My New Favorite Lunch

Okay - this might not be the most extremely healthy vegan* (nay! It's vegetarian!) thing ever invented, but it's danged good!  I started making this sandwich even before vegan-izing and have since removed the cheese.  You can just add that cheese right back in if you want!  It was mighty tasty with it, but it's mighty tasty without it, too!  My mom likes it and she's totally not vegan (said in my best junior high voice).

*oops!  I just realized (two weeks later) that the black bean burgers are not vegan! They're vegetarian, but they use egg whites and other stuff as binders.  darn.  While I'm a tainted vegan, I'm going to have an oatmeal cookie with butter and eggs, wallow a while in my misunderstandings, and then start again fresh tomorrow.

I"ll talk you thru it, then I'll post a proper recipe that you can cut/paste at the bottom if you like.  First, saute about 1/4 chopped yellow onion in olive oil over med-high heat.  After it's as soft or caramelized as you like it, add a couple generous handfuls of fresh greens (you can use spinach, kale, beet greens - whatever you like best!  I usually use spinach or kale.)  Saute 'til they're soft but not, y'know, liquified or disgusting.

I usually just use spinach or kale. This pic has lettuce, too, and it was a little weird.
Straight-up spinach is yummiest!

Meanwhile, prepare your "meat" and bread.  Heat one Morning Star Farms spicy black bean burger.  I just microwave it for 1 1/2 minutes, but you can heat it however you prefer.

You can use whatever burger you want, but the spicy black bean is BEST!

Take one slice of really good bread (italian or french crusty bread, or, my personal favorite, Dave's Killer Good Seed Bread.  Decorate it with a generous amount of your favorite barbecue sauce (I know! that's the not-so-healthy part, because my favorite has corn syrup as the first ingredient, I think.  But it's still not that bad for you.).

Put the sauteed greens on the bread. (Here's where you would add a small handful/sprinkling of feta, if you're so inclined.)

Top with the heated black bean patty and chow down!

I don't really recommend serving this with a pickle.  Lily just wanted her pickle in the picture.

You could put another bread on top, to make it look more finished, but you'd definitely need more bbq sauce, I think.  I like mine open-faced and just pick up the droppings with a fork.

It's pretty danged tasty!

Here's the recipe for two:

BBQ Spicy Black Bean Sammy
extra virgin olive oil for the pan
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
4 to 5 cups of fresh greens (spinach, kale) (It sounds like a lot, but it cooks down I promise!)
2 Morning Star Farms Spicy Black Bean Burgers, heated
2 large slices of really good bread (crusty bread or Dave's Killer bread)
Barbeque Sauce to taste
Crumbled Feta Cheese to taste (optional)

Preheat olive oil.  Saute onion until soft.  Add greens and saute until wilted.  Prepare burger as directed.  Put a generous amount of bbq sauce on each slice of bread.  Add sauteed greens/onion mix, sprinkle feta over the top (if you're using it), then top with the heated burger.  Dig in!  Easy, tasty.  Great way to get your greens in for the afternoon!

Let me know what you think!  And if you have tweaks, more ideas, etc., I'm in!  We're always on the prowl for new yummy vegan eats!

Mushroom Ginger Miso Soup

One of my former roommates and enduring friends is a foodblogger and a wonderful cook.  I've tried a few of her recipes over the last year or so, but since we've switched to a mostly plant-based diet, a lot of her recipes are out of my food range.  But this week, on facebook, she posted this DIVINE recipe that was basically vegan, if you leave out the optional fish sauce (which I did).  Oh my yum!  It's not particularly pretty, so I didn't take any pictures.  But if you like mushrooms and ginger, give this one a try.

Mushroom Ginger Miso Soup
In a five-quart stock pot, saute until tender in a couple tablespoons of olive oil:
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
1 large red pepper, seeds and veins removed, coarsely chopped (or use 1/2 large sweet pepper plus a couple hot peppers if you like it spicy!)
1 lb. white or brown mushrooms, sliced

Add 2 quarts vegetable stock and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, cover and simmer 20 minutes.  Blend with stick blender until smooth or smooth-ish.

In another pan, saute slowly until tender in a generous tablespoon of olive oil:
8 oz. "exotic" mushrooms (oyster, chanterelle, shiitake, etc.)
2 T. minced garlic
2 T. freshly grated ginger

Deglaze the saute pan with the juice of one small lime (or lemon).  Add this mixture to the blended soup along with 2 tsp. Thai fish sauce (optional!  not vegan), 2 T miso and (if you didn't use any hot peppers in the initial saute) perhaps a squirt of sriracha hot sauce to taste.  Garnish with cilantro leaves and sliced scallions before serving.  Serve it with some warm, crusty bread.

