New find...

I absolutely love when I am at the grocery store, and I find a new vegan item that I have never heard of!  The other day, I was at Whole Foods, when I saw this little treat.  It looked like a Little Debbie oatmeal cream pie, but was vegan...could this be a miracle?

 

 

Michael obviously has fond memories of Little Debbie's too!  :)

 

He was trying his hardest to remain unseen...

 

Almost there...

 



So, all in all, this Divvie's oatmeal with vanilla cookie sandwich did not disappoint at all.  The cream filling had a subtle sweetness, and the raisins were a nice touch.  I admire Divvie's for committing to an allergy free baking facility!  I'm definitely looking forward to trying the other flavors!



Never too early for Thanksgiving...

Remember when I said that Fall was in the air?  Well, it has me craving Thanksgiving foods like crazy!  I didn't really care about the "turkey", just all of the sides.  I roasted some baby carrots and green beans, whipped up some mashed potatoes and crescent rolls, and sliced some canned cranberry sauce.

 

This dinner was outstanding!  It's amazing to me, how food can take you back in time.  The potatoes were super creamy and were loaded with chives, and they totally brought me back to eating my Grandma's potato salad...man, I miss her!  And yes, I do love whole cranberry sauce, but growing up, we always ate the canned stuff (and I love it too)!

 

 

I made sure to get a pumpkin scented candle, to help with the whole setup.  All in all, terrific dinner, and I'm really looking forward to cooking an actual Thanksgiving meal in a couple of months!

Never too late for a Spring cleaning...

For awhile now, I have been wanting to clean out my kitchen cabinets, but I just haven't had the energy.  Having 4 days to myself, I realized that I had no excuse anymore.  As I was reorganizing, I thought it might be fun to show what I regularly keep in our cupboards.  So here they are...

 

This is probably my favorite cabinet.  I have to have a variety of spices at all times, even though my favorites are pretty lame...black pepper and garlic.  I do love experimenting with all the different flavors.  I can't believe that I am just now starting to cook with smoked paprika!

 

 

 

I always have a smorgasbord of different grains (brown rice, lentils, quinoa, and pearled barley), and beans (kidney, pinto, garbanzo, navy, black eyed, and butter).  I also try to keep some random canned veggies, in case I need them (mushrooms, artichoke hearts, corn, and green chiles).



 

 

 

Canned tomatoes are essential for most of the soups and stews that I make.  Pasta is always on hand, in case we need a super quick and easy meal.  And there's the elusive polenta, which I still have never made!  My last cupboard contains all of my nuts, dried fruits, oils, and vinegars.  We have cut down on how much oil we use, but I do like using it in some recipes.

 

 

Here's a peek into our fridge as well.  On the top shelf, all of our favorite drinks...almond milk, iced coffee, OJ, and water.  In the middle, flaxseed, apple sauce, tahini, salsa, hummus, and some meat substitutes.  And saving the best for last, beautiful produce!  I stocked up on salad mix, kale, green beans, chives, carrots, onions, carrots, peppers, strawberries, and apples.

 

 

I saw this idea to use a planter basket as a wall mounted fruit holder, on Pinterest, and had to do it!  It gives me extra counter space for something else and fits everything perfectly!  In the basket are potatoes (red and fingerling), onions, zuchinni, tomatoes, kiwis, bananas, and limes.

 

 

That's it for our food!  Did you notice my Ryan Gosling dish towel hanging in the corner?  LOL!!!  I couldn't believe when I saw that for sale on Etsy!!!

Fall has arrived...

When I woke up this morning, I immediately noticed a chill in the air.  Could it be Fall?!?  The time has come...no more iced lattes!  I just had to stop at Starbucks and get a piping hot vanilla soy latte.

 

We really have cut down on our Starbucks intake, but once in awhile, it is a nice treat.  I am on vacation for the next 4 days, and I figured I should try to knock out all of my errands today, so that I can fully enjoy the rest of my weekend.  It was a blast getting my oil changed and my front license plate installed...NOT!  But I did savor this latte the entire time.  :)

 

When I got home, I was in the mood to bake some cookies.  I just bought this cookie press by OXO and was super excited to try it out.

 

 

It turned out that I shouldn't have put the sugar cookie dough in the fridge.  By the time I pulled it out, it was way too hard for the cookie press.  I ended up just rolling it out and slicing into little rounds.  I think that if my dough wasn't so hard, the press would have been awesome! 

 

 





Today just wasn't my day...I ended up overcooking them!  They're a tad bit crunchy, but definitely edible.  Better luck next time!

Long week...

This week has been a little exhausting, and it has been hard to find the time and energy to sit down and try to be creative.  This means that our dinners have been pretty simple.  I've been trying to make them as healthy as possible(so, we won't talk about the apple cinnamon pancakes that we made last night).  ;)  In all seriousness, veggies have been in full effect!  

