Trying Veganism

exploring the world of vegan cooking

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Kale and Potato Hash & ChickBeetPotato Sandwich

In the mess that is called my recipe book I found one for a Kale and Potato Hash I had copied from some website quite some time ago and altered the recipe a little. When I wanted to take a picture of the bowl I realized my batteries were empty, but no panic! Luckily my old digicam was loaded.

No kidding, my boyfriend loved this! He ate at least half of the bowl! I was like „Why didn’t you say anything? I would’ve made more!“ He said „Well, I couldn’t foresee that it would be so tasty!“ Ha ha.

Ingredients (serves 1)

2 medium potatoes
1 cup kale, chopped
1 tsp. olive oil + 2-3 Tbsp. water (you can always omit the oil and use only water instead, but I figured a little hint of olive flavor wouldn’t hurt here)
1 medium onion
2-3 Tbsp. soy milk (optional)
1 – 1 1/2 Tbsp. balsamico bianco
nutmeg, to taste (I used about 2 Tbsp. I think)
salt & pepper, to taste

1. cook the potatoes
2. in a saucepan sautee the onions in oil & water
3. add the salt, pepper and vinegar
4. add the kale to this mixture
5. add the cooked potatoes, mash them with a fork and add soy milk
6. season with nutmeg and pepper

I had beet salad on the side which I put on top of the potatoes after the first bite, because it went so well together.

And you may have been wondering… a ChickBeetPotato Sandwich? Yeah, I wouldn’t exactly call it a sandwich, but I didn’t know how to call this odd creation that satisfied the hell out of me!

Here you go: I had a leftover potato and leftover beet salad, we had fresh whole-wheat carrot bread so I sliced the potato, topped it with a layer of beet salad, baked two Falafel balls, mashed them a little and topped them with some more beet salad.

My two bread slices were loaded so I decided to use silverware – something that always seemed odd to me. I remeber sitting at my aunts table as a kid, wondering why on earth she was eating a small slice of bread that was only topped with a slice of cheese with a fork & a knife when one could just as well hold it in the hand.

Now I like to eat bread with silverware too, because you don’t eat as fast and get to enjoy your food longer. The whole process of eating is intensified! I started eating pizza with a fork & a knife (something that always seemed so out of question) for those reasons, too.
Well, that was back in the cheese eating days I guess because cheese tastes crappy once it cools and hardens – I always got so greedy, seconds later my slice was gone and I didn’t even get to really taste and enjoy it. I remember shoving my pizza down so fast just so that I’d get to enjoy the cheese while it tasted best: hot and runny. And it was on top and in the crust… jeez =p Well, that’s not a problem anymore now!

Last night I made a pizza with - eek - mushrooms (often just the smell or the thought of chewing one makes me sick… apparently I can only eat them in Pierogies, don’t ask me why)! I decided to give them another try – just to give them all to my boyfriend in the end. Ah well, it was good nonetheless. I had mine with lots of sliced zucchini and green asparagus (oh how I love it!) and convinced my boyfriend to let me top his with veggies, too. He loved the combination of the three!
Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture because I hadn’t eaten anything the whole day and was starving so it was gone within a matter of minutes (of which I spent at least three picking the mushrooms off my pizza) .

Red Beet Salad & Sweet Potato Fries

Okay, I’m not a fan of sweet potatoes. I had three fries… but they’re not for me. The sweet taste was irritating and not very much to my liking. Anyway, at least I can cross the sweet potato off my list of things to try.

The red beet salad was fantastic though, but I love red beet anyway. I used jarred ones(vinegar is in there already) and shredded them and along with an onion. Simple as that! And most importantly – it tastes sooo good!!!

Grilled Veggie Pita and Easter Goodies

Just a quick update about my dinner yesterday. The PB Birthday goods will be posted later, I’m just off to meet my friend to take pictures.

First, salad: red cabbage with red beet, a little balsamico bianco and sunflower seeds.

And my „main course“: grilled red bell pepper, zucchini slices, broccoli, scallions, brussels sprouts and tomatoes on a mashed Falafel in a sunflower seed pita pocket with a layer of pepper-peperoni spread.

I’m proud (and totally surprised by myself to be honest) to announce that I managed to resist the temptation until Sunday and therefor highly enjoyed my espresso chocolate last night.
And my mom was so sweet! She got me a Lindt Goldhase mug and lots of dark chocolate =)

Hope you had a good time with your friends and family aswell!

Borscht, first try

So, yesterday I made my Grandma’s Borscht.
There was not much to veganize, I only had to replace the cream.
I used soy cream for the first time ever. Of course I used a little too much. It’s so much more efficient than regular cream, I’m quite impressed.
I also feared that it might taste weird, but it’s pretty neutral and I can’t complain at all.
Since I didn’t have any more red beets I couldn’t save my Borscht though. It still tasted good, but overall it was just too creamy.

I will make the whole thing tonight: Pierogis & Borscht.
I told my dad last night that I was going to cook our traditional Christmas dinner today and his face lit up „Ohhhhh, really?“ Ha ha, he can’t wait. And the fact that I honour his moms recipe so much really means a lot to him.

I still need onions and mushrooms and more red beet though.
Ugh, I hate the fact that I have to work until 6 and am home at 7 which leaves me with one hour available to shop for groceries. I hate hectic.
And most of the time I forget at least half of the stuff I planned to buy, even if I have a shopping list (what’s that about?)!

Oh, and here’s something that never fails to impress my taste buds: Pesto Rosso topped with tomatoes. So simple, yet so wonderful.
I didn’t have any whole-grain bread anymore though, so I had to settle for a plain wheat roll, hmph.