Yuba, take one!

Living out in the boonies where the closest 'big town' to shop in is 30 minutes away and very conservative (read: non vegan-friendly), I enjoy the fruits of the internet and odering pantry items regularly.

Recently, I became aware of Yuba sheets and quickly found somewhere to purchase them (and a few other goodies that will surely make an appearance here) and have them delivered right to my door! Unsure of just what to do with these yuba sheets, I came up with a sort of wrapped up rolls.

I soaked the sheets in warm water for a few minutes (tho, in the future, I think I'll just run them under warm water so they don't fall apart so easily!). I had thawed some seitan from the other night and sauteed it in my trusty iron skillet with a little hoisin sauce while some portabellos roasted in the oven (with just a drizzle of olive oil, some sea salt, and pepper). I placed a little hoisin on a piece of yuba, put in about a Tbs of seitan, a sprinkling of green onion, and a Tbs. of chopped portabello then just rolled 'em up!

Here's where I realized that baking them? was not going to happen. It was a tad late when I started dinner and baking them in a 375 degree oven was taking for-ev-er to get that crispy good texture that everyone raves about. So? I fried 'em. I know! I know! but it was peanut oil and was quick and they were......FAB-U-LOUS! My husband raved and snuck some extra (always a good sign :).

I served 'em up with some steamed broccoli (I think the best way to steam broccoli is with some slivered garlic and a pinch of sea salt. yum!) and a little plum sauce...for the dipping. While they look awfully shiny, they really weren't greasy at all. I would love to bake them instead next time, however, so it looks like I better start planning my dinners sooner!

For those of you who've tried or regularly use yuba, what's your favorite thing to do with them? I'm looking forward to trying some of Bryanna's creations. Each one of her ideas looks so amazing!

In less exciting news....there was lunch...

Black-eyed pea dip, avacado dip, and baked pita chips.

I'm reeeeally not supposed to have anything spicy or...not bland as of late while I wait to go to the doctor to find out what's ailing my aching belly. (basically, it hurts all the time and anything I eat makes me feel like I just devoured a nine course meal!) So, the fried yuba rolls above? You know nothing. :)

At lunch today I was hungry but not feeling all that well so I wanted to stick to things that were mild (read: bland) but still tasted good. I mashed up an avacado and added just a couple drops of lime juice and a dash of sea salt and pepper. Then, I took the leftover black-eyed peas from the other night, mashed them up, and added about a tsp. of tofutti sour cream and a couple splashes of plain soy milk. The pitas are mini multigrain pitas. I just brushed with a tiny bit of olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper, then baked until crispy.

This was actually VERY satisfying and really yummy. The pure flavors all came thru and really didn't need any special treatment or crazy spices. The tummy? not the happiest afterward, but I'm beginning to think there's just no way around that one right now.