Trying Veganism

exploring the world of vegan cooking

Archiv für Februar, 2008

Asparagus Bell Pepper & Broccoli Stir-Fry

Yesterday I threw together another stir-fry with quinoa on the side because I needed some yummy food fast, I was starving!

I had the following on hand: broccoli, scallions, a red bell pepper and asparagus since I went to the Asian market again. Everything is so cheap there, I love it! But just like last time I went in with nothing more than 2.30 or something, otherwise I would’ve stocked up on more food. Tofu for 80 cents… seriously, I can’t get over it =p

In a different supermarket I found a vegan bell pepper onion dip with mustard and garlic etc. listed as ingredients. I bought it because I thought, thinned out with milk or water, it might make a nice sauce. So I had it with my stir-fry (just a Tbsp. on the side) to try it.
I must say… the taste was in no way to my liking! *shudders* It tasted exactly like eggsalad – a store-bought artifical tasting eggsalad! Yuck!
You could’t recognize any of the listed ingredients in the taste of this dip and that really freaked me out. Plus, it tasted very much like mayonnaise and overall just artifical. This was a waste of money. What a disappointment!

I don’t know what I’ll have for dinner tonight, but a few days ago I had a weird craving. To some people this is probably an odd combination, but I think it may even taste pretty good. I’ll try it some time to make sure. The dish I have in mind is: Quinoa with applesauce and red cabbage!

Chinese Cabbage and Asparagus Stir-Fry

I slowly roasted an onion, asparagus, yellow bell pepper and scallions on medium heat in a saucepan.
I added soy sauce, chopped chinese cabbage and stirred until it was covered in soy sauce. Then I covered it up, let it simmer for about 2 minutes, added half a shredded carrot, sprinkled it with sesame seeds (I got ‘em Jennifer!) and ready was another all veggie dinner!

Baked Bean and Veggie Casserole & a Survey

Mhhh, I had another all veggie meal for dinner. Except for the MozzarelART on top, but this was the first time I tried vegan cheese. Although it didn’t melt(luckily Romina had already told me this) it was good, the perfect finish for the dish!

The casserole consisted of a layer of baked beans in salsa (tomato, tomato paste, onion, garlic, herbs) topped with a layer of gently roasted garlicky vegetables (red & yellow bell pepper, zucchini and scallions) and sprinkled with grated vegan Mozzarella. And not to forget delicious green asparagus with salt & pepper on top.

Delish!

Baked Bean and Veggie Casserole
serves 1

Ingredients

for the baked beans in salsa:
1 (1/2) cups baked beans (I used beans from a jar)
1 onion
2 Tbsp. water (or 1 Tbsp. olive oil)
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1-2 tomatoes, chopped
salt, pepper, to taste
thyme, rosemary, oregano, to taste
fresh basil leaves, chopped (optional)

1. in a saucepan sautée the onion and add water as needed to prevent it from burning, add the garlic
2. add the baked beans, tomato paste and the fresh tomato and stir well
3. on low heat cover up for 2-3 minutes
4. add salt, pepper and herbs to taste

for the gently roasted vegetables:
2 Tbsp. water (or 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil)
1 onion
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 yellow bell pepper
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 zucchini
1 scallion
salt, pepper, to taste
thyme, rosemary, oregano, to taste

1. in a pan sautée the onion, add water as needed to prevent it from burning, add the garlic
2. add the chopped bell peppers and scallion, on medium heat keep stirring for about 4-5 minutes
3. add the zucchini (sliced or in chunks) and stir occasionally for another 5 minutes or until veggies have reached the desired consistence
4. add salt, pepper and herbs to taste

combine everything:
- preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C)
- use a casserole dish small enough that the ground will be covered with baked bean mixture
- before putting the baked beans into the casserole dish, add a handful of fresh chopped basil if you like
- once the baked beans are spread out in the dish, add the vegetables on top
- sprinkle with vegan Mozzarella
- put some green asparagus on top, sprinkle with pepper and some salt
- bake for about 10 minutes and enjoy!

And since Cookie Mouse tagged me you’ll get to know a little bit more about me now.

