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Posts Tagged ‘vegan’

  1. Thanksgiving Buffet

    November 23, 2014 by admin

    54952_cornicopia_mdWe love Thanksgiving!  It’s one of the most popular holidays at the TR household.  We count down to it, decorate for it, and just love it!

    Bluey has been talking for weeks about his plans to watch the Thanksgiving parade and we all love the relaxed pace of the day.  We sometimes watch a bunch of movies, or even a little bit of a football game.  We’ve been excitedly going through the grocery store, taking note of special food items here and there that would be perfect for our feasting.

    One thing that’s not perfect for us?  A big sit-down meal.

    We’re just not into it.  We love food and we love eating.  But we don’t like to force ourselves into a drawn out holiday sit-down meal.

    And here’s why:  we’ve done the big Thanksgiving traditional meal and found that it hampers our day.  A day that could be spent in fun and games, silly TV, and walks in the woods instead becomes a day wrapped around a tight schedule.  In order for all that food to come out at the same time for a formal family meal, it needs to be carefully timed out.  The day is spent prepping food instead of relaxing and connecting with family.  We’d rather be free to look at one another and declare: “Let’s go for a walk!” and not worry about whether that means the potatoes will be done in time.

    And then there’s the matter of satisfying everyones tastes.  Rather than cook up a bunch of food that might not be eaten due to the whims of some family members preferences, we like to present a food plan that leaves everyone happy without any worries about who’s eating what.

    We offer a Thanksgiving buffet.

    Our buffet includes all manners of foods: hot and cold; salty and sweet; filling and light.  We select a wide range of items like homemade bread, cheese and crackers, nuts, various unique dips, chips, salad fixings and a few holiday favorites like mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.  We bring everything out in waves, a few selections at a time, whenever we feel it’s time for something new.

    For our family, this plan leaves everyone well fed without anyone being stuck in the kitchen all day.  Our whole family is free to take up whatever activities we like without worries about getting home at a particular time, nor concerns about ‘spoiling your appetite’ before the big meal.  Everyone eats what they want, when they want, allowing us to enjoy our time as a family and appreciate what we have.

    And isn’t that the idea?

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  2. Holy Mole!

    November 20, 2014 by admin

    IMG_2505We only just started making this Mexican staple, but we are so glad we did!

    We use this sauce almost everyday to bring a bit of zing to all sorts of dishes.  We mix it in with pizza toppings, add it onto nacho platters, and mix it into other dishes like beans and rice.  And yes, it makes a great addition to chili as well.

    The whole recipe goes together in about twenty minutes and will keep for several weekends in your fridge.

    Here’s our version of this classic sauce, based around Guajilla peppers, which are easily found in grocery stores in our area:

    Ingredients:

    1 t Cumin Seeds

    1 t Coriander Seeds

    2 Guajilla Peppers, Dried

    2 Cloves Garlic, Chopped

    1 Cup Onion, Chopped

    2 Tomatoes, Peeled and Diced

    2 t Salt

    2 T Sugar

    2 T Oil

    1/4 Cup Water

    1/4 t Cayenne Pepper

    Process:

    1.  Toast the cumin and coriander in a dry pan for a minute or two.

    2.  Remove the stems from the dried guajillas and place in a spice grinder (we use an old coffee grinder for this purpose) along with the toasted seeds.

    3.  Pulse the onions, garlic, dried peppers and seeds, tomatoes and all other remaining ingredients in a food processor.

    4.  Add a bit more water if you’d like the sauce to be smoother.

    Enjoy!  Let us know how you use your mole!

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  3. Chili With TVP

    November 7, 2014 by admin

    IMG_8630There are probably as many recipes for chili as there are cooks.  Maybe more.  After all, with so many ways to enjoy chili, who could settle for having just one recipe?  Not us, certainly.

    We make chili almost once a week these days.  It makes a great dinner and can easily be packed off to lunch or reheated as a snack.  Mix it with rice or pasta, or serve with some home-made bread and you have a full meal.

