A tasty week

OK - I came up with my own vegan recipe that is out of this world. I wish I had taken a picture of it so you could see it, but I will try to describe it. It is basically a wrap using a whole wheat tortilla with some pretty yummy and attractive fillings. The main ingredient is a quinoa/chick pea dish made with the above 2 ingredients and vegetable broth, garlic, onions, seasonings and toasted almonds. The 'salad' ingredient is a coleslaw made with grated carrots, green cabbage and a dressing made of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, a little lemon juice and seasonings. The coleslaw should sit for a while to get the flavors to marry. So, to put this thing together - First - I heat up the tortilla in the microwave or fry it in a pan with a little olive oil (if you want to be a little decadent) then I heat up the quinoa mixture and melt a slice of vegan soy cheese with it and put it on 1/2 of the warm tortilla. I top that with the coleslaw (cold), then wrap it up. My favorite part is the next - I dip some of my bites in a little hot sauce! Wow - the explosion of the warm and cheesy filling with the cold and crunchy bite of the coleslaw, then the kick of the hot sauce! I am talking about a treat with no meat, people! Talk about delicious. And I am very proud of myself for putting these elements together in my own recipe. Becoming vegan has definitely given me a boost in the food creativity department. Just a plug for the hot sauce - it is a Susie's hot sauce limited edition - with Barack Obama on the label. The type I used is called Susie's Calypso made by Susie's Hot Sause in Antigua!!! I also made an apple pie with the freshly picked apples and it was soooooo delicious. This version has a spicier kick with not only cinnamon, but nutmeg and allspice. The crust has a heartier taste since I use whole wheat flour and truthfully, white flour tastes so bland to me now that I use more of the whole grains for everything. Hope you are eating well and thinking about eating good nutritious food. Becoming a vegan has made me a more conscious eater - it feels so good!

Apple Season

Man, I have been totally negligent with my blog lately. I guess it's because sometimes I have a lot to say and other times, my mind is quiet. Maybe it's because I have been posting on Facebook and I am expressing myself in sound bites so as not to bore all my friends? In any case, I will try to break out and go on a little for old time's sake. Last weekend, went to the local apple orchard to pick some Cortlands and Macs. The apple picking outing has been a Fall tradition in our family since I was a child. There is nothing to beat a wagon ride through the orchard watching the small new trees and the older ones laden down with the red apples. Off in the distance, one can see mountains, the valley and the vast sky - this orchard is on a hill. Being able to pick one's own fruit right off the tree is such a wonderful experience. I think the joy of this experience is spreading because it gets more and more crowded every year and last weekend was no exception. When I got the bounty home, of course, the first thing to do is to eat them. I ate a whole fresh apple and it was a little tart and very crunchy and juicy. I also made an apple crunch pie - this was a recipe they had on display at the orchard. Basically it is like an apple crisp in a pie plate, but with a much crispier sugary crust on it. Baking this with fresh apples resulted in the most luscious dessert. After my first piece, I found myself finding ways to even off all the edges. Even though I love the Fall with its crisp dry air days and the autumn bounty and vibrant colored flowers, there is always lurking the knowledge that summer is over and winter is coming. I must admit that the older I get, the more I dread winter. I used to cross country ski, but I took out my ankle in a biking wipeout and my shoulder (3 times) once in a biking accident and twice ice skating. These are 2 parts of the body essential for successful skiing and quite vulnerable if one hits an unexpected icy patch. So, my skis are in storage for now. I do still ice skate, but my favorite winter activity these days is staying inside (I do get on the treadmill to avoid complete slugdom). There is some pleasure in taking a walk on a sunny winter's day when the snow is glistening and the wind is low. Well, I guess that these are my thoughts for today - not very profound I admit, but just a day in the life.

The Harvest

Just went to the Regional Farmer's Market this morning and the produce and wonderful bounty from the farms and gardens - an incredible display. It is almost too overwhelming for me. In a way, it kind of makes me feel guilty because if I did what I should, I would buy lots of produce and can or freeze it for the winter months when the fresh stuff will be from somewhere else. I just can't seem to handle such a task and I am not sure what the reason/excuse is. In any case, everything that I bought was beautiful - from the peppers to the corn to the peaches and more. Not only do I have the Regional Market, but I have been getting some zucchini, tomatoes and basil from my own garden. Yesterday I made zucchini bread and it is obvious from the other 4 huge ones sitting on my kitchen counter that I had better make some more. The zucchini bread was made with egg substitute which I had never used before and I also added craisins and walnuts. I have never been much of a gardener, so actually being successful this year is quite exciting. Yesterday, I also bought a new bigger food processer to make some interesting fresh meals. Last night we had sweet potato fries and veggie burgers with toasted buns, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles. Hard to beat! Talking about great vegan food, I am definitely addicted right now to the waffles at the local vegan restaurant. I get it with fresh fruit and real maple syrup. If I could get away with eating it for every meal every day, I definitely would. Enjoy the bounty of this time of year.