Heirloom Seeds

This might just be me, but whenever I see those heart-wrenching ASPCA commercials, I immediately call Razor to me and snuggle him and give him treats. Does anyone else do that? Oh well, he's making out on the deal!

Look at that face....

Even though inch after inch of snow continues to whiten the world outside, covering every branch, every rooftop, and all the land in a thick blanket of bitter cold - I'm huddled inside anxiously planning for spring. 

I'm going to do it this year, I'm going to have a garden, I'm going to grow vegetables. Well, let's not set the bar to high, I will grow -a- vegetable! What homesteader doesn't grow some of their own vegetables? I can do this... I am Bob's granddaughter, I am Candy's daughter... I have gardening in my veins. Okay, pep talk over.. let's talk seeds. 

I saw an advertisement in my new favorite magazine, Mother Earth News for these heirloom seeds available at Baker's Creek . These seeds are so interesting, not your typical array of veggies here. I love that each seed is reviewed by users and they add good tips or things to consider before buying. This girl can use all the help she can get! 

I may have gotten a wee bit overzealous in what I purchased, but here's what I got:

• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Pickling Cucumbers
• Collard Greens 
• Ground Cherries
• Lettuce
• Red Onions
• Yellow Onions
• Bell Peppers
• Spinach
• Zucchini 
• Swiss Chard 
• Tomatoes
• Basil
• Chives
• Cilantro
• Dill 

In my internet searching, it sounds like the herbs, the swiss chard, spinach, onions, cabbage, lettuce, collard greens, and carrots will do alright in partial shade (3-6 hrs sunlight) Which is good since that's what my back yard consists of. The cucumbers, ground cherries, peppers, and tomatoes are going to need at least 8-12hrs of sunlight so I'll be putting these along the side and front of the house (and will be crossing my fingers). I'm even considering making some window planters- but we'll see. Another good tip I picked up was to use self watering containers for the tomatoes and peppers that need hydration consistently. 

I also will have to ensure I have plenty of mulch and/or plastic tarp to protect the latter items from drying out as they'll have to be in containers. (Hey man, I'm in the city, this is urban homesteading at it's finest.) 

My goal is to plant a little bit of everything and use trial and error to see what thrives and what fails in this climate and with the amount of sun I get here. Pittsburgh ain't known for their sunshine- that's for sure! Oh well, wish my luck- I'll need it. 

New Veg Cookbooks!!

So... a very good friend of mine and I have had this running joke that she's going to just deliver me this gigantic box of goodies one day because she's been holding onto not only my Christmas present, but my birthday present as well. She's unfortunately never having the opportunity to actually give me said gifts. This is 100% my fault because during the winter months I become this secluded, unsocial hermit where I just lay around my house in squalor and hibernate all day but, I digress.



Well she finally found the golden, opportunistic moment to bequeath me with my much appreciated loot and WOW does the woman KNOW ME!!

Check this out- vegan/vegetarian cookbooks! The way to this gal's heart for sure.

Now, I am a major dunce at times and thought that the cookbook meant spirited by "Yay! Feisty Vegetarian!" but NO!

NO.... NO... NO...

It's spirited because every recipe has BOOZE IN IT!! BOOZE! I am so jazzed because I'm a firm believer that things are automatically made fancier simply by sploshing a bit of wine into it.

Upon realizing this, I immediately scoured the recipes looking for something that I had all the ingredients for and boom.

It was go time.

 I cannot tell you how many times I've been bummed about vegan/vegetarian cooking simply because it makes some of my beloved kitchen utensils obsolete. Like my gigantic Le Creuset stew pot. When will I utilize such a thing that clearly calls for large stew-making endeavors?  And what stew would I make that would take that long? Or what about braising? I know that there's tons of veggie recipes that call for that but guess what- I didn't have a cookbook to tell me how. 

Until now <3

So...Freaking...Good....

With a yummy side salad 

TV Dinner Slummen'

I always look at various vegetarian/vegan TV dinners and want to get them for their convenience and how yummy they look, but I honestly balk at the price and can't justify buying them. Lucky for me, Giant Eagle likes to have Morningstar Farms products on sale (probably because I'm the only one who buys them in my neck of the woods). So buy them I did, and the first night I was too lazy to cook, into the microwave this puppy went. 