1. What were you doing 10 years ago? In 1998?
Let’s see, I was in 5th grade. So I guess I was just being a regular kid dealing with regular kid stuff back then. I believe I invested most of my money in stupid teen magazines back then. And I probably started wearing make-up. Horrible make-up choices like: blue eye shadow and dark red lipstick, oh my ha ha!

What were you doing 1 year ago?
My then girlfriend and I moved from Neukölln to Tempelhof and I was basically just busy with my career training as a mediadesigner that had started 7 months earlier.

2. Five favorite snacks?

  • Nuts (Cashews are probably my #1, followed by almonds)
  • Nut butter (Cashew or peanut – I dip my nuts in it)
  • Fruit (apples and pears or berries if I happen to have some)
  • Bruschetta
  • Soy yogurt or a Smoothie

3. Five favorite toys?

  • my MacBook which is called Le Big Mac (after listening to the wonderful Pulp Fiction conversation in the car)
  • my Nikon camera, doesn’t have a name (yet)
  • my Electra bike (clearly „her“ name is Carmen) =p
  • my crosstrainer
  • my Wacom tablet

4. What I like doing:
I really like photography a lot! I mostly photograph objects or landscapes, but I’d love to do more shoots with people. So if anyone happens to be in Berlin one day, make sure to ring my door bell ;)
Of course: cooking and baking!
I also love doing sketches and scribbles and whatnot, but sadly haven’t done that a lot lately.
So apart from that it’s basically hanging out with people I love and whose company I enjoy and feel is worth my time, listening to music while having mind movies, reading … and I have to admit that exercising grew to me lately. I’m thinking about starting Pilates again.

5. My bad habits?
Cookie Mouse, I’m sorry to steal some of your answers, but we seem to have the same bad habits.

  • laziness & hardcore procastination
  • absent-minded
  • takes ages to make up my mind
  • too much coffee
  • cigarettes

Now let’s see, who isn’t tagged yet?
I don’t have the time to check now, so everyone who hasn’t been tagged yet grab this survey and let the rest of us learn a little something about you =)

Asian Stir-Fry, Brussels Sprouts and 2 Minute Chocolate Cake

Yesterday I had some Asian Stir-Fry my mom made for Dinner.

And I had Paulinas Chocolate Cake for Dessert.

I added crushed cashews to the batter and had 3 layers of sliced banana. I was out of oil and my applesauce had gone bad so I used apple apricot sauce instead. Not a good decision because it tasted pretty much just like that and maple syrup. And I think using carob powder didn’t help to save anything either.
I’ll try it again with the right ingredients the next time, because honestly – who doesn’t dream of cake that can be devoured after 2 minutes in the microwave?

And here’s a picture of Brussels Sprouts with nutmeg and some mustard for dipping from few days ago. I borrowed my dads fisheye lense as you can see =p

Garlicky Broccoli & Green Beans, Mashed Cauliflower, Baked Beans and Spinach

I didn’t get to buy the missing ingredients for Lasagna today so I had an all veggie meal instead. It was delish!

This is the first time I had baked beans.
I will surely make these on a regular basis from now on, they taste so good! I added an onion and a fresh tomato.

The Plan, Raspberry Oatmeal, Chocolate Temptation Challenge and finally… Mozzarella!

The plan:

Three days each week I will consume vegetables only. Every dish I eat will have to consist of vegetables. As in soups, stir-fries, roasted veggies, mashed veggies… anything really. As long as it’s vegetables only! No bread, pasta, rice, whatever.
That way I hope to try out more veggies I have never had yet. And to be honest, I love all-veggie meals!

I will starting next week, because I plan on making pizza, lasagna and black bean burgers this weekend. After that it’s veggies-only time!
Anyone joining? =)

And the reason why I’m so eager to make pizza and lasagna this weekend is that last night I finally found vegan cheese!!!
You guys can’t imagine how excited I was! Now I can have pizza and Lasagna with ‘cheese’!

Besides having this veggie idea and drooling over my Mozzarella find I craved oatmeal last night.
Remember: never judge an oatmeal by its color!

It was delicious, but I have to admit that it didn’t look very appealing.
I used the same recipe as in this one, used 2/3 cups raspberries, maple syrup instead of brown sugar & agave syrup, didn’t put in any nutmeg and topped it with cashews.

