tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5018953091836473162012-01-28T13:42:43.874-08:00Efforts in food security, living lightly, and being content.Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.comBlogger1191100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-56188187242329108242011-09-17T00:40:00.000-07:002011-09-17T00:44:25.147-07:00

I am realizing that all of my recent posts have been prompted by other bloggers, and 3 out of 4 of those, including this one, by Northwest Edible Life. (So I think the message is I need to blog more? Duly noted.) I swear I only stalk her a little. Erica wrote a post entitled Wifery, Money And Not-Work, and this is my response (because the comment I started writing got long to the point of “get

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-14379565601777961202011-08-01T06:00:00.000-07:002011-08-01T06:00:03.871-07:00

You might want to get yourself a cuppa. And maybe a cushy spot to sit. This is going to be a little… lengthy. I’m going to begin with a few pictures of what we started with, the building of the garden beds, and our first garden in the space, so that you have a sense of scale and progress (and because, frankly, it reminds me how far we’ve already come; a reminder I often need when staring at our

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-2717029065499914242011-06-10T23:05:00.000-07:002011-06-10T23:05:41.380-07:00

Bri noticed yesterday that the satellite view of our home on Google maps recently changed. Previously, it showed our home just before we moved in. When I remember the last view I can see how much we have done in the year and a half we've been here. Ours is the one with the green roof in the near middle of the picture. You can see the circles of mulch around the trees in the orchard in the front

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-42265104426790362262011-05-03T05:25:00.000-07:002011-05-03T05:25:48.619-07:00

Here's the deal.  I don't know what you've heard, but we are not running a chicken sanctuary. You serve several purposes on our little suburban homestead.  1 - weed and bug abatement. 2 - fertilizer factory 3 - EGGS 4 - entertainment We expect that you will preform all these duties on a regular basis. Failure to preform said duties will be dealt with accordingly.  As you have both been

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-22151354577048205602011-05-02T03:04:00.000-07:002011-05-02T03:04:00.598-07:00

It occurs to me that I should mention that we tied the knot. We were married on the 5 year anniversary of our first date, in February. Sentimental and one less date for Bri to forget remember - win-win. And now back to what the title implies this post is about - growing things (or at least endeavors in such): Fantastic friends of ours were in town visiting family for a week last month. They live

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-81718706486517794142011-04-20T21:54:00.000-07:002011-04-20T21:54:44.916-07:00

While I have direct-sowed a number of crops in the garden for the past couple years, this is the first time I've grown plants from seed that need to be started before being put in the garden. I'm excited, as starting from seed will allow me to grow a much greater variety of plants. I'm also hoping to use this to method to allow me to succession sow more intensively.  A Few Starts Greens (I don't

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-47945331530188023272011-03-26T20:07:00.000-07:002011-03-27T13:13:09.621-07:00

 Almond in bloom Clearly the new year’s resolution to blog more often is going swimmingly... So instead of agonizing over where to start I thought I would just hop right into the middle and work my way out. We’ve done a lot around the house in the year and a half since we bought it. Today, inspired by a post on Northwest Edible Life, I’m going to share with you what we are doing in the

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-55769559074326496272011-01-01T23:28:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.056-07:00

 2010 was a roller coaster of a year. - B and I barely made it. - I withdrew from my Ph.D. program. I realized that original research is not my passion, and that is what a Ph.D. program is designed to create - a researcher. One who happens to teach, yes, but a researcher first. - I went back to work full time (praise Jesus that I was able to move from part-time to full-time very quickly after

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-88433994374220306612010-01-09T15:42:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.058-07:00

In an effort to get back to both blogging and menu planning, I give you our menu for next week. I need to be using my pantry items more consistently and I find menu planning to be essential in meeting that goal. Actually, for this menu I will only need cabbage (in season, and on sale!) and we'll need to restock the green smoothie ingredients mid-week, but other than that I have everything I need.

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-75064944560336035972009-12-24T12:48:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.060-07:00

I apologize for the lack of posting, it has been a rough month for me. Plus I've been fighting with Blogger about including and formatting pictures in my posts. I'm sure it is mostly my ineptness with this new-fangled technology :o)  but it is frustrating nonetheless. I wish you all very happy, healthy, and safe holidays, we'll catch up soon.

