Family Veg Night

It certainly feels like everyone is busy these days.
Busy days equals less cooking for me. Therefore, Veg Night turned into Veg TAKEOUT night (which is A-OK by me).

I have to favorite types of take out 1) Thai (of course) 2) Sushi (since I'm a little scared to venture into the world of sushi making)

Sushi it was

Avocado roll- the one on the left has already been doused in soy sauce.

Veggie Tempura roll with bright little orange carrots in the center.

Ok, I have a confession: I did cook, just not for family Veg night.
Today is Richard's first day of class in SD. He will have to travel to San Diego one day a week to attend and I still want him to be well fed that day.
Here is a preview of what I made for his lunch/dinner. It's the best part, the DESSERT.

Chocolate dipped apricots

More on Richard's school meals and his review later.
(ps no game playing tonight as Vicki suggested in my comments but we didn't a chance to meet up till about 9ish so we were already tired. I still think it's a great idea. We'll probably end up doing that sometime soon)

What type of take out food is your favorite? How often do you eat take out? Once a week or only once a month?


I'll be around late tonight to comment on everyone and see what you've been up to the last couple of days

MwM

Midweek Munchies: What Funwithyourfood (Teddy) is contributing for the week This week have everything but fresh food at our house. I'm stocking up on some good ole' fruit n veg One LARGE Yam yellow summer squash Plouts Nectarines Zucchini Fennel Kiwi Bananas Strawberries Cherry tomatoes Shallots Avocados Italian Parsley Garlic Heirloom Cantaloupe (? not sure what makes this different- just smaller and heavier than a normal cantaloupe as far as I can tell) Quince (? Never had either- let you know and some info!) Potatoes Sections of Banana Squash Have a good week guys! Links to other Midweek Munchies (If you participate, leave your link in the comments and I'll post it below; or, you can post in the comments)

Click here for the Midweek Munchies code
Click here for Harmonia's blog

Trackbacks, pings, and comment links are accepted and encouraged!
Technorati Tag: Midweek Munchies

A special thanks to Running2Ks and Rift for all of their help with coding, graphics, and encouragement for this project.

PURPOSE of Midweek Munchies: Put together by a small group of Veg Women, we hope to spread the word about healthy vegetarianism while obtaining idea starters for meals, recipes, learn about new products, and meet other female veg*n bloggers. Visiting and commenting on other participants lists are encouraged but not required. Have fun and Go Veg!

Miso trouble

The other week I decided to make a new purchase- Miso Paste and last night I got my first opportunity to use it.



I added my own Nori and some Udon Noodles. I usually like to add brown rice to make it more of meal but we're out right now. It was pretty tasty if you ask me. I like making it at home better than when I go out because I like LOTS of Nori in my soup and they never seem to put enough in for me.


On a completely different note I went board game crazy at Target the other day and here's one of my purchase

TROUBLE

Richard and I played a one round but need to return it because they gypped us out of a blue piece.



As you can see, I was the Red player and I won. And I'm only posting that we got the game at all because I won. Haha


Back to the food


Do you make your own Miso soup ever? What brand do you use? Is there anything special you add to your Miso? or Any Miso recipes?

Thanks to Geraldine for tagging my kitty!

What makes Abbey terrific

1) I enjoy giving Richard and Teddy baths. LONG ones- at five in the morning (that's when you're the dirtest)

2) My real owner seems to rarely be home and I need a LOT of love so Teddy is my lover giver :)

3) I like to lick morning dew off of the leaves by my house

4) Just call me an EXPERT fly catcher (I know Teddy won't eat them but they're real tasty to me!)

5) BANG BANG BANG- I knock on Teddy's door to let her know I'm outside and in need of love.

I <3 Abbey

That's the most important thing

Ricemellow

This is a new purchase for me!
I got some Ricemellow last week and now I'm trying to come up with some ideas for what I can use it up with.
I made some Koala Krispy Treats but I didn't use a recipe; I just added a little of this then a little of that and while they tasted good, they weren't as gooey and I had hoped for.
Does anyone have an actual recipe for making vegan rice krispy treats?


What else can I use ricemellow for? Do you use ricemellow? How do you use it?

