The VWaV Obsession Continues - Gluten Free Day 4

So, I don't know if it is a coincidence or not, but I noticed this morning that my skin has been a lot better.  I never had bad skin when I was younger, but since becoming vegan I've noticed a difference (in a bad way).  Possibly cutting out the gluten is helping? We'll see.

Today for lunch I made more from Vegan With A Vengeance, the Chickpea and Spinach curry, a really nice, mild, tomato based curry.  This was so very good.  Yum.  I topped it with some cashews.  It probably would have been even better if I had the mustard seeds that the recipes called for.  

Isa claims this is for 6 to 8 people, although I don't see how that is possible.  I calculated the nutrition facts for 6, and ate third of it (I halved the recipe), and I could definitely have eaten more, I doubt it would serve 8, unless it was just a side dish.

Nutrition Facts:  294.5 Calories;  9.6g Total Fat;  1.2g Saturated Fat;  0.0mg Cholesterol;  911.9mg Sodium;  44.2g Carbohydrates;  9.9g Fiber;  10.7g Protein

My brother came home from school right after this finished cooking, and said it smelled awesome...but then, most curry does, right?  

Today's Cooking Song:  Time Won't Let Me Go - The Bravery (they have some stuff on the radio, but the whole CD is pretty good)

I hope everyone else in blog land is having a good day.  I am about to pack my snacks and leave for my class tonight (dates and soynuts, if anyone was wondering).  I like Thursdays because I get to stop at the natural food store that is near school on the way home!    

Hey! I Won Something! - Gluten Free Day 3

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I made some stuffing to take part in Hannah's barley stuffing challenge.  

Lucky for me, I was the only one who decided to actually MAKE a barley stuffing, so guess what?  I won!  Yay!!  You have the privilege of viewing the recipe right here!  ABC Stuffing.  

Hehe.  Seriously though, I was super excited because not do I get the pleasure of winning, but I also get the pleasure of recieving a wonderful gift from Hannah in the mail yesterday!!

If you can't tell, it is a copy of the Everyday Dish cooking DVD with Julie Hasson, Dreena Burton, and Bryanna Clark Grogan!  Thank you so much Hannah, I really do appreciate it!  Not only because I get to watch a vegan cooking show on my own TV, but because it is chock full of recipes!  I am something of a cookbook hoarder, I love them.  

Obviously though, this is not in book form.  Just as I was prepared to sit down and watch this with pencil and paper in hand, I noticed a little note on the CD that said "Print Recipes from DVD-ROM drive".  Print?  Awesome!  

So because I'm really cool, I totally didn't format them all, print them out, and make my own little cookbook with them.  

Oh wait, I did.  

The first thing on my list is Dreena's Mint Melties.  Definitely.  I don't have any of these ladies' books, so this is really cool.  Thanks again Hannah!  

Now, I admit I have been on a little Vegan with A Vengeance kick lately.  I have ingredients for two other recipes all ready for tomorrow and Friday too.  Today we had Stewed Tofu and Potatoes in Miso Gravy.  

Nutrition Information:  386.1 Calories;  12.9g Total Fat;  1.7g Saturated Fat;  0.0mg Cholesterol;  874.5mg Sodium;  37.2g Carbohydrates;  5.1g Fiber;  16.1g Protein 

This was good, homey and warm.  My mom said it was the perfect meal you'd like to have on a snowy day.  I almost completely followed the recipe as given (for once), although I used barley miso instead of chickpea...I've never seen chickpea miso.  I also added kale.  

Anyone have any super awesome onion tricks?  Its usually not so bad, but I was literally in tears between the shallots and one very very large onion! 

I had a fabulous day at the gym today.  I started a new workout routine, I'm doing a body split for the first time in over two years, my routines are usually full body.  Today was chest day, then a 3 mile run.  It went really well, I'm feeling really good about it, which was great because I didn't love the last plan I did.     

Big thanks again to Hannah!  

Corn Fritters - Day One Gluten Free

Today is my first day attempting to be gluten free.  I'm also avoiding added sugars, but that isn't as difficult (for me) as gluten free.  Anyway, I've been reading "Quantum Wellness" and the gluten free, sugar free, animal free, alcohol free, caffeine free "cleanse" is one of the recommendations.  I am aiming for one week, the suggestion is three.  We'll see how it goes.        

So, I don't know if anyone else does this, but my family celebrates New Year's Day.  One of our staples is corn fritters.  My mom has been making them for years, everyone goes crazy for them, and they are totally not vegan.  So, while flipping through my copy of Vegan With A Vengeance today, I was excited to stop at the Fresh Corn Fritter recipe (but my corn was canned).  Then, I made them!

