Archive for the ‘Vegetarian’ Category

• Vegan/Vegetarian Nachos

  Date: 2011.11.21 | Category: Life, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian | Response: 0

  Last night I made vegetarian nachos, but because I’m dairy free I also had to have a vegan option for me. Here is what I did (just made it up) Serves 4 (although I had some mix leftover…lunch!)

  -a couple tbsp canola oil to frypan
  -about a cup or so of frozen chopped onions (I’ve given up chopping them, much rather be able to see to cook!)
  -fry until start to brown, add some water and fry until nearly dry, add next ingredient and some water so it doesn’t burn. Continue to do this for each ingredient if needed.
  -a small red and green capsicum sliced thinly
  -2 large stalks of celery diced
  -about a cup of frozen corn
  -a 420g can of red kidney beans (drained)
  -a large tsp minced garlic (probably about 2-3 cloves)
  -cook until it all looks bright and kinda mushy!
  -420g can Sanitarium Casserole Mince (or chopped mushrooms if you’re avoiding the TVP)
  -a small jar mild “Old El Paso” Taco Salsa (I would prefer hotter but the kids were eating this) after emptying add third jar water to rinse out the rest of the contents and add some water to the mixture.
  -simmer until heated through.
  -grate cheese (about 100-150g?)
  -corn chips on plates (I used about a packet of plain doritos (the green one!)
  -sprinkle with cheese (dribble a bit of tahini over for vegan)
  -spoon over mixture
  -top with cheese (more tahini for vegan option)
  -microwave each plate for 1min high (1100watt)
  -spoon some sour cream on each plate (except vegan)
  -can add spring onion greens if available at this stage
  Enjoy!

• Grace, groceries and growth.

  Date: 2011.04.17 | Category: Encouragement, Family Journal, God, Health, Home Tips, Life, Vegetarian | Response: 0

  Grace: Today I’ll be experiencing God’s grace.  The same as everyday, but on purpose.  I watched Joel Osteen’s message this morning on Australian Christian Channel (Foxtel) which seemed to condense a general message that I’ve been receiving for the past few months.  That God’s grace covers everything for those who believe.

  What is Grace? According to Dictionary.com grace is:
  the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God;
  the influence or Spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them;
  Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God’s favor or one of the elect.

  So when I chose to believe that Jesus saved all of humanity, including me, when He took on the sins on the world and died of the cross He extended GRACE to us and now calls me one of the elect.
  Also daily the Holy Spirit operates with GRACE in my life (and body) regenerating and strengthening me (as I go from glory to glory).
  Both of these aspects of GRACE are freely given, unmerited favor and love of God which is more GRACE!  Grace upon grace.

  The crux of Joel’s message was that God’s grace is sufficient always but we only need it for today.  Today is where we live.  Our minds might be in the past where we can’t change things or in the future where we can’t influence things but today is where we live and where our minds should be.  Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawerence was one of the most influential books of my life.  It changed many things, but mostly it introduced me to NOW.  God is here NOW.  You are here NOW.  You only have this second. Live NOW.  God’s GRACE is NOW (yet eternal).  We can rely on His Grace always, especially now.

  My now is Sunday.  I am listening to quiet small birds enjoying coolness.  I am hearing the hum of the computer and the morning movements of people in the house starting their day.  I’m thinking of what to cook for the week as I shop on Mondays and I’m thinking of what I’ll be doing to relax today.  I try to treat Sunday as a rest day in my mind because otherwise I feel like I never stop.  In reality, the household needs never stop, of course, we eat daily, we do things daily and these things need to be cleaned up after.  But I give myself leniency on a Sunday to sit longer in between.  To do more crochet. To read more online.  To play more games.  To not exercise.  To do simple yet indulgent meals.  I guess it’s a kind of grace.

  Groceries: I like to think about the week’s meals in advance because as I become more busy on shopping day my mind tends to become stressed and overwhelmed and I just want to get the whole thing over with and get home again.  The girls could be in a talkative mood or want to show me lots of things I’m not even looking for or I’m feeling a bit off with a headache or something else, so I can’t really think clearly and forget things if they aren’t on the list.  So the list has to be finalised.

  I tend to be the only one to write on the shopping list now, even though it’s posted on the fridge, because it was becoming a wishlist instead.  Things that the girls wanted me to buy, not what we needed, started appearing.  Such as chocolate, soft drinks and other junk food.  Of course I do buy these things sometimes, but they’re definately not NEEDED.  I plan dinners down to the ingredients needed.  We are all pretty boring when it comes to breakfast and eat the same thing, so that is supplied.  Also with lunches, but not quite so boring, so I keep the fridge and cupboard supplied with enough ingredients for my family to get their breakfasts and lunches.  I ask what would be wanted for different meals and sometimes specific things for other meals are requested also.

  I try to plan according to weather, seasonal availability and recent meals. We go around and around on the same meals much of the time, but you can only eat so much of the same thing.  Recently I’ve be trying to introduce one new meal a week.  Something a little different to what we would usually eat, such as Polenta Stuffed Capsicum or Ratatouille.  This week I think I’ll try a Chili.  Something I’ve never made and only eaten a few times because my Mum doesn’t like and can’t eat spicy foods, so I have limited experienced with it.  Just this morning I read three different recipes for Vegetable Chili from three different sources!  I think I have to give it a go.  Hope the family likes it.

