J-E-L-L-O!

It's not just for omnivores and lazy vegetarians anymore!

Trader Joe's has started selling 2 flavors of vegan jello. My friend Anna Corbett informed me a couple weeks ago of this news and i think she more excited than i was or am. She was using expletives and many exclamation marks. What's strange was that i had *just* been dreaming about jello. Not literally. I had seen a commercial for Jello on tv and i was jealous of those people eating cool, wiggly boiled-horsehoove gelatin. 

Trader Joe's sells it in Black Cherry or Peach Mango flavors, both of which are delicious. I don't think i have a favorite, they both have their place in my world. I also found out that Food Fight! just started selling it. They sell it in an additional flavor, Orange, which doesn't really speak to me so i probably will never try it. They sell it individually for $0.83 (i think that's what i was charged, i think the tag said $0.85...i don't ask questions, i just hand over the money...) instead of the 4 packs at TJ's. 

This is the firmest vegan jello i've had. I have had vegan jello before at places like Todai Japanese sushi buffet. The Japanese use agar to make a jello type product. This jello product uses no agar, to my surprise. Only carrageenan, which will freak some people out. I've been told it's used to de-ice roads for airplanes. But you know what i gotta say to that? Salt is used too! Am i wrong? Should i be scared? Does someone know something i don't? I have heard people say they only drink soymilks without the stuff. Have you ever looked at soymilk labels? Almost all of them use carrageenan. 

Everything in moderation, right? Right?? Tell me i'm right...

Edited to say: I did know that carrageenan is derived from seaweed (thanks though, jeff!)

Stewed Prunes: It's not just for your Grandma

I went to an all-ladies night on Tuesday and our theme was old ladies. Many of my friends dressed the part. I didn't go home after work, didn't bring clothes to change into, and, if you know me, you know i don't "do" themes really. But i did bring old lady food. I made stewed prunes and cherries! My grandma made stewed prunes a few years ago and i happened to try them and love them. Prunes get such a bad rap, it's sad. Think of them as dried plums, it sounds better, doesn't it? I found a recipe online. Of course, my grandma didn't use port. I served this over ice cream (So Delicious Vanilla). It was good, but i think i liked my grandma's more actually. i'll have to ask her how she made hers. The recipe doesn't call for dried cherries, but i had read about some blogger who added it to her prunes and it sounded good. I think next time i'll cut the prunes in half before stewing. They're kind of big to eat all at once. Remember not to eat too many! They are tasty and you may overeat them. This is a dried fruit and they have a lot of fiber in them, meaning they'll make you poo.

Prunes Stewed in Port Wine
about 2-3 cups
1/2 pound dried prunes
1 clementine, sliced very thin
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup ruby port
2 tablespoons sugar (optional, to sweeten it up a bit)
Combine all the ingredients in a 2-quart saucepan. Add enough water to bring the liquid level just up over the prunes. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, over medium-low heat for about half an hour, or until the prunes are very soft. Add more water as it simmers, if necessary.

Serve over yogurt, ice cream, pudding, etc...

Pasta Della California

Last night i came home from work and decided to use up some veggies that needed using. I happened to have an avocado and immediately thought of Pasta Della California from Veganomicon. I had been wanting to try it and i looked it up to see if i had enough of the ingredients (since i finally will make something even if i don't have everything, i'll just do as i can) and i pretty much did. 

What i didn't have: white wine and arugula. What i had instead: kale stolen from roommate, crimini mushrooms and zucchini. oh, and pine nuts. i didn't replace the white wine with anything. I also did use as much veggie broth since i didn't use 3 cups of greens. This recipe uses 8 cloves of garlic and i love garlic so i left that as is. I normally wouldn't put avocado in a warm dish like this, but i liked it. I felt like i was still missing something, but i don't know what.....maybe Joanna's faux parm? It was good though and it was so healthy looking since i had spinach fettucine and with the broccoli and kale.....yeah, yum! There's some kick in it from red pepper flakes and i felt like it was just the right amount. I'll definitely make this one again. 

The Vegan's Hundred

First, I'm at Tiny's coffeeshop in the SE and they're playing music that is driving me freakin' batty! It's the crap that people call "music" where it's just a lot loud banging about. So. Annoying. That's not music, people, that's pounding on instruments incessantly!

Anyways...

