tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27055806295488816422011-09-28T14:42:58.215-04:00This is a blog written by a woman who is passionate about vegan food and even more passionate about eating it. Here you will find a collection of my family's favorite recipes . . . and some they can't stand.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.comBlogger861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-24711813593816163222010-05-31T11:43:00.014-04:002010-05-31T14:36:13.079-04:00

First off, I must give a very big THANKS!! to two very awesome fellow bloggers for the Sunshine Award they both gave me. Thank you VivaciousVegan, who writes Adventures of Veganism in Midwestern America and Chandra, whose blog is called Vegetarian Cyclist. If you haven't already done so, take a look at their blogs. They are most definitely worthwhile reading! And take a look at the nice

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-59177495141356681652010-05-03T18:04:00.005-04:002010-05-03T18:58:59.117-04:00

Every now and then I have gravy leftover so I freeze it. There's never much more than about 1-2 cups, but it's enough worth saving for things like Seitan Stew and my Leftover Potpie. And more oftentimes than not I have various leftover cooked veggies in the fridge at the end of the week. And when it's the beginning of the week and I'm starting from the top, I pull the frozen veggies out the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-36451724752890240322010-05-02T16:02:00.016-04:002010-05-02T20:01:12.526-04:00

Where the hell have I been? Funny you should ask. I have been here. All along. I've just been pre-occupied. Cooking is never far from the horizon. In fact, it is always in my kitchen, morning and night (I'm not here at noon Monday thru Friday). I just have a few other things in the oven, so to speak. I will continue to be cryptic because I have no idea where I will be venturing to next, if

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-55208103376466560352010-03-21T15:34:00.013-04:002010-03-21T18:21:42.293-04:00

A recent article in the Columbus Dispatch got me thinking about why I enjoy spending weekends cooking away in my kitchen. The article starts off with this sentence: Step away from stress and start cooking.This is probably the main reason I love cooking so much - I am stepping away from the stresses of the day and stepping into a world filled with smells and sounds that have the ability to

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-25700404479192837222010-03-21T11:31:00.009-04:002010-03-21T12:50:53.915-04:00

The Three Sisters method of planting: squash, beans, corn all interplanted in the same mounds, a Native American tradition. These crops grow harmoniously together, providing support, nutrients and shade where needed. This method of gardening has long since withstood the test of time both in the Native American gardens and in mine. Learn more about the Three Sisters method of planting here. If you

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-82574973840556215702010-03-14T14:44:00.009-04:002010-03-14T15:27:27.433-04:00

Spicy Tempeh and Broccoli Rabe with Rotelle (in my case, penne)This is a book I have had ever since the day it was released. Only recently have I started really cooking out of it. Soooo, it took me how long to do this?? Uh, three years. Wow. Well, in all fairness my reasons for not wanting to cook everything out of this book in the first month are valid. Most of the recipes have long names like

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-4657861376384039732010-03-07T15:04:00.005-05:002010-03-07T15:56:21.061-05:00

What are Dandies, anyway? Dandies are these very yummy, very expensive vegan marshmallows that I had to try made by Chicago Soydairy. I found them at Whole Foods yesterday and bought them on a whim. These things are ridiculously expensive; I paid $5.19 for a 10 oz. package. Definitely something I will not be purchasing often (I see this as a once a year thing, to be quite honest - probably only

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-39984914897235136722010-03-02T18:54:00.006-05:002010-03-02T20:02:23.676-05:00

Every weekend I like to experiment with something new. Whether I am reading through some of my favorite blogs (see side panel) or some of my favorite cookbooks (veg or omni - I love veganizing recipes), I am always finding something that looks so good I have to recreate it. Actually, I find more recipes than I could ever hope to recreate in even one year's time. I really need to stop looking for

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-31631905887807700732010-02-28T12:58:00.011-05:002010-02-28T15:33:28.755-05:00

This is preached to us every single day. Bring your own bags to the store. Recycle your plastic containers, your metal cans, newspapers, magazines and your batteries. Reuse it if it's not beyond all hope of saving. Over the years I have adopted all of these practices, trying to lighten my carbon footprint. Only recently, in the past year, have I begun reusing as much as possible. Recycling

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-50224968895779630412010-02-21T16:17:00.006-05:002010-02-21T17:25:15.862-05:00

One of my favorite kitchen appliances is the crockpot. I have five of them in various sizes. They all get a workout, too. I frequently pull out the larger ones and make vegetable stock and refried beans in them. This week I am going beyond stock and refritos. It's going to be a busy week for me, so coming home to dinner already made in the crockpot at the end of the day will be wonderful.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-53297935200387475352010-02-10T15:29:00.005-05:002010-02-10T15:58:29.395-05:00

