Biscuits and Gravy

Yesterday I got the hankering for biscuits and gravy and after looking at several cookbooks I decided to try to make it vegan....not healthy but vegan. So I got up this morning and took a little time to wake up. I am not someone who can get up and cook breakfast right away so if I am cooking of the morning it is more like brunch. I have scars from trying to cook before I get good and awake. So anywho, I found a recipe for drop biscuits, easy and quick. Then I just made gravy like I normally do but with oil instead of bacon grease, soy milk(silk organic, no sugar added) instead of milk, and a vegan breakfast sausage instead of reg. sausage. A lot of the fake meat has eggs and milk added so you just have to read the ingredients to get the ones without. It was soooo good. It's not something I would cook and eat every day or even once a week. More like every few months because it was not too healthy but just feels great to know when I want a good old southern breakfast I can make it. The rest of the day is just snack around although the urge for fries hit big time so off to Wendy's we went and they hit the spot. Not a very healthy day I am having, I'll confess Nutter Butters too, yes read the back no milk or eggs.
Tomorrow I am traveling so it should be interesting. I think Taco Bell because I need the fiber of the bean burrito(without cheese or ordered Fresco). Got to pack a snack bag tonight. Yummies to keep me straight!

Just had the most awesome dinner. Lentil tacos and Cinco de Mayo Mexican salad. They were both sooooo yummy. I have a cookbook to recommend. You don't have to be vegan to like it.  It's called "Supermarket Vegan" by Donna Klein. I have yet to find a recipe that I have not liked. I have tried about 5 and have a dozen more I want to try and have every confidence they will be as good. So if you are trying to incorporate more veggie dishes in your diet you can't go wrong with it. Also had the boca chicken patties for lunch.....ok it really does freak me out a little when it looks like chicken, tastes like chicken, but it's definitely not chicken. It was a success. Jolie even had to have one after she tasted mine. She has become more adventurous in her eating. She loves the tofutti ice cream cuties.
Had my first feeling of weakness today. I had a little craving for a burger. Not to the point that I wanted to go and get one. I was reading a book and the character was having a nice juicy burger....ah just for a minute I thought that sounds so good. But it was gone after a bit so all is well. Also I miss just going to a restaurant and sitting down and eating. Gonna have to look on my restaurant list and find a place to go soon.

I think my body realized yesterday I was doing something different. It was protesting off and on all day. I had a pain in my right side most of the morning but then just periodically the rest of the day. Finally managed to get out but was wiped out. Amy reminded me that it's usually the second week that the body figures out something new is happening and it doesn't like it. This is usually when things start getting tough but surprisingly it doesn't make me want to go out and eat a burger.  I don't have any desire to "cheat" yet. We ended up just grabbing subway again. I see a lot of it in my future. I will be traveling Sunday, I think, and am trying to find my options  of eating on the road. Cracker Barrel is definitely out. I've looked up websites and one will say something is vegan and other will say it isn't. It's very frustrating but just came to the conclusion that I am going to go with the website that looks like it did the most research before putting it online. I am not going to fall up and cry my eyes out if I happen to accidentally eat something I shouldn't. That would be a sight on the side of the road, wouldn't it? Anyway, I am just going to make the best choices I can with the info I have and go with it. I am traveling because my Dad is probably having a valve replacement on Monday and the hospital has a subway downstairs so I'm sure I will have a few meals there next week. I think just being around the hospital will give me the motivation I need to stay with this. My Dad has gone through a lot with his heart and I just don't want to go through what he has if I can help it. Keep him in your prayers this week.

Today was try a new recipe or two day...new twist on soup and salad for dinner. I made a lentil soup but some how didn't realize that a cup of lentils will not make a tremendous amount of soup. I know next time to double or triple. And to go with it I made a Thai tofu salad. Harry loved it but I do not love tofu enough yet to love it. Other than that I had leftovers all day with a little watermelon and have been munching on blackberries all afternoon. Just washed a bunch up and went by and grabbed a few every time I passed them. I was craving pizza so I made a vegan one quick and it was not as satisfying because I was too lazy to cut up veggies to put on it. That somehow sums up my day...lazy.  I think it sums up this blog entry too. Anyone wanting either recipe give me a yell and I'll type them up tomorrow. I don't think I have the energy tonight. So before I bore you to sleep I am heading off to bed.

