Oh how the year flew by…

Can you believe that tomorrow is New Years Eve? I can remember last year as if it were just yesterday. I was in the middle of my various downwards spirals in terms of my eating disorder. I was going into one of my restricting modes…and in months to follow it only became worse.

I am happy to say that I am (although struggling) in much better a state this year. Last year I would not have scarcely even consumed anything more than 500 calories a day, probably less. Now I am consuming between 1,000-1,200 a day, which to most still appears low, but I feel I cannot go any higher at present.

But this isn’t a post about calories. Nor is it to be one about reflection (that comes tomorrow…). Honestly, I don’t have a really good theme for this post at all. I spent most of my day out grocery shopping and checking out my apartment. The next few days look rather awful weather-wise, and thus I will not have access to the grocery (living in the middle of nowhere seriously sucks…the nearest grocery with a decent stock of vegan food is nearly an hour away!). I was able to pick up a few things for New Years tomorrow. I’m planning on making some pizza tomorrow evening, as well as some baked onion rings (from AFR). And a big-ass salad, as well.

Today I was forced to eat on the road, which I am not a fan of doing. But it must be done, considering I refuse to buy food from fast food restaurants, or pre-prepared food from the grocery. I threw myself together a quick miso soup, inspired from one of my cookbooks, The Modern Ayurvedic Cookbook by Amrita Sondhi. The original recipe is entitled Asparagus Miso Soup, thus containing asparagus, as well as sweet potatoes. I decided to halve the recipe, use squash in place of the sweet potatoes, cauliflower in place of the asparagus (for sadly, I had none), and added in some spinach and cubed tofu. It was very good…and filling!

Bharati Masala Miso Soup

Submitted as a Wellness Weekend Recipe

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped cauliflower
• 1 cup chopped winter squash
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tbs Braggs Liquid Aminos
• 1/8 tsp sriracha
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• a handful of baby spinach
• 1/8 block pressed lite firm tofu,cubed
• 1/2 tbs white miso mixed with 1 tbs water

Ingredients:

In a quart-sized saucepan, bring to a boil the cauliflower and squash in the cup of water, along with the Braggs, sriracha and seasonings.

When a boil has been reached, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover with a lid, and simmer the vegetables until tender (probably around 10 or so minutes).

Next, add in the spinach and mix it in with the cauliflower and squash, mashing as you go, until the spinach is wilted.

Mix in the tofu, and turn off the heat.

Stir in the miso and serve.

Eating on the run is not my favourite thing to do. It makes me uncomfortable and rushed. I enjoy my food much more when I have time to think about what I’m eating…not whilst I’m in a moving vehicle.

So do you have New Years Eve plans?

Do you eat anything special for New Years Eve? Go out? Have an appetizer/small plate party? Pizza party?

Why this article grinds my gears: Why Is Everyone Going Vegan? Health & Fitness (via glamour.com)

Why Is Everyone Going Vegan? Health & Fitness

Just call me overly sensitive. I know a lot of people who think that this is a great article – it’s putting veganism “out there” in the forefront. Making it seem less “scary” for the doubtful omnis of the world.

But the thing is…I don’t like the vibe I get off of it. It’s making veganism sound like nothing but another one of those damned fad diets. In fact, that’s basically all that it’s referring to all throughout the whole article. It talks in the very intro which celebs are vegan (and BTW, Nat Portman is NOT vegan). It talks about how they all lost weight by “going vegan” as if weight loss is the only goal. It talks about how you need to closely monitor your daily food intake just to make sure your getting all of the proper nutrients that you aren’t getting from animal products.

Um. Not the point of being vegan, people. Being vegan is a lifestyle, not a diet. Sure, you have to be conscious of what your eating. But you don’t have to worry about not getting enough nutrients, or worry whether or not that cookie has animal products in it if you eat a whole foods based diet.

I wish people could just get the point…

WIAW 9: It’s snowing!

Why couldn’t this have come about a week ago? This is the sort of weather that puts me more in a festive (dare I say) holiday spirit. You know…the sort of weather that just makes you want to curl up with a steamy cafe mocha and a copy of Pride and Prejudice? Yup, one of those days.

Too bad the holidays are over (Well, almost over. I’m not counting New Years. That’s not a holiday, IMO). And yet, despite all that I baked up pre-Christmas, I continue to bake. All of the cookies I made I gifted out to people, and there are two cinnamon rolls left. That means stuff had to be made.