This is a super-quick vegan version of jambalaya - literally made in under 30 minutes, perfect for a week night. Inspired by Rachael Ray (that woman is freaking annoying, but she really can rock a kitchen). Her recipe wasn't vegan, let alone vegetarian in any way. I took it, changed it and made it my own. Totally what you should do. It's vegan jambalaya, but with a fun name.I should mention that

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-75722477668086415112010-01-04T19:28:00.006-05:002010-01-04T20:30:56.237-05:00

This is the dish that made me love quinoa. It is Susan V's Quinoa Vegetable Paella. Oh. My. Goodness. It has to be one of my favorite meals. My daughter even likes it and she hates everything. I've made this a hundred times, I'm sure.I just wonder how it is that I hated it all those years? Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-whah) is a complete protein and contains more calcium than milk and is rich in iron.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-76157515010446158452010-01-03T19:14:00.003-05:002010-01-03T20:24:44.644-05:00

I thought it would be fun to try a new look, something a bit more sophisticated, a bit more subdued, a bit easier on my eyes. If I knew anything about computers at all I would design my own. But I don't. Nor do I have time. So this is what I'll work with. It's kind of fun.Tomorrow I go back to work. Ack. It's a necessary evil if I want to continue living in my house, swimming in my pool

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-69171052863390690832010-01-02T15:54:00.005-05:002010-01-02T16:52:05.541-05:00

I find nothing more comforting and delicious than a hot steaming bowl of barley. I love barley. It might be my favorite grain, next to millet. This recipe is so simple, only three ingredients. How could something so simple with so few ingredients taste so fabulous?A Word About GrainsSoak them for a few hours before cooking with them. I realize not everyone has the time to do this, especially if

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-69164262636380659352010-01-02T09:43:00.007-05:002010-01-02T11:10:48.754-05:00

It's been over a month since I posted last and then I only posted once when I actually promised to post multiple times. We all see how that turned out. I have lots of reasons for not following through with regular posting in this blog, none of them really good enough except for one. Ten years ago I started crocheting a blanket for my daughter, who was five at the time. I gave up on the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-34041667642012420462009-11-29T09:54:00.018-05:002009-11-29T11:37:39.459-05:00

Before I travel somewhere, I will seek out a vegan/vegetarian restaurant to eat at while I am there. As it happens, one day while I was at Barnes & Noble I picked up a copy of VegNews Magazine and in that copy was information on a variety of places to eat in Kyoto. I was so excited because I was getting ready to leave in a month for Japan on holiday. This was perfect. From the list, I chose Cafe

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-20259702154692238512009-11-25T18:58:00.005-05:002009-11-25T19:26:07.339-05:00

I have been away for a bit. After VeganMoFo, I was preparing for a two week trip to Japan, so all blogging was put on hold. I've been back for a few days now and I have a ton of photos to sort through, a cookbook review to do for Mylene and a million other things on my plate. We were photo-takin' fools while we were there - 1100 pictures we took! Plenty of food photos to share, too! Take a look.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-68750978571959848162009-10-29T19:27:00.006-04:002009-10-29T19:43:02.230-04:00

This morning I made pancakes, the recipe from VWAV, with chocolate chip smileys. They kind of look like jack-o-lanterns. Sweet. But flipping them was a bad idea. I'm not quite sure what I was thinking when I made them. The chocolate melts when it comes in contact with the hot skillet. Wait. It melts? When it hits the hot pan? What the hell? Doh. Well, they still tasted great anyway and I managed

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-54605056608301634852009-10-26T19:09:00.008-04:002009-10-26T19:44:13.718-04:00

I had to use my new bento set today so in the spirit of MoFo and my month of breakfast celebration, I felt that pancakes were in order. I roasted a couple of sugar pumpkins yesterday and set aside some of the puree for my favorite pumpkin pancakes and a smoothie.Today's bento contained coconut rice pudding (which I thought was perfect as my mid-morning snack), apples, roasted pumpkin seeds with

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-10713354092039926942009-10-25T16:26:00.015-04:002009-10-25T17:18:02.185-04:00

This has been a pretty freakin' fine day. My daughter may be sick and my husband may be jet lagged, but I am in my kitchen performing all kinds of experiments, creating meals and stocking up the freezer. I even have a new bento and carrying bag he brought home for me from Japan. I have to come up with a most awesome meal to eat out of it. A glass of wine helps this creative process. I am having

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-61757020666235357922009-10-25T10:23:00.005-04:002009-10-25T10:52:18.590-04:00

This is comfort food all the way. I miss the snow whiteness of dairy milk gravy, but my version tastes far superior than the stuff made with dairy. Biscuits and gravy was one of the first things I veganized because I can't live without it. Sometimes I add vegan sausage crumbles to it. YUM! And it just happens to be David's favorite breakfast. He didn't have a decent breakfast while he was gone