I seem to have forgotten to blog last night...must have been that I piled up on the bed and took a nap. Yesterday was a pretty boring eating day. Instead of trying new recipes I decided to clean out my pantry and take stock of what I had and throw away a few things out of date and got rid of some stuff nobody would eat. Now today I am ready to cook. Had a good meal last night of beans, potatoes and mac & tomato juice!! Now I crave beans, all the time. A friend reminded me "you are what you put in your body." At this rate I will be an old fart!! Yesterday for lunch I had a can of veg. chili, ick, it was just bitter. I think I can definitely do home made better than that. Think I will wait for cooler weather though. I do really think I could have macaroni and tomato juice everyday. I just cook up elbow mac. and drain then add a can of tomato sauce. It is so simple but just so good. I use the mac that has lots of fiber so it's giving me some good stuff. Just add the tomato sauce to suit you taste for how much pasta you have. Well I am going to try to post again tonight to get back on track. See ya in a few hours!

Did not quite get my blog accomplished last night. Fighting off a little virus last night. Poor hubby worked all day, came home and mowed the yard( and actually at this point I was out weeding the many gardens), and ended up finishing dinner for me because I was just out of it. I did manage to get some spaghetti down. Pretty much had oatmeal and leftover enchiladas so not a very exciting recipe day. I just ate the last of the 4 cupcakes, thank goodness!!! Now I can get back to healthier eating. I just feel dirty after I eat one it's so rich. Sometimes a good dirty and sometimes a bad dirty. Wonder what today will bring....I feel like trying a new recipe!

Veggie Enchiladas

Oops forgot to put it at bottom.

3 peppers, can be green red orange or yellow or combo cut in strips
1 med sweet onion cut in strips
salt, cumin, chili powder to your taste, I always use more cumin than chili powder
canola oil to saute veggies in
1 can enchilada sauce
vegan cheese, mozz and cheddar, I use Daiya(I think that's the way it's spelled)
1/3 package silken tofu
Portabello mushroom if desired, sauted with veggies or I just sauted them in a different skillet and added to a
1/2 of enchiladas----Harry's half
6-8 flour tortillas

Saute peppers and onions in canola oil with the spices until crisp tender.
Spread about a TBSP of enchilada sauce on each tortilla then add a thin strip of tofu and sprinkle a little of both kinds of cheese over it then add the veggies on top of that and roll them up and place in a 8x11 baking dish that has a little sauce spread on bottom==continue and divide mixture into rest of the tortillas....once all are in pan pour remaining sauce over the top of the enchiladas then and leftover veggies I just poured on top and sprinkled with a little more cheese. Cook at 350 for about 30 min.

The combo of the silken tofu with the vegan cheese on top of it took the form of the cream cheese---when you bite into it you can't tell that it isn't cream cheese. And a word of warning a little vegan cheese goes a looooong way. Too much will just about choke you. And this would be great not vegan just sub real cheese and a little cream cheese instead of the tofu and fake cheese on inside.

One Week

I made it one week, yes!!! And I just made killer enchiladas! The best I have ever tasted, not to brag, just happy that when I have a recipe floating around in my mind and it comes out tasting just the way I wanted it to I am a HAPPY girl! I used to make a recipe that my bestie Lisa made and loved them but no ground beef and no cream cheese anymore so when Harry said he wanted Mexican food I immediately thought of these and then my mind turned to how to get them vegan and how to get that cream cheese taste. So I will put the recipe at the bottom and apologize because I didn't count anything so hopefully you can follow it without too many problems if you want to make them. Kind of just snacked around today til dinner. Had a 6" veggie sub again, some fake Tso chicken, some black quinoa slaw, and some club crackers. Oh and a cupcake, they came in a 4 pack so I have to make them last because we won't be going back to Cleveland for a few weeks.
Today is Nate's bday and he didn't want a cake and instead wanted chocolate chip cookies. He's a bit of a health nut and doesn't care for cake but cookies are another thing. So I made some big cookies and luckily I have a chocolate chip cookie left over from the store yesterday so when the craving hits tonight and it will because I see the cookies every time I walk in the kitchen, I will have one to fall back on.
Overall it has been a very successful week full of pleasant surprises. Biggest surprise is that I absolutely love eating this way!! Will I want other things someday, sure, I am positive I will have moments of cravings but I think this is the plan for me.

Day 6

I feel like I have went off the deep end and have cheated so bad. I haven't! Everything I have ate today has been vegan but years and years of dieting and feelings of the immense guilt that goes with it rears it ugly head over and over again. I ate a cookie and a cupcake both V but they tasted so good that I had feelings of guilt. I think that a lot of what I are today was just rich tasting so in my diet abused mind it had to be bad. We ran to whole foods for a few things that I needed to stock up on and ordered the veggie vegan pizza before we started shopping. It was good but too much feese(fake cheese). I think next time we will order it with just half the cheese. Had my version of blt for breakfast. In a way so glad whole foods is a little piece away because they make the best food. Peanut butter cookie was the best I have ever had, anytime and the cupcake I couldn't even really finish it was so rich. We went by the deli counter and they had vegan dishes. Stacie they did not have the sesame tofu, I asked. But we got a little of the General Tso's chicken, it was soooo good. I cut a piece off and it looked like chicken. I was greatly impressed and will ask next time what fake chicken they used, I need to know!!! Kids really would not know the difference if you did not tell them.
When I stepped on scales this morning I had officially lost 4 lbs since Monday, yeah!! See in my mind just now I thought "well that is till I ate the cupcake and cookie". I just need to tell that voice to shut the heck up, huh? Except I didn't say heck, hehe. The funny part was I wasn't even really craving sugar. I think it was that I hadn't eaten enough before going in store and just the abundance of vegan foods all ready made and ready to eat just was too much for me. One day I will learn my lessons, hopefully!!