  Growth: This, trying something new each week, is a kind of growth for me because I’m a relatively new Vegetarian.  It’s so nice to have the energy to try new things and not be overwhelmed and too exhausted to do it.  My growth over the past few months has been mainly in the health and nutrition areas of life, but before that (and during) it’s been spiritual.  I’ve grown in many ways with God and am so thankful for it.  I’m glad He isn’t distant like people think He is.  I’m glad He cares for the little things in life and works it all together for good.

• Why I am dairy (and meat) free.

  Date: 2011.04.14 | Category: Family Journal, Health, Life, Vegan, Vegetarian | Response: 0

  I have been on a journey over the past 5 or 6 years to become completely dairy-free.  I’d always had sinus problems really all my life.  Mum used to say we should tie a bag on my nose.  Little did we know, until only 5 years ago, that I had an allergy to dairy.  More specifically the caesin, or the protein in cow’s and goat’s milk.

  It all started when my Mum got a virus when I was a baby, breastfeeding.  She said the doctors at the time told her to feed me on a corn-based syrup formula and that I would grow out of the symptoms.  To an extent I did.  But I always had a blocked  nose.

  Fast forward about thirty years.   I still had a permanent blocked nose plus felt like I always had a cold,  infected throat, achey joints, bloating, acne/bad skin, Endometriosis, poor concentration, foggy brain and extremely fatigued.  I didn’t know this was not normal and couldn’t understand how people did so much.  I decided to go off milk for a week and see if this was the cause.  My throat dried up.  It hurt.  It was weird without the post-nasal drip, but I could breathe!  And smell! (not so good when you have pets).  My endometriosis seemed gone too (symptom free) for a couple of months.  Of course my love of cheese, chocolate and milk made it hard to stay off them and everything went back to the way it was only worse.   Every month was hell.  I would be in so much pain it was excrutiating (just ask my family) I couldn’t walk or do the normal daily things without a lot of effort, I’d just sit on the couch for about a day, sometimes crying.  It made it hard to plan things, or follow things through.

  Now I have been dairy free for nearly a year, I also decided in October 2010 to follow my husband’s lead and give up eating meat.  I still had eggs and fish (I’ve since stopped eating fish as well).  I have substituted some things, like having soy milk or almond milk instead of cows milk for my coffee and tea, but other things I’ve just eliminated, like cheese.  I did try soy cheese, once.  I’ve lost about 8kg since being vegetarian. I have energy, a clear mind, clear sinuses, less painful months, joints less achey, no bloating or water retention, no sore throat and clear skin.  Whether it’s the lack of dairy or meat in my diet, I don’t care, I’m just glad I’m healthy now and I can function!

• Menu Planning Monday

  Date: 2011.04.11 | Category: Family Journal, Health, Life, Menu Plan Monday, Vegan, Vegetarian | Response: 3

  This weeks weather is going to be a little warmer this week compared to last.  Nothing extreme so I don’t need to warm us up with hearty meal.  Maybe Saturday I’ll look at doing something with little cooking to reduce the relative heat in the kitchen.  33c will feel hot after it being so cold.

  Monday: Easy Night

  Tuesday: Pasta, Garlic Bread & Side Salad

  Wednesday: Polenta Stuffed Capsicum & Salad

  Thursday: Potato, Baked Beans, Spinach & Garden Salad

  Friday: Vegie Burgers & Chips

  Saturday: Salads

  Sunday: Vegies

  Of course there is every chance that we’ll eat these in a different order, but that’s the meals for this week!

• Vegie Burger and Chips

  Date: 2011.04.09 | Category: Recipes, Vegetarian | Response: 0

  The other night I made Vegie Burgers with Chips.  I used to make a hamburger using mince when we ate meat in a very similar way.

  Vegie Burger and Chips

  Makes 4

  

  photo credit Dave Quinn

  Ingredients

  Pattie
  1 x 420g can chickpeas,
  1 egg,
  1tbsp lime juice,
  sprinkle cayenne pepper or chilli powder,
  ground rice flour (or bread crumbs)

  oil for frying

  4 hamburger buns
  3 medium or 2 large tomatoes sliced thinly
  3 leaves iceburg lettuce (or your choice)
  cheese slices (Optional)
  sliced dill pickles (optional)
  tomato sauce/ketchup (optional)
  mayonnaise (optional)

  oven chips/fries (commercially prepared is easier for me, but if you make your own, go for it!)

  1. Mash the chickpeas with a fork or potato masher,

  2. Add the egg and juice and pepper (or chilli) then mix.

  3. Gradually add rice flour (or bread crumbs) until the mix comes together in a ball.

  4. Separate into four patties and fry them in oil.  (I tried to cook them on a non-stick grill like a George Foreman but they did stick.  I guess I could have sprayed them maybe? )

  5. To assemble hamburgers; put tomato sauce (ketchup) and mustard on the base, maybe some dill pickles then the patty.  Top with cheese (if you eat it, I don’t) then tomato slices, shredded lettuce and some mayonnaise smeared on the top side of the bun to stick to the lettuce.

  6. Serve with oven chips on the side, yummo!  My family loves them.