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-50462086403882704312009-10-24T18:55:00.008-04:002009-10-24T19:46:17.800-04:00

I haven't abandoned the breakfast theme. I'm just adding some other stuff since my photos on the other computer are most likely lost. Since my husband is home I wanted to make sure he had some good food (it's not easy finding vegetarian food in Japan) to eat when he got home. So I made this chili and cornbread. I've made this recipe lots of times before and my daughter hated it. Tonight, she

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-86378431125782507032009-10-24T09:15:00.014-04:002009-10-24T11:39:39.518-04:00

That old saying is so true. It's been quiet on my blog this week but far from quiet on the homefront. The desktop computer decided to crap out on me, so every photo I had taken for my blog entries for this week have been (and still are) inaccessible. In addition, my husband has been overseas for the last two weeks on business, leaving me with no way to get the desktop working again because I

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-8784405996791221352009-10-18T14:16:00.012-04:002009-10-18T15:47:08.956-04:00

I've had my Vita-Mix for over a year now and I still find it hard to believe that I have not used the dry-blend container to grind my own grains into flour until today. I always grind my own oat flour, but I use a KitchenAid coffee grinder that I bought years ago specifically for grinding grains and spices. The coffee grinder isn't especially great for grinding large amounts of grains at one time

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-23430725581782712402009-10-18T09:56:00.007-04:002009-10-18T10:47:29.388-04:00

I went to bed last night with a headache and woke up this morning with the same headache. I'm tired and beat down. David is out of town for three weeks (one week down, two to go) and I can't seem to keep up around the house. His departure leaves me a single parent with a teenager who seems to know everything while I know nothing. Not to mention I am not sleeping well. With everything that I have

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-88411483543754226262009-10-16T18:22:00.011-04:002009-10-16T19:34:40.407-04:00

Believe it or not, I don't always like sweet foods for breakfast, even though that's pretty much all I have been blogging about lately. In fact, on the days that I actually eat breakfast I usually have leftovers instead. Pizza. Chili. Burritos. Spaghetti. Tomato soup. Or beans on toast. Or, as in this case, Hannah's Spicy Adzuki Bean and Rice Spread. All three of us think that this spread is the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-9198285360376096532009-10-15T20:39:00.008-04:002009-10-15T21:22:23.916-04:00

One of my favorite cookbook authors is Jo Stepaniak. I only have six of her books, but I find that her recipes are simple and easy to make changes to if I desire. The Vegan Sourcebook was one of my first vegan books. As a new vegan, this guide was inspiring to me as well as informative. In this book she offers practical advice on veganism as a lifestyle, not only in diet which so many people

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-47435631032771446532009-10-13T18:04:00.014-04:002009-10-13T18:56:02.760-04:00

This is another steal from Claire who is the awesome author of Chez Cayenne. Claire and I have essentially been swapping recipes with each other for years on VegPeople (a most awesome online veg community), making modifications to each others recipes and turning them into our own. When she wrote about these fabulous muffins in her blog I couldn't wait to make them myself. Yesterday was a holiday

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-58856642508738167432009-10-12T17:20:00.006-04:002009-10-12T17:42:51.771-04:00

Kelsey has been bugging me for a week to make a vegetable lo mein. She likes how the noodles get chewy from being stir fried. And if making chewy stir fried noodles will get her to eat her vegetables, then so be it! I dove right into her request and whipped up something in less than 30 minutes. This was pretty easy because I prepare a lot of stir fries, sometimes with complicated sauces,

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-75990760786649603462009-10-12T12:25:00.006-04:002009-10-12T12:44:30.933-04:00

I have a granola recipe that I make on a regular basis, one that I never stray from. But I've been wanting to try making a peanut butter granola. Recently Claire over at Chez Cayenne made a granola recipe that sounded very intriguing. It has millet in it and tahini. I have never put millet in granola before. I love millet. It's probably my most favorite grain. I knew I had to give it a try. I

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-72401941729520216742009-10-11T10:50:00.012-04:002009-10-11T11:41:48.281-04:00

WARNING: These cinnamon rolls are not good for you! But they sure are tasty. It's not often that I make something so unhealthy and fattening, but it's vegan mofo, so what the hell. These were so freakin' awesome! Serve these up with a hot cup of coffee, tea or a glass of orange juice. I have a new mug I bought yesterday at the street fair, so of course I used it this morning to sip some of my

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-77392045949337140112009-10-10T15:55:00.009-04:002009-10-10T16:19:48.999-04:00

Saturday again. This time I was up early and gone all day because of the Street Fair in Yellow Springs. And no time to fix anything special for breakfast, so I through together a favorite of mine from Vegan Planet. Vegan Planet was my first vegan cookbook. It has not let me down yet. So many freakin good recipes in it, including the pumpkin smoothie I have made thousands of times over the years.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-52859474010094620032009-10-09T18:09:00.008-04:002009-10-09T18:35:29.143-04:00

