Vegans In The Mall!

Loving Hut a vegan chain is coming into the food court at the Bloomingdale mall...Nice!

 I have been to the one on Stockton. I think the food court is a better location than China town. 

Really?

This is on the corner of my block!

What's the point of tagging a mattress that is left out in the street?

Last Night Was Great All You Foodies!

I was a little discouraged about having to make full course vegetarian dinners. I know it is a promise I had made to myself and not something I am being forced to do. However, it started to be a little bit of a drag. Mostly, because it is difficult to be inspired on a schedule. Plus, last week's dinner was a total fiasco!

But, I am here to tell you last night was Great!!!!

Menu

Caramelized Carrots with Baked Tofu, Purple Onions, & Toasted Pecans

Over White Basmati Rice

Corn Chowder

Tomatoes  Roasted with Garlic and Dried Oregano

The entire menu was completely VEGAN with NO dairy (even in the chowder) and NO sugar or honey!

I thought everything came out great except for the tomatoes, they were just good. I Think the next time I make the tomatoes I won't use a dried herb. I like the idea of simply using one herb with the garlic, but I think fresh dill would have been the magic ticket. Also, next time I will line the pan with tin foil, because I am still soaking the pan I used. 

I followed a recipe for the corn chowder I found online at http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Vegan-Corn-Chowder/Detail.aspx. I believe, I will try that corn chowder again, but I will use less water. I created the tofu dish myself and it came out just how I had envisioned it in my mind.

PS--I did NOT forget to garnish the soup!!!!

Full On Homemade Vegetarian Dinners On Tuesday and Thursday!

I know, I know I promised to make complete vegetarian meals every Tuesday and Thursday. 
Three veg days have passed and I only cooked once...and it came out terrible!

The menu was as follows: 

Baked Tofu With Pear Sauce Over Rice

 Vegan Creamy Broccoli Soup

Salad with Red Leaf and Baby Mixed Lettuce, Goat Cheese, Raisins, Grape Tomatoes, Pine Nuts, and Homemade Dressing

I have to say, I was a little bouillon cube crazy. I normally use vegetable broth or stock already made that comes in a carton. However, I  thought it would be more cost effective to just buy the package of vegan bouillon cubes with sea salt.

OK, let's start with the Baked Tofu...I had made the pear sauce before, but it was a little too sweet. This time I mixed up a bouillon cube with warm water, ginger, and the pear all fruit, hoping it would balance out the sweetness.  Then I threw some whole pieces of Star Anise into the sauce while it was simmering over the baked tofu. However, the sauce never caramelized, so the flavors never blended together. I did throw in pear slices, but I don't think it was the right time. Nothing really came together...Oh and the rice! I'm not sure if putting a bouillon cube into the rice worked or not. I was too focused on the tofu thing to really figure that one out.

Now, on to the Vegan Creamy Broccoli Soup! 

I found the recipe online at http://www.care2.com/greenliving/creamy-broccoli-soup-recipe.html#  and I added garlic and used 6 bouillon cubes in 6 cups of water instead of 6 cups of vegetable broth. I believe I might have put way too many cubes in the pot, because all I could taste was the sea salt. It was so gross neither one of us ate it. 

I really liked the salad, but in the midst of the stress related to the other dishes coming out so bad, I messed up on the dressing. I just didn't have the patience to stream in the oil and it never emulsified. Hence, basically ruining the salad. 

So, that is another accounting of my experience making full on homemade vegetarian meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays!

Tonight I hope it all comes out better! I'll try to take it easy with the bouillon cubes...

SALUD!

When the Bough Breaks

I am supposed to be writing my article for Today's Vintage about decorating baby nurseries with vintage furniture.

I seem to be stuck...I am not really a baby person, what can I say about it. "Um, lead paint wasn't banned in the US until 1978 and that really cute metal crib painted white will probably kill your kid, either slowly by lead poisoning or quickly by strangulation when his head gets caught between the really cool looking wrought iron bars on all sides of the crib."

I did however, find lots of ways to totally deck out a kid's room without trying to kill it. My problem is I have too many different ideas and now my head is spinning and I have no clue which direction to go in.

Norma's Cookies Are Not Vegetarian!

I got a lot of flack from my friend Gigi about Thomas and I making cookies for his mother that included marshmallows. As a matter of fact Gigi blogged about me and my blog on her blog Veganville. Her piece starts off full of praise concerning my efforts of making full vegetarian meals a couple of nights a week. However, it takes a turn for the worst when she stumbles and gets stuck on my post entitled Norma's Cookies. 

Basically, Gigi was freaked out that I would make anything with marshmallows. I personally didn't really understand why she'd be so upset about the Christmas Holly Cookies we had made. I guess Gigi was talking about the gelatin. To tell you the truth I was most concerned about the corn syrup.

I mean, we were just sending them to his mom--who is not a vegetarian--we weren't eating them!