...it was super yummy and no one at the picnic had ever had anything quite like it...
...all of the dteails for the FOUR recipes comprising this dish are at The Vegan Version
Monday, April 26, 2010
SALADE À LA D'ARGENSON
We've been having some lovely spring weather so - I spent some more time (and I really mean a lot of time) in the kitchen with Julia - making this lovely beet salad...
...it was super yummy and no one at the picnic had ever had anything quite like it...
...all of the dteails for the FOUR recipes comprising this dish are at The Vegan Version
...it was super yummy and no one at the picnic had ever had anything quite like it...
...all of the dteails for the FOUR recipes comprising this dish are at The Vegan Version
Sunday, April 25, 2010
I fixed the grill...
Our grill is 5 years old - and it was on it's last leg at the end of the summer last year - so we knew we needed to do something before the grillin' season this year...
...and being my frugal self - you know that I did not want to run out and by a shiny new one...
...so I went to the local Stuff Mart and bought one of those 'universal' grill kits...
... removed the old parts and dirtied up my counter with them - so that I could see how everything went together...
...then I just followed the instructions that came with the kit - it really wasn't difficult at all - all I needed was a screwdriver and a pair of pliers...
...then I popped the new one in place...
...tested it out - it worked perfectly on the first try - I was so glad - the booklet tells you how to adjust if your flames are not blue tinged with yellow - thankfully mine were...
...then I put the new little shield thingy on - and I was done - $35 and about an hour as opposed to who knows what for a new grill...there's grilled seitan on the menu for tonight...
...How about you? Do you feel all empowered if you fix something yourself - and go on with your 'Can-Do' attitude all day?...
...and being my frugal self - you know that I did not want to run out and by a shiny new one...
...so I went to the local Stuff Mart and bought one of those 'universal' grill kits...
... removed the old parts and dirtied up my counter with them - so that I could see how everything went together...
...then I just followed the instructions that came with the kit - it really wasn't difficult at all - all I needed was a screwdriver and a pair of pliers...
...then I popped the new one in place...
...tested it out - it worked perfectly on the first try - I was so glad - the booklet tells you how to adjust if your flames are not blue tinged with yellow - thankfully mine were...
...then I put the new little shield thingy on - and I was done - $35 and about an hour as opposed to who knows what for a new grill...there's grilled seitan on the menu for tonight...
...How about you? Do you feel all empowered if you fix something yourself - and go on with your 'Can-Do' attitude all day?...
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Black Soybeans / Soy Milk = Black Tofu
I feel like the narrator for Monty Python and that I should say "...and now for something completely different..." - except that it really wasn't that different at all - in flavour anyway...
...but it sure was in appearance...
...I had some Organic Black Soybeans that I wanted to use up - I had tried using them like black beans - but I never could get them remotely close to soft enough - so I had the brillant idea of just turning them into tofu - they ARE soybeans after all - and I make tofu all the time - right?...
...I made the milk - it was a sort of purplish/dark grey - and added the coagulant...
...checked the curds after about 15 minutes and they looked perfect - a much lighter grey though...weird...
...formed my block of tofu the regular way - and then baked the block with a little bit of olive oil - just like I always do...
...the baking process turned the tofu back to it's original black colour - neither of the boys wanted to eat it - and I'll spare you what the Man said it looked like - but I sprinkled mine with soy sauce (as always) and gnoshed away - I couldn't tell any difference in texture or flavour...
...I'm definitely going to use up the rest of the beans in this manner...and eat it by myself...
...but it sure was in appearance......I had some Organic Black Soybeans that I wanted to use up - I had tried using them like black beans - but I never could get them remotely close to soft enough - so I had the brillant idea of just turning them into tofu - they ARE soybeans after all - and I make tofu all the time - right?...
...I made the milk - it was a sort of purplish/dark grey - and added the coagulant...
...checked the curds after about 15 minutes and they looked perfect - a much lighter grey though...weird...
...formed my block of tofu the regular way - and then baked the block with a little bit of olive oil - just like I always do...
...the baking process turned the tofu back to it's original black colour - neither of the boys wanted to eat it - and I'll spare you what the Man said it looked like - but I sprinkled mine with soy sauce (as always) and gnoshed away - I couldn't tell any difference in texture or flavour...
...I'm definitely going to use up the rest of the beans in this manner...and eat it by myself...
Friday, April 23, 2010
Lutheran World Relief Quilt #3
Thanks so much for all the mask love yesterday - yes I slept very well - I don't even have any idea when the Man turned out the light - it definitely pays to be prepared - I'll be packing this for every trip - or maybe I'll make a second one and just keep it in my suitcase...
Now on to the quilt...
I know - we cheated a bit on this one as the entire center was a curtain - I love it though - it's so soft and pretty...
I've got 2 more Lutheran World Relief quilts ready to be bound and hopefully I'll be able to churn out a couple more before the May deadline - wish me luck...and time...
Now on to the quilt...
I know - we cheated a bit on this one as the entire center was a curtain - I love it though - it's so soft and pretty...
I've got 2 more Lutheran World Relief quilts ready to be bound and hopefully I'll be able to churn out a couple more before the May deadline - wish me luck...and time...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Nightie-Night - A Night-time Eye Covering Mask Tutorial
This picture was taken when I was packing for our recent trip to Jamestown - You see when a morning person (that would be me) travels with a night person (that would be the Man) - you have to take certain precautions...
We had a nice suite with a separate 'bedroom' - but Scout was sleeping on a pullout sofa in the 'living room' - so the Man couldn't really stay awake in there - so I knew I would need to be able to sleep with lights and tv on (maybe not tv - as he would probably be reading - but I had to be prepared just in case)...
...The Hearos are super soft little ear plugs that are comfortable enough to sleep in - but I needed some sort of shade for my eyes - to trick my brain into thinking it was dark - so I made a little pattern for a night-time eye cover...
...I cut it out of some of that same shiny black cloth that I used to line my Easter skirt...
...attached enough elastic to fit comfortably around my head - make sure you don't make it tight at all...
...Stitch around that and clip the curves...
...Turn it right side out...
...leave a little gap (about an inch) in the top for some nice soft stuffing...
...stuff with a little bit of pillow fluff - you really won't need very much...
...pat it down softly and smoosh it around until it is even - try it on and make sure it's comfortable and take out some stuffing if you've overstuffed it...
...then top-stitch around the mask...
...Sweet Dreams...
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Baseball Season - Oh Yeah!
Well...it's not quite baseball season...
...but Scout has definitely begun his spring training...
...see how brown everything still is here - our little jaunt to Jamestown - a mere hour and a half south was so much greener...patience...
PS - yep he caught that ball - the angle of the photo is deceiving - the ball was coming sideways...and into the glove...
...but Scout has definitely begun his spring training...
...see how brown everything still is here - our little jaunt to Jamestown - a mere hour and a half south was so much greener...patience...
PS - yep he caught that ball - the angle of the photo is deceiving - the ball was coming sideways...and into the glove...
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
ARTICHAUTS BRAISÈS À LA PROVENÇALE
I've been in the kitchen with Julia again...
...cooking up something delicious...
All the details are at The Vegan Version
...cooking up something delicious...
All the details are at The Vegan Version
Monday, April 19, 2010
Jamestown, ND, USA
...that's where we were this weekend - so yep - this is another one of those what we did this weekend posts...
...the Man was here - I'm sure that's all very good and important - but not my favorite place to be on a gorgeous spring Saturday...
...so Scout and I went here - that's Klaus Park - we've been here before - every three years synod assembly winds up in Jamestown...
...Oh no! I thought as we drove up - it's closed - those are sandbags - but no - you just drive in past the 'do not enter' sign and proceed up the one way path going the wrong way...
...that's quite a row of sandbags - I can only imagine the amount of work that went into that...
...we had our picnic lunch near this pile of extra sandbags - thankfully, I don't think Jamestown experienced much flooding this year...
...then there was lots of critter spotting...
...and some plant identification too - we think these are Asclepias - our specimen was not the best - funny looking little balloon shaped pods though...
...then there was some rock skimming - Scout's quite good at this - makes you want to whistle the Andy Griffith tune - eh...
...we love this little old fashioned bridge across the river - the first time we came here we parked at the end of a dead end street and walked across this bridge - enchanting...
...it's just fun to gaze into deep water...
...and watch all the swirls and eddies...
...we loved these old rickety steps that lead down to the water too...
...then we hopped on the ancient playground equipment - so much more fun somehow than the new-fangled plastic kind that makes your hair stand on end...
...and some tree climbing - this tree was perfect for climbing...
...then we went back to our hotel for some fun in the pool...
...so glad Scout is still 'little' enough for playing on slides - he really is getting very grown up...
...then we went back to the convention center to do a little shopping - several vendors and organizations set up booths on the balcony of the conference center - each year I buy a year's supply of my favorite chocolate here - it's Equal Exchange and you can buy it online here...
...and to meet the Man for the 'Milestones in Ministry' banquet - our congregation's 25th year - YAY!...
...the Man was here - I'm sure that's all very good and important - but not my favorite place to be on a gorgeous spring Saturday...
...so Scout and I went here - that's Klaus Park - we've been here before - every three years synod assembly winds up in Jamestown...
...Oh no! I thought as we drove up - it's closed - those are sandbags - but no - you just drive in past the 'do not enter' sign and proceed up the one way path going the wrong way...
...that's quite a row of sandbags - I can only imagine the amount of work that went into that...
...we had our picnic lunch near this pile of extra sandbags - thankfully, I don't think Jamestown experienced much flooding this year...
...then there was lots of critter spotting...
...and some plant identification too - we think these are Asclepias - our specimen was not the best - funny looking little balloon shaped pods though...
...then there was some rock skimming - Scout's quite good at this - makes you want to whistle the Andy Griffith tune - eh...
...we love this little old fashioned bridge across the river - the first time we came here we parked at the end of a dead end street and walked across this bridge - enchanting...
...it's just fun to gaze into deep water...
...and watch all the swirls and eddies...
...we loved these old rickety steps that lead down to the water too...
...then we hopped on the ancient playground equipment - so much more fun somehow than the new-fangled plastic kind that makes your hair stand on end...
...and some tree climbing - this tree was perfect for climbing...
...then we went back to our hotel for some fun in the pool...
...so glad Scout is still 'little' enough for playing on slides - he really is getting very grown up...
...then we went back to the convention center to do a little shopping - several vendors and organizations set up booths on the balcony of the conference center - each year I buy a year's supply of my favorite chocolate here - it's Equal Exchange and you can buy it online here...
...and to meet the Man for the 'Milestones in Ministry' banquet - our congregation's 25th year - YAY!...
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Sacha Slipper Soles
Remember a few weeks ago when I repaired my old blue slippers...
...I did the same re-knitting job on my old old Sacha Slippers...
...I wear slippers almost all the time at home (mostly to protect my handknit socks from wear) - and you know nothing lasts forever...
...but I fixed them...
...and then fixed them again...
...and now I've knit complete new soles for them - I just unraveled the soles up to the toe and re-knit them backwards back to the heel - picking up the side stitches as I went so there were no seams...
...I'm so glad to have these slippers back on my feet again...
...I did the same re-knitting job on my old old Sacha Slippers...
...I wear slippers almost all the time at home (mostly to protect my handknit socks from wear) - and you know nothing lasts forever...
...but I fixed them...
...and then fixed them again...
...and now I've knit complete new soles for them - I just unraveled the soles up to the toe and re-knit them backwards back to the heel - picking up the side stitches as I went so there were no seams...
...I'm so glad to have these slippers back on my feet again...
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Tater Tots
Tater Tots do appear to be vegan...
Ingredients List
POTATOES, VEGETABLE OIL (SUNFLOWER, COTTONSEED, SOYBEAN, AND/OR CANOLA), SALT, YELLOW CORN FLOUR, ONIONS, DEXTROSE, DISODIUM DIHYDROGEN PYROPHOSPHATE, NATURAL FLAVORING
...who knows what Disodium Dihydrogen Pyrophosphate is... wiki says it's a buffering and chelating agent, with many food and industrial uses. It is polyvalent, and acts as a Lewis base, so is effective at binding polyvalent cations...
...but I didn't have any - and we were having Tater Tot Hot Dish at a Church supper - you know how I like to make a vegan version of whatever they're having...
...so I grated up a potato...
...added a sprinkle of garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper - and about 2 Tablespoons of flour...
...then I smooshed that all together...
...and pinched up little balls and dropped them onto a hot griddle sprayed with a little olive oil...
...just fried them up - until they were nice and crispy and turned them over...
...and popped them on top of my little vegan casserole - consisting of:
Mixed veg
My homemade vegan mushroom soup
and some TVP crumbles soaked in some vegan beef bouillon
...that's it - it was really yummy - and my plate looked pretty much like everyone else's - except my veg still had some colour to it - hehe...
Ingredients List
POTATOES, VEGETABLE OIL (SUNFLOWER, COTTONSEED, SOYBEAN, AND/OR CANOLA), SALT, YELLOW CORN FLOUR, ONIONS, DEXTROSE, DISODIUM DIHYDROGEN PYROPHOSPHATE, NATURAL FLAVORING
...who knows what Disodium Dihydrogen Pyrophosphate is... wiki says it's a buffering and chelating agent, with many food and industrial uses. It is polyvalent, and acts as a Lewis base, so is effective at binding polyvalent cations...
...but I didn't have any - and we were having Tater Tot Hot Dish at a Church supper - you know how I like to make a vegan version of whatever they're having...
...so I grated up a potato...
...added a sprinkle of garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper - and about 2 Tablespoons of flour...
...then I smooshed that all together...
...and pinched up little balls and dropped them onto a hot griddle sprayed with a little olive oil...
...just fried them up - until they were nice and crispy and turned them over...
...and popped them on top of my little vegan casserole - consisting of:
Mixed veg
My homemade vegan mushroom soup
and some TVP crumbles soaked in some vegan beef bouillon
...that's it - it was really yummy - and my plate looked pretty much like everyone else's - except my veg still had some colour to it - hehe...
Friday, April 16, 2010
Spring = Tulips
What says SPRING more than tulips...
...these are my Mother-in-laws tulips in North Carolina - I really wanted to pick the lot of them and bring them back with me...sigh...but of course I didn't...
...Scout and I were amazed at how pretty they are inside...we're so used to seeing them in profile...but they are amazingly beautiful if you get up close and look inside...
...it's still a while before we have tulips here - but they are poking their green heads up out of the soil...
Happy Spring!
...these are my Mother-in-laws tulips in North Carolina - I really wanted to pick the lot of them and bring them back with me...sigh...but of course I didn't...
...Scout and I were amazed at how pretty they are inside...we're so used to seeing them in profile...but they are amazingly beautiful if you get up close and look inside...
...it's still a while before we have tulips here - but they are poking their green heads up out of the soil...
Happy Spring!
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