Sillhouettes

Gettin my art face on ;)

Y Vlog?

What's up with all this vlogging bussiness? Watch the video to find out!

Crazy Boys and Whole Wheat Bread

    Today has passed by super quickly! This afternoon I happily looked over at the clock expecting it to be about one o' clock, but nooooooooo it was four o' clock. I was honestly confused at the time thinking that maybe the clock had stopped working or something. I guess time flies when your having fun, right?

    2 I started my morning by creeping out of the bedroom where a sleepy Steven was dead to the world (because he decided to get up two hours after we went to bed to play games until 4! Crazy boy.). I made myself a bowl of oatmeal (with ground flax, oat bran, and almond milk-yum!) and cuddled up on the couch to read the Bible in silent bliss. The morning progressed and we ended up at the gym, followed by a bit of grocery shopping and a not so fun wait for the bus. You can find out what happened by watching the video <here>.

    Upon returning home I began cooking some bread and granola for the week. I just pulled the hot bread out of the oven, so the house is full of the scent of soft warm bread. Jealous, right? I vlogged my bread making process which you can watch <here> or for those of you who would rather get to the point quickly here is the recipe: (I don't remember where I got the recipe from so, the credit does not go to me-I just added the toppings)

Whole Wheat Bread
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 1/2 tsp yeast
3 tbs coconut oil
1 tbs ground flax
2 tbs maple syrup
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tbs vital wheat gluten
2 tbs raw sunflower seeds
1 tsp poppyseeds
1 tbs oat bran


Directions: (1) Mix the first 8 ingredients together (I used my stand mixer with the dough hooks or you could use your hands) (2) Let it rise for 20 minutes. (3) Knead the dough, cover and then let it rise until it doubles in size. (4) Knead a bit more then transfer it to a greased bread pan, cover and let it rise until it fills out the bread pan. (5) Sprinkle the last three ingredients on top then bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.

Whole Wheat Bread Tutorial

In case you ever wondered what it looked like to make bread...? 0.o

Aaah Pigeon Poop

 

Longest Granola Tutorial....ever.

    The art of granola making is a simple one, but somehow I have managed to complicate it by recording an almost eight minute production...with one hand...and lots of mumbling. It's obvious I haven't quite gotten this Vlogging thing down yet (Steven volunteered to hold the camera next time I attempted to host a cooking show in our little kitchen), but i'll keep working on it. ;)

Queen of (Vegan) Tarts

    When I hear the word "tart" I can't help but let my mind wonder to the world of wonderland. I envision the Queen of Hearts sitting in her room sobbing over stolen tarts, and I completely understand-who wouldn't be a little upset about absence of such a wonderful delicacy?
    Today my taste buds had the privileged of getting to meet a vegan mushroom tart (they got along splendidly). I have no idea to whom the credit is due for the original non-veganized form of the recipe because my mom got it from my aunt who got it from...somewhere. Without further adieu I present: The Vegan Mushroom Tart.

Mushroom Tarts (Veganized)
Ingredients:
1/2 ib. Mushrooms, chopped
2 tbs onions, chopped
4 tbs earth balance butter
2 tbs whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp parsley flakes
1 tsp chives
1 cup plain almond milk
nutritional yeast for sprinkling on top
Pie crust (I used this recipe with the coconut oil)

Directions:


(1)In a sauce pan over medium heat melt butter and add onions-cook until onions are soft about four minutes. (2) Add mushrooms and cook for about 15 minutes. (3) Remove from heat and add flour-stir together until thick. (4) Add almond milk and bring to a boil. (5) Reduce heat and add the rest of the ingredients-cook until it turns thick and sauce-like. (6) fill a tart pan with the pie crust and scoop the mushroom mix into each hole. (7) sprinkle the tops with nutritional yeast. (8) Bake at 350 four about 10 minutes or until the crust starts to turn golden brown.

Vegan Blob Cookies

    Sunday evening while watching an episode of Star Trek in which a woman slowly ran out of oxygen while trying to blow up a space shuttle that was carrying an explosive headed for an innocent planet, I suddenly thought, COOKIES! I could really go for some chocolate chip cookies right now. My thoughts flow together so well, don't they?

    Now normally I am not a big sweets person, but in the few instances when I start seeing chocolate bars and cookies in my head, I must to do something about it. So of course I popped off the couch and headed to the kitchen. Not desiring to tackle this feat on my own, I mentioned the magical word “cookies” and up from the computer chair popped a creature that I once thought to be glued there (Steven of course hehe).

    The cookies that we created defy the traditional cookie just a little bit. They ended up being more like blobs only able to be consumed with a spoon or if your adventurous you could grab it up in your hand and shove it in your mouth whole while standing over the sink-it’s really up to you. Normally I wouldn't even bother posting such a problematic recipe, BUT they actually tasted reaaaaaaally good! Steven gives them a double thumbs up and a “these are sooooooooooooooo good” dance (and that is really sayin something for a vegan cookie). So you may like them, try them and you may I say, try them and you may!

Vegan Chocolate Chip Blob Cookies

Ingredients:

-1/3 cup coconut oil

-¼ cup plus 2 tbs raw sugar

-1 tbs ground flax seed meal

-3 tbs warm water

-1/2 cup oat flour

-1/4 cup Rye flour

-¼ cup oat bran

-½ tsp salt

-3/4 cup vegan chocolate chips

Directions

(1) Mix all the ingredients together. (2) Make little walnut sized balls and put them on a cookie sheet. (3) Bake at 375 for 10 min. (maybe less just keep checking them to make sure they aren't burning) (4) The cooking mostly just melts the chocolate and makes them hot (flattens some of them) so now you just eat them!