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-64252683709144453132009-11-25T02:56:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.062-07:00

So what are you making on this day of thangsgiving? I am making what I made last year. My mouth is watering already for the green beans... Drooling concluded, moving on. If you should find yourself with leftover squash, may I suggest this? I was craving a creamy squash soup, but not the curry that typically flavors such things. This hit the spot. It's also a great way to use up extra squash (

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-11302511252010189912009-09-06T09:26:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.064-07:00

First thing first. If you have not yet seen Food, Inc. go. If you balk at paying $15 for a movie (and really, who doesn't?) plan on hosting a viewing party the minute it comes out on video. Those of you who are dyed-in-the-faux-wool vegans may argue that the film does not encourage people to go outright vegan and is therefore not helpful. However, the film talks about more than just animal

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-53531337410507991232009-08-11T08:35:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.066-07:00

A photo journal of my little neck of suburbia over the last few weeks. Nearly open sunflower in my mom's garden.My first time growing okra. I was blown away by how lovely the flowers are. This is a Red Burgundy Okra from Seed Savers Exchange. A summer supper: CSA coleslaw (cabbage, turnips, carrots) and homemade chili covered baked potato (with homegrown tomatoes).Biscotti for a crowd. Recipe

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-34373320773920366102009-07-27T17:35:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.068-07:00

We are officially homeowners!

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-67942556821490795862009-07-13T14:02:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.070-07:00

I made us a smoothie this morning, as usual, and when I tasted it my mouth said "chocolate!" and my brain said "huh?". B said the same thing when I asked him later; he had thought I'd made the a chocolaty smoothie I sometimes make for a treat. But I hadn't put a lick of chocolate in the thing! Weird. It does turn out light brown in color, so maybe you can fake out your kids :o)The Unchocolate

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-71629503529229486732009-07-05T07:27:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.072-07:00

In an effort to use up some of the tomatoes we harvested I canned up a batch of salsa this weekend. I combined two recipes to come up with this and doubled the batch. (If you are new to canning please stick to a tested recipe, especially if you are using low acid foods as proper acidity is critical to the safety of your final product if you are using a water bath canner.) I made sure I used

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-75183057780958349982009-07-01T22:24:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.074-07:00

...and watch this, if you haven't already; it's important. http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html I will have more to say about it later, right now I'm too tired to articulate my thoughts, and I need some time to mull it over.

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-47904351500582579332009-07-01T18:31:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.075-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't abandoned this blog! This has been a crazy couple of weeks. B and I were back from Hawaii 5 whole days before we left for Chicago for a week, then we had to move out of our house by yesterday, which means we moved into PODs since we don't actually have a house to move in to (my parents are very generous to put up with us for a month so we won't be

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-6611207703557089072009-06-15T23:36:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.079-07:00

We are officially in escrow. This is our new home! We've had the inspection, aside from some TLC that is to be expected on any 75 year old home, it is in pretty good shape, nothing needs to be done immediately except paint the interior. As long as the appraisal goes well and the paperwork goes smoothly we should close escrow late July. It was built in 1936. The wood floors are original and it

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-66852062615810190102009-06-09T19:46:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.081-07:00

OahuWest Shore - Ko OlinaExtremely busy relaxing. Be back next week.

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-82652523210005201142009-06-01T01:00:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.083-07:00

I am a mayonnaise hater. There I said it. I will never understand the dipping of anything in to straight mayonnaise. However, I do tolerate it as a binder in a few things, namely various savory salads. Growing up chicken salad was one of my favorite sandwiches, but obviously I've not had it in some time. I recently ran across a vegan version using soy curls and thought "duh, why didn't I think of

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-13522563328485662882009-05-28T01:33:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.084-07:00

In my quest to use the Swiss chard that has been so prolific in my garden I made homemade green pasta a couple weeks ago, inspired by Kate's post earlier this month.This was my very first time making pasta. A few years back I tried some fresh pasta from the grocery store and was so underwhelmed that for quite a while I didn't really see the merit in taking the time to make my own. I have now seen

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-29461118081362272252009-05-26T04:20:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.086-07:00

Friends of ours invited me a while back to come visit them and help cook for a weekend for a training they were hosting. That weekend was a couple weeks ago so I thought I'd share some pictures. B and MJ went to high school together, which is how we know them. MJ and EA work for the Student Conservation Association as year-round staff. They actually met through the program and now plan and host

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-41585322478249965992009-05-25T19:34:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.089-07:00

We are officially moving. We are still waiting for a decision about the house we made an offer on (it is a short sale - a misnomer if ever there was one!) but we just found out that we need to be out of our current house at the end of June. Since this likely means we will be staying with my parents for a short time I am starting to panic about the food in my freezer. So my strategy is to try and

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-9606598884650858992009-05-20T00:34:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.091-07:00

Finally, a week "normal" enough to do a menu. I miss it when I don't have one, it really does make the week so much easier!Click on image to enlarge.

