Chewer and angels

He moved when I was taking the picture... Grr. It was so cute, too.


Finn playing with his bone. He has a heart on his chest.



Finn chasing his tail.

So far, everything with the puppy has been going really well. Finn already sits and stays, and he does not make too many messes in the house as long as I'm diligent about taking him outside. I can tell he is going to be a chewer, though. He just got a hold of the computer cord!

In three weeks, I am going to take the semester exams (I am not looking forward to them...) and then I get a lovely, long winter break... Hmm, that reminds me, I need to start my Christmas shopping and find gifts for my Angel in Need. This year, I picked a three year old girl named Lyvia. All she asked for is clothes... I chose her because the rest of the kids only asked for play station 2's and other expensive toys. Lyvia seemed like she truly was in need of a little help. It's going to be pretty fun picking out a few little outfits and some toys!

Finnegan

Yesterday my brother and I went to pick up our new Irish Wolfhound whom we named Finnegan (Finn for short). After waiting a few hours, we finally were able to take him home from the airport.



At first on the way home in the car, he hardly stopped whining (but he was really friendly! He managed to land a few wet kisses on my cheek). I had to distract him with my half-eaten apple. To my relief (I had a horrible headache), he then went to sleep and I was able to stroke and look him over, and take a nap myself.



I went to sleep early last night do to my headache, but I could tell he is going to be a very happy dog. He doesn't seem like he is afraid of anything and he's very responsive! When someone speaks to him, he perks up and wags his tail, and will even come running if you call him. He's so cute!



His paws are so large, which probably means he is going to be a very big dog. His beautiful father stands over seven feet tall on his hind legs and weighs 180lbs... Mom's not too excited. She loves Finn but whined, "Why don't they make Irish Wolfhounds in Miniature Schnauzer size?" I laughed. That would kind of defeat the purpose, now wouldn't it?

First snow on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. A time for laughter, smiles, good food, and a great time. Or not.

This was probably the worst Thanksgiving I've ever had... My mother broke down crying in the middle of dinner due the fact I would not eat everything that was prepared that day... Oh well. Hopefully next year will go better. Actually, my next hurdle is Christmas, but I don't want to think about that just yet.

Anyway, here are the pictures and recipes of what I made:



Quinoa, Pumpkin, and Squash

3/4-1 cup Quinoa
1/2-1 Small Pumpkin
1 Acorn Squash
1 Pomegranate, seeded
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2ish teaspoon Nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon Cloves
Walnuts, sliced (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Slice the acorn squash and pumpkin in half and gut. Spray a baking pan with Pam and place the squash and pumpkin slices face down. Place in preheated oven and bake for approx. 30-45 minutes or until the skin on the outside of the squash is soft.

Start cooking quinoa according to package instructions with the cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Remove the squash and pumpkin from the oven (keep oven on 350°F) and scoop out the flesh into separate bowls. Mash both with a potato masher, and mix the onion with the pumpkin.

Spray another pan with Pam. Spread the pumpkin mixture in the bottom of the pan and cover with the cooked quinoa, pushing everything flat. Sprinkle the minced garlic over the quinoa, and cover it with the mashed squash. Top it off with the pomegranate seeds (use more if you like pomegranate, less if you don't) and the sliced walnuts if desired. Cover with foil and bake for 1/2 hour covered and 1/2 hour uncovered.



Vegan Green Bean Casserole

1.5 cups Soy Milk
2 cans green beans
French's onions or homemade fried onions
2-3 TB Corn Starch
2-3 TB Cold water
1/2 medium onion
1 Carrot
1 cup Mushrooms, chopped
1/2 teaspoon of Salt, Pepper, Basil, Oregano, Marjoram, and Thyme
3 cloves Garlic

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Heat the soy milk (do not boil!). Saute the onions, carrots, and mushrooms (you can use oil or water) in a separate pot or pan. Add the salt, pepper, and other spices/herbs.

In a small bowl, mix the corn starch and cold water. Mix well and pour into heated soy milk. Make sure to stir well because this will congulate fairly quickly. Add the green beans, sauteed veggies, and some fried onions (you decide how much to put in). Coat veggies well. Pour the mixture into a casserole dish and top with more onions. Cover with foil and bake for 10 to 20 minutes.



Delicious Apple Pie

Filling:
6 small or five large apples, cored sliced
1/3 cup Natural Sugar
1/3 cup Orange Juice
1/4 cup Cornstarch
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
Crumb Crust:
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup vegan margarine (Earth Balance)

You can make a crust for this pie, but I don't like crust, so I didn't use one. Also, the crumb crust is optional.

Preheat over to 350°F.

Filling- In a large bowl, mix the sugar, orange juice, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Add the apples and coat with mixture well. Pour into pie dish.

Crumb crust-In a bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and margarine. Mix with a fork or hands until the crumbs are like peas and sprinkle over the apple mixture.

Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until apples are soft. Yum.



Vanilla Cinnamon Almond Rolls

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup Almond Milk
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 1/2 cups Flour
1/4 cup Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 TB yeast
1 TB vegan margarine

Combine flour, cinnamon, and yeast in a large bowl; set aside. Heat the almond milk (don't boil!), water, sugar, salt, and margarine until warm. Add the vanilla extract, and add this to the flour mixture. Mix well, cover will plastic wrap and a towel, and let sit for about an hour.

