Nourishing the mind, body, and soul along the vegan highway.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

How do you start your day & how do you end it?

Planning a wedding is very stressful. I have been cooking, eating, and even taking pictures, but have not had the time or should I say energy to post. I am also back to work 3 days a week, 4 hours a day. I know it may not seem like much, but when you don't move very well and you have to leave for work an hour and a half before you need to be there, just to find a parking place, the day is long and tiring. So for your enjoyment :o)




"Breakfast of Champions"





Here we have Susan's fantastic "Mini Crustless Tofu Quiche", fresh mango's, blueberries, and hash browns. Our family loves these quiche. If you have not tried them, what are you waiting for? Go for it and you will never turn back. I added cooked broccoli to them this time and they were gone in a matter of minutes. I can't even explain how good they are and this is coming from someone who has always had a great dislike for eggs. Give them a shot. No eggs equals incredible yumminess! Here are 2 of the best salads I have had all summer.

"Quinoa Spring Salad"



The first one is Quinoa Spring Salad from Dreena in her book Viva la Vegan on page 71. She had suggestions of amounts and ingredients. I used 3/4 cup roasted red bell peppers, toasted pine nuts, and left out the parsley, cilantro, or basil because I did not have any. It calls for 3-4 Tablespoons of a simple vinaigrette. I once again looked to Dreena and used her simple dressing on pg 57. What a fantastic dish! I can't say enough about it. I took it to a dinner with the ladies from my church and it disappeared almost instantly. Poor Brandie, she was so sad when I showed her the crumbs that were left.

"Cowboy Coleslaw"


Salad #2 is Cowboy Coleslaw from Alanna. I of course had to fool around with the recipe and it was a hit. Thank you Alanna for sharing it with us. Here is my adapted version:

COWBOY COLESLAW
2 cups grated carrot
2 cup thin-sliced red cabbage
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1 apple, peeled and grated
2 tablespoons toasted sunflower seeds

DRESSING
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, white or red
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon agave nectar
salt and pepper to taste
Gently combine the cabbage, carrots, and apple. Whisk together the dressing and add to your salad mix. Add the toasted sunflower seeds just before serving.

"Dreena's Tofu-Lovin Sandwich"


Have any of you seen the August issue of VegNews? Dreena has a couple wonderful recipes in there. Potato-Spinach Salad with Pine Nut Dressing, which I have not yet made and Tofu-Lovin Sandwiches, which are wonderful. The tofu is lightly fried with balsamic vinegar and tamari and mixed with garden goodies. Here I had it on sprouted grain bread, corn on the cob, and broccoli. DH loved it and mixed it with his green salad the next day for lunch. This recipe is very light and refreshing on these hot summer days. Thank you, Dreena for another wonderful recipe.

"Veggie Pizza"


A good old stand by! "Veggie Pizza" cheeseless of course. I love the mixture of roasted veggies, pineapple, and olives. So, so, good! This is a wonderful way to eat your gifts from your garden! If you have never had a cheeseless pizza you don't know what you are missing.

"Bumbleberry Crumb Pie"


What a better way to end a post than with dessert. Julie has graciously asked me to test, yet another one of her soon to be famous pies for her upcoming book. Friends you won't be disappointed. The lovely pie is a mixture of different berries ( I added extra fresh blueberries), with a whole wheat and oat crumb mixture. The smell, the taste, the drooling, and the final product with a side of Soy Delicious Vanilla. Thank you, Julie!



18 comments:

Vegan_Noodle said...

Looks like lots of yummy food for being so busy! Hopefully going to work will get easier with time...

Those mini quiches are spectacular. I want to try a big version with a crust sometime soon. And you can't get much better than a quinoa salad. Yummy.

How's the wedding planning going? A month from today I get married and actually I feel like I'm in the eye of the storm so to speak. Quiet now but I fear in a week or two it could get crazy!! Good luck with all the planning and try to stay sane!

Anonymous said...

i enjoy the mini quiches a long time ago, maybe is time to do them again.

your food looks great, thanks for post that recipe.

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

my goodness, you can cook and bake ALL of this when you're busy?? I'm envious, haha - kudos to you for creating such lovely salads, pie, pizza, and Susan's mini quiches. everything looks so delicious!!

Kumudha said...

Wow! wonderful food!

MeloMeals said...

Wow, everything looks fabulous... I am going to make those mini quiches so I have something to grab and pack for a quick bfast when I start my job next week... and the quinoa salad.. I just LOVE quinoa so much... and peas .. I have to make that.

Michelle said...

i keep meaning to make those little quiches .. i should really do it this weekend! i keep hearing such good comments about them.

i can't ever get enough of that spring quinoa salad either!! YUM

aTxVegn said...

You know I'm loving all that colorful food! I need to make those quiches again soon. And I can't wait for Julie's book to come out. Everything you've tested looks fantastic.

Elizabeth Joy said...

Thank you so much for commenting on my blog! I had to come see yours, and I'm glad I did. I can eat so much of what you posted. I'm have a gluten intolerance and dairy sensitivity. But you even have quinoa salad which I can eat, and you have so many veggies. My husband had a heart attack last year. Surprise! And so we are even more careful what we eat. We have learned so much and are now trying to eat "food as grown" as much as possible, and avoid anything processed. That isn't easy. But I can already see so many good results in my husband. I hope you visit my blog often, because I know that everything that I cook, you'll be able to eat. ;)

Hope the wedding plans go well.

urban vegan said...

You are certainly eating well and healthily...such inspiring photos! Where do you get your energy? (From all that healthy chow?)

Judy said...

Wow, that pie looks delicious. What is with all the pies lately? I just may have to make one now!

Thanks for reminding me to make the quiche - maybe tomorrow!

And one last thing, I have to disagree with you on the cheese-less pizza. That is exactly the point at which me and veganism butt heads.

Tofu Mom (AKA Tofu-n-Sprouts) said...

Wow! Beautiful pictures and ideas!

I especially love the pie and the pizza. I made an eggplant pizza just tonight and thought how much I'd been missing in my "just cheese and all cheese" pizza days...

River said...

You have inspired me with the wonderful breakfast! I really will try the mini quiches very soon, and of course the quinoa salad, and time for another cheeseless pizza too! Thanks too for the lovely photos - everything, even your so-called disasters, looks wonderful! Clever (and busy) you! I am going to be visiting here much more often. Hugs.

laura k said...

I hope going back to work gets easier and easier for you, and I still am hoping for your back to get better. As for wedding planning--well, don't let it be TOO stressful! :) After all, a wedding should be a happy occasion, right?

YUM! All the food you made looks great... and with how busy you are on top of that, I am certainly impressed.

Peggy said...

Ooh, that all looks great! I have yet to make Susan's mini-quiches, but they do look yummy.

:D Your pizza looks like mine always does- piled high with veggies! that's the best. :)

Don't Get Mad, Get Vegan! said...

Everything looks amazing! I can't get enough of Susan's quiches either, and that quinoa salad....mmmmmm...can't believe i haven't tried it yet!

bluuuuuueberry pie.....oh yeah, that sounds scrumptious!

aTxVegn said...

Yummmm! Everything looks terrific! Thanks for pointing out that tofu salad in Veg News. I'm still on the quest for the best.

Kate said...

For a second I thought bumbleberry was a type of exotic berry i had been missing out on. The pie looks amazing as do all the rest of your wonderful food pictures!

aTxVegn said...

I'm getting worried about you since you haven't posted. Are you feeling bad or just crazy busy with wedding planning?