When I actually do make breakfast through the week (aside from mofo month) this is what I make. I could eat this every single day. In fact, I have eaten every single day for an entire week before. It's quick and easy and uber good. This recipe is a cheater's version of one I found on the McDougall discussion board a long time ago. That one calls for whole oat groats to be cooked in the crockpot

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-85379325685113645362009-10-08T18:31:00.007-04:002009-10-08T18:53:51.927-04:00

Sometimes all I want is a bowl of cereal, but I not kids cereal like what I grew up on as a kid (Boo Berry, Cap'n Crunch, Sugar Smacks). I like something that doesn't make me feel guilty for eating it. I LOVE Yogi Granola Crisps!! I can't get enough of them. No preservatives, no artificial colors, no high fructose corn syrup (yay!) and GMO-free. Use your best choir voice to say this: Awesome!

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-12765066564200185612009-10-07T19:00:00.008-04:002009-10-07T19:17:56.195-04:00

I don't have time to make something like this Monday-Friday mornings, so it's usually something we have for dinner or a Sunday brunch. We had this tonight. Nothing like breakfast for dinner! Sometimes we have pancakes or french toast for dinner. Who says you can't have waffles at 6pm? This isn't a rocket science recipe. Just gather up your favorite ingredients and wrap them in a tortilla. This is

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-69461662055582202772009-10-06T17:21:00.009-04:002009-10-06T17:43:50.958-04:00

A veganmofo breakfast celebration isn't complete without my very favorite oatmeal waffles in the whole entire world. I found a recipe for oatmeal waffles on the internet something like 5 years ago. I replaced the banana the original recipe called for with applesauce (I really, really dislike anything with banana in it, except for banana chocolate chip bread once a year, and you will never see my

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-37803618229316583192009-10-05T19:43:00.008-04:002009-10-05T20:01:38.365-04:00

My beloved Vita-Mix. I thought I killed it yesterday. Fortunately, when you overload it with a double batch of hummus it automatically shuts off for about 20 minutes or so and then starts working again. Yay! I was able to use it this morning for my standard fruit-n-greens smoothie. When I make smoothies, this is the old standby, usually with a bowl of oats on the side, but this morning I realized

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-85124374717477002262009-10-04T11:44:00.009-04:002009-10-04T12:35:16.143-04:00

Years ago (and probably still today) my grandma made something called Swiss Potato Kugel that was laden with butter, eggs, cheese and sausage. At that time I loved it. I haven't had that in many, many years and just reading those four ingredients together in one dish makes my stomach do flip-flops. Thinking back, it was heavy and greasy. Gak.This morning I wanted a casserole that wasn't heavy but

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-73112950498928970442009-10-03T09:22:00.009-04:002009-10-03T09:40:47.686-04:00

You'd think on a Saturday morning I would have more time to make a "real" breakfast, but to be honest I am busier on Saturday's than I am any other day of the week. My Saturday mornings entail grocery shopping at usually three different stores, stopping at Costco for things like toilet paper, soap and various other things I need and don't need in bulk, and hitting up the farmers market and the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-45804544760230403322009-10-02T17:25:00.019-04:002009-10-02T17:59:08.235-04:00

I always knew it was going to be a good day when I got up on a Sunday morning and my mom was making buckwheat pancakes. They have been my favorite pancakes for as far back as I can remember. The problem with Mom's bucky flapjacks was that she made them from a box mix. I don't use package mixes. I refuse. Why bother with a prepackaged mix when you can easily make your own and for a fraction of the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-77490207136560663192009-10-01T19:09:00.012-04:002009-10-01T19:50:14.718-04:00

Breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. It is also the most skipped meal of the day. We often get up in the morning and rush right out of the house without a second thought. Or we grab a piece of toast and curse the coffee maker for not brewing fast enough. Wait. That's me. It is [almost] a daily occurrence in my house. Sunday is usually the day I prepare breakfast, if I bother with

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-44655638274885718972009-09-27T10:01:00.004-04:002009-09-27T10:16:37.093-04:00

It's coming up, that time of year when vegan food is celebrated all over the world wide web. This will be my first time participating and I am sooooo looking forward to it! As October draws nearer, I am brainstorming ideas right and left for what I will write about next month. The idea, craftily created by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, is to write as much as you can (like every single day!) about vegan

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-87827186049124292192009-09-26T14:57:00.013-04:002009-09-26T16:40:56.807-04:00

It's a chilly, rainy day and what better to do with my time than to make muffins to fill the freezer. I make my own soymilk and I don't like throwing away the leftover soybean pulp (okara). Since I don't make soymilk that often, I don't have mounds and mounds of it in the freezer, but I do have more than what I know what to do with usually. My favorite way to use it up is to use it in place of