Dinner for one

It's a late post tonight.
I worked today and then came home to bad news. Richard's has a family emergency this weekend. He left to go with them. YUCK. :(

So I've been home alone for most of the day. Well not entirely alone. Abbey's been here with me too! Thank goodness, the kitty snuggles were nice.





Doesn't she look elegant? :)





Dinner was alone and simple: A fruit smoothie, a salad (no pic of that) and smashed curried potatoes.

Smoothie:
frozen strawberries, cantaloupe, fresh mango, soy yogurt, soy milk and a dash of coconut milk

Potatoes
one potato with skin still on thrown into the microwave for 5-6 mins (I know the microwave! But it's a great quick way to cook one potato)
take out and mash with a fork
Splashed about a 1/5 of a can coconut milk and a 1/2 tablespoon of curry paste
Mash until it's all incorporated
Eat away



How do you like your potatoes? Mashed? With skins or without? Creamy or chunky? Flavored or not?

Spinach Ravioli

Last night decided to use up some stuff from our freezer and pantry.
This is Spinach Ravioli with roasted Japanese eggplant, sun dried tomatoes, and nutritional yeast "cheese" sauce.

Turned out really well.

I'm very happy with my new grill. I want to grill EVERYTHING :)

Have a good Friday guys

Teddy

Veg Family Night

It was my mom's turn to cook but we decided that she would find the recipe and instruct John on how to make it. (she's not a very confident cook- that doesn't mean she isn't good, because she is, she just thinks that she's not the best cook)

The recipe- Zucchini Frittata



It turned out well considering we all thought it was a ruined meal at one point. Mom was even ready to call take out. John also made a side salad with balsamic vinegarette




Dessert was my favorite- Mellon Boats. John makes these when we have company sometimes and it was a nice, guilt free dessert.


------------------------------------------------------------
Hey guys
Phew it's been a rough couple of weeks. I've been working so much overtime and it's really stretching me thin. Sorry I've been slacking on talking with all of you! Don't worry I haven't forgotten. :)

It's almost the weekend- YAY
let me know when it gets here and if there's anything you can do to speed up the week feel free to do so NOW. haha

Teddy

Brazil Nut Facts

I eat Brazil nuts all the time. It's my favorite nut for sure.



Best thing I've learned-

Brazil nuts are by far the most important non-timber forest product in the Amazon. Over a hundred thousand Amazonian inhabitants depend on the revenues related to Brazil nut extration. Since they only grown in untouched forests, several million acres are protected because of these nuts.





Tree reaching 30–45 m tall and 1–2 m trunk diameter, among the largest of trees in the Amazon Rainforests

Live for 500 years or more



The tree is also deeply involved with local wildlife (see here);
I think this Photo Gallery has the best information on the life of a Brazil Nut.


Families HAND gather the nuts. That makes me feel that I should appreciate these things even more.

Despite their name, the most significant exporter of Brazil nuts is not Brazil but Bolivia.




The Brazil nut effect, where large items mixed with other smaller items (e.g. Brazil nuts mixed with peanuts) tend to rise to the top, is named after the species' large nuts.

These nuts are a nutritional goldmine too

Brazil nuts excellent source of selenium and a good source of magnesium and thiamine.

Brazil nuts have a high amount of oil. This oil is also used as a lubricant in clocks and for making artists' paints.

This is my favorite research thus far. Good times learning good facts!

Teddy

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links
Wikipedia
Brazil Nut Page

Beach Day

Yesterday Richard and I went to Sunset Beach.

Beautiful isn't it?



We decided to walk down to the water to take some pictures and CHAOS insued.
We had brought snacks (of course) and apparently the seagulls in the area are not shy about working their way INTO your bags to get food.


These guys not only ate our food (we were only gone for less than 5 minutes) but they also crapped all over my beach dress! Now I know this may seem hilarious to some of you but wait until they eat your food then return it to you in the form of poo on your favorite dress.


haha

Actually, we got a good laugh out of the whole crazy thing. I mean how could you not laugh when you walk over a crest of a hill and where your towels used to be there are now about 50 seagulls?

:)

Taco Loco

Last night Richard and I went out to dinner at one of my favorite mexican eateries (we would have gone to Mama Testa's but it's 100 miles away).
We drove to Laguna Beach and stopped at this whole in the wall that I have been eating at since high school- Taco Loco.