And a quick note, my first 2/3 of the bowl, I was thinking, "This is good, but meh... I dunno."  But the last 1/3 of the bowl was REALLY TASTY!  So - let those flavors marinate a little bit.  It just got better over the next 2 days of leftovers.  Let me know what you think!

A Journal for Contentment

Okay - first project from my e-course (Creatively Made, taught by Jeanne Oliver, 4 weeks long) is a vintage mixed media journal.  You're supposed to use the cover from an old book, add do-dads and what-nots, special messages, visual textures, etc. to make it special to YOU.

First, I gathered some parts and pieces:

I'm not in love with the project, but took a swing at it since I had a gorgeous book that was already missing its spine and came up with this:

 I like the textures of it - the lambskin leather cover, velvet trim with the leather ties and tiny beads on the top part.  But it's a little fancy, I think, for my taste. I wish I'd quit a little sooner.  It just looked so bare next to all the other people's journals.  Darned peer pressure!  Why oh why do I care about other people's opinions?  Oh yeah - because I'm a broken human.  :o)

Here's a peek inside the front cover.  Cutest end page ever!  That picture is from another book called Lilac Times.  A horrible book that was really just a screenplay and photographs from a little-known silent film.  I have lots more pictures from that book for later projects.  Lucky lucky us!

The fun part that you can't see is the variety of pages in it - photographs, letters from friends, odd bits of paper to write on.  It's a fun way to make a journal, but I don't know that I'll ever actually use it?  I don't know.  It's just not something I'd choose, which I think is so funny, because I made it.  What a weirdo.

*sigh*  I'll try to make the next project more personal.

I do love my handwarmers, tho!  See?

They're super long and super duper soft.  I made them from one of Dan's retired work shirts.  I made a red pair, too.  Amazing how a thin layer of knit on your wrist can warm you up so much!  yay!

A Lot On My Mind...

Hi, you!  Sorry I haven't written in a while.  I've had a lot on my mind lately.  I feel like I'm processing a lot of stuff and not ready to talk about it quite yet, but I'll check in and let you know why.

Birdies ponder, too.

First, I'm going vegan.  I know.  No - I know!  This from the farm girl who used to help butcher chickens, ate her cow "Valerie" for dinner (tho that one was harder than the generally anonymous cow buddies we usually had), drank fresh raw milk from our one cow Shiek for the many years that she "gave", confirmed butter addict, etc.  But somehow, my body is just ready for a change.  And it's been a lot easier than I thought it would be.  I'm still reading more about it - I don't want to do something crazy that I can't stick with - I want to really do it.  I've been following PeaMama's blog for months, trying recipes.  I borrowed Dr. Neal D. Barnard's book from the library.  I watched Forks Over Knives (on Netflix, even tho the link goes to Amazon.  oops!)  And now I'm reading Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet.  (What?!  She's actually really fun to read! and has such a sweet attitude.)

It's been a week - no dairy, no meat, no eggs.  So far, I feel GREAT.  Sometimes I feel a little light-headed, and I blame the fact that I haven't given up sugar yet - probably the worst of the lot, honestly.  I need to work on that.  But even Dan has noticed that my skin is AMAZING.  My body feels almost buoyant sometimes.

Second, I'm taking an e-course - an art thing - and really enjoying it so far, but not applying it yet.  So - I don't want to write about it until I start actually doing stuff.

Third, I've been really inspired by this blog to start hand sewing more.  Not machine stitching, but good, old-fashioned hand sewing.  So far, I've made an horrible hat and a pair of wrist/hand warmers all from one of Dan's old shirts.  It's so therapeutic! and makes me feel less guilty about watching t.v. in the evening.

Fourth, I'm trying to follow along with our "read thru the Bible in a year" challenge at church.  Yipes!  I'm bad.  More than likely an adventure just waiting to fail.  It's so daunting!  Have you seen that thing?  It's a GIANT book! HUGE! with tiny little words! oh well... At least I'm trying, right?

So - check back in soon and I'll try my darnedest to sort my brain out to share something actually compelling with you.

Anyone out there willing to Go Vegan with me?  I'll hand stitch you a Go Vegan banner if you're in. Ha!  Dan is up for being a dinner time vegan.  He's being so supportive and is, I think, pretty proud of me!  yay!  I'm not forcing the kids to do it, either, though it's giving me pause about their diet for sure.  More to ponder.

New Day!

Let's just say it - get it out there:  I'm a horrible blogger.  (an? an horrible blogger? does that rule still apply?)  I haven't stopped to do a keyboard ponder for over a month!  I've had things I could share, but they must not have been super important or they would have haunted me until I got 'em down on record.

But today - something special happened today.

I felt peace.

Seriously!  I can surely count the number of peace-filled days I've had since giving birth.  And not just "days without kids" or sleep-in days (what? what are those? I have a vague recollection of sleeping past 7...), but days that, no matter how deep the chaos, I felt peace.

