Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Satisfying Vegan Food . . . Really!

No long essay for me tonight.  I'm trying to write this blog in the first 15 minutes of The Biggest Loser, which starts tonight.  Once I hit 15 minutes or so, I can start watching it on delay on my DVR and fast-forward through all the commercials and lame product placements.  Also Astrid is grouching at me - undoubtedly anxious to spit up all over my shirt as soon as I pick her up.  Again. 

Tonight I made two vegan dishes, courtesy of Peter Berley.  Vegan is a little scary.  But anything beats last night's dinner, which I spent on an airplane flying home much later than planned from a (work-related) day trip to Las Vegas.  I instructed my husband to handle family dinner for him and Annika with the leftovers in the fridge.  I assume they had a very nice family dinner because he didn't tell me otherwise.  And I'm not asking (sort of a domestic "don't ask don't tell" policy). 

On the menu for tonight:  kasha casserole with root vegetables and mushrooms (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/recipe_of_the_w_49.php#) and celery and green apple salad  with walnuts and a mustard vinaigrette (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Green-Apple-and-Celery-Salad-with-Walnuts-and-Mustard-Vinaigrette-233139)

They were both quite yummy and the meal was surprisingly hearty.  Particularly surprising because I forgot to add the chickpeas to the casserole.  I had them, I saw that I was supposed to add them, I just spaced it.  Same with the cumin.  Completely forgot it.  Yet the dish still turned out lovely.  I guess that's why I prefer cooking to baking.  You can forget a lot of stuff and it still tastes good.  Try making a cake without - say - baking soda.  Doesn't work so well.  And yes, I know that from experience. 

Annika is really taking the family dinner thing to heart.  Today she proclaimed that nobody could eat until I was at the table with the family (I was delayed in the kitchen pouring wine for husband and mother-in-law).  It was very cute and polite.  She subsequently, however, reminded us how rigid four-year olds can be with rules.  In the middle of dinner, I briefly got up to get a towel to clean water that Annika spilled and she commanded everyone to immediately stop eating until I returned.  Everything is black or white with that kid.

Perhaps the best thing about vegan food is that it is low in calories so I don't have to feel guilty about my glass of wine as I turn my attention to The Biggest Loser.  I'm still doing pretty darn good on calories for the day.  Cheers!

1 comment:

  1. Kerry, we should have a "kids in the kitchen" day and let them cook while we drink wine!

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