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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Don't Trust a Ho

Today dragged by.  Don't days always feel like that when you really spend the ENTIRE day procrastinating?  I woke up late, I waited for my husband to call..he didn't, so I got to the gym super late, today was weights and running, so I was there forever, and then I bought Shirataki noodles at the grocery store, and they weren't in the system, so I was there for way longer than I wanted to be, and then I was busy eating a box of Peanut Butter Puffins.  They're really good and I'll probably never buy them again because I ate the whole box.  If you have self restraint around things peanut butter, I highly recommend them.

Anyway, on to the food.  I had a tofu scramble for breakfast, the first time I've put nutritional yeast in it.  It didn't really change the taste that much, so I'll probably keep on doing it since its so damn good for you.  It was pretty much the same as my standard, but I did put the last of my spinach in it and used peppers instead of scallions.  

Dinner was for my family tonight.  I usually end up making dinner on Wednesdays.  I mentioned a few days ago that I got Vegan Fire and Spice by Robin Robertson out of the library a few days ago.  I just haven't had time to make anything out of it, and figured this was a good time.  Then I remembered that my mom doesn't like anything remotely spicy and my brother's tolerance is just slightly higher than hers.  Ooookay.  Well I picked a recipe that only had one chili pepper (I think it goes up to three), and then I completely changed it.  So much so, that the recipe deserves posting.  

The recipe it evolved from was called Red Beans and Rice Casserole.  So, let's call this a: 
Two Bean Quinoa Casserole.

     
The picture is lame because I thought I was going to have more leftover my my family ate almost all of it.  

Anyway, it goes like this: 
1 tbps olive oil
1 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup red pepper, chopped
1 poblano pepper, chopped

3 cups cooked quinoa
3/4 cup chickpeas
3/4 cup black-eyed peas (leftover from the Black-Eyed Pea and Quinoa Croquettes)
1 can diced tomatoes, drained

6.15 oz Mori-Nu Silken Tofu (half a package)
2 tbsp unsweetened soymilk
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika

salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat Oven to 375.  
2. Heat oil in a large skillet, add both peppers and onion, toss to coat, cover, let cook for 5 minutes.
3.  Add ingredients Mori-Nu through paprika to blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  
4.  Add tofu mixture, beans, tomatoes, quinoa, peppers, and onion to a large bowl, and mix until everything is coated.  Season to taste.  
5.  Put the mixture in a 2 1/2 quart baking dish, cover with foil, at bake for 25 minutes. 
5.  Take off foil, sprinkle with chili powder and cilantro (or parsley if you're a cilatro hater, its just to look pretty).  Return to oven for 5 minutes.  Serve.  

Serves 4.  
Nutrition Information:  364.4 Calories;  7.8g Total Fat;  0.8g Saturated Fat;  0.0mg Cholesterol;  61.9g Carbohydrates;  10.0g Fiber;  13.1g Protein.

My family really liked it, the tofu mixture made it so creamy and moist.  It was also my family's first experience with black-eyed peas.  About halfway through dinner, they started debating what kind of beans were in it, and the resulting conversation went something like this:

Brother:  "Black-eyed peas look weird"
Mom:  "Ooooooh...so that's why they're called black-eyed peas!  They have little black spots"
Me:  "Hahaha, you didn't notice when we had them last week?"
Brother:  "Don't trust a ho" 
Everyone:  "... ... ... " 

What?  Yeah, apparently, it made him think of The Black Eyed Peas, the band, and...that's what came out.  He's fun (that sounds sarcastic, but its not).  

We also had roasted cauliflower and carrots, sprinkled with salt, pepper, and cinnamon.  Excuse the ugly picture.    
  

Today's Cooking Song:  Norwegian Wood - The Beatles (my favorite Beatles' song, if you were wondering).  

I also wanted to add that, my day was so screwed up from waking up so late and getting back from the gym so late, that the entire box of cereal actually worked into my calories for the day.  Sheesh.  

11 comments:

  1. Yeah that box's serving size is way off! I only got about 4-5 servings but maybe that's because I snack on it all the time! Still...I only have a couple for a snack. I can't control myself around them either I ate 2 bowls today!

    How much nutritional yeast did you put in the scramble? I usually add 2 tbsp for one serving but that might be too much. I just love the flavor and it makes it really cheesy and delish!

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  2. I'm glad your family enjoyed the dinner. That was sweet of you to cook for them.

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  3. the quinoa seems yummy, ive never had nutritional yeast..what is it good for?

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  4. Your roasted veggies look good! I love puffins too by the way..! I agree they are dangerous! :)

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  5. Haha, Shelby, I'm glad someone else doesn't think there are 10 servings in that box. I used 1 1/2 tsp of nutritional yeast.

    Larisa, nutritional yeast is pretty popular among vegetarians and vegans because it has a really high concentration of B12 vitamins, and it also has a kind of cheesy taste. A lot of cheese sauces and things like that are made with nutritional yeast.

    Heather, thanks, but not as sweet as you think, hhaa...my mom hates to cook, so this is kind of my "rent".

    Thanks for the comment Juliet! My mom will only eat a couple of vegetables, and cauliflower is oddly one of them!

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  6. I'm ashamed to admit that I have never heard that Beatles song. oops.
    and yes, those Puffins are hella good!

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  7. i've seen other bloggers rave about this cereal, too. i honestly don't understand how manufacturer's make cereal servings. i used to eat fiber one all the time and i think there was 13 servings in it. i maybe got 4 days out of that cereal and then i bought more.

    i'm jealous that you're family lets you cook for them. my parents and sister won't go near my vegan food... even if it's something normal like a rice or vegetable dish haha

    ps- you received an award on my blog!! go get it, girl!

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  8. I totally know what you mean about the Puffins- I don't buy them anymore because I can eat a box a day too!

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  9. Spanish looks a lot like Portuguese! But Spanish uses a lot of different things like, "s" s and "h"s. I can't explain it very well but yeah, haha. I teach English and am seeing how difficult it can be for some people to learn it, it's a great learning experience for me as the teacher though!

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  10. um i totally understand the puffin situation
    mix them with vegan chocolate chips and you're done for.

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  11. Oooooh...with chocolate chips? Geez, I wouldn't stand a chance against that!! I'm glad that others at least share my weakness, they are SO delicious.

    Celine, that song has been my favorite since I got a flute music book from my uncle (I played the flute for about 9 months when I was 10 or 11)! Its on Rubber Soul :)

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