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-86709271403043639032009-05-19T01:53:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.092-07:00

I, like many people, grew up using commercial cleaning products around the house. When I was small a good family friend babysat my sister and me. She also cleaned houses on the side; I distinctly remember one house that had a sunken living room and a 3 legged dog. My other most distinct memory of accompanying her to cleaning jobs was the smell of ammonia. I still can't handle it.When I started

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-59289016847321827082009-05-04T01:47:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.094-07:00

This is a simple dinner to put together and delicious to boot. The filling will stuff 4 largish tomatoes or as I did, two tomatoes and two medium zucchinis. You can increase the protein by replacing the brown rice with grated tempeh if you like, the texture is very similar. I highly recommend cooking a big batch of brown rice and freezing the leftovers in dinner sized portions. It makes recipes

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-38532896720150345202009-04-30T04:48:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.096-07:00

B picked these beauties today. 6 1/4 pounds! From plants that we set out at the beginning of August! Unbelievable. We actually have so many that I am considering canning some salsa. I have a bad habit of hording the garden produce, because it is so good fresh, but then we sometimes don't eat it all before it goes off and then it is wasted. I am trying to work through this - not using what we have

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-29036853539973565232009-04-29T01:26:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.099-07:00

B's been out of town the last few days so I've just been cooking for myself. This size salad is pretty much what dinner has been the last three nights. That's a 9 cup tupperware. No joke it has taken me three hours every night to eat it. Good thing I can eat at my desk around working. I think I've met my fruit and vegetable quota for the day... just maybe. This one is a Thai "chicken" salad based

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-12885736916828168372009-04-22T01:30:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.100-07:00

I apologize for apparently falling off the face of the Earth (does the Earth have a face to fall off given that it is spherical...?).  I feel like I haven't had very much interesting to blog about of late although I have a few things in the works. Since is just B and me we go through my experiments much more slowly than those with larger families (although I am getting better about cooking for at

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-59699333934929994082009-04-08T03:02:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.102-07:00

Isn't this just lovely? Gardening is full of surprises. This flower is what you get if you let arugula go nuts, or bolt. Dr. Punger at Permission to Mother asked me for more information on bolting plants the last time I did a garden update and I thought other people might be interested as well. I looked in all my general gardening information books and was surprised to see only two mentions of

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-82359721774362327712009-04-08T01:47:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.104-07:00

Here's this week's menu. For some reason I struggled a bit to come up with a full menu this week. Click picture to enlarge.Tip of the DayIf you have a hard time "eyeballing" portion sizes for cereal or other dry goods this is a simple solution. I bought a whole bunch of measuring cup sets at the dollar store (for that's right - you guessed it - $1 each) and keep a cup in each container of cereal.

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-68378542172174429152009-04-06T04:25:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.106-07:00

I am currently reading Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life by Brendan Brazier. So far so good, no truly outrageous claims, what he is saying is largely making sense. If you are interested in sports nutrition or a whole foods diet that excludes major food allergens (corn, wheat/gluten, dairy, soy, active yeast, and peanuts) or just want information on

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-29464898199673902342009-03-31T04:30:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.108-07:00

I started making these for a couple reasons. Firstly, tofu is not my favorite food, at least not "straight up". I like it in smoothies, dressings, lasagna, etc. but I almost never make it as a primary component of a meal. As with many people it is a texture issue, it is just too mushy for me and I've not had a great deal of luck overcoming that pitfall. However, it is an easy source of protein,

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-38996968557132500722009-03-31T04:04:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.110-07:00

So you like how I titled the last post "Posting Blitz" and then posted all of two things? The computer just froze right up on me. Anyway, here are a few things I've been playing with: Cinnamon Raisin Swirl BreadI was sooo happy with how this turned out, especially since this was the first try. I just need to tweak it a bit before I post the recipe.  Vegan SausagesBased on Julie's recipe, with

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-76152593843341682142009-03-24T23:45:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.112-07:00

The garden has gotten completely out of control. This lovely flower is out of what I thought was napa cabbage. After all, that is what I had sowed in that square... but then it bolted before it really produced anything. The bees like it and I like bees, so I've let it stay and now it is enormous. It has grown over the arugula, which is also out of control. We took out two of the four tomato

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-25395063559995346902009-03-24T21:11:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.113-07:00

If you are wondering about the repeats that appear from one week to another it is because for whatever reason, either plans came up or we just had too many leftovers to cook again, a meal did not get made so I just move it to the next week. Yes, some meals have been skipped and moved several weeks. My "good intentions" list is packed again, but this week is my short week, so I am planning on

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-18030574506759309392009-03-20T22:45:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:35:47.845-07:00

Wow, I can't believe I've been blogging for a whole year! I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who read my little corner or the world wide web and especially for taking the time to comment. I really get so excited every time I see a new comment up.I just wanted to share with you something that I heard today that makes me so happy. Michelle Obama, along with a group of 5th graders,

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-72824686539955018842009-03-19T04:20:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:32:33.685-07:00

I love Caesar salad. If you have dressing prepared it is one of the easiest salads to put together. Add a protein and it is a complete meal. However, it is very difficult to find a vegan version premade. And honestly, this is so easy to make that there is no real reason to purchase a bottled dressing, plus it keeps quite well in the 'fridge. The first time I made this I used the recipe from