    Our latest iteration is made with TVP- Textured Vegetable Protein.  TVP is a soy-based product that is sold as a dried item in the ‘natural foods’ sections of most supermarkets.  TVP gives this chili a heartiness that we like, especially on a cold day.

    Ingredients:

    1/3 Cup Dried Chick Peas

    1/3 Cup Dried Red Kidney Beans

    1/3 Cup Dried Great Northern Beans

    2 T Oil

    1 Onion, Diced

    2 Cloves Garlic, Diced

    1 T Cumin Seeds, Ground

    1 t Chili Powder

    1 T Vegetarian Bouillon

    1 Red Bell Pepper

    4 Cups Water

    1/2 Cup TVP

    2 Cups Diced Fresh Tomatoes

    1 t Tabasco Sauce

    Salt To Taste

    Process:

    1.  Boil beans to al dente.  (They will cook a little bit more in the chili, but not much.)  We like to cook them all in the same pot, but we give the chick peas a twenty minute head start, so they all finish at the same time.

    2.  Saute onion and garlic in the bottom of a stock pot until clear.

    3.  Add spices and bouillon.  Cook for a few minutes.

    4.  Add pepper and cook a few minutes.

    5. Add water and beans – bring to simmer.

    6.  Add TVP and cook ten minutes more.

    7.  Add tomatoes and Tabasco.  Cook five or ten minutes and taste to determine how much, if any, salt you want to add.  You can add more Tabasco or Chili powder if you like more heat.

    The whole recipe goes together very quickly.  The flavors will deepen if you let the chili simmer on the stove.  Enjoy!

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  4. Roasties!

    October 12, 2014 by admin

    IMG_8317As much as we enjoy mashed potatoes around the TR house, we also love to mix it up.  One of our favorite potato side dishes is Roasties, our family’s oven roasted version of a potato recipe.

    Everyone digs in when we make our Roasties, so we’re pretty sure you and your family will like them too!

    Ingredients:

    Potatoes- we average 1 fist-sized potato per person.

    IMG_8273Tip:  You can use white or red potatoes.  Or add in some sweet potatoes for a flavorful, healthful zing!

    2 T Oil

    1 T Salt

    1 t Pepper

    1 t Oregano

    1 T Paprika

    Process:

    1.  Peel and wash potatoes.  Cut into cubes- small cooks better and are easier to eat.  We aim for approximately 1/2″ cubes.

    2.  Toss potatoes in a large mixing bowl with  oil and spices.

    Tip2: You can easily change up the spice mix to suit your family’s taste.  Add 1 t of garlic powder, chili powder or cumin to give potatoes a little more bite.IMG_8285

    3.  Pour potatoes into oven safe baking dish.

    4.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes to an hour.

    IMG_8307Tip3:  Different variety of potatoes may take different baking times.  We check the potatoes for doneness at 30 minutes and then use 10 minute increments after that until they are cooked the way we like.

    Tip4:  If you need your Roasties quicker, try this: Before you toss with oil and spices, put the potatoes in a pot of water, and boil for five minutes and drain.  This par-cooking will speed the oven time dramatically.

    Next time you are making pizza, burgers, or really anything else that needs a fun starch side dish to go with it, try our easy and delicious Roasties!

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  5. Vegan Quinoa Burgers

    September 19, 2014 by admin

    IMG_2286There are so many different ways to make a veggie burger and we are always up for trying out a new one in our search for the elusive ‘perfect’ burger.  We recently tried a new recipe featuring white beans and quinoa and were quite pleased with the results.  Try it for yourself, and let us know what you think!

    Ingredients:

    1/2 Cup Dried White Beans

    1/2 Cup Quinoa

    1 Cup Water

    1 Small Onion

    1/2 Red Bell Pepper

    1/2 Cup Corn – frozen or cut off the cob.

    1 Small Clove Garlic

    1 t Oregano

    1 t Ground Cumin

    1/2 t Marjoram

    1/4 Cup Flour

    1 T Corn Starch

    1/3 Cup Water

     Tip:  Flour can be wheat flour, or any other type of flour you prefer.  Use bean or rice flour to make gluten-free vegan burger, if you like!