Taco Loco is like hippie/healthy mexican food. It is an omni restaurant. They are famous for their Blackened Tofu Mushroom Burger. I've yet to meet a person who doesn't like it.
It was too dark and I was too hungry to snap a picture of it. The burger definitely hit the spot; it was what I needed.

Don't forget to add this place to your list of great restaurants to eat at in Southern CA.

Veg Family Night

It was finally MY turn to cook again! YAY

Take a gander at our menu:

Roasted Baby Eggplants

Roasted Acorn Squash (to be turned into a soup)

Shiitake brown rice.

The Acorn Squash Soup

Our 3 course dinner.

Desserts were little colorful cakes from Little Saigon (Taro and Mocha Flavored).

I'm at Cara's tonight. We're having a girls night sleep over (both our boyfriends are out of town; we both could use the company- Ender still isn't home either). Tomorrow I work at 7AM. Wish me luck with getting up that early- YUCK

Okay- time for facials and movies :)

Teddy

MwM

Midweek Munchies: What Funwithyourfood (Teddy) is contributing for the week I went to Little Siagon this week for shopping and I ended up getting a lot of stuff for only a little amount of money. Since I got so much I'm just going to write the most interesting ingredients I could find Chayote (which I've never had but is like a mexican pear?- I heard about them on FatFreeVegans blog) Logan Fruit (I ate these while I was in Thailand) Thai purple basil, a crate of mangoes (4 bucks for like 7 of them!), Baby eggplant (more on this in my fam veg night post), coconut milk, cilantro, onions, fresh rice noodles, coconut cookies. Links to other Midweek Munchies (If you participate, leave your link in the comments and I'll post it below; or, you can post in the comments)

Click here for the Midweek Munchies code
Click here for Harmonia's blog

Trackbacks, pings, and comment links are accepted and encouraged!
Technorati Tag: Midweek Munchies

A special thanks to Running2Ks and Rift for all of their help with coding, graphics, and encouragement for this project.

PURPOSE of Midweek Munchies: Put together by a small group of Veg Women, we hope to spread the word about healthy vegetarianism while obtaining idea starters for meals, recipes, learn about new products, and meet other female veg*n bloggers. Visiting and commenting on other participants lists are encouraged but not required. Have fun and Go Veg!

Cara Love

Cara is having s ROUGH week- as of Monday her brand new puppy as been in the hospital with Parvo. It's been a touch and go week but it looks like he's a little fighter and he's going to make it.


Please stop by and send her some love by commenting! I know I am :(. She's one of my best friends and I'd love to brighten her day anyway that I can.

http://dognabbit.blogspot.com






Thank you!

Teddy

Plantain in Pasadena

A couple of weekends ago I mentioned it was my Grandpa's birthday. While we were there we cooked up a plantain. I thought I'd share that with you now (mostly because I didn't take pictures of what I cooked tonight hehe)





NOTHING to do with Plantains here. Just a cool picture of a butterfly near my grandpas house.




Yes, this is the dorky-est picture I've ever taken but you know every time you have a banana in your hands you think about doing this!





Now back to the recipe. We just sautéed the plantains in some brown sugar and butter (use vegan versions of both) and you've got a sweet tasty treat. If you're feeling kooky, add a jigger of rum and be careful of any flame that may occur!





John and I prepared them. It was mostly John but, hey, I helped! ;)

These flew off the plate and everyone really liked them. Let me know what you think!

Teddy

Popcorn fun facts

From www.Popcorn.org

• Americans consume some 17 billion quarts of this whole grain, good-for-you treat. That’s 54 quarts per man, woman, and child.
  
  
• Compared to most snack foods, popcorn is low in calories. Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories per cup. Oil-popped is only 55 per cup.
  
  
• Of the 6 types of maize/corn—pod, sweet, flour, dent, flint, and popcorn—only popcorn pops.
  
  
• Popcorn is a whole grain. It is made up of three components: the germ, endosperm, and pericarp (also know as the hull).

• 
  
• Popcorn needs between 13.5-14% moisture to pop.
  
• Popcorn differs from other types of maize/corn in that is has a thicker pericarp/hull. The hull allows pressure from the heated water to build and eventually bursts open. The inside starch becomes gelatinous while being heated; when the hull bursts, the gelatinized starch spills out and cools, giving it its familiar popcorn shape.
  