For days now Mum had been (not so subtly) hinting for me to make up a batch of biscuits:

(to my Grandma) “Oh, you should try Danielle’s biscuts! They’re so good!”

“This raw, local, un-pasturized honey would be so good on some biscuits! “

“You know what this Biscoff spread would be good on? Biscuits!“

Um…okay, Mum. I’ll make some biscuits.

Just to try something new, I decided to play around with my recipe for scones. Mostly because I’m not much a fan of plain old biscuits. Mostly because they contain margarine, and margarine freaks me out. This is what I came up with…

Gingerbread Scones

Based off of Basic Scones

Submitted as a Wellness Weekend Recipe

Yields 8 small wedges

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup stevia extract in the raw (or sugar)
• 1 tbs baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ginger powder
• 1/8 tsp allspice powder
• a pinch of salt
• 2 tbs mashed lite firm tofu
• 1/2 cup minus 2 tbs almond milk
• 2 tbs blackstrap molasses
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400F.

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sweetener, baking powder, spices, and salt.

Next, cut in the mashed tofu with your fingers, creating a lumpy sand-like consistency.

With a fork, mix in the milk, molasses and vanilla, being very very careful not to overwork the dough. It’s okay if there is some straggling flour.

Turn out the dough onto a flat surface, mould together into a big round of dough (kneading about once to catch up the straggling flour), and cut the round into 8 equal sized wedges.

Arrange on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 12-13 minutes.

Much away with your favourite jam. I had mine with raspberry, which was delightful.

I also made one of two batches of cookies yesterday. I decided to try out Isa and Terry’s recipe for Macadamia Ginger Crunch Drops, since I just so happened to have in my possession some candied ginger and macadamia nuts.

I haven’t tried one yet, but reactions to these have been nothing but positive! Woo!

But since it is Wednesday, let us take a looksee at what I actually ate today. *Thanks to Jenn over at Peas and Crayons for hosting this blog party. And get well soon, love!*

Breakfast:

I had the remaining curry (about 1 1/2 cups) from Christmas, along with 1/8 block of lite firm tofu cubed on top. I also had an unphotographed date and a yellow starburst candy (bad! I should not eat junk food like that…). 140 calories.

Lunch:

Lunch was my usual and incredibly unoriginal 1/2 cup of diluted squash soup with a cup of simmered buttercup squash, and 1/8 block of tofu. 100 calories. 

Afternoon Dish:

You’ll notice that I’ve discovered the amazingness of Instagram. I. Love. That. App. Anywho.

I had some dry curried veggies, rather akin to my usual breakfast. But instead of cauliflower, I used broccoli. Twas yum. 130 calories.

Earlier in the day I threw together some ingredients to make a vegan-version of the Indian/Middle Eastern ground meat, Kheema. I used rehydrated TVP granules. They are so easy to use, and make a great ground meat replacement. They’re chewy and good, and don’t remind me too much of meat, which is totally a good thing. Here’s my recipe for basic kheema:

Kheema

Yields 2 cups

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup dry TVP
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tbs braggs liquid aminos
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tbs ketchup
• 1 tsp: garlic powder, onion powder, ginger powder
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 cup finely chopped carrots
• 6-8 tbs water
• 1 tsp jaggery
• 1/2 tsp sririacha
• 1/2 tbs: garlic powder, onion powder
• 1 tsp: ginger powder, coriander powder
• 1/2 cup frozen peas

Directions:

Add your TVP into an empty cereal bowl.

In a measuring cup, mix together the 1/2 cup of water, 1 tbs ketchup, 1 tbs braggs, and seasonings.

Pour this over the TVP and allow it to rehydrate (15 minutes should do if you’re in a rush. If not, longer is perfectly fine.)

Once rehydrated add to a skillet along with the chopped carrots, water, 1/4 cup ketchup, jaggery, sriracha, and seasonings.

Set the heat to medium, cover, and cook until the the liquid starts to bubble. Reduce the heat to a simmer.

Simmer for 30 or so minutes, stirring often, until the carrots are cooked through and the liquid is essentially cooked off (add more if needed during the cooking process).

Once cooked through, add the peas, mix and turn off the heat.

Serve over bread rolls or flatbread.

Or, you could even shlep it into a casserole, top with mashed potatoes, bake at 350F for a half an hour, and boom! Shepherd’s pie!

But I had mine in 1/2 a Flatout flatbread. Kati Roll style. 110 calories.

