...1.22...Delicious Vegan Food we ate...

...I did a little bit of pantry clearing...and I found this box of french onion soup mix (out of date by about a year)...so I made a batch of my super simple tofu sour cream...

3/4 block of firm tofu
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbs. Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Tbs. Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp. lactic acid
1/4 tsp. nutritional yeast...and I just blend it in the Vitamix until completely smooth and creamy...

...and just stirred in a packet of the soup and dip mix...

...also on the counter are some rather crispy vegan marshmallows that I'll be using using up by making vegan smores...and a jar of dried apricots...

...I remember Mom serving this when I was little...so I asked her about it when we were chatting on the phone...and she said that she really only made it a couple of times...like for a Tupperware party...or to take up to Nanny's at Christmas...she had a pretty gold edged two tiered chip and dip bowl that she served it in...it was funny that I remembered it so fondly when it really only happened a couple of times...

...so I popped on one of my Daiso Japanese smiley face silicone covers and put it into the fridge...

...it turned out perfectly and we really enjoyed it as a snack...there's another packet of the mix in the box so I'll definitely be making it again...

...and then a fail...or something 'not' delicious...

...I added some of the kiwis that we'd gotten at Sissie's house in October...we still have a bunch in the fridge and we just set them out on the counter to ripen...and it was really oddly bitter...so I thought what's up with that...and of course turned to the interwebs for an answer...haha...

...and this is what I found out:

"Kiwi isn't great in yogurt because its natural enzyme, actinidain, breaks down milk proteins, causing yogurt to become bitter, watery, or curdled, and it also prevents gelatin from setting in dairy-based desserts. This enzyme is powerful and can make dairy dishes texturally unpleasant, but it's also why kiwi is used as a meat tenderizer"...who knew?...

...so I googled a little further...you know since my yogurt isn't dairy...and found..."Actinidin, the protein-digesting enzyme in kiwifruit, significantly breaks down soy protein and enhances its gastric digestion, helping to improve overall protein digestion and gut comfort, especially with hard-to-digest plant proteins. Studies show it helps digest soy, along with gluten, beef, and dairy proteins, making them more available for absorption and potentially reducing feelings of heaviness after protein-rich meals"...again...who knew?...

...so if you want to eat really bitter gritty vegan yogurt...it's apparently easier to digest with kiwi in it...hahahaha...I won't be adding kiwi to my yogurt again...

...what delicious food have you been eating lately?...

~Have a lovely day!