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-59142228752833284832009-03-16T20:47:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:32:33.688-07:00

You hear that lady? I'm doing what you asked! Here's another recipe using tempeh. This one is not so highly seasoned, so the tempeh flavor comes through a bit more. This keeps well in the 'fridge, so you can make a batch (and make the dressing while the tempeh is marinating) so later you can throw together a complete meal in just a few minutes, which especially nice when you are pressed for time

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-62913454190728188002009-03-10T04:54:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.121-07:00

A little late this week but I thought I would continue posting our weekly menu. I know most of us have an irrepressible, if unspoken, curiosity about other people's lives, not the least of which includes what they eat (hello - the reason we read a ridiculous number of blogs!) and this is especially true when the person in question is vegetarian. B and I have been busy with a couple projects which

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-58748719065810330832009-03-05T03:05:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.123-07:00

I've made soymilk several times now with the SoyQuick I got for Christmas. I now have a bit of a routine where I make 3 batches at once and that usually lasts us about two weeks. For easy drinking I make one each of chocolate, vanilla, and plain. We always run out of vanilla first, but it is easy enough to flavor the plain as needed. After some experimentation I came up with a recipe we both like

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-88577744829869967022009-03-03T01:43:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.125-07:00

I know, I know, I said I would do my SoyQuick review, but I need another picture for the post and I forgot to take it, so hopefully that will be up tomorrow.In the mean time I thought I'd share this with you. I was asked a couple of weekends ago to make a cake for a birthday party. Aside from choosing chocolate when I asked what flavor she wanted the host gave me free reign on everything else.

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-65131279587781459682009-03-02T05:24:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.127-07:00

It's been a busy couple of weeks. The week before last I just didn't get around to making a menu and I found that that small amount of time invested (1-2 hours for me but I take my time; if you have a fairly regular rotation of meals it would be a lot faster) saves me a lot of time during the week. Last week B was gone the whole week for work stuff and I was gone for most of it skiing with my dad

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-53730980977017658232009-02-19T04:11:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:32:58.372-07:00

This is off my Bright Light Swiss Chard plant. And this is the reason some of my recipes call for "approximate" amounts of dark leafy greens - three or four leaves are more than enough for most recipes. Just thought you should know. This is why you should eat more Swiss Chard - look at that nuritional profile!

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-83035869535327906402009-02-16T04:07:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.130-07:00

My mom has a magnet on her refrigerator that says "I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food." I think it is great, but I would actually reverse the order - and I really like drinking wine. Of course if you, or those you are serving, have problems with alcohol, by all means, don't use it. But if your only qualm is that you don't like drinking it, whatever "it" may be in the

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-68475510874896373792009-02-10T20:36:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.132-07:00

I decided to take Susan's challenge and make a healthy, vegetable rich Valentine's dinner.Valentine's day is frequently used as an excuse to overindulge in rich foods, which ironically leave us feeling weighed down and not the least bit sexy. Here's a rich meal that feels indulgent but won't weigh you down. Plus, if you serve it with Susan's Chocolate Covered Cherry Pudding Cake you'll have a

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-5122141514731046512009-02-04T03:27:00.001-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.134-07:00

I am quite the proud aunt. My sister M is a great mom and cook. BooBoo is a good litter eater who is fairly adventerous for a 2 1/2 year old as well as a fruit fiend. While she gets lots of different foods at home and my parents house she has started to learn that there are special things she gets to do and eat at Aunt Lily and Uncle B's.She likes to feed the fish and knows that they get "just a

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-20804302060776650962009-02-03T05:10:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:32:33.690-07:00

Tempeh is a fantastic food that can take a little getting used to. This is a great way to introduce yourself to it. Here is what you will need (this is all flexible based on your preferences):Tempeh Taco SaladLettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, salsa, beans, 1/4 large onion, 1/4 large red bell pepper, 8 oz tempeh, 2 tbsp chili powder (2 parts ancho, 1 part chipotle, 1 part mild California), 1

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-24753366309044025402009-02-02T04:46:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.137-07:00

I think this method is a keeper. Our meals this past week were far more varied than normal, which was a combination of the menu and my efforts to cook smaller quantities. I have a tendency to cook enough for a small army, which means we end up eating the same soup every day for a week. I love soup, but even I start to get bored. Even though I had a plan for each meal I found that I did not always

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-7072093905458016252009-01-28T03:45:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:32:23.528-07:00

You may or may not have noticed that I updated my "Up This Month" side box a couple weeks ago and mentioned that I'm working on saving money with one of the cutbacks being groceries. So far, so good. With smart shopping you might be surprised how much $25 a week will get you in produce. Since I do have an impressively (obsessively?) stocked pantry by almost any standards, pretty much all that

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-15069129021863762122009-01-20T02:14:00.001-08:002011-03-26T20:32:58.374-07:00

