My second Vegonomicon venture and TOTAL success...
Living in FL, I'm used to hearing about everyone else's fall days inspiring cool weather fare full of autumn vegetable and warm tasty goodness far before I join in the fun. Typically? I actually savor every last hot day we have....but ever since my copy of Veganomicon arrived and I littered it with bookmarks of recipes I'm just dying to try I've been hoping for even a hint of fall to make this dish.
Today I got it. It was sunny and beautiful AND cooler than it's been all year. Sitting out on our porch reading and taking in the breeze got my butt in the kitchen to throw this one together. It's super easy, the biscuits are light and soft and the stew totally satifying, and it's simple enough to let the true flavors of its ingredients shine.
From all the Mmmmmm's heard from both myself and the Captain while enjoying this dish, I'd say Veganomicon must be chock FULL of home runs!
As you can see, my copy of V'con is already warped on a few pages. Good thing this one's hard cover.....my copy of VWaV is so battered and splattered it's a true testament to just how much vegan yummy is found within it's pages.
I had no sooner posted last night about not really having much desire to cook when I was struck with a need to crack open my Veganomicon and whip up a comfort food meal to end all comfort food meals.
The Chickpea Cutlets come together in a flash (we opted to bake them, and they were incredible...you know what that means....they'll be even more sensational when fried! ;) I mashed some yukon potatoes, roasted some brussel sprouts with tons of garlic, and threw together my go-to gravy (flour, nutr. yeast, olive oil, soy milk, tamari, gravy masters, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. amazing every time!), and served it all with a potato roll, 'cause comfort food is only made better when you throw in extra carbs.
oh, if only blogger had smell-o-vision!
Mmmmmmm.... let's hope that between Veganomicon, ED&BV, and the two new cookbooks I currently pre-ordered (Vegan YumYum and Yellow Rose Recipes from Herbivore), I'll be blogging more regularly again in no time!
the White Bean and Leek Cassoulet is already calling my name!
Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted. Honestly, my daily visit to other blogs has also been slacking what with all the food issues I've had of late.
Even looking at pics of food has been suddenly stricken from the list of Things I Love To Do. Not only have certain foods been less than desireable, the actual act of preparing foods (usually, one of my MOST favorite things to do in the day) has become seriously tiresome. when I have found the energy or desire to cook something I haven't been taking pictures of it, just glad I had something I was willing to choke down. well, there was this...
VWaV Fritatta, anyone? I always opt for a sun dried tomato and zucchini version.
and roasted tamari pepitas,
those have been a great snack.
oh, and i'm glad I could virtually live on pan-seared oatmeal 
because as least it's good for me!
otherwise it's fruit, easy veggie patties, and shells 'n chreese with peas galore!
what could be the culprit? I'm sure you're wondering. Well, today, on my most favorite day of the year (i tell ya, i love this day more than giftmas!) we got to take a peek at just what's draining me of my typical time in the kitchen...or should I say who.... 
Yup, this is our 12 week ultrasound of the little goblin I've been growing. I've been bursting at the seams to say something here but wanted to wait til now to do so. While the nausea is a bit better than it was, I'm finding great comfort in comfort foods that I've made and blogged about numerous times before or convenience foods that go from freezer or box to my oven or stove then my plate.
so much for turning this blog into a whirlwind of amazing healthy vegan pregnancy meals for expectant moms! ;) while I hope that my new copy of Veganomicon (which I've already tagged in a ton of places the recipes I just can't wait to try) will revamp my blog soon, I think I'll be blogging only when the energy (or appetite!) strikes me for a bit. Tho, with chompers like we're seeing on this kid.... 
there's bound to be a LOT more vegan fare for the blogging in our future! ;)
Until then, have a safe and happy Halloween!
A How To:After a breakfast of Wheatabix (I've only just discovered these, yum!) with dried cranberries, dried blueberries, and soy milk, chop some garlic and saute in olive oil.
Open a 28 oz. can of organic crushed tomatoes and toss them in with that fragrant garlic (mmmm, garlic in the morning).Add tomato paste, oregano, basil, sea salt, black pepper, and sugar to taste. Allow to simmer on med heat while you clean up the kitchen.
Stir and cover sauce, lower the heat, and go about your business for the day, making a stop over now and then to stir the sauce and appreciate the aroma.
At lunch time, enjoy leftover Spicoli Burgers on a homemade roll with a flax oil and balsamic slurry for dipping.
Some time later in the afternoon, succumb to the dreaming you've been doing from too many trips to the ppk where all the amazing vegan folks are porning their vegan prowess, and make these.
oh yeah, they are insanely good! You can find the recipe here. I used spelt flour and MAN, they're magically delicious! oh...don't forget to ice 'em!
Eat not one but two of those cinnamon buns and realize that dinner will be later than you'd originally planned. No matter, the sauce just gets better and better as the day wears on.
Finally when the tummy starts growlin and those cinnamon rolls are long digested, toss two pkgs of Boca Crumbles into the sauce, stir, cover, and jack up the heat just a touch. Boil water for pasta (we enjoyed whole wheat angel hair) and toss whatever veggies you have (we had zuke and 'shrooms) under the broiler with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt, pepper, and garlic. Viola! Easy dinner is served and satisfying. 
So filling, in fact, we're pretty glad we had dessert first! ;)
Yup, got Dreena's newest amazing book, Eat, Drink, and Be Vegan and couldn't wait to try something from it. Her tasty concoctions couldn't come at a better time, what with all the aversions I've had to the same ol' same ol' as of late. While I wanted to go crazy with baking, I have no maple syrup in the house, so I jumped to something savory for dinner. Spicoli Burgers are easy to whip up, use hemp seed (one of my favorite food items), and taste great! Actually, they've become my new fave burger of all time. They're even better leftover! (I tried leftover ones with a slurry of flax oil and balsamic vinegar as she suggests.....LOVE IT!)
I also was lacking the fresh red pepper for the burgers but omitted them and opted to use jarred ones I had in the pantry to make a fast roasted red pepper mayo (inspired by Veg. Times a few months back). With a side of organic fries this was a really tasty meal. I only wish I'd been a little less excited about it and remembered to roast my green beans to balance out my dinner!
Dude, you guys must, like, totally try these rad burgers, like, immediately!
Living in FL, I'm used to hearing about everyone else's fall days inspiring cool weather fare full of autumn vegetable and warm tasty goodness far before I join in the fun. Typically? I actually savor every last hot day we have....but ever since my copy of Veganomicon arrived and I littered it with bookmarks of recipes I'm just dying to try I've been hoping for even a hint of fall to make this dish. 
From all the Mmmmmm's heard from both myself and the Captain while enjoying this dish, I'd say Veganomicon must be chock FULL of home runs!
