Dinner - March 3, 2010

We decided to try and go back to some simple meals. Just vegetables and beans or in this case processed beans as tofu. I guess that is not that simple but it is a step in the right direction.

I wanted to make Kornfeld's glazed tofu but realized I was out of soy sauce. I substituted some fermented black bean sauce. I then remembered that I don't like fermented black bean sauce (or at least what you can buy in a jar in the grocery). I managed to eat this but Matt couldn't.

The aspargus had looked great but when I roasted it in the oven it came out kind of stringy. I think I crowded it to much in the oven. For reference 2 lbs of asparagus does not fit on one cookie sheet.

Dinner - March 1, 2010

I believe this is my own creation. It is Mushrooms, Seitan, and Brussels Sprouts with Pumpkin Seed Oil over brown rice. It was satisfying but nothing special. This is why I still cook from recipes.

Lunch - February 28, 2010

I believe this is called broccoflower and is some sort of cross between broccoli and cauliflower. I would say it is more like cauliflower in feel and structure. I used it in a soup where broccoli was called for.

The soup was Iowa Open House Grain & Pasta Pottage from a Frontier Soups' Soup Mix. I made my own vegetable broth which turned out pretty good. I had saved the water from cooking some potatoes and parsnips and added it to a new broth I made with shallots, onions, carrots, celery, potato, and some spices. After making the broth it felt like a waste to use a spice packet with dehydrated vegetables.

While this was okay I wouldn't serve it to anyone. I didn't even make Matt try it. I did eat it all for my lunches over the following week. The pasta in the package was whole wheat but not very good. The rices in it were nice but it just never was quite worth the effort.

Dinner - February 27, 2010

This is Elise's Sesame Noodles from the Eating Well Ipod Touch Application. You can find the recipe here. This is a keeper. Very easy since the vegetables and sauce are not cooked. Cook the pasta, toast the sesame seeds, toss it all together.

Most cold sesame noodle recipes I make are based on using peanut butter and garlic. This has neither so it is a little more refreshing.
I used half regular sesame seeds and half black sesame seeds due to availability in my pantry.

Dinner - February 26, 2010

This is based on Saag Tofu from my Eating Well Ipod Touch Application. You can find the recipe here. I substituted unsweetened soy milk for the yogurt. I would call it more like "not creamed spinach with tofu over rice" but still very good. I accidentally upped the cumin which I liked.

I plan on making this a regular for us. It was super fast. I would serve it to vegetarians but I wouldn't call it saag to prevent expectations of a really rich sauce. I think pan size would limit being able to easily make this for four. I think we ate all of it.

Dinner - February 25, 2010

Balsamic Roasted Seitan with Cipolloni Onions and Crunchy Cabbage Salad and Mashed Potatoes with Parsnips
from Berley's Fresh Food Fast.

We had this before and thought it was great. This time I wondered what I had thought was so great.

The onions were very large and ended up a bit strong. The last time they were the size of pearl onions. The cabbage was still good but I was out of walnuts so it wasn't great. The parsnips were particularly strong and I didn't use the full amount noted in the recipe.

I am wondering if I used to like the "meat substitute" way of cooking better.

Lunch - February 25, 2010

I used the left overs from the sandwiches to make a salad. I thinned the adobo/veganaise with a little water and tossed it all together just before eating. Find the original post here.

I thought this was great. It is inspiring me to eat more salads for lunch.