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-56224606473538179162009-09-24T06:47:00.024-04:002009-09-24T18:12:40.069-04:00

When I first became vegan one of the first cookbooks I went out and bought was The McDougall Quick & Easy Cookbook. You see, Dr. McDougall is the person I credit for my veganism. I have rheumatoid arthritis and the low-fat plant-based diet is what he recommends for optimum health. Those with autoimmune diseases, like RA, see the some of the biggest changes in their bodies when they abandon animal

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-23423246589674188372009-09-21T18:59:00.005-04:002009-09-21T19:34:05.371-04:00

Sometimes I get smart and I write down what I did when I create a recipe. That's exactly what I did last night and I am so glad I did. These were the best baked apples I have ever tasted in my entire life. For real. You must make these.I scored a ton of locally grown apples at the farmers market Saturday and I was dying to do something spectacular with them, not just your everyday

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-32086751165530462592009-08-23T10:24:00.014-04:002009-08-23T11:37:22.210-04:00

I once read on a message board where someone made homemade vegetable stock and ended up disappointed with the results. This person stated it didn't taste good by itself and tasted too onion-y but was useable in other dishes where it wasn't a solo player. What a shame. This should not have happened. Your homemade vegetable stock should taste good all by itself. It should be something you can

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-81147411185477907832009-08-19T18:21:00.019-04:002009-08-19T19:30:57.620-04:00

I have borrowed the whole cookbook challenge theme from veganf, over at Disposable Aardvarks Inc. I've been stuck in a rut lately and this was the perfect inspiration for getting my butt out of that rut. I'm not sure how successful I would be at doing this on a weekly basis like she is doing (with four kids I'm not quite sure how she manages to have anytime for anything, let alone cookbook

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-35867244404121892902009-08-08T14:01:00.002-04:002009-08-08T14:04:22.650-04:00

I am irritated with how it NEVER gets the separation of the paragraphs right. I am irritated with how it ALWAYS creates a million spaces in between the paragraphs when I add pictures. And I am irritated with how I try to fix these problems and it doesn't work!Rant over . . . carry on.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-41378979001954408622009-08-08T12:52:00.014-04:002009-08-08T14:01:21.595-04:00

My daughter is growing up and one day will be going on dates on Friday nights. And then she'll be in college. And then she'll probably move out on her own. So I have started something new in our household so that we spend a little bit of time together and enjoy each other's company, talk and just have fun as a family. It's Movie and Pizza Fridays. We have a standing date with each other every

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-16896119546659691822009-07-26T18:37:00.018-04:002009-07-26T20:17:06.963-04:00

I was planning on having a garden again this year. Unfortunately, the decrease in my rheumatoid meds have prevented this, however, and so this summer I am relying on the local farmers market. Typically they don't have anything special, I never see heirloom varieties of anything at my local market and it's disappointing. I always grow what you see there. Since I am not growing much of anything (I

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-23138634184029222032009-07-12T12:46:00.034-04:002009-07-12T16:09:36.989-04:00

It's been nearly month since I blogged last. With everything going on at home (activities, family gatherings, my own health issues) blogging has been the last thing on my mind. In fact, I have only been turning on the computer about once a week. While it's nice to leave those extra responsibilities behind for a while (like moderating a veg website [sorry VegPeople!], checking email [sorry friends

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-8535137010524787572009-06-06T17:10:00.027-04:002009-06-06T18:18:08.817-04:00

This post today is mainly for David, who is currently sleeping in a hotel on the other side of the world. Since he's not able to be here today, Kelsey and I brought the camera along with us everywhere we went so that he doesn't feel like he missed out on anything. Here is how our day went, starting at 9am.Here is our Birthday Girl all ready to go. Here is Tiny after his Birthday Bath.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-76200730437796497012009-05-31T16:37:00.015-04:002009-05-31T17:13:23.512-04:00

Two posts in one day? No way! Two recipes in one post? You don't say! Well, since I am home alone right now, David in Japan and Kelsey off shopping it up at a mall with a friend (I guess she's too cool to hang out with Mom for an afternoon!), I had some time to play. I made my favorite Classic Mojito, minty, citrusy, sweet goodness, my favorite summertime drink. I grow a ton of mint just

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-59350572561250244402009-05-31T08:47:00.033-04:002009-05-31T09:32:32.850-04:00

This is something I throw together mainly in the summer when the veggies are fresh from the garden. These veggies didn't come from my garden, rather it's what I had in the fridge at the time. It is always a huge hit with David, who goes back for seconds and sometimes thirds, but Kelsey hates it. She picks through the vegetables and only takes the couscous and whatever side I happen to offer at