The fair trade chocolate I bought last night for Cookie Mouses Chocolate Temptation Challenge! I decided to buy an Espresso chocolate. Can’t wait for Easter Sunday now ;)

Still in my bag (for now)!

Vcon’s Quinoa, Black Bean, Mango Salad

First off I want to thank Ashasarala a thousand times for giving me the recipe for this salad as I am not yet an owner of this apparently amazing cookbook.

It probably tastes even more amazing than it did last night because I had neither red wine vinegar, grape seed oil, nor fresh cilantro. So I used a tsp. olive oil, bianco and balsamic vinegar and about 2 Tbsp. chopped parsley (didn’t have any more).
It still tasted awesome!

My parents were still at work so I placed the bowl on the dinner table and when they came home later my mom called „I see there’s something on the table. Can we have that?“ I was like „Sure, it’s all yours. I already had a big bowl!“
Five minutes later I got a text message from my mom saying nothing but „M m m m h“! Ha ha, she’s so awesome! When I saw her again she apologized that there weren’t any leftovers. She and my dad really enjoyed this. To quote my mother „Not only did it taste fantastic, it looked so pretty and colorful! A joy for the eyes and the tastebuds!“

Yup, I will definitely start making more „real“ dishes(less baking as my jeans are getting tight and I can not afford new pants at the moment).
Not only do I get to try various dishes I have always wanted to try, my parents are also open people who will definitely try new things and be honest about how they like it and a big plus – my parents will get to eat healthier!
So I guess I know who I’m going to ask for Vcon ;)

Apple Cinnamon Almond Oatmeal

Oh my, this tasted like Christmas morning!

Apple Cinnamon Almond Oatmeal

Ingredients
1/2 cup oats
1 cup soy milk
1 heaped tsp. brown sugar
1-2 Tbsp. agave syrup
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 apple, chopped
1-2 tsp. sliced almonds

1. put all the ingredients in a saucepan (cut 3/4 of the apple in small chunks, keep 1/4 of the apple & almonds for decorating)
2. bring to a boil, turn the heat to low and under stirring let simmer for 5-10 minutes
3. sprinkle with sliced almonds and apple slices

I will try Veganomicons Black Bean Quinoa Mango salad later, I can’t wait!!!

Quinoa with Asparagus, Bell Pepper and Soy Sprouts & Whole Wheat Raspberry Corn Pancakes

Yesterday I rediscovered the Asian Supermarket that’s only 2 minutes away from my apartment.
I didn’t like to go there(weird sickening smell, rude employees) and hadn’t gone inside for at least 4 years.
But last night I needed soy sprouts so I went in.
Surprise: the bad smell is now mostly gone and the employees have become more or less friendly.

I went in with 2 € and came out with a bag of fresh soy sprouts and fresh green asparagus, each for 90 cents. How awesome is that? Everything there is so cheap(Tofu costs 2 € less than the one I used to buy) and fresh. I could slap myself for not going there earlier. Ah well, at least I know where I’ll go shopping from now on =)

I made Wok Veggies with peanut butter and coconut sauce with my mom last night and tried quinoa for the first time (yes, I love it, too). Sadly I didn’t take a picture. And when I came home at 5 in the morning and wanted to heat up the left overs and then photograph them, I discovered that my dad had already eaten them(this morning he mentioned how much he enjoyed the quinoa). So I cooked myself a quick night snack and went to bed.

And this morning I had Whole Wheat Raspberry Corn Pancakes for breakfast. An adapted version of the recipe found in How it all Vegan!

Looking ugly, but tasting so so so damn good! Cornmeal gives pancakes such a fantastic texture. Yumm!

Yes, I’m cranky!

I’m at work, looking at food blogs and tons of wonderful recipes and I wish for nothing more than to go home right now and COOK!
Somehow I’m always motivated the most when there is no chance to cook at all. Like right now. In around five hours I’ll be able to make dinner. I hate this.
I mean honestly, I like my job. I love it actually. Because for me it’s not work, it’s more like a hobby. But to get off work at six means I’ll be home at seven which leaves me with dinner at eight. ARGH!

My plan for tonight: Roasted Mustard Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Bell Pepper, Spinach & Quinoa.

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