Cauliflower Soup

Last night I was hungry and looking for something low-cal to eat for dinner because I had scarfed down a few too many of my home-made energy bars earlier that day. I stumbled across a recipe for cauliflower soup and adapted it to my own liking.

I'm not sure where I found the recipe, but I think it was on About.com.

I didn't take my own photo, but it looked the most similar to that. Yellow, not white like some others because it has no cream or cream sub.

So, here it goes.

1 tbsp Vegan margarine (Earth Balance Organic is my favorite) (-or olive oil)
1 onion (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 potato (Diced)
1 head cauliflower (chopped)
3 c. veg broth (I used three cups water with 2 packets of TJ's broth mix)
2 bay leaves
2-3 tsp freshly ground pepper
Salt, to taste. (I didn't need any salt due to the broth)


Chop onions, mince garlic, dice potatoes and cauliflower.
Heat oil in large pot. Add onions and cook for 1-3 minutes, then add garlic. Cook the duo until softened.
Add potato and Cauliflower and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add broth, bay leaves, pepper, and salt.
Boil for 25-35 minutes.
Remove bay leaves, blend with immersion blender or countertop blender.
Serve.


You may also want to grind the pepper in afterward, or on an individual basis. I found that it was much better with the freshly ground pepper.


No pic today, unfortunately.



Another update in my journey, however, runs threefold.
Sunday is my last day at my job, thankfully. I've decided to take a risk and begin spending my time gardening, playing music, and creating (possibly soap/other useful and items that can be sold). I began a few seeds in pots for carrots, bell peppers, and variety lettuce in an organic fashion (with organic seeds). My grandmother has moved in with us as of yesterday, and I hope to cook her back into good health as well as get her moving through some organic gardening outside.

I've also began a worm compost (I just haven't gotten the worms yet).

And for a little rambling about my other life:
I basically spent my whole day yesterday watching Law & Order or online, looking for band mates and doing traffic school for a ticket I got... so it was less that productive. I plan to make today better than that though (: I did manage to play drums for awhile yesterday, which is good. My double-bassing is getting pretty bitchin; even and fast.
My band is going into the studio on Thursday, for which I do vocals...
Wish us luck.

So, there's soup and an update about organic life in the coastal regions of the USA.

Another Vegan Potluck Under Our Belts

No pun intended, but of course there is one intended.


March 24th, 2010 marked the second vegan potluck of the series upon which I am embarking. This week we had 13 total attendees, as opposed to the seven of last week, which shows a definite improvement. We had five returning guests apart from myself, which is also a good sign. People like the potlucks, despite the fact that they are vegan and it puts them out of their food-comfort-zone.

I hope to use these potlucks to help defeat the view that vegan food is tasteless, unsatisfying, and restrictive. Having vegetarians, omnivores, and vegans all in the same room together enjoying the same food is a great atmosphere. It lifts the persistent itch of the vegans to ensure their food is animal-free, making it less awkward for everyone, and it makes it infinitely less awkward for all three groups because the omnivores don't have to feel awkward eating meat, the vegetarians don't have to feel pressure because they're eating dairy, and the vegans don't have to see/smell or having pressure to comment on the nature of their surroundings.

I generally don't comment on what other people eat, but other people seem to have a guilt fest when they eat with me if they eat cheese or meat, always making a point to mention how sorry they are. I enjoy the vegan dinner evening because not only did every person step outside of their box to contribute, they all can feel safe from criticisms and harsh realities for a couple of hours. The food is also delicious, which usually surprises people!

The next potluck will be in two weeks at my house, and I might have an impromptu one sometime during next week. It's spring break and many people will be out of town, but a vegan friend who's in college at the moment is visiting and came last night and I wish for her to come again, so I will make another one happen next week.


Overall, it was smashingly successful. Falafel, Meximosas, corn and edamame salad, spiced apples, lentil soup, leafy greens with fruit and loveliness, strawberries, fruit salad, potato pastries, and frijoledillas were on the menu for the evening. Photos? Of course:





















Click on any of the above photos to see a larger version.



I made "Meximosas," of sorts, and I borrowed the idea from Just the Food. Instead of using Soyrizo and Tofutti cream cheese as the only filling, I used Soyrizo mixed up with sauteed jalepenos, quinoa, and refried beans. The dough was 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 all purpose, but I could have afforded to to 1/3 whole wheat instead. Either way, they were delicious and tasted like little burritos in the shape of a samosa.