Place the dough on a floured surface and divide in half. Tear off pieces and shape into balls. Take a pair of scissors and cut an 'X' into the tops. Place rolls on a Pam-sprayed cookie sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit for at least 15-25 minutes. Then, preheat over to 375°F.

Bake for 15-18 minutes.

Variation: make the rolls orange rolls by changing the almond milk to soy milk, exchanging the vanilla extract for orange zest, and omit the cinnamon.



Last night was the first snow we've had. I thought it looked like raining Dippin' Dots!

Thanksgiving, New family member, and George

Tomorrow will be my first Thanksgiving as a vegan... It would be a little more enjoyable if there wasn't this tension between my mother and me. She is not very supportive of my lifestyle and seems to believe the food makes the holiday... Holidays are not about food; they are about family. I hope she comes around.

Anyway, here's what is on my menu:
Cinnamon rolls
Quinoa/Acorn squash/Pumpkin/ Pomegranate dish
Apple Pie
Green bean casserole

That is the vegan part, anyway. My brother, father and mother will be having the carcass, potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pumpkin and cherry pie. I'm not complaining though. Truth be told, I never really liked any of those foods... (Veganism just gives me a good excuse not to eat it!)


I'm so excited! This Friday, my brother and I are going to St. Louis to pick up our new family member: an Irish Wolfhound puppy! And does he ever look big for his age! I can't wait to get him. I'll post pictures!


The photo above is of my last wolfie who died at the young age of eight months due to a spinal cord injury.

Yawn

So it's seven in the morning on a Sunday, and I'm tired. I'm usually not tired in the morning. I mean I wake up at five every day (don't ask me why, I've always woken up very early since I was a child), so you would think I would be used to this... Mmmm, that coffee smells good...

Breakfast this morning was Post Raisin Bran, Silk, some grapes and a few almonds, as usual. What can I say? I love cereal. Plus, I just don't feel like making breakfast in the morning... Maybe one of these days I'll make some cinnamon apple waffles.

Tonight, I think I will try the Groovy Garden Vegetable Casserole (slightly modified) from La Dolce Vegan. I'll take pictures and let you know how it goes.



I took this picture of a sunset a few days ago... Isn't it beautiful?

New Blogger

This summer I finally made the transition to a vegan lifestyle, and I've been loving it ever since! The parents, of course, weren't too happy, but they've come a long way. I no longer get the "Where's the protein?" and "You need milk!", but I still get "In ten years when you're sick and frail with weak bones, don't come crying to me." Ah, parents, you've got to love them.

So, a little about me.... Hmm. Well, I'll just fill out this survey.

1. Favorite non-dairy milk?
I love both Silk and Almond Breeze original, but I'd have to say I like Almond breeze more.

2. What are the top 3 dishes/recipes you are planning to cook?
Curried Squash soup
Tofu stirfry
Cajun beans

3. Topping of choice for popcorn?
Wow, I actually have not had popcorn since going vegan five months ago. I'll have to try some with nutritional yeast.

4. Most disastrous recipe/meal failure?
I put too much apple cider vinegar in a rice dish once... Tasted alright, but I had to hold my nose to eat it!

5. Favorite pickled item?
I'm not much of a pickled food eater.

6. How do you organize your recipes?
I have a little notecard thingy that I never use. I think I have three recipes in it... I usually either bookmark into a recipe folder on my laptop, or just scribble them down on a piece of papper.

7. Compost, trash, or garbage disposal?
Trash and the hoover (my Miniature Schnauzer named Joe).

8. If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 foods...what would they be (don't worry about how you'll cook them)?
Almonds, brown rice, and cauliflower

9. Fondest food memory from your childhood?
Making tons of banana nut bread with my mother and sharing it with our neighbors.

10. Favorite vegan ice cream?
Unfortunately, where I live, there is no vegan ice cream. I'm serious. I feel so deprived...

11. Most loved kitchen appliance?
The toaster!

12. Spice/herb you would die without?
Ginger and curry.

13. Cookbook you have owned for the longest time?
La Dolce Vegan

14. Favorite flavor of jam/jelly?
I love raspberry.

15. Favorite vegan recipe to serve to an omni friend?
My chocolate expresso cake. Yum.

16. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh?
Oh, I live in a small little world... I've never had seitan or tempeh.

17. Favorite meal to cook (or time of day to cook)?
Dinner, which is at 7:00-7:30 every day.

18. What is sitting on top of your refrigerator?
Cabinets.

19. Name 3 items in your freezer without looking.
Old frozen bread, mushy bananas, and brussel sprouts.

20. What's on your grocery list?
Basil, cereal, apples, asparagus, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, bananas, grapes and chickpeas.

21. Favorite grocery store?
Where I live, we have a Kroger and a Wal-Mart. If I'm lucky, we can drive an hour or so to go to Sam's. My favorite, though, is Whole Foods, which is about two and a half hours away.

22. Name a recipe you'd love to veganize, but haven't yet.
My mother's cornbread recipe.

23. Favorite vegan candy/chocolate?
Again, I'm deprived. Find me a vegan chocolate and I will kiss you. I guess I'll say the Nuts Over Chocolate Luna bar, if you count that as candy.

25. Most extravagant food item purchased lately?
Nutritional yeast, quinoa, and argave nectar. They might not be extravagant to most people, but when you have to drive four and a half hours round trip to get them, they're extravagant.