This is a fancy-pants dish that gives you a lot of bang for your buck, both nutritionally and presentation wise. Plus the name is fun.Traditionally, a gastrique is a reduction of sugar, vinegar or wine, and fruit juice usually served with meat or seafood (thank you Wikipedia). Despite the sugar it is not necessarily sweet. But it is extremely pretentious :)I deviated from the "traditional" with

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-60404948405619414132009-01-14T01:48:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:35:16.367-07:00

Okay, I'm offically having blog withdrawal, so settle yourself in, this is a long one! I still have not found my camera. I'm about ready to resign myself to the fact that it is gone :( But that is okay, I do have a recipe for you, one I have been meaning to post for awhile, and it is a two-fer! Mom and I took pictures in New Orleans, but they are all on her camera, so I'll tell you some about the

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-82254776126453919242009-01-05T15:10:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.144-07:00

I came down hard with B's cold on New Year's Eve. Way to usher in the new year huh? We were a sight to behold, sprawled on the couch surrounded by tea mugs, snotty tissues, tangerine peels, and kitties. Can you say p-a-r-t-y! :)  I'm still not feeling fantastic, but I'm working hard at getting better by Wednesday!In other news, I still can't find my camera and I feel like a blogger who has lost

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-33747270320259845032008-12-26T15:34:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.146-07:00

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! We had a really nice relaxed day with just my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and niece at our place. We watched Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation and dinner was a comfort food smorgasbord. It wasn't all vegan, but I did try a "beefy" version of my turkey roast.  I was pretty happy with how it came out but I think it still needs some work on technique. I

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-84239370828352241472008-12-15T02:09:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.148-07:00

I apologize for the lack of posting recently. I've been focusing on getting my applications for graduate school completed (I hate writing about myself, selling myself is not my strong suit), working on a paper that I am presenting with two other graduate students at the fast approaching SPSA conference, and getting ready for Christmas. My to-do list is a full two column, 10 font page and I am

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-57668277017824004462008-12-03T03:08:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:35:53.682-07:00

Get yourself a cup of tea, we need to have a chat. Got it? Okay.I don't know about you, but despite the fact that I ate precious little casserole growing up (thanks Mom), the word still brings to mind images of gloppy, grayish-brown conglomerations incorporating entirely too much canned condensed soup and insipid, canned vegetables. Say it ain't so! Okay, it ain't so. Or at least it does not have

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-48259821215651402222008-12-02T01:26:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:35:53.684-07:00

This was my first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian. Even though I still consume some dairy, I wanted to make all the dishes I contributed to dinner vegan. Both because I am on a mission to prove that vegan food can be just as good as its non-vegan counterparts and because, frankly, I like the challenge... plus then I can blog about them later :o)Anyway, as I was the only vegetarian in attendance I

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-84374664232893531582008-12-01T02:53:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:35:10.099-07:00

I can't believe it, I actually forgot my camera on Thanksgiving (we gathered at my parent's home). I made a seitan-tofu turkey roast thing that was a conglomeration of several recipes, however it needs some work before I post it. B did get some good pictures of it on his new iphone, so as soon as he sends me those I'll do a Thanksgiving recap post, including a couple recipes.In the meantime, this

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-86203310558898585622008-11-25T02:06:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:35:34.011-07:00

Have you ever noticed how much of many foods we throw away? Even if you have a compost pile which puts your scraps to excellent use, most of us could still do a better job of maximizing our produce, and as a result our budgets. I have been doing a number of things to get the most from my produce which I want to share with you. We will start with citrus. Frequently when we peel an orange or juice

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-54938520324342218042008-11-17T22:48:00.001-08:002011-03-26T20:35:10.101-07:00

I am someone who likes a fair amount of structure in my life. If I am not getting it from outside sources I tend to create it for myself. I tell you this because I have been toying with the idea of doing some semi-regular themes for posts. Mostly to help me organize some of my posts and ideas in a way that makes sense to me. A few themes I have come up with: Dinner in 15, Back to Basics, Frugal

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-33627490456833809822008-11-17T04:28:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.159-07:00

I'm sure many of you have heard of the fires that have been raging in Southern California. We live in north Orange County, less than 5 miles from several of the fires. Thankfully, both our families are safe, both in person and homes. However, the weather is hot, dry, and windy and we've had ash raining on us the last couple days. We're praying for rain - or at least double digit humidity - and

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-44403893476101160892008-11-13T02:20:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.161-07:00

Bethany tagged me for the Random Facts Meme, so here it goes!Rules:Link the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links.Let each person know that they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.1. I collect turtle things. Not like in a weird,

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-14266879442286322692008-11-10T19:12:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.163-07:00

When I checked Hannah's blog this evening my first thought was "Shut up!" She posted a recipe for pumpkin ice cream, which is what I have for you today. I've definitely been upstaged by the queen of vegan confections. But our recipes are pretty different, so take your pick. Her picture is decidedly prettier!Anyway, this came about because we had a couple friends over and one of them joked after