  
• Many people believe the acres of corn they see in the Midwest during growing season could be picked and eaten for dinner, or dried and popped. In fact, those acres are typically field corn, which is used largely for livestock feed, and differs from both sweet corn and popcorn.
  
  
• The peak period for popcorn sales for home consumption is in the fall.
  
  
• Most popcorn comes in two basic shapes when it's popped: snowflake and mushroom. Snowflake is used in movie theaters and ballparks because it looks and pops bigger. Mushroom is used for candy confections because it doesn't crumble.
  
  
• Popping popcorn is one of the number one uses for microwave ovens. Most microwave ovens have a “popcorn” control button.
  
  
• “Popability” is popcorn lingo that refers to the percentage of kernels that pop.
  
  
• There is no such thing as “hull-less” popcorn. All popcorn needs a hull in order to pop. Some varieties of popcorn have been bred so the hull shatters upon popping, making it appear to be hull-less.
  
  
• How high popcorn kernels can pop? Up to 3 feet in the air.
  
  
• The world's largest popcorn ball, as measured by the Guinness Book of World Records: 12 feet in diameter, containing 2,000 pounds of corn, 40,000 pounds of sugar, 280 gallons of corn syrup and 400 gallons of water.
  
  
• If you made a trail of popcorn from New York City to Los Angeles, you would need more than 352,028,160 popped kernels!
  

I looked at about 5 or six sites and these facts were my favorite. Popcorn has been one of my favorite snacks but I always feel like it's so bad for me. I bet my potato chips are worse though! It's dinner time; talk with you all later! Teddy

LA Tofu Festival 2006

Getting to LA yesterday was BAD. It took 2 and a half ours to get there (I only live about 50 miles away). By the time we finally arrived we were STARVING. But that was a good thing, because there was plenty to eat.




This is infront of the festival. Here's how it all worked. You paid $8 to get into the festival and then you purchase "script" which you traded for food. It was a dollar per script and most foods were 2 script. Since we were going to be there all day, Richard and I bought 20 script.


To start, I grabbed some edamame. I think it's a good start to any meal and it's tofu before it's tofu! ;)


Pad Sew ee- a Thai dish with large flat rice noodles, dark soy sauce, and thai basil. This was my favorite thing that I ate ALL DAY. I'm really starting to like these type of noodles. I've never made them myself though. I liked this so much that I didn't share with Richard haha.



For dessert we went to this tent. I thought their "tofu for adoption" sign was great.



We got the Mango sorbet that they were serving. It was very gooey and full of flavor.


Since I didn't share much of the Pad-sew-ee, Richard got himself "meat" skewers. I had a bite (as you can see) wasn't too bad.




Next was BBQ tofu in some sweet n sour sauce. I like the idea of putting the tofu on skewers.



A Soy Burrito for Richard. It's a better picture of his hand than the burrito haha.



After eating there were plenty of activities. I made a scarf here! Next door they had a button making booth. All of it was FREE



Richard's sporting the scarf I made :)



The fesitval had ins and outs. Since Richard and I were full, we headed out to see if there was a way we could you public transportation to get to the Outlet mall of LA (the Citadel).



Union Station LA- Built 1939 and gorgeous. There was no metro to the mall- there will be in 2009 though. Since we were there, we figured out how much it would be to use the Metro to get to LA (instead of driving in traffic)- only FOUR dollars one way. That's cheaper than gas and a lot less stressful. I think we'll be making more trips there now.



It was 7 and we were hungry again. Back at the festival they had some gazpacho with chunks of tofu. The soup was a little salty for my taste.



Pasta salad with fresh spring greens in a vinegarette.



Tofu, Walnuts, Shredded Carrots, and granny smith apples in a salt sweet sauce on a bed of lettuce.


Mango and sticky rice! One of my favorite Thai desserts.



The night ended with an ice cream sandwich. Chocolate ice cream and a chocolate chip cookie! a great way to end the day.

On the way out I bought a Tofu cook book, a LA tofu festival bag (to carry groceries in) and a set of Japanese bowls. I had a wonderful time and I'm really glad I went. This is going to become an annual thing for Richard and I- can't wait till next year!

Today is my day to relax- starting ... NOW :)

Teddy