I Never Win Anything - Until Now

So back in October Hannah over at Bittersweet had a contest.  So I entered.  The contest was to win napkins from Dot and Army's Etsy Store.  They were so cute and pretty I could not resist.  Besides I never ever win anything.

Well I did win.  I had no idea, the message had gone into my spam filter and since I never win anything I had not checked.  Thankfully, Jennifer of Dot and Army was super sweet about my airheadedness and still wanted to send them out.  I let her pick since there were so many to choose from.  I think she did a fantastic job.  I will be using these for photo shoots and for dinner.

The crap photos are mine the pretty napkins are hers.  thanks again.

Pretty Purple Juice

So now that Vegan MoFo is over I am thinking I need to continue my healthier eating habits.  Every week I get vegetables from two different CSAs so my fridge is teeming with bright green bounty.  I needed to find a way to use some of it before it went bad.

Then I remembered, last February, I bought a juicer, after watching Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.  I used it a couple of times and then put it away.  So I hauled it in off the back porch and washed it off.  I think at the time I tried kale juice and well... let's just say it tasted like freshly mown lawn.  This time I decided to follow most blogs advice and start easy on the dark green leafys. I began with some beets.

Pretty Beets

Now a lot of people do not like beets, for their earthy taste but I do.  So I peeled and chopped them up and ran them thru the Breville.

Love the Blood Red Color

Then I added other veggies.  For the final result of this:

Enjoyed Outside While Watching Kids Run Around

Heck even the pulp is pretty.

Best Looking Future Compost

So here is the actual recipe:

1 large beet peeled and cut to fit in juicer

2 carrots, mine were organic so I did not bother to peel them, just cut off the tops

1 apple, again organic and cut to fit in juicer

1 lemon, peel and white cut off

4 stalks of Swiss Chard, I went with red, but any color would do.

4 leaves of Romaine

Juice the beets, carrots, and apples on high and the rest on low.  Pour into glass leaving foam in the pitcher.  Drink.  I did added ice because I like it colder.

Vegan MoFo Post #9

So today I did something I have wanted to try, but just haven't yet.  I decided to put my new tofu press into action.  I have, in the past, had an issue with the texture of tofu but I keep trying.  So today I went for fried.  I mean really fried foods used to make up a huge percent of my diet.

I pressed the tofu for about a half an hour.  Then I lightly dredged it in cornstarch.  Finally I fried it.  I think fried tofu might be my gateway drug into other varieties.  I loved the crispiness and crunch it had.  My sister has given up meat as well but she has not liked any tofu I have made her.  I force fed her a piece of this and even she thought it was tolerable.  I kept saying to the omnivore kids, "I can not believe how good this is."  I served it up with mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach, mushrooms, and onions.

First Fried Tofu

I know what i will be having again quite soon, probably tomorrow since I have to use up the rest of the block.  I hate to say it but I am totally pleased with myself.  Now if I can just bring myself to try the tempeh that is in my fridge.

Vegan MoFo Post #8

Another experiment from yesterday.  I made vegan frosting.  I had a box mix left in my house (not vegan) but I decided to experiment with the frosting.  I had some Earth Balance in the house and thought I would give it a try.  Then I realized that I did not have any powdered sugar.  A fast internet search and I realized I could make it in my Blend-Tec.  It worked out great.  The 5 year old helped me with that as well.  She likes watching stuff get shredded in the mixer.

The end result turned out pretty darn good, and it got the last boxed mix out of the house.

Nephew doesn't like frosting so I left 3 naked for him

Forgot how much fun decorating is.

And since I have not done it yet, here is a gratuitous angry cat photo.  They both are way too fabulous to pose.

Muffin, age 15

Sid, age 16

Vegan MoFo #7

So today I made some snack foods.  I wanted to have some snacks on hand that I could easily just grab that did not involve candy bars.

So I made Roasted Chickpeas.  I know everyone in the world has made them.  I had in the past as well, but the last time the spices I put on them did not translate to the finished product.  I was so excited when I tasted them before I put them in the oven and when they came out they were so BORING.  This time I was taking no chances.  I used avocado oil and Vulcan Fire Salt from The Spice House.  They are awesome.  I let my 5 year old niece do the pouring and she did an excellent job.

I then made Fudge Balls.  I found the recipe on the internet and I can not remember where so I won't post the actual recipe, but I figure if I mix cacao with walnuts and dates then I can enjoy the chocolatey goodness.  Unfortunately I did not take pictures of them.

Vegan MoFo Post #6

I went back to the surgeon yesterday and he said my leg looks better, but he is not sure that the surgery worked for my nerve damage.  Oh well I tried.

So today I do not have much for you.  I did try overnight oats.  They turned out really tasty.  I soaked rolled oats in soy milk overnight with some chia seeds.  Then this morning I added chopped walnuts and some homemade apple butter.

And in honor of Vegan MoFo and my desire to eat healthier I bought a tofu press.

Vegan MoFo Post #5

Today is my fifth post for this month.  I think this is more in one month than I have done the rest of the year.  I am really enjoying this.  It has definitely made me more conscious of the food I put into my body and the things I buy.

Today I cooked.  I made the Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins from 30 Day Vegan Challenge by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.  They are a family favorite, the kids, my picky sister and random others we have shared them with all love them.  Just FYI if you decide to make these the recipe says it makes 9-10 muffins.  I have never had this happen.  I always get the full 12 normal sized muffins and then to day I had enough left over to make a small loaf of bread.

Batter with Trader Joe's Semi-Sweet Chips

Full Muffin Pan

Plus Small Loaf on really cute Cow Potholder

Plus I made my first ever Chia Seed Pudding.  I actually made it last night and then ate it for dessert today.  I was a bit concerned since it looks so weird, but it tasted really good.

Chia Seed Pudding

I also felt well enough to make dinner for the whole family.  I tried a new recipe there as well Roasted Butternut Squash with Parsley, Garlic and Oil.  So good.  I forgot to take pictures, but I should have it was so pretty.