A Freezer Full of Nothing

As you know, we are getting ready to move. So I have been trying to eat down my pantry and freezer, which are still both chock-full. How can they both be full and still there is nothing I want to eat? It's not like I buy food I don't like. I was hoping to save some money on groceries these last few weeks, but still I find myself shopping often. Well, partly because of summer fruit, and partly because I have been entertaining a lot, getting in those last visits with family and friends. And partly because none of us eat the same things. I guess my stockpile consists mostly of stuff that I like, which I tend not to make because then I still have to feed the rest of the crew and I am too lazy to cook just for myself. Sadly, then, we all miss out on the good stuff.



Anyway, here are a few of the things I've thrown together lately.









The quintessential New York breakfast of bagel, cream cheese and lox, veganized with Tofutti cream cheese and roasted red peppers. I must get in as many bagels as I can. No offense, midwesterners, but you just don't have the real thing there.





Peanut butter cupcakes with chocolate ganache, from VCTOTW. Yummy, but again, the bottoms are so greasy, as they have been with other cupcakes I've made from this book. Has anyone else experienced this? Maybe it is my canola oil, or something. I must try and refrigerate it - I remember reading that it gets semi-solid under refrigeration - sort of like hydrogenated shortening.






Cauliflower salad with creamy cilantro dressing, from Moosewood Daily Specials. I added the pickled red onions for an extra special touch.






Lemon Cornmeal Blueberry muffins. Wish I could remember what book I got these from. Shows you how befuddled my mind is lately with all this move stuff.






Key lime coconut cupcakes with lime glaze. I got these off some vegan website, before I started writing down where the recipes I copy came from. I brought these to a friend who just got back from Key West, so she could extend her vacation in her mind.





Greek potatoes from Veganomican. Yummy goodness, but not as good as my old recipe (but much easier).

Favorite chickenish baked tofu. Again.

Hain brown gray from a package. Didn't like this. It tasted like those Red Ox beef boullion cubes from my childhood, which I'm sure most of you have never heard of!

This is the Natural Stone Bridge near Lake George, NY. We went on our last vacation there, and we had not visited these caves in previous years. The girls loved the part about crystals and gems. They were kind of intimidated by the river. But I loved it - I was happy to finally do something outdoorsy on a visit to the Adirondacks. I will miss it greatly when we move. I bought two authentic Adirondack chairs to soothe myself. I have been lusting after them for years - so odd looking and yet so unexpectedly comfortable.

Here we are in front of the river.

Cute girls in giant Adirondack chair.

On our last afternoon there, we had lunch at an outdoor restaurant overlooking the beautiful lake. Not much to eat in Lake George for veggies, but they had a veggie burger that was actually listed as vegan on the menu (I would not have thought they knew that term up there). It was good, too - handmade with actual veggies and no yucky chewy TVP. And with perfect fries. A nice finish to a mediocre food week!

Well, the packers come on Monday. We are driving to Chicago when they are done. It's a two day drive, and then we have to wait for the moving truck to arrive the following week. So I will see you all when we get settled!

Happy Birthday to Me

Today is my birthday, so I get to do fun stuff like post on my blog!


Here is a yummy soup from Moosewood Restaurant Daily Special. This book is all about soups and salads from the famous restaurant. I would love to visit there someday - kind of like the vegatarian Mecca. The soup is Algerian Tomato Soup with Vermicelli. I was reading cookbooks and was attracted to this recipe by the unusual spice combination - coriander, cumin, curry powder, cinnamon, orange peel, and of course, onions and garlic. It was delicious and quick and easy, too.

This is Bryanna's cheddary spread from her website. It is very good, especially on Alvarado Street sprouted rye! I think the tahini flavor was a little strong - maybe I would go with cashew butter next time. It has silken tofu - I haven't used this in a while, and was pleasantly surprised at how very creamy it made the dip.

I have a gingerbread candle on my counter now - you are supposed to have good smells in your house when trying to sell it. So I have been craving gingerbread.This recipe for Giant Ginger Cookies was one my aunt made for me as a child. One of the few non-chocolate desserts I loved! Of course the orginal wasn't vegan, but here it is in a form we can all enjoy. As delicious as the original!

Giant Ginger Cookies

2 t ground flax seeds

1/4 c water

2 c all purpose flour

1/2 t salt

1 t ground cloves

1 t ground ginger

1 t cinnamon

3 t baking soda

6 tablespoons Earth Balance

6 tablespoons canola oil

1 c granulated sugar

1/4 c light molasses

extra granulated sugar for the cookie tops

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix ground flax seeds and water. Set aside until gelatinous (1/2 hour).

Sift flour with salt, cloves, ginger, cinnamon & soda.

Whip EB and canola oil until light and fluffy. Add sugar. Blend in flax mixture and molasses, then dry mixture, until well blended.

Shape dough into 1 1/2" balls. Dip in sugar. Place 3" apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten with fingers and sprinkle tops with more sugar.

Bake 8-10 minutes. Let stand a minute before removing from sheets.

Makes 18-20.

Have a happy and safe 4th!