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-59380605058546541852009-05-24T11:32:00.026-04:002009-05-24T20:52:07.137-04:00

After reading a post in SusanV's blog that her blog, Fatfree Vegan Kitchen, had been chosen for the Tried & Tasted event that is being hosted by Holy Cow! this month, I couldn't wait to get started. She has so many fabulous recipes to choose from in her blog. The only problem I had was trying to chose which one I would recreate. My time this month has been extremely limited, so I had no idea when

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-12333164386662967692009-05-05T07:10:00.004-04:002009-05-05T07:14:11.058-04:00

For those of you who have ever asked me why I won't eat honey, please take a moment to read the entry at My Face Is On Fire. Thank you for sharing the article, M.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-58095365944269172152009-05-03T20:09:00.009-04:002009-05-03T20:57:05.350-04:00

This is a simple stir-fry with a simple sauce and fast, done in only 15 minutes. If you use rice that you prepared in advance, kept in the freezer, it will take only the 15 minutes. If you have to cook your rice, the white rice will obviously cook up faster, but brown rice is more nutritious and will take considerably longer. It will also only take 15 minutes if you use frozen stir fry veggies.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-56020727601249110032009-05-03T10:48:00.005-04:002009-05-03T12:10:49.068-04:00

With Anna's Potato Black Bean Burritos and a brand spankin new wok, that is. On a trip to The Great Indoors yesterday I found a gift set that included a Calphalon non-stick wok, heavy glass lid, spatula, cotton dish towel and a bottle of teriyaki sauce. Score! I had to have it. Imagine all of the yummy stir-fries I will make with it! Isn't it beautiful?I love it. I left the store with a giant

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-42783289097773208992009-04-26T09:24:00.021-04:002009-04-26T11:09:38.221-04:00

This was such a beautiful weekend we just had to go to Glen Helen Nature Preserve for a day of hiking. When we lived closer to The Glen, we were there almost every single weekend, hiking, biking, and of course picnicking. It is my favorite place to be. Glen Helen is located in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The Glen consists of 1000 acres and 25 miles of trails, a visitors center and a trailside museum

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-73216972221307263852009-04-20T18:52:00.008-04:002009-04-20T19:37:20.293-04:00

On Christmas Eve, I brought a delicious layered bean dip with tortilla chips to work so that I and my unit could have some for lunch. It was so yummy that everyone else at the agency came and ate it and I had no lunch. I was so hungry by the end of the day (and very grumpy because that's what happens to me when I am deprived of food), so David and Kelsey decided to make chili for me and have it

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-50116362136864505232009-04-14T18:30:00.007-04:002009-04-14T18:55:28.489-04:00

It's what I do when I'm lazy. And tired. And have no time. And easy is all I want. And it's probably the healthiest dinner I fix. There's no cooking involved unless you bake some pita chips or tortilla chips. It's just us two girls tonight, so we're just munching and chatting and will probably watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding for a hundredth time. On one plate I piled up some fruit and another

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-87762158191084507632009-04-11T19:13:00.017-04:002009-04-11T20:33:15.832-04:00

Today we made a special trip to the Spanish grocery so I could make a celebratory dinner just for me. Why just me? Yesterday my rheumatologist felt that I have been doing well enough to reduce my rheumatoid medication down by half. In eleven years this has never happened. Instead of my weekly Enbrel injections, I am going to every other week. I am hopeful and excited. I may have problems down the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-30303585605678708382009-04-05T10:40:00.011-04:002009-04-05T11:12:34.145-04:00

Sunday is the day I normally stock up the freezer with things like muffins, veggie burgers, vegetable stock, cooked rice, cooked beans . . . . etc. But with my cut finger, I don't really feel like it. I also have a mountain of laundry to do, hardwood floors to clean and bed sheets to change. And tonight for dinner we will be eating leftovers. Not a typical Sunday for me. So I leave you today with

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-37985649501370747362009-04-04T19:00:00.057-04:002009-04-04T20:16:06.211-04:00

At Kelsey's request I made injudra tonight for dinner. A lentil and rice dish. It is insanely delicious, but makes the house (and us) stink like onions something fierce. Ack. And it's such a simple dish, only a few ingredients. I've made it a dozen times. But tonight it wasn't so simple. Why? Read on.Let's start with this plate full of chopped onions. Great knife sitting beside that plate. It's

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-34890387425852635512009-03-29T10:01:00.019-04:002009-03-29T10:56:19.290-04:00

The other day a woman I work with came up to me with a recipe that she printed off of the Martha Stewart web site. I'm always leery when someone wants to give me a recipe. It is usually something I would have to adapt to make vegan or something that I would never eat even after adapting it. But this one did not need adapting to be vegan and is so extremely versatile, I couldn't wait to make it