Out in the blogosphere something called The Omnivore’s Hundred, a list of 100 foods that all omnivores should eat at some point in their lives, came about. Well, Hannah Kaminsky from Bittersweet liked the idea, but she changed it and calls it The Vegan’s Hundred instead! Everything here is either naturally free of animal products or can be veganized, and just like the original, these foods vary from the every day to extraordinary, delectable and disgusting. In her words "They’re simply all of the things that, in my opinion, any vegan foodie should definitely sink their teeth into at least once."

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

1) Copy this list into your own blog, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Post a comment here once you’ve finished and link your post back to this one.
5) Pass it on!

I don't know how to cross things out so i'll just write comments after each...

1. Natto- No freakin' way!
2. Green Smoothie- i think i've had one in the past
3. Tofu Scramble- oh, yes!
4. Haggis- i haven't had that yet. i saw it while in Scotland (the vegan kind), but didn't try it. i'll have to nab some from Food Fight! sometime
5. Mangosteen- nope, though i might have had some in tea form
6. Creme brulee- nope
7. Fondue- nope
8. Marmite/Vegemite- no, i haven't yet!
9. Borscht- i don't think so
10. Baba ghanoush- of course! Ya Hala's is the best!
11. Nachos- yes
12. Authentic soba noodles- yes
13. PB&J sandwich- well, of course!
14. Aloo gobi- i think
15. Taco from a street cart- Yay for Los Gordito's!
16. Boba Tea- bubble tea? yes
17. Black truffle- no
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes- yes
19. Gyoza- yes
20. Vanilla ice cream- yes
21. Heirloom tomatoes-yes
22. Fresh wild berries-yes
23. Ceviche- nope
24. Rice and beans- oh, yes
25. Knish- i think
26. Raw scotch bonnet pepper- no
27. Dulce de leche- i think
28. Caviar- no
29. Baklava- not since i went vegan
30. Pate- yes
31. Wasabi peas- i've tried but i dislike wasabi
32. Chowder in a sourdough bowl- nope
33. Mango lassi- not since i went vegan
34. Sauerkraut- oh, yes!!!
35. Root beer float- nope
36. Mulled cider- with Captain Morgan!
37. Scones with buttery spread and jam- yes!
38. Vodka jelly- no
39. Gumbo- no
40. Fast food french fries- yesssss!
41. Raw Brownies- yeah
42. Fresh Garbanzo Beans- no, not fresh
43. Dahl- yes
44. Homemade Soymilk- no
45. Wine from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more- ugh, no, i'm hard pressed to buy $12 wine
46. Stroopwafle- yes!
47. Samosas- yes
48. Vegetable Sushi- yes!
49. Glazed doughnut- oh, my, yes!
50. Seaweed- yes
51. Prickly pear- i don't think so
52. Umeboshi- yes
53. Tofurkey- yes
54. Sheese- yes
55. Cotton candy- yes
56. Gnocchi- yes
57. Piña colada- i think
58. Birch beer- yes
59. Scrapple- not the vegan kind, i should make that soon!
60. Carob chips- yeah, not a big fan
61. S’mores- S'mores cupcakes!
62. Soy curls- yes
63. Chickpea cutlets- yes
64. Curry- yes
65. Durian- i don't think so
66. Homemade Sausages- yes! mostly thanks to Jess!
67. Churros, elephant ears, or funnel cake- not since vegan
68. Smoked tofu- yes
69. Fried plantain- yes
70. Mochi-yes, yum!
71. Gazpacho- yes
72. Warm chocolate chip cookies- yes
73. Absinthe- no, i don't think so
74. Corn on the cob- yes
75. Whipped cream, straight from the can- yes
76. Pomegranate-yes
77. Fauxstess Cupcake- not yet
78. Mashed potatoes with gravy- yes
79. Jerky- yes
80. Croissants- yes, good old Pillsbury!
81. French onion soup- nope
82. Savory crepes- yes
83. Tings- yes
84. A meal at Candle 79- nope
85. Moussaka- yes
86. Sprouted grains or seeds- yes
87. Macaroni and “cheese”- yes!
88. Flowers- yes
89. Matzoh ball soup- yes
90. White chocolate- yes
91. Seitan- yes
92. Kimchi- nope
93. Butterscotch chips- not since vegan
94. Yellow watermelon- yes
95. Chili with chocolate- yes, thanks to Missionary!
96. Bagel and Tofutti- yes! Sweetpea has awesome bacon and scallion cream cheese!
97. Potato milk- no
98. Polenta- yes
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee- don't think so
100. Raw cookie dough- yeah

more mac n chz....

