Winter

Oh god, it's getting to be winter again. The wind's a-howlin'.
Some time soon I'll have to make a big feel-good winter meal, but today it was too gross out to go to the grocery store so I made my famous random leftovers stir fry again. It's a good staple dish 'cause it's rarely the same twice, uses up left over ingredients from other recipes before they go bad, is easy to make, and always results in a tonne of left overs.
This time it consisted of onion, garlic, asparagus, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, spinach and pecans (yes, nuts can go in stir fry.) Cooked in toasted sesame seed oil, soy sauce and hoisin sauce. Served over brown rice. Dark veggies are rich in iron.
I've said this before, but I freaking love vegetables. This meal is loaded with vitamins, if a bit salty.

Currently drinking vanilla hazelnut tea. If you put vanilla soy milk and some sugar in it it tastes like a cake.

Speaking of cake, I'm looking forward to making myself a big one in celebration of my last exam next friday.

Creamy celery soup with barley and split pea

I'm finishing off the last of the soup I made the other day. This is seriously one of the tastiest recipes I have, and it's so simple. Found here:
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=27425.msg299632#msg299632
I used pot barley this time instead of pearl barley, which is the same thing except it hasn't been shelled so it has more fiber. I couldn't tell the difference.
This soup has a fantastic texture. The celery makes it slightly gelatinous and I love the squishyness of barley.
Enjoy!

I'm working on my very last essay at present. Hopefully will get it done by tomorrow when it's due.
Mom, if you're reading this, seriously don't bug me about it.

Yesterday Aaron and I went to the Christmas party for the Oshawa public library, where he works. This involved about an hour and a half trip out to Oshawa for me, but I chilled out and read 'Blindsight' on the way. It's this really wicked sci fi. Probably one of the best books I've ever read.
There were like 6 vegetarian/vegans there so we were well fed. They served us salad (dark greens, sunflower seeds and strawberries), stir fry with rice, potatoes, asparagus, and red peppers. All of which were really tasty. For dessert we got a fruit bowl with some kind of crumbly goodness at the bottom, mixed with vegan jello with non-dairy whipped cream on top. I was surprised that the cream was non-dairy, you really couldn't tell the difference.

I made chickpea salad the other day (pictured above.) Just canned chickpeas, chopped tomatoes, green onions, some olive oil and pepper. I learned not to eat a whole cans worth of chickpeas 'cause I got super gassy the next day. But it's soooooo goooooood.

Initiate hybernation state

I want to go to sleep until May. My body is like "What are you doing out of bed, you crazy bitch?!"

Above is a picture of all the groceries I bought the other day. I would have gotten more but that was all I could fit on my bike. I should get another basket.
I saw a guy biking with two kids on his bike the other day. one was in a seat on the back and the other was on a seat on the front. It was beautiful.

Dinner: The other day I made "Kieran's Favourite Rice" from How it all Vegan by Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer (Also pictured above). It's basically every vegetable you want, mushrooms, rice (I use brown instead of white like the recipe says, so I need to add more water), kidney beans and tofu cubes cooked in tomato juice. So it's basically a big bowl of everything.

Dinner two nights ago: I didn't have a lot of time this night but still felt like making dinner so I just made some white rice (with margarine, garlic salt and onion powder), warmed up one of those microwavable veggie combos, and a Gardin faux-chicken breast in dijon sauce. Vegan meals can be quick!

Too much homework! Gonna drown! Helllllllp!
Okay enough of that.
Dinner: Only thing I've gotten a chance to actually cook lately was a brown rice and lentils dish (pictured above being eaten by Aaron). It doesn't look like much but it was actually really tasty with the spices added. I kind of made the recipe up, so here it is:

• Boil about 5 cups of water. Add 1 tbsp of margarine or oil if desired.
  
• Add one cup of short grain brown rice and one cup of brown lentils. (Any kind of lentils would be good, this is just what I used. Lentils are high in iron and protein (you get a complete protein if you eat them with grains like in this dish. You don't actually have to eat the grain at the same time as the lentil, so assuming you ever eat bread or pasta or crackers etc. you're good.)
• Reduce heat and let cook until tender and water is gone (about 40 minutes.)
• Add 2 tbsp cumin, 1 tsp curry powder, 1 tsp paprika and salt to taste. Also add a few tablespoons of flax seeds. (I never measure my flax seeds, I just dump in what looks like an appropriate amount.)

And there you go.
Other things I've eaten lately: French fries, Strawberry smoothie, lime cola.

Yesterday I made delicious sandwiches for the first time in a while. They consisted of onion sprouts, tomatoes, cucumber, veggie slices brand soy cheese and margarine on 12 grain bagels.
I also bought a box of Mr. Christie's chocolate wafers, one of my favourite cookies.
Today I went to Subway in the library at school and got a veggie patty and baked Lays as usual. I also was a bad vegan and bought their cookies *hangs head in shame.*
The other day I made Mushroom mashed potatoes. This batch I made by chopping up 4 potatoes (I always leave the skins on) and boiling them until easily pierced with a fork. Then I drained them and left them in the strainer while I sauted some chopped mushrooms in the pot with some olive oil. After about 10 minutes I added the potatoes back to the pot, plus a giant scoop of non-dairy margarine and about a cup of regular soy milk. Mash until mashed-potato like. Finally, I added onion powder and garlic salt.
Served it with Green Giant Essentials: Fiber. It had broccoli, black beans, edamame, red peppers and pearled barley "with Asian inspired seasonings." They're 2 bucks in the frozen vegetable section.
Breakfast was cheerios again.
Currently snacking on Premium Plus crackers. They remind me of childhood...the not crappy parts.

I bought some Golden Pomegranates at Kensington Market the other day. They are freaking amazing. They're sweeter than regular pomegranates and milder tasting. And their juice is pretty much clear so you don't get red all over you. Also got Bananas. I intended to use them to bake something but I've just been eating them straight for breakfast and snacks. Might have enough left over to make Banana Pancakes tomorrow. Or might buy more and make muffins.

We had some friends over for dinner last night. I made the Cauliflower Leek Kugel with Herb Almond Crust from 'Vegan With a Vengeance' by Isa Moskowitz again. I could make that every day.

Today I made Stir fry from the left over vegetables in my fridge (cauliflower, carrots, bit of leek, and asparagus, plus onions and garlic as always), and fake beef strips. Cooked in toasted sesame seed oil, hoisin sauce and soy sauce, seasoned with parsley and lime leaf (found at The Lucky Moose Chinese grocery store), basil and salt.