Day 5

Well I broke down and went to subway....not I didn't cheat!!! I just needed a veggie sub today and it was good. No cheese, no real mayo, just veggies and bread with a little vinegar and a little oil. I came home and put nayonaise on it and it hit the spot. Still finding I am not craving sweets, really weird not to be craving sweets. In face we went shopping today and I of course forgot to eat and Jo wanted something so I just grabbed chips at miejers and a sweet tea at sonic....I almost couldn't finish it. It didn't taste good...it tasted normal but not good to me anymore. Guess I should be thankful so I will be.
Like I said yesterday there are some foods you just shouldn't smell, well I think there are some foods you should just close you eyes on...vegan boca burgers. They look a little not tasty but did taste good. I don't think the family wants me cooking with my eyes closed though. I think I could do it though, lol.
Been reading other things on internet today about veganism....really sad how people can't just accept that some people just want to stop eating meat and products from animals. I'm doing it to see if it does have a good effect on my health. Some people do it for other reasons. I'm not trying to get anyone else to do it, not even my kids. It's a personal choice and it just saddens me some people are so narrow minded. And I am soooo thankful I have supportive friends and family. Love you all!!

I think I figured out why I lost a lot in 2 days....not due to diet or not eating enough, just that time. I'll still take the 3 lbs though however it came off!! Really did not have an appetite when I got up so this morning instead of grabbing a couple of vegan cookies I just grabbed some nuts. Figured that would be better for me than the sugar. Then a little later I made J and I some oatmeal. I forget how much I like oatmeal, of course it wasn't as healthy when I added sugar and fake butter but I will gradually reduce those things as time goes on.
#1 lesson for the day--don't smell things, especially if it is fake meat, just cook and see if you like the taste. It does not usually taste like it smells, thank goodness! Found that out with Fotdogs(fake hotdogs) but I just added mustard and relish and was able to get it down. I find that I probably won't use much of the fake meat because it just doesn't do it for me. Now boca burgers are another story, love those. We did the southern thing tonight, pinto beans, mashed potatoes, fake kielbasa and sauerkraut. So it was a fairly easy night. I have a request for Mexican tomorrow night so I guess I will try a new recipe. I'll let you know how it goes.

Day 3

I fear I am doing something wrong! I get a little lightheaded in the afternoon and wonder if I am not eating enough. I think what I am eating keeps me satisfied and I don't feel the hunger pains but then get dizzy because I haven't ate enough. I have lost almost 3 lbs since Monday so maybe I am not eating enough. Can I say eating enough too many times? haha I feel fantastic other than being lightheaded. Systems are running smooth, TMI huh? Still loving my FLT(Facon and tomato sandwich) for breakfast and my yogurt, fruit and chocolate chips for an afternoon pick me up. Tonight was pizza night and it was way yummy. Pillsbury pizza crust and ragu pizza sauce are both vegan. Throw a bunch of veggies on and then the fake cheese(can't remember the brand) and it was a success. Of course we had 3 pizzas--mine and Harry's vegan--Bethy's gluten free--and Nate and Jo's regular. Bethy's had homemade crust and homemade sauce, not mine, I went for easy. The grilled cheese for lunch was not as successful. Not all the cheese melted and the texture was a little weird. I think I will try to find some other brand of sliced cheese when I go back to whole foods.
My goal for tomorrow is to remember to eat more often and see if that helps.

Tofu stirfry: Stirfry cut up tofu(1 1/2 cups) in peanut oil in a wok with a little sesame oil til tofu is browned. Then add some garlic and about 4 or 5 cups of veggies of your choice(broccoli, red pepper, onions, green onions are good) saute til crisp tender then add a combination of 3 tbsp of hoisin sauce, 3 tbsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp of sesame oil, 1 tbsp sugar mixed together and pour over and cook additional 2 or 3 minutes. I think next time I will add a little ginger. Then serve over rice. I am typing this from memory so if you need additional help just let me know. I may have forgotten something. OK I checked recipe and the amounts are right. For you tofu avoiders chicken can be used.

