Lunchtime Tip...Eureka!!

I have been researching a lot of new recipes lately. Seems like my kiddos are in a funk, granted I love PB&J but they need more variety. Well when hubby and I got married we got a mini food processor. I have only used it a handful of times. After seeing recipes for different meat salads I thought hmmm....idea.

Why not process the chicken or ham salads in the mini food processor? It makes it smooth and creamy and more appealing to my kiddos. The boys took turns pushing the button. (what a great way for kids to be involved in meal time)


Today I made them chicken salad.

1 can of chicken
1 tbsp sweet relish (one that I canned myself)
1 to 2 tbsp mayo
pepper and curry powder to taste

Puree to your liking.

This was wonderful. Easy on their palate as there was not a lot of chewing and they got to use my cool snowman spreaders to put the salad on crackers.

Next up, leftover filling and wonton wrappers. Yumm-oh!!!

"Beef" Stew Recipe Review

If you have ever started researching vegan foods you will find there are products on the market that are meat replacers.  Recently I found a product called gardein.  I was super excited to try the "beef" stew recipe so last week I bought all that we needed for the recipe in hopes for success.

Here is the recipe:

Gardein Beefless Stew

Ingredients:
gardein beefless tips - 1 package
vegetable oil - 3 tbsp
pearl onions - 10 oz package
garlic, minced - 2 cloves
celery stalks, thinly sliced - 2
carrots, 1/2 inch dice - 2
dried thyme - 1/2 tsp
dried rosemary - 1/2 tsp
flour - 3 tbsp
vegan "beef" stock - 3 cups
dry red wine - 1 cup
medium potatoes, 1/2 inch dice - 2
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Heat oil in a large saucepan on medium high heat, add beefless tips and brown on all sides. Remove from saucepan and set aside. 

Add pearl onions, garlic and celery to saucepan and cook for 3 minutes. Add carrots, thyme, and rosemary and continue to cook for 3 minutes.

Sprinkle in flour, then slowly add broth and wine while stirring.

Add potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Add beefless tips back in and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

VERDICT - Thumbs down if you include the meat :-(

I was very pleased with the beef flavor that came from the vegan beef stock.  The stew itself without the meat is very appealing to the palate and would satisfy any meat eaters craving in a no meat world.  The vegan beef stock is a product I am likely to use over and over in dishes where I want the taste but can't have the real thing.

I do have a few more gardein products that I will need to try as they were already purchased although now I'm a little apprehensive.

MMMmmm Banana Bread

So I read a rave review about Matushka Emily's recipe.  I gave it a try and it is absolutely wonderful.  Perfect for a snack or a yummy breakfast..Try It, you'll be so happy you did.

Vegan Banana Bread


Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cups white granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
3/4 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt
3/4 t. cinnamon
1/2 cup almond milk
1 t. apple cider vinegar
2 cups mashed banana, from about 4 large very ripe bananas
1/4 cup canola oil
1 t. vanilla extract
cinnamon sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly oil a 9"x5" loaf pan and set aside.
2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugars, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the almond milk and cider vinegar and let stand for 2 minutes. Add the mashed banana (I've used a food mill with great results), canola oil, and vanilla extract, whisking until well combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until just combined (do not over-mix!). Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top (it makes a lovely crust for the bread). Bake for about 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean. Allow the bread to cool on a wire cooling rack for 20 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Breakfast tip...

so how do you enjoy breakfast when you are giving up dairy???

well it's easier said than done.  It is also a experiment that does not take easy to your pocket book.  You will notice many things vegan cost more. 

This morning I had a mini bagel with Tofutti Cream Cheese.  I had the "plain" version and it obviously doesn't taste like cream cheese.  My suggestion, if you have some chives or scallions on hand stir them together if your grocery store doesn't carry the other flavors. Maybe you could even try some canned pumpkin and cinnamon.  Mmmm....might have to try that myself.

Enjoy!!!

Hello and welcome

Hello all of you and welcome.  

So what is the purpose of this blog anyway?  Well, being that we are an Orthodox Christian family we spend much of our year fasting for different feasts.  It has been a challenge for our family to find vegan/vegetarian recipes that actually taste good and yet maintain simplicity.  I have been asked to share recipes and meal ideas many times so the idea of this blog was born.

My goal is to share all things domestic.  So pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy.