for vegan tostada's.  The result was worthy of the omni hubby having some and declaring them quite good!

                                                                         

I was completely and utterly disgusted with my local area when it came time for my Thanksgiving meal.  Oh yes, I managed the delicious mashed potatoes.  I enjoyed the savory collard greens.  I feasted on warm, soft dinner rolls, the corn was perfect!  But do you think I could find a tofurky or Field Holiday roast anywhere in the area without making an hour and a half trip to Columbus to hit up Whole Foods!??  NO!! So yes I settled for apricot glazed chikn' scallopini  using the wonderful Gardein products available to me.  But I'm not waiting around for Christmas...It's off to Columbus I go...how utterly ridiculas!!!

Happy Holidays!  

Holiday Wellington

I wanted to take the opportunity today to give some recognition to a new site/app that I signed up for.  It's WWW.loseit.com   I am one of those women that is always on a diet but never seems to reach the goal.  I have been on this site for about a week and a half and I love it.  I've lost a few lbs. as well so that doesn't hurt any.  I've made some new diet buddies that encourage me and help keep me going.  Thanks all!

So I promised to post my recipe for a Holiday Wellington that I made last year.  To be honest this recipe is a slight adaptation to one I found on a blogger site, but I cannot seem to find it again, so if you recognize it as yours please comment so I can give you proper credit.


Holiday Wellington (vegan)

Puff pastry  (I use Pepperidge Farms)

1 large sweet potato
2 pkgs. of seitan
mushrooms, I used baby Bella's but any firm variety works
1 large sweet onion
sm. bunch kale, spinach works too but use fresh.
zest of 1 orange
sea salt and coarse black pepper to taste.

Preheat oven to recommended temp. on puff pastry package.
Unroll the puff pastry.  I cut one sheet to connect to the other so it makes a nice rectangle or even square.
Be sure to unroll it on a large cooking sheet to avoid complications later!
In a large non- stick skillet you want to saute each one of the ingredients separately to what ever level of doneness you like them.  I prefer doing the seitan right after the mushrooms with a bit of water so that the flavor of the mushrooms seasons the seitan a bit.  This is where I add a a bit of the black pepper as well.  Other than that I cleaned the pan between each ingredient.  The idea is to not overly blend the flavor of the ingredients so that you have a nice distinction once they are rolled up together in the Wellington.  Once the ingredeients for the filling are ready simply layer across the puff pastry. Don't make the layers overly thick. Just nice and even. Sprinkle the orange zest across the top of the fillings before rolling up. Don't get too close to the edges as the filling will spread out as you roll it. Now it does tend to be a bit heavy with the ingredients as you roll it.  I found that a spatula under the middle section as I rolled helped.
Bake it seam side down.  The original recipe didn't tell me how long to bake it but I just baked it until it was a really deep, even golden brown.  It didn't take that long, about 1/2 hr I believe.

Better late than never!

So I promised the photos for the "big" dinner for the hubby the other night.  You may remember I had big plans for a huge meal to begin the transformation of my omni hubby to vegan.  I had finally gotten to see the documentary Forks Over Knives and found myself completely re-motivated to get my high blood pressure honey on my brain wave.

When honey first came home and realized how much food I was cooking the first thing he said was, "too much!"  So we trimmed down the menu and came up with a very satisfying Pasta and Pan Seared Veggies with steamed asparagus on the side.  For me that was plenty.  For the Onmi hubby there was the addition of fish.  Now to say I wasn't disappointed that he still wanted the fish would be a lie, BUT, he did agree to a certain degree of vegetarian.He said he would give that much a go but that at this time he still wanted eggs, dairy and yes, fish. I decided to take what I can get and said you got it baby!  LOL  I already have him switched to Earth Balance margarine, and he doesn't know it yet but as much as possible he will be partaking of daiya cheeses and suitable cheese substitutes.

Breakfast is a good place to start as well.  I have him completely hooked on steel cut oatmeal.  We've been having that on a regular basis and to say that I don't embrace that would be an understatement.  Hubby had an angina attack about 2 months ago.  Now he's cut back considerably on his coffee consumption, and I've gotten his fried foods way reduced.  Oatmeal.... cholesterol....see where I'm going with this?  lol

So for the Pasta and Pan Seared Veggie's.  Such and easy and versatile dish.   I make a habit of cooking up big pots of whole wheat pasta, brown rice etc. once a week.  Stash them in the fridge for fast easy meals all week long.  So here's the recipe.

WHOLE WHEAT PASTA & PAN SEARED VEGGIES

 I spray a skillet with non-stick cooking spray and let it get hot.  To that I add a variety of my fave veggies for grilling.  My favorite standby's are zucchini, yellow squash, green onion sliced long, portabella mushrooms.  I stir fry the vegetables until they are almost to the desired doneness....which is pretty much your preference. I like mine to be slightly browned but not cooked to mushy.  Then I add some minced garlic and stir fry just a bit longer.  Then I add a big spoonful of canned diced tomatoes with a liberal dollop of the juice thrown in.  I season with some sea salt and lemon pepper.  I also like a bit of crushed red pepper...it's up to you!  Before the tomato juice can be steamed away I throw in a big bunch of the pre-cooked pasta stir till its hot and then remove from heat.  Throw it on a plate and enjoy!  We paired that with some fresh asparagus steamed for 6 mins. and sprinkled slightly with sea salt.  Add a really good crusty bread and WOW!  It's whats for supper!

Thought I would add a photo of the steel cut oatmeal with raw sugar and diced apple.  Delicious, sticks to your ribs and oh so satisfying!