Because who doesn't like the comforting warmth and goodness of pasta with a cream sauce with veggies (to make you feel like you're eating something healthy) and a protein?? who, i ask??

I don't think I had tried the Road's End Organics brand before. I possibly may be lying. But if I am, it was years ago. I was at the People's Co-op shopping with my roommate when I saw the box that showed shell macaronis on it, and was, like, Must! Have! I really like shell pasta and you don't see it very often. I also picked up the new seitan in town, Cast Iron Seitan, made by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and her husband Justin. They sell it in bulk at People's (as well as local company Ota Tofu, Earth Balance and Tofutti Cream Cheese) for $6-something/lb. So as soon as I got home, I started sauteing up organic Oregon cremini mushrooms and diced seitan, steamed some organic broccoli and frozen organic peas, and boiled the pasta shells. 

Now, don't expect it to taste like the blue box of mac n cheese. It's not the same flavor. (though I'm sure if you add enough salt, it may. b/c y'all know that cheese isn't real cheese. it's crap. like Velveeta) But it's comforting and I really liked it. I ate up the leftovers the next day. So I would say it serves two, but who would want to share?   :o)

New Years Meal!

Every year for the past few years my family has made a particular meal for January 1st. I believe my sister started it. She found some recipe from one of Nava Atlas's cookbooks (the 5-Ingredient one) that has black eyed peas and greens and we found that we liked it a lot. We eat it every year with mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and some kind of fake brat/sausage.

I hope that 2009 will be a good year for me and for you too! Happy New Years! And definitely follow the link and try that greens recipe out!

ARCTIC! BLAST!

I'm supposed to be enjoying 70-80 degree weather at this exact moment in my hometown of Sarasota, Florida. But no. I'm stuck in the winter wonderland that is Portland, Oregon. We've been dealing with snowy weather for 2 weeks now and it's gotten pretty old. I'm over it. I don't see how people deal with this as part of their normal winter weather. I prefer rain. Rain doesn't delay/cancel flights. I was supposed to fly out Monday night but i had to reschedule and now i'm leaving Saturday morning. I was looking forward to Christmas at home and New Years in Portland, but fate had it planned differently. So i'm trying to roll with it. My mother is none-too-pleased and thinks i should make them give me a flight since that what i was paying for or at least a voucher. 

I don't know what i would be doing without my new rain/snow boots from Rocketdog. (which apparently were being sold for only $15 on that website....i paid a bit more for them...but not $89) I probably wouldn't leave the house as much for fear of my feet being cold and wet. They have a trim inside of some kind of brown furry material. I've been wearing them nonstop. Kinda like my new jacket that i got from Papaya. (i'm the one on the far right). It's quite warm for being only $35. 

I've been spending a lot of time at Sweetpea Baking Co. They have soup nowadays, which is great.  I like having "real" food to choose from. They were out of it since Jessie, their soup guy, went on vacation, but i did see they had it again yesterday. It was the Chik N Noodle kind. It has chunks of seitan in a broth with noodles. Tasty stuff. I just would like to mention again, out loud, that i would love Lisa forever if she decided to make biscuits and gravy a regular menu item. I love Hungry Tiger Too's version since it's only $4 and it's got faux sausage in it and the biscuits don't suck (::coughparadoxcafecough::), but the one time i had Lisa's version at a brunch, i was diggin' it. It's a nice southern white gravy with no heavy spices but pepper and her buscuits are light and fluffy. HT2 has a lot of herbs in it, which isn't what i look for, i just want a good ole southern sausage gravy.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! It doesn't feel like Christmas Eve to me. Probably because i'm not at my parent's house that's all decorated. I only remember once not being home for Christmas and that was the year i went to Germany. I'm not a huge family-gatherings person, but it's tradition for me. And i like tradition. I'm glad that i do have a lot of friends that are still in town. My roommate is leaving tomorrow evening so we'll be together for our first roommate Christmas.   :o)

Be safe, y'all. Curl up under the covers and watch While You Were Sleeping or some other nice Christmas movie.....heh....seriously, love that movie though....