I had some fresh bell peppers and red onion...those just scream "fajitas" to me!  A week ago, I found these Beyond Meat chicken-free strips on sale for $3.00.  Maybe I had a fajita premonition!

 

I sliced the "chicken" strips up and stir fried them with the peppers, onions, and some spices.  Since I was out of tortillas, we ate the fajita mix on top of some rice and black beans with a side of steamed kale.  The kale was per Kyle's request...that boy just can't get enough!

 

 

Another simple meal that hit the spot.  The Beyond Meat chicken-free strips are pretty good.  I am not a huge fan of a lot of the meat substitutes out there.  I much prefer tofu, but it's fun to change it up once in awhile.  



Baby Michael...

I just had to take a minute to tell you, just how much I love my dog, Michael.  As I'm sitting here, blogging, this is what he is doing...

 

Standing underneath the desk, in just the right spot, so that I can never stop scratching his butt.  He always makes me laugh!

 

 

Michael has always had the funniest little personality!  Sometimes, Kyle and I just bust out laughing at the faces that he makes.

 

 

Here is a picture of his last Halloween.  Little banana boy!  Well, now that I officially look like a crazy lady, I'm going to go make some dinner now.  Just a friendly reminder, to take a minute and show some love to your little fur-kids...they deserve it!





Who needs beef...

Sometimes when I think about how Kyle and I used to eat, it makes me sick.  Drive-thrus were a regular thing for us.  One of our favorites was Taco Bell, more specifically,  their crunchy beef burrito.  I was at whole Foods the other day, when I thought to myself, "Why can't I make an amazing, vegan crunchy beef burrito?"  So, I sought out the crucial ingredients...



                  

Smart Ground Mexican style crumbles, Seeds of Change Spanish style rice, and some crushed up Garden of Eatin' red hot blue tortilla chips, check!  Just a few more things, and I'd be set.

 

 

Some vegan queso and Tofutti sour cream, check! Last stop, nice big flour tortillas, check!  With all of the necessary ingredients, it was just a matter of heating things up and assembling. 

 

 



I had to laugh when I saw how horrible these pictures came out.  All I can say is that Kyle and I were starving, and I'm lucky that I even got these pictures!  And yes, I thought that these burritos were just as good as I remembered the other ones being, actually way better!

 

Comfort food at its finest...

Recently, I've noticed an increase in recipes for vegan mac and cheese...which is not a bad thing at all!  I have been an avid mac and cheese fan for as long as I can remember!  When I saw this recipe for Chili Fiesta Mac 'n' Cheese from Vegan Yack Attack, I knew what was on the menu tonight.

It was surprisingly easy to make.  20 minutes, and I had everything that I needed. 

I couldn't find the Follow Your Heart fiesta shreds, so I ended up using Daiya cheddar shreds, which turned out awesome!  I didn't know that it could be so simple!  And the chili was dynamite, loaded with zucchini, bell pepper, and beans! 

 

 

This meal was incredible.  I know what I will be making when I start to crave some comfort food again!  And, how could I not mention the new Pyrex that I found at Goodwill?

 

 

I found these pieces on two separate occasions.  I always feel like I hit the Pyrex jackpot, when I find matching pieces!

An apple a day...

Can I start by telling you how much I love desserts?  I like fruity ones, chocolaty ones, pretty much anything!  I really enjoy making my own.  For example, this is an apple pie, that I made last Thanksgiving.

 

It turned out great, but it was definitely time consuming!  The other day, I was at Whole Foods, and I noticed an apple pie sitting there.  I thought for sure that it was going to have eggs in it, but to my surprise, it was vegan!  Next, I was walking down the frozen food aisle, when I saw a new coconut milk ice cream.  I figured it was worth a shot!  So I came home with...

 

These two things turned into this...

 

 

And I just have to say, The NadaMoo! ice cream was the most delicious non-dairy ice cream that I have ever tasted!  I have tried many different brands of ice cream, and have always been left feeling a bit disappointed.  I was not disappointed by a single thing with this!  It was creamy, rich, and had a great vanilla flavor.  I cannot wait to try the other flavors!  The apple pie was pretty darn good too.  I still think mine is better.  ;)

 



 

 



 

New loves...

Recently, I have discovered three new things that I am in love with!  Without further adieu...

 

I enjoy making my own dressing at home, but sometimes I prefer the convenience of bottled dressing.  Typically, I'll go for the basic vinaigrettes, but this Follow Your Heart vegan honey mustard just screamed at me from the grocer's shelf!  Boy, am I glad that it did!  It reminds me of my pre-vegan favorite dressing!  Now I'm itching to try the rest of their flavors, especially the vegan bleu cheese!