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-13402096033403048642008-11-10T02:15:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:31:51.165-07:00

In fact I love it a lot. I especially love that scientists say it is good for me. Woo hoo, a certified recommendation to eat more of it. The thing is, chocolate does not always love me back. I get migraines pretty regularly, which is a genetic thing (thanks Mom), and as with many migraine sufferers mine are sometimes triggered by certain foods. What triggers migraines is unique to each individual

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-21096525739591846112008-11-03T01:43:00.000-08:002011-03-26T20:34:52.150-07:00

This meal is super omni friendly (it was tested on real, live omni's - they went back for more), super yummy, and a straight from the larder meal if you have a reasonably well-stocked kitchen. If you use a cast iron skillet or another oven-safe skillet it will be a two-pot meal (one pot if you have left-over mashed potatoes on hand!).I used some frozen burger crumbles that were languishing in the

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-24187023478064309532008-10-31T23:33:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.169-07:00

I just wanted to thank all the bloggers who participated in MoFo. I found your posts inspiring and motivating. I wanted to end with a recipe, but work has stolen me away again. This was an excellent exercise for me and a great way to get into the habit of blogging. This might be the end of VeganMoFo for this year, but it is just the beginning of the holiday season! I'll have a recipe for you by

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-42276234844188970752008-10-29T00:32:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.171-07:00

B and I don't go to Whole Foods very often, since it is not very convenient to us. But they do carry a number of items are not available in any stores in our area, so we usually pick up something new to try when we (or just I...) make a trip. Last time we picked up two of the new coconut milk ice creams by Purely Decadent: Mint Chip and Cookie Dough. The verdict? They have great mouth feel, very

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-3257901084512631322008-10-28T02:09:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.174-07:00

Bethany - I'm finally doing the tag! See I didn't forget! :) And I combined it with my goal of taking a picture and posting ::pats self on back:: So many people have been tagged or already posted that I can't remember who hasn't, so consider yourself tagged (lame? yes, but effective!).What's in Your (Vegan) Freezer TagWe'll start with the door. This is the top shelf. We have a couple small ice

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-86376703136377570472008-10-27T03:33:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.176-07:00

Work is officially getting in the way of my to-do list. So annoying :) My mini-goal of the day: take a picture of something reasonably interesting and post about it tonight.

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-9634230654876760672008-10-26T02:55:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.178-07:00

I'm a big fan of making my own connivance foods. A little time invested when I am not crazy busy makes my life easier when I'm pressed for time without having to sacrifice flavor or nutrition. PLUS I can still claim homemade, even if it's pulled out of the freezer or cupboard. I've mentioned that I'm working on a homemade biscuit mix; there are a number of recipes out there, but most are not

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-50933119445577060742008-10-24T17:14:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.180-07:00

I know there has been a lot of hate toward "boiled seitan" by some veg*ns. While I like the steamed/baked seitan just as much as the next guy I think simmered seitan should not be banned from our tables. Part of the problem is probably that seitan should not be boiled - it makes the texture weird and spongy. But simmered seitan is my preference for soups and stew. It also freezes well, so make a

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-67876537642453687412008-10-23T23:12:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.182-07:00

If you are opposed to meals that strongly resemble ones that omni's eat (sans actual meat of course) then you can skip this. I am not one of those veg*ns who gave up meat because I dislike it. In fact I really like it, except of course for the environmental, societal, and ethical issues involved. I typically don't crave just a piece of meat, but rather dishes based on them. When the weather

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-68254672891057453212008-10-21T02:22:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.183-07:00

I was tagged for "What's in Your (Vegan) Freezer?" by Bethany and I was also planning on participating in the Iron Chef Challenge this past weekend. Unfortuantely, I had to work overtime, and as as a result had absolutely no time to do either, or even cook much. But I've put the freezer tag post on my to-do list for this week, so look for that post forthcoming.Because you really come here for

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-37098662139707066932008-10-20T01:43:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:35:34.013-07:00

This is a really easy recipe that you can make in advance of serving. I made them the night before. It is based on the orange scone recipe from VWaV, but I made it healthier and punched up the flavor.Cranberry-Orange Scones2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour1 cup all purpose flour1/3 cup sugar1 1/2 tbsp baking power1/2 tbsp baking soda1/4 tsp salt3/4 cup dried cranberrieszest from one large

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-37292303038378819922008-10-18T01:38:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:32:33.692-07:00

I dream of one day providing all, or at least the vast majority, of my family's fresh produce from a huge garden. Until then I have to find alternatives. I have been making more of an effort to eat in season and as locally as possible. My "rule" is that if a product is grown in CA then I avoid buying it unless it is from CA, if it is grown in the US then I don't buy it if it is from another