Day 2

Two days down! Only weak moment was when I was leaving Walmart and the smell of the fried chicken wafted over my way. Ahhhh the smell! If I had just remembered everything on my list I wouldn't have been there anyway. But am coming to realize I will have to go to grocery store more often because I buy more perishables now. Also find I am not craving sweets much the last two days. I thought it was my diet coke that was making me crave sweets but I am still drinking those. No I have not become a total health nut.....just can't give up my diet pepsi yet. I tried and tried but I need a vice and that is it for now! It is vegan, I think, not looking to find out! Don't tell me if you do know it is. Ignorance is bliss sometimes!!

Loving Ezekial 4:9 bread toasted. Today I added nayonaise(fake mayo), fake bacon bits, and a tomato fresh out of the garden and that was my breakfast. It wasn't bad but I think tomorrow I am going to try a new facon(fake bacon, haha) to go with it. The leftover beans was my lunch spiced up with fritos(yes they are vegan, yes). I cut a watermelon in half today and have ate a whole half of watermelon today, just went by and would grab a bite so that was my snacks today. And yes we did have tofu tonight and I ate it and liked it. I will add the recipe and you can replace the tofu with chicken. Just serve it over rice. It was extremely yummy!! It versatile too since you can just add whatever your favorite chinese style veggies are. I won't probably get around to adding it til tomorrow. I am typed out today! So nite all!

Creole Beans & Rice

Requested Recipe

This has been a favorite of ours. I just do it by memory so this will be not recipe style.

Saute 1 med onion in a big pan in a little canola oil. After a couple of minutes add 1 small can of green chiles and 1 cup of rice and mix and stir for about a minute. Then add 2 cans of vegetable broth, 2 cans of black beans(rinsed and drained), 2 cans of pink beans(rinsed and drained), and 2 cans of tomato sauce(the 15 oz ones). Simmer and stir frequently. Will take about 20 minutes for rice to get tender and for it to thicken. I like to add corn to mine when I put it in the bowl. I will try to find the recipe because I have the ww points added on it. It has tons of fiber.

I made it through my first day as a vegan...had a close call when Jo left her leftover pizza laying on counter. It's that old mother thing where you just pick up what your kids have left and eat it. It's funny because Harry had come home for a few minutes and he almost did the same thing. Found out today that I looove Amy's lentil vegetable soup but it doesn't love me. Oreos are vegan...yes O*R*E*O*S are on PETA's approved list of grocery store items. And lay's potatoes chips. Yes I am eating for health but the 1st month I'm told is the hardest so any little treats are fantastic. I will wean off after I have gotten use to this. It is hard going in the grocery store though. I didn't realize just how little you find in a store that is vegan. We got to the checkout and I looked around and told Harry that everything you see you can't have. Peanuts was the only thing on the checkout aisle you could buy. It was a little depressing when I realized that all those candy bars are off limits now but then again there is a very clear line on what I can and cannot have so in one sense it is easy. Favorite thing of the day was my blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries with soy strawberry yogurt put on top and sprinkled with vegan chocolate chips. YUM! Our old standby for dinner was creole beans and rice. I've been making it for years and it's one of our favorites so I'm sure once a week it will be on the menu. Tomorrow I am breaking down and making Harry a tofu dish. It sounds good. We'll see. I will try to keep an open mind.

On a side note it's funny how people think this is radical but how much more radical is it that someday a dr may take a vein out of my leg and put in my heart. Hmmm I think I want to try to avoid that. May not but I am going to give it a try!

Well I have spent the last few weeks eating foods I will not be eating for a while or very very rarely. I am ready for this now I think. Over the last few weeks I have realized that while traveling I will probably be a vegetarian. It just seems so hard to travel and be able to fit the vegan lifestyle in. Maybe after I have done this a while it will be much easier than I think. Took the trip to whole foods last night to stock up on a few things we need to get us started. They make vegan pizza in their pizza section, isn't that cool? We would have tried it but there was 2 pieces left and guess what the people in front of us ordered...you got it....2 pieces of veggie vegan pizza! I tried not to be angry and just ordered the last two sausage pieces....they were goood! Next time we are just going to order a whole pizza before we do our shopping. The vegan not the sausage, I think! lol

Ok so my goal is to blog almost every day and basically keeping a record of what I'm eating and what works and what sucks! Hope there is not too many of the last. And record my slips, on purpose and not on purpose. I will have turkey on Thanksgiving not tofurkey. Unless I find I love it, I somehow don't think so though. So tomorrow here I come. Taking pictures, measurements, and weight and we'll see where I am at in a month. Won't be posting these things yet, I'm not that brave people!! Wish me luck! See ya tomorrow!