A little while afterward I had my usual roasted squash and cooked kale. I also added in some cooked broccoli this time. 230 calories.

Snackage:

For snacks before bed, since I realized I was down like um…a lot of calories, I had three things:

1) Chocolate pumpkin mousse! (100 calories) I can’t go a day without this stuff. I love it. It’s just my normal pumpkin mousse with some chocolate extract and instant espresso powder added in.

2) A 3 oz banana with rehydrated powdered peanut butter (120 calories). Um, this peanut butter is bananas (lolz). I love it. It’s worth the high price. You all must try it.

3) At the same time I had a bowl of broccoli (70 calories). Exciting, I know.

So there are my eats today. I made it to 1,000 calories with much much effort. Although I am not comfortable with upping my calories at the moment, I am trying to challenge myself by eating different foods. I’m trying to at least increase the calories at each meal so I don’t have to physically eat a ton of stuff throughout the whole day, ending up feeling physically uncomfortable.

I mean…today I actually ate bread AND some fruit AND some peanut butter! That’s a pretty big deal for me.

I am still afraid that I’m gaining weight. Mum says that I don’t look like I am, but I sure feel like I have. I feel like my stomach is bigger…although her explanation is that it is just no longer totally empty…my discomfort is from the fact that there is actually food in my digestive system. It’s not like my clothes are getting smaller…and I don’t have a scale to weigh myself…so…yeah. I dunno. This whole eating thing is totally weird for me.

And to leave you all with a few questions to chew on…

Can you believe it’s the end of the year already?

Do you have plans for New Years?

Do you do the whole cheesy “resolution” thing?

Christmas: Day Two – “Family Dinner”

If Christmas day was good, then yesterday was even better. I must admit, I had a really really good day, and I really really enjoyed myself and spending time with my family.

Most everyone showed up that I suspected would. Of course, there was me, Mum, Rigby, my Grandparents, my cousin Steve and his mum (my mum’s sister) Laurie, my cousin Kyle and his girlfriend (Jess) and his parents Chrisie (mum’s youngest sister) and Terry. Dad showed up last minute from work. My other cousin, Jim (Steve’s brother) stayed home, and my other cousin (Kyle’s sister) Missy and her boyfriend Steve had to leave before I got there because they have to work today (they live a few hours away).

I thought that I was going to be totally nerved up, like I usually am, but I remained shockingly calm (and perhaps even…friendly?!) the whole day through, even with exercising less (although I was still worried that having less exercise is going to result in some massive amount of weight gain…and thus was weary about consuming my regular 1000 calories…). Everything went swimmingly with dinner prep and the returning of my Ninja Kitchen System. I stayed home and cooked whilst mum and Rigby went to the store. Thankfully they hit up the grocery as well…it would have been a very very bad thing if I had run out of cauliflower. Which would have happened otherwise. Eeps.

I actually ended up making almost everything that I said I would, other than a squash side dish. For starches, I made (by request) my sandwich bread, and just because I wanted the, I made up a batch of dal paratha.

The other bread pictured with my white bread is my Granny’s Wheatie Bread (as in it’s made with Wheaties cereal). A recipe that I need to veganize. Maybe I could make it with some type of Nature’s Path cereal…I’ll have to get on that. Anywho.

I made my favourite squash soup…

…my “Mashed Potato” casserole…

Crack Roasted brussels sprouts. Um…yum.

And for a “main” I actually did make a batch of curry. And people actually ate some and liked it! I was shocked and very much pleased. I must admit, it was very tasty. I mean…it has to be. It has omni approval.

Christmas Curry

Yields:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups chopped cauliflower (10.5 oz)
• 2 cups chopped asparagus (9.4 oz)
• 1 cup chopped winter squash (4 oz)
• 1 cup chopped broccoli (3 oz)
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tbs braggs liquid aminos
• enough water to make 1 cup of liquid
• 1 1/2 tbs garlic powder
• 1 tbs onion powder
• 1 tbs ginger powder
• 1 tbs coriander powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 oz chopped kale
• 1/4 block of lite firm tofu

Directions:

Add together in a large cast iron skillet all of the chopped vegetables.

In a 1 cup liquid measuring cup, mix together the tomato sauce, ketchup, braggs, spices, and enough water to make one cup of liquid.

Add to the vegetables.

Now add in another 1/2 cup of water, set the heat to medium, cover, and bring the mixture to a boil.

When you’ve reached a steady boil, reduce the heat to medium until the liquid mostly cooked off and the vegetables are tender.

Next, still on low heat add in your kale and cook until it’s wilted and the slakes are tender.

Add in the tofu, mix, remove from heat and serve.

Mum also whipped together some vegan yumminess. She made a higher calorie version of my Squash n’ Banana Casserole by using sweet potatoes, bananas, and some brown sugar in place of the jaggery (everything in different proportions, as well – I’ll snag the recipe from her soon).

Here she is grinding some walnuts onto the casserole!

And as for dessert…

I made gingerbread. And decided to ice it with a cinnamon-cream “cheese” icing. All I did for that was mix together 1/2 icing sugar with 1 tbs tofutti better n’ cream cheese, 1 tsp vegan margarine, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and just enough almond milk to make the icing well..frost-able.

I admittedly have had no had a slice of it yet…but intend to at some point in the nearish future. I like to have it sit a day or so to let flavours develop. This is actually what I had for dinner…

I had half a Flatout flatbread, a cup of curry, a half cup of soup, and 1/4 cup crack roasted brussels. And coffee. Just one cup, though (very odd for me…I usually drink a lot more coffee than that…).

After dinner came gift opening. And I loved and very much appreciated everything that I received this year (I gave people homemade cookies and candies).

My Granny and Grandfather gave me a nice immersion blender and an electric cookie press! They also picked me out this really pretty tunic, but t’was too short for me Boo. Therefore I must return it, which is unfortunate because I really really liked it…

My aunt and uncle gave me a super awesome Dalai Lama desk calendar, which I absolutely love! Each day has a little positive Dalai Lama-ism, positive affirmation message. Love that! I also got a grade sized Starbucks commuter mug! WOO! Anything to feed my coffee addiction! Love!

And my cousin, Steve gave me this adorbs Buddha statue!

All gifts very thoughtful, and very me. Thank you so much, everyone!

Now mum is bound and determined to get me something in place of the Ninja. The problem is…I can’t think of anything that I really want. Any ideas?

 

Do you attend multiple Christmas dinners/celebrations?

What was your favourite gift this year?

How do you feel after your holiday meal(s)? 

Christmas: Day One – “Brunch”

Which turned out more to be like lunch than brunch. We invited my grandparents up around 1 in the afternoon.

Out of pure laziness, I decided to forgo the french toast and tempeh bacon idea. But we did have the cinnamon rolls that I threw together last night, so those were more like a dessert than a part of a brunch. Instead, we did a little Indo-Italian. I *tried* to make some dosa, but kind of failed miserably at that. I think I didn’t make the batter thin enough. So instead of wasting ingredients, I decided to make the batter into little silver dollar “pancakes!”

Cute, huh? We (as in mum and I) had this with a thick lentil soup that I made.

Dal aur Meetha Subzi Soup

Yields: Around 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped winter squash
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup cooked dal
• 1-2 braggs liquid aminos
• 1/2 tbs garlic powder
• 1/2 tbs onion powder
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 1/4 tsp coriander powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce

Directions:

In a quart sized saucepan, boil your veggies in the water until fairly tender.

Add in your cooked dal and spices and stir. Cook over medium heat until it starts to thicken a tad. Reduce the heat to a simmer.

When it has thickened after a while, add in the tomato sauce. Cook for a few minutes more, or longer if you so choose. Serve with roti or paratha, or even over rice.

But like I said…only mum and I had this. Rigby had requested baked ziti last week, so mum made some with the soft curd cheese I made yesterday, some daiya mozzarella “cheese,” and jarred tomato sauce. I must say, although I didn’t have any myself, it certainly looked and smelled good.

Mum’s Easy Baked Ziti

Yields 2 smallish or 1 largeish casseroles

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dry ziti
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 cups ricotta (either tofu or soft curd cheese)
• 1 1/2 cups daiya mozzarella cheese
• 2 tbs vegan parmesan

Directions:

Cook your pasta as according to the directions on the package.

Preheat your oven to 400F.

In a big bowl, mix together your cooked pasta with the sauce, ricotta, and 1 cup of the daiya.

Spoon the mixture in to your casserole(s), top with the remaining “mozzarella” and the parmesan.

Bake the casserole for 30 minutes. You can cover the zit if you want when baking, but mum said that it wouldn’t make much of a difference.

So that was that for brunch. Although it didn’t feel much like Christmas, I must admit, it wasn’t a bad day at all. I feel just a touch anxious due to what I consider to be a lack of exercise, but not too bad. Tomorrow will probably feel a little more like Christmas since we’re going down to my grandparents’ house for dinner and gifts.

My menu for tomorrow may change just a bit because of unforeseen circumstances. See, mum gave me an amazing present – the Ninja Kitchen System 1100. I was so happy – I’ve wanted something like this for ages. But…it was defective. Boo Major bummer. So, tomorrow morning we’re going to the store to return it. So I have no idea whether or not I’ll even have time to cook anything for dinner tomorrow. I did make paratha tonight already and a loaf of bread…but that’s it. No dessert. No curry. No potatoes. Nothing like that. So we’ll see how everything turns out tomorrow morning. Maybe we could just return the processor on Tuesday instead…oh well. Everything will work out fine in the end.

My other gifts were just as awesome.

Got some cruelty-free cosmetics. (left to right: Say Yes to Carrots Leave in Conditioner, Say Yes to Carrots Shampoo, Wet ‘n Wild black eyeliner, vanilla body mist; unpictured: Wet ‘n Wild eyeshadow)

More magnetic spice containers! Woo! I love these.

A microplane grater with a measure-contianer thingy attached to the back to measure how much stuff you’re grating.

A cute lil’ cookie skillet set. The mix itself isn’t vegan, so I’ll just make it for Rigby. But the mini skillet is so darn cute!

A heated blanket for my cold little body. I love these so much.

My dad got me and my sister both microfiber queen sized blankets. They are so warm and soft! And I am shocked…my dad has NEVER picked us out or bought us gifts just himself. It was such a nice surprise!

omfg powdered peanut butter! That’s only 45 calories for 2 tbs! Holy freaking awesomeness! I can’t wait to try this…

I got my favourite movie EVER. I love the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice, starring the incredibly handsome Colin Firth. I love him to no end.

I squealed like a giddy schoolgirl when I opened this. True story.

I got Anne Burrell’s new cookbook, Cook Like A Rockstar. I know, like none of her recipes are vegan, but she’s so fun to watch on TV, and the book is a great read. Plus, it would be so awesome to make vegan versions of some of her food. (Look at me, making food vegan!)

I got Beatles stuff! Which makes me a happy, happy girl. Mum go me a set (that you see on the left) that consisted of a 7″ Beatles VINIL. ‘Tis Hello Goodbye/I Am The Walrus, and it came with that black shirt. I had no idea that they sold stuff like this! Guess that shows what a sheltered life I lead…and mum and Rigby picked me out that uber cute white AHDN-era Beatles shirt from Pac Sun. It’s one of those billow-y cropped t-shirts that look wicked cool with a tank top underneath. Love ‘em.

I got Bo's John Hancock! Woo!

Showin’ some kale love! Mum got me the *ever-so-controversial* Eat More Kale shirt that I have been dying to get. It came with two Eat More Kale stickers, and a signed picture/note of thanks from Bo ‘The ‘Eat More Kale’ Guy.” lol

Take that Chick-Fil-A!

Well, I spent my afternoon making bread and watching the first half of P&P. I had a good day. I’m rather happy with that, despite my sheer lack of festiveness this year, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

I should make gingerbread.

Oh, and just a side note…THIS IS MY 200th POST!!!

 

How was your Christmas?

What did you eat?

What presents did you give and get?

Happy X-Mas!

Happy Christmas my dear readers! I hope that you all have a splendid holiday. I am up and ready to make brunch. Recipes are to come!  In the meantime, I leave you with this holiday-themed survey that I have been seeing around the blogosphere…

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

I am more of a mocha person myself, but I like hot chocolate just a tad more than the nog. Even though I did come up with a pretty delightful vegan version (sans the alcohol) of the normally disgusting beverage.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Wrap, dur.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

Coloured for sure! We just last year got some new light strands that have PURPLE bulbs. My fav.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

No. Does anyone?

5. When do you hang your decorations up?

Well, the past few years, in mid December. I can’t say that I participated….sadly :\ Things haven’t really been the same since college started. I get too focused on finals/final essays to think about holidays and decorations. (I’m such a party pooper…)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Squash and brussels sprouts! And this year I’m making curry…so that’ll be good! Today I’m eating my normal food, though. No brunch for me…just everyone else.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?

Oh god…it’s just a compilation. Waking up before everyone else, waiting anxiously to unwrap presents, watching those old claymation movies, going to my grandparents’ house to decorate, make cookies, go down Christmas day and open presents there and have dinner…having sweet rolls for breakfast…No one thing in particular…just…everything. I used to like it all so much.

8. What is on your Christmas Wishlist?

Honestly, I really have nothing in particular in mind this year. The only things I want are too expensive to be gifts – an iPad 2 and a VitaMix. Hoping for those someday, but certainly not for Christmas.

9. Do you open a gifts on Christmas Eve?

Day! And tomorrow at my Grandma’s…first year this has happened…weird.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

Oh you know, lights, garland, old ornaments, my bird ornaments, an antique tree topper…

11. Snow? Love it or dread it?

I love the look of it, I hate being out in it. I must say, I wish that there was at least a little snow on the ground here. Green Christmases depress me just a bit…

12. Real tree or fake tree?

Fake. Allergies. Not fun.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

 

Nope. I remember gifts I like. Never a favourite though. My iPod is up there, I guess.

14. What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?

I guess being with family…being thoughtful and caring about others.

15. What is your favorite Holiday dessert?

I always used to like chocolate pie. And Christmas cookies, of course. Russian tea cakes, peanut butter blossoms, cut out sugar cookies, buckeye candies…

16. What is your favorite tradition?

It used to be decorating the tree. Now it’s making cookies

17. What tops your tree?

This cute antique tree topper, that looks like one of the top of those gorgeous buildings in St Petersburg, Russia.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?

Giving for sure. Receiving makes me feel guilty.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?

Happy X-Mas/War is Over by John Lennon!

20. Candy canes, yuck or yum?

Yum! I love peppermint.

21. Favorite Christmas Movie?

The Nightmare Before Christmas! Unconventional. Like me
I also love Year Without a Santa Claus, if we’re talking classics. I love the snow miser and heat miser.

22. What do you leave for Santa?

Nothin in recent years. Used to be, back in the day, peanut butter blossoms, some russian tea cakes, a glass of milk, and some carrots for the ‘reindeer.’ hah.
23. Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?

Used to, but not anymore. It used to be my sister and I would get up inconceivably early, open gifts, then we would all have (store-bought) cinnamon rolls, then go to my granny’s, have lunch/dinner there and open presents with my cousins.

24. Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?

Used to be the mall. Now I can’t stand the place. I love online shopping.

25. Christmas letter or Christmas card?

Card. Seems more special.

 

Part two: On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me (the positive edition)

Indian and sweets for Christmas,

Yummy Indian street food,

Healthy chocolate truffles,

Festive brownie cupcakes,

Apps for Christmas snacking, 

Mangoes in a curry,

Classic Christmas cookies,

Warming split pea soup!

A sweet casserole,

Treats for Cupcake Day,

Two tasty curries,

and a super simple hummus recipe!

 Sorry about the total lack of stability in my former post from this morning. I honestly do not know what got over me, other than the fact that the holiday season stresses me out to no end. But by late afternoon, I was able to gather myself together enough to at least calm down, work things through, and actually managed to make some food.

Also, like I said in my last post, I’m thinking for Monday afternoon’s lunch/dinner at my Grandma’s I’m going to make Indian. Now I’m not sure what I’m making by means of a curry, but I certainly know what I’m bringing for sides. Roasted brussels are a must, same with my mashed “potato” casserole…and roasted squash is a possiblity. I may, instead of roasted squash, make some sort of spiced sauteed squash subzi-style dish. I’m not too sure yet. I’ve already made a batch of squash soup, so that’s done with. I also may make this, even if just for myself if I get a little freaked out and feel the need to prepare something separate.

Quick Kale Subzi

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 4 oz rough chopped kale
• 1 tbs braggs liquid aminos
• 1 tsp ketchup
• 1/2 tsp sriracha
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 ginger powder
• 1/4 coriander powder
• 2 tbs cooked chana dal

Directions:

Add all of the ingredients except for the dal into a large cast iron skillet. Set the heat to medium and cook down the kale for 3-5 minutes, until a little wilted, but not completely. Just enough to soften the kale and for it to turn bright green. Stir occasionally to ensure all of the leaves get cooked. Once cooked through, remove from the heat. stir in the dal, transfer to a bowl or plate and eat.

 To go with whatever veggies and curry I’m making, I made some paratha (which I might have to re-make on monday, as they are already almost eaten up…). I based them off of the recipe from Priya’s Easy and Tasty Recipes. And let me tell you…they are soft, chewy, and sooooo delicious. Not to mention high in protein. Just one this evening kept me full for a very long time, without feeling totally bloated. #Win!

Dal aur Tofu Paratha

Adapted from Pumpkin Tofu Parathas by Priya’s Easy and Tasty Recipes

Yields 6 paratha

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 ginger powder
• a pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup mashed lite firm tofu
• 1/4 cup cooked dal
• 2 tbs soy yoghurt
• enough water to form a workable but not too wet or sticky dough
• extra flour for rollings

Directions:

Mix together in a bowl the flour, seasonings, tofu, dal, and yoghurt. Add in some water a little at a time, until the dough becomes workable. Remove from the bowl, kneed on a flat surface to form the dough into a smooth dough ball. Cover and allow the dough to rest for 30 minutes to an hour.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Divide your dough-ball into 6 smaller balls, and roll each one out to a 6″ or 7″ circle.

Cook each dough circle until the one side starts to puff and bubble. Flip, cook the other side for around 30 seconds, and move to a plate.

Repeat with the remaining rounds, giving another spritz of cooking spray with each paratha (and I mean a quick spritz. No long spraying here.)

Mum was shocked when I told her that there was tofu and dal in these. She would have never guessed. So I suppose that an omni wouldn’t notice the tofu and dal as well, considering she has rather discerning taste-buds! As for the picky ones who won’t probably even try a paratha, I’m making white sandwich bread. Everyone likes that.

And as for “brunch” tomorrow…

Cinnamon Rolls.

From Vegan Brunch. I kind of doubt my having one (too many carbs and calories, not mention the amount of sugar…), but they’re something that everyone else will enjoy. I may also whip together a batch of tempeh bacon. Maybe french toast as well.

One thing I know I’m making for sure is a batch of dosai off of a recipe from Holy Cow! (love that blog name!) I have my rice and lentils soaking at this very moment. I’ll probably throw together some sort of sambar to go with it, for those who want it.

But that’s all I have planned thus far. We’ll see tomorrow what comes about!

On the twelfth day of Christmas….[edit #1]

Sorry about what is written below. Obviously I was having a moment. As in a moment where I allowed the eating disorder voice in my head take over. It happens from time to time. This is the first time in a pretty long while that the voice struck with such force resulting in such horrid thoughts and behaviours. I apologize. It happens when I’m stressed out, and the holidays MAJORLY stress me out – I don’t hate them, as previously written. I am in fact going to participate in my family’s Christmas, and am going to make a few treats for brunch tomorrow morning. For my family celebration on Monday, I am making paratha, a curry of some sort, soup, pumpkin pie, white bread (for everyone else…I’m not into white bread…), roasted brussels sprouts, and will probably bring along some sort of chutney. For brunch I’m making the Cinnamon Rolls from Vegan Brunch, french toast, the Tempeh Bacon from VB, maybe some roasted squash and I think that mum is making baked ziti for Rigby, with daiya and the homemade soft curd cheese that I made today.

Or not. 

Honestly, I just had  total panic attack just thinking about this mother f***ing holiday. I realized…I want no part of it. None of it. None of the presents. None of the food. None of the fake-ass family related sh**. Me celebrating the holiday feels dishonest and totally phony. I’m not religious. I’m not a family person. I’m completely self centered, and am a very very angry person (mostly towards myself…). This time of year brings me absolutely no joyous feelings. In fact, I hate this time of year. I have nothing to celebrate. I’m just a f***ing sick, warped person, with a sick, distorted sense of self – a distortion that controls every little thing I do, every single day for the past three years. My anorexia won’t let me “celebrate” Christmas anymore. Or be truly happy anymore for that matter.

No family dinner. No food. Nothing. I don’t want to eat. I don’t want to cook, for myself or anyone else. I don’t want to be around anyone else. I just want to exercise the calories away…I want to be alone with my eating disorder. (Yup…it’s one of those days. Bye-bye rationality.)

All I hope is that no one else feels as sh**y as I do right now. No one else should feel miserable like me this time of year. Sorry to bring everybody down.

If my some impossible chance I regain some sense of rationality, I may repent some of the things I just said. But as for now, Christmas and I are through.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Yummy Indian street food,

Healthy chocolate truffles,

Festive brownie cupcakes,

Apps for Christmas snacking, 

Mangoes in a curry,

Classic Christmas cookies,

Warming split pea soup!

A sweet casserole,

Treats for Cupcake Day,

Two tasty curries,

and a super simple hummus recipe!

Did you ever have so many lentils cooked up that you didn’t know what to do with them? It’s not really possible to eat up a whole batch of cooked lentils by yourself, unless you plan on having dal for every meal for like…a week straight. It sucks when family members don’t just eat the lentils you make *sigh* Curse people who only like to eat pre-prepared food.

So what to do with those leftover lentils before they go bad? Make lentil patties and put them in sandwiches! Far FAR more appealing to a non-health-foodie than a pile of mushy cooked lentils. My lentil patties are baked rather than pan-fried, so they’re a helluva lot healthier than other recipes of the like.

 

Gajar Muttar Dal Vada

Submitted as a Wellness Weekend Recipe

Yields 12 2″ patties

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked lentils
• 1/4 cup carrot, shredded (1.5 oz)
• 1/4 cup frozen peas
• 1/4 cup besan (garbanzo bean) flour
• 1/2 tsp braggs liquid aminos
• 1/2 tsp: garlic powder, onion powder, ginger powder, coriander powder
• a pinch of turmeric
• a pinch of salt.

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray (yes, do both).

Mash all of the ingredients together with your hands in a bowl.

Shape the mixture into 12 small patties and arrange on the lined baking sheet. Spray the patties with a little nonstick cooking spray and baking for 20 minutes.

Flip the patties, spray again and bake for another 10 minutes.

Serve warm on pav buns, or wrapped in a flatbread/pita, or with your favourite chutney (or ketchup…).

They’re also tasty dipped in hummus and cilantro chutney. That would probably make a pretty damn good Christmas appetizer on a plate with some hummus, chutneys, and chopped veg.

I used up my leftover split urad dal to make these.

I’ll probably be making these again, as I’m currently cooking up a batch of chana dal. Apparently I never learned my lesson and will end up with more lentils than I know what to do with.

Although…I was thinking this time that I would make some sort of curry for Christmas. So these might go towards Christmas dinner. Because the fam is getting Indian from me whether they like it or not. HAH. So that’s that.

Would you ever make a curry for Christmas dinner?

What do you have planned?

What is your favourite way to use up cooked lentils or beans?

On the (belated) tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…

Healthy chocolate truffles,

Festive brownie cupcakes,

Apps for Christmas snacking, 

Mangoes in a curry,

Classic Christmas cookies,

Warming split pea soup!

A sweet casserole,

Treats for Cupcake Day,

Two tasty curries,

and a super simple hummus recipe!

Okay, sort of healthy. As healthy as something dipped in chocolate could be. They’re certainly not something you’d want to eat daily, but these would be a good sweet treat (I emphasize – treat). Not to mention, they would make a great gift for Christmas. That’s what I made them for. I need to go to the store pretty soon to get some cute little mini-cupcake liners or some of those candy wrapper things that they sell in grocery stores…

So what makes these babies healthier than your average truffle? Well, the inside of the truffle is practically superfood. It’s dates and nuts, man! Couldn’t get more hippie than that! Feel free not to dip these in chocolate and feel less guilty about eating one or two at a time!

Healthier Chocolate “Truffles” 

Submitted as a Wellness Weekend Recipe

Yields: 12-16 balls

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup raw almonds
• 1/4 cup raw cashews
• 12 délot noir dates, chopper
• 1 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp chocolate extract

Directions:

Pulse the nuts in a food processor a few times to break them up a little. Add in the dates and extracts and blend until everything starts to hold together. Scoop out a little of the mixture at a time, roll into 1″ balls, and well…eat them as is, chill for later “use,” dip them in chocolate, roll them in cocoa powder, roll them in coconut…the choice is yours!

 Like I said, I dipped mine in chocolate. A pretty easy way to melt chocolate without it totally seizing up on you is to add 1 cup of chocolate chips plus 1 tsp oil to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir with a silicon spatula. Continue to microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring immediately after heating, until all chips are melted. Dip away! I suggest using a teaspoon to roll the date-nut ball around in the chocolate, scooping it out of the melted chocolate, and transferring it (almost) neatly to a piece of parchment paper. Once you dip all of the truffles, chill them in the fridge. Easy, huh? A tad messy, but easy nonetheless.

You know what else makes a good food gift?

Cookies. Cookies can do no wrong when it comes to gifting.

Are you giving any sort of food gifts this year?

Have you gotten your Christmas shopping done yet?

Do you know what you’re making for Christmas yet? I don’t.