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-39482791533129341602008-10-15T19:25:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.189-07:00

Just in time for Halloween parties: popcorn balls. I worked loosely off a recipe from Paula Deen (yes the queen of butter and mayonnaise). Be forewarned, the popcorn does not stay very crunchy. I was disappointed with that part, but everyone I served them too enjoyed them, especially the kids. And perhaps it does not need to be said, but this is not health food!This recipe makes enough for a

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-23914703502279943332008-10-14T01:39:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.191-07:00

My birthday was last week so on the actual day my mom, B, and I went to dinner (Dad was out of town for work). I chose sushi since it had been ages since we'd gone. The last time we had sushi we tried a new place that actually had a vegan sushi platter on the menu. However, it was the most uninspiring veg sushi I'd ever had. It was basically plate of several different veggies on rice, but only

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-48140106537335517122008-10-13T00:48:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.193-07:00

We have a winner! Jeni of Heathen Vegan guessed correctly, I made grenadine! As a general rule I avoid artificial colors and high fructose corn syrup as much as possible (aside: have you seen the new ads by the Corn Refiners Association that claim high fructose corn syrup is just like sugar. They are clearly an impartial source of valid information, wouldn't you agree?). I decided to try my hand

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-56554066675660082052008-10-12T12:46:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:35:34.015-07:00

I am admittedly an orange snob. But I come by this problem entirely honestly. When I was young my grandparents owned a small farm just north of Porterville, CA, an area rich in citrus groves. They had orange trees on their property, and grew a great deal of other crops as well. Many of my earliest memories are from time spent on "the farm", helping Grandpa pull carrots and making mud pies with my

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-1942891073457033462008-10-11T23:01:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:35:53.686-07:00

I learned about last week's VeganMoFo Iron Chef Challenge to late to participate. Happily, Katie at Don't Eat Off The Sidewalk handled it again this week and the first thing I did this morning was check the secret ingredient list (aside: I clearly need to join the PPK already... okay I just did!). This week's challenge is Pears and Nuts. Hurray! I just bought pears, and I stock my freezer with a

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-12912957383716997852008-10-10T11:51:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:35:53.689-07:00

Last night I had some time on my hands and sweet potatoes and mushrooms that were getting a little long in the tooth, so I decided to try my hand at gnocchi and sauce (and a salad). This was my first time making gnocchi (actually I think it was my first time eating it too).  It ended up being easier than an internet search would lead one to believe, although I definitely need some practice on

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-10595645392287761252008-10-08T04:33:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.202-07:00

I've rarely run across a fermented food I don't like. I love miso, soy sauce, pickles, sourdough bread, and yogurt, just to name a few. One of my newest discoveries in the world of fermented food is kombucha, a fermented tea that originated somewhere in China and eventually made it's way to eastern Europe. It can be something of an acquired taste, but like other raw fermented foods it has

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-26922500835119144082008-10-07T00:31:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.204-07:00

B and I went to a friend's for dinner on Saturday and I was asked to bring dessert. Cobbler is always popular, so I decided to make individual ones. They are easy to reheat and you can make as many or as few as you need. This version is also done, start to finish in about a half hour from things you probably have on hand, making in great for last minute company or cravings.I usually make my

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-26625544528502558442008-10-06T02:03:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.206-07:00

I've not done a survey on this blog before, so I thought this was a good way to get a post done for MoFo :) This one is from Liz at Food Snobbery is my Hobbery.1. Name a song that involves food in some way. - Lollipop2. What criteria do you use when choosing a new cookbook to buy? - Whatever fits my current interest. A bread cookbook is probably next.3. What did you eat today? - Leftover peanut

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-29003505843711908542008-10-04T00:05:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.208-07:00

I love pasta, but giant plates of white noodles don't usually make the "10 most healthful foods list". Also, most Americans do not eat only a single serving of pasta when they sit down in front of a plate of penne.  So we need to come up with better ways to include pasta as part of a healthy and satisfying diet. Two of the simplest ways to increase the health factor of pasta dishes are to switch

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-23504109162562822892008-10-02T12:28:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.211-07:00

Or: Why Being a Little OCD Pays OffFrom Veg*ns are Friends, Not FoodFriends who come over often comment at how I "whip up" things to eat with little notice.  I do this more with baked goods than dinner items, since dinner is usually a more involved endeavor, but this principle applies to all types of cooking. Being organized will make you a better cook.  I can throw together a last minute dessert

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-20156014861260200802008-10-01T03:14:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.213-07:00

If you've found this blog as part of VeganMoFo - welcome!  Please feel free to comment, it's so nice to know people actually read my blog :)  I'm excited (and a little nervous) to be participating in this event with so many other amazing bloggers.  On to the food!Garden Bounty: Part 1As I mentioned in my last post, the sweet basil in my garden was ready to be hacked back again, and hack I did on