To make them gluten free, I substituted the all purpose flour with chickpea flour, and as far as I know, they came out just as delicious!  I also used agave instead of maple syrup.  They were nice slightly spicy from the jalapeno, plus nice and colorful from both the peppers, and a little tiny bit sweet.  I did not fry them.  I just cooked them in a griddle pan coated with cooking spray.  It probably took a good 5 minutes on the first side before I could flip them without them falling apart.  

The pictures is terrible.  I think I'm about done worrying about how the pictures come out, it seems futile.  But they were quite quite tasty!

   

Nutrition Information:  241.1 Calories;  4.8g Total Fat;  0.8g Saturated Fat;  0.0mg Cholesterol;  595.5mg Sodium;  40.8g Carbohydrates;  4.8g Fiber;  13.1g Protein

I split the recipe in half, so the nutrition information is for a half recipe.  I'll be eating the other half during my late-night class tomorrow.

The vegetables on the side are broccoli, kale, and carrots tossed in some red wine vinegar, which is my new obsession.  

If anyone has some great gluten free recipes or suggestions, I would loooove to hear them!!  Also feel free to call me out if anything is not gluten free, its just because I don't know any better, and I want to know better!  

Music:  How The Leopard Got Its Spots - Portugal.  The Man (<-really awesome song!)

Sparkly Snow, Chewy Cookies

I guess winter has arrived!  I can't remember the last time it snowed before Thanksgiving.  This is especially crazy considering I spent a year living in Hawaii with no snow at all.  But nevertheless, I woke up this morning to this:

If you look close, there is a bird on the feeder.

And I decided I needed to instate a new tradition:  First day of snow cookies.  

VeggieGirl blogged about the Sparkling Ginger Cookies from Vegan With a Vengeance, and upon seeing them I just HAD to make them.  I didn't have pretty sugar, so they aren't quite as sparkly...but they were still just as tasty!   

Delish!  I found that mug in the back of the cupboard, I apparently made it in 8th grade.

And yes, I even calculate the nutritional information for cookies:

Nutritional Information:  113.5 Calories;  4.6g Total Fat;  0.4g Saturated Fat;  0.0mg Cholesterol;  75.4,g Sodium;  17.8g Carbohydrates;  1.3g Fiber;  1.4g Protein

Today's CSotD is:  Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney

I have to cut this a little short because I am in class right now!  I know, bad bad!

Roasted Garlic Soup and Edamame Burgers

So, once a week I cook dinner for my family.  I tend to borrow recipes for these meals because I don't want to subject them to what may be a disaster.  

Tonight we had a completely borrowed, but nonetheless delicious dinner menu:  

White Bean and Roasted Garlic Soup

This is from Vegan with a Vengeance.  It involves lots of garlic...yum!  This was seriously delicious.  I am not kidding when I say I licked the blender, haha.  I had also never used fennel seeds before, and I love how they smelled like Italian sausage and peppers.  I never liked Italian sausage though, just how it smelled...my grandparents always used to get sausage and peppers when we went to the state fair.  You can't taste the fennel too much after you blend it though, but the soup is so delicious. 

I eliminated the oil and just sauteed the onion in a saucepan with cooking spray.  

Nutrition Information:  178.8 Calories;  0.6g Fat;  0.1g Saturated Fat;  0.1g Cholesterol;  520g Sodium;  34.2g Carbohydrates;  7.0g Fiber;  10.5g Protein

 

We also had Joni's Edamame Burgers

They were a challenge for me, mainly because I don't have a food processor (yet!  Christmas, hopefully).  Also, I used soy flour instead of chickpea flour, which ended up being fine, I just think I used a little too much.  I baked them, 15 minutes on one side, 10 on the other.  I'm not big on bread, but my family ate them mini whole wheat pitas. 

Nutrition Information:  212.8 Calories;  9.1g Fat; 1.6g Saturated Fat;  0.0mg Cholesterol;  110.5g Sodium;  21.1g Carbohydrates;  9.0g Fiber;  15.9g Protein

All in all, this was a great meal to end a not so great day.  My left eye has been swollen all day.  I took some Benadryl and I can open it now, but it's still really sore.  It also didn't water when my other eye did when chopping my onions...creepy!!  I'm hoping it will be better tomorrow because I skipped the gym this morning because of it.    

Today's Cooking Song of the Day:  Ocean Breathes Salty - Modest Mouse