I have delved so far into the DIY world of cooking/vegan/housekeeping, that my friends are wondering if I will ever be "normal" again!
So, here's what's up with me. This is going to be kind of a long post, so I apologize if you're here for recipes and not commentary- but I feel like writing and sharing with all 3 of you today.
1. I make almost everything from scratch now. From pie crust, to to seitan, to my own stock/broth, I've started making almost everything I need myself. It started while reading up on various recipes when I saw a tip I had never thought of, and now I have no idea why since it's sort of a no-brainer. So, I started saving all my veggie ends in a bag in my freezer and once every week or two, I take it out and pour four quarts of water over it, simmer it with salt, pepper & spices, strain it, and divide it into two 2-qt. pitchers because I don't have a gallon size. Done. Took like half an hour. And you can add chicken, beef, pork, or any bones you want to the bag if you eat meat. Also, after you strain it out, (if you don't have bones in your stock)you can use the leftover veggies for compost if you have a garden. Neat trick I thought, and now that I always have it around- I use it all the time for just about anything.
2. I've pretty much given up on mock meats. I feel you get better nutrition from whole plant foods, and most of the time I don't miss meat too much. I do miss cheese, and do give in a lot to cheese. That being said, sometimes I want a stuffed pork roast, or a turkey sandwich. I had heard around the internerd that seitan makes a really great meat substitute, and found this recipe, this recipe, and this one too. I loved that it was baked, and not steamed, and that for $7 at Freshtown of Amenia, I could make two of my own seitan roasts or logs, instead of having to buy it in a small container at the store... and that's assuming I'd even be able to find it anywhere near me. Well, my friends; I have made at least 3 seitan: 1 log, and 2 greens and mushroom-stuffed roasts. I took the trifeca of recipes listed above and combined them to make a stuffed turkey tasting roast and a mild-turkey-sandwich-slice log. They went really quickly, and I had no leftovers because John liked it so much, he practically licked his plate. Not to toot my own horn, but I was kind of impressed with myself! Unfortunately, I have no pictures of this, but plan to make some this week and will have one when I do.
3. I make A. LOT. of soup now. Especially with Autumn upon us and Winter imminent, there seems to be nothing better than a hot bowl of soup and some bread. Squash is so perfect for soup, I'm reheating a batch of butternut squash soup this week which I made a few weeks ago and froze. For Halloween I made a giant pot of vegan chili for a whole bunch of people who eat a whole bunch of meat
I realize how truly un-appetizing(is that a word?) this looks, really I do...but it's chili, and it's supposed to be brown and somewhat slop-looking. Anyway, I used TVP which I do try to stay away from because it's really kind of a mock meat and I'd rather just use beans nowadays, but I had a lot of non-vegetarians coming over and I knew in a chili it would be filling enough and taste meaty enough to satisfy everyone. I didn't have any complaints and was complimented on it, so I assume everyone liked it and didn't lie to me! :)
Along the same lines with soup, I kind of had a soba noodle love affair over the summer. I put them in everything this summer. I made soups, and I made so many different slaws with soba it was a little ridiculous. I made a particular slaw I really liked with Nappa cabbage, red cabbage, carrot, soba noodles and a peanut sauce that I really just could not keep around long enough. I also made this soup with greens and a bunch of vegetables I needed to use, too.
I've never had Pho, but I actually used it somewhat as an inspiration for this. Note: I understand this is NOT Pho...just saw a picture of it and used that as inspiration!
4. In a serious, really strict effort to keep anything processed out of my body, and also because I feel no one is eating enough greens in their diet, I've been having for breakfast almost every day a green smoothie.
It's approximately 2 cups of kale(or any green, like chard, spinach, collard, etc.), an apple, and sometimes I throw some frozen mango in there too. I puree the greens first with either a cup of almond milk or water depending on my mood, and then add everything else to puree while it's still running. You pretty much only taste apple, and you basically punch your body with nutrition. My "resolution" (in September, because that makes sense) has become to not only eat plant based, but to really focus more on whole foods and nutrition, and this helps a lot because I find that having this for breakfast keeps me on track since it makes me not want to screw up how I started my day. If I throw some flax meal in there it helps even more because I feel fuller longer.
5. I don't really eat/use all that much sugar anymore. Before I get ahead of myself, let me make one thing clear: I am a big girl. I am not going to sit here and tell you I never eat chocolate or I've given up cake. Because that would be lying. What I am saying is most of the time, If I want something sweet, I have to go through the trouble of making it myself. So, If I'm making an apple pie I'll throw in a couple tablespoons of pure maple syrup with the apples and cinnamon and spices instead of sugar. In most of my baking now I've switched to brown rice syrup instead. Brown rice syrup is made from brown rice and is a complex sugar so it doesn't spike your blood sugar the way cane sugar does. In doing this, I've noticed a significant difference in how I don't want the junky stuff as much anymore- even after Halloween, I'm not wanting the candy since I don't really crave it as bad. It's easier to walk away from, and if I really want something sweet I'd rather have something I made with my own hands and I know what's in it. My dietary choices also stem from being a somewhat-control-freak, too!
6. I'm going to make a Shepherd's Pie out of these lentils tonight, and it's going to be delicious.
Lastly, everyone is doing a "what I'm thankful for" a day this month with Thanksgiving coming up. I'm not. I'm not because, I will be honest: I would not have enough creativity to come up with something different every single day to be thankful for.
So. Now that I sound like a spoiled little princess, what am I thankful for?
I am thankful I have opened my eyes and taken in breath today. I am thankful my husband and my daughter did the same, and I am thankful every single day this happens. I am thankful for all the beautiful food I have become accustomed to eating, I am thankful I have adopted a plant-based diet because it has given me such an education about nutrition, and has inspired me to be creative. I am thankful I have been able to eat plant based for a year now, and that it has cut my grocery bill in half. I am thankful for this because it has made my family happier, made me stronger as a person, and has become the focal point of how I live my life.
I am thankful to have so many people I love in my life. I am thankful I have friends, I am thankful for the family I have left.
But mostly, I am thankful for the life John and I have built together.
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