 

 

Next up, Earth Balance vegan aged white cheddar flavor puffs.  One word...WOW!  They have the best cheesy, garlicky flavor!  I've tasted good "veggie" puffs, but never has "cheesy" ones!!!  Pretty darn amazing!  Also, notice the little creeper in the corner.  I guess this would be a good time to introduce our doggie, Michael.  He's always on the lookout for fallen food.  :)

 

 

This last one may seem really random.  Last weekend, we were walking around downtown Evergreen, and stopped in this little shop, where we proceeded to find "mug rugs".  They are little miniature rug coasters.  Yep, we both had to have them!  Hahahahaha, they are so ridiculous, but cute!







Pizza, Pizza!!!

I have a secret to tell you...I'm having a  love affair with pizza!  It doesn't matter what you top it with, "cheese" or no "cheese", or what kind of crust...I'm going to devour every bite!  I enjoy making my own pizza at home, because it's pretty easy and I can keep an eye on exactly what is going into it.  Not to say that I don't enjoy a to-go pizza once in awhile, but I always wonder how much oil and unnecessary extra ingredients are in it.  Thanks to Big Bertha, I was able to make an awesome pizza dough in about 5 minutes (not including time to rise). 

 

 

 

We topped it some Daiya mozzarella shreds, olives, red onion, and Upton's seitan bacon.  It was really, really tasty!

 

 

 

I was also thrilled with how the dough came out.  It was crispy on the bottom, but soft in the center, and had great flavor.  I was skeptical, seeing as I got the recipe out of the book that came with my stand mixer! 

 

Now, this next pizza that I am about to show you, was made a couple months ago.  But, I saw the picture in my files, and fondly remembered how incredible it was.  It also reminded me that I need to make it again ASAP!

 

 

This is the Roasted Garlic White Pizza with Macadamia Ricotta Salata & Spinach from "Keepin it Kind".  Kyle used to love white pizza and it had been a couple years since we were able to eat it.  When I found this recipe, I knew it would be a homerun!  What a pizza!  I think that this is one love affair that Kyle approves of.  :)





Breakfast time...

I recently posted about a delicious breakfast that we ate at Watercourse restaurant in Denver.  When some friends visited this past week, we just had to go back and take them there!  Any excuse to go back ;)  This time, I decided to order something different.  I went with the Toulouse tofu scramble, with breakfast potatoes, and  fresh from the oven wheat toast with berry jam.

But First...

 

My favorite way to start the day, vanilla soy latte!!!  Then came something that was WAY better than anything I had hoped for.

 



This scramble had broccoli, portabella mushrooms, grilled artichokes, and Daiya cheddar cheese.  Honestly, it was the best scramble I have ever eaten (even my own)!  Their bread is just as delicious, moist, yet a bit chewy.  And don't even get me started on their berry jam!!!  Another totally satisfying breakfast.

 

I almost forgot to tell you about our appetizer!  By the time we got there, it was more of a brunch.  Watercourse has sweet chili eggrolls. 

 

 

We didn't want our friends to miss out on these delicacies.  Who says eggrolls can't be part of a well balanced breakfast?!?  Crisp shell, tofu, cabbage, mushrooms, carrot, green onion, and sweet chili mango dipping sauce...need I say more?

 

Of course, Kyle was a good hubby and ordered my favorite French toast again, so that I could have a few bites :)  In case you didn't see that post, here it is.

Simple dinner...

The great tofu controversy...I keep reading about the conflicting arguments, as to whether or not tofu is bad for you.  For Kyle and I, we stick to everything in moderation.  I definitely enjoy some tofu a couple of nights each week.  I feel as though some of the most simple and tasty meals come from tofu.  This brings me to our dinner last night...

 

 



Some West Soy teriyaki tofu, Seeds of Change Spanish style rice, and steamed kale (which I ate a heaping plate of seconds).  It took about 5 minutes of prep, and was so delicious!

 

 

Like I have said before, I am totally addicted to steamed kale!  I wish Kyle didn't enjoy it so much, so there would be more for me :)

 

For dessert, I bought some of JJ's Sweets Cocomels. 

 

 

Pretty much amazing!!!  I haven't tasted a caramel like this, since before I was vegan!  I love when something tastes like the original!



Is this quiche for real...

As you may have noticed from some of my posts, "Oh She Glows" is one of my favorite sources for recipes.  If I am searching for something new to make, that I know will be outstanding, I don't have to search any further than her blog.  So recently, I saw her post for Sun-dried Tomato, Mushroom, and Spinach Tofu Quiche. 

 

What was created, was a thing of beauty!  I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical of this recipe, but was more than thrilled with the results.  I served it with a side of steamed kale, of course! 

 

 

Kyle also raved about this dish.  And I am already thinking of what veggie combos to try next.  I can't wait to try broccoli, Daiya mozzarella cheese, and some Upton's seitan bacon. 

 

I recently ordered my first shirt from Compassion Company, and it just arrived in the mail.

 

 

 

Can't wait to wear it!  It is super soft and fits perfectly!  I just love supporting companies that really get the message out there  :)