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-30376801812979815262009-03-28T17:57:00.020-04:002009-03-28T19:55:24.295-04:00

Recently I tested recipes for a new cookbook that popular vegan/vegetarian cookbook author, Robin Robertson, is currently preparing for a Fall release called Vegan on the Cheap. Talk about exciting! A real live sneak preview! The recipes I got to test were fabulous. In fact, two of them have become a regular part of our mealtime rotation. One of those recipes is Mu-Shu Burritos. Sorry, no

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-4869653527824227462009-03-23T18:19:00.014-04:002009-03-23T18:53:46.161-04:00

Bean soup is another old standby because I can make it in the crockpot (one of my favorite kitchen appliances) while I am at work. Just fix it and forget it. And it's fat free. What used to be a recipe for congressional bean soup with ham hocks in it, has turned into the vegan Many Bean Soup. Aptly named because instead of using just white beans, I use a combination of different beans, like lima

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-54615015405298319542009-03-22T10:30:00.009-04:002009-03-22T10:54:40.009-04:00

My favorite kind of smoothie - delicious, healthy and brilliantly colored. I usually don't put bananas in smoothies but today I did. Big mistake. The first word out of David's mouth this morning when he tasted it was "Yuck." And then, "I DON'T like the banana in it." I told him it's the magic ingredient in the smoothie that will keep him from getting my cold and he should drink the whole thing

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-75630477274792088962009-03-15T16:02:00.023-04:002009-03-15T17:18:32.565-04:00

It's March and almost springtime in Ohio right now and it is time to start the seeds for the garden. I know spring is around the corner when my chives start poking up out of the ground. In fact, Tuesday is March 17, St. Patrick's Day, aka Pea Planting Day. Some people go out and drink green beer on St. Patty's Day, but I go out and plant peas. Why? My grandma told me to. I don't know why she

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-14275219599968107182009-03-14T18:11:00.007-04:002009-03-14T20:12:34.652-04:00

One of our favorite meals is spaghetti with marinara. If I can find a good meatless meatball, that makes it even better. I don't like many meatless meatballs because they tend to fall apart. The last recipe I made (one that I have made a thousand times since reviewing the book) is from La Dolce Vegan, a cookbook by Sarah Kramer. But tonight I decided to try something new. Vegan Dad's Italian

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-83440743994900053502009-03-08T20:09:00.009-04:002009-03-08T20:19:40.768-04:00

I make this about once a month. I have it with lunches and dinner. I've been known to eat it for breakfast. It's great with pasta stirred into it, which is what I'll probably do for tomorrow night's dinner. I totally swiped this recipe from the back of a can of Goya chickpeas. Their recipe calls for only one can of chickpeas. I doubled the recipe so I could add kidney beans.Bean Salad1 15-ounce

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-4513907976284272552009-03-08T11:01:00.013-04:002009-03-08T11:34:23.792-04:00

Sunday morning is the only morning when I actually make a full breakfast and because it's usually late when I get started, it's really brunch. Things like pancakes, waffles, fruit crisps, fresh fruit, scrambled tofu and home fries usually adorn the Sunday morning table when my family gets out of bed. Because I completely forgot about daylight savings time until late this morning, it was really

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-1679904987131456982009-03-05T19:08:00.019-05:002009-03-06T20:13:52.015-05:00

AKA Kelsey's favorite noodle dish. A special request was put in tonight after dinner and it is that I please, please, please double the recipe next time so we all can have seconds and leftovers for lunch the next day.Soba noodles are probably my favorite noodle so I use them in this dish, but you can use whatever noodle you want. Don't limit yourself. There is a trick to cooking buckwheat noodles

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-41486938789395376812009-03-01T15:43:00.010-05:002009-03-02T07:27:53.134-05:00

There is a certain amount of skill and coordination to making the corn tortilla. With enough practice and patience the perfect corn tortilla can be made. I haven't made the perfect corn tortilla yet, but I get closer every time I make them. You have to have two skillets on the stove and maintain their heat without them getting too hot. The tortillas have to be watched every second they are

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-68484297941729960242009-03-01T09:21:00.005-05:002009-03-06T17:22:11.234-05:00

We love our morning smoothies. Kelsey's fever seems to have run for the hills and I wanted to start the day off right. I put ginger in almost all of our smoothies and today is no exception. In fact, including it in this morning's smoothie was a must. It is pungent and peppery and according to The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia written by Rebecca Wood, ginger helps to relieve the symptoms of the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-53403420113849461602009-02-27T18:24:00.007-05:002009-02-27T19:05:32.658-05:00

Kelsey is a persnickety eater and always has been, so I created this kid-friendly soup one afternoon when she was sick, knowing it had to be simple, without a lot of ingredients. The simpler, the better. And it can be done in under 30 minutes. She's sick again and this is what I made her. Her favorite way to eat her sicky soup is in huge mug.I usually use my own homemade vegetable broth when

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-25549683125508785552009-02-22T09:52:00.006-05:002009-02-22T10:42:33.392-05:00

There's nothing like the smell of gingerbread baking in the oven. Cinnamon, ginger, cloves . . . . mmmmmmm. It makes the house smell like Christmas. I've taken a classic scone recipe from The Chicago Diner Cookbook and took it to another level. The ingredients are something everyone has in their pantry and it takes no time at all to put together. I use my own homemade non-dairy milk (soy/oat/

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-84209495269219380682009-02-21T19:13:00.012-05:002009-02-22T09:05:18.754-05:00

Behold the Fiesta Station. It has got to be the corniest thing I own. But we love it and a Tex-Mex meal isn't complete without it. Last night was Tex-Mex Madness Night and it is almost always served in the Fiesta Station. Have you ever seen the movie Hancock with Will Smith? They had spaghetti madness night in the movie. That's where Tex-Mex Madness came from. Tex-Mex Madness is simply dinner

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-34550008382267710452009-02-19T18:27:00.011-05:002009-02-19T20:41:10.301-05:00

This soup is one of my fallbacks. I make it at least 2-3 times a month. It's fast, easy, fat-free and (the best part) the whole family likes it, including the picky teenager. Serve the soup with a salad and some crusty homemade bread to round out the meal. I adapted the recipe from The McDougall Quick & Easy Cookbook by John A. McDougall, M.D. and Mary McDougall and I have made a few minor

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-7705455058891426742009-02-16T14:17:00.019-05:002009-02-16T19:55:58.835-05:00

It's true. It's what my bento bag says and I believe it. Besides, I get really grumpy when I am hungry and when I am grumpy no one is happy. So what the bag says is true. Your lunchbox says a lot about you and I am a firm believer that if you carry your lunch to work in a plastic grocery sack, your lunch will taste just as good as the bag looks - like crap. If you carry your lunch in a fun and

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-28838904763173719202009-02-15T12:23:00.010-05:002009-02-15T13:56:41.389-05:00

We're not celebrators of Valentine's Day, but I do like to cook special meals for so-called holidays. My classic lasagna with roasted asparagus is one such meal and it's what I fixed up for our Valentine's Day Dinner. There are a lot of versions out there, but mine is my favorite. Obviously. Kelsey is not a fan of lasagna but she does love asparagus so I made sure to have extra just for her. Heck

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-38271767492863934152009-02-08T17:38:00.006-05:002009-02-08T19:43:34.823-05:00

Vegetable soup is a no-brainer soup to make and today I was short on time. My mother-in-law and two of her sisters were here to do their taxes and being the gracious hostess that I am, I wanted to make sure no one left here hungry, so I threw together my favorite vegetable soup. Served up with a loaf of crusty, homemade bread you've got a tasty lunch. My mother-in-law proclaimed it to be the best

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-81707925629597350462009-02-07T14:47:00.017-05:002009-02-07T17:29:10.095-05:00

I love bubble tea. There's nothing like sipping a sweet, fruity tea through a big, fat straw and getting some black, chewy globs of tapioca with it.Well, the description doesn't do it justice. Neither does the photo of a bowl full of black tapioca pearls. But it really is a fun and tasty drink, especially in the summer when you're walking around Chinatown. Bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-86839254772469940582009-02-01T09:49:00.022-05:002009-02-01T14:36:37.597-05:00

The previous post was a little lackluster and because I am computer challenged I need a lot of practice, so you're likely to see two blog entries from me today. And, surprise! I am not a photographer. I know that both of these statements are not new revelations to anyone who knows me or has taken one glance at my blog. But I am a darn good cook and this is also not brand new information to those

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-66478318109254884012009-01-28T19:14:00.008-05:002009-01-29T06:29:36.833-05:00

It snowed Tuesday and Wednesday. After going outside twice to shovel snow (my time totalling nearly 4 hours), I was beat. And because my husband injured is back during the super-fun snow shoveling follies, I got to do 95 percent of it all on my own. Shoveling a 300ft driveway is not my idea of fun. Why oh why didn't we build the house 3 feet from the road? There's a reason why I don't live in

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705580629548881642.post-57684009635767743622009-01-25T15:07:00.015-05:002009-03-26T17:56:39.303-04:00

Why a food blog? Why not? Everyone else has one so why shouldn't I? I love to cook good vegan eats and I love to eat what I cook. I love to feed people. I am the mother of a teenager, the wife of a handsome, hardworking guy and the caregiver of a geriatric chihuahua. I work full-time outside of the home and this is what drives me to cook good, healthy food in short order. This full-time job also

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496621831377369611noreply@blogger.com0