     

    Process:

    1.  Boil Beans for approximately 1 hour in 4 cups of water until soft.IMG_2284

    2.  Boil water, add quinoa.  Cook for five minutes, or until most of the water is absorbed.  Cover and turn off heat and set aside.

    3.  Fine dice Onion, pepper and garlic.  Saute over low heat along with corn, salt, pepper, oregano, cumin and marjoram.

    4.  Mash about 3/4 of the beans, along with the sauteed veggies in food processor or using an immersion blender.

    5.  Mix beans and veggies with finished quinoa.

    6.  Mix cornstarch and water thoroughly, and add to bean-veggie-qunioa mix, along with flour.

    7.  Form into 6-8 patties (Depending on the size) and bake on oiled sheet for ten minutes.

    8.  Flip burgers and cook ten minutes more.IMG_2285

    Enjoy with your favorite burger toppings on a great bun, or in your favorite wrap!

     

     

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  6. In Racine, Head for Z’s!

    September 12, 2014 by admin

    A recent trip to the Racine area left us hungry and ready for lunch.  Our pre-trip research had suggested a place named Z’s might be a good choice, so we pointed ourselves in the right direction and went to check it out.IMG_7443

    We’re glad we did!

    Z’s Grill and Custard is a Wisconsin custard stand with a few twists:  They are open all year round and they have way more than custard on their menu.

    IMG_7440Z’s opened a few years ago with a goal of transforming a seasonal custard stand into a year round restaurant.  But even though Z’s offers traditional local fare like burgers and dogs, they also incorporate the owners’ family favorites like hummus, tabbouleh and house-made soups and chili.

    What a delight to be able to walk into a place on the outskirts of a town and order a vegan wrap, or a grilled cheese on a fresh pita!  Everyone in the family found something they loved.

    We were impressed immediately by the friendly service.  The warm greeting we received was a fantastic start.  The Staff were happy to answer any questions.  They took care of us and made sure all our food was to our liking.

    Z’s prices are quite reasonable also.  Our total bill was right in line with our typical Saturday lunch bills.  Kids and adults were happily fed and we’re looking forward to stopping at Z’s again the next time we find ourselves in the area.

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  7. Backroad Bonus: MUGS, in Ripon, Wisconsin

    September 5, 2014 by admin

    Although we do have our list of go-to chains that have decent vegetarian/vegan options on their menus, we do so love to find new places that are off the beaten path and that might serve up a good meal.

    After several trips to the Ripon, Wisconsin area, we finally stumbled upon a good lunch stop downtown.429920_10150597134698106_1715193449_n

    Located just a few blocks off the Ripon College campus, MUGS is a coffee shop/ sandwich shop that fits the bill for our family.

    MUGS is a cozy place that is well suited for studying, or just settling in with good book or the daily crossword. From the number of large tables in the dining area, we imagine many Ripon students head to MUGS for study-time and group project planning. (We arrived prior to the start of fall semester, so there weren’t any crowds.)

    We loved seeing several vegetarian and vegan choices from grilled cheese to a delicious hummus veggie wrap. All this served up with great coffee and fresh-made chocolate milk. They also have Chocolate Shoppe ice cream on hand, along with a small number of desserts.

    The pricing fits the student budget too- which means it works well for our hungry family. Most sandwiches were under $5 and included a side of chips. Large coffees were around $2.  The friendly staff was helpful and accommodating.  They didn’t hesitate to modify their grilled cheese for our Bluey.  We could see ourselves as regulars if we lived in the area.  As it is, MUGS will be our go-to cafe when we are next in Ripon.

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  8. Begin The Vegan

    August 29, 2014 by admin

    IMG_2166TRMom has decided to embrace veganism. Vegetarian since around 15 years of age, she noticed that as an adult, her diet had deteriorated into convenience and junk. Wanting to make a step towards better health and realizing that structure and strictness were motivating factors for her, the vegan diet seemed an obvious direction.