The corn and edamame salad was made at my suggestion by someone who didn't want to make another complex dish this week because she was crunched for time. It's a recipe from Veganomicon, and it's boiled corn and shelled edamame mixed with toasted sesame seed oil and sesame seeds essentially. The corn:soybean ratio doesn't make much of a difference in my opinion, and it's a quick, easy, and delicious side.


I was unable to photograph Erik's Frijoledillas, but they are a mixture of beans, salsa, and sauteed peppers between two flour tortillas. Much like quesadillas, sans the queso.


The potato pancakes were a potato mixture between phyllo dough, but I am not sure whether it was store-bought and I also don't know the recipe. It was also delicious though.


The one other thing I was unable to photograph was the falafel. So. Delicious. Josh, who claims to only know how to cook spaghetti and Jewish food, made the most authentic, restaurant quality falafel. It was phenomenal! He basically told me the way to get the perfect falafel is to use a lot of oil and heat very high. I'm not so big on the tons of oil, but for a holiday treat I would definitely make another attempt at falafel (and maybe with Josh's advice, not fail).


I have a photo of our whole group except for Cassie, who was taking a call from Chile at the time.






And one of most of the people at the table:




Everyone enjoyed it, thankfully. I step out of my comfort zone also, now, because I have such a diverse group of people around that I don't really know all that well. The two in front, James and Mila (seated) are the only friends I have there that I talk to outside of high school.


It's a great thing though, and a step in the right direction for all 13 of us in attendance. Once a week, sit down and have a meal with friends, conversation, and food that's healthy and cruelty-free. Everyone should try at least once in a seven day period to do that, if they have the resources and opportunity.



See you next week?

Recipe, as promised.

This recipe is courtesy of a friend of a friend, whose name I do not know, but the friend's name is Samantha and she's the nicest girl alive!

After I'm done on this cleanse I think I will make this.

Ingredients:
· 2 cups mung dhal (split mung beans)
· 1 large yam, peeled and chopped in bite sized pieces
· 2 stalks celery, washed and sliced thin
· Optional: 2 cups washed, chopped fresh spinach or frozen spinach
· 1 - 2 Tbsp fresh minced ginger
· Optional: For more heat, add 1 - 2 Tbsp fresh minced jalapeño pepper
· 2 - 4 Tbsp olive oil, or safflower oil
· 1 bay leaf
· 1 tsp gr. cumin
· 2 tsp gr. coriander
· 1 tsp gr. fennel
· 1/2 tsp powdered turmeric
· pinch cayenne or more, if you like HOT
· Optional: pinch hing (asefetida)
· 1 tsp salt or to taste
· 6 cups water or vegan soup stock
· Freshly ground pepper to taste
· 2 Tbsp lemon juice
· 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Directions:
1. Wash and rinse the dhal. Soak in hot water to cover for 1/2 an hour, or 2 hours in cold water
2. Drain the dhal, place in a 10 quart stock pot, and cover with 6 cups of the water or soup stock
3. Bring to a boil, skim the foam, add the bay leaf, and fresh ginger
4. Add the chopped celery, yam and ginger to the dahl, and bring back to a boil
5. Reduce heat to simmer, and cook covered for an hour or more, stirring occasionally. Add more water or stock if the soup seems too thick
6. When the dhal is soft but still intact, fish out the bay leaf
7. Heat the oil on low in a small frying pan. Mix in the dry spices and salt, and heat until they start to bubble - keep your eye on them so they don't burn
8. Spoon a cup of liquid from the dhal, and stir into the spice mixture. Transfer all to the dhal soup and stir it in
9. Add the chopped spinach if you're using it, and lemon juice. Cook for 5 - 10 minutes more until the spinach is thawed or wilted
10. Serve garnished with fresh chopped cilantro
Crockpot Directions:
1. Put the soaked, rinsed dhal in an 8-10 qt crockpot
2. Add all other ingredients except spinach, cilantro and spices
3. Add 6 cups of water or soup stock
4. Cover and cook 6 - 8 hours on low
5. Add more water or stock if the soup seems too thick
6. Turn the crockpot heat setting to high
7. Follow the above directions from #6, heating the oil, frying the spices, adding the spinach and lemon juice
8. Reduce the heat setting to warm or off

This soup was a hit at the potluck last week.




As far as the cleanse goes, I'm a little bit failing at the moment.
For the day, I've not been 100% raw and it's only 6:40 on the first day.
I'm not too worried though. The only non-raw thing I have eaten is organic sunflower butter with a banana and an apple. Other than that I've been sticking to it.

