Friday, May 9, 2008

Run-around Friday

I was busy today! It's amazing how I can have absolutely nothing scheduled, yet I end up filling up the day somehow. I didn't even get to eat lunch until 4 PM! Considering my love of food, that's saying something!

After getting a pedicure, my sister and I went shopping for Mother's Day. We checked out Williams-Sonoma (one of my fave stores), but we decided on a few silver serving pieces from a local gift shop. We even picked out her birthday gift (June 1), so we are ahead of the game. My sister is getting married June 7, so we figured it would be a good idea to get things settled now, before the whirlwind of the wedding starts...

Anyway, I have been busy in the kitchen the past few days; I have been in what I call a "cooking fugue." Without much further ado, here are some of the most recent creations from Caroline's kitchen...

Wednesday
Wednesday night, I made a delicious shake using unsweetened chocolate Spirutein and Soy Delicious fruit-sweetened chocolate vegan ice cream (that was a mouthful!). The vegan ice cream is especially good for creating a "whipped" texture, so this shake was quite voluminous-the way like it. I added some chocolate syrup and a few chocolate sprinkles for fun:)
Thursday
Yesterday morning's breakfast was inspired by Chocolate Covered Vegan and Ruby Red Vegan. I made pumpkin oatmeal pudding, topped with sliced almonds and a squirt of agave. (The recipe you see beside my bowl is Ruby'sPumpkin-Pecan Raisin Pudding).

When lunch rolled around yesterday, I was in the mood for the white bean spread from ED&BV. So that's what I made. I love the combination of cashews, nooch, and white beans. A lovely sliced tomato and crispbreads rounded out the meal. I also had a big grapefruit afterward.

Due to the fact that multiple bloggers highly recommended it, I made the Low-er Fat Banana Muffins from Veganomicon yesterday afternoon. They are a hit! I love seeing the look on my family's faces, mid-bite, that they're vegan. Ha!
While my family feasted on spaghetti and chicken meatballs, I decided to make Veganomicon's bean balls for dinner. I wasn't in the mood for pasta, so I decided to make a beanball sandwich, Oh. my. gosh. Beanballs are definitely entering my regular rotation--'nuff said.
Friday
For breakfast today, I tried something new: scrambled tofu. I used the recipe from the Chicago Diner Cookbook, which called for tofu, sesame seeds, tahini, and soy sauce. True to form, I didn't follow the recipe exactly; I added spinach and mushrooms for good measure:)
My belated lunch today consisted of leftover vegetarian baked beans (Amy's), oat bran pita bread, and an amazing salad. This salad included oranges, sliced almonds, and spinach with a dressing made of agave, red pepper, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. I used a Vegetarian Times recipe as inspiration for this dish. The original recipe required honey, but I used agave, and it also included sesame seeds. I opted to leave those out since I had so much sesame this morning for breakfast. The sweetness of the oranges combined with the saltiness of the soy sauce is phenomenal. I might make a big batch of this dressing for later use.
We are headed to our lake house in an hour or two. I am so excited! I haven't been since last fall, so I am looking forward to being near the water again. We often take long boat trips while we're there, so I'll need to think of some waterside snacks. What would you recommend? I'll probably bring a cooler on board, along with a good book and my shades:) Enjoy your weekend!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

HURRAH!! Bean ball sandwiches rock my world. =D I've gotta make those again.

You totally read my mind, I was thinking of making the lower fat Banana Bread from V'Con today, but in muffin form (cause who doesn't like muffins??)

Love the new look of your blog. =)

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Wow, you WERE busy!! Hope you have some time to relax, haha.

Oooh, that shake looks heavenly!! Love the sprinkles on top - cute!

Have fun at the Lake House!! You should DEFINITELY pack Larabars for a snack (you knew I'd say that, right? haha).

Jill said...

WOW! You have been so busy! It all looks amazing, and I bet it tastes even better! Hold up for me, you're putting me to shame!

Alicia said...

You're convincing me of trying those bean balls and the banana bread of Vcon... It looks like you had great meals!

Anonymous said...

such beautiful dishes you made ;)

hope you have a fun weekend, sounds like you will being out by the water!

