FoodFash

Adventure Begins in the Kitchen

BLT. VLT. VLA?

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Last week I deviated from my usual sandwich at Cafe Hey and switched it up by trying the “VLT” – Vegan Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato.  But since I still cringe like a kindergartener at the thought of consuming raw tomatoes, I subbed avocado.

It was amazing.

So amazing that I was determined to recreate this “VLA” at home.

And having just made a fresh loaf of bread, it was the most perfect of timing.

Who needs a panini press when you have a tea kettle full of water?

I can’t tell if I 100% loved the sandwich or if I 90% loved it and 10% loved the MacGyver feeling that accompanied creating a make shift tea kettle panini press.  Either way, it was a gold star ‘recreation of a meal’ moment for this girl!

 

Not Yo Nachos

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I spent the entire day at my desk, watching torrential downpours through the window, dreaming of a time when my top priority would be a solid couch lounge.  But first?  A not so quick trip through rainy, rush hour traffic to get some fun Friday dinner snacks.

I love snacks for dinner.

I only had one mission when I arrived at Whole Foods: buy the Daiya faux cheese that Emily (A Nutritionist Eats) suggested I try.  Side note, a good portion of faux cheese products contain milk proteins and thus do not qualify as dairy-free.  Deceiving?  Very.

So naturally, I was beyond starving as I strolled the aisles and so I, naturally, helped myself to samples.  Lucky for me, I came across Demeter’s Harvest vegan bean dip.  Come to find out, they have a slew of tasty vegan products that are made locally (huge bonus, by the way).

It was all coming together, bean and cheese nachos.  The bean dip was so stinking good.  And the Daiya cheese was normal, as promised.  And I spent the evening couch lounging, as promised.

Resolution Pants Pizza – Part Deux

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I paid a long overdue visit to the friendly folks over at Viitals today.  I was in the mood for more pizza and thought it best to baby step my way to homemade.  Viitals offers pre-made, gluten-free pizza crust locally at their cafe AND they’re willing to ship if you’re not so local.

If you recall, I had already sampled this dough at Gourmet Pizza Company on New Years and knew it was a sure shot to goodness.

I ran my plan by Silvia, the owner, and she suggested that I brush the crust with garlic and olive oil.

So I did.

I spooned a layer of homemade sauce on the crust, topped with a layer of spinach, spooned a little more sauce, and then added sliced baby bellas.

I baked the pizza in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes and sprinkled with nutritional yeast.

It was the first time this year that I missed cheese.  It was really good, but it would have been AMAZING with some mozzarella and feta.  So here I am, 16 days into the no-meat, no-dairy new year, missing real cheese pizza.

I’ve found the perfect crust, now I just need the perfect vegan cheese. Suggestions please!

Cheapest. Day. Ever.

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Pictured above is one of the many highlights of my sunny Sunday – Cafe Hey’s quinoa salad.  Amazing.  As I read the daily specials I thought ‘this place will be key in my no-meat, no-dairy twenty eleven and it’s going to make me broke’.  Not the case.  The total was a mere $2.12.

The other highlights of my Sunday?

Breakfast was quite wonderful.

A sprouted grain english muffin with tofutti and jam washed down with a tall cup of green ginger tea.  This would be breakfast daily if I didn’t fifteen minute fire drill out of my house every morning just to arrive at work approximately 5 to 10 minutes late every day.  I thought about adding ‘no snooze button’ to my resolution list, but it just won’t happen.

And then the I, not so hesitantly, camera creeped around town.

It was solo exploration at its finest.

A little cookbook hunting for a recipe that justified a trip to the oceanic market, which just happened to be adjacent to Cafe Hey – well planned, right?

$10.02?!  Cheapest.  Day.  Ever.  Now off to FREE yoga in the park!

Oh and today?  I love you.