I haven't really prepared for it, which is the biggest issue I think I'm having. I have veggies in my house though and I will throw something together for dinner and take it over to the s.o.'s house this evening. If it turns out well, I will post the recipe on here. (:

Raw Foods Cleanse.

In the midst of my weekly potlucks, I think I'm going to do a raw cleanse.
I've noticed that I've been very drawn to processed foods like Tofutti "ice cream" sandwiches and tortilla chips lately, and drawn away from whole foods like fruits and veggies.


I love whole, raw foods. They're delicious and nutritional and make me feel great, so why not eat them?! That's the thought I had as I downed another Tofutti sandwich last night.



I want to rid my body of these cravings, which usually stem from having eaten the food to begin with, so I will today begin a two week raw cleanse.



hello, raw. (:

Band Practice of the Veg*ns.

So, I thought I would post a little update about Extinct?, the band I'm currently screaming/emoting for. We had a band practice today (sans a bassist) and recorded a rough video of the practice for the audio.

The song basically is anti-meat... the lyrics go something like, animals... and they fucking rape them... and such. Ha, young punks in love, I guess.

I normally play drums, but in the band with my boyfriend I do vocals. I think I'll end up playing drums on some of the songs though, because that's what I like to do and I can occasionally do it well, too!

I will post the link here, rather than the video, because it's really not related to much on this blog.

If you like what you hear (which would probably mean you like crust/punk/sludge/metal or something like that) then add us at www.myspace.com/themanwhowasdeath (:

Video Link

Cheers!

The Event and The Aftermath

So, this evening's potluck, the first of many, was a success. Plus one point in my book of awesome vegan life scorecards.



I am impressed with myself for having successfully executed an organized event, and I'm really excited to host another one.

We had a mango, corn, and black bean salad. It was quite delicious (and created by the hands of a skilled omnivore). Niki, another guest, brought a Trader Joe's mix of vegan fried rice, and DeVante brought bruschetta. Samantha brought Mung Dahl soup, an AMAZING Indian concoction she got from her Indian friend (very authentic, she even had to make a trip to a special Indian foods store). Another guest brought vegan brownies and oranges from his backyard, and I made twice baked potatoes with kale, garlic, and shallots mixed in to the mashed mix.

The recipe from which I derived my version of Colcannon Potatoes is here from that wonderful blogger of Vegan Planet. (: I will soon post the AMAZING Mung Dahl soup recipe from Samantha...

Overall, it was a really good experience. I'm inexperienced at hosting and usually an awkward conversationalist (because I usually only have veganism on my mind, and it's distracting). But the conversation traveled many places.

The three omnivores that showed up were all markedly surprised at the satisfaction they received from vegan eats and at how good a whole vegan meal could taste. That was really gratifying to me and made me feel like less of a freak. The potluck really de-vilified "vegan" food and took a little of the "us and them" mentality away; at least for those three people, I hope. I was a little worried that the omnivores were out numbered 4:3, because I invited more omnivores than vegetarians, but only three showed up. They didn't seem to mind though, and none of us were overbearingly shoving any sort of dogma at them.

Hopefully these will break down some of the stigma in my community against vegans, their food, and their lives. The number of vegan and vegetarian people is definitely growing in this very republican suburb, and many people are beginning to feel that their lifestyle is being criticized or threatened. Whether that's true remains to be seen. But for now, I just want to enjoy a potluck with my friends.

Unfortunately I forgot to take any photos of the food before we began eating, but I did take photos of the people that were eating the food. I will upload the sign I made and maybe a potluck photo or two sometime soon.

Here are some photos from the first potluck:


my very professional sign that i made...



I'm on the right... and then from the left to right is Cassie and Samantha, my vegetarian buddies.



My omnivorous friends enjoying the new experience (really!).
<3


Cheers!

Potluck

So, I am soon beginning a reign of vegan potlucks every Wednesday at my house. If anyone has any ideas about the best potluck foods, let me know. I plan to make enchiladas straight out of Veganomicon. They are the best I've ever made, and use a homemade roasted pepper sauce, which is amazing.

Another person is bringing samosas Indian themed dahl soup, which I will definitely photograph and post the recipe of.

I invited a really diverse group of people, and only 4 vegetarian/vegans. It's a sort of outreach to get people to try out a new thing once a week. It's very important to step out of the box every once in awhile and do something new (and delicious).

It's also going to cut back on eight omnivore's meat consumption this week, and therefor their carbon emissions for the week, which is very nice. Hopefully they really enjoy the recipes and start trying some vegan recipes at home.


See you there!

For info on the potlucks and if you live in the southern California/Central Coast/Ventura area, comment/email away and I will email it to you.