It reminded me of the enchilada dinners my brother used to eat by Banquet only sans re-fried beans (and all the other grody additives, I'm sure). It was super good, if a wee bit bland, I did add a good splash or two, or three of Franks red hot sauce. Now mind you, it is vegetarian and not vegan, but for someone looking for a healthier, meat-free option, this sure fits the bill. It was very filling too! The rice was generous and the enchilada was stuffed! ALSO- I forgot how realistic Morningstar Farms chicken is- I bite into a piece and panicked because I thought it was the real stuff. Youuuu sneaky TV dinner makers! 

So, whether you're transitioning to a vegetarian diet, trying out meat-free Mondays, or just reducing your meat intake in general, I definitely recommend these in a quick fix. It'll for sure save you from caving into eating something with meat in it if you're on the run and need something to eat ASAP. 

Liven' on the Veg

So by the way, if you're ever vacationing in Long Beach Island, NJ, they have the most amazing vegan restaurant right there. In fact, it's the only vegan restaurant on the island- good thing it's so good! 

It's called Living on the Veg which I have to say, being an Aerosmith fan, I totally dig the name! 

It's located on 2613 Long Beach Blvd in Beach Haven.  

It's kind of small, not much seating (especially if it's raining, then you might just want to get it to go). The menu is absolutely impressive however, they have fresh smoothies, fresh pressed juices, wraps, burritos, blue plate specials, salads, sammies, and other hearty entries to satisfy that raging appetite you'll have worked up after laying on the beach all day! 

The menu was a long board above the cash register so I did my best to take a picture of it in two parts... 

My mouth is watering reading over the menu again, I wish I had a place like this in Pittsburgh!!

 

Daily specials..

This sounded so delicious!! I wanted to get it, alas we went around lunchtime, no worries though I had tons and tons to pick from still! I wanted to eat it all!

Also- I would like to point out that any restaurant sporting Bragg's as a condiment is immediately a four star place to eat in my book. 

After much deliberation, Mike and I decided on the Smooth Operator smoothie to split. It was so fruity and sweet and the soy milk added gave it a delicious creaminess, we were sucking this down in minutes!

I ordered the Buffalo Caesar wrap which was in a word, divine. I have dreams about this dish sometimes. The tofu soaked up all the delicious hot sauce and the caesar dressing on it was just perfect. That, mixed with crunchy, fresh romaine lettuce this wrap was perfection in itself. 

And don't even get me started on the potato salad.... I'm broken-hearted that I can't have that everyday. I don't know what they use for dressing on it, but it is literately of the gods. I have half a mind to call them and beg them for the recipe. 

Mikey got the Southwest burrito with a side of coleslaw.  I really dug the coleslaw also but I think he liked my potato salad better, it just had that extra zing of flavor. 

The seitan was very flavorful and cut into bite size pieces so that it was evenly distributed throughout the burrito, and the rice on it was delicious. I took a bite or two but it was so spicy, I couldn't take anymore. Mike, who could eat a jalapeno whole without blinking an eye, thought it was perfect. I liked that it also had black beans in it- love me some beans. 

Take out items, I still kick myself for not grabbing a pint of that amazing potato salad. Sorry for the crappy photo, I was in a hurry.. boo! 

So if you're into healthy food, vegetarian/vegan food, or heck just freaken' good food and you're in the LBI area- you have to stop by Living on the Veg or you will forever regret it and I will put a voodoo hex on you. Don't think that I wont, I actually have a voodoo doll.. 

Bad Blogger

I have been a super, super bad blogger recently. I've also been super, super busy so at least I have an excuse. We're heading out to the beach this weekend so I've been doing everything in my power and creativity to use all perishables currently in our fridge- I think I'm winning.

Dinners have been weird and random however- and definitely not picture worthy.

Breakfast this week consisted of PB & J's and coffee. Snacks were babybel cheeses and fresh, amazingly delicious peaches from my CSA box. Lunches were a mixture of leftovers and... things I found in the fridge (scary). Dinners... well those were.. also incredibly random. They've been chock-full of veggie and lean protein though, I remember eating uh... rainbow chard, corn on the cob, fresh green beans.. hmm..

But I did it! I have no guilt in wasting food before leaving for our trip!

In other news, I have finally reached the point in my stage of readiness to put in full throttle and lose some weight.  In my field, we learn that everyone is in some stage of readiness in regards to a change they must make.

1. Pre-contemplation: Person has not seriously considered taking action, the need for change is not forefront in their mind. 
2. Contemplation: Person is aware of issue and need for change, but has not made plans on actually making the change. 
3. Preparation: Person has thought about taking action and is making plans on how to achieve this goal. 
4. Action: Person is taking action and continues to take action. (It is very easy to slip from here back to an earlier stage) 
5. Maintenance: Person has been taking action continuously for a length of time and has plan and habit set to continue current action. 

We identify what stage our client or patient is and then cater their plan of care and goals to help move them through the cycle. It's pretty darn helpful. I'm currently in stage 4 so carpe diem- let's keep it coming! 

.......Just in time for vacation. Bah.. 

I promise to take pictures of what I eat on vacation though for two reasons. One, because that's super fun and 2) I have to hold myself accountable. 

ALSO- If you're in the Pittsburgh area and love adventures, theater, or just want to try something truly creative and really cool - check out this event: STRATA . 

I went last night and it was crazy, the whole event was impressive and well done. I would love to tell you more, but then I'd have to kill you- and I think that would hinder my path to personal enlightenment! ;) 

Ina Garten - Veggie Style

I've been trying recently to incorporate more protein into my diet (especially for breakfast) so I made a frittata to take to work last week.  Now, as my family is fully aware of, I am absolutely obsessed with Ina Garten.  I want to be her best friend, her neighbor, heck I want to be her.  She is such a classy lady, has fantastic taste, and has an impeccable talent for entertaining.  It's my life dream to one day meet her but I'm afraid if it happened, I would just stand there sobbing like the idiot that I am. 

Alas, moving on. 

I decided to "tweak" her Smoked Salmon Frittata recipe which is, by the way, to die for and I highly recommend it  for when you have family staying the night over.  But for everyday eating, I wanted to "healthify" it so I:

1. Omitted the salmon and added crumbled soy breakfast patties (if you are a meat-eater, leave the salmon in for a nice boost of omega-3 fatty acids) 

2. Added a brick of spinach (thawed and squeezed of water) 

3. Switched goat cheese for low-fat mozzarella shreds

4. Swapped a dozen eggs for egg beaters equivalent

5. Swapped cream for skim milk 

6. Swapped butter for Brummel & Brown 

Now you're probably thinking, "What the heck Lindsey? You dismantled her recipe!" Okay well fine so I did- gigantic tweakage. But it was Ina's technique of sauteing the onions, pouring the mixture over top, and baking the frittata for almost an hour that really makes this dish what it is.  Also the addition of a cup of fluid makes this dish fluffy and moist.. So, so good. 

Breakfast fit for a king (and queen)

Also- this frittata (made in a 10'' pan) made enough for me and my husband for a week! Yum! Not to mention- who isn't jazzed when they fit vegetables into their breakfast? 

Disclaimer: Please ignore that my foot is in the photo and that the photo is clearly cock-eyed, I was in a gigantic rush to eat it!! 

Summer Family Favorites

Garden vegetables are finally starting to ripen and my CSA boxes are bursting with summer deliciousness!  I was so stoked to get 4 ears of corn and some banana peppers in my box last week- summer staples from my childhood.  Back when I was younger, my family used to live for farm stands and tomatoes fresh from the garden.  My mom used to grow mainly cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, and banana peppers, but I think now that my brother and I have moved out, she just sticks to tomatoes.  

I was feeling rather nostalgic today and craving something home style for dinner.  I didn't want anything elaborate, but I did want something familiar.  I think my dinner selection sums up pretty well what my family would eat every night July-August.

And ya know? We never, ever wanted anything else. 

Hot dog with banana peppers, corn on the cob, tomato salad, and cottage cheese. 

Followed by Grandma B's signature dish: green beans and potatoes with bacon, cooked in the pressure cooker. 

I have so many fond memories of eating dinner at my grandparent's house and having this dish.  I can remember it like it was yesterday, everyone sitting around her round wooden table and digging into fresh tomato salad, spooning out steaming green beans and potatoes, dolloping out cottage cheese, passing the bread and butter.  The kitchen is rather small, so whomever was sitting near the fridge could literately reach behind them, open the door, and grab some pop from the fridge without even getting up!  Not only was the food amazing but it was also so fun to share stories and laugh with my family.

The main point is, everything was so fresh, simple, and delicious and so, so comforting.  I could literately eat this exact meal every night for the rest of my life. 

My grandma is such a fantastic cook, her dishes are famous in the family and often requested at holiday get together's.  One time I tried to sit her down and get the recipes in writing only to find out she doesn't measure anything and just throws in "a handful of this, a dollop of that". Oye!  My mother is slowly mastering many of her dishes through trial and error, her oyster dressing, macaroni salad, potato salad.  Oh and my mom also brings some amazing summer dishes to the table!  I crave her fried zucchini this time of year, and her cucumbers and onions are so refreshing and can go on just about anything.  

So, so good. 

I think I'm going to fully embrace the fruits of summer by making and enjoying my family favorites more often- I think I'm hanging up my spatula for the summer so I can just nosh on fresh vegetables.

Family summer must-haves:

Tomato salad

Corn on the Cob

Cottage Cheese

Hot dogs with banana peppers

Green beans & potatoes with bacon 

Fried Zucchini 

Mom's Cucumbers and Onions

Now I'm super curious to know, what is everyone else eating this summer? 

Mom's Cucumbers & Onions

Now, my mom's a little bit leery about some of my vegan concoctions.  She still loves to call my seitan "satan." Well, little did she know one of her favorite summer dishes is already veggi-fied. Thanks for the recipe mom! 

Mom's Pickled Cucumbers and Onions
6 c. thinly sliced cucumbers
2 onions, sliced thin
1 3/4 c. sugar
1 c. cider vinegar
2 Tbsp salt
1 tsp celery seed (optional)

1. Layer cucumbers and onion in container
2. In a separate bowl, mix together sugar, vinegar, and salt
3. Pour liquid over cucumbers and onions
4. Let soak at least 24hrs before serving

Seriously, it's not summer at my house until we've made a big batch of these.... 

The Most Amazing "Chicken" Fingers Ever

Blargh, Mondays come way too soon and this one was particularly harsh.  I feel like I could sleep for another two days straight and I'd be happy.  For some reason, today I was a little mopey and craving some comfort food like nothing else when I got home from work.  I needed some fried chicken finger-esque food- pronto.  I didn't have any ready-made "chicken" nuggets handy, so I had to use my imagination and a little elbow grease.  And if I do say so myself, wow did I do a good job!! 

I know they don't look outstanding in this photo due to my poor photography skills, but they were so juicy and tender - I couldn't even believe it!  Drizzled with "honey mustard" (hint: yellow mustard + agave nectar),  these things really hit the spot. 

Also in photo: Lipton taco rice, Romano beans with sauteed garlic, and my mom's cucumbers & onions recipe. 

And because I'm nice, I'll share: 

Veg-tastic Fried Chicken 

1/2 c boiling water

1/2  vegan chicken bouillon cube (I used Edward & Sons) 

1/2 c TVP (textured vegetable protein)

1/2 c pancake mix, dry (I used Pamela's baking and pancake mix) 

1/2 tsp garlic powder (or to taste)

1 tsp nutritional yeast (or to taste)

2 Tbsp vital wheat gluten 

1/3 c bread crumbs 

1 tsp olive oil 

olive oil for pan 

1. Place vegan bouillon cube in glass measuring cup and add boiling water, stir until bouillon is completely dissolved.  Add TVP to broth, stir to combine and ensure all kernels are wet.  Cover with plastic wrap and soak for 10 minutes. 

2. Pour bread crumbs onto a plate or shallow bowl and set aside (we'll use this for breading the chicken strips later). 

3. Add pancake mix, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, and vital wheat gluten to the TVP and mix well.  Drizzle in olive oil and work through dough (I used my hands).  Coat your hands in olive oil to prevent dough from sticking to you! Dough should be sticky and want to clump together easily, add more wheat gluten if it's too runny or more water if it's dry and crumbly. 

3. Form dough into desired shape such as patties or thick strips, make sure you squeeze the dough firmly to remove any holes or air and prevent cracking during cooking.  Roll in bread crumbs to coat completely. 

4. Add a drizzle of olive oil to your liking to a 10 inch pan and let it heat up for 2 minutes. Add chicken fingers.  Saute until golden brown on all sides, drizzle in more olive oil as needed to prevent sticking and to get that delicious golden color. 

5. Prepare to be amazed. 

Serve with ketchup or honey mustard 

Yield: around 6 chicken strips 

Yay for leftovers, there were enough chicken fingers left to take for lunch tomorrow!! 

Square Cafe and House Cleaning

I woke up later than intended, we went out to the Park House for Mike's birthday celebration and I didn't get to bed until 2:30am - eek! I am too old to be staying up that late anymore! Haha! 

We were both in the mood to head on over to our favorite breakfast spot called Square Cafe, so we threw on some clothes, made ourselves presentable, and headed on over. 

What I love about Square Cafe is that they have vegetarian and even vegan breakfast options on the menu that absolutely rock! 

I also love that they are a-okay with giving you a little cup of soy milk to put in your coffee (which you get refilled a thousand times!) 

I got my old standby that I'm obsessed with - the Veggie Overload Omelet.

Three eggs stuffed with spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and zucchini.  Served with toast and home fries. 

So... freaking... good...

Mike is more adventurous than I so he tried a new item on the menu: the Square Tostada. 

Crisp tortilla shell topped with chorizo, onions, peppers, two eggs over easy and a spicy aioli. Served with sour cream and salsa.  

He said it was really, really good too! 

After we stuffed ourselves with a delicious brunch, we headed down to the Waterfront to buy some much needed household items from Target.  Boring stuff ya know? Trashcans, a fan, an alarm clock, a lamp, etc. 

Dinner was a haphazard throwing together of things while I tried to cook through most of our CSA veggies.  TJ's Kimchi rice topped with salmon and a scoop of kimchi, served with grilled zucchini and onions.  

I have more laundry to do, ugh. 

Happy Birthday Hubby!!

Wednesday was Mikey's b-day, the big 3-0! I had to work so I couldn't do a whole lot the day of... I laid out a steak for him as his birthday treat. 

Breakfast was a Larabar and apple slices, snack was the same old thing, lunch was a tofurkey sammy with a soygurt. Trader Joe's soy yogurt is delicious by the way!! 

When I got home I hurried up and threw all of our CSA goodies in the fridge and excitedly opened my first Conscious Box!!! (More on that later...)  Then I delved into dinner.  I made steamed purple potatoes, tomato salad, braised bok choy, and I sauteed some garlic and beans with some smoked salt for protein. Mike had a Del Monico steak with smoked salt. He seemed to enjoy it quite heartily. 

Delicious summer meal... I need more tomatoes ASAP!!!

I didn't know what to get Mike for his birthday so I raided his Amazon wish list which was barren.. Therefore, all he got  was some new batteries for his XBox controllers, some shirts and underwear.  But luckily a friend gave me a great idea for a fun birthday gift which is currently en route!! I hope he likes it! 

I also made him black bean brownies... I wasn't up for making a full blown cake after the day I had, which I feel really bad about but I don't think he minded.  I think he enjoyed the brownies!! 

He dug into it before I could take a picture haha!

So, happy birthday to my cute, loving, and wonderful husband!!  May you have many, many more years of  health and happiness! 

Tuesday slummin'

Monday and Tuesday were days of rest and recovery in our household.  All I accomplished was cleaning up the house, doing laundry, and grocery shopping.  We went to Trader Joe's for our food this week and also picked up our CSA box. The veggies over-floweth at our place! Yeaaa! 

In our fantastic TJ tradition, we snagged their sushi sampler for lunch. This time we also got the spring rolls which were an utter disappointment.  They were basically stuffed with romaine lettuce and a piece of shrimp. Blagh.

Dinner that night was pan seared ahi tuna steak over mixed greens and baby heirloom tomatoes.  Sounds and looks way better than it tasted.  I just don't know how to cook tuna at home I guess... sigh.. 

Also a whole lot of Ghost Whisperer went on those evenings. 

Aaaaaaaand I'm out.