J said...

Looks like you have been busy in the kitchen!

I've been eyeing those beanballs for awhile now, I've got to make them! I love beans!

It all looks so good, especially those muffins!

Anonymous said...

OH man that pudding looks great. I'm looking for ideas to cook for my carnivore family tonight and the bean balls are speaking to me!
I linked to your site on mine, hope you don't mind!
-Meg

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

Wow, look at all that cooking! Where do you get all the energy?!

Mmm now I am craving the Low-er Fat Banana Muffins, because I made them a few weeks ago (I made banana bread, but used that recipe). I love how you didn't tell your family until after they bit into the muffins-- that's how I initially got all my friends to try my vegan baked goods.

Oh, and the pumpkin pudding sounds like a terrific variation for the oatmeal pudding. I'm going to have to try it.

Ruby Red said...

Woah, you went crazy in the kitchen after being cooped up in the dorm for so long!

And you have no idea how excited it makes me that you printed out the oatmeal recipe from my blog and made it! :) Yay! Yours look quite delish.

I totally can sympathize with you and not getting to eat lunch until 4 - I always make time for my meals too, so it is really significant when I eat way late like that. Your chocolate shake looks heavenly, and I love the white bean dip too! Don't you feel so sophisticated when you have it along with lovely little dipping items?! I know I do. I'm glad you tried the Lower-Fat Banana Bread as muffins - I am craving them now as a result of your awesome post!

Cassie said...

OMG all your food looks amazing! And your pudding looks just like the pic in the cookbook! Awesome job!

I can't wait to have time now and get back in the kitchen! Your bean balls look perfect and so do those muffins!

Anonymous said...

Wow--lunch at 4? That IS quite intense!

That chocolate shake looks delicious! But just looking at the picture I thought it was just fruits with chocolate syrup :p

And I know what you mean about bean balls! They're amazing

Have a wonderful time at the lake house! I'd recommend granola & yogurt for snack--I'm addicted to this stuff :p

Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...

YUM YUM YUM

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

Ugh, I think if my first freshman-year final had been like yours, I would’ve QUIT COLLEGE! Of course, I had a very odd freshman year, finals-wise, because I went to a small college, Bryn Mawr, where they were VERY VERY trusting (toooo trusting). Most of the classes’ exams were take-home… so I ended up sitting on my bed and taking finals. It was a very odd feeling!
Hope you’re enjoying your time at the lake!

Anonymous said...

WOAH THOSE BEAN BALLS LOOK AMAZING! I just ordered that book yesterday... I CANT WAIT TILL IT COMES!!! Your blog is aweomse... keep it up :)

ChickPea said...

Romina: Bean balls are amazing--I can't wait to try out different beans with the recipe
VeggieGirl: Somehow I could have guessed that you would suggest Larabars...
Jill: You'll be happy to know that I did hardly any cooking over the weekend. The lake house kitchen is not nearly as well-equipped as my one at home...
Alice: Yep, V-con seems to be an excellent investment thus far...can't wait to churn out some more recipes.
loveofoats: Thanks!!
Jennifer: Yes, I have been busy in the kitchen. I think I needed a breather for the weekend.
Phillyvegan: Yes I think hat bean balls would be great for omnivores and herbivores alike. I'm glad to be linked on your site...I will have to catch up on your posts at some point...
CCV: Your oatmeal pudding idea is so versatile! The possibilities are endless. Sounds like Bryn Mawr has a similar system to that of Davidson. Some of my friends go there, and they schedule their own exams!
Ruby: Yep, I did go kinda cooking crazy! I rested up over the weekend though. I had your recipe sitting on the kitchen counter for a while after I made it, and now my dad wants me to make it for him...you're famous!
Cassie: It's definitely nice to have time to spend in the kitchen these days. Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Oatmeall: I was pretty starving when I finally sat down to lunch that day...that pita was gone within 10 seconds!
HH: I saved some of your recipes to my cooking file yesterday...can't wait to try them!
Synthia: You'll love V-con. I promise. Plus, I love your blog--how cool to "meet" a vegan rockette!