Let me set the scene:  Yesterday, I had planned to meet my parents at Costco (yep - I'm a costco moocher.  I totally use their card instead of getting my own.), but Dan had to use the car, so I had to cancel. Later, I was supposed to go to the gym for a much-needed sweat session, but instead was blessed with a drop-in visit from one of my most favoritest friends.  "Of COURSE the gym can wait - I'd much rather eat a sushi lunch and watch Monday's SingOff episode with you!"  Then I'd thought I would make a run to the local consignment shop to try to sell some of the kids old clothes and accoutrement, but my in-laws dropped in after going to lunch with Dan - and brought him home SICK with them.  (Poor guy!)  We had scheduled with my parents for a date night (to First Thursday in the Pearl for a couple friends' art shows), also, last night, but I had to cancel that because Dan was sick.  THEN his parents offered to take me and the kids with them to the Pearl so I could still go to the galleries.  I got the kids fed and bathed, redressed, shoes on, coats on and ready to peel out as soon as Grama and Grampa arrived.  The doorbell rang and at that same moment, Jack threw up on my (and his) feet.  4 times.  (I won't tell you how helpful the dog was at this moment, because that is disgusting.)  So - yes.  I still went and took Lily along and we had a wonderful time!

So - maybe the peace I feel today is just relative?  I don't know.  Today had it's own gentle chaos with two sick guys moping around the house.  But still... yes still... my soul is still.  and I am breathing in and breathing out.  and life is good. and I am loving it. All of it.

Morning Brew

I LOVE COFFEE!  But I can't have it any more.  Danged olderness.  I still sneak a sample cup every time I go to Trader Joe's, but that's pretty much my limit on the beans.

I've switched to tea.  Green, mate and herbal.  I start most every day with Trader Joe's Organic Cranberry Green Tea with my breakfast.


Then mid-morning when I'm craving a little something tasty, I "indulge" in my new favorite cup-o-brew.  Guayaki Yerba Mate's Organic Mate Chocolatte - a tea blend that has tasty spices, the mate caffeine kick and a little cocoa, but not so much that I feel dessert-ed.  Just comforted and refreshed.

The big problem is, everyone around me still drinks coffee, so sometimes I feel a little guilty for not having a pot on when someone pops in.  Or I feel bad that my esposo doesn't get to have coffee before work (tho Mr. French is happy to serve him!).

Isn't that the best sign ever?  It's copper!

So - I still have beans on hand, and am working to get the grinds-to-water ratio correct for the french press.  It'll happen!

In the meantime, come for tea!  I promise I'll share.

Fall 2011 Palette Challenge and other stuff...

For those concerned about our sanity over here in the Big Blue House, Dan was home for 10 days in August.  He's been gone for another (almost) 3 weeks, but is trying to get home for the weekend.  Aaaargh!  Keep praying that we don't lose our minds in the meantime!  :o)  Actually, we're fairing quite well with all our precious family and friends that RALLY when I start twitching and spouting random nonsense. loudly. to strangers.  Dan's parents actually took both kids for an overnight last night, so I made it to the bead shop, Crossroads, the gym, Mio Sushi, and then home again for a happy movie and some beadwork.  (Last Chance Harvey. sweet love story and BEST father-of-the-bride-toast scene ever!)

I'm feeling a little more level hearted (hearted? oh well -that's probably true, too) today after a great night's sleep, a healthy breakfast, a walk with Corabelle, some more crafting, shopping, gym-ing and lunch.  It's nice to feel like and individual every now and then instead of a conglomerate all the time.

flowers on the farm

So - My next move in my Reventuring spirit - met with a trainer at 24Hr today to talk about Fitness for the Over 40 people (Thank you Abby!).  I'm one of those.  I'm feeling pretty inspired and ready to focus again on adding some good healthy things to my/our life.  I'll be working on:

• adding some resistance training (read: weights/Body Pump class) to combat the osteoperosis demons that lurk as I get older
• controlling my evening snacks (especially while Dan is still away!  Those empty evenings after the kids are asleep just KILL my resolve.)
• varying my cardio workouts - adding some water classes, try running a little when I walk the dog, etc.

I've decided that I'll do better on tracking these things and maintaining accountability if I blog more about what I do each day to be more healthy and fit and to be a better mom, wife, friend, sister, daughter... all those things.

 

The other fun thing that I'll be adding in for the next 8 weeks is Colette's FALL PALETTE CHALLENGE 2011!  I love this stuff.  That means I get to pick colors for a Fall wardrobe, decide how many pieces I need/want to sew and then decide how much of that I can actually afford to follow thru on, time- and money-wise.  It'll be fun!  If you're a seamstress at all, you should go check out the challenge or go see the Spring Palette Challenge pictures and get inspired!  

Stay tuned!  It'll be a fun-filled Fall!  Lovin' it!

 Jack's new tree house - Phase 1

There was a little girl who had a little curl...