Cuban Red Beans And Rice

Me eating delicious food on the Cayman Islands.

    Cooking shows are a bit of a weakness for me (as I'm sure they are for any foodie). A while back I was watching Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, which to be honest I usually find to be repulsive because I'm a very healthy foodie which is basically the complete opposite of this show. Anyway, there was an episode that had a Cuban bean dish that looked amazing and reminded me of a dish I ate on the Cayman Islands back in 2009.
    As a Christmas present from the family I nanny for I got a Better Homes and Gardens cook book. I found a Cuban Red Bean and Rice recipe that sounded similar to what I watched on TV and what I ate on the Cayman Islands. Of course I tried it out and of course it was delicious (And of course I changed it a little because I can't seem to follow a recipe).

Cuban Red Beans And Rice (modified from the Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book)

-1 large sweet onion, cut into thin wedges

-1 cup chopped green or red sweet pepper (1 large)
-4 cloves garlic, minced
-1 tbs olive oil
-tsp oregano
-1/2 tsp cumin
-1/4 tsp black pepper
-1 can pinto beans
-1/4 cup lime juice
-1 cup cooked brown rice
-1/2 jalapeno (optional)
-Lime wedges (optional)

Directions:
(1) In a sauce pan cook onion, pepper, and garlic in hot oil until tender. (2) Add spices and cook/stir for 1 minute. (3) Add beans, lime juice, and jalapeno if using. Cook and stir until hot and well combined. (4) Place a scoop over rice and serve with lime wedges if desired.

General Tso's Tofu

    A long time favorite Chinese food of mine (and many others I'm sure) is General Tso's Chicken. This is one of those foods that I get random cravings for sometimes and it doesn't go away until eat it. Because I am now vegan I decided to try making it with tofu- though I didn't expect it to be as good. Thankfully I was in for a wonderful surprise-it was quite delicious and satisfactory! 

General Tso's Tofu

-1 container of tofu (I used sprouted grain tofu from Trader Joe's)

-General Tso Sauce (also from trader Joe's)

-1 cup of brown rice

-1/2 bag of frozen broccoli (thawed)

-corn starch

-4 tbs olive oil

Directions:

(1)Heat the olive oil in a frying pan on medium heat until hot. (2) start cooking rice according to package (3) meanwhile slice the tofu into 1/4 inch think pieces and cover both sides of each piece with cornstarch. (4) Place the cornstarch covered tofu pieces in the frying pan and cook until brown and crispy on both sides. (5) add thawed broccoli, general tso sauce and rice. (6) mix until well combined.

White Bean Wrap with Spicy Roasted Tomatoes and Broccoli

    Christmas came with all it's meaty/cheesy/buttery offerings and to be honest I really wasn't tempted one little bit. I have continued to feel fantastic and energetic on this vegan diet and plan to stay on it. I do believe more thank are in order for my families who graciously adapted meals for me-I really appreciate it.
    This past week I was slowly getting back into the swing of things and managed to find some really good meals that didn't require a lot of time. Friday I made a meal that I modified from Martha Stewart's White Bean Salad With Spicy Roasted Tomatoes and Broccoli.

-1/2 bag frozen broccoli
-3 large garlic cloves (minced)
-2 tbs olive oil
-1/2 tsp salt
-1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced in half
-1 tbs oregano
-1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
-1 1/2 tsp brown spicy mustard
-1 tbs red wine vinegar
-1 tsp lime juice
-freshly ground pepper
-1 can of great northern white beans
-Whole wheat tortilla wraps

Directions:
(1)Heat the olive oil in a frying pan. (2) When the oil is hot, add the frozen broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and garlic. (3) When the broccoli, tomatoes and garlic are soft add the rest of the ingredients (minus the tortilla wraps). (4) cook until everything is well mixed and hot. (5) Place a large scoop in the center of a tortilla wrap and devour.

Christmas Passed

    A week ago today, Steven and I arrived back in Chicago after our 2 1/2  week stay in Pennsylvania. I always find it hardest to come home after Christmas because our time their is always full of so many activities, laughter, and warm memories (then I come home and throw a two day pity party because its all over).
    Our time their started with some Christmas tree decorating, followed by a trip to Candylane, and continued with party after party and copious amounts of food (as always). So here is a big THANK YOU once again to our parents for hosting us and feeding us and making our Christmas stay super fun and exciting!

    My family has been going to Candylane for quite few years now and it is always a fun experience. For those of you who have never been there it is Hershey's Chocolate amusement park. They open up some rides during the winter and have stands with hot chocolate and S'mores. They also have a little theater where they put on a Christmas show. We finish up the trip by walking over to the Chocolate factory to buy more chocolate than we need and eat it all on the way home-good times. Anyway, it's a fun experience and if you have never been, you should go! Unfortunately my family has become camera shy, so I don't have any pictures of everyone. BUT since Steven and I are vain and love to take pictures of ourselves, we sneaked away to the merry-go-round to snap a few pictures of ourselves upon our noble steeds.

      So to rewind a little further back (before we left), Steven and I went to Lincoln park zoo to enjoy one of the traditions we have made while living here in Chicago. Lincoln Park Zoo decorates all the trees with lights, put up all kinds of Christmas decorations, have light shows, ice sculptors, and you can even go inside to see some of the animals! It was kind of sad to go realizing that this would be our last year there, but we took lots of pictures to keep as memories. 

Here are a few: