One Lazy Recap

I've been super sick all week and busy at work, so I haven't had time to post any new recipes, although I have a few ready!

On Tuesday, I will be leaving for New Orleans. I can't wait to share my adventures in eating and drinking while visiting. Then it is Easter, so I'm going to have to create a delicious vegetarian meal for myself as my dad has informed me they will be serving rabbit, goat, lamb.... and lots of other food I do not eat.

I have SO much to do before I leave - clean my house, laundry, pack, make sure my doggy & kitteh are settled in their vacation spots while Mommy is on vacation... that I don't think I'll be able to do any real posts until after I return.

So, to hold you over until that time comes, I am going to write a non-recipe post and share the deliciousness and disaster that was last weekend.

My sister bought a new car, a very adorable Honda Fit. Her old car, a 1994 Ford Taurus wagon, was still in South Jersey. She drove up north Friday night because I was going to south early Saturday morning to pick up the car and drive it to my dad's shop. I had actually intended to take that car so I would no longer have to pay car payments or high insurance, saving some dollars and paying some debt, saving for Disney in September and generally not having to worry about these payments anymore.

The trip started with us running out of gas 2 minutes from our end destination. Melissa apparently has a problem with getting gas once the little light comes on warning you that you are about to run out of gas. But thankfully, her boyfriend saved us, and then we went to have breakfast at my favorite place, The Pop Shop in Collingswood, NJ! Check out their amazing menu here.

 Once we got there, Melissa (a vegan) and I found out that they now had a tofu scramble menu option, AND that you could turn any of their fabulous omelettes into a tofu scramble! It made our morning.

I got the Veggie Rollo: Jack cheese, avocado, vegetarian sausage, and salsa with a dollop of sour cream.

It was delicious! A little spicy though, I didn't realize they also added some hot peppers, but yummy all the same. They also have soy cheese options, but I went for the real thing. Though I don't cook with cheese myself, and I am trying to cut dairy out, it is a process!

Then I met up with some friends to see The Hunger Games. It was awesome.

Then we went back to Pop Shop for my round two!

Pop Shop has been on Bobby Flay Throwdown for their grilled cheese. I've tried quite a few on their menu, and my life goal is to maybe try them all, vegetarianized.

This time, I ordered the Everett: Cheddar cheese, balsamic portobello mushrooms, caramelized onions, and
spinach on crusty ciabatta.

I even got a soy ice cream shake to go - coconut flavored! I did not, however, take a picture because it was time to head back on the road!

Ready for my 2+ hour drive, I enjoyed my shake. Then, things started to go down hill. The car being a 1994, I knew it wasn't going to be a smooth ride. But my sister had made the drive in it for the past 6 months, so I figured I'd be okay.

Wrong.

All of a sudden, there was lots of smoke billowing out the back. Then out the front. And it smelled like fire. That is when I pulled into a shopping center only about 10 minutes from my house thankfully. I texted my location to my dad, got a phone call back, and then my phone died. Damn you, iPhone!



Then I waited and finally my dad came. Sunday I ended up having to call a tow truck and drive behind it to my dad's shop, wasting another perfect day. Although, I did spot a farmer's market and picked up some yummy produce for under $17.

Artichokes, Tomatillos, Strawberries, Baby Carrots, Oyster Mushrooms, Portobellos, Green beans, Arugula, Spinach, Ginger and an Onion!

What a crazy weekend. Now, I am looking forward to a lazy but exciting vacation in New Orleans!

Baked Tofu

Ingredients:
Tofu
Anything to smother it with!

Directions:
1. Squeeze all the moisture out of your tofu! I like to put it between a few paper towels and softly squeeze it. I've also read about putting it between paper towels with something heavy like a plate on top.
2. I then like to freeze it for a bit, just so it is hard enough to cut straight and firm it up
3. Slice it to the desired shape and thickness
4. Bake it! I had it on 400 degrees. I baked it for 25 minutes one side, flipped and baked for another 15. Bake it until it is a little golden and slightly dry
5. Smother it with your favorite sauce! I have tried buffalo mixed with veganaise and bbq. Both delish!
6. Eat your heart out!

Lazy tip: Bake a bunch plain ahead of time, add to a salad or stir fry, or serve with a sauce and your fave veggies!

Picture Post - My Try at Vegan Cupcakes



"Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World" Recipe for Vanilla Cupcakes in Vegetarian Times. I changed quite a few things so they didn't come out 100% delicious... but still yummy!



Chia seed gel as egg replacer

Strawberry icing - margarine, powdered sugar and strawberries!

Cosmo REALLY love them! He even took two of the cupcake wrappers out of the garbage and ate them.

Lazy tip: Follow directions exactly when it comes to baking, or the cupcakes will not come out exactly right!

Tofu Salad

Ingredients:
1/2 package tofu
Corn (I used canned)
Celery, chopped
Red Onion
Mushroom
Cilantro
Parsley
Lemon Juice
Scallion
Paprika
Buffalo Sauce
Veganaise
Dijon


Directions:
1. Process tofu, corn, red onion, buffalo sauce, veganaise, dijon, paprika, lemon juice to taste
2. Separately, chop celery, mushroom, scallion, parsley, and cilantro
3. Mix it all together
4. Serve alone or on your favorite bread!

I see a lot of blogs with "faux egg salad" or "faux chicken salad" which I'm sure are delicious, but what is the point of calling it these things that are not in it? This is a filling and tasty tofu salad to use for sandwiches! Delish!

Lazy tip: Though there are a lot of ingredients, it is quick to make and is an easy fix for work lunches!

Veggies & Noodles in an easy Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:
Veggies! I used 2 green squashes and 2 red peppers, as well as kale
Veggie Stock
Peanut Butter (I used natural, chunky)
Soy Sauce
Paprika
Chili Powder
Chinese Noodles

Directions:
1. Boil your noodles and rinse with cold water, set aside
2. Wash and chop your veggies
3. Put your kale and veggies into the veggie stock and cook until they are softer, but not mushy!
4. Add about 3 tbsp of peanut butter, soy sauce, paprika and chili powder to taste.
5. Add more veggie stock as needed to thin out the PB sauce
6. Mix with noodles
7. Eat your heart out!

Gluttony - jumped and grabbed the noodle paper off the counter and ate it because it tasted like noodles

Lazy tip: These noodles take only 3 minutes to  boil and are super yummy!

Black Bean & Eggplant Bake

Ingredients:
1 Eggplant
Small Can Black Beans
Red Onion
Mushrooms
Cabbage

Directions:
1. Prep your eggplant: Slice, sprinkle with salt, put in strainer & let excess water drip
2. Saute red onion, mushrooms, cabbage, black beans
3. Layer in baking dish- eggplant strips, mixture, eggplant strips, mixture etc.
4. Bake for 40 minutes
5. Eat your heart out!

Lazy Tip: Wash & strain your eggplant when you buy it... that way you have it on hand when you're ready to use it!

Chorizo Stuffed Mushroom & Zucchini

Ingredients:
Mushroom Caps (I used Portobello)
Zucchini (I had baby & regular size)
Soy Chorizo
Olive Oil

Directions:
1. Wash & Cut your veggies so they can be stuffed
2. Use what you've cut out - put into a bowl
3. Add soy chorizo, olive oil. Mix.
4. Place on baking sheet... stuff veggies
5. Bake at 350 for 25-40 minutes, depending on if you want crunchy or softer
6. Eat your heart out!

Lazy tip: So easy and short list of ingredients for a flavorful & healthy meal!