    One of the most difficult aspects of this dietary transition has been figuring out road trip food. We are a family on the go! We usually pack a decent amount of snacks, and occasionally a picnic lunch. But just as often, we like to enjoy lunch out when exploring.

    The usual go-to Culvers veggie burger is not vegan. So what sort of choices are out there that would be friendly venues for our entire family? Thanks to the internet, we found two very helpful site links:

    http://urbantastebuds.com/43-vegan-chain-restaurant-menus-every-vegan-needs-know/

    http://www.peta.org/living/food/happy-cow/chain-restaurants/

    It was very interesting to see how many options exist! Now we can do just a quick bit of research, either before our trips or while on the road. And TRMom can enjoy something other than a sorry little side salad.

    This vegan thing just might stick!

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  9. Vegan Pizza

    August 1, 2014 by admin

    Occasionally we want to cut down on the amount of dairy products we consume.  Or we just crave a dinner that’s a little bit lighter than a full-on traditional pizza.  And we’re considering what it might mean for our family to go fully vegan- could we still have versions of our favorite foods?IMG_6955

    Well, pizza is one of our family’s faves.  This recipe proves that we can still have delicious, filling pizza prepared vegan.

    It’s simple and pretty quick to put together.

    First, you’ll need some dough.  Start this step a few hours before you plan to eat, so the dough has time to rise.  We recommend two hours.  But you can cut that by a lot (even less than an hour!) and it will still work out OK.

    Ingredients:

    1 1/2 Cups Flour

    1 T Sugar

    1 T Dry Yeast

    1 t Salt

    2/3 Cup Water

    6 t Olive Oil

    Process:

    Mix all ingredients together in a big bowl, cover and set aside for about 2 hours.

    Now, for the pizza toppings:

    Ingredients:

    1 Red Pepper

    1 Red Onion

    8 oz. Sliced Mushrooms (we used button)

    Small bunch of fresh Basil, chopped

    Salt & Pepper to Taste

    1 t Oregano

    1/4 to 1/2 Cup Your Favorite Marinara: homemade or a favorite store brand- you decide!

    Vegan Parmesan Cheese (we used Go Veggie!)

     

    Process:

    Saute veggies to help bring out flavors, about 5 minutes.  Use veggies from your garden if you can!

    IMG_6946Roll out/ toss dough into a round, about 14 inches across. Place on a pizza/cookie pan dusted with cornmeal.

    (Optional) Precook dough 5 minutes or so, at 350 degrees.  This can help keep the pizza from being too soggy in the middle once you add your toppings.  But it’s ok to skip this step.

    Spread marinara on pie, and finish off with sauteed veggies.  Sprinkle with a light topping of vegan parmesan.IMG_6945

    Bake 15 minutes at 350.

    Eat and enjoy!  There may just be something to this vegan thing.

     

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  10. Shoe Fly

    November 9, 2013 by admin

    IMG_3303

    As a vegetarian household, we avoid purchasing leather goods.  This is fairly easily achieved on most items- handbags, belts, gloves- all are available in a variety of non-leather materials.  But be watchful of decorative parts- these are sometimes leather or suede.

    Vegan shoes are a bit trickier, but still something we manage to acquire at a reasonable cost.  Many lower priced shoes look like leather, but are really synthetic.  Take a moment to look at the inside label.  Shoes are pretty clearly labeled with their materials.  Look for “all man-made materials” on the tag or stamped inside of the shoe.

    We’ve had good luck shopping for shoes at Payless, Target and Famous Footwear.  These chains feature a variety of inexpensive, non-leather shoes.  Even specialty shoes- like slip-resistant soles- can be found leather free!

    Tip:  You can look for shoes on the Payless website and have them shipped for free to your nearest Payless store.   But their shipment takes a year and a day to arrive, so allow for plenty of time!

    Cool brands like Dansko, Rocketdog, Dr.Martens, Mossimo and more offer shoes made without leather.  Don’t think you need to wear leather, or spend lots bucks, in order to have fun and funky shoes!

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