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-69710826727389372182008-09-24T05:05:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.215-07:00

Here are a few choice pictures that B took yesterday.  As you will see about half of it is huge and the rest looks kind of empty.  Most of those squares have been planted at this point and I started seeing sprouts last week.  A few squares are still empty because I am trying to stagger my planting a bit for a more gradual harvest as opposed to all at once.  On to the pictures. Full Length Garden

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-7476385826524015122008-09-20T05:11:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.217-07:00

I was happy to find this information today.  Alton Brown has long been my most favorite chef on Food Network and it is welcome news that anyone on that network is recognizing the problems our current food system is causing and making an effort to address the issues (no, he is not going vegetarian, but like I said - it's a step).  I realize some of my readers may not watch that network due to the

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-74230491044849872782008-09-10T03:35:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.220-07:00

B and I went camping with my family for a week in August.  I made a number of items to take with us so I would have plenty of things to eat while everyone else was chowing on animal... things.  While I failed to take pictures of most of what I made I thought I'd share what I took.  I made: black bean burgers, simmered seitan (for steak night), seitan sausage, and for my night to cook for everyone

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-17297421473640965612008-09-08T23:50:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:32:23.530-07:00

My best friend and her family were out in CA for her daughter's first birthday in August and she asked me to make cupcakes for the party (anyone else starting to notice a trend...).  I choose to make two "plain" versions, since I knew there would be a lot of kids, and two spruced up flavors.  All of the recipes are from VCTOTW. Vanilla Bean CupcakesI made both the cupcakes and the frosting with

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-11821356974721450652008-09-03T00:25:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:35:16.369-07:00

A couple weeks ago B and I went to lunch with a good friend who also enjoys cooking. After lunch we all went to Penzey's (okay, B went mostly because we all drove together and therefore he didn't have a choice!), a trip E had been insisting I make for some time.  This was my very first trip to Penzey's, although I had perused their website before, and I was both overwhelmed and instantly enamored

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-8280986832365044992008-08-28T12:47:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.227-07:00

B and I are in Oregon for the week visiting his brother's family. I love it up here, it is so much more relaxed and clean. We went to Eugene for the day on Tuesday which was lovely. His family lives in central Oregon, which is much drier than the coastal area, very high desert climate. Eugene was beautiful and so green. B observed that it was very "hippie"; in other words, just my kind of

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-26641062065171416972008-08-17T23:26:00.001-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.231-07:00

I know, I know, finally! As I mentioned previously, these cookies are 100% whole grain. What I found was that you can make these with no additional fat if you like (use all applesauce), but a mere 1/4 cup of oil improves the mouth feel, visual texture, and release considerably. I recommend using a silpat or parchment paper regardless of whether you use the oil, but it is essential if you choose

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-20509033238755393462008-08-12T03:09:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.233-07:00

We're back from a week of fun and sun (and dirt) camping in northern California. We stopped on the way up for a day in North Fork, a little town on the south side of Yosemite, to visit B's great aunt and uncle (one of my most favorite people ever). We then spent a week camping and boating with my family just north of Grass Valley. We got to spend some time with my aunt and uncle who live in

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-58959483064612674062008-07-28T05:27:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.235-07:00

There is little that can rival a ripe, warm peach or apricot fresh of the tree at the peak of ripeness. The sweet floral aroma invades your nostrils and the juice runs down your arm and chin no matter how you try to catch it all. If you are lucky enough to have a tree or can get good fruit at a farmer's market and find yourself with several on hand which all needed to be used yesterday this is

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-51845361900938215572008-07-24T04:09:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:34:59.451-07:00

Plum Upside-Down CakeDo you have plums coming out of your ears? Or some that are not quite great enough to eat out of hand? Make this. I used the Plum-Rosemary Upside-Down Cake recipe in How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman. This in one of the recipes in the book that is not vegan but it is easy enough to "fix". I omitted the rosemary (didn't sound good that night), made "

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-49196576977246083072008-07-22T03:21:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:31:51.239-07:00

Banana bread was one of the first things I learned to bake, was one of the first recipes I veganized, and remains one of my favorite comfort foods. However, it is not perfect... until now. As much as I love it, and despite the fact that it contains a substantial amount of fruit, it is usually not health food. Most recipes call for quite a bit of butter/margarine, white flour, and sugar. I've

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-501895309183647316.post-60099943860286471222008-07-21T02:46:00.000-07:002011-03-26T20:32:17.231-07:00

As I've mentioned before, I love Mexican food. I especially love enchiladas, in particular enchilada sauce. It is super easy to make at home and you can control the ingredients. I used to cook mine and then strain out the solids, but now I just saute the veggies then throw everything in my Blendtec and run it until it is totally smooth and delicious. There are three benefits to this. One -

